The Shophound

FAST FASHION MALL MOVES: H&M Officially Set For Columbus Circle

The deal has been long rumored, but yesterday it was officially announced that H&M would be taking over one third of the vacated Border's space and all of the former Samsung Experience store on the second and third floors at the Shops at Columbus Circle in Time Warner Center. The chain's first entry into the Upper West Side neighborhood will cover a sizable 21,000 square feet, and include women's, including lingerie, underwear and accessories; clothing for children ranging from newborns up to kids age eight and men’s which will have a separate, dedicated entrance on the center's third level, as seen in the rendering pictured above. The store is bound to add some excitement to the urban mall, not only helping to resolve the big hole left by the demise of Border's, but also bringing some much needed traffic and attention to the third level where, let's face it, Samsung's non-selling concept product showcase was never exactly a ball of fire.

Kenneth Himmel, chief executive officer of Related Urban, the developer of The Shops at Columbus Circle tells WWD to expect more changes at what has become one of Manhattan's most successful enclosed shopping mall. “Going forward, the ground level will move in much more of a luxury direction,” he says, as 20,000 to 30,000 square feet of space is expected to become available there in the next couple of years. Ultimately, the objective will be to have a mix of luxury and mass brands not unlike what one currently finds on Fifth Avenue in Midtown. Given the location and the well mixed customer base around Columbus Circle, it sounds like a spot-on strategy.

H&M to Join Shops at Columbus (WWD)

COLLABORATION ANTICIPATION: Anna Dello Russo Makes Her Retail Debut This Fall With H&M

The tireless folks at H&M have just announced its first Fashion Editor collaboration collection with the sparkly, walking Christmas Tree known as Anna Dello Russo (pictured at right). The Fashion Director at Large and Creative Consultant at Vogue Nippon (Japan) will launch a line of accessories (pictured above) this October 4th which apears to include everything from shoes to handbags to jewelry and sunglasses, none of it minimalist in any sense. In the press release, Dello Russo says, "I wanted to create precious accessories that are impossible to find," and the line will be available in only 140 of H&M's stores worldwide. So far, there's no price range announced, but, it's H&M, so we expect things to be generally affordable.

The chain released a promotional video (embedded below), and it's worth watching if only for the glimpse into Dello Russo's meticulously organized pantyhose drawer, as well as the rest of her house, which basically appears to be one giant closet. Watch her say "Everything precious. Everything sparkly," and while holding up a clanking charm bracelet, "They make-a sound bling bling." It's kind of hilarious, but it changed The Shophound's opinion of her from tiresome costumed attention-hog to generally loopy eccentric (that's an upgrade). We have to give her some kind of credit for specifically identifying herself a fashion victim, not a fashion icon.
Points for self awareness.

TV PARTY TIME: H&M Throws A Bash For Fashion Star

What does the Shophound do when H&M invites us to a party celebrating a show we haven't really been watching? We go, because one ting we have learned is that H&M throws an exceptionally good store party. You might not recognize the atrium of the chain's Fifth Avenue flagship in the picture above as it was on Tuesday evening. It was transformed into festive, tropical wonderland where open bars naturally sprout on every floor, and the natives walk around with trays of treats. The party was in honor of NBC's "Fashion Star", the show where contestants create new capsule collections every week and then try to have H&M, Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy's compete to buy them. Sometimes they win big, and sometimes, nobody bids (insert wah-wah sound). From what we can tell, H&M serves as some designers' last hope, since what Saks and Macy's might not find interesting enough for their customers, H&M is happy to sell for $39.95 the day after the show airs. We can't tell if the show is big winner with NBC, but it looks like it was a hit for H&M, which was proudly displaying the items the chain had bought from contestants so far. The event was billed as an "exclusive shopping event" and the store staff was super-extra helpful and ready to hand everyone a mesh shopping tote. Most everyone seemed more interested in drinking, however, or trying to catch some face time with "Fashion Star" judges Nicole Ritchie and John Varvatos who hosted the event. The other name of interest who appeared was androgynous model of the moment, Andrej Pejic who was serving up a lady look for the evening (all pictured below). Pejic has no connection with the show that we know of, and was probably there for the free drinks like everyone else.

