Loulou de la Falaise Line Heads to HSN
A beaded necklace by Loulou de la Falaise for HSN.
Handbags by Loulou de la Falaise for HSN.
Published: Tuesday, February 12, 2008
By Caroline Tell
Loulou de la Falaise is going from muse to mass.
The designer, best known for inspiring the work of Yves Saint Laurent, will introduce her first collection of costume jewelry and fashion accessories Feb. 26 on the Home Shopping Network.
"I've always liked doing things that are affordable," Falaise said. "I like both ends of the business a lot. They're very different points of view and when you've worked a lot in high luxury, you long to do things that are accessible for a wider market. This is the way I have found to do it. It was proposed to me, I thought a lot about it and decided to go ahead with it."
De la Falaise was one of Saint Laurent's closest collaborators starting when she joined the house in 1972. She created jewelry for his haute couture and ready-to-wear collections, and upon his retirement 30 years later, launched her own label in 2003. Her eponymous line, which includes rtw and accessories, sells exclusively at her flagship boutique in Paris at 21 Rue Cambon.
De la Falaise designed a collection of fine jewelry for Oscar de la Renta's fall show.
The Loulou de la Falaise collection for HSN, inspired by the pieces from her Paris store, includes bangles for $25 up to a beaded amethyst necklace for $79. Her jewelry features pearls, silk, wood and horns and her bags are woven out of soft leathers.
De la Falaise's collaboration with HSN is an example of how the multimedia retail channel is expanding into more fashion-forward categories. Most recently, the network was a partner with supermodel Iman on an accessories collection.
"If you sit back and think about our strategy in the overall HSN brand, as well as in the fashion category, it's been about exciting new discoveries and new elements of style," said Mindy Grossman, chief executive officer of IAC Retailing, which owns HSN. "We're bringing things to a broader audience that had previously only been available to select viewers, and elevating icons of style, which I think is so fantastic. In our type of medium, we are as much an entertainment storyteller as a retailer."
De la Falaise's launch is part of HSN's second "Spring Fashion Week" series, airing on the channel Feb. 23 to 29. Over the course of six nights, nine new fashion collections from top designers will make their debuts on HSN, including handbags by B2E by Bracher Emden, Charm & Luck handbags by Jenny Sequia, Vince Camuto footwear and Donald J Pliner accessories.
De la Falaise's collections for HSN will appear seasonally, with her next set for April.
"The idea of doing something that would go all over America was very inspirational and great fun," de la Falaise said. "I'm appealing to a younger audience and also a broader audience."