Miami Shoot

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Accessories, Fashion

A Passion for Designer Label Handbags

By Sandra Mateu What is it about designer label handbags that make women so passionate about them? Is it the amazing quality? Is it the status attached to its elevated prices? Is it a fashion forward pleasure or necessity? What is behind the love affair of a magnificent purse and its stylish owner? Starting from a logical point of view, designer label handbags are high quality products that guarantee a long lifespan. Many women see them as investments that can be passed from one generation to another. The superiority of the materials used to assemble the bags creates durable merchandise that keeps its original shape and look for years. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. This lets women enjoy the status, quality, and flair that comes with owning an expensive bag for a long time. They also provide functionality. Purses carry women’s items such as wallets, cell phones, keys, makeup, and more. Designer label handbags are classic. The brand’s logo and specific patterns make them unique and recognizable from the rest. Labels also launch designs that are trendy or seasonal, but they always keep producing its classic models as their main product. Traditional models are always in style. As Coco Chanel said, “Fashion fades, only style remains the same.” From a marketing standpoint, entrepreneurs have been successful at implanting the pleasure, necessity, and facilities for consumers to buy these items. Effective commercials, ad campaigns, and other advertising strategies with celebrities and models have been victorious in making people think that  wearing these handbags make people look beautiful. They are also considered a status symbol. The high end brands reflect wealth and power in the women that carry them. Designer label logos are worldwide trademarks recognized by all, even by those not remotely interested in fashion. As a stylist and fashion follower, a bag defines, sets the mood, and even puts together an outfit. The bag  will transform a simple black dress into a night out with the girls with an exotic clutch, a hot day on the beach with a colorful tote, or a romantic date with an elegant pochette. The bag is a symbol of style and personality. It reflects the taste of a woman. A great purse can add a hint of color or design to an outfit and make it stand out in a crowd. “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different,” Coco Chanel. So what does Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Fendi, Christian Dior, Marc Jacobs, and other designer labels  provide to women with their bags? A designer label handbag is more than a guilty pleasure. It is a rational and irrational passion rooted in numerous consumerism principles and a natural phenomenon: a wonderful stylish experience, the luxury and the joy of a splendid splurge. As designer Christian Dior says, “Zest is the secret of all beauty. There is no beauty that is attractive without zest.” Designer label handbags are part of this zest.

Beauty, Makeup & Hair

Miami Bangs and Waves

RIKRAK Salon talks to Miami Shoot Magazine Interviewed by Gabrielle Campolongo Raquel and Ric Watters opened their first RikRak hair salon 22 years ago. They are a thriving Miami salon with beloved clients and attentive staff. With Ric being an established stylist in the Brickell area, the salon went off without hesitation and has been growing since inception. As a matter of fact, you can expect another RikRak to be opening this year. MSM: What are the current trends in today’s hair styles? Raquel: I’m seeing a lot of bangs, with straight hair. Long, straight hair, as well as the shorter look with bangs. Bangs are big and back. They’ve been back, but I see more and more people asking for bangs. For the shorter look, the blunt cut. Pretty short, but with a lot of swing, like the Vidal Sassoon flowy look. Precision hair cuts. Those are the two prominent styles. MSM: What is the most unattractive style you’ve ever seen in Miami? Raquel: I saw the mullet the other day. It’s just horrible. They need to come to RikRak! [laughs] MSM: What is your best selling product? Raquel: Kerastase for finishing. My #1 product right now is called “Amazon”. It is a very intense, Brazilian conditioning treatment. We don’t even call it Keratin, but it is amazing. You don’t even have to comb your hair. Your blow dry lasts at least a week. We’re a very proud distributor of Amazon. MSM: What is it like to run your own salon in Miami? Raquel: It’s hectic. We’re always on top of it. We’re here 7 days a week, in and out, but always very concerned and very attentive of our employees and our clients. We are always trying to make our clients feel at home and comfortable. It’s difficult. It’s not easy, but it’s our passion. That’s all we would do. We would do it all over again. We’re opening another salon as a matter of fact, our forth one. We have a salon at the Four Seasons, at the Sports Club LA, and also at the Sagamore on South Beach. And now we’re opening at the JW Marriot Marquee on the Avenue of the Americas. The opening is in October. It’s a 4,000 square foot spa salon. We’re excited, proud, and honored to be there. MSM: Is it a challenge to stay on top of the current looks all of the time? Raquel: For us, it’s easy. Our hairstylists are always taking classes and always in tune with the latest look and trends that are coming. We do change rapidly, but it’s not difficult for us. MSM: What are the top 5 things to look for in a salon? Raquel: Cleanliness. Making sure that everything is kept clean, especially if you’re getting services such as waxing, or manicure or pedicure. Making sure the instruments are sanitized between clients. We do most of our pedicures and manicures with hot towels infused in essential oils. The towels are disinfected with Clorox between clients. We don’t use water anymore; you can get so much bacteria with that. We decided to play it safe. The brushes need to be kept clean; the waxing spatula shouldn’t be double dipped. Another thing is that the salon employees are people who are experienced and licensed. The licenses should be exposed. The attitude of the salon owner and staff is important. You want to feel comfortable and welcome. Have good light when it comes to doing color and when it comes to doing makeup and haircuts. It’s crucial that you’re stylist or makeup artist has good lighting. We have windows all over. It’s important that you see color in natural light. The salon should know the latest trends and the latest looks that are up and coming. Of course you’re coming out of the salon looking great, but to continue that care with the products at home. MSM: Starting out, were you accepted into the community right away? Raquel: Yes. Honestly, when we started 22 years ago, we were like pioneers in the Brickell area. We’ve seen the train being built and all these high rises being built, so yes we were immediately very welcomed. There was only one other salon in the area. MSM: What is the most important factor of being a salon owner? Raquel: Cleanliness and service come hand in hand. If you don’t have clean brushes and you do a fabulous up-do, it doesn’t cut it. A high quality of service and cleanliness are the two most important factors.

