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7/29/2010
Vahada and her Dinosaurs Collection
Vahada and her Dinosaurs Collection: "Dina Vahada, an Esmod graduate established her own brand called none other than Vadada. Her line depicted that there’s always two side of everything as symbolizes by her logo; good and bad, men and women, dark and light, rich and poor, near and far, beginning and ending. You can see this portrayal througout her whole [...]
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Exploitation vs experience, Balderton on investing, LVMH beats estimates, Armani odd man out, Denim’s appeal
Fashion industry internships: exploitation or experience? (Guardian)
“The haute couture world may be glamorous, but some interns at the gritty end of the business are being exploited in their quest to gain industry experience.”
Balderton Capital on its Investment Strategy (The Next Woman)
“As we’re seeing lots of companies from different sectors, it gives us a useful vantage point for spotting broader trends, which can sometimes be helpful… challenges that businesses face have parallels in other companies, and different industries.”
LVMH Profit Beats Estimates on Rising Fashion Sales (Bloomberg)
“LVMH… the world’s largest maker of luxury goods, reported first-half profit that beat analysts’ estimates as sales of fashion and leather goods accelerated in the second quarter.”
Armani Is Luxury’s `Odd One Out’ as Second-Quarter Sales Falter (Bloomberg)
“Giorgio Armani struggled to win customers in the past quarter, contrasting with a surge in sales at luxury goods companies Hermes International and Burberry Group.”
Into the blue: Why denim never goes out of fashion (Independent)
“It’s among the most versatile and practical fabrics, beloved in its time by soldiers, railway workers and, of course, since the mid-1950s, by any fashion follower worth his or her credentials.”
Chinese JVs on the rise, Affluent consumer species, Wealthy Web 2.0, Social media lessons, Hats off to Jane Taylor
Global Luxury Brands Abandon Chinese Partners (Business China)
“In addition to taking direct control of stores in China, luxury brands are hoping to boost profits by tailoring new product lines to the meet local consumer tastes, and moving their manufacturing bases to China or other Asian countries with low labor costs.”
The Four Species of Wealthy Consumers (WSJ)
“A doctoral student and two professors have been studying luxury goods and their “brand prominence”–how noticeable a brand or logo is on a product. They tried to figure out what types of consumers want.”
Wealthy Web 2.0: Social Media’s Richest Audiences (Signature 9)
“When it comes to social sites, where are the wealthy spending time? On Facebook and YouTube primarily, but also reading blogs, tweeting or on the professional network LinkedIn.”
Social media failure should be embraced not feared (Biz Report)
“Social media marketing is still in an experimentation phase, with success and failures. Marketers should embrace the failures, as well as the successes, in order to learn what drives the best results and to formulate future campaigns.”
Hats Off (Vogue.com)
“Jane Taylor is the millinery world’s latest star… Taylor’s timeless and flattering pieces fuse her love of classic shapes with innovative, new millinery techniques.”
‘Beautiful Islands’ Explores Climate-Change Impact
It’s easy to forget in the bustle of New York City that the place we call home is actually an island. So the documentary Beautiful Islands, which gives a glimpse of daily life on three islands in danger of being lost to rising sea levels due to global warming, was especially moving for us. Japanese filmmaker Kana Tomoko takes a look at three very different, beautiful places: Venice, Italy; Shishmaref, Alaska, and Tuvalu in the South Pacific. Tomoko decided not to include narration or music in the film, allowing these endangered locations to speak for themselves.
The first stop is Tuvalu, a chain of nine coral islands that are home to about 10,000 people and a rich Polynesian culture with deeply rooted environmental values. Floods in February and March threaten the islands, which some believe may be the first lost to global warming. Doom seems so inevitable that inhabitants participate in a yearly lottery to relocate to New Zealand.
