Top Plus Size Designers – And Where to Wear Them!

Fashion

LuxuryActivist

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25 July 2018

Reading Time: 4 minutes

You are no longer a second rated individual in today’s society. You have come to love yourself as you are over the past ten years and now the fashion industry has come to love you too! With social media slogans such as “real women have curves” and “big is beautiful”, your voice has finally been heard and the fashion industry has caught on to the ever expanding demographic of real women. In the USA the average woman is between a size 16 and 18, and in the UK a third of women buy plus-size clothing. This begs the question: why did it take the fashion industry so long to start catering for plus-size women? So many real women complain about the impossible body images set by skinny models on the catwalk, in fashion magazines and on television shows. The market is finally panning to the majority market. You see more plus-size women on the runways, on magazine covers and on television shows made for the feminine.

This season, the real women can also expect to find glorious ranges of designer clothes in all shapes in sizes, and niches. From plus size bridal to plus size mother of the bride – or bridesmaid. It doesn’t matter what size you are, just remember this season it is all about natural linen! Natural linen has been overlooked as a practical and fabulous clothing option for years. Being environmentally friendly, cheap to make and incredibly versatile, it is now one of the best choices for your cupboard. Be sure to have a look at the new trending top plus-size designers this season with their selection of bold colours and floral or striped patterns. If you are looking for something new to spice up work life, go for the new natural linen wrap shirts by Simply Be. Or shake up your closet with the peg leg tapered trousers by Marina Rinaldi. Don’t be shy for bold patterns with metallic undertones. You can always just add a fashionable jacket to go straight from work to that cocktail party on the block. M&S’s CURVE line has a beautiful trench coat that can go with anything.

Speaking of ‘can go with anything’, remember to get those versatile jeans this season. They are easy to wear with any natural linen wrap shirt, sandals or boots, and they can be worn casually, to work, or a semi-casual to a party or concert. If it is semi-formal you are going for, be bold and colourful with a kimono top from CURVE. Elvi also designed a beautiful kimono wrap shirt with fine embroidery that can pass as casual or semi-formal for that work party you are invited to. These tops come in a variety of colours and can be worn to almost anything. For a more formal look, there are the floral pattern kimono style dresses at River Island that can literally be worn to the royal wedding. And if you didn’t get the invite, it is the royals that are missing out on great style. Frills are also a good way to get your thrill this season, with shirts from AX Paris in bright and warm colours to brighten up any summers day. Dresses are always a great way to stay cool and in fashion, and this season with the popular natural linen, floral patterns, polka dots or bold patterns are a great way to show off your individual taste. Evans has a gorgeous line of formal or casual dresses for weddings or other formal gatherings.

So whether you are simply spending a day at the office, going for coffee with friends, or heading to the races this weekend, be sure to look at the colourful and bold new designs specifically made for women with curves.

Lydia Nicholls

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

Reputation Matters: How to Find the Best Products

Luxury news

LuxuryActivist

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25 July 2018

0

Reading Time: 4 minutes

How do you know what to look for when purchasing luxurious goods online or in stores? Is it simply the highest price tag or is there more to it? Whether shopping for the best accommodations during your international travels, high-quality body care and makeup, or different appliances for your home, you want to buy from a reliable industry leader. You want to purchase from a company that sells top brand-name products backed by a company guarantee. Before you buy the most expensive item, make sure it’s the best item. Here’s how:

Brand-Name Products & Reputation

Amway has been a leader in the online retail and e-commerce niche for more than 50 years. The company backs the products it sells, the brands it promotes, and guarantees the quality of all products customers order from the site. Operating in more than 100 countries, consumers from around the world trust the company and the products they sell. Additionally, the business owners who sell for Amway back all products they sell with money back guarantees. These are just a few of the many ways consumers know companies are selling the best products, and that the luxurious goods they purchase are truly worth the value paid for them.

How to Determine Product Quality

When shopping for luxurious products, you’re obviously looking for high-quality material finishes, detail, and excellent execution in design. In determining the value of products, customers should consider factors including:

Referrals or reviews:If products are highly rated or if you know someone who owns the product you want to buy, consider asking if it was worth the price.
Evaluation:Having items evaluated based on the materials used, benefits to users, and other factors will help you determine the value of the goods you want to buy.
Personal use: Obviously, purchasers of luxurious goods will have different intention/uses for these items. Determine the value versus the cost to determine whether it is worth the price being charged.
Know the industry leaders: Companies like Colgate, Audemars Piguet, Telsa and UPPAbaby are excellent at targeting their niche audience, but also delivering quality products. Quality in design and execution ensure product quality is consistent when delivering to their clients.

