A Fine Line Between Revealing, Revolting
How low is too low? That’s up to you, but everyone from L.A.’s upscale Frankie B. and Earl Jeans lines to mass brands Levi Strauss & Co. and Lee Jeans is now marketing the low-riding look.
“The boot cut and the capri had been worked to death, so the only thing left to do was to drop the top,” said Levi spokesman Jimmy Hanrahan. “It works with the whole sexy, vixen, babe thing.”
Women just need to be a little extra careful in jeans with 3- to 4-inch zippers, advises Frankie B founder Daniella Clark. “It’s good to wear belts with them. It adds to the hippie rock ‘n’ roll chick look,” said the 32-year-old L.A. entrepreneur, who made $7.5 million selling jeans last year.
And to prevent any, um, backside cleavage, Clark suggests giving the jeans a good tug before standing up. “When Jennifer Lopez stood up to get an award at the MTV Music Awards, and the first thing she did was wiggle and pull her jeans up, I knew they were mine,” Clark said proudly.
Low-waisted underwear (or none) is also a must. Several designers are making undergarments geared specifically to the look, including Sarah Siegel, 27, (daughter of Mo Siegel and Peggy Clute, founders of Celestial Seasonings). The Boulder, Colo., native started selling her So Low panties, G-strings and boxers in February, after she couldn’t find underwear that would work with her favorite denim. “So Low lets a woman feel secure while being discreet,” she said.
Yeah, as long as those abs are in shape.
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Guys--soon, looking like Brad Pitt could be easier than ever.
The hunky actor and his stylist, Todd Shemarya, are talking about launching a clothing line with the help of three Hollywood costumers, according to DNR, a men’s retail and fashion magazine published by Fairchild Publications, which also produces Women’s Wear Daily and W.
The actor will work with the designers and help with public relations, but the line won’t carry his name on the label, according to Shemarya, who said the high-end men’s line should be in stores this fall.
A representative for Pitt was noncommittal. “It is an idea that has been tossed around,” she said of the line. “There is nothing happening right now but possibly in the future.”
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Speaking of denim . . . A ripped and dirtied pair of Levi jeans found partly buried in a Nevada mining town could fetch up to $35,000 in an online auction beginning today on EBay. The jeans--dating back to the 1880s--are believed to be one of the oldest pairs of Levis in the world. The auction runs until May 25, when the winning bid will be announced on the History Channel’s program “History’s Lost & Found Auction Block.”
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Those who want to check out what’s going to be “in” next season might want to walk the line at Henri Bendel’s second L.A. “open see” casting call Monday at the W Hotel in Westwood. At 10 a.m., local clothing and accessories designers and cosmetics creators will be granted an audience with buyers from the fashion-forward, Fifth Avenue retailer.
“The energy and creativity of the West Coast fashion scene is amazing, from fashion students to entrepreneurs to emerging designers on the brink of their first big retail success,” Henri Bendel marketing director Teril Turner said from New York on Wednesday. “We can’t wait to get back to see what’s new.”
The first casting call was held here in September. “Open sees” have been held annually in New York since the 1960s and have launched the careers of designers such as Anna Sui and Todd Oldham.
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Quick Takes: It is sunglasses season, and a survey in the June issue of Consumer Reports found that optical chain For Eyes offers designer glasses for up to 64% less than other national stores..
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Booth Moore can be reached at booth.moore@latimes.com.
