The worldwide economic slowdown has definitely hit all industries including the luxury market. Although the wealthy have more money than the middle class and poor, even they have been cutting back on spending. The result has been the luxury markets have also seen a steep drop in sales.

So as the economy bottoms out and begins to rebound, what needs to happen for the fashion industry to return to growth and profitability? But more importantly, is the growth sustainable?

The Huffington Post did an article titled, “The New Face of Fashion: Sustainable Luxury” and discusses the past failures of the fashion industry and what they need to change to be successful. The “Rules of Retail” over the last 20 years include several obsolete practices including:

• Aggressively developing a network of branded stores even in questionable markets
• Building flagship locations that were unnecessarily large and existed only for their advertising value
• Creating stores intended to have a short life span, and then relocate or significantly renovate them within 5 years

As the fashion industry looks forward, some of the new strategies they need to follow include:

• Grow Organically
• Build Stores that Last
• Edit the Product
• Be Fun and Accessible

A good example of adapting to change is the focus on environmental sustainability in the fashion industry. Here’s a previous article on on EcoChic in Hong Kong.

The key to the fashion industry’s success is learn from your past mistakes, be flexible and adjust to the ever changing consumer demand. Read the full article – Click Here

Courtesy of: ECCO

If you can’t play golf like the LPGA lady golfers, then you can at least look like them. Wear a pair of special Solheim Cup luxury golf shoes from ECCO.

The Solheim Cup is a biennial trans-Atlantic team matchplay golf competition and is considered the premier event in women’s world golf.

The Solheim Cup tournament features 12 of the top European-born players from the Ladies European Tour (LET). They compete against the top 12 American-born players from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).

ECCO has been named the Official Footwear Supplier to the 2009 Solheim Cup and has created a special limited-edition Team USA shoe named the Patriotic Ace Hydromax.

The Patriotic Ace Hydromax golf shoe will definitely stand out in a crowd, with bright Red, White and Blue colors.

The luxury golf shoe maker ECCO, has long been a favorite of celebrities and golf professionals. The shoe company decided to create a special Solheim Cup edition golf shoe

Some of the well lnown stars who wear ECCO golf shoes are: Bill Murray, Justin Timberlake, Catherine Zeta Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, Kid Rock, as well as Donald Trump

Professional golfers seen wearing ECCO golf shoes include – Juli Inkster, Carin Koch, Linda Wessberg, Iben Tinning, Fred Couples, Aaron Baddeley, Colin Montgomerie, Stuart Appleby, Arjun Atwal, Thongchai Jaidee, Thomas Bjorn, John Bickerton, Bradley Dredge and many others others.

For more info, go to ECCOUSA.com

Chanel

The Chanel Diamond Forever Classic Bag is one of the most expensive purses or handbags anywhere in the world.

Just one look at this ultra luxury purse from Chanel and will become obsessed with the purse’s superior and lavish demeanor.

This Chanel Diamond Forever Classic hand bag is overflowing with extravagance. It is richly adorned with 3.56 carats made up of 334 diamonds, 18 carat white gold hardware frame, and white alligator skin.

The alligator skin is farmed and treated with a rich looking, matte finish.

The Diamond Forever Classic Bag also offers long, shoulder chain straps made of stunning 18-carat gold.

There are only 13 Chanel Diamond Forever bags created. If you’re ready to buy one, the price tag on this number is a staggering $261,000.

You can obtain more information here:  Chanel.com

Daughter of wealthy business magnate Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump recently presented her jewellery collection at a cocktail party at Coco Beach in Puerto Rico.

Ivanka Trump was visiting Puerto Rico along with her famous father Donald Trump, as well as brother Eric.  The Trump family was in Puerto Rico to be part of the Puerto Rico Open Golf Tournament sponsorship.

Apart from being the daughter of real estate billionaire Donal Trump and international jetsetter Ivana Trump, Ivanka has created a separate identity for herself. She has been a model, and currently, she is the vice-president of Real Estate Development and Acquisitions at the Trump Organization.

Recently, Ivanka Trump has combined with Dynamic Diamond Corp. to design and launch her own line of luxury jewelery. The 25-year-old heiress opened her first boutique on Madison Avenue and 62nd Street. She will be opening more boutiques in Las Vegas and Japan.

Ivanka Trump’s fine jewellery collection is a brilliant and rare mix of diamond and platinum earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. The stuff is simple but classic, and the designs are amazing. Every piece of jewelery is unique, and genuine, stating that it is Ivanka’s.

The jewelry collection, which is as beautiful and stylish as the designer herself, can be divided into 4 categories: Mixed cut, Signature, Tassels, and Black & White. The Mixed cut includes hand-selected and polished diamonds. Signature pieces are oval shaped and have diamonds embedded in them. Tassels are made up of pieces inspired by Hollywood´s golden age. Black & White contains diamond jewellery encrusted with black and white gems.

