GRAND DEBUT: & Other Stories From H&M Opens Today In SoHo

Shoppers anxious to see H&M's offshoot chain & Other Stories will have to wait no longer. The first U.S. store (pictured above) opens today at noon in the middle of a block of Broadway featuring Prada on one end and American Eagle on the other. For those who aren't able to make it into the store, the chain's e-commerce site also launches in the U.S. this week —a rare concurrent entrée into the retail scene. From what The Shophound can gather, the price range is on the upscale side of the chain store range, roughly equivalent to Club Monaco or J.Crew, and definitely a few steps up from H&M's fast-fashion category. How quickly & Other Stories will expand depends on public response, of course, but keep in mind that the chain made its debut less than two years ago in London, and then swiftly rolled out through Europe within months. We don't know if this is the plan in the U.S., but the quick opening of e-commerce here is a good sign that the chain is looking to gain prominence quickly. Word has it that when the website went live this week it crashed from the huge response, so the interest is definitely out there. At any rate, we will be able to see the whopping 9,400 square foot women's only store starting this afternoon. As for the other highly anticipated sibling store from H&M, COS, news has been quieter. Announced before & Other Stories and expected to be open by now, the even more upscale sibling chain has been taking its time, so maybe we can hope to see it for the Holidays? Spring?
Let's just appreciate what we got for today.

& Other Stories 575 Broadway between Prince & Houston Street, SoHo

JON CARAMANICA GOES SHOPPING:

"Wait — where did all the luxury go?" Critical Shopper Jon Caramanica asks in today's Thursday Styles in regards to the new Band of Outsiders boutique in SoHo. Instead of focusing on the entire store (not a mention of the heavily promoted Momofuku Milk Bar window), our shopper primarily delves into the men's collection on the racks, and he seems unmoved, finding the offerings not quite luxurious enough or inventive enough or generally compelling enough, which suggests that unlike in his previous excursion to Phillip Lim's newest store, he didn't actually try much of anything on. His summation: "competent, accessible, not particularly adventurous semi-luxury at ambitious prices".

Of course trying Band of Outsiders clothes on poses its own challenges as the label is one of the pioneers in the shrunken, narrow sleeved narrow, legged style that has added style to otherwise innocuous, classic clothes or, if you are a less skillful stylist, made you look like you have been shopping in the kids department. The Shophound has always wondered if it is even possible for someone over 6 feet tall to wear their clothes without looking totally ridiculous. If you can fit into them without cutting off the circulation under your armpits, the results can be charming, but our shopper is looking for something more vital. "Easy idiosyncrasy" is apparently just too easy for a shopper looking for a greater challenge.

Critical Shopper: A Touch, a Smell, a Smile By Jon Caramanica (NYTimes)
Band of Outsiders 70 Wooster Street between Broome & Spring Streets, SoHo

COLLABORATION ANTICIPATION: Here's The Entire Alexander Wang x H&M Lookbook (And It Ain't Cheap)

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H&M is preparing for what might possibly be its most frenzied Designer Collaboration ever as its exclusive Alexander Wang collection launches on November 6th in select stores and online. Frankly, we are a little bit afraid of even attempting to visit the stores on that day, but at least we have plenty of time to plan ahead. You have seen the advertising images, and today, the entire collection has hit the internet by way of lookbook images all of which we have included in two separate galleries for women above and men below. We knew that it would be a special line of brand new items designed just for the Swedish retailer with an athletic theme, but unfortunately, the big surprise is that it is probably H&M's most expensively priced collaboration yet. Sure, there are tees and knits that run from just under $50 to around $99, but there are also pieces that run up to nearly $400, which is getting close to what regular Alexander Wang costs. We haven't seen the womnen's line itemized yet, but GQ has item shots of the men's collection which reveals that those cool high-top leather zip sneakers will be $299. Fast fashion prices? We don't think so. That great reflective down parka will be $349. Backpacks are checking in at $129 - $249. The zip sweatshirt with textured sleeves will be $349, and so on. Anyway, the stuff comes almost entirely in black and looks really cool. You can actually buy those boxing gloves ($59.95). There are a lot of logos, and if you want to wear a head elongating ski beanie ($29.95) that says "WANG" in big letters on it, then you may do so at your own risk. For us, it's a little on the nose, so to speak. Click the galleries, and decide for yourself.

