The stitching hour

  Driehaus Awards for Fashion Excellence give Chicago fashion students a reason to stitch till dawn

Fashion students get used to pulling all-nighters in the studio as deadlines approach.

But heading into the 11th annual Driehaus Awards for Fashion Excellence recently, Maribel Dinwiddie thought she could rest easy, knowing her last loose thread had been tied.

Because she wouldn't be graduating until July from the International Academy of Design and Technology, her Driehaus entry was from her junior-year collection.

"I had finished it a long time ago," Dinwiddie said.

When contest organizers vetted submissions from five Chicago-area fashion schools, Dinwiddie made the cut. But organizers had a "suggestion" for her contest entry, based on the colors of a sunset sky.

"They didn't like the bottom of my second look," she said. "They said it wasn't cohesive with the rest of my line. They said, 'Change the purple.'''

No problem. Except her senior collection was due at the same time.

So she was up till 5 a.m. the day of the awards, replacing the purple with two tiers of gold chiffon and a dollop of lace on top.

"That's fashion school — running to beat the deadline," she said.

Her fortitude was rewarded. Among the 25 juniors and seniors whose designs marched down the runway at the Driehaus Awards, Dinwiddie's collection won third place, earning her $1,500.

Laura Lanzerotte, who graduated in May from Dominican University in River Forest, won second place, receiving $2,500 for a collection inspired by the Robert Frost poem "The Road Not Taken," with its themes of "wanting to choose the right path in life," Lanzerotte said.

That resonates for any recent college graduate, said Richard Driehaus, a businessman and philanthropist. Driehaus joined forces with Chicago fashion show veteran Skip Grisham more than a decade ago to create the event. Proceeds from recent years are going toward the buildout of the Driehaus Resource Center within the Chicago Fashion Incubator at Macy's State Street. This year, the $140,000 raised went to the five fashion schools.

"When I graduated from college it was difficult to find employment," Driehaus said at the show, in the South Loop garage that houses his antique car collection. "So I put an ad in the Wall Street Journal. It went something like this: 'Ambitious young graduate of DePaul University seeks position in the financial area.'"

Success in the fashion industry can be equally elusive, he said. "Through this professional fashion show," Driehaus said, "we offer the students real-life experience and exposure."

Kendra DeKuiper, who graduated in May from Columbia College's fashion program, won first place for a collection inspired by Albert Camus' "The Stranger."

"The ideas in the book got me thinking about human growth, self-discovery and living a life of no regret. I compared these ideas to the process of metamorphosis."

She'll apply the $5,000 prize toward launching a fashion collection online while working at a CB2 store. She'd like at some point to open a shop blending fashion and furniture.

Columbia College grads have gone on to New York to work for Oscar de la Renta, Michael Kors, Derek Lam, J.Crew and White House Black Market, as well as Conde Nast. But grads of Chicago's fashion schools are increasingly staying to launch their own brands.

"Chicago is a market of fashion entrepreneurs," said Melissa Gamble, lecturer and internship coordinator in fashion studies at Columbia College.

Gamble, the city's former fashion czar, lists some Chicago fashion businesses that are thriving, despite a tough economy: Creatures of the Wind, Elda de la Rosa, Sam Kori George, Lara Miller, Price Walton and Lana Jewelry. Other young brands such as Borris Powell, Horacio Nieto, Elmidae, Zamrie, Miriam Cecilia, Lily & Migs, Anna Brown and Annie Jane Bridal are also gaining footing, she said.

"Smaller fashion businesses can get by with alternative means of funding, like crowdsourcing on the Internet," Gamble said.

Dinwiddie will use her award money to further her fledgling business TutuMadness — "I make tutus that glow in black light and mad-hatter-style tiny top hats. I vend at festivals and parties. And then I'm working on making upcycled utility belts and harnesses out of jeans and leather, she said. "That's the problem with being a fashion designer – I have a million ideas. I'll see which ones take off."

An abundance of ideas is part of the challenge, anyway, said Lanzerotte, who will continue working for Benefit Cosmetics at Macy's State Street while doing freelance design work and creating another collection. "In fashion," Lanzerotte said, "there never is enough time."

