Looking Forward To:Lanvin x Acne Capsule Collection

Alber Elbaz, collaborating with the Swedish design firm ACNE (Ambition to Create Novel Expressions) on a 28-piece denim collection, sought to “go back to a product that has a dream to it,” he’d told The Daily. The head designer at Lanvin wanted to craft “desirable denim, from raincoats, tuxedos, corsets, and shrugs,” he explained to style.com in Paris at the Blue Soirée in the Hôtel de Crillon salon, where London DJ team Horse Meat Disco spun some tunes for the transvestites, Parisian A-listers, models and more gathered to celebrate the collaboration.
The purpose of the partnership wasn’t about “signing hardcore contracts,” he said, rather about something mutually fun and creative with the “young, energetic, sexy Swedes” Elbaz detailed to The Daily. (See ‘em for yourself.)
The Lanvin x Acne denim capsule collection will have a line of jeans ranging from $550 to $650, coats running $1,200 to $1,500 and jewelry and handbags upwards of $1,500 and more. Find pieces at Barney's and Bergdorf Goodman this November.
And while the guys get the short end of the stick on number of pieces from the collaboration, there’s these sick all-denim high-tops from the capsule collection at Sarah/Colette's blog will make the want of many. ...Lanvin and Acne, did you really see them screwing this up?

Continuing with:FW/0809 Menswear

For the past couple of years, everyone has been talking about the exciting world of menswear and while I do see publicating pushing the envelope with styling, dressing — I can't say I'm all too sure men are ready to take it to the imagined extent of designers. And with this sorta neo-dandyism arising (perhaps from conservative recession-driven dressing), who knows — things could implode on the whole thing.. menswear might not be the creative, imaginative field designers like Ute Ploier, Miuccia Prada and Mihara Yasuhiro have expanded it to be. At the same time, I've come to appreciate NY fashion week more with independents designer in menswear like The Cast, Robert Geller, Thom Browne and store brands Opening Ceremony, Bblessing. And on the other side of the globe, I don't believe there's a thing that could stop the creative momentum in modern Tokyo's menswear.. SS/09 collections leave me hopeful but for now I'd rather much look forward to the parting from the sweltearing heat and imagine all that fall/winter has to show.

Store Spotlight: Aloha Rag

Found in Hawaii near the Ala Moana Mall — Aloha Rag, based out of Hawaii, is known for the Japanese owner, Tatsugo Yoda's, smart eye for wearable high fashion designs. The store carries accessories, footwear, outerwear and more in menswear and womenswear.

Their webstore at AlohaRag.com carries designer labels such as Lanvin, Comme des Garçons, Maison Martin Margiela, Marc Jacobs, Pierre Hardy and hosts sales all year round.

Just in today are arrivals from Elizabeth & James (the Mary-Kate and Ashley line), Golden Goose and 2K for both men and women.

Purchase at Aloha-Rag.com requires membership. Receive 3% off on your next purchase upon application approval. The more you by the more you save at Aloha Rag, your total dollar amount is accumulated to calculate your percentage of discount. 

Lanvin tieredsle top $2185

Lanvin bib front longsleeve $543

Linda Farrow sunglasses $525

Ksubi media sedation tee $140

Maison Martin Margiela leather jacket $1985

Maison Martin Margiela printed tee $395

Get Baggin' Brights

Chanel, Fendi and Marc Jacobs all included bright-colored handbags in their 2008 Spring/Summer collections this year. The list doesn't end there: Lanvin, Maison Margiela and Pierre Hardy also included poppin' bags that filled the color spectrum. As it goes, any color is in this season — that is, anything out of reach of depthless AA "range." 



Whether matched with colored prints or solid basics — patent leather, fabric and animal-skin handbags help a look standout. Finding a bright bag to your liking won't be hard and making it work with your outfit just right could be accomplished in so fashions.

Lanvin patent leather bag $418

Margiela 6 fabric shoulder bag $108

Prada degrade clutches $950

Don't Sweat It

In God We Trust button up high-waisted shorts (available in navy, white)  Refinery 29 shops $20

3.1 Philip Lip for Tatami Zeus Maya criss-cross suede sandals with zipper heel  eLuxury $190

Lanvin black "Way Shiner" with grey lenses Lee Lee Lunette's $385

Y-3 napa leather graphic flip flops yoox $49

Y-3 leather trimmed, nylon woven logo backpack eLuxury  $220

Mara Hoffman black ruched detail strapless swimsuit bluefly $114

Happy shopping.

Economy, The Hemline and You

Paris Fashion week concluded this Sunday, and the media played scrutiny to how designers would approach luxury designs during a period of economic downturn. "Recession was the talk of the town," The Houston Chronicle reported on Milan Fashion Week, just previous to Paris. "[T]he strong euro was visibly taking its toll," says reporter Daniela Petroff  describing the bleak week for shops and shows in Milan.

How will the economy trickle to affect you and your shopping?

Averyl Oates, fashion director at Harvey Nichols, tells the Portfolio that lower priced goods are first to suffer in recessions in stores. "It's simply too easy for people to trade down to the high street for their jeans and casual clothes," Oates tells Portfolio. This may mean lower numbers of generic-seeming denim and accessory pieces in retail stores. You might be able to expect more wow-pieces on shop racks in stores. 

In a store on the other side of the pond, Saks Fifth Avenue fashion director Michael Fink is doing just that. He is "focused on finding clothes women don't already have in their closets," reports USA Today. The New York luxury department director even has a mantra in mind for Saks — "no basics." 

The chief executive officer of Saks Steve Sadov is witnessing "more pressure on the aspirational luxury consumer at our entry-price points," he tells BusinessWeek. The article reports "sales at stores open for a year or more slowed to a miniscule 0.8% gain in December, compared with a 25.7% increase in the previous month." 

Via, The Business of Fashion, economic problems are predicted to "spill over into the luxury sector," affecting companies like Coach and Gucci.

Who's gaining? Companies like TJ Maxx, Wal-Mart and Target reports USA Today. 

Don't go buy your Spring Break swimsuit at Wal-Mart just yet, though. This week, MONDblog will introduce stores with winter and spring pieces at marked down prices ...so you can start spending that economy stimulus check right away.