Shopping for Luxury Online

1/ Louis Vuitton

The LV site is one of the best of the bunch, with a clean and stylish design that loaded fast with clear navigation. The use of video sparingly and in the right places definitely helps add to the glamourous feel.

The e-shopping section is marked clearly, and within a few clicks you are in the product detail information and able to add items to your cart to buy.

Today, only half or less of the products can be purchased online. For example shoes and ready to wear collections can not be bought online, but accessories and bags can be.

Presumably this is for customer satisfaction reasons - not wanting an expensive purchase leaving a bad impression to an incorrect size, due to the lack of a fitting process, yet it would seem a simple enough solution to have a time limited free size replacement system at their retail outlets to handle this. Perhaps it's more about protecting retail revenue and margins.

Despite this, the site is a great example of a luxury brand presenting a stylish yet user friendly means for their customers to help tempt them to make that 2am spur of the moment online purchase.

2/ Chanel

The experience at the Chanel website is often an exercise in patience, with heavy and at-times excessive use of multimedia.

The full use of video, music and animation at times translate to long load times, which isn't very good if all you want to check out is one specific product you desire. Navigation can be frustrating, with the wrong mouse-click launching into another length wait. When it is finally loaded, it's a great experience that gets you into the mood of the brand.

And thankfully for those who are on a slower or shared connection, there is a low bandwidth website option provided as well.

When it comes to online shopping, the site provides some limited support today, restricted to only fragrance and beauty items within the US only. All up it seems to be an opportunity not fully grasped, especially given the rest of the range which would lend well for online purchase (sunglasses, bags anyone?), and what some of their nimbler competitors are doing today.

3/ Cartier

Browsing the Cartier site is a love-hate experience.

Without a doubt, it is the most heavy and slow of the group, yet also is probably the most graphically stunning when things are finally up and running.

However the sad end-conclusion is that it's less love and more hate - the blatant overuse of video for title animations ends up just frustrating users, many of whom would have moved on to another site. Not to mention about the use of separate pop up windows in different sections of the site, and the need to wait for full menus to load before being able to click one item in many cases, nor the un-user friendly registration.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there is no online shopping at www.cartier.com.

Zero. None. Muchos Nothingias.

What's more, even prices aren't displayed, with a need for consumers to "make and enquiry" and leave a message to find out the price for an item. In the age of instant gratification, this doesn't seem like a very useful approach.

All up, not a great customer experience. Shame.

4/ Hermes
After struggling through Cartier, Hermes is a breath of fresh air. A big breath!

The whimsy, lightweight light design with handrawn illustrations is a great contrast with the other four other sites which are heavy with black backgrounds. The quirky feel is instantly attractive, and while not screaming "luxury" it certainly conveys a big degree of class.

With the white background, simple menu structure, the load times of Hermes' site are low, lightening fast in comparison to the others. The clean interface makes navigation a feel-good experience.

Thankfully, online shopping is fully supported, and fitting into the theme of the rest of the site, is a breeze. There is a good variety of goods that can be bought on the spot, from watches to bags.

Of the top 5 brands, Hermes is the most enjoyable experience in luxury shopping online today.

5/ Gucci

Never has been buying a $US 5399 jacket been so quick and easy. I was going to say painless, but at that price point, it's probably not the most appropriate description...

Gucci's website is a clean, fast and user-friendly experience, with a careful use of flash and offering rather than forcing the use of video to site visitors.

The interface is sparse and leaves a slightly empty feeling, particularly for a brand trying to reinforce a luxurious and highly stylish image. Yet the flipside means an easy and fast navigation experience, which means more revenue when paired up with great e-commerce functions...

The site features perhaps the strongest lineup of available products that can be bought on the spot with just a few clicks. With the inclusion of helpful size guides, the site lets users buy a wide range of fashion, from jackets to bags, boots to belts. Even hats are up for grabs! Although I'm guessing hats wouldn't be as common a purchase option.

All up when it comes to online shopping on Gucci, buying is easy. Perhaps too easy.

So what's the big picture? The state of the art? Well online shopping on most of the top luxury brand sites is a reality today, and in some cases such as Hermes and Gucci, very far down the path already. There are some outliers such as Cartier, but all up they seem willing to take advantage of the opportunity.

Which is a great thing for them as well as those consumers who are willing to buy their items at any time and for many, at any price.

London: Burberry Prorsum fashion show- Women Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2010

Burberry Prorsum, which generally shows at Milan, was given the honour of celebrating the close of 25 years of London Fashion Week with a brilliant fashion show and a fabulous party.

White Ribbon Alliance Dinner

What a vision in white! Supermodel, Naomi Campbell, glowed in an Azzedine Alaia dress and Azzedine Alaia strappy heels. As always, she looked fierce! Sashay, Naomi!

