high top fashion

I'm loving high-top sneakers lately.  You get the sportiness of a trainer with the height of a boot, while still being casually trendy and comfortable.  Talk about the best of both worlds.

Deceptively simple and perfectly refined—a chukka style sneaker, like Stefano below from Peter Nappi, in black cavallo leather featuring single-piece construction, medium toe, minimalist eyelets, leather laces, and vero cuoio sole. Hits above ankle, is made in Italy from a single piece of leather, and is the perfect example.  You can rock this with jeans and your favorite t-shirt, or a suit, and everything in between. 

Culver is a featherweight high top plimsole that comes in a soft velveteen calf or suede. Just recently released for fall/winter 2015, it comes in colors of dusk and chalk, tones inspired by the coastal landscapes of John Lobb's homecounty of Cornwall.

Bedford High Top Sneakers from John Varvatos bring a certain coolness to any wardrobe and pairs the appeal of casual kicks with a sleek and fresh option that will pair with both your weekend and work week attire. Features lace up styling, contoured topstitching and a textured sole.  Phone Paul at JV in Los Angeles for more details or to order your own: 1.310.859.2791.

Gucci is fierce for floral with these crazy awesome blooming high tops -  Beige/ebony GG supreme canvas with blooms print, made using an earth-conscious process and feature a traction friendly rubber sole, leather tongue, and the traditional logo canvas you know and love.  Jenny at Gucci Boutique Orlando is your go-to for details or to order: 1.407.903.1033. 

Geox literally have your feet breathe a sigh of relief, and I'm love these Box 8 high tops.  Soft suede, grainy Italian leather and padded canvas at the ankle form high-top city sneakers that also feature a sturdy rubber sole with patented Respira technology that expels moisture as you walk.

And for the ultimate in luxury and exclusivity, dream for Jackson, the Hermes men's sneaker in calfskin with black and orange Sport sole, orange H relief print and white laces.

the future is now

One of my favorite facets of fashion is the ability of designers to mix codes of yesterday with a look for tomorrow, the blending of old and new for a fresh interpretation of style + class.  Yesterday's future with tomorrow's nostalgia, if you will, and innovation at its finest.

Volvo began in 1927 out of necessity to create motorcars strong and safe enough for challenging Swedish roadways, and throughout the years, have evolved from a brand known just for safety and comfort, but a stylish, innovative, and futuristic product.  Enter: LifePaint.



Each year in the United Kingdom alone, more than 19,000 bicyclists are involved in accidents.  Initially intended for vehicles with low profiles, LifePaint is a reality.  LifePaint is a unique water based reflective safety spray. Invisible by daylight, it glows brightly in direct glare of car headlights. Making the invisible, visible. LifePaint washes off, and will not damage the color or the surface of your chosen material, lasting more than a week of normal usage.  Not just reserved for two wheelers, LifePaint is perfect for clothing, shoes, skateboards, helmets, wheelchairs and strollers, backpacks, camping tents, and virtually anything else you can imagine.  LifePaint is currently only available at select dealers and retailers throughout the UK, and may be available for purchase through third party sites like Amazon as well.  The more popular the product, the more likely Volvo offers LifePaint in other markets.

Makes me think of when Cole Haan made a reflective collection - beautiful shoes and accessories by day, bright and reflective safety devices by night.

Since 1885, Bianchi have made some of the most beautiful, high-tech bicycles imagined.  Like Volvo, Edoardo Bianchi focused on safety, drastically changing the shape and mechanisms used on the two-wheeled vehicles.  And also like Volvo, the brand has evolved into one of the most fashionable, beautiful brands.  This year, they've teamed up with fellow countrymen at Gucci and created an incredible helmet.  For safety + fashion sense, get the Bianchi + Gucci helmet:

What other stylish safety products have you discovered?  Innovation + style + safety = class for all.

luxe loves, sounds, and tastes

(in no particular order of importance)

-- basketweave - from those fabulously fierce peep toe stiletto boots from Gucci, to the lambskin woven jacket for men from Dolce & Gabbana, I'm loving basketweave. And speaking of baskets - Longaberger baskets bring an old world Americana vibe to any room, any time.

-- Chanel's J-12 marine watch, featuring black sand blasted ceramic, matte rubber sport strap, self winding Swiss mechanical movement, and 42-hour power reserve. Resists water to 300 feet, and attracts women up to 300 miles.

-- floral everything - much like basketweave, I'm loving the mix of florals and patterns. Liberty of London packs a powerful punch.

-- I can't get enough of Ministry of Sound - their beats are the soundtrack to my mind right now.

-- my new favourite snack is toast. with proper jams and jellies. Like Orange and Fortnum's Champagne marmalade from Fortnum & Mason and the Sicilian red orange marmalade from Colle Vicario.

