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Homepage | July, 2006 Archives
Scarlett Johansson Straps On Her Running Shoes
Scarlett Johansson has signed a very lucrative deal with Reebok. Scarlett will help create the new Scarlett "Hearts" Rbk line, which is described as "a fashion-forward, athletic-inspired footwear and apparel signature collection." The new collection will be available in high-end department stores and boutiques around the world in spring 2007. Scarlett will star in the global campaign to promote the new line.
"Reebok is thrilled to partner with Scarlett because she is a world renowned style icon and truly an inspiration for today's young women," said Reebok's President and CEO Paul Harrington. "Scarlett embodies the pulse points of our brand - individuality, authenticity and a life lived to the fullest in perpetual motion. These characteristics make her the perfect fit for our new women's footwear and apparel collection and also for our exciting new women's campaign."
Recognized worldwide for her fashion flair, Johansson was recently voted "Best Dressed" in an online poll conducted by Yahoo! A New York City native, Johansson has always had an affinity for fashion. "Reebok has a rich heritage in developing and designing cutting-edge women's product which makes them an ideal company to partner with to launch 'Scarlett Hearts Rbk'," said Johansson. "I am very enthusiastic about working with Reebok to design this line."
Scarlett is currently starring in the Woody Allen murder mystery Scoop, which also stars Hugh Jackman. We're going to check it out this week: it looks quite funny and we like Scarlett. And it's really no great burden to be forced to watch Hugh Jackman for for a couple of hours, either.
Posted on July 31, 2006
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Heidi Klum and the Blue Jeans
Apparently, Heidi Klum absolutely
despises
maternity jeans. So the supermodel, host of Project Runway and soon-to-be mother of three decided to do something about it:
Supermodel Heidi Klum has had customised jeans designed for each month of her pregnancy.
The catwalk beauty, who is four months pregnant with her second child with pop star husband Seal, has revealed she detests wearing elastic-waist maternity jeans so much that she decided to commission her own range.
The German beauty approached 'Earnest Sewn' designer Scott Morrison to create a range of skinny, tapered leg jeans she can wear until the baby is born.
Heidi admits she can't wait to welcome the new addition to the family.
She said: "We have always wanted to have a big family and that is what we are working on right now. We're a new family and we're just figuring it out."
The model - who already has two children, Henry and daughter Leni, from her relationship with Formula One boss Flavio Briatore - was determined to show off her famous legs at the launch party for the new series of Project Runway, which she hosts.
We have to admit that it not occurred to us to have a designer make one's favorite jeans in a variety of sizes. But then again, we're not exactly sure why anyone would even want to wear bluejeans in late pregnancy (especially in the summer), Katie Holmes notwithstanding.
Posted on July 29, 2006
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The Joy Of a Clean Yoga Mat
The New York Times has a
horrifying article about how upscale women are increasingly contracting plantar warts, dermatitis and athlete's foot from unclean yoga mats.
"Most people know to wear flip-flops in the shower and locker rooms but they don’t think about it on a yoga mat," said Noreen Oswell, the chairwoman of podiatric surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. In the last two years, Dr. Oswell said there has been an uptick of fungal infections among her patients who use mats that aren’t properly cleaned.
Dr. Ellen Marmur, who runs the division of dermatologic surgery at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan, said she has seen more bacterial infections in the last year and a half in "young women who mentioned they did yoga and Pilates," and for whom she had ruled out other risk factors for dermatitis or dry, itchy skin. Dirty exercise mats were most likely to blame, Dr. Marmur said.
*****
Critics warn that hygiene isn’t always a priority at some gyms and studios. Heather Stephenson, a Brooklyn yoga teacher who has worked for two gyms and has worked out in more than 25 worldwide, said: "In my experience it is not an incredibly regular practice to clean them." Ms. Stephenson, who is a founder of Idealbite.com, an eco-living Web site, added that blankets, which are used for headstands, "aren’t often cleaned, either."
Some specialists also worry that the cleaning solutions are not as effective as they could be. In order for a mat wipe to work, the liquid needs to have alcohol or quat-based disinfectants that are commonly used in detergents, said Dr. Philip Tierno, the director of clinical microbiology at N.Y.U. Medical Center. The wipe also needs to be moist enough to wet the entire surface. Soap and water won’t kill bacteria, but chlorine will, added Dr. Tierno, the author of the book The Secret Life of Germs.
