The Linen Lounge Spotlight: Etro

"The New Tradition"

Established in 1968, Gimmo Etro launched his own textile company. Etro produced the finest fabrics with elaborate designs in bright chic colors. Etro quickly became known for their fabrics, made with the utmost attention to detail and remarkable use of color. In 1981, the paisley collection made a definite impression on the fashion world, and the paisley print became synonymous with the Etro brand. Eventually, the brand had expanded from a simple textile company -- they began making ties, scarves, shawls, luggage, handbags, etc. By the late 80s, Etro had grown considerably. Etro was a full-blown fashion powerhouse, with a successful line of luxury fabrics, accessories, home accents, fragrances, and a booming ready-to-wear line for both men and women. In 1994, Etro saw it's first runway collection, by '98, the brand debuted a collection of eye wear. By the 2000s, Etro had become a fashion front-runner, with several stores throughout the world, and international fame -- with boutiques in Italy, London, Japan, New York, Honk Kong, just to name a few. The Etro brand combines the most articulate craftsmanship with an amazing attention to detail and fabric selection, which even today keeps the brand at the height of fashion.

Etro Enters the New Millenium

During the 1990s, the Etro label was rejuvenated through the eyes of Kean and Veronica Etro (son and daughter of Gimmo Etro). Kean designs the men's collections for the brand, while Veronica leads the womenswear collections. It is through their scrupulous direction that the brand has continued to thrive into the next decade.

Etro Fall 2007 RTW Collection

The Linen Lounge & Our Views on Etro

To be quite honest, we at the Linen Lounge did not realize just how amazing Etro was until fairly recently. While looking for photographs to include in other posts, we happened to check out the Etro collection, only to be amazed by what we saw! Odd color selections that we would never put together not only look amazing on the Etro runway, but look unbelievably classy -- a difficult feat that I'm sure many other designers would love to achieve. The Linen Lounge loves Etro, and can't wait to see what they have planned for future collections (and we'll be the first to bring the best of show to our loyal readers!)!

"If you see something you like, it doesn’t matter whether it’s out of fashion. I’ve bought things when they were out of style and I was very proud to wear them. If you like foie gras, you wouldn’t not eat it because it’s out of fashion."
- Kean Etro





Sources & Photo Credits 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

The Linen Lounge Spotlight: Marc Jacobs

A Modern Visionary in a Traditional World

While still in elementary school, a young man named Marc Jacobs decided he wanted to become a designer. With the help of his sister and grandmother, he gained his first insights into fashion and clothing construction. As he grew in age, so did his love for fashion, and in his mid-teens, he worked in boutiques and even met Perry Ellis. He graduated from the High School for Art and Design in New York, and then eventually studied at Parsons School of Art and Design, where he won the Perry Ellis Gold Thimble Award. Jacobs soon became Vice President of Womenswear at Perry Ellis, but his tenure there was short. His new, modern approach was not favored by the Perry Ellis group, and he was subsequently laid off. Interestingly enough, he won the CDFA Womenswear Designer of the Year award that same year. In 1994, he launched his first collection under his own name, and created a stir when supermodels Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista (who were known for their $10,000 per show price tag) walked for Marc Jacobs absolutely free, in support of this visionary.

From New Designer to Legend in the Making

In 1997, Marc Jacobs was named creative director at Louis Vuitton, and remains so to this day. In 2001, Jacobs launched his diffusion line, Marc by Marc Jacobs, which quickly gained popularity among young people and fashion connoisseurs alike. Vogue also reports that Marc by Marc Jacobs is one of the first diffusion lines that has threatened to overshadow the mainline collection. Jacobs has made Louis Vuitton a modern, rejuvenated brand, restored to it's former glory, all while keeping his own two lines at the head of the fashion world. Lovers of fashion all around the world from Anna Wintour to Winona Ryder (who was caught stealing his clothes from a Saks Fifth Avenue) flock to the boutiques to get Jacobs work.





At the same time, Marc Jacobs does not fit the profile of many past designers. In the mid 2000s, he underwent a major image overhaul, and he does not shy away from the limelight. He is notorious for starting his fashion shows late, and while this may be an issue for several designers, no one will complain, because his designs make up for it. He has been quoted saying that he wants to star in his own reality show, and in early 2007, he was admitted to rehab for treatment of drug and alcohol abuse.

