The days are long, but the years are short.

A inceput numaratoarea inversa spre Craciun, dragele mele fete, si as zice ca va gasiti in cel mai bun moment pentru a va evalua anul care a trecut.  De ce sa mai asteptati inca o 30 de zile?

Daca o faceti acum, mai aveti inca 30 de zile in care sa bifati din lucrurile pe care le aveati pe lista – din cap, din suflet, de pe hartie:  sa cititi o carte, sa mergeti la un concert de muzica clasica, sa plantati o floare, sa gatiti un fel nou de mancare, sa renuntati la dulciuri, sa va intalniti cu cea mai draga prietena, sa va inchideti laptopul in fiecare seara la ora 8, let it go (whatever IT is!), sa zambiti, sa va schimbati cerceii, sa purtati tocuri, sa purtati o rochie, sa va luati vitaminele, sa beti apa, sa va platiti facturile restante, sa faceti o asigurare de viata, sa fiti mature, sa fiti copilaroase, sa va cumparati o portjartiera, sa faceti ordine pe birou, sa va lasati de fumat, sa donati sange, sa aveti rabdare in trafic, sa imbratisati pe cineva, sa beti un ceai in liniste, sa scrieti o carte… Voi ce (mai) aveti pe lista?

Sfatul meu? Nu ca mi l-ati fi cerut or anything, dar daca tot sunteti aici…  Cultivati-va. Nu neaparat in sensul de eruditie (desi este minunata) si in nici un caz cu emfaza. Faceti cate ceva, in fiecare zi, pentru ca sa fiti mandre de voi peste ceva timp. Descoperiti-va o pasiune, exersati-va creativitatea, exersati-va empatia, bunatatea, generozitatea sau umanitatea, incepeti sa fiti cine va doriti voi cel mai mult sa fiti.  Faceti lucrurile astea cu discretie, nu va laudati cu ele pe vreun blog sau pe Facebook (asa devin doar laudarosenie, si se duce naibii toata treaba). Evolutia sau imbunatatirea va fi cu atat mai frumos si bine observata, cu cat nu este batatoare la ochi. Vorba cantecului, “and trust me on the sunscreen”.

Si pentru ca saptamana trecuta nu am avut timp sa postez recomandari de lectura, ma voi revansa astazi, cu mai multe. Enjoy!

Heel highs times tweets? – “The 1920s notion of a “hemline index,” in which the economist George Taylor posited that skirt lengths rise and fall in relation to the economy, suggests that fashion is socially determined. In a modern twist, a report about the direction of high heels, issued by I.B.M., proposes that fashion can now be determined through social media.” In NY Times.

Anatomy of a Maison – “In the Medieval age, the sight of a towering spire signalled a city of splendour. Today, it is cathedrals of retailing that indicate metropolitan status in the global pecking order. The December 3 opening, not of another Louis Vuitton store – there are already 460 of those worldwide – but of a much grander Louis Vuitton ‘Maison’ (of which there are just 13) proves Sydney must be a very smart town indeed.” In AFR.

Fashion’s new frontier for social media – “The fashion industry is quickly learning that men and women engage and shop differently in the digital sphere. Brands and retailers such as Coach, Mr Porter, Gilt Man, Ben Minkoff, John Varvatos and Ermenegildo Zegna have spent a lot of time studying the differences between the ways men and women approach fashion, tapping into their male audiences with a host of initiatives they feel will resonate best with their target consumer.” In WWD.

Don we now our gay apparel – “There are many ways to approach Christmas party dressing. The first, and my favorite, is simply not to attend any parties over the festive season. But presupposing that you are less antisocial than me, I’m going to discuss three possibilities—with the caveat that the holidays are riven with all sorts of seemingly insoluble wardrobe challenges.” In Wall Street Journal.

A new frontier for big brands – “In Paris, at 23 Place Vendôme next year, Louis Vuitton will open the first boutique dedicated to its fine jewellery. It is a significant move for the industry… As is usual with Louis Vuitton, a decision by the world’s most successful luxury brand to make a decisive step into a new market is a signal of shifts in the industry… But expectations are that jewellery’s switch from a predominantly craft market to a new frontier for big brands is under way.” In Financial Times.

