Luxury Home Security: How to Keep Your House Safe

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 3 minutes

You’ve invested a lot into your luxury home, so you definitely want to be sure that you can keep it safe and secure at all times. Luxury homes are often targeted by home intruders who know that there are many valuable items inside these properties, so you really need to take extra steps to ensure your home will always be safe.

Luxury-real-estate

Be Smart While You’re Away from Home

Many owners of luxury homes make the mistake of making it obvious when they’re away from home for extended periods of time, such as when they go on a trip. To keep burglars away, though, you need to pretend as if you’re home.
Automatic light timers can be placed throughout your home. They’ll turn on and off on their own, making it appear as if you’re home and following your typical routine every day. You can even use timers to turn on your TVs and radios to really make it appear as if you’re home, and there are even timed curtain and drape openers too.

Install a Home Security System

A home security system, such as one from www.metrolocks.co.uk, is another great way to keep your luxury home secure at all times, both when you’re home and when you aren’t home. Opt for a wireless security system so that burglars can’t find and cut the wires, thereby disabling the alarm system and breaking in more easily. And make sure that you go for a security system that not only sounds an alarm, but also alerts your local police so they can arrive at the scene as soon as possible.

a Home Security System

Put Security Signs Up

If you get a security system installed, you will receive a sign that boasts that your home is protected, and this could deter burglars. But even if you do not have a security system in place, you can get window stickers and signs and place them strategically so people will think your home is secured. Another option would be to place “Beware of Dog” signs to make burglars think there is a dangerous canine in your home.

Don’t Hide Your Spare Key in the Usual Places

Burglars know that homeowners leave a spare key somewhere on the exterior of their homes, just in case they are ever accidentally locked out. Typical hiding places include underneath a rock, inside the mailbox, or underneath the welcome mat. Instead of doing this, you can hide your key with a trustworthy neighbour, or come up with a really unique hiding spot that no one has ever thought of before.

Get the Right Locks

Finally, stick with grade 1 or 2 deadbolt locks that penetrate the doorframe. Weak locks can make it easier for intruders to break in. Also make sure the lock is made of durable material like solid brass or metal. With the helpful tips above, you can ensure that your luxury home will always be safe and secure and that your expensive belongings and property will not be attractive to burglars.

Carol

Luxury-real-estate

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

Slim d’Hermès Manufacture 2016, purity in motion.

Arsene Wargas
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0
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Established in Paris in 1837, Hermès forged its reputation for excellence crafting saddles and harnesses for horses.
In the early twentieth century, it extended its leather-making expertise to accessories such as belts, jackets, bags and, from the 1920s, watch straps. Working with the leading names of the day, the company fashioned “guardians of time”, objects that capture the vision of beauty of which it is justifiably proud. In 1978, La Montre Hermès SA opened production facilities in Biel, Switzerland. An entire collection of classically elegant watches followed. Since then, La Montre Hermès has continued to expand and develop its independent manufacturing resources.

Hermes-Slim-duo-ardoise-bleu-Ambiance

A few weeks before Baselworld 2016 to start, Hermès revealed the Slim d’Hermès Manufacture 2016 collection. A perfect example of what we could call “less is more”. Hermès debuted the collection in 2015 with a Slim d’Hermès Manufacture driven by an ultra-thin H1950 movement and a Slim d’Hermès Perpetual Calendar – both measuring 39.5 mm in diameter – as well as 32 mm and 25 mm ladies’ models. The H1950 is a beautiful well built movement. IT deserves its sapphire glass back case to reveal its uniqueness. It took Hermès 4 years to develop this movement launched last year. The movement was designed and manufactured by Vaucher Manufacture, which guarantees a high-quality of manufacturing and finishing, as well as a proved technical capacity. What is so amazing about this movement? Well the main focus was on the micro-rotor. It allows a winding speed equivalent to the one achieved by a thicker traditional self-winding movement. The limits of a micro-rotor is the less economy you get while winding, so you generally need to rebalance with a heavier oscillating weight and take in consideration the reduction of friction in the gear train, escapement as well as on the barrel. In this movement we should also highlight the fact that it is a 42-hours power reserve. This means almost 2 days, which is pretty amazing for a movement of this size and thickness. It is adorned with hand-chamfered edges as well as the iconic H pattern on the bridges. Please note that Vaucher Manufacture belongs to the Sandoz Family Foundation as well as to Hermès International.

Hermes-H1950-movement

Ladies are now also treated to a Slim d’Hermès Manufacture 39.5 mm version, equipped with an ultra-thin movement and enlivened by alligator straps in vibrant colours – sapphire blue, elephant grey, geranium, cassis or simply black – while featuring versions set with white diamonds. An opaline silvered dial lights up the Slim d’Hermès Manfuacture dedicated to women. In the gemset version, 66 white diamonds delicately frame its circumference. For men, the model is enhanced by new shades with a slate grey dial and matching elephant grey alligator strap; while a matt indigo strap complements the hue of the Slim d’Hermès midnight blue. Crafted in the Hermès leather workshops, these straps stem directly from the saddlery and leather-making expertise cultivated by the Maison.

Philippe Delhotal is the Maison Creative director. He explains that this collection was born thanks to the encounter of different designers and artisans. The idea was to get into the Hermès essence with a pure and sharp design. There is something very contemporary in this design that places La Montre Hermès as one of the avantgarde of watch-making. One specific and striking detail on this watch collection is the way numbers were designed. There is a very original approach with an unusual font. It was created by Philippe Apeloig, experienced designer currently collaborating with Jean Nouvel. The approach was to find all the fundamentals of typology, there is also a certain rhythm found in the different lines and it is perfectly blending with the watch dial.

Slim-d'Hermes-typo-Philippe-Apeloig

Here are a snapshot of the different variations you can find in the Slim d’Hermès Manufacture. From initial sketch to final timepiece, Slim d’Hermès Manufacture composes a majestic symphony skillfully interweaving graphic arts with watchmaking techniques. Please note the presence of a perpetual calendar, moon phases, day and night indicator, and a GMT functionalities which makes this model a very outstanding one. The collection as you can see here below is a joyful, elegant and diversified collection. From the different choices of materials for the watch case to the materials and colors for the bracelets and dials, you will be able to customize your watch in ways that you almost end up with a very unique piece. All models and combinations will ensure the Hermès style and look. It will provide you with a very contemporary timepiece, perfect to be used in any occasion of your daily life.