It was also a opportunity for H&M to get press folks into the store to see its new Conscious collection of eco-friendly fashion which was being showcased on the main floor amongst the temporary palm fronds. We went wandering around to explore the unlikely possibility that any of the chain's recent Marni collaboration was still hanging around, and upstairs in the men's department, not far from an antipasto bar, we found an abundance of both colors of the collection's hooded lightweight parka as well as the navy coat with knitted sleeves and a few random shirts and trousers. Unfortunately, they were all still at full price ($149 for the coats) but there were enough left to suggest that holding out for the inevitable markdown might be an advisable strategy.

H&M (Official Site)
Fashion Star (Official Site)

COLLABORATION ANTICIPATION: DVF For Kids Selling Out At The Gap While Fashion Star Is A Hit At H&M

Our friends at RACKED have spent some time on Fifth Avenue in Midtown this morning so we don't have to. Clearly it was the launch of Gap's Diane von Furstenberg children's line that brought them to the neighborhood, but while there they checked in at H&M where the first batch of winning designs from NBC's new show Fashion Star went on sale. Apparently, the Cutout dress by Sarah Parrott is sold out in both colors (online as well, but the men's navy jacket by Nzimiro is still available for all. They also report that while every trace of Marni's H&M line for women is gone, gone, gone, upstairs, there is still a selection of several items from the men's line, which in our ever so humble opinion, was one of the chain's best men's collaborations to date.

But back to the Gap, where the DVF line is reported to be gone by the end of the day. Racked recommends shopping online or checking the website for other, lower profile locations, but they warn that this collection really is for little ones only. Not even the most petite fully grown woman should attempt squeezing into any of the trendier items for some bargain-rate DVF collab style.

DVF For Gap Kids Is Going Fast on Fifth Avenue, H&M on Fifth Avenue Goes Fashion Star Crazy, H&M Fifth Avenue Is Still Haunted by the Ghost of Marni (RACKED)

COLLABORATON ANTICIPATION: In Which We Are Blindsided By The Frenzy At The MARNI at H&M VIP Shopping Preview

We hate to break this to you, but if you are reading this, then it is probably too late for you to get the things you want from H&M's MARNI collection which hits select stores today, unless of course you are standing in line and waiting for the store to open right now. As a rule, The Shophound doesn't even try to compete with the folks who will get up before the crack of dawn to get first choice at these launches. This time, however, we thought we had an edge because for the first time, we had been invited to a special preview shopping event for the collection at the H&M flagship on Fifth Avenue. What a dream! No waiting. No teeming crowds, and our pick of whatever we wanted.

Well, that was a nice moment of delusion. What were we thinking? Had we not seen these same "insiders" gleefully trample each other for a free pair of flip flops at the Fashion Week tents? We managed to get through the check-in line and get inside the store at 7:15 PM, only 15 minutes after the event began only to find that shoppers had already stripped the shelves of any and all of the smaller accessories and shoes, and were well into doing the same with the clothing on the racks. The general M.O. was apparently to load one's arms or H&M shopping bag with as much as stuff as possible and then either try things on or find a spot in the store to sit down and sift through one's findings while guarding the pile of goods like a feral cat. It's not like we were looking to pick up the entire collection, but while the men's section was slightly less ransacked, it was still fairly well raided. Our hopes of picking up a pair of those sunglasses or sandals were quickly re-adjusted. Of course, everything will be restocked for the public launch, but it looks like there is some serious pent-up demand for this particular collaboration, and it is likely to sell as fast, if not faster than its predecessors.

We were reduced to keeping an eye out for discards form the dressing rooms as H&M staffers dutifully returned them to the racks as efficiently as possible among the cocktail swilling customers, while we watched shoppers check out with multiple shiny tan Marni shopping bags stuffed with goods, a portion of which were surely headed for eBay (as we type this there are already over a hundred listings). We're not entirely sure the chain's rules on multiple purchasing were being enforced, but we were sternly warned that we had only ten days to return any of the Marni items.

