Living in a virtual world ... byebye material girls

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As part of New York Fashion Week, SiriusXM hosted "Town Hall with Kenneth Cole,” with SiriusXM Fashion Insiders host Fern Mallis, who was instrumental in starting NYFW, interviewing Cole about his return to the runway and the importance of social media.

The most interesting part of the brief interview was when he said, “What’s interesting now is that we don’t consume the product by buying it in the stores. I mean, one percent do, maybe. 100 percent view it [and] consume it, by shooting it, by posting it, by pinning it, by blogging it, by tweeting it, by retweeting it, and today it is being consumed everywhere in these unique and interesting ways. And they define themselves by it … there’s Pinterest, Instagram and all of these social platforms.”

I've been doing this for at least a decade. If I can't possess an item I find beautiful, I'd save a photo of it as a reminder. Before, I would have to save the images in folders on my computer desktop, but now Pinterest makes it easy to collect photos and create storyboards. For retailers, it's a great marketing and advertising tool as the public spreads word of their love and affection for a brand.

But in the long-term, I wonder what happens to the retail business model when everyone does make consumption virtual. The economy is questionable, unemployment is still high. It's conceivable that the cash-strapped won't need to make purchases if they can enjoy items vicariously via Pinterest. It can be unexpectedly satisfying, because let's face it, even if we buy coveted items, chances are we tire of it in three months or even before the credit card bill arrives.

If so, retailers might one day find themselves in the same boat as the record, book and newspaper industry, trying to stay afloat in a world where increasingly, life is being led online.

Or maybe it really is the 1 percent that props up the industry, and it's just the 99 percent of us who have to use our imaginations. It sort of works in the way it really couldn't for food and housing.

You can view his show here:


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NYFW 2013 fall-winter previews come to a close

Here are scenes from the final official day of New York Fashion Week's fall-winter 2013 previews, as reflected on Twitter: http://storify.com/fashiontribe/nyfw-the-fall-winter-2013-finale

NYFW: Day 7 roundup

Day 7 views of New York Fashion Week, via Twitter: http://storify.com/fashiontribe/nyfw-fall-winter-2013-day-7

Beauty spot: Wu's fall look from the NYFW runway

Here's a peek at one of fall's makeup looks, as shown on the Jason Wu runway:

Sean Combs presents Instagram fashion show

Sean John photo

Sean Combs launched his latest men's collection with an Instagram Fashion Show, with images released beginning 10 a.m. this morning, Feb. 8. Viewers will be invited to check out images from the latest collection at http://instagram.com/iamdiddy, with pieces only available at Macy’s.

The multi-media star claims the Instagram fashion presentation is the first in social media history. Although I'm sure smaller showcases have taken place—there have been many an Instagram art show for instance—he may very well be the most high-profile personality to make use of the service in such a timely way.

I think it's a great idea for a small company with no budget, but a bigger company can't discount the electricity and energy that comes from a physical display, even if it's just a walk-around presentation.

NYFW Day 2 via Storify

Here's a look at Day 2 of New York Fashion Week as viewed by the Twitterverse, on my Storify page: http://storify.com/fashiontribe/nyfw-fall-winter-2013-day-2

More livestreams from NYFW

Screen shot from Richard Chai's Spring 2013 runway show at New York Fashion Week.

In addition to the New York Fashion Week shows being livestreamed from Lincoln Center, TheHighLow.com, a site covering retail trends and the intersection of tech and fashion, is offering a link to shows here.

Here's a list of shows that were not on the "Live From the Runway" list I posted yesterday. New York times are listed first, followed by Hawaii times.

SEPT. 7
10 a.m. (4 a.m.): Peter Som
Noon (6 a.m.): Sally LaPointe
1 p.m. (7 a.m.): Jason Wu
2 p.m. (8): Yigal Azrouel
3 p.m. (9): Cuchnie et Ochs, Rebecca Minkoff
6 p.m. (noon): Nicole Miller
7 p.m. (1 p.m.): Charlotte Ronson
8 p.m. (2): Academy of Art University

SEPT. 8
Noon (6 a.m.): Son Jung Wan

SEPT. 9
Noon (6 a.m.): Derek Lam, Michael Bastian
1 p.m. (7 a.m.): DKNY
3 p.m. (9 a.m.): Thakoon
5 p.m. (11 a.m.): Carmen Marc Valvo
6:30 p.m. (12:30): Long Tran
7 p.m. (1 p.m.): Zang Toi