Longtime devotees of yoga tend to buy their own mats and don’t lend them to anyone because they consider them an intimate part of their practice.
Amazon.com has a nice selection of yoga accessories: pictured is the extra thick, EverythingYoga Deluxe Yoga Mat which retails for under $20.
Buy your own yoga mat. End of discussion.
Posted on July 27, 2006
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Snakes on a Plane: the Way to an Internet Billionaire's Heart
Surely by now you've heard all the buzz about the upcoming Samuel L. Jackson movie, Snakes on a Plane, a horror flick which is guaranteed to completely freak out anyone who has a fear of a) flying b) snakes or c) all of the above.
Jackson plays an FBI agent who ends up on a plane and somehow a large number of snakes are realeased while the plane is airborne (we were feeling too faint to read much further, so we're not sure how the snakes were released, why they were released or if perhaps there is by chance an itinerant snake charmer on board to save the day.)
Now you wouldn't think this would be a big chick flick, but one of the actresses in the film thought differently. Lin Shaye who plays the character Grace in the movie, designed this Gold Diamond Snakes On A Plane Necklace for Kathie Takowsky.
Made of 18k yellow gold necklace with antique finish, the charm features a 3D snake adorned with sparkling diamonds, wrapped around an airplane The chain is 18 karat and is is 22" long. It retails for $3,900.00
at
ShopIntuition. There's also a less expensive version in silver for $350, if your snakes on a plane jewelry budget is limited this summer.
One thing's for sure: it's a real attention getter. And if you want to meet a geeky Internet billionaire, this is the necklace that's sure to get his attention. But you might want to read the movie's synopsis first, just so you can talk confidently about this pop culture phenomenon. You'll score extra points for knowing the title of the film when it's released in France: Des Serpents Dans L'Avion.
Posted on July 26, 2006
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Elizabeth Hurley, Jordache Jeans and a Whip
Jordache jeans has signed Elizabeth Hurley to be its spokeswoman, as part of its campaign to reinvigorate the classic 80s jeans line. The photo shoot was done by photographer Michael Thompson and features Hurley wearing the jeans and carrying a whip.
The latest campaign exemplifies Jordache's commitment to the classic quality it is known for, with a sexy sophistication that keeps Jordache a celebrity and fashionista favorite. In the campaign, Hurley wears the Jordache Vintage line, sold in high-end retail stores as well as the new Jordache Legacy line launching exclusively at Macy's across the country this fall. All jeans have embroidered back pocket stitching with superior fits and modern styles.
"We are thrilled to be working with Elizabeth Hurley," says Liz Berlinger, President of Jordache Enterprises. "With success as an actress, model, business woman and mother, Liz represents everything the Jordache brand is about. We chose her because she is the true modern woman." Liz's look was facilitated by make-up artist Stephane Marais and hairstylist Serge Normant.
Jordache catapulted to fame in the late 70's as a leader in the designer-label jeans category. At the height of its popularity, Jordache Jeans were designer favorites and its highly anticipated ad campaigns were seen as provocative and innovative. The jeans were so much a part of American pop culture that their commercials were spoofed by Gilda Radner on Saturday Night Live. Jordache recently introduced a new premium line of jeans inspired by the classic Jordache look.
So, apparently whips are the new "in" accessory. Miss USA cracked a riding whip when she appeared as a jockey during the recent Miss Universe pageant. Madonna has lots of riding-themed bits with whip-cracking in her current sold out Confessions tour. Now, Elizabeth Hurley wears Jordache jeans (which has a horse logo) and sports a riding crop.Because if you don't buy Jordache jeans, someone's due for a big spanking.
Posted on July 25, 2006
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Vera Wang and the Navy Blue Ensemble
We love navy blue and think that there's just not enough of it lately. Luckily, Vera Wang has a lovely navy blue ensemble from her Fall 2006 ready to wear collection that is just perfect for when (if ever) temperatures dip down low enough for one to consider wearing a wool skirt.
