Welcome our new writer Dana Bach Johnson.

Wonderlust: The Great Gatsby

We are so excited about the ”The Great Gatsby” movie! This new lavish version by Baz Luhrmann is set to make the Jazz Age sparkle and prove F. Scott Fitzgerald still shines bright. The beloved novel showcases glamorous lifestyles amongst turmoiled relationships. Leonardo DiCaprio is so dapper as Jay Gatsby and the beautiful Carey Mulligan twinkles as Daisy Buchanan. The story is so timeless and the movie promises to be full of great drama, stylish clothes, and amazing parties. Get inspired and go see “The Great Gatsby”! Here are some of my favorites inspired by The Great Gatsby movie, what I really recommend though – read the book as well!

The quote

The style

Are you loving this style as much as we are? Luckily there are now many Great Gatsby and 20s’ inspired collections available and out hot tips to check out now include: Warby Parker’s  1922 limited edition eyewear collection, Modcloth’s 1920s inspired accessories and clothing,  Out of Print’s Great Gatsby Collection and that fabulous mens Great Gatsby Collection by Brooks Brothers. Once you seen the movie and stocked up on your own fabulous 20s ensembles it’s time to throw your own The Great Gatsby garden party!

The movie

Enter the world of glitz and glamour, parties and beautiful houses of The Great Gatsby:

Wallis is a London based fashion company with multiple locations in London, and an online presence here in the United States. Wallis debuted its Autumn/Winter 2013 collection for a new, premier label “W”, alongside current offerings of the spring/summer collection. The new collection was showcased at the Bryant Park Hotel in New York.

I was able to preview the collection and speak personally with the head designer, Sital Mehta. The new, premier W line is, in my opinion, an outstanding value. The pieces incorporate details, yet are offered at a price point that is very accessible. The fall collection is filled with tailored blazers, outwear, dresses, and easy-to-wear knits.

I think Sital’s insights into the collection say the most. I asked him about his inspiration as well as the targeted consumer and details about pieces in the line. Sital gave me the following insight:

W is going to be a limited edition line. We noted a niche market among the 35-40 year old consumer who can invest more into her fashions. This is a consumer who is looking for trends but does not want to become a slave to fashion. The new collection allows women to get the look, but to do so with longevity. She can still wear these pieces 2 years from now.

Sital has a background in menswear, and he has really brought these expertise to this collection in the form of quality tailoring and details. He said his ultimate mission is to have a stand-alone store in New York. Wallis is really mixing affordability with fashion trends.

Photos: Big Pic PR

Are you ready for Cinco de Mayo?

Cinco de Mayo is one of my favorite holidays, probably because I have a soft spot in my heart (er, stomach?) for fresh guacamole and salt-rimmed margaritas. However, it can be hard to dress for this holiday without ending up looking like the flag of Mexico.

For this outfit, I wanted the festive printed top to be the focal point, so I paired it with white jeans and neutral sandals. However, I love the accent details within the outfit, such as the rattan bag and the Aztec-inspired earrings. The only thing that could make this outfit even more fabulous is a margarita in hand!

Get the Look!

One: Electric Kiwi Tank by J.Crew

Two: Delilah Earrings by Kendra Scott

Three: Rattan Tote by Tory Burch

Four: White Cigarette Jeans by Adriano Goldschmied

Five: My favorite margarita!

Six: Lupe Demi Wedge Sandals by Rebecca Minkoff

Cheers to a wonderful Cinco de Mayo!

Gifts that give twice

Mother’s Day this year is on May 12th in many countries, including USA. This year I collected 7 gift caring ideas that give twice. Many of these products support a charity, are made from recycled materials or are made with all natural ingredients. Great gift ideas for granola and fashionista moms alike!

1. Jonathan Adler Retro Floral On The Go Coffee Mug ($14)
The Jonathan Adler porcelain coffee mug with a coordinating silicone sleeve and lid isn’t just any pretty new coffee to-go-mug when you purchase it from Gifts that Give. $2.80 of the price goes to any cause of your choice, easily with a click of a button. Perfect for the soccer mom-on-the-go!

