China Xiniya Fashion Limited Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Financial Results

China Xiniya Fashion Limited ("Xiniya" or the "Company" NYSE:XNY), a leading provider of men's business casual apparel in China, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter of 2012 and for the full year of 2012. The financial statements and other financial information included in this press release have been prepared in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS").

The Company publishes its financial statements in Renminbi ("RMB").

Fourth Quarter 2012 Highlights
Revenue in the fourth quarter of 2012 increased by 10.3% to RMB532.5 million, as compared to RMB482.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, which exceeded the prior guidance of 4%-7%.

Gross margin was 32.3% in the fourth quarter of 2012 as compared to 35.1% in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Profit before taxation in the fourth quarter of 2012 declined by 50.1% to RMB74.8 million as compared to RMB150.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Net profit in the fourth quarter of 2012 declined by 50.6% to RMB55.6 million as compared to RMB112.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Earnings per ADS were $0.16 in the fourth quarter of 2012 as compared to $0.31 per ADS in the fourth quarter of 2011, and were below prior guidance of $0.17-$0.19 per ADS.

Xiniya's network of authorized retailers had a net addition of 31 new retail outlets in the fourth quarter of 2012, consisting of 92 new retail outlets opened and 61 retail outlets closed, bringing the total number of authorized retail outlets to 1,710 as of December 31, 2012.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company, Mr. Qiming Xu - Xiniya's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Chee Jiong Ng - Xiniya's Chief Financial Officer, had purchased, through the public market pursuant to a written plan, an aggregate of $1,678,958, $186,540 and $46,631 worth of ADSs, respectively, or 1,070,827, 118,990 and 29,759 ADSs, all at an average price of $1.57, in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.Full Year 2012 Highlights
Total revenue in 2012 increased by 17.3% to RMB1,383.7 million, as compared to RMB1,180.0 million in 2011.Gross margin decreased to 33.3% in 2012, as compared to 34.3% in 2011.Earnings per ADS were $0.49 in 2012, as compared to $0.69 in 2011.A net total of 103 new retail outlets were opened in 2012.

First ever Kids' Fashion Week lands in London with a bang as celebrities and their designer-clad children hit the mini catwalk

With a luxury childrenswear market thought to be worth £500 million in the UK alone and the likes of Romeo Beckham already making a foray into the world of fashion, it was only a matter of time before the kids got their own fashion week.

And last night the first ever Global Kids’ Fashion Week (GKFW) landed in London with a bang.

Stylish celebrity parents and their equally fashion-forward children were out in their droves at Freemason's Hall, Covent Garden, to witness the world's first ever kid's catwalk show, and it did not disappoint.

Lace & Scrunch Bottoms - Discover the Fashion Secrets of RELLECIGA's 2013 Summer Bikinis

Girls, if you have the feeling that you're stuck in a fashion rut or that you haven't unleashed your beauty's true potential, then the bikini fashion advice mentioned below will help take your style to another level and give you the confidence you deserve; and most importantly, not break your bank.

When many of us think of affordable swimwear, we think of the cheap bikinis sold at discount stores. Unfortunately, most of the bikinis you find in discount stores ball up in the crotch area because they're made of inferior fabrics. If you want to find a great suit on a budget, make your own bikini, which is not easy; you can buy one from RELLECIGA ("RC"), because it costs you almost the same as if you made one by yourself. You don't have to be an expert seamstress or even own a sewing machine to make a cute suit. Most of RC's bikinis use the same Lycra and spandex materials used by the top swimwear designers, and they are designed to fit your measurements.

Fashion graduates wow Kuala Lumpur

CPIT fashion graduates Phoebe Ratcliff-Reid and Melissa McIndoe are “over the moon” after winning first and second prize, with their Malaysian counterparts, in the New Zealand Week fashion competition in Kuala Lumpur last night.

The girls met legendary shoe designer Jimmy Choo, New Zealand singer Boh Runga and other celebrities at the event, but found that they were the stars of the night.

“This is the icing on the cake,” CPIT fashion tutor Nicola Chrisp said from Kuala Lumpur today. “The show was absolutely amazing and all the students had obviously worked hard.”

Education New Zealand (ENZ) created the competition as part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s New Zealand Week to showcase the quality of fashion and design courses in New Zealand to Malaysia.

The competition paired New Zealand fashion graduates with Malaysian counterparts to conceptualise, design and construct a mini collection under the theme of post-earthquake Christchurch ‘Virtual Re-Start Fashion Competition’. Third place went to one of four students from Massey University; other contestants were from WinTec, Otago Polytechnic, and Whitireia Polytechnic.

Chrisp said the students’ ability to collaborate and their excellent technical construction skills impressed the Malaysian students and the judges. The teams had just three days together to finalise their collections, but had been in touch by email and Skype previously.

“They found ways to work together. Their collections were seamless and you couldn’t tell where the Asian influence was and where the kiwi influence was.”
Ratcliff Reid said that the trip had been educational, eye opening and challenging, but her highlight had been meeting her Malaysian counterpart. “My favourite part of the whole trip was meeting Kathryn. We have become really close friends and to find someone like that who also compliments and enhances your point of view as a designer is extremely rare and amazing."

Ratcliff Reid won $10,000 for first place and McIndoe won $3,000. Both were accustomed to creating collections under pressure, having done so twice last year as part of their training. For Pitch, CPIT’s end of year fashion showcase, they each designed and sewed 10 ensembles of around 30 garments including formal dresses and suits. The strong technical emphasis of CPIT’s Fashion Technology and Design programme ensured the girls had honed their construction skills.

Fashion critics defend their craft

Fashion critics encounter naysayers about their beat in every direction. It’s not serious; it’s elitist; it’s a fluffy, feminine topic.

“In many ways, [this attitude has] to do with the history of the way that fashion was covered,” said Robin Givhan—the only fashion critic who has ever won a Pulitzer Prize for her work. “It’s considered something that’s for and about women” and therefore unimportant, she continued, adding that the conflation of fashion and celebrity in recent years has added to this perception. “I think all of those things kind of conspired to keep fashion from being given the same kind of respect.”

Even so, Givhan, along with Stefano Tonchi and Guy Trebay, maintained that the fashion world is an important industry to cover. They spoke to a like-minded crowd at The New School on Tuesday night on a panel marking the new issue of Fashion Projects. The magazine, edited by Parson’s professor Francesca Granata, covers the discipline, accessibly, from an academic perspective. (It’s available for purchase on its website.)

Trebay, of The New York Times, said he did not set out to cover fashion and still considers himself an urban ethnographer, one who grew fascinated by fashion as a subculture in the days before most couture was owned by conglomerates. Now, he said, fashion is “super-corporate,” and much of the creativity is dictated top-down, so “you lose some of the pleasure of observing the process.”

Tonchi, the editor in chief of W magazine, said something similar: “It’s a business, but it’s also a cultural phenomenon, and the two things don’t always go together.” Covering the business of fashion is little different than covering the car industry, he said (both of those businesses also buy lucrative print ads in the publications covering them). Coverage focusing on the artistic parts of fashion tend to leave out the business bits, so “fashion” coverage ends up scattered throughout newspapers’ sections rather than painting a cohesive picture of a major industry.

Givhan said that the shift from bottom-up creation to a well-controlled fashion business paired with professional stylists is just a new kind of story, one that journalists should continue covering.

The media, she added, should attempt “to hold the fashion industry accountable for its choices and for what it says, and to recognize that it’s big. It’s not a club anymore.” This is true both in that most fashion houses are owned by one of three companies and in the fact that chain retailers like Forever 21 and H&M make runway looks widely accessible.

Fashion’s expansion includes the growing legions of fashion bloggers, those controversial turf stompers whom, Trebay said, are mostly writing to further the goal of designing their own looks. This results in poorer quality fashion writing, the panelists said, not because Internet content is inherently bad but because the stakes, and the barrier to entry, are so low.

Bloggers “have to step up their game, writingwise,” he said. “Just because you have an opinion doesn’t mean it’s writing.”

Are Humans Fashion Animals?

Fashion can be the boldest expression of an individual's style, personality, mood and behaviour, and yet we obey some fashion rules intuitively. For instance, some instinctive fashion rules might see us choosing a bright colour or a sexier outfit for a romantic dinner, wearing sober attire or minimal make-up at a funeral service, or ensure we don't turn up to a wedding in beachwear. Additionally, we have an acute awareness of fads and gender 'norms' in fashion. From early childhood we're instilled with an understanding of which type of clothing signifies which gender, and in later life one can make an audacious statement by transgressing against or subverting these gender rules. For some, choosing the right shoes and nail varnish is as important as choosing the right life-partner, while others won't be seen dead without a designer watch!
Fashion is a uniquely complicated social phenomenon which drives our everyday emotional and social states and intrinsically alters how we react to the world, and how the world reacts to us. In this article, we examine the basic question of why humans are drawn to fashion in evolutionary, behavioural, psychological and neurological contexts.

Is survival of the "fashionably" fittest an essential trait?
The evolution of fashion, from a time when basic clothing was merely used to protect the skin from heat or cold, is incredible. Ten thousand years ago Neanderthals were the first pre-humans to wear clothes, which allowed them to run faster, stay outside longer and hunt more easily, resulting in a better quality of life. Custom-made clothing (designed for their pleasing aesthetic qualities, rather than just practicality) only emerged relatively recently, around the 16th and 17th centuries. Two hundred years later, the first 'fashion designer' - Charles Fredrick Worth - officially labelled his clothes. Ever since, the fashion industry has undergone several revolutions, in correspondence to the passing of the decades.

Might, then, the 'evolution' of fashion be linked to the evolution of humans? Does the Darwinian principal of the survival of the fittest ring true for those with style? Our human society is largely monogamous. The choice of mates for procreation is primarily governed by signs of fertility and virility: a healthy body, youth, and myriad other highly desirable traits like intelligence. So in this system, where the most desirable are most likely to reproduce, surely the sharper dressed amongst us are more likely to turn some heads! There is, however, no evidence that fashion has evolved to be an 'essential trait', for selecting a viable mate to propagate the human race! If this were the case, swathes of people deemed 'unfashionable' would fail to reproduce, leaving only a well-dressed populous short of scruffy farmers and geeky scientists.  At the most, unfashionable men and women might be less favoured as mates; nevertheless, this does not brand them any less capable of procreation.

