Armani Hotel Glamour

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I recently saw this article about the new Armani Hotel that was built in Dubai. The famed designer has been working on this project for 5 years and boasts about its lavish 160- rooms, spa, eight restaurants, and Armani retail store. When I saw this grand hotel by the designer I couldn't help but think about a discussion that we had in class about designers over saturating the market with products with their names stamped on it.

But I am coming to realize that designers who create their own downfall by oversaturating the market; their potential downfall really does depend on who the designer is and the type of product that they are licensing. In Armani's case the addition of the hotel to his repertoire is not such a bad idea. I mean clearly his fashion house is synonymous with glamour and opulence and the creation of the hotel only adds to it. Not only are you getting the look and feel of the Armani brand, but you get to dine, shop, and eat like him when you stay in his hotel.

Now don't get me wrong oversaturating the market with products that have nothing to do with your brand and quality is one thing and obvious of your imminent demise. But carefully marketing products that match your brand and style can only enhance the designers appeal and fan base.

H&M Goes Festive with HIV Awareness Collection

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H&M has turned a page into the world of festive rock glamour with their new FAA collection designed for their HIV awareness campaign geared toward raising awareness of the growing epedemic. The collection consists of fring laced tunics paired with cut off jeans, embelleshed tops adorned with sequence and tribal details. The collection has a total of 20 looks for women and 12 for men who are given the classic looks of menswear with battered denim shorts, and leather biker jackets.

The line is set to debute in 200 select stores May 20 and with last years collection earning an estimated 4.1 million alone, this years collection is sure to succeed.

Crack Down on Counterfeit

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In an article by WWD titled "Feds Crack Down on Counterfeits" it talks about the growning trend both domestically and abroad on producing counterfeit products. Designers like Nike, Coach, Rolex, Gucci, Polo Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Fendi, Cartier, Prada, Burberry, Christian Dior and Ed Hardy have all fallin victim to this global crime. But because of the growning trend Federal Agencies such as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement have seized over $260 million in fake apparel, accessorie, etc. In this month alone to send a message to counterfeit community.

The sudden crack down on the booming illegal industry is in part due to the enormity of the industry and how much of it consumes the market. The US is one of the leading countries in protecting intellectual property rights and have been the global enforcer by releasing reports that outline the countries that have not taken the next step in preventing the production of counterfeit products. Only time will tell if the Government will completely stamp out the production of these items to send a message to the community that imitation is not always the best form of flattery.

Trend : Eighties Power Suit, Shoulders, geometric prints, etc

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Todays next big trend this season has been a throwback to the eighties and the era's over the top fashion. Because the eighties was the time for many women to get out of the traditioanl skirts and dress' many found liberation through dawning oversized business suits to the office. But today we see that trend coming back full circle with some of todays most influential designers like Oscar Dela Renta. Starlets like Sienna Miller and Beyonce dawn the oversized shoulders coupled with wild geometric prints to give some semblance of balance to the over the top ensemble.

Whatever the reason for eighties fashion making a comeback, everytime they do come back it seems like they are always paired up with something that brings new life to the garments, like wild prints. But Whatever the reason I can't wait to see the trend roll around next time and whats added to it then to make it really pop.

Signature You

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Trend make the world go round and what make fashion what it is today.But we often forget is that what makes a trend is how you feel wearing it; and what makes a trend you own is how you wear it.

The first step in creating you own signature look starts in the mind. This means changing your old way of thinking that the only way something can be hot is if millions of other people are wearing the exact same thing. Once this is flushed out of your system the creating that perfect look comes naturally.

The next building block to individualizing a trend is to define your signature style. Figuring out which style best represents who are makes sifting through trends a breeze. So don't be afraid to create a syle of your own or even mix style becuase the point is to find the style that you feel confident in.

Next, create a statement of the day look, or an outfit that represents what you want to convey to everyone and go from there. Coming up with a statement can be hard at first but starting out with a word can turn into a phrase and a phrase will eventually turn into a statement that symbolizes what you want to convey to everyone that sees you, may make it easier. For example if your feeling fun and girly that day the statement "Ready for some fun, feeling girly in sun." May do just the trick.

