With more than 40 years of street fashion and with an estimated fortune of 7,000 million dollars (Forbes), designer Giorgio Armani is known worldwide for men’s clothing. The Italian designer was born in Piacenza on July 11, 1934 and at 83 years old is one of the most commercially successful designers in the history of fashion.
After studying medicine at the University of Milan, he realized that his true vocation was fashion. Thus began to work in The Rinascente (one of the most elegant shops of the continent), in which it was dedicated to decorate the windows. Years later, he began designing with Nino Cerruti. He had only been working for the firm for four years when he decided to open his own brand, Armani, along with his partner and couple Sergio Galeotti (who years later died of AIDS).
The society was captivated with the comfort of his clothes. Lines straight and sober but with a material of an excellent quality. While other designers throw themselves into colors that are more vivid, Giorgio Armani decides to take a more classic line. A sure hit. As for their line of women, the garments are intended to stylize women through a more androgynous style.
In addition to his undoubted talent, Giorgio Armani rose to fame with one of the most influential films of the 1980s: American Gigolo (Paul Schrader, 1980), a film in which the young Richard Gere wore signature clothing and that was a success. That’s how he revolutionized the world of fashion with a men’s suit that was loose, comfortable and with freer lines. It was called power suit and sowed elegance: in the 80’s appearance was everything.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V82L4JRMk_c
His garments have appeared in over 400 films throughout his career. Other notable titles include The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008), Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, 2009) and The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese, 2009).
After the big boom in Hollywood, Armani knew to take care of all type of public and soon, his costumes began to be the uniform par excellence, essential in any closet. His designs made and sigh to the masses. For this reason, it has more than 350 stores spread all over the world and also several lines within the firm such as Armani Jeans or Armani Privé, not counting the different lines it has related to the world of cosmetics.
Undoubtedly, Giorgio Armani has reinforced the importance of the Made in Italy label that thanks to him we relate to luxury and good quality. Both men and women, clothes are lovely. For this reason, on our website you can find preloved Armani clothing that Luxury and Vintage Madrid team has selected exclusively for our customers.
We hope you enjoy it.
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Christian Louboutin: the king of the red sole
From a very young age, Christian Louboutin loved drawing. When his love for drawing is also added to his unconditional passion for shoes, emerge the impressive creations that thousands of women dream of every day. Do not just create fancy shoes. Create desire. These dazzling luxury heels with that unmistakable red sole (a color that by the way, is patented), have become an icon and a benchmark in the world of fashion.
The designer, ended up making shoes for the Parisian music-hall. After the success of his creations he launched to design the shoes to freelance mode, to order. And finally, in the early 90’s he created his first boutique, which was not lost on the designers who wanted to have him to design collections for their brands, such as Chloé, Diane von Furstenberg, Jean Paul Gaultier or Givenchy .
The shops of Louboutin manage to invoice the year no more and no less than 4.9 million euros, being the heel of 16 cm the most sold. A strong brand that is backed with its red sole. And so he defends it with all his might. This is how it was seen, in court with the famous luxury brand Yves Saint Laurent for making use of the red color in the sole of its shoes. Finally Christian Loubotin won the trial, and only a few brands (among them YSL) can use the red sole only in case the shoe is full red. Without any color contrast.
Even though their customers do not seek comfort, they claim that as soon as they are worn they are the most comfortable shoes in the world. The cheapest designs of Louboutin do not fall below 3000 euros, without the labor or different materials that can be used.
His passion for shoes and his creativity, make his creations are the most novel. The design of his impossible shoes was a success and were auctioned for fund raising for the English National Ballet, which was going through a bad economic time.
All special customers have a shoe last with their foot size and all models are made from that mold. For example, one of the most influential celebrities of the moment such as Angelina Jolie, had the designer to create the shoes that would lead during the presentations of the film Maleficent.
And it is not the only one. Hundreds of celebrities such as Kyle Minogue, Kim Kardashian, Melania Trump, Victoria Beckham, Paris Hilton, Dita Von Teese, Jennifer Lopez, Sara Jessica Parker or Tamara Ecclestone are some of the lucky ones to wear the luxurious Louboutin, customized exclusively for them .
The black dress: the challenge of the future
Fascination. Elegance. Beauty. A legendary garment and the challenge of the fashion of the future: the black dress.
We have always linked the idea of black color to mourning. After the wars the widows dressed in black and did not choose another color as a symbol of respect for the deceased. However, it was a fashionable color when it ceased to be the symbol of duel.
Cocó Chanel was the revolutionary of the time. After learning sewing at the orphanage in which she grew up, she would never have imagined that she would have so much influence on the fashion world of today. On October 1, 1926, the first black dress was created and it differed from the rest. Its structure was simple, practical and easy to look. It was the dress of the emancipated woman.
Chanel’s idea was to free the woman. And she did, transferring masculine fashion (in particular the Dandee look) and the expressions of men to the feminine fashion. This created a kind of uniform for women, which gave confidence and allowed women to dress well reducing the risk of making mistakes.
Thanks to me poor girls can dress like the rich ones.
-Cocó Chanel
And Chanel did not believe in wealth. She believed in beauty and cared about what was elegant. And the black dress was (and still is).
However, Paul Poiret, one of the first fashion designers as we talked about in previous articles, was not very funny about the idea of the black dress. Simply, the Paris fashion dictator did not accept it. So much that when he met Chanel (who was wearing a black dress), Poiret asked: “For whom do you see in mourning?” – to which Chanel replied: for you, gentleman.
From the creation of the first black dress model, creativity flowed through the blood of designers. Why not join the black and white? It was a mixture of colors that went against all trends. And that was its essence. This imagination continues to flow as we have previously seen speaking of Iris Van Herpen, who, along with her first 3D fashion collection, also included the first black dress made in three dimensions.
They were not fashionable days. 1939 was a hard year for Chanel since she closed its meson. Along with the end of the war, the strongest was Christian Dior, who creates a new look in retro style and the black dress returns to resurface having an overwhelming success.
But what about the black dress in the film? The black dress has been an icon of the film in all its senses. That idea that is related to the protagonism of what they call Femme Fatale. Those intelligent and despised women who are not objects, but subjects. They are the dark women of Hollywood. The woman in that black dress had a deadly weapon. It meant she was a fantastic woman, a bad woman. And is that without any doubt, black is a defiant color when it has to be.
Rita Hayworth in Gilda (1946). Lauren Bacall in The Big Sleep (1946) or Marilyn Monroe in The Asphalt Jungle (1950), are some of the femme fatale of the time.
But certainly, in the 60´s was Audrey Hepburn that would bring the change of the concept of the black dress in Breakfast with Diamonds (1961). She chose that model because she had a different neckline in the back for the first scene of the film. She had the physical, the presence and the posture. She was almost a model. With it, the concept of the black dress changes. We are not talking about a Femme Fatale. Now the one that predominates is the romantic woman, like Audrey.
Great designers of luxury dresses have taken to their ground a different concept of the black dress. Due to the boom and the concept of the dress in the cinematographic field, many designers went to design their own version of the dress. In particular, in the year 1970, this beautiful dress of Yves Saint Laurent with lacy back full:
When Cocó Chanel died in 1971, her legacy relegated to the well-known Karl Lagerfeld. The German designer had with Cocó a love-hate relationship. Because she had found the signature look of Chanel and he was in charge of reviving it. But he did, and returned Chanel to the fashion elite.
And later, in 1994, how to forget that black Versace dress worn by Elizabeth Hurley at the premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) in London, accompanying Hugh Grant:
Straight, tight, with sleeves, sleeveless, long, short, with lace, without it, with the back open, closed or even in 3D. Undoubtedly the black dress will always prevail in the fashion world and will continue to amaze us every season. What will be the next black dress that triumphs in the history of fashion?