Ultimately, you must consider several variables in determining the value, luxury, and quality of the goods you want to buy. From other owners/users to market leaders that consistently deliver, the more time customers take to compare and evaluate top brands, the easier it will be to find the best products to purchase.

Comparison Shopping

Value can be determined in several ways, but pricing will be a stark indicator of the quality of items. This is even more noticeable in the luxury goods market. If you see a 14-karat gold diamond ring sold online for $50, you’d think twice about purchasing it. On the other end of the spectrum, if it were being sold for $50,000, you’d also have reservations about purchasing this item.

Comparison shopping will give you an indication of the average price for the luxury goods you want to buy and affords you a greater understanding of the quality you can expect based on the price you’ll pay. There are many sites that provide unbiased reviews and reports about the products you are considering purchasing, such as Consumer Reports and Authority Adviser. Learning from unbiased platforms, word of mouth referrals, and considering all information available before making the purchase decision will give you greater insight into the luxurious products you’re considering investing in.

Shop with a Leader & Company with a Great Reputation

If you would love to live a lavish lifestyle, take trips to the most luxurious destinations in the world, and have the most luxurious goods, be sure to have a discerning eye and understand the intricacies of what makes certain goods better than others. There are several great companies that have built a solid reputation backed by quality, service, and guarantees for the products they sell online. For those who want to buy the best, and know they’re truly receiving the highest-valued items when shopping, make sure to rely on industry leaders with an international reputation as a leader in the luxury-goods market.

Carol

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. images are for illustration purposes only.

Givenchy L’Interdit Is Back… With A New Face: Rooney Mara

Fragrances

José Amorim

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20 July 2018

1

Reading Time: 4 minutes

It was in 1957 that Hubert de Givenchy crystalized his passion for Audrey Hepburn into a fragrance. L’Interdit was born. The iconic American actress is the founding inspiration of almost everything the French creator did in the following years. Audrey Hepburn incarnated elegance, youth, rebellion and sassiness. L’Interdit is part of Givenchy heritage and legacy to future generations. More than 60 years later, L’Interdit is still alive and the brand decided to relaunch it, this time with a new face: Ronney Mara.

Givenchy L’Interdit Original, the story

Hubert de Givenchy created the perfume for Audrey Hepburn, who wore it for a year before its release to the public. Audrey Hepburn also became the first actress to become the face of a perfume, for L’Interdit and created an enormous trend, still relevant nowadays. There is a very interesting story behind L’Interdit. This fragrance was created by Roure Bertrand Dupont in Grasse (now Givaudan) for Givenchy in 1954. Hubert de Givenchy wanted to offer a precious gift to Audrey Hepburn. The talented perfumer was Francis Fabron, a very influent perfumer in the 50’s who also created Monsieur de Givenchy for the French luxury house. The starting idea was this scent of a chic cleaning service (Pressing), translated by an Aldehyde accord. Without being sulfurous, L’Interdit evokes a passionate seduction. Behind a false innocence, we can scent voluptuous notes of Tonka Bean, Clove and a floral sensual note of Carnation.

Audrey Hepburn loved the fragrance immediately and started wearing it everywhere she went. People all around her asking which fragrance she wore and she never betrayed the secret. More than a year later, Hubert de Givenchy asked if he could bring the fragrance to market, following by Audrey Hepburn’s answer: “Je vous l’Interdis !” . The fragrance name was born at that precise moment and later on, Audrey Hepburn accepted that the fragrance could go to market.

Rooney Mara, a new Interdit…

Rooney Mara is a very talented actress (like Audrey Hepburn). In 2011, Mara had a career breakthrough when she portrayed Lisbeth Salander, the title character in David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, based on Stieg Larsson’s Millennium book series. She received critical acclaim for her performance and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. In 2013, she starred in the thriller Side Effects, the independent drama Ain’t Them Bodies Saints and the acclaimed sci-fi romantic drama, Her. The following year, she starred in the adventure drama film Trash (2014). In 2015, she garnered further critical acclaim for her performance in Todd Haynes’ romantic drama Carol, for which she tied for the Best Actress Award at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, and received nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, SAG Award, BAFTA Award and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

The film industry tends to compare Rooney Mara as the new Audrey Hepburn. Hepburn’s longtime relationship with Hubert de Givenchy (he made many of the clothes she wore in her films and elsewhere) is the stuff of fashion legend and launched the phenomenon of the Little Black Dress. Mara’s signature look is shaping up to be a striking Little Black Dress, often paired with dramatic red lipstick. It is not surprising that Givenchy has chosen Rooney Mara to be the new face of the L’Interdit relaunch.