SEPT. 10
1 p.m. (7 a.m.): Ohne Titel
3 p.m. (9 a.m.): Reem Acra

SEPT. 11
9 a.m. (3 a.m.): Tory Burch
Noon (6 a.m.): Rodarte
3 p.m. (9 a.m.): Osklen
6:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m.): Oscar de la Renta
8 p.m. (2): Narciso Rodriguez
9:30 p.m. (3:30): The Blonds

SEPT. 12
11 a.m. (5 a.m.): Douglas Hannant
5 p.m. (11 a.m.): Marchesa

SEPT. 13
2 p.m. (8 a.m.): Calvin Klein Collection

Keep up with NYFW via livestreamed shows

New York Fashion Week's runway shows start tomorrow and now anyone can have a front-row seat thanks to livestreaming.

IMG will be making live stream and video on-demand content from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York available on YouTube, starting with Nicholas K's show at 9 a.m. (3 a.m. Hawaii time).

"Live From the Runway" (youtube.com/liverunway) will presents more than 30 live-streaming fashion shows and on-demand content, while keeping eauty and fashion enthusiasts up-to-date with show schedules, backstage beauty looks, insider interviews, trends and how-to videos.

It's so much easier than figuring out how to get from Point A to Point B with back-to-back shows, enduring lines and sore feet, and your view is guaranteed to be as good as Anna Wintour's, though she's more likely to be spotted at shows off-site.

Now you just have to sleep late or wake up early, or just catch all the shows of the days' rebroadcast.

Here's the schedule:

SEPT. 6
9 a.m. (3 a.m. HI time): Nicholas K
10 a.m. (4): BCBG Max Azria
11 a.m. (5): Richard Chai
2 p.m (8 a.m.): Tadashi Shoji
3 p.m.: Rebroadcast

SEPT. 7
3 p.m. (9 a.m.): Rebecca Minkoff
6 p.m. (noon): Nicole Miller
7 p.m. (1 p.m.): Charlotte Ronson
8 p.m.: Rebroadcast

SEPT. 8
10 a.m. (4): Lacoste
11 a.m. (5): Jill Stuart
2 p.m. (8 a.m.): Mara Hoffman
3 p.m. (9 a.m.): Hervé Leger by Max Azria
7 p.m. (1): Monique Lhuillier
8 p.m.: Rebroadcast

SEPT. 9
11 a.m. (5): Lela Rose
2 p.m. (8 a.m.): Tracy Reese
3 p.m. (9): Custo Barcelona
4 p.m. (10): Diane Von Furstenberg
6 p.m. (noon): Timo Weiland
8 p.m. (2 p.m.): Chado Ralph Rucci
9 p.m.: Rebroadcast

SEPT. 10
10 a.m. (4): Caroline Herrera
11 a.m. (5): Carlos Miele
3 p.m. (9 a.m.): Reem Acra
4 p.m.: Rebroadcast

SEPT. 11
10 a.m. (4): Badgley Mischka
11 a.m. (5): Vera Wang
1 p.m. (7 a.m.): Jenny Packham
2 p.m. (8 a.m.): Rebroadcast

SEPT. 12
9 a.m. (3): Bibhu Mohapatra
10 a.m. (4): Michael Kors
1 p.m. (7 a.m.): Rachel Zoe
2 p.m. (8): J. Mendel
3 p.m. (9): Milly by Michelle Smith
6 p.m. (noon): Anna Sui
7 p.m. (1 p.m.): Vivienne Tam
8 p.m.: Rebroadcast

NYFW begins

New York Fashion Week Spring 2012 shows are underway. Keep up at:

Official
http://newyork.mbfashionweek.com
Facebook.com/MBFashionWeek
Twitter.com/MBFashionWeek

http://www.fashionweekdaily.com/

Also, Macy's will be celebrating its third annual Fashion's Night Out "Fete to Fashion," with live-streaming of red carpet arrivals and other happenings from Macy's Herald Square, beginning 6 p.m. NY time.

You can watch it at www.macys.com/fno when the time comes.

Bliss Lau launches new collection in New York

 

Click here to see Aaron Ekroth's video for Bliss Lau.

Hawaii-raised accessories and jewelry designer Bliss Lau sends word that she just presented her first formal collection, "Embraced," for Fall-Winter 2011 on Feb. 6, a few days ahead of the official New York Fashion Week.

She shared a video of the show, made by Aaron Ekroth, also a local boy who moved to New York. Another of his videos of the photographing of her Spring-Summer 2011 collection lookbook can be viewed at his website, signalflair.com. Click on "Documentary Style Videos."

