E só para não ficar sem postar, resolvi divulgar um texto divertido que explica o que é viver aqui no estado de Nebraska, EUA:
If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you live in Nebraska.
If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Nebraska.
If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Nebraska.
If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you live in Nebraska.
If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of GRAND ISLAND for the weekend, you live in Nebraska.
If you measure distance in squares of farm land, you live in Nebraska.
If you know several people who have hit a cow more than once, you live in Nebraska.
If you have gone from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again, you live in Nebraska.
If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Nebraska.
If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you live in Nebraska.
If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you live in Nebraska.
If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in Nebraska.
If the I-80 speed limit is 75 mph -- you're going 90 and everybody is passing you, you live in Nebraska.
If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in Nebraska.
If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, you live in Nebraska.
If you have more hours on your snow blower than miles on your car, you live in Nebraska.
If you find 10 degrees [Fahrenheit] "a little chilly", you live in Nebraska.
quarta-feira, 15 de fevereiro de 2012
quinta-feira, 2 de fevereiro de 2012
These boots are not just for walking
Like wellies in Britain for rain, Uggs in some parts of Australia for the dry winter, and cowboy boots in Western America for riding horses, the popularity of a boot style in a country mostly depends on its functionality. But because of the globalization of fashion, the Philippines, the land of sunny days, has developed an itch for this style of footwear.
Being a tropical nation, it would be easy to assume that we have store after store filled with sandals and slippers -- which we do. But little by little, in small corners of everything from department stores to high-end boutiques, boots are standing tall -- and short -- and people are taking notice and buying a pair.
WHY ARE THEY ON OUR STORE SHELVES?
For the majority of female boot buyers in the country, there are three reasons they buy the less-than-practical-in-a-tropical-country style of footwear, said Joanna Co, the marketing director of Tykes Trading Inc. (distributors of international shoe brand Melissa) in an e-mail. Boot purchases are "for variety... for travels abroad... and for the wet season."
Being a warm country, the Philippines does not have a large market for boots said Jose Enriquez of Charter International, Inc (owner of Filipino shoe brands Figlia, Figliarinal and Shubizz). However, "there are customers who will [specifically] look for these items." Number one buyers, he pointed out in an e-mail, are "young and trendy girls and women [who] are upwardly mobile and travel a lot."
Denise Reyes, managing director of Primadonna, explained in an e-mail that the brand’s decision to include boots in its product line was because of its present "trendy" status in the country. "Boots are the trend now, it just follows that we will carry boots [in the] collection even if we are in a tropical country."
She noted, "Filipinas love to dress up and look good and they are up to date with the latest trends in footwear. Filipinos see boots as a trend/style that can complete their entire look. It is more of a fashion statement rather than for practical use."
Head shoe designer of Anthology Karrots Nazareno also observed that, "boot wearers in our country tend to be more [into] fashion versus necessity."
The "trendy" seal of approval may be attributed to the growing number of fashion bloggers like internet celebrity Tricia Gosingtian, who has received at least five million page views worldwide. She is known for her affinity for shoes and presently owns 10 pairs of boots in different colors, heels, and heights, which are usually seen on her blog.
"One can never deny the statement boots bring to any outfit... Shoes make or break an outfit," she said in an e-mail interview with BusinessWorld. "[Although], I still know a lot of people who wear boots to give their feet warmth, but I also know others who really use them for fashion’s sake," said Ms. Gosingtian.
Anthology designer Ms. Nazareno noted that like Mr. Enriquez, she does not see a large market for boots in the country, but the fact did not keep her from adding a boot style to the existing product line and that the decision to add it was "love for fashion," she wrote in an e-mail to BusinessWorld.
"The glamorous fashion aspect associated with the well-traveled, celebrity style or the latest fashion presentations [attracts buyers despite the warm weather]," she said. The shoe designer also said that she herself wears wedge booties all week, "I’m four inches taller, look thinner and gain a false sense of confidence [when wearing them]," she quipped.
FitFlops, a footwear brand best known locally for its slippers, also decided to include its boot line when it launched its shoe fall/winter collection here late last year. "[It’s] fashion... people tend to sacrifice many things just to look good. It’s a proven fact," said Melody Nubla, FitFlops brand manager.
She made the point to add that "there are a lot of travelers here in our country." Primarily targetting tourists travelling in the country and young professionals, "we were actually surprised that there were a lot of student buyers as well, especially [from] universities where open-toe sandals are not allowed... They opted to buy boots and wear them to school," she said.
Getting onto the local boot train is British brand Dr. Martens (known for their iconic 1460 boot), which recently returned to Philippine shores after half a decade, and opened a store at Fort Bonifacio. "To a certain extent the market for boots has always been around, whether for fashion or functional purposes. Though the market is niche, we feel that there is always opportunity to offer the product as a natural addition to any wardrobe. Everyone should have a pair of boots in their closet for rainy days or the occasional change of look," said Andrew Garcia, co-owner of the local Dr. Martens franchise.
