- David Beckham covers the July issue of ELLE UK just in time to shove the Olympics down your throat. [Telegraph]

- Axel Dumas will take over as CEO of Hermès when current CEO Patrick Thomas steps down next year. [WWD, sub req'd]

- Tanning Vegas,  a mobile airbrush tanning company, is suing Lindsay Lohan for skipping out on the bill for two years of tanning — to the tune of $40k. But honestly, Tanning Vegas should’ve known better than to do business with a convicted felon. [Huff Po]

- Occasional actress Milla Jovovich is going back to her first love — the music — with the single “Electric Sky.” [Fashionologie]

- Francesca Eastwood, daughter of Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood, burned a $100,000 Birkin bag with her photographer boyfriend Tyler Shields, thus putting thousands of fairy tears and unicorn horns to waste. [Huff Po]

- Calvin Klein‘s newly sober boy-toy Nick Gruber let everyone know that he’s finally out of rehab via the poor man’s press release, i.e. Facebook. [Styleite]

Global research company Millward Brown Optimor conducted the study based on a brand’s overall performance as well as consumer interviews.

Coming in second place is Hermès, which Vuitton’s parent company — LVMH Moët Hennessy — has made no bones about wanting to acquire by snatching up any and all available stock over the past few years. And no wonder, Hermès  stepped its game up by a staggering 61% to $19.1 billion.

The Rolly’s apparently on many arms and the Chandon is flowing freely as both Rolex ($7.17 billion) and Moët Chandon made the top 10, which also includes Chanel ($6.68 billion), Gucci ($6.42 billion), Prada ($5.7 billion), Cartier ($4.8 billion) and Burberry ($4.09 billion). [Vogue UK]

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The defendants ran sites such as yesburberryvision.com and buyburberry.com selling at least 22 types of Burberry merch that imitated its iconic plaid check and equestrian knight. Not surprisingly, the defendants failed to show up in court let alone answer the complaint filed in January and therefore the judge awarded Burberry $100 mil and whatever money was held by third-party payment processor, PayPal Inc.

In addition, the judge granted a permanent injunction and ordered the domains transferred to Burberry, effectively allowing the brand to  stop Internet service providers, Web designers, payment processors and others from doing business with the counterfeiting culprits. Burberry also has the ability to shut down any social media sites — the Twitters and the Facebooks — or search engines — the Googles or the Bings — associated with those domains.

This case, along with a similar case last month in which Hermès was also awarded a $100 million judgement, have set precedents in the way courts handle counterfeiters by holding search engines, ad word providers and social media — as opposed to just ISPs, payment processors and domain name registrars — responsible. [WWD, sub req'd]

Eartha Kitt - "Santa Baby" (1953) Lyric: “Come and trim my Christmas tree/With some decorations bought at Tiffany’s.”

Sister Sledge - "He's the Greatest Dancer" (1979) Lyric: "He wears the finest clothes/ The best designers heaven knows/ Ooh, from his head down to his toes/ Halston, Gucci, Fiorucci/ He looks like a still/ That man is dressed to kill."

Klymaxx - "Meeting in the Ladies Room" (1985) Lyric: (Spoken Intro) "I had to leave my condo to come to this/ Well I'm back/ But this time I'm with my man/ And these women are puttin' their hands all over his Yamamoto Kansai sweater that I bought/ And I'm much, much unhappy about that/ I'd hate to come down to their level and become a BW/ A basic woman/ But if they don't stop/ It's gonna get SCANDALOUS."

Run-D.M.C. - "My Adidas" (1986) Lyric: "NOOOOOOOW/ Me and my Adidas do the illest things/ We like to stomp out pimps with diamond rings."

The Notorious B.I.G. - "Hypnotize" (1997) Lyric: "I put hoes in NY onto DKNY/ Miami, D.C. prefer Versace/All Philly hoes, dough and Moschino/ Every cutie wit a booty bought a Coogi."

Lil' Kim - "Crush on You (Remix)" (1997) Lyric: "You got to hit me off/ Buy this girl gifts of course/ So I look slick in my 6 with my Christian Lacroix (pronounced Lacross)

Jay-Z - "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It to Me)" (2000) Lyric: "What do you say me, you and your Chloe glasses/ Go somewhere private where we can discuss fashion/ Like Prada blouse/ Gucci bra/ Filth Mart jeans/ Take that off."

Gwen Stefani - "Rich Girl" (2004) Lyric: "Think what that money could bring/ I’d buy everything/ Clean out Vivienne Westwood/ In my Galliano gown."

Beyoncé - "Upgrade U" (2006) Lyric: Audemars Piguet watch/ Dimples in ya necktie/ Hermès briefcase/ Cartier top clips/ Silk-lined blazers/ Diamond-creamed facials/ VVS cuff links/ Six-star pent suites."

Vampire Weekend - "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" (2008) Lyric: "As a young girl/ Louis Vuitton/ With your mother/ On the sandy lawn"..."Can you stay up/ To see the dawn/ In the colors/ Of Benetton."

Kanye West - "Niggas in Paris" (2011) Lyric: "What's Gucci my nigga?/ What's Louis my killa?/ What's drugs my deala?/ What's that jacket Margiela?"

Lady Gaga - "Fashion of His Love" (2011) Lyric: "You know that I'd never cheat on a man/ 'Cause I'm not like that/ I'm physically crafted to be/ As fitting as McQueen." Add your favorite fashion lyrics in the comments below!

Running from May 8-27 at the Royal Academy of Art, the exhibit is befittingly opulent for the luxury brand founded in 1837 by French saddle and harness-maker, Thierry Hermès.

Among “Leather Forever”‘s highlights is a giant neon Kelly bag sculpture chronicling the many variations of the house’s iconic Kelly and Birkin bags over the years (above) and a room dedicated to some of the house’s bespoke creations such as a wheelbarrow for Wallis Simpson commissioned by her husband the Duke of Windsor.

