Labor Day is officially over and today is the first day of the rest of your life. It also happens to be the first day that you can’t wear white shoes until April 2011. Bummer. But as you dump the sand out of your bag and set the DVR for your fall shows, remember; the end of summer isn’t all bad. It is not all bad … because of the clothes. Fashion Week is just around the corner, back to school clothes are on the shelves, and the economy may be on the mend. Besides, the clothes you wore last fall were probably hideous. So what the hell – get out your credit cards and shop. Pay full price, buy what you want and dream big. Fall only comes once a year.
>> Access to APC's lower-priced Madras line just got easier. Urban Outfitters just started stocking the line, which features an array of APC's greatest hits: plaid print skirts, Peter Pan collar blouses, pegged trousers, and marled wool sweaters among them. The lookbook for the Fall offering, which ranges from $105 to $295, is below, although Urban already has a more extensive stock than shown - our favorites include a black silk jumpsuit with gold piping ($295) and a navy miniskirt featuring a squirrel and rabbit print ($135).
Everyone likes to have a little bit of fun, and even better to do it on a budget. Take a look at these fun things we found, all under $10. You really can’t go wrong.
It’s summer time, time to turn up the heat. Not figuratively, it’s too hot outside for my liking, I’m talking romantically. Here are my picks for 10 things under $10 that are sure to get heads turning in your direction.
New designer collaborations keep popping up at Urban Outfitters and we kind of love it. Urban is always full of on-trend, reasonably priced clothing and it’s hard, at least for us, to walk out of that store without impulsively buying something. However, a lot of the clothes are not the most well-made or original, and there’s nothing worse than seeing everyone in town wearing the same dress you just bought, or just knowing instantly where you bought it, even if it was only $50.
This is why we tend to stick to their designer lines. They always end up partnering with cool, independent brands that we already like, so we see more value in being able to purchase their designs at Urban Outfitters prices and get really cute pieces that actually seem pretty well-made. Some of our personal faves are Fletcher by Lyell, Rapscallion by Samantha Pleet, Lark & Wolff by Steven Alan and David Page by Timo Weiland. We’re also fans of Geren Ford’s Hawks collection, whose latest delivery is available online today (and in stores sometime in the next week) and is full full of black, draping, and little rivets–all things we like. Coincidentally, we just snapped up a dress from the last delivery, all of which is now on sale.
We also just found out about Le Bij, a line of eco-friendly bar rings in a ton of colors made out of recycled plastic. The line is designed by Jules Kim of Bijules, whose rings are frequently spotted on the fingers of people like Katy Perry and Rihanna. Bar rings–those rings that are vaguely similar to brass knuckles–have only increased in mainstream popularity since around 2007, when everyone in New York started wearing the Surface to Air ones. (Le Bij is not the first instance of Urban copying a jewelry design concept.) The jewelry trend, which is still hard to find for much less than $200, can now be yours, in plastic, for a mere $18.
I have been a supporter of your store for many years, but now I’m through.
I am fortunate enough to star on a wonderful TV show called One Tree Hill. I play a fashion designer named Brooke Davis, who started a campaign on the show called “Zero Is Not A Size” and the outpouring of love and gratitude that came my way from girls and women ALL OVER THE WORLD who have body image issues brought me to tears.
To promote starvation? To promote anorexia, which leads to heart disease, bone density loss, and a slew of other health problems, not least of all psychological issues that NEVER go away? Shame on you. I will no longer be shopping at your stores. And I will encourage the tens of thousands of female supporters I have to do the same. I have fought to boycott BP. I never imagined I would also be boycotting affordable fashion.
You should issue a public apology, and make a hefty donation to a women’s organization that supports those stricken with eating disorders. I am sickened that anyone, on any board, in your gigantic company would have voted ‘yes’ on such a thing, let alone enough of you to manufacture an item with such a hurtful message. It’s like handing a suicidal person a loaded gun. You should know better.
I sincerely hope that next time you decide that making fun of serious issues is comedic, or ’snarky in a cool way,’ that you rethink your decision.
With Sincerity but NO respect,
Sophia Bush
There’s one nit I’d like to pick here: yes, it is awesome that you support embracing a wide variety of body images and ideals, but zero is a size. Criticizing people because of what size they wear is still discrimination, even though you’re going after small people instead of larger ones. I wear a size zero, and I don’t have an eating disorder, and I’m just as ‘real’ as any other woman out there, even if I don’t have curves. The rest of your letter is great, Sophia, but let’s not cut down another group to prove a point, OK?
So you’re on a budget and you need to add some flair to your home quick. Well, luckily for you, I scoured the internet for the best apartment finds, all for under $10.
Brooklyn-based Jewelry designer Valerie Rubinaccio was dismayed to find that Urban Outfitters is selling a ring similar to one she designed over a year ago.
The two rings don’t look exactly alike–we much prefer Rubinaccio’s version with multiple chains in varying metals and link size–but the concept is a match.
“It is just hard to see my design being copied and to know where the line of ‘inspiration’ just becomes copying,” says Rubinaccio. “I researched heavily when I first made [the rings] a year ago and I know that these were not being designed/produced before I made them.”
“It’s just unfortunate,” says Rubinaccio. Agreed.
You can buy Rubinaccio’s bad ass chain rings at Kaight on Orchard St. in the LES.
Grant Krajecki’s diffusion line for Urban Outfitters, Grey Antics, has proven so successful that the Los Angeles-based designer is offering it at more retailers this fall, including Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s.
The popularity of Grey Antics makes sense: Krajecki’s pieces are super-casual, yet super-special at the same time. It’s difficult to balance the two, but he does it well.
In fact, I know this from experience. I picked up one of the sundresses at Urban this past weekend, subsequently becoming the belle of the barbecue. (Seriously, I got loads of compliments!)
Click through for a sneak peek at Grey Antics’ fall collection.
New designer collaborations keep popping up at 
Brooklyn-based Jewelry designer 
Name: Perri
Grant Krajecki’s diffusion line for Urban Outfitters, Grey Antics, has proven so successful that the Los Angeles-based designer is offering it at more retailers this fall, including Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s.
