Timberlake’s William Rast label gaining momentum

It used to be a novelty when a pop star expanded his or her brand with a venture into a clothing line, accessories, fragrances, hair pieces ,even dolls. Now, it’s almost a rite of passage for singers and actors to extend their 15 minutes of fame with some such vanity project.

While they often end up as a creative or financial failures, some demonstrate impressive lasting power. Consider JLo’s collection of big-selling perfumes, Diddy’s Sean John urban streetwear powerhouse, and ladies shoes so lucrative for Jessica Simpson that she’s just announced a line of swimwear.

One celeb who shouldn’t be overlooked is singer Justin Timberlake, whose William Rast label was launched in 2005 and has slowly picked up steam since. Along with business partner and long-time best friend Trace Ayala, the former ‘N Sync member and Memphis native introduced the premium denim brand in November 2005 in Los Angeles.

A London debut at Harvey Nichols followed in July 2007. 2009 has been a banner year, with Timberlake being named to GQ magazine’s annual list of 10 most stylish men, the William Rast fall ‘09 collection previewing at New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in February, and Timberlake appearing on Oprah in March to promote the brand.

Vogue editor and king-maker Anna Wintour - whose mere presence at a show confers instant credibility on a designer - attended the fashion week showing. And everybody knows what just a mention on Oprah’s hugely popular TV show can mean.

Like many fashion lines, the William Rast name pays homage to loved ones. William was the first name of Timberlake’s grandfather and Rast was the surname of Ayala’s grandfather.

But there’s nothing grandfatherly about the brand’s sportswear for men and women, which is basically designed by Johan and Marcella Lindeberg. The men’s shirts, vests, pants, jackets, tees and caps in neutral colors look exactly like what you’d see Timberlake, 28, wearing on any given occasion. And the ladies’ styles are the perfect complement for hip, streetwise young women.

You can check out the current designs and buy at William Rast.

‘Goodwill hunting’ at thrift shops nets cheap thrills

Guest columnist:  Debbie Norrell

Thrift shopping isn’t for everyone, so I normally make it a solo event. However, so many people have been impressed with my “cheap thrills” finds that they’ve asked to come along when I go on one of my Goodwill Hunting Tours.

My favorite pastime is canvassing the city for hidden treasure in thrift stores, consignment shops, flea markets and deep discounters. This is not for the meek or inexperienced shopper, or the shopping diva who is looking for matching pants and jackets that scream her name from the same rack.

I’ve been thrift shopping for more than 25 years. When I was doing costumes for the Wilkinsburg Arts Theatre in Pittsburgh, I always found great wardrobe items that fit into my limited budget. So great, in fact, that many of the actors “liberated” them from the theatre after the show closed. By the way - that’s the ultimate compliment.

I also found great things for myself. It was a good way to get my shop on and not use my credit cards. This is especially important if you’re working toward freedom from debt. Remember, your income is your largest wealth-building tool.

While thrift stores are rich with bargains and mark-downs, a bargain isn’t a bargain if you bring home something you don’t need or already have three of in your closet. If you’re between sizes or looking for something for a special occasion, consignment or thrift stores may be the best place to find that “I’m only going to wear it once” outfit.

Suppose you’re in the market for a new job and you’ve been out of the interviewing process for a while. When you go on an interview, you want to dress one level higher than the current daily dress code of the potential employer. So, if they are business casual every day, you want to dress in business attire. You can find a wide array of business clothing at thrift and consignment shops.

Here are a few thrift-shopping tips to try on for size:

• Know quality when you see it and don’t be strictly a “label” shopper.
• Know your size and measurements. Take a measuring tape with you for a sure fit.
• Know that some thrift stores don’t have dressing rooms, so be prepared to try things on somewhat publicly.
• Have the number of a good tailor or seamstress. Sometimes that great bargain may need to be hemmed or altered in some other way.
• Be aware of current styles. You don’t want your thrift store find to scream “thrift store” or “dated”.
• Stick to a budget. Carry cash, because many stores take cash only and do not accept checks or credit cards.

Debbie Norrell is lifestyle editor for the New Pittsburgh Courier and frequently speaks to groups about “how to break the chains of debt while still getting your shop on.” She may be contacted  at www.debbienorrell.com.

