Even in this economy, it’s just so hard to give up fashion. Thankfully, lines like H&M, Forever 21, Mango, and Target carry lines that are not only affordable, but are trendy, current, and fashionable. JC Penney is the newest store to exclusively team with a famous designer and we had the chance to chat with her backstage at her Spring 2009 Fashion show. Charlotte Ronson may be a newbie designer and when you think of her you might automatically think of her very famous sister, DJ Samantha Ronson. But with loads of press for her second show at Bryant Park, and her newest venture with JC Penney, Charlotte won’t be in Samantha’s wake for too much longer. We asked Charlotte about her famous sister and she said, “My sisters inspire the show.” Indeed, Samantha isn’t her only famous sibling. Sister Annabelle also had a moment in the spotlight, just that afternoon she had walked the runway in the CR show. “We all have individual styles,” Charlotte said. “But I take ideas from all of us.”

This mix and match of Charlotte’s line is what makes it unique. Fashion is ever changing and so are we. Being a slave to fashion is so passé, picking and choosing clothes based on how you feel is more organic, more current. Thankfully, you can do just that when you wear Charlotte’s clothes. The clothes refuse to be labeled: a swingy, flowery dress is toughened with metal detailing, while a structured blazer is sweetened up with a large bow. Charlotte described her line as “feminine, approachable, flirty, and effortless,” and we couldn’t agree more. The clothes have that I-just-slipped-this-on feeling a la Sienna Miller or Rachel Bilson—a bit hippie, a bit tough, but with an undeniable cute factor. “I was very proud of the line,” Charlotte told us. She stood backstage after her show, dressed in one of her own designs—a casual black shirt with shoulder cut outs. Her blond, wavy hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail and she looked relaxed. She looked happy. Her brother Mark, and mother Ann-Dexter Jones, flanked around her sharing in her accomplishment as photographers snapped pictures and press like NBC and Glamour interviewed her about her show.

Charlotte admitted to us that she wanted to reach more people with the line. “I wanted quality with a great price,” she said. She told us how she had ventured out with another company before, Urban Outfitters, and that the JC Penney collaboration seemed to be a great opportunity to expand her brand. She admitted she had never stepped into a J C Penney before, but when the company approached her and she visited the store, she was impressed. She even purchased a striped American Living shirt during her visit.

I Heart Ronson recently hit over 600 J C Penney Stores in collaboration with her 2009 Spring Line. The collection is aimed at 21-35 year olds and represents the very clothes you’d find in Charlotte’s closet. She even designed a portion of the sales floor with wall fixtures and wallpaper to match her own. When I scanned her collection on JC Penney online, it was obvious that Charlotte didn’t sacrifice her aesthetic for affordability. I found quality pieces that were very similar to her runway collection. An I Heart Ronson flowered dress, price tag: 40 dollars, is just as flirty and effortless as dresses that were seen on her models. And I loved the soft jersey Tieback Sweater with elbow length sleeves—perfect for when you want to look casual, but pulled together.

When we asked Charlotte Ronson if she had any more plans for clothing lines in the future, she smiled and said “The plate is full.” We’re just glad she squeezed out one more line for people like us, recessionistas that can’t afford Soho prices, but want that downtown look. Now we can get it. Go for the I Heart Ronson tunic and pair it with your own leggings. Or, toughen up the tiered ruffled skirt with a pair of your beat up flat boots. “It’s all about layering,” Charlotte said. And with prices like these you can afford to mix and match. Just like the Ronson girls. What’s best: I can get the look and still have money left over to meet up with my friends for a night on the town. That, I love.

I love to keep up with fashion and I subscribe to a lot of great websites out there. One of them is Who What Wear. Everyday they have an interesting note about what celebrities, socialites, designers or stylists are currently inspiring them.

Apparently the MC Hammer look is making a comeback. I am not so sure how’d I feel if those baggy diaper pants with the crotch seam at the knees makes a comeback, thought I must admit Hammer wears gold lamé quite well.

Check out the site to see how the 90s pop star is influencing our 2009 fashion.

I’ve been shopping the sales like mad, but I am still not finished with my holiday shopping list. I do have five new sweaters, though. Hmmm….Next on my list is a birthday present to myself: Bond Street Jeans from Lucky($130).

I love Lucky brand jeans. They fit so well and they come in a variety of cuts, colors, sizes, and lengths too.

I am drawn to this pair because I think the pockets are interesting and different from your run-of-the mill 5 pocket denim.

With a sophisticated trouser-style silhouette and cuff-style hem, these are jeans you can wear on casual Friday and still look professional. The wide waistband with two buttons and patch front pockets also give these jeans a vintage without thinking about how someone else’s derriere has already broken them in.

Available at LuckyBrandJeans.com

Brace yourself, girls. The lines at Target are about to get a little longer.

As Target’s partnership with Isaac Mizrahi draws to a close, fear not, budget-conscious fashionistas! Thankfully, Target is still devoted to keeping us looking good in a “economic downturn,” and has announced their launch of Designer Collaborations.

Designer Collaborations is a different product segment than Target’s Go International lines, which has featured designs from up and coming designers like Proenza Schouler, Luella Bartley, and Behnaz Sarafpour (to name a few of my favorites). Designer Collaborations will be featuring wallet-friendly fashion from established designers, kicking off in March 2009 with a new line from Alexander McQueen. The line will be based on Alexander McQueen’s McQ line and called McQ Alexander McQueen for Target.

 

The collection will feature trends and staple pieces including skinny jeans (yum!), lightweight sweaters, bubbles dresses, slim skirts (my favorite), and cuffed shorts. It will also include outerwear such as a coated cotton poplin black trench, gray denim cropped studded jacket, and a tuxedo blazer. Some other buzz-worthy items will be swimwear and cotton voile print scarves.

The color palette will consist of basic neutrals like black, white, gray and tan offset with punches of bright pink and cobalt blue. There’s also said to be a lot of rock and roll in this line, with studs and mesh punking up more traditional threads like a chambray shirtdress.

Is it too early to start camping outside of Target?