FashionTakes A Cue From Food Carts

 FashionTakes A Cue From Food Carts

WASHINGTON — The first time the brakes went out in her trailer/store, Joey Wolffer ran a stoplight and worried what would happen to her high-end accessories inside. Two years later, she has a close relationship with a mechanic, knows the best spot to park in New York’s Meatpacking district and has a devoted summer following in the Hamptons.

Wolffer transformed a greasy potato chip truck into a 1980s glam, bohemian den she named “Styleliner." It is stocked with limited-edition accessories, like a $430 crystal and fringe necklace, from her world travels.

Friends were always asking Wolffer where she got a piece of jewelry, and the former trend director for Jones Apparel Group said she was looking for a unique way to introduce some favorite designers to the U.S. market, along with some of her own creations. She bought the truck with money she inherited and set up shop.

Styleliner is among a handful of mobile retail stores in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Portland and across the U.S. that are hawking vintage accessories, sexy shoes and denim to die for in their haute wheels. Owners say they’re taking cues from the food truck industry, which glamorized street cuisine, garnered a cult following and even spawned a hit TV show.

“I wanted relationships with customers. I wanted to get out there and work with people and meet new people all the time," said Wolffer, who made a profit her first summer in business in 2010.

A new shopping experience

The boutiques on wheels can only accommodate a few customers at a time, providing a more intimate shopping experience than a crowded department store. Styleliner can fit about five customers at a time.

“The old door-to-door salesman is too difficult in today’s world, but we’re seeing an uptick in bringing the product to the consumers," said Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst at New York-based NPD group.

It’s also a cheaper way for startup companies to break into the business quickly.When former fashion editor Sarah Ellison Lewis wanted to open a funky shoe boutique in Austin, Texas, she had sticker shock every time she saw the price for a store lease. So for a quarter of the price she bought a 30-foot trailer, decorated it with vintage wallpaper photography and reclaimed wooden benches, and leased a parking spot between a chic hotel and a popular brunch spot.

She declined to say how much she paid for the truck or her parking spot. Retail spots in hot Austin neighborhoods can be as high as $45 per square foot, according to Habitat Hunters Real Estate Services. Lewis does not pay property taxes, but many mobile retailers are required to pay permit fees, which vary by city.

The 36-year-old stylist specializes in smaller, hard-to-find designers of men’s and women’s shoes. Bootleg Austin’s customers — about 50 a weekend — love to paw through her well-curated collection that includes black ankle booties with gold buckles, polka dot flats and gold metallic lace-up sandals. The trailer was turning a profit in nine months, says Lewis, who predominantly sells from her leased space, but is about to embark on a 20-city tour this fall.

“This was about being an entrepreneur and doing it in a strange and audacious way and the trailer brings out all these great stories from people that I love," said Lewis. “I wanted to do something that was also really friendly and really warm. I’m really sick of retails being cold and stark and snotty."

Experts say traditional stores want to collaborate with mobile retailers, not compete with them. The trend comes as brick and mortar stores are struggling to get customers excited about shopping in a struggling economy.

“It’s an opportunity to get (customers) into the parking lot and go to the mobile truck and we believe there’s overflow traffic that goes right into the store from there," said Mike Gatti, a senior vice president of the National Retail Federation. “We’re not hearing really any complaints about them."

Customers are also drawn to the novel experience and personal attention they get from mobile retailers.

“People love it. You are now back to the social aspect of shopping," said Cohen.

In Portland, shoppers sift through vintage dresses and men’s ties on a tricked-out double-decker bus. The Fashion Truck features cute and affordable clothes from its Boston-based trailer. A chevron print shift dress sells for $48.

Other industries

And it’s not just retail. Experts predict consumers will see more industries, including medical and home furnishing, hitting the road.The Man Cave offers haircuts, shoe shines and neck massages in an air-conditioned trailer with high-end cigars and a humidifier. Owner Julia Hutton also runs two other mobile retailers in Phoenix, including Biker, Babes and Beyond LLC and Bling N’ Things.

