In the existing global financial turmoil, India has emerged as one of the most favoured destinations. Afterall, we have statistics to prove that by 2020, we will have the highest number of young spenders, even overtaking the likes of China, Russia and the Middle East. And cashing in on this hype are international brands.

In the past few years, noted international luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Moschino, Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, Boss Hugo Boss, Jimmy Choo, Salvatore Ferragamo, Aigner, Estée Lauder, Esprit and Bottega Veneta have set shop in Mumbai.

Domestically, our fashion scene is on a roll. We have four, and still counting, fashion weeks in the year and Bollywood fashion is a big trendsetter. Fuelling this growth of the fashion industry is the hunger for international brands. But is our market really ready for this virtual fashion onslaught? Are these international brands really doing the kind of big business they are projecting?

According to Priya Chatwal, COO and Creative Director of TSG International Marketing Pvt Ltd who is behind getting brands like Jean Paul Gaultier, Alberta Ferrati, Moschino and Stella McCartney to India, Mumbaiites are very stylish. "They love to dress and love their clothes,” she says. She adds, “Style is a very important part of their personalities and this gives us a lot of hope and encouragement.”

Echoing Priya’s opinion is Harish Chandra, brand manager for Boss Hugo Boss India. He says, “Over the last few years there has been a great change in the overall spending attitude. People want to associate with high end brands and flaunt it irrespective of the kind of money they need to spend.”

Boss Hugo Boss opened its first store in Delhi in 2003 and soon followed with stores in Mumbai and Bangalore. So have sales in India lived up to the company’s expectations? Harish says the response has been above expectations and that they are positive they will do even better in the coming years.

Not everyone buys branded goods as a necessity, but as Priya says, because they want to enjoy luxury. “Of course, luxury brands are made for those who can afford it. But then again, there’s a growing income group in India. It’s a very important economy today and it’s growing very fast too. There’s always a new millionaire emerging every year. They again want to have that lifestyle and if they can afford it, why not,” she questions.

read more...

Paris, 05. Oktober 2008. Als Hommage an Paris kann die Kollektion von
jetzt-schon-Legende Marc Jacobs für Louis Vuitton gesehen werden,
lieferte die Stadt doch den überwiegenden Input für seine Modelle.
Untermalt von den Klängen Edith Piafs präsentierten die Models
extravagante Kombinationen von farbenprächtigen Miniröcken, weiten
Hosen im Polka Dot-Look zu streng geschnittenen Jacken und Tops,
Lackmänteln und Feder-Dresses.

Opulenz war das zweite
Hauptthema – und zwar in jeder Hinsicht: egal, ob Schuhe, Gürtel oder
Schmuck, in der kommenden Saison wird geklotzt, nicht gekleckert.

Quelle. Vogue.com

sie trug Sie nicht das erste Mal raus.

The famed James Bond star was snapped for the luxury brand’s new print ad campaign during a photoshoot with the photographer, Annie Leibovitz earlier this month.

Connery’s Vuitton ads will be unveiled in October, just in time for this Fall’s 007 feature, The Quantum of Solace.

So Paris’ Fashion Week has final come to an end. *Cue the tears.* While we are ecstatic about what’s come out of it, we are sad that the most glorious fashion shows on the planet are over. *sigh*

We guess we can pull it together enough to reminisce about our five favorite Paris Fashion Week shows – Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Chanel, Lanvin, and Louis Vuitton.

Alexander McQueen

This show was amazing. It was totally McQueen, very out there and imaginative, but not as harsh and, well, downright scary as some of his previous collections. We read somewhere that he was inspired by an old gnarled tree in his English country home and we could definitely see that in some of the swirling, animalistic prints. Incredible.

Read more about the Top 5!

Photos via Style.com

Elmo: James Bond is back or at least Sean Connery the original agent 007. This time he squared up with one of the most famous fashion companies in the world Louis Vuitton. The outcome is the above advertisement. I think it's quite nice.

Feel free to drop some words.

The penis is evil. The penis shoots seeds, and makes new life, and poisons the earth with a plague of men, as once it was. But the gun shoots death, and purifies the earth of the filth of brutals. Go forth and kill!

Après Catherine Deneuve, Mikhaïl Gorbatchev, Francis Ford et Sofia Coppola et plus récemment Eva Herzigova, c’est au tour de l’acteur écossais de représenter la luxueuse marque. Et c’est Annie Leibovitz qui est derrière l’objectif.

