Luxist

Chanel Set To Open In Shanghai

Deb West — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:01:00 EST

Chanel is opening a new boutique in Shanghai on November 25. Peter Marino is the architect for the new space and was inspired by the Paris apartment of Mademoiselle Chanel. It is a fitting city for the famous couture house to unveil a new store as Shanghai is known as "the Paris of the East".

According to the architect, the idea was to give this new boutique a residential feel by combining hand picked art, antiques and other objects with a refined store decor. The fashion house has also commissioned original artwork by french artist, Jean-Michel Othoniel, to be displayed. The art of shopping is to be a subtle experience at this unique salon where customers enter the apartment-like space, can sit on sofas and have individual items brought to them as opposed to jostling elbows with other shoppers while browsing the merchandise. It is to be a different, more elegant, experience for the customer. Peter Marino is quoted "The result is comfort, quiet elegance, timelessness. The chic of Chanel."

Karl Lagerfeld has also designed exclusive products only to be sold in the Shanghai location to celebrate the stores opening. These include a classic quilted flap handbag with an inside signature "Shanghai Karl Lagerfeld", sling-back heels with a metallic CC logo, various items of clothing including a tweed jacket and skirt with gold trim.

The boutique has an excellent location in the newly opened The Peninsula hotel. The latest addition to the luxury travel market the Art Deco styled hotel has a terrific location on the Bund, the waterfront promenade in Shanghai.

Chanel Set To Open In Shanghai originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peter Nitz Zurich the Ultimate in Understated Bejeweled Handbags

Deb West — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel, Jewelry

Peter Nitz creates unique leather goods that represent his own personal vision of what a sophisticated luxury aesthetic embodies. A former Assistant Director of Acquisitions at an auction house, Peter has a unique eye for quiet luxury and handcrafts each piece himself. He refined his abilities for two and a half years at the knee of a former Hermes craftsman, who he encountered on a weekend trip to Paris. During this time he mastered centuries-old techniques that, while demanding precision and patience, result in products that are truly refined.

Originally from South Carolina, Peter moved to Europe and traveled the globe in a quest to find the best producers of exotic skins, linen thread, hardware and other materials necessary to open his own atelier. Each bag is designed from an initial plan, but influenced by the specific exotic skin used, to produce a perfect union between design and material. Some of the bags feature vintage fine jewelry Peter acquires by scouring auction houses and private collectors, and each piece is one of a kind.

There are two main collections:
The Atelier collection, which include classic Peter Nitz designs, but can be special ordered in whichever skin and color a customer desires. This results in a truly bespoke bag that suits a clients specific needs.
The Masterpiece collection, which combines exquisite vintage fine jewelry with exotic skins resulting in a piece that is closer to art than a handbag.

Each piece comes in its own handmade leather-covered drawered box with a customized handle made from the same leather as the individual bag. Prices for the bags without jewels begin at $2,500 and can reach as high as $9,000 to $20,000 dollars depending on both the type of skin used and the value of the jewels that adorn the bag.

Gallery: Peter Nitz Bejeweled Handbags

Peter Nitz Zurich the Ultimate in Understated Bejeweled Handbags originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Victoria's Secret Fashion Show - A $3 Million Bra and some Crazy Photos

Annie Scott — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel

Every year, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is crazier than the last. This year, at the Lexington Avenue Armory in New York City, we saw an array of outfits that were by equal turns beautiful and baffling. We love how Victoria's Secret always manages to dress the Angels in elaborate designs that sit just next to their bodies -- giant wings and capes that cover nothing ... you'll see what we mean in the gallery.

Pictured here is the most expensive item of the evening, the diamond-clad three million dollar bra, being caressed by Marisa Miller, who had the privilege of wearing it. Honestly, it's a bit of a yawn, but we'd feel cheated if they hadn't BeDiamonded something. What's really fun is the crazy pictures in the gallery. It's only once a year that models get to dress up like harlots from the future and it's like, a big honor. So check it out.

These outfits speak for themselves, but that didn't stop us. Why did we include some of the most awkward pictures? Because we're jealous. Enjoy.

Gallery: Crazy photos from the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show - A $3 Million Bra and some Crazy Photos originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cynthia Rowley Legwear is Hot

Annie Scott — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel

Your dress may be an inexpensive LBD from a discount shop, but no one will notice if you're wearing fabulous designer tights.

