So the Fall Semester has come to an end along with this blog project which was surprisingly fun. I have been trying to decide whether or not to continue, but I'm going to give it a shot. I enjoy sharing the beautiful and fun aspects of fashion.
The Holiday season brings commercials galore for all the many gift options you can buy your loved ones. I love the perfume ads that are so beautiful and sexy that I forget what they're actually selling-not so sure that's the point!
Here are two favorites Dior's J'Adore with Charlize Theron (if I can only wear that dress!) and Chanel's Cocoa Mademoiselles featuring Keira Knightley.
For this post, I'd like to show you a video that some classmates and I put together to showcase Fall 2011 trends. Taking to the streets, we focused on the exteriors: apparel and accessories that are on display when being bundled up within the backdrop of NYC's very inspiring exteriors; Coats/Jackets, Boots, Bags, Scarves & Hats. Come fall season, a select few get to see what your wearing so put your best foot forward with all your finest outerwear and accessories!
FALL 2011 TRENDS
Outerwear
Leather Jackets & Trench Coats
always and forever
Footwear
Menswear flats & Riding boots
total comfort and so much fun
Scarves
Fringed ends & Infinity
an added touch & endless coziness
Hats
Knit berets & Fedoras
a perfect way to top off an outfit
Bags
Cross-body & Chained straps
Hands-free option & an extra sparkle
Our fellow New Yorkers pleasantly surprised me and willingly participated. Many were quite flattered to be photographed for a trend. Especially these two, who's scarves unfortunately did not make the cut:
It is so important for a Designer to remain on everyone's minds, to insure their label is popular, talked about and seen everywhere. Today's generation is easily bored and unfortunately it isn't just about good designs anymore, which is where marketing and showcasing comes in. I've been pin-pointing some innovative ideas in previous posts with Chanel's digital lookbooks (seen here) and DKNY's virtual trunkshow (seen here)... It is so difficult to keep the attention of consumers, so new and fresh ideas are so important.
Designers and Brands are turning to various technologies in order to stand apart from their competitors and create a buzz.
Armani Exchange did their fall 2010 ad campaign in 3D video as well as 3D print ads featured in GQ, V Magazine and Interview
While Ralph Lauren went 4D in New York and London. The transformation to flagship stores in each city is beautiful and fascinating!
In an eerie finale that was very "Alexander McQueen"esque, Kate Moss appears as a hologram for his 2006 runway show...
It has been used since by Diesel, Burberry for the opening of their Beijing show...
It's going to be interesting to see what ideas Designers will come up with next! Any Suggestions?
Look books are a way for retailers and designers to better show the mood and background of their line as well as different ways to pair up pieces from a collection. They're nothing new in that catalogues are a form of a look book that shows styling and pieces worn in different ways, to sell an entire look as opposed to just one piece.
Today, as with everything, look books have gone digital. A way to reach customers and show their brand whether it be a collage of pictures showing different styling or commercials.
It is used by bloggers and individuals to piece together looks they like or an outfit that fits a mood...
Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel has set the bar for video lookbooks. He creates movies that exude the fantasy and dream of his collections and of the house. With his direction he creates short films that are so captivating, whether its featuring RTW, Haute Couture, Accessories or Beauty. It not only shows the collection but cements what the brand is all about. I have a hard time choosing which of his many short films to preview so here are a few of the shorter ones to let you get the feel of what he creates.
This one is so much fun with class and humorous undertones, a view of the clothes in a more "everyday" look - in our dreams!
Here's another that focuses on the F/W 2010/2011 Accessories
And finally the trailer for a 2 part short film called Remember Now featuring Cruise 2011
Trunk shows are beneficial to a designer in more ways than one. It's a chance to connect with customers, represent the collection in an intimate setting, cement relationships and create new ones. A designer can make styling suggestions and show customers how to best wear their designs, hopefully making many immediate sales. Additionally, they can get feedback from customers about styles, colors etc. It's always important to ensure your line stays on track with what your target customers want.
While trunk shows works, designers must continue to evolve and create innovative ways of connecting with customers and make sales. Donna Karan has taken her trunk show to the web taking social networking to another level. Shown in February on their Donna Karan Facebook Page, viewers were able to view the newest collections and pre-order through Neiman Marcus.
For her Spring 2012 collection, Donna Karan sat with Ken Downing (Creative director for Neiman Marcus) to showcase the collection and discuss her personal favorites as a preview for the Spring runway show.
With social networking so prevalent, designers can't afford to remain comfortable with just the usual ways of selling and keeping up with customers. Innovation is key and customers want a lot of personal attention. Trunk shows are a great way to do so but it's important to keep the format fresh and new.
Valentino is by far my favorite designer. It is so feminine and unique, where each piece is on trend yet a classic. My 1st Valentino purchase were these black suede boots that I adore.
