Spring Break
High-quality lines at low prices
by Laura Gamble
Staff Writer
Arts | 12/9/08
Posted online at 11:37 PM EST on 12/8/08
/ Last updated at 1:08 AM EST on 12/8/08
The economy may have you down, but retail giants have found a way to keep pennies in your pocket while still allowing you to put the hottest clothes on your back.
H&M, while sometimes overwhelming, is one of the best stores in which to find anything you could possibly want; it has everything from the trendiest of trends to a basic white button-down. H&M distinguishes itself by keeping prices very low, making it the perfect place to shop during a recession. And, with locations in the Cambridgeside Galleria, on Newbury Street and at Downtown Crossing, the store is easily accessible to Brandeis students.
H&M has always provided-and hopefully will continue to provide-great clothes at low prices, but in recent years the chain has elevated the diversity and quality of its stores by inviting designers to create lines to be sold at slightly higher prices.
While some may argue that these lines diminish a designer's name-value by overexposure, this possible negative effect can easily by countered by the household credibility it establishes. And, to be frank, there is a much larger clientele for these lines as opposed to that for luxury lines.
Revered and established heavyweight designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Roberto Cavalli and Stella McCartney probably gained little fame from their lines at H&M, but less well-known designers have a lot more to gain from a partnership.
The latest designer to jump on board for a diffusion line is Matthew Williamson. The British designer is best known overseas for his work with Monsoon, the UK-based accessory and clothing company known for bright colors and Asian-inspired pieces. He became the creative director of the renowned Pucci in 2006 before branching out on his own.
From studying his work with Pucci and his current collections, Williamson looks like a perfect match for H&M; his bright colors, intricate details and bold, Indian-inspired prints make for a design aesthetic that is likely to appeal to the general public, especially the young crowd that generally frequents H&M.
H&M, while sometimes overwhelming, is one of the best stores in which to find anything you could possibly want; it has everything from the trendiest of trends to a basic white button-down. H&M distinguishes itself by keeping prices very low, making it the perfect place to shop during a recession. And, with locations in the Cambridgeside Galleria, on Newbury Street and at Downtown Crossing, the store is easily accessible to Brandeis students.
H&M has always provided-and hopefully will continue to provide-great clothes at low prices, but in recent years the chain has elevated the diversity and quality of its stores by inviting designers to create lines to be sold at slightly higher prices.
While some may argue that these lines diminish a designer's name-value by overexposure, this possible negative effect can easily by countered by the household credibility it establishes. And, to be frank, there is a much larger clientele for these lines as opposed to that for luxury lines.
Revered and established heavyweight designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Roberto Cavalli and Stella McCartney probably gained little fame from their lines at H&M, but less well-known designers have a lot more to gain from a partnership.
The latest designer to jump on board for a diffusion line is Matthew Williamson. The British designer is best known overseas for his work with Monsoon, the UK-based accessory and clothing company known for bright colors and Asian-inspired pieces. He became the creative director of the renowned Pucci in 2006 before branching out on his own.
From studying his work with Pucci and his current collections, Williamson looks like a perfect match for H&M; his bright colors, intricate details and bold, Indian-inspired prints make for a design aesthetic that is likely to appeal to the general public, especially the young crowd that generally frequents H&M.
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