Bergdorf Goodman

The Classicist: Bergdorf Goodman Unveils High-Tech Holiday Windows [video]

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Travel & Hotels, The Classicist, Video, Architecture & Design, Luxury Shopping

Legendary luxe New York department store Bergdorf Goodman, founded in 1901, is famous for its amazing, elaborate holiday windows which dazzle shoppers and passersby alike. This year is no exception, with the added attraction of some high-tech features debuting for the very first time. The 2010 windows, entitled "Wish You Were Here," take their inspiration from fantasy travel to far-flung places involving some rather unusual ways of getting there. The displays feature an array of "wild mash-ups of unexpected arrivals and departures", each with visual influences as diverse as Roman mythology, 1940s Hollywood musicals, the city's original Penn Station, and the very first science fiction film.

This year, for the first time, QR codes on several of the windows enable people to view an online Bergdorf Holiday Gift Finder and a video depicting the making of the holiday displays (above) simply by scanning the codes with their smartphone or handheld digital device. Produced entirely in-house by Bergdorf, the video features the song "Follow Me" by 17-year old emerging Sony artist Audrianna Cole. "We are in the surprise business," notes David Hoey, Bergdorf Goodman's Senior Director of Visual Presentation and Window Design. "This job is part architect and part cake decorator." Each of the landmark store's five main Fifth Avenue windows represents a different destination and a special method of conveyance:

Gallery: Bergdorf Goodman 2010 Holiday Windows

Tags: Bergdorf Goodman, Christmas shopping, department store, Fifth Avenue, holiday, Holiday 2010, holidays, Naeem Khan, New York, Oscar de la Renta, Polyvore.com, store, travel

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Nixon x Bergdorf Goodman Mellor Limited Edition Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Nixon watches is teaming up with famous New York City retailer Bergdorf Goodman for a special limited edition timepiece. Nixon is quite scant on all the details, but the limited edition (unclear how many pieces) will be available exclusively in NYC at Bergdorf Goodman and have a quaint retro style. The design is apparently part of a collaboration between the two.

In a steel case, the Mellor watch is probably about 40mm wide or so and will come in two dial colors. Inside the watch is an ETA 2824-2 automatic movement. It will have a sapphire crystal, and be matched with a crocodile leather strap. Quite decent in style, these Nixon Mellor limited edition watches should not be available at a price of $995.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com

Tags: Bergdorf Goodman, mellor, nixon, watch, watches

Beauty By Clinica Ivo Pitanguy Expands Line, Gets New Look

by Michael B. Dougherty (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance

For over forty years, Brazil's Dr. Ivo Pitanguy has been responsible for movie stars, royalty and politicians' new looks. Now his expanded skin care line get a face-lift of its own, just in time for New York's Fashion's Night Out.

Developed by Pitanguy at his Rio clinic and produced in Switzerland, Beauty by Clinica Ivo Pitanguy comprises a line of serums, creams and treatments meant to replicate the procedures performed at his South American headquarters. Products like the moisture imparting PreVious Rebalancing Formula and cleansing Dermomask employ natural extracts, were tested under rigid dermatologic and ophthalmologic controls, and contain no coloring or artificial scents. Starting this Friday, during the second Fashion's Night Out event, Beauty by Clinica Ivo Pitanguy will launch a new "Specifics" line, beginning with their Ultimate Eye Cream. Available exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman (and later at select Neiman Marcus stores), the cream boasts an innovative ceramide-peptide combination and white lupine extract to ameliorate the appearance of fine lines and sagging skin. As for the packaging, the Specifics line will be differentiated by its luxury inspired gold wrapping.

If you can't make it to Rio, or Pitanguy's private island, the new line will provide all of the good doctor's fabled benefits along with his most cherished product: discretion.

Tags: beauty, Bergdorf Goodman, brazil, clinica, fashions night out, ivo pitanguy, neiman marcus, new york, skin care

Fall Beauty Buy: Marchesa for Le Metier de Beaute

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Celebrity Shopping, Cosmetics and Fragrance, Celebrity Design

There's little we don't love about cult-fave makeup line Le Métier de Beauté, but their latest collaboration, inspired by Marchesa's Fall 2010 RTW line, takes the cake. Packaged in a sleek credit card-esque case, the gem of the collection is a compact perfect for a night on the town - pressed powder, concealer, lip gloss in a cherry shine (La Cerise Noir), a cream blush in a peachy pink (La Peche) and a blue-black shadow (Le Minuit). The design of the compact - a sleek mercurial silver hue - was even inspired by Sandra Bullock's Marchesa dress for the 82nd Academy Awards. The collection also features highlighting and concealing pens, double-ended lip gloss and another mini compact.