Lockerz Acquires Fashion Sharing Site Chick Approved

Social Commerce Leader Continues to Amp its Fashion Experience with Style Council, New Boutiques, Celebrity Tastemakers and the Best Prices Anywhere for Lockerz Members

SEATTLE, May 25, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Lockerz, the leader in rewarded social expression, today announced the acquisition of Chick Approved, an online fashion community enabling users to share and receive instant feedback on personal style. The acquisition includes a partnership with YouTube star Megan Parken (MeganHeartsMakeup). Ms. Parken will join the recently-launched Lockerz Style Council, as well as its new "Tastemakers" community, in which Lockerz members engage with image collections from their favorite actors, musicians and stylists.

"Acquiring Chick Approved and working with one of YouTube's biggest stars is a great way for Lockerz to continue to build its fashion experience for members," said Kathy Savitt, founder and CEO of Lockerz. "Coming on the heels of our new Lockerz Tastemakers program, we're giving members even more ways to get rewarded for doing what they love online."

Launched just over a year ago, Chick Approved was founded by entrepreneurs Jeff Turnbull, Brett Miller and David Dripps. Together with Megan Parken, they grew their influence rapidly in content, fashion and beauty through Parken's millions of YouTube fans.

The Lockerz Style Council provides insight on trends and merchandise assortments, as well as provides their own picks to Lockerz members through boutiques in the Lockerz store. In addition to Ms. Parken, Council members include Lockerz chief fashion editor Stacy Igel and various other fashion bloggers and stylists.

As always, Lockerz members earn PTZ for nearly everything they do on the site, which are used to get the lowest prices the most sought-after fashion, beauty and electronics brands offered in the Lockerz store. New brands including Dresses and Other Drugs, Top Secret, Jarlo, Collective Concepts, Primrose, Zoe Karssen and MinkPink join Lockerz long-time favorites Genetic Denim, Black Orchid, Ella Moss, LnA, Botkier, Theodora & Callum, Jules Smith, Nixon, Xbox 360, Nintendo, PlayStation 3 and Aerial 7. Additionally, the Lockerz Best Price Guarantee™ promises members that the best price available on Lockerz.com is also the lowest price anywhere online.

While several sites have become popular for sharing interests online, Lockerz has created the link between expressing and sharing what you love and being able to afford what you love. From its founding in 2009, Lockerz' mission has been to revolutionize the way people discover and consume products and content. The company has focused on the most disruptive demographic in recent history, Generation Z. Currently the site has millions of members, with 94% being between the ages of 13-35.

About Lockerz Based in Seattle, Lockerz is the leader in rewarded social expression, striving to revolutionize the way the world discovers and consumes product and content. With a membership community of millions in 195 countries, Lockerz rewards its members with PTZ® (points) for engagement and following, including collecting, sharing, shopping and influencing their friends. Members use PTZ to drive down the prices of fashion, beauty, home decor, electronics and entertainment in the Lockerz Store. Lockerz was founded by former technology and retail executive Kathy Savitt, and is backed by Liberty Media Corporation, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, DAG Ventures and Live Nation Entertainment. For more information about Lockerz, please visit 

Fashion can add a whimsy edge to a garden

SEATTLE: I feel like Alice in Wonderland. Sprinting past an alligator drinking a soda pop and a T-Rex playing guitar, I lean toward a family of colorful metal toadstools that come to my knee.

“Aren’t those great?” asks Jim Honold as he ushers me through a forest of recycled oil drum statues at his Home & Garden Art store.

I’ve come to this Disneyland for gardeners seeking inspiration for easy ways to add whimsy to gardens, and Honold is giving me the rundown.

“Adding art to your garden is an extension of your identity,” he says as we brush past a mass of concrete crows. “You decorate the inside, why not the outside? Any personality, any hobby, can be represented – classical, funky, seasonal – you name it.”

Looking around, it appears he’s right. There’s the giant metal umbrella coat-stand for a classy infusion of humor; a multitude of hobby-inspired birdhouses; 4-foot (1.2-meter) metal lobsters for fishing enthusiasts with no attachment to subtlety; and an old tricycle planter box aimed at the nostalgic set. Everywhere, whimsy abounds.

But how do you actually start adding lawn art to an outdoor living space?

