shopping

Zimmermann Swimwear Opens Its Doors in Soho

Filed under: Apparel

We at Luxist are huge fans of the Zimmermann line of swim and resort wear. Their sexy, bold colors and flamboyant vintage prints are eternally fresh and appealing. Last August, we published a story about their fabulous fashion show on the roof of The Empire Hotel -- and now, we can all buy many of those same items in their new store in Soho, NYC.

That's right, Zimmermann has opened their first ever pop-up shop in the USA. Though we Americans can access some of the wild, yet elegant Australian swim and after-swim fashions through Shopbop and some department and specialty stores, many items are exclusive, for North America, to their store at 112 Greene Street (between Prince and Spring). The store also features their capsule collection of footwear and handbags, as well as complementary jewelry collections by Australian designers.

The 2,500 square foot, bright and airy pop-up shop opened Monday, April 12 and will continue through June 30, but Zimmermann is on the hunt for a full-time home in Soho.

Gallery: Zimmermann Pop-up Shop

Tags: new york, new york city, ny, pop-up shop, pop-up store, shopping, swimwear, zimmermann

Antwerp Super-Concept Shops - A Little of Everything You Love

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Ra's office, in what I can only describe as a Smurf house.

As Antwerp, Belgium continues to make its name in the fashion and art scenes, "super-concept" stores have emerged. These stores include everything from art galleries to organic cafes, vintage shopping and a selection of wares to wear from various designers. Basically, they're like smaller, hipstery versions of department stores -- and they're a lot more fabulous to be spotted in.

One of these spaces I visited was Ra, at Kloosterstraat 13. Ra has an 800 square meter space with an internet cafe, a bookshop reminiscent of what you'd find in a museum, an open art installation space with the latest exhibition, a kitchen serving a full menu of healthy food (the kind I like to call "aggressively healthy," like carrot soups and tofu), some antiques and two floors of carefully curated designer clothing, shoes, jewelry and other accessories, including some one-of-a-kind pieces from emerging designers. Catching on? Super-concept shops accommodate pretty much everything people of certain lifestyles want. They're one-stop-shops for their target demographic; and the kind of place you could spend a whole Saturday without getting bored.

Another super-concept venue I visited was Hospital, a scrap metal dealer's warehouse-turned-boutique. They have an art space, fabulous clothing for sale and a restored vintage car -- also for sale. I dined at the adjoining restaurant and wine bar The Glorious, which was glorious (see gallery for mouth-watering pictures), and mingled with a completely different crowd from the Ra-goers (Hospital is a posher, deliciously more pretentious scene).

Obviously, this idea is brilliant.

Gallery: Super-Concept Stores in Antwerp

Tags: antwerp, antwerp stores, belgium shopping, belgium stores, department stores, ra, shopping, stores, super concept stores, super-concept stores

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Je Ne Sais Quoi: European Style At Your Fingertips

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

French style just got a little bit easier with Je Ne Sais Quoi, a Paris-based multi-brand e-boutique that curates international chic from a variety of fashion and lifestyle brands. The founder Mirielle Nagourney is Franco-American and has a mix of both American and French style that is focused on trends rather than labels. The site mixes older brands like Ettinger and Zoeppritz along with newer designers including two new French brands Moio (silk, linen and cotton scarves) and Owen&Savary (a Franco-British duo specializing in handmade, adjustable leather cuff bracelets).

They ship internationally offering global access to brands that are often very difficult to find because of their strict distribution policies. Products are either wrapped in silk tissue paper or in a linen pouch, placed in a crisp white shopping bag and secured by an organza ribbon offering a bit of the boutique experience with the ease of online shopping.

Tags: e-boutique, e-tailers, fashion, je ne sais quoi, jenesaisquoi, online boutiques, shopping

Narciso Rodriguez Now At 20 Percent Off

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Last month we mentioned that fashion designer Narciso Rodriguez had introduced the Narciso Rodriguez for eBay Collection but the deal just got a little sweeter. The eight-piece limited-edition collection is made from imported Italian fabrics in a red, black and white color palette. The streamlined and classic creations include a scoop neck matte jersey dress, a denim jacket, a reversible and water-resistant black and white trench coat and a sleek asymmetrical sleeveless black and white jersey dress. The collection was already a steal at accessible price points ranging from $65 - $350 but now we can bring you a little more shopping relief. You can save 20 percent on all Narciso Rodriguez for Bay Collection pieces now through March 31.