On the plus side there were plenty of drinks and snacks being walked around by waiters, as well as a 25% discount on any non-Marni merchandise in the store. We managed to get out of there with the men's navy and black printed camp shirt and the last pair of men's socks anyone could grab. Of course, there were a few other options still available, but with UU Uniqlo Undercover coming next week, we do have to pace ourself. Leaving the store, we received a gift bag with one of the triangular silk scarves in a special colorway made only for VIP guests —our faith in elitism restored.

MARNI at H&M launches on March 8th at six Manhattan locations:
640 Fifth Avenue at 51st Street, Midtown
150 East 86th Street at Lexington Avenue,  Upper East Side
435 Seventh Avenue at 34th Street & 1328 Broadway at 34th Street, Herald Square
111 Fifth Avenue at 18th Street, Flatiron District
and 515 Broadway between Spring and Broome Streets, SoHo

CELEBRITY BRIEF: David Beckham's Underpants —Now In Motion

We brought you the stills earlier this month, and now here's the video.
Yes, folks the day when David Beckham's new men's underwear line becomes available at H&M is almost upon us,  so pretty soon your TV will be inundated with commercials featuring the sports star in his undies. We know. It'll be tough, but we'll get through this together. We hear the ads are going to debut during that Super Bowl people can't stop talking about which is apparently this weekend if you keep track of that sort of thing.

You don't have to wait so many days to to see Beckham's commercial, however. He is in motion right here in the preview you can see above set to the strains of the Animals' "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (that's the non-disco version of the song). Make of that what you will. Well, actually he's not really moving much. It's actually the camera that's in motion, but the point is you can watch this little video as many times as you want, and nobody has to know.
Once again, you're welcome, and enjoy your Monday.

David Beckham Bodywear for H&M launches on February 2nd at H&M stores worldwide
Previously:
Captain Underpants: David Beckham Is Back In His Skivvies For H&M

CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS: David Beckham Is Back In His Skivvies For H&M

Click all images for a larger view in a new window

Hey kids, It sure is a slow news week, so who better than a true sports hero like David Beckham to come to the rescue with a preview of the men's underwear line that he will launch in 1,800 H&M stores worldwide on February 2nd. Naturally, all the important modeling will be done by Beckham himself, and why not? He certainly has the experience, and we haven't gotten a chance to check in on the state of his tattoos lately, right? The folks at H&M were kind enough to send us the full lookbook and price list this morning and, feeling generous, we thought we would share every picture with you dear Shophounders after the jump.
You're totally welcome.

The line runs from $12.95 for briefs to $29.95 for a henley shirt, long johns or pajama pants with all the expected trunks, tanks and boxer brief styles in between, so it's cheaper than Calvin Klein, but still more expensive than Uniqlo. We are expecting some big crazy public appearances next month for the launch, but for the time being, you'll have to make do these photos. This collaboration happens to be a long running project, so that probably means new pictures of Beckham in his underpants every season for the foreseeable future. We will do our very best to keep you updated on such developments as they unfold because, well... stars in underpants. These are the kinds of things that keep the internet running.

David Beckham Bodywear for H&M launches on February 2nd at H&M stores worldwide

More images after the jump

MOVIE MAGIC: H&M And Sony Team Up To Promote "The Girl With the Dragon tattoo"

We can't really encourage you to run down to West 14th Street to H&M's Blink-and-you'll-miss-it Dragon Tattoo Collection by Trish Summerville pop-up store because it'll be over by the end of today. We have to wonder a little bit why H&M would go to such expense for a temporary store that doesn't even take advantage of the weekend shopping traffic in the Meatpacking District, and then we remembered that it probably didn't cost H&M a dime. Our guess is that Sony Pictures which produced the film "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" footed the bill which was probably a drop in the bucket of a presumed blockbuster's promotional budget.

