Luxury Fashion
Just fashion weblog
The Angelina dazzling diamond
Posted by kevin in Apr 19, 2012, under Fashion Clothing, Fashion Jewellery, Luxury Fashion, Luxury Jewellery
Angelina Jolie has been spotted with a superb diamond engagement ring that was a year in the making.
Never straying too far from the headlines, Hollywood power couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have sent the tabloid media into delirium with confirmation they are getting married.
.jpg)
In a tactical move that has ensured impressive media coverage, the jeweller who created the ring broke the news officially. Robert Procop, a renowned Hollywood-based jeweller, confirmed the rumours to People.
“Brad had a specific vision for this ring, which he realised over a yearlong collaboration with Robert,” read a company statement from Robert Procop Exceptional Jewels.
.jpg)
“He wanted every aspect of it to be perfect, so Robert was able to locate a diamond of the finest quality and cut it to an exact custom size and shape to suit Angelina’s hand,” the statement added.
The design and manufacture of the ring was said to have taken a year. Procop worked with Pitt’s own designs to create a faceted, elongated tablet shape to fit Jolie’s ring finger. The conflict-free diamond is set in the ring among smaller faceted stones.
.jpg)
Procop’s work must be something of a favourite for Jolie, with the star sporting Procop’s pieces in the past on the red carpet, as well as working with the jeweller to create her own line of fine jewellery in 2010 for charity.
Robert Procop is the former CEO of Asprey, current editor-in-chief of Famous Diamonds guide and has showrooms in Beverly Hills, Geneva and Hong Kong.
The Fêting Ferretti
Posted by kevin in Apr 19, 2012, under Fashion, Fashion Clothing
Following in the footsteps of Karl Lagerfeld and Giambattista Valli, Alberta Ferretti unveiled her limited-edition collection for Macy’s yesterday. To celebrate the launch, the Italian designer was on hand at the Herald Square store last night, where the likes of Glenda Bailey, Wendi Murdoch, and Mickey Boardman turned out to support her.
“It’s difficult because for a big designer, it’s important that the fit and quality is different from your normal low-price dress,” Ferretti told Style.com. “I’m really happy about the realization of the collection. They made them young, modern, fresh—not cheaply made. Maybe I will buy too, why not?” she added with a smile.
And shoppers liked what they saw in the collection ($49 to $119) of bright summer dresses and light knits, with the long white maxi dress being a crowd favorite. (At left, model Shu Pei Qin wears one of the collection’s floral peasant dresses.) “I would probably buy this and wear it every single day of summer—I’ve just got to have it for the Hamptons,” one shopper said. Will there be more mass Ferretti on the horizon? The designer remained tight-lipped, saying, “We did the Eco collaboration with Emma Watson and now this, so we are exploring other collaborations at this point.”
The Dior Weekend,And More…
Posted by kevin in Apr 19, 2012, under Fashion, Fashion Clothing, Luxury Fashion
Over the weekend, Christian Dior showed its Spring Couture line in Shanghai in sync with the opening of French photojournalist Gérard Uféras’ exhibition, which offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the making of the collection. Top models, including Liu Wen and Emma Pei, walked in the runway show. [WWD]
At last, today, Paris Vogue has launched an English version of its Web site. In honor of the English edition and the new layout, Vogue.fr has a picture of Kate Moss, circa 1998, wearing a Union Jack flag. [Telegraph]
Christian Louboutin says Princess Diana was the source of inspiration for two of his most famous shoe styles. Of the Love style, which was his very first pair of shoes, he says, “It was 1992 and I was looking at this picture of Princess Diana taken while her husband was giving a speech. She looked so sad and bored, I thought: ‘What would bring a smile to her face?’ ” [Vogue U.K.]
In today’s rumor mill: Karlie Kloss is reportedly dating St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford. The rumor sprung from photos of the duo together at Coachella this past weekend. [Styleite]
The White Denim
Posted by kevin in Apr 19, 2012, under Fashion, Fashion Clothing
What’s old is new again. And at Acne, the old is coming back in white. Jonny Johansson and his team scoured more than ten collections from the Acne archive for a new capsule collection of reissues hitting label stores this Monday. Tops, skirts, dresses, shoes, and accessories are all back from the vault in new, white versions. Why? “I designed an apartment back in the nineties on Park Avenue,” Johansson tells Style.com, “with one room as the Yoko and John Lennon white room. It has been floating around my head for a while, this whole ‘white-out process.’ It finally surfaced and I was like, yes, let’s do a collection.” With Memorial Day and the traditional season of white garb on its way, we wondered, does Johansson have any rules for how to wear it? “Just keep your white pieces dirty—then you know you are having fun,” he says. One caveat: “No sex in the grass wearing white; it gives it away.”
The Saunders Exclusive
Posted by kevin in Apr 19, 2012, under Fashion, Fashion Clothing, Luxury Fashion
JONATHAN SAUNDERS has created a capsule collection for Matches this season, inspired by the sugary palette and South Beach feel of his spring/summer 2012 collection.
“We have followed Jonathan’s career from the beginning at Matches and he is a true British fashion star,” Matches’ international womenswear buyer Natalie Kingham told us. “His collections always feel super modern and wearable and he is a master at combining colour and print. Working closely with him on this exclusive collection for Matches has been an absolute pleasure; the collection was inspired by the sky blue tones and prints that he sent down the runway for spring/summer 2012 and we worked with existing shapes that have been particularly popular and added in some new styles. The result is the perfect summer capsule collection that will take you effortlessly from work, to garden parties and summer weddings.”