The journey continues to Venice, Italy, the “City of Water.” Interviews with a Murano glassmaker, the proprietor of Hotel Danieli and the son of a gondolier show the pride Venetians have in their city. Over the past 100 years, the city has not only sunk 5.1 inches, but the sea level has risen 3.9 inches. “Acqua Alta” (high water) has been flooding the city’s streets, businesses and homes with increasing frequency, leaving people to scramble for higher ground and damaging this historic city.
The film then explores Shishmaref, located near the Bering Strait, with a population of about 600 people, who are mostly descendants of the Iñupiat natives who first settled there about 4,000 years ago. Here, we found heartbreaking stories, such as that of a family whose son slipped through the thinned ice and died, and haunting images, such as a house teetering on the side of cliff. Permafrost is melting because of climate change and the island is experiencing severe erosion. In 2002, the residents decided to move the community to mainland Alaska, but haven’t secured funding to leave. Students in the town have been raising relocation funds, with the S.O.S. Project (Save Our Shishmaref).
Beautiful Islands is currently playing in Los Angeles at Laemmle’s Music Hall 3 through July 29, and is expected to open in other cities some time this year. There’s also a flood camera iPhone app that shows what flooding can do to a treasured place of your own. What do you think we can do to save endangered islands?
Deal of the Month: Donate Gently Used Jeans for bebe Discount
Donate a pair of gently used jeans at a bebe retail location to receive $25 off new denim, such as this pair of zip-bottom biker jeans.
After a survey of our overflowing closet, we’ve instated the “nightclub rule” — for one new item to enter, another has to leave. So as our wardrobe’s official bouncer, we’re excited to learn that shoppers who donate a pair of gently worn jeans to a bebe retail location receive $25 off the price of a new pair from bebe’s denim collection through July 31.
The used jeans are donated to someone in need through Clothes4Souls, a new division of Soles4Souls, the international shoe charity we told you about when the nonprofit donated new and used shoes to Haiti following the devastating January earthquake.
If you don’t have jeans to give away, a minimum donation of $10 also gets you the $25 discount, available in stores only. The deal is limited to one per customer and is not applicable to sale denim. Like its umbrella nonprofit, Clothes4Souls also distributes new items from manufacturers, retailers and designers — such as adidas and American Apparel — to those in need throughout the United States and in 125 countries throughout the world. Items go to orphanages, areas affected by natural disasters, poverty-stricken communities in the U.S. and abroad, domestic abuse shelters and other places where shoes and clothing are needed. The Nashville-based organization recently has begun accepting donations of gently worn jeans and coats (as well as shoes) at drop-off locations searchable by ZIP code on the website.
We love the idea of clothes we can no longer wear going to someone who needs them. Are there special worthy causes to which you donate your old clothes?
Up From Down Under
They may have been on the other side of the planet from their native land, but the Aussies gathered at the Crosby Street Hotel last night for the Australians in New York Fashion Foundation's summer party couldn't have looked more at ease. 'We grew up with American TV, American accents, American ways. When we come to America, it isn't a culture shock,' offered Melissa George. Still, actors and models have been more successful than designers at rising into the international spotlight from down under, which is why Julie Anne Quay and Calvin Klein's Malcolm Carfrae formed AINYFF in the first place. Each year, the organization arranges for talented Aussie fashion prospects to come further their careers in the Big Apple.
—Darrell Hartman
Last year's first-prize winner, Georgia Lazzaro, is nearing the end of her internship at Narciso Rodriguez and had dressed George for the evening in a backless jumpsuit of her own design. 'Australia has a very nurturing industry. I'm not saying it's easier to establish yourself there, but it is kind of a case of big fish in a little sea,' explained the 25-year-old designer. Francisco Costa, just back from vacation on the Greek island of Kea, was palming a strip of raffle tickets. Fashion, he admitted, isn't necessarily something he associates with Australia. 'I think kangaroos!' But that may soon change: Lazzaro moves over to Calvin Klein after fashion week. 'She has a great portfolio,' Costa said. 'I can't wait.'
