| BrandsBoutique |
| BrandsBoutique Online Shop: Despite the recent grumblings about the handbag bubble bursting, we all know that the “it-bag” still reigns supreme. BrandsBoutique.com is for the fashionista who knows that building your handbag collection isn’t just about carrying the latest designer craze but about being a true handbag connoisseur. The site not only features a different designer handbag daily but also includes articles that discuss all things handbags, from handbag fads to tips on properly cleaning your handbag.
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| DesignersLA |
| DesignersLA Online Shop: A great blog dedicated to honoring Los Angeles-based designers, DesignersLA.com features the handbag and accessories from some of the hippest designers in LA. From household names like Juicy Couture and Rachel Pally to smaller labels like Circa Studio and Bells & Whistles, whether you reside in LA land or not, you are sure to love this site detailing all the glitz and glamour that is LA fashion. Plus the site features particular items at a discount prices.
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| LuxuryVintage |
| LuxuryVintage Online Shop: Ever since Hollywood starlets have started showing up on the red carpet in vintage gowns and accessories, vintage handbags and accessories are back in a big way. For those who admire the classic lines of fashion past, then LuxuryVintage.com is for them. Each day the blog features a different vintage designer handbag and accessory, from coveted designers like Chanel and Hermes to one-of-a-king jewelry, vintage groupies will love the looks and the off-retail prices. |
| ItalysOutlet |
| ItalysOutlet Online Shop: Shopping for Italian Designer handbags and accessories has never been this easy. ItalysOutlet features all the major Italian Designer brand names you have grown to love: Gucci, Fendi, Etro, Versace, Moschino, Dolce & Gabbana, Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta, Prada and many more. Plus, pay outlet prices. Never pay full price when shopping at ItalysOutlet for high quality Italian leather and fabrics. |
| ValueBags |
| ValueBags Online Shop: Created for the budget conscious consumer who wants to carry a high-quality designer handbag but doesn’t want to spend a fortune, ValueBags.com highlights a different designer handbag each day (Fab Bag of the Day), from designers like Coach, Dooney & Bourke and BCBG, all at below-retail prices. The blog also features coupon codes and links back to the particular featured handbag.
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| Lust for luxury labels lifts fashion house |
| Friday, February 8, 2008 |
By Elizabeth TilleyLAST week, in the grand penthouse of a new Kangaroo Point riverside apartment block, a select and very fashionable crowd gathered to welcome one of the world's most luxurious fashion brands to Brisbane.
A selection of handbags, shoes and other leathergoods from the spring/summer 2008 collection by Italian fashion house, Bottega Veneta is now stocked in Fortitude Valley designer accessories boutique, Jean Brown Gallerie.
The crowd could barely contain their excitement as they sipped champagne and swanned around the room carrying their designer handbags and sporting Miu Miu pumps. They had come to listen to Amy Tye, president of the global brand, speak about the lengthy and involved leather weaving process involved in making a suede-lined, lamb or deer skin handbag, and they left feeling less guilty about their desire to pay $5000 for one. For the increasing number of young luxury brand buyers in Brisbane, or those wanting to own something by Bottega Veneta without spending a small fortune, there's always the leather mobile phone strap, also worn as a bracelet, which retails for about $180.
The launch revealed a side to Brisbane that many people would not know existed, but which is rapidly gaining strength, partly due to the city's new style queen, Amber Long. Thanks to Long, and her husband, Matthew, who opened Jean Brown Gallerie in May 2007 and recently its clothing equivalent, Jean Brown Robe, names such as Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo are no longer only familiar to Sex and the City fans. And they have big plans for the expansion of Jean Brown into a fashion empire, starting as soon as next month, when they open a third boutique in New Farm. "It won't be a Jean Brown store – it will be a very different concept for Brisbane," Amber says, without revealing any more.
Amber says the Jean Brown Group is constantly approached by national retail developers looking to house a Jean Brown boutique in their development. "The branding's so strong now that (Jean Brown is) seen as a leading brand that will attract other retailers to a development," she says. Fashion houses are also interested in forming partnerships with the Jean Brown Group to open high fashion, mono-brand stores on their behalf. "That's one of a whole series of opportunities we're looking at," Amber says.
According to Matthew, it is not highly unusual for one of their regular customers to spend $15,000 in one transaction in one of their stores. Better-known brands such as Manolo Blahnik and Miu Miu have been big hits with Queenslanders in Jean Brown Gallerie, Matthew says, mostly because of their widely acknowledged reputation. He says it's too early to comment on the success of Jean Brown Robe since it opened in December. "We expect that brands like Chloe, Miu Miu and Yves Saint Laurent will sell well," he says. "Miu Miu has a strong following here and its ready-to-wear collection arrives in store this week."
Being the only store in Australia to stock YSL since the luxury label's Sydney store closed down in 2003, inquiries have been flooding in from all over the country. "We had a lady buy two different sizes of the one YSL top the other day." Amber describes Jean Brown Robe as a representation of the most important internationally recognised brands that would be found in leading department stores overseas. The current collections by Chloe, Yves Saint Laurent, Thakoon and Miu Miu hanging on the racks in the new store are bursting with colours such as fuchsia, yellow, red and bold prints – perfect for Queensland's sunny disposition. Soon, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's fashion label, The Row, will also be in stock.
"Queensland women know these labels and want them in their wardrobes as soon as collections become available, not the following season," Amber says. While both stores have a reasonably broad client base, Matthew admits that 80 per cent of their business comes from 20 per cent of their clients. When Amber goes on her twice-yearly buying trips to Paris, London and New York, she always keeps particular customers in mind, but trends are her primary focus and she has to be careful to buy clothes and accessories that suit Queensland's unique climate. "She has to be really selective about what to buy," Matthew says.
Labels to know
Thakoon (pronounced as it sounds; Thak-oon): The label by award-winning New York designer Thakoon Panichgul is being offered for the first time in Australia at Jean Brown Robe. The collection is based around the art of functionality while incorporating pixilated prints. Actor Kate Bosworth is his muse.
Bottega Veneta (pronounced Bott-ayga Ven-eta), below: Launched in 1966 as a family business of luxury leather accessories, this label is distinguished by its timeless, ultra-luxurious designs. Labelled only on the inside, its handbags boast classic clean lines and soft leathers.
Chloe: The Spring/Summer 2008 collection from this notable French fashion house features a fresh mix of ethereal mid-calf dresses in glacial white, while encompassing elements of drama, heightened by bold fabric panels in vivid tones of purple and navy as well as fresh seasonal colours such as egg-yellow and fuchsia.
Yves Saint Laurent (pronounced Eevs Sayn Loron): Legendary designer Stefano Pilati steered this French fashion house towards modern elegance and took a creative approach to tailoring, promoting new volumes and asymmetrical lines. Jean Brown Robe is the only Australian retailer of Yves Saint Laurent clothing.
alldressedup: Offered for the first time in Australia, this Singaporean label devised a collection that was inspired by Chinese lanterns and boasts soft smocks and ruched detailing.
Lanvin (pronounced Lon-van): The world's oldest ongoing fashion house is enjoying a rapid resurgence in popularity due to the exceptional style of designer Alber Elbaz.
Miu Miu (pronounced Myoo-myoo): Created by Prada as a cutting-edge label and is well-known globally for extraordinary designs as well as the use of gorgeous materials. Labels: bottega veneta, chanel, chloe handbags, lanvin, miu miu, prada handbags, yves saing laurent |
posted by Give Me Something to Blog About @ 3:39 PM   |
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