Glamwire has been fortunate to land one of world’s foremost eyewear experts, Los Angeles based Erin Kathleen O’Brien. Here is EKOB’s first report.

Persol has long been synonomous with understated cool-Think Marcello Mastroianni in ‘La Dolce Vita’ (1960), and more recently, Daniel Craig as James Bond.

No one has made the brand more iconic than Steve Mc Queen. Arguably the King of Cool throughout the 1960’s and ’70’s. Persol eyewear was a large part of his badass persona. He rocked them in such films as ‘Baby the Rain Must Fall’ (1963), ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ (1968)-and of course, racing his Triumph through the Mojave in ‘The Great Escape’ (1963).

Mc Queen’s trademark frame, the Persol 714, has now been reintroduced by this Italian eyewear powerhouse. Renowned for it’s fine craftsmanship for over 50 years.

Handcrafted, with immpeccable meticulousness in both mechanical and aesthetic appeal, Persol is most easily recognized by it’s trademark ‘Supreme Arrow’. The equivelent to the excellence of the Mazzarati, a finely tuned, precsion work of Italian beauty.

So if you think you have the cojones to bring out your inner sophisticated rebel-check out the Persol Steve Mc Queen Special Edition 714’s…And by the way it folds down. Enough to fit in the pocket of your dusty jeans after a long day of racing your Jaguar SSK through out the ins and outs of Mulholland Drive…and sophisticated enough for that meeting at CAA…

E meraviglioso!!!

Hermes Proves Luxury’s Strength

•
Saks Stock Rises on Takeover Report

•
August Sales Seen Heavily Promotional

•
Catherine Malandrino Links With Lacoste

•
Macy’s to Offer Greg Norman Collection

•
Multi-purpose Items Find Fans at Chicago Collective

•
Zobha to Offer Men’s Yoga Line

•
Lacoste Said Naming Oliveira Baptista

•
China Investment Worries Grow

•
Kangol to Offer Everlast Hats

Lady Gaga Graces Vogue Hommes Japan Cover

William Curley Spices Up London’s Chocolate Scene

Nike’s U.S. Open Fashion Teaser Brings Out Tennis Stars

Related articles by Zemanta

• Lady Gaga reveals her masculine side for Vogue Hommes Japan (catwalkqueen.tv)
• Rebecca Minkoff Launching Footwear, Lady Gaga Gets Man Makeover for Vogue Hommes Japan (stylelist.com)
• “Lady Gaga is Jo Calderone for Vogue Hommes Japan Vol. 5 Preview” and related posts (designscene.net)
• Cover To Cover: Lady Gaga Mans Up For Vogue Hommes Japan (crunktastical.net)
• Lady Gaga on the cover of Vogue Hommes Japan (slamxhype.com)

Here is what Rz is saying right now: “TZR: You’ve Got Mail…Today’s envelope clutch turned bag courtesy of @Reece_Hudson is perfection for #nyfw. Loves.http://bit.ly/bo4Qx9

Related articles by Zemanta

• Rachel Zoe Shares Honeymoon Pictures (PHOTOS) (huffingtonpost.com)
• Zoya Nail Polish is a Rachel Zoe Pick (zoyanailpolish.blogspot.com)
• Rachel Zoe And Rodger Fake It For The Cameras [Reality Bites] (jezebel.com)
• Video: Rachel Zoe Talks Fall Trends on Regis and Kelly (shoppingblog.com)

New York, New York, August 26th–Tennis Pro Maria Sharapova wore SUNO’s Fitted Bodice MiniDress in Blue Aztec Heart for the launch of her Fall 2010 collection for Cole Haan.

SUNO Fitted Bodice Mini Dress retails for approximately $828 USD and can be found at Opening Ceremony and Enny di Monaco, and will soon be available for purchase at www.sunony.com. SUNO is a New York based fashion label founded in 2008 by Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty. To see past collections or to learn more about SUNO, please visit www.sunony.com.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Lookbook: Suno’s Fall/Winter 2010 Collection (fashionbombdaily.com)
• NYC Clothing Line Asks Local Kenyan Talent To Produce Entire Collection (hellobeautiful.com)
• The Insider | Max Osterweis (tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Maria Sharapova’s Graphic Print Dress: Hit Or Miss? (PHOTOS, POLL) (huffingtonpost.com)
• Maria Sharapova Goes Sky-High (style.com)

