Everyday Chic

2005-11-18T16:20:00.000-05:00

Everyday Chic Moves to Papierdoll

About a month ago I joined the high-fashion eZine, Papierdoll, as the new ThriftyChick. It's been a fabulous experience working the the Papierdoll editors, and so we have jointly decided that I will join their blogging team and continue Everyday Chic on Papierblog.

I will be posting the same type/style of content on Papierblog, complete with my " strategies for investing in your wardrobe by maximizing its dollar-to-chic ratio."

Besides my fashion advice and musings, the editor and senior writer for Papierdoll, Michelle and Tenisha, will also be posting on a variety of fashion-related topics. Also, there will be many more daily sales alerts and other useful shopping hints and tips.

Don't forget to also check out ThriftyChick every day for the Today's Pick, as well as shopping guides and chick picks! Oh, and by the way, I'll be posting under my real name: Ali.

Faux Handbag Update: Chloe, Balenciaga and the "Real Thing" Via a Sample Sale

2005-11-16T22:51:00.000-05:00

This post is overdue, but my procrastination has led to a fortuitous conclusion, but you will have to read through to find out…

A couple weeks ago I got an email from Elizabeth, a reader, in response to my series on fake handbag shopping:

“really enjoyed your posts about fake designer handbags and canal street. I
found the site via google.
your post about fake balenciagas and chloe paddington bags on canal street
struck a nerve. I just bought an amazing office balenciaga in smoke grey on
thursday. this particular spot (a few stalls east of the old pearl
river entrance) has great knockoffs. definitely top of the line replicas.
the saleswoman knows it too. she suggested we buy the horrible faux
balenciagas next door (the place that sold them with the nameplate - you can
buy those with or without the plate) when I balked at $200. she also has the
balenciagas in the city size ($140) and clutches ($50). the great copies are
almost sold out. she also has the grade B knockoffs. there are still tons of
chloe paddington bags. really lovely leather and good locks.
my friend and I went back on monday to buy a city balenciaga for his mom.
she was almost sold out of the grade A knockoffs!
you should check out her store the next time you are back in nyc.”

Well, I was really excited about checking them out, and Elizabeth graciously provided details on the location of the stall (which I wont provide here but you can email me to get).

Alas, Elizabeth predicted correctly and by the time I made it over to Canal St in NYC, about four days later on a Sunday, all the good fakes were gone. No real leather or outstanding stitching greeted me, but rather a whole lot of B-grade pleather knockoffs that looked obviously fake to me, even from a distance. There were gaggles of women pouring over them nonetheless, many whom could never pull off even a real-looking faux Chloe or Balenciaga bag simply because of their other clothing (sorry, the truth is sometimes bitchy, and it’s not that you have to wear expensive clothes to be believable, but you do need to be well-coordinated, somewhat trendy/fashion-forward and wear it like you own the look).

The upside (perhaps) was that the Chloe/Balenciaga phenomenon was not limited to that stall, but permeated all of Canal St. They were lining the walls, swinging from hooks and being handled by onlookers all over the place. It was sort of depressing. Took the mystique out of the brands for me – when fakes become that overrepresented, owning one isn’t that special.

Maybe my tide of opinion is turning because I may have personally graduated from fake bags (at least, except for the occasional cheap thrill, like the $20 black clutch I’ve been hunting for). Yesterday, I found a bag at a sample sale in NYC that was truly splendid and is, perhaps, my handbag soul mate. Thus like a proud new mommy, I’m going to gloat with several pictures of my adorable new addition!

I actually was shopping for clothes at the sample sale (Back Fashion Cult, 37^th between 8^th and 9^th Aves), but as I circled the loft, I kept coming back to it, and then back to it again. I’d pick it up and look at it, turned it around and around in my hands, admiring the stitching and leather. I put it back. I walked out of the store and pressed the button to call the elevator.

And then I found myself walking back into the store. Propelled by some force beyond my control. I immediately went for the bag, picked it up, looked it over one more time, and it was mine.

It’s real leather (oh how rich does it smell! I’ve been having people smell it all day), lined with a soft suede interior and is 100% original (at least in my corner of the world), made by Vimoda Paris. And the best part is that since it was at a sample sale (i.e. wholesale) price, I got it for a third of what it retails for (originally $300, I got it for $95).

What I love about it most is that while it is reminiscent of both Balenciaga and Chloe’s slouchy stressed leather and buckle-and-zippered-styles, it is original and fits my distinct personal style.

Sample sale hunting may have ruined me to Canal Street…the rush of finding the perfect deal is even greater when it comes packaged in real leather.

Hip but Classic Alternatives: Cable Sweaters

2005-11-15T09:49:00.000-05:00

Series Header:
You're a modern woman. You don't want to look like a clone of everyone else, but you want to buy clothing that you can wear for more than one season. You want to be fashion-forward, but you also want to have a certain classic-edge to your style. This series will focus on finding hip but classic alternatives to the typical, standard fashion fare.

Instead of...
I could not resist this picture of a model in Ralph Lauren - it encapsulates the stuffy preppiness of cable crewneck sweaters (that headband really completes the ensemble - like the frigid girl Selma Blair played in Legally Blonde).

I'm not dissing these sweaters comepltely, they are a classic winter staple and have penetrated culture beyond tea parties and country clubs. But there are so many more original variations of cable sweaters out there, and really, despite the array of colors that cable crewneck sweaters are featured in, who wants to look like everyone else?

Try One of These...

These variations of cable sweaters retain the classic composition of cable but are also fun and even flirtatious (cable sweaters can be fliratious?!). Cable is definitely evolving beyond its traditional "wellesley" thin ribbing to thicker, distinctive textures.

Mock Turtleneck Cable Sweater (top left, on sale $39, Victoria's Secret), Angora/wool off-the-shoulder cable sweater (top right, $78, Banana Republic) and Say What Cable Vest (right, $34, Nordstrom).

Hip but Classic Alternatives: Cardigans

2005-11-11T15:49:00.000-05:00

You're a modern woman. You don't want to look like a clone of everyone else, but you want to buy clothing that you can wear for more than one season. You want to be fashion-forward, but you also want to have a certain classic-edge to your style. This series will focus on finding hip but classic alternatives to the typical, standard fashion fare.

Instead of This...

Leave the stifling button-up cardigans for Muffy to wear on her yacht. You are much too hip to be caught wearing one of these (or tying it across your shoulders, for the love of a preppy god), but you still need something to cover up your bare shoulders at the office.

Try One of These...
Look for something that follows the classic cardigan style - an open sweater that clasps in the front - but with a variation reflects your individual style.
Plunged necklines are a winter wardrobe feature that is here to stay. A plunged neckline is perfect for a cardigan because it allows you to still show off whatever you are layering underneath, and gives the cardigan a more edgy look (and less stuffy than button-ups). These three cardigans looks like they could almost be wrap-sweaters, but remain cardigan-true by fastening securely in the front.

From left to right: Free People One Button Cardigan (Nordstrom), Halogen Double Button Cardigan (Nordstrom) and Angora/wool shawl-collar cardigan (Banana Republic).

Winter Work Attire: Dress Pants

2005-11-09T22:01:00.000-05:00

Banana Republic has some great winter dress pants that are perfect for wearing to the office or providing balance to a funky top or romantic blouse. They are reasonably priced for their quality, but if you can wait, they will almost assuredly go on sale (Banana is predictable like that). But if they do, you need to get them the first day of the sale, otherwise your size will be gone.

I prefer Banana's Martin fit, as its lower waist prevents the classic look from becoming stodgy.

These lightweight wool martins, $98 (right), are form-fitting in the waist but looser throughout the leg, providing a flattering cut for your booty (they fit me perfectly). The wool blend isn't too thick- its textured to work with both chunky knits or soft jersey long-sleeve tops. The brown is so dark it's almost black, which makes it a great pallette for a warm-colored ensemble.

I featured these wool blend twill cuffed martins, $88 (left), in my post about grey pants, but I'm willing to repeat myself because these pants are so well tailored. The waistband, belt loops and cuffs add depth to the light color of the pants. They would go well with wintry pastels like light blue and pink, or in contrast to a black sweater.

The darker khaki color of these flannel wide-waist martins, $98 (right), is perfect for winter - dark enough to go with blacks and chocolate browns, and light enough to go with softer color tones. The thick fabric and wide waistband compliment their wool texture. Word of caution: These looked great on me when I tried them on, but the waistband was much too prominent on my shorter friend, overpowering her waist and visually cutting her in half (my friend is 5'2 and I'm 5'4 - 2 inches can make a difference!).

