First MFS exclusive for Fashion Parkway

I am so pleased to announce that my first contribution post with MFS sponsor Fashion Parkway is up and ready to view.  My outfit post, titled Holiday Red, is timed perfectly in the midst of this holiday season.

See my full Holiday Red outfit post here.

Trend: Cool holiday sweaters

Moschino appliqued wool turtleneck sweater

Mason by Michelle Mason reindeer-intarsia wool and cashmere-blend sweater

Meadham Kirchhoff Maria metallic-embroidered knitted sweater

Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti sequin snowflake-embellished wool sweater

Banjo & Matilda snowflake-intarsia cashmere sweater

Here are my favorites to stay stylish while still being festive this holiday season.

Everlane: New concept of luxury e-tailing

By cutting out the middleman, the budding luxury clothing design and manufacturing company offers high-quality products at unconventional prices.  The company started by producing a luxurious version of the classic t-shirt for just $15.  It has now evolved its product offerings to silk blouses, wool scarves and backpacks.  How does Everlane achieve such prices?  See the value chain below:

Photo credit: Everlane.com

Luxury 360

Luxury 360 is a new and recurring post where I will examine the current luxury goods market trends and recap the main highlights.  I personally like to know the big picture of the industry and sometimes find it difficult to get this information in one place.

• 2012 has proven a good year with sales for a third year in row showing double-digit growth. Globally, luxury goods sales are estimated to reach 212 billion euros in 2012, a 10% increase from 2011.  Sales for 2011 were 192 billion euros up 11% from 2010.
• Accessories (leather goods and shoes combined) are the champion category of 2012 with sales up 14%.  For the first time accessories are the largest piece of the market overtaking apparel.  
• At 27 billion euros Greater China (Mainland, Hong Kong, Macau) is now the second largest luxury goods market behind the United States, bypassing Japan.  However Greater China, which accounts for half of luxury spending in all Asian markets, is slowing with projected growth of 20% in 2012 versus 30% in 2011.
• Men are gaining share in luxury spending accounting for 41% of all sales.  In 1995, men accounted for 35% of luxury purchases.  

Hope you found this interesting!  If you want a more in depth look into these highlights, see the Bain & Co. luxury goods market report here.


Photo credit: Runway Passport

Guest Blogger: Mindy Erazo's Blogger Crush

Hello Mouthful of Style readers, Mindy here from Mindy Erazo curating a guest post about one of my Blogger Crushes!

May I introduce you to the beautiful Andy Heart, a fashion and style blogger whom I have been following for about a year now. Her and I have very similar taste which is why I just love her blog. Her style is very chic, incorporating simple pieces with statement pieces all with a masculine edge while still keeping her femininity. Seems like a difficult thing to do but Miss Heart achieves it so effortlessly its brilliant.

Her color palette doesn't have the widest range but something about tone on tone and all black outfits doesn't bother me whatsoever, I mean, half my closet is black so I'm not one to judge! She's great at mixing designer pieces with more affordable ones which I love.

C'est trés chic, no?

Miss Heart's blog is filled with not only amazing outfit posts but she also includes many product reviews. I've bought quite a few products from her recommendations and none have disappointed. If that doesn't have you searching for her blog yet, she ALSO has some fun beauty tips and tricks like this great one for an edgy, yet sophisticated nail.

Huge fan of hers and I hope I've inspired you to check out her blog here.

Thank you so much to Mouthful of Style for asking me to do this guest blog. I had a lot of fun and I hope you all enjoyed my Blogger Crush!

Mindy Erazo


Photo credit: Andy Heart

Holiday wish listing

1. Proenza Schouler PS11 mini classic leather
2. Diptyque Amber Oud scented Christmas candle
3. Falling Whistles for Peace in Congo
4. Bea Valdes Outrider clutch bag
5. Frida Gustavsson Vogue Germany fashion illustration print
6. Isabel Marant Hippo embellished quilted cotton-twill jacket
7. Tom Ford Beauty nail lacquer set
8. Lady Grey Symtra bangle
9. Valentino studded patent-leather flats

Holiday gift guide wish list.  I am sure you have all overdosed on holiday gift guides by now.  So instead of creating my own gift guide, I am showing you what is on my holiday wish list to inspire you through this holiday shopping period.

The Curator, Tastemaker, Style Influencer ...

The curator, tastemaker, style influencer, fashion ambassador and celebrity; They are changing the scene of online shopping.  I see one consistent trend being the use of curators in recommending products. Marketing research has shown that we as consumers like recommendations from people we know and/or admire and are more inclined to shop these suggestions.  So is the curator the new online marketing strategy of today as was the flash-sale of previous years?  Below are four unique online websites that have adopted the curator-based business model.

AHAlife is an online discovery and shopping platform that offers unique handpicked products by the likes of Donna Karan, Daniel Boulud, Tina Brown and Tim Gunn.  

The Coveteur offers a look into the closets of tastemakers, celebrities and fashion elite with the ability to actually shop pieces from their closets.

Vaunte recently launched and is also offering up fashionable closets by redesigning the world of online luxury consignment shopping.

The Cools is a social network and an e-commerce site.  Its tastemakers include Erin Fetherston, Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld, and Agyness Deyn.

