Briefcase vs. Blackberry

 

 

 

 

 

Is the briefcase extinct now that all-in-one gadgets like the Blackberry have come into fashion?

 

In an online poll, the Financial Times found that 82% of voters still preferred paper to PDA.

 

It seems that those who choose to use a filofax/paper method of organisation do so because they do not trust technology enough. Loss of data and machine malfunctions causing one to miss appointments will inevitably lead to the return to paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is also the emotional aspect of paper records. The fact that a physical archive can be referred back to, as well as the individual quirkiness & sentimental value lent by stationary and handwriting.

 

 

 

 

 

Those who prefer the PDA enjoy the unique benefits of built-in spell-checkers, internet connectivity and the ability to retrieve mail. An all-in-one business solution; an office-in-your-pocket.

 

Confidence in PDA technology seems driven by the mantra, “back up, back up, back up.” While many PDA users choose to backup their address books and calendars onto another system such as their PC, a large number of users still revert back to the old reliable paper & ink.  

A tough customer…

Shopping Sensei Says….

Having just found, read and chuckled about the following article, it’s with a sigh of relief that I can say, “I’ve yet to meet a client as cutting as this…”

 

My Personal Shopper Is The Worst

By Christine Vesper
November 9, 2005 | Issue 41•45

 

 

 

 

I called up Alexa at Bergdorf’s Sunday night and told her I needed gloves, a hat, an evening dress, two coats,12 sweaters, a couple hair accessories, a slouchy belt, and some stockings, because I threw my old ones out by accident. I needed a new watch, too—something modern and new but traditional and in platinum—but I just called up Enrico for that, because he knows my hands.

 

Well, Monday morning rolled around, and then it was Monday afternoon, and I still didn’t have my purchases. When Alexa finally showed up, I understood why she’d taken so long—she had clearly gone out of her way to hand pick the most hideous pieces from the most hideous collections, carefully ensuring, while she was at it, that several of the items were not even in my size. (I’m a Versace 6, a Marc Jacobs 4.)

 

I don’t understand what was going through her head when she chose that J. Mendel evening dress. Basic black? I’m not trying to buy an evening dress that I’ll be able to wear for years to come, thank you.

I may as well have a colorblind Mongoloid doing the job for me. And her voice. That awful, mousy little mumbled falsetto. “Enunciate!” I said. “It’s no wonder you’re living in a fifth-floor walkup.”

 

And La Perla bras? Completely off the mark. I told her I wanted sexy, not a bra for my grandmother. If that’s her idea of sensuous lingerie, it’s no wonder she can’t keep a man committed to her.

 

I try to be forgiving to the poor girl, because I know that it must be hard to be so unattractive, but some of these items go beyond the pale. The Be & D handbag looked like something an insane person would carry. And when I asked her to pick up my dry cleaning, she acted like I was the one out of line. Two words. Service. Industry. Thank you.

 

I could perhaps have humored her if she came back with two or three gaudy cashmere sweaters. Taste is, after all, subjective. That she brought me 12, however, is more than I should have to endure. I took the sweaters to spare myself the hassle, but Lord knows they’re going to be sitting in the back of my closet unworn ten years from now.

 

I should have gone with that homosexual with the harelip, Chi-Chi.

I could fire her, but then I would have to go through this incredible bore every afternoon when I go to Bergdorf’s. Besides, it’s more than I can do right now. I’m up to my ears in planning next season’s winter formal. This is a disaster.

 

Maybe I can just hand the Be & D to a homeless person. They might be thrilled. Wait, Janice Goldman’s daughter adores Be & D. I’ll give Janice the bag next time I see her in the park, pretend this never happened, and just pray that Marie Elaine has fared better.

 

 

LVMH buys Hublot Watches

LVMH acquires the Swiss watchmaker Hublot

April 24th, 2008

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s leading luxury group, announces that it has signed an agreement to acquire the Hublot group, a top of the range watchmaker enjoying very strong growth.
LVMH will acquire Hublot from Mr Carlo Crocco, who founded the group in 1980, and a company controlled by Mr Jean-Claude Biver, who has managed Hublot since 2004.

Hublot is a brand that is highly complementary to LVMH’s existing watch portfolio comprising TAG Heuer, the world leader in prestigious sport watches and chronographs, the Swiss Watch Manufacturer Zenith, Dior Montres, Louis Vuitton watches sold exclusively in Louis Vuitton stores, and the watch collections of jewellers Chaumet, Fred and De Beers.

STRONG GROWTH POTENTIAL

 Hublot, which has its headquarters and workshops near Geneva, has started building a factory at Nyon to accommodate its expansion plans. Having grown at a rapid pace since 2004, the brand achieved net revenue of more than CHF150 million in 2007 with an excellent profitability. A very significant increase in
revenue is expected in 2008.

Today, Hublot has a very selective and efficient distribution network which is limited to 300 stores worldwide.

