Top 5: Accessible American Luxury Brands
In our exploration of luxury brands, we have identified key trends and debated over industry paradigm shifts. Purveyors of luxury products and services are changing their brand image or re-tooling in another strategic way to adapt in this harsh economic environment. In our findings, accessible luxury is essential in a time when extravagance is taboo. In this week’s top five we will explore accessible luxury brands and how they are adapting and even thriving in this economic environment.
J Crew
To humbly express luxury without the guilt, the media has been aflutter about the Obama’s love for J Crew. Michelle, who has been compared to the fashion-savvy Jackie-O, has undoubtedly stated, J Crew is the luxury brand de jour in recessionary times. The brand is accessible, fashionable and most importantly classic 2.0. Each season brings not radical change, but subtle updates to a timeless look. The brand is positioned between the everyday American GAP and the high-brow fashion of Banana Republic. It’s a perfect place to be for those who want quality beyond the GAP but without the price of Banana Republic.
MAC
Looking good is feeling good. Uplifting personal confidence is what MAC cosmetics is all about. This accessible luxury cosmetics company takes personal expression and empowerment to a new level. The MAC brand has a high enough profile to be the choice of Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr of Gossip Girls while on the ground level with everyday Americans (by sponsoring the viral fashion of YouTube how-to-ers).
The MAC brand has an almost rebellious edge that sets it apart from other cosmetics companies. In the past MAC has, just as other cosmetics companies, sponsored fashion week in Bryant Park, NYC. Instead of trying to compete, woo and rub elbows with the hundreds of designers and look better than their competition, they’ve splintered from the pack—hosting their own event, called MAC at Milk (named after the studio in the meat packing district of NYC). MAC at Milk will offer exclusive passes for designers—an attempt to create an underground movement that flies in the face of “big-tent” fashion. Attending designers don’t have to worry about missing presentations or losing each other in the sea of people at Bryant Park. MAC at Milk represents a move to create an edgy, exclusive, yet accessible brand that influencers can buzz about.
Williams Sonoma
Known for their fresh food tastings, high-end gadgetry and quality kitchen basics, William Sonoma is a kitchen connoisseur’s paradise. They entice…
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Williams-Sonoma Star Wars Cookies
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Cuisinart CSB-76 SmartStick 200-Watt Immersion Hand Blender The versatile stick design of the Cuisinart Smart stick Hand Blender lets users blend ingredients right in pots, pitchers, bowls, or clear plastic beaker that’s included. A powerful 200-watt motor operates with an easy one-touch control. Blends drinks, purees soup, mixes pancake and crepe batters in seconds! Both stainless steel blending shaft and beaker are dishwasher-safe…. |
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Jura 64553 Clearyl Water Care Water-Filter Cartridge $24.00 An important part of the cleaning process, this Clearyl water filter cartridge for Capresso coffee machines helps ensure better-tasting coffee. The Clearyl system reduces water hardness up to 75 percent, as well as removes large percentages of chlorine, lead, copper, and aluminum if present in the water. In addition, a special organic additive removes almost all carbon and practically eliminates d… |
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Lodge Logic L8SGP3 Pre-Seasoned Square Grill Pan $20.97 Lodge L8SGP3 Square Cast Iron Grill PanLodge L8SGP3 Square Cast Iron Grill Pan Features:; Rubbed bottom cast iron grill pan; Lets you keep foods from simmering in fatty drippings; Seasoned and ready to use; Square; 10-1/2″ x 1-3/8″; 8 lbs… |
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Williams-Sonoma presents Musica del Sol (Music of the Sun) $27.95 Williams-Sonoma presents Musica del Sol, a vibrant selection of latin inspired sounds. TRACKS: 1) Comentario De Solar/Albita 2) Magdalena/Energipsy 3) Lorca/Nova Menco 4) Chibili Ben Ben/Los Reyes 5) Los Flamingos/Lara & Reyes 6) La Bamba/Selena 7) Mambo No. 5/Perez Prado and his Orchestra  Boas Festa/Luis Morais 9) Airs De Valsain/EA 10) Salsa Flamenca/Young & Rollins 11) Viva La Musica/Gipsyla…
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Florence, Music Celebrating The Flavors Of The World: Williams-Sonoma Various Artists / Florence, Music Celebrating The Flavors Of The World Williams-Sonoma Year: 2004 Track Title |
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Williams-Sonoma: Paris – Music Celebrating The Flavors Of The World $29.95 12 French-themed tracks from Williams-Sonoma that create the perfect dinner mix (no matter what you’re serving)…. |
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Skybar ONE 1-Chamber Wine Preservation System $348.99 Entertain in style with the only at-home wine system that chills, pours and preserves. At the press of a button, the bottle is cooled to its ideal serving temperature, while patented vacuum technology naturally preserves wine for up to 10 days. When you’re ready for a glass, simply press a button and your favorite wine is served. Chill your wine to the ideal temperature based on 15 preset wine var… |
