Category Archives: paco Rabanne

Paco Rabanne – Designer and Brand History

April 15, 2012

Francisco de Rabanne da Cuervo, known the world over as Paco Rabanne, was born in San Sebastian, Spain on February 18, 1934. During the Spanish civil war, he fled to France together with his mother who was then the Chief Seamstress at the Spanish salon of Balenciaga.

Paco studied architecture at the Beaux-Arts in Paris and graduated in 1964. to finance his studies, he produced fashion accessories made of plastic for Givenchy, Dior and Balenciaga. his career as a designer started in 1965 when he presented his Unwearables – a collection of 12 experimental contemporary dresses, which included his first plastic dress. The following year he opened his own outlet that featured metal-linked plastic-disc dresses and accessories made of plastic. his outlandish and flamboyant fashion statements totally veered away from tradition with the use of new materials and earned him the title enfant terrible of French fashion.

Soon, Paco Rabanne was a name to reckon with and was first in mind as a costume designer for cinema, theater and ballet. One particular standout costume he designed was for Barbarella which gathered a cult following. although his style may have been considered bizarre and outlandish, his creations had a major influence in changing the face of fashion by pushing the boundaries of acceptable street clothing.

In 1969, he released his first fragrance, Calandre. Today, Paco Rabanne has a popular fragrance range of 36 fragrances.

In the 80s, his creations were set apart by the use of unusual materials such as crinkled paper, cotton toweling, aluminum, patchwork leather, ostrich feathers and upholstery tassels. in 1989, Paco Rabanne was honored with the Golden Thimble Award during the First International Festival of Fashion. a year later, he opened his Paris boutique on the rue de Cherche Midi, the interiors of which were designed and constructed based on themes of metal, glass and light. It was at this point in time when Paco Rabanne came out with his women’s ready-to-wear line that moved away from the usual metallic and plastic materials and started to use softer man-made fabrics like sofrina and amaretto.

Rabanne wrote several books, notable of which were Trajectoire (1991) and Journey: From One Life to Another (1997) which were personal accounts of his search for spiritual understanding and how he has applied the results of this search to his creative work. these were followed by Le Temps Presente, La Fin des Temps, Has The Countdown Begun? as well as The Dawn of the Golden Age. his writings reveal his deep-seated interested in mysticism, astrology, out-of-body experiences and close encounters with God.

In 1999, at the age of 34, Paco Rabanne presented his final collection and retired, leaving the designing for the House of Rabanne to the younger designers and allowing himself the time to explore other art forms. By 2005, he opened the first ever exhibition of his drawings in Moscow, including a sketch dedicated to the 2004 Beslan school massacre. I want this drawing to be sold and the money to be given to the women of Beslan, the designer said.

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Best Scents for Women

March 24, 2012

Our nose has the strongest sensory organ for that is why we always want to smell good. like preference for food, people have also different preferences when it comes to scent. some people like the smell of spicy wood for men, some women like fruit scents. some men prefer sweet yet sensuous scent for their partner.

Many women wonder what the best scent is. something not too strong but powerful, something not fruit scent but sweet. Choosing the perfume you like is not the only thing that we will have to consider. We must also consider several other factors like; if the perfume suits you, your personality and also the occasion. Always have someone who is honest about their opinion because buying perfume is an art. It can be mastered with the right help and advice.

Consider perfume as the best accessory any woman can wear. We have to make sure that the perfume that we are wearing accentuates our personality. It can actually leave a lasting impression to people that we have first hand contact with.

Let me give you the 5 best perfumes that surely suit the women of 2011.

First on the list would be 212 perfume by Carolina Herrera – it has the scent of the typical New York city air on it that’s why it’s best loved perfumes by men. It renders a very wintery feeling to the person wearing it.

Next in line is Brit by Burberry – It has the strong tones of green almond, subtle hints of amber, tonka bean and mahogany, vanilla, lime and frosted pears. Combining all these makes a superb fragrance that can be worn anytime.

Paco Rabanne’s Lady Million is third on the list. this will give a woman a sultry sexy fragrance with a combination of fruity and fresh tones. It also has hints of musk and amber, honey and hints of raspberry that makes it even desirable.

