Turning over a new Burberry Prorsum leaf

Today I bought my very first Burberry Prorsum item!

It may not seem like a very big deal but I have been a very loyal Versace customer for the past 12 years!  Lately, I have been a bit disappointed with the items Versace actually buys... A lot of the items I want from the fashion show are not available in any of the US stores and now they have the online store but there are very few items...

Burberry and many other high-end (even mid-level) companies have wonderful interactive websites and online stores that clearly show the items.  I love how Burberry has so much information on just one item, such as:  the description of the item, what its made of, care of the item, where its made, price, what collection its from, and multiple pictures of various view and even sometimes video!  It makes buying an item enjoyable - instead of feeling like you're on a wild goose chase; if there is a goose to chase at all...

So here are my new sunglasses bought from the Houston Galleria.  The Burberry employee was very helpful and efficient.  I like that she used her iPad to bring up information about the product - using technology is a great thing!

The Splash Sunglasses in teal blue.

 These glasses feature scratch-resistant lenses!  

Why aren't all designer sunglasses scratch-resistant? 

Screenshots of the Burberry website for the sunglasses.

Runway picture from the Burberry website.

Two other runway photos from style.com.

The Splash Sunglasses on Burberry's website.  These sunglasses area also available in: gray, mustard, and dark racing green. 

So I applaud Burberry and all companies that use the latest technologies to help customer and make shopping more efficient and enjoyable!

Versace Men's S/S '12 Sunglasses

The Versace men's spring summer 2012 fashion show sunglasses are finally here!

The Mod. # is 2130.  These sunglasses are similar in design to Lady Gaga's vintage Versace sunglasses  .  I was told that there is a wait list at the moment and were produced in very limited quantity.  Four different colors are available.

Versace Mod. 2130 - Front View

Versace Mod. 2130 - Back View

Versace Mod. 2130 - Side View Detail

Versace Mod. 2130 - Detail on the Temple Tips

Model from the Versace S/S 2012 fashion show.

photo from style.com

Model from the Versace S/S 2012 fashion show.

photo from style.com

Model from the Versace S/S 2012 backstage.

photo from Versace.com

Versace S/S 2012 Men's Swimwear

Versace Spring/Summer 2012 Swimwear is here!  

I just got my lycra rose print briefs.  The fit is wonderful and very comfortable as well as the overall excellent stitching and quality.  The US only got a few of each size so if you are looking for these contact your local Versace boutique soon!

Lycra rose print briefs

The Versace label is now gold instead of white.

The back of the swim briefs not seen during the runway fashion show.

Close up of the medusa on the back. 

Lycra rose print briefs

Another printed brief - available at select Versace boutiques. 

Printed square cut swimwear - available at select Versace boutiques.

Versace Men's F/W 2012 Show Time

The Versace Men's Fall/Winter 2012 Fashion Show will be shown on January 16, 2012.

Above is the preview pic from Versace's Facebook community.

The fashion show can be seen through live streaming at the following link:

Versace F/W 2012

Judging from the picture above it looks like its going to be a colorful fall/winter collection! 

My Versace S/S 2012 Wish List

Runway Sunglasses

Leather Wristband

Swimwear

Patent Leather Gladiator Sandals

All photos from Versace.com

Versace Men's Fashion Show Swimwear

I am a huge fan of Versace.  One of my most favorite things is the Versace mens fashion show swimwear.  These are the pieces of swimwear that are shown during the Spring/Summer Versace fashion shows every year (Versace makes additional pieces that are not part of the fashion shows such as their monogram collection).  The fashion show swimwear always goes along with the rest of the collection so every year it is very different than the last - in terms of pattern, cut, style, etc.   It is my Spring tradition to buy a new Versace swimsuit and I wanted to share my collection so far...

 S/S 2004:  Moroccan Inspired Collection

This was the only swimsuit for the S/S 2004 Versace collection.

This was the first Versace swimsuit I bought when I was 18 years old from the now closed Chevy Chase, Maryland Versace boutique.  It is still my most favorite piece of clothing mostly due to sentimental value and the amount of time I wore them.  This same exact pair was used in a photo shoot for a magazine.

 S/S 2005:  Chaos Couture Collection

 This was 1 of 4 swimsuits in the S/S 2005 Versace collection.

This was a very difficult swimsuit to acquire.  It took months to locate it and I finally received it for Christmas 2005.  The second bikini in this collection was seen at the Houston, TX boutique the next year and they were still full price.

