Well here is a creative solution to this fashion dilemma: The Touch Drivers Gloves sold online at www.vandashop.com

These gloves run for 25-28 British pounds ($45) and really is a perfect item for the Iphone stylish woman of today in freezing weather.

To read more about this item go to the Guardian by click here

My Color Picks: Rouge Flamme, Le Rouge, and Noir Laque

The designers involved in this video are; Atsuko Kudo (A Couture Latex and Fetish House), Jeremy Scott, Haus of Gaga (Lady Gaga’s Creative Team), Christian Louboutin, Charles de Castelbajac, Oscar Olima, Franc Fernandez, Emilie Pirlot, Mercura, Brian Lietchenberg, Victor & Rolf, Search and Destroy, Chanel, Vintage Thierry Mugler, Fred Butler, Rachel Barrett.  You can click on some the names, to check out their websites and work.  Here are some of their work in the video (pictures from Tresdope.com);

Prison Suit by Jean Charles de CastelBajac

Jacket & shoes by Jean Charles De Castelbajac, shorts by Franc Fernandez and Oscar Olima

Dress and hat by Atsuko Kudo, sunglasses by Jeremy Scott

Jacket by Search and Destroy, Sunglasses by Chanel

Cigarette Sunglasses/boots by Haus of Gaga, and chain suit by Viktor & Rolf

 You can check out more of the scenes and outfit breakdown by designers at Tresdope.com.   Click here to go straight to the article (by Tania Chapanian) detailing the outfits and designers.

So how do you feel about the video and the outfits?    Comment on it.

Other things:

A. THIERRY MUGLER who designed some of the hats for Beyonce and Lady Gaga in the video, was a major part of Beyonce’s I AM…WORLD TOUR.  Click here if you are curious to see the sketches for her outfits.  

B. Check out Lady Gaga’s new campaign endorsement with Cindy Lauper for MAC Cosmetics Viva Glam Spring 2010, a softer/pretty look for Gaga:

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This concept is growing rapidly and already found in 1000 airports, malls, supermarkets in the US and internationally.  Companies that have adopted this concept are; Apple with Ipod, Best Buy, Macy’s espot, Proactiv Solutions, Sephora, and Sky Malls, and The Body Shop is one of its newest addition to its client portfolio.  ZoomSystems has been attracting many different companies as clients, especially with retail products that can be bought individually and in small quantities.  The machines for The Body Shop are still under preparations to be launched very soon.  You will be able to see what they look like on ZoomSystems website zoomsystems.com.  But to give you an idea of what they look like, check out Sephora’s vending machine example below. 

 The concept is clever in the sense that customers have easier access to their favorite products.  They are also more likely to be attracted to purchasing them because of the very concept of a vending machine, which is usually fast and more affordable products that are supposed to make us happy and smile, just like the snickers and kit kats do whenever we have a craving for sugar and run to the vending machines.  The psychology of it all is clever in that sense.  

However, for customers who love going into the actual store to try on products and spend a couple of minutes chatting with sales representatives, they would not be attracted to it.  I see it working very well at airports where women are rushing to different destinations and sometimes forgetting to take their favorite products.  They would simply run to the vending machine and get it, without feeling like they are wasting time in line/queuing.  It also means less rentals for these brands, where they might not need to open up an actual store in an international airport but may just place a vending machines with fewer product range and still sell.  It gives the brand a way of being present in a country where they may have not been present through an actual store.

What’s your take on this?  Good idea or just another annoying marketing/sales move by retail brands??  Comment on it!!

Last week, the news that Spanish Fashion store MANGO will open in Nigeria got me hopeful, although some people were concerned about MANGO’s choice.  I think it is an interesting idea, and it think it goes beyond just opening a European fashion store in an somewhat emerging economy.  When I heard the news I thought, ‘it is little advancements like this, that actually bring development in emerging or developing countries’.  It does not always have to be a big loan from the World Bank, sometimes it can just be a store opening like Mango to show the world and world investors that the country is progressing in some way.  For a fashion store to open in an emerging country, it has to be confident that there are enough people in the country with strong purchasing power to go to their stores.  Many will argue that it is only the wealthy Nigerians who will benefit from the store and who will bring revenue to the store, but like I said signs of development come and show up in different ways, and I think this is one of them.  It shows that there are enough consumers in Nigeria who are world travelers, who are familiar with Mango, and who would likely be shopping there every now and then.  It also means that people visiting Nigeria will be able to find global fashion stores like Mango in Nigeria, and it might actually enhance their visiting experiences, believe it or not.  Most emerging countries would like their nations to be seen as a potential place to visit and explore for the rest of the worl; Africa is one of those places filled with culture and worth visiting, but many times the history and the negative situations of many countries in the continent suffocate the potential that it’s countries have as destinations for world travelers.  To me it is a sign that there is a change in the perception that people and world investors have of developing countries.  It is shows that they gradually becoming a part of the global economy, and are a less likely to be excluded as much from it in the future.  So I chose to look at it from a positive light, and hopefully if Mango succeeds in this new endeavor, maybe their competitors like ZARA fashion will also take more risks and enter new markets like that of Nigeria.  I really believe that development in the future will also come out of the Arts/Fashion industries.  I say good luck to Mango, hopefully they will be able to get and keep enough customers to stay in Nigeria.

By the way check out the new campaign of Mango with Scarlett Johansson if you have not, click here