2. Patent Foundation Double Wrap Logo Stud Bracelet by Tory Burch ($95)
Patent Foundation Double Wrap Logo Stud Bracelet by Tory Burch is gorgeous and perfect for the trendy fashionista mom. All profits from the purchase of this item benefit the Tory Burch Foundation, committed to providing economic opportunities to women and their families in the United States

3. Smart Traveler Makeup Bag Set by Cuyana ($85)
Smart Traveler Set by Cuyana comes with two makeup bags, perfectly sized for traveling. The large one for toiletries and the smaller one to fit inside a carry-on or a purse for daily essentials. This set comes in several colors but the trendy emerald green is my favorite. The bags are Handmade in Argentina and Cuyana donates a percentage of profits to charity:water.

4. TOM’S Shoes ($53.95)
The ‘Classic – Circle’ Slip-On by TOMS shoes comes in cute new prints. And like for years now… With every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS gives a new pair of shoes to a child in need.

5. FEED India Bag in Flame Navy ($75)
This colorful block printed FEED India Bag is handmade by artisans working in India. Each FEED India Bag will provide 50 school meals for children in India, and in ADDITION 15.00 goes to any cause of your choice when you purchase it from Gifts that Give. The do-good bag also looks good and it’s perfect summer, for beach days or farmer’s market runs.

6. Mereset scarf from fashionABLE ($36)
The soft 100% cotton Mereset scarf from fashionABLE is handmade in Ethiopia and allows women in Ethiopia to have a way of living. This thin scarf is perfect even for summer.

7. Pure Natural Diva Botanicals Perfume ($100)
Pure Natural Diva Botanicals Perfumes are a perfect a gift for an eco savvy mom. Made with natural ingredients and scent from heaven. May we recommend? Try the Natural from the four different varieties. It is fresh and inviting, with notes including a hint of clary sage, exalting pink grapefruit, Moroccan rose, and soothing ylang ylang. Calming yet luxurious, just what mom wants. 1.69 oz bottle $100.

Watch for our coverage from BaselWorld

The biggest event in the watchmaking calendar is now upon us – I am, of course, referring to BaselWorld 2013 which kicked off yesterday (April 25th) in the luxurious Swiss town of Basel. The event serves as a platform for the world’s leading watchmakers to showcase their wares and unveil the timepieces that they will be releasing to the eager public over the next twelve months or so.

All of the biggest names in the world of horology will be in attendance – including the likes of Rolex, IWC, Breitling and Hublot – and it’s fair to say, the general consensus amongst those in the know is that there will be some mightily impressive timepieces making their debuts over the next week.

BaselWorld is positively steeped in luxury and the event is the highlight of the calendar for fans of luxury watches because, unlike some events in the industry, it is open to the public as well. It is invariably chosen as the platform to unveil a whole host of breath taking timepieces that are in the works and just wait until you see the stunning Hublot / Ferrari collaboration further down the page.

Thanks to the good people over at The Watch Gallery, we have got exclusive images from the event and will be giving you daily updates on latest and greatest watches from the likes of Montblanc, IWC and Rolex that are showcased each day. For anyone who is a lover of luxury goods and timepieces in particular, BaselWorld is a pivotal event and if you can’t be there, this is the next best thing!

So, let’s not waste any more time – let’s cast our eye over some of the latest happenings from the BaselWorld – starting with the aforementioned Hublot Ferrari watch:

Not content with this impressive collaboration with the ultimate in Italian sports cars, Hublot also showcased their stunning Hublot Big Bang Unico which you can see below:

Felix Baumgartner visits the BaselWorld

There was also a pretty impressive special guest on the press day at BaselWorld in the form of the dare-devil, Felix Baumgartner, who set the world record for skydiving when he jumped from 39 kilometres late last year. The Zenith watch that the Austrian actually wore that day has been showcased at BaselWorld. The Felix Baumgartner’s watch he wore that is pictured below, and you can watch the video highlights of the skydive as well.

Even more special – watch the interview with Felix Baumgartner by The Watch Gallery.

This is just a mere taste of what is to come over the next week or so – so stayed tuned here on Skimbaco for more updates and news from the luxury-soaked BaselWorld event.
You can also keep up to date with the latest goings on by following The Watch Gallery Magazine.

Guest post by Leo Parker. Leo is a luxury lifestyle blogger who has a love of the finer things in life. He doesn’t let the fact that he, lamentably, cannot afford the objects of his desires put him off. He regularly writes for a number of fashion and luxury lifestyle blogs and magazines when he’s not looking through the window of luxury watch shops.

H&M News

Nina posted already today in her Finnish fashion column Tyylitila these first pictures from the launch collection of H&M’s new brand & Other Stories. & Other Stories will launch in 7 cities in Europe and with online stores in selected European countries this spring (you can read the cities and details in my post here). 2012 was challenging for H&M, and it keeps going strong in many areas such as USA, Canada, China and Russia, but the clothing markets have been challenging, especially in Europe.