Does your dressing sense dictate your behaviour?
The importance of fashion in a general behavioural sense, aside from mating-specific behaviour, cannot be ignored. Human society is largely inclined to following prescribed social, moral and ethical conduct. Unlike the pre-20th century fashions, set by the royal families, the 21st century fashion is quite experimental, evolving and accessible to everyone. We have started expressing our creativity and individualism through fashion, by either wearing someone's creations or instigating our own trends. Despite this move towards fashion freedom, however, when it comes to dressing for specific occasions, certain principles continue to exist and evolve in the fashion world. There will always be agreed dress and accessories for events, and this will differ depending on culture, ethnicity and gender, as discussed in the introductory paragraph. Thus, every fashion era draws upon a baseline (normal) behaviour while adding its own unique features.

There have been studies indicating differences between male and female behaviour with respect to fashion appreciation. If you ask impeccably dressed, single straight women why they like to match colours of their dress with make-up, accessories and shoes, you are likely to hear a response that they wish to look attractive to men. Now, how many straight men think of colour-synchrony as an important criterion for a woman to look attractive? Surprisingly, not many men really bother if the woman has colour-coded her attire or not. They mostly look for figure-accentuating clothing; highlighting what the men see as being their attractive bodily features and hiding their unattractive one. Interestingly, it has been shown that it is in fact other women who are most likely to be critical of a woman's colour-coding standards!

Fashion in the brain
How do we perceive people and gauge their personalities? Flügel's The Psychology of Clothes (1930) and Bergler's Fashion and the Unconscious (1953) have explored some psychoanalyses in light of fashion. Although the homosexual undertones in their work are conservative and out-dated by modern standards, they have drawn important correlations between clothing and eroticism. It is quite possible that certain aspects of clothing can trigger sexual arousal. What we now know is that this experience is very subjective, due to differences in visual salience, mood and preferences; and it cannot be generalised for the all people or even specific groups. Recent cognitive psychology studies have shown that the interpretation of what people wear might differ in context, based on different ethnic groups, cultures and sub-cultures. The meaning conveyed might also differ on the purpose of fashion like conveying a wearable art, maintaining unique identity, identifying body image or providing a commentary on the body. Based on these intentions, we might gauge others' personalities, tallying it with our own preferences.

How quickly can we judge personalities from their external appearance? Malcom Gladwell's non-fiction best-seller 'Blink!' talks about the rapid cognition we carry out within the first few seconds of meeting a new person.  He discusses a speed-dating scenario in which one could make a snap-judgement about a stranger's personality type. In our opinion, judging if a person might be of your 'type' can be attributed to fashion and body image, because when you have just few seconds to judge, external appearance is the first thing that you tend to observe. Indeed, if what they are trying to convey harmonises with what you are drawn to, it is likely that you will make a successful match. Nevertheless, it is no rocket-science, and not guaranteed that a simple alteration in attire can project a different personality type and create different first-impressions. Think about 'criminal' stereotypes; one might expect to see someone wearing a balaclava wielding knives. However, in reality, thieves and criminals often dress deceptively normally and attract little to no attention. Actors, models, business-heads and politicians often hire fashion / image consultants to advise them on the way they dress in order to project a body image best suited for their profession, and gain them popularity. Thus, fashion and psychology have a strong association in terms of projection and interpretation, but unfortunately, misinterpretation can still be a big problem.

So, what is the brain's mechanism for fashion-induced behaviour? Dopamine (or the 'happy chemical') in the brain is a major component of the reward and motivational system. Recent studies have shown that anti-social behaviour might be caused due to over activity of the dopamine system. Other studies correlate anti-social behaviour with a decrease in adherence to fashion trends; where persons do not care to 'fit-in' the accepted morality standards of the society. What remains to be studied is whether the apparent correlation between the dopamine system and fashion sense in causal or coincidental. If we obtain a significant evidence that it is linked, we might actually uncover a mechanism to explain if and why being fashionable is such an important factor for our emotional well-being.

Fashion Blogger Of The Week: Ella Catliff Of La Petite Anglaise

This week's fashion blogger of the week is the lovely Ella Catliff Of La Petite Anglaise. The 21-year-old Londoner wardrobe is packed with Laduree colours, white stilettos and girly silhouettes - she had one of our favourite London Fashion Week wardrobes this season. Ella is studying fashion History and Theory at Central Saint Martins and has interned at Alexander McQueen and Baron Baronne in Paris. She started blogging to document her time in Paree, but now posts beautiful pictures of her outfits, interviews and fashion news stories.

Find out below how she got into blogging and her hightlights so far...
Grazia Daily: How long have you been blogging?
Ella: 2 years, 10 months

Grazia Daily: What made you decide to start your blog?
Ella: Strangely enough it was my mum's (slightly random) idea. She saw an article on Tavi Gevinson in a magazine (actually I think it was Grazia) and ripped it out to show me. Initially I thought she was being ridiculous but then I was going to intern in Paris so I thought as I finally had something vaguely interesting and fashion related to write about I may as well give it a shot!
Grazia Daily: What’s been your highlight so far?
Ella: Oooh that's so hard! I've had some truly fantastic experiences. Going on the Gucci bloggers trip to their catwalk show in Milan and factory in Florence last year was awesome. Fashion Week is inevitable fabulous and meeting Karl Lagerfeld and Phillip Lim (not at the same time, unfortunately) was pretty great. To be honest, most of it's a highlight, I feel very lucky to be able to say that about what is essentially becoming my "job".
Grazia Daily: Are there any particular perks of blogging?
Ella: Yes, many. Fashion shows, parties and other things along those lines are a pretty major (and constant) perk but the most incredible thing has probably been getting to meet, interview and in some cases really become friends with people who's work I truly admire.

Grazia Daily: Have you been to London Fashion Week?
Ella: Yep, six times as of this season!

Grazia Daily: Blog brag time: why should people read your blog?
Ella: There are SO many amazing blogs out there so I just hope that La Petite Anglaise offers a personal, unique and (fingers crossed) witty take on the fashion world.

Grazia Daily: What advice do you have for anyone starting a blog?
Ella: It's hard work but if you really want to do it, don't give up. I only had about three readers for my first six months and very nearly packed it in but now I'm extremely glad I didn't.

Grazia Daily: Which other fashion blogs do you love?
Another toughie! I love South Molton Street Style, ItsaLDN thing, the Manrepeller, StyleBubble and AlexLoves. For pure, unadulerated fashion fabulousness I go straight to Bryan Boy or Mr Blasberg... Major case of life/friend/handbag envy.

Fashion To Open The Door Between New Zealand And Malaysia

New Zealand and Malaysia’s top emerging fashion designers are collaborating in a competition created by Education New Zealand to celebrate New Zealand Week, in Malaysia from 11 March 2013.

Emerging talent from both countries, including Whitireia Community Polytechnic student Natalie Smith, will work together ‘virtually’ in pairs to create four distinct outfits, which will be judged by leading New Zealand footwear designer Kathryn Wilson and Malaysian celebrity designer Bill Keith. Each collection will be based on the theme of ‘rejuvenation’, and be inspired by the rebuild of Christchurch city.

“The prospect of being judged by such renowned designers is pretty daunting but I am really excited to see what this collaboration will create. Working with a Malaysian student will be an amazing experience. I hope we can learn from the judges and create some unique pieces we can be really proud of,” says Whitireia Community Polytechnic student and participant, Natalie Smith.

Education New Zealand has developed the Virtual Re-Start Fashion Competition to showcase the quality of New Zealand fashion institutions and attract the attention of more Malaysian students, encouraging them to come and study in New Zealand.

“More than 2000 Malaysian students visited our shores last year and it is a privilege for Education New Zealand to foster on-going relations between both countries. The competition will showcase our cutting edge design talent and the high standard of education that fashion and design students can expect while studying within New Zealand,” says Grant McPherson, Chief Executive of Education New Zealand.

“The Re-Start Fashion Competition is an amazing way to showcase both New Zealand and Malaysian talent, and the fabulous opportunities made possible through the infusion of education and cultural diversity. It’s great to see Education New Zealand using creativity to market New Zealand education. These students represent the next generation in the fashion industry so I am really excited to see what they come up with,” says footwear designer Kathryn Wilson.

In the past, Education New Zealand has successfully attracted Malaysian students to New Zealand to study business, engineering and technology. The focus this year is arts and design, highlighting New Zealand’s growing reputation for design-related work on the international stage.

Students from institutions including Whitireia Community Polytechnic, Massey University, Otago Polytechnic, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, WINTEC, and Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) are competing in the competition.

Education New Zealand is working closely with both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) and the Ministry of Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) in the delivery of the event as part of New Zealand Week in Malaysia.

Fashion Week Trend Alert! Celebs Wear Black-and-White in Paris and London

Paris Fashion Week officially winds down this week, and we've admired both the breathtaking runway looks and the spectacular celebrity style statements seen on the front-row attendees.

Plenty of our favorite stars packed their bags and traveled overseas to both London and Paris to support their favorite designers and turn some heads along the way.

One glance at the fashion week wardrobes from these lovely leading ladies and we couldn't but notice that there was a strong recurring theme: black-and-white.

Trend alert: bold black and white
In the City of Light, we spotted Marion Cotillard at Dior, Nicole Richie at the Stella McCartney show and Jessica Chastain at Chanel all wearing the classic combination in a variety of ways.

Cotillard looked ladylike in a head-to-toe Dior ensemble, while Richie rocked a bold monochrome swingy dress with a distinctly edgier vibe.

Chastain exuded classic elegance in a creamy blouse tucked into a satin pencil skirt, and Olivia Palermo was cool and crisp in Tibi's drop-waist checker dress paired with Brian Atwood boots at Antonio Berardi's show in London.

Paris Fashion Week fall 2013: Emanuel Ungaro review

Another day at fashion week, another old-fashion house trying for a revival with a new designer at the helm.

At Paris Fashion Week on Monday, it was the house of Emanuel Ungaro giving it yet another try, this time with Italian designer Fausto Puglisi, who succeeds a string of failed predecessors, most notably one-time artistic advisor Lindsay Lohan.

2013 Fashion Week coverage

The look: Hyper-feminine silhouettes, riotous color and print and jeweled accents. Mixed patterns on a single garment — a pair of pants with polka dots on one leg and leopard spots on the other leg, for example. One-shoulder mini-dresses with color-block details and high leg slits. Drapey jumpsuits, one in gray pinstripes. Blouses covered in jeweled butterfly brooches.

