Friday, December 28, 2007

Versace is Resort

Resort collections have sprung up just in time to cure our winter blues. Versace has a new collection that features great pieces that would look just as good in any metropolitan city as it would on the streets in Ibiza or St. Tropez. This Versace from eLUXURY could brighten up the dullest of days. The silk peony dress, $3,135 features a bold peony print, an empire waist and a removable belt.

This sport swing coat, $2,605 is the perfect add on to any outfit and will instantly dress up any basic dress. eLUXURY
This jacket, $3,015 by Versace is so crisp and fresh with its mandarin collar and subtle A-line shape that we think it will work in any city. eLUXURY

Friday, December 21, 2007

Cyber Sales: Exclusive Shopping Deals!

We've scoured the web for time sensitive deals - get ready for New Year's with great fashion, handbags and jewelry at lower prices!

Celebrate the party season in style with Net-A-Porter.com's Party Boutique (This Notte by Marchesa is $950)

Browse Jimmy Choo handbags for rent at Bag Borrow or Steal

Today's ICE.com Special - Extra 20% Off + Free OVERNIGHT Shipping - Tennis Bracelet Sale

Get this gorgeous metallic clutch for FREE when you spend $25 or more. Just enter METALLIC at checkout.

Holiday Dresses

Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel will be played by actress Shirley Maclaine depicting the later years of the fashion icons life in a Lifetime miniseries set to launch next year. Not to be outdone by Coco Avant Chanel, the movie starring Amalie actress Audrey Tautou that is shooting now in Paris. Vive la Coco!

Archive Vintage



We are in love with this online vintage store. Archive Vintage is at the helm of Kerry Bonnell, a former manager of Resurrection Vintage, another great vintage destination based in New York. She was constantly working with editors and stylists (including editorial shoots for mags like Rolling Stone and Vogue) and has a background studying fashion design at the top school Parsons, which no doubt helped when she launched her Dallas-based company. The store carries pieces from the 60s to the 90s including this very cool Gucci pen holder, this YSL green trench from 1974 and this to-die-for Givenchy rope chocker. Other brands include vintage Pucci, Gaultier, Dior, Chanel and Miyake. Shop www.archivevintage.com.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Destroy Your Denim

Destroyed Denim has grown with rapid popularity since they first swept on the scene on myspace. Britney was just spotted wearing the label on her most recent music video “Piece of Me.” You can steal the look from Brit Brit and get an almost identical style by asking for the boot cut medium/dark blue stretch denim in low rise for $100. Want a look that is all your own? Just send in a pair of your own jeans and the company will destroy them for you. Available exclusively at www.destroyedbrand.com.

Runway to Retail: Gisele to Design

More and more celebrities and models are crossing over these days into design. There's Victoria Beckham with her line DVB and Sienna Miller with Twenty8Twelve and fellow model Kate Moss with a collection at Top Shop, so why wouldn't model Gisele Bündchen want to get in on the action? She already does the wildly popular Havaianas flip flops that sell millions in Brazil. The model is pairing up with famous designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana of Dolce & Gabbana where she is currently the face of the brand. Get ready for next spring when the line will launch and sell to stores worldwide.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Trade News: Germany is so Fashion!

A new fashion fair is set to launch in Berlin called Stark under Norbert Klauser who is the owner of three fashion agencies including Slacks, Kaufleute and Modeagentur Klauser. Stark.Men will run from January 25-27th 2008 and buyers will be able to place orders for this collection until January 31st.

Stark.Women will go from February 1st-3rd 2008, with buying being able to happen until February 8th 2008. "This is all about Berlin, and about everyone highlighting their strengths. The more we put into it, the more we get out. Based on the first conversations I´ve had so far, it is strongly believed that several exhibitors will make use of our services” Norbert Klauser eagerly points out. Additionally Stark.Agent provides the opportunity for agencies to present themselves and their collections also from January 25th until February 8th 2008," says Klauser. Visit www.stark-berlin.com.

Offsetting Stark, CPD in Düsseldorf is another great opportunity for buyers to view new designer collections and runs from February 10-12, 2008. This international Trade Fair for womenswear and accessories welcomes designers come from all over the world to present their collections and it's broken down in three segments: the fashion gallery is the place for avant-garde, newcomers and new designers; style & signature is for the trendy and progressive labels and night life presents the collections of evening and cocktail fashion. Visit www.igedo.com.

Let Me Borrow That Lifestyle

It seems anyone can live the luxury lifestyle these days. You can buy designer coffee at Starbucks for $4, or borrow that coveted (not to mention latest) Louis Vuitton handbag from Bag Borrow or Steal.

Two new companies have recently cropped up in the cyber marketplace, that will be über exclusive themselves - and they are Gilt Groupe and Ideeli. These companies will be online sample sales, but for members only, as well as being by invitation, which will
come from the company or current members. Both companies have recently received solid funding, Ideeli for $3.8 million and Gilt for $5 million that will help them be leaders in this market.