“Instead of throwing stuff in the attic or garage, put it out in the open,” Honold says.

He suggests displaying old garden tools, metal toys, or wine glasses and decanters. Chipped plates can find new life in concrete stepping stones, and wooden kid-size furniture always adds a nice touch.

“Focus on what’s readily available or representative of your area,” Honold adds. “Coastal areas might have fishing nets and glass floats, and places close to rural communities will have farm equipment.” In Washington state, he says, “people bring us old saws and ask us to laser-cut their name on them.”

For a big splash, Honold recommends an artistic gate. Whether installing custom wrought-iron doors with elaborate scenes on them or simply taking a can of bright red paint to a basic home-store model, gates can reflect personality and set the tone for the rest of the house.

“Think about all the things a gate can say,” Honold says. “‘Stay out!’ or ‘We’re fun people!’”

If the message you’re trying to send is “We’re magical,” find ways to add fairy elements to your garden. For kids and anyone with more than a passing fancy for Harry Potter, there’s nothing quite as charming as coming across traces of pixies in the yard.

Greenspirit Arts’ Sally Smith knows the power of a good fairy house. She creates high-end ones in her studio in Wadhams, New York, that have inspired a calendar and greeting card line.

While most of her houses aren’t made for extensive outdoor use, she says her calendars and online tutorial often serve as inspiration for people to create their own more durable models.

“Making a fairy house is something we all innately know how to do because of the child in us,” Smith says.

For a do-it-yourself fairy house that can stand up to the elements, Smith suggests working with stone as a base, and attaching a stick and moss roof and a wooden door. Decorations can be found objects– beach glass, pine cones, welcome mats woven from grasses or pine – even tiny dollhouse furniture.

And what about the garden itself?

“Plant choices can add whimsy to the garden, or complement the art you’ve chosen,” says New Albany, Ohio, landscape designer Nick McCullough.

He suggests incorporating climbers like clematis, honeysuckle, roses or golden hops to vertical art and trellises, then adding lower plantings at the base.

“Climbers add a mystique to the garden,” McCullough says. “They make the garden feel established.”

For other art, McCullough recommends thinking about scale and complementary colors.

“If you’ve got a bunch of pink flamingos, you could go big and bold,” he says, suggesting plants like catmint, Rozanne geraniums, Phormium Pink Stripe and torch lilies to surround the birds with a tall, architectural element.

For smaller pieces, such as fairy huts or little figurines, lay down a base of moss in a small, shallow trough. Thyme, armeria, succulents and sedums also offer a great base for delicate art, and can provide a border to a bed of pebbles and colored marbles – a touch sure to delight children.

Colorful bursts can be achieved with black lace elderberry, dahlia “Knockouts,” coleus and canna, among other plants. Canna “Tropicanna” and King Tut Papyrus offer a bold structural base.

“There’s no right or wrong way to do it,” McCullough says. “Gardens are so personal – you can use them to express yourself in any way.”

Sold on a few essentials for men’s grooming

Since Morgan Spurlock is known for fully immersing himself in his movies – famously subsisting on McDonald’s menu items for “Super Size Me” and pounding the pavement for every last product placement dollar in “The Greatest Story Ever Sold” – it seemed only appropriate to ask the man behind “Mansome” about his go-to grooming products and tools, most of which happen to come from boutique shaving brand the Art of Shaving, which signed on to sponsor the film’s recent West Coast premiere and after-party.

And, just in case there is any question about possible product placement in “Mansome,” Spurlock is unequivocal: “No, nobody paid to put anything in the film,” he said.

Razor:

“What kind of razor do I have? The Gillette Fusion – that’s the one with the five-blade cartridge – is my razor of choice. The one I use came from a shaving place in New York City … it’s got a great handle and a replaceable blade.”

Fusion Chrome Collection manual razor, $100 at the Art of Shaving boutiques, better department stores including Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom and online at www.theartofshaving.com.

Shaving brush:

“One of the things that changed as a result of making the movie is that some time in the last year and a half I bought a shaving brush. At first I thought it was kind of old-timey and I didn’t know why I’d need to use one, but from the minute I started to use a brush to apply shaving cream I haven’t gone back.”

