Isabel Marant AW13 Boot of the Season

Moda Operandi's Isabel Marant trunk show went live today where these boots are available for preorder and delivered straight to your door come Fall.  See the trunk show here.


Photo credit: Moda Operandi 

Trend: Mini bags craze

 

Photo credit:  FORWARD by elyse walker

Lady Grey Neck Cuff

Photo credit: Shariq Siddiqui Photography

Designer Profile: Helmut Lang Short Suit

I wanted to highlight Helmut Lang's short suit from the SS13 show: printed suits with shorts.  It's all about modernizing classic pieces and this fresh look is my choice for SS13 designer fashion.


Photo credit: Style.com

Oscars 2013 Trend: Sparkle

Giorgio Armani silver sequin gown

Giorgio Armani overlay of white sequins and crystals gown

Elie Saab Couture sheer black gown, embellishment of beads and lace

Monique Lhuillier strapless dress

 Alexander McQueen lilac organza embroidered gown

There were no fashion faux pas at this year's Oscars.  All beautiful (and trend alert: embellished) muted colored dresses (minus the stunning red Valentino on Jennifer Aniston).  With designer's vying to dress the Oscar attendees and stylists looking to get the very best from designers, it was a win-win this year with plentiful sparkle for all.

Photo credit: Vogue

London Fashion Week AW13

Antonio Berardi

Emilio de la Morena

Tom Ford (is back on the runways!)

Model of the moment, Cara Delevingne 

Backstage beauty

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day Gift Guide for Yourself

1. Dolce & Gabbana iPhone 4 Case, $275
2. YSL Eyeliner Pen, $32
3. Girls Season 1 DVD, $22
4. Kiss Pillow, $110

5. Karl Lagerfeld Champagne Flute Set, $300
6. VPL Bra, $95
7. Breville Juicer, $99
8. Rubber Rings with Diamond, $190
9. Glass Heart Bottle, $32

Valentine's Day Gift Guide for Him

1. Loro Piana Sweater, £430
2. Big Jambox, $300
3. Turnbull & Asser Silk Pocket Square, £50
4. Nike FuelBand, £129
5. Toms Beachmaster Sunglasses, $119
6. iPad Mini, $329
7. Smythson crocodile wallet, £950
8. Jack Black The Core Collection, $52
9. Brioni Embroidered Woven-Silk Tie, £150

Valentine's Day Gift Guide for Her

1. Equipment Pajama Set, $388
2. Ode a la Rose Monthly Flower Delivery Service (4-12 months), $360-$995
3. Proenza Schouler PS11 Continental Wallet Mirror, $765
4. YSL Iridescent Heart Necklace, $1,255
5. Teddy Bear Sculpture, $300
6. Fresh Hesperides Jubilee Set, $45
7. Vosges Noir Truffle Heart Collection, $48

Fresh Sake Bath

I have been using Fresh products for years (mentioning the wonders it has done for my hair here) and am so excited to share my newest Fresh product obsession: Sake Bath.  The soak eases body tensions and detoxifies while the scent calms - achieving all the perfect elements of a hot bath.  Fresh is known for using natural ingredients in its products such as sugar, milk, soy and rice.  And did you know the company is part of the LVMH group?   Find it here and let me know how it worked for you.


Photo credit:  Fresh

Luxury 360 - The fun of Beauty Part 2

In my last post: LUXURY 360 - THE FUN OF BEAUTY PART 1, I showcased the "fun-ness" of Chanel's Color Creativity video and the reasons luxury brands are instilling more creativity into beauty from a branding and sales perspective.  

Today I want to share a really interesting except from the L2 Think Tank Digital IQ Index supplement, "Beauty in China" to further illustrate the reason beauty is a key focus and growth area for luxury brands:

• Young women in China currently spend 10-15% of annual income on beauty products
• Trading up; the prestige beauty segment is outpacing the mass category in terms of growth
• China is the largest online beauty market in the world with 17% of beauty bought online (compared to 4-6% in 'mature' markets) 

What trends are you seeing in the luxury beauty market?

Luxury 360 - The fun of Beauty Part 1

I swear the beauty industry keeps getting more interesting.  Take these still shots above from the Color Creativity video featured on Chanel's beauty webpage here.  The reinterpretation of the iconic design of Chanel beauty products is...well, fun!  

It makes sense that Chanel and other luxury brands are similarly increasing their point-of-view (and often investment) in beauty to entice consumers in new and innovative ways:

• Beauty can be a huge revenue generator to brands (as it is for Chanel and Dior) and has higher margins than fashion. 
• Beauty as entry-level priced products allows everyone to become part of a luxury brand's often aspirational world.
• Once a consumer has been introduced to a luxury brand through beauty, a brand can then cross and up-sell to higher price point items.  
• Apart from fragrance, which is a highly fragmented market with low brand loyalty, make up and skincare are high on brand loyalty.  Think about it.  Once you find a concealer, blush or even a mascara that works for you, you repeat buy.       

So much more to say on this topic but I thought I would split it into two posts.  More beauty insights to come in the next post, LUXURY 360 - THE FUN OF BEAUTY PART 2.

Paris Fashion Week: Menswear A/W'13

Lanvin

Dries Van Noten

Louis Vuitton

Givenchy

A glimpse of my favourite looks from the final installment of the A/W'13 European menswear shows coming from Paris Fashion Week.  Three distinctive trends stood out: leather, print (especially PJ-print for men which I actually love since it was my favourite trend of 2012 for women), and again oversized trousers as seen in the London shows here.  All the shows played on volume this season which is definitely a more casual change from the easy-to-look-good-in tailored look.  European men's shows are now over but women's shows are just around the corner.  Excited to see what's next.


Photo credit: GQ

Swan lake

(rag & bone sweater and jeans, All Saints boots, Tom Ford sunglasses)