Best of... Stella McCartney Collection at H&M

2005-11-09T08:34:00.000-05:00

Stella McCartney, one of the hottest designers in fashion—and former head designer for fashion powerhouse Chloe and now her own line (launched under the Gucci group)—has partnered with H&M to design a line of ready-to-wear clothing to be sold in its stores.*

The clothing (and accesories) line is being launched THIS THURSDAY Nov. 10, and will be sold in limited quantity and only in select H&M stores (H&M is not an online retailer), so you should check out the preview online and plan a trip to the store within the next few days.

Overall, the collection really reflects Stella’s couture line with its loose, free-flowing, ethereal style and sharp tailoring. What I love about McCartney’s collections are that they are so wearable—gorgeous but so seemingly effortless.

The collection is priced a little higher than normal H&M clothing, but much, much, much lower than Stella’s high-end line, and reasonably priced for high-quality clothes. So if you love her designs on the runway, its worth the splurge to have a little piece of Stella McCartney hanging in your closet (or, to be technical, on your body).

Best of the Collection
Stella has designed 40 items in all for the collection; here are my favorites (including the slouchy but elegant—again, effortless!—tulip dress,$99.90, above):

Jacket, $129; silk blouse, $59.90; denim pants, $69.90. These dark, muted tones are perfect for winter. I love the loose waisted blouse paired with the sharply tailored jacket and tapered pants. I don't know how those pants tied above the ankles would look on someone without stick-thin legs, I’ll have to drop by H&M for some journalistic investigative work to try them on.

Oversized trench, $129. This reinterpretation of the belted trench coat is quintessential Stella McCartney. The bubble effect makes it billowy and cutting edge. Its something I could imagine the Olsen twins wearing.

Tank top, $29.90. Again, this top is so roomy and yet form-fitting. And I am in love with this color—a splash of winter-appropriate vibrance under a blazer or jacket.

Knitted Blouson, $79.90; Satin Camisole, $34.90. This knitted blouson looks extra large and cozy thanks to the huge ribbed trim around the neck, waist and wrists. I’m not usually drawn to grey, but layered over this cream camisole, it would look great with dark jeans or black pants.

V-neck Sweater, $59.90. This deep v-neck sweater (in such a gorgeous sea green) would be great over a fitted camisole for work or by itself for the evening. So classic.

Worst of the Collection
Ughhh... These items really miss the mark:

Embroidered Silk Jacket, $149. This looks like something out of a grandmother’s closet, or something Bridget Jones would be forced to wear at one of her mother’s turkey curry buffets.

Satin All-in-One, $69.90. Perhaps suitable for the runway, I think this would look ridiculous on the street, especially if your body doesn't resemble a stick. I do like the metal pouch, $49.90.

*More reasons we love Stella:
She has a giving heart—she is active in many charities and even has a prominent link for charity involvement on her website.
She is an animal rights activist—she refuses to use fur and puts pressure on other designers to make fur-free fashions.
She is the daughter of former Beatle Paul McCartney.

Don't Be a Fashion Victim: Velour Tracksuits

2005-11-08T18:36:00.000-05:00

Velour tracksuits are unequivocally out of style.

Stop wearing them.

Wearing one screams "I am from New Jersey".

They aren't even just one season from having gone out of style (in which case if you attachment issues, maybe it would be okay to wear it), but multiple years.

Please, stop wearing them. Instead, go for a Puma matching jacket and pants, like the Foundation collection, $51.99 for jacket and $34.99 for the pants on Amazon.

Or you could wear jeans and a blazer...

I mean, I don't know if velour
tracksuits were ever really acceptable in the high-end fashion world, seems to me that if a label has to put the word "couture" into its name, its just a wannabe (Juicy Couture made its name with velour tracksuits).

Get a Picture-Perfect Celebrity Haircut

2005-11-07T10:44:00.000-05:00

Hairstylists are visual by nature—the profession dictates it—and thus presenting your stylist with a picture of a hairstyle you like, especially if it is something dramatically different from your current style, can ensure that you get the haircut you want (having a fabulous stylist cut your hair is essential too!).

When it comes to chopping your locks, who better to imitate than celebrities, who spend hundreds of dollars on the top stylists to get the hippest, most cutting-edge (haha, a pun!) ‘dos?

BeautyRiot is a database with loads of pictures of celebrity hairstyles – not those impractical updos for awards nights, but actual everyday styles – for all lengths and types of hair. You can browse according to length, style or a particular celeb – they even link you to similar cuts and styles.

When selecting a hairstyle, mimic a celebrity who shares your hair type and facial features. For example, I have a round, almost heart-shaped face and thick, semi-wavy (straight when I use my flat iron or blow-dry) dirty blond hair, so looking at pictures of Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson (despite my personal distaste for both) makes sense for me.

Make sure that when you are looking at pictures of celebrities that you are envisioning the haircut on you, not just seeing how well it looks on them. Imagine the same cut on your face with your bone structure.

If you find nothing that exactly matches what you want, bring in 2-3 pictures that illustrate the type of cut you want, and your hairstylist will hopefully understand what you are getting at, but remember, they are not mind readers, so describe what you want as much as you can.

Why I Love... American Apparel

2005-11-03T23:05:00.000-05:00

Madison Avenue loves American Apparel for its hip and edgy advertising campaign—a provocative, voyeuresque approach to displaying and selling basic clothing. I love American Apparel because what it proves with this avant-garde campaign is that basics do not have to be boring—they are essential to building an individualized personal style.

I also love American Apparel because it offers exactly what my wardrobe needs: high-quality basic clothing made in a sweatshop-free workplace (downtown LA). The concept is so simple, and yet so genius, because American Apparel does not take a standard, run-of-the-mill approach to basics—like its ad campaign, which uses its own employees as models for its clothing, it celebrates the necessary diversity in even basic clothing.

Chances are you have an American Apparel shirt or two in your closet already—they started as a wholesaler for t-shirt screenprinting (and still do so). I realized that I have several shirts from college events (those shirts they give away to entice you to dorm mixers) that are American Apparel — shirts that I still wear out and about, and haven't been thrown into the no man’s land of my gym clothes drawer.

American Apparel’s greatest strength is their range of basic tees—which come in a variety of styles and an extensive color palette. Perfect for layering or wearing on their own, there is something to meet everyone's personal style and needs. They know that basic does not mean homogeneous, as demonstrated below:

But AA is more than just tops—they offer everything from track jackets to panties to a t-shirt for your dog. And given my experience with Victoria's Secret panties, I might have to pick up a pair from AA and give them a test run.

You want your basics to last forever, and so it is worth the marginally extra outlay of cash to invest in high-quality, well-made basics.

Related: Businessweek article on American Apparel
Blog posts: Why I Love...Zara’s Retail Model
Keywords: affordable basic clothing, high quality basic clothes, retail store profiles

Style Lessons from Sex and the City

2005-11-02T23:56:00.000-05:00

To honor the release of the complete series of Sex and the City on DVD (because the cable-net reruns just aren't as fun), here is a short retrospective on the lessons learned from one of the most (if not THE) trendsetting shows of our generation.

Favorite Ensembles: Carrie
Carrie demonstrates THE most important characteristic of personal style: wear your clothing with confidence. I know it sounds like a girly-mag cliche, but it is true, Carrie's style was so inspirational and trendsetting because she owned her look, from head-to-toe, and wore clothing that was an outward reflection of her personality - fun, flirty, quirky and sometimes just a jumbled mess.
She is also the epitome of someone who has developed her own signature style - everything she wore was so distinctly Carrie. Here are some of my favorite Carrie outfits:

Notice that these outfits would still be cutting edge and fashionable today - despite some of these pics being from episodes from several years ago. A testament to SATC's legacy, as well as how you can be fashion-forward without following ephemeral trends.
most of my favorite Carrie looks are dresses - they capture her elegant but light-hearted style

so timeless

again, flirty and chic

she really knows how to make a purse the center of attention

so casual but exquisite at the same time

again, just look how that fabulous bag takes center stage

eccentric, but reminsicent of classic Chanel

this dress makes her look so young and so full of ebullient despite her serious expression (and how complimentary is that purse!)

wrapping and layering and adding accessories for the perfect touch - Carrie's signature

Charlotte, Samantha and Miranda
The other women of SATC also demonstrate the importance of developing a personalized signature style.
Samantha's clothing reflects her powerful presence that comes from her independence and very strong sense of self - she is my most consistent favorite

These outfits are both so Charlotte and Miranda - Charlotte's traditional, but sweet and charming and Miranda's more serious, power-career woman personalities... they make good use of their handbags as well!

Thrifty Chick Launch

2005-11-02T22:39:00.000-05:00

The high fashion ezine Papierdoll launched its budget shopping site today - Thrifty Chick. With deals of the day, info on sample sales, and shopping guides, it's worth checking out. I love the kate spade bag they have featured today (kate spade's sample sale is almost over!).

