Continue reading Luxist Gift Guide 09: Hi-Lo Gladiator Skirt

Luxist Gift Guide 09: Hi-Lo Gladiator Skirt originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Stylish Earmuffs for the Season

Keep Toasty with Designer Earmuffs originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tiffany Releases Audrey Hepburn-Inspired Sunglasses originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mercedes-Benz's Sexy SLS AMG Ad Campaign originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nominations have been received and vetted for the best-of-breed in jewelry, watches, leathergoods, department stores and clothing lines. The Luxist Readers' Choice Accessories Awards will be awarded based on your voting.

Each of finalists for the Readers' Choice for the Best Jewelry Line is a leader in the industry. One is not only known for its signature jewelry, but also for the blue box that it comes in. Another is known for its handcrafted pieces, but it is also known for its many innovations. Another nominee is a newer designer on the scene (relative to the others, that is) who is inspired by Florentine jewelry-making, but also astronomy, celestial, mythological and astrological influences. Another nominee is synonymous with glamour and fame and has ties to some of the world's most famous jewels. Finally, there's a nominee known for the panache of its founder, as well as its vast collection of the world's finest diamonds.

The Readers' Choice for the Best Watch Line nominees include a perennially favored brand among the watch-loving elite that is known for making the most complex wrist watch in the world. Another nominee is known for its functionally-themed luxury sport watches. The third nominee, while an historic brand with almost 200 years of heritage, is known for being a forward focused luxury watch maker of the future. A fourth nominee is perhaps the best-known luxury watch brand in the world, with a stellar reputation to match. Lastly, there's a watchmaker that epitomizes Swiss haute horology with its modern classics and technical innovation.

The Readers' Choice for the Best Leathergoods Line for a Luxist Award include award-winning brands from France, Italy and London. One started out making equestrian equipment in 1837, and still makes its goods by hand; some of its handbags are so coveted, there's a two-year long wait list to buy one. Another was started in London by a former fashion editor who partnered with a couture shoe maker to create a company now synonymous with the "red carpet". The third nominee is known for its clean lines and simple classic color palettes while the fourth is a global force of tradition and innovation. And finally, the last nominee epitomizes luxury with its delectable designer bags and vaunted luggage--some pf which command five figure prices.

Nominees for Readers' Choice for Best Department Store include one based in London that has no fewer than 330 different departments, a staff of 5,000 from 50 different countries and is visited by as many as 300,000 people on a single day. Another, with roots in Texas, is known for its superior customer service, in addition to its luxury merchandise, including some of the world's most extravagant items. One New York-based store has a shoe department that is so large, it was given its own zip code. Another Manhattan-based store specializes in hard-to-find international designers, many of which it will help launch into fame. Lastly, there's an upstart from London that is so cutting-edge and up-to-date, it launches 300 new styles on a weekly basis.

Readers' Choice nominees for Best Clothing Designer are award-winning fashion designers from Italy, England, France and the United States. One was started by a wunderkind who was named chief designer of one of the most respected fashion houses when he was still in his 20's. Another has been one of the leading names in fashion for nearly 100 years. A third nominee, known for its timeless style, has outfitted First Ladies on both sides of the aisle for decades while the fourth is famed for its understated elegance. The final nominee is synonymous with high fashion though its roots are in luggage and leather goods.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed for each of these categories. Readers' Choice Awards for Accessories will be announced on December 31st.

Cast your vote for the Readers' Choice Awards at .

Vote Now For The Readers' Choice for Best in Accessories originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Designer Consignment at CovetShop.com originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Jimmy Choo, a nominee for a Readers' Choice Award for Best Leathergoods, was launched in 1995 when Tamara Mellon, Accessories Editor at British Vogue, realized the potential demand for stylish but wearable shoes. Mellon approached Jimmy Choo, a couture shoe maker based in the East End of London who was recognized for his excellent craftsmanship. The pair formed a partnership to start a ready-to-wear shoe company and opened the first stand alone boutique on Montcomb Street. Sandra Choi, Choo's neice, was named the company's Creative Director with Mellon as its president. Joshua Schulman is the company's chief executive officer.

In 1998, the company opened its first boutique in New York, followed by Los Angeles in 1999. The company's name soon became synonymous with the "red carpet" shoe of choice. Choo's shoes were a favorite of the late Princess Diana, worn by Michelle Obama to the Inauguration Ceremony and have also been seen on such Oscar winners including Cate Blanchett, Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman and Hilary Swank, among others.