Fashion, Swimwear

Making Water Dangerous

Swimwear designer Amanda Ché Interviewed by Gabrielle Compolongo In just under a year of being in business, A. Ché has the representation of Supermodel and Dancing with the Stars contestant Joanna Krupa, who has become the face of Amanda’s Cruise 2011 Campaign. Together, Amanda Che and Joanna Krupa designed the Kashmir Group. This collection is special because it’s the first to have water-proof velvet flocking on it, making the color and appearance stand out, while providing no-slip friction. GC: Why choose the slogan “Making Water Dangerous”?  AC: Making Water Dangerous is how I want women to feel when they wear an A.Ché suit. My tops are all bra constructed, so a woman looks her best on the beach…whether they want a super push-up or a stylish supportive bra. I want women to feel sexy and confident that they look their best in the water. GC: Where do you get your ideas for your designs? AC: I follow trends in everything from couture to interior design for inspiration. I travel quite often as well, so to stumble across beautiful architecture or appreciate the color scheme of cultural foods creates a flood of ideas for my future collections. GC: What is the thought process behind your pieces?  AC: My creative process always begins with a theme that usually coincides with the state of mind I’m in at that particular moment in time. In the last year I’ve been enthralled and enchanted by Eastern Indian culture, yoga, and meditation which is reflected throughout my Cruise 2011 Collection. Everything from  the animal prints, bold colors, sun and sand campaign images and group names like Himalaya and  Bombay, resemble the influence of “Indian Summer”. GC: Many people think you either look good in a bikini or you don’t. How can a swim suit be flattering? AC: This is the principal concept behind A.Ché Swimwear, supporting the sensuality that every woman naturally possesses, regardless of age, size, or shape. I design a wide range of silhouettes and cuts so there’s something for the flirty womanlooking for a skimpy bottom and push up bra, and the more sophisticated woman looking for more coverage and support. Contrary to other swim brands, my more covered suits are still sexy and stylish, like my shirred tankini and fashion forward one-pieces. My goal is still to have people say “wow” when they see anyone wearing an A.Ché suit. GC: Is there a color swimsuit that flatters every skin tone? AC: Just like there’s the classic little black dress, there’s the classic black bikini that women of all colors should own. GC: What type of fabrics do you use when designing your suits? AC: All A.Ché Swimwear is made from the highest caliber of Italian fabric, produced and printed in Italy. The fabric I use has a lustrous shine and lightweight silky touch. Quality is my number one priority.

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