Lividini & Company’s Holiday 2018 Preview: Viewing Vera Bradley, MCM, Sperry and more!

I always love to see what the Lividini & Company staff has up their sleeves during their previews. During the year they do seasonal previews for all their clients but in mid-July, influencers get to see all the clients in one place displaying their holiday goods. There was something for everyone from the most conservative to the most cutting edge.
MCM’s new mono leather backpacks with built-in speakers are ideal for someone you know who’s a “walking party.” The sound quality is excellent and the backpack is a classic style that you can use for a lifetime–making it worth the 2K price tag. No doubt that this bag is a super conversation starter and honestly the first time that I have ever seen a speaker built into a luxury brand’s bag. You’ll be able to get this at high end retailers like Bloomingdale’s and Saks.
Lividini’s biggest client is Vera Bradley and visiting the Lividini previews has let me see the entire VB line. Everyone knows Vera Bradley’s vivid flower print purses and they will undoubtedly always be this line’s biggest seller–but Vera does so much, even the most fashionable surgical scrubs on the planet! Her sunglasses and cell phone cases make some of the best stocking stuffers that I can think of. I love the way that you can frames featuring some of the same famous patterns that you can get on her bags and suitcases.
One of Vera Bradley’s strongest qualities is doing unique bedding that feels like a million dollars. Everything is very reasonably priced in her bedding line which is about two years old now. Her soft fuzzy throws (which happen to warm really well on warm in any washing machine) only cost about $50. Check out this new beige owl pattern throw for the holidays. I have the feeling that this is going to be the runaway bestseller in the Vera bedding line for Fall/Winter 2018!
Sperry which is an old die-hard high quality comfort shoe line was on display at the Lividini preview. They use real suede and leather and that is hard to get in the midrange price point. Sperry shoes generally $125-$200 and they last for years. I was thoroughly impressed by everything I saw but the men’s walking shoes had a cutting edge and the tassled suede loafers should be a mandatory staple for any man who wants to step up their fashion game for holiday parties.
I was thrilled to encounter the fun luxury children’s clothing website www.childrensalon.com. This site is kind of like a Saks Fifth Avenue for kids–there’s Fendi, LaCoste, Tod’s, Aristocrat Kids, Kenzo, Tommy Hilfiger, Balenciaga and more top-flight brands. That being said, Children’s Salon has many half-price sales and even an outlet so you can easily catch a big bargain. I can spend a whole afternoon looking at this chic kids’ items–there are plenty of classic items especially in outerwear that make a lot of these good investment pieces.
I was drooling over the great necklaces by Monica Rich Kosann. For the holidays, nothing works better as a keepsake gift than her locket collection. You can send in a digital image on her website and make a personalized locket! I am especially in love with the Oval Two-Tone Locket With Chevron Detail as it has that art deco flavor. Kosann’s personalized lockets start at $265 and I hear that the turnaround time is quite quick; these are high quality pieces handcrafted by artisans of real sterling or 14K. My very favorite MRK necklaces are shown above–I love the way this innovative designer uses a lot of sun and moon designs on her pendants. Check out her work at www.monicarichkosann.com.
There are always unusual snack foods at Lividini previews and these purple geode cookies were irresistible. They looked like real amethyst geodes and I had to grab one on the way out. The top part is rock candy that was hand painted–and these cookies were almost too pretty to eat. Can’t wait to dig more into the aforementioned line’s websites and see their full holiday lines come early November!