H&M continues to stand strong in a challenging clothing market which in many countries has been even more challenging in 2012 compared to 2011

stated H&M chief executive officer Karl-Johan Persson for WWD.

H&M’s net profits fell due the challenging market’s but they also made major investments, especially to launching & Other Stories. The H&M is still continuing the global domination and are planning on adding 325 stores in the 2012/2013 financial year, including its first stores in Chile, Estonia, Lithuania, Serbia and Indonesia. But all eyes are on & Other Stories and it’s launch this spring…

Photos of & Other Stories Launch Collection

& Other stories released photos of the launch collection last week.

Lovely, oh, so lovely clothing and accessories. Minimalistic and classic style is always a big hit for me.

said our own fashion expert Nina Varis.

And I couldn’t agree more. The urban classic collection looks modern timeless and the materials are much better than what at H&M typically, so the clothing has a much better opportunity to last as a wardrobe stables.

The photos look very promising, and so do the prices for the promised quality, however both Nina and I are wondering how & Other Stories will be different from H&M’s other luxury brand, COS, the style seems a lot like COS. Can’t wait for the & Other Stories launch for this spring and to see the collection first hand.

Photos: & Other stories

H&M’s & Other Stories Announces Store Locations

As reported this fall H&M is launching a new fashion brand & Other Stories this spring to bring a new luxury clothing and accessory retail chain into the market. I’m super excited about this as I like the H&M’s look but not their clothing quality, and often find items I like, but don’t purchase due the quality of the materials. While H&M’s designer collaborations have been exciting, I am more excited about & Other Stories, the concept sounds very appealing. Expect to see women’s ready-to-wear, shoes, bags, accessories and beauty products.

H&M just announced the seven cities where the chain will open this spring: Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Milan, Paris and Stockholm to mark its first collections. The stores will be located in the luxurious shopping areas such as Regent Street in London, Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris and Corso Vittorio Emanuele in Milan, H&M has said & Other Stories will be priced below its premium COS brand. If you don’t live in any of the cities mentioned you still might be lucky to order the & Other Stories products online. An online store, stories.com, will launch in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. I’m sorry my American friends, this time you just have to wait. Now you know how we here in Europe feel when we have to wait all of the movie premiers and TV shows to cross the pond.

As far it comes to me? I’ll be in the Stockholm store opening as soon as the doors open.

Winter Wonderland gifts for her under $60

These après-ski style Holiday gifts are perfect for skiers or non-skiers alike. Even if she isn’t the snowboarding queen nor the belle of black diamonds, it’s OK. These après-ski lifestyle gift ideas just say “Winter Wonderland,” and work great for gifts for friends, as stocking stuffers or even for teen girls, or college students. And this snowmama would be happy to have any of these as a present.

1. Jet set coasters by Jonathan Adler ($48)
The Jet Set Part Trois ski resort inspired coasters by Jonathan Adler could also be my “ski travel wish list” with four dreamy ski destinations in the coaster pictures. Great for ski lodge, home or even to protect the office desk.

2. Solstice artisan New Zealand wool socks, two pairs ($48)
The solstice artisan socks from Sundance Catalog are great for ski chalets and beyond to keep her toes warm during cold winter months. These wool socks come in twos and you can even slip them to gift socks for two. Handknit in New Zealand.

3. Snow Village hand lotion set by Philosophy ($20)
Snow Village hand lotion set by Philosophy is a perfect stocking stuffer for any woman. No parabens, no sulfates, no phthalates, just the good stuff and yummy scents to keep her hands soft during the dry winter months. The three scents in the set are Candy Cane, Spiced Cider and Sweetly Fallen Snow.

4. Fairisle Pom Pom Toque hat by Roots ($45)
The Fairisle Pom Pom Toque hat will keep her warm outdoors, but who are we kidding here.. she’d love it because it’s cute! Perfect winter accessory that combined practical and cute. Plus she will really love it for après-ski, it’ll cover her helmet hair after a day of skiing.

5. Shearling Cuff Gloves by Ralph Lauren ($59.99)
Shearling gloves are a classic winter accessory that never goes out of style, and I have owned several pairs of them. They tend to be pricey, and if you love snow as much as I do… they do take some damage when they get wet. I’ve found that Timberland and Ralph Lauren gloves give the best bang for your buck, good quality, but not super expensive. Shearling Cuff Glove by Ralph Lauren would make a perfect gift for any woman who likes classic style.

