As fashion editor of Fashion FACTS Folio, a trade newsletter for subscribing clients like Neiman Marcus and Joan Rivers, I shopped, scouted and wrote about accessories trends. It was fun. I went to fashion shows and reported on tidbits such as Monica’s bags, the sneaker-shoe phenom and Prada’s mausoleum in SoHo.
Fashion FACTS Folio: FACTS Notes, December 2001
VALERIE REISS
12/01/2001
Puma Pounces
Puma has been making its slow retro comeback for years now. But it is leaping into fashion with a new high-end line of sneaker-shoes and a prominent new store in Manhattan’s SoHo. The shoe line, Platinum, includes ultra-modern architectural-looking shoes in unisex styles. Laces are no where in sight and even the Velcro is slicked behind fold-over closures that take away any hint of athletic shoe. They retail at around $200. Puma has also joined up with Christy Turlington to create Nuala, a yoga apparel and shoe line, that sells for less-than-yogic prices: a cute long-sleeved tee is about $100. All of this is housed in their brand-new, refined-raw duplex store on the corner of Spring and Broadway.
Pradaville
Just up the street from Puma at the corner of Prince and Broadway, the long-awaited Rem Koolhaas-designed Prada store has finally opened. It is no disappointment. Part museum, part amphitheater, part boutique, the shop takes merchandising to a whole new level. Delicious plum cotton slips and bras hang temptingly from hooks; rows of shoes are lined up on the amphitheater stairs, looking ready to take in a show from the sine-wave stage; tiny rooms in the basement look more like friends’ closets than a boutique. Nothing is tied down or wired: not the $1400 skimpy blouses, $450 suede pouch purses or $5000 glitter dresses. Accessories mingle with apparel and the skincare line is tucked away in a self-serve area downstairs. For all its deliberate ease, though, the space could also serve as a prison for fashionistas—and you can bet the security is just as tight. There’s even a shelf of unPrada Prada knickknacks like a tool kit, Mag light and backgammon board. Not to mention housewares like fluffy shearling rugs. And we haven’t even gotten to the high-tech dressing rooms.
This store raises the bar for the luxury boutique to be a communal space that combines technology, accessibility and comfort—a virtual Disneyland for the MoMA/Gucci/What’s-Next set. The ultimate cure for the Niketown blues.
Tooled
This one bears a repeat because it’s creeping in with a new spin. Tooled leather—worn sans denim shirt or cowgal hat—is hot. Express has their cheezy-cool tooled belt with enamel heart buckle and Prada is selling lovely heels in that burnt taupe leather with flowers on them. Also the white-hot NYC boutique Flying A’s big line of tooled leather handbags is, appropriately, flying out the door.
Splashin’ in the Rain
The latest retro footwear is the floral rainbootie. Made of plain rubber, these whimsical calico-print galoshes have been spotted in chic stores like Olive & Bette’s and on model types in the city. Keep an eye out for more kid-like rain fashions.
iCool
The ads don’t do it justice. Apple’s new iPod handheld MP—player is as sexy as it is gadgety-cool and functional. The size of a deck of cards, the iPod holds 1000 songs. Its front is white and sleek with embedded controls and its back is a shiny silver metal. And it’s surprisingly unflimsy and solid. So far it’s only compatible with Macs, but with this level of style, that shouldn’t last for long. Even at $399 a pop, they’ve been selling like crazy—the guy at CompUSA said people have buying three at a time.
I AM New York
New tees (also being sold at Olive & Bette’s) spotted around Manhattan go one step further. The “I Love NY” logo has been changed to “I am NY.” This new brand identification better not (but probably will) give designers any ideas. Hopefully this fashion-with-meaning thing will carry on a bit longer—we’re not looking forward to the inevitable “I am Armani/Gap/Ann Taylor/etc” spin-offs.