Introduction to Fashion Blog

      Fashion plays a very important role in many of our lives. Our fashion tells a lot about our personality and interests. It also has been an important factor in our history and explains societal changes and our attitudes towards different topics. What has the evolution of fashion explained about society and our country? I am creating this blog to answer this essential question by describing the changes in fashion and styles over the last century.

Imitation Creation

   
     This photo is of clothing and styles that are similar to designer brands, but are slightly different so they can be sold at much cheaper prices.  These styles are often know as knock-offs.  This is a major change in how fashion is representative of society.
     In previous centuries, and even decades, society was distinguished by the clothing they wore and were divided by their clothing but  with knock-off brands everyone has access to similar designs that allows all of society to not only look similar and be able to wear similar styles but they also have a sense of togetherness that allows a sense of unification to flourish.
 
What other fashion changes from the past have had a great impact on society?

Passion for Fashion

       This is an image of a designe that could be seen at a modern fashion show. It is evidence of how we see fashion today as a society. It is a work of art, it is an expression rather than something you simply wear. It is created to make a statement about society or any other comment the artist want to make, just like all other art forms.  Often times, clothing like this is not worn in public, or worn at all for that matter, but is designed to emulate an idea of feeling for a line of designs. It is a showcase item to exemplify the articles of clothing of the line that will be sold.

Why is it so important that designers create clothing that is eccentric and will never be worn off a runway?
How do you view fashion?
What do you think of designs that are showcased in fashion shows?

http://weirdnews.about.com/od/weirdphotos/ig/Weird-Fashion/Another-Pink-Brick-in-the-Wall.htm

Clean in Green

      The article "Green is the New Black" by Sharon Mosley describes how society is developing into a more earth friendly environment that is more concious about the impact of their actions on the planet. The article describes how society is evolving by becoming "green" and working to become less impactful on the environment in a negative way. The author includes suggestions from Matheson, an ecofriendly fashion designer, on how to make your fashion and style "greener," some of which are as simple as not using plastic bags and replacing them with reusable ones as well as reading the labels on products to be sure that they are completely natural. The article also provides several other suggestions to influence ecofriendly shopping and products.
      The article is evidence of how society and new ideas and theories also influence the fashion world. The new concern among many societies around the world is that of global warming and enviromental destruction caused by human factors. The new campaigns to reduce our impact and carbon footprint on the world is showing up in the fashion world and in production altogether, the article addresses other products than just clothing and items related to fashion that are being altered to reduce this impact.

 What can you do to reduce your negative impact on the environment?

Mosley, Sharon. "Green Is the New Black." Copley News Service. 17 Mar 2008: n.p. SIRS Renaissance. Web. 06 May 2012.

Maxxinistas

TJMaxx Commercial

     A view of overstock stores is presented by those who take advantage of what overstock stores can offer. This commercial for a department store shows a woman who does exactly that. It is understandable to take advantage of stores that can offer designer clothing at a fraction of the price.  Overstock stores pose the oppertunity for people a way of looking just as well as those who wear clothing from designers directly. Clothing from stores similar to TJMaxx is simply clothing directly from designers or designer stores that overstock clothing. Since the clothing comes from designers and they are exceptionally cheaper it makes clear sense why these stores are so popular among shoppers, especially those who are thrifty.

Do you think it is more resourceful to shop at overstock stores?
What do department stores say about priorities among society?

Bonnie Cashin's search for Chic

       The article "Chic is where you find it" by Stephanie Day Iverson; Curator, Bonnie Cashin Collection, describes Bonnie Cashin's path to becoming a designer and recent designs. The title is a perfect fit for the article, it includes Cashin's way of finding inspiration for her designs, especially from the places the traveles to. She always had drempt of becoming a writer, artist, or ballerina and a child and she spent her childhood living in different California cities.  When she was older, she spent much time traveling, she spent much of her time in South America and Asia because she was "fascinated by the jostling of Asian and South American cultures."(Stephanie Day Iverson). Her creative ways combined with her findings and observations of places she traveled to that she used to created her unique fashion designs.
     The article is evidence of how inspiration can come from anywhere, it also says that fashion designs are the result of your interpretations of your observations of the world. The article stressed the idea of working hard to achieve your goals and aspirations. It is said that fashion is only one of Cashins mediums and that she uses her creativeness to develope all types of art forms and works. Art, fashion especially, is an expression that can speak about almost anything.

