Uniqlo's Fifth Avenue (Global!) Flagship

Look out New York, Uniqlo has launched its global flagship store on Fifth Avenue!  I went during opening weekend, and have some insights (and pix!) to share…

Despite the stores massive three levels and incredible 89,000 square footage, there was a line to get in!  Luckily, I only had to wait for a few minutes before heading inside, and what a sight it was!  Crowds, escalators, flat screen TVs, and countless employees... indeed, the amount of staff on hand made me feel like I was in Santa's workshop the week before Christmas!

I'll admit, I have never shopped much at Uniqlo but as I made my rounds of the new stores I discovered some strong points for the store’s product offering:

Intimates

This was my favorite section.  Uniqlo has tons of tights, shapewear, layering tanks, etc. that would be great additions to any girl’s closet.  "HEATTECH" also makes these items great for the colder months...

Colored Cashmere

If you are looking for a very specific sweater color, this is definitely your spot.  Uniqlo has walls and walls full of sweaters in every color and hue!  I do have a Uniqlo cashmere sweater (purchased, unsurprisingly, at Second Time Around) and I can attest to its softness and comfort!

Now for the fun stuff…

I loved this shorts-suit!  It will be fantastic with a white blouse and black tights and pumps.  Pants were also available for more traditional folks…

These HEATTECH vests were tempting…

And what kind of good Japanese clothing store would forget to include Hello Kitty?

Uniqlo Online

In addition to their new store, Uniqlo has some great things going on virtually.  Indeed, their website, though a bit spastic, has a lot of interesting and fun content.  For example, click here for a virtual tour of the new store, click here for the “Global Portrait Gallery,” or click here to learn more about Uniqlo’s charitable initiatives throughout the world.

Favorite Designer Quotes

Fashion is certainly one of my greatest passions.  Below, find some inspiration from a number of industry greats, as they weigh in on elegance, self-expression, modernity, and more...

Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.

- Yves Saint Laurent

The way you dress yourself is a form of self-expression, and a way of communicating to others who you are.

- Patricia Field

Fashion is a language that creates itself in clothes to interpret reality.

- Karl Lagerfeld

Attitude is everything.

- Diane von Furstenberg

The difference between style and fashion is quality.
- Giorgio Armani

I think the idea of mixing luxury and mass-market fashion is very modern; wearing head-to-toe designer has become a bit passe. It's a new era in fashion; there are no rules. It's all about the individual and personal style.

- Alexander McQueen

 
I don't design clothes.  I design dreams.
- Ralph Lauren

Elegance is the balance between proportion, emotion and surprise.
- Valentino Garavani 

Bergdorf's Shoes About Town

Here's your next fashion/social media tid-bit. Bergdorf Goodman's blog, 5th/58th, has just launched the coolest online initiative for shoe-lovers everywhere!

Shoes About Town is an interactive map of Manhattan that features user-uploaded Instagram photos of women's shoes at "their" favorite locales. Examples so far include a pair of Chanel booties at LADURÉE* on Madison Avenue and Jimmy Choo platforms spending time on the Highline.  When users upload their photos via Instagram, the geo-locator is used to assign the proper location of the shoes to the map.

My next project: add a photo of my Louboutins hanging out in Soho. Where do you and your shoes hang out?

If you are big into designer shoes, and don't mind tantalizing yourself a bit, you can also download Bergdorf's iPhone app, "Today's Shoe."  Every day users are sent a new pair of shoes, from the store's collection of very-high-end designers like Brian Atwood, Lanvin, Christian Louboutin and Miu Miu, to name a few.  [Lucky people who don't need to to pay rent] can click to buy straight from the app. Brace yourselves, prices start at about $400 and don't stop at the $1,000 mark!  Perhaps just for inspiration...

*If there's one thing you can afford to buy from this post, it's a macaron from LADURÉE!  This famous French store from the Champs-Elysées in Paris has just opened it's first U.S. location at 864 Madison Avenue near 70th Street.  Stop by for a macaron in one of the unbelievable and imaginative flavors offered, such as Madagascar chocolate, Black Forest Cherry or Caramel with Salted Butter.  It won't enhance your wardrobe, but it will be French and fabulous.  Enjoy!

