Black Friday has come early this year. Well, for about 160 people it did. Because that’s how many were able to get their hands on the new limited edition “Jimmy Choo for H&M” line before everything was gone in two hours.
Considering this was Jimmy Choo and considering the quality of the products, it was no surprise.
“Jimmy Choo for H&M” is the first time that the coveted shoe brand, made famous by Sarah Jessica Parker in “Sex and the City,” has partnered with a retail giant to bring its designs to the masses at more affordable prices. A normal pair of Jimmy Choos will typically range from $400 to over $1,000, depending on the style and season.
As such, what makes “Jimmy Choo for H&M” lucrative is twofold: It was a limited edition, one-day only collection which was available at only 200 H&M stores worldwide, and it was at a fraction of the price of normal Jimmy Choo accessories.
Two of these stores were located in Los Angeles and, sadly, did not include the new H&M that opened at the Westfield Century City Mall. The line began forming late Friday night to welcome a 10 a.m. opening.
Information on how to shop the line and rules were distributed ahead of time. One of the rules stipulated that shoppers would have 10 minutes to browse the designated Jimmy Choo area of the store, and only 20 people would be allowed in at a time.
The Jimmy Choo line contained women’s clothing, shoes, accessories and menswear. The main question is: Was it worth the hype?
The answer is based on your personal style. Do you have a predilection for shiny, ’80s-inspired clothes and strappy sandals?
If the answer is yes, then the Jimmy Choo line will be very satisfying. If not, there will be other designers designing for mass market retail ““ we are in a recession.
“Jimmy Choo for H&M” is a mixed bag of punk-like, studded shoes and accessories with a mix of glitzy black dresses and tunics. There are even some leather jackets and patent strappy heels.
Do not expect anything in the collection to be worn on a day-to-day basis, except for the purses and the flats, which are also finely decorated with prints and studs so that your normal outfit will definitely not be boring.
As for the clothing ““ which was sold out in 10 minutes ““ most of it is typical of a girl’s night out with glittering tunics, form-fitting dresses and leggings which should never be worn as pants.
It was too typical and not unlike anything you can find for a fraction of the price at a regular H&M. One of the notable exceptions was the one-sleeve, gray suede dress, which is a particular favorite of mine ($249), though it ran a bit big, as did most of the clothes.
Then there were some items in the collection that made me wonder: Who would wear that? These items included the faux fur vest, which in Southern California is never appropriate, and the suede dress with fringes ($249), which is reminiscent of tacky western garb.
Then there was the main attraction: The towering heels that Jimmy Choo is famous for and what many women at the 200 H&M’s around the world lined up to buy. These were a different story.
In terms of comfort, three-inch heels cannot be expected to be comfortable, especially when they are made from cheaper materials than their original counterpart. Yet they were striking and definitely very covetable, especially the strappy sandals, in all of their shiny, patented, and studded glory, perfect to enhance a Friday night outfit. The material on the heels was flimsier than I would have liked, especially the peep-toe heel with a studded strap ($149), which was made with a soft fabric and did not seem like it would hold its shape well even when worn.
As for the accessories, the bags ranged from day bags to small clutches in prices and quality comparable to a typical Coach purse. The bracelets ranged from simple black double straps to glittering metals quite beautiful and affordable (upward of $20), a fitting consolation if you cannot buy anything else from the collection.
In the end, “Jimmy Choo for H&M” is a mixed designer bag of good and mediocre. The shoes and accessories were well designed and similar to full-priced Jimmy Choos. In contrast, the clothing was too reminiscent of regular clubbing wear.
Taken as a whole, was the collection worth the wait in line? I would have to respond in the negative, since to me, nothing is worth waiting in line at 1 a.m. for, not even fabulous shoes.
““ Diep Tran
E-mail Tran at dtran@media.ucla.edu.