Hailed the "queen of 'Jeopardy'," Julia Collins has worked her way up to
become the third winningest person ever on the show, not to mention the
winningest woman (that’s a real word, by the way. We checked.) If she prevails
in her 20th round in a row tonight, she’ll edge up to second place in ‘Jeopardy’
history, which is obviously an impressive feat. But Collins is making headlines
for two other reasons, too.
First, there’s the way in which she keeps winning ‘Jeopardy.’ According to
The Washington Post, Collins’ victory has been determined even before the Final
Jeopardy round in over 60 percent of her matches, meaning she was so far ahead,
she could have wagered a big fat zero, gotten the question wrong, and still won
the round.
Second, there’s the fact that, yes, she’s a woman—which makes her a rarity on
the ‘Jeopardy’ all-time leaderboard. In fact, there’s currently only one woman
on the top 15 highest-winning people that have exited the 'Jeopardy' stage (not
including Collins, because she’s still going strong.)
That being said, it’s great to see that so many people are setting aside
gender by calling her the “third highest-winning contestant,” rather than
limiting her to always being called “the highest-winning woman.” We’d love to
see her become the highest-winning person, period, but since ‘Jeopardy’ legend
Ken Jennings, who won $2,520,700 before being eliminated on his 75th consecutive
show currently holds that spot, and Collins is only on her 20th show with
earnings of $410,000, that might be a bit of lofty goal. Still, while she’s
showing the country that spots in the 'Jeopardy' hall of fame aren’t just for
guys, we’ll be cheering Collins on from the comfort of our living rooms this
evening during her 20th episode. Get it, girl.
Kate Middleton's behind raised eyebrows earlier this week when it made an
appearance in a German tabloid, completely bare. The upskirt shot—courtesy of a
strong gust of air from a helicopter—was taken by an amateur Australian
photographer (apparently a Blue Mountains travel agent) who tells Sydney's The
Daily Telegraph that she didn't even realize she'd taken the bumshot, and almost
deleted the photo when she saw it. But then, you know, she didn't:
“It wasn’t until I got home and I popped my camera card into the computer
that I realized what I had captured,” she told the paper. Surprise! So she did
the next most charitable thing—the first, obviously, being to delete the photo
and save Kate a buttload of embarrassment—and decided to donate the proceeds
from the sale to charity. “Kate and William spent so much time speaking to the
victims of the bushfires that I decided I would donate any money raised from the
sale of the photo to the Blue Mountains Bushfire Mayoral Relief Fund.”
Friendly-ish!
Meanwhile, Kate and Will are out and about today, making their first joint
public appearance since the Australia-New Zealand tour. Hanging with some local
scouts, cadets, and brownies in Strathearn, Scotland, the pair were greeted by
bagpipers, and Kate was given an extra-large bear, presumably for baby George,
dressed in a kilt, of course, because Scotland!
K.Midd's behind, like baby George, did not make an appearance this
morning.Dressed in a patterned, red Jonathan Saunders coat, a Goat shift dress,
and her trusty L.K. Bennett nude pumps, Kate looked fantastic, no buts about it
(zing).
High-end swimwear retailer Zimmermannrecently signed leases for two more New
York locations.
The Sydney, Australia-based swimsuit and resort-wear sellers procured a
1,250-square-foot space at 875 Washington Street in the Meatpacking District and
a 1,000-square-foot storefront at 27 Newtown Lane in East Hampton.
“Zimmermann’s recent growth contributes to the continued demand for New
York’s top retail markets,” said Zimmermann’s broker in the deals, John Cahill,
managing director of Colliers International, in a prepared statement. “The
label’s new locations will bring more of the Australians’ styles to the U.S.
fashion scene this season and will bolster its standing as one of high-fashion’s
favorite, rising brands.”
Mr. Cahill previously represented Zimmermann when it moved its flagship store
to a 3,800-square-foot location at 55 Mercer Street in Soho late last year. With
the two new sites in New York and an existing one in Beverly Hills, the retailer
will now have four U.S. stores to add to its existing 15 in Australia.
Sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmermann started the brand in 1991 with a focus on
original prints and quality fabrics, and the two recently took home the 2014
Australian Fashion Laureate award during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Stores like
Barney’s, Saks 5th Avenue andBloomingdale’s also stock Zimmermann, according to
the company’s website.
It wasn’t immediately clear who represented Thor Equities and ASB Real
Estate, who own the five-story, 60,000-square-foot Meatpacking property, and
neither immediately responded to requests for comment. L W L LLC owns the other
property, a two-story cottage on a retail strip in East Hampton, according to
PropertyShark.
Swarovski has commissioned each of the 2014 CFDA Swarovski Award for Emerging
Talent nominees to create a piece using its famous crystals, with proceeds of
their sales going to charity.