The exhibit also includes four one-of-a-kind Hermès Passe-Guide handbags that will be auctioned off online to benefit the Royal Academy of Art.

Perhaps one of the most interesting and revelatory facets of “Leather Forever” is a room featuring two skilled artisans from one of Hermès’ 32 workshops creating actual Hermès pieces.

These artisans are not only highly trained in leathercraft but also undergo an additional four years of training to learn the Hermès method, which as Hermès’ UK and Ireland managing director Thierry Outin explains, is why there are such long waiting lists for the Birkin and the Kelly:

“People ask us, is it a strategy? But no, it simply takes so long to train our artisans. Plus, we like to keep our workshops ‘human-sized’. We like to know the names of every artisan, that to us is very important.” [Telegraph]

With summer on the horizon, long weekend getaways are a must for leaving the city to decompress. Help dad travel in style with this modern, understated carryall, perfect for toting his max-out and relax essentials.

Not only does this lovely lilac pocket square have dapper dad appeal, he can use it to chicly dry his eyes when you make him proud.

Everyone loves a new fragrance, especially when it smells this grand. Treat dad to Hermes this year - it's the gift that keeps on giving.

After using this Korean herbal oil for few days, your dad will have no idea how his skincare routine was once complete without. Ginseng oil helps restore the skin for an age-defying effect while camellia oil's antioxidant properties create a clear, radiant complexion.

Every dad needs a little R&R, and giving that gift can be extra special this year. Refresh Body makes house calls, so he doesn't even have to change out of his robe to enjoy some stress relief.

Bey and the Biebs will compete in that category with the legit luxe label lineup of Bottega Veneta, Tom Ford‘s “Violet Blonde“ and Prada‘s “Candy Eau de Parfum Spray.”

The finalists in the Luxe Men category are “Armani Code Sport,” “Gucci Guilty Pour Homme,” “John Varvatos USA,” “L’Homme Libre” by Yves Saint Laurent and my personal fragrance fave, “Un Jadrin Sur le Toit” by Hermès.

Nominees in the Media Campaign – Women category include Marc Jacobs “Daisy” — but surprisingly not the controversial “Oh Lola!” — “Burberry Body,” Chanel‘s “Coco Mademoiselle,” Dior‘s “J’adore” and interestingly, if that’s the word, “Wonderstruck Taylor Swift.”

Thierry Mugler‘s “A*Men” campaign featuring amputee track star Oscar Pistorius will compete against “Armani Code Sport,” “Gucci Guilty Pour Homme,” “CK One Shock for Him” and “Eau de Lacoste L.12.12″ for Media Campaign – Men.

Nominees joining last year’s inductee, Elizabeth Taylor‘s “White Diamonds,” in the Fragrance Hall of Fame, include Elizabeth Arden‘s “Red Door” and Hermès’ “24 Faubourg” in the women’s category and “Acqua di Gio,” “A*Men” and Issey Miyake‘s ”L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme” in the men’s.

Winners will be announced at the always glitzy Fifi awards presentation on May 21 at Alice Tulley Hall. [WWD]

[Ecouterre]

Happy Toking and remember to dress is human, to smoke divine.

1. Quit this: Birkenstocks A mandal by any other name would look as bad.

Hit this: Espadrilles An Hermès espadrille may not be ideal for Ultimate Frisbee in the quad, but it's more than appropriate for quick munchie runs.

2. Quit this: Tie-Dye Psychedelia  gave us many things, none of them as enduring or as tacky as tie-dye.

Hit this: Bold prints Pucci prints are as trippy as they come so you can easily get lost staring into them for hours on end.

3. Quit this: Hemp A durable and versatile fabric, there are more chic ways to green your wardrobe, especially without using your green.

Hit this: Organic fabrics If you're all about sustainability and that crap, H&M's Conscious Collection is easy on the environment and on your wallet.

4. Quit this: Puka shell necklaces Ah, the puka shell necklace, or as I like to think of it, shorthand for letting everyone know you're a complete tool.

Hit this: Statement jewelry A statement necklace says something completely different, like "I'm high as a kite right now and I'm going to dress like it."

5. Quit this: Ponchos If you've been indulging a little too much in the late night Taco Bell, then by all means, drape an unflattering carpet over yourself.

Hit this: Capes However, a cape like this Alexander McQueen number is a fashionable alternative to the poncho but on the other hand, so is anything else.

6. Quit this: Board shorts Board shorts are appropriate on only one occasion, and that is on a surf board. Any other time is just an insult to surfers everywhere.

Hit this: Suit shorts Tom Ford doesn't think men should wear shorts at all, but Thom Browne doesn't expect you to play hacky sack in a full-on pant during those hot summer months.

7. Quit this: Hawaiian shirts Hawaiian shirts are appropriate on only one occasion, and that is on Charlie Sheen. Any other time is just an insult to Charlie Sheen...which is kind of all right.

Hit this: Paisley shirts Odds are you won't need much to cheer you up this 420, but paisley, like this Michael Kors top, can add a dash of curlicued sunshine to anyone's day.

8. Quit this: Baggy jeans "So okay, I don't want to be a traitor to my generation and all but I don't get how guys dress today. I mean, come on, it looks like they just fell out of bed and put on some baggy pants and take their greasy hair - ew - and cover it up with a backwards cap and like, we're expected to swoon? I don't think so." -- Cher Horowitz

Hit this: Harem pants A harem pant gives you the same freeballin' feeling as a pair of slouchy Levi's hanging off your upper thighs and -- bonus points -- the drop-crotch acts as a great weed table if nothing else is around.

9. Quit this: American Eagle For most of us, middle school is over and so is the Eagle.

Hit this: American Apparel Going from the Eagle to the Apparel, though, is not so much a show of growth so much as a show of wanting to get laid. But even stoners need to slut it up sometimes.

