FabSugar

Fab Ad? Sisley Fashion Junkie, 1

FabSugar — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 09:00:33 PDT

UPDATE: I have been informed by Sisley's parent company Benetton that these ads are fake. To see the real Sisley fall ad campaign, please visit Sisley.com. Thanks!

OK hold up. Sisley has gone too far with this ad. I normally like Sisley's racy and daring ads but this is too much - too in your face! The line of poking fun has crossed over into inappropriate. This ad is part of a series and if you look at Fashion Junkie, 2, where the fashion vice is alcohol instead of blow, I think that is as far a fashion junkie as Sisley should have gone.

Back in 2004, Benetton owned Sisley was featured in an article about how in France ultra provocative advertising isn't shocking - which is true for a lot of countries - but the US is tighter lipped about such things. While I appreciate sultry imagery and can laugh at a cheeky message, there is a fine line.

There are a couple more things I'd like to point out here. There is some nippleage on the left model - no big whoop really. And, I wonder if Chase Bank is OK with these models using one of their bank cards as a cutting device. As for the clothes, I like the deep purple dress but I really can't focus on anything but the not-so-subliminal message and the weird look in the model's eye. What do you all think?!

Source

10 Biggest Spending Excuses and How to Squash Them

LearnVest — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:15:12 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

You’re a clever gal.

Which probably means that your mind can have a, well, mind of its own.

You can talk yourself into things, out of things, even over things (he always did look kind of lame in his favorite fedora). When your mind is healthy, strong, and on the angelic side of your shoulder, talking you out of overspending, great. But when it’s a weak and flabby devil’s advocate, telling your better self, “But it’s on sale . . . and you’ll be getting that extra commission check soon,” then it’s time to bring in the big guns: a little combat training to beat those excuses into shape.

Below, your guide to creating a mind of anti-shopping steel: the top 10 spending excuses we use-and how to squash them. Think of these as squats for your spending “buts.” Now get to work, and repeat as necessary!

Excuse #1: But It's on Sale

(Also known as: It's really cheap; it's only $12.99; it's such a great deal.)

Ah, the lure of the deal. Retailers so understand that people want a deal that an entire Groupon-inspired industry has spawned from this, and outlets even create fake markdowns on their price tags. This will require a mind of steel, but you must train yourself to ignore the base price and focus only on the offered price. Your only considerations should be: (1) Whether you really need it, and (2) whether the price fits within your budget. Even big discounts can mean big spending.

Excuse #2: But I've Been Working so Hard, I Deserve It

We all work hard (unless you're born wealthy or won the lottery, in which case, um, good for you). Donna Summer put it best when she said, "She works hard for the money." That's right. We all work hard. It's not that you shouldn't use your hard-earned money to enjoy life-you should. It's just that "working hard" shouldn't be an excuse to spend. After all, it's not like your income automatically expands proportionally to how difficult work has been lately. Your budget trumps how you feel about your work stress. (But if it consistently doesn't add up, look for a job where you'll be compensated better-and check out our salary negotiating tips.)

Read on for more spending excuses.

Bare Escentuals Blindly Casts Its Fall Campaign

Jaime Richards — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 05:03:07 PDT

For Bare Escentuals' latest campaign, dubbed Be a Force of Beauty, executive chairman Leslie Blodgett and her team didn't look to celebrity spokesmodels to participate in the brand's ads. In fact, they didn't even look at the models to be featured in the campaign. In an approach pretty much unheard of in traditional advertising standards, the beauty company instead chose to run a blind casting call.

"We wanted to pick women based on what they stood for," Blodgett explained. "We thought, 'Are they people we want to spend time with? Do they have a voice, and do they have something to say?'" It all started with 271 women - a pool of models and actresses, (so how bad could the results really be?) - and an online questionnaire. To see more about how it all went down, just keep reading.

9 Techies on the Forbes List of 100 Most Powerful Women

Kelly Schwarze — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:44:44 PDT

Forbes's list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women has been released, and we're excited to see quite a few techies in the group.

Forbes selects candidates within six categories: billionaires, business, lifestyle (including entertainment and fashion), media, nonprofits, and politics. From those categories, each person is ranked upon three metrics: "dollars, a traditional and social media component, and power base points."

Nine women with technology connections made the prestigious list. Find out who they are and their rankings below.

5. Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook - According to Forbes, Sheryl has helped to grow active Facebook users to represent 11 percent of the world's total population. She is also an outspoken advocate of empowering women in the workforce.
6. Melinda Gates, cofounder and cochair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - A computer scientist in her own right, Melinda Gates now focuses on the foundation named after her and husband. In the last year alone, the organization gave away $2.4 billion in global charitable contributions with an emphasis on immunizations.
16. Susan Wojcicki, SVP of Advertising, Google - Dubbed "the most important Googler you've never heard of," Susan was the one to rent her legendary Palo Alto garage to the Google founders. She currently oversees AdWords and mobile advertising products and is responsible for bringing in 96 percent of the company's total revenue.
20. Cher Wang, cofounder and chair, HTC; VIA Technologies - As cofounder of Taiwan-based HTC, Cher has grown the company to be the maker of more than out of every five smartphones.
37. Carol Bartz, CEO, Yahoo! - As CEO of the Internet search engine, Carol has made Yahoo! into a leading digital media group with an audience reach over 700 million.

The remaining four most powerful women with a tech focus after the break.

