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Tag: Fashion

  • Stitch Fix CEO Says Localization and Brand Marketing are Key

    Stitch Fix CEO Says Localization and Brand Marketing are Key

    Stitch Fix founder and CEO Katrina Lake says that “we are still early in the journey but have learned a lot in the last couple of years on the marketing front.” Stitch Fix, an online subscription and personal shopping service, was established in 2011 in San Francisco and went public in 2017.

    Katrina Lake, founder, and CEO of Stitch Fix discussed their current marketing strategy on “Squawk Alley” earlier today:

    Stitch Fix Enters the UK Market

    I’m excited about heading into the UK. What we see in Stitch Fix Mens has given us a lot of confidence as we think about a new client base and a new set of inventory. We are now coming up on the two year anniversary of Stitch Fix Mens and now that we are in a place where that business is more mature and contributing to the business you can actually see it in our gross margin. We had the highest gross margin this quarter than we had in the last six quarters.

    Then to add kids and now to add the UK we are really excited about planting those seeds. I think that the UK it is so important in the business of personalization which ours is. We understand each client and understand what each client is looking for.

    There’s a lot of investment in localization, of localizing stylists, of bringing on merchants who understand the market and are buying from brands that our clients in the UK will expect. All of that localization definitely requires more work but we think really sets us up for greater success.

    Revenue Per Client is Up

    We are really excited about seeing revenue per client higher this quarter. What that means is we have high-quality clients that are spending more with us. Right now is a great time to see that because Men’s is getting to a place where we see greater maturity in that business. Kids, our newest business, has not blended into those client numbers yet.

    Internally, figuring out how we can capture more wallet share and how we can make sure we are getting clients more what they love and capturing more of that revenue per client is a really big effort for us.

    We Are Still Early in Our Marketing Journey

    We are still early in the journey and we have learned a lot in the last couple of years on the marketing front. We’ve brought channels in-house. We have a lot of efforts around diversifying our channels. In the last quarter, we had national TV off for 10 of the 13 weeks which really helped us understand regional impacts, how much TV is adding directly and much it is helping our other channels.

    We already knew that TV was an important part of the mix, but it really validated those learnings. It definitely helped us to plan in an accurate way going forward. That being said, even on the TV front, there is still a lot of opportunities as we think about diversification and different tactics.

    Planning Brand Marketing Push Soon

    What we haven’t done any of to date is brand marketing. We have a CMO who has been in the role for three or four months and as we are able to hone that marketing muscle and learn more about what’s working and what’s not working brand marketing is actually going to be another tactic that will be really helpful. This will not just be for activating and generating awareness but also driving more reengagement and driving retention.

    We are part way on the journey on the marketing front but we are still really early. There’s still a lot of the addressable market out there, our awareness is still really really low. We are really excited how much more opportunity there is on the marketing front.  

  • Revolve CFO: Laser-focused on the Largest Buying Power in the World, the Millennial

    Revolve CFO: Laser-focused on the Largest Buying Power in the World, the Millennial

    “Revolve is a whole new species of fashion retail,” says Jesse Timmermans, the CFO at Revolve, in an interview with Entrepreneur Network partner Business Rockstars. “We’ve taken the traditional retail model and evolved that experience to be laser-focused on the largest buying power in the world, the millennial.” (View video below)

    Timmermans says that the biggest challenge of being a CFO for him is balancing risk, cost, opportunities and reaching the right decision for the long-term. “There is a vast amount of data available out there, so how do you take all of that data, translate it, find the right indicators, and make the right decision for the long term,” he said.

    On Competition: You Have to Offer More

    Customer behavior is changing fast and customer expectations are increasing all the time with the larger more transactional based digital retailers making it harder and harder to compete, so you have to go beyond that and offer more. Beyond free shipping, it has to be fast shipping. Beyond free returns, it has to be easy returns.

    We at Revolve treat the home as a dressing room, so we allow the customer to return, we encourage the customer to try new things. We offer a lot of emerging brands, so it’s important for that customer to try something on in their home and to be able to return free and easy.

    Constantly Monitoring Data to Read Brand Performance

    At Revolve we carry a lot of emerging brands, so we need to continually read and react to the performance of these brands. After launching on the site we read within 24 hours how that brand is performing, how that style is performing. We read many many attributes on each piece of clothing and then we make a quick call on do we go deeper or do we cut the brand and the style?

    About Revolve

    Revolve is an ecommerce startup that was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Cerritos, California. The company describes itself as the virtual home for an unrivaled collection of over 700 of the world’s most-coveted established and emerging brands in women’s and men’s designer apparel, shoes, and accessories. Based in the Los Angeles area, Revolve’s is deeply rooted in the Southern California lifestyle from which it was founded, where a savvy view of fashion and fun-loving attitude are infused into the entire customer experience.

  • Younger Consumers Want To Connect Emotionally with Brands, Says PVH CEO

    Younger Consumers Want To Connect Emotionally with Brands, Says PVH CEO

    “Especially today, younger consumers want to connect emotionally with brands,” says Manny Chirico, CEO of apparel company PVH, which owns many lifestyle brands including Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger. “They don’t want to just aspire for your brand looking down the runway, they want to be part of the life of the brand. I think Tommy Hilfiger does it well.”

    Manny Chirico, CEO of apparel company PVH, which owns many lifestyle brands including Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, discusses how the company has turned around by focusing on ecommerce, technology, and connecting with young consumers. He was interviewed on CNBC:

    Consumer Experience is Critical

    You have to be willing to make the investment. I think we really have done it (turned around the company), from not only a brand marketing point of view, but investing in all the new technologies and investing in the ecommerce platforms that really will drive the business going forward. Our stores are highly profitable and we need to continue to invest in those stores. The consumer experience is critical and we’re making connections with a younger and younger consumer.