Swarovski, which has three CFDA awards named after its label as part of a 13
year presentation partnership, is giving the nine designers a chance to
interpret their take on the "Lucky 13" celebration theme.
As per the brand's website regarding the contest:
"To celebrate the nominees of the 2014 CFDA Swarovski Award for Emerging
Talent, Swarovski has commissioned each designer to create one-of-a-kind crystal
objets d'art. All proceeds from the objets will benefit Free Arts NYC, a
non-profit organization that provides under-served children with educational
arts and mentoring programs."
With various designs submitted, each piece incorporates the company's iconic
crystals and elements to commemorate its partnership with the CFDA.
One piece, by designer Irene Neuwirth, who's nominated in the accessories
category for her line, is a colorful crystal-encrusted skateboard. Another
nominee is Shayne Oliver, who created a crystal-adorned pair of Timberland boots
with an estimated value of $500.
All the pieces are up for auction online, with the money raised set to be
donated to Free Arts NYC. The auction opened on May 12 and will close before the
CFDA Fashion Awards on June 2, at 7 p.m. EST.
Giorgio Armani has inked a three-year deal with Germany’s FC Bayern München
and will provide the champion soccer team’s players and management with a luxury
wardrobe from his Made to Measure collection.
The uniform includes an anthracite gray suit in wool and cashmere, as well as
a two-button jacket with rounded lapels, a waistcoat and flat-front trousers,
and a light gray cotton shirt with hidden buttons. In a nod to FC Bayern
München’s official colors, the uniform will also include a red micro-patterned
tie, black lace-up shoes and a duster coat. For coach Pep Guardiola and the
players only, a special travelwear uniform will consist of a soft-fit jacket,
matching trousers and a long-sleeve polo shirt.
All of the garments will boast personalized labels stating “Giorgio Armani
for [the name of the wearer].”
Armani will also supply the team with accessories, from sunglasses to a deep
blue trolley bag, beauty case and messenger bag.
“Guardiola’s Bayern is a winning team that plays a quality game, and is
composed of motivated athletes with an international scope,” said Armani,
adding: “A tailored suit is a true contemporary luxury, which is perfect for a
top club like Bayern and adapts naturally to the athletes’ bodies.”
FC Bayern München chief executive officer Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said the
group was “proud and delighted” to be outfitted by Armani, noting: “in this way
[the team] is not only on top level sportswise, but also fashionwise.”
Prior to his involvement with FC Bayern München, Armani designed the uniform
of London’s Chelsea FC from 2007 to 2009.
There's been a bit of debate in the past about whether or not fashion is
considered art. But, instead of making a case for one or the other, we'll offer
another suggestion: Start treating your fashion like an art gallery.
We're coining this look, as seen on actress Elena Lyadova at Cannes this past
week, the gallery-wall outfit. While bold or graphic designs have always been a
welcome part of our wardrobes, this more-literal approach to artwork lets a
print — in this case, a scene that brings to mind Dalí's deserts — hang from
your person as if on display at the MoMA. And, the Russian actress only makes a
stronger case for this art-as-clothing trend with her spaghetti-thin straps that
suggest they're holding up the frame (which is actually a Dior pre-fall '14
dress).
Lyadova and her portable painting are in good company. The gallery-wall
outfit was also seen on Jennifer Lawrence earlier this week as well as on Kim
Kardashian, although in a smaller scale. Unfortunately, this trend does not
quite settle the score for whether or not clothing itself belongs on display in
a museum. But, should you want to carry around a mini-exhibit with you at all
times, perhaps this is the place to start.
Almost exactly a year ago, Angelina Jolie shocked the world when she penned
an op-ed for The New York Times detailing her decision to get a double
mastectomy. Doctors had informed the actress (and June 2014 ELLE cover girl)
that she had an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer and 50 percent
odds for ovarian cancer based on her family history, and she thus made the
choice to take her health into her own hands and undergo the controversial
procedure to preventatively remove and reconstruct both of her breasts. Jolie's
elective surgery—as well as opting to share it with the world—sparked an
international conversation about prevention and cancer, and inspired many others
at risk to explore similar options. But now, doctors are saying that following
Jolie's lead is medically unnecessary for most of the people who choose to do
so—even if they only opt to remove one cancerous breast.
A new study published in the JAMA Surgery journal shows that 70 percent of
women who decide to get a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy—that is,
removing both a cancerous and healthy breast simultaneously—don't actually need
to, since the risk for contracting the disease again is exceedingly low (just 3
percent). Interestingly, researchers also found in their survey of more than
1,400 women, that those with higher educations were more likely to opt for the
extensive, preventative surgery.
So though rates of double mastectomies have more than quintupled over the
past 15 years, doctors now advise at-risk patients to take pause. "They want to
choose the surgical procedure that they think gives them the lowest possibility
of recurrence and the greatest chance of surviving their breast cancer," Dr.
