Chanel Spring 2010

Alright, I know I'm late with this, very late... but I plan on going back with my blog and recapturing past fashion events, trends, icons in history etc. but right now I'd like to go not so far back in time and present to you Karl Lagerfeld's show for Chanel's Spring 2010 collection.

This one really hits home for me. I grew up on a farm and my theory is that because of my lack of social aptness and my lack of influence for fashion, (Not to mention my oblivion in general) I was an aesthetic late bloomer. Chanel took a young country approach to the show this season and if I were ever to be homesick for the farm, (which I never am) this show would have done it. The barns and haystacks and dirt floors and enchanting clothing enthralled me, making me want something that never existed for me as a child.

What a bizzare concept for me that this show combines an uncharacteristically young look and a farm atmosphere. Ironic almost. If only my farm were in Paris like this show.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the youthful change in the chanel line this season. My biggest association with Chanel comes from my time working at Henry Birk's and Sons. My manager was a hard yet elegant woman. She had previously worked for Chanel and almost always wore a Chanel suit; soft, thick tweed in muted colors mostly (unlike her personality). She was a middle aged business woman who didn't let her gender or anything else get in the way of her running a prestigious and successful flagship store as the general manager. Socially she is a sweetheart and I still go to visit her in the store here and there. She is a Chanel customer and although I think she'd probably immensely appreciate this show, I think she might leave this season to the younger women of the world this spring. Rihanna, Lily Allen, and Prince attended the show and I feel like this was such a suiting audience for the show.

Let's talk about Lily Allen's performance. Yes, Lily Allen and her band were raised up and out from the ground singing "Not fair" If you've never seen the video for this song, here it is. Perfect. It was just the perfect song. It's young, edgy, sexual and has a huge old western flare to it. Fantastic. And did Karl decide to include the sexual innuendo in the show because of the song or did he specifically choose the song for the performance he'd put together? Regardless it all came together quite wonderfully. For a moment I expected Lily to be wearing something a bit more country western but then I remembered. It's Lily Allen, she has to stand out. This was a great little piece to reel in new Chanel customers which seemed to be the point of the show.

I laughed a little when I caught wind that new Chanel model Nastya Karzan had a spycam hidden in her hair. The footage is actually quite fun to watch. Seeing through the eyes of a model in a huge show like this is just an unexpected point of view. Of course I prefer to see the full show but I think this was a fun, innovative and interesting way to create some media buzz. It might have had more effective if it weren't so obvious that it was planted by Chanel (Seeing people fixing the camera along the way gave it away) but nevertheless Chanel is giving you the experience from every angle. Almost literally.

I hate to subscribe to rumors but this one seemed appropriate to mention. Apparently Karl Lagerfeld is not renewing his contract with Chanel. Is this it for the Lagerfeld/Chanel partnership? It seems to have ground considering what an unexpected and fantastic show he put together. Is this him leaving chanel with a bang? Or is Karl Lagerfeld targeting and expanding the chanel client and people interpreting it as a final show and starting rumors? I seriously doubt that it'll be his final show with Chanel but we'll have to wait and see.

What beautiful cuts, prints, fabrics and cuts. I love the large floral print. Boy do I have a few things to learn because as a designer I'd never pick out this fabric but it looks fantastic!

Style Rookie Presentation

For my Fashion Marketing class I was put into a group (mine ended up being a pair, Ashli Soto was my partner who worked hard with me on these slides and research) and we were assigned blog sites to present about. Unfortunately, our power point presentation wasn't working, so we presented without it,improvising with the website. It went well. Here is the power point presentation we weren't able to present.

For a school project she recreated designer clothing in miniature sizes. Here are a few, Alexander McQueen's shoes, Comme Les Garcons dress, and a Rodarte dress.

Tavi only has ads by google on her website which is the case for any blogspot website.

We were asked to also present an article idea for our blogger about Vancouver. Since Tavi is well spoken and well versed on political issues, we think she'd be interested in the recession, the Olypics and the financial strain that might push us Vancouverites to be recessionistas and shop at places like thrift stores, which Tavi loves doing.