Rodriguez is a three-time Council of Fashion Designers of America winner and a celebrity fashion favorite who regularly dresses the likes of Michelle Obama, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rachel Weisz, Claire Danes and Jessica Alba.

Gallery: Narciso Rodriguez for eBay Collection

Jersey Top with asymmetrical seam detail

Python Printed T-Shirt and Denim Slim Skirt

Source

Tags: ebay, Narciso Rodriguez for eBay, shopping, Shopping deals

New Catalog For Private Jet Flyers Launched

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

If you are flying in a private jet perhaps you are beyond the offerings of the SkyMall. Private Shoppes has created a new in-flight and online catalog to be distributed by jet charter operators, in-flight caterers and private air terminals. With the economy beginning to recover, private jet travel is starting to become popular once again, it is estimated that 2.5-3.5 million passengers fly privately each year. In a press release, Gillian Christie, CEO of Christie Communications said that Private Shoppes "makes Sharper Image look like a Sears Catalog." The catalog includes brands like Tumi, Mulholland, Steuben Glass, Shafer Vineyards, Bissinger's Chocolatier and more.

Tags: private jets, PrivateJets, shopping

The Downscaling of Ginza, The Changing Face Of Japanese Luxury

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Tokyo's Ginza district has long been known as Japan's most fashionable shopping street but the street's changes reflecting the country's fluctuating economic picture. The Independent has an interesting piece on the street's shifting fortunes which have seen luxury brands moving out to make room for a new kind of retailer. In 2008 Louis Vuitton scrapped plans for a new Ginza flagship store. Last year, Versace pulled out of Japan altogether. But those store windows aren't staying vacant. Instead fast fashion stores like Uniqlo, Abercrombie & Fitch, H&M and Zara have moved in. The operators of Japan's Seibu department store announced that the store is closing but Forever 21 is moving in. Where there was once Gucci, now there is Gap.

Last year I wrote about the changing look of luxury in Japan. In the past years, logo-chasing was important to the Japanese shead-to-toe Louis Vuitton was seen as chic. Now many trendsetters favor a high-low approach, combining expensive pieces with more inexpensive items or pairing vintage finds with new pieces. The Ginza area still has enough fancy stores to attract tourists in search of a bit of glamour but with tourism down, focusing on more dependable, regular shoppers seems like a smart strategy.

Tags: fast fashion, FastFashion, forever 21, Forever21, ginza, gucci, hm, japan, louis vuitton, LouisVuitton, shopping, tokyo, zara

Expert-Guided Prom Shopping in New York City

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Services

If you know a young lady who deserves the very best for this year's prom, ShopNYC Tours has created a specialized prom shopping experience for her which is budget-conscious, fun and guided by a New York City shopping expert, Natasha Malinsky. Here's more about what the tours include:

Watch videos highlighting the hottest prom trends for 2010
Visit a variety of boutiques that carry Contemporary Prom Dresses, Vintage Prom Dresses and Celebrity Consignment Prom Dresses
Enjoy spot-to-spot transportation while sipping "teeny" (alcohol-free) cosmos and enjoying world-famous cupcakes
Sightsee some of the hippest NYC neighborhoods with a savvy tour guide
Get a prom make-up tutorial at Makeup Forever with a professional make-up artist

Natasha was kind enough to answer a few questions for us about shopping tours and how she stays in touch with what's cool for school:

Luxist: What inspired you to create a prom shopping tour?

Natasha Malinsky: Our Teen Fashion Tour is extremely popular and a lot of the people interested in that tour started to inquire about prom shopping in NYC. I thought it would be cool to not only offer a tour for prom dress shopping, but for everything prom including dresses, accessories, and even makeup. Shopping for prom in NYC gives teens the opportunity to stand out and have something unique that no one else will have, which is really exciting to them.

L: What kind of girl is this for?

NM: I'm hoping to attract a wide range of teens -- everyone from NYC locals to domestic tourists. And since the tour is so diverse, covering everything from contemporary prom to vintage prom to consignment prom, there will be an opportunity for everyone to find something that fits their own style and, more importantly, budget.

