Chinese New Year - China's Top Luxury Gifts

(Picture Source: http://www.learnthailanguage.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Chinese-New-Year-2012-Dragon-288x300.jpg)

We all know that the Chinese New Year is one of the biggest migrations there is, but it is also a time when commerce flourishes for some, because gifting is very important in the Chinese culture. The colour red has to be somehow included in the gift, and this year very valued are the Dragons, but what are the top brands to give gifts from for the Chinese?

According to the Hurun Report, these are the brands that get the most bought from the luxury industry:
1. Louis Vuitton 14,9%
2. Cartier 10,3%
3. Hermes 8%
4. Chanel 6,2%
5. Moutai 5,9%
6. Apple 5,7%
7. Dior 4,6%
8. Prada 3,9%
9. Rolex 3,6%
10. Armani 3,4%

Emporio Armani Campaign Spring-Summer 2012

Dear all,
today I present you the Emporio Armani Campaign for the Spring-Summer 2012 season.
Out of all the bands of the Armani Group, Emporio Armani seems to be the best sold one. It is nr 3 most expensive one in the group and it targets young adults with its fresh and sleek design.

For this campaign the pictures were shot in Hong Kong, with Armani himself as the creative director. Alasdair McLellan, a London-based photographer and one of the leading fashion photographers of his generation, took the shots. Alasdair believes that photography should be personal and I believe these pictures reflect just that - they are not just product presentations, no, I believe that Alasdair has captured the models' expressions so well and Armani has made them integral part of the surrounding while still standing out with their personality.

From the Emporio Armani page we read that the photographer has "captured the elegance and the romance of the city, as well as its urban sophistication and the unique cultural mix of Eastern and Western influences". I say he has captured reality, a world full of contrasts which coexist wonderfully, the development towards Eastern countries, the mix of Western attitudes with the Eastern world etc.,...and the choice of models also helps in doing so.

As for the clothes... I just adore them! I am a fan of classical style, and this is modern classical with a twist. The straight lines highlight the sleeknes of Armani's style, while geometrical details make the outfit fresh and bold, in a way making a statement for the wearer: "I am confident - and I feel good!". This architectural design of the clothes and accessories is also made more sophisticated through accents such as a nice cleavage (the cut), a snake print (the material), a heel of a shoe (the concept)...

All in all - this is a campaign I really like and I am sure it will be very successful. What do you think?

(Source of pictures: http://news.armani.com)

Monaco Royal Wedding: Facts You Should Know

(Picture Source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h8sCcj2fOaV-rSnijMp4e40H5Dr0_OzhOcW536IxHkIfnjZICz-OpAQLy63g7I4u-qUXGNWkAJu9Hz77rXb_CCCAzgHJxHa5G3yzta7f4ZbwivmJq6TcE5cXZ4Pq2eAdZkUQZMtVac9S/s640/flag+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg)

Friday is almost here and before you start watching the show while slowly sipping some great quality Champagne (my recommendation for the weekend...), you should check some facts related to the event or to the future princess or the prince Albert.

What makes us all curious is of course, the wedding gown: how will it look like? Probably very simple and elegant, one thing is sure: the designer who will dress the princess for this wonderful occasion is Giorgio Armani, one of her favourites, and the dress will belong to the Haute-Couture Line "Armani Prive".

(Picture Source: http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS6uDkDUo6Nnm_tGOxxQMTfY3PomAgF2zPkdgZhUcFA4_O7N4mOaQ)

Another interesting fact is that Charlene will have changed her religion for this wedding. The former Protestant has become Catholic in April, making it possible to marry her prince. The small state of Monaco has Catholicism as official religion and the royal family has been brought up in a strong Catholic environment.

(Picture Source: http://madhattery.royalroundup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/2011-0127-monaco-charlene.jpg)

Charlene will wed her prince twice. Yes, you've read this correctly. And I am not referring to the fact that she will have the church ceremony/wedding one day after she has the civil marriage, but there will also be a more private wedding in South Africa, on the 7th of July, according to the "Sunday Times". Together with around 200 guests the two will be again wed and have a beach party at a five star hotel called the "Oyster Box" near Durban. The menu will be created out of South African delicacies to which they will be drinking "the best champagne", according to the manager of the hotel.

(Picture Source: via http://www.oysterboxhotel.com/gallery)

Another thing you might want to know: Charlene loves children. The twenty years younger bride-to-be than her future husband is thinking of having children of her own once she gets married. But Albert already confessed being father of two children so far: Jazmine Grace Rotolo born on the 4th of March 1992 and Andre Coste, born on the 28th of August 2003.

And one more thing for today, before we wake up to Friday, the day of the royal wedding: the official dress-code for ladies states that at the ceremony on the 2nd of July the hat is an absolute MUST.

(Picture Source: http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0aUieu38j05f9/x610.jpg)

Happy International Women's Day!!!

For all the ladies out there: have a wonderful day, it's your day today...just like every other day!

Enjoy this new ad campaign from Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans with Rafael Nadal, made for the Spring/Summer 2011 cloting line ad campaign.


(Source: YouTube.com)