what’s
TRENDING BY DANIELLE MCGOTTY
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INSIDE
WHAT’S
WEARING THE FUTURE page 3 HOW TO SINK YOUR SHIP pg 5 H&M LOVES... pg 7 YEAR OF THE PENIS pg 9 A DYING ART REBORN pg 11
WALKING ON GLASS page 13 BREAKING THE BEAUTY MOLD pg 15 WINDOW SHOPPING pg 17 LIVING THROUGH YOUR DREAMS pg 21 MOMMY & ME pg 23
WHAT’S INSIDE
Wearing the Future
It’s 2015. If Spielberg was correct in his predictions, we would all own flying cars, movies would be replaced by holograms, and microwavable food would actually taste good. While not everything in Back to the Future has proven true, the movie did predict one aspect of technology correctly: technology needs to be practical.
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People want their lives to be easier. The most successful technology is going to improve their lives, not overcomplicate them. This October, Nike is set to release power lacing shoes, based off of shoes worn in the movie, to the public. Owner’s of the shoes won’t need to worry about tying them, saving them time while getting ready and making their lives just slightly more convenient. Recently, many companies have been over complicating their technology based products. For example, Google Glass was just recently pulled from the market. The item flopped. Many people felt it infringed on their privacy, and the camera attached was just plain creepy. The makers packed too much technology into one piece. If they had just came out with glasses with unbreakable glass, the product would have flown off the shelves. This technology also needs to be fashionable. Companies like Fitbit and Misfit are finally catching hold of that concept. Fitbit recently paired with Tory Burch to recreate stylish jewelry to pair with their health trackers. Misfit did the same with Swarovski. Not only are their products functional (the original bands link to online systems that track your daily health), but now they are stylish, and can be worn everyday, all day, without any embarrassment. Royce Leather also recently came out with a new line of products featuring finger printing technology. They combine classic looks with a practical form of technology. Users much have a matching finger print to access the items, like briefcases, allowing the owner to protect their belongings. They are also GPS enabled, for those who misplace their items or if the item gets stolen. Wearable technology is a booming yet delicate market. If companies can find a balance between simplicity, practicality, and style, it will only lead to success. WEEK 1
HOW TO SINK YOUR SHIP In the last few weeks, Wet Seal has made a name for itself once again. The company, which has been providing teenagers with fast fashion trends since the 1990’s, filed for bankruptcy. According to the LA times, the company has lost more than $150 million within the last two years. The franchise decided to downsize, closing 338 stores, leaving 173 stores plus their online store left to sell.
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Bankruptcy is not always the end of the line for companies, however, for Wet Seal, I hope it is. A few days before the official closing of the 338 stores, signs protesting Wet Seal appeared in the windows of their stores. Employees announced that they were told to not look for other jobs and that their stores were not closing. The employees were finally noticed between 1-3 days before the official closing of their stores. The protesting signs also acknowledged that the employees would not be compensated for their vacation time that they were not permitted to take and they would not be getting severance pay. The managers and employees who had been working for Wet Seal for years were not given the option to transfer stores. Also, the signs announced that the CFO still received almost a 6 figure raise while this year was the first time a 5 year employee received their first raise from minimum wage. The employee’s raise was a total of $.16 an hour. Even if Wet Seal bounces back from the bankruptcy, I do not believe they will be able to recover from this bad press. The photos from the shop windows spread like wildfire, being posted all over Reddit.com and were covered by every major newspaper and major online news source. Employees and customers are outraged by the lack of respect and decency shown by the company in these hard times. These days, a company can’t survive just by having the best product. Customers have nearly unlimited options on where they can shop, so not only do they look at the clothes, but they look at company policies as well. A company that donates to likeable charities, produces their clothing in safe working environment, and treats their employees and customers with respect will out sell any company that does not hold the same standards. As a retail worker, I for one will never shop at a Wet Seal again, and I know many others who feel the same way. The bankruptcy isn’t what hurt the company; their policies toward their people are.
Signs found in store windows in Seattle, Washington, Birmingham, Alambama, and Dayton, Ohio.
