#9 The Evolvement of Fashion Shows!

Throughout the years, fashion shows have grown to not only present collections to buyers but now to celebrities, bloggers, and students. Each season, designers take a fashion show to the next level whether it is presenting the line on a airport runway or on a carousel like Chanel. With these evolutions also came the use of technology with fashion shows. Victoria's Secret used the television to their advantage as they were one of the first retailers to broadcast a fashion show to the world in 1995. This allowed lingerie to become mainstream entertainment for both men and woman. Victoria's Secret also was one of the first to stream a fashion show in 1999. By 2000, they had over 2 million viewers watching the annual Victoria's Secret Angels strut their stuff. Because of Victoria's Secret creativity with including technology, many retailers have adopted T.V. and Internet to allow as many people to view their recent collection. Victoria's Secret annual fashion show is a world wide event that every man watches to see the perfect long-legged "Angels" show of the lingerie while the woman stops eating her chips and writes out her future workout schedule. Below is the video of the first ever Victoria's Secret Fashion Show broadcasted online compared to last year's show! Remember that the first show had a budget of only $120,000 compared to last year's budget of $12 million!

Make sure to check out this year's show featuring performances by Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and Bruno Mars, Dec 4th 10/9c on CBS! Until next time...

Xoxo,

Alexa

#8 Lookbooks

Most people have seen a lookbook without realizing that it was just that. In definition terms, a lookbook is a collection of photographs compiled to show off a model, photographer, clothing line, style, etc. From looking at a car model lookbook to a designer's collection, almost everyone has come across one. A lookbook is prominent in the fashion industry because this book is sent to buyers and merchants in hopes that these buyers/merchants will call the designer to either place an order, or visit the showroom if close by. Lookbooks are like mini magazines that are made structurally clean and to the point. So why are lookbooks so important in this industry? Well, when a buyer visits showrooms during market weeks they are able to see and feel the clothing but there are usually not models to show what the clothing looks on. This is where the lookbook comes in and the buyer validates whether he/she likes how the clothing hangs on a person. Working at a boutique in my hometown, the buyer would always bring back lookbooks from her market trips to show her employees what items would be coming in for the next season. Below I have some pictures of what a couple different lookbooks look like from the cover, inside pages, and back cover.

(Sauce Spring 2013)

(Sauce Spring 2013)

(Sauce Spring 2013)

(Sauce Spring 2013)

(Reese and Riley Spring 2013)

(Reese and Riley Spring 2013)

(Maloom Spring 2013)

(Maloom Spring 2013)

Over the past years online lookbooks have also become popular. Sites such as Lookbook.nu and Style.com give visitors the opportunity to make your own lookbook which I find creative and fun! Through these sites you can see lookbooks made from users all over the world varying from street style to runway looks. I visit lookbook.nu often as an inspiration of style and trends starting to develop worldwide. One of my favorite lookbooks is from Style.com called "A Season Of Love". This user chose his/her favorite looks from the Spring 2013 collections. So, let me know what are your favorite lookbooks?

Lookbook.nu 

http://www.style.com/community/lookbooks/ 

Until next time...

Xoxo,

Alexa

#7 Trunk Shows

Everyone loves being invited to a fashion show, from great music to models strutting the clothes, it is an all around fun experience. But, I find being invited to a trunk show to be more exclusive. Now for those who don't know what a trunk show is, in simple terms a designer will showcase his or her line at a specific retailer for a one night only "trunk show." Back in the day, a designer would pack all of their pieces in trunks and drive from retailer to retailer and showcase their new collection. Depending on the retailer, loyal customers and buyers will be invited to this glamourous event. Here the customer or buyer can view the line up close, feel the clothing, and even pre-order the clothes right there! Of course with champagne and hors d'oeuvres in your hand. I grew up always hearing that my mom would be hosting a trunk show at the stores she managed in Dallas,TX called The Gabezo and what later turned into Tootsies. Back in the day, major designers such as Michael Kors, Issac Mizrahi, Marc Jacobs, Lela Rose, and Nicole Miller would go to every one of their trunk shows. My mom got the pleasure of meeting and working with all these designers! Unfortunately, most now don't go to their own trunk shows unless they are a start-up designer trying to get his/her name out there in the industry. I find trunk shows to be more intimate and personable to the customer and buyer which is a benefit compared to a fashion show. Below I have a couple pictures of what trunk show invites look like.

One day I'll hopefully be invited to a trunk show! Have you ever been to one? Until next time...

Xoxo,
Alexa

#6: Louis Vuitton Spring '13 Fashion Show

We all know that when the month of September is over, every designer has showcased their Spring 2013 line to the world. Thanks to technology, I don't have to be in Paris, Milan, or London to know what these lines look like. Most designers will live stream their collection to the web and everyone around the world has the opportunity to watch the runway show just like they are sitting front row. I have to say out of all the shows I watched online my favorite was Louis Vuitton. Every season Louis Vuitton and Chanel fight for my heart on which show I like better. Louis Vuitton was extremely creative in using escalators to transport the models in pairs usually to the runway. Not only was the set a great area to see all the models but also the line in general was just pure genius! The way the fabrics brought about a shimmery pictorial look was what really drew me in. With the small top handle bags and head bands with bouffant hair, Marc Jacobs really captured the 60's mod era. If you all haven't already seen Louis Vuitton's Spring Collection, here is the line below.

(Via Youtube)

So if this collection didn't capture your eye, then tell me which show did! Until next time...

