Fashion PR division of Pierce Mattie Public Relations, A Fashion Public Relations. Fashion publicity, promotion marketing firm

What is Haute Couture? Is it the same as Couture? Check out Fashion-Era.com and Pauline Weston Thomas will give you a quick little lesson on what makes couture "Haute".

Haute Couture is a French phrase for high fashion. Couture means dressmaking, sewing, or needlework and haute means elegant or high, so the two combined imply excellent artistry with the fashioning of garments. The purchase of a haute couture model garment is at the top level of hand customised fashion design and clothing construction made by a couture design house. A model haute couture garment is made specifically for the wearer's measurements and body stance. The made to measure exclusive clothes are virtually made by hand, carefully interlined, stay taped and fitted to perfection for each client.

I’ve been saying for years that if I ever win the lottery, I’ll donate a large share of my money to Breast Cancer research. What’s the likelihood of that, though? I’ve also planned on participating in the numerous other fundraisers, but something always happens to prevent that, too. Now, however, I have no excuse because I can shop or bid on great merchandise for a cure. As a chronic shoemonger, I was delighted to see the special Stuart Wietzman selection of celebrity-designed pumps. There’s also the special promotions by companies like ShoeBuy.com that donate proceeds for every pink item purchased. So that means I get to shoe shop and donate at the same time- killing two birds with one stone! And believe me, I’ve got quite a grudge against the bird with the initials BC.

Prada has signed an agreement with Korean giant LG Electronics to develop an iconic mobile phone.

The Italian brand is planning an advanced touch interface, which eliminates the conventional keypad, in a novel co-branding exercise.

Prada’s goal is to “combine high-end technology with avant-garde design offering the best in both style and performance,” the Italian house said in a release.

When I first saw the headline "Solar Powered Bikini," I wondered what they would think of next. Sure, we all know the sun to be a great energy source saving us money on batteries and electricity. There's the solar panels for your house, the solar powered lights for your walkway, automotive hybrids, but now a solar powered bikini?

So what would such an item be good for? Well, how many times do you head out to the beach making sure you have your cell phone fully charged, fresh batteries in your iPod or try to pack enough ice in your cooler to keep your drinks nice and cold? It's all a project in itself just to go soak up some rays, but this Solar Powered Bikini is supposed to be the solution. The suit soaks up the sun's rays as you get a golden tan and can charge your iPod through a USB connection in the hip section of your suit, ensuring your ability to listen to your favorite tunes your entire stay on the sand.

My question is, do you change into a second suit in order to hit the waves?

As we say goodbye to 2006 and its love of pointy toed shoes, skinny sheath dresses, low rise jeans and handbags with all the bells and whistles; let’s look forward to the new year. So what can we expect to be big in 2007?

We can expect to see the continuation of skinny jeans, leggings, and animal prints in 2007. What makes its grand entrance are maxi dresses, quilted bags with an unstructured style, babydolls, shirtwaisters and metal-based designs. Tight and form fitting are out, while big and baggy are back in. Boot cut jeans will only be in style if you are actually wearing a boot and your low-waist jeans can now be safely put away. Round-toed platforms and wedges in neutral colors will be gracing the feet of fashionista’s everywhere. For accessories, it’s all about chunky beads, long necklaces and slouchy handbags.

Personally, I am most excited about wedges and platforms since I am short and they have always been my favorite to give me height. My husband often makes fun of me for my love of chunky styled shoes. I also love the idea of big and baggy. This will be good for me post-baby while I am trying to lose my pregnancy weight. I’ve never really felt comfortable wearing tight fitting clothing, so it looks like being comfortable will finally be in style.

What are fashion trends are you looking forward to in 2007?

The ever-popular Amazon.com has decided to branch out and take advantage of the continually growing popularity of online shopping for fashion by creating Endless.com, a shoe and accessory website. The newest venture is made to compete with the likes of Zappos, Gap's PiperLime and Nordstrom. Endless.com is still in beta, but looks eerily familiar to another shoe and accessory destination that I am familiar with: Shoebuy.com

Both sites cater to women, men and children for their footwear needs, both sell handbags, offer a 110% price match guarantee, free return shipping and 365-day returns. However, the two sites do differ. Obviously Shoebuy.com offers a very expansive collection of shoes and handbags, but they also offer apparel, bags (such as luggage) and fashion accessories such as belts, shoe trees and watches. Another perk is that they do not charge sales tax.

