A Year in Review: 2009 Trends Report

[My second article for SJFW!]

As the world slowly pulled itself out of an economic recession, cutting edge trends dominated the Autumn/Winter runways in 2009. Over the knee boots were the must have during this season, while fashion trend setters found their boots creeping up a little further wearing thigh highs. Leather clothing and military fashions ruled the runways as well during the colder months of last year. Hermes even pulled off a full leather jumpsuit as part of their aviation-themed collection while Victoria Beckham went all out and paired it with fur. Ripped denim, tights and stockings went along with the whole rocker chic look of Autumn/Winter 2009. Multiple rips added to the desired, edgy allure of the season as designer Alexander Wang incorporated several pieces in his collection, while Gossip Girl Taylor Momsen rocked the trend as well. Not one of my favorites, but a trend to say the least, capes and cloaks were spotted on the street and runways in 2009. Capes. Say the word, and images of masked superheroes mid-flight immediately pop into many people's minds. Nevertheless, designer Guy Laroche created several gothic cloak pieces and YSL’s take on the cape trend was incredibly distinct. During Paris Fashion Week, an abundance of models were noticed wearing this trend, such as Anna Selezneva rocking a bright blue cape.

The tail end of winter has disappeared and in its place came spring/summer 2009 with a new and exciting wardrobe. Androgynous looks dictated street and runway styles all around the world allowing women to steel from their boyfriend’s closets. One of my favorite trends of the season, Boyfriend blazers and denim created a more relaxed but fashionable look last year and thankfully, the trend remains today. Celebrities such as Rihanna and Twilight star, Kristen Stewart took advantage of the relaxed trend. Beautifully designed one shouldered tops, dresses and bikinis were spotted last summer during everyone’s daily dose of the sun, permitting women to show off some skin and to cool off of course. Actresses Jessica Alba and Gwyneth Paltrow chose to show off one of the sexiest and sensual fashion accessory, the shoulders. As any fashionista will notice, history and fashion go hand in hand, so don’t be surprised to find out that Grecian inspired clothing was a key trend in spring/summer 2009. It’s essentially an obvious flow from the one shoulder trend and an evolution from the 1920’s flapper trend. Whether they were the traditional maxi-dress or short little numbers, pair the flowly dress with gladiator sandals and an instant Greek goddess look is achieved! Designers, Valentino and Elle Sabb incorporated great pieces in their Spring/Summer collection.In addition to the Grecian inspired dresses, a whole range of ethnic and exotic trends broke onto the fashion runway scene. From turbans, to flowing kaftans, to tribal-infused prints and creative African adventure suits, designers were drawing inspiration from every corner of the globe. Designers from Christopher Kane to Paul Smith incorporated a strong use of leopard and cheetah print tops paired with geometric skirts in earthy colors.

2009 fashions explored a bevy of different and creative looks, leaving a lot of room for expression of personal style. A lot of the year’s collections came from the past; the Grecian inspired dresses, the 80’s ripped denim and leather jackets of the 50’s to name a few. I can honestly say that I loved both autumn/winter and spring/summer 2009 collections! Aside from the whole cape trend, each look provoked me to max out my credit card in order to rock every style. However, my favorite look was definitely the 80’s rocker trend that made its way back to runways last year, allowing me to wear my super high boots, ripped denim and bomber jacket. Even though fashion is known to evolve, I hope that some of these trends are incorporated into upcoming 2010 fashions!

TFI's Fashion Employment Seminar

Toronto Fashion Incubator hosted its Fashion Employment seminar last night, March 9th at their downtown Toronto location. The Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI) is an innovative and highly respected non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and nurturing small business entrepreneurs. 

TFI mentor, Clint Scott shared his past experience and 12 years worth of knowledge on the topic of employment as the keynote speaker. Quick rundown of his accomplishments: he has spent the past 12 years in recruitment, working with leading companies, locally and internationally. His passion and dedication has inspired him to coach hiring managers and partner with his clients to ensure they hire the best available talent for their needs. So in other words, he knew what he was talking about. Although the seminar was at capacity and got a relatively good response, I found that the content of his speech was a far cry from new information that would potentially spark any epiphanies eager to reach the surface. On the other hand, he had that "motivational speaker" kinda vibe to him as he was discussing life goals, dream jobs AND how to get your passionate hands on those goals. 
He spoke about the types of positions available such as fashion buyers,forecasters, merchandisers, promotion and public relations, retail managers and fashion journalism to name a few. I was disappointed that he skimmed through these positions and only provided the easily attainable info available when you type it in a google search engine. 
Expectations = be realistic. That's the whole spiel in a nutshell. Understand the structure of the company you want to work for, the expectations your employer has for you and vice versa. Also, remember to hone your skills and take pride in what you're doing, whether that be counting buttons or a VP of a company-you must be the best you can be, to cliche it up. In addition, Scott spoke about broadening your experiences and to absorb all information you can because with lack of a better expression, knowledge is power. 
He also touched on career paths and the steps that could lead you up the corporate ladder...which was pretty self explanatory. 