Prices of pieces from Ivanka´s stunning collection ranges from $750 to several million dollars. There is a cocktail ring priced at $4,000, and an engagement ring that costs $2.5 million.

The true inspiration behind this expensive jewellery line is Ivanka´s mother Ivana. ”Much to the chagrin of my father and all subsequent boyfriends of my mother, she’s always loved jewellery. That’s something she definitely passed on to me,” Ivanka said.

When it comes to men’s fine fashion, there is nothing that represents the good life, suave charm, poise, and distinctive individuality like a suit from Brioni.

In the world of handcrafted men’s suits, Savile Row in London is still the first name that comes to mind. But its influence today is seen in the legacy of those like Nazareno Fonticoli, who helped found the house of Brioni in 1947.

Fonticoli was trained at the Abruzzo school of tailoring, which combines the peerless cutting and stitching techniques borrowed from Savile Row with more relaxed, Mediterranean-inspired silhouettes.

In a fashion scene that had so far only witnessed women’s shows, it was Brioni that introduced men to the ramp at a show held in 1952 in Palazzo Pitti. Just two years later, a men’s fashion show occurred in New York.

Brioni has helped define and today represents what one thinks of as “typically Italian”.

Its suits somehow transform you. They subtly broaden your shoulders, tuck in your waist, and make you stand tall, molding your body according to the jacket – a distinctive attribute of Italian tailoring.

Brioni offers a wide variety of over 5,000 exquisite fabrics to choose from. These luxury fabrics include the world’s finest super-spun wools, the best of silks and silk-blends, cashmere, and baby alpaca.

Brioni is summed up perhaps the best in the words of one of its present master-tailors, Mr. Savarese: “Brioni, the quintessential name in luxurious hand crafted menswear, has for over fifty years brought its singular Roman sophistication and sartorial elegance to the most discerning clientele. Some of the world’s most illustrious politicians and businessmen choose Brioni as their ‘power suit’ to showcase their elegance and individuality.”

To read more about Brioni – Click Here

Rachel Bilson had guest appearances on 8 Simple Rules… for Dating My Teenage Daughter plus Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Rachel Bilson also played a starring role in the short film Unbroken (2003).

Rachel Bilson and DKNY are working together to create a designer line of jeans named Edie Rose for DKNY Jeans.

Bilson is most well-known for her leading role in the T.V. show “The O.C.”

Bilson has always wanted to get into the world of fashion and has something she’s been interested in something like for a long time.

Rachel Bilson is in talks with DKNY about a jeans line that would be marketed to the same department and specialty stores that the brand is usually sold in, including Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Lord & Taylor.

Courtesy of: Savoir-Faire.com

Father’s Day is quickly approaching. Are you trying to find that perfect gift for dad? Well here you go.

The Elie Bleu Cuff links Weekly Box is the ultimate gift for the man who has everything. Elie Bleuis is a French manufacturer of humidors.

The Elie Bleu Cuff links Weekly Box, is a gorgeous humidor style purple lacquered cedar box for your cuff links. The set includes seven pairs, one for each day of the week.

This brilliant design idea features seven pairs of semi precious stone barrettes: Mammoth ivory, macassar ebony, jade, citrine, blue topaz, amethyst and pink quartz and two cuff link settings.

The stones are all different colors, to fit the mood of the day! Dimension: 2,5″ high x 5,5″ wide

To purchase this incredible cuff link set, please go to Savoir-Faire.com

In Las Vegas, there is one must stop shopping destination that you must drive your luxury car rental to – the Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops. There is valet parking at the Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops, so feel free to drop off your luxury car rental and shop to your heart’s content.

The Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops prided itself to be Las Vegas’ premier retail, dining and entertainment destination. It has been called “titan of the shopping world”, the Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops offers the best selection of shops. From upscale to mid-scale, you will find them at the Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops.

Featuring over 160 boutiques and shops, there is a wide variety of the world’s well-known brands such as Versace, Gucci and Burberry to popular favorites Abercrombie and Fitch, Diesel and Banana Republic.

If you are an automobile fan, there is Exotic Cars, a two-tiered retailer with 34,000 square feet of showroom space. It houses more than 50 exotic cars and motorcycles with luxurious brands such as Porsche, Rolls Royce and Aston Martin.

There is also the remote-controlled racetrack, unique displays and a variety of merchandise such as apparel and model cars. Even though you cannot drive away one of the exotic cars on display, there is always your luxury car rental that will surely more than satisfy your needs.

The 175,000-square-foot, three-level addition to the Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops includes an array of upscale shops and several new restaurants, as well as a spiral escalator – one of only two in the United States. With hundreds of stores, restaurants and attractions, there is plenty to do to keep you busy for an afternoon.