Featuring two dresses, a skirt, a top and a coat, the capsule collection picks up on the most desirable elements of Saunders collection – and is sure to disappear from Matches stores even before the weather is warm enough to wear it.
Marchesa’s New Line
Posted by kevin in Apr 19, 2012, under Fashion, Fashion Clothing
MARCHESA is reportedly preparing to launch a contemporary line. The British label, known for its red-carpet-worthy, opulent and feminine designs, is said to be completing a deal with LF USA – the US branch of Hong Kong-based investment company Li & Fung.
This would be the second acquisition for LF USA in a matter of weeks, if the WWD rumours come to fruition, after the company signed a backing deal with New York-based label Vena Cava earlier this month.
Marchesa would follow in the footsteps of a host of luxury brands that have launched contemporary lines, including Karl Lagerfeld’s Karl; Alice Temperley’s Alice By Temperley; Marc Jacobs’ Marc by Marc Jacobs; Matthew Williamson’s MW by Matthew Williamson; Alexander McQueen’s McQ; Victoria Beckham’s Victoria, Victoria Beckham; Versace’s Versus; and Alexander Wang’s T by Alexander Wang.
The Jaeger Sold
Posted by kevin in Apr 19, 2012, under Fashion, Fashion Clothing
JAEGER has been sold for almost £20 million to Better Capital, a Guernsey-based investment company.
Better Capital said in a statement today that it had acquired, “all of the secured debt and a 90 per cent stake in Jaeger Group Limited… The aggregate cost of the acquisition was £19.5 million, the substantial majority of which was in respect of the acquisition of the secured debt with the remainder in respect of the equity stake.”
“The board is pleased that Jaeger has a new owner in Better Capital, thereby securing the future of the business,” Jaeger said in a statement today. “The investment that Better Capital has provided will create a strong foundation on which to further develop our iconic brand.”
The British label – which saw 2011 profits fall by more than 60 per cent from £2.22 million to £772,000, on a turnover up 10 per cent to £93.9 million – was acquired by British Fashion Council chairman Harold Tillman in 2002, but the retail mogul admitted in January that the label had not been immune to a difficult year for the UK high street.
“The London market has been very positive,” Tillman said. “Outside of London certain parts of the country have been strong, but overall it has been challenging.”
Tillman – who will retain a 10 per cent stake in Jaeger, and will stay on as chairman – also owns a controlling stake in Aquascutum, which has been the subject of takeover rumours in recent months. No statement regarding the future of that label has yet been made.
Jazz age jewellery gets its swing back
Posted by kevin in Apr 08, 2012, under Fashion, Luxury Fashion, Luxury Jewellery
Fashions come and go and then come back again. Could the latest ‘in thing’ be vintage-inspired jewellery?
Advancements in life most often come from building on the past, but fashion sometimes dictates that we just to try and re-create it.
Following the wild success of HBO drama Boardwalk Empire and a remake of The Great Gatsby currently headed for cinemas, old-fashioned class is back in style. The jewellery world has quickly caught on to this trend with a number of vintage inspired designs beginning to emerge.
Small memorabilia worn as jewellery, silver fob chains, medallions and sovereign holders are becoming fashionable again as modern consumers seek to emulate the glamour and flare that rose out of the Roaring Twenties.
A number of jewellers have already caught the wave of this latest trend, with antique jewellery specialist Ann Koh saying she had noticed a clear growth in interest in everything old, even with the young.
“There has been enormous interest,” Koh said. “I sell a lot of vintage and antique rings to girls becoming engaged. There’s a group in the population, both young and old, that would never wear pre-loved jewellery, and there’s also people who wouldn’t wear new jewellery because they find it boring.”
Koh said jewellery lovers are not just attracted to the style of the pieces but also the stories behind them.
“With the old stuff there’s the intricate workmanship and history to appreciate as well as the product,” Koh explained. “A lot of people prefer the old art of jewellery. “
Koh also owns a pocket watch that was used as a watch in the original Great Gatsby film.
The Diane von Furstenberg Style
Posted by kevin in Apr 08, 2012, under Fashion, Fashion Clothing
A former princess, a mother, designer and philanthropist – Diane von Furstenberg has been one of the fashion industry’s most prominent figures since the 1970s.
Born in Belgium, she married her first husband, Prince Egon zu Fürstenberg, in 1969 and set up her design business shortly afterwards. The invention of her now-iconic wrap dress propelled her to international fame, and she has since gone on to create one of the world’s most recognisable and widely-known fashion houses.
She was made president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 2005 and is co-founder The Diller-Von Furstenberg Family Foundation – a private family foundation which provides charitable support to various non-profit organisations – along with her second husband Barry Diller. Well known for her philanthropic qualities and championing of women, she has become a contemporary symbol of female liberation.
The Decorative Day
Posted by kevin in Apr 08, 2012, under Fashion Clothing
PACK out your diary with the smartest of social engagements because the spring collections ushered in a new wardrobe of whimsical looks designed for the daylight hours.
Broderie anglais, brocade and sumptuous satins peppered the catwalks at Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino and Miu Miu, adding the type of intricate and expertly-crafted detailing usually reserved for night.