The verdict: It seems Ungaro may finally have found the right man. These clothes were exuberant and fun. I can particularly see them resonating with the pop music crowd.

Fashion Labels for the Picking this Spring Break

It’s spring break again. So why not poke our divining rods into the suitcases of those students bound for their getaway playgrounds? What could be tucked within are some hot stock picks among premium fashion labels.

Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) can easily be among our first finds. After all, this label ranks among the top 10 fashion brands most searched on the web search engine Bing in 2012, reports say. Moreover, the company had better-than-expected results for its fiscal 2012 third quarter. Propelled by a 6.5% sales gain in its retail segment during the period, Ralph Lauren’s revenue increased 2% to $1.8 billion, while operating income rose 13% to $304 million and earnings per diluted share were up 30% to $2.31.

Bye-bye rugby

With this year-to-date performance, the company projects that its full fiscal 2013 consolidated net revenues to increase by about 2%. This would be a deceleration from the 21% revenue growth in fiscal 2012, during which a $6.9 billion sales total was posted. For the fiscal 2013 fourth quarter, the company said it expects a mid-single-digit percentage increase in consolidated net revenues.

Ralph Lauren’s sales growth appears hobbled by store closures as the company repositions its greater China sales network and by the phasing out of the Rugby and American Living brands. The opening of new stores and Ralph Lauren’s e-commerce initiatives helped cushion the impact of the store shutdowns and the brand phase-outs, as well as partly deflected the negative impact of currency conversions.

Kors racks it up

If sales growth is solely to be the gauge for the best fashion label stock pick, Michael Kors (NYSE: KORS) sure has an inside track. It led Bing’s roster of the 10 most searched fashion designers last year. For its third quarter, ended December 2012, the company’s total revenue rose 70.4% to $636.8 million. Gross income for the period amounted to $383.5 million, up 72.8% and represents 60.2% of total revenue, a further improvement from the 59.4% in the year-earlier quarter.

For the fiscal 2013 fourth quarter, the company sees total revenue of between $515 million and $525 million, assuming a low- to mid-20% comparable store sales increase. For its entire fiscal 2013, Michael Kors forecasts total revenue at about $2.1 billion, assuming that the gain in its comparable store sales hits a mid-30% clip.

Total revenue for Michael Kors fiscal 2012 rose 62.1% to $1.3 billion from $803.3 million posted in fiscal 2011. Fiscal 2012 gross profit increased 68.8% to $753.1 million, representing 57.8% of total revenue, higher than the 55.5% rise in fiscal 2011.

Ann’s slip shows

Perusing ladies’ luggage bound for spring break will likely turn up Ann Taylor and LOFT brands, which are owned by Ann (NYSE: ANN), a specialty retailer not only of women’s apparel but also shoes and accessories. Sales-wise though, Ann can’t match the double-digit growth of Michael Kors.

This ladies’ clothier recently revised guidance for its full fiscal 2012, projecting a 3% increase in sales to $2.376 billion for the year. With a gross margin rate expected at about 54.8%, the company, however, expects record earnings per share and double-digit net income growth. Ann’s net sales for its fiscal 2012 fourth quarter are now projected to drop 1% to $608 million though.

Better grip for Michael Kors

Without delving into the metrics of their current stock price levels, Michael Kors appears to have the upper hand in delivering higher shareholder value moving forward. As shown by its recent robust sales growth, the company currently has a better handle on the fashion market than Ralph Lauren and Ann.

Notably, Michael Kors (founded 1981) and Ralph Lauren (founded 1967) are both established but mature brands. What they have been doing to keep a firm grip on the ever-shifting fashion market is to revitalize their presence among the high-end consumers. One way of achieving this is by introducing product category extensions.

Ralph Lauren has obviously failed in this department. This was demonstrated in the phase-out of its American Living and Rugby market entries. Significantly, Rugby also has an e-commerce website that was shut down this February along with the brand developed as the younger version of the Ralph Lauren line.

As for Ann, the vital missing link is presence in the menswear market. In the U.S. alone, this market was estimated at $10.7 billion in 2012, and projected to grow by 5.3% annually and eventually reach $139.2 billion by 2017.

Michael Kors, on the other hand, appears to be better at reinventing the wheel with a simple play on its original brand identity, coming up with a range of labels such as MICHAEL Michael Kors and KORS Michael Kors. It also helps tremendously that the founder of the company, the world famous designer Michael Kors, at 53, still personally leads its product design team.

The party's over for Fashion's Night Out

The annual shopping event has been part of New York Fashion Week each September since 2009, when it was created in response to the recession. It was masterminded by Vogue's Anna Wintour and championed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

The event expanded to 500 U.S. cities and 30 cities globally. Celebrities mingled with shoppers, champagne was served and designers sang karaoke and played pingpong to drum up business for the important fall retail season.
CFDA CEO Steven Kolb said Wednesday that he was proud of what had been accomplished. However, there was grumbling from some stores and designers that it cost money they weren't sure they saw back in sales.

Fashion's Night Out will still be held in select international cities.

Fashion Brands Flock to Licensing Expo

Advanstar Licensing, organizers of Licensing Expo, the world's largest and most influential licensing industry event, today announced that more than 40 fashion brands are confirmed to exhibit at the upcoming Expo. Licensing Expo is taking place June 18-20 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Chris DeMoulin, President of Licensing at Advanstar, and former President of MAGIC Market Week, has led a focused drive to develop fashion brands at the show. The show floor has been re-merchandised by brand category with The Fashion District serving as a home to fashion and accessories brands looking to grow their business through brand extensions and international distribution. Fashion licensing is the largest sector in the $185 billion licensing market and represents $37 billion at retail. The fashion brands exhibiting will use the show to build a network of licensees, expand international distribution, develop retail exclusives and find brand collaboration partners.

Chris DeMoulin, President of Advanstar Licensing, commented: "Like a microcosm of MAGIC Market Week, brands from every segment of the fashion industry will unite at the show to make licensing deals that could change their businesses forever.  We are providing a forum in which brands can meet with manufacturers and retailers from all product categories, from housewares, home decor and accessories through to digital apps and consumer electronics."

More than 5000 brands will be represented at the show, with The Fashion District premiering Authentic Brands Group properties, including Marilyn Monroe, Judith Leiber, Adrienne Vittadini, Taryn Rose, Hart Schaffner Marx and Hickey Freeman.

"We are excited to present our portfolio of fashion and luxury brands as a key exhibitor in the Fashion District of Licensing Expo," said Nick Woodhouse, President and Chief Marketing Officer at Authentic Brands Group.  "Licensing Expo does a phenomenal job connecting best-in-class licensor and licensee attendees dedicated to formulating strong and rewarding business partnership opportunities."

Other new and notable brands include Crocs, Da Vinci, Rock and Roll Religion, Nat Nast, ale by Alessandro Ambrosio, Liz Lange, Wize and Ope, AND1, Blue Pearl and ABS by Allen Schwartz.

Armand Marciano, Co-owner at ABS commented "As ABS by Allen Schwartz looks to continue to build our brand globally the Fashion District at Licensing Expo will provide us with the platform and the opportunity to connect with the best partners to drive these growth initiatives."

Celebrity trainer and innovative fitness pioneer Tracy Anderson will also utilize The Fashion District as the launch pad for the Tracy Anderson brand's global expansion.

Oscars 2013 fashion featured neutrals, H&M and wizard hair

The red carpets have been rolled up but the fashion of the night is just starting its stride. The Sunday night trifecta of the Oscars, Vanity Fair party and Governors Ball brought notice-me neutrals, volume and lots of sparkle to those outside of Hollywood.

How did Jessica Chastain choose her look? “...It’s very ‘Happy Birthday, Mr. President.’” said the star on the red carpet. Robin Givhan, agreed that Chastain managed to channeled a bit of Marilyn glamour:

0
Comments
Weigh InCorrections?

Personal Post
Gallery

2013 Vanity Fair Oscar party fashion: Fashion designers, actors, actresses and Hollywood elite arrive in style for the annual Oscar party.
Related Articles
Robin Givhan: On Oscar’s red carpet, an actress’s choice means business

Robin Givhan FEB 25
For Hollywood women minding their personal brands, there's a fine line between fashion and glamour.
All is inanity at Vanity Fair’s Oscar party

Dan Zak FEB 25
Says Catherine O’Hara: “I don’t want to say it’s superficial because it’s not.”
At the 2013 Oscars, a night of Hollywood as theater

Monica Hesse FEB 25
Acting wins for Hathaway, Waltz cap a night of honors spread among a disparate group.

When Jessica Chastain walked down the red carpet just before the 85th annual Academy Awards wearing a pale copper strapless gown with a mesh overlay by Giorgio Armani, her promenade was a two-part statement about the complexity of branding and the perilousness of glamour....On the most photographed red carpet of them all, she steered clear of flashy designers, gossiped-about designers and controversial ones, too. Instead, she chose a classically glamorous gown by the godfather of red carpet style whose philosophy of celebrity dressing is: First do no harm.

However, it was the ladies in Dior who stole the show. Jennifer Lawrence took home the Oscar for Lead Actress for her role in “Silver Linings Playbook.” Her voluminousness Dior ball gown might have caused her to stumble on her way to accept the award, which she acknowledged on stage:

“You guys are just standing up because I fell and that’s really embarrassing, but thank you,” she joked while accepting the Oscar for best actress.

But the pale pink color, mermaid silhouette, and back-grazing necklace was not a misstep.

Charlize Theron looked statuesque in her white Dior gown, and her pixie haircut that has everyone talking.

Anne Hathaway also rocked the short hair, neutral gown combo (not well-loved by the people of the internet, but she took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, so we think she’ll recover.) Her Prada gown reminded Cara Kelly of Gwenyth Paltrow’s famous 1999 Oscar gown: The neckline differs from the spaghetti strap of the RL piece, but the square shape is reminiscent of popular silhouettes from the 90s.

