Kohls
Chaps Weekend Perfume: Product Review
What: Angela gets spritzed with Chaps Weekend Perfume.
The Lowdown: Chaps is not a brand name that inspires a great deal of confidence regarding women’s fragrances. Sold at Kohl’s, it strikes me as very conservative and quite the opposite of high end. The packaging for the new Chaps Woman Weekend Perfume doesn’t help—the box is printed all around with a bland pink cable knit, with the Chaps logo (which always makes me think of lassos and cowboy boots) front and center. The bottle is a bit better, though, and I know, I know ... never judge a book and all that ...
As it turns out, in this case, that’s an adage that definitely holds true. Because despite my reservations (and inherently cynical nature), the fragrance itself? Nice. Really nice. With topnotes of green lotus, sparkling neroli and pink tulips supplemented by middle and bottom notes including magnolia blossom, beechwood, and patchouli leaf, the scent is an unfussy mix of floral and woody, without being overpowering. The florals come out strong at first—and if you’ve read previous fragrance reviews, We’re not floral fans—but soften once on the skin for a bit, for a nice subtle balance that has staying power.
The Verdict: Yea. The perfect fragrance, really, for making the transition from those bright summer scents into something more sultry for fall. Nice.
Buy It: Only at Kohl’s, $32.50 for 1 oz. or $42.50 for 3.4 oz.
Lauren Conrad Line for Kohl’s Now On Sale
What: Lauren Conrad wasn’t kidding when she said she was coming back to fashion. While her previous line folded, the Lauren Conrad LC collection is now available for sale on Kohls.com.
What They Say:
The collection features tops, bottoms and dresses for $20 to $60. LC’s collection are wardrobe basics like jeans and knits, so don’t expect anything fancy or ‘designed”, some pieces feature stripes and prints, that’s about it.
What We Say: We really love the LC Lauren Conrad Watercolor Ruffled Dress, but we don’t love its $60 price tag. Still, there are other more affordable options - like this $20 seamless camisole - but none are all that interesting. In fact, one would expect something a little more vibrant to come out of such a young, “hip” designer. What do you think of the line?
American Beauty “Beloved” Perfume: Product Review
What: Angela attempts to get romantic with American Beauty’s “Beloved” perfume spray.
The Lowdown: “Beloved”—apparently the winner of the Fragrance Foundation’s 2009 “Fragrance of the Year” award—is one of those quintessential girly scents: floral, floral, floral, specifically featuring tuberose along with orange flower, stephanotis, and calla lilies. It’s a scent which their marketing team has determined “embodies the exhilaration of being in love.” Good to know they’re not into overstatement.
I’m just going to say it—I’m very picky about perfume, and florals are not my favorite, unless they’re on the very very light side. Unfortunately, “Beloved” is not. It’s actually quite heavy, and while it’s endorsed by the always-lovely and youthful-looking Ashley Judd, the scent itself? Kinda makes me think of lace doilies and hurricane lamps—in other words, leaning towards the senior citizen. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I’m not quite there. As for staying power, should you want it to stick around? No better than average—though I will say, after a little time has passed, the scent is definitely less overwhelming.
The Verdict: Overall, and for the price (about $40 for 1.7 oz.), a nay. If you are a die-hard floral lover, you might want to sample it at the beauty counter, but we think there are much more interesting and modern scents out there, for the same price or less.
Kohls.com: Site Review
Oh, Kohl’s. We always have such high hopes for you, as you add designer lines (Vera Wang, Dana Buchman) and what should be fun and interesting brands and collections (Daisy Fuentes and Elle). And yet, we end up coming away either disappointed or with an overwhelming sense of “eh”. Still, we’ve seen glimpses of good stuff (shoes and handbags aren’t too bad, actually) and so we keep hoping. One way to keep tabs? Stop by Kohls.com and see what’s new—maybe online shopping is the way to go ...
Our Review: Kohl’s site design leaves us feeling about the same way as the retailer in general—it’s not remarkable, but not exactly terrible either. All we really expect from a major mid-level retailer’s website is pretty much what we get here—highlighted daily sales and tabs for each major category (women’s, men’s, you know the drill). Sort by item, brand, sale, etc.
Daily deal items and frequent shipping deals (sometimes requiring a coupon code) add value to shopping online here—and you can sign up for e-mail alerts to have the latest deals sent directly to you—but what it boils down to is that the offerings are the same. We dig the Candies shoes and the Dana Buchman accessories, and it’s handy to be able to pick up kids’ clothing and household items while you shop for your summer handbag. But we can’t help but feel like the whole thing could just be better. Period.
The Verdict: Nay. Again, not terrible, but nothing interesting enough to make us clamor to shop here.