"Each season," explained Georgina Chapman, co-founder and designer of Marchesa, "Keren and I introduce a new collection, but with the classic and consistent signature that is Marchesa – we transport our customers back to a time when luxury fashion meant the best in tailoring, design, fabric, etc. When it came to launching a cosmetics collection, we wanted to do the same and we found immediately that Le Métier de Beauté shared these same core values."

"The Collection takes the unparalleled textures and formulas Le Métier de Beauté is known for and transfixes them with the essence of Marchesa," says Joanna Vorachek Austin, President of Le Métier de Beauté. "From the sleek packaging and the innovative formulas to the flawless application, the Marchesa for Le Métier de Beauté collaboration brings the best of both brands to the forefront of luxury."

The line will be available exclusively at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman stores beginning on Fashion's Night Out, September 10th.

Tags: Bergdorf Goodman, fashions night out, le metier de beaute, marchesa, marchesa fall 2010, NeimanMarcus

The Fashion Statement: Fashion's Night Out

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

The fashion world is buzzing about September 10. That's when people like Vogue chief Anna Wintour, Donna Karan, New York City Mayor Bloomberg and members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America will hang out with mere mortals like you and me at stores and boutiques in NYC.

The point? Shopping. And it's a boost to retailers, fashion designers and ultimately the whole fashion industry that has been pummeled of late.

This year's extravaganza is apparently bigger than last year's. On a geographical scale, it certainly is, with events planned for stores in Los Angeles, Paris, Milan and London. Okay, you expect those cities. But Fashion's Night Out is also popping up in unexpected destinations around the globe. Jamaica? China? India? Apparently so.

Aside from shopping, or at least window shopping, Fashion's Night Out is chance for non-fashion industry people to get a glimpse of what a real invitation-only fashion industry party is like. Doesn't hurt that September 10 is the start of New York fashion week, so everybody will be in town. And, this year, there will be cameras around filming for a CBS Special.

Last year, Bergdorf Goodman was a madhouse. Victoria Beckham and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were there, along with designers Georgina Chapman, Mark Badgley and James Mischka and Zac Posen. Charlize Theron showed up at Dior, Kate Hudson at Stella McCartney.

Tags: alexander mcqueen, barneys new york, Bergdorf Goodman, calpso st. barth, Dior, Donna Karan, Fashions night out, NYC Mayor Bloomberg, Stella McCartney, stuart weitzman, Vogue

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The Fashion Statement: A Case for Roomy Trousers

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

Reed Krakoff's (Coach president and creative director) new ready-to-wear line this fall featured them. So did Pringle of Scotland. January Jones broke them out for the annual summer Louis Vuitton/Vanity Fair party on Rodeo Drive.

Skinny pants, could your end finally be in sight? Roomy, high-waisted trousers are showing up everywhere.

This isn't the first time roomy trousers have tried to get a jump on the ubiquitous skinny. For a brief moment in 2007, high-waisted wide legged jeans flooded the marketplace. In '08, the wide-legged palazzo had a moment. A year ago, the harem pants made a run for it gaining many headlines and about half as many fans.

What makes this time different? Time will tell.

Fashion is like a pendulum. For every action, there is a reaction. It was always a matter of time before flowing pants nudged skinny off her perch. It usually takes a few tries before the eye gets used to the new look. Even fashion critics who are used to continuous change, are hard to convince. Earlier this year, style.com had this to say on Pringle's slouchy trousers inspired by wading boots: "That's a lot of pant for a body to wear."

Tags: Bergdorf Goodman, high-waisted trousers, january jones, pringle of scotland, Reed Krakoff, roomy pants

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The Fashion Statement: Designers E-tail It

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

Luxury fashion designers, who've long shunned e-commerce, are caving in.

Last week, The New York Times reported that Marc Jacobs (fall show pictured above), Jimmy Choo, Hugo Boss, St. John, Theory, Kiehls, Lilly Pulitzer, Donna Karan and La Perla are finally going to do on the Web what they do in the real world: sell stuff!

