The Dior Ethic Zip Tote is structured, feminine, and full of fun details like grommets and whipstitching around the seams, a pudgie little pocket on the outside front, and a set of dangling accents that include braided straps, a Dior-embossed heart, and a tassel. It has a zip top with a leather pull (the front pocket closes with a magnet), protective metal feet, a couple different pockets inside (including one for a cell phone), and a nylon lining. Everything you need and want in a tote! $1,150
This Lady Dior Patent Cannage Bag is so glossy and the color looks so deep I really wish I could reach out and touch it. It also strikes me as a little dated looking and I'm not sure why, but maybe with the right outfit it could be classy and stylish. It's made of quilted patent calfskin leather with cannage pattern embroidery and features large rounded patent handles attached with silver metal rings, dangling silver "dior" letter charms, and a detachable shoulder strap. It also has a flat base with metal feet and a zip-top closure. $1,800
NYC socialite Tinsley Mortimer (at left in photo, with her sister, Dabney Mercer) is pretty busy these days: a handbag line (Samantha Thavasa by Tinsley Mortimer), a clothing line (Riccimie by Tinsley Mortimer, sold exclusively in Japan), a design consultancy and the ambassadorship of her favorite fashion house, Dior. But "Tins" isn't too busy for a makeup launch with a purpose -- last month she debuted her namesake "Tinsley Pink" ultra-gloss for Dior Beauty ($24.50) at the Saks Fifth Avenue flagship store in New York. A portion of the sales of this limited edition lip gloss will benefit Mortimer's charity of choice, Operation Smile.
[Thanks to my friend Rose for this tip. We love Tins!]
Christian Dior has branched out into the mobile/cellular phone universe with the "My Dior" phone, by ModeLabs. It took three years to develop the clamshell, which will be available in two versions: a $5,000 basic version and a $26,000 luxury version, which features a 2.6 touch screen with an integrated media player and is decorated with 640 stones of 3,251 carats of Swarovski crystals imprinted on a crocodile skin case. Ringtones are proposed to be Dior's voice as well as music. Look for marketing to begin this month. This phone is just beautiful, but I'd be terrified of dropping or losing it!
While researching something for Luxist, I came across Styledrops, a fashion site for men, women and children that sells upscale Italian designer goods. For women, select from shoes, handbags, clothing and accessories. Same for men, minus the handbags. Kids get shoes and clothing. The site boasts "the best price you have ever seen on the Internet!"
A sampling of brands: Prada, Gucci, Fendi, Tod's, Hogan, Dior, Fratelli Rossetti, Ferragamo, Cesare Paciotti, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano and Frankie Morello. Check here for the whole list for women, men and kids. Choose by type of item, designer or price.
I haven't purchased from the site so I can't vouch for service or quality, but the site itself is easy to navigate and has some very high-end items.
Despite her recent public apology Sharon Stone's comments about her belief that the earthquake in China is possibly linked to "bad karma" haven't finished causing her embarrassment yet. Now she's losing her advertising gig with Dior over the incident as they've issued their own apology for Sharon's comments and are pulling her from their suddenly very unpopular Chinese advertising campaigns.
It's amazing how fast things can change, considering Sharon was previously fairly well-received in China and is now considered by them to be "the public enemy of all mankind." That's never good.
Bernard Arnault, chairman of luxury goods monolith LVMH, says that despite dire economic predictions and reports of a falloff in parts of the luxury sector the company expects profits to actually improve in 2008. "We are in a position to meet our objectives for a sharp rise in earnings in 2008," Arnault just announced at LVMH's annual shareholders meeting, according to Women's Wear Daily. "Every time we've been [in a difficult economy] we've increased market share. We've started the year strong. We will not pull off [of the accelerator]. We are focused on innovating."
Arnault, whose company recently added Swiss watchmaker Hublot to its portfolio of luxury brands, singled out handbags as a strong earner. "There are tons of new leather goods," he declared. "The Richard Prince bag for Vuitton" - one of our Handbags of the Day -- "has been an immense success and we won't be able to meet demand," Arnault said. "We can't produce the pieces fast enough." He also predicted strong sales this year for Fendi, calling it "one of the most important Italian brands on the market," and Dior as well -- no doubt thanks to Charlize Theron's captivating fragrance ads (above).
The beautiful and historic city of Istanbul seems to be suddenly becoming a hot spot for travel and shopping, not just for those looking for a historical experience but for those looking for the latest stores and hotels. The International Herald Tribune recently did a story on the rise of shopping malls in the Turkish town. Income is rising in Turkey and malls are attracting shoppers by offering newness and one-stop shopping, food and entertainment. Foreign retailers are starting to move in as well. WWD reports that the Christian Dior boutique at the Istinye Park shopping complex is thriving. Although the general economic environment is worsening, Turkish retail is very appealing to foreign investors.
