This is quite a new adventure for me — Loren urged me to post to her blog though — to help prepare me to enter the blogosphere (which will be happening real soon).

So to answer the question why all interest and our mission to put the magnifying glass on Top Shop. There is something going on here that we need to understand to be on top of our game. In a time where fashion and apparel merchandizing are hurting and contracting—Top Shop is booming. Top Shop and Zara are killing it while others are sucking wind. The fashion industry is a bit stale and constipated.

Top Shop is a store and concept that is fresh and hot! You cannot argue with their numbers and they are able to create a feeding or shopping frenzy like I have never
seen before. It is a new paradigm. Phillip Green is a genius with a phenomenon creating a pre-concert type of pandemonium where people camp out in front of the store to be the first in line similar to getting concert tickets. The store is filled with stylish, hip, fashion concious young shoppers. Phillip Green seems to create his own
designs and line or brand that is in vogue and style but at a fraction of the cost. The displays are insane. Everyone gets a personal shopper. He does not over produce the collection but puts enough out to create demand and produce significant sales! He sells out of a line and creats a new released collection in the same season. He replaces brands and designers with top models ( like Kate Moss etc.) and fashion icons to create merchandizing appeal but it doesn’t reflect in the cost. It works!— what ever he does! It is worth checking out. The electricity is a new fashion and apparel
merchandising phenomenon worth studying. In the process you find
yourself joining in the pandomonium and risking the same insane addiction.

Congratulations Phillip Green and Top Shop. I love paradigm shifters who reinvent the model!

JR Ridinger

Wide Mesh Collar Necklace, $85, available at topshop.com

Love,
Loren

Take a look and tell me: What Topshop item do you want to buy first?

Lots of love,
Loren

I’m in love with the “it” party dresses of the season– Herve Leger’s sparkly, body-hugging creations. The sequined bandage dress (featured above) does incredible things for the female form–tucking, streamlining and lifting in all the right places ;) The beautiful thing about the dress is that accessories are no longer needed as it pretty much does the job alone; but for a frugal girl who loves her accessories, there are other options. The luxury of Herve Leger after all, does come with a hefty price tag!

Check out a similar look (for a lot less) here.


The dress pictured above is a similar sillhouette to the Herve Leger, in this season’s hottest hue. Get it for $98 at Cache.com. Shop HSN.com for the earrings ($39), Amrita Singh for the cocktail ring ($50), and topshop.com for the sequined clutch.

The crystal-encrusted shoes featured above are part of Bebe’s Holiday 2008 collection. They’re sold-out on Bebe’s website, but if you hurry; you can still snag them without leaving the comfort of your couch. They’re available on eBay for around $169 to help you ring in the new year in style, search keyword “bebe purple studded strappy crystal sandal shoe” on eBay.

Here’s to getting a head start on a fabulous new year!

Love,
Loren