He added that "boots add an extra dimension to one’s personal style, making a statement whether you are hopping on a motorcycle, trudging through rain or mud, or just setting out for a night in town. Not to mention we spend four to six months of the year bombarded by storms."
"I think it’s great that we are open to this kind of style and we do not limit ourselves to certain styles. Filipinos are not afraid to try new styles and if they do try, they carry it with much confidence," commented Primadonna’s Ms. Reyes.
HOW TO PICK THE PERFECT BOOT
When choosing a boot style, said Anthology’s Ms. Nazareno, you should first determine whether it’s a need or want and its purpose, "[Is it a] party boot? Everyday boot? Then you pick your type of boot. Do you go for an ankle boot? Mid-calf boot? Or the full knee-high?"
Commenting on the latter she said, "knee-high boots are just adorable. Think of the outfit possibilities. Being stuck in a very cold air-conditioned office [it] may be acceptable. Being a celebrity with a dance number on a noontime show too. Other than that, I can’t think of any other reason to wear knee high boots." Next, she said, is comfort then "outfit mileage." "I don’t recommend you buy a pair of boots only [for them] to be worn once or twice."
Ms. Gosingtian recommends choosing "ones that flatter the shape and length of your legs, as well as the size of your feet."
A fan and frequent boot wearer, reporter Liz Diaz, noted that high cut boots, when worn with skinny jeans, give a nicer silhouette. "They draw focus away from [the] hips and give [the] appearance of longer legs.
Both Ms. Gosingtian and Ms. Diaz swear by boots from Dr. Martens. "They’re the kind of boots I can wear everyday without hurting my feet," said Ms. Gosingtian. "I had my first pair of Doc Martens-ish boots when I was about nine or 10. We were going to Hong Kong on a December and I need something to keep my feet warm."
A compromise between style and practicality comes by way of ankle bootie, suggested Ms. Nazareno, since it is "the lowest of the boot sisters." The "boot look and feel is achieved" yet, since it only encloses the foot to the ankle, it is wearable in our weather.
Fonte
Being a tropical nation, it would be easy to assume that we have store after store filled with sandals and slippers -- which we do. But little by little, in small corners of everything from department stores to high-end boutiques, boots are standing tall -- and short -- and people are taking notice and buying a pair.
WHY ARE THEY ON OUR STORE SHELVES?
For the majority of female boot buyers in the country, there are three reasons they buy the less-than-practical-in-a-tropical-country style of footwear, said Joanna Co, the marketing director of Tykes Trading Inc. (distributors of international shoe brand Melissa) in an e-mail. Boot purchases are "for variety... for travels abroad... and for the wet season."
Being a warm country, the Philippines does not have a large market for boots said Jose Enriquez of Charter International, Inc (owner of Filipino shoe brands Figlia, Figliarinal and Shubizz). However, "there are customers who will [specifically] look for these items." Number one buyers, he pointed out in an e-mail, are "young and trendy girls and women [who] are upwardly mobile and travel a lot."
Denise Reyes, managing director of Primadonna, explained in an e-mail that the brand’s decision to include boots in its product line was because of its present "trendy" status in the country. "Boots are the trend now, it just follows that we will carry boots [in the] collection even if we are in a tropical country."
She noted, "Filipinas love to dress up and look good and they are up to date with the latest trends in footwear. Filipinos see boots as a trend/style that can complete their entire look. It is more of a fashion statement rather than for practical use."
Head shoe designer of Anthology Karrots Nazareno also observed that, "boot wearers in our country tend to be more [into] fashion versus necessity."
The "trendy" seal of approval may be attributed to the growing number of fashion bloggers like internet celebrity Tricia Gosingtian, who has received at least five million page views worldwide. She is known for her affinity for shoes and presently owns 10 pairs of boots in different colors, heels, and heights, which are usually seen on her blog.
"One can never deny the statement boots bring to any outfit... Shoes make or break an outfit," she said in an e-mail interview with BusinessWorld. "[Although], I still know a lot of people who wear boots to give their feet warmth, but I also know others who really use them for fashion’s sake," said Ms. Gosingtian.
Anthology designer Ms. Nazareno noted that like Mr. Enriquez, she does not see a large market for boots in the country, but the fact did not keep her from adding a boot style to the existing product line and that the decision to add it was "love for fashion," she wrote in an e-mail to BusinessWorld.
"The glamorous fashion aspect associated with the well-traveled, celebrity style or the latest fashion presentations [attracts buyers despite the warm weather]," she said. The shoe designer also said that she herself wears wedge booties all week, "I’m four inches taller, look thinner and gain a false sense of confidence [when wearing them]," she quipped.
FitFlops, a footwear brand best known locally for its slippers, also decided to include its boot line when it launched its shoe fall/winter collection here late last year. "[It’s] fashion... people tend to sacrifice many things just to look good. It’s a proven fact," said Melody Nubla, FitFlops brand manager.