Fine Badger Brush in black, $110, available at the Art of Shaving boutiques, better department stores and online at www.theartofshaving.com.

Shaving cream:

“I’m currently using a shaving cream I got at the Art of Shaving in New York a month or two ago, it’s got some combination of kelp and oils in it.”

Ocean Kelp with Light Aromatic Essentials shaving cream, $22 for 5 fluid ounces, available at the Art of Shaving boutiques, better department stores and online at www.theartofshaving.com.

After-shave:

“The shaving cream I’m not so precious about – but I am incredibly precious about my after-shave. I use Chanel Allure Homme. I got turned on to it years ago and I love the way it smells – it’s musky and smells like a man. I guess I started using it not long after my son was born. I equate (having) my son to being incredibly masculine.”

Chanel’s Allure Homme after-shave lotion, $50 for 3.4 fluid ounces, available at Chanel boutiques and online at www.chanel.com.

EU Trade Credit Insurers Considering Restrictions on Greek Coverage

Euler Hermes, the world’s No. 1 trade credit insurer, said it might restrict the cover it provides to exporters doing business with Greece, citing fears the debt-laden nation could be forced out of the euro.

“Euler Hermes will most probably have to switch to a more prudent approach, also in the interests of customers,” Euler Hermes chief executive Wilfried Verstraete said.

“Euler Hermes has maintained a high level of cover for its customers until today, but now we are confronted with a changing situation. The risk of Greece exiting the euro zone has been revived.”

The company, majority-owned by Allianz SE, Europe’s biggest insurer, offers exporters worldwide protection against the risk of non-payment. It insured deals worth €702 billion (app. $900 billion) last year.

Netherlands-based Atradius, the second-biggest trade credit insurer, declined to comment on the terms it offers to customers, but said it was carrying out an “in-depth” analysis of Greece’s economic plight.

“The risk of Greek companies failing to pay their bills has increased substantially,” a spokesman said.

Euler Hermes’ Verstraete said the company would reach a decision on cover limits for Greece by the end of May.

Trade credit insurers advise customers on the creditworthiness of their counterparts as well as insuring their transactions.

They typically respond to increases in the risk of non-payment by imposing lower limits on the value of the business they cover.

A Greek exit from the euro zone would force companies there to revert to the drachma, which would likely fall sharply against the single currency to reflect Greece’s economic difficulties.

That would severely restrict Greek importers’ ability to pay euro-denominated bills, potentially inflicting big losses on their overseas suppliers.

Greece imported €45.6 billion [$58.4 billion] worth of goods last year, more than double the €20.2 billion [$25.9 billion] it exported, according to International Monetary Fund figures.

Fashion Recap: Mrs. Zuckerberg’s dress, Karl and Harvey’s film + more

 Didn’t get an invite to Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan wedding over the weekend? Neither did we! Well, the surprise wedding was kept on the hush disguised as Chan’s graduation party and the affair was uber low key. The wedding took 5 months to plan and was held at the couple’s backyard for 100 guests. Although Chan could certainly afford to pick any wedding dress available in the world, she opted for a modest wedding gown for $4,700 by LA based designer Claire Pettibone. (Take note, Kim Kardashian.) (Forbes)

    Want to star in the latest Karl Lagerfield and Harvey Weinstein short film titled “You”? Well, make a bid and your acting debut could be a reality. All donations will go towards a for-charity auction at amfAR’s ucoming Cinema Against AIDS gala as reported by Page Six. (Fashionista)

   Kristen Wiig bids farewell to her 7-year stint at SNL over the weekend. How will we ever manage without Wiig’s infamous Target lady and Penelope characters? (Styleite)

    Whoa. Who knew a street fashion photographer and blogger Scott Schuman was so darn mouthy. Take a peek at the latest GQ interview to see what we mean. Call me crazy, but is tactful to bash the magazine industry if, I don’t know, you’re being interviewed by a magazine? Just saying. (WWD)

    Neiman Marcus San Francisco welcomes Tata Harper Natural Skincare line to their beauty lineup. Harper told NMDaily, “Water is natural, but it’s not going to do anything for wrinkles”. The 100% natural skincare line took 5 years to create with biochemists, trips to laboratories, and quality ingredients gathered from all over the world. (NMDaily)

Local B oston Designers to Take Part in Landmark EuraMedia 2012 Summit's e-fashion Show

 BOSTON, May 20, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- EuraMedia 2012 is excited to announce four local Boston designers will be featured in an e-fashion show hosted by Leighton Meester. The show to take place on June 15th from 10pm-2am at the Seaport Hotel Headhouse will also feature Boston based e-businesses, Karmaloop and Ruelala.