New Havaiana flip-flop glows in the dark

Some things have become such a fixture of New York Fashion Week that the semiannual event wouldn’t seem right without them. The MAC lounge is one and Judith Ripka’s fine jewelry boutique is another. But more popular than either and perhaps anything else is the booth where anyone inside the Bryant Park tents can get a free pair of semi-custom Havaianas. To the uninitiated, Havaianas are comfortable, durable, affordable, Brazilian-made flip-flops. Many consider them the best in the world. And while they are readily available to the masses, there are always men and women willing to wait in a long line - often for more than an hour - to have a pair assembled in the colors of their choice. After several seasons of creating limited-edition looks for show guests of designers such as Rosa Cha and for the event’s title sponsor, Mercedes-Benz, the company has just launched a style that glows in the dark. The ” Cool” design comes in three color schemes and is $28 a pair at havaianasus.com. They’re sure to add interest to sunset beach parties, garden soirees and twilight strolls. And you don’t have to worry about losing them in the dark.

A style state of emergency for the first lady

We recently commented in these pages that Michelle Obama appears to be spinning out of sartorial control.

We regret to report that her descent into fashion confusion seems to be accelerating.

Consider the photo of her in London’s Daily Mail as she left Westminster Abbey on Tuesday. No need for us to describe it when you can see it here for yourself in this story. It was all wrong, from the frumpy layered cardigans to the belted kindergarten tunic over black pants.

When the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority made Mrs. Obama an honorary sister last year, it would have been great if the sisters also had conferred on her some of their exquisite taste and impeccable style.

Bad as it was, the abbey outfit wasn’t her only fashion transgression in recent days. Rewind back to last week, when she was on program but ended up not attending the annual celebration in Washington, D.C. honoring civil-rights legend Dorothy Height, who is 97 years old.

In a videotaped message to the immaculately dressed assembly, Mrs. Obama wore what appeared to be a casual look. The informal garb added insult to injury, and Mrs. Height could hardly hide her disappointment that neither the president nor his wife had come.

As usual, Mrs. Height was lovely in one of her trademark hats. One can only hope that she lives to attend the event next year and that the Obamas seize the opportunity to redeem themselves.

In the meantime, Mrs. Obama’s inner circle needs to declare a fashion state of emergency and bring in someone who can deliver a style stimulus package fit for a first lady. Now, that’s a bailout the American public is likely to get behind.

Hanae Mori Haute Couture among best little-known perfumes

Hundreds of new fragrances are launched each year in the United States alone. Invariably, some superb scents get lost in the retail shuffle, becoming known to and treasured by only a few. Hanae Mori Haute Couture is one of them. Like the senior stateswoman of Japanese fashion designers whose name it bears (say “honna-ay moray”), the perfume debuted in 2003 yet remains a mystery to the American masses. It’s a sultry and sophisticated blend of more than 50 ingredients, defying easy classification with a masterful blend of notes ranging from coriander and tangerine to musk and just enough floral aldehyde to fuel the scent’s lasting power. Hanae Mori Haute Couture, encased in a bottle with a butterfly-shaped cap, will have a woman receiving compliments every time she wears it. Click on the picture to get it at a discount.

Lagelle knit accessories evoke whimsy, classic sophistication

For two year, Tahisha Crawford has been knitting dainty scarves, girly headwear and mod pins as she builds her fledgling Lagelle label. She never expected a simple scarf-knitting project to turn into a passion and a business.

“After I completed the scarf and wore it, I received lots of compliments,” says the Brooklyn native. So she decided to design accessories rather than apparel “because every fashionista desires to express their creativity and individuality through accessorizing.”

Lagelle designs are soft, feminine, and colorfully captivating. They’re in tune with the current trend toward homespun knits, yet timeless in their design and feel.

Fashion wasn’t foremost in Crawford’s mind as a child attending Catholic school, but her mother’s style was a strong influence. Crawford’s love of fashion and sense of style had grown so much by high school that classmates voted her “best dressed” their senior year.

She’s a lover of accessories - especially Marni shoes and Foley & Corinna bags - and saw Lagelle as a way to combine that with her fashion marketing education.

“I’ve always wanted to be in business for myself, and knitting has provided the outlet for my dream,” she says. “It’s an exciting time in my life to be an entrepreneur and designing my own line.”