How the uncertain economy is changing the definition of luxury – “With the emergence of new wealthy consumers from the BRIC countries and the economic downturn for most nations outside of the BRIC superfecta in the past few years, luxury has taken on a multitude of new meanings. No longer does it exclusively equate to expensive products that are mostly of French or Swiss origins.” In Forbes.

The insider’s outsider – “Dries Van Noten has built a booming business much to the envy of the fashion industry. How an idiosyncratic Belgian designer with particular notions about the way men and women should dress is quietly beating the big corporate conglomerates at their own game.” In WSJ Magazine.

Abraham Moon: the name on everybody’s lips and labels – “Over the past few years everyone from Ralph Lauren to Dolce & Gabbana has descended on the place… The thing that draws them is a 174-year-old woollen mill in a sprawl of sooty Victorian stone buildings either side of the Netherfield Road. There etched on to a black vitreous panel by the entrance are the words Abm Moon & Sons Ltd.” In The Telegraph.

Future classic – “How does a storied French accessories house go about designing a new iconic look?  For Bruno Frisoni of Roger Vivier it’s taken four years and a lot of geometry.” In WSJ Magazine.

World’s biggest brands invest in The Fancy – ““The Fancy, one of the consumer facing projects under the thingd umbrella, has secured a $10 million round of financing at a valuation north of $100 million. Interestingly, the big bucks don’t come from a typical venture investor, but from a new lead investor PPR, the $16 billion French multi-national run by Francois Henri-Pinault, which owns the globe’s biggest fashion brands… The Fancy is about visual discovery and has become a natural home for fashion brands, which see a high level of engagement from tastemakers around their goods.” In BetaBeat.

Putting the hot back in hotel – “A lobby full of trendsetters can make a hotel chic, but luring them in is easier said than done. W Hotels is looking to Jenné Lombardo, a fashion insider, to help it recapture cutting-edge cachet in the fashion industry. ” In Wall Street Journal.

Elle Macpherson: the brains behind The Body – “Macpherson insists that the financial revelation that struck in her early-to-mid twenties was her own, unprompted by some agent… . It came, she says, after ‘working for Sports Illustrated for so many years, and recognising that working for a business in which I did not have a profit share was not attractive’.” In The Telegraph.

Soap, shampoo, toothpaste: pitching the gift of  hygiene – “Packaged gift sets of personal-care products such as shampoos and toothpaste are increasingly being sold as accessible luxuries—and an easy present for your cousin or dog walker. ” In Wall Street Journal.

They shoot fashion, don’t they? – ““The fascination with the spectacle of fashion that McQueen (amongst other designers) brought to the catwalk arena lies at the purposeful core and messages of the exhibition. If one may doubt the intentions behind exhibiting clothes and photos related to the current phenomenon that is the catwalk fashion show, the clever irony of such a display is certainly not lost on those that see the mirroring value and critique of celebrity and glamour in the same way that Pollack or McQueen did.” In Huffington Post.

J’s Crew – “As its men’s empire expands, the co-branding pioneer rolls with a growing gang of special outfitters. Feeling more like individual boutiques than J. Crew’s integrated stores, the spaces are stylized, site-specific environments. They are filled with not only the brand’s merchandise but antique furniture, inspiration books plucked from the designer’s offices and exclusive collaborations with little-known labels. ” In Wall Street Journal.

By the time you will read this... imi voi fi baut cafeaua, imbracat rochia si inceput deja cursul de stil. Daca e trecut de ora 10, inseamna ca vorbesc despre ce ascundem in spatele usilor dulapului: ce secrete gasim acolo? ce povestesc hainele despre noi cand ne intoarcem cu spatele?

