2002 – The first OFT was a subtle affair. Clocking in at $730,500, highlights included key lime pie and a J. Lo velour sweatsuit. You gotta start somewhere.

2003 – O then proceeded to crack the million dollar mark, $1,527,750. This is when she started throwing $600 watches and $400 Blackberries at people.

2004 – Shit went down. $4,299,600. We’re talking flat screen TVs ($2,299), spa trips ($850), $11,000 bedding and a $2000 laptop. Suffice to say, there were no J. Lo sweatsuits.

2005 – A little more conservative. $2,211,600. We got a little Ralph Lauren, a little Burberry, an Apple iPod and the big ticket item, a $2400 diamond watch.

2006 – This year’s studio audience must have been PISSED. Facing criticism that she had been basically feeding into American’s capitalist greed, Oprah gave her studio audience camcorders and a $1000 credit card to perform (and record) a good deed. Cost = $390,000.

2007 - So that happened, a lesson was learned by no one and then Oprah dropped $2,364,000 on some hideous footwear ($120), the super awesome Planet Earth DVD box set and a $3800 refrigerator. I wonder if that included shipping and handling?

2008 - Remember the recession? Yeah, me neither, but Oprah did and so she shafted her audience again with an installment of “Thrifty Favorite Things.” An H&M swimsuit ($15), a Norma Kamali suit ($350) and something known as “Fit Flops” ($50) broke the bank at $210,600.

2009 – Oprah didn’t even bother this year. There was no OFT, no one checking under their seats for anything, no one jumping up and down in an embarrassing fit of ecstasy. The end was nigh.

2010 – Lulled into a false sense of security, Oprah struck with what would be her Biggest and Last Favorite Things Ever. A bittersweet moment, no doubt, but one still considerably sweet at a cost of $12,075,000. Diamonds! Cashmere! $700 cruises! $3600 3D televisions! $500 iPads! And the grand daddy of all prizes, a $22,000 Volkswagen Beetle! Crying, jumping, hyperventilating, heart palpitations, etc.  followed.

And that’s all she wrote. To those lucky couple hundred of people who got to bask in the glory of Oprah as she screamed in your face about gifts you could otherwise never afford, I salute you. To the less fortunate souls from  2006, 2008 and 2009, at least you got to bask in the glory of Oprah yelling in your face about something.

That’s more than many of us will ever be able to say. [Jezebel]

First off, there are a few styles and materials that you’re going to have to give the kiss of death to.  It might be sad, it might get uncomfortable, but you can all reconcile once the cooler months roll through.  First off, forget skinny pants.  Secondly, say goodbye to regular denim.  And most importantly, no matter how tempting, avoid any and all combinations of the two.

It gets hot enough with your skin on so why would you add what ostensibly amounts to another layer of heavier, less breathable flesh?  The only possible reasons: you’re a masochist and/or you really like the ‘just peed myself’ look that sweaty pants bring.

So what pants to wear, then, without looking like you’re a big fan of Jnco jeans?  There’s a world of options out there, friends!  And many of them are quite cost friendly.  Let’s take a quick look at three that’ll do you some good.

1. Dockers Ankle Chino

Dockers?  Yes, Dockers.  The brand’s been making a major comeback of late with tons of collaborations, new cuts and fits, and a plethora of new colors.  These chinos are a perfect example.  Not too slim, coming in six different colorways, and at a mucho-friendly price of $54.  Lord knows you’re gonna be cuffing these bad boys, as the New York Times told us a few years late, so the fact that they’re a little short is just icing on the khaki cake.

2. Topman Blue Chambray Crop Chinos

Chambray is one of the go-to fabrics for summerwear due to how lightweight it is and it’s also a nice alternative to denim.  These pants share many of the same characteristics of the aforementioned Dockers but with a few more details here and there, and a little dressier look.  At $80, you’re looking at a nicely cut, lightweight pant similar to to this pair by Rag & Bone.  With the two bills you save, why not treat yourself to an air conditioner?  A hundred gallons of ice cream?  A trip to Antarctica.

3. Gant Rugger Melange Chinos/Velour Baggy Chinos

(L-Gant, R-Velour)

And it’s not just the oh-so-dreaded fast fashion brands that are putting out cost-effective wares.  Check out these similarly priced offerings from Gant and Velour.  Both are slim, lightweight, and most importantly a light color to bounce the sun off instead of inviting the heat in.  Best of all, the light blue is perfect to go along with the vibrance of summer wherever you may be.

So there you have it!  Keep the denim handy for when September rolls around, mind your tweeds and wools so you can do your best Mad Men impression (I guess?) when the time comes, but for now, for the sake of comfort, try these on for size.  And maybe send a couple bucks thisaway with what you would’ve otherwise paid.  No?  OK.

While you need to be credentialed to get in, expect a ton of blog coverage across the web.  Designer highlights include CREEP by Hiroshi Awai, Folk, Henrik Vibskov, Kitsuné, Our Legacy, S.N.S. Herning, Timo Weiland, Velour, Wood Wood, and Yuketen.  Take a look at the complete list below.

And for your Fashion Indie enjoyment, here’s a look at some pieces from the aforementioned brands.  Get your bibs on.  There’s gonna be a lot of drool starting next week.

CREEP by Hiroshi Awai

Folk

Kitsuné

Timo Weiland

LINK LOVE: We Are The Market

I popped into New York for a quick minute over the weekend so that I could attend my second season of (Capsule), which has quickly trumped New York Fashion Week as my favorite event of the year. With some amazing designers like Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair, Denim & Thread, Buckler, Chronicles of Never and April 77, (Capsule) provides buyers and writers the amazing opportunity to see what the hippest designers have planned for the upcoming season. This season featured some of my favorite designers in the industry, and I will be featuring them all week as the pictures roll in from their press offices. 

Chronicles of Never Shoes

I was lucky enough to meet and talk to some amazing people and designers from labels like Wrath Arcane, Velour, Naked & Famous, Lova and S2VS. Another season another great success. I can’t wait to see these collections on the shelves in 2009/2010.

If there is one thing I look for the most in a collection, it is wear ability, and Velour has provided just that for their Fall/Winter 08 collection. There is nothing about this line that will mark it as a major staple in the fashion world for being innovative, but unlike some lines that are released, you can actually wear this. Velour’s Fall collection is one that I could see on a majority of any fashion conscious person. Simple, well thought out, realistic pieces. Mark another success for Velour.

Gracias Skeleton Legs for the images.