Previously:
Collaboration Anticipation: Alexander Wang Mixes Athletes With Models In His Campaign For H&M

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JUNIOR STYLE: Dolce & Gabbana Expands Across Madison Avenue —For Kids?

Dolce & Gabbana has had an odd history on Madison Avenue over the past 10 years or so. First they had a sizable boutique there. Then they renovated it and expanded into the building next door, and then de-expanded back down after opening an immense brand palace on Madison Avenue last year. Now Italian design duo are on a growth trajectory again by taking over what appears to be the entire townhouse across the street at 820 Madison.

Once the home of a Baby CZ, a luxury children's boutique, and the Valery Joseph salon on the second floor, it now appears that the entire building between Jil Sander and Proenza Schouler is being taken over by the designers, and if the imagery on the plywood is any suggestion, they are planning... a huge children's store? While pricey kids clothes are no strangers to Madison Avenue, or even this particular address, two or three floors of them seems like a lot even for Dolce & Gabbana. We would have guessed that the brand might be following the lead of neighbors like Lanvin, Ralph Lauren and Bottega Veneta by opening a separate men's store, but maybe their children's lines are growing faster than we might have presumed. Details are scarce at the moment, but the sign says "Coming Soon", so maybe we won't have to wait too long to find out for sure.

EXHIBITION ALERT: What Lipstick Can Buy —Go See Cubism: The Leonard A. Lauder Collection At The Metropolitan Museum

It is pretty well known that the cosmetics department is the foundation (no pun intended) for nearly every major department store in both volume and profits, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art is about to demonstrate just what some of those profits can do for one of the world's greatest museums and New York City itself. Cubism: The Leonard A. Lauder Collection opens Monday at the Met (currently in Members Previews) and is an extraordinary collection of artworks by Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Juan Gris and Fernand Léger that became a promised gift to the museum last year. Mr. Lauder's art holdings have long been known to be among the world's finest, and at yesterday's press preview the cosmetics scion was on hand himself to explain how he started the collection in the mid-1970s specifically to fill a gap in the Met's modern art collection and also to give something monumental not only to what he feels is the greatest museum in the world and but also to the city that has given so much to his family.

Mr. Lauder's family is nearly as well known for its philanthropy as it is for the beauty brand that bears its name, but this may be the greatest example yet of his support for the arts in part because of the incredible quality of the works, all of which are being displayed together for the first time even as he continues to add to them. Picasso, Braque, Gris and Léger made Cubism the most influential art movement of the 20th Century, freeing artists from traditional representation in paintings and sowing the seeds for the profusion of modernist styles that followed including pure abstraction and pop. Lauder revealed that his criteria for creating the collection was only to include works that were so important that the museum would want to keep them on prominent display at all times, using masterpieces like the Louvre's Winged Victory of Samothrace or Van Gogh's The Starry Night at the MoMA as examples, and it looks like he has succeeded. While Cubism as an art movement has been around for over a century, it can still be challenging and often inscrutable to viewers who sometimes still struggle to find images in cubist paintings that their titles tell them are there. The exhibition is beautifully composed to also be an incredible educational experience, illuminating the sometimes mysterious paintings and demonstrating how the style developed through key examples of Picasso's and Braque's collaborations and was further refined by Gris and finally ending with the  glorious Composition (The Typographer) by Léger. If you walk in thinking that Cubism can be a cold and overly intellectual style of art, you will walk out of the exhibition with a completely different view, and it may even make you think for an extra minute about which brand of lipstick to buy when you are in the makeup department.

