And the winner in very impressive style was Joncol trained by Paul Nolan and ridden very impressively by jockey A.P.Cawley. Now that’s out of the way lets get down to the other runners. The Fashion stakes were high and the competition fierce for the Best Dressed Woman which was sponsored by the Design Centre and was judged by Fashion Journalist and fellow blogger Ann Marie O’Connor and Milliner Philip Treacy. So here are my winners……. Read more
1.Kate Moss designs a range of handbags for Longchamp. The collection will be sold in Dublin in Arnotts but take a look here at a video of the launch party last week and rare footage of Ms Moss saying a few words…. (or should that be, saying few words?)
2. Almost half of all the Fashion Magazines continue to experience double digit declines in sales, titles affected include Marie Claire, Vogue and W. With the growth in the Internet as a source of all things fashion coupled with a difficult economy the Magazines are going to have to work even harder to not only hold but grow their readership. Harpers Bazaar were accused of using some creative accounting techniques to hold up their reader count and it transpires they had added two other magazines in their stable into the mix in order to bump up the numbers
3. Fashion extremes were all a sparkle at last weeks 52nd Annual Grammy Awards with Lady Gaga taking all the fashion titles know to man. Three outfit changes from Armani Prive before the ceremony even started!!
Lady Gaga in No 1 of 3
4. Trouble brewed and spilled over onto Twitter and the Fashion Press when a group of Invited Bloggers previewed Ann Taylors Loft Summer collection. Twitter was all atweet with this highly trending topic for days with lots of negative comments about Bloggers V Editors which were vigorously rebutted. Read the article below which comes from WWD and leave a comment.
A new Loft blogging strategy has created some buzz, but not entirely the kind intended.
A group of bloggers was invited to preview Loft’s summer collection on Jan. 26 and each received a free gift card, ranging from $10 to $500. But Loft executives insist it wasn’t a ploy to insure favorable reviews about the collection, just to generate some blogging action.
“They could write whatever they want. Obviously, there’s freedom of speech,” said Gary Muto, president of Loft, which is a division of AnnTaylor Stores Corp. “These are independent bloggers, not affiliated [with] any publications. We invited them to come in and write something. We treat bloggers more as potential clients. We don’t believe bloggers to be the same as the editorial community. We don’t incentivize the press. We would never do that.”
A Jan. 19 article in The Los Angeles Times said, “From the sound of the sliding scale card values, the bigger and better your coverage, the greater your reward.”
But Muto disagreed, indicating: “These were preloaded gift cards dumped in a fish bowl,” meaning the dollar value of the cards was set and wouldn’t be altered based on a blog’s content.
After they left the preview, bloggers could find out the value of their cards by either shopping Loft or communicating with the company by sending the link to their blog posting. Once Loft received the link, it could e-mail back to bloggers what the card was worth and also read the blog.
Muto said 31 bloggers viewed the collection and each took a card. There were 50 cards in the fish bowl, he added.
A separate preview was held the same day for editors, but no gift cards were distributed there, Muto said.
“We will continue talking to bloggers,” Muto said. “We firmly believe that word of mouth is a great avenue to explore. Gone are the days of traditional forms of marketing and communication.”
Asked if Loft will continue to offer free gift cards to bloggers, Muto replied that for now, at least, “I can’t answer that question.”A new Loft blogging strategy has created some buzz, but not entirely the kind intended.
5. Suzy Menkes is one of the most Influential Fashion Editors in the World, as Head Fashion editor of the International Edition of The Herald Tribune she wields significant clout so listen to her being interviewed here on her view of Fashion Bloggers and their role in the world of Fashion
Anne Keane is one of Ireland’s leading and very busy stylists. When I managed to catch up with her last week here is what she had to say about her job styling fashion shoots for all the major Irish glossies and Newspapers as well as photo shoots for major advertisers.
When did you aspire to become a stylist? I was always crazy about fashion growing up. I always thought I would be a fashion designer. I spent my days in school drawing clothes in the backs of my copy books and adorned any programmes on TV that involved glamour……..at that time it was the Rose of Tralee, Miss World or Head to Toe. I didn’t discover there was such a job as a fashion stylist until I left college and started a fashion course. I realised it was the visual aspects of fashion I loved and not the designing and making of clothes. I enjoyed coming up with a story through fashion and creating that image. I knew styling was for me.
Can you briefly explain the role of a stylist? most of us think we know but i don’t think we know exactly what’s involved.
Job Description: A fashion stylist is responsible for bringing to life a photographer or director’s vision for a fashion photo shoot, layout, commercial, print advertisement, music video, etc. Fashion stylists often look for locations, create the mood for the shoot by selecting and setting up the appropriate props, fashions, accessories, and models to fit the theme of the shoot. They coordinate colours and styles and make sure that all clothes are ready for the shoot, which can include basic tasks such as sewing and ironing garments. A fashion stylist can take what looks like an ordinary outfit and turn it into something great by simply adding a few details or fitting it in a particular way. Fashion stylists have an ability to transform the mundane into something that looks visually exciting and desirable creating a look that will sell for the client.
Tell me a little about yourself? Education? Who influences you and how would you describe your own style?
I went to Galway Mayo Institute Technology to study for a BA in Textile Design. After graduating I went to teach English in South Korea for a few month and after returning I enroled for a one year fashion course. As part of my course I did one month work experience at U magazine. Luckily I was kept on to style the fashion for U magazine for about 5 years as well as working freelance. Since then I have styled for most national magazines and newspapers in the country as well as tv and commercials.
