Lectura de sambata dimineata

Pentru ca am avut senzatia ca citatul de saptamana trecuta v-a placut, am sa continui si astazi, din aceeasi carte (asta si pentru ca nu am inspiratie in diminetile astea si nu vreau sa bat campii prosteste…). Asadar, here it goes:

“There are three types of “I wish I’d done that” scenarios. The first is when you genuinely feel you didn’t capitalize on an opportunity, or that you missed out on something. The second is when you see somebody who’s done something great and you wish it had been you. The final type is not you, but the others – the people who hang around with a sort of permanent “I could have been a contender” mentality. If only I’d had the chances, the lucky breaks, the opportunities. For this last group, the bad news is that even if Lady Luck had come up and bitten them on the bum, they’d still have missed it.

When it comes to looking at what others have achieved, this world is divided into those who look at others enviously and those who look at others as a motivational tool. If you find yourself saying, “I wish I had done that/ thought that/ been there/ seen that/ experienced that/ understood that”, then you need to learn to follow it up with  a “And now, I will…””

Avem si de citit ceva, serios, pentru azi.

Why is Pippa on a pedestal? – “The Pippa phenomenon represents a new stage in the voyeurism spectrum. Instead of reality TV, (which you watch to think, “Thank God I’m not that desperate”) or celebrity reality, which is more like unreality (yes, Gwyneth looks good but who has the time for those workouts?), it’s slightly heightened reality reality. To see Pippa is to think: “Hey, if I was just a bit thinner/taller/browner/younger, I could buy that dress/get that tan/have that job.” In Financial Times.

Frida Giannini by Dave Gahan – “Giannini has acquitted herself ably on all fronts, crafting a new chapter in the Gucci story by embracing her own ultra-feminine take on fashion, one that doesn’t so much wrestle with what was, or the iconographic power of those interlocking Gs, as display an unbridled enthusiasm for what is and what might be if we could only find a way to chill out and live in the now.” In Interview.

Top of the shops: what to buy now –  “August is one of the few times shoppers will actually be able to find and have the time to try on the good stuff they see in magazines before it all sells out.” In Wall Street Journal.

Drakes co-founder: “Men should be stylish, not fashionable” –  “I only have one pair of leather shoes. Everything else is made from suede. I always wear purple socks, which is a bit unusual. I like to match a lilac cashmere sweater with plain but nice lilac socks. It’s not rocket science, but it’s a look.” In Wall Street Journal.

The muddy roots of fine linen – “Linen has become a high-end staple on the designer-clothing racks… Yet these thousand-dollar linens have humble roots. Two-thirds of the world’s linen originates in a narrow belt of farmland that stretches from northern France to the Netherlands… Fashion brands are telling consumers more about the origins of their clothes. Linen, because it comes from such a limited region, is able to ride this movement.” In Wall Street Journal.

Fabergé: would you shell out for eggs like these? – “The South African mining entrepreneur Brian Gilbertson purchased it in 2007, with the ambition to build his company into a global jewellery empire. Fabergé was relaunched with great pomp in 2009. Now it is ready to present its first hatching of eggs since the Tsars.” In The Telegraph.

Are Chinese models putting an end to Asia’s colony mentality? – “If we were to take our cues from the fall 2011 advertising campaign of luxury retailer Lane Crawford, it would seem that we Asians have come to love our own. The campaign features a stunning all-Chinese cast wearing the latest threads from New York, Milan, London and Paris… Is the Chinese luxury consumer now aspiring to be like the Chinese faces modeling her favourite brands?” In Forbes.

When luxury and commodities collide –  “Pity the poor jewellers of this world. As the price of gold soars and investors hoard bullion, the price of one of the luxury industry’s prime raw materials goes through the roof; suddenly, what was the base metal of high-end adornment has become as precious as the sparklers it normally holds.” In Financial Times.

Dowdy department stores start looking cool again –  “The sector, long derided for dowdy merchandise, maze-like stores and crumbling facades, is making a comeback. Macy’s Inc., Nordstrom Inc. and Kohl’s Corp. are posting solid sales gains even as consumers remain cautious and manufacturing costs rise—and they are poised to continue the streak this fall.” In Wall Street Journal.

The prince of polo – “By associating Ralph Lauren with new digital technology, David has done more than imbue the brand with a current vibe. He has, in the process, made the company a progressive leader among fashion peers. In 2009, David produced an online-only fashion show for Ralph Lauren’s heritage Rugby brand that, for the first time ever, allowed viewers to shop the looks in real time.” In Fast Company.

Theory’s designer shapes a new future – “Mr. Rosen was asked whether the seemingly sudden decision to hand over creative control of Theory to the young designer was a risky move. ‘To me, it’s not a risk,’ he said. ‘I know Olivier, and I know his understanding of Theory. I think it’s a great opportunity. I didn’t need a reaction from the consumer on Theyskens’ Theory. It’s amazing clothes that will get an amazing response.’” In International Herald Tribune.

Spot the trend – “For an industry that prides itself on constant change, it’s curious how conservative fashion can be, at least when it comes to the predictable succession of diktats about seasonal trends. You know how it goes: navy is the new black, brights are the latest neutrals, and so on. Hence the inevitable prediction that spots will take over from stripes this autumn.” In The Telegraph.

Lunch with Diego della Valle – “‘Italy is stronger than bunga-bunga,’ says the head of luxury goods group Tod’s, who talks to Peter Aspden about luxury, Berlusconi and China.” In Financial Times.

Gilt Group targets guys for new luxury retail site Park & Bond – “Internet retailer Gilt Groupe is straying from its tried-and-true flash sales model to launch Park & Bond, a full-priced menswear site without the limited-time component that’s been responsible for Gilt’s rapid growth since it was founded in 2007… But in order to really flex the buying muscle of its 400,000 male customers Gilt is going to offer them a specially selected full-price assortment on a dedicated site.” In Forbes.

Iar la final, un buchet pentru fetele care isi serbeaza ziua de nastere si/ sau de nume in weekendul acesta! Sa ramaneti frumoase!