-Anna Wintour‘s biannual HJ to the industry, Fashion’s Night Out, will make an uncalled-for return next year to once again haunt the sartorial streets. [WWD]

-  Jonathan Saunders, Mary Katrantzou, Marios Schwab and Nicholas Kirkwood are among the finalists for next year’s British Fashion Council/Vogue Fashion Fund. [Vogue UK]

- Michael Kors IPO is listed at $20/share, which will probably be the least you’ll ever pay for a Michael Kors anything from here on out. [WWD]

- The First Family posed for a new family portrait and while it’s all cute and familial, we can clearly see Michelle‘s roots and homegirl could use a touch-up. [Just Jared]

- Vera Wang is getting in touch with her inner dude by outfitting some real dudes. While brides will wear her doomed David’s Bridal gowns to their weddings, their grooms will wear her new Men’s Warehouse tuxedos. And then everyone will go to the Olive Garden and cap the night off with a few PBRs. [WWD]

- While Vera slums it in the discount wholesale bin, Levi’s is classing their game up. The jeans giant will show at New York Fashion Week for the first time come February. Hopefully the CFDA will have cut whatever day said show is by then. [WWD]

This Boutique Critique is about the amazing designer vintage store, 1 Of A Find.  Curator and self-professed shopaholic Honey Moon goes on buying trips all over the world seeking out beautiful, unique, impossible-to-get-your-hands-on Hermes, Chanel, Gucci, Lacroix, and Lanvin to satisfy her international clientele.  She used me as a Barbie doll and transported me into worlds I only dream of.  Best part? Her prices are as unique as her collection, so we definitely recommend scooting over to her Brooklyn location asap.  Check out all our amazing finds after the jump.

This gown was to DIE for.  It caught my eye immediately as a dress made for the 1950′s movies I play out in my head. When Anna Wintour extends me a VIP invitation to the Met Gala, I will surely be sporting something like this on the red carpet.

Vintage red bow evening dress- $250
Neiman Marcus rhinestone snake shoes- $135
Gold Heart Christian LaCroix earrings- $125
Little Black velvet purse with rhinestone clasp- $65

Oh-la-Lanvin!  This split front evening skirt with matching metallic sandals took my breath away.  I channeled Carrie Bradshaw and paired it with a Levi’s jean jacket and a fun net hat (something so Kate Middleton right now) to mix it up.

Lanvin gold brocade skirt- $850
Black velvet and net hat- $55
1950′s pink silk slip- $65
1960′s gold platform sandals- $68

The perfect summer maxi — the sheer chiffon made it cool in the heat while making a major fashion statement with its bold prints.  Paired with Dior booties, a Gucci bag, and a summer straw hat, I was loving this luxe warm weather look.

Sheer floral chiffon dress- $138
1950′s pink silk slip- $65
vintage coral necklace- $48
wooden beaded necklace- $25
1970s Pottery leaf & corded necklace $55
1970s Gucci “hobo” bag- $345
Chunky Amber Bracelet- $75
Wide brimmed straw hat- $55

You can’t do Brooklyn vintage without channeling a little inner hipster.  These Dior shoes (with the angelic sweet bows), vintage Levi’s and amazing seuqin blouse kept the look casual but party ready.  A python bag and flat brimmed hat made me look MUCH cooler than I am.

Silk and Sequin blouse- $85
Stetson hat fedora- $125
Vintage Levi’s 501s- $85
Dior Python and leather shoes- $65
Beige python and leather bag- $135

What screams glamour like a metallic jumpsuit?  Nothing.  What screams glamour-queen? Pairing it with these futuristic shades, a geometric statement necklace, and lace up leather booties. Retro chic and ultra fierce.

1980′s silver colored jumpsuit- $115
Etienne black and gold belt- $35
Maud Frizon brown leather booties- $138
Liz Claiborne 2 tone glasses- $45
Monet black and gold necklace- $65

The Mod Squad would have adopted me in a heartbeat in this Montaldo Op Art dress.  I fell in love with the digital print, it was so eye catching and well, trippy.  Bubbled sleeves and a high neck are hard to pull off without looking like Julie Andrews, but this psychedelic wonderland of a dress with slim cuts made it utterly chic.  I fell in love with the leather wedges and actually scooped them up for myself (sorry shoppers!).

