Coutorture

Selima's Spring 09 Style Makes It Basic

coutorture — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:12:19 -0700

Supersocial Adri Jacket-Pixie Market $159

AG Jeans black lightweight 'Stilt' cigarette jeans $99 - Bluefly

Three Dots Women's Long Sleeve Thermal Crew-Neck Tee $78 - Bloomingdale's

Gucci white 'Quatar' silk twill square scarf $221 - Bluefly

Frye - Elizabeth Riding (Black/Red Brown) $552 - Zappos

We just can't help but share this snapshot we took today from the Marie Saeki showroom of one of Selima Optique's new Spring 09 styles. The grey and black frames have rich layers of monochromatic tones. Our first thought was a vision of these glasses in a wardrobe filled with black, grey, and brown basics. If you can't stand latex, better stick with what is considered classic. Let's pray for eyeglass prescriptions come Spring!!

The Sun Doesn't Care

coutorture — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:55:11 -0700

An original photo editorial by Coutorture.com. Photographer Jonathan Melamed, Makeup Sarah Conley, Sylists Stephanie Draves and Megan Zanke, Fashion Editors Julie Fredrickson and Megan Zanke, Model Doris from Red Model Management, Clothing by Alice & Olivia, Adam, Pencey, DAVIS by Ruth Davis, Dolce Vita, jewelry by Deka Ray, glasses by Selima Optique, hosiery by Falke.

Acetate Frames: Shades Report

coutorture — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:09:07 -0700

Clear shades are popular with the fashion folk this summer. Hardly a day goes by that we don't see a pair of acetates staring back out at us. For Fall acetate frames will still be around, but in the form of eyeglasses (we're down with going it seventh grade style and wearing them even if you don't require them), our pick in that regard is the Selima pair for J. Crew. Alas, we are still in shades weather and in that regard the Nicole 002 by Benjamin Eyewear takes the cake (left). Forget looking like the Terminator with thick all-black shades, the acetate trend is letting the real thing show-off (i.e. your face!). If you're stuck in between two worlds, Wayfarer put out a two-tone number that we've seen a few chicsters sporting. We think the two-tone kind of makes you look like your eighty years old but in a good way. Also on our radar is this pair, by Grey Ant. The case these shades come in is as big as a briefcase but the shades are pretty amazing and aptly named, The Status Sunglasses. If you can't be asked to drop some dough, Urban Outfitters has a pair of acetate shades for less than it costs to fill up your tank (minus a million).

Marie Saeki Showroom Interview

coutorture — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 07:31:52 -0700

We we were first introduced to the ladies at Marie Saeki PR during Alice Ritter's wild and crazy presentation, on the first day of New York Fashion Week. Among the chaos, Yurika Nakazono and Marie Saeki, ushered us backstage, made sure we got interviews with everyone from hair to makeup to models. When Ritter was barraged with journalists, taking notes and pictures, Yurika and Marie held our elbows, gave us a glass of champagne, and put us in front of the designer for our two minute moment of privacy. Needless to say, they have been one of our favorite showrooms ever since. One random afternoon, we popped in to pull some sunglasses for a shoot we had neither story boarded nor booked models for. Marie, the showrooms founder and former Accessories lady for Elle, sat down with us for a chat about the showroom and its recent projects. The showroom has an international roster of clients, they represent everything from sportswear to cameras, from ready-to-wear to eyeglasses. In spite of this, their team is small, and their relationships with the people they work with, close. We think people like Marie and Yurika, who do a great deal for their designers (among them, Alice Ritter, Petit Bateau, Theo, Falke, Selima Optique, Michel Perry, and Anne et Valentin) and the press, are a pivotal part of the fashion industry and, therefore, worthy of their own interview (if short). Afterall, Everybody Is A Star today on Coutorture.

What attitude or personality best describes Marie Saeki PR and the lines that you represent? Our team is an international mix of open-minded and positive people, with a strong fashionable attitude and a sense of humor. The lines we represent reflect the personality of our office.
What are some of the differences between working with the larger publications versus smaller ones or websites? The differences are similar yet respective to the scale of the media company. For example, the monthly and seasonally printed publications have to forecast what is going to happen months in advance, and we have to wait to see if our products have been selected for editorials. Websites are very exciting because the Internet is able to instantly broadcast something new and there is an instant result to show our clients.
What is your average day at the showroom like? Answering a very, very large amount of emails and writing an even bigger amount to our clients, editors, stylists, and journalists. We are in constant communication because new ideas are always being brainstormed and pitched. Samples and products are sent out daily for photo shoots and other product placements. Depending on the season, fashion shows and events are planned and executed. There really is no average day because each day presents new tasks and requests. Our biggest daily issue is deciding where we should order lunch.
What is the most stressful part of your job? Worrying about not having results to show our clients.
And, your favorite part of your job? Pitching, it's like a game. It is always fun to find the right angle when introducing a new concept or fashion happening.

Everybody Is A Star

coutorture — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 06:18:33 -0700

An original photo editorial for Coutorture.com. Photographer Alex Norden, Fashion Editor Megan Zanke and Julie Fredrickson, Glasses by Theo, Anne et Valentin, and Selima Optique, Models Lys Opp-Beckman, Chris Habana, Ann Malinowsky, Jennifer Gerson, Leilani Arita, Carissa Ackerman, Joshua David Stein, Dustin Kime, Amanda Simms Hunt, and Jeffrey Robbins