In 2001, Jimmy Choo expanded significantly and introduced a handbag collection. Today, Jimmy Choo encompasses a complete luxury lifestyle accessory brand with women's shoes, handbags, small leather goods, sunglasses and eyewear. Its products are now available in tknumber of Jimmy Choo freestanding stores as well as in prestigious department and specialty stores worldwide. The Jimmy Choo store network now encompasses more than 100 locations in 32 countries.

The brand received the 2009 "Designer Brand of the Year" award from the British Fashion Council, the 2008 ACE award for "Brand of the Year" from the Accessory Council and the 2008 "Brand of the year" from the 22nd Annual Footwear News Awards in New York.

Cast your vote for the Readers' Choice Awards at http://www.luxist.com/awards-vote/accessories-awards.

Gallery: More from Jimmy Choo

Jimmy Choo: Elegant and Bold originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Neiman Marcus is a nominee for the Readers' Choice Award for Best Department Store. The Dallas, Texas-based luxury retailer was founded in 1907 by Herbert Marcus, Sr., his sister Carrie Marcus Neiman and her husband A.L. Neiman. Since then, the company has become known for its merchandise leadership and superior customer service. Its upscale assortment of apparel, accessories, jewelry, beauty and decorative home products cater to the affluent customer.

The company is credited with many firsts. In 1926, the company premiered the first weekly retail fashion show in the U.S. It began offering menswear in 1928, featuring items like French-made ties and English shirtings--items rarely found west of New York City. In 1934 the company started running national advertisements in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar magazines--the first retail establishment outside New York City to do so. In 1984, the company established InCircle, the industry's first customer-loyalty program.

In 1939, the company launched its annual Christmas Book tradition with a wonderland of fur coats, fashion accessories, perfumes, toys and more. The book has since become famous for extravagent, over-the-top luxury items, such as a $25,000 customized and motorized cupcake car and a Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus edition sedan for $105,000, both offered in the 2009 book. The Christmas Book's "His and Hers" gift, which is an annual tradition, currently features a pair of ICON A5 Sports Aircrafts and pilot training for two for the princely sum of $250,000.

Now more than a century old, the company has 41 stores and a total of more than six million gross square feet around the country, from California to Massachusetts. In 1999, Neiman Marcus launched its website, neimanmarcus.com, making it possible for customers around the world to easily access its large selection of designer and luxury brands via the Internet. The Neiman Marcus Group is the parent company of two other esteemed companies: Bergdorf Goodman, the luxury department store based in New York and The Horchow Collection, a luxury mail-order catalog.

Cast your vote for the Readers' Choice Awards at http://www.luxist.com/awards-vote/accessories-awards.

Gallery: More from Neiman Marcus

Neiman Marcus: Premier Luxury and Superior Customer Service originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Famed for its highly-coveted luxury goods and immortalized in pop culture, it's no surprise that Prada has earned a Readers' Choice Award nomination for Best Clothing Designer. The Italian designer is a staple of the luxury lifestyle around the world.

Founded in 1913 by Mario Prada, the company started out as a leathergoods shop in Milan, specializing in handbags and trunks imported from England. Mario's daughter-in-law took over the company upon his death some 40 years later; her daughter, Miuccia Prada, is creative director of the company today.

Under Miuccia's direction, Prada continued to gain popularity in the 1980s, especially among fast-rising female executives in search of a clean, stylish look. Keeping with this trend, Miuccia referred to these outfits as "uniforms." Eschewing flamboyance in favor of understated elegance, Prada gained renown for pioneering the restrained luxury aesthetic still preferred by many high-end consumers.

Today, Prada remains one of the most desirable names in fashion. Its fame has spread to pop culture (the film The Devil Wears Prada) and even to experimental art -- in 2005, Scandinavian artists Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset built a replica Prada boutique on a lonely patch of sand in the middle of the West Texas desert. Entitled "Prada Marfa," it's probably the only Prada store where customers don't have to worry about crowds.

Cast your vote for the Readers' Choice Awards at http://www.luxist.com/awards-vote/accessories-awards.

Prada: Understated Elegance originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sarah Jessica Parker once said, "If you're a nice person and you work hard, you get to go shopping at Barneys." It's not just Parker and her Sex and the City contemporaries in New York that frequent this Luxist-nominated department store -- flagship locations are sprinkled throughout the country from Boston to San Francisco.