—Darrell Hartman
The Return of Esteban Cortazar
MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA: A year after the Lindsey Lohan drama, proud Esteban Cortazar, who would rather walk out than compromise his standards, is doing just fine.On Monday night, his show–a collaboration with local retailer Exito–kicked off Colombian Fashion Week 2010 held in Medellin, a couple of hours away from his natal Bogota.
In the footsteps of Karl Lagerfeld for H&M, or Christopher Kane for Topshop, Cortazar’s democratized fashion presented a range of items from $12 to $200.
And the show certainly didn’t give the price away.
Dark, elongated silhouettes, with Cortazar’s signature knits and knots, along with rock n’ roll leggings, bold touches of color, audacious layering, and elegant booty-fication. In other words, the challenge that Esteban picked wasn’t just to import French chic to Colombia. Rather, he wanted to get women from Paris and Bogota talking. His designs brought a scruffy je-ne-sais quoi to the country, while giving Charlotte Gainsbourg lookalikes a lesson on how to bling.
“My aim wasn’t to work in high-end in Colombia, because that represents a tiny segment of the population that can afford to shop abroad. I wanted to bring international fashion here, to everyone,” he told Fashionista, “The challenge was to propose–not dictate–references from Paris and New York, but fit for Colombian women.” This was reflected by the models too: half Ford models, shipped from New York, the other half local girls.
It is a matter of learning, added art director Jaime Rubiano, who styled the show. “The items are in fact very simple: racks of jerseys and simple tops, which are very open to styling–the show was a way of teaching local women about layering, mixing and matching,” adding that, “the result is a beautiful merge between disheveled and tropical.”
The collection hit the shops yesterday, involving–like Lagerfeld or Comme des Garcons’ collaborations–enraged female fights. What better proof of success?
Thankfully Cortazar’s got two more coming–but isn’t it time sell them online?
**All photos by Alice Pfeiffer.
Vogue Latin America’s Editor-in-Chief Loves Esteban, Budget Clothes and Fashion Blogs
MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA: Eva Hughes, editor in chief of Vogue Latin America, is a woman who can infuse vavavoom into the most androgynous of models (imagine a cross between Carine Roitfeld and Eva Mendes).Fashionista caught her at the end of Esteban Cortazar’s triumphal show for retailer Exito, which kicked off Colombian Fashion Week 2010 on Monday night. She told us all about the power of budget clothes, Latin American women today and fashion blogs.
What did you think of Esteban’s show?
Eva Hughes: The collection is absolutely fantastic for Exito, it’s young and dynamic. But more importantly, it has a Parisian feel yet was made in Colombia–so it is amazing because it is bringing customers to a local store, and to get closer to designers from their countries. Add a good price to that…what more can you ask?
What did you like about the clothes?
I just love the coats, especially the leather jackets! Also, I liked the leggings with embellishments as they can be worn in different ways, and adapt to various body types. The styling, detailing and accessories gives a subtle French touch, yet overall the collection remains a very international one.
What does this say about Colombian women today?
Young Latin American women today are very sensual, sexy and have a strong personality. They like to travel and are very international–yet they still have a local flair, and are proud of their country.
And is the interest in fashion evolving? What is this due to?
Yes, there is more interest in fashion, because of the Internet. Fashion blogs and websites have brought fashion to people who would never have been able to access it otherwise, which is a wonderful evolution.
Woohoo! LVMH Sales Are Up, Like, A Lot
The reason conglomerates exist is so that when one area of the business is slowing, the others are hopefully growing.For LVMH, 2010 is proving to be a good year for not just a few, but all of its subsidiaries.
Sales over the first half of 2010 totaled €9.1 billion, or about $11.8 billion, a 16% jump from the first half of 2009. Everything from wine and spirits to Louis Vuitton to Sephora to Donna Karan are performing well everywhere from the US to Asia. What’s more, profits were up by a whopping 33% to €1.8 million, or around $2.3 million.
With things looking this good, expect LVMH to do some buying and selling come August. Big luxury brands tend to do the deals at the end of summer–probably because Europe is on vacation, which means less snooping around by the press. So while PPR’s vie for Burberry could be the biggest deal of the year, except something interesting from LVMH, too. Indeed, luxury brands are really killing it this year.
