The Wait is Almost Over

Once upon a time, if you didn’t have the budget for the latest and hottest designers, you were simply SOL, or you had to use alternative methods like waiting on sales, buying secondhand, hoping for a gift, or saving up and splurging. Now it’s a whole lot easier and less painful to score cool designer names. In addition to producing less expensive lines on their own, red-hot designers are collaborating with mainstream priced retailers. The latest designer to perform this wonderful public service is Maison Martin Margiela for H&M.

If your just becoming familiar with this designer, Wikipedia informs us that Maison Martin Margiela, his full name, is a Belgian fashion designer who studied at Antwerp's Royal Academy of Fine Arts. In 1980, after graduation, he worked for five years as a freelance designer, and between 1985 and 1987 he worked for Jean Paul Gaultier. In 1989, he showed his first collection under his own label, and despite his non-traditional designs, he became the creative director of the Hermes’ women’s line. According to Fashionbase.com his impressive list of celebrity fans include, the Kardashian sisters, Sarah Jessica Parker, Gisele Bundchen, Kate Moss, Rachel Bilson, and the FLOTUS herself, Michelle Obama

According to several sites like fashionista.com The Maison Martin Margiela for H&M collaboration doesn’t officially land in stores until November 15, but you can get a sneak peek at the 100-plus piece collection including prices here.

An interesting side note on the designer, as far as his collaboration with H&M, is that Wikipedia noted that “throughout his career, Martin Margiela has maintained an extremely low profile. He has never had his picture taken and remains backstage after his shows. All media contact is dealt with via fax and the Maison Martin Margiela’s ultra-discreet trademark consists of a piece of cloth with the numbers 0-23. It’s a badge that is attached to the inside with its four little white pick stitches, exposed to the outside on unlined garments. For the 20th anniversary, the anonymous tag was replaced by a classic logotype.”

All of the press is stirring up a frenzy, and fashionista.com wrote, “We’re pretty sure there are going to be lines around the block for this one.” But just in case you can’t wait, I found a couple of pieces from the designer on the website Shopforclothes.com. The designer’s own line is a little pricey, but an accessory like a handbag, knit hat, pair of shoes, or even a ring can bring this designer to your closet even without the help of H&M.