Giorgio Armani to Hooks over

Is giorgio Armani for sale?

Like a sparkle in the quiet blue horizont, the news comes in the hands of Giorgio the King Armani.
John Hooks the brain master, deus ex machina for Armani expansion, looks ready to leave the fashion group after a liaison held up for over 11 Years.
Sudden change of leadership in the Armani Group. According to rumors, in fact, after 11 years was preparing to leave the company vice president John Hooks, the right arm of Giorgio Armani. Having long been responsible for expanding sales of the group, which is present all over the world, eighteen months ago Hooks became vice president with oversight on the area of trade.
Is this going to change the perspective for one of the most celebrated fashion groups?
Our concern is aimed primarily on the stylistic aspects of the brand.
Mr. Armani still has the spirit of a boy, but the body keeps the time and we already can not tell which hand will lead the brand as styling director for the day to come.
If you think that one of the advocates of commercial success goes, other clouds are gathering on the horizon of the eagle's brand.
Giorgio Armani is preparing for the IPO or the sale?

Harrods new shoe room

A pair of limited-edition python-skin sandals by Nicholas Kirkwood have been kept under wraps - until now. I'm the first person to try them on, and they are stunning, with intricate mesh criss-crossing the ankles. They cost around £1,100.

As I start to walk in the 6in-plus heels, I feel unsteady, but Kirkwood advises: "Heel down first, then roll through the balls of your feet and spring off your toes." But it's no good; back into the box they go. It's time to find something a little safer. Here's my choice of on-trend heels - and you can walk in all of them.

Animal print: Python platform sandal, £180, Kurt Geiger. Wear with: flares, Seventies casual.

Colour: Red peep-toe shoe-boot; £350, Kurt Geiger. Wear with: a neutral trouser suit or contrasting bright dress.

Nude: Leather bow sandal, £540, Rupert Sanderson. Wear with: a white Stella McCartney-style trouser suit.

Ladylike: Patent kitten heels with bow, £480, Valentino. Wear with: midi skirts, skinny and cropped slim trousers.

Seventies: Leather sandal, £710, YSL. Wear with: jewel-coloured Gucci-style satin separates.

Harrods Shoe Salon is holding a week of customer events from February 18; 020 7730 1234, harrods.com

read more on telegraph.co.uk http://tinyurl.com/6aq4b7o

Splashing out on Designer handbags and fighter jets - Personal Finance, Business - Independent.ie

Splashing out on Designer handbags and fighter jets

Splashing out on Designer handbags and fighter jets

IF you're crazy enough to spend a few thousand euro on a designer handbag, you probably spend hours every evening checking the offers on eBay.

A Hermes Birkin 35cm Camel bag was on sale last week on eBay for €2,000 plus €75 postage. As the same bag could set you back about €6,500 in BTs, you can pick up designer handbags on eBay for about a third of the high street price.

Or you could just settle for a Prada Saffiano bag instead -- certain models are on sale in Brown Thomas for €995.

If you've got about €82,000 to spare, you could fulfil your fighter-pilot dreams by snapping up a rare two-seater Harrier jump jet on eBay.

The Harrier Jump Jet T-Bird Aircraft XW269, which was priced at about €82,000 on eBay last week, comes complete with cannon and missile storage pods.

read more on Independent.ie http://tinyurl.com/65d7gyo

Prada handbags? Barneys no more!

Barneys is No Longer Selling Prada Handbags and Ready-to-Wear

Forget about fashion directors and window dressers. The biggest news coming out of Barneys since CEO Mark Lee came aboard is that the luxury retailer is dropping Prada handbags and women’s ready-to-wear from its stores. Update: We’ve heard from a source within Barneys that the real reason for the break up is not because of Barneys being unhappy with Prada, but because of a disagreement about leasing. (Prada wanted to lease its space in the store like it does at other department stores; Barneys doesn’t do that.) And that the decision was made before Lee even got to Barneys.

The Prada handbags section will be replaced by Valextra, a handbag line that’s exclusive to Barneys. (We’re sure you’ve heard of it–they’ve been shilling it like crazy for the past couple of years.) The store will still carry Prada men’s ready-to-wear and Prada shoes for both sexes...

read more on fashionista http://tinyurl.com/4upc2p6