WEEK 2
H&M H&M loves... Coachella
Bring on the fringe! After their immense success with the Alexander Wang collaboration, H&M has decided to collaborate again, this time with Coachella. The new festival line will feature a romantic, bohemian look, featuring plenty of fringe and lace for the festival goer. Girls will be able to buy items such as rompers, cut-offs, crop tops, and widelegged pants. Guys will be able to be able to buy a variety of graphic tees and shorts. The initial launch will be March 19th. The line gets introduced world wide on March 26th. H&M, who has been a sponsor of Coachella for the last 6 years, will also feature a popup store donning exclusive looks during the two weekends of the festival. To kick off the line, H&M is giving away all inclusive trips to Coachella, which is already sold out. Customers will be flocking to try to win the coveted last tickets, which will bring H&M even more store traffic.
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H&M hit the nail on the head with this new line. The price point is just rightstyles start at $4.95 and go up to $49.95. Buyers won’t feel bad about purchasing clothing that could get ruined at the festival when the prices are that low to begin with. Up until now, the biggest retailer for festival clothing was Free People. H&M is majorly challenging their competitor with this affordable line. I will be interested to see if they eventually expand to feature stores at other festivals. Attending festivals is a trend that does not seem to be dying anything soon, and a greater expansion of this line can only bring more success to this growing company.
WEEK 3
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YEAR OF THE PENIS
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The show started off like any other. Model after model walked the runway, displaying Rick Owen’s RTW Fall 2015 line. About halfway through the show, the whispers began. They grew louder and louder as more of the audience caught sight of what was happening. The models weren’t wearing any underwear. Nudity isn’t new to fashion. In 2013, Alexandre Vautheir sent a female model down the runway with a breast showing. In 2014, Rihanna wore a completely see through Adam Selman dress to the CFDA Fashion Awards night. Designers have been pushing the boundaries on women’s clothing for years without stirring up any trouble. Plunging necklines, risqué cut outs, and bra tops are common place on the runway and off.
What happens if this trend evolves and begins to occur off the runway? What happens if a movie star, like Brad Pitt, wears a suit with a cut out accentuating his penis? Women wear dresses with cutouts in compromising locations at almost every reward show. Nip slips are common place now, but people won’t be as comfortable with penis slips. I think this double standard is finally going to be tested this year. Once Owen had planted that idea in people’s heads, there will be copycat designs. I personally wouldn’t be comfortable walking down the street and seeing a man’s penis hanging out, even if he was wearing a designer outfit, but if a women’s blouse was revealing or her pants see through, I would probably just think it was trashy and move on. My thoughts aren’t particularly fair to men, but it won’t be fair to the public if this trend catches on and men use it to harass others, and not for the purpose of fashion. People think its funny when girls flash people. People get freaked out when men flash people.
WEEK 4
Why buy a magazine when you can read it for free online? It seems as though with recent technology, fewer people have been purchasing physical copies of magazines. No one wants to pay to read an article that they can view online for free. The concept of magazines how we once knew them is dying, and a new wave of luxury magazines is on the way.
A Dying Art Reborn
New publications that are along the lines of books are being born. The articles are more insightful and the writers spend more time with their work. The magazines are produced less often, making them a novelty piece. Each issue becomes special. I think this form of journalism appeals more to the public. People will devote more time to the magazine and will pay more for the elongated experience. There is more room in each issue for elaboration on topics and added imagery. The production of these specialty magazines should kick start the print business once again.
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WEEK 5
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alking on Glass
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Celebrating the launch of the live action Cinderella film being released on March 13th, Disney is collaborating with nine top footwear designers to recreate the iconic glass slippers. Designers such as Jimmy Choo, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Stuart Weitzman are among those selected to style and craft a set of the world famous shoes. The film will feature a pair created by Swarovski, who is also providing the crystals to be featured on each designer’s creation. The shoes will be made available in the United States at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York and Beverly Hills, as well as locations overseas in London, Paris, Milan, Moscow, Tokyo, and Dubai. As a huge Disney fan I didn’t think I could be more excited about the film’s release until hearing about the release of the shoes alongside it. I personally can’t wait to see how the slippers get reimagined by each of these world famous designers. I am interested to see how these shoes will be marketing and if they will be wearable, because, lets be honest, how practical or comfortable can these shoes be? Will they be attempting to actually make the shoes out of glass, or do they have a replacement material that will successfully mimic the look of real glass? I would really like to see if the shoe is marketed as a commodity to display on a shelf or if we will see it walking down the runway. I personally would prefer to see the latter.
