NYFW Trend : Capes.
My favorite trends of the fall collections are capes. Who doesnt love a cape? Fairy tale characters like Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood had them. Superheroes like Batman and Superman sport them. Why shouldnt we?
Capes come in all different colors and sizes for so many occasions. Why do I bring this up when we’ve been having sunny weather in LA for the last few weeks? Forecasts predict rain/showers for Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Although you might not be able to get these designer pieces just yet, dont hesitate to invest in a quality cape to get you through the rain, wind, and whatever else might blow your way (like snow in NY!).
Earth tones – Carolina Herrera, Alexander Wang, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Matthew Ames
Textured greys – Cynthia Steffe, Rag & Bone, Paris 68, Zero + Maria Cornejo
Midnight blacks – Elie Tahari, Rad Hourani, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Y-3
Are there trends that you would like to see/broken down? I would love your input/comments/suggestions! Dont hesitate to send me an email or leave a comment! Make it a terrific Tuesday. : P
NYFW Trend : Shorts.
Dont call them Bermuda shorts! Think of them as.. oversized and loose. These shorts are fall trends that you can get now, especially since the weather has been fairly warm during the past week. The thicker cottons and textured wools will keep you warm from the nighttime chill, making these shorts perfect to go from day to night!
3.1 Phillip Lim, ADAM, Juan Carlos Obando, Karen Walker
Richard Chai Love, Mulberry, Michael Kors, Reed Krakoff
Dont you love the color schemes? There are so many rich colors for fall.. which I’m loving much more than soft, pastel hues that dominate spring.. weird. We’ll see how long this lasts! Enjoy your shorts and try and get some sun at the beach or at a pool this weekend! It should be around 80 degrees in el yay! :]
NYFW Trend : The Best of Camel.
So many different variations of a camel coat: a play on color, fit/proportion, silhouette, and length. Its definitely a current obsession in the fashion world.. and why not? Its a breath of fresh color. Spring days are here but nights can still get a little bit.. “chilly”. Any fans? Which designer did it best?
Do you like yours with 1) trim, 2) leather paneling, 3) cape cuts, 4) fur, 5) short, 6) a darker color, or 6) classic?
3.1 Phillip Lim vs. Alexander Wang
Carolina Herrera, Derek Lam, DKNY, Rachel Comey
Tommy Hilfiger, Organic by John Patrick, Michael Kors
Building Awareness via Fashion: World Water Day
Plenty of designers have been inspired by water in some form: crashing waves, fast-flowing rivers, violent rapids, trickling streams and quiet creeks. Despite having been inspired by one of the strongest elements, very few have brought awareness to the reality of usable water: its shortage.
The United Nations recognizes today as World Water Day. This years theme is “Clean Water for a Healthy World”. I learned this in middle school and it has stuck with me since: the earth is covered by 70-75% water, 97% is in the oceans and 1% is available for human use. The world population is approximately 6.7 billion and we live in a world that is controlled by private corporations and corrupt governments that control and limit access to basic necessities, like water and housing, and other resources.
There is a shortage of available drinking water in so many countries. Even if there is a water supply, most of it is contaminated with pollutants and other debris. Developing countries do not have strict laws that police water pollution. Industries that do pollute the water have no incentive not to. Because of the lack of drinking water, poverty-stricken villagers resort to taking in whatever water they can find, which results in water-borne illnesses. Diarrhea is a top infant killer, and “1.8 million children aged under five who succumb to water-borne diseases. This equates to one infant every 20 seconds” (csmonitor).
I can list fact after fact and reality after reality all day, but that wont do any good. People are stricken the moment they see a devastating picture or are horrified when they hear the number of deaths caused by diarrhea. But very few act on their emotions.
It is sometimes difficult for me to wrap my head around international issues like this.. especially because I feel that its so far removed from my life. This is exactly the wrong perception. Non-profit organizations such as charity water, the water project, and Drop in the Bucket help bring awareness, funds and sustainable practices to developing nations.