10. Quit this: Beanies A beanie is like the stoner equivalent of the little black dress. And though I would deign to ask any pothead worth his or her reefer to abandon their LBD...

Hit this: Newsboys A newsboy cap adds a certain air of jauntiness and charm. I mean, who would you rather get high with, beanie boy or Brad Pitt? Though the beanie guy looks baked as all get out.

Prada had its “best year ever,” according to CEO Patrizio Bertelli,– a year that includes the debut of the luxury firm’s IPO on the Hong Kong stock exchange. With a 72% increase in profits to €432 million (or about $577,324,768 at current exchange rates) thanks in large part to sales of shoes and handbags to Asian consumers and revenues totaling €2.6bn (about $3,462,388,818), Prada is now on par with the likes of Hermès.

Ferragamo also went public last year, albeit locally in Milan, and its profits surged almost 70% to €100 million (about $133,216,482) with record sales to Asian, Brazilian and American customers. But Versace perhaps has the biggest reason to celebrate.

Donatella and co. finally turned a profit after three years and a near financial collapse, with earnings of €8.5 million (about $11,324,004) last year; up from a  loss of €21.7 million (about $28,909,517) in 2010. Unlike Prada and Ferragamo, Versace accomplished this sans an IPO and does not plan on going public anytime soon.  Rather, CEO Gian Giacomo Ferraris credits the growth to sales in emerging markets, particularly Greater China.

Capitalizing on their international appeal, all three Italian firms plan on expanding their sphere of influence around the world. Prada has 80 store openings in the works for 2012 and 2013 — adding to the 75 stores it opened last year — while Versace plans on opening stores in New York, Los Angeles, Asia and the Middle East and Ferragamo is launching ecommerce in Korea, Turkey, Ukraine, Mexico and Canada.

Soon we’ll all be shopping so much we’ll be speaking Italian, to paraphrase our modern day poet laureate. [Vogue UK, FT]

Carefree and rebellious, this gorgeous fragrance was inspired by a new generation of Italian IT girls. This beautiful floral bottle might be the most gorgeous we've seen, holding inside a scent beaming with an air of the Mediterranean. Calabrian bergamot, white Alba truffle, wild strawberry, Amalfi orange blossom and cedar marry perfectly together.

Rich and daringly provocative, this darkly seductive, art deco-inspired bottle holds a curious creature and mysteriously sexy scent. Exotic, unconventional and poisonous flowers are blended together to form an elixir sure to cast a spell on your senses. The blend of Black Davana, Opium Flower, Belladonna, Poison Hemlock and Frankincense is feminine yet strong... and will stay with you all through the day.

A fragrance of enchantment, mystery and fantasy, this bottle says it all. With your feet on the ground and head among the stars, prepare for an imaginary journey through the world of Hermès. Woody with the warm scent of amber, this timeless perfume will take you from the constellations to the deep blue sea and back again.

Cute as a button tied up in a big pink ribbon - the bottle emulates this crisp scent from Ferragamo to a T. Fresh yet refined, this is the perfect perfume for the sophisticated woman who's young at heart. An unexpected mixture of elegant jasmine and sweet pannacotta make what's inside oh-so memorable.

We can't get enough of Mox Botanicals' bold yet simplistic packaging, the perfect match for what you'll find inside. Crafted from the highest quality essential oils, these scents are captured with a base of organic jojoba oil, fractionated coconut oil, Oregon beeswax and Vitamin E. We love Arsinoe for its wildly beautiful mix of jasmine, vanilla bourbon, sandalwood, ylang yang and wild orange.

A burst of florals mixed with bright and tart rhubarb - it's not difficult to understand what this bottle is saying. Lilac, rose and heliotrope bring the soft smell of a sunny spring day to the earthy air of this red root. Daring and sophisticated, you'll want to smell like this year after year.

What did you do for a raincoat before you created Terra? (and what flaws did you find?) Yurika Nakazono, whom is the creative director of the brand, and I [Marie Saeki, CEO] went through many non waterproof raincoats, and few [that were] waterproof but not that fashionable! I used to wear one from Muji, well done, very simple but we really wanted something more fun and stylish. It was hard to find something not casual; we did research, but really couldn't find anything. At the end, both Yurika and I, just gave up cycling when raining…until we made our own.

What do you wear on the rest of your body on your bike in the rain? When raining, underneath the Terra Lower East Side parka I'm wearing , Levi's jeans, Alice Ritter blouses (obsessed with them) or Marni tops. I'm never going out of my home without a scarf (love Hermès!). As for shoes, I just got the low rubber boots from Aigle. But soon I will switch for Terra New York, as we have a high heel boots in rubber for F/W 2012.

What about a helmet?? Bern! They do very cool helmets, I use the Brighton, customized with neon tapes.

What kind of bike can we see you riding?

This scent is for a powerful woman with a man that can handle it. Strong citrus is peppered black over a floral feminine heart.

With a rich sense of sensuality, a melange of florals like lily, hyacinth and orchids encapsulate sandalwood, cedar and woodsy notes.

With hints of absinthe, freesia and peach, this unusual potion brews the trench sexy.

A misty lotus flower breathes mango, incense and sycamore wood. A unisex fragrance, you can both try it and be turned on by the united scent.

With the strength of the Violet Leaf Absolute, rose, orris, mandarin, and cedarwood combine with other obscure delicacies to bring you a scorching hot scent.

Believe it or not, Rachel knows her scents like she knew hair. For the summer loving duo, this scent will take you on an ocean's wave with citrus, rosewater, jasmine and other light essences.

Women are going nuts over it, and boys are responding. While ladies of all ages are snagging this left and right, this juicy, berry-ful scent is ideal for those still in the puppy love phase.

Miss the days of yore when you only had 27 to 36 pictures per roll, and lucky for you if you "Shot Doubles!" first? Well, get the feeling of a 35 mm with a usb in its shape.

Stick all your important info in the top of your boot.

