Fashion & Style News: TJ Maxx Ante Ups the Designer Brands at the New Santa Monica Store

TJ Maxx opened it's doors in Santa Monica yesterday. The new store will feature its standard departments, but the Santa Monica store has unveiled a new concept, aptly titled The Runway at Maxx. The new department is filled with exclusive high-end designer and couture labels for up to 70% off.
Brands currently on sales floor? Dolce & Gabbana, Chloe, John Galliano, Mint, 12th Street by Cynthia Vincent, 7 for All Mankind, Yves Saint Laurent,  See by Chloe, Michael Kors and more.

This two-story store features TJ Maxx's standard brands, a decent housewares section, designer shoes and home accents. Drop and check them out. Here's a few pics of some of the deals I spotted:

 Gucci handbags, $699.99

Yves Saint Laurent bag, $1299.99

Prada tote, $1599.99

Chloe shoes, $149.99

12th Street by Cynthia Vincent, $79.99

TJ Maxx 

1251 4th Street @ Arizona 

Santa Monica, CA

Fashion & Style News: Missoni Comes to 90210

 Joy Bryant (r) with Margherita and Angela Missoni.

Nicole Richie

Missoni Beverly Hills boutique  exterior.

Missoni has opened it's first boutique in Beverly Hills yesterday. Margherita and Angela Missoni hosted the event. Joy Bryant and Nicole Richie dropped by to celebrate with the Missonis. 

Fashion & Style News: Tory Burch Opens Up Shop in Tokyo

The exterior of the Tory Burch store in Ginza, Tokyo.

Tory Burch has gone abroad, opening a flagship store in Japan. The Tokyo store is the first international store for Burch whose plans for the brand include a massive international market. There are 30 additional stores planned for Japan next year. The Tokyo store comes after an earlier opening in Manila this month.

Tory Burch executives are looking at tapping the Chinese and European markets. The Tokyo store opened December 8th, with lines of customers who waited eagerly to purchase Burch's signature ballet flats and limited edition tote bags. Ten lucky shoppers who found a "golden ticket" in their bags were able to party with Burch opening night at a separate location.

The customer base in Japan rivals that of the U.S. market, and even with slightly higher prices, the company for-sees significant growth in the market. Japanese consumers enjoy luxury brands and don't mind paying for them. Tory Burch plans to introduce a Japanese inspired collection for spring 2011 as well as introduce a beauty and fragrance collection worldwide.

Fashion & Style News: Penney's Prepares to Roll Out Mango

Mango, the line endorsed by actress Penelope Cruz and her sister Monica is headed to JC Penney's. Mango's appearance at Penney's will be the largest of its kind. The collection will feature casual and career sportswear and accessories.

The Barcelona-based line has proved to be a successful brand worldwide with nearly 100 stores in 94 countries. The U.S. houses a mere 12 stores but Mango is holding it's own, competing with the likes of Zara and H&M.The Penney's deal will allow the brand to expand it's U.S. market and give customers European inspired fashions. MNG by Mango will also provide a boost in Penney's contemporary women's department.

The collection will include jeans, tees, woven tops, dresses and careerwear. Prices have not been determined but will likely be comparable to the current contemporary brands J.C. Penney's houses.

Discount & Designer Sales: Get a $50 Gift Card from Neiman Marcus on Black Friday

DON’T BE LEFT IN THE DARK,

FIND A NEIMAN MARCUS NEAR YOU

WHAT: Spend $100.00 or more between 9am and noon on Friday November 27th and receive a $50.00 gift card.

WHEN: Friday November 27, 2009 - 9:00am to 12:00pm

WHERE: All Neiman Marcus Locations

WHAT ELSE: Some exclusions may apply; see you sales associate for details. $50.00 gift card must be used toward your next purchase between Friday November 27, and Sunday December 6th. Offer valid in Neiman Marcus stores only.

Fashion & Style News: Mob Mania for Choos at H&M

H&M Paris

In Milan, Italy more than a thousand people stood in line (enduring the rain) at H&M to get their hands on the new Jimmy Choo for H&M collection. In Tokyo, more than 800 people stood outside a H&M store for 24-hours, and about 500 people lined up in New York on West 51st Street as early as 8PM on Friday to get their pick of the litter.

Inside the Paris store.

