Editors Blog: Wmagazine.com

Logo A-Go-Go

Yes, times are tight this holiday season. But that's even more reason to treat your loved ones to a few good old-fashioned status symbols. While some of our picks are understated in an is-that-really-a-Burberry-plaid-necklace way, others are off-the-charts kitschy and adorable. The best part? Most of these goodies clock in at under $500, and some are even downright affordable.

Go big or go home is the message behind the perky bugle-beaded ponies on these Ralph Lauren Blue Label stretch cotton, slim-fit polo shirts, $198 each, ralphlauren.com. Right: What a doll! Lanvin's porcelain charmer is the perfect dresser-top accoutrement. $438, at Susan of Burlingame, San Francisco, 415.922.3685.

With these Louis Vuitton lookers bundling up just got a lot more beautiful. Wool knit hat, $240, and wool knit scarf, $645, at louisvuitton.com. Right: It's plaid tidings for the lucky recipient of Burberry's nickel with gold overlay necklace, $395, at Burberry stores and burberry.com.

Bow wow wow: It doesn't get any cuter than these Gucci leather trim canvas keychains. From left, $190 and $150, at gucci.com. Right: Dangling from a strap, these cuddly Prada bear and monkey keychains add a little punch to your favorite purse. $180 each, at select Prada boutiques, 888.977.1900.

Texting is a snap with Hermes's lambskin fingerless gloves, $330, at hermes.com. Right: Leave it to Tom Ford to emblazon his name on, yes, soap on a rope. Scented with a lighter version of the patchouli-spiked Tom Ford for Men. $18, tomford.com

Check the Editors' Blog every day in the month of December for new gift ideas.

By W Magazine

December 1, 2008

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Holiday Gift Guide

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From Asprey, With Love

Despite the fact that he's no longer with us, Ian Fleming is about to have his very own Willard Scott moment. To celebrate the centenary of Fleming's birth, Asprey is introducing limited-edition collections of the author's complete works, published by Queen Anne Press. There are 18 volumes in all and his literary range is pretty impressive, from the entire James Bond oeuvre to the kids' classic Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang. (Fun fact: Fleming was managing director at the publishing house from 1952 to his death in 1964.) And true to the Asprey company roots, each set is luxed-up to the hilt, clothbound and with gilt edges ($4,000) or with vellum spines, individual slipcases and handmade stamped endpapers ($12,000). For the truly reckless, there's the leather-bound set priced at $28,000, bedecked with gold leaf and diamonds.

By Venessa Lau

November 12, 2008

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Books

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Obama vs. McCain: The Pants Edition

It's been a little over a month since the guys behind the menswear line Bonobos started promoting two new styles of cotton twill pants, one called the "Obama," the other one the "McCain." While they look, admittedly, very similar, the Obama features cross-stitched belt loops and a Hawaiian print lining (which also peeks through its back pockets), while the McCain is lined in a "conservative" blue-and-white pinstripe.

According to Bonobos's Dave Eisenberg (full disclosure, he's a friend of mine), sales for both trousers have been about even. Earlier in October, apparently, the Obamas had pulled ahead, until the company sold out and had to reorder, during which time the McCains gained an advantage. Now the trousers are neck and neck, with about 150 pairs of each sold. "The race has tightened dramatically," says Eisenberg, who explains that their ultimate goal is to get the Democratic nominee to actually wear the $120 trousers. "Obama's bodyman is a guy named Reggie Love, who went to Duke with one of the guys at our company, so we're hoping to get them to Obama via him."

Above McCains (left) and Obamas (right).

By Haven Thompson

November 3, 2008

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Billy Reid's Southern Charmer

The launch party for Billy Reid's namesake store last week was a Bourbon-swilling trip down South, right here in New York. But as much as we enjoyed the libations, we were even more impressed with the space. Known for his tailored craftsmanship, love of tweeds, and gentle disposition, Reid showed off the store that he has been toiling over (literally chopping his own wood for the staircase and ceiling) ever since he spotted the location on Bond Street. Sticking to his Louisiana roots, Reid's first outpost north of the Mississippi features pre-Civil War flooring recovered from a cotton gin and an assortment of antiques. For sale, there's made-to-measure clothing, denim and knitwear.

