Target news bits: Zac Posen, Rodarte and Target To-Go

Mark your calendars: word has it design wonder Zac Posen recently announced he’ll be the next to do a line for Target. We recently got all excited when we told you about his lower-priced line, Z Spoke by Zac Posen, and now Target too? We are so loving all of these high-end designers doing clothes for the masses (at prices for the masses). Look out for it on April 25, 2010 (runs through May 30). Prices are rumored to start at $15. Yes!
While we wait for Zac at Target, get ready to shop the Rodarte for Target line (in stores December 20). The piece we’re craving is the sequin ribcage dress ($49.99). How can you NOT love it? Check out a sneak peek of the rest of the Rodarte for Target collection here.

And if you’re in NYC and don’t feel like hopping a train to the ‘burbs to shop for holiday gifts at Target, don’t fret! Target To-Go, a three-day pop-up shop, is opening December 11. It’s a walk-up holiday shopping event and will stock the hottest mix of 50 holiday gifts - from fashion, beauty, toys to electronics and includes five pieces from the Rodarte collaboration! Walk up and pick up your gifts, already wrapped and ready To-Go!

Target To-Go will be open three days only, from Friday, December 11 through Sunday, December 13, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, at Gansevoort and Washington Streets, at the High Line entrance.

At the opening on December 11, Target will present families in need, chosen by The Salvation Army, with a $100 Target GiftCard for a head start on their holiday shopping.

Rent the Runway: haute couture that you love, wear and return

UPDATE: Rent the Runway is currently INVITATION-ONLY. In order to join, please email me at editor (at) whatshaute (dot) com.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a fickle shopper. ‘Buy today, return tomorrow’ has long been my motto. Not everything of course – I do like to keep my closet well-stocked. But I like to buy something, try it on at home, test it out with a few accessories and see if it ‘works’. If not, it’s going right back to the store. But with more and more stores adopting a “No refunds” policy, what’s a girl to do?

Enter Rent the Runway. Dubbed the ‘Netflix of Haute Couture’, this new site brings high-end fashions to the masses. But not in a lower-priced, mass-produced kind of way. No, these are the actual runway pieces so you can wear what celebrities wear, at about one-tenth of the cost. You can rent dresses and exclusive runway pieces from fashion designers like Diane Von Furstenberg, Hervé Léger, Proenza Schouler and Christian Siriano. Siriano’s ready-to-wear pieces traditionally go for up to $3,000, but on Rent the Runway, you can get pieces from his line for $150 to $200.

Other perks include:
A reservation system to ensure that you can get a specific dress for the night you need it.
On-call stylists
Returns within 24 hours of rental, for any reason
A second style of dress as a backup, for an additional $25
A custom garment bag and fit kit including double-sided tape, bra strap adjusters and deodorant stain removers

Are you ready to Rent the Runway? “Love. Wear. Return.” Now that’s a motto we can shop with.

The Limited pop-up shop returns to Manhattan

Manhattan fashionistas who need their Limited fix and don’t feel like traveling to the mall can rejoice - The Limited pop-up shop is returning soon! For four days only, shop up-to-the-minute fashion for the young, professional woman. The shop opens October 14 and stays until October 17, from 6-8 pm. In NYC? Check it out!

The Limited Pop-Up Shop
134 Spring Street (SoHo)
October 14-17
6-8 pm

The first 150 shoppers will receive an exclusive gift from The Limited’s fall collection!

Fashion’s Night Out #FNO09: Tory Burch, Catherine Malandrino and more

Fashion. Shopping. Celebrities. Entertainment. Cocktails. Giveaways. Those are just some of the words to describe Fashion’s Night Out #FNO09! I ventured out to visit a few of my favorite shops as well as some pop-up stores tonight and had a blast. Check out my coverage below:

My first stop was at Tory Burch (Meatpacking). I went over to pick up a pair of Reva flats - my hands-down FAVORITE piece of footwear - along with my free camouflage bag. The scene outside of the store was crazy! There was a vendor giving out seasoned corn on the cob to the fashionistas mixing and mingling. The atmosphere inside the store was just as vibrant; the water, wine and Corona’s were flowing, hors d’oeuvres from La Esquina were being served and DJ Cassidy was on the turntables in the center of the store. I also spotted Tory’s main squeeze - Def Jam exec Lyor Cohen. It was more of a social scene than a shopping scene - fashionably haute dressed men and women showed up to hang out but there were a few shoppers in the mix, myself included. I browsed the fall shoes and bags which I first saw at her fall presentation last spring. Fell in love again with the Tory Burch Studded Satchel - it looks great online but even more amazing in person.

