Simon Spurr: Exits Own Company

This past weekend WWD announced that Simon Spurr exited his own label last Friday which he started back in 2006.  The designer was not at liberty to say what was going on.  All this just after his recent CFDA nomination for menswear designer of the year.  Ever since moving to New York, I've kept tabs on each of his collections - all of which sport well tailored pieces with a touch of British swagger thrown into an American label.  Hands down, he is one of my fave menswear designers out there.

On a side note, I'm always curious as to how emerging designers structure their companies.  Often times, lines are backed by a venture capitalist ("VC") who fund the operations of the company during its infancy stages with the hopes that the line will succeed and grow in the future.  In return for the initial cash forked over, the VCs take an ownership stake in the company which may seem all fine and dandy until someone gets booted from their own company.  More often than not, the problem lies in how the company was structured in the beginning. I'm not saying this is what happened here since nothing has been disclosed but you gotta wonder right?

Either way, I'm excited to see what Spurr comes up with next.  With stints at YSL, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren Purple/Black labels, and Tommy Hilfiger along with his host of accolades - he's bound to do something great.  Who knows, maybe he'll return  to his own label in the future - after all, Jil Sander is going back to...well Jil Sander! 

 

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.

Company of We: Fall/Winter 2010 Lookbook

Ever since Company of We began back in 2009, they've been getting raves from the likes of GQ, WWD, Selectism and the LA Times (just to name a few). Even in my hometown (Toronto), retailers including smaller boutiques and Holt Renfrew began carrying the line.

Their new lookbook just released online so here are some of the looks you can expect to see from the line this season:

Great blazers - especially the one on the left.
Tweed + Herringbone + Toggle = Awesome

The cardigan and wool coat above are probably my favorite from the collection. The sweater houses a few different types of knits/textures in addition to a toggle closure while the 3/4 wool coat just looks polished.

Overall, I'm more of a fan of their outerwear over their other product lines. The pieces have great construction, attention to detail without being over the top and wearability. On a side note, I've been looking for a toggle closure wool jacket for a while now but haven't been able to find anything yet - so these look promising!

Justin Giunta to Tory Burch

Hot off the WWD press this morning?
Subversive designer Justin Giunta, has been scooped up by Tory Burch to become the design director of jewelry. His first collection will hit Holiday-Resort. Justin will continue to create his own line's Subversive and his new diffusion line Deviated by Justin Giunta. While Giunta has done collaborations in the past for various designers runway collection, this will be his first full time gig with another designer.

Burch tells WWD:
“I have always been passionate about jewelry, and it’s a category we want to expand,” said Burch of her new hire. “Justin’s talent and handcrafted aesthetic will take us to the next level.”

While I am not a huge Tory Burch fan, I am a Justin Giunta fan, so I can't wait to see what's in store for the line.

Next Target Go International Designer - Thakoon

Image of courtesy of style.com

I love a great design at affordable prices. With so many designer collaborations as of late, I don't feel like there is a need to go to buy imitations at fast fashion stores. You can support the designers you love without breaking the bank.

According to WWD, Target has tapped Thakoon Panichgul to design a sportswear collection that launches on Christmas Day.
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Image of courtesy of Getty Images

Thakoon was nominated for the CDFA Swarovski Award for Womenswear this year and has a celebrity following that includes Sarah Jessica Parker, Demi Moore and Rachel Bilson. Although not everyone knows Thakoon, most Americans will probably recognize the dress that Michelle Obama wore during her husband's presidential nomination acceptance speech in August.

Image of courtesy of style.com

Thakoon notes about Target, “They were very easy to work with. They wanted a lot of prints, and I chose silhouettes that have done well in the past.” So perhaps we can expect some of the sorts of fun prints that drove the editors into a frenzy during his Spring 2009 show.