Womenswear designer to help blokey brand turn feminine
With a 30-plus year history of producing unique men's shirts, the Alexandria-based brand will next week unleash a limited edition womenswear range with prominent designer Marnie Skillings.
The range, dubbed Marnie Skillings for Van Heusen, will be used as a precursor to the introduction of the brand's full womenswear offering hitting stores later this month.
The Skillings range, which features six different styles, is constructed from Italian cottons and laces and available only in a black and white palette. Styles include white trapeze, black lace sleeve, lace trim white and an Edwardian cuff.
Van Heusen spokeswoman Jane McFadden said only 50 pieces in each style would be available in store. Manufactured in Australia, the range will be available in sizes eight to 14 and will retail for $159.
McFadden said the decision to enter into the womenswear arena was made some time ago.
"It's a logical extension to the Van Heusen menswear line and we wanted women to realise and have available, the same value for money product that has made the male business line so successful."
She said the Van Heusen Womens range had two components - seven items in classic stock service lines plus 18 Italian fashion fabrics over a staggered release timeline.
The fashion component of the range would be updated seasonally so there would always be fresh patterns appearing in stores.
Styles included classic patterns available in either three-quarter or long sleeves while the fashion component included French cuff, some with white collars.
Retail price points for the range, available in store from April 15, would range from $44.95 to $99.95, McFadden said.