Tari King, deputy chief and director of research for the breast surgical service
at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, told CBS News. "But...when we tell
them that removing their normal breast won't make them live longer and there is
no survival benefit, there's a disconnect. It's not always guaranteed that the
choice you make to remove both breasts is really going to make you feel as good
as you think it might at the time that you're making that decision."
It's a reminder that health trends are not fashion trends—and a decision like
this is certainly not one-size-fits-all.
When Joe Zee left Elle magazine for Yahoo in April, everyone was left
wondering who would take on the task of filling his shoes. And now we know. The
magazine announced that Alex Gonzalez, who previously worked at Elle sister
publications Marie Claire and Town & Country, will take over as Elle's
creative director in June. In his new role, Gonzalez will be responsible for the
overall visuals of the fashion glossy.
"Robbie and her team have built Elle into the powerhouse brand that it is,
and I look forward to being part of its future," Gonzalez said in a
statement.
"I've been fortunate to have had an exciting tenure at Hearst and am grateful
for Hearst management's support as I move forward to Elle and explore all the
new possibilities it has to offer."
It was previously reported that Harper's Bazaar executive editor Laura Brown
and Vanity Fair fashion market director Michael Carl were both in the running
for the job.
Previously, Gonzalez worked as the artistic director of Marie Claire and the
executive artistic director of Town & Country. When he takes on his new role
at Elle, Gonzalez will still be able to continue working at Town & Country.
According to WWD, we will likely see Gonzalez's first bit of work for Elle in
October.
Elle editor-in-chief Robbie Myers told WWD that Gonzalez will be "building a
team" upon his arrival, so expect some more editorial changes in the future.
"Alex is a pro. Joe [Zee] did a great job at Elle. We rebuilt the roster of
photographers and stylists. Alex has his own relationships and his own
aesthetics. [But] he will be working within the codes of the magazine and
bringing a fresh eye and energy," Myers said.
Gucci is the latest fashion brand to foray into the cosmetics industry.
On Tuesday, the Italian luxury label announced the news in addition to
revealing the face of the cosmetics collection - Princess of Monaco Charlotte
Casiraghi. The Gucci Cosmetics collection, which is slated to launch in
September in select markets, will consist of products for eyes, face, lips and
nails, as well as "luxurious brushes and preparation products for skin.",
according to a release by Gucci.
"Charlotte was a natural choice as she embodies the modern iconic Gucci
woman," Gucci creative director Frida Giannini told WWD.
The advertising campaign images Casiraghi will appear in will be shot by Mert
Alas and Marcus Piggott and will debut alongside the product launch and a
digital film by Fabien Baron.
"I have really enjoyed my relationship with Frida over these last four years,
and I am now excited to work with her again on this signature product. I have
great admiration for her both as a designer and a strong and visionary woman,"
said Casiraghi, who already appears in Gucci's Forever Now advertising
campaign.
About a month ago, news broke of Lorde's collaboration with MAC
Cosmetics.
Slated to launch on June 5, the mini collection will be sold online at
Maccosmetics.com and at MAC's Times Square and Fifth Avenue bricks-and-mortar
stores in New York City before being made available internationally on the MAC
website and at MAC's Champs-Élysées store in July.
"I have loved MAC Cosmetics since I was a little kid. I remember saving up to
buy my very first MAC lipstick at 14, and it was used by about 20 of my friends!
MAC has a very clear aesthetic, that has always felt fashion forward to me. So I
was really excited to work with them on these products, which I use pretty much
every day and night. I hope you will too," Lorde said of the brand earlier this
year.
Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Jenny Packham, More Designed 'The Wizard of Oz'
Dolls for Charity
The ladies of "The Wizard of Oz" are getting a makeover courtesy of Tonner
Doll Collection and a slew of fashion and costume designers.
For this makeover, Warner Bros. Consumer Products has teamed up with
designers such as Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Jenny Packham, Trina Turk, Chris
Benz, BCBG, Hervé Leger and Carmen Marc Valvo, who will all create one-of-a-kind
Dorothy, Glinda or the Wicked Witch of the West dolls dressed in clothes that
represent the designers' interpretations of these characters, WWD reported.
The couture creations made by these designers will debut on September 4
during New York Fashion Week at the Fashion Institute of Technology. After their
debut, the dolls will be put up for auction on eBay, with proceeds benefitting
Habitat for Humanity.
"To me, Dorothy is one of the few iconic heartland American girls in the
movies, so having the opportunity to reenvision her style was exciting," Benz
told WWD.
"We were thinking about tornados and how when it's windy in New York, a piece
of newspaper will just fly up in your face and how hilarious it would be to have
that silhouette in blue gingham."
Turk also chose to design a dress for Dorothy.
"Dorothy's adventurous spirit represents a California girl at heart, so we
updated her sweet gingham pinafore into a peplum jumpsuit layered over a
'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' T. The rainbow patch provides a pop of color to
complement her ruby slippers," the designer said.
