Out.com | Style

November 11, 2008

Quickies: The biggest mall in the world, buying up models and more

Dubai_hPhoto: thedubaimall.com

Dubai has opened the largest mall in the world. Inside among the designer label stores you'll also find a 10-million-liter aquarium, an amusement park and an ice skating rink. [Material Interest]

We know gays love their female models (because we want to be one), but would you ever invest in one?
One company, Beauty Holding, is allowing consumers to buy a stake in a model and you'll get a share of her earnings for the next year. If we can't get a piece of Jessia Stam, we're hardly interested. [Urban Daddy]

Are high-end labels immune to the woes of the economy? It turns out they're not, and some are looking for new investors. So if you've got a few bucks left over from your Jessica Stam purchase you know where to put them. [The Cut] via [WWD]

The H&M Commes des Garcon line dropped in Tokyo and it was Japanese mayhem.
H&M made a video documenting the uproar. Witness the carnage. [The Cut]

Smell this: Mark Eco is debuting fragrances for men and women, with the men's scent hitting shelves as early as next fall. [WWD]

Turns out Bergamot is a natural deodorant. So spray it on and try to avoid those unsightly pit stains. [BellaSugar]

-- SETH PLATTNER

November 06, 2008

Ugh! Uggs deemed recession proof

More bad news this morning from staid British paper, The Telegraph, which reports that Uggs are recession proof. What the F? Ugg Australia, the Californian company that helped bring the boot to the world, is on track to hit sales of $400m this year, after second quarter results that showed a 130 percent rise year on a year ago. The company just opened its first European store in London's new mega shopping complex, Westfield. Other recession-proof pieces according to The Telegraph: "cheap cashmere." Eh? Isn't anything "cheap" by definition recession-proof?

-- AARON HICKLIN

Previously > Ugg eyes the men's market

November 05, 2008

Out's 2008 Gift Guide: All the gifts you'll want to give -- and get

Gg_2
Photo courtesy of Photos.com

While we don't have any control over how early the holiday season arrives (each year it seems to creep up closer and closer to Halloween), with Out's 2008 Gift Guide we can offer you some sage advice regarding the purchasing of presents that your friends and family members will actually want to receive.

With categories like Gadgets, Spirits, Entertainment and Fashion you'll be able to find something for even the pickiest person on your holiday shopping list. Perhaps a pair of Dior Homme high tops for your boyfriend or Shanghai Tang Double Fish Martini Glasses for the neighbor across the hall who has never once complained your loud late night activities.

We also have a section on gift giving etiquette to help you tackle the trickiest and most delicate of situations, such as the most tactful way to handle gifts that you just don't want. And this is only the beginning! We'll be a whole second set of Out's 2008 Gift Guide in the weeks to come, featuring the hottest luxe items, advice, and etiquette. You'll be gaily prepared no matter what holiday you're celebrating this winter.

-- NOAH MICHELSON

October 24, 2008

Tastemaker: Opening Ceremony's Humberto Leon

Leon Photo: Spencer Heyfron

Out's November issue showcases our annual Tastemakers portfolio which highlights the hippest arbiters of style currently leading the charge at the forefront of the nation's ongoing cultural revolution.

From fashion phenoms to chic restaurateurs to dance company directors, these men's impeccable taste and sensibility make our lives simpler, prettier, happier, and richer. Today's featured trendsetter is Opening Ceremony's Humberto Leon:

It was on a vacation to Hong Kong that University of California, Berkeley, pals Humberto Leon and Carol Lim came up with the idea to create Opening Ceremony, their global fashion store. Shopping abroad was such a fun experience that Leon and Lim thought they should bring it back to New York, opening their first SoHo boutique in 2002. The shop showcases and sells the fashion of a different country each season (this fall: Japan!) and has already expanded to Los Angeles.

Last year Leon and Lim developed a line with their first house designer: indie chick Chloë Sevigny, who will continue to design through next year and expand into menswear. After the success of that line, Leon says he’s open to further collaboration with “artists, musicians, maybe even teachers.” The hallmark of Sevigny’s design is a trait that Leon himself holds in the highest esteem: wearability. “The best way to describe my taste is by saying that it is a culmination of all types of practical clothing for certain purposes,” he explains. “It’s nice to mix all these pieces so that your business dress shirt goes with your hiking shorts.”