This holiday season, times are (ugh) still tight, but the opulence and flashy glamour of the 20s and 30s speakeasy culture are in. The way to follow the trend without breaking the bank is to focus on your accessories: make them as eye-catching as you dare. Textures, dark jewel tones, and all things that sparkle are your friends, and we just love these Cynthia Rowley tights.

Also, as with other accessories, you can get them for a far more frugal price than, say, a Cynthia Rowley dress. The tights range from just $15 for Antique Dot Tights to $250 for the breathtaking Embellished Tights shown. It's a smart way to buy into a designer who might otherwise be out of your budget.

Now, go spend your money on presents!

Cynthia Rowley Legwear is Hot originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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James Bond Items on Offer in Pop Culture Auction

Jared Paul Stern — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel, Auctions, Men's Style

Daniel Craig's aviator sunglasses designed by Tom Ford for last year's Quantum of Solace (above) are among a collection of James Bond items in Christie's London's Vintage Film Posters and Entertainment Memorabilia auction on Nov. 24. The shades, estimated at £1,000 - £1,500, are among the more modern 007 mementos in the sale, along with a poker table chair and barstool graced by Mr. Craig's derriere in 2006's Casino Royale, estimated at £1,000 - £1,500. On the vintage front there are some key items from 1974's The Man With the Golden Gun, such as a two-piece black silk evening suit made for Roger Moore for the film, offered at £3,000 - £5,000. Also from that film are the arch villain Scaramanga's custom triggers for the golden gun itself, made in the form of cufflinks which he used to assemble the lethal weapon, estimated at £2,000 - £3,000. On offer as well are a pair of black leather of Salvatore Ferragamo dress shoes worn by Moore in 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me, signed on the inside in gold ink along with a jocular note from the actor, for £800 - £1,200.

[via Duncan Quinn]

James Bond Items on Offer in Pop Culture Auction originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Christian Siriano Creates Exclusive Online Store

Ariston Anderson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel

One of our favorite young designers is no stranger to fusion lines. Christian Siriano has teamed up with Payless to design several lines of edgy shoes and Victoria's Secret to create a line of makeup in Mediterranean hues. But now the star designer is bringing fashion to the public in a completely new way. In just another testimony to Siriano's business savvy and creativity, he recently released a line exclusively sold on his website, with six limited edition pieces all under $200. Now, finally fashionistas everywhere will have an opportunity to own their own authentic Christian Siriano piece. What makes the line truly luxurious, other than the delicate silk fabrics and gorgeous drapes, is that the line was inspired by his own Spring/Summer 2010 collection, which had models walking on water in seafaring colors and swaths of oceanic prints. By creating high-quality, affordable pieces taken from his same runway fabrications, Siriano is clearly out to revolutionize the fashion industry.

We spoke to Christian more about this in depth, and why he decided to incorporate these shapes. "The collection is very similar to my ready to wear collection," Siriano tells Luxist. "The fabrications are the same but the shapes are simple and very easy for women to piece into an existing wardrobe. Also these shapes are a limited collection and are not available anywhere else. Therefore the price is able to target the younger and fashionable Christian Siriano Fan."

Siriano says that he created the lower-priced collection for one reason alone: "We receive e-mails everyday, all day from fans who cannot afford anything over $200. It is my way to have my brand more accessible to women everywhere. That is the main goal at the end of the day, to have women wearing my clothes, feeling fabulous."

Our favorite piece is the Oceanic Scarf, a print taken straight from the runway, which is sure to add a fabulous pop to any monotone outfit this season. Check out the rest of the line in detail below. Click here to shop now, because these pieces won't last long.

Gallery: Christian Siriano Online Store

Christian Siriano Creates Exclusive Online Store originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche Design revives the iconic Yoko Ono Sunglasses

Noah Joseph — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:02:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Design

Back in her heyday, Yoko Ono was almost never seen without her shades on. And these were them: The original sunglasses from Porsche Design. She wore them on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, she wore them at press conferences, she wore them during recording sessions and when she was on vacation. She's still wearing them, even though they haven't been made in years. But now the German automaker's product design studio is bringing them back as the P'8479, complete with visible gold-tone screws and Beta-Titanium frame. Make no mistake about it, the 80s are back.