EuraMedia will celebrate both the innovators of this industry, both American and Russian, and showcase what it considers to be the new Russian and international business elite, the people who will shape finance markets, the technology industry, the media and entertainment industry, and, thereby, world politics in general over the next several decades.

Featured designers include Pavlina Gilson and Nirva Debekyan, who says, "It's exciting to be part of an event that has drawn in international talent to the city of Boston."

Designer Candance Wu ( http://www.candicewudesign.com/ ) agrees, "... excited to participate because it's an international event with a mix of cultural exchanges... to represent Boston fashion designers, as we have many cultures and a sophistication here, that is just as great as any high fashion city."

The show will also feature jewelry design by Russian born team and owners of Persona Jewelry+ ( http://www.personastyle.com ), Margarita Druker and custom designer, Gary Shteyman.

Design comes in all forms which couture dog coat designer Jane Given of Scarlett Dream Coats ( www.scarlettdreamcoats.com ) will prove.

As the new Russian elite is significantly more interested in philanthropy than the old guard, EuraMedia has added XYZ CHARITY to the fashion show meant to raise money for children suffering from cancer and AIDS. EuraMedia believes that each and every person who possesses the drive and intelligence to one day change the future in a positive way is worth being protected and given the chance to develop his/her potential.

Tickets are $300 each and can be purchased at http://euramediasummit2012.eventbrite.com

About EuraMedia 2012

The EuraMedia Summit, to take place at Boston's luxurious waterfront Seaport Hotel and World Trade Pavilion between June 13-16, 2012, is dedicated to capitalizing on Russia's current tech and media boom, one that is only gaining strength according to companies such as Price Waterhouse Coopers, in order to give broader public access to US investors and businesses seeking access to these markets, as well as providing Russian companies with the ability to promote themselves and expand internationally. The show will include a creative agenda that features sessions on IT, new media, social media, a trade show on media buying and selling across markets, and "how to" market entry sessions. The show will also feature a co-branded trade expo, Biopharmology, dedicated to the fields of nano, solar, and biotechnology.

Australian Designers Hurtle Toward Fast Fashion

 Australia’s [URL=http://www.fashionproduct.us/]fashion product news[/URL] Week is in its 17th year, but it’s still got some growing up to do.
One of its most pressing issues is timing – its May scheduling means designers are too late for local spring-summer collections and too early for resortwear lineups, which typically arrive in the middle of the year.

This is something IMG, which organizes Australia Fashion Week, is trying to fix, said Jarrad Clark, IMG’s global production director and a guest judge on the country’s reality show “Project Runway.”
“The reason the event is when it is now is because of decisions that were made 17 years ago,” said Mr. Clark, “but the world has changed. The buying side has changed, the retailing has changed and the consumer interaction has changed, so we definitely need to make a change to our timing.”
That’s not to say Sydney’s fashion industry hasn’t evolved. Buyers used to wait months to get their hands on catwalk items, but this year Sydney-based label Toi et Moi is distributing nearly a third of its “Frenchie chic” collection within hours.

Compare that to Burberry, regarded by many as the global leader in the runway-to-reality trend, which sold key pieces from its spring-summer collections online last year so that they arrived in customers’ homes within weeks of being shown. Australian brands An Ode to No One and Bless’ed Are the Meek have similar plans to speed up their distribution, selling shoes directly from the catwalk within three hours through Australian footwear website StyleTread.

But fashion week isn’t limiting its sights to the domestic market. Mr. Clark said IMG is working with some of Australia’s designers – including Dion Lee, who pulled out of the event at the last minute to focus on London Fashion Week in September – to help them expand overseas.
“We want to be working with them across the 12 months, so if they want to go to other markets, we’ve got a footprint there,” he said. “This event should be a springboard for designers looking to grow their businesses internationally.”

