Ask Angie: Are there any new or different designers I should look for? - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie: Are there any new or different designers I should look for?

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I'm finally over Isabel Marant because her prices just got too steep. Her Etoile line is too boho.
I still like Acne Studios. MSGM for outrageous prints, but it can be hard to find. Kenzo is good too but can be tricky to find. Rag & Bone I strayed away from recently. Haven't really looked at Vince or Helmut Lang in the last few years.
I guess I'm looking for lines I can find in stores in Seattle since I'm more Team Store.
ETA I still haven't had a chance to check out Zara.

Shopping

15 replies

Latest reply was from Jaime

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, I'm interested to hear what Angie has to say!

ETA: Any interesting local designers in Seattle?

karymk

Veteran

Is there a Zara in Seattle? I think you would love the variety and creativity you'll find there, at great prices.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Zara just opened, less than a few weeks ago.

Greyscale

Veteran

I like labels like Hope and Won Hundred but they might be more minimalist than your usual taste. Some years I love Rag & Bone but lately it's been too sporty for me, or something like that (probably not quite the same reason you drifted away from it, since sporty comes up a lot in your looks, I think). Alexander Wang is still a favorite, along with Acne like you said. All are usually out of my price range, but that's what Zara is for!

Do you shop online at La Garconne? You might find some inspiration there.

Recently I've been drooling over amazing tailoring with interesting details, like J W Anderson, but again, probably not quite perfect for you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I just typed out a whole long response and lost it. *sigh*

Head over to Zara often. I've been there 5 times since it opened and there was new stock each time. Zara continues to be one of my very favourite stores in the world. And add Club Monaco and J.Crew to the list of non-designer stuff.

You can buy any designer that tickles your fancy online. Is there a reason you prefer Team Store?

HL and Vince is always worth a look, seeing as your style has a quieter element to it too. McQueen, Laveer, Opening Ceremony, Derek Lam, Stella McCartney and Alexander Wang, The Kooples, La Garconne, Balmain, Rick Owens and Rodarte always come to mind when I think of your style. Then there's Preen and Zero & Cornejo, Christopher Kane, Thakoon, Dries van Noten, Mary Katrantzoe, Commes des Garcon, Junya Watanabe, and Proenza Schouler - that also make me think of your style - but they're very pricey. Maybe Marni - although maybe too whimsical? (Excuse the spelling here - my arms are sore).

Personally, I like 3.1 Phillip Lim, Theory, Jil Sander, Alexander Wang, Rebecca Taylor, Celine, some Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Salvatore Ferragamo, Burberry, Bally, some Jason Wu, Kate Spade, Paul Smith, Valentino, Max Mara, Smythe, Karen Millen, Hugo Boss, Anne Fontaine, Reiss, Maje, Sandro and Chanel. I haven't liked Rag & Bone for a while - so we're broken up at the moment.

I hope that helps. xo

Caro in Oz

Veteran

What about Thakoon, Commes des Garcon, Junya Watanabe & Celine?

Oops Angie has it covered

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It helps me, anyway!! Thanks for asking, Anna.

I can totally see you in some of those Proenza Schouler fall looks. They were interesting because they combined sharp, modern cuts with those very detailed prints/ texture so they were minimalist/ maximalist -- which is sort of where your style seems to be these days -- a blend of those elements.

Nicole D

Veteran

I would love to explore Phillip Lim and Alexander Wang. T by Alexander Wang has some nice pastels out now. Have you tried either of them? Angie's suggestions could keep you busy all year!

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Thanks. I'm team store because I live in a condo and I get packages shipped to UPS store so it costs me $5 a box to get a package. I really have to want to something to order it. Plus recently I ordered some amazing Givenchy boots that did not fit and cost me nearly $50 to ship them back to a retailer (SSense) in Canada. So I've become more cautious unless it's a designer I know.
I like Alexander Wang's style often, but I have heard some horrible quality issues.
I do like the online retailer La Garconne, I got my Acne leather jacket from there on a great sale.
I loved Preen's Fall 2014 show. Maybe I'll stalk some pieces from there.
As far as local retailers, there used to be a great tiny boutique in Fremont called Merge. She would have a great mix of high and low stuff. Unfortunately she shut down. I've become less enamored of Totokaelo because they seem to shifting to mostly high end stuff and I HATE their new styling on the website. The photos drive me crazy. Though I did very well in their last sale.
I think I need to be willing to make more trips to Bellevue too. I just really dislike the suburbs and always feel like a fish out of water there. When I was there last month with Amy I discovered that Intermix had an outpost there. The Bravern is a sad shell of a mall with more empty storefronts that stores. Neiman Marcus isn't as good as it was a few years ago.

Nicole D

Veteran

I could so see you in some of that Preen and Preen Line (are they related?). Line is very grungy but I like it! Again, lots of red on the runway. I predict tomato red gonna be big in fall. You heard it here first.

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Anna, how about a friend who has a house who could accept packages? Then it might take a week for you to get them sometimes (due to your hours...I know it could be a pain) but at least you wouldn't have to pay the fee and could order a pile of stuff at once and then send back as needed.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

ETA: it's a similar situation for me when I decide to ship to my "US address" (I actually do this through a company called Kinek.) It costs $5 per box. In the long run this has still been worth it (even with gas money and time) but as the CAD goes down, perhaps not.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I should say that team store has paid off for me. I try stuff that shouldn't work. For example my first pair of leather leggings were an impulse store purchase. Now I have more than one pair.
Plus in person shopping is whole heck of lot more fun than ordering stuff online.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Agreed. I bat for Team Store too. And Intermix is fun, so are a lot of the branded stores in Belle Square.

That said, I think if you set yourself an online shipping budget for sites like shopbop, Netaporter and Zappos, (there's lots of designer stuff that you can get on Zappos actually). It's worth the $5 per box. Absolutely. The shipping is free.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I certainly have nothing to add to the splendid lists of designers here, but will cheer for Team Zara - the only retail store that has stuff I want and can afford (all my designer stuff is second hand). Just be warned it is totally hit or miss there.