Lauren Conrad’s New Line at Kohls: Do We Care?
Kohl’s, the Midwest based discount department store taking a huge chunk of Target’s business, announced the launch of the a new line by MTV star Lauren Conrad and the real question is do we care?
From the Kohl’s Press Release: Kohl’s Corporation (NYSE:KSS) today announced the exclusive launch of LC Lauren Conrad, a contemporary lifestyle brand that will launch in the women’s department in approximately 300 Kohl’s stores and Kohls.com this October. The brand is ultimately planned to expand to all stores nationwide… “We are very excited to announce our partnership with Lauren Conrad, a pop culture icon whose style resonates with our contemporary customer,” said Don Brennan, senior executive vice president of Kohl’s Department Stores. “
I haven’t seen the line yet, so I’ll hold off any judgment in terms of style, function, etc, but….but… isn’t the whole celebrity-turned-designer-trend done? I bet you this deal was signed last year. Didn’t Lauren Conrad’s last line not do so well? And course, when we think of pop icons, LC is the first person to come to mind, right up there with Madonna, Beyonce, and Susan Boyle.
Lauren talking about her line:
Dress With Youthful Sophistication, Simply Vera Wang for Kohl’s, Etsy Finds, Review Kiehl’s Mascar
A mascara with conditioning benefits? We’re all ears - check out the full length review of Kiehl’s new Marvelous Mineral Mascara at Second City Style.
Omiru’s outfits are always bang on trend; learn how to experiment with yummy new sophisticated details, while remaining true to your wardrobe.
Photos for the new Simply Vera Wang for Kohl’s have hit the web, and they’re pretty dang enticing. FabSugar has pictures of everything, and reviews the line.
Kohl’s and Britney Spears - Really?
What: As the new “face” of the Candie’s Only brand at Kohls, Britney will follow in the footsteps of Hilary Duff and Hayden Penettiere. We guess we’ll see the pop princess, who’s recently been on the rebound, all over the place now. Pepsi flashbacks. In return for the TV spots and soon-to-be ubiquitous ad campaign, Kohl’s and Candie’s will help sponsor Brit’s tour.
What Britney Says:
“I’m so excited to be the face for Candie’s Only at Kohl’s ... Candie’s and Kohl’s are doing such great things with my tour. It’s great to work with a line that has such cool clothes and accessories.”
What We Say: For heaven’s sake, why? Is this really necessary? We thought the celeb/fashion label combo was on its way out, but maybe not. Well, at least the part-time entertainer/full-time tabloid mess isn’t claiming to design clothes. We’re not sure why any brand would want to associate with someone so notorious for their haywire fashion sense but Candie’s Only is pretty young, so this just might get little girls begging their moms to take them to Kohls. Sigh.
Dana Buchman at Kohls Line Review
What: Dana Buchman’s new line for Kohls is available online and Kathryn isn’t impressed.
What I Say: I had high hopes for this line and thought it would be a great mass market line for women of a “certain age”. Some of the pieces (like this Dolman sleeved sweater and these gold wedge sandals) are fairly stylish and brings up memories of the old Dana Buchman bridge line at department stores, but for the most part the line is a bit disappointing (and so is the site design, you can’t read the text description of the product). For example, salmon is the type of color that looks cheap when paired with lower quality fabrics and this line has seven or so pieces in this color. And while I can appreciate how easy black is to wear, the line depends on the color a little too much. Also, I’m a bit suprised by the lack of a Dana Buchman at Kohls plus size line, as the plus size line sold very well in department stores.
Dana Buchman at Kohls: My Top Picks
- Dana Buchman Stripped Dolan Sleeve Sweater, on sale for $49.00
- Dana Buchman Grommet Tunic, on sale for $41.99
- Dana Buchman Animal Aviators, on sale for $21.60
Kohl’s Free Shipping on Orders of $100 or More: Friday Only
The Deal: Free shipping at Kohl’s with orders of $100 or more—today only!
The Lowdown: It’s pretty simple—shop online at Kohl’s today, spend $100 or more, and get it shipped to you for free. No braving the Black Friday crowds, no fist fights over that last periwinkle pashmina scarf, no elbowing for position for that last Wii tennis racket controller in the electronics department.
Shop: Kohls.com
August Secret Sale and Clearance at Kohl’s: Daily Deal
The Deal: Get 15% off when you use your Kohl’s credit card during the August Secret Sale using this code: AUG15, and also save big on end-of-the-season clearance
The Lowdown: Kohl’s August Secret Sale is not such a secret—you’ll get 15% off when you use your Kohl’s credit card and this code: AUG15. While 15% is nice-but-not-spectacular, we’re thinking it gets much better when you pick up some clearance items that are already on a big discount. Like these Candie’s Prittie Dress Heels, for example, originally $49.99 and now just $19.99. They’ll look great with those wide-leg trousers we’re looking forward too this fall . . .