If your goal is subtle flash backed by bling, you need this smooth as butter leather cuff flash drive by

If your fondest memories include a kiss, store them all in this lip-smacking usb key.

Like your gadgets a little more glam? Try this studded keychain key.

The hikes are rumored to happen anywhere between January 24th to early February and have already been noticed in Europe and Asia.  Markups on the bags, accessories, scarves, jewelry and shoes will be around 9%.  Hermes ceo Patrick Thomas told BusinessWeek that the “reasonable level” is due to “significant” silk, cashmere, and crocodile skin costs increases.  Thankfully, Hermes is one of the most esteemed investment brands, and their bags’ value, in most cases, have incredible return rates if ever sold.  Happy shopping (or in our cases, happy dreaming).

- Breathable caffeine. It’s a real thing. Though for my money, there’s a much more effective, albeit illegal, way of snorting your way to a quick pick-me-up. [Nylon]

- Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, 69, wants to put those pregnancy rumors to rest! She may be getting married to “forever fiend” Willie Wilkerson this summer, but there’s no royal bun in that majestic oven. The Queen is reportedly considering Donna Karan, Valentino and Vera Wang to do the dressing honors. [People]

- “How you Zoe-in’?” After sending The Baby Skyler an Hermès tower of toys, Brad Goreski told Wendy Williams he never received a thank you note from former boss/current rival Rachel Zoe. [Jezebel]

- Ad Age didn’t think Rihanna‘s Armani ad was the sexiest of the year, though apparently everyone else thought they thought it was. [Ad Age]

- Remember that whole Marc Jacobs sexual discrimination case? Yeah, I don’t care either, but seems like it’s been settled out of court, “to the satisfaction of both parties.” [Vogue UK]

- Cosmopolitan is oversexed, Glamour’s definitely hiding something, and Vogue is surprisingly romantic. The buzzwords magazines used most on their covers for 2011 painted a telling portrait. [Fashionista]

Didier Grumbach / Photo: The Crowd Blog

“I don’t understand why Paris completely and totally just ignored what all of us have worked so hard on,” DVF said. “I am speechless. I just e-mailed [Chambre Syndicale president Didier Grumbach] and said that I was completely in shock.”

Grumbach, for his part, plans on sending a letter explaining his position to von Furstenberg, but for the Chambre, the decision came down to a matter of deadlines. “It was perfectly open and clear and very obvious that our members could not accept this…” Grumbach explained, referring to the previous back and forth between everyone.

“We fall at the end of the calendar, ” he continued. “All of the member houses agreed that this would make them very late in taking orders, which in turn would be penalizing for deliveries. It’s an industrial reason: you are a manufacturer, you need your orders early…Who wants to be penalized? It doesn’t make sense. We have had lots of meetings about pushing Paris show dates earlier as many brands really want that.”

In a board meeting presided over by Hermès deputy managing director Guillaume de Seynes, members voted unanimously to keep  their show dates, thus flying in the face of the proposed second Thursday rule.  For 2013, Paris will show from February 26 (a Tuesday) to March 6 and then from September 24 (also a Tuesday) to October 2; the dates for 2014 are (Tuesday) February 25  to March 5 and (Tuesday) September 23 to October 1.

And in a case of that playground staple monkey see-monkey do, Milan’s Camera Nazionale della Moda president Mario Boselli proclaimed: “We were going to move if Paris was also moving. As Paris is not moving, we won’t either.” He then stuck out his tongue, stole the CFDA’s lunch money and pushed London’s British Fashion Council off the swings.

So what does this all mean? Well, according to Boselli, in order to avoid any show schedule overlap New York and the CFDA are going to have to swallow their pride: “Perhaps the only way out would be for the Americans to reduce their fashion week to seven days, as nine days is too long, and start a couple of days after Labor Day.”

Now that Paris won’t change its schedule, neither will Milan, leaving London and New York on the other side of the aisle — and I wouldn’t be surprised if one side casually slipped out a stilettoed heel to “accidentally” trip the other on the march towards compromise. [WWD]

Military Styled Coats

Outerwear is highly important when the winter season rolls around. Everyone loves a great looking winter coat, and for men the military styled coat is stylish but still masculine. These coats lie a bit beyond the waist and have a lot of design details that give it more of an edge than your average pea coat. Buying in a darker color, such as a deep navy or charcoal, is a sure way to complement any outfit this winter season.

Preppy is Still In

Preppy winter clothing has yet to go out of style, and is a great way to add color to your winter wardrobe. Preppy styles for men are comfortable, casual styled clothing that come in a wide variety of styles and bright colors. Brands to try: Tommy Hilfiger, D&G

Say Yes to Exotic Fabrics

Velvet is still in this season as far as fabrics are concerned. Men don’t need to stick to boring cottons or wools to have their winter wardrobe fit in. Cashmere, leather, and even fur is in this season for men. Brands to try: Versace, Etro

Heavy Knit Sweaters

Sweaters with a chunky knit in bright colors are definitely a wardrobe must have for any man along with Nordic sweaters. These sweaters will not only keep you incredibly warm during the colder months, but will also keep your wardrobe interesting and from running on the bland side. Brands to try: Versace, Hermes, John Varvatos

Go Gray Not Black

While black is classic and sleek, let’s not forget about the stylish neutral gray.  Gray suits and overcoats pair nicely with the bright garments that are in this winter, and complete an outfit without having to be so traditional.

Just because winter is upon us doesn’t mean that men can get sloppy. Keep yourself looking good by remembering a few of your favorite winter trends.

Heathrow Airport, London
Getting stuck in Heathrow is a shopper’s dream. The T3 terminal shopping center stands up to central London with stores like Mulberry, Zara, Reiss, Dior, Hermes and Harrods. Once you’re done spending all your money, the art museum is a free cultural fix in Terminal 5. Need a nap after all that? Check into the Yotel in Terminal 4 starting at £25 for four hours.