Montaldo’s Op Art Dress- $115
Andrew Gellar white leather clutch with gold trim- $85
Chunky multi-colored beaded necklace- $65
Clegerie leather platform sandals- $88

I never thought I could pull off a Blair Waldorf headband until I found this gem of a velvet headband.  So sweet and a little schoolgirl, it matched perfectly with this lace dress from the 60′s. The chunky heeled shoes kept the look 100% vintage, and the hand painted wooden purse kept a touch of fantasy in the mix.

1960′s burgundy lace dress- $98
burgundy satin headband- $35
1960s hand painted wooden lock purse- $135
Chaos of London stacked black velvet shoes- $85

If you have any questions about the store and more vintage finds, tweet me @iamsamlim

The Dinner & A Movie Date

This date is a classic one. It seems like going out for dinner and a movie is the type of date that had stood the test of the. If you’re smart you’ll do the movie before the dinner. (So you have at least something to discuss besides awkward small talk.) This is a semi casual date. you want to be relaxed but not too informal. A solid button up shirt and a pair of dark washed jeans create the perfect uniform. Try not to be too flashy and throw on an understated watch. Just because you’re wearing jeans does not mean it’s OK to wear your most raggedy tennis shoes. A pair of  smart and nondescript sneakers will work in lieu.

The Night On The Town Date

The Night On The Town Date is strictly reserved for the guys who are extremely cool and have contacts everywhere. They know where all the hottest restaurants and parties are and they are always invited to them. Everyone knows who you are so you’ll have to look fly when painting the town red with your date. Nothing says smooth like a sweet biker jacket and tee. Ditch the boring jeans and for for an interesting pair of trousers. A sleek pair of sneakers will help you stomp around the city comfortably while looking super cool at the same time. If you are the accessories type of guy then throw in of some statement jewelry like a necklace or bracelet.

Picture this: A regular 70 something degree  summer day. You’ve planned a great day of doing nothing besides walking around the city and random errands. A great stylish and casual outfit can consist of:  a J. Crew tee, Balenciaga cargo shorts, Levi’s plaid shirt (preferably open) Converse Hi-tops, and an A|X watch.

As the day comes to an end you realize that you have a few events and parties to go to in the evening. Instead of going in for a completely new outfit an appropriate amount of layering and accessorizes will completely change the look. Button up the shirt and add a skinny tie. Add more texture and prepare for a slightly chilly night by addding a leather jacket like this McQueen.

With just that your semi shelpy outfit has become fit enough to take on the night world by storm. Assuming that you’re going to some awesome event and not a black tie affair.

While Harper’s Bazaar tackled the online counterfeit debacle at their recent Anti-Counterfeiting Summit, New York is getting all sorts of serious about the topic of fakes. New York City council member Margaret Chin is championing a bill that would criminalize the purchase of fake trademarked items. In layman’s terms: Buy a fake bag, go to jail.

“The bill targets those people who purchase goods that they know are counterfeit,” says Chin.

Fake bag street vendors line Canal Street and crawl through Soho and Chinatown, making it at once a destination and a trap for tourists, and are a serious nuisance to those who live there. They cost NYC over $1 billion in tax revenue and all for what? To make you look tacky, that’s what.

Counterfeit is Ugly

This past Tuesday, top editors, PR firms, designers, and guests of honor from the Mayors office gathered under one collective roof at the Harper’s Bazaar 7th annual Anti-Counterfeit Summit. While dining on delicacies like truffle risotto balls, a panel of experts spoke about the dangers and harms of counterfeit goods.  Frank Abagnale, one of the world’s most respected authorities on the subject (seeing that he lived the part which was interpreted in the hit book, movie, and now Broadway show Catch Me If You Can), Susan Engel, CE of Portero Luxury, an internet retailer of luxury goods, and Thomas Onda the chief of intellectual property at Levi’s were all on the panel to educate us on how the counterfeit industry funds terrorism, child labor malpractice, and fuels the drug industry.  Judging by the surprised and horrified looks on everyone’s faces, counterfeit goods seem to be a battle that can mostly be won through mere awareness and education.

What can you do? Instead of buying fake, get a bag that no one has ever seen. Find one in a local store, go vintage, go to the biggies like Urban Outfitters or Zara, or save up for the real deal!