-- CHRIS ROVZAR

October 21, 2008

Paying for the label

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Photo: Getty Images

Published in this week's DNR is the "Gen Y Wish List," a nation wide survey of 100 men, age 18 to 24, that tallies the top 12 labels gen-y males are most likely to gladly pay full price for. Listed by the percentage of respondents who ranked each brand in their top five, these are the 12 labels that young men somewhat surprisingly aspire -- and will shell out top dollar -- to own:

1. Polo Ralph Lauren - 17%

2. Giorgio Armani - 17%

3. American Eagle - 17%

4. Nike - 16%

5. Gucci - 16%

6. Abercrombie & Fitch - 15%

7. Banana Republic - 12%

8. Puma - 11%

9. Hollister - 11%

10. Tommy Hilfiger - 10%

11. Calvin Klein/ck Calvin Klein - 10%

12. Adidas - 10%

Sort of reads like a checklist for the local mall, right?  We'll dispense a bit of leniency given the age group polled -- some youngsters just need a little time before they reach fashion maturity -- but we also wonder what the list would look like if 100 gays were surveyed. We can think a couple from the list above that would be scratched off immediately, and we'd add a few obvious gay faves -- Diesel, D&G, H&M, American Apparel (for basics in all colors of the rainbow) -- but how about the rest of you 'mos out there? If you're going to plunk down the cash and pay full price, what are the top 12 labels you'd break the bank for? Let us know and we'll post the results along with our own, albeit not-so-scientific list for gen-gay.

-- SETH PLATTNER    

September 26, 2008

Season's Greetings: Fall's best outerwear

Churchtrenchdetail Photo: Courtesy Goldspun

Our week of walking you through flip-flopping global warmed weather is almost over. (If you need the refresher course, check out our guide to mid-weight hats, tops, bottoms and shoes.)

And now -- on to how to seal the deal:

OUTERWEAR > Arguably the best part of fall, this year's jackets include styles that make it easy to work with the weather. The new crop of denim jackets are smaller and less boxy, so they keep a leaner silhouette. There were also some intriguing additions to the classic style, such as hoods, flannel lining and and even a denim trench from Japanese denim company Goldspun (at left). Beyond the denim there is, of course, the blazer, and the color and patter of choice is gray plaid, a la Mad Men. Other functional light jackets include the barracuda, which were big for spring but also work well for fall in neutral colors. If none of those flight your fancy, take it from The Gap: everybody in leather. Cropped, fitted and rugged is all you need to remember.

-- SETH PLATTNER

September 25, 2008

Season's Greetings: Fall's best footwear

_mg_1728cwindham20082_2 Photo: KP McNeil

Now that you've got your heads, tops and bottoms all ready for that summer-to-fall flip-flopping weather, let's not forget your feet.

SHOES > Heavier weather calls for heavier soles, so adapt your footwear accordingly. It's not like we gay men ever need a reason or a season to break out our most fabulous boots, but by the time fall rolls around, they should definitely be ready to make their debut. Beyond the boot, a classic cap-toe lace-up is as transitional a shoe as they come, with a dark brown being your go-to shade. We love the K.P. McNeil pictured here because it's a nice marriage of the two -- boot and cap toe -- and will work with multiple outfits.  For tennis shoes, every label from Yves Saint Laurent to Converse has their own version of a canvas sneaker, and they're as stylish as they are durable.  But if you want something a bit flashier -- and we know you do -- go for colored suede.

-- SETH PLATTNER

August 29, 2008

Karl Lagerfeld gets cuddly

Karl
Photo: Getty Images

If you've often found yourself lying awake at night tossing and turning and thinking to yourself, "Oh! If only Karl Lagerfeld was here in my arms I'd fall into the deepest, dreamiest sleep I've ever known," then you're in luck (if not also a bit peculiar).

