Chanel Online Shop

Chanel goes online - WOW!

Being one of the last luxury and fashion houses to adopt this "trend", or better put, this retail development, Chanel will finally be available for e-commerce. But hold your horses, because the house is taking it one step at a time.

The first project will be an online store at the famous online luxury retailer Net-a-Porter for a capsule jewelry collection, called Coco Crush, with prices from 2000 to 20000 dollars. A sort of pop-up store starting 15th of April 2015 - meaning today.



As for the Chanel online-store, Bruno Pavlovsky states that the site might be ready in September 2016, even if rumours indicate it could be up and running already in the first quarter next year.

I look forward to seeing this (inevitable) change for the house and will remain until then

 ...in the mood for Chanel.

 (Picture source:http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/426x639/k_n/netaporter-vogue-7-9apr15-pr-b_426x639.jpg; Video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgtOz3ThhXI)

Being of Age - The New It Thing

Being young and fabulous is a wonderful state, but it passes really quickly, even before you can realize it. So it's when you notice, that products are marketed at people below your age group,  you are 10 years away from college or discussions around you involve changing diapers, that you are indeed getting old...oldER...of age...oh,..whatever you fancy calling it, it's still the same thing.
It's the natural course of life, some come, others go, planet earth still turns and life is not spareing any one of us.

It might look like a sad outcome, but taking into consideration how many medical discoveries we have nowadays which help us have a better life at age, and how beautiful it is to age decently, remaining young at heart and free spirited, having more time to discover the world or to enjoy yourself and the world around you more, I guess we should see it as an opportunity.

Just like two fashion houses thought of taking the opportunity and capturing real beauty in their campaigns.

Dolce & Gabbana in their 2015 ad video features elderly women:

(Picture source: https://s.yimg.com/ea/img/-/141229/dolce_grandmas_1aa0ulv-1aa0um6.jpg)

Or take a look at Celine's new ad with Joan Didion, 80-year-old American writer and fashion-inspiration to many:

(Picture source: http://www.theguardian.com/books/fashion-blog/2015/jan/06/joan-didion-celine-spring-2015#img-1)

So let's stop wining and try to make the best of life's every age and situation and one thing to remember is: age does not stop us, our mind does. We should never stop or settle, we should never give in. We are beautiful and powerful at any age, only if we are happy with ourselves. So be happy!

Your Life Like a Chanel Dress - The Luxury Approach to Life

 

In the last two months I have taken more time for myself and for activities which make me happier and complete, as a person, for activities which enrich my soul and stimulate my senses and, not to forget, for activities which engage my brain more and the whole process of deeper thinking. This happened mainly because I saw myself analyzing people around me and noticing how shallow our lives have become.

One thing that has drawn my attention to luxury products was never the high price people see at a first glance, but rather the well structured concept behind them, the craftsmanship (and the idea of high quality work) as well as the tradition. An haute couture dress by Chanel is not just a high priced dress by a well-renowned designer made from expensive fabric, it's a story, of women who are passionate about fabrics and needles, who treat every piece of material with respect and who present the final product like a child of their own, whom they are very proud of, it's a story from the idea, the sketch to the runway show, it's a product which receives life from the hands of highly skilled crafts(wo)men... If you are not really seeing the picture, I recommend this document called Signe Chanel, which will open your eyes on a whole new perspective about the luxury industry. It will show you that behind a product there are a lot of beautiful people (and I am referring to inner beauty) who do everything passionately. They live for what they do!

Going back to my analysis of people around me in the last months, I am sad to say that I consider life nowadays too fast-paced, in order for it to have a deeper meaning. Most of us can refer to their lives as to a fast-food dinner, rather than to a 3 Michelin starred gourmet dinner, in which all your senses are required and stimulated.

People just run-run-run and I am wondering: where are we all rushing to? Browsing through Facebook's Timeline instead of calling up your friends to find out what is new, is a shallow way to engage in social relationships. Eating micro-wave dishes instead of going to the market and being attracted by the colours and the smells there, and imagining what to cook, this is also a wrong take on life (at least from my perspective).

