Tony Duquette; Isaac Mizrahi
A few big name designers canceled their Spring 2012 shows, but none of the cancelations were as disappointing as Isaac Mizrahi’s – this is a man, after all, who made it rain on the runway, who served cakes baked by the Cake Boss, and who had poodles walking down the catwalk with hair dyed to match his designs in past seasons! The news of the canceled show was quickly followed by the announcement that Xcel Brands Inc. bought the designer’s company and that his high-end line wasn’t part of the deal, making it likely that the luxury line will be phased out and repositioned as a licensing business, according to WWD. Just a few short weeks later, it turns out that Isaac Mizrahi will in fact now be produced on a larger scale with more product categories and lower prices. Footwear, handbags, and jewelry will launch next fall, all of which will be produced via licensing deals.
Shoes will retail from $79 to $298, with most styles, according to WWD, retailing for less than $100. Handbags and small leather goods will range in price from $98 to $348, jewelry will go for $38 to $298, and watches will sell for between $89 and $198. Of course, with his range for Target, Mizrahi is no stranger to lower priced lines so it will be interesting to see how he translates his vision to contemporary priced accessories. Here’s to hoping for some neon and florals!
Tony Duquette designs.
Also going for contemporary-prices in 2012 is famed interior and jewelry designer Tony Duquette. The artist may have passed away in 1999, but his legacy lives on under the direction of his business partner Hutton Wilkinson and Duquette’s extensive portfolio of work, which has long provided artistic inspiration for many designers. Now Coach will bring Duquette’s signature glimmering baroque flair to an even wider audience when, in February 2012, they introduce their limited edition jewelry collaboration with the Duquette estate. Unlike the ornately detailed, often handmade and exorbitantly priced pieces Duquette is known for, everything in the Coach range will retail for under $500.
Tony Duquette designs.
Wilkinson told WWD the he introduced the Coach team “to every nook and cranny of Tony’s world — his archives, his personal collections, his and his wife’s personal jewelry and wardrobe, and then turned them loose to do their thing with no strings attached.” There will be about 20 pieces in the collection, all of which will be done in 18-karat gold-plated brass with Swarovski crystals, hand-cut glass, and semi-precious stones, including amethyst, rock crystal, malachite and rose quartz. Like Frank Gehry, Duquette was very much inspired by fish and I’m glad to see that will be reflected in the Coach collection. How adorable is the polyester satin clutch above?
Images: WWD