Sir Sean Connery ist das neue und sechste Motiv der Louis-Vuitton-Kampagne mit Persönlichkeiten wie Keith Richards oder Francis Ford Coppola. Der schottische Schauspieler und Oscar-Gewinner wird ab dem 30. Oktober in verschiedenen Titeln zu sehen sein: Der 78-Jährige relaxt mit seinem wasserdichten LV-Gepäck auf den Bahamas, wo er auch ein Haus besitzt. Fotografiert von Annie Leibovitz.

Foto: Louis Vuitton Malletier

Season: Winter 2007
MSRP: $4,330
Brand/Designer: Louis Vuitton
Available Color: LV Classic Brown Monogram
Material: Monogram Shearling Leather, Patent Calf Leather Trimmings, Natural Cowhide Lining
Size: 16.9" x 9.4" x 6.7"
ID/SKU:M95574
Feature & Description:

The Storm comes in patent shearling leather with a woollen strip for a very original look. Carried on the shoulder or hand-held, its generous interior makes it the ideal city companion.

• Monogram Shearling leather, patent calf leather trimmings, natural cowhide lining
• Shiny golden brass pieces
• Viennese clasp
• Patch pocket
• ID label on the front
• Hand-held or carried on the shoulder

Source: louisvuitton.com

Season: Winter 2007
MSRP: $3,830
Brand/Designer: Louis Vuitton
Available Color: LV Classic Brown Monogram
Material: Monogram Shearling Leather, Patent Calf Leather Trimmings, Natural Cowhide Lining
Size: 22" x 12.2" x 8.6"
ID/SKU:M95573
Feature & Description:

Trendy and functional, the very generous bag comes in patent shearling. The glossy effect of the vinyl contrasts with the cosy look of the woollen strip, giving it a very original, urban feel.

• Monogram Shearling leather, patent calf leather trimmings, natural cowhide lining
• Shiny golden brass pieces
• Viennese clasp
• Internal zippered pocket
• ID label on the front
• Hand-held or carried on the shoulder

Source: louisvuitton.com

Showing Charcoal Grey:

Season: Winter 2007
MSRP: $2,860
Brand/Designer: Louis Vuitton
Available Color: Charcoal Grey & Gris Perle
Material: Lamb's Leather
Size: 13.8" x 19.7" x 2.8"
ID/SKU: n/a
Feature & Description:

The light and airy look of the Nimbus echoes the smoky effect of the mist over mount Olympus. This generous bag comes in lamb's leather and features an internal pocket and a zipper closure.

• Monogram Olympe lamb's leather, lamb's leather trimmings and microfiber lining
• Zippered closure
• Internal patch pocket and cell phone compartment
• Hand-held or carried on the shoulder
• Plaited lamb's leather strap
• Acetate plaque with the Louis Vuitton signature
• The leather is embroidered with elastic thread smoky, fleecy effect. Buffed, washed look.

Source: louisvuitton.com

• McQueen advertises again (and we love it!) - Fashionologie
  
• Duo will substitute Facchinetti at Valentino - WWD
  
• Zanini could helm Rochas' return to fashion - Vogue UK
  
• Kate Winslet will be Vivenne Westwood - Off the rack
  
• Narciso Rodriguez splits from Liz Claiborne - WWD
  
• Vogue Paris twittered for the Fashion Week - The Cut
  
• Sean Connery, new image of Louis Vuitton - Fashionisima 1.0

• McQueen vuelve a hacer publicidad. ¡Viva! - Fashionologie
• Dos diseñadores de accesorios sustituirán a Facchinetti en Valentino - WWD
• Rochas vuelve a hacer moda. Zanini podría ser el nuevo director creativo - Vogue UK
• Kate Winslet será Vivenne Westwod en el cine - Off the rack
• Narciso Rodríguez se separa de Liz Claiborne - WWD
• Vogue Paris ha tenido Twitter durante los desfiles - The Cut
• Sean Connery, nueva imagen de Vuitton -  Fashionisima 1.0

The brand is really not a defining factor of why I like these little lovelies (which is frankly as it should be), but the design.  The lock and key concept is basic, yet endearing and classic.

The downside of it all is the $485 pricetag for a piece that is made from only polished silver.  You really are paying out the nose for the name, but I searched for similar cufflinks and my search turned up empty.  Still, we can dream!

Você troca três Zac Efrons por um Sean Connery?

SIIIIIIM!

Panela véia é que faz comida boa?