Archive for the 'Fashion Accessories' Category...
Filed under Fashion Accessories
PRINTS GET HOT, HOT, HOT!
SOME ARE WILD; OTHERS CEREBRAL, SOPHISTICATED. Some look like a Jackson Pollock painting, with splashes of colorful paint enlivening dresses and skirts just as oil enlivens a canvas. These are the new prints that are exciting the world of couture and ready-to-wear, marvelous, exciting prints that are part modern, part contemporary, and part classic-vintage. But all, all of them, filled with action and movement and visual delight.
Oh, you say, “We’ve always had prints.” Yes, that’s true…but not prints dressed up like these! Come along and take a look for yourself:
PRINTS PLAYED OFF SOLIDS: Pick your print and team it up with an all-one-color outfit for major emphasis! If the single color is black, all the better…you’re really hot on the “In” side of fashion. Then choose a great print, maybe red or green or yellow or perhaps all three mixed into one terrific look of flowers or graphics or who-knows-what. The print might be a blouse, a jacket, a skirt. It doesn’t matter. If the background color is black, and you’re pairing it with a black outfit…wow!
–ACCESSORY TIPS: This is a look that almost demands a great necklace, maybe a choker in silver or gold, big, chunky, sophisticated. The look is modern, so stay away from vintage, and opt instead for a clean, sleek design. Bracelets are also a natural, maybe a wrist full of bracelets on one arm, and a clean minimalist look on the other. Don’t miss out on black tights and funky boots.
YOU CAN MAKE THE PRINT REVOLUTION WORK WONDERS FOR YOU. JUST PAIR GREAT PRINTS WITH GREAT ACCESSORIES AND VOILA! MAGIC! HERE ARE SOME PRODUCTS TO ENHANCE THE MAGIC, TOO:
PAINTER PRINTS: Splash, splash! Remember when artists were just beginning to experiment with throwing paint on a canvas, and then just letting it take care of itself? They called it art, much to the distress of many critics, but the technique still stood. Well, now it is making big waves as the essence from which art splashes in fabric evolve. And, what do you know, the look is often dynamite!
Think in terms of splattered looks, as if you were painting and got your shirt full of paint. Add a few red or yellow non-forms (like globs) on top of the splatter and you’ve got a quirky, fascinating look.
–ACCESSORY TIPS: Go easy on the print, you don’t want too much of it. This is a strong look! Keep it to a tee shirt or blouse. Then put on tights or leather leggings, and have fun with jewelry. Rings are great here, all kinds of rings, one for every finger! Earrings are also good …try hoops for a very “Now” look.
ANIMAL INSTINCTS: Grrrr. Look up the endangered species list and you’ll know what prints we are talking about. Tiger. Leopard. Gorgeous jungle animals whose skins are the inspiration for some of the best and wildest prints for the season. Anything “animalistic” is in. Birds. Fish. Even insects. But, the biggest of all are those large, treacherous, spectacularly wonderful leopards, tigers, and the like. Animal prints are terrific in blouses, t’s and tights, slacks, jackets, coats, you name it. Almost anything takes well to the genre.
–ACCESSORY TIPS: Pick up the gold of the animal and replicate it in necklaces and bracelets. Or, play with silver earrings. Tribal designs, especially those out of Africa, go remarkably well. Little handbags slung across the chest are casual naturals for this look. Wrist watches with animal print straps are great. Take a look at Swatch watches, too, for some wonderful wilderness and jungle themes.
OUT OF INDIA: Traditional India-Indian prints have really moved into the realm of classics. Paisleys, Indian forms, gem-inspired designs are all top favorites for the fabric revolution as prints take over the fashion world. Find them in clothing from Prada, Hilfiger, Lauren – oh, so many more! What’s new here is the way the Indian prints are being used. Not just in classic little dresses, but in slacks, T’s, casual jackets, you name it. The look can be casual, it can be formal, but it is always dynamic!
–ACCESSORY TIPS: Think of the ancient tradition behind the print and you can come up with some excellent accessories. Indian-style earrings are terrific, but so, too, are earrings with a demure British flair, or bracelets and necklaces that say “I am a lady.” Silver works, but gold is so much richer, so much better. If you’d rather be a non-conformist with this look, stray backwards in time to the 60s, and pick out almost any outfit from the street kids. They all wore paisley!