Hermes--Slim-Baselwold

You can read more about the Slim d’Hermès Manufacture by visiting the brand official website:
http://lesailes.hermes.com/slimdhermes/home-page

Hermès is, in terms of watch-making, a faceted brand: poet, engineer, artist, designer and magicien. They have a tremendous aim of doing the right thing in the right way. The cult for excellence drives Hermes to create amazing products that will seduce you at first sight. The French luxury house will definitely have a great Baselworld 2016, the first information we got is already outstanding.

Arsène.

Hermes-Slim-Manufacture-ardoise

Info sourced at Hermes official Pre-Baselworld communication release. All information is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Baselworld 2016 – Here are 6 new watches that will be revealed this year.

Arsene Wargas
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0
Reading Time: 9 minutes

Baselworld will start in less than one month and we got a sneak peak on 6 new watches that will be presented during the watch show this year.  We can see this year brands are revealing strong skills in technic and sharp elegance.

Girard Perregaux – 1966 Skeleton

Pre-Baselworld-Girard-Perregaux-1966-skeleton

Girard Perregaux started its tremendous know-how in watch-making back in 1791 and since then the Chaux-de-fond company has created amazing watches like the 1966. The new 1966 Skeleton invites us on an enchanted journey into the mechanics of time. The large 13¼”’ (30 mm) movement has been skeletonised with the stylistic imperative of creating a perfect visual balance. The contrast between the rhodium-plated gear train and the anthracite treatment chosen for the plate and bridges is an exhortation to travel deeper into this fascinating labyrinth. Inert matter springs to life, organs breathe, and suddenly we are confronted with the details of this meticulous staging – chamfering, drawing, polishing and satin-brushing – all hand-executed by artisan-watchmakers. Time becomes a pretext to reveal the mechanical watch as a piece of art, in which the 173 parts are akin to the brushstrokes of an old master.

Movement
Mechanical automatic, GP01800-0006 calibre, 173 components, 25 jewels, 28,800 vib/h, 54-hour power reserve.

Functions
Hours, minutes, small seconds.

Case
18K pink gold, 38 mm. Anti-reflective sapphire crystal front and back. Water-resistant to 30 metres (3 bar/100 ft).<<<

Dial
Outer ring with suspended hour-markers. Skeletonised visible plate and bridges with anthracite-grey ruthenium treatment. Small seconds at 10 o’clock.

Bracelet/strap
Hand-stitched black alligator with 18K pink gold buckle.

 

Breitling Avenger Bandit

Breitling-Avenger-bandit-pre-baselworld

Breitling is well know to develop great chronometers useful for aviators. The company was founded in 1884 and the watches are made in Switzerland using Swiss components. Breitling makes two movements: the calibre B01 and calibre B04, a B01 with an added GMT module. ETA and Valjoux are the primary suppliers of ébauches used in certain Breitling watches. The ébauches are completed in the Breitling Chronometrie Workshops before undergoing COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres) certification. Lightness, safety and precision are crucial attributes in the world of naval aviation. The Avenger Bandit is a COSC-certified chronograph that lives in step with the take-offs and landings on the decks of aircraft carriers. These “ocean fortresses” govern the demanding features that Breitling has incorporated into the Avenger Bandit. Its 45 mm case is lightened by the use of satin-brushed titanium, a favourite metal in the aeronautical industry. The graduated rotating bezel is topped by engraved stencil-type numerals and distinguished by its four rider tabs, a classic signature feature on Breitling watches serving to memorize times. The non-slip grip of the screw-lock crown and chronograph pushers guarantees optimal handling. The strap is made of rubber topped by a supple, sturdy and light high-tech textile fibre exterior. These technical attributes make the Avenger Bandit an authentic instrument for professionals embodying a world of daunting feats and the most extreme missions.

Movement
Mechanical automatic, Breitling Calibre 13, chronometer-certified by the COSC, 25 jewels, 28,800 vib/h.

Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph, 30-minute and 12-hour counters.

Case
Titanium, 45 mm. Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides. Screw-lock crown. Unidirectional ratcheted rotating bezel. Water-resistant to 300 metres (30 bar/1,000 ft).

Dial
Titanium grey.

Bracelet/strap
Military rubber.

Bulgari – Octo Ultranero Finissimo Tourbillon

Bulgari-Octo-Ultranero-Finissimo-Tourbillon

Bvlgari is an amazing italian Jeweler since 1884. While black is often said to be slimming, this model is definitely not about optical illusions. More than ever inspired by the creative strength of Italian design and Swiss technical expertise, the legendary Octo combines the world’s thinnest mechanical tourbillon movement with an opulent contemporary black exterior. The unique, structured case of the Octo Ultranero Finissimo Tourbillon dares to flaunt an unexpected tone-on-tone combination of materials. The matt appearance of the black DLC-treated makes a powerful contrast with the brilliance of the lacquered dial. This total-black look provides a majestic setting for the horological feat represented by the flying tourbillon measuring a mere 1.95 mm thick. Highlighted by pink gold elements, it appears to literally burst out of the dial, a precious touch echoing that of the crown, also made of pink gold.

Movement
Mechanical hand-wound, BVL 268 Finissimo tourbillon calibre, 21,600 vib/h, Côtes de Genève motif, 52-hour power reserve.

Functions
Hours, minutes.

Case
Black DLC-treated titanium, 40 mm. 18K pink gold crown with black ceramic cabochon. Sapphire crystal and back. Water-resistant to 30 metres (3 bar/100 ft).

Dial
Black lacquered. Flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock.

Bracelet/strap
Black alligator, buckle in black DLC-treated titanium.

 

Tag Heuer – Carrera Heuer-02T Black Phantom

Tag-Heuer-Carrera-Heuer-02T-Black-Phantom

Tag Heuer is a Swiss manufacturing company that designs, manufactures and markets watches and fashion accessories as well as eyewear and mobile phones manufactured under license by other companies and carrying the Tag Heuer brand name.Less than a year after the launch of the Carrera Heuer 01 in-house chronograph, the new generation of Carrera incorporates a chrono plus a flying tourbillon. The Carrera Heuer 02-T is entirely designed, developed and produced at the Manufacture TAG Heuer. For the Black Phantom model, the new Carrera case, made from 12 separate modular parts, is fashioned from black titanium. It houses the very latest TAG Heuer calibre, the Heuer-02T. This chronograph movement is directly inspired by the CH-80 and is COSC-certified. Here, it combines with a tourbillon regulator that stands out for its black and grey design, its lightness thanks to the use of titanium and carbon, and its flying construction. This new timepiece naturally shares the skeletonised, sleek, contemporary design of the new generation of Carrera watches, with its skeleton bridges, openworked hour circle and geometric bridges. The Carrera Heuer-02T Black Phantom is a 250-piece edition and positioned, amazingly, at under CHF 20,000.

