Gucci, Cartier,Vera Wang,Dolce and Gabbana

[hanoki]

Today's selections are from the design house of Jacomo and are two more fragerances that are available during the July sale of 10 % off the purchase price.

For the Ladies

Paradox Perfume by Jacomo, Launched by the design house of Jacomo in 1998, Paradox is classified as a refreshing, oriental, floral fragrance. This feminine scent possesses a blend of exotic fruits with notes of jasmine, ylang-ylang, vanilla and caramel. It is recommended for office wear.

For the Gents

Aura Cologne by Jacomo, Launched by the design house of Jacomo in 2001. It is the result of the following notes: top notes: jupiter, salvia, green lemon, amber and ginger. Middle notes: green tea, nutmeg, cinnamon, tonka bean and tabaco leaves.and base notes: sandalwood, cedar wood, musk, patchouli, amber and cistus.

History

Jacomo fragrance descriptions starting with Jacomo de Jacomo. Ever since it was first launched, has embodied the spirit of Jacomo itself, thus testifying to the company’s activity and dynamic approach.

This new bottle, rectangular in shape and in black glass, reflects the force and boldness of masculine beauty, truly exciting and unforgettable! Jacomo de Jacomo has demonstrated its strength of innovation by being the first one to use the Zippo opening system in the world of perfume.

Jacomo de Jacomo has forever embodied the spirit of Jacomo itself. With Jacomo de Jacomo Rouge, the tradition lives on. The new bottle, rectangular in shape and in red glass, reflects the power and charm of full masculine beauty.

Its name, Silences, is evocative of musical expression so close to that of the fragrance itself. The perfume, with all its exuberance, received immediate recognition as a great classic of the French luxury perfume industry.

Aura, for women, is a new facet of the Jacomo brand. The geometrical forms, inspired by the worlds of design and architecture, are an extension of the brand image based on modernity and essentials shapes. Aura evokes light, transparency and colors and becomes a catalyst for emotions. First, emotions provoked by the fragrance as these two perfumes have been carefully developed in the image of the Aura man.

Aura, for men, is a new facet of the Jacomo brand. The geometrical forms, inspired by the worlds of design and architecture, are an extension of the brand image based on modernity and essentials shapes. Aura evokes light, transparency and colours and becomes a catalyst for emotions.

First, emotions provoked by the fragrance as these two perfumes have been carefully developed in the image of the Aura man.

Paradox for Men is part of the tradition of simplicity and refined elegance, of those geometric and essential forms which, from the start, have given Jacomo its avant-garde edge and made it one of the most modern of today’s brands. Paradox for Men is the result of its creator’s overwhelming desire to give birth to object-perfumes, reflections of an unending search to bring new references into the luxury world. Paradox for Men, the product of this creative ideal, is encased in a modern, luminous perfume bottle, a harmony of metal and transparency.

Paradox, for women, is very creative and innovating in its pure and simple bottle shapes, with dark colors and extremely avant-garde style, Jacomo is also become a reference in the fragrances world. Paradox does respect the continuity in the brand strategy: avant-garde design, pure line of the shape and a creative and rich fragrances. Paradox does create the « paradox » with the other products of the range: the blue is creating the paradox with the black, the transparency is creating the paradox with opacity.

[hanoki]

From the David Beckham collection of fragerances today we have selected for your introduction:

For the Ladies
Intimately Beckham Perfume by David Beckham, It has notes of white flowers, bergamot, rose petals, Casablanca lily, tuberose, orange blossom, vanilla, sandalwood and musk.