L: How do you keep up with teen fashion trends?

NM: Teens look up to a lot of celebrities, so it's important to keep the red carpet in mind when researching teen trends. It's also important to keep the youth factor in mind. Teen fashion should be young, fun and affordable. The runway shows can be an inspiration for teens, but often times, ready-to-wear is too sophisticated and definitely too expensive. Fashion magazines like Teen Vogue and shows like "Gossip Girl" are great sources for teen fashion trends along with shows like Extra and Access Hollywood. Oh -- and giving Teen Fashion Tours helps me to stay on top of what teens want to wear.

Where was Natasha when we were in high school? (We mean that figuratively ... she was in high school.)

If you'd like to send a teen on the prom shopping experience of a lifetime, the cost is just $59 for groups of 10 or more, and $99 for smaller or private tours. Visit ShopNYC Tours or call 1-800-619-2795 for more information or to book.

Tags: Natasha Malinsky, NatashaMalinsky, New York, New York City, NewYork, NewYorkCity, NY, NYC, Prom, ShopNYC Tours, ShopnycTours, Shopping, teens

The Changing Face Of Seattle Shopping

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

The face of downtown Seattle shopping seems to be changing. Last week the Cartier store at the Pacific Place mall closed, deciding to focus their efforts on their branded display at the new Neiman Marcus store in downtown Bellevue. This week Coldwater Creek has announced they will be closing their downtown Seattle store located in the old Nordstrom building at the southwest corner of Fifth Avenue and Pine Street. Both stores left when their leases expired but it does seem to indicate a change in Seattle's shopping scene. The Seattle Times reports that other stores in the area have also closed their doors. Other retailers remaining in the Fifth & Pine building include Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters and Sephora. These moves seem to reverse a trend that started around ten years ago when the announcement of major condo projects sent retailers toward downtown in hopes of capitalizing on a revitalized community. Some area malls aren't faring too much better the loss of larger retailers have left some malls with vacant holes.

Tags: seattle, shopping

Holiday Shopping Tips From Grace Lockwood

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services

As the days tick by, Christmas is nearly upon us and many are scrambling to finish their holiday shopping. Some lucky shoppers in New York City can find help in the form of Grace Lockwood, a service which offers personalized shopping for any occasion. Grace Lockwood is directed by personal shopper and designer Kristen Coates. Coates has worked with a multitude of clients and has handled personal shopping affairs for private clients for the last five years. She created Grace Lockwood to publicly offer vendors and products she has used for years privately, showcasing the most sought-after gifts. GraceLockwood.com includes an online shop where customers have the ability to purchase gift concepts comprised of hand-selected components in various themes such as "Welcome to New York", "Decadent Delivery" and "Personal Assistant." Gifts arrive to the recipients with the finest packaging and with free delivery in the Manhattan area. They can also ship anywhere in the world via telephone or email orders. Better yet all purchases made through the online store will result in a 10 percent donation to The Global Fund for Women through the holiday months.

We asked Kristen Coates for her thoughts on creating great themed gifts like the ones that she has created for Grace Lockwood. Themed gifts show a level of personal attention and don't necessarily have to be expensive. Coates has great ideas for making even items like gift cards seem personal and special. See her tips after the jump.

Source

Tags: gifts, grace lockwood, GraceLockwood, holiday shopping tips, HolidayShoppingTips, kristen coates, KristenCoates, personal shopping, PersonalShopping, shopping

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Schwarzenegger Spotted In Franck Muller Watch Store

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Celebrity Shopping

The State of California and the watch maker brand and group Franck Muller have something in common. They are both in dire financial straights. Both have likely over extended themselves financially, and both seem to continue in operation somehow.

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was recently spotted in Milan, Italy shopping at a Franck Muller boutique store. While Schwarzenegger is a well known watch lover, I was not previously aware that he was a fan of Franck Muller timepieces. Now I know. For those of you that don't know, Arnold is a big fan of big watches. Luxury watch brands have been known to make special timepieces just for him. One relatively recent watch I hear that he purchased was sized at a whopping 60mm wide. To my knowledge, Franck Muller doesn't make anything this large, but they have some hefty timepieces.