Movement
Mechanical automatic, COSC-certified HEUER-02T calibre, flying tourbillon with titanium and carbon cage, 28,800 vib/h, skeletonised bridges, power reserve in excess of 65 hours.

Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds on the tourbillon, date, chronograph, tachymeter.

Case
Grade 5 black titanium, 45 mm. Sapphire crystal front and back. Water-resistant to 100 metres (10 bar/330 ft).

Dial
Black skeleton. Black hands, hour-markers and counters, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, 12-hour counter at 9 o’clock.

Bracelet/strap
Mat black alligator on black rubber, titanium folding clasp.

Other versions
Grade 5 titanium case and black titanium bezel with skeleton dial, silver hands and counters.

Hublot- Big Bang Unico Sapphire

Hublot-Big-Bang-Unico-Sapphire-baselworld2016

Hublot is a Swiss luxury watchmaker founded in 1980 by Italian Carlo Crocco. The company currently operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of France’s LVMH. In 1980, it also marked the birth of ‘Fusion’ concept after a few months from its inception date.[After several series of totally black and opaque watches, Hublot goes in the completely opposite direction by focusing on absolute transparency. Bezel, case, caseback and crystals: the case of the Big Bang Unico Sapphire is entirely made from the watch industry’s hardest material: sapphire. It is indeed so hard that only diamond can scratch it. One can thus easily imagine the difficulty involved in machining it to make a case and the hundreds of production hours required – especially with the complex shapes of the Big Bang. The Manufacture Hublot UNICO calibre appearing beneath the transparent dial and visible from all angles has never been so full revealed, notably including its column-wheel at 6 o’clock. This 500-piece limited series heralds a new era for sapphire cases. Hublot is reserving this special edition for fans of chronographs, of the Big Bang concept, of transparency… and of watchmaking itself.

Movement
Mechanical automatic, anthracite ruthenium HUB 1242 Unico calibre, 36 jewels, 28,800 vib/h, column-wheel chronograph with flyback function and double coupling clutch, 72-hour power reserve.

Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph with 30-minute counter.

Case
Polished sapphire crystal with satin-brushed titanium elements, 45 mm. Water-resistant to 50 metres (5 bar/165 ft).

Dial
Polished transparent composite resin skeleton dial.

Bracelet/strap
Transparent structured strap with titanium folding clasp.

 

Longines – Dolce Vita

Longines-Dolce-vita

Longines is a luxury watch company based in Saint-Imier, Switzerland. Founded by Auguste Agassiz in 1832, it is owned by the Swatch Group. Its winged hourglass logo is the oldest registered trademark for a watchmaker. Longines is known for its “Aviators” range of watches. A company director was a friend of Charles Lindbergh; after his transatlantic flight, Lindbergh designed a pilot watch to help with air navigation. Built to his specifications, it is still produced today. Over and above the elegance of its lines, the Longines DolceVita owes its worldwide success to its numerous variations enabling every woman to find inspiration. In 2016, Longines is adding new variations to this iconic collection, a worthy heir to a tradition where elegance plays a leading role. The common denominator among these new models is their two-tone interpretation. The steel versions feature a steel and pink gold bracelet with a solid pink gold crown, endowing them with a pleasing aesthetic equilibrium. The winged hourglass, the famous logo of the brand established in the Swiss Jura since 1832, is also clothed in pink gold. With its beautifully balanced proportions available in four different sizes, either diamond-set or non-set, and its three different dials, this watch is inspired by the Italian sweet lifestyle that inspired its name, encapsulating a blend of glamour and graceful charm. This love-at-first-sight object radiates the same aura of elegance in any circumstances.

Movement
Quartz.

Functions
Hours, minutes or hours, minutes and seconds.

Case
Stainless steel and 18K pink gold crown. Four sizes available, from 17.40 x 27.00 mm to 25.80 x 42.00 mm. Non-set or set with 36 to 46 TW VVS diamonds (0.28 cts to 0.998 cts). Sapphire crystal, water-resistant to 3 bar (30 m/100 ft).

Dial
Silver-toned flinqué dial adorned with painted Roman numerals, black lacquered or white mother-of-pearl adorned with diamond hour-markers. Small seconds at 6 o’clock.

Bracelet/strap
Pink gold-capped stainless steel with folding clasp.

These are only a few new models that you will be able to see during Baselworld 2016. More information to come.

Arsène.

Baselworld-2016-new-watches

Info sourced at Baselworld official press release, Forbes, Wikipedia, Federation of Swiss watch-making. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Friday Chronicle #20 – Why the fashion industry is killing fashion? A heritage and creativity debate. 

José Amorim
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0
Reading Time: 7 minutes

When a very well known trends agency in Paris said back in 2012 that fashion needed to get its freedom from the heritage and history or die, it was probably the most stupid thing to say. Nevertheless it was the state of mind of many people at that time. Since then several iconic Fashion houses decided to embrace this over-modernity philosophy and now, 4 years later, they are dying . Why? Because they lost their identity and their souls. Thy went from a Fashion House status to a simple label. It is not surprising that all fashion creators are leaving their jobs as it makes no sense anymore. Wake up people! When a very well known trends agency in Paris said back in 2012 that fashion needed to get its freedom from the heritage and history or die, it was probably the most stupid thing to say. Nevertheless it was the state of mind of many people at that time. Since then several iconic Fashion houses decided to embrace this over-modernity philosophy and now, 4 years later, they are dying . Why? Because they lost their identity and their souls. Thy went from a Fashion House status to a simple label. It is not surprising that all fashion creators are leaving their jobs as it makes no sense anymore. Wake up people!
Fashion-is-dead

Heritage and creativity are the foundation of a brand identity

What makes a Fashion brand desirable? It is a clever blend of excitement, innovation, originality and sacralization. This last word is a strong one but a good one to describe the desire millions of people can have for a brand. The construction of a Brand reputation is a complex process and when you get there you wish to maintain it. The sacralization idea comes from the fact that generally there is a brilliant and creative mind that gave the spirit of the fashion house. Fashion icons like Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Thierry Mugler, Jeanne Lanvin or André Courrèges, were the foundation spirit of their respective fashion brands. People would come and buy their clothe because they would feel connected to the state of mind and for what they stand for. The beginning of the 20th century, the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s or even the 80’s saw the birth of amazing fashion names. People would dream about haute-couture and buy Pret-à-porter. Fashion was elevated as art and a strong self-expression for creativity. The 90’s were interesting for the creation of smaller brands, generally called “young or new creators”.
Fashion-designers
It was all about the freedom of creation. Unfortunately the 90’s were also the time for luxury brands to become luxury groups.

