TOMBOYS ARE BACK IN FASHION! The superstar men’s wear designer Richard Chai is introducing a new collection of casual wear for women. It is directed toward “the girl who fell in love with the guy I design for,” Chai says. The fashionable separates, grouped under the name Love, feature shorts, vests, jackets, short skirts, and more. Chai zips them up with bright colors, interesting leather shoes. It all has a washed, rumpled, at-ease feel, sort of an updated take on stealing from the guys.
REMEMBER THE NAME DUNHILL? Well, it is back with an exciting, if totally traditional, collection of watches that “represents a return to the classical values of the brand as the true expression of a uniquely British point of view on modern luxury,” as a company spokesperson puts it. The new Dunhill Facet watch is a slim, rectangular timepiece with faceted glass. It was first introduced in 1936 and is returning now in an updated design of stainless steel or pink gold with a black matte or matte chocolate alligator strap.
Also in the collection are the Dunhill Classic watch and the Dunhill Moonphases timepiece. All the watches boast the famous Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber movement. The collection, made up of timepieces with a distinctively Prince Charles appearance, goes on sale in late Fall or early Winter.
WATCHES AREN’T THE ONLY ITEMS BENEFITTING FROM A SURGE OF INTEREST IN ALL THINGS CLASSICAL. YOU CAN GET IN ON THE DIRECTION WITH THESE GREAT ITEMS:
- Round, metallic green watch face with silver-tone casing – trendy and classic!
- Stunning clematis crystal brooch with sparkling pave crystals.
Japanese Golf Craze
AIN’T SHE SWEET? We’re talking about the oh so cute Japanese golfer in her newest athletic wear. It seems that golf isn’t the only thing that is flourishing in the Asian islands; so, too, are specialized outfits for the female golfer. More than 20 new brands of women’s golf clothes have come onto the market this year alone, helped in no small way by the recent flurry of successful women golfers, Al Miyiazato, and Momoko Ueda, among others. But, just look at these separates: sequin-covered polo shirts and pink sun visors, sneakers with pink ties, hot little crystal embellished mini skirts and trendy, colorful golf gloves galore.
—It is interesting to note that many of Japan’s city dwellers have never set foot on a golf course, but they are still wild for the sport. They apparently hone their skills on driving ranges, many with video simulators, marketed to fashionable young women.
DALLAS MARKET SOMEWHAT SLOW, BUT UPBEAT: Few buyers were looking for basics at the recent Dallas Fashion Industry Gallery exposition. It seems that novelty was the call of the day, as retailers scouted out things that were different, new, off beat. Fancy tops with formal embellishments and jewelry were the two top selling categories, along with casual jackets and no small amount of leather goods.
Retailers generally expressed an optimistic mood for the rest of the year, despite sluggish sales until now, saying that they do expect sales to pick up by the Spring of 2010. One retailer talked about a new shoe and accessory boutique she plans to open this month in Houston, saying she expects to be ready for business when the economy improves, “in the near future”.
At the product level: Sterling initial necklaces moved well. So did vintage Chanel chains. The colors were generally vibrant here, and extras like fringe and Moroccan details helped move clothing.
Won’t You Be My Bridesmaid? — aargh!
NEW LOOK FOR WEDDINGS: Is there any woman who hasn’t winced when asked to be in the Bridal party of a friend or relative? It’s the thought of those horrendous bridesmaids’ dresses that does it: Big, flouncy, garishly colored dresses, totally devoid of any design integrity, more or less chosen for you. Not only don’t you have any real choice about the dress, but you’re even expected to pay for it, upfront – a dress that you will surely want to burn the minute the ceremony and following festivities are over.
Well now, ladies, all of that is history! Swarovski, that arbiter of fine wedding fare, tells us that bridesmaid dresses have entered a new era. Fashionably designed, these handsome cocktail dresses can be worn again and again, after the wedding.
They may be short or long, and are usually fashioned on whatever style the bridesmaid, herself, wants. The popular colors are unusually sophisticated, running from black to intense orchid, deep blue or orange for Winter 2009, and from white to tan, yellow, and deep blue for Spring 2010.
— Oh, for a wedding where the bridesmaids actually look pretty!
BRIDESMAID DRESSES AREN’T THE ONLY WEDDING ELEMENTS UNDERGOING POSITIVE CHANGE. JUST LOOK AT SOME OF THESE GORGEOUS BRIDAL JEWELRY PIECES UPTRENDING NOW:
- Classic faux pearl bridal bracelet in asymmetrical design.
- Faux pearl earrings with domed top – perfect for bride and bridesmaids!