Having left New York in 2002 to establish a base for his business in Alabama, Reid hopes to again find success in Manhattan. (He won CFDA Menswear Designer of the
Year in 2001.) It seems he already is—and with the ladies too. His smaller women's capsule collection is featured in the store, and a month after opening, Reid claims women's wear accounts for half of his total sales.

If you don't live in Gotham, don't fret; a Nashville store is set to open in two weeks (and there's plenty to buy on his website). But if you do, be sure to pop by for a bourbon or some sweet tea, which are provided well into the evening in the store's hospitality suite.

By Rebecca Ramsey

October 27, 2008

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Dita and Mary J. at the "Maison"

Despite the current retail doldrums, not to mention Burberry's competing event in Beverly Hills, Catherine Malandrino managed to pull off a decent showing at the opening of her new West Hollywood concept store, Maison Malandrino. The party officially started when the designer's longtime muse Mary J. Blige, a co-host of the party, made her entrance in a (surprisingly demure) black jersey dress with cascading paillettes.

Holding hands with Blige and an even more lacquered-looking-than-usual Dita von Teese, Malandrino blew out the candles on an elaborate chocolate cake. In one of the store's back rooms, In Treatment's Melissa George (wearing Balenciaga) and Entourage's Perrey Reeves (stylist in tow) sifted through the racks together. Von Teese eventually made her way to the store's garden area to take in the bongo drum circle (you heard that right), while Michelle Trachtenberg was seen slipping out early, gift bag in hand.

Photos by Jean-Paul Aussenard/Wireimage

By Alexis Brunswick

October 21, 2008

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Loulou for Less

Though her pals in Paris still aren't sipping the home-shopping Kool-Aid, designer Loulou de la Falaise (left) is more than happy to ply her trade on HSN. In fact, in a live segment airing on Monday, the fashion icon and former muse to Yves Saint Laurent will be unveiling more merch than ever. Having launched her line last spring with jewelry, she's since added bags, shoes and a smattering of clothing. "Now I've got the full head-to-toe look," she says, walking me through an assortment of wallet-friendly looks. (While there are a few stand-out pieces, especially some of the bijoux, let's just say we're not yet lusting after the clothes.) Pin-thin, wearing a number of her own HSN pieces (including cute purple suede peep-toe ankle boots), de la Falaise is pretty much textbook Intimidating French Woman. "I'm sure only about 1 percent of the HSN audience knows exactly who I am," she says, laughing. "I guess the rest just figure it out as I go along."

Below, a $150 necklace and $67 shoes (seriously, folks) from her line. See the full assortment here.

Loulou de la Falaise photo courtesy of HSN; archival photo of de la Falaise and Yves Saint Laurent, WWD Staff.

By Dana Wood

October 20, 2008

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Finally, Civilized Fast Fashion

I may be in the minority on this, but I find shopping at the major fast-fashion chains (you know, the one with the initials and the other one that starts with a Z) utterly draining. Seriously, the stress level starts to rise the second I step through those glass doors and start people-dodging. So it was with a spot of trepidation that I booked an appointment with a personal shopper to comb the racks of Eryn Brinié, the latest addition to "Recession Row"—that pile-up of Old Navy, Payless, etc., on lower Broadway in SoHo.

Happily, I was in for a pleasant surprise; the 3,700-square-foot space, an import from South Korea that opened in late August, has a decidedly soothing vibe. No million-decibel techno blaring, no tangles of clothes piled from floor to ceiling, no fitting-room lines stretching from here to Texas. When I showed up at my appointment, an adorable salesperson led me to a huge assortment of looks (the majority of the merch is priced below $150) she'd pulled in advance. Although some of it was a little too filmy, floaty and Japanese-y for my stuck-in-Nineties-minimalism taste, plenty of it worked. After a lightning-quick 40 minutes, I nabbed seven pieces (three dresses and four tops) for a grand total of $509 and sailed back out into the sunshine—migraine-free.

