Rent The Runway Adds Handbags To Rental Lineup

Three Lucky Winners to Receive "Diamond Tickets" Hidden in Handbags to Commence Launch NEW YORK, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Rent the Runway, the leading online destination for dress and accessories rentals, has taken the natural next step in expanding its rental business by adding handbags to the site, starting with luxury handbag designer Judith Leiber. To celebrate the launch, three lucky winners will receive a "diamond ticket" hidden in their handbag rental, with the prize being Everlon Diamond Knot Bracelets from Helzberg Diamonds valued at $2,500 to $4,300. One winner will be chosen at random in the months of October, November and December. "We're thrilled to expand our business with the launch of Judith Leiber handbags. We've seen that women love adding jewelry to their dress rental – or even renting jewelry alone – so we're eager to give her an even bigger assortment of accessories that includes handbags to complete her evening out," stated Jennifer Hyman, CEO and co-founder of Rent the Runway. At launch, there will be thirteen styles available for either 4-day or 8-day rentals, including some of the more iconic Judith Leiber minaudieres such as the heart and disco ball. Handbag rentals will start at $100, with retail prices ranging from $995 to $2895. The three lucky winners who receive a "diamond ticket" hidden in their handbag rental will be rewarded with the ultimate holiday treat. A one-carat white gold Everlon Diamond Knot Bracelet valued at $2500 will be sent to one winner each in the months of October and November, while the grand prize winner will be rewarded with a $4300 two-carat white gold Everlon Diamond Knot Bracelet in December. Entry can also be completed online with no purchase necessary by emailing your name and phone number to rtr@renttherunway.com. For complete rules of entry, please visit www.replicashermes.com.

Weekend shopping gets Budget boost

The proposed abolishing of import duties on 300 preferred consumer items, including apparel, handbags, shoes, shampoo, suits and lingerie, will serve to boost Penang as a shopping hub for the region. In the last three years, Penang has gained popularity as a weekend destination for tourists and the abolishing of duty on the 300 items from next year will attract more regional tourists to the island. Malaysian Association of Hotels, Penang chapter chairman Marco Battistotti, said that it was good news for the tourism sector. "It will further position Penang as a shopping hub in the northern region," he said when commenting on the 2011 Budget announced on Friday, Battistotti said Penang already has a strong medical tourism market and now that it is becoming a popular weekend getaway, shopping will become an even bigger part of the state's attraction. "We are already getting weekend tourists from this region, such as Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Macau, so more may come here to shop now," he said. He also welcomed the RM85 million allocation for infrastructure facilities for hotels and resorts in remote areas. While this may not directly benefit Penang, a boost in tourism in remote areas like in Perlis or Kedah may also indirectly bring in tourists to the state, he noted. Meanwhile, Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association (Rehda) Penang branch chairman Datuk Jerry Chan said the My First House Scheme may spur some developers to come up with housing projects with units costing less than RM220,000, but the prices of property on the island are still dependent on market demands. He said the scheme may help to lower housing prices in Penang and make homes more affordable, especially for young families. However, only those buying houses on the mainland will be able to benefit. "The scheme will serve to help those who arebuying their first homes on the Seberang Perai side as the housing prices could still qualify under the scheme," he said. On the stamp duty exemption of 50% for loan agreement instruments, Chan said this measure will help ease the burden for buyers of low-cost and low-to-medium-cost houses. Under the My First House Scheme proposed in 2011 Budget, first-time buyers of houses costing less than RM220,000 with incomes of less than RM3,000 a month need not pay the 10% downpayment, which will be guaranteed by Cagamas Bhd.

Paris at Becca's, Kinky in Dallas and Hilfiger raids a Houston shop

It was oo-la-la at the home of John and Becca Cason Thrash on Monday night when Dior and W Magazine joined forces to celebrate the American and International Friends of the Louvre. From the fabulous Dior gems in the salon to the delicious handbags in the dining room to the haute couture originals in the grand foyer, the accent was on Parisian style. And let's not forget the glamazons strolling through the expansive, art-filled house modeling fashions from the 2011 collection. The hostess, who chairs the Liaisons au Louvre II in Paris next month, wore vintage Dior — a beautifully-embroidered, floor-length evening suit with mink collar. The remainder of the ladies turned out in full designer force for this evening of high style including Greggory Burk looking smashing in Givenchy. Sarah Simon, Melissa Mithoff, Lora Clemmons, Kate Stukenberg and Nancy Golden were among the well-heeled group that sipped champagne and declined the offerings of passed hors d'oeuvres. In from Dior in New York was Doss Alexander, director of ready-to-wear and fine jewerly, on hand to discuss the over-sized pieces by Victoire de Castellane that dazzled in two well-guarded vitrines. The morganite, the colored diamonds and citrines beckoned with price tags ranging from a mere $5,000 to $130,000 for a pink diamond confection. Also in the Dior entourage was "esthetic advisor" Stéphane Houy-Towner, who served as something of a couture historian as he explained in great detail and with animated passion the origins and design intricacies of five pieces by Christian Dior himself and by John Galliano. Displayed on mannequins, the ensembles were flown in from the Paris archives just for this soirée. In the mix of those either signed up for or contemplating joining Becca in Paris for the three days and nights of heady Louvre partying were Joyce and Hugh Echols, Susan and Mike Plank, Monsour Taghdisi, Judith Oudt, Raquel Segal, Sue and Lester Smith and many more

