| In our exploration of luxury brands, we have | | | | be the choice of Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr |
| identified key trends and debated over industry | | | | of Gossip Girls while on the ground level with |
| paradigm shifts. Purveyors of luxury products and | | | | everyday Americans (by sponsoring the viral |
| services are changing their brand image or | | | | fashion of YouTube how-to-ers). |
| re-tooling in another strategic way to adapt in this | | | | The MAC brand has an almost rebellious edge |
| harsh economic environment. In our findings, | | | | that sets it apart from other cosmetics |
| accessible luxury is essential in a time when | | | | companies. In the past MAC has, just as other |
| extravagance is taboo. In this week’s top five | | | | cosmetics companies, sponsored fashion week in |
| we will explore accessible luxury brands and how | | | | Bryant Park, NYC. Instead of trying to compete, |
| they are adapting and even thriving in this | | | | woo and rub elbows with the hundreds of |
| economic environment. | | | | designers and look better than their competition, |
| J Crew | | | | they’ve splintered from the pack—hosting |
| To humbly express luxury without the guilt, the | | | | their own event, called MAC at Milk (named after |
| media has been aflutter about the Obama’s | | | | the studio in the meat packing district of NYC). |
| love for J Crew. Michelle, who has been compared | | | | MAC at Milk will offer exclusive passes for |
| to the fashion-savvy Jackie-O, has undoubtedly | | | | designers—an attempt to create an |
| stated, J Crew is the luxury brand de jour in | | | | underground movement that flies in the face of |
| recessionary times. The brand is accessible, | | | | “big-tent” fashion. Attending designers |
| fashionable and most importantly classic 2.0. Each | | | | don’t have to worry about missing |
| season brings not radical change, but subtle | | | | presentations or losing each other in the sea of |
| updates to a timeless look. The brand is positioned | | | | people at Bryant Park. MAC at Milk represents a |
| between the everyday American GAP and the | | | | move to create an edgy, exclusive, yet accessible |
| high-brow fashion of Banana Republic. It’s a | | | | brand that influencers can buzz about. |
| perfect place to be for those who want quality | | | | Williams Sonoma |
| beyond the GAP but without the price of Banana | | | | Known for their fresh food tastings, high-end |
| Republic. | | | | gadgetry and quality kitchen basics, William |
| MAC | | | | Sonoma is a kitchen connoisseur’s paradise. |
| Looking good is feeling good. Uplifting personal | | | | They entice... |
| confidence is what MAC cosmetics is all about. | | | | To read the rest of the Top 5: Acessible Luxury |
| This accessible luxury cosmetics company takes | | | | Brands, go to Sparxoo, a marketing, branding and |
| personal expression and empowerment to a new | | | | business development blog. |
| level. The MAC brand has a high enough profile to | | | | |