Amanda Duranso! Journal Entry #1! Troy Surratt to Introduce Namesake Beauty Collection! September 13, 2013!
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Celebrity makeup artist Troy Surratt is about to launch his first signature makeup
collection alongside his business partner, Nathaniel Hawkins. The line is inspired by Surratt’s love of Japanese beauty products and his clients desire to easily purchase the makeup he uses on them. The line will be sold on the beauty floor at Barneys New York’s Madison Avenue as well as Barneys Beverly Hills. The line will be exclusive, sold only for one year. The line is expected to rival Chanel and Dior makeup lines and will be priced between twenty and fifty dollars. ! !
One of the things that I really liked about what Surratt is doing is the way that
he’s really passionate about the actual cosmetics. His goal is to create products that the consumer can actually use and appreciate. Quoted in the article Surratt says, “When I designed the line, I asked myself two questions the entire time: Is it cool and is it modern?”. The article talks about things like makeup palettes that the customer creates themselves, so that they only get colors they’ll use, and refillable eye liner cartridges, so the customer doesn’t need to buy an entirely new eyeliner brush every time they run out. These ideas are not only innovative, but practical. The consumer will see his products and be willing to spend fifty dollars on tinted moisturizer because they know it will be quality. Overall I was very impressed with Surratt’s concepts and product descriptions, I believe he will be very successful in his makeup endeavors. September 13, 2013 ! Article:!
Troy Surratt to Introduce Namesake Beauty Collection! By MOLLY PRIOR! Surratt! Select items from the upcoming Surratt line.! Photo By John Aquino! !
The eye for detail that has made Troy Surratt a favorite of Adele and Charlize
Theron will soon be visible in the makeup artist’s first signature beauty collection.! !
Called Surratt, the line is inspired by his fascination with Japanese beauty
products, which he’s become familiar with on annual visits to the country. ! !
“As a beauty lover and a product lover, I was so taken with Tokyo,” said Surratt,
who has become a veritable student of Japanese beauty culture. “In Ainz-Tulpe in Tokyo there are aisles and aisles of eyelash curlers,” said Surratt, as his eyes widened with excitement.! !
He’d stock up on beauty products during trips to Japan, but his clients began to
bemoan the fact that they didn’t have access to the Japanese items in his kit. So Surratt and his partner Nathaniel Hawkins, a celebrity hairstylist who serves as the Surratt brand’s chief marketing officer, spent the last four years developing a makeup range sourced and produced entirely in Japan. ! !
The collection — comprised of 114 stockkeeping units — is slated to launch next
month on the new beauty floor at both Barneys New York’s Madison Avenue and Beverly Hills locations. It will then roll out to Barneys’ six remaining doors, where it will be available exclusively for one year.!
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Bettina O’Neill, vice president and divisional merchandise manager of cosmetics
and fragrance at Barneys New York, said she first met with Surratt about the line before he had product in hand to show.! !
“Usually, we look at product before we decide to carry a line, but I was really sold
on him,” said O’Neill. “He has a passion for makeup. He’s definitely a perfectionist and he wants to make it the best possible.” ! !
Determined to infuse the line with a point of difference, Surratt — who helped
develop Tarte Cosmetics 13 years ago — has zeroed in on the details. ! !
“When I designed the line, I asked myself two questions the entire time: Is it cool
and is it modern?” he said.! !
Products that fit that description include the Smoky Eye Baton, which has a
creamy liner on one end and corresponding eye shadow on the other to allow users to achieve a foolproof smoky eye; the Auto-Graphique Liner — with a tip inspired by Japanese calligraphy brushes — with a refillable ink cartridge, and Pointilliste Mascara, a lightweight formula designed to tint lower lashes. “I’m Team Lower Lash,” quipped Surratt. ! !
Blush and eye shadow pans are ultrathin and slide open, and are designed to fit
seamlessly inside customizable palettes. “We’ve created a system of shapes to allow customers to create their own palettes,” said Surratt. He pointed out that formulas are not pressed into metal pans but poured directly into the plastic container in slurry form, which give the powders a “velvety smooth texture.”! !
The finish on the packaging, described as a matte gradation, was inspired by a
trip to Monaco, where matte black luxury cars were abundant. The glossy logo,
designed by Carl Wellman, is subtle and only visible when it catches the light. The retail displays were designed and manufactured by RPG.! !
