The Luxe Chronicles

A White Knight for Christian Lacroix?

A resolution in the Christian Lacroix bankruptcy proceedings appears to be close. The judicial administrator assigned to the case announced earlier today that a preliminary takeover proposal submitted by UAE-based Sheikh Hassan ben Ali al-Naimi was deemed to be satisfactory. The financial group headed by Maurizio Borletti (owner of Paris' Le Printemps and Milan's La Rinascente department stores) had been weighing its options and was expected to make a firm offer for the business. Borletti Group ultimately decided to pass for reasons unrelated with al-Naimi's bid.

Jil Sander's +J Collection Hits Uniqlo Stores Tomorrow

As consumers, we've been awash in designer/high street collaborations for a number of years now. For the most part, I've found these collaborations very disappointing. Either the cut is unfortunate or the fabric is of dodgy quality with the result that consumers are left paying for mostly hype and marketing. To date, in my opinion at least, only one such collection has lived up to expectations: Roland Mouret's capsule collection for Gap back in 2007. However, I suspect I may be adding another such collaboration to my extremely short list: Jil Sander's +J collection for Uniqlo which hits stores tomorrow in the U.K.

Spring/Summer 2010 Collections: Is This All We Have To Look Forward To?

As most of you know, Milan Fashion Week is almost over and the Spring/Summer 2010 fashion circus will soon be moving to its next and final stop, Paris. Normally by this time, I'm beside myself with excitement. I've bookmarked countless images from various collections and have already drawn up a short list of my preferred looks to plan next season's purchases. Not this year I'm afraid.

Milan Fashion Week: No, No, No!

Nooooooooooo! Enough said.

Sincerely,

The Luxe Chronicles

* All images from D&G Spring/Summer 2010, courtesy of Style.com

Have a Perfectly Lovely Weekend!

The weather has been uncharacteristically sunny and mild all week in London. Unfortunately for me, I've been too busy to enjoy it so it's with absolute glee that I greet the arrival of the weekend. I plan to make the most of it - I hope you do too. Bon weekend!

Sincerely,

The Luxe Chronicles

Travel: A Bit of Old World Pampering at The Claridge's

No one does old-school glamour quite like The Claridge's in London. Whether you pop in for afternoon tea, pre-dinner drinks or a night cap, it would be difficult to find a more refined or elegant setting to see and be seen. It's entirely fitting therefore that they would team up with the house of Dior to offer an extra bit pampering to their esteemed guests.

London Fashion Week: Is Erdem The New Valentino?

When Valentino Garavani retired two years ago, many within the industry declared it the end of an era. Perhaps. Rightly or wrongly, I wasn't swept up in the wave of nostalgia that surrounded his farewell to fashion. While I appreciated the beauty and intricate details of his creations, it would have never occurred to me to wear Valentino until well into my 40's or 50's. The aesthetic was one I associated more with my mother's and grandmother's generations than my own. Not so for Erdem Moralioglu.

London Fashion Week: Jasper Garvida. Remember The Name.

Ever wonder what happened to all those winners of U.S. fashion reality show Project Runway from previous seasons? With the exception of Christian Siriano, it's as though many past winners have simply dropped off the face of the fashion world. Not so for Jasper Garvida, winner of the short-lived U.K. version of the U.S. hit series called Project Catwalk. Like Siriano, Garvida has made the most of his success and has no intention of fading into the distant memories of reality television show audiences.

London Fashion Week: Business as Usual?

As many of you are aware, London Fashion Week is well under way in my fair city and between the catwalk shows, after parties, book signings and celebrity spottings, there are some serious discussions taking place about the less glamorous side of fashion: business. There is a fairly blunt piece by The Times' Lisa Armstrong about Prime Minister Gordon Brown's wife, Sarah Brown, and her efforts to promote the industry by changing the perception that fashion is little more than a frivolous spectacle.

C'est Vendredi!!!

This image sums it up perfectly, no? Have a lovely weekend!

Sincerely,

The Luxe Chronicles