Hutton’s other company, ExTreme ReTrailers, designs custom trailers to look like mini-stores on wheels. The trailers include wireless credit card machines, changing rooms and air conditioning.Trailers start at $10,000. Hutton has five companies looking to purchase within the month, including a massage business, a pet products retailer and a craft store, she said.

She decided to take her store on the road after struggling to get enough foot traffic at her biker store in northern Arizona.Hutton says mobile retailers solve a lot of problems for entrepreneurs in a struggling economy.

“They own their own business. They own their own building that the business is in. They own their own billboard. They have a traveling billboard wherever they go."

FiveThings You Didn't Know About Yves Saint Laurent

FiveThings You Didn't Know About Yves Saint Laurent

The late designer Yves Saint Laurent is famous for his several contributions to the world of fashion. Today, on his birthday we share the top five things that you probably didn't know about him:

1. Yves Henri-Donat Matthieu-Saint Laurent was born in French occupied Algeria and moved to Paris in his late teens. In 1953, he won a fashion design contest organized by the International Wool Secretariat and Christian Dior was so impressed by his winning designs that he hired young Saint Laurent on the spot. After Dior’s sudden death, Saint Laurent was appointed Head Designer of the House of Dior at the young age of 21.

2. Yves Saint Laurent was the first French designer to create prêt-à-porter line, Rive Gauche, to democratize fashion and make it easily available to more people. He was also the first designer to use ethnic models in his shows.

3. Two of Saint Laurent’s greatest contributions to women’s wear are the "trapeze dress" and "Le Smoking". The trapeze dress was a part of Saint Laurent’s first collection as head designer of Dior. The dress debuted in the 1958 Dior Spring Collection and sprung him immediately to international fame. The dress had fitted shoulders and flared outwards from below the shoulders giving it a softer look.

"Le Smoking" was the first classic tuxedo suit for women and was introduced in 1966. With the tuxedo suit for women, Saint Laurent pioneered the androgynous minimalist look, which became increasingly popular. Saint Laurent is credited with empowering woman by giving them sartorial options which were earlier exclusive to men.

4. In 1971 Saint Laurent appeared in an advertisement for a men’s cologne from his line. This ad shocked the fashion world as he had posed naked with his legs modestly crossed in the front. Another highly accomplished designer, Tom Ford, paid homage to this vintage ad during his tenure at YSL, by making a male model pose full frontal for the M7 Men’s Fragrance.

5. In 1983, Saint Laurent became the first living fashion designer to be honored by the Metropolitan Museum of Art with a solo exhibition. He passed away on June 1, 2008 of brain cancer. His partner, Pierre Bergé, in collaboration with Christie’s, organized a grand auction of 733 items that Saint Laurent and Bergé had been collecting since the 1950s. The auction comprised a large range of items ranging from Picasso paintings to Chinese zodiac sculptures. The proceeds of the auction were said to be used for the creation of a new AIDS research foundation.

What Happened To The First Lady Of Fashion?

What Happened To The First Lady Of Fashion?

 

Michelle Obama has been living up to her 'First Lady of Fashion' nickname this weekend in an array of bold looks.So it came as some surprise to see her watch Team USA beat the French in today's preliminary basketball game wearing an uncharacteristically understated outfit.A far cry from yesterday's mismatching monochrome and Friday's  the U.S. First Lady went for a soft grey top and matching cardigan, with cream trousers.

While it was by no means lacking in style - her hair was worn back in a ponytail and she had accessorised with a double-strand silver necklace - it lacked the bold style statements of other ensembles she has worn during this London visit.

Yesterday, for example, another jam-packed itinerary, saw Mrs Obama go for a more typically fashion-forward look to watch Ryan Lochte take Team USA's first gold medal in the 400m individual medley.The green, black and monochrome-patterned top with a triangular cut-out at the neckline was a $138 design by BCBG Max Azria.