How to Wear: Grey Dress Pants

2005-11-01T23:16:00.000-05:00

Winter chill means trading in linens and chinos for wools and tweeds. And while the sky turns greyer, so do the pants. Since the autumn equinox, I’ve seen countless women walking around in grey dress pants that might as well be sweatpants, because I can’t tell the difference in the material. I’m only able to tell that they are actually meant to be dress pants based on the context of the outfit, because I pray to god that no one would wear black leather boots and a blazer with sweats.

So I thought it would be appropriate to have a little instructive lesson on how to choose grey pants that look like wool (or another dress pant appropriate fabric) and not a cotton/polyester blend (which is fine for the gym).

Were These Pants Separated at Birth?
As a rule, don’t buy dress pants in “heathered grey” – the standard color for sweatpants in heather grey (the grey with little white flecks in it), and so why would you want your expensive dress pants to simulate your ratty gym sweatpants? You don’t - just look at the similarities of the pants below.

The pants here not only resemble the color of sweats, but also the style, from their loose fit to their undefined bottom cuffs of the legs. To avoid looking sweatpantsy, grey pants should be tailored to fit snugly with straight-cut legs, with crisp edges and fine detail work.

True Grey Dress Pants
Another rule: for pants, daker colors are dressier, this applies to grey pants as well as jeans, etc. These dark grey melange pants below-left (Banana Republic, $78) are much like the pants above (on the right), but the darker color gives them much more definition and elegance. The straight leg cut also gives them dressy character.
The twill cuffed pale grey pants above-right (Banana Republic, $88) work because of their rich, two-toned twill weave texture and the wide belt loops on the waistband and the prominent cuffs on the legs of the pants.

Last Minute Halloween Costume - Prom/Bridesmaid Dresses

2005-10-29T18:26:00.000-04:00

It's a day before Halloween, and you don't have a costume. You figure you can make a last minute trip to your local party warehouse and pick up some cat ears, throw on that velour leopard print shirt you haven't worn for two years, and tell everyone you are a sex kitten. Which would be fine...

But chances are, there is a dress in your closet that you wore just once to a prom or wedding and now everytime your hand brushes over it while rifling through your hangars, your heart sighs a little in longing to put it on just one more time. Well, all you need is a few key accesorries to turn your dust-gathering dress into the perfect Halloween costume. Just don't be chintzy with the accessories, you dont want to be just a girl in a dress - you need the special touches to make the costume obvious, so you don't end up explaining your costume over and over again.

I had my mom ship me my high school homecoming dress that looks very similar to the dress above (sans tiny belt thing) and I plan on gathering my hair on top of my head, grabbing some sort of translucent pair of shoes and being Cinderella. I'm sure you can accomodate other disney princesses with various dress colors - light blue for Cinderella, yellow for Belle (Beauty and Beast, people), fuschia for Sleeping Beauty...

A sleek red dress would be perfect with some horns, a pitchfork, and a tail to be a she-devil (the model above already looks demonish). A strapless black dress can easily be turned into an Audrey Hepburn-esuqe (circa Breakfast at Tiffanys) ensemble with gloves, a long cigarette holder and huge sunglasses (you know you already have a pair).

Add wings and a halo for a white dress to be an angel. And a fan, hat and bad southern accent makes a poofy dress perfect for a southern belle.

And I personally think that Halloween was invented by perpetual- bridesmaids- turned -wicked -witches in order to recycle their good dresses and mock their bad ones. An irridescent or otherwise eyesore dress lends itself to being a psychotic bridesmaid or serial killer prom queen - a (plastic!) knife, blood dripping down the chin, fangs and big 80's hair will make it obvious.

Good, Bad & Ugly: Velvet Evening Dresses

2005-10-28T23:45:00.000-04:00

The Velvet Good, Bad and Ugly series wouldn't be complete without discussing one of the most precarious applications of velvet - evening dresses. Since velvet is so inherently luxurious, it can provide the perfect touch (or canvas) for a wintertime evening dress. And as this series has established, simplicity is the requisite feature for an elegant velvet ensemble.

The Good
I hate repeating myself, so I'll keep it short: simple. Elegant. sleek. emphasis on fabric itself. Velvet dresses are best worn when they are little dresses (relative to your body), otherwise the heaviness of the fabric will make the dress bulky and flatten all of your curves. While the simplicity of the dress compliments the velvet, the sash embellishes it just enough to add some flair and ffurther define the flattering, body-clinging cut of the dress.

The Bad

This looks like someone made a bikini top out of velvet, and when they realized no one would wear it at the beach, sewed on some chiffon and called it a dress. The velvet top will make small breasts look flat and larger breasts look saggy and separated. And the just-under-the-breasts continuation of chiffon diminishes the curvature of the hips. The velvet trim that cuts through the middle of the dress is distracting and geometrically cuts it in half, drawing the eyeline downward (and you want eyes looking up at your jewelry, makeup and hair when at evening parties).

The Ugly
I think it would be an insult to your intelligence to explain what is wrong with this dress. It does illustrate the importance of how unflattering a heavy cut can be with velvet. Flowers and wings are always a major mistake too.

Puddle Jumping

2005-10-27T20:21:00.000-04:00

Rain, rain, please fall today, so I can play and splash around in my adorable wellies. Incessant rain has cast its dark clouds over the east coast, and they are now using the Greek Alphabet for naming Hurricanes, so I need rain boots! After searching the web, here are the best rainy day boots I could find.

Brown and Pink Arglye Print Wellington Rain Boots from, wait for it, wait for it... Target!?!? Yes, Target. And they are so cute and inexpensive at $24.99. Target has really come through on their rebranding campaign to become an "upscale discount retailer" - truly defying that supposed oxymoron with these boots that work for both fall and spring (winter too, though in many places you'll be subbing in the snow boots).

On Your Feet Storm Two-Toned Rain Boot

in brown and pink (noticing a theme?) from Overstock.com are super-cute and better if you want a simpler style. A bit pricier at $38.99, but worth it when you save your suede stilletto-heeled boots from being ruined by a puddle.

Gabrielle Rocha Zebra Print Rain Boots from Zappos.com are so funky and fun - the perfect excuse to wear animal print outside of the boudoir.

Video iPod - the Perfect Functional Accessory

2005-10-27T08:46:00.000-04:00

In a time when we wear belts not to hold up our jeans, but over our dresses and tops to elongate our waistlines... and we carry around tiny clutch purses too small to fit more than a lipstick, credit card and ID, its time for an accessory that serves an actual function- and the iPod is that accessory... I finally jumped onto the iPod bandwagon and let me say, the video iPod was worth waiting for (actually, I wasn't waiting for Apple to release a vidiPod so much as I was waiting for my birthday to roll around since I can't afford it on my own with my current Anthropologie addiction).

Apple has brilliantly cornered the the designer comptuer-electronics market (Sony for general electronics), seizing on a moment when designers were having a love affair with technology and even included the iPod in some runway shows. Now its the must-have hand-held electronic for the urban chic. Just don't wave it around on the subway or keep it in your back pocket, then the message you are sending goes from I'm-techno-hip to I'm-just-asking-to-be-robbed.*

And don't forget to get a cute case (4th gen cases coming soon, I'm sure).

*as well as I-just-moved-here-from-the-rural-midwest and please-take-the-wallet-sticking-out-of-my-wide-open-purse

Canal St Fake Handbag Update: CHLOE's Arrived!

2005-10-26T23:00:00.000-04:00

So this weekend I was in NYC (I am up there every other weekend since my boyfriend and my careers are in geographic conflict right now) and decided that, after all that posting on fake handbags, it was time I went and browsed at Canal St myself, since I hadn't been in a few months.

I went to several storerooms (some nestled behind sewing facilities, one in a basement, all under multiple lock-and-key entrances) but was disappointed with the selection and quality of the fakes. Even my boyfriend was unimpressed, and while he entertains my fascination with designer bags, he is not someone who follows these things closely (I still can't believe I got him to Canal with me).
I couldn't find anyone to take me to the place where I KNOW there are high-grade fakes but I did see something promising - two imitation Chloe Paddington handbags (dark brown) in two separate locations. The first one was not very good, the padlock was scratched, etc, but the second was much better, although the "leather" seemed a bit too thin. While neither was so amazing that I had to buy it, the appearance of fake Chloe is the sign of much more to come, with better versions soon available!
I also saw Balenciaga, which was new to me on Canal as well - but they had BALENCIAGA plastered on the front, which is not something you'd find on a real Balenciaga bag.

