Lectura de sambata dimineata

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.