Changing Attitudes
If there’s one thing that I have learned during my lifetime, it is that human beings are not very big fans of change. People generally like things to remain the way they are, and attempts to introduce changes in certain things are often met with strenuous resistance from the general public. But this attitude can be very restrictive and stifling. I mean, if things didn’t change ever we would still be walking around everywhere wearing a mens bow tie or a woman’s corset! Change can be a very good thing – especially if you are feeling asphyxiated in whatever it is that you are currently doing. Sometimes you just need a breath of fresh air to feel rejuvenated. You should try to act on this advice if you are feeling a bit down. Pick something you never did before that you always kind of wanted to, and just do it!
An Important Job
Photographers play a very important role in the fashion industry. It is their vision that produces all of those cool shots that you see in your favourite fashion magazines and on your favourite websites. They are, in some ways, the link between the ‘internal workings’ of the fashion industry and us as its consumers. When you want to see mens leather coats, it is photographers that allow you to do this. They therefore play a crucial part. The famous fashion photographer Terry O’Neill is one of the best in the business, and his illustrious career has stretched over many years. O’Neill, due to his hard work and talent, was given the opportunity to work with some of the biggest and brightest stars in the world during this long career – and this is why gossip of the imminent launch of a book documenting his career is such cool news. I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Cannes 13
It has been quite a long time since I have last seen a red carpet event (or at least it feels like it), so I have been very much looking forward to the famous Cannes Film Festival for 2013. It’s so fun and exciting looking at all of the famous celebrities that are gracing the red carpet in all of their glamorous attire, whether a dress, long blouse, or gown, and waiting with anticipation to see which celebrity will be coming along next. The latest anticipated movie for a lot of people is, of course, the Great Gatsby – a film that has got lots of potential for great costumes. Although I haven’t seen it yet, I think it will be a great, stylish movie. And with a cast of stars including such fashion icons as Leonardo DiCaprio, Isla Fisher and Carey Mulligan, it will surely rate highly on the fashion-ometer!
Mask Ball
I really like masks as a fashion accessory. They just give such an air of mysteriousness and intrigue. I am always on the lookout for any stories that feature masks. And recently my luck has been in! The Elephant Family is an initiative that has been formed in order to try to protect Asian elephants has organised an animal ball – and has enlisted the help of various designers to help them. Because, you see, this charity event will include designer masks, created by designers such as Diane Von Furstenberg. I guess this will not be an event to turn up for in jeans for women! This is a sure way to draw attention to the event – and therefore to the organisation and its goals. I think that this is a fantastic idea, not only because I think the cause it such an important one, but also because it just sounds like an awesome event!
Royalty and Fashion
Royalty seems to always hold a special place for a lot of people. This probably comes, at least partially, from romantic stories and fairy tales with kings, queens, princes and princesses having starring roles throughout. Whatever the reason, there certainly is a very romantic idea that many people have of royalty. In terms of fashion, royal people often have access to the very best clothes that money can buy – not to mention all of the royal jewellery that comes with the position! Later on this summer, Kensington Palace in London will host an exhibition dedicated to the fashion and style of the British royal family, concentrating on three women – Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret and Lady Diana. But you have to remember that, although the British royal family is perhaps the most widely known today, they certainly aren’t the only one. It’s interesting, however, that the Queen, despite all of the awesome fashion that she could have, usually chooses to wear simple clothes like cardigan sweaters for women and similar – it really shows that she’s connected to her people.
Flight Uniforms
Most of the time, when you think about fashion design, you think about haute couture fashion, and high-level designer collections from labels. But you cannot forget that all clothes need a designer; even clothes that are functional rather than to look good. I have just read that the awesome British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood is set to design the new uniforms for the flight attendants of Virgin Atlantic. Virgin owner Richard Branson obviously recognises the importance of presenting a good image to customers, and I’m sure that Westwood will do an amazing job for him. Westwood is a designer that is very conscious about the environment and about ethical issues, whether she’s designing belts for men or women’s dresses. Therefore, the uniforms that she designs will be made from recycled materials – something that is also very important to Branson. A match made in heaven?
Mystery
If you want to drum up excitement for something, an excellent way of doing so is to show a little bit of mystery. People become intrigued by secrets, and they like to gossip about it and try to work it out. This is what the people at Vogue magazine understand very well indeed. They are about to celebrate the inaugural launch of a new fashion magazine in Britain, aimed at a younger audience than their usual magazine, called Miss Vogue. As is typical with fashion magazines, the picture on the front cover is a big deal. Whoever gets to star on the cover will get a lot of publicity – and, of course, will be helping to sell the magazine itself, so you know that it’s going to be someone quite special. The trouble is that no one knows who it is! Vogue have released a teaser picture of the cover star on their website – but she has her back turned and a hoodie pulled up over her head! Mystery indeed!
Galliano Petition
Well, the latest episode in the John Galliano saga has just been released! I am joking of course, but honestly it is starting to seem like some kind of television serial. You might remember a few days ago it was revealed that Galliano, the disgraced former creative director at Dior, would be teaching a master class of fashion at Parsons The New School for Design. The master class was set to last for three days – and despite what you might think about Galliano personally, the opportunity to learn from someone with his level of talent and skill is obviously difficult to pass up. But not, it seems, for everyone. In fact, there has been a petition started on www.change.org, which is attempting to prevent Galliano from teaching the master class. I think that the fact these students are willing to pass up such an amazing opportunity shows exactly how seriously they take what Galliano did before, and I can only commend them for their dedication.
Strike!
If you live outside of the United States of America, you may not have heard about the TV talk show called Fashion Police that airs there. It stars Joan Rivers, and features various segments based around celebrity style and fashion culture. For example, there is a segment in which celebrities are ‘busted’ for wearing the same outfit on more than one occasion, and one discussing recent fashion trends amongst the celebrity elite. Well, Fashion Police ran into difficulties recently when its writers went on strike. The strike was given support by the Writers Guild of America. The complaints are based on pay – the striking writers allege that they are owed overtime money from their work on the show. If they are successful in their claims, it could cost E!, the TV network, a whole lot of money.
Brand Identity
In order for a company or brand to be successful, it is extremely important for it to have a strong brand identity. The brand identity is directly related to how a company is perceived by the consumers who buy its products. A company’s name, logo, catchphrase, and use of colours, shapes and even sounds can all contribute to the overall brand identity. A company needs a strong identity, whether it is selling men messenger bags, or mobile phones. Why is this? Well, a company must distinguish itself from its competitors in order to remain competitive. If people recognise a company, they are much more likely to buy its products than from a company that is completely unknown to them. This is why businesses are prepared to pay big money for a logo that really appeals to people.