It seems like a whole new era may be dawning for the fake handbag world... I'm going back to Canal in Nov (need to buy some Christmas presents before Thanksgiving), so I'll post back with an update then - where hopefully I'll have news about the introduction fake designer iPod cases!

Related: Part I-VI: Introduction, What's Available, What to Look for, Canal St, Other Fake Items, Industry Overview

Wrap Sweaters: A Love Story

2005-10-25T10:59:00.000-04:00

I saw this Alpaca and nylon long-sleeve cozy (left) by DKNY Pure in the September InStyle and fell in love. Unfortunatley, at $295 there is no way I could justify buying it, although I am sure I would practically live in it the entire winter and it would go with almost anything, and it looks so warm and... there I go again, and now I have to talk myself back out of it.

But this story of unrequited love has a fairy-tale ending (sort of)... this morning I got a promo email from Bluefly (check out our novelty sweaters!) and so I did a quick browse-through (sorted by price) and came across this Cousin Johnny convertible sweater wrap (below), which I think is so genius!

Although its not alpaca, it does look rather warm, and the versatility makes it so easy to layer appropriately. And if I thought I could wear the other wrap all the time, this one is definitely something I could get to fit any occasion. And at $52.95 - its a fifth of the price of the other one! Of course there is the dilemma of color - teal, chocolate brown or black? My wardrobe accomodates all three so well. There is also avocado, raspberry and cranberry - which strung together reminds me of some concoction from Jamba Juice, and which all seem a little too vibrant for a fall/winter ensemble.

My one hesitation (why, world, are you not perfect?) is that I can't see it, touch it, try it on, before I buy it, and I hate going through the returning something via mail thing. Plus, Bluefly doesn't refund original shipping if an item is returned.

Still, how can I resist what seems to be my sweater-wrap soul mate?

Addendum:
A friend just alerted me to a wrap sweater from Anthropologie my fave Anthro line, Velvet (right, $68). The feminine touches such as the finishing on the sleeves (click through to see detail and variations) augment its softness.

Luckily, my workplace is within walking distance from one of their stores, so I can stop by and check it out tomorrow during my lunch break - while I am obviously a huge internet fan, there is still such value to physically interacting with something before purchasing it.

Good, Bad & Ugly: Velvet Tops and Skirts

2005-10-24T23:08:00.000-04:00

Velvet can make the right piece of clothing completely luxurious, perfect for a dinner party or night out, or completely ridiculous, perfect for the circus or a bad Victorian-era halloween costume.

The Good

Left: This top is so gorgeous and elegant! The color and lace combination is perfect - very feminine but not too little-girly (which is a common downfall of lace and velvet together). Right: This skirt also brings lace and velvet together for an exquisite winter look. Note that both, while adorned by sophisticated lace additions, emphasize simplicity and sleekness in their use of the velvet material - this allows the velvet itself to define the elegance of the item.

The Bad

Left: What is this supposed to be? An over-the-blouse corset? An oddly cut vest? It seems like there were scraps left from making a velvet jacket or dress and some poor design student stiched them together in hopes of creating something wearable. The color is the only thing this top has going for it. Right: This skirt looks like the fabric from the couch of a whorehouse. The bright fushcia is only made uglier by the double-trim. The cut is also unflattering, bunching the fabric up around the waist for what is sure to overexmphasize the hips and hide the curvature of the butt (something you want to flaunt!).

The Ugly

Left: Yes, that is the front view of the blouse. Yes, it is hideous in multiple ways. I don't know who would dye velvet to make it look like denim, considering denim is the exact opposite of the texture and feel of velvet (denim=ultra casual, velvet=ultra lux) and I don't know why that person would then give their denim-velvet creation a cut that is sure to have the affect of flattening the chest via the huge poofy 3/4 sleeves and the unflattering straight cut of the front of the blouse, but whoever it is, they should prepare to see their work on the sale racks of Anthropologie for months, until Anthro is giving them away (Seinfeld and the puffy shirt episode comes to mind). Right: This skirt is equally disastrous. Velvet tiered skirts are NOT a chic interpretation of Boho - rather they look like something some unfortunate woman picked up at Chicos. Crinkling the velvet makes it even worse - doesn't even look like velvet anymore.

Again, simplicity and sleekness are key to wearing velvet right.

No More Panties at Victoria's Secret

2005-10-22T12:33:00.000-04:00

Victoria's Secret's quality has noticeably dimished over the past several years, and not just with those extremely annoying IPEX commercials.

Why worth mentioning now? This morning I discovered a small hole at the seam of my mesh panties (right) that I bought in June and probably haven't worn more than a dozen times since (I do laundry every two weeks). Their panties just don't hold up like they used to - they seem to be less well-made with a shorter lifespan every time I buy a new batch. Anything in cotton there is worthless, and it seems (from this experience at least, these panties retail for $12 each) that even their higher-quality fabrics aren't sewn together with high-quality stiching to make them last.

And while I am a devoted wearer of their Very Sexy balconet push-up bra, I am wondering if there isn't also something better elsewhere (although I haven't tried the much - overly? - hyped IPEX)... Still, I must say that VS bras have all worn remarkably well on me and have been hundreds of times better in quality and fit than anything I've found in a department store (and I worked in the intimates section at Macys!).

But I'm definitely going to have to find a new place to buy my panties, I've resisted the inevitable for much too long. Any suggestions?

Good, Bad & Ugly: Short-Sleeve Velvet Jackets

2005-10-20T20:52:00.000-04:00

Following the Good, Bad and Ugly post on Velvet blazers, here are some illustrations for short-sleeve velvet jackets.

The Good
This jacket does everything right - the cut resembles a traditional blazer and gives the most emphasis to the fabric itself. The color is a deep chocolate brown that adds visual richness to the texture of the fabric. And the buttons are complimentary but not distracting. Even the outside-pockets lie flat instead of poofing out, and aren't over-emphasized with lining (its at Forever21 for just $32.50!).

The Bad

While the color is okay, although a bit shiny, the pinched waist rumples the fabric (rumpled velvet looks sloppy rather than chic) and the hanging ties discompose what could have been a nice, classic looking jacket, as thought pieces were unraveling from it.

The Ugly
The sleeves poof like the Easter dress you wore when you were three (it was cute then). But really it's the color that makes this atrocious - a color unbefitting velvet (and most other fabrics for that matter). However the way the model is wearing the jacket over a low-cut cami really enhances the deep neckline of the jacket - a trick to use when wearing a jacket with such a cut (the deep cut works well on velvet, just not this particular jacket).

Part VI: Fake Handbag Wrap-Up

2005-10-19T20:55:00.000-04:00

Overview of Fake Handbag Industry
Counterfeit handbags are mass-produced in China and smuggled into the US and Europe (usually in large crates in container ships). It is illegal to make and sell them, but not to buy them. Because some luxury goods are also made in China, some fakes are produced with the same machines used to make Coach bags, and so these fakes are even higher quality compared to the real thing. The handbag vendors on the street are often immigrants and usually struggling to get by . US Customs is the agency that monitors and tries to prevent the fake handbag industry, and their role has become more intense due to pressure by luxury goods retailers. Because the industry is illegal, people compare it to, and even try to link it with, illegal drug activity. I have never read this from an official journalistic source, including a wonderful Time Magazine article that provides an overview of the industry. I think that linking fake handbags to more serious crime syndicates may not be far fetched, but is most likely fearmongering (like those commercials where smoking pot ends up in someone dying).

Why do Designer Retailers Care?
Luxury retailers claim that they lose millions of dollars to the fake handbag industry. Obviously, no one who could afford a real $1500 Murakami Louis Vutton bag would instead opt for the $30 fake from the guy on the corner, so the industry is not losing direct sales of the bags to the counterfeit competition. What the industry is concerned about is the devaluation of their brand, i.e. the person who can afford the Murakami bag won’t want to buy it because its value as a status symbol is much lower when anyone can go pick up something that looks nearly the same for $60 on Canal St. (and what if someone thought her bag was a fake? Oh the horror). Thus designer brands lose money indirectly, because she will substitute to another brand of bags that isn’t being sold on streetcorners. This is probably explains, besides the general cyclicality of the designer trends, why Chloe has supplanted Louis and other more houslehold-name designers as the new" it bag".

My take on all of this...
Personally, I know the industry is illegal, but I also know that buying a $60 bag from a guy on Canal St who is likely putting his kids through MIT or a guy on the corner who just moved here from Ghana as is trying to feed himself is not something that will destroy the universe.

Obviously if I could own real designer handbags I would (or at least if I could win one from Bluefly). But I can't afford a designer bag (at least, not yet- I'm a budding careerwoman).