Munich Airport, Germany
Beer gardens, gambling and spas. Need I say more?

Having mastered the art of social media — they’re #1 on Facebook with nearly 9 million “Likes” and #2 on Twitter — Burberry continues to find innovative ways to engage consumers such as a live-streaming Tweetwalk, where looks from London Fashion Week were Tweeted before they hit the runway. They also scored well in e-commerce and mobile commerce thanks to its global site relaunch, landing the over 150-year-old British label the top spot on the L2 index and the official label of “Genius.”

Kate Spade was a newcomer to the index but their blend of smart e-commerce and a strong mobile and social presence skyrocketed the brand to the #2 spot. Storied houses Chanel and Christian Dior, on the other hand, seem to be resting on their luxury laurels earning only “Average” L2 IQs.

Prada and Hermès started running with the bad girls in school, smoking in the bathroom and dating college boys instead of working on their social media and as a result their IQs plummeted from “Gifted” in 2009 to “Challenged” in 2011. And to make matters worse, Prada was cited as the “biggest digital disappointment in luxury.” Yikes, wait til your father hears about this….

But in their defense, Europe might just have a harder learning curve. Ten of the top fifteen brands in the L2 index were American and on average American brands have a higher digital IQ than their Euro counterparts. Finally, somewhere the U.S. excels in something besides obesity and sluttiness.

The top 10 list is as follows:

1. Burberry: Digital births an icon: Proof that digital investments translate to shareholder value.

2. Kate Spade: Top social media score; Index newcomer did not get memo that heritage is necessary to be iconic digitally.

3. Coach: New York native continues to woo the blogosphere and registers top scores for site experience.

3. Gucci: Gucci Connects dots and delivers with shoppable video and recent Tumblr launch

5. Dolce & Gabbana: Global site relaunch threads needle of edgy and effective.

5. Tory Burch: Facebook store leads fashion F-commerce (r)evolution.

7. Ralph Lauren: New York Times iPad app takeover transforms brand into rich media publisher.

8. Hugo Boss: Top mobile scores and interactive YouTube channel venture differentiate the brand online.

9. Louis Vuitton: Embracing the spirit of travel with Amble app; Leads on Foursquare.

10. Michael Kors: Destination: Kors. Evolving brand into an online lifestyle.

[Luxury Lab, Telegraph]

Amanda‘s Bag, Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Bag

1. Tilly & William Armer

2. House keys/coke spoons

3. Wallet

4. Makeup bag with assorted contents: MAKE UP FOR EVER Duo Mat Powder Foundation, Clinique Line Smoothing Concealer, Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional, Benefit Cosmetics Play Stick, Lancôme Le Crayon Khol Eyeliner, Dolce & Gabbana Lip Gloss, Benefit Cosmetics Big Beautiful Eyes, Smith’s Rosebud Salve, Shiseido Shimmering Rouge

5. Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Bag

6. Business card for Time Will Tell Watches

7. Other assorted business cards

8. M.Patmos cheat sheet

9. Norma Kamali 3D glasses and lookbook

10. Front row seat card for Anne Bowen

11. Sunglasses

12. KAUFMANFRANCO lookbook

13. Broken POS Apple Earphones

14. Hugo Naturals French Lavender Hand Sanitizer

15. Sephora makeup brushes

16. FashionIndie Mixtape Vol. 4

17. Hand creme from some gift bag

18. FashionIndie stickers

19. iPhone 4

20. Piazza Sempione tote

21. Macbook

22. Go green wireless phone charger

23. Concept Korea lookbook

24. Lemon-Lime Emergen-C

The wedding day is finally here and we’ve got even more details about the Kim Kardahsian Kris Humphries uber lavish wedding.  In addition to our earlier list, here are the latest bits of gossip about the famous nuptuals:

1. The jaw dropping invitation is above, which includes requests for all guests to wear black and white.  The invite was delivered in its own box which was decorated by hundreds of jet black hematite crystals

2. $66,000 worth of wedding gifts have been purchased from her registry by the couple’s wealthy guests.  Still up for grabs are the $305 per plate set of Hermes dishes, a $7,000 Baccarat vase, an $840 Havana ashtray, and $205 KT ice tongs.

3. The wedding party is all shacked up at the Four Seasons Hotel, and they’ve caused so much ruckus there with the cameras and staff that another bride to be that was actually having her wedding there wasn’t even allowed to attend her own party due to security blocks for the celebrity entourage.  She was said to dash to her room in tears over the Kardashians taking away attention on her special day.

4. Kim’s wedding will actually be held at the nearby Montecito Sotto Il Monte Estate 

5. Post ceremony, the couple will be jetting back to their new home at the Gansevoort Park Hotel in New York City.

6. The wedding is set for 6pm west coast time this evening, and in attendance will be celebrity guests including Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Nicole Richie, Ryan Seacrest, Jennifer Lopez, Venus and Serena Williams, La La Anthony,  and the New Jersey Nets basketball team.

The Brighton Blue Crocodile Birkin $59,500

A complimentary pair of The Row sunglasses! Hurry! You don’t want to miss this deal.

Sidenote: Is it just me or is that water bottle shaped like a flask?

I listened to “Watch the Throne” last night, and have to say it’s a great record. What have I learned from what I’ve heard? You have to work in the fashion industry to understand anything they’re saying. Examples, from “Otis” alone:

“New watch alert, Hublot’s”

“Couture level flow, it’s never going on sale”

“Luxury rap, the Hermes of verses”

Okay, I guess those lyrics are pretty pedestrian, but still, makes us feel special fellas. What do you think of their first music video?

Photo: NYT

“What might once have been dismissed as a take on mom’s household apron was literally elevated with a pair of wedges to achieve new fashion status,” writes Menkes of the royal formerly known as Kate Middleton‘s contribution to the world of style.