Leanne Marshall, winner of Project Runway’s season 5, showed a collection at Bryant Park that was entirely inspired by water and waves. A challenge from this season’s Project Runway was to create a piece that was inspired by the four elements: earth, air, fire, or water. If fashion can draw on inspiration of such powerful forces, imagine what fashion can do for humanitarian awareness.
NYFW Trend : Belts Dominate.
The original purpose of a belt was to hold up pants at the waist. Clearly, the belt has transformed from a practical tool into a stylish accessory. There were all sorts of belts on the runway in New York.. some for the practical and simple, some for the girly, some for the bold and brave, and some that were simply outrageous (in a good way!). Whatever your style, here are a few of the best of each category that may give you ideas on how to belt your blazer, coat, or your whole upper body!
Black & Simple: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Charlotte Ronson, Doo.Ri, Elie Tahari
Harness/Body Belt: Wayne, L.A.M.B., Michael Kors, Reed Krakoff
Belts with a Purpose: Betsey Johnson, Rag & Bone x2, Reed Krakoff
Thin & Pretty: Carolina Herrera, Chado Ralph Rucci, Jeremy Laing, Oscar de la Renta
“Not Your Usual” Belt: Jeremy Scott, Ohne Titel, Thakoon, Zero + Maria Cornejo
Studded, Embellished, Shiny: Victoria Beckham, Anna Sui, Preen, Diesel Black Gold
Los Angeles Fashion Week.
And just as finals week comes to an end.. LA Fashion MONTH begins. Every time I feel like I may get a good chunk of time to think and write, something always comes up. That’s never an excuse though! I definitely will write updates on some thoughts in-between all the trips to downtown LA for shows, presentations and whatnot. Thanks for tuning in!
2NE1 Leads the Korean Fashion Pack.
Korean girl group MV’s were never very good.. they used to be mostly 1) girls in cute/school girl/pink outfits prancing around, never really singing and definitely not good at dancing, 2) girls in leather trying to dance provocatively. And failing. For the most part, its still the same.
Thankfully, though, there are a select number of entertainers/girl groups like Hyori, BoA, Brown Eyed Girls and a few others that have ventured out with new concepts over the years. Currently, 2NE1 leads the pack in fusing fashion, art, graphic/3D design and music into one mind-blowing video.
2NE1 hasnt been out for very long, but they have definitely made a name for themselves early on, and fast. CL, Minzy, Bom and Dara have unique, distinctive styles that separate the group from SNSD, Kara, T-ara, etc. Their eclectic music serves as the perfect platform for out-of-this-world fashion.
The two men behind 2ne1′s style are Yang Seung Ho and Lee Hyun Jung. Yang is a graduate from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design (a school that boasts John Galliano, the late Alexander McQueen, Gareth Pugh as alumni). Lee is a graduate of Chelsea College of Art. Yang and Lee are besties with Big Bang’s G-Dragon.. if you didnt know before, you can definitely see that they have similar tastes. Yang and Lee arent about traditional fashion or classic styles. The duo embraces avant-garde, futuristic and fun styles. They especially love the work of American fashion wild-child, Jeremy Scott (shoutout to 2ne1 on the wikipage!). Whats not to love?
Check out the visually stimulating MV for Try To Follow Me. CL (이채린) OWNS the MV. Dont you agree?
But I hope 2ne1 doesnt follow in the footsteps of Nicole vs. The Pussycat Dolls.. That would be a shame.
GlobalTex, LA International Textile & Sourcing Fair.
GlobalTex, a textile and sourcing trade show, was in town last week. I was hesitant to go to the GlobalTex Trade show because 1) it was in downtown, and on a school day, 2) it was a textile and sourcing event, 3) I had no one to go with. In the end, I made transportation arrangements, took care of my classes, and felt that I should learn more about the textile industry. And New York Fashion Week trained me well to go to events alone. I overcame all of my obstacles and I am glad I made the effort to check it out. I met some amazing people and gained knowledge about a division of the fashion industry that I never knew about or took the time to research, until now.
