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