The biggest fashion question mark of the night? Helen Hunt in H&M? Yes. Givhan explains:

The rote question called out from the media gauntlet on Oscar night remains “Who are you wearing?” But the more salient one is really, “What does the clothing say about your personal brand?” Is there any doubt that what Helen Hunt — best supporting actress nominee for “The Sessions” — was saying with her simple navy strapless gown, which she volunteered was made by H&M even before E! Entertainment host Ryan Seacrest thought to ask? She is serious. She stands apart from this out-of-touch Hollywood glitz. She is as willing to take a fashion risk and be judged brutally for it as she was willing to get stark naked on film without benefit of candlelight and traditional romance.

What about the men? Hair seemed to be the fashion trend of choice. Facial hair for Ben Affleck and George Clooney. Flowing locks for “Life of Pi”’s Claudio Mirando, Paul N.K. Ottosson of “Zero Dark Thirty,” and Per Hallberg of “Skyfall.” Caitlin Dewey explains what Twitter dubbed the “wizard hair tend”:

Is this the year metal hair makes a comeback? Maybe not. But it seems like a pretty good year for wizard jokes. Among the people Miranda, Ottosson and Hallberg were compared to on Twitter last night: Dumbledore, Gandalf, Meat Loaf (or another aging rock musician of your choice), Karl from Die Hard and the killer in The Da Vinci Code.

Fashion designers harness grannies' knitting power

Two Dutch entrepreneurs are merging the fashion sense of young designers with the knitting knowledge of local grannies to create a range of original knitwear, stitched together over coffee and cake at a retirement home.

A small room at the back of a retirement home in the suburbs of Rotterdam has been given over to the weekly "knitting club" for women aged 58 to 85, their cheerful chatter almost drowning out the rhythmic click-clacking of knitting needles.

"I think I'll make this one next," says an excited Willy Mollenaar, a grandmother in her seventies with dyed light brown hair, pointing to a thick grey woolly hat displayed on a table.

Once she will have copied the design, created by a young Dutch fashion graduate from the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague, the hat will be sold in a small shop in Rotterdam called "Granny's Finest", set up by businessmen Jip Pulles, 31, and Niek van Hengel, 27.

Her only payment will be a photograph of the happy customer wearing the fruits of her labour.

"I was visiting my grandfather in a retirement home and I always saw an old lady knitting," Van Hengel told AFP, as he served cups of tepid coffee and soft cake to the team of grannies.

"She didn't have any relatives or friends to knit for but she kept on because it kept her busy and she enjoyed it," he said.

That "oma", the Dutch word for grandmother, and the return of knitwear to the catwalk gave him the idea to team up modern designs and traditional techniques, fashion designers with knitting grannies, in a project that combines social inclusion with a commercial spirit.

"My grandchildren don't like to wear what I knit and I didn't have anyone to knit for anymore," said Mollenaar.

"I learned to knit at school and it's really fun to do, it's relaxing, but it's really sad when no one wears or uses what you knit."

Fellow knitter Loes Wijnbergen, at 58 the youngest of the group, said: "It's really worthwhile when someone buys and especially wears what we've made with our own hands."

Eager to be resupplied with fresh yarn and new designs to execute, Wijnbergen, Mollenaar and the other women get together every Thursday afternoon, finding new use for a skill passed down through generations.

They look at the designers' creations, anything from bow ties to bags, before choosing one and starting to knit. But the social side of the club is as important to the elderly women as the knitting patterns.

"I come here just as much for the new designs and for knitting material as for the social contact," said Niza Rauws, 80.

"It's not always obvious how to stay busy and meet new people when your old and retired," she said.

The shop sells a selection of hats, scarves, bracelets and bags ranging in price from 25 to 145 euros (33 to 190 dollars).

The project is partly financed by subsidies from Rotterdam municipality and organisations promoting social cohesion, but it's not making any money yet.
"It's a good project for young and old to meet each other," said the Oranje Fund, which promotes activities to get residents involved in the local community.

The entrepreneurs stress that they're far from exploiting idle and lonely senior citizens.

"The project's main aim is social, it's social cohesion and creative contact between the generations," said Ven Hengel.
"We make the most of the grannies' skills while at the same time providing them with a meeting place," he said.
The fashion designers, often fresh graduates at the start of their careers, see the project as "a way to make a name for yourself while learning the ropes by working with the grannies," said Annemarije van Harten, 28.

Another designer, Rosanne van der Meer, 33, wants to make a baby knitwear collection for next year's spring-summer collection.

"I really learn a lot of things from the grannies, about how to make the designs, about which are the right techniques to use," she said.

"Although, well, sometimes they don't have the same tastes and aren't convinced by the designs," Van der Meer laughs, holding up a pair of baby knitwear dungarees.

The "Granny's Finest" shop in Rotterdam pictured on January 10, 2013. The small shop in the Dutch city was set up by two entrepreneurs who wanted to merge the fashion sense of young designers with the knitting knowledge of local grannies to create a range of original knitwear.

Annemarije van Harten (R) explains on January 10, 2013 her designs to members of the "knitting club", founded by "Granny's Finest", a shop where customers can purchase items knitted by grannnies in Rotterdam.

Jip Pulles (L) and Niek van Hengel, who founded "Granny's Finest", pictured in their shop in Rotterdam on January 10, 2013. The Dutch entrepreneurs have melded the fashion sense of young designers with the knitting knowledge of local grannies to create a range of desirable knitwear.

Official Launch of Online Fashion News Cloud Site

The Hon. Jerry S. Grafstein, Q.C., Co-Founder and Chair, announced the launch of Fashion News Cloud (http://www.fashionnewscloud.com) - a premier provider of in-depth news from the fashion world.

"Fashion News Cloud," said Grafstein, "provides comprehensive coverage from the fashion world in every aspect. We curate microbloggers, live fashion radio news and mainstream media, breaking fashion news as it happens."

"In one glance, the visitor gets news and videos from the fashion world."
"This is instant news about fashion," said Grafstein. "Fashion News Cloud uses innovative technology to gather the diversity of the blogosphere, social networks and mainstream media, into coherent, news coverage about all aspects of global fashion trends."

"Our goal is to keep our viewers informed on the evolving scene about fashion, on a timely basis from the inside out," said Adam Miron, President and Co-Founder. "The world is interested in fashion and we have created a way to provide waves of news that is constantly updated. Fashionnewscloud.com is a resource to access all facets affecting fashion worldwide."

Special editions reflect all aspects of fashion including designers, runways, business, shoes, bags, accessories, kids, men, models, jobs, Hollywood, Bollywood, North America, Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, Russia, India. Future editions include Plus and Teens.

Fashionnewscloud.comis a timely, in-depth, news resource for fashion experts, fashionistas and the public.

Kate Middleton's Pregnant Fashion Frenzy

The fashion frenzy has continued, despite Kate Middleton's 4-and-a-half month baby belly. The stylish mom-to-be has still been making waves in the fashion world, the clothes she wears instantly selling out in stores.

For her first official appearance of the year in London, Middleton chose a MaxMara Studio wrap dress with a gold ring and necklace.

READ: The Royal Bump, Day by Day
The $525 wrap dress, from the 2011 collection, was reportedly bought by the duchess for half price. Her Asprey London diamond pendant necklace costs $3,800.

"There really is a Kate effect…whether she's wearing J-Brand jeans or her Zara cape that she wore just a few weeks ago within minutes everything that she wears sells out," said stylist Jamie Krell.

The dress has become a fashion obsession, appearing all over the Internet on blogs and Pinterest. If you like the dress, you won't be able to get it, as it's sold out in stores and online.

Kate vs. Diana: Compare Their Styles
Although you can't find the dress in stores, other retailers have similar wrap dress styles that can help you copy the look.

Another iconic duchess dress, the navy blue dress worn for her engagement announcement, is now being carried in stores. The Issa dress has just been re-issued in maternity form but can also be worn after pregnancy. The dress is being sold at U.K. store Blossom Mother and Child for $825.

London Fashion Week wraps up 5-day run

What's new for fashion in the coming winter? Consider glamorous animal prints, a touch of punk, polished tailoring, furry collars and lashings of shiny PVC.
London Fashion Week on Tuesday wrapped up a whirlwind of runway previews that offered a huge variety of looks from dozens of designers, but one thing seemed clear: This season, many of the styles were more wearable by women who aren't necessarily models.

That's not to say the looks were boring or conventional. Glossy rubberized material — think translucent raincoats — was everywhere, as were boxy, roomy jacket shapes. There were punk-inspired biker zips and a black and red theme at Preen, but clean and minimalist tailoring kept the outfits sophisticated.
Erdem offered dark dresses brightened up with neon florals, while Christopher Kane, recently acquired by luxury conglomerate PPR, showcased a whole range of creative looks from camouflage-printed kilts to dark velvet dresses to feather trims.

Roksanda Ilincic brought out a series of feminine dresses and separates in peachy pinks, but clashed them with fluorescent green and emerald accents, ghostly makeup and statement striped lace-up boots in bright metallic hues.
"It's about daring to bring the pink into winter because it's such a spring color, and it's such a girly color," the designer said after her show on Tuesday — the fifth day of the British capital's fashion week.
Earlier, the headline acts of the week lived up to high expectations.

Luxury brand Burberry updated its classic trenches with bold animal prints and more of the ubiquitous plastic, latex-like material, while Tom Ford unveiled bright, saturated tribal patterns. Vivienne Westwood delivered what she does best: draped dresses and jackets that magically create hourglass shapes for the wearer.

Color-wise, Ilincic and others brought pink and coral to the catwalk, but a deep palette of burgundy and wine, navy and bottle green was most popular.
Compared to New York, Milan or Paris, London fashion attracts many with its younger, edgier and more urban vibe, and catwalk shows were often full of theatrical or even madcap looks.

"I find it an exuberant, inspirational city, so that's why I chose to show here," said Ford, who staged a lavish runway showcase on Monday night, marking the first full-fledged womenswear catwalk show for his Tom Ford brand.
Officials have made a point of nurturing that creative energy, though increasingly designers based in the capital are encouraged to take a more business-savvy approach to fashion — the leading creative industry in Britain, worth 21 billion pounds (US$33 billion) to the U.K. economy.

"Before it was more like an art show, but now — now the creativity is still there, though with collections that are saleable, that generate a profitable business," said British Fashion Council chief executive Caroline Rush.
Designers including handbag specialist Anya Hindmarch, Ashish and newcomer Simone Rocha were the last to show at the fashion event on Tuesday.

As the runways get dismantled in London, models, editors and bloggers are jetting off to more womenswear shows in Milan, which begins its fashion week Wednesday, followed by Paris next week.