I don’t buy fakes because I subscribe to the status symbol thing (I only own one signature bag, and that's because its so adorable, and I actually think the C’s –its Coach – detract from it). I buy fakes because they are fun and somewhat luxurious (they are, after all, modeled after designer bags) and just as cheap (sometimes cheaper) than bags of the same quality in department stores. And, you know, if a stranger mistakes it for a real bag, all the better (I do tell anyone who asks that a bag is fake).

Final Note
Pulling off the fake bag thing is all about HOW you do it. If your wardrobe is stylish and the bag fits into your own personal style (and its a high-grade fake), most people will assume it's real because of your well-put-together appearance. And I know all the glamour mags say it like a refrain, but its true - confidence is the most important item you will put on to make yourself look gorgeous.

Related: Part I-V: Introduction, What's Available, What to Look for, Canal St, Other Fake Items

Good, Bad & Ugly: Velvet Blazers

2005-10-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

"I would drape myself in velvet if it were socially acceptable." -George Costanza, Seinfeld (Label Maker episode)...

Velvet is definitely the fashion furore of the fall, and can add a certain sumptuous touch to a dramatic or romantic ensemble. But velvet is a finicky fabric, and thus can enhance a look with graceful elegance (as it softens and accentuates the trench coat at right) or end up looking shoddy and cheap.

Mix velvet and blazer jackets together and wearing it right becomes even more tricky. As a rule, its best to go with a dark/subtle colored, smoothly finished and simply designed velvet blazer - complications of style only detract from (or even ruin) the luscious appeal of the velvet fabric.

The Good
Left and Center: These blazers all have straight, flat-lying cuts that hug the body and keep the style simple, so that the luxuriousness of the fabric gets the emphasis. The dark, rich colors further accentuate the velvety texture. Right: The collarless cut and delicate trim adds a modern, stylish touch, but doesn't detract from the velvet itself.

The Bad

Left: Crinkled velvet is something to stay away from completely - it looks like someone converted their gaudy drapes into a jacket... this blazer is over $400 but looks cheap and like oversized corduroy. Center: This would be okay if it didn't have those horrible, distracting buttons and the outside-pockets that make it poof out at the waist - not to complimentary for the hips, not to mention taking away from the overall jacket. Right: The bright red overpowers the fabric itself (it would be better in chianti/merlot), not to mention a quasi-military jacket cut that again cheapens the look of the fabric rather than enhancing it. Bright colors run the risk of making velvet look shiny rather than plush.

The Ugly
These are all wrong in more ways than one. But I will try to count the ways... Left: Obviously it looks like something an old lady would wear on a cruise ship - and what is with pockets that are in between the breasts and hips - must be for someone whose boobs fall that low. The trim is distracting and the poofy shoulders only make it worse, also the blue could be deeper instead of iridescent. Center: And you thought it was impossible to make velvet look drab and blah, well this jacket proves you completely wrong - velvet is supposed to be rich and well, velvety, not totally devoid of all color. The gathering of the fabric above the pockets, as well as the overly large pocket flaps make the jacket look like a thrift-store reject. Right: If the center jacket didn't have enough color, this one knocks you over the head with it. Subtle, dark colors are best for velvet, not overpowering neon. Compounded with the crinkling, it doesn't even look like a velvet-related material, but some weird Martian corduroy hybrid mix.

Gauchos: Time of Death...

2005-10-18T17:00:00.000-04:00

When did gauchos peak out and die as a fashion craze? Was it when Old Navy started carrying them or when I saw about 60 pairs hanging on the sale racks of Urban Outfitters last weekend? Either way,

I won't retire my gauchos completely, their soft ethereality makes them too damn comfortable. But they have been demoted in my wardrobe from casual chic to casual... meaning they will see a lot less outdoor arts festivals and a lot more mid-evening runs to the grocery store.

Part V: Canal Street: Other Goodies

2005-10-17T18:53:00.000-04:00

Canal isn't only about handbags, there are other things like costume jewelry and other trinkets. The range of imitation goods once included everything from designer purses to shoes - but due to the customs crackdown these are much more rare to find. Last time I was there, it seemed that the best designer imitations for non-purse items (see Canal post for handbags) were in the booths on Canal, west of Broadway. Here's a sampling of what to look for...
Sunglasses seem to be the most widely available fake (that is worth getting)... the Chanels above would go for about $10-15.

Coach (and other signature collection) belts and designer wallets of all kinds can be found... ... as well as other accesories like watches and hats (watch out for hats with designs that don't even exist in the original form).

While I haven't seen ipod cases there yet (let me know if you have), I am really hoping for them soon... of course I could splurge the $50-80 for a real one (I think it would be a good first step into the world of real luxury items). I love this Coach case in Zebra print...

Lord & Taylor Friends and Family Sale

2005-10-17T09:14:00.000-04:00

Lord and Taylor is having a friends and family event this Thursday-Sunday Oct 20th-23rd - get 20% off almost everything (read: no discounted Marc Jacobs, as if 20% off made it affordable) and 10% off cosmetics. Click here to get the savings pass.

This would be the perfect time to get something that you know won't go on sale (like those ballet flats you've been eyeing that are so adorable they'll sell out at full price) or a larger-purchase essential item that you want to invest your wardrobe budget on, but could use a little softening to the financial blow (see my post on outerwear to better illuminate that statement).

Part IV: Canal Street - Fake Handbag Mecca

2005-10-14T14:25:00.000-04:00

There is no better place in the US to buy a fake handbag than Canal St. Located in lower Manhattan in the middle of Chinatown, dividing the neighborhoods TriBeCa (Triangle Below Canal) and Soho (South of Houston St), Canal depends on more than just counterfeit items for commerce, but this is where the fake handbag industry thrives.

If you can't make it to Canal, the bargaining section further below will still be useful for wherever you end up getting your fake.

Where to Go

It used to be that you could walk into any booth lining Canal St between 6th and Broadway and find some good fakes… but thanks to some major customs raids (due to pressure from the luxury retail industry), all that has changed severely (as the pic of bad fakes above illustrates), and in order to get a high-grade fake, you need to know where to go.

This is based on my experience: As soon as you climb steps out of the subway station there is likely to be someone standing outside saying “Louis Vuitton, Louis Vuitton, Coach, Prada…” or some variation of that chorus. That person is your first step toward the good stuff. Approach him/her and indicate that you are interested, they may show you a sheet with pictures of bags for you to choose one (and it will be fetched for you) but you want to go and see for yourself. Let them know that you want to look at the bags in person (they might just take you to do that automatically anyway). Chances are they will lead you and pass you off to another person who also has shoppers with them, and that person will lead you to an inconspicuous door and usher you in hurriedly. After entering you will have to climb one very long staircase (it feels like you are making a journey to see the Dali Lama or something) and then enter a backroom that is sectioned into booths. The booths each have a vendor with a different collection of items, so you want to look in each one to see what they have. It sounds sketchy, and quite frankly it is, and its not glamorous either. But when you see those gorgeous, top-of-the-line fakes in front of you, none of that matters. Also note, they are secretive because selling and making copies of trademarked merchandise is illegal, but buying them is not – while carrying your fake Louis might get you kicked out of their fashion show (its true) it will not get you arrested. More on that in the next post…

How to Bargain

Once you have found your dream bag (well, an imitation of it anyway), its time to bargain. Bargaining is a given and is expected, so do it. If bargaining intimidates you, the vendors are usually pretty tame and shouldn’t throw you off. Its easy once you do it. Also, this is not the time to wear your True Religion jeans or other expensive duds – they price discriminate, so you don’t want to look rich.

First, ask how much (they’ll probably offer that info up as soon as you touch it) and then think about whatever they say for a moment as you look over the bag carefully (with a facial expression that says, “Is this really worth it?”). Then offer a price point below what you want to pay, but not ridiculously low – somewhere between half to three-quarters of the price they quote. They will offer a higher price, and that is when you put the bag down and start looking at the other ones, like you aren’t interested in it anymore. If they don’t offer a lower price at that point, you suggest it and chances are they will agree of give you a reasonable price. As a guide, expect to finally pay about 75% of whatever is the original price they quote you (they say $80 at first, ends up at $60; $25 becomes $20 etc).

Pricing

Here are some examples of what (in my experience) are fair prices on different bags (high quality fakes). Of course, use your own judgment depending on size and quality of the bag - also, just as real Chanel is more expensive than Coach, so goes the pricing for fakes. This is a guide to help you know what to expect, overall I've never had someone try and rip me off, so I wouldn't go into bargaining from a defensive position.