Pictured is a navy blue side-tie silk charmeuse blouse with a dark navy wool-felt button front wrap skirt and black velvet dome hat. Of course, you could always leave off the hat if you were just not feeling the headgear vibe. The navy blue is so dark it's almost black -- it's such a flattering color for so many skintones. Vera pairs the look with dark hose, which -- along with dark leggings -- will be key for fall. We just saw some YSL suede platform boots at Saks that would really rock with this outfit. Because it's really time to start thinking about your de rigeur Fall 2006 Boot Purchase. It's never too early to begin plotting out these kinds of things, you know. And, yes, we are aware that it's a zillion degrees outside in most of the United States. All the more reason to think calming thoughts of fabulous winter clothes.
Posted on July 24, 2006
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Miami Vice: the TV Show That Launched the Pastel Craze
Guy Trebay analyzes the influence that the original Miami Vice tv show had on men's fashion. From pastels, to unconstructed jackets to stubble, to socks without shoes, Don Johnson's ensembles launched a fashion revolution.
"The way Michael Mann did the costumes has nothing to do with real cops," said Jim Moore, the creative director of GQ magazine. "But it influenced everything we did at the time."
The extent to which the show played a part in the sartorial recasting of the American man is difficult to overestimate. Before Miami Vice, which was conceived as a cop show for the MTV generation, adult males were not often in the habit of wearing T-shirts under sports coats or shoes minus socks. Most guys without ties in the 1980’s would have been considered slobs or candidates for the unemployment line. Pastel-colored trousers were reserved for caddies, pastel-colored vehicles for pimps. Suits in the late Reagan era were still substantially lined and padded and as rigidly shaped as Barcaloungers, although with sleeves. Loose, crumpled garments were considered work wear for convicts or gigolos. Hardly anybody without a begging cup wore a straw hat.
Although it's hard now to remember the radical statement these gestures once constituted, before Miami Vice few men except bank tellers rolled up their jacket sleeves, and about the only folks who flipped up their blazer collars were the singer George Michael or patrons in some Fort Lauderdale gentlemen-only bar. "It’s the first point in fashion history where you can really show a TV having that influence on fashion," said Mr. Moore, adding that a two-day growth of beard before Miami Vice was a sure sign of a impending bumhood. "Miami Vice made stubble cool," he said. It has stayed cool far too long, and this is something Mr. Mann should be required to answer for.
When he orchestrated the look of the original show, Mr. Mann was venturing into stylistic territory already staked out by Italian designers, people like Gianni Versace, Gianfranco Ferré or Giorgio Armani, the man generally credited with introducing the world to the unconstructed suit — that is, without padding, a lining or internal stiffening.
*****
Miami Vice may also have marked the earliest mainstream appearance of that indestructible cultural chimera, the metrosexual. "As tough as Sonny Crockett was meant to be," the dude on a boat with a pet alligator named Elvis, "he still had the meticulously groomed scruff on his face and the pastel, linen-y sports jackets," said Dan Peres, the editor of Details. "That all was certainly a part of the cultural moment that allowed men to embrace their vanity a little more openly."
So what about the new Miami Vice feature film, starring Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell? Well, we have to say that in the trailers we've seen Colin Farrell has a lot more beard than one could safely call "stubble." And his new 70's moustache is horrifying (Guy's right -- it is a porn stache). Then, to top it off, he looks like he was dipped in oil before each shot. We know he's supposed to be going undercover and all, but really -- Don Johnson's Crockett never went undercover without looking really, really hot.
Jamie Foxx is also showing his love for unfortunate facial hair by sporting a ghastly goatee. We like Miami Vice. We like Michael Mann movies. And we like Colin and Jamie (although the word from the set was that the two stars absolutely despise each other and spent as little time together offscreen as possible). But we just don't know about the fashion stylings of the new Miami Vice. Perhaps there's a scene in the middle of the film where they both shave, shower, get manicures some good handshake maintenance, dress up in Armani and then go out and get some bad guys. Here's hoping.
Posted on July 21, 2006
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Proctor and Gamble Pulls the Plug on Olivier Theyskens
Olivier Theyskens has ruled supreme at Rochas since 2003. But conglomerate Proctor & Gamble, which owns Rochas, pulled the plug on Theyskens this week by announcing they were closing the fashion house.
"I have no doubt he will have many suitors," Anna Wintour, the Vogue editor, said. Still it is hard to shake the feeling that a new job will change the course of his design once he is removed from the context of Rochas. Before he established his signature romantic look there, Mr. Theyskens’s designs were often categorized under that less universally pleasing heading of Goth.
