That thing called crocodile: LACOSTE GOES COUTURE!

photo courtesy: LACOSTE

Lacoste, with its popularity among the middle-class set and the sporty wannabes, no pun intended, is still largely known as a purveyor of athleticwear and polo shirts for the tennis and golf set. But that will soon changed!

CEO José Luis Duran tells WWD of its plans to make a big push towards being perceived as a fashion company, with athleticwear taking a back seat to ready-to-wear. “You will see no sports line and no Lacoste Live in most of our stand-alone stores, unless it’s a big location, such as our Champs-Élysées unit,” Duran tells WWD. “Brand positioning is really my number-one priority, and the idea is to make Lacoste more premium.”

photo courtesy: LACOSTE

At least for now,  the French brand’s retail locations will include opening 60 more stores in 2015 in China, Russia, France and the U.S., while also closing about 40. A move towards revamping its image into true blue a fashion brand.

The storied French tennis-inspired fashion label under creative director Felipe Oliveira Baptista, unveils its new collaboration with legendary couture embroiderer Maison Lesage: A series of eight haute couture designs (embroidered with cartoonish crocodiles, Pac-Man-like tennis balls, and occasionally a scrawled graffiti-esque tag reading simply: “Rene Did It First”) were all inspired by the brand’s archives and shot on the likes of Laetitia Casta, Constance Jablonski, Audrey Marnay, and ballerina Marie-Agnès Gillot, an étoile of the Paris Opera Ballet. (VOGUE)

photo courtesy: LACOSTE

Justin Beiber and Lara Stone sizzles for Calvin Klein Underwear campaign.

Photo: Courtesy of Calvin Klein

Calvin Klein has a new god! And no, i am not talking about Brad Pitt getting naked or Mark Wahlberg stripping in his underwear, AGAIN. But i’m pretty sure women and gays out there would finally convert to BELIEBERS.

Justin Beiber, the world’s most dominant reigning KING OF ALL THINGS TEEN, was unveiled as the new face and body (ohh those sculpted torso and toned abs!) of Calvin Klein Underwear alongside Dutch supermodel, Lara Stone.

Photo: Courtesy of Calvin Klein

The teaser for the 2015 advert was shared on Calvin Klein’s official twitter page. and was followed by Beiber’s posting on his own twitter account, with the caption:  ‘Officially a part of the legacy. Check out @calvinklein for more. #mycalvins. #newfaceofcalvinklein’. And the fans goes wild following a photo of the singer in his underwear.

The troubled superstar singer  joins the rank of A-listers like Mark Wahlberg and Brooke Shields, who both starred in the steamy adverts in the early years of their career.

Lupita Nyong’o is 2014’s red-carpet queen!

credit: lancome

In less than a year, Lupita Nyong’o has achieved what many Hollywood newcomers been dreaming about. She won an Oscar for best-supporting actress in “12 Years a Slave”, starred in a fashion campaign for Miu Miu, named world’s most beautiful person of 2014 by People magazine, and landed a major beauty contract with cosmetic giant, Lancome. A major fete for the Mexican-Kenyan actress, who once worked as a production assistant for many Hollywood films.

After graduating from Yale School of Drama in 2012, she auditioned for Steve Mcqueen’s historical drama, in a role that catapulted her to superstardom and became one of Hollywood’s hottest properties.

Her red-carpet appearances stunned everyone and she has become a style icon virtually overnight, earning a spot on just about every best dressed list on the planet. And we couldn’t agree more.

Sorry Kim Kardashian, breaking the internet is such a pathetic ambition. Style-wise, no one has done it like Lupita Nyong’o.

Take a peek at Lupita’sgreatest fashion moments:

Fashion News: The powers that be, fashionably fired, ins and outs in fashion.

LONDON, United Kingdom – Fashion is one glamorous, feisty piece of size zero ass. BoF (Business of Fashion) compiles the most important professional moves in the rarefied world of fahion.