Iris Van Herpen: Haute Couture in 3D
For me, fashion is an expression of art that is very intimately related to me and my body. I see it as an exciting way to express my identity.
-Iris Van Herpen for the British magazine Dazed & Confused.
The young designer of Haute Couture, Iris Van Herpen, has broken the patterns of fashion with her designs so novel and creative using the techniques of last generation. She has already been recognized by the Haute Couture Chambre Syndicale for that vision so different from other fashion designers.
She has undoubtedly revolutionized the world of Haute Couture. A world in which craftsmanship is predominant, the arrival of the designer made a big impact on the world of fashion with her works of art almost taken from science fiction.
After graduating from the Art Institute of Arhem (Holland, 2006) and having worked with such great designers as Alexander Mcqueen or Viktor & Rolf, 2007 marks a before and a after in the designer’s career because she creates her own firm. In 2010 she won the Rado of the Academy of Dutch Fashion to the best young designer and in 2011, after being praised by the famous Times Square magazine for a dress of her creation, singer Björk decides that she is the designer of the dress that will be on the cover of Biophilia:
There is a huge amount of things around us that we use and know, but which we are not aware of. For me, those are the most beautiful to explore, because I can make them visible with my imagination. Instead, I can not work with visible references since they do not allow me to fantasize.
-Iris Van Herpen
With the idea of things not visible to the human eye, Iris Van Herpen has already created several collections based on the sensory. Its concepts are clear and defined. Her designs tell stories. For its Radiation Invasion collection, she was based, for example, on the signals and radiation that make telecommunications visible. Or his collection Synesthesia, which is based on concepts such as “seeing” music or “taste” colors.
Radiation Invasion:
Synesthesia:
Creating handmade or with a sewing machine gives great possibilities, but also imposes many restrictions. Working directly in three dimensions, with direct printing in 3D, for me it is like a dream because the idea goes from my head directly to the clothes without first passing the drawing on the paper.
-Iris Van Herpen
With its incredible innovation and especially with the use of materials as complex as the plexiglass, it is not surprising that magazines such as Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar have dedicated to her more than one article.
Nice dress, Meryl. Is it an Ivanka?
“After giving her a dress that costs 100,000 euros, we learned that we had to pay more. We give them clothes, we make them, but we do not pay ”
-Karl Lagerfeld
One of the most valued actresses in the world of film and who this year opted for her 20th Oscar nomination for best actress, Meryl Streep, has been the protagonist of the latest incident with Karl Lagerfeld, creative director of Chanel.
The actress has been in evidence of the world by the greed. The dispute begins with Karl Lagerfeld, who claimed to be making a dress for the actress. € 100,000 in Haute Couture dress, which process had to stop by a call from Meryl’s representative. He told Karl that at the Oscar gala would not wear Chanel since they had found another designer who would pay him to wear his luxury brand.
“She’s a great actress, but a little bit stingy, isn´t she?”
-Karl Lagerfeld
That was Karl’s response to the comment. And it was expensive, since the famous actress was quite angry although the couturier has already tried to apologize.
Karl Lagerfeld, a prominent designer, slandered me and my stylist, and the illustrious designer whose dress I chose to wear has done so in a major industry publication – said Meryl Streep according to a statement published by WWD. He lied and I’m still waiting for him to apologize. And Karl Lagerfeld replied, After an informal conversation, I misunderstood that Mrs. Streep might have picked another designer to charge for it, but I have confirmed Mrs. Streep’s team that is not the case. I regret this controversy and I wish Ms. Streep to do well with her 20th nomination.
But you’ll all wonder: Who would be the lucky designer to wear Meryl Streep at the Oscar gala at the Dolby Theater? That dazzling dark blue Haute Couture dress with rhinestones and word of honor, is by designer Elie Saab.
The dispute is not yet over, because Meryl Streep is still waiting for Karl to deny it. What is certain is that the dispute gave rise to good times at the Oscar gala at the hands of Jimmy Kimmel, who asked the actress: Nice dress Meryl, is it an Ivanka? (Alluding to the latest dispute that recently took place between the actress and Donald Trump).
The first cover Vogue Arabia: Gigi Hadid
“I want the magazine to be a love letter to Arabia … I want to give the reader images to be inspired, beauty, well-being and lifestyle. The world is saturated with information and publications are weaker Due to this problem […] ‘Vogue’ Arabia is going to be very strong. It is scary and exciting at the same time. My life is going to change as a publisher, maybe I can not travel as much as before because my new job entails an important Responsibility, but it will be magnificent. ”
-Deena Aljuhani
Married to sultan bin Fahad bin Nasser, 42 years old, with three children, Deena Aljuhani has become the first director of Vogue Arabia, and has chosen Gigi Hadid to be the protagonist of the first issue of the magazine because the model represents the dynamic and entrepreneurial generation of tomorrow.
On the cover, we can see Gigi behind a beautiful veil that covers part of her face and part of her makeup face. And it is that the young model could not have been a better choice since its origin, apart from being Dutch, also has Arab, Palestinian roots in particular on the part of his paternal family. A beautiful snapshot that despite being black and white full of color this first issue of Vogue Arabia, a snapshot that goes from the hands of Inez & Vinoodh.
“Being half Palestinian, it means a lot to me to be the first front page in the history of Vogue Arabia, and I hope this magazine shows another part of the desire of the fashion industry to continue accepting, celebrating and incorporating all kinds of people, as well as make everyone feel that they have fashionable images with which they can feel identified “
-Gigi Hadid
The number of the magazine of Vogue Arabia is epic. It represents multiculturalism and tries to expose creativity and to present a different part of the world together with its constant evolution. As Deena Aljuhani confirms, the Arab world has long deserved a niche in fashion history, and what better way to do it.
Vogue Arabia editions will be written mostly in English, but will also have a specific section that will only be written in Arabic.
Rick owens and his particular style
“When I raise something provocative, it is always raised from warmth, kindness and love”
-Rick Owens
Undoubtedly, Rick Owens is one of the most creative designers we have in these times. Born in California, he created the brand under his own name in 1994 and began selling his collections at the well-known Barney’s store so that years later he began selling his collections to the general public.
His creativity in the designs made that in the year 2002 , gave the Perry Ellis Award to him to the best emerging talent. From that moment, he used the Paris Fashion Week to present his most controversial collections.
His style is a mixture of gothic and grunge, darkness and perfect cuts, asymmetry and his little defined silhouettes, with generally dark tones such as black or brown, which led and lead the designer to absolute success.
Despite being an explosively creative person, the truth is that his intention is not to play a leading role. Unintentionally, his own collections stand out for their avant-garde designs. He has always been the creator of controversial collections. But also, his designs passed to the big screen with the successful outfit that looked Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the city. A beautiful cardigan in grayish tone in the line of the designer.
Excellent skin worker, defines his designs as subtle and not as spectacular as we see. They are sexy and comfortable. So much that they have made Rick Owens have designed garments for the big Madonna or Courtney Love, declaring themselves as their number one fans.
With so much success, the press soon qualified his style: Glunge. But what does it mean? With the term Glunge refer to glamor, slash and grunge. That is, it mentions the dirty and the elegant in the same design. Making both ends collide with each other and create the perfect combination.
There is no gender. And he loves the idea. Rick Owens was alongside famous designers like Comme des Garçons and Ann Demeulemeester one of the pioneers in creating ambiguous garments that fit both men and women. He says that he is only interested in the point at which the two genders converge.
A noteworthy piece of Rick Owens although it may seem strange in him, is that it owns a line of gym machines and a series of totems with its own figure that deals in each of his stores.
When you create a brand, you’re telling a story, he says. This is demonstrated in one of his latest collections presented at the Paris Fashion Week this year, with abstract skirts (almost inspired by nun dresses) and angular pieces that seek to create architectural asymmetry.