Fashion News Roundup: Chelsea Chooses Wang, Obama at Anna’s, Fetishizing D&G, Olivier and Natacha are Dunzo
Here Comes Chelsea: Surprise, surprise. For the biggest politico wedding since the Kennedy-Bessette nuptials, bride Chelsea Clinton will wear Vera Wang. {WWD}Ambassador Anna: Presumably in town for the Clinton wedding (and some actual work), President Obama is set to have dinner at Anna Wintour’s home this evening. The price for a seat at this intimate fundraiser? $30,000. {Racked NY}
Jangly Jangly: The brilliant minds at SHOWStudio explain their obsession with Dolce & Gabbana’s AW10 corset. {SHOWStudio}
Paint Your Nails “Party in the Penthouse”: Following the smash success of its Shrek color collection, OPI is releasing a Gossip Girl-inspired line. We think the colors look more Snooki than Serena, but who says that’s a bad thing? {Refinery 29}
W’s Turn: The magazine, who’s relaunch will be marked by its September issue, is purportedly filming a documentary centered around the process. Sound familiar? {The Cut}
So Poetic: Olivier Zahm’s romance with Natacha Ramsay has ended. At least according to this picture. Be sure to read the comments. {Purple Diary}
Quote of the Day: Breaking Up is Hard to Do
Dear Friends
To all the anonymous friends who follow my life on the Purple Diary, I have to tell you that I’m in a lot of pain. Natacha Ramsay dumped me on Sunday. She ran away with her lover (with whom she has had a long romance that I was aware of and accepted) for a summer of love. She called me to tell me that she loves him, that we are finished. I asked her to come back two times and she said no two times. As you know if you follow the Purple Diary I try to create and promote an alternative love lifestyle (that I used to call in French La Communauté des Amants). Natacha’s decision to leave me so brutally and painfully will certainly be seen by conservative people as a clear feminine revenge against the lifestyle Natacha and I used to share, and think that I’m a dreamer. Right now I’m just a mess. But I will hopefully recover soon and offer you some more pictures of love and sex.
–Olivier Zahm, via Purple Diary.
Playing Dress Up In Bright Young Things’ Ultimate LBD
Last week I took part in a “style challenge” put on by Bright Young Things, a new line from designer Eliza Starbuck. Of course, the word “line” is misleading because Starbuck’s collection consists of one super versatile, super cute, little black dress.You’ve probably heard about Starbuck’s dress–Sheena Matheiken wore it for a year (styled in every possible permutation using only vintage duds to accessorize) as part of The Uniform Project, and in doing so grabbed headlines everywhere from the New York Times to the BBC.
Starbuck, who previously designed for J. Crew, Coach and Club Monaco, is all about slow, sustainable fashion at its purist. She is now selling her renowned LBD for $185 on her site and at Maryam Nassir Zadeh in the Lower East Side.
But back to the challenge at hand. A handful of eco-friendly fashionistas and myself were invited to try on the dress and style it to our hearts’ content using anything in East Village vintage shop Cobblestones. I was to create two looks which will judged by Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock of Vena Cava, Chris Benz, Elettra Weideman and Eleanor Friedberger of The Fiery Furnaces (be kind, Chris!).
Pushing my nerves aside at the prospect of being judged by Vena Cava and Chris Benz, I tried to embrace the challenge. Starbuck’s dress is the perfect canvas. Buttoned on one side, pleated on the other, it can be worn either way. Or unbuttoned and belted over a longer dress. Or wrapped. Or tucked under a skirt. You get the point–the possibilities are endless. So taking Starbuck’s incredibly versatile LBD and pairing it with any or all of the countless treasures at Cobblestones was a little overwhelming. And I didn’t have much time.
But playing dress up is pretty much one of the most fun things ever and I quickly forgot about being judged and worrying over how much more creative the other challengers would be and started trying on shoes. As the Bright Young Things post mentions, I have very small feet which means I can fit into all those amazing tiny vintage shoes. And I tried on most of them.