6. Peppermint bark from Williams-Sonoma ($26.95)
Hot chocolate gift would be a perfect too for a snowbunny gift, but my personal favorite is peppermint bark, it just says winter to me. It’s easy to make at home but my favorite store-bought peppermint bark comes from Williams-Sonoma.

7. Uniqlo Heattech Leggings ($14.90)
If practical is what you are looking for for the skier girl in your life, there is nothing better than Uniqlo heattech leggings. I swear by these, and own these in several colors. They are ultra light (but warm) and pack perfectly in small for ski trips and go from under layer for snow fun to warming leggings under skirts for après-ski fun. That’s why she needs them in every color for each occasion.

Read all of the Holiday Gift Guide posts and stay tuned for more from all of our writers.

Gift Ideas for your Best Friend

I love to buy gifts to my family and friends. Giving and making your love ones happy is so much fun! This year I’m going to surprise my love ones with the special gifts I have found during my Fall in New York. Here are some of the best things I have found lately. These gifts are perfect for your best friend, or even for the teen or college girl you want to get something special and trendy.

1. Baggu Pouch ($20-$40)
The softest leather ever, two different sizes, many beautiful colors, good quality, affordable and made in NYC. Can you ask for more? When you touch the soft surface of the pouch I bet you will fall in love with all the Baggu products instantly!

2. Cushion Garnet Pendant ($90)
Very simple and sophisticated gemstone pendant from Blue Nile is a perfect gift for a friend who loves jewelry. It is sometimes difficult to buy a jewelry to someone if you are not sure what kind of jewelry they like. The gemstone pendant is a good solution because every horoscope has it’s own gemstone. If your friend is born in January her lucky gemstone is Garnet, so you really can’t go wrong with buying her her lucky stone!

3. Pompey Ring ($48)
Maybe the best thing I have found during my Fall in New York is a jewelry collection called BRVTVS created by Caroline Ventura. This delicate and beautiful collection is 14k cold and every piece is hand made in New York. The jewelry is made by order so you can get the right size immediately. I simply love all the jewelry from BRVTVS!

4. Vintage earrings ($20-$1000)
One more jewelry find I want to share with you. Erica Weiner‘s lovely jewelry store is at one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Manhattan, in Nolita. You can make an amazing finds from the store full of vintage and antique jewellery and Erica’s own design as well. You can find a beautiful ring for $6 but if you need something more special you are able to find an amazing and unique antique pieces in every price range. This place in Elizabeth Street (or the Erica Weiner web store) is totally worth visiting for!

5. Benetint from Benefit ($29)
Every girl loves to try new cosmetics, right?! This liquid blush from Benefit has a cult status but it’s still affordable and available in all the Benefit stores. You can use this product to your lips and cheeks. You will have a sheer, natural and healthy look without heavy make up. This is a must have!

6. DOSE Nail Polish ($20/one color trio)
This is my latest find and I’m super excited about it! This Fall Strange Beautiful has invented something fun! A nail polish called DOSE. This Capsule Line is a perfect gift for your friend if she likes to try out different things, different colors or likes to travel. One capsule of the DOSE is very small and easy to take with and it’s enough for three manicures. The collection consists 6 different trios so there is a color trio for every taste. I think this is a cool idea!

7. Gnosis Raw Chocolate ($7)
Last but not least the gift that can’t go wrong, chocolate. Gnosis Raw Chocolate is 100% hand made in New York. Three years ago health counselor Vanessa Barg started to make raw chocolate for her clients to replace their unhealthy sweets. Suddenly everybody wanted her chocolate and now it’s carried in over 200 stores! I have tasted a few different flavors and I can really understand why Gnosis chocolate is so popular. It’s organic, it’s healthy,  it’s hand made, it’s yummy and it’s good for you. A perfect gift for someone you care about!

Read all of the Holiday Gift Guide posts and stay tuned for more from all of our writers.

Dreaming of English Countryside

I am flying to London on Sunday, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m going for business, but how I wish I had time to sneak some time for wrong-side-driving and take a road trip to countryside.
Satu is already in Devon, and she just spent some time in the countryside in Ireland, including staying in Durrow Castle, and her photos have been enticing. And to add to my wanderlust of experiencing UK, the new James Bond Skyfall movie worked pretty well as an invitation to experience London and Scotland. Now, please don’t get England, Scotland and by no means Ireland mixed, they are all completely different animals, but for the sake of fashion simplicity, I named the post according English countryside.