WEEK 6
BREAKING THE BEAUTY MOLD
This year, Sports Illustrated created waves with their annual swimsuit issue after featuring the magazines first plus sized models. Model Ashley Graham, who is a size 14, is modeling to promote a new campaign swimsuitsforall. The magazine also features another plus size model, Robyn Lawley, who is a size 12. After hearing about these models, people took to twitter in outrage. The problem was not the fact that bigger models were being used, but that they were considered plus sized. These models are healthy weights for their height and do not look overweight. Lawley has previously stated ““I can see the ramifications on young women if their body is similar or larger than mine and they see a ‘plus size’ label. I just see no reason in any labels really, I just want women [to be] happy with their bodies.” More and more women are trying to break the bounds of the typical model. MiLK Modeling Agency just signed their first plus sized model, who is a size 22. Tess Holliday, their newest model, is promoting equal opportunity for models of all sizes using the hashtag #effyourbeautystandards. While I don’t promote obesity, I do believe body acceptance is important. Being a size 0 model is not a realistic goal for every women. These women who are flaunting their curves do not deserve the term plus size. It is only detrimental to the self esteem of girls struggling to find some peace with their not so perfect bodies. PAGE 15
WEEK 7
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WINDOW SHOPPING
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One of the most exciting aspects of fashion week happens off the runway. In preparation for the floods of fashionistas planning on shopping in between shows, the stores arrange elaborate window displays to awe even the most hardened fashion week veterans.
From left to right: Bergdorf Goodman’s 57th street, Barney’s, Saks Fifth Avenue
In New York, the windows were filled with bright, vibrant colors featuring a handmade vibe.
Bergdorf Goodman’s windows held a diverse cast of mannequins. In their windows facing 57th street, the mannequins were placed in front of a colorful and slightly overwhelming graphic background. The Fifth Avenue windows took on a completely different feel, displaying vintage type pieces that felt homemade. Barney’s took a different approach to their windows, lining the displays with photos from their recent campaign. A video from their campaign was placed in the window. The campaign featured a variety of well known people including Christie Brinkley and Brooke Shields. Saks Fifth Avenue celebrated the Chinese New Year, incorporating paper lanterns, dragons, and lots of reds amidst their gold mannequins. Bloomingdales collaborated with Crayola to create displays highlighting bold colors that stand out against the plain white mannequins. Out of the windows in New York, Bergdorf Goodman had the most successful display. Their windows appealed to multiple styles and each window had a plaque outlining where in the store the item could be found, making the shopping process even easier. Barney’s display of photos is repetitive. The campaign should be advertised in magazines and online and the window spaced could be saved for a more captivating display. Seeing the small details of an outfit in person is what draws a person to purchase, not seeing a manipulated photo of the clothes.
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London Fashion week window designers brought their A-game, creating a series of intriguing windows. A definite highlight is the contradiction between brands focusing on emerging artists and brands backing older artists making a comeback. Selfridges took an interesting approach, backing fourteen individuals who became artists later in life. This risk resulted in a series of unique and compelling windows that are pieces of art in themselves and not just a means to sell a product. Harvey Nichols’ windows were more simplistic and cohesive, with a constant flow from panel to panel. There was a successful contrast between the display of clothes and display of gallery-like art pieces. The windows at Harrod’s that featured clothing were illuminated with pastel lights. The mannequins were arranged in between giant flowers. The remaining windows highlighted a few of the beauty brands Harrod’s carries. Each window was staged to look like a Hollywood make up station. There were also video screens showing the looks you could make with the products. Similar to Barney’s, Topshop went the digital route, using the windows to promote activity on the social media pages. Selfridges windows were by far the most compelling. Each window brought with it a new story and scenario that the viewer could get lost in. The backstory behind the artists responsible for the windows draws the viewer in even more. Again, I do not think digital windows such as Topshop’s are compelling. In an age where everyone in glued to their phones, I think it’s nice to be able to window shop and see real articles of clothing and not just be faced with another screen.
