New H&M Flagship: Herald Center Fall 2014

It is no surprise that H&M is one of the world’s largest fashion retailers thanks to their affordable prices, fast fashion sensibility and amazing collaborations. Now they are going to make their presence even greater in New York City with their largest store globally.

The new location is set for the Herald Center with 63,000 square feet of prime retail space. Herald Center is located at the southwest corner of 34th Street where Broadway and the Avenue of the Americas meet. The new store will showcase all of the H&M collections and will stock H&M’s super fun Home Collection (which only recently made it's online debut in North America).

Expect four floors of retail therapy including ladies and men’s collections, H&M Sport, H&M Mama (maternity collection), H&M+ (plus-sized collection), accessories, cosmetics and H&M’s children’s collection, newborns to kids age 14.

“We are proud to continue our unprecedented expansion in New York City with this groundbreaking Herald Square location. Locking in our 14th store in Manhattan shows our continued commitment to growth in the New York City market,” says Daniel Kulle President of H&M North America. “34th Street has proven to be one of the most successful retail corridors for the brand after having operated two stores there for over 10 years.  With close to 300 stores across the country as well our new Shop Online, the H&M anchor store at this historic intersection will be one of our greatest accomplishments to date.” 

If opening a global flagship wasn't enough, in addition to Herald Center, H&M will open at 4 Times Square at the end of 2013, and on Fifth Avenue (and 48th street) in the spring of 2014.

All of this expansion is good for the local economy, H&M plans to hire 900 new employees with these three New York City openings. Kind of amazing!

H&M currently operates more than 2,900 stores around the world!

Shop: H&M Online

After months of waiting for it to happen with eager anticipation, H&M is now available for online shopping. You can shop from the ease of your home from Ladies, Men's, Kids and the newly introduced Home department! Enjoy FREE SHIPPING on your first order using code 0549, valid until August 15th.  So head to www.hm.com/us/ to get your shop on!

H&M Conscious Collection Launch

Last week H&M marked the launch of its second Conscious Exclusive collection with special events in San Francisco, New York City, WestHollywood and Miami. Jessica Stroup, Penn Badgley, Victoria Justice and Jessica Lowndes hosted the events in conjunction with top DJ’s. The Conscious collection is part of H&M's effort to ensure a more sustainable future in fashion.


I headed to the New York City event at the 5th Avenue & 51st Street location in midtown to see the collection that is comprised of red carpet looks for men and women made from more sustainable materials such as organic cotton, silk-like tencel, recycled polyester and tulle.  Shoppers were encouraged to donate unwanted clothing items to be recycled or repurposed.

Penn Badgley hosted the Conscious Exclusive collection launch in NYC and says that the eco-line is a "step in the right direction that a lot of us need to be making towards living more sustainably." Penn also mentioned that it "helps when the clothes look good!". 



DJ Hannah Bronfman & Mike Nouveau kept the tunes spinning, while guests enjoyed cocktails and appetizers while they shopped the collection.

One thing I noticed was that some of the prices were pretty incredible with a recycled polyester dress retailing for just $20! Some of the more ornate showstopper pieces were a bit more with the tulle skirt gown at $199, the fringe dress the made me think Gucci for $199, the dress with beading that made me think Prada for $129.

My personal favorite was the satin kimono with heavy embroidery for $99.


I appreciated H&M's effort to create a collection that helps to reduce their carbon footprint. I also appreciated that despite being recycled, the clothing is stylish and fun in bright colors and doesn't look "eco" in a hippie kind of way.


The collection is available in 25 select stores in the U.S., for more information click here.

H&M x Brick Lane Bikes

H&M, the retailer that has almost single handedly spawned an entire market for designer collaborations has recently partnered up again but has collaborated in a very different sort of partnership. H&M is launching a men's capsule collection in collaboration with Brick Lane Bikes, one of the world's leading custom-bike specialists to create a men's capsule collection that is full of the spirit of urban cycling today. Each piece from the collection is carefully crafted with the technical elements that the rider will need for better cycling with a very smart style that can be worn off the bike as well. The 11 piece capsule collection includes water repellent but breathable rider jackets and articulated blazers to vintage-inspired bike jerseys and caps made entirely from more sustainable materials as part of H&M's Conscious work, the collection will be available in around 180 stores worldwide on March 7, 2013.

