Mayle visit--and lots of new clothes

I got my VanJean package today and my pieces from Mayle. I've not had this much new Mayle since the legendary 2007 sample sale, and I doubt I'll ever get this much in one day again. To recap, from VanJean--Rocio in cream, Bebel, Thea in putty; from Mayle--Zora in black, Melia in black (actually, it's more a slate gray but I digress); Mirabelle in black (true black); Helen in Persimmon. As I type, I'm wearing Thea which fits pretty well--better than the black in Bird--although I'd love one more inch of fabric in the back! Photos will come. Suffice to say, it's like my birthday with all the tissue paper and hangers. VanJean did not charge me the higher prices, for the record. Everything fit too--even Bebel in size 6, which is an odd dress but I like it. This one is a paler gold than the one I tried on in Barneys, and it looks better against my skin. Evan even commented that he liked it, so that was good (no words on Rocio or Thea). He thinks it is quite hysterical that I have all these dresses and tops and am being such a girl about it all.

I got to Mayle about 5 today. It was still pretty busy but Elise and Christine said yesterday was mad and that it was a miracle I got through on the phone, albeit for the best. When I got there, the racks looked pretty bare. As others have noted, a lot of the stock has gone. No Marius, Asina, Jacinthe (all colorways gone), Astrid (again, all colors sold), Justinian, Allegra, Olympia or Hera. No Melia in black or Zora in persimmon. Also no Alix, but I am sure that never went into production.

Very limited indeed were Zora in putty (just size 10 left, I believe), Pia in black, Penilope, Zoia (only size 4 and up in both ivory/black, ivory/paisley), Melia in ivory, Mirabelle in ivory, Zenith (4 was the smallest and I think they only have goldenrod left, but I may be wrong), Cyra (only in goldenrod).

They seemed to have a fair number of the following left, although sizes might be limited: Zora in black (only up to size 6, I believe), Gaia pants, Thea in black and in putty (size 8 is the biggest), Kozma skirt, Athena in black and persimmon, Helen in black, Eunice pants, Lena dress (lovely but even my torso was on the short-side for this one), Zeta blouse (both in the black and putty variants), Otto coat, Theodora in black and persimmon--as long as you are size 6 or smaller (and this dress seems to run small), Ziggy romper in black and black multi in, I think, size 6 and up; Nia skort in black multi, Jemeen in ivory/black and ivory/paisley (small sizes sold out), Mirabelle in black, Senna, Rex pants (black and tan), Betto dress both in denim and gray, but only P, S, M; Phoebe top (gray and denim). Belts and bags are 30% off and, as such, there wasn't as great a rush. My thoughts are (and always have been) that Betto and Phoebe will end up in a sample sale (why did she ruin the design by using sweatshirt fabric? And that chain?). Other items that I doubt will sell include Nia, Lena, Zeta and Otto.

Tons of Dezra in smaller sizes. When I asked to try it on, Elise said that it had not come out right--it was cut too small in the ribcage and twisted in an odd way when it was on. She was right. I had to try a 10 which barely fit. There are a lot of smaller sizes in this one. You have to size up. Black is available up to size 6; ivory in all sizes.

It looks like nobody really knows what's happening with the final collection. Possibly one item per size per style (I can't think of a succinct way to say this--basically one style with five pieces, one in each size). It will likely come in in waves--one set released per week. Billie bags are likely a yes; monogram clogs likely not (Elise seemed surprised when I asked about this). But basically she says they don't know anything for sure and they haven't been told anything definite. Jane Mayle is working alone with only one person to assist her so there will be no lookbook and very limited availability. Indeed, I'm not sure that all decisions have been made. Certainly, recutting Astrid suggests that this dress will be around in more numbers than the one of each rumors indicate.