    We’re all dealing with the challenge of the distribution models changing, but fundamentally we’ve always been a multi-channel retailer. We have big businesses in brick and mortar, both direct-to-consumer in our own stores and through our key wholesale partners like Macy’s here in the US or Galeries Lafayette in Europe. Those key players we continue to invest back into those platforms.

    Younger Consumers Want To Connect Emotionally with Brands

    The challenge with that high-end collector fashion business is are you connecting with a younger consumer today and how do you make your investments as you as you go forward? I think it needs to be more balanced than it’s been. Especially today, younger consumers want to connect emotionally with brands. They don’t want to just aspire for your brand looking down the runway, they want to be part of the life of the brand.

    I think Tommy (Hilfiger) does it well. We just have a fashion show in Paris with Tommy selling product immediately after that trying to connect with the consumer at more affordable price points than what you would see from the luxury point of view. That’s how you build big businesses. We’re not trying to build niche businesses selling just $2,000 men’s suits or evening gowns. We’re really about building big lifestyle businesses.


  • Technology and Innovation Powering Levi Strauss Growth Strategy, Says CEO

    Technology and Innovation Powering Levi Strauss Growth Strategy, Says CEO

    Levi Strauss began trading on the New York Stock Exchange this morning under the ticker symbol ‘LEVI.’ By mid-afternoon, the stock was at $22.66, substantially higher than the price offered to institutional investors. It’s clear that investors believe that Levi’s can leverage technology and innovation to successfully compete online and in brick and mortar stores.

    Levi Strauss Soars in NYSE Debut

    Charles Bergh, CEO of Levi Strauss, discusses how technology and innovation are driving increased sales and market share in an interview with CNBC coinciding with their IPO:

    We Are Denim and We’re the Market Leader Globally

    We are denim and we’re the market leader globally. A lot of people as we were doing the (IPO) roadshow said aren’t you guys just riding the denim wave? We’re creating the denim wave. We’ve been driving the category with innovation across our men’s business and our women’s business. We’ve expanded to other categories. Last year we finished with 14 percent growth coming off of 8 percent growth the prior year. The business is really humming right now.

    I believe this is sustainable for the long term. Maybe not double digits forever. But we’ve got clear runway for growth across the categories that we’re competing in. We’re building share in our core categories and expanding to new categories. Last fiscal year, when we finished the year our growth was really broad-based. If you looked at it in the categories where we competed we grew every single category. If you looked at it by geography we grew every single geography. If you look at it by channel we grew across wholesale, including US wholesale, which is a little bit of a melting iceberg right now. We grew in our own brick-and-mortar and ecommerce. It was very broad-based growth last year and we’re confident we can continue that.

    We Have Built a Very Big Platform for Big Data

    First of all, to be successful it does come down to strong brands. Consumers at the end of the day love an emotional attachment with their brand. We’ve recreated that that love for Levi’s. We have built a very big platform for big data. In fact just a couple of weeks ago we announced that we’ve hired a head of advanced analytics and machine learning who will sit on the executive team and report directly to me. We are mining the data that we do collect and really turning it into revenue.

    Our strategies are working and one of the key strategic choices that we made seven years ago, shortly after I joined, was to become a leading world-class omnichannel retailer and it is working. The mix has shifted to omnichannel. When I joined the company it was about 20 percent of our business. Today, it’s almost a third. It is faster growing than our wholesale business and we’re continuing to invest in it. Most of our capital investment is going into retail and ecommerce and knitting that seamless consumer experience together.

    Implemented New Instance of SAP and Investing in RFID

    It (IPO funds) is going to go into continued investment in building out our omnichannel. So both brick-and-mortar retail as well as our ecommerce business and then knitting it together with technology. For example, we’re implementing a new instance of SAP and investing in RFID (radio frequency identification). We’ve implemented RFID across our business in the US and UK and that’s actually really turning into money. Every one of the products in our store is tagged with RFID.

    I’ve actually had this experience happen to me myself in our new Times Square store. There was an item I wanted to buy and they didn’t have it in my size. A stylist came over and scanned the tag and she could see that my size was available in the back room. Just two minutes later I was in the dressing room trying it on. A year ago before our RFID that would have been a lost sale. That just wouldn’t have happened. It gives us instant clear visibility to the inventory in our store, both in front of house as well as back of house.

    Levi’s Driving Market Share Through Product Innovation

    Back in 2013 and 2014, the headlines were the death of denim. It was all about athletic tights and Lululemon tights. It became a throwdown moment for us as a company. We have an innovation center a couple of blocks from our office. We brought our suppliers, the mills that make denim for us, into that innovation center. We understood what women were really telling us by wearing tights. That used to be a denim occasion. They wanted soft stretchy comfortable material that made them look great and gave them confidence. That was what was driving that conversion. So we innovated around soft stretchy comfortable denim which we can now do. We developed proprietary four-way stretch so that women don’t get baggy knees, which is their biggest dissatisfier.

    We relaunched our business in the middle of 2015 and we’ve grown 14 quarters in a row and in the last eight quarters at double-digit rates. It has been a huge part of our growth. We were under $800 million just on women’s bottoms about three years ago. We’re over a billion dollars today. We are number one globally with a nine percent market share, but we’re not number one in a number of markets including right here in the US. So I really do believe we can continue to grow at an accelerated rate on our women’s business. There are lots of what I like to call share donors out there for us to build share while we’re building the category.

    We haven’t seen any (backlash to being an American brand). This brand stands for everything good about America. Freedom, democracy, and allowing people to express themselves. Authentic self-expression is what the Levi’s brand is all about. We’ve not seen any backlash. None. We think there are lots of opportunities still for us. I am not worried at all about denim. We are denim and we’ll continue to drive this category through great innovation and marketing that connects with consumers and sends them into our stores.

