What It Is

The High Price of Denim

2005-11-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

You can never have too many jeans. But, at thousands of dollars a pair, you may need to limit your selection.

High-priced jeans are a trend that has hit the fashion scene and refused to leave. According to an article on Forbes.com, Marshal Cohen at NPD Group, a retail-industry consulting firm, said “This is a trend that has been hot for almost five years now, which in the fashion industry is very rare. Denim has become not only a staple in the wardrobe, but it's become a premium product. It's at an all-time high in price and in prestige. Until something really comes along that can take its place, it's here to stay."

Designers like Gucci and Escada continue to produce embellished jeans with gold or silver rivets and diamond buttons. A single pair of this luxury denim can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $10,000.

For those consumers who can do with diamond-encrusted jeans, a good pair of Levi’s might just do the trick.

Dreaded Pantyhose Aim to Please

2005-11-28T21:46:00.000-08:00

Most women would rather walk over hot coals than put on a pair of pantyhose. The promise of sleek, smooth, eye-catching legs falls short in the face of the immense discomfort that ensues just moments after pulling the evil hosiery on.

But could this all change? Could there be such a thing as user-friendly pantyhose? Believe it or not, teams of scientists across the nation are working to achieve this implausible feat. By using scientific tricks like high-tech fibers, lavender-scented “microcapsules,” and vein-constricting weaves, top designers are hoping to see an increase in their ever-decreasing hosiery sales.

It seems unlikely that any chemistry experiment could make panty hose a marketable item here in sunny Florida. You’d be hard pressed to find an adequate supply of socks, let alone a pair of dreaded pantyhose.

Fantasy Fashion

2005-11-17T20:05:00.000-08:00

Fantasy Football, meet your match.

The Fantasy Fashion League, described by the Detroit Free Press as the “girly version of fantasy football,” has arrived.

Founded just two months ago by Erica Salmon, a mother of two, the online game allows women from all over the world to create teams and compete for prizes like shopping sprees and spa vacations.

So, how does it work? Players chose celebrities and designers to create their team. Players earn points when their celebrities or designers are spotted at events, in magazines or in daily trade publications.

Immediately popular, the game gained the attention of InStyle magazine. The marketing potential of this game is great, as it allows the fashion industry to bring its designers and styles directly into the homes of the consumers.

Technology with Style

2005-11-14T19:40:00.000-08:00

The technology industry continues to produce new gadgets that are always just a little bit faster, smaller or better than the gizmos preceding them. Speed and size, however, are not the only factors that matter to today’s consumer. Some of us want our technology to be “pretty” or even “cute.”

In response to this demand, companies like Sony Ericsson and Toshiba are creating products that they hope will appeal to the fashion conscious. Sony Ericsson’s new cell phone, the Z300a, has a sleek design and appealing color scheme in addition to its other features. The design and color scheme for Toshiba’s updated MP3 players follow a similar strategy.

Color and style are an important element of any product, and the technology industry has done well in recognizing its market potential.

The Angels are Back

2005-11-10T16:42:00.000-08:00

Men, prepare your TeVos. The Victoria’s Secret fashion show is set to air Dec. 6 on CBS. The show will also be available on the Victoria’s Secret Web site.

Janet Jackson’s exposure at the Super bowl was enough to cancel the show last year. This year, however, Limited Brands Inc. has put quite a bit of stock in the success of the show.

Limited, the parent company of Victoria’s Secret, has recently struggled with disappointing sales. As one of the strongest companies within the brand, Victoria’s Secret has the potential to help the company.

Can supermodels and underwear really save a failing company? It seems like it might take a miracle—or maybe just a few angels.

Angelina Jolie Signs with St. John

2005-11-07T17:23:00.000-08:00

St. John selected Angelina Jolie as the new “face” of the luxury label. Jolie will replace Brazilian Victoria's Secret model Gisele Bundchen who was featured in the company’s fall ads.

Known for outfitting a conservative, older crowd, like Sen. Hillary Clinton and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, St. John now hopes to appeal to a younger client. Jolie will be featured in the company’s 2006 spring advertising campaign.