“Out of the gate, I want to be perceived as a new brand that’s a player,” said
Surratt, who has positioned the range to sit comfortably among Chanel and Dior. Prices begin at around $20 for an eye shadow and rise to $50 for the tinted moisturizer, Surreal Skin Perfector.! !
Surratt’s interest in Japan has been percolating since his days as a protégé of
legendary makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin more than a decade ago. At that time, Aucoin was working with Shiseido to develop products for the Japanese cosmetics brand Inoui. ! !
“I felt like if I could get my hands on Inoui, I could do makeup as beautifully as
Kevyn,” recalled Surratt, who becomes visibly emotional when speaking of his former mentor, who passed away in 2002. He’s certain that Aucoin, who favored the pet name “ladybug” for friends, has given this pursuit his blessing. Surratt has recently spotted ladybugs everywhere — including on location during a photo shoot and printed on the blouse of an executive with whom he was meeting. He pays homage to Aucoin with the rose shade of Lipslique lipstick called Hevyn.! !
Surratt and Hawkins are self-funding the venture, but are currently meeting with
potential investors. ! !
Surratt’s entry into Barneys is part an upswing of activity in the color cosmetics
space. This month alone, makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury’s beauty collection launched at Selfridges in London and the edgy, music scene-inspired line Ardency Inn hit 31 Sephora stores in North America. Meanwhile, in August, L’Oréal launched Em by Michelle Phan online and Sephora introduced Marc Jacobs makeup.!
In Surratt’s view, makeup artists offer credibility to consumers. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had newness,” he declared.!
! Amanda Duranso! Intro to Fashion Business! Journal #2! !
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The article “Fashion’s Latest Muse? Instagram” written by Ruth La Ferla for New
York Times, explored the fact that Instagram is serving both designers and consumers in increasingly positive ways. Designers are gaining a personal connection with their buyers by viewing the photos that they post and by noting which of their own photos viewers are “liking”. They can see what the lives of their buyers are like and consider that when creating their new designs. Many popular models, bloggers, artists, and stylists are greatly influencing designers with their photos. One popular blogger, Susie Bubble, says she sees some of her Instagram images on designers’ mood boards. Rebecca Minkoff says that if enough customers request something on Instagram she considers making it. The influence that the average man or woman can have on their favorite designer is now so much greater, which allows people to feel that they connect with them on a much more personal level. ! !
The fashion world is one of constant inspiration and change, Instagram allows
everyone to be a part of that within a few minutes. If a blogger sees something that catches their eye they can simply Instagram the photo, and at that point a designer who follows the account can see the picture and may be inspired. It’s a beautiful process. Not everything on Instagram is moving or stimulating, but the photos that are, are the ones that matter. Instagram is reminiscent of polaroids in a way because often
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Instagram photos are sort of candids, presenting the image in a very real and honest way. The inspiration is endless and the fact that designers draw inspiration from the same place as the everyday person means that the connection between the two can be that much stronger. ! !
Reading this article I completely agree that Instagram has a profound affect on
the designers that are using the social media app, as well as the consumers. By giving everyone the opportunity to mass connect, Instagram allows everyone to have a say in what they like or don’t like. Not every designer will actually care what the people of Instagram have to say, but a handful of them do which makes the creative process feel like it’s being accessed by both parties involved. Having the opportunity to put your opinion out there and have it be noticed is so incredible. Fashion’s latest muse is one that will hopefully stick around for a while.! Article:! The New York Times! September 13, 2013! Fashion’s Latest Muse? Instagram! By RUTH LA FERLA! !
A compulsive snapper of all things stylish, kitschy or arcane, Susanna Lau, the
blogger known as Susie Bubble, wandered earlier this summer through the Meiji Park flea market in Tokyo taking pictures of vintage Hawaiian shirts, toy robots and tiny Minnie Mouse dolls to upload to her phone.! !
A handful of years ago, she might have archived those images, marking them for
her eyes only. Now she has made them accessible to anyone with a camera phone and
an Instagram account. So it didn’t surprise her, Ms. Lau said the other day, that when she returned from her travels, “I saw some of my images on designers’ mood boards.”! !
