Awsome exhibition at LONDON Fashion Week
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Autumn/Winter 2012-13 Edwardiana Drama
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FOLLOWING a summer buoyed with patriotic events - the Diamond Jubilee, the long awaited Olympic Games, the launch of London Collections: Men - our love of Britain extends into winter with a trend that plays on our affection for Edwardian England via rich, sumptuous fabrics and dramatic accessories.
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There is little that elicits romantic nostalgia quite like a steam engine, which is exactly what Marc Jacobs used as the backdrop to his Louis Vuitton autumn/winter 2012-13 show, where models were escorted down the catwalk by porters carrying their Gladstone bags - quickly crowned as the bag shape of the season, having also cropped up at Prada and at Ralph Lauren in a miniature version.
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Meanwhile, velvet jacquards and brocade were shown in navy, violet and black by Gucci and Emporio Armani, while Ralph Lauren and Burberry riffed on the tweeds and wools used extensively in the outdoor leisure pursuits of the upper classes - horse riding, shooting, fishing. And of course there were gowns - such as Marchesa's delicate gold lace and Alice Temperley's intricately embroidered floor-sweeping skirts.
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While the origins of this trend may be rooted in history, it should be interpreted with a little artistic license this winter to keep things up to date - this is not about playing a part in your own costume drama. Focus on details to bring the trend to life; equestrian-style collars - as seen at Giles, Cacharel and Carven - bring a sense of formality to outerwear, while gloves should be elbow length as worn by models at Louis Vuitton and Roberto Cavalli.
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Tartan Punk Chanel - Pre
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syed fahad ali
Showing ahead of the other pre-collections, Chanel’s Metier d’Art show often signals a flavour of things to come. This December, Karl Lagerfeld enticed the fashion press to Linlithgow Palace in Scotland and reeled out a tartan legion. Tartan - the highland cloth adopted by Vivienne Westwood for her counterculture fashions, and subsequently, a legion of Punks – cropped up again at Preen, where Johnny Rotten plaid was teamed with crisp white shirts, and at Theyskens’ Theory and Gucci. It’s hardly surprising: there is electricity in the air this spring – New York’s Met Ball 2013 will be Punk-themed while London’s V&A hosts David Bowie’s retrospective in March and Debbie Harry Queen of Punk opens at Camden’s Proud Galleries later this month.
Spring / Summer 2013
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| Awsome !!! |
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English Cyber Garden
Erdem - PreFlorals show no sign of wilting, and for autumn/winter 2013-14 designers plucked the blooms of an English country garden – and plugged them into the mains. Erdem’s floral mirage oscillated between saturated paillettes and a colourful bouquet. Elsewhere, Carolina Herrera’s technicolour rosebushes, Christopher Kane’s bewitchingly shimmery pansies, Vera Wang’s electrifying metallic blossom brocades, Naeem Khan’s appliquéd Perspex daisies and Honor’s screen-printed meadow flowers made up a field of dreams.
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THE pre-collections serve as a deliberately lighter version of designers' influences and intentions, an appetiser to what can be expected from the international catwalks and an adhesive between seasons. Subsequently, they are packed full of clothes we really can - and want - to wear every day.
While some trends that established themselves in the spring/summer 2013 collections were evident - printed pyjamas, cobalt, the bomber jacket, sheer, collars - a number of fresh ideas broke new ground.
Board shorts are set to become a wardrobe staple we never knew we could live without in the city, while our faithful friend, the T-shirt, was given a grown up makeover. Eveningwear was elegantly overhauled, as the new floor-length silhouette - impactful and streamlined - made a dramatic entrance. The two most prevalent shades of spring/summer 2013 - white and black - combined to deliver the big colour news of the season; grey. And in fifty different shades it came.
Here, we round up the most important trends from the pre-autumn/winter 2013-14 collections.
Charlotte Olympia Pandora Feather Clutch
eye-catching pandora charolete olympia
with two different colourss bright orange and black
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
The Fashion Industry Thrives on Social Media - Marketing - Social Marketing
What Makes Social Media the Hottest Trend in the Fashion Industry?
Despite having arrived only recently onto social media scene, the fashion industry is definitely making its presence felt. Big brands like Burberry, Urban Outfitters, Louis Vuitton etc, are shedding their 'exclusive' tags and are becoming more accessible to the general public via social networking. Billboards are being replaced with blogs and marketing activities are centered on social advertising. Moreover, brands and retailers are not only using social media to communicate with their customers, but are also listening to them.
