Helloooooo Ladies: The Chanel Cométe Collection = Twinkle, Twinkle Grown Up Star!

"Chanel’s Cométe collection is inspired by one of their collections from the thirties. The collection includes luscious bracelets, necklaces, watches and earrings inspired by the Parisian night skies. Diamonds, platinum and white gold create a bright white theme for the pieces, but the accents of sapphire, pearl, onyx, amethyst, opal, and tourmaline provide dimension to the pieces."

Information Courtesy Of: Sybarites.Com


Visit Chanel Online Here: Chanel.Com

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: One of the most important tenets of Livestyle is the belief that true style is enduring. Season after season, collection after collection, as the slop-pot of fashion trends is brought to a rolling boil, savvy sartorialists have the uncanny ability to look deeper and distill whatever essence of inspired mode that may exist beneath the chaotic bubbling surface of now. Nothing is new under the sun ... or the moon or the stars. To that end, the Chanel Cométe Collection is right on time for Fall 2011.

As Daylight Savings Time once again comes through to G-Check the sunshine on some gully shit, the 1930's Art Deco channelling Cométe Collection is a breathe of fresh mountain air! These bright baubles composed of platinum, white gold and white diamonds (NOTE: Accented by a stunning assortment of precious gemstones such as sapphire, opal and onyx.) narrate the beauty of the Parisian night sky and add a touch of fairytale-like whimsy to the witching hour. Niiiiiice.

Message To My Livestlye Ladies: Resist any inclination to entertain the pompous cackles erupting from the label whore peanut gallery urging Y.O.U. to stock up on ALL of the pieces from this decadent range. Real talk, while I like the watch and all that, Y.O.U. might do best to cop the earrings - which are almost certainly less expensive - and keep it moving lil lady. Accessorize wisely. Good shit!

Helloooooo Ladies: The Henri Bendel Fall/Winter 2011 Handbag Collection = This Is How Y.O.U. Body A Basic Itchbay On A Budget.

"The modern, perfect handbag is a mix between instantly eye-catching and hard-to-place. Logo-ed It Bags are a thing of the past, and the designs that really whet our whistles these days are unadorned, classically designed, but with a splash of idiosyncrasy. The Henri Bendel handbags are just that—obscure enough to get you serious cool points, but classic enough to keep you totin' them for years to come. And with price-points between $150 to $450, these mid-priced pieces are worthy of a prime spot in your handbag rotation."

Information Courtesy Of: Refinery29.Com


Available Online Here: Henribendel.Com


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: On numerous occasions it has come to my attention that whilst everything that I publish to this online manual dedicated to the edifying refinement of discovering the "finer things" in life is always of an unquestionably dope pedigree, far too many of my highlighted selections are simply too expensive for the average person to ever dream of actually owning. I feel your pain. Everyday is a hustle for me too homie. Don't get it fucked up!

That having been said, however, what many view as daunting, I view as daring. Indeed, what many view as cost prohibitive, I simply view as motivational. As the saying goes, "Perception is reality" or at least - with special caution paid to NOT diluting ones self - it is YOUR reality. I just happen to prefer to work hard and remain aspirationally optimistic, ya dig?

Anyway, trite self-help sounding hype-machine blather aside though, I do know that it is important for me to publish some awesomeness that Y.O.U. can actually go cop right nizzow! That Chopard watch is mighty nice, but what the fuck are Y.O.U. rocking to-night? LOL. To that end, Livestyle Ladies please say hello to the Henri Bendel Fall/Winter 2011 Handbag Collection.

Established waaaaaaaaaay back in 1885 by miliner Henri Willis Bendel, this specialty women's store has the impressive distinction of being the 1st visionary retailer to bring the revolutionary modernist designs of Coco Chanel from Paris to upscale shoppers in the United States. In the century plus since it's founding, Henri Bendel has remained an ardent champion of new talent acting as a millionaire merchandise matchmaker of sorts regularly introducing today's top tier socialites to the most exciting designers - both known and on the verge alike - season after brilliant season. Truly democratic decadence @ it's finest! Not to be outdone, Henri Bendel as a brand also releases their own signature collections from time-to-time showcasing their inspired ideology.