“People wonder why I make monochrome garments, the reason being that I am representing the world. In this room, your head would be much more interesting if it were on a monochromatic column.I think people think about the outfits and are too demanding, I always imagine that a stalk, a trunk or a pillar is more beautiful than the line of a person standing in a room.
-Rick Owens
And as Suzy Menkes (the fabulous writer of Vogue) stresses in her latest article on the designer’s collection: The darkness had never been so bright.
The expensive privilege of Haute Couture
Exclusiveness. The measure. Garments made by hand and with little use of the sewing machine. Luxury materials hand-stitched carefully for a perfect finish. Costurers who develop new techniques that take a long time.
That is why it is said that Haute Couture pieces are priceless. The development of these bespoke designs is known worldwide and only a few privileged can afford. It is an exclusive design, made with the highest quality materials that will adapt to every inch of your body. Undoubtedly, Haute Couture is the dream of every woman.
Catherine Riviere is in charge of directing the Haute Couture of the house Dior. She controls the entire process, from being manufactured until the customer buys it. Her function is mainly to ensure that the house maintains the tradition but adapting to the modern. She does not talk about prices. She says that the price of a Haute Couture garment should only matter to the client who is going to buy the garment and that if she then wants to say what it has cost, say it. Despite not wanting to talk about prices, she gives a clue: from 40,000 €. However, a piece of what we know as prêt-à-porter, would cost us approximately 8,000 €.
But many will ask: What´s the difference between Haute Couture and prêt-à-porter? The materials used. But above all, the hours. Many will think that we talk about expensive clothes. And it is true. But it is what they cost. They may be working on a dress for a whole year, counting on the manufacture of the materials, the measurements of the client and the work of the seamstresses. It is a work of art, a way of being and thinking. It is something unique and extraordinary that will have only an individual experience. And that’s where the difference is made.
Prêt-à-porter (ready to wear) garments, would be the ones that are made, unlike the Haute Couture, with a certain pattern and with which they work according to the demand of the product. We could say that they are the clothes we usually wear on a daily basis (although some people can afford wear Haute Couture daily).
Not all luxury brands that most of us know work with Haute Couture garments. In fact, there is an union in which you must meet some guidelines to be part of this select club.
1. The first rule is that the house must design the client an exclusive piece and totally tailored, with one or more tests until the garment is perfect.
2. The second rule talks about the membership of a workshop or studio that is located in Paris and has at least 20 employees working full time.
3. The third but not least is that each season must present to the public a collection of at least 50 new designs of the brand.
All the houses that make Haute Couture, also make prêt-à-porter. In addition, the latest is the one that gives more income to the brands. It’s what sells the most and it takes less time to make it.
The official members of Haute Couture are: Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Christian Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Stephane Rolland and Giambattista Valli. In addition, foreign members include Elie Saab and Versace.
During the 20th century Haute Couture suffered a significant decline. From 106 homes in 1946 to only 18 in 2000, reducing to only 9 in 2004 (Versace, Dior, Chanel, Valentino, Lacroix, Gaultier, Givenchy …).
Versailles fashion Show
“Fashion is the history of a tissue.”
-Eleonor Lambert
The distance between continents was reduced. That night meant a change in culture. In fashion. People were looking for surprise, it was like playing a game. It was the turning point that changed everything. That night of 1973 fashion saved a palace in ruins, the Palace of Versailles.
Eleonor Lambert was the precursor of all this night. We could say that she was the true creator of fashion. In the 40s she was a publicist and started to make the lists that today we know as Top Tens of the best dresses. Without doubt, it was the Ana Wintour of the time. And also, a formidable organizer.
Everything arose with the ideal motive: the Palace of Versailles. An idea that originated in order to raise funds to be able to reform it. And why not, also with the reason to join two continents that despite their differences, had many more things in common than they thought: among them, the exquisite taste for fashion. To create beauty in any of its forms.
A runaway and a dinner. New York and Paris. Both involved in a context in which everything was allowed. The first homosexual movements, feminism. People of color are already on TV. Creativity was undoubtedly booming and people could not care less. Quite the opposite: it was what they were looking for. And the sexual and artistic freedom of the time pushed much to the creation of new designs that represented the free women.
Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Pierre Cardin and Emanuel Hungaro went on the night of November 28th to present their designs of Parisian Haute couture. The New York side was represented by designers Stephen Burrows, Anne Klein, Bill Blass, Oscar de la Renta and Halston.
At that time France was the pioneer of fashion par excellence. They rehearsed in the mornings while the Americans had to settle for the nights. The fashion event of the year had an anecdote. Halston, one of the North American designers, outdid others and knew it. He had a natural elegance but a great ego. Everyone was knocking at his door and he was a marketing genius. In the short time New Yorkers had to rehearse their runaways, time was running out and Halston saw that he was not going to be able to prepare his runaway. He picked up the door and went away angry, leaving the rest of the team to manage as he was because he was not going to participate in this. However, the next day it appeared as if nothing had happened.
Runaway begins. French were very chic and their sets were fantastic. It was a very French runaway, very elaborate but very complex. There was too much movement and it was very pretentious. Especially emphasized Josephine Baker, that paraded with great feathers in the head and made a spectacular interpretation.
The decorations were made of wood from the 17th century. There was everything and those present were amazed at what they saw: a rhinoceros pulling a cart. A pumpkin carriage (Dior), reindeer and many bright things. These were among other things that they could appreciate in the 2 hours and a half that lasted the parade. However, there were so many mixed ideas that the attendees were left with the feeling that it had been a bit ridiculous. Most do not remember the clothes that were exposed that night.
Nervous and excited the 42 North American models that paraded in Versailles, were set in motion. And the color exploded.
Stephen Burrows, the only designer still alive from that night, revolutionized the runway with his stunning African-American models. They radiated beauty everywhere. An innovative element, since most of the models that used to parade were of white complexion. If we join it to the burst of color of the clothes of Burrows, the parade left open mouth to more than one.
The entire North American show was wrapped in a Broadway musical. It gave energy with its designs, with its music. It was like a breath of fresh air that the French loved. For more information, it all culminated in the perfect and fabulous performance of Liza Minelli. It was only 37 minutes of show in which the Parisians felt absolute admiration for the runaway of the Americans. And the first to stand was Princess Grazia of Monaco.
At the end of the shows, those present gathered for dinner. But they could not begin, someone was missing. –Where is Eleonor Lambert? We can not start without it!-Someone said. And there she was, sending a press release in which he commented that the American runaway had been a success.
An experience that all those who were on that night of November 28, 1973 still remember and will not forget. Because the models began to have more opportunities; Because Paris realized that it needed to be renewed; Because New York took a giant leap; Because the African American triumphed; And last but not least:
Because they rescued Versailles.
Designer dresses are the best option
If you like fashion and luxury, and you love dresses you are lucky today. Chanel, Versace, Giorgio Armani, Roberto Cavalli, Dior, Missoni or Prada garments that many women feel like unattainable clothes are available in our online store that which been in operation for over 4 years. Beautiful dresses admirable for all its details that make us crazy and what they are within our reach in opportunities such as those offered by Luxury & Vintage Madrid.
Many of you ask us often for the dresses of our website and we try that every month you have news about. We see you love them! That is why today we are going to talk about those who are the most important for us and with whom you will undoubtedly be the queen of the party, the street or any place that you propose.
The most successful is our Christian Dior dress by John Galliano (sold):
The cut and design of this dress are characteristic of Galliano and have inspiration on the 50´s.
It belongs to the golden age of John Galliano for Dior, and it was produced with very little pieces .Is a very exclusive dress and had make history inside the world of fashion. Its condition is excellent, almost new, and has been sent to clean up so is ready to use. Also includes its Dior velvet hanger. Perfect, isn´t it? Its retail price is $6200 (so second hand more cheaper) and we only have this drees available in the size 38. You can see more details here.
