Jay Manuel to debut Attitude collection for Sears Canada

Jay Manuel, esteemed member of Tyra Banks’ entourage turned Canada’s Next Top Model host, has joined forces with Sears Canada as the creative director for Attitude Jay Manuel, a Sears private label whose fall/winter 2011 collection will debut at LG Fashion Week on March 30. According to a press release, the collection combines a sophisticated early 1960s silhouette with luxurious textures from the 1970s (although the fabric that comes to mind when we think ’70s is polyester, so let’s hope Jay’s got something else up his sleeve).

Touted as a collection for the stylish woman on the go, expect to find wide-legged trousers, pencil skirts, suiting and seamed dresses, ranging in size from zero to 18. The line itself will be sold for between $12.97 and $139.99, on par with similar designer-discount collaborations such as Rodarte for Target and Lanvin for H&M. In the release, Manuel is quoted as saying:

Throughout my career I’ve travelled the world, working with designers and creative visionaries in the fashion business, learning the art of women’s design. A good fit and draping fabric was something I learned at an early age, as my grandfather was a respected tailor. The time is right to return home to Canada and bring all my worldly inspirations to a fashion line that empowers women.

This collection could clearly go either way, but since we’re in a charitable mood, we’ll just cross our fingers and quote another fashion-focused reality TV star, Tim Gunn: “Make it work!”

• Sears Canada Announces “Top Model” Personality Jay Manuel as Creative Director for Private Label Attitude Collections