Weary shoppers can rest their feet at the fountains that offer hourly shows with its animatronic statues at Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops’ either end. There are further visual stimulation with ‘The Festival Fountain’ that depicts the feast of Bacchus and ‘The Lost City of Atlantis’ chronicles the great city’s fall.

Beautiful décor further enhances the experience at the Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops with the expansive stone-hewed walkway that divides the row of shops and a sky-colored ceiling overhead that gives the illusion of perpetual twilight. True to its name, there are ancient Roman architecture and sculptures to adorn the Forum Shops all around. Inside the front doors, visitors are greeted by a large reflecting pool, huge Roman statues and a beautiful glass domed ceiling.

To satisfy your hunger and fuel for more shopping, there are plenty high-class restaurants to cater to your need. For dessert, there is the Cheesecake Factory that is a sweet tooth’s dream. For a sophisticated evening out, check out Wolfgang Puck’s Club OPM, located above the restaurant, Chinois.

Whatever you want to do, the Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops in Las Vegas have it.

Talk about a classic handbag that oozes elegance. One name comes to mind and it’s Hermes.

A Hermes bag is the most coveted, most expensive and most valuable handbag in the world. There is no other, but Hermes that could possibly be crowned with this stellar reputation.

A Hermes handbag offers luxurious beauty and it’s stunning elegance wins your love over at first sight.

The rich material and exquisite craftsmanship of a Hermes handbag makes it difficult for anyone to keep your hands off.

It’s been often said, that a Hermes bag stands prominently above all the other luxury brand bags. Alone, like a divine queen, sitting on a throne, proudly ruling the luxury fashion kingdom.

Anyone who has ever browsed the classy Hermes website, takes notice and quickly marvels at the great creativity of the vivid Hermes world.

Simply put, Hermes is old-fashioned with glorious traditions in terms of using the most luxurious materials, exquisite handicraft, and unchanged aesthetic principle.

But the Hermes brand also presents glamor that has been created by deep tradition and timeless elegance. The respected Hermes brand creates and transcends fashion, but never follows fashion.

Hermes has a long, 170-year-plus record of providing the world of fashion with the most luxurious leather goods anywhere. The Hermès Group was founded in 1837.

Hermes handbags have well earned a reputation as the most sought-after handbags in history. Each unique handmade bag is carefully crafted, one by one, only from the most premium leather available.

The classic Hermes Birkin bag holds the record of the longest waiting list in the history of accessories. The Hermes Birkin bag is the crown jewel of the status bag.

The Hermes Birkin bag was designed back in the 1920s by the historical accessories design house – the Birkin. The Birkin bag is a long-lasting sample of classic beauty, everlasting style, and timeless design.

Photo: Savoir-Faire.com

If you are looking for a fashion knock-out punch, then the Repossi ERE Sapphire Ring should be your choice.

This stunningly beautiful ring is named the Ere Ring by Repossi, and comes in black gold with brilliant pink sapphires.

Capturing the baroque of the Russian Tsars in a blend of religious and secular references the Ere collection offers a confident and eclectic style.

The black gold of this piece gives it an almost granite look.

This amazing ring can be purchased at Savoir-Faire.com and is also one of Princess Kasia’s “Kasia’s Picks“

Back in 1982, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana founded Dolce & Gabbana. The two famous designers displayed their first women’s collection in Milan, Italy three years later. The collection earned them widespread praise.

Next, the pair opened their first boutique in Tokyo in 1989. In 1991, Madonna made one of D&G’s shirts famous by wearing it to the Cannes Film Festival.

Since presenting their first men’s collection, Dolce & Gabbana has expanded into fragrances, underwear, handbags, shoes, swimwear, eyewear, and jeans. The D&G label is well known for signatures like corset dresses, leopard print, and sexy, sleek three-piece pantsuits.

Over the years, Dolce & Gabbana have created many amazing handbag designs. The two are now considered a clear leader in the industry.

Dolce & Gabbana’s original approach to fashion design has earned them a number of fashion awards. They have also gained huge popularity among both consumers and businesses.

Even though it’s been over twenty years since they started, the Dolce & Gabbana label is still a fairly new addition to the world of fashion. Most companies trying to achieve fashion success, have been trying for almost a century to reach the popularity that D&G has gained.

Dolce & Gabbana offers sophisticated and sexy creations and their designs are focused on enhancing the natural beauty of a woman. Pushing the limits of fashion while leaving something to the imagination – that’s what D&G is all about.

Dolce & Gabbana styles are the perfect match for today’s successful women who are looking for a positive image. A couple of today’s Hollywood’s hottest superstars who choose to wear D&G’s designs are Jessica Simpson and Jessica Alba.