Don't worry - be :o)

I'm glad I am not the only one that remembers those silly smiley patches. Although late teen flash-backs put aside, they really never have left us.

Wunderkind designer ora-ïto launched the vidéo of his feel good fragrance SMILEY at his galery yesterday. This Rubick's Cube inspired spot portrays himself and partner, actress Vahina Giocante. It was directed by - himself of course!

This late 80's flashback perfume is made up of (not entirely) psychostimulants -Theobromine and Phenylethylamine - barbaric names for things found in chocolate.
See "Smiley" VIDEO

I wonder when they are going to bring back "Simon Says"

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Agape - Love or charity by Cartier

The original chastity belt inspired LOVE Bracelet by designer Aldo Cipullo, whose early work for Cartier focused on modern interpretations of ancient designs and legends, was launched in 1969.
The old version, based on the concept of exclisivity... the wearer was locked into the bracelet by their lover by a screw and driver furnished with the purchase. With the cash cow days of the 80's and 90's the design was reproduced on earrings, rings and necklaces.

Love at Cartier seems to be more open hearted these days. Today was the official launch of the more "with the times" LOVE CHARITY Bracelet.

The bracelet is fashioned with a knotted silk band that displays a miniature, pink gold version a Love bracelet at its front.
In France CARTIER will donate 100 € from the sale of each LOVE bracelet (390€) to Voix de l'Enfant (Aide à l’Enfance Tibétaine, Sport Sans Frontières, Un Enfant Par La Main and Un Enfant Une Promesse)

In the US Cartier, with the help of Hollywood celebrities, will be donating to different causes according to the colour of the bracelet chosen.

Red: Rosario Dawson: Youth AIDS
White: Salma Hayek: The Salma Hayek Foundation
Baby Pink: Scarlett Johansson: USA Harvest
Purple: Spike Lee: Kanbar Institute of Film and Television
Green: Edward Norton: Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust
Blue: Sarah Jessica Parker: UNICEF
Black: Michael Stipe: Mercy Corps / Gulf Coast Recovery

Dark Pink: Liv Tyler: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation

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HERMES : news, more news, more more news.

News:
PARIS (AFX) - Luxury goods company Hermes International will invest around 140 mln eur next year, of which 100 mln will be to develop its retail network as it develops high-growth sectors like jewellery and gloves that are under-represented in its stores, chief executive Patrick Thomas said in an interview with the weekly newspaper Investir.

The total investment amount is similar to this year's and is up from 119 mln in 2005.

Thomas also said Hermes has already bought nearly 140 mln eur in shares under a 200-mln-eur buyback program occurring this year. He said further share purchases will be made until the 200 mln total is reached.

The company plans no major acquisitions at present, according to Thomas.

More news:

Véronique Gautier, président du directoire d’Hermès Parfums depuis 2001, a pris les fonctions de directeur général d’Hermès Maroquinerie-Sellerie. Auparavant directeur général international d’Helena Rubinstein, Catherine Fulconis rejoint la marque en qualité de Dg d’Hermès Parfums. Au sein d’Hermès Parfums, Hélène Dubrule, directrice du marketing International a pris la direction générale d’Hermès Soie. Elle est remplacée à ce poste par Barbara Albasio.
Enfin, Olivier Monteil, responsable des relations presse et publiques internationales voit ses fonctions élargies et devient directeur de la communication d’Hermès Parfums, notamment en charge de la publicité.

More more news: Avenue George V store ressucitated.

Hermès agrandit son magasin rue George-V La boutique Hermès rue George-V fête ce soir sa réouverture et son agrandissement. Elle s’étend désormais sur deux étages : l’espace soierie, le cuir, le prêt-à-porter homme et la chapellerie Motsch au rez-de-chaussée ; la joaillerie, l’art de vivre et le prêt-à-porter femme au premier et nouvel étage. L’agence d’architecture Renée Dumas qui s’est chargée des travaux a associé tradition de la maison et design moderne avec des matériaux tels que le verre et le merisier.
(14 septembre 2006)

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"Bonjour - t'es où?"

According to all, the high end mobile phone industry is booming. With phones up to 1 M € (120 carats of diamonds and 18 carat gold) from Swiss luxury personal communications brand Goldvish
Another such brand, Vertu does not call these "mobile's" anymore but "personal communications instruments".

Now the luxury apparel industry has appropriated this market and is branding these new accessories with their logos. Expectations of these products are high (as high as let's say other derivatory product sales eg sunglasses and watches)

Technology is moving fast. Fast in our culturally "impervious-to-new-tech" countries like France. At lightening speed in emerging luxury brand markets like India. Large luxury groups will have to be very reactive when it comes to developing these items, product credibility being an essetial criteria for luxury brands.
Unfortunately today's branded phones will be outdated quite rapidly. This fact being even more relevant in "tech-hungry" markets.
Skype has annonced that it will be encouraging hardware manufacturers to integrate their software into their mobile phones. Perhaps the next luxury/high-tech adventure will be more visionary.