Marc Jacob’s Lola Velvet simply makes men go crazy. Wearing this fragrance can make you smell flirtatious and spunky at the same time. It has tonka bean and fuchsia peony, red grapefruit, pink peppercorn, vanilla musk, geranium, rose all blended together.

Last but not the least is One upon a Time by Kenzo. It has a seductive scent that will surely make men go wild. this perfumes top note is freesia and peony, rose, magnolia, exotic musk, sandal wood and amber that you surely don’t want to miss.

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Looking for Christmas Aftershave Gifts

February 15, 2012

Once upon a time, buying a Christmas aftershave gift was easy. we had all heard of the big names – Brut, Old Spice, Denim and Hi Karate which were relentlessly advertised on TV, portraying butch men.

Now, however, there are almost as many men’s fragrance brands as there are perfume brands. Sales of men’s grooming products have tripled in the last ten years and the industry was last year valued at around $300 million. Scent is no longer something which, traditionally, a wife or mother bought for a man at Christmas and on birthdays, but is now seen by men as an absolutely vital part of their everyday grooming routine and so they often buy the products themselves.

With all of that aside, few men are disappointed by an aftershave gift at Christmas on the big day

A creature of habit, men often like to stick to one brand of fragrance. Christmas however, is an ideal opportunity to encourage him to branch out, by buying him something a little different, yet with a similar scent.

Men who travel around a great deal, either on holiday or as part of work, love to receive toiletry sets which incorporate all they need to help them look, smell and feel great whilst they are travelling. Aftershave, shaving balm and shower gel are all useful products to have, particularly if they come contained in a handy travel bag.

There are a wide range of aftershaves available at this time of year, but you would be well advised to shop around to find the best bargains.

It is worth bearing in mind that older men may be a little more set in their ways, so it may be best to buy them a fragrance which they know and which they are comfortable with. If you do decide to offer them a Christmas aftershave gift which they haven’t used before, it may be worth playing it safe and buying one of the more traditional brands such as Paco Rabanne, rather than plumping for the latest celebrity name. The fragrance should be light rather than heady and ideally will be balanced enough for them to wear every day.

Whereas for the older generation, a man who took care of himself, who always smelled great, who exfoliated, moisturised and used anti ageing products used to be considered effeminate, such a man is now the norm in today’s society. Rivalling modern women, he knows the value of looking great, and will use all tools at his disposal to ensure that he is always seen at his best.

Although Christmas aftershave gifts used to be looked upon as somewhat predictable ‘ useful but boring, men are much more enthusiastic about fragrances and tend to be more adventurous in their choice, often changing brands.

The season of goodwill is traditionally the busiest time of year for the perfume industry with regards to both women and men’s fragrances. Promotional campaigns abound, and there is no reason why, with a degree of research, you shouldn’t be able to find a Christmas aftershave gift which is both ideal for your man and won’t stretch the purse strings too far, either – something which is particularly important at the moment.

Don’t feel that you have to be restricted to buying aftershave products from a department store. If you have the internet at your disposal, you are more likely to find a multitude of promotions and discounts which will help your Christmas budget to go further.

Enjoy trying out different fragrances to see if you can find one which the man in your life will love, particularly if he takes great pride in his appearance.

Whether you choose David Beckham’s latest scent in his range or whether you have more of a Versace man, it will be obvious that you have thought about the man in your life and what he likes. that alone, combined with the fact that he’ll be smelling gorgeous not only through the Christmas holidays but for months to come, will make a Christmas aftershave gift your perfect choice this year.

Copyright (c) 2010 Filton Kingswood

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Paco Rabanne – Fragrance and Fashion

January 25, 2012

Until 1966, Courreges, Cardin, Balenciaga, and Givenchy encouraged me and bought my sketches and Gerard Pipart, who had just joined Nina Ricci, gave me some styles to embroider. With my whole family, I made fancy buttons made of plaited leather, precious stones, as well as of vermicelli or coffee beans stuck to Rhodoid, then painted.