From this point of view, even if they had less horizons to set their sight on or less opportunities, our parents were more fortunate. They used to have TIME for themselves and for the people and things that mattered in their lives. They used to spend a lot of time reading BOOKS instead of tweets, and they would meet friends and discuss ideas, not only facebook status updates of others.
Sure, an H and M dress can make you happy (or at least for a period in time),...I have lots of those. But just like that dress, there are many more around the world, they are not unique, and they donnot tell a story. Or at least, not your story, and for sure, not a story of passion and love of life.

So I decided to take a moment and a deep breath and to refuse that fast-food similar life, but to try my best at reaching the gourmet one. I don't say it's easy...it's rather more difficult and more work is needed to gain those 3 Michelin stars, than just to wrap a kebab or a burger. Also that Chanel dress takes a lot of work, many...manyyy hours of work. But in the end, the result will make me more happy, I am sure of that. I have read more books in the last month than in the last year and I am positive I have more new ideas now than I would have with even one year more passing of my life without reading this much. I have met up with more friends than in the last 6 months and have seen their views on life, their worries and the small things which make them happy, and I notice that I am not alone in this world with my wish for a better and a complete life. A life full of texture and colour and music and scent...so that all my senses can be engaged at the same time. Because,...no matter what life you choose, fact is, we only live once, and we have to make the best of our time here. And there is no single recipe of how to live which can apply to two people at a time. But if you put more emphasis on quality, rather than quantity, if you care more about being than on having, you are on the right track for completing that Chanel dress, your life!

(Picture source: above - http://lachanelphile.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/fwch11i2.jpg and below - http://www.elle.com/cm/elle/images/up/elle-lagerfeld-chanel-sketch-3-de.jpg)

zChocolat - Share the Joy

 

Although we tend to live in a fast-paced world, where capitalism drives traditions into becoming commercial acts, such as seeing Christmas decorations in shops in mid September, like I was "lucky" to see in Stuttgart this year...or Easter bunnies hopping all over starting February...there is still a part of us that expects those holidays because they mean more, if you want to! They bring happiness, joy and smiles on so many faces, because holidays and traditions especially are meant to bring the loved ones together.

It is also a time when we tend to relax, slow down the pace, lay back and ...why not...relish...
So what better time than to receive another amazing package from zChocolat?!

I have mentioned zChocolat in the past as well on my blog, for their summer offering, and will quote the most important from that post: 

The chocolates are handcrafted in France by the World Champion Chocolatier and Meilleur Ouvrier, Pascal Caffet. For him, chocolate is an experience, which you will surely understand once you taste one of his 26 recipes created especially for ZChocolat, for which he uses no preservatives, no artificial colouring, 100% pure cocoa butter, modest sugar, high cocoa content, no alcohol, and only the best choice for the other ingredients as well, such as Piedmont hazelnuts, Iranian pistaccio, violets, raspberry, Sri Lankan coconut etc. However, not only choosing the best chocolate was a priority for this brand, but offering a customizable service of offering was also top of the list. The handmade packaging can be chosen as well, and it can be personalized with messages, just like my box was. You can choose the name of the receiver to be attached to the box, to give it the ultimate personal feel, you can also have an image put there, choose the personal assortment which will be, for example, sealed in the box with a coded heart-shaped lock...just let your imagination wander,...and ZChocolat will offer you the service. 

For the winter holidays, zChocolat has another seasonal line to offer: the holiday zBox, basswood or mahogany box collection. I got lucky and received the amazing mahogany Holiday Ruby box. What a delight - to finally hold the entire collection and taste all those different creations!

I took some days to do this, because THIS chocolate is not something you just eat,...but one praline is enough to fill your entire day with joy, taste, colour, music. It is amazing how many stories you can cover/go through by just one bite. It is time to close one's eyes and disappear...enjoy the experiences!
So here are mine - decided to let you in on just some I hadn't presented last time (see previous post), because THOSE were particularly amazing and the best reason to explain WHY this box is just the PERFECT seasonal gift ... This small box helped me travel through time and space and helped me reunite with people and moments which are set a long time in the past. Enjoy!