For the Gents
Intimately Beckham Cologne by David Beckham, It features notes of bergamot, grapefruit zest, cardamom, violet, nutmeg, star anise, sandalwood, patchouli and amber

History

Midfield footballer David Beckham (born 1975) is arguably the most recognizable soccer player in the world. Born in London the son of a hair-dresser and kitchen-fitter, both parents were hardcore football fans and David caught their bug from the beginning. As a youth, his father coached his team and David was recognized early on for his skills and athletic brilliance. In 1992 at the tender age of 17, Beckham signed with England’s Manchester United, there winning countless championships, and was captain of England’s national team from 2000 – 2006. In 2003, he left Manchester to play for Spain’s Real Madrid team. He is currently the world’s highest-paid soccer player, in addition to participation in numerous advertising campaigns (shilling for beaucoup companies such as Coca Cola and IBM). In 1997 he met Victoria Adams (aka Posh Spice of the Spice Girls) and they married two years later. They have three sons together and the pair are considered international fashion icons.
Beckham Beauty House was specifically created by Coty to capitalize on the success of Beckham’s international star, and the popularity of his fragrance brands, by creating a franchise to include an entire line of men’s grooming products. Beckham’s U.S. residence in 2007 is expected to greatly increase sales of the brand’s growing product line.

[hanoki]

Today's collection of fragerances is from the design house of Jaguar. I have selected thier signature fragerances. The 10% off the purchase price of two fragerances ends in 2 days.

For the Ladies

Jaguar Perfume by Jaguar, Introduced in 2004, it has fragrance notes of lemon, blackcurrant,watermelon, water lily, jasmine, peony, sandalwood, cashmere, amber and white musk.


For the Gents

Jaguar Cologne by Jaguar, Launched by the design house of Jaguar in 1988, Jaguar is classified as a luxurious, spicy, lavender, amber fragrance. This masculine scent possesses a blend of basil, lavender, grapefruit and gardenia. Accompanied by cedar, spruce, leather and fern. It is recommended for romantic wear.

History

An elegant mover, swift, agile with an incredible leap, the Jaguar is a mysterious, instinctive predator, and since 1935, a symbol guaranteed to increase the heart rate of all car enthusiasts.

As one of the twenty best known brands worldwide, Jaguar has been the renowned symbol for the exquisite, the exceptional, the exclusive.

And now, the mysterious cat has become the symbol for very exclusive and exceptional fragrances.

With a handful of employees, production commenced. Pioneering the use of aluminium, the very stylish sidecars were immediately popular and production expanded rapidly. Then in 1927 Herbert Austin introduced his baby car, the famous Austin Seven. Intended to bring motoring to the masses, the tiny Sevens were cheap, easy to drive, reliable, but lacked individuality.

Lyons saw another opportunity. He created a most stylish two-seater body which was mounted on the Austin Seven chassis. An order for 500 was obtained from one of the main London garages and production commenced. The splendid little Austin Seven Swallow proved most popular and the company introduced a Swallow body for the larger Morris Cowley chassis. The range then increased significantly with the introduction of the Austin Seven Swallow Saloon, late 1928. Such features as the polished radiator cowl and Ladies Companion Set elevated the Swallows above the average.

With sales of the cars and sidecars continuing to increase, it was decided to move to the Midlands, traditional heartland of the british motor industry. Thus, the young company was moved 'lock, stock and barrel' to Coventry. In 1931 the Standard 16 hp six-cylinder Enfield chassis received the Swallow treatment and this introduced the company to the 2054 cc sidevalve engine, which admirably suited Lyons and Walmsley's purpose for the next ambitious step forward. The Swallow company had now been in existence for a year short of a decade and it had been an exciting time of steady expansion and sound success. But the ambitious Lyons was far from satisfied and a further bold step forward was needed. William Lyons was not content to merely build bodies on other people's chassis. This constrained his creative desires and equally restricted him to products which were stolid rather than sporting. He arranged for the Standard Motor Company to build a chassis to Swallow's design but fitted with Standard engines. The SS I and SS II Coupés were duly presented at the 1931 London Motor Show, and sensation they certainly caused. The body was ultra low and the bonnet outrageously long. It had, stated the press, the £1,000 look, yet was priced at a very modest £310.

Lyons was almost obsessive about making his cars as low as possible. By moving the engine further back in the chassis than was normal practice and by mounting the road springs alongside, Lyons was able to achieve this long, low, sporting appearance. In July 1933 the SS I Tourer joined the Coupé, and apart from being the first open SS model, the significance of the Tourers was that they were the first to be entered in a serious competitive event. A team of three Tourers were entered in the 1933 Alpine Trial in mainland Europe and the following year they enhanced the SS name very considerably, taking the team prize on this particularly tough event. And from then on the legacy of Jaguar remains.