There is plenty of precedent for an admired designer to be restrained by a corporate parent unwilling to finance the creative fancies of mousseline de soie, though few can match the emotional response to Mr. Theyskens; perhaps only when Azzedine Alaïa closed his SoHo store in 1991 were fashion editors similarly brought to tears.
Julie Gilhart, the fashion director at Barneys New York, said the impact of Mr. Theyskens’s departure at Rochas will be deeply felt by the store’s customers. "I have no doubt they will follow him wherever he goes," she said.
Mr. Theyskens could find a backer to revive a collection under his name, which, before his appointment at Rochas, had failed financially. Or he could be hired to design for any number of houses. There are even some openings — at Chloé, for example, where another big star, Phoebe Philo, exited this year — and potentially at other houses headed by weak or aging designers.
Nicolas Frontière, a spokesman for the designer, said yesterday that Mr. Theyskens had not yet considered any plans.
It's true: Theyskens really did get unfairly pegged with the "Goth" label in the fashion public's mind. But that really isn't a fair summing up of Theyskens' talents at all: he has an excellent sense of color and makes beautifully cut suits and wonderful little black cocktail dresses. Theyskens is a talented designer that built the House of Rochas ready-to-wear label into a prestige brand since he took over the reins at the legendary French fashion house. But P & G didn't see it that way, more's the pity.
Posted on July 20, 2006
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Tiffany Recalls Paloma Picasso Baby Rattle
Tiffany and Co. has issued a recall for the Paloma Picasso baby rattle because it is a choking hazard.
The 2 ½-inch wide circular Paloma Rattle consists of nine linked sterling-silver balls. The seams could open and release small beads, which could pose a choking hazard, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a notice earlier this month. Once open, the seams' jagged edges could also pose a hazard. No injuries have been reported, the commission said.
The recalled rattles were made in Spain for Tiffany and were sold in March. Tiffany initiated the recall after routine product-safety testing by the commission prompted concerns, the agency said.
Consumers should take the rattles away from babies and return them to the store for a refund or credit.
Apparently this isn't the first time that Tiffany has had a rattle recalled. The company also had to cough up a whopping fine for failing to disclose the danger that the Farm Teether Rattle could pose to infants.
Tiffany and Co. agreed to pay a $262,500 civil penalty to settle allegations that it failed to report a hazard with its infant teether rattles, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said Wednesday.
The New York-based luxury jeweler recalled about 3,700 teether rattles in February 2005 because of the choking and aspiration risks they pose to babies.
CPSC alleged that Tiffany failed to report in a timely manner that the center bar on the Farm Teether Rattle could break, releasing small beads and animal figures.
Tiffany and Company received at least three reports of defective joints in the teethers between November 2003 and February 2004.
In one incident, a baby was reported to have mouthed a small animal figure that fell off of the teether rattle.
Tiffany's failed to notify consumers who had purchased the teether and did not report the problem to CPSC until after the Commission had opened its own investigation, the CSPC said.
As part of the settlement, Tiffany's denied it violated the Consumer Product Safety Act by failing to report defects with its Farm Teether Rattles in a timely manner.
Ok, this is getting ridiculous. Jewelry is one thing. If an adult manages to choke on her Diamonds by the Yard necklace after a night of wild abandon, well, that's her problem. She's an adult and necklaces really can't be choked on, unless the adult in question is doing something really strange. But when a company gets into the baby business, it must appoint someone whose sole job is to make sure that every product that the firm sells is absolutely, 100% safe for infants. No excuses.
Posted on July 19, 2006
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Juicy's Charming New Hoop Earrings
Nordstrom's is having its giant Anniversary Sale, which lasts until July 31st. Lots of new stuff is on sale: the prices go up when the sale ends.
We like these new Juicy Couture Charm Hoop Earrings, which are on sale for $54.90. After the sale ends, they'll retail for $75.00. These are really big hoops with a 2 1/8" diameter and a 1" drop. They come in either 14k gold or silver-plated brass, with charms made of crystal, enamel and shell. We'll take the gold, thanks.
Posted on July 18, 2006
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Is The Devil Wears Prada Really Cursed?
Reuters has a strange article about what it calls "The Curse of The Devil Wears Prada." According to the Luxury Institute, the U.S. economy is not doing so well: the middle class and near rich (defined as those who have a net worth of $1 million to $5 million) is starting to spend less on luxury items, which is not good for retailers.