Now, it is not uncommon for certain retailers shopping bags to become as iconic as the store itself and such is the case with Henri Bendel. The brand is well-known for its brown-and-white striped shopping bags and have ingeniously infused that unmistakable motif - along with other geometric patterns - into their handbag range for Fall/Winter 2011.

Offering a wide variety of bags - from your standard shoulder bag to shoppers and totes - in a mix of supple leather and embossed snakeskin, this collection of classic style with just the right splash of citified whimsy is perfect for my fly misses out there who are NOT stuck on the obvious. Everybody's done Gucci and Louis Vuitton; try coppin' a brand that they DON'T make knockoffs of for once homie ... lol. Oh yeah, and with a friendly price point between $150 to $450 Y.O.U. don't have to break the bank to break necks mama! Fuck with a real nigga! This is Livestyle.

Preview: The Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2010/2011 Womenswear Collection By Karl Lagerfeld.

The Balmain "Teddy" Jacket For Fall/Winter 2010 = I'm NOT From Marcy, But I Am Varsity Chump! You're J.V.

"Balmain continues to take classic pieces to transform and customize them. As part of their Fall/Winter 2010 Collection they present the Teddy Jacket, a baseball jacket with a sweat body and leather sleeves. Additionally they added an embroidered batch on the chest. Overall a solid looking jacket, yet of course the price is a little off"

Information Courtesy Of: Highsnobiety.Com


Available Online Here: Colette.Fr

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Just beyond the known reaches of such stellar luxury labels as Gucci and Chanel, there lies yet another, more obscenely priced, galaxy of fashion stars. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has identified Balmain as the center of this extravagant universe.

Founded by master haute couture pioneer Pierre Balmain in 1945, this ultraelegant women's label has survived waning popularity and bankruptcy to reemerge as the reigning poster child for post millennium high fashion excess. Under the ambitious design direction of Christophe Decarnin, this once crumbling house has been saved and restored to it's rightful landmark status. What started with a chic rock-n-roll revamping of the entire women's line has now grown to include a small, but impressive men's collection. The Balmain "Teddy" Jacket for Fall/Winter 2010 is 1 of their latest bank breaking offerings.

While Balmain in recent years has made a mint off of ridiculously loud disco-ball sequenced t-shirts that sell for $3,000 (NOTE: Yes, I said t-shirts.), their menswear ranges have alternatively taken a more understated road towards opulence.

To that point, the Balmain Teddy Jacket is simply a varsity jacket re-cut in a slightly more motorcycle jacket type form and embellished with just the right amount of luscious detailing to keep us fashion snobs happy! I mean, who in their right mind would pay $2,914 for a glorified high school varsity jacket if it DIDN'T have supple black calf leather sleeves? LOL. Is this jacket waaaaaaaaaaaay overpriced? Yes. Do I care? No. This is Livestyle.


BONUS:

The inspiration for the title of this post should really require no explanation. I have neither the time nor the patience teach a remedial course in Hip Hop classics tonight folks ... lol. In order to actively participate in this Livestyle thing of ours, I will need Y.O.U. to always come prepared to class homie. Get it? Got it? Good. *Cue "Reasonable Doubt" Jay-Z Voice* "What the fuuuuuuuuck!?"

The Premium Label Grenade "No. 5" T-Shirt = All Is Fair In L.O.V.E. x War-drobe.

Available Online Here: Balancelifestyles.Com

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: A few years back, after having spent the majority of the Summer swimming in an ocean of streetwear just off the coast of "Cool", my forward thinking friends and I gathered along the sandy shore to watch the tide of fly-by-night t-shirt brands come crashing down. We have not boarded a Jitney and ventured back to that once popular retreat ever since.