While I am a self-professed shop-a-holic, I have yet to stand in line to grab a garment or accessory. I trekked through the Beverly Center in Los Angeles yesterday and visited H&M,to find a peaceful setting, shoppers going about their daily business and a few Choos still on the shelves.

Apparently the Los Angeles fashionistas hit the Beverly Center store while I was cruising through my other favorite store (Loehmann's) this past weekend. More than 600 people stood in line to get a hold of the shoes in those bright blue Jimmy Choo boxes that were piled neatly on shelves. Few were left after the massive crowds hit and other area stores experienced the same thing.

A wristband for access.

In Manhattan, five stores carried the Jimmy Choo collection. The expensive items were the first to go, including the above-the-knee leather boots that retail $299 and a leather and a suede one-shoulder dress that sells for $249, which has been deemed company-wide as a best-seller. I'm sure the ad campaign contributed to that. I have yet to get my first pair of Choos, but as always, I'll keep you posted.

Fashion & Style News: FashionEnvy Dress Studio - Designer Dress Rental

Atlanta fashionistas, do you attend a lot of formal events but don't like having to buy a new dress each time? FashionENVY Dress Studio might be just what you need. The Atlanta-based online shopping boutique rents designer dresses for parties and events.

FashionENVY Dress Studio rents formal gowns and cocktail dresses for 3, 5 or 7 days. Rental fees start at just $45 making the process fashionista and recessionista friendly. FashionENVY is already gaining national attention. The studio has featured on TLC's Discovery blog and the Atlanta-Journal Constitution's Access Atlanta.

So I bet you're wondering how do you rent a dress from FashionENVY Dress Studio work? Here's the process:

1. Preview FashionENVY's collection of dresses online at http://fashiontoenvy.com
2. Pick your favorite dresses and schedule a private fitting: in-home or at the studio.
3. Wear selected dress and enjoy it for at least three nights from date of rental.
4. When its time to return: Call our courier or bring dress to our studio.

Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. What is the length of time that I can rent a dress?

A. We offer three, five and seven day rental options.

Q. What happens if I return my dress late?

A. If you return a dress late, you will be assessed $20 per day late fee.

Q. What if the dress I am renting becomes dirty or damaged?

A. If a dress is returned abused, damaged beyond everyday wear and tear, or is lost entirely, your account will be charged a reasonable repair or the full retail price.

Q. Are your dress rentals available for purchase?

A. Yes! Absolutely and always.

For more information you can visit FashionENVY Dress Studio at FashiontoENVY.com or on Facebook: Facebook.com/FashionENVY or on Twitter at Twitter.com/FashionENVY.

Fashion & Style News: Bigger is Better for Victoria's Secret Flagship

Victoria's Secret main sales floor in the SoHo store.

Size matters for Victoria's Secret. The brand is getting ready to launch its newly expanded 24,000 square-foot flagship store located in SoHo. The new store replaces the old one, taking up more than five times the size of its previous space.

The bra salon.

The new Victoria's Secret space is the result of the merging of two former retail properties that were 16,000 and 8,000 square feet respectively. The brand has also opened a similar store in Chicago to expand on its fun and flirty image. The brand's Pink label has become quite popular with VS fans, expanding to include sportswear, accessories and gifts.

Signature pink and white stripes adorn a corner.

The SoHo store is decorated with pink and white stripes as well as solid pink. Elaborate lamp fixtures and displays are also on hand to contribute to newly revamped decorum. Victoria's Secret has even created mini-sections within the store that include a bra salon and a panty boutique. Fitting rooms are more glamorous and now have call buttons for summoning staff.

 

The cash wrap and beauty sections.

A special treat customers will find at the Victoria's Secret flagship is a body scanner that captures images to ensure a perfect fit. Only this store, the Chicago Michigan Avenue flagship and one other store have this technology. The brand's fans are sure to be captured by this unique concept.

The SoHo store opened this past Friday.

Victoria's Secret Flagship

565 Broadway

New York, NY 10012

(212) 274-9519

Fashion & Style News: Alicia Keys to Debut Jewelry Collection

Alicia Keys is joining the ranks celebs-turned designers with the creation of a new jewelry line. Keys partnered with Gisèle Theriault to launch The Barber's Daughters jewelry.

The silver jewelry collection will feature pieces inscribed with poetry and prayers from the writings of Dr. Masaru Emoto, author of Hidden Messages in Water. Keys is a huge fan of the author's work.