Below, a few of the store's upcoming holiday looks.

By Dana Wood

October 13, 2008

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Eryn Brini�

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The Chicest Obama Tee Shirt We've Seen

With the election less than a month away, Obamaniacs are eager to wear their hearts on their sleeves. But for fashion snobs, this can cause a dilemma: Just how to incorporate a bright blue Obama tee into one's fall wardrobe? Luckily, Bill Blass design director Prabal Gurung has whipped up a shirt that's chic enough to wear even outside the gym.

The subtle grey-on-white tee features a trompe l'oeil necklace with Obama-inspired charms, including a Democratic donkey and a tag reading "Hope, Future, Change." Says Gurung, "I didn't want to do anything too in your face. I wanted to do something that I would want to wear." As for the charm bracelet motif, the Nepal native says he was inspired by the international response to Obama's candidacy. "The world is looking at America," he says. "I was thinking, we need good luck now, so what about something as silly as a lucky charm? It's also our way of wishing Obama luck."

The shirts will be on on sale for $20 each at The Obama Party, a fundraiser in New York on October 18. You can email the organizers for further information.

Photo by Alexandra Marvar

By Elisa Lipsky-Karasz

October 7, 2008

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We Heart This Watch

Working here at W, it's not uncommon to silently covet co-workers' shoes, coats, dresses and earrings. But a few weeks ago, when I bumped into Market Director Treena Lombardo in, of all places, the ladies' room, I practically put her in a half nelson so I could get a better look at the ginormous yellow-faced gold watch she was wearing. (This occurred post-hand washing, btw). Asking about the timepiece, I steadied myself for the letdown, ready to hear "Dad's Rolex" or "Baume and Mercier" or some other watchmaker leagues beyond my price range. Instead, she raised her eyebrows and informed me, "Michael Kors. $250. It's great, right?"

Needless to say, I shot straight over to the designer's Madison Avenue boutique and bought myself the same oversized Gold Chrono. (Launched last spring, it's intended for either men or women.).With its one-inch wide band and its nearly two-inch face radius, it makes my men's Bulgari watch look downright dainty. I'm happy to report that despite its massive girth, it's surprisingly comfortable. And the compliments! I've been averaging about three each time I wear it, including from the very discerning Leonard Lauder. When I met him for lunch last week, he reached over to my wrist and said, "Now, tell me about this watch, Jane Larkworthy." I was pleased to inform him that it was by a designer whose fragrances are under the Est�e Lauder umbrella.

Photos by Alexandra Marvar.

By Jane Larkworthy

September 24, 2008

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Ed Ruscha for Every Day

Though it's made a killing on its cheery slogan notebooks ("Bliss List," "Be Happy," et al), and its Fashion Week Diary has been snapped up by a number of New York / Milan / Paris types, Smythson of Bond Street has something a little moodier -- and more philanthropic -- up its leather-bound sleeve for fall: A limited-edition set of Art Diaries, the entire proceeds of which are earmarked for charity.

Featuring original works by two Brits (Gary Hume and Rachel Whiteread) and two Americans (John Baldessari and Ed Ruscha), it's a hands-across-the-water kind of affair. And that's reflected in the various causes the artists have selected to benefit, too. Hume's pick, The Kids Company, provides support to vulnerable inner-city children and is based in the U.K. Ruscha, whose cheeky works are pictured here, chose The Bill Foundation, which rescues pooches from the L.A. shelter system and places them in permanent homes. Available in two portable sizes (the 5.5" x 7.5" Mayfair, $810, and the 3.5" x 5.5" Panama, $630), the Diaries will hit Smythson's New York and Beverly Hills stores mid-October.

By Dana Wood

September 4, 2008

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