Packham opted to design for the famed film's more sinister character, who she
dressed in a nontraditional ensemble.
"Our witch is wicked in a contemporary, avant-garde way. We've used a print
from one of my favorite collections to create a modern and fashionable witch,"
Packham said.
We are just days away from what could be the city's biggest fashion retail
opening this year - when J. Crew's stores finally launch in Hong Kong.
After successfully testing the market in a partnership with Lane Crawford
that began in 2012, the American fashion brand sees Hong Kong as a central part
of its global expansion.
When I spoke with J. Crew's chairman and CEO Millard Drexler at the opening
of two London stores last November, he was upbeat about the company's future
foray into Hong Kong.
We're not a bling company, we're a style business and a design business
millard drexler, j. crew ceo
We're excited about it," Drexler said in his distinctive New York accent.
"Needless to say it's an important location, with important stores for us.
"We expect to learn a lot there. We are not in a rush. We follow our
instinct, and our instinct is that we were ready to go into the world, into
vital markets. We're going to school, essentially."
As of February 1, the company's revenues stood at US$2.4 billion, an increase
of 9 per cent year on year.
The joint opening of two stores in Central marks the brand's proper re-entry
into the Asian market.
"We were in Japan years ago, but we closed those shops," said Drexler. "We
weren't ready to be there, the stores weren't right, or in the right
locations."
News came in March that talks with Japanese company Fast Retailing (which
owns Japanese high street giant Uniqlo and US labels Theory and J Brand) to
acquire the brand from its private equity firm owner for about US$5 billion had
broken down. Rumours persist of an initial public offering, although the company
has refused to comment.
Drexler noted "the real estate in Hong Kong will be smaller, as the rents are
relatively sky high, so we hope that the productivity will be sky high,
too."
The two Hong Kong openings include a women's J. Crew Collection store at the
IFC Mall which has an edited, luxurious selection of items featuring premium
fabrications, limited edition designers, and Italian cashmere.
There will be shoes and handbags, too. The On Lan Street boutique will have
the men's collections, including the Ludlow suiting, shirting and shoes, along
with their range of "in Good Company" collaborations with unique brands such as
Barbour, Vans and New Balance.
Drexler, credited with turning around the fortunes of Ann Taylor, Banana
Republic and, most famously, Gap, has been working on J. Crew's global expansion
for the past few years.
"It takes time to build reputation and loyalty in any new market. But Hong
Kong is already one of our top five online markets; there's Japan, UK,
Australia, Canada, and Hong Kong," he said.
The volume of middle-class mainland tourists shopping here also provides a
massive opportunity for J. Crew to gain traction across the border.
"We're not a logo business, and I know people buy logos [in China]. But I
hear that this is also shifting. We're not a bling company, we're a style
business and a design business," he said.
Drexler believed the brand would translate well to the city, and said that,
for mainland customers, it was part of "a really long-term investment and
decision".
Fashion had become "an international language in a sense" since the world had
turned to digital and online.
"People will hopefully see that you can shop in J. Crew and buy beautiful,
hip, yet classy clothes. We're never too trendy," he said. "Then there is the
pricing - we give great value."
His J. Crew strategy is about selling quality, design and value. He
identifies key elements such as affordable cashmere or men's Ludlow suiting, and
then promotes them.
"You can buy things for more money or less money. I like to buy value,
whether it's automobiles, or homes. I think our consumer recognises that when
they come."
The innovative CEO has been labelled a "retailing legend", the "merchant
prince", as well as "the man who dressed America". Together with Jenna Lyons,
the brand's president and executive creative director, they form a fashion power
team.
Lyons' creative mash-up of quirky eccentricity with classically cool wearable
pieces, has hit the right notes with consumers. Even Michelle Obama is a
fan.
Over the years, J. Crew has transformed itself from a struggling American
catalogue business into a serious international fashion contender with an almost
cultish following. So is there a magic formula for such a turnaround?
"It starts with vision and instinct, and knowing what the opportunities are,"
Drexler said. "It also starts with seeing around the corner, seeing what's
coming."
This skill, for which he renowned, is "a combination of innate curiosity,
learning from your mistakes, knowing what you don't know, and having a great
imagination", he said.
His management style has been well documented in the media, from the
loudspeaker system he installed in the New York headquarters of J. Crew, to his
hands-on approach to staffing and consumer experience.
"As a boss, I want total openness when it comes to comments on what you feel.
I love it when people say what they think," he said.
"No one in a leadership role has done anything wonderful by themselves,"
Drexler said. "I've been on the board of Apple for 14 years, and people always
talk about Steve Jobs. He was probably one of the most successful visionaries
and business people in the world. But Steve had a great team, and you can't do
it without a team."
