The spring ’08 lookbooks are pouring in by the dozen, and although fall is normally my favorite season, spring looks promising. I first heard about Soni and Cindy about a year ago, then again last month when I saw it at I Heart in NY, then again when they sent me their lookbook today. They are finally validated in my book. Their spring collection is really cute, girly and playful, but not too over the top and definateley wearable, well, maybe not all of it here in SF, but, you know what I mean. Soni and Cindy stands for the two sisters behind the line:
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I sometimes get overwhelmed by the amount of new denim lines out there. Especially as a buyer, sometimes I feel like I’m drowning in a sea of denim blue. Lines come and go, but there are sometimes really cute and substantial lines that seem to stand out and grab my attention, like Stephenson denim for example. My friend Dena just wrote a long article in Apparel News about this same subject, and Stevenson looked really cute. Fall 07 is the first season for the eponymous line, based out of NY. Maybe its the fact that the name Stevenson kinda invokes an idea of nostalgia for me: I graduated from “Stevenson College” at Santa Cruz, or it could be their way of pinpointing and executing “tom boy chic” with super soft fabrics, either way, I felt the line warranted a post and is one to keep an eye out for.
When talking progressive fashion, one thinks of Seven New York. Since its inception in 2000, Seven New York has served as the leading venue for directional apparel in the NY area, and abroad. With lines like Jeremy Scott, Bernhald Willhelm, Preen and Henrik Vibskov on their roster, Seven New York is able to offer the most sought after, or actually, in many cases, soon to be sought after clothing in circulation. In the midst of spring fashion overload, I was lucky enough to get a hold of seven’s buyer/manager/events promoter, Joseph Quartana and ask a few important questions. He was nice enough to share. Here it goes:
S.B.:You recently got back from London and Paris Fashion week. How do those fashion weeks compare to NY ?
J.Q.:NEW YORK FASHION WEEK SEEMS AMATEUR COMPARED TO PARIS AND LONDON. PARTICULARLY FOR THE TYPE OF BRANDS WE CARRY.THE DEGREE OF MASTERY IN PARIS IN UNPARALLELED. THAT’S WHAT MAKES IT SO STRONG. AND THE SPIRIT OF LONDON IS BASICALLY PURE FIRE. THAT’S WHY IT’S COMING BACK AGAIN.
S.B.:What shows did you get a chance to catch in Paris and London?
J.Q:WELL,APPOINTMENTS ARE MORE A PRIORITY FOR ME AS THAT’S WHERE I ACTUALLY GET WORK DONE; THE SHOWS ARE MORE TO SUPPORT THE DESIGNER AND TO UNDERSTAND THE ‘FLAVOR’ HE’S GOING FOR. BUT I DID CATCH HOUSE OF HOLLAND, GARETH PUGH, CHRISTOPHER KANE, PETER PILOTTO, COSMIC WONDER, BLESS, BRUNO PIETERS, JEREMY SCOTT, AND BERNHARD WILLHELM.
S.B.:You seem to always have your eyes on emerging designers, any new designers you will be adding to your roster come spring 08? Or any new designers in general that you are particularly excited about?
J.Q:WE’RE ADDING DAVID DAVID FROM LONDON, GROUND ZERO FROM LONDON, AND JEAN CHARLES DECASTELBAJAC FROM PARIS FOR SURE. I’M THINKING OF A FEW OTHERS, BUT THAT’S SECRET!
S.B.:Is there any city in particular that is producing some of your favorite fashion or designers at the moment?
J.Q:LONDON. THERE IS SO MUCH NEW TALENT POURING OUT OF THERE. IT JUST SUCKS THE POUND IS SO STRONG VS THE DOLLAR, BUT THANKFULLY IT HASN’T STOPPED OUR CLIENTELE FROM BUYING. IF THE PIECE IS STRONG ENOUGH, IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW MUCH IT COSTS. ON THAT NOTE,I DO TRY TO FIND VALUE IN ITEMS I SELECT AND WE TRY NOT TO MARK UP TOOHIGH…
S.B.:You seem to have an uncanny knack for spotting trends two to three seasons before they hit the shelves at most other boutiques. What is your trick?