O helanca neagra si intelectuala sta incruntata langa o exuberanta rochie de vara galbena. Asceticul si elegantul sacou alb sta calm langa o vorbareata si agitata fusta plisata multicolora. Obositii jeansi, dar atat de globe-trotteri, descriu povesti din calatorii exotice si din autobuze prafuite unei mirate bluze cu buline copilaresti. Asta ma incanta sa povestesc – magia hainelor, puterea lor transformativa, subtextele care ne ajuta sa cream versiunea idealizata a propriei noastre persoane. Intr-un magazin, in fata unui raft cu haine, in fata unui dulap necunoscut, ma transform intr-o Miss Marple (de 30 si putin de ani, mind you!) – intr-o tea-dress inflorata, pantofi cuminti cu barete, chiar si ochelari.

Inainte sa trec la recomandarile de lectura, astazi mai putine ca de obicei, va impartasesc ceva: mi-am propus si mi-am promis ca din februarie sa aduc cursul de stil in cateva orase mari din tara. Voi incepe cu Iasi (la sfarsit de ianuarie/ inceput de februarie), ma mut apoi la Timisoara (la sfarsitul lui februarie), Cluj (martie), Brasov si poate Oradea (aprilie), Constanta (mai)… Asadar, daca vreti sa va tin la curent cu datele, lasati-mi numele voastre (deja am o lista inceputa)!

Fashion retailing catalogs turn a page – “Alluring as print catalogs may be, an increasing number of retailers — Bloomingdales, Nordstrom and J. Crew among them — aren’t just mailing them to their customers. They’re going digital, showing off this season’s lace-trimmed dresses and faux-fur vests in free downloadable apps that mimic the traditional catalog experience, minus the print.” In L.A. Times.

A new frontier for big brands – “In Paris, at 23 Place Vendôme next year, Louis Vuitton will open the first boutique dedicated to its fine jewellery. It is a significant move for the industry… As is usual with Louis Vuitton, a decision by the world’s most successful luxury brand to make a decisive step into a new market is a signal of shifts in the industry… But expectations are that jewellery’s switch from a predominantly craft market to a new frontier for big brands is under way.” In Financial Times.

There’s no business like shoe business – “Ms. Skovgaard’s designs are more rebellious than reserved, more dangerous than dainty, and since launching her eponymous collection in 2007, she has gained recognition across the fashion industry… In 2010, Ms. Skovgaard won accessory designer of the year at the Elle Style Awards, and most recently, she took the title of accessory designer of the year at the 2011 Dansk Fashion Awards, one of Denmark’s most prestigious industry prizes.” In Wall Street Journal.

Can you trust the editorial integrity of personal style blogs? – “Whether it’s by partnering with brands, styling shoots, receiving payment (or free product) for writing posts or getting commission on the sale of items they post about, some bloggers are seriously cashing in on their influence… But as blogs make the transition from personal style diaries to profit-turning businesses, some readers have begun to feel that original and unbiased content, once the keystone of what made blogs so relevant, has taken a hit.” In Fashionista

Benetton retries provocation – “Italian clothing chain Benetton is trying to drum up attention for its flagging brand with ads showing global leaders kissing… Now, after having lost ground over the last decade to competitors such as Inditex SA’s Zara and Hennes & Mauritz AB’s H&M, Benetton is trying for publicity.” In Wall Street Journal.

A marriage of economic convenience – “More than a decade since Target first popularized collaborations between high-end designers and mass retailers, and seven years since H&M introduced a collection with Karl Lagerfeld, there is still allure in the concept of cheap and chic… Such collaborations are proving to be both a reliable business model for retailers and a business in themselves.” In NY Times.

Memorabilia Mania – “”Popular culture adds zest to upcoming auctions, with memorabilia from Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Alfred Hitchcock, James Dean and many other stars on the auction block in London.” In Wall Street Journal.

Fashion’s real housewives -Bring on the bouclé suits, beehives and Bombay martinis—lady-like looks from the 1950s and ’60s reign supreme for fall and spring.” In Wall Street Journal.