While I experimented with some different looks (in the stop-motion video you can see I tried on a big flouncy ’50s skirt over the dress) I stuck with what I felt comfortable in: a bright striped sash for a belt, a heavy gold tasseled lariat I really didn’t want to give back, and a black and red floppy hat. I certainly wasn’t as risky or creative with my styling as the other challengers (Yuka Yoneda brought her own lace petticoat and matching lace lab glasses and held a crop and Tiffany brought her own turban, and so really, how am I supposed to compete with that?), but I had fun.
So show me some love people! You can vote for my look on the FB and size up my competition, too. They all look amazing.
Street Style: Zachary Makes His Own Shoes
Name: ZacharyOccupation: Menswear designer
What is your favorite magazine? Visionaire
What is your favorite summertime drink? Champagne
What are the most prominent colors in your wardrobe? White, black, and navy.
How would you describe your style? Formal, easy to wear.
Which area in New York do you enjoy most? Chinatown
What is your go-to spot in New York? Brown Café
Where is your bag from? Hanka
Where is your blazer from? Jil Sander
Where are your shoes from? I made them.
And your glasses? JC de Castelbajac
**All photos by Ashley Jahncke.
HL Group’s New York Office is Hiring Fall Interns!
HL Group is searching for a few exceptional, bright interns looking to get their foot in the door in the fashion pr industry. HL Group is a bi-coastal industry leader in communications and marketing strategy, specializing in luxury lifestyle and fashion clients. Other industries represented include media, spirits, travel, home, design, entertainment and various civic concerns, handled by our offices in both New York and Los Angeles.We are currently seeking interns–based in the New York office only–for the Fall/Winter semester of 2010 who can commit to at least 20-24 hours per week. The internships are unpaid, thus interns must be able to receive college credit for their work. Interns are involved in all aspect of the business, and will gain valuable public relations, strategic communications, and marketing experience by supporting account teams and their respective clients through a variety of responsibilities including:
*Research client and industry developments
*Track upcoming media placements and features
*Assist at various client events
*Other administrative duties
Our ideal candidate will have:
*Prior experience or coursework in PR, Communications, Marketing, Fashion, or Media Relations (although entry level candidates will be considered)
*Strong written and verbal communication skills
*Some administrative experience
*A hands-on, enthusiastic, proactive, can-do attitude
To apply, please submit resumes to reception@hlgrp.com.
That Same Miu Miu Dress Lands Yet Another Cover Thanks To The “Wily Foxes” At Miu Miu’s Press Office
Step aside Kate Moss and move over Gwyneth, there’s a new cover star and it’s this appliqued Miu Miu dress.Last week, the Guardian noticed that variations of the same Miu Miu dress was on the August covers of W, British Vogue and British Elle. A Miu Miu hat trick if you will. But the dress is also on the cover of Swedish Elle’s August issue, a reader pointed out.
Swedish Elle had a little fun with this, and put up their own post pointing out that they’d been left out of the Guardian article, polling their readers to pick their favorite cover. Of course, this is what I’m deducting from just looking at their blog post and using Google translator as I don’t speak Swedish (Swedes help me out!).
According to Google translator, the post reads, “As the Guardian notes are not Miu Miu’s press office wily foxes, usually takes one full of clothes for each shoot and there is no predetermined timing and what lands on the cover.”
As much as we’re tickled by the description of Miu Miu’s PR as “wily foxes,” the point the Guardian makes is that a lot goes into a cover shoot, including lots and lots of clothing options, so it’s likely dumb luck that the same Miu Miu dress landed four glossy covers.
Nevertheless, four covers in one month is quite a feat. It seems strange that the dress was used for the cover of two Elle publications. However, Elle has 28 international editions, including Slovenia and Thailand, so they probably don’t compare notes on their covers every month. Thank goodness our readers are around to notice such things.
