Richard Chai for Original Penquin Launch

Yesterday marked the launch of the Original Penquin x Richard Chai collaboration that I mentioned last fall. There are three pieces comprised of one solid colored cardigan, one color blocked cardigan, and one short sleeved polo. The items are available online or in select stores (SoHo and Midtown location included).

First up is the solid colored cardigan. It's available only in grey and retails for $195.

The second color blocked cardigan comes in two colors (grey/cream and cream/grey) and retails for $135.

The last piece for this capsule collection is a short sleeved polo. It comes in three colors, washed grey, blue and pink. The polos retail for $95 a pop.

I ended up stopping by the Penguin store after work by 39th & 6th to take a closer look at the pieces and grab a couple pics. The washes on the polos were amazing and were uber comfortable, but ended up being a bit too long on me so I decided to pass. I wish they sold more of this collection in the States but oh well... c'est la vie! Guess I'll just have to wait for the fall collection to drop.

If you're in London by any chance, there are 6 different pieces up for grabs (versus 3 in the US) at Selfridges.

NYFW Spring 2011: Richard Chai

While Richard Chai's show was one that we didn't get a chance to see (the timing didn't jive with our schedules), it was one that I would have loved to catch. As mentioned previously, Chai collaborated with Original Penguin for a capsule collection which debuted on the runway this fashion week. A total of 8 pieces were shown which included polos, tanks and cardigans.

Penguin is most known for their polos which often come in solid colors with piped detailing around the collar and cuffs or in subtle prints. Chai's addition to the line reworks Penguin's staple - the polo, into something completely different while showcasing Chai's personal aesthetic. Squared shoulders, oversized/dropped armholes, color blocking and prints all made their way into the pieces which holds true to form for Chai.

Chai's line incorporated more color than most menswear shows that I saw which was nice. Military and deep forest greens were plentiful as were shades of purple and soft gray tones. Part of the reason why I dig Chai's menswear line is because of the effortless slouchiness vibe his pieces emit which never end up looking sloppy. Cool and casual is definitely the way to go.

A large portion of the collection showcased sheerness through meshed and striped burnout pieces. I also appreciated Chai's use of layering with the sheerer fabric pieces as it helped to balance out the looks. On a personal note - this summer was all about the burnout T for me. I seriously thought I was going to die from heat so burnout T's were my choice of clothing since they yield a lighter fabric weight (due to fabric erosion) which definitely comes in handy in NY's 100+ degree weather.

All images courtesy of WWD

Richard Chai x Original Penguin

According to WWD, Richard Chai will be collaborating with Original Penguin on a menswear collection for Spring 2011. This menswear collection will debut this upcoming fashion week and will encompass nine tops that include short and long sleeve polos and cardigans.

Ann Payne (SVP or Merchandising & Design at Penguin), Richard Chai

As previously mentioned, I love when designers collaborate and generally speaking I'm a huge fan of Richard Chai's menswear line. The collaborative pieces will include design details such as color blocking, dropped armholes and oversized styling that can be found thoughout Chai's signature label. Prices for the collaborative pieces will hover around the $110 mark. Previously, Chai has collaborated with other labels including American Apparel, Keds, Topman, and Target.

Preview a couple sketches from the spring collection:

Each piece is set to contain Penguin's embroidered label along with "RC" monogrammed on the belly of the penguin which is a nice and subtle touch! The collaborative effort will continue through Fall 2011 with about 25-30 pieces in work including outerwear, tops, sweaters, and pants.