Richard Cohen, CEO of St. John, said in a press release, “Angelina Jolie embodies so many qualities of what St. John represents. She is strong, independent and dynamic. She’s a mother, actress and a philanthropist. With this partnership we hope to mark another exciting step toward making St. John the ultimate American luxury brand.”

A Little Style

2005-11-02T18:59:00.000-08:00

For many petite women, shopping has become more frustrating than fun. The hunt for a well-fitted blazer or the perfect-length pant can seem just about futile. Lisa Jones Townsel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently complied a collection of the petite clients’ most common shopping complaints. According to these shoppers, the biggest challenges they face are:

· Finding age-appropriate clothing
· Finding pieces that fit all parts of the body
· Finding fashion-forward pieces.

Recognizing the buying power of the petite client, several retailers have incorporated petite sizing into their collections. Ann Taylor and Talbots have both developed successful petite lines. It is important to note that these petite sizes are not simply smaller or shorter, but are proportioned differently to ensure the best fit for the petite client. It would be fitting, then, for fashion retailers to recognize the petite client and all of her sizing needs, big or small.

New Look for the NBA

2005-10-31T19:30:00.000-08:00

Starting Tuesday, the NBA will enforce a new dress code for its players. NBA Commissioner David Stern is requiring that all NBA players dress in “business casual” attire when making public appearances. Seems reasonable enough, at first glance. But many players are unhappy with the decision, and Jeff Goldberg, a staff writer for the Hartford Courant, wrote that the decision, “flies in the face of the league's legacy of individual style and self-expression.”

Some are even going so far as to say the new dress code is racially biased because the latest style for many NBA players centers around baggy pants, flashy jewelry and loose jersey tops. ESPN.com has complied a sample of opinions on the new dress code from members of the NBA. In addition, members of the public have entered into the debate and have begun forums and discussions focusing on the dress code issue.

It is important to point out that the new dress code does not require that the players wear a suit and tie every time they appear in public. The NBA just wants to promote a positive image. Since the players are entertainers as well as athletes, image is key to the success of their personal careers as well as the success of the league as a whole.

Eyelash Enhancement

2005-10-27T11:27:00.000-07:00

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. Well, if this is true, than it makes sense that everyone wants his or her eyes to be in top shape.

Following this logic, Hollywood is starting a new craze: the eyelash extension. These new lashes are nothing like the traditional, messy, horribly fake-looking false eyelashes of the past. In fact, these enhancements are applied through a professional process that may last up to 90 minutes and cost between $200 and $500. During the procedure, professional technicians apply each individual lash to a natural individual lash using a bonding agent.

Salons like the Hair Base Salon and Spa in Chicago are now offering the procedure and are happy to answer any questions the public might have.

Cell Phone Chic

2005-10-24T17:01:00.000-07:00

Accessories have always been an important part of any outfit. Now, however, the technology industry is combining to the fun of fashion accessories with the function of mobile devices. Need a brown suede cell phone holder to match your new shoes? The gadget gurus have got it under control.

Motorola is leading this movement in introducing its new line of hats, helmets and jackets that include built-in cellular microphones. In theory, business tycoons can now conduct their conference calls from the ski slopes. The practical fashion pieces will supposedly make it possible to communicate from almost anywhere, but at what cost?

Is there really a need to talk on the cell phone while skiing or biking? It seems impractical and unnecessary to use the device on such an occasion. More importantly, it seems dangerous, and just plain silly.

Shine Like a Celebrity

2005-10-20T20:55:00.000-07:00

Jewelry designer Carroll Dorsey Walker knows that every woman needs a touch of glamour every now and then. Walker’s company Bejewel features what she calls “bridge jewelry.” The term refers to the designs that are neither costume nor fine jewelry. Her price points are reasonable enough for the everyday woman, while being stylish enough to make an appearance on the red carpet.

