Monthly Archives: July 2009

July 30, 2009

Daily Candy gets even sweeter

So Fashionista headed to the very glamourous location of the Swarovski Crystallized Lounge, opposite one of Fashionista’s meccas, Liberty. On the menu was an interview with the equally glamourous Daily Candy London editor, Malika Dalamal who was questioned by FBC co-founder & co-chairman, Alison Whelan (also very glamourous!) about the rise of Daily Candy (“DC”) [...]
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July 29, 2009

Coco Before Chanel: (Not-So)-Subliminal Advertising

During a recent trip to the cinema, Fashionista was mesmerised by the trailer for “Coco Before Chanel”, released on Friday. A true “rags to riches” story, full of ambition, drive and vision, it tells the tale of Coco Chanel in her early days, showing the beginnings of what would later become one of the world’s [...]
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July 27, 2009

JJB: the lowdown on the loan

Fashionista has been following the recent press coverage relating to Sir David Jones, current executive chairman of JJB Sports (“JJB”), and Mike Ashley, Sports Direct founder, with interest when it was revealed that Jones had taken a £1.5 million interest free personal loan from Ashley. The revelation of the existence and details of the loan [...]
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July 21, 2009

Sunshine gives retail a boost, but will it last?

Everyone feels better when the sun shines and the good weather during June certainly seems to have brought the shoppers out onto the High Street. According to BRC/KPMG’s London Retail Sales Monitor, like for like retail sales in London rose in June by 4.7%, with increased footfall in London over the same period last year. [...]
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July 20, 2009

Turning real women into goddesses for 15 years

It’s July and Fashionista is in holiday mood, enjoying the long days, warm summer evenings, al fresco dining, and the height of “wedding season”. What better time to wear a floaty flattering summer dress, and who better to design such a dress than Maria Grachvogel, who this year celebrates the 15th anniversary of her brand. [...]
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July 17, 2009

In with the old, in with the new?

Fashionista has been thinking about Jaeger’s 125 ladieswear collection which features current designs heavily influenced by clothing from the brand’s archives. The navy dress with white flower was based on a 1960s swimsuit featuring the same pattern. The success of the range has been such that Jaeger is now planning a seasonal capsule collection based [...]
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July 14, 2009

Acquascutum – an MBO explained

Fashionista has noted the recent events at Aquascutum with interest. It was reported back in October 2008 that chief executive Kim Winser, who was brought in by Japanese parent company Renown to revive the ailing Aquascutum brand in 2006, was preparing for a management buy-out. However, it was announced on 22 May 2009 that Winser [...]
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July 10, 2009

Never Knowingly Undersold

Breaking away from the recent spate of designers designing more accessible (read “cheaper”) ranges for high street stores (think: Matthew Williamson and Jimmy Choo for H&M for example), John Lewis has just announced that it will launch a premium label own-brand collection in September. Rather than seeking to appeal to the masses, John Lewis are [...]
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July 10, 2009

The luxury lifestyle – is online the place to be?

Fashionista is, it goes without saying, a true devotee of online shopping – or should that be a dedicated follower of Net-A-Porter? But in the main luxury brands have been slow to embrace the wonders and the opportunities of the online space. Fashionista has often wondered why. Luxury brands on-line was the subject of discussion [...]
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July 6, 2009

A report from Milan – but not from the catwalk!

Fashionista’s Italian sister has reported on the first Italian Luxury Summit which took place in Milan last Tuesday, 30 June. The summit was organised by ILSOLE24ORE, Italy’s influential financial newspaper and was attended by representatives of many of the brand names on Fashionista’s “must buy before I die” list. The discussion centred on the impact [...]
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