While Endless.com’s shoe selection may not provide as many varieties of brands and designers as Shoebuy, this can be forgiven because they offer free overnight shipping. So if you need those shoes by tomorrow, Endless.com is the place to buy them. I also love their clean layout and how the sidebar navigation makes color, size and brand selection easy. Actually, overall, I like Endless.com’s total web design layout. It doesn’t feel cluttered and is easy on the eyes.

It will be interesting to watch it grow and evolve, but also to see if it can become a true competitor in the footware market.

When I came across a news headline regarding Ali Spizman, a few things captured my eye. Ali is only 19 years old, but has already published two books and designed handbags for Claire’s to raise funds for Make-A-Wish Foundation, of which she is a National Teen Ambassador for.

While this is not breaking news, Spizman designed Handbag of Hope in 2005, I have to say first and foremost, how refreshing is it to see a teenager doing something positive and giving of themselves to others? Secondly, my very dear friend passed away from terminal cancer at the age of 23 in 2001. She was granted a wish through Make-A-Wish before her death and since her passing I have tried to faithfully make a donation to the charity on the anniversary of her death and birthday each year since. My friend Elke, who also had a good friend pass away from cancer at a young age, is involved in the Make-A-Wish Foundation as well, and as a Celebrity Makeup Artist is able to grant wishes.

If you have not heard of Ali Spizman or have seen her Handbag of Hope, you simply need to do so. Ali was inspired by a 12-year-old terminally ill child by the name of Hope whose wish was for all of the children in her area to be granted their wishes. A radio show interviewed Hope before her death, which resulted in the raising of $1.1 million dollars in 4 weeks for the charity. Spizman was inspired and decided to carry on Hope’s mission by creating her signature handbags. The handbags are sold at Claire’s with a minimum of 10% of the profit going to Make-A-Wish Foundation. To date, Handbag of Hope has raised $300,000.

Blood Diamond, the movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio with talk over possible Academy Award nominations, is based on the violent civil war in the 1990’s in Sierra Leone in which the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels attempted to overthrow the government, and an illicit diamond trade was used to fund the war effort. The movie has brought attention to the diamond trade and many times what is involved in mining diamonds that are the most sought-after gem in the world.

So it’s no surprise that there are laboratories out there, such as Apollo Diamonds and Gemesis, that are perfecting on creating real diamonds in a lab setting. Not your typical chemically produced Cubic Zirconia, but diamonds created through a process involving real diamond seeds that come together under pressure to create a diamond that matches or exceeds a mined diamond in quality and brilliance. Same natural diamond, only it takes 2 weeks to produce one in a lab setting versus billions of years in the earth. Obviously it is also much safer to create than the risks involved in mining and what it does to our environment.

Creating and mimicking what is real is nothing new. It’s in how man-made products are taking its toll on the industries that produce the real deal. Cultured Pearls are almost indistinguishable to the naked eye compared to its natural counterpart. Fake fur, really well produced pieces, can often be mistaken for the real thing. While the industry that brings you the real products is beginning to feel its effects, it tries to counteract the new demand for man made quality copies by stressing the importance and value on their non-synthetic product.

Lapo Elkann, heir to the Fiat empire and head of its brand promotion, has launched the first carbon fiber sunglasses under the Italia Independent brand. Elkann, who almost died in 2005 from a drug overdose, has come back in full force doing what he does best; designing and promoting accessories for the Fiat brand.

The sunglasses, the first to be made entirely out of carbon fiber, are the first “personal” accessories to be made by the Italia Independent brand. Sever, the name of the sunglasses, are said to be made of over 40 carbon skins and go through a special process ensuring that these sunglasses cannot be replicated as counterfeit. Their look and style also make them completely unisex. Italia Independent’s “Conceived, developed and produced 100% in Italy” is a new theme to promote pride in Italian craftsmanship and reinstate power of Italian luxury. The sunglasses will sell for 1,000 euros, which is $1300 in US dollars.

The theme of Sever and Italia Independent flow with Fiat’s branding promoting style, strength and Italian luxury. Will Fiat labeled fashion help increase loyalty and that must-have quality giving its cars and fashion accessories that “it” factor? What do you think?

Luxury brand Jimmy Choo, who was recently sold to TowerBrook Capital, is looking to move beyond their infamous footwear and leather good lines and expand into eyewear and fragrance. With new ownership, Tamara Mellon alongside her Creative Director Sandra Choi hope to make Jimmy Choo one of the most treasured luxury brands in the world.

According to WWD, Jimmy Choo will launch an eyewear collection by the end of the year and launch it’s first fragrance in 2008. Another brand expansion in the works is a runway collection of shoes that will start with the fall season. Jimmy Choo, a popular brand among fashionistas, it is also one sought after by many major celebrities.

The history of Jimmy Choo is quite interesting and it’s two acquisitions valued in the millions over the last two years show the investment and growth of the brand under Tamara Mellon’s direction. Now that TowerBrook Capital has acquired the brand with 80% share holding and Mellon still involved at 20%, I think Jimmy Choo’s cult following will only gain momentum as Mellon continues to take the brand in an uphill direction.

Maryam, New York City- Today I am in New York working with a client and the media. With New York Fashion Week out of the way what else is a Fashion Public Relations Girl to do but pass along some trend info on what to look for this Spring. All these items are available at Neiman Marcus and other online shopping sites.

Looking for the top 10 next big thing for Spring? Here's a quick guide and some of the Designers who gives us the best this season:

Dresses: Nanette Lepore Print Shift Dress, Stella McCartney Ruffled Trapeze Dress, Cynthia Steffe Tunic Dress

Delicate Blouses: 3.1 Philip Lim Handkerchief Blouse, Jill Stuart Elizabeth Silk Blouse, Jovovich-Hawk Floral Print Blouse

Cropped Jackets: MARC by Marc Jacobs Cropped Jacket, Juicy Couture Cropped Pea Jacket, Valentino Red Lace Cropped Jacket

Flat Shoes: Chloe Candbury Canvas Flats, Marc Jacobs Stampede Leather Mouse Shoes, Jimmy Choo Jola Leather Flats

Something Silver: Gucci Silver Guccissima Leather Belt, Burberry Silver Patent Platform, Yves Saint Laurent Metallic Tote

Wide Belts: Michael Kors Waist Belt, Nicole Miller Ruched Ruffle Waist Belt, Avignon Soft Leather Belt

Patent Leather: Manolo Blahnik Strappy Patent Sandal, Miu Miu Patent Leather Flats, Calvin Klein Patent Leather Belt

Eyelet: Tracy Reese Eyelet Top, Nanette Lepore Ahoy There Eyelet Dress, BCBG Max Azria Eyelet Kimono Top

Above the knee hemlines: Lela Rose Belted Silk Halter Dress, Temperley London Folk Embroidered Dress , Miu Miu Oversized Above the Knee T-shirt Dress

Statement Rings: Roberto Cavalli Stone and Serpent Ring , Stephen Dweck Oval Carnelian Ring, Barse Oversized Turquoise Ring

The designer brand superstore, Scoop, has opened a 10,000sqft megastore on Broadway that consists of a variety of categories to dress the family from head to toe. The store opened today while converting their previous space on Broadway into an outlet store called Scoop it Up.

The new home of Scoop is so large, that owner Stephani Greenfield will be adding categories to their current line up such as Scoop Home and expanding upon their beauty business, which will include skin care, candles and men’s fragrances. Scoop’s fashion brands include high end and low-end top designers such as Marc Jacobs, Lela Rose and Diane von Furstenberg. Price points meet all variations for these luxury lifestyle brands.

Scoop has a silent rivalry with Intermix, another lifestyle fashion store who is said to be upgrading their store to 5,000sqft. Now that Scoop is expanding into more than just clothing, such as handbags, shoes, jewelry and the expansions mentioned above, it will be interesting to see how Intermix will utilize and maximize their new space to compete with this megastore, which now appears to be a mega-competitor.

If you live in New York, Miami, L.A. or Chicago, then you've probably noticed more and more British accents as you go about your daily routine. With the British pound at the astronomical exchange rate of almost 2 to 1 to the US Dollar we've been holding a half off sale every day of the year!

The deals and steals going on in fashion are so tempting that British families are not only taking more vacation in the U.S, they are coming on long weekend shopping trips! Even if you factor in Airfare and Hotels, they are still finding bargains left and right. Remember, this is not like getting a discount at one store or in one category - its EVERYTHING. Restaurants - half price. Hotels - half price. Taxis - half price. I was in the Miami area a few weeks ago to pay a visit to what I think as one of the most luxurious shopping malls in the country. The Bal Harbour shops are an oasis in the middle of causeways, freeways, and no-ways that are so often part of the Florida experience. Once inside you are not in Florida anymore, you are in the state of Luxury!