Hublot has a well-balanced geographic footprint spanning Switzerland, Spain, France, Germany, the US, Latin America, Middle East, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore… The brand has recently been launched in China and India and has strong growth potential in Asia, Japan, North America and in certain European markets.

EXCEPTIONAL WATCHES AND CHRONOGRAPHS

Hublot offers ranges of exceptional quality watches that are innovative, very differentiated and combining fusions of materials, precious metals, (gold, platinum,…) technological metals (titanium, tantalum…), ceramics, diamonds and natural rubber.

The renowned Big Bang collection includes models equipped with automatic movements whose prices range from €8,000 (steel and ceramic) to over €300,000, integrating precious metals and technical complexity.A new Big Bang collection for women was launched at the last Basel watch fair with great success.

 
 

Finally, the traditional classic line has been recently redesigned using natural rubber, zircon, gold and ceramics.

Carlo Crocco, founder of Hublot, said : “I am happy that Hublot, an innovative brand since is creation, is joining the LVMH group, the world leader in luxury goods, whose creative passion is without any doubt a value that I have always shared.”Jean-Claude Biver, the architect of the success of the Big Bang collection and the recent strong growth of Hublot, commented: “I am delighted that Hublot will be able to benefit from LVMH’s support and strategic leadership in the luxury goods industry and so maximise its growth potential in the years to come. I am happy to be pursuing this adventure and to be able to contribute to the development of LVMH’s watchmaking division alongside Philippe Pascal.”
 

Philippe Pascal, Chief Executive Officer of LVMH’s Watches & Jewelry business group, added: “Hublot is a strategic and very complementary acquisition. Its high-end positioning, selective distribution, financial performance and growth potential make Hublot a ‘rising star’.  Hublot will strengthen our Watches &
Jewelry business group which, over the last three years, has been growing strongly. We are very happy that Jean-Claude Biver will, along with the management team of Hublot, continue on this remarkable journey and contribute his considerable expertise to our development in this promising sector.”

  
Regulated information related to this press release is available on www.lvmh.com.

What a Croc

 

Since I first laid my poor eyes on them, I have absolutely hated Crocs.

 

I know I’m not alone in my pain and I also know there are millions of People-Who-Are-Not-Like-Me who actually buy and wear them.  My clients are not allowed to wear them. That would reflect badly on me.

 

I have ranted, I have raved, raged and screamed. Clicked my tongue in disgust. Given the beady eyeball. Fantasised about flash-mobs in which Croc-wearers are bombarded by all manner of cooking ingredients or spray paint.

 

But I thought I was over it. I have not really noticed them lately. Perhaps as a form of self-protection, denial had kicked in and I’d just refused to see them actually happening.

 

But on Sunday, the rage overcame me again and ruined my perfect day. I’d been peacefully sitting, enjoying the serenity of a lunch on a beautiful day with gorgeous, hilarious company when these foul things stomped all over my happiness:

 

 

Is this an attempt to make the ugly Croc cuter? Are we now going to see ugly renditions of other shoe styles moulded into sickly fluorescent plastic clogs with holes in them?

 

Oh I don’t know how much longer I can take it!!!

 

 

 

What Your Work Shoes Say About You

By Karn Knutson

There’s an -ology for everything, but what about the most important -ology of all: Shoeology? Read on to find out what your work shoes reveal about your personality!

Strappy Red Satin.

At the office, this is a dead giveaway—you want to be anywhere but where you are. Preferably with some tall, dark, handsome man or with friends that make you laugh so hard you snort. You know you’re smarter than your boss and so does your boss’s boss. When you walk into a meeting with “The Boys,” you take full advantage of being able to keep them off balance, straddling the line between attraction and fear.

Boot Seasoned.

You can’t wait for the temperature to drop or the night air to have a chill. You watch the Weather Channel in summer in hopes of a freak cold snap. You love the sound the zipper makes as it crawls up your calf. To you, these boots are sexier than any teetering toe strap and pencil thin heel, especially since you can actually walk in them. Correction—you can stride in them. Confidence is so sexy, especially in a boot.

Preppy Spoken Here.

“I am Ivy League. I’ve had boyfriends named Biff, Cliff, and Chet. My sport of choice is brunching at the club. I have had at least one postgraduate degree, earned because I felt I hadn’t devoted enough time to that area during my double major undergrad. When I decide to have children, they will be scheduled—from conception to delivery and all the activities from than point forward. My sense of humour is so dry, on the rare occasion I laugh, I become parched. Please pass the imported sparkling mineral water, crystal glass, crushed with ice and a twist of lime. Not a slice, a twist.”

Faithfully Dull.

Far from bewitching, these are the shoes found in offices everywhere. They are the loyal companions of the pantsuit, from the smallest cubicle to the snobbiest of boardrooms. You don’t particularly like being average height, so you found the perfect solution: The shoe version of white noise—always there, serving the purpose of adding three inches, but going mostly unnoticed. Stand tall, little lady—everyone else thinks you are.