Who’s in and who’s moving out of the clique?

credit: fashionspot.com

Chanel Names Global Creative Makeup and Colour Designer
Italian make-up artist Lucia Pica has been appointed as the new global creative make-up and colour designer for Chanel, effective January 1. She succeeds former creative director of make-up Peter Phillips, who left the French fashion house in 2013. Since Phillips’ departure, make-up artist Tom Pecheux has been responsible for creating the brand’s runway looks. Pica has been a freelance make-up artist since 2008 for Dior, House of Holland, Peter Pilotto and Roksanda Ilincic.

credit: businessweek.com

Dov Charney Fired
Dov Charney, the chief executive of American Apparel, has been fired from the company that he founded in 1998. In June, Charney was suspended as president and CEO by the board for alleged misconduct, and was then put under suspension, but still served as a consultant to the Los Angeles company. Paula Schneider, who has previously served as president of brands including BCBG Max Azria and Warnaco Swimwear group, has been appointed as the new chief executive, starting January 5, while interim CEO Scott Brubaker will remain a consultant to the brand.

credit: businessprofiles.com

Michael Jeffries Exits Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch’s longtime chief executive Michael Jeffries is retiring, effective immediately. Jeffries, 70, who also retires from the brand’s board of directors, has come under fire as the once-hip Abercrombie and Hollister clothing lines have lost their appeal to teenage shoppers, leading to declining sales and tumbling profits. Until a new CEO is appointed, the New Albany, Ohio-based company said that it will be overseen by Arthur Martinez, who moves from non-executive chairman to executive chairman with Jeffries’ departure.

credit: fashionlady.in

Frida Giannini, Patrizio di Marco Leave Gucci
Creative director Frida Giannini and chief executive Patrizio di Marco have both stepped down from their roles at Gucci, according to its parent company, the French group Kering. The departures come following a year of declining sales at the luxury Italian label, which makes up half of Kering’s revenues. The group named luxury couture and leather goods division head Marco Bizzarri as the new CEO, effective January. Di Marco led the brand for almost six years, while Giannini has held her post for eight years. According to Kering, her replacement will be appointed later.

credit: headoverheels.us

Natasa Cagalj to Ports 1961
Luxury brand Ports 1961 has appointed Natasa Cagalj as the new creative director for its womenswear collections. Cagalj succeeds Fiona Cibani, who has been promoted to president of the label. Cagalj previously served as head of design at Stella McCartney, before going freelance in 2012. Cagalj’s appointment comes just under six months after Milan Vukmirovic was appointed to take over the men’s collections.

Reporting from :  [Business of Fashion]

Project Jewel: Singapore’s terminal of the future

Singapore’s Changi Airport has been consistently named as the “best” airport in the world. And the tiny city-state will wear the crown for the next several years, as construction of a massive glass and steel structure is underway. Some pundits already hailed the new project as the terminal of the future. Eat your heart out, Dubai.

Known as Project Jewel, the mega-structure is expected to cost about S$1.47 billion, including land cost. It is being constructed beside the existing Terminal 1, which is undergoing a massive renovation to accommodate 24 million passengers a year from the current 17.7 million passengers.

Project Jewel will offer a range of facilities for airport operations, a 130-room hotel operated by YOTEL, high-end retail spaces and leisure attractions spread across five storeys above ground and five basement storeys and will cover a total gross floor area (GFA) of about 1,443,000 sq ft. (massive!)

It is a joint venture between Changi Airport Group (CAG) and CapitaMalls Asia, and is set to become the global hub for international air travel and a game changer in international airport experience.

“Project Jewel is a significant game-changing project for CAG in our journey to strengthen Changi Airport’s status as a major global air hub,” said Mr Lee Seow Hiang, Chief Executive Officer at CAG.

“Together with our partner, CapitaMalls Asia, a very established player in the arena of lifestyle and retail developments regionally, we are confident that Project Jewel will be a world-class attraction near home that Singaporeans will not only enjoy immensely, but be proud of,” he added.

“CapitaMalls Asia is excited about partnering Changi Airport Group to create a must-visit destination for tourists to Singapore and passengers transiting through Changi Airport, as well as a unique place that Singaporeans and local residents can enjoy with their families and friends, “said Lim Beng Chee, Chief Executive Officer of CapitaMalls Asia. ”

The ambitious project will be helmed by world-renowned architect, Moshe Safdie.

