Fashion 2.0 Holiday Party!

Earlier this week, Erin and I had a chance to stop by the Fashion 2.0 Holiday Party presented by Beyond the Rack at the Griffin in the Meatpacking district. I was feeling a bit under the weather but after getting some booze into my system, compliments of Martin Codax, I was feeling much better. Overall - definitely a great way to start my holiday season!

The venue was nice and reminded me of a more posh lounge with mirrored ceilings, chandeliers and plenty of space to sit around or mingle. There were lots of different people across various industries and bloggers so it was nice to touch base with people before the holidays! Tunes were provided by DJ Belle De Jour with plenty of Katy Perry blasting in the backdrop.

There was a contest to score a $1,500 shopping spree to Beyond the Rack which was great - too bad Erin and I were slow and couldn't score any points =/

Special thanks to Yuli for organizing such a great event!

Photos courtesy of Sunny Norton

On a side note, the plaid shirt I'm wearing is from the William Rast for Target collection that launched last week. While I wasn't a huge fan of the line when I saw it in person, I loved the plaid shirts and grabbed a couple. They're lightweight fabrics and easy to layer with.

On Erin:

Over the Knee Boots - Delman
Tank Top - LnA
Ruffle Taffeta Skirt - Lanvin x H&M
Floral Print Tights - Primark
Chunky Necklace - Club Monaco
Velvet Collar Blazer - Vintage YSL (picked up at Housing Works!)
Chain Strap Satchel - Botkier Ava

On Jeff:

Blue Plaid shirt: William Rast x Target
V-neck T: Uniqlo Heat-Tech (seriously the best thing ever)
Dark Skinny Jeans: Jonathan Alders for 7 For All Mankind
Satchel bag: Matt & Nat
Nut/bolt leather wrapped bracelet: Giles & Brother

Product Review: William Rast for Target

I was super excited for the launch of William Rast for Target as I am for most Target collections so I actually tried to check it out online it as soon as it went live on Sunday am, but since it wouldn’t let me shop at midnight, I decided to head to stores the next morning to see what I thought about the line in person.

The first items I headed straight towards were the leather jackets.  They were absolutely buttery soft leading me to believe that the leather used was actually lamb!  Lamb leather is usually quite pricey but these Target versions will only set you back about $200.

While the construction was great and I loved the red pop lining in the Fringe moto jacket, I found that there was absolutely no bust room.  Considering that I am not a busty girl by any means, I am not sure how these will fare for other ladies. Also, the fringe was fun but I felt a little bit costume-y trying this on. The Tan Biker jacket fared a bit better in this area.  Both jackets are cut quite snuggly which I’m sure that petite girls will appreciate.  Since my heart is still set on getting a black biker jacket I passed on both items as neither quite fit’s my specifications.

Next to the biker jackets was this bomber jacket that took be back to the early 90s, it had a waxy/stiff feel that was not really something that enticed me. I also spotted plenty of twill biker vests and cargo pants.  The vest is a little bit fussy looking for my personal aesthetic but on the right person I’m sure it could look really cute.  The cargo pants were great but the fabrication wasn’t as soft as I hoped.  I am so into comfort these days that I can scarcely manage to wear a pair of regular skinny jeans.

Items that I would have loved had they been made in silk are this silky snap front blouse and tank top.  The original line charts stated silk, but I think perhaps due to cost they were switched to Poly before they went to production. The items are definitely trend right, but the fabrication was a bit of a turn off.  Perhaps if they get marked down I will consider it, but I really would have paid a bit more for silk. Since I’m not much of a fan of dark wash denim, I didn’t really look at them too closely.

I initially thought this lace-up jacket was a really fun shape, but having lace-up detailing on the sleeves and the back seemed a bit overdesigned.  I would have liked it' more if they kept it to one spot.  However, it’s still an overall fun style.  From photo’s I loved the look of the Ponte High Waisted skirt and thought it could make a great replacement for my Jonathan Saunders for Target Skirt that is starting to shred.  On the hanger I was a bit disappointed because it looked flat, but on the body it really does look great and much better than I expected after my initial disappointment.  Another great item that is well made are these Ponte leggings, they are a nice thick material that might even be able to be worn alone (sans long tunic/dress)  The geometric flag pattern at the knees adds a sporty fun touch as do the ankle zips.

A couple of the best made items in the collection was the Ponte Biker vest and these Pleather shorts!  Both items were very cleanly constructed and felt great.

My sleeper fave item of the collection was these plaid shirts. Had I only saw them online, I never would have wanted them.  In real life the fabric is purposefully disheveled, soft, thin and has a great overall look.  I tried on a couple sizes just to see and I might size up on this one because my regular size fit my body, but again like the leather jacket there was very little bust room in them.  Finally for the chambray shirts, they are a great price for an overall great basic, however the little iron on studs on the pocket flaps bother me and actually detract from the shirt. Had the shirt’s not included the studs, I think I would have bought them in a heartbeat.

