Tibi Twosome: Shop Sample Online Or In-Person

Imagine not dragging to the far west side for the Tibi sale. Or, being able to shop the online sample sale at tibi.com before the other one even opens? Out of towners, you don't have to worry about missing a sample sale, or scouring the sample sale aftermarket on eBay for rare Tibi finds.  Will other designers follow their lead?  The brick and mortar is at 348 West 36th St., ground floor, starting at noon today.  Thanks, Tibi. 

/nancy brenner

Ba Ba Black Sheep, Have You Any Wool?

No, sir, no sir, doesn't seem as if designers do - based on what's displayed at Coterie at the Javits Center for Fall 2011. Ponte, jersey, poly, the fancy soul-sister - lurex - are the dominant fibers.  Today's Fiber Sheet in WWD cites the costs of wool have risen by 40%, while some say raw increases for wool were in the 80% range.

What's a wool loving fashionista to do? Take your re-weaver to lunch - they will be in big demand for Fall 2011. Start shopping vintage. Start storing woolies in lots of mothballs or cedar planks in a sealed container. No wonder they were showing so many textured tights at the runways at Lincoln Center. And stock up on arm warmers at Tibi. And all manners of fur. Fall 2011 will be a cold all-seasons material winter. BRRRR.

A true sweater aficionado will explore Autumn Cashmere for the widest variety of texture, colors and trims and Lauren Moffatt for an interesting felted wool sweater and comeback designer Christian Francis Roth's contemporary line, Roth, for well designed wool coats and dresses in pop-art colors.

/nancy brenner

NOTE FROM GSNYC: For those of you who don't know, the image is Black Sheep's "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" album cover, one of the best hip hop albums of that year (1992), and one that I have a great affinity for.

Fashion Week: Tibi: What's In a Shoe?

A shoe malfunction at Tibi drew rounds of applause as the shoe-liberated model proudly strutted the catwalk in black opaque tights at the 2011 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week show.

Too bad all the models weren't wearing Tibi's standout glitter black flat with a silk ankle strap closure with bow details. Other wardrobe challenges -- if you are not graced with the gift of height, you may need to put your tailor on speed dial for the new longer mid-calf lengths.

Commodity prices crimping your gold bug? Add a liquified coated gold lace V dress or a damask gold jacquard dress to your fashion portfolio. Will either be a be a pick for front row attendees Vanessa Hudgens or Olivia Palermo?

/nancy brenner

This Week: Glitter Shoe Sample Sale

Size Seven Sample Shoes for $60 (say that 10 times fast) at this sample sale featuring Butter (see pic of silver slingback), Tibi, Something Bleu (see pic of blue shoe) at 307 Seventh Avenue (near 28th St.) until 7p.m. this week.

No biting, scratching, hoarding or feuding here. Just high heels, flats in suedes, glitter, patent, and peacock colors. Not for wallflower shoes. They say glitter is a popular trend
and silver is outselling gold.

The non-samples are $100. Check out their styles on endless.com.

It's shoetastic!  Nancy Brenner

NOW: Tibi Treats Facebook Fans to Early Entry for Sample Sale

A fashion first? Facebook Fans of Tibi are invited to fast track shopping - hours before the regulars - at 9:30 am instead of 1:00 pm - all the difference between snagging the good stuff or scavenging for scraps. Check out the yellow dress with black beading as worn by Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester and other seductress fashions on their Facebook page... or browse tibi.com. Who knows what will land at the sample sale?

Start Time: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 9:30am
End Time: Friday, November 13, 2009 at 6:00pm
Location: Coolture Showroom
Street: 409 W. 39th St.
City/Town: New York, NY

~Nancy Brenner