Finally he spoke about something interesting and very important- what companies look for. He spoke about "you, the brand", "you, the image" and "you, the values." So, when you send off that resume for your dream job or even a job you absolutely need, you must brand yourself positively! Because that's essentially what you are doing-branding yourself. Step out of that box and think how you're going to create a brand specifically for you in an effective and unique manner. Obviously this day and age requires you to be well groomed and put together, so for obvious reasons, suit up! Values. I have to admit, I've never really thought about company values and if they are in alignment with my own. To improve your work space and overall happiness with your job, you must share the same values, or at least be in the same ballpark. 
Preparing yourself and networking is also a vital aspect in the employment race. While he gave lots of tips for compiling your resume,research efforts are just as important. Bottom line: know your employer, the company's background, the company's accomplishments, your employer's accomplishments, etc. However, use caution and do not be a borderline stalker- this heightens your chance of not getting the job and maybe even a night in the slammer.  
With that being said, I'd give the seminar three stars out of five!
To check out TFI's website, events and membership deals, click here!

PC Merchandising Assignment #2: Model Composite Card

My model comp card of Jessica Alba completed in InDesign.

Frugal Fashion Week's Swaggalicious Event

You remember Frugal Fashion Week, don't you? You know, the WhoWhatWhenWhereWhy event I already blogged about...well on February 25th, the Swaggalicious event marked the official launch of Flud Watches. These watches are extremely unique and lack of a better word, awesome!- As you can see from the pictures below.Upon arrival, guests received a gift bag that contained a Flud watch, a CD, (a great selection of either David Guetta, Snoop Dog, Katy Perry or Latoya Jackson I might add) and some contact cards for Dj's and the Nyood venue for only 10 bucks. Eccentric designs go hand in hand with unique names; there's the Big Ben, the Turntables, the Boombox, the Timeout and more. Guests were also encouraged to purchase a watch from Flud's latest collection with prices ranging from $55-$80, not bad for a ticker that is so creative. Theses watches are based in Europe and sold in the U.S as well, but unfortunately not yet available in Canada- but that doesn't stop you from shopping online. Click here to shop away! You should also know that these watches were mentioned in such magazines as fashion bible WWD, Vibe and Nylon to name a few.

After the swag was given out, the lounge was free to socialize and network or even dance to the sick beats the Dj's were spinning. Once again, all proceeds went to Windfall- Canada's only new clothing bank to support those who cannot afford clothing. Although I was volunteering behind the scenes during this event, the turnout was great, and the feedback was even better! To visit Frugal Fashion Week's website and upcoming events, click here!

Click here to check out Flud's homepage.

   

^ My personal fave!

GO CANADA GO!!

Ok so Canada's victory has nothing to do with fashion, but I couldn't help but post this!
What a game! All Canadian residences were on the edge of their seats as Canada faced USA for the gold medal. With a 2-0 lead, Canadian fans thought it was in the bag. But when USA tied it up with just 30 seconds left in the game, fans became uneasy. But of course, Nova Scotia native Sidney Crosby scored the OT goal, not to mention the goal of a lifetime. This victory was celebrated by patriotic fans from coast to coast, from Vancouver to Toronto to St.John's. I happened to be in the middle of crazy victory party down on Toronto's Yonge Street...and it was awesome. Thousands of fans covered the streets partying, drinking and even climbing poles (see pic below). It was a great time had by all for sure...but hangovers were definitely felt on Monday morning. With that being said, I'm proud to be Canadian! :)

  

Berlin Fashion Week

As a part of my online internship with San Jose Fashion Week's magazine, I wrote a review of Berlin's fashion week in January. Enjoy :)

Berlin Fashion Week
January 20-23, 2010

 
 Twice a year, Berlin becomes a fashion paradise while it hosts the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. This winter, the event took place between January 20-23th at Bebelplatz-the historical heart of the city.
To kick off the week, designer Schumacher took over the catwalk. Her fall/winter 2010 collection embraces the high class luxury and notorious deconstruction that has an exceptional way in finding its place in the present. Fabrics that hold a traditional elegance such as tweed, velvet and chiffon paired with leather, metallic qualities and neoprene find a new intensity in combination. Schumacher also incorporated a lot of lace paired with wool and jersey into her 2010 collection.