For broken white lovers we have the perfect outfit. This Chanel dress, along with that of Christian Dior, becomes one of our favorites. A long woll dress with a soft touch, we felt in love from the first moment it came to our online store. At the bottom is a detail of a beautiful row of imitation diamonds. See more about it here.
Also, on our website you can find fabulous Missoni dresses, different from each other but with that essence that impregnates the brand. Click on your favorite dress to see more details:
So which one do you prefer? Choose your favorite one. Happy shopping!
Naomi Campbell and her trial for receiving "blood diamonds"
Last day we talked about the fashion scandals on the catwalk. But that is not all. Many are the scandals that have been in the world of fashion and little by little, you´ll know them in depth. Undoubtedly, this is one of them. The famous supermodel and ebon goddess Naomi Campbell was seen in a trial for receiving “blood diamonds” in 1997.
Blood diamonds are those that are extracted and are usually marketed in countries immersed in warlike conflicts whose extraction and commercialization violates human rights. Then, with money they will pay the costs of the wars. Amazing, isn´t it?
Liberian´s President Charles Taylor was the trigger for this event. It all happened in 1997 in South Africa, at the home of former President Nelson Mandela during a dinner. Charles Taylor denies this happening, but at the trial Naomi Campbell claimed that “two mysterious men” knocked on her door and handed her a bag with tiny dirty diamonds.
I did not recognize them as diamonds. For me they are something nice, bright and coming in a box. They already know.
-Naomi Campbell
However, Carole White (former representative of Naomi) was responsible for giving a completely different version in the trial and confirms the apparent naivety of Campbell (who claims he did not know the country’s existence) that she received those diamonds conscientiously . Everything were contradictions. While Campbell claims that Taylor sat in front of her, White says they sat together at that dinner, that there was a flirtation between them and they mentioned gifts of diamonds.
“They called my door at night and they did not identify themselves, and I assumed that they were diamonds, commanded by Taylor”.
-Naomi Campbell
I was asleep when they knocked on my door. The envoys did not come in and I left the gift on the table. I usually receive many, said the model. However, White revealed that they touched my room looking for Naomi’s. I invited them to Cokes and then we went to see her, said White in his written testimony.
Following the statement, Naomi Campbell said she had gone to South Africa to help the most disadvantaged children. So she went in search of Jeremy Ratcliffe to donate it to him. But to everyone’s surprise, in 2009 Jeremy said he did not have them and that they were still in the hands of Naomi. The Mandela Foundation says that they have never received such diamonds.
However, despite allegations against the model, she was acquitted of the trial and the one arrested in 2006 was Charles Taylor.
The most scandalous runaways in the history of fashion
Many are the runaways that give much to talk about. On the catwalks not only influences the clothes, also the stage or the theme in which they are.
Throughout the history of fashion, we have always seen designers more or less conflicted by their thinking, but nevertheless, the fact that they are designers with an aesthetic unusual have made it grow the sales of an amazing way.
One of the most striking fashion shows was the designer John Galliano for the luxury brand Dior: he talked about the vagabonds and the difference of classes between the rich and the poor. The parade was so shocking that people gathered in front of the Dior boutique to complain about it, saying they did not see fit. They shouted at least that Galliano must apologized.
This was confirmed by Cocó Chanel, who was horrified before that spectacle:
“Women do not have to dress aggressively or stupidly.”
-Cocó Chanel
It happened in the year 2000, just with the arrival of Galliano and was a before and after in the house Dior. Some applauded him for his bravery and creativity and others were astounded by the spectacle. In this way, Galliano managed to increase the sales of the house by 35%.
However, as we mentioned before in other blogs, John Galliano and his extravagance were left out of the Dior house for a controversial talk in a bar that you could see right here.
Another of the parades that gave much to talk about was the Spring / Summer of 2013, which starred Tom Ford under the control of the firm Yves Saint Lauren. Perhaps at first it went unnoticed, but later we realized that the models wore a pendant in the form of a penis. He did not understand it very well until Tom Ford explained that the necklines of the models represented the vagina. A detail that if we look closely, really does not go so far unnoticed.
Since then many have tried to approach sexuality in fashion, but without any success. However, designer Rick Owens got it with his men’s runaway, in which the models were dressed but without underwear, exposing his penis. As happened with Galliano, some were astonished and others, horrified.
In addition to sexuality, another topic that has generated much controversy is the history of the world in general. And more when it comes to tragedies that build the history of humanity, as is the example of the concentration camps at Auschwitz. The luxury firm Comme Des Garçons, based its runaway on the clothing worn by Jews in Nazi concentration camps. He claimed that no one on the team had ever realized this and apologized to all those who might have felt offended by the parade.
Valentina Sampaio: first transgender model at the cover of Vogue Paris
“I was always a girl and I was always treated as such. This is how I feel and that is what I transmit to people”
-Valentina Sampaio
Vogue Paris has already announced: Valentina Sampaio (instagram @valentts) will be the first transgender model to occupy the March issue cover in the French edition of Vogue.
The Brazilian model, is 21 years old and has already collaborated with several recognized brands in the fashion industry such as Vitorino Campos, Patrícia Vieira, Água de Coco, Fernanda Yamamoto, Nohda Experiment, Ronaldo Fraga and Helo Rocha.
The cover that will be carried out next March has been the result of the work of Marcus Piggot and Met Alas, in charge of photographing her, as well as with the collaboration of Emmannuelle Alt, who was in charge of the styling of the model.
Undoubtedly with her beauty and her figure, is breaking down all prejudices and beating records. Like the rest of the world, fashion also evolves and this cover is the example of it. Treated as one more and proud to become what she is after all the process that has undergone, Valentina Sampaio is the first to occupy the title Transgender beauty: how they are revolutionizing the world.
His male name has never been published. However, confirms that she has never felt identified as a man and that at the age of 10 read Valentina’s name and she loved it. In addition, she also explains that she has never been bullied and that she has been respected and accepted as she is.
“It is necessary to speak of this now so that in the future it is not necessary”
-Valentina Sampaio
With 1.77 m height, she began her professional career at the age of 16. Her example of courage, her desire to make it known that she should not be apart and his battle to overcome until what she has achieved today, are the reasons why Vogue Paris has decided to turn her into its cover. For everything behind the beautiful model.
The director of the magazine Emmannuelle Alt says that she is very happy to carry out this issue of March because they manage to change the face of fashion, thus ending any kind of prejudice.
“The day that a transsexual pose on the cover of a magazine and it is not necessary to write an editorial about it we will know that the battle is won”
-Emmannuelle Alt
In addition to being already the cover of Elle magazine, participating in fashion week in Sao Paulo and being one of the ambassadors of L’Oreal Paris, the Brazilian model aspires to be the next Victoria’s Secret angel. And it would be the second record of the model in the history of the angels, since it would also be the first transgender model to parade for the famous fashion brand.
Prince: a fashion icon
On June 8, 1958 was born one of the stars of the music: Prince. In addition to being an icon of music, it also became a fashion icon. His style became a benchmark for all his fans and also for those who were not. A style that played with the androgynous and the sexual, making its way of dressing unique and incomparable. No one knew how to wear those clothes like Prince: he understood fashion in a different way. Every look with he appears in any event was a total declaration of intentions, always striking and with extravagant accessories. And just when we thought that the appearance of the disco was gone, Prince was the one in charge to give it a turn so that it became the look of reference of the time.
At its beginnings, around the 70’s, Prince delighted the world of fashion with an explosion of colors and shines that we had never been seen before. One of his must-have were heels and platforms: he measured 160 cm and did anything to look taller than he was. Or so they say since he said:
People say I wear heels because I’m short. Actually I wear them because women like them.
-Prince
One of the looks that has given more to speak is without a doubt the “pirate look”, one of its hallmarks in the 80’s that coincided with the release of his album in 1999. In it, bulky shirts were the protagonists.