Faza ieri: pus pe Facebook fotografia acestor pantofi glittering de aurii ce sunt, cu legenda “Ii vreau. Acum”.  Nu numai ca poza cu pricina a primit zeci de like-uri, dar a dat nastere unei discutii despre puterea atractiei. Nu a seductiei (desi si asta ar fi putut fi discutata avand in vedere the said shoes) , ci despre cum intra lucrurile, oamenii si evenimentele in viata noastra atunci cand ni le dorim cu adevarat.

Pe acelasi principiu, pe la inceputul lui septembrie ma gandeam: ” hmmm vreau multe proiecte, vreau varietate, vreau sa cunosc oameni noi…”  Si pentru ca universul e generos si ne da exact ceea ce ne dorim (vezi si proverbul cu ai grija ce iti doresti… dar trebuie sa si muncesti ca sa primesti), calendarul meu de lucru mai e putin si explodeaza: weekendul urmator tin cursul meu de stil (mai sunt 2 locuri libere, girls!), am trei proiecte diferite in derulare cu Baneasa Shopping City (care implica si stilism, si consultanta, si organizare), pregatesc un training si un manual de imagine profesionala pentru o banca, voi face buying si PR pentru un magazin care inca nu s-a deschis dar care va fi spectaculos-fabulos cand se va deschide … si mai e putin si vine Craciunul…

Asadar… Dream big, fetelor. Aim high. Work for it. Ask and wish for it. Be patient. La un moment dat, se va intampla, acel ceva sau cineva pe care il doriti apare. Astea fiind spuse, let’s crack on with the show, sa trecem la citit.

Prabal Gurung: the red carpet’s new darling – “You may not recognise the name, but we’re sure you will have seen one of Prabal Gurung’s designs before. The New York based designer has slipped under the radar for a few years now, but he is finally having his moment in the limelight… It has only been in the last twelve months that celebrities have been clambering over themselves to wear Gurung on the red carpet.” In The Telegraph.

The discreet charm of Akris – ““Perhaps it is Kriemler’s understated, reluctant approach to anything overt or loud—fashionable or otherwise—that attracts women as powerful and talented as Condoleezza Rice, Angelina Jolie, Susan Sarandon and Nicole Kidman to his clothes… Kriemler works extensively with artisans from Akris’s hometown of St. Gallen. The town is renown in the business for its skilled craftsmanship in linen, cotton and embroidered fabrics, and has long been a focus for fashion houses including Chanel, Marc Jacobs and Giorgio Armani. Akris has proper form and heritage, too.” In Wall Street Journal.

Retail site raids a big closet – “Since its debut in February, Moda Operandi, the online retailer that sells designer clothes right off the runway, has become a surprise competitor on the lucrative trunk-show circuit. Now the site is becoming a competitor to traditional department stores and magazines for personnel, as well. Roopal Patel, a longtime executive in the fashion offices of Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, will join Moda Operandi this month as its fashion director. And Taylor Tomasi Hill, formerly the style and accessories director of Marie Claire, will become its artistic director.” In NY Times.

Oscar de la Renta cu launch F-commerce – “Oscar de la Renta is the first luxury brand to launch a Facebook commerce, or F-commerce, initiative contained entirely on the social medium where it has over 283,000 followers… It is the first to offer a commerce experience from beginning to end without leaving Facebook. In fact, the whole transaction can be done either on a tab on the brand’s page or, if the user prefers, without even leaving his or her newsfeed.” In WWD.

A sweeping winter statement- “Several fashion labels went long for the women’s overcoats in their Fall/Winter 2011 collections. Long as in way below the knees. In the more extreme versions, the coats approach or reach floor-length.  The coats are dramatic, in a regal, Victorian-era way, even sweeping. ” In Wall Street Journal.

Three ways digital innovation can make luxury brands exclusive again – “Luxury brand marketing must preserve exclusivity — on that we can agree. But successful luxury brand marketing today must also put the ‘e’ in experience… Luxury consumers in this economy are more interested in whether a luxury product is ‘worth it,’ and that all depends on the experience. While protecting brand exclusivity is a viable concern, such digital and new media tools offer inestimable opportunities to market luxury brand experiences.” Pe Mashable.