#22 - immediate beaming to distant places - the citrus and coriander combination embraced by Ivory Coast milk chocolate seamed a rather strange one, however I have immediately fallen in love with it. It's not that cold outside, but one does need a sweater and a warm jacket when you go out...but I didn't need to go all that trouble because my mind was already in warm climate countries thanks to this amazing chocolate. Even 10 minutes after tasting it, my palate was still embracing those distant places

#21 - I must admit, if I had to choose between white, milk and dark chocolate - the latter would always win my heart - so #21 is one of my favorites - dark with dark with almonds and roses...mmmmmm...the flowery note just adds that little something which was missing to perfection. I would order a box only with this one. I most specially adore the creaminess of it all - almost like a pleasant sin.

#19 - crunchy texture wrapped by smooth dark chocolate, a fine combination of contrasts. Best for those who cannot decide if they are tough or soft :)

#15 - dark chocolate delight with a fresh citrus note. I would compare it to a good night's sleep and to the refreshing start into the next day...relaxing but also offering new energy

#12 - this one would fit perfectly with #22 - sesamy, crunchyness, all these make me think of oriental deserts or even amazingly tasting salty main dishes. It's like I've been to a feast with only one bite.

#0 – crunchy, nutty… There used to be a time when gifts for Christmas consisted also in hazelnuts – and this praline wrapped in Ivory Coast chocolate is exactly as those type of gifts.

#1 – reminded me of my year spent on the Cote d’Azur, especially of the flower market Sunday in Nice. Although Provence is well-known for lavender, it was in Nice that I used to buy it. This vanilla-lavender filling in the 70% dark Venezuelan chocolate is again a time and space travel for me. All the good moments I associate with lavender just exploded in my mind once I let this praline melt on my tongue. Amazing how flowers are not just nice to look, not just nice to smell, but also give a distinct taste, a strong personality to things they mix with.

#4 – peanuts – remind me of parties and get-togethers with good family friends, where peanuts wouldn’t miss. It’s normal for me/us to serve something for guests, even if it’s just a small snack to go with drinks, but peanuts would never miss. It seems just normal that once I tasted this praline with peanuts and covered in 40% Ivory Coast milk chocolate, that I would feel so familiar and that I would think of all the loved ones.

#5 – dark. Inside and out! Sinful! Perfect

#6 – mmmm! Like a wafer in a small deluxe dark packaging.

#7 – this one was a strong one. Like a shot of espresso coffee, but crunchy and chocolaty! And very international: coffee beans from Kenya and Nicaragua and 70% Venezuelan dark chocolate.

(Photos taken by me)

Reflections

Just because the last days have been very rainy, cloudy,..and grey...I started thinking a bit about fall. An then I stumbled upon a short film just launched by one of my favorite designer and a great gown-creator, Elie Saab.

Enjoy the short film called REFLECTIONS, which celebrates the coming to stores of the new pre-fall collection by Elie Saab! You will surely admire the femininity expressed through the cuts, lines and materials used by the designer and will surely fall in love with his style. It's just a fantastic way to flatter a woman's body, and Elie Saab knows best how to let simplicity talk volumes about great style and strong personalities, about a woman's confidence and seductive powers. You can also check out the collection here.

(Video source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rh2Hap0Cms&feature=youtu.be)

(Picture source: http://www.trendus.com/elie-saab-pre-fall-2013/20927)

Belgium Series - I - Belgian Chocolate

What better way to start this series than with what seems to be one of the most famous products of Belgium - the CHOCOLATE.

It is not the first time I am talking about chocolate (see here), but this time it will be another approach. I am not talking just about raw chocolate, but about chocolate in general and why Belgian chocolate is so famous.

The term of chocolate probably derives from Yacatan Mayan words "chokol"(=hot) and "atl"(=water). From times older than 1400 BC chocolate was used as a drink, a spicy drink. It was a mesoamerican luxury, drunk initially by Mayan and Aztecs. The beverage was done by grounding cacao seeds and turning these into a paste to which water was added so that this mixture would turn into a bitter drink.

In the 16th century, a missionary who lived in Peru and later on in Mexico writes the following about chocolate: "The Spaniards, both men and women that are accustomed to the country are very greedy of this Chocolate. They say they make diverse sorts of it, some hot, some cold, and some temperate, and put therein much of that "chili"; yea, they make paste thereof, the which they say is good for the stomach and against the catarrh...".