    Technology and Innovation Powering Levi Strauss Growth Strategy


  • We’re Trying to Build the Amazon Prime of Rental, Says Rent the Runway CEO

    We’re Trying to Build the Amazon Prime of Rental, Says Rent the Runway CEO

    “You will see the continuous expansion over the next year into many different categories,” says Rent the Runway CEO Jennifer Hyman. The company just raised additional funds at a $1 billion valuation. “Anything that you do not use every single day, we want to make it fiscally irresponsible for someone to not have a subscription to Rent the Runway. We’re trying to build the Amazon Prime of rental.”

    Jennifer Hyman, CEO of Rent the Runway, discusses in an interview on CNBC how her company benefits from the growing sharing economy and how ultimately she envisions Rent the Runway becoming the Amazon Prime of rental:

    We Benefit From the Advancement in the Sharing Economy

    It’s been 10 years since we’ve been working hard to pioneer this new form of dynamic ownership. Ten years ago we were not a darling of the industry and really had to partner with designers to show them that this was an entirely new customer base for them and a new revenue stream. This is just how young people are thinking about ownership across the board. I actually think we benefit from the advancements in the sharing economy. If you think about how this concept of dynamic ownership where we have unlimited choice and the ability to use whatever product we want whenever we want it, our digital worlds have already moved there.

    That’s how we consume entertainment. That’s how we consume music. The idea that you would have that closet in the cloud for the physical world and that form of dynamic ownership, the Millennial Generation Z consumer is so ready to adopt this behavior. That’s what we’ve seen since we launched our subscription, just this dramatic growth and acceleration, not only in how many users we have but in how frequently they use the product. They’re using it 120 days of the year with the unlimited subscription, which is now 70 percent of our revenue.

    Dynamic Ownership Applies to the Closet, the Home, and Beyond

    Think about how frequently millennials are moving and how your home has become this new bastion of self-expression. Your home used to be a private space and now because of social media, it’s as public as you taking photos of yourself every single day. So the ability to continuously dynamically change your home and have new items arriving we really think that this idea of dynamic ownership applies to the closet, the home, and beyond.

    Think about all the things that you don’t have to use every single day and bringing that into the physical world and think about the sustainability of this as well. The millennial and younger customer really cares about the fact that there’s a huge amount of waste. Over 80 percent of the closet is not used regularly. So to create a new contract with the customer where she could have the variety that she wants but she doesn’t have to accumulate all of this stuff that she doesn’t use. You couple that with the fact that this younger generation is living in cities where you don’t even have the space to house all of the extra stuff that you might have put in your garage.

    We’re Trying to Build the Amazon Prime of Rental

    It (revenue) really depends on the item. That metric changes every year based on our cost to serve, which goes down every year. It also matters what cost we procure the inventory at. We started a model last year which is a platform where brands are giving this inventory on consignment and we actually are revenue sharing with them on that inventory. It’s our own version of fulfilled by Amazon and it’s now a new revenue monetization stream for the 600 brands that we work with.

    You will see the continuous expansion over the next year into many different categories. Anything that you do not use every single day, we want to make it fiscally irresponsible for someone to not have a subscription to Rent the Runway. We’re trying to build the Amazon Prime of rental. Rent the Runway is primarily a logistics company. What we really do is we restore physical goods to perfect condition before we send them out to the next customer. We now know all of these different data points about any given fabric, how to restore it to perfect condition and how to maximize the turns while it still looks brand-new.


  • Google, Levis Strauss Collaborate to Release New High-Tech Denim Jacket [VIDEO]

    Google, Levis Strauss Collaborate to Release New High-Tech Denim Jacket [VIDEO]

    After months of waiting, Levi Strauss finally unveiled its high-tech denim jacket which was made in collaboration with search giant Google. Dubbed the Commuter Trucker, the high-tech gear will be available on Monday of next week via the clothing brand’s online store Levi.com.

    Levi’s Commuter Jacket was created in a partnership with Project Jacquard, a part of Google Advanced Technology and Products group. The jacket is aimed at cyclists or even motorists who want to be connected even while commuting, Gizbot reported. Thus, wearers of the high-tech jacket can access its cool features by touch or simple gestures.

    According to Levi’s, it will not be necessary to take out your smartphone to access some of its features. The Commuter Jacket‘s sleeve is equipped with Google’s touch and gesture interactivity. A simple brush or tapping on the sleeve will let you connect to your friends, music, and useful navigation tools.

    For instance, you can use the jacket to give you directions while navigating certain areas in your city that may be unfamiliar to you. If you have pre-programmed your destination, you can also access the Commuter Trucker jacket to give your estimated time of arrival. Of course, you’ll need to have earphones to be able to hear the jacket’s audio response as well as a cell phone for connectivity.

    Communication is a lot easier if you are wearing Levi’s Commuter Trucker jacket. Answering phone call is a breeze and can be done by tapping its sleeve. You won’t even need to look at your phone screen to read incoming messages as the jacket will be able to read them for you via the earphones.

    And the best part is that you can customize the jackets smart features with gestures that you choose. Using Google’s Jacquard app, you can assign what action can access which type of function such as reading messages, pausing and playing your music or asking for directions.

    But of course, you can’t really expect the high-tech features on a cool denim jacket to come cheap. The Levi’s Commuter Trucker Jacket with Jacquard by Google sells for $350, which is quite steep for denim. And even if you have the cash now, getting one might be a bit of a problem depending on your location. The Commuter Trucker jacket is only available at select Levi’s stores starting September 27, 2017, before it hits online stores on October 2.

    For Android users, the Commuter Trucker jacket is compatible with phones running Android  6.01 or newer versions. For Apple users, the jacket works with an iPhone 6 or later models as long as the device is running on iOS 10 or iOS 11.

    [Featured Image via YouTube]

  • Jaden Smith Thinks He Can Change The World By Wearing Women’s Clothing

    American actor and model Jaden Smith has long been known for his fearless fashion and wardrobe decisions, one of which is wearing women’s clothing.