To a person in any other industry, I can imagine how crazy this must sound. Companies in the business of selling stuff have not caught on to selling stuff on the Web, a medium that has been around for several decades!

"'The classic luxury brand Web site is basically a Flash site with lots of beautiful imagery, but no one ever goes to it,'" Aaron Shapiro, a partner at the Web design firm Huge, told the NYT.

There are department stores like Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman to consider. What happens to their online sites, not to mention brick and mortar stores, if you can go straight to Balenciaga.com and order those Formica and plywood platform loafers thereby cutting out the middleman?

Tags: Alexander McQueen, Bergdorf Goodman, Marc Jacobs, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue

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EXCLUSIVE: Posh Publisher Prosper Assouline's Ten Essential Luxuries, Part II

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Books, Men's Style, 10 Luxuries

On Tuesday we brought you Part I of posh publisher Prosper Assouline's ten essential luxuries. Luxist readers will be familiar with the beautiful and stylish books published by his luxe imprint Assouline; perhaps less so with the man who founded and runs the company. A master of savoir faire, Prosper Assouline is known for merging the modern and the classical in publishing and creative design. Picking up where we left off the other day regarding the evolution of Assouline into luxury brand whose medium is culture, the company established retail positions first in Bergdorf Goodman, and then at ten Saks Fifth Avenue stores, as well as Celux (Tokyo), A Editores (Mexico City), Lane Crawford (Hong Kong), Harvey Nichols (Dubai), Holt Renfrew (Toronto), Librissime (Montreal), Sotheby's (New York), Teatro Verde (Toronto), and Zai (Qatar). The desire to showcase the concept of 'books as gifts' has led to the creation of a full retail program of strategic partnerships to open Assouline branded corners around the world.

As part of Assouline's positioning as a luxury brand, the first standalone Assouline boutique opened in Paris on Place Saint Germain des Prés in 2005. Conceived as a contemporary library, the boutique features the complete collection of books and luxury products. Assouline created the other items around the books, such as Book scented candles, a leather Coach designed library, and a variety of slipcased products and limited edition volumes. Also featured is the Goyard trunk, designed by Prosper Assouline with Goyard as a means to capture the nostalgia of traveling with books. Another one of Prosper's designs is the Assouline Library, a handcrafted bookcase featuring 150 books on style released in 2004 that has was an immediate sensation. Click through to the gallery to see Part II of Prosper's 10 essential luxuries, from hats and yachts to bars and cars, and find out what makes them a must.

EARLIER: Posh Publisher Prosper Assouline's Ten Essential Luxuries, Part I

Gallery: Posh Publisher Prosper Assouline's 10 Luxuries, Part II

Gallery: Posh Publisher Prosper Assouline's 10 Luxuries, Part I

Tags: Bergdorf Goodman, books, Goyard, Jaguar, library, Magnum Yachts, Paris, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tag Heuer

Creed Debuts New Fragrance With Its Own Polo Team

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports, Men's Style

Creed of Paris, supplier of bespoke fragrances to royalty and aristocracy since 1760, has named a polo team after its newest scent for men. Called Aventus and inspired by Napoleon, the luxurious cologne was created by hand from ingredients sourced from important locations in the great emperor's life. The classic Creed "flask" design of the black leather-wrapped bottle also dates to the Napoleonic era. The newest addition to Creed's prestigious Permanent Collection, Aventus will debut this fall at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and the Creed boutique in New York City.

The newly-minted Creed Aventus polo team meanwhile will play at high-profile matches this summer in England and France. Aventus contains blackcurrant from Corsica, where Napoleon was born; bergamot from Italy, site of victories that made him famous; Calville Blanc apples from France, where he rose to be emperor; Napoleon Roses, named in his honor; Louisana birch, the wood of his throne; Jasmine from Egypt, where his empire reached; and oak moss from Spain, which he conquered, among other ingredients. Part of the proceeds from U.S. sales benefits American Rivers, protecting U.S. waterways from harm.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: Bergdorf Goodman, bespoke, cologne, Creed, equestrian, fragrance, France, leather, mens style, Napoleon, Neiman Marcus, Paris, perfume, polo

Must-Have Accessory: Modo for Jennifer Creel Classic Sunglasses

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

It may not come as too much of a surprise that Jennifer Creel can now add "sunglasses designer" to her long resume and list of talents. After all, sunglasses are a staple for her everyday wardrobe.

