Sea of Shoes does, well… shoes, of course!
So, i just read on Sea of Shoes that Jane Aldridge has a capsule shoe collection coming out with Urban Outfitters. A number of the comments on her post were rather negative — calling her an “advertising opportunity” and her designs “knock-offs”. I am not going to deny that she is indeed a great marketing opportunity for a conglomerate like UO, nor am I going to deny the obvious influences of Margiela and Ann Demeuelemeester in her designs, but can we just step aside for a second and look at things the way they are? First of all, the girl is a mere 17 years old. Yes, she comes from an affluent family. Yes, her mother is an experienced style maven (with a closet laden with treasures). And yes, she has access to items that most of us can only dream about. However, the girl really knows her fashion and she’s smart enough to grab an opportunity when it comes her way. Even the wealthiest and most pampered of teenagers don’t even know how to pronounce Demeulemeester, let alone know who she is. Be jealous if you will, be critical if you will, but you have to admit that Jane has a taste level more sophisticated than many who call themselves fashion industry professionals.
Let us not forget — fashion is a business. We recently posted about working a Hugo Boss sample sale and trust me, there was nothing glamorous about it. Were the suits expensive and fabulous? Yes. Was the event surrounded by paparazzi? No. There is definitely a blurry line between fashion and retail and, for some reason, that line seems blurriest in the US. The people that seem to be dressed the worst are the first ones to go after someone exhibiting a sense of personal style. Great style always seems to be equivalent to snobbishness in our society — and it definitely creates a frenzy of envy. Even if the aforementioned is wearing H & M.
So what do I think about Jane’s collection for Urban Outfitters? I think it’s bloody fantastic! It’s hard to make affordable shoes look good and I think these look damn good. Hats off to Urban Outfitters and to Jane. They may be knock-offs, but I’d rather wear Jane Aldridge Ann D knock-offs than Nine West Marc Jacobs knock-offs any day.
Tags: J. Aldridge for Urban Outfitters, Jane Aldridge, Sea of Shoes
June 25th, 2009 at 3:27 am
Bravo! I couldn’t agree more. Well put.
I was relatively new to Jane’s sea of shoes - altho I’ve seen her link on all my other blog-friends’ lists (& I list her mom’s, who has written lovely emails to me about my own blog) & have been following it only a week or so now. When I saw about the UO gig yesterday, I sent a nice, longish comment - just happy for her - & didn’t see it later as it got lost in the shuffle. So I sent another saying basically what you said, and only this morning discovered that even I was being attacked for perhaps ‘not even being in the industry!’ My head was spinning but I read thru all the comments (thus far: I’m sure they’re still at it).
Did you comment on Jane’s blog, by the way? I’m curious now!
I’m kind of knocked sideways by the way a handful of bloggers have become celebrities (there’s nothing wrong with that) but that it has drawn a fan base where some are hysterical fans, some generously happy for their ‘idol’, but for others, that obsessive love is tinged with such ugly envy, which spills into even the most well intended comments. They have built these pedestals for their idols (some more deserving than others) and then they hurdle rocks at them!
Sorry to rant myself, but this morning’s journey has led me to your blog - which is a good thing! I love the look of the whole site. I see you’re based in Chicago. If you get a moment please take a look at my blog - based in London, it’s core is my street style photography but I do wander off the reservation to get into other aspects of style (&, occasionally, like with my Iranian Embassy shots, politics).
But especially, I’m interested in the sociology of fashion and style and how it’s a women’s world that our men are pretty oblivious to, and for some of us, is so laden with emotion. And I couldn’t agree more: Hats off to Urban Outfitters, Hats off to Jane, and Hats off to you, for writing this far better than I have!
jC
June 25th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Jill, thank you so much for reading and commenting. I did comment on Jane’s blog, but I was one of the early ones who merely said Congratulations. It’s funny, because I went back and reread your comments and realized that I had read one of them to my business partner yesterday. I was moved by a lot of the supportive emails and just absolutely APPALLED at all the haters. Envious green is SUCH an ugly color, don’t you think?
June 25th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I could not agree more with both of you, Brandon & jC. I, too, had left a comment on Jane’s blog re: UO collection, praising her efforts and unique style sense that she exhibits. I was saddened and appalled at all the vicious, ill-mannered comments which were laced with bitter jealousy which is very unbecoming, and I could not help but say so in my comment.
Anyway, on to the shoes….! I’ll echo what I said on Sea of Shoes: It appears Jane has done a remarkable job on the UO collaboration, and I look forward to seeing more in the future.
June 26th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
I’m not going to lie, I completely envious of Jane - from her shoes and wardrobe, to her new commercial success. She’s achieved so much at such a young age. That said, I think everything she has received is well-deserved. She’s obviously very talented and has her own unique aesthetic, which most of us are still struggling to find. I actually think the fact that you can see the Margiela and Ann D. influences shows how big of a part she played in the collaboration. Anyone who follows her blog knows how much she is inspired by those designers! Congrats to her!
June 26th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Right on, Ladies!
Stephanie, I saw your comment on SOS and thoroughly agree. “Unbecoming” is the perfect word.
Phi, I’m jealous too! But good for us that we can be envious, yet still supportive!
XOX, B
June 27th, 2009 at 3:11 am
b–
perfect response. rather than exhibiting petty jealousy, we should be PROUD of our insanely inspirational style icons and fellow fashion bloggers. any of us would die to have the opportunity to have our name and vision attached to a shoe line in any regard, no matter where its inspiration may derive from. to pretend any less is dishonest and, frankly, slightly ridiculous. fashion is cyclical…it is constantly recycled and always founded in what has come before. this is fact, and jane should be just as proud as we are of her unbelievable accomplishment (at 17 years old!).
as for those who are judging her: i’d love to see what they have that makes them so much different from the norm. jealousy is boring. and to that regard, fashion is constantly perpetuating itself…to be judging miss jane aldridge while disregarding that is just silly.
GO jane! and GO twentythirtyforty for presenting a beautiful, and well articulated, public stance.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:29 pm
I love Jane because she makes the more radical pieces look good.