Pranks and tanks at Lululemon

Even corporations have fun every now and then. Take, for example, Canadian import Lululemon Athletic, a yogawear shop with an outpost on Halsted in Lincoln Park and another coming soon to 900 N Michigan Ave. Today their normally pristine windows were emblazoned with "Closeout begins 4/1/07: Going back to Canada."

Of course, just inside the door is a snarky "April Fools!" sign.

(Lululemon is somewhat famous for pranks, such as their Yoga Pose-off. Let's hope they keep their small-company sense of humor when they go public.)

No matter the date, this kelly green track jacket would look very of-the-minute over a collared shirt or a floral dress for work.

Would you wear it to work? Patent trench coat

A shiny patent-leather trench coat:

Would you wear it to work?
	Yes - how futuristic.
	No - I'd stick to my chair.

Wear your boyfriend to work day?

The Gap dancers are back on TV, this time to tout the new Boyfriend Khaki. In the ad, a Claire Danes and Patrick Wilson challenge each other to a dance-off, and in the end the Claire tears the guy’s pants off and puts them on (trust me - it’s not nearly as salacious as it sounds.)

You could interpret this ad in one of two ways: Perhaps the Boyfriend Khaki is intended as unisex clothing? Is this some burgeoning new trend I somehow missed? Unlikely! As my colleague Jeffrey points out, even if you are particularly close to your significant other, chances are you don’t want to wear his or her pants. It’s a notch beyond sharing a toothbrush. Also, I think it’s rather obvious that most men and women are shaped differently, as are their corresponding clothes. The last time I wore men’s clothing was in the 11th grade when I played the part of the Auctioneer in our high school orchestra’s Phantom of the Opera medley, in which the tuxedo pants fit me better only than the overripe Cockney accent.

The other (more accurate) interpretation is that Gap is marketing a slouchy khaki pant for women called the Boyfriend fit. Even in our evolving society of acceptance, some men might still rightly or wrongly be a little skittish about wearing a Boyfriend anything. I, on the other hand, am skittish about wearing Khaki anything to work (I work at an uber-trendy PR firm where black is the new black.) Perhaps to the beach or a picnic at Ravinia.

New feature: Would you wear it to work?

I’m starting a new recurring feature on my blog. I’ll be running a photo of a particular trend, color or garment and asking the polling question, “would you wear it to work?” It’s not scientific and means absolutely nothing, but I have to entertain myself somehow. And at least this is legal.

First up is the Fox’s, one of my all-time favorite Chicago bargain spots. At first blush it seems to be your typical whimsical pleated skirt. But look closer and try to keep your mouth from falling open as you realize those are toadstools printed all over it.

Would you wear it to work?
	Yes - it's ironic.
	No - not ANYWHERE.

Super wedges from Aersoles

I always confuse Aerosoles with Naturalizer. Both have orthopedic-sounding names, both offer work-appropriate shoes for around $80 (but offer great sales), yet I find that Aerosoles has the edge when it comes to fashion. For example, check out these fabulous Kin Ship wedges:

Not only do they come in five colors, they are comfortable and ready for spring. The open toe is modest and works in most office environments.

H&M: Going on up?

I don’t often buy things at H&M, but when I do it’s because I need instant style for $20. I don’t go there for my work suits or a New Year’s Eve dress – I go for rock-bottom prices on cheap clothes that may or may not make it into my permanent collection. As my fiancé says, it’s “disposable clothing.”

Lately, however, it seems H&M may be falling prey to the common retail urge to go up market – I spotted a burnt orange leather bag (A “Margareta van de Bosch favorite”) for $99. Perhaps I’m just being a snob…but $99 for a bag from H&M? Please – I’m used to walking in and getting an entirely new wardrobe for myself AND my fiancé. The bag was nice – a reasonably natural-appearing leather and roomy exterior – but for that price I’m more likely to pick up a designer bag from Filene’s Basement.