Personally I don't take Tavi's personal style very seriously but I think there is definitely something there. As a child I'm sure it's hard to find clothing that fits when you have adult taste. I am super impressed with her ability to research, learn and report. As a student, this is exactly what I am striving to do. She may not be the next Anna Wintour, but I'd interview her for potential jobs in five years.

Fashion 4 Love

So I was thinking today about how in my previous sociology classes we talked about push/pull factors. This is apparent especially in immigration. Usually people migrate because the place they are from is not advantageous for them to stay in (push) and another place presents opportunities (pull). This believe it or not, is not a sociology lesson. I believe that everything we do to a certain extent has a push/pull factor. In my life I'm going through my own transition. From a social based career to a fashion career, I'm studying and moving in a completely different direction. Here's the relevance to the push/pull factor theory for me. There is little push for me. I don't hate my job. I'm not bored of it. It's not tedious for me. I am a community support worker which means I assist people with special needs. Sometimes that means helping them bathe, eat and take them for walks, and for other clients that may mean helping them build a resume. I have some pretty amazing clients who I connect with on a personal level. Before this job, I worked with kids for a few years. The most common reaction that I get to my job is that "it must be so rewarding". Yes and no. It is rewarding because I work with some really great people, it's always interesting, and I am always learning. I've been working with this client for almost a year. He has severe autism, O.C.D. and he also has Mania. He is not verbal and only knows limited sign language when he remembers it. He is so honest and sincere though and doesn't know how to fake emotions. He loves to eat and sometimes just wants you to rub his head. How can you not find that endearing and adorable?



















It's not so rewarding sometimes because people with special needs are like anyone else in many ways. Sometimes you connect with them, and sometimes you don't. Also I really feel like my passion and own personal development are being neglected. I need art and I need fashion. Fashion is about presentation and expression and acceptance. It will make or break whether you get a job or not. I went through a transition in life when I discovered fashion. Perhaps one that saved me. A career in fashion is also a bit of a risk which I was afraid of until last summer. For me, there is not much push in my career, but there is a huge pull for me in the fashion career. One that I sacrifice for.

This photo is of me in 2005 working at a summer camp. I had put on a fashion show with/for the kids. It was terrible but the kids loved it (mostly) and I loved doing it. I made the poster and put it together.



I keep this photo in my binder at school because it reminds me to keep my eyes open and follow my heart. I never thought I'd actually pursue a career in fashion back then, but why not? I am passionate about it and it's going to happen. This picture is me in my default, doing something I love. Isn't that what your career should be?




So onward and upward with this fight for fashion. I hope that whoever reads this pursues their default dream too.

This was a quick in class assignment on fashion vocabulary that my beautiful friend Devon Brittain and I wrote together:

Trend

Eco Friendly- All of a sudden going “green” is all the rage. In Hollywood, in the media and even in your own recycling bin. This Trend has seemed to pop up just recently in the beginning of 2007 with the EP!C launching in Vancouver B.C. Ethical Progressive Intelligent Consumer’s mission was to showcase a variety of designers and companies efforts to be more efficiently “green.” The government has issued every house be appointed a recycling bin all over Canada and is just now starting to complete its mission. It seems everything from organic fabrics, re usable coffee mugs and grocery bags, the world- and the trend report seems to forecast a decrease in carbon footprints.

Style

High Heels- High heeled shoes can be dated as far back as the 1500’s when the original "rider's heel," (approximately 1-1/2 inch) was introduced. Since then, Heels have been getting bigger and bigger in the fashion industry and can be found in a variety of different shapes, including the Pump, Block, Wedge and the most famously known stiletto. This revival of the opulent heel style can be attributed to the French designer Roger Vivier, and many more designers throughout the 1950’s for creating similar versions of the high heeled shoe. The idea behind creating a raised shoe was to generate the illusion that elongated the leg- making it appear slimmer and more toned.

Mass/volume production

Ugg Boots- Ugg boots were being manufactured in 1933 by Blue Mountain which originated in Australia. The initial use for the boot was in the 1960’s to keep surfers feet warm after exiting from the surf. The mass popularity within the boots in North America has only been brought out in the last few years and since been so undeniably popular that teens and elders alike can’t keep their feet out of them!

