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 alwayscrazy 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 orHead 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. Ienjoyed 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 stylistis 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 oftenlook forlocations, 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 andmake surethat 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 detailsor 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 Technologyto 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 thecountry 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 changinghow someoneviewsthemselves andwhat improvements they can maketo theirappearance. 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!