[hanoki]

Todays selections are from the design house of Antonio Bandaras and are seductive and sexy.

For the Ladies

Diavolo Perfume by Antonio Banderas, Created to highlight a woman's seductive side, this is an oriental floral for women.top notes are citrus and herbal but the heart is spice and floral. Base notes are sandlewood and vanilla.

For the Gents

Spirit Cologne by Antonio Banderas, Spirit by Antonio Banderas was introduced in 1996 as a masculine scent. This manly aroma possesses a blend of fresh greens and woods. Spirit is recommended for evening wear.

History

His acting career began at the age of 19, when he worked in small theatres during the Movida period. He first gained wide attention through a series of films by director Pedro Almodóvar, between 1982 and 1990. These included Laberinto de pasiones (1982), Matador (1986), La ley del deseo (1987), Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (1988), and ¡Átame! (1989). His breakthrough role was as the character "Ricky" in ¡Átame! (English-language title: Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!.)

Career in Hollywood

He subsequently moved to the United States and began appearing in American films; some of his earlier roles there included the 1992 film, The Mambo Kings, as well as a supporting role in the Oscar-winning 1993 film, Philadelphia. He appeared in several major Hollywood releases in 1995, including a starring role in the Robert Rodriguez-directed film, Desperado. In 1996, he starred alongside Madonna in Evita, an adaptation of the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice in which he played the narrator, Che, a role originally played on Broadway by Mandy Patinkin. He also received critical praise for his role as the legendary Mexican masked swordsman, Zorro in the 1998 film The Mask of Zorro, for which he was the first Spanish actor to portray the character after over 80 years since Zorro's creation.
Alongside of the movie Desperado, he has more recently collaborated with Robert Rodriguez who cast him in the Spy Kids film trilogy and the last installment of the "Mexico" trilogy Once Upon A Time In Mexico(in which he appeared with Johnny Depp). Banderas' sole credit as a director was the poorly-received Crazy in Alabama (1999), starring his wife Melanie Griffith.
In 2003, he returned to the musical genre, appearing to great acclaim in the Broadway revival of Maury Yeston's musical Nine, based on the film 8½, playing the prime role originated by the late Raúl Juliá. Banderas won both the Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk awards, and was nominated for the Tony Award for best actor in a musical. His performance is preserved on the Broadway cast recording released by PS Classics.
His voice role as Puss in Boots in Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third made the character popular on the family film circuit. In 2005, he reprised his role as Zorro in The Legend of Zorro, though this was not as successful as the original. In 2006, he starred in Take the Lead, a high school-set movie in which he played a real-life ballroom dancing teacher. That year, he also received the L.A. Latino International Film Festival's "Gabi" Lifetime Achievement Award on 14 October. He hosted Saturday Night Live's 600th episode (in season 31). The musical guest was Mary J. Blige. He performed a voice-over for a computer-animated bee which can be seen in the United States in television commercials for Nasonex, an allergy medication, and was seen in the 2007 Christmas advertising campaign for Marks & Spencer, a British retailer He is being considered for the part of Hadrian in the in-production (as of February 2008) film Memoirs of Hadrian.

Personal life

Banderas divorced his first wife, Ana G. Leza, and in May 1996 married actress Melanie Griffith, whom he met a year earlier when they shot Two Much. They have a daughter, Stella del Carmen Banderas, born in 1996, who appeared in the film Crazy in Alabama (1999), in which Griffith starred and which Banderas directed.
He has invested his movie earnings in Andalusian products, which he promotes in Spain and the USA. He owns 50% of a winery in Northern Spain called Anta Banderas which makes red and rose wines.
While he speaks in his native Andalusian Spanish with his family and Spanish press, he switches to the Castilian pronunciation when playing non-Andalusian roles or when dubbing his Hollywood roles. He is a long time supporter of the Málaga CF and Real Madrid Football Club. Banderas also has a perfume and a cologne line.

