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Goodbye NYC :(

I hate saying the words but… goodbye New York! LPrior to moving here for the semester, I had visited a few times and loved the city. As a young girl I always dreamed of growing up and working for a fashion magazine in The Big Apple. As I grew older I went through many phases in regards to my future. There was a time when I saw it as a pipe dream- actually scoring a career like in The Devil Wears Pradaand picking up my life and moving to this huge city- it all seemed so unrealistic. I then grew up and realized that I could actually get a real college degree in fashion and also that the only jobs in the fashion field aren’t just the glamorous ones. Not saying it’s not difficult to get a job in the fashion field, but there’s just a lot more I can do with it that I know about now, which I never knew about before. I then got excited, and my dream of moving to New York City when I graduated was back again. Until last year. I got extremely sentimental and I think some of the effects of “senioritis” were hitting me. I thought about how this summer would be my last summer at home and about how picking up everything and moving 8 hours away is really scary and extra adult-ish. I shied away from the idea of living in New York because I was getting sappy about getting older. But alas, that phase is over now.

After living here for a semester, all I want to do is be here forever. I would now like to just fast-forward through my last year of college and be here in New York, starting my life. Living, and I know I’ve only been here 4 months, so it’s a stretch, but really living in New York City is so different from visiting. These past four months I’ve fallen in love with the city all over again and in a whole new way. Being here for more than just the quick weekend getaway with only enough time to catch a quick Broadway show, see Times Square and walk around Central Park, gives you a whole new view of the city. So basically, I’m in love with New York and I would never like to say goodbye.

I will miss… basically everything about New York. Something I’ve come to love is the Subway. It sounds a bit odd but I think it’s almost therapeutic. There’s something so perfect about having someone just transport you around and not having to drive anywhere. In addition, I love being able to walk. The closest coffee shop to me at home would be a thirty-minute walk, and I’d probably get weird looks for walking on the side of a busy road at home. I also love listening to my music while I take the subway and walk places. I’ll really just miss the morning and afternoon commute. Next, I’ll miss all of the obvious things- the amazing food, the vast options you have when you’re choosing where to grab coffee in the morning or drinks after work, and the amazing cold brew from Stumptown and Culture. (L) Also, the endless opportunities for activities. I’ve seen three Broadway shows while I’ve been here but I’d like to see a lot more. I’ve gone to two concerts but like... can I stay here forever just to hit more concerts than my brain could ever imagine, ranging from big artists at Barclays Center to house shows and local band debuts? *sighs*

To end this lengthy blog post that sounds more like a diary entry, I would just like to speak this into existence one more time: I’m in love with New York and I would never like to say goodbye.

P.S. I’ve attached pics of some of my favorite moments, memories and places in New York… it was hard to pick just a few.

Working behind the scenes on our photoshoot for our Fashion Image class

Going to Morphew vintage showroom and trying on this AMAZING Pucci dress that I fell in love with.

This amazing view Kelci and I got to take in :)

A really cute and yummy Indian restaurant :)

Basking in the sun in Central Park

Yankees game with my roommates :) 

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Being a “Digital Editor”: Fun, Challenging and Very Rewarding :)

My role at Vignette is a digital editor. When I got this role I was excited because I enjoy working with online blogs and digital media. While hardcopy magazines are still extremely prevalent in the world, online publications are just as relevant, if not more. As a “millennial” and soon-to-be college grad who is starting her career in the digital age, getting experience in the digital aspect of Vignette is important to me. At home, I work at a small retail store as a store associate. When I left in January I took over as the social media coordinator. Since then, I have been toying around with the idea of working in social media or digital marketing of some sort when I graduate. So, being named a digital editor suits me because I am truly interested in it, and I could see myself working in this field in the future.

