Roopal’s Paris Journal – Day 5
6:45 am: Wake up to sad news…Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, has passed away. He was such a visionary and champion of change. He changed how we saw the world. I have grown up with Apple products all my life. Steve Jobs was a part of our family. A true genius and innovator. Such a great loss. My thoughts and prayers to his wife, his children, and his Apple family.
8:45 am: Starbucks drive-by with Ken Downing, Jonathan Joselove and Louis Hopkins, on the way to our seasonal Neiman Marcus trend presentation.
9 to 10:30 am: The presentation is a great time for the entire team to come together and share what they are finding in the market. We are all very excited by what we have seen. So many clear and directional trends and products. Stay tuned for more…
10:45 to 12:00 pm: VBH with couture handbag buyer Sabrina Mitchell. Sabrina walks me through her picks and it is a beautiful assortment. Inspired by the runways and our trend presentation, we are excited about the colorblocked clutches, the tribal python Brera bags, and the metallic python combinations.
Our fab buyer Sabrina Mitchell and the VBH team going through the Spring buy.
12:00 pm: Head to YSL to meet Katrina Bradley and Julee Butler for the shoes.
YSL, S/S 2012
The YSL runway shoe, up close
The colorblock and graphic play on silver and gold metals is right on trend!
Mixed metallics at YSL
I can’t wait to get a jump start in November when the colorblock pumps and sandals arrive for Resort.
1:00 pm: The Valentino showroom on Place Vendome.
Place Vendome... the view from Valentino's showroom.
Howard Feldman checks out the Valentino bags
I immediately try on the Valentino lace espadrille. We all want this shoe – such a chic flat!
Valentino's lace espadrille
There is so much eye candy in the showroom. A gorgeous silver sparkle heel thong, a sequin wedge, a white embroidered tote…
Valentino, S/S 2012
2:30 pm: We are running behind…
3:00 pm: An American in Paris. Arrive at Reed Krakoff for a walk through.
Reed Krakoff showroom
His pops of color look so on-trend for Spring. The graphic jungle print looks amazing when the model steps out in a head-to-toe ensemble.
Reed Krakoff, S/S 2012
3:56 pm: Head to Balenciaga. Walk on the wild side with the Balenciaga runway shoes. Orange and black zebra-print shoe booties with wing details and spotted leopard.
Balenciaga, S/S 2012 Photo by Dan Lecca
5:10 pm: Proceed to Dries Van Noten.
5:30 pm: Walk through shoes. Metallic colorblock play – bronze, rose gold and green. Sandals with lucite heels.
6:00 pm: Drop the team off at their hotel, where the paparazzi are waiting for Britney Spears. Who knew she was at their hotel? She walks out as soon as we are about pull away, and hops into her black Mercedes. Gustav the driver and I are laughing. I feel like I see a celebrity every day with him. Karl Lagerfeld yesterday, Britney Spears today. Paris is full of surprises. I wonder who I will see tomorrow!
