From Your Personal Shopper in New York: Tom Ford creates ‘Suit & Tie’ for Justin Timberlake

Tom Ford has teamed up with Justin Timberlake to design outfits for the actor and singer’s new video.

Tom Ford has worked on a series of clothes and accessories designed specifically for the new Timberlake album which are expected to appear in videos and visuals when the record drops in the spring.

Timberlake is no stranger to the world of fashion himself. A designer in his own right, the singer regularly tops best-dressed lists although he doesn’t always wear his own label, William Rast.

The American fashion designer, who also styled Timberlake for the promotional artwork, is famous for his bespoke men’s tailoring.

The new single is Timberlake’s first musical endeavour in nearly six years and is accompanied by a black and white video that sees the singer adopt a suave 50’s suited style.

Tom Ford said: ‘I adore Justin. He has innate style and enormous talent. It has been such a pleasure and honour to work with him throughout this entire creative process.’

The cover shot for Timberlake’s first single from the new record, “Suit & Tie” (featuring an equally style-savvy Jay-Z) , features a Tom Ford tuxedo with satin peak lapels, a white shirt and an oversized satin bow tie.

The 31-year-old singer is also seen in luxury Tom Ford garb in the video, including a three-piece suit and a black lapel two-piece tuxedo.

From Your Personal Shopper in New York: Chopard Launches E-boutique

Chopard launched a newly designed website and its first ecommerce boutique, developed with the primary goal of increasing brand awareness. The website’s other  objectives include, driving traffic to Chopard’s stores, generating new business, sharing brand philosophy and detailed product information with consumers.

“The watch and jewelry market has changed dramatically in the past four or five years thanks in great part to the rise of social media, and we aim to be on the forefront in all realms, including luxury e-commerce,” said Marc Hruschka, the president of Chopard USA.

The website, launched today as us.chopard.com, will serve the U.S.  and act as a pilot program for other global markets. The website is designed to reach consumers in major metropolitan areas that do not have a Chopard boutique or retail partner in their region.

“In many instances in the luxury world, customers want to see and touch the watches and jewelry before they buy it,” said Hruschka. “It is already clear to us that when we enter a market with a brick-and-mortar store, where we have retail partners, they benefit from the increased awareness; the same is true of this situation. We believe that retail partners and our boutiques will benefit from the halo effect of the increased brand recognition the site will generate.”

The website provides newly written information about each piece showcased,  with new photography and approximately 650 product references will be available for purchase for prices ranging from about $100 for accessories to more than $65,000 for fine jewelry. Collections such as Happy Diamonds, Imperiale, Classic Racing, L.U.C. and haute joaillerie as well as a host of specialty pieces and exclusive limited editions, will be offered.

Chopard has five U.S. boutiques, including the recently expanded and remodeled South Coast Plaza store in Orange County, California, the remodeled Bal Harbour store in Florida and a newly opened Wynn boutique in Las Vegas. Additionally, the brand partners with dozens of top-level retail jewelry stores.

From Your Personal Shopper in New York: Hermes Expands Men’s Universe 2012

Hermes is world renowned French manufacturer of  high-quality products, specialized in leather, lifestyle accessories, perfumery, luxury goods, and ready-to-wear. Hermes has focused to expand its men’s chic collection, by organizing special events in three US cities this Fall:  New York, San Francisco and Seattle.

On October 5th and 6th, Hermes  organized the opening event in their men’s boutique in New York, with a special focus on their bespoke and made-to-measure services, along with presentations of their most striking products such as the rose gold and black crocodile strap Tourbillon watch and dark green Bayou Crocodile Barda messenger bag.

From October 18 to 24, the San Francisco Hermes store will be converted into an all-men’s luxury mecca to showcase the fashion house’s fall 2012 collection for the Hermès Man:  RTW, home, fragrance, bags, as well as the new Heavy Twill assortment of ties, etc.

From October 31st through November 6th, Hermes festivities will be finalized in their Seattle Boutique, with an interactive art installation by renowned digital projection artist Miguel Chevalier, who created ingenious designs their AW12 silk Tech-ties collection.

From Your Personal Shopper in New York: Michael Phelps for Louis Vuitton

Team USA swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, fronts Louis Vuitton’s new Core Values campaign.

Phelps appears in a new campaign promoting the brand’s high-end range of day bags and luggage.

Shot by Annie Leibovitz, Phelps appears only in a black speedo and some goggles, submerged in a stark bathtub beside a Vuitton tote.

Phelps follows in the footsteps of fellow celebrities Sean Connery, Muhammad Ali, Angelina Jolie and singer Bono in modelling for the brand’s Core Values campaign.

The initiative launched in 2007 puts the spotlight on exceptional people of truly global stature ranging in professions and backgrounds who beyond their celebrity status.