AS if this summer hasn’t been rough enough – with the sweltering temperatures and stifling humidity – here’s something new to freak out about: fashion’s preseason panic.
If you’ve been on the beach all summer instead of pounding the pavement on Madison Avenue, you’ve probably already missed out on some of the hottest upcoming fall and winter fashions. Never mind that it’s August. This autumn’s mostwanted shoes, bags, coats, dresses and even chunky sweaters have already come and gone – sold out, dunzo, kaput.
“We get an early shopper,” says Ed Burstell, senior vice president of Bergdorf Goodman.
“When we deliver fall in June and July, we get a read right away.” And as for quick sellouts and wait lists? “We’re seeing it with a lot of items this season.” Since September’s fashion tomes dropped last week, stores have been fielding a frenzy of phone calls and requests. Me? I phoned Miu Miu for the platform steel-toe boots model Lily Cole wore in a shoot with Marilyn Manson. There was one pair left. When I couldn’t make it downtown fast enough? They were gone.
If you don’t want the same disappointment, get on the waiting lists for these most-wanted fall styles – before they’re sold out again.
Christian Dior Gaucho bag
$1,660, at Christian Dior (21 E. 57 St., [212] 931-2950)
This fall’s newest version of Dior’s signature slouchychic Gaucho is popular with celebs like (clockwise) Mischa Barton, Cameron Diaz and Keira Knightley. It’s already been cleaned out of Dior boutiques all across the country. Next shipment: October.
Ghost high-waisted jeans
$195, at Ghost (28 Bond St., [646] 602-2891) These jeans are so in-demand that the press office didn’t even have a sample for us to photograph – “Kate Moss (right) was photographed wearing the runway prototype and now the phone won’t stop ringing,” says company rep John-David Breen. There’s already a waitlist of 30 names for second shipment, and the style has been added to next spring’s collection in a white capri version. Next shipment arrives: Today at 10 a.m.
Jean Paul Gaultier trench coat
$3,160, at Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue (611 Fifth Ave., [212] 940-4000) This flared and pleated dress coat, as featured in the Gaultier ad campaign, has already sold out of Bergdorf Goodman – despite the sweltering 100 degree temperatures. The Le Privé bags the models are holding ($1,295) also are selling well.
Nancy Gonzalez crocodile hobo
$2,650, at Bergdorf Goodman (754 Fifth Ave., [212] 753-7300) “It’s on fire,” says Ed Burstell, senior vice president of Bergdorf Goodman. “There are dozens of names on the waitlist – because her distribution is so tight, customers come to us for it first.” Next shipment: End of August.
Rachel Leigh Divine Skull necklace
$124, at shopbop.com New Yorker Rachel Leigh’s skull-and-bead necklaces blew out of shopbop.com in two quick weeks this July – and they’re so in demand, the online retailers reordered them in double. Next shipment: Just hit.
Manoush dress
$358, at Searle (1296 Third Ave., [212] 7175200) Brace yourself for a rush to the Upper East Side branch of Searle, because that’s where we’re returning this dress to after the photoshoot – oh, did we mention it’s the only one left in stock? Demand for this dress has been so high that sales associates at Searle couldn’t even get their own – sources tell us that one of their salespeople fibbed to a sister store, telling them she needed a dress for a customer when it was actually for herself. Next shipment: Not determined.
3.1 Phillip Lim sweater dress
$575, at Barneys New York (660 Madison Ave., [212] 826-8900) Before it even arrived in stores, this sweater dress with a ruffled slip insert boasted an 80-name strong waitlist at Barneys. No surprise, since it’s been spotted on celebs all over town – and on actresses like Michelle Williams (left). The dress barely touched down before it sold out. Barneys has put in its first re-order, and there’s already a second waiting list brewing uptown. Next shipment: November.
T-Bags Skylar dress
$202, at Scoop (scoopnyc.com; 532 Broadway, (212) 925-2886). “They call it ‘The Paris’ after Paris Hilton since she’s been seen wearing it everywhere,” says Shadi Askari, co-owner of t-bags. Phones at Scoop have been ringing off the hook and they can’t keep the dress in stock. Next shipment: Aug. 30.
Vince cashmere sweaters
From $275, at Bloomingdale’s (1000 Third Ave., [212] 705-2000) “Considering it is the hot days of August these Vince sweaters have been flying out of the store and reorders have already been placed,” says Stephanie Solomon, vice president of ready-to-wear and accessories at Bloomingdale’s.
Julie Haus Sunburst top
$260, at boutiques nationwide and juliehaus.com First shipments of Haus’ signature Sunburst top (inset) and dress (on Kristen Bell of “Veronica Mars,” right) hit the Internet and boutiques like L.A.’s super-trendy Kitson and Miami’s IOS on July 30. They sold out immediately. Second shipments arrived Aug. 15. Sold out. Pre-ordering available on the Web. Next shipment: Sept. 1.
Alain Mikli Seduction sunglasses
In red and heather (style A0640), $495 at Alain Mikli (986 Madison Ave., [212] 472-6085). With a dozen names on the waitlist for red and six queuing for heather gray, these shades are so hot that shoppers are even begging staff to lend them the floor samples – “One client was willing to leave her AmEx card in order to take the sample,” says a sales associate. Next shipment: End of this week.
Cynthia Steffe Tunic Dress
$207, at Girlshop (Girlshop.com or 819 Washington St., [212] 255-4985) “We’re already back-ordered on the mini after only two days,” says Amanda Doll, Girlshop’s personal shopper. “One of my customers was so heartbroken that she was willing to take a large when she’s an extrasmall and have it hemmed – just to be sure she had one at all.” Next shipment: Aug. 25.
J. Crew Horsebit Dress
$395, at jcrew.com Preppy-haunt J. Crew debuted its firstever black-label “J. Crew Collection” of limited edition pieces at a pre-season online trunk show – and this body-skimming silk print dress sold out in preorders before it even had a chance to hit stores. Next shipment: September.
IWC Pilot’s Watch
$10,400, at Tourneau (200 W. 34 St., [212] 563-6880) Only 1,000 of this unbreakable, scratch-proof double chronograph were produced – and when word got around, New York stores sold out their allotment in pre-orders. According to the brand’s spokesperson, one unnamed editor at a high-end women’s fashion magazine wanted the watch so badly, she borrowed the watch then asked if she could send a check back instead of the sample. Too bad for her company execs said no. Next shipment: No plans to reship; watch must be sourced from other cities and/or overseas boutiques.
Philippe Adec cardigan
$275, at neimanmarcus.com It might be humid outside, but that won’t stop knitwear fanatics from snapping up Philippe Adec’s chunky hand-knit creation. Customers have been calling the main office non-stop – one woman claiming insomnia because “she was thinking about the sweater,” says a sales manager. “She asked to be called the moment Philippe Adec re-ships to Neiman Marcus, no matter what time, day or night.” Next shipment: Early September.