Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Shoe TV - Nine West launches Channel 9















There isn't a chick-flick on our screens that isn't product placement Heaven for anything remotely of interest to its audience.

Brands spend a lot of coin to get their products in movies, TV series and reality television but yesterday American shoe chain Nine West launched Channel 9 and effectively cut out the middleman.

Channel 9 will featuring segments covering all manner of topics relating to footwear from walking in stilettos, shoe repair tips and insider stories on some serious shoe walk-ins.

Nine West launched the channel as the centerpiece of a new multimedia campaign which incorporates significant print advertising, as well as the digital platform, to reinvigorate its reputation for stylish and affordable shoes.

Not that sales figures would suggest the need for any kind of reinvention, according to the New York Times last year Nine West had global sales of just under $1 billion.

Channel 9 will introduce 10 hours of programming over the next few months. Check it our for yourself here.

@traceygillinder would like to apologize for cheating on Shoe Addict readers. Forgive me? Then check out the new Brisbane Times Plus One Column!


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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Shoe drops on 20,000 Louboutin fakes


If someone offers you a genuine pair of Christian Louboutin heels at a Tupperware party style gig for a price that sounds too good to be true, chances are it is.

I would think the first tip off should be the red-soled stilts being sole party-plan style but hey, that's just me.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection confiscated 20,457 pairs of counterfeit Christian Louboutin shoes at the Los Angeles / Long Beach seaport this week with an estimated street value of $18 million.

"They label the shipments as generic shoes when, in fact, they’re bringing over contraband," Jaime Ruiz, a public affairs specialist for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security told ABC News.

According to Customs and Border Protection, the knock-off Louboutins were transported in five different shipments on a cargo ship in large boxes from China and had a domestic value of more than $57,000 (meaning it cost just less than $3 per pair to make them).

Officials took pictures of the shoes and consulted with the trademark holder to authenticate the shoe. Once they learned they were counterfeit, the hot commodities were taken off the black market and placed into the border patrol's possession.

Apparently some of the slick red soles were different shades of red which, pardon the pun, red flagged the haul. What do you expect at 3 bucks a pop I suppose.

@traceygillinder would like to apologize for cheating on Shoe Addict readers. Forgive me? Then check out the new Brisbane Times Plus One Column!


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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Gucci’s smoked glass and mirrored doors swing open in Brisbane




It does seem a little humorous to me that Gucci would swing open its smoked glass and mirrored doors in the CBD during the week Brisbane celebrates ‘City meets Country’ with the RNA’s Ekka.

Recently working in Melbourne and having the usual small country town jibes flung at me on more than one occasion, I simply adore the irony of one of the world's leading luxury fashion brands taking up residence in Brisbane during the week of our Royal National Show.

Gucci however is not alone; it is merely the latest high-end retailer to set up shop in what is being dubbed the ‘Paris end of town.’ With esteemed designer neighbours Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Salvatore Ferragamo, Mont Blanc, Tiffany & Co., Coach and Ralph Lauren, the question of whether Brisbane is ready for these luxury labels is immaterial – they’re here and loads of shoppers are frequenting them.

Fashionistas from the Gold to the Sunshine Coast sipped French champagne and nibbled on delicate canapés at Gucci’s new boutique on Edward Street last night to celebrate. The store spans more than 300 square meters and boasts a design concept by Gucci’s Creative Director Frida Giannini.

















“I wanted to amplify the luxuriousness of the Gucci store environment and to create an aesthetic, which is complementary to the vision of the House today,” explains Giannini. “This design concept is a modern architectural statement that references iconic Gucci materials and elements of stores from the past. Everything was carefully chosen to make the design stand out while highlighting the collections in the strongest possible way.”

The store is spectacular, the use of rosewood and marble are enhanced with the introduction of new elements like warm polished gold, smoked mirrors and smoked bronze glass, recalling the elegance and richness of the Art Deco era. Aside from the much talked about overwhelming sense of space, its warm luxurious materials pave the way for a very 21st century contemporary look for the fashion house.

There is a wide selection of temptations including men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, luggage, handbags, small leather goods, shoes, silks, timepieces, jewelry, fragrances, the children’s collection and did I mention the shoes? There are oodles of them.

Echoing the House’s riding heritage, the signature Gucci stirrup is everywhere. Pants tuck into boots, golden studs decorate sandals, and tassels characterize high-heel moccasins. Love!

Another fabulous notch in Brisbane’s belt is that this Gucci boutique will be the first in Australia to offer the made to order handbag. While these bags start from $2,800 they are made specifically to your requirements.

I’m sorry what was that my Southern sisters? Sure, come on up to our little country town and get yourself some made to order Gucci. I can hear the stampede already.

Want more on Gucci’s made to order handbags, click here.


Fashionista Faces:







Lindsay Bennett with John & Deborah Quinn





Troy Cassar-Daley &
Laurel Edwards





Arthur & Katina
Tzaneros





Mary Dickinson





Georgina Lewis &
Amanda McLeay



















@traceygillinder would like to apologize for cheating on Shoe Addict readers. Forgive me? Then check out the new Brisbane Times Plus One Column!


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A picture speaks a thousand words



I apologize, I’ve been otherwise engaged… Shoe Addict’s not following my daily shoe loves on the Facebook page have probably been left wondering what the heck happened this last two weeks.

I’ve been a bit busy. We’ve had to do a quick refresh on the beach house before Spring hits and we have our customary never-ending parade of guests, I’ve been in Melbourne for work and we are finally decluttering post moving house and are getting things in order.

Here are the last two weeks in pictures.




























@traceygillinder would like to apologize for cheating on Shoe Addict readers. Forgive me? Then check out the new Brisbane Times Plus One Column!


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