[hanoki]

Todays selections are from an older line of fragerances made by the design house of Creed. The perfumer for royality.

For the Ladies

Himalaya Perfume by Creed, Creed introduced Himalaya as a unisex scent, this fantastic scent is named for the home of the Hindu Gods. This refreshing and exciting scent is a beautiful blend of grapefruit, sandalwood, pepper, Tonka musk, Mandarin. Inspiring and enticing, Himalaya is perfect for anybody.


For the Gents

Green Irish Tweed Perfume by Creed, Creed Green Irish Tweed was originally created for actor Cary Grant. The spicy, sporty blend contains notes of Mysore sandalwood, ambergris, violet leaves, French verbena, and Florentine iris.

History and background of Creed :In 1760, in London, James Henry Creed founded the House of Creed. It rapidly grew a favourite with the English Court and Queen Victoria appointed Creed an official supplier. Soon, the House of Creed was chosen by all the courts of Europe : from Napoléon III, Empress Eugénie, Francis-Joseph, Elizabeth of Austro-Hungaria to Chritina of Spain, Creed's creations were recognised for their quality, refinement and originality.

In 1854, under Empress Eugénie, the House of Creed moved to Paris and soon acquired notoriety.

With a very selective clientele, Creed went on creating more than two hundred unique and exclusive scents, all original and hand-made. These masterpieces were produced by the Creed family over the years.

Today, Olivier Creed, Master Perfumer of the House, has decided to introduce to the five continents the fruit of his creative flair.

The Creed "Vintages" have been elaborated from essences of great quality and contain the highest percentage of natural components in the French perfume industry. When in France or travelling abroad, Olivier Creed personally selects the purest rose essences from Bulgaria, Turkey or Morocco; as well as Jasmine and Irises from Florence, Tuberoses from India, genuine Parma Violets and so on... The infusion technique, now abandoned by modern industry, enables Olivier Creed, a perfectionist, to preserve the originality of his fragrances. Creed trade mark, as a result, manufactures its own infusion of vanilla, civet, musk and ambergris. The components are then weighed, mixed, macerated and filtered, all by hand in the highest tradition of the founder, James Henry Creed.

Original and exclusive bottles with glass stoppers covered with natural leather preserve the precious fragrance : Flower Fantasia, Empress Eugénie Jasmine, Green Irish Tweed, Vanisia, Fleur de Bulgarie....

Olivier Creed is an expert at creating his own scents : this is unique in the French perfume industry and most probably accounts for his far reaching success.

Sixth in the family line, he is today Master Perfumer of a House which has been in the family business for over 230 years and which, he hopes, will remain so for many years to come.

His son, Erwin, is Senior Perfumer and his daughter, Olivia, is an art designer for Creed.

[hanoki]

Todays selection is from the design house of Hermes although picking only two of thier fragerances to feature was a real challange because they are all so wonderful.


For the Ladies

24 Faubourg Perfume by Hermes, Launched by the design house of hermes in 1996, 24 faubourg is classified as a sharp, flowery fragrance. This feminine scent possesses a blend of orange blossom, amber, vanilla, and blooming fresh cut flowers.


For the Gents

Eau D'orange Verte Cologne by Hermes, Launched by the design house of hermes in 1979, hermes d\'orange vert is classified as a refreshing, fruity fragrance. This masculine scent possesses a blend of fresh citrus and greens. It is recommended for casual wear.

History

The company was founded by Frenchman Thierry Hermes in 1837. It specialized in saddles and leathergoods during those early years.

One of its early designers was Lola PRUSAC. It's first women collection was shown in Paris in 1929. The Hermes scarf was introduced in the early 1930s. The handbag made famous by Grace Kelly in 1956 was actually first manufactured almost 20 years earlier in 1930. Haute Couture collection was stopped in 1956, but they continued to give shows during the European Fashion Week.

