Erin Fetherston To Design Track Suits For Juicy Couture

We’re all for fashionable collaborations around here — especially those that bring some of our favorite designers back down to earth. See: Our feverish lusting over the new Cynthia Vincent for Target Gladiator Wedges. Seriously — it’s a total win-win, the large chain retailers can actually afford to pay the poor struggling designers and us consumers, well, we get to enjoy some democratically priced designer merch.

So you’d expect we’d be completely over-the-moon that too-cute for words designer Erin Fetherston has been tapped to do a collection for a readily available mass-market brand. Except that the brand happens to be Juicy Couture. Yes, file this one under signs that the recession hasn’t loosened its grip on the industry.

word is that the purveyor of the the terry-cloth track suits and Juicy couture jewelry encrusted flip-flops has tapped Erin to serve as creative consultant and design the line until the end of 2011. “I think this is an incredible opportunity. I relate to their fun-loving sense of irreverent, feminine fashion,” said Fetherston.

Disappointed? We’ll admit we are. Known for her ethereal, whimsical take on style (like crystal jewelry)— remember those sequin-encrusted animal hats? — the blunt-banged designer is has always been a favorite, managing to pull off tea-parties and fairy-tale inspired collections that are more cool than cutesy. But, times are still tough and we understand that it takes a lot more than sartorial magic to keep a clothing line afloat. Just ask the folks over at Juicy couture sale - whose brand of boom-era opulence has struggled to find an audience in the “Do we really need to spend $200 on a sweat suit?” economy.

But if you thought that Erin might (fingers crossed) burn those sweats and start a-fresh, think again. In fact, part of her role will be to give the tracksuit a fresh and modern take. “Something I find very exciting is the juicy couture tracksuits is coming on its 10-year anniversary,” she said. “It’s such an iconic piece in fashion, and I’m so excited to work on the track suit.”

Iconic piece of fashion? Excited to work on a track suit? Tough times indeed.