It looked like a great event, with food, beautiful people in black and ballet dancers as models.

Bliss says many others from Hawaii helped her work the event, including Susan Stanton, and the designer is doing her best "to keep the 'ohana strong up here in the cold of winter!"

Seeing Bliss's collection again reminded me that I always meant to pick up one of her body armor/jewelry pieces from Tiffany Tanaka, if she has any left!

You can read more about the show at Style.com.

Ivy h.'s Fall-Winter 2011 collection debuts

Photos courtesy Ivy h.
Visions of white- and yellow-hot magma, the black surface of lapahoehoe and blue of the Pacific as lava and ocean meet inspired Ivy Higa's latest collection for Fall-Winter 2011.

It was great to be able to catch up with Ivy Higa by phone in advance of her Ivy h. New York Fashion Week Fall-Winter 2011 presentation in Midtown Tuesday night.

The previous times we talked, our conversation had to be chaperoned by Lifetime in case she spilled any of the results of "Project Runway."

Since then, she's been busy working on her Big Island volcano- and lava-inspired collection, and she says it's "do or die time," as far as funds are concerned. She was in the same position last spring, and ultimately decided on auditioning for the show in hope of being able to sustain her business another year.

The question always is, how long does one chase a dream if one has to eke out a living? There are a lot of lucky people who have unlimited support and can afford to separate art and commerce, but unfortunately, many others who choose to create must weigh both aspects of their work.

I think hers is a dream worth pursuing, so I feel sad about the thought of her ever giving up for lack of money. I don't think she'll ever stop designing, but, even though she's currently working with fashion superstar Zac Posen, there's a big difference between working on someone else's collection, and calling a collection your own. And having had her taste of creating a brand, I'm sure it must feel like nurturing a baby. You want to see it thrive and be successful for a very long time.

Christian Siriano to give away a dress

FIJI Water has been an annual presence at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, helping to editors and buyers hydrated as they rush from show to show. There's that, and sample energy and beauty drinks distributed on the streets, which I was grateful for because typically, there's just no time to eat. And I'm sure there are quite a few in the crowd who rather not eat because skinny is the thing in that moment.

This year, FIJI Water will be presenting the debut of Christian Siriano's new line live online at www.fijiwater.com/christiansiriano. In addition to seeing his latest designs, Siriano wanted to add to the drama and make someone's dream come true by giving away a dress from the collection following the show. Check out the site at 7 p.m. EST (2 p.m. Hawaii time) Feb. 10 to find out how you might win!

Badgley Mischka to stream fashion week show

Badgley Mischka
Rumer Willis is the current face for the brand.

New York Fashion Week is always exciting, and the Internet continues to bring people closer to the shows. No doubt dozens of designers will be streaming their shows live, and Badgley Mischka is among the first to announce its fall 2011 runway show at Lincoln Center will be streamed live on its Facebook page at 10 a.m. ET on Feb. 15.

The show will feature the designer’s fall collections including Badgley Mischka couture, collection eveningwear and contemporary line, Mark + James.

You can check out the show at http://www.facebook.com/BadgleyMischka

I've been to their show and they do a lot of beautiful, red carpet style dresses, but in a runway situation, the beautiful dresses all blur together. What stands out are the quirkier shows and designers.

The newest model for the brand is Rumer Willis. I never thought she was particularly beautiful, but in soft light and if you squint, she looks a little more like Demi Moore than Bruce.

Help cast Perry Ellis show via Facebook

Perry Ellis photo
Vote via Facebook for your favorite model.

If you ever thought you'd make a great casting director, Perry Ellis is giving you the opportunity to see how your pick measures up through the interactivity of Facebook.

The company is hosting "The Most Wanted Model contest" at www.Facebook.com/PerryEllis. The site features nine of the newest faces in men’s modeling, and fans of the brand, or those who become fans, will be able to vote on their favorite. The winner will get to walk in Perry Ellis's New York Fashion Week show, taking place 11 a.m. Feb. 11.

The contest launched today on Perry Ellis’s Facebook page, with a short video featuring each contestant demonstrating why they deserve to win. The deadline for votes is Feb. 7. The top three models, based on preliminary voting, will be announced on Feb. 8, and the winner will be announced at the Perry Ellis show before the lights go down and the models walk.

Viewers will be able to watch the show at www.PerryEllis.com and www.facebook.com/PerryEllis.