Hermes introduced its first perfume Caleche in 1961. Over the years, the Ready to Wear was designed by Jacques Delahaye,Catherine De Karolyi, Monsieur Levaillant, Nicole De Vesian, Eric Bergere, Claude Brouet, Tan Giudicelli, Marc Audibet and Mariot Chane. Since 1998, the collection has been designed by Martin Margiela.

[hanoki]

From the design house of Moschino comes these two fragerances de jour. All the colognes and perfumes previously mentioned as well as these are available for you at Hanoki's Place.

For the Ladies

Cheap & Chic Perfume by Moschino, Launched by the design house of Moschino in 1995, Cheap & Chic is classified as a refreshing, flowery fragrance. This feminine scent possesses a blend of floral top notes including petitgrain and bergamot, with fruity undertones and low notes of white orchid, sandalwood and vanilla. It is recommended for office wear.

For the Men

Uomo Moschino Cologne by Moschino, Launched by the design house of Moschino in 1997, Uomo Moschino is classified as a refreshing, oriental, woody fragrance. This masculine scent possesses a blend of a rich musky scent of spice, fruit and amberwood. It is recommended for casual wear.

History

Franco Moschino was born in 1950 in Abbiategrasso, a small industrial town, 14 miles away from Milan. He was a child who took refuge from provincial boredom by spending his time drawing. His father, who passed away when Franco was 4 years old, ran an iron foundry and young Moschino would arrange the heavy deposits of dust into different patterns. In 1967, Moschino went to the Accademia di Belle Arte in Milan and although he wanted to be an artist, he was diverted into the world of fashion. In order to finance his studies, he then started sketching some fashion designs and illustration commissions for fashion houses and magazines.

Moschino's work then caught the eye of famous designer Gianni Versace who was creating some collections for various Italian ready-to-wear houses between the years of 1971 and 1977. Moschino drew for all their publicity campaigns.

Moschino then waited till 1983 in order to found his own company called Moonshadow and then decided to launch Moschino Couture. His first show was packed with Milan's wildest groupies, who went crazy as his surrealist variations on fashion were paraded down the runway. By his second show, he was internationally known for his highly provocative and irreverent style, to the anger of Milan's established designers.

Five years later, Moschino's Cheap and Chic range was introduced, along with the fake-fur "For Fun" range of clothing, and the first Moschino boutique opened in Milan in 1988.

In 1994, Moschino also decided to launch Ecouture, an ecological collection that uses environmentally friendly fabrics and dyes.

The same year, Moschino died of a heart attack at the age of 44. Since the day of his death, his business has continued to grow and thrive, under the direction of friend and collaborator Rossella Jardini who joined him in 1981. The Moschino foundation, a charity set up to help HIV positive children, continues it's arduaous work, fulfilling Moschino's utmost wishes.

The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, later on held an exhibition called "Fashion - Italian Style" from February to April 2003. Franco Moschino was brilliantly represented by his surrealistic bra dress and a skirt which was entirely composed of bio-degradable grocery bags. Chanel once sued him for spoofing a perfume on a T-shirt.

The Style of Moschino

Moschino provided a fresh and very new approach to the world of fashion. It attempted to play down the high glamour and sophistication of fellow designers and made fun of their high prices. Moschino was known to be always clever, iconoclastic and ready to cause outrage with crazy ideas, but his clothes were still wearable and cut to the highest couture standards. Moschino was an expert tailor and liked to also make visual puns. He once created a dinner suit with a knife and fork appliqued on the bodice, his blazers had windmills for buttons, and his polka dot Minnie Mouse dresses were also very popular.

[hanoki]

From the design house of John Varvatos I have chosen his name sake perfume and cologne as todays featured fragerances.

For the Ladies

John Varvatos Perfume by John Varvatos, Men's clothing designer, John Varvatos, wanted a perfume that shows his love for his wife. This woody chypre fragrance for women was created by perfumer Rodrigo Flores Roux. Top notes are: apricot, Damask plum and golden Mandarin with a heart of Oriental lily, Indian mango blossom, Egyptian jasmine, and Turkish rose. The base notes include oak moss, patchouli, tonka beans and wild honey.