Margarete Steiff will be releasing the Karl Lagerfeld x Steiff teddy bear -- designed by the Karl himself -- in September. A press release from Collete reads:

"When the famous toy brand, Margarete Steiff, allows itself to produce the first ever "couture" teddy bear, it's with the master of today's luxury, Karl Lagerfeld. A unique and unusual collaboration that shows us, one more time, how Lagerfeld is always on the avant garde. Steiff keeps on the innovation and brings you the first teddy bear made for older kids."

The bear comes dressed in Lagerfeld's trademark black suit and sunglasses and will be available at Neiman Marcus in New York for around $1,400. While not cheap by any means, when you consider both that this little fella will become a collector's item almost instantly and the buzz you'll generate when your social circle finds out you're sleeping with Karl Lagerfeld, it becomes clear it's totally worth forking over the big bucks.

More images of the bear and of Karl Lagerfeld's sketches can be found here.

-- NOAH MICHELSON

August 28, 2008

Shopping: 5 ways to shave smoother, and 6 products to help

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Photo: Karl Simone


Five tips to achieving a smoother shave:

1. Soften your hairs by showering first, or preferably shave in the shower.

2. Use a good shaving foam or gel to keep the bristles soft as you shave. Kiehl’s Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream is good, but a can of Barbasol will do the trick.

3. Don’t force the razor. Let it run lightly over your face for a comfortable shave.

4. Avoid shaving your chin until the end, when
the tougher hairs that grow there will have had longer to soften.

5. Always moisturize. And slap on the sunscreen while you’re at it. Clinique Men’s Age Defense Hydrator SPF15 serves both purposes at once.

Six products to aid you in your pursuit:

1. Forest Rain Eau de Toilette by Kiehl’s, $37.50
At first fresh and spicy, this  scent settles woodsy and strong.

2. Tom Ford Extreme by Tom Ford, $60
The brand packs its luxury into a small package of after-shave balm.

3. Arcitec cordless razor by Norelco, $229
A little flexibility is always good, and the adjustable head provides just that.

4. Electric Shave Solution by Lab Series, $14
No rinse-off required with this cooling liquid for an effortless glide.

5. Five-blade luxury razor by Ê-shave, $85
Five blades is better than four when it comes to a close shave.

6. Skin Difference by Clarins Men, $35
Dual-phase formula softens whiskers at their base and slows new growth.

August 13, 2008

Quickies: Gyllenhaal, toast, West Elm, invisibility and Brooke Shields

Jakeg
Photo: Getty Images

> See Jake run: Photos from the set Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time -- based on the popular computer game about a sixth century prince -- show off Gyllenhaal's newly upgraded guns.

> Make grilled cheese sandwiches in your toaster: Feed your sandwich into reusable bags. All the gooey goodness, half the mess that might end up on your shirt.

> Lutz & Patmos team with West Elm: Knitwear designers collaborate with affordable chic homemakers West Elm on luxe line of pillows and throws.

> Invisibility cloak?: Scientists say they are a step closer to developing materials that could render people and objects invisible.

> Project Runway sneak peek: Bravo hosts icon Brooke Shields as a guest judge, and our guess is the designers' challenge will relate to her character on sister station NBC's Lipstick Jungle.

August 12, 2008

Menswear sales buck the bad economy; dress up more to do your part

Tom
Photo: Getty Images

Menswear outpaced women's fashion in overall sales during the past year, reports AP. According to research company NPD Group Inc., menswear sales rose 0.8 percent in the last year (ending in May), while womenswear sales fell 3.5 percent. And since May, womenswear sales dropped 3 percent, while menswear sales rose 2.3 percent.

Fashion analysts explain menswear's new lead on the recent influx of slimmer, tailored looks, like those offered by Out 100 honoree Thom Browne (above) in recent years, and a more casual work environment that allows for increased options and in turn means more opportunities to purchase and wear a wider variety of looks. And menswear companies like Nautica and Levi Strauss and Co.'s Dockers, once unthinkably inappropriate for the office, "have reworked their fits -- pants, for example, have less material in the seat and thigh and have no pleats; suit jackets have higher armholes with narrower and shorter sleeves," which offer cleaner, more modern silhouettes.