Drexler's own team has been doing well. As of May 7, the company was
operating 458 retail stores worldwide, including 266 J. Crew stores. And
although people still want to link what he did with Gap and what he is doing
with J. Crew, he said that was a role that finished more than 10 years ago.
"Frankly, there is no comparison," he said.
"Gap has a different market, a different demographic and frankly [at J. Crew]
we're not reaching to be on every street corner in the world."
Of course, there is a solid strategy to J. Crew's expansion, but some of it
has to be organic and intuitive, he said. Drexler is wary of planning things too
far in advance "because the world has changed more in the last 10 years than
perhaps in the last 30 before that".
"Great companies continue to grow, but they grow better," he said. "A lot of
them grow, but they don't necessarily get better. It's hard to manage a big, big
company where you don't have this hands-on approach."
But that's not to say that he doesn't have a wish list for the immediate
future of the company. The abbreviated version includes reaching a lot more
people. "Once you try us, they tend to like us. We're not an elitist company,
we're a friendly company and I think that we connect emotionally, and we have a
sense of humour about ourselves," Drexler said.
He wanted to see the smaller division of their business called Madewell (an
old workwear company founded in Massachusetts in 1937) become "a really
important business and style in the world".
J. Crew's enormously successful online business needed to remain a priority,
said Drexler. But the key would be maintaining, "the quality, design and
craftsmanship of what we do", despite expansion.
"It can't just become this big monolithic company that pumps out things by
formula," he said.
Although the notion of leveraging celebrities to help to increase the sales
of the fashion brands they wear isn't necessarily new information, the fact that
the footwear industry is now seeing a nice boost due to celebrities is a
slightly newer concept.
"This is a real marketing tool for a company like ours and a product like
ours," Stuart Weitzman commented to Bloomberg in regards to how red carpet
appearances of his shoes on celebrities have helped improve his visibility and
sales. "It's very important from a business standpoint, and we actively go after
it."
Case in point.
This year, Weitzman's Nudist sandal was seen on Jennifer Lawrence and about
40 other celebrities. In turn, the brand sold 25,000 pairs of the shoe, wheres
typical sales for that type of shoe would be around 5,000 to 8,000 pairs,
according to Bloomberg.
Another reason why this formula may seem to be working for the shoe industry
is the simple yet straight-forward explanation given by Vince Camuto.
"The celebrities are young, they are well-traveled, they are fashion-right.
What better vehicle can you have?"
Additionally, this is really taking the concept of fashion branding to a
different level. We know that if someone can't afford a Hermès Birkin, for
example, they may save up for a silk scarf instead from the brand.
As Bloomberg points out, the beauty of shoes is they are more accessible and
often easier on the wallet, at least when compared to the designer gowns and
luxury jewelry many of the celebrities wear.
Although, on the flipside, not every designer seems to support this notion.
Remember when Hayden Panettiere made headlines because she bought the Tom Ford
dress she wore on the red carpet to this year's Golden Globes?
"Tom Ford. It's the first time I've ever worn him, because I've been begging
ever since," The Cut quoted Panettiere as saying. "I feel sexy in it, I feel
comfortable in it, and I'm in Tom Ford. I would wear a plastic bag if it was
designed by him."
The camp for Ford appeared to have the following to say, which journalist Jim
Shi tweeted, "Tom Ford confirms to me he ONLY dressed #NaomiWatts tonight.
Hayden Panettiere BOUGHT her Tom Ford dress at RETAIL. Tsk tsk."
Share with us. What side of the fence are you on? If the shoe fits (no pun
intended), then why not continue down the path that's working for you, whether
that's focusing on the red carpet or solely on one person?
As usual, Susan Shen is immaculately and elegantly dressed. Sipping water at
the members-only coffee shop of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Beijing branch, she
is wearing a loose emerald-green tunic dress and black overcoat—both designed by
her own fashion label, Nisiss. She sports a stylish bob haircut and minimal
makeup, except for a dash of scarlet lipstick.
The look is simple and precise, which is also how she talks about her
company’s ambitions. A petite woman with an Audrey Hepburn-esque frame, Shen
chooses words carefully in explaining Nisiss’s growth strategy. She founded the
luxury fashion label in 2006 in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou. In 2010,
there were 15 Nisiss stores in mainland China. By the end of this year, there
will be 30 stores. Last year, annual sales volume topped 150 million renminbi
($24 million).
Nisiss’s signature garments are made of silk, often with a contemporary
twist. “Silk can be very soft, but we can also create more sculptured, thicker
silk,” she says. Nisiss’s silk trousers cost 4,000 to 5,000 RMB while evening
dresses sell for about 9,000 RMB. Shen typically prefers solid colors to busy
patterns and pays great attention to silhouettes, stitching, and textures. “Many
elements of traditional Chinese craftsmanship haven’t really evolved with modern
designs and needs.”