I’m not a big “blogger” girl or someone who follows all the typical bloggers and influencers, but there are a few accounts I keep up with because they’re genuinely cool and I like their personal style. One woman I have been following for a while now is Kelsey Stiegman. She is a digital style editor at Seventeen Magazine. I admire her personal style as well as her career. I keep up with the style videos she creates for Seventeen and all of her other content as a digital editor. While our roles are just a little different, as Vignette is aimed at a much smaller audience than Seventeen, the jobs are still similar. I admire her feed because it seems natural and real, not as “posed” as normal Instagram bloggers. This, in turn, translates to her work for Seventeen. I can see her personal style in the digital articles on Seventeen.com and I love that. I admire her realness and see her as a career role model.

I will most definitely use my experience as a Vignette digital editor, as well as the example set by Kelsey Stiegman, as I start my career. This is the first time I actually got to help create a “brand.” While I do run social media for my job at home, I didn’t create that brand or identify their target market. With Vignette, Abby and I got to craft an Instagram personality that we thought fit our brand. It has been fun, challenging and yet very rewarding to create an entire profile based on what we gathered from our classmates and their ideas for Vignette Volume 9. It has been a creative process that I think will be very beneficial to me when I begin a real career and have to navigate the challenges of working with a media team. In addition, I’ve really enjoyed the experience so far and this position has made a career in digital media even more appealing to me than it already was.

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What is Vignette Volume 9?

When I came to class today, I expected to see a lot of the same things coming up for each group’s project. I expected everyone to have a college-age target customer who was into Instagram and trends and what’s hot when it comes to social media. But, I was pleasantly surprised. This exercise showed me what we can explore in our Vignette publication and how creative we can really get. While this may be biased of me, since this is what my group chose, I think that our target market should be college-age to young adults. It’s what we know best. We are literally the struggling college student. We are used to Ohio prices. We are used to getting in our car and driving to class or walking from our dorm, not paying to Uber or subway everywhere. So, coming to New York with our sole titles being “unpaid intern and full-time college student,” we know how it feels to be broke but still #woke in NYC. While I do like the other groups target markets, I think college aged and young adult would suit Vignette best since we would have the most content and firsthand experiences to write about.

I really enjoyed how one of the groups put a lot of focus on health and wellness. While my group’s project carved out a small section for healthy eating and diets, we didn’t talk much about physical and mental well-being. Being a young adult in New York calls for a lot of self-care and wellness checkups. Even just including in the magazine a list of every moderately priced yoga and/or meditation class each issue would be great. I think well-being should be a big part of our magazine. We should stress that yes we want to have fun and find things to do that are moderately priced in the city, but also one important thing to do is to care for oneself. Giving self-care tips whether it be through product reviews or event coverage after going to a yoga studio, we should tie it in to our mission.

Another thing I liked was the green/eco-friendly part. By this time in our world, sustainability should be part of everyday life. Sustainability is becoming increasingly popular in fashion and other industries as well. We’re ditching plastic straws, using reusable everything, having to pay to use plastic bags and even banning plastic bags completely in some areas.

It’s difficult because I have listed such a wide range of topics that I think Vignette should cover. But everything I’ve listed seems important in the life of a young adult. I am trying to relate to myself and to the general young-adult public. All of these things- health and wellness, fashion, restaurants, going out- hold a significant part in my day to day life here in New York and I think they should be a part of Vignette.

I have attached the cover of my group’s Vignette mockup. :) 

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The Importance of Fashion Media

Being on Texture was honestly refreshing. If I was actually paying for it I think my answer would be a little different, but I loved having all of that media at my fingertips. I would say that if I had a real job and a steady income, I would definitely pay for Texture. As cheesy as it sounds, my “New Year’s Resolution” was to consume more news media. I am constantly feeling lost when it comes to current events, and I want to know more. I am interested in politics, world news and really just what’s going on in the world, but the extent of my research comes from reading an article or two twice a week that pops up on my dashboard. Besides consuming information from social media sites like Instagram and Twitter, which is most helpful when it comes to fashion and pop-culture, I told myself I would start doing more. I need to sit down and read a magazine cover to cover. Or pick up a newspaper and actually read it. I did stick to my commitment, I have been reading more articles on CNN and the likes and have even brought up current events in casual conversation with friends, and one thing that helped me maintain that resolution was this Fashion in the Media class. I now truly understand the importance of being up to date and in the know about current events, not just in the fashion world. So overall, I enjoyed having Texture and all of those magazines at my fingertips. It was especially nice to have in New York since I am always commuting and have extra time to read.

