Anni Kuan: Velvet: Flocked and Feminine

Anni Kuan was one of the most contagiously enthusiastic designers at New York's Coterie this year. Her line stands out for its texture, color and flattery of the female form. Also check out her glazed velvet zip coat for Fall 2011 - which looks like leather - with warm quilting underneath, but without the leather price....Look for Anni's on-trend velvets at better boutiques.

/nancy brenner

Report from Coterie - SKIP the SPANX: Contour Patrol NUE BY SHANI

The war on tugging, pulling on body slips, half slips and skinny britches under full slips could finally be over. Oprah is already a fan. According to designer Shani Grosz, the line allows you to undress in your own bedroom or a busy Loehmann's communal dressing room without looking like you've stripped down to scuba instruction gear. NUE by Shani(TM) has put the shaping into the dress to firm and control common trouble spots - midsection, backs and thighs. Shani says the hem has a special coating at the bottom that keeps the liner in place and eliminates that embarrassing feeling when your blue skirt rides up and a funny colored non-matching, non-descript undergarment is peaking through underneath - practically tweeting - "see my shapewear."

The Body Architecture(TM) comes in a range of colors, so you don't have to stick with black. Missed some days at the gym? Camouflage arm jiggle from a few missed gym jams with spot-on Fall 2011 trend - sleeves with flounces! I suspect that women buying the line at Lord & Taylor, 600 speciality stores and in 44 countries are tossing their salad forks by the wayside in celebration. Middle East customers wear the colorful garmets to women-only "dress to impress" parties. Shani, will there be a line for men?

The line retails from $200-$350. Sizes 4-16.

/Nancy Brenner

Mad for a Maxi?

Try the Mermaid with an exposed pinched zipper that will display your assets. The freshman contemporary cool line called 2 Rych b stands out from a sea of maxis for its first Fall 2010 debut at the at Coterie
last week.

For snow days or play dates, this wool/cashmere is a scorcher. You may need to dig into your Spanx for this mermaid - or buy a new Skinny britches pair to go with.  Other picks: a standout snuggly sweater in wine for next winter.
http://www.2brych.com/

Whiplash Inducing Designs at Baraschi

Nancy Brenner is on a roll this week...

'Cuz onlookers will crane their necks for a second sneak peek at sleek colorful creations like a blood orange bustier dress with an optional matching motorcycle jacket. Yoana Baraschi modeled a faux fun fur herself for buyers who shared her bubbly enthusiasm at her busy booth as she shimmied in and out of her slinky designs in seconds at the Coterie show at the Javits Center.  I asked Baraschi which one was her favorite, but she could not choose.

My pick for on-trend velvet seekers, Baraschi's black velvet jacket will upend all others with rhinestone encrusted adornment on the shoulders. A Fall 2010 collection for women who peacock and men who savor the view.

If Pebbles and Bam Bam designed for Erickson Beamon...

The Flinstones must have been the inspiration for this ga ga Neo Geo collection bracelet with fun brightly hued pink and purple stones overlaid with Swarovski crystals that look like they came straight from Bedrock's quarry. Not the type to throw on a real or faux fur over your dress? Toss a gold mesh caplet that fastened with black lace around your shoulders. Compliments will gravitate to your sphere if you wear an unconventional pair of drop rhinestone earrings with  stars and planets from the Galactica collection. Again, the Fall 2010 collection at the Coterie show at the Javits Center is a stand up and notice me one - for the little Lady Gaga in all of us. Check out their tweet feed for a pic of Lady Gaga in Erickson Beamon headpiece and bodypiece posing for the M.A.C. Viva Glam campaign.

~Nancy Brenner

Rebecca Minkoff Prices Pared (report from the Front Coterie)

says the designer (via Nancy Brenner) at Coterie Show at the Jacob Javits Center today.  Minkoff may not be just for starlets and their celestial budgets anymore. The Morning After bag is one in her classic collection you'll see at a lower price point for Fall 2010. Since the core consumer price index fell for the first time since 1982, so did wholesale prices. Numerous designers at Coterie today said they trimmed prices, or held stable, the key word- affordable.  Why the reduction?   "We listened to our customer," says Minkoff.  How can they do it? By making small changes to the collection that won't be visible to the consumer and by committing to larger purchases. A standout in her new Fall collection - the metallic "boyfriend bag" good for both getting a boyfriend and keeping one. Finally, an night-out bag not big enough to carry around an ex around, but can fit a cell, lipstick, Purell and other essentials, was the size I've been trying to hunt down for several seasons.  It was made with a peach black wash to deepen the distressed look over time. Good seller so far for Minkoff was the "Lust" a small cross body messenger suede bag with antique brass studs.  Personally, I coveted the two-texture "Rapture" in electric blue suede and leather and their five zip bag in violet with studs on the handle.  And if you are one of those people already planning gift items for next year, keep an eye out for the two trends in one leather bracelet -  red with gold grommets. Minkoff mania will be bigger than ever this year - stake out your spot on the sample sale line now!

Ben-Amun: The eagles have landed

at Ben-Amun as part of the military look for Fall 2010 seen at the Coterie show at the Javits Center. Pins are big. The spikes that Jennifer Aniston wore in a necklace, now decorate a silver pin. Check out the military spread in the current Vogue. Their tribal collection includes Cleopatra gold spike necklaces and brass cuffs that are big - in impact and weight - several inches wide and long - you can skip part of your daily upper body workout. Tribal looks are part of nearly every accessory collection at the show. Their coin collection is still strong. Edgier looks in the industrial collection include necklace fashioned from brass and leather or gunmetal chains. And brides looking for beautiful bling for their big day without breaking the bank for the real thing, can pick up trendy, yet timeless rhinestones and pearls from their collection. Original updater looks from Ben-Amun last a lifetime.

...or so says Nancy Brenner...