"People always knew me for wearing sunglasses," recalls the actress and model, who has appeared on a variety of television shows, including "The Bold and the Beautiful", Plum TV and Ovation TV. "Sunglasses have always been a passion of mine. They stage your mood for the day and complete an outfit."

The idea of designing her own line came after a friend who was familiar with Creel's love of the must-have accessory item, made the suggestion.

In the fall of 2008, Creel got in touch with Alessandro Lanaro, the chief executive of Modo Eyewear, a boutique designer eye wear company that owns such sunglass lines as Derek Lam, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Jason Wu and 7 for All Mankind, in addition to its Modo eyewear collection. A partnership was soon formed in which Creel would design an environmentally conscious eyewear collection.

Gallery: Modo Eyewear by Jennifer Creel

Creel, who has a background in design (she spent a decade at Polo Ralph Lauren where she was a designer in the women's active wear division), has created eight styles for Modo. "I come up with the concepts and ideas about what women and men are looking for," says Creel. "I don't design for one particular person."

Her well-designed collection includes navigator styles, retro shapes, and a color palette with unique shades and hues of green, bark, purple, blue, red, and orange, in addition to classic options like tortoise and black. The sunglasses are hand crafted in Japan and made of all natural materials, including bamboo and leather. "There is so much workmanship involved with the creation of every piece," says Creel.

Tags: Bergdorf Goodman, BergdorfGoodman, derek lam, DerekLam, eyewear, jennifer creel, JenniferCreel, modo, modo eyewear, ModoEyewear, NetJets, phillip lim, PhillipLim, ralph lauren, RalphLauren, sunglasses, trees for the future, TreesForTheFuture

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Ward Kelvin Jewelry Designer

by Deb West (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

We all read about the famous well known designers regularly and it is interesting to get to know some of the new faces in the luxury industry. Like many seemingly overnight sensations Ward Kelvin has been designing for other names you will recognize immediately, such as Tiffany & Co. and Ralph Lauren. He was also the designer behind the much coveted "Golden Compact" collection for Estee Lauder. An interesting tidbit of information, particularly for all of you aspiring designers, is that his first job after graduating form Pratt institute was as a toy designer. Believe it or not, this jewelry designer whose first collection was launched this past November at Bergdorf Goodman in Manhattan once spent his time designing Happy Meals for McDonald's.

Ward comments that the move from toy designer to jewelry designer is not as big a stretch as one might think as they both require "ingenuity and a playful imagination". He hopes to bring a wit and spirit to all of his design efforts and honed his skills working for others. He has titled his first personal collection American Chinoise. The 40 piece collection is a modern interpretation of the style of the 1930's when all the Hollywood Regency houses featured chinoiserie bamboo and lattice interiors. As seen in the jewelry pictured, there is a lot of light and airy space in every piece and he wants the woman wearing a piece to feel "it was created effortlessly, by the chicest chinoiserie bird, as if it were creating its nest."

The jewelry in the collection is fabricated from precious metals such as gold and platinum, precious and semi-precious stones including diamonds, peridots, Mali garnets and is crafted in New York City. Ward Kelvin's beautiful jewelry comes with a serious price tag and the Bamboo Cuff shown above retails for $20,450. The pieces can be found at Bergdorf Goodman in New York and this coming April at Nieman Marcus in San Francisco. As with many of the more unique jewelry collections you will not find the items online but need to call the stores directly for details.

Gallery: Ward Kelvin Jewelry

Tags: Bergdorf Goodman, BergdorfGoodman, chinoiserie, diamond, gold, nieman marcus, NiemanMarcus, Ward Kelvin, WardKelvin

Neiman Marcus: Premier Luxury and Superior Customer Service

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Handbags, Jewelry, Shoes

Neiman Marcus is a nominee for the Readers' Choice Award for Best Department Store. The Dallas, Texas-based luxury retailer was founded in 1907 by Herbert Marcus, Sr., his sister Carrie Marcus Neiman and her husband A.L. Neiman. Since then, the company has become known for its merchandise leadership and superior customer service. Its upscale assortment of apparel, accessories, jewelry, beauty and decorative home products cater to the affluent customer.