Besides reading fashion magazines and browsing WWD, there are also apps I like to use related to the fashion world. My number one fashion app is definitely Depop. Even though I don’t sell on it, I love to browse. I love thrift shopping and picking up vintage clothes, so Depop makes it easy to browse whenever. Even if I don’t actually buy anything on the app, it’s great for inspiration. I like to just look through the feed and see the outfits that people put together. It seems more personal than just scrolling through Instagram, and I love that about it. On Instagram, people are trying to maintain their feed aesthetic and stick with their brand, which is great, but it makes posts seem more posed (obviously). Depop is just people posting unique clothing for great prices, and I love finding hidden gems.

Another fashion app I like to use is Like to Know It. While I only use Like to Know It occasionally, I will say it is very convenient to have when I need it. I always saw Like to Know It advertised on bloggers’ pages but I never knew what it was. Honestly, my first impression of it was “this is kind of annoying… Bloggers want us to go the extra mile and download a whole app just to get their outfits, why can’t they just tell me on the post?” While some Instagrammers do tag the brands they are wearing, it is nice to have Like to Know it giving you an exact item so you know what the product name is and where you can purchase it.

Finally, the last fashion app that I use is called Later. Later is an Instagram scheduling app that also lets you look at your analytics and learn more about the app itself. While Later is not strictly fashion, it can be used to curate a great page for a fashion business or retailer’s Instagram account. I currently handle social media for a company that I work for back home and we use Later to manage the page, and I have found it so helpful. The company is just a small clothing company, and using Later helps me plan my posts ahead of time to make sure the aesthetic of the brand lines up. It also helps me keep track of what I post, make sure that I don’t post the same products too much and also that I provide a wide array of outfits and looks for the brand. What I also love about Later is the feedback they provide. I customized my account so they know it is a retail/fashion business, meaning they tailor certain tips to the fashion world. They are always sending emails that contain little blog posts on how to boost your Instagram page. This, in turn, helps the company sell more product.

Later is the app that I would suggest the company I intern for in New York start to use. While I understand they are keeping a low key Instagram page because it fits with the quirkiness of the brand, I think using an app like Later could really help boost sales. Using Later doesn’t have to turn your brand into some alien, corporate, aesthetically-obsessed Instagram influencer. I believe you can make what you want out of it. Even just reading the tips and tricks on Later and using it to help track analytics could help the brand grow. Knowing your followers and who’s looking at your page can help curate your content, especially in the fashion media world.

(Pictures attached are screenshots from Depop, Like to Know it, and Later apps and websites).

[fashionmediathoughts-blog]

Production Manager... the perfect balance between creativity and business?

Dear Cor,

           I can’t draw, but I love art. I can’t make a fashion sketch to save my life, but I love putting images together. Don’t even get me started with flats. I’ve always wanted to do something creative, but I’ve felt limited by my inability to make art. I dabbled in graphic design for one college course, but then I realized that there’s a lot more to that than I had expected. I like fashion media, the production and design of it. In addition, I would love to hold a higher position such as a Production Manager, like you. Something about bringing everything together- the writing, the art, the ideas- sounds amazing. I think that would be a rewarding job that I could really succeed at.

