Midtown has been invaded by twenty-foot-tall models wearing cheap-chic European clothing! Look out, sandwich-board guy, or this lady will crush you! (Click the image for a better view)
A tipster sent in this photo of a massive Zara ad at the store's newest location, in the old Nat Sherman space on 42nd and Fifth Avenue. (You know, the place where they told us a Zara store definitely was not moving? Not that we're bitter.) Taken at 10:00 AM, it appears to be some sort of metaphor for Fashion Week.
· Storecasting: Zara Coming to 42nd and Fifth After All [Racked]
· Rumor Busting: No Zara Store for Bryant Park [Racked]
Two and a half weeks ago, the massive Spanish chain Zara told us that they were not opening a store on 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue. The corporate headquarters was moving into the building, they said, but not the storefront part. Well, it appears they lied. This makes six Zara stores for Manhattan; their rival in the quest for world retail domination, the Gap, has twenty.
· Rumor Busting: No Zara Store for Bryant Park [Racked]
· Zara Is Now the World's Biggest Clothing Store [Racked]
Time for a fun new game, folks. We've picked the highest-ranked Street Scenes subjects of the past week from Racked NY and Racked LA; now you decide which coast has the best style.
On the left, we have our NYC contender Alexander (78.8% Perfection!/17.7% I feel strangely ambivalent about it/3.5% Who did this to you?) wearing a Zara shirt, pants by Costello (bought in France), Paul Smith shoes, Ray-Ban sunglasses, and a Puma bag. On the right, we have our LA contender Kimberly Robin (35.8% Perfection!/15.8% So close/15.8% I feel strangely ambivalent about it/32.6% Who do this to you?) wearing Christian Lacroix wedges, a Hale Bob dress, a Cartier watch, and Chanel sunglasses.
Today's Street Scenes subject is Caitlin, shot on the corner of President and Court in Carroll Garden. Feel free to vote on whether you like or dislike her outfit below. Your choices are 'Perfection!,' 'I feel strangely ambivalent about it,' or 'Who did this to you?'
Caitlin is wearing a skirt by Zara with a vintage top, vintage glasses, and a vintage belt from Housing Works. Her shoes are Worishofer and her favorite store is Yesterday's News on Court Street.
Today's Street Scenes subject is Alexander, shot on 57th Street between Madison and Park. Feel free to vote on whether you like or dislike his outfit below. Your choices are 'Perfection!,' 'I feel strangely ambivalent about it,' or 'Who did this to you?'
Alexander is wearing a Zara shirt, pants by Costello (bought in France), Paul Smith shoes, and Ray-Ban sunglasses. His bag is from Puma and his favorite store is Barneys.
For months, Zara and the Gap have been neck-and-neck in the race to be the largest fashion retailer on the planet, and now, the Spanish brand has finally inched ahead, operating 3,900 stores (including five in NYC) to the Gap's meager 3,100. Call it yet another consequence of the U.S.A's current economic slump: We're buying less, the euro is booming, and Zara's sleek continental styles are outselling our boring khaki pants. We'd think this would inspire the Gap to step up, but they already did when they appointed Patrick Robinson to executive vice president of design—guess the improvement in aesthetics was no match for the recession.
What's the opposite of "storecasting"? A tipster writes in: "There's plywood up on the n/w corner of 42nd and Fifth, former home of Nat Sherman. I heard from the lobby attendant at 500 Fifth Avenue that it's going to be a Zara." We called the company to confirm, and it turns out that the lobby attendant was right—but only kind of. The corner of 42nd and Fifth is getting Zara, but it's the company's corporate headquarters. Those looking to shop at the Spanish brand still have to trek up Fifth to their 54th Street store.
·Reluctantly, Luxury Stogie Shop Nat Sherman Relocates [Racked]
·Zara [Offical Site]
Today's Street Scenes subject is Meghan, shot on the corner of Walker Street and Sixth Avenue in Tribeca. Feel free to vote on whether you like or dislike her outfit below—your choices are 'Perfection!,' I feel strangely ambivalent about it,' or 'Who Did This To You.'
[Photo by Krieger; click here for an enlarged image]
Today's Street Scenes subject is Eleonore, shot on the corner of 40th Street and Sixth Avenue in Midtown. Feel free to vote on whether you like or dislike her outfit below—your choices are 'Perfection!,' I feel strangely ambivalent about it,' or 'Who Did This To You.'
During World War II, the arrival of a rare shipment of nylons would be greeted with hordes of women longing for the return of glamour cheaply had. The scene at the Zara sale last night could have rivaled this, in both demographic and desperation.
Like the nylons, the prices are ridiculously high: $100 for a silk party frock that we know has been on the rack for awhile and $69.99 for a clearance black blazer?! Even the shoes pictured above started from $29.99, and yet people were grabby and hostile. We've officially been tenderized by hangar jabs.
Today's Street Scenes subject is Dunja, shot on West 13th Street and Ninth Avenue in the Meatpacking District. Feel free to vote on whether you like or dislike her outfit below—your choices are 'Perfection!,' I feel strangely ambivalent about it,' or 'Who Did This To You.'
Today's Street Scenes subject is Michelle, shot on DeGraw Street between Columbia and Hicks in Carroll Gardens. Feel free to vote on whether you like or dislike her outfit below—your choices are 'Perfection!,' I feel strangely ambivalent about it,' or 'Who Did This To You.'
Today's Street Scenes subject is Chris, shot on Watts Street and Sixth Avenue in Soho. Feel free to vote on whether you like or dislike his outfit below—your choices are 'Perfection!,' I feel strangely ambivalent about it,' or 'Who Did This To You.'
Chris is wearing a Zara jacket, a vintage shirt, Rock & Republic jeans, vintage sunglasses and Puma sneakers. His favorite store is a vintage shop on Thompson Street.
Today's Street Scenes subject is Miyuki, shot on the steps of Borough Hall in Downtown Brooklyn. Feel free to vote on whether you like or dislike her outfit—your choices are 'Perfection!,' I feel strangely ambivalent about it,' or 'Who Did This To You.'
Miyuki is wearing a Uniqlo sweater, a thrift-store scarf, Zara pants, Sergio Tacchini sunglasses and a bag from Alter. Her favorite store is the Goodwill near the Fulton Mall.
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Midtown has been invaded by twenty-foot-tall models wearing cheap-chic European clothing! Look out, sandwich-board guy, or this lady will crush you! (Click the image for a better view)
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What's the opposite of "storecasting"? A tipster writes in: "There's plywood up on the n/w corner of 42nd and Fifth, 