Latin Quarters introduces Autumn Winter 2010 collection

Latin Quarters, leading women’s apparel and accessories brand launches yet another revolutionary line with the introduction of its Autumn Winter 2010 collection. The Latin Quarters team has been working hard to offer a great quality selection of apparel and accessories to make a women’s wardrobe more creative and unique. Latin Quarters trademark style exudes feminity with a slight urban edge. The new line of Latin Quarters handbags and accessories is for women who seek a unique and stylish versatility from their add-ons. Being able to use a fashion item in multiple ways gives a woman more flexibility to coordinate and spice up her wardrobe. Bib necklaces, chunky bangles and the high waisted belt are the must haves. Clutches in black, gold and silver once again are a very important part of the wardrobe completing the glam look. Autumn Kick starts with masculine inspired tailoring and separates to give the city banker look. Cropped boleros or waiter length jackets teamed up with high waisted pants, city shorts, mid length pencil skirts, two piece effect treatments and classic stripe shirts are key elements of this collection. Fluid draped knits styles moving from day to night are simple yet luxurious essentials for autumn –winter 2010. Lots of black and white combinations, tonal grey’s occasionally lifted with flashes of red, wine and deep plum dominate the color palette. The British 70’s pays homage to the great sense of British style which was invented back in the day but inspire us till date. Traditional heritage tweeds and country checks used in modern shapes forms the basis of this line. Snappy plaid blazers and trench coats, pinafore dresses to be layered with high necks, boot-cut slacks and pleated skirts complete the heritage look in this collection. Camel and warm shades of brown, forest greens, and brick red complete the color story. As the season progresses the focus turns to glamorous winter pieces with a definite couture feel. An extensive mix of styles is featured in the new collection and all items are out there to make a statement. The shift dress, corset detailing with lace trims, sexy pencil skirt with deep slits, starlet style dresses, rouched tops and the all important one shoulder dress complete the ultra glam season. Black, metallic gold, bronze and flesh colors direct the sense of this line

LVMH Third-Quarter Sales Rise 24% on Watches, Handbags

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, the world’s largest luxury-goods maker, said third-quarter sales rose 24 percent, beating analysts’ estimates, as wealthy customers bought more watches and accessories. Revenue increased to 5.11 billion euros ($7.2 billion) from 4.14 billion euros a year earlier, the Paris-based company said today. That compared with the 4.88 billion-euro average estimate of seven analysts compiled by Bloomberg. The first nine months of 2010 confirmed the company’s confidence for the year, LVMH said. Demand for luxury goods is recovering as wealthy Asian shoppers splurge on timepieces and handbags, and retailers replenish inventories in the U.S. and Europe after the industry’s worst year on record. Burberry Group Plc, the U.K.’s largest luxury retailer, said yesterday that second-quarter revenue rose 11 percent, while Hugo Boss AG raised full-year sales and earnings forecasts today. At LVMH “all divisions did better than we expected,” said Melanie Flouquet, an analyst at JPMorgan Cazenove in Paris. Watches and LVMH’s retail unit outperformed the most, she said. LVMH fell 70 cents, or 0.6 percent, to 110.15 euros at 9:13 a.m. in Paris trading, after initially rising to a record 112 euros. The shares have risen more than 40 percent this year, giving the maker of Zenith watches and Fendi handbags a market value of about 54 billion euros. Leather-Goods Unit At the fashion and leather-goods unit, the company’s largest, revenue increased 26 percent, led by the Louis Vuitton brand. LVMH is building a new leather-goods factory in Marsaz, France as demand outstrips supply, Chief Executive Officer Bernard Arnault said in July. The company will start selling a new line of leather goods in the fourth quarter, it said today, adding that “strong momentum” has returned to the Fendi and Donna Karan brands since the beginning of the year. Watch and jewelry revenue advanced 30 percent. U.S. retailers have rebuilt their depleted inventories and sales to end-consumers have improved, Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of Hublot, the Swiss watch brand owned by LVMH, said last month. Hublot gained market share with its Big Bang and King Power lines. Sales of wines and spirits gained 24 percent, while perfume and cosmetics advanced 17 percent, boosted by sales of Christian Dior perfume and lipsticks, LVMH said. Revenue at the selective-retailing unit, which includes Sephora and DFS, rose 24 percent

