Hot Gucci Ad for New Perfume Premiere with Blake Lively

Ooh la la, is that Blake Lively or Marilyn Monroe?

Have you been missing your weekly dose of Blake Lively glamour, ever since Gossip Girl ended , I certainly have. Not to worry, the Gossip Girl star has been making waves as she has been cast as the new face of the Gucci's latest perfume Premiere. Blake Lively exudes old Hollywood glamour, the golden waves, and dark eyes transform her perfectly. In fact, I'm wondering if she hasn't got more of a Marilyn Monroe likeness as compared to Michelle Williams who played her in the movie 'My Week With Marilyn'.

Left: Blake Lively as Serena as Marilyn Monroe in Gossip Girl's 100th episode, and Right the screen siren Marilyn Monroe herself

 Here's a colour photo of Blake Lively at the shooting of the Italian fashion house's new fragrance ad. Blake look's even better in colour don't you think?

Blake Lively exuding old Hollywood glamour at the shoot of Gucci's Premiere ad

There has been some controvery circling the web that the Gucci ad for Premiere 'starring' Blake Livey is very similar to the Mademoiselle bags advert she did for Chanel. I think the ads have just two things in common Blake Lively, and her reflection in the mirror. I don't think that's enough to declare Gucci copied Chanel, and I personally prefer the Gucci ad over the Chanel one. Gucci's ad is very much classic, old Hollywood glamour, and a black and white shot. The Chanel ad on the other hand has more contemporary vibe to its more 'Serena' edgy, modern, a bit dark.

See the ad below what do you think? Which one is hotter? Do you think Blake Lively exudes a Marilyn Monroe-esque charm?

Shexy Serena Blake Livey in Chanel's Mademoiselle bags ad

Queen of the Quilted Handbags

Queen of the Quilted by mishaican featuring quilted handbags

CHANEL: REAL OR FAKE?!

CHANEL: REAL OR FAKE by mishaican featuring chanel jewelry

Dear Readers,
 Recently there has been a scandal in Saudi, over the fact that the authorised dealer of CHANEL in Jeddah was selling fake CHANEL items instead of the real thing. This has caused quite an outrage imagine buying a fake quilted handbag from China , when you thought you were getting the genuine article. I'm sure it is making people think twice of purchasing luxury goods here, but then could it happen anywhere? 

The fact of the matter is that fakes are getting better everyday should be a real concern to luxury brands. The counterfeit business seems to be very profitable and since the original articles are made in China, it is easy to see how a thriving counterfeit economy could develop alongside. 

The brand name companies, as well as the Chinese understand that there are two distinct markets. The people who buy genuine articles and the people who buy fakes, in certain cases there maybe some overlapping- such as fake buy as a souvenir from China! So the Chinese can comfortably cater to both markets and hence make more money for themselves. There is a huge market withing China for 'copies', there is an entire mall, Silk Alley Market, dedicated to everything fake,and you only have to search for branded items on Google to get an array of sites offering replicas.


I believe the real problem arises when customers are deceived into shelling out the full price for the fake. Luxury brands are also losing out on their exclusive image- you can get LV look alike wallets at almost half the malls in Jeddah!

I don't know if sales of other luxury brands in Jeddah have been affected by this scandal or not, but I think it will some time before anyone makes their way back to CHANEL here- Y'know what they say once bitten-twice shy.

Tell me, have you had any experience with fakes being sold off as the real thing?
What is your opinion on the subject?