Click through to check out all four Miu Miu covers. So, Vilket omslag tycker ni är finast? Er, who wore it best?
Essence’s Editor-in-Chief Explains to Us Why She Hired a White Fashion Director
Okay, so, as you’ve probably read at some point somewhere today, Essence magazine hired a white fashion director.Some black people in the industry–and surely some outside of it–are really pissed.
Essence, for those living under a 1960s-style rock, is a lifestyle magazine geared towards black people. Naysayers are angry because:
A. This white person–her name is Ellianna Placas–is filling up one of the few spots in the publishing industry designed specifically for a black person.
B. How will a white person understand modern black style?
I’m white. Very white. So I’ll never be able to understand exactly where these black people are coming from. However, I can try to understand. And it kind of makes sense to me. Both fashion and publishing are very, very white industries, so would I seek out a job at Essence? Probably not. I do feel that I–or someone like me–may not be able to please the audience in the way someone of their own race would.
But on the other hand, I’m sure there are black, white, Asian people who read this site, and I’m assuming they could give a crap what color I am. The other thing I feel like we’re all forgetting: Angela Burt-Murray, Essence’s black editor-in-chief, hired Placas. Do I really think she’d hire someone who she didn’t think was ideal for the position? No. But I asked her anyways. This is statement she sent me via email:
“Our new fashion director, Ellianna Placas, is part of a growing fashion team at Essence. We are making a number of new hires in the coming months.
I understand that this issue has struck an emotional chord with our audience, however I selected Ellianna, who has been contributing to the magazine on a freelance basis for the last six months, because of her creativity, vision, the positive reader response to her work and her enthusiasm and respect for the audience and our brand.
We remain committed to celebrating the unique beauty and style of African-American women in Essence magazine and online at Essence.com.”
So that’s that. To read more of what Burt-Murray has to say, check out this op-ed.
Are you still irked about this? Or do you agree with Burt-Murry? I’d really, truly love to know what our readers are thinking. In the comments bellow, obviously.
The Gucci Press Office is Looking For Fall 2010 Interns!
The Gucci press office is looking for interns for Fall 2010. Main responsibilities will include but are not limited to:*Supporting Public Relations team across all product categories including: Men’s and Women’s Ready-to-Wear, Accessories, and Fine Jewelry and Watches
*Maintaining the organization of the sample showroom
*Assisting with sample trafficking, new sample inventory and gifting initiatives
*Coordinating messenger services and international overnight shipments
*General administrative duties
They are looking for someone with an interest in fashion public relations and prefer candidates with prior fashion, public relations or corporate office experience. Professionalism is a must. Gucci would like candidates to commit at least three full days a week, from the end of August until the middle of December. This internship is offered in exchange for academic credit only; applicants who will not receive credit will not be eligible to participate.
Interested candidates can forward resumes to gucciprinternships@gmail.com.
What Should Chelsea Wear?
Much has been made of Chelsea Clinton’s top-secret nuptials to investment banker Marc Mezvinsky. The couple is set to wed this Saturday, reportedly in in Rhinebeck, NY.“Part of the fascination, I think, is that Chelsea is so private–no one was this fascinated with Jenna Bush’s wedding” says Doree Shafrir, contributing editor for New York and resident Chelsea wedding expert. “We’ve also seen her go from ugly duckling to swan which is always a great narrative.”
And since we’re Fashionista, it’s that “ugly ducking to swan” narrative we’re most fascinated by. What will Bill’s daughter wear down the aisle?
This morning WWD snapped her going into Vera Wang. Refinery 29 reported earlier that she would wear custom Oscar de la Renta.
Here are our top ten suggestions for Chelsea (and yes, we know the green skirted ODLR number is just wishful thinking). Who gets your vote?
One of These Things is Not Like the Others
Ever heard of Just the Right Shoe? It’s a line of miniature shoe sculptures that people collect. We had a couple of them when we were younger–don’t judge–and were reminded of them when we noticed that Anna Dello Russo’s new fragrance bottle could be one. Can you tell which one it is?
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