Gentleman's Resale- Luxury Consignment Store for Men Builds New Consumer/Consignment Platforms to Success

KEY TO OUR SUCCESS:
Launching in October 1992, for over the 20 yrs,  Gentleman’s Resale has serviced a wide range of [URL=http://www.luxurymessage.com/]luxury goods message[/URL] menswear consumers.   The Demographics range from recent college graduates -seeking fine suits for the interviewing process- to young men on the hunt for luxury, casual-wear, as well as older gentlemen simply looking for that special piece, not necessarily for any function in particular.  Gentleman’s Resale aims for higher-end labels that stand to be about 2-3 yrs old.  The biggest and moreover exciting challenge here is sifting through the store and finding wonderful apparel upgrades. 

we receive,” says Gary Scheiner, President and founder of Gentleman’s Resale, “ A well-trained eye chooses - with respect to what we take in, and hopefully a potential consigner will  not get offended- if by some chance we say no to their consignment.”
The consignments are very important to this thriving business as well as the retail sales.  With good consignments, all parties involved are pleased.
 Twice a year in both July and February, Gentleman’s Resale has a clearance sale with up to 70% off.  Once the sale is over (it runs for 2 weeks), the fall preview will begin in August and the spring preview respectively will begin in March. At present, approximately 10,000 direct mailings are sent out to customers within the data base.

 September- December is the busiest season.  For this brand, the best advertisement is word of mouth and the store has definitely benefited by that.  Many times a customer walks in and says that people ask” where did you get that suit, jacket, shirt etc…. and he would say “Gentlemen’s Resale”.
 Strong customer relations and healthy product selections work well for a future customer.  Many tourists approach the store to find unique apparel and one-of-a-kind gifts.  Our customer-centric mission has built up a strong consumer base over the years, both shoppers and the consignees.


Diminished Appetite

"Psychologically, if you see the value of your home falling, you're unlikely to be a strong luxury consumer," said Lorne Baring, managing director at B Capital SA in Geneva, which oversees almost $500 million. "The worry is that slowing GDP growth in China combined with falling house prices diminish the appetite for luxury goods."

Michel Bourez overcomes Tomas Hermes to reach Round 3 of Billabong Rio Pro

French Polynesia’s Michel Bourez advanced through into the third round of Billabong Rio Pro, the third of ten

stops on the 2012 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Title Series, after getting the better of Brazil

’s Tomas Hermes in the second heat of Round 2 that went down at the primary event site of Barra da Tijuca in Rio de

Janeiro, Brazil, on Monday, May 14.

The outcome of the heat served to carry Bourez into the next round of the competition while eliminating Hermes from

the contention for the event title.

“I was waiting for that one for so long,” Bourez said. “I got my first wave at the beginning and got my second

one at the last second. I love these conditions, it fits my surfing. I like to wait for the right ones and get the

big barrels. Sometimes you have to go big and do big turns, but I expect to find the barrels today.”

The four-to-six foot barrels on offer at the main event site promised a heavy dose of memorable action as the world

’s best surfers got braced themselves to take each other on in man-on-man battles for survival. The previous round

of the event had gone down in tricky surfing conditions at the alternative venue of Arpoador on Wednesday, but

returned back to Barra da Tijuca on Monday.

The second heat of Round 2 saw Bourez and Hermes take each other on to try and get hold of the Round 3 spot. Both

the surfers had struggled with their rhythm during their Round 1 heat, thus getting relegated to the elimination

round. They now faced a do-or-die situation with very little room for error.

As the man-on-man bout got underway, the 26-year-old Bourez locked his first business-wave in the opening minutes to

post a 6.43 on the score-board. He then remained patient, waiting for a juicy right-hander to appear before making

another charge. His wait eventually came to an end as a barrel appeared in the dying minutes of the heat to unload a

series of big turns for an 8.67, moving to a resultant heat-total of 15.10 points.

Hermes, the event wildcard entry, put on a pretty impressive performance as well, collecting a 6.83 and 5.83-point

ride for a heat-total of 12.66 points. However, his efforts turned out to be inadequate, thus getting forced to

concede the Round 3 spot to Bourez.

