MY POP ART CAN MEAN ANYTHING - SPRING 2014!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  So far, 2014 has most Americans bundled up like Eskimos as the temperatures have dipped so far below zero - the weather is breaking records!  If you are CHRISTIAN DIOR BY RAF SIMONS - WHAT'S HIS MESSAGE?reading this with a shiver in your step and a scarf around your neck - I thought I'd focus on something to warm us all up - SPRING FASHION! Spring 2014 to be exact...

JEFF KOONS VISION OF LADY GAGA - ARTPOP COVERMajor design houses from Paris and Milan looked to the world of Modern Art for inspiration for Spring 2014.  In America the most creative "designer" creating a collection for Spring in my book is Lady Gaga.   This singer, songwriter, and visual artist collaborated with Jeff Koons, the most commercial artist of our time to create her latest album - ARTPOP.   In Paris, Karl Lagerfeld at CHANEL staged his Spring runway as an art gallery and Raf Simons at Christian Dior sent messengers down the runway ala graffiti art.. both were the trend-setters.   In Milan, Massimiliano Giornetti at Salvatore Ferragamo was one step ahead of the French as his pre-collection referenced Modern Art Minimalism CHANEL SPRING 2014 - FASHION IS ART - OR IS IT?with color blocked RTW, Accessories, and Shoes.   Ferragamo took it to another level by SALVATORE FERRAGAMO - RESORT 2014 - AMERICANA MANHASSETsponsoring the inaugural gala for the Wallis Annenberg Center in Beverly Hills.  The "Wallis" is the biggest performing art project the West Coast will see for a generation.  Bravo to Ferragamo for their forward thinking!

All of these collections embraced color for Spring and gave us something creative and new - what a concept - this is fashion!  Click images to learn / see more.

Happy New Year!!

2013 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

  

 

LEFT TO RIGHT / TOP TO BOTTOM

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO - LIMITED EDITION, LARGE SOFIA ALLIGATOR HANDBAG - $27,000.00 - Made In Italy

ANDIE'S SPECIALTY SWEETS - HANDMADE "BUTTONS" SET OF 50 - $42.50 - Made in Dallas, Tx - USA

AHEIRLOOM - "NEW YORK STATE"  BAMBOO CUTTING BOARD - $48.00 - Made in Brooklyn, NY - USA

CHRISTOPHE POURNY - ORGANIC SHOE CARE KIT - $55.00- Made in Brooklyn, NY - USA

VALENTINO - BLACK AND WHITE SPECATATOR PUMP - $995.00 - Made in Italy

n+a - 14K YELLOW GOLD WITH FRESH WATER PEARL EARRINGS - $345.00 - Made in Tribeca, NY - USA

SANDRA DAVOLIO - PORCELAIN VESSEL - IN THE USA AT J.LOHMANN GALLERY -$5,200.00 - Made in Denmark

ARTPOP - BY LADY GAGA'S - FEATURING THE SINGLE "APPLAUSE" -$14.99 -Written & Produced in NYC,NY - USA

SWATCH -L'OR DU MATIN -WATCH- LEATHER STRAP / PLASTIC CASING- $60.00 - Made in Switzerland

Happy Holidays!  Ok, it's early, but before the frenzy begins - take a moment to click through these options we compiled here at aLIFEofSTYLE.    With so many options to choose from, we put together just one small assortment of items that are unique, can appeal to a wide variety of recipients, and of course - have great style.  Many of our choices are #MadeInNYC, or #AmericanMade, a few are from Italy.   Several also reflect the "pop art" trend that has taken the sytle world by storm.  (This Ferragamo bag was created for the Wallis Annenberg Center Pop Up store happening NOW in Beverly Hills) .  At the same time -retro, artisanal products have never been more popular.  Celebrate the Artist and the Artisan this holiday season.   Purchasing handmade or handcrafted luxury items doesn't always mean you have to break the bank.  Some are ultra-luxe, but this list has a wide price range from $48.00 to $27,000.00.  All companies highlighted also have a wide range of gift options and price points.  We hope you haven't been naughty this year!!     

Click on each Image to visit the source.   Merry Christmas!