Xoxo,
Alexa

#5 Favorite Window Displays

Everyday I am lucky enough to roam the streets of the beautiful New York City    And the fact that I attend school right in the middle of the fashion district puts the cherry on top. During breaks in between classes there is one thing I enjoy besides working out. And that is window shopping. Of cours once you go off to college you become at one point the poor college kid. So yes at that moment that is where I am but that doesn't mean I can't go window shopping. Because then I can secretly plan my birthday and even Christmas list to send to the parentals. As I pass boutiques to Macy's to H&M one store's window displays always stand out to me. And this is American Apparel. It's funny because I rarely shop there since the prices are so high due to their clothing being made in the USA. But I always stop and look at their window displays. I always pass the American Apparel off of 30th and 7th Ave (Fashion). When I passed it this past week it really caught my eye. The separated their window displays into 3 different ones. Half was the women's apparel while the other half was split with children's and men's. the backdrop for the women's looked like a Saharan desert with a dusky blue sky and tan sand. The mannequins were either lounging,sitting,or standing. The outfits seemed to stay with the theme colors of tan, faded blue, and creme/white. The outfits seemed to really entice me to want to walk in and see what I could buy! 

On the opposite window display the children's seemed very cute. A chandelier was made of a variety of color scrunchies. They kept the mannequins simple with key colors yellow, faded blue, and tan. 

Right beside the children's was the men. Their backdrop involved a simple rack of casual sleep shirts. To the right and left of the 2 male mannequins was rows of backpacks and duffles in variations of blue. The men's kept it basic with sticking to the blue tones in their long cardigans and khakis. 

I applaud the visual merchandising team of that American Apparel because it seemed to me I wasn't the only person to stop and look at the window displays and eventually walk in. Window displays are one of the main reasons to convert typical bypassers into customers. So now that I've said my favorite window displays what are some of y'all's? Until next time...

Xoxo,

Alexa

#4 "Channeling the Codes of Saint Laurent"

As New York Fashion Week passed then came London, Milan, and finally Paris. The #1 fashion capital in the world is finally holding fashion week. Beautiful designers such as Tom Ford, Chloe, and Stella McCartney have shown their lines for Spring 2013 but the one that caught my eye was Saint Laurent. Since Hedi Slimane has become creative director for YSL there have been a major change to the company. In June Hedi Slimane revealed that he would be rebranding the ready-to-wear line from the original Yves Saint Laurent to Saint Laurent Paris. This brought much speculation to Slimane's authority because he had just moved into this position months prior. Many questions were raised as to what else he would change within the company and how his first line would look as creative director of YSL. And just hours after the premiere of his Saint Laurent Spring 2013 line, the verdict is in.

(Via NYTimes)

"Channeling the Codes of Saint Laurent"- NY Times Runway Eric Wilson

Before reading this article I happened to hop on my Style.com App on my Ipad and look at the runway looks of Saint Laurent. It was beautiful with flowing, sheer, lightweight fabrics. But the one thing to disappoint me, which I've seen a lot of for Spring 2013 was the amount of dark colors. He kept to the dark color palette of black, tan, gray, and a splash of red. Now Eric Wilson gave a great intake on what he thought Slimane was channeling for his Spring 2013 Saint Laurent Line. The show was held in a "secluded black gallery in the rafters of the Grand Palais." Once inside, the invitees were welcomed with a dark musky view with plywood like seats that made everyone scuffle to try and find their names placed on the seats. Once the show began, five large speakers descended over the runway giving the effect that the audience was attending some sort of concert. It really set the tone for the rest of the show.
"Mr. Slimane's collection included many looks that paid tribute to the late Mr. Saint Laurent, with floor sweeping caftans [full-length dress], fringed shawls, suede jackets and skirts, and peasant blouses." Slimane's final looks consisted of models wearing caftans with floppy hats that payed tribute to Talitha Getty who was a huge influence for Mr. Saint Laurent. What made Slimane such a success on his first run was that he pleased the co-founder Mr. Berge with the simple comment of, " He respected the codes of Saint Laurent." Stefano Pilati, the previous creative director of YSL was not renewed of his contract because of this reason. So although some might say that Slimane played it safe, he in fact pleased the most important people from the co-founder of YSL to Ms. Diane Von Furstenberg.

(Via NYTimes)

(Via NYTimes)

Congratulations on your first line as creative director of Saint Laurent Hedi Slimane! Until next time... 

Xoxo,

Alexa

#3 Street Style Finds in NYC

Living in the biggest fashion capital of the nation has its perks. From being able to watch Jason Wu's Spring 2013 collection to seeing Nick Jonas perform on the broadway stage, I'd say I have it pretty good. Growing up in a suburb near Dallas, TX I would say the fashion was not up to par as New York City. It took awhile for the trends seen in New York Fashion Week to trickle-down to Dallas, TX. My realization was that there were not as many people in Dallas willing to take the risk of wearing something completely different than everyone else and being the "trendsetter." I was one of those people that took risks because if you feel confident in that look then everyone else is going to see you working it down that street like it's your own runway. Now currently going to one of the top fashion schools in the world (FIT), I'd say I fit right right in. No one judges you for what you are wearing and I can just feel the creative juices flowing when I walk the hallways of my school. During NYFW, I spotted some great street trends but I'd like to only point out one. This surprisingly not apparel but in accessories! 

60's Inspired Round Sunglasses

(Via Harper's Bazaar)

(Via Fab Sugar)

(Via Harper's Bazaar)

These 60's inspired sunglasses are such a cute and feminine trend for women. I see so many woman and college students wearing these during NYFW and I find it to be a huge trend right now and especially next Spring. So ladies, whatever city you might live in, become a trendsetter and go out and buy these new trendy sunglasses! Because by Spring every woman will have a pair of these adorable sunglasses! Until next time...

Xoxo,

Alexa