What clothing designer do you like???

[AprilBaby]

I adore Michael Kors and Ralph Lauren.

 

[Kaleigh]

J McLaughlan is my fave.

 

[Efe]

I like Dobbin (which I think I found out about here) and Camilla Olson. I don't really enjoy going shopping anymore and like to buy online.

 

[Mayk]

Elle Tahari her clothes fit nice and I like the fabric...

 

[rubyshoes]

TRACY REESE! My closet is full of her stuff. Can you tell I'm a girly girl?

 

[crown1]

Good thread. I have missed the shopping topics that used to abound here.

 

[Smith1942]

Good thread. I don't buy many clothes, but I went through a phase of doing so a couple of years ago.

I discovered: Ralph Lauren Blue and Black label, Issa, Libelula, Temperley, Iro, Catherine Malandrino, Geren Ford, Juicy Couture, Milly, and a few others I can't think of now.

I also love McQueen, but I couldn't afford anything from there. Also, I've tried on Burberry's macs and they're great, but I'm not paying 1k for a coat when I could have a nice 0.50-0.60 ctw diamond piece of jewellery for that.

A year ago, I did see this unbelievable Red Valentino coat that I might have paid 1k for, but luckily I forgot about it. It was a black winter coat, below the knee, structured tiny waist and a huge flared, swingy skirt. The silhouette was seriously Dior New Look and the cut was to die for. But 1k is such a lot of money for a coat.

 

[Beacon]

One time I did find a great Burberry coat on sale. Even on sale they are still expaensive but I bought it anyhow. I've had it for 5 years now and it still looks great! From that view, it wasn't so terribly expensive. So maybe go for it when you next see a super coat!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I am all over the map.

I love Guess jeans, but when it comes to coats, dresses, and suits I have almost exclusively Prada, Gucci and Dolce because they fit me the best. Odds and sods include Vera Wang, The Row, Max Mara and Teenflo. Prada makes exceptional outerwear. For cashmere it is Brunello and Loro Piana and Celine, where I can find it on sale. I buy EU, Canadian or US made products only.

Beacon, I also love trench coats--they are versatile. I was very lucky to snag a Prada trench, 70% off before our Europe holiday last year--removable lining and fur collar (I've never used that part) and Gortex shell made it ultra useful.

cheers--Sharon

 

[Circe]

I think Alexander McQueen was the most innovative aesthetic mind of our time, and that his suicide was a tremendous loss. I do think Sarah Burton is doing an incredible job of maintaining and advancing his aesthetic.

I will probably never own any of those amazing pieces, alas, but I can admire them from afar.

In terms of designers I buy? I love Nanette Lepore. I think Lafayette 48 has great quality. At the more casual end, I <3 Hudson Jeans and Michal Stars "shine" shirts (seriously, these make up a frightening percentage of my wardrobe), and I highly recommend Tracy M. button-downs to the curvy ladies (genius, there are stretchy panels under the arms, so you don't get the ill fit in one direction or the other that you do with most other brands). And don't even get me started on the cool historical repro companies ....

 

[minousbijoux]

So as a total fashion newbie, I have to ask where do you find these designers and shop? Can you find them online? Do you go to department stores? Boutiques? I am soooo not interested in going out shopping, unless there are a bunch of places together where I can try things on. Otherwise, I'm happy buying online - but rarely high fashion.

 

[AprilBaby]

Thank goodness I have nordstrom rack 5 min from my house. I also shop online at Hautelook.com and modnique.com
Modnique usually has vintage rolex at awesome prices if you can afford one. Hautelook is a nordstrom company and has great purse prices.

 

[Sakuracherry]

I love browsing Haute Look! I also love Ideeli and Gilt, but good things sell always sell out pretty quick

I love Rag & Bone jeans (made in USA using Japanese denim). As for other pieces of clothing, I still love Lyell and wear all the old pieces. Since Emma Fletcher started designing for Tocca, sometimes I buy a piece of two, but the quality is not as good as Lyell.

 

[monarch64]

I just discovered a new-ish designer totally by chance, a couple days ago.

http://www.nataliemartincollection.com/

We went to see the band Candlebox last night. I haven't listened to their music in probably 15 years, so I did a little internet research to see what they'd been up to. The lead singer's wife is Natalie Martin, and she has some really lovely stuff that is actually somewhat affordable if you're into boho chic.

I think I actually own ONE designer piece, a sample Rivini bridal gown that I won on eBay.

Marc Jacobs does a lot of young and fun things I like, but I can only afford his Marc by Marc Jacobs line, which is $$ rather than $$$$.
I have several accessories from that line. Love his clothing designs, but they don't necessarily translate into my reality very well.