Austrian designer, Lena Hoschek followed with her women’s fall/winter 2010 designs that included beautiful tweed tailoring, fine Italian cotton shirts with suspenders, vests, ties and silken pocket squares. Hoschek’s silhouettes are quite reminiscent of her favorite era, the 1940’s and 50’s; with full skits, feminine details and close to the body cuts. Designer No Ifs is a new fashion label that stands for design with clear lines without the “ands” and “buts.” Head designer, Kilan Kerner describes the line as “non-fussy, self-explanatory fashion that features beautiful detailing for both men and women.” Since this collection sports a more casual, any occasion look, it’s safe to say the line can go from catwalk to sidewalk. German designers, Penkov and Susanne Wiebe and Italian designer, .Dimitri finished off the first day of the Mercedes Benz fashion week .

Anja Gockel had three collections that displayed classy, casual women with style and character. Her London assortment displayed a both casual and elegant daywear line while her Red Carpet designs were more artful and exciting for evening wear. Finally, her winter work “Treasures” combined the finest quality with a classy and young spirit. Gockel incorporated creative business dresses, sporty and elegant faux fur and skinny trousers with embellishments. Perret Schaad’s designs was of wools that were partly printed with silicon gave effects of light and shine, as well as a difference in rigidness. Technical fabrics combined with pastel colors give characteristic looks of unexpected yet coherent aesthetic. Mongrels In Common’s fall/winter 2010 collection, Rena Lange’s rock-n-roll princess assortment and Allude’s clothing line followed in quick succession, leading up to CUSTO Barcelona fall/winter 2010. Custo Barcelona’s autumn/winter 2010 creations were inspired by extreme beauty and the inexplicable attraction of jewels. The stunning gems inspired the collection’s color palette of black and pink diamonds, sapphires, turquoises, emeralds and amethysts to mention a few. His combination of furs and brightly colored sweaters, cardigans and dresses were very boho chic. To finish off the second day of the event, designer Patrick Mohr presented his work. The materials in this year’s fall/winter 2010 line included linen, jersey and jeans to name a few. The majority of his designs are dedicated to the concept of layering: the pieces can be worn arbitrarily with one another and one above the other.

The Arrondissement Aq1 fall/winter 2010 assembly circled around the theme of “oneness universe” which means everything is connected. Silk, fine suede, rainbow python, soft jerseys and flowing velvet details were part of the collection. In addition, Chain-link purses, sky-high shoes, hobble skirts and flowy dresses in energetic and bright colors were included. Marcel Ostertag incorporated a variation of trapeze jackets, a modern take on the original Christian Dior dresses with raised empire waists and detailed v-necks as well as colorful tights in orange, red and black.This season's creations from solely black fabrics seem like night-time silhouettes of a fictitious, obscure metropolis.Hausach Couture displayed exceptionally futuristic garments while simultaneously recreating the typical gowns of the 50’s. Strenesse Blue ended the third day with its frivolous, amusing and at the same time profound fall/winter 2010 designs.

The final day started out with the sophisticated vintage glamour of Frida Weyer’s fall/winter 2010 collection that presented floor length couture gowns and feminine cocktail dresses with vintage character. Michael Sontag presented his work with a lot of cowl necklines, flowy fabrics, eclectic coats and casual wear. IC Berlin’s line presented casual wear with graphic tee’s matched with black pants, lingerie over tee’s while all models wore black framed glasses and had a more playful approach. Chaya’s clothing were comprised of liquid leggings, form fitted dresses, leather skirts, sequence, short tunics and detailed hardware embellishments. It’s not hard to know that Lady Gaga is inspired by the Italian Designers collection shown at Berlin Fashion Week. With large headpieces, graphic leggings, full body, monochromatic outfits, elbow length gloves and asymmetrical lines, the Italian Designers displayed intricate designs during their show. Danish designer Stine Goya was the last designer to take the catwalk with her elegant garments. Predominantly revolving around dusty earth tones, loose and nonchalant silhouettes.

My personal favorites of the week were Custo Barcelona’s bright colored boho chic designs as well as Marcel Ostertag’s take on modern 1940’s fashion. He took Dior’s classic “new look” and transformed it into something beautiful and intricate.  I now have a new desire for European fashion!

During fashion week, Berlin transforms into a national and international fashion metropolis with buyers, fashion experts and media reps coming together to attend the glamorous fashion shows. Berlin welcomed celebrities Justin Timberlake, Sienna Miller and Diane Kruger as they made an appearance to catch their favorite designer’s work. The sixth edition of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Berlin featured the most solid fashion lineup to date and needless to say, was an extreme success! The next fashion event Berlin will host will be in July 2010, showing designer’s spring/summer 2011 collections. Mark it on your calendar!

Model Mosaic

In my PC Merchandising class, we've been learning how to construct different types of magazine layouts using inDesign and photoshop programs. Here's project number one- a mosaic of your choice of model, and of course I chose Agyness Deyn.