Purple color became for him a referent since it symbolizes the ambiguity, the fantasy and the extraordinary thing. He could not have chosen better color to represent one of his best known songs as Purple Rain.
Feathers, volumes, colors, eccentric sunglasses, vibrant costumes that always accompanied a bell trousers, bombers, a thousand and one jewels (when Prince was already tired of wearing the earcuff, the rest began to wear it), the famous animal print, jackets with lyrics and even those oriental airs of thoughts such as Hinduism or Buddhism that made him compare to Jimmy Hendrix.
Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Chris Martin, Beyoncé or Pharrell are just some of the artists who have copied the strongest showman styles of Minesotta without shamelessness. Prince has also inspired designers and has been dressed in more than one occasion by luxury brands as Versace.
And as a good lover of fashion we have also been able to see you in the front row of such important parades as John Galliano’s for Dior, along with the presence of Katy Perry and her ex-boyfriend.
If you love his style, you could find some vintage clothes that remind him at our vintage section as this fantastic jackets of Versace:
The Ralph Lauren Luxury Dress for Melania Trump
From entertainer to first lady. Melania Trump, the Slovenian model and wife of Donald Trump, has changed a lot of style. Unlike Michelle Obama, the first lady has a large photographic archive in which she shows the style that defines her, marking every era of her life.
One of her most commented luxury dress is the blue Ralph Lauren dress she wore on January 20, the day Barack Obama’s family evicted the White House and began to occupy Trump’s family. A dress with a look of the 60s that breaks with the usual style of the first lady, with no neckline and very elegant, which some have applauded and others have repudiated. And the social networks are burning: some applaud Ralph Lauren for dressing Melania. However, many others repudiate the concept that the fashion brand has worked for her. The truth is that Ralph Lauren has designed exclusive luxury dresses for first ladies like Hillary Clinton, regardless of the political tune of the brand. Even so, dressing the first lady has led the brand to lower its sales. Something similar happened to brands like Macy or Lord & Taylor, who dressed Donald Trump’s eldest daughter (Ivanka Trump) and also had to face several comments over the Internet.
As expected, after the dispute, Ralph Lauren’s blue dress has been the center of all sorts of criticism. The two most commented have been: resembling one of the scenes of the movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), in which the fancy dress looks like the uniform of the Beauxbatons school. The second similarity that the audience has found is with the dress of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, that used for the investiture of her husband John F. Kennedy in 1961.
It should be noted that other designers have publicly announced that they will never wear the first lady, as is the case of Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs. However, others have announced that they would be delighted, as is the case of Tommy Hilfiger or Carolina Herrera.
Loving the glitter and marking her silhouette in tight luxury dresses, the wife of the President of the United States has left that style behind to continue to highlight its beauty in a more discreet and elegant.
She replaces the fur coats to wear coats of classic cut and also, the lover of the lace has decided to continue taking it but of another form. In the following photograph we see as in one of the fashion event she attended, bet on the cleavage on his chest pretending to go uncovered. However in one of the last dinners with the Catholic Church, she decides to wear the lace in a much more subtle, covering her arms of precious lace that made her shine.
After being a model, Melania began to get more and more into the business world, and that’s when she began to wear more discreet clothes and according to the environment in which she began to move.
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 29: Model Melania Trump leaves the “Good Afternoon America” taping at the ABC Times Square Studios on August 29, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)
What more designers will be willing to dress Melania Trump?
Preloved products: the new market
In recent years, thrift stores have gained great importance in the market. However, those products that seemingly are inaccessible to most, are more accessible because of luxury thrift stores. Chanel handbags, the Birkin handbag by Hermès, Versace or Dior designer luxury dresses, Gucci’s latest by Tom Ford or luxury vintage clothing are some of the most sought-after items searched for consumers.
Many are those who think that buying luxury products in these types of stores takes away the prestige of whoever buys it. However, we can say that is the opposite. If an item is in perfect condition and I can also get it cheaper, why would not I buy it? Let’s say that buying cheaper second-hand luxury goods is a symbol of intelligence and not of smear.
Only a couple of years ago that online commerce began to be booming and there are still many people who distrust this type of service. It is logical that these are parts that can be obtained much cheaper, but still remain expensive. The ideal thing to take confidence in this type of purchase is to start with luxury accessories, since its cost is lower and it is not so afraid to “lose” that money in the event that the purchase was a scam.
The first thing to look for when buying in a second-hand online store of luxury products is social networks like Pinterest or Instagram: the user profile is real if you have many followers and publications. The second of the things to keep in mind is in the form of payment: the safest for this type of commerce is PayPal. Why? Check it out in this article and answer all your doubts. The third but not least, we must look at user ratings either on their website or on other platforms where they are selling their products such as Ebay.
Now comes the second question: how do I know if the article I’m interested in is authentic? It is one of the biggest fears when buying online. In our case, Luxury and Vintage Madrid has a team of professionals who analyze the product and confirm that it is 100% authentic before taking the photos of the product to put it on sale. The process is thorough, which analyzes the material and composition of the product, logos, engraving, serial numbers, invoices … ultimately, analyze the smallest detail to ensure the quality standard for to be able to sell the product.
When buying on the Internet is also very important to look at the pictures of the product and its description: the more photos in which we can see the details, the better. In addition, in the case of a product description that has a defect, it is important to see what it is, and if we can provide a photograph with that defect, perhaps when we see it does not seem such a big problem for not buying it.
In addition, this new type of web pages not only benefit people who want to purchase a product: also, for those who want to sell it. Normally, there is a “consign” section in which you send your product to the company and they upload it to their website after having passed the authenticity check. The objective? That you sell your product faster. When it comes to trusting this type of service, you should be aware of the type of percentage or commission that the company takes, as it can sometimes be quite high. In our case, if you want to know more about our procedure of consignment, we attach the section of our web page with the specifications to consign.
From Luxury and Vintage Madrid, we offer you the seriousness, the quality and the loyalty so that you trust in us to the 100%. We sell quality and authenticity at the best price. Luxury items for both men and women, with all quality standards in order and a secure payment method. What more could you ask for?
Loewe’s Amazon bag, Hermès’ famous Birkin or Constance bags, or Chanel’s classic 2.55 are some of the items our customers are already enjoying because of their trust in us.
What are you waiting for?
Bimba Bosé dies at 41 years old
Yesterday January 23, Eleonora Salvatore González, better known as Bimba Bosé, died due to the cancer against whom she had been fighting for more than two years.
Daughter of Alessandro Salvatore and Lucía González Bosé, niece of the well-known singer Miguel Bosé, and mother of 12-year-old Dora and her daughter June, the result of her marriage to the director and musician Diego Postigo (whose relationship came to an end in 2013 ).
She was born on October 1, 1975 in Rome, and throughout her career, she was well known for being a singer, designer, DJ and model (coming to parade in London, New York, Paris and Milan). He has worked together with photographers recognized worldwide in the world of fashion such as Mario Testino and Steven Meisel. She has been an image of brands like Gucci and cover of magazines like Vogue and Harpeer’s Bazaar. In addition, was muse of the famous fashion spanish designer David Delfín (who also suffers of cancer).
In the year 2016, Bimba Bosé told the media that she suffered from bone, liver and brain metastases, regretting later because of the media’s repercussion.
Her last 48 hours were spent surrounded by her family and close friends, except Miguel Bosé, since the distance prevented him from coming in such a short time. As a tribute, the uncle of Bimba published this emotive sentence in their social networks:
“Good trip Bimba, my accomplice, my companion, my love, my beloved daughter. Guide me.”
