Archive for May 2011

The Business

The World’s Ten Most Powerful Luxury Brands: 2011 Edition

If the financial gains that luxury brands experienced in the last year are any indication, we may finally be digging our way out of this recession. After a dismal 2009 with modest gains and quite a few brands experiencing losses, this year’s top ten luxury brand list should have companies brimming with optimism for the future.

Millward Brown Optimor released its annual list of the World’s Most Powerful Brands this morning. (A little background: Millward Brown is part of WPP, a massive company that’s made up of a bunch of advertising firms, including Grey and Ogilvy & Mather. Optimor does brand analysis for many of these firms.)

We talked to Millward Brown vice president, Pierre Dupreelle, and his colleague Daniella Segal, who is a senior consultant at the firm, to get their take on the state of the luxury market. This year the category is up 19% as a whole, almost back to pre-recession levels.

There was some shifting of rank order in the latter half of this year’s list compared to last year, but with the exception of two companies, all made pretty stellar gains. The three big reasons for this?

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Webvertorial

My Latest Obsession: Blush Tones

By Leah Chernikoff Monday, May 9, 2011 / 9:15 AM

Maybe it’s my love for all things ballet that burned Chloe’s spring 2011 collection into my brain. My favorite looks? Those gorgeous dusty rose and blush-toned gauzy pleated skirts with tight bandage tops or leotard-tight long sleeved tops in creams and nudes. All paired with ballet flats that are dead wringers for the Capezios I wore to ballet class when I was little, minus the elastic strap.

Ever since Chloe spring 2011 I’ve been drawn to all things delicate and flimsy and blush toned. Beiges nudes and blush tones instantly class-up an outfit. Like this classic Equipment blouse in nude ($208, Shopbop). It’s the sort of staple that makes you look and feel expensive whether you’re pairing it with white Celine pants or skinny jeans or a pencil skirt at the office.

I’m also loving this simple, clean button down dress from Cacherel ($640, ShopZoe). But here’s the thing about this dress, and the Chloe dresses and the Equipment blouse: blush tones are really hard colors to wear! Only folks with the right coloring can wear them without getting completely washed out, and I’m one of those people who gets washed out. It is not a good look. So this is purely a fantasy obsession for me. It doesn’t stop me from gravitating toward every blush toned piece in every store I shop, but luckily a good friend is always nearby to say “No!” Except of course, when it comes to shoes.

If you, like me, can’t pull off blush tones as clothes, shoes are the magic loophole. Who can deny that nude Louboutins are the best things to ever happen to your legs? They add inches to your gams and elevate any look. If only they didn’t cost half my rent…(the 100MM simple pump, $595, Christian Louboutin).

While there’s no substitute for nude Louboutin pumps, I think I found a creative way to get part of Chloe’s spring look without shelling out thousands. Those perfect Chloe ballet flats that I likened to Capezios? Why not just get the Capezios and put a sole on them? They look exactly like Chloe’s flats but cost $24 instead of $375.

Reviews

Rosemount Australian Fashion Week: Dion Lee Lives Up To the Hype

SYDNEY–After wowing the fashion world at his RAFW show last year, Dion Lee had a lot to live up to with his spring 2012 show Thursday morning in Sydney.

The collection was entitled “Composure” and was just that: composed and self-contained, proving that Lee didn’t crack under the palpable pressure.

His modern, architectural aesthetic was evident from the first look out–a perfectly structured three-dimensional gray mini-dress, and stayed present throughout. However there was also a softer element this year. Structured tailoring was contrasted with softly draped dresses, pleating and relaxed shapes. The sex appeal was quietly confident with short hems, high slits and sheerness playing against austere silhouettes.

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  • ANNA DEUTSCH
  • Sunday, May 8, 2011 / 11:34 AM
  • 3 Comments
Parties

Last Night’s Party: An Artsy Evening with the Roitfelds

That Roitfeld family sure is a talented bunch. Mom Carine‘s gone from fierce Vogue Paris editrix to even fiercer freelance stylist-slash-author-slash-possible designer in one fell swoop, daughter Julia is an art director and sometimes model, and son Vladimir has made quite the name for himself as an art dealer and curator.

Last night, the latter Restoin Roitfeld drew a well-dressed crowd to 560 Washington Street for the unveiling of Nicolas Pol’s exhibition “Sick Avatus of the New Blood,” a collection of acrylic canvases and sculptures that layered dramatically splashed paint with snippets of logos and slogans.

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  • ELANA FISHMAN
  • Friday, May 6, 2011 / 6:20 PM
  • 0 Comments
Magazines

Cover Wars Continue: Gucci’s Spring Collection Lands 50 Covers

Just when you thought Prada and Dolce & Gabbana‘s spring collections laid claim to all the glossy covers in 2011, another spring collection refuses to be ignored

Gucci‘s striking jewel-toned spring collection has already made it onto 50 covers so far this year.

Marie Claire and Vogue have taken a particular liking to the Marrakech-inspired collection. Lara Stone donned look number two from the label’s spring 2011 collection on the February issue of Vogue Paris. The look was so popular it showed up on at least five other covers including January Jones’ April Marie Claire UK cover.

