Retail Diary: Sunday Scoop - Zendaya 🤖, NYFW, Handbags, Styling tips from Substack and more

NYFW recaps and insights, Women over 40 making headlines, Zendaya robot WOW and add accessories to your handbag now. Dive into your style-packed Sunday scroll

Welcome to your Sunday Style Substack

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1. Met Gala Co-Chairs are announced - Vogue was creative with the launch content. Where had I seen the Met Gala content from? I Deserve Couture Instagram. I loved that Vogue did this and I think I Deserve Couture handled the flattery well.

   

   Images from the content linked above.

2. Zendaya does the robot in iconic Thierry Mugler - This 1995 Couture piece was a mic drop moment by Zendaya and her stylist Law Roach. Hypebeast on instagram had a great recap of the looks from Dune 2 premiere. Having her announced as a Co-Chair for the Met Gala during this same time was smart and well timed.

3. Alaia Le Teckel spotted - Gab Waller listed this bag as an It item for the season and it was featured in February’s Bazaar Magazine “What to buy and how to wear it.” This bag has an extra long shoulder strap, easier to wear over thicker winter jackets. I love that this is another style that can be collected and have various iterations and it fits in with the 90’s

   It's very Cabmate
   style.

4. NYFW News:

   1. When emotions tell the whole story. Favorite recap of the Luar show by style not com instagram

   2. In the Washington Post Rachel Tashjian wrote about fresh looks and style and spoke with

      laura reilly
      and
      Becky Malinsky
      in “At Fashion Week, a new Millennial style” (gift link to read behind paywall) and it reminded me that there is a pot for every lid (we all have our own preferences) and also, so many great generally under the radar brands are getting coverage. Love that! Fforme, Attersee, Batsheva, etc.

   3. Vanessa Friedman wrote for the NYTimes on her review of NYFW about girl power showing strength and style. “What Girl Power Looks Like Now” (gift link to read behind paywall) and I like the idea that the girlhood trend is morphing into power moments.

   4. Rory Satran wrote for the WSJ “American Fashion in Crisis? Not at these Shows” (gift link to read behind paywall) and I believe this too. American Fashion is continuing to be strong. Not to underplay how difficult it is to make it as a “successful” designer or brand - you have to do more than make amazing pieces. You have to manage supply chain, nail your inventory planning, price your products appropriately etc. But if these brands can walk the fine line of designing well and managing a business - well that is exciting for the fashion industry!

   5. Christina Binkley, Editor-at-Large for Vogue Business, has a newsletter for the publication “The American Thread” writing about the fate and future of fashion in the US. For this piece cheekily titled “New York Fashion Week needs a Mom” she wrote about the organization (disorganization) of planning NYFW shows and the challenges of making it to all the shows and timing/logistics.

   6. There was coverage on two different age groups - the kiddies and the over 50. Check out “The Kids of New York Fashion Week” and the WSJ doubling down with “Are Fashion Brands Finally Catering to Women over 50” (gift link to read behind paywall) and “‘True Beauty Starts at 40’ Why Older Women Ruled New York Fashion Week” (gift link to read behind paywall) by Rory Satran. It is good business strategy (and really, why wouldn’t you??) pay attention to those over 40. There is money in this demographic, they want to spend/shop. (Very in line with this piece I shared from the Washington Post a few weeks ago)

5. Inspiration moment - Handbags - I’ve highlighted many times my joy at “accessorizing the accessories” with this trend of bag charms. It speaks to my love of personalization, DIY crafts (yes, I have yet another hobby) and perhaps even hoarding and messiness (I’ll discuss with a therapist) but I’m not the only one who is into it as shown by runway trends and the praise from journalist. I enjoy the NY moment from Coach in this look from Bazaar. I’ll breakdown a few ideas here.

   1. First you need a big tote. Grab what you have in your closet (because I’m sure you have one) but if you are looking for other ideas here are a few:

      1. thick straps that stand on their own would help

      2. gear up for summer with this beauty - a raffia Birkin-esque from Saint Laurent.