Coach totes/large bags: final price=$60
Kate Spade medium-sized tote/shoulder bag: final price=$30-40

Dior small logo purse: $30
Chanel medium bag: $40

Louis Vuitton large shoulder/tote: $80
Prada very nicely detailed small purse: $40

Worth Getting the Real Thing: Outerwear

2005-10-14T12:53:00.000-04:00

Now that winter is approaching and in many places the cold air has permeated at least the darker hours of the day, its time to pull out those chunky cowlneck sweaters and funky scarves. Since I’ve been doing a lot of talking about fake handbags, I thought I would post on something that is worth getting the real thing and investing money into purchasing – outerwear.

Outerwear is clothing that is not only ornamental but also functional, so it is worth spending the extra money to get a high-quality item (I would say the same about suits, shoes and other essentials). While H&M might carry jackets and peacoats for $50, the main purpose of owning such items are to keep you warm, and so it is worth the extra $50-100 to get a jacket with real down or a coat made of real wool. Also, many forms of outerwear never go out of style, so in the long run by keeping a $120 Kenneth Cole jacket for six years versus a $50 H&M jacket for two (if you are gentle on it, not likely in winter weather) you’ll save money ($30 over 6 years) and stay cozy while Christmas window shopping.

Sample Outerwear Wardrobe – From My Closet

Since I approach shopping for outerwear as an investment, I’ve been strategic by choosing a few items with classic looks that don’t go out of style. I’ve built my outwear wardrobe on a neutral color palette that coordinates with my larger winter wardrobe. I’ve also chosen distinct styles of coats/jackets at varying lengths and made of different materials to give my wardrobe maximum impact.

A lot of my winter work/going out wardrobe is built around a dark color palette, so a black wool ¾ coat is essential for me. I like the ¾ length because it protects most of my body from the cold but still shows off my pants. It’s stylish and versatile enough that I can wear it on my walk to work or out to dinner. My sister bought me my wool coat (Calvin Klein) from Burlington Coat Factory for about $150 (warning: as with other discount stores like this, you must dig deep to find something good… our hometown is in FL so the BCF usually has some great finds, since hardly anyone buys winter coats at all). I’d expect to pay somewhere in the range of $150-250 for a good wool coat. The coat featured here is Via Spiga on Bluefly for $399 – which is expensive, but there are similar styles (Kenneth Cole Reaction, etc) for less, I just liked this look a lot.

Many of my casual clothes are built around a chocolate brown (I am in LOVE with it) palette, and so this down-filled jacket is perfect for casual excursions (I own this exact one). I chose a shorter length because I live in DC, where the fall/early winter is mild, and so I don’t need as much coverage (but it keeps my upper body so warm!). The jacket is by Marc New York on Bluefly for $135 (it was 15% off last weekend, and to think I was tempted to get a cheap version from H&M for $50). I’d expect to pay $100-$200 for a good down jacket, depending on length. An alternative to the down jacket would be a good North Face fleece or a short pea coat, but I kinda like the marshmallow puff look of down (haha, makes me feel girly or something – a snow bunny?).

I have a Banana Republic coat similar to this trench by Burberry (there is a similar-looking Frenchcoat on Bluefly for $179 ) that I got for $130 last winter. I like the beige color because the light material makes this coat perfect for late winter/early spring (and those April showers). Mine is longer in order to protect my pants from the weather. I’d expect to pay $120-250 for a trench coat, depending on length.

Review
Classic styles, neutral colors, different materials and varying lengths. Bluefly has a lot of good options if you need to buy now (like me, who keeps moving northward). If you can wait, outerwear often gets discounted at the end of winter, and since you want a classic style anyway, you can buy something for next season.

Fake Designer Handbags Part III: What to Look For

2005-10-13T17:07:00.000-04:00

Falling into the impulse buying trap is so easy when fake purse shopping – there are so many choices and it's so tempting to want them all when they look so fabulous and are relatively dirt cheap. So stick to the browsaholic rules and buy a) what you need (or really, really want, which is just as good as needing something) and b) something you love. Perhaps a large, practical tote for carrying files to and from work or a tiny, completely impractical clutch that has just enough room for a lipstick and credit card (as the Coach bags at left and right).

Besides your instincts, you should also look for certain things when fake handbag browsing... One of the advantages of imitation designer bags is that they can be very well-made and long-lasting, even more so than handbags you could get in a retail store for the same price (obviously not as nice as the real designer bags, though).

Dior is in the Details

What separates great, hardly- able- to- tell- the- difference- from- the- real- thing fakes from crappy-to-semi-okay ones? The detail.

Detail work is what adds a lot of the value to real designer bags (status and name recognition play a role as well, go figure) – most designer bags are handmade and thus meticulously crafted, thus it is important to feel the material (you should know what real leather , suede and quality fabric feel like in order to compare) and look over the stitching carefully – it should be tight and should not have any visibly stray threads. Zippers should zip all the way, and there shouldn’t be a tail to the zipper (a hanging part – i.e. the zipper doesn’t fit the bag but hangs beyond it).

Also, the more detail a fake has, the more it simulates a real designer bag. Take the Dior bag at right, for example. A good (excellent, really) fake would include both the hanging D zipper pull, as well as the Dior spelled across the strap. Getting a fake with that level of creative detail will make it that much more passable as the real thing. A standard bag with Dior slapped on the front somewhere just doesnt have the same panache.

Besides these craftsmanship standards…

What’s in a Name?

Make sure the name stamp is an exact match for the brand, and that it follows the true logo imprint of the designer's real bags. For example, Prada either places a black upside-down triangle with its logo onto its bags (at left) or imprints the leather of its bags with the same logo (at right). Though scaled differently, the PRADA typestyle is the same, as well as the “Milano”, banner with “Dal 1913” and crest underneath.

Make sure these standard details are on the logo for whatever brand you are shopping for. Also, make sure the label is on straight and centered if it is sewn or otherwise attached to the bag, and make sure that imprints do not have stamp marks (little lines around the imprint) and that the words and symbols are clear and crisp.

It’s What’s on the Inside that Counts

The easiest barometer for judging the quality of an imitation bag is to look inside. If the inside of the bag has as much detail as a real bag, it indicates that the overall quality of the bag is also detail-oriented and was produced to be a high-grade fake.

The name brand should be imprinted or otherwise attached to the inside of the bag (usually the side pocket, see the Kate Spade at right) and the inside fabric should simulate that of a real bag.

Often high quality fakes will even include registration cards and handbag covers. It doesn’t mean you are getting a real bag - it means that the fake is top-of-the-line, and that the fake industry understands the appeal of presentation and the blurring of reality and simulation.

Tomorrow I'll talk about pricing and shopping strategies on the Canal St. post…

Fake Handbags Part II: What’s Available (and What’s Not)

2005-10-12T23:36:00.000-04:00

Before going fake handbag hunting, you should familiarize yourself well with what the REAL bags look like for each brand (I hope this is obvious). Easiest way to do this is to browse individual designer websites (if you know which brand(s) you want) or browse a luxury retailer’s site like Saks.com or eluxury.com to get a better idea of what fits your individual style and what gets your heart racing.

But first, you need to know what fakes are available.

What’s Available
While the exact offering of your local fake handbag vendor is obviously not predictable, there are several applicable generalities in terms of what is available and (more easily defined, perhaps) what is not.

The Brands
Most vendors carry standard Coach, Kate Spade, Prada, Fendi, Gucci, Burberry and Louis Vuitton in basic/classic designs (aka mostly logo bags). I’ve also seen Dior, Chanel, Hermes and more trendy variations of the abovementioned more “standard” brands.

I have yet to see (or, at least, recognize) a Tods, Chloe or Miu Miu bag, but these (and other numerous) fashion houses are much less known to the general public and thus aren’t as marketable. I once saw a guy selling fake Tumi in Times Square, but I didn’t stop to check it out (avoid Times Sq like it’s a rainbow patterned pair of leg warmers).

Designer Logo “Signature” Bags
Designer logo (Signature) bags are the most plentiful and also most recognizable (they are also the easiest to spot as bad fakes if done poorly) of the fakes offered. The standards are Louis Vuitton, Coach, Fendi and Gucci (sometimes Dior).

All vendors will carry these if they carry designer imitations at all. Logo bags are popular because most people who buy them are doing so to fool others and thus want to carry around something that people will actually recognize in order to be fooled (I’ll explain my own personal reasons for loving fakes in a later post).
Designer logo bags are often the best true-to-the-original copies, because everyone knows what they look like, and the bags tend to remain largely the same over time. Make sure you know what the logo of a designer looks like and how it is configured on a bag.

Also, many designers are creating a lot of variations to their signature collections, mostly in response to the booming fake bag industry in an attempt to make their bags more difficult to replicate. For example, Coach introduced a signature bag with patchwork of different size C’s on it (at right). Many signature collections now feature metallic logos and other creations.