Tour de Fashion

This fall for fashion week, the Fashion Center offered free, one-hour rides on bespoke bicycles designed by the likes of Diane von Furstenberg, Elie Tahari, Thom Brown and Betsey Johnson. 

The reason behind this offering was that "all eyes are on New York City, and there is no more appropriate occasion to highlight the wealth of talent and history we have here in this neighborhood.  Tour de Fashion is a spectacular and innovative celebration of the Fashion District as the home of American fashion," according to Barbara Randall, president of the Fashion Center's Business Improvement District.

The Fashion Center BID promotes the positive development of the district by providing marketing and promotional programs, among other resources, to companies in New York City's historic "Fashion District," between 35th - 41st Streets, and 5th - 9th Avenues.

At the end of this interactive experiment, the bicycles will be auctioned off, with benefits going towards the CFDA's Incubator Program which "supports the next generation of designers in New York City."

My favorite bike is by Rebecca Minkoff, with a leather handbag up front to store personal items, and a studded box in the back!

FNO Recap

The crowds were raging! The champaign was flowing! The DJ's were spinning!

I have to say, my favorite part of Fashion's Night Out was this GINORMOUS Mulberry blow-up bag, literally about eight feet tall.

Also, little Mulberry-bag-shaped mylar balloons inside their new store!  So cute!

I didn't buy anything, but this French Connection wool shift dress did catch my eye.  It would be amazing for work this winter and it's on sale for $89 from $148!  The dress will be amazing to wear with white or colored button-downs, fun belts and/or fun tights!  I think I may just find myself buying this dress before the weekend is up...

Fall Fashion Fun

For its Fall 2011 collection, the French brand LANVIN decided to do something a little different.  And by a little, I mean a lot.  Please, please, please click the link below to watch LANVIN's YouTube video of both female and male supermodels dancing to the tune of "I Know You Want Me" by Pitbull in various ensembles from the line.  Yep, it's amazing!

LANVIN Fall 2010 Collection

How is this related to affordable fashion you ask?  I've given it some thought and, yes, there is a correlation.  This video reflects the way that online and social media are influencing the way the world is beginning to think about communication.  Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Foursquare, etc. represent the future of online communication. Get with it, people!  Not only do these channels offer a great way to converse directly with the brands you love, there are also exclusive products, deals and experiences on the sites!  

Example A: Those who "Like" Diane von Furstenberg re eligible to buy a Facebook-only dress (one every month!).

Example B: Gilt Group offers certain sales to it's Facebook users only!

Example C: For Fashion Week earlier this year, Foursquare users were entered for a chance to win tickets to the designer's show by friending him first, then checking in at any Marc Jacobs store.  Four winners were chosen!

 

Fashion homework: go "Like" your favorites now!

Fashion's Night Out - Be There!

Question: What is Fashion's Night Out?

Answer: Fashion's Night Out is a "fashion party" founded by Vogue Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour, in 2009 to support the fashion industry through the promotion of full-priced merchandise.  The event has gained momentum in the last two years and now extends to 18 countries around the world.

~

Question: When is Fashion's Night Out this year?

Answer: Fashion's Night out will take place on Thursday, September 8 between 6 - 11pm.

~

Question: Why should I participate?

Answer Part 1: Per FNO's website, "to promote retail and restore consumer confidence."  Just like we need fashion, fashion needs us...

Answer Part 2: For the chance to meet designers, musicians and other celebrities and encounter other unique shopping experiences! NYC participants this year include Rachel Zoe, Adriana Lima, François NARS and Isabel Toledo.

Answer Part 3: There will be free things! A teeny NYC sample selection:

- Champagne at Michael Kors stores

- A Joss Stone concert at Macy's

- Updoes at the Rebecca Minkoff Braid Bar at Saks

- Ice Cream from the Marc by Marc Jacobs truck at Bloomingdale's

~

Question: There seems to be a lot going on, how do I know where to start?

Answer: It would be wise to scope out participating retailers in advance, especially in NYC and other cities that have a lot going on.  Check out FNO's amazing "Planning Your Evening" tool to help!

~

Add Fashion's Night Out to your calendar NOW!