FERRAGAMO GOES GAGA FOR E-COMMERCE

TILDA SWINTON IN FERRAGAMOItalian luxury brand Salvatore Ferragamo is having yet another huge week.   Readers remember the recent W cover with Tilda Swinton, the uber-luxurious Resort show on 5th Avenue, and the IPO that had investors saying "Ciao Bello" in Italy.  You would expect the house to be a little more quiet as we approach the dog days of Summer, but August is starting out anything but quiet!  

On Friday August 5th, the house will offer an exclusive event for U.S. customers with the first ever "Virtual Trunk show" of ready-to-wear, shoes, and handbags.  ELETTRA ROSSELLINI WIEDEMANN  Model Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann stars in this ground breaking web-event.   Granddaughter of the Hollywood legend, and loyal Ferragamo client -Ingrid Bergman, Wiedemann brings a sense of sophistication and legacy to the campaign.  Visitors who register at www.Trunkshow.Ferragamo.com can create outfits ELETTRA IN FERRAGAMO FALL 2011via virtual paper-dolls and share the ensembles on Facebook and Twitter- talk about savvy marketing!!  Shoppers have just three weeks to order the limited quantities and styles during this exclusive event.

This would be the biggest news of any week, had a little singer named  Lady Gaga not stolen the show!  LADY GAGA IN FERRAGAMO FALL 2011 That's right, international superstar and fashion icon (she did give Alexander McQueen a global stage AND re-launch the runway collection of Thierry Mugler) Gaga wore Head to Piano Ferragamo- that's right, I said Piano,  on The View on Monday.  Ok, the piano wasn't actually Ferragamo, but Gaga had it painted to mimic the houndstooth print of her Ferragamo Dress, Shoes, & Python Clutch. GAGA'S "ODE TO FERRAGAMO"  I think that means she really likes it!    It also shows that Gaga is growing into her style - after all this legendary house (nicknamed the "Italian Hermes" by loyal fans) is the first company she has worn that offers such a full spectrum of fashion goods from silk scarves to men's ties, to those hot stiletto shoes!    Is this a sign that Lady Gaga might be starring in the next Ferragamo campaign?   We'll have to wait and see, but with Ferragamo - something major unfolds week after week!

To learn more about the virtual trunk show, visit www.Trunkshow.Ferragamo on Friday August 5th!  Until then - visit Ferragamo.com to see all the things happening at the house that Salvatore built, or visit the Salvatore Ferragamo boutique in your town to see the Fall collection in person.

FERRAGAMO STYLE ON 5TH AVENUE!

FERRAGAMO GLAMOUR AT JAMES B. DUKE MANSIONFrom the day that Salvatore Ferragamo   opened his Hollywood Boot Shop on Las Palmas Boulevard in Los Angeles in 1923, the most glamorous women in the world have worn Ferragamo.   It is with this spirit that Ferragamo's Massimiliano Giornetti created the Resort 2012 collection he showed on a recent steamy Summer evening in New York City.   Staged at the James B. Duke Mansion on 5th Avenue, the collection was as elegant and luxurious as the outrageous surroundings.

The Duke mansion was built in 1909 by James B. Duke,  a founding partner of the American Tobacco company, owner of Duke Power, and fatherDORIS DUKE of Doris Duke - the woman who would become one of the most famous and infamous socialites the world has ever known.   This limestone mansion was a tribute to French Neoclassical architecture and would become THE home on Millionaire's Row opposite Central Park that all society envied and spoke of. NAUTICAL INSPIRATION FROM THE JET SET OF THE 20'S   It is incredible to see the oversized scale of the grand foyer and to realize that only James, his wife Nanaline, and their adolescent little girl- Doris occupied the residence part of the year.  (of course - there was staff!)   To say they had interesting neighbors would be the understatement of the century.   They had good company along 5th avenue, as family names like Vanderbilt, Dupont, and Carnegie all called this pristine stretch of the Upper East Side home.  Doris Duke would never live in the house as an adult, it would be donated by Nanaline to New York University in the 50's after the death of James Duke.    The old expression - they don't make them like this anymore couldn't be more appropriate.   (An interesting fact for TV fans.   The pilot episode of ABC's Dirty Sexy Money was shot here at the Duke Mansion.   The show chronicled the fictional life of New York's richest family - The Darlings).  JAMES B. DUKE MANSION AS SEEN FROM CENTRAL PARK 

Darling setting it was, and if that family had really existed - they would have wanted to live here.  It is amazing to think of the historical timeline of this house.FERRAGAMO LUXURY - NAVY SILK & DIAMONDS  The early 1900's and all the titans of industry building their empires.  