According to legend, Barney Pressman opened his first store with the $500 he received for pawning his wife's engagement ring. He packed the 500-square-foot location at Seventh Avenue and West 17th Street in Manhattan with brand-name suits sold at discount prices. To get good deals on his merchandise, Pressman raided showroom sample sales and even a few bankruptcy auctions. He lured customers by offering free alterations and free parking.

Barneys expanded and focused on the high-end lifestlye during the middle of the 20^th Century, emerging as a major purveyor of luxury goods. Barneys also expanded geographically, opening its first store beyond the Big Apple in 1988 and opened its first international location in Tokyo in 1990.

Today, the flagship Barneys in New York is located in midtown. Like the store's other locations, it peddles goods produced by hard-to-find international designers. Products from the likes of Manolo Blahnik, Diane von Furstenberg and Ermenegildo Zegna dot the displays. Though the Pressman family sold its stake in the company in 2004, free parking is still available -- if you can find it on the street.

Cast your vote for the Readers' Choice Awards at http://www.luxist.com/awards-vote/accessories-awards.

Gallery: More from Barneys New York

Barneys New York: A Leader in Cutting-Edge Fashion originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A Readers' Choice nominee in the Best Leather Goods Category, Hermes has come a long way since its inception nearly two centuries ago. The company was founded by a Frenchman named Thierry Hermes in 1837 as a maker of harnesses and bridles. Since then, it has grown into one of the world's most sought-after luxury brands; customers have ranged from Humphrey Bogart to Paris Hilton.

Hermes is known for leather goods like the Kelly bag and Constance bag, favored by actress Grace Kelly and former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Like all Hermes products, these bags are made by hand without assembly lines; only one craftsman may work on a bag at a time.

The Birkin bag, which takes its name from actress Jane Birkin, is perhaps the most coveted of them all. Made from exotic animal skins and adorned with hardware hewn from precious metals, these bags boast waiting lists in excess of two years and price tags starting at $5000. A one-of-a-kind pink crocodile Birkin fetched $140,000 in 2007.

Hermes peddles its goods through boutiques sprinkled throughout posh U.S. enclaves like New York, East Hampton, Palm Beach and Beverly Hills. Based in Paris, the company continues to expand abroad into lucrative developing markets such as China. In a nod to its heritage, Hermes still offers equestrian paraphernalia.

Cast your vote for the Readers' Choice Awards at http://www.luxist.com/awards-vote/accessories-awards.

Gallery: More from Hermes

Hermes: Classic and Coveted originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A bastion of classic New York grandeur, Saks Fifth Avenue's latest accolade is a nomination for the Luxist Readers' Choice Award for Best Department Store. The century-old purveyor of luxury goods boasts 53 stores in 25 states, as well as a handful of foreign franchise stores. The New York flagship's shoe department is so large that it has its own zipcode.

That same store opened in 1924 under the supervision of owners Andrew Saks and Bernard Gimbel. Within five years, Saks added stores in Palm Beach, Fla; Southampton, N.Y.; and Chicago. Openings followed in West Coast locations like Beverly Hills, Calif., and by 1940, Saks was operating ten stores across the country.

Though the New York flagship's location on Fifth Avenue between 50^th and 49^th Streets was a residential neighborhood when it opened, the area was transformed into Manhattan's midtown business district by the middle
of the 20^th Century. Over the years, Saks' sumptuous window displays became a crucial cog of the Big Apple experience, especially during the holidays. Located next to St. Patrick's cathedral and Rockefeller Center, and only a few blocks from other major attractions like Times Square and Central Park, it's a convenient shopping destination for tourists and New Yorkers alike.

In 1998, Saks was acquired by department store holding company Proffitt's, Inc., which subsequently changed its name to Saks Incorporated. The 2000s brought a handful of franchise locations abroad, including the most recent in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a year ago. Today, the company has 53 stores throughout 25 states.

Cast your vote for the Readers' Choice Awards at http://www.luxist.com/awards-vote/accessories-awards.

Gallery: More from Saks Fifth Avenue

Saks Fifth Avenue: Luxury Goods for Over a Century originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Britain-based Topshop is one of fashion's fastest-growing names. With 300 new styles each week, it's also one of the most up-to-date. Hungry customers devour its offerings to the tune of 40,000 pairs of shoes per week, 2500 dresses per day, and eight underwear sets per minute -- and our readers have nominated Topshop for a Luxist Readers' Choice Award in the Best Boutique/Department Store category.

