Alexander McQueen for Target = Giant Sucking Sound

I think the world of Alexander McQueen, and hope that one day I will be able to afford one of his beautiful suits. Wait, scratch that. Reverse it. I USED to think the world of Alexander McQueen... until I went to Target last week.

For those of you who don't know who Alexander McQueen is, he has been called everything from the English John Paul Gaultier to a Picasso in Cloth. His looks are edgy and tempered with a dark emotion, yet still very sexy and feminine. He also has a line of men's suits with impeccable and progressive tailoring.

Having said that, one can see how I and the rest of the general public was very excited when we found out that he was designing an exclusive and limited line for Target. I buy a lot of clothes from Target, I'm not ashamed to admit it. (It honestly doesn't matter where one buys their clothes, it matters how well the clothes are made and your attitude when you wear them.)

My monthly pilgrimage to Target in the Bronx last week was utterly depressing. I raced to the section with the McQ line like a kid at Christmas, and when I got there I thought I was lost. I felt like I had suddenly walked into Hot Topic/Gadzooks. McQueen's line was cheaply made, over priced, and actually quite unattractive (ok, I'm being nice- it was really trashy and fugly). I understand rocker chic, in fact I totally dig it. But all I could hear was a giant sucking sound as I pulled out each piece of clothing to make sure that I wasn't missing something.



Don't waist your time or your money on the McQ line at Target. Save it and wait until Project Runway winner Christian Siriano's new shoe line arrives at Payless this fall.

- Kristin Ezell aka The Clothes Coach

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Williamsburg Fashion Weekend Review: Racecar! Apparel for Men

Considering that I was in Williamsburg for a fashion show, I was prepared to see a lot of over the top, absurd and crackpot ideas on stage. Well... I did, and I was very entertained. But the saving grace of the show was the very sensible and über stylish line Racecar! for men. Or, as the designer Nettie Tiso likes to put it, "for helpless boys."

Nettie was quite accommodating and gave me an interview via email.

Clothes Coach: How did you come up with the clever name "Racecar!"?
Nettie: It comes from my Dad's lifelong hobby of restoring old hot rods, I grew up around this my entire life- he even taught me how to build an engine by the time I was 12.

Photo by Kristin Ezell

CC: My first sewing experience was making really risqué doll clothes by hand out of old elbow-length gloves for my Little Miss Makeup? When did you start?
Nettie: I am a self-taught sewer, starting with my great grandmothers' old Singer. I used to alter all my clothes. When I was 11 or 12, I was always uncomfortable in my own skin, literally, I used to even wear my clothes inside out because the seams on the inside were too harsh for me! But then I learned how to fix that by altering my clothes, which slowly evolved into making my own clothes, and clothes for friends and family.

Photo by Kristin Ezell

CC: What were the influences for the pieces in this line of Racecar!?
Nettie: This latest Racecar! line was influenced by menswear of the late 1880's. I am in love with that part of fashion history. Besides that, this line was primarily inspired by my goal of creating a perfect fit for my customers. By "perfect" I mean, clothes that fit them well, that are stylish, comfortable, versatile, and not over the top.

Photo by Bogdan Tiflinsky

CC: Which piece from Racecar is your favorite and why?
Nettie: My favorite Racecar! piece is the denim vest, it is by far the most flattering and versatile piece in the collection. It is sleek enough to be dressy, but down to earth at the same time- by the mere fact that it is denim.

Photo by Kristin Ezell

CC: When will Racecar and Nettie's latest lines be available for purchase?
Nettie: All Racecar! pieces are custom fit and handmade to order by emailing racecarapparel@gmail.com to set up an appointment. The vests are available to order at racecarapparel.etsy.com.

Photo by Bogdan Tiflinsky

These models look so sharp, the clothes aren't screaming "pay attention to me." I totally dig the plaid tie, and I think I might ask Nettie to make me a more feminine version of the white vest!

Nettie also has a women's line called Nett, which you can view on her myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/tisodesign

+ Williamsburg Fashion Weekend [YouTube]
+ Bogdan Tiflinksy at Vagabond Journal

- Kristin Ezell aka The Clothes Coach

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Williamsburg Fashion Weekend

Want to go to Fashion Week but can’t afford it? You can in Williamsburg, tickets are $8. They have live bands playing and DJs for the after party. Doors open at 8. Four designers Friday, four on Saturday. I’ll be there, too!

I met one of their 8 featured designers Tuesday night at the Digital Moda event, Kaytee Papusza of Papusza Couture. Here's one of her couture pieces below. It's like a butterfly catcher made love to a fairy and this is the aftermath- I think it's really playful and clever.

Kaytee's dresses are created from another world, one in which I'd like to be. Each tells a story, as if they jumped off the page from a quirky fairytale book. They are dreamy pieces; sexy, yet fantastical. These two are my favorites from her website. Makes me wish it was summer already.



Get yourself to Williamsburg this weekend to see PapuszaCouture’s latest line, as well as the other 7 designers!

+ Williamsburg Fashion Weekend: February 20 &21 @ Glassland Gallery

+ Williamsburg Fashion Weekend [Official Website]
+ Papusza Couture [Official Website]
+ The Clothes Coach [Official Website]

- Kristin Ezell aka The Clothes Coach

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