This two toned square long strapped brief takes hints, not verbatim notes from Louis Vuitton.

Loving the Marc Jacobs quilted chained crossbody on the right, but not its pricetag? Find a piece like this orange bag with chains and metal detailing. It shouldn’t be exact.

Looking for a specific color leather? There are less ornate bags than your beloved Gucci. Get the simple version, then add your own flare later.

Now you’ve been warned: Do not pass go, do not collect a Gucci bag for 30 dollars. Chances are, you’ll go directly to jail.

1. Quit this: Birkenstocks
A mandal by any other name would look as bad.

Hit this: Espadrilles
An Hermès espadrille may not be ideal for Ultimate Frisbee in the quad, but it’s more than appropriate for quick munchie runs.

2. Quit this: Tie-Dye
Psychedelia  gave us many things, none of them as enduring or as tacky as tie-dye.

Hit this: Bold prints
Pucci prints are as trippy as they come so you can easily get lost staring into them for hours on end.

3. Quit this: Hemp
A durable and versatile fabric, there are more chic ways to green your wardrobe, especially without using your green.

Hit this: Organic fabrics
If you’re all about sustainability and that crap, H&M‘s new Conscious Collection is easy on the environment and on your wallet.

4. Quit this: Puka shell necklaces
Ah, the puka shell necklace, or as I like to think of it, shorthand for letting everyone know you’re a complete tool.

Hit this: Statement jewelry
A statement necklace says something completely different, like “I’m high as a kite right now and I’m going to dress like it.”

5. Quit this: Ponchos
If you’ve been indulging a little too much in the late night Taco Bell, then by all means, drape an unflattering carpet over yourself.

Hit this: Capes
However, a cape like this Alexander McQueen number is a fashionable alternative to the poncho but on the other hand, so is anything else.

6. Quit this: Board shorts
Board shorts are appropriate on only one occasion, and that is on a surf board. Any other time is just an insult to surfers everywhere.

Hit this: Suit shorts
Tom Ford doesn’t think men should wear shorts at all, but Thom Browne doesn’t expect you to play hacky sack in a full-on pant during those hot summer months.

7. Quit this: Hawaiian shirts
Hawaiian shirts are appropriate on only one occasion, and that is on Charlie Sheen. Any other time is just an insult to Charlie Sheen…which is kind of all right.

Hit this: Paisley shirts
Odds are you won’t need much to cheer you up this 420, but paisley, like this Michael Kors top, can add a dash of curlicued sunshine to anyone’s day.

8. Quit this: Baggy jeans
“So okay, I don’t want to be a traitor to my generation and all but I don’t get how guys dress today. I mean, come on, it looks like they just fell out of bed and put on some baggy pants and take their greasy hair – ew – and cover it up with a backwards cap and like, we’re expected to swoon? I don’t think so.” – Cher Horowitz

Hit this: Harem pants
A harem pant gives you the same freeballin’ feeling of a pair of slouchy Levi’s hanging off your upper thighs and — bonus points — the drop-crotch acts as a great weed table if nothing else is around.

9. Quit this: American Eagle
For most of us, middle school is over and so is the Eagle.

Hit this: American Apparel
Going from the Eagle to the Apparel, though, is not so much a show of growth so much as a show of wanting to get laid. But even stoners need to slut it up sometimes.

10. Quit this: Beanies
A beanie is like the stoner equivalent of the little black dress. And though I would deign to ask any pothead worth his or her reefer to abandon their LBD…

Hit this: Newsboys
A newsboy cap adds a certain air of jauntiness and charm. I mean, who would you rather get high with, beanie boy or Brad Pitt? Though the beanie guy looks baked as all get out.

Happy Toking and remember to dress is human, to smoke divine.