In September, Walker introduced a new line, the Signature Collection. The collection is based on the concept of practicality. The collection of necklaces, bracelets and earrings are designed in such a way that one might chose to wear them every day. This is a new and exciting concept for the designer, whose line typically focuses on occasion pieces.

It Takes A Lot To Be A Real Cowboy

2005-10-17T19:54:00.000-07:00

A lot of money, that is. According to an Associated Press article, the cost of a genuine cowboy hat is on the rise, while the quality is steadily decreasing.

There are several reasons for the dramatic increase. The major factor affecting the change is the availability of quality fur. Hatmakers use both beaver and rabbit fur to create the felt for the hat. The cost of both rabbit and beaver fur is increasing, increasing the cost of the raw materials needed to make the hats.

The decrease in quality can be attributed in part to the breeding and butchering practices of those raising rabbits. Apparently, rabbits are being killed at a younger age than they were previously. The fur of a younger rabbit is not as thick or as strong as the fur of an older rabbit. Therefore, the resulting hat will not be of the same quality.

It’s incredible what some cowboys will pay for a decent hat. Stetson Hat Co., a Texas hat company that has been in operation for 140 years, sells some hats for thousands of dollars. It seems authenticity, then, is going to take a lot of dough, cowboy.

Gap Tries Someone New

2005-10-13T19:59:00.000-07:00

Gap Inc., the international retailer that oversees Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy, recently hired a new executive vice president of design and product development. Charlotte Neuville is expected to begin working for the company on Oct. 17, and her influence is to be reflected in the Fall 2006 line.

The change is expected to help boost sales of the Gap, which has recently struggled in the face of competition from high and low-end retailers. Neuville, who was previously a design consultant for New York & Company, will focus only on merchandise in the Gap stores.

According to Forbes.com, Credit Suisse First Boston analyst Paul Lejuez thinks the change will be a positive one, citing Neuville’s previous experience as a major factor.

Men Move Toward Design

2005-10-10T17:14:00.000-07:00

Fashion programs around the country have recently seen an influx of male students. It seems fashion design has become a more appealing career option for many men.

According to The Des Moines Register, Iowa State University has seen the number of males enrolled in its fashion department quadruple within the last decade. According to the article, ISU is not alone, as schools spanning from the Midwest to California are also experiencing this trend.

One reason for this movement might be the encouragement of male designers by the mass media. For example, the Bravo network recently created “Project Runway,” a reality show featuring 12 aspiring fashion designers competing for the chance to break into the fashion industry.

Of the 12 contestants, 6 were men. Interestingly, the show’s winner was Jay McCarroll, a 29-year-old man from Lehman, Pa.

Bloggers Can Be Fashionable, Too

2005-10-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

Glam.com, an online magazine dedicated to style, beauty and, of course, shopping, announced Thursday that it will launch a blog network dedicated to these same ideas. The network is said to be the first blog network dedicated to fashion.

Partnering with other fashion Web sites already available, Glam.com aims to create an independent collection of the best and most recent fashion information available. BagCrazy.blogspot.com, SheFinds.com/blog, and FashionTribes.typepad.com are just a few of the fashion blogs partnering with Glam.com. In addition to these resources, the network will include personal blogs from some of the industry's leading public figures.

According to John Stith, a staff writer for webpronews.com, Glam.com has the potential to do very well in the marketplace of ecommerce. He believes the company's staff will be especially beneficial. The team will include Samir Arora of Information Capital. Arora has also worked with eMode, Tickle, NetObjects and was an executive at Apple. The team will also include Karen Edwards, the former marketing chief of Yahoo.com.

According to a press release on Glam.com, Catherine Levene, a contributing member of the Glam Fashion Blog Network project, said, "The Glam Fashion Blog Network takes advantage of the open and distributed nature of the web. By showcasing talented bloggers, Glam.com can present a broader set of perspectives on fashion and style than any one site could create alone. All three constituencies, the fashion bloggers, Glam.com, and the advertisers, will benefit from the ability to aggregate these distinct audiences."

Pink Is In

2005-10-03T19:47:00.000-07:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and retailers across the country are doing their part to help the cause.

