KRIZIA RETURNS.. SHE'S BAAAAAACK!

K is for KRIZIAJust when the name Krizia had slowly escaped the conscious of everyone working in the New York fashion scene the company has opened a new modern boutique on 14th street.  In the epicenter of the Meat Market, and a stones throw from The High Line, The Standard Hotel, and Jeffrey New York, the new boutique replaces the Madison Avenue corner spot that was home to Krizia for at least a decade, MARIUCCA MANDELLI OF KRIZIAand had shuttered its doors a few years ago.  Created by an eccentric Italian woman in 1950, the label has had many incarnations and collections over its 60 year tenure.  Mariucca Mandelli looks and behaves like someone from Central Casting in a Hollywood movie about a Milanese fashion house.   With iconic black bangs and a bob, Mandelli is the classic Italian Fashion Nonna (or Nona!).   She runs the show, she takes the press, and she pays the bills. 

Known for Animal prints in the 80's and color blocking in the 90's, since 00 Mandelli is best known in the fashion world for being the woman who fired Alber Elbaz after only one critically acclaimed collection for Krizia Top. CLICK IMAGE TO SHOP KRIZIA FRAGRANCES  Not happy with the global press he brought, Mandelli fired Elbaz over "creative differences" in record time.   I attended that show in Milan, and it was one of the most beautiful collections I ever saw walk a runway.  Yes, Krizia could have seen the rebirth that Lanvin has had under the guidance of Elbaz - but it wasn't meant to be.  This scenario is too often the issue with Italian owned fashion houses and American or French born designers.  (The Lanvin website is a must visit - I promise you will be charmed).

A storied house of fashion that has seen better days and better sales will hire an up and coming designer in order to breathe new life into the brand. KRIZIA - FLAGSHIP BOUTIQUE - NYC  When the press and department stores come calling, suddenly egos are damaged since the new designer is getting "all the attention", even if the owners are getting all the Euros.  Seems silly doesn't it?  It is.  Mandelli is not alone though, there are many who have followed the same route.   Think Donatella Girombelli of Genny.  She will forever be known as the woman who fired a young designer named - Gianni Versace.  But then again, what did he know?    Since three is a charm, let's not forget Guiliana Gerani of the "big in the 80's" house of ICEBERG.   Gerani also had a little known designer by the name of Marc Jacobs designing her signature collection.  Known as Mama Gerani by Iceberg employees in Cattolica, Italy, Guiliana never saw a design or color board she didn't think she could tweak or take for her own collection.   Jacobs didn't last long there.  But he had bigger and better things to do.  I don't think it's a coincidence that both the Genny and Iceberg websites are "under construction" at the moment!

The staying power of Krizia is reason enough to celebrate the house and the ability of Mariucca to keep turning it out season after season.   Big in Japan, the company has a roster of fragrances and licensee's in that part of the world.  There are women's and men's clothing as well as handbags and small leather goods.   If nothing else, Mandelli's choice of retail locations shows she is one smart cookie.    Now you know!  Click KRIZIA to learn more.

STEPHEN SPROUSE & LOUIS VUITTON - THE REMIX

The late Stephen Sprouse was a fashion designer and pop artist that left his indelible mark on the fashion world - and apparently on Marc Jacobs.   Jacobs was greatly influenced by the hippie - punk style that was signature Sprouse.    In 2001, Jacobs brought Sprouse to the house of Louis Vuitton to collaborate on a limited edition of the legendary Vuitton monogram bags. LOUIS VUITTON FLAGSHIP @ 5TH AVENUE  The collection was an instant must have!  The follow up was incorporating the Andy Warhol animal print Stephen Sprouse had used in one of his last fashion collections. SPROUSE FLOWER & GRAFFITI - LOUIS VUITTON SOHO STEPHEN SPROUSE FOR LOUIS VUITTON MONOGRAM

The latest Sprouse invasion at Louis Vuitton incorporates the designers flower motifs and was timed with the release of the stephen sprouse book.   The book is an excellent tribute to the true individual that shook up the fashion world with his bold graffiti style and neon colors.  Even in a recession - these pieces are worth the investment.   To see the full collection - head to the Louis Vuitton boutique near you.

DIPTYQUE LIGHTS A BOUGIE ON BLEECKER STREET

French candle company Diptyque is responsible for the scented sensation that has swept through the fashion and design world.   For years the fashion flock made a pilgrimage to the Blvd Saint Germain boutique in Paris to buy the luxe candles that couldn't be found on this side of the Atlantic.   Well  times have changed.  For the past five years you have been able to find these slow burners with the heady scent at high end gift and department stores - but not in a namesake boutique.   Well this holiday - that is changing as well.   Diptyque has unveiled the temporary "pop-up" store at 377 Bleecker street in NY's West Village.

To help recreate the subtle yet powerful image on the company - Diptyque turned to the perfect interior designer to portray just that .  Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz is a master of turning white, clean spaces into  sensual, powerful rooms - while maintaining a sense of purity.   His firm- BNO design has a strong following from celebs like rocker Lenny Kravitz to writer  Laura Esquivel.   Major projects with The Morgans Hotel Group of their Mondrian Hotels in Scottsdale , Los Angeles, and soon Soho are  prestigious achievements to say the least.

There is perfect symmetry between BNO Design and Diptyque. Benjamin has a unique talent to bring an emotional response from a seemingly simple setting - much the way Diptyque candles can deliver such a strong olfactory response from their understated packaging.  

The store also features  lighting fixtures from ABYU Lighting.  They are the destination for couture fixtures  with an edge!

Benjamin's book - Emotional Rooms is a great gift for anyone with an interest in interior design.  Click here to find it on amazon - Emotional Rooms.

The Diptyque store is a must do on your holiday shopping list.  The temporary store is open through January 15th.   We hear rumors that the permanent version won't be far behind.  We hope this is true!

You can spend the entire afternoon on Bleecker Street.  After your candle shopping, stop by one of the several Marc Jacobs stores as he always has some inexpensive and super stylish gift ideas.   If you are going to any holiday parties - Ovando at 337 Bleecker is the perfect spot to pick up a unique flower arrangement or succulent for your host or hostess.   By now - you will be starving.. so stop by Miracle Grill at 415 Bleecker.   They are famous for their catfish tacos - but also have the best burger in NYC! 

Shop, Eat, & be Merry!!!   Happy Holidays!!