Brand Girl™

Jam-packed with hair-raising fumbles, tear-jerking saves and the glamest of brands –– they’re calling “Sex and the City” the “Super Bowl” for women. And boy, did it score BIG. The long awaited sequel movie to the original HBO series opened this weekend grossing an unexpected $55.7 million (according to Variety — the best opening ever for an R-rated comedy). This win will no doubt add extra padding and lining to many folks Gucci-like wallets and purses, especially if you’re a little company called Bag, Borrow or Steal.

What started as a mere mention in the script turned into a story line to be the envy of every marketer — and Cinderella. Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson who played Carrie Bradshaw’s assistant in the SATC film happens to have an infatuation with handbags –– of the luxury kind. How does a young assistant feed such a craving in the middle of NYC? She rents, of course. Introducing: “Netflix” for the handbag. Bag Borrow or Steal is a service that allows women to lease (temporarily afford) luxury brand handbags and jewelry too (i.e., Gucci, Chanel, Prada, Coach, Vera Wang, Louis Vuitton)! And like most lease programs — there’s an option to buy. The brand cameos of Jennifer Hudson cradling a Louis Vuitton while explaining the services of Bag, Borrow or Steal to Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) will be embedded on fashionistas radars forever. Check out the BBS website for the cross promotional efforts. Its product placement that will garner long-lasting impressions for BBS that they could have never, ever afforded or leased on their own. It is exposure that is bound to be priceless –– just like the girls wardrobe in the SATC flick itself.

And speaking of the flick itself, if you expected anything but more of “Sex and the City” — you would’ve been disappointed. (C’mon — it’s the equivalent of a tween getting her Hannah Montana fix.) But for many of us that raided the theaters this weekend (throwing Indiana Jones off his own raid [helleooow. Girl Power!], it was great reminiscing and resonating with the SATC crew’s every decadent and heart wrenching twist –– plentiful of angst, flashbacks and tomorrow’s fashion. But most importantly… and in the end, ALL the girls get what they want — closure.

Oh, and a great way to afford luxury during a recession… now that’s BIG!

BG Soundtrack — 5 stars!

… discoveries. Self or otherwise.

Louis Vuitton’s first ad — ever.

Enjoy. xo

Did you feel that vibration across the country earlier today? That was me. I’ve finally released my well-known hate for the many abusers of Uggs. Especially towards the pretty little, big girls who wear the pink boots, whether with dress or sweats, summer or fall. I have made the pink peace. Why? Funny. I had a breakfast meeting and well… a gal pal was wearing Crocs. (Just like Uggs… showing up where they just shouldn’t. I realized then, that there is no winning.) And maybe for her, for color perhaps — it worked to finish off the crisp white blouse and linen pant with the red advanced toe-box ventilating sandal. But frankly, I would have prefer to have seen something non-Croslite on her feet, and maybe a tad more red on the lips. But hate em’ or love em’, Croc-waddling folks are swallowing up our lands, and they’re not just hanging in the garden. We are under attack.

The Crocs story is indeed a powerful one –– posting sales of $45 million last year alone. And those numbers are expected to be higher in 2007, given they have since released over 30 new styles. Whether on three-year olds, their playmates, or their mom’s — Crocs are inescapable and global. Some are calling the Croc invasion a fashion trend. I use the word fashion lightly here, but it is indeed a trend. Spreading even quicker then Keds did back in early 1990′s — no doubt due to the power of the internet today. Unlike the stylish Keds, I think the Croc trend speaks less to fashion, but more to being a universe of insatiable consumers. Always hungry for what’s new, newer and next. After all, early adopters aren’t only limited to the i-phone.

It’s hard to know if Crocs will stay around, or fade out like the jelly sandal. But seeing the strength of their marketing efforts, ungodly audience appeal, and future brand extensions that include clothing, I suspect the new ugg-ly’s may linger longer in my universe than wanted. But like all trends, only time will tell if they can carry their weight.

And speaking of weight — do you want a real reason to hate the funny looking Crocs? According to National childhood obesity experts, the cloppers are hurting our kids!! Just reportin.’

Luxury brands have been one of the last categories to throw dollars at online advertising, arguing that conventional media showcases their products better. Maybe so a year or two ago, but Neiman Marcus made a move today that signifies that change is in the air, well at least for this major retailer. Neiman Marcus commemorated its 100th anniversary with an online media buy that included a cameo on “YouTube’s” front page. Yes, NM videos are now positioned amongst the gazillion of others that range from renditions of Ms. South Carolina’s concern for the US’s shortage of maps to karaoke-singing… I don’t know,… ummm –– parrots. The NM buy is consider a big media win for YouTube. I mean, having a classic brand giving credence to its controversial site will likely attract similar deals. In addition to seeing a hippier side of NM, interesting to Brand Girl is that apparently a good percentage of “YT-ers” are wealthier and older than they look. They’re not all lonely girls and 15.