Cubism: The Leonard A. Lauder Collection from October 20th, 2014 to Feruary 16th, 2015 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, Upper East Side

SAMPLE CIRCUIT: Nanette Lepore, Robert Marc, Derek Lam & C.Wonder Lead The Charge As Sample Sale Season Heats Up

Yes, the Sample Sale scene is starting to get busy again as Fall overstock starts appearing on Sample Sale racks a few weeks ahead of department stores' first markdowns next month. NANETTE LEPORE has already started with one of her famous sales which runs through Friday the 17th in Midtown. Along with overstock from recent deliveries, Lepore is promising special vintage pieces as well as a $20 Grab Bag that has never failed to draw clouds. This one's already under way, so don't waste a minute. In other sale news, 

FRED PERRY's men's and women's collections will be on sale through Saturday the 18th in West Chelsea including special items and collections. If you are looking for a deal on the popular Fred Perry x Raf Simons collection, then it looks like this is your opportunity

You can start your Holiday gift shopping early at C.WONDER's sale at 260 Fifth Avenue. As in the last one, the line's already affordable prices on clothing, gifts and home accessories get slashed, so this is a hot one. Runs through Sunday the 19th.

ROBERT MARC's luxurious sunglasses and optical frames will hit Chelsea Market on Thursday the 16th with daily replenishing. Frames will start at $89 and prescription lenses will be discounted 20% for frames purchased during the event. The sale will also include frames from LUNOR, ROBI GENUINE HORN and other labels. Prepare to have patience for mirror time. Runs through Sunday the 19th.

Discounts on IPPOLITA's luxury jewelry will start at 60% off and go up on Thursday at Soiffer Haskin. Expect tight security and leave the strollers and kids at home. Runs through Sunday the 19th.

Finally, DEREK LAM will be offering both his main line and the contemporary 10 CROSBY label starting on Saturday in SoHo. Shoes, handbags and accessories will also be in the mix at the week's only full-on luxury designer sale. Expect a long line, so don't stay out too late on Friday night. Runs through Wednesday the 22nd.

Next Week, things really heat up with Vivienne Westwood, Marissa Webb, David Yurman, Sferra, a special Duckie Brown showroom sale and the highly anticipated return of the HERMÈS sale. We hear that there will be scarves this time, so prepare carefully. Keep an eye on our SALE ROLL at left for hours, locations, late breaking sales and other details.

COLLABORATION ANTICIPATION: Adidas Originals = Pharrell Williams Comes Back With A Hot Tennis Pack

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One of our favorite recent celebrity collaborations is returning this week with part two of what appears to be a carefully time released collection. The Adidas Originals = Pharrell Williams collection will re-appear in a very select group of retailers this Saturday with three new versions of the collection's signature "Superstar" jacket. The latest iteration of this trimmed-down, luxed-up track jacket comes in soft, micro-perforated nappa leather in pristine white, spring green and a brighter tomato-y red (Check them out in the gallery above). Perfect for Spring.
Oh, is it Fall now?
Whatever.
You have to catch these things when they come to you, not necessarily when they are convenient to wear.
Last month's jackets cost $1,000, and we are guessing that these will run around the same price range. The "Tennis Pack" does not include shoes, although there are bound to be more in the pipeline. The three jackets are set to be available in Adidas Originals boutiques only in Berlin, Shanghai, London and Seoul (Sorry SoHo). The Shophound spotted the last group at Dover Street Market and Ronnie Fieg's newly expanded Kith boutique in NoHo, where they sold very quickly. Eager Adidas fans should check those stores in New York on Saturday if they want to get one in person. Otherwise, sit tight for the next delivery at the end of this month.

UPDATE:
Looks like there are some new shoes after all. Another assortment of matching Stan Smiths (of course), this time in a fuzzy felt not unlike the surface of a tennis ball. (Have a look in the gallery below.)

Previously:
Collaboration Anticipation: Adidas Originals = Pharrell Williams Is Basically Perfect

 

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THIS WEEK ONLINE: Alexander McQueen, Pierre Hardy, Armani Collezioni, Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Fendi, Tory Burch, Nanette Lepore, Mulberry, Haute Hippie

Here is your weekly sampling of some of the brands you can expect to find on the bigger online Flash Sale Sites this week. You should click over to the sites themselves for a full schedule of events, and be sure to check for the correct start time for each sale. Happy clicking!

GILT GROUPE

Alexander McQueen, DERMAdoctor, Emilio Cavallini, French Connection, Cut25 by Yigal Azrouël, Pierre Hardy, Menaji Skincare, Calvin Klein Underwear, Thrreads 4 Thought, Armani Collezioni, Spurr NY, Farah 1920, JohnVarvatos ★ USA, Sferra, Bashian Rugs, Safavieh —join HERE

RUE LA LA

Christopher Fischer, Seychelles/Corso Como, Villeroy & Boch, Gordon Rush, Earthrocks, Mia Belle Couture, Original Penguin, RICHART Chocolates, Bottega Veneta, Chopard, Donald J Pliner, Marc by Marc Jacobs, 1AR by UnoAerre, Dale Tiffany, White + Warren, Tory Burch, Gucci Kids —join HERE

BELLE & CLIVE

Fendi, Tory Burch, Details by Patricia Green, Chamak by Priya Kakkar, Nanette Lepore, Invicta, Lori Kassin Jewelry, No Label, Mulberry, Yves Saint Laurent, Bulgari Fragrance, Betsey Johnson, La Prarie, Valentino, Low Luv Jewelry by Erin Wasson, Ray-Ban, TOD's, Miu Miu, Yuka Paris, Mir, David Yurman Fragrance, PRPS —join HERE

HAUTE LOOK

Joe's Jeans, Rivka Friedman Jewelry, Pour La Victoire, Børn, Vitamix, Elaine Turner, Kooba, Diba True, Haute Hippie, Alternative Apparel, Go Softwear, Blackjack Men's Jewelry, Andrew Marc —join HERE

MY HABIT

Prada, Amelia Toro, Linea Pelle, Oscar de la Renta Beauty, Giorgio Armani Sunglssses, Elie Tahari, Kier & J Cashmere, M. Patmos, Diesel, 2(X)IST, Sorel, Cullen, Reebok, Happy Socks, Valentino, J.M.Dickens Socks, Robert Graham, Tom Ford, Rogue Shoes, J.Artola  —join HERE

VENTE PRIVEE

Armani Collezioni, PUR Cashmere, Rivkah Friedman, Pajar Canada Outerwear, CHANEL Watches, Ilse Jacobsen Boots —join HERE

BRICK AND MORTAR: What Will Amazon Sell At Its Store On 34th Street?

It seemed inevitable that at some point, Amazon would have to open its own freestanding store, and it is finally happening —and soon. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the immense online retailer is opening its first store in the shadow of the Empire State Building at 7 West 34th Street (once the home of erstwhile department store Ohrbach's) sometime before the Holiday Shopping Season starts... which is in, like, 5 weeks. Reports have the store serving, in part at least, as a "mini-warehouse" for local same-day delivery as well as a place for customers to pick up online orders, as well as make returns and exchanges. This sound more like a service center that a store, so the question remains, what else will they sell?
Will it be books, the product category that made its initial success? it seems unlikely that there wouldn't be some heavy presence for Kindle and Fire products, but beyond that, will it go after Best Buy's electronics market or Bed Bath & Beyond's home business?, How about a focus more on the Amazon Fashion division that it has been heavily investing in? A walk-in version of ShopBop or East Dane doesn't seem like a bad idea, or maybe a Zappos boutique?

With a product range as wide as Amazon's, the possibilities really are endless, but with a projected opening date a soon as this store is reported to have, their plan should be pretty well set by now — and we won't have long to wait to see exactly what it is.