The reports aren't clear as to what, if anything Schwarzenegger purchased. He spent some time in the store, as you can see by the candid security camera images. Perhaps if he is helping to save one fiscally troubled entity, he might also refocus his efforts on the State over which he is currently presiding as governor - that probably needs his help more.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Via Business Montres (in French).

Gallery: Schwarzenegger at Franck Muller Milan

Tags: Arnold, Franck Muller, FranckMuller, Italy, Milan, schwarzenegger, shopping, store, watches

Chanel Set To Open In Shanghai

by Deb West (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Handbags

Chanel is opening a new boutique in Shanghai on November 25. Peter Marino is the architect for the new space and was inspired by the Paris apartment of Mademoiselle Chanel. It is a fitting city for the famous couture house to unveil a new store as Shanghai is known as "the Paris of the East".

According to the architect, the idea was to give this new boutique a residential feel by combining hand picked art, antiques and other objects with a refined store decor. The fashion house has also commissioned original artwork by french artist, Jean-Michel Othoniel, to be displayed. The art of shopping is to be a subtle experience at this unique salon where customers enter the apartment-like space, can sit on sofas and have individual items brought to them as opposed to jostling elbows with other shoppers while browsing the merchandise. It is to be a different, more elegant, experience for the customer. Peter Marino is quoted "The result is comfort, quiet elegance, timelessness. The chic of Chanel."

Karl Lagerfeld has also designed exclusive products only to be sold in the Shanghai location to celebrate the stores opening. These include a classic quilted flap handbag with an inside signature "Shanghai Karl Lagerfeld", sling-back heels with a metallic CC logo, various items of clothing including a tweed jacket and skirt with gold trim.

The boutique has an excellent location in the newly opened The Peninsula hotel. The latest addition to the luxury travel market the Art Deco styled hotel has a terrific location on the Bund, the waterfront promenade in Shanghai.

Tags: CHANEL, china, new boutique, NewBoutique, peninsula hotel, PeninsulaHotel, peter marino, PeterMarino, Shanghai, shopping

LuxGoddess.com Hops on the Discount Shopping Site Bandwagon, Donates to Charity

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Services, Cosmetics and Fragrance, Shoes, Charity

Do only the very wealthy pay retail these days? Seems like it. With so many discount shopping sites that sell high-end items, mere mortals can get said high-end items at low(er)-end prices. But is is there room for yet one more of these sites? LuxGoddess.com is hoping so. It recently joined the likes of Bluefly, ShopBop, and Gilt to offer upscale items at reduced prices. Here's what makes LuxGoddess different, however: It donates 10% of its proceeds to Bright Pink, a national nonprofit that provides education and support to young women who are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer.

Calling itself "the premier site for today's fashion trendsetters looking for great deals on their favorite designer brands," the site carries well-known brands, with a number of items pulled from online stores, and covers the standard categories of apparel, shoes, beauty, and accessories. There's also a sale rack, which is a user's personal sale rack, based on her size and brand preferences.

Tags: breast cancer, BreastCancer, cancer, charity, discount shopping, DiscountShopping, luxgoddess, ovarian cancer, OvarianCancer, shopping

Lack of Supply And Increased Demand Frustrating Some Shoppers

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Last year many stores found themselves stuck with too much inventory and not enough buyers. The resulting fallout led to a series of deep sales and a firm resolve not to let that happen again. This year we are seeing the reverse situation, shoppers with money who are finding less inventory to splurge on. Bloomberg has an interesting piece that suggests that luxury department stores, which have cut back on their orders in order to cope with declining sales, may end up losing customers who are frustrated with the lack of selection.

Retailers aren't exactly itching to stuff their stores. They aren't convinced that the shoppers are ready to storm the doors in droves and are still licking their wounds over the last year's discount days which led to reduced profits all around. They are also hoping that a little lack of supply will stimulate demand and get shoppers in when lines first arrive rather than waiting for discounts. Store executives have to order months in advance and last year's debacle has spooked some strategists. Some analysts suggest that the first stores to go back to the good old days of stuffed aisles may have a leg up on their competition.