  • LVMH was founded in 1987
  • PPR was founded in 1994

It was also the time that hotels started organizing themselves in groups and franchises. Probably the creation of these massive financial groups helped saving a lot of jobs but unfortunately these groups are driven by finance, profit and return on investment. The heads of these groups did not have a fashion or even a luxury background. Bernard Arnault was a engineer in Real Estate. François-Henry Pinault had a strong background in sales for Automobile and Pharmaceuticals. So when fashion houses get into the network of these groups, they get into a new dimension away from the elitism and sacralization of their names. They embrace the capitalism logic of distribution, trends, benefits and budgets. Naturally these people are very intelligent and over the years they acquired a certain know-how. But their ultimate goal focus on earnings and profits. Givenchy, Kenzo., Yves Saint Laurent… Where is the original spirit of these brands now? Simply lost in translation!

The moment fashion brands lost their first names, it was the beginning of the end

One strong sign of change was the idea that fashion houses should get free from their past and heritage that was “keeping them from embracing the future”. So one way to emancipate the brands were to change their names by getting rid of their first names.

  • Yves Saint Laurent becomes Saint Laurent
  • Christian Dior becomes Dior
  • Thierry Mugler becomes Mugler
  • Salvatore Ferragamo becomes Ferragamo

By loosing their first names, they started loosing its identity, its singularity. It was a way to disconnect from the past and the founder of the brand.
When Yves Saint Laurent became Saint Laurent and the creative studio moved to Los Angeles, we could see there was no interest to pursuit the work and spirit of Mr Yves Saint Laurent. The same happened with Christian Dior. When Christian disappeared to become Dior, it was like bringing down a fashion house to the status of a brand label like Zara, H&M, Mango, TopShop or Nike. They lost the sacralization. So brands like Topshop has a stronger desirability than most of luxury fashion houses today. When you wonder why fashion creators are leaving their jobs, well, because it makes no more sense to work there. Raf Simmons, Hedi Slimane, Albert Elbaz or Alessandro Sartori have all quit their fashion houses although their work was at the top. You can read the full article about it here.

How Heritage and tradition can generate tomorrow’s creativity

André Malraux used to say that the past and the future, heritage and modernity are not antagonists. At the contrary, heritage and history can be strong sources of creativity and modernity. This is a state of mind and a strong philosophy that timeless brands know very well. When Marc Jacobs got inspired by Diane Vreeland, the fashion goddess of Harpers Bazaar and Vogue (30’s to the 60’s) for one of his collections, it was a strong reference to fashion heritage. Yet, modern and avant-garde. He invited Caroline Vreeland, her Great Granddaughter to be first row at the défilé, like a tribute to fashion heritage.

So what now? Well, fashion creators need to rethink their models of development. Fashion labels have a strong, yet short-term desirability. It is something that can bring a lot of creativity and dynamism. Yet, we need to build the future of a business and a creative industry. As we know, people do not buy products anymore. They buy brands and experiences. For that, they need to feel deeply connected to the brands they interact with. This connection is a pure emotional and aspirational one. The only way to build this is for brands to capitalize on their strength in order to propose something unique, original, modern and creative. The basis of that? Heritage, know-how and courage. When Louis Vuitton shows all the tannery craftsmanship in their ateliers, or Cartier celebrates its métiers d’art, we are talking here about pure heritage. Yet, it is modern and give you a deep understanding on the brands and products you would buy. When you buy a pair of JM Weston shoes, it takes several weeks and hundreds of manual craftsmanship to manufacture the perfect shoes. If you do understand JM Weston heritage and legacy, you will fully enjoy the pair of shoes you will have your feet on. It is not about the money, it is about the amazing creativity and savoir-faire that each generation of customers perpetuate by connecting with these amazing brands. We hope that all these beautiful creative minds, from Elbaz to Simmons and Slimane will shape the future of fashion and write with golden letters a tremendous path… For the pleasure of all fashion aficionados.

José Amorim

Fashion-is-dead
Info sourced at Forbes, New York Times, Wikipedia, LVHM annual report and Bilan. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Caroline Vreeland, more than a it-girl.

José Amorim
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1
Reading Time: 6 minutes

When we say IT-GIRL, we are not talking about a girl working in an IT department. We are talking about a girl who definitely is driving the news. A girl who is stylish, beautiful, sexy and with an attitude. We could list a few but there is one that you need to know, she is Caroline Vreeland. She is more than a it-girl, she is a true artist and she is basically everywhere! At luxuryActivist, we are big fans and in this article we have the opportunity to review this fascinating phenomenon of it-Girls, socialites since 1904!

Caroline-Vreeland

Did you say it-Girl?

There none a single week that we do not hear the word “it-Girl” in the press. From the Kardashians, to Kate Moss and other fashionable girls, there is always a press article mentioning that a it-Girl did something. Nowadays, there is a media power that goes along the it-Girl status. Some of them are even more powerful than any established media owner. Girls like Kylie and Kendall Jenner can launch new brands. Each one has 50 million followers on Instagram. Imagine the visibility they can give to a brand, a product or a place. It seems that one post from them is worth $350’000. Nevertheless, the denomination it-Girl is not new. It was quite used in 1920’s within London’s high society. Initially it has a literature origin back in 1904. Indeed, British novelist Rudyard Kipling wrote a short story in which you could read the following sentence:

“It isn’t beauty, so to speak, nor good talk necessarily. It’s just ‘It’.

