FASHION'S NIGHT OUT 2010

The biggest party in fashion retail is happening on Friday, September 10th in NYC.   That is the date of this years Fashion's Night Out.   Vogue's Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintour dreamt up the idea for FNO sometime at the beginning of 2009 in her attempt to save the U.S. fashion industry.   ANNA WINTOUR OF VOGUE No small task of course, but Ms. Wintour thinks on those terms.   She is very powerful in the industry and has super human abilities to make aspiring fashion designers and models household names with the blink of an eye - or curl of a lip as the case may be.  Fashion's Night Out for 2009 was a huge success and this year has moved to a Friday night - so it could be even more wild and crazy than the first time around.

The event is a great chance to make plans with friends and check out the stores that you love to shop - or maybe those you want to shop, but don't normally visit.   Dress up and hit the town!   There will be celebrity sightings and designer events in stores all over town.   The FNO website even lets you build an itinerary that you can share with friends and plan to meet up at points around town during the night.   Bergdorf Goodman will host appearances by Mary J. Blige and Sarah Jessica Parker.  Nearby on 57th Street, CHANEL will give CHANEL BALLERINA - PH: NIGEL COXshoppers a unique opportunity to special order the classic Ballerina shoe.   New York City Ballet stars Kathryn Morgan and Robert Fairchild will be on hand to help you choose custom colors and lining not found in stores. FERRAGAMO W BAG IN OSTRICH At the Ferragamo  flagship on 5th Avenue, the Italian luxury house will have an exciting presentation of the newly launched W bag.   The W- named for matriarch Wanda Ferragamo was an instant hit when it made its debut on the Fall runway.   So much so, the house is already introducing additional sizes and shapes, as well as adding the bag to the prestigious Made-to-Order program.   Customize your own W during Fashion's Night Out!   Down in the Village New York based designer John Bartlett JOHN BARTLETT FALL 2010will be on hand in his namesake boutique to launch the Fall collection for Men and Woman and meet and greet customers.   Stop by to meet this talented New Yorker!  You will also be close to a million bars and restaurants where you can continue your celebration!

Activities run the gamut from singers performing live to designers themselves presenting their new collections.  If you are a casual shopper visit one of the big department stores.  The stores have everything and the big crowds feel like a celebration similar to New Years Eve.    On the other hand, if you are a serious fashion fan then visit the boutique of your favorite designer.    Mega luxury brands will have exclusive events happening in the store that night and many smaller labels will have their designers on hand.   Either way, a unique experience for shoppers!   Call your favorite store today and ask if they are participating.   Then makes plans with friends and enjoy the night.   Not in NYC?   No problem, stores all over the country are getting involved (actually all over the world!).   Call that favorite store and see what's happening!

Watch the public service announcement for Fashion's Night Out below: 

FLAGSHIP PREVIEW - FERRAGAMO FALL

There is a definite buzz in the air about the Ferragamo MASSIMILIANO GIORNETTI     Fall 2010 collection!  While the house always has a big following for the luxurious bags and of course those SHOES -  this season there is extra excitement. 
Designer Massimiliano Giornetti has just become the creative director for both Ferragamo Donna and Uomo!  This is the first time that one designer has been in charge of the entire collection since Salvatore Ferragamo himself was alive,  50 years ago.   Industry insiders know that Giornetti has helped make the Ferragamo Mens collection one of the most successful in the business.   With his creative talent now extending to the Womens collection - the industry is buzzing.  Not since Tom Ford had one vision for Gucci has there been this much potential for fireworks! 

JASON JOBSON & FAB PRODUCER PAULA HEROLDI recently hosted a Fall preview at the 5th Avenue Flagship and it was spectacular!   Ferragamo is one of the few brands that attracts both a conservative and fashion crowd.  I'm always impressed by the stylish Women who buy this iconic brand.  The gigantic flagship store,  just steps from Rockefeller Center,  Saks 5th Avenue, and St. Patrick's Cathedral is a busy destination on any given day!FERRAGAMO ALLIGATOR FIAMMETTA BAG - $19,000

Author and lifestyle correspondent Susanna Salk stopped by to preview what was on the way for fall.   Of course with her great taste one bag stopped her dead in her tracks.  SUSANNA SALK WITH FERRAGAMO ALLIGATOR FIAMMETTA The Fiammetta in large scale alligator is breathtaking!   Launched in the Spring, the Fiammetta has quickly become a must have bag.WHITE FIAMMETTA  Due in part to the unstructured shape, the unusual and practical Gancio handle, and the fact that the shoulder strap makes it a great hands-free bag.   The Fiammetta is in store now in a range of colors in supple leather, and if you are very lucky - this Alligator version can be yours as well!

Susanna filled me in on her latest book that just hit stores - Room for Children.   Salk is known as an expert on all things interior design related, so Room for Children is sure to be a huge hit with anyone with small children, or one on the way!   The book is full of countless ideas and suggestions on how to create a room that can grow with your child.   