Still, it's too bad if you missed it, because Sony/H&M did a more than respectable job turning whatever raw space was there into a grungy, gloomy Stockholm city corner/cybercafé (cybercafé, what a quaint concept in the age of the iPhone). In fact, the setting is far more interesting than the special capsule collection inspired by the movie's urchin-like central character, Lisbeth Salander. Mannequins throughout the shop are fitted with not-iPad tablet devices (by Sony!) that alternate showing snippets of the film and serving as incredibly unflattering little electronic mirrors, and racks are suspended by rugged chains for a dungeonlike effect.

The real winner here is costume designer Trish Summerville, who otherwise would be working in relatively anonymity behind the scenes, and now gets her name on the label of a line that will be sold in H&M stores worldwide with Sony picking up a big promotional tab. The actual clothes, motorcycle jackets, jeans, hoodies, biker leggings and Rick Owens-y draped knits in lots of black and gray are not unlike what lots of New York women have been wearing for years (think of a scruffier version of styleblogger favorite Elle senior style editor Kate Lanphear), so they should sell nicely and have some life beyond any mass inclination women might have to dress like the film's slightly scary character.

Of course, if the movie flops when opens next week, those "Dragon Tattoo" displays are going to look a little sad, but for now it's all promotional buildup with breathless anticipation.

Dragon Tattoo Collection by Trish Summerville available at H&M stores now.

COMING SOON...MAYBE: Unconfirmed Twitter Says H&M Taking Border's Time Warner Spot (sounds good enough to us)

Sourcing news from Twitter is indeed a a dicey proposition, but when the Twitter account in question belongs to Jeffrey D. Roseman, "Executive Vice President and Principal of Newmark Knight Frank Retail, The largest Retail Leasing company in the country", then we will ascribe a certain level of importance to it that we may not extend to, let's say, Drunk Hulk.

Anyway, Jeffrey D. Roseman has tweeted that H&M will be taking over the gaping vacancy on the second floor of Time Warner Center that once held Border's along with a portion of the totally superfluous Samsung showroom one flight upstairs that has not exactly set the world on fire.

The other reason why we are even bothering to mention this rumor is that it totally makes sense. If they aren't going there, they should. While H&M is well represented in Midtown, SoHo, the Flatiron District and the Upper East Side, there is not a single H&M unit on the West Side between 34th Street and 125th Street in Harlem. H&M would fit in easily with the upscale mall concept at at Time Warner. In fact, H&M would probably do well with at least one more store higher up on Broadway as well (Filene's Basement at 79th Street maybe? Just an idea).

Here's hoping that this rumor is true, because there is nothing sadder than a huge blank vacancy in an otherwise successful retail center. If we're lucky, it will be finished in time for next Spring's Marni collaboration launch. Fingers crossed.

@jeffreydroseman/twitter (via RACKED)

COLLABORATION ANTICIPATION: It's MARNI In March For H&M!

Hot off the pandemonium over this month's Versace collaboration, H&M has announced that it will launch an exclusive collection designed by Consuelo Castiglioni for MARNI this March. This should go a ways to console H&M fans about the fact that the Spring version of the Versace line will reportedly not be available in U.S. H&M stores. The Marni line will launch on March 8th, 2012 in over 250 stores worldwide and online, and will feature clothing and accessories for both women and men at fast fashion prices in much the same way as the Swedish chain's other collaboration collections have.

“I wanted to create a true Marni wardrobe by revisiting all our favorite pieces in signature fabrics and prints. As always, I love juxtaposing prints and colors, mixing modern tribal with Bauhaus graphic and adding sporty utilitarian elements,” says Castiglioni in today's press release, so not unlike the recent Versace line, shoppers should be able to find new versions of Marni's greatest hits at H&M come this spring. The chain has provided a few preview images pictured here featuring Castiglioni and H&M Creative Advisor Margareta van den Bosch, so you can get an idea of what will be in store for customers come this Spring. After the jump, see a behind-the-scenes video (along with the full press release) that should get you excited for what promises to be one of the chain's most sophisticated team-ups since it joined forces with Comme des Garçons a couple of years ago.

March 8th is a Thursday.
Start lining up now (as if we need to tell you).