She made the point to add that "there are a lot of travelers here in our country." Primarily targetting tourists travelling in the country and young professionals, "we were actually surprised that there were a lot of student buyers as well, especially [from] universities where open-toe sandals are not allowed... They opted to buy boots and wear them to school," she said.
Getting onto the local boot train is British brand Dr. Martens (known for their iconic 1460 boot), which recently returned to Philippine shores after half a decade, and opened a store at Fort Bonifacio. "To a certain extent the market for boots has always been around, whether for fashion or functional purposes. Though the market is niche, we feel that there is always opportunity to offer the product as a natural addition to any wardrobe. Everyone should have a pair of boots in their closet for rainy days or the occasional change of look," said Andrew Garcia, co-owner of the local Dr. Martens franchise.
He added that "boots add an extra dimension to one’s personal style, making a statement whether you are hopping on a motorcycle, trudging through rain or mud, or just setting out for a night in town. Not to mention we spend four to six months of the year bombarded by storms."
"I think it’s great that we are open to this kind of style and we do not limit ourselves to certain styles. Filipinos are not afraid to try new styles and if they do try, they carry it with much confidence," commented Primadonna’s Ms. Reyes.
HOW TO PICK THE PERFECT BOOT
When choosing a boot style, said Anthology’s Ms. Nazareno, you should first determine whether it’s a need or want and its purpose, "[Is it a] party boot? Everyday boot? Then you pick your type of boot. Do you go for an ankle boot? Mid-calf boot? Or the full knee-high?"
Commenting on the latter she said, "knee-high boots are just adorable. Think of the outfit possibilities. Being stuck in a very cold air-conditioned office [it] may be acceptable. Being a celebrity with a dance number on a noontime show too. Other than that, I can’t think of any other reason to wear knee high boots." Next, she said, is comfort then "outfit mileage." "I don’t recommend you buy a pair of boots only [for them] to be worn once or twice."
Ms. Gosingtian recommends choosing "ones that flatter the shape and length of your legs, as well as the size of your feet."
A fan and frequent boot wearer, reporter Liz Diaz, noted that high cut boots, when worn with skinny jeans, give a nicer silhouette. "They draw focus away from [the] hips and give [the] appearance of longer legs.
Both Ms. Gosingtian and Ms. Diaz swear by boots from Dr. Martens. "They’re the kind of boots I can wear everyday without hurting my feet," said Ms. Gosingtian. "I had my first pair of Doc Martens-ish boots when I was about nine or 10. We were going to Hong Kong on a December and I need something to keep my feet warm."
A compromise between style and practicality comes by way of ankle bootie, suggested Ms. Nazareno, since it is "the lowest of the boot sisters." The "boot look and feel is achieved" yet, since it only encloses the foot to the ankle, it is wearable in our weather.
Fonte
quarta-feira, 1 de fevereiro de 2012
Vanessa Hudgens e Dita Von Teese prestigiam evento brazuca na Big Apple
O charmoso bairro do Soho, em Nova York, vai ter um festão para receber a filial da Galeria Melissa, no dia 8. A loja terá a mesma concepção da sede paulista, na Oscar Freire, praticamente uma galeria a céu aberto, mas com uma diferença: como o prédio é tombado, as intervenções artísticas serão feitas na parte interna.
O primeiro artista convidado para assinar uma exposição no espaço será Eli Sudbrack, brasileiro radicado em NY conhecido por seu trabalho criativo e irreverente. “A loja de Nova York terá um grande impacto com instalações e projeções, com malha de paetês nas paredes. Uma estrela de neon enfeita a vitrine enquanto um vídeo-arte é projetado no subsolo”, adianta Eli.
Fonte
O primeiro artista convidado para assinar uma exposição no espaço será Eli Sudbrack, brasileiro radicado em NY conhecido por seu trabalho criativo e irreverente. “A loja de Nova York terá um grande impacto com instalações e projeções, com malha de paetês nas paredes. Uma estrela de neon enfeita a vitrine enquanto um vídeo-arte é projetado no subsolo”, adianta Eli.
Fonte
segunda-feira, 30 de janeiro de 2012
Pasta de dente ecologicamente correta
Lush is known for creating pungent bath products, but their latest venture is a little bit different: they're making toothpaste. Well, more like anti-toothpaste. The environmentally friendly brand is into recyclable materials and minimal packaging, and they think we're wasting plastic by putting toothpaste in tubes. Their solution? Toothy Tabs. You're supposed to pop one of the Altoid-like tabs into your mouth, chew a little, let the stuff foam, then use your dry toothbrush to start a-brushing.
No so sure about the foaming at the mouth thing? You might be enticed by the six flavors, which include Sparkle (lemon, grapefruit, black pepper and sea salt) and Ultrablast (reen pea powder, wasabi, dried mint and sea salt) [pasta de dente com gosto de wasabi? eu passo!].