Unfortunately for the fashion houses (but fortunately for the fake handbag shopper), these new signature bags have also been replicated (in a remarkably fast response time to the release of the fall collections) and I have seen many of them on the street, including the patchwork Coach bag featured above.

If you do opt to sport a logo plastered all over your handbag, which for the most part has become a bit déclassé, largely due to the proliferation of fake bags and their permeation of mass culture, forego the standard everyone-has-a-knockoff-of-this logo bag for one that is more original, or at least up-to-date with
the latest season.

I like the Dior signature bag at left (the buckle gives it personality), the Gucci on the right is too plain and blah:

Designer "Non-Logo" Bags
Kate Spade, Burberry and Prada fall into this category by default (although they have their own Signature-type lines of a classic bag that they always offer, think of that horrible plaid), and Chanel and Hermes, when available, often fall here.

When browsing these bags, it is important to look at the logo stamp or other imprint/stitching (i.e. whatever says “Prada” or “Hermes”) and make sure that it looks like that of a real bag. Also make sure that the stamp is clean (no + or ] marks around the stamp).

Again, it is important to be familiar with the designers’ current lines – is Prada into bags covered with buckles this season (well, its a Prada staple of every season, but buckle overload was last year) or are they into grommets this fall (yes!)? You want a fake that looks like it is real, and there are a lot of good looking bags with a Prada triangle slapped on that look nothing like Prada’s style. You want something that at least matches the designers style (and they are all distinct) and at best, an exact imitation of an exact designer bag.

I adore the Prada on the left and right, while the outside pockets make the Burberry more interesting, they cannot redeem that ghastly plaid. Note that the Prada triangle here is golden to match the bag (not the standard black background)...

Logo or no logo, you want a bag that you LOVE. Not one that you choose because of the name sewn into it or stamped onto it. A bag that, if it didn’t have Chanel’s name attached, you would still gravitate towards and daydream about endlessly.

What's Not Available

Brands that are not easily recognizable by the general public. Coach/Louis/Spade etc bags that are made by the brand, but are not easily recognizable by the general public. Runway-type bags that are a one-season phenomenon and/or don’t display the designer logo prominently. Bags that are very difficult to produce in mass quantities.

Pictoral examples to illustrate this point:

Fendi and Kate Spade and Dolce and Gabbana...

Gucci and Burberry ...

Tomorrow I will get into more detail about what to look for so that you choose a well-crafted bag.

Chanel Look-a-Like Skirt

2005-10-11T16:09:00.000-04:00

Since it's fake handbag week at Everyday Chic (haha, its now an official "week") I thought I would supplement all this purse talk with some short posts on things to be worn on more than just the shoulder.

In keeping with the theme of designer simulation, here is Anthropologie's winter solstice skirt ($128) that strikes me as very similar to classic Chanel (NOT Chanel's '06 Spring line, gasp! what a tragedy - look over it on I am Fashion -you'll have to scroll to the bottom).

Here is Anthro's glamorous description: Black branches against new snow. Evoke winter's finery with garlands of beads draped between gauzy chiffon panels. Gathered from a chevron yoke for ethereal movement. And I was thinking I could just wear it to the office Christmas party... that description makes me feel like I need to wear it to a mythical enchanted forest while dancing with fauns and nymphs. Narnia, here I come...

Fake Designer Handbags Part 1: An Introduction and Admonition

2005-10-11T14:55:00.000-04:00

Perhaps nothing is as luxurious as a designer handbag. Well, except maybe Manolos… or a fur coat (although I will NEVER wear fur – think of the baby seals!)… and I bet La Perla's lingerie is sumptuous as well… okay, okay I digress. But designer handbags are perhaps the most luxurious item of which you can get an affordable and well-made imitation – that is, if you know how to “shop” for them properly. Thus a multi-part series on Fake (we’ll call them what they are) Designer Handbags, because they are an addictive indulgence. Thank god there isn’t a twelve-step program.

I will include a section on the legality/ethical issues of fakes and an overview of the fake handbag industry as well (where I will advocate for fakes and their sellers, duh), but later in the week (after the fun stuff).

Part 1 – An Introduction and Admonition

There is nothing more pathetic* than someone carrying an obviously fake Louis Vuitton bag (you know, the ones with the symbols but missing the LV insignia). Except, perhaps, someone who would actually pay a thousand dollars for a real granny-style looks-like-a-slot-machine-threw-up-on-it-with-those-hideous-symbols Louis Vuitton bag (and this from someone who absolutely loves brown). Or a Coach-style bag with G’s instead of C’s, or something that says Prado instead of Prada. You get it. Don’t buy a bad fake. Can’t find a good fake? Then buy a Guess purse or a cheap no-brand name purse that is just as cute as a good fake. A bad fake is a walking self-advertisement screaming, “I can’t even fake being posh and hip. I really shouldn’t even try.”

But a good fake, oh a good fake – it will make everyone smolder with jealousy. Especially if you divulge that it isn’t real (as I always do, but only when asked), because then they will be jealous that you got something so divine for only $60. And believe me, a good fake can fool even the sharpest and most devoted fashionistas – I fooled a gay fashion magazine editor (no kidding) with an imitation Prada I picked up in Rome (I did fess up to it not being real, but only after he raved about the stitching for two solid minutes).

Thus, you cannot find a good fake in a shopping mall or anywhere else where the person selling them to you is an actual licensed businessperson. And chances are, if you live in a non-major metropolitan area, you will have to wait to buy your fake until you take a vacation in New York (I am going to feature Canal St this week), Los Angeles, Milan or some other place with a thriving fake handbag industry.

Most good fakes will thus be sold on the street (or in Europe, in subway stations) stretched out across a blanket, or in sketchy back (show)rooms. The trick to finding them is not scientific – in many places the vendors will gravitate toward touristy areas, with tourist-frequented shopping districts receiving the best draw of good fakes. Often street vendors will have both bad fakes (purses with logos like “NYC” or the sort) that they display openly and a few really good fakes of which they may display one or two, but have several more hidden in their huge garbage bags/cardboard boxes (this is so that they can hide the merchandise if the authorities are coming). So you should approach a street vendor and ask if they have whatever brand name you are looking for – they’ll know what you mean.

Back alley showrooms are the best bet, however, because street selling tends to get bags dirty and usually aren’t as well-constructed (in terms of material and counterfeit likeness) as those direct from the source. I’ll explain more about how to shop (and find) these in my Canal St. post.

This post is more of a preview for the week, so I’ll jot down a specific (and ever-evolving) list of fake handbag-related topics I have planned:
-what to look for/spotting a good fake
-examples of what is available and what is not
-how to shop Canal St
-overview of fake handbag industry (and legal/ethical issues)

In the meantime, my fake knowledge is limited to NYC, Italy/Paris and DC – so if you have tips/locations on other places, post them under comments!

*as a good humanitarian, I must note that poverty, social injustice, and human apathy are all much more pathetic than some misguided midwesterner toting around a awful Gucci imitation. However these things are not something we can all snicker at snidely like we can with poor midwestern fashion victim.

Need a Distraction? Win a Designer Handbag

2005-10-07T09:42:00.000-04:00

Bluefly is promoting itself with a "Daily Handbag Giveaway" where you can win a designer handbag, or at least distract yourself for three minutes by trying to win a designer handbag... And if you want a discounted subscription to Vogue or Lucky (see below: Becoming a Browseaholic) you can get that too. And if you play a couple times, you are likely to at least win free shipping or 10% off. Plus a 15% off sale for Columbus Day this weekend...
On a side note, my boyfriend reports an unhappy customer service experience at Bluefly. He ordered a dress shirt online and when it didn't fit and he sent it back to return it, they wouldn't refund him the original shipping cost of the shirt (he was happy to pay return shipping). Still, sometimes they have amazing discounts on cashmere and the like, which would be worth it if you are confident it will fit.

From Shopaholic to Browseaholic…

2005-10-06T17:27:00.000-04:00

In order to have a unique and stylish wardrobe, you have to be a shopaholic, right? Otherwise how will you be able to coordinate your outfits perfectly, and garner compliments on your trendy, yet classically chic style?

No, becoming a shopaholic is not the answer. Becoming a “browseaholic” is. Because when you browse a lot, but buy a little (or, more appropriately, buy selectively), you are able to truly build your own personal style by sampling the array of options out there, as well as find what items cause passing flutters of the heart and which ones you actually yearn for. It means trading in five $25 this-is-pretty-good-but-nothing-special shirts for two or three $40-60 I-am-absolutely-in-love-with-this-and-look-adorable-in-it knit blouses (and not buying them all at the same time).

Browsing is about building a wardrobe over time, rather than having to take it apart and throw half of it away every season.