Gallery: Porsche Design P'8479 Yoko Ono sunglasses

Porsche Design revives the iconic Yoko Ono Sunglasses originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Luella Fashion Line Closing Up Shop

Deidre Woollard — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:02:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel

The talented Luella Bartley, anointed Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2008, is the latest fashion victim of the recession. Her label, Luella, is being forced to close down following the loss of one of its main suppliers and has stopped trading. Last month Luella's Italian production company Carla Carini shut down which meant that the orders for the spring/summer 2010 collection could not be fulfilled. This started a chain reaction in which the company in charge of distribution, VSQ, announced it was withdrawing its backing.

Luella's punk-meets-pretty aesthetic has been much beloved by England's young and fashionable including Alexa Chung, Lily Allen and Pixie Geldof. Bartley launched Luella in 1999 and opened her flagship store on Mayfair's Brook Street in 2007. In a statement she said that she hopes the Luella girl aesthetic can go on in some form and is considering ways to keep the brand alive.

Luella Fashion Line Closing Up Shop originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mick Jagger's Sexy Daughter the New Face of Versace

Jared Paul Stern — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel

Things are certainly going well for Mick Jagger's model daughter Georgia May Jagger as we first predicted back in the summer of 2008. Of course with a Rolling Stone for a dad and Jerry Hall for a mom what else would one expect for the 17-year-old stunner? In September we noted she had landed a sexy new ad campaign for Hudson Jeans; now she has made the cover of British Vogue and been named the new face of Versace. Jagger has just been photographed for the ad campaign by Mario Testino. "She's smart, beautiful, full of energy and has a strong personality [with] that natural high star quality. I adore her," Donatella Versace told WWD. "She's perfect for this collection - a real Versace girl."

Mick Jagger's Sexy Daughter the New Face of Versace originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rent The Runway Offers Gowns For The Moment

Deidre Woollard — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel

Being able to rent a couture gown for a special event is nothing new but a new service, Rent the Runway, hopes to streamline the process and become, as the NY Times describes it, a Netflix for haute couture. The site was founded by two recent Harvard Business School graduates, Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Carter Fleiss. A four-night dress rental can cost from $50 to $200 depending on the value of the gown. Pieces can be rented for either four or eight days.

The gowns bear some well-known labels: Diane Von Furstenberg, Hervé Léger and Proenza Schouler are among the offerings and Christian Siriano will be offering his new collection on the site. To begin the process you choose a gown and reserve your dates. A dress will arrive within a couple days of your event. Dresses come with a Fit Kit which includes double-sided tape,deodorant wipes, and a bra converter. The services also promises that stylists will be available by phone during normal business hours to offer advice and help. After wearing, you send it off in a pre-paid, pre-addressed return envelope. The service handles the dry cleaning.

The NY Times profile on the service says that more than more than 20,000 women have joined. The service has only been shipping dresses for only a week. Part of the risk of this business it requires a constant rotation of fashionable dresses which will only be in play for a season or two. Several services including Avelle (formerly Bag, Borrow or Steal) already offer accessories like handbags, sunglasses, jewelry for rent. Adorn Brides offers high-end jewelry featuring diamonds, pearls and colored gemstones for brides and bridesmaids.

Rent The Runway Offers Gowns For The Moment originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Queen's Sexiest Cousin Gets Her 'Angel' Wings

Jared Paul Stern — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel

Stunning aristocratic British model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (above), who's said to be a cousin of the Queen of England, has earned her "wings" and been anointed as the newest Victoria's Secret Angel. Huntington-Whiteley, who has appeared in the lingerie purveyor's eye-popping fashion shows, has also modeled for the likes of Burberry, Agent Provocateur and the Pirelli Calendar. She is the only current British Angel and joins Lindsay Ellingson, Emanuela DiPaula, Candice Swanepoel and Chanel Iman among the newcomers. The Angels are VS' spokesmodels and have their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Former members include Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum and Gisele Bundchen.