The Pain Inflictor.

Their piercing presence instils fear in the hearts of men everywhere. They may have their power ties, but you know what really takes command of a room—a wickedly pointed toe flowing down from an equally sharp heel. It gives you a little adrenaline rush every time you glance down and see that point jutting forth from beneath your perfectly tailored trouser. Look out world, look out boys! It’s irrelevant that your toes want to file for divorce every time you slide these killers on, because you wouldn’t trade them for the world. After all, ruling the world is your goal and these are the shoes you’ll be wearing when you conquer it.

Whatever your work shoes reveal about you, take Karn’s advice: “Live a big life. And wear cute shoes.”

Fancy Footwork

Fancy Footwork

 

What message do inappropriate shoes convey in a work environment?

 

Find out about surprising footwear faux pas which you may not have considered,

by watching Karen Loxton from Famous Fox

 

on CNBC Africa

DSTV Channel 290

Tuesday 9 October at 6:45 am

Morning Business Edition

 

 

“Appropriate footwear for the office”

with Peter Ndoro and Leigh Roberts

New Shoes…

Paolo Nutini

Woke up cold one tuesday,
I’m looking tired and feeling quite sick,
I felt like there was something missing in my day to day life,
So I quickly opened the wardrobe,
Pulled out some jeans and a T-Shirt that seemed clean,
Topped it off with a pair of old shoes,
That were ripped around the seams,
And I thought these shoes just don’t suit me.

Hey, I put some new shoes on,
And suddenly everything is right,
I said, hey, I put some new shoes on and everybody’s smiling,
It so inviting,
Oh, short on money,
But long on time,
Slowly strolling in the sweet sunshine,
And I’m running late,
And I dont need an excuse,
’cause I’m wearing my brand new shoes.

Woke up late one thursday,
And I’m seeing stars as I’m rubbing my eyes,
And I felt like there were two days missing,
As I focused all the time,
And I made my way to the kitchen,
But I had to stop from the shock of what I found,
A room full of all my friends dancing round and round,
And I thought hello new shoes,
Byebye them blues.

Take me wondering through these streets,
Where bright lights and angels meet,
Stone to stone they take me on,
I’m walking to the break of dawn.

Take me wondering through these streets

Red bags

As we bade farewell to another fantastic Girl’s Weekend in a remote town somewhere in South Africa, Sam and I noticed, simultaneously, some noteworthy style. A young mother, dressed casually in denim with flat, unremarkable shoes on, but with the most spectacular red handbag! Her fabulous accessory made her stand out from the crowd. She was chic. She was enviable. She was style. A red handbag has a fascinating ability to make any outfit look utterly fantastic. Joy to the Red Handbag! If you haven’t got one yet, may I strongly suggest it could be time?
 

Celebs looking fab with their red handbags

There’s a red bag for everyone! So many great styles to choose from, all utterly gorgeous and envy-making!

 

While this trend suits anyone of any age, it may be advisable to keep this one for the ladies…

The Low Down on Metallics

While metallics can add a bit of glam and sparkle to an otherwise boring ensemble, it is far to easy to take the look over-the-top. To avoid appearing as if you’ve been attacked by a giant roll of tin-foil, the old mantra “less is more” applies more than ever. One or two pieces of metallic in an outfit is enough.

Unless you approach wearing metallics with the right amount of subtlety, it’s easy to come across as cheap and cheesy.

So how does one keep something as bold as wearing metallics, subtle?

First, there are different types of metallic to consider.

 

There are your mirror shiny, check-your-reflection metallics, which can be a challenge to wear without appearing over-bling-ed:

 

 

 

 

 

There are über-shiny coloured metallics, which I have never seen anyone pull off without looking trashy:

And then there are the muted, softer metallics which are brushed and can look elegant:

 

For shoes, it’s probably worth investing a little extra on good quality, because once your metallics are scuffed, the only place for them is the trash. It’s also important to keep them clean after wearing them. Wipe off any marks or dust to avoid the same trashy feel as scuffs.

When choosing handbags and belts, feel the fabric and decide whether or not it feels cheap and may begin to peel.

If you wear metallic jewellery that is already quite flashy, skip the metallic clothing altogether.

 

 

PS on metallics… what do you think?

Everyone is doing metallics these days. Overkill? trashy? stylish? What do you reckon?

I just had to share these with you:

Got oil?

 

I actually just don’t know what to say.

 

 

Just, gross. Really. Do you agree? Would you change your mind if I told you they were Guiseppe Zanotti, Dolce Gabbanna and Manolo Blahniks?

 

 

At least J-Lo has the good sense to appear embarrassed.

 

What’s our girl thinking? What do you think of this?

 

 

And finally, it seems Jada’s been dressing Will too…

 

 

Tone it down people! Repeat after me:

“Less is more. Less is more. Less is more…”