How Does One Become a Browseaholic?

Hunting and Gathering
Read magazines, browse stores online, and if you can, visit stop by your favorite stores on your way home from work (or on your lunch break or whenever you get the chance) just to look around. By digesting lots of visual images of what is out there, and how others assemble ensembles, you’ll learn to filter between 1) what really appeals to your style, 2) what is nice but not really your style, and 3) what is definitely not your style. You want to continue browsing to refine these categories, so that you’ll be able to spend your money shopping exclusively in category #1. Look all over, not just in your price range – chances are that if a designer makes something you love, a more affordable version exists (and you can be on the lookout for it). Browsing also helps you determine what is a reasonable price for an item – i.e. what you should splurge on at Neiman and what you can save on by getting it at H&M.

Know Your Wardrobe
If you know what your closet has and what it lacks, you can focus on looking for items that you need, rather than impulse buying. Even if you really like that wraparound sweater in maroon, if you already have two in brown and seafoam, you should pass it up (if you absolutely love it, that’s a different story, discussed below). Browsing will also alert you to things you don’t have but would enhance your wardrobe.

Separate Between Like and Love... and Only Choose That Which You Love
Occasionally, you will settle for something you only like because you need it to coordinate with the skirt that you love. But otherwise, learn to be patient, know how to walk away, and only buy an item that when you see it, you know you will be thinking about it all day unless its lying in a shopping bag being carried at your side (and even then you’ll be thinking about it by way of the exhilaration you feel from making it yours). And then when you open your closet doors, its not, “What do I have to wear today?” but rather, “should I wear this dress that I love? Or this skirt that I adore? Or perhaps those pants from two years ago that still make my butt look fabulous?”

Why I Love... Zara's Retail Model

2005-10-05T22:50:00.000-04:00

Zara's Double Assurance

for Euro-Lovin' Fashionistas

If the existential angst of wondering whether you should purchase and item now or risk waiting for it to go on sale later makes you toss and turn at night, or if you are obsessed with never seeing anyone else wearing your favorite skirt, Zara is the place to shop.

Rumor has it that in Spain (Zara's birthplace), women no longer read fashion magazines, they simply go to and browse around to see what is new and hip on the fashion scene. That's because despite having stores all over the globe- 626 stores in 46 countries - Zara is able to stock its shelves with new, up-to-the-second styles.

How it Works:

Similar, But a Bit Different

Zara monitors its shelves very closely in order to restock popular items quickly, which seems like the typical retail model, but here's the twist: Zara restocks its stores with items that are basically similar, but with a distinctly different feature, to the ones being replaced.

For example, they might take a military- stlye jacket that is flying off the shelves and reinterpret it by lengthening it and adding pockets on the breast, or changing the style from an invisible zipper to conspicuous buttons... something that is similar enough that it will continue to hit a shopper's sweet spot, but different enough that everyone isn't wearing the same thing.

This ensures that a) you will have an item that has been sold in limited quantity, ensuring that your closet doesn't have the same contents as all your girlfriends, and b) that if an item is must-have, you must get it then and there, because since there isn't a lot of stock of one item lying around, Zara won't have to put most of its items on sale to unload its excess stock. So, (for the most part) you can be assured that the price of an item is the actual price of that item (because it will sell out at that price, aka supply meets demand).

Store Overview:
For Those New to this Spanish Import

Zara is located in 11 cities in the US, and there is no online shopping, though you can browse their catalog and a trends section online. Zara stores carry three lines - Zara Woman, Zara Basic and TRF (there is also a men's section, which works the same way).

Zara Woman is their higher-end line and features the above retail model. It is located in the front and against the walls of the store, and is comparable in price and quality to say, Banana Republic, but with more edge and its own fabulous European style.

Zara Basic, true to its name, features more basic items with fabrics of lower quality, falling somewhere in between the Banana and the Gap realms. This line still has the European touch, but is less stylish than Zara Woman. It is found on the racks in the middle and back of the store.

Zara TRF is basically like a juniors section for the store, with clothing geared to a teen audience and quality much like the Zara Basic line. It’s usually in the back or tucked into a corner.

Shoes and accesories are also offered. There are normally sale sections and some seasonal sales at Zara, but due to the model described above, these have been picked over even before they go on sale. Still, if the economy is in a downswing or something was tucked away in the back room, you might come across a real find.
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Related: CNN.com article on Zara's business model

Can’t Pass Up: Sephora’s Mixed Pink Kits

2005-10-04T12:16:00.000-04:00

Sephora is selling three different collections of lip glosses, perfumes, and skin care lines for only $25 to support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. So not only does purchasing these fabulous kits give you a sense of luxury, it makes you a bit of a humanitarian too.

If you tire easily of one scent or color, or suffer from general makeup schizophrenia/ADD like me, these kits are a wonderful compilation of high-end samplings and treats. This way you can try out multiple lip glosses or smells and find the glosses that are most kissable and the scents that will attract those kisses.

Lowdown: Lip Gloss Kit

Whoever knew there were so many shades of pink? The full size Lorac lip polish in Luv pays for most of the kit on its own – it sells for $17.50 retail. Throw in a full size Sephora brand lip gloss at $10 and the kit has paid for itself – the five minis are just a bonus! And that means that if one color leaves you looking washed out or plain jane, you can pass it off to your little sister and still know that you got your money’s worth. But if you don’t like the Lorac, which is where a lot of this kit’s value lies, I’d pass or gift it.

Lowdown: Perfume Kit

As a former perfume-counter girl (who is still a coffee bean smelling addict), I did a little analysis to see if this was, in fact, a deal (though as a perfume counter rule, if you like ¾ of the scents in a kit, it is a deal… the problem is that kits often include cheap scents to make it a non-deal). The kit contains 1.85oz of perfume, not counting the fragrance pen and Demeter pick-me-up spray. That’s more perfume than a standard small bottle of perfume (1.7oz) that sells from $45 to $65 dollars, but the key is how much you like the individual scents.

This kit’s value, calculated on a cost-per-ounce basis, is $72.60 – so if you used every last drop and loved it, you’d save $47.60… the Marc Jacobs, Ferragamo and Escada are nice touches(accounting for about $7 of actual value each), but the kit really revolves around the .7 oz Carolina Herrera in 212 Sexy, which accounts for $19.25 of the kit’s value (at $55 for 2oz) if you love it, you can splash the others on at whim.

Of course the value of the kits all depends on how much you like of what is in them, so if you have the time it’d be better to actually go to Sephora and check them out in person rather than

order online. But if you order three or more kits (or anything totaling over $75 at Sephora) you get free shipping – making it the perfect excuse to start Christmas shopping early!

Note: Sephora.com doesn't have details about the Skin kit on the website - but I'm stopping by over lunch to purchase the other two myself and I'll check out the third and report back.

J. Crew Fall Sale - If You Like Lime Green ;-P...

2005-09-29T12:10:00.000-04:00

J. Crew is also (see Banana below) having a fall sale, but the pickings are MUCH more slim... Comments about shopping basics apply, but here there seems to be a lack of classic, basic colors, leaving you with such atrocities as lime green wellesley cable sweaters. This is a sale where I would advise only buying if you love not only the item's form, but also the color of the item. Color is what you viscerally respond to, and is what everyone notices before looking at the make/form of an item, so if color is not just right, pass on the item and wait for the PERFECT sweater to come about (perhaps at full price).

Perhaps I should add that the Gap is having a fall sale as well, but only with the caveat that I am very cautious around the Gap, which fell from its pedestal a good half-decade ago, and whose quality of craftmanship fell even sooner than that. I would say that sometimes you can find a great basic for an insanely low price ($10 stretch v-neck top), but I would not walk out of the Gap with more than one or two carefully chosen items at heavily reduced prices. The quality issues, as well as the McGap aspect of its proliferation, makes it otherwise not worth the trip.

Banana Republic Fall Sale - Stock Up on Basics

2005-09-29T11:41:00.000-04:00

Banana Republic is having a fall sale (started yesterday), and that means it's time to stock up on basics. The time to buy is NOW - because most items won't be discounted further (they'll be bought up too quickly).

I usually only buy basic items at the Banana - such as dress pants for work or v-neck sweaters, and then match them with more "trendy" items from other shops. If you buy soemthing too distinct from Banana you run the risk of seeing four people wearing the same item on your morning walk to the Metro (true story). Its best to hit up Banana sales on the first few days, as the hottest items fly off the shelves in the sizes you need - a tip: if they have something you want but not in the size you need, they can order it online for you from the store and it will be FREE SHIPPING. But online can sell out quicker than the stores in many items, so its best to check in-store.

Some basics on sale that I like (and one which I purchased for myself)...