No.5 on the list is the Ninja Brown Leather Cutout Sandals. These urban summer sandals buckle at the top adding a hint of style to this Italian 4’’ heel must have design. You can find a pair online at Forzieri for $287.

No.4 is the strappy, ribbon like 4¾” heel Kappa sandals. Available in black leather, pewter metallic leather and tan metallic leather/man made snake print for just $125 at Macy’s. Ladies you’ll be pleased to know that these sandals won’t rub or pinch your feet, but I would suggest maybe getting a ½ size larger.

No.3 These lightly cushioned 4½” heel and ½” platform open toed Noon sandals have an easy back zipper and soft fabric straps over the instep. Available in black online at Zappos for $90.

Coming in at No.2 on the list are the 4” Davisa sandals. This sexy open toe, zip in the back sandal is available in tan, black leather and pewter leather at Macy’s. A must have for the summer!

Last but certainly not least reigning No.1 is the 4” heel ½” platform Nabel sandals for $55, which is also available at Macy’s in gloss patent leather and wild man made snake print.

The size of the outlet makes it the 3^rd largest store in the Bullring Shopping Center after Selfridges and Debenhams, which was one of the reasons why Forever21 chose Bullring over London’s Covent Garden. The city’s size and young age demographics were a determining factor as well.

The LA based clothing store has more than 480 stores in the US and Puerto Rico, with internal operations in Canada, Korea and Japan. Their move to the UK follows the successful expansions made by Apple and Hollister.

A glimpse at the inside of the new UK store.

Can’t wait until the Grand Opening!!!

On June 10^th Net-A-Porter announced a mens site, Mr. Porter, will be launching January 2011. Around 60 menswear brands will be featured in their Spring/Summer 2011 collection. With pieces from Balain, Lavin, Burberry, Ralph Lauren and many more there’s no way the men will be disappointed when it comes to this new mens site.

For the past ten years Net-A-Porter has been delivering designer fashions to chic women everywhere…now it the mens turn.

Finally, something designed with the stylish man in mind!

Kors, at the age of 50, is the youngest designer to ever take home such a prestigious award. His fabulous designs, which are categorized with designs from Donna Karen, Ralph Lauren, and Calvin Klein collections, have helped configure American Sportswear as we knew it into what it is today- a major driver in fashion.

This talented designer is no stranger to winning awards for his role in fashion. Back in 1999 he won the Womanswear Designer of the Year, which was quickly followed by another award in 2003 for Menswear. Just last week on the 10^th Kors was just inducted into the FiFi Hall of Fame. The month of June is shaping up pretty nicely for Mr. Kors.

With an outstanding design philosophy like “make people feel confident and comfortable; help women feel beautiful” there will only be more great things to expect from this accomplished designer.

Runway Rundown is filled with rich content and puts up a blog post once a day with two pictures side by side- one has the expensive designer look and one has the affordable look.  It’s not an exact duplicate of the real deal but it looks very similar and still looks good.  When you are ready to purchase the outfit you want, there is a link to the retail store that carries it.  You can browse by designer, season, price, color or clothing type.

Happy shopping!

Natalie Massanet, the founder of Net-a-Porter will stay on as the Executive Chairman and says, “Richemont has completely embraced our vision and strategy since they came on board as a shareholder and together we are going to continue to build the 21^st Century model for luxury fashion retailing.”

Richemont’s offer is set to become unconditional on April, 1 2010 and it is anticipated that it will be approved by Net-a-Porter’s shareholders.

Toronto based designer David Dixon presented his Spring 2009 Collection, Walk to Freedom, at Toronto Fashion Week 2009. The stylish ready-to-wear collection was mostly comprised of knee-length dresses, gowns, tops and skirts, with occasional appearances of trousers and jackets.

Rich textile and floral prints on spun raw silk lent an elegant touch, while chunky stone jewelry and glitter detailing were equally captivating. An infusion of crimson was a treat to the eye amidst the longstanding tones of black, ivory and metallic grey. However, a floor length leather-quilted outfit was the highlight of the evening.

Our favorites are:

Image courtesy: www.pbase.com

Hoping to debut his shoe line at the 1982 Market Week in New York, Kenneth Cole didn’t have the money for a hotel room, never mind a showroom. That of course left one option – selling shoes out of the back of a truck.

But it wasn’t that easy for KC, the city shot down his request, only granting parking permits to utility and production companies.  In a clever twist, Cole changed the name of his company from Kenneth Cole Incorporated to Kenneth Cole Productions, and applied for a permit to shoot the feature film, “The Birth of a Shoe Company”. 

In two days he sold over 40,000 pairs of shoes outside the New York Hilton.

 Ralph Lauren dressed Diane Keaton like a man – Oscars were won

Shortly after marrying Ricky Low-Beer, Ralph Rueben Lifshitz (aka Ralph Lauren) bought the now-famous Polo logo from a business partner. By 1972, Lauren found success with his “Polo shirts” – outfitting the cast of the feature-film remake, The Great Gatsby.

But it wasn’t a little pony that elevated RL into the fashion spotlight – it was some old fashioned cross dressing. The 1977 Best Picture winner, Annie Hall featured an androgynous Diane Keaton decked out in Ralph Lauren duds. It would be an understatement to say that the wardrobe choice “worked”.

Today, you can buy Ralph Lauren paint. 

Vera Wang outfitted a woman that got her knees busted up by a guy named Gillooly

After failing to qualify for the 1968 Olympics, former-figure skater Vera Wang set her sights on fashion. Following a 15-year stint as a magazine editor, Wang opened a New York bridal boutique in 1990.

As a side job, Wang was contracted to outfit Nancy Kerrigan for the 1994 Olympic Games. One brutal attack later, the entire world knew who Nancy Kerrigan was, and subsequently, who Vera Wang was.

Wang has since made custom wedding gowns for Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, and other A-list elite.

Jason Wu dressed up dolls, now he dresses up Michelle Obama

Jason Wu was a lanky design student that liked to dress up dolls. Of course, those who judged him are probably eating their hat. At the age of 17, Wu was named Creative Director of Integrity Toys. For seven years, Wu worked and saved, until he had enough to bankroll his own fashion label – which he debuted in 2006.

Wu attracted clients like Ivana Trump and January Jones – but in 2008, he hit the media jackpot. OBAMA. After fashioning Michelle Obama’s inaugural gown, the 26 year old Wu has cemented himself into the fashion culture.

If you can’t afford his clothing, you can always buy one of his dolls (the going rate on eBay is $275)!

Tory Burch unquestionably proved that it’s “who you know”

Tory Burch, a Manhattan socialite with a taste for fashion, launched her fashion label in 2004. Oprah liked it. Nuff said.

Pilati has craftily re-fitted his men’s collection to women, creating what he calls “Edition Unisexe”.

The ready to wear collection hits stores during the Fall/Winter Fashion Weeks held across the globe. The range will be available in the men’s section of Yves Saint Laurent stores in Milan, Paris, London, and a specialty store in New York.
Here are some highlights: