Biz Buzz: eBay deepens its fashion closet

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

Next month, online marketplace giant eBay is set to launch a new section of the site specifically devoted to designer sample sales, a la sites like Ideeli and Gilt Groupe. 

The “Fashion Vault,” as it is called, will offer clothes and accessories at seriously discounted prices for limited periods of time, or during what are called “flash sales.” According to WWD, the initial setup will include weekly flash sales, but the rate of sales will steadily increase over following months. Last year, eBay tested designer labels Hugo Boss, DKNY, Max Mara and Cole Haan for the new site feature, and shoppers can expect to see the same names again in the future.

EBay also now boasts an online outlet mall, currently featuring pieces from Lord & Taylor and next month, merchandise from Brooks Brothers. If you can’t wait for the official March opening, you’ll be glad to know Narciso Rodriguez and Norma Kamali already have capsule collections, for prices well below their higher-end counterparts, available on the site. Other brands and stores are expected to jump on board in the future, as well.

“We are playing to our strengths,” said Lorrie Norrington, president of eBay Marketplaces, to WWD. “EBay is the number-one clothing site on the Internet… Whether it’s Tory Burch or Levi’s jeans, we’ve got it,” she said. “…We are focused on taking that store with great values and great inventory and really unlocking that in new ways. We want to have a complement of experiences.”

- by Jasmine Thomas

The Craze: Deep in the trenches

The Craze is a trend report bringing you the latest (and, duh, the greatest) in beauty and style.

 

The Burberry white trench...we're in love

In the spirit of the recent Sherlock Holmes movie, we thought it would be appropriate to talk about a classic look that is reappearing this spring in a big way: the trench coat.  

Originally worn by British soldiers as early as the late 1800’s, the coat offered men in the military an alternative to heavier jackets.  Who was on the front lines of trench-coat creation?  Burberry, of course!  Today, Burberry still designs what we call the perfect trench, seamlessly combining its classic elements with some fresh twists.  Last fall Burberry launched a unique social networking website based solely on guess what?  Trench coats.  

Photographers shot children, men and women all over the globe, in all types of weather and landscapes, in their Burberry trenches and built a site from the personal images.  Users can scroll through the pictures one by one or organize them by male/female, weather, location, popularity, etc.  Users can also comment on the trenches, and in the style of Facebook simply “like” the looks.  We highly suggest you check it out to inspire great ways to wear your trenches.

The problem is we can’t all be so lucky to wear one of Burberry’s luxurious trenches.  

 

Zara trench, $115

Thankfully there are some options for the thriftier crowd. Zara makes a beautifully-fitted, classic camel-colored trench for around $115 (we found almost brand new ones on ebay.com for just $50).   

 

The Gap trench, $88

Another one of our favorite options is this black trench from Gap, for $88.  The double buttons and side tied belt give the coat the classic trench look with a splash of femininity. 

- by Monica Delameter