Shop the Sale: Kohl’s but hurry: the 15% off offer’s only good through Aug. 19
Last Day of Kohl’s Big Sale
The Deal: Kohl’s is holding a big sale that ends today! Get 40% to 50% off woman's apparel that is, of course, already affordable.
The Lowdown: We love Kohl’s for its selection of cute and trendy clothing for women of all ages. We like the daywear—the cheery line from ELLE in particular. The office wear from AB Studio is stylish and complementary while still being appropriate.
Check out our picks:
The ELLE heart knit top, $14.99. We looked at the photograph closely, then read the name of the shirt. Hearts? Upon closer examination, we realized the swirling pattern is actually made up of small hearts. Cool!
The AB Studio striped halter top, $21.00. This halter top, with its sandy desert colors, has a neat bow in the corner. Wear with a blazer!
The ELLE yoke babydoll tank, $14.99. It’s elegant, with its sweet pleats. Comes in yellow or black.
Shipping for 99 Cents an Item: Kohls.com
What: Instead of paying the same rate of shipping whether or not you buy one item or ten, Kohl’s is offering a shipping rate of 99 cents per item.
What We Say: We like Kohl’s thinking behind this. We hate it when we’re slapped with a 5 dollar shipping charge no matter what we purchase, and this is a fairer and cheaper way to do our shopping online. Kohl’s is a great discount department store with a large selection for every member of the family. With their Simply Vera by Vera Wang collection, we get designer clothes for low prices, too.
Check out our picks:
This Simply Vera shirred dress is very versatile and pretty. Dress it up with accessories and heels or dress it down with flip flops. On sale for $51.00.
We can’t get enough of floral—check out this gorgeous Floral Godet Skirt. Now only $19.99.
Pictured: This ultra-feminine Daisy Fuentes Floral Dress is romantic and flirty. Picture it with a straw hat and espadrilles. Now $37.80.
Up to 60% off apt.9 Sportswear at Kohl’s: Daily Deal
The Deal: 40-60% Off Women’s apt. 9® Sportswear at Kohls.com
The Lowdown: With temperatures slowly creeping up with the summer countdown, shopping for casual office attire can be a challenge. If you can’t get away with shorts or tank tops, a few ¾ sleeve tops, cap sleeve blouses and cute skirts can help you beat the heat and still stay stylish.
The apt.9 collection at Kohl’s is a good start for the challenge, and the season’s latest collection is marked down 40-60% off through May 3. Pick up a cute Polka-Dot Dress for only $23.99 (orig. $50) or the Smocked Vienna Peasant Top (shown here) for $17.99 (orig. $34). And, the short-sleeve blazers that dress up any outfit are now marked down to $27.99 (orig. $60).
Shop It: 40-60% Off Women’s apt. 9® Sportswear
Image courtesy of Kohls.com
Simply Vera by Vera Wang vs BItten by Sarah Jessica Parker
Okay, how many of you watched Vera Wang on Oprah on Friday?
Thanks to the power of DVR I was able to compare the response of Oprah (and her audience) to the Sarah Jessica Parker Bitten line at Steve & Barry’s to their response to the Vera Wang line at Kohls. I wish I could’ve invited you all over so we could’ve watch it together.
What a BIG difference.
While O, who is my BFF (at least in my head), and her audience was less than enthusiastic about the SJP BItten line, they were practically gushing about the Vera Wang line. They stood, they cheered, they screamed. At one point, I thought Oprah was going to do cartwheels down the walk way in a silk Simply Vera coat while singing “Let it Be” (the amazing Julie Taymor was on the show promoting her Beatles inspired musical “Across the Universe”).
Overall, there’s definitely some pieces I like from the Simply Vera line, for example that black rayon/wool blend coat with the puffy sleeves and the before mentioned silk coat. I also liked the fact that the models were styled from head to toe in the line, versus the pieces paired with a $700 pair of Christian Louboutin pumps.
Then there’s some things that I could totally do without (like the purple “jewel” encrusted empire dress). I also would have liked to see her go up to XXL in sizing to fit a wider range of Kohls shoppers (crazy props to the Bitten folks on sizing). There’s too much black, which is fine by me because I live in the land of black, but not so glorious for my peeps in MN. However, that’s Vera’s thang (look at her Spring 2008 show) and, initially, the prices were way to high- I’m not paying $130 bucks for a pair of boots at Kohls (Bitten, again, have the price thing down, HOWEVER, the quality is terrible).