The final building blcok to your signature look is what I like to call turning your "something borrowed into something new". This basically means using what you already have or borrowed from a freind and adding it into your signature looks. This often works best with your favorite print scarf, bag, or handmade item. Using something old in your wardrobe no only gives it a new life, but also adds that extra touch to an outfit that representswho you are to the world.

Creating a style all your own puts your stamp on a trend that millions are wearing and brings fashion back to the days when clother represented who you were, what your interests were, and where you came from. The best thing about creating your own style is that you put your mark on an otherwise mainstream trends that have the privilege of being worn by everyone else.

PIM: 2010

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This years Portfolio in Motion featured designs by Marymounts talented students in design and production. The theme for this years show as " All Doll'd Up". The stage was decked out to resemble the front of a doll house with pictures of windows, Chandeliers, and Damask print. The theme was carried out throughout the show from the over the top 2 inch eye lashes to robotic possess that embodied the mannerismsof dolls.

The fashion this year also didn't disappoint and featured great menswear that many noted was an improvement from last years. Evening gown from the talented Juniors wowed us with flowing purple lace gowns, elegently picked wedding dress', and navy blue corseted dress adorned with matching tulle hat.

But by far the best part of the three day weekend show was heartfelt mesage that the designer of the year, Isabel Toledo, conveyed to senior designers. She emphasized the need for us to "keep inspired, keep your enthusiasm. Stay true to the love that you have it for your Art.. become great sewers because that really expands the world for you... Don't just sketch and idea, think about it in the round, build it, work with fabrics..."

Hearing these words were a wonderful confirmation of my continued passion for this industry called fashion.

The End of Ebony Fashion Fair

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This article talks about the potential end to the Ebony Fashion Fair which featured elaborate fashions by black designers and was a long staple in the black community. The event was created by Eunice Johnson is the wife of John Johnson the owner of Ebony Magazine and once grossed more than $55 million in more 4,000 shows. The Johnson Publishing company have put the popular show on a hiatus after the death of John Johnson.
The relevance and importance of the show is also being considered as it once was the only avenue for featuring black fashions and models . As more African Americans are being featured in more prominent positions in the industry such as Andre Talley, the editor at large for Vogue. African American model such as Chanel Iman have become fashion icons and many African American designers like Tracey Reese have made head waves for the community.
Though the future of the fair is uncertain it is an undeniable fact that the fair has and will always be the mechanism that brought African American fashion to where it is today.

House of Mystery

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The recent review by Robin Givan about the most talked about book by Deborah Ball titled "The House of Versace." Tells of a story mixed with lavish glamour, family tormoil and ofcourse opulent fashion. Ball tracks the history of the Versace house from the humble beginnings in a poor region in southern Italy to their rise to over the top glamour through Gianni's innovative ideas.

Ball weeds through the rumors of Mafia connections as the reasoning behind how they lived such lavish lives that resulted in $750,000 shopping spree's.

When I think about how Gianni rose to fame and the highest echalans of the fashion industry only to be struck down at the height of his career, it is devastating, and then to have his hard work in perils after his death, is even worse. Even though he left his company to family I personally think that the reason why the company went through so many downfalls was because they lost touch with Giannis message of it only being about fashion and leaving any family rifts out of it. But ofcourse even in the fantasy world of fashion, reality always creeps in.

New Woman From The Old

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I have recently been interested in how fashion of the past is making its way back into the spotlight of the fashion industry. Many celebs and even street fashion are looking to the past to gain inpiration for styling their looks of today. Whether its 1920's flapper inspired dress' designed by Lanvin dawned by the ever innovative Kirsten Dunst or the quentessential "bob" hair cut, past fashions are making a scene.

Vanity Fair recently showcased the elegant Grace Kelly on their cover and ave an ode to the iconic fashion figure who undoubtedly has a major impact on todays fashionistas. But whatever the reason for the new craze, looking back to gain inspiration for today's style couldn't be more fitting.