More than 60 years later after the launch of the original Givenchy L’Interdit, it is the creative work of three perfumers who allowed a new chapter for the iconic fragrance: Dominique Ropion, Anne Flipo and Fanny Bal. The interest of this fragrance is for sure its olfactory structure. There is a delightful contrast between a bright and feminine white floral bouquet made of Tuberose, Jasmine and Orange Blossom, and an intense woody foundation of Patchouli and Vetiver.

Last but not least, the fragrance flacon is a tribute to the original one, bringing the classicism of Givenchy towards a more contemporary line. It is probably one of the most beautiful launches this year, revisiting a great story of passion and freedom. L’Interdit is based on the foundation myth of the Givenchy brand and reminds ourselves that daring is not a problem, it is a quality.

José Amorim

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. WWD, The Cut, Getty images, New York Times, Vogue UK, Wikipedia and Harpers Baazar. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

This Is Why Victoria’s Secret Is Over.

Fashion

José Amorim

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16 July 2018

0

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Victoria’s Secret became the largest business in lingerie worldwide and each of their fashion shows are considered as the super bowl of fashion. Nevertheless sales are not anymore there and most of business analysts say it is game over for the American brand.

Victoria’s Secret, Bringing Sexy Back

Victoria’s Secret was founded by Roy Raymond, and his wife Gaye Raymond, in San Francisco, California, on June 12, 1977. Legend says that eight years prior to founding Victoria’s Secret, in the late 1960s, Raymond was embarrassed when purchasing lingerie for his wife at a department store. Newsweek reported him looking back on the incident from the vantage of 1981: “When I tried to buy lingerie for my wife, I was faced with racks of terry-cloth robes and ugly floral-print nylon nightgowns, and I always had the feeling the department store saleswomen thought I was an unwelcome intruder.” Raymond spent the next eight years studying the lingerie market and Victoria’s Secret was born.

In 1995, Victoria’s Secret began holding their annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which is broadcast on primetimeAmerican television. Starting with the 1995 fashion show, they are “a combination of self-assured strutting for women and voyeuristic pleasures for men—and lingerie becomes mainstream entertainment.”

Game Over: Society Has Changed, Victoria’s Secret did not.

Despite of their market leadership, It seems nobody wants Victoria’s Secret lingerie anymore. The sexy brand had significant sales drops in the past 6 quarters results announcements. This means a drop in value of 65% in the past 3 years. The brand was born during a moment in time in which sexual revolution helped liberate certain things. Victoria’s Secret brought lingerie to the open, first in the stores, then on fashion catwalks and at finally in the streets. Unfortunately society has evolved and changed…. Victoria’s Secret did not. They are still advertising women like in the 90’s.

Victoria’s Secret still present women as an object of desire, unfortunately there are things that happened in the last 5 years that show that this image of women is not desired anymore. The American company has been slow in understanding cultural changes. With things like the #MeToo movement and the fact that “Sexy” has evolved into multiple possibilities, bring Victoria’s Secret into a tremendous anachronism.

“Are they aware there’s this thing called #MeToo out there?” – Candace Corlett, President of WSL Strategic Retail

If you go to the Victoria’s Secret Facebook page you realize that people are unhappy with customer service, product quality and even the image they picture about women. We can see that the world changed and Victoria’s Secret is not the ultimate lingerie for women.

“It is basically pornography that everyone (children and teens) are subjected to viewing because there is only one area to check out between Pink and Victoria’s Secret, which happens to have the most obscene photos behind the registers” – Jessie S.

We will not talk about the fact that most of Victoria’s Secret models are under the health BMI limit, but above all, it is the image of femininity that is too cliché and has been. The image of a sort of modern amazon, with long hair, high-wheels and very sexy does not work anymore. .

Not sure all this iconography is supposed to please women after all. It is hard to think that women would identify themselves with these images.

Competition Evolved And Let Victoria’s Secret Drown Alone

Obviously, what is also contributing the bad results of Victoria’s Secret is the rise of competition that embrace today’s state of mind and become much more relevant to women customers . One interesting example is American Eagle, that launched Aerie their lingerie segment. They present women in a much more relevant way, still young and sexy but far away from clichés.

Aerie has doubled down on its efforts to appeal to female shoppers, ditching photoshopped images and partnering with women activists to promote female empowerment. It seems to be resonating well with consumers. Aerie had a sales increase of +38% in the first quarter this year.

In the chart here above we can see the evolution of sales between Victoria’s Secret and Aerie since 2014. This shows one thing: Victoria’s Secret is only getting worse. With the rise of brands like Under Arm, American Eagle and even Nike, we can see that women are more keen into comfort and design rather than ornamental lace and over-rated sexiness. This is what happens when a market leader stop innovating and surprising their customers by just living on what they think it is acquired by default. More to come in the incoming weeks.