GlobalTex, the premier West Coast textiles trade show, took over Los Angeles Convention Center for the LA International Textile & Sourcing Fair last week from March 2-4, 2010. It has been described as “the largest tradeshow in the United States for apparel textiles and technology, created to meet the high-growth demands of the global textile industry” (GlobalTex). I made a trip out to downtown Los Angeles to check out the events, seminars and exhibits featured at the GlobalTex Fair.
After picking up my press Fast Pass, I browsed exhibitor booths and observed buyer/seller interactions. The number of exhibitors that were there was surprising. There were exhibitors from Portugal, India, London, Bangladesh, New York, Vietnam, China and France, to name a few. Companies that specialized in goods such as labeling, hardware, graphics and design software, and all kinds of fabrics could be found in one area. There were quite a few service-oriented agencies including trend forecasting firms, design studios, garment manufacturing and production companies and publication businesses in another section of West Hall.
Exhibitors were divided and laid out based on common Global Styles next to corresponding trend displays, which were extremely well designed and well constructed. Global Styles are product categories that represent the complete supply chain.
Live: Alluring resources to live to the max: silks, knits, velvet/velour, lace, linen, fur, embroidery/ribbon
Dwell: Imagining the essence of home
Work: The structured downtown experience: suitings, wool, linen, knits, wovens/shirtings
Play: Comfortable materials for everyday dreams: cotton, linen, shirtings, knits, prints
Wear: Denim for every moment and every style
Create: The inspiration destination: trend/color services, fibers, art studios
Adorn: A notion of the necessary: buttons, trims, hardware
Move: Capturing the energy of the race: tech/performance fabrics, knits
Process: Technology and equipment to help develop what’s next
Source: Visualize production and design possibilities from global manufacturers large and small
I was especially interested in the seminars. I made sure to attend the seminars on Spring/Summer 2011 Color and Lifestyle Trends and Women’s and Men’s Trend Focus for Spring/Summer 2011. The Panel Discussion about New Developments for Today’s Fashions focused on innovative fabrics where I learned more about the research goes into fabric development. I hope to hear more about the growth and expansion of organic and sustainable fabrics. The Big Picture Seminar centered on the retailer & consumer relationship. There is an immediate connection to the consumer and business models are changing to meet the high demands of well-informed, educated customers. Finally, the Financing Fashion in 2010 Panel Discussion featured Kevin Sullivan, Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Trade Capital and Ilse Metcheck, President of California Fashion Association, among many others.
I am currently typing up the notes that I took during these seminars. I cannot wait until finals are over so I can go back and analyze what it is that I learned and apply it to my own thoughts.
The next GlobalTex Show will be September 28-30, 2010. Look forward to more exhibitors, up-to-date seminars, panel discussions and a great experience at the premier West Coast textiles trade show!
The Academy Awards : A Formal Affair.
I dont like that evening gowns and dresses are automatically labeled as “red carpet looks”, even if they will be worn on the red carpet. Some designers base their collections largely on eveningwear and they are known to some as Hollywood sellouts. That perception is completely uncalled for. Who doesnt love to see beautiful art from the runway on real women with amazing talent? Thats exactly what The Academy Awards is all about, recognizing actors and actresses with a special gift of bringing a script to life.
Here are some amazing pieces that I spotted during New York Fashion Week last month. It used to be rare that actresses were able to get their hands on evening gowns straight off the runway but the industry has picked up the pace to meet the demand, especially if it means that the gown will hit the Oscar red carpet. Stylists like Rachel Zoe were probably at New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks to do just that, pick out Oscar-worthy dresses.
Carlos Miele, Halston and Monique Lhuillier give shots of color into their collections. Carolina Herrera designed a gorgeous batch of gowns that have the signature classic Herrera look.
Reem Acra, Monique Lhuillier, Lela Rose and Victoria Beckham have designed off-the-shoulder looks that create lovely silhouettes. I cant wait to see what Victoria Beckham wears.
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