The Queen's Sexiest Cousin Gets Her 'Angel' Wings originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kings Of Leon Make Flannel Fashionable

Deidre Woollard — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style, Celebrity Design

Flannel gets a boost at the hands of the Followill clan, three brothers and a cousin who form the popular band Kings of Leon. The band from Tennessee has created a new fashion line with the Paris-based fashion collective Surface to Air. The result is countrified hipster collection that includes flannel shirts, a black leather jacket, patched jeans, a red bandana and a black fedora. Those who want in might be in need of a passport the line will only be available at the Copenhagen boutique Paris Texas. The store's blog has complete pictures of the collection and reports that pieces will hit the store in early December.

[via Black Book]

Kings Of Leon Make Flannel Fashionable originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gucci's New Shoe - Available Only by iPhone

Annie Scott — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:02:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Design

Like this shoe? I hope you have an iPhone.

Mark Ronson collaborated with Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini to design this exclusive beaut for the launch of the new Gucci iPhone App, as well as a new Gucci pop-up shop tour called GUCCI ICON-TEMPORARY.

If you haven't heard of pop-up shops, they're designer stores which exist for just a couple of weeks -- sort of like a trunk show, only it's way more involved, and there's way more money involved, as they open up a whole store. Big name designers have been opening these kinds of stores all over the world.

GUCCI ICON-TEMPORARY will open up to the public October 24 in NYC on Crosby Street and peddle sneakers for just two weeks. The store will then tour to Miami (December 1st), London (2010) and Tokyo (2010). If you're in the US, one model of the Gucci Ronson sneaker collection will be available only to iPhone and iTouch users who've downloaded the Gucci App (click here, it's free).

The Gucci App also features music playlists by Ronson and Giannini, as well as access to the Gucci Little Black Book, which has "best-of information for hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs in more than 20 major cities around the world. Also included in this section is a list of Giannini's own favorite spots around the world," and the Gucci Music Channel.

We love it when music and fashion collide.

"I spent many many years as an avid sneaker collector, so I wanted to make sure these Gucci shoes were truly special, both from an aesthetic point of view and a collectible one," says Ronson. "Frida and I also agreed it was important for there to be a unique musical element to the project, so I'm going to be collaborating with artists, making limited edition tracks for each store opening."

The Gucci Ronson sneakers will come with their own exclusive packaging and a 12" vinyl record with tracks selected by Mark Ronson himself. Visit the GUCCI ICON-TEMPORARY website for more information.

Gucci's New Shoe - Available Only by iPhone originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bidders Rally To Save Escada

Deidre Woollard — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel

The battle to save Escada continues. The NY Post reports that the owner of Faconnable may buy the German fashion house. Beirut-based M1 Group purchased Faconnable from Nordstrom for $210 million in 2007 and Escada's similar upscale fashion demographic would make it an excellent companion brand. But there's more than one suitor at Escada's door. Others interested in the brand include Megha Mittal, daughter-in-law of Lakshmi Mittal, the billionaire Indian steel magnate, Sven Ley, the son of Escada's founder Wolfgang Ley and Vestar Capital Partners which owns another comparable brand, St. John Knits.

Ley is working with the former head of Gucci, Giacomo Santucci, and Italian investment group Borletti. Reuters says that Ley's consortium, ZSL Partners, has offered to pay almost 80 million euros for the fashion house and would bring Santucci on as the chief exec. putting a man with some serious fashion experience at the helm. Borletti also owns the Rinascente and Printemps department stores in Italy and France.

M1 Group's plans for Escada would involve combining the back-end" operations of Escada andFaconnable to create a single lean, mean fashion machine behind the scenes while keeping the creative on the brands separate. M1 Group and Mittal are both said to support current CEO Bruno Salzer, formerly of Hugo Boss. Insolvency proceedings over Escapa opened Sunday at the Munich Municipal court and a decision could be forthcoming within the next few days.

Bidders Rally To Save Escada originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Justin Timberlake's William Rast Brand To Open Retail Stores

Deidre Woollard — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Shopping

Plenty of celebrities start fashion lines but few take the step of opening their own stores. William Rast, the casual clothing brand founded by Trace Ayala and Justin Timberlake and operated through subsidiaries of People`s Liberation has announced two new full-price retail stores at the Westfield Century City Shopping Mall in Los Angeles, California, and the Westfield Valley Fair Shopping Mall in San Jose, California as well as an outlet store at the Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon, California. The brand has an ambitious plan to open around forty retail stores in major metropolitan locations over the next several years.

