Cosmopolitan Compact

June 8, 2021June 8, 2021 Cosmopolitan Compact

Instant Wonder Stores: Marvel at Swarovski’s Colorful Designs

Swarovski Jewelry and crystal has designed and rebranded with the Instant Wonder stores. The genius behind the creative direction is Giovanna Batagglia Englebert, an Italian powerhouse of fashion for Swarovski, in modeling and editorial work. They will open 28 Instant Wonder Stores. The first, in Milan at the Vittoria Emanuele Galleria, Paris’s Champs Elyseé, Rockefeller Center and Broadway in Soho, NYC. Recent openings in Mexico City, São Paulo and Singapore. The concept is a celebration of nature merged with the “instant wonder” of color and bold, monochromatic, ombre and a waterfall of colored gems. It is collection number 1 which represents harmony, light and intrigue. Instant Wonder shows jewels, watches, drop earrings, bolder cocktail rings, geometric and bright colored rings, necklaces and figurines which are cased in hexagonal shelves of pink, green and yellow. Metallic figurines, in matching colors, are used to demonstrate this new age of the merchandise. Swarovski is a family company, founded in Wattens, Austria, in the late 1800’s. There is the iconic swan logo, classic collection, accessories, themes from movies such as; Star Wars and Wonder Woman and atelier pieces. Wonder about Instant Wonder, new Swarovski branding, welcoming in the digital and post pandemic era.

The Grande Dame of Polka Dots

May 19, 2021May 29, 2021 Cosmopolitan Compact

Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese painter, illustrator, sculptor, poet and film maker. A power house of pop art and modernism. Kusama has been referred to as the princess of polka dots because her pieces center around bright colored or white dots on objects such as; flowers, animals, pumpkins and symbolic objects. Kusama’s work has been shown around the world at various galleries and museums. Yayoi has a museum of her works ,in her native country of Japan. At 92, she has been working on art which illustrates themes about life, love, peace, sexuality, infinity and light. The infinity room exhibit started in DC and travelled across the US and world. Her vision is distinct, she began in her homeland and moved to NYC, after the war. Kusama has been influenced by Andy Warhol and Mark Rothko. There is an exhibit of her sculptures at the NY Botanical Gardens. Kusama has been in the design world, her work on the front of a Manhattan condo and Louis Vuitton merchandise. Yayoi Kusama’s latest collaboration is with Veuve Cliquot Grande Dame Champagne 2012. The packaging is the signature Cliquot yellow orange with Kusama’s polka dot graphics and flower painted gift boxes. The series is named Flowers Bloom at Midnight and a magnum retails for $195. There is a special collection for $30,000. Either way, the warmer weather will bring more people drinking Clicqout and going to events such as: the LA and NY Veuve Clicqout polo matches. Madame Clicqout was born into an aristocratic French family and Yayoi Kusma was born into an affluent Japanese family. They are females who lead business in an era when things were male dominated. Kusama champagne gift sets are online or at a nearby alcohol store.

Tiffany’s Gold and Silver :Merges a Digital Ad with Rosé

April 26, 2021May 5, 2021 Cosmopolitan Compact

Tiffany’s sells fine jewelry and has relied on traditional marketing with Audrey’s Breakfast atTiffany’s, wearing low slung and close to the neck pearls with a black dress. The current digital ad campaign for the Hardware Collection has a new concept and face. One of the collections is bold geographic shapes, chain links, ball shapes and added locket charms. The new global brand ambassador is K Pop singer; Rosé. Rosé poses in pictures, wearing drop ball shaped earrings, chainlink necklace and bracelet. The Blackpink singing group has catchy and sedcutive tunes such as; “On The Ground”. The girl group group is comprised of three other females who model for Dior, Celine, and Chanel.Rosé has a pretty edge to her appearance. She is Tiffany’s new marketing choice along with Lupita Nyong’o, Johnny Yee and Elle Fanning. The brand is creating a marketing campaign, aiming to target a younger demographic who prefers more modern jewelry. She has blond hair with a pink tone, paired with the 18 K rose gold Hardware. Rosé is on the cover of Vogue Australia and did a campaign with St. Laurent. She is wearing a short alluring black outfit with gold accents. You can follow her on Instagram at; Roses_are _Rosie and the band at; Blackpink. The flagship window features The Hardwear collection pieces resemble a ball and chain theme, reminiscent of the rhythm and skyline of NYC. One can attach a lock charm or any other of the Tiffany links to create a new look. The window’s backdrop is a black and white screen with moving images of the city skyline. Rosé is of Korean heritage, but was born in New Zealand and grew up in Australia. Her music and look embodies K Pop, the language and some of the style, but her current dream is residing in the Big Apple. Rosé has been wearing Tiffany since she was a teen. Expect to see her in future fashion and cosmetic ads as well as her pursuit in music. The mix between fashion and music seems to always enhance brands and link music to another pop culture destination.