Retailers are marketing a variety of products, from savings cards and magazine subscriptions to watches and charm bracelets, in pink, the color representing breast cancer awareness.

According to a press release on the PR Newswire, Myra Biblowit, president of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, said, "The funds raised this month by our partner companies are essential to supporting our mission of achieving prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime. We are grateful to Target and the many other companies for their continued support."

The North County Times has published a listing of retailers, provided by Associated Press fashion writer Samantha Critchell, that are helping to support awareness and raise money for breast cancer research. In addition, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation has set up a listing of its

Chicago Wants To Move On Up In The Fashion Industry

2005-09-29T20:22:00.000-07:00

Chicago may not be the first place to come to mind when we think about fashion.

However, the windy city has recently made attempts to promote its status in the fashion industry. One of its biggest steps forward was the city’s Fashion Focus Chicago, an 11-day festival highlighting local fashion talent and promoting Chicago’s fashion scene.

The festival reached its final day on Thursday. In addition to the fashion shows and appearances by celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Sarah Jessica Parker, the festival also included business seminars.

City leaders hope that the festival will help to support local talent and encourage businesses to stay in the area. In fact, a unique aspect of the show was that its runways shows featured local designers rather than commercial brands.

According to ABC7Chicago.com, Kelly Ryan O’Brien, the Chicago director of Gen Art, a non-profit organization supporting emerging talent in fashion and the visual arts, believes that the festival will act as a boost to Chicago’s status in the fashion industry.

“The fashion industry doesn’t traditionally look to Chicago as a fashion mecca. And fashion hasn’t been a celebrated industry here. But I think Fashion Focus is trying to address that,” O'Brien said.

The Chicago Sun-Times highlights a few of the local artists featured during the festival. You never know, the next Kate Spade could be among these relatively unknown artists.

Conservative Is In

2005-09-26T20:44:00.000-07:00

The rock star tendencies of supermodels previously ignored and sometimes cherished by the fashion industry are no longer being tolerated. H&M, Europe’s largest clothing chain, recently canceled its contract with supermodel Kate Moss following her admission of using cocaine. The day after H&M announced this decision, two other major luxury brands, Chanel and Burberry, followed suit.

Interestingly, these decisions are a reflection of public opinion. In fact, H&M actually revised their earlier decision to continue Moss’ contract because of the public’s original reaction. The public made it clear that they thought it was inappropriate that a clothing line marketing to young women might associate with a model who used drugs.

The Daily Mirror, a “rough-and-tumble” British tabloid, first broke the story of Moss’ drug use on Sept. 15. The report included photographs of Moss supposedly using cocaine in a recording studio.

According to Guy Trebay and Eric Wilson of The New York Times, “The decision appeared to reflect the more conservative stance being taken by large apparel companies in tolerating any controversy that may come to be associated with their brands.”

However, Same Shahid, an advertising agent responsible for the controversial Abercrombie & Fitch catalogs, believes the motivation is more simplistic.

“This all comes down to money. It’s the fear of losing business.”

Celebrities Take On Fashion

2005-09-23T06:14:00.000-07:00

What do Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren and Gwen Stefani all have in common? Apparently, a spot on the runway at some of the best fashions shows New York has to offer. Last week, Stefani revealed her rock ‘n’ roll collection, L.A.M.B., alongside the more classic, subtle collections of veteran designers Karan and Lauren. Stefani’s collection stood out in stark contrast to the other designers’ pieces.

Stefani is just one of the many celebrities to try their hand at fashion design. Jennifer Lopez, Sean “Diddy” Combs and 50 Cent all have their own collections. The question arises as to the value of these collections, particularly when compared to the designs of the well-established, traditional designers. According to an article in The Detroit News, the debut of Stafani’s collection signaled “the sad slide of high-fashion industry proper from the epicenter of pop culture." Fashion design is slipping away from its more traditional values and diving into the world of celebrities, premiers and magazine covers.