 S/S 2006:  Miami Beach Inspired Collection

This was 1 of 7 swimsuits in the S/S 2006 Versace collection.

I really like this swimsuit because of the cut and the metal piece on the side - it shows some skin and gives you a interesting tan line.

S/S 2007:  Dan Flavin Inspired Collection

1 of 2 swimsuits in the S/S 2007 Versace collection. 

Unfortunately I could not find either one.  I was told that Versace didn't make them or that the US buyer didn't buy them for the US Versace boutiques.  I was also in Hong Kong that year and none of the 3 Hong Kong Versace boutiques had them either.  :(

S/S 2008 and S/S 2009:  No Swimwear for both seasons!!!!!  These two seasons were both under the creative direction of ex-Cloak designer Alexandre Plokhov.  

 S/S 2010:  Middle Eastern / North African Inspired Collection

1 of 4 swimsuits in the S/S 2010 Versace collection.

Sand-wave pattern square cut swimsuit.  

Very comfortable and a nice change from the swim briefs and swim shorts.

S/S 2011:  80's Inspired Collection

1 of the 8 swimsuits in the S/S 2011 Versace collection.

Unfortunately the mens buyer for the US Versace boutiques did not buy any swimwear this season! 

I felt really lucky that I found this swimsuit at the Versace boutique on Paradise Island, Bahamas.

S/S 2012:  Classic Versace Gladiator 

1 of 4 swimsuits in the 2012 Versace collection.

I wonder what pieces they will make and buy for the US for 2012?

Fashion is beautiful, wonderful, and mysterious.  Like many things in life, if it isn't understood it is hard to appreciate.  I have been asked hundreds of times "why do you like Versace?  and "why do you need Versace swimwear?"  and the truth is because it symbolizes my life in a way that I cannot completely describe.  It is partly because of my love for the ocean and growing up close to the beach my entire life - swimwear is part of the daily wardrobe.  I chose Versace because I find it unique, rare, and beautiful - which I hope is symbolic of myself.  Having an interest in something and having a collection makes life simply more enjoyable.

Versace for H&M

Versace has released the news on there website that they will be collaborating with H&M!! They will have mens, womens, and home accessories. The items will be sold at select H&M stores starting November 17, 2011.

This looks very exciting! I can't wait to see the items and hopefully buy a few too. The homeware items sound very appealing too.

The above photo is a screenshot from the Versace.com homepage.

For more information go to:

Versace

or this informative article from Vogue.com:

Versace for H&M

***Update***

Donatella Versace wore a Versace for H&M dress for here S/S 2012 Menswear show:

...and here is another article from Vogue.com showing a few of the Versace for H&M pieces:

Versace for H&M preview

Versace Mens S/S 2012

The Versace Men's Spring/Summer 2012 fashion show was today!

The collection was reported as: "masculine, heroic, and glamourous." There is no other way to put it... It was Very Versace.

I like the show but it wasn't my favorite. It will have to grow on me. I think just seeing it as the runway pieces isn't enough. A lot of time I have to see the items individually or styled in a more wearable way as they do in the ad campaigns. Here are some photos of select pieces:

The first look. I like it. Its very wearable and the color is nice for spring/summer.

There were a lot of bright pieces in this collection. The socks with gladiator sandals is odd to me but I do like the sandals a lot otherwise. The shorts are a nice color too but I personally don't like pleats or baggy shorts.

The sunglasses and sandals are must haves for me! The head to toe pattern is not for me but the cut looks very comfortable. The model, Simon Nessman, can make anything look good.

The sunglasses are amazing!! They look very similar to the vintage Versace glasses Lady Gaga has popularized.

The reds in this collection were super bright!

A neutral toned piece that is very wearable.

This is my favorite look of the collection. Im sure the jacket will be all over the place in the spring/summer fashion magazines and in the ad campaign. It looks amazing! If you are thinking about buying it inquire at your local Versace boutique early because they will only have a few (if not only one) and they/it will sell out fast!

I like this knit. Even though it is long sleeve it should be comfortable due to the openings in the fabric.

There were a few pieces of swimwear (thank goodness). This is my favorite of the lot.

I also like how the black and white pattern of this years S/S collection is incorporated into next years.

A nice black suit with the interesting detail of buckles. There was a lot of pieces with buckles in this collection. Some paints had buckles going down the entire length of the outer-seam of each leg.

All photos from Style.com