Summer denims get lift from colors, technology
There’s a whole lot of bright and pastel denim going ’round. Blue Essence, Michael by Michael Kors, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and CJ by Cookie Johnson are just some of the labels to be found on jeans whose colors resemble a spring flower garden.
Standouts among the colorful crop are NYDJ, or Not Your Daughter’s Jeans. NYDJ has released its collection of warm-weather denims in such fun, eye-catching colors as Fuchsia, Clover Green, Sunkiss, Pomegranate, Aquamarine, Purple Lily and Optic White.
All jeans are created with the brand’s patented Tummy Tuck technology to flatten the stomach, contour the hips and lift the buttocks.
NYDJ styles all bear women’s names. The colored denim collection includes skirts, “Alicia” ankle jeans and skinny stretch jeans ($ 104-$ 114, in plus sizes also); “Cameron” buttonhem cropped capris; “Fiona” mini-roll cuffed crops ($84); “Donna” and “Abbie” flare leg jeans ($104-$110); “Brandi” cropped pants; “Claire” leggings; and “Emma” skirts ($89-$99, in plus sizes also).
The company shared several pairs of Alisha styles in size 16 misses. As NYDJS are, as a rule, meant to be worn a size smaller I
passed them on to volunteer reviewers.
“I liked the pants way more than I had expected to,” says one reviewer. “They feel nice, and there’s just enough stretch in them to make them look decent, even though they’re supposed to be ‘skinny jeans.’ They’re also the kind of jeans that kind of expand a bit by the end of the day, which I always think is a nice bonus. They did suck in the tummy and lift up the rear a bit, as promised, as well.” Although the reviewer didn’t heed the admonition to wash before wearing, the jeans didn’t bleed. Later, she washed them inside out on gentle cycle and hung them to dry, just as the label directed. “They feel almost as soft as pre-washing, and I don’t believe they lost any of their color,” she says.
Another reviewer wore the jeans for fairly relaxed activities as well as more strenuous ones. “The fit was snug without being tight and the jeans held their shape through the course of the day,” she observed. “However, by the end of the second day they needed to be pulled up frequently. ... After washing and drying the jeans as the label instructed, I was a little disappointed that they did not fully return to their original shape, and remained a little loose around the waist and [posterior]. Another disappointment was that the fabric pilled in the thigh area where my legs rubbed together. But overall, the jeans were very comfortable and the fit was quite flattering.” And the tummy smoothing panel worked well, she adds. A third reviewer gave a verbal thumbs-up on the jeans.
NYDJS are sold at Dillard’s, other retailers, and at NYDJ. com.
SUMMER SCHOOL
The Jamileh Kamran School of Fashion Design announces its new schedule, which includes summertime evening classes. Ten slots are available.
Regular summer classes begin Monday, May 21 or May 28. Morning classes are 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.; afternoon classes, 12:30-4.30 p.m.; and evening classes, 5:30-8.30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information and to make an appointment, call Kamran at (501) 663-3242.
SUMMER SOLES Summer Soles introduces two colorful print additions to its collection of “Softness of Suede” stay-dry sandal liners. If you’re tired of your feet getting sweaty and odoriferous — and sliding forward in your sandals — you’ll be grateful for the existing Softness of Suede insoles, too.
The polyester micro-suede-fiber liners are thin, easy to use and removable. Peel off the backing and stick the liners into your shoes, including very high heels. They add no bulk and are designed to be cut to the shape of various shoe styles.
The new prints are Vintage and Links, both of which I received. One is in a pair of wedge-heeled sandals that were driving me nuts because of the forward slide; the other is in a pair of closed-toe patent ballet flats too sweat-inducing to wear in the summer without some kind of intervention. In both cases, the liners fit perfectly as is.
Other Softness of Suede options include Dragonfly, Flower and City. They’re $8 for one pair, or $7 each for three, plus shipping, at Summersoles.com and various boutiques where shoes are found.
SUMMER CORAL
m Is coral one of your favorite summer colors? One of the prettiest manifestations of it I’ve seen is Clinique’s new Long Last Lipstick in Runway Coral ($15). The shade made its debut during New York Fashion Week, inspired by a look created by Clinique Global Colour artist Jenna Menard for Karen Walker’s Spring/summer 2012 show. This shade is a beauty ... you’ll be dying to go out and hunt up a matching outfit, or at least some matching nail polish. The lipstick will soon be available exclusively on clinique.com (it was “coming soon” as this column went to press).
SUMMER BRIDESMAIDS
For the bride who is looking for dresses that her bridesmaids can actually wear more than once with heads held high, Durga-kali has the answer. This is a new line of two-in-one bridesmaid dresses that reverse from one of 18 tones — from Tango Red to Pewter — into sleek, stylish black cocktail dresses.
“After hearing complaints from friends through the years about hundreds of dollars wasted on bridesmaid dresses that are only worn once” — before adorning the back of the closet, being shipped off to the thrift store or being entered into Ugly Bridesmaid Dress contests — “I decided to take matters into my own hands,” Durga Sundaram of New York, chief executive officer of Durga-kali, says in a news release.
Made of pure silk, the dresses ($399-$499) also come in 10 styles, some of which also can be converted from long to short. Sizes run from 0 to 16 and can also be made in custom colors for an additional fee. The dresses can be found at durga-kali.com.
Next, perhaps Sundaram will come up with two-in-one bridal gowns.
SUMMER SKIN PAMPERING
A few ways to be good to your skin as the temperature continues to climb: m Masque*ology, a maskbased Korean treatment line that “merges technology and nature together to create products that produce amazing results,” according to its news release. The treatment masks are each created with a different combination of ingredients, and formulated to suit all skin types. Ten facial masks have been introduced for spring, each designed to address a different skin-care need: cell renewal; anti-aging; lifting and firming; pore minimizing; brightening; antioxidant; anti-blemish; hydrate and repair; collagen hydro gel; and revitalizing eye gel. All are sold in sets of three, ranging from $24 to $36. The line is available at Sephora stores or Sephora.com. m Also at Sephora: Soap & Glory Butter Yourself Body Cream ($20), a nourishing moisturizer whose quick-absorbing formula features exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids, peppermint oil and shea butter. (My hint: It goes on best mixed with body oil.) m And at Bath & Body Works stores/bathandbodyworks.com: Wild Berry Tulips Body Lotion ($11), a blend of red raspberry, sheer honeysuckle and pink tulips. It’s fortified with shea butter, jojoba oil and vitamin E for all-day, nongreasy moisture. It goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly. SUMMER LIPS AND NAILS MAC Cosmetics introduces Fashion Sets. MAC took seven of its cult-favorite “globally gorgeous” shades and worked them into threepiece mini collections ... lipstick, “lipglass” and nail lacquer trios, $17.50-$19. Regionally inspired shades are Spice, Myth, Snob, Chestnut, Rebel, Girl About Town, and Russian Red. Textures include mattes, satin and “amplified.” Check them out at Dillard’s or maccosmetics.com.