Ironically, other analysts believe that with our pokey to the point of groan-inducing economy, many men are actually paying more attention to what they wear to the office, or at least spending bigger bucks in hopes of being taken more seriously at work. "I am dressing up a bit more," Steve Hale, a 37-year-old fashion consultant, told AP. "If you are keeping up with fashion, people notice and it gives them more confidence [that the financial industry is going to turn around]." Hale says he spends $500 a month on clothes, more than twice as much as he spent previously.

Never an industry to idly sit on its hands when a new market begins to present itself, the big boys of fashion are already courting eager male shoppers. Ferragamo and J.Crew are opening men's only boutiques. Bloomingdales has created special areas in its men's department that feature tailored clothing and flashy accessory items like ice buckets, GPS systems and luxe shaving kits. Macy's is adding more exclusive lines, including the already insanely popular Emporio Armani underwear.

So, you know what this means: With the stores full up with fall fashions (and some great end of summer sales on last season still in progress) -- and in order for all of us to keep our jobs, keep the floundering economy from completely going under, and keep our co-workers, partners, and the boys on the dance floor duly impressed and begging for more -- get out those wallets and start shopping!

August 11, 2008

Quickies: Ferragamo's boutique, iPhone's mischief-maker and Top Design's "Elves"

> Ferragamo opening men's only boutique, J. Crew to follow: With men's shopping a rare bright spot in the current economic climate, the Italian style luxe brand is out in front of the trend. Designed as a pseudo-bar/gathering place for discerning male shoppers from 20 to 40 years old, the store ignores the tried and tested "purse and pumps" format of most locations and opts for a more clubby vibe.

> "I Am Rich" iPhone application lures 8 buyers: The creator of $1,000 download says, "I regard it as art," but the joke program does nothing but download an image of a multifaceted ruby.

> Top Design has gone to the "Elves": Top reality TV producers known as the "Magical Elves" have taken over the workshop at Top Design, where they've installed a new host for the new season. Though the Elves helped put Project Runway on the map, they won't be making the leap to Lifetime with Tim and Heidi -- they inked a mega-deal with NBC.

Thou shalt covet: The Osim Nioi aromachology alarm clock

Alarmclock
Photo: www.alfielake.co.uk

Monday mornings are the absolute worst. You're five unthinkably long days away from the next weekend and your alarm clock always sounds shriller and more unwelcoming than any other day of the week. We're guessing this is exactly the sad state of affairs that inspired designer Alfie Lake to invent the clever Osim Nioi aromachology alarm clock.

Rather than utilizing jarring beeps, sirens, or buzzers that jolt you from sleep -- rendering you petulant for the rest of the day -- the clock emits pleasant smells that gently wake you. You simply load the device with one of three scent cartridges, like the one labeled "fresh bread," and as the pre-selected time approaches, the odor intensifies. The clock can also be outfitted and programmed to release calming scents like lavender while you sleep, which will supposedly relax the body and ensures a restful night.

Other than worrying about what smelling fresh baked bread first thing every morning might do to our already dangerously out of control high carb cravings, we're sold.

August 06, 2008

Shopping: ZIRH goes platinum

Zirh_2

Skincare maker Zirh hit the market with their new platinum line just in time to refresh your sun-baked summer skin. They're luxurious and man-friendly. Always game to try new products, one Out editor tried them all in rapid succession. (He was quite pleased with himself as he gazed into the fluorescent-lit bathroom mirror.)

There's a whole line, including:

Drenched
Perfect for the sallow among us, and those in need of a pick-me-up, Drenched is for guys with normal to very dry skin in need of a fuller, firmer look.

Age-Defense
Not that I should have to explain what this is for, but if you're determined to look forever 21, give this "environmental response cream" a go and attack those fine lines.

Total Recharge
Though you're supposed to wear it more often, it's perfect for Sunday nights -- especially if you're the type with wrecked weekend skin who wants to look bright and shiny come Monday morning.

The good people at Zirh saw fit to give Out Stylelist readers 20% off Platinum purchases. Feel like shopping? Punch in offer code: ZIRHOUT at checkout.