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Left page, starting from top left: Harrod’s, Harvey Nichol, Topshop Right page: Selfridges
WEEK 8
With new, better, and smarter technology being introduced to the market on what seems to be a daily basis, efficiency is becoming more and more prevalent in today’s society. The modern day lifestyle is all about micromanaging; getting as much done as possible in what little time we seem to have. It seems like it would be natural progression then to try and make the most out of the time we thought we would never gain access to: sleep. Or, more accurately, our dreams. A lucid dream is a dream in which the dreamer is actively aware that they are in a dream, even though they are still asleep. In theory, someone who is lucid dreaming would have full control over their dream, and be able to control every aspect of their dream. They would, in a sense, be in a world created and adapted by their own imagination. Sounds pretty cool, right? The only problem is that normally, intentionally inducing a lucid dream is incredibly difficult. However, those days might soon be past. PAGE 21
LIVING THRO DREA
OUGH YOUR AMS
Interest in induced lucid dreaming has been around for some time now. Remee is a lucid-dream mask created by Bitbanger labs that was launched in 2012. The Kickstarter campaign for Remee utterly destroyed its $35,000 target goal, reaching $600,000 from over 6,000 within days. Since then, more lucid dream devices have come on the market, as well as smartphone apps that promise to aid in inducing lucid dreams. It’s technologies like these that make you wonder how far away we are from making lucid dreaming every night commonplace modern society. Personally I find all of this to be incredibly fascinating. As someone who has “become lucid” during a dream before, only to immediately wake up. I’m looking forward to this technology’s continued advancement and eventual completion. The only problem I can see is that if everyone is always lucid dreaming, why would anyone ever want to get up?
WEEK 9
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Mommy & Me
Mother’s day came early this year with the presentation of Dolce and Gabbana’s new line. The line was filled with romantic looks featuring lace and roses. The clothing itself was powerful and was accompanied with accessories that were just as successful. The best part of this show, however, was the message it sent. Children accompanied their mothers down the runway, dressed up in matching clothes. For once, the models looked like they were actually happy to wear the clothes they were modeling. A handful of the garments were patterned with drawings made by the designer’s nieces and nephews. This show was entirely a family ordeal and the people loved it. I feel as if there is sometimes a disconnect between people and fashion. People wear what is the latest trend or the newest item. This collection brought forth items that were actually meaningful and sentimental, yet still fashionable. It adds another layer to choosing your clothing. With this line, you don’t need to choose whether or not to look stylish or to wear the t-shirt that your children tie-dyed for you for your birthday. You can have the best of both worlds. While viewing this line, I had a flashback to Angelina Jolie’s wedding dress. She wore a simple Versace gown with a veil decorated with her children’s drawings. It was more than just a wedding dress. That added connection to her children pushed the dress past the normal bounds of fashion. If everyone was able to incorporate personal aspects into their fashion choices, we would see more unique and special outfits. WEEK 10
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RESOURCES
WEARING THE FUTURE http://www.wgsn.com/news/?p=1155396 http://www.wgsn.com/news/?p=1146766
HOW TO SINK YOUR SHIP http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-wet-sealbankruptcy-20150116-story.html http://www.refinery29.com/2015/01/80284/wetseal-boycott H&M LOVES... http://www.wgsn.com/news/?p=1154051
YEAR OF THE PENIS http://hollywoodlife.com/2015/01/23/rick-owenspenis-models-runway-2015-paris-fashion-weekpics/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliarodriguez/2015/01/23/full-frontal-nudity-hangs-outat-paris-mens-fashion-week/ A DYING ART REBORN http://www.wgsn.com/content/board_
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WALKING ON GLASS http://www.wgsn.com/news/?p=1162786 BREAKING THE BEAUTY MOLD http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2015/02/05/real-first-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-issue-plus-size-model-robyn/22932665/ http://www.refinery29.com/plus-size-models WINDOW SHOPPING http://www.wgsn.com/content/board_viewer/#/56648/page/2 http://www.wgsn.com/content/board_viewer/#/56647/page/1 LIVING THROUGH YOUR DREAMS http://www.wgsn.com/content/board_viewer/#/56532/page/1 MOMMY & ME http://www.style.com/fashion-shows/fall-2015ready-to-wear/dolce-gabbana http://www.glamour.com/fashion/blogs/ dressed/2015/03/dolce-gabbana-mother-fashion-show-2015?mbid=social_fb_fanpage
RESOURCES