Criminals on bikes prowl Dammam areas

In the moments after a strike, curious onlookers swarm around the victim and sympathize with them. They cannot do anything else. The victim is then left to overcome the shock. If he is courageous enough he goes to the police station, lodges a complaint and waits for a call from officers. Indian national Mohamed Yousuf, who works as a design engineer at Zamil Steel in Dammam, was recently the victim of such an attack. “Me and my wife, who has joined me only recently, were walking near the parking lot behind the governor’s office in Dammam, at around 7 p.m. on Friday,” he said. “I saw two guys riding a white moped speeding toward us. My first instinct was to protect my wife. I thought they would harm her. In that moment they snatched her handbag and sped away. “I didn’t even know that the handbag was gone. I breathed a sigh of relief when they were gone. It was only after a few minutes that my wife told me the handbag was gone. There were so many people in the area because it was a Friday evening. We shouted but they were gone. My wife has been in a state of shock since then.” According to Yousuf, his wife’s handbag contained a gold chain, bracelet, gold ring, her mobile phone and SR500. “She should have been wearing the gold but she kept it inside her bag. We were unlucky,” he added. Yousuf lodged a complaint at the police station near the Dammam governorate. “The officer in charge immediately called for extra help. They all came within a short time. We explained everything to them and they asked us for the thieves’ description,” he said. “They asked if we would be able to identify them and I said yes. But not my wife. She didn’t see them. It all happened in a flash of a second.” The police have promised to arrest the culprits and have taken down Yousuf’s contact details. He has meanwhile requested fellow expatriates and other nationals to be wary of these criminals. “I have learned my lesson the hard way. I request others to stay alert, especially in crowded areas.”

Pizzazz event returns for stylish shoppers

Pizzazz is back, and it's projected to be more stylish than ever. After a year's hiatus, this distinctive boutique shopping event has made a comeback with more vigor and vitality. Held at the Fox Chapel Golf Club, 33 vendors will show everything from jewelry to cashmere bathrobes. Most of the items are not available anywhere else in Pittsburgh. "People have missed it," says Carol Weir, chairwoman of the event. "They have been asking if it is coming back. We have gotten so many calls about it. The vendors love coming to Pittsburgh for this show, so they have been calling too." The three-day shopping extravaganza hosted by the Garden Club of Allegheny County is making its 15th appearance. Prices range from $10 to $10,000. "It is really going to be a great show," says vendor Suzy Abuza, owner and designer of the collection at Indo-Chic in Stonington, Conn. She plans to bring silk pieces and cashmere bathrobes and ribbon-knit sweaters as well as pieces from her resort collection. I have been to Pizzazz for several years and it is a wonderful event." Vendors are invited from around the country and are selected on the basis of quality, originality and exclusivity. There are at least 50 on the waiting list, planners say. The garden club has a strong commitment to funding innovative environmental projects that will improve the quality of life throughout the Pittsburgh community. Seventy-five percent of the proceeds from the event will be dedicated to the green roof on Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens' Center for Sustainable Landscapes, a "Living Building," which will be constructed next year. Remaining proceeds will go to the garden club's Community Trust Fund, which supports a wide variety of horticultural, environmental, conservation and civic programs throughout our region. "The garden club has a long history of helping to fund lots of projects," Weir says. "That is very important to us." One of the shops that's supported Pizzazz for multiple years is Mr. Charles from State College, which has unique contemporary clothing and accessories. "We get a lot of pleasure out of participating in Pizzazz," says owner Charlene Rosen. "We plan to bring items that are hot, such as fur vests, ski and leather jackets, sweaters and scarves. People love the jackets we sell because you can wear them with jeans or dress them up. People today are looking for an investment in clothing ... they can wear with a lot of different outfits." This will be the first year for Preppy Pink Pony out of McLean, Va., which has personalized gifts, such as stationery, handbags, iPod cases and flip-flops. Owner Virginia Kennedy says she is excited about coming to Pittsburgh and says some of her vendor friends are jealous she was invited and they weren't. She is known for her monograms, which she says adds a special touch, that you have gone the extra step. "I am only going to do two shows out of the area this year, and Pizzazz is one of the two because I have heard good things about this show," Kennedy says. "I hear it's a very special show." Julie Lindsey agrees. Owner and designer of the items at Julie Collection, this will be the first time her collection will be shown at Pizzazz. Her pieces includes shawls, handbags and jewelry, made from semi-precious stones in dazzling colors. "To get into a show like Pizzazz, organizers have to be urged to invite you," says Lindsey, who has a showroom in New York City. "The great shows, like Pizzazz, have a waiting list because we all want to be a part of such a first-class show. They look for originality, which is what makes a show like Pizzazz successful year after year.