FASHION IDEAS FROM THE FASHION FABULOUS

The Fashion Group International had their Spring- Summer 2008 Trend Overview this week and Marylou Luther (the creative director) tells us about fashion things to come.

The big news is that color is king (tell me something I don’t know) especially citrus shades like yellow and orange, as well as Art Nouveau, Floral and Graphic prints, safari looks, outrageous shoes, Chanel’s ‘re-hab’ bag that fastens around the ankle and Richard Prince’s artful collaboration with Louis Vuitton (cartoon print bags that marry art and fashion).

In the fashion loop are looser dresses (wrap and tie styles), softer pants, sleeveless jackets, jersey, chiffon, embellishment and special occasion dressing, loose high rise pants (I see Hepburn here).

Executive Editor of W Magazine Bridget Foley talked about “the most controversial element” of the season, which she refers to as ‘appropriation’ – (we call it “knocking-off” or copying). This is what the fashion press and marketing mavens had to say about “appropriation.”

Julie Gilhart (of Barney’s), “it’s inevitable, due to both the pressure to create as well as deadlines designers now face.”

Joe Boitano (of Saks), “it is inevitable, though he felt as long as designers gave it a modern spin, a new twist, and made it comfortable, it was okay.”

Ms. Foley asked if customers want a copy or something new. Julie Gilhart said that it’s the job of a great designer to “give the customer something new that feels familiar”.

As for the continuing importance of accessories in the market place right now, Foley wondered whether or not accessories are so important they have eclipsed ready to wear (“are clothes the new accessories and accessories the main event?”)

Gilhart: “Our customer is looking for something unique and individual”.

Foley: “What excites you about the season…what are they ‘keys’ of the season”?

Sarah Brown (of Vogue) “Art and whimsy, playful individualism…learning how to express yourself through makeup.”

Meggan Crum (Instyle): “I’m excited about costume jewelry as exemplified by Lanvin’s beautiful huge estate pieces and Vuitton’s whimsical fun pieces. The belt (from skinny to wide) is the key item.”

Gilhart: “Transparency is my favorite word….I like transparency. It was done the best by Raf Simons for Jil Sander who beautifully wrapped transparency over something a customer would normally wear anyway. The definition of luxury is changing. How do I define the new luxury? A well made product…no waste…creativity to the max!”

“Dries Van Noten (whose spring collection was all about an explosion of mismatched florals and recently held a trunk show at Barneys) was the most successful trunk show we ever had.”

Ms. Foley said the most amazing ‘fashion moment’ in Paris was by Alber Elbaz for Lanvin.

What made it so great (we ask)….“It had energy. It was not only the best show of the season, but Alber’s best show”.

According to fashionista Aleksandra Woroniecka, less is more. She claims the secret to wardrobing oneself is to purchase something only if it “has meaning” and “will last”. Let’s hope Woronijecka’s sentiment is not shared by other women and men (the accessory industry depends on what some call “fashion victims - who blindly and incessantly buy without any thoughts as to how their purchases relate to their own look, body type or lifestyle).”

Source: Daily Fashion Report