HAUTE LIST
IT’S HOT CHAI
By RAAKHEE MIRCHANDANI and DANICA LO
Posted: 3:26 am
July 31, 2008
DESIGNER Richard Chai's start was modest; his first fashion job was working in sales at the Benetton at the Paramus Mall. These days, things are a lot different. The former Marc by Marc Jacobs designer and creative director at TSE started his eponymous collection in 2004 and launches his first wallet-friendly collection for Target on Sunday.
"The challenge and fun was bringing what I know about construction and clothes to a much broader audience. It's a much, much younger customer at Target, one that can't usually afford my namesake line," says Chai.
Chai, who'd previously only designed in a loftier market, says "this opened my eyes to doing a collection at this price point, in impeccable quality."
The 60-piece Target collection includes a cowl-neck purple-and-black plaid dress and a cotton canvas plaid trench ($45). Chai's personal favorites are a blue-and-white graffiti rose-print sundress ($40) and a color-block tie-front dress ($45).
And not for nothing, but Chai is happy with his marriage of chi-chi and cheap - if he does say so himself.
"The clothes may look simple, but upon closer inspection you see the finishing, the details, the architectural theming. It looks modern with Old World techniques and Old World craftsmanship."
Chai says the line is heavily influenced by New York City in the 1980s - when he was just a young New Jersey mall rat with big-city dreams.
"This is a lot less serious. I was far too young to live with the Basquiat, Haring, early Madonna and CBGB. I didn't live through it, but I fantasized about it," he says. "The graffiti elements to the roses, the brush-stroke prints, the raw edges. I don't want to dictate that you have to wear this with that. It's all about things mixing and matching."
* For your eyes only: A limited first-edition supply of Lancome's Oscillation, the world's first vibrating mascara, will be sold today - and today only - at Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale's 59th Street, Lord & Taylor, Macy's and the Lancome boutique (201 Columbus Ave.; [212] 362-4858). The traditional way of applying mascara involves plenty of convoluted, acrobatic swivel-wrist techniques, but Oscillation evenly coats and separates lashes with no effort at all. It's $34; after today, it won't return to stores until late this fall.
* Vanity, thy name is Sidekick: If we have to carry a phone around all the time, it'd better have our faces emblazoned on it. Enter T-Mobile's newest Sidekick and its customizable shells. No peel-away stickers or glue-on crystals here - your designs and graphics are printed directly on the phone body. Sidekick 2008, $149 with a contract from T-Mobile locations; customizable shells, $14.99 each at tmobile.com
* Booty call: Each year, by the time we get around to thinking about winter footwear, the hottest boots have already sold out. Case in point: These new Koolaburra by Kettle Black sheepskin boots ($363 at shopplanetblue.com) have just been shipped but are already completely sold out - and it's only July! Planet Blue's expecting a new shipment any day now, so we've begged our way onto the waiting list. But let this serve as fair warning to you: Buy your snow boots in the summer. Your feet will thank us.
* Hair, there everywhere: Curly, straight or somewhere in between - pick your potion and hit the bathroom!
Thinning: For those who need a little lift, try 1) Kiehls' Strong Hold Gel ($13.50) and 2) Ultimate Thickening Shampoo ($18), both of which promise to texturize thinning hair and help hold it in place. Both are available tomorrow at Kiehl's, 109 Third Ave.; (212) 677-3171.
Curly: Celeb hairstylist Sally Hershberger adds 3) Wave Spray and 4) Finishing Cream ($12.50 each at Walgreens) to her collection of frizz-fighting products.
Straight: Jonathan Product's cult favorite Dirt line gets two additions - 5) Spray Dirt Texture Hold Hairspray ($29) and 6) Detox Dirt Clarifying Shampoo ($20), both available Aug. 7 at Sephora.