Should h&M go up market?
	Yes, provided the quality is better
	No, it's supposed to be dirt cheap
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Interview with Cuff Luv Stuff founder Julie Lowenbaum

Rarely do I get really excited about any one fashion these days. Most new trends are a recycling of some fad that faded out just long enough ago for everyone to forget it entirely (see: epaulettes, leggings, cowboy boots.) Yet I just about did cartwheels at the Mark Shale outlet the other day when I discovered Cuff Luv Stuff, a truly innovative accessory that stretches your existing work wardrobe farther than the truth on PerezHilton.com.

It’s a shockingly simple concept, really: Removable, elasticized cuffs, sold in pairs, that slip under your sleeves to create a new embellished look. They’re lacey, furry, pleated and available in neutrals and a smattering of colors. (My personal favorite, the Abby Couture, is pictured at left.)

I was instantly enamored and spoke with Chicago-based Julie Lowenbaum, founder of Cuff Luv Stuff. “I am always looking for ways to extend my wardrobe without going broke,” said Julie of why she started the line last fall (which is, incidentally, why I started this blog.) “I get bored easily and I’m constantly changing up my clothes: lengthening a sleeve, adding a ribbon.”

Julie explained how her cuffs (and matching collars) can completely transform that old sweater languishing in the back of your closet behind the knockoff Juicy jumpsuit. “Take a plain black top and slip on cuffs and a collar for a totally new look,” she said. “It’s like Wonder Woman putting on the costume in a flash: Entirely transformed.”

(Another reason I love the cuffs is due to my extraordinarily long arms – picture a gorilla at the zoo dragging his knuckles along the ground. I have passed up many spectacular bargains on suits because of too-short sleeves…but never again!)

Julie is currently working on her fall 2007 line, which will mirror the forecasted pared-down trend and feature subtle femininity with less volume than past seasons. “The fall collection will include a faux-fur French cuff with a big button and touches of lace to mix up with a tougher leather jacket,” she said. Julie is also “reinventing the Dickie” in an updated white or ivory satin collar to slip under crew or V-neck tops.

Cuff Luv Stuff is available in Chicago-area boutiques, including Gray in Winnetka, Mark Shale in Chicago and from the website. (Click here for more store locations.)

Julie, who works with local Chicago manufacturers to craft her designs, is looking to expand her brand nationally, possibly through a QVC/HSN-type outlet. “The cuffs and collars don’t necessarily make a big splash just sitting on a shelf in a department store,” she explained. “They really need to be demonstrated, and I can see that working well through an interactive medium like TV.”

Sizzling clearance at Filene's Basement

Filene's Basement must be expecting a shipment of giraffes any day now, as they are clearing out last season's merchandise in dramatic clearance fashion at its State Street location. Check out the cave underneath the escalators near accessories for some especially sweet deals on sweaters and BCBG dresses for $39.99. As a proud owner of at least 12 BCBG cocktail dresses, however, I can tell you the ones selling now are ancient. One has haunted my spare closet since the summer of 2004, and even then, I bought it from an outlet. Meaning current offerings may harken back to the days when Martha Stewart was famous only for her advice on how to best utilize leftover wine. (What leftover wine??)

Update on Annie Sez closing

A few days ago I reported that Annie Sez on State Street in Chicago was closing. Their corporate office never called me back in response to my question (my feelings were not hurt, mind you - I worked as a reporter back in the day and can take rejection like a bachelorette in Boystown.) So I went to the store and got the scoop from a kindly employee: The store will close March 14 for two weeks, during which junior store Mandee will take over the two-story retail space. Mandee is another brand of Annie Sez's parent company Big M, Inc., so there's a good chance the employees at State Street will still have jobs (I care about this because it's my job to care as an employee engagement consultant.)

But onto the news everyone cares about: What is this Mandee brand? It's an East Coast-centric juniors shop nearly indistinguishable from Charlotte Russe or Wet Seal, though with perhaps fewer metallic glitter tank tops. (The suit pictured at left isn't horrible, either.) Annie Sez definitely offered more options for fashionable, budget-conscious career women; I probably won't ever see the inside of the new store. However, it will be amusing to watch from afar the battle of the leggings between Mandee and Forever 21, as they are a mere two doors apart.