J.Q.:I’VE SOLD MY SOUL TO THE DEVIL. WELL, THAT AND MY CRYSTAL BALL.
S.B.:You recently moved seven to soho(I guess its been over a year now). How has the new location been working out?
J.Q.:AMAZINGLY WELL. WE ACTUALLY LUCKED OUT BIG TIME IN CHOOSING THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, AS WHEN WE MOVED OVER HERE, WE REALLY FELT SOHO WAS TOTALLY OVER. IT HAD BEEN A MALL FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS AND WAS AT ROCK BOTTOM. THEN AS SOON AS WE MOVED INTO WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A QUIET COBBLE STONED STREET, SEVEN SHOPS OPENED ALL NEAR US!SO IT HELPED THE EXPOSURE I GUESS. NOW IT’S BOOMING AGAIN, BUT WITH A NEW AND DIFFERENT CHARACTER. I’VE LEARNED THAT THE FACT IS THAT UNLESS YOU ARE COMMES DE GARCON, YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO YOU. OF COURSE WE STILL CHOSE A SPACE WITH LITTLE VISIBILITY AND DESIGNED IT TO BE A BIT HIDDEN AWAY…
S.B.:Fall started hitting the racks recently, any particular item that’s selling out already?
J.Q.:YEAH, I’VE HAD TO REORDER THE HOUSE OF HOLLAND ‘MODEL’ TEES FOUR TIMES OVER ALREADY! APRIL 77 CONTINUES TO BLOW OUT EACH WITH EACH ORDER I GET. AND BERNHARD WILLHELM AND HENRIK VIBSKOV ALSO REQUIRED A FEW REORDERS THUS FAR.
S.B.:Lastly, I hear you are a mac guy, have you bought the i phone yet?
J.Q.:I ALWAYS WAIT FOR THE SECOND VERSION OF TECHIE THINGS TO COME OUT BEFORE I’LLGET THEM.
**Seven New York is located at 110 Mercer Street in NYC, or online at www.sevennewyork.com
It seems a little premature that some fall collections haven’t even hit the stores yet, and I’m writing about spring ’08 RTW, but hey, this is fashion right? With that said, I’ve had the pleasure to view Eskell’s spring lookbook and it is amazing. Founded in 2005 by Chicagoans Kelly Whitesell and Elizabeth Castillo, Eskell hails from its namesake Chicago boutique. I’m a huge fan of the line, I especially enjoy their use of whimsical, delicate, and original fabrics, along with their uncanny ability to mix texture. Each season makes me happy, but this collection is especially noteworthy, I can’t wait! Here are four of my favorite pieces from the 21 piece collection, expected to arrive in stores around May.
I think I’ve mentioned before how difficult it seems to be to find an online boutique that is both cute and functional. Either the clothes are right one and the flash vomit isn’t, or the website design flows like Russian river but the merchandise makes you cringe. No, I haven’t forgotten about the exceptions, but I wanted to share with you my newest online addiction: Gargyle.
Gargyl hails out of Brooklyn and models itself after “early contry club lifestyle.” Their stockist is minimal yet on point, and the website design itself is one of the best I have seen so far. You will find lines like Borne, Samantha Pleet, Karen Walker, Rachel Comey, etc. See for yourself. Oh, and my favorite part is that every time you refresh the page or click on an item, the clothes are virtually “re-merchandised”
Its that time of year again to treat yourself to something warm: time to splurge on your favorite pair of boots. Here are A FEW of my favorites in the illustrious world of “flat boots”:
Devotte
Belle By Sigerson Morrison
Golden Goose Boots
Loeffler Randall
Rachel Comey
Tsumori Chisato
I love Britex fabrics in downtown San Francisco. Their designer fabrics can sometimes be dangerous, but they are having a sale today and tomorrow which might take the edge off, a little:
Thanks Dena!
Once in a blue moon, a designer will come into my boutique, without me knowing so prior, and introduce me to their new, and this is the important part, cute, clothing line. I hate to say it, but I spend too large a portion of my day filtering through a lot of crappy stuff that designer’s impose upon me. Well, these two girls from Seattle came in a few months ago and showed me their new line Alula Clothing, and I bought it. I loved it, especially this dress with built in “mittens”:
