Working In Style

This year Santa brought me the new Juicy Couture wireless mouse so that I can be a diva even while working at my desk.  This mouse is an adorable baby pink with gold scripted text and of course, the signature Juicy Couture crown.  I love that the mouse is wireless (no messing around with annoying cords) and comes with the AAA batteries you need to operate it (which means no last minute runs to the store).  It also comes with a little cradle so you can dock it and recharge overnight, plus it has a "sleep" function so you can save battery. Love. 

Click here to read about Juicy Couture expanding it's reach to airports!

Forever 21 Plans More Japan Stores

In 2010 Forever 21 plans to open at least three more stores in Japan.  Tentative sites for expansion include in the Ginza shopping district, Shinjuku shopping district and the LaLaport Tokyo Bay development in Funabashi City. The new additions will come just shy of a year after Forever 21 opened it's first store in Tokyo's Harajuku shopping area. 

Forever 21 now operates more than 450 stores in the U.S., with international operations in Canada and Japan.

*Click here to read about the launch of Forever 21's Beauty Line.

European Shoppers Continue to Spend

Even though Americans are cutting back this holiday season in lieu of the economic recession, European consumers are continuing to shop and that’s great news for overseas retailers who diligently remain optimistic about holiday sales for 2009. The key difference between shopping in the U.S. and overseas is that many U.S. retailers have been forced to discount merchandise in an effort to drive traffic and maintain sales, while stores in Europe have chosen to forgo that route and solicit customers instead with holiday cookies, champagne, special shopping nights and even Russian dancers (as seen at Printemps in Paris and Selfridges in London). In Spain stores are doing their best to continue to entice customers who remain cautious about overspending this holiday season. Popular tactis include Sunday openings, one-day sales, exclusive in-store promotions and targeted price points to solicit even the most resilient customer. In France, major department store Printemps decorated their store windows with Dior and Chanel to inspire holiday shoppers. In Italy, sales continue to remain upbeat and reps from major department store La Rinascente say holiday sales are up from last year. In London sales continue to be favorable for many retailers including Liberty who has said that as a store they are experiencing double-digit increases for the full year. Ed Burstell, buying direct at London’s Liberty also noted that events that have been planned to encourage people to shop are working including Fashion’s Night Out (held in September) and the creation of a “pedestrian zone” on Oxford St. and Regent St. on December 5th. At Selfridges, marketing director Sally Scott reported to Women’s Wear Daily that sales for 2009 were outperforming 2007 and 2008 (despite the fact that both of those years were record-breaking for the company.)

Source: Women's Wear Daily

Rodarte for Target

The much-anticipated collection by Rodarte launches at Target on Dec. 20th as part of their GO International program. All items will be limited-edition and priced from $9.95-79.99 and include tulle bouses, slip dresses, lace sweaters and more. The collection will be available through January 31, 2001. 

“Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte bring a couture sensibility to the GO International program with an acute eye for detail and appreciation for craftsmanship,” said Trish Adams, senior vice president, Target. “We are excited to share their extraordinary talent with our guests, providing off-the-runway fashion at unbeatable prices.”

To promote the line Rodarte designers tapped 13-year old fashion blogger Tavi Gevinson to be featured in a behind-the-scenes video about the line on the Target website.  

Decorate with Teo Jasmin

The holidays are the perfect time to year to spice up your home and prep for the New Year. One of my favorite interior design companies is Teo Jasmin, based out of Paris. They specialize in digital printings on canvas, trendy bags, cushions and furniture.  Here are some of my favorite Teo Jasmin products.

The Doggy Queen Chair made of beech wood with a matte vinyl seat.

The Eiffel Tower Sofa with beautiful hand carved wood detail.

The Union Jack London-inspired chair, which is fit for a Queen. I’d gladly switch out my office chair for one of these!

The decorative chandelier cushion made of 100% cotton.

Check out more Teo Jasmin products by clicking here.

Holiday Wish List

No matter who you’re shopping for this holiday season finding the perfect gift shouldn’t be a never-ending quest. Here are some stylish gift ideas that will please even the most hard-to-shop-for friends.

ABS Black Diamond Ring $95. This is the only statement piece you need for Holiday 09. A black diamond cut crystal is the focal point of this piece and the stone is set in silver plated pave and encrusted with tiny crystal accents.

If you’re going to travel in style, then travel in style with Prada Luggage. Prices start at $1200+ and you have a rainbow of color options to suit even the pickiest jetsetter. Call 020 7647 5000 for more information.

Ok I admit. I’m obsessed with bows, which probably explains why I am so in love with this Kiel Mead ring from Fred Flare. It’s $54 and available in silver or brass. So cute!

If you have a desk job (or even if you don’t!) a Michael Kors limited-edition signature pen will make working so much more fun. This pen is only $25 and makes the perfect gift. Plus, the ink is scented with the Very Hollywood Michael Kors fragrance which includes hints of gardenia and jasmine.

You may not be able to afford the clothes- but anyone can splurge on a little YSL lipstick. For $30 you can get a tube of your very own.

I am in love with this PLH Gold Vermeil ring from Sophia & Chloe. The scripted text on the ring says “PLH” for peace, love and happiness. The ring is 14k yellow gold dipped over sterling silver. Sophia and Chloe also make earrings that match! $88.

This holiday pamper yourself (or a friend) with some yummy Laura Mercier French Vanilla Body Souffle. It contains vitamins A, E and F for ultimate moisture and leaves skin hydrated without feeling greasy- plus it smells delicious too! $55.

I could have used these when I was in school but they are so cute I might just get one anyway. Retro Flash Drives from Delight.com come in a variety of colors including pink, red, blue and green. $29.

Going green does not mean giving up your personal style. Try a pair of thinknow eco-friendly earrings this holiday. The earrings are made from 100% natural materials and water-based adhesives. All wood products are sourced from managed growth forests and even the packaging is 100% recyclable.

The Jessica Simpson Jonas boot gets my vote for being adorable and functional. (It has a side zip to make the boot even easier to put on.) The heel is about 5’’ tall and the platform on these boots is about 1’’ tall so if you’re looking for extra height this is the shoe for you!

As a beauty addict I spend quite a bit of time in the morning playing with makeup so when Stila came out with their Makeup Player I knew it was a must-have. Download how-to videos from Stila, load them to your Ipod and then plug it into the makeup player for step-by-step tutorials on everything from how to create a smokey eye to how to make a pretty pout. Or skip the tutorials all together and just blast your favorite tunes. The Stila Makeup Player also comes with some of Stila's best selling items including the One Step Makeup Foundation, and Eye Shadow Trio, the #7 Eye Shadow Brush, Convertible Color for cheeks and lips, and a Lip Glaze in Grapefruit. $69.90.

How cute will make make-up look in this adorable Marc by Marc Jacobs mini cosmetics bag? For $48 it's a must have on my list.

These Juicy Couture earrings are fit for a princess. The Icon Heart Crown studded earrings are $42.

And if you're a Juicy Fan like me, you'll also love the Juicy Couture Iphone case from the Apple store. Its' $34 and makes a great stocking stuffer. 

J.C. Penney + MNG by Mango

Women’s Wear Daily broke the news this morning that J.C.Penney made a deal with Mango to sell the MNG by Mango brand exclusively in their stores. “Billed as the largest rollout of any fast-fashion concept, the line of casual and career sportswear and accessories will launch in up to 75 J.C. Penney stores and on its Web site for fall 2010 and expand to 600 stores by fall 2011,” says Women’s Wear Daily. Mango has more than 1,300 stores in 94 countries, but only 12 freestanding units in the U.S. which means that the deal will allow Mango to quickly saturate the U.S. market and allow J.C. Penney to quickly provide European runway-inspired product to its customers.

 

Liz Sweney, Penney’s Executive Vice President and GMM of women’s apparel, told WWD the company recently conducted an analysis of fast-fashion retailers and realized Mango would be a great fit with J.C. Penney. “They only have 12 stores here, and this gives them an enormous opportunity to grow because of the number of stores we operate and our dot-com business. For us, it allows us to bring fast fashion to our customers at a very affordable price.”

 

Items that will be offered in the MNG by Mango Collection for J.C. Penney will include jeans, t-shirts, knit tops, woven shirts and accessories. In J.C. Penney stores MNG will join I Heart Ronson, Allen B. by Allen Schwartz, Bisou Bisou and Penney’s own She Said brand, and will be adjacent to the Sephora inside J.C. Penney areas. 

 

The MNG by Mango merchandise will be designed by Mango and will utilize the company’s fast sourcing capabilities. Combine that with J.C. Penney's streamlined logistics, planning and allocation areas of expertise and it will allow new merchandise to be delivered at least twice a month. 

Zac Posen to Design Target Collection

Zac Posen will be the next limited edition designer of Target’s Go International series. 
Posen’s collection will be available at most Target stores nationwide and online at Target.com from April 25 through May 30.

Must-Have Fashion Books

In my dreams heaven is always a beautiful library with comfy armchairs and rows and rows of fashion and beauty books. I think it’s partially because I fell in love with fashion books before I got into the industry and partially because I’m addicted to collecting fashion books for my home. Every year at least several fashion books end up on my holiday list and this year is no exception. Here are my must-haves for this Christmas.

The Fashion Book by Phaidon Press. This book features a condensed version of the last 150 years of fashion and includes models, fashion designers, accessory designers, makeup artists, hair dressers, retailers, illustrators, photographers and more.

The Gospel According to Coco Chanel: Life Lessons from the World's Most Elegant Woman. According to Amazon.com author Karen Karbo “weaves Chanel's life story into chapter themes that subtly convey life lessons and leave the reader utterly entranced with Chanel's amazing individuality, confidence, and determination. The story of the designer's extraordinary life and rise to unprecedented success is both compelling and admirable. And while the great Coco may have launched her singular empire a hundred years ago, her methods, attitude, and elan are as relevant and modern as ever, and perhaps more appealing”. This book is a must-have for anyone who admires fashion industry icons.

How to Set Up and Run a Fashion Label by Toby Meadows. I got this book while in London and it was a great read! It goes over all the crucial components of the business of fashion from marketing to manufacturing and how to find the money to finance it all.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America and Lisa Marsh American Fashion Cookbook. If cooking is your thing (or even if it’s not) this book is filled with stylish recipes from all over the fashion industry.

Girl on Top by Nicole Williams. This girl friendly guide by career expert Nicole Williams shows you how to handle any work situation and come out on top.  In the book Nicole introduces twenty tried-and-true dating rules such as "Don't Give Away the Milk for Free" and "Don't Waste the Pretty" and reveals how they can be applied just as effectively in the office.

Underneath it All by Jennifer Carroll and Kathy Schultz, a guide to buying lingerie. Discover the best styles to show off your assets, build our lingerie wardrobe, and ensure the perfect fit.

The Teen Vogue Handbook is designed to be an Insiders Guide to Careers in Fashion.  It has over 280+ pages of tips, interviews and advice on how to break your way into the industry.  Designer interviews in the book include Marc Jacobs, Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Tory Burch and more! Anna Wintour says, "This book is an indespensable resource for anybody who aspires to work as a designer, stylist, photographer- or anywhere in the industry."