Lagelle is a variation on her mother’s maiden name, Laguer. Crawford describes the Lagelle customer as “a woman who possesses a free spirit, enjoys a little bit of whimsy and appreciates classic sophistication.”

Pieces in the line range from $35 to $175 at Flirt Boutique Park Slope in Brooklyn and online at www.lagelle.com. The site also offers a small but interesting selection of vintage and eclectic footwear, bags, apparel and housewares.

Crawford is talking with boutique owners in Pittsburgh, Colorado and New York City about carrying the Lagelle line, and a goal is to have it sold in Anthropologie stores.

Summer-fresh air with Creed room spray

Tropical mimosa was the inspiration behind Creed’s Mimosa Soleil room spray. Known for exquisite personal fragrances and candles, the Paris-based company turned its nose in a new olfactory direction. Mimosa Soleil began as a candle created by the fragrance dynasty’s youngest nose, 28-year-old Erwin Creed. Now the light, elegant scent, a blend of mimosa blooms and Swiss talc, is captured in a luxury spray suitable for homes, hotel rooms and cars. It’s $142 at Neiman Marcus and select Saks stores. Other room sprays inspired by Creed’s hand-poured beeswax candles are peony-scented Cocktail de Pivoines and Pekin Imperial, a fusion of incense, ginger, fragrant woods and five rare teas. Green-minded consumers will be delighted to know that Creed eschewed chemical aerosol for recycled glass bottles topped with natural spray pumps.

Sculpt your abs with firming gel by Lab Series

Men’s grooming products by Lab Series have won a slew of consumer awards. That’s because they meet men’s needs. They work - so well, in fact, that some women have become devotees. This season, some women might find themselves reaching for one of Lab Series’s most interesting products: Ab Rescue Body Sculpting Gel. It won’t transform a pot belly into a rock-hard, eight-pack ab set. It does, however, give a tighter and firmer feel to a midriff toned by proper diet and exercise, thanks to ingredients such as caffeine, creatine and soya protein that fight excess water retention and bloating. It’s $30. Click on the photo to learn more and to check out grooming sets and specials.

Vera Bradley has chic new accessories, home accents

Patricia Miller and Barbara Bradley Baekgaard were dismayed by the dearth of ladylike luggage as they passed through Atlanta’s airport in 1982. So they started a business to change that. Today, Vera Bradley Designs - named after Baekgaard’s mother - is popular internationally for distinctive, multicolored, soft quilted cotton handbags. The Fort Wayne, Ind.-based company has remained fresh and relevant over the years, expanding its offerings while retaining a signature style. This spring’s offerings range from luggage, sunglasses and sandals to housewares and beach accessories. There are even stylish neckties, pocket squares and cuff links for men. Click on the pictures to see more and to get your shop on.

Would a teacher dress code help curb violence in public schools?

Hardly a day goes by that some tragic incident at a public school isn’t reported in the news. Violent behavior has caused some schools to resemble prisons, with violent acts against teachers on the rise.

Many children don’t respect order and authority at home, and they bring the same bad attitude to school. In some cases, the line has blurred between teacher and student to the degree that some pupils regard their instructors as peers rather than as authority figures.

Could part of the problem be that too many teachers look too much like students? It’s not just the fresh-out-of-college teachers who in some cases look as young as their students. Many veteran teachers dress so casually that their appearance doesn’t command respect or project authority.

More than ever, teachers need every tool at their disposal to deal with an increasingly troubled and troublesome student body. Children who have little or no accountability, boundaries and rules at home are acting at school as if they’ve lost their minds. Some effective tools are a no-nonsense demeanor among faculty, a zero-tolerance policy against violence, and a vigilant and proactive administration.

Another tool that has been overlooked is fashion. Male teachers wearing suits, sport coats and ties sends a more authoritative message than polo shirts and wash-and-wear khakis. Female teachers in suits and dresses are likely to be perceived differently by students than those in capris and sleeveless tops.

Casual may be comfortable, but it sends a message that the occasion for which one is dressing isn’t very important. There’s some evidence that school uniforms promote better behavior among students. Maybe the educational environment would be a little safer if all educators projected a professional image with more serious fashion choices for the classroom.