Diamonds not always a girls best friend...

In these times of economic turmoil it looks like the "Diamonds are Forever" tag line of the industry is working against it.   Shoppers of high end baubles are unanimously saying "not now, maybe later" as they head into the start of the holiday season.   Jewelers are feeling the pinch more than almost any other accessory or fashion category.  With all due respect, the gorgeous creations from Ice Men like Cartier, Bulgari, and Van Cleef appeal to a very select few that most would not feel so bad for if they too are on a budget this year.    Marilyn Monroe gave the industry a serenade that kept on giving for 40 years with her infamous tune - I actually love the Nicole Kidman version in Moulin Rouge.

A short walk down Madison avenue this past Sunday afternoon made the situation crystal clear to me - too many options.   Store after store after store - shrines of marble and granite lit up like times square on New Year's screaming LUXURY.. which I say with as much tongue in cheek as I can type.   What happened to luxury retailers?  Where is the class?   Where is the distinction?   Where are the real housewives of Atlanta when a jeweler needs to move some tacky merch???   Apparently, they are not shopping.   Recent additions to the Madison Avenue Gem alley - Kwiat, Mauboussin, Graff, Leviev, & Asprey. 

I hope that all of us can learn from the situation that is ripping through the banking, auto-motive, real-estate, and now retail sectors - BIGGER IS NOT BETTER.   Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle.  That goes for paper, fashion, jewels, friends, you name it!    Enough with the disposable economy mentality.   

One last note.   Abercrombie posted it's numbers and there sales tumbled in the 3rd quarter sharply.   Is this a surprise to anyone?   I love the brand and what they were able to create - they changed the face of marketing for the denim world- but if you can show me one new idea that has come out of that darkroom in the past 4 years ... I'll actually force myself to stand in the 5th Avenue store for an hour which will certainly render me deaf and devoid of my ability to smell again!  I mean how many pairs of torn up jeans for $100 does the average American tween need?   Why not head to the MOMA gift shop instead this holiday season and buy a gift that actually inspires thinking....Merry Christmas!

Madonna to be Monogrammed by Louis Vuitton?

Rumors are swirling that Madonna is set to be the latest face in the yet to be seen campaign for French mega brand Louis Vuitton.   It would be the first major collaboration between Madonna and LV.   Creative director Marc Jacobs must be enamored by the fashion icon.  Madonna, of course no stranger to fashion has worked with major houses for 20 years.    Most notably on stage were the costumes Jean Paul Gaultier created for her Blond Ambition tour.   Remember - cone bras and garter belts!   

Lately, Madonna has been seen in quite a bit of Gucci - also another long standing relationship.   Tom Ford actually credits miss M for starting the buzz around his phenomenal rebirth of the brand in the 90's!     There was also the trippy campaign shot in Miami for Versace.   That was shot by Steven Meisel, the man rumored to be snapping Madonna once again for Louis Vuitton.

This summer Madonna made quite an entrance into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame induction ceremony wearing a sheer, hand embroidered Chanel dress.   This was a departure as Madonna and Karl Lagerfeld have never had anything other than a "polite" relationship.   

All hail Madonna, at 50 she is more in demand to designers than starlets in their 20's!!

2009 on TARGET for McQueen

Your favorite lifestyle store has hit a bullseye!  That's right Target has tapped British designer Alexander McQueen as the first designer to do a capsule collection for a new designer initiative in 09.   Not to be confused with the emerging international designers the company already collaborated with such as Luella Bartley or Anya Hindmarch, the new plan is to bring major designers to the Target  customer base.   McQueen recently launched McQ, a lower priced sportswear collection inspired by his runway looks.    This was a great move, as is the Target collaboration - considering his runway looks make a big statement - but don't exactly fly off the shelves.   I'll be the first to admit I have been critical in the past as I think his collections wear the women and not the other way round - but I am looking forward to the new work for Target.   

If you are not already shopping at Target - put it on your list next week!   If not for the amazing things you find inside from Green home products to killer fashion pieces - the store gives 5% of sales every week to every local community they do business in!   This comes out to about $3 MILLION a week... yes you read that correctly.  That's more than we can say for the Wallmonster.... so head for the bullseye and come March - look for McQ at Target too!!

Jeanne Lanvin's Sweet Smell of Success

French Fashion house Lanvin has been smelling the sweet smell of success ever since they named Alber Elbaz as the new creative director.   In a short period of time Elbaz has been able to breathe new life into one of the original Paris Couturiers.  

Jeanne Lanvin made her mark on the fashion world in a very interesting manner.  Her career began as a milliner much like Coco Chanel.   Unlike Chanel however, Lanvin had gone the respectable route for a young lady at that time.   She married a wealthy businessman before she started her business.   Her success in fashion actually came from designs for her daughter.  She realized that her little girl's classmates had the richest mothers in Paris.  Her daughter became her mini muse and the mothers started to request these handmade garments for their own girls - and ultimately for themselves.  

Lanvin was known to use intricate embroideries and healthy doses of floral color.   A contemporary, Paul Poiret was also was known for his use of color and embroidery.   The two designers had something else in common - they both had their illustrations created by artist and journalist Paul Iribe.  Iribe was quite a character and worked many of the major designers of the day including Coco Chanel.   It is said the two were even engaged at one point, but engaged in what is the question!  
Lanvin loved Iribe's work and commissioned him to create the company Logo that celebrated the mother / daughter theme.   The logo is still used today and is prominently displayed on the new Fragrance bottle top.

Alber Elbaz is paying homage to the namesake of the house with the launch of Jeanne.   Each bottle is hand tied with a piece of pink tulle ... so delicate..  the scent itself is a beautiful blend of floral and musky tones.    Sweet Peony and deep Sandalwood provide a perfect contradiction for this wonderful fragrance.  Visit Barney's asap before it is sold out.  

Fashion designers take note..  if planning to launch a new scent - this is how its done!