However, like the Oprah audience, I feel the Simply Vera line is just simply better than Sarah Jessica Parker’s Bitten line.
Now, before you jump on me confessing your undying devotion to Sex and the City and how SJP is such a great person cause she made a budget line. Let me make a few things clear- I understand that Bitten is targeted to a different age group (teen girls) and a different price range (under $20). But.. Simply Vera takes a page straight out of the Target playbook and is made by a real designer, not by a celebrity who is capitalizing off of her fame with a brillant business move. The fabric is better, the cuts, are better, the styling is better.
And Oprah agrees with me.. :)
Vera Wang’s Line Debuts at Kohls Department Store this Wednesday, September 9th
Correction: The line will appear September 9th. Sorry!
According to retail sources, Vera Wang’s new “masstige” (mass market + prestige) line, Simply Vera by Vera Wang, will debut September 9th at select Kohls Department stores nationwide. You’ll also be able to purchase select pieces online at Kohls.com
Simply Vera by Vera Wang to Debut at Kohls this September
It’s finally official. According to WWD, The Simply Vera by Vera Wang collection will debut this fall at a Kohl’s Department Store nearest you.
The collection will feature apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and even eyeglasses in the $20-$200 price range and sizes 2-16. Expect liberal usage of jersey, tulle, and other signature Vera Wang touches. The collection looks interesting, with somewhat edgy fashion at affordable prices, but a bit trend forward for the typical Kohls shopper. Not as great of a merchandising shift as say Sarah Jessica Parker’s Bitten Line, but a big difference nonetheless.
What will be interesting to see is if the line can help Kohls continue to pull customers from their chief competitor, Target, whose sales has been less than stellar this spring.
Read past posts about the Simply Vera by Vera Wang line at Kohl’s, here.
Props to Nitrolicious for the putting the photos together.
Vera Wang Comes to Kohl’s Department Stores
Vera Wang will premiere a fashion and lifestyle brand titled “Very Vera” at
Kohl’s department stores in 2007. Vera joins a long, looong, list of designers who realize that you make more money selling to average folks than selling to rich folks. I wonder if Ms. Wang, who as teen flew to Paris each season with her mom to buy her wardrobe, has ever set foot in a
Kohl’s? I mean, I love her personal style and the glamour of her lines, but I’ll be interested to see if she is able to translate this to the very real women who shop at Kohl’s.
Note: I wrote about this in December of 2005.
Spring Fashion Tips and Predictions
From this week’s newsletter
My predictions for 2006 . . .
- You will be the boss. Retailers are will try every trick in the book to get you to shop.
- Vera Wang will premier a line at Kohl’s. Santa sweaters become chic.
- Marc Jacobs will premier a line at Wal-Mart. A girl can dream.
- Lace will replace sequins. Buh-Bye tunic tops.
- Celebrities will stop trying to be fashion designers. New designers will finally get a chance to shine.
- Floral hair pins will make a comeback. Every fashionista will have a glue gun.
- Red will be the new white. Target employees rejoice.
- Gray will be the new black. Accountants rejoice.
- Round toed shoes will stomp out their pointy sisters. Dr. Scholl’s declares bankruptcy.
- More shoppers will shop online. Massive lay-off of Wal-Mart greeters.
- The “monied” look will return. So will names like Muffy, Buffy, etc.
Post your predictions below . . .
Vera Wang at Kohl’s Department Stores?
Read the latest about the Simply Vera by Vera Wang line at Kohls
Yep, you heard right. Vera Wang and crew are in deep talks with the folks at Kohls department stores to produce a mass market clothing line for the department store. Kohls is hoping that a partnership with Wang will do for their stores, what Isaac Mizrahi did for Target stores—made couture accessible to the masses and bring some extra dough into the stores.
Excerpt from the New York Times Article regarding the potential partnership:
Ms. Wang and executives from her company have been in talks for several months to develop such a collection, conceptually similar to what Isaac Mizrahi now designs for Target and Martha Stewart pioneered with Kmart. Ms. Wang’s most serious discussions, about clothing and home collections, have been with Kohl’s, the value-oriented chain based in Wisconsin that has been building a stable of exclusive brands for its 732 stores, including Candie’s, Daisy Fuentes, Chaps and Laura Ashley, and a new Tony Hawk product line for spring.
Based upon a quick trip to my local Kohls, the department store chain needs to do everything in their power to lure Wang to design a line. There were more Christmas sweaters and elastic waist band pants per square foot at the store than at a convention of Kindergarten teachers.
Read the New York Times Article.
image courtesy of style.com
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