The book was launched in NYC at Bergdorf Goodman in the newly renovated little bg department - of course!

To find the closest Ferragamo boutique, visit - MY FERRAGAMO.

LEGACY THE "NEW" LUXURY

GUCCI - FOREVER NOW CAMPAIGNNo industry  loves to promote a trend or a catch phrase like the fashion industry.   Season after season marketing campaigns tell us what is the "new" black or the latest silhouette that Women must have on their back and or in the closet.  During the 8 years of the Bush administration (sorry, no other way to capsule it!) consumers were drunk on credit and reacted like Pavlov's dogs to every marketing ploy.   Before the recession burst the bubble, fashion companies were also drunk on luxury.   Luxury was the "new black".    Everyone deserved  some "luxury" in their life.   

I knew the trend had reached a breaking point when I was walking through the Galleria Mall in Houston in the Spring of 2008.  Huge letters in the window of a two story Banana Republic store promoted " The Luxe Cashmere Collection".. ????  This said it all.    Mass marketers had gotten wise to the fact that they could convince customers to spend more money on items that were touted as luxury. LOUIS VUITTON ARTISAN AD  By using better fabrics, the items warranted a higher price - even though they were still being mass produced in China.  

In reality, how could you blame the mass merchants?  A new crop of CEO's at some of the luxury houses themselves had been doing the same thing for several years.   For the first time in history, luxury fashion items were not being produced for a rarified and special few.   The leather goods were being mass produced, often in China, but still marketed as French or Italian luxury items.  After all, they still were a luxury item, or were they?   At the same time that the fashion houses were significantly lowering the production cost of each item, they were dramatically raising the retail price of that same item.  Pure genius, or pure greed?  Or does one point have no bearing on the other?

The problem with the whole scenario is that like all things, more exposure ultimately leads to diminished demand.   What goes up, must come down.

Before the recession, luxury retailers like Neiman Marcus couldn't get the luxury goods fast enough from the mega-brands.   There is a (now hilarious) scene in the movie September Issue in which we see the NM executives asking Anna Wintour of Vogue to help them pressure the fashion companies to produce goods faster!  The hilarity is of course due to the fact that by the time the movie made it to theaters, NM was sitting on more merchandise than they knew what to do with.   They weren't alone of course.  The other designer department stores were overstocked to the rafters and in some cases much more so than Neiman Marcus.

The trouble started when  evil masterminds who were tied to the previous administration in Washington cooked up the concept of the adjustable rate mortgage.   This set in motion a catastrophic trend.   People who had no business buying houses were suddenly granted huge mortgages with almost no money down.   This gave the administration the proof on paper that more Americans owned homes than any time in history, which the administration could take credit for.   Then, since the economy was booming, the value of these homes increased dramatically which allowed these same people to take equity loans on homes that were built like gingerbread houses in gated communities in the middle of nowhere!  These people then proceeded to spend the money on everything from luxury vacations, to cars, to - you guessed it - designer handbags and shoes.  Why not?  They thought they would eventually sell the house they had put nothing down on - for a profit and move up.   It all sounded great, until the mirror cracked in the fall of 2008.   Didn't Bernie Madoff go to prison for a scheme just like this?

S/S 10 FERRAGAMO CAMPAIGNFast forward to 2010.   The worst of the recession is passed.  Things have leveled off.  The luxury sector is preparing for a big recovery.   However, they know it is too soon to be as flamboyant as 2006,7, & 8.  The solution is to market legacy as the new luxury.   The heritage and legacy of the brands that make the purchase a smart investment.  This IS of course the best reason there is to buy a luxury item.  The fact that luxury raw materials are used and that the items are crafted by experienced Artisans, is the whole point.

What is laughable at times is to see companies who have  in recent years made most of their billions by utilizing Chinese factories - advertising Artisan technique in ads featuring models who are as white as snow.   The ads run by Louis Vuitton has many doing a double take, as they think of Hermes when they see this type of quality and precise reference to Artisans.   I think LV did Hermes a favor.   Instead of boosting the LV image, it made you think - "what's new at Hermes?".

The true winners of the entire luxury fall out of course are the companies who never changed their standards due to the increase in demand.   Hermes remains at the top.   The company realized long ago that demand for their incredible goods only increases when they are scarce.   Some women still routinely put their name on the wait list for years in order to have their own Hermes Birkin.   Chanel is another house that refuses to employ football field size factories in China to produce their coveted leather goods.   All Chanel product is produced in Europe, with a majority still made in France.    Ferragamo is an Italian mega-brand with integrity in their production process.   With a staggering assortment of product, Ferragamo still produces every item in Italy.   No small task considering the company has over 550 boutiques globally!  Gucci is another Italian house that has focused an advertising campaign based on archive- workshop photos.   Frankly the Ferragamo archive pictures are more exciting, but the Gucci ads do tell the story.

