THE MANY MOODS OF SPRING FASHION - APRIL 2015

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO HAND PAINTED KNITE DRESS - SPRING 2015 - $4,450.00 AS SEEN IN C MAGAZINE MARCH 2015 PH: OWEN BRUCEPACK YOUR BAGS

The Spring season is exciting for so many reasons.  The weather inspires women around the world to "dress up", wear color, and go shopping.   When the warmenr weather hits, ladies start making a litte more effort to look fashionable than during those cooler months of winter when staying warm is more of a goal.  From head to toe, Spring and Summer offer so many ensemble options that it can be dizzying.   Be prepared to show your two favorite shoe / accessory / RTW combos to your next clients.  DOUBLE GANCIO BIT BRACELET- TAN LEATHER-$160.00 She just might have Spring Fever!   Designers themselves are also inspired when thinking of Spring.   Of course, they create these looks long before the Daffodils are blooming, but the promise of women wearing their creations is the ultimate inspiration.  It is no secret that designers all over the world often dream of locations right here in the USA when they envision their fashionable muses wearing that next collection.   Be it brunching in the Hamptons, on a boat off Catalina Island, Sunday by the Bay in San Francisco, golfing in Palm Springs, sunning in Palm Beach, and so many other scenarios - America has been a fashion inspiration for more than a century. 

*The fashion world wouldn't exist as we know it today without the American consumer.  It was NY Socialites and LA Starlets that saved the fashion industry after WWII.  Both groups of equally stunning and well heeled ladies rebuilt the entire industry in the 1950's. VARA BUCKLE BRACELET-BLUE LEATHER - $180.00 At a time when Europe was recovering from a devastating war, Americans were spending!   In fact, since that time... we've never really stopped.

For Spring 2015, the fashion world is giving great extremes.  GANCIO BRAIDED BRACELET- BLACK LEATHER - $350.00 On one hand - Colorful prints in innovative designs that warrant attention and scream RESORT, RIVIERA, and are just plain fabulous!  Entrance making dresses and shoes to celebrate femininity and the pleasure of being a woman.  Let's take a look at one amazing colorful option.

OVERSIZED GANCIO SCARF - $260.00C Magazine celebrates Massimiliano's stunning runway work with a full page dedicated to the avant-garde knit dress of exit 34!  The magazine took the dress on a tropical getaway to the beach in the fashion shoot "La Boheme".  C described the featured dresses as " Romantic maxi-dresses with a touch of 70's chic. That says it all!  With this knit dress dress in the sun and on the sand she will be the chicest woman on any island!  The hand painted knit dress is inspired by Murano glass and celebrates movement.  It is the ultimate entrance maker.  It also flatters most figures.   While many woman can be scared of oversized prints, for fear that they are "not tall enough", or it will "swallow them" - this print actually has the opposite effect.   With less than 20 units produced for the US market, and a price tag at $4,450.00 this dress will coveted by many, but owned by just a few.  A great reminder that the brand caters to the richest women in the world - always has, always will.   

If your best, or your next client doesn't have the budget, or the lifestyle for that ultra-luxe dress - she can still shop the look and the inspiration at a much more casual price point. LUXURIOUS SIMPLICITY FROM HERMES - SPRING 2015  Silk scarves represent all the detail and savoir-faire of a runway dress, but at a much more approachable retail price.   These beautiful silk creations are feminine, legendary, and make one of the chicest categories of fashion accessories.   The slik collection also has styles that represent the theme of all runway and rtw collections each season. 

Not a scarf client?  Looking for something a little more of-the-moment or with a little more edge?  Look no further than the CJ collection.   Costume Jewelry is one of the hottest categories with our youngest fashion clients.   The leather bracelets offered for Spring 2015 are fun, sexy, and can be worn by a young girl or woman of any age.   With a price point of $160-$350.00, the bracelets also offer a fine example of Made In Italy craftsmanship that can fit the budget of most fashion shoppers.

NORMCORE GOES ULTRA-LUXE

The biggest non-trend, trend in fashion from the last few years is without a doubt - NORMCORE.   It's one of those movements that by definition flies under the radar, even though the NY Times wrote about the trend in 2014 and most magazines have paid tribute in one form or another.  UNDERSTATED ELEGANCE FROM SALVATORE FERRAGAMO -EXIT 9 - LOOK OF THE SEASON IN HARPER'S BAZAAR APRIL 15 The term is derived from "Normal" and "Hard-Core" and some say it's the anti-fashion fashion look.   But others define it simply as a refined and clean aesthetic that has simple lines and less overt detail.  While the look was first celebrated by street brands like GAP and American Apparel, for the Spring of 2015 it has reached the apex of ultra-luxe fashion on the runways of Milan and Paris.   Salvatore Ferragamo and Hermes both featured runway looks that can easily fit in to the "normcore" guidelines.  Harper's Bazaar Magazine is celebrating each as a "Look" for Spring in the latest issue.

The truth is that luxury items offered from houses like Hermes, Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta, Armani, Valextra, and a few others are very similar to the ideals of normcore.   The huge difference of course is that true luxury brands only use the finest raw material to create these "simple" looks.   When a house like Ferragamo or Hermes create these looks, the details can be more expensive and costly to achieve with the hand detailed work of artisans in Italy or France, than a ruffled gown from a fast fashion brand that is whipped together in minutes in a large factory setting.    It's easy to miss the detail and refined value of understated pieces.   *Make a point to celebrate these items on their own - shoes, bags, jewelry included.   Sometimes less IS more.

LEGACY OF LUXURY

HARPER'S BAZAAR SHOES OF THE SEASON - GLADIATOR SANDALS FROM VALENTINO, CHLOE, CHANEL, McQUEEN & MORE Think of all the collections of designer shoes available to shoppers - there are hundreds.  Now think of all the styles available each season - there are thousands.  when a shoe style is singled out as a "hottest look of the season" - that is a big deal.  When the hottest trend of the season can be inspired by one legendary house - that is a HUGE deal.   For Spring 2015, Massimiliano re-introduced two looks that helped solidify Salvatore's legacy as THE luxury shoe designer.  SALVATORE FERRAGAMO & DRIES VAN NOTEN SANDALS - SHOES OF THE SEASON - HARPER'S BAZAAR - APRIL 2015 At the same time countless fashion houses in the US, Italy, and France also filled the runway with looks that could have been in Salvatore's collections from the 1930's.   Harper's Bazaar has singled out the MALIKA as one of the hottest looks.   Alongside  Dries Van Noten platforms and a collection of sandals that would make Cleopatra jealous - this selection is hot!  How thrilling to see Salvatore Ferragamo's designs owning the runways around the world. 

Legend.  Legacy.  Luxury.  A Triple Threat..  In your stores this season and EVERY season!