William Rast Fall 2009
Where & When: Monday, February 16th at 7 p.m., the Tent, Bryant Park
Runway Recap: In a world where celebrity clothing lines are a dime a dozen, Justin Timberlake wants to be Taken Seriously, so three seasons ago, he and partner Trace Ayala joined forces with industry veterans Marcella and Johan Lindeberg (of J. Lindeberg fame); last season was William Rast's New York debut, and tonight was the label's first show in the Bryant Park tents. As you can imagine from a denim-based line, the show was more spectacle than substance, but with its "New America" theme, it should help to distinguish William Rast among the crowded designer-denim market. Yes, there were lots of jeans (mostly skinny, in case you were wondering), with dusty, dirty washes and, I am sorry to say, acid wash making an appearance or two. There were also some nice-looking plaid shirts and fringed leather jackets, but the true showmanship came from studs--they decorated chambray shirts, denim skirts, jackets, you name it. Drawing from both the designers' Tennessee roots and current place of residence (i.e. Hollywood), the collection was--you guessed it--a little bit country, a little bit rock-and-roll. I'm not sure how much of it will actually see the light of day at retail, but word on the street is that William Rast jeans actually fit quite well. Just stay away from the acid wash. Please.
Standout Look: I don't know if I could personally pull off this studded leather jacket, but it was pretty damn cool. And as far as colored jeans go, I found the purplish-gray tone of these skinny jeans actually appealing. (My apologies for the tiny, tiny photo--I was in the very back row of the 1,000-plus capacity tent.)
Bonus Points: Harrison & Shriftman deserve props for managing this beast of a show. There were no check-in lines, they let standing in before I even came out of Terexov (normally standing doesn't get let in until half past the hour), and they managed to start the show by 7:15, ensuring that everyone (well, everyone who was invited, at least) could make it to the Marc Jacobs show at 8. Oh, and should I mention the celebrities? Sure, why not: Paris & Nicky Hilton, Jessica Biel, Emile Hirsch, Coco Rocha, Tyson, Gerard Butler, Becki Newton (Amanda on
Ugly Betty), and Miss USA, plus fashion heavyweights Anna Wintour, Carine Roitfeld, and Elle's Joe Zee, Robbie Myers, and Kate Lanphear. And, yes, Timberlake took a bow at the end of the show, so now that I've seen Mr. Sexyback in the flesh, I can die a happy girl.
Where to Buy: Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and online at
williamrast.com.
Target announced today that Justin Timberlake William Rast will be its next designer collaboration [subscription required]. The collection will be in stores December 19-January 22. No word yet on prices, but unlike most of Target's previous collabs, this one will feature clothing for women and men. Also noteworthy: William Rast, while far more expensive than Target's usual fare, is not quite as high-end as Target's previous collaborators (like Rodarte and Jean Paul Gaultier). All I can say is, I hope Justin Timberlake is involved in whatever splashy marketing campaign Target rolls out in support of this.
Speaking of Target, word on the street is that at the opening of the new East Harlem store last weekend, shoppers spotted (and snatched up) shoes from the Dolce Vita collaboration. They were supposedly supposed to hit stores August 22nd, but they're available online now as well as in many bricks-and-mortar Targets. There's a definite menswear vibe to the collection, with lace-up boots and oxfords (as well as more feminine flats). The shoes retail for a very nice $29.99-$34.99, and my favorite pair is this rather mod buckle boot. It should be noted that these are faux leather, but for $30, who's complaining?
Finally, I don't give Urban Outfitters nearly as much attention as it deserves for its designer collaborations, but they really seek out interesting independent designers and have them create cool stuff. The latest is this Le Bij bar ring, designed by Jules Kim of Bijules, whom we can partially thank for the two-finger ring trend of late. This one comes in a bunch of fun colors, so it's a great way to accent an outfit, and at $18, you can afford to buy several. However, due to the pointy design, I'd suggest not wearing them all at once.
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