Brand Talk

A brand that satisfies our quest for refinement, investment, the classic, the simple, the timeless, the elegant, and sometimes a little bit of fun. 

The video below is a peak into who Cristobal Balenciaga was. Nowadays, when you hear the name Balenciaga, most luxury shoppers think of the wildly popular Balenciagia "City Bag", but Balenciaga was an innovator and one of the most admired designers in haute couture. Balenciaga died in 1972

As a major @BALENCIAGA ​exhibition opens this weekend in London, learn about the man who became a key influence on fashion. pic.twitter.com/xwMc5po93l

— Business of Fashion (@BoF) May 28, 2017

As Dior marks its 70th Anniversary,  The Business of Fashion gets access to a New Strategic Archive. TCC is a huge fan of Christian Dior,  and prize our copy of "The Little Dictionary of Fashion", it's a fascinating piece. 

Jill Sander Navy creative director, Rodolfo Paglialunga, is making us love the brand again. The Fall 2016 RTW collection is full of layering, sweater dressing and the tailored chic, but casual look we love.

               Follow The Conversation Circle's board Fall 2016 RTW on Pinterest.    



We're fans of Gucci especially the brand's  Jackie and Bamboo handbags. We're always about the classic, casual and minimal. However we were struck by Gucci's Fall 2016 Men's Collection. 

Lanvin's longtime designer, Alba Elba, to leave the fashion house. 

Christian Dior gets another change at the top. 

Ralph Lauren stepping down as CEO, but will still have creative input. It's the end of an era! 

One of our favorite brands, Burberry, is partnering with Apple Music for a dedicated channel that will draw on Burberry's London roots. This could be the start of something big.

Related: Burberry Teaser

Burberry Partners With Apple Music http://t.co/PS3At3TpRX via @thr

— Rachelle Ricks (@RachelleRicks) September 15, 2015

Haute Couture Spring/Summer Fashion Week  2015

Chanel

Chanel

It looks like some of our favorite designers were criticized this season as "Couture Left Reality..." Chief among them Chanel Haute Couture Spring/Summer with 73 looks that included "flip-flops", "sneakers"(price available upon request) and flower power. We're digging the tweed, but the flowers not so much! Dior showed "biker tights", but the designs were surprisingly "wearable clothes". InStyle also gave us a recap of the "Coolest and Weirdest Shoes.  However, there was no normcore in Haute Couture Spring/ Summer Fashion Week 2015!

Speaking of fashion, The Orchard has acquired the U. S. and Canadian rights to Frederic Tcheng's, who has made two previous fashion films, new film "Dior and I" which centers on Raf Simons', who was named creative director at Dior in 2012, debut collection at Christian Dior Couture. Simons, a Belgian designer, was also a creative director at Jil Sander. One of our members has always been a fan of Dior's brand elegance and style and owns a copy of "The Little Dictionary Of Fashion" by Christian Dior. It's a classic! 


Will retailers carry Jil Sander again?  

Rodolfo Paglialunga, the new creative director for Jil Sander, seems to be off to a rocky start and some reviewers wondered, after seeing Jil Sander Spring 2015 Ready-To-Wear, if Paglialunga could "stay on the horse". 

If you read our blog you know we are fans of Jil Sander and some of us have made great sacrifices to purchase a few choice items. However, what sparked our interest was not finding the brand while perusing Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus websites. At our local Saks, the brand had long been pulled from the floor. 

Obviously retailers are not on board with Paglialunga's designs yet. Following Jil Sander is not easy feat. We're secretly hoping Jil Sander will return as creative director. If not, Paglialunga will have to make us, as well as retailers, fall in love with the brand again. 

Related: Jill Sander Out Again Odd Twist to Less is More


Chanel's No.5 Plexiglass handbag and accessories.

We're always in the mood for Max Mara's updated refinement. Here's a look at Fall/Winter 2014/15: 

Burberry Prorsum's magnificent opening to Fall/Winter 2014/15:

The 50/50 Boot turns 20 this year, but we don’t love the Stuart Weitzman brand for this chic and supple (made with nappa leather) boot.  We love the fact that on any given day there is a Stuart Weitzman shoe that will fit our lifestyle and mood. It has become the go-to brand for so many ordinary women with styles that are classic and can be worn for many seasons. Many of Stuart Weitzman’s designs have a rubber sole, but styles with leather bottoms are available too.

The average woman might consider Jil Sander too expensive, but we know "that woman" would appreciate Jil Sander's contemporary designs that always have an odd twist to them.  Her fabric choices are luxurious, but understated. Her designs are unique and interesting. Some of our younger members love the Jil Sander  take on shoes and handbags.  If you'd like to add a Jil Sander piece to your wardrobe without breaking the bank, we suggest Jil Sander Navy.  Expensive or not, you'll get noticed in a Jil Sander dress and for all the right reasons.  Less is more when it comes to this brand. 

Max Mara is a luxe brand made in Italy without the extreme luxe price tag. The brand is known for clean lines, rich fabrics and wearable everyday elegance that take a woman from day to night.  This season Max Mara may have single handedly revived camel and made it a must-have in every woman's closet. We're also fond of Weekend Max Mara.  Weekend is a little playful in some of its designs, but extremely cost-effective and will appeal to a wide variety of women.

Lafayette 148 New York  is a new found favorite. This 
brand speaks to the working woman who aspires to "designer clothing" but needs to be practical.  Although it’s a little pricey and sold at high-end stores, you won't be disappointed. We think most of Lafayette’s modern styles are updated classic looks, which means you can get more than one season out of an outfit. That's one of the reasons it's a Brand We Love. But the best reason to give this brand a try: the Italian fabrics! This brand has the look and feel of (prohibitively) pricer designs. If you're a working woman or work-at-home woman, you'll love this brand. 

If you're looking for Vintage frames or Original designs Allyn Scrura is the brand for you. Quality and style are the key words. We ordered the "Harper" frame after admiring an acquaintance who was wearing the "Urbano". The original designs are classic with a modern twist. You'll want more than one pair!

Simple and elegant define this brand. Cinzia Rocca specializes in women’s outerwear and suits. We happened upon the brand while shopping for coats at a luxury store. The secret to the brand's look is the hand tailored appearance and textiles. Merge the two and you have luxurious and practical. There’s nothing (for the most part) trendy here, just timeless design! We’re looking forward to purchasing another coat. We were impressed with the rich feel and look of the fabric. The coats are also lightweight. 

Surprisingly, the CC has become a fan of Burberry coats. Within the group, 4 coats were purchased last year. We were surprised by the quality of the fabrication and the attention to detail. Burberry really knows how to construct a coat. The coats can be a little pricey, but the quality is well worth it. Burberry's iconic tartan pattern is so subtle in some designs, it is possible to wear the luxury brand without screaming anything but QUALITY. We're impressed.

We love Ippolita jewelry and so does Hollywood.  We're especially impressed with her silver line. Look for Ippolita's Glamazon and Rock Candy Collections to get the best bang for your buck.