Looklab Screenshot | Source: Looklab.com NEW YORK, United States — Finding fashion products online that fit personal parameters like taste, style, size, body shape, eye colour, hair colour and skin tone; are right for a particular mood or upcoming event; and can be nicely mixed-and-matched with the existing contents of a user’s closet, all while quickening the pulse and providing a feeling of discovery, is a problem that offers tremendous opportunity for would-be innovators. In a detailed blog post last month, leading movie subscription service Netflix, known for having one of the world’s most effective personal recommendation engines, revealed a remarkable statistic

Anya Hindmarch Bond Street store | Source: Remodelista Bags to riches: Anya Hindmarch interview (Telegraph) “Anya Hindmarch, an attractive woman and designer of desirable handbags and accessories, but one imbued with a political conviction as profound as the determination that has made her head of an expanding international business, with 54 shops worldwide and an annual turnover well in excess of £20 million.” International shoppers boost UK retail industry (Retail Weekly) “In Knightsbridge, Chinese shoppers are busy snapping up Prada skirts and Gucci dresses, while on Bond Street, luxury watches are the order of the day. Over on Jermyn Street, Americans are splashing the cash on shoes and shirts – and it’s a similar story across the UK, as non-EU tourist spending grows 34% last year.” Fashion Label Paul Smith Plans Shanghai Megastore in China Entry (BusinessWeek) “Paul Smith Ltd., the British fashion label worn by celebrities David Beckham, George Clooney and Jude Law, is planning a flagship store in Shanghai to enter mainland China as the clothing market surges.” How to shop ahead of the curve (Independent) “From Wednesday, McQ, the second line from Alexander McQueen, will offer its autumn 2012 collection on the site for exclusive pre-ordering for a week only.

LONDON, United Kingdom – By now, social media marketing has become de rigueur for luxury and fashion brands looking to engage end consumers. And indeed, more and more luxury brands are following in the footsteps of first movers and building community-oriented experiences that allow fans to upload their own content which (once carefully curated) can be shared across these sites and the wider social web, earning attention in a way that’s often more cost-effective and authentic than traditional advertising units. Back in 2009, Burberry led the charge with Art of the Trench, a website that enabled fans to explore, upload and share street-style images featuring Burberry trench coats.

Burberry store Beijing | Source: Bloomberg Europe’s Luxury Rally Founders as China, Greece Hurt LVMH

Francisco Costa by Romer Pedron | Source: FIT Francisco Costa (Interview) “For the last nine years, or 18 seasons, as women’s creative director at Calvin Klein Collection, 47-year-old Francisco Costa has simultaneously managed to preserve one of the most iconic brands in fashion—one that has proven to the world that Americans can be spare, chic, and sexy right alongside their European counterparts.” Macy’s maintains outlook, disappointing Street (Reuters) “Macy’s Inc

Beyonce Knowles makes her way up the Met Ball red carpet | Source: AP NEW

Pinterest vs Facebook | Source: Boticca.com LONDON, United Kingdom

Vogue Editors | Source: Front Row Mode Vogue promises to ban underage or ill models (Guardian) “The editors of the 19 editions of Vogue magazine worldwide have added their voices to efforts to tackle

Dior store Dubai UAE | Source: CPP Luxury Dubai Finesses Ease of Luxury Shopping for Chinese (NY Times) “Chinese shoppers, rare birds not long ago, are flocking to Dubai’s malls. Up to 25 percent of luxury goods sold in Mall of the Emirates are purchased by Chinese tourists… ‘So now, it’s about how we market to them,’ Mr. Malas said.