Gaye Watkins and the WJA’s Susuan Jauques at the  Women’s Jewelry Association Annual Awards for Excellence

The Women’s Jewelry Association got off to a glittering start at Pier 60 in NYC honoring several women for their excellence in the jewelry industry. Ivanka Trump, of Ivanka Trump Jewelry, spoke of her happiness to be a WJA awards presenter. The recipient of the Hall of Fame Award was Susan Jacques CEO and President of Warren Buffet’s Borsheim’s. She told me ”Its a blessing”  to be honored by her peers. I asked her to sum up the store in a few words. She replied its about ”emotion” and spoke of how proud she and her staff are  to be there for some of the most important moments in people’s lives. Said Jacques,  “I’ve seen guys cry and laugh … and I say, we’re there for their special occasions”.  Some supporters and suppliers to her store such as, JB Starr and Richline were also in attendance. Accepting her award she spoke of the importance of taking chances in life. Giving herself as an example, by coming to Borsheim’s family run business approximately in 1983  just to work for one year at $4 an hour just to get a little experience in the industry. She ended up staying on for years after. At one point in time, the original owners of Borsheim’s were stepping down from the business. Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway,(which is the parent company to Borsheim’s,) personally asked her, if she would take over as CEO. She thought at first “I didn’t hear him right”.  And the rest is history. Susan never afraid of challenges took on a new unplanned one head on. And at the age of 47 found herself again a new mother. Her son, now 3 years old has the added company of 2  much older brothers and her husband. Other people in the industry attended such as, Jewels Of Ocean’s Raymond Hakimi, and Esther Furhman of Demika. Furhman, now has a deal with retailer, Macy’s and is preparing to debut her self locking magnetic clasp. She owes the initial Macy’s introduction to previous connections at an earlier WJA event. She and her husband are also the team behind the creation of the company EggLand’s Best. Other nominees such as Charlene Hudson of Finks Jewelers in West Virginia, believes jewelry is not a male dominated business and a great one for women to excel. The night was a glow with women and men displaying fine jewelry. I spoke to Bella Cambell of Kaiser Gems, who deals with cutters and dealers in New York City and shared with me some gemstone alternatives available to people if they are seeking something similar to a ruby, sapphire, etc.. The message at this event Susan Jacques said best about business and life ”Be passionate about what you’re doing”, and that we are all “blessed to travel roads for experience that we never expected.”.

Under $500: The New Sweetspot

Ben sherman suit $475

There’s a new sweet spot in the men’s suit market.

With their popularity bolstered by the lingering recession, branded and private label offerings hovering in the $500 retail range are continuing to gain traction.

“The $495 suit has become a meaningful price point,” said Jim Ammeen, president and chief executive officer of Neema Clothing Ltd.

“We’ve definitely seen a large increase [at this price] over the past few years in both branded and private label merchandise,” said Ron Wurtzburger, president of Peerless Clothing International.

Brands such as Calvin Klein, DKNY, Lauren by Ralph Lauren and Haspel — strong names in the consumer’s mind — are among those getting a boost during these tough times. “Lauren and Calvin have gotten the biggest play,” Wurtzburger said of the labels he manufactures, “followed by DKNY. But there’s not one brand that we produce that hasn’t shown growth over the past three years.”

Ammeen said Haspel, which is undergoing a revitalization campaign under his company’s oversight, along with the BCBG and Emanuel Ungaro brands, has garnered more consumer attention. “And we think that will continue for the foreseeable future — at least for the next year or two,” he said.

The men’s suit market overall continues to feel the impact of the economic malaise that just won’t release its grip on the U.S. According to The NPD Group, overall suit sales in department stores dropped 10 percent in July 2010 compared with 2009 — and that was on top of a 24 percent decline in 2009 versus 2008. But suits that retail for less than $500 still account for a larger share of the business — 28.5 percent of all suits sold in that channel in the past year. In contrast, suits retailing for more than $500 accounted for 18.1 percent of sales this year.

Looking back at the two prior years — at the height of the recession — the market share for suits selling for less than $500 is even more dramatic. In July 2008, they accounted for 29.8 percent of all suits sold, and in July 2009 that number had risen to 31.2 percent.

During those same years, NPD reported, suits selling for more than $500 lost more ground. In July 2008, they accounted for 21 percent of the market, but by the summer of 2009 that had dropped to 16.8 percent — indicating that men who were still buying suits were buying cheaper ones.

Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst for NPD, said that even though the inexpensive suit market may have lost some ground in the past year, he attributed that in large part to the fickle young men’s customer. “Young men were buying suits as a fashion trend,” he said. “But that has changed. It’s not so much ‘Mad Men’ anymore. Now they’re back to staple items, wearing sport jackets, T-shirts and hats.”

Nevertheless, Cohen expects suit sales to increase as fall’s cool temperatures approach and men realize they need “to return to wearing a suit to hold onto their jobs.”

One retailer that may benefit from that change in mind-set is H&M.

Nicole Christie, a spokeswoman for the Swedish fast-fashion retailer, said the chain has seen steady growth in its men’s suit business over the past two years. “Our average price for a full suit is $249. In suit separates, blazers are priced at $129 and trousers are priced at $49.95. The popularity of the blazer as a separate has increased. We have maintained our average pricing on our suits over the past few years, and we find that our customers appreciate the high level of quality and fit that we offer at these price points.”

Christie said the stores’ most popular model is the slim fit — and that lightweight year-round woolens are the top fabric choice.

Ammeen said retailers that had previously sold suits with an opening price point of $695 to $795 have now lowered their offerings to the $595-or-below range. “Other retailers will bring in product in the $499 or $399 zone or do promotional deals where you buy two suits for $399,” he said. “There’s no question this is an active zone. That market has always been there, but when the bottom fell out of the business in 2008, it opened the door a little wider.”

Ammeen said the younger customer who might have reached for a suit selling for $600 to $700 before the recession is the one driving the $500-or-less market now. “A couple of hundred bucks makes a big difference these days,” he said.

He doesn’t expect the situation to change anytime soon. “It’ll inch up eventually, but not right away,” Ammeen said. “We need less uncertainty in the economy to see a major trade-up.”

Wurtzburger agrees. “The $500-and-under guy can’t go to $600,” he said.

However, for many suit manufacturers, keeping price points below the magic $495 retail price may get harder next year when they’re slammed by rising costs on both the material and production ends.

“It’s a domino effect,” Wurtzburger said. He projected that wholesale costs will increase by 5 to 10 percent as the market is hit by higher raw material, production and transportation costs.

“There’s no way to be able to escape it,” he added.

Wurtzburger said men’s tailored-clothing prices haven’t risen in at least eight years, so some price increases are inevitable. Nevertheless, he’s confident that he’ll be able to hit a $500-and-under price point for some styles within his company’s moderately priced brands. “The big companies have an advantage because we can get better deals, so we’ll be able to maintain those prices,” he said.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Personal Shoppers for Men (online.wsj.com)
• Selling a Dream of Elegance and the Good Life (time.com)
• Celebrate a Century of American Style by Showing off How You “Sport Your Seersucker” (eon.businesswire.com)
• Levi’s launches new global brand aimed at China (denimblog.com)
• Haspel to Expand into Men’s Outerwear (eon.businesswire.com)

IRO is a French fashion label founded in 2004 by brothers Laurent & Arik Bitton.  It is a favorite among chic Parisiennes such as Charlotte Gainsbourg, Vanessa Paradis, Melanie Laurent, and Lou Doillon.  Other ladies recently spotted in the brand include Kate Moss, Jessica Alba, Anne Hathaway, and Rihanna.   IRO may be found at Barneys, Saks Fifth Avenue, Scoop, Curve, Blue and Cream, and on shopbop.com.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Drew Barrymore Channels Harley Quinn (justjared.buzznet.com)
• Maggie Gyllenhaal And Drew Barrymore Out And About (imnotobsessed.com)
• “Drew Barrymore: ‘Justin Long is Great’” and related posts (showbizspy.com)
• Quote Of The Day: Justin Long On His Epic Love With Drew Barrymore (crushable.com)

Go to related article

Looks Under $500: Savvy Chic

---

+ Share

Related articles by Zemanta

• Look Beyond The Local Mall: 3 International Shopping Sites To Love (shefinds.com)
• Get the look: Sarah Jessica Parker in Donna Karan (myfashionlife.com)
• Olivia Palermo ASOS Magazine Cover (stylepantry.com)
• How to wear it: leather shorts (myfashionlife.com)
• EuroCheapo.com Announces the “Cheapo 100″ (prweb.com)