I loved Isaac Mizrahi's original half-hour show on Oxygen -- three interesting segments interspersed with a little music. If I were QVC, I'd aim for that vibe.
I feel like Hello Kitty exists in a parallel universe, known as "Japan." Maybe it's because she and her pals never caught on here in the US (though I will cop to owning a Pochaco lunchbox), but I am mystified by all the high-end Swarovski crystal-studded 14 carat Hello Kitty products. Who buys this stuff?
@Yahtzii: I'll go ahead and say I'm right there with you. Actually, I'll take it one step further and say I hate that HK has gone from a lovely little cartoon character to a "brand". I was a Sanrio nut as a kid, and even so, I find the whole blinging-out to be extremely tacky and also extremely indicative of our youth-obsessed culture. It's not cute anymore if it's encrusted with pave diamonds and set in platinum and costs thousands of dollars. (Or worn by Mariah Carey, who seems to have her own little youth obsession going on.)
@..now it's just Aesop's Foibles.: The thing that really confuses me is that the reason she's so cute is because of her simplicity and innocence. She is neither of those things when made into a diamond ring that costs more than my house.
Also, if I had that much money, WHY would I spend it on something branded with Hello Kitty?
Re: Venus selling at Steve & Barrys - I thought they were closing down? My freakin' dad goes there to buy all his local college team shirts etc and he phoned me be-moaning the fact they they were all shutting.
Maybe I went to the wrong location, but my sister and I were soooooooo unimpressed with Steve and Barry. All of her stuff was totally generic looking. Amanda Bynes's line was kinda cute but it ran smaller and thus I doubt anything would fit me. Plus I'd probably look like I was trying to dress like a teenager (newsflash: at 28, I kind of do still dress like a teenager!)
Aw man! Now where will I get my cute SJP clothes when I go to the Manhatten Mall? I got the cutest black cocktail dress from her line for 8 bucks and I love it to death.
Maybe she can try Khols next? I can't think of any store that would agree to sell her stuff so cheap.
I was talking to my ex the other day and he was saying that it has now become is largest pet peeve, people saying "these economic times" because all times are "economic times." And I agreed, saying that it's such a ridiculously simple error to correct: simply insert "troubling" into that phrase: "these throubling economic times." It really drives us both up the wall. And here it is AGAIN.
@stoprobbers: I hate to be an asshole but as an adjective, it is the plural of "this," which several definitions indicate is meant to convey a sense of immediacy. So it means the economic times of the present time.
@gold_gato: Yep. As someone equally tall and lanky, I was never able to find anything that fit me at Steve & Barry's. I feel the same contempt for Urban Outfitters & H&M.
@gold_gato: Everything I've tried on (which is a LOT, probably 1/4 of my closet is Bitten) has fit me perfectly. I have a hard time finding pants because of my weird curvy shape, but the best khakis I've ever found/worn are Bitten.
Noooooo!!! I buy, like, all my jeans from S&B because they're cheap without being horrible quality, and they fit better than any other jeans except the ones from Express that I can't afford anymore! SJP, please make your line orderable on the 'net or find another store. Please?
How in the hell did Steve and Barry's go bankrupt in this economy? If there's ever a time people need a $9.99 t-shirt with their sports team on it, now is that time. Also, I think Bitten was super cute. I have button-up from that line, and it is officially my favorite button-up ever.
@dancerevolution: Everyone is feeling the pinch. People's purses and wallets have slammed shut. I think dollar stores will be making a lot of money in the foreseeable future thanks to the downturn.
Yeah, you're right about the belts tightening. But lots of discount stores have done really well in this economy (look at Wal-Mart, and even Target is doing okay). There had to be some poor business decisions behind the bankruptcy, because in my small hometown, people loved Steve and Barry's, and would buy up anything that had the Steelers logo and the local university on it, no matter what. Even those terrible pleather bomber jackets; nay, especially the terrible pleather bomber jackets.
@dancerevolution: I think the problem was that they were to unable get financing to fund operations. Surprise surprise.
A bad but interesting chain effect: mall owners paid out a lot of money (hundreds of millions, nationwide) so that companies like Steve and Barry's would locate in their malls--the idea was that these anchor stores would lure customers in. So, with S&B out, that's a pretty big blow to mall owners and to other retailers.
@pantsless economist: You got it. My company was in charge of the first round of closings and a lot of it had to do with their inability to continue funding operations but they also expanded a bit too quickly and mall placement doesn't always work. It's weird to work in a business like mine that is booming due to the closing of S&B, LNT, Circuit City, CompUSA, etc.
07/27/09
07/27/09
07/27/09
07/27/09
07/27/09
07/27/09
@..now it's just Aesop's Foibles.: The thing that really confuses me is that the reason she's so cute is because of her simplicity and innocence. She is neither of those things when made into a diamond ring that costs more than my house.
Also, if I had that much money, WHY would I spend it on something branded with Hello Kitty?
07/27/09
How many pairs of Hello Kitty sneakers do you think will end up in Mariah Carey's shoe closet?
07/27/09
07/27/09
@save jinger: ZERO! They're flat! She even pitches in heels!
07/27/09
07/27/09
@Yahtzii: Maybe she wants them for display in her bathroom.
07/27/09
@Yahtzii: She's wearing sneakers here!
07/27/09
01/23/09
11/26/08
11/26/08
And yes, you can sell clothes for less than $10 and make a profit without using sweatshops!
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
Maybe she can try Khols next? I can't think of any store that would agree to sell her stuff so cheap.
11/26/08
11/26/08
SJP, you've been put on notice.
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
11/26/08
Yeah, you're right about the belts tightening. But lots of discount stores have done really well in this economy (look at Wal-Mart, and even Target is doing okay). There had to be some poor business decisions behind the bankruptcy, because in my small hometown, people loved Steve and Barry's, and would buy up anything that had the Steelers logo and the local university on it, no matter what. Even those terrible pleather bomber jackets; nay, especially the terrible pleather bomber jackets.
11/26/08
A bad but interesting chain effect: mall owners paid out a lot of money (hundreds of millions, nationwide) so that companies like Steve and Barry's would locate in their malls--the idea was that these anchor stores would lure customers in. So, with S&B out, that's a pretty big blow to mall owners and to other retailers.
11/26/08