Anna Dello Russo loves to play dress-up. The esteemed fashion blogger and editor-at-large for Vogue Nippon, Anna Dello Russo, maintains a reputation for her extravagant and unabashed love of fashion.
“You can never be too dressed up, even in the morning,” Dello Russo said in an interview with Vogue U.K., “Don’t be afraid of your eccentricity.”
If dress-up is Anna’s game, H&M shoppers are more than ready to play.
Her new accessories collaboration with the popular retail company features approximately 30 pieces and is available in stores now.The collection is inspired by the icon’s personal style and boasts wildlife-inspired bangles, stunning evening necklaces and earrings, gold-trimmed metal clutches and leather boots made for strutting. The decadent collection is certainly not lacking for daring, sparkling rhinestones and shimmering metallics.
The collection’s debut was met with enormous success in Europe, where the online collection sold out in after a few hours, and shoppers lined up at 6 a.m. for emerald drop earrings and sunglasses finished with rhinestone alligators. However, in the United States, the response was less enthusiastic. Shoppers could have browsed the entire collection without disturbance, walked right up to the register, paid for a beautiful zebra cuff and left in less than 10 minutes. Compare this to London’s Regent Street where shoppers fought over leather boots at 7 a.m.
This phenomenon could be attributed to American shoppers’ lack of awareness. Most NYU students are not sure who Dello Russo is, and responses varied among those who are familiar with the collaboration.
Gallatin freshman Leah Roth was smitten, especially with the alligator-guarded sunglasses.
“I love Anna Dello Russo’s collection,” Roth said. “[The sunglasses] almost reminds me of Versace with the ornate gold detailing and exotic animal infusion.”
Tisch freshman Stephanie Shafir was indifferent.
“It’s just not for me,” Shafir said. “The pieces are all very pretty, but there’s nothing casual about anything. Unless I’m invited to a black tie gala in the upcoming month, I will not be shopping the collection.”
Most of the prices are completely accessible — a metal bracelet or a pair of gold-painted sunglasses cost $30 or $40. If it’s leather booties or turquoise hard-sided luggage that you’re after, it’ll cost you approximately $150-200. Head to your nearest H&M and accessorize like you mean it.
A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, Oct. 10 print edition. Brennan Kilbane is a contributing writer. Email him at [email protected].
