Fashion
Hermes Lawsuit Claims Luxury Retailer Reserves Its Famed Birkin Bags Only For Its Biggest Spenders
Hermes is the object of a new lawsuit alleging the luxury retailer of only selling its renowned Birkin handbags to customers who had spent a lot of money at the store on other items.
The proposed federal class-action complaint, filed this week in San Francisco, claims that Hermes violates antitrust law by requiring buyers to purchase other items in the store before being permitted to purchase a Birkin bag from Hermes.
Hermes Lawsuit Claims Luxury Retailer Reserves Its Famed Birkin Bags Only For Its Biggest Spenders
Birkin handbags, created from leather by artisans in France, can cost tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars on the secondary market and are seen on the arms of celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, and Cardi B. The handbags may only be purchased in a Hermes store, not through its online.
However, the complaint contends that the average client must do more than just stroll into a Hermes store, see a Birkin on display, and purchase it. Instead, “deemed worthy” customers will be shown a Birkin in a private room.
According to the lawsuit, Hermes sales workers are responsible for identifying qualified customers to purchase Birkins.
Hermes Lawsuit Claims Luxury Retailer Reserves Its Famed Birkin Bags Only For Its Biggest Spenders
The lawsuit claims that “these sales associates are directed by Defendants to only offer Birkin handbags to consumers who have established a sufficient” purchase history” or “purchase profile” with Defendants or Defendants’ ancillary products such as shoes, scarves, belts, jewellery, and home goods.
While sales associates do not receive a commission for selling Birkins, the lawsuit claims that they are trained to utilize the Birkin purses to pressure customers into purchasing other products for which they are paid a 3% commission.
The company waited to immediately reply to a request for comment early Thursday.
Hermes Lawsuit Claims Luxury Retailer Reserves Its Famed Birkin Bags Only For Its Biggest Spenders
The lawsuit seeks class-action status for all residents of the United States who have purchased or been asked to acquire auxiliary products to purchase a Birkin over the last four years.
The plaintiffs are seeking specific monetary damages and a court order against the companies’ alleged selling techniques.
SOURCE – (AP)
Fashion
Elevate Your Style: Unveiling the Timeless Charm of 1930s Mens Fashion
Undoubtedly, the 1930s Mens Fashion was the sharpest era for male fashion, with sleek, elegant outfits that oozed style. However, the Great Depression significantly impacted men’s fashion in the 30s, not just cigars and evening wear. The following are some of the most stylish looks of this decade and how you can adapt them to your needs.
With the Wall Street Crash of 1929 leading to the Great Depression, the lack of money could be seen in fashion, as demonstrated in films such as It Happened One Night and Bonnie and Clyde.
For Hollywood and the rich, bigger was better when it came to attire. Double-breasted suits, full-cut trousers, and tuxedos were the standard of what a gentleman should wear in the 1930s.
1930s Mens Fashion: Retro, Gangster, And Hollywood-Esque
It is undeniable that the Great Depression had a substantial impact on men’s fashion. The somber, double-breasted suit of the 30s was a far cry from the flashy style of the roaring 20s.
In spite of the hardships of the time, formal wear made a quick return. However, the availability of newer, cheaper materials made suits more affordable. Sweaters and trousers became more widespread (especially among middle-class families), while useful clothes such as coats became common.
When the economy recovered from the economic crisis, some brighter colors returned to summer fashion once again. Later in the decade, blended and synthetic fabrics made clothing more affordable for many who preferred practicality and comfort over the “all-over-the-place” aesthetic of the 20s.
Highlights Of 1930s Mens Fashion
The Drape Suit
During the 1930s, the classic V-cut suit was very popular due to its imposing silhouette, broad shoulders and long drapes, as well as its softer material that allowed for a great deal of freedom of movement.
Accessories
Due to the popularity of fedoras during the decade, top hats were still sometimes worn on formal occasions. The vibrant colors of the previous decade were replaced with statement pieces, such as wide, colorful neckties. Loafers and brogues were the footwear of choice—fashion choices that are still very popular today.