So what, you might ask, does that have to do with the film The Devil Wears Prada? Apparently, there were about a zillion product placements in that film (because the budget was small) and every company featured in the film has seen its stock price slump -- from Starbucks to Tiffany's.
The share prices of brands that got placement in the movie have almost all slumped more than the wider stock market in recent weeks -- possibly reflecting a new caution about discretionary spending among American shoppers.
Phillips-Van Heusen Corp. (owner of the Calvin Klein brand), jeweler Tiffany & Co. Inc., coffee chain Starbucks Corp., steakhouse chain The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group Inc. and bookseller Barnes & Noble Inc. all got their moments in the movie -- and all have had moments to forget in the stock market.
Higher gasoline prices and interest rates -- which raise the cost of credit-card debt -- may be deterring consumers across all income groups, analysts said, but it's the middle class and the "nearly rich" -- those worth between $1 million and $5 million -- who are cutting back on luxury goods and services.
"Instead of buying the $25,000 watch, they're buying the $10,000 watch," said Milton Pedraza, CEO of The Luxury Institute.
Big signs of a consumer pullback came this week when Brunswick Corp., the world's largest maker of recreational boats, cut its earnings outlook, and recreational vehicle maker Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. posted lower-than-expected earnings.
Among the "Devil" brands, shares of Philips-Van Heusen and Smith & Wollensky have declined about 20 percent since May 1, while shares of Tiffany & Co. have fallen 11 percent. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index has dropped 5.3 percent in the same period.
Barnes & Noble shares have lost more than a quarter of their value since May 1.
Even a high flyer like Starbucks has not escaped the Prada curse -- or at least was not helped by placement in the movie. Shares dropped 11 percent in the past week after it announced June sales growth of 6 percent at coffee shops open at least 13 months, against expectations of as much as 8 percent.
Another of the darlings of the stock market in recent years, luxury handbag retailer Coach Inc., fell about 27 percent since a March peak.
With gasoline prices close to all-time highs, even the rich may pause before driving to purchase a luxury item.
"When you pay $3 for a gallon of gas, even if you have a lot of money, you suddenly say, 'Hey, wait a minute, I just filled my tank of gas and I got rid of 40 bucks. That's incredible. That's indecent,'" said Kurt Barnard, president of Barnard's Retail Consulting Group.
"Those are things that precipitate the desire to hold on to your money and to go about spending it judiciously."
Our old economics professors would be horrified. Just because Starbucks' stock price has dropped since the opening of the movie certainly doesn't mean that the movie is somehow cursed. That's just sloppy analysis. Clearly, the stock price has slumped because celebrity Starbucks sightings have been markedly down in the last month. When is the last time we saw Mary Kate and Ashley clutching a frappucino in their tiny little hands as they leave the popular coffee emporium? Or picture of Britney Spears, clutching her favorite Starbucks beverage to her chest as she runs errands with the new manny? The only pictures we see of Britney lately are of her spitting her gum out of a car window as she goes through the drive-thru window of McDonalds. No photos of Britney drinking Venti Coffee Frappucino With Whipped Cream = slumping Starbucks stock. This is basic Econ 101.
Posted on July 17, 2006
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Jellyfish Shopping Search Site Debuts
Add another shopping search engine to the growing list. Jellyfish.com is the latest shopping search tool to launch. The site promises to match buyers and sellers and also promises to offer cash back from 1000's of stores. Adotas has a news release about the debut of Jellyfish.
The site matches up buyers and sellers in a patent-pending marketplace in which interruptive advertising is replaced with added value for online shoppers. At least half of the advertising revenue generated from each sale is shared with the consumer. Because retailers compete to get to the top of search rankings by increasing the amount of cash back that will be provided to consumers, Jellyfish hopes to maximize savings for the consumer.
"The Jellyfish model really levels the playing field for retailers," said Adrienne Hartman, Internet Business Manager at ShoeMall.com. "With the transparent Jellyfish model, ShoeMall competes and the customer is more satisfied with her experience, knowing that she got the best price possible in the end."
The method is similar to major Pay Per Click search engines, but those engines keep all of the monetary value the advertising competition generates.
Jellyfish will compete with existing shopping search tools like Shopzilla, Become, Froogle and MySimon. SearchEngineWatch.com has a list of many more shopping search tools.