USE THE NEW PRINTS TO GIVE YOUR PRODUCTS A RICH MIDDLE-EASTERN CHARM. HERE ARE SOME GREAT ACCESSORIES TO GO WITH THEM:
Comments (0) Posted by Mary McGarry on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010
Filed under Fashion Accessories
WHEN HAVE FASHIONISTAS: ever been offered such an array of hot, trendy stories to play with, buy, and look terrific in? Fall 2010 is chock full of the best fashion has to offer, and then some. This is a merchandisers dream! Choose your favorite looks, or just go with the flow and take something from all of them. These stories were made to excite the most blasé creatures!
Here are a couple of the biggest trends coming off the runways this season:
YOU’RE IN THE ARMY NOW
ARMY STRONG: This new military look takes its essence from the past – WWII, Korea, Vietnam – and mixes it with a dollup of “right now fashion modern” for a truly spectacular effect. Think color first and foremost: Rich, military colors, like khaki, browns of all sorts, gray, and especially that very identifiable green-brown that is military all the way. While it is still not at the top of the fashion lost, you can also work with some marine military colors, and add in a selection of Navy blues, as well. Brass buttons and black boots finish the style.
Giving the military a much-needed feminine infusion are scarves and skirts and blouses in billowy fabrics and soft, feminine prints, matched cleverly with the tough military outfits for a truly new, new look!
ACCESSORIZING THE MILITARY MIGHT: well, you just know back packs have to surface here. They remind you of all the gear our soldiers strap on their backs as they enter the fray in Iraq or Afghanistan. Belts are also very hot: wide, brown belts with masculine-simple silver buckles.
Around the neck: don’t miss out on necklaces! This is where a bit of contradiction takes over, with peace sign pendants very very big! Watches are generally large, rings man-styles. Keep things sleek, avoid hang-offs of any sort
SOUNDING OFF FOR GREAT ACCESSORIES MEANS PICKING THE RIGHT STUFF FOR MILITARY ATTIRE. CHECK OUT SOME OF THE ITEMS HERE:
KICKED-UP RETRO
YESTERDAY WITH A MODERN ÉLAN. IS THIS EVER FANTRASTIC! Think of your favorite retro stories, very 1950s, and add on a modern touch for an extraordinary look! We’re talking cat’s eye sunglasses, dainty handbags, girly styles and bubble-hem dresses, color-blocking, brocades, sweet plaids, little handle bags, socks, rich cardigans, and no small amount of Kerouac wildness in beatnik clothing manners. California was on the rise!
Psychedelic was just beginning to break through, and classic fashion held the fort in most areas, including New York. Ladies were still ladies, girls were girls, and hooker hot was a long, long way off! Still, cigarette pants and a slightly coy look with off-the-shoulder sweaters prevailed. It was the end of an era.
This is great memorabilia! Retailers might want to play with this story for the entire fall season, displaying photos of famous movie stars, popular resorts, and great Paris fashion.
ACCESSORIZING THE PAST-PRESENT: Dainty little watches bring back the Fifties in a “timely” fashion. Skinny little belts are just the style, looks that make it best are full, swingy, fitted out with bowler bags and plenty of classic silhouettes. Headbands are very “IN” for this look, bracelets are important, socks look “wild” with high heeded shoes, and necklaces give 50s skirt-and-blouse dressing a certain edge.
You can jazz up the 50s look with some important takes on today’s fashion. Consider adding “pops” of great color. Or sleek little leather booties. For those interested in being sexy, combine some glittery tights with a crisp white blouse and colorful cardigan, and then finish the outfit with conservative teardrop pearl earrings and a pretty gold bracelet. An ankle bracelet would work well here, too. Wow!
–(Incidentally, this fits in with the editorial fashion review in a top magazine, which refers to the good-girl-gone-bad look for fall, with demure looks on top and clingy and sexy on the bottom).
GETTING INTO A FIFTIES FRAME OF MIND ISN’T SO DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S TEMPERED BY MODERN STYLES. HERE ARE SOME TERRIFIC VALUES TO ACCESSORIZE YOUR LOOK:
Comments (0) Posted by Mary McGarry on Monday, August 23rd, 2010
Filed under Fashion Marketing
SOMETHING IS HAPPENING HERE, AND SMART RETAILERS ARE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION! A bevy of new retail concepts are suddenly sprouting up around the country, aimed at giving stores a new look and a new aura of excitement. Are you aware of this movement? Well, we suggest you check out the action because the major players in the fashion field are fast evolving new personalities for stores, and new ways of retailing clothing and accessories.
“People are tired of the same old, same old,” declared Raymond Graj, of Graj + Gustavsen, a hot brand marketing and store concepts firm. “They’re hungry for new things that are not mass produced, and don’t want to buy into cookie-cutter,” he says. As one major industry publication put it: this is an “attempt to transform America’s cookie cutter landscape.”