We might not make the REAL English countryside happen, but we can dream of visiting the castles and riding horses, and dress like it right at home. Instead of bird hunting, go rake some leaves and come back indoors for hot cup of tea or to sip some whiskey by the fireplace. Me? I’ll be shopping on Oxford Street in London on Sunday, and if you want an idea of my dream shopping list.. read along.

English Countryside Fashion for Women

Two things that are on my personal wish list at the moment: Mulberry wool scarf and Barbour coat. I’ve had both before and I have no idea in which move they got lost, because I haven’t had either for years. Neither are cheap by any means, but worth every penny, timeless style, and good quality. It might be the Swedish influence too, but I love the equestrian style at the moment, and it is very trendy as well. However, unless you get sweaters with pictures of horses, most of the equestrian style clothing is very timeless, and you can’t go wrong with tall boots or high quality belts, and I am truly missing Ralph Lauren stores back in NY at the moment. Product details below.

UMBRELLA:
Lyndhurst Umbrella by Jack Wills is inexpensive way to get the countryside look. The first Jack Willis store I visited in the US was at Southhampton, and I’ve been in love with the brand every since. It’s like the Brit A&F.

JACKET:
Barbour ‘Heritage International’ Quilted Jacket is on my Christmas wish list. Santa, do you hear me now?

SCARF:
Mulberry check scarf, still longing for the lost one, and I decided I will once again own this soon. It goes with anything, with a black pea coat and with the casual looks, like the Barbour jacket.

BELT:
Leather Stirrup Buckle Belt by RL Lauren. Get trendier inexpensive clothing – and mix with high quality accessories and you’ll look like million bucks.

BOOTS:
Leather Knee-High Riding Boots by Burberry are to die for. For less expensive look boots from Ecco or Nine West.

MY CUP OF TEA:
Carolyn Feather Cup and Saucer by Ralph Lauren Home is perfect for English tea. Or rum with hot water and honey, you know, to keep you warm during cold fall days.

Fashion for Him

My husband is quite far from being a preppy Englishman, nor James Bond, however my Texan helicopter pilot has something in common with both: wanderlust to see the world and classic style.

THE JACKET:
James Bond (Daniel Craig) wears a Barbour “X To Ki To” Beacon Heritage Sports Jacket in the movie SkyFall in the scenes in Scotland. The specific (pictured) Barbour tailored jacket has the classic Barbour tartan lining and it’s part of the Beacon Heritage collection inspired by Barbour’s sporting, motorcycling and military past. The production of this (high priced) jacket is limited and it is rumored to be sold out already. But Barbour has plenty of other great

SWEATER:
The sweater is also from Barbour. The District Half Button Jumper sort of combines classic wool jumper with buttons with more relaxed style sweatshirts, and that’s why this has my handsome husband written all over it. The sweater has detachable quilted hood making it not just warm, but also a little more relaxed style.

SHOES:
Islay boots by Crockett & Jones were also seen on James Bond. They are made from the finest scotch country grain calf and have bold detailing, and go from city streets to countryside.

COCKTAILS & DREAMS:
While James Bond is known for his martinis, there is another drink much more suitable for English countryside and Scotland: The Macallan Sherry Oak whisky. The Macallan is a brand of single malt Scotch whisky first distilled in 1824 at The Macallan Distillery near Easter Elchies House, at Craigellachie, in Moray. My ideal weekend in Scotland with my husband would include visiting the beautiful The Macallan estate where you can watch the whisky made.

BAG:
Handsome Mulberry Clipper is my ideal weekend bag for the trip. It’s classic and manly enough for a man to carry – but something I wouldn’t mind stealing for my own use either.

BOOK:
If you want more scoop on James Bond behind the scenes, check out the book Bond On Set: Filming Skyfall by Greg Williams. Maybe not for travel reading, but a great coffee table book and for daydreaming of living life on the wild side.

Check out also how Wes was inspired by countryside on his this week’s post at Life Through Preppy Glasses.

Photos:
Daniel Crieg/James Bond – Greg Williams
Scotland scene – Macallan
Products – product manufacturers mentioned in the post.

FASHION FRIDAY
I’m linking up with Blonde Episodes and Jo-Lynne Shane’s Musings of a Housewife for Fashion Friday.

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