private fashion

With the media, especially the Internet, more consumers are having more access to more fashion than ever before. Some clients, especially the die hard fans of exclusive brands, don't view this as a good thing. They love the old school exclusivity of true couture shopping. They like the peace of mind of knowing that their handbag may be only 1 of 25 produced. Or that their heels were made with glass that was originally used half a century ago in fragrance bottles for their famous fashion house's premier scent.

You may think it's silly or ridiculous, but to a point - I agree. There is a certain allure to the things which we can't have. And designers, who previously were unattainable but now are so much more mainstream, are creating brands within their brands to restore this uberexclusivity.

Tom Ford's fragrances aren't cheap, by any means. You can however go out to your local Sephora or higher end department store and purchase a bottle of your favourite fragrance. But, to the pleasure of Mr. Ford's diehard fans who long for exclusivity, Tom Ford Private Blend is now available - a collection of 12 different fragrances, each with unique notes and distinct attitude, for a mere $180 per 50 mL.

Of the range, Mr. Ford says, "Private Blend is my own scent laboratory; it's where I have the ability to create a very special, original fragrances that are unconstrained by the conventions of main-stream scent making. Private Blend is designed with the true fragrance connoisseur in mind."

Italian master Giorgio Armani is paving the private way as well with his Armani Prive - a collection of amazingly couture garments, fragrance, and accessories. All at top notch construction. And top notch pricing of course.

The old saying "you get what you pay for" definitely applies to fashion and fragrance. Especially if you don't want to look or smell like every self described fashion forward fanatic.