Stores are taking on fresh images and auras, custom-tailored to where they are located and who their customers are. They are expanding their focus of operation. They are reaching toward more personal involvement with the customer in myriad different ways. It is all very exciting to witness!
International Scope
JUST LOOK AT some of these big name brands: Disney is fast reinventing its stores to excite more business. Levi Strauss & Co. is setting up 1,000 foot stores for its new brand, Denizen, which will cater to 18- to 28-year-old women and men in emerging middle class countries such as India and China. It’s an international as well as psychological block-buster effort underway, promising to bring big dollars into the fashion retail field as soon as the economy gets going again. Maybe, sooner!
APPEALING TO A DIFFERENT CLIENTELE IS ONE WAY OF JUMP-STARTING THIS NEW STORE IDEAL. LOOK HERE FOR SOME GREAT PRODUCTS TO SUIT SPECIAL INTERESTS:
- Don’t miss out on the strong bridal market! This 2-row bridal choker set can start the momentum rolling for a new marriage sector in your store.
New Prototypes
PROTOTYPES OF NEW STORE concepts are likewise popping up from coast to coast. Brooks Brothers has opened its first free-standing girls’ and boys’ shop called Fleese. The new operation represents a “younger state of mind” for Brooks Brothers, and is explained to be a “test” store for, among other things, the company’s first go at girls’ merchandise.
Blooomingdale’s is putting forth a beachy store concept in Santa Monica, California, a take-off on the store’s contemporary-driven store in Manhattan’s Soho. Bloomingdale’s expects to replicate the idea with local input in many different locations around the country. Ann Taylor is opening a new prototype store in Atlanta where it will test new retail concepts.
J. Crew has opened a smashing new bridal concept store in Manhattan, one that takes a wide view of the entire marriage scene, from before and after bridal parties, to rehearsal dinners, the honeymoon and the bridal night. If there is something to merchandise here, the store intends to grasp it. The consumer is the beneficiary, having everything needed for any particular event or situation all presented in one place. The whole ball of wax, you might say. Dynamite!
Ahead of Competition
THERE IS A SURGE among strong retailers looking at ways to position themselves ahead of the competition through new prototypes. What’s more, the new concept stores have a strong global flare, and retailers plan to take them international as well.
One of the most outstanding examples of this new store concept rollout is Starbucks Corp., where Dawn Clark, vice president of international store design says, “The days of being able to just stamp things out isn’t good enough anymore.” She says the bar is higher, the demand for moré sophistication stronger. Customers want to see variation, she contends. They don’t want boring.
–Retailers across the nation are apparently listening to the Starbucks’ veep and watching what is coming down from the Seattle headquarters.
To start with, the store is incorporating wine and beer into its menu in many locations. It is also testing a new brand, the 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea concept, which has a different roasting method and no relationship to the Starbucks’ name. The roll-out will also feature a European bakery.
More New York
ROY STREET IS ANOTHER Starbucks’ prototype concept, one that tries to reflect the feeling of the local architecture. Even the Starbucks’ store in Manhattan’s trendy Soho has undergone sprucing up, with new, darker woods, more comfortable seating. You might say it is more “New York” than ever!
Clark points out that Starbucks grew so fast, the firm didn’t realize how alike all its stores were. “It was really one size fits all, and it turned out some communities didn’t relate to that. Retailers,” she continued, “have to really appeal to the consumer with a differentiated brand and store experience.”
LOOKING FOR AN EXPERIENCE THAT FITS THE LOCAL TASTE AND INTEREST CAN BE CHALLENGING AND FUN. SO CAN FINDING THE RIGHT PRODUCTS TO FIT THE NEW IMAGE. LOOK HERE FOR STARTERS:
- Think about expanding out into other accessory arenas. How about this croc print evening clutch? It’s very rich and socially proper!
Comments (0) Posted by Mary McGarry on Saturday, August 21st, 2010
Filed under Fashion Accessories
IT’S NOT TOO LONG AGO that nobody was really interested in fashion from India. It was all too exotic, too provincial, too Ghandi-esque, you might say. Well, all of that has changed, dramatically. At the recent fashion shows in Mumbai, designs were both traditional and western-oriented, even edgy.
The marketing cry of the Indian market is now “going Global!” as more and more countries turn an interested eye on this massive nation. India is getting hot, and it is working hard to keep the momentum going. Just look at these figures: The industry represented less than 2.9 billion rupees (or $64 million) in 2008, and is expected to rise to 7.5 billion rupees, or $166 million, by 2012. That’s an impressive hike.