The collection will launch November 23 and 24th at a pop-up store at 26 Clinton Street in Manhattan. Keys will make an in-store appearance on November 24th.

Fashion & Style News: Juicy Couture to Open Airport Shops

Juicy Couture airport shop prototype.

Frequent flyers will be getting a fashionable, retail surprise just in time for the holidays. The contemporary fashion brand, Juicy Couture, will be opening stores in the U.S. and international airport terminals across the globe beginning in December. The airport shops are a part of Juicy Couture’s plan to grow the brand internationally and transform itself into a multi-billion dollar business.

The concept for opening retail stores in airports was inspired by Juicy Couture’s co-founders, Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor’s, love of travel and shopping. Juicy Couture’s senior vice president of global licensing and international, Ellen Rodriguez, views the airport stores as a great business opportunity to capture their customers business while they are traveling. In addition to opening airport retail stores, Juicy Couture merchandise will also be featured in aircraft catalogs. Their jewelry line has already appeared in the October issue of the United Airlines catalog and their watches appear in catalogs for Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Delta, and U.S. Airways airlines.

Another version of the airport store.

Juicy’s new airport retail stores will vary in size from 200 square foot corner spaces to large scale stand-alone boutiques. They will sell Juicy’s most popular items such as the tracksuits which will be carried in an array of colors for traveler’s convenience. Other popular items include jewelry, sunglasses, watches, logo T-shirts, and baby merchandise. The first airport store will open in Miami International Airport’s American Airlines terminal this December. Subsequently, the second store will open in the British Airways terminal at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport in January. In February, the third store will open in the Taiwan TaoYuan International Airport’s Terminal II. The fourth store is planned to open in Greece’s Athens Airport during the latter part of spring 2010.

The next time you find yourself in an airport waiting to board a flight, indulge yourself in some retail therapy courtesy of Juicy Couture.

www.juicycouture.com 

Fashion & Style News: Ebay Opens Up Shop for the Holidays

Online mega auction and shopping site Ebay will open up its first pop-up store just in time for the holidays. The 5,500 square-foot store will operate beginning November 20 until November 29th, with the exception of Thanksgiving day.

The Ebay pop-up will have merchandise from L.A.M.B., Dooney & Bourke, Michael Kors, and Norma Kamali's exclusive collection for Ebay. Beauty lovers will find M.A.C., Smashbox, and other cosmetics and fragrances available for purchase. Some electronics and toys, and housewares will be available as well, and customers will be given access to the Ebay site through shopping kiosks in the store.

A cocktail party will kick-off the grand opening on November 19th and on Black Friday, limited "daily deals" will be given to the first 100 shoppers who visit the store.

Ebay will match up to $200,000 in purchases with donations to support a number of charities including Global Giving, Grammy in the Schools, UNICED, Right to Play, Youth Fund Ebay and Toys for Tots.

Ebay will also have mobile boutiques where shoppers can purchase items and donate $1, $5 or $10 to a number of holiday charity partners through the Give @ Checkout service in the following cities: Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Miam/Ft. Lauderdale, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Orange County. Sh

Hours will be from 11:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. from November 10th-December 20th.

Visit the Ebay Pop-Up Store at 3 West 7th Street, in NYC or log onto Ebay.com or Ebayholiday.com.

Fashion & Style News: Louis Vuitton Opens Flagship in Dallas

The entrance to the Louis Vuitton store at Northpark.

Louis Vuitton is showing Dallas how its done. The luxury retailer just opened its first flagship store in Northpark Centre (my favorite Dallas mall), the brand's largest in the city. The store is also the first to carry watches, a good thing for those time conscious Dallasites who like to be on time for everything.

The Northpark store is one of three in the U.S. to feature the bronze sculpture "Suitcase in Exile" by Vincent Dubourg. The store faces the mall's center garden, a serene setting in contrast to the parking lot that resided there just a few short years ago.

The store's decor is worthy of praise, with Murano chandeliers, a two-story atrium, a shoe and bag salon and a handbag bar. (Cocktails anyone?) The rear atrium features a boutique with luggage, watches, and antique trunks. The store which opened on Tuesday is part of Louis Vuitton's serious investment in the Dallas market. The brand renovated the 3,800 square foot store at the Dallas Galleria a little over a year ago.