    The 17-year-old son of actor Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith was included in the Louis Vuitton womenswear collection campaign back in January, in which he wore a skirt.

    However, the Hollywood scion wants to do more – change the world and change how people treat fashion.

    “Just Come Here”

    A photo posted by Jaden Smith (@christiaingrey) on

    “I’m really working towards just fixing the whole planet Earth. I really just want to create a utopia on this planet,” Jaden Smith said in an interview with British GQ Style. He also wants people to be free from bills and live free from any financial obligations.

    Regarding his choices for clothing, the Karate Kid actor and luxury brand model said that people are just generally confused about gender norms or how individuals are expected to dress based on their gender.

    “I feel like people don’t really get it. I’m not saying that I get it, I’m just saying that I’ve never seen any distinction,” said Jaden, regarding the two types of clothing.

    Smith added that he does not see man or woman’s clothing, but rather “scared people” and “comfortable people.”

    Jaden Smith is certainly one who is not afraid to go against the norm. He even previously compared himself to Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei. Smith said in another interview that he plans to build an Egyptian-style pyramid.

    Meanwhile, Concussion actor Will Smith has described his son as “fearless.” However, he admitted that he and his wife Jada may have gone too far in allowing their kids to express themselves freely.

    Will Talks About Son Jaden Smith and His Unique Fashion Taste

    Smith also said that Jaden is willing to live or die by his artistic decisions, and he also does not think about what other people will say.

  • Nicole Kidman May Have Worn The Ugliest Dress At The 2016 SAG Awards

    Nicole Kidman is arguably one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood, but that hasn’t made her exempt from being one of this year’s ‘Worst Dressed’ at the 2016 Screen Actors Guild Awards.

    The 48-year-old Australian beauty appeared on the red carpet with husband Keith Urban wearing a unique tiered dress by Gucci. The frilly gown featured glittery layers of pinks and purples that cascaded and evoked a sort of relaxed, Bohemian vibe. Fashion critics were divided on her dress choice, with some saying that the pastel color scheme complements Kidman’s complexion beautifully, while others say that the design was too “busy” and that she over-accessorized.

    Another A-list actress that made it to the list was Julianne Moore, who donned a bright green sequin dress by Givenchy. While the color enhanced her fair complexion and red locks, the fit of the dress did nothing for her figure.

    Actress – and SAG winner – Brie Larson also made an interesting choice for the red carpet, earning her a spot on the Worst Dressed list. The Room star wore a baby blue Grecian-inspired dress from the latest Atelier Versace collection. The gown featured an array of unconventional twists and knots, as well as a bizarre neckline and bright orange strap at the back that resembled a duffel bag strap. Nevertheless, the confusing design of the dress did not prevent people from admiring Larson’s gorgeous figure.

    Over the years, Nicole Kidman has made fashion hits and misses in awards shows. But despite another lackluster showing in this year’s SAG Awards – in which she was nominated for her performance in the critically bashed TV film, Grace of Monaco – the actress looked happy and glowing at the event.

    Keith Urban Compliments Wife Nicole Kidman on the Red Carpet of the 2016 SAG Awards

    Perhaps, it’s because her husband, rock singer Keith Urban showered her with affection the entire night. When asked by an E! News correspondent Giuliana Rancic who he would choose among Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, and Nicole Kidman, Urban gave the right answer.

    “You can’t choose me,” a visibly blushing Nicole Kidman said. “It’s Marilyn or Grace.”

  • Cindy Crawford: Iconic Supermodel Will Retire At 50

    Legendary supermodel, Cindy Crawford will soon say goodbye to the modeling world.

    Crawford, who has been modeling for more than 30 years, opened up to United Airlines’ Rhapsody magazine about her plans to retire from modeling once she turns 50.

    “I feel like I’m allowing that to have been great, and I’m celebrating it. And I’m sure I’ll have my picture taken for 10 more years, but not as a model anymore. And that’s OK,” said Crawford, who will celebrate her 50th birthday on February 20.

    “I’ve done it. I’ve worked with all these incredible photographers. What else do I need to do?” the model told the magazine.

    Crawford, who was one of the most sought-after models of the ‘90s, was discovered by a model scout in Dekalb, Illinois, when she was just 16 years old. She was named the world’s top-paid model in 1995, earning $6.5 million in annual income.

    She has been featured on countless fashion magazine covers, and also tried her had at acting. She landed a role in the film, Fair Game and showed off her hosting skills on MTV’s House of Style. Cindy Crawford also released an autobiography called Becoming, in which she talks about being told that she always looked like she had chocolate on her face because of her facial mole. In her book, she shared her personal journey from a bullied teen to a confident and successful model.

    Cindy Crawford Hosted the Hit Fashion-Oriented Show, ‘House of Style’

    “What else do I need to do? I can’t keep reinventing myself,” Crawford said. “I shouldn’t have to keep proving myself. I don’t want to,” she explained, knowing she had already proven herself in the entertainment industry.

    Cindy Crawford has two children: Kaia Jordan Gerber, 14, an aspiring model and Presely Walker Gerber. She is married to restaurant owner Rande Gerber, a close pal of George Clooney’s. She was previously married to actor Richard Gere from 1991-1995.

  • Crowdfunded Ion Belt puts a complete smartphone recharge around your waist

    Crowdfunded Ion Belt puts a complete smartphone recharge around your waist

    ​Portable battery boosters are a great idea. Trouble is you’ve always left them at home when your phone decides to haemorrhage its last 20% of battery and leave you in the lurch.

    This Kickstarter project is looking to solve that issue, however. The Ion Belt puts a 3,000mAh battery where you can’t forget it – around your waist, keeping your trousers up.ly.

    The work depicts Jobs in his trademark black turtleneck jumper carrying an early model of his Apple computer and with a black bin bag slung over his shoulder.