Sujai Shah who directs the organization of the Mumbai fashion shows points out that design in his country is about color, flowing fabrics, and layering. He also pointed out that, from a business point of view, presentation of new designs is best when it is close to the season. Indians want to be able immediately to buy what they see on the catwalk,” he said.
Raw Silk and Jute
NOT ALL FIRMS stayed to that formula, however. The shows in Delhi, for example, were dedicated to fashion for the fall, as companies there worked the international fashion market. Traditional Indian fabrics were hot here, including raw silk. There were also many stunning sari designs, interesting draping, heavily embroidered pants and tight fitting T-shirts.
A fascinating if unexpected development in Delhi was India’s nod to the strong military trend washing over the global market. Here, companies showed military-style coats and plenty of badges, medals and other honorific symbols of the nation. Metal buttons were especially big.
In both Mumbai and Delhi, the biggest lure was color, the particularly Indian version of color, lavish, sparkling, intense. Colors from indigo to burnt orange were strong and even intriguing, even when toned down somewhat to muted hues of burgundy and brown.
IT’S NOT SURPRISING THAT COLOR AS ONLY INDIA CAN WORK IT STOOD OUT AT ALL THE FASHION EXPOSITIONS HERE. FOR A TASTE OF INDIA-LIKE COLOR INTENSITY, LOOK HERE:
Fabulous Accessories
AMONG THE MOST EXCITING ACCESSORIES in India this year were brightly colored and printed headwraps, worn Indian style. Long chain necklaces with ball beads hanging off were also hot, looking very Indian and western, at the same time. Earrings were mostly long, metal, and full of movement. Circles were the big symbol.
The theater has always been a strong point of fashion design and marketing in India.
For example, one firm offered outfits imprinted with images of Dharavi, the vast Mumbai slum that featured so prominently in the Oscar-winning film, Slumdog Millionaire.
At the same time, there were fewer Bollywood stars on the runways this year, with one major manufacturer saying, “My fashions are the stars.” It seems many Industry executives concluded that theatrical personalities divert attention away from the fashion being shown, and on to themselves.
With all of the action and visual impact shaking up the runways, accessories still stood out as the glamorous and distinctive best India has to offer. Bangle bracelets were traditional and modern, big and multiple, running half-way up the arm and then some. Some were plain, brilliant color, others were heavily embellished with gold insets and stunning gemstones.
Beads, Beads, Beads
And beads, long a beauty specialty of India, were everywhere. Big and small beads, remarkably unique looking beads, beads as bracelets, necklaces, earrings! And, oh, the colors and the hand work on the beads! What could be more beautiful?
Certainly, no one could see these shows without knowing that India is on the move. Her designs and fabrications are remarkable. What country has more to offer? Keep an eye on Mumbai and Delhi – their colors alone are fashion icons!
GOLD GLITTERED FROM PRACTICALLY EVERY FASHION ACCESSORY LINE IN INDIA. YOU CAN GET THE SAME LUXURY LOOK AT A GREAT PRICE:
- Large crown pendant. Memories of colonial India!
Comments (0) Posted by Mary McGarry on Friday, August 20th, 2010
Filed under Fashion Accessories
IT’S SUMMERTIME, AND WHAT BETTER TIME for a party than this? The sun is high, the weather is hot, and everyone’s attention is on feeling good and having a great vacation, at home or elsewhere. That just naturally brings up parties because this is the perfect time of year for them. Hold one outdoors, make use of some fabulous fashion accessories, and oh! What a good time everyone will have!
We pulled together a few party ideas you might want to use for yourself or your customers. Here they are:
MASQUERADE PARTY: This is such a great party idea, especially for a warm summer evening! Get together with some wonderful food (think in terms of off-beat dishes, exotica that adds to the unknown flavor).
You can always theme your Masquerade Party – like 18th Century Spooky, or French Sensuality, or Early American Revolutionary, — or you can just call it a masked celebration and let your guests choose the masks and costumes they want for themselves.
Masquerade Parties are just as much fun for youngsters as adults. If anything, kids love them even more. In this case, you can let your young guests wear their own masks, or you can supply masks for them.
A terrific game for Masquerade Parties is, of course, Who Am I? That can mean actually identifying the guests, or identifying who he or she is supposed to be. It is often amazing to see the variety of things people’s minds can come up with!
