Just in case you didn’t spend your second weekend in Boston perusing Newbury Street, Alexa Chung for Madewell launched in-stores on Saturday. Offerings look exactly what you would expect, from the It-Brit come MTV host- think velvet, peter pan collars and high-waisted everything. But if you want to grab a piece of Alexa, you’re going to have to run as far as your clogs can carry you; when I stopped by there were only a few pairs of these velvet shorts, all of which were size 4 and under. (329 Newbury Street, (617) 424-0904)
In other collaboration news, H&M plans to add a Lanvin notch to its designer bedpost. Designed by Albar Elbaz, beloved by fashion editors and celebrities alike, the Holiday Collection will feature both mens and womenswear in what everyone is hoping to be the signature Elbaz style– pure beauty. According to Creative Advisor Margareta van den Bosch on the H&M website, “it is very much a Lanvin collection, using their cut and tailoring, with lots of focus on form and details for both women and men.” This may mean a higher price point than usual for the mass retailer (significantly more so than the shocking $5 dress), but it’s worth the sacrifice considering a Lanvin piece can set you back $2,000. The collection launches worldwide on November 23, but you can preview the pieces three weeks before you shell out the cash via a film on H&M’s website.
While you’re on Newbury Street, check out urban street wear pop-up shop, Concrete Jungle (297 Newbury Street). Organized by two Northeastern students under the guise of their line, Annie Mulz, the shop features a panoply of Boston designers specializing in clothing, shoes and accessories for men. Further back is a rotating art gallery courtesy of Lot F, which has its fair share of eye candy. There are only two weeks left until they close shop, so make sure to head over before September 25. Not quite convinced? Click here for an insiders look in the jungle.
For those of you with a fancy new iPad to start off the year, try giving it a wardrobe of its own with Style.com’s new iPad app. The necessary fashion show coverage is included in the same format (thumbnail images and full slide shows), but in a clearer, larger picture that lets you examine S/S10 from the likes of Prabal Gurung and Suno like you’ve never seen it before. Added features include a production collaboration with Nowness on a video series and interactive shopping vids that take you from editorial to e-commerce. And unlike that leather and shearling jacket you’re planning to add to your fall wardrobe, this fashion won’t cost a pretty penny.