Menkes goes on to explore the “explosion of surface decoration” and how the Duchess, in her infinite wisdom/fierceness managed to “politely” and “familiarly” embrace prints on her “run-up to the royal wedding.” Then again on “her ‘howdy’ North American tour” when, “she wore a frill-collared shirt with graphic motifs under her cowboy hat” to the rodeo.

Bold prints are definitely in season, and have been for a while — Menkes cites the now infamous Prada Baroque print as well as historic scarf prints by Hermès and Versace — but does Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in all her bone-thin perfection inspire your choice in “surface decoration”? [NYT]

- Hermès apparently wanted to tap noted sculptor Helmut Lang to replace Jean Paul Gaultier after the latter left in 2010, but the former wanted to shred clothes, not make them. [Fashionologie]

- New York’s kinda foxy governor, Andrew Cuomo, reportedly hired the stylist from girlfriend Sandra Lee‘s “cooking show,” Semi-Homemade Cooking to do his makeup during his campaign. To the tone of $1383.86 [NYT]

- Speaking of money well-spent, the National Institutes of Health used tax dollars to conduct a study on gay men’s penis size and how it effects their sexual health: Those who felt they had an inadequate penis are more likely to be psychologically troubled and anal receptive—or “bottoms”—while those with larger penises usually identify themselves as “tops.” Meanwhile, a quick run-through of Manhunt would have unearthed the same conclusion. [Jezebel]

- Amancio Ortega, the richest man in Spain, is stepping down as chairman of Zara, which he founded in 1975. [The Cut]

- While at the premiere of Friends with Benefits, sounds like one WWD reporter was less than enthused about stars Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake‘s behavior. To wit: Mila Kunis wore a red, tight Lanvin dress and the watchful gaze of an exceptionally beefy bodyguard, who dissuaded revelers from speaking with her. “She doesn’t want to talk,” the guard explained, “to anybody. ”

And: Timberlake didn’t particularly seem to want to be with anybody. Visibly pained, the singer-turned-actor had forced a mile-wide grin for the press on the red carpet. “I think it’s a good movie?” Timberlake offered through clenched teeth. Sounds like someone hasn’t had any friends or benefits in a while.  [WWD]

- Borders, my favorite bookstore chain — suck it, Barnes & Noble –  is closing all of its 399 stores, including the six in NYC because no one reads anymore. [Racked]

Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Hold it out in front of you and admire its beauty. Or lay it out on a flat surface.

Michael Bastian preps in khaki rolled up to its shortest capacity. You’ll cause quite a stir at the country club.

This Boutique Critique is about the amazing designer vintage store, 1 Of A Find.  Curator and self-professed shopaholic Honey Moon goes on buying trips all over the world seeking out beautiful, unique, impossible-to-get-your-hands-on Hermes, Chanel, Gucci, Lacroix, and Lanvin to satisfy her international clientele.  She used me as a Barbie doll and transported me into worlds I only dream of.  Best part? Her prices are as unique as her collection, so we definitely recommend scooting over to her Brooklyn location asap.  Check out all our amazing finds after the jump.

This gown was to DIE for.  It caught my eye immediately as a dress made for the 1950′s movies I play out in my head. When Anna Wintour extends me a VIP invitation to the Met Gala, I will surely be sporting something like this on the red carpet.

Vintage red bow evening dress- $250
Neiman Marcus rhinestone snake shoes- $135
Gold Heart Christian LaCroix earrings- $125
Little Black velvet purse with rhinestone clasp- $65

Oh-la-Lanvin!  This split front evening skirt with matching metallic sandals took my breath away.  I channeled Carrie Bradshaw and paired it with a Levi’s jean jacket and a fun net hat (something so Kate Middleton right now) to mix it up.

Lanvin gold brocade skirt- $850
Black velvet and net hat- $55
1950′s pink silk slip- $65
1960′s gold platform sandals- $68

The perfect summer maxi — the sheer chiffon made it cool in the heat while making a major fashion statement with its bold prints.  Paired with Dior booties, a Gucci bag, and a summer straw hat, I was loving this luxe warm weather look.

Sheer floral chiffon dress- $138
1950′s pink silk slip- $65
vintage coral necklace- $48
wooden beaded necklace- $25
1970s Pottery leaf & corded necklace $55
1970s Gucci “hobo” bag- $345
Chunky Amber Bracelet- $75
Wide brimmed straw hat- $55

You can’t do Brooklyn vintage without channeling a little inner hipster.  These Dior shoes (with the angelic sweet bows), vintage Levi’s and amazing seuqin blouse kept the look casual but party ready.  A python bag and flat brimmed hat made me look MUCH cooler than I am.

Silk and Sequin blouse- $85
Stetson hat fedora- $125
Vintage Levi’s 501s- $85
Dior Python and leather shoes- $65
Beige python and leather bag- $135

What screams glamour like a metallic jumpsuit?  Nothing.  What screams glamour-queen? Pairing it with these futuristic shades, a geometric statement necklace, and lace up leather booties. Retro chic and ultra fierce.

1980′s silver colored jumpsuit- $115
Etienne black and gold belt- $35
Maud Frizon brown leather booties- $138
Liz Claiborne 2 tone glasses- $45
Monet black and gold necklace- $65

The Mod Squad would have adopted me in a heartbeat in this Montaldo Op Art dress.  I fell in love with the digital print, it was so eye catching and well, trippy.  Bubbled sleeves and a high neck are hard to pull off without looking like Julie Andrews, but this psychedelic wonderland of a dress with slim cuts made it utterly chic.  I fell in love with the leather wedges and actually scooped them up for myself (sorry shoppers!).

Montaldo’s Op Art Dress- $115
Andrew Gellar white leather clutch with gold trim- $85
Chunky multi-colored beaded necklace- $65
Clegerie leather platform sandals- $88

I never thought I could pull off a Blair Waldorf headband until I found this gem of a velvet headband.  So sweet and a little schoolgirl, it matched perfectly with this lace dress from the 60′s. The chunky heeled shoes kept the look 100% vintage, and the hand painted wooden purse kept a touch of fantasy in the mix.