Lifestyle Monitor - Survey
According to stats from a GSI Commerce survey, 45% of consumers prefer shopping for clothes online. Prior to making a purchase, 64% consult a retailer's website, the survey states. Websites are being used as virtual shop windows, with customers 'checking-out' a brand online before visiting the actual store. The Cotton Incorporated 2010 Lifestyle Monitor survey shows that 73% women and 60% men browsed the internet for apparel in 2009, while 70% women and 59% men did the same in 2010.
The initial reaction by luxury brands, to the general public's interest in apparel shopping via websites and social media channels, was apprehension. However, brands soon understood that social media is where the revenue was, with some of their biggest customers thronging popular networking sites. Fashion Brands and FacebookTime and geographical constraints, which had so far prevented fashion-conscious customers from adding popular brands to their wardrobes, were obliterated with the emergence of social media as an e-commerce platform. Not wanting to be left behind, fashion brands extended their digital presence beyond company websites to networking channels like Twitter, Facebook and blogs. A recent study by Hitwise (the data for 12 weeks ending 18th June 2011) shows that fashion brands are making the most of Facebook. According to the study, each 'top' retailer on the site can expect an average of 62,000 visits a month, even if they have no fans.
Fashionably Late? Here's What You Should Do
While the likes of Oscar De La Renta, JCPenny and Chanel have quite successfully created a presence across several networking sites, some brands prefer arriving 'fashionably late' to the social media scene. The biggest challenge for these brands lies in the creation of a well-thought-out social media marketing strategy. Simply jumping onto every networking site out there may not always guarantee the expected results. As a fashion retailer looking to nail it in social media, here's what you need to do: Anticipate Fashion Behaviors:
Promoting stilettos when the trend points towards pumps and wedges may not exactly send the sales charts soaring. In order to avoid this fashion gaffe, it is important that brands understand what's 'in' that season by listening to their customers and monitoring conversations online. Social media monitoring tools like Brand Monitor help identify relevant, industry-related conversations by sifting through the 'noise' and identifying the actionable posts. For the late-entrants into the world of online marketing, this not only saves time by giving an idea of the latest fashion trends, but also helps forecast the possible future trends. When it comes to the fashion industry, knowing the trends is a crucial first step. Create a Fashion Blog:
Creating a fashion blog in the best way to gain exposure for your brand. Before creating a Facebook page or a Twitter profile, it is important for fashion industry professionals to start blogging. A fashion blog a) reflects the objectives of your brand and b) gives prospective customers an idea of the kind of apparel, accessories, shoes etc you will be marketing online. That said, enlisting the services of famous fashion bloggers is also a good way of gaining visibility for your designer label. Karen Millar BlogThe Karen Millar blog, for instance, is a shining example of what a fashion blog should look like and what it should feature. What makes this blog a winner is a) the 'About Us' section that includes everything you need to know about the brand b) the 'recent posts' section on the right side of the page, which links to the older blogs c) the Twitter timeline and d) featuring of the product details and the other necessary information. Finding the Right Channel:
Choosing the right social media platform is vital for positioning your brand in the online space. Selection of the right channel largely depends of where the fashion-conscious target market is hanging out. Once again, it is social media monitoring to the rescue. Instead of unthinkingly choosing a particular platform simply because your competitor is on it, it would be wise to find out where your audience is and create a marketing strategy accordingly. Apparel brands like Benetton and Van Heusen are using Facebook and Twitter as design centers, with the end-user playing co-creators. Leveraging the Power of Social Advertising
The last six months have witnessed an upsurge in social advertising and promotional activities by fashion brands. In addition to reaching customers and engaging with them, fashion gurus have been leveraging the power of social media to promote new designs, and stand out in an otherwise crowded digital space. Whether it is DKNY's PR Girl campaign on Twitter and Tumblr or Dolce & Gabbana's hugely successful Facebook page, when it comes to social advertising, there is no looking back. We studied a few famous campaigns to understand how these brands nailed social advertising. This is what our findings revealed: Generating Buzz the Burberry Way:
Burberry's 'Tweetwalk', which was staged just minutes before the actual event went live, treated the brand's followers to an exclusive glimpse of the designs, generating exponential online buzz. What worked for Burberry was the fact that the brand brought its runway collection to its largest online audience via social media. Their interest piqued, curious fans were eager to see the collection sported by models when they hit the runway. Also, instead of posting updates after the show, as the norm goes, the fashion brand gave its followers the feeling of being involved and made them feel special. Not surprisingly, Burberry's ingenious social media strategy saw a massive spike in brand-related conversations a few minutes after the show started; so much so, that it occupied the number two position on global trending charts, breaking its own personal-mentions minute record. People Love Backstage:
According to Simone Oliver, a senior fashion producer at The New York Times, people are particularly hungry for backstage coverage. Most of the professionals in today's fashion world couldn't agree more. While live streaming is one way of promoting a brand online, letting people behind the curtain is a marketing strategy that has worked for many fashion brands. As Oliver says, "Even if it's just a 20-second video of some new technique for putting on eye makeup, people will retweet it. [Readers] want what they can't get." The Impact of User-Generated Content:
Fashion brands these days are driving sales online with user-generated content. Besides being a low-cost strategy of promoting a label in the digital space, this is also an effective method of driving traffic and increasing revenue. Having understood the impact of user-generated content, more and more fashion companies are encouraging contributions from fans and allowing exchange of opinions across various networking sites. After all, it is no secret that customers are inclined to trust the voice and recommendations from their peers. The CEO of Polyvore, Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, revealed that 69% of the company's users recommend products to friends at least once a week. "We believe the best source of influence for a brand is to harness the power of our passionate user community," he added. The Need to Tweet:
In addition to blogging and posting on Facebook, it is vital for brands in the fashion industry to have an active Twitter account. London Fashion Week - TwitterTwitter hashtags add the 'fairy dust' to fashion brands' promotional strategy, while the viral marketing capability of retweets is something an advertising budget cannot buy. For instance, the British Fashion Council (BFC) is using the #LFW hashtag to promote London Fashion Week. So far, the @LondonFashionWk Twitter handle has +76,000 followers and is showing no signs of slowing down. Making Fashion Accessible
Unlike before, when the fashion industry closed its doors to outsiders, today's brands are willing to look beyond the 'elite' customer. Previously 'exclusive' brands are reaching out to the now financially empowered and fashion-savvy customer via social media. With more and more customers engaged in virtual shopping, for fashion brands the choice is between converting social audiences to shoppers over time or risk getting left behind. Let us look at how fashion brands can make themselves more accessible to the general public:
JCPenny Facebook Conversation The Coupons and Offers Formula Always Works:
Irrespective of the industry type, the coupons and offers formula always works. For fashion brands looking to market their designs to the regular customer, the 'deal-of-the-day' or 'special offer' approach is a good way to a) introduce new designs to first-time customers and b) lure them into visiting the actual brick and mortar store to redeem their coupons and check-out other products. The GSI commerce survey shows that information about the latest deals, offers and promotions is the second most important attribute consumers enjoy when interacting with fashion retailers on Facebook and Twitter. In addition to information about their new arrivals, fashion tips etc, the JCPenny Facebook page runs promotional offers and special deals at regular intervals. Designer Wear? It Must Surely be Expensive:
Our research shows that the biggest challenge fashion marketers face while expanding their customer base is the 'it must be expensive' mind block. Although the top designers and some of the big brands continue to promote their exclusive collection online, the same brands also have a line of affordable labels. In order to reach out to the general crowd, it is important to change this perception by creating marketing messages that highlight the affordability aspect. The best way of doing this is by advertising across the numerous social media channels out there and ensuring that the pricing information is present. For most customers, the absence of a price-tag can be a deterrent. Social advertising guarantees a broader reach, besides an increase in queries from interested customers who would otherwise hesitate to communicate via traditional channels. Simplifying the Decision-Making Process:
Virtual stores cannot replicate everything about in-store fashion experience; this could be one of the reasons why many customers don't come back to a retailer's webpage after the first few visits. What do customers want from fashion websites?Online fashion marketers need to understand this and should simplify the decision-making process. Studies show that effective filters on fashions sites allow users to narrow their product selection. 55% of the respondents said that the ability to filter by size and color makes them more likely to buy, while 50% said that zoomable and rotatable images on product pages greatly influence the decision making process. Location-Based Marketing:
Location-based services like Foursquare and Gowalla can help retailers increase in-store visits, traffic, as well as have a positive impact on offline and online sales. Fashion giants like Jimmy Choo and Marc Jacobs are using location-based social marketing to deliver their brands' messages to customers. During the 2010 New York Fashion Week, the Mark Jacobs brand not only streamed live shows, but also teamed-up with Foursquare to create some buzz around the show. Four attendees who 'checked-in' were received tickets to the fashion show. Besides treating fans to the show, this strategy also increased word-of-mouth marketing and made the brand more accessible to consumers.