This sentence completely set the trend and it was quite edgy to treat a girl as “itGirl”. The dimension of this denomination took its entire power when in 1927, the Paramount produced a movie called “It” starring Clara Bow and Elinor Glyn, two very trendy actresses at that time.

Clara-Bow-IT-Paramount

Fashion designers started using this word in their vocabulary and the myth of the it-Girl was created. We needed to wait until the 90’s to add an extra layer on its definition. William Donaldson wrote an interesting observation back in 1990. The modern concept of the it-Girl refers to a woman possessing a tremendous sex-appeal and who receives intense media coverage unrelated or disproportional to her personal life. Naturally, internet and especially social media has triggered this new wall of fame very rapidly. It is in a way, an amazing leverage for brands to create desire and aspiration.

Caroline Vreeland, a strong heritage and a true modernity.

The name Vreeland is not a trivial one and fits perfectly the kind of person that Caroline Vreeland is: outstanding. She is the Great-GrandDaughter of Diana Vreeland who worked for Harper’s Bazaar from 1937-1962, and as editor-in-chief at Vogue from 1963-1971. Diana Vreeland spent her time determining and influencing what fashionistas wore, read, drank — she was the epitome of style. The Vreeland’s family emigrated to the United States at the outbreak of World War I, and moved to 15 East 77th Street in New York, where they became prominent figures in society. The European heritage with the modernity of the US gives a great background for Caroline Vreeland.

Diane-Vreeland-fashion-icon

But if you think that everything was handed to her on a silver plate you would be wrong to think that. Caroline Vreeland worked very hard her way to the top. From working in clubs to trying hard to push the doors of the music industry, all her success is due to her perseverance and will. For a while she got away from her heritage but with the years, she understood the chance she had to see fashion through the eyes of her Great-Grandmother. There is one thing that Caroline Vreeland got from her: a tremendous energy, a strong determination and a passion for everything she does.

Caroline-Vreeland-pictures

Caroline Vreeland, a multi-talented artist, always on top of mind.

The first time we came across Caroline Vreeland it was thanks to her instagram account. She has 146’000 followers and amazing pictures. Picture after picture, we discover her life, from personal moments to professional projects, all photographed with very good taste and a sharp sense of fashion. Caroline Vreeland works with the best photographers, the best magazines and brands and her projects take her to the 5 continents. Something that she should be very proud of is the way she looks. Far away from clichés, Caroline Vreeland looks like a real woman, not those photoshopped babes that everybody knows they do not exist. When we look at her we see a lot of generosity, happiness and somehow she is desirable in the good way. Well done for all the girls dreaming to be someone like you,

Caroline-Vreeland-intagram-official

Thanks to her Instagram account we can also discover short movies about her songs and some of her performances as a song writer and singer. From there you will be intrigued to listen to more music either on her soundcloud or youtube channel. Her sound goes from a R&B base to a contemporary POP style. Her voice is deep yet crystal clear. She puts a lot of emotions on her texts and interpretation. There is a slight nostalgia on her voice yet, she project us in a complete modernity. She is totally relevant and her style will cross the years without getting old.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/190289686″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

To summarize, Caroline Vreeland is a real artist, that deserved all the success she has. She is always up to something and you better follow her closely if you want to know where exactly she is in this vast world. She is a top fashion model and an accomplish singer, song-writer. Her heritage is the foundation of her personality and she writes the letters of her future with hard work, dedication and passion.

Is Caroline Vreeland a it-Girl? Probably but you would miss an entire universe if you would see her only through the socialite aspect. Dare to go deeper and you will see a great artist.

José Amorim

Caroline-Vreeland

Info sourced at carolinevreeland.com, wikipedia, nancyvalentino.com, patrickhumphreys.tumblr.com, Harper’s Bazaar and W magazine. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

A Discussion on Simple but Effective Makeup Techniques

LuxuryActivist
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0
Reading Time: 3 minutes

If you consider yourself as a social being, makeups are surely an integral part of your life. This is even truer for the partyholics who like to spend their lives to the brim. Nowadays, your looks are certainly governed by the amount or the type of makeup styles you wear. If you are dressing up for the party, and you say that you are not concerned about how to put on makeup, you are either backdated or you are certainly lying. At certain times, your social position is even judged by the makeup ideas you use while utilizing the makeup tips. The following part of the article might certainly take you a long way in deciding the way you dress up for an event and will certainly influence you for a long time to come.

Make-up-artist-tips

  1. Never touch your face: – Perhaps one of the most important makeup tips that one can give to another. Taking into consideration that not touching your face for a long time might seem quite unnatural. But implementation of this quite unnatural activity might mean that you not only preserve your makeup throughout the day but you keep the quality of your skin intact for a long time as you are protecting them from that part of the body which is most exposed to the germs.
  2. Dark eye shadows make you even more attractive: – A person who is specific about her look always concentrates on and gives an awesome amount of importance to her eye makeup. One very important tip regarding this is the fact that using dark eye shadow, specifically towards the outer corners can add on to the depth and the language of your eyes.
  3. Thick eyebrows, the current trend: – Another very important eye makeup tip might be the possession of a full sized eyebrow which, as per the contemporary fashion statement, looks more natural rather than the thin or the trimmed over-plucked ones. Remember that a makeup which makes you look natural is the best for you.
  4. Make sure that your brushes are clean: – You might be using the best of the makeup brushes, but if you do not clean them regularly, they might behave in a manner which would make them generalized. To be more specific, the mixture of the oil present in your faces and the makeups would certainly harden the bristles as such degrading the quality.
  5. Your lips must look moist and natural: – Always try to find out a lipstick which has the closest association with their natural colour. Once you are done with it you can go for topping them up with a layer of transparent lip balm or for that matter the lip gloss which might add on to the glow and the sheen.

As such, we can come to the conclusion that there are tips which are easy to implement but effective if we can utilize them properly in our makeup ideas. Thus, the saying simple living and high thinking as essential keys to success can also be associated perhaps in a different light in case of makeups.

Daniel

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

La Prairie Cellular Radiance Perfecting Fluide Pure Gold, precious beauty jewel.

José Amorim
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0
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Cellular-Radiance-Perfecting-Fluide-Pure-Gold-line

La Prairie is one of the most iconic luxury beauty brand and every beauty treatment is a true self-indulgence. This year they are launching a new amazing product called Cellular Radiance Perfect Fluide Pure Gold.