LuxeYard Adds Men's Fashion And Accessories Initial Brands Include Joe's Jeans, Shirt by Shirt, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent and William Rast

LOS ANGELES, May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- LuxeYard, Inc., (otcqb:LUXR), the fast-growing boutique luxury

flash sale site, announced today it has expanded into the men's apparel sector. The trendsetting, members-only web

site will feature 10 to 15 designer labels, as well as popular up-and-coming brands, at discounts of up to 70

percent off retail on a range of apparel and accessories.

The men's fashion industry has seen tremendous growth in recent years as men are becoming more focused on what they

are wearing and more interested in showing a sense of individuality. The LuxeYard site has embraced this growing

trend by offering a wide range of styles from brands including MB999, Joe's Jeans, Ben Sherman, Shirt by Shirt, King

Baby Studio, Madisonpark Collective, Jacob Holston, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent and William Rast, to name a few.

"The establishment of men's apparel and accessories on LuxeYard is an exciting progression for us," said Daniella

Clarke, Frankie B Jeans founder and LuxeYard style consultant. "This is a great opportunity to introduce our male

members to a mix of mainstream brands, and to discover brands that fit his lifestyle and style preference. We want

to align our guy with brands that both make him comfortable and make a statement."

LuxeYard also plans to introduce well-known male fashion and design personalities to its existing Trendsetter

program, which currently has featured celebrities and personalities such as Giuliana Rancic, Kyle Richards Umansky

and Jillian Reynolds. These male fashion and style experts will provide wardrobe recommendations and accessible

style tips to help members create and hone their own customized styles that suit their individual personalities and

the way they live.

About LuxeYard

LuxeYard is a members-only flash sale site for luxury home furnishings, decor and fashion that offers access to

unique products sourced by a seasoned team of buyers at a fraction of retail prices. LuxeYard is the pioneer of

Concierge Buying, which gives members the power to determine what items will be sold on the site, and Group Buy

which allows them to lower the price by sharing sale items with friends. Along with its veteran retail, e-commerce

and digital marketing management team, LuxeYard partners with celebrity Trendsetters and design and fashion industry

insiders to deliver a curated buying experience from a unique point of view to its members. To join the LuxeYard

community, visit www.LuxeYard.com .

Investors can register to receive news releases by visiting http://www.luxeyard.com/investors/signup.php .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements about our new men's fashion vertical, which involve risks and

uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those discussed. Factors that could cause or

contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the factors included under the headings "Risk

Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements" on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and

Exchange Commission on November 15, 2011, a copy of which may be obtained by visiting the SEC's web site at

www.sec.gov . LuxeYard's actual results could differ materially from those predicted or implied and reported results

should not be considered as an indication of future performance.

You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the

expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future

results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements

will be achieved or occur. Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and

completeness of the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking

statements for any reason after the date of this press release to conform these statements to actual results or to

changes in our expectations.

Nordstrom in Fashion with Social Media, Mobile Tech

At Nordstrom, innovation is never out of style. The upscale fashion apparel chain founded in 1901 wins plaudits for

using cutting-edge 21st century technology to offer shoppers convenience—and to stay competitive as retail migrates

online.

Selected by U.S. News as one of America's Most Connected Companies for its use of technology to expand shopping

options, Nordstrom has been aggressive about snapping up promising Internet ventures to diversify its business and

experiment with new retail platforms. Its social media strategy extends well beyond Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube

to an array of buzz-generating fashion and photo-sharing sites. Recognizing that its customers always want to stay

connected, the company introduced complimentary Wi-Fi in its high-end department stores in 2010.

[See America's Most Connected Companies.]

To improve customer engagement at its 227 department and discount stores in 31 states, Nordstrom joins a growing

list of retailers that are turning to Apple. Late last year, it distributed 6,000 modified iTouch devices to sales

staff that can ring up purchases on the spot, a process called "mobile checkout," and track inventory. Sales

personnel also use iPads to assist customers with the selection of everything from wedding wardrobes to cosmetics to

business suits.