Gareth Pugh: his dark materials – “‘She’s very beautiful. But she looks like she might kill you,’ says Gareth Pugh of model Alla Kostromichova, the lovely if admittedly somewhat intimidating face of his soon-to-launch, limited-edition line of make-up and accessories, designed in collaboration with Mac. And that just about sums up not only the designer’s aesthetic more broadly, but also this latest venture.” In The Independent.

The great pantyhose debate -  “L’eggs is gearing up for a profitable 2012 with a new brand strategy (by repositioning the traditional women’s hosiery as smoothing undergarments meant to increase confidence) that hopes to hook a whole new generation.” In Forbes.

From sci-fi to bows: a shoe maverick – “”That, to me now, seems like the new new,” he says. He predicts platform shoes will disappear from runway shows in another season. Finding the new new is essential to Mr. Kirkwood, whose goal in life is frankly stated on his Facebook page: to be “the next Christian Louboutin.” In Wall Street Journal.

Upcoming Zappos iPad app mimics a fashion magazine – “The new black this fall: Retailers producing content alongside their products, like an online version of a glossy fashion magazine. Zappos expects to launch its first attempt at recreating the catalog experience on the iPad in early December, just in time for the holidays… Instead of being generally available in iTunes, the Zappos app will be found on Apple’s Newsstand, which organizes magazine and newspaper subscriptions for those who use iOS 5. It will be free; a new edition will appear monthly.” In All Things Digital.

PPR set to buy menswear brand Brioni – “PPR, the French luxury goods group, has confirmed it will acquire Brioni, the Italian high end men’s wear group that has dressed Vladimir Putin and the fictional character James Bond in several movie outings. In a statement on Tuesday, PPR said it would be buying 100 per cent of the family owned group for an undisclosed sum… PPR is reorienting and expanding its business in two segments: luxury, which includes Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta; and lifestyle, which consists mainly of a majority stake in Puma, the German sportswear company.” In Financial Times.

Just relax, then buy more and pay more for it – “A recent study in the Journal of Marketing Research found that relaxed shoppers were willing to pay up to 15% more for goods than less-relaxed ones. After a few minutes of soothing music or a few sips of free cappuccino, your brain gets the message that there’s no reason to be on alert…” In Wall Street Journal.

The 3 musketeers of Conde Nast ride again – ““Graydon, Anna and David have their other projects, of course.For the last few years, these three have been targets of some whispered criticism in the media world: How much time do they actually devote to editing their magazines anymore? Are these editors, a combined 55 years into their jobs, starting to get a little bored? Are their best days behind them?  Apparently not. The three are having career years — or at least years that should go down as All-Star seasons on their Hall of Fame plaques.” In WWD.

A fashion designer’s second act – ““When Hedi Slimane stepped down as artistic director at Dior Homme in 2007, Fashion Wire Daily summed up his tenure this way: ‘Slimane leaves Dior with the well-earned reputation as the single most influential men’s designer this century, the most copied of his peers and the only one to achieve the status of a rock star.’… But Mr. Slimane seems to have left fashion behind with nary a second thought, reinventing himself as a photographer in the past few years, one who has produced an array of strikingly intimate portraits, nearly all of them black and white.” In NY Times.

Pentru weekendul acesta, va recomand juxtapunerile pline de farmec: o camasa bleu din denim moale si o fusta din catifea reiat, un sacou din tweed cenusiu si o rochie din matase, un pulover tricotat, rustic si o fusta ampla, rafinata… Ceva modern cu ceva vintage, asa cum ar fi vizitele , pe rand, la Autor 6 (ca sa descoperiti sau sa revedeti ce inseamna bijuteria contemporana romaneasca) apoi la Absolutely Fabulous (ca sa va delectati ochii cu camee si cercei vintage, cu gulere de dantela si fuste retro plisate, cu buline si paisley).