Source

Tags: department stores, DepartmentStores, shopping

The Shops at The Plaza

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Handbags, Jewelry, Services, Spas, Cosmetics and Fragrance, Men's Style, Wealth

Like my colleagues Annie and Alison, I braved Fashion Week, in particular, Fashion's Night Out on September 10. But I was fortunate to be in one serene place, The Shops at The Plaza. Entering at One East 58th Street, right near Central Park, The Shops at The Plaza immediately gives you a feeling of luxury shopping, but in a much more open environment than a small boutique because The Shops is 160,000 square feet on six levels.

The Shops features a unique gathering of one-of-a-kind jewelry designers and coveted boutique brands, many of which have chosen to open their first U.S. outpost exclusively here. Examples of the stores you'll find are Krigler, a fifth-generation fragrance house with Russian roots and French savoir-faire; Anna Hu, a Christie's New York and Van Cleef & Arpels veteran who specializes in creating stunning, one-of-a-kind pieces; Qiviuk, which offers unusual, high-quality clothing for men and women made of the cashmere-like Qiviuk fiber; and a new store to The Shops, the flagship location of New York fashion designer Douglas Hannant. I had the chance to chat with representatives from each of these stores, so watch Luxist for more on these brands.

Other stores at The Shops are MCM, Ghurka, Vertu, Morgenthal Frederics, Seize Sur Vingt, LTJ Arthur, GOODFORTUNE TENTHOUSANDTHINGS, Kenneth Jay Lane, Iradj Moini, Maurice Fine Jewelry, Helen Yarmak, Peter Lik Fine Photography, and Francesco Fino. Plus, now reopened is The Plaza Boutique, the hotel's own store, which offers high-end leather goods, porcelain glasses, fashionable men's shirts, and luxurious gift items.

As for beauty, The Shops has that area covered as well. The Plaza Beauty by Warren-Tricomi is a beauty destination and contemporary boutique divided by category, offering a brow bar, men's bar, fragrance bar, and skincare. (See photo.) Drawing from the worlds of hair care, skincare, and fragrance, The Plaza Beauty provides a sampling of the most luxurious, internationally-renowned brands, as well as rare, emerging lines, all hand-picked by Joel Warren and Edward Tricomi.

All that shopping and beautification may make you in need of a respite, or at least a snack. Stop by the Demel café, Parisian bookseller Assouline, the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa, Warren-Tricomi Salon, or the Fitness Center by Radu Physical Culture to refuel and recharge.

The Plaza has undergone a $400 million, three-year, lobby-to-roof renovation and restoration, and it's amazing. Designated a New York City Landmark in 1969, it is also the only New York City hotel to be designated as a National Historic Landmark.

Tags: Fashions Night Out, FashionsNightOut, hotel, New York, New York City, NewYork, NewYorkCity, shopping, The Plaza, ThePlaza

Fashion's Night Out - And Fashion's Morning After

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Charity

Fashion's Night Out, the largest shopping event in NYC history (brainchild of none other that Anna Wintour herself), took place on Thursday, September 10, and for those of us in the media (who try to be everywhere), it was a wild ride!

Over 700 shops participated in Fashion's Night Out; some selling Fashion's Night Out t-shirts to benefit the September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center, some collecting clothing for the NYC AIDS Fund, some with special sales, deals, and live music, and most with free-flowing champagne.

Armed with an extra pair of stilettos for alternating, this Luxist writer managed to get to David Yurman, Prada (above, this DJ played until The Rapture went on), D&G, Tahari, Pucci, and Lord & Taylor, just to name a few. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the night of shopping, celebrity sightings, drinking, and celebrating. If they ever do it again, I suggest you all head for the Upper East Side where the parties were a little calmer and lots of fun -- Soho was a madhouse; in parts you couldn't even walk down the street, and it was unusually rampant with underage drinkers (capitalizing on the free alcohol). I saw them carding at D&G ... but that was the only place I saw. I'd imagine there were a lot of tearful explanations in the wee hours in homes across the tri-state area, and Fashion's Morning After was probably pretty rough for some. But that's not what the night was about. The night was about charity, celebrating fashion, and helping kickstart the economy. I think on the whole, New York City had a lot of fun!

If you weren't able to get to NYC, check out the gallery below for some photos of the festivities!

Gallery: Fashion's Night Out