Her experience is hardly unique. In recent months designers of every stripe and
aesthetic persuasion have turned to Instagram for a glimpse into the lives and tastes of their fans — bloggers like Ms. Lau, stylists, models, artists and random visitors, who in turn are snapping and posting their way into designers’ consciousness, onto their mood boards, into ad campaigns and, directly or obliquely, onto their runways.! !
“Imagery is such a big part of how we get inspired,” said Jason Wu, a self-
professed Instagram addict whose profile lists close to 85,000 followers and who routinely follows more than 150 users himself. “You’re privy to their way of thinking, or at least what they want you to think,” Mr. Wu said. “And that changes the way we design.”! !
Since its inception two years ago, Instagram, with some 150 million monthly
users (it was acquired by Facebook last year for $1 billion), has emerged as a kind of visual Twitter. No surprise, then, that it is being exploited by fashion labels at every level of the marketplace as an image bank, a research tool, a showcase for their wares and now, most compellingly, a route into consumers’ heads. Fashion’s persistence in scouring the app for inspiration and feedback promises to turn the industry’s old hierarchy squarely on its head.! !
“Traditionally the fashion industry has been all about maintaining creative
control,” said Maureen Mullen, who heads research for L2 Think Tank, which reports on and analyzes social media trends. But lately fashion appears to be ceding some of that authority to the people who buy and wear their clothes. “Designers are treating
consumers like artists, people who for the first time are creating aspirational content that brands want to use,” Ms. Mullen said.! !
Diane von Furstenberg routinely scours the site for commentary. When she
recently posted pictures of searingly colorful wildflowers, her followers promptly registered approval, some suggesting they would make a fine print on a dress. Would she consider it? “It’s possible,” she said.! !
Ms. von Furstenberg is not alone in harnessing Instagram’s formidable crowd-
sourcing powers.! !
“Instagram has changed my eye,” said Nanette Lepore. And colored her runway,
as well. Ms. Lepore’s spring show on Wednesday was enlivened by a series of poppy prints, their subtly washed-out acid tones credible reproductions of the bleached-out colors and oddly ravaged effects shown in Instagram snaps by her fans. Late last spring she tried to capture the irreverent spirit of the style-struck, snap-happy young denizens of Venice Beach in California in her resort collection.! !
“We were inspired by how these girls just go out in the street and take pictures of
themselves,” she said. She integrated elements of their personal style into her show in June and in her advertising campaign as well.! !
It was but another instance of fashion labels “enabling everyone to feel like an
author,” said Ferdinando Verderi, the creative director of Johannes Leonardo, an advertising agency for a variety of brands. Instagram, he said, “nourishes the significance of individual voices and the power of the one persona behind them.”! !
Earlier this year, Mr. Wu came across a series of Instagram shots of the model
and eco-activist Christy Turlington with her children on the beach and nibbling a Philly
cheesesteak. He had never met Ms. Turlington, but was sufficiently charmed to contact her on her site to ask her to appear in his fall advertising campaign — and even more charmed when she agreed. The photos of Mr. Wu and Ms. Turlington about to enjoy a spread of savories at Mr. Chow made their debut this month.! !
By fostering such relationships, and encouraging the spontaneous exchange of
ideas, Instagram has gained a measurable edge over YouTube, Pinterest, Tumblr and even Facebook. A recent L2 study showed the app generating 25 times the level of engagement of other social media platforms, Ms. Mullen said.! !
Michael Kors, whose account shows more than a million followers, has been
forcefully struck by its reach. “I love that we can post a picture and within a few hours, 10 or 20 or even 40,000 people liked it or commented on it or reshared it,” he said. “It makes connection possible on an incredible scale.”! !
The designer Wes Gordon has a company Facebook page. “But Instagram feels
more personal to me,” Mr. Gordon said. “It’s a nice glimpse into someone’s world that’s real and not too affected.” On occasion, he said, “a girl I’m friends with posts pictures of herself at a party or on vacation, and I’ll think, ‘Oh, she looks super cool right now.’ Those screenshots become part of my visual library.”! !