The influence of celebrity designs is clearly changing the way the fashion industry operates. Runway shows are now glittered with movie stars and recording artists. Supermodels are no longer the arbirators of fashion, as the media concentrates instead on celebrities. It is yet to be determined whether this shift will hurt or help the industry. For some, the shift can certainly be seen as a positive. According to The Detroit News, Fern Mallis, executive director of 7th On Sixth, said the celebrities are “bringing new energy to the industry.”

“They are out ambassadors of fashion now, and they use their fame and notoriety and celebrity to bring attention to the industry and to the brands—whether they are making them, selling them or wearing them.”

France Feels Effects of Katrina

2005-09-18T18:58:00.000-07:00

It goes without saying that the immediate effects of Hurricane Katrina have been felt around the country. The long-term effects, however, are just beginning to surface, and the French fashion industry is facing the consequences.

According to The Peninsula, one of Qatar's English daily newpapers, the French fashion industry is worried that the hurricane will cause a shortage of Louisiana alligator hides. Currently, Louisiana supplies the industry with 30,000 hides. Alligator farms supply about 20 percent of this total.

Although the alligators not bred in captivity are thriving in New Orleans’s floodwaters, the alligators raised on farms are at great risk. Dan Lewkowicz, head of France Croco, a major French tannery, said the alligators raised in captivity are at risk of starving to death because the farm owners have evacuated the region.

“The electricity has been cut off at the height of the height of the season for hatching, which requires heat,” he said.

Significantly, France is the world leader in the tanning of reptile skins, and most of the hides used are supplied by Louisiana. The hides are used to create a variety of valuable fashion pieces, including watches, shoes, purses and brief cases.

Manners Matter

2005-09-15T19:42:00.000-07:00

Have social graces and polite manners been lost in the hustle and bustle of our busy days? Not if the New York fashion industry has anything to do with it! According to Patrice Worthy of the Indiana Daily Student, “manners are back in style,” and the fashion industry is reflecting this trend.

At this year’s Fashion Week, Nick Graham, the creator of Joe Boxer, inspired the fashion crowd with his concept of a “Random Acts of Politeness team.” In an e-mail sent out to the show’s participants, Graham asked everyone to be on the lookout for “handsome men sporting British bowlers and nick(it) suits” that would be available to open doors and provide tips on edict.

Worthy notes that even the runway fashions reflect these trends. The whimsical lace details and creamy peach and green create an old-fashioned look that is both “detail-oriented and romantic.”

The importance of social etiquette is certainly not lost on the fashion-savvy in New York City. Social conduct is carefully monitored and is crucial to one’s social survival and success. As Worthy writes, “We won’t tell your presence is horrid, we don’t invite you.”

The Fashion Industry As A Leader

2005-09-12T07:58:00.000-07:00

In the face of such surreal disasters as Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina, it is sometimes difficult to believe that our lives will continue to move forward. The fashion industry took a step in the right direction during Kenneth Cole’s runway show in New York City on Sept. 9. The Washington Post reflects on the paradox plaguing the industry, “This is the second time designers have had to consider how their shows could and should go on at a time when the country—that is, their customers—are in no mood to consider hemlines and ‘it’ bags (Sept. 12, 2005).”

While fashion may seem a ridiculous concept to focus on during these difficult times, it is an important sign of the country’s progress. As a billion-dollar industry, fashion yields incredible power and influence and is a major part of the world’s economy.

Cole proved the industry to be an example of forward thinking. The participants of Cole’s show “donated a percentage of their fees to the hurricane relief.” Kenneth Cole Productions, in turn, agreed to match this sum. As Washington Post staff writer Robin Givhan wrote, “It was not so much a moment of corporate bragging as a sign of leadership.”

In her analysis of the show’s runway styles, Givhan points out that the spring collections, for the most part, seem to stray from the moroseness of the day’s news. After all, “Who needs fashion to turn all dark and depressing right now?”

I have to agree. While shoes and handbags are by no means a priority to any of us at this time, the simple joy of shopping and fashion should be kept strong as a reminder that we can and will recover. We will grow and learn from these experiences. And we will rise up and shop, once again.