1960′s burgundy lace dress- $98
burgundy satin headband- $35
1960s hand painted wooden lock purse- $135
Chaos of London stacked black velvet shoes- $85

If you have any questions about the store and more vintage finds, tweet me @iamsamlim

Ladies:

A bold shoulder - Women used to dress in power suits to emphasize their equality to men. Though the scales are still a bit uneven, bring out those shoulder pads to show the boys you’re not only as good, but better.

Ball-buster heels- There’s nothing better than a 5-inch stiletto to kick through that glass ceiling.

A pantsuit - Take a page out of Hilary Clinton‘s playbook and leave the skirts for the sluts in the intern pool.

An executive realness bag – Because you’re not fooling anyone with that Dior knock-off and you don’t need all that bag square-footage for a résumé and some business cards.

Jewelry, but to a minimum – A little zazz here, a little sass there never hurt anyone, but don’t OD on the beads and bobbles. This is an interview not a night out at da club.

Gentlemen:

A tailored suit – Any schlub can put on a suit.  But if you’re trying to run shit, you’ll need to make sure the suit fits the aspirations so take it to a tailor.

A briefcase – You ever seen those guys with suits and backpacks and think, oh, I want him running my company? Didn’t think so.

A pocket square - Aside from being a dashing accessory, that nifty bit of fabric in the breast pocket comes in handy when you don’t want them to see you sweat.

Wingtips – Your career will take off on the wings of your tips. But since it’s summer, pair them with a nude ankle — it’s less stuffy and you’re not a woman of  the 19th century so no one will be scandalized.

A watch - Not only do you need to be on time — or preferably 15 minutes early — for your interview, a nice timepiece instills confidence in everyone around you. “Oh, that guy knows what time it is!” Yes, yes you do.

Good luck, out there kids! And remember, if you’re going to go on an interview, make sure you go to werq.

1. Macbook Pro  Laptop $1799.00, apple.com

2. Christian Louboutin Biana 140mm Heels $795, christianlouboutin.com

3. Glam Rock Rose Gold IP Watch $995, glamrock.com

4. Tiffany Hearts Charm & Chain $850, tiffany.com

5. Tracey Reese frock! “Adison” Dress $228, traceyreese.com

6. Beats By Dre Solo Headphones $229, beatsbydre.com

7. Nikon COOLPIX P100 Camera $399.95 shop.nikonusa.com

8.  Hermes Ex Libtis GM Notebook $225 hermes.com

9. A-morir Libertine Sunglasses $280, a-morir.com

10. Completely Bare Gift Card completelybare.com

11. Tuleste Market Bouna Fisherman Booties $375 shopbop.com

12. Burberry Leather-Detail Trench Coat $1195 neimanmarcus.com

13. MAC Cosmetics Gift Card maccosmetics.com

Gaultier is the most recent addition to the Puig fashion family, which includes Nina Ricci, Carolina Herrera and Paco Rabanne. JPG will step down as president, making room for Manuel Puig (right), so that he can focus his attentions — thankfully — on designing his couture and ready-to-wear collections.

The past few seasons have seen Gaultier in a creative rut, but the designer is happy about the new partnership, saying of the Puigs: “They know what they want to achieve and they are buying Gaultier for Gaultier, not to turn it into something else.”  Well, they could at least turn it into a good label again…I’m just sayin’. [WWD]

LINK LOVE: Style.com

Seems like there’s a bit of grittiness on the Spring 2011 runways, and a whole whiskey barrel full of it at Hermes Pre-Fall 2011.

Hermes’ equestrian heritage lends itself to the western feel. Belting the jacket is not just for silhouette’s sake, but for utility, and we realize again that fanny packs are dead useful. And howdy do there black flat brim hat!

Lanvin, especially with the briefcase in tote, makes me think of taking daddy’s jacket and tightening it about the waist.

Matthew Ames narrowed in on the essence of what will make a plaid skirt work.

Marc Jacobs gives us a skirt with the length and volume we need. Those colors make it a bit too cheerful for actual grit, though.

To get super authentic, just steal your man’s coat, like this Ferragamo, and ride off to seek vengeance.

Might look a bit Zorro slash horse jokey gal, but hey it could work with a few perks here and there.

Recently, the fashion giant tried to command and conquer the people’s beloved luxury brand, Hermés.

How is family-owned Hermés fighting back?

With the POWER OF SALMA HAYEK!!

To publicly “brush its shoulders off” LVMH, Hermés invited Salma Hayek and husband to a large, private party celebrating its new store opening in Paris.

But wait a tick… Salma is an A-lister – she goes to lotsa red carpet events.Why does this event hold special meaning?

Because of the spicy Mexican actress’ husband, François-Henri Pinault. The man is famous for denying LVMH from taking over Gucci in 1999. (Pinault owns PPR, LVMH’s biggest competitor.) I don’t think it’s a coincidence Pinault and Salma were smiling at the Hermés celebration. Those cheeky smirks were aimed directly at evil LVMH.

Lesson learned: when in doubt, call Salma. Her hotness has the power to make snakes dance and fire appear. TAKE THAT LMVH.

Today’s office shoot was all Hilary, all Hermes, click ENVY to see more shots styled by FashionIndie’s very own Daniel Saynt!

