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Before I write a review of the presentation of the Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker line on today’s Oprah, I want to first clear up some misconceptions:
1. I like Sarah Jessica Parker, but she isn’t the patron saint of budget shoppers. She made a smart business move and has excellent pr people who know how to push your buttons to get you to buy. We do need more bargain shopping options and I am glad that Steve & Barry’s is providing it.
2. I like Steve & Barry’s. In fact, I was just there about 1 month ago, because Tobias begged me to buy him a pair of Starbury shoes.
3. The prior issue had nothing to do with my review of the line (which actually was pretty even handed, read it here) but with the use of promotional photos and TBF readers reactions to the line.
4. I get the impression that many of you feel that celebrities like SJP are doing you a favor when they “design” these lines. While I’m positive SJP and Stephon Marbury care about consumers, they are doing these lines because they make money.
5. I also think there’s this major misconception involving fashion bloggers. We’re not necessarily “fashion insiders”, but we’re not “fashion outsiders” either. We go to fashion week, visit the showrooms of major designers, write books published by major publishers, work as TV correspondents, and shop at stores like Steve &Barry’s.
Now that this is cleared up.. On to Bitten…
Ask yourself if Sarah Jessica Parker’s name was removed from the line, would you still buy it? If someone, other than celebrity created this line, would the line have been on Oprah?
The one thing that separates the Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker line from the other celebrity lines, is that the sizing (2-22) reflects the true sizing range of America and it for this that I wanted to like the line. I also find the $20 coats to be refreshing (I will probably buy one). But, and this is just based upon what I saw on Oprah and my discussions with people who have seen the line and work with Steve & Barry, the line really isn’t anything new. When Isaac Mizrahi did a line with Target, that was new. When Stephon Marbury wore the $14.98 Starbury basketball shoes in NBA basketball games, that was something new.
Take away sizing from the Bitten and you can get all those pieces from stores like Old Navy, Mandee, Marianne, Payless, Forever 21, etc. Plus the quality may leave a lot to be desired- the seams appear wavy (a sign of poor stitching) and the front of the pants were bunchy on the models (go back and watch the segment and notice how every pair of pants bunched in the front and how the seams on the pants didn’t lie flat) It is my hope that the next batch of clothing from the line will step it up on the quality front.
But what I noticed the most was the lukewarm enthusiasm shown by the Oprah audience. I watch Oprah everyday and when the audience loves something, they LOVE it. They seemed pretty unmoved by the Bitten line, with Oprah at one point responding to a lukewarm reception of the audience to a $14.98 knit dress with “Come on it’s $14 dollars.” Compare that to the audience’s reaction regarding the truly impressive bridal dresses by Isaac Mizrahi at Target and you see what I mean.
All in all, this line will be a success, because people still confuse personal style with that created by a stylist. People will also buy because of the continued popularity and strength of SJP’s Sex and the City character.
But again, ask yourself… if her name was removed from the line, would you even be reading this right now?
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Comments
Has anybody purchased the high-waisted jeans?
I bought a pair and I like how they fit, and I found the sizing to be accurate for me, but I have trouble with the zipper. IT WON’T STAY UP! I thought it was a problem with the pair I tried on at the store, so I grabbed another pair to buy and after wearing them, the zipper kept slidding down!!
I wish somehow I could get word to the company.
Not to mention that Steve and Barry’s can maximize their profit by outsourcing all of their manufacturing to Africa and cutting deals with shopping centers for low rent. I doubt seriously that they are paying fair wages to their overseas manufacturers (admittedly, like so many other companies.)
But I, being a typical middle-class hypocrite, went to S&Bs;yesterday and bought a pair of Bitten earrings--big, funky pink plastic things in the form of huge hoops. And they broke before I could even get them off of the plastic clip holding them together. So my judgment is that this is just another celeb-line with very little quality. . .however cute and winsome SJP might be.
I love SJP, and I was thrilled to hear that she came up with a clothing line. I wanted to go to Steve and Barry’s but when I saw that she’s making clothes for sizes 2-22 I was quite disappointed. I’m very petite and I wear size 0 =(
I would perhaps buy from this line, I’m big on nice looking clothes for less. AND it makes sense to ask where the clothes are made for that cheap.
The question was if SJP name wasn’t on it would I buy it. No. I’ve been in Steve and Barry’s before and found nothing that fit well so I didn’t buy anything. However I returned to S&B;last week to check out the Bitten line because it had SJP’s name on it. Yes, I went to look because of a name. I love fashion but I’m 25 and a teacher so there is no way that I can afford it. I shop for L.A.M.B. and D&B;on ebay, I buy my clothes at Target so I was interested to see what SJP had at S&B;and I loved it. It fit and I found two great button down shirts to teach in and a cute dress to go out in. It’s cheap and it has a designer label on it what more could you ask for.
I really loved SJP’s portrayal of Carrie but she’s not a warm fuzzy. She dissed her co-stars in an Oprah interview by saying she wasn’t interested in working with them again (and KC is blamed for the bad vibes?). She wouldn’t pay the other actresses equally who made that show as much as she did. She said she’d never dress like Carrie when accepting a fashion award (ok, few would, but what a crazy dig to make) and accepts all this fashion attention when before SATC she never showed any sense of elegant style. I’ve never seen her give the right props to Patricia Fields. She owes Patricia Fields half of the Bitten profits since no one would have asked her to do a fashion line without Patricia making Carrie and the others so put together during SATC, and the rest goes to the 3rd world kids making this stuff. And no, I’m not Patricia Fields! :-)
I came across this site doing a search and I have to tell you I have prurchased a few of her items, really wanted the bloack and white 3/4 length coat, but it seems they never get that back and you cannot order online. Anyway, living in IL, we have a store called Discovery clouthing where I tend to buy my t-shirts, tanks, tops, and work out cloths because they are so cheap. I pay $3.99 for tanks and less than $12 for t-shirts, poloshirts, button downs and on occation trendy tops to wear to the clubs. I compared the two stores and I find that SJP’s items are lacking in quality. I realize that the line is for the working mother and for those who need classic pieces, but there are other stores that sell low cost items, you just hav to look. I would still by her stuff as long as I thought is was a good deal.
I couldn’t agree more with you..
I addmit,I watch sex and the city,and I love almost everything that she wears in that show..
But I am dissapointed,becaouse Bitten looks very cheap and casual.. I expect more..
The only thing I like is taht coat..Washington coat $19.98.. It looks nice(unlike other clothes from collection).. So if anyone knows how can I buy it online(because I am not from USA)please e mail me - rainbowjcq@yahoo.com