In addition, her ex-husband Diego Postigo, has published in his private account of instagram a video in which Bimba Bosé is singing while he accompanies with the guitar.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPnmLZVF3SW/?taken-by=diegopostigo
A death that has undoubtedly caught us unawares and which, her eldest daughter Dora, has faced with full maturity by publishing the following words in his account of instagram:
“Thank you very much to all those who support me, and to know that today is not a day of sadness, because my mother is the one that least liked sadness. Today is a day to be happy for all those moments that we have lived and enjoyed it “
After the death of our beloved Bimba, the video in which Dora and she go singing together has become viral:
With only 24 years, 17 years younger than the model and singer, Charlie Centa (English model) began his relationship with Bimba 4 years ago, being a great support for her. Also the young model had to see his mother march after the fight against the cancer. A loving life partner and in the workplace, Charlie traveled with her Spanish geography to work as dj’s, which sometimes became a trio along with the collaboration of David Delfín.
The team of Luxury and Vintage Madrid gives the most sincere condolences to the relatives and dear friends of Bimba. Much encouragement for these hard times.
Today is Kate Moss birthday
Coinciding with this Blue Monday (or the saddest Monday of the year), today is Kate Moss´ birthday. It´s been 43 years since Kate arrived to this world, but was on the age of 14 when Sarah Daukas (the founder of the agency model Storm) found her at the airport of John F. Kennedy on the year 1988.
The most important year for her was 1992. After being discovered, Calvin Klein wanted Kate Moss in his catwalk to promote the first line of perfumes of the brand. Since then, she has worked with some of the best brands in the world of fashion: Gucci, Dolce&Gabbana, Versace, Chanel, Missoni, Dior, Burberry and much more.
In 2012, she placed second on the Forbes list of the most sought supermodels after having invoiced $ 9.2 million from May 2011 to May 2012 for clients such as Longchamp, Mango, Rimmel, Vogue Eyewear and TopShop.
After several drug scandals, Moss remains one of the most influential supermodels in the world of fashion ( In 2007, TIME magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world), after Kate was considered in the 1990s as the anti-supermodel.
After her relationship during 1994 to 1998 with the famous actor Johnny Deep, the supermodel married Jamie Hince, guitarist for The Kills, from which she separated in the summer of 2015. Later, she began dating Nikolai von Bismarck, a young 29-year-old photographer from German Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck.
Happy birthday Kate!
Bye Thanksgiving. Hello Black Friday
Since 1893 Thanksgiving has been celebrating on the fourth Thursday of November. When it ends, we say hello to Black Friday: the day which we have been waiting for a year!
Many trades have been celebrating this day. The truth is that this is our first year with the promotion and we are very happy that you can finally use our discounts to acquire cheap luxury clothing online. You only hace to enter the code during checkout: black15
We have a great variety of designer dresses, pre-loved brands like Missoni, Dior, Elie Tahari, Versace or Marc Jacobs. Of course, for this time of year bison wraps are one of our strengths. In particular this exclusive model of Nelsy Chelala:
Fur coats such as the one shown below by Giorgio Armani,
or these models by Armani Jeans and Donna Karann:
For men who like to dress well and with top quality luxury clothes, we have exclusive designs for the coming holidays, as well as to prepare them for the cold.
These are our suggestions but of course, you could find much more luxury pre-owned clothes that you´ll love for the rest of your life here.
BVLGARI: creative excellence
1884 is the year in which this luxury brand was founded. Rome is its headquartered and jewelery, watches, perfumes, leather goods and hospitality, their specialties, belonging to the conglomerate LVMH.
We all pronounce with U but is written with V: the classical Latin alphabet where V is pronounced as a U and comes from the surname of its founder Sotirios Voulgaris.
Its first store in Paramynthia (Epirus, Greece) still exists. One of the most important shop was inaugurated in Via Condotti, which was opened in 1905 with the help of his sons Constantino and Giorgio. Old Curiosity Shop was called with the idea of attracting customers proviniesen from United States and Britain.
After the death of Sotirios, their children are those who remain at the helm of the company. The 50´s and 60´s are very important to the store, because it see celebrities as Elizabeth Taylor, Marlene Dietrich, Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Romy Scheider or Gina Lollobrigada, coming into the store.
In the 70´s its first installations were based in New York, Paris, Geneva and Monte Carlo. So they have nearly 230 stores worldwide. Was Francesco Trapani, manager of the company, who made BVLGARI was known worldwide.
All sections covering BVLGARI have undergone considerable evolution. But without any doubt, we have been able to live the evolution of their jewelry from the 20´s. At this time, geometry and Art Decó are the main characters in addition to the platinum, main material with which its jewels were produced from the beginning. In the 30 colors invade the brand and sapphires, emeralds and rubies are combined with different varieties of diamonds. In addition, at this time some of its jewelry could be converted, that is, could be both necklace and bracelet, like their pins.
After II World War , the house changes the platinum to the gold. Thus, their products were much lighter elements but however, the quantity of diamonds that include was less. His style changed and focus more on creating pieces of Italian Renaissance style and Greco-Roman classicism.
In the 50´s, with the recovery of the war, he returns to the crimping platinum and more symmetrical, natural and compact, jewelry are created with the most beautiful gemstones in their designs.
However, in the 60´s, the Pop Art influences considerably in style and oriental designs jewelry with form like a snake. The style change gives rise to the Stars and Stripes collection that was applauded by Andy Warhol. Oval elements succeed in signing and the use of diamonds or gold chain BVLGARI, one of his identifying signs.
The 80´s are characterized by volume, color and simple forms, while 90´s are identified with yellow gold.
All the developments that have suffered the brand, is what makes it one of the BVLGARI luxury brands known worldwide. Some pieces with a price difficult to reach for many and more affordable for others. But without a doubt, quality parts, you know it will be for life.
We leave you with one of its products, which is currently available on our website: metal glasses style cat eye with a 100% ultraviolet protection, which have in their temples a beautiful braided detail. Simply glasses that have fallen in love from the moment they came into our hands. You can see them here. Hope you enjoy them!
See you soon with new blogs about the best of fashion.
Queen of Tiffany&Co: Elsa Peretti
In 1940 was born one of the promises of fine jewelry from Tiffany & Co: Elsa Peretti. Daughter of the famous Nando Peretti, president of the Italian Association of Oil (API), not lacking anything in life with his father’s checkbook. However, she wanted to be useful and not live on the fortune of his father.
<<I was born in 1940, with a very pretty mother, who had an extraordinary style. Her clothes were impeccable and I got used to go perfect. The first years of my life I wore the clothes of my sister, six years older, or I had some seamstresses who insisted on making me very long dresses to last me time.>>. She confesses that his mother was an intellectual and remembers surrounded by friends drinking tea and smoking a lot, like her. The Italians wore by the great couturiers of the time and belonged to a typical Italian family of the 50s.
At 21, Elsa ran away from home. His mother begged her to come home, but after several failed attempts, Elsa decided to make his life in Switzerland being Italian teacher, skiing teacher and various tasks. After studying interior design and working in the studio of the designer Dado Torrigiani, she went to live in Barcelona.
She began working as a model for photographers such as Oriol Maspons or Leonardo Pomé. Helmut Newton was also one of the photographers who remained day and night with her.He was commissioned to portray the famous rabbit ears for Playboy magazine.
Soon she conquered the look of Dalí, becoming his muse and with whom he maintained a great friendship. In the sentimental field, she was in love with the sculptor Xabier Corberó, who unwittingly honed her future as a jewelry designer.
Years later, New York became her city. She rubbed shoulders with photographers and designers and criticized each other without any problem. At that time it was when she met the designer Halston, who introduced her to Harry Platt, president of Tiffany & Co. He managed to enter the company instantly and the first material with which she started to work silver. Later glass, silk and Japanese lacquer became his allies, all manipulated by the great creativity that she possessed.
With her comes the modern jewelry. Her designs so feminine, pendants, earrings, rings, chains bean-shaped, heart or starfish, jellyfish, tears, apples, snakes seeds and all kinds of nature-related elements composing the designs of the artist and that to this day, continue to enthrall us like the first.