Every major fashion designer in the world has shop there. The favorite lunchtime spot of the Madison avenue soial set - La Galoue even has an outpost there. There are palm trees surrounding Koi ponds that hold dozens are the most colorful koi you will ever see. On sunny days, you even find turtles sunning themselves on the rocks - all this while you contemplate that perfect shoe from Jimmy Choo or that dress in Magenta from Oscar de la Renta! It was on one of these perfect days that I strolled into one of boutiques that was having a Spring trunk show. The company is French and dominates the trunk show experience. I was in awe at the amount merchandise for sale, the amount of samples to pre-reserve, and just at the amount of people in the store - all excited to be previewing the new collection, all except one. I overheard a very pleasant sales associate being lectured by an unhappy British woman AKA Ms. London. She was telling the associate how she "never" saw anything like this in London. In London she informed the associate, the boutiques are always kept in impeccable order! The associate said she was sorry to hear that the customer was unhappy with the boutique and she explained that it was busier than usual due to the trunk show. Ms. London was not impressed and said she had been a model (must have been in the 50's!) and that things were NEVER This way. She pursed her lips for a bit and looked around and left. So Ms. London "Debbie downer" soured a moment of my perfect day.

I have spent alot of time in London myself and you know Ms. London was right. Boutiques on New Bond or Bruton Street or Brompton road are beautiful and they are luxurious - but they are not crowded! You see British women shop differently than Americans. British women are frugal. They typically go and browse for something once, twice, even three times before purchasing. The other major difference in London is that like it or not, there is still a definite class system in place. People who work in shops are treated as a lower class than the people shopping in such shops. There is distinct attitude towards sales associates and anyone that works in the service industry. The home of Big Ben can also be the place to find Big attitude by the ladies who shop for a living. The best example of the old school class mentality is found right in Harrods - the most famous department store in the U.K. - if not the world is owned by a non British citizen. Mohamed Al Fayed has been fighting to get citizenship for over a decade. Just log on to his website Alfayed.com to find out how he feels about the British establishment!

Sometimes it does take a rocket scientist…at least it did in the invention of Insolia, shoe inserts that were invented to distribute weight evenly when wearing high heels. With the help of a MIT-trained Rocket Scientist, Dr. Howard Dananberg a podiatrist, invented Insolia to help those of us who love our heels but hate the pain.

Insolia insoles are plastic inserts that are barely noticeable to your feet, until you realize that you are no longer wincing in pain while running around the city in your 3-inch heels. They work by preventing your foot from sliding down to the front of your shoe, which puts all of your weight on the balls of your feet. Insolia’s inserts create a 50/50 weight distribution between the balls of your feet and your heel. The result enables better ankle stability and gives you the feeling of wearing flats. Even DKNY and Ipanema are in love with the idea and have begun creating their shoes with Insolia built into their design.

This is definitely a product I could’ve used while in the city last July wearing my 3-inch espadrilles walking through Manhattan and up and down those subway stairs. By the end of the day I was in so much pain that I was ready to walk barefoot through the city. As I am only days away from being back in Manhattan again, I purchased 1-inch heels as to not make the same mistake of unbelievable pain to my feet. Certainly a product such as Insolia is one that sounds perfect no matter where you live and can open the doors to many who so desperately want to wear those fabulous heels in style and not in pain.

• Best Picture - The Departed
  
• Best Director  - Martin Scorsese - The Departed
  
• Best Actor - Forest Whitaker - The Last King of Scotland
  
• Best Actress  - Helen Mirren - The Queen
  
• Best Supporting Actor - Alan Arkin - Little Miss Sunshine
  
• Best Supporting Actress – Jennifer Hudson - Dream Girls
  
• Best Foreign Film - The Lives of Others

Posted From Paris - March 2nd. Things have always been known to be bigger in the U.S. Europeans talk about the dreamy big sky country of the Western United States. They are amazed by our big cities, shocked by our big food portions, and repulsed by our big asses! This week in Paris however, we saw designers were thinking bigger is better!. Volume was all over the runways by those trend setting designers and the keepers at the gate of the large fashion empires.  Three that stood out are:

Yves Saint Laurent - Stefano Pilati has had a bumpy road in his first few seasons out of the gate at YSL. Some say he is too much of a departure from the Yves look, and some just want reference to the master. For fall Mr. Pilati was all about less structure and volumous cocoon shapes. The sleek styling brought attention to clean lines free of needless detail - something he has been criticized for in the past. The collection was modern and chic. Wearable, yet editorial - which is no easy task. Its seems Mr. Pilati is finding his groove at the helm of YSL for sure.

