This blog is for anyone out there who has a love for fashion! From news in the industry to tips on how to accessorize a certain style of dress, I will do my best to cover it all.
Let's face it. The clothes displayed during Fashion Week aren't exactly wearable. Some outfits are too conceptual, some too complicated and quite a few are too revealing. The ideas are gorgeous, but for those who don't have a creative mindset, it can be difficult to buy into a trend when we don't know how exactly to wear it.
A new kind of fashion show that debuted in 2013 will help fashion-followers on how to take a more modest approach to trends: the Christian Fashion Week.
Started by Jose and Myra Gomez, this is a fashion week dedicated to honoring Christian designers, as well as audiences who don't want to show off everything they've got. The 2014 show was done in Tampa, Florida this month, displaying 16 designers from all over the world.
Reporter Jessica Misener observed the show to see what exactly a Christian Fashion Week looks like. While some of her observations seem silly, most of them really give a great idea as to what this event means.
One of the great details is that women audience members are encouraged to feel the fabric and ask questions about the garments. According to Misener, everyone was very open and friendly- a characteristic not normally attributed to the fashion world.
Technology is everywhere now. From your smartphone to Bluetooth to even Google Glass, the world's computerized inventions are difficult to escape. Some feel overwhelmed and find difficulty in keeping up. Fashion designers, though, have found key strategies to staying relevant.
Designers have engineered into their plans the key technologies of today. A few designers even figured out how to revamp some that would be considered old news.
Wearable technology has taken on a new meaning with the invention of 3D printers. This is not just useable in fitness fashion anymore, but in high fashion as well. On Feb. 19, the Wearable Technology Fashion Show was put on in New York to give U.S. designers an opportunity to display their creativity.
ContinuumFashion showed 3D printed shoes that they say are 'not just for the runway'. The Laser Girls created an actual 3D printed nail, where the patterns you print in your nail protrude out. This really increases texture and interest.
Perhaps the most useful (and slightly mind blowing) invention there was this bag.
Created by Asher Levine, "The Grenade Bag" is made with "unconventional" materials paired with Bluetooth technology. It connects with your smartphone so you can essentially track your own bag if it ever gets lost.
Other uses
During London's Fashion Week, the London retailer Topshop gave its customers a chance to experience their show very close up, from very far away.They used headsets made to give a 'virtual front-row' experience while live streaming the fashion show from their shop. Customers not only got to view the fashion show itself, but they got to venture backstage as well.
French designers Cacharel, Calla and Surface to Air have teamed up with Toyota to design the outside of the Yaris Hybrid Graphic automobile. Instead of putting technology into their fashion, these designers are putting their fashion sense onto technology. The three cars will be one of a kind. However, they will be seen around Paris driving VIPs that are there for the ready-to-wear season that starts today.
Some may know that last year JCPenney had a difficult time. The company's new CEO took a radical approach to bring in a younger, wealthier market that largely backfired. (Go to this previous blog post of mine to learn more.)
To fix these problems, now CEO Myron Ullman did something bold: he went with honesty.
The commercial above proves that it is a sincere attempt to get their loyal customers back in their stores. However, it is difficult to tell if this approach is working.
Support
There was a lot of support from key stakeholders when Ullman took over in the middle of 2013, but at the end of the year that support waned. Soros Fund Management, one of the hedge fund industry's most closely watched investors according to Herbst-Bayliss, left JCPenney at the end of 2013.
Soros has earned it's investors about $40 billion, so when it backed JCPenney soon after the abrupt change in CEO, worries over the company's well-being subsided. Soros leaving JCPenney has recreated that worry.
Furthermore, over the last year JCPenney's stock prices have fallen over 60 percent and shares have lost 86 percent of their value since February 2012.
Cutting Costs
Ullman also announced in January of 2014 that they will be closing 33 stores around the country, affecting 2,000 jobs. Ullman remained optimistic in his statement of the closings, saying that they want to close their 'underperforming' stores so that JCPenney can ready 'for future success'.
The only store closing in Colorado will be in Colorado Springs at the Chapel Hills Mall. Take a look at the full list (linked towards the beginning of the article).
Sales
Despite what seem to be hard losses to come back from, Ullman is very positive about the future of the company. They reported that their key revenue measure grew 2 percent over the holiday season. In November and December, the sales metric rose 3.1 percent.
A good point D'Innocenzio and Chapman point out though is that many stores greatly discounted this past holiday season to bring in customersdue to the state of the economy. They say it is unclear what kind of sales gains "came at the expense of profits" for JCPenney.
At this year's New York Fashion Week, Moncler Grenobledisplayed their clothes using delightfully unexpected tactics.
Moncler displayed the clothes to become part of the performance; to be incomplete without it.
This is not the first year they have used such theatrics to display fashion lines. The Fall Winter 2012-2013 show utilized a chorus and ice skaters. The Fall Winter 2013-2014 line was displayed in what was called "The Human Forest Show".
What was most enjoyable about these displays is that unexpected talents were brought in. I would never have thought ice skating would be a good way to display fashion. It goes to show that models aren't the only ones with the "runway" talent.
I have not been present here in a while. Having been a senior in college, I (unfortunately) got distracted with the mountain of assignments I needed to complete. However, I am graduated now and excited to continue with this fun blog!!
I tried out another site this past week and wrote about a great trend. Check it out here!
I am excited to see what exciting things we can find in the fashion world. Comment and let me know if there is anything you would like me to cover.
