Fab Has Its First Million-Dollar Day; Selling $6.5M+ In Products This Past Week

Design-focused e-commerce site Fab released a number of data this morning, and it’s impressive to say the least. Fab has sold more than $6.5 million worth of product this past week, up from $1.7 million during the same period last year. That’s up 300 percent from last year.

Fab also hit an all-time, single-day high of more than $1.3 million in sales on Cyber Monday, November 26. That compares to $350,000 on the same day last year, up more than 3.5 times. That also marks Fab’s first million-dollar day. Average order value was up more than 10 percent from previous weeks.

Read more on Techcrunch.

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Just In Time For Christmas: Hermès Launches Second Exclusive Jewelry Collection, Haute Bijouterie

Today, Hermès launches its second Haute Bijouterie collection, a range of fine jewelry designed by Hermès's artistic director, Pierre Hardy. The line is inspired by the iconic features of the Kelly, the Birkin, and other accessories regularly on the ultimate wish list.


"Pierre wanted to pay tribute to our leather bags," Hermès's director of jewelry, Laurence Reulet, explained. "Because Hermès bags are considered like real jewels all over the world…"

Among the collection highlights are several Kelly bracelets crafted with precious metals and gems, and fastened with the famous flat lock of the Kelly bag (which was named for Princess Grace of Monaco, who used to shield her baby bump from paparazzi with the purse).

The Haute Bijouterie collection debuts tonight at Hermès's Madison Avenue boutique in NYC, where 49 pieces will go on display until December 8, 2012.

Read more at Elle.

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Balenciaga Denies New Designer Rumors, Updates Coming Soon

Nicolas Ghesquiere & Christopher Kane. Images: Fashionists, Hollywood Reporter

UPDATE: Sorry folks, Christopher Kane has not been confirmed as the new creative director at Balenciaga. The brand has not made a selection yet but will announce their choice in the next two or three weeks, according to Elle.fr. That said, it will still probably be Kane, just no official word yet. (The Cut)

The fashion world was decently shocked when celebrated designer Nicolas Ghesquière seemed to suddenly just up and leave his post at Balenciaga, the Spanish label he helped revive. Rumors of hurt feelings and perceived offenses circulated — most prevalently, some suggested that Ghesquière was upset over the freedom Yves Saint Laurent gave newly-minted Hedi Slimane, latitude which the more seasoned Ghesquière doesn't have. 

Yet, it appears that — lo and behold — the search for a successor had ended, and The Cut reported that Christopher Kane will be joining the house. The Cut cites reputable French publication Nouvel Observateur for the news, even though there has been no official confirmation from Balenciaga either way. Even more importantly, what will Donatella Versace think? Does this mean the end of her and Kane's younger, more punk venture, Versus? 

Nicolas Ghesquiere officially leaves his Balenciaga post of fifteen years on November 30, 2012.

Read more updates on this story at Refinery 29. 

Chic After Dark: It's Your Last Chance To Pin Your Way To Paris

Your chance to win a trip to Paris, courtesy of Refinery29 and Estée Lauder is almost up, because the Chic After Dark contest ends this Sunday at midnight.

All you have to do is sign up using the form below, and start pinning your favorite pics of noirish Parisian style, along with two images of nail trends accented by Estée Lauder's new dark, glamorous Pure Color Nail Lacquer to your Pinterest board. The pinner with the best collection of fashionable photos and hot nail trends will net a three-day trip to the City of Lights and travel bag filled with Parisian-inspired gifts (beret included) to ensure them a bon voyage — a $5,000 value. 

Don’t just sit there — sign up, and start pinning! Paris is waiting!!

Find out how to enter at Refinery 29. 

Investors Put Their Trust In Contemporary Art

Jeff Koons' Stainless Steel "Tulips" | Image: Christie's

NEW YORK — Never underestimate the amazing amount of cash swirling around the world in search of a home. This week, close to $1 billion was spent on contemporary art.

At Sotheby’s where 58 works of art brought $375 million on Wednesday evening, the session opened with works by Alexander Calder and Franz Kline.This set the stage for a session characterized by a rage to buy famous names without any preference for any particular kind of art. The character of the work is irrelevant. What matters is the volume of the echo that it has received in the media.

Christie’s followed up on Thursday with a stunning performance. Perhaps emboldened by the remarkable session at Sotheby’s, bidders jumped into the fray with a zest not witnessed since the recession that began in 2008. Sales added up to $412.25 million, the highest auction score ever in contemporary art.  

The most striking record though was achieved with “Tulips,” a stainless steel bunch of brightly colored elements looking like enormous toys. Credited to Jeff Koons, it was executed in “1995-2004.” At $33.68 million, the unique Koons of which other examples were somehow produced, eclipsed the $25.76 million paid at Christie’s London in June 2008 for “Balloon Flower (Magenta)” datable to the years 1995-2000. 

