If you haven’t started spring wardrobe shopping yet, you are in luck!  Get up to 62% off of the essential pieces that will carry you through the season at beso: 

Shop and save for spring at beso!

1. Straw Studios Canvas Wooden Handle Clutch, $42 $15.99 (62% off)

2. Newport News Straw Fedora, $44  $34 (10% off)

3. Victoria’s Secret Silk Boyfriend Blazer, $88 $48 (45% off)

4. Old Navy Sweetheart Distressed Skinny Jeans, $34.50 $12.99 (62% off)

5. Three Dots 3/4 Sleeve Round Neck Pullover, $54 $23.98 (56% off)

6. Old Navy Pleated Cuffed Shorts (5” inseam), $22.50  $14.99 (33% off) 

7. Cole Haan Andra Wedge, $195.00  $78 (60% off)

8. Calvin Klein Crepe Shirtdress, $118.00  $46.90 (60% off)

Many of us find our most unique fashion pieces at trendy, hidden boutiques.  Trouble is, when life gets busy, we don’t always have time to trek to these places to score the newest items when they first arrive.  I love the idea of being able to shop for all of my favorite boutique items in one place.  Lucky for me, the people at farfetch.com share a similar vision.

I spoke with Marketing Director Paul Brine to find out what farfetch.com has to offer, as well as some of his personal “must-haves” for this year.  Herewith is what Paul had to say:

Q&A:

beso: Tell us about the farfetch.com philosophy and the idea behind the site.

Paul Brine: In 2001, farfetch.com founder José Neves helped open a boutique in London called b Store.  He found that when entering the world of e-commerce, marketing a smaller store wouldn’t be easy.  José came up with the idea of a site that would pull all the boutiques together, because they all had a different voice.  farfetch.com began with just 20 stores.

b: Luxe, Lab, and Cult are three ways to shop farfetch.  Tell us how you came up with the idea for these categories and what treasures we would find in each.

PB: These [categories] were José’s idea.  We had a massive list of over 200 labels, in which some were casual and some avant-garde.  We needed a way to separate them.  Luxe is high-end, well known designers.  Lab is up-and-coming and avant-garde designers.  Cult is more casual, like denim and diffusion lines.

b: Are there any plans to expand farfetch.com to include more than U.S. and European boutiques?

PB: Yes, we are working with Brazilian boutiques right now.  We plan to have these out within the next six months.

b: Your site not only carries exclusive designer fashions, but also lifestyle items.  What are some of your favorite pieces?

PB: I like the Snake and Skull Candle by D.L. & Co. because it’s very gothic.  I also like these prints by a company called Jaguar Shoes, which feature various artists’ work.

D.L. & Co. Skull with Snake Candle

b: What are some of your favorite fashion “must-haves” right now?

PB: For women, Pierre Hardy shoes.  They have these silver metallic wedges with lots of straps.  There are also these brass cuffs made by Givenchy.  For men, Henrik Vibskov sweaters, which are colorful and have big faces on them.  I also like the Opening Ceremony Desert boots.

Pierre Hardy Wedge Bootie Sandal

Givenchy Stud and Brass Cuff

Opening Ceremony Brown Leather Boots

b: What hot men’s accessories are key for summer 2010?

PB: Sunglasses.  The Zanzan Zazou sunglasses are very retro and handmade in France, so they are great quality.

b: Who are some of your favorite designers?

PB: For women, it’s Christopher Kane.  For men, I like Martin Margiela and Robert Geller. 

b: Name the one item you have acquired from farfetch.com that you cannot live without.

PB: I have a shirt by Blaak Homme.  It’s a navy shirt with white polka dots.

b: Who would be your ideal celebrity spokesperson for farfetch?

PB: It’s hard to pin it on just one.  We would love to have Lara Stone.  She is a Dutch model who has a lot of personality.

b: With over 400 designers on the site, can you tell us some of the most popular lines right now?

PB: Right now the top is Alexander McQueen.  Although he has always been a top designer, with his recent death we have seen an increase.  Opening Ceremony is big, too;  we have a lot of their shoes on the site and they sell very well.  Henrik Vibskov’s whole collection is on the site and has become a real cult label.  All of these items are hard to find.

Alexander McQueen Yellow Heart-Shaped Peep Toes

b: What do you think it is about your site that keeps people coming back for more?

PB: The sheer amount of products found here.  You can get lost in there for hours!  We add new items every day, so you can come back next week and find all new things.  Also, we have many exclusive brands that you just can’t find anywhere else.

b: Lastly, we’d like to know — What’s your beso?  My beso is “be so unique.”

PB: I’d say our beso is “be so individual.”

- Dana for beso

 

 

 

This blog is for the person who is concerned with luxury and pleasure above all else….the Luxist, if you will.  Luxist.com is a wealth of information on the best the world has to offer, even if you aren’t able to afford it just yet.

The posts on this site cover an extraordinary range of topics including art, auctions, every type of clothing and fashion, dining, spas, pets, etc.  In fact, there is hardly a topic that this site will not entertain, as long as it is regarding an item that helps bring its readers closer to fine living and pleasure in knowing about the best.