Stella McCartney - Oversized proportions are nothing new for Stella. She has developed a look for herself with chunky knits. They always have an edge with color or print, but look like you could curl up by the fire with a good book - or at least the latest issue of Vogue. While it was her Saville Row tailoring that put her on the map, it is her more athletic designs that have proved to be commercially successful for her. It is her sportiest looks that girls collect season after season. With swing coats, and jackets she gave them something to get in line for this fall. The perfect things to wear over her active collection from Adidas. Season after season the house known for trainers sell out of her high design "gym clothes". Giving the old saying about ADIDAS a twist - All Day I Dream About Stella!!

Chanel - When Karl Lagerfeld says SEW - the Chanel atelier says "how fast?" - and when Karl said SNOW - Chanel made that happen too! Thats right. It snowed Friday morning in Paris, but only under the glass dome of the Grande Palais. Mr. Lagerfeld showed his Fall RTW collection under a "sky" of giant white tissue clouds. The runway was a large "frozen" lake covered in snow. His ice princess' made their way around the rink in knee high boots in white and black leather. It was the 1870's meets the 1970's as long coats in deep aubergine were cinched with bright white belts and draped with big tweed bags embellished with charms, charms and more charms. Turqoise was all around - from shoes to bags. The gigantic chest plate necklaces made you somehow think African - while the pixie like models with their crimped hair were more Austrian! While Michel Gaubert remixed David Bowie and we heard snippets singing "pressure", it was the girls who looked pressured not to have a wipe out as they tried to make 6 inch stiletto's on "ice" look easy.  We even saw one pair of golden ice skates draped over one girls shoulders- knowing Karl, it could have been a new take on an evening clutch! With KL the sky is the limit! Maybe he was also dreaming of that big sky country out west - just at the finale - the paper clouds started to move and the entire room was bathed in little paper snow flakes.   It was a beautiful site- and a total fashion moment.   After all, what could be more exclusive than having Chanel snow in your hair or on your person as you had lunch afterwards at L'Avenue.   The Avenue Montaigne restaurant was the place to be after the show and the snow!

Ever since I can remember, I have had an obsession with shoes. It is the one fashion accessory that I am extremely picky about. I’ll never forget the day that I had saved enough babysitting money as a teenager, to purchase a pair of Kenneth Cole sandals. I wore them every day, but unfortunately they met their demise a year later when I got a puppy that decided my beloved sandals would make for a good chew toy.

To me, my shoes are a way of self-expression. I wear a particular style dependent upon my mood and how I want to express myself each day. Something about shoes makes me feel a certain way. If my shoes look good, it instills a certain amount of confidence in the way I walk. When I am out and about, I always want people to notice my shoes. For me, my shoes are an art form.

Prior to having children, my closet has been known to hold up to 25 (or maybe more) pairs of shoes. My husband has never understood my obsession and many times laughs at my preference of style over functionality. He often says that I do not wear “sensible shoes,” which he realized on our honeymoon as I climbed a snowy hill to go tubing in 3-inch heeled boots (and yes I probably fell about a dozen times wearing them).

In the increasingly commercial world of fashion, few designers are able to remain true to their art while keeping an eye on the bottom line.  Thierry Mugler is a rare exception to this strict fashion rule.  The French designer rocked the runway during the 80's and 90's in Paris.   His unique vision of the world and his Women demanded the attention of editors, buyers, and celebrities everywhere!

Everything he did pushed buttons.  The proportions of his infamous silhouette gave women an hour glass figure regardless if they had one or not!  To be snapped into one of his suit jackets was the modern equivilence of wearing a corset.  The look was so extreme, he was labeled a misogynist by some!

His color palettes were also as strong as the shapes themselves.  Deep purples, firecracker reds, striking yellows - they were all there.  Through it all there was always this underlying sensuality or in actuality - an overt sexuality.   Thierry was not shy about his personal interest in leather, bondage, and the fetish lifestyle.  It was this sense of sexuality pulsing beneath the surface that fueled his image.  His love of the nightlife was also as famous as his collections.   Mugler was one of the trend setters who put South Beach on the map! 

This sensual appeal of Thierry Mugler was also the key to his hugely successful fragrance - Angel.  It quickly became known as the cotton candy - sexy scent.   The only one of its kind to use patchouli and chocolate together.  Over 15 years later, the scent is still a best seller worldwide.   In fact, there are now about a dozen variations bearing the name Angel for men and women.   While many French designers rely on the U.S. market for the bulk of their business, Mugler had already tapped into the middle eastern market years ago.   In countries like Dubai where money flowith over... they love the pungent, intense scent that is unmistakably Angel.  The bottle itself set it apart from any other scent.  The out of this world stellar appearance of a purple comet perfectly matches this mystical scent.

