France Crowned Champion after 4-2 Game with Croatia

Teenager Kylian Mbappe and the rest of France's players acted like the youthful bunch they are, taking turns sliding across the rain-soaked turf holding the World Cup trophy tight. This was the highest-scoring final since 1966 and a great FIFA World championship game that took place in Moscow, Russia.

Twenty years ago, a multicultural France team, led by Zinedine Zidane, won the World Cup during home game.. On the eve of the 2018 final, Zidane is gone, but everything else remains the same.
This match  featured  an own goal, a goalkeeper gaffe, pitch invaders and a teenager wunderkind finding the back of the net.

Mbappe, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain in the French league, was born months after France won its only other World Cup title in 1998.

“We do not realize yet what we just did,” left back Lucas Hernández said. “When we arrive tomorrow in Paris, we will realize.”

As for Croats this is what they had to say,

“We have no regrets because we were the better team for much of the game,” said Croatia midfielder Luka Modric, who was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s outstanding player. “Unfortunately, some clumsy goals swung it their way.

“They will be celebrating, but we can hold our heads high.”

PRESIDENTS' CLUB

Putin watched the game in a VIP section with the presidents of France and Croatia, Emmanuel Macron and Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.

Macron paced nervously out of his seat during the video review, and kissed his Croatian counterpart on both cheeks to console her after the game. They joined the medal ceremony and both kissed the gold trophy before it got to Lloris.

Happy 84th Birthday to Maestro Giorgio Armani!

Giorgio Armani was born on July 11, 1934 in the small town of Piacenza, North of Italy.  At 23 he served in the military and then spent two years at the medical faculty of the University of Bologne, but all along he was attracted to fashion.  He began his first fashion related work at Rinascente store in Milan as fashion merchandiser.  Few years later he started working as a designer for Nino Cirruti and then designer for other fashion house, collecting experience for his own glorious brand. On July 25th, 1975 his fashion Empire  was born.  

Happy Birthday from all of us at Joliegazette!

Here are some fan facts about the designer.

• In 1975, he had to sell his beloved white “VW Käfer” to finance his company.
• The designer has nine homes—one each in France, Switzerland, USA, Antigua, and five in Italy—and a 150-foot yacht, named Maìn.
• To date, Armani has created costumes for more than 250 films. The first was in 1980, when he dressed Richard Gere in the thriller American Gigolo.
• You can live the Armani lifestyle by eating at Armani Dolci: a small line of Armani-branded
• confectionery, and decorating your house with fresh flowers from Armani Fiori.
• During his career, he has never been in debt.
• He is credited with creating the first-ever bomber jacket in 1970.
• The 80-year-old Armani has never smoked a cigarette.
• He is the sole owner of his empire.

“Elegance doesn’t mean being noticed, it means being remembered”

— Giorgio Armani

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Official Wedding Portraits are Here!

Photos by Alex Lubomiriski. 

Two days after the royal wedding of the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the official portraits from the big day are here! Shot by Alexi Lubomirski. 

"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex would like to thank everyone who took part in the celebrations of their wedding on Saturday," Kensington Palace captioned one shot of Harry and Meghan sitting on the steps together. 

"They feel so lucky to have been able to share their day with all those gathered in Windsor and also all those who watched the wedding on television across the UK, Commonwealth, and around the world."

Congratulations from all of us at Joliegazette! 

GUESTS AT THE ROYAL WEDDING 

Kering: What's Next?

Kering announced today that, after the disposal of Puma, they will also put on sale Volcom and they will focus on luxury brands (acquisitions?).

Very likely the same destiny will take place also for Cobra, the third sports brand of the group.

The intention of Monsieur Pinault group is very clear as well as the direction taken now.

After 11 years of integration of sports (and lifestyle) brands with luxury and fashion, Kering is now changing the target. But they also sold back Stella McCartney 50% to the founder. And they are struggling in managing the relaunch of Brioni.

They have three star brands: Gucci, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent that registered double digit growth, an uber luxury brand such as Bottega Veneta who slightly disappeared from the radar and jewelry, high-end watches and fashion brands such as Alexander McQueen and a very pale Christopher Kane. Kering is also facing accusation of fiscal elusion.

Isn't the right moment for the group to:

- clarify the "luxury focus" they are following
- define the categories selected: jewelry? high-end watches? men's? or other?
- rationalize the efforts in terms of brand development: short term stellar growth or long term organic growth?

So much food for thought, indeed.

by Susanna Nicoletti - a fashion and luxury marketing, communication and digital senior professional
in the industry with boutique consultancy www. thefashiondispatch.com