In 1973, Paco Rabanne introduced his first fragrance, Paco pour homme. 1995, XS Pour Elle was introduced which is a floral, limpid fragrance. Then, in 1996 his first unisex fragrance Paco was designed in a recyclable metal bottle. two years later, Paco Energy was created and a year after that, Ultraviolet perfume for women was released. In 2001, the men’s version of Ultraviolet was introduced.

In an interview with the Fragrance Foundation, he was asked: what do you Believe is the Future of Fragrance?

Despite all that’s gone before, we have made a commodity of fragrance, like shoes. In this new era ahead, we at least have to describe the mysticism of fragrance.

In Buddhist temples they burn incense facing the statue of Buddha.

In the descriptions of the appearance of the Virgin Mary to children there is an odor of lilies of the valley and roses. Then with startling clarity he confided, I have experienced an apparition of Mary. There was a shining light, a glaring light in my room and the fragrance of roses and lilies of the valley — formidable

As civilization changes, everything will change. Inter-human relations, fashions, color and fragrances. Relationships between men and animals and vice versa will change. it can be a grand epoch.

Paco Rabanne Cologne, launched in 1973, is still one of the top-selling fragrances for men in 2011. go ahead and give it a try. those around you will certainly have very pleasant memories of you after you’ve gone.

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Wonderful Fragrance Gifts for Christmas 2010

January 3, 2012

Is there anything better to give as a gift than perfume? since we cannot buy romance, enticement or sensuality, I would say perfume comes mighty close. this year there is a wide selection of delightful fragrances to choose from that would please any present-opener. Let’s review some of the top new perfumes you can buy this year:

Nina L’Elixir by Nina Ricci:
No perfume is energizing the market quite like Nina L’Elixir. It sweet red apple inspired scent, served up in a jewel-like glass apple bottle, this is truly a magical Love Potion. this perfume was clearly designed with the modern flirty & fun woman in mind, who knows how to emphasize her natural charm. Add in some notes of Calabrian Lemon and Caipirinha Lime and this truly mesmerizing feminine fragrance has inspired many a fragrance shopper to rush out and grab this Nina Ricci delight. (by the way, you can find more Nina scents through the author info, below)

Trsor in Love from Lancme:
Few perfumes are so bold to outwardly include the term Love in its name, but Lancme has never been known to shy away. Deemed to have a fruity, somewhat tart, aura; this Trsor features bergamot, pink pepper, sour pear and nectarine scents. in its beautiful pink classic long bottle, with a black rose tied daintily at its neck, many would love to see this under the tree.

Lady Million by Paco Rabanne:
An elegant fragrance, Lady Million provides a largely floral scent that gives its wearer a certain grace. Containing just the right amount of sweetness, the fruit-touched element of this perfume hold raspberry with slight gourmand. Held in a precious metallic-style gold casing, many young ladies will enjoy its luxury.

Thierry Mugler’s Angel:
Suited so well to winter, this endearing fragrance has been said to have a heavy vanilla odor. Seemingly perfect for the winter, it is a perfume that can invoke visions of baked treats and chocolates made during the holidays. Angel is certainly a unique perfume, sold in its star glass bottle with a bluish hue.

Joy of Pink from the House of Lacoste:
Full of energy, Joy of Pink exhilarates the soul and provides a grapefruit laced splash. you will also experience Blue Curacao and slight Peony touches. As a great scent for a young lady, coming in a slender pink bottle (naturally), this perfume rounds out a collection of Lacoste fragrances that include Love of Pink, Dream of Pink, and Touch of Pink.

Many exciting perfumes are invigorating Christmas shoppers looking for that perfect for her gift. Personally, I hope to find an apple bottle of a certain Nina Ricci Perfume under my tree this year. I hope this at least starts your search in the right direction for the right scent.

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The Most Fragrant Women’s Perfumes

September 12, 2011

Fragrances and perfumes have eternally been special to women. Womens perfumes are generally very subtle and soft and linger in the air long after they have left the place. Many brands like Calvin Klein, Christian Dior, Hugo Boss have launched their own perfume brands. Some celebrities also have their own signature women’s perfumes picked up by them. Some of the perfumes like Lomani, Benetton sport, Paco Rabanne also make for great gifts to women, be it their birthday or Valentine’s Day or the anniversary.

