ESSENCE.com was among only three blogs on the East Coast allowed to preview the collection in New York City and, overall, it’s one big accessible luxury-rocker-glam moment.
For the first time in H&M’s history of high-end capsule collections, the cheap and chic retailer has created a line based strictly around shoes. Clothes, of which there are just a few, are strictly second fiddle. But what a fiddle. A perfect-for-boots slouchy cobalt blue suede sheath, sexy punk rock Nappa leather leggings, and a supple faux fur vest that gets no justice on film–trust us: it’s a PETA-conscious beauty–are just some of the looks worth your coins. Handbags? When doors to the collection open on the morning of November 14, make a beeline for the Lydia calf leather purse, the Kase minaudiere, or the men’s Weekend leather duffel. That’s right–we said “men’s.”
The H&M collection marks Jimmy Choo’s debut foray into dressing the gents, including a respectable slim-fit suit of Merino wool; a suave, streamlined leather dress boot; and stylishly worn-in denim. Finally, the shoes. The electric blue Pixie stiletto won a lot of the popular vote when images of the line first leaked, and it’s deserved. It’s the shoe eye candy equivalent of a video vixen: lots of flash and flashes of skin. More appealing and substantial, however, are the grey suede Jedd bootie and leather embellished Claudia platform. Both add instant texture and kick to any outfit, and their open-toe designs can easily convert to fall/winter options with a sleek opaque tight.
Check out the slideshow for highlights of Jimmy Choo for H&M. The Jimmy Choo for H&M collection debuts in select stores nationwide on November 14.