Very Vera

My apologies for not posting last week. Magazine deadlines were calling! I will post regularly again this Thursday.
I did want to post a follow-up on the Vera Wang line called Simply Vera that Kohl's department stores are carrying.
The Wall Street Journal ran a Q&A with Wang last week on her new line. She addressed a question about what was on her mind launching her new line. Here's one of my favorite quotes from her:
"I don't consider it a jump down, I consider it a jump across to a much bigger world. Being able to dress so many more women, to me as a designer, is a privilege. Sure, I love the new collection [runway] show. There is nothing like it. But if I can't see my work on more people what did that mean ultimately for me as a designer? Fashion is also about being able to reach more women. Isn't that the ultimate goal? Are you dressing 20 people in the world? Or are you dressing the world? I would argue that both are possible."
Wang goes on to elaborate that women are much more label-conscious and fashion-savvy than ever before. I think Wang has got it right that even if you don't have the big bucks to wear Dior or Marc Jacobs, you can still pull together an excellent outfit from any of Madison's fine local retailers or national retailers like Target (carrying big-name designers Libertine and Devi Kroell currrently) and Steve & Barry's (carrying Sarah Jessica Parker and Amanda Byne's lines).

Affordable? Vera Wang?

I have long lusted after Vera Wang’s dinnerware and serve ware when I stop by Macy’s home department. Never mind that I never host dinner parties or make anything fancy to eat … I just like it!
Wang is also arguably one of the most well known bridal designers with her dresses ranging in the thousands of dollars for that special day. In fact, Madison Magazine highlighted one of Wang’s “Maids” dresses from Premiere Couture in our May wedding guide. The floor-length crepe creation was a beautiful eggplant color with a deep V-neck and a satin inset at the waist. Certainly fit for a beautiful wedding!
Now Wang is navigating the ready-to-wear “mass market” (she has long designed high-end ready-to-wear fashions; her flagship store is in New York City and her fashions are sold through high-end department stores like Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman) by introducing a line at Kohl’s! Now I admit, I’m not the biggest Kohl’s shopper, but I have been impressed lately here and there with some of their newer lines like Daisy Fuentes and Nine & Co. And I plan on going when Simply Vera launches.
Wang’s Simply Vera line, from what I read, is very moderately priced. The fall campaign’s ads have a Wizard of Oz theme and models don mostly black and gray tops and skirts with jolts of bright purple and gold accents. The models wear pieces with ruffles, bubble skirts, and there’s lots of layering and pieces of different lengths, all hot trends this fall.
Kohl’s is even making an appearance at Times Square—on a billboard introducing Wang’s line. Her line will launch September 9 at the Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based retailer.
Also, read this article from last week’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the Simply Vera line.

Kohl’s, 7401 West Towne Way. 833-9293.
2501 W. Broadway. 221-7620.
2602 East Springs Dr. 246-3022.
Kohls.com