Frederic Boucheron, a famous jewelry designer has launched a signature perfume by the same name. A subtle, feminine perfume with an oriental influence, this perfume comes in a beautiful bottle carved in rock crystal and is symbolic of French jewelry as well. the perfume is a mix of various fragrances from all over the world like the South American Tonka bean, and the Moroccan jasmine, galbanum, tangerine and apricot. the perfume also has orange blossom, vanilla and sandal that give it a mesmerizing floral scent.

Benetton have also come with their own brand called Colors that suits the daytime. this floral scent contains hints of orange blossom, marigold and vanilla and has a refreshing and distinct smell. the D & G Feminine launched by the famous house of Dolce and Gabbana is one of the more popular and fashionable women’s perfumes. this perfume has a floral luxury with elements such as white cyclamen, water lily and tangerine which are carefully blended with mimosa and heliotrope. A slight hint of sandal combined with vanilla give this perfume a gentle yet unique fragrance that stirs up romanticism in the air.

Other women’s perfumes include Tea Rose created by Perfumers Workshop and Envy from the house of Gucci. the former perfume preferred for daytime wear has a blend of cedar, jasmine, tuberose, lily and bergamot with mild presence of sandalwood, amber and rosewood. the latter which usually suits the office has an unconventional composition of wood, musk, lily of the valley and violet. There are also hints of vine flower which give the perfume an amazing fragrance which is neither too hard nor too soft.

L’Eau D’Issey from Issey Mayake with an aquatic touch, the sensual Niki de Saint Phalle from the house of Parfums Nikki de Saint with woody fragrance and Passion by Elizabeth Taylor with intense floral smell blended with a touch of wood are other famous women’s perfumes.

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New chapter begins for Puig and Valentino with fragrance roll-out