Shop For Good: Your Guide to Conscious Consumerism

SavvySugar — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:15:00 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Trends. They seduce us into buying a hot item, only to leave us a year later with an emptier wallet and a useless widget.

But there’s one trend we at LearnVest can get behind: conscious consumerism.

At its most basic level, buying consciously just means taking a couple of extra seconds to consider each purchase. It’s a way to buy healthier food, keep your home free of clutter and keep your budget intact.

But what we’re talking about in this case is the ethical consumption movement, or buying with an eye toward your fellow (wo)man and the environment.

The Basics of Conscious Consumerism

Often called “voting with your dollar,” conscious consumerism is a way to support your values every time you walk into a store. It can be as simple as using natural toothpaste, as stylish as finding a fair trade purse from a company that employs women in Ghana or as grand as boycotting a misbehaving corporation.

It’s also effective. The rise of brands like Burt’s Bees and Newman’s Own shows that consumers like you are eager to support brands that treat people, animals and the environment with respect. Conscious consumption can even be a fashion statement. Just ask one of the many proud wearers of TOMS shoes. Because of these brands’ successes, large corporations are sitting up and taking notice.

Read on to find out more.

Giving Vintage Posters a Shot

Julia Walsh — Mon, 09 May 2011 08:40:00 PDT

I've never been a big fan of vintage advertising posters - particularly the reproductions. But after coming across this adorable kitchen corner, I realized maybe it's not so much the poster I have a problem with but the way they're displayed. The sprightly yellow paint and striped and botanical textiles pull out all of the colors from the poster in a sweet and peppy fashion. The scale of the poster is also just right for this corner and gives the room height. Plus, the vintage cakestand, pitcher, and glassware on the table chime into the retro look of Les Cycles Alcyon.

I thought I'd round up a few more vintage posters for y'all, in case you're also liking the look!

Photo by Justin Bernhaut

Link Time: Gwen Stefani Is Launching a Kids' Line For Target

FabSugar — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:43:48 PDT

Gwen Stefani is launching a kids' collection for Target - InStyle
Dolce & Gabbana's satin fringe Miss Dea clutch is flap-tastic - Bag Snob
Marks & Spencer axes their advertising campaign - Vogue UK
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony's divorce won't affect their Kohl's line - The Cut
Fashion that makes us sad: The Row's $39,000 backpack - Yahoo Shine
Jessica Stam is filming behind-the-scenes makeup tutorials for CoverGirl - Modelinia
Karlie Kloss, Jason Wu, and more share their vacation photos - Vogue Daily
Theory founder's next big investment - The Inside Source
Talking singing and style with Zooey Deschanel - Yahoo Shine
A tribute to the YSL Tribute - The Frisky
Confirmed: Kanye West is launching a fashion line this Fall - Refinery29

Carine Roitfeld Announces Her First Project After Leaving Vogue Paris

Chi Diem Chau — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 07:11:17 PDT

After much speculation regarding who, what, or where Carine might be heading to after leaving Vogue Paris, Roitfeld has finally announced her next gig as a guest editor, muse, and stylist for Barneys New York's multifaceted Fall 2011 initiative. "For me, Barneys has always been the biggest name in luxury department stores, so to be able to participate in this project with them, and be visible during the next fashion week in New York, is my dream come true," said Roitfeld. "To a French girl, it's a big, big dream."

In addition to styling and editing Barneys's advertising campaign - which will be shot by her close colleague Mario Sorrenti - catalog, and Fall mailers, Roitfeld will play a part in styling Barneys's famous Madison Avenue windows, set to unveil in September. Barneys customers will also be treated with a short Sorrenti-shot film, showing them a more personal side of Roitfeld highlighting her views on fashion and style. "Barneys is about a sense of surprise and discovery, and Carine is a reminder that fashion needs a sense of the unexpected," said Mark Lee, Barneys CEO. We can't wait to see Carine's work at Barneys; are you excited as well?

Allure's Linda Wells Reflects on 20 Years of Beauty

Annie Tomlin — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:55:35 PDT

This year, Allure celebrates 20 years of covering all things beauty. While shipping the next issue and jetting off to global fashion weeks, Editor in Chief Linda Wells reflected on Allure's two decades of growth. To find out how the magazine has evolved, what Wells thinks about bringing curvier women into the fold, and the best beauty advice she knows, read on for our Q&A.

Model Diversity: Women Buy When Models Look Like Them

Annie Scudder — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:40:44 PST

Average size might soon replace the current sample size seen on the covers of magazines, in fashion ads, and on the runway. But I doubt some altruistic goal or gimmick of celebrating "real women" (aren't the thin women real, too?) will motivate the change. Rather a concern about the bottom line will lead to more diversity in model size, as well as race and age. New data shows that women are more likely to buy clothes when the models look like them.

A PhD student at Cambridge University conducted a study with 3,000 British, American, and Canadian women and found that "the vast majority of women significantly increase purchase intentions when they see a model that reflects their age, size, and race." He says it's in the interest of advertisers and magazine editors "to be mindful of who their target market is and how the models reflect that market."

I'll bet models will always be unusually beautiful, since fantasy and aspirational thinking also influences women's buying habits. But when exceptionally thin and young women who all resemble each other model clothes, it's almost impossible for an average-sized woman to tell how the look will translate in her closet. As more clothes shopping moves online, savvy retailers will likely woo women by presenting clothes in a way that makes as many women as possible think, "Hey, that would look good on me!"