May 16, 2008

Karl Lagerfeld's New Book; Shopping Therapy; Magazine Wars; Balmain for Men?; That (yes, that) Murakami Sculpture goes for $15M

80999223 Tonight being the launch party for Karl Lagerfeld's new photography book, Metamorphoses of an American, enjoy a tantalizing preview of Lagerfeld's photo diary of Brad Koeing, "the world's most sought  after male model." [The Cut]

A growing number of studies are building a strong case for the reality of shopping addiction, claiming that, when enacted during certain emotional states, it functions in a similar manner as a drug.  We did always seem to have the best nights out after a binge at Barneys.[The Wall Street Journal]

Now that Nina Garcia is poised to remain at ELLE until September 1st and finish out season 5 of Project Runway, an all out bitch-fight has broken out between Glamour, Cosmopolitan, InStyle, Marie Claire and Harper's Bazaar for  sponsorship in the show's sixth season.  Though this one will come down to dollar signs, if we had to pick a winner in a hypothetical personified match-up, we'd have to give it to Cosmo...that tramp would totally hide a shank in her hair.  [WWD]

Christophe Decarnin recently invigorated Balmain's womenswear line with sex and energy--which makes us even more giddy to hear the rumor that he could do the same with a reported men's line from the French label. Trés chic. [WWD]

Drat.  We just missed the win on that Murakami sculpture of the ripped anime dude slinging his sauce.  All that practice on eBay for nothing. [Gawker]


May 06, 2008

Housing Works' Design on a Dime: Buy Designer Furniture & Fight AIDS

80124155 Photo: Getty Images

It's time to grow up and trade in the Ikea furniture you've had since your first apartment for something a little more stylish. What's that? You have champagne taste on a beer budget? Not a problem! Housing Works, the nation's largest community-based AIDS service organization, has teamed up with Real Simple magazine for the Fourth Annual Design on a Dime event.

The celebrity studded event features the handiwork of thirty of the nation's leading interior designers, who have created breathtaking rooms inside the Metropolitan Pavilion using donated, brand new, high-end furniture. The best part? You can buy the furniture (or an entire room) at 50 to 80 percent off!

Design on a Dime will also include a silent auction of photographs by renowned photogs like Herb Ritts, Ross Bleckner and Melanie Dunea—including Dunea's photo of the late, great Heath Ledger looking like James Dean.

All proceeds benefit Housing Works, which provides lifesaving services—including housing, medical care and job training—to homeless New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS.

This year’s Design on a Dime is co-chaired by actress Maggie Gyllenhaal and participating designers include Sills Huniford, Thom Filicia (of Queer Eye fame), Charlotte Moss and Jamie Drake.

If you want to get first dibs on the goods, a star-studded VIP benefit will be held on Thursday, May 8, from 6pm to 9pm The VIP benefit will offer exclusive preview shopping, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment and the opportunity to brush elbows with Calvin Klein's Francisco Costa and Queer Eye's Thom Filicia. For tickets, which start at $200, call 212.645.8111 x164 or log on to www.housingworks.org/dime.

If you don't want the VIP red-carpet treatment, you can still shop till you drop on Friday and Saturday when the event is open to the public free of charge.

Redecorating your apartment has never been so easy, affordable and charitable!

Check out the deals after the jump!

Continue reading "Housing Works' Design on a Dime: Buy Designer Furniture & Fight AIDS" »

April 28, 2008

ELLE Vandalized! Apple Overhauls iMacs! Louis Vuitton Cancels China Run! Men Shop Online! Electricity-Generating Clothes!