Mobilemag

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Imelda Marcos is a Man

What is it with men and footwear?
Since times gone by shoes have been a status symbol. Is this still true today? In roman times, for example the patricians wore red sandals as a symbol of their cast. Today a man will be perfectly comfortable in rags, as long as he has great shoes. Regardless of cast. He will unabashidly glance at his feet, admiring his purchase, congratulating himself on his taste. Even the least coquette man will take time to choose the perfect pair, the one that represents his personality. Once this perfect pair is found, it may be bought by the dozen- perhaps quantity reinforces character.
Men will also sneak a peak at other men's feet. Appreciating (or not) their style. Fathoming the wearer's social level or taste. This is permitted, as opposed to belts for example. Never have I noticed a man checking out another's belt. This would be totally inappropriate. So what is it with this particular accessory?
After asking a few of my friends to explain this conundrum, their immediate justification is "craftsmenship". Followed closely by "but, don't they look great?!". So why use technicity as an excuse? Why not just say : "I saw them, I loved them, I had to have them".
Could it be that shoes bring out the vulnerable side of the male gender? The irrational part of themselves? That checking out another guys feet means reassuring oneself that other men are vulnerable too? That this whole status symbol business is just a ploy to hide a deeper illogical desire? Sounds like there is more yin in the yang than they will admit.
On a more serious note, the 90's trend in casualization of the male wardrobe and it's effect in the workplace resulted in the complete reviewal of male behaviour towards "la mode". Whereas before "the great shoe" was exclusively purchased at bootmakers (quality and "savoir faire") today style is also taken into account. This has prompted luxury fashion brands to offer a wider selection of men's footwear collections, adapting their creations to todays many social situations. Driving shoes, weekend loafers, sporty lace ups. To every situation it's shoe. Even though clothes may not be of a particular brand, men will pay a good penny for a well-shod foot.
Guys just admit it : you feel pretty in those pumps.

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THE BUZZ

Shhhh, it's confidential!
Legrand 1894 : all I have been able to find on this company is an immense pedigree of a father to son successful, yet provincial tailoring business. A background filled with princes and duchesses and a so called piece of haute joaillerie called the "Wells Bells" (yes, as in the hawaiian flower) so confidential that it remains a mystery.
Apparently Legrand 1894 is continuing the tradition of trinkets and has put a 250k€ watch on the market the "Gala GLX" - the summum of haute joaillerie. A stunning event in Cannes this year marked it's release. I didn't attend - then again, I'm not in the watch business.
The press release did not mention anything about swiss craftsmanship, or double tourbillons. These marks of technicity generally take years to develop, with budgets of millions of euros. Communication strategies tend to be big, when a project is that pricey.
I'm not a jet setter either. Another reason of me not being invited. The baroness U v G was however. Obviously I couldn't get a background on her either. The tales told by attendees are related on blogs or public forums.
Clients or former employees of this company have commented in discussion groups (mainly in reaction to books about embroidery or a public tv show, which I couldn't find) but they all date from march-april 2006. Basically they all defend the values of this great "maison de couture". Funnily enough some of their phrases remind me of the press release ( "auguste maison").
So, the secret prevades.

Is this a tremendous marketing ploy? Has someone created "THE BUZZ"?

If so, bravo! It is working. I just spent 4 hours researching a 250K€ watch, that is so confidential even major publications haven't picked up on it.

AND I STILL WANT TO SEE IT FOR REAL!

Legrand 1894

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Dom Pérignon BYBLOS

Limited edition ( 40 pieces only)

1995 Dom Pérignon Jeroboam

14500 € - white gold and emeralds

Available at the very exclusive BYBLOS club St Tropez.

Byblos

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Little black dress on sale

La légendaire robe noire portée par Audrey Hepburn dans le film Diamants sur canapé", comédie de Blake Edwards, sortie en 1961, sera vendue aux enchères chez Christie’s à Londres, le 5 décembre prochain. Les bénéfices seront reversés à l’organisation caritative "Cité de la Joie", qui s’occupe d’enfants lépreux de Calcutta. Cette association, fondée par l’écrivain français Dominique Lapierre et sa femme, avait reçu la robe des mains d’Hubert de Givenchy. La valeur de cette pièce est estimée entre 50 000 et 70 000 livres sterling (entre 73,150 et 102,459 euros).

(this info from abc-luxe.com )

see also : Audrey Hepburn

On a very personal note, would love to know who will acquire this iconoclastic piece ( perhaps I could borrow it for an evening)

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