Such seemingly spontaneous images give Mr. Gordon and his peers insights into
customers’ lives. “Often I ask myself, ‘Where is this girl going in my dress?’ ” said Jonathan Simkhai, another aficionado. The app, he said, answers that question. “It fills a lot of holes. It’s my customer talking about her needs.”! !
Mr. Simkhai has acted as his own muse, interpreting snaps of the Santa Monica
Pier, which he visited last year, in a print for spring.!
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The app’s influence is not always so direct or easy to detect on the catwalk. But
on their sites, and on the Web, designers post snapshots by their followers and cater to them candidly. Last month Marc Jacobs featured an image of three dainty chain necklaces on his Instagram account. “Gold, rose gold or silver?” he asked, inviting fans to cast a vote.! !
In the broadest sense, Instagram functions as a crowd-friendly extension of the
traditional trunk show, in which clients could order variations on a design. “At trunk shows we think of ourselves as co-creators with the designer we love best,” said Susan Scafidi, a professor and academic director of the Fashion Law Institute at Fordham Law School in New York. “Instagram takes the process to the next level and allows for mass collaboration.”! !
“As a crowd-sourcing model,” she added, “it’s a new way to take some of the
guesswork out of predicting consumer desires.”! !
Rebecca Minkoff, an early adopter of the app, with more than 250,000 followers,
is more prompt than most to incorporate users’ suggestions into her clothing and accessories lines. “If a customer tells me, ‘I like a bag with gunmetal hardware, can you include it?’ I might,” Ms. Minkoff said. “If I can get 25 girls to request it, I will do the production.”! !
Honoring fans’ wishes is part of a broader agenda, she said. “I want these girls to
feel like they’re part of the creative process,” Ms. Minkoff said. “It definitely makes them feel more invested in the brand.”!
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Not every random visitor is fit to place her stamp on fashion. “Fashion is
supposed to lead consumers to unexpected places,” Mr. Verderi said, “not ask them where to go.”! !
Using the app to take the shopper’s pulse has its perils. Few visitors to a
designer’s site can make a claim to expertise. Nor does a “like” on the app signify commitment.! !
“On Instagram people ‘like’ the things they find most extreme or eye-catching,”
Ms. Scafidi said. “Those often are different from things one might actually buy.”! !
Such reservations have yet to sway Ms. Lepore, who has been transfixed of late
by images of Andre Judd, whose posts she studies avidly. “He’s always wearing the same paisley shirt,” she said. “He has the most amazing style. I may want to do a line one day inspired by some cool shirt this guy is wearing.”! Amanda Duranso! Intro to Fashion Business! Journal #3!
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“When in Rome” is an article from Vogue’s September 2013 issue. The article is
about Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli’s arrival at Valentino and their journey since becoming the head designers of the company. The article talks about how the entire fashion world watched in anticipation to see whether or not they would be able to continue the brand legacy going. Both designers are very focused on keeping things local, in Rome, and have all forty-five of their seamstresses hired locally. In addition, both Grazia Chiuri and Piccioli live close to work with their families, and draw inspiration from their children. They stepped up to the challenge in 2008, after Valentino Garavani himself retired. They had previously been a duo in Valentino’s accessory department
and were well qualified for the job, though no one knew whether they would be able to keep the company’s reputation standing tall. They have since gained not only Valentino’s respect and approval, but also they have brought a modern edge to the company without losing the image that is Valentino. ! !
The article focused on the fact that Pierpaolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri are
modernizing the house of Valentino while also keeping things at the fashion house down to earth. They are revolutionizing the Valentino brand within the walls of the Palazzo Mignanelli in Rome, which is where Valentino Garavani himself designed first. As Piccioli himself said in the article “We thought it would be better to do change here from the inside” and that’s exactly what they’ve been doing. They had a lot to live up to taking on the role of head designers because many fashion leaders would claim that Valentino has “become the first identifiable, internationally desired image to have sprung from Italy.” and if they spoiled that image many people would be very upset. The brand has made significant changes, ultimately for the better, and the company has been doing very well. The freshness that these two designers are bringing to the brand seems to be exactly what Valentino needed. When Valentino Garavani came to the couture show in Paris this past July, he said “I did find something very Valentino in it,” which was something neither of the designers ever expected him to say. ! !