 Do you use your observations of the world to reflect your own self?
 How can you use your creativeness to be a reflection of the world?

 Iverson, Stephanie Day. "Introduction." Chic is where you find it. UCLA, n. d. Web. 22 Apr. 2012. xxxlt;http://unitproj.library.ucla.edu/special/cashin/intro.htmxxxgt;.

Andre Leon Talley

      The magazine article Andre Leon Talley 'Mr. Fashion'  by Teri Agins, describes the  designs and life of fashion designer Andre Leon Talley.  Agins says "The fashion world is a highly competitive, slippery slope that trades on the novelty of designers and personalities who go in and out of style. But for more than 30 years, Talley has managed to stay current, relevant and always in demand."  
      Talley has flourished in the fashion world because of, what he give credit to, his education.  He has always believed that people can do anything they desire if they put forth the effort.  He says too many people are taken by the myth of overnight success.  Talley is also known for his nurturing support of rising designers and people of all races.  This is the root of his success, not only his education but his open mindedness towards new ideas and cultural influences, which has also made him a well known fashion editor.  


How does evolution and change affect fashion directly?  
How can support of new ideas in differing generations and races affect the fashion world?


Agins, Teri. "Andre Leon Talley 'Mr. Fashion'." Ebony (Vol. 62, No. 11). Sept. 2007: 76-79. SIRS Renaissance. Web. 15 Apr 2012.

Department Designers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKeXwbb0RX0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

     This advertisment for TJ Maxx presents one view of how society reacts to designer stores compared to stores that are not.  Although stores such as TJ Maxx offer designer products at a fraction of the price, some people look lowly on people who shop at overstock stores because they are not designer labels, and buying designer labels is a symbol of wealth and essentially success.  For some people, buying clothing from department stores seems as though someone is trying to create an image for themselves that is not authentic and they try to take a place in society where they do not belong.  Society has made fashion a display of wealth rather than a display of people's unique styles, which has also changed what designs and styles are popular among society and is a major contributor to the changes and evolution of fashion in the past century.

Does your fashion say more about your personality or your place in society?

Zac Posen on the Role of Society on Fashion

     This video from Zac Posen allows the viewer to understand a designer's view of fashion.  We are able to see what the designer thinks of fashion's impacts society and how society and fashion influence each other.  Designer Zac Poseen describes fashion as being a "historical marker." You can distinguish the time period, styles, and interests of somewhere simply by studing fashion." Zac Posen says it is also possible to "see what's happening in history and the ideals of the time through fashion."
     Fashion can explain many societal changes and influences on the population by the way clothing is designed and the styles during that time. Posen also discussed how cultural fashion is. Fashion is a work of art, he describes it as being expressive of its cultural surroundings and influences.
     Designers are artists and fashion is a product of their inspirations and environment. This is why so many factors can become visible simply by looking at fashion from a specific time period.  Posen specifically makes a point to talk about fashion as being representative of the designer and individuals, meaning that people can says things about their personality and views of the world because of the clothes they wear.

How does your fashion and style reflect you and your surroundings?

Video from: http://www.5min.com/Video/The-Role-of-Fashion-In-Society-311605338

Hollywood Influences Fashion

     The document titled "Hollywood Influences Fashion," describes the effect that film had on fashion in the twentieth century. When actors and actresses would appear in new styles and designs, they would instantaneously become the next big thing among movie goers, similar to the experiences of Tommy Hilfiger's brand.  There is an account in the document of an actor choosing not to wear something which led to a major downfall in the product's sales. The author describes the incident as "Then Clark Gable (1901–1960), one of the era's top stars and most influential male icons, appeared in It Happened One Night (1934). At one point in the film Gable brashly removes his shirt, revealing his bare chest. He was not wearing an undershirt. After the release of It Happened One Night, undershirt sales across the United States plummeted by a reported 75 percent."
     The document clearly explains how the extensive influence movies and film has had on society. People looked up to actors and actresses and in an effort to live their perfect and glamorous lives, they imitated actors and actresses, most specifically in their clothing and fashion sense. Similar, less expensive styles and designs often seen in movies and on television shows could be found in most department stores. Since movies were used as an escape from daily life, the new designs and fashions also helped people lead better lives. Fashion for many people was not just a look but also a feeling, they looked and felt like actors and actresses.