Louis Vuitton Northpark Centre

8687 N. Central Expressway

Dallas, TX 75225

(214) 361-8566

Fashion & Style News: Olsen Twins Invade JC Penney

Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen are the newest celeb designers to strike an exclusive deal with JC Penney. Their new contemporary junior collection Olsenboye will be exclusive to the store.

JC Penney is shipping the line to approximately 600 store nationwide as early as February. Limited selections of the line will go on sale November 6th on JCP.com in 50 stores, and the Manhattan flagsship store. Olsenboye will join other junior contemporary brands such as Bisou Bisou, I (Heart) Ronson, Allen B., Oxford & Regent and Twelfth of Eleven.

The Olsens are targeting a younger market in hopes who still wants the association with luxury brands. The twins The Row brand is currently sold in luxury stores across the country. Penney's itself is working to attract younger customers and recently launched their own junior contemporary line.

Olsenboye will launch full throttle in the spring and include broadcast spots, Facebook and Twitter marketing; and an interactive digital campaign.

Beauty: Bloomingdale's Beauty Gets a Makeover

Bloomingdale's has unveiled a new concept for its beauty department and given it a much needed makeover. I can honestly say prior to seeing the new model I had yet to make a single purchase from the store's beauty department. The sections were to spread apart, and were less than visually appealing.

Well now Bloomingdale's has stepped into the present with a high-tech, innovative concept with open counter space to create circulation. The modern look is as visually appealing as it is functional. Consumers can visit different brands and interact with the products and staff.

At the Shisedo counter, customers can remove a product from its pedestal and see monitors activate with flash product information. The Chanel counter is 878-square-feet with flexible interior space that is adaptable to different activities. The Chanel counter also features a makeup squad ready to give customers different looks and information about products.

The Bobbi Brown counter who has seen the most growth in just two weeks since the new module began has a 548-square-foot space that is inviting and relaxing. Customers can can feel right at home as they try on cosmetics and Bobbi Brown also plans to include an espresso bar in the future.

If you're a makeup and skincare product fan, Bloomingdale's beauty department is definitely the place you want to be.

Bobbi Brown

Above: Bumble & Bumble and Jo Malone

Fashion & Style News: Saks Fifth Avenue Takes on More Designers at Fifth

Amidst the nations financial crisis, the economy hasn't affected the abundance of designer shops. Saks Fifth Avenue's Fifth Avenue flagship has welcomed a bevy of designer shops within the last month including Max Mara, Calvin Klein Collection, Donna Karan, Burberry, Akris Punto, and Agnora.

Each designer shop has its own theme, influenced by the collection itself. Burberry has a contemporary British theme, while Calvin Klein has a bright, clean appearance. Akris Punto is trying out a new concept with a fresh look reminiscent of the brand. Donna Karan's shop has polished black walls, beige travertine floors, and a flat screen television.

Each designer shop is strategically placed in areas where there high-traffic volume and an atrium where brands are highlighted each week.

Fashion & Style News: The Limited Gets a Makeover

The Limited is no longer content with being in the background. After having to take a backseat to its sister store Express Fashion, The Limited is ready for center stage. Forget what you know about the old Limited, a new day has come. CEO Linda Heasley is paving the way with an unlimited vision for the brand to be better than ever.

Breaking away from it’s parents home base on the Columbus, Ohio campus, the brand has moved into its owns office. Heasley said their previous arrangement prevented them from doing so many things like dresses, coats and accessories on a higher scale. The brand also went from being a billion dollar company in the 80s, to a $400 million dollar company. Quite frankly, they lost of lot of their luster.

The new Limited however has a major reinvention game plan. The company plans to take the brand from 200 stores to 400 over the next several years, hoping to open 10 stores each year. The brands target customer, 21-35 year-olds, prefers a specialty-store shopping environment to department stores; loves silk and wool without the dry-cleaning bill, and enjoys a more sophisticated retail experience.

Execs at the Limited have already blueprinted a new concept. New stores will be modeled after a woman’s bedroom and go from 7,000 square feet to 4,000 square feet. Each will have four units with red-painted ceilings above the cash wrap and dressing rooms. For the tech savvy shoppers, dressing rooms will feature call buttons and an e-bar for ordering out-of-stock items. Men who come with their wives or girlfriends will enjoy the sitting area with books and magazines and wireless remote signal.

Heasley says she wants people to know, “This is a new Limited.” Well Ms. Heasley we are eager to see the results.

Visit The Limited online.