What was your favorite fashion shoot and why?
I do make overs on a regular basis and they can be quite fun as you are changing how someone views themselves and what improvements they can make to their appearance. Often the person leaves feeling more confident in themselves.
I styled a series of photo shoots in Paris 2 years ago. It was exciting to work with models from all over the world and to work in some fantastic locations. Read more
I popped in unanounced and without an appointment to Queen Beauty Emporium on Dublin’s Aungier Street today and while I’m pretty good at sourcing and buying clothes and even though I adore makeup I have to admit to not always getting it right in terms of application. Do I wear mineral powder or liquid foundation, matt or gloss, eyeliner flicking out or up. It’s all more than a bit confusing. I’m a sucker for the latest ‘must have’ new makeup and I have the shelves packed to prove it. There are loads of ‘how to’ videos on the internet but I haven’t found any of them any use so far.
Leonard Daly is a brilliant make up artist and so with my camera in my pocket I pounced and asked if I could point and shoot while asking a few questions? The result is the first in a series of beauty Mini Master classes from a really skilled makeup artist who shows how easy it all is when you are shown how. The make up is from the Kevyn Aucoin range which is exclusive in Dublin to Queen Beauty Empori.
Many thanks to Alison who had no notice and who was a willing video star
Patricia Van Der Vliet is featured in the March edition of British Vogue in a beautiful fashion shoot. What’s lovely about this models story is that she was fourth on the Hollands Next Top Model TV Show and had to bow out due to illness. Destiny is an amazing thing and now Patricia is climbing the heights to the top rung in the world of the fashion model.
The beauty of this shoot underpins the colour palette of the coming season, sherbet infused nudes and naturals with a pastel pop as an occasional accent. Flattering to all skin types and an improvement on the nudes of last year this feminine yet strong look is what Summer 2010 is all about.
Patricia Van Der Vliet for Vogue Magazine March 2010
The ranges are arriving in and so the big job of sorting them and pricing them begins. Today I’ve got some sort of flu like illness but I’m in my showroom though I don’t feel quite here. Luckily Selena has arrived back to assist me. She does it cheerfully with a smile even when the heat builds up!
A round up of my chosen news items from the fashion world from last week
Haiti is a major manufacturing centre for the clothing Industry and naturally a lot of the factories have been devastated by the earthquake. Lets not let Haiti slide to the back of our minds in the coming months and endeavour to keep helping in whatever way we can.
One of the clothing factories in Haiti last week
Tavi the 13 year old blogger was at the Couture Shows in Paris last week. A large gift from Milliner Stephen Jones adorned her head. Unfortunate for anyone sitting behind her, reminds me of weddings and the races where instead of seeing either bride or horse I had views of various adornments perched on top of elaborate head wear. Enough to make the blood boil. Read an Interesting article here from the Independent on the whole bally hoo. Paula Reed who is the Fashion Editor of Grazia magazine and a thoroughly nice (by all accounts) woman (this is from one who knows these things) was pretty annoyed about it.
Image courtesy of The Moment
It’s always interesting to take a peek into the making of an advert or campaign and this video is from Louis Vuitton’s Spring Summer one.
A frosty, cold day in Dublin but there was a blue (very welcome ) sky so things are looking up. I headed to the organic food market today in Temple Bar. A regular Saturday Dublin fixture that sees the same faces week on week. There’s something lovely about routine and so It was lovely to eat oysters, sip a glass of wine and catch up with my oyster mates. Camera at the ready I kept spotting great bags which were the main event coupled with really simple outfits and so here are a few that caught my eye today.
Cross body Bags are hugely on trend and the matching hat turns this one into a complete look
This bag is a show stopper
A fun bag with shoes that pick up the colour give this a young thought out trendy vibe
A big thank you to everyone who said yes to me and for agreeing to let me post this blog
Having scoured all the catwalk shows and collections I thought it time to pick a favorite. It was Vivienne Westwood last season and Diane Von Furstenberg before that but one that I have been watching for a long time and have grown into so to speak is Donna Karan. I never take into account what is in Fashion because that just translates to ‘In the Moment’ and is transient. I am much more interested in style and look at the clothes as if I was about to make an expensive purchase. Here are my favorites from the Spring/Summer Ready to Wear collection. I love the beautifully cut fluidity and the gentle yet strong look, especially the glorious jersey’s and soft linens. The colour pallete was neural but not without depth. There is something very elegant and timeless about the collection and if I was in the market for something from one of the top women designers (who are few and far between) it would definitely be Donna Karan.
Wardrobe Staples are having a ‘fashion moment’ or more realistic a fashion endorsement. I said I would write about those pieces that I never used to get pleasure buying but are the ‘must have’ anchor pieces in every woman’s working wardrobe. This present season is one where the world of fashion is having an attack of inertia. The world economic downturn has everyone including the fashion world running for cover ( or should I say Trench coat) and it’s not entirely bad news. It is time to take care of the basics, to spend our money on good quality timeless pieces and no better place to start than with a classic Trench coat. This is not the time to buy a cheap copy, if you are going to invest in a Trench then I would go no further than a Burberry whose name is like Biro is to pen. After all you are going to wear it and wear it and wear it again and again and again……..
The Catwalk for Spring Summer 2010 was a Trench affair
Working in the Fashion Industry for the past 15 years, Nicky is at the forefront of the Irish Fashion World. A Fashion Agent with showrooms in central Dublin, Nicky brings leading fashion brands from around the world to the Irish Market.