Another key aspect of the company’s designs: no prominent logos. “The Nisiss
look is much more serene and low-key,” Shen says. “The philosophy is to take
things slow and focus on details.” Chinese luxury consumers are becoming more
subtle and sophisticated, and among the thirtysomething professional women who
form Shen’s customer base, flaunting expensive logos is now considered a bit
tuhao, or uncouth.
Nisiss isn’t the only domestic brand hoping to connect with new customers.
Guo Pei, a couture designer based in Beijing, says she’s seeing increased demand
for custom-made gowns as Chinese performers and socialites have more formal
occasions to attend. She’s also starting a demi-couture bridal line to appeal to
a wider swath of Chinese women willing to splurge on a very expensive dress at
least once.
While French and Italian designers were once synonymous with sophisticated
taste, China’s first lady, Peng Liyuan, has recently turned heads by wearing
designs from another Guangzhou-based label, Exception, while accompanying her
husband on overseas diplomatic trips. Dresses and handbags she’s worn publicly
have quickly become sought-after items in China.
Nisiss already has stores in China’s leading cities: Beijing, Shanghai, and
Guangzhou. Now the focus is on expanding into second-tier cities, where Shen
believes “the market is almost ripe in terms of spending power.”
The McKinsey Global Institute calculates that by 2025, of the world’s 15
cities experiencing the fastest GDP growth, 11 will be in mainland China. Some
of these cities may not yet be well known outside China: Huangzhou and Wuhan
among them. But these are precisely the markets Nisiss is targeting.
Shijiazhuang, the smoggy capital of Hebei province, might not seem like an
obvious fashion destination. And yet it’s in such cities that Nisiss may have a
distinct advantage. “The timing of entry into those markets is very important.
We have an edge because there are not yet well-established international brands
there,” says Shen. Nisiss has also recently opened stores in Chengdu, Kunming,
Dalian, and Taiyuan, among other cities.
In 2002, just 13 percent of Chinese households defined as “middle class” and
above by McKinsey Greater China were in China’s inland provinces. But the rapid
growth of second- and third-tier cities means the geography of China’s middle
class is quickly shifting. By 2022, McKinsey predicts, 39 percent of the urban
middle class will live in China’s inland provinces.
Another possible advantage that domestic Chinese brands have: While easily
recognizable foreign luxury brands, such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci, have
suffered under President’s Xi Jinping’s ongoing corruption crackdown,
up-and-coming Chinese fashion brands haven’t yet become associated with graft or
official gift-giving. Discreet may be the new bling.
Ever since a certain surveillance video that took place in a hotel elevator
surfaced on the Internet, we’ve been left to put together the pieces to figure
out why exactly it happened. The pieces, unfortunately, are made up of rumors,
“sources,” and Beyoncé and Solange‘s Instagram accounts. All of which aren’t
confirmed by the Beygency and can easily be translated into a million different
things.
But the New York Post is starting to pick up another piece of evidence to add
to our not-so-helpful arsenal of assumptions. In a timely article called “Is
Beyoncé sending a subliminal message with her stilettos?” the Post examines what
exactly is the pop star trying to tell us during the Brooklyn Nets vs Miami Heat
game with her leather-and-gold heels by Tom Ford.
Bey’s a fashion maximalist at heart, so maybe she worked a minimal outfit to
let her shoes do all the talking last night. And if they could talk, maybe they
would say, “Back off, y’all. Don’t mess with t-h-i-s.”
While we can’t really top t-h-a-t, we came up with our own subliminal
messages from her shoe of choice. What does it all mean?
1. “Me and Jay’s love is as intertwined as the gold chains that keep my
stiletto heels sturdy. We got that love on lock, y’all.”
2. “If my little sis really wanted to high-kick my husband where it hurts,
then she would’ve worn these Tom Ford heels. Why do you think I’m wearing a
denim jumpsuit right now?”
3. “‘Pretty Hurts’ came from a very real place because, y’all, these heels
are making my feet cramp!”
4. “Gold chains, buckles, and black leather? bell hooks was right. I am a
terrorist. A sex terrorist.”
5. “Don’t tell Jay but I’m secretly rooting for the Heat. Notice my red
pedicure? Shhhh!”
We Oles have been so patient for the last few months. We’ve braved a terribly
cold winter, trudged through knee-high snow to get to class, bundled up in way
too many layers and donned our shorts as soon as it hit 30 degrees. It’s been a
long winter.
But fear not, summer is on its way! We can finally begin to rid ourselves of
chunky sweaters, thick socks, bulky jackets and heavy boots. Warm weather is in
sight, which means it’s finally time to bring out our summer fashion and get
ready for the summer heat!
So, my fashion friends, let’s get ready for the warm weather by taking a look
at the pieces I consider to be ‘must-have’ items for summer.