The Liberation of Louis Vuitton - Nicolas Ghesquire New Artistic Director

DESIGNER MARC JACOBSAs was widely suspectedLOUIS VUITTON ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - NICOLAS GHESQUIRE in fashion circles from New York to Paris, LVMH announced Monday that Nicolas Ghesquire would be the next Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton.   Filling large clown shoes left by Marc Jacobs who exited the empire after sixteen years, Ghesquire is sure to bring a modern edge to the brand.   Although Louis Vuitton is all about bags, Nicholas could actual make young women interested in LV RTW. 

Marc Jacobs is no doubt planning the inevitable IPO of his namesake brand.   As Jacobs became one of the most famous fashion designers during his tenure at Louis Vuttion, he watched as other, more mainstream designers like Tory Burch ACTRESS MICHELLE WILLIAMS STEALS THE SHOW FOR LOUIS VUITTON FALL 2013and Michael Kors became billion dollar babies.  My sources say that the powers that be at LVMH pushed Jacobs out, as the image of Vuitton had hit a plateau.  Publicly the IPO is the perfect reason for him to leave and if all goes well, both parties laugh all the way to the bank.  If I looked into a crystal ball, I would predict that after the IPO Jacobs will set his sights on his ultimate dream job - Artistic Director of CHANEL.   Of course, he'll have to wait for Karl Lagerfeld to step down.. and Karl doesn't seem like the retiring type, Octogenarian or not. 

Bravo to Nicholas Ghesquire!  The designer makes the big jump from one fashion giant to another.  When he left Balenciaga without many details it was understood his creative vision was not commercial enough for the powers that be at parent company Kering.   It seems they were intent on turning Balenciaga into Gucci.   However, over at Louis Vuttion, Bernard Arnault gave Marc 16 years to run amuck with the RTW - as long as the bags were selling.  So Nicholas might be able to do whatever he wants on the runway!  We can't wait to see what he will do with one of the biggest fashion empires in the world.   Additionally, look for a namesake label for Mr. Ghesquire..... but you knew that was coming! 

Click images and links to read more info..

BOTTEGA VENETA WINS TRADEMARK OF WOVEN LEATHER!

BOTTEGA VENETA - SUPER CHIC CAMPAIGN - NO LOGO NEEDEDLuxury fashion house Bottega Veneta is taking it's iconic woven leather pattern seriously!  Serious enough to have successfully fought to trademark the weaving in fact.   In what is sure to be groundbreaking in it's nature,  the leather goods brand successfully proved to the Federal court of Trademarks that the angle and weave known as Intreccio, is in fact their trademark.  The brand known forBOTTEGA VENETA INCRECCIO CABAT NOT having a logo successfully proved in court they don't need one.   Just one look, and you know it's Bottega.  Give credit where credit is due for the fact that there is no logo.  Two words - Tomas Maier.   As the Creative Director of Bottega Veneta, Maier refused to develop or utilize the BV initials to join most of the brands also owned by PPR, now known as Kering.  It cannot be stressed enough how difficult this must have been.   Not having an instantly recognizable logo guarantees a much longer time frame needed for brand development.   It does however attract a more sophisticated client.  Much like Hermes and Salvatore Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta BOTTEGA VENETA CREATIVE DIRECTOR- TOMAS MAIERhas a magnetic appeal to some of the chicest women in the world.

Bill Donahue at Law360.com reported the ruling by the Federal Trademark appeals board last week. 

What does the ruling mean for all those woven knock-off brands that make millions off Bottega's iconic angle of woven leather?   Be warned, Bottega has one of the largest legal teams in the world at its disposal being part of luxury fashion giant Kering - formerly PPR, formerly Gucci Group.  

I was thrilled to have been quoted a few times in the ruling of the Federal case.. along with a few other industry professionals.  I'm not kidding when I tell people that I don't just work in fashion... I live in fashion!  Bottega Veneta is iconic and the brand should be protected from those profiting from their legacy.

Luxury is back folks... and bigger than ever!  Shop to you drop this Fall, but you better check your weave girl.. because Bottega Veneta is watching!!

 LUXURY BRAND EXPERT JASON JOBSON AS QUOTED IN BOTTEGA VENETA'S WOVEN LEATHER TRADEMARK RULING