Lectura de sambata dimineata

Astazi va fi una dintre acele zile perfecte de primavara, in care tii toate ferestrele deschise, iesi la plimbare prin oras imbracata intr-un trench subtire si purtand in picioare sandale, nu pantofi, colinzi pe strazi presarate cu petale de magnolii si simti pe umar si in par soarele care te incalzeste… Iar daca gasiti si un soundtrack potrivit si cineva va tine de mana, ziua este si mai frumoasa!

Q&A with Franca Sozzani – “Vogue Italia editor in chief Franca Sozzani doesn’t shy away from controversy. Some might argue she courts it. She isn’t afraid to speak her mind, and her blog on vogue.it has helped the site jump to more than one million unique users a month.” In WWD.

20 odd questions for Nicola Bulgari – “Despite the changes ahead for the 127-year-old firm, Mr. Bulgari insists the brand’s DNA will remain the same. ‘Our family is not going anywhere… There is a uniqueness and continuity of design that guides everything we do—from jewelry and watches to fragrance and apparel.’” In Wall Street Journal.

Olivier Rousteing  named new designer at Balmain – “The new era at Paris’s sex-charged fashion house Balmain is beginning to take shape, with Olivier Rousteing being tapped as the label’s new designer. Rousteing, who joined Balmain in 2009 and is currently in charge of women’s wear.” In T Magazine.

Men shops Net –  “Sites like the dapper Mr Porter, an extension of Web retail pioneer Natalie Massenet’s empire; avant-garde portal Oki-ni; Southern-bred start-up Lyonstate and flash-sale favorite Gilt Man and its coming full-price site are upending the notion that acquiring cool clothes requires tedious hours spent sifting through mountains of merchandise.” In Wall Street Journal

Look, ma’, we’re fashion moguls – “With their high-end label The Row, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have such a grown-up hit on their hands that even Michelle Obama wears their clothes.” In Newsweek

Lunch with Vidal Sassoon – “‘All around me, things were changing: fashion, architecture, politics, and I thought hair had to change too. I thought it had to become democratic. I said to myself, ‘If I haven’t changed things in five years, I’ll stop.’ So I decided to cut hair instead of just ‘doing’ it.’” In Financial Times.

Fame, fortune and fashion: inside the Elie Saab story – “Today, the 46-year-old runs a truly global empire, with boutiques in Paris, London and Dubai. His clothes are on sale in 22 countries, and he has moved into bags, shoes and jewellery.” In Arabian Business

The ageless supermodels: what sets them apart? – “What makes these particular models timeless? What do Kate Moss, Naomi Cambell, Claudia Schiffer, Christy Turlington, and Amber Valletta or Kristen McMenamy and Stella Tennant, for that matter, have that thousands of other super model hopefuls don’t?” De Jessica Michault.

The post-advertising age – “Today, the only way brands can connect with customers and prospects is by genuinely adding value to their lives, either by providing a useful service or by telling rewarding stories. Brands have no choice. Messages that aren’t valued will be ignored.” In Luxury Society.

At their feet, crafted by hand – “It has not been lost on workers at Allen Edmonds, or those at about a half-dozen shoe companies that still produce in the United States, that the craft of shoemaking is experiencing something of a renaissance. Over the last few years, as heritage brands have been rediscovered by a new generation of customers, especially young men.” In NY Times.

Trend-spotting is the new 30 billion pounds growth business – “In an era of social media and hyper-connectivity, trend forecasting is becoming more and more important for business. And it is therefore also becoming a big and highly competitive business.” In The Telegraph.

I.T is about brand management – “Sham Kar Wai started selling clothes in 1988 because he couldn’t find the British punk fashion that he liked in his native Hong Kong… Fast forward 23 years: Mr. Sham has turned the single store into I.T Ltd., a clothing conglomerate with sales last year of 3 billion Hong Kong dollars.” In Wall Street Journal.

Top 10 highest earning beauties – „With consumers again cautiously spending on luxury goods, the 10 top-earning female models on the planet made a combined $112 million in the 12 months to May.” In Forbes.com

Waiting for the dress – “Many believe that Ms. Middleton’s dress, like the bouffant gown Princess Diana wore in 1981, will be a game changer, inspiring replicas or adaptations at every level of the marketplace, some within weeks or even days of its debut.” In NY Times.

Into the spotlight, gently – “Ms. Burton is now a star, thanks to the regal drift of snow she created for the commoner Kate Middleton. The dress transformed both women… Ms. Burton into the quiet, modernizing voice of a brand that gradually, and by necessity, will rely less on its founder’s singular vision.” In NY Times.

Sites that send shoppers what they might like – “The sites are the latest example of retailers inventing new ways to shop online… these shopping clubs aim to filter the seemingly infinite options online and show a small selection, catered to an individual’s taste.” In NY Times.