Haute Concept

Marc Jacobs will continue his domination of Bleecker Street by adding his fourth store on this stretch at 382 Bleecker Street.

Racked has the scoop learning from a correspondent that the shop, “won’t open till late August…Right now the space is being used as storage for the other stores.”

No real details on the store or target market. One of his other stores on Bleecker sells only accessories. We’re hoping this one will have menswear.

Marc Jacobs’ New Bleecker Street Store Swathed In Mystery [Racked]

The Daily Mail from across the pond gives menswear an abashed viewpoint from the fairer sex. Reporter Liz Jones is perplexed at the state of dress for men in Britain since menswear in general is a slow moving juggernaut that doesn’t succumb to trends. For the most part the menswear pendulum swings at a slower pace than women’s wear.

The report goes on to lay down the interesting happenings in menswear such as, Tom Ford’s new line, the Aquascutum Ltd. collection by Nick Heart and gives suitable High Street alternatives like French Connection.

At one point she waxes poetic about the importance of classics:

“The key to dressing well is to stick with the classics — a great suit, a pair of proper brogues, a good white shirt, a crombie overcoat - and leave the sportswear for the brief window when you actually play sport….As Giles Hattersley, the editor of Arena magazine, points out: ‘If a man is too swayed by trends, he just doesn’t seem, um, well, particularly manly. Even very young men look great in a classic cashmere overcoat….Personally, I’ll be coveting one of Tom Ford’s uber-luxe camel coats. A winter coat from Tom will make any guy, whether he’s 18 or 80, look like the best-dressed person in the room’.”

Liz Jones: Fashioin addict on men’s style [Daily Mail]

Gap, Inc. has hired some new faces for the “Classics Redefined” campaign.

Doesn’t it seem that the Gap has always “redefined” classics?

Moving on…the campaign will include John Mayer, Forest Whitaker, Liev Schreiber, Lucy Liu and Selma Blair.

The campaign willed be photographed by the legendary Annie Leibovitz, who recently shot for Louis Vuitton.

Gap Inc. recently announced Glen Murphy step in as its new CEO and Patrick Robinson as its new executive vice president of design.

[Earlier] and [Earlier]

Amateur Models [NYP]

Fast Retailing Co., Ltd. has submitted a definitive proposal to take over Barneys New York, Inc. for $900 million in cash.

You all know Fast Retailing, even though you may think you don’t. Founded in 1963, they are the leading Japanese-based apparel retailer globally. Brands under their umbrella include UNIQLO, Theory, Comptoir des Cotonniers, and Princesse tam.tam.

This proposal was approved at an extraordinary board meeting on July 30, 2007.

Fast Retailing holds the Barneys brand and its management and creative teams in high regard. Fast Retailing says they are committed to support the unique position of Barneys as one of the leading luxury department store brands in the world.

Fast Retailing’s offer based on a mutually acceptable purchase agreement, is not subject to financing and can be consummated in the near future.

Definitive Proposal to Acquire Barneys New York, Inc. [Fast Retailing]

The collaboration gravy train continues as brands from different industries partner with each other.

One collabo, which brings us these Adidas Good Year Low Racers, are going on our list of covetous kicks. These sneakers feature a buttery tan leather with black stripes and gold accents. The underside of the sneakers are given the tread treatment after the famous Goodyear tires.

The slim silhouette of the shoe is great fit for this seasons slim trouser and pant styles.

Adidas Low Racers (Tan/Black) [Shoemall]

G-Star Raw has opened another location in New York at 873 Broadway and 18th Street.  The denim company formed in 1989 has gathered a global following for its innovative and cutting edge denim styles. PSFK has the details on the 1,875 square foot store.

“The new shop does a good job of creating a proper setting for the collections. It’s stylish but at the same time utilitarian. Customers are greeted with two sculptural rhino heads both wearing protective leather gear.The interior forgoes the typical fashion white box, opting instead for camel hued walls and a tan painted floor. The fixtures are constructed of MDF died black and left raw. Wood is used to clad the fitting rooms and create monolithic blocks. There are some really nice details if you look around. Custom fitting room drapes are constructed of heavy canvas with oversized grommets sewn in. The fitting rooms contain jump seats that look like they were pulled right out of a military spec Land Rover.”

G-Star Raw [website]

Site Visit: G-Star Raw NYC [PSFK]

We hear that Marc Ecko interviews Kanye West in the upcoming August/September issue of Complex magazine.
The interview will supposedly let us know more about West’s much delayed fashion label Pastelle, due to hit stores this November.

Apparently Mr. West wanted the right designs and right partners. Now, hopefully that has been achieved and we look forward to bringing you more details on the line as they are released.

Diesel will open a megastore in the beginning of 2008.

The store will be the first of five such concept stores world-wide. (We hope New York is in the cards.)

The store, which the company is investing $11 million, will boast a staggering 162,000 square feet. The store will be placed in a busy retail section of Milan, also considered to be a popular meeting place for young people.

Details of store design are still vague, but will be “fresh and innovative, modern for the year 2010 and reflect Diesel’s DNA-futuristic, irreverent, crazy and full of humor.”

The retail megastore will also house music, video, fashion and art events.

Diesel to Open Milan Megastore [WWD]-(subs. req.)

“A good style fits like a good costume.”

–Amos Bronson Alcott