Amazon to Open First Brick-and-Mortar Site (Wall Street Journal)

HOLIDAY READING: The Neiman Marcus Christmas Book For 2014 Has Arrived

Back in the olden days, when telephones were only connected to the wall and there were nothing but a meager four or five TV channels to watch, there was no internet to buy things with, but you could still shop from home with these books called catalogs. Department stores would send them out every season, and if you didn't live in a booming metropolis like New York where there is a vast choice of stores to shop in, you could still get a little bit of Saks, Bloomingdale's, Bergdorf's or even Bonwit Teller or Marshall Field's (yes, they used to exist, too) sent to your house periodically. Early to Mid-October used to be the time of year when the splendor of Christmas catalogs would start clogging the mailbox. Nowadays, most catalogs have either given way to e-commerce sites or been morphed into "magalogs" showcasing the store's merchandise with more editorial flair but without order forms, instead, encouraging readers to either go online or make a visit in person.

One catalog remains to draw attention, however, and that is the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book, an annual exercise in extravagance from America's most opulent department store chain. With Neiman's making plans to finally enter Manhattan, New Yorkers should get more acquainted with this curious compendium of the store's signature "Fantasy GIfts" and middle-of-the-road (for them anyway) gift items. Of course, even Neiman's has its monthly magalog, "The Book", which will have its own Holiday edition, but the Christmas Book is a product of NM Direct, the mail order division which explains why a $19,900 Akris ballgown is offered alongside a somewhat humbler $550 cocktail dress from better dress department mainstay Kay Unger. The Christmas Book even offers a $395 dress & jacket ensemble from Albert Nipon, a label we didn't even think existed anymore and is probably way below the opening price point to actually be found in Neiman Marcus stores, but the mail order catalogs from Neiman's were always a peculiarly inconsistent mix of status brands and comparatively downmarket merchandise.

But enough with the commercial offerings. What made the Christmas Book famous are the Fantasy Gifts, and this year they are as ridiculous as ever. There are ten of them (also available for online ordering) starting at the high end with a custom blended fragrance from the House of Creed for a whopping $475,000 (plus tax). It does come with a trip to Paris where you will personally take delivery, so there's that. For a little less, $425,000, you can travel to L.A. for three days to attend the Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Like most of the Fantasy Gifts, this one has a charity component. It includes a $400,000 donation to the The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation which is "dedicated to supporting youth arts education in communities across the country", although that equation really makes it a $400,000 donation that comes with a $25,000 trip to Hollywood. This one should really be mostly tax-deductible, but you and your accountant can take that up with the IRS. For the hopelessly immature, there's a $300,000 1:32 scale model of your favorite racetrack complete with speeding cars from The Slots Mods USA. For fans of actual life-sized automobiles, there are exactly 100 100th Anniversary Neiman Marcus Limited-Edition Maserati Ghibli S Q4s for $95,000 each. Then in other vehicles, there is the obligatory His & Hers gift: the matching Vilebrequin Quadskis, a pair of Jet Ski/ATV hybrids complete with GoPro cameras and a training trip to the Gibbs Test Facility in Florida. Then there's the Ultimate Mardi Gras Experience for Six Couples ($125,000), Preston Bailey Peacock Floral Sculptures ($25,000-$65,000), Leontine Linens Home Trousseasu ($55,000), Custom Locket and Trip with Monica Rich Kosann ($100,000) and the Tanqueray No. Ten Imperial Shaker by Jason Crawley ($35,000) for the flamboyant martini drinker.

No matter how crazy the gift, Neiman Marcus claims never to have offered one that didn't find a buyer, if not several. Since it is the 21st Century now, however, you don't have to be on Neiman's mailing list to receive the Christmas Book. Anyone with an internet connection can now read it page by page HERE online in flip-book form, and consider the Holiday Season officially kicked off.

Neiman Marcus, The 2014 Christmas Book (Official Site)