Lyrical lambasting aside, as streetwear became too much of a #TrendingTopic and seemingly EVERYONE haphazardly launched a line of ironically titled tees, I packed up belongings and moved to higher and flyer ground (NOTE: Brands such as Brooklyn Circus, Supreme, Stussy and other innovative purveyors of exclusivity do not apply as they transcend any trendy "streetwear" nomenclature). That having been said, as the days get longer and our sleeves get shorter, it is a must that I freshen my palate for the new season.

Even with my heightened aesthetic taste, I am relatively "low maintenance" - especially during the Summer months. At any given time my post-Winter wardrobe will consist of 4 camouflage shorts (NOTE: I'm sorry homie, but I haven't seen a pair of jean shorts that I would let touch me in like 4 years ... lol) and copious amounts of sneakers, t-shirts and polo tops. This is where the Premium Label Grenade "No. 5" T-Shirt comes into play. The beautiful minds behind Premium Label have made a name for themselves as the go-to tops-shop for t-shirts, crewnecks and hoodies featuring rapscallion re-renderings of glamorous haute couture runway models and the legendary logos of high-end fashion houses like Gucci and Chanel.

Although small percentage of their designs border on the terribly tacky side of corny (1 unfortunate t-shirt incorporates the abhorrent common colloquial language crutch that is the often misused word "swagger") this brilliant Chanel "No. 5" flipping tee makes me want to pull the pin on this bad boy ASAP! The $24 price tag might not be a problem, however, finding this premium product still in stock might be ... lol. Get yours.

The 2010 Chanel Sport Collection = The Best Damn Sports Clothes Period!

Available @ Select Chanel Boutiques Worldwide.

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Fundamental to the greater Livestyle experience is having the wherewith all to instantly recognize the distinct difference between downright tackiness and tongue-in-cheek extravagance and being able to draw the necessary line in the ebony Tahaitian sand between the 2. Of course nobody takes to the slopes from head to ski strapped boot in Chanel (NOTE: Well, perhaps a countess having a holiday on the Swiss Alps might ... lol) and that is precisely what makes the new 2010 Chanel Sport Collection so wonderful!

Sports equipment is, @ its most basic Hydrogen atomic level, meant strictly to provide an athlete with uncompromising support, protection and, in some instances, even give them an edge against their competition - clearly there is no sporting good reason for such luxurious to activewear. That having been said, I ask, "Who cares?" I aint planning to play a game of "Around The World" @ Brooklyn's Wingate Park with a Chanel basketball. And I would totally old school WWF Honkey Tonk Man break that guitar over somebody's too-rich-too-pretentious head if they unsheathed it from it's quilted buttery leather case in my presence and even attempted to seriously play it! LOL.

The point is that there is no point to this most assuredly astronomically priced range @ all AND therein lies it's true value my friend. Get fly! Get it? Got it? Good.

Helloooooo Ladies: The Limited Edition Les Trompe L’Oeil de Chanel Collection = Finally, Tattoos For Fashion Foward Commitment-Phobes!

"The tattoo’s tacky seafarer image is long a thing of the past, but getting a brand logo permanently inked onto your skin was so far reserved for rappers and other flamboyant figures in show business.

Now, Chanel has found a way to win over the rest of us: transfer tattoos.

They were one of the surprises on last fall’s runways: Rodarte painted their models in bold tribal patterns, while Jean Paul Gaultier opted for spraying his models’ names (Sasha Pivovarova, Iris Strubegger) onto their bodies and faces.

But insiders agreed that Chanel’s illusions of chain bracelets (complete with logo pendants, bien sûr) were by far the most wearable option of this trend, so it doesn’t come as that big of a surprise that the brand has decided on selling the transfer tattoos, which were developed by creative director Peter Philips.

The ‘rocker image’ of tattoos will make for an appealing contrast to this spring’s otherwise quite romantic theme featuring lots of florals, ruffles, and transparent materials.