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Her gadgets are fully charged! Photo: Getty Images

Elle magazine's green issue was vandalized by sticker-happy environmental activists. Somehow, they managed to get "retraction" stickers placed in a story called "The Believers." The stickers claim the story includes factual inaccuracies.[Folio

Apple overhauled its iMacs with new processors to give you a whole lot more bang for your buck. [Engadget]

Louis Vuitton has postponed its "China Run" car rally that was supposed to take place at the end of May because of anti-French sentiments (including boycotts of stores, etc.) in China since French politicians spoke out in support of the Dalai Lama. Will the French pull out of the Olympics next? [WWD]

Men are finally shopping online. Welcome to the 21st century boys. Okay, back to ordering my American Apparel t-shirts. [Independent UK]

Electricity-generating clothes? Sounds a bit like Star Trek, but shaking your ass on the dancefloor will keep your favorite gadgets charged. What will they think of next? [Engadget]


April 11, 2008

Topshop Comes Stateside; Olympic Swimmers and Drag; Samuel L. Jackson Designs for Armani; Nina Garcia Leaving Elle; Yigal Dishes

73850142 Photo: Getty Images

British Cheap-chic retailer Topshop announced that they will open a U.S. flagship location in Manhattan on October 10th! Mark your calendars, boys. [Fashion Week Daily]

The swimsuits to be worn by swimmers on the U.S. Olympic team not only cover more of the male swimmers body, but also gives them a gender-neutral Ken doll-like crotch to reduce "drag." In other words, the swimming competitions just lost some gay viewers while some drag queens get some much-needed respect. [Queerty]

Celebrities are always meddling with fashion. Samuel L. Jackson has been trying to get Giorgio Armani to use more brocade, beaded fabrics—and fabrics used in the womens collection—for the mens collection. Armani needs to tell Samuel L. to stick to acting and let Armani design the clothes. I mean, celebrities are just walking coat hangers for designer clothes to get into celebrity magazines. [WWD]

Is Nina Garcia, Project Runway judge and Elle Fashion Director, leaving the magazine? When WWD reports a rumor, it's usually true... I said usually. What does this mean for her Project Runway gig? [WWD]

Yigal Azrouël dishes about his collaboration with K-Swiss and his love of surfing. [The Cut]

February 27, 2008

NYPD Raid Knock Off Haven; West Village Residents Heated Over Y-3; Coke Whores; Zac Posen For Target; Cashmere Mafia Cancelled?

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Photo: Getty Images

New York City Police raided three Chinatown buildings and shut down over 30 retailers for hawking counterfeit designer goods. Police seized over $1 million worth of knockoff accessories like faux-Prada bags, Burberry umbrellas, Louis Vuitton wallets, Rolex watches and more. Tourists openly weeped until they realized when you shut down one counterfeiter, three more pop up. It won't be long before they start knocking off Gucci's "I Heart NY" bags just to ruffle NYPD feathers. [WWD]

Residents in the West Village are upset that Yohji Yamamoto's new Y-3 store is wasting valuable energy by leaving its massive garage door wide open in the dead of winter. They hope to lure customers into the store with the heat. Not sure what residents are complaining about if they don't have to pay the heating bill. [Gothamist]

Label whore or coke whore? You decide! A new exhibit of work by Comenius Roethlisberger at Colette in Paris features chocolate bars engraved with designer logos—and filled with a mix of powdered sugar and cocaine. That's just asking for a court battle or a break in. [Fashionista]

Zac Posen will create a capsule collection of red carpet looks for Target...in Australia. Sadly, he's only making womenswear. [Fashion Week Daily]

Did Cashmere Mafia get the kiss of death from Lipstick Jungle? Rumor has it that Cashmere Mafia has been put on moth balls. [Fashionista]

November 28, 2007

Shopping with Leigh Bowery

Leighbowery

Photo: Getty Images

If you don't know the 80s legend of Leigh Bowery, the "performance artist, alternative model, fashion designer, make up artist, contemporary dancer, TV commercial star, artist muse, club promoter, band member, singer, musician, video star and living art installation" who inspired Boy George's Broadway show Taboo, here's your chance to witness his bizarre fabulousness in action.

Aaron Hicklin, Out's fearless leader, exhumed this clip of Bowery shopping in London from the bowels of the internet. The clip originally aired on the BBC's "Clothes Show," which Hicklin remembers as an early evening fun for the whole family program.

November 27, 2007

Holiday Shopping Made Easy

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If you didn't blow your wad (of cash) on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, we've got 101 ways to break your holiday gift shopping budget.

Over the next few weeks, we'll reveal brilliant gift ideas, plus valuable advice for finding the perfect present for everyone on your list from the guy who has everything to the annoying ex who deserves nothing. Check Out.com and Stylelist everyday for more holiday treats!