           I would like to know all the details. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty. Yeah I get it, in my head is probably a fairytale version of what a magazine team does. And, I could be completely off with how it works. I could be creating an entire scenario in my head of what you do every day and what your position entails. But, I’m just going to go with it. So, what are the deadlines like? You always hear the people say “I’m sorry I can’t, I’ve got a deadline.” To me, that sounds nice. See I don’t have much self-control when it comes to procrastination. I procrastinate like it is my God-given duty. So if I had a job where there was a set time where I needed to have my life together, my work in check and everything completed as if my life depended on it, I would just love that. I need an extremely vital and specific deadline to get things done. In addition, I work great under pressure. Obviously, as an avid procrastinator, you have to learn to work under a tight deadline.

           I am currently working on a project for a Fashion in the Media class where my title is in fact “Production Manager/Designer.” I am in charge of putting together the cover. This includes getting everyone’s pictures, headlines, and ideas for the issue. Since it is just a mockup magazine and we are barely scratching the surface of a publication like Vogue, I am basically in your position but extremely modified. I’m working with what I’ve got, and it’s going good so far. One of my concerns with this position comes with others.  As you are in charge of gathering a lot of different material from a lot of different people, what do you do when someone doesn’t meet their own deadline? I know there are plenty of ways you can handle it, but what have you found has been the best way you handle it when you need their material to do your own job?

           I am also curious as to what your exact duties are. I know you are in charge of managing many different departments and putting all of their work together, but what does that really mean for you? Overseeing the magazine so that everything goes together well, but what duties does that include besides just collecting from others? Whatever you do, you do a lot, and you do it well. I very much admire Vogue, and it is due to the way it all comes together. The issues always flow well, the covers always fit the headlines even when the headlines don’t seem like they would be relevant. Even the ads look good in their placement in the magazine. All of the features and profiles flow within the issue to come together and make a fabulous issue.

           So even if I was a little bit wishy-washy when I first started writing this letter, I think I decided being a Production Manager is something I could see myself doing. After writing to you and doing this project for class, I really admire your position. Now, I know it’s a stretch and it’s not going to happen for a very long time (if it ever happens), but even being your assistant or working on the production team would be wonderful. Please write back if you feel anything from my letter and if you would like to help me cure my career indecisiveness.

Best,

Lizzi

(A letter to Cor Hazelaar, Production Manager at Vogue)

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London Fashion Week: What’s Hot and What’s... Overdone?

Vinyl, pleeeease! While vinyl has been back “on-trend” for a year or so now, it is becoming trendy in a different way this fashion cycle. Vinyl, but not just as a mini-skirt from Urban Outfitters, as a collared-top worn underneath your best suit. Or as a long trench over your favorite satin two-piece set. Alexa Chung’s runway show at London Fashion Week was nothing short of amazing, and my favorite part was the vinyl. Vinyl is becoming more, can I say, normalized? Less going-out-on-the-town-80s-clubbing-style and more workwear (emphasis on the werrrrk!). Is that a multi-colored knit winter scarf paired with a vinyl trench, accessorized simply with plain tights and everyday pumps? Yep, she did that! This runway show made me want to UPDATE my workwear. While we know that vinyl itself isn't a new trend, the way it’s being styled and the garments made out of it are changing, and I love it. This trend adds texture and style to the average suit. It makes people feel, excuse my language, badass when going to work. Vinyl booties and cropped jumpers from Forever 21 are no more. Say hello to the new vinyl.

While I love the new vinyl look, a trend I wasn’t too crazy about from London fashion week is the oversized blazer. Toga had a whole show filled with oversized blazers and I wasn’t crazy about it. While it was all very cool and 80s-looking, I think I’m just over the trend itself. Oversized clothing is huge in street style, but “street” style is already in its prime, so I’m looking towards the future. I was looking for something new, but for some reason the oversized blazers in Toga’s show felt old to me, they felt overdone. The rest of her collection was beautiful, and the blazers themselves weren’t tacky looking, I just think they’re past their prime. She also paired one of the oversized blazers with huge oversized stiletto boots, very Kendal Jenner-esque, but very over. When watching shows during fashion week the people are looking for things that are fresh, new and innovative. Now, this is all just me spewing thoughts and some people may think that the blazers are still hot right now, but in my personal opinion I think they’re far past their prime. Sorry Toga, you’re still doing amazing though girl!