Fashion Becomes Activism for the Women of Kabul

Designers work for months on collections that leggy, Amazon women will showcase on catwalks during international fashion weeks. But while most models have only one mission when walking down a runway (to not fall), women presenting collections in places like Kabul have other concerns, like fearing for their lives.

However, despite the dangers of presenting the latest and greatest, and all without a burqa, one group of Afghan women have looked fear in the face and realized fashion can be part self-expression and part activism.

Young Women for Change, an independent nonprofit organization based in Kabul, Afghanistan, recently put on their own fashion show, not at Lincoln Center or under the lights of Milan, but in a small, candlelit house.

Anita Haidary, cofounder of the group, says even though some attendees could not accept women showcasing the fashions, open events like her runway show are creating new activist platforms and discussions within the community about how women are seen.

“The reason behind this fashion show was to promote women’s business, women’s clothing through women designers and tailors,” says Haidary. “Young Women for Change wanted to support women in business because we believe that grassroots efforts that support women in becoming financially independent can lead to the greater empowerment of Afghan women.”

The group, cofounded by Haidary and Noorjahan Akbar, consists of dozens of volunteer women and male advocates across Afghanistan who are committed to empowering Afghan women through social and economic participation, political empowerment, awareness and advocacy.

For the women involved in the YWC, having a unified voice is also a way for them to contribute to rebuilding a new Afghanistan. Haidary says part of rebuilding is connecting Afghan women to alternative ways they can get their traditional clothing, allowing them to bypass all the clothing imports from Pakistan, China and Iran—because even Afghans believe in shopping locally.

“This is also directly connected to our first campaign against harassment. Women are not only harassed on the street but also in shops, markets, and tailor shops run by men,” says Haidary. “There are countless stories detailing the harassment in tailoring shops while noting measurement. Furthermore, they have to go through this harassment because they have no other options because there are very few women tailors due to lack of skills, education and funds.”

Shannon Galpin, National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and founder of Mountain2Mountain, a nonprofit for women in conflict regions, says Kabul is a unique city for women. Galpin says the women of the YWC are courageous to take up the fight for their rights as publicly as they do, marching in the streets to protest sexual harassment, and creating the first women’s Internet cafe in Kabul.

“You now have women attending Kabul University, working in all levels of government, and seeing women in the streets walking to school or work among men is normal,” Galpin says. “It becomes a great incubator for activists and feminists to take on the fight in the country’s capital and set an example to the rest of their country.”

Galpin adds, “It starts with voice and the willingness to take a stand, to risk your safety, because the alternative is to sit by and watch as your rights are systematically taken away unchallenged.”

Post-fashion show, Haidary and the YWC meet safely behind closed doors at their Internet café which serves as a haven for area women to interact and discuss challenges, projects, and of course, where to get the latest designs. There they plan their next move as young women challenging the norm and a sexism that makes them work even harder.

“It is good to do something rather not doing anything,” Haidary says. “Women cannot achieve what they want if they don’t work for it.”

Westwood mixes politics and fashion

Few designers so consistently mix fashion with politics, or manage to secure her fans' adoration with the same looks almost every season. But Vivienne Westwood is not any designer.

The flame-haired grand dame of British fashion on Sunday sent her models walking down the catwalk in her signature tight-fitting dresses and nipped-in jackets, then in the finale joined them wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with a giant image of her own face and a slogan that read "I am Julian Assange."

As always, Westwood was less interested in talking about her designs than about climate change, a subject she has long campaigned about.

"There's no latest thing, it's all rubbish," she said, brushing off questions about fashion. Instead, she patiently explained to reporters why she feels so passionately about her climate change campaign.

"Every small thing you do can really change your life," she said. "And the first thing they must do is inform themselves, believe the scientists . then they'll stop being consumers and start being more interested in the world."

It's anyone's guess how many people attending the Vivienne Westwood Red Label autumn collection shared her enthusiasm, but the crowds were clearly taken by the designs shown on the catwalk, which was held at the Saatchi Gallery.

Although the makeup was startling — chalky white faces paired with eyes and lips outlined in stark, cartoonish lines — the clothes lived up to her legendary fame.

Jackets and blazers were beautifully tailored to accentuate the waist and hips, and dresses were draped in all the right places to draw the eye to the curves. The palette highlighted a delicious plum, teals, and metallics.

There were dramatic pieces, for sure: a metallic zebra-stripe was printed on coats and a striking prom style dress with stiff underskirts, and an iridescent foil-like tight biker jacket that shimmered purple and green was paired with harem pants dripping in sequins.

Westwood has been selling the Assange T-shirts to raise support for the WikiLeaks founder, who is living in the Ecuador's Embassy in London. He is seeking asylum from the country to avoid extradition to Sweden to face sexual assault questions.

London's glittery fashion week keeps on rolling

London Fashion Week swings into star time with a debut fashion show from pop star Rihanna and other big design names, including Issa and Jasper Conran.

Rihanna for River Island is set for Saturday night, followed by an elaborate party in central London.
The five-day fashion spectacle will also include upcoming shows from Vivienne Westwood, Burberry, Temperley and — for the first time offering a full catwalk show in London — Tom Ford.

There also are dozens of smaller shows and presentation by a wide variety of up and coming fashion names as well as established draws such as Christopher Kane, Roksanda Ilincic and Erdem.

The London shows mark phase two of the "Big Four" fashion weeks, with Milan and Paris to follow.

When It Comes To Fashion, Shouldn't There Be An App For That?

Thursday is the last day of New York Fashion Week, and some cutting-edge design will be presented in the tents at Lincoln Center — literally. Standing on the runway will be computer programmer types rather than models. This follows an event that kicked off Fashion Week — something called a "hackathon."

Enlarge image
More than 550 people churned out 78 apps in one day as part of Fashion Week's "hackathon."

Steven Lau/Decoded Fashion
A hackathon, explains Liz Bacelar, is a "fast-paced competition in which graphic designers, software developers and people with ideas, they come together to build an app in 24 hours. "

Bacelar is the founder of Decoded Fashion, a company that brings together people working in the tech industry with people working in the fashion industry.

"We brought together 550 registered people, and 78 apps were created in the matter of a day," Bacelar tells NPR's Renee Montagne.

Winners and runners-up win prize money. But what does this have to do with big companies strutting their stuff at Fashion Week? According to Bacelar, the industry is less tech-savvy than it could be.

"The interesting thing about fashion is they [the companies] are trendsetters, right?" says Bacelar. "But right now the industry could really use some innovation. They have kind of lagged behind in technology and how to run a business in a lean way using the power of tech. So we came up with the idea of leveraging technology in a very quick way, to pitch them ideas for them to consider trying."

Enlarge image
Fashion from designers like Oscar de la Renta were on display at Fashion Week in New York.

Kathy Willens/AP
And, Bacelar says, the biggest and oldest companies have a lot to learn from new fashion startups.

"What happens with the fashion industry is you have the designers showing their collections, you have the buyers placing their orders, and you'd be surprised that a lot of top, top brands, they use very little to no technology. And you have startups, like small companies, they are launching brands online and reaching revenue much faster."

Bacelar says that she sees two trends emerging from the tech industry that could prove very useful in the world of fashion: 3-D printing and visual search.

"We know that in the past 10 years, [3-D printing] has been used for machine parts, for airplanes, and now in the past couple years ... jewelry and metal. We see keys, we see rings being printed."

And something else is being printed, now, too: fabric. Bacelar has seen designers begin to incorporate 3-D printing into their designs — something that she says bodes well for U.S. manufacturing.

"I think [designers] are going to go to hardware — the buttons, the zippers, and consequently, more and more of this manufacturing comes back to the U.S., because it's very complex manufacturing."

Enlarge image
Participants in The Fashion Hackathon sketch out plans for an app. Fashion industry giants are beginning to look to tech-savvy new startups for inspiration.

Steven Lau/Decoded Fashion
With 3-D printing, printers will essentially become tiny factories. "You can have a dress with no seams," says Bacelar. "You design the dress in your computer, you hook it up to the printer, you put [material] that you want the dress to be made of, if it's silk or whatever it is. It's so crazy to talk about it this way, but when you see it, the visuals are just incredible."

Another trend that Bacelar is excited about is visual search.

"Right now, the search is word-based, and more and more, search is becoming image-based," she says. "So, we're going to see browsers, we're going to see websites that we can go to and add an image, and be presented all the images that look just like it."

Bacelar says this year's Fashion Week, and the hackathon, finally bring fashion and technology together. "There's a lot of misunderstanding on both sides," she says. "On the tech side, we keep building solutions that we think the industry needs, but we don't quite know exactly how the fashion industry works. So from the fashion side, they have these problems, and they just don't know how to solve them, and the conversation never happens. So it's happening for the first time, and it's quite exciting."

Fashion Force Richard Lowe III Appointed International Creative Director of Spiegel

Fashion Force Richard Lowe III Appointed International Creative Director of Spiegel

Lynn Tilton, Founder and CEO of Patriarch Partners LLC, a New York based investment firm and holding company, announced today that Richard Lowe III has been named International Creative Director for the Spiegel® family of women's apparel brands.  In this capacity, Mr. Lowe will be responsible for the design and creative direction of all in-house brands (Spiegel Collection, Newport News and Shape FX) in the U.S. and abroad.  He will also oversee all online development, merchandising and R&D.

Lynn Tilton said, "I truly believe Richard to be both a prolific artist and design prodigy. Rarely do I rebuild a company centered on the talents of one individual and never have I hired someone within minutes of meeting them. With Richard, I have done both.  I believe that Richard will truly bring the Spiegel family of apparel back to the forefront in the hearts and minds of American women."

Lowe, 28 years old, comes to Spiegel with an impressive ten-year track record in the fashion industry.  Just one year after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2007, he became the Creative Director of Bagir in the U.S. where, in addition to designing for brands Balmain and Nicole Miller, he created private label designs for Brooks Brothers and Macy's. Moreover, Lowe was instrumental in developing a revolutionary eco-fabric made entirely from recycled plastic bottles. This global initiative led to the creation of Eco-Gir, a high-tech brand that specialized in producing apparel made from recycled waste materials. Lowe also established partnerships with Dockers and Cintas. Under his creative direction, Bagir's profits increased significantly.