"H&M for Brick Lane Bikes brings together the fashion, function and heritage of cycling. Each piece has been designed so it can be all day, inspired by the vibrant colors and expertise which make Brick Lane Bikes so unique. It's great that they've tested every single piece around the streets of London, so we know the collection really works,"
says Petter Klusell, Menswear designer at H&M.

"This collection captures the energy and excitement of Brick Lane Bikes, along with our respect for the traditions of cycling. I love how the technical details become part of the look of each piece, while the colors bring cycling's heritage to life. I can't wait to see guys wearing these clothes as they ride the streets of the world," says Feya Buchwald, founder of Brick Lane Bikes.

Thoughtful details like water repellent and breathable material, with ventilation holes under the sleeves and taped seams make sure that the garments are functional. The rider jacket is cut longer at the back, with a back pocket and straps inside the jacket so it can be worn as a backpack. Materials used throughout the collection include organic cotton, recycled polyester and recycled wool, making the collection as sustainable as it is functional, and fashionable.

Pssst... Markdowns on Maison Martin Margiela x H&M

Mine! I literally clapped my hands with excitement when I found these.

I stopped by the H&M downtown on State St after work while waiting for a friend to wrap up.  I went through almost all of the store before noticing they still had some of the Maison Martin Margiela collection in stock.  And I didn't realize the pieces were marked down until I studied the tags because the original prices had be discretely covered with new prices.  Also, I hadn't checked out the collection earlier because I remember thinking most of it felt out of my price range!

There were two racks worth of womenswear collection left, including the Narrow Shoulder Jacket, Horizontal Dress, Blazer, Oversized Peacoat and just a few of the Hitched Up Dress.  Prices were roughly half off ($99+ after markdowns), and while limited in quantity, those styles were available in all sizes with the exception of the Hitched Up Dress.  To reference the lookbook, click here.  For Erin's write up on the construction and fit of some of the pieces, click here.

Ever since images of the collection were released, I'd been eying the footwear specifically the black patent wedges and black leather booties.  The wedges unfortunately didn't fit the way I would have hoped; my heels kept slipping out and the sides felt too stiff.  The booties on the other hand fit quite nicely, perhaps because I can wear them with socks.  While they fit comfortably, I must admit that I will have to walk a little differently in them to avoid clomping around because the lucite wedge has no give.

There were plenty of silver ($40) and black flats in stock ($60).  There were lots of wedges ($99) in black, red and tan and about a dozen pairs of booties ($129) left, mostly in sizes 8-10.  There were several pairs of black knee high boots (a great steal at $129) and a few pairs of the maroon ones left as well, but I didn't get a chance to look at sizing before I left.

H&M X Maison Martin Margiela: Menswear

Along with Erin - I ended up hitting the presale event at Columbus Circle last night.  The men's section was no where near as frantic as the women's (thank God it was on a different floor) but it was still bustling.   From what I could see, shoppers were definitely more selective with their choices - my guess is due to the heftier pricepoints.  Hopefully this will act as a deterrant for the infinite number of douchebags who try and turn a quick buck through reselling the items on eBay.

Apparently there are still plenty of shit for brains people out there who are already reselling on eBay.  Take "iliveforlanvin" for example who is selling the high-top sneakers for $599 + $15 shipping ($129 in store).  For your sake "iliveforlanvin", I hope I never meet you as I am guaranteed to go batshit crazy on your ass.  At least you have the decency of keeping your shipping charges to a minimum when trying to bank over 300% profit on a post production, post retailed good. How very noble of you.  

That's enough ranting for now on dumbass eBay resellers - back to the clothes!

 

My favorite of the lot was this wool grey blazer with fused lapels.  It's clean cut, and when you look at it, the detailing is subtle and very Margiela. It's probably one of the most wearable items and at $149 won't break the bank.

 

 

In terms of tops, the sweaters seemed to be more popular with shoppers that night.  The staff at the H&M store did a great job of restocking items so it looked like lots of people got what they wanted which was nice.  Shoes - and the sneakers in particular - seemed to fly off the shelves the quickest.  So if that's what your gunning for, I suggest trying to go for those first!

Pants seemed to fare the least well with shoppers - they are definitely not your typical run of the mill slacks so if you're eyeing a pair hopefully you'll be able to snag one in your size. 

I thought the most fun looking piece was the disco blazer - a perfect option for a New Year's party!

 

 

If you plan on stopping by/are in line hope you get what you're looking for!