Earlier that day, for Serena Williams' opening tennis match against Serbian Jelena Jankovic, she was seen in prints again, in an artfully clashing number from one of her favourite designers, Tracey Reese.The $388 dress, from the label's latest collection, was designed to look like a patterned top and checked skirt, creating a daring multi-textured look.

But perhaps Mrs Obama's decision to play it low-key today is a reaction to criticism for her rather more divisive fashion choices on Friday.Though the dazzling J Mendel jacket and skirt worn for a pre-Opening Ceremony Buckingham Palace reception won critical acclaim from the style set, some political commentators are furious that she elected to wear a garment that cost $6,800.

The design was almost armour-like in style and embroidered in shimmering silver, with cap sleeves that showed off those famously toned arms.
However Gateway Pundit has taken issue with the fact that the design 'cost more than the average American family makes in a month ($4,284)'.'She does this as Americans continue to suffer through a deep recession and record unemployment,' writer Jim Hoft said. 'Michelle feels your pain.'

Style Icon: Mandira Bedi

Style Icon: Style Icon: Mandira Bedi

The 40-year-old actor, TV show presenter and model has made it to The Express Tribune’s list of fashion icons thanks to her vibrant sense of fashion. With her svelte figure which can rock anything from a little black dress to a sari, Mandira enjoys playing with colours and cuts. So what’s her style philosophy?

“I don’t have any style mantra,” Mandira tells Indian publication SantaBanta. “I believe in wearing something that goes well with my personality and makes me feel comfortable.”

Be it a vibrant Satya Paul sari or a funky jumpsuit, Mandira’s exudes effervescence with bright shades and accessories. “At times I go for a clean look, as I don’t think I can put on my accessories with everything I wear. It needs to gel well with the complete look,” she says.

While she is currently sporting a pixie haircut, she says that people should not become victims of fashion trends. “There are many things that are in vogue but may not look good on me. So I don’t follow fashion blindly. One should wear clothes that sync with the person’s personality,” she says.

Hot Topic Launches Apparel Line - Royal Bones By Daang

Hot Topic Launches Apparel Line - Royal Bones By Daang

 

 

Daang Goodman, designer and purveyor of street fashion brand Tripp NYC, has expanded her collection with a new line exclusively for Hot Topic called Royal Bones by Daang.Designed within the Tripp NYC sensibility, Royal Bones by Daang reflects New York City’s underground street culture and rock 'n' roll lifestyle. The collection will include everything from skinny jeans and shredded tees to skull-printed dresses and sexy corsets, and is available exclusively in Hot Topic’s 620 stores and online.

“Hot topic customers are individualistic – just like me. They like to wear clothes that make them stand out – and that’s what I’ve been designing for them for years,” says Daang. “Royal Bones by Daang is a great opportunity to take our long-standing relationship with Hot Topic to a whole new level.”

Daang’s love for apparel design was born when she was a young woman. She found herself designing and making her own clothes in order to create an edgy look that was reflective of her lifestyle. She developed clothes for Trash & Vaudeville – a mainstay of alternative fashion on St. Mark’s Place in New York City. There, rockers, mods, punks, goths, rockabillies and everyday working-class heroes who just wanted to walk and dress on the wild side could find “rock n roll to wear.” Daang’s Tripp line very quickly became popular among the locals, as well as well-known music artists.

Years later, Hot Topic’s VP and General Merchandise Manager Cindy Levitt met Daang at an industry trade show. “We realized we have a very similar customer,” recalls Daang. “Hot Topic helped us bring Tripp to like-minded people all over the country.”

“It was no surprise to us that Daang’s designs were a huge hit for our customers – and they have continued to be over the years,” said Levitt. “We’re excited to see our customers’ reaction to what we think is an impressive collection that can only be found here at Hot Topic.”Royal Bones by Daang is available in all Hot Topic stores and online. The collection includes dresses, fashion tops and skinny jeans in a variety of colors and at a competitive price point.