Posted on July 14, 2006
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Christian Dior and the Skull Rings
Remember the spring/summer skull trend? Well, it's going stronger than ever for Fall 2006. Christian Dior showed these two skull rings from its fine jewelry couture collection in Paris. One ring features a turquoise skull with yellow gold, diamonds, and lacquer. The other ring features a skull made of coral, accented wtih yellow gold and a diamonds.
The actual name of the collection is "Fiancee de Vampire" which translates into the Fiancee of a Vampire Collection. The collection includes lots of skull necklaces, earrings and rings, as well as jewelry with lots of blood-red hearts (very yummy to a vampire, you know.)
You'd need to special order the rings from the nearest Christian Dior boutique that sells its fine jewelry. There are boutiques in various U.S. cities, including Aspen, New York, Beverly Hills, Chicago and Las Vegas (why do we feel like the Vegas store probably has them in stock already??) There's also a very nice Christian Dior store in South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California that would be happy to help you track down your favorite skull adornment. The Dior website is a flash nightmare: good luck seeing the jewelry unless you're willing to reconfigure your desktop settings and take a nap while the catalogue loads (and yes, we have a super-fast connection, but we are very impatient when jewelry is concerned). We think it's easier to go to the nearest boutique or call the Costa Mesa store at 714-549-4700.
Posted on July 14, 2006
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The Gwen Stefani Baby Sling Controversy
Ever since that 4th of July weekend party at Brad Pitt's house, there has been an explosion of controversy over the way Angelina Jolie and Gwen Stefani have been carrying their infants. Both stars have been seen toting their bundles of joy around using a Rockin' Baby Ring Sling made by Rockingbabysling.com.
So what's controversial about a baby sling? Well, apparently in some photos pictures Gwen has the baby sling on backwards which is why it looks so awkward. The other controversy is whether the slings are the best way to carry an infant. Battling mommies either despise the slings and prefer a baby Bjorn-type carrier, or hate the baby Bjorn and believe that the sling is better for baby. We don't have a clue as to which is better for baby, but we do like the idea of having something that lets you carry around baby all day long. Babies like to be held and they certainly cry less when they're in contact with mommy on an outing. So naturally, we recommend that you list both on your Baby Shower Want List and then figure it out for yourself later.
Apparently Gwen has simply given up on the Baby Sling lately, opting for a Gucci Baby Carrier. You can see great pictures of Gwen (possibly incorrectly) using her Rockin' Baby Ring Sling in Orange Zebra/Brown Flowers at X-17.
Posted on July 12, 2006
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Flip Flops Flap Into Offices
Reuters reports on a ghastly new trend: wearing
flip flops to the office.
Lauren Cardinale, 25, who works at West Glen Communications, wears beaded or other fancy flip flops to the office -- when she can get away with it.
"Occasionally I wear flip flops to work," she said. "I wear nicer shoes if I'm meeting with clients or if I know there will be someone in the office who doesn't approve of flip flops."
Cardinale is one of thousands of young women in New York who consider flip-flops an essential part of their summer wardrobe.
An online survey conducted for retailers Old Navy and Gap found flip-flops topped the list of wardrobe items that college and high school students planned to wear to work this summer.
More than 31 percent of women said flip-flops were the single "must have" item for work this summer.
But many companies disagree.
"The dress code says no beach wear and flip-flops are considered beach wear," said a spokeswoman for BNP Paribas.
But flip-flops took on a new life among the young and trendy a few years ago. They have surged in popularity with shops now selling them in every conceivable color, with sequins, flowers, and even bridal flip-flops with over 300 Swarovski crystals on the straps for about $140 a pair.
*****
Last June the Northwestern University's champion women's lacrosse team was widely criticized for wearing flip-flops when they visited the White House and met President George W. Bush.
Ellen Campuzano, president of the Committee of Color and Trends, a New York-based forecasting service specializing in footwear and accessories, thinks flip-flops' popularity will wane.
"Usually these trends come and go in about five years," she said. "I think we've reached the peak, they can't be any more widespread, so maybe next summer something will replace them."
The very thought is horrifying to us. What would Miranda Priestly say? And stop looking at those Havaianas under our desk. They're certainly not ours...we think the plant lady left them there. Ours are the 4" stilettos next to them.