Most of my wardrobe is comprised of J. Crew, which is decidedly not designer. The past couple years I worked as a buyer for an outdoor adventure retailer, so I picked up a ton of Patagonia. You may have heard your crunchier friends refer to that brand as "PataGucci." So that counts, right? LOL!

 

[jstarfireb]

I can only afford designer clothing when they collaborate with lower-end retailers. So I've become a bit addicted to these collaborations and order massive amounts of items when they come around. Target has collaborated with Jason Wu, Prabal Gurung, and Phillip Lim recently; Kohl's has with Catherine Malandrino (still pretty widely available to buy now, for what it's worth) and Derek Lam; Banana Republic has with Issa. I own multiple pieces from all of these collections. Otherwise I buy most of my clothes at Target, BR, and Max Studio. I like a lot of designs by Michael Kors and Tory Burch, but don't own any save for a MK leather jacket and a pair of TB ballet flats. Also have a few pieces from Calvin Klein that I bought from Marshall's/TJ Maxx/Costco.

For shoes, I like Cole Haan and have pipe dreams about Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin. I own one pair of Manolos, but in general they run so small that my size 11 feet can't handle them. For purses, my favorites are B. Makowsky and Rebecca Minkoff, and Kate Spade is growing on me.

 

[Phoenix]

This is a fun thread!

I love Gucci clothes and shoes. Their clothes make me look slimmer and taller . Their shoes are super-comfy and super-sexy. I used to buy Max Mara suits for work. Would love to have an evening dress by Armani and one by Valentino.

I am smitten with Hermes bags, although they're ridiculously expensive and difficult to obtain.

These days though I am usually in stretchy pants or shorts, T-shirts and running shoes. Don't get dressed up as much as I used to!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I don't have convenient access to designer clothes (I could never order clothes online), and I really don't care that much about clothes! I really hate shopping for them, too, because it isn't fun to me. I usually just run in Chico's and pick up my casual outfits because they are great about having colors that coordinate and they have styles suitable for the over 40's age group. And since I don't work, it really is pointless to have a bunch of expensive clothes to just hang in the closet. I wear capri's and tops all summer! Coach and that price range of purse (Michael Kors, D&B, etc.) is about it for me in the designer purse category. I think y'all know what I like to spend money on! But I'll watch and see the designers that some in my age range like.

 

[rosetta]

I absolutely cannot afford designer clothing. I have picked up some higher end labels like Escada and MaxMara on ebay but that's the extent of my spending. I've bought designer handbags in the past, but honestly, I don't get a lot of use out of them so they're really not value for money. I think I have too many material goods in my life now, so I'm trying not to buy anything at all.

We are saving for a house and trying to put thousands of pounds into our savings account every month so there is nothing to spare for frivolities. And that includes diamonds!

But I still enjoy hearing what you all are buying!

 

[soxfan]

DVF, Tory Burch, Trina Turk, Milly, and Alice and Olivia. I have a lot of Ann Taylor, banana republic, and some burberry too.

 

[m-2-b]

Since I found out my old winter coat was ruined in storage, DH was kind enough to let me get a new Burberry double breasted wool coat!

 

[Indylady]

I either absolutely love or totally hate Byron Lars; I also like Nanette Lepore, and Marc Jacobs and Kate Spade for bags. I wear a lot of JCrew for everyday, and like Prada for their belts and small leather goods and Burberry and Alexander McQueen for scarves. My favorite look is a structured dress with a belt or scarf. I'm on the hunt for an amazing suit and ideally an amazing tailor as well..but still looking.

Does anyone know of a really great tailor in the Bay Area?

 

[minousbijoux]

You know, I've loved being out of work and enjoying my free time, but boy do I miss buying clothes and purses! Lately, I've done a lot of drooling and can't wait to get a job for all the wrong reasons, like purse shopping! I love Kate Spade...

 

[SB621]

I love Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs but my favorites are:

Chanel
Stella McCartney
Zac Posen
Chloe (great dresses)
Christian Siriano (he won project runway several years ago and I love his stuff. He had a fantastic maternity line)
D&G
Rachel Zoe (her stuff is amazing but not always fantastic on curvey women)
Reem Acra
BCBG (love their dresses and jackets)
Prada (great jeans and handbags)

 

[dragonfly411]

I really like Ann Taylor Loft, LC Lauren Conrad, Wrangler, Cruel Girl, Twenty X, I like Hollister for basic long sleeves, tees and sweaters, Gap, Buckle