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Azature's New Line A.Z.

$150 pop tab from Azature's new line A.Z.
Azature is in N.Y. this week introducing his new line, A.Z.

Azature's pieces, like this ring we covered a few months ago, are made from a platinum-sterling alloy and adorned with black and white diamonds. There are eight rings, eight necklaces, eight pairs of earrings, and six bangles featured in the new A.Z. collection, and they are crafted with 18K gold white-gold plating and nickel details. The above necklace is one such piece, and rings in at $150.00. Now that's a fancy pop tab! Very daring, Azature.

Into that? Click here for the Martin Margiela can tab necklace we recently reviewed.

You can count on Azature for chic, industrial designs, and A.Z. is no exception. The rings and bangles are bolt-like, and even the charm necklaces are multi-chained and made with heavy nickel.

The New York Daily News has called Azature one of "fashion's soon-to-be stars," and we couldn't agree more.

Designer Jewelers Struggle To Maintain Their Customers

Last week marked the annual JA NY Summer Jewelry Show in New York and the news for most jewelers isn't good. While the upper end of the market (pieces over $20,000 continues to stay afloat) the middle o the market has eroded. Like we have seen with handbags, clothing and other luxury goods, the sharp spending decrease by the "aspirational" customer who generally spends $1,000 to $10,000, is having a huge impact on the market.

This particularly effects some of the big branded designer jewelry. An article in WWD notes that retailers have reported that customers are back to being concerned about what the piece is made of (which stones and metals) rather than being focused on a brand name. Many are seeking what they believe is a safe investment such as gold or diamonds.

Some brands are increasing their upscale lines as a way of staying afloat. One brand, Faraone Mennella whose gold earrings shown at right sell for $1,420 at Neiman Marcus, is now aiming higher with items like a $110,000 diamond cuff to be featured in Saks Fifth Avenue's holiday catalog. Other jewelers are taking the opposite approach such as Daniel K., which has until now sold exclusively diamonds and platinum but recently launched their lower priced Prêt-á-Porter line that features pavé diamonds and other gemstones set in gold (see our gallery of their pieces below).

One of the biggest trends in the last few years, the self purchase of jewelry by women, seems also to be shifting. The WWD article quotes Katey Brunini, founder of K. Brunini who says that the self-purchase has pretty much dropped out and many of her sales are now gifts. The gifts may be what continues to keep the market afloat in the U.S. because although the market is changing there will always be gift occasions that call for jewelry.

Gallery: Daniel K Pret a Porter

Daniel K necklaceDaniel K EarringsBlack and white bangleBlack and white bandsBlack and white earrings

Posh Paws, Charity of the Day


Posh Paws is an idea put into motion by Cantoni furniture store and inspired by a small polyethylene dog originally created by designer Eero Aarnio as part of his children's collection. The Posh Paws version takes the original dog, adds in a few local and national celebrity designers, and comes up with an entire line of adorable and unique puppy toys (toys that are puppies, not toys for puppies) that are up for sale to benefit various charities in the name of animal rescue and helping stray pets find permanent homes. My favorite is this one by Zsofia Mezey Koppani.

Gallery: Posh Paws Celebrity Artists and Designs

Gallery: The Original "Puppy" by Eero Aarnio

Jemima Khan To Design for Azzaro

Busy socialite (and possible Hugh Grant ex -- the jury's still out) Jemima Khan has been named as Parisian label Azzaro's latest guest designer, creating a collection of ready-to-wear and accessories that will be presented at its showroom during the early July couture shows, according to WWD. Khan was named by Vogue in December as the epitome of modern glamour and is just one of the latest group of A-listers joining the design studio: young socialista Eugenie Niarchos collaborated with Azzaro designer Vanessa Seward on an accessories collection last year, and Janet Jackson announced at a recent Versace menswear show that she is working on a lingerie line.

[Via Vogue.com UK]

Haute Couture by Angelo Katsapis

Not even 30 years old and already making a huge name for himself in fashion, Australian designer Angelo Katsapis is one to start paying attention to if you haven't already. His much anticipated signature line (called Angelokatsapis) was in the works during the years he spent in Milan as a senior designer for Giorgio Armani, once launched it immediately became a favorite among fashions toughest critics. Sold at the finest boutiques including Harvey Nichols you can also purchase select pieces from the collection online. The quality and unsurpassed design is reflected in the prices, dresses range from $1300 up to $10,000.

The Henry IV Convertible High Chair

The Henry IV Convertible High Chair by Sibi costs a staggering $1,350, making it the most expensive high chair I've seen. It was conceptualized by the Sirch-Bitzer design team out of Germany and can be transformed into a regular child's chair once your tot is over the high chair phase. The base is powder coated steel, and the wood portion is birch. I have an issue with the size of the tray, most high chairs trays have ample room for flinging around food, and a few different dishes. This one looks like you could line up, maybe 7 peas, 3 cheerios... single file. I do however love the clean minimalist design, chic simplicity at it's finest.

