#9 Jay Crew…

While preparing for my interview at J. Crew I did a little research and stumbled upon some interesting videos on YouTube.

The first two are showing editorials being shot in Paris and Rome, respectively.

It's nice seeing J. Crew, such an American store, incorporating itself in Europe.

The next video is showing J. Crew's Jack. Jack Knows Best is one of the newest features to jcrew.com's menswear section. After first introducing their suits, the Ludlow and Aldridge, about two years ago J. Crew then featured Jack. You're able to email Jack questions about your personal stye, pertaining to J. Crew of course, and able to read other people's questions dealing with certain topics. The page also features his tips on "Occasion & Etiquette," "Getting Technical," which talks about measurements and the "Top Ten FAQ's."

J. Crew has really begun to cater a lot of it services to the men's market. They just opened their fourth men's specialty store in Boston.

Lastly, here's a short video featuring the Ludlow and Aldridge with The Rassle singing "Wild Ones" in front of The Liquor store in TriBeCa.

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#8 Get Creative with Fashion…

Like I said in the post before this, models going down the runway with their fierce walks, deadpan faces and pristine makeup, it can get a little boring.

Here's some more examples of some interesting shows.

The first is a fashion show in conjunction with an art opening. The models walked the small gallery as an opener and mingled with the crowd afterward posing for pictures.

The next is a glimpse of the… future? Well personally I don't think it'll take hold anytime soon but…

When I was at Buffalo State one of my professors said that people are starting to show lines on Second Life, 3D virtual world where users can socialize, customize an avatar and interact with people from all over the world. People are able to make clothing and sell it to other people in the game for actual money… yes people will buy, with their actual money, clothing and other accessories for their avatar. I don't judge.

Anyway, my professor said that this is how companies will be communicating and selling their ideas to people across the globe.

Well… I hope it doesn't. Although you can simply say a fashion show is something where models were clothing down the runway with some music and lights going on in the back, it doesn't give it justice. The show portrays a feeling, something I don't think a virtual show can.

I don't know how this show is compared to other ones but here it is…

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#7 Show of Trunks…

A trunk show is a special sale in which vendors present merchandise directly to store personnel or select customers at a retail location or another unique venue. It allows people to preview, and hopefully, purchase the merchandise before it's available to the public. This is a much cheaper alternative to a runway show, which could cost up to $1 million.

Maybe not the best presentation but we'll go with it I guess…

Honestly, I think she says "beautiful" about 6 times between these two clips, and "feminine" maybe four times.

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#6 Creative Fashion Presentation…

You want to put on a fashion show? Fine, but be creative. A majority of them have models with blank faces walk down the runway "working" the clothing. If you're going to do a fashion show, put on a SHOW. Get the audience involved, excite them. Leave them with something memorable.

One show I always looked forward to seeing was Alexander McQueen. Having a theatrical background his shows were more than just a preview of his latest collection, it was an experience.

One of my favorite was his Autumn/Winter 2006/2007 "Windows of Culloden" collection. It opened with a hologram of Kate Moss in the center of the runway.

Another great show was Hussein Chalayan's Spring/Summer 2007 collection where some of his pieces literally transformed in front of you.

There's also Gareth Pugh's video of his Autumn/Winter 2009 collection

And for some fun, one of my favorite shows, Absolutely Fabulous…

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…#5 Okay, Now What?…

After hours, days and weeks of researching the key colors of next season… now what?

It has come time to pick your Color Palette. One needs to be picked that will not only work for your Theme, but also your customer. Like I said in the previous post, color is the very first thing the customer will see, and that is why it's so important.

Colors… there's so MANY, how do you pick. Okay, at least we have those key colors, but you don't have to use all of them, remember your customer. Here's where forecasting sites come in handy again. The Doneger Group puts together lovely color ways each season.

For Fall 2011 they have forecasted the following:

Together these ways hit a lot of the Key colors for Fall 2011, pinks, orange, mustard yellow, blue-greens, nudes… Now what?

Don't just pick from one palette and say "Done!" It's a good idea to pick colors you see fit and don't be afraid to pull from more than one palette. For an example I'll use J. Crew Men's for next Fall. J. Crew is traditionally preppy, but with a twist. The J. Crew Man is conservative but isn't afraid of a little color and pattern in his wardrobe. So with a selection of somewhat bright and deep-saturation colors with the traditional navy, brown, white and black may do the trick.

Arrange them in a nice, straight line…

And ta-da!

( But easier shown than done)

Now comes the fun part.

*What you mean we weren't having fun already?* -No we were't-

Name the colors something fun and memorable. The cornier the better.

So it's not blue, yellow, green, blue-green, red…

They're Varsity Blue, Vintage Yellow, Ivy Green, Spruce, Harvard Red, Seal, Créme, Old Blue, Heather Gray, Heather Slate, Ace and Fail.

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#4: It was Orange and Pink and Green and Blue and Nude…

What's the first thing we see in a garment?

Not the silhouette, not the fabric content, not the seam construction, not the little design detail on the sleeve… it's color if you didn't already guess.

So much money is put into this aspect of retail and everything is taken into consideration. What worked last year? What will follow into this? Is my customer ready for this color? Do they even like this color? Which light should we show it in? Which shade? How much tint? What season is it again?

So many questions to answer and so many processes to go through. People make sure ever part of the process, the fabric mills, the garment factories, are all in sync with the color.

Color samples are sent to the mills, pieces are dyed and sent back to the company. To the untrained eye most of these swatches look exactly the same… WRONG! Under different lights, natural, incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, the colors look different.

Money is poured into the color industry to make sure everything is just right.

I've researched for Fall 2011 and these colors are said to be key:

Orange: Associated with stability, reassurance, warmth, sunset, autumn leaves

Greens: Promotes feelings of well-being and harmony, nature, security, stability and balance

Neutrals

Pink: Love, fresh, flirtation, and distinctly feminine

Electric Blues: Blues are associated with soothing and calming, loyalty, serenity, authority, protection, contemplative and promotes intellectual thought

Here's a video of Michelle Lamb talking about the importance of neutrals in the upcoming seasons:

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#3: Take it to the Street…

Ever changing New York. Every week there's a new restaurant, store, event and whatever else you can think of…it's happening! But every day there's always something new one the streets of New York.

If only I had a camera to truly capture the beauty on the streets but I found some really nifty things.

I love SoHo, the atmosphere, the small streets, the people, the clothing! I could go on…don't get me started on the little cafes down there.

Links to street style

Jak & Jil

Bill Cunningham

The Sartorialist

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