AdAge reports: “While 23.4% of internet-connected households make more than $100,000, 24.8% of households in YouTube’s audience do. And while 38.8% of the general internet population is 35 to 54 years old, 44.2% of YouTube’s audience falls into that age range.”

So at first glance, it’s seems an odd choice for Neiman Marcus to play in YT territory, but given young affluents are heavy on surfing and salaries. It’s not so crazy after all, is it?

And ps: If you want to launch the hippier side of you, or your singing bird on You Tube’s home page –– a mere $250k (rumored priced for the day) ought to do the trick. But you can have BG’s home page for a few $k’s less. And I’ll even give it to you for a week! Just sayin.’

Apple announced a revised ipod collection –– after all it is fashion week. The Ipod has been re-interpreted as the “touch.” The thinner she gets, the more power she packs. The Nanos are squattier, just like this season’s trend of cropped jackets, and the shuffles colors are more brilliant, like that of Zac Posen’s handbags. And all in time for the upcoming holiday season. Steve, nicely done.

Apple also slashed the entry point for the iphone by $200 bucks (now an affordable $399). A move that has left financial analysts wondering why — and consumer folks ––who bought high (as in the phone) crying.

(LOooOL) I’m sorry. Please forgive Brand Girl for that uncontrolled burst of “are YOU kidding me?” Really, have we not learned that there is always a price to be paid for the privileges of fashion firsts?

I’ve also read that Wall Street has taken the cut of the iphone price a tad negatively reflecting negatively in Apple’s stock. Hmmm – a slight dip. Now I’m no Wall Street mogul, but I have been an Apple maven for longer than most of those suited boys. And BG says – (again, I’m no money honey) but it’s time to buy — the stock that is. And as far as the phone, as in a much sought after accessory — (and again, this is purely speculative) –– my guess is that Apple is coming out with another version. One that is likely to be thinner, packed with more power and hopefully addresses some of those pesky touch pad troubles. (Again speculative… rumors that I’ve heard on the street.)

BG votes to pick up that accessory on round two. Cause just like picking apples, stock, or a new handbag for that matter –– you gotta know when to grab or pass.

Quite a celebratory week and it’s only Thursday. Hilary Duff tries on Martha Stewart. Barry Bonds hits his 756th home run beating Hank Aaron’s legendary record. (And not to belittle Bond’s effort, but I have 540 odd-days logged in LA. Ok, not consecutively. But neither is that home run count.) A tornado blows through Brooklyn, and Brand Girl survives her first quake.

Yaaaaagh!

Okay, a baby one.
But I still need to celebrate my first.
Martini of course. And shaken, not stirred!

So it continues to surround me – the quest for improvement of face. Some are nestled in bed holding frozen peas on their swollen muzzles, popping Perocets by the poundful and others are in hat and sunglasses getting ushered immediately to the back of the restaurant so as not to scare any patrons away. And then yours truly, hoping that the anti-aging elements in my Ocean Potion are really anti-aging, or that the beauty that gyrates from deep within will blow out any brow lines, or that Botox will be available in tablet form — soon.

Hope is not a strategy.

I decided it was high-time this Brand Girl test-drove herself in front of a trained eye — a cosmetically-oriented artist of sorts — all for the sake of research and education, of course. I met with a favorite of Linda Evangelista, Dr. Karyn Grossman. (If good enough for Linda, good enough for BG.) I learned that botox would not serve me. (woo-hoo!) For a half-second I was relieved, and feeling a tad cocky about my habitual use of OP, until she continued and said, “eventually you will just need an eyebrow lift.” (shock) And then there was the shooting of the Cosmoderm under the eyes. (shock) And chin. (shock) And Thermage for my forehead and eyes to remove the tired look. (shock) (shock) And then the Faxel Laser treatment to remove sun damage. (shock) Need I go on? At the end of my session I was handed a $6,000 plus estimate (STICKER SHOCK) for things to fix in the interim until I decided to do the lift. It was like bringing the benz to the repair shop to inquire about some door dings and being told that what you really needed was a new hood. But till then, here’s some new wheels. And make sure you come back for air every four months. (yikes!)

