Stylist Ilaria Urbinati re-partners with Eddie Bauer for fall 2017

By

P J Gach

Published
Mar 23, 2017

Eddie Bauer, known for its utilitarian, durable outdoor wear—a favorite among sportsmen/women and college students, is getting a fashionable uplift from stylist Illaria Urbinati. Her new 25-piece capsule fall collection for women, is already being called a fall “must-have” by from a variety of fashion publications.
 

The editorial spotlight could drive a new audience and consumer to the brand, while also satisfying brand-loyalists. For inspiration, Urbinati kept Eddie Bauer’s wife, Christine “Stine” Bauer on the forefront of her mind.  Ms. Bauer, known as Stine, was a keen skeet shooter, outdoorswoman, and was one of Bauer’s first female guides back in the 1930s. It was at her urging that Bauer create a collection of clothing for the outdoor-minded woman.
 
Like her 2015 capsule collection for Eddie Bauer Men, Urbinati also dove deep into Bauer’s style archives; modernized prints and pattern. She created new take on classic pieces, like the 1936 Skyliner jacket, updating and renaming it the Blacktail Cropped Bomber. Another item that was given a new twist is the 1953 Kara Koram II parka.

“We appreciate the way she has remained true to the brand's ethos while modernizing some of our classic silhouettes, creating a fresh take on many of Eddie Bauer's iconic pieces,” said Mike Egeck, Chief Executive Officer for Eddie Bauer in a press release.
 
Based out of Bellevue, Washington, Eddie Bauer opened his first store in Seattle back in 1920. The store was only open during the seasons that Bauer didn’t pursue his own outdoor interests.  In 1940, he patented the first down jacket. In 1945, he began to sell women and men’s outdoor clothing via catalog. By 1971, the company opened 68 stores nationwide.