The next few weeks are busy in the fashion world. You should tune in not just for tips on styles, but also for ways to use social media. Many websites and bloggers will be live streaming, tweeting and Instagramming during the shows. Here’s a list of upcoming events. Make sure to check back here and in our apparel newsletter Threads for news on these and other promotional fashion happenings. Also, enjoy some of Tim Gunn’s most memorable musings.
“So perhaps the real secret to style is filling yourself to the absolute brim with engagement. Loving not wisely, but too well and all that.”
Fashion’s Night Out:
The fourth annual Anna Wintour-helmed event will take place tomorrow. The worldwide fashion party will hold gatherings at different design shops and retail chains around NYC and Los Angeles, as well as other major cities around the world. Proceeds from The Fashion’s Night Out Collection (including T-shirts worn in the PSAs for the event) will go to the New York City AIDS Fund. The aim of FNO is to bring shoppers into stores and give big and small retail chains a chance to show their current collections, with a focus on new, full-price garments, no specialty sales like trunk shows. Who thinks there should be a Promotional Fashion Night Out? I certainly do.
As for how Gunn’s quote relates, the most original personal styles typically comes from random inspiration, from people on the street, from colors of a coffee cup, from fall leaves. That is why style blogs (personal and otherwise) have such a following: They constantly inspire people. Even if you are not attending FNO, you can use Gunn’s quote as inspiration for creating upcoming apparel programs.
“Few activities are as delightful as learning new vocabulary.”
NYFW:
Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week starts this week. I’ll do my usual recap of the best styles for the promo world after the shows wrap up, but for now look through this slideshow of menswear designer inspirations. Personally, I am very interested in seeing what John Bartlett means by “plant-based luxury.”
With new styles come new “fashion phrases” to describe them. I use quotes because they are typically gibberish (see above). Embrace these new style terms with Gunn-like fervor.
“I want to see greatness!”
Philly Fashion Week:
On the PM home front, Philly Fashion Week is September 18 through 22. I am hoping to stop by some of the events. I’ll report back on the shows in a few weeks.
Also, just a bit of Gunn uniform advice: “A couture post-office uniform is not going to work.” Stylish uniforms are great. One-of-a-kind uniforms with fringe, glitter and too-small pants are not. Keep it classic and simple.