I snagged a pair of black Tory Burch Leather Logo Reva Flats (while trying to control my urge to splurge on a few spring bags on sale and some full-priced fall bags too). I also got my complimentary camouflage tote, which is super cute, and was the theme of the night. Waiters and waitresses were dressed in camouflage tops; and even the designer herself wore a sequined top with camouflage leggings.

Next, I cruised through the Meatpacking district, stopping briefly to enjoy a five-piece band outside of Ports 1961 and then onto Catherine Malandrino. There I sipped ‘Lady Liberty’ cocktails consisting of Cointreau, champagne and juice. Yummy! I also grabbed some grapeseed-infused skincare goodies from Caudalie Paris and haute haircare products by Carita Paris. MarieBelle fine chocolates were on the scene too.

Next stop: RACHEL Rachel Roy pop-up shop in SoHo.

Stay tuned to What’s Haute for New York Fashion Week coverage!

Five reasons to ‘Fall’ in love with H&M all over again

How do I love thee Fall collection at H&M? Let me count the ways:

1. It’s the perfect special occasion dress, $49.95
2. Haute couture that’s hotly priced, $59.95
3. A woven knit dress that looks chic with a blazer taking you through the workday; ditch the blazer and add statement jewelry and kitten heels for a sultry look for dinner and drinks, $49.95
4. The only accessory you’ll need with your skinny jeans, $49.95
5. A comfy, chunky knit dress is a staple for Fall, $59.95

Check out H&M.com for more haute Fall fashion.

American Apparel “Le Sac” Dress

Despite their attention-grabbing advertisements, I never really “got” the hype behind American Apparel, therefore I’ve never shopped there. But this weekend, out on a shopping trip in SoHo with my sister who just had to have a pair of the slit jersey leggings, I finally made my way in, and liked what I saw. Sure American Apparel is full of basics like tees, tanks and leggings that are just slightly overhyped, but there were plenty of other precious gem that I wanted to take home with me. One of which was the American Apparel Le Sac Dress, which I bought, in magenta.

The dress was quite a find - it’s actually six dresses in one - possibly more if you’re feeling creative, and recessionly-priced at $38. You can wear it a variety of ways depending on your mood or the occasion - one-shoulder and suspender style are my faves - and it’s one size fits all so any gal, small to large and anywhere in-between, can rock it. You can play dress up with one of American Apparel’s many accessories, like Le String or add your own favorite dressing. Whatever you choose, this dress, (or dresses) is a summer must-have.

Interview with Hillary Flowers

Some people you meet in your lifetime make you wonder if they have managed to cut a deal with the Universe for a few extra hours in their particular day? They accomplish so much and are effective in so many endeavors that it seems that they have discovered some secret. Hillary Flowers makes you wonder these things. Fashion designer, singer, store owner, event planner & promoter, and brain surgeon…okay I fibbed on the last one but you get my point. Hillary owns and operates her Lower East Side boutique that showcases emerging design talent during many of those hours. Her space features her own designs, as well as fashion and accessories from other aspiring designers. “I take great joy in offering designers an opportunity to test the market, to find out what works and what doesn’t work.”

Hillary is a fascinating combination of altruistic and shrewd. She takes great joy in the fact that she has a growing reputation in New York City but you never get the sense that for her it is about ego. A case in point, she loves it when designers move on from her store to bigger and better things. “I consider myself a teacher, mentor and guide.” “Why wouldn’t I be proud of some one I helped success?” Hillary gauges designers quickly when the come to try to rent space in her store “I look for people who possess certain qualities, you have to be a risk taker and have persistence.” For Hillary Flowers it is often times more about the spirit of the designer than the look of the collection.