What types of media influence fashion today?

"Hollywood Influences Fashion." Fashion, Costume, and Culture: Clothing, Headwear, Body Decorations, and Footwear through the Ages. Ed. Sara Pendergast and Tom Pendergast. Vol. 4: Modern World Part I: 1900-1945. Detroit: UXL, 2004. 784-785. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 3 Mar. 2012.

Daddy Cool by Hadley Freeman

     The news article "Daddy Cool" by Hadley Freeman describes the business aspect of fashion. He explains Tommy Hilfiger's career in fashion, his designs, based on fluctuating ideas among society, and the finances of his business. The buisness began when Hilfiger was a young adult when he bought bell-bottom jeans from department stores and sold them to his friends to gain a profit. He opened a store in Manhattan called The People's Place where he sold all sorts of items, including non-clothing products, such as records. The store became more of a hang-out and went bankrupt when Hilfigers was twenty-five. Two years later, in 1986, he established a new company and began comparing himself to the most famous designers of that time including Perry Ellis. Hilfiger was able to get celebrities to appear wearing his clothing and by that time he was in the major league of fashion.
     Tommy Hilfiger's brand, in 2006, was sold to London-based Apax Partners for just over one and a half billion dollars and for three billion dollars to Phillips-Van Heusen in 2010.
     Hilfiger says "I looked at the rap community like street kids wanting their own brand. But now I look at that period with the rappers in the 90's as a trend of the moment. What it taught me was never to follow a trend, because trends move on,". He realized that altering his style to fit with what is in style among society was difficult and not always best.  Trends are hard to keep up with and not everyone will always have the same idea of what is in style. He returned to his "preppy" style and found that he was more comfortable and more successful.

 What has Tommy Hilfiger's experiences as a young designer said about societies reaction to fashion?

Freeman, Hadley. "Daddy Cool." The Guardian. 05 Feb 2011: 33. SIRS Renaissance. Web. 26 Feb 2012.

A Perfect Fit

     The magazine article "A Perfect Fit" by Victor Wishna describes the influence of Jewish people and women in the fashion industry in the early to mid twentieth century and during WWII.  He describes the effects that WWII had on what was being produced and people's changing work ethics.  For example, a Sephardi-owned firm that had originally manufactured undergarments began producing parachutes for soilders and uniforms.
     Jewish people had a major impact on American fashion designs during the time of WWII. Their capabilities to use machines that more efficiently produced clothing and various other products made them major components in the fashion industry. Many Jewish people had immigrated to cities such as Philadelphia, Baltimore, Rochester, Cincinnati, and Chicago which quickly become fashion driven cities. The Yeshiva University Museum in New York City honors these people and their influence on American fashion.
      Many women were also able to begin managing shops and designing clothing as they made their impact on the fashion world. Women like Nettie Rosenstein, Hattie Carnegie, and Sally Milgrim were  recognized at the Yeshiva University Museum in New York City for their introduction of women into fashion designing in America.

What other major societal events have had a major impact on American fashion?

     Wishna, Victor. "A Perfect Fit." Humanities (National Endowment for the Humanities) Vol. 27, No. 2. March/April 2006: 30-32. SIRS Renaissance. Web. 18 Feb 2012.

Introduction to fashion evolution blog

Fashion plays a very important role in many of our lives. Our fashion tells a lot about our personality and interests. It also has been an important factor in our history and explains societal changes and attitudes towards different topics. What has the evolution of fashion explained about society and our country? I am creating this blog to answer this essential question by describing the changes in fashion and styles over the last century. The URL address for this blog is www.fashionevolutionblog.blogspot.com.