Conclusion
Consumers are increasingly checking out a retailer's website or social media page before deciding to make a purchase, which means fashion brands need to step up their online marketing efforts even more. When browsing through a fashion brand's webpage, prospective buyers look for basic information like price, availability of sizes etc. Customers who usually attach the 'expensive 'and 'beyond-my-reach' tags to big brands, feel much more comfortable checking-out the website before making a trip to the actual store. Fashion brands looking to make their labels more accessible to these customers should provide this basic information besides making that extra effort to shed their 'exclusive tag'. Not wanting to be left behind, the likes of Victoria's Secret, Chanel, Marc Jacobs etc have incorporated social media into their traditional marketing strategies and now have a solid presence on all the major social media platforms.
For designers and brands jumping onto the social media bandwagon, the benefits are many. Besides being a free publicity tool, social media is also connecting prospective shoppers to marketers. The new entrants, as well as the high-end labels, are using social media to study industry trends and anticipate fashion behaviors. Also, previously social media wary brands are harnessing the power of user-generated content to reverse slowing online sales and drive revenue. With the big players in this industry using social media to generate buzz and 'hype' fashion events much before they are actually launched, the future for this industry certainly looks promising. As far as social advertising is concerned, it would be safe to assume that the fashion industry is going through a metamorphosis. While some brands continue to test the waters, the others have incorporated social media as an integral part of their marketing strategies. The enthusiasm with which both customers and designe rs have embraced social media means the days of exclusivity and elitism are fast fading. Social media, undoubtedly, is the hottest trend in fashion right now; and we have every reason to believe that social advertising will revolutionize the way apparel, accessories and beauty products are marketed and sold.
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Tuesday, November 20, 2012
If you are looking for the best deals on women?s shoes and fashion boots for your Holiday shopping its online - Shopping - Fashion Style
We all need shoes just as we all want the new trendy fashionable styles of shoes. And with the Holiday Season upon us, shoes make the perfect gift. Did you know that one of the earliest fashion trend items in cultures all around the world was women's Boots?, The passion to have that perfect pair of shoes is often said to be one of the most notorious traits for women! However, it has also become an obsession with men and children as well. We all love shopping for a new pairs of shoes particularly during the Holiday Season. In fact, When properly made and in the latest fashion trends , shoes can give you that feeling of being special but also comfortable enough to handle whatever comes your way. If you are thinking about why shopping online is the best way to find a fabulous pair of women's fashion boots, a pair of sexy pumps or even an elegant pair of women's sandals , here are a few pointers. For starters, online shoe stores offer you the convenience of shopping right fro m the comfort and privacy of your own home. If you are like me I am sure you Remember the times when your legs hurt and your feet ache from running all over the town an standing in the long lines trying to find that perfect pair of shoes?. Well, gone are those painful days, thanks to the amazing assortment of the latest fashion styles and trends of shoes that are available to you online. You can browse their well-stocked and well-designed collection of women's sandals, and cheap shoes for everyone in the family at the click of the mouse! Another benefit is that they carry a Huge collection of inventories that most retail stores don't and a majority of the online stores also offer speedy deliveries of your purchases right to your front doorstep, saving you the time and hassle of running all over town.And with the Holiday Season upon us, most online shoe stores will offer special deals that are better then what you can get in a retail store. For example check out ShoeOcean.com , they already have the best prices on the best collection but are still offering a 10% discount on all orders plus Free Shipping on orders over $100. Now that's a deal. In fact, the online collection that is available is so extensive; you might just lose yourself in the fascinating styles and designs that you will find. One of the first things that you will need to decide before you actually start looking for that perfect pair of shoes is of course the reason you need the shoes. Is it for yourself and that special outfit? Or is it a gift for that special someone? Is it for a women, man or child? If you have a weak spot for women's boots , the online shoe stores will offer you an amazing collection of women's fashion boots , in unimaginable colors, styles and designs. The humble flat boots have never been so bold, transformed as they have been into some of the most exotic designs, Such as the faux fur styles that are so popular these days. You will be completely mesmerized by the perfect looks and stylish designs that are available.If you are not sure which website to shop, try shoeocean.com As one of the leading retailers of shoes in the world, shoeocean.com offers you the top fashion tends in hundreds of different styles, designs and colors to choose from In fact, if you want to keep up with the changing world of the fashion trends, it a good idea to also opt to sign up for the free monthly newsletter that most of the online retails offer that would be delivered to your email inbox with all the latest news and updates for the best buys on Cheap Shoes, fashion boots, women's sandals, men's shoes and children shoes , for all ages across the globe!Enjoy you're shopping!
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