Here is a look at 1930s Mens Fashion
During the 1930s, men’s fashion experienced a convergence of style and resilience, navigating the Great Depression with practical yet refined ensembles. In addition to the iconic drape suit, statement accessories like fedoras and wide neckties shaped the era’s aesthetic, combining elegance with flexibility.
Following the onset of economic recovery, a gradual return to color and advances in fabric technology reflected an increasing optimism. There is no doubt that 1930s men’s fashion has left an enduring legacy of sophistication and innovation as a testament to creativity thriving despite adversity.
Business
Luxury Jewelry Maker Cartier Doesn’t Give Stuff Away, But They Pretty Much Did For One Man In Mexico
MEXICO CITY — Cartier, the luxury jewelry brand, is not known for giving out gifts, but in the case of one Mexican guy, they pretty much did.
Rogelio Villarreal was browsing Cartier’s website when he stumbled upon an offer that appeared too good to be true. “I broke out in a cold sweat,” he posted on his X account, previously known as Twitter.
Luxury Jewelry Maker Cartier Doesn’t Give Stuff Away, But They Pretty Much Did For One Man In Mexico
Cartier made a mistake and advertised gold-and-diamond earrings for 237 pesos ($14) rather than the exact price of 237,000 pesos ($14,000). Villarreal ordered two sets.
What ensued was months of back-and-forth, during which he claimed Cartier offered him a consolation gift instead of the jewelry, and Mexican officials supported his argument that the corporation should uphold the listed price.
Villarreal eventually received the earrings last week at his price, and he posted a video online of himself unwrapping them. But he quickly grew tired of the public attention, realizing that not all that glitters is gold, and posted on Monday, “Alright already, talk about something else, I’m tired of the earrings being the only thing anyone knows about my personality.”
Villarreal’s case had become a lightning rod online during a particularly polarizing period in Mexico, ahead of the June 2 presidential elections.
Some onlookers chastised Villarreal for taking advantage of what they perceived as a genuine error by the high-end jewelry manufacturer. Some claimed he should return the earrings or pay taxes on them. Some called him a thief.
Luxury Jewelry Maker Cartier Doesn’t Give Stuff Away, But They Pretty Much Did For One Man In Mexico
Villarreal, a doctor doing his medical residency, claimed he had to fight for months to get the company to deliver and that it offered to give him a bottle of champagne instead.
The corporation did not reply to inquiries for comment.
“I have the worst luck in the world, and I’ve never made any money, and what I do have is because I bought it,” Villarreal posted on social media. However, he could now purchase two $14,000 sets of earrings for only around $28.
He says he gave one of them to his mom.
“It feels great and it’s cool not to be the underdog for once in my life,” Villarreal said.
Profeco’s representative, Jesús Montaño, validated Villarreal’s account of his struggle.
Luxury Jewelry Maker Cartier Doesn’t Give Stuff Away, But They Pretty Much Did For One Man In Mexico
“He filed a complaint in December,” Montaño explained. “There is a conciliation hearing scheduled for May 3, but the consumer already received his purchase.”
When asked about ethics, Montaño stated that corporations “have to respect the published price.” If an error occurs, “it’s not the consumer’s fault.”
SOURCE – (AP)
Celebrity
Iris Apfel, Fashion Icon Known For Her Eye-Catching Style, Dies At 102
NEW YORK — Iris Apfel, a textile expert, interior designer, and fashion celebrity renowned for her unique style, has died. She was 102.
Lori Sale, Apfel’s business agent, confirmed her death and described her as “extraordinary.” No cause of death was specified. It was also confirmed on her verified Instagram page on Friday, a day after she celebrated her 102nd and a half birthday on Leap Day.
Apfel, born on August 29, 1921, was known for her irreverent, eye-catching costumes that combined haute couture with huge costume jewellery. A traditional Apfel ensemble would include a feather boa, strands of chunky beads, bangles, and a jacket embellished with Native American beadwork.
