Giorgio Armani will open a concept store on Fifth Avenue on February 18, 2009, offering Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, Armani Jeans, EA7, Armani Casa and Giorgio Armani Beauty, as well as exclusive products from both Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani.

About the project Armani has said: “A really exciting challenge, that is how I would describe our new concept store, Armani Fifth Avenue in New York. It is a special project requiring a degree of courage, as it brings together in one space different elements such as Armani Jeans and Emporio Armani side by side with Giorgio Armani. I was determined to send out a clear message of change, interpreting the current trend for mixing genres, juxtaposing items in different price brackets. You could say that this is a provocative move uniting in the same place and with the same furnishings, without visible boundaries, the various collections that combine to from the entire Armani universe. This freedom of expression defines for me the spirit of Fifth Avenue: a prestigious shopping destination, of course, but one that is less exclusive in character than comparable addresses, with a democratic mood which I am certain represents the future.”

There will be a full-service restaurant and Armani Dolci will be available for the first time in the United States. As it houses Armani’s multiple lines as well as a restaurant, the new concept store is sure to draw comparisons to his extravagant Milan outlet.

Madison Avenue is graced by wealth of fine jewelry boutiques.

Brazilian designer Jack Vartanian is opening his first store in North America at 996 Madison Avenue. The store, located in the 1927 landmark building The Mark, was designed by the Arthur Mattos Casas firm and was intended to evoke the Brazil of today. Dark chocolate brown is predominant color, and the space is accented with reflective glass, raw wooden materials and natural woven fibers.

Anne Hathaway, Kate Hudson and Cameron Diaz are all reported fans. “I am fashion-conscious when it comes to jewelry and am inspired by what I feel a woman needs to finish a look,” says Jack Vartanian.

The Brazilian designer operates five other successful stores in Sao Paulo and he plans to open more stores in Los Angeles, Asia and Europe in 2009.

Christian Louboutin is designing a pair of heels in the legendary Barbie Pantone 219 Pink, which will make their debut at the special runway show that Mattel Inc. is staging during New York Fashion Week next February.

As part of Barbie’s 50th birthday, 50 designers will produce outfits for the classic doll, and each of the 50 models will be wearing the pink Louboutins at the show.

“I guess I always had a little girlie side who liked Barbie,” Louboutin said. “Barbie needs to wear great shoes because every girl needs to wear great shoes.”

]]> http://www.juliettelonguet.com/blog/2008/12/louboutin-to-design-heels-for-barbie/feed/ http://www.juliettelonguet.com/blog/2008/12/caudalie-launches-first-us-spa-at-the-plaza/ http://www.juliettelonguet.com/blog/2008/12/caudalie-launches-first-us-spa-at-the-plaza/#comments Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:11:44 +0000 juliette http://www.juliettelonguet.com/blog/?p=385 Caudalie has opened the first Vinothérapie Spa in the United States at The Plaza. Caudalie revolutionized the spa world in 1999 when they pioneered Vinothérapie by harnessing the untapped, restorative power of grapes. The beloved skin-care line has its origins in the Bordeaux vineyards, as grape extracts are known for their medicinal powers.

This 8000 square-foot-spa will feature 14 treatment rooms, Vichy shower, private VIP treatment suite, Vinothérapie Spa signature barrel spa bath, Hammam steam rooms, and the serene Caudalie “French Paradox” wine lounge, serving the family wine, Grand Cru Château Smith Haut Lafitte.

The English fashion designer is known for using vivid prints and Indian influences in his creations.

“Matthew has such a good eye and a way for working with prints that he mixes up in a new way. When he combines these things, you get a very contemporary London look. It’s for people who want to look special, but his clothes can also be worn in a nonchalant way, you can really play around with them. He is fantastic with piling on color, it’s a very stylish collaboration for H&M, and very much in line with the way we’re thinking about fashion for spring/summer, “says Margareta Van Den Bosch, Creative Advisor at H&M. His clothes are worn regularly by celebrities such as Sienna Miller, Keira Knightley, Kate Hudson and Gwyneth Paltrow.