José Amorim

Info sourced at Bloomberg, CBS News, WWD, Business Insider, Wikipedia, Forbes and T Mag by NYT. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

The United Arab Emirates are world champions in Mobile Marketing – Key figures

High Tech

José Amorim

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13 July 2018

0

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), sometimes simply called the Emirates is a federal absolute monarchy sovereign state in Western Asia at the southeast end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south, as well as sharing maritime borders with Qatar to the west and Iran to the north. With a 9.45 million inhabitants and a GDP of USD 730 billion dollars, UAE represents a tremendous market for luxury companies. When you know that 30% of the actual population is under 24 years old, we imagine the potential for brands to recruit new consumers in the region. Another interesting fact is that 80% of the total population are expats, representing more than 200 different nationalities. The largest expatriates groups are Indians and Pakistanis representing 37% of the total foreigner population. The UAE is also a land of technology. In the past years, mobile technologies and social networks overtook the region and became a true communication power to connect brands and people. Here are some key numbers for the region.

The United Arab Emirates key mobile and social figures

The UAE are truly world champions in terms of technology. From a mobile users perspective, there is a penetration rate of 80% in 2018. For the past 5 years there is a constant growth of 6% year on year and projections confirm the trend.

arab-businessman-using-phone-dubai-creek-picture — Image source: Gettyimages.com

The UAE was the region’s top-performing market in Q4 2017, with mobile phone shipments to the country increasing 12.3% quarter-on-quarter. Bahrain and Kuwait also saw quarter-on-quarter growth, with shipments up 7.1% and 2.7%, respectively. However, Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia all experienced QoQ declines, with mobile phone shipments down 5.2%, 2.0%, and 0.8%, respectively, in Q4 2017.

Another important piece of information is the social media figures. The United Arab Emirates are a very strong social user. The population uses social media in a regular base. Here below the most used platforms from a number of users perspective (millions of users).

Mark Zuckerberg empire dominates the social media landscape. In the 10 biggest social platforms, 4 are Facebook companies: Facebook, What’sApp, Messenger and Instagram. Facebook only represent 7.8 million users in a total population of 9.45 million. This means a penetration rate of 85.5%. While LinkedIn and Snapchat represent the biggest growth in the region, Instagram and Messenger took over a big share of population. Each social media user spends in average 3 hours per day in social networks (02H58m). 99% of these users are actively posting, commenting and sharing content in different social platforms every day. Messenger apps are very popular worldwide and in this domain, Facebook dominates with What’sApp and Messenger. Messenger apps can also be used for phone calls and video calls, which allows better connection experiences at a cheap price.

The UAE is the second largest country in the world for m-commerce

Mobile-commerce-digital-strategies-UAE — Source: www.abzer.com

Almost 57% of online shoppers in the United Arab Emirates have made a purchase via their mobile in the past 12 month. It is the second biggest market in the world for mobile shopping (behind China). Online shoppers in the UAE also showed a preference to purchase via an app over a browser. Almost 59 per cent of those polled said that they shopped via a smartphone app in the last 12 months over 52 per cent who used a browser.

“With the advent of lost cost mobile phones, larger phone screen sizes and mobile device security improvements, the barriers to mobile commerce will decrease” – Anuj Nayar, Senior Director of Global initiatives for PayPal

When we look to the numbers, mobile commerce will increase by 42% year on year. Current online sales will reach this year USD 10 billion (Source: Statista), which means the potential is huge.

With such a powerful national market, the United Arab Emirates represent an amazing opportunity for brands to connect with customers via social media, mobile and digital in general. Consumer profile in the region too is fast changing due to the rise of Internet-savvy young population that makes it imperative or luxury brands to make different marketing strategies to connect with them digitally. This means while digital and online channel might work for one brand, it will not work for other. This calls for an effective and personalised social media and digital communication strategy for brands to stand out (https://gulfmarketingreview.com)

Jose Amorim

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

Nature, Culture and Fun in the Sun: Enjoy an Austrian Summer at CLC Alpine Centre

LuxuryActivist

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11 July 2018

0

Reading Time: 4 minutes

This summer, choose your own adventure in the Austrian Alps.

While it may be the epitome of a wonderland in the winter months, to overlook Austria for your summer escape to the sun is to miss out on a holiday that is nothing short of magical — especially with such fabulous alpine accommodation to choose from. As charming in summer as it is snowcapped in winter, CLC Alpine Centre is a class apart when it comes to discovering the Austrian Alps in July and August, just look at the reviews of this CLC World resort. Great facilities, breathtaking mountain scenery, a variety of outdoor activities for all the family to enjoy … here are just some of the sunny highlights to expect.

