Fashion Industry discussion, review, analysis, news, and information

If you keep up with social media or social network marketing, you probably have already heard of Twitter.  If you're a fashion blogger and want to know more about how to leverage the power of this social networking site, I invite you to join me this coming Sunday over at BlogTalk Radio!  I will be co-hosting a show with Coutorture and for an hour we'll be talking all about Twitter. 

When:  Sunday, July 6, 2008 @ 6 pm (EST)

Where:  BlogTalk Radio - Call in number for your comments or questions: (347) 996-3983

Why? Why not?!?  If you're looking to meet new bloggers, gain new blog subscribers, or just connect with people in the fashion industry, Twitter may be just for you. 

If you're already on Twitter, you can follow me here. 

Because Chanel is known for putting on grand runway shows, I was anticipating the spring couture show.  Actually, I always look forward to Chanel.  A couture season just wouldn't be right without the brand. 

This show is timely because I personally needed to see a collection that was visually stimulating.  Not that anything we've seen before hasn't been great.  My creative side has been yearning for a collection to inspire me again - a collection that made my jaw drop and all I could say was, "Wow!" 

Chanel definitely delivered that jaw-dropping Wow.

I was trying to figure out exactly what it was that made me really love this collection.  Perhaps it was the black and grey color palette (with shades of pink mixed in) or the bob haircuts that the models wore that appealed to the mod girl within me.  Or maybe it was the space-invader theme.  Although these may look "crazy" or "far out there", I can actually picture myself wearing these pieces...

The Spring/Summer 2009 couture shows are underway and Giorgio Armani has shown why he was awarded the FIT Couture Council Award for Global Fashion Leadership. 

It's difficult to offer up a really good review on Armani's show because I wasn't there to see the whole thing. (It's frustrating when photo stock companies give you a million pictures of celebrities who attend the event and show only 5 pictures of the actual show. Oh, but I digress...)  I'm sure these pictures don't even do the collection any justice...

My thoughts on the collection that I've seen so far: Gorgeous... Grand... Genius... and every other good "G" word in the list of adjectives.

I just got the news about model Ruslana Korshunova's death.  Some say it was a suicide, while others say she was murdered.  I'm in no position to make any comments about the circumstances of her death, so I'll just leave that alone. 

However, what I'd like to do is honor her life by sharing some photos from her very successful career...

 Ann-Sofie Spring/Summer 2006 show...

  Nanette-Lapore Spring/Summer 2006 show...

  United Bamboo Spring/Summer 2006 show...

 

It's a shame to see someone so young and so beautiful pass away, but it's definitely a gentle reminder that life is short!  Enjoy every moment of it...

If it's been your dream to work for a big fashion publication, well, here's your chance...

Style Network, the network that brings us shows such as Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane and Ultimate Style, is on the hunt for interns to work at a top New York based fashion magazine this upcoming fall.  Interns will have the amazing opportunity to work closely with the fashion team, be able to research issues that concern real women, assist in celebrity and fashion photo shoots, and see what it takes to get a publication ready for print. 

Sounds like something you want to do?  Read on...

INTERESTED CANDIDATES MUST BE:
- 18 years of age or older
- Eligible to work in the United States
- Fiercely passionate about working in the fashion, beauty & lifestyle publication industry

Live audition dates will be held in Los Angeles, Chicago, Nashville and Philipadelphia within the next two weeks. 

To apply for this internship, visit the Got Cast website...

The Versace brand has really evolved into something quite extraordinary.  Last year I mentioned that Versace is all grown up.  The past couple women's collections have been more minimalist with clean, well structured lines.  I was reminded of this when I took the picture of a Versace window display during a recent adventure into Beverly Hills and then today as I watched this video of Donatella Versace at the Saks Fifth Avenue website...

I also applaud Versace for partnering up with Lamborghini to offer a limited edition design.  However, I'd really love to experience the Palazzo Versace Hotel in Dubai.

As the couture shows kick off today in Paris, this WWD article reminds us that the rich are getting richer.  The couture houses are reporting double digit increases and all is well in their neck of the woods.   And that could be a good thing.

What this means for the rest of the world who can only afford to purchase the "lower end" lines of a fashion house is that perhaps they won't see any drastic increases in prices for these lines.  The high-end of Christian Dior is doing great?  Perfect!  Then the company won't stress out and increase prices on their other collections.

Make sure to stay tuned this week for photos and reviews of the couture shows!

I love to see fashion bloggers get recognized - especially when it's international recognition.  Take, for instance, Rumi Neely.  She was featured in the July 2008 issue of Vogue Girl in Korea. 

Then there's BryanBoy who was noticed by Marc Jacobs and got a bag that was used in a runway show.  Bryan's so gay that he sweats glitter! (His words, not mine!)

Yes, I must say that fashion blogging is reaching new heights.  It would be absolutely stupid as a fashion marketer not to tap into the mind's of fashion bloggers.  If anything, I think many bloggers are just as creative - if not more creative - than those who get paid the big bucks to create some of the fashion ads we see in the glossies nowadays. 

"Blue-eyed blondes have always been the dream type. It's as simple as that...A beautiful African woman is not the dream type, neither is a Tibetan or a Chinese princess. The number of non-white models parading on catwalks will always be extremely limited."

This is what Renee Dujac-Cassou of Crystal modeling agency in Paris is quoted as saying in this article about discrimination on the catwalks.  

I think Renee may be a little disillusioned by what the "dream" actually is.  The dream is not to be a blue-eyed blonde.  The dream is to be able to wear what is sent down the runway.  The dream is to have the lifestyle that goes along with having designer clothing.   It doesn't matter which model is wearing it. 

I don't cover menswear shows that much, but for reason I found myself browsing through more photos from Milan Fashion Week.  One particular collection that caught my attention not because it was unique - although there were a few pieces that were different - was the Fendi collection.  I liked this collection because I can actually picture guys "on the street" actually wearing many of these pieces.  The collection is...dare I say...wearable!

The spring/summer 2009 Fendi menswear line is marked by casual pieces like loose tops, button-down collared shirts, cardigans, and vests.  There were also shiny charcoal suits with plaid shirts and the occasional spiffy suit with a bow tie.  For guys who are into man purses Fendi sent down a few of those as well.  The only thing I'm not too wild about are the capri pants.

Find out more about the Fendi collection over at Men.Style.com.