MAKE YOUR MASQUERADE PARTY AS FABULOUS AS POISSIBLE! LOOK HERE FOR SOME SPECTACULAR MASKS AT REMARKABLY REASONABLE PRICES:
VICTORIAN TEA PARTY: This doesn’t have to be as snooty as it sounds! In fact, tea parties of this sort are growing in popularity and have been for several years now. You can serve coffee or tea, actually, and be sure to include a nice grouping of tasty finger sandwiches with a Brit-flavor, little cakes (the French type are terrific here) go equally well.
Setting the table is a big factor in the Victorian Tea Party. You can even research it on the Internet, to get some quaint pictures of table settings you might want to copy. At any rate, outfit your table with pretty little tea cups and dessert plates (if you don’t have enough of your own, borrow from friends and neighbors…nothing has to match) Some absolute musts include a nice table cloth, some charming tea pots and flowers. Flowers make the Victorian scene complete!
An extraordinary tea salon in Southeast Florida features Victorian Tea Parties with a real flair (and equally impressive price tags). Here, you have your choice of various pieces of clothing — from mink stoles to big fox jackets, along with a collection of great jewelry, from necklaces to earrings, bracelets, and more – all to don for the afternoon.
Once properly outfitted, guests sit at a Victoria-set table and enjoy their afternoon tea. A photographer takes pictures, to keep the memory alive for everyone. You might notice that—take pictures of your party!
PICNIC IN THE PARK: A restaurant in New York City specializes in delightful picnic baskets for customers to buy and take to Central Park for a great afternoon experience. Guys who ordinarily only understand dinner and the movies as dating options might pay attention! This romantic outing is real winner.
You might choose between two types of picnics. One is for kids, filled with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hamburgers to grill, and jugs of iced soda or juice, along with several types of cakes or pies. Kids don’t understand fancy adult fare, so don’t try to feed them that type of food. Keep it simple, easy, good. Include some homemade salads, like macaroni and cheese, if you want to get kudos galore!
Kids’ picnics require games, so bring some balls, some board games, some cards. If the park is conducive to it, you might plan a fun hike.
–Suggestion: Bone up on trees, their names and what they look like. Then, you can teach youngsters a little about the best part of nature on your picnic!
Adult picnics can be much more sophisticated. Some Brie cheese, a loaf of French bread, a bottle of good wine. Spread out a tablecloth, put some pillows around and, voila! You’ve got heaven.
Most importantly, don’t forget the fashion accessories. No adult picnic is complete without a charming outfit and a collection of interesting jewelry pieces. Looking the part helps set the stage for the best picnic ever. Consider chain necklaces, hoop earrings, fun ankle bracelets.
GIVE YOUR PICNIC ACCESSORIES A PERSONAL TOUCH; PICK THE ACCESSORIES YOU LIKE BEST. HERE ARE SOME TO LOOK AT:
Comments (2) Posted by Mary McGarry on Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Filed under Fashion Marketing
GARMENT INDUSTRY TAKES TO THE STREETS: Is this a great idea, or what? In an effort to make the garment industry in New York City known as a center of creativity, not just commercialism, the area between Herald Square and Times Square is the scene of a fabulous — if unorthodox – fashion show which will run 24-hours a day from now through September 3rd. If you plan to be in the City this summer, this is something not to be missed.
It’s called the Sidewalk Catwalk, and it features 33 mannequins, each dressed by a designer, set up along New York’s famed Broadway from 35th to 42nd streets.
“This is all about bringing what’s inside the walls of the garment industry outside to the streets of New York,” declared Terry Lungren, chairman and CEO of Macy’s, one of the sponsors of the project, along with LFUSA, The New York Times, and the Fashion Center Business Improvement District, among others.
But…now for the mannequins! Yeohlee Teng gives homage to architecture with a brick-and-mortar wedding cake shaped figure that shows how certain buildings are designed to let in sunlight. Betsy Johnson decked her mannequin out in flowers.
Kenneth Cole covered his mannequin in a “social messaging” sign that reads, “Underneath it all, you’re naked.”
All the mannequins can withstand the elements and are made from reinforced steel. They are mounted on steel plates and concrete frames and will eventually be auctioned off to benefit Materials for the Arts.
IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR SOME FUTURISTIC DESIGN IDEAS A LA THE CATWALK, YOU MIGHT CHECK THESE OUT:
HOW FAR IS TOO FAR? Sexy, Sexy, Sexy! A number of Fashion Industry majors are taking provocative images to the max in their latest advertising campaigns. The question is: Will this kind of thing sell, or will most people be turned off by its downright sleaziness?