Take a peek at the amazing Project Jewel.

Infographics reveals the most bizarre items seized from travellers.

The most wonderful time of the year is here. But to some travellers who are too eager to impress airport security personnel, this might be an awful news. If you already ditched your plans of bringing that sequined dress to Mother City Queer Project (Cape Town, the biggest gay dance party!) and decided you needed to see the French Alps (hopefully more French hunks!). As a souvenir, you fabulously gift-wrapped a snow globe, salivate and take home a pecan pie from the delicatessen, and surprisingly enough, you brought home a penis-shaped toy gun for the amusement of your gay friends back home.

But seriously, such items are prohibited and they’re among the everyday items that are banned from hand luggage because they pose a security risk. And yes, even a penis-shaped toy gun.

CheapFlights reveals an infograpahic showing some of the oddest items seized from travellers at airports around the world.

CHANEL: PARIS-SALZBURG MÉTIERS D’ART SHOW 2014

“Since 2002, Chanel’s annual Métiers d’Art collection celebrates craftsmanship while putting the spotlight on cities which are linked to the House’s history. Following on from Bombay, Edinburgh and Dallas, this year Karl Lagerfeld’s inspiration turns to Salzburg, Austria.

This city, with its deep appreciation for history and tradition, naturally lends itself Chanel’s Métiers d’Art collection which brings to the fore the specialist atelier’s unique expertise such as costume jeweller Desrues, feather dresser Lemarié, embroiderers Maison Lesage and Atelier Montex, shoemaker Massaro, milliner Michel and cashmere producer Barrie.

The collection will be presented at the 18th century Schloss Leopoldskron, one of the most notable rococo palaces in Austria. This castle, banked on the shores of Lake Leopoldskroner Weiher, has been inextricably linked to the rich artistic and intellectual life of Salzburg’s society throughout its history, and will provide a spectacular stage for the collection which will be unveiled on Tuesday, December 2nd.” – chanel-news.chanel.com

Here’s the exclusive first look for CHANEL Pre-Fall 2015 collection. 

photos courtesy of HAUTE COUTURE WEEK, chanel-news.chanel.com

Where in the world is the “RAREST HERMES BIRKIN’ bag?

About a few months ago, Heritage Auction sold one of the most-sought after bag in the world, the Hermes Himalayan Crocodile Birkin with pave diamond hardware. The price tag? $185,000, not for the faint of heart considering that amount can buy you a decent home, cars and a college education. If  you happen to see Kim Kardashian or Victoria Beckham faking it with their 25cm Himalayan Crocodile Birkin do not freak out, they are not the lucky bidders and theirs doesn’t have DIAMONDS on the hardware.

Hermes 30cm Matte Himalayan Nilo Crocodile Birkin with Diamond Hardware
via Heritage Auctions

Back in 2011, Women’s Wear Daily reported that the most expensive bag ever sold at auction, was an Hermes Crocodile Birkin with White Gold & Diamond Hardware. The bidder was still unknown to this day who paid a staggering $203,150 for the bag.

“Hermes Exceptional Collection Shiny Rouge H Porosus Crocodile 30cm Birkin Bag with Solid 18K White Gold & Diamond Hardware”
Image via Heritage Auctions

Hermès has no plans to make additional Himalayan bags. And the wife of an oil baron or the rich Saudi princess won’t even dare let you stare on their diamond encrusted Himalayan Birkin. The bag is considered to be extremely covetable among the richest bag collectors in the world, so getting a new one will likely starts another World War.

Any decent heiress worth her diamond encrusted Birkin won’t even give a fuck on the price tag while being fucked.  But, for us mere mortals who can’t even afford a fuck based on the price tag (HAHAHA!) we just couldn’t care less.

The rarest of the Hermes Birkin bags can be found at  Heritage Auctions website,  some of the bags have a starting bid price from $3,500-$80,000. But prices will skyrocket once the auction heats up.