 I was lucky enough to have participated in many of Mugler's projects in the mid - 90's.   I had just graduated from F.I.T. and through some good fortune  -NYC coincidences I landed a job in the New York Showroom.   I'll never forget the first time I went to the space ship in the sky that would become a second home to me.   From the time the elevator opened on the 9th floor above the Paris movie theater, I was out of this world!  You had the sensation you entered into an outer space mother ship.  One that came from a place where women wore black vinyl leggings under short mini skirts and huge guitar pick shaped hats! Many of which were hand made by milliner Philip Tracy. 

The space was a huge open showroom that had one central hallway down the back with offices in a row.  The walls were off white venetian plaster and the carpeting throughout was sky blue - what many refer to as "Mugler" blue.   Six huge white leather sofas flanked the the perimeter of the room.  Small oval Herman Miller tables accompanied each.  I instantly knew I was home!

My experience was magical from that very first day.  With a very small U.S. office I worked on things that I would have never been given a chance at home base in Paris.   We wardrobed a Lenny Kravitz video from start to finish.  We produced the opening segment of the very first Vogue-VH-1 Fashion Music Awards. Live TV no less!! This entailed 20 models all in six inch stilettos winding down spiral stairs like ants.   That night I was introduced to Madonna by Jean Paul Gaultier.  Yes, Gaultier.  It seems that Thierry and Jean Paul shared the same housekeeper and many times I would be giving messages from one to the other.   Needless to say - my head never stopped spinning.

We dressed Jerry Hall, Iman, and Diana Ross to name a few Diva's.  Although to be fair, Diana was always very polite and well mannered.   I became phone buddies with Patty Hearst!  She called almost daily to chat about everything from her fathers lawyers to her little girl Lydia who has grown into quite the little party hound!   Women never said no to Thierry.   He even convinced camera shy Hearst to not only walk the runway in Paris but to do a mock strip tease!

Then there was the fashion show that featured four go-go boys in studded g-strings.  I was in charge of organizing the "talent" to get from L.A., N.Y. and parts unknown (or avoided) to Paris on time!!! Believe me this was no easy feat as many of these talented Hustlers, I mean dancers weren't exactly used to being on time - before 10pm that is!

The cast of characters reached beyond the grave! Sort of...there was infamous New York chanteuse - Joey Arias calling all the time and announcing himself as "Billie Holiday".  This was his alter ego when performing his cabaret act.   It was lost on me as I was 24 and fresh from a sleepy suburb.   That was just a typical phone call at the house of Mugler.  You never knew who would call or stop by or ring us up screaming!  Joey Arias is now headlining the  Cirque du Soleil show in Vegas aptly title Zoomanity.  It's known as the "adult" Cirque show and the entire look of the show was designed by Mugler himself.

It was a wild time those 90's.   I think about it now that the Fall collections saw all this homage to Thierry's unmistakable look.  Balenciaga and Dolce & Gabbana were just two that had strong Mugler influences for Fall.  To say he was ahead of his time is redundant.  His core creative inspiration was always a mix between Barbarella and Star Trek.   Although I can see the references on the runway for Fall,  I have to say that no one did or does it like Thierry.  

The fact that Mugler never changed his look to fuel retail sales is why I respect him so much.  That was the look - take it or leave it!   There was no back and forth and whipping up commercial looks for department stores so they would have a version to sell in Podunk!   This was high Fashion.  You trusted the designers vision and became part of the fantasy.   His sense of integrity would not waiver, even in choosing to let the house close, rather than be a commercial sell-out.  The best part is that in the end, Thierry has had the last laugh.   When skincare giant Clarins bought controlling interest in Angel, he was set for life.   The millions the house never made (or actually lost) on RTW- were more than made up for by the cosmetic monster Angel has become!   I hope rumors are true and Thierry Mugler collection will find its way back on the runway again soon!

Innovative, unique, stylish and bold; all of these characteristics describe the design of a Storm Watch. Their copywritten designs provide its consumer with the assuredness that their watch is unique only to Storm, lending prestige and credibility to the brand. Storm’s quest for individual style is made by challenging consumer expectations with a product that is different than any other watch out there.

While many people wear a watch for their functionality, why not have the best of both worlds? Storm is a statement of who you are while providing precision instrumentation. This isn’t your average timepiece, as each watch is made of stainless steel with scratch resistant mineral glass. Storm Watches aren’t ordinary looking, which is what I think makes them appealing. Their uncommon look is something that will make you stand out in a crowd. Some of the celebrities that stand out for their Storm Watches are David and Victoria Beckham, Nicole from the Pussycat Dolls, Pink, Justin Timberlake, Amerie, Keke Palmer from Akeelah and the Bee, and LeToya Luckett.