- Australian retailers are now charging shoppers as much as $50 to try on clothes in an effort to cut back on people buying discounted fashions online after perfecting the fit in-store. The fee is refundable, however, should patrons decide to buy the article of clothing. Personally, I never try on clothes, mostly because I’m lazy. If I get home and something is too big I’ll call it “oversized” and if it’s too small, I call it an “aspirational piece.” I also love finding reasons to not eat, which I call “going on a diet.” [Daily Mail]

- Riccardo Tisci is still the front-runner to replace John Galliano at Dior, but his name is being bandied about with the likes of Olivier Theyskens, Tom Ford, Hedi Slimane, Nicolas Ghesquière, Alber Elbaz, Sarah Burton, Haider Ackermann and Prabal Gurung. Tisci has reportedly already sketched out his vision for the brand and has a supporter in Delphine Arnault, Bernard’s daughter and Dior’s deputy managing director. However, Bernard Arnault‘s eyeing the Royal Wedding, hoping to align Dior with the young couple; so if Burton catches Kate Middleton‘s sartorial bouquet she could be next on the list. The atelier is nevertheless hard at work on their upcoming cruise collection and a couture collection for July. [WWD]

A couple hundred biz cas industry folk gathered in a modest, all-white-painted space located at SoHo and Tribeca’s border. Guests sipped rosemary-garnished cocktails and observed the brand’s photography until Senior Vice President Erik Joule spoke.

Joule delivered a dynamic oration hammering down the points of Levi’s eco-initiatives. When he left the podium, I grabbed Joule for a couple quick questions. Here’s what the Levi’s Senior Vice President had to say.

Levi’s is a brand that’s been around for a very long time. What are some ingredients that go into staying relevant in fashion over time?

In the past 15 years, Levi’s actually hasn’t been that relevant. It wasn’t until a couple years ago that we had a major resurgence. I think we lost touch with who we were.

To stay relevant you have to always know who you are. For a brand like Levi’s, it’s about who we are in the context of what’s going on. We’re best when we embody the events of our time.

Today there has been a return to sanity and simplicity, and that’s the core of our brand. For Levi’s that’s what it’s really about.

When you throw out a word like “branding” a lot of people go crazy. Many of your competitors use vibrant colors and flashy campaigns. But your campaigns are just simple, black and white images. Why does Levi’s choose the simple campaigns it does?

If you think about the core of our product that’s the foundation, the 501 jean. It’s a well-crafted, beautiful pair of jeans but it’s really simple.

We went away from this for a time, and we tried to do something else. But that’s not who we are. We make very simple products. So that’s why the images are simple – they embody our brand.

I think simplicity is very underrated. People always think about adding more. But they don’t think about removing.

SEE THE REST OF THE INTERVIEW HERE.

LINK LOVE: Racked

My Face hunter

LINK LOVE:Lookbook – Levi's Vintage Shorts

Become a FashionIndie.com contributor. Subscribe to Envy.

For the third year in a row, GQ along with with Levi’s and Bloomingdale’s honor young talents in the fashion industry as part of the Best New Menswear Designers in America project. Here’s the deal: six designers were selected by GQ editors to compete for a $50,000 cash prize and the opportunity to create a limited edition collection for Levi’s. They  developed a series of behind-the-scenes documentary videos to show the process. Keep reading for video…

You can check out videos like this at GQ.com, Levis.com, and Bloomindales.com

Refinery 29 recently asked their readers their thoughts about floral denim, and I have my own answer for them. Floral denim was big back in the early 90s and has surprisingly made a grand resurgence this spring, showing up at stores like Levi’s, TopShop and H&M. But while some may be skeptical about the future of floral denim, I personally think that with the proper styling, floral denim can be cool! I recommend rocking floral jeans with basic, solid colors- a black tank top with a black blazer and black gladiator sandals or a grey tee with a grey cardigan and grey boots. Floral is already a very busy print so you don’t want to go overboard with contrasting prints or colors. Slap on some fun, solid jewelry and you’ve got yourself a trendy yet safe way to rock floral denim this spring!

LINK LOVE: Refinery 29

Photo Via: TopShop

LINK: CRASH MAGAZINE ISSUE #51 »LOUIS – A VIEW ON LEVI’S S/S 2010« SHOT BY OLAF WIPPERFÜRTH FEAT. LOUIS SIMONON

Add Your Own Stories on ENVY The Fashion Network

Holland’s BFF Leigh Lezark is the face of his latest S/S 2010 Levi’s collection. Leigh is featured in both the line’s lookbook, photographed by Matt Irwin with British male model Jacob Coup, and the campaign.

LINK LOVE: Catwalk Queen

Henry Holland of House of Holland has lent his design talent to denim brand Levi’s for an 8-piece men’s and women’s collection.