Topshop has come a long way in a relatively short amount of time, especially when compared to its 19^th Century-born peers. The company started out in 1964 as a single boutique in the North of England, buried in the basement of a department store called Peter Robinson. Later that year, Topshop scored a spot in the chain's London location and soon became a standalone retailer.

By 1994, Topshop had grown so much that it expanded to fill the entire 90,000 square-foot space and became the retailer's flagship. The store now attracts more than 200,000 people per week, while Topshop.com attracts an average of 700,000 visitors per month, according to the company's website. There, customers can browse outerware, handbags, jewelry, and just about anything else one could wear, including collaborative collections with fashion luminaries such as Kate Moss and Celia Birtwell.

Topshop currently operates 300 stores in the U.K. and 100 abroad, including a new fashion emporium in New York's trendy SoHo shopping district -- a long way from a basement in northern England, indeed.

Cast your vote for the Readers' Choice Awards at http://www.luxist.com/awards-vote/accessories-awards.

Top Shop: British Hip at its Best originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From the model-patrolled runways of Milan to the chic streets of New York, Gucci is synonymous with high fashion. The Italian designer outfits opulent consumers of all stripes -- financiers, socialites and celebrities -- making it an obvious candidate for a Luxist award in the Best Clothing Designer category, in addition to a nomination for Best in Leathergoods.

Founded in 1921 by Guccio Gucci in Florence, Gucci began as a luggage and leather goods store. Guccio Gucci drew on years of experience working at London's Savoy Hotel and observing the proclivities of English nobles, combining this sensibility with his own Italian fashion sense in his early work, a theme that still runs strong at Gucci today.

Though Gucci struggled to find materials as World War II raged through Europe, the scrappy founder was able to stay afloat by creating products like the "Bamboo Bag" from the resources available. The postwar years brought expansion to Milan and New York, and, sadly, the death of Guccio Gucci. His sons would take over the business and continue to guide it along the path to becoming an international fashion powerhouse, expanding to Hong Kong and Tokyo. The designer became a favorite of fashionable and legendary celebrities such as Grace Kelly and Jacqueline Onassis Kennedy.

Guccio Gucci's aesthetic persists, a lasting legacy for the founder. The company boasts talented designers like Frida Giannini, who was named sole creative director in 2006. In addition to Gucci, Gucci Group also owns Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Boucheron, Sergio Rossi, Stella McCartney and Yves Saint Laurent. It directly operates 560 stores around the world.

Cast your vote for the Readers' Choice Awards at http://www.luxist.com/awards-vote/accessories-awards.

Gucci: Synonymous with High Fashion originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The past few decades have seen the venerable store change hands more than a few times. In 1959, a British holding company called House of Fraser purchased Harrods; in 1985, that company was purchased by Egyptian businessman Mohamed Fayed and his brother Ali for 615 million pounds.

Today, Harrods offers clothing for men and women of all ages, as well as electronics, toys, appliances and a host of other categories of goods. The store also contains dozens of eating establishments ranging from the elegant (Caviar House) to the fattening (Krispy Kreme), all in keeping with the Harrods motto: Omnia Omnibus Ubique - "All Things for All People".

Cast your vote for the Readers' Choice Awards at http://www.luxist.com/awards-vote/accessories-awards.

Harrods: All Things for All People, Everywhere originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Alexander McQueen is a nominee for a Readers' Choice Award for Best Clothing Line. McQueen is one of the most respected fashion designers in the world. In 1996, when he was in only his late 20's, he was appointed Chief Designer at the French Haute Couture House Givenchy. He worked there until 2001, leaving to launch his own company.

McQueen is known for both the emotional power and raw energy of his fashion shows as well as the romantic but contemporary nature of his collections. Integral to the McQueen culture is the justaposition between contrasting elements: fragility and strength, tradition and modernity and fluidity and severity. His collections combine an in-depth working knowledge of bespoke British tailoring, the fine workmanship of the French Haute Couture atelier and the impeccable finish of Italian manufacturing.

Born in 1969, McQueen grew up in London, the youngest of six children. He dropped out of school at age 16 and to apprentice at two traditional Saville Row tailors where he learned about the technical construction of clothing. His next career move was to Angels and Bermans, designers of theatrical costumes, where he learned and mastered six methods of pattern cutting, from that used during the melodramatic 16th Century to the razor sharp tailoring which is now his signature style. After several other career moves, including a stint in Milan, McQueen received a Masters degree in Fashion Design at St. Martins. McQueen has received the British Designer of the year award four times, the International Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designer's of America (2003) and GQ's Menswear Designer of the Year Award in 2007.