Can You Spot the Knock-off?


How well do you think you know designer handbags? We've all seen obviously bad knock-offs, but imitators are getting better and better every day and the good ones are making products that are all but impossible to tell from the originals sometimes. Here's a fun quiz from Portfolio.com that puts your fashion sense to the ultimate test of side-by-side comparisons of brand name goods. Handbags, jeans, and even designer ball caps are included -- take the quiz and let us know how you do. I got a better score than I expected, but I think it was mostly luck!


Via A Luxury Travel Blog

Leggings for Men?

After Balenciaga came out with their $100,000 metallic leggings, there was nowhere for the women's legging industry to go without changing materials and moving away from the easy, form fitting standard that makes leggings what they are. So, designers have moved their leggings onto men. Marni's brand new men's collection for this coming fall heavily features men's leggings. They're made of microfiber cotton and wool, have bottom stirrup straps and come in a variety of colors. Marni is describing them as "sophisticated," but it seems unlikely that too many men are going to dive right in to this extremely form fitting type of clothing for casual or evening wear.

V.I.P. Chair

Made by Moooi and designed by Marcel Wanders, the V.I.P. Chair really puts users up on a pedestal. It features flared legs (the "chair with flares") that offer maximum support to the user, while at the same time allowing for some flexibility that a completely solid base would not. It has a steel frame with a soft, upholstered finish and is shaped to offer the maximum comfort to anyone who sits in it. The designer seems to suggest that the chair could work equally well in a conference room at the office or in a home dining room. It measures 31"H x 24 ½"W x 21"D. Price: $1,680.

Fendi Goes "Street"

Fashion heavyweight Fendi, owned by LVMH, has decided to segue from their traditionally high-fashion orientation and establish an "ongoing personal and professional alliance" with Japanese "street" designer Nigo, whose popular label is called A Bathing Ape. "Street" style, in Japan, is not about the mass-produced styles that are fairly common in the US when the term is applied, but about high-quality, contemporary designs that appeal to the next generation of consumers, who are looking for uniqueness at any price, but not necessarily for luxury.

Fendi will not be collaborating with any designs (not at the moment, at least), but recently had the designer host a hip-hop themed party for them in Tokyo to try and impress Tokyo fashion insiders. It is hard to say with certainty whether it worked or not yet, but both Nigo and Fendi have high hopes for the future.

Proenza Schouler for Target

Continuing the very successful GO International line at Target this spring will be Proenza Schouler . The design team of Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough gravitate towards clothing that is young with a modern edge to it. In light of this, it isn't surprising to hear that they worked with Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs before joining up in 2002. The collection, from what we can see so far, looks fun and perfect for spring, with lots of bright colors and soft fabrics. Previous GO International lines have included Behnaz Sarafpour, Tara Jarmon, Paul & Joe and Luella Bartley.

Designer Book Set

This designer book set could be a great gift for the fashionista in your life - because we all know that when someone loves clothes more than just about anything, it's nearly impossible to pick out anything that they actually like. The set should be a hit because it contains "photographic biographies" of some of the most famous and most exciting names in fashion: Dior, Vivier, Balenciaga and Treacy. The books are in full, brilliant color and each is hand-wrapped, as well as being packed into a large red gift box. Price: $150.

Top Spring/Summer Wedding Dress Fashions

Wedding dresss fashions change just like everything else does, though they are far more likely to keep to tradition - something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue - than other types of dress. The waists move up and down and skirts getl alternately fuller and slimmer, but the elegance is something that is never overlooked. Here are the top wedding dress fashions for this year's spring/summer season. All the dresses shown here are from runway shows.

 

Anything by Caroline Herrera, because not only are the dresses gorgeous, but when women who have worn them actually want to alter them for daily wear, they must be something special. Dress by Caroline Herrera.  

  

Continue reading Top Spring/Summer Wedding Dress Fashions

India's Eventful Fashion Week

Nothing makes a big, well-publicized event as exciting as a wardrobe malfunction, but I will admit that it is more exciting at a sporting event than a fashion one. With all the costume changes and models running around backstage, trying to fit into samples of various clothing, it isn’t surprising that, from time to time, there will be a malfunction. In India, a recent show seemed plagued with malfunctions and, given the conservative nature of the media and guests in attendance, it created quite a stir.

Personally, I was much more interested in the clothes that were being shown than the media uproar that followed. Indian Fashion Week mega-show featured Indian designers, like Anupama Dayal and Shahzad Kalim and was full of silken, flowing skirts, vibrant colors, corset tops and lots of accessories, including embroidery and lace on the clothing. Dayal’s designs in particular were gorgeous and I have heard that some will be exported to parts of Europe and the US in the coming months. Anyone have any leads on a store, yet?

[Image Reuters]

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