Lowe has also designed fashion collections for Rebecca Minkoff and Juicy Couture; managed fashion shows for Oscar de la Renta, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein and Rosa Cha, and provided personal wardrobe services for Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Michael Jackson. He has also appeared as a fashion expert on The View, Good Morning America, The Early Show, The Doctors and The Learning Channel's (TLC) sensation, Breaking Amish.

For his first collection, Richard has taken many cues from Spiegel's rich and illustrious fashion heritage.  He has designed the Spring 2013 collection with an even more vibrant color palette, high-fashion fit, and youthful appeal. Says Lowe, "For spring 2013, I am infusing shades of teal, fuchsia and reds paired with whites, silvers and navies creating an exotic, adventurous and endlessly chic collection." And he adds with a provocative grin, "a tantalizing undercurrent of flirty fun."

Former Cover Model Now Does His Work Behind The Lens

The former cover model spent time in front of the camera striking a pose, but now, he's behind the lens as one of the world's most sought after fine art photographers.

“I love movement. I love colors as well," Gomez says. "It depends. You never know where you will get inspired. New York has a different vibe, a different energy."

The New York-based photographer has published two books featuring his best works. One is called "Visual Vibrations". The other is called "Dimensions".

He's a darling of the fashion industry. Fashion insiders keep an eye on his work when they look for inspiration.

"I've been approached by designers that want to use my patterns on their fabrics, which is interesting," Gomez says.

He's most proud of a piece of work that President Bill Clinton now owns.

You can see Javier's work just about anywhere, even in high-end interior design offices.

"We love having Javier’s art in our space because it really punctuates our furnishings, and it just seems like a natural fit," says Robert Passal, an interior designer.

With an eye for design, color and style, Javier Gomez is trendsetting both on and off the runway.

A Style Blog for Tots: Has Fashion Gone Too Far?

Fashion blogging has gone from the streets to the cribs, thanks to fashion designer Jenni Kayne and celeb-stylist Estee Stanley.

Best friends and mothers, Kayne and Stanley created the Ladys & Gents kids' fashion blog in December as a way to display fun looks their children and other children wore.

"Estee and I love shopping for our little ones and dressing them in cute outfits. We found ourselves sending one another pictures of the kids and what they were wearing," Kayne said in a statement.
The purpose of the blog is to bring joy to moms everywhere.

"We decided it would be really fun to create a blog - something for us moms to appreciate now and hopefully inspire other moms when it comes to kids' fashion," said Kayne.

Ladys and Gents isn't the first kid's fashion blog, other blogs like The Tiny Times and Petit Vogue are increasing in popularity.

The clothing on Ladys & Gents isn't particularly over-the-top expensive, unlike those seen on mini-celebs like Suri Cruise, who's been spotted wearing $300 shoes and carrying an $800 Salvatore Ferragamo bag.

Anyone can submit photos of her child along with a list of brands they're wearing. The clothing showcased includes mass brands like Target all the way up to high-end looks from Stella McCartney.

Who Will Be the Next Suri Cruise?
Dr. Alan Kazdin, professor of psychology at Yale University, brings up the point that women are featured predominantly in fashion blogs over men, and the same is true for Ladys & Gents.

"Yes, there's a deep concern here. Any woman should be concerned about this because it's not another job passed for woman, it's not a way to get to the top, this is all about you and your body," said Kazdin. "I would rather see the same thing, those same pictures with those girls standing by calculators."

Not surprisingly, those in the fashion world are less critical, contending that fashion and fashion blogging are a form of creativity and self-expression. Designers look to street style, now captured by bloggers like the Sartorlialist's Scott Schuman, for inspiration for a new line.

Kayne's other blog, Rip + Tan, also includes kid fashion. Rip + Tan chronicles the designer's musings, including her love of Stella McCartney rain gear, Hunter boots and cute winter weather looks for a family ski trip.

This isn't the first time stylish tots have taken the internet by storm. Celeb stylist June Ambrose also brought her daughter, Summer Chamblin, to the fashion week tents. Chamblin has an Instagram account and chronicles her favorite outfits and inspiration.

Designer Alexander Wang's niece, Aila Wang, stole the show at New York Fashion Week in September, when she showed up at his show in a custom-made dress, Nike shoes and a Chanel bag.

Do you think kids fashion blogs are fun - or have they gone too far? Weigh your thoughts in the comments section.

Designer David Peck Unveils David Peck USA, an American Fashion House in Central Houston

David Peck pioneers a domestic fashion house by celebrating American design, labor, and craft with rare authenticity. Combining architectural elements and cinematic elegance, Peck will debut CrOp Fall/Winter 2013 collection Fast Forward, with a private presentation and fashion house tour on Saturday, February 16,

France is the nation which gave birth to the maison couture; so it comes as no surprise that Peck, with his Parisian fashion training and New York experience, has opened the South's first full-scale fashion house: David Peck USA, in Houston, Texas.  Defined by an uncompromising commitment to the high standards of quality and unwavering attention to detail, Peck is dedicated to putting Houston on the map, not only for fashion design but also for clothing manufacturing.  "The majority of American fashion brands manufacture outside the United States. We want to change that, and I am confident with what we are doing we are on the right path. We believe that providing local employment not only guarantees higher quality control but also provides fair wages for an industry that is notorious for the contrary," says Peck.

As of September of last year, "fashion designer David Peck has turned a 6,000 square foot former real estate office into an impressive manufacturing headquarters and showroom" (Houston Chronicle). In Houston's Upper Kirby district, David Peck USA not only serves as a studio, but full-scale fashion design, production, and distribution base.

In addition to David Peck's CrOp ready-to-wear line and custom bridal, the fashion house manufactures for several local women's designers and a handful of children's wear brands. "Peck is leading a group of young designers who are determined to design and manufacture high-quality collections right here in Houston (CultureMap).

"We have created a unique and fascinating environment for both designers and consumers," Peck explains.  Alongside the dwindling number of fashion factories producing in New York and California, David Peck USA is a catalyst for local design and domestic manufacturing.
CrOp FALL 2013 Collection

Inspired by David's love of classic cinema, the Fall 2013 collection Fast Forward, combines mid-century elegance with architectural elements and infuses them with warm neutrals and bold color.  Chaos, mechanics, and decadence create sumptuous prints from unexpected sources that punctuate the collection, while new textures and textiles update some of CrOp's signature silhouettes.

Select members of the press, buyers, and clients will be invited to an exclusive, first hand look at David Peck's Fall/Winter 2013 CrOp collection, followed by a first-hand experience of how the collection is crafted.

"In the past we have exclusively debuted all CrOp collections at NYFW but this year we want to spotlight Houston's thriving fashion community. We welcome the Houston community and the entire fashion industry to experience first-hand an American Fashion House."

Who Is The Gwyneth Paltrow Of Fashion?

Ok, Gwyneth Paltrow – fashion plate, Boss Model and all-round glamorous movie star is the Gwyneth Paltrow of fashion.

But when it comes to crying on the podium, move over. Nicholas Kirkwood’s genuine, heartwarming reaction to the utterly unexpected news that it is he who has been awarded British fashion’s richest prize showed that Hollywood’s favorite blonde has met her match.

Who is Nicholas Kirkwood? You could call him “the new Manolo” (although we continue to adore the first one). You could call him the next Christian Louboutin, (although we continue to admire the current one).  Let’s call him the next great shoe designer whose heels girls crave.

It takes more than high heels to win the British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion fund. Kirkwood beat out competitors as tough as any Oscar race in Peter Pilotto, Mary Katrantzou, Roksanda Ilincic and Emilia Wickstead.

And no wonder the lad was overcome. Unlike the weighty Oscar which comes without cash attached, the  BFC-Vogue Designer Fund comes with moolah; 200,000 pounds sterling, as well as access to key senior level mentors across the fashion industry, this to underpin and accelerate the fashion star most likely to soar higher.

That it works; former winner is Christopher Kane, in whom French luxury giant, PPR, has just invested. PPR is the stable that holds Gucci, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney.

Tonight’s event at London’s Nobu also marked the debut of the most glamorous-ever chairman of the British Fashion Council. Expect Natalie Massenet, who has already turned a kitchen table business into the global luxury e-tailer Net-a-porter, to pull her new role off with equal aplomb.

As for the reigning queen of red carpet glamour who tonight surrenders the “weeping at the awards” award, how fitting; Gwyneth Paltrow wears Nicholas Kirkwood shoes.

Fashion-forward fitness trackers 'about to explode'

While fashion may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of wearable fitness trackers, manufacturers are hoping to change your mind by creating 24/7 lifestyle devices that look good with, say, a three-piece suit or little black dress.

Mark Wilson at FastCompany writes that with new modular devices coming soon -- sensors with interchangeable shells to diversify your look -- "the fashionable fitness tracking trend is about to explode."

One such device is the BodyMedia Core 2 Armband, which looks more like a glitzy bracelet than a geeky health sensor. While no details are available on price, the Core 2 Armband is scheduled for an August launch.

BodyMedia also announced that it will release easy-change faceplates, straps and cuffs so wearers can personalize their Core 2 "to match their mood, clothing, activity, or general style," according to a press release.

Other fashion-forward trackers include UP and Misfit Wearables' new Shine, which can be worn as a sleek bracelet, while Withings and FitBit have designed new modules that can fit inside interchangeable cases for versatility, according to FastCompany.

Specialty fashion group's profit soars

Womenswear retailer Specialty Fashion Group says a major reason behind a huge jump in projected first half profit is that it no longer sells cheap China-made copies of overseas designs.

Shares in Specialty Fashion Group soared on Friday after the group said it expects its profit in the first half of the 2012/13 financial year to nearly triple due to cost savings and improved sales.

At 1311 AEDT on Friday, shares in Specialty Fashion were 24.5 cents, or 35 per cent, higher at 94.5 cents.

The owner of the Katies and Millers fashion stores expects its net profit for the six months to December 31 to be in the range of $17 million to $18 million.

The guidance represents a significant increase from the company's $6.2 million profit posted in the corresponding period last year.

It also contrasts with the profit forecast of women's fashion retailer Noni B, which on Thursday said it expects its first half net profit to fall to between $1.7 million and $1.9 million, from $2.4 million in the prior corresponding period.

Noni B shares fell 14 per cent on Thursday.

Specialty Fashion chief executive Gary Perlstein said the group had experienced a significant turnaround in its trading performance as its strategy to transform its supply chain started to generate benefits.

