Hey Ed Hardy, Let's Party

Two of my girls came with me to Vegas last week to attend the twice yearly fashion buying show held there. I have a love/hate relationship with the city. I been there so often for both clothing and shoes.

This trip marked the first time I brought along H and Y. Both long time associates and Vegas newbies. It was a great experience for them both. At the shows we got these cool tattoos and kitted ourselves out in all Christian Audigier/Ed Hardy wear. Which in tribute to our "look" we garnered more than our fair share of attention and the line, "Hey Ed Hardy, let's party!" Ah to be young again.

The Milan Fall 08 Shoe Fair

The tradeshow is probably one the least exciting aspects of my trip to Milan. I've been going twice a year since the Kris + Cris Shoes store started. The footwear fair has moved from it's old digs to far out in the burbs of Milan. It's a pretty long trip out. I have some key brands that I make it a point to visit everytime.

Not all the business of buying is in the tradeshows. I'll go to the brands showrooms themselves and view some of the coming footwear fashions. I was at Paciotti to do just that. As you can imagine their entrance is stunning. Most of the major players are just found off Via Spiaga.

Photos from Milan

Stuck for hours on the runway in Munich and then being delayed in London some more offered me lots of chances to sort through my 600 plus photos I took in Milan.

This trip was great despite being so short. I've been there over a dozen times and it really never gets old. I'll be posting a bit at time. I hope you all enjoy the photos!

Milan Baby!

A different week a different city. I've just arrived in Milan and I've already done a twirl around Duomo and it's shops. I'm sitting at this webcafe at Corso Buenos Aires and Viale Tunisia. A fashion school across the street has streaming webcam. I'm in the building with the really bright windows across the street from MacDonalds. I've only just been here 4 hours so I haven't done anything but shop and eat. So make do with the webcam picture for now.

webcam link here

I come here twice a year to the attend the fashion tradeshows and yes it's pretty much as awesome as you might think. The city and it's people exude this flair that you can only find here.

The Audigier Counter Couture Lifestyle

The success of Christian Audigier has been astounding. The brains behind Von Dutch has taken his key brand Ed Hardy and launched and empire. From branded waters at Whole Foods to to an Ed Hardy Dodge Charger, he's really trying to cover it all. His booth in this Vegas tradeshow expanded to a crazy mind boogling 15,000 sq ft. We saw Ed Hardy helmets, structured water, swimwear, lingerie... the list is endless.

Kat and Me with Christian. Despite being thronged by a mob constantly, he made time to chat us up after we had placed an order.

This one is for all you guys. That's body paint mimicking Ed Hardy Swimwear. Boys, you may now close your mouths.

For a man so over the top, a confetti stroll at the end of his fashion show only seems fitting. Note the stripper pole in the background!

Tru Drama carries more styles of Christian Audigier and Ed Hardy than anyone in Vancouver. The problem we have is that we always sell out. Sometimes we only have a style for ONE day. That speaks volumes of what sort of empire Christian Audigier has carved out for himself.

The Magic Show, World's Largest Fashion Market

Just some images from the Magic, Project and Pool tradeshow in Las Vegas to share with you all.

Yes this is my actual badge.

Don't look back Kat, always forward!

Project

Placing an order

I swear this was at Barcelona too!

This guy would cut up your Ed Hardy shirt for free. He'd make these cool patterns on your $200 shirt!

Celebs hype their own lines in Vegas

Celebs see the fashion industry as quick way to capitalize on their own personal name. With sales in the tens of millions (or a gazillion more) it's easy to see why they'd pimp their own labels. The celebs were out in force in Vegas. They were manning their own booths and hosting parties to get noticed by us lowly buyers. Probably the only time we're ever going to be this close to them.

Nelly was at the Venetian celebrating his Apple Bottoms line's 5th anniversary.

Paris has been pushing her new line called Dollhouse Jeans. Me and Kat were going to LAX to the launch party but we were afraid of the windstorm. We didn't want to be crushed by a tree!

Vegas Baby!

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. I just got back into town. Kat, my assistant manager and I were attending the Magic/Pool/Project tradeshow in Vegas. It was a great show with lots of exciting brands and items for Fall 2008 season. I've taken so many pictures that I'm gonna have to do multiple posts to encompass everything we did.

The crazy highlight of the trip was this wicked sandstorm that had us literally crouched down in the middle of Vegas strip with dirt and debris swirling around us. People were screaming and I literally felt lifted off the ground a few times. We stayed prone like that for over 10 minutes, when the wind didn't stop we made a mad dash to safety. Once safely indoors we realized we were covered head to toe in sand. Some of it was pebble sized! We were tired, so we spent some time in a Brookstone on one of their massage chairs. The vibrations and massaging must have shaken a lot of the sand that was on us loose. The chair was covered in dirt! I felt like Pigpen from a Charlie Brown cartoon.

Barcelona Baby!

This cold Vancouver weather is driving me nuts. It's either wet or near freezing... or both! I can't help but dream of warmer places. Since I can't be at Bread and Butter Barcelona, I thought I'd show you guys some pics of someone who's there now. Thanks to fellow retailer Modcloth, who's attending the show now. Out of Pittsburgh they do vintage and vintage inspired clothing. Very Cool! Now on to her fabulous pictures!

Man this is gaudy! Okay, it's a stupid... barely inside joke.

Candies, desserts and booze. I don't know if Modcloth buys with these aides but I sure do.

Yes, buying inventory is this hard.

Bread and Butter is all about making statements. What do you think this brand is trying say with these bowler hats?

The showroom floor.