Salvatore Ferragamo has become the first fashion house to have a full-out catwalk show at the iconic Louvre museum in Paris. The honor came about after the family company from Florence sponsored the current exhibition of “La Sainte Anne, Leonardo da Vinci’s Ultimate Masterpiece,” according to the New York Times.

“Having a runway show inside the Louvre has a meaning that goes beyond the simple concept of fashion,” creative director Massimiliano Giornetti told the Times about the 2013 resort collection's esteemed showcase. “It is a statement, a continuation of a long tradition of beauty and sensibility, of passion and a love of art. It’s a very positive message. A way to reaffirm our Italian spirit and our culture.”Continue reading...

President Obama unveils US budget plan to trim deficit, with $4 trillion in cuts over 12 years, keeping Medicare and Medicaid, and curbs on charity write-offs. The 2012 race in mind, Barack and Michelle Obama also plan to appear on Oprah's May 2nd show.

Apple's iPhone 5 said to be coming this summer, while do-not-track tool added to new Safari browser. Sony, meanwhile, lands top spot for consumer electronics in latest Harris Poll.

Barry Bonds found guilty of osbtruction of justice.

LeBron James bumps Kobe Bryant for the bestselling NBA jersey, as Bryant accused of anti-gay slur.

BP cleanup funds come under scrutiny.Continue reading...

The trailers and clips for The Tourist depict a Euro-thriller high on style and low on commercialization. But like the twisted, all-is-not-what-it-seems plot of the film itself, The Tourist is engaged in some heavyweight, high-end, surreptitious onscreen selling.Continue reading...

Western fashion brands are looking to expand in mainland China, with Vivienne Westwood planning an additional 20 boutiques throughout the mainland, Burberry slated to add a whopping 66 new stores, Coach opening another 20 locations and Ferragamo planning 10 new stores, according to Alisa Gould-Simon at The Guardian.

That top fashion houses are salvaging the remains of declining international sales by catering to China’s growing population of nouveau riche is not news. But recent expansion plans may indicate an attempt by these fashion icons to expand into China’s second and third-tier cities, widely seen as the next, and potentially highly profitable, frontier for Western brands who have managed to gain a share of the market in Beijing and Shanghai.

The numbers certainly look promising. “It is estimated that the Chinese bought $7.5bn worth of luxury products last year. "We estimate retail sales will grow 16-18% this year," says Jessica Lo, of the China Market Research Group. A report published by McKinsey last autumn predicts that consumption will double in China's 100 biggest cities between 2008 and 2015.Continue reading...

New York City is buzzing about the opening of its first Costco Warehouse Shopping Club on East 116th Street. It may seem insignificant, but haven't we been waiting for a Harlem Target for over a year?

What makes the news even more exciting is that this shop-portunity has enabled access to Chanel and Louis Vuitton handbags in what seems like an attempt to appeal to a luxury market.

The new location currently has Chanel Classic Flap handbags available for $1,999, though the salesperson (StyleList felt it most important to note that the salesperson was a man), was unsure of which sizes were available but that the Louis Vuitton Speedy bags sold for $589 each.Continue reading...