Charlotte Olympia is collaborating with the one and only Tom Binns to launch a limited edition capsule shoe and bag collection. This capsule collection is set to launch with the opening of a new exhibit at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The new exhibit we have all been waiting for is entitled “Punk: Chaos to Couture.” As you can see in the pictures below, this collection mimics the exhibits theme.
Rag and Bone is created an exclusive line of their famed pilot bag to be sold at The Webster in Miami. The bags are air force inspired and will be featured in traditional Americana colors. Just think the perfect Memorial Day BBQ bag. It will not be long until this is the new it-bag. Lucky for us, they are already available for purchase online in two different sizes!
One the most influential stylists in the industry, Kate Young, will be launching her limited edition line for Target on April 14th. The collection will feature semiformal and special occasion dresses along with jewelry, handbags, and shoes. This launch is perfect for the target customer – seeing as prom season is right around the corner.
Though it doesn’t feel like summer is approaching New York City anytime soon, H&M is revving up their Summer campaign with the face of the one and only Beyoncé.
Tim Faith Hancock and Jannik Wikkelso Davidsen, founders of Han Kjobenhavn, opened their first US boutique in Nolita today. The two first established their first store in Copenhagen, Denmark on Danish fundamentals in 2008. We are so excited to see that they are bringing their original spin off of the classic danish aesthetic to their New York City location.
Pop-up shops have been appearing all over New York City for the holiday season. However, Glam4Good pop-up shop was quite different from the rest. This shop was organized for children who live in the Lower East Side affected by Hurricane Sandy. Hundreds of children were invited to the pop-up shop where different items were donated from different designers around New York City. Each child was given two empty shopping bags, which they were allowed to fill up with anything they needed.
Italian brand P.A.R.O.S.H opened it’s new store in Via Santo Spirito in the city of Milan. The surprise factor of their clothes was perfectly translated into the energy around the space: walls covered with mirrors, clothes accommodated by color and of course, lot’s and lot’s of sequined dresses.
Walking across Turin is like having a déjà vu.
This town has turned into a significant social centre, in the after-glow of the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Torino, the “Parisian” city of Italy, has recently hosted a series of events dedicated to self –produced design, fashion, Italian cuisine, as well as the famous Art Fair Artissima that is dedicated to the Art galleries.
This weekend we have covered the following events: TORINOBYGNAM, OPERARE and MODISSIMA.
OPERAE: A self – produced Design Sale took place in the Palace of the Royal Riding on November 9th, 10th and 11th. Each year Operae offers a unique point of view on design and opportunities related to creativity self products.
TORINOBYGNAM: A very special event dedicated to the food in the pastry world, organized by Torinobygnam: a web-site dedicated to the Italian food research. The event hosted designers, fashion and graphic designers, writers and journalists.
MODISSIMA : An event based in the spectacular Piazza Vittorio, made of 8 containers: each one was hosting a torinese fashion collection.
PS DEPT, short for personal shopper department, creates a new type of retail experience that intertwines the mobile platform with personal touches of client relationships. The app for the iPhone, designed by Michelle Goad, is simple and straightforward to use. The user messages what they are looking for which can include an image of what they are looking to find, and is sent through the app. The message arrives to available associates at different stores in New York City and once they have received your request they go through the inventory in the store and share photos of pieces they have found for you.
Elana Zajdman, writer for Vogue, tested the app out and was pleasantly surprised by how well the app worked since it was just released this past weekend. She tested out two different styles she wanted to try, lace up booties and prints. After messaging photos of both trends she wanted to try, she was almost immediately responded back to by several different sales associates from around New York City. There are different icons to choose from once you are sent the photos from the stores including the “try” icon, which you can then set up a appointment to come in and experience the clothes, and the “buy” icon which you can then purchase the items over the phone. Zajdman ended up being sold on the app after a day of use and it seems that many will follow with the same feeling.
Don’t have time to visit your local Valentino boutique? You can easily browse with Valentino’s new virtual Shoe Room for a new retail experience.
Vogue’s annual FNO saw the Lambert London team partying and shopping last night. Designer boutiques from Covent Garden to Bond Street all came together to put on one of the biggest nights on the fashionista’s calendar! DJ’s, discounts, gifts, champers and nibbles were on offer throughout the night. Many of the brands were showcasing limited edition goods. The party of the night was undoubtedly the Vogue & Mulberry FNO official soiree, held in their flagship Bond Street store with a fashion packed guest list –Erdem, Christopher Kane, Daisy Lowe and Roland Mouret.Other highlights were at McQueen’s store where prizes were to be won, and at Chanel where Bronwyn Cosgrave gave an inspiring talk about her Chanel book!
