This spring, minimalist denim is so much more than an elementary assemblage of rivets and twill. The emerging story? Threads for a utilitarian, downtown-cool lifestyle, where blue (or black or white) jeans go back to their no-nonsense roots: clean (or ripped off) back pockets, classic cuts, superior fabrications, and an intense focus on construction and fit.

“The Rag & Bone denim line created a lot of excitement in our New York office,” says Fashion Director Kate Ciepluch about new brand Rag & Bone/JEAN (coming soon to Shopbop), which also offers essential knits and menswear-inspired button-down shirts. “This collection is like the backbone of your wardrobe. In true Rag & Bone fashion, the line consists of all those perfect basics every girl needs—classic styles that can go from beach-chic to urban-cool. Highlights for me were the pastel yellow skinny jeans and the denim overall shorts.”

Like Rag & Bone/JEAN, cool-kid label Rogan clothing complements its Svelte Jeans with edgy yet simple necessities: hooded scarves, and sweaters and tank dresses with provocative sheer panels. Vince may be associated with the question of what to wear to work, but this spring the brand exudes attitude with the launch of Vince Denim. “Their High Line Skinny Jeans fit like a glove,” says Kate. “Acid washes, paint splatter, missing back pockets, and interesting side panels are such great touches.”

Helmut Lang Denim (also coming soon) fits seamlessly with this urban aesthetic as well, albeit on a more experimental level. Keeping with the avant-garde spirit of its parent collection, this line pushes the boundaries of what is expected from denim. Look for leather and jersey panels and washes inspired by industrial, distressed textures such as peeling paint, oil on asphalt, and decayed walls. “Their body-con leggings and dresses with black jersey insets are among my favorites,” Kate says. “Skirts, jackets, shorts, shirts—Helmut Lang Denim has it all covered, and done well.”

--Suzanne

My broken-in black handbag says a lot about me: I adore versatility, I like a bag with room enough for a book, and also that I’m terribly careless about throwing it around. We all search for the bag that perfectly reflects our individuality, and though that search can be a long one, two personality-packed lines new to Shopbop are making it a bit easier.

This search was what led Lindsey Hufnagel to found Horse+Nail handbags. Growing up in Alberta, Canada, she found it difficult to express her individuality and unconventional fashion sense. That, paired with her love of horseback riding and her German surname (“huf” meaning horse and “nagel” meaning nail), inspired her to create a line of bags accented with equestrian details that she handcrafts herself with luxe, hand-picked leathers. The result is a line of Wild West-inspired bags with a rocker attitude.

Few lines have an story more unique than MATT & NAT handbags. Creative director Inter Bedi accepted a Hindu mahatma’s challenge to go vegetarian for 30 days, and during this meat-free month was inspired to start a line of eco-friendly vegan handbags. The brand puts a creative spin on earth-friendly fashion: the lining of each bag is made of recycled water bottles, and a message inside each style shows how many bottles were re-used. But that’s not to say the bags are more hippie than haute: they’re adorned with edgy details (no crochet or embroidery in sight), making it easy even for bad girls to express their inner tree-hugger.

--Tonya

Though it once conjured up images of flowy hippie skirts and hemp jewelry, designers have come to make eco-friendly clothing anything but crunchy-granola. Along with Shopbop veterans EDUN, Brigid Catiis, and Re Collection, two new brands are showing there’s no need to sacrifice style for the greater good.

Leather jackets are a cool girl’s number one staple, and Novella Royale handbags, cut from old leather jackets, are a close second. Studs and fringe give these totes and clutches a tough exterior, but inside they have a heart of gold: lined with organic fabric, their eco-friendly production doesn’t create new waste. And each handmade-in-L.A. piece is literally one of a kind.

Community Denim takes its name from the idea of people coming together for a common purpose, an outlook reflected in their focus on ethical production and donation of a percentage of all sales to children’s charities. Another of their good deeds? Their clean-lined skinnies with made-in-Italy construction come with an affordable price tag. Make a statement by pairing their black jeans with a grey slash-back tee from Re Collection, recycled-metal Alkemie jewelry, and a Novella Royale handbag slung over your shoulder.

--Tonya

It’s an age-old conundrum: sometimes we want to go casual with a tee and jeans, but don’t want to look like we just alighted from the steps of a freshman dorm. Meet Sauce, the new basic-but-never-boring line from Pencey creator Christina Minasian. A collection of tops, dresses, leggings, and loungewear in soft jersey, Sauce channels Minasian’s whimsical sensibility while distilling what we love about Pencey down to a tee. The result? Distinctive detailing, distressed screen prints, and an aesthetic she describes as “surf-rock meets Tokyo,” all at a no sticker-shock price point.

This helping of Sauce inspired me to take a second glance at Pencey’s summer lookbook. The line’s boy-meets-girl sensibility is reflected in a sexy LBD with cummerbund details, slouchy pants with handwritten doodles that would be perfect with a feminine ruffled top, and a tough moto jacket I’d love to layer over their celestial-print tank. And I give high marks to the slash leggings, an ideal day-to-night look paired with Sauce’s Drape Pin Tee and peep-toe booties.

--Tonya

Looking for the spot-on fit of designer jeans without the premium denim price tag? Check out Blank Denim. Denim masterminds Emmy Lauridsen and Leigh Brown create jeans with edgy details that lend attitude to sophisticated silhouettes. And the low price point doesn’t mean they skimp on personality: cutoff shorts are adorned with paint splatters and cleverly patterned studs, and painted-on skinny jeans feel fresh with zippered bottom hems that allow for multiple styling options.