Here are some of my favorite topics:

Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills

The Hamilton Penthouse in San Francisco

The New Doxa Grafic Open Heart Watch

 

Caitlin and Justin Frech of Gypsy 05 at their L.A. Headquarters

I had the opportunity to go to the Los Angeles headquarters of Gypsy 05 and meet with Marketing Manager, Justin Frech.  He gave me the inside scoop on this hot brand, which is a favorite amongst celebrities like Paris Hilton, Miley Cyrus, Zac Efron, Alessandra Ambrosio, Taylor Momsen, and Olivia Munn.  I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek of the new collection; and while I can’t give anything away about the new designs, here’s what I can tell you about this awesome, eco-friendly label:

How Gypsy 05 got started:

Brother-sister duo Dotan and Osi Shoham are the masterminds behind the label.  Dotan brings his many years of experience in the dye industry, and Osi takes the helm as lead designer.  They launched the brand in 2005 because they saw an opportunity to bring a unique vision to life: SoCal bohemian-inspired clothing with an emphasis on comfort.  What began mainly as a t-shirt company has now evolved into dresses, pants, and accessories.

How they developed a following:

For being relatively new to the scene, Gypsy 05 has an impressive list of celebrity clientele and a loyal following.  Perhaps the one design that put them on the map is their hugely-popular cotton maxi dress.  Today, their continued success can be attributed to the quality and comfort of their designs, and word of mouth is a powerful PR tool (also check them out on their facebook fan page).  Celebrity clientele, who are photographed in the designs on a regular basis, keep coming back for more.  Gypsy 05 has also developed relationships with stylists and wardrobe assistants, who have featured their designs on TV shows like Gossip Girl, The Daily Ten, and American Idol.

Where their inspiration comes from:

Born and raised in Israel and currently living in southern California, Osi draws much of her inspiration from her natural surroundings.  The ocean, nature, and respect for the environment are apparent in the colorful, flowing designs of each piece.  Tie dye and organic shapes are signatures to the collection.

On being eco-friendly:

All of their products are made locally in the Los Angeles area using eco-conscious manufacturing processes.  They use organic fabrics whenever possible, and the color process uses low-impact dyes and water-based printing.  As far as they know, they are the only clothing manufacturer in the United States that have installed solar panels to power their office and factory.  100% of their headquarters’ operations is powered by the solar electricity that these panels generate!

What looks we can expect to see this summer:

We can expect to see a lot of their signature prints in the form of flowing silk mini-dresses and jumpsuits.  Updated versions of their sportswear have already been pre-released with huge success.  And in a new twist, some shredded, rocker-inspired items are also being added to the Gypsy 05 summer collection.

Hints at their fall collection:

Staying true to their origins, Gypsy 05 will be releasing fall pieces featuring more bold colors and tie dye prints but will be branching out into new silhouettes.  Expect to see a combination of silk, jersey, and cotton fabrics, and as always, comfort and eco-friendliness will remain at the center of each design.

Where you can buy:

To purchase these products online, please visit the Gypsy 05 Official Site.  Fine department stores Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus also carry Gypsy 05 clothing.

What is Gypsy 05’s beso?  be so natural.

 

Gypsy 05 Organic Maxi Dress

Gypsy 05’s Organic Maxi Dress in Tie Dye is one of their best-selling looks!

Gypsy 05 Allie Silk Jumper

The Allie Silk Jumper is an example of some of the new styles Gypsy 05 is releasing for spring and summer 2010.

Gypsy 05 Cut-Off Sweatshirt

Gypsy 05’s cut-off sweatshirt is another best-selling item.

Gypsy 05 Jade Silk Peasant Dress

The Jade Silk Peasant Mini-Dress is one of my personal favorites.  The silk fabric makes an easy transition from day to night!

 

- Caitlin for beso

Calypso Mabli Dress

Calypso St. Barth was founded in 1992 as a small boutique store, featuring resort wear from some of the most exotic locations across the world. Over the past 16 years, the company has grown from a small collection of high-end shops into an international luxury lifestyle brand. But one thing has remained the same over the years and throughout the changes: Calypso embodies the feel of warm beach breezes, spring rains and hot summer nights somewhere beautiful.

I’ve been a fan of Calypso clothing for several years now. I remember walking past their storefront in Sunset Plaza, and no matter what the weather or the time of day, one look at their window displays, and I felt like I was on the beach in Fiji or Bali or Bora Bora. Few designers are

Calypso Nuna Shirt

able to embody the feeling of spring and summer so wholly, but Calypso St. Barth does the job and then some.

As you prepare to defrost from winter and celebrate spring, can you think of a better way to get into a warm-weather state of mind than with these beautiful caftans and tunics and dresses?

Even better, many of Calypso’s prettiest pieces are currently on sale on

Calypso Senona Dress

beso – just in time to awaken those bright green daffodils in your defrosting spring heart!

Vineyard Vines is equally breezy and beachy, but a bit more laid back. Started in 1998, The Vineyard Vines frame of mind is a little bit preppy with a dash of Nantucket and a dollop of its home base of Martha’s Vineyard mixed in.

Vineyard Vines Sailboat Tie

With sporty collections of ties, cummerbund sets, boxers, college pride wear, mens’ and ladies’ clothes and accessories,Vineyard Vines has your beach lifestyle needs completely covered (even when you are barely covered and ready to swim!), so that everyday will feel like a day on Martha’s Vineyard.

Whether you prefer the elegance of Calypso or the beach/collegiate/golf lifestyle philosophy

Vineyard Vines Jupiter Dress

of Vineyard Vines, here at beso, we’ve got everything you need for spring and summer – and those golden, sunny days are right around the corner, no matter what that groundhog says!

Heat things up right now on beso!

 

 

 

Vineyard Vines Patchwork Madras Cargo Shorts