DIY fashion: Such a knitwit

Pry open my coat closet and you’ll likely be buried alive in an avalanche of scarves and hats, including one black felt peculiarity that I thought was the epitome of French chic but my friend charitably likened to an upside-down garbage pail. As with just about everything else, I have too many winter accessories, especially scarves. I’ve officially banned myself from purchasing anything that wraps around my neck (unless it’s Easter Sunday and there’s not a cross to be found), but we’ll see if that outlasts the AP’s week-long abstinance from Paris Hilton.

In the meantime, however, Tracey from work is going to teach me how to knit so I can make my own scarves. (Doesn’t this defeat the entire purpose of the shopping ban? Obviously. Now you've seen through my plan.) I’ve taken enough long plane trips for work where I’m too tired to actually work and too antsy to sleep, so I figure knitting might be just the answer. Plus I can then justify having more scarves than brain cells, and at a fraction of the cost. I do wonder how long it will take me to make one item, because I have a rather short attention span when it comes to new hobbies. Like the time I took up sculpting and made but one very misshapen and slightly suggestive clay pot and my brief flirtation with gymnastics, which ended with an unfortunate run-in with the vault. But I’ll at least give knitting a try before I head back to the Burberry outlet for some plaid immersion.

Similarly, the Stitching Salon in Chicago’s Loop is a recently opened knitting workshop offering free classes for all ability levels. It’s part of the city’s Winter Delights (an annual collection of inventive ways to keep Chicagoans from permanently bolding to their warm living room couches) so be advised that classes wrap up at the end of March.

Annie won't be saying much any more

I feel like I’ve begun writing a regular column called “Another downtown Chicago store closes.” The latest bygone retailer to make the list is Annie Sez, a State Street discounter that’s having a massive store closing sale this very minute. (Though I must remind myself that turnover of new businesses in nearly any metropolitan market is sky high, and other new businesses are constantly vying for the space. We do have the vaunted opening of Loehmann's to eagerly await.)

This is disappointing, since Annie Sez parked in this space not more than a year and was a halfway decent place for fearless bargain hunters (read my review here.) It was an oddity, half cheap juniors velour tracksuits and half bridge to high-end brands. Elie Tahari, Kenneth Cole and Michael Kors mingled with Forever 21. Unfortunately that jovial cocktail party of fashions is coming to an end, it appears. The folks at Big M Inc., the privately held parent company of Annie Sez, didn’t respond to my request for an interview, so we’ll be left to wonder why the sudden departure. I’m guessing it has something to do with the Olympic pool-sized clearance section upstairs with deeply discounted goods for the taking. Or maybe sticklers for spelling just hated the name.

Shutting its doors: Gap's latest red-headed step-child

Poor Gap. The store always looks so optimistic inside, with its brightly colored basics and airy khakis stacked to the rafters. Unfortunately most of what’s inside is also as boring to adults as that recurring puzzle on Sesame Street where the rectangle bounces around looking for the right place to fit. I don’t think Gap introduced patterns until at least the ‘80s.

The company, which owns core brands Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy has hit the skids in recent years with blasé sales and tough competition from other on-trend mall retailers. This week, news hit that Forth and Towne, the quaintly named latest store concept from Gap, Inc., is no longer going forth. I never even made it to one of the few locations, which marketed themselves to baby boomers, but according to the Budget Fashionista, it wasn’t half bad: “Great dressing rooms, good service, and hanging bags."

The retailer’s slogan was “It’s time to take back fashion,” presumably from anorexic 19-year-old models. I never even made it to one of the few locations, which marketed themselves to baby boomers, but according to the Piperlime, an online shoe shop that cannot hope to compete with Zappos.com and now Endless.com. The trouble is evidenced by management shake-ups and clearance sections spanning half the stores. It’s unfortunate that the company hasn’t been able to parlay the goodwill of its (Red) social marketing campaign into success.