Chic as it Trends

Elena Thery- uncovering all fashion trends that fashion-savvy New Yorkers want to follow. Communication Arts Major, Minor in Journalism, blog theme: Trends, [email protected]

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“Modern Women go for skin care”

Elena Thery

In the contemporary world every lady is serious concerned with her skin, and would rather do anything than seeing the skin getting rashes, wrinkles or any spots. Women have also not lagged behind, and seem to follow the trend of the current generation of ladies. It is not amazing, or incredible to see older women going for skin care products for the sake of making them look “young” and “appealing”. There are several factors which drive them to maintain their beauty. For instance some may find the need to maintain their skin beautiful as it gives them high self-esteem, and makes them be appreciated by all other people. Other women are attracted by commercials for skin products, whereas another lot of women are just attracted with benefits of using the skin products (Kochhar, 2013).

To begin, the use of skin care products; whether herbal or chemical is rampant among women in the modern world. The reason they use these products is that they usually want to be appreciated as a result of having beautiful skin. If anything, women are more concerned with their skin more than anything, and would do anything to enhance their beauty. According to Dr David Fenton, a consultant dermatologist at St John’s Institute of Dermatology, St Thomas’ Hospital, every woman wants to achieve beauty through using facial creams that are helpful in reducing facial lines making them look younger, smoother and more radiant (Estridge, 2014). The need of beauty is usually the driving force behind women both old and young going for facial and other skin products as they leave their skins more pretty and dazzling. Women do not fear trying for the sake of their skins, and hence are willing to try out various products to look good.

Other women are basically attracted to products through commercials. They believe that by using certain skin products they are going to get a smooth skin just like the celebrities conducting those skin products. The power of the media is witnessed as most women would take a quick step of trying out those products for the sake of their beauty. Women usually believe that the products advertised on the media are likely to boost their skin, and make them healthier by allowing smooth blood flow while also carrying nutrients across the body through the tissues. Dr Blossom Kochlar, the founder of The Blossom Kochlar Group of Companies, ensures that products of her company are well advertised because they are able to reduce signs of aging while keeping the skin smooth as well as boosting elasticity. Pigmentation and reduction of wrinkles are also reduced through these products.

http://www.webmd.com/beauty/advances-skin-care-9/women-face-skin-care 

Though an overwhelming number of women would go for artificial skin care products, just a handful would stick to natural skin beauty without considering any product. Such kind of women believes that skin care products can have negative effects on their skin. Claudia Louch a skin specialist uses only natural products without even considering any form of artificial skin products. She believes that natural skin products are vital as they also help cure some of the cosmetic problems (Finnigan, 2014).

To conclude, it is apparent that women prefer maintaining their skin using different skin products for reasons already mentioned in the essay. However, there is still a small number of women who would maintain their skin by using herbal products which are absolutely natural as they believe that artificial skin products can be detrimental. 

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Alexander Wang x H&M Promo Video

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"Fashion is a very important part of our style in our songs, it is funny how much it actually influences because every time our music style changes our fashion tastes change too" says Ricky Montaner.

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H&M and Alexander Wang Collaboration

Elena Thery

Everyone waits for the H&M fashion’s most covetable and discussed about designer high street collaborations. H&M is a Swedish retail store chain with branches all over the world, including in the UK and US. It has previously collaborated with some of the world class leading designers including Versace, Stella McCartney, Karl Lagerfeld, Lanvin and Marni who have produced collections that sell out in hours leading to customer queues that snake around H&M stores all over. H&M only works with the best designers and it is therefore not a surprise that they previously chose Isabel Marant and have just recently invited Alexander Wang.

H&M teamed up with Isabelle Marant, one of the most trending fashion designers in its previous annual designer collaboration for 2013. Her collections were described as chic while at the same time they were something real, that women could wear in their day to day lives. Her designs had some form of carelessness but still managed to appear sexy which promoted an attitude of ease. In an interview with vogue she stated, "I aim to create something real, that women want to wear in their everyday lives, with a certain carelessness, which I think is very Parisian: you dress up, but do not pay too much attention and still look sexy. The collection is infused with this kind of easiness and attitude. Everything can be mixed following one's own instincts: my take on fashion is all about personality." Marant was chosen because of the way she likes mixing different elements in her collections as was noted by the H&M creative advisor Margareta van den Bosch. She is very contemporary as she creates an urban style effortlessly while giving it an ethnic detail. Marant is known for creating designs that people really want to wear.