For the Gents

John Varvatos Cologne by John Varvatos, Modern, sophisticated and luxurious, John Varatos was created in 2004 by the design house of John Varvatos. An alluring oriental, woody aroma for men, this masculine scent possesses a blend of tamarind leaves, herbs, spice, woods and leather. John varvatos is recommended for a romantic evening.

History from Wikipedia

Biography
Varvatos family comes originally from the Greek island of Kefalonia. John Varvatos grew up in the metro Detroit suburb of Allen Park, a downriver community situated south of the city of Detroit. He attended Allen Park High School. Varvatos first worked for Polo Ralph Lauren in 1983 then worked at Calvin Klein in 1990, where he was head of menswear design. He returned to Polo in 1995, where he was VP of menswear design. Once upon a time, John lived in Apartment #2 at 5 W 21st St, in the heart of the prestigious Flatiron District of New York City. This address housed many famous athletes, celebrities, models, philanthropists and finance moguls at one point or another throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
In late 1999, Varvatos started his eponymous company, debuting his first clothing line at the end of 2000.

John Varvatos Clothing
In 2000, John Varvatos was licensed to create a line of ConverseAll-Star shoes for the Fall/Winter Season that year. The designs were so popular that they have continued to acquire his talents to this day, even branching out into other Converse shoe styles like Jack Purcell and One Star.
In 2003, John's company became part of Nautica Enterprises, Inc., which was subsequently acquired by VF Corporation[1]. In 2005, John Varvatos entered into a partnership with VF Corporation to create a new partnership, John Varvatos Enterprises, Inc. where Varvatos serves as CEO and president of the new company.[2]
In spring 2006 John launched his first eyewear collection. In February 2007, it was announced that American supergroupVelvet Revolver would be the face of Varvatos' spring 2007 ad campaign.
Varvatos's clothing is sold in such stores as Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys, Nordstrom, Holt Renfrew, and recently Macy's, as well as other stores and in the company's own boutiques located in SoHo, Los Angeles, The Forum Shops at Caesars in Las Vegas, Costa Mesa, East Hampton, and San Francisco.
In April 2008 Varvatos opened his 315 Bowery store in the space that once housed the seminal underground club CBGB.

Fragrance and Skincare Partnership with Shiseido
In the fall of 2004 John Varvatos launched his first fragrance, a men's fragrance named John Varvatos Classic. In 2006, BPI launched Vintage by John Varvatos, which shares similar notes as the classic. In 2008 Varvatos launched his fragrance for women. In Spring 2005, he also launched John Varvatos Skin, his line of skin care products for men. His new 'green' fragrance, called Artisan will come out later this Spring (2009). John Varvatos Skin products, along with John Varvatos fragrances, are made at Shiseido's facilities and distributed by Shiseido subsidiary Beauté Prestige International.

[hanoki]

Todays selection is from the design house of Christian Audigier producers of Ed Hardy Fragerances Love and Luck and Ed Hardy.
Both named fragerances are available in either a cologne or perfume. I have chosen to feature Ed Hardy.


For the Ladies


Ed Hardy Perfume by Christian Audigier, Launched in 2008, this trendy scent is a fruity floral with notes of apple soufflé, mango, wild strawberry, rudy red grapefruit, freesia petals, watery muguet, linden blossom, warm amber, musk, tonka bean and vanilla pudding.


For the Gents


Ed Hardy Cologne by Christian Audigier, This fragrance was created with special effects and colorfulsensations inspired by the dramatic and cool ed hardy tattoo art. Bright and tantalizing citrus effects of bergamot & mandarin are touched by the aromatic expression of thuja and the sharp bite of clary sage for added zest. This opening is the perfect preview to a colorful mint julep cocktail that matches up with ozone for a psychedelic explosion of color and effervescence. The result is of super refreshing mint mixed with colorful bubbles that provides a provocative edginess. Sequoia scent trek brings a masculine woodiness to the fragrance that is embraced by sensual musks and a touch of black amber. The final effect is of a masculine floralcy tattooed on to wood that lasts and lasts.


