Top Shop Fever

Not only is ideeli a fantastic place to work, we are also a few steps away from Top Shop’s first NYC location. The grand opening of this super hip retailer is bound to blow other inexpensive European fashion chains including H&M and Zaras off the map.

The British retail store that includes Kate Moss as their top designer just might be the remedy for the recession depression fashionable NYC girls are experiencing right now. Not only can you get chic trendy clothes at uber cheap prices, if you are lucky enough to still be a student you can get an extra 10% off all year round. Time to take that continuing class you have been thinking about.

Top Shop opens April 2nd. Location: Broadway and Broome Street. Note:  Kate Moss’s Spring Collection debuts in the store that day. We expect plenty of Liberty prints.

Giveaway Winner: Jason Yeo

Congratulations Jason, you won our Thrillist Giveaway. What are your initial thoughts on winning? Disbelief, and then excitement. Lots of excitement, generated by fantasizing about how I will use my prize!

Awesome, why do you love Thrillist? I will use Thrillist to stay in touch with the latest cool happenings and hotspots in different cities - I travel a lot for work so this is perfect for me!

Tell us why you like shopping on ideeli: Shopping on ideeli is fun because there are great designer bargains to be snagged.

What designers do you want to see on ideeli: Menswear from Etro, Dries Van Noten, and Burberry Prorsum, please!

What is your favorite accessory trend for Spring / Summer 2009? Lightweight straw hats and summer scarves.

What is your must have item for Spring? Neon-hued clothes and accessories - the 80s are back!

Famous last words: I hope to win again someday soon :)

Keep entering Jason, you never know!

Recession-Proof Shopping

Surprisingly, the recession is not affecting  Agent Provocateur’s business in the UK. The erotic- linger-ray retailer confirmed yesterday that total sales rose by 8% since the end of March last year.  Agent Provocateur is now planning to double the number of stores across the UK to keep frisky Brits well stocked in designer skivvies.

Meanwhile across the pond here in America, the recession seems to have a sweet tooth.  Americans are spending less on frivolous items like pretty undies and spending much more on sugar- in particular cheap candy.  Store like Candyality in Chicago, Economy Candy in NYC, and The Candy Store in San Francisco business has increased as high as 80% in comparison to last year. So if you find yourself on a Saturday night sporting a pair of cheap Hanes curled up on the sofa with a box of yellow peeps, rest assured, you are not alone.

Extreme Extravagance: A Gold Plated Car

The ugliest car in the world is also one of the most expensive. Earlier this month we learned that Paris Hilton ordered a $400,000 diamond encrusted dashboard for her customized pink Bentley Continental GT. Now an unnamed Russian buyer purchased a gold plated Iranian car for his private collection that a handful of critics find hard on the eyes.  The Samand LX shown above, includes a gold-plated tailgate, hood, doors and fenders.  What recession?

Valentino,“The Last Emperor”

Thanks to ideeli’s fabulous PR Director, a few of us could attend the star studded premiere for the Valentino documentary “The Last Emperor,” at the MoMA Museum last night. Celebs in attendance included: Anne Hathaway, Gwyneth Paltrow, Claire Danes, Padma Lakshmi, Martha Stewart,  Helena Christiansen, Rachel Roy, and Michael Stipe.

The film focuses on the spirited relationship between the very tan Valentino and his long time lover and business partner Giancarlo Giammetti. Mr. Giammetti, who sat right behind us with Anne Hathaway at the premiere,  has been the business mastermind behind Valentino’s fashion empire, valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars for the last 45 years.  The film celebrates their “marriage” of art, commerce, and friendship. It is a touching film that even manages to portray Karl Lagerfeld  in a very endearing light. Valentino, retired from designing for his label after a no-holds-barred party in Rome that is featured in the documentary.

You can catch Valentino making a rare TV appearance on the Martha Stewart talk show, “Martha” on Friday March 21. “The Last Emperor” opens today, March 18th, in limited release around the country.