The designer, who recently split from Emilio Pucci to focus on his own label, is opening his first U.S. flagship in the Meatpacking District early next year.

Miu Miu’s third Manhattan outpost has opened in the former home of Jil Sander on 57th Street. Shiny, golden, three floors and 4,860 square feet, it symbolizes everything the economy is not.

Patrizio Bertelli, Prada’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said that “Miu Miu, with its strong and independent identity, has reached in just a few years a worldwide success and recognition. The growth registered in all of its sectors confirms its position as one of the global reference brands in the luxury industry. The opening of the new store on 57th Street in New York is consistent with this approach and with the brand’s values.”

The flagship will feature a gallery on its third floor which will be devoted to special events revolving around art, culture and fashion. The first exhibit called “Modern Portrait Gallery” consists of renditions of Miu Miu ad campaigns starring celebrities like Kisten Dunst, Vanessa Paradis, Lou Doillon, Lindsay Lohan and Chloe Sevigny.

“M.A.C has been mining pop culture since the brand was founded”, said John Demsey, Group President of Estée Lauder Cos. Inc. “This is a sexy and innocent fashion line, and a true M.A.C moment. In these times, everyone can use a little fun and a little Kitty.”

“The partnership was a no-brainer”, said James Gager, Senior Vice President and Creative Director of M.A.C Worldwide.”We cater to people who love to play with makeup.”

There will be two M.A.C Hello Kitty Collections: the Hello Kitty Color Collection and the more high-end Hello Kitty Kouture. “We wanted to have affordable luxury and a high-low aspect, so it made sense to do the Hello Kitty Color Collection and Hello Kitty Kouture, “said John Demsey.

The line will be bright, colorful and fun. It will feature lipstick, lip glosses, eye shadows, pigment, glitter, nail polish, and more in shades of pink, turquoise, lavender and green.

A waiting list will go live on January 7 on maccosmetics.com. And John Demsey promises the surprises aren’t over.”There will be more products to come in the next three months with this partnership,” he said.

For its flagship store on Fifth Avenue, Louis Vuitton covers the facade of the building with Takashi Murakami’s iconic Monogram Multicolore print.

Daniel Lalonde, CEO of Louis Vuitton North America said that “the idea to wrap the Fifth Avenue Maison in Monogram Multicolore came about earlier this year in an effort to do something truly unique for the holiday season and that the store’s white and glass facade lends itself to a variety of creative ideas. Louis Vuitton wanted to do something that was festive and exceptional, but at the same time true to the brand. Throughout the past year we have collaborated with Takashi Murakami on a variety of projects and thought his Multicolore print, displaying the Louis Vuitton monogram in 33 cheerful colors, would be a perfect combination of tradition and excitement.”

Takashi Murakami is one of the most thoughtful and thought-provoking Japanese artists of the 90’s. Murakami is internationally recognized for his collaboration with designer Marc Jacobs to create handbags and other products for the Louis Vuitton fashion house.

There is also the “Bag Bar” on the flagship’s mezzanine level. The bar, designed by Peter Marino, includes bar stools and installation of moving display fixtures to highlight different handbag styles.

It was a crazy rumor in August, and now it’s official. Alexander McQueen will be designing a line for Target. In March, the collection inspired by McQueen’s diffusion line McQ, will be the first one of the mega-retailer’s new “Designer Collaborations” series, which features established designers. The collection is inspired by The Duck Spirit, a British band. Indeed, lead singer Leila Moss was McQueen’s muse for the collection. The collection will have rock’n'roll influences and edgy details such as tattoo-print fabrics.

The line will be available in stores and online from March 1 to April 11, 2009. Prices haven’t been determined but the program will bring the styles of well-established designers at typical Target Price. Target said additional Designer Collections will be announced in the future. Each Collection will be available in stores for a limited time.

“Due to the financial climate, I had to make the decision to cancel the 2008 holiday party” Duffy said in an e-mail. “It pains me as this has been a Marc Jacobs tradition for the past 18 years. Hopefully it will be reinstated next year.”