Gross margins had improved as selling prices increased.

Selling prices had risen as a result of the implementation of design capability within the business.

'We no longer go overseas, buy a garment from a competitor overseas, go via China and knock it off,' Mr Perlstein told AAP.

'We actually design the product ourselves, so we have a point of differentiation in the market.

'That means you're not playing on price all the time.'

Although it had still been necessary to engage in discounting, Mr Perlstein said the better product differentiation had allowed the group to realise higher average sell prices.

The group also benefited from steady rents, reduced product cost and freight prices, falling cotton prices which had reduced the cost of fabrics, and the closure of underperforming stores.

Mr Perlstein said SFG's stronger trading performance had resulted in very strong cash levels, which would enable the group to continue its investment in expanding its online sales capability and open new stores.

The group would continue to invest in upgrading its online presence, which was designed to encourage online customers into the physical stores by giving them the choice of picking up products in-store or reserving products that were in-store.

Mr Perlstein said the group's outlook was still 'very cautious' given difficult trading conditions in the retail sector.

But the group was encouraged by the fact that it had been able to produce solid results during a difficult time.

Sales in the group's 892 stores in the six months to December rose two per cent on the prior corresponding period, and revenue lifted 1.3 per cent to $311.2 million.

Specialty Fashion Group is due to release its finalised first-half financial results on February 1

Getting Chic with George: Fashion Can (and Should Be) Fun!

Before the holidays I bought this awesome faux beaver fur coat from the Maison Martin Margiela for H&M collection. It's ridiculous, but I love it.

I thought about wearing it for my holiday trip to the midwest since it's freezing there this time of year, but decided against it because I knew that in my hometown of Skokie, Illinois, I would look like a crazy person in this coat. 

I was totally "Fashion Policing" myself!
Speaking of, I also didn't want to look like that guy from Fashion Police who was so desperate for attention. But at the last minute I had an epiphany and brought it with me anyway—and I'm so glad I did!

Sure, some people laughed at me, but others complimented me on it as well. Regardless, I felt great wearing it, so that's all that matters. 

Fashion should not only bring joy to the wearer, but it should also provide entertainment to the people who get to see what you're wearing.

Did I enjoy being laughed at? Absolutely not. But I did enjoy that what I wore elicited a reaction.
Whether they loved or hated, it still put a smile on their faces. 

See the Maison Martin Margiela for H&M collection
That's why I'm excited about 2013. I'm sensing a change in the air starting at the top with the designers and trickling down to the stylists, then of course to the actresses.

Red carpet fashion has been safe for too long.

I hope we are finally getting to the point where they don't care about what people on the Fashion Police say—as they shouldn't!

Bottom line: if you love it, you should wear it. So I dare you, go and have some fun!

Specialty fashion group's profit soars

Womenswear retailer Specialty Fashion Group says a major reason behind a huge jump in projected first half profit is that it no longer sells cheap China-made copies of overseas designs.

Shares in Specialty Fashion Group soared on Friday after the group said it expects its profit in the first half of the 2012/13 financial year to nearly triple due to cost savings and improved sales.

At 1311 AEDT on Friday, shares in Specialty Fashion were 24.5 cents, or 35 per cent, higher at 94.5 cents.

The owner of the Katies and Millers fashion stores expects its net profit for the six months to December 31 to be in the range of $17 million to $18 million.

The guidance represents a significant increase from the company's $6.2 million profit posted in the corresponding period last year.

It also contrasts with the profit forecast of women's fashion retailer Noni B, which on Thursday said it expects its first half net profit to fall to between $1.7 million and $1.9 million, from $2.4 million in the prior corresponding period.

Noni B shares fell 14 per cent on Thursday.

Specialty Fashion chief executive Gary Perlstein said the group had experienced a significant turnaround in its trading performance as its strategy to transform its supply chain started to generate benefits.

Gross margins had improved as selling prices increased.

Selling prices had risen as a result of the implementation of design capability within the business.

'We no longer go overseas, buy a garment from a competitor overseas, go via China and knock it off,' Mr Perlstein told AAP.

'We actually design the product ourselves, so we have a point of differentiation in the market.

'That means you're not playing on price all the time.'

Although it had still been necessary to engage in discounting, Mr Perlstein said the better product differentiation had allowed the group to realise higher average sell prices.

The group also benefited from steady rents, reduced product cost and freight prices, falling cotton prices which had reduced the cost of fabrics, and the closure of underperforming stores.

Mr Perlstein said SFG's stronger trading performance had resulted in very strong cash levels, which would enable the group to continue its investment in expanding its online sales capability and open new stores.

The group would continue to invest in upgrading its online presence, which was designed to encourage online customers into the physical stores by giving them the choice of picking up products in-store or reserving products that were in-store.

Mr Perlstein said the group's outlook was still 'very cautious' given difficult trading conditions in the retail sector.

But the group was encouraged by the fact that it had been able to produce solid results during a difficult time.

Sales in the group's 892 stores in the six months to December rose two per cent on the prior corresponding period, and revenue lifted 1.3 per cent to $311.2 million.

Specialty Fashion Group is due to release its finalised first-half financial results on February 18.

Big Brother Launches 'Fashion Police' as Part of Very.co.uk Integration

Very.co.uk, Carat Sponsorship and Endemol announce the next phase of their Big Brother partnership - a ''fashion police'' task to be aired this week on Wednesday 23rd January at 9pm on Channel 5.

The activity is the next phase of the Channel 5 and Very.co.uk partnership, which saw the online retailer become an official fashion partner to Big Brother for 2013.

On Wednesday evening, viewers will watch as Big Brother selects the most fashionable housemates and assigns them the role of the ''fashion police''. The stylish enforcers will then select outdated and dishevelled victims to take part in a Very.co.uk makeover that will feature solely branded products from Very.co.uk.
The fashion task builds on Very.co.uk''s innovative ''click to buy'' page hosted on Channel 5''s and Very.co.uk''s websites, allowing viewers to buy products as seen in the iconic Big Brother House. As the official fashion, home and furnishing license partner, Very.co.uk is supplying home and electrical goods, branded dressing gowns and suitcases for the celebrity housemates.

Jon Owen, director at Very.co.uk, said: "We have been very pleased with the results of our partnership with Celebrity Big Brother to date and are excited to take this to the next level with this inventive brand and product awareness activity. This task should provide great entertainment while showcasing our unique own brand and household name fashion ranges to a wide audience."

Rachel Gibbs-McNeil, Carat Sponsorship associate director, said: "We created the fashion police task as a unique way to drive further engagement and build on the Very.co.uk / Channel 5 partnership. It''s an innovative take on using branded editorial content to maximise viewer engagement for Very.co.uk in the entertainment space."

Claire Heys, director of brand partnerships and licensing at Endemol, said: "Endemol have been delighted to work closely with Very.co.uk to bring such a young, dynamic fashion brand to Big Brother''s core 16-34 audience by collaborating closely on the fashion police task."

Agostino Di Falco, partnership director at Channel 5, said: "Our partnership with Very.co.uk and Carat goes from strength to strength with creative solutions being at the core of everything we''re doing together."

Guide To NYC Fashion Week

Whether you’re sartorially savvy or the polar opposite of a fashionista, the high drama and sheer talent at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York—both inside and outside the tents—is a sight to behold. As designers from around the world prepare to debut their fall 2013 collections at Lincoln Center between Feb. 7 and 14, our Startle.com editors have been curating a collection of the best things to do and top-notch places to stay if you’re heading there to be part of the glitz and glamour.

Check out our blog on Startle.com to see which celebrity designers are leaving their high-style marks on luxury hotel suites.

What to Know
Fashion Week is a massive event that brings 100,000 people to Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park for eight days of style and spectacle. Shows are invite-only, but even if you don’t score a golden ticket, it’s worth a stop by the plaza for the ultimate only-in-New-York people watching.

This year, more than 75 designers will showcase their handiwork at official Fashion Week events; the roster includes legendary names (Ralph Lauren, Diane von Furstenberg) and emerging brands (MM6 by Maison Martin Margiela, Monika Chiang). Among the labels to watch this season are ICB by Prabal Gurung—often worn by first lady Michelle Obama—and American designers Trina Turk and Steven Alan. While the three have participated in previous Fashion Weeks, Turk and Gurung will present their first live runway shows at Lincoln Center.

What to Do
Beyond the formal shows of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, the arrival of the worldwide fashion industry in New York spawns many spin-off events. Often more intimate—and typically easier to get into—these celebrations are good bets for an up-close look at models working the runway.

Nolcha Fashion Week is the city’s other official Fashion Week. The platform, created to help launch the careers of independent designers, will present fall and winter collections at Pier 59 on Feb. 13, with other events—from a bloggers’ brunch to after parties—running from Feb. 11 to 14.


Ralph Lauren at Spring 2013 Fashion Week, photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Small Boutique Fashion Week, meanwhile, presents its runway show and market on Feb. 10 at Metropolitan Pavilion. The event connects emerging designers with boutique owners, but because it’s open to the public, you can snag a ticket and enjoy the show as well.

Immediately following Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Couture Fashion Week (Feb. 15 to 17) focuses on luxury pieces from international designers. The often over-the-top designs are displayed with gusto; the event closed last season with a collaborative mural-painting exercise. This year marks the first time that Couture Fashion Week moves from the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Waldorf Astoria New York to its new home in the New Yorker Hotel.

One-off, niche runway shows provide more opportunities to sit in the front row. Reality TV fans should check out the first Reality of FASHION The Reality of AIDS fundraiser show, taking place Feb. 9 in The Altman Building. With models plucked from programs like Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise, this open event guarantees more than a smattering of reality-star sightings. And on Feb. 12 at downtown hot spot Tenjune, Fashion Meets Music teams up with Camp Couture NYC for a show that melds fashion and entertainment; artists slated to perform include Amanda Brown of The Voice. General admission tickets are available.

Shopping is, of course, synonymous with fashion shows, and even if your wardrobe is more prêt-à-porter than haute couture, you can still fill a bag or two with cutting-edge ensembles thanks to the pop-up shops that proliferate during Fashion Week. Head to Nordstrom-owned Treasure & Bond in Soho for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund pop-up that spotlights designs from this year’s 10 Fashion Fund finalists. The featured designers join an illustrious club of past winners like Proenza Schouler, Prabal Gurung, 3.1 Phillip Lim and Thom Browne, designer of first lady Michelle Obama’s 2013 inauguration coat and dress. This Fashion Fund pop-up opens on Feb. 6.