Maria Grazia Chiuri believes that the thing that really inspired them five years
ago when they took on the role of lead designers was the fact they needed to bring back an elegance to the women of Italy. Piccioli said it was about “lightness, grace, and innocence,” and the clothes that they made emphasized this idea. Right now they are feeling confident in their designs, the brand has done extremely well with things like the
lace dress, and their fall couture show. With the passion and dedication to tackle their next big idea, a Roman daywear renaissance, both Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli feel they can keep Valentino one of the fashion worlds most desired brands in the world.! Amanda Duranso Intro to Fashion Business Journal Entry #4
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This fall houndstooth seems to be all the rage. Everyone is wearing it and it was
all over the runways this season. It’s such a classic print that it’s nice to see it re-emerge as a top trend. Some of the top designers using the houndstooth trend this season include Tommy Hilfiger, Rag & Bone, and Micheal Kors. On the streets of Chicago I’ve been seeing houndstooth all over the place, and since it’s essentially a neutral it goes with everything. One thing I found interesting was that houndstooth was popular last season too. I didn’t notice it as much last season, but after a bit of research houndstooth is a returning fashion this season from last season. Houndstooth is commonly found in menswear inspired pieces and both seasons were found putting a modern twist on the classical pattern.
! Amanda Duranso Intro to Fashion Business Journal # 5 November 20, 2013
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The department store I shopped was the State Street Macy’s. The three trends
that I noticed were the color red, the use of leather, and large prints.
The first trend, the use of the color red, is especially prominent right now because we are coming up to the holiday season and red is a well known holiday color. Many of the furniture displays had red accent pillows or throw blankets. I noticed quite a few sweaters, tops, and bags on display tables or mannequins were featuring the color red as well. Finally, I noticed that in the dinnerware section the table settings had red features such as plates, napkins, and center pieces. The second trend that I noticed was the use of leather. Leather jackets were in almost ever section at least once, from women's to men’ to kids. Leather shoes and bags were also especially prominent because leather is durable and warm for the upcoming snowy season Chicago is about to face. Finally, in the furniture section I noticed many leather pieces such as a chaise, a few desk chairs, and also a headboard for a bed. Leather, whether it be brown or black, seems to be very prominent this season. The third tread that I noticed in Macy’s was the use of large prints. Many of the holiday sweaters have large tribal patterns or snowflake patterns. Dresses and tops are also featuring many large prints. This trend for clothing was seen mostly in women’s and children's clothes. In the home goods section of the store many of the vases and paintings as well as other home decorative items had large patterns on them. The last place I noticed the large print in Macy’s was in the furniture section. Many of the throw pillows, blankets, accent chairs, and rugs were large prints such as aztec, stripes, polka dots, or florals. Amanda Duranso Intro to Fashion Business Journal #6
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! ! The three trends I spotted in store were the use of the color red, lots of leather, and big patterns. These three trends were very prominent in the WGSN trend reports. I quickly found a photo of a model wearing all red. It was from the September 2013 issue of Costume Finland. I found it in the Fabric and Finish Trend Report. The next trend I found when I visited Macy’s was the leather trend. This trend has been going on for a while but it continues strong. The image is from Diesel Black Gold autumn/winter 2013/2014, the model is wearing a leather quilted pullover. I also found this on WGSN under the Fabric and Finish Trend Report. Finally, the use of large bold patterns was a trend I noticed overwhelmingly in the home and furniture sections at Macy’s. The image I found on WGSN is from Harper’s Bazaar Brasil’s September 2013 issue. The model is wearing a large floral blazer in bold colors. This image came from the Print and Pattern Trend Report.
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Amanda Duranso Intro to Fashion Business Journal Entry #7 Part 1
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The first fabric swatch is a recent trend that I’ve noticed is consistently growing,
and that is the camo trend. It is popping up all over the place, from shirts to jackets to pants to shoes! It works well for the autumn and winter because it’s a fun pattern but in mute colors which makes it less vibrant. The pattern is simply printed on a cotton and is coming from Takisada Nagoya Co Ltd. This fabric was shown at Intertextile for their autumn/winter 2014/2015 collection. The second fabric swatch I’ve chosen is of grey and black houndstooth. The darker colors make it a great choice for the winter when the trends lean towards neutrals.The fabric is a knit that is coming from Changshu Changhe Knitting Co. The
fabric was shown at Intertextile for their autumn/winter 2014/2015 collection. The knit fabric again makes it a great choice for autumn and winter because it is warm. The final fabric swatch is of a beautiful black leather. This will be especially popular in the coming colder seasons and is very prominent in the trends right now. Not only will a black leather jacket make you look on trend and stylish, but it will also keep you warm. This fabric is a leather coming from Sicerp at Lineapelle. They showed it in their autumn/winter 2014/2015 collection.