The partnership with Isabel Marant has led to the enormous growth in sales for H&M. She is even termed as the best partnership that H&M have had in a long time. “ Marant is the best thing that happened to H&M  in 2013” said eleizabeth torres who is an intern at H&M.This partnership created clothes for everyone including men, women and even the teens which were all well accepted. This greatly boosted the sales for H&M.

 All her collections have been eagerly waited for with the stores having a sell out within a matter of hours. Most customers commended the good quality designs within a pocket friendly price range. This would even allow some customers to buy some of the clothes for resale. Estefania Fernandez a fashion blogger said “ I loved H&M collaboration with Isabel Marant the clothes were such good quality and very fashionable I am very exited about Alexander Wangs collaboration, I am hoping is good”.Marant created a lot of suspense in her collection since people had to wait for months before anxious shoppers could lay their hands on the Isabel Marant for H&M collection.

“Marant is arguably the most exciting designer for 2013! I definitely do not mind waiting in line for so long” said Maria Pia who was shopping at H&M “ the stuff at H&M is so good yet so affordable”

 Alexander Wang announced about his arranged partnership with H&M at a joint party held at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts festival on Saturday, April 12th . Alexander Wang will be the first American designer to collaborate with H&M for its designer collaborations which is normally held annually. Wang thought it was a crazy idea to make this announcement at a party, when everyone was there and to further confirm the announcement on Instagram. In an interview with WWD, Wang said that it would be too early to say what’s in the collection but gave a sneak peak by saying “There will be a new element of lifestyle offering that's a completely new way of approaching the collaboration, but it is too early to give away.” Wang is expected to also create a memorable collection. 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/bluecarreon/2014/04/13/hm-teams-up-with-alexander-wang-for-next-collaboration/

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Musicians not to cool to be fashionable

Elena Thery

18/03/14

Fashion design is the ordinary beauty or the application of design and aesthetics to outfits and accessories. These days you can see how the music industry has also been influenced by the fashion industry. However, the two industries exhibit similarities in the manner in which the activities are done in the industries. They are all influenced by cultural and social latitudes and this varies over time and place. In order to understand this, it is very vital to employ the styles and technology that transforms the processes in the two industries hence placing the industries in the current global market. Men, however, have been attracted to the fashion styles by the current outfits that appear attractive to the viewers. They have used these outfits to market their products and believe it or not specially musicians.

Musicians are known for their cool attitude and just rolled out of bed look. However they go to a lot of trouble to getting that look. Latin band MR. explained how they have become more interested in fashion and how fashion has influence their style "Fashion is a very important part of our style in our songs, it is funny how much it actually influences because every time our music style changes our fashion tastes change too" says Ricky Montaner.

Initially men bought clothes that were too large for them. However, this was not men’s fault because they have been conditioned to do that for the whole of their life. Our parents bought these clothes, and as we grew up we become accustomed to the fit. However, this has not been the case recently, people have discovered that fashion impresses audience and market products "Our manager always tells us how important it is we have a style and we have to have a look we have to portray" says Mauricio Montaner. The band members also explain how music has a variety of songs to perform and considers the type of the audience as well as time to perform the music. This is because most of the songs have meaning and some are designed for special occasions like parties and other functional activities "Both the music and fashion have been put together for a mass market" says Ricky Montaner.