The one thing you can count on with a Storm Watch is that its designers are constantly challenging the perception of how a watch should look. Whether it’s the features, gadgets, colors or shapes, the design is ever evolving and always looking to the future of individual taste and style.

To say that Marc Jacobs is a talented fashion designer is a complete understatement. The fact that Marc Jacobs operates more than one fashion brand, a men’s wear and women’s wear collection, as well as, a beauty, footwear, eyewear, fashion accessories and a home collection and does it all equally well only begins to describe the natural talent that is Marc Jacobs.

Marc Jacobs has been on the receiving end of the CFDA’s awards six times. Several times for Women’s Designer of the Year, Men’s Designer of the Year, the Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent and Accessories Designer of the Year. Not only has he received these awards from the CFDA, but he has also received many others while studying at the Parsons School of Design in New York City including the Perry Ellis Gold Thimble Award, the Chester Weinberg Gold Thimble Award and the Design Student of the Year Award.

Mr. Jacobs has had a partnership with Robert Duffy for their company Jacobs Duffy Designs Inc. since 1984 that continues to this day. In the late 80’s Jacobs worked for Perry Ellis as Vice President of Women’s Design and less than 10 years later became artistic director for Louis Vuitton, a position he still holds today. Jacobs also has two successful labels of his own; Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs, he also has a children’s collection called Little Marc. 1995 was the year that Jacobs launched his first Men’s Ready to Wear Collection.

Jacobs has countless stores and boutiques stationed around the world making him a household name. His runway shows are always subject to rave reviews and his designs always leave us breathless. There is not one collection that is better than the other and his talent and commitment to high quality and design shine through in everything he does.

How many of you change up a handbag simply because the one you are currently using only looks appropriate for the season we are currently in? Then of course there are the trends, and I know that for most people like myself, trendy bags only have so much life to them and then they put off to the side when the next big trend arrives. If you are going to invest in a quality handbag, why not chose one that looks good no matter the season, or trend for that matter?

There is this new handbag designer, Bryna Nicole, who designs some fantastic looking handbags that really are timeless designs. We all use a clutch at one time or another, or a tote or even a satchel. It’s all based on our own need to be expressive with our fashion accessories to make a statement about our own individuality. Each one of Bryna Nicole’s handbags does just that, not just through design but through color as well.

For example, the Rossi Wristlet is a handbag that can take you from day to night, and its luxurious too with its Italian leather body and suede interior. The Minna Slouch is one of those “comfortable” handbags that hugs the body of its owner with its calfskin material. It has a few color choices, but my favorite is bronze as it gives it that ultra chic type look to it.

The best part is knowing that Bryna’s collections are based on what women are looking for in a handbag: style, taste, design and color that transcends season after season and trend after trend. Her handbags fit into the gap created by many designers that look to have their handbag simply be the next “it” bag and not one that will have any long lasting style quality to it. Her handbags are one of those unique finds where you don’t mind investing the money to purchase one because you know that you will have it for the long haul.

What qualities do you look for when purchasing your next handbag? An expression of yourself, design, material or something completely different?

If accessories make the outfit, then a handbag should be a priority to make your fashion statement complete. No one understands this better than up and coming handbag designer, Amanda Che. Che, whose collection of handbags makes its official debut on May 17th, has a style to complete every outfit leaving your friends wondering how you became so fashion forward.

Each handbag in the A.Che handbag collection is made of luxurious deerskin leather with a logo plate decorated with genuine Swarovski crystals. A constant among each handbag in the line are A. Che’s signature diamond knots.

Not only did Marilyn Monroe inspire Anna Nicole, but she was the inspiration behind Amanda Che’s Marilyn Collection, as well. The Marilyn Collection comes in three colors, white, black and nude, and represents Marilyn’s timeless presence in Hollywood. The Audrey Collection and Sophia Collection also symbolize the significance of two classic Hollywood beauties. My favorites among her collections are the Sophia Clutch and Marilyn Satchel, although I also think the Marilyn Basket is also very unique.

If you are in Los Angeles, the A.Che handbag collection can be found at Le Trend in the California Market Center. Soon the bags will be available for sale on the A.Che website for the Fall 2007 season. You can get a sneak peak of all of the handbags in each collection by going to www.a-che.com, clicking on “collection” and using the username: signature and the password: collection.

