LVMH’s eLuxury is apparently shutting down after today and relaunching on Monday as some sort of social networking-type site, according to WWD.
Seems like details are rather scarce but the company did say, “ELuxury will learn from its audience, getting smarter each day, and will use this intelligence to present increasingly targeted and relevant content.”
And that the content will be put together by “visionaries from around the world.”
Hmmm. We’re not really sure what to make of that.
But what we do know is that there is some crazy sale action going on over there, with an extra 50% coming off of items already on sale, and loads of shoes and bags.
Go. Now. Shop.
E-Luxury is no longer.
Well, technically it still exists but is transitioning into an “‘E-window’ into the world of luxury, by serving as an information reference for luxury in fashion, art de vivre, leather goods, wines and spirits, watches and jewelry, gastronomy, cars, yachts and services,” instead of a place one can buy luxury goods on-line by this June.
So, it will be a super fancy blog through which parent company LVMH can promote its own brands and speak to those still able to afford all of the above by this summer. Spokespeople for the site say the change has little to do with the economy but is a result of so many brands ushering in their own online retail platforms.
Which means, if you’re the kind of girl who likes to buy her Pucci and her Margiela and her Tod’s all in one place, go now.
Remember when Vogue put Fendi’s white canvas baguette on the last page of their December issue?
Well, we know who bought it.
ELuxury commissioned a pretty random group of people to decorate the classic Fendi shape. Marchesa’s is to the left, but the rest won’t be up until April 17th.
We picture Kim Cattrall’s to be orange suede, with orange paillettes and pink sequins. Chris March will definitely use human hair, maybe supplied by Sally Hershberger who’s already completed her markered version?
We bet on a half retro, half Stella McCartney design for Scarlett Johannson, maybe navy with a floral print? And the Misshapes, well, theirs will obviously be black with black embellishments.
The blank one in Vogue costs $5,500 but the celeb DIY’s a bargain at $2,500.
The question is, would you rather pay more than twice the amount of money to make the bag your own, or less than half to carry around someone else’s vision?
I fell in love with the 3.1 Philip Lim jacket, at left, while browsing on eLuxury last week.
I love wearing jackets but I don’t always want to look like I’m on my way to the country club. The shrunken fit of the Philip Lim makes the look a lot younger, and kind of precious - almost like picture day in second grade.
But Philip Lim’s version goes for over $700, so what’s a stylish boy to do?
Check out the Brooks Brothers boy’s department, of course! I found this prep school version for a fraction of the original’s price, and I’m already planning on throwing it over my Steven Alan shirts and Rogues Gallery tees.
Now if I could only get cheaper versions of everything Thom Browne through his imaginary boy’s department, then I’d be all set to have my photo snapped everyday.
—BRETT KANE
Perhaps this gets you into our mindset right now:
When reader Jessica sent us a tip saying Forever 21 had knocked off a Marc bag, our first thought wasn’t “How dare they steal this man’s designs!”
It couldn’t be, because we’re so unshocked at this point that Forever 21 would steal anyone’s designs. It’s like being surprised that Kate Moss smokes cigarettes.
Instead, our outrage went something like this:
“How dare they charge $30 for a cheap plastic bag that they didn’t even design?! $30? Don’t they know how much babysitting money that is?!”
Although perhaps the inflated price tag means the shiny sack wasn’t made in a sweatshop, a nice if wistful thought.
Meanwhile, the original Marc bag, called “The Hudson,” is sold out of Net-a-Porter, but 20% off, or $955, at eLuxury.
