The other day I headed to the Nine West showroom to check out the collection the brand created with CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner Sophie Theallet. The affordable lineup of handbags, jewelry and shoes will be hitting Nine West stores in May just in time for the Spring/Summer 2011 season. The designer initiative is part of Nine West’s recently announced “Shoelaborations” platform which, you guessed it, involves Nine West partnering with designers for affordable, limited edition designer collaborations. While the designer items will be produced in a limited quantity, it won’t be H&M or Target style, meaning you (thankfully) won’t need to sleep on the sidewalk to get your hands on the affordable pieces.
Those who are following the Fall 2011 shows have likely remarked that there is a plaid and tartan trend going on at the moment – and not just at Burberry – even brands like Max Mara have embraced the print, and it’s lucky for Sophie Theallet, because that’s what the bulk of her collection is about.
I was surprised at how soft the shoes were given that most of the ones H&M and Payless have created with designers are typically not. The collection’s inspiration was “Sophie from Paris Takes a Trip to NYC” and that’s most obvious in the charm jewelry, which may explain why, as a life-long New Yorker, those were my favorite.
The collection includes a ballet flat, a double platform sandal, a raffia wedge, two satchels, and a charm necklace and bracelet. Prices for the collection will range from $79 for flats to $109 for a double platform sandal or espadrille. The collection is available for pre-order next week at ninewest.com.
Next up is a Fall 2011 collection with Giles Deacon – now that should be exciting.