Meanwhile, Elle US put Katy Perry in Gucci’s bright colors for their March issue.

It looks like the cover race just got a little more interesting. Prada, 48; Dolce & Gabbana, 42; Gucci, 50.

But as they say, it ain’t over ’til it’s over.

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  • Dana Kruspe
  • Friday, May 6, 2011 / 5:57 PM
  • 4 Comments
Best Dressed

Best Dressed: Jennifer Aniston in Vivienne Westwood, Rihanna in Stella McCartney, and More

By Alaina Hernandez Friday, May 6, 2011 / 5:40 PM


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Royal Wedding

Pippa Middleton’s Dress Is the First Bridesmaid Dress That Anyone Ever Wanted to Knock Off

Being a bridesmaid is a rather thankless task that normally requires you to wear an unflattering dress that will never see the light of day again. But Pippa Middleton has singlehandedly raised the bar for bridesmaid fashion. (It also helps that she has a body built for sin and could probably make the dowdiest thing in existence look fabulous.)

The New York Times‘ Stephanie Clifford is reporting that Pippa’s Sarah Burton for McQueen dress is the first famous bridesmaid dress that fast fashion bridal manufacturers are trying to get into production as fast as the bride’s. So not only are they trying to make TWO princess wedding gowns, they’re also scrambling to churn out a slinky bridesmaid’s number. And in this era of immediate gratification, manufacturers need to get the gowns to market in about 12 weeks to satisfy the demand for all three gowns.

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Fashion Shows

The Best Looks from the 2011 Pratt Student Fashion Show

Last week Pratt’s most promising graduating seniors showcased their works to a packed house at the Metropolitan Pavilion on W.18th St. Hamish Bowles was also presented with Pratt’s Fashion Icon Award that day–this is when Diane von Furstenberg, upon presenting him with his award, called him a “closet butch.” But what having Hamish Bowles as the recipient of the Fashion Icon Award meant for Pratt’s design students was that the entire Vogue team, including Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington were front row to view their collections. As was Daphne Guinness, wearing a veil, gold leggings (that looked exactly like a look that would come down the runway from student Sarah Lind), heel-less heels, and giant knuckle rings on every finger.

I’d be scared shitless if I were one of those Pratt students about to showcase their blood sweat and tears in front of Anna Wintour. Of course, the students turned it out.

Here are some of the strongest looks from the 112th annual Pratt fashion show (yes, it’s been going on for that long). Elisha Rho presented my favorite collection, and the graduating senior’s got an impressive resume to back up her talent–she’s worked for Marchesa, Jason Wu, Diane von Furstenberg, and Michael Kors.

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Shopping

Cute One-Piece Swimsuits With a Little Support For Your Girls

By Bikini Bird Friday, May 6, 2011 / 3:59 PM

A flattering one-piece swimsuit can be almost as hard to find as a bikini–in some cases, harder. If you happen to be one of those lucky ladies who actually has cleavage, finding a suit that supports you without looking like a 1950s housewife’s undergarment can be challenging. But fear not. Just in time for summer, the ladies over at BikiniBird rounded up eight options for you. (OK, that American Apparel one is probably not going to do you any good if you’re super well-endowed…)

Click through to find out where you can snag one of these hot one-pieces.
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Reviews

Rosemount Australian Fashion Week: Ellery, Clothes for Sydney’s ‘It’ Girls

Ellery has become a label that defines the Sydney ‘it’ girl: sexy but not slutty, bold but not overwhelming, quirky but not kitsch. This is owed to the fact that effortlessly stylish designer Kym Ellery is the perfect representation of the woman she designs for: a fun and fearless lover of fashion.

It was no surprise that her spring show in Sydney on Thursday brought out a few Aussie A-listers, including actress Theresa Palmer and model Lara Bingle, as well as former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins who made an unexpected appearance as a model in the show.

The collection was a fusion of modern and classic, with leather, embellishment and gold metallic alongside Victorian style corseting and an old-school print of girly bows.

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  • ANNA DEUTSCH
  • Friday, May 6, 2011 / 3:13 PM
  • 2 Comments
Streetwalker

Street Style: Model Milica Likes Edvard Munch and The Doors

Name: Milica

Age: 19

Occupation: Model

How would you describe your style? Casual.

Where are you from originally? Serbia.

What is the most prominent color in your wardrobe? Black.

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  • ASHLEY JAHNCKE
  • Friday, May 6, 2011 / 2:00 PM
  • 2 Comments
Fashion Careers

Beyond Vintage Needs Interns!

Beyond Vintage, a brand that re-creates pieces from past decades with modern fabrics and cut, is looking for fashion forward, saavvy, hard working, and dedicated individuals.

This unpaid internship is a phenomenal opportunity to gain extensive knowledge on the inner workings of a prestigious design house. Because this is a very exclusive position there are limited spaces available. We recommend sending your resume in quickly as the spaces will be filled.

Send your resume to melisa@beyondvintage.com to apply.

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