"They are constantly pushing the envelope," says Patty Edwards, principal and chief investment officer for Trutina

Financial and a leading retail expert. She praised the chain for offering a robust online shopping experience and

extending mobile checkout to its Nordstrom Rack discount stores. Leslie Hand, research director for IDC Retail

Insights, characterizes Nordstrom as "fully committed" to seamless engagement with customers, whether in store or

via the Web.

The Seattle-based chain was quick to recognize that customers want more choices and flexibility online. Four years

ago, it offered shoppers the option to retrieve their online purchases at its stores. With customers gravitating to

the Web, Nordstrom shifted most of its inventory online years ago in an effort to avoid missed sales opportunities.

[See There's Retail Magic in Silicon Dust.]

The company's tech strategy already is proving beneficial to its bottom line. In 2011, Nordstrom's Internet sales

grew by 30 percent, according to data provided by the retailer. During a November 10 earnings call, Nordstrom

President Blake Nordstrom said the retailer plans to increase spending on e-commerce from $100 million in 2011 to

$140 million this year—its highest such expenditure ever.

"A lot of this technology is changing [customer] expectations around speed, around convenience, and we are working

really hard to keep up with that," says Jamie Nordstrom, president of Nordstrom Direct, the company's online

division. "The retailers that deliver on those customers' expectations are the ones that are going to get their

business," says Nordstrom, whose great-grandfather founded the clothier more than a century ago.

To stay current about the latest innovations, the big-box chain regularly consults with technologists and venture

capitalists "as a normal course of business," Nordstrom says, "because we want to know what's coming around the

corner." It also keeps a lookout for new retail ventures that are "really engaging with customers," he says.

In April, Nordstrom teamed with Silicon Valley venture capital firms to invest $16.4 million in Bonobos, a fast-

growing online menswear site. Last year, it acquired HauteLook, a membership-based site that specializes in "flash

sales" lasting a few days that offer deep discounts on designer brands. Also in 2011, Nordstrom invested in Sole

Society, a "shoe club" that markets footwear, and a year earlier it invested in Peek, an e-tailer that sells clothes

for kids up to age 10.

Coveting Louis Vuitton Luggage? There’s An App For That

For your inner history buff/luggage lover comes a new app from the good people at Lv Bags Authentic. “100 Legendary Trunks” is available for download now on iTunes, coinciding with the publication of the brand’s new book titled (would you know it?) Louis Vuitton: 100 Legendary Trunks.

The company touts the app as featuring “trunks for explorers, magicians, actors or Maharajas…” Does that sound like you? Even if not, with tabs like “Signatures,” “Tools,” “Savoir Faire,” and “Globe Trotters,” there is a whole Authentic Lv Bags For Sale world to explore.

And so Authentic Lv Bags On Sale’s Year of the Trunk continues, which kicked off in March with the elaborate Fall show complete with an actual steam engine. We’re not sure about you, but we think they’ve done a mighty fine job with the marketing on this one. We always used to talk about wanting to use a vintage Vuitton trunk as a super-chic coffee table, and now our desire has been sparked anew.

Will you download the app? It’s $18.99 on iTunes, which may sound like quite a bit of money to drop, but hey, it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than one of the Maharaja-approved trunks it showcases, amiright?

WA fashion takes world stage

Western Australian style will be shown on the world stage, with Perth Fashion Festival organisers heading to Singapore for Blueprint, a two day trade show at the Audi Fashion Festival later this month.

Blueprint is a one-stop fashion trade show for East-West exchange, created to highlight up and coming international and Asian designers.

Amongst these will be WA's hottest design talents One Fell Swoop and one of Australia's most coveted designers, Yeojin Bae.

"Perth Fashion Festival has provided me with the perfect introduction to the Asian market. I am thrilled to be showcasing my collection at Blueprint 2012 as a result of the relationships I built with the Singaporean fashion buyers and Blueprint trade organisers that attended PFF in 2011," Ms Bae said.

Last year was the first that PFF Director, Mariella Harvey-Hanrahan attended the Audi Fashion Festival, opening the gateway to international industry peers.

As a result, there was significant interest in WA designers and the 2011 PFF was visited by Singaporean fashion buyers and Blueprint trade organisers.

Ms Harvey-Hanrahan will be joined this year by fellow West Australians, renowned photographer, Russell James, and One Fell Swoop designers Nina Ergic and Daniel Romanin.