Gucci gets Punk'd. Media Company Runs Phony Ad.

Swiss Newspaper Falls for Prankster's Fake Gucci Ad
ZURICH, Switzerland

Some people will do anything to appear in the papers. But few have the audacity of a man in Switzerland, who conned one of the country's biggest media companies into publishing a two-page ad he created of himself posing semi-naked beside a bottle of Gucci perfume (see above).

The man, who claimed to represent the Italian fashion giant, called up the Swiss weekly Sonntags Zeitung last week to book the expensive color spread in Sunday's edition, a spokesman for the paper said.

Christoph Zimmer told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the man asked for the 60,000-Swiss-franc (about $50,000) bill to be sent to Gucci. "We've spoken to Gucci and apologized for the mistake," Zimmer said. "We're going to try and get the money back from this guy, but we don't rate our chances."

The Milan, Italy-based Gucci could not be reached for comment. Zimmer said the paper fell for the scam because the call arrived too late for the advertising department to check whether it was genuine. It wasn't the first time that the mysterious model — a dark, handsome man appearing to be in his late 20s — tried to sneak his way into the limelight.

According to the Zurich-based daily Blick, the man attempted to book concert venues by passing himself off as Puerto Rican singer Chayanne. The paper said it narrowly avoided also being conned, but was tipped of the hoax by record company Sony BMG, which represents Chayanne.

The man is under investigation for alleged fraud, said Meinrad Stoecklin, a spokesman for police in the canton (state) of Basel.

Decked Out Dunny Bunny: Special Edition Volkswagon

Talk about trends colliding. VW continues to show how hip they are by co-oping with Kidrobot.com for this Special Edition Volkswagen.


AUBURN HILLS, MI – Volkswagen has teamed with Kidrobot, the world’s premier creator and retailer of limited edition art toys and apparel, to introduce a one-of-a kind, special Dunny Edition Volkswagen Rabbit. Volkswagen unveiled the 2-door, black Rabbit at the grand opening of the new Kidrobot store-gallery located at 7972 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles on Thursday, November 9, 2006.



The Kidrobot Dunny Edition Volkswagen Rabbit features patterned high-gloss exterior, green tinted windows, headlights and taillights, and a green anodized aluminum accented interior, along with Dunny Rabbit patterned seats and a custom green molded shift knob. This vehicle is a unique partnership between Volkswagen and Kidrobot, demonstrating an exciting movement of the intersection of pop art and auto culture.



“The Volkswagen consumer expects the brand to innovate and stay ahead of the trends,” said Volkswagen’s Director of Brand Innovation Kerri Martin. “Our collaboration with Kidrobot brings two creative and innovative brands together to merge art, street culture and iconic design.”



Kidrobot is an urban pop art factory of collectible and limited edition artwork and toys from designers throughout the nation. Some Kidrobot merchandise feature joint ventures with well-known artists from various backgrounds, such as industrial design, music, graphic design, graffiti, illustration and fine art. Just like Volkswagen, Kidrobot distinguishes itself from other brands by being smart, creative and fun. Both brands share their place in pop culture while the partnership offers the ability to expose this unique project to the hip, trend-aware urban consumer.

"This partnership with Volkswagen, and the creation of the Dunny Edition Rabbit, was a great opportunity to take original art concepts to new heights, and bring to life a very diverse and urban clothing line" said Kidrobot founder Paul Budnitz. "The collaboration with Volkswagen was a valuable partnering since both the Rabbit and Kidrobot appeal to a similar young, urban crowd who relate to and appreciate very inventive products,” added Budnitz.

The Dunny Edition Rabbit will be displayed in front of the new Los Angeles Kidrobot store, and can be seen in numerous boutique retailers around the world after the premiere.


above: some examples of Dunnys

About Kidrobot:
Founded by designer Paul Budnitz in 2002, Kidrobot is the world’s premier creator and retailer of limited edition art toys and apparel. The products sold at Kidrobot merge urban street trends and pop art to produce limited edition, collectible toys and apparel. Many Kidrobot products feature unique collaborations by famous artists with backgrounds in graffiti, fine art, industrial design, graphic design, illustration and music. Kidrobot operates three store-galleries, one at 126 Prince Street in SoHo, New York City, another at 1512 Haight Street in San Francisco and a third at 7972 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. Kidrobot products can also be found at numerous boutique retailers around the world. Visit Kidrobot online at http://www.kidrobot.com/.

Below is some apparel & accessories available from Kidrobot.com so you can match your VW!

Not Your Grandmother's Lladro (Thank God)

above: Jaime Hayon's Clown lamp for Lladro.

I've been known to describe my own personal hell as having to spend eternity in a room decorated with LeRoy Neiman paintings and Lladro sculptures, as Dixieland music plays and I am made to to eat Ambrosia Fruit Salad.


above left: Ambrosia Fruit Salad, right: LeRoy Neiman's Tiger

But every once in awhile I am forced to reevaluate my own strongly stated opinions. Lladro's 2007 spring collection has me rethinking my previously formed opinion of this highly popular, ridiculously overpriced line of decorative figurines.

Below is a picture of Lladro's "A Grand Adventure", priced at $34,000.00


Now, don't get me wrong. I still can't stand the majority of their muted-colored elongated people frozen in sappy moments illustrating bygone stereotypes of professions and family roles. While I can respect the craftsmanship, I simply can't stand neither the style nor the subject of their 'collectibles'. You'd actually have to pay me MORE than the price tag to display their $34,000 "A Grand Adventure" train scene in my home.

But Bodo Sperlein's Re-cyclos Collection, new this spring, is not the Lladro I grew to know and hate. (By the way, Bodo Sperlein designed the ever-popular omnipresent blog favorite Red Berry China Collection, some pieces of which can be seen below):




The Lladro 2007 Re-cyclos Collection, to be released this Spring, is created in porcelain with matte white and/or black finishes. The pieces are fundamentally modern in their design and are functional as opposed to decorative. The bottle stoppers, hanging lights, wall sconces, bud vases, jewelry and candle holders are sensuous in form and feel, and frankly (dare I say it) attractive.

Don't believe me? See for yourself:


above: bird ring from Lladro's 2007 spring collection


above: candle holder from Lladro's 2007 spring collection


above: Buddha HeadII from Lladro's 2007 spring collection


above: Winged wall sconce from Lladro's 2007 spring collection


above: Butterfly chandelier from Lladro's 2007 spring collection

above: Bird cuff links, porcelain and sterling silver, from Lladro's 2007 spring collection

above: Flower tapestry bud vase from Lladro's 2007 spring collection

above: Butterfly pendant lamp from Lladro's 2007 spring collection

above: Open necklace, 18k over sterling and porcelain, from Lladro's 2007 spring collection


above: Bacchus Ram bottle stopper from Lladro's 2007 spring collection
So, I guess from this day forth I will have to describe my own personal hell as being forced to eat Ambrosia Fruit Salad while listening to Dixieland, held captive in a room decorated with LeRoy Neiman Paintings and.... Hummel Figurine


UPDATE:
Since this post, Lladro has continued to contemporize their line with the RE: Deco line and wonderful works by Jaime Hayon and other contemporary sculptors and designers:





Visit the entire collection of Lladro here.