History


ED HARDY, the Story

His unmistakable trademark and charismatic personality make Christian Audigierthe man of the moment. But who is this crazy and eccentric French man known as, Le Vif, (the fast one). Christian, in just about two years, has succeeded in taking the fashion industry by storm and making Ed Hardy a household name. This has ultimately led him to becoming the king of the designer shirt. He first received national recognition when he put Von Dutch Originals on the map by using the idea of pinstripe designs, which he developed into an international brand. You could not go anywhere without seeing a T-Shirt or trucker hat worn by celebrities or college kids on the streets of LA, Miami, New York or Paris. His association to Von Dutch lasted a little over 3 years before Audigier, true to his passion for cars and motorcycles, decided to start his own company once he was granted the exclusive rights to work with the designs of tattoo artist Don Ed Hardy. Oddly enough, he repeated his incredible success with the tattoo designs of Don Ed Hardy, the godfather of tattoo. From Britney Spears, who was his very first celebrity client, to Ashton Kutchner, Paris Hilton, Hilary Duff and Justin Timberlake, just to name a few. Christian has created a virtual who’s who of celebrity hipsters wearing, the trucker hats, the jeans and the now infamous Ed Hardy T-shirt. Audigier, a native from Avignon, France, has an impressive list of credits and accomplishments under his belt. His career started in his early teens when he was discovered by one of the top executives at MacKeen Jeans. Christian had already created a Denhim collection, greatly influenced by Rock n’ Roll. “My favorite group was the Rolling Stones. It was natural for me to design cool clothes”, says Christian. Although under age, he joined MacKeen shortly thereafter and became a major force in the company. During that time, he traveled all over the globe from Tokyo to Paris to New York, where he was blown away by that incredible city and its grandeur. “I remember thinking to myself, I need to come here and start my own company.” No more than 3 years later, Christian moved to New York, formed his own company and freelanced for the biggest names of the denim industry: Guess, American Outfitters, Fiorucci, Bisou Bisou, Levi’s, XOXO and revamped the Diesel brand. He created a name for himself and became “the King of Jeans"
One cold winter day, while watching a television program on Bali, Christian decided to move there. While still working in denim, he experimented with jersey, and other materials. After living in Bali for a few years, he returned to the States, this time to Los Angeles, the Entertainment Capitol of the world. “LA seemed to be the next step for me. The weather was great, I had lots of friends and clients living there, and denim was always fashionable”.
It was in 2002 when Audigier met Tonny Sorensen who had just acquired the rights to the name ‘Von Dutch’, the legendary pin striper and auto mechanic and was contemplating developing a film from it. In talking with Tonny, Christian had a vision; why not a fashion label? A clothing line. Using his savvy knowledge of the industry and his marketing genius, mixed with his amazing ability to create jeans that fly off shelves, Audigier convinced Sorensen to change his mind, and the rest is history.

[hanoki]

Today's selections is from the design house of Coty.

For the Ladies

Wild Musk Perfume by Coty, Launched by the design house of coty in 1973, coty wild musk is classified as a luxurious, oriental fragrance. This feminine scent possesses a blend of flowers, vanilla and musk.

For the Gents

David Beckham Instinct Cologne by Coty, David Beckham's Instinct by Coty is masculine, sexy, exceptional fragrance for the modern man. The distinctive scent is a blend of orange, mandarin and Italian bergamot, with the middle notes of cardamom, pimento and star anise. Finishing off with vetiver, white amber and patchouli.