The hills are alive…

If you ever find yourself in the Austrian alpine countryside on a warm, bright summer’s day, then you may just start to understand what Maria von Trapp was singing about in The Sound of Music. An adventure in the hills is certainly a must for film fans, but anyone who enjoys getting out in the great outdoors would struggle not to be impressed by the view of the landscape from CLC Alpine Centre. Chocolate-box houses, rolling hills, grazing animals and pretty wild flowers – it really is like something straight from the big screen. For those who enjoy an energetic break, there’s no better holiday than days spent in the fresh Austrian air. Resort staff are on hand to ensure you make the most of the season with mountain bike rentals and activities such as archery and organised quad-biking excursions. For more relaxed adventures, take a walk through the magical woods that border the resort.

Salzburg Festival

Although CLC’s Austrian resort is nestled in the heart of the countryside, the city of Salzburg is less than an hour away and transfers can be arranged by the hotel. While Austria’s fourth largest city – and birthplace of Mozart – overflows with wonderful attractions, one in particular lights up the annual calendar: the Salzburg Festival. This celebration of music and theatre has been going since 1920 and over five weeks during July and August an incredible line-up of directors, writers and actors entertain an audience of visitors who flock to the city from around the world. The city itself provides an utterly stunning backdrop for the festival, making it the ideal day-trip on your Austrian vacation.

Lakes and waterfalls

While winter here is all about warming up, summer is all about cooling off and away from the swimming pool at CLC Alpine Centre, Austria’s pretty lakes are made for sports such as sailing and windsurfing. The inviting waters of Lake Zell are within easy reach of the centre and there is plenty to entertain all ages; including fishing, boating and stand-up paddle boarding. Numerous lidos, with comfortable sunbathing lawns, also dot the shores. If you prefer chutes and rapids, the extraordinary Krimml waterfalls are just over an hour from the centre and the highest in central Europe. Follow the trail for the best vantage points as it leads towards the majestic upper falls.

Fun in the alpine sun

A fitness centre, games room, and kids’ club – the facilities at CLC Alpine Centre are guaranteed to entertain guests of all ages. The team are also more than happy to organise horse riding adventures or to point you in the direction of the closest fairway for a round of golf. Or course, there’s nothing stopping you from simply relaxing in the comfort of your accommodation, basking under the sun on your private terrace or balcony. It’s your summer holiday, so the choice is entirely up to you!

Chrissie McClatchie

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

Victorinox Deluxe Tinker Damast Limited Edition 2018

Design

José Amorim

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5 July 2018

0

Reading Time: 3 minutes

When Victorinox invented the Tinker, they offered to the customers a great compact pocket tool with a fantastic Combi-Pliers. Whether you’re simply moving through your day or journeying around the world, the Deluxe Tinker pocket knife is the Officer’s knife for tinkers on the move. You never know what you’ll encounter out there, but you know that you and your Deluxe Tinker will always be ready to build, hack, or fix anything. In the era of the “Do it Yourself”, the Deluxe Tinker is a great addition to your daily companions. This year, Victorinox is launching a special edition called the Deluxe Tinker Damast Limited Edition 2018.

Victorinox perpetuates blade high-tradition by continuing a series of limited edition in Damast steel (DS93X™). In 2018, the Swiss company has chosen the Deluxe Tinker, bringing certain unique functionalities for the first time into the Damast steel Victorinox products. Alluring in its aesthetic, its plum wood scales give it maximum standout. By combining natural wood scales with the main blade in Damast steel, Victorinox creates a very elegant, useful and outstanding pocket tool. This blase is extremely durable with its 333 forged layers combined with our new and unique elegant plum wood scales and an inlaid cross & shield, which provides beautiful contrast. Limited to just 380 pieces in North America, each knife is engraved with its own unique number, found on the divider behind the Phillips screwdriver.

The Deluxe Tinker Damast Limited Edition 2018 is an exclusive and unique pocket knife that will delight collectors and users alike and will quickly become an object of desire. Damasteel® makes steel with the knowledge of the ancient tradition of pattern welding combined with the best steel properties of today. Five steel alloys are regulary produced and three of them are kept in our extensive stock. Four of them is decorative Damascus patterned steels with more than one hundred layers. The fifth is our nonpatterned steel RWL34™ with very high quality for edge tools.