In 2000, 51% of Alexander McQueen was acquired by the Gucci Group, where he remains to this day as Creative Director. Collections include women's ready-to-wear, Men's ready-to-wear, accessories, eyewear and fragrance. Flagship stores are found in New York, London and Milan. Alexander McQueen collections are now distributed in more than 39 countries through 194 wholesale accounts including specialty shops and better department stores.

Cast your vote for the Readers' Choice Awards at http://www.luxist.com/awards-vote/accessories-awards.

Alexander McQueen: Romantic and Contemporary originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Favored by fashionistas and first ladies alike, Oscar de la Renta -- the man and the label -- has been an industry powerhouse for nearly half a century. With his timeless sense of style, Oscar de la Renta is a nominee for a Readers' Choice Award in the Best Clothing Designer category.

Oscar de la Renta founded his label in 1965. Then just 33 years old, de la Renta's star was on the rise in New York's fashion scene. The Dominican-born designer had studied in Europe and worked for Cristóbal Balenciaga in Spain and Antonio Castillo in France. When he arrived in New York, he turned down a job with Christian Dior in favor of a position with Elizabeth Arden; two years later, he had gained enough exposure to start his own ready-to-wear label.

The honors soon cascaded in for Oscar de la Renta. In 1967 and 1968, he earned the Coty American Fashion Critics' Award, the highest honor in fashion in those days. In 1973, he became President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, serving until 1976. The following year, de la Renta released a new fragrance called "Oscar." He soon became a favorite of First Ladies on both sides of the aisle, from Nancy Reagan to Hillary Clinton to Laura Bush.

The past decade has brought more expansion. In 2001, de la Renta launched a line of accessories to complement his ready-to-wear line; a standalone retail chain followed in 2005 with its first store on Fifth Avenue in New York. There are now locations Bal Harbour, Costa Mesa, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Manhasset. The only letdown: Michelle Obama has yet to wear a de la Renta outfit as First Lady.

Cast your vote for the Readers' Choice Awards at http://www.luxist.com/awards-vote/accessories-awards.

Oscar de la Renta: Timeless Style originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Known for its sumptuous handbags, elegant dresses, and, of course, the interlocking "C" logo, Chanel has been one of the first names in fashion for nearly 100 years. Its latest honor is a nomination for a Luxist award in the Best Clothing Designer Category.

Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, who is one of the most recognized couturiers of the 20th century, started out in 1909 with a single store in Paris store. By 1913, she had opened boutiques in the resort towns of Deauville and Biarritz, France. With the onset of World War I, materials and finances were scarce; it was then that Chanel began to focus on using functional fabrics, especially jersey, in her designs.

In 1924, Chanel went into business with brothers Pierre and Paul Wertheimer. Though they funded the expansion of her company, tensions occasionally flared as Coco Chanel often felt that her efforts left here relatively unrewarded compared to the brothers. Still, she led a luxurious life, socializing with aristrocrats and political figures, and was the creative force behind Chanel until her death in 1971. Chanel's groundbreaking designs include a jersey dress and cardigan coat during the 1920's. She was a modernist who's designs was always ahead of the time in which she lived. The company is credited with creating many other fashion-firsts, from the quilted handbag and the two-tone pump shoe to the gilt chain belt.

In the wake of Coco's death, Chanel's fortunes fell briefly. Despite the staying power of classics like the perfume Chanel No. 5, Chanel was largely considered a moribund brand among Europe's elite fashionistas by the late 1970s. So in 1983, Pierre Wertheimer's son, Alain, brought in Karl Lagerfeld to revitalize the spirit and identity of Chanel. The flamboyant designer did exactly that, scrapping the brand's traditional restrain in favor of a flashy, splashy aesthetic that made Chanel a gaudy, bad-boy alternative to more demure designs of Prada.

Today, Lagerfeld remains the creative force behind Chanel and the Wertheimers are billionaires. After hiring Nicole Kidman to shill Chanel in the early 2000s, the company replaced her with French actress Audrey Tautou for latter end of the decade. In 2005, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art held an exhibition featuring many of Chanel's designs and accessories. Today, Chanel operates over 200 boutiques in posh enclaves throughout the world. Somewhere, Coco is smiling.

Chanel: Uncompromising Refinement and Seductive Flair originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: The Fine English Company

The Classicist: Bespoke British Luxury from the Fine English Company originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Lara Stone Replaces Madonna as the Face of Louis Vuitton originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.