Cutting-edge fashion at Talbots, Ann Taylor, Liz Claiborne???
Turns out, this recession has a silver lining. Or two, or three. The names: Talbots, Ann Taylor and Liz Claiborne.
This is where a real friend would get in my face and remind me I don't want to ever hit the Talbots and Liz demographics. (I'll confess that Ann Taylor has been a BFF for years, but I'm an old soul.)
That was then. Now is the news that these companies are rolling out high-profile new designers and hope to woe over the set for whom splurging on Chanel and Vera Wang is now decidedly out. (Vera for Kohl's is tre chic.)
Izaac Mizrahi is already making a splash with his spring collection for Liz Caliborne. (Psst, some items have been out long enough to hit the sale racks.)
That's just the start. Ann Taylor has hired a designer away from Club Monaco who is pulling together affordable "perfect pieces" that promise to polish and tie together an outfit, like black pants and cardigans.
And here's how the New York Times describes the designs coming this fall to Talbots, a store that seriously needs a shake-things-up mid-life crisis: "(They) offer a stark contrast, one that is more in line with the broader trends of fashion, like a chic black cotton knit dress with delicate draping for $129 and tweed lady jackets for $219 that captured the same manor-house vibe as Miuccia Prada’s fall collection."
Prada meets Talbots? I'll believe it when I see it, but I'm seriously intrigued.
~ Deal Diva Letitia
(Photo: Left, Ann Taylor is looking fresher for spring. Right, Isaac Mizrahi breathes new life into the Liz Claiborne line.)
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Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at 850) 224-7263 or 
Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or 
A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or 
From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or 
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