Label Love – AKA New York

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Beauty Board to bring you an important head’s up from the fashion world. Today we’d like to alert you all about the latest from one of our favorite design teams: AKA New York. Okay, total disclosure, the designers of AKA New York are former ELLE editors like us, but we’re not reporting on their line (now in its third year) for shady nepotism-esque reasons. After all, we buy their pieces—full price, naturally—in stores because they’re simply irresistible. They have a wide celebrity following as well: Jessica Simpson, Mischa Barton, and Olivia Wilde have all been spotted in AKA New York garb.

One of the lovely things about AKA New York is the brand’s sensibility. Created by Abigale Levinson, Karen Reinitz, and Ana Maria Pimentel, the women bring their “editor mentality” to the line—meaning they’re all about the mix, never wearing one designer from head-to-toe. They don’t push one inspiration point exclusively, rather each season they showcase and incorporate multiple visions in a cohesive way. It’s rather like a “best of” collection where every piece is unique, yet a hit.

For their Spring 2007 collection, AKA New York has created a number of exclusive pieces for shopbop.com, like this adorable short sleeved blue Mini Dress . Shopbop.com also sells the line’s widely available spring looks (try Henri Bendel, Intermix, Milk, Saks, and Neiman Marcus for more pieces). In addition to this, all three designers will be at Henri Bendel in New York this weekend to give personal styling tips to customers. We are seriously sad we’re stuck in LA this weekend, soaking up the sun in the classic ensemble of bikini and Oliver Peoples sunglasses, but we hope that our NYC readers stop by and chat the girls up—they are so helpful and sweet you’d be a fool not to go! (712 Fifth Avenue, New York)

We’re personally wild about the brocade pieces that AKA New York is showing for this season. There’s an empire shift dress ($283, shopbop.com) that we adore and some swell coats too. Also keep your eyes peeled for their polo dress with a dropped waist skirt in navy (shown above, coming soon). As Karen (the K in AKA) said, “It’s the easiest dress to just throw on and you’re good to go.” It also can go from day to night easily (something we always look for), just pair with flats for walking around during the day and then change to wedges and some great necklaces for night. Easy, beautiful, and smart—no wonder that AKA New York is a Line We Love.