Fendi
Adele Casagrande was in charge of giving life in 1918 to the Italian fashion brand Fendi. The brand name originates from her marriage in 1925 with Edoardo Fendi.
There are about 1200 stores worldwide, all with Karl Lagerfeld´s hands, the creative director of the brand.
Clothing ready-to-wear, perfumes, sunglasses and watches are some of their products and they all belong to the LVMH group.
Together with his 5 daughters (Paola, Anna, Franca, Carla and Alda) his first business was born in the 60s and sold primarily skin handbags and worked by hand. Adele inculcated from the outset the idea that “the family united will never be defeated”, being them responsible for carrying out the brand logo, the double F, one of the most famous and prestigious brands worldwide.
Together, the five, you complement one another wing; separate … I don´ t know what to say
-Adele Casagrande
The brand is proud to have presented one of the first bags it at the time, and now has more than 600 versions. His name is Baguette, and every season is renewed for between about 30 and 40 new versions. Until 2007 and they have sold more than 800.00 copies. Its creator was at the request of Lagerfeld, Silvia Fendi, daughter of Anna Fendi.
The idea was to make a beautiful little bag for the day; something very Roman, probably: go out and break a rule. It was not functional at all, was small and went against the dominant aesthetic
-Silvia Fendi
Such was the success of the bag that Sharon Stone, Jennifer Lopez and Sarah Jessica Parker have been some of the lucky ones to have this bag. And it is that as stated by Silvia own:
Me gusta pensar que nuestro bolso es algo que guardas para dárselo a tu hija, que se trata de un objeto más que de un simple bolso
-Silvia Fendi
Olivier Rousteing: the little genius of Balmain
With only 31 years just fulfilled, Olivier Rousteing is a benchmark in the fashion industry. He was born in Bordeaux on 13 September 1985 and was in 2011 when he was appointed creative director of Balmain. It has now 5 years at the helm of the firm and the prognosis is to stay in this house for much longer.
At the age of 1 year, Olivier was adopted by a family. From Bordeaux went to Paris to fulfill his dream, studying at ESMOD (Ecole Superieure des Arts et Techniques de la Mode). After graduating, he began designing with Roberto Cavalli (from whom he learned his impatience), where he also met the designer Peter Dundas and which coincide in other houses like Emilio Pucci. From him he learned to be more perfectionist and thanks to both, the young designer managed to acquire the skills and qualities needed to become the great designer he is.
After his move from Cavalli when he was only 18, after 6, the designer left the firm to be in front of Balmain, because he looked more reflected the identity of the firm for being more “glamorous and sexy”. This was as a replacement of Christophe Decarnin, who left the house after a big depression. Following the same line and style, Olivier bases his designs while preserving the essence of Balmain, with feminine, daring and sexy designs also he performed Decarnin, always providing a personal touch.
Some consider him the spoiled child of fashion. And it is that models adore him and his designs and he has all models as Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner or Alexandra Ambrossio on a pedestal.
One of his most famous collections, a collection for H & M (one of the most media and awaited at that moment), revolutionize the fashion lovers and had very good result that November 5, 2015, day when he presented the collection.
One of the first items that were taught to the world before releasing the collection, was this dress that went on a selling price of 500 euros.
“H & M has given me a unique opportunity to bring the universe Balmain to everyone”
-Olivier Rousteing
We are confident that Olivier Rousteing will head the brand for much longer, because we love his designs and style. A young man wanting to do what he likes and we have no doubt, because his love for fashion is reflected in each and every one of the items that come out of their hands.
PRADA: one of the most popular luxury brands
Last Thursday, the movie The Devil Wears Prada, birth 10 years. On the occasion of its anniversary celebration, there is no better way to reminisce about the film that talking about the brand.
The famous luxury brand was founded in Milan (Italy) in 1913. Its creator was Mario Prada under the name Fratelli Prada (Prada Brothers). However, it was thanks to his granddaughter Miuccia Prada, when the brand became one of the premier international fashion. She did not seem very prepared for the position to occupy; however, she had a sense for aesthetics exquisite and different.
The brand began mainly with the production of handbags, luggage and shoes. Later, air travel began to be one of the first transports of this type of clientele. However, customers began to be unhappy because the material used for these bags was walrus skin and was very heavy. Thus, Prada focused more on creating hand luggage and suitcases, but this time leather and waterproof. Under the direction of Miuccia enters the field competence in the same sector: Gucci. Therefore, she decides to give a twist to the production of the brand and is when Prada begins to manufacture its luxury clothes ready-to-wear.
Following the completion of the first backpack by Miuccia, black and waterproof in 1970, arrived in 1985 one of the most emblematic of the history of fashion handbags: its black, classic and simple bag, which in turn was robust and functional. A bag was launched with an entry price quite high but also sold and soon began to have many imitators. The decisive year of the brand was 1989, in which Miuccia presented her first collection of ready-to-wear and was so successful that the brand brought up considerably.
Already in the 90s Prada was a globally recognized brand, not only for its high prices, but behind them are luxury materials, simple but at the same time we get in love with them. As main colors black, brown, gray, green and cream. All this made the brand has that special appeal and whose essence continues to this day. An exclusive brand season after season has managed to remain the brand to the concept of it.
One of its affiliates (Miu Miu), for younger people and low cost of Prada line, was created in 1992 and acquired Fendi, which then eventually sold to LVMH.
Later, in 2003, Prada began to collaborate with the Spanish firm Puig for the manufacture of perfumes and later in the 2006 is when The Devil Wears Prada premiere, a film starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. After its premiere, the brand begins to have even more popularity. But however and although it seems a contradiction, the film does not talk about Prada. It was just a way of referring to it as something exclusive.
Hedi Slimane: from his inception to his last tweets
“Nobody has achieved notoriety and relevance like Slimane with exclusively male designs”
– El País
Born in Paris in 1968, he studied art history at the Academy of Louvre. He is also a photographer and has always been linked to the world of music, enough to be the designer of groups like The Strokes or Babyshambles began working in the fashion world with brands like Louis Vuitton and Yves Saint Laurent (already in the year 1997), and so in 2000 Christian Dior opens its doors to become the creative director of Dior Homme.
Hedi Slimane managed to create a new aesthetic for man silhouettes by the use of skinny pants (trend already marked by Raf Simons, the new creative director of Calvin Klein) and some androgynous designs. They even say that Karl Lagerfeld lost 30 kilos to wear one of his designs. With his new creations, the designer revives for seven years a new trend in the predominantly black and white and the definition of the silhouette of men.
In 2007 the designer leaves Dior Homme to exploit his own designs out of the brand. Later, in 2012 he became creative director of Yves Saint Laurent, and with its entrance just renamed Saint Laurent. Its name changed to differentiate the brand in Haute Couture and ready-to-wear, and it was a way to relive the golden age of Saint Laurent in the 60s.
Recently, in April of this year, Slimane is replaced by Anthony Vacarrello. His departure is still very controversial after his last tweets posted on the social network because it is said that lash out against the Yves Saint Laurent brand and criticizing the absence of “Yves” during his leadership.
To this, the designer has defended several arguments, such as that during his legacy, bags still retained the “Y”, in the parade of 2015 threw confetti with the three initials of the famous logo and even create a line jewelry with more than 100 charms in which “YSL” was included.
And now is added the dispute that has the designer with the brand, a dispute which reaches 13 million dollars. The debt comes from the beginning of Slimane in the brand, in which the non-competition clause is not signed: this clause prevents you from working for a year with strong competition, and at the time seemed right to Hedi. Now the designer and photographer has sued them because he wants to sign the clause and remain during one more year Yves Saint Laurent receiving the same salary he would receive if he were really working for the firm.
The gossips say that is one of the candidates to replace Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel. But we would have to wait one more year (or more). What would happend? Only time will tell us.
Balenciaga: One of the most important designers of Haute Couture
No woman can make herself chic if she is not chic herself.