With this new launch, La Prairie proposes to boost your natural radiance and rediscover a perfect skin. Gold is a legendary precious material, revered since ancient times by many cultures who lent him medicinal properties. There are more than 5’000 years, Egyptians used to swallow Gold in a ritual of purification of the mind, body and soul. The Alchemists of Alexandria considered Gold as a mystical metal that represented perfection. For them, the presence of Gold in the body had the power to rejuvenate and restore youth and health. In ancient Rome, gold treatments used to heal all sorts of skin problems. Cleopatra herself used to apply gold on her face every night.

La-Prairie-Cellular-Radiance-Pure-Gold-new

Cellular-Radiance-Perfecting-Fluide-Pure-Gold-textures

It is not surprising that La Prairie decided to use this precious ingredient in its Radiance  collection, the true essence of Opulence. How to create perfection? By stimulating the skin collagen, you will rejuvenate your skin and unify your complexion. The texture of this new product is amazing. A very thin gold dust powder completes the silky, modern texture of the Cellular Radiance Perfecting Pure Gold. Once you apply it on a dry and clean skin, you will feel a sensation like melting into your skin to become one.

Cellular-Radiance-Perfecting-Fluide-Pure-Gold-texture

The golden reflexion developed in this new launch, gets the inspiration from the special sun light that happens during Dawn and Dusk. It is called the golden hour. This light is at the same time warm and pure. It dresses all things with an elegant and sensual veil. These special moments generate a lot of contemplative emotions. While some people call it the golden hour, La Prairie call it “Radiance”.

radiance-collection-detail

This new skin care product contains an exclusive formula that only La Prairie knows how to do it. It contains pure gold, reflective golden agents and a gold peptide complex that stimulates collagen. This formula is enriched with an exclusive blend of Golden Lotus japonicus extracts an extraordinary element revered in Asia for its beauty. Gold is easily one of the most romantic and empowering natural elements on earth. The transcendent color and palpable warmth of gold make it a uniquely inspiring beauty element. Gold is among the first metals processed by humans. This is largely attributed to its golden colour and the fact that it is found in nature. Gold’s unique colour is associated with the sun as well. This is only amplified by its enduring shine. As explained above, Gold has been used for more than 6000 years as a metal for jewellery production. Its characteristics ensured that gold would become and remain extremely attractive. Gold is an integral part of rituals in many cultures. Today gold has found applications in the culinary arts and in medicine.

When Fine Gold is used in facial and body treatments, you will emerge feeling radiant, energized and suffused with well-being. Gold create a unique feeling of glamour, self-confidence and excitement for your customers. Gold helps to relieve the skin of harmful substances. Gold increases the acidity in the skin and works against fatigue. Gold is as any excellent surface catalyst. Gold helps to keep the skin looking young (by reflecting light off its surface), clear and smooth.

La-Prairie-Cellular-Radiance-Pure-Gold

La_Prairie_Cellular_Radiance_Perfecting_Fluide_Pure_Gold_Skin_Care_4-1200x675

Here are a top 7 benefits to use and apply Gold on your skin:

  1. Wrinkles, Fine Lines, Spots Can Be Reduced. Gold can activate the basal cells of the skin which reduces the elasticity of the skin. It thus reduces wrinkles, fine lines, blemishes and marks on the skin, and will make you look younger.
  2. Stimulates The Skin Cells. Gold can help to stimulate the cells and have a healthy skin.
  3. Premature Aging Of The Skin Can Be Prevented. Use of gold can reduce the dryness of skin and helps in increasing the metabolic rate. This would prevent the skin from premature aging.
  4. Gold Can Lighten The Complexion. Cleopatra used a gold mask every night to enhance her complexion and keep her skin youthful, glowing and beautiful.
  5. Collagen Depletion Is Slowed Down. The collagen level in the body starts depleting from the age of 25 and this is when you notice the changes on your skin. Skin care with gold can slow down the depletion of collagen level in your skin cells.
  6. Elasticity Of The Skin Can Be Increased. Use of gold can breakdown the elastin gradually and restore the elasticity of the tissues. This would further prevent the skin from sagging. Gold increases the elasticity of the skin, thus makes it firm and toned.
  7. Glowing Skin. Gold helps in improving the blood circulation, hence it helps hydrate and maintain the skin’s moisture level. The small particles of gold get absorbed into the skin imparting a rich glow. This makes the skin healthy, fresh and radiant.

2 main keywords for the new Cellular Radiance Perfecting Fluide Pure Gold : Rejuvenation and Perfection . Once again, La Prairie innovates and places the Radiance collection as an ultimate beauty treatment range. Feel the soft power of Gold and treat yourself with a beauty break, just relax.

LA

Cellular-Radiance-Perfecting-Fluide-Pure-Gold-line

Info sourced at La Prairie official communication release, Forbes, stylecraze.cin, wikipedia and WWD. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

A useful gentleman’s guide for Valentine’s day flowers.

LuxuryActivist
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0
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Valentine’s Day is just a week away and you are still not done with your flower selection? Rush, you are late. Few tips for purchasing right flowers for your beloved, explore them.

Valentine-Day-Flower

  • Say Goodbye To Old Favorites: Unless your Valentine is insane for red roses and just red roses, stay away from them at all costs. The same thing applies for pink roses, and pink and red tulips, however to a lesser degree. If noticed carefully, various players in the botanical business set aside their Valentine’s Day substantial hitters for quite a long time and weeks before the occasion, implying that when you purchase the red roses, they perhaps have a couple of valuable hours to live. It’s quite better to purchase something somewhat less customary that was reaped in the most recent day or two.
  • Smile! Chin Up! Don’t Worry If You Are Unaware About Their Favorite’s: I’ve seen most of the individuals have a close fit of anxiety when they understand that they don’t know their beloved’s most loved flower. It can be a useful piece of trivia, however numerous individuals have a several best choices, or no favorite at all. It’s much, considerably more supportive to consider, and let me know about, your beloved’s style.

Just consider few questions – Is her home stark and classy according to modern day’s lifestyle? Does he dress in numerous hues without a moment’s delay? Does she loves to get out and run in forests barefoot, or would a manicured patio garden be more her scene? Descriptive words like wild, cutting edge, colorful, sweet, ladylike, tough, sunny, rich, or secretive, whether they apply to your dearest’s garments, home, or personality, can help me set up together the ideal flower arrangement.