Fontes: 1 e 2
domingo, 29 de janeiro de 2012
Band-aids
A criatura vem me pedir um band-aid. Eu falo que só tenho decorado, da Sininho e das Meninas Super Poderosas (porque band-aid cor da pele é super sem graça), vai querer? Ela fala que sim (fazendo aquela cara de "não tenho outra opção"), escolhe um, põe no dedo e sai gritando para o departamento inteiro que se sente com 5 anos de idade de novo. O band-aid foi o comentário do dia, mas todo mundo olhando de canto de olho em meio a risinhos: o band-aid que é de Sandra que usa band-aid de criança. Eu fiz cara de ¬¬ e fiquei com raiva de ter desperdiçado um band-aid lindo e fofo naquela criatura. MEU band-aid, MEU precioso, MEU. Devolve já!
Continuei como sempre serelepe e saltitante usando meus band-aids de criança. Pra quem pergunta, sim, é um band-aid decorado, algum problema? Azar o seu. Gente que se retrai e se proíbe de fazer/usar o que gosta com medo do que os outros vão falar. Tsc, tsc, tsc... Tadinhos!
Essa semana a mesma criatura volta a me importunar. Pra quê? Pra pedir o-u-t-r-o band-aid. Ainda com cara de ¬¬ e pensando por que ela não vai na enfermaria onde com certeza encontraria band-aids sem graça, eu falo que dessa vez tenho da Dora The Explorer e das Princesas da Disney. Não vai querer, não é? Ótimo, tchau, passe bem. Hã? Como é? Vai querer OS DOIS?
PS: Esse negócio de só ter band-aid decorado não dá muito certo quando é o marido que se machuca. Catei na minha coleção inteira (sim, eu tenho uma coleção) mas não tinha escapatória, ele saiu com um band-aid de cupcakes. Mas eram cupcakes azuis, vejam bem!
Continuei como sempre serelepe e saltitante usando meus band-aids de criança. Pra quem pergunta, sim, é um band-aid decorado, algum problema? Azar o seu. Gente que se retrai e se proíbe de fazer/usar o que gosta com medo do que os outros vão falar. Tsc, tsc, tsc... Tadinhos!
Essa semana a mesma criatura volta a me importunar. Pra quê? Pra pedir o-u-t-r-o band-aid. Ainda com cara de ¬¬ e pensando por que ela não vai na enfermaria onde com certeza encontraria band-aids sem graça, eu falo que dessa vez tenho da Dora The Explorer e das Princesas da Disney. Não vai querer, não é? Ótimo, tchau, passe bem. Hã? Como é? Vai querer OS DOIS?
PS: Esse negócio de só ter band-aid decorado não dá muito certo quando é o marido que se machuca. Catei na minha coleção inteira (sim, eu tenho uma coleção) mas não tinha escapatória, ele saiu com um band-aid de cupcakes. Mas eram cupcakes azuis, vejam bem!
domingo, 22 de janeiro de 2012
Sobre a loja da Melissa em Nova York
The future's so bright: A rendering of the forthcoming Melissa Shoes New York store
Style-minded attendees of Sao Paolo Fashion Week make it a mission to stop by the Melissa flagship store—a gallery-inspired space with eye-popping, ever-changing exhibitions.
But if Brazil's a bit too far away, you're in luck: The footwear brand is setting up shop in New York City.
The purveyor of plastic shoes, which has collaborated with such sartorial and art heavy hitters as Jason Wu, Vivienne Westwood, Zaha Hadid and Gaetano Pesce, will open its first U.S. store on February 8 at 102 Greene Street in Soho.
The shop will reportedly have the same gallery vibe as the Brazilian boutique, with artist Eli Sudbrack providing the opening exhibition. (Sudbrack most recently partnered with Barneys New York on the impressive and over-the-top Gaga’s Workshop.)
Fonte
quinta-feira, 19 de janeiro de 2012
Sapato novo, fia?
A colega aparece na sua sala, assim sem mais nem menos, pra dizer qualquer coisa. Você nota o sapato novo, sem nem precisar olhar, porque, né, é um par de botas que vai até o joelho.
Só de maldade você não fala nada. Nem comenta sobre a jaqueta de pelinho, que também deve ser nova. Você finge que nem viu porque você tá atolada de trabalho e não tem tempo de ficar de papinho.
A fia sai da sua sala, você continua com seus afazeres. Algumas horas depois ela volta, e você de novo se finge de morta. Mas dessa vez ela não deixa por menos e balança o pé na sua cara. Tipo assim: "olha meu sapato novooo!"
Diante de tamanha sutileza você não tem como escapar, então comenta que linda que é a bota (e é mesmo), que máximo, show de bola. Já posso voltar a trabalhar?
É, tem dias que eu tô bem chata. E tem dias que eu tô também.
Só de maldade você não fala nada. Nem comenta sobre a jaqueta de pelinho, que também deve ser nova. Você finge que nem viu porque você tá atolada de trabalho e não tem tempo de ficar de papinho.
