Blog 9: Iron Boots

For my last blog, I decided that it should focus on my most precious items that I have in my closet, my combat boots.

 There they are in all their glory, the pair of gripfasts that have followed me for almost 4 years. Sadly, they are not as bright and shiny as the picture. I have put them through the test, they have followed me through many mosh pits and crowds and many first days of school. There is a hole in the leather on the right toe and the leather seems to have smile wrinkles.

It wasn't until last year that I noticed that suddenly, I wasn't one of the few and proud to wear combat boots. The trend had taken off and combat boots were the must have accessory. Something that was once a staple item of the anti-society had become mainstream. By anti-society, I of course talk about punks, metal heads, goths, all those kids to who choosing combat boots as their choice of shoes was common sense.

It became, by way of trickle up theory, that now the punks and goths were not the only ones wearing the combat boots but Nicky Hilton and J. Crew models. No I'm not kidding.

It amazed me how something that was shunned by those of high fashion was suddenly, and very lovingly, embraced. I know that nothing in fashion ever stays the same but this was a big jump for me. For once instead of people making fun of my boots, they were asking me where to get them. Nice.

The trend still remains strong, the military trend is a hot topic for Spring 2011 and with military always comes combat boots. Technically, they are the reason why they exist. My favorite was Jean Paul Gaultier for this season who channeled one of my icons, Joan Jett and used combat boots.





I believe that everyone should have one of these in their closet, so here a few choices:

Gripfast Boots $185, not available due to the company ceasing to exist but there are a few left here. (Best pair ever.)

Marc by Marc Jacobs, $395 at Bloomingdales

L.E.I Boots, $25 at Walmart

Blog 7: Digitial Video Recording

At first I was stumped when I thought of a new fashion format. What can possibly be left when almost everything has been tried by the fashion world? It then dawned on me that it could be something really simple, like a DVD.

Fashion DVDs are not something that are tried by many designers and companies. At first it began as a way of showing previous shows to customers in stores but the problems began to rise. There was no way a woman in a shop was going to stop and  watch a video when she was already in the store. Then companies began to get a bit more resourceful. The dvds where shipped to restaurants, airports, food courts, places where people are waiting and have leisure time to look at a video. The fashion show was then moved from the runway into the dining room. It's a form of advertising like no other, there is no forced attempts at making you watch it, but yet you do.

Then, it became personal. Fashion shows can actually be bought on dvd form. Maybe this does not help show new lines but it can help advertise and get through word of mouth and references of friends a name for the designer. My friends are more partial to like a designer if I show them their show on a DVD than a paid showing on a restaurant. Take for example this Japanese Lolita fashion show that was taped and sold to those that could not make it to the show in California:




Although it might not be the best fashion show out there, what amazed me is how many people actually have it. Fans of the style and Japanese culture have posted on the clothing site and the youtube video through comments claiming to have bought it to see it for the first time, show their friends, and have the ability to relive the moment. Others have said they actually bought the clothing later allowing for a profit to be made.

I wonder if this could be taken to the next level. Could fashion shows be taken to the silver screen?

At the moment, many music concerts and operas are being advertised through movie theaters. You have the opportunity to see concerts and plays that are happening all over the world in your local movie theater. What if there was the opportunity to see a fashion show in the big screen?

Personally I would not mind paying $11 to see a McQueen show. Could this be our near future?

Blog #8: Bewitched

Having free reign over a topic can be a dangerous thing, as dangerous as magic. The magic I'm speaking about gets only as dangerous as Harry Potter actress, Emma Watson. Known to many as the adorable and geeky girl companion of Harry Potter, Hermoine Granger, in the Harry Potter movie series, she is less known for the fashion icon she is.

A favorite among my many fashion icons, I chose to highlight Emma in celebration of the upcoming release of the next installation of the Harry Potter movies (November 19) and her recent shoot for Vogue UK.

It seems as if Emma had left her Harry Potter days behind, as well as her hair. Yet, she can do no wrong looking older, sophisticated, and having a faint reminder of Twiggy. This is actually her second time in Vogue, the first time being a beautiful Fantasy themed spread where Emma began to first be seen as a future fashion face.

These shoots not only grabbed the attention of the whole world, including her intense Harry Potter fans, but of Burberry who then made her the face of their Spring/Summer 2010 campaign. It slowly but surely became my favorite.

In my opinion, Emma was the only actress from the Harry Potter franchise that was able to walk away without being limited to just being Hermoine Granger. She has built a reputation among the British and American girls of being fashion forward and someone you actually want to look up to; she is a student at Brown University majoring in English literature, a successful actress, and now an iconic fashion figure for many girls, both young and old.

What could be missing? Maybe your ticket to see the next Harry Potter movie.

Blog #6: Junk in the Trunk

You won't necessarily see much junk in a trunk show.

For the fans of small, exclusively soirees and being open to things prior to others, the trunk show might be the show for you. Typically, a trunk show is held by a retailer of some sort that rents the space for a designer to show upcoming collections for a small number of chosen customers.

The hope is that the customers will take interest in the line, place a few orders, and show the retailer that it would be a great investment if the line were to be sold in the store.

That sounds like a whole lot of convincing.

It can be a great tool for a designer that wants to get their name out without going through the bankruptcy bill that is a full fledged fashion show. But for well-known designers, it can be a way of direct selling that is more personalized.

Take for example bridal designer Anne Barge. Very well known in the bridal world for her beautiful creations and relatively cheap prices. With gowns ranging from $700 to $3,000, it can be a bride's perfect gown.

