Oh, isn't this bear just adorable!?! Guess who it is! Yes! It is Karl Lagerfeld, the fashion legend and icon (current designer of Chanel, furs of Fendi of Italy, and his own label). When I saw this bear, all I could think about is how chibi and I would get a good chuckle out of this bear with our common weakness towards soft and fluffy plush toys. Then being curious and all, I went into Neiman Marcus.com to find out if I can afford it. Go ahead, take a stab at how much this is.
$1,500.
Ok, here we see the basic principle of supply-demand. Lagerfeld and his partner in crime, toy company Steiff, only made 2,500 of these to be sold worldwide. This creates a very limited supply on the highly desirable teddy bear (assumably because the 14.5"tall bear is the most fashionable concoction of alpaca wool, leather boots, and Swarovski crystals on the sleek silken tie and belt).
As a consolation, you can receive a FREE TOTE BAG* with any $175 kids' purchase (use code KIDGIFT). Honestly though, it is not really any consolation. What is more valuable is a drawing of the bear that is from the hands of Karl Lagerfeld and topped off with his signature. And you'll be sure to have it come in a nice box too. *shrug* What can I say? Fashion is extravagant!
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Karl Lagerfeld Bear
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Halloween is coming!
Pirate Wench Adult $44.97
(This costume features a tight brown corset covering a white frilly blouse and also comes with a ragged skirt. The hosiery, necklace, and sword are not included.)
Moonlight Vixen Adult $28.97
(Includes a poly cire top and mini skirt with lacing detail, thigh high lace up boot covers, glovelets and glitter bat wings.)
Mad Hatter Adult $53.97
(This three-piece costume features a top hat, shinny short shoulder cape and a shiny short dress.)
Be Feisty Feline Adult $59.97
(This Costume features a black catsuit with tail and ears. Shoes sold separately. Stretch Spandex.)
Since I was born on Halloween, I often had to eat dinner with my family instead of dressing up and partying with my friends. But inside, I've always dreamed of being in a crazy costume like the Be Feisty Feline Adult costume and of being a cat for a night. Or wearing the Mad Hatter Adult costume and indulging in nonsensical talk without feeling guilty or weird. I also love cosplay (dressing up as anime characters) and the Moonlight Vixen Adult costume reminded me of an anime vampire girl character (without that ugly wig). On the other hand, the picture of the Pirate Wench Adult costume makes me think of Kelly Preston. I'm not quite sure why. In any case, these costumes and more are available at CostumeDiscounters.com
Friday, October 03, 2008
Top of the Weaving Game
Miu Miu Woven Leather Tote, Large $1,595
This is why Bottega Veneta is the hallmark of making luxury woven bags. Compare these three woven bags made by top brand names. All have soft leather, though it's clear that Bottega is the most buttery soft out of the three. All three bags have woven details, but it's clear from the folds in the bags that Bottega is the only one that has perfected its weaving to perfection. By perfection, I mean that Bottega bags have the most balanced, sophisticated, and flexible woven details found to date, and they have impeccable style and workmanship too! Neither of the two other woven bags is ugly. But the weaving just isn't as pretty on them.
Bottega Veneta used to be a small and old Italian family firm that very few know about until Gucci took it over in 2001 and took it to greater heights, creating a wave of weave frenzy everywhere. I have friends who question why a woven bag can cost so much, especially since there is a gamut of woven bags on the market at a tiny fraction of Bottega's retail prices. All I can say is that it is one thing for top brands like Miu Miu and Ferragamo to attempt to ride on the wave of Bottega's weaving success by producing their own woven bags, it is another thing altogether when poor quality woven bags are produced ubiquitously, sold for $50 or less, and project the misconception that woven bags are easy to make and are worth very little. In fact, the weaving technique is very difficult and very time consuming. So please please please give some respect to those at the top of their game and learn to appreciate first rate woven bags known for their high caliber.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Pink Products for October
Here's the math:
BCRF = Breast Cancer Research Foundation
(Mission: To achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime)
October = National Breast Cancer Awareness month
(In its honor, here's a special, limited edition MICHAEL Michael Kors canvas tote)
Amount going to BCRF = $34.00
(Purportedly, 50% of the proceeds from the sale of this tote bag will be donated to BCRF)
Amount going to Michael Kors = $34.00
Cost of making tote (including overhead and opportunity costs) = your guess...
But is the cost really $34.00 or even close? I doubt it. Needless to say, Michael Kors is probably making a profit out of his act of do-gooding. And perhaps he should! Anyone buying the bag should realize that they are donating $34 to breast cancer research and $34 for the actual bag, which really doesn't sound tooooo bad. On the other hand, we have Coach trying to be a part of the solution as well. Here's what Coach came out with and here's the math:
From left to right: Coach BCRF Key Fob $58,
Coach BCRF Lanyard $48,
Coach BCRF Charm $38
(Available in stores and at Coach.com)
Amount going to BCRF from Key Fob = $11.60
Amount going to BCRF from Lanyard = $9.60
Amount going to BCRF from Charm = $7.60
(20% of the sales proceed will be donated to BCRF)
Amount going to Coach from Key Fob = $46.40
Amount going to Coach from Lanyard = $38.40
Amount going to Coach from Charm = $30.40
Cost of making these accessories = my guess is less than $10 for sure.
If my guess is correct, then Coach gets ~500% of its cost of making these accessories. And they will be nice enough to donate around 25% of their raw profits to BCRF. Well, it's a brand, so the only thing that can be said is that branding and market positioning is important because it will determine the magnitude of your profit margin. To be really fair, at least these accessories are in the same price range as other similar Coach products.
Honestly though, why wouldn't anyone truly interested in helping breast cancer research just give the entire amount that would have been spent on the tote or the key charms to BCRF directly?
It could be that the society produces such charity initiatives to spur on people who otherwise would not have considered giving to breast cancer research. It could be that the people buying pink products are just interested in the merchandising and really don't mind being seen by others (when they carry around such products) as charitable and generous. It is, after all, "cool" to be affiliated with certain charitable causes, don't you think?
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Marni Spring 2009 Ready-To-Wear Collection
As many of the Spring 2009 collections come out, Marni caught my eye. I'm convinced that it takes a certain kind of aesthetic sense to gravitate to Marni's almost abstract art method of creating clothes and bags. There are some designers to which critics will say "simple is best". But this is not the case with Marni. Her designer, Consuelo Castiglioni, has successfully created in the label a trademark melting pot of colors, shapes, textures, and prints. It seems the only rule is that there are no rules.
She sets a lace apron against the front of a blue-and-white concentric circle dress, or juxtaposes colorful pinstripes against a sheer full-bodied petticoat. Accessories are audacious, wild, primitive in parts, and starkly urban otherwise. What I like most among Marni's cornucopia of contradictions is her simple commitment to color and sarcasm. Is Marni for you?
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