-- I love the renewed excitement and discovery that Verizon users have for their new iPhones. Now they understand my technological dependence. my iPhone revolutionized my life a few years ago. Welcome to the party.

Luxe Loves of the Moment

(in no particular order, of course)

Michael Bastian for Gant

Tone on tone on tone (especially accessories like watches, belts, shoes, and sunglasses)

Slim fitting but not overly tight pants and shorts.

Lightweight cashmere vneck sweaters for those cool evenings (or frigidly conditioned locations indoors).

Gucci's over the knee brown boots and fabulous thigh length fur jackets, vests, and coats.

Donna Karan's stunning, dramatic tuxedo shirts for women (happy 25th anniversary DK!)

Prada's use of patent leather as an accessory and highlight on this season's bags and small leather goods.

Christian Dior's over the top, outrageously delicious purple suede over-the-knee high heeled boots.

Tom Ford's attention to detail and unequalled mastery of craft and creativity.

Tweed and chunky knitwear mixed with sleek, thin fabrics and high tech outerwear like Moncler's iconic offerings.

Missoni's Hotel in Kuwait, complete with Cucina Missoni restaurant.

Orange, golden yellow, khaki, chocolate brown, navy blue, and the wine/burgundy/eggplant colour families.

Free refills and fabulous service with the Starbucks gold card.

The elegance and instant style that scarves bring to any outfit.

Club Monaco's sale rack - great clothes and accessories at even better price points.

Ryan's excitement for the brand and quality product at The Art of Shaving at The Galleria in Dallas, Texas.

Rush into Luxury Fashion

I know we've been experiencing a less-than-stellar economic reality the past few years. Markets are unstable, currencies are unpredictable, and what used to be sound investment ideas are no longer secure. But there are definitely some key indicators of better times ahead:

(in no particular order)

-- Chicago's Rush Street is doing more than it's part. With a bold and beautiful new location, Barneys New York is taking Chicago by storm. The six level department store features many of the world's best brands and must-haves. And Hermes has just relocated their fabulous flagship boutique to the intersection of Rush and Oak Streets, bringing one of the most exclusive, sought after French brands to the Windy City in all of it's grandeur and glory. There's even an extremely limited edition silk scarf called "Paddock" available solely in this location (for a mere US$375). Chicago also boasts boutiques by Marc Jacobs, Burberry, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Ferragamo, Jimmy Choo, Tiffany & Co., Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Chanel, and La Perla to name a few.

-- Luxury powerhouse Moet Hennessey Louis Vuitton is hiring again. The luxe conglomerate has posted a handful of opportunities on their corporate site for positions in media relations, project management, training, and public relations. Is the brand looking to further expand its reach in North America? Regardless, investing in internal improvement and productivity is definitely a positive sign of growth and success.

-- The Waldorf=Astoria, one of the world's most luxurious hotel brands, is expanded to new locations. Joining the historic New York location, Waldorf=Astoria Orlando brings the world class service you expect with the perfect Floridian atmosphere. Also set to open within the next several months are Waldorf=Astoria Shanghai, Waldorf=Astoria Berlin, and Waldorf=Astoria Jerusalem. Long term buzz also includes locations in Beverly Hills and Philadelphia, among others.

-- Cosmetics and Fragrance mecca Sephora has struck a deal with the storied American department store JC Penney. While the chain isn't typically considered a luxury player, the new partnership with Sephora will bring luxe brands to the retailer from favourites like Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Bliss, and Armani. The move definitely signals an increased desire for luxury brands across all demographics, especially in the health and beauty segment.

-- Tiffany & Co., one of the most recognized and sought after jewelers around the world, is set to expand their product ranges with a collection of high end leather goods. The iconic retailers will begin selling handbags, wallets, coin purses, and other small leather goods by the famous duo Richard Lambertson and John Truex. “Richard Lambertson and John Truex are the latest in our tradition of inviting the world’s best designers to work exclusively with Tiffany,” says Jon King, executive vice president of Tiffany & Co. “Their vision and mastery of the craft combined with the skill of the finest Italian artisans have produced a leather collection of timeless simplicity, with all the quality and luxury of the Tiffany experience.” Highlighting the collection is a glazed crocodile Manhattan satchel for US$17,500. Other bags and brief cases will be available in various animal prints, full grain calf skin, lambskin, and python. The collection is set to launch September 2010 in 12 exclusive locations and online.

-- Electronics giant Apple sold more than 1,7 million 4th generation iPhones - setting a company record product release. Additionally, the big mobilephone companies in the US are investing millions of dollars to upgrade their networks to 4G. Currently American customers only receive cellular data transmissions at 3G speeds.

We're not in the clear yet. Unemployment rates are still at record highs, people are still starving, and homes are still being lost. But there is definitely light at the end of this long, dark tunnel. The more you shop, the more you eat out, and the more you spend in your local community, the more jobs you support and the more growth you provide - which are always en vogue.