Iris Apfel, Fashion Icon Known For Her Eye-Catching Style, Dies At 102
With her large, round, black-rimmed glasses, bright red lipstick, and short white hair, she stood out at every fashion event she attended.
Her style has been the focus of museum exhibits and the documentary film “Iris,” directed by Albert Maysles.
“I’m not pretty, and I’ll never be pretty, but it doesn’t matter,” she commented at one point. “I’ve got something far better. “I have style.”
Apfel achieved late-life stardom on social media, accumulating nearly 3 million followers on Instagram, where her profile reads: “More is more & Less is a bore.” She gained 215,000 TikTok followers as she waxed eloquent about fashion and style and promoted previous collaborations.
“Being stylish and being fashionable are two entirely different things,” she stated in a TikTok video. “You can simply buy your way to being fashionable. I believe you have a natural sense of style. It denotes inventiveness and boldness.”
She never retired, saying “Today” that “I believe retiring at any age is a fate worse than death.” Just because a number appears does not mean you have to stop.
“Working with her was an honour of a lifetime.” “I shall miss her regular calls, always greeted with the usual question: “What have you got for me today?,” Sale said in a statement. “A testament to her voracious drive to work. She was a visionary in every sense of the term. She observed the world through a unique lens equipped with massive, unusual spectacles perched on her nose.”
Apfel was an expert in textiles and ancient fabrics. She and her husband Carl ran Old World Weavers, a textile manufacturing company specializing in restoration work, including projects at the White House for six U.S. residents. Apfel’s celebrity clients included Estee Lauder and Greta Garbo.
Iris Apfel, Fashion Icon Known For Her Eye-Catching Style, Dies At 102
Apfel’s celebrity skyrocketed in 2005 when the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City staged a show about her called “Rara Avis,” Latin for “rare bird.” The museum characterized her approach as “both witty and exuberantly idiosyncratic.”
Her individuality is generally seen in her mingling of high and low fashions—Dior haute couture with flea market finds, 19th-century church vestments with Dolce & Gabbana lizard trousers.” According to the museum, her “layered combinations” broke “aesthetic conventions” and “even at their most extreme and baroque” showed a “boldly graphic modernity.”
The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, was among several museums nationwide that held a touring version of the display. Apfel later donated hundreds of pieces to the Peabody, including couture gowns, to help them establish what she described as “a fabulous fashion collection.” The Museum of Fashion & Lifestyle, located near Apfel’s winter home in Palm Beach, Florida, also plans a gallery to display artefacts from her collection.
Apfel was born in New York City to Samuel and Sadye Barrel. Her mother owned a store.
Iris Apfel, Fashion Icon Known For Her Eye-Catching Style, Dies At 102
In her later years, Apfel appeared in advertisements for M.M.A.C. Cosmetics and Kate Spade, contributing to her reputation. She also created a line of accessories and jewellery for Home Shopping Network, worked with H&M on a collection of brightly coloured apparel, jewellery, and shoes that sold out in minutes, launched a makeup line with Ciaté London, an eyeglass collection with Zenni, and collaborated with Ruggable on floor coverings.
In a 2017 interview with APA.P.t the age of 95, she claimed her favourite modern designers were Ralph Rucci, Isabel Toledo, and Naeem Khan, but added, “I have so much, I don’t go looking.” When asked for fashion tips, she replied, “Everyone should find her own way. I’m a strong advocate for individualism. I don’t like trends. If you learn who you are, what you look like, and what you are capable of, you will know what to do.”
She dubbed herself the “accidental icon,” which inspired the title of a book she published in 2018, replete with keepsakes and style ideas. Odes to Apfel abound, ranging from a Barbie in her likeness to T-shirts, eyewear, artwork, and dolls.
Apfel’s husband died in 2015. They had no children.
SOURCE – (AP)
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