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Magazine Scene

When simply glancing at a row of magazines they all may look the same, but not everything is what meets the eye. Look harder, and you’ll spot many differences. While the idea is the same- glossy pages, celebrity on the cover, a few headlines, etc.- different magazines have different agendas. It also gets pretty interesting when you delve into national versus global publications. Obviously a town’s local magazine is going to be a lot different than this month’s issue of Vogue, but what’s the difference between Vogue and Italian Vogue? Elle and L’Officiel Paris? Lots.

When it comes to the cover, things are generally the same. It also depends on the magazine, but the two I am comparing are Vogue and L’Officiel Paris. In this case, the L’Officiel cover seems more editorial and a little less commercial than Vogue. It features a dramatic dark backdrop with a striking image of a model wearing an incredibly fashionable look. While Vogue does have covers that are a little more edgy and “artsy,” it seems as if L’Officiel has taken a more creative approach overall. Adding in here that on the cover of this Vogue is Justin and Hailey Bieber, oh the newlyweds. The internet freaked out over the “engagement/wedding/couple” photos that Vogue released in this issue. This definitely shows where most of America’s interests lie. After their whimsical romance and out of the blue engagement, people couldn’t stop talking about them. Vogue took the liberty of grasping onto that fascination and doing a full spread about them. Being a former tween “Belieber” myself, I definitely caved into the obsession. Thanks Vogue!

This could be me being fascinated in European culture in general, but even the advertisements in L’Officiel seem beautiful. Obviously both publications include the regular Chanel, Gucci, Céline and Prada ads that are very well photographed and usually include some sort of amazing model, but even the run-of-mill Maybelline mascara aren’t seen in L’Officiel. In Vogue I saw advertisements for Pure Leaf iced tea, Retinol hydration crème, L’Oreal lipstick and even birth control. The only advertisements in L’Officiel were those of high-fashion brands such as Vivienne Westwood and Missoni. This definitely shows the customer base that each publication is selling to.

L’Officiel

Vogue Advertisement

Finally, let’s talk about the stories themselves. L’Officiel had a few profiles. There was an interview with a model and three or four pieces on different famous people. I saw one story that seemed to be covering a trend and also two different event reviews from runway shows. In addition, they had a three page spread titled “Le Cinéma De Minuit” which translates to “The Cinema of Midnight.” Vogue seemed to have a lot more “filler” content. Advertising products, “what’s hot” pieces, etc. They did have some profile stories and collection reviews as well as a few restaurant reviews. And I’m not going to lie, I did get sucked into the 11-page spread on Justin and Hailey, fully-packed with the cheesiest but at the same time extremely cool couple photos I’ve seen. Overall, it seems as if Vogue included a lot more advertisements, which was expected. While L’Officiel did include advertisements, they were very much for aesthetics and less for actually trying to gain customers. Even though I couldn’t necessarily read L’Officiel, I would say both magazines were equally entertaining in their own way. 

I’ve attached some images from the Hailey and Justin spread for your viewing pleasure.

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MY STREET STYLE FASHION WEEK DAY 5: MILAN FASHION WEEK REPOST

All! About! The Accessories! I’m not one to accessorize much; I own about 6 pairs of gold and silver hoops in varying sizes and that’s the jewelry I pick from each day. But I do appreciate a great hat or a vintage-inspired pair of oversized sunglasses when I see them. I’m sharing this article because it captures some great accessories from Milan Fashion Week. And not just your basic “Oh check out this awesome statement piece this celebrity is wearing” or “THIS is the bag all celebrities are wearing this season, and were OBSESSED with it.” None of that. This article shares 15 looks that are truly unique and exceptionally well done by the designers. My personal favorite is a pair of yellow/gold translucent Fendi sunglasses paired with a black high collar and a vinyl yellow raincoat. Runner-up: a fur Fendi hat with a chin strap. But, I’ll let the photos do the talking and you decide for yourself which accessory is going to be killer this season. Click the link below!