Marc Jacobs Spring 2008

His latest collection (Spring 2008) sparked a bit of confusion and intrigue, as he showed an entire 'backwards' collection. Starting two (some report three) hours after it's scheduled starting time, Jacobs came out onto the runway first and took his bow, then his models all came out in finale formation, and then finally came out individually. In addition to the backwards program of the fashion show, the clothing was quite skewed as well (the backward heel, for example). Don't take our word for it, see for yourself.







Marc by Marc Jacobs RTW Spring 2008

"I'd like to believe that the women who wear my clothes are not dressing for other people, that they're wearing what they like and what suits them. It's not a status thing. "
- Marc Jacobs

Sources & Photo Credits: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

The Linen Lounge Spotlight: Coco Chanel

The Life & Times of Coco Chanel

Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel was not born into a glamorous childhood by any means. She was one of six children born to Albert and Jeanne Chanel, and was orphaned by the age of 12. It was at the orphanage where she learned the trade of a seamstress. At the turn of the 20th century, Chanel worked as a cabaret singer at a French cafe, where she gained the nickname "Coco." After an active social life and a number of affairs, Gabrielle Coco Chanel, along with the help of friend, Arthur "boy" Capel, opened her first shop (1910). Only five years later, in 1915, Chanel's simple shop had grown into a fashion-powerhouse. The same year she opened her first couture house, and began gaining great fame. In 1923, Chanel released No. 5, her signature fragrance (the first ever perfume to bear a designer's name). Although there are several rumors as to how she came up with the name, Chanel actually decided on No. 5 because it was the fifth perfume sample that she tried. Coco Chanel continued taking the fashion world by storm, bringing about several new fashion standards which can still be seen in all their glory on today's runways. After a brief retirement, Chanel returned to her design studio and continued making great strides in fashion until her death in 1971.

In 1983, Karl Lagerfeld was appointed Artistic Director at Chanel and took over the Chanel empire. He took the vision, style, class, and elegance of Chanel and helped usher it into the 21st century, and continues to amaze the world just as Coco Chanel did during her reign.

An Everlasting Contribution to the World of Fashion

Throughout her monumental life, Coco Chanel made countless contributions to the world of fashion. Almost singlehandedly, Chanel revolutionized the future of fashion. While many believe Hubert de Givenchy (who designed the costumes for the film Breakfast at Tiffany's) was the designer in charge of making the "Little Black Dress," a staple in every woman's wardrobe, it was actually Coco Chanel who gave us this wardrobe essential. When she first premiered the little black dress, Vogue began calling it the "New Uniform of the Modern Woman." Around the same time, Chanel also designed the famed Chanel Suit - a knee length skirt and boxy jacket. The Chanel Suit was, and remains to this day, one of the highly revered and respected articles of clothing worn by the most elite, wealthy, high-class women. Chanel then designed the Quilted Bag, a simple accessory that took the fashion world by storm, and is still considered one of the best bags available. While each of these mentioned designs are monumental fashion breakthroughs, they are all overshadowed by Coco Chanel's signature fragrance, Chanel No. 5. Since it's release, Chanel No. 5 has been the ultimate in high-class taste, and the classic run-to fragrance loved and adored by women around the world. In fact, Marilyn Monroe, upon being asked what she wore to bed answered, "Two drops of Chanel No. 5." The fragrance hasn't changed since it's release, and is still one of the best selling perfumes in the world. Though it is not confirmed, it is believed that a bottle of Chanel No. 5 is sold every 30 seconds.

Chanel's Fall 2007 Collection

Karl Lagerfeld

Under the scrupulous direction of Karl Lagerfeld, the Chanel brand has continued to be one of the leading faces of style, and is expected to be so for generations to come. Here is a sample of the amazing work Lagerfeld premiered for Chanel's Fall 2007 Couture and Ready-to-Wear Collections.

The Linen Lounge Salutes Coco Chanel

Once a month, the Linen Lounge will feature a Spotlight review of a designer or brand. We will try to feature legendary designers, current designers, and eventually, we also hope to feature newer unknown designers. For our first Spotlight designer, we had to look through the greats in the fashion industry to find someone who made amazing strides, who put the utmost attention into detail and the highest level of craftsmanship into her work, and remained the epitome of sophistication. Chanel made some of the greatest advances in fashion design, and she really did revolutionize the industry in every sense of the word. Today's modern fashions look very reminiscent of fashion shows from the 40's and 50s, and it is more important than ever to remember the pioneers who made such great contributions. So when we were looking for our first Spotlight designer, Coco Chanel seemed the obvious choice. The Linen Lounge is very proud to honor such an extraordinary visionary.

Coco Chanel

“Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already taken possession of their future.” - Coco Chanel

Sources & Photo Credits: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8