Zac Attack

Zac attack at Brooks Brothers: Posen livens up classic brand, adds evening looks

What: Brooks Brothers fall collection presentation.

Where: The Glass House during New York Fashion Week.

Nighttime looks: In his second season as creative director for the Brooks Brothers women's line, Zac Posen introduced evening wear for the first time, showing such looks as a sleeveless velvet gown with a dramatic back cowl neck, a floral jacquard cocoon coat with detachable fox-fur collar, and a chic tuxedo jacket with satin lapels and cropped pants for a women who wants a black-tie alternative.

"I personally think every woman should own a feminine tuxedo," he says.

Classic daywear: Posen also presented signature daytime looks, such as the classic camel hair coat with wider lapels and big pockets, dresses of an oversized medallion print, and flannel trousers and jackets cut short and long in a more modern proportion with menswear-inspired tweed suiting — a Brooks Brothers trademark.

"My stamp was really about tapping into the essence of Brooks Brothers itself. Revising the quality that we stood for, signature elements, working on the fit. The classics were there, it's was just about expanding out the lifestyle in a non-thematic way," Posen says.

"There's are definitely signature pieces within the collection, like within the LBD (Little Black Dress), and then re-evolving the fit which had gotten really frumpy. It's a great opportunity for me to do classic American sportswear at a very high quality price, I don't think of Brooks as a trendy fashion."

Collaboration: Posen's association with Brooks Brothers has definitely brought a cooler vibe the venerable brand. And it's lent the designer some international connections.

"We're in mostly every major fashion city with a reach across the world. I feel like I'm an ambassador to effortless great American style and what we have contributed to sportswear, so it's quite exciting," Posen explains.

"I personally think every woman should own a feminine tuxedo," Posen says.

Zac Posen Brooks Brothers fall collection 2016

Photo courtesy of Brooks Brothers

"I personally think every woman should own a feminine tuxedo," Posen says.

new-york-fashion-week

COWGIRL CORE

Western boutique Flea Style rides back to Houston with rodeo-ready looks

Photo courtesy of Flea Style

Founder and CEO Brittany Cobb brings Flea Style back to Houston, returning to the city where she first began at The Houston Flea.

Just in time for rodeo season, Flea Style is making its long-awaited return to Houston, giving shoppers a new River Oaks destination for boots, belts, and beautifully decorated hats.

The Texas-born brand will officially open its newest storefront in River Oaks on March 7, which is a full-circle moment for founder and CEO Brittany Cobb, who got her start in the Bayou City at the Houston Flea at Silver Street Studios. Since then, Flea Style has become a nine-location retail brand worn by celebrities including Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Leon Bridges, and Post Malone.

“I’ve been looking for a Houston location for about five years,” Cobb says. “Each visit, I just never found the right spot that worked for the business at the time. Last fall, I visited, determined to find something, even if just a pop-up, to open by rodeo season. That’s when I finally found a location that checked every box and truly felt like our long-term Houston home.”

With the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo attracting stylish crowds to NRG Stadium through March 22, Cobb made sure Houston shoppers would have access to exclusives. The River Oaks location is launching with a small collection of vintage women’s cowboy boots, a special collection of kantha quilt capes and jackets, and 30 custom-decorated hats.

Flea Style’s new River Oaks storefront opens March 7, just in time for rodeo season.Photo courtesy of Flea Style

“We’re offering an incredible selection of vintage women’s cowboy boots,” Cobb says. “It’s only our second location to carry them, and we’re launching with about 40 pairs. We’re also bringing our fan-favorite Belt Bar, featuring blank belts and vintage buckles. Our Houston customer loves vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces, so I specifically shopped at the market with them in mind.”

Cobb tells CultureMap returning to Houston feels like she never really left. “The Houston shopper is so special to me, and to the company, because they’ve been a part of my story since before our first retail location,” Cobb says. “We go way back to my days as a collector, early entrepreneur, and a young mom starting my business. I’m so excited to be back in Houston to continue our story, face-to-face, and help our shoppers and fans create unique styles with pieces that aren’t offered anywhere else in the city.”

The Houston opening also coincides with a huge milestone for Cobb. She will release her debut book, How To Style A Hat, with a foreword by Miranda Lambert, on April 21.

Flea Style, 1963 W Gray St. 7019, Monday - Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Flea Style

Founder and CEO Brittany Cobb brings Flea Style back to Houston, returning to the city where she first began at The Houston Flea.

rodeo style rodeo shopping houston flea style