H&M Fall '09 Collection

H&M may be best  known for its low budget knockoffs, but he Swedish company has finally turned towards high fashion for their upcoming collections. These pieces will be making their debut in select stores for the Fall '09 collection. hundreds of  as-yet-undisclosed pieces will be featuring bold shapes, '80s inspired layering, leather, and even lace. The collection is modeled by the french born internationaly rising star Sigrid Agren. Recently H&M has also been reaching out to a broader client base in the fashion world.  H&M does this by  teaming up with well known designers to create limited time only lines at the prices their current customers are able to afford, even in times when the economy is as awful as it is right now. Previous collaborations H&M had with designers have included: Matthew Wiliamson, Karl Lagerfeld (designer of Chanel, Fendi, and Karl Lagerfeld), Roberto Cavalli, Voktor &Rolf, Madonna, Stella McCartney, and Comme Des Garcons. Their most recent and exciting collaboration is with famed shoe designer Jimmy Choo. Jimmy Choo (real name: Jimmy Chow) got his start in 1988 when VOGUE did an eight-page spread on the designer and his high-quality shoes. Jimmy Choo shoes are normally $500-$1000 and up, but the designers H&M line (which is not actually designed by Choo -he is now retired but he still represents the brand) will feature 12 different styles of shoes with prices ranging from $55- $138 and bags who's average price is $276. The line is described to be "a fun accessible flash for a moment in time". I am already looking forward to shopping for my fall pieces even we are still is summer.

My favorite: (the one on the right)

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Random notes from British Fashion Magazine:

*In our modern world, white is a luxury we should indulge in

"paper is my favorite material right now, it is both luxurious and fragile"- Karl Lagerfeld

"I want to raise the bar by creating a charity T-shirt that you WANT to buy and just happens to be for a great cause"- Stella McCartney

Top 6 Trends RIGHT now:

1. Safari (with swatches of silk and satin with animal prints)
2. Cowgirl (not my favorite Im not going to lie...)
3. Strong (should pads, blazers and such - pretty much all Balmain this season)
4. Denim
5. Laundered (Devine crumpled fabrics, washed out, dip-dyed ect.)
6. Slouchy (soft tailoring, silky pieces, pyjama style, soft, easy)

What to do with last seasons Trends today:

Boyfriend Blazer:

  then: with skinnies / leggings

now: rolled boyfriend jeans and sandals (as long as the blazer isn't denim)

Long Scarf:

then: around your neck

now: cinched around your waist, kimono style

Super Brights:

then: head to toe 

now: 2-3 items, then taking it down a notch with blah colors like black and neutral

Visual Merchandising

Why is Visual Merchandising important for a store?

-overstimulates customer (easier to shop when product is presented in unified ways)

-first impressions (Must support the brand and what you want to be as a retailer)

-Competition (give them something to talk about)

-Entertainment

-Educate the Customer (Show them what's hot now)

-Make shopping easier (Gets the customer to see more merchandise)

The Essentials of Visual Merchandising:

-The Product (the clothes)

-The Display area (how much product can you put in your space without over cluttering making it look sloppy)

-Props & Display tools

-Signs (please no neon)

-Lighting 

The Product:

-right product for the right time (no fur coats in July)

-Avoid looking sloppy by not OVER stocking 

-If its been in the store a long time and still not selling, get rid of it

-Know your customer (if your customers are mostly older men don't sell headbands)

-Train your staff to be able to answer questions well

-Create an image, a look

Display Area:

-Change the window display every two weeks (reflect holidays and special events)

-Make it around eye level (no one wants to buy something they can't reach or is on the floor)

-Platforms (To make the product seem more important and therefor a better seller)

Props & Display Tools:

-Furniture (don't get to artsy with this, people will actually want to sit on these)

-Need a focal point (our eyes are always drawn to bright colors and shiny objects first.)

Lighting:

-Lighting is the #1 sales influencer (get bright white ones)

-Wall display lighting (adds drama)(as if we didn't get enough from the hills)

To do list: (if you have a store or work at one)

• develop a theme for the display
• Create a visual rhythm (to guide the eye through the display easily)
• Make a few items in the display repeat 
• Keep things high in the back and low in the front (of display)
• Less Merchandise creates a higher priced image
• Create a calender for window themes
• If there is a carpet, clean it. (Or even better get rid of it, there gross and hard to walk on in heels)
• Go Green! (make sure a sign makes customer aware of this)
• Paint the walls with upbeat color
• Play Music (MAKE SURE it fits with the product  - no Hannah Montana with sophisticated dresses and no Heavy metal with pretty pink dresses)
• Add color to your display

The CFDA (council of fashion designers of America)

The CFDA is a group of fashion designers who are in charge of many things in the fashion industry such as - voting for and putting on the CFDA Fashion Awards every year(this year was in June). To be in the CFDA you have to be invited to join which can take up to 2 years to finalize. Right now there are only about 300 members- there is a list of all the members on the CFDA website. For most of the designers they have email addressed for the hiring departments of the company/designer which is a great source to send resumes in for internship (thats how I got my first one!) If your graduating high school or above you can apply for all types of scholarships and funds to help you further your fashion career/education. The CFDA also has presidents- to be a president you much be voted for and be a top designer in the industry for quite a while. 

List of Past and Present Presidents: (toung twister right there)

Diane Von Furstenburg ( 2006-now)

vice president: Reed Krakoff

Treasurer: Richard Lambertson

General Secretary: Yeohlee Teng

Stan Herman (1991-2006)

Carolyne Roehm  (1989-1991)

Oscar de la Renta (1987-1989)

Perry Ellis (1984-1986)

Mary McFadden (1982-1983)

Bill Blass (1980-1981)

Herbert Kasper (1977-1979)

Oscar de la Renta (1973-1976)

Norman Norell (1965-1973)

Sydney Wragge  (1963-1965)

at the awards ceremony they have many different awards given out to designers who work very hard and are succssesful at what they do. (I would put a list up here but they tend to change the awards a lot - just another too confusing part of fashion) If you want to see the winers of this years show just check out : 

http://www.style.com/stylefile/2009/06/2009-cfda-award-winners/