Evident, inainte sa trec la recomandarile de lectura, un foarte scurt reminder despre cursul meu de stil. Aici gasiti toate informatiile, va avea loc peste 2 saptamani si mai sunt doar cateva locuri libere! Asa ca hurry up, va promit ca va fi mai fun decat un weekend gri, obisnuit, de noiembrie

The beating heart of fashion – ““Even if you don’t follow fashion, a stylist has indirectly influenced what you have on right now, informing your sartorial ideas on everything from power dressing to pastel romance. Grand, whose clients range from high fashion to mass market, is at the top of the pyramid.” In Wall Street Journal.

Finally, the web at hand – “Next week, the first issue of a glossy magazine from the editors of Style.com, with the puzzling name of  Style.com/Print, will hit newsstands… Aside from the novelty factor of its origins, it is a surprisingly effective product, one that reads with a swiftness that is not unlike the experience of clicking through multiple screens at a time. The first 100 pages can be read in five minutes.” In NY Times.

Olivier Theyskens on creativity and commerce – “Olivier Theyskens’ career is one for the books. The kind they teach you in fashion school about talent and creativity and its flip side, business and commerce.  Olivier Theyskens 100:  Fashion visionary.  Olivier Theyskens 101: A business cautionary tale. His career is a minefield of lessons.” In Forbes.

Victoria Beckham’s fashion line on track to make £60m – “It has been reported today that Victoria’s eponymous label generated sales in excess of £15 million in the first quarter of 2011, up a staggering 70 per cent on the same period last year. If this trend continues, Beckham will be in line for sales of £60 million by year-end, and with her second, cheaper line ‘Victoria by Victoria Beckham’ going on sale in the New Year, it appears she may have a fully-fledged fashion empire on her hands.” In Telegraph.

Luxury handbags ditch logos for exclusivity – “The world’s top luxury accessories brands are learning that the key to maintaining the aura of exclusivity is to hide in plain sight. To reconcile volatile economies with the demand for greater status symbols, top labels like Chanel and Victoria Beckham are producing high quality bags that speak for themselves, without the use of logos… Without logos, products themselves accentuate a brand’s personality.” In Red Luxury.

The overcoat as object of design – “The temperatures across Europe dropped last week from Indian summer to shivering winter, just as MaxMara, coat maker par excellence, celebrated its 60 years in style. The iconic camel cover-ups from the Italian company went on show at the State Historical Museum in Moscow on the last leg of a five-year roving tour… ‘The coat is an icon in fashion — a little bit more than a fashion element — more an object of design,’ Mr. Maramotti said.” In NY Times.

Mink or fox? The trench gets comnplicated – “Signaling how interactive the online shopping experience has become, Burberry, the British fashion label, is offering a way for customers to design and order custom trench coats online. Called Burberry Bespoke, the program is a full-scale attempt at “mass customization,” a long-time goal of retailers and unusual for a designer fashion house. Customers select the cut of their trench coat, the fabric, the color, and then navigate through options such as bronze-studded sleeves, bridle leather cuff straps, mink linings and shearling collars.” In Wall Street Journal.

Tiffany enters Louboutin vs YSL stand-off – ““A legal dispute between fashion labels Christian Louboutin and Yves Saint Laurent took a new turn yesterday when the jeweller, Tiffany, came in on the side of the shoe designer. It filed an amicus curiae to support Louboutin’s case that a colour can be trademarked and its use prohibited.” In The Independent.

Sitting down with 3 generations of Missoni - “Last month, the Italian luxury label’s Missoni for Target collaboration was so hotly sought after that it caused the retailer’s website to crash. Last Sunday, three generations of Missonis gathered in Beverly Hills to accept the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award — the first fashion house to be honored as an entire family. Could it be that Missoni is on its way to becoming a household name?” In L.A. Times.