August 18, 2011

New chapter begins for Puig and Valentino with fragrance roll-out

Published: 02/08/11

Source: ?The Moodie Report

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The new Valentino fragrance is inspired by the fashion house’s more contemporary lookINTERNATIONAL. Renowned haute couture house Valentino and leading beauty group Puig opened a new chapter in their long and distinguished company histories in June, when, as reported, they unveiled the new Valentino women?s fragrance to the world?s media (including the Moodie Report) in Rome. Travel retail will be a vital platform for the roll-out of the fragrance, with the product on-shelf in 50ml and 80ml edp formats from September in Europe, Russia and the Middle East, before its launch in Asia Pacific in early 2012, and in the Americas from mid-2012. Puig Travel Retail General Manager Patrick Bouchard said: ?It is very important for us to make a statement with Valentino, and it will be a priority brand in travel retail. ?We have proved ourselves to be very good at translating the spirit of a fashion house into a fragrance. we have done it with Prada, with Nina Ricci, with Carolina Herrera, with Paco Rabanne, and shown that we have the expertise as well as the commercial skill to make it happen. Travel retail has been a brand-building platform for Puig and will definitely have a key role to play for Valentino too.? The spirit of the Valentino fashion house, and of its Roman origins, are very much alive in the new fragrance, its packaging and in the campaign to promote it. Valentino CEO Stefano Sassi said that the product reflects the fashion house?s entry into ?a new phase for a new consumer?. Stefano Sassi: Revitalising the Valentino fashion brandSassi and Valentino Creative Directors Pier Paolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri have been revitalising the fashion house over the past three years. with this licensing deal with Puig, they are taking that drive to a new level. Sassi said: ?Valentino is now a more contemporary brand. we will use our DNA, of which we are very proud, but will be talking about Valentino in a different way in future.? Marc Puig: “Most fragrances are inspired by fashion but very few have the reputation of Valentino”Puig Chairman & CEO Marc Puig said the move is ?like starting a new fragrance house?. Puig Travel Retail General Manager Patrick Bouchard: Valentino will be a ?priority brand? in travel retailHe noted: ?Most fragrances are inspired by fashion but very few have the reputation of Valentino, or its great name recognition. If you ask any woman who are the world?s top ten fashion designers, the name Valentino will always appear, so we?re very lucky to have that as an asset. That is one platform on which we will build. ?Second, it?s important to tell a story. there are hundreds of fragrances in the market so how do you get the attention of the consumer? by having a great story to tell them. ?Finally, you must have a quality product, one that is consistent with the name and reputation, and also with the story you are telling. we hope that we can capture the imagination of women everywhere with this project.? That story now has a new chapter, with Valentino being positioned at the prestigious, premium end in fragrances. And Puig?s emergence as a major player in the beauty market, driven by the successes of Paco Rabanne (notably the one Million and Lady Million ranges), Nina Ricci, Prada and Carolina Herrera, will bolster its drive for shelf space in travel retail. ?Obviously we will leverage the success and momentum of the Puig range to date, though that hasn?t come as an accident,? added Bouchard. ?It?s been part of a grand plan over the past five years, and we have seen the results of that clear strategy. So we will leverage on our current success story to drive Valentino. ?We have a very strong relationship with our customers and the product as developed by Puig is a qualitative product and many fragrance experts also recognise that.? The fragrance was developed by renowned master perfumers Olivier Cresp and Alberto Morillas. the bouquet is said to be ?Italian floral oriental?, carrying notes of Calabrian bergamot and white Alba truffles, as well as jasmine, Amalfi orange blossom and tuberose, wild strawberries, cedar and amber. The product is housed in a transparent, rounded crystal bottle. it features three flowers, which are ?emblems of Valentino couture, in pale shades of white, ivory and nude?. the bottle is topped by a silver ring and a black pearl. it comes in a white box decorated with floral motifs in relief. The flower motif is the central feature of the brand?s promotional campaign, which stars model Freja Beha Erichsen (who has posed in the brand?s ready-to-wear campaigns), with Rome the powerful backdrop for the video. In travel retail, there will be strong support for the product at point-of-sale, driven by the powerful floral theme of the bottle and advertising campaign, plus a retail-tainment element to bolster awareness of the brand during 2012. The Villa Medicis in Rome was one of the stunning venues for the June launch eventOn the roll-out, Bouchard said: ?We will focus first on western Europe and the key markets of Italy, France, UK and Germany, from which travel retail will benefit from the ?halo effect?. then there is Middle East, which is a key fragrance market. ?Asia is not a traditional fragrance market so that is a challenge, but the fashion brand is strong there. the Americas, which will be a focus next year, is also a challenge as Valentino is not so well known, but Puig has leverage so we will use that in this region. So there are some big opportunities region by region.? Like the rest of the Puig team, Bouchard is upbeat about the prospects for the new line, coming on the back of several strong years for the group in the travel retail channel. He concluded: ?Valentino is a powerful brand and a quality product. it will certainly help us gain one or two more points in market share, in our drive to account for 10% of the travel retail market over the next couple of years.? The new Valentino range rolls out to selected markets from September

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5 Greatest Men’s Fragrances For 2010

July 21, 2011

First I want to inform the readers, that these fragrances aren’t some new tryouts that just recently came out. These are perfumes that are already famous, that have proved to be a matter to write about. In such a great competition, in a world where even a small mistake can cause millions of dollars of losses, the greatest fragrance makers are giving their best to create the masterpieces I am writing about.

The first one, which I want to introduce to you is 1 Million Cologne by Paco Rabanne. It is inspired by designer’s metallic fashions, 1 million actually was a 1967 dress worn by the world famous singer Francoise Hardy. This perfume was created by Olivier Pescheux, Christophe Raynaud and Michel Girard, who choose for it to include grapefruit, blond leather, white woods, rose, spice notes,mint, amber, patchouli and blood orange. The 1 million bottle’s unique design is inspired by a gold ingot.