Fifty-five different designs, packaged under the name of Les Trompe L’Oeil de Chanel, will start selling online for around $75 and in international department stores such as Selfridges starting March 1."

Information Courtesy Of: Luxuo.Com

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: FACT: I have no tattoos. Be not mistaken, however, I like and do have an incredible amount of respect for the ritualistic tradition of artistic body modification ... I simply have never personally had the impulse to put anything on my body *Cue Drake Voice* "Forever man!" That might change 1 day, but, not today. Sailor Jerry artwork is my shit though.

Long time Livestyle aficionados might even remember an expose' that I posted in late 2007 entitled "FACT: In The Future, 90% Of Grandmother’s Will Have Tramp Stamps!!!" on that most arcane of social networking communicae, Myspace. The following is an excerpt from that award-winning blog post,

"From a technical standpoint, I've always admired the skill with which tattoo artists conquer the contours and various textures of people's skin. Our bodies are their canvas and the very good painters turn you into a walking masterpiece. So yeah, I get it. I get all that fly crap about tats, but what about those people who basically paid somebody to make mistakes on their body that no pencil can erase? That permanent ink aint a Pilot marker homeboy and, baby girl, no, sadly, that ink is NOT water soluble!".

Yup, that pretty much covers how I feel about the subject of tattooery. Get it? Got it? Good.

Moving right along, whilst I have always regarded temporary tattoos as the strict domain of children blowing their parent's quarters in vending machines and adult douche bags on Halloween, leave it to the Parisian purveyors of classic cool @ The House Of Chanel, to make me reconsider my staunch stance. Originally debuting on last Fall's runways adorning the models, having obviously recognized the enormous mark up potential for these decorative body decals, Chanel has announced that the über limited Les Trompe L’Oeil de Chanel collection will go on sale @ Chanel.Com beginning this February and @ Chanel boutiques and select accounts worldwide this March.

Inspired by the designs of Chanel’s global creative director, Peter Philips, and kind of Victorian/Gothic in tone, these bad boys for bad girls will run Y.O.U. a good $75 mama. Yeah, I know, Y.O.U. can damn near get a decent real tat for that price and these temporary tattoos have a high P.layed O.ut P.otential (P.O.P.) Index, but, I aint gonna lie ... the 1st chick that I see strutting down the street this Spring in a pair of good heels with 1 of these Chanel tattoos on her silky thigh will be an automatic "Livestyle Lady Of The Year" Candidate. Will it be Y.O.U.? Holla @ ya boy in BK!

The Balmain Men's Black Leather Jacket For Fall/Winter 2009 = Money Talk$, Bullshit Wears Lesser Leathers.

"New from Balmain is a textured, layered, quilted twist on a wardrobe mainstay, the leather jacket. Though it might hurt your pockets, you’ll look like a million spankys with new Parisian piece. $4189."

Information Courtesy Of: Dailydrop.Com

Available Online Here: Colette.Fr

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Although not necessarily the case, my pursuit to distinguish the urban from the urbane and bring more sophistication to the game often does lead me to the skies as I hang on to sky rocketing designer price tags destined for the stars. Fuck it! My aspirations fuel my fires.

Now, if Y.O.U. already think that such luxury labels as Christian Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Hermès are pricey (and they ARE), be prepared to become highly and personally offended by the ultra expensive House of Balmain.

Founded in 1945 by Pierre Balmain, this firm once known simply for extravagant yet classic evening gowns, now, under the decadent direction of Chief Designer Christophe Decarnin, is all about walking the razor's edge of contemporary fashion.

I can't front, when the Balmain name was on it's death-bed and headed for bankruptcy, snatching up a new designer and completely reimagining this wholesome brand in Paris party girl style took some cajohnes. Maybe the powers that be felt that they had nothing to lose and everything to gain. And gain they did. Starting in 2005 Balmain has once again risen to the heights of the haute couture hierarchy and recently introduced their 1st men's collection @ the Paris shows in January of 2009.