A fia sai da sua sala, você continua com seus afazeres. Algumas horas depois ela volta, e você de novo se finge de morta. Mas dessa vez ela não deixa por menos e balança o pé na sua cara. Tipo assim: "olha meu sapato novooo!"
Diante de tamanha sutileza você não tem como escapar, então comenta que linda que é a bota (e é mesmo), que máximo, show de bola. Já posso voltar a trabalhar?
É, tem dias que eu tô bem chata. E tem dias que eu tô também.
quarta-feira, 18 de janeiro de 2012
Milan Who? Brazil Taking Over Fashion World
Will Brazil Become the Next Milan?
Move over New York. And Milan? So last year.
Brazil, long known as the country of skimpy bikinis and rubber flip flops, is taking over the fashion world – thanks to a robust economy and scores of newly minted millionaires.
It may not be at the very top of the fashion map – just yet at least – but the South American giant is the fashion and luxury industry's newest darling.
Fashion insiders from Brazil and beyond descended on Rio de Janeiro for the city's five-day-long winter 2012 displays, which were wrapping up this past weekend.
Prada and Bottega Veneta opened boutiques here over the past months, and a host of other top-tier labels are expected to open shop throughout the year. Consumption of luxury goods by Brazil's booming middle and wealthier classes is growing, despite an economic crisis that weighs on demand in Europe and the United States.
But for luxury labels scrambling to get a foothold here, there are major hurdles hiding behind the dollar signs.
"People think 'Brazil: football, the beach, caipiriñas, that it's all super relaxed here,'" said Abraao Ferreira, a Brazilian-born fashion industry consultant. "Next thing you know, their product is stuck in customs for three months. Then they start to realize that not everything in Brazil is as laid back as it might appear."
Brazilians Dominate Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
Brazil's red tape is legendary, as other industries find when they try to move into Brazil. In the latest "ease of doing business" ranking by the World Bank, Brazil came in at No. 126, despite being forecast to overtake Britain as the globe's sixth largest economy.
Just getting goods through customs in Brazil is a Herculean feat, and situations like the one Ferreira described happen with sobering frequency.
"When you want to import things into Brazil, you have to do everything absolutely by the book," said Bruno Astuto, a fashion editor for Brazilian newsweekly Epoca and columnist with Vogue. "The problem is that the book keeps changing and they keep adding pages or chapters, so a lot of times merchandise doesn't get to the shops until months later, if at all."
And that's just the beginning.
Brazil's stiff tariffs on all imports push the already-steep prices of luxury goods into the stratosphere.
"It's a really difficult market," said Astuto. "Because of the duties on imported goods, luxury products here can end up costing from two to four times the price outside Brazil."
At multi-brand stores, price inflation can reach epic proportions, Astuto added. Once you factor in the sales taxes and the retailer's margin on top of the import duties, ticket prices can reach up to 18 times the product's wholesale price, he said.
At a mall in Rio's exclusive Leblon neighborhood, a pair of women's flats by Salvatore Ferragamo — sold at the Italian shoemaker's own store — cost 1500 reais, or $842 at the current exchange rate. Online in the United States, they retail for $395. At the Burberry store in Sao Paulo, a trench coat that retails on for $915 on its U.K. website was selling for 3695 reais, or $2075.
Another challenge for international brands arriving here is the strength of the country's domestic clothing industry.
(...)
Brazil is the world's fifth-largest textile producer, according to industry statistics, and Vogue Brazil and other fashion magazines here don't just feature top-tier international labels like Chanel, Dior and Lanvin. They're also chock-a-block with domestic brands that have virtually no name recognition outside the country.
Ever hear of Osklen? Maria Bonita? Alexandre Herchcovitch? In Brazil, these homegrown labels are household names with a devoted fan base among the wealthy elite as well as the country's growing middle class.
At the country's two fashion weeks, one in the economic hub of Sao Paulo and the other in Rio, these and dozens of other local brands field their Southern Hemisphere season-appropriate wares. That there are no real seasons in this tropical country, where it's perpetually spring-summer, also makes things more complicated for international labels.
(...)
And though Brazilian brands are rarely available outside the country, here they provide real competition for foreign luxury labels.
"Brazilian brands know how to treat their customers," said Jorge Grimberg, a marketing director with trend forecaster Stylesight. "You have to pamper them, make them feel special, treat them like friends."
The kinds of sales tactics that work in other developing countries don't work in Brazil, where sales staff knit tight friendships with their customers. This is true across industries, whether it's cars, kitchen supplies or banking services.
"Brazilian consumers are extremely loyal if you know how to treat them right," said consultant Ferreira. "This can eventually work in foreign labels' favor, once they crack the code and figure out how to spoil customers here."
The rewards can be huge for labels that get it right.
Brazil has always had a superrich elite with extravagant tastes. But booming commodity prices fueled by Chinese demand, along with some of the world's biggest offshore oil discoveries, have created an expanding, new class of wealthy Brazilians.
The number of millionaire households in South America's biggest nation is forecast to more than triple by 2020, and economic reforms have lifted millions out of poverty and into the burgeoning middle class over the past decade, creating a deep new well of potential consumers.
