2009 May | Lisa Shops

Monthly Archives: May 2009

Tiffany Still Doing Quite Badly in the Downturn

May 29, 2009 – 4:25 pm

Tiffany’s first-quarter earning were down a dismal 64 percent. Sales in the New York flagship alone fell 42 percent. Sales in the Americas dropped 34 percent. The brand refuses to cope with the downturn by adding lower-priced items people might actually buy these days, because they don’t want to look cheap. Instead, they bought handbag brand Lambertson Truex earlier this month. Apparently LVMH and Hermès International have escaped embarrassing economic ruin thanks to the sales of branded handbags. This seem counterintuitive, since bags go out of style but diamonds are forever. But perhaps Tiffany can cash in on bag ladies, too.

The good news is sale declines seem to be leveling off, kind of like dwindling sales of men’s underpants. So maybe Alan Greenspan’s manty theory — that sales of men’s underwear dip in downturns and increase in boom times — is holding water! Or maybe a Tiffany Index would have been just as accurate as a manty index, but Greenspan just chose men’s underwear because it’s more fun to talk about.

Tiffany Earnings Sink, With Flagship Faring Poorly [WSJ]

Calvin Klein’s New Men’s Scent; Tyrese Likes His Name Tattooed on Women

May 29, 2009 – 4:00 pm

Tyrese Gibson.

FRAGRANCE
• Calvin Klein is coming out with a new men’s fragrance this fall named Free. Jamie Dornan stars in the campaign, lounging in the backseat of a car. But unlike Eva Mendes in the CK Obsession ads, Dornan is clothed. [WWD]

SKIN
• Tyrese Gibson told InStyle magazine he loves a well-inked woman: “Tattoos are sexy. I love my name on a woman; it lets me know I’m serious.” [NYP]

MAKEUP
• Another ugly result of the recession: Revlon will eliminate 400 jobs with its new plan to restructure the company, which will cut costs by $30 million. [Crains]

HAIR
• Hair-replacement surgeons in Hollywood say actors are getting hair transplants at a younger age, as early as their late twenties. At least they’re thinking ahead. [Answer Bitch/E]

• A British study says blondes are “25 percent more likely to strike out on a first date” due to bad behavior. Hair color isn’t to blame entirely, but the reasoning is that they act “according to stereotype.” [Daily Beauty Reporter/Allure]

Your Legs Can Have Cages Around Them

May 29, 2009 – 3:25 pm

With a full-out pantsless culture on the rise, leggings are filling in the gap for the lack of slacks. And they keep getting more creative, like the $120 pair by Black Milk Leggings named Cages. Designer James Lillis amped up regular black leggings by adding nine rows and two vertical strands of gold chains to form small boxes of shackles around your legs. And, given that the chains ride right up to the crotch, we can’t imagine them being very comfortable, which goes against the very reason you wear leggings in the first place. Behold the sacrifices people endure to avoid the trappings of pants. [Nitro:licious]

We’re Back on Team Gaga

May 29, 2009 – 3:00 pm

After her Rolling Stone cover, we feared Lady Gaga had lost steam. Her bubble outfit on the cover and painted-on pants inside were boring. But we just watched her latest eight-minute-long video for “Paparazzi,” and we’re excited about her again! She wears a metal leotard with crutches at about minute four. And another crazy white outfit with half a skirt and gigantic shoulder ruffles at minute five. Also of note: creepy death imagery, and girls licking each other’s tongues. [Music Mix/EW]

Design Hunting: The Couturier of Paint, the Great Vladimir Kagan, and Jessica Stam’s Living Room

May 29, 2009 – 2:30 pm

This week, in her tireless trek around New York, design editor Wendy Goodman visited the gifted paint creator Donald Kaufman, the chicly eclectic Michele Varian, the creative and witty Rafael de Cardenas (and his work for clients Jessica Stam and Parker Posey), the serene and comfortable Marcello Manor in the Bronx, and the impeccable designs of Vladimir Kagan at the Ralph Pucci showroom.

Hervé Léger by Max Azria Resort 2010

May 29, 2009 – 2:17 pm

Max Azria played with modern minimalism and geometric patterns in chic bandage dresses in a palette of contrasting cool tones.

By WWD Fashion Headlines | Posted in Fashion News |

Gucci Cruise 2010

May 29, 2009 – 2:09 pm

Frida Giannini focused on sleek basics intended to create a modern, no-fuss wardrobe.

By WWD Fashion Headlines | Posted in Fashion News |

This Weekend’s Events and Sales: Up to 80 Percent Off Vera Wang; Up to 70 Percent Off Alexander Wang

May 29, 2009 – 1:55 pm

EVENTS
TOMORROW
• Enjoy a Premium Tan from City Sun Tanning for eight cents (originally $39) with this coupon. Text the coupon to your phone or print it out. The deal includes tanning beds and spray tans and is good for one session per person (75th Street location only). No appointment necessary. Through 6/6. 207 W. 75th St., nr. Broadway (212-595-9700); M–F (10–10), S (10–8), Su (12–8).