   2. add miscellaneous accourtments. one or all of these:

      1. a bracelet (bonus if there are charms or chunky beads), phone strap or a piece from Don’t Let Disco (I love this and this) or this Louis Vuitton bag charm can dress up any tote.

      2. add a key chain or two - can be any random one you own, or a fun conversation starter like this cassette tape one from Saint Laurent.

      3. add a change purse (I have the one linked from Stoney Clover Lane with a Diet Coke patch because, of course I would.)

   3. for extra flair, wrap a silk twilly around the handle too.

      

      All items linked above.

6. Substacks to Scroll:

   1. I’m really enjoying the Substack content around styling. Fashion items are great but I’m finding so many fun styling ideas and I really love reading how others approach their STYLE.

      1. I love how

         Leandra Medine Cohen
         broke down the trends and styling from NYFW with plenty of inspiration to use now.

      2. Kelly Williams | Any Given Day
         shared 4 different ways to approach getting dressed. They are all fantastic and good reference for when you have the “what do I wear” moment.

      3. The Wardrobe Edit
         has wonderful styling advice and this week she wrote “Your Guide to Shopping Secondhand Online”

      4. Love these tips and reading

         Elle Sundberg
         ’s thought process in “How are people affording fashion”

      5. Love the organization in this - what

         laura reilly
         liked from NYFW (the major moments) and how to get it now. “Does it pass the want-to-wear-it test?” Also, I 100% agree on the coach bags. I’m still thinking about this as you can see from my inspiration above.

      6. And not just on Substack! Great content from Marie Claire “Why is Everyone Tying Sweaters Over Their Coats” and

         Marlien Rentmeester
         Le Catch with the sweater styling inspo

   2. NYFW news - I love

      The Flair Index
      and
      Jennifer Alfano
      writing on dressing up, The Swans and NYFW here.

   3. Head to the

      Feed Me
      comments to discuss The Cut’s “How I fell for an Amazon Scam Call and Handed over $50,000”. And send to your BFF text chats to discuss too. It is wild.

   4. A better recap for totes doesn’t exist. I love this for all us Book Nerds. 📚

      Tembe Denton-Hurst
      gave recommendations and interviewed other “stylish bibiliophiles.”

      1. A few of my personal favorites that I own and love were in this recap including Baggu and Mansur Gavriel Tulipano (I have the cobalt like Tembe which made me feel immediately cooler.)

      2. This Bottega Veneta Large Cabat Newspaper Print Tote Bag feels perfectly ready to tote books and magazines. It was the Final Look for the February 2024 Vogue print issue also.

      3. I also love that my Uniqlo crossbody bag and Little Liffner Mini Sprout fits my Kindle.

      4. Toteme now has a tote version of their popular clutch and it looks perfect for book toting for a professional day/work look.

      5. For books to add to totes, check out a collection of some recent favorites here.

   5. New and different,

      Touch the Art
      wrote about personal art collections interviewing
      Grace Atwood
      on her art collection. “Inside the Collection: Grace Atwood”

   6. Looking for an escape this President’s Day Weekend but having a staycation? Check out

      Yolo Intel
      for beautiful travel writing and I enjoyed the Packing List inspiration by Pia Baroncini (I like her Podcast Everything is the Best)

What have you been reading this week and enjoying? Add to the comments so we can all check it out.

Enjoy your Sunday Scoop.

Sarah Shapiro

FYI: I use affiliate links where applicable which means I may get a small commission from things you buy (at no cost to you.) Thank you for supporting my work and trusting me. Love that we can enjoy Fashion & Retail together in this space.

Catch up on Sarah’s Retail Diary from earlier this week:

Fashion Spiral on the history and data around the Kick Flare Pant

Thursday’s Deep Dive - Brace yourself for juicy insights on NYFW, seismic cultural impacts, sizzling new collabs, and the latest store buzz with the data to back it up.

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