There is a lot of legends and stories around the Damascus steel. Still today we do not really know exactly how sword-smiths from middle-age would really produce such specific blades. The earlier descriptions found by historians and archeologists are dated from 300 BC in India. A blade made of this steel is characterized by distinctive patterns of banding and mottling reminiscent of flowing water. Such blades were reputed to be tough, resistant to shattering and capable of being honed to a sharp, resilient edge. Today it represents a luxury item as only Sweden is capable of producing such steel at an industrial level.

As for every Damast limited edition, the pocket tool comes in a beautiful presentation box that you can display at home as a precious piece of collection. Let’s not forget as well that as limited edition, each pocket tool comes with a unique number engraved in the metal part as per the photo above. Feel free to connect to Victorinox.com to see more about such a fascinating universe.

This is for sure an object of desire for the the Victorinox aficionados but can also become the perfect gift for any person who likes design and heritage.

José Amorim

Info sourced at the brand official website. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only – Courtesy of Victorinox AG.

Getting, Wearing and Caring for the Perfect Jewelry

LuxuryActivist

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5 July 2018

0

Reading Time: 4 minutes

For many people, jewelry is the ultimate accessory. It can immediately enhance any outfit, dressing up even the most basic t-shirt and jeans ensemble. Jewelry can also be a serious investment and very personal item. Few possessions can have such value and meaning. So it’s only natural people want to show these prized possessions off and take care of them to maintain their integrity.

Let’s take a look at how you can get your hands on the perfect jewelry, how to wear it and what to do to take care of it.

Getting the Perfect Jewelry

There are lots of ways to acquire jewelry. But the perfect pieces that really mean something tend to acquired through one of three means:

Custom Pieces

Diamonds Forever is a premier purveyor and creator of custom jewelry in San Diego. The company notes that custom pieces always have special meaning. Their clients come in wanting something very specific, which highlights the real beauty of custom jewelry. It’s a one-of-a-kind piece made for a particular person. Special engravings are also sometimes included to add another personal touch.

Family Heirlooms

Jewelry is commonly passed down from one generation to the next. For many, it’s a priceless heirloom that means much more than it’s worth even when the jewelry does have a high appraisal value. Why? Because there’s a story behind the jewelry and it’s part of their family’s history.

Symbols of Love

For thousands of years, people have gifted jewelry as a token of their affection. An engagement ring is the best-known symbol of love, but many other pieces of jewelry are given to symbolize undying affection. Women give their paramours watches, parents give children birthstones and mothers receive trinkets to symbolize their matriarch status. The Victorians even gave loved ones mourning jewelry.

Caring for the Perfect Jewelry

Now that you’ve acquired a special piece you’ll undoubtedly want to care for it. The first thing you should do is get the jewelry insured if it’s of significant value. Insurance protects against more than just theft. It also covers damage so that the jewelry can be restored to its full glory. Given that jewelry insurance costs only 1-2% of the piece’s value, it’s a good investment.

First, get the jewelry appraised. That will give you a firm idea of how much insurance coverage is needed and how much it will cost. You’ll also want to take pictures of the jewelry from every angle so that the item can be restored properly if needed.

Next, if the jewelry didn’t come with a case it’s time to get one. Even if you have a jewelry case special pieces deserve their own box. A hard-shell case will protect the jewelry while it’s stored, keep dust and debris at bay as well as preventing sunlight from causing discoloration.

Cleaning is also needed to keep jewelry in pristine condition. But before you attempt to clean jewelry yourself you’ve got to know how to treat the materials. Different precious metals and stones require different cleaning solutions, and some materials are more delicate than others. If there’s any doubt, play it safe and have a professional clean the jewelry for you. It’s also extremely important to keep fine jewelry away from chemicals. Even perfumes can cause damage and discoloration. Pearls and porous gems are particularly at risk of being damaged by chemicals.

Wearing the Perfect Jewelry

Now the fun part, wearing the perfect jewelry. Like all other parts of your wardrobe, the first rule of wearing jewelry is to make sure it’s appropriate for the occasion. Some pieces, like a gold bangle, are extremely universal and can be worn with just about everything. However, other pieces, like a diamond-encrusted, oversized brooch such be reserved for more formal events.

Another pointer for wearing special pieces of jewelry is to let it be the focal point. Jewelry is enough to dress up the outfit, and when everything else is simple, the jewelry can really stand out. Also, if you have a sizeable statement piece keep your other accessories simple so the ensemble doesn’t get too busy.

Liz Becker

Info sourced by the author for LuxuryActivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

Does DJ Micky have the Best Job in the World?