The second great fragrance I would like to talk about is Armani Black Code by Giorgio Armani. This is a new elegant scent with sexy masculine notes. It combines sleek seductiveness and sophistication. This fragrance possesses a blend of guaiac wood, lemon, bergamot, tonka bean and olive flower. It is said to be recommended for daytime wear. there is no way I can miss the following scent – Calvin Klein Man by Calvin Klein EDT Spray. It is originally launched in 2007, but still remains one of the greatest choices. Designed to be a fresh spicy fragrance it’s goal is to make any man feel irresistible. It includes top notes like sosemary, mandarin, bergamot and violet leaf. The middle notes shouldn’t be forgotten to – nutmeg, bay, spearmint, incense. It is good for both day and night wear.

The fourth perfume I’d like to introduce to you is Amber Pour Homme by the design house of Prada. Originally introduced in the year 2006, it became hit from the first day in sale. This masculine scent is a combination of amber accord, tonka bean, patchouli, and vanilla. we shouldn’t forget to mention vetiver, musk, sandalwood and geranium finishing off with leather, myrrh and saffron oil. It is recommended for daytime wear.

The final scent, which I want to introduce to you is BVLGARI BLACK (Bulgari) by Bvlgari. Despite being a relatively old model, launched by the design house of Bvlgari in 1998, there is no way this perfume can be called old fashioned. Actually it’s more correct to say it was ahead of its time. BVLGARI BLACK is classified as a refreshing, woody, mossy fragrance. It is unisex scent, but I decided to put it here, because it seems to be more often bought by men. It possesses a mixture of black tea and smoky woods. It is said to be better for daytime wear, but I still think it’s good for any occasion, including night wear too.

These five scents aren’t just some random examples from list of top-seller perfumes. They’ve proved to be outstanding during the years and they definitely deserve to still be at the top.

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How to Impress a Girl – Four Factors for Impressing Any Girl

July 3, 2011

How to impress a girl? if you are thinking new cars, jewelry, money… you are WRONG. Find out four amazing factors that will impress any girl.

A new car or a big new home isn’t impressive to girls. it can be an advantage when trying to seduce her, but it can have the opposite effect. when a girl is presented with an item for the sake of impression, she directly sees it as insecurity and you expressing a weakness. so, the old ways don’t work and have never worked.

How to impress a girl then?

You need to get these four factors right if you want to impress a girl:

· the first factor on how to impress a girl is: taking care of your outer looks.

This is not something obvious to most guys. they think that they are wearing a nice shirt, using a deodorant, putting on their new Nike will make girls think that they are good looking. the truth is that you will look to girls as an idiot if you relay on your taste to look great. Guys, don’t take this the wrong way, but we are terrible at choosing what to wear. I’ve never seen a true guy who was great at matching colors. It’s simply not in our DNA. Your solution is to ask a girl to go shopping with you. I’ve tried every solution possible to have a taste, and this is the most efficient one. Girls are natural at choosing and matching clothes, plus, they know about the new trends and styles, so you won’t look like a fool. A sister, a friend, your buddy’s girlfriend… Any girl will do on one condition; she must be from your own age group. Don’t go asking your mom to choose clothes for you; she will make you look like a clown or a character from the seventies.

· the second factor on how to impress a girl is your smell.

You should look great and you MUST smell fantastic. Women have confessed to me that they will remember a guy by the way he smelled the first time they met him. Smell is so important, if you smell horrible; she will always associate you with something smelling nasty. the same advice applies to choosing a cologne, take a girl who knows about styles and has a great taste and buy at least two or three colognes. the best in my opinion are BOSS by Hugo Boss and one million by Paco Rabanne. they are pricy but not expensive, and they make you smell fantastic. the number one rule when it comes to colognes is don’t put too much.

· the third factor is your personality.

It’s such an important factor. I’m sure you’ve heard girls talking about a guy’s personality and his attractiveness. To have a wonderful personality, simply apply these rules: Don’t let people give you second class behavior and let people be who they want to be, don’t criticize or judge others, don’t gossip them.

· the fourth factor is your sense of humor.

This is a must if you want to know how to impress a girl.

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Galliano on the nose

June 28, 2011

EVEN with the menswear shows in full swing, the biggest news in fashion today is John Galliano's trial in Paris on charges of verbally abusing three people with anti-Semitic and racist slurs.