Some of it we won’t stoop to describe here. But you can get an idea of what’s happening with Abercrombie & Fitch’s ad showing ten models lined in a row. The fourth model is a female, facing forward, and she is dressed in a bra and panties. All the others are male, completely naked, with their butts the center, you might say, of attention. The model isn’t just standing there, though. Her hands are on the buttocks of two nude men. You might find this inappropriate, but frankly, by comparison to the other ads, this is amusing and innocent.
An ad for Tom Ford’s men’s wear, for example, also shows a naked female model caressing a male figure, but this time the man is dressed, facing forward. We’ll let you imagine where her hand is.
As for American Apparel’s ad, well, it has been described as super-vulgar. Wow!
“Kids are very provocative today,” Michael Kors says. “Twelve year old girls wear high heels….It’s hard to go backwards with kids today.”
On the other hand, Diane von Furstenberg says, “You can be sexy and not be vulgar.” Enuf said.
THINK ALL KIDS WANT THINGS CHEAP? OFFER THEM SOME OF THESE ACCESSORIES AND YOU’LL OUT-DO THE PROVOCATIVE AD BOYS:
Comments (0) Posted by Mary McGarry on Thursday, July 29th, 2010
Filed under Fashion Accessories
IF YOU ARE LOOKING for the ultimate vacation experience, try hiking through the National Parks in the United States. The sights and sounds and overall wonder of them all will change your life and recharge your senses forever. Just be sure to choose your fashion accessories carefully, to keep you cozy in cold climes and looking great in warm ones.
Perhaps the best way to get out into the land and really experience it first hand is to hike your way through one or more of the spectacular National Parks. I have a friend who some time ago made it a lifetime goal to hike all the National Parks, but despite enormous effort, she has yet to get any place near that lofty goal. This is a big, big system!
Understand that there are 58 National Parks in the system, which is preserved by the United States National Park Service. The Parks are incredibly varied, from Yellowstone National park with its explosive water geysers to the spectacular giant trees of Sequoia.
Your Parks
And all of it belongs to you. This is the amazing thing about the National Park Service, a federal agency established August 25th, 1916, charged with the responsibility of overseeing a total land system that today encompasses about 85 million acres.
- It was the first time in recorded history that any nation had taken huge parcels of land and declared them the sole possession of the people. These Parks are not corporation owned, or landed aristocracy owned, but United States citizen-owned. That means you.
HIKING IS NOT AS SIMPLE (OR AS EASY) AS MANY MAY THINK. YOU HAVE TO GET THE RIGHT GEAR, STUDY YOUR GUIDEBOOKS, AND REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. MAKING IT FASHIONABLE AND FUN IS HELPED BY GETTING THE RIGHT FASHION ACCESSORIES, TOO. LOOK AT THESE:
- Plaid hat scarf set. Just right for high mountain treks!
Death Valley
DEATH VALLEY, WHICH STRADDLES California and Nevada, is the driest and hottest park, with rocks sculptured by erosion, along with fabulously luminous sand dunes and lush oases. Where would Hollywood be without this park that formed the location-basis for so many great western movies?
Then, there is Grand Teton in Wyoming. Here the peaks of the Teton Range make one of the strongest geological statements of the Rockies. You think Switzerland is unbeatable? Come see what’s right here at home: Glorious mountains, crystal streams, back country trails and wetlands that are home to moose, deer, elks and all kinds of birds.
You might say that the National Parks are living organisms, not immune to the changes taking place on the earth. That means that if you want to see some of the parks in their historically majestic grandeur, you better get to see them soon.
Glacier National
Glacier National Park in Montana, for example, is about to turn 100 but its ice fields are rapidly receding. It’s hard to say if that’s because of natural phenomena or if it’s human caused, but either way, the its magnificent geological features of this place the indigenous Blackfeet Indians called the “backbone of the earth” are rapidly fading!
The scenery and wildlife here are extravagant. A parade of waterfalls greets motorists at Weeping Wall. The vistas here are unbelievable. You can see the Park comfortably by driving along a two-lane road that winds its way through the vast wilderness, or take the advice of experts and lace up a pair of boots and sample one or more of its 700 miles of hiking trails. What a vacation!
OF COURSE, YOU’LL NEED MORE THAN JUST HIKING BOOTS TO COMFORTABLY OUTFIT YOU FOR GLACIER NATIONAL. HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS:
Comments (1) Posted by Mary McGarry on Monday, July 26th, 2010
Filed under Fashion Accessories
“IT’S ALL ABOUT STRUCTURE, about bringing the bones, the very foundation of what makes a garment, to the surface,” declared couturier Jean Paul Gaultier at the recent couture shows in Paris. “It’s about bones. But not in a ghostly way — unless we are talking about the ghost of couture,” he smiled.