What made the Christie’s sale different from any so far was not just the readiness of bidders to go for virtually anything that came up, but the prolonged competition that involved several contenders over many lots. Perhaps some reasoned that it is better to grab a jokey picture than to keep sinking shares. This gives the buyer a gratifying feeling of cultural enlightenment, as long as the art is taken seriously.

Read more at The New York Times. 

8 Beauty Tricks That Work While You Sleep

Sleeping Beauty had the right idea: Get your much-needed rest and wake up looking amazing (with a handsome prince just waiting to cater to your every whim when you arise, natch). And while we may not have fairy godmothers looking out for us, we do have a stable of in-the-know beauty pros ready to dish out their own version of skin, hair, and nails magic.

The ultimate in lazy-girl beauty, these overnight tricks require nothing more than a teensy bit of prep work, a comfy bed, and a willingness to take beauty sleep very, very seriously.

Read on for your new bedtime beauty routine — these tips, treatments, and product picks will ensure you wake up looking amazing, without having to actually do anything in the a.m. 

Read more on Refinery 29. 

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Kela Walker's Style Suite: Well-Vested Vogue in the Office

Kela Walker's Style Suite. Image: Knightmare6 Photography

This season, stylists and fashion editors are getting vested in their style—literally. Vests are the new hot addition to the wardrobe and they’re not just for the fashion set but also for the average working girl on the go. Forget about the old stuffy, puffy and boring style of vests in the past. Cut in different styles, vests now add a cool factor. Look for them in an array of colors and follow the tips below on how to add this extra key piece to your wardrobe. (Shop the looks here.)
Kela has four tips to chic vest looks for the office:

• Avoid masculine cuts like those seen in a three-piece suit. Instead, look for vests in nontraditional cuts and cool colors to add something new and interesting to your office style.

Read more at Black Enterprise.

Disney Recruits Fashion’s Biggest Names In New Film

Anna Dello Russo in Electric Holiday. Image: British Vogue

DISNEY has teamed up with US department store Barneys to immortalise a host of fashion's key names through a cartoon film that will be broadcast in the shop from Wednesday, November 14.

The short, entitled Electric Holiday, follows Minnie Mouse as she dreams her way to Paris Fashion Week. Along her travels, she comes across a selection of the industry's most famous faces - including Lady Gaga, Alber Elbaz, Carine Roitfeld, Sarah Jessica Parker and Mario Sorrenti.

The film will be played on repeat on LED tiles that cover the two-story ground floor façade, WWD reports.

  

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Thanks Twitter, Chanel's Hula-Hoop Bags Are A Bonafide Spring Trend Now

Chanel Hula Hoop Bag. Image: WWD/ StephaneFeugere

The problem with hosting a fashion show six months before the products hit the stores is that designers and brands oftentimes have no idea what's going to sell well. However, it seems like modern technology has created a crystal ball in the form of social media.

Apparently, because of your tweeting, your Instagramming, and gabbing with your friends online about particular accessories you saw during the Spring '13 shows, bizarre items, like the ridiculous hula-hoop Chanel bag, will actually get produced.

Other trends that buyers are picking up because of Instagram? Birkenstock sandal styles, those fuzzy sandals from Céline, and Tom Ford's gladiator sandal. 

Read more at Refinery 29. 

Jimmy Choo's Limited-Edition Panda Handbag Will Cost You $15,000

Jimmy Choo Rob Pruitt Panda Purse. Image: JimmyChoo.com

Incredibly expensive handbags that cost more than an arm and a leg are nothing new -- remember Mouawad's $3.8 million 1001 Nights Diamond Purse and our personal favorite, the Olsen twins' $39,000 The Backpack?

But Jimmy Choo has thrown its hat -- er, bag? -- into the pricey purse ring with a rather unusual offering: a series of small panda bags clocking in at $15,000.
Created by Rob Pruitt, the clutches feature 11,000 hand-applied Swarovski crystals and a detachable golden strap. But the most striking aspect of the pieces are Pruitt's use of his signature panda design.

Read more at Huff Post Style.








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Beyonce Upgrades Social Media Game, Instagrams Political Statement

Last night two major things happened: President Obama was reelected to his second term in office and Beyonce joined Instagram!
As we all know Bey is a big fan of the President and she used the social media platform to show her support by wearing this "Texans For Obama" statement tee.
The world-famous singer and husband Jay-Z have supported the President several times through the 2012 election season, even holding a multi-million dollar fundraiser at Jay-Z's 40/40 Club in New York City.
Now that President Obama has been elected as the 44th President of the United States, I want to know where I can get my own tee! Any plans to make a "New Yorkers for Obama" version, Beyonce? This fashion-obsessed editor would love to wear it to the Inauguration!