Picture it: New York in 1996/97 then 98 or otherwise known as The Nightmare of 14th Street
....Natalie Portman is NOT Barbra Streisand or Audrey Hepburn even. I hope you learned your lessons.
Anyway, Rachel Roy did a grand job of plugging modernity and at the same time tipping her hat to an historical foible of fashion and pop culture wit the spring RACHEL line at Macy's Herald Square delicately, yet ostentatiously displayed across from bar III with hot pink dyes almost exactly kicking the asses of Isaac Mizrahi and Natalie Portman from their 1996/97 fiasco where Bloomingdale's and Terry Lundgren had to absorb the fallout of Natalie Portman's misuse in Mizrahi's video ads for Isaac, Isaac Mizrahi where Mizrahi also used this same striking pink -- a cool choice if he hadn't required his fans to also consume Portman as the new Madonna (cuz she's not and wasn't). Besides leaving the advancement of acting to criminals and putting Anne Frank's memory in the Harvard baby dumpster, Portman left people flat, but Mizrahi lived on as a cultural and gay icon further failing with a recent appearance at Cafe Carlyle.
In icon to millions, Rachel Roy, helps consumers to re-live the neon inspiration of Mizrahi's talents with blouses, jackets, dresses, and other in an amazing re-incarnation of this awesome pink color. Plus, it is very accessible wallet-wise with a long lace jacket/blazer at $179 and nautical summer dress in stretch fabric for $129, for example. My fav is the "April Pink Combo" dress because it boldly incorporates neon green, a v-neck outlined polo collar, and black stripes. The long lace jacket could be worn with a short black spandex shirt that peeps out or maybe by itself as a dress and is standout.
I am also a fan of some neat t-shirts and a flower cut out blouse in baby pink. Black and gray caftan stretch dresses are eye-catching for the feminist hippie in me with a thick elastic "protector" band across the back. The funky "blind windows" (a reference to 1994-98's Sunset Boulevard in London and on Broadway) lace pantsuit can be cross-referenced with Gucci's "blind windows" New York Yankees tote also available now at Macy's. It is funky and classy in white, Yankee pinstripes, and with Starter jacket cuffs to boot. The multi-colored sequined shirt and skirt set in blush and multi is akin to the shimmer powder you just swipe across your face at the MAC counter and enjoy quickly in the next mirror as a glistening treat.
Roy also has indicated that she promotes sets not sex (jk from high school) with a few different patterns and fabrics used on peasant tops and matching skirts in black and silver, lattice white gossamer, and hot pink lattice gossamer.
BONUS:
THE "APRIL" TEXTURED STRETCH DRESS in true navy or stone (white) directly from the Concord resort with asymetrical hem priced at a semi-convenient $139.
And, the biggest kick in the unzipped ass of Mizrahi -- neon flamingo combo sequins tank just laying on the table near the friends and family ad to entice consumers.
UNGARO, just you wait!