Guest Blogger: tone saravia on American Holiday Fashion

There is nothing more American than Thanksgiving and nothing more New York than than the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Covered in thick coats and warm colors, friends and families gathered together along the West Side apartments this morning for mimosas, coffee, and pastries overlooking Central Park and the parade. We were lucky to be invited to one of these special gathering. Magic occurs in the small spaces of this city, where dark colors, thick furs, modern leather cuts, and vintage style come together to embody what is the epitome of American holiday fashion. 

For more on tone saravia see here. 

Trend: Gothic Black

We all know burgundy/oxblood is the new black this season.  But let's not forget about black as the classic, chic and sophisticated color we all can wear and this season's new take on it: Gothic.


Photo credits: Pinterest

London

(Emilio de la Morena dress and belt, Rag & Bone long sleeve tee, Christian Louboutin heels, Tom Ford sunglasses)

Content is Key - Part 2 of 2

In Content is Key - Part 1 of 2, I discussed the importance of content marketing strategies to attract, acquire and engage consumers by producing good content continuously.  I gave Net-A-Porter as an example of an online fashion retailer doing it really well with a frequently updated and beautifully presented online magazine highlighting product offerings, seasonal trends and exclusive insider interviews.

But good content marketing strategies are not only reserved for online-based businesses.  We are now frequently seeing brick-and-mortar companies conquering this space by using social media platforms or blogs to reach out to consumers.  The blog DKNY PR Girl run by Aliza Licht, Senior VP of Global Communications for Donna Karan, has captivated readers with her smart and witty take on highlighting the brand.  Mixing insights on style and life in NYC with current product offerings, you almost forget she is a Senior VP for Donna Karan!  And it works with over 400,000 followers on Twitter.  

I hope more fashion companies (both on and offline) adopt Ms. Licht's approach to content marketing. It is always amusing for consumers such as myself to read fun and insightful content by people-in-the-know in addition to DKNY PR GIRL proving to be a more than successful communications strategy.


Photo credit: DKNY PR Girl

Inside Emilio de la Morena's Design Studio

Last week I visited one of my favorite London Fashion Week catwalk designers Emilio de la Morena's design studio.  Filled with his signature colorful clothing and accessories (and my excitement!), I got a tangible sneak preview into the SS'13 collection.  "I wanted to make SS'13 easy-to-wear," Emilio told me.  Easy-to-wear and impeccably tailored, his collection reminded me of a modern take on Spanish flamenco dancers (see dresses above).  "I felt I wanted to bring back memories from the past," the designer originally from Spain said. Thank you Emilio for showing me your as beautiful as always new collection.

See the full SS'13 collection at Style.com and London Fashion Week

DVF and Evian Team Up

Another fashion industry collaboration with a beverage!  I previously posted on Diet Coke and Jean Paul Gaultier and Starbucks and Rodarte.  This time it's Evian and Diane von Furstenberg (DVF).  Evian's brand image is luxury bottled water.  DVF is best known for the use of colorful graphic prints and the creation of the iconic wrap dress.

DVF has designed Evian's 2013 limited-edition bottle with the words "water is life is love is life is love is life is water” and with the designer's signature heart logo in red.  This is Evian's first time to link up with an American designer however the company has partnered previously with Paul Smith, Issey Miyake, Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Lacroix.  The DVF limited-edition bottles willl be available in stores this month.


Photo credit: WWD

Guest Blogger: J.A. on Vintage Watches

I always believed that when you buy a luxury item you are first and foremost buying history and legacy.  This surely applies to vintage watches.  Wearing a 50 year old beautiful watch is a powerful statement and clearly defines a personality that believes in heritage, history and a passion for things well done.

I personally have a preference for 2 brands: IWC and Patek Philippe. Both of them have passed the test of time and have always been at the forefront of the best Swiss technology and tradition.  It’s a very difficult task to find the right piece at the right price, but research definitely helps in making the right purchase.  Always remember to buy from a reputable dealer and don't forget to choose a cool strap!

J.A.

Photo credits: York Time, Hodinkee, Sonning Vintage Watches

Black on black plus Valentino

(Balenciaga coat, Rag & Bone jeans, Christian Louboutin heels, Valentino bag, Ray-Ban sunglasses)

Color is all over the runways these days but I'm still partial to an all black outfit.  The weather in London changed significantly last week and its time to bring out the coats.  This is one of my favorites: leather-trimmed and double-breasted.  Styled with a pair of killer pumps and F/W '12 studded Valentino bag and I'm ready to brave the cold!

Photo credit: Shariq Siddiqui Photography

The Little Black Jacket we all know and love

 

 

Yesterday I visited the Saatchi Galley to see Chanel's Little Black Jacket exhibition.  Simple, elegant yet daring is how I would describe the exhibition, much like the Little Black Jacket itself.  113 poster prints of the classic jacket shot by Karl Lagerfeld and modeled by a range of celebrities connected with the House covered the white walls of the gallery.  Styled by Carine Roitfeld, each model was shot to reflect his or her individual style.  It was difficult to choose but I finally managed to narrow down my favorite shots to share with you.