LINK LOVE: Refinery 29

LINK LOVE: Refinery 29

For those of you unaware, I’ve embarked on a bit of a personal campaign. On January 1st, I put on a pair of Levi 501′s and for one full year I will wear them everday. The reason is simple, to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS prevention.

You can find out more about the campaign or to show your support visit the 501235 fan page on Facebook.

Be sure to follow my daily style posts on The Fashionably Independent.

Photographer Diana Scheunemann puts a bit of sex in these Levi’s ads.

LINK LOVE: Homotography

Shepard Fairey (the man behind Obey), teamed up with Levi’s to do a small capsule collection. I love the jacket above, and unlike a bunch of the ridiculous capsule collections out there, this isn’t way overpriced. The jackets are around $150, tees $30 and the jeans are at $125. Affordable and definitely high quality!

You can buy the entire collection at the Levi’s website -> CLICK HERE

Link

Robert Geller launched his collaboration line with Levi’s at Bloomingdale’s, and while I absolutely love the collection, the price tag is ridiculous. While I can appreciate what Levi’s is trying to do with their brand, you can’t go out and expect people to pay $95 for a Levi’s tee shirt? I’m a bit upset by this in case you can’t tell. Click the link below to wipe out your bank account on a Levi’s jacket.

Link

These Chadwick Tyler Levi’s commercials, featuring the handsome Josh Beech and the gorgeous Meghan Collision. make me want to go puddle jumping…really bad.

Levi’s + BBH + Duke + Chadwick Tyler + wardenclyffe from wardenclyffeproject on Vimeo.

Meghan Collison Levi’s + BBH + Duke + Chadwick Tyler + wardenclyffe from wardenclyffeproject on Vimeo.

Josh Beech Levi’s + BBH + Duke + Chadwick Tyler + wardenclyffe from wardenclyffeproject on Vimeo.

Thanks Coute Que Coute!

1. Naked and Famous- Rare and unique fabrics from Japan, high quality and satire play on our celebrity obsessed culture. Win.

2. April 77- Known for their attitude and underground influence, not wallet-breaking price. Made in France.

3. Cheap Monday- Tons of crazy prints and colored washes. Made in Sweden.

4. Replay-Great skinny and ‘boyfriend’ style, in a bunch of interesting washes. Made in Italy.

5. Acne- A ton of variety in mens’ fits, and repeat winner of ‘Designer of the Year’ by Swedish Elle.  Made in Sweden.

6. K(T)subi- Formerly Tsubi, currently Ksubi, this brand invented themselves based on fit, and has continued to outfit surfers in super, super jeans ever since. Made in Australia.

7. Nudie- Made from the best Italian, Turkish, American, and Japanese qualities using the best techniques. Made in Italy, with the only con being they don’t have a women’s line (yet?).

8. Diesel- I know people that swear by Diesel, mostly skinny guys who can never find sizes small enough for their 26 inch waists and still long enough for their 6’0 tall frames.  Diesel has always been known for their high-quality and long lasting denim. I may be impartial because I love everything Diesel makes, not just their jeans. Made in Italy.

9. Levis- After coming out with the 510 and 511, Levis seemed to have redeemed themselves as every hipster and musician’s best friend. Made in the US!

10. G Star- ‘Raw’ denim. Prides themselves in being about nothing more than the product itself, keeping it fashionable and well-fit. Made in the Netherlands.

–

Think we missed any?  Do you have one ‘go-to’ brand for jeans?

SOURCE: High Snobiety

Ryan McGinley’s ads for Levi’s cater towards a young audience combining his care free aesthetic with Levi’s American heritage. These serene ads make me want to buy a pair of Levi’s, travel to the country side and roll in the mud. Something I’ve never wanted to do before: props Levi’s, props.

SOURCE: Selectism

Mumbai police have registered a case against top Bollywood star Akshay Kumar, his wife Twinkle and the organizers of Lakme Indian Fashion Week, after Twinkle unbuttoned her husband’s jeans during a Levi’s fashion. This stunt was aimed at highlighting the Levi’s Unbuttoned campaign.

Mumbai police said they acted after a complaint was lodged against Akshay and Twinkle by social campaigner Anil Nair, who called the performance “vulgar and indecent”. The police are still investigating.

