There are some Christmas Adverts that deserve mentioning. The John Lewis Monster Under the Bed is one of them. It melted our hearts while making us laugh.
Tag: shopping
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One Last Time
During Pars Fashion Week I decided to go to Colette one last time. How sad I was, the legendary boutique of style is closing at the end of the year. The usual electric atmosphere of shoppers looking over every item from basic reader glasses to designer sneakers.
Japanese designer Sacai was the brand of the week on the second floor.
I had a café latte then a sandwich in the Colette Lounge before sitting down at the smoking area in front of the store window for a bit of people watching where I met the creative director of a major entertainment company. We chatted about the store and what we bought. I am going to miss this place.
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Paris Fashion Week
Black and Paper at Paris Fashion Week
Images by Associate Editor Leah Ahuja
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Shaving Cream What?
Shaving Cream What?
An ordinary trip to buy shaving cream turned into a journey of admiration, passion, male bonding, and disillusionment. Standing in front of the selection for creams I narrowed down my choices: L’Oreal or Nivea. While I was making my final decision a tall, handsome guy stood walked up to condom display wall next to the men’s grooming section. His decision was more interesting than mine. My attention turned to his face as he was studying the different boxes. All of the sudden the shaving cream was less interesting. What was he going to choose?
His left hand reached for the regular size box of condoms but then moved to the box marked “KING SIZE”. My respect and admiration along with my curiosity levels were turned on. He took the box latter box off the store peg then walked away. My thoughts were running. Safe Sex is still important. Size! Measurements! When was he going to use them? Cell phone number! What is his definition of King Size?
I continued to look over the cans of shaving cream. Suddenly, in a split two seconds, the guy was back, he quickly took the normal size box of condoms then walked away. I wanted to say” FAKE” but held it.
I was crushed. My emotions were played. I easily fell for a misrepresentation of physical manhood packaged in box. I judged a person a marked box and a sexual fantasy. How could this have happened? I felt used, liked the second choice during closing time at a cheap bar. The experience left me shaken.
I did not buy the shaving cream.
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Au Revoir Colette
SHOCKED! SADDENED! I could believe it! When I read the email with the headline I was in a state of disbelief. How? What? There was no warning. So many questions raced through my head. Colette is closing at the end of the year after 20 years. The influential concept store on Rue Saint Honore, Paris will go dark on December 20th stating in a release, “All good things must come to an end.” So there it was a simple sentence to confirm the news.
https://www.instagram.com/p/-gr1FJn24D/?taken-by=blackandpaper
When I started Black and Paper I traveled to Paris for fashion week. I managed to get an interview and store tour for the new magazine. Why was this significant? The webzine was small and much unknown to the public and in the profession but you would have never known this by the way the staff treated me. All were professional. I was treated like an editor of Vogue. The store policy has always been we treat everyone equally. Yes, they did and still do.
Founded by in 1997 by Colette Rousseaux, Colette was a force in fashion from the beginning with designer collaborations, championing new and independent fashion designers, or limited edition products from luxury to everyday brands. An intimate location covering 3 floors, it has been a trendsetting destination from the start, always “in”. A shopper could find an item for $10.000 or a something for $3.00.
I will miss going to the store to see the crowds of fashion style enthusiasts. I liked having a Café Latte in the basement café. I will cherish the moments.
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Pitti Notes
Pitti Umo
Tommy Hilfiger is going for a game changing strategy by integrating brick & mortar with a new digital presence that challenges the present framework of the fashion week by shrinking order times of design to store shelves, a digital interaction touchscreen allowing clients to order any item and have it delivered within 24 hours. Fans of Tommy Hilfiger could see the pop up screen anywhere.
Unique, Fabulous, Bold, and High styled are the words I use for the Kanpekino shoes from Japan. Made of cow and seal leather the designer has a unique vision of shoe wear. While walking around Pitti Uomo the animal print styles on the display table caught my eye. Each shoe is hand produced in a factory near Tokyo.
Italian Brand Il Cappottino from Senigallia are for the person who wants a personal style in the outerwear style. Expressive coats made of wool and cashmere with colors.
Stay Tuned for more notes and features
All images by Canon G9X
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Mensstyle Credits
For our Philips and Menswear Productions Black and Paper used the following brands:
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The Best Word in the English Language
SALE!
These items are for sale at GREAT PRICES!
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Colette Experience
What is a trip to Paris without a visit to Colette on Rue Saint-Honore? Always an experience, never dull, this boutique is a world class destination for fashion and trends with hundreds of distinctive, diverse items reflective of its status as first class shopping destination.
Black and Paper Chat during Paris Fashion Week in Colette.
What is Colette?
Fashion is a piece of the puzzle. It is art, watches, food, streetwear. And there is intimacy here. The buyers select but 1 person decides on what is in the store. It is all one vision. But Colette loves life.
Are there plans to open another store?
NEVER! There are no plans. All the focus is on this store.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOjZ3dBD5zA/?taken-by=blackandpaper%20
Why do non-fashion brands want to be sold here?
They want to touch another type of clients. We can display products in a new way. We had an event with Samsung. Coca Cola (Special Edition Bottle), Happy Plugs, Fuji Camera, Disney, World Cup, and Moet Chandon had special “Colette Collections” only available here.
The Colette Café is a meeting point especially at Fashion Week, there are people from all over the world.
(Side note: During our conversation a well-known magazine editor and publisher came by our table to say “hi.”)
It is a destination where fashion people have to come. Lagerfeld came in to shop without the drama. He is often here. But all customers are treated equally, the same service whether Jay Z or a person who walks in for the first time for a 4.00 euro café or a 4000 euro one of a kind Ready to Wear jacket.
It is a meeting point all the time. It is very difficult to get bored in Colette. There is always investment in the store to keep it fresh and new, it is the curiosity factor. Like the menu designs and wallpaper, these are redone every 2 weeks.
There is always an event ranging from a pop up store to book signing. Vogue Creative Director Grace Coddington had a successful book signing.
The Burberry London Fashion Week See Now Buy Now event was very successful. We had a video feed of the runway show, then after we allowed viewers to buy the see and buy the collection
Independent Brands are always supported in the store.
YES! They are the future.
Paskal Clothes form the Ukraine .
Sacai from Japan is great, a brand mixing RTW with Bespoke.
The Fabrizio Viti shoe collection is a must have.
What’s popular now ?
Chris Kane Sweatshirts are popular. Kongol hats, Puma High Heels. Streetwear is in the store’s DNA.
What about shopping online?
The website is the Colette experience but on a screen. Everything in the store is online.
Colette is located in Paris at 213 Rue Saint Honore or go to:www.colette.fr
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Black and Paper Christmas List 2016
You Can Never Go Wrong with a Gift by Chanel
For Her
An out-and-out classic, Chanel No.5 is a cultural seedbed for woman’s fragrance. “What do I wear to bed? Why, Chanel No. 5 of course.” Chanel has always been associated with glamour and fabulousness, attributed to the women who wear it. So rear is a scent with qualities that inspire a wearer.
For Him
Allure Homme Sport from Chanel is a citrus based contemporary scent for men with touches of amber and cedar. What I like about this cologne is the fact it compliments without overpowering the wearer. Allure Homme Sport is a man’s fragrance for activity, a dash but no smelling like he is in rush, a winner.
Chanel is available in fine stores worldwide.