https://www.elle.com/fashion/trend-reports/g26432796/milan-fashion-week-fall-winter-2019-accessories-jewelry-trends/

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MY STREET STYLE FASHION WEEK DAY 4: A$AP STYLE

If you know who A$AP Rocky is, you know his style game is PHENOMENAL (**drooling emojis**). He’s known for wearing some pretty killer outfits ranging from floral button ups and designer jeans to lavish suits paired with tee shirts. He has also created some of the best street style looks involving oversized puffers and lots of bright colors. I had the pleasure of being able to go to an A$AP Mob concert in Brooklyn a few weeks ago, and I am forever grateful. Besides being one of the best shows I’ve been to, I saw some of the most amazing street style. The hip-hop world, obviously, brings amazing fashion to the game and a lot of the artists could be considered fashion icons. In addition, the concert-goers are just as fashionable, so walking into that concert was like walking into a trendy fashion look book shoot. The styles ranged so much, but all are were amazing. Streetwear is so in style right now for teens and college students. Picture a whole room filled with people wearing Off-White and similar brands. Leather pants, oversized tees, lots of beanies, fanny packs, amazing sneakers (mostly Nike), big hoodies and cool belts. One common theme I saw throughout this sea of trendy young people was neon. Neon is very much in right now, and although I don’t wear it myself, it looks amazing on others. The neon trend is huge in streetwear and I saw nothing short of a rainbow at this concert. Between the fans and the whole A$AP crew themselves, I saw neon sweatpants, neon puffers, neon belts (thank you, Off-White), neon sneakers and neon bags. Below I’ve shared some of my favorite looks from A$AP himself that night, as well as from concert attendees that I spotted.

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MY STREET STYLE FASHION WEEK DAY 3: STATEMENT COATS

If there’s one thing I’m addicted to that I shouldn’t be… it’s coats. Puffers, trenches, bombers, denim, parkas, you name it! I am obsessed with how they look with an outfit. Fascinated by how they can completely transform a look. But burdened by how much they break the bank. I wish I wasn't addicted to them! Besides how much they usually cost, I honestly despise them sometimes. A coat makes or breaks an outfit. And my dislike for them rolls around sometime in December when I don’t have the perfect coat for every single outfit. I wish I could own a coat for every style I go through. One day I’m full-on street style, the next I’m punk, the next day I’m bohemian, and I could go on forever. So while I say I’m addicted to them, they’re also my enemy. The coat holds so much power. A coat takes an outfit from lazy to glamorous. Sweats and a ripped tee.. but then add a huge fur coat on top? Bam! You’re dressing like half of our pop-culture icons when autumn rolls around. A statement coat can do so much with so little. One iconic coat I’d like to touch upon is Carrie Bradshaw’s fur coat worn to her Yankees game outing. Everyone remember that episode? I mean I know she’s known for dressing boldly, but a (presumably) vintage fur coat, to a Yankee’s game. Call it what you want but I’m calling it iconic. It is Carrie Bradshaw, so honestly I expected nothing less but I just had to call that moment out because it changed me forever, for the better. Not to mention that Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte were all in clad in some sort of fur coat. That is the definition of making a statement, and those are the epitome of “statement coats.” As I wandered through the streets of New York I saw lots of statement coats. Some weren’t worthy of blogging, and others I just couldn’t catch in time to snap a BOMB picture of them. So, here’s what I came up with.

