Blackbookmag.com January, 2011

For the last few years, high-street chains like H&M and Zara have provided women with tight budgets and big fashion aspirations the chance to indulge in runway trends without breaking the bank. Where those stores pair with haute designers to produce limited-edition collections (take Alber Elbaz’s recent collaboration with H&M), flash-sale sites like Gilt Groupe deliver actual runway duds at hugely slashed prices to women not lucky enough to receive those ‘Friends and Family’ invitations to sample sales in their Inbox. But when savings rule, where does that leave higher-end shoppers who are ready – and more than willing – to spend big bucks on fashion? “There hasn’t been a lot of focus on doing special things for the shopper who wants the latest thing and is going to pay full price,” points out Aslaug Magnusdottir, former head of merchandizing at Gilt Noir (Gilt.com’s elite member group), on the inspiration behind Moda Operandi, the revolutionary new e-commerce site she co-founded with Lauren Santo Domingo of Vogue. “There’s a real need for a new luxury experience at the high-end level.” [Read more...]

Tags: Aslaug Magnusdottir, Fashion Week, Lauren Santo Domingo, Luxury, Moda Operandi, Runway Fashion.