Francisco Costa’s modern aesthetic – “Since assuming the mantle at Calvin Klein Collection in 2004, Francisco Costa has modernized the laid-back luxe look known as American sportswear. Working with innovative, luxurious fabrics and using Calvin Klein’s own original, pared-down aesthetic as the base, the Brazilian-born designer has radically re-envisioned the female silhouette.” In Wall Street Journal

Online shoe store Spartoo.com projects 100 million euros turnover this year – “This ‘Zappos of Europe’ was founded in France by three young entrepreneurs in 2006, and is now active in 20 countries, including United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands. Today, the company revealed that its internationalization efforts have led to significant growth. In fact, Spartoo.com says it sold more than one million pairs of shoes in Europe in the first months of 2011 (the company offers about 15,000 models and 400 brands).” In TechCrunch.

What Christian Lacroix did next – “Puffs of tutus, twinkling tiaras, Cossack costumes and body suits painted with watery greenery fill a series of studios backstage at the Opéra Garnier in Paris.  These fantastical costumes,  [...] are for just one among a series of theatrical events across Europe that Mr. Lacroix has worked on since his couture house was shuttered in 2009.” In NY Times.

How Zara clothes turned Galicia into retail hotspot – “The green, rainy region of Galicia in northwest Spain is best-known as the destination for pilgrims hiking the Camino de Santiago to pay tribute at the remains of apostle Saint James… But a different kind of pilgrim also makes the journey here — retail sector analysts visiting the headquarters of Spain’s most successful modern export, Zara clothes, which has made the founder of Inditex one of the richest men in the world.” Pe Reuters.

Sfarsit de luna si sfarsit de saptamana. Un octombrie fabulos de incantator, cu soare cald, pere rosii si struguri negri, crizanteme galbene si fuste plisate, tarte tatin si ceai de scortisoara, atat de multe proiecte care mai de care mai euforice si mai epuizante, cu vise implinite si multe multe cadouri… Plus o saptamana care m-a lasat fara suflare, la sfarsitul careia va lansez trei super, super invitatii.

Prima este Unveiled la a patra editie – un eveniment la care puteti intra in contact cu cei mai tineri si promitatori designeri romani. Puteti sta de vorba cu ei, le puteti proba hainele, puteti vedea ce inseamna piese unicat, puteti descoperi ce inseamna si cum arata o piesa care v-ar putea diferentia in noianul de h&m-uri. Unveiled se desfasoara sambata si duminica, intre orele 12.00 – 20.00, intr-o locatie foarte frumoasa, la Din Casa, in str. Constantin Coanda 18).  Ioana Ciolacu-Miron, Irina Irimia, La Chatterie, Rue des Trucs, Astrid Tarlea, Florentina Giol, Ramona Rusu, Elke Szilier, Heritage Shoes by Andreea Chirita sunt cativa dintre designerii care isi dau intalnire cu voi acolo.

A doua invitatie este pentru concursul I.D. Sarrieri, la care eu fac parte din juriu. Woo hoo, ca sa zic asa!!! In caz ca vreti sa participati si, you know, sa aveti o sansa la o sesiune de shopping de 1,000 euro…  Documentati-va despre stilul anilor ’60, scotociti prin garderoba si creati o tinuta inspirata, la propriu si la figurat. Inspirata din moda anilor ’60, dar in trend, si inspirata – cu o nota personala, autentica, originala, frumoasa. Aveti la dispozitie 2 saptamani de gandire, girls.

Last but not least, a treia invitatie este la cursul meu de stil personal, pe care il organizez in Bucuresti, in weekendul 19-20 noiembrie. Timp de 2 zile, va povestesc tot ce stiu si va explic de-a fir a par totul despre tipul vostru de silueta si cum sa o re-desenati prin imbracaminte, ce culori ar trebui sa purtati si de ce ar trebui sa divortati de negru si gri, cum sa va potriviti colierele in functie de decolteu si coafurile in functie de trasaturile faciale, de ce unele dintre voi isi schimba garderoba o data cu sezonul iar altele raman cu acelasi stil din liceu pana la maturitate…  Dupa cele 2 zile, nu va garantez ca veti pleca ca dupa un makeover, dar in mod cert veti aborda altfel garderoba, hainele, oglinda, shoppingul. Gasiti aici pe blog toate informatiile, temele atinse, costul participarii, iar daca aveti nevoie de detalii in plus, imi lasati un comentariu:)