Posted on July 11, 2006
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The Shoe Sale, The Handgun and the Riot
This clearly has to qualify as the worst shoe sale ever. In Turkey, hysteria erupted at a shoe sale in which one person got shot in the foot.
The incident Friday occurred in Karabuk, a city about 125 miles north of Ankara, after people overloaded a two-story retailer that was selling pairs of shoes for as little as $6, the state-owned Anatolia news agency reported.
When customers rebelled against orders to close the store because of overcrowding and started to fight with one another and with salespeople, a store employee shot his gun into the air, Anatolia said. The bullet struck the foot of a customer, who was taken to a hospital, while the shooter was taken into police custody, the agency reported.
Shooting guns into the air is a not-uncommon method for dealing with emotional situations in Turkey, including weddings, soccer games, demonstrations and deals on shoes that are almost too good to be true.
This reminds us of a traumatic incident we were once subjected to at a Nordstrom's shoe sale. A small scuffle broke out over a pair of size 7 Ferragamo pumps that had been marked down three times. More than one woman reached for the last box and, well, let's just say that we emerged victorious. Mercifully, no one got shot. But someone might have broken a nail.
Posted on July 10, 2006
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No Gap Jeans For Chloë Sevigny
Alas! Fashion darling Chloë Sevigny simply can't stand to watch herself on her hit HBO TV show, Big Love.
Chloë Sevigny says she can’t watch herself in Big Love because she’s so self-conscious about her looks. "It may be why I like fashion so much. I feel the need to adorn myself," the style icon told London's Mail on Sunday. The reporter asked if Sevigny would give up the "whole style-icon thing and just slob around in Gap jeans all day" to which a "horrified" Sevigny replied: "No! I've never worn Gap jeans." . . .
Big Love, in case you missed it, is a show in which Bill Paxton plays Bill Hendrickson, a wealthy businessman from Salt Lake City who practices polygamy. He has three families, three houses and three families, which makes his home life unbelievably complicated. His wives are played by Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin.
It's sort of a comedy/drama/polygamy thing. Sevigny's character dresses rather plainly on the show, hence her refusal to watch.
And, in case you were wondering, no, the Mormon church is not showing any love whatsoever for Big Love.
Posted on July 7, 2006
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Manly Spas Don't Offer Pedicures
The New York Times explores the new trend of manly spas, where the guys can sip a beer, watch the game or Bloomberg while waiting for their manicure, pedicure, massage or haircut. But a manicure is not called a manicure: it's "handshake maintenance." And a pedicure is referred to as "foot repair."
In this post-metrosexual era, more men around the United States are wrapping themselves in terry cloth robes at spas and requesting treatments that might have been deemed unbecoming for a man just a few years ago.
But increasingly, they are doing it in a traditionally manly setting: in a clublike atmosphere, some with dark-wood and leather décor, large-screen televisions, sports programming and beer. Not to mention the presence of beautiful women.
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"We've created a place where the man is the focus and not an afterthought," said John Allan, who opened his first of four clubs on Wall Street in 1988. He added: "It's easier for guys to ask for these services when they come into this atmosphere."
The new men's spas all offer essentially the same services: haircut, manicures, pedicures, massage, facials, straight-razor shaves and waxing. But underlying the services is the goal of making male clients comfortable. Some, like Frédéric Fekkai's new men's styling lounge on the fourth floor of Henri Bendel, do it with simple, clean décor. Others, like John Allan's in Midtown, Wall Street, TriBeCa and at Saks Fifth Avenue, play up the traditional gentleman's club motif. And some, like Bikini Cuts in Salt Lake City, walk a fine line between salon and something more in line with Hooters, featuring young women in bikinis along with the "manicure massage" and "bikini clip."
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Walking into Truman's Gentlemen's Groomers at 120 East 56th Street in Manhattan, you'll find clients waiting for their services at a wood-paneled bar and sipping a pint of beer, glass of wine or a Grey Goose on the rocks, while watching Bloomberg News or World Cup soccer. The owners aren't trying to get guys drunk so they'll sit still for a manicure, but they do want to help them relax and to feel as if they are the most important person in the room.
"When you walk in, someone offers to take your coat and bag and then offers you a drink," said Joe Marchesi, a co-owner. "It feels like walking into a four-star hotel. With the lounge and bar in front, it takes the pressure off. Most guys don't want to sit in a waiting area."