Paying measured attention will be Perfume Holding, the French-Italian company that produces Galliano’s fragrance line. with an estimated wholesale turnover of $US14.2 million a year, Galliano’s fragrances are a drop in the $US18 billion fragrance industry, but that hasn’t stopped the company’s vice-president of creation and marketing development from spinning up a storm in WWD.

"if the product is great, it becomes more important than the brand," Brigitte Wormser says of Parlez-Moi d’Amour, Galliano’s latest fragrance, which launched in the Middle East and Europe in October but still awaits a US sales date.

"Everyone knows John was sick at the time," says Wormser, Perfume Holding’s vice-president of creation and marketing development. Comparing Galliano with Kate Moss, she adds: "We have all forgotten now that she messed up."

Galliano’s tirade affected fragrance sales in Israel and upset some German and English retailers, but the impact in France and Italy has been minimal.

"Consumers seem to have moved on, but certain retailers have been reticent to continue stocking the brand," Wormser says.

Ignoring the media frenzy surrounding the former designer for Christian Dior, Perfume Holding will proceed with the launch of an eau de parfum version of Parlez-Moi d’Amour in Europe, the Middle East and Asia in October.

"there are other brands whose namesake designer is no longer present and who sell perfectly well," Wormser says. "Young people today do not remember Paco Rabanne, but the brand is still successful."

Actress and pop singer Taylor Momsen will appear in advertisements for the new fragrance which has notes of raspberry, mandarin, chypre and vanilla. no whiff of scandal was necessary.

Feeling the love

AFTER a five-year absence, Lover’s return to the Rosemount Australian Fashion Week runway has finally paid off for designers Nic Briand and Susien Chong. David Jones has signed the label to be stocked in seven of its stores.

"there is something very unique and special about the Lover brand, which combines a classic aesthetic with a contemporary vision," says David Bush, David Jones general manager of womenswear.

The signing is a big step for the 10-year-old label, stocked in boutiques across the world and sold online through Net-A-Porter and its own site.

"We have always wanted our business to be at the right stage so we could properly work with the opportunity," Briand says. "We feel that the time has come. Within this deal, the integrity, intelligence and forward-thinking nature of the brand that we built over the last 10 years will always continue."

David Jones has also signed Flannel, Carl Kapp and Megan Park.

Backpacker chic

THE menswear spring 2012 ready-to-wear season is in full swing, with the action moving from Milan to Paris today but one trend is already making itself apparent. Designers have taken note of the economic crisis and are injecting the backpacker signature of socks with shorts into their luxury looks.

Ennio Capasa at Costume National, Raf Simons at Jil Sander and Miuccia Prada at Prada all favoured black socks with shorts and shoes that were more suited to the office than the beach.

The look was rockabilly at Costume National, while at Jil Sander Simons turned to 90s club culture with techno fabrics and Prada raised a smile with flower power shirting, but the shocking socks were a common theme.

Calvin Klein Collection designer Italo Zucchelli enlivened ankles with socks in cerulean blue and cintronelle yellow, but it was Thom Browne at Moncler Gamme Bleu who truly challenged aesthetics below the knee. Browne, who is known for his shrunken silhouettes, sent out models looking like half-undressed stormtroopers in white socks.

Brace yourself for Speedos with socks on a beach near you this summer.

Browne eyes

THOM Browne’s Pee-wee Herman suiting has a cult following, which Harrolds is counting on when it becomes the label’s exclusive Australian stockist, but Dita Eyewear is hoping the American designer’s eyewear will have wider appeal when it launches later this year.

This is Dita’s first designer collaboration, which will include 20 styles drawing inspiration from the architects, professors and industrial designers of the 1940s, 50s and 60s. the glasses feature leather trims and metal mesh side cups.

"Ever since the inception of Dita, we’ve always seen ourselves as waging a revolt against mediocrity and uniformity," says John Juniper, co-founder of Dita. Manufactured in Japan, Dita found fame by using 18-carat gold and titanium in frames.

As well as designing for his own label, Browne also collaborates with Brooks Brothers on the Black Fleece collection and with Moncler Gamme Bleu.

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