Classic:

Plaid- Plaid is a tartan fabric consisting of perpendicular intersecting solid lines. The use of plaid is one that in 2008 has recently inflamed in the fashion industry and still holding strong in the new decade, although the Burberry check pattern was originally designed and widely used in 1924, plaid combines style with a rural or unrefined style relating directly to the “grunge” look which is a reoccurring theme throughout the modern fashion scene.

Fad:

Choker Necklaces- A choker necklace is a necklace that leaves no room around the neck and is often worn mid neck instead of hung over the chest. This was a short fad that influenced young girls throughout the 90’s. Because choker necklaces were mass produced, cheaply made and went out of style quickly, it is hard to pinpoint a specific designer who started this fad although jewelry worn tight to the neck has been in style for centuries. This 90’s fad has made other materials than gem stones and metal around the neck more common, such as lace, ribbon and leather.

High Fashion:

Fur- Fur is animal hide covered in fur used in fashion. Fur was used and worn throughout history. In fact some of the first garments ever worn by humans were made of fur. This is a timeless material that has never not been worn. Pinpointing a designer that made fur fashionable seems unethical as fur precedes its designers. Today in our animal rights conscious world, fur is still being used even synthetically. It’s a sure bet that real, or not real, you’ll always see fur on the runway.

Fine art and Fashion

I attended a gallery event on Friday night and there was some phenomenal local work and some pretty strong local art cliques, but that's pretty typical of Vancouver. It was held in a large art and clothing store called the Ayden Gallery (http://www.aydengallery.com/home/) which is located in Tinseltown. Here are a few pieces that I saw and are relevant to what I'm about to say.




Artists: Lani Imre, TiFdyL (Taka Sudo), and Ben Tour.









I saw Lani Imre working on the painting with the girl and the dog at a Holt Renfrew art event a few months back, She works very quickly and is very talented.



















Last quarter I was in foundation courses which essentially meant I did less fashion courses and more basic courses focusing on fine art. I produced some great stuff, one piece i did was a pop art piece of Lady Gaga, which I took to her concert and although I didn't meet her, a fabulous girl by the name of Melissa took it to the meet and greet session with her and had Lady Gaga sign it.

Anyway, my point is that I thought that I would be kissing goodbye to painting, drawing, etc. for a long time, but this art event showcased the artist's work on clothing which reminded me of one of my original ideas. We've been using print in fashion for a long time, and perhaps the most successful fine art right now is that being printed onto garments. So although I may take a side step from my fine art to focus more on sewing and fashion, one day, we'll all meet and have a party, I'm sure.


I had an idea to print large faces and portraits onto large dresses one day. The focus for me was to think of something that just hadn't been done before and to make it unique. Shortly after (March 2009) D&G came out with this:
Gorgeous.

Misc news.

So Charlize Theron was the face of a clean and clear ad that was banned in the UK because in the after images (Before and after of course) Charlize was wearing powder. Clean and clear claim that it was to tone down the shiny glare on her face. Seriously though, of all the ads to censor, you find this one offensive? The UK have a point, but if we were to be this nit picky, we'd put Photoshop out of business. Charlize says "Women are under so much pressure! I'm not surprised we all become part of this beauty race." Charlize, how would you know? For you, there is no beauty race. You've won.









PETA just posted these billboards without permission from Barrack or Michelle. When personally requested to remove these ads, PETA refused because they claimed that the images of the president and first lady were positive ones, depicting them as leaders in style. Whether or not this is true, PETA was asked by the president to remove his and his wife's personal photos. You've had balls before PETA, but this is a new level. Is PETA making huge historical steps in activism or are they just being incredibly defiant?


Why would Italian Vogue choose to print this and put it on it's cover? Poor Karly Kloss. I don't understand the motivation though, and why such a petty image would be on the cover of Vogue. It does look fabricated in Karly's expressions...


Carl Lagerfeld, who apparently has made many fat-ist remarks has put out a photo shoot with a large woman. I'm game for it but it seems contradictory to his standpoint and I think there must be some kind of driving factor in the whole concept. Redeem his previous standpoint for publicity? It somehow is mysteriously relevant that she is half naked. Would we even say the same thing or think the same thoughts if she was a size 2? Whatever it is, and whatever the look, it's a statement of diversity and I dig it.