One foreign brand making a move in Istanbul is W Hotels Worldwide which will mark its entry into Europe with the grand opening of W Istanbul. The W Istanbul is the centerpiece of the Ottoman Row Houses. W Istanbul features 134 guest rooms, including 26 suites, Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Spice Market restaurant, and a signature spa. The rooms include private gardens, terraces and cabanas and are designed in a blend of modern and Turkish design.The project complex in which W Istanbul is located includes luxury residences and retail shops which will offer global luxury brands.
Straight off the runway comes the Dior Jazzclub Handbag Collection. I don't love these bags, but they are definitely unique and worth taking a peek at. Made of lambskin and available in black, beige, white, zebra and leopard, the jazzclub collection is recognizable by its unique large logo-engraved toggle closure and slouchy shape. The hardware is polished silver, which is refreshing after a few seasons of gold. Available on eluxury.com for $1,950.
Dictionaries generally define "dandyism" as a man's undue attention to his appearance, and it definitely has taken on a pejorative aspect so it's nice to see a museum exhibit that celebrates dandyism. The Dior family home in Granville, France is now a museum and their exhibit on dandyism will run from now until September 21. The exhibit includes such pieces as a white shirt belonging to perhaps the most famous dandy, Oscar Wilde, dating from when he was living in penniless exile in a seedy Paris hotel after his disgrace, under an assumed name which was a cryptic allusion to his homosexuality. The exhibit covers two centuries of dandies and celebrates the birth of Jules Barbey D'Aurevilly whose Du Dandysme et de George Brummell written in 1845 is considered a treatise on the subject. The exhibit includes a large selection of accessories belonging to dandies through the ages including satin waistcoats, monocles, dressing gowns and a large collection of walking sticks. The exhibit also includes tributes to modern dandies such as John Galliano and David Bowie.
For a little more information on the life of a modern dandy check out Dandyism.net.
In 1962, Esquire magazine sent photographer Jerry Schatzberg to Paris to cover the behind-the-scenes action at the Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent shows, at what promised to be an historic fashion moment. Indeed it was, and Schatzberg's shoot turned out brilliantly; the full results have finally been collected in book form, under the title Paris 1962: Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior, The Early Collections. Schatzberg was no mere paparazzo; a renowned fashion photographer and filmmaker, he's perhaps best known for the cover of Bob Dylan's 1966 album Blonde on Blonde. His journalistic, documentary style ran counter to the usual carefully-posed fashion shoots of the time, which gave the 1962 session added urgency. But first, a little background.
Famed designer Christian Dior had died five years earlier, in 1957. Yves Saint Laurent, only 22 years old at the time, had been named as his replacement, creating a stunning new collection in a matter of weeks. Laurent held the appointment for only a short time, however, as he was soon conscripted to serve in the French army during the Algerian War of Independence. The fragile fashionista lasted less than a month before a nervous breakdown saw him committed to a mental institution. Meanwhile, Marc Bohan had taken over at Dior, leading Saint Laurent to file for breach of contract.
If you've ever felt the need to spend $600 on a pair of jeans you are in luck. Dior designed these "radioactive" men's jeans that are made of 100% cotton, in a dark wash, with a shiny metallic finish. The five pocket cut and button fly appear pretty standard, as does the slightly tapered leg, so my guess is you are paying for the unique silver "radioactive" look, unless they also repel spills.... or are wind resistant, who knows! Available online and in Dior boutiques for $600.
This bag is so unusual that you are either going be completely enthralled by it or wonder what in the heck they were thinking. I think I love it. It's flirty and fun with a double row of eyeleted leather ruffles in a gorgeous deep red. With all that going on, the rest of the bag is appropriately simple in every other way. Other than those pesky charms hanging from the shoulder strap, that is. Also available in an equally pretty black version, the bag sells for $1950.
The romance between France's president Nicolas Sarkozy and model/singer Carla Bruni has been captivating the gossips lately. The latest news involves a bit of jewelry spotting. Bruni has been seen wearing a heart-shaped Dior ring that is very similar to one owned by his ex-wife Cecilia. The rings are from Dior's Coeur Romantique collection. Sarkozy reportedly gave the the model a pair of earrings from Dior earlier in their courtship. Some have also remarked that the two women are similar in looks, both being angular cheekboned and leggy model brunettes. Many are predicting that the pair will marry soon even though they have only been dating since November.
The Dior Ethic Zip Tote is structured, feminine, and full of fun details like grommets and whipstitching around the seams, a pudgie little pocket on the outside front, and a set of dangling accents that include braided straps, a Dior-embossed heart, and a tassel. It has a zip top with a leather pull (the front pocket closes with a magnet), protective metal feet, a couple different pockets inside (including one for a cell phone), and a nylon lining. Everything you need and want in a tote! $1,150 