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Williams-Sonoma Large Satin Bronze Pull 96Mm Cc (3469806) CB-PN0373W-SBA-C Williams-Sonoma Large Antique Satin Bronze Pull 3 3/4″Cc and 4-5/16′ overall. This Hershey style pull is beautiful yet conservative. Buy this pull, and you’ll never have to worry about it going out of style. Centers: 3 3/4″ (96 mm)Length: 4 5/16″ (110 mm)Width: 1/2″ (13 mm)Projection: 1 1/8″ (28 mm)Finish: Satin BronzeWilliams-Sonoma Product. Comes with both 1″ and 1 1/2″ screws…. |
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Williams-Sonoma Brushed Satin Silver Pull 3 CB-PN0374W-BSS-C Brushed satin silver pull. This is a rich looking and substantial pull at an excellent price that you’d never see offered at Pottery Barn. If you are seeking an elegant pull, look no further! Centers: 3″ (76 mm)Length: 3 1/2″ (89 mm)Width: 7/16″ (11 mm)Projection: 1″ (25.4 mm)Finish: Brushed Satin SilverWilliams-Sonoma Product. Comes with two of each 1″ and 1 1/2″ screw…. |
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Howard BBC012 Butcher Block Conditioner Food Grade Mineral Oil and Natural Waxes, 12-Ounces $5.10 Specialized wood care for butcher blocks, cutting boards, wooden bowls, and utensils. The penetrating quality of food grade mineral oil along with the water resistant traits of beeswax and carnauba wax rejuvenates the wood and prevents drying and cracking. The naturall antibacterial waxes help repair knife marks and protect the wood by keeping the mineral oil in and the moisture out. Exceeds U.S. … |
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Healthy Living Software $6.99 Welcome to the world of cooking with Williams-Sonoma Guide to Good CookingSoftware lets you choose from over 1000 recipesAll recipes are great for children, kitchen tested, delicious and easy to make |
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Williams Sonoma Comfort Food (Hardcover) $22.15 A stack of blueberry pancakes drizzled with maplesyrup, a soulful dish of mac and cheese, spaghetti studded with plump meatballs, old-fashioned buttermilk fried chicken, warm peach cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream-no matter what your idea of t… |
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Williams-sonoma the Cook and the Butcher (Hardcover) $18.69 This friendly and accessible cookbook offers over 100 recipes for delicious meals using a wide range of popular beef, pork, lamb, and veal cuts and aims to help the home cook get the most out of meat for dinner. Each chapter begins with quick-cooking c… |
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Williams Sonoma Cooking at Home (Hardcover) $23.67 With more than 1,000 recipes from the archives of Williams-Sonoma, hundreds of informative side notes and dozens of charts and other reference material, this book contains everything you need to know?and nothing you don`t?about how to cook what you wan… |
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Williams-sonoma Cheese (Hardcover) $21.06 This title takes an authoritative and personal look at cheese, acting as both a comprehensive cookbook as well as a helpful primer on the subject. From the key types of cheese, to tips on pairing cheese with beverages and creating the perfect cheese co… |
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The Williams-Sonoma Cookbook $22.13 A volume of 370 fan-favorite recipes is a compendium of classic and cutting-edge dishes that encompass a variety of courses and ingredients, in a lavishly designed collection that features an extensively cross-referenced index. 60,000 first printing. |
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Williams-Sonoma Christmas (Hardcover) $12.25 Presents illustrated recipes for traditional and contemporary holiday soups, salads, main and side dishes, and desserts, as well as breakfast foods and treats to serve at an open house. |
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Williams-Sonoma Cookies (Hardcover) $11.3 Whether it`s a classic chocolate chip cookie for an afternoon snack at the kitchen table, a tangy lemon bar as a treat after lunch, or a delicate jam-filled cutout cookie shared at a special gathering of friends, we all have a favorite cookie or two th… |
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Williams-sonoma Good Food to Share (Mixed media product) $19.08 Williams Sonoma Good Food to Share is available as an application for the iPad and features Mag+, the award-winning digital publishing platform created by Bonnier for the iPad and other tablet computers. Mag+ combines everything that’s gre… |
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Williams-sonoma Salad of the Day (Hardcover) $22.84 Organized by month, and featuring one recipe for each day on the calendar, this book includes 365 recipes for salads to match any season, occasion, or mood. Whether it’s a simple mixed greens salad with red wine vinaigrette for a dinner party sta… |
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