Looking to the French Riviera and the sophisticated lifestyle of the women of the 20's & 30's, the Ferragamo Resort Collection featured nautical references and luxury as a lifestyle.   Shimmering gowns embroidered with micro-sequins created a silvery glow.  A navy maxi-coat that was made to make a memorable entrance. SILVER AND GRAY SILK EVENING GOWN

The models descended from the grandest double height, marble staircase that created as dramatic an entrance as has ever been staged in a New York fashion show.   What could have been a scene out of The Great Gatsby, took your breath away. 

The most beautiful models in the industry walked the runway, and in the audience were the beauties of stage and screen.   Eva Mendes, Emma Roberts, & Freida Pinto were three fresh faces that were a Summer delight in Ferragamo!

Never has a collection so fittingly adorned a setting, and the entire show was a truly unique New York moment.  The softness of the shimmering silk, the pastel colors of the lightest blue, gray, and richest navy cashmeres,  set against vintage Fred Leighton diamonds - so many diamonds!   It will never happen again.  Ferragamo was the first fashion event ever to be staged at the Duke mansion.   Think of it -the house was built over 100 years ago and this was the premiere!   The mansion now houses part of the NYU Fine Arts Collection.  

I've been to fashion shows in New York, London, Milan, & Paris - and I had never seen one as glamorous as this before. Bravo Ferragamo, and Bravo to Massimiliano Giornetti for creating an event so perfectly honoring the legacy of Salvatore and for creating an event New Yorker's had never seen!

Skytop Lodge**Click the Ferragamo logo above to visit the company website, to find a store in your part of the world now**

Speaking of Great Gatsby style, the Skytop lodge in the Poconos is a perfect weekend destination to surround yourself with Gatsby era charm.   The Sky Top lodge was built in 1928 as a perfect place to celebrate the beauty of the Pocono mountains.   Set on over 5,000 acres, SkyTop is sure to provide as much rest and relaxation as you can possibly need!   The area is a buzz with excitement due to the second annual music festival taking place this month.  Buck Hill Sky Top Music Festival is quickly becoming quite the celebrated social event and charitable cause.    To visit SkyTop or attend the music festival, click the photo or logo above or at right.

FERRAGAMO FALL 2010 RTW PREVIEW

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO FALL 2010The arrival of hot and sticky Summer weather means one thing in the Fashion world- FALL TRUNK SHOWS!   That's right, the world of high fashion has a unique relationship with the calendar.   To be the first to reserve the hottest pieces from the Fall runways, you have to get to the stores when the weather is also HOT.    The more in demand the collection, the harder it is to find key pieces left in the stores come September or October!MASSIMILIANO GIORNETTI

This season the house of Ferragamo has seen a flurry of press accolades for the first RTW collection for women from designer Massimiliano Giornetti.    The fashion press were buzzing since it was announced that Mr. Giornetti would succeed Cristina Ortiz as the designer of Ferragamo Donna.   Having had such a strong following for his Ferragamo Uomo collections, editors and customers alike were waiting to see what his Ferragamo woman would look like.   

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO FALL 2010So who is she?   Mr. Giornetti gave his audience what they were dying to see.   Luxurious and sophisticated classics  with a modern twist!   The devil is in the details as they say - and Mr. Giornetti's were right on trend!   It was reported in the main stream press that one key editor was overheard leaving the runway show in Milan saying " Now THAT is what Ferragamo is supposed to look like".     What more can you say?  

The fashion magazines all agreed that Ferragamo was one of the hottest runway collections for Fall.   Flip through the June issues of Harper's Bazaar & W to see the first glimpse of Fall editorial.

*Please join me Friday June 25th in the New York Ferragamo Flagship boutique on 5th Avenue.   We will be previewing the Fall RTW collection, as well as key handbags - and of course SHOES!    Ferragamo is the designer that invented the concept of designer shoes - and 80 years later the house is still building on that legacy!   

To preview the collection on-line click - FERRAGAMO FALL.

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO - 655 5th Avenue - 212-759-3822

FERRAGAMO, FORD & WARHOL?

ANDY WARHOL SELF PORTRAITAndy Warhol's 15 minutes of fame continues to tick tick tick.. now 20 plus years after his death.  Andy put his stamp on film, music, & of course pop art.   Find out how the avant-garde artist is in the news with Tom Ford and Ferragamo.

Click POP-ART to read about this unique connection.WARHOL'S FERRAGAMOS