Each season I wait for the Valentino Runway Show and the Spring 2012 collection did not let me down. Viewing the pictures, what stuck out was the thinly draped laser-cut leather in such beautiful designs and flat sandals. Model after model in flats! Whether it was a day look or the gorgeous silver see-through gown. I can go on and on forever about the collection and how much I love it.
Video of a runway show is probably the closest you can get to the experience of actually sitting in the audience. To some degree, you get a closer and clearer view than those in the front row. Of course it differs from the photos in that we can see the movement, here the music and the backdrop of the runway and get a better sense of the overall collection.
In this video, you have the added bonus of the actual designers', Pier Paolo & Maria Grazia Chiuri,comments and point of view on garments and the overall collection. With this collection in particular, I like how you can see how the leather flows as opposed to the stiffness that is usual, how the gowns move with a walk in flats, and the designers' pointing out the embroidered details and how they feel about color etc.
Every season has its staple colors such as black and red. They are polar opposites with black being safe and secure and red representing the fearless risk-taker. At the same time though, they are both classic and timeless.
The past few seasons black did not take the spotlight. Its all about color from Fall 2011's rich jewel-tones to Spring 2012's sunny colors, where greens and yellows stood out.
Gucci, Fall 2011 Carolina Herrera, Spring 2012
Transitioning the colors as seasons progress, Fashion Snoops forecasts a "70's Glam" color palette, inspired by the disco and jazz era, that really excites me. The shades are really fun and are just deep enough to exude a fall feel.
I love people watching and living in NY, there is PLENTY to watch. Being into fashion, I tend to analyze and critique all that I see and simultaneously see how runway fashion is translated in to literal day-to-day wear.
The change of seasons is exciting because you get to see everything new. Riding boots, lots of leather jackets in various colors and so many fun scarves. A trend I noticed more than I have in the past is the cross-body bag. A bit smaller and narrower than the messenger bag. It's compact, comfortable and allows NY's busy fashionistas to keep their hands free for everything else they're doing.
Here are some shots from the street:
They come in so many colors and patterns:
From Macy's.com (left to right): Tignanello, Lucky Brand, Giani Bernini, Coach, Betseyville by Betsey Johnson
Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the design sisters of Rodarte, presented a collection that didn't allow doubt that spring has arrived. A strong color pallette of yellow, blue, green and purple and barely a hint of black. Eric Wilson, of the New York Times, in his review of the show, writes about the extremely obvious Van Gogh inspired designs. Quite a literal translation that nearly brings up trademark issues. The collection featured prints and embroideries on dresses that were wrapped and pleated as well as on smock tops and ball gowns. You can see what he means when viewing the Van Gogh paintings and Rodarte dresses side by side.
There are so many Fall trends that really excite me, polka dots, 60's mod, and capes that remind me of the beautiful red wool one with black fur trim that I wore as a child with a fur muff and black patent mary janes.
Pleats, this fall, have been taken to a whole other level and can be found in everything. Pleats ruled the collections of Vera Wang and Jill Stuart and was also found in many other collections like Burberry and Tracy Reese.
Vera Wang
Jill Stuart
Burberry
Tracy Reese
Pleats at this years Emmys:
Sara Hyland wearing Christian Sariano
I think the knife pleats can be so slimming, the way it flows and skims the body.
Some Fall Pieces I Love
Each piece can be viewed and purchased by going to Polyvore.com
So I've been tinkering around with the design aspects of the blog, still trying to figure out how to take the image in my head and get it on the screen.
In the meantime I've been thinking about the new ad campaign for Bare Escentuals. It caught me from the 1st second of my first viewing and I love the message.
I love how the company chose the women through several rounds of questionnaires and surveys, without ever meeting them.
There is in fact a difference between something being pretty or beautiful. Beauty is a stronger word because, i think, there is something more behind it than just a thing. With the right attitude, the right outlook and doing the right thing everyone can be beautiful. It's the inner you, Inner Beauty, not inner pretty.
I am not a blogger, nor a blog follower, but the past few months that began to change. I got married in October and moved to a great new apartment with my husband. As with all apartments, they need some TLC to make it a home and being the most undomesticated individual, I was lost. Prior to this, I had no interest in anything but clothes, shopping, anything involving fashion and of course partying! Little did I know the fun you can have in designing and decorating a home.
My mom and sisters began to send me link after link after link (and then some more) of various bloggers with numerous ideas on how to do anything and everything. I was getting dizzy, but soon enough I got drawn in. One I particularly like is Copy Cat Chic by Reichel Broussard. I love finding high-priced items for less, who knew people do that for furniture and home decor? (Yes, I was really out of my element with this.)
Recently, a friend posted a link on facebook to a blog she loved. The link's image caught my eye, I clicked and have been hooked.Cupcakes and Cashmere is an awesome blog that is just so me. Seeing her posts of amazing outfits and things that inspire her, has inspired me.
Just the other week I mentioned to my friend how I wanted to start a blog about my favorite things and needed a push. This class assignment is my push! From what I have learned from reading some blogs is to keep things short...from here on I promise to do that. I'm new and clueless so bare with me!