I’m not doing anything — Yet. Yet, I have learned many things in life like, “never say never”, “to each his own”, and “if you snooze, you lose.” But I got to thinking. If you do start to play this game of shooting up, keep in mind that you will need a boat-load of dollars to maintain given most of the drugs used like Botox and Cosmoderm only last a few months. You can skip the coloring of your grays, the manicure for nails or Benz once in a while, but — (and I know I could probably say this more eloquently) — do you really want to walk around half-baked in the face? And if you’re doing anything involving bones — good lord — use the best. It’s like sushi. You want to pay as much as you possibly can because the consequences of bad fish are just too dire.

Do what’s right for you, and do it for you — just do it right.

Peas out! lol

I’m at the Viceroy hoping to be taken seriously when I noticed that several of the lunching starlets are all poofed out. How on earth did I miss that? Within Treo seconds, my east coast comrade confirms that simultaneously, poofed women are trotting in-and-out of a Starbuck’s in Greenwich, Connecticut. The texts concur and conclude that each and every one of them looks six months pregnant, which can’t be. Why the waistline that begins at the bustline? Why do women do that? Can this cute-poofy-dress moment really last?

I immediately text up the boss, a.k.a. stylist extraordinaire, who fashionably texts me from an airport in Munich, and I quote her verbatim: “that while you* have an amazingly flat stomach and no hips to speak of, more that 60% of the women I dress have rolls around the waist in addition to thighs and butts…. And this is therefore a really cute/practical style for them. I actually like MODERATE poof, and recommend it as a cute, fresh change… With the right accessories (shoes, bag etc.) this would work for you as well. That’s my two cents (or rather euros from where I sit).”

Hmmm. Now MODERATEly fixated on the poof phenomena, I trot on over to Chaya Venice to round out the days musing with the boyz as happy hour was fast approaching. It didn’t take much nudging to discover the census of the sushi-harboring crowd. Apparently, the poof works for them. Spouting things like “ripe”, “accentuated breasts” and “the mystery of whether there is a bun in the oven.” “It’s all good.” Hmmm.

Ladies, do what works for you. But MODERATEly poofed or not, I, Brand Girl, personally feel no need to feed yet another’s man’s fantasy and conclude that the poof, unless with child or on a child, should vanish as quickly as the short-lived trend of pencil tight jeans.

And… I thank the lord Vera Wang is taking to educating the masses.
And so… we live to see another day.

note: you* = hello – she’s talking about yours truly here… give the girl a dollar! xo

Whether there’s a germ of truth to the Olivia Palermo stories of sending unfiltered emails to some self-appointed society goddesses seeking love or not, leave it to the fuggers to find the “pretty” in her seemingly ugly PR:

“So what if the whole thing was a carefully choreographed PR gambit to earn her the kind of pity that turns into affection and a Phoenix-style rise from the social ashes. So what if it was just a misguided girl trying to get in with the In Crowd. Who cares if someone was out to get her and faked the whole thing. However you slice it, she’s going to win, because she isn’t burying her head in the sand, and stone-cold bitches like us are going to soften and say, “Well, you’ve gotta respect her moxie.”

“Attack with the Mac*, my left hand spit, right hand
Grip on the whip, for the smooth getaway…”

– Puff Daddy
It’s All About The Benjamins (Remix)

* Yes, I know, he’s talking about a gun.
But in my world, packing heat is off-brand.
And we do attack with our Mac.

Surprise, Surprise. Look who’s Marketer of the year. (Where’s George?)
We love those shuffles, and we love the power of the brand.

Everything they do is genius, and this exceptional thinking is reflected in every aspect of the Apple experience. Right out of the box indeed, Apple’s products show the consistency and sophistication infused in their advertising, marketing, design and development. Like a perfect symphony, every detail has been carefully tuned and correctly placed. When you slit the seal on the packaging, when you first plug in and hear the melodic startup, when you skate through the intuitive user interface without needing a manual – everything continues to support Apple’s brand message. And even if you’re forced to pamper a finicky shuffle – who doesn’t like holding court at the Genius bar? It’s all simple, smart and very tomorrow.

Apple continues to remain relevant for business and the business of culture. iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iSight. Yes, it’s all about i, i, i. I just plug and play. I knew that they were truly onto something years ago, when the iPod was first introduced. The price tag was hefty, but so was the cool factor. Soon, headphone companies were copying the iPod’s white wires. Kids on the subway bought these new, cheap headphones to feign iPod cool when actually they were carrying cassette players the size of a King James Bible stuffed in their pockets. Thankfully, with Apple’s pervasive technology, their prices have come down from celestial levels – and even the subway kids can partake of Apple’s genius.

A pause, please for Apple, the iPod.
And the iPod Strut.