FIRST CLASS BELONGINGS

Well, creating a branding image of a person is not an easy task.

A series of one-on one meetings have to take place, in order to untangle all the ideas of whomever will be exposed to the public eye. That process includes a series of variables such as the location, the market to which services will be directed, the specific fashion style, the use of the imagery,  and the audience – and each of these will add to each other and create at the that first image – the first visual of the subject.

This particular branding was easy in a way, as the subject Nicole (only Nicole to her readers) has very specific taste, a very sophisticated sense of 1950’s glamour and 1960’s ‘Mad Men’ seal, with a sense of wit and comical elements rescued from her many trips to Japan and her affinity towards Japanese comic art.

Nicole was about to launch her traveling blog called First Class Belongings.

 

The new site will contain recommendations, places, trip schedules, travel tips, and savvy reviews of the many cities where she had to the opportunity to travel. Her blog is directed to certain audience that has luxury as a style,  and a demographic where the value of the visuals had to be interesting and appealing. She breathes sophistication and creates a need to follow and see the adventures of this traveler.

We talked and opted to highlight Nicole herself as the subject and to collect specific imagery of locations visited, with a high sense of place and a tremendous value on every single element. From the garments, to the details of the location, to the fine points of clothing and mood, we were off to create traveling editorials.

So, we started at home. But the point of departure is where we really began.

A car and private plane editorial about the meaning of traveling in style served as the kick-off of these very sophisticated series. Behind the lens is photographer, Mr. Chris Loomis, whom I have worked with in the past in many, many occasions, including Fabric & Space,  Anna Vivette new image under The sorceress of Song editorial project, or Portraying Mayme editorial for JAVA Magazine, the Cover Boy editorial for an interview with me in the magazine,  or the My City editorial with an interview about my preferred places and spaces on WHERE Magazine, and a photographer I am a fan of) with the assistance by TV Host and fashionista at heart Ms. Irma Deihl, hair by Haley Bunkers, make-up Ori Brown and me serving as production director and handyman all on a single hot, hot afternoon.

The first editorial narrates her avid need to keep and bring style to her many travel experiences.

And so we started to create her new image, one that represented the essence of the luxury travel and the image of an elegance that needed to be rescued, with a sense of romanticism and timeless, the editorials took place.

The real romanticism and imagery of a story that needed to be told.

The initial trips took her to places within the USA, but to spaces that had a history and a place in time that we all remembered. Once again, that story line she wanted to tell was elegance, timeless fashion and incredible sense of self discovery.

Times gone by, and now revived in style.

Of course, the travels in style, deserve a view in style. By the way, she will give you any feedback you need about any luxury hotel or spa (she had visited) if you need by simply sending an email to http://www.firstclassbelongings.com

And of course Manhattan is not the same if a Fashion lover cannot attend the maximums summit every year, the New York Fashion Week, and of course, you ought to attend, in style!

Hollywood is the place where dreams are made of gold (they say) – so, she is heading to a new chapter by opening a YOU TUBE channel where all her experiences are narrated with tons of suggestions, recommendations and tips for the luxury traveler.

The best place to make all productions a reality? Tinseltown, well known as Hollywood, and for that a style that belongs to a true diva.

We all have to experience every coast of the country and even find ourselves submerged within the culture and the style present within that space,.. and Nicole does it wisely, using vintage and now, her own designs.

Her garments are selected time in advance as they are inspired by the places she visits. Have you noticed her vintage luggage that goes with her everywhere? well, is her salute to the luxury traveler and the vintage lover.

By working with local photographers and local MUA, Hair Designers and other locals, she is able to locate places that not a typical traveler is able to find and locate. The result? well, stunning images of her luxury travels.

Mid-Century Modern Design is one of Nicole’s favorites, and you will see her dressed and visiting Modern spaces with incredible design as you discover,

And much more Modern Era, with all it’s perks and details. Tastefully captured, and stylishly set.

Within the travels, she finds those places with unique, very unique style that match her thirst to design and style. “Oscar, finding those places always makes sense to my life and my travels, it’s the essence of the time, and a style perhaps long gone?”, once she told me.

Now, many months later and having conquered almost all continents and all hemispheres, as you see here on this blog post, Nicole has collected not only experiences she is writing about and soon she will launch a YouTube channel with a video journal about her travels, but also she found and understood the traveler she wants to speak to. The sophisticated and elegant traveler that needs and requires comfort but keeping the design aesthetics and fashion design on the forefront, or course!

The story had to go on, and had to keep feeding the now global audience, so Nicole went to the places she loves and the new ones she found and she wanted to experience.

Then the experience took off and many places visited and many hours and days and experiences lived. Well, of course is not the end yet, there is more to come, and here is a recount of some places. The best way to find Nicole, is by simple search #firstclassbelongings on your search engine.

 

 

A bow to places that are emotional and mean to all of us! From first hand, you can read on her social media her reactions to the first encounter with them.

 

 

And farther out from home she went! – visiting once again a place that is simply the roots of her love to the far lands of Asia, more so Japan. Giving herself time to create an editorial at iconic places in the long thin island, from the more traditional and inspirational Japan, to the modern and always changing Japanese pop-culture.

 

 

Having designed hundreds of garments, and accessories, as well curated vintage fashion purchased in distant places or gathered in sophisticated vintage stores where she shops, she decided for the first time to host a POP-OP SHOP! – yes, she is planning to have a sale of her incredible finds and designs she has worked on for her exotic trips.

There will always be experiences to narrate, and so it will be this one, in Turkey. When you see Nicole, ask her about it, much to tell.

There will be an opening this November 14th from 10am-7pm  at Vintage by Misty in downtown Scottsdale 7046 E 5th Ave, 85251 where you will be able to meet and greet the design oriented world traveler, and acquire her pieces, but best of all? you will be able to briefly meet with her and hear the stories of her adventures in all these distant places, all the moments she has captured in her memories and better yet, listen from her kind persona what is coming next for First Class Belongings and where is she heading to this winter and subsequent seasons.

 

When thinking about traveling in style, of course, Nicole of First Class Belongings is your best guide, trust me!

Always in style,

Oscar-

DISCLAIMER:  All ideas, photography, styling and media on this blog photography, written or video  are exclusive for the use of  Oscar De las salas under www.whatwouldoscardo.com blog. Any use, copy, crop/paste action, or any similarity of this material is strictly prohibited unless authorized by http://www.whatwouldoscardo.com or by Author. All Copyrights laws for internet or media use are applicable. If you want, need or require any of this material for any reason please contact my agent – Always in style – Oscar.)