The Secret World of Haute Couture

April 11, 2021April 11, 2021 Cosmopolitan Compact

The world of custom made dresses or haute couture is an arena shrouded in secrecy and glamor. A BBC documentary, The Secret World of Haute Couture, is a glimpse into the dress making, designers, Paris, high society and the women who belong to “the club”. A reporter discovers the high end world of handmade gowns and lets the viewer look at some of the daily rituals. About 200 women are in the circle of buying the haute couture dresses made by Christian Dior, Chanel, Valentino, Givenchy, Lacroix and Balmain. The film begins with the fashion reporter interviewing, Becca Thrash. Becca speaks of the world she has entered through her philanthropy and marriage. She is a small town girl from Texas and was fascinated by the dresses in the pages of Vogue. The dresses are shown at The Musee de Beaux Arts, Bois de Bologne and The Grand Palais. Susan Gutfreund, a NYC socialite, attends the Paris shows and purchases gowns from the ateliers. She travels between NY and Paris and became a fixture in the world of delicate handmade gowns. The grande dames of the haute couture world are; Betsy Bloomingdale, who shows her pieces and mentions the few events at which she has worn each creation, including the Reagan inauguration. Carroll Petrie who has many foundations and shopped with the Duchess of Windsor, aka Wallace Simpson and Marisa Berenson. The film documentary interviews designer, John Galliano of Dior. He explains the couture process as he shows the collection. Daphne Guinness speaks of her love for haute couture, she shows her wedding dress. These gowns can take up to 130 hrs to design with the embroidery, horse hair, stitching, apppliques and flowers. It is a special brand of fashion worn to galas, fundraisers, weddings and society events. Time will reveal if the secret world of Parisian haute fashion will stay or evolve.

Love Shack Fancy; Modern Romantic Boutique

March 6, 2021March 25, 2021 Cosmopolitan Compact

There is a brand that conjures up images of floral patterns, shades of pastel, white eyelet, pink hearts and tulle material. It is a reminder of Marie Antoinette decor meets girls dancing at ballet recitals. The name, Love Shack fancy or LSF. The creative director and founder, Rebecca Hessel Cohen, works with her husband. Love Shack Fancy began 6 years ago, with a boutique in East Hampton. It then came to NYC, on Bleecker Street in the West Village, and more recently, on Madison Avenue. There are new stores on Melrose Avenue, Newport Beach, CA and Palm Beach. Yesterday, a Texas store opened in Dallas’ Highland Park Village Shopping Center and then another opening in Austin. Ruffles, tulle and pink and white cowboy boots with hand painted heart emblems and cowgirl hats, are pictured on opening day. A floral pastel colored cake with a fondant image of Texas is presented in celebration. Well, after the state’s power outage and Covid times, why not have a party and go big. The concept began when Rebecca H. Cohen designed bridesmaid dresses for her wedding. She has an eye for color, detail and a unique design concept. RHC had done editorial magazine work for Cosmopolitan Magazine, but retail is in her blood. The online Love Shack Fancy site is doing well and Instagram and other social media platforms show the latest knit tops and legging combinations, whimsical dresses, skirts, accessories and shoes. A feature of this store, it carries merchandise for adult females and young girls, mothers and young girls who shop for matching outfits. This captures images of mother and daughter bonding, at events such as; springtime parties, Easter, weddings and birthday parties. Rebecca Cohen has two young daughters, Sophia and Scarlett. The young sophisticated sisters could be models for the line and are pictured on Instagram wearing the brand at their festive birthday parties with pink balloons and playing dress up in mom’s high heels. The pink and gold lettered shopping bags, floral linens, pillows, hanging flower displays, tables settings and ballet tutus, create a mixture of modern Edwardian and Victorian. The 2021 summer line is out and the floral and pretty pastel swimwear will look great at the backyard pool or beach. LSF has a collaboration with Hurley’s Women, a swimsuit brand which is prefect for the modern women who likes spending time on the beach. LSF boutiques draw shoppers to fill a niche market.

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