Hot Topic is a mall- and web-based specialty retailer beloved by rebellious teens for more than 20 years. Hot Topic stores reflect the latest trends in music and pop culture, offering band-related apparel and accessories, licensed merchandise and fashion apparel and accessories to an edgy subculture of expressive individuals.

Something For Everyone At Taw Win Fashion Day

Something For Everyone At Taw Win Fashion Day

 

THE Talents and Models Fashion Day at Taw Win Centre on July 14 delighted the audience with its abundance of fresh new faces.For those living in Yangon, it is also possibly the year’s best opportunity to catch a glimpse of Myanmar’s virtual South Korean pop stars and divas. Despite a collective lack of experience, the majority of the show’s 84 models strutted along the catwalk with as much finesse as their professional counterparts.

There was a noticeable difference between this year’s show and previous ones.In 2012 there was a diversity of skin colour, body size and shape. The notorious one-size-fits-all “rule” for models appeared to be far more relaxed – it was a striking new approach that ought to be applauded.The audience benefitted from the display of a wide variety of fashion styles – some of which were designed to bring out the best in women with a fuller figure than that of the traditional “clothes hanger.”

The show was choreographed in groups of five to seven models, with each group representing a different sponsor whose designs are featured in stores at Taw Win Centre As well as showcasing a variety of trendy local labels, the textures, colours and patterns of the fabric complemented the stylists’ choice of hair and make-up particularly well.

Fashion sponsors included Orchid House, Fashion Place, Azreal, Heart Link, Blanco, Berry, Nan Wadi, Cherry, Bangkok Fashion, External, Forever, Dolphin and Iora.As the hands of the clock struck 3pm, the tunes spun by DJ Paing Pyae became louder, thereby swelling audience numbers to about 100 Former model-turned-MC Ma Moe had warmed up the audience with characteristic charm and humour; though nothing less would be expected from someone with thousands of MC performances under her slender belt.

After spending two hours backstage having make-up applied while fashionistas scrutinised the final touches of outfits, the models gathered at the wings of the runway displaying varying degrees of composure: Some appeared downright nervous, while others bubbled over with excitement, talking and jostling like teenagers at school Yet after emerging from the shadows of the perimeter, the young women transformed into composed professionals. Some were so breathtakingly beautiful they could easily have been mistaken for supermodels.

The audience cheered enthusiastically when the first five models strutted along the stage then turned on their oh-so-high heels after a brief pout or smile according to how they were dressed: sexy, sweet, demure or elegant.The photographers were pushing each other around to gain the best vantage point while somehow snapping shots without a half-second pause. A young boy who appeared about five years old seemed to be really enjoying the performance. His mouth was wide open, his eyes were bright and barely blinking and his smile stretched a mile every time a model walked towards the tip of the runway.

It wasn’t only the female models that were making a big impact on the crowd: The ridiculously handsome male models were right on par and drew the loudest screams from the lady-boys in attendance. Some of the girls were stunned into silence by their playboy appearance.The two-and-a-half-hour long model show held the public’s excitement from beginning to end. Every fashion sponsor appeared highly pleased with the results, which is of course no surprise as it’s likely that it sent sales in Taw Win Centre soaring mid-monsoon season.

Lauren Conrad Launches Eco-Friendly Accessories Lines

Lauren Conrad Launches Eco-Friendly Accessories Lines

Reality TV star-turned-fashion designer Lauren Conrad is set to launch an eco-friendly accessories lines.The Hills star has teamed up with bosses at BlueAvocado to create XO(eco), a collection of cosmetic bags, lunch totes and shopping carryalls made from recycled water bottles.

She says, "We wanted to create an eco collection of functional, really cute products so that people can be doing a good thing but also look good while they're doing it".

The line will be sold exclusively via shopping network Amazon.com.It is the blonde beauty's latest extension of her fashion brand - she already has two clothing ranges LC Lauren Conrad and Paper Crown.