-Cristóbal Balenciaga
Balenciaga is known for being one of the most important Haute Couture fashion designers. He was born on January 21, 1895 in the Basque Country and since he was a little boy, loved drawing the designs he saw while dreamed of becoming dressmaker, like his mother.
His career began thanks to the VII Marquesa de Casa Torres, who saw him so enthusiastically while preparing his creations that decided to give him a piece of cloth so that copied one of her stylish dresses. The result was so spectacular that became his maecenes.
Eisa was the name of his first store, in honor of his mother’s surname and expanded to Madrid and Barcelona, making the Spanish royal family and the aristocracy dressed their designs, as it had a mastery of sewing and handling exquisite cloths. So much that even the Coco Chanel said:
It is the only one of us who is a true “couturier”
-Coco Chanel
Weight cloths with hand embroidery, sequins, rhinestones, collarless coats square, the Japanese or the tunic dress are some of the clothes that define this Spanish designer.
Very quickly he made confidence with high society: Greta Garbo, Grace Kelly, Fabiola of Belgium, Mona Von Bismarck, Barbara Hutton, Gloria Guiness, Pauline de Rothschild, Marella Agnelli, Marlene Dietrich, Ingrid Bergman or the Duchess of Cadiz. All this thanks to its high standards and its method of exacting work.
We should also mention that he had an obsession to find the perfect sleeve. He was able to discard an entire garment for not having the perfect sleeves. For him, it should be a sleeve that will accommodate all movements without disfiguring the silhouette of customers. Otherwise, the garment was invalid. Such was his obsession that even his guests returned home without shelter more than once because Balenciaga was left them at his workshop to make perfect sleeves. One of his victims went to the same Hubert de Givenchy.
After the massive influx of designers who made street fashion, Balenciaga finally closed the doors of his workshops in 1968. Another reason that led the designer close the stores were economic reasons and also by surprise, because none of its employees known about the closure.
After his retirement, he returned only to design the wedding dress of Carmen Martinez-Bordiu, becoming the latest creation of the designer. In it, he used twenty silver spools of thread, more than 10,000 pearls, 2,500 glossy small, 2,200 medium and 1,700 large, with pearl and crystal.
Unfortunately, Balenciaga died on March 24, 1972 of a heart attack. Later in his hometown, they make a museum in which we can find some of his designs.
Thierry Mugler: the inspiration for Lady Gaga designs
Well, it’s all about looking good, helping the silhouette…and all about getting a great fuck, honey.
-Thierry Mugler
Thierry Mugler was born in Strasbourg (France) in 1948 and was one of the most popular designers of the 80s.
He left his job as a dancer to engage in the world of fashion and coinciding with the rise of Yves Saint Laurent, start designing. So in 1973 he presented his first women’s collection and after its success founded his own brand.
He managed to mark a before and after in the runaways with Claude Montana and Jean Paul Gaultier, returning the glamorous to the Parisian catwalks.
His designs were based on the comic, science fiction or zoology and through these factors make their catwalks a show, being one of the forerunners of fashion shoulder pads. The crow and the vinyl were their main allies and has been criticized for using in his designs because it looked so misogynistic and fetishistic.
He wanted his shows to be perfect, so he was the responsible for carrying the lighting and styling of his own parades.
With the end of the twentieth century, it begins the era of minimalism and that is how the aesthetics of Mugler got into decline, confirming his retirement in 2002. In 2003 he began to devote himself to the staging of shows, from choreography to costume for special effects.
Still, the brand continues mainly with the line of perfumes (property of Clarins brand, one of its main sources of income). Artists like Beyoncé or Lady Gaga are fortunate to bring some of his designs, especially Gaga. Nicola Formichetti is the Italo-Japanese designer and stylist who dressed the singer with Mugler designs. Therefore he proposed to Mugler be the new creative director of the brand to revive it. It was only with the brand a couple of years, until finally was signed by the company Diesel.
Right now, the creative director of the brand is David Koma, retaining some of the essence of Mugler designs but being more discreet.
Rihanna's new collection is inspired in Marie Antoinette
If Maria Antonieta went to the gym and needed something to wear
-Rihanna
Paris, the city of love, was in charge of receiving the new collection of Rihanna “Fenty x Puma“. According to the singer, this city represented much better the new collection that New York.
Since 2014 Rihanna is the creative director of Puma and since she is in the firm, Puma sales have grown much more. The singer and designer do not create sport clothes but they are creations to bring in the day a day and that’s the key.
Her last collection includes items of a single color, with predominantly for example pastel pink, khaki green, lilac or skin color. We can thus find hats, dresses, sweat shirts, hoods and even corsets with vintage accessories and charged makeup, which were exhibited in the luxurious palace Salomon de Rothschild in Paris. The majority of the collection is designed for women but we could also appreciate some designs exclusively for men, and the tissues chosen by Rihanna were not particularly focused on making sport: for example, satin.
In addition to good singer, we have seen that at the moment Rihanna experience in the fashion world has been pretty good. He has collaborated with the major shoe designer Manolo Blahnik or with the prestigious fashion company Dior, and her success after the first collection made for Puma has opened the way to be an important benchmark in young fashion.
We have no doubt that Rihanna will surprise us soon with more of her designs and that as before, we´ll fall in love as much as their latest interventions in the world of fashion.
Lauren Hutton at the runway of Bottega Veneta
I don´t want to pretend I’m younger than I actually am.
-Lauren Hutton
Lauren Hutton acquired her fame between 70 and 80, and she was one of the first models to be mannequin of a famous brand of cosmetics (one of the best known, Revlon, with whom she signed in 1974 and was one of the most expensive in history), besides appearing in films such as American Gigolo and Once Bitten.
Ex model and actress, managed to become one of the mainstays for fashion and beauty in USA, and she has managed the cover of several magazines of prestige.
She soon dropped out of college and was willing to live the hippie era in all its splendor, until the director of Vogue, Dianne Vreeland, got the prestigious photographer Richard Avedon, did a photo shoot with her. This has got to be more than 30 times cover for this magazine.
Recently, she has surprised us in the parade of Bottega Veneta at the Milan Fashion Week, along with celebrity fashion Gigi Hadid. To celebrate 50 years of the brand (now in command Thomas Maier, creative director of the brand), Thomas wanted to highlight the importance of lasting beauty with a collection adapted to all women.
We must reflect on women and what they want and need. We must think of all the existing variety of women there, and in all ages.
– Tomas Maier.
In addition the brand, developed a version of the bag that the former model and actress Lauren Hutton wore in the film American Gigolo.
Chanel runway: Futuristic and with new technologies
So Chanel has managed to approach a younger audience: through futuristic and new technologies.
For some time now, we are in the millenial generation, obsessed with fashion brands and fashion around the world, every moment, every brand. It is therefore no wonder that Chanel has decided to set its runaway alluding to this generation that is sweeping wherever he goes. Attached to it, the scenery was stunning and was based on Big data, which has made the Grand Palais in Paris became for a few minutes in a total space atmosphere.
With this scenery we´re not talking about made a critic to the world of the digital, but they have tried to venture into these new generations without us realizing it. His designs have been the most representative of the brand: the legendary bag 2.55 or two-piece tweed. However, the clothes were wrapped by LED lights, colored wires and cathode ray tubes and also show off a futuristic models with masks simulating robots with a very similar Star-Wars aesthetics. Next to them, a renewal of footwear that Karl Lagerfeld wanted to do with the classic signature bicolor shoes and white flat shoes.
In addition, one of the details of this runaway is that we can see how all the models look a cap sideways and backwards, a new look that we have already seen in many of the millennials at the moment and that is winning (and so it seems to continue triumphing up within a couple of years).
No doubt this is how Chanel has managed us to fall in love again with their amazing designs and in this case also with a start scene worthy of admiration, although fashion doesn´t understand about ages.
