Rag Report: In Bloom

Rag Report dives under the covers of fashion publications to rant or rave about all the glossy goodness.

Springtime and flowers are like peanut butter and jelly; they go hand-in-hand. It’s only natural that spring designer collections are filled with floral delights. Elle’s February issue features a 10-page spread with model Devon Akoi in 2011 blooming designs from the likes of Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, and Vera Wang.

Marc Jacobs updates wintry leather with a lighter hue and a flower design on this silk gauze dress. The bottom of the dress falls like flower petals and the red neck piece is like a wildflower emerging after the cold of winter.

While this silk crepe Tommy Hilfiger dress is a solid color, the shade of yellow is so like that of spring daffodils that the image of a flower comes to mind. The crepe material is also delicate like the daffodils that bloom in springtime.

The New York Botanical Garden is a perfect backdrop for this spread. The conifers mirror the embroidery on this Oscar de la Renta gown, a print refreshingly different from normal floral patterns. The poured-glass flower brooches from Mark Walsh Leslie Chin serve as a beautiful embellishment that enhances, rather than clashes, with this dress.

This floral spread comes at a perfect time. When most are still suffering from winter blues, the colorful blossoms and patterns shown here make the world look a little brighter and springtime look a little more within reach.

-Jessica Dysart

Bizz Buzz: 'Mom Wear' No More

Biz Buzz keeps its fabulously accessorized ear to the ground to provide breaking fashion news coverage.

On Thursday, October 21, Tommy Hilfiger converted a Hilfiger collection store at 375 Bleecker St. in Manhattan, NY into a Tommy boutique. The first in the U.S., Tommy is a new men’s and women’s Hilfiger line that is directed towards a younger audience.

“This is downtown prep. It’s quirkier and younger and more irreverent,” Hilfiger said at the store’s opening on Thursday.

A day earlier, two Tommy boutiques were opened in Toronto. Later this year, two more will open in the U.S., one in White Plains, NY, and one in Georgetown in Washington, DC. In the spring, merchandise will be available on tommy.com.

According to an article in Women’s Wear Daily, Hilfiger describes the traditional Tommy Hilfiger line as more ‘uptown’, ‘grown-up’ and ‘refined’, as the Tommy line should appeal to 20-30 year-olds. Because of the age of the target audience, the clothes are modestly priced, ranging from $24 for knits to $139 for outerwear.

Hilfiger’s release of a brand like Tommy could mean a lot for the company. The traditional Tommy Hilfiger line usually appeals to older audiences, which could mean that younger audiences will be wary to try out the new Tommy line. I, for one, usually associate Tommy Hilfiger as clothes worn by my mother’s crowd. However, after leafing through pictures of the new Tommy boutique, I am reminded of the trendy J.Crew, and see no traces of ‘mom wear’. Tommy could be a brilliant way for the Tommy Hilfiger line to appeal to a younger crowd and expand its line.

The Bleecker St. store itself dons a ‘trendy workspace’ theme, in addition to neon furniture.

Currently, the preliminary Tommy stores are just testing the waters for the brand. If the boutiques are successful, then more will surely follow in other U.S. cities.

-Diana Pearl