This week, hop on over to Out.com to:

  • Read holiday etiquette tips from the Emily Post Institute.
  • Find out which gay wizard you are underneath it all.
  • Learn how to buy the perfect gift for those difficult people who aren't actually related to you.
  • Check out the best gifts of grooming, fashion, accessories, gadgets, diversions, and spirits.

Make your list and check it twice!

November 23, 2007

Black Friday Kicks Off the Holiday Shopping Season

78074152Photo: Getty images

The holiday shopping season has officially begun and stores are offering crazy deals for one day only.

Stay tuned to Out.com and Stylelist for gift ideas throughout the next month!





November 07, 2007

Remainders & Reminders!

Cavalli_campaign6_lowres
Photos: Courtesy of H&M

- Roberto Cavalli's collection for H&M hits select H&M stores tomorrow! The early bird gets the best duds! [Earlier: Plan of Attack: Roberto Cavalli for H&M]

- Housing Works' Fashion For Action Sale kicks off tomorrow with the VIP reception with Rashida Jones from The Office! [Earlier: Buy Clothes, Fight AIDS]

- LA shopping mecca, Kitson, kicks off its men's warehouse sale! Get 50 to 80 percent off everything through November. [Kitson]

November 05, 2007

Buy Clothes, Fight AIDS!

Rashidajonessmall
Photo: Courtesy of Rashida Jones

As if you ever need an excuse to shop. Well, here's one thats worth blowing your rent money! Get designer clothes on the cheap and fight HIV and AIDS.

Housing Works, the nation's largest minority-controlled AIDS service organization that fights both AIDS and homelessness through its brilliant advocacy efforts on the local, state and national levels, is getting into fashion! Well, not exactly.

This week (November 9th thru 11th) Housing Works will hold it's fourth-annual Fashion for Action, a sample sale with over $1 million worth of designer clothes for men and women. In other words, get designer duds on the cheap (like 70 to 80 percent off retail)! All proceeds benefit the organization's efforts to fight HIV.

Expect clothes from designers like Adam + Eve, Armani, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Coach, Charlotte Ronson, Diesel, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Energie, Ermenegildo Zegna, Fendi, Hugo Boss, Issey Miyake, Jane Mayle, Juicy Couture, Libertine, Louis Vuitton, Nanette Lepore, Marc Jacobs, Narciso Rodriguez, Paul Smith, Theory and dozens more!

Rashida Jones (pictured), of NBC's awesome comedy The Office, will host the kick-off reception on November 8th from 6:30 to 10:00pm at the Rubin Museum (150 W. 17th St.) with an opportunity for VIPs to get first stab at the goods before the general public. A Tom Ford briefcase and a Prada purse are also up for grabs in a silent auction at the reception.

Visit the Housing Works Thrift Shop at 143 W. 17th St. Nov. 9-11 to break your budget for a good cause.

For more information and VIP reception tickets, call 212-645-8111 x164 or visit  www.fashion4action.com.

September 18, 2007

High Tech Versace Home; Air New Zealand's Mary Voyage; Dangerous Crocs; Michael Jackson's Wig Woes

Versace's newly-launched interiors website allows architects and interior designers to download 2- and 3-D models of items to include in design plans. So, you can be sure that your purple and white gold bed will fit in your bedroom. [WWD]

Air New Zealand plans a "Pink Flight" from San Francisco to Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in February. According to Queerty, "High-flying homos will enjoy some international camp as the crew dons feathered boas, serve pink cocktails and provide a bit of cabaret." All this in-flight fun for $1000. I always thought an airline with a name like Virgin would be the first to plan something like this. Yay for the Kiwis! [Queerty]

The unstoppable virus that is Crocs footwear, the neon colored shoes favored by fashion-oblivious midwestern tourists and lazy soccer moms, are causing injuries! Crikey! According to Radar, they get caught in escalators. If being an absolute eyesore wasn't reason enough to avoid the hideous things, maybe croc-hungry escalators will teach people that the shoes are not appropriate to wear in public. [Radar]