Full Lookbook: William Rast for Target

December 19, 2010 marks the release of the William Rast for Target collaboration. While Justin Timberlake's line is a bit more mainstream than most of the previous collaborations, the nice thing about this line is that it will incorporate menswear! From what I can remember, this is only the second collaboration Target has ventured out into which will showcase both men's and womenswear (Loomstate was the first).

Pricing for both men's and women's pieces will range from $16.99 to $199.99 (with the leather outerwear pieces coming in at the high end of the spectrum). Men's plaid shirts come in a variety of colors including blue, orange and gray and are priced at $34.99. T's will set you back $19.99, hoodies cost $34.99 and jackets will run you $49.99 (note: womenswear items are priced similar to the men's collection).

I'm definitely interesting in checking out the denim since that's what forms the backbone of William Rast's menswear line. Based on what I'm seeing, the men's straight leg and skinny jeans look decent and won't break the bank at $49.99 a pair. On a side note - I'm definitely glad they've included a few grey pairs of denim in the mix (I've been on the hunt for a grey pair jeans but haven't found anything that I'm in love with yet).

The other item from the menswear line that I'm digging are the plaid shirts. Plaid makes for great layering over or under a T, is versatile and can add a little bit of hipster to anyone's outfit.

The collection will be available in most Target stores and online from December 19, 2010 through January 22, 2011.

UPDATED: A Few More Sales This Week

If all these sales weren't enough here are a few more for your shopping leisure! Let us know what sales you hit up and what you liked!

Who: The News Sample Sale
What: Band of Outsiders, BOY by Band of Outsiders, Clu, Cheap Monday, Sacai, Common Projects, Shipley & Halmos, KZO, Wayne, R13, Creative Growth for Everybody.
When: May 20-22, 2010. Thurs-Sat 10am-6pm
Where: 495 Broadway @ Broome, 5th Floor (212) 925-9700

Who: Alain Mikli International Sample Sale
What: Over 2200 frames on sale (glasses and sunglasses) priced to sell at $60-95 (was $200-700). Btw Lani is a huge fan!
When: May 18-21, 2010. Tues-Thurs 9am-6:45pm, Fri 9am-5pm
Where: 28 Wooster Street(Corner of Wooster & Grand Streets)

Who: Derek Lam
What: The star-printed silk blouse $295 (was $450), the shell-print silk tank-dress $695 (was $1,190), and the stretch cotton trouser $295 (was $490)
When: May 20-21, 2010. Thurs-Fri 10am-6pm
Where: 601 West 26th St (nr 11th Ave) 17th Floor. Suite 1730

Who: Fred Flare Sample Sale
What: Clothing and shoes are $10, books and toys are $5, and sunglasses are $5. 25% off New arrivals.
When: May 23, 2010. Sun 11am-5pm
Where: 131 Meserole Ave (at Leonard St) Greenpoint, Brooklyn. (718-349-1257)

Who: Carlos Campos Sample Sale
What: Up to 90% off Men and Womens spring/summer dresses, tops, cropped blazers, suits, tailored jackets, and more. Not sure what this means, but they say early birds can enjoy complimentary Prosecco!
When: May 19-21, 2010. Wed-Fri 10am-7pm
Where: 248 West 35th St, 9th floor (nr. 8th Ave) (212-244-2377)

Who: Boutique on 57 Sale
What: Up to 75% off on Chloe, Marni and Gucci
When: May 19-21, 2010. Wed-Fri 10am-7pm
Where:12 West 57 Street (b/n 5-6 Avenues) Suite 807 (212.247.2229)

Who: Elizabeth & James Sample Sale
What: Olsen twin’s Elizabeth & James line is marking down select clothing for both men and women from Spring 2010 stock as well as past season.
When: May 19-21, 2010. Wed-Fri 10am-6pm
Where: 250 West 39th Street, Suite 1701 (b/n 7th and 8th avenues) 212-382-1780

Who: J.Lindeberg and William Rast Sample Sale
What: Classic menswear, denim, and ready-to-wear at deep discounts.
When: May 18-20, 2010. Tues-Thurs 10am-7pm.
Where: 57 East 11th Street, 8th floor (b/n Broadway and University Place)

Who: Lyell Closing Sale
What: Cult brand Lyell is closing shop. Grab some Spring 2010 and other remaining stock at up to 60% off.
When: Now through stock runs out or May 31, 2010.
Where: 173 Elizabeth Street (at Spring Street) 212-966-8484.

Who: W29 Showroom Sample Sale
What: Designer sale on Ashish, Rodebjer, Dagmar, Margarita Saplala, The Local Firm, Fin, and Alexander Koutny.
When: May 21-24. Fri 10am-6pm, Sat-Sun noon-4pm, Mon 10am-6pm
Where: 208 West 29th Street, Suite 201, (b/n 7th and 8th avenues) 212-563-0163.

Who: 3.1 Phillip Lim
What: Up to 50% Off clothing and accessories for women, men and children.
When: May 19-20, 2009. Tues-Wed 10am-5pm
Where: 260 W 39th St b/n 7th & 8th Ave, 17th floor