1585 was the first recorded shipment of chocolate to Europe for commercial purposes. It was still served as a drink, but in order to reduce the bitterness, cane suggar was added and chilli was removed from the mix.


In the 17th century, while being ruled by the Spanish, Belgium was introduced to the cocoa bean. The drink was highly appreciated and a favourite place to enjoy it was the Grand Place in Brussels. Brussels was the place where the story of Swiss chocolate also began: the mayor of Zurich, Henri Escher, experienced chocolate for the first time in 1697 and took this discovery with him to Switzerland, which is now a primary competitor of Belgium in terms of chocolate production.





Being so much in love with chocolate, the Belgians searched for their own supply and found it in Congo with the help of King Leopold II. Unfortunately, chocolate history in this chapter is very bitter for the population of Congo.

However, the Belgians managed to surprise the world in the domain of chocolate, so nowadays only this part of history is remembered. 1857 saw the opening of the first chocolate shop in Brussels, by Neuhaus, which still exists today. Neuhaus' grandson invented 1912 the first praline, by filling an empty chocolate shell with sweet substances.

What makes Belgian Chocolate nowadays so unique, so luxurious, is the fact that these gourmet products are confections by chocolatiers who use the highest quality of ingredients and Old World manufacturing techniques. It is in the ingredients and the craftsmanship that the quality lies.

There are more than 300 chocolate companies in Belgium, and thousands of shops around the country, and when you walk the streets of Brussels like I have done recently, you will see how many shops offer you chocolate, you just need to turn your head to another direction and there you will see the next place selling chocolate. My advice: go with brands such as Neuhaus, Godiva, Cote d'Or, Guylian or Leonidas.



I have noticed a lot of shops selling you extra offers of "six pralines boxes for the price of ... Euro" or "special offer, only now 6 boxes for the price of 2", and most of them are in very touristic areas, such as next to the Grande Place in Brussels. There was another shop I entered, which was packed with Chinese tourists who bought around 10 boxes each of pralines,... next to the famous Manneken Pis statue, and once they went out of the shop I could see that even the price tags where in Chinese and so was the sales assistant. It was probably a place to stop for the tourists from that region of the world, and a place where they thought they would buy the real thing as a great deal. I must repeat the fact that I advise against it. Just across the Manneken Pis statue is also a small Godiva shop, and when you see the people inside the shop, creating then and there the chocolates, by hand, then you notice the difference.

I am not much of a hot chocolate drinker, but it was a very frosty day when I wandered the streets of Brussels and I must say I had my taste of hot chocolate heaven at Godiva. When I drank that "potion", I understood why that population fell in love with it - it was a drink that surprisingly raised my happiness level, without intoxicating me (as alcohol could do to you), and it makes me smile even now when I think of it. It made the snow which was falling down on me seem nonexistent and the humidity which was going through one's clothes, disappeared as well. Even the grey sky didn't seem to bother me anymore. Maybe all these feelings were also there due to the fact that I was on vacation, but I am positive that the chocolate had a great contribution to my well being.

(C) text and pictures by author, Ingrid Sabine Weber
Pictures taken with HTC phone camera

KARL by Karl Lagerfeld Released

The long awaited KARL is (being) released at this very moment, with a premiere on net-a-porter. After having had a collaboration with the Swedish Brand H&M, Karl Lagerfeld now offers his own name as a fashion collection which should be more affordable to the masses (prices ranging from 24 to around 1000 Euro).

The collection will be available for four weeks and has 70 pieces, including dresses, pants, shoes, bags and T-Shirts.

I find it very KARL, very sleek, straight lines, well-defined shape, KARL colours (or non-colours), Karl accessories, leather, studs... a piece of the designer's image - and it's all affordable. So go ahead and check it out on net-a-porter.com and let me know about your favourite piece.

(Pictures sources: Pics 1-5 via http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk and Pics 6-9 via net-a-porter.com)

World's Most Expensive Business Cards

(Picture source: http://cdn.trendhunterstatic.com/thumbs/black-astrum.jpeg)

Have you ever wondered how much first impressions count in creating business contacts and hence business opportunity? Have you ever put thought into how you do a handshake, how your table manners are, how you dress to impress (and to fit the occasion) or how your face loos like and what a smile can do for you? I am sure you did, because, even if you are not a freelance and even if you don't work for a brand, first of all, you should be your own brand and building "YOU" takes time and effort.

