Derek Lam + eBay: People’s Choice

On February 16th, Derek Lam put his designs directly in the hands of his fans. Unveiling a collection of 16 easy and wearable dresses, mostly in georgette, poplin, and denim, simultaneously at New York Fashion Week and on eBay.com, he left it up to the public to decide which five would make it to production for exclusive sale on the site. As of today, the five frugally priced winners (all run between $125-$295) are up for grabs.

So which frocks made the final cut? The “Black Tie” evening dress, a dressed-up silhouette in dressed-down cotton poplin; two georgette floral prints, a languid and loose maxi and a dowdy-sweet chemise; the dark denim sundress, girlish and flouncy; and a business-casual black shift.

So what do I think of the collective consumer’s choices? The cotton gown is a must, the maxi screams “bohemian summer,” and indigo denim is a hot choice for a flirty sundress. But the floral chemise reads a little too “Laura Ingalls Wilder character” and the black shift looks like it might be found hanging from the sale rack at Banana Republic. I would have traded these two out for the white rendition of the “Black Tie” dress and the white oversized shirtdress.

The people have spoken! What’s your take? Shop for Derek Lam exclusively on eBay.