LuxuryActivist

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2 July 2018

0

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Meet the resident DJ at Amber Lounge, the hottest Monaco Grand Prix party

It’s many people’s idea of a dream job. Travelling the world from one glamorous party to another, playing set after set of pulsating music to a VIP audience of celebrities, sports stars and even royalty. For international man of music, DJ Micky, this life is his reality. The figure behind the turntables at the hottest party during the Monaco Grand Prix, Amber Lounge, has a job that takes him around the F1 circuit: from Monaco to Singapore’s iconic night race and the excitement of the season ending race in Abu Dhabi. We meet this lucky Frenchman to learn more.

How did you become the Amber Lounge’s resident DJ?
I met Sonia Irvine (Amber Lounge founder and sister of ex-Formula 1 driver Eddie) at one of my gigs. She liked what I was playing and asked if I wanted to be part of her team. That was over ten years ago but it still feels like yesterday. It is a definite career highlight; I was just thrilled!

Where else do you DJ?
Along with Amber Lounge and other international gigs, I am the resident DJ at the mythical InterContinental Carlton Hotel in Cannes. The concept is totally different from what I do at Amber Lounge but it is truly fascinating. I am so lucky to be able to DJ at this amazing and magical place.

How is Amber Lounge at Grand Prix different from any other gig of yours?
Amber Lounge is totally unique. Not only are the destinations so diverse but the guest list is one of the most exclusive on the planet. Celebrities, royals, successful entrepreneurs, athletes and, of course, Formula 1 drivers and their teams – it really adds to the pressure that I put on myself. A mistake is definitely not an option here!

Can you tell us about the atmosphere at Amber Lounge?
It’s luxurious, relaxed and adrenaline-pumping at the same time…

What was the best part of this year’s Amber Lounge party at the Monaco Grand Prix?
Friday evening’s U*NITE fashion show was, as always, stunning and really successful for Sir Jackie Stewart’s charity Race Against Dementia with H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco in attendance. It is always fun to see the stars of Formula 1 parade down the runway at the party during the Monaco Grand Prix. It’s obvious the drivers are happy to do it – and they are good at it too! The setting is spectacular, on the Larvotto waterfront surrounded by luxury Monaco property .

The performers this year, including international DJ/producer Sigala and his MC, were incredible. They kicked the party off on Friday night and continued all the way through Saturday. Then Justin Jesso performed his hit ‘Stargazing’ which he co-produced with Kygo on the Saturday and Sunday nights. It was a magnificent and truly memorable weekend, a fitting celebration of Amber Lounge’s 15^th anniversary.

What have been your most memorable Amber Lounge moments?
There have been so many! If I had to pick one, it would be when Will.I.am and Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas took to the stage to perform their smash hit “I Got a Feeling” at Amber Lounge Singapore in 2013.

What is your signature style?
More than anything, my number one goal is to not only ensure the public has fun, but that they have a blast hearing quality music of any style. It could be R&B, House, Electro, Latino, Pop Rock. To adapt to your audience is to respect it. Personally, I’m lucky enough to like everything, as long as it is a quality production!

Chrissie McClatchie

Info sourced by the author for LuxuryActivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

Joy By Jean Patou: Extraordinary, Irreplaceable, Masterpiece And Above All, One Of A Kind.

Fragrances

José Amorim

-

27 June 2018

1

Reading Time: 6 minutes

The Fragrance industry has been fighting for decades a battle between the power of Marketing and the uniqueness of true creations. In difficult times, only great fragrances remain and among the icons of perfumery history there is Joy by Jean Patou.
In 1912 he opened a small dressmaking salon called “Maison Parry”. His entire 1914 collection was purchased by a single American buyer. At that time, Henri During the First World War, Patou shut downs his business and reopen it in 1919. He is known for inventing the inventor of the knitted swimwear and the tennis skirt. He also known to popularize the Cardigan by always looking for a comfortable yet stylish fashion. In his fashion as in his perfumes, Jean Patou was a pioneer of modernity. Contemporary of the Art Deco and Bauhaus movements, he draws from historical references – the drapes of ancient Greece, the low cut waist of the Middle Ages and mixes it with the harmony of geometric lines and contrasting colors, his trademark. His legacy is tremendous and several great names of fashion design worked for the luxury house. From Karl Lagerfeld, to Jean-Paul Gaultier or Christian Lacroix, they all learned the basis of their metier at Jean-Patou. From his living, Jean-Patou was considered as one of the most elegant man of his time. He influenced many others to embrace elegance and quality.