So let's say you have given all the above a thought - and you meet someone really influential or someone you want to do business with...or just someone who you admire a lot and you want to stay in touch with - and you want to introduce yourself - and then you pull out this business card from Black Astrum: a bespoke diamond-encrusted statement business card - which come in sets of 25, 50 and 100 cards, a full set containing around 30 carats of diamonds.

Now this is a card that can say something about you without any words: it is a signature card targeting the ultra high net worth individuals of the world, which you get access to by invitation only (so privileged high net worth people), with an average price of around 1000 pound sterling per card - which the individual just gives to introduce himself - so he puts more accent on other values than money (money is easily spent) but still wants to make a statement. It also tells about the importance the person receiving it has to the owner of the cards.

And it has just been launched in London. So when will you receive it from someone? Or when will you use it to make a statement?

(Picture source: http://www.instablogsimages.com/1/2012/01/12/black_astrum_business_card_qvsbw.png)

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)

Versace for H&M Cruise Collection 2012

Ok, so the first collection from H&M in collaboration with Versace (or the other way around) was not so great in my opinion. Contrasting very much with what she had created for her own house Versace, Donatella made a great collaboration with H&M in terms of publicity but not so much in terms of quality. I was extremly disappointed, and the fact that even after over a month from the launch I was able to see a huge stock in a H&M shop in Hamburg - in the center of the city and in the biggest shopping area around - was not a good sign.

For the Cruise collection, the Versace house and H&M have approached things differently, it seems. The released pictures show less glitz and glam but more of feel-good factor, a bit of freshness and playfulness. The accessories, even if almost as bold as the ones in the previous collection, seem to be more feminine, while the men clothing seems to be a bit more conservative while still keeping some typical Versace marks.

From panthers (previous) to fruits,...this collection seems like a totally different attitude. It comprises of 24 womenswear items and 14 for men. The collection which also includes beachwear and lingerie will be available only in a very selective network - meaning in the countries where H&M has an E-commerce site: UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway.

(Source for all the pictures: http://lifestyle.malaysia.msn.com/fashion/photoviewer.aspx?cp-documentid=5727383)

Luxury Events Calendar - January 2012 - Selection

(Picture source: http://www.luxury-insider.com/uploads/news/2012/01/sneak-peak-cartier-for-sihh-2012_4.jpg)

(Picture Source: http://www.europastar.com/local/cache-vignettes/L550xH199/sihh4-4fc13.jpg)

Dear all,
Happy New Year! Hope you have had a great start to the new 2012 and that you are looking forward to a great time a head, a one-day-longer-year - just he best to fit in all the interesting events you might want to write down in your agenda.

I realiza I haven't been active before or around Christmas,...it was a really busy period for me, nevertheless, one of the gifts I received inspired me for today's post. I was lucky enough to receive a really wonderful watch, and my dear friends know that since I have worked at Montblanc I rarely ever wear one because I have become a lover of watches and picky at the same time.

Why am I telling you all this? Well...the watch above is a sneak peak from Cartier which will be presented at this year's SIHH - Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Geneve. The skeleton watch with a hand-wound movement from Cartier is inspired by the brand's pocket watches from the 30's. This and other beauties like these can be seen at the fair (unfortunately only for professionals), but I have picked also other relevant events from the luxury industry for January 2012. Take a moment to check them out and maybe you will go to one of these. Nevertheless, the products shown then will most likely have a great media coverage afterward. But if you want to be amongst the first, here is your chance:

06.01 - 15.01.2012 - London Boat Show - Yachting & Boating - London, UK
15.01 - 20.01.2012 - Geneva Time Exhibition - Watches & Pens - Geneva, Switzerland
16.01. - 20.01.2012 - SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie) - 21st International Fine Watchmaking Exhibition - Watches & Pens - Geneva, Switzerland
21.01 - 29.01.2012 - boot Duesseldorf - Duesseldorf Boat Show - Yachting & Boating - Duesseldorf, Germany

(Picture source: http://mby.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/9092|000001073|7ebd_LBS10dt-M9633.jpg)