! ! ! ! ! ! ! Amanda Duranso ! Intro to Fashion Business ! Journal #7 Part 2!
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The first color trend I have been seeing a lot of is Emerald green. The paint swatch I
found is from Pantone and it is 17-5641. Emerald was a popular color choice during fashion week RTW 2014 from designers such as Valentino, Nicole Miller, and Gareth Pugh. Emerald works for the Spring RTW 2014 lines because it is vibrant and fresh.! !
The second color trend I noticed was Poppy Red. This color was on Rachael Ray’s color
trend swatch board for Pantone. The number of this color is 19-1662. Designers who were using this color trend for Spring RTW 2014 include Alexander McQueen, Sacai, and Fendi. This color
works for spring because it is so bright, and is a beautiful contrast to the darks and neutrals that often dominate winter fashions. ! !
The final color trend I found was the Pantone color of Freesia. The color number is
14-0852. Yellow is a common color to think of when thinking about spring and many designers had the same thought for RTW 2014. These designers include Roksanda Illiincic, Akris, Rebecca Taylor, and 3.1 Philip Lim. The color is a great way to brighten your wardrobe as well as your mood. !
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! ! Amanda Duranso Intro to Fashion Business Journal #8
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The three places I found global trends in were Milan, London, and Germany. The
trend I spotted in Milan was the bare mid-drift trend. I see this trend in the US a lot now, crop tops are very popular right now and most of the trendy stores carry crop tops or sweaters. One can easily find mid-drift baring tops at Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, or Free People. The trend I spotted in London was bermuda shorts. Multiple designers featured bermuda shorts in their London fashion week shows including Marc Jacobs, Mulberry, and Alexander Wang. The bermuda shorts trend isn’t one that I have noticed in the United States. One of the reasons I’m not seeing this trend in the US right
now is because it’s winter. The final trend I spotted is in Germany. The Berlin Fashion Week was overflowing with tribal/gaucho looks on their runways. This trend is one that is very prominent in the US right now. You can find tribal/gaucho inspired pieces in any on trend stores, from Forever 21, to Target, to Macy’s.
! Amanda Duranso Intro to Fashion Business Journal #9
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The first retailer I visited was from Urban Outfitters, the display was the fist one right when you walk in. It was obviously holiday themed with hats, scarves, sweaters, and boots. There was a reflective “staircase” with little trinkets and jewelry. I like the visual appeal of the mannequins and the holiday themed display. The second display I liked was also from Urban Outfitters, and was three mannequins dressed in very similar outfits but in different colors. The look was cool and it was a really great way for the store to display the fact that they have multiple colors in their hats, tops, and sweaters. As a customer I like seeing that walking in, if I like an item but not that color, I can find it in another. The third visual display I found was in H&M. It was featuring their children’s apparel holiday looks. I really enjoyed the different levels and the present themed boxes. There’s a lot to look at and the display shows a lot of merchandise in a very small space, but it isn’t over cluttered. I liked that they focused an entire display on kids clothes and accessories, showing off the stores wide target market. The final display I found was in H&M. This was more of a real life display. The back drop was of a fireplace making it feel homey. There was also a mound of gifts in
front of the mannequins. The women looked dressed for holiday get togethers, warm and stylish. The display showed a few different styles but they were still cohesive, showing potential customers what H&M has to offer.