The designer worked feverishly to impress on the press and his society audience that the somewhat morbid 3-Day couture shows meant to emphasize anatomy, transparency and the bone work that gives a garment its shape, but whether he actually succeeded at that task is iffy.
There was plenty to distract from this somewhat lofty ideal, not the least of which was the presence of burlesque star Otta Von Teese, who titillated the audience with a strip-tease a la French couture, peeling off layer after layer of fine garments until she stood stripped literally to the bone.
–But, was the message communicated here, or did everyone merely react wildly to the maverick presence of questionable entertainment in a house of what was supposed to be high class values?
YOU CAN PLAY WITH SUPER-EXPENSIVE COUTURE ACCESSORY LOOKS AND YOU DON’T EVEN NEED TO SCROUNGE AROUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIT FOR INSPIRATION. HERE ARE SOME WONDERFUL, CHIC, CLASSY IDEAS:
X-ray Chic
THE FALL-WINTER COUTURE SHOW in Paris is an exposition of the most lavishly expensive of designer-wear, clothes that are made-to-measure and can cost as much as a new car. And here, an “X-ray Chic” trend took precedence over everything else.
Valentino, for example, showed off the female anatomy with as much aplomb as anyone, giving bones center stage with translucent hoop skirts and super-tight mini dresses all exaggerating the story.
Riccardo Tisci for the House of Givenchy took the bones message into somewhat morbid territory, playing with deathly images dressed up with sequins and rhinestones. Strange? You bet!
–He brought out a collection of casual and formal attire made of Day of the Dead Mexican-inspired lace and tulle appliquéd with – can you believe it? — sketches of the bones of the human body. Very funereal. Or, as one publication put it, these were “the world’s most expensive Halloween skeleton costumes.” Right on!
Having Fun with It
BUT, OH, IT WAS ANYTHING BUT boring, anything but drab, even if the essential message of couture seemed to go amiss. The ideas were new and creatively presented, and for Fashion Accessory people, the 3-Day exposition presented a bevy of challenges. How do you accessorize bones? Would you comfortably put colorful necklaces and earrings on a skeleton? Hmmm.
SARCASM ASIDE, THE X-RAY CHIC TREND HAS ARRIVED, AND MAKING IT LOOK GOOD IS THE JOB OF ACCESSORY PEOPLE WITH INSIGHT AND TALENT. YOU MIGHT START LOOKING HERE FOR IDEAS:
Comments (1) Posted by Mary McGarry on Saturday, July 24th, 2010
Filed under Fashion Marketing
THE EVOLUTION OF FASHION RETAILING continues at a breakneck pace! Now, eBay is introducing a new fashion app for the iPhone, a quick follow up to its fashion app for the iPad. A fashion app for the Blackberry is due any time now.
The iPhone app, however, is the big news right now!
The new app will give consumers access to over 20 million fashion items offered through eBay’s Marketplace. It means consumers can browse the items, virtually try on what they want, and shop anytime of the day or night, from almost anywhere. The application is amazing.
Dinesh Lathi, vice president for eBay, says that mobile offers “a great medium to continue our innovation in delivering a personalized experience and connecting our buyers with the world’s largest selection of online branded, designer and vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories.”
–eBay racked up $600 million in gross fashion volume last year. With the new apps, the firm expects that figure to more than double this year.
Classy Sales
EBAY IS THE LARGEST SELLER OF CLOTHING on line. One of the more interesting aspects of this fashion retailer’s activities in the Industry is its forging into more exclusive fashion items for its 90 million plus customers. The firm presently offers exclusive products from such haute couturiers as Narcisco Rodrigues and Norma Kamali.
Anyone interested in on line merchandising will be entranced by the collection of selling platforms being offered by eBay in its new app. Outlet stores for Lord & Taylor and Timberland, among others, is just one innovation. The app will also offer the Fashion Vault that promotes flash sales on individual brands such as the French Connection, Escada, and Max Mara.
EBay also has developed personal relationships with several top designers and will offer a number of exclusive collections of their goods. There is also a 10 minute count down app, in which consumers can enter into high fashion auctions “ending in the next 10 minutes.” Fast! Wild!
YOU CAN CHOOSE A BEVY OF HIGH FASHION ACCESSORIES TO GO WITH THE NEW FASHION OFFERINGS. LOOK HERE:
- Wholesale turquoise bracelets
Out of the Closet
A CUSTOMER CAN ENTER into his or her own personal closet just by tapping on a closet icon, and what wonders this opens! For example, a browser can pick out items he or she likes best and then just store them here. Later, looks can be put together by mixing and matching pieces from the closet. Sort of a grown-up version of paper dolls, only better!