Fashion designers endeavor to design clothes that are purposeful and pleasing to the customers. They, however, master the persons who will wear them and the situations as well as time the clothes will be necessary to wear them. In the fashion arena, they have a diverse range of combinations of the materials to work in a wide range of colors, patterns and styles to choose from. Here, time is very crucial since most of the clothes are worn every day and fall within the range of conventional styles; typical clothes are usually required for special occasions such as evening wear or the party dresses. Johan Vera a model, actor has influenced people after discovering that fashion has an appealing feature while performing his productions " I have always been interested in fashion and when I started modeling I got more into it and learned how important it was the style I portrayed to the audience". As a result of this, actors and musicians have become interested in fashion and wear outfits that exactly fit their bodies.

Under the influence of technology and the need to capture the global market, fashion industries have organized live fashion shows in order to present their designs and produces in the market. This has been a greater influence to men who wish to participate in fashion shows or music performances like Ricardo Montaner and Mauricio Montaner. However, when the production is completed, live shows in exhibition sites are organized, and special people are invited to attend the fashion show. Rating of creativity is done by a special group of designers as well as professional makers and awards are given to the best industries with the best designs. Similarly, music, live performances and competition is all over the world in the exhibitions and other performance sites in order to compete for awards for the best creativity.

http://www.cmtv.com.ar/biografia/show.php?bnid=2031

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"(left) Oscar de la Renta, caftan, multi colored caftan with beaded trim, c. 1963, USA, gift of Diana Vreeland. (right) Emilio Pucci, dress, printed silk jersey, c. 1970, Italy, Gift of Robert Wells in Memory of Lisa Kirk. " 

"Christian Dior (John Galliano), evening dress, camouflage print silk, spring 2001, France, Museum purchase."

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Fashion Institute of Technology Museum Goes Way Back to Examine Trends

Elena Thery

04/03/14

New Yorkers follow fashion trends just like New York dogs follow their owners. Certainly, it is not an easy task to keep up with fashion trends since they change in a blink of an eye. The Museum of Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) opened a new exhibition called Tren-ology. It is located at 227 West 27th Street, and it will be on view until April 30th 2014. The exhibition provides information about the cultural influences that have had through the years and how trends originate. All the fashion pieces in the exhibition show fashion trends that emerged over the past 250 years.

The curators of the exhibition Ariele Elia and Emma McClendon portray the fashion changes of color, patterns and textiles throughout the years. Tren-ology includes more than 100 garments, accessories and textiles. The pieces in the exhibition vary from the nineteenth century tartan dresses to the 21st century new trends from high-end designers.

The curators have organized the exhibition in a simple way that shows how past cultures influence trends. Elia reports, “If you look at trends across a decade, it’s a complete manifestation of what it’s happening socially, politically and in pop culture – you can literally see manifest itself through cloths.” For instance, one can observe how culture manifested in the 1960s when the jet set lifestyle was the most preferred art at those days. Fashion photographers, editors and even socialites wanted to travel far places like India, Japan and Africa in these outfits. This influenced all fashion cloths of those moments, inspiring fashion designers to create very exotic pieces hence the creation of this trend.

Assistant account executive for women’s wholesale at Lavin Estefania Garcia, explains how trends originate from the fashion cycle. She confirms that once a product hits the climax or the top of the curve, it means that it has reached popular recognition and demand. She declares that, “A color, style, or product can become a trend and this always starts with trend-setters or innovators; these are couture and luxury designers, social influencers, and celebrities.”

The biggest change in trends over the years is how the cycle in the fashion industry has spread out. This has to do with the creation of social media and advances in production and transportation. Nowadays-weekly shipments that stock fast-fashion stores operate globally through due to this development. An example of such stores is Zara. This is a relatively new concept that provides for the needs of the fast paced world we are living in. Advanced communications such as the use of Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr among others social adds have speeded up communication and transactions. Despite this interaction enhancement, Estefania Garcia says that, “The business model is tricky, and sometimes it is necessary and works flawlessly such as the Zara case, but for basic pieces one likes to keep forever, the quality is very poor.”

Despite the fact that styles may come and go, in the fashion industry nothing ever goes out of style forever.  “Starting in the 18th century, and follows the emergence (and reemergence) of trends up into the current period,” said Emma McClendon. Styles never die; they sink and resurface time after time depending on technological, social, economic, cultural and political settings of the society.

https://www.fitnyc.edu/21786.asp