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Amanda Duranso Intro to Fashion Business Journal #10
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The new movie that I saw was The Hunger Games Part Two, Catching Fire. The
movie is set in the future when the whole world is controlled by a very small group of people. Most people are very poor, they wear plain colors and sensible clothing for the weather. In the richer areas the people’s fashion is very different. They dye their skin, and hair crazy colors, and wear very modern and skimpy outfits. Everything is shiny and outrageous. I think that this trend will emerge in some ways in the fashion world. Hair trends are very closely linked to Catching Fire, many people are dying their hair crazy colors or wearing it in a long braid like Katniss, the main character, does. I see many people with a mocking jay pin on their backpacks or shirts, which is Katniss’ symbol. I see how The Hunger Games has influenced fashion in other ways as well, such as the combat boot trend, which is something almost all of the characters wear. One last trend that I see emerging from The Hunger Games is the exaggerated makeup trend. In the movie the makeup is intense and overdone, something I think could start to show up in fashion more and more now. Amanda Duranso Intro to Fashion Business Journal #11
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I visited firstview.com and looked through many of my favorite designers lines from both Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. I ended up choosing a Valentino Ready-toWear dress from the Spring/Summer 2013 line. This look would only be sold at higher end stores like Saks Fifth Ave, Neiman Marcus, or Valentino stores. I like this design for
many reasons. I like the classic look overall and the feminine silhouette. The black lace is very pretty and I love the double layers. The belt and buttons add to the look because it solidifies the fact that the look is for daytime. It also the fact that lace is often connected with lingerie. I love the minimal accessories and the nude shoes. Overall, this look is beautiful and feminine.
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A fashion designer is a creative individual who designs original clothing lines and
oversees the sewing of those designs. The process starts with sketching designs, from
there they will choose fabric and create the pattern. Finally they will either sew the design together themselves or will have the instructions sent to the seamstresses so that their design will be constructed correctly. A buyer is the person who decides what products will be sold in certain stores and how much of each product will be in the stores. A buyer has to be on top of the trends and know what products will sell best in what areas. They have to know how to appeal to their target customer and know the demographic of the area. A product development manager is someone who oversees the market and trend research for a product. They watch over the merchandising, design, and technical processes that go into creating a final product. The product development manager has to take care of all the details and make sure that everything within creating and developing the final product matches up and works cohesively. Amanda Duranso Intro to Fashion Business Journal #13
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The fashion don’t I have chosen are all fairly recent. The first fashion don’t I found is from the 2013 Emmy Award, with Girls star Zosia Mamet. Her watercolor floral print is not only to large and too loud, but her dress was never hemmed and is too long. The small leather patch over her chest is not flattering and it appears as though the dress has a stitch in the front, off to the side which shouldn’t be there. The second look I found was of Paula Abdul at an awards show in 2013. Her look is head to toe gold, with an ill fitting gold turtleneck gown and gold accessories. The dress itself is creased in many places which makes it look not only too tight in some places, but too loose in
others. Overall her ensemble was a fail. The third look I found was from Glamour.com, the look features a woman wearing the same designer print on her hat, top, bag, shoes, and coat. There is too much of the same pattern and it makes the look very unappealing. Less really is more. On top of the pattern overload, she is wearing balloon pants and a long trench coat, both of which don’t do anything for her figure. Finally, I found a look worn by Lena Dunham to the 2013 Emmy Awards. Her dress was not only too long and too big, but it looked uncomfortable. The pattern on her dress was nice, but there seemed to be too much fabric. Also, Lena had no accessories which mad her outfit look plain and made her makeup look over the top. Overall it was a fail.
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! ! ! Amanda Duranso Intro to Fashion Business Journal #14
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The three possible career opportunities that interest me are a fashion marketer, a
model booker, and a buyer.
! As a fashion marketer, I think that I would be very interesting to me because it combines advertising, design, and business. The idea of figuring out ways to appeal certain products to target customers sounds like a very challenging and rewarding job.I would like the team aspect and would enjoy that it isn’t quite as stressful or judgmental as other aspects of the industry.
! Being a model booker is an aspect of the industry that is very appealing to me. I have more talent within the professional business side of the industry, like organizing go sees and hiring models. One thing I would have a hard time putting models into the “no pile,� because the industry is so judgmental of models appearance when they should be looking for the beauty in everyone.
! Being a buyer sounds like a job within the industry that I would enjoy. I like dealing with budgets and keeping things extremely organized. I also like trend forecasting and the challenge of deciding which products will sell and how well in certain stores sounds very exciting to me. I would especially enjoy working at a larger company such as Nordstrom and being able to explore the different areas such as juniors apparel, shoes, or children's apparel.
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