The William Rast branded retail stores will each be approximately 2,000 square feet and will offer William Rast contemporary apparel collection for men and women. The company also plans to offer a full range of licensed William Rast products in each store. Justin Timberlake is well on his way to a branded empire, he also has his own golf course, a tequila brand and owns several restaurants.

Justin Timberlake's William Rast Brand To Open Retail Stores originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Classicist: LINCS by David Chu for the Gentleman Explorer

Jared Paul Stern — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style, The Classicist

One of our favorite menswear collections for fall is from preternaturally stylish Nautica founder David Chu's LINCS line, which he relaunched earlier this year as a full sportswear collection. The name is of course derived from golf, but Chu has expanded its horizons considerably this season. He aptly describes it as "a modern expression of style inspired by a life in and out of the country club - of travel, of sport, of classic chic." The theme of the fall collection is a modern take on the "gentleman explorer," characterized by classic rugged yet elegant styling in a color palette of loden, navy, and charcoal, with fabrics like waxed cotton, cashmere, wool and flannel.

"LINCS is grounded in authentic, classic style, but updated with details and textures men can relate to," Chu notes. "Many of our shirts for example have a contrast color / pattern detail that's subtle. You'll find a surprising detail or color at the cuff, on a collar, or the inside liner. Part of the LINCS concept is the fusion of sporty, easy authentic looks together with performance fabrics and the technical. In outerwear, you'll see a classic piece like a blazer, but designed with quilted nylon and stuffed with down for a look that's rugged and elegant." Also worth noting are the very reasonable price points. Outerwear is between $199 - $399, sweaters are about $119 - $129, shirts are $89 - $99, pants are $79 - $89, available at select Nordstrom, Dillard's and specialty stores.

Key looks include a military style parka in waxed cotton with a sheared rabbit collar (above), a blazer-style coat made of quilted waxed cloth, a loden cashmere cardigan with a leather buckle at the collar, a tan safari-style parka with a removable navy liner, and a quilted navy nylon rip-stop down-filled blazer with suede detailing under the collar. "When I named it LINCS, people automatically thought it was a golf line, but it's not," Chu notes. "LINCS is about sport, about design, and more importantly, this person's lifestyle and an extension of it, which includes easy pieces that can be tailored and elegant, but mixed in with more casual elements for a dressy, but sporty look."

Gallery: LINCS by David Chu Fall '09

Chu also has his eponymous David Chu Bespoke line, featured in The Classicist's "Best of Men's Style" roundup, a custom-clothing atelier located on the penthouse floor of his "Townhouse" HQ in New York that embodies the deisgner's "ultimate statement on style, sophistication, and the well-lived life," blending the best of Savile Row and Neapolitan tailoring. In addition to Bespoke, Chu is also working on a new project with famed golfer Jack Nicklaus to develop the Nicklaus brands worldwide under a unified creative direction and make it more of a lifestyle brand with a distinct point of view. More on that later.

The Classicist: LINCS by David Chu for the Gentleman Explorer originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Personal Tailor: Boston's Blank Label Launches Custom Menswear Website Today

Dan Roth — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel

Let's not confuse luxury with the spending of wealth. Even high end goods, when arrayed on a retail rack become merely another store purchase. The pre-fabricated feel of that experience is decidedly undifferent from purchasing a fast food burger for a dollar. When you're paying for a designers work that's produced in standard sizes by factories, what exactly are you buying that's so different than you'll find at Target? A label? Our father's brands may not exactly going to set our hearts aflutter, should we wish to be snappily-dressed young men.

True luxury is more accurately described as getting exactly what you want. Your things are customized to your tastes. It doesn't have to cost a fortune for goods exactly tailored to you; making luxury unique from price. Speaking of tailoring, that's just the area that Boston's Blank Label wants to address. Being based in the cradle of the American Revolution has apparently rubbed off on the upstart clothing maker. The brand launches today, October 31st, and it's aimed at changing the way young men buy clothes, with prices that young men could actually afford.

Starting with custom men's shirts, Blank Label will eventually branch out to offer more clothing. The shirts are handmade by experienced tailors for Blank Label. The materials and workmanship are pleasing, and the website lets you build your own shirt with the options you want. French placket? Sure! High style always looks better when it fits correctly, something that's difficult to do when you're buying a name off the rack, designed for the most common compromise. Not having to compromise or settle for something someone else designed? Sounds like luxury to us.