Andy South on the runway

Getty Images
Andy South’s “Project Runway” finale collection Sept. 9 was admired by critics, although the New York Daily News questioned the headgear, calling his puzzling choice “a head-scratcher.”

Sorry, I have to be at the Italian Film Festival tonight, so not sure if I’ll be able to blog my weekly “Project Runway” recap tonight, so I leave you with this guest piece from one of Andy South’s Honolulu Community College instructors, Joy Nagaue, who I arranged to go in my place to view the “Project Runway” finale show Sept. 9.

What’s funny is that when I talked to her recently, she said she still insists on calling him by his full formal name, and always refers to him as Andrew. I’m kind of thinking along those lines as well. The deal with South is that it’s easy to pronounce, but as a point of identity and from a media perspective, there would be more interest in a person who’s a little more exotic than the next guy.

By Joy Nagaue

Visiting New York’s Fashion Week 2010 and being invited to “Project Runway’s” Finale Show at Lincoln Center was absolutely incredible.

Naturally, traveling from Hawaii, we were laden with lei for our student finalist, Andrew Southiphong, and “omiyage” of macadamia nuts and chocolates. However, “Project Runway’s” tight security throughout and after the show barred us from the backstage area and (teacher) Lillian Zane and I were unable to pass the goodies out to anyone.

We did enjoy the “Project Runway” show and were star struck by seeing judges Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, and special guest Jessica Simpson seated across the runway from us. We were also able to see last
season’s Project Runway’s contestants and talk to Jay Sario, Honolulu Community College’s first contestant from last season.

Although this was the show’s finale, we were unable to deduce the three finalist from the other seven decoy designers. All 10 contestants showed a spring line of 10 garments. All of the contestants seemed visibly
nervous and emotional while introducing their line to approximately 1,000 guests and press people snapping the contestants’ every angle and recording every audible word.

The stage was simply the “Project Runway’s” backdrop you see on all the shows. There wasn’t any fluff, not even music between each contestant. There was a lot of silence between contestants and many contestants
took a very long time to appear, sometimes as long as 5 minutes. I could only assume that they or their models were not ready and queued up.

Being there in person was so different from watching it on TV. It is much more exciting and the applause was extra loud for favorite contestants. Everyone around us got excited to hear that we were Andrew’s teachers from Hawaii.

Gretchen’s line was earthy and almost American Indian inspired.  She used a lot of browns and neutrals. I felt that way seeing it … neutral.

Ivy used a lot of simple white outfits with yellow accents. She said that she was inspired by the Hawaii. It looked nice, but perhaps too simple for a contest based on creativity.

I liked the bright colors of Valerie’s collection, and Mondo’s was another outstanding line, definitely fresh and young. I especially liked his black-and-white plaid strapless dress with a bubble skirt. He accessorized his
garments well with hats.

Andy was last in the line-up. He appeared with his Mohawk haircut that went almost to his back waistline. He got very emotional while introducing his line with his mother, two sisters and brother sitting in the front row.  Andy spoke well and confidently, leading me to believe that he did well in the show.

His line was made mostly of gray silk with apple green accents. It was quite beautiful and well sewn. Some of the silk came from Laos and the rest was ordered from Kaimuki Dry Goods. His collection featured exciting cropped pants with side seam tucks and one shoulder tops.

The rest of the designers were a blur. Most of their spring lines were neutral colored and forgettable.

Andy on the runway during the finale of his show.

The first showing was private at 6 a.m., during which the judges whittled the final four down to just three. We attended the 9:30 a.m. show and its decoys, including Casanova and Michael D., the two
contestants who were cast “out” in the past two weeks.

Andrew called me that evening, when he finally got his cell phone back. The final results were revealed to him at 3 in the afternoon. Did he win? He couldn’t say, but I could feel his relief and his happiness to be out of the pressure cooker situation.

Throughout the season, Andrew did a great job of representing Honolulu Community College and the State of Hawaii. He remained humble throughout the show. I am so proud of him and of his work. I am confident that he did really well. Did he win? I hope he did … he really worked hard all of his young life and as a student.

We were finally able to see him early the next morning at his hotel as he got ready for an interview. That evening, he made an appearance at Piperlime” (accessories), but the line was so long we could not get into the store … unbelievable.

Andrew planned to stay on the mainland with his family for a few days, including traveling to Washington D.C., to be honored by the Laotian Embassy, since his mother is from there. He promises to return to HCC to talkto the semester’s new and returning students. Our classes are filled to capacity. More work for us,
but we love it.