The details aren’t all I love about the line. The styles run the gamut of every current denim trend: white jeans, bright skinnies, and boyfriend jeans and shorts. And at this price point, I won’t hesitate to try a style I’ve never worn before, like black studded skinnies (the shopbop stylists paired these with a Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent blouse and Loeffler Randall booties) or a pair of studded cutoff shorts.

--Tonya

I’m the first to admit it: when putting together an outfit in the morning, I often don’t bother accessorizing. (I blame my snooze button.) But recently I picked up a multi-chain necklace by Giles & Brother that looks good with anything (even if I put it on when half-asleep), and I love the way it elevates my go-to tee-skinnies-boots combo and adds a little attitude to anything more feminine. I want a statement bracelet that has a similar effect on all my ensembles, and I’ve found a few options from shopbop newcomers Sid Vintage Jewelry and Made Her Think.

Sid Vintage designer Nanci Bennett scours flea markets for great finds and incorporates them into her unique yet wearable designs. (A type of recycling we didn’t learn about in grade school–score one for green fashion.) I have my eye on the Multi Chain & Coral Bracelet: the pink beads contrast the otherwise edgy sensibility.

I’ve also bookmarked the Kissing Swallows Cuff by Made Her Think – a little cutesy, a little edgy. The line is inspired by the Victorian and Edwardian eras, relics of Memento Mori and Mexican Folk Art, and the sharp angles of art deco, an intriguingly unique mash-up. (If you’re wondering about the unusual moniker, it’s an anagram of designer Meredith Kahn’s name.)

Which do you think packs the bigger punch: the Sid Vintage bracelet or the Made Her Think cuff?

--Tonya

Last Saturday I celebrated National Record Store Day by visiting an indie record shop. The scene? An outdoor BBQ, 15 bands, random audiophiles bonding over their love of hard-to-find vinyl, and of course fashion. Let’s face it, good music sans style doesn’t really exist (one of the bands was even named “The Nice Outfit”—ha!). 

My day’s purchase was also fashionably motivated: Blondie’s Greatest Hits. I’m a sucker for a little Heart of Glass, but I equally adore Debbie Harry’s trailblazing, pop-punk street style (and this rad cover photo!). Trends explode and fade, but Debbie’s ballsy mix of sporty, cheeky, and drop-dead sexy has never really gone out of vogue (See: Gwen Stefani).

How to crib this look in 2009? It’s all about that one special pop accessory. Each pair of Carrera sunglasses is so fresh it’s hard to decide on just one. The Champion Sunglasses make for the perfect eye candy, while the Hot Sunglasses speak for themselves. The watch of choice for hip-hop royalty (and those who want an indestructible timepiece), the women's G-Shock Baby G series packs a hard-hitting yet feminine punch. Luc Kieffer may be king of romantic resin, but his Zipper Fluorescent Bangle is new wave irreverence at its finest. And when it comes to schlepping my gear backstage with wicked panache, totes by L.A.M.B. and Felix Rey have me in rapture.

--Suzanne

Our Favorites from What's New
Back in January, our Fashion Director Kate picked Nicole Richie’s House of Harlow 1960 as one of the top three new shopbop brands to watch for this spring, and now that it’s finally here, I can see what all the buzz is about. This line really encapsulates Nicole’s covetable look. After all, isn’t she one of the pioneers of the fashion phenomenon we know as boho chic? Nicole, we are forever indebted to you.
	I can’t think of a single outfit this couldn’t go with. Say it with me now: signature. House of Harlow – Resin Necklace
	A leather-covered ring to punctuate the heat of my white jeans or even a white bikini. House of Harlow - Leather and Crystal Cocktail Ring
	I’m sure I’ll get stopped for autographs while wearing this cuff, but someone’s gotta do it. House of Harlow – Hinged Leather Cuff
House of Harlow and many more It girl items await, in What’s New. --Suzanne

Our Favorites from What's New
What does Ksubi mean? If you look to Ksubi.com, you’ll find an uncensored, random stream of social commentary and wry humor: a YouTube video of a bushy-bearded Joaquin Phoenix rapping on the mic, drawings that recall Ralph Steadman’s tormented Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas sketches, snapshots of “excellent Tokyo babes,” couples making out on NYE, and P. Diddy accidentally stepping in sidewalk dog poo. For those who “get it,” Ksubi is an underground urban lifestyle, a melding of art, music, and current events that ultimately translates into killer jeans. Or as brand creators Dan Single and George Gorrow say: “Ksubi is a word to describe our movement and our creative collective. It has no other meaning than what we give it.”
	In the future stores may stock cans of spray-on jeans, but until then these are painted-on perfection. Ksubi – Spray On Jeans
	Who doesn’t need a pair of headline-grabbing, scandalously short shorts? Ksubi – Clam Mini Shorts
	Ksubi knows a chick can’t possibly buck the establishment without these babies. Ksubi – Zip Super Skinny Jeans
Ksubi is a brand with something to say. Speak your mind, with a vocabulary from What’s New. --Suzanne

For that bohemian aesthetic our spring wardrobes are seriously craving, we look no further than shopbop newcomer American Retro, which despite its name, is thoroughly French. Founded in 2002 by Parisian brothers David and Gregory Pariente, who were dubbed “fashion's child prodigies” by Elle magazine, American Retro radiates energy, youth, and color. With the goal of uncovering and inventing new ways of enhancing personal style, the line strikes a balance between creativity and accessibility.

American Retro pieces are personalized with intricate embroidery, crocheted knits, and retro-inspired prints. The result? A match made in heaven for our headbands and fringed handbags. Witness a beaded suede dress, an Aztec-print tunic, an edgy studded vest, and a peasant frock I’ll soon be throwing on with flat sandals on balmy days.

--Tonya