carrie*connects

Food PR | Appleton Estate's Drink Generator

 
I thought this online drink generator from Appleton Estate was pretty nifty when I saw it this morning.  I was cruising the site after Forbes emailed me with a recipe for a Royal Apertif which is a blend of Appleton's Rum, syrup, lemon juice, and champagne.  It looked good but I was hoping for a larger picture - and then I found the impressive drink generator - sort of a fun mood ring for partiers. 

 

Basically you click on the site, and then pull levers in answer to questions like: 1) How are you feeling right now?  2) What are your plans for the evening? 3) what smells and tastes attract you? 4) How would someone describe you? 5) How do you deal with a rainy day?  and so on ... my answer the first time was the Planter's Punch shown above, which does indeed look like something I would enjoy. 

The Appleton Estate Drink Generator is an interesting, unilaterally accessible version of the personalized cocktail creation service from Liquid Relations that I wrote about a couple weeks back.  It gets consumers involved with the brand in a way that informs them about choices and asks questions in a conversational manner.

This is a great concept for cocktails, but it could also successfully be applied to a range of consumer goods, such as customized fragrances, salad dressings, candles, room fragrances, floral arrangements, china patterns, art work, cake flavors, ect. ect...!  Great concept!

Technology Trendcaster | Become a Sociopath ~ It's the Latest Thing!

I recieved an invitation this morning to join the new social network StyleCaster (which sounds suspiciously like a column that I write called Trendcaster on Bloomacious.com) - naturally I immediately zoomed over to take a look and post my mug on my own page.  

While the site doesn't seem all that different from our own network Bloomacious Cafe it apparently is embedded with lots of watching and listening devices that when explained in the video below makes me yearn for a nice long nap. 

Terms like "associated neuro network"  and "associative dynamics" are a far cry from my favorite phrase "me likey!"  but they mean similar things.

If there's any doubt after listening to this explanation that networks are the new blogs (which are the new magazines) then take a sneak peek at Fashionair which is girding up to launch soon.

Broken down gently, networks allow companies to watch the patterns and flows of their members - whom they friend, what they comment on.  We've done the same thing for the past 6 months through our networks and it's not quite as scientific or reliable as the Sociocast guys would like you to believe. 

Networks do provide a venue in which individuals can enjoy a club-like camaraderie- they also can serve as a TV station, a community blog, a messaging system and a newsletter - and are the next step beyond Facebook and Twitter.

Design | Pamela Sunday's Bronzed Nature

 It's nearly impossible to walk past the burnished asteroids, bronzed land mines, and golden atoms that artist Pamela Sunday creates in her Brooklyn studio.   Created from ceramics, metal, and other materials, Sunday's works are both radiant and restrained - an aesthetic she surely picked up in her days as a fashion stylist.  And while the artist has worked in a number of creative areas, ironically it's her background in mathematics that seems to come forward in her art work.  Inspired by the precise formations and diligent geometry that lie in the genius of nature, these beautiful sculptures are truly engaging.

Friday Funnies - The Client Vender Relationship Gone Baaaad!!

Fashion PR | What's Better Than a Fab Louis Vuitton Ad Starring Madonna? A *leaked* LV Madonna Ad

 
The fashion world is abuzz about this "leaked" Louis Vuitton ad starring Madonna in her bunny ears (you may recall the ones she wore to the Met Gala a few weeks back).  While readers of The Fashion Spot swear its authentic, one has to ponder the intensive amount of airbrushing the Material Girl has recieved in this shot.  Depending on your perspective it looks either very dreamy or barely recognizable.  I personally love the rich colors and to be frank it hardly matters at this point whether it's the actual photo that will show up in the September issue of Vogue or not - the picture is being posted on thousands of websites and blogs as we speak in a clever viral PR campaign.

Fashion PR | Isabel Toledo at Barney's NY

Isabel Toledo made a splashy appearance yesterday along with Ruden Toledo at Barney's New York - a trunk show of gorgeous fall fashions, and an interview with the brilliant Simon Doonan were part of the event.  In keeping with typical Barney's creativity, Isabel's appearance was staged in a super fun and graphically interesting way.

A Fashion PR Don't ~ Hawking Rihanna's Courtroom Clothes

Not too long ago (well actually a few years ago now) I started reading about horrendous pitches that some publicists have been serving up to the masses.  The Bad Pitch Blog on Media Bistro has a detail of many - but these are usually reported without naming names.   The word "flack" is used so many times it looses its meaning.  And we've gotten quite a few doozies over on the Bloomacious desk from publicists who clearly didn't put a lot of thought into what they were circulating on their client's behalf. 

Now the highly read Gawker is throwing a cyber-fit over a press release (of all things in this day and age) they received hawking the clothing worn by singer Rihanna to the Chris Brown hearing.  And when Gawker speaks the universe listens - repostings of the PR misstep are circulating the blogosphere like wet hornets around a nest. 

Sometimes in PR it's not what you say on your client's behalf - it's what you don't allow to be said.

Fashion PR | Patricia Fields May Pull Out of Sex & the City Film?

Wow - no Pat Field for the Sex and the City Sequel?  That's what Grazia is reporting - apparently Sarah Jessica Parker wants Carrie Bradshaw to be a little more down to earth and thrifty - aka - a Recessionista - in the next incarnation of the film.  I get that - the film was on HBO over the weekend so I caught bits of it (for the 40th time) and it reminded me that the outfits were a little out of line with what anyone but a millionaire could afford.  It's a bit out of tune with the way people are feeling these days I think.

Having said that I'm a huge fan of Pat Field's use of color and line - she's shown above with some creations from the line she designed for Mark's and Spencer in the UK - if you look closely you'll notice that versions of both pieces were featured in the first SATC movie.   She's also really done a fab job styling Ugly Betty and the Confessions of a Shopaholic film. 

Of the SATC situation Fields told Grazia, "I don't use the recession as a reference for my creativity."

While many will ponder and lament this, it could be a huge opening for smaller fashion brands to do product placement on the film should Fields actually leave.  Fields is notoriously obsessed with top labels, and her own design work, generally leaving smaller companies out in the cold. 

Grazia is also reporting that Fields would love to do a makeover on Susan Boyle -- OK!

via Grazia

Fashion | Marina and Susanna Sent's Bubble Necklace

 
This gorgeous murano glass Bubble Necklace is amazing isn't it?  It was designed and created by Marina and Susanna Sent whose family has worked for generations in Murano.  The sisters are continuing in the ancient tradition of hand making Venetian glass, giving a contemporary edge to the timeless art form.  This eye catching piece sparkles and shimers in the light. Gorgeous!!

Available at the MOMA store.

via ChicSensibility

Fashion PR | Loving The Fall Ads Already

 
Yes, we know, you can't wait to see the fall fashion books when they come out in all their 1000 page glory.  2/3rds of the fun for me is seeing the delicious ads (that in addition to reading Anna Wintour's note of course).  Here's a sneak peek at a couple.

Above, Dolce & Gabbana's spread features Heidi Mount, Mariacarla Boscono & Edita Vilkeviciute as photographed by Steven Klein.  Veteran model Mariacarla is back in the campaign biz, which will cause quite a few style lovers to raise a glass of bubbly in celebration.

Below: Longchamp's sendup of Fleet Week ala Daria Werbowy & Kate Moss photographed by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott. 

 

via: refinery29