OFF THE SHELVES - RUNWAY ROCKS
The Spring 2013 Runway Trunk Shows are taking place coast to coast, and the reaction from fashion shoppers is clear - Ferragamo Runway ROCKS! While the brand has been a symbol of sophisticated and chic Italian design for decades, Massimiliano Giornetti has given RTW a sexy edge that is attracting the most fashionable women. Those Runway watchers that regularly wear McQueen, Dior, & Gucci are putting the Ferragamo boutique on their list when they shop for Spring. With a strong emphasis on item Jackets in the Resort (Louvre) and Spring collections, Ferragamo has joined the most select RTW in the industry.
Massimiliano has said that Los Angeles inspired his collection for Spring, and it is evident. His modern interpretation of the iconic Trench Coat is at the core of the Spring Runway Collection. (Belted and slung low on the hips, this is not any trench hanging your closet). The runway was full of light weight cotton jackets, pants, and skirts. The luxurious details elevate casual fabrics, and the sexy curves give these pieces multiple ways to wear the look. A black jacket with leather peplum detailing, a sexy trouser with Trench coat inspired pockets. Fashion statements that flatter! Of course there are some ridiculously luxurious pieces - think a Crocodile Dress and a White Leather trench coat. This is Runway after all!
Accessories are also - RED HOT! Runway bags took two directions - small, structured shoulder bags, or big teardrop hobos to swing around for dramatic effect. Shoes continued the gladiator trend from Resort and took that gladiator girl from the Coliseum to the Catwalk in sleek black pump sandals with a chunky heel, or an insanely sexy over the knee boot that Demi Moore just had to have! In fact, she had to have TWO pairs!
Creating designer RTW that is sophisticated and sexy is no easy task. I've always said that Karl Lagerfeld does "lady" at Chanel and Fendi, but he can't do "sexy".
Before his very public fall from grace, John Galliano was one of the few designers working today that could do "sexy" while remaining ultra chic. Galliano's exit from the industry left a real void for women who aren't comfortable with the overt and provocative feel of Roberto Cavalli, but are looking for something sexier than Armani.
Donatella Versace has made her career (and remade the Versace name) designing sexy dresses, and Massimiliano Giornetti has now emerged with red hot RTW - Jackets, Skirts, Pants, Bags, & Shoes that are sexy, sophisticated, and stand out from the rest of his Italian designer peers!
Jackets are critical! When a designer can master the shoulder to flatter a woman and give her a sexy silhouette - that's magic! The Resort jackets that are in-store now are destined to be collectible fashion. In ten years, these jackets will be prized vintage items.
FERRAGAMO TIME
** During the Spring 13 Trunk Show in Beverly Hills I had the pleasure of witnessing a real fashion moment. A very chic woman came into the boutique balancing on sky high RED Christian Louboutin platform pumps. Her match-stick skinny jeans were the perfect shade of slightly faded, darker denim. A white t-shirt was the perfect understated top to balance her Black CHANEL evening jacket with satin lapels. A small black clutch completed the look. In a word, she was COOL! As this oh-so-chic, ash blond shopper with a vague European accent circled the boutique, the earth tone shades of cream and beige of the RESORT collection caught her eye. In an instant, her black jacket was flung on a sofa in the neighboring shoe department and the desert cotton asymmetric jacket with whipstitch seams was on her back. Turning from side to side, she oohed and ahhed. She pulled the collar up and down, she crossed her arms, and even gave a quick spin to watch it move. She was sold! (Quite frankly- so was I!). This walking fashion statement didn't flinch at the $4,000 price tag. Why would she? Jackets from Chanel, Prada, or Dior often cost that much or more. Sometimes MUCH more, as any serious shopper knows. Not to mention, no other brand is hotter than Ferragamo - with editorial shots in the most important fashion magazines month after month. The jacket was sold, and she was gone within 15 minutes! While most sales of that price point might not happen so quickly, it's the type of transaction that SHOULD and WILL be happening more and more. The word is out - FERRAGAMO is HOT!
LEGACY OF LUXURY
As I write this edition of the Ferragamo Feed I'm thousands of miles from home (or Italy for that matter!) in Sri Lanka. South of India, this beautiful and exotic Island country has been inspiring and exciting since the moment I arrived. A friend from Shanghai celebrating a milestone is what brought me here. He invited friends from around the world and put together an itinerary that would make even the savviest traveller sit up and take notice. This colorful culture constantly tantalizes the senses - from vibrant silk Sarees worn on the super chic women, to seriously spicy Curry sauces served in trendy, laid back restaurants. The word Bland is not one to describe Sri Lanka! On the way from NYC, I connected in Abu Dhabi. After a 12 hour flight I emerged in need of coffee, before getting on a second 5 hour flight. Make that all caps - COFFEE! I stepped off the plane and one of the first sights I saw? A Salvatore Ferragamo boutique in the terminal in Abu Dhabi - of course! Be proud to work with a company that has roots so well established around the globe. **Realize the importance of this brand recognition that shoppers from this part of the world experience when they travel abroad.**
I knew my group would be international, but I didn't know what a fashion powerhouse was heading for Sri Lanka. Executives from Dior and PPR (Gucci, YSL, Stella McCartney), a Chinese Movie Star, a Chinese Super-Model, a renowned art dealer from Beijing, and my friend - THE event designer that Dior turned to when they took Couture to China last year (a first in the history of Dior). I'm so happy to say - they all had much to say about Ferragamo - ALL POSITIVE! Everyone knew the Resort and Spring collection. Even our hostess one night - the mother-in-law of fashion stylist, editor, and icon - the late Isabella Blow was a fan. Helga de Silva Blow Perera runs the craziest hotel your will ever see in the town of Kandy in the mountains of Sri Lanka. (I couldn't make this up!) There are no words to describe the hotel aptly called - Helga's Folly. If Wes Anderson directed The Rocky Horror Picture Show - it might look like this! Google the website and you will see what I mean! The hotel inspired the U.K. band -The Stereophonics to write about this other wordly place with the song - Madame Helga! It was a pleasure to meet Helga who will proudly tell you she is 70+, who wore an 18th century Japanese Kimono (of course!) and dark sunglasses well past midnight. When I mentioned Ferragamo - her face got serious and she said - THOSE SHOES! She knew everything about Salvatore!! This was the most fashionable group of people I've ever travelled with and I was so proud to represent Ferragamo in this circle of international fashionistas! After a few long flights and serious jet lag, I'll See you back in North America Soon!!