Monday, March 14, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Assignment #6: New Generation Fashion Designers
In 1993, the British Fashion Council created New Generation, also known as "NEWGEN," which is one of the world's most internationally known talent searches for fashion designers. Since 2001, Top Shop has taken over the sponsorship. Catwalk designers, like these below, are financially backed by this talent search to produce their line and borrow the space for the runway show. Internationally known as a prestigious launch pad, this scheme has done wonders for the up and coming British designers, helping none other than Alexander McQueen.
Spring/ Summer 2011:
David Koma
Mary Katrantzou
Background: Mary attended the Rhode Island School of Designand then completed her BA and MA at Central Saint Martins. She has previously worked for Sophia Kokosalaki and free lanced for Bill Glass among other designers.
Vision and Customer: She designs for a woman with a liberated spirit and strong sence of style, through a hyperrealist asthetic, bold graphics, and industrial jewelry.
Merchandise: Her merchandise is so bold, different, and unique, nothing like I have ever seen before. Her use of fabic choices are inspired by interior design fundamentals and aesthetics. Her shapes are very structured and modern for her Spring 2011 line. The color palate is light, with pastels, yet still bold with the combination of black and yellow accents.
Inspiration: She is inspired by London's constant energy and for her Fall 2011 line, she was inspired by Diana Vreeland, coromandel scenes, and the interwar period.
Retail: thecorner.com/ farfetch.com
Price Range: $400-$700
Spring/ Summer 2011:
David Koma
Background: David is originally from Georgia and then grew up in Saint-Peterburg. He earned both his BA and MA degrees from Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design.
Vision and Customer: He describes the "David Koma" woman as powerful and confident. His inspiration comes from dark forests, Tim Burton, and hallusinations.
Merchandise: His merchandise lacks bold color, but speaks for itself throught the absence of color- black and white. His design signitures are sculptural shape, heavy embellishment, and perfect fit. I love his clothing because it is strong, yet still feminine and very wearable. His fabric choices are heavy weaves mixed with light weight chiffons.
Retail: He stocks his clothing at Browns Focus London.
Price Range: 100- 300 pounds.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Assignment #3: Discovering the Zeitgeist
Dominating Social Groups:
The Flapper Girls of the Roaring 20's were the most influential social group that I connect to. These women were ready to break free from the traditional female values and express their true colors. The glamour and glitz of these women changed the style of the decade and comes back as a trend into current seasons. In order to be a flapper girl, women had to rebel from what they were used to. The style began in the big cities like New York and Chicago, and rapidly spread. Trend Forecasters for fashion back in the day had to notice the nightlife trend and quickly build upon this turn of style because of the lack of technology that we have today. This social group lead to sequin and fringe which are considered trends, but really transformed pearls and pumps into a classic. Thank you Flappers for your boldness and unique style!
Dominating Events:
The wedding of Lady Diana Frances Spencer and Charles, Price of Whales, was considered the Wedding of the Century. The date was July 29 of 1981, hence the puffy sleeves and the volume wedding dress. At St. Paul's Cathedral, the royal couple gave their vows in front of 3,500 people. Their wedding was an event that was not to be missed, and evidently left their mark on the fashion world. Already, this Princess was an icon and her dress and veil became legendary. It was a puff ball meringue and a frilly neckline. The dress was made of silk taffeta, decorated with lace, hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls. The iconic dress was designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel. The train of the dress and the veil, were twenty five feet long, definitely one of the longest in history.
Because of the extravagance of Princess Diana's gown, fashion forecasters had to be prepared for extravagance of 80's fashion. The puffy sleeves and volume was sought after by the world. She was a trend setter and the world looked up to her. The upcoming wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William will be the next century's influential wedding. Beginning with her dress, the world will attempt to follow in her fashion footsteps. Fashion forecasters understand that royalty have always been the leaders in setting the trends dating back as far as their was a hierarchy.
20's Flapper Girls
The Flapper Girls of the Roaring 20's were the most influential social group that I connect to. These women were ready to break free from the traditional female values and express their true colors. The glamour and glitz of these women changed the style of the decade and comes back as a trend into current seasons. In order to be a flapper girl, women had to rebel from what they were used to. The style began in the big cities like New York and Chicago, and rapidly spread. Trend Forecasters for fashion back in the day had to notice the nightlife trend and quickly build upon this turn of style because of the lack of technology that we have today. This social group lead to sequin and fringe which are considered trends, but really transformed pearls and pumps into a classic. Thank you Flappers for your boldness and unique style!
