Store Appeal

Alexander McQueen – Legacy through Fashion

Store Appeal: In no capacity is it an overstatement to say that Alexander McQueen was a genius. He did more with clothing than most others could dare to dream. His collections mirrored the boundlessness of his imagination. While I’ve never been one for the oddities of fashion, something about McQueen’s visions, which often left the earthly realm, resonated favorably with the general public. It seems insulting to call his runway theatrics mere “fashion shows,” as they were performance art in every sense of the word. The fashion world lost a leader and a visionary – but his legacy lives on through his fashion. I have written about McQueen several times since I began fashion blogging in late 2008, and am privileged to continue doing so. His works of art became my immediate favorites because of his impeccable attention to tailoring and subtle detailing, like the sunbeam stitching found on his shoes and purses, and the hour-glass inducing curvature of his dresses. The McQueen brand is currently offering its spring/summer sale – 60% off – which in the world of high-fashion is both a steal and a crime. Nonetheless, if you are a fan of the McQueen brand, you do not want to forgo the Alexander McQueen sale.

Our Vote: There are less than a dozen McQueen boutiques in the world, so the majority of your McQueen shopping must be done online or in high-end department stores. This leaves many shoppers, such as yours truly, troubled with selecting a size, but luckily they have a generous return policy and customer service to assist. The website is a treat to navigate as it, unlike many other brands of the same nobility, provides high definition, multi-angle product shots of the products. The shopper may find it a bit laughable to click on “trousers and skirts” only to be met with geometric-print lycra leggings – not the typical “trouser” I’m used to, but the Brits are famous for their wry sense of humour. If you have a moment, check out the Alexander McQueen Experience which houses videos of his runway collections and a very moving tribute video.

Our Favorites:

1. Alexander McQueen Draped Jersey Dress – $750

2. Alexander McQueen Purple Skull and Bee Cocktail Ring – $280

3. Alexander McQueen Skull Brittana Clutch – $1,350

Designer Showcase: Jill Stuart

Store Appeal: New York fashion designer Jill Stuart made her debut in 1993 but according to her NY Magazine bio, her collection really took off with the 1995 release of the movie “Clueless“. Those plaid skirts and knee highs Cher Horowitz donned were all Jill’s doing, creating a spark of interest in her fun sportswear collection and helping her brand really take off. Since then, her label has come a long way, with stores in the Hamptons and Japan, a growing beauty collection, perfume, watches, and other accessories.

Our Vote: Jill’s aesthetic is sexy, sophisticated, and New York chic. Her collection reaches a broad audience, from feminine and frilly to vintage/military influences.  The website showcases her runway collections and ad campaigns from current and previous years, and it has a store listing with online retailers as well.

Our Favorites:

1. This lovely number, a one-shoulder tulle party dress, is over 64% off!  Jill Stuart One-Shoulder Tulle dress, $71.28.

2. Jill Stuart Linen and Lace Zip front dress, $498.00.

3. Jill Stuart Strapless dress with Flowers, $228.00.

See by Chloe Summer Sandals

Store Appeal: See by Chloe, the ready-to-wear line by Chloe is a younger, sportier feel. Though the brand still uses the same great colors and signature styles as the Chloe line, the pieces are little bit more budget friendly.

Our Vote: Shopping the site is a bit like most high-end lines where you have to choose the collection, choose the season and then click through styled photos of the products. So ultimately the actual shopping has to be done through affiliate sites like net-a-porter or of course, Beso! Still the products are displayed beautifully and showcased for the fashion-loving online shopper.

Our Favorites

1.) Red Espadrilles – $241

2.) Yellow and White Flats with Chain Detail $245

3.) Blue and White Leather Wedge – $259

4.) Jelly Sandal with Interchangeable Straps

See more See by Chloe…

Balenciaga Handbags and Wallets – Old World Meets Modern Girl

Store Appeal: While Balenciaga has been around since the beginning of the Twentieth Century, this luxury lifestyle brand has expanded its collection of handbags, leather goods and fragrances to appeal to the modern women while maintaining the couture quality the brand is rooted in. From opulent materials like lambskin, to vibrant use of color and shapes, a Balenciaga bag is easily defined by its structure, use of hardware and well-designed details.

Our Vote: Unlike many high-end designer’s online stores which either have very little content or are more about the design of the site versus the utility of shopping, the Balenciaga site combines both artistry and function, making it highly navigable and a pleasure to view. While Balenciaga is well-known for its red carpet gowns and couture frocks, its handbags and leather goods are perhaps what the brand is best known for in recent years, thanks to the advent of the “it bag.”

Our Favorites:

1.) City Patchwork (in blues or golds) – $2,345

2.) Giant Money (in Moutarde) – $555

3.) Canard Compagnon Wallet – $ 575

Shop Balenciaga online…

Bare Escentuals – The Mineral Gold Standard

Store Appeal: Best known for their line of mineral makeup, cosmetics line Bare Escentuals has hundreds of skin care and makeup products as well as different product lines to that appeal to women across age groups and sectors and is considered to be the gold standard when it comes to mineral makeup. The “Buxom Babes” line is a bold 40s and 50s homage to the glamorous looks of Hollywood’s golden era. Rare Minerals is the skincare line that activates the minerals from the makeup designed to make your skin better from the inside-out. With collections and kits that

Our Vote: The Bare Escentuals online store is very much focused on the shoppers needs. The cosmetics line not only has hundreds of different products to look at and review, but it also has a strong social media presence and is well laid-out. The site “spotlights” varying products to help educate the customer and offers free shipping for orders over $50 – just what the savvy shopper looks for!  Plus, Bare Escentuals is the undisputed leader in mineral makeup and if you haven’t used mineral makeup before, chances are you know somebody who probably does – a testament to how popular this trend has become thanks to Bare Escentuals.

Our Favorites:

1.) Brush with Greatness – $49

2.) bareMinerals Blue Eyecolor – $13

3.) Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish – $18

See more from Bare Esenctuals…

Asos – Designer UK Fashion

Store Appeal: Established in June 2000, ASOS.com is the UK’s largest independent online fashion and beauty retailer. With over 35,000 branded and own label products available and over 1500 new lines added each week, ASOS.com is an online authority in British fashion.  Aimed primarily at fashion forward 16-34 year olds, ASOS.com attracts over 6.9 million unique visitors a month and has 2.9 million registered users.

Our Vote: Searching for products on this site is great!  You can easily see all of the options including size, brand, colors, celebrity makes, etc.  As you narrow down your choices the view gets more focused.  It’s a very simple twist on the traditional “search” window.

Our Favorites:

1. ASOS Rich Indigo High Waist Flare Jeans – $51

2. ASOS Premium Cobweb suit -  $59

3. ASOS Boudoir Lattice Cut Out Body – $30

4. ASOS Seam Detail Maxi Skirt – $42

5. ASOS BLACK Ruched Panel Bandeau Dress – $144

Shop Asos online…

Welcome to Store Appeal

Check back every weekday for posts about great new stores!