What a great picture! Naomi hugged her mentor and Supermodel, Iman, who looked divalicious in a mustard yellow sheath, that had capped sleeves. Sashay, Iman!

What a powerful group of women! Supermodels and business women, Tyra Banks, Liya Kebede and Veronica Webb, made bold statements in black.

J

Jessica Alba wore her signature black leggings with a Prada red velvet floral dress.

Coach Heritage Stripe XL Business Satchel

 This versatile and oversizes carry-all satchel adds a posh and sporty look, while carrying your travel essentials. Made of signature coated canvas with leather trim, it features long and comfy leather straps with antique brass hardware, zippered top closure that opens to a large compartment with multifunction pockets and an exterior open front and back pockets. 

Coach Heritage Stripe XL Business Satchel

Revealing Cocktail Halter Dress - ROYCE Black

Ravishing dramatic V-neck halter dress that gathers at the midriff features a gorgeous bias-cut hemline with a floor length back and mid-thigh length front. Also includes a removable hanging rhinestone jewelry.Completely Open-back. Hot Fash is the hip fashion brand for sexy party dresses, trendy short dresses, fashionable summer dresses, stylish gowns , and all the latest hot club styles.

Features

* Contouring, Stretch Fabrication
* Removable Jewelry
* Wash Cold; Hang Dry (Suggested)
* 90% Polyester 10% Spandex

Autograph Weekend Cotton Rich Spike Print Top

Bring some casual elegance to your wardrobe, with this short sleeve top, that features a woven bib and button fastening giving it an extra stylish twist.

Wedding Fashion : Lady Roi Bridals Gown

Features

* Women Dress
* BridalsGown
 * Quinceiñeria

Shortsleeve Hoodies

These stylish hoodies have been popping up everywhere. They are perfect for the summer because they add extra warmth but because they are short sleeved you aren't overly bundled up.

Larisa Katz, Art Fashion Design, Dubai Fiesta 2009

Larisa Katz, Art Fashion Design, Dubai Fiesta 2009

Best of Show - New York Fashion Week

My favorite collection from this years New York spring shows was by Alice + Olivia. The colors were vibrant and the lines were long and clean. I also liked their back drops, they were interesting and creative.

Dereon by Beyonce Speak Out Women Shoe Heels Patent Leather

The Dereon Collection is brought to you by one of the top Fashionista's of our generation. Beyonce has proven herself not only as a worldwide singing sensation, a nominated actress, but always a continuing style icon who is not afraid to take fashion risks. The Speak Out style is a dressy platform heel featuring leather uppers and patent leather trim and heels. Open toe design with oxford style lace up and bow. Features gold Fleur de Lis emblems at toe and at heel. Heel measures 4.5". Style: Speak Out EWH085-009 Black/White

Luisa Beccaria Spring Fashion Show 2010

The presentation was in a much smaller venue to the Versace and Roberto Cavalli shows, but that only added to the charm and the ambiance of this seductive presentation.

The collection embraced femininity that evokes the 50s Hollywood glamour, bringing a fresh new perspective to the brands romantic aesthetic.

There was particular emphasize on bustier dresses with plunging necklines. Volume was created via tons of tulle. Ruffles draped like petals of flowers gracefully around necklines, shoulders and skirts.

The cocktail dresses and gowns were strapless, off-the-shoulder, knee-length, floor-length, mini and the finale gown had a rise and fall hemline. Luisa really did make a dress for every woman.

There were beautiful flowery prints on a colour palette of lilac, ivory, pink, grey, blue, gold and silver. Not a hint of black.

At the presentation was a Citroen C3 Picasso, which was Styled by Luisa Beccaria herself.

The entire bodywork was floral from the seats to the instrument panel, it wouldn’t surprise me if the air bag had a floral design. The gear knob was interesting as it was made out of Venetian glass in the shape of a rose. Luisa dressed this Citroen as she dresses women, with a romantic senual empowerment.

Chanel’s Spring 2010 Presentation

Rihanna sent the paparazzi crazy wearing a white bustier and a tweed high-waisted Chanel Pre-Fall 2009 skirt with a multitude of Chanel necklaces that would put Mr T to shame.

Keeping her shades on through-out the show Anna Wintour style, Rihanna also accessorized with a black and red Chanel hand muff/bag.

I bet Rihanna was furious that Leigh Lezark beat her to this Chanel Fall 2009 black and white print leotard over leggings situation.

The scary thing is a lot of thought went into this situation because Leigh took the leotard from Look 39, pairing it with the leggings from Look 40.

Despite this being Chanel, you just wouldn’t would you?

