Chan Luu Fall 2010 Preview

One of my favorite things about observing fashion is when you get to witness a label mature. Notice I didn't say "grow" -- expanding your wares to include sunglasses, perfume, or, heaven help us, mattresses, doth not maturity make.

No, I'm talking about evolution of the kind where, for the first time, you really see the vision behind a label come through clearly and cohesively in a collection. I had the pleasure of experiencing such when I visited Chan Luu's New York showroom last week to preview their Fall 2010 line.

Chan Luu's signature piece is its rustic, leather-and-bead wrap bracelet, which you've seen everywhere from O Magazine to the cover of the current Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue to Lady Gaga's wrist. Since 2004, the label has also produced a Ready-to-Wear component that, unfortunately, hasn't seemed to really separate itself from the shadow of its iconic accessory brother.

That's hopefully about to change somewhat, though, with their Fall 2010 collection. The Chan Luu aesthetic centers around textures and studied layering, and they've imbued that sensibility beautifully into this line. Present are some of the trends we saw on the runways at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York (metallics, sequins), as well as the designer's adherence to mixing and matching pieces across her offerings: the same interchangeability inherent in the wrap bracelets has been applied intelligently to the clothing.

I'm a big proponent of casual work wardrobes (actually, make that really casual), and found myself thinking, "If I worked in a creative industry where I had to look semi-put-together yet had room for play, this is along the lines of what I would wear." Think Houndstooth prints that don't take themselves too seriously, gauzy cardigans, and a lightly washed-out color palette of warm browns, greys, and reds that invites you to sink into the clothes immediately.

The jewelry, especially, took me away. Jade, in all kinds of pigments, abounded, as did turquoise-hued statement rings, a gold-dipped necklace that seems as if it's been carved out of a gnarly old mineral, and, of course, new incarnations of the trusty wrap bracelet.

I'll let the photos speak from here on out.

Pretty rad, no?

Look for Chan Luu's Fall 2010 collection later this year (you can keep checking their Web site for details).

The Quickie

Time for just a quickie today as I'm on my way to the tents for the first show in Bryant Park (Mackage), and am still recovering from my foray into the snow for Ideeli and Style Coalition's Fashion 2.0 Social Media Awards, which last night honored fashion's best on the Web at the W Hotel The Tuscany.Feast your eyes on the gorgeous Madonna-Whore dynamism that is Fallon's Christian Split Choker (Could the name be anymore perfect?). POSHGLAM gave me the heads-up about it via e-mail, and I'm already calculating what the cost per wear will be in order to justify the purchase. I. want. it. Maybe the co-mingling of the lively rhinestones and gloomy black chains speaks to me via Freud's whole Eros and Thanatos theory. Or maybe it's just a manifestation of Gemini nature. Either way, I can see this baby spending time with a pair of skinny jeans, a James Perse white tee, and some badass heels, like these Loubs my rent money is trying desperately to keep me away from.

The Fallon Christian Split Choker retails for $245 at Barneys's site.

Speaking of duality, let's shift our focus for a moment to Pajama Jeans, which made their way to our desk via the good folks at Corolla Talk. Yes, they are exactly what they sound like: "the styling of your favorite jeans together with the comfort of pajamas," per the promotional video. Because, of course, if you're in New York City, the first thing you want to do after sitting on the subway is rub your ass all over the sanctity of your bed sheets.

The two-minute promo video is worth your time, if only to hear them talk about the revolutionary fabric they've developed that was "just too good to stay under the covers" and how Pajama Jeans actually help "put your best self out there!" Bless them. I'm now waiting for the men's suit that turns into a drag costume with the counter-clockwise rub of a button. I propose a new slogan of "Pajama Jeans: when you're just about done giving a fu*k."

And congrats to all of the winners of and nominees for Style Coalition and Ideeli's Fashion 2.0 Social Media Awards, which last night honored fashion's best of the Web. Some of my favorites among the winners:

-Kate Spade for Best Web Site (they really do have a great site)
-Four Square for Next Best Thing in Social Media
-Burberry for Best Innovator

For those who are interested, I'll post a link to the full list of winners when one becomes available.

Right now, I'm running to shuck my pajamas (which are not also jeans) and make it down to Bryant Park to officially begin the delightful nuttiness that is Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. Stick with the Curb for our daily roundups, and follow along in real-time on Twitter @realcurbappeal.

The Best Little Necklace You're Not Wearing

The feelings that accompany sliding on a beloved piece of jewelry are akin to those that surface when you don a favorite t-shirt: the security in knowing that its fit is tried-and-true; the comfort it envelops you in; the confidence that you need not once look down to tug, turn, or push it back into place - good jewelry evokes this, too. Usually, it takes months - sometimes years - to become that cozy with a piece of bijoux but once in a while the connection is instant. Especially when it comes at a reasonable $45.00 price point and with the name "RJ GRAZIANO" on its tag.

This pretty lady landed in my lap (literally) as a gift from Robert Verdi at his recent Valentine's Day Gift Guide Tweet-Up, and I haven't stopped cooing over her ever since. Officially, she's called R. J. GRAZIANO's Clear Lucite Bubble Bead Necklace but we've become so well-acquainted that I've taken to calling her "Bubbles." Unlike her namesake, the only place she's strung out is perfectly around your neck, and she'll work for you day and night without needing a fix.
Needless to say, we've bonded instantly (the beads go especially well with the color grey, which I recently proclaimed my conqueror for 2010 in this Honey Magazine article). Lightweight, multi-purposeful, and striking yet simple in its design, it's a fantastic, affordable addition to your accessories cache you'll get mileage out of for years to come (Lucite, like roaches, never dies). Also, at $45.00, it comes in at a great price point for a gift or to just treat yourself. Pick it up online or in-store at Lord & Taylor.

FYI: RJ GRAZIANO's got some sweet and similarly affordable pieces in his line for HSN (like KFC, no one says "Home Shopping Network" anymore - get familiar), which I stumbled upon while writing this post. The "Luster Cluster" is my fave, both name and style-wise. Luster and Bubbles might well become sister-wives soon!



Top Image Source: Lord & Taylor