STYLE

WHAT: theOutnet.com Clearance Sale – 80-85% Off!

WHY: theOutnet.com, the most fashionable fashion outlet, is hosting an amazing CLEARANCE sale. 900+ delectable designer looks from labels including Stella McCartney, Michael Kors, Chloé, Halston, Marc Jacobs and Valentino will be available at 80 – 85% off. Member only prices. Log on to www.theoutnet.com on Monday, August 23rd and shop an array of clothes, bags, shoes and accessories at an unbelievable price. Here’s a sneak peek of what’s in store…

Pricing:

• Belt – Original price $1540 / theOutnet.com price $231
• Sweater – Original price $895 / theOutnet.com price $135
• Bag – Original price $1735 / theOutnet.com price $260
• Dress- Original price $1795 / theOutnet.com price $269
• Pants – Original price $995 / theOutnet.com price $150
• Jacket – Original price $4850 / theOutnet.com price $728
• Shoes – Original price $795 / theOutnet.com price $120

WHEN: 8/23 – 8/29

WHERE: Online – theoutnet.com

For a Back to School look check out: theOutnet.com – Shop Elizabeth and James, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Adam and more at up to 70% off!theOutnet.com

Global retail consumers are comfortably used to purchasing designer like prints and styles from retailers like H&M, Forever 21, Mango and more. For less than a nice dinner out, you can score a whole outfit that looks scary similar to styles fresh off the runway. Designers are disgusted with the efficiency copy cat designs go from runway to retail. Because the copycats are lower quality and far from luxury, low end retailers can churn them out even faster than designer masterminds can make them. For the designers, it’s a travesty that rips them of their artistic uniqueness and violates their uniqueness. For consumers, it’s a treat especially in a recession recovering economy.

Until Senator Charles E. Shumer introduced a congressional bill that would provide some protection against copycatting for designers. The Innovative Design Protection and Piracy Prevention Act, supported by the CFDA. The bill provides limited intellectual property protection to the most original design. In addition to apparel and footwear designer, the new law would cover handbags, belts and sunglasses for three years from the time it is seen on the runway. Color, patterns and graphic images are factors used in determining the uniqueness of a design, and according to several sources familiar with the proposed bill, there are strict specifications for what qualify as unique and will require designers to consistently move towards innovation. The bill aims to be a deterrent for copying designs and has bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate.

For the consumer, does it means no more faux DVF dresses for $19.99? Probably not. The bar for unique designs is set high and only applies to designs moving forward. Maybe copycat designs help the economy because they lead to higher sales of apparel nationwide. Traditionally, copying has created more demand for innovation, but many people complain that styles are changing too quickly making designers pressured and unable to quickly produce the quality formerly characteristic of high end designers.

Emma Dinzebach

Brooks Ross knows cashmere, as he should. His mother, Ann Ross, founded Madison Avenue’s upscale destination for women’s fashion, Leggiadro, in 1985 and now has boutiques in New York, Americana Manhasset, Melrose Place, Ocean Reef Club, Monticeto, Palm Beach, Nantucket, Palm Desert, Naples, Sarasota, Dallas and Charleston. Sticking with the foundations of luxury, Leggiadro designers and craftsman all Leggiadro clothing is spun and died in Italian factories. And their pillow soft cashmere is the best in the world…or pretty darn close.

What’s so great about cashmere?

Everybody loves cashmere – the texture, the warmth, the luxury. Have you felt it?

I mean it’s beautiful, but why is good-quality cashmere so expensive?

There is a lot of fundamental differences between types of cashmere. Five things to keep in mind are: length of fiber, location of raw fiber, color of raw fiber, location of production and weight of item.

So it’s like pima cotton – longer fibers make it softer? 

Exactly. Longer fibers create greater strength Think of it like interlocking hands with a person. If you are holding each other by your fingertips, it won’t take a lot of force to break that bond. If your hands are fully clasped, it will take more force to separate. Shorter fibers have a tendency to pill.

Then where the fiber comes from is important as well. But isn’t a goat a goat? 

There are Kashmir are in many countries; it’s where on the goat the fibers come from. Premium fibers come from a very small area in the center of its chest, the underbelly, and are hidden underneath a coarser outerlayer of hair called “guard hair.” The hair that comes from there is also the purest in color. Other parts of the animal might have fibers gray or brown. Those are harder to die.

Why Italy? 

Italians have ingrained, historical knowledge of how to deal with the fiber. Leggiadro spins their fabrics in Italy because of their ingrained luxury tradition of both spinning and dying the yarns.

What was the fifth one? 

Weight. So it might seem counterintuitive, but the lighter the material, the more delicate and luxury. A very fine sweater requires almost three times as much time to make the same sweater at a heavier weight. Our artisans are more careful about small imperfections. A broken needle or small twist can entirely ruin the quality and weave. They must be extremely meticulous.

Hence the name Leggiadro.
Right. Leggiadro means aesthetic beauty with lightness and grace.

Emma Dinzebach

We’re all about avoiding skin cancer. Duh. The younger you start tanning in the direct sunlight (or god forbid in a tanning bed!) the higher your chances of getting melanoma. If you just can’t embrace your god-given hue and the thought of putting your pasty body into a bathing suits makes you puke, then you’re forced to explore some sunless tanning options. That is, if you can fake it.

So if you’re going to fake it, here are the safest ways. Self-tanners leave you either stinky or smelling like a bagel bite. If you insist on self tanners, refer to our previous list. Spray tan also does the trick with two benefits: 1) Air brushed tans looks more even and real and 2) You can tone it up while you tan. Do you notice how dancing with the stars contestants look so ripped? That’s because they are airbrushed to look that way. Toning and sculpting in the privacy of your own home. (Most companies do make house calls, pop up this little tent thing and spray away.) Weary about spending the money? There are some tricks to extend air brushed tans. Visit tanning expert cosmetic company Au Courant’s blog for tips on how to get the most brown for your buck.

Air brushing is a sneaky form of faux self-improvement. You can’t will away wrinkles without Botox and you can’t make your hair fuller sans extensions. You can, however, make your skin naturally tan by laying at the beach for five hours and tone yourself through diet and exercise. Or you can just call your local air brush queen.

Emma Dinzebach