Vorba lunga, saracia omului. Hai sa si citim ceva, iar intre timp stay happy and spread the love

Vogue’s earliest celebrity models – “Modelling during the 1920s, in and out of the studio, was not yet a profession considered entirely suitable for girls from smart ­families. At best it was a juvenile novelty, at worst it was ­considered shameful or slightly provincial, like ­“taking to the stage”. In Financial Times

A perfumer’s seductive scent – “Jean-Claude Ellena, the official in-house perfumer for Hermès since 2004, is possibly the most adventurous, unconventional nose in France. In “Journal d’un Parfumeur,” he explores the conundrums of his profession with the delicacy of an olfactory poet. ” In Wall Street Journal.

The house that Calvin Klein built – “Omnipresent as Calvin Klein is throughout the world, the man behind the brand has a reputation for being anything but that… Yet during a rare public tête-à-tête with Fern Mallis Monday night, the designer opened up… No subject seemed to be too personal for the 68-year-old Klein, who appeared relaxed and affable throughout the interview — his first at 92Y in 12 years.” Pe WWD.

A site for do-gooders who want to look good, too – “Move over, Gilt and Net-A-Porter. These innovators in selling high fashion online are being joined today by Community Collection – a new web company that is marrying several post-financial-crisis cultural phenomenon into one url:  People who want to donate to good causes, can do so by buying fashion online.” Pe Wall Street Journal.

The moral of Dior’s numbers – ““The Christian Dior results are in and, contrary to what some people had predicted in March when John Galliano, Dior designer, was fired for saying bad stuff, they are good. In fact, they are very good.  Revenue for the first nine months is up 21 per cent (at constant exchange rates) to €705m against the same period in 2010 and retail revenue rose by 27 percent.” In Financial Times.

Online flash sales less flashy as inventory shrinks – “The flash sales business has lost some of its flash, forcing online luxury clothing merchants such as Gilt Groupe, Ideeli and Rue La La to radically change their business models. These businesses burst onto the fashion scene during the recession to try to move a mountain of unsold clothes. Now there is less luxury inventory and flash sales sites are bigger. That has forced these companies to pay more or find other ways to get their products.” Pe Reuters.

Ferré struggles to find its feet – “After Mr. Ferré passed away in 2007, the brand’s parent company IT Holding SpA went into government-backed bankruptcy administration in 2009. The brand functioned under bankruptcy receivership until Dubai-based retailer Paris Group bought the Italian label in March. Now, just seven months later, the house’s future is in question again after allegations of mismanagement under the new owners.” In Wall Street Journal.

Storm clouds loom over China’s red-hot luxury e-commerce market – “With China’s luxury industry expected to become the world’s largest by 2015, and the country’s online population swelling, dozens of companies have jumped on the high-end online retail bandwagon… With online shopping moving up the value chain, more competition looking to crack the market, and more individual brands expressing interest in adding e-commerce functionality in China, there’s plenty to be optimistic about. But as an extremely young and untested market, full of similarly young and untested companies, storm clouds may be looming.” Pe Jing Daily.

Is ready to wear the new Couture? – “From Chanel to bright young talent Mary Katrantzou, houses are incorporating haute techniques into their regular collections.” In Wall Street Journal.

How Spanish brand Loewe woos China – “Less than a month after its spring 2012 runway show in Paris, the Spanish luxury brand Loewe (famous worldwide for their leather) mounted a recreation of the full show in Hong Kong today, October 19. The full line up from the Paris show was flown over for the event. When you really think about it, the Hong Kong Loewe show was a much bigger affair than the one held in Paris because it had three different sessions for regional press.” In Forbes.

Brown magic  – “Once an acquired taste, suits in chestnuts and caramels are—to one fan’s chagrin—having a moment. Their rebellious nature eludes many, who simply see them as drab and common, in their corduroy, mohair, tweed and worsted-wool incarnations. I a sea of blues, grays and blacks, a brown suit has always looked unique but subtle—the hardest mark to hit in the world of men’s style.” In Wall Street Journal.