Another truly exclusive online fashion community by invitation only is Couture Lab started by Venezuelan investor Carmen Busquets,
who is also a founding investor in the popular shopping site net-a-porter.com, where she still holds a 31% investment today in the company. And, the reason this one hand selects buyers is because only so many products are made, making one-of-a-kind accessible in a world of mass produced fashion. Their website states that their mission is "Bringing the essence of old-world couture to the modern day. To keep the global traditions of craftsmanship alive as we move between cultures; to evolve while relying neither upon fashion nor trends, but pure individuality; to be part of the world of luxury while reflecting its history and creation." Members only isn't new in the world of fashion samples sales. There's the global sale Billion Dollar Babes that lands in major cities in the U.S., as well as Australia and Dublin, but members-only online is fresh and we're looking forward to borrowing that lifestyle at sample sale prices.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

We Liv for Boots

UGG Australia and Art & Sole hosted their online charity auction, where celebrity boots were auctioned off from December 1-14 with the proceeds benefiting the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and they made over 105,000! Liv's boots alone went for a whopping $7,720. The celebrities who decorated boots for the auction included Ashlee Simpson and Jessica Simpson, Ashton Kutcher, Cindy Crawford, Eva Longoria and more!

Star Light, Star Bright

For Chicagoans with big hearts--and pocketbooks to match-- there’s no worthier call to party than the annual Children’s Ball, sponsored by the Medical Research Institute Council (MRIC) of the Children’s Memorial Hospital. Now in its 49th year, the over-the-top decadent bash was held this year on December 8th at downtown’s sprawling Hyatt Regency Hotel.

In honor of the ball’s galaxy theme-- chosen by event co-chairs Jenny Patinkin (pictured right) and Lisa Lewis—1,300 guests spent the night frolicking in an elegant and futuristic playground. “Our theme was retro-futuristic, hearkening back to the 1950s and ‘60s, when the concept of space exploration exploded into the pop culture psyche,” says co-chair Jenny Patinkin. She sported a Ralph Lauren gown, of which, she says: “I didn't choose it -- it chose me! One look and I knew it was the one!”
-Jennifer Berg

Here's some galaxy-esque looks that we love.

The stripes of pink and metallic did it for us. This Missoni twist tie halter dress ($595) is available at Intermix.

We spotted a woman at the ball with a black dress with lights underneath. Wear this Chloé fine check mini skirt for all the reflection you'll need for $1,146. It's now 40% off! NET-A-PORTER.COM
Silver jeans weren't on our radar, but now that we've found them they are! These Rich & Skinny jeans for $216 is all you really need for added shine. If we could give you one tip on wearing, it's go simple with it. Rich & Skinny online at eLUXURY.com!

and tartan!

In a sea of black tuxedo jackets Ray Lewis, the husband of this year's co-chair Lisa Lewis, stood out in his signature tartan jacket.

This tartan tuxedo jacket from J. Crew for $650 received rave reviews from editors, stylists and designers, so the next time you grab your basic black jacket, think again.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Vivienne Westwood Seeing Red in London






Vivienne Westwood is going to show her Red label during London Fashion Week in February after a nine year hiatus. The news comes after designers Luella and Marc Jacobs have confirmed showing at the London shows. The Gold label will continue to be shown in Paris. Shop Vivienne Westwood at NET-A-PORTER.COM.

Cynthia Rowley Opens 2nd Chicago Boutique

She’s done it again. The iconic designer, (and we’re proud to say, Chicago area native), Cynthia Rowley has opened her second Windy City boutique in the heart of Bucktown at 1653 N. Damen Avenue. To fête the newest addition to the shopping hot spot that is Damen Avenue, Cynthia hosted an opening soirée for Chicago’s fashion enthusiasts.

Guests perused Cynthia’s whimsical, but often spunky line of gorgeous pieces while sipping on mini champagnes. Cynthia was a stand-out even amongst the glittering crowd in a dress of her own design, a black form-fitting little number with a silver inlay cascading down the front. She completed the look with a pair of bedazzling, opaque, metallic dust tights.

The newly minted boutique displayed many a fabulous party dress for the current season in silky fabrics and jewel tone colors, but with a special ode to the darker shades of violet. Keeping us Chicago gals warm, a brocade jacket in golds and turquoise was understatedly elegant. And in a prime example of her witty style, was a sexy, cap-sleeve, silver mini-dress with dimensional horizontal layering, replete with an audaciously large, chiffon flower on the shoulder that would make Carrie Bradshaw proud.

The talented Ms. Rowley is not just a designer extraordinaire, she’s also a fantastic illustrator and author. Her latest book, Slim: A Fantasy Memoir, was heavily perused by all at the opening, and is part fiction, part fantasy, sated with tall tales from Cynthia’s youth and early days as a designer. Her fanciful illustrations, which also appear throughout the book, adorn the boutique’s walls lending a truly personal touch to the decorum.

The crowd was seduced by the opening evening and all in attendance concurred- two Cynthia's is twice as nice!
www.cynthiarowley.com
- Kari Skaflen