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he eponymous American shoe brand, Loeffler Randall, is launching its first handbag collection. Designer Jessie Randall’s new handbag collection consists of six chic handbags in the same buttery leather the brand has become known for, in a variety of colors and shapes. The handbag’s range from satchels to messengers to totes and prices range between $152 and $595. The LR Handbags are available in stores at Saks Fifth Avenue as well as online.
http://www.loefflerrandall.com/LRCatalog.aspx?CategoryID=139
[dropcap]L [/dropcap]ouis Vuitton and the Whitney Museum in New York are seeing dots. Famed Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has teamed up with Louis Vuitton for a collaboration, and is also being honored with a retrospective at the Whitney Museum Of Art in New York.
Yayoi Kusama is most known for her abstract and pop art scenes, polka dot technique and unique installations. Her exhibit at the Whitney, open July 12th through September 30th, showcases over 50 years of her work with the museum itself decorated in polka dots. In an interview with WWD on the exhibit’s grand opening, the 83 year old Kusama remarked “I’m genius.”
For the grand opening of the collaboration on Tuesday July 10, the Louis Vuitton Fifth Avenue Flagship unveiled its store window displays covered in dots and abstract shapes in Kusama’s designs, and Kusama herself arrived to the opening in a polka dotted wheelchair. The artist’s collaboration with Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton, in stores worldwide now, stays true to Kusama’s style – RTW, handbags, and accessories covered in her classic polka dots.
Her exhibit at the museum as well as the collaboration with Louis Vuitton had been highly anticipated and on Tuesday night W magazine along with Louis Vuitton hosted a dinner at the Whitney Museum in New York City in the artist’s honor. The dinner party was held at the Whitney Museum and was a preview of what to expect from her exhibit. Stars including Dianna Agron, Lauren Santo Domingo, Harley Viera- Newtown, Margherita Missoni as well as many others were present and enthralled. “That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve seen in a long time,” Hannah Bronfman said to WWD in regards to the installation. Unfortunately Yayoi did not attend the dinner because she had spent most of the day at LV’s fifth avenue flagship during the store unveiling.
WWD: http://www.wwd.com/eye/parties/louis-vuitton-fetes-yayoi-kusama-in-her-absence-6071435?module=hp-eye
WWD:http://www.wwd.com/eye/design/kusama-returns-to-new-york-6063142
WWD: http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/on-the-dot-6067827
Kusama/Louis Vuitton at Selfridges
[dropcap]A [/dropcap] ccording to the Seattle Times, The Seattle based retailer Nordstrom is very close to closing a deal on what will be the stores new flagship space in midtown. Nordstrom does operate two stores in New York City, a store called Treasure and Bond and a Nordstrom Rack outlet but The Nordstrom Flagship arrival would be the first full-scale department store in Manhattan for the company. The new location is a skyscraper on 57th street and according to reports will take up 7 floors and 300,000 square feet of space. The company has been searching for the perfect location in Manhattan for almost 20 years and has never made the plunge to sign a deal for the fear of Manhattan being expensive and a difficult task to manage but now the timing seems right and will definitely make for an interesting change in retail in New York City. It is said that Nordstrom is planning to make an announcement today with New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Via Seattletimes
[dropcap]M [/dropcap]ulberry is working on expanding its international presence with their first west coast store. The 3,100 Square feet shop is located in San Francisco’s Union District and is alongside Prada, Barneys, and De Beers. The space at 166 Grant Avenue most recently was the home of Kenneth Cole. Mulberry plans to open a total of 20 new stores worldwide this year, six of them being in the United States. Mulberry’s Chief Executive officer Bruno Guillon tells WWD “I always thought it was a very interesting market. People are extremely, extremely demanding. They are very attached to quality and craftsmanship. This is really a market where we can fit in very well.” The shop will be dedicated to its womenswear and coveted leather goods.
The store is located within a historic 1800’s three-story building with dark wood flooring and brass finishing’s. The interior is greatly influenced by its New Bond Street, London and Spring Street, New York locations. The second floor is particularly unique with its fretwork panels and brushed brass doors. Also on display are Vogue’s archives sharing the 40-year history of Mulberry.
Mulberry plans to open its next location at Tyson Corner, Virginia this winter. The other upcoming locations will be in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston. The company’s net profits have rose 48% in the last year to $40.4 Millions. Overall revenues have increased 38% to $268.9 Million.