India’s obscenity laws are punishable by a maximum of two years in jail . The actor has apologized for the incident

LINKAGE: ohnotheydidnt

For the March 2009 issue of Paper Magazine, Stefan Sagmeister deconstructed a pair of Levi’s 501 and reassembled the threads into a poster.

A copy of the piece accompanies purchases at certain American Rag locations in LA and San Francisco.

Gearing up for their 20th anniversary, DKNY has teamed up with Levi’s for a collection of jeans. The three styles are the wide-leg jean, the skinny jean, and the boyfriend jean. All coming in a variety of washes, the jeans are sold at a number of retailers including Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s.

Here’s a preview of Damien Hirst’s newest denim line for Levis.  The 12 piece collection will include jeans for $230 and t-shirts for $83.

Three limited edition jeans paint blasted by senior petrified shark himself will cost $23,040.

You can make the jeans yourself by wearing a pair of $50 Levi’s out for a day of paintballing.

Thanks to WWD for the photo.

Alright Indies, here’s the deal. A while back I wrote an article called Ten Ways To Make Your Jeans Your Own. The story was all about beating the crap out of your jeans to make them original. Well, last week we got invited by Glam Media to go to an exclusive Levi’s party. While we were there we were each given a gift card, which more or less resulted in us all getting some jeans. I figured I would use my jeans to back up my own words so all you indies can see that I really do stand by everything I write.

I invite all of you to join me in my Denim Demolition. I’m going to using my brand new Levi’s 507′s to create my super distressed one-of-a-kind jean. The pictures above are the jeans I’ll be wearing. They are a super dark wash Levi’s 507 that I had altered to be a little less boot cut. I’m already in love with them, and they are the perfect jean to make my own. Every month or so I’ll be posting updates on how they are holding up, and what they look like.

I don’t want to feel like the only one doing this, so I’m inviting all of you to join me. I’m going to start an album on cultindie of updates on my jeans, and I’ll throw in any pictures you guys send me. If you’re down to start this epic voyage into the denim heaven with me, hit me up with your pictures on cultindie!

Thanks again to Levi’s for the jeans and Glam Media for hosting the event!

Levi’s teamed up with Vice Magazine to chose someone to do their new Levi’s 501 “Live Unbuttoned” campaign in Stockholm. The winner was Mia Nilsson with her rendition of kids trying to be cool in their 501′s. Pretty nifty!

Thanks Hypebeast!

I know we’re totally on the late train with this one, but I just spotted this gay version of the Levi’s commercial in which the dude pulls up his pants and causes a couple million in property damage. I think it’s smart that they made a gay version of this ad, but think its funny they used the same model for both. Does this mean that Levi’s is the official jean of bisexuals everywhere?

Here’s the straight version of the video for those who don’t remember…

On a sidenote, the gay version has more Youtube views. Very, very curious…

Just another reason for more guidos from Jersey to invade Soho. Rock & Republic is opening up a store in the area to push their insanely wide boot cut jeans to a crowd already immersed in True Religion, AG, 7 For All Mankind, Lucky Brand, Levi’s and Gstar. The store will be at 102 Greene street near Spring, and will just further saturate Soho with stores that the people who live there don’t even shop at.

Thanks to The Shophound for the snapsho t.

Diane Von Furstenberg

Levi’s

Burton Snowboards

Gap

Sphinx

Seiko

Royal Elastics

Loop

Paul Frank Industries

Bond No. 9

Barneys

I think it’s been made clear that the, often overrated, work of Andy Warhol is becoming widely used and revealed; however, until this stops, we’ll keep on telling you. Brands across the board refuse to stop the sale of designs featuring Warhol’s images; in fact, some designers are just joining the pack! What is this? The long list of designers and stores include Diane Von Furstenberg, Levi’s, Burton Snowboards, The Gap, Sphinx, Seiko, Royal Elastics, Loop, Paul Frank,  Bond No. 9 and Barney’s. Some of the designers are new to the Warhol scene; however, some just keep at it. Barney’s featured Warhol images in 2006 and recently they’ve swapped the images for “inspiration quotes” on Warhol’s behalf.

Images courtesy of HouseRocker

The much anticipated Damien Hirst’s next collaboration with Levi’s is due out this fall, but here is a sneak peak at a few of the pieces.  They’re part of the fall ’08 Levi’s® X Damien Hirst line.