  • Schedule Your Order Days Earlier: Small startup’s or small local shops once in a while need to quit taking requests for February fourteenth a few days early, so make sure to put in your request in a convenient manner. Such circumstances rarely occur and flower delivery in UK is fast yet ordering earlier is always a wise decision.
  • Knock Knock! Is Your Love Letter Ready? Odds are you’ll be requested that what you’d like to have composed on the card. Try not to be timid – we don’t pass judgment – yet do be prepared. It can be amazingly hard to think of something sentimental/significant/attractive/sweet on the impromptu, with somebody waiting for, so have your engraving recorded early. This will likewise allow you to make sense of the accentuation you prefer towards – exclamation points can have all the effect!
  • Be Precise When You Order: In the event that you require the flowers delivered by 3pm, please make sure to tell your well disposed neighborhood flower vendor! Conveyances are for the most part orchestrated geologically so yours might not come till 6, after you’ve officially left for the weekend.
  • “The ONE” – One Day! One Bouquet! No matter what either sending or getting blooms, it can entice to put the weight of the whole relationship on their fragile stems. Are the blossoms she sent you somewhat dreary? That may say more in regards to the drained blossom market and the depleted flower specialist than it says in regards to her affections for you. Oops! It’s not your favorite flowers; did he forget your favorites? Possibly there are no pink tulips in range of hundred miles. The florists do their best to make every flower bouquet immaculate, yet there are few misses and miscommunications. Whether the blooms are superb or disappointing, they’re just blossoms, and it’s simply Valentine’s Day, and there’s a lot more to your adoration than that.

Daniel

Valentine-Day-Flower

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

Luxury in China 2015 – key figures.

José Amorim
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0
Reading Time: 5 minutes

The luxury industry in China is like a roller-coaster. Sometimes we go up, sometimes we go down and sometimes things are upside down. In 2015 the Chinese market represented 20% of the global luxury business. This means $17.2 billion. Wealthy consumers (with an average income superior of $300’000) accounts for a large majority of the luxury consumption. There are 78 million households in China considered as upper-mid-class that counts for 20% of luxury purchases. This number is growing which means that despite the crisis, there is a strong potential for big sales.

China-Luxury-consumer-2015-2020

With the development of Chinese luxury customers, these people get more and more educated and their aim for luxury status symbols generates new opportunities for new segments like Jewelry and women’s apparel.

When we analyse luxury segment by segment, we can see that sales for men’s apparel, watches, accessories and suitcases have dropped between 2014 and 2015. Nevertheless, shoes, cosmetics and perfumes, jewelry an women’s apparel are growing. The overall evolution of the Chinese luxury market is -2% between 2014 and 2015. Compared to other countries, the Chinese growth is still superior to others.
China-growth-evolution-2015

With the great opportunities that the Chinese national market represent, several international luxury brands have placed a lot of their businesses there. China represent 20% of the total Swatch revenue. The following chart shows the 11 brands which have the biggest share of revenue in China mainland. Companies like Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Hermès or Prada have invested several millions of US dollars to develop their own retail network. Louis Vuitton has more than 30 own stores disseminated over the country, from Shenyang, to Shanghai, Zhengzhou or Wuxi Yaohan.

Here are the top 10 cities in China for luxury shopping (source: Chinese news portal JRJ)

  1. Shanghai
  2. Beijing
  3. Hangzhou
  4. Guangzhou
  5. Shenzhen
  6. Chengdu
  7. Chongqing
  8. Qingdao
  9. Xi’an
  10. Dalian

The number one city, Shanghai, has more luxury brands established there than any other city in China. If we check where people would go in Shanghai to buy luxury items here are the top 3 best places for luxury shoppers:

  1. Nanjing Xi Road: This was the first area dedicated to luxury. Plaza 66 opened in 2002 and became the most famous luxury place. LVMH established its offices there to manage the entire Chinese business.
  2. The Bund: For more than 100 years, the Bund has been a place of pride for Shanghai. The amazing architecture of the area plays well along with luxury brands like Cartier, Zegna and luxury hotels like Peninsula.
  3. Xintiandi area: This one is is a new shopping area. Shui On Land has reconstituted traditional shikumen (stone gate) houses in narrow alleys. Several trendy restaurants and clubs have established their businesses there. In terms of luxury brands, we can find stores for Tiffany, Coach or Hermès.
Chinese people are traveling more and more and they use these travels to buy luxury. In Japan, the luxury business growth done by Chinese people went +252% in 2015. This number is +31% in Europe and 33% in South Korea. So if you add all Chinese purchases in China and abroad, the share of revenue done by them represent half of the total sales of Swatch group (49%), Richemont has 41% and Hermes has 31% of their total revenue done by Chinese people worldwide. You can ask to any luxury store in the main world capitals, they will all say that their best customer are Chinese. In London, each Chinese tourist will spend around $2’800 per visit. The main reason why they buy abroad is price. Hefty import tariffs and consumption taxes, as well as higher pricing strategies, can increase prices in China to 50% more than a shopper would pay elsewhere. A Louis Vuitton handbag costs 30% more in Beijing than in Paris. A guarantee of authenticity is another reason why the Chinese prefer European or American stores over their own. 42% of the total amount of detaxes after luxury sales in Europe are done by Chinese tourists while traveling.
For sure Chinese luxury customers have their own habits and their approach of luxury is evolving very fast. If we pay attention to the most preferred luxury brands for Chinese you will be surprised to know that Apple arrives number one far bigger than Chanel, Louis Vuitton or Dior. In the chart below, you can see the share of millionaires per brand (source: Statista).
Preferred-luxury-brands-for-chinese
In 2014, Apple was not even in the top 10. In one year, the tech-company was designated as the best luxury brand in 19% of the millionaires in China. This means that the Chinese luxury customer has a modern vision of luxury, less anchored into the sands of the past. For a Chinese customer, the iPhone or a macbook is truly a luxury product that would differentiate the owner from the others. The sex-appeal of Apple generates a great enthusiasm that fans might have. With an ambition of getting a more western lifestyle, certain brands like the American ones, get more attention. Of course, Apple became a global massive giant in terms of communication and image. With $ 2Billion of budget for communication, the Cupertino brand can basically do whatever they want.
LA
 China-luxury-options
Info sourced at atlas.qz.com, KPMG, The Global luxury book, Adweek and wikipedia. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Fashion is dead, the industry killed it. 