Even if Uncle Karl promised you a life-time supply of large quilted bags in various colours the shame of this would haunt you for life.

I got a very strong case of  dejavu looking at Claudia Schiffer.

Unlike the rest of the celebs who relaxed in the front row, Lily Allen was at the Chanel Spring 2010 show during Paris Fashion Week in a work capacity

She looked adorable as she performed a live set for the waiting fashionistas.

Fashion Design @ Cavendish College London

Fashion is a dynamic and challenging industry, offering rewarding careers to those individuals
who are energetic, innovative, creative and able to adapt to change.  

Anna Corinna Metal City Tote

This bag has it all, a little bit of class and a little bit of rock and roll. This bag is so versatile you can easily bring it to the office or to a concert after work. The thing that makes this bag so original is the fabric print border.

Knitted Neck Warmers, a.k.a. Snoods

Burberry Prorsum Milan Autumn/Winter 2009 collection - that neck piece is actually fur, not knitting. This is a very easy look to duplicate at a more inexpensive cost.

Check out a new trend featured on Elle UK. These are easy to make as well, with a circular knitting needle and your favorite chunky yarn.

The Grace Kelly Factor: getting the look

"Throughout both her careers, Grace had one attribute--class"

--Jimmy Stewart--

In Judith Baliban Quine's book, The Bridesmaids, she writes, "Had you been there as I was you might have realized that day, like the bride-to-be herself, was a creation brought to us through the joint production efforts of enormous willpower, Metro-Goldwin-Mayer and God." Quine goes on to say MGM was actually a late arrival on the scene as most everything that came to Grace, despite her Mainline Philadelphia birth and refined beauty, was won only through time and dedication to her work.

April 19, 1956, the world was treated to a storybook romance come true when actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainer of Monaco. Thinking back to roles she played before she became a princess, we remember Grace Kelly as the ultimate 'Deb'. Had she not pursued acting with such determination, in all probability she would have become just that : A Mainline Philadelphia Debutante. As a result, on film she reflected that cool, refined blond to perfection.Princess Grace's gown to this day is one of the most traditional and remains the touchstone in bridal fashion. Impeccably made, the taffeta and Val lace confection was a wedding gift from MGM Studios. Imagine this: 25 yards of silk taffeta, 100 yards of silk net, and vintage Belgian rose point lace. Her headpiece was classic : a bandeau cap covered in tiny seed pearls under an intricate lace mantilla.Designed by Helen Rose who worked on Kelly's costumes for High Society and The Swan, the gown was designed and run up in less than four months if you can believe that. Hollywood by then was ace at whipping up a masterpiece if a movie or event demanded. Over thirty seamstresses labored on the gown in the MGM workrooms round the clock. From a designer's standpoint, I'd have to say the Kelly gown is the most perfect dress ever made, despite it's speedy construction time. Made up of four different components, it's actually a combination of separates all put together to look like a traditional ballgown. Studying the construction diagrams with the fitted, long-sleeved bodice and full bell skirt, this gown though cutting edge back in 1956, will always be timeless.

Grace's knack for looking chic was her simplicity and that became her real trademark. Never overdone, typically she wore clean and minimal make up accentuating her Patrician beauty. Add to that pulled back hair and a classic strapless gown for evening like the image above and you have her look. Though her actual wedding gown was traditional, she could have gone with an A-line or sheath with either strapless bateau or V-neck, and still been totally In-the-Grace character mode. The good news is, A-lines look great on just about everyone and just about everyone feels like Grace Kelly in them, ie; symbolizing class and refinement. Add any fabric that has understated elegance like traditional duchesse satin and peau de soie.

Consider adding some options to your look. A shrug or bolero can cover you up for the ceremony and be removed for reception. Want another variation of that 1950s look? How about an opaque removable top in organza or lace? This too can be removed come reception time. If you're in a sheath, A-line or evening gown add a wrap or coat either in matching fabric or, for those fall/winter weddings, in peau de soie or brocade.
If you love Grace's gown and want to incorporate components in your own, start by studying the original creation. The Vogue pattern below closely emulates this design. Luckily today's bride can be more daring. Though Grace was the epitome of a refined lady in her day, she worked in a glitzy industry. Marrying a prince, she wanted to reassure the Monegasques she wasn't just another movie star blond in sequins. Setting the tone for her reign, she chose the most classic of all designs. Contemporary brides might want to experiment with a different neckline or modified skirt. Here's another idea. Grace's bodice was actually a blouse. You could experiment with a shrug or jacket over a strapless gown.

 

One Wed Romona Keveza's rendition on the ballgown Grace Kelly wore at her 'Wedding Eve' celebration.