So be on the lookout for the latest legacy ads.  There are sure to be many more, by companies you wouldn't expect to see touting their heritage.  But jumping on a trend is much easier than creating one.   Be an educated consumer and invest wisely when making those big ticket purchases!  There are so many exciting styles to choose from this year!   While the recession has made designers play it safer with RTW, accessories have never been more colorful or creative!  Click any of the designer links above and start shopping today - but only if you can afford it.  If not, window shopping and surfing is almost as much fun!  See you at the mall! 



HOTTEST EXOTICS - FERRAGAMO FALL 2009

FERRAGAMO SOPHIA IN ANACONDA $3,750.00I took a trip to Southern California last week,  to the infamous O.C.  You know,  the one you saw all those housewives from on reality TV!  Well, like most of those shows, the characters you see on TV don't really represent the chicest of shoppers from those cities.   Needless to say, I didn't see any of those TV "stars" during my trip.

South Coast Plaza is one of the most exclusive shopping centers in the country.   SCP is a true  destination for anyone looking for the latest collections from New York, Milan, & Paris.   BRUSHED, MATTE HARDWARE IS VERY VERSATILE

Ferragamo was hosting a luncheon to thank VIP clients for their patronage, and to preview the resort/ pre- spring 2010 collections.  The luncheon was attended by some really chic women.  Those ladies know how to accessorize for a fashion lunch!

While the preview of next season was excellent, one current,  Fall 2009 exotic bag stopped me in my tracks!   The classic Ferragamo Sophia bag has been realized in gorgeous painted anaconda.   Deep, rich color makes this the most versatile exotic bag I think I have ever seen.   There are so many shades of red, burgandy, navy, charcoal - I can't think of a look you can't wear it with.   Ferragamo Exotics are some of the most luxurious bags in the industry.   The house is known for the craftsmanship of their artisans who specialize in working with skins.   Ferragamo even has a true Made To Order program.   You can actually custom order your own exotic bag from dozens of shapes and skins.   This is a true sign of luxury,  as most major houses don't have a program like this available.FERRAGAMO ANACONDA BELT - $450

One of the best things about this gorgeous bag is the price!  At $3,750.00 it is a very reasonable price for a bag with so much detail in anaconda.   It is no surprise to the die-hard Ferragamo clients as they know the value they have come to expect from this Italian fashion house of luxury.    Having over 550 boutiques globally gives the house the ability to provide impeccable quality without charging insulting prices. KELLY MCKEE & TINA GERRICK IN FERRAGAMO FALL 2009

And just to make matters more tempting... there is also a matching belt!   This one is unisex, so you guys have the option.   This belt would be the perfect way to give a Navy suit an edge,  or the perfect pop for a pair of charcoal trousers.   Jeans of course would be a no-brainer!  Brushed, matte hardware on both pieces also add to the versatility of the bag and belt.   Priced at $450.00, I challenge you to find a more luxurious exotic belt out there!

One of the most glamorous women I met in South Coast Plaza was Tina Gerrick.   She had a great sense of style and had such a great time previewing the collection and shopping all the new fall pieces in the boutique!  Here she is in the boutique with the lovely Kelly McKee, who modeled the latest looks from fall and resort.

Since the recession of 08/09, you know that ever major fashion house has cut stock quantities.  That means that gems like this don't sit around for months with big stock to back them up!    Call The Ferragamo Boutique director to reserve your Anaconda Sophia Bag.

South Coast Ferragamo Btq- 714 979 7654.  Ask for btq. Director Rachelle Pryber and mention you are aLIFEofSTYLE reader.

FERRAGAMO REVAMPS MIAMI BEACH

FERRAGAMO PLATFORM SANDAL 1938Legendary Italian fashion house Salvatore Ferragamo  has revamped the boutique in the Bal Harbour shops in Florida.  Ferragamo is the patron saint of designer shoes.    Manolo, Jimmy Choo, & Louboutin all owe their Soles to Salvatore.    Decades ahead of his time, Ferragamo was already known in the American Press as the master of designer shoes by 1925.    Drawn to Hollywood from his native Italy, Ferragamo set up shop in California and shoed every major Hollywood startlet from Audrey Hepburn to Marlene Dietrich.   Audrey Hepburn with Salvatore Ferragamo

Much has changed in the 80+ years since Salvatore launched the collection - the company now offers a full range of RTW, Accessories, & Shoes for Women and Men.   One thing that has not changed is the ingenious design of the Ferragamo shoe.    Salvatore knew the arch was the pressure point for women when they wear high heels.   The breakthrough design of his last has never been duplicated.   Ferragamo was the first shoe designer to combine the concept of comfort and luxury in women's footwear.    A legacy like this - you can not buy - you earn it! CLAUDIA SCHIFFER FOR FERRAGAMO

If you can't make it to Bal Harbour - visit the Salvatore Ferragamo boutique in your town - there is sure to be one not far from home.