A jean jacket is one of the most practical and versatile clothing items out
there. You can easily dress it up or down, depending on the vibe you want to
achieve. A denim jacket is one of the best examples of a summer fashion staple
because it can be worn with almost anything, and it adds a finishing touch to
any look. Wear a denim jacket over a dress or pair it with an adorable pair of
patterned shorts. Not only does your denim jacket work well for summer, but it
transitions extremely well into other seasons. For a little variety, try wearing
a denim vest. This also looks great over anything. Give this fashion staple a
try this summer.
For a lighter version of the denim jacket, try wearing a chambray shirt this
summer. A chambray is a light-weight denim shirt. They come in all shades of
denim, so the sky’s the limit for chambray. This shirt pairs well with any
outfit, but because it is lighter in weight and serves extremely well in the
summer heat. Pair a chambray with colored shorts or a maxi skirt. You could even
wear one as a swimsuit cover for your days at the beach! A chambray shirt is a
great staple for your summer wardrobe.
Want to go for the laid-back, boho vibe this summer? Try a crochet top. This
ultra-feminine shirt is perfect for all of the outdoor concerts, picnics and
barbecues you’ll be attending. A cream crochet top looks great with distressed
jeans or denim shorts. Pair your crochet top with your big shades and a floppy
hat, and you’ll be set for summer.
Another practical staple piece for summer is a graphic tee. Think of a
concert tee or a tee with funky patterns and colors. A graphic tee does not have
to be over-the-top. One with a simple word or phrase (I have one that simply
says “New York City”) is understated, yet edgy. If you like a lot of design,
however, buy a colorful, eye-catching graphic tee. Pick a style that suits you.
A graphic tee is perfect for summer because it is laid-back, easy to wear, and
versatile. Try pairing your graphic tee under your denim jacket or vest! Or
think of wearing it with a pair of high-waisted shorts for a ‘cool’ vibe.
Two other great fashion staples for summer are maxi skirts or dresses – plain
and simple or patterned and colorful. Can you think of more flattering,
comfortable and fashionable wardrobe pieces? Not only are maxi skirts and
dresses stylish, but they’re also versatile! You can wear a maxi skirt or dress
with virtually anything and it will look put-together. Try pairing your maxi
skirt with an oversized shirt, crop-top, denim vest, chambray, light sweater or
scarf.
High-waisted shorts are perfect for summer. They look awesome with crop-tops,
oversized cardigans or graphic tees. They also serve as a practical and stylish
swimsuit cover-up. Dress up your shorts with a button-down shirt and statement
jewelry, or dress them down with a boho floral top. They’re simple, stylish and
practical for summer! Give them a try.
Floral pants are another fashion staple you’ll want to have in your closet.
Not only are they practical for summer days spent with your friends, but they
also serve well for those summer internships and interviews you’ll run into.
They are eye-catching, fashion-forward, and will surely earn attention. There
are many options when it comes to picking out the perfect pair of floral pants
for you! If you want a subtle look, go for a smaller pattern or lighter colors.
However, if you’re feeling bold, you’ll have no problem finding brightly-colored
floral pants. It’s all up to you!
Last but not least, rompers are extremely practical for summer fashion. One
of the greatest parts of a romper (besides the comfort factor, of course) is
that you only have to pick out one fashion piece for your entire outfit! Rompers
come in all sorts of styles and patterns. Think of what will be most practical
for you. Pair your romper with a denim vest to add dimension to your look! A
romper will serve well as a swimsuit cover-up, outdoor concert outfit, or simple
everyday wear.
After almost a decade in business, The Row, founded by Mary-Kate and Ashley
Olsen, is finally opening its first store.
On Tuesday, the brand's flagship shop, a 3,800-square-foot space located at
8440 Melrose Place in Los Angeles, will officially open. The retail space, which
the Olsen twins refer to as a hidden gem, was previously a hair salon and is
barely visible from the street.
"We've always wanted our own store; it's always been part of the plan. It was
a toss-up between New York and L.A., and when this space became available, we
jumped on it. It used to be a hair salon, and my sister and I used to come here,
so we were very aware of the space," Mary-Kate told WWD.
"We had been coming here since we were, like, 10 years old. We are from here,
and The Row started here, so it was all very appropriate," Ashley added.
To create the mid-century modern space and ensure that it represented Los
Angeles, Mary-Kate and Ashley worked with designers David Montalba and Courtney
Applebaum, as well as local furniture and antiques vendors including JF Chen,
Galerie Half, Blackman Cruz and Thomas Hayes Gallery.
Prior to the opening of this store, The Row has only been sold through
wholesalers, so this new space provides Mary-Kate and Ashley with a new way to
present their brand to customers.
"We have all 170 pieces in our collection represented here. A lot of stores
obviously don't buy the whole collection, maybe 20 percent, so this is really
the place where we can present it like a showroom," Mary-Kate said.