Dominating Events:
Princess Diana's Wedding
The wedding of Lady Diana Frances Spencer and Charles, Price of Whales, was considered the Wedding of the Century. The date was July 29 of 1981, hence the puffy sleeves and the volume wedding dress. At St. Paul's Cathedral, the royal couple gave their vows in front of 3,500 people. Their wedding was an event that was not to be missed, and evidently left their mark on the fashion world. Already, this Princess was an icon and her dress and veil became legendary. It was a puff ball meringue and a frilly neckline. The dress was made of silk taffeta, decorated with lace, hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls. The iconic dress was designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel. The train of the dress and the veil, were twenty five feet long, definitely one of the longest in history.
Because of the extravagance of Princess Diana's gown, fashion forecasters had to be prepared for extravagance of 80's fashion. The puffy sleeves and volume was sought after by the world. She was a trend setter and the world looked up to her. The upcoming wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William will be the next century's influential wedding. Beginning with her dress, the world will attempt to follow in her fashion footsteps. Fashion forecasters understand that royalty have always been the leaders in setting the trends dating back as far as their was a hierarchy.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Visual Directory
CLASSICS
1. Blazer
2. Military Trench
PENDULUM SWING
1.
Cross Body
Oversized Bags
2.
Stripes
Plaid
PAST ERAS
1. 1980's
2. 1950's
FADS
1. Funky Sunglasses
2. Grey Glamour
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Week 1: Observations
1. On the Spot:
The best way to learn about the world around us is to observe our surroundings. With out opening our eyes to our fast-paced culture, we would never advance in technology, fashion, and human interaction. For this assignment, I spent the week at different locations observing human behavior and trends.
I began by spending time at the Irvine Spectrum on Wednesday evening. The shopping district was slow, but still had consistent foot traffic. I sat for 30 minutes at the outside patio of the Corner Bakery Cafe watching passersby for consistency in behavior. As I sat across from Tony and Guy Hair Salon, I noticed that customers carried one to two shopping bags and paid in the shop with primarily credit cards. Men strolled alone or hand and hand with their significant other. Women shopped alone, or in groups of twos or threes. As for appearances, women who were out with men were wearing high heels, while others wore boots because of the cold weather. Most trendy females were wearing military inspired coats and tall boots.
My next destination was on my lunch break at the Mission Viejo Mall. I sat the the Nordstrom E-Bar watching shoppers make their way in and out of the store. Almost everyone exiting the store was carrying a shopping bag. Because this was during my lunch hour, I saw a lot of mothers with their children in strollers. I noticed that the majority of females wore cross-body bags. The sign of small bags and few shopping expenditures reflects the recession that is affecting the retail industry.
As I studied interactions and appearances, I came to a conclusion that I did not expect. Today's consumer is all over the place! People have become more independent. Teenagers and adults strolled the shopping centers interacting with non other than their iPhone. Girls had their own individual sense of style and appearance.
I began by spending time at the Irvine Spectrum on Wednesday evening. The shopping district was slow, but still had consistent foot traffic. I sat for 30 minutes at the outside patio of the Corner Bakery Cafe watching passersby for consistency in behavior. As I sat across from Tony and Guy Hair Salon, I noticed that customers carried one to two shopping bags and paid in the shop with primarily credit cards. Men strolled alone or hand and hand with their significant other. Women shopped alone, or in groups of twos or threes. As for appearances, women who were out with men were wearing high heels, while others wore boots because of the cold weather. Most trendy females were wearing military inspired coats and tall boots.
My next destination was on my lunch break at the Mission Viejo Mall. I sat the the Nordstrom E-Bar watching shoppers make their way in and out of the store. Almost everyone exiting the store was carrying a shopping bag. Because this was during my lunch hour, I saw a lot of mothers with their children in strollers. I noticed that the majority of females wore cross-body bags. The sign of small bags and few shopping expenditures reflects the recession that is affecting the retail industry.
As I studied interactions and appearances, I came to a conclusion that I did not expect. Today's consumer is all over the place! People have become more independent. Teenagers and adults strolled the shopping centers interacting with non other than their iPhone. Girls had their own individual sense of style and appearance.
2. Style Tribes: The Art Institute Campus
As I begin the path to Trends and Forecasting, I have unfortunately realized that I am not very advanced at picking up on trends that have not previously been pointed out to me. I can watch and note behavior for hours and it is hard for me to categorize people into style tribes. I recognize obvious stereotypes, but I had trouble at school. As I roamed the campus this week, I am able to recognize the fashion students, marketing versus design, and culinary. Game art students, industrial design, and graphic design are a bit harder to differentiate from one another. Mostly males dominate this category, all of witch dressing in darker colors. Fashion students dress "artsy," yet stylized. Marketing and advertising students dress more professional. Culinary students are dressed in uniform and travel as a pack. Over the course of the quarter, I plan to pick up on details and open my eye to human behavior and trends.
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