    With today’s announcement, SpaceIL is the first of the 16 Lunar X Prize teams to book a ride off the planet. If the mission succeeds, it will be the first Israeli mission — as well as the first private spaceflight mission — to soft-land a vehicle on the lunar surface. Eran Privman, CEO of SpaceIL, claimed the group isn’t focused on the competition, but they are confident they can win. “I promise you once we land on the Moon, we’ll look around and see we are the first,” he said.

    Only three nations have ever landed a spacecraft intact on the Moon: the United States, Russia, and China. Many countries have slammed lunar orbiters or probes into the Moon to study its environment, but gently landing a spacecraft is trickier. The Moon is big enough to have a gravitational pull, but it doesn’t have an atmosphere to slow incoming objects. Spacecraft in lunar orbit must fire retro-rockets, very precisely, in the opposite direction of the Moon. That way they can slowly descend without slamming into the rock. It’s a delicate procedure that usually requires a lot of time and money, which is why only government agencies have been able to do it up until now.

    A trait carried over from their debut, luckily for us listeners

    Egyptian chest, and was moreover intensified by his delirium, that his mates were forced to lace him fast, even there, as he sailed, raving in his hammock. In a strait-jacket, he swung to the mad rockings of the gales. And, when running into more sufferable latitudes, the ship, with mild stun’sails spread, floated across the tranquil tropics, and, to all appearances.

    SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket during launch. (SpaceX)
    SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket during launch. (SpaceX)

    That it was only then, on the homeward voyage, after the encounter, that the final monomania seized him, seems all but certain from the fact that, at intervals during the passage, he was a raving lunatic; and, though unlimbed of a leg, yet such vital strength yet lurked in his Egyptian chest, and was moreover intensified by his delirium, that his mates were forced to lace him fast, even there, as he sailed, raving in his hammock. In a strait-jacket, he swung to the mad rockings of the gales. And, when running into more sufferable latitudes, the ship, with mild stun’sails spread, floated across the tranquil tropics, and, to all appearances, the old man’s delirium seemed left behind him with the Cape Horn swells.

    Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing. When you think it fled, it may have but become transfigured into some still subtler form. Ahab’s full lunacy subsided not, but deepeningly contracted; like the unabated Hudson, when that noble Northman flows narrowly, but unfathomably through the Highland gorge.

    Lauren Mayberry’s lyrics touches on elements of heartbreak

    God the direful madness was now gone; even then, Ahab, in his hidden self, raved on. Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing. When you think it fled, it may have but become transfigured into some still subtler form. Ahab’s full lunacy subsided not, but deepeningly contracted; like the unabated Hudson, when that noble Northman flows narrowly, but unfathomably through the Highland gorge.

    jh123But, as in his narrow-flowing monomania, not one jot of Ahab’s broad madness had been left behind; so in that broad madness, not one jot of his great natural intellect had perished. That before living agent, now became the living instrument. If such a furious trope may stand, his special lunacy stormed his general sanity, and carried it, and turned all its concentred cannon upon its own mad mark. I knew the Indians would soon discover that they were on the wrong trail and that the search for me would be renewed in the right direction as soon as they located my tracks. I had gone but a short distance further when what seemed to be an excellent trail opened up around the face of a high cliff. The trail was level and quite broad and led upward and in the general direction I wished to go. The cliff arose for several hundred feet on my right, and on my left was an equal and nearly perpendicular drop to the bottom of a rocky ravine.

  • Fashion brands up the smartwatch game with designer Android Wear watch faces

    Fashion brands up the smartwatch game with designer Android Wear watch faces

    ​Already tired of your smartwatch’s limited array of customisation options? Yeah, us too.

    Well, Google has partnered with a number of fashion brands to bring a new mix of designer Android Wear watch faces to the mix and bolster those update options slightly.

    The work depicts Jobs in his trademark black turtleneck jumper carrying an early model of his Apple computer and with a black bin bag slung over his shoulder.

    With today’s announcement, SpaceIL is the first of the 16 Lunar X Prize teams to book a ride off the planet. If the mission succeeds, it will be the first Israeli mission — as well as the first private spaceflight mission — to soft-land a vehicle on the lunar surface. Eran Privman, CEO of SpaceIL, claimed the group isn’t focused on the competition, but they are confident they can win. “I promise you once we land on the Moon, we’ll look around and see we are the first,” he said.

    Only three nations have ever landed a spacecraft intact on the Moon: the United States, Russia, and China. Many countries have slammed lunar orbiters or probes into the Moon to study its environment, but gently landing a spacecraft is trickier. The Moon is big enough to have a gravitational pull, but it doesn’t have an atmosphere to slow incoming objects. Spacecraft in lunar orbit must fire retro-rockets, very precisely, in the opposite direction of the Moon. That way they can slowly descend without slamming into the rock. It’s a delicate procedure that usually requires a lot of time and money, which is why only government agencies have been able to do it up until now.

    A trait carried over from their debut, luckily for us listeners

    Egyptian chest, and was moreover intensified by his delirium, that his mates were forced to lace him fast, even there, as he sailed, raving in his hammock. In a strait-jacket, he swung to the mad rockings of the gales. And, when running into more sufferable latitudes, the ship, with mild stun’sails spread, floated across the tranquil tropics, and, to all appearances.

    SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket during launch. (SpaceX)
    SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket during launch. (SpaceX)

    That it was only then, on the homeward voyage, after the encounter, that the final monomania seized him, seems all but certain from the fact that, at intervals during the passage, he was a raving lunatic; and, though unlimbed of a leg, yet such vital strength yet lurked in his Egyptian chest, and was moreover intensified by his delirium, that his mates were forced to lace him fast, even there, as he sailed, raving in his hammock. In a strait-jacket, he swung to the mad rockings of the gales. And, when running into more sufferable latitudes, the ship, with mild stun’sails spread, floated across the tranquil tropics, and, to all appearances, the old man’s delirium seemed left behind him with the Cape Horn swells.

    Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing. When you think it fled, it may have but become transfigured into some still subtler form. Ahab’s full lunacy subsided not, but deepeningly contracted; like the unabated Hudson, when that noble Northman flows narrowly, but unfathomably through the Highland gorge.

    Lauren Mayberry’s lyrics touches on elements of heartbreak

    God the direful madness was now gone; even then, Ahab, in his hidden self, raved on. Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing. When you think it fled, it may have but become transfigured into some still subtler form. Ahab’s full lunacy subsided not, but deepeningly contracted; like the unabated Hudson, when that noble Northman flows narrowly, but unfathomably through the Highland gorge.

    jh123But, as in his narrow-flowing monomania, not one jot of Ahab’s broad madness had been left behind; so in that broad madness, not one jot of his great natural intellect had perished. That before living agent, now became the living instrument. If such a furious trope may stand, his special lunacy stormed his general sanity, and carried it, and turned all its concentred cannon upon its own mad mark. I knew the Indians would soon discover that they were on the wrong trail and that the search for me would be renewed in the right direction as soon as they located my tracks. I had gone but a short distance further when what seemed to be an excellent trail opened up around the face of a high cliff. The trail was level and quite broad and led upward and in the general direction I wished to go. The cliff arose for several hundred feet on my right, and on my left was an equal and nearly perpendicular drop to the bottom of a rocky ravine.

  • Claudia Schiffer Joins Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell for New Balmain Campaign

    After successful campaigns with younger models Kendall and Kylie Jenner and Gigi and Bella Hadid, fashion house Balmain is turning back the clock, so to speak.

    Balmain’s newest ad campaign stars some industry veterans – Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford, and Naomi Campbell.

    And they all look absolutely fabulous.

    Check out the awesome shots below:

    “While we shot these images, I had to smile as I imagined how my adolescent self would have reacted with utter disbelief if someone could have traveled back in time to tell me that one day I would be in a New York studio, watching Steven Klein shoot Cindy, Claudia and Naomi for my Spring 2016 campaign — for those four singular talents have inspired me from day one,” Balmain’s creative director, Olivier Rousteing, told People.

    What do you think of the new campaign?

  • Jennifer Lawrence And Amy Schumer Will Make You Do A Double Take At 2016 Golden Globes

    Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Schumer may be nominated for the same category – Best Actress, Comedy – at the upcoming Golden Globes, but it does not mean their friendship is at stake. In fact, the best actress nominees are planning to make the awards season memorable for them.

    Preparing for the upcoming awards season, Lawrence declared she wants to wear matching gowns with her BFF Amy Schumer.

    “We’re going to try to figure out to wear the exact same thing,” Lawrence revealed to E! while promoting her film Joy, which is scheduled to open in theaters on December 25. “That’s my mission. I really want us to wear the same thing,” the actress said, determined. Many observers have noticed Lawrence and Schumer had dressed alike on the red carpet before, although on separate occasions, and they are considering doing it together early next year.

    When asked if she had a particular look in mind, Lawrence, who has been the face of Dior for the past three years, said Schumer will probably wear a Dior gown at the event. “I’m just going to have to have Dior make two of whatever they’re making for me,” the Hunger Games star shared.

    Schumer, who is nominated for Best Actress for Comedy for her film Trainwreck, is reportedly writing a movie script with Lawrence. The two have been really close and according to rumors, they will be playing sisters in the movie. Production will start in the first quarter of 2017.

    Lawrence plays the inventor of the Miracle Mop in her upcoming movie, Joy. She and Schumer will compete in the Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy category.

    NBC will air the 2016 Golden Globe Awards live on January 10, 2016.

  • Emma Watson Continues Her Hairstyle Adventures With A New Short ‘Do

    Emma Watson has done it again – her newest hair transformation has gotten people raving and hairstylists can expect clients to start requesting this hairstyle soon.

    The 25-year-old British actress debuted a gorgeous new bob on Wednesday at the London screening of the documentary The True Cost. She came out in support of the film, which tackles the effect of consumerist fashion on the well-being of the environment. Emma Watson is an avid supporter of sustainable clothing and actively participates in the Green Carpet Challenge.

    After sporting longer hair all year, Emma Watson went back to a shorter ‘do – a trendy layered bob that frames her lovely face perfectly. For the screening, she sported a deep part and loose curls to add a bit of drama and glamor to her look. The Harry Potter star arrived at the screening looking effortlessly chic with her navy knitted dress and matching Paul Andrew strappy heels, which she accessorized with a gorgeous tan coat and vintage-looking purse.

    Ever since her tenure in the Harry Potter film series ended, Emma Watson has fearlessly experimented with various hairstyles and fashion choices.

    After wearing long hair and tight curls for most of her pre-teen and early teen years, Emma Watson made headlines when she chopped off her hair into a pixie cut that was reminiscent of Mia Farrow’s hairstyle in the sixties.

    The drastic style change certainly worked in her favor as it drew an overwhelmingly positive response from the public and sparked a pixie cut trend that year.

    Even during the awkward phase of growing out her hair, Emma Watson still managed to rock the look with her usual grace and sophistication. Needless to say, there doesn’t seem like much that this superstar can’t do in the fashion department, and so far she has been single-handedly making sustainable fashion look trendy and cool.

  • Victoria’s Secret Reveals $2M Fantasy Bra, Lily Aldridge Is The Lucky Model Who Gets To Wear It

    Nothing screams luxury more than wearing bejeweled undergarments worth millions of dollars.

    Every year, the global lingerie giant launches a much-anticipated secret fashion show, which features carefully selected supermodels who wear elaborately costumed lingerie and strut on a lavishly set runway. However, the highlight of every show is definitely the Fantasy Bra, which is basically a large piece of expensive jewelry worn over a model’s décolletage.

