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 .
Tag: cool
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.
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 …).
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Want to look cool? Here we have the trends for this winter
Fashion Week is about to present collections for the next year and taking this opportunity, we have to remind the best looks that will be wearing for this season.
One of the star items of the season is the sailor coat. Dark blue tones with stripes and gold buttons, a classic winters and not only will be in the shelters: we can also find them in costumes this year, stripes and navy, which will add a touch to your serious and formal look.
Next to him, another type of shelter will be the patent. It does not matter whether a trench coat or a raincoat, patent leather is fashionable. Of course, we don´t want to shelve the famous coats of hair collar for more trifles: do not worry, it is also one of the trends for this winter 2016.
We will make no distinction of colors or formats: padded coats again become both short and long. But if you have an evening event try using a bolero, as the garment that was both fashionable among the 50s and 60s, is back in fashion years later.
Like most spring or fall? Do not worry, because for the fall season dresses with floral prints have even a little darker tones.
After a few seasons with the metallic shades, after enduring success this year still so … bring them out of the closet and wear them!
In addition, we continue with sporty style with hoodies, camel color and velvet.
What are you waiting for?