The company is credited with many firsts. In 1926, the company premiered the first weekly retail fashion show in the U.S. It began offering menswear in 1928, featuring items like French-made ties and English shirtings--items rarely found west of New York City. In 1934 the company started running national advertisements in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar magazines--the first retail establishment outside New York City to do so. In 1984, the company established InCircle, the industry's first customer-loyalty program.

In 1939, the company launched its annual Christmas Book tradition with a wonderland of fur coats, fashion accessories, perfumes, toys and more. The book has since become famous for extravagent, over-the-top luxury items, such as a $25,000 customized and motorized cupcake car and a Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus edition sedan for $105,000, both offered in the 2009 book. The Christmas Book's "His and Hers" gift, which is an annual tradition, currently features a pair of ICON A5 Sports Aircrafts and pilot training for two for the princely sum of $250,000.

Now more than a century old, the company has 41 stores and a total of more than six million gross square feet around the country, from California to Massachusetts. In 1999, Neiman Marcus launched its website, neimanmarcus.com, making it possible for customers around the world to easily access its large selection of designer and luxury brands via the Internet. The Neiman Marcus Group is the parent company of two other esteemed companies: Bergdorf Goodman, the luxury department store based in New York and The Horchow Collection, a luxury mail-order catalog.

Cast your vote for the Readers' Choice Awards at http://www.luxist.com/awards-vote/accessories-awards.

Gallery: More from Neiman Marcus

Tags: accessories-award, awards-main, bergdorf goodman, BergdorfGoodman, horchow, luxist-awards, neiman marcus, neiman marcus christmas book, NeimanMarcus, NeimanMarcusChristmasBook

The Fashion Statement: New York Fashion Week Wraps Up

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

How many countless man hours of work goes into New York fashion week? It's particularly impressive that publicists can check in hundreds of people in less than 30 minutes and all the while weed out gate crashers, deal with seat stealers and accommodate divas.

There are certainly more difficult tasks then sitting in the audience. Still, being shuttled through show after show-and trying to retain what you've seen-is exhausting. Today, it all comes to an end.

So what's the best thing about fashion week?

"For me? When it's over!" quipped Fern Mallis, Senior VP IMG Fashion, who organizes Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. "It's such an exciting week. It's like school reunion twice a year."

"Renewal," answered Linda Fargo, Bergdorf Goodman's Senior VP of Fashion.

"People watching for me," said Genlux magazine's creative director Stephen Kamifuji.

And my favorite answer came from André Leon Talley, Editor at Large, at Vogue. "My bed!"

Tags: Andre Leon Talley, AndreLeonTalley, Bergdorf Goodman, BergdorfGoodman, Fern Mallis, FernMallis, GenLux, IMG, Linda Fargo, LindaFargo, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Mercedes-benzFashionWeek, Stephen Kamifuji, StephenKamifuji, Vogue

Valentino Buisson Rose Tote, Handbag of the Day

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

Uber-feminine and dripping with romance, the Buisson Rose Tote from Valentino would be a dead ringer for Valentine's Day but since it is available now I'm picturing it on the arm of a well-to-do heiress at a prestigious horse race. Composed of red satin rosettes with burgundy centers and crystal studded petals, this floral interpretation is complete with matching tonal patent leather top handles, silvertone hardware, red satin lining and protective feet. If your horse is the winner at the race you could both be sporting a carpet of red roses -- I wonder if Valentino makes a matching hat? (14" x 16" x 5" for $3,995)

Source

Tags: bergdorf goodman, BergdorfGoodman, rose tote, RoseTote, valentino, valentino buisson rose, ValentinoBuissonRose

Coveted Cuffs at BG's

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

In my personal opinion, cuff bracelets are so much more fashionable and enjoyable than bangles will ever be. Cuffs stay put on your wrist, add punch to any ensemble, and carry a certain strength inherent in their design. In celebration of fantastic cuffs I've highlighted those currently available at Bergdorf Goodman. From simple and sleek to colorful and creative each cuff brings a unique sense of style to the wearer. Designers such as Joan Hornig, Jose & Maria Barrera, Kenneth Jay Lane and Matthew Campbell offer the current coveted cuffs at BG's. Explore the gallery to see more!

(The cuff shown above is designed by Matthew Campbell made of rhodium-plated silver with blue enamel accented with round-cut blue sapphire stones and center citrine stone for $1,800).

Gallery: Coveted Cuffs