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MY STREET STYLE FASHION WEEK DAY 2: ACCESSORIZING WITH FAUX FUR AND FUR

Fur has been a part of fashion for an endless amount of time. First, fur was only worn by royalty and eventually by just the wealthy, until finally in the 50s and 60s it became more casual and affordable. Now, fur is seeing its downfall. While it is still hugely popular, our world has become more #woke (thankfully) and PETA is only growing bigger and bigger. Protests against fur are more prevalent than ever and I’m good with that. We do have a great alternative to fur… FAUX fur!!! Not to say I am an active protester against fur, I have close friends who shop vintage furs like it’s their jobs and I’m still cool with them. But despite our current state of unrest, fur is still in fashion. Although, I’m pretty sure most of the street style photos I took are faux fur, but I still wanted to comment on the matter just in case. Fur and faux fur accessories are especially trendy right now. Fur coats are having a huge moment along with fur earmuffs and faux fur jacket trim. I appreciate the following looks because the fur adds texture to the styles. It adds a unique texture that spices up the garments and, on two of the looks, it adds a whole new layer. Besides just looking glamourous, fur or faux fur can make a look more interesting because of the shape it adds. A tight t-shirt with straight jeans and form fitting trench can become a lot more interesting if a fur collar and fur jacket cuffs are involved. A look can be made fun with accessories like a fur bag or even backpack. Basically, fur just adds a bold element to looks and really becomes the star of the show.

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MY STREET STYLE FASHION WEEK DAY 1: ANIMAL PRINT? ANIMAL PRINT!

Animal print is questionable. In my personal opinion, she comes in huge waves and she really just comes and goes as she pleases. Wearing animal print used to be a juvenile thing. Like hey yeah I’m wearing my leopard print mini with leggings to the 6th grade mixer. Then I was all like yeah I’m in high school now I’m too cool for leopard print. Then I thought “um I’m too edgy for leopard print… that’s for preppy Kate Spade-wearing conservatives who pair it with a string of pearls” (sidebar there’s nothing wrong with that though because you can make that look cute, I just didn't know what I was talking about when I was in high school). And then there’s all of the other issues with animal print. If you wear it in the wrong way or on the wrong fabric, you’re trashy. If you wear it another way, you’re dressed like an old lady. But honestly, I’m here for it. Despite my previous opinions on it- mind you those thoughts were formed in high school when I was clearly not knowledgeable enough on fashion- animal print is in right now. And certain animal prints can become a classic staple if they are done right. Take a look at my favorite animal print street styles so far. 

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Seeing the Vintage in NYFW

Badgley Mischka’s NYFW show this year was glitz and glamour. I normally don’t follow Badgley Mischka, but they were one of the bigger names that I saw on the NYFW schedule so I decided to check them out. While everything was seemingly modern, they definitely got some inspiration from the 1930s and 1940s. Think a 40s-style boat neck dress paired with satin gloves… but make it modern. They made that particular look modern by making the dress leather and adding pumps. I wouldn’t say that I loved the collection, but it was well done. Definitely not my style, but I could see the elegance in it and why people are drawn to it. The silhouettes in general were an ode to the 30s/40s style. Nothing was too billowy, everything slim and not a lot of excess fabric. In addition, I could say that almost every single dress and garment in general was drawn in at the waistline. These shapes really reminded me of an old Hollywood gown or just a classic 1940s silhouette. While I picked up on these vintage trends, the whole collection remained very modern. I saw lots of metallic, sequins and leather fabrics that kept the collection looking fresh and new. They put a twist on old Hollywood glamour with some of their gowns and spiced up classic 1940s dresses to put on an overall great show.

Two words: Kate Spade. Normally, I am not a fan of the brand, but this fall Ready to Wear collection is outstanding. I think I was particularly drawn to it because I love 60s and 70s fashion. I am fascinated by velvet bell bottoms and skirts paired with high boots, and I saw just that at the Kate Spade NYFW show. Not to mention, plenty of the looks were paired with matching head scarfs that felt very 70s. The colors were bright but not just in the normal hot pink and bright green Kate Spade way. Varying shades of purples, magentas and pinks paired with pops of yellow and blue made the collection seem like its color palette was taken right out of the 60s. High-waisted trousers and velvet pant-suits made me feel like I was taken back into the 70s, but without all of the flower power. The collection was a perfect balance of vintage and modern, touching on the best of the 60s and 70s while adding their own special twist. Overall, 11/10.