Always the drag queen of pop, Michael Jackson's wig required three hours of sprucing for a recent Italian Vogue photo shoot, say the NY Post. Come on, any drag queen worth her weight in pancake makeup lives by two cardinal rules: "The higher the hair, the closer to Jesus" and "Never spend more time on your wig than on your face." Oh, wait, Jackson has spent more time (and money) on his face. [NY Post]

August 21, 2007

Plan of Attack: The Sample Sale

Salephoto
Photo: Getty Images

The sample sale is one of fashion's best kept secrets and one of the only ways that many New Yorkers can sport designer duds and still pay their rent for a studio in Hells Kitchen.

Today kicks off Prada's much-anticipated, three-day sample sale in New York. Securing a reservation for the by-appointment-only event is about as easy as scoring prime floor tickets to a Madonna concert. Sadly, your Stylelist didn't make a reservation in time.

A sample sale is basically how designers and their public relations firms purge their closets of clothes they don't need. They are either from last season, never made it into production for some reason or other can't be sold at full price. In other words, the clothes are sinfully cheap. Think $200 designer jeans for $45, $500 shoes for $100 and $300 shirts for $75.

However, there is an art to sample sale shopping to ensure that you'll get the goods you want.

1. Arrive early. Sample sales usually happen for a couple of days. The earlier you get there the better. While the best items go first on the first day, don't fret if you make it on day 2 or 3. The racks are usually replenished with more goodies each day.

2. Know your size. It helps to know what size you usually wear in a particular brand's clothes. If only sizing were a universal thing. Extra small and larger sizes aren't usually available. If you wear a medium, you'll probably score big. Even something doesn't fit, you can always sell it on eBay.

3. Wear underwear and don't be shy. Most sales are held in strange places like warehouses or offices so changing rooms are rarely available. You'll have to strip down to your skivvies if you want to try on those jeans before you buy them. Some places won't even let you try them on, so you might have to hide behind a rack or a friend.

4. Bring cash. Most places don't take credit cards unless they are changing a lot for items. However, some places will only take cards. Keep your arsenal full of plastic and paper.

5. Don't tell anyone that you're going. You don't want the competition. Sneak over to the sale during your lunch break. If you find a lot of great stuff, you can tell your coworkers after you've already had your pick of the litter.

August 03, 2007

Hot Spot: Space NK Apothecary

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Photos: Courtesy of Space NK

I am a beauty junkie. My bathroom has more creams, potions, lotions and oils than Sephora and I am obsessed with taking care of my skin properly. However, most stores that carry skin care products for men treat male customers as an afterthought—burying their mens products in the back of the store as though the products misbehaved.

Meet Space NK, the latest UK export to cross the pond and land on Greene Street in Manhattan. Space NK is a welcome, calm oasis from the crazy beauty departments of big stores like Bloomingdale's and Sephora. Instead of the blasting techno and featuring row upon row of lipsticks and blush in every natural (and unnatural shade), Space NK offers a beautifully edited collection of popular and hard-to-find skin care, bath and body, shaving, and makeup products—including The Art of Shaving, Anthony Logistics, Amenity, Acqua di Parma, Caudalie, Ren, and Menscience Androceuticals. And don't miss the store's own Space NK line of products including the delicious Space NK Men Blue Body Wash and Shave Cream.

One of the greatest parts of the store—besides its beautiful, comfortable design—is that the items for men are located  at the front of the store, so they are easy to find when you need to get in, get out, and get on with your life.

Soon, the store will also begin offering skin services, like Eve Lom facials, in private treatment rooms in the back. If you're not in New York City and would like to check out Space NK, you can shop online.

Snkmenblue



March 23, 2007

Friday Shopping List: Unlikely Objects

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Maybe you got some direct-deposit action yesterday. Here are some unusual ways to spend it:

Elephant poop stationery (thanks, Boing Boing)

A table made of sticky notes (thanks, Popgadget)

Digital photo frames (via apartment therapy)

Lampshades made of Norwegian wood (design*sponge)

Bathroom tiles made of wine corks (courtesy of behind the curtains)

Photo: Getty Images



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