Chicago gets some New Cashmere

A Los Angeles-based retailer known for its casual cashmere and leather offerings is opening a store on Oak Street this fall.


Vince plans to open at 106 E. Oak St. in October, the 15th location nationwide for the designer of luxury, contemporary men’s and women’s fashion.

Vince, which is carried in upscale departments stores including Barneys New York and Saks Fifth Avenue, has been expanding its stores nationwide recently and later this year will open a 16th location outside Seattle.

Vince plans to open its first international store next year in London, according to a news release from Chesterfield, Mo.-based Kellwood Co., a clothing manufacturer that acquired Vince in 2006.

At 106 E. Oak, Vince will lease 1,500 square feet on the first floor, beneath the Ultimate Bride on the second level and the Charles Ifergen Salon on the third level. The space was formerly the local fashion retailer Chasalla, which closed there around the beginning of the year, says Mr. Ifergen, who has owned the building since the late 1970s.

Mr. Ifergen says he began talks with Vince this spring. He’s excited because Vince caters to a young clientele, with prices just below those of couture designers.

“As soon as I told my wife and daughter, they said that’s great,” says Mr. Ifergen, who also sees the deal as a hopeful sign for Oak Street. “Slowly but surely, the street is getting filled up again. We took a hell of a beating. Now lots of stores are moving in.”

Naomi dons fur in summer!

British model Naomi Campbell has proven she takes her job seriously after she donned a fur vest on a 90-degree afternoon to model for Dennis Basso’s fall/winter 2010 campaign.
A team including photographer Tom Munro and stylist Patti Wilson took over the Mobil gas station at 10th Avenue and 14th Street for the shoot, the New York Post reported. Campbell took a moment out from working to chat with Ellen Barkin, a faithful Basso client, and Mickey Rourke, who stopped by together to say hello.
The leggy supermodel has been the face of Basso since last year. The new ad campaign will break in September.

Cashmere Holiday!

If you love cashmere, you will want to stay in the Cashmere Suite at Stobo Castle in Scotland.
Upon arrival receive:
• A complimentary bottle of Bollinger champagne

• Stobo chocolates
• Slippers
• Bottled water
• A luxury Molton Brown Gift Set

The Bedroom

The bedroom walls are dressed in rich claret coloured cashmere, sourced from Holland & Sherry in Peebles.
Integrated "his and her" plasma screen televisions are placed at the bottom of two cashmere covered 7 x 5 ft beds from Italy which are hand painted and detailed to reflect the design of the silk curtains in the living room.
A discreet dressing room is entered via the bedroom, panelled in the American Black Walnut finishing that is the theme throughout the suite.

The Bathroom
The bathroom within The Cashmere Suite is a true haven in itself. Handcrafted from one piece of limestone and weighing over a ton, is a breathtaking cream bath, which is the focal point of the room.

Amber and aubergine up-lighters illuminate the room and complement the colour scheme. With under-floor heating and an integrated flat screen television, no detail has been excluded.

The Lounge
An abundance of silk complements the cashmere in the lounge with the most superior lighting technology available on the market place. The floor boasts a truly stunning Zeigler rug that embraces all the colours of the suite and covers most of the room.

Truely heaven for the cashmere lover!

Contact http://www.stobocastle.co.uk/ for more details

Fur Buying Guide

A fabulous coat is an essential piece that helps complete any feminine wardrobe. They are practical items as well as products that spell luxury and style. They perform the dual purpose of keeping you warm from the cold, chilly winds and more importantly, make you look elegant and chic. Just by simply slipping on the right coat can elevate your beauty and confidence!




Choosing which type of fur coat to buy can be a hard task, so here is a quick guide:

Sable:
Sable is one of the most luxurious furs available which a rich cultural history and tradition behind it. Jackie Kennedy worse a sable trimmed coat to President Kennedy's Inauguration. It was even worn by the Russian Royal Family for a long time as a way of distinguishing themselves from the common people due to its exorbitant cost. The sable fur that adorned the shoulders of the Russian royalty was embellished with beautiful diamonds, pure gold and silver.

Nowadays, there are a few types of sable used for making coats. The best is considered to be from Barguzin Valley in Russia. Yeniseyskiy sable comes in different shades of brown. There can also be a dash of bright, vivid silver visible and generally lighter in color than Barguzin. Also, it showcases a lesser number of silver hairs as compared to the former. The third renowned kind of sable is the Canadian sable that is used by fashion houses around the world. Chinese and Japanese sables are deemed to be of the lowest quality.



Mink:

Mink fur also originated from Russia. It is derived from the hairs present on the body of the mink, which is a type of weasel. What sets this particular fur apart from all other kinds is that the hair on the body of the mink is of the exact same length. This fur is stunning to look at as there is no discrepancy when it comes to varying hair lengths, giving it a smooth finish. It is formed of perfectly proportioned hair. This is a very easily usable fur which makes it the most preferred choice for making different items of clothing like coats, jackets, capes, etc. as it gives an understated, elegant look.



Fox:

Fox fur has been patronized and appreciated in all major European countries in the centuries gone by. It is said to denote luxury, opulence and extravagance. Fox fur is readily available and used frequently by fashion designers. There are innumerable colour choices in the case of fox fur. Colour choices ranging from pure white to jet black depending on the tastes of the customer. There is a dramatic elegance that comes with wearing this fur.

Fur is the 'New Cool'

A growing list of fashion icons have sworn off fur, from Carla Bruni and Michelle Obama to Pink and Lady Gaga. But times have changed since the early 1990s, when supermodels such as Naomi Campbell declared they would rather go naked than wear fur.

Now Campbell fronts a campaign for the furrier Dennis Basso – and campaigners admit that, on the catwalk and the high street, the trend is hotter than it has been for years.

Fur coats made an appearance during the New York, London and Milan fashion weeks. Karl Lagerfeld covered motorcycle helmets with mink and chinchilla. Dolce & Gabbana added bright pink fur sleeves to jackets. Fur also featured prominently in the collections of Louis Vuitton, Fendi and Prada.
Last month French Vogue featured the Brazilian supermodel Raquel Zimmermann in a flurry of fur. Keira Knightley attended an awards ceremony in a karakul lambskin coat and Jennifer Lopez makes no secret of her fondness for mink and chinchilla.
Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue, is unapologetically pro-fur, running positive editorials and fur-themed photo shoots. “Fur is still part of fashion,” Wintour said this year, “so Vogue will continue to report on it.”
Celebrities’ enthusiasm for fur has seen sales rocket. In 2007, fur sales worldwide totalled $16.5bn, up by 11% on the previous year, following nine years of continuous growth. Last year the fur trade contributed $21bn to the global economy.
Campaigners admit they are concerned that the industry is winning its fight to redefine fur as something worn by chic, edgy kids rather than the sort of moth-eaten, fusty choice made by traditional grandmothers.
“Young people are more comfortable showing their love of fur,” said Mathews. “Hopefully, our Worst Dressed Award will wake these cold-hearted celebs up to the truth about fur.”

From The Guardian

Women in Louboutin Red

Women in Louboutin Red Style: vanityfair.com
A gallery of star wearing the famous red soles!

Dennis Basso does it again!

Check out the video of Dennis Basso's S/S 2010 show.
Featuring some fantastic, modern takes on fur.. as per usual!

dennisbasso.com/SPRING-SUMMER10/spring2010.html


You can find Dennis Basso boutiques in NY, Chicago + Aspen