Personal Tailor: Boston's Blank Label Launches Custom Menswear Website Today originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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High Style in Sun-Drenched Climates

Jared Paul Stern — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel, Books

Fashion historian Caroline Rennolds Milbank examines the history of warm weather wear in a beautifully illustrated new book called Resort Fashion from Rizzoli. From the first "beach pajamas" designed by Coco Chanel and Lilly Pulitzer and Pucci prints, to sailor stripes and the Kennedys' laid back yachtsman style, to Michael Kors and Tory Burch's beach-inspired designs and of course the evolution of the swimsuit, Milbank crosses continents and generations. The seven chapters break the looks down by category: At Sea, Stripes, Prints, White, Playclothes, Summer Dress and Bathing Suits, with photos from destinations like Palm Beach, Montego Bay and St. Tropez by legends like Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Norman Parkinson, Helmut Newton, and Scavullo.

High Style in Sun-Drenched Climates originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Versace Cuts 350 Jobs

Deidre Woollard — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:01:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel

Versace has been a brand in transition for a while now but new CEO Gian Giacomo Ferraris has been shaking things up lately. His latest move is an announcement that the Italian fashion house will lose 350 jobs worldwide by the middle of next year as part of a cost-cutting initiative that also includes a thorough evaluation of Versace's store network. The brand recently decided to close stores in Japan, formerly one of the biggest luxury goods markets.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the company is expected to post a pre-tax loss of €30 million ($44.4 million) on revenue of €273 million. This is a sharp contrast to 2008 when Versace posted a net profit of €9 million on sales of €336 million. Part of the decline is due to a fall in sales in the company's wholesale business and the financial collapse of IT Holding SpA, which produced clothing for Versace under brand licensing agreements. Versace re-launched the secondary line Versus at Milan Fashion week earlier this month.The brand will move forward with new runway designs and will instead focus its fat trimming in the areas of production, distribution and logistics. That's good news for Donatella Versace, the brand's designer who also holds a 20 percent stake in the company. Her daughter Allegra Versace Beck has a 50 percent stake bequeathed to her by her late uncle Gianni Versace and her other uncle Santo Versace has the remaining 30 percent of the company. Ferraris came aboard this spring after Donatella Versace's repeated battles with Giancarlo Di Risio.

Versace Cuts 350 Jobs originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Look like Lady Gaga with a Mask by Kiki de Montparnasse

Deb West — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Shopping

Lady Gaga knows a good mask when she sees one. On the packaging for her "Poker Face; Remixes" album, Lady Gaga is seen wearing a Kiki de Montparnasse original.

The masks are handcrafted in Venice Italy exclusively for Kiki de Montparnasse, a high-end designer of intimate apparel and accessories with flagship boutiques in Los Angeles and New York.

The masks are the perfect accessory to wear to spark ones imagination. The mask are formed in all various shapes to suit all different moods. Wearing one of these masks to an elegant Halloween party would certainly create a statement.

Traditionally, masks have been worn in Venice during the annual celebration of Carnival. They have also been used for the purpose of concealing a person's true identity, and not so that you could egg the neighbor's house or trick-or-treat for candy. Historically, masks were used by members of Venetian society enabling them to step outside the confines of their accepted roles, whether to perpetrate an illicit act, such as gambling, or something more personal like a clandestine romantic encounter.

Kiki de Montparnasse masks are made in the time-honored manner by the same craftsmen who created the pieces for Stanley Kubrick's film, "Eyes Wide Shut" . The collection offers an exquisite range of masks, including classic demi-masks, full face styles with a modern elegance, simple lines and bold metallic finishes. There are also masks fringed in silk or topped with feathers and animal masks including butterflies, kittens and unicorns. The masks are finished with either a lustrous silk ribbon or a hand-carved wooden handle for classic masquerade appeal.

If you don't have a party to attend these masks can be worn to inspire an elegant romantic fantasy in the privacy of your own boudoir. Prices range from $175 to $550. Meow!

Look like Lady Gaga with a Mask by Kiki de Montparnasse originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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