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Some salon owners have sought to make services more masculine by changing their names. SkinCareLab in SoHo offers services for men, who account for 40 percent of its clientele, that include a "men's cleanse" (aka facial), a "sports pedicure," a facial for the back called the "back buff" and waxing services.
Truman's Gentlemen's Groomers renamed its manicures and pedicures "handshake maintenance" and "foot repair" to recast the services in a masculine light.
"Pedicure sounds like a touchy-feely spa thing," Mr. Marchesi said. "Men are results oriented. Call it a foot repair and guys know what the result will be."
We get it: tell your favorite guy that -- just like his beloved car -- his feet and hands need maintenance at recommended intervals to avoid more serious problems later.
Posted on July 6, 2006
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In-store Pickup Popular With Online Shoppers
Not many retailers offer in-store pickup -- just 11%. A new study from Jupiter Research may make many more retailers add the service. Internet Retailer reports on the Jupiter study which found 49% of online shoppers have used in-store pickup.
In-store pickup users tend to be men (52%), probably because men are more likely to buy consumer electronics online, and consumer electronics retailers are the most common retailers to offer the service, Jupiter said.
The study also found that in-store pickup drives more spending. Online buyers who use in-store pickup spend about 10% more than overall online buyers and 20% more than online buyers who do not use the service. That difference could be due to the fact that in-store pickup items tend to be larger items, with larger tickets, Jupiter said.
In-store pickup users also display cross-channel store affinity. In-store pickup users are more likely to be same-store multi-channel buyers and have higher expectations of cross-channel consistency when it comes to services like returns, according to the report.
The article didn't say why consumers are so pleased with in-store pickup but one reason could be that it is easier for some people to go and pick up an item than having to worry about a package arriving. Another reason could be they are selecting in-store pickup when it is a cheaper option than shipping.
Posted on July 5, 2006
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Dolce and Gabbana Wrap-Around Sunglasses
We are simply thrilled that the giant sunglasses trend shows no sign of abating anytime soon (you know how we absolutely despise those horrible John Lennon-style tiny glasses that make everyone's head look like the size of a giant melon). Now Dolce and Gabbana, the dears, have taken the giant sunglasses theme a step forward and made the glasses wrap around the head, thereby providing further protection from those horribly aging UVB rays.
The sunglasses come in black or red and -- although it's hard to tell in this photo -- have D & G in crystals written on the temple. They feature prescription-quality lenses with UV 400 protection. They retail for $170 at
Nordstrom.com.
Posted on July 5, 2006
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Men's Fashion, K-Fed and the Return of the Manpris
The New York Times' Guy Trebay takes aim at the recent menswear fashions shown in Milan. In a nutshell: Guy's not happy. In an article called "Earth to Milan: Show Some Restraint" he bemoans the proliferation of strange, uncomfortable and downright strange menswear that is cluttering up runways lately.
Just say no to Oxford shoes in green or orange or two-tone leather (Gianfranco Ferré). Say no to self-belted trousers, voile shirts, spray-on tans, flower-embroidered business clothes. Say no to appliqué effects, vinyl raincoats and cinched trench coats worn by girly-man models crammed into Rastafarian tam-o'-shanters (Burberry.) Say no to man-sandals (called mandals) and man-purses (murses) and suede hot pants worn so short that they produce a kind of pipe-cleaner leg not improved by fringed hippie boots worn loose and low (Gucci).
Say no to zippers so brief that they are an affront to the masculine anatomy (Costume National). Say no to boring minimalist blazers worn over tights that leave little doubt as to whether the wearer has been circumcised (Calvin Klein). Say no to seersucker swallowtail coats for the beach (Etro); to pastel golf wear seemingly designed for caddies with a sideline in a soft-core porn (Missoni). Say no to the unfortunate trouser length that, as the stylist L'Wren Scott remarked, now blights the streets of London.
"What are those?" Ms. Scott asked as she waited for a show to begin, referring to pants truncated at midcalf. "They're not clam-diggers or Bermuda shorts. Maybe they should be called Mapris," or man Capris.
It appears that stylist L'Wren Scott is not a follower of Kevin Federline (and who really could blame her?). Otherwise L'Wren would know that the style of pants continually worn by K-Fed are referred to as "manpris" not "mapris."
Posted on July 3, 2006
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