MediaMarketalk

Veteran marketing executive Cheryl Boone Isaacs was elected president by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences' board of governors. One of her new duties will be selecting a host for next year's telecast. Good luck! Ms. Boone Isaacs has worked at New Line Cinema and Paramount.

Tory Burch, Gloria Brunello Cucinelli Satchels have gained in popularity and it doesn't seem to be waning.  We adore satchels. They are timeless, classic and vintage at the same time.  They remind of the style and class of Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn.  The satchel is feminine and powerful. Whether you are donning a pair of jeans or a dress, the satchel has emerged as the Go To bag and a must-have in every woman’s closet.

We were shocked to hear that Hudson's Bay Company had purchased Saks. Or, as framed in media reports, Lord&Taylor’s parent company purchased Saks. Regionally, for those in the CC who love fashion, we have been watching Lord&Taylor’s transformation (Actually a renovation, we do hope they do the lower floor!) and wondered if it would draw customers from a Saks store 2 blocks away.  While we did notice a few former Saks employees working at L&T, (For the record a former Saks employee is a member of the CC.) for the most part, the stores do not appeal to the same customer base. However, what impressed us was Lord&Taylor’s ability reinvigorate itself without losing its original identity. It’s a specialty store with broad rather than mass appeal. Some in the media have noted the purchase would allow Saks to reinvent itself, however we think Saks has a deeper issue and would do better returning to its roots. We have heard women refer to Saks’ clothing lines as trendy...

It's a Boy

New York Times's Bill Cunningham gives us a birds eye view of New Yorkers' sense of fashion even when it's sweltering outside. 

Ms. Thomas was a columnist and White House reporter at UPI for 57 years. She was also a pioneer and role model for women.  Ms. Thomas was 92.

This will help you decide if you're getting old or if you're already there. However, we think the old should be substituted for "Too Wise." You decide.  Too Old for This Crap .

Project Runway Season 12, a Conversation Circle favorite, is off to an interesting start with some redesigning of their own.  The season 12 premiere included an interactive onscreen feature, an expanded role for Tim Gunn, a change in the show's format and they've even upped the prize money! All of the changes most certainly helped to 'freshen up' Project Runway. There was also a decided note of inclusiveness.  The constants were global and seemed to include far more mature designers than in previous seasons.  Of the interesting designers this season we were touched by designer Ken Laurence; who experienced homelessness and at one point had to dress for work in a handicap bathroom stall.  Laurence has obviously over come major challenges in his life and is an example of perseverance.  Season 12 is off to a fresh start!

In February the Conversation Circle blogged about, Netflix's House of Cards a Stellar Move. Well, it's paid off. It made Emmy history and earned 9 nominations. Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright also are received nods.  Ted Sarando, Chief Content Officer at Netflix, deserves a nod too. He proved the idiom, nothing ventured, nothing gained, is so true. Congratulations, to all of them! 

At the end of last season while prepping her sweaters for summer storage a member stumbled upon  J. Crew’s cashmere spray  (It smells heavenly), made by a company called,  The Laundress . She was so impressed with the spray, she checked out The Laundress online and ultimately ordered 10 products. Okay, we’ll just say it; she has some cleaning issues! But some of us tried several products and liked them and we’ve noticed The Laundress products are now available at  Crate and Barrel . This is good news for those who don’t like shopping online.  We love the story behind the creators of this product. The Laundress products are sophisticated, eco-conscious, cost effective and they have a washing service!

We found these Life Magazine pictures posted on Facebook from BuzzFeed 's site and thought they  evoked a smile or two. WARNING: Bad hair and clothes alert, but some smiles too!  Summer of '69

“The To Do List” is a comedy about close friends and a special summer project, loosely inspired by the real-life adventures of first-time writer/director Maggie Carey. Set in 1993, valedictorian Brandy Klark wants to shed her uptight image before college, so she assembles a to do list of all the “activities” she missed out on in high school. We're intrigued by this summer movie, produced by CBS Films, because it's the product of a first-time writer/director. The movie opens in theaters July 26, 2013. If you are college bound, we think this movie will be highly relatable and entertaining!

One of our CC members has been boasting about  O'Keeffe's for Healthy Feet . She had been plagued with cracking heels for years and at one point had a podiatrist file down the skin to eliminate the painful problem. Then while checking out at her local Bed Bath and Beyond the clerk tried to sell her a featured product,  O’Keeffe’s for Healthy Feet , which is sometimes annoying, but proved to be beneficial this time. It worked! She said it was like a miracle. Now you can't get her out of scandals and the product with her when she gets a pedicure. We've tried it too. While some may find the product a little heav, for those with cracking and rough heels, it will be a welcome relief.  It does work.

Brands We Love falls hard for Max Mara.

Upscale consignment shops have always been popular with fashionistas. For these discerning shoppers, limited editions, ultra-luxe brands, vintage designer clothes made with high quality fabrics and rich details at fabulous prices are the big draw. In some circles the desire to own multiple designer handbags such as Chanel , Prada and Gucci , is so great consignment shopping is obligatory and competitive.  For the savvy shopper who wants the best, but won't pay retail, this popular shopping trend can pay off big offering a wide selection of current, vintage and one of a kind pieces in good condition. Consignment shopping is so trendy it’s the green thing to do ! Contributors Rachelle Ricks, Yvette S. Mabry

We hope you had a great holiday! The first six months of 2013 have been eventful for The Conversation Circle. Let's hope the remaining six will be too.