The Outnet Celebrates 5 Years With Limited Edition Designer Collection
We love birthdays, don’t you? And The Outnet, the online designer discount boutique, is celebrating theirs in style.
For their five-year anniversary, they’re releasing a collection of pieces from their favourite designers, re-issued for the occasion.
It’s accompanied by an exclusive campaign by Chanel Iman, and a hilarious video starring Garance Dore, Leigh Lezark, Jessica Hart and other famous fashionistas discussing their fave pieces from the new collection.
So what’s the collection got in store?
It’s basically a greatest-hits designer medley, with The Outnet’s favourite designers producing pieces that exemplify their look and style. From a Chloe sandal to a Preen pencil skirt and dresses from Vionnet and Roland Mouret, each piece is a classic designer signature.
Our picks for sell-outs? The leather Nicholas Kirkwood sandals, the Issa kaftan, and the Oscar De La Renta rose acetate necklace – though we don’t imagine the others will stick around for long either.
And they’re all on sale from April 29 on The Outnet.
Go to The Outnet for a full look at the designer collection, or watch the video for a preview of the pieces in action.
Image and video: The Outnet 5th Anniversary with Chanel Iman in Vionnet.
Shakespeare’s 450th Birthday: Celebrate It In Style
It was Shakespeare’s 450th anniversary this week, and theatres and cultural mavens across the world threw a party – and we want to attend.
Luckily, medieval and Renaissance styles are all over the catwalks, and it’s never been easier to channel Lady Macbeth or Rosalind in on-trend style. So here’s a guide to celebrating a Shakespearean occasion without looking costumed or fusty. Quill not included.
It’s not the Bard without ruffs. However, there’s no need to go overboard with an Elizabethan neck-ruffle; a Chloe ruffled silk and linen top will add a fancy yet modern edge. If you prefer your ruffs as accessories, try an epic and fashion-forward Giulia Boccafogli ‘Tuxedo’ leather ruff necklace from Boticca.com (pictured), while a Givenchy ruffled taffeta jacket (pictured) can give you that doublet-inspired look.
Brocade is often a sign of status for stomping around a Shakespearean stage, and fortunately it’s a hot winter 2014 fabric. From J.Crew‘s brocade trousers to MSGM‘s sunflower-patterned brocade dress, it’s possible to look royal without breaking the bank or a sweat.
Fortunately corsets are no longer the province of Desdemonas being murdered; they’ve been updated in sleek materials, like Ellery‘s truly gorgeous silk and wool white piece from Moda Operandi (pictured). Capes have been brought up to the moment as well, with short, metallic-embellished ones like Bebe Sydney‘s white-and-gold number right on the money.
If you really want to make a Lady Macbeth-style splash, pick up some velvet. Lee’s velvet pants are always a hip addition to a wardrobe – try wine or dark green colours – while ASOS’s black velvet skater dress has the quilting Liz I loved. For a truly massive stage entrance, of course, there’s Tamara Mellon‘s purple velvet gown (pictured).
Not into making a whole outfit for the sake of the Bard? A few accessories can still pay homage. A Forever 21 tee with one of his most famous lines adds literary flair, while you can discard the Hamlet skull for a Karen Walker skull ring from TheIconic (pictured) without sacrificing drama.
Are you ready to be (or not to be) Shakespearean?
Images: Style guide for Shakespeare’s 450th birthday.
Huge $90,000 Chanel Robbery In London
A Chanel store in London was hit by a huge heist on Good Friday, and the thieves appear to have watched ‘The Italian Job’ too many times.
Three men drove a stolen car – an Audi – straight through the store’s front window in the early hours of Good Friday.
And they got away with $90,000 worth of designer Chanel handbags.
Luxury goods heists are a perpetual danger for designer houses. In 2011 armed robbers attacked a Louis Vuitton shipment at a Paris airport, and made off with nearly half a million dollars’ worth of goods.
And Marc Jacobs suffered an infamous setback when his entire Spring 2012 collection – or at least a set of duplicates produced for the press – was stolen in broad daylight in London, just before it was due to be shown.
It’s a case of deja vu for Chanel. This very same boutique had a break-in of epic proportions just four years ago, when a gang of men on mopeds bashed in the door with power tools.
Fortunately we imagine Chanel has very good insurance, but working at that particular store must be quite nerve-wracking.
Image: Chanel 2015 on the catwalk.
Collaborations We Love: Sophia Webster For J.Crew
Did you know that J.Crew now delivers to Australia? Prepare the dancing girls.
To top that excellent news, they’ve just announced a collaboration for us to get our hot little hands on: Sophia Webster, star shoewear designer of the season, is doing a capsule collection.
Webster was once an assistant to Nicolas Kirkwood, but since striking out on her own has made waves with her kooky, colourful style.
And her collection for J.Crew looks to be affordable, funky and classic, all at the same time.
Why Webster? “We are so well known for our love of colour and pattern-mixing and I think it’s something we really share with her,” said J.Crew’s head designer Tom Mora.
So what’s the look? Loud prints with delicate, lady-like shoe styles, from classic courts to strappy sandals and Webster’s trademark scalloped-side heels.
There are fringed tassels, cut-out ankles and buckled straps, but the focus is definitely on the prints from J.Crew’s summer 2014 collection, including a multi-coloured check, stylised abstract florals and stars.
We’re already in love – but we predict that they’ll sell out insanely fast, so keep monitoring J.Crew online from the beginning of May to nab the collection.
Image: Sophia Webster for J.Crew, courtesy J.Crew.