Maison Martin Margiela x H&M at Columbus Circle

Tonight I was given the opportunity to shop the H&M x Maison Martin Margiela pre-shop event at the brand new sparkly location of H&M on the 2nd floor of the The Shops at Columbus Circle. It was nice to get to wait in line indoors – something to consider if you’re going to be waiting in line tomorrow morning to keep your fingers from getting too numb.  Being the fashion keener that I am, I was in the first 15 people in line, despite the fact that I have a bruised heel bone (due to a failed attempt cleaning up my closet and have been hobbling around for the past few days).
Upon entry to the sale it was chaos as usual as people ran to get their coveted items. In case you’re wondering what they are: the candy wrapper clutch and the disco ball mirrored leggings are the hot ticket and I spotted them in nearly everyone’s arms as they wandered through the sale. If these are on your wish list make sure you hit them up first – I spotted a few random hoarders carrying the clutches 4 at a time. Women’s shoes was also a fast mover with staffers continuously bringing out an armload of boxes at a time.

I struck quickly and soon snagged up everything from my wish list and ran to the change room for final confirmation. I learned my lesson at the H&M x Versace collaboration when I didn’t grab multiple sizes and soon found myself out of luck on the floral print bustier so I grabbed multiple sizes this time and prevailed.

See pictures of packaging and my product reviews after the jump.

This time around I have to really hand it to the MMM attention to detail – Everything from the boxes to the shiny embossed bags to the hangtags, to the fabric zip up garment bag have tone on tone white lettering. Subtle shine on the paper goods that have been embossed for a luxe look. The garments all have these large tags that describe the item and what season it was originally designed for which look really sharp. The only problem with these tags is that they are GINORMOUS and it was rather difficult to try on garments with these flapping about, although with some patience, you can make it work.

As for my buys I tried to stick with only what I love and in the end picked up the “Hitched-Up Dress”, The Mirror Ball leggings and the “Hair Lock Necklace”.

The Hitched up dress is a really nice the fabric is a Viscose wool crepe and not at all itchy. It is a medium weight fabric with good drape and body. The dress itself is surprisingly heavy. The dress is fully lined and although the lining edge is raw edge all of the interior seams have been bound in a satin lining for a luxe finish. The V-back is a bit low so it will require a low back bra/those chicken cutlets that can only be worn for short periods of time. I was torn on this dress and the Sideways Dress but ultimately the color, ease of putting on and silhouette won. I had to get this dress in 1 size smaller than my usual H&M size because otherwise the back hung too far away from my body.

The sideways dress is made of the same fabric, but it is unlined and although there are no body zippers there is a tank dress underneath the sideways shirt dress that make up the upper portion of the dress.  There is only a shoulder zip so that you can fit your head into the neck opening. This piece was a bit fidgety to get on and on my first attempt I managed to get a bit tangled up in the dress. This dress runs true to size, the smaller size resulted in buttons getting bunched up inside the dress. The sleeves are very dramatic looking but I ultimately decided that my budget could only have room for 1 dress.

The mirror leggings are zippered at the ankles – a point that I did not immediately realize as I struggled in the change room to put these things on. After I found the zippers it was much easier. To note the “mirrors” are actually heat sealed reflective plastic bonded to the spandex. This makes them much more comfortable than sequins (yes I have a pair of sequins leggings that constantly poke/scratch me). There is a nice wide interior elastic that feels comfortable. You should also keep in mind that these leggings are not as stretchy or comfortable as regular leggings due to the bonded plastic. Hopefully the plastic bits stay in place as I love these leggings – anything remotely disco ball like get’s my vote.

Finally, that hair necklace. It’s a little ridiculous and over the top but also very simple and Margiela too. The hair is held together nicely in a metal cap on a waxed cord with metal tips and metal namesake tag.  The hair of course is not real but synthetic so you have to beware of wearing with static inducing fabrics or you get fly aways on your necklace – which is more than a little hilarious.
My deepest disappointment came from the oversized jeans which with their wide legs and bleached out denim wash were exactly up my alley. They are a little tricky to put on but you can adjust the slouch factor by adjusting the overlap with hooks that are in the front. The front looked every bit the beauty that I thought they would. My problem came when I turned around. Literally my butt looked HUGE, which I don’t mind but not only was my butt large, it was flat and poufy which is not ok. I contemplated ways to  fix this in the change room but ultimately I sadly put them back on the shelf for someone else to adore.

Not sure what you’re after but I hope you find the Margiela of your dreams tomorrow morning!