Luxury goods sales in Brazil in 2010 hit $8.9 billion, an increase of 28 percent over 2009, according to a study by GfK Custom Research Brasil and the luxury goods consulting firm MCF Consultoria. Figures for 2011 are not yet available.
(...)
The ranks of the new rich, and luxury goods sales, are also growing in other developing countries as well, especially the so-called BRIC group of Brazil, Russia, India and China.
The number of millionaire households in Brazil, a nation of 190 million, will have increased 230 percent to more than 1 million by 2020, according to a May report by the U.S.-based consulting firm Deloitte. China's figure will rise to 2.5 million, Russia's to 1.2 million, and India's to 694,600.
But fashion industry insiders here contend that despite Brazil's daunting barriers for foreign businesses, the country has a distinct edge over its BRIC counterparts.
"The advantage we have is that Brazil is not a dictatorship like China and it doesn't have the kind of grinding poverty you find in India," said Epoca's Astuto. "Brazil is the best developing country: It's peaceful, it's fun and it's true that we do have really good beaches."
Based on reporting by The Associated Press.
Fontes: 1 e 2
Move over New York. And Milan? So last year.
Brazil, long known as the country of skimpy bikinis and rubber flip flops, is taking over the fashion world – thanks to a robust economy and scores of newly minted millionaires.
It may not be at the very top of the fashion map – just yet at least – but the South American giant is the fashion and luxury industry's newest darling.
Fashion insiders from Brazil and beyond descended on Rio de Janeiro for the city's five-day-long winter 2012 displays, which were wrapping up this past weekend.
Prada and Bottega Veneta opened boutiques here over the past months, and a host of other top-tier labels are expected to open shop throughout the year. Consumption of luxury goods by Brazil's booming middle and wealthier classes is growing, despite an economic crisis that weighs on demand in Europe and the United States.
But for luxury labels scrambling to get a foothold here, there are major hurdles hiding behind the dollar signs.
"People think 'Brazil: football, the beach, caipiriñas, that it's all super relaxed here,'" said Abraao Ferreira, a Brazilian-born fashion industry consultant. "Next thing you know, their product is stuck in customs for three months. Then they start to realize that not everything in Brazil is as laid back as it might appear."
Brazilians Dominate Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
Brazil's red tape is legendary, as other industries find when they try to move into Brazil. In the latest "ease of doing business" ranking by the World Bank, Brazil came in at No. 126, despite being forecast to overtake Britain as the globe's sixth largest economy.
Just getting goods through customs in Brazil is a Herculean feat, and situations like the one Ferreira described happen with sobering frequency.
"When you want to import things into Brazil, you have to do everything absolutely by the book," said Bruno Astuto, a fashion editor for Brazilian newsweekly Epoca and columnist with Vogue. "The problem is that the book keeps changing and they keep adding pages or chapters, so a lot of times merchandise doesn't get to the shops until months later, if at all."
And that's just the beginning.
Brazil's stiff tariffs on all imports push the already-steep prices of luxury goods into the stratosphere.
"It's a really difficult market," said Astuto. "Because of the duties on imported goods, luxury products here can end up costing from two to four times the price outside Brazil."
At multi-brand stores, price inflation can reach epic proportions, Astuto added. Once you factor in the sales taxes and the retailer's margin on top of the import duties, ticket prices can reach up to 18 times the product's wholesale price, he said.
At a mall in Rio's exclusive Leblon neighborhood, a pair of women's flats by Salvatore Ferragamo — sold at the Italian shoemaker's own store — cost 1500 reais, or $842 at the current exchange rate. Online in the United States, they retail for $395. At the Burberry store in Sao Paulo, a trench coat that retails on for $915 on its U.K. website was selling for 3695 reais, or $2075.
Another challenge for international brands arriving here is the strength of the country's domestic clothing industry.
(...)
Brazil is the world's fifth-largest textile producer, according to industry statistics, and Vogue Brazil and other fashion magazines here don't just feature top-tier international labels like Chanel, Dior and Lanvin. They're also chock-a-block with domestic brands that have virtually no name recognition outside the country.
Ever hear of Osklen? Maria Bonita? Alexandre Herchcovitch? In Brazil, these homegrown labels are household names with a devoted fan base among the wealthy elite as well as the country's growing middle class.
At the country's two fashion weeks, one in the economic hub of Sao Paulo and the other in Rio, these and dozens of other local brands field their Southern Hemisphere season-appropriate wares. That there are no real seasons in this tropical country, where it's perpetually spring-summer, also makes things more complicated for international labels.
(...)
And though Brazilian brands are rarely available outside the country, here they provide real competition for foreign luxury labels.
"Brazilian brands know how to treat their customers," said Jorge Grimberg, a marketing director with trend forecaster Stylesight. "You have to pamper them, make them feel special, treat them like friends."