SUNDAY
• Designer Adam Lippes will open up his meatpacking district store for a day of dog adoptions. New dog owners will get a leash and T-shirt, and 10 percent of all other proceeds that day will be donated to the Humane Society. Through 5/31. 678 Hudson St., nr 14th St. (212-229-2838); 12–7.

MONDAY
• Eve spa hosts a night of summer-inspired beauty, including a watermelon pedicure. Food and watermelon martinis will be served, and prizes of free treatments are up for grabs. 55 W. 8th St., nr. Sixth Ave. (212-807-8054); 4–8. RSVP: evesalon.nyc@gmail.com.

SALES
STARTING TOMORROW
• Aloha Rag is having a one-day sale, featuring 40 to 70 percent off designers like 3.1 phillip lim, Alexander Wang, Rogan, Jil Sander, and more. Through 5/30. 505 Greenwich St., nr. Spring St. (212-925-0882); 12–8.

ENDING TOMORROW
• Snag spring merchandise for up to 80 percent off at the Vera Wang ready-to-wear sample sale. Through 5/30. 225 W. 39th St., nr. Seventh Ave., ninth fl.; W–F (9–7), S (12–4).

• Minnie Mortimer, Sophia Eugene, Lewis Cho, Christopher Deane, and more are 50 to 80 percent off at the Panthere Communications sample sale. Through 5/30. 200 Park Ave. S., at 17th St., Ste. 1608; Th, F (10–8), S (11–5).

• Find 50 to 80 percent off Alexander Wang, Denim & Thread, and rag & bone at Suite Orchard and Gargyle’s sample sale. Through 5/30. 145 Orchard St., at Rivington St. (212-533-4115); daily (12–7).

• Tops are $10, shirts are $15, skirts are $15, and pants are $20 at the Nolita and Rare sample sale for men, women, and children. Through 5/30. 39 W. 19th St., nr. Sixth Ave., Ste. 610; daily (10–7).

ENDING SUNDAY
• The men’s and women’s spring 2009 collections are discounted at the Nicholas K sample sale. Overstock is 50 to 60 percent off; samples are up to 75 percent off. Through 5/31. 208 W. 29th St., nr. Seventh Ave.; F (10–8) S (11–7), Su (noon–6).

• Stop by Court for the Brendan Donnelly sample sale and find tees for kids and adults from $15 to $25. Court’s spring merchandise will also be 20 to 70 percent off, including items from Sophomore, Tashkent footwear, Bijules, and Kerrigan. Through 5/31. 178 Mulberry St., at Broome St. (212-925-1022); daily (noon–8).

• All full-priced maternity dresses are 25 percent off at IsabellaOliver.com. Enter DRESSES to receive your discount. Through 5/31. Online only.

STARTING MONDAY
• Show a boarding pass or plane ticket at any Olive and Bette’s boutique and receive $20 off your purchase of $75 or more. Through 9/30. Various locations.

ONGOING
• Find discounts on shoes at Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo, starting this weekend. Louboutins are 40 percent off and Jimmy Choos from the summer and cruise collections are 30 percent off. While merchandise lasts. Christian Louboutin, 965 Madison Ave., nr. 75th St. (212-396-1884); F, S (10–6), Su (12–5); Jimmy Choo, 716 Madison Ave., at 63rd St. (212-759-7078); M–W (10–7), Th (10–8), F–S (10–7), Su (12–6).

Max Azria Resort 2010

May 29, 2009 – 1:55 pm

Inspired by an English “It” girl’s effortless style, Max Azria’s resort collection was a bohemian dream of draped caftans and tunics in weightless fabrics.

By WWD Fashion Headlines | Posted in Fashion News |

Just What You Don’t Need: The ‘Tan Through’ Bikini

May 29, 2009 – 1:25 pm

British company Kiniki is making what it calls “tan through” swimwear. That means the fabric allows 80 percent of sunlight through the bathing suit, so you don’t get tan lines. Or, as the Kiniki website says, “so you can tan all without baring all!” Oh … yes! Except … no! This is, in fact, a very bad idea, because of that little thing called skin cancer. Experts are worried, since this garment is the opposite of UV-protective clothing. People might not put sunscreen on under the suits. And what if they don’t reapply sunscreen when it wears off, which it is all too likely to do — rapidly — with the fabric rubbing against it? If you’re on the beach in public, how would you reapply sunscreen to, um, those areas without looking like a freak? And if you don’t lotion up, imagine the sunburns. Imagine them. Why would anyone want to risk that? We don’t know, but apparently a lot of people do. The people who make the suits say they can’t keep up with demand since they launched four weeks ago. And the suits only come in animal prints!

When perusing the Kiniki site, we thought, Isn’t it a little sexist to assume that only women would want to lose their tan lines? Is Kiniki suggesting that tan lines on women are bad but tan lines on men are okay, in some sort of offensive double standard along the lines of the cultural norms of bikini-line maintenance for both sexes? And then we scrolled down some more.