Bebe Sport to Be Replaced With PH8 Nameplate
Bebe Stores Inc. announced it will be closing all its Bebe Sport stores and replacing them by November with a new store concept called PH8....
Go East, Young Mavens
Intrepid designers: Dylan (left) and Dustin (right) Odbert of...
P-P-P-Pink Muppet Face
Lady Gaga in Jean Charles de Castelbajac ( Do Lady Gaga and her design team's creative stream of consciousness function like a fashion Mad Lib? As in: “That [cluster of bubbles] [forest of stalagmite crystals] [mosaic of mirrors] would look fabulous on my [head] [on a poufy skirt] [as an eyepatch].” That’s what I think every time I see a photo of the blonde songstress, like this one taken in Manchester today. The head of a Muppet from Jim Henson’s “The Muppet Show” that Lady Gaga wears as a skirt reminded me of Lichtenberg and de Castelbajac have never met, though Lichtenberg said they have corresponded about a possible face-to-face introduction, since de Castelbajac’s son lives in Los Angeles. Their clothes, however, have collided on the body of music artist MIA, who has donned Lichtenberg’s leggings with a dress by de Castelbajac on stage. And both designers hang in the closets of music artists that have an affinity for bright colors and out-of-the-ordinary ornamentation such as Katy Perry, Santigold and Yelle. Lichtenberg said he did not know about de Castelbajac’s Muppet skirt and its resemblance to his own until after his show. “Afterwards, it came to my attention,” he said. “I was like, ’Oh my God, of course he made something [like that].’” Up next for Lichtenberg is a secondary line, titled BL, of affordable and “wearable” denim, tanks and leggings to launch for the Spring 2010 market. Lichtenberg's parting words suggested another face-theme skirt due for a timely comeback. “What came to mind when I was making [my skirt] is Bjork wore this Bernhard Willhelm skirt that was a sequined Michael Jackson face. It was pretty awesome. It's not 3-D how our skirts are, but it's still, you know, a face on a skirt. He needs to pull that from the archives.”
The Lake & Stars: Takes You to the Beach
Two years ago, New York designers Mayaan Zilberman and Nikki Dekker created a lingerie line that was so sexy yet comfortable that fans began to ask if they could wear it as swimwear...
Keva by Keva J: Statement Swim
Using traditional swimwear fabrics, New York–based designer Keva Johnson creates completely untraditional swimwear for her label, Keva by Keva J. She said she is “different” and that she ...
Undrest. by the Sea: Local Angle to Swimwear
Maria Paz Navales is taking an old-school approach to her new swimwear line. Instead of sourcing overseas, she is producing her garments entirely in her 8,000-square-foot warehouse in East Los Angeles...
CIT's Efforts to Improve Liquidity Could Put Apparel Makers in a Credit Crunch
CIT Group Inc., the largest factor to the apparel industry, is looking into several avenues to improve liquidity—a move that has industry watchers nervous about the potential impact o...
In the Name of Craft: Renegade Craft Fair Comes to the CMC
The crafty and the creative convened upon the California Market Center for the Renegade Craft Fair on July 11 and 12. D.I.Y. devotees shopped the many booths set up on the CMC's 13th-floor Penthouse space, where the wares ranged from handmade jewelry...
SwimShorts 2010
It’s Cruise season, when swimwear designers and manufacturers rock the beach and resort markets with inspired new lines, styles, silhouettes, colors, prints, and themes. Here are sneak peeks at what’s n...
Puma Swim: Contemporary With an Athletic Vibe
The rich tradition of athletics and a modern take on fashion are the key elements behind Puma’s new swim line, set to debut in September....
Apparel News Daily Reader
Moods of Norway Opens on Robertson Boulevard (Los Angeles Times' All the Rage)Trend Report: Boyfriend Shirts (WhoWhatWear)People's Revolution Goes...
Eagle Rock Boutique Owl Talk Celebrates 15 Years
Owl Talk in Eagle Rock (Photo courtesy of the store) Over the weekend, I dropped by one of my favorite local stores: Owl Talk in Los Angeles’ Eagle Rock neighborhood.Sisters Kathy and Sharon Kroner were celebrating 15 years in business with an...
Navigating Rough Waters
Swim retailers weather a stormy economic year by keeping focused and lean—with an eye out for new opportunities on the horizon....
L.A. Retailer Lisa Kline Scales Back, Retools Robertson Store
Lisa Kline, one of Los Angeles’ most high-profile boutique owners, recently scaled back the square footage of the store where she started her influential fashion business in the 1990s. She called the ...
Splendid: Contemporary Cool
Following in the footsteps of its sister brand, Ella Moss, Splendid, the Los Angeles–based contemporary brand, will expand its offerings by launching a swimwear line for Resort 2010...