Want things a little more personal still? A user can download a photo of herself and then try the clothes and accessories on the image. Hey, how does this look?
If someone needs advice on what looks best, well…a social media – sharing fuction allows friends and relatives to give thumbs up or down on any item. Imagine this versatility!
EBay is moving fast into the arena of outlet and discount store retailing. To help the firm set up the best possible corporate stable, eBay has hired people with merchandising backgrounds, an out-of-character move for the company until now.
Competition Spreads
Not that eBay is the only on-line giant planning on spinning the new apps off into big-dollar territory. Amazon, for example, has also been bitten by the fashion bug, and has recently developed hot acquisitions such as Zappos and Shopbob, aimed at helping it launch its own apparel and accessory retail sites.
LOOK FOR ELECTRONICS TO HELP THE FASHION INDUSTRY DIG ITS WAY OUT OF RECESSION AND INTO THE BLACK SOON. HERE ARE SOME GREAT PRODUCTS TO HELP YOU DO THE SAME:
Comments (2) Posted by Mary McGarry on Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Filed under Fashion Accessories
Here and there you see a fashion column talking about how bright colors are overwhelming the latest move toward black, not exactly obscuring it, but certainly lessening its power impact. Our advice: Don’t believe it! Black remains as strong and fashion forward as you can get!
The thing about black is that it so very versatile. You can wear it to a breakfast business meeting, out for afternoon tea, and later, for a formal dinner. It works well for all ages, and all personality types. Nice, good girls love it. Tough biker types adore it. Society types consider it de rigueur.
Out of the Sixties
Reflecting some of that “go everywhere on everybody” gestalt is a photograph in one of the latest issues of a top fashion publication, showing the hot trendy color on a long-haired very young beauty wearing black, black, and more black.
She actually looks a little like a rebellious damsel out of the Sixties, with her black loose-knit mini-dress carelessly falling off one shoulder and worn over faux leather skinny jeans. A very assertive accessory includes a long silver cross pendant necklace…very sleek, modern, architectural.
The look? You could call it Biker Hot, or Gothic, or Anti bellum druggie. Then, again, it is also timeless Society Chic.
USING BLACK AS AN EVERYDAY BASIC CAN GIVE A SOPHISTICATED, URBAN LOOK TO ANY OUTFIT. HERE ARE SOME GREAT ACCESSORIES IN THAT DESIGN MODE:
Gauche Americans?
When drawing up your plans for the newest black wave, you might ask “How black is black?” Well, the answer is: So long as it falls under the black umbrella, its intensity really doesn’t matter. Just be sure that when you put blacks together into an outfit they are either all the same matching black or that they at least go together.
Sometimes non-matching colors are even more design-smart. The French, our beloved across-the-ocean brothers and sisters, say “Americans are down right gauche the way they insist on matching everything.” If that’s the word out of Paris, we could at least listen.
Leather goods are perhaps the strongest category where black intensity values change swiftly. A black leather handbag can be super-noir, or it can be a gentler night-sky black.
Black interpreted into leather clothing is another wide berth category. As seen in a pair of Diesel’s shortie-shorts, black is softened into a hematite effect, almost gray.
One of the best ways to see how to work with black is to flip through fashion magazines for ideas. Black goes with almost everything, with the exception of fragile summer hues. There was a time when the only truly acceptable shoe color was black.
The Black Phenomenon
In many countries, elderly women still wear black exclusively. It’s not that long ago that I was taking a plane to Portugal, and all the women there who were married over the age of maybe 19 wore black. Of course this wasn’t a rich black. Or a sensual black. Or a trendy black.
–It was more like a morbid, “I’m no longer here,” burka black. Stay away from it and work with the more exciting renditions. There are plenty of them!
Think about DKNY’s sexy little black faux fur shrug. Ummm! Or True Religion’s wildly tight black cotton and spandex jeans with crystal buttons. Wow! Or a black sequined nylon vest from Max & Co., just right for warm, summer evenings under the stars!
The look can be black as a dominant color, as a mixer, or as the solitary expression in an all-black ensemble (no doubt the hottest, most trendy look now). Work clothing with black accessories, even jewelry! The end result can be dazzling!
WHAT IS RICHER, MORE DESIRABLE THAN BLACK (OR MAYBE HEMATITE) ACCESSORIES? LOOK HERE:
Comments (1) Posted by Mary McGarry on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