For more information about Amanda Che and the A.Che line please contact:

Fashion PR Division: Maryam at piercemattie dot com

Fashion is beginning to merge itself with social media. Fashion communities are popping up where you can mix and match pieces of clothing with shoes and various accessories and publish your fashion match for others in the network to see. Of course, no fashion site would be complete without telling you who sells the items and enabling you to purchase what you’ve styled (or the styles of others).

In a previous post I mentioned MyShape.com, a place where you can shop for put-together outfits based on your shape; sites like Polyvore and FashMatch have taken the idea of a clothing match site one step further by creating a community of members who are the driving force behind the mix and match ensembles allowing them to create outfits from pre-existing brands in their database and upload fashion items of their own for every fashion members mix and matching pleasure. Each site tells you the brand and store where the items are available, not only making the whole process fun (and addictive), but allowing you the ability to purchase some pretty terrific looking outfits.

Both sites offer top designer names and brands in fashion like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, Baby Phat, Betsey Johnson and Marc Jacobs (among many others), as well as brands that may be more for the budget oriented like Old Navy, Abercrombie & Fitch, Forever21 and Target. Both sites are also free to join, which is always a bonus if you are inclined to purchase clothes you fall in love with.

Honing your styling skills can be fun, especially with an audience filled with like-minded fashion addicts, but I can also see how it can be bad for your wallet when you find wardrobe after wardrobe that can’t seem to live without.

Now that it seems like Spring is really here, one of my favorite fashion accessories to wear into the Fall is sunglasses. Sunglasses can totally make or break a look and can really enhance your fashion savvy quotient.

When you are choosing sunglasses, make sure you are buying a pair that will look great on your shape face. I see too many people either swimming in their sunglasses or wearing them too small. Men’s Flair wrote a great post on choosing the right sunglasses for your face shape a few weeks ago. Of course, a complimentary color and lens type should also be a consideration, as well.

Here are a few sunglasses I have a lemming for:

Juicy Couture Logo Rimless Glasses

Gucci Oversize Square Frame Sunglasses with Buckle Detail

Yves Saint Laurent Mask Sunglasses with Safari Rings

Giorgio Armani Pink Frame, Mauve Lenses Sunglasses

There are few things more utilitarian as a piece of luggage. We rely on these items time and time again to be the gatekeeper of our valuables on the way to that long awaited vacation - or that very important business trip. Often overlooked until we need them, these tried and true members of our wardrobe are more often treated like annoying step-children. They take up room in our apartments and we want them - only when we need them to make us look good.

The fashion industry found a way to take these items out of the dog house and into a coveted category by adding luxurious details once reserved only for women's handbags. I've written before about the storied history of companies like Louis Vuitton and Tanner Krolle. Brands that had luggage roots that crossed into the fashion world. Another such company is on the move. Few names are more well known worldwide than Samsonite. It is a brand that is reliable and edgy at the same time. The company has always been ahead of the curve in terms of innovation and technology. Founded by an American in 1910 and based in the Western U.S. - the company grew quickly to be a truly global brand.  They were the first suitcases to made from non-leather material that were durable and light weight.

In 1999, the company launched a black label clothing division for Men that instantly put the non-chic brand in every fashion magazine around. There is something modern and streamlined about the brand that looks great without trying too hard. The company has also launched little mini collections of interesting detail. Their Black Label Vintage Collection saw Isabella Rossilini as it's global face - to represent the modern traveler who knows how to live.   The line was small and went nearly un-noticed compared  to the volume
this mega brand moves every year.   However it was a great marketing tool to help elevate the image of the company.

The latest move to keep current was announced last month.   The Company named a new global creative director.   Quentin Mackay will be the new creative force behind the image worldwide.   Far from a household name, Mr. Mackay has had the luck of cat with nine lives  or at least one with Three.  

Having Graduated from London's St. Martins with a degree in Men's Design - it was his small accessory line that caught the attention of the ultra chic Loewe.  Soon he was living in Spain and designing the sleek line of leather goods.   Fast forward two years and British staple Tanner Krolle lured him back to London.  The conservative line was all shook up with the hard edge approach that Mr. Mackay has a taste for.  His look has a strong bondage theme that runs throughout.  Soft and cuddly they are not.  At a time when women wanted soft and unstructured shapes - Mr. Mackay was giving them sharp edges and studs.  Ahead of his time?  Maybe- his designs for his few collections at Tanner Krolle still look fresh today.   That brand is now on it's third designer in as many years in a desperate attempt to be current or on trend.

So it will be interesting to say the least to see just what Mr. Mackay will bring to Samsonite.   Heres hoping his collections can live up to the namesake legend the company has been able to acquire in nearly 100 years.  No pressure Quentin!!