Finally, my all time favorite LEWK:

Amazing. 

[fashionmediathoughts-blog]

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE: A FASHION STUDENT’S MOTIVATION

The September Issue was both oddly inspiring and motivational for me. It provided me with a good glimpse into the fashion media world, and seemed both real and raw. What fashion student doesn’t get inspired just seeing the face of Anna Wintour herself? First, I say oddly inspiring because I didn’t expect to feel extremely inspired from this film, just maybe a little more knowledgeable after watching it. I was like “yeah fashion is cool, but I’m not really in the mood to watch a documentary right now.” That thought of mine was premature, as The September Issue is not your average documentary. Prior to watching this film, the only real example I had seen about the fashion media world was The Devil Wears Prada. While that is a fabulous movie, The September Issue provided better insight into the fashion world because it is real life. It was motivating because it was a legitimate inside look into the life of an editor. After I watched it, I thought to myself, this stuff is cool and I want to be as amazing as Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington combined into one hybrid queen.

 I had those preconceived notions that Anna Wintour was the “big intimidating editor” that she is rumored to be, and I would say that description is correct for the most part. I was intrigued because the film really showed how Wintour keeps herself poised and navigates through challenges in her work. I swear the woman will never crack, I can’t imagine her crying into a pint of ice cream after a bad breakup. Now, I am sure there is a lot we don’t see and a lot about all of the staff at Vogue that we will never know, but overall it painted a good picture of most of the people it featured.

I found the dynamic between Wintour and Grace Coddington throughout the film to be very interesting. Their relationship was definitely my favorite part of the film. Throughout the entire documentary there seemed to be a lot of tension between the two, but they never took anything too personally. This paints a portrait of the difficulties of working with friends in any field, and how one must separate her emotions from her work. The two never got caught up in drama but they still cared enough and were bold enough to communicate to each other their own opinions and ideas. I thought the narrative of the two of them, Grace just as important as Anna, was a prominent part of the storyline. Plus, they have known each other for such a long time, so it was cool to see how their friendship and work relationship has held up for so long and stayed strong through so much.

Overall, The September Issue was both inspirational and motivational because it captured the work environment of Vogue magazine and portrayed that “fast-paced” fashion print environment that everyone talks about. That type of work has always seemed so thrilling to me. It also seems extremely difficult, which makes it even more motivating. The documentary made me want to direct a photoshoot, write an editorial and Photoshop a full blown magazine cover all in one night, if only it were that easy. It honestly made me want to learn as much as possible about the print media business, and made me even more excited than I already am to be in New York. I know everything’s not as glamorous as it seems, but I also know that that’s what keeps it interesting.

FORBES 30 UNDER 30: MELANIE MASARIN

For my Top 30 Under 30 influencer I chose Melanie Masarin. Masarin is the head of retail and offline experiences at Glossier. I chose her because Glossier has blown up so much within the past year or two and has been the “it” brand for months now. I had never even heard of Glossier until advertisements for them started popping up on my Instagram feed about a year or so ago. I saw people on my Instagram popular page promoting them and celebrities and bloggers posting ads for the brand everywhere, and I jumped right on the bandwagon and checked them out as well.

Masarin joined the Glossier team in 2017 and I would say she is directly tied with the Glossier’s recent popularity. They opened their first store in New York last year, and I think it’s safe to say it’s on most trendy teens’ bucket lists to visit the store while in NYC. The Forbes article states that Masarin led the opening of the Glossier Showroom and used her hospitality and marketing experience to help the brand grow. I am always seeing pictures on my feed of the Glossier store because of its aesthetic and super “Instagrammable” photo-ops. Masarin saw an opportunity in the opening of this showroom and executed it perfectly. Social media is one of the best ways to extend your brand and she made Glossier Instagram famous, directly leading to the brand’s immense popularity right now. Good work Melanie.