May 2007 

 

Spring fashions are all the rage even if the temps are dipping well into the 40s. Short sleeves, ballet flats, shift dresses and bright-shaded tunics are popping up in department stores across the country. A very in-the-now-trend hitting mass retailers, like Target and H & M, are designer duds priced at a fraction of the cost that the higher end luxury stores exhibit. A few years ago, Target launched Isaac Mizrahi for Target® offering affordable clothing for women and pooches. Now Target includes guest designers such as Paul & Joe and Behnaz Sarafpour and their sixth guest designer, Patrick Robinson. Even the famous pop icon, Madonna, added her expertise with a second visit to H & M creating the exclusive M line after Karl Lagerfeld’s explosive record sales from 2004. With the retail trend of high-end looks for less, what does it say about our society as a whole? Are consumers becoming more fashion conscious? Erica Archambault, Style Expert for the Gap, lets us in on her views of runway fashions at real way prices.  

Back in December 2006 Gap collaborated with European designer Roland Mouret for an exclusive collection of dresses available at a select grouping of their stores. As a result, of the enormous outpour of media attention and popularity Gap took note to continue enticing its consumers with runway styles at attainable costs. To continue in this successful track Gap recently launched an array of ‘designer white shirts’ from three budding American faces in fashion. By collaborating with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and the Vogue Fashion Fund designers Doo-Ri Chung (DOO.RI), Kate and Laura Mulleavy (RODARTE) and Thakoon Panichgul (THAKOON) present their take on a classic white shirt this month at Gap stores across the world. According to Archambault it’s the perfect approach for Gap. Each designer has a unique signature look that they’ve tied into the classic white shirt. Sticking with the American vibe of design Archambault explains, “Gap has a very rich history in celebrating creativity, offering our consumers iconic styles. This is a way for us to collaborate with up and coming designers to offer something unique at a limited edition that not everyone will get their hands on.”

Why this trend is so popular amongst American shoppers? Archambault declares, “It allows people to play in a space they normally would not be able to, and because of the lower price points it is so much more accessible. You get something very special by a high-end designer that you may not have the chance to get.” Technology is another reason as to why people are more fashion aware. “I think our culture today is more fashion forward with all the different media, people have additional access to what is fashionable. Before people were more limited with only fashion publications, now the movies and the internet allow for more accessibility versus five or 10 years ago,” notes Archambault. Fashion TV pops out all over the internet making the days of schlepping to the ‘shows’ easier via high speed cable. High-end runway styles for the masses is an increasing trend mentions Archambault, “I think it’ll blow up; everyone wants to have something that is unique and different, something that is attainable.”  

The collection of Gap shirts is available at Gap adult stores in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Japan and online at gap.com . Items will range in price from $68 to $88.

Another way to dress up your spring wardrobe with styles from the catwalk are via Maggy London. Her latest collection delivers the must-have shapes, prints and colors straight off the runway into everyday reality. Some of the season’s highlights include shift dresses and bright shades of lemon, key lime and cobalt, drizzled throughout the line. Also included are novelty prints inspired by the graphics of the 1960s and 1970s. Moreover, there are several types of waist detailing prevalent featuring elements of pockets, knotted fronts and babydoll styling. Maggy London looks price up to $150, sold at department stores (Nordstrom, Macy’s) and specialty boutiques.