The opening of this flagship shop is just the beginning for The Row.
According to WWD, the brand plans to get into e-commerce "sooner rather than
later," and it also plans to dabble in footwear and menswear eventually.
"We've always been one T-shirt at a time, one hire at a time. We still run
our business that way. We take on what the company can handle when it can handle
it. This is not a fast-fashion brand, and I think it's important to allow [it]
time to exist and grow the way it grows naturally," Ashley said.
Art and fashion are old friends and Ravi Bajaj's new store at DLF Emporio,
Vasant Kunj, is all about rekindling that special friendship. While rows of
kurta s and sherwani s are lined up against the iconic paintings of Caravaggio's
young Bacchus getting drunk and Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam, the
elegance of his saris and gowns is further enhanced by Botticelli's Birth of
Venus in the background.
"The store is inspired by the feel of an art gallery and these gorgeous works
add style and warmth to the ambience," says Bajaj, who has chosen the works to
go with the sensibility, style and personality of his designs.
This open- faced flagship store will house all of Bajaj's collection,
everything from men's shirts to women's lehengas.
His Summer 2014 collection is already in the house.
The Delhi designer reminisces about his 26 years in the fashion industry and
says every day has been a learning experience. " When I started off, I only did
saris in grey because I love the colour. But then I realised no one will buy
grey saris," he says.
Bajaj adds that the new store is a step forward in that direction.
The fashion world is partnering with Silicon Valley companies to design a new
generation of stylish wearable devices, which could also create more
opportunities for women – like new Apple executive Angela Ahrendts – in the
mostly male tech industry.
Ahrendts, the former chief executive officer of Burberry, started work at
Apple on May 1 in the newly created position of senior vice president in charge
of strategy for retail and online stores. Ahrendts will use her experience
selling luxury clothes worldwide to help expand sales of luxury electronics in
emerging markets, but she may also use her fashion leadership skills to design a
wearable device for the tech giant.
Apple is rumored to be developing a smart watch and has also hired developers
of medical sensor technology to potentially help with device designs, according
to reports. Health sensors are a popular feature of existing wearables, but
while 60 percent of U.S. adults track their weight, diet or exercise routines,
only 9 percent follow them using a mobile application or online tool, according
to the Pew Research Center .
Apple isn't the only tech company joining forces with the fashion world. To
appeal to consumers, Intel is partnering with the Council of Fashion Designers
of America, Opening Ceremony and Barneys New York on device designs. Google
could make its Google Glass visor more chic through its partnership with
Luxottica Group, which owns brands like Ray-Ban, Armani, Oakley and Vogue
Eyewear.
Ahrendts will receive a hefty hiring bonus of restrictive stock between June
of this year and June 2018, according to a filing to the Securities and Exchange
Commission. That would be worth close to $70 million at Apple’s current stock
price.
Ahrendts is the only woman on Apple’s board, and her hiring comes at a time
when companies are trying to bring more women into the tech industry. There is a
7 to 3 ratio of men to women in New York tech offices, according the consulting
firm HR&A Advisors, and approximately 74.5 percent of computer jobs in the
U.S. are staffed by men, according to Census Bureau data
Myer 'has dropped ambassador Kate Peck from summer
catalogue over fears of a skinny backlash'
After the uproar over waif-thin models at Australian Fashion Week last month,
the top bosses at Myer are trying to avoid a similar backlash.
That's why the retail giant is planning to cut their brand ambassador Kate
Peck out of their upcoming summer catalogue, the Daily Telegraph reported.
There are concerns at head office the blonde model and MTV presenter might
invite criticism by posing in swimwear given her slender frame.
'Kate is a wonderful get but she is not known for her curves', a source told
the Daily Telegraph.
The 26-year-old walked the runway at Myer's Autumn/Winter fashion show in
February along with the brand's long-time face Jennifer Hawkins, and has been a
representative at many events and functions.
But the beauty may be conspicuously absent from the much-anticipated summer
catalogue, which is being photographed in the coming weeks but will not be
published until August.
In February Kate told the Sydney Morning Herald she was 'really excited'
about joining Myer as an ambassador.
'Fashion is my background so I got in touch with [Myer] and we did a few gigs
and I have managed to get a contract with them,' she said.
An experienced model, the striking Peck got her big break on Search for a
Supermodel at 15, before relocating to New York to pursue a modeling career.
She was later head-hunted by MTV to join the music channel as a presenter and
returned to Australia to replace former host Erin McNaught.
Designer Alex Perry was heavily criticised last month after he cast
gaunt-looking model Cassie Van Den Dungen to walk in his Mercedes-Benz Fashion
Week show in Sydney.
He appeared on the Today Show soon after to express his regret over the
incident, saying 'It's not an image I think is good to put forward.'
'It was a serious lack of judgement on my part that I let that happen.'
