An image from "In Light of Tokyo"

With the recent Earthquake & Tsunami tragedy in Japan, many organizations, businesses, and individuals are jumping at the chance to lend a hand with the relief; now you can too with a simple purchase made from the following designers and brands.  Assouline Publishing will donate 50% of its profits from the tome In Light of Tokyo, a tribute collection of photographs inspired by Tokyo’s landscape, to the relief efforts.

Shop online at Josie Natori, and 10% of sales will be donated to the Red Cross through April.

All proceeds from Phillip Lim’s March showroom sample sale will go to benefit the American Red Cross’s aid efforts -  shop March 24^th-25^th to participate (located at 260 West 39th Street in NYC).

Brooks Brothers has created a Customer Giving Campaign from which 100 percent of donations will go directly to the American Red Cross recovery and relief efforts. In addition, the Brooks Brothers Golden Fleece Foundation will match donations dollar for dollar up to $50,000.

UNIQLO via their parent company, Fast Retailing has pledged 700 yen worth of clothing to disaster victims, and has set up monetary donation drop boxes throughout retail locations. With these easy ways to donate to the relief effort in Japan, there are plenty of options to help do your part.  After all caring IS always in fashion.

-Dana deBoer

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I’ve been excited for quite some time for the Steven Alan for Uniqlo designer collaboration project to come out, so I foolishly went to Soho on a Saturday. By the masses on Broadway and hour-long check out and dressing room lines inside Uniqlo, who would ever have thought that we’re in a recession? Anyways, the Steven Alan women’s collection was largely in a palette of red, blue, and a bit of black (not mixed together) with ruching, pleats, and sweet little pin tucks. There were some retro dresses that felt a bit Built by Wendy to me, with the real gems being the button down shirts. I like the  ones with accordion pleating and slight Peter Pan collars (seel left), as well as the chest pocket roll-tab ones, both available in blue & white, red & white or black & white.  There was no way I was waiting in the atrociously long dressing room lines, so I tried on the items in a mirrored corner of the men’s section. Final thoughts: for about $50 each, the button tees are a nice investment to make, whose mid-quality wil most likely last you more than a season. 

The men’s Opening Ceremony collection was a nice capsule of lightweight multi-colored button downs (see right), more dressier shirts that came with a pocket square, and blazers. Overall impression was that both of these collections could be a success, however Uniqlo needs to figure out a better way to funnel people through the store, as I don’t think its such bargain basement prices to elicit waiting on line for more than 15 minutes.

-Julia DiNardo

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I’m already a fan of the mega Japanese retailer Uniqlo, frequently visiting the store in Soho and picking up items for my Mom, boyfriend, Dad, and of course myself. I am thrilled to report the following Designers Invitation Project lineup (as written about in WWD):

Launching in March:
Steven Alan for women
Opening Ceremony for men

Launching in May:
Shipley & Halmos for women
Gilded Age for men

Prices will range from $19-$79 — a steal for a tailored Steven Alan shirt — expect to see me there opening day!

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