Filipina beauty queen, Jamie Herrell, bags Miss Earth 2014 crown

credit: (Dante Diosina Jr/NPPA IMAGES

“The world’s biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman.

– Chanakya

Manila, Philippines– Miss Earth crowned Filipina beauty Jamie Herrell as its titleholder at the coronation held Saturday at the University of the Philippines Theater, Quezon City.

The 19-year-old beauty from Cebu succeeded last year’s winner, Alyz Sabimar Henrich Ocando from Venezuela. She bested 84 beauties from other countries and territories.

credit: rappler.com

Miss USA Andrea Neu took home the Miss Earth Air title; Miss Venezuela Maira Alexandra Rodriguez, Miss Earth Water; while Miss Russia Anastasia Trysova, Miss Earth Fire.

Jamie’s victory cemented the Philippines’ standing as beauty powerhouse considering that the environment-centered pageant is dubbed as one of the world’s Big Four Beauty Pageants (along with Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International).

rappler.com

During the question-and-answer round, Miss Philippines was asked about her plans to help reverse the effects of global warming if she wins the crown.

“Global warming has been known to be a long, overdue issue. I will use my title to inspire others, help our environment. And we should start with the kids as they are the people of tomorrow,” she replied.

Here’s the complete list of finalists:

TOP 8
Brazil
Mongolia
Slovak Republic
Venezuela
USA
Philippines
Russia
Spain

TOP 16
Tahiti
Russia
Korea
Colombia
Scotland
Mongolia
Zambia
Brazil
Slovak Republic
Venezuela
Thailand
USA
Egypt
Philippines
Mexico
Spain

 

 

Reports from: @yahooph/  Yahoo Southeast Asia Newsroom

Fancy neighbors no more: Manny Pacquiao is selling Forbes Park mansion.

Ugh, the price of fame and fortune! It seems like Jinkee Pacquiao’s fancy parties at Forbes Park will finally come to a halt. We won’t be seeing any “poorly-dressed guests” (their neighbors words, NOT MINE!) lined at the driveway to receive gifts and cash from Manny himself. And yes, their wont be any The Real Wives of Forbes Park catty notes comparison on whose Birkin bags have the rarest skin!

And if you may ask, Mommy Dionisia will no longer be attending any worship service at the posh Sanctuario de San Antonio. She is currently busy making love with her boytoy. HAHAHA!

flanked by parasites. Goodbye Forbes! channelnewsasia.com

AFP NEWS –  World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao said Thursday he would sell his mansion in one of the Philippine capital’s swankiest areas after his neighbours complained of his visitors wearing shabby clothing.

credit: kickerdaily.com

Pacquiao told AFP that as a “man of the masses”, he is not finicky with his visitors, even if they are wearing “just shorts and slippers”.

The boxer’s rags-to-riches story, from being a fish vendor in his hometown to winning world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions, has made him wildly popular in the Philippines.

He used his boxing fame to get elected to Congress in 2010 and like many wealthy Filipino politicians, he frequently has to meet with constituents asking for hand-outs and favours.

Pacquiao said he would buy a new house where he could accomodate more visitors, who are mostly seeking financial assistance.

credit: kickerdaily.com

“If there’s somebody who is willing to buy, I’m going to sell it,” Pacquiao said of the Manila property, which he acquired for 400 million pesos ($9 million) in 2011.

He added that he wants to make a profit from the sale as he had made renovations.

The 35-year-old said he apologised to his neighbours, though some understood why he was accommodating poor visitors.

“I may be as rich as some of them here, but my lifestyle remains the same and so is my heart. I am just a simple man. I will never change that,” he said.

The three-storey mansion — in a neighbourhood that is home to Manila’s old rich — has five bedrooms, several reception and dining halls, and an office.

Pacquiao also owns a fleet of luxury cars, and his hometown mansion in southern Philippines has a pool shaped like a boxing glove.

He beat American Chris Algieri in Macau last Sunday, in a match that proved to fans that he still has what it takes to face arch-rival Floyd Mayweather.

-Reporting from Spybits/Philstar, YahooNews