We need to remember that in this beginning of the 20th century, another name was already world-wide famous: Paul Poiret. He was the ultimate reference for Couture. He was actually the first Couturier-Perfumer in history thanks to its “Parfums de Rosine” line. The perfumes were elaborated with Rallet Laboratories in Grasse. The main perfumer was Henri Alméras. The after First World War brought tremendous financial difficulties for the Maison Paul Poiret. The future being complicated, Henri Alméras leaves Poiret and joins Jean Patou, a new couturier with great ambitions. After creating his haute couture line, Jean Patou created the perfume division helped by his brother-in-law Raymond Barbas and his first “nose” Henri Alméras. Adept of jasmine, the House has its own fields in Grasse, capital of perfume and is one of the largest consumers of this flower in the world. Historically, Jean Patou had wished to create a perfume intended for its most faithful customers, a gift to make them forget the difficult moments crossed during this dark period. He was talking about Joy. Today, this perfume has become the olfactory finery of luxury by excellence, a timeless significance of prestige and opulence.

In Difficult Moments You Will Always Need Some Joy.

What can we say about the Jean Patou’s woman? She is definitely someone that does not go unnoticed. She loves colors and shapes. She will explore all nuances depending on her mood, situation and taste. She will be elegant during the week in the city as well as over the weekend at the sea or in the countryside. She will impose her femininity and yet be comfortable in her shoes. Jean Patou was the one to introduce the “weekend suitcase”,casual and elegant clothe for a two nights stay-out. All this richness will influence the in-house perfumer to develop one of the most beautiful fragrances of all: Joy.

When Jean Patou launched Joy in 1930, it was not only a big statement but also a big financial risk. In 1929 it was the Wall Street melt down. Economic crisis was at its hardest and in those hard moments, Jean Patou had this great idea of launching the “Costliest perfume in the world” and it would be called Joy. Only the finest ingredients would be used in this timeless fragrance. Two main stars of the composition take the lead: Jasmin and the Centifolia Rose from Grasse (south of France). The generous usage of these two precious absolutes made this fragrance extremely costly. We tend to say that for each ounce of Joy, it is required 10’000 Jamine flowers and 28 dozens of Centifolia Roses. History says that after the in-house perfumer has created a formula containing quite a lot of magnificent natural, Jean Patou himself asked to double the dosage. With a lot of talent and mastery, Henri Alméras controlled these powerful elements to create the most exquisite fragrance of all. In terms of olfactory construction, here is what can be said:

Top Notes :Peach, Aldehyde Notes, Green Notes
Heart Notes :Jasmine, Rose, Tuberose, Ylang Ylang
Base Notes : Sandalwood, Musk

“Joy” was voted “Scent of the Century” by the public at the Fragrance Foundation FiFi Awards in 2000, beating its rival “Chanel No. 5”. It shows how deep this fragrance is connected to people’s consciousness. Therefore, there is only one JOY.

In terms of flacon, it was designed by the Architect decorator Louis Süe. Inspired by Crinoline dresses and was structure under the Golden number, perfection and balance.The flacon by the way did not change since its creation. With an astonishing contemporary design, it became timeless. It is filled by hand and the cap is fixed with the “emery” procedure. This ancestral technique consists of sealing the bottle with a thin, moist membrane called a balloon that solidifies as it dries. The glass is In Baccarat crystal, the gold elements are hand-painted and finally, the gold wire that tops the cap completes the creation of Jean Patou as a signature.

Joy By Jean Patou Across The Years

Since the 30’s, Jean Patou survived thanks to his Fragrance legacy. Joy became an icon for all passionate fragrance lovers around the world. It is the ultimate floral bouquet fragrance and together with Chanel 5, it became a world reference for several generations of perfumers.

Decade after decade, Jean Patou developed a tremendous olfactory heritage. Very recently, there were some modern variations from Joy:

EnJoy – 2002
We find the familiar notes of rose and jasmine, balanced with greener accords (green banana and black currant) and more sensual notes (patchouli, amber and vanilla). The end reveals a luminous, seductive juice.

Joy Forever – 2013
You’ll find Joy’s iconic notes of jasmine and rose in Joy Forever, but the fragrance also features another pair of noble flowers: orange blossom and iris. Joy Forever has been refreshed with citrusy notes, a green pinch of galbanum and a fruity peach note. The perfume evolves towards a sweet, woodsy trail. Perfumer: Thomas Fontaine.

As we can see, there is only one JOY and it is the one from Jean Patou. This fantastic fragrance remain very modern and “current”. Fans around the world are pleased to find this fragrance in chosen perfumery shops. The most amazing thing with such a tremendous fragrance is that it cannot be copied, it cannot be beaten and it protects itself from competition. Having such an unique olfactory footprint and such a great concept, it writes down in golden letters this heritage for eternity. There is only one JOY and there will always be only one JOY.

José Amorim

#largentnachetepatou Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

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