We’ve seen Karlie Kloss in the Spring 2010 Ad Campaign for a fairy tale-ish Hermes. Now it’s time to darken up, tighten up and watch Constance Jablonski doing the magic for the Fall Winter 2010 2011 Hermes Ad Campaign. It’s about Zorro. Or so I think. It’s pure delight, all immortalized through Paolo Roversi’s lenses. I just hope they have enough fairy tales inspiration and that they’d go on working their advertorial spells on us next year too! What do you think? Is it better than Karlie’s Spring campaign? Worse? (don’t miss the rest of the images right after the jump! click here for the gallery!) (photos via)

Constance Jablonski For Hermes Fall Winter 2010 2011 Ad Campaign

LINK LOVE:Constance Jablonski For Hermes Fall Winter 2010 2011 Ad Campaign

Estou mais que positivamente impressionada com Genebra! Sei lá, são aquelas coisas de sempre né… Nossos pré-conceitos, nossas concepções completamente distorcidas do mundo… Sempre pensei na Suiça como aquele lugar über-plácido, com vaquinhas pastando e relógios fazendo o tic-tac como música de fundo para pessoas super certinhas levarem suas vidas ordeiras e corretas. Não poderia estar mais enganada.

Primeiro – e, para não dizer que não falei de moda: como as pessoas se vestem bem por aqui! Sim, é verão e há hordas de alemães, franceses e outros turistas com aquelas *piores roupas do mundo* de sempre… mas vê-se que os suíços (ou pelo menos os de Genebra) prezam pelas roupas que vestem. Se eu tivesse que escolher alguém para representar a forma como a mulher de Genebra se veste, ela seria um mix entre Olivia Palermo e Carinne Restoin-Roitfeld. É um estilo muito clássico mas com peças que tem o seu “quê” de vanguarda; que prezam muito mais pelo tecido, pelo corte e pelo caimento que pela “tendência” pura e simples. Como existem muitas instituições financeiras por aqui, além das inúmeras organizações internacionais, acredito que muitas das mulheres que vi pelas ruas estavam em suas roupas de trabalho. Mas dava pra ver que mesmo passeando, muitas delas tinham uma elegância clássica exalando pelos poros. Mesmo num calor de 31 graus – que eu imagino que seja o equivalente a um 45 carioca para eles – elas mantiveram a elegância e continuaram impecáveis ao longo do dia.

Além disso há que falar sobre a multitude de lojas de grandes marcas, relojoarias e joalherias espalhadas pelo centro da cidade. Só nos cinco minutos que fiquei admirando uma sandália Hermès, três senhoras saíram com sacolas abarrotadas de lenços, artigos de couro e algumas roupas. A sensação que se tem em Genebra é de riqueza profunda e abundante ecoando pelos quatro cantos. Inúmeros grupos de mulheres árabes cheias de sacolas, turistas russos e chineses gastando seus novos milhões em peças de gosto mais que duvidoso, pessoas com cara de “bem-nutridas” e “saudáveis” nadando pelo lago ou navegando em seus barcos. Quando se vai para a parte mais externa da cidade é que se vê os exilados africanos e asiáticos, os imigrantes ilegais de todos os cantos, os “invisíveis”. Como em toda metrópole européia eles estão presentes em pencas e dá aquele aperto no coração de ver que a desgraça tá ali, juntinha do esplendoroso. Mas pelo menos eles não estão sendo mortos, estuprados ou escravizados né…

E quanto à vida pacata e ordeira dos suíços? Bom, posso até tentar colocar a culpa nas férias de verão, ou mesmo na curta estadia do passeio, mas os suíços não tem NADA de pacatos. Eles dirigem que nem os brasileiros – são muito peritos mas extremamente imprudentes. E andam que nem loucos, buzinando pra qualquer um que estiver no caminho. Placa da Espanha então, deve ter prêmio pra dar uma fechada ou direcionar um palavrão (não sei se já mencionei aqui, mas os catalães dirigem muuuuuuuuuuuuuito mal. Mesmo. Demais da conta.). E a vida noturna me pareceu empolgadíssima! Tudo bem que agora são 11 da noite e eu estou no hotel; mas estou de férias com meu marido e minha sogra, então não é o tipo de viagem em que vou para “a night”. Mas, ao sair do restaurante e vir para o hotel me deparei com hordas de jovens seguindo para as boates e bares que circundam o lago. Além disso, hoje havia apresentação da Unidos de Genebra. Pois é, aonde eu vou “as raízes” me perseguem. Samba (que não tinha nada de samba, já que ouvi ao longe um Jorge Ben sendo tocado) nos Alpes. Para não fazer um post completo sobre estereótipos, me abstenho de comentários.

Tenho que mencionar a situação triste do asfalto da cidade. Enquanto as estradas são verdadeiros tapetes, o asfalto de Genebra mais me lembra o do Rio. É uma buraqueira digna de enchente carioca – e nem vale dizer que aqui tem neve porque as estradas são perfeitas… deve ser a ONU que não paga os impostos! Piadinha infame, eu sei.

Algumas pessoas – homens e mulheres – me saltaram aos olhos por seu jeito mais “indie” e descolado; uma coisa mais *The Kooples* de ser. Como sou chegada nesse estilinho, fiquei toda “saidinha”, já querendo achar o local onde essa gangue se escondia. Pena que vou embora amanhã, então essa ‘pressa” dificulta descobertas maiores. Mas já sei que Genebra é cidade a se voltar. Definitivamente.

LINK LOVE:Genève dans mon coeur

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I always love Hermès ads because they are the most creative.

A fragrance specifically designed to share, made up of:

Sandalwood (milky, gentle)

Cedar (hot, dry)

Angelica (green freshness)

Juniper berry (icy freshness)

White musks (gentleness, comfort)

Have a dream you need to share? At VoyagedHermes.com you can share your dreams and see them shared with other dream seekers.

LINK LOVE:Little bow chic

Get ready for three new perfumes guaranteed to take you on a trip around the world. Un Jardin sur le Nil, Un Jardin en Meediterranee, and Un Jardin après la Mousson are three summer fragrance options offered to you by Hermes. Inspired by perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena’s trips, the Jardins collection takes us off the coast of the Mediterranean, sailing down the Nile river, and straight through India. Woody scents alongside floral spices give the consumer quite the number of options when picking out just the right bottle.