History

Coty, Inc. is a century-old fragrance manufacturer that also produces cosmetics and other health and beauty aids. Founded by a Corsican who exploited his marketing knack to become, reputedly, the richest man in France, the company has experienced numerous changes in ownership and management over the years. Coty is now a subsidiary of Joh. A. Benckiser GmbH, a family-controlled German holding company. It is the world's leading manufacturer of mass-market fragrances and occasionally markets products of other manufacturers. Although New York-based, Coty registers the bulk of its sales in Western Europe.
Perfume and Cosmetics Pioneer: 1904--62
Born on the island of Corsica in 1875, François Spoturno was orphaned at an early age and reared by a grandmother. After leaving school he drifted to Marseille and then--in 1900&mdashø Paris, where he worked as a haberdashery salesman. Following a year's training in Grasse--birthplace of the perfume industry--he borrowed 10,000 francs from his grandmother in order to establish a makeshift laboratory in his small flat. Taking the name Coty from his mother's family name (Coti), he created his first perfume, La Rose Jacqueminot, in 1904 from concentrated flower oils rejected by others because of their novelty. By 1908 he was successful enough to establish a factory on the outskirts of Paris. Then he introduced face powder, packaging it with a powder puff in a round box.
Maison Coty owed its success to much more than its founder's training in and sensitivity to the materials from which commercial fragrances are derived. Coty catered to the rich and well-born--even the Russian czar and czarina, who commissioned fragrances for their daughters--yet sold small bottles within the price range of even the Paris shopgirl. He was the first to create a range of cosmetics in the same fragrance. Above all, Coty was a pioneer in every aspect of product design, including perfume bottles and cosmetics boxes. His close collaborator, René Lalique, created Art Nouveau crystal bottles that were works of art in themselves. Using red, black, and gold papers, Leon Bakst, set designer for the acclaimed Ballets Russes, designed the powder box which still serves for Coty's Air-Spun face powder. Coty was also quick to exploit foreign markets, opening a Moscow store and establishing a London subsidiary in 1910. Two years later he founded a New York branch in a Fifth Avenue building furnished with stained glass windows by Lalique. Other agencies of what later became Coty, S.A., were established in Buenos Aires, Johannesburg, Madrid, and Rio de Janeiro.
After American soldiers returning from World War I brought home Coty perfumes and face powder, the U.S. market was recognized as of paramount importance. In 1922 Coty, Inc. was formed, with laboratories and a large assembly plant established on Manhattan's West Side to avoid the heavy tariff on luxury goods. By 1929 the American company was assembling and selling 23 perfumes, plus powders, toilet soaps and waters, bath salts, brilliantines, hair and hand lotions, rouges, vanishing cream, shaving soap, and powder and rouge compacts. The firm was vigilant in forestalling pricecutting by retailers and achieved a 60 percent profit margin. Net income rose from $1.07 million in 1923 to $4.05 million in 1928. In that year Coty, S.A. had earnings of $1.64 million.
Coty, Inc. became a publicly traded company in 1925 and acquired a majority interest in the five European Coty companies in 1929. After Coty's death in 1934, his divorced wife, now Mme. Yvonne Cotnareanu, received a controlling interest in Coty, Inc. in lieu of the unpaid balance of an alimony settlement. Administration of the company remained in the hands of Benjamin E. Levy, who had become chairman of the board on its inception.
With the advent of the Great Depression, Coty, like other companies dependent on luxury goods, fell into difficulties. According to a later New York Times article, sales in the United States fell from $50 million in 1929 to $3.5 million in 1933. The author, Richard Rutter, wrote that management 'compounded its mounting problems by slashing prices in a desperate effort to gain a mass market ... a near-fatal move in a field in which prestige and the luxury symbol were vital.' Even so, Coty lost money on its American operations only in 1935. With World War II imminent, the foreign companies were folded into the newly created Panama-based Coty International Corp. in 1939. The ownership remained the same, however, and the two corporations had interlocking directorships.
Levy retired in 1940 and was succeeded as chairman by Grover Whalen, a civic booster and promoter who was finishing his stint as president of the body that organized and ran the New York World's Fair of 1939--40. In his role as the company's public face, Whalen established the Coty American Fashion Critics' Award, an annual presentation that kept its name before the public for 40 years. Administration was in the hands of Coty's president, Herman L. Brooks, from 1938 to 1946, when Mme. Cotnareanu, who spent the war years in the United States before returning to Paris, replaced him with her brother-in-law Philippe Cotnareanu.
Continued on next page......