The kinds of sales tactics that work in other developing countries don't work in Brazil, where sales staff knit tight friendships with their customers. This is true across industries, whether it's cars, kitchen supplies or banking services.
"Brazilian consumers are extremely loyal if you know how to treat them right," said consultant Ferreira. "This can eventually work in foreign labels' favor, once they crack the code and figure out how to spoil customers here."
The rewards can be huge for labels that get it right.
Brazil has always had a superrich elite with extravagant tastes. But booming commodity prices fueled by Chinese demand, along with some of the world's biggest offshore oil discoveries, have created an expanding, new class of wealthy Brazilians.
The number of millionaire households in South America's biggest nation is forecast to more than triple by 2020, and economic reforms have lifted millions out of poverty and into the burgeoning middle class over the past decade, creating a deep new well of potential consumers.
Luxury goods sales in Brazil in 2010 hit $8.9 billion, an increase of 28 percent over 2009, according to a study by GfK Custom Research Brasil and the luxury goods consulting firm MCF Consultoria. Figures for 2011 are not yet available.
(...)
The ranks of the new rich, and luxury goods sales, are also growing in other developing countries as well, especially the so-called BRIC group of Brazil, Russia, India and China.
The number of millionaire households in Brazil, a nation of 190 million, will have increased 230 percent to more than 1 million by 2020, according to a May report by the U.S.-based consulting firm Deloitte. China's figure will rise to 2.5 million, Russia's to 1.2 million, and India's to 694,600.
But fashion industry insiders here contend that despite Brazil's daunting barriers for foreign businesses, the country has a distinct edge over its BRIC counterparts.
"The advantage we have is that Brazil is not a dictatorship like China and it doesn't have the kind of grinding poverty you find in India," said Epoca's Astuto. "Brazil is the best developing country: It's peaceful, it's fun and it's true that we do have really good beaches."
Based on reporting by The Associated Press.
Fontes: 1 e 2
How to make a pair of too-big shoes fit you
This week, Jess sent in a problem for the Shoewawa team to solve. This one involves a pair of fabulous Alexander McQueen shoes (pictured here), so we're feeling a heavy burden of responsibility to find the right solution! Her question was:
I bought a gorgeous pair of McQueen courts, but they're too big for me. Is there anything I can do to make them fit?
Jess has unfortunately fallen foul of a problem that's increasingly common with the rise of internet shopping. It's almost impossible to know if a pair of shoes will fit comfortably without trying them out, and in this case she was unlucky in that the shoes ran a little large for her usual size.
When buying designer from legitimate retailers, there is almost always the option of sending the shoes back if you're unhappy with the fit. In this case, Jess felt that a smaller size would be too much the other way, but loved the shoes and wanted to keep hold of them if at all possible. Here's our best advice for making shoes that are too big fit.
- Gel insoles can work wonders. There are adhesive pads in all shapes and sizes, so your first step should be to find the ones that will fill out whichever part of the shoe feels the most 'gappy'. It will often be the back of the heel, or sometimes around the toe.
- Try out as many gel pads as it takes to get the shoes fitting snugly. Once you have the perfect fit, a more permanent solution is using superglue to fix them in place. This may feel drastic on your super expensive shoes, but we haven't had a failure with this method yet.
- If the main 'gapping' occurs in the space above the foot but your toes reach the bottom, you can try using arch support technology. Arch supports can be bought for around £10-15 and effectively pull up your feet, comfortably, inside the shoe.
- Emergency measures include stuffing the shoe with cotton wool or tissue paper, or wearing thicker socks or tights with the shoes. But we wouldn't recommend either as long-term solutions, especially with evening shoes that demand sheer hosiery!
We hope that these tips will be helpful to Jess, and that we'll be seeing the fabulous McQueen heels in action in the office very soon!
Fontes: 1 e 2
I bought a gorgeous pair of McQueen courts, but they're too big for me. Is there anything I can do to make them fit?
Jess has unfortunately fallen foul of a problem that's increasingly common with the rise of internet shopping. It's almost impossible to know if a pair of shoes will fit comfortably without trying them out, and in this case she was unlucky in that the shoes ran a little large for her usual size.
When buying designer from legitimate retailers, there is almost always the option of sending the shoes back if you're unhappy with the fit. In this case, Jess felt that a smaller size would be too much the other way, but loved the shoes and wanted to keep hold of them if at all possible. Here's our best advice for making shoes that are too big fit.
- Gel insoles can work wonders. There are adhesive pads in all shapes and sizes, so your first step should be to find the ones that will fill out whichever part of the shoe feels the most 'gappy'. It will often be the back of the heel, or sometimes around the toe.
- Try out as many gel pads as it takes to get the shoes fitting snugly. Once you have the perfect fit, a more permanent solution is using superglue to fix them in place. This may feel drastic on your super expensive shoes, but we haven't had a failure with this method yet.
- If the main 'gapping' occurs in the space above the foot but your toes reach the bottom, you can try using arch support technology. Arch supports can be bought for around £10-15 and effectively pull up your feet, comfortably, inside the shoe.