Hillary is a talented designer in her own right and her designs are the #1 seller in her store. But she gets so much joy from helping launch new talent into the N.Y.C scene that she rarely speaks of her own work. Hillary is a non-stop marketer and a powerful ally for the new talent that lines her small but vibrant Clinton Street shop. If you really want to see what’s the newest of the new then her store at 40 Clinton Street is a must stop. And don’t be surprised if you see her blond locks up on stage at a club where you are spending your evening. Quite frankly with all of Hillary’s talents I wouldn’t be surprised to see her driving the Q train on my way back to Brooklyn one of these nights.

Matthew Williamson for H&M debuts today!

Today is the debut of Matthew Williamson’s capsule collection for H&M. Out of all the collaborations the Swedish retailer has done thus far, this looks to be one of the most promising and exciting (aside from Roberto Cavalli, of course). Williamson is a British designer known for his technicolor-drenched collections. The launch starts with an exclusive women’s collection and then follows with women’s and men’s pieces for the summer, starting in mid-May.

The collection combines vibrant colors with interesting prints that are right on trend and right on time for the summer. Looks include eye-catching print shift dresses, drapey tops, vibrant pantsuits and colorblock tank tops and short-shorts. The silhouettes are edgy – like that craveworthy pink fuschia dress with embellished padded hips.

Will you be shopping the Matthew Williamson for H&M collection?

The Cube: Marshall’s “Hip to be Square” Boutique Concept!

Huey Lewis said it was hip to be square but he had no idea just how hip! The hippest square around now is The Cube at Marshall’s. The Cube is a mini boutique – sort of a store within the store.

I was already a fan of Marshall’s – I love off-price shopping! You wouldn’t believe some of the designer pieces I’ve found in the past (like Dior sunglasses and a Valentino dress). So I was excited to receive a Marshalls gift card to go and check out the Cube. I headed over to my nearest Cube location (find yours here) and spied the Cube concept right away.

The items in the Cube are for a bit younger demographic than myself, but still had some great deals to be found. I spotted junior lines like Roxy, Baby Phat, Billabong, Express, and Seven Jeans and accessories - bags, sunglasses and shoes. The Cube is great for those of you who lack the patience of scouring the store and digging through the racks to find those special gems. For me, that’s part of the fun – the thrill of the hunt. But the Cube rounds up all the goods in one place to make your off-price shopping experience that much easier.

In the end, I only picked up a pair of Steve Madden boots. What can I say - it was a slow shopping day. But I can assure you it’s not my last trip to Marshall’s, and I’ll be revisiting the Cube as well. You never know what you might find!

No One Else is MoMoFalana

The single most effective thing in standing out from others is how you dress. It is entirely possible to attract the attention of dozens of people by simply walking into the room wearing the right thing. The woman who commits to having a style that truly expresses herself without fear will have a huge advantage in getting noticed. In a city as vast and varied as New York it’s very difficult to be unique…oh wait actually it’s not; just go to the corner of Avenue A and East 3rd Street.

MoMoFalana has occupied that address for 9 years. They have been carried by Henri Bendel’s & Barney’s and adorned the lovely shoulders of Sarah Jessica Parker in an episode of Sex and the City. Most recently they have caught the eye of Nicole Richie and will be featured in ad campaign for her new perfume. The designs of MoMo Falana’s dynamic duo of Maureen Roberts and Mike Lublin are so stunning because that was priority one, from day one. “We didn’t want any attachment to an established aesthetic”, said Roberts.

Lublin and Roberts are incredibly accomplished dye craftspeople. Their saturated colors and vivid designs are carefully planned out and painstakingly executed. Gorgeous long silhouette dresses that fit and envelop a woman are another hallmark and goal of these dynamic designers. “I encourage women to stop dressing like everyone else, to dress like they have always imagined.” Another testament to their skill is that although each MoMoFalana design is one of a kind, they are the best in the business at matching colors so they can give you the same look that you coveted on your friend!

To wear a MoMoFalana dress is to be unforgettable, their designs create impact. They do all of their own alterations so a flattering fit is a guarantee. Unique, bold and beautiful - all in colors so rich, you could get drunk on them. If you are in NYC be sure to head to the corner of Avenue A and East 3rd Street, where MoMoFalana has cornered the market on stunning.

Photos by Vered Koshlano

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