But how does a bride know that there are other designers out there that are not Vera Wang?

The trunk show.

Anne Barge Trunk Show

Anne Barge holds several trunk shows a year from the months of August until October around the United States. In these shows, the to-be-brides are welcomed be the music of harps and sparkling champagne while models put on a small fashion show to unveil the dresses. It is a small, intimate luxurious event that can lead a bride to find her perfect dress.

Her next trunk show is being held in Kleinfeld in New York City from Oct. 29 until the 30th. If you know a bride, I would highly suggest her trying to get on this list.

Here is a video of an Anne Barge trunk show in Santa Barbara.

Blog #5: Video Killed the Fashion Show

In an age where we want what is on the cutting edge of creativity, the typical fashion show can come across as a bit flat. That is why many designers have turned to other inventive ways of presenting their lines hoping to attract new customers and continue amazing old ones.

Pringle of Scotland is not one that automatically creates excitement when you think of them. What comes to my mind is very warm, boring looking sweaters and the occasional kilt. Then came their genius presentation of their Spring 2010 line.  Take Academy Award winning actress Tilda Swinton from movies such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and now add art photographer Ryan McGinley known for his photography of counter-cultures and you get this amazing masterpiece:






A beautiful short film in itself, the video does a great deal in reviving Pringle of Scotland's image. You are left with a feeling of the beauty of the landscape of Scotland mixed with the air of relaxation and mystery that is now linked to their name and clothing. Tilda looks amazing in the clothing giving the dresses a turn towards fantasy that adds life to their lines that were thought of as boring before.

Using a video to form a feeling and image in the consumer's mind can be more effective than a typical runway show. Through images and sound, an emotional attachment can be formed with the brand and consumer that a fashion show cannot offer. It can help reach much more people than the exclusive shows, while increasing the market share and customer lifetime.

In the spirit of the upcoming Halloween, I thought I would end with Christian Louboutin's remake of Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock that was created to advertise their new store opening.




Just like video killed the radio star, is this the future for the fashion show?

Blog #4: Emerald Army

From Stylesight

Fall 2011 marks the year of the emerald army. The main color of the season reflects the ongoing military influence floating around the minds of many fashion designers mixed with the feel of the mystical and the fantasy of other worlds. Mixing the two themes together we end with an ambush of emerald army green on the runways and the streets of the world.

Spring 2011 saw the use of the sand-bitten olive, the sweeter sister of the emerald army green, that were very popular in many shows such as DKNY, which brought out many pieces in a brown/olive color that will evolve to the army color in the fall.



Here are some examples of Spring's interpretation of the green, from Generra's men line to Carmen Marc Volvo's ruffled skirt.

It is now all a matter of enlisting in this glamorous army, and lucky for us, it only takes a quick stop at local stores such as:

Burberry Prorsum, $1,095 Buy here

Elle for Kohl's, $41.99, Buy here

Mandees, $11.99, Buy Here

Blog #3: Monday thru Friday, I'm singing

about thigh high socks!

Maybe not necessarily, but seeing how I am in New York City all week, I pick up on trends that its stylish inhabitants are following and for this season the thigh high socks are back.

My first memories of high socks came from the 90s, where the girls from Clueless and movies such as Disney channel's Wish Upon a Star wore them like a second skin. (The first few seconds of the video show off the socks and one of my iconic outfits when I was younger)

From the halls of FIT where I first saw this trend to concerts in Madison Square Garden to just shopping on St. Mark's Place, girls everywhere are wearing high socks.

Here's a few examples from a girl on the street to shots from Fashion's Night Out

                


The great thing about this trend is its versatility. You can wear them in your own way in terms of lenght and colors, and there is an endless possibility of with what to wear them. Adding to that, you can get them anywhere! Here are a few choices, from those with a taste of pricey socks to those that won't pay more than $10.

DKNY over-the-knee socks, $24 buy here

Zara, $9.90 buy here

Blog #2: Following the A line

For Fall 2011 there is a long line to be followed, and I don't mean the ones to get in to Fashion's Night Out 2011, I mean the A Line Skirt.

Taking from inspiration those wonderful 50s that don't seem to be going away, designers are flocking to make the skirt straighter and longer. With the emphasis now on the waist, the height is dropping and waists rising.

Fashion week for Spring 2011 foreshadowed this trend such as Bensoni with his long skirts giving nods in both directions of the 70s and 50s.

My favorite stands at the moment, a simple skirt from Forever 21:



For only $19.80, I thought, why even show others?

Blog #1: Are you ready to be liberated?

Back to school brings a couple of things to mind: Red Bull, long train rides, and this year, oversized gray t-shirts.

The time has come for the end of the constricting tight shirts that had been so popular the last few years and the re-introduction of the oversized t-shirts. This trend has a special connection to the beloved 80s where the large population of women where big fans of the big t-shirt.

Does this look familiar?

(Debbie Harry back in 80s)

It is safe to say the style is back and students have embraced it with open arms. Roaming the halls of FIT and streets of NYC are the oversized t-shirts and the girls wearing it with one small thing in common: gray. Gray is the new color of choice for many of us and designers.

Acne Fall 2010 RTW

From the dark tones of the Acne line to 3.1 Phillip Lim more softer grays, the color seems to be everywhere. Makes you wonder if you have one in your own closet. You don't? Well, here's some choices:

 Alice + Olivia, $154 available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Buy here.

Lauren Conrad, $34 sold exclusively at Kohl's, Buy here

Forever 21, $15.80 available in Forever 21, Buy here

                                                   So, are you ready to be liberated?