- Emergency measures include stuffing the shoe with cotton wool or tissue paper, or wearing thicker socks or tights with the shoes. But we wouldn't recommend either as long-term solutions, especially with evening shoes that demand sheer hosiery!
We hope that these tips will be helpful to Jess, and that we'll be seeing the fabulous McQueen heels in action in the office very soon!
Fontes: 1 e 2
segunda-feira, 16 de janeiro de 2012
Melissas sem saquinho nunca mais
É um absurdo que as Melissas assinadas - mais caras - muitas vezes não venham com saquinho. Para proteger as mais delicadas, como por exemplo a Sky flocada, eu costumava tirar o saquinho de outras Melissas. Agora não preciso mais fazer isso, pois comprei saquinhos avulsos em quantidade suficiente para todas as Melissas que vieram sem. Não são os saquinhos originais (até porque se a Melissa vendesse ia cobrar uma fortuna), são saquinhos de organza lindos e baratos.
À princípio minha busca foi focada em sacos para sapatos, mas esses eram mais caros e eu não achei uma loja que vendesse em grande quantidade. Então comecei a procurar sacos para presente e encontrei em uma grande variedade de tecidos, tamanhos e modelos, com preços bem acessíveis.
Decidi pela loja Paper Mart, que possui muitas opções e nos mais variados materiais. Escolhi o modelo mais simples e mais em conta: o saco de organza transparente. Há nada menos do que 40 cores disponíveis, mas eu preferi o clássico branco. Comprei no tamanho 12" x 14" (30,5cm x 35,6cm) que custa 0,71 centavos de dólar a unidade, mais frete. Essa medida é de fora a fora, mas o saco tem uma fita para fechamento, então a dimensão útil é de 12" x 10,5" (30,5cm x 26,7cm), que dá com folga para uma Melissa de salto alto como a Sky.
PS: Usando o cupom STAR12 até 01/03/12 dá para conseguir 10% de desconto. Para pedidos totalizando 200 dólares ou mais, a loja dá 15% de desconto, sem necessidade de cupom.
À princípio minha busca foi focada em sacos para sapatos, mas esses eram mais caros e eu não achei uma loja que vendesse em grande quantidade. Então comecei a procurar sacos para presente e encontrei em uma grande variedade de tecidos, tamanhos e modelos, com preços bem acessíveis.
Decidi pela loja Paper Mart, que possui muitas opções e nos mais variados materiais. Escolhi o modelo mais simples e mais em conta: o saco de organza transparente. Há nada menos do que 40 cores disponíveis, mas eu preferi o clássico branco. Comprei no tamanho 12" x 14" (30,5cm x 35,6cm) que custa 0,71 centavos de dólar a unidade, mais frete. Essa medida é de fora a fora, mas o saco tem uma fita para fechamento, então a dimensão útil é de 12" x 10,5" (30,5cm x 26,7cm), que dá com folga para uma Melissa de salto alto como a Sky.
PS: Usando o cupom STAR12 até 01/03/12 dá para conseguir 10% de desconto. Para pedidos totalizando 200 dólares ou mais, a loja dá 15% de desconto, sem necessidade de cupom.
segunda-feira, 9 de janeiro de 2012
Melissa do pato é coisa do passado
A moda agora é cisne e tucano:
Mas pra quem prefere pato mesmo, tem também:
Esses sapatos fazem parte da coleção Bird do designer Kobi Levi:
Mas pra quem prefere pato mesmo, tem também:
Não sei vocês, mas eu superusaria esse do mallard duck (pato-real), achei lindo!
Esses sapatos fazem parte da coleção Bird do designer Kobi Levi:
Bird Series
While standing in line to enter a museum in Holland, Kobi noticed a bird flying. This sight inspired him to incorporate the fascinating shapes and colors of bird into shoe design.
The research in this area proved so fruitful that Kobi was reluctant to choose only one bird, and decided to make a series of 3 designs.
The basic shape of the bird, which shows the upper as a body/wings and the heel as a beak, can be implemented to numerous birds, each with her own “styling”.
The Mallard duck, Toucan and Swan were chosen due to their unique color combinations and typical, recognizable shapes.
O laço da Loop estragou ou quebrou?
Before
Nuded up
Final product
Now, I didn't do this for fun, or to be different. I've had these shoes for a couple of years and they have served me well. I have danced, partied and worked in these babies... Often a little too enthusiastically, resulting in plastic bows that may at first look to be entire, but are actually in many, many pieces and are being precariously held together with hope, superglue and blutack. So I'm being proactive and replacing the bows before they start looking like a disgrace. I did email Melissa Australia to get replacement bows and I was told they SELL the shoes, not MAKE them, hence don't have "spare parts" - how odd is that? [nem a fábrica no Brasil faz o "favor" de vender os acessórios, que dirá a revenda...] So I bought some grossgrain ribbon from Spotlight today and got to it with a needle and thread, and a bit of fabric glue. I'm super happy with the results.
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