Reader Response

We recently had a comment asking which domestic city outside of New York and which international city would you travel to if you had a job as a trend forecaster and analyst. Given the shrinking world we live in the answer is not a simple one or two city answer. The reality is that inspiration and trends now come from everywhere and the internet, blogs and online sites capture the fashion trends from across the globe, making it easier to get a glimpse of global trends. If you are a trend forecaster you must constantly read, research online, subscribe to the most influential blogs and travel to see first hand what people are wearing.

Trend forecasting aside, this practice is also extremely helpful for anyone in fashion whether it be designers, buyers, PR, marketing etc. To understand your customer, what they are looking for and the market mentality you need to research as well as interact with the customer/people directly. The type of company you work for will tailor the lens through which you look at the trends and filter them based on your customer and their needs.

We hope this provides a brief explanation regarding the question. The bottom line is "knowledge is power." Investigate, interview and research to absorb as much information as you can from a variety of resources.

Andrej Pejic- A Gender Bending Rising Star in the Modeling World

There are mixed reactions from the general public regarding Andrej Pejic, a model born in Tuyla, Bosnia-Herzegoveina to a Croatian father and Serbian mother who began modeling in Australia. The most unique aspect about this model, aside from the androgynous look that is getting this model noticed is the fact that this model walking the catwalks in Paris is in fact male.

Is this a new era in the modeling world? The fashion industry has always been a more accepting place than the rest of the world so is this a new trend? At the very least it certainly blurs the line of possibilities and opens doors for others who may wish to follow suit.

To read more about Andrej and the feedback he is receiving please visit some of the below sites.

New York Magazine
Models.com
Yahoo News!
The Fashionisto

Giambattista Valli

Stella McCartney

"High Fascism"-An Opinion Piece from The New York Times

Many have covered the story of John Galliano's anti-Semitic rant but on March 6th, The New York Times published an opinion piece by Rhonda Garelick, a professor of English and Performing Arts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The opinion piece briefly grazes over a darker side of the history of french fashion during Nazi occupation and the standards of beauty that developed as a result. This opinion in no way excuses the behavior of Galliano nor any type of anti-Semitic thought but the opinion piece is polemic and challenges us to think.

High Faschism- by Rhonda Garelick

LVMH- Hermes, Dior and Arnault's Creation of a Fashion Empire

LVMH has been in the news quite a bit over the past few months. last October the news broke of LVMH's purchase of 17% of Hermes and later reports were published of additional stakes purchased. Earlier this year LVMH continued as it always has, buying up and investing in luxury brands that had the potential to be developed further which took the focus of luxury skincare brands such as NUDE and Ole Henrikson.

Just this week, LVMH, who said they would not over pay to acquire companies, plans to pay an exorbitant amount to purchase the luxury jeweler Bulgari. To read more visit the following articles. (Bloomberg, Business Report, NY Times)

Despite all of the news, LVMH and Bernard Arnault, have been sources of controversy and the center of a love-hate relationship in the fashion world for years. There was a great article written about the recent trials and tribulations of this conglomerate  in the New York Times on March 5th highlighting the Hermes saga and the recent incident with Galliano. You can find this article in the below link.

Off the Catwalk, the Battle for Hermes

Paris Fashion Week. J'adore French Fashion and Its Rich Heritage

Despite all of the drama that surrounded Paris Fashion Week and saturated fashion news, the fashions highlighted during this exclusive week were as always exquisite.

Dries Van Noten



Theirry Mugler

The over the top Theirry Mugler is renewed with the influence of Lady Gaga and her stylist-turned-designer Nicola Formichetti who is bringing the fashion house back to center stage.



Gareth Pugh



Balmain

Balmain has a rich couture history as the label was founded in 1945 by Pierre Balmain. To read more about the fashion house visit NY Magazine and the Fashion Encyclopedia.



Rick Owens



Nina Ricci



Isabel Marant



Lanvin

Another fashion house rich in the classic French Couture history Lanvin continues to soar to great heights and has even partnered with fast fashion brand H&M given it's attractive nature to fashion audiences around the world.

For a brief history lesson on Lanvin and her fashions go to:

Jeanne Lanvin
Lanvin Historical Timeline
Lanvin Today
Wikipedia



Viktor & Rolf



Haider Ackermann



Celine



Givenchy

Cate Blanchett graced the Oscar's red carpet in a stunning Givenchy creation recently and audiences across America soon chimed in with their feedback. The gown was not completely understood by the general public but the composition, detail and construction was exquisite. This couturier is most often mis-pronounced within the United States. In fact it has been mis-pronounced so often someone created a You Tube video which is 7 seconds long that goes over the correct pronunciation. The video is below and has received over 46,000 views.



http://www.givenchy.com/