José Amorim
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1
Reading Time: 7 minutes

It is official, fashion is dead. Fashion designers have continuously resigned from their roles at some of the most prestigious fashion names. From Dior, to Lanvin, Yves Saint Laurent, all these brands are dying as their respectives Artistic Directors are leaving their position. Most of them declared that they do not accept anymore the conditions and the pressure in which they live constantly. The industry of fashion is killing fashion. Luxury Fashion Houses are changing to become fashion labels and ultimately generic apparel items. A new model need to be find.  is-fashion-dead 

Hedi, Albert, Raf, Stefano, Christophe, John… all gone.

Every chain reaction has a starting point. In our case here it all started back in 2007 when Hedi Slimane resigned from his position at Dior Homme. At that time everybody was shocked. When Hedi Slimane took over the artistic direction of Dior homme in 2000, he reshaped the fashion brand and satellized the Dior name into the stars of fashion desire. The Slimane look was born, very black tie, slim and rock. He became as the same time a fashion icon and probably he was and still is one of the most influential person in the world of fashion and photography. So at the top of his work in Dior Homme, Hedi Slimane decided to leave the fashion house in 2007 because he did not have the right conditions to create and develop his artistic work. Never before an artistic director resigned of his own will. At this time we could already feel that the fashion industry was little by little killing the fashion art. Today, almost 10 years later, the fashion bleeding continues:

  • Raf Simons
  • Albert Elbaz
  • Christophe Decarnin
  • John Galliano
  • Alexander McQueen
  • Brendan Mullane
  • Alexandro Sartori
  • Stefano Pilati
  • Hedi Slimane (again)

Alexander McQueen was gone at the top of his art, John Galliano just got crazy while driving the media machine that was Dior Couture and Prêt-à-porter at that time. Stefano Pilati had already left Yves Saint Laurent to join the Ermenegildo Zegna group and now he is leaving his position again. 

Raf Simons and Albert Albaz both declared that basically they felt like being lemons that you press the juice to the very last drop. The pressure of 4 to 6 collections per year, the PR pressure and the growing challenges of industry seeking rentability is pathetic. How can you create an original and innovative fashion item without the correct amount of time. Most of the time you have basically weeks to create and build the next big thing. 

Alessandro Sartori is considered as one of the most gifted and creative tailorman in the all Italy. Since 2011, he was asked by Bernard Arnaud, to reinvent Berluti. He launched amazing collections that definitely hit the spotlights, bringing the Italian Bottier to the forefront of avant-garde. According to LVMH, Sartori’s collections did not find the expected traditional Berluti customer.
Alessandro-Sartori 
He was asked to make some changes in order to be more consensuous. An agreement was basically impossible as we can imagine that such a creative talent do not wish to level down things by taking the lowest common denominator. The same story happened with Brendan Mullane at Brioni. After a very successful comeback, the Italian fashion house became again one of the cherish on the cake of the Milanese fashion week. Nevertheless, many differences of opinion brought the artistic collaboration between the British designer and the Italian brand to an end. 

When Raf Simons arrived at Dior Femme, after a disastorous end with Galliano, all the press was 100% positive about this new collaboration. Everybody would say that Raf Simons had the talent, the perfectionism and the modern cut that Dior deserved. He was expected to calm down the game and get back to a brand construction. After an amazing success with his own brand Raf by Raf Simons, the Belgian creator was the best choice for Dior. On the 9th of April 2012 joins the House of Dior as Artistic Director, 15 month after the departure of Galliano. He had under his responsability Couture, Pret-à-porter and fashion accessories. He was the perfect translation of what Dior’s newlook would be in the years 2000. He was nominated at the Crystal globes as per best fashion designer in the world. Despite of getting such a positive feeling, he decided to resign from Dior on October 22nd 2015. The pressure and the lack of time to produce his art was not helping the emancipation of a creative mind. So the Belgian gifted fashion creator decided that it was better to leave than doing compromises. Raf Simons is considered as one of the most important fashion creators of the past 10 years. 

Stefano Pilati was born in Milan in 1965. He is one of the most talented creators of his generation. After collaborating with Tom Ford, he took over Yves Saint Laurent in 2004. A first collection was considered disappointing by the critics but very fast, Stefano Pilati found the right path and places Yves Saint Laurent on track for success. Again, the amazing work that Pilati did with Saint Laurent did not convince the board and after some heavy discussions, the collaboration ended up in 2012. 

 Hedi-Slimane 
Last but not least, the one and only Hedi Slimane! When back in July 2007 he decided to quit Dior Homme, it was a blast in this industry. LVMH even proposed to finance Slimane own brand but the French creator refused. The message started being very clear: a creative mind has less and less room to express his talent. The rythmn of collections, the PR expectations and the business behind it do not allow it. 5 years later, Hedi Slimane joins Yves Saint Laurent (2012) after Stefano Pilati’s departure. On his own words, he becomes the “Directeur de la Création pour la Couture”. He decides to change the brand name to Saint Laurent Paris and delocalize the creative studio to Los Angeles. The Kering Group, owner of the brand, saw Hedi Slimane as a very positive addition to the Yves Saint Laurent universe. Hedi Slimane has already worked for the luxury fashion house from 1996 and 2000 and the idea was to get back to a more Saint Laurent style with a hint of modernity. 3 years later, Hedi Slimane decides to quit the brand as there are “differences of opinion” between him and the group. 

Fashion Apocalypse, what now?

As we can see, the fashion industry is bleeding from its creativity. So what is going to happen now? Probably Luxury houses are going to be treated as labels, in which apparel is going to be more important than creation. It will show us the difference between a Fashion Creator and a Designer. The first one generates a dream universe in which the piece of clothe is a vehicule. The second, will run the look through the lens of shapes, colours and functionality. It is like going from Dior Couture to TopShop. Naturally both brands have their own purposes but one should not replace the other.

What we do expect now is to see what all these creators are going to do? They cannot come back to an industry mode and they might not have enough resources to create a different model. Nevertheless, the fashion industry needs to reinvent itself. A new model should be developed and more respect to creation to be re-established. Albert Elbaz, Raf Simons, Stefano Pilati, Hedi Slimane… All heros of a tragedy that, hopefully, will find its happy end.

LA

 the-death-of-fashion 
Info sourced at Vogue, Forbes, Fashion Daily, WWD, New York Times and Wikipedia. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

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