    It is every model’s dream to be chosen to wear this coveted bra and for this year’s show, Victoria’s Secret has bestowed the task upon American supermodel Lily Aldridge. The five-foot-eight California native announced the news through her Instagram page on Tuesday with the caption, “I can’t believe it’s finally been announced! Thank you so much Victoria’s Secret for this amazing honour! I love you all so much.”

    This year’s Victoria’s Secret Fantasy Bra is designed by high-end jewelry designer Mouawad, who has collaborated with the label since 2001. As revealed in a short two-minute teaser, the new bra features a demi-shaped design and over 6,500 precious stones whose total weight amounts to nearly 1,364 carats. Set in 18-karat gold, the entire piece – including the matching detachable belt – took more than 600 hours to make.

    This is Aldridge’s first time to wear the Fantasy Bra. Other models that have worn it in past years include Gisele Bündchen, Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima, Behati Prinsloo, and Candice Swanepoel.

    Aside from being a sought-after supermodel, Lily Aldridge is also wife to Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followil and mother to their three-year-old daughter, Dixie. She is also comes from a family of models – her sisters Ruby and Saffron Aldridge are also models, while her mother, Laura Lyons, used to be Playboy Playmate in the ‘70s.

    The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is not only known for its opulent presentation and gorgeous models, but also for the musical intermissions. This year’s show, which is set to take place in New York City, will feature performances by Rihanna, Selena Gomez, and The Weeknd.

    The show will air on December 8 on CBS.

  • Amazon Could Launch Its Own Clothing Line

    Amazon has spent years building up its Fashion division, providing a marketplace for other companies’ clothes. Now, Amazon is looking to sell their own clothing.

    Remarks from VP of clothing at Amazon Fashion Jeff Yurcisin indicate that Amazon wants to fill in the gaps, and offer its own private label items when other brands have declined to sell on the site.

    From BuzzFeed:

    “For Amazon, we know our customers love brands, many of the brands in this room…and that’s where the lion’s share of our business comes from,” Jeff Yurcisin, vice president of clothing at Amazon Fashion and CEO of Amazon’s Shopbop unit, said at the WWD Apparel and Retail CEO Summit on Tuesday. “When we see gaps, when certain brands have actually decided for their own reasons not to sell with us, our customer still wants a product like that.” Amazon may get into private-label for those kinds of goods, he added.

    In a way, this announcement feels inevitable.

    Amazon already sells items from big name brands like Calvin Klein, Carter’s, Jessica Simpson, Levi’s, kate spade new york, Nautica, New Balance, PUMA, Roxy, and Steve Madden.

    But not every top fashion brand is eager to get in bed with Amazon.

    Take this, from a recent New York Times article on Fashion Week:

    While fashion companies like these are drawn to Amazon’s huge reach — more than 40 million United States customers have made clothing, shoes or accessories purchases in the last 12 months on Amazon.com, Ms. Beaudoin said — many are concerned about tying their brands to a website that is far more a utility than a boutique…

    …The concerns mainly involve the presentation of the pieces on the site and the pricing. Legally, a wholesaler cannot insist that a retailer sell an item for a certain price. But a company like Lacoste does not want to offer its products on a website that may slash its prices (as Amazon does with books and other products) such that its brand comes off as down-market.

    So, when Amazon has a fashion gap, it can fill it with its own product.

  • Hailey Baldwin Bares Cleavage In A Very Sexy Dress At The MTV EMAs

    The recently held MTV Europe Music Awards was not only dedicated to talented musicians in the industry, it was also a night of glamour and fashion.

    One of the most remarkable fashion statements that night was that of Hailey Baldwin’s.  The 18-year-old daughter of actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger flaunted her enviable figure in a very daring outfit that exposed a lot of her svelte.

    The Versace mini dress featured a deep neckline that showcased her amble cleavage and toned abs. The black straps and floral panels created sexy panels, making the dress perfect for a young model like herself.

    Baldwin paired her sexy dress with black high-heeled sandals. She wore her blonde hair in a ponytail and as for her make-up, the model opted for smoky eye shadow to accentuate her eyes and complement her overall sultry look. The young model was assigned to present the award for Best Video and although she did a fine job, Baldwin admitted she has a lot to learn when it comes to hosting.

    Later that night, she tweeted she needs to learn how to say “nominations.” “First time presenting. I was freaking out,” she wrote.

    Baldwin surely caught everybody’s attention at the ceremony with her stunning outfit, but there were also other celebrities who bared their cleavage that night.

    Pretty Little Liars actress Shay Mitchell hit the red carpet with a sexy low-cut gown. The long-sleeved Kayat Resort 2016 gown she wore was made of satin, and featured a wide neckline and a center slit.

    Ellie Goulding sported a black halter dress which featured a deep scoop neckline and a thigh-high slit. Orange Is The New Black’s Ruby Rose sported a custom Armani Prive blazer (minus the shirt) paired with high-waisted black pants. Vine star Amanda Cerny also looked gorgeous and sexy on her black floor-length gown with wide neckline. On her Instagram, she thanked her double-sided tape for keeping her dress secure and in place.

  • Gigi Hadid And Kendall Jenner Impress On Balmain Runway, Fangirl Over Backstreet Boys Performance

    The who’s who of the fashion world came out on Tuesday for the highly-anticipated collaboration between luxury brand Balmain and affordable fast-fashion label H&M.

    The hottest young supermodels strutted their stuff on the runway wearing all manner of leather jackets, sequined tops, and studded pants that avid partygoers will adore.

    Held at New York’s financial district, the star-studded event featured supermodel gal pals Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner, as well as Jourdan Dunn, Karlie Kloss, and Joan Smalls. Several Hollywood celebrities were also in attendance at the fashion show to see the much-talked about collection. German actress Diane Kruger was seen in a nearby bar wearing a black velvet Balmain for H&M jumpsuit.

    “To me, it’s club outfits. The kind men can get on board with. Straight men,” Kruger said of the collection.

