NOW BOARDING - FASHION'S NIGHT OUT 9/15

OFF THE CHARTS    The Fall Fashion season officially kicked off Thursday September 6th with the celebration of the 5th Annual Fashion's Night Out.ULTRA LUXE FERRAGAMO FALL 2012 RTW - PH: The Coveteur   Launched in New York City by Anna Wintour of Vogue during the economic downturn, the event has blossomed into a celebration of all things "fashion" across the globe.   With luxury spending on the rise over the last two years, it is rumored that this years will be the last... but with Anna Wintour -MARYNA LINCHUK, ELENA PERMINOVA, HILLARY RHODA, & ANYA ZIOUROVA - STUNNING SALVATORE FERRAGAMO FALL 2012 you just never know. (You saw the movie!). 

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

If it was the last  FNO, Ferragamo surely rode out the event with a bang - or I should say POP.. Russian electro pop to be exact!   TESLA BOY performed in one of their first ever U.S. performances at the Ferragamo Flagship on 5th Avenue.   The trio took over the largest- single brand shoe salon in NYC, completing the Russian Theme of the night - a celebration of Massimiliano Giornetti's Runway collection inspired by Luxury Travel, Russian Folklore, and the uber luxe iconic images all these references bring to mind.   Embroidery, exotic leathers, train travel, and more.    The crowd was full of the glameratti of New York with an eclectic crowd of artists, models, fashionistas, and upscale shoppers of course.   Co-hosting were a group of Fashion Influencers from Russia with Style!  What a great conversation starter with clients!  "Did you see the images of our Fashion's Night Out party in NY?"....  Did your shopping center or city celebrate FNO?  If they did, I hope you took photos of your glamorous guests.   Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter were all abuzz with Ferragamo images.   Did you contribute?   Make it a goal to get your ladies photographed in Ferragamo at the next local event!

MERCHANTS MIX - THE ORIENT EXPRESS 

THE WORLD FAMOUS ORIENT EXPRESS - A SYMBOL OF LUXURY ACROSS THE GLOBEThe Pre-Fall, Main Collection, & Runway Presentations have a consistent theme running from start to finish.   The dreamy ideal of luxury travel from one exotic location to the next.  With Russian inspired details like embroidery on Chantilly lace blouses, Ostrich skin Kitten Heels, & Alligator Train Cases - your New York based merchants were as mesmerised as the well heeled recipients will be!   Collections  this luxurious are rare.   Even rarer are the THE "PURFECT" HEIGHT OF A RETRO KITTEN HEELbrands that PRODUCE these items after showing them.   You know MANY of our competing brands pull the bait and switch.   Show something and produce something completely different.   Shoppers recognize this when visiting boutiques, but we should help them to know this whenever we can.   Be sure to show the most luxurious shoe or handbag to your clients, even if they are looking for an opening price point.  

This season the Ferragamo woman is on a luxurious journey to an exotic location.   The famed Orient Express is a wonderful fashion reference.   Hollywood, the Fashion world, and people of all ages have been charmed by the images and idea of train travel for hundreds of years.   Similar to the idea of taking the QE2 luxury cruise liner, MIRTILLO PYTHON KITTEN HEELS COZIES UP TO THE VERDE ALLIGATOR TRAIN CASE this concept of first class train travel from times gone by is always a chic reference.    The orient express first welcomed passengers in the late 1800's.   The famous journey was from Paris, France to Istanbul, Turkey.   The first train of it's kind to cross the continent of Europe.   London would later be an extended first departure point, making the trip that much more trans-continental.    Munich, Vienna, Budapest, were all wildly exotic stops at a time when few images of other THE FAMED DOMES OF THE PERA PALACE HOTEL, ISTANBUL - THE LAST STOP ON THE ORIENT EXPRESSparts of the world were seen by the masses.    The rich and famous has access to worldly exposure most could only dream of.   Author Agatha Christie wrote "Murder On The Orient Express" at The Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul, after having arrived there by the famous locomotive.    The Pera Palace was the official hotel of guests aboard the Orient Express.   (The hotel just had a multi million dollar make over last year.  If you visit Istanbul, The Pera Palace is a MUST SEE- recommend high-tea at the hotel to your clients).   Istanbul is a new hot destination for fashionable travelers.    

Let's look at Fall styles that some glamorous passenger might have worn then- or would be so chic wearing this Fall!  One of the most interesting aspects to the Fall collection is the mix of textures, shapes, & themes.  The playful cuts of pleated skirts worn with feminine kitten heels, and a handbag with strong silhouettes in slightly masculine shapes.   This tension of styles creates a powerful look.  In a word - timeless.   The kitten heels in the CAMELIA Family are refined, sexy, and surprising.   Lower than many of our younger customers are used to when wearing "heels", there is a surprising effect when wearing them.   Perfect with pants or most skirts, the kitten heel gives a wearable, comfortable height, while stillLOCK STORY BAGS SERVING COLOR, FASHION, & UTILITY flattering the foot and calf.  (This shoe is in for the long haul - suggest it to any professional woman you know).  Offered in very practical Calfskin or luxurious Ostrich or Python -the range in price point proves there is a version for all the Ferragamo women out there - and even for the women who are "not yet" in Ferragamo!  Suggest the color of the season - Mirtillo.  This deep, rich purple is the perfect option for a new neutral that is not another black shoe.

Fall Handbags get to serve many purposes this year as well.   The straight edge silhouettes of the LOCK STORY group gives a classic menswear reference while providing color to almost be worn as jewelry.   Especially when looking at the small bags worn cross body.  They are a practical day bag- or anytime shot of color.  The Gold hardware also help to elevate the bags to be at home in more elegant situations.   Remember, Made in Italy handbags are second to none in quality and style.   Of course for the luckiest of fashion shoppers there is the ultimate travel reference of all time.   The Exotic Train Case in deep Green Alligator.   Farmed from the worlds most luxurious skin - Louisiana Alligator, this case is as limited a piece as any of your clients will ever see.   With just two in the U.S. at $31,500.00, what journey wouldn't be complete with this accessory in tow?

LEGACY OF LUXURY - FERRAGAMO TIME

DOLORES CHAPLIN - ACTRESS IN FERRAGAMO AT THE LOUVREFamily legacies are powerful and fascinating for many reasons.   The passions of one generation don't often travel to the next.   The Ferragamo family shows us  one rare example of a love of craftsmanship and integrity that now has three generations passionately involved.   So is the case for the lovely and talented Dolores Chaplin.  Granddaughter of the legendary silent film actor Charlie Chaplin who left an indelible mark on Hollywood.   Chaplin's "Little Tramp" character of the down on his luck skamp delighted audiences around the world.   Salvaore Ferragamo was in Hollywood during the beginning of Charlie Chaplins meteoric rise.  Almost 100 years later, Dolores Chaplin continues to represent the Chaplin family to a generation that might not know why they know the name.

Dolores Chaplin attended the Ferragamo Resort Show in Paris at the Louvre  (say Loove, the r is almost not there) Museum this Spring.   Beautiful and charming, Chaplin was elegant in the color of the season - Mirtillo!  The actress and the show are prominently featured in the September issue of Town & Country Magazine.    Another example of the type of affiliations that are in the DNA of the House of Ferragamo.