Hmmm… ever since Chanel & Gucci came out with their versions, I am all of the sudden dying for a new bike!!!  What’s up with the influx of luxury retailer’s sporting goods?   I blogged on some of these things earlier- but Chanel & Gucci are going hardcore… from boats, to boomerangs- and yes, bikes.

The Chanel bike is a Spring/Summer 2008 introduction.  Coco Chanel loved sports.  How fascinating is this quote from her via Paul Morland in his 1996 book, L’Allure de Chanel and quoted here in Vogue UK…

“I dominated fashion for a quarter of a century. Why? Because I knew how to express the times. I invented sport suits for me. Not because other women were playing sports, but because I was playing them. In 1914, there weren’t any dresses to play sport in. When women went to watch sport, they looked like the women watching medieval tournaments in those conical hats. They had very low waistlines, and were constrained at the hips, the legs, everywhere� By inventing the jersey, I liberated the body, I got rid of the waistline, I created a new silhouette.”

What an amazing looking piece of equiptment!  I love the mix of quilted metal and leather- classic!  For a mere $12,000 you could be taking this sweet little ride on your next trip to the market!

Gucci’s bike was introduced for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games.  You can read about it more HERE.  If you’re interested, it will “only” cost you $3420- a real bargain compared to her Chanel counterpart.

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OK… on one hand, I’m tempted to rub my index finger and thumb back and forth like my dad always did- you know, playing the proverbial “world’s smallest violin”.

But on the other hand, dang it- I love watching the Golden Globes. I love the pre-award shows, the red carpet, the best dressed (- and even more so, the worst), checking out Miss Golden Globe, watching the show, the post-award show commentary… and so on- you get it!

But I hadn’t really thought of the real effect that the cancellation of the Globes had on the financials of players in the Fashion Industry until I read this article from the Guardian.

Interesting quote:

The furore about the chaos the cancellations would wreak on Los Angeles, with one estimate suggesting it will cost the city at least $200m if the Oscars are scrapped - has been echoed by fashion designers, claiming that their financial loss will be, if not on a par, at least relatively comparable, because these events are more effective than advertisements in terms of brand recognition. Valentino has said that getting one of his dresses on a winner, as he did with Julia Roberts in 2001, is worth $25m in sales, while Chanel has said that dressing Nicole Kidman in 2002 was worth $10m in sales in the US alone.

I mean, who will ever forget Julia Roberts in vintage Valentino. I didn’t really ever hear what she said- I was too busy checking out that fabulous dress. Loved it when she was coming in… but even more- as she was leaving (the back is just stunning).

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No, this isn’t the latest fragrance from Chanel… I’m referring to No 31 Rue Cambon, Paris: the personal apartment of Coco Chanel.  It’s kept the same as it was at her death in 1971.  Take a peek inside:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpinr4Uts-8]

Interesting tidbits

• the apartment smells like No. 5
• her quilted suede couch inspired her to do quilted leather
• she collected ornamental lions
• take a look at “the Milky Way”- diamonds ARE a girl’s best friend!

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OK, well- probably none of OUR bags, ’cause they’re stuffed with more than 10 long stem rosebuds… but you get the idea. This is Steve Miller’s “Louis Vuitton Blue”.

Steve Miller creates art that should be displayed in Radiologists offices everywhere. He’s fascinated with MRI machines, CAT scans and your every day, garden variety X-Ray machines!

A print from the Louis Vuitton series will run you $900. You have the blue, red or green varieties to choose from.

FYI: Here’s your somewhat vintage (discontinued in the late 90’s) Louis Vuitton Pullman Suitcase (the suitcase that Miller apparently x-rayed) looks like in her skin:

If your more of a Chanel girl than LV- then you could go for a pink, blue or gold Chanel x-ray!

Either print would cost you less than buying a 3D version in the boutique… although you may find a gently used pre-owned authentic one from fashionphile.com for less!

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I always thought part of the allure of being a jock is all the equipment… Well, now I just need to pick my sport!!!

Football…

Soccer…

Tennis:

Badminton?

Surfing…

Decisions, decisions…

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I know this has been around for a while… but for all you Chanel lovers who loved the film, Moulin Rouge and sing the soundtrack at the top of your lungs inside your car (I NEVER do that ), do I have a treat for you!!!

You may have seen this beautiful little film- a two minute commercial for Chanel- directed by Baz Lurhmann (Moulin Rouge, Strictly Ballroom, Romeo & Juliette etc.) and starring Nicole Kidman!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMjoEFyWn8w]

But almost even more incredible, is the “Making of”! “Le Film Du Film Chanel No 5″. You’ve just got to see it- great Chanel historical images, Coco, Nicole stuff, Karl Lagerfeld’s Baz commentary along with a mix of over the top Chanel fine jewelry- diamonds galore, and gowns that are out of this world…. It’s phenomenal and I absolutely can’t get enough!!! (Bear with me, as it’s in 5 parts… it’s totally worth the watch through from beginning to end!)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayE68tWfY6o]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A50-ZfDfVI]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc57QJnU5qA]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyPYfhW-wPY]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l3WqY970Xw]

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Don’t get me wrong… I know that there are some straight guys out there who are into fashion, but the ones in my life just don’t care. I mean, left to his own devices, on a night out to a movie and dinner, my husband would probably wear the same Stussy t-shirt, long shorts and Rainbow sandals that he wore when he was in high school! I’ve finally got him into some designer denim- and he likes it- but it wasn’t easy.

Well, the Tribeca Film festival is concluding this week… and Chanel has been the sponsor this year. Of course, if Chanel sponsors… it makes sense that attendees break out their CC finest for the occasion! So, I was checking out the pictures of one of the parties… checking out the fun clothes and bags- when I stumbled a couple Chanel items that my husband would appreciate more than I would.

Chanel pool balls? Who’d have thunk???

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No, it isn’t Fashion Pile… or Fashion File… we are FASHIONPHILE! Coco Chanel said that “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening” and Dictionary.com says that “phile” is

1. One that loves or has a strong affinity or preference for:
2. Loving; having a strong affinity or preference for:

So there you have it! A FASHIONPHILE is someone who loves or has a strong affinity for what is happening, right now, not only the clothes we wear, the bags we carry, the shoes we love… but everything that is now!

Hope to meet any of you FASHIONPHILEs out there who love what we do!!!

Sarah

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