This simply gorgeous Balmain Men's Black Leather Jacket for Fall/Winter 2009 is truly an exercise in understated opulence. Price of admission: $4,189 USD. Stuntin' on your entire city: Priceless. Yeah, I'm gonna have to be 1 of the 1st rappers to name drop this over the top brand. Wait for it. Your fake Louis duffle bag makes me chuckle! LOL. Holla @ ya boy in BK!

Chanel No. 5 Commercial Starring Audrey Tatou (Directed By Jean Pierre Jeunet)

BONUS:

Deal With It: Lanvin 1-Day Sample Sale Hits NYC Nextweek!

"Next Wednesday, March 18, from 10 a.m to 5 p.m, over 400 pieces from the storied French house will go on massive sale—we're talking 70% off or more. That means dresses starting at $325 (versus $1,500) and coats starting at $560 (versus $4,000). We can't remember the last time Lanvin had a sample sale, which means we've just hit shopping nirvana. It's guaranteed to be a madhouse scene, though, considering the sale's only for one day, but we're planning on camping out with our most fashionable sleeping bags." In all their excitement, they forget to mention the address: It is 230 Fifth Avenue. [Pipeline]"

Information Courtesy Of: Racked.Com

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Of all of the majestic stories surrounding this French fashion powerhouse, 1 story that is seldom told is any tale about them having a sample sale - Lanvin doesn't do sales! LOL. In the hierarchy of the haute couture world the Lanvin brand sits on a distinguished dais alongside such legendary firms as Louis Vuitton and Chanel; so, yeah, next week's 1-day sample sale (March 18, from 10AM to 5PM) is, in the words of "Anchorman" Ron Burgundy, "kind of a big deal" ... lol.

Now, while the article that serves as my source for this entry mentions NOTHING of clothing for men, I have got to get my Obama "hope" on that they'll have some Lanvin t-shirts and kicks on hand for the fellas. I might just have to roll up in there and seduce a few 100LB runway models with my fresh-off-of-the-corner charisma meets official-Livestyle-strategist knowledge of fine garments ... lol What's good?

Helloooooo Ladies: Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus x Chanel Is From? PLUS: Killetto Heels!

"Behold: the pieces of Chanel's Mobile Art Exhibit as they currently lay in Rumsey Playfield in Central Park! Friends, as we type this, construction workers are putting together this structure — the Greatest Handbag Pavilion Known to Man — in earnest. The exhibit, which showcases Chanel-handbag-inspired art, opens to the public on [Monday] October 20. The structure designed by Zaha Hadid takes three weeks to assemble. As you see, Chanel has provided construction workers with some mighty fine hard hats. Steal one before Chanel starts selling them in stores for thousands of dollars."

Information Courtesy Of: NYmag.Com

Visit The Chanel Mobile Art Space Station Online Here: Chanel-Mobileart.Com

Guntalk:

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Ok, so we're in agreement - Karl Lagerfeld and the House of Chanel are trying to leave me speechless and scratching my 2-against-the-grain-ceaser in disbelief. Well, Chanel and superlative fashion genius iconoclast/German SS robo fag Karl Lagerfeld are probably less worried about me scratching my head in sheer amazement and are more concerned with how fast the ladies of the world will scratch their expertly manicured nails @ the very bottoms of their plush purses whilst reaching for their wallets ... lol.

Anyway, after crash landing (not really) in Tokyo and Hong Kong, on their continued mission to abduct and study only the flyest people from the 4 corners of the Earth the Chanel Mobile Art spaceship has settled in New York City's Central Park for a limited engagement. Never fear, all intergalactic chicks can cop the Chanel "Gun Shoes" (as modeled by the just-got-un-married Madonna) from their 2009 Cruise Collection. Pistol packin' P.Y.T. pumps, huh? Go 'head sex shooter ... lol!