Think CONTRA » Lindsay Cohen

Betsey Johnson, Still Going Strong

Lindsay Cohen — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 20:16:46 +0000

Many thought it was the end of a fashion era last year when the legendary Betsey Johnson (now 70 years old) filed for bankruptcy. All 63 stores were shuttered including the original SOHO flagship. Once the queen of punk, prom and pink, Betsey’s vision started to lose momentum with the rise of fast fashion. The designer, always young at heart put on elaborate fashion shows filled with childlike wonder and ending each presentation in a cartwheel or split. Well it’s a new year and this Tinkerbell of fashion isn’t going anywhere. Mega retailer and shoe mogul Steve Madden stepped in as the new parent company with big plans for the brand. Together next month they will be launching a lower price point line of Betsey Johnson frocks for department stores. Following the launch Betsey and her daughter Lulu will be starring in their own reality tv show come spring and debuting her third fragrance titled Betseyfied this summer. For the past 35 years the Betsey Johnson brand has been built on youthfulness and rebellion. That DNA will still come through in the new collection. Cartwheels and splits to follow.

Club to Catwalk: London Fashion in the 1980′s

Lindsay Cohen — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 16:51:16 +0000

The Victoria & Albert’s museum’s major summer 2013 exhibition will explore how London’s Eighties club scene had a transforming affect on the international fashion world. Participating designers such as John Galliano and Vivienne Westwood will be on display, alongside clubwear from the era. There will be a total of 85 outfits to awe at from this revolutionizing period in time. The gallery on the first floor will highlight designers that were inspired by London’s thriving underground nightlife scene, while the mezzanine will focus on the clubbing attire grouped into categories such as Fetish, Rave, High Camp and New Romantics. Additional gems within the exhibition include a display of nine denim jackets originally commissioned by Blitz club magazine in 1981, archive magazines that helped bring the looks to a broader audience and a mini club-like area. I knew the 80′s couldn’t stay away for long. Time to get my Bedazzler out of storage.

No Noise. Selfridges

Lindsay Cohen — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 14:26:19 +0000

In a world becoming increasingly filled with information and stimulation overload it’s inevitable the noise levels would spike as well. In a move to try and reign in the sound, Selfridges is reintroducing The Silence Room. The idea was first dreamt up in 1909 by Harry Selfridge. He always had an affinity for quiet. Now over a century later his initial concept will be reinstated. No Noise has partnered with Headspace and The Idler to help you navigate and find balance in an increasingly fast-paced environment. The initiative stretches past retail, inviting consumers to to celebrate the power of quiet and experience shopping using other senses to see beauty and function, and ultimately designed to instill calmness in the crowds. Some of fashions most recognizable brands have taken a forward step by removing logos to participate in the de-branded products available in the Quiet Shop. On top of this already intriguing experience, Selfridges will also be showcasing specially commissioned art installations in their windows and staging performances to nurture the imagination, including a performance of John Cage’s 4’33″. The room will debut January 7th and close at the end of February. We are sure it will instill a heavy (albeit quiet) buzz.

Topshop to Open in Hong Kong

Lindsay Cohen — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:30:03 +0000

Lane Crawford’s retail subsidiary LAB concept and Topshop are partnering up to launch the fast fashion’s first free standing store in Hong Kong. Set to open in May of next year, the new space will sprawl over 12,000 square feet and two floors. Philip Green has made no secret of wanting to expand to China, and with Lane Crawford wanting to raise its profile in the West, this seems like a match made in retail heaven. The new store will be planted within Asia Standard Tower, a neighborhood known for being flush with fashion. Meanwhile Topshop recently launched their 2012 holiday video featuring Kate Bosworth. Check it out above.

Mick Jagger Love Letters Up For Sale At Sotheby’s

Lindsay Cohen — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:27:52 +0000

Sotheby’s, the infamous London auction house, recently released a collection of Mick Jagger’s love letters predicted to sell for between $112,000 – $161,000. The ten love letters are dated from 1969 and were written to Marsha Hunt, an American singer and mother of Jagger’s first born. Bought over the phone by a private collector, the set sold well above their estimated worth for over $300.000. We may not be able to recapture the past, but a healthy dose of rock nostalgia can get you close. As one collector was able to do by purchasing a piece of rock history and stealing a glimpse into lost love – provided you’ve got the deep pockets to make it happen.

Apartamento x A.P.C. Limited Edition Coloring Books

Lindsay Cohen — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:00:56 +0000

Apartamento, the Italian interiors magazine, has partnered up with French fashion house A.P.C. to create an array of limited edition coloring books for kids that will be part of an ongoing series. Challenging the concept of your garden variety coloring book, they are sure to spark creativity in kids and adults alike. To launch, the first three issues were designed by artists Reg Mombassa, Geoff McFetridge and Matt Leines and produced in a tight run of only 500, to be sold exclusively at A.P.C. locations worldwide and sure to go fast. We’re looking forward to what’s up their sleeve for the next batch.