Retailing 2013: Fashion And Tech Trends To Watch

Will Young is a director at Zappos Labs, which is part of Amazon.com‘s Zappos unit.

Will Young
At Zappos Labs we’re always looking ahead to create new experiences to wow our customers. As fashion and tech continue to merge in 2013, we’re excited about a few trends that we think will make life for brands and consumers more fun and interesting.

Clothes online? Why not!
Many technophiles are shocked to hear that only about 13 percent of clothing sales happen online. 2013 may be the year where we finally see buying apparel online become second nature. It’s easier than ever for a small or new brand to sell clothes online using a platform like Shopify or Magento. Existing online retailers are also stepping up their game with better photography, product videos, lookbooks and magazine quality content to help you decide what to wear. Mobile will continue to infiltrate how we shop for clothes as well. This can range from price comparison tools to mobile apps designed to help you shop other people’s closets. This year I won’t be surprised to hear someone say her first online clothing purchase was a second hand item! We also have our fingers crossed that tools to help you figure out your perfect fit online finally break out of the “it’s a cute gimmick” space and really help people find the right size.

Big Data turns out to be a big deal, even in fashion
2012 was a year where everything was about Big Data. We believe we’ll see big strides around actionable big data in 2013 in the fashion world. Many companies already use their vast amounts of data for recommendation systems: e.g. people who bought this, also bought this. However, that is just scratching the surface. There are an incredible number of additional signals available to help match you up with the perfect outfit. What types of dresses are trending on Pinterest? What is the most popular hat in my city? You returned a pair of stone-washed 32×32 514 Levi’s jeans, what does that say about you? Did your friends on Facebook and Twitter recommend a great hiking shoe recently? How did the latest celebrity couple sighting impact the sale of fanny packs? So much data! We’re excited to see what the industry does with it all.

 A future where we make our own clothes?
Paper dolls democratized fashion for children. Will 3D printers do that for adults in 2013? Unfortunately, it’s probably a bit too early to expect that we’ll be printing our own clothes on 3D printers at home this year. Nonetheless, we’re excited and nerding out about the possibilities there. We’re keeping our eyes peeled for what bold designers will embrace this movement and how “makers” will impact the fashion-tech industry. 3D printed bikini anyone?

 Let’s get physical
While we’re focused on e-commerce, there is a lot of innovation happening in brick-and-mortar shopping that will continue to evolve into more immersive experiences. Stores are doing a better job of integrating their online and physical channels. It’s definitely convenient to be able to buy online and return it in the store. But how would you feel being greeted by name walking into a store you have never been in before? What if they also already knew your fashion taste from your online purchase history? And knew from your tweets that you were in town for a wedding and might need something for it? And knew from your earlier foursquare check-in at the Ritz that it’s probably a fancy wedding? Creepy? Or fantastic? And who says a physical store is just for selling things? If Office Depot can open up a retail shop that is also a coworking space, what about a department store opening up space for you to create and customize your own clothing in stores? We think we’ll also see more online-only retailers experiment with more physical spaces such as pop-up shops (or trucks). As online retailers keep trying to get people to buy online, we need to remind ourselves why people love shopping at stores!

And finally: the trend that will reign supreme no matter the fashion tech innovations that emerge in 2013: Increased attention to service. By everyone.

It’s encouraging to see small and big companies continue to innovate in their level of service. We’re already seeing faster deliveries (eBay Now and Amazon same day) and more personal support (i.e. welcome e-mails with the CEO’s personal e-mail address like Chris at Betabrand.com). Do you remember the first time a company provided customer support over Twitter or Facebook and that “wow” feeling you had? We’re looking forward to seeing a few more of those service innovations this year and excited to see who leads the way.

Modesto students gain fashion sense through ROP

This spring, expect to see sun dresses in dusty blues, menswear in "alloy" gray and a new class of fashion-savvy teens learning the retail ropes in hopes of designing a good fit in careers.

Jacqueline Flores and Paola Perez, both Gregori High School seniors, buckled down last semester with 60-hour internships at American Eagle Outfitters at Vintage Faire Mall. Both learned the basics of stocking and stacking.

Flores worked her way up to cashier. "I was so nervous, dealing with my first return, but it's actually easy," she said.

Modesto Bee - Nan Austin/naustin@modbee.com Fashion merchandising teacher Brad Lash points out detail in a design project. Designs need to be parsed out and priced out down to the buttons and thread. Taken at an ROP fashion merchandising class on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013, at the Modesto City Schools Reno Avenue complex in Modesto, Ca.

Flores liked helping customers find clothes that looked good and fit their body type and coloring, sometimes nudging them to better choices with a compliment. " 'Oh, I think this color would be great on you.' We picked that up really fast," she said with a grin.

Perez focused on styling the mannequins and laying out complementary merchandise. "I learned how to waterfall the clothes (on staggered hooks)," she said. "I used the color wheel a lot, light to dark, and how to match."

Both survived the pre-Christmas crush. "Your time goes by faster when it's busy and there's more to do," Perez said. "You really need to be a multitasker."

Downey High School senior Omar Cruz said a lot of customers fail to consider their trendy choices. "They don't really know fashion," he said. "It's just whatever catches their attention."

That's exactly the type of boots-on-the-ground knowledge ROP fashion merchandising and advanced fashion teacher Brad Lash wants his students to sock away while racking up retail hours.

"Not all are successful to the same degree, but they all learn what it takes," he said. All learn the money side of those dreamy duds, the demands of customer service, and that employers expect them on time every time.

Some find that a hands-on helper role fits like a glove. Others get their feet wet and decide to give retail the boot and run away from the runway. But the fashion industry has lots of other choices, Lash said.

"There's a lot of science and technology in fashion," he said, everything from fiber technology to inventory control, architecture and artistry, photography and publishing. "It's a huge part of the economy," he said, hefting the 916-page September edition of Vogue magazine from his desk.
The basics, too

While the fashion houses of Milan, Paris and New York are Vogue's (sliver of) bread and (faux) butter, Lash said, street fashion and what sells at Target also matter in the fashion scene. "It's all about selling, making money," he said.

He uses industry publications, videos displaying the latest couture collections and plain old lectures to teach fashion's underpinnings. Project boards have to not only showcase designs, they need examples of the thread and buttons, and a cost breakdown for everything.

"Students learn it's all about planning and execution to reach their goals," he said. "It's not how smart they are. It's the skills."

Lash spent years working at the Broadway store before it was bought by Macy's. Teaching credential in hand, he discovered Regional Occupation Programs, better known as ROP, and liked the mix of business and bookwork.

Teaching 75 students
This year he teaches 75 students from all the Modesto City Schools high schools at his studiolike class in the district's ROP center on Reno Avenue.

Some of his students take a shine to the glamorous end. Perez said she's considering modeling or fashion design, but if that doesn't work out, she'll always be a snappy dresser.

Flores would rather work backstage at runway shows and may try her hand at writing articles for Teen Vogue.
For Modesto High School senior Liliana Farias, retail rules. "I love the experience, all of it, from the stock room to the floor," she said.

But Henry Khy, busy drawing his updated twist for Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" characters, said helping customers was not a high point for him. "They're so interested in clothes, but a lot of people don't know what they're doing," he said. "I was always just too afraid to say something."
Vanessa Romo, a senior at Davis High School, said she's a people person and does likes sales, although fashion may or may not be a fit for her. She's gained a lot from the class, she said. "It's just more relatable."

Can Washington Fix Its Fashion Problem in Time for Inauguration?

I'm fully aware that one haircut does not make an entire city fashionable, and I'm also in full agreement that the First Lady was hot before the bangs. But there's an article today in the Wall Street Journal by Elizabeth Williamson that would have us believe that D.C.'s political elite hail from some backwater fashion hole where ruching simply never arrived, where trends go to die, but don't even make it to live. This piece is about inaugural fashion prep, and how difficult it is (because it's in Washington, D.C.), and how much of a struggle it's been to "find inaugural ball gowns that defied Washington's button-down standard."

RELATED: 'Portlandia' Comes to the Beltway with Epic Bike Move
Williamson writes, "Many in Washington, the epicenter of political power, see high fashion as not only irrelevant, but downright suspect. Workaholics take a certain pride in looking like they slept in their clothes. A rakish fedora and cape, by contrast, recalls Jack Abramoff, the disgraced lobbyist. A daring dress means D.C. Madam."

The inauguration and its fancy ball turn the tables on all those standards, and people strain to break free from the constraints of their fashion world, yet fear doing so, questioning everything, suddenly as insecure as high schoolers going to a first prom. Williamson asks, rhetorically: "Do stripes convey sufficient solidity? To sequin or not to sequin? Is hair gel only for the shallow?" Some might say the odds are, in fact, stacked against such fashion-aspirers from the start. And some did:
"The beauty of D.C. is the culture," said makeup artist Erwin Gomez, but "I see terrible eyebrows."
Harsh.

Even though a stream of new blood into the capital imparts the hope that savvy youngsters will take hold of D.C.'s rickety fashion ship and steer her right, those kids totally missed out on how hip nautical might have been and instead often cleave to the norms just like their elders: pantyhose, navy, grey, blazers — fleece, I'd guess, for after-hours. Only the most creative and staunchly independent have any hope of survival against the rooted anti-fashion psychologies of the city (you would believe, from this article).

But there is hope of a sort; there may be change. A D.C. cosmetic surgeon told Williamson that for much of memorable D.C. history, people have wanted to look terrible! The city had actually attracted "an older, more homogenous crowd that took pride in a certain kind of haggard look." Now people are coming to their senses and accepting his services, and they're distinctly less frowny.

A groundswell of change may be literally at foot:
Celebrity hairstylist Luigi Parasmo said he has noticed that "guys are going to beauty salons instead of barbers. Younger guys' girlfriends tell them, 'go get a manicure and cut your green toenails.' It's a major trend for Washington."

Of course, when the trend is getting one's toenails cut, perhaps there's still room to grow. But it's not impossible that this is all some sort of deliberate fashion conspiracy, a rooted movement among a fervent group who may not even be the majority to remain in times past. After all, we've all seen Michelle Obama's bangs. Change is possible!