    Kendall’s equally famous younger sister Kylie was also seen having fun with the models. She wore an intricately embellished long-sleeved top from the same collection, which she paired with black thigh-high boots.

    However, it wasn’t just the glamorous supermodels and high-end clothes that got everyone’s attention. Nineties pop heartthrobs the Backstreet Boys gave a surprise performance during the show and got Hadid and company dancing and singing along to their hits, “Everybody,” “I Want It That Way,” and “Larger Than Life.”

    It is quite interesting to see these millennial supermodels eagerly jamming to Backstreet Boy songs as they were too young to have witnessed the peak of the ‘90s boy band craze.

    Hadid was merely two years old when one of BSB’s first hit, “Everybody” was released. Kendall Jenner was just a year old, and her kid sister Kylie had not even been born yet.

    Suffice to say, the event turned out to be a complete success judging by the photos posted on Balmain’s Instagram page. The Balmain for H&M collection is due to hit both store and online shelves on November 5th.

  • Victoria’s Secret Could Face Competition from Italian Lingerie King

    Victoria’s Secret is THE household name in lingerie, and there’s not really that much competition to that crown in the United States.

    You may not have heard of Sandro Veronesi or his Calzedonia Group, but it may be looking to make a big play in the US clothing market.

    The Calzedonia Group, which includes the Calzedonia, Intimissimi, Tezenis, Falconeri and Cash & Carry brands, is looking to come stateside. The namesake, Calzedonia, mostly sells legwear. Intimissimi sells intimates, and has even been sold in Victoria’s Secret stores.

    Together, Veronesi’s brands sold about $2.5 billion worth of intimate apparel last year. The company, based in Italy, has over 3,800 stores worldwide – but most of them are in Europe. Calzedonia has a small presence in Hong Kong and Japan, but the company isn’t looking to expand further in Asia due to their reluctance to deviate from domestic brands.

    Veronesi himself is one of the richest people in the world, with a net worth of between $1.8 and $2.4 billion.

    “We will start maybe from New York, which is a fashion city, and then we will expand in the major cities,” Veronesi told Bloomberg. “There is a dominant competitor in the United States, but that is maybe a reason why also women would like to have an alternative.”

    The company will be taking on a giant. Victorias’s Secret boasted around $11.4 billion in revenue last year.

    Victoria’s Secret is gearing up for its annual fashion show, which will take place on December 8th. Angels Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Behati Prinsloo, and Candice Swanepoel will be there, alongside performances from Rihanna, Selena Gomez, and The Weeknd.

    It's okay to go as yourself. ?

    A photo posted by Victoria's Secret (@victoriassecret) on

  • Cara Delevingne Makes Headlines With Fake Fashion Accessory — A Lip Ring

    Unlike other stars that accessorize their outfits with chandelier earrings, pearl necklaces, and huge diamond rings, Cara Delevingne rocked hers with a lip ring.

    Known for not being afraid to take risks, Cara attended the Chanel Exhibition Party looking a little bit of punk and gothic. She wore a black dress, which she accessorized with a black choker and a red pierced lip.

    Despite her recent foray into acting, Delevingne has not lost her edgy fashion style. Cara first wore the lip ring on October 9 in a masquerade ball she attended with friend Kendall Jenner. However, the ring was hardly noticeable because of her nude lipstick shade.

    Unfortunately, the lip ring is reportedly fake and Cara did not get pierced at all. In some photos, Cara is wearing the accessory in the center of her lip, and other times she was seen wearing a diamond lip ring instead.

    Fake or not, Cara is still proud of it, and wanted to show it off as she posted photos of herself on October 13, including a headshot where the ring can clearly be seen.

    The headshot came with a quote that said, I think flaws are what makes us who we are, what makes as beautiful, the cracks within us need to have light shown through them.

    This is following Caras admission that she went through depression and that shes come forward to help others experiencing the same thing.

    In the recent Women in the World Summit, Cara said, “In our culture, we are told that if we’re beautiful, if we’re skinny, if we’re successful, famous, if we fit in, if everyone loves us, that we’ll be happy. But that’s not entirely true.”

    Other stars like Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and even Zayn Malik have also joined the trend of facial piercings.

  • Kanye West Cries Discrimination For Being Straight Guy In The Fashion Industry

    After making his mark in the music industry, Kanye West seems to be under a lot of pressure as he tries to get the same recognition in the fashion industry.

    After the Yeezy Season 2 collection was launched in New York Fashion Week a few weeks ago, West said he felt like he was being discriminated against in the fashion circle just because he is straight man.

    “I feel like I got discriminated in fashion for not being gay,” West said during a live interview with fashion-oriented website SHOWStudio. “In music, you definitely get discriminated in music if you are gay. It takes amazing talent to break down barriers,” West added.

    However, fashion critic Cathy Horyn, thinks that West’s Yeezy collection is not being discriminated against because of his sexual orientation but because of the actual clothes. “This second round of drab, broken-down basics proved he can’t be taken seriously as a designer; but nevertheless many people in fashion do seem to take West seriously, they keep showing up expectantly for his performances, and that makes them fools,” Horyn wrote in her blog. That is after Horyn saw West’s designs, which she described as the same thing that West had shown before, hoodies, baggy pants, and beige undergarments that looked like Spanx.

    West seemed to have forgotten that there are a lot of straight guys who have made their names in the fashion industry, and that their sexuality didn’t get in the way of their success.

    Some of these designers include Ralph Lauren, Kenneth Cole, Yohji Yamamoto, and Tommy Hilfiger to name a few.

    West adds that he doesn’t have anything against gays, since he talked about how supportive he was of Caitlyn Jenner and even encouraged Kim Kardashian to accept her transgender stepdad.

    “Then it was like, ‘F**k what people say. F**k what people think. I feel proud to be in a family that has so many people breaking ground for generations to come. I’m still getting acquainted to what’s politically correct [to say],” West said in the same interview.