"Bitten" by the Fashion Bug

Which celebrity doesn’t have her own clothing brand or line of shoes or a namesake lip color nowadays? Jennifer Lopez has J.Lo; Gwen Stefani has L.A.M.B.; Beyoncé has House of Deréon; Madonna has Madonna for H&M; the list seems endless. Finally the time has come for super style-maker Sarah Jessica Parker to reveal her new clothing line, Bitten, which will be released on June 7 through mall-based retailers Steve & Barry. The collegiate-marketed store will sell every item in the 500-unit line (including jewelry, shoes and accessories) for $20 or less with the tagline for the brand appropriately stating, “Fashion is not a luxury.”

In her own words, SJP describes the philosophy of the clothing line as “a way of giving women without financial means access to good, simple, well-made clothes to feel proud of.” (Glamour magazine, June 2007)

This line of thinking might stem from her upbringing in a family of eight children and little means. “I was envious,” she admits. “I got all of my oldest sister’s hand-me-downs. And by the time I inherited them, they were really out of fashion.”

Although SJP makes it clear, “We’re not Balenciaga.” She also states that, “They’re well-made clothes that feel of-the-moment.” What more could a college girl, or any girl, ask for?

Other celeb labels in the works...Amanda Bynes will also premier her line, Dream, through Steve & Barry's on August 10. And Kate Moss released her line, Kate Moss for Topshop, this week through the namesake store as well as Barney's New York.

Long Live Queen Westwood

"You have a much better life if you wear impressive clothes." Vivienne Westwood

All the Fashion Blog readers living in the San Francisco area (which basically means me) will be jumping for joy when they hear that the de Young Museum will be hosting "Vivienne Westwood: 36 Years in Fashion." This tribute to Westwood's extraordinary career will run from March 3 to June 10, 2007, and is the only American stop on its international tour. Organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the exhibition will showcase pieces ranging from punk to haute couture. If you have time, I would also suggest checking the de Young calendar for several events, such as art history lectures and films, leading up to this exhibition.

For those who aren't familiar with her work, Vivienne Westwood revolutionized fashion in the 1970's by inventing punk style. She owned a shop in London with her husband, Sex Pistols manager Malcom McLaren, and gained notoriety when the band members started wearing her clothes during their performances. She transitioned to the runways and continued making her ready-to-wear, as well as couture collections, in her signature non-conformist style. Always edgy and unique, Westwood is still known as "one of the most influential designers of our time."