Making the transition from one city to the next can be life altering.  Each city possesses a soul of it’s own and can offer totally different experiences from one day to the next. 

Some cities thrive on the nightlife, while others wake up early to enjoy the morning sun.  Certain cities brag about their coffee, while other cities can’t get enough of their Cosmos.  Some cities keep you isolated in your dual air-bagged pod, while other cities require you to get cozy with a stranger pressing up to you in an underground vessel.  And some cities stay a comfortable 78 degrees all year round, while other cities fluctuate from 12 to 101 degrees over a period of a few months.  How does one make such a huge change?  What to do? What to wear? How to adjust?

I can pretty much guarantee that everyone reading this is a city dweller.  We all get “A’s” for that.  If not, then you probably have children and you are safe where you are.  Otherwise move to a big city near you.  City life opens your eyes to the world.  It forces you to climb out of your comfort zone and learn something new about yourself and about the people around you.  Moving from one big city to another forces you out of your box even further.   And once we are out of the boxes that we are born in, we see that we are all the same, and people just adapt to their surroundings to survive.  AKA, we just dress different.

Last week I made the transition from 78 degree, coffee drinking, air-bagged pod Los Angeles to 101 degree, cosmo drinking, underground vessel New York City and was once again pulled out of my Boardshorts and into my Pinstripes.  Instead of my cool pastel polo and light-weight pants, I’m once again sweating in my black suit and tie in order to survive in the New York jungle.  This is one city where you are expected to dress the part.  Why are clothes so important here?  Is it because we work harder when we are in a business suit?  Do people take us more seriously when sweat is beading down our forehead in the 100 degree, 85% humidity weather?  Or is it because this is a walking city where we don’t have the status of a car to prove our worth?  I am learning to figure it all out, step-by-step, dry cleaning bill after dry cleaning bill.  Whatever the answer, I’ll just have to adapt and sweat through it…just like everybody else.

-Stephen Brennan, yes folks, he's back in Manhattan!

After a long, relaxing holiday weekend in the Indiana Dunes- yes, Marsha went to the sandy, depths of nature to enjoy Memorial Day Weekend, but in style of course.  Nothing short of a fashionable crew: including some surprise visits from French political figures, polar bears and a stray Italian- you can only begin to imagine the great stories and most importantly the great campfire circle late night. Son to the leader of the Socialist Party of France in full attendance with a group of wild French bandits we conquered gypsy guitar and a few bottles of wine by the fire with no talk of politics, it was nothing short of perfect and interesting. The 21st century version of Kumbaya is now Don't Look Back in Anger by Oasis. Impressive. On the other hand, there were still the high points of the trip that made you wonder, like men proving their egos by forming the Polar Bear Club, diving full force into the freezing waters of Lake Michigan. Gotta love the freshman initiations. I think that the poor Frenchman ended up waking to slabs of ribs on their forehead. I haven't quite cracked the code on exactly how you don't feel a whole slab of ribs on your head, but perhaps the French truly are headstrong. 

A stunning view of the city of Chicago, looking much like that of a cardboard cutout with a glowing- blazing sun behind it, was just what I needed to see, the city at a distance. It's refreshing to take a step back from the stressful and sometimes mundane existence of the city, but never from the existence of fashion- because there was plenty to go 'round.

Fabulous hats, summer dresses and beautiful Brazilian beads dangling from necks care of the fashionable friends that I have, we never slacked that weekend, bringing out the best of our wardrobes. Sometimes it takes getting away and dragging your own closet to become re-inspired.

Fashionably late back to work this week, there has been a delay in my fashion connections and an enjoyable gain in my political connections.

A demain...

Recently a friend of mine ran into a problem with product branding which taught him a very valuable lesson about reading the ingredients label before use.  To protect the identity of this person we’ll just call him R.J.

R.J. works in Corporate America amongst the hustle and bustle of the everyday mundane, closing deals and signing contracts with important high rollers on a regular basis.  It’s important for R.J. to maintain his appearance and so to enhance his already handsome good looks he uses an array of moisturizers and hair essentials to keep him looking his best.  Like every 30-year old who is experiencing the first step into their more distinguished look, R.J. will do whatever it takes to keep what God had graced him with in his 20’s.  With the subtlety of the products that R.J. uses he maintains a masculine but youthful appearance that makes women fall in love and men want to copy.

R.J. needed a slight change (we told him not to laugh for fear of those dreaded crows feet, but alas he couldn’t help himself) and added to his daily regiment, an eye cream by Kiehls with “skin brightener” to reflect or deflect those darn wrinkles back at the on-looker. 

This product promised to give him a natural glow, which of course would excite any consumer that wants a face as smooth as a baby’s behind.  Amazingly, the product did as advertised and R.J. started the new day with a heightened confidence. 

Over the course of the week he would go to the gym in the mornings feeling like a kid.  He strolled into the office looking like a million bucks.  One employee mentioned that he looked “very awake”.  He even went out to dinner with a friend in a crowded restaurant where he ran into all the A-listers from around town.  R.J.’s only mistake was hugging the overly effeminate owner of the restaurant that pressed a little too tightly against R.J.’s face, somehow leaving a trail of glitter onto his cheek.  The situation was easily corrected and R.J. and friends continued on for a big night on the town.

Days later R.J. found himself at the symphony and yet again a friend pointed out “you have glitter on your face.” Blaming yet another friend who had hugged him, he brushed off the comment and his orbital bone.

The next morning R.J. woke to a pillow of sparkles.  Could there still be remnants of glitter from the symphony?  Did Mariah Carey spend the night?  Did a pixie explode in R.J.’s bed?

Nope!  Somehow the branding department forgot to mention that “Skin Brighter” equals “Glitter.”  This 30-year old ruggedly handsome Stud had been wearing face glitter to the office everyday where he’d have clients wondering if maybe he didn’t get all the make-up off from his drag performance the night before.  Not to mention that there was glitter all over his apartment and clothing. 

The moral of this story is “Don’t Trust a Label.”  Companies will do anything it takes to sell their product…even if it means embarrassing the customer.  Read all the ingredients so you know exactly what you are putting onto your precious face.  Glitter does in fact make you look younger, but I don’t know many grown men that want to look like a 7-year old girl at a Miley Cyrus concert.

-Stephen Brennan

So in fashion and in life, there is always the push/pull of old and new.  The glorious emergence of an exciting talent.  The retrospect of a historic career in the industry. 

This year we have seen the exit of the great designer Valentino.  We have also seen clothing through the new eyes of people like Rad Hourani or Julian Louie.

But when it comes to fashion and journalism what is the exit protocol?

Rumors have been flying that they want Wintour out.  Legendary columnist Lynn Yeager was exited from The Village Voice.  Is there really such a thing as passing the baton? 

This week I attended a couple of couture specific runway shows.  Sitting front and center right up against the runway, I am supposedly one of the “new, hot, ones to watch” I travel the globe looking for new talent, trying to give them their day in the sun, while furthering their careers through business advice etc.  People want to hear what I have to say (or at least that is what they tell me).

The place card next to me is an icon of fashion journalism, with career stints at Bazaar and Glamour, over 40 Paris Fashion Weeks and a style TV show to boot.  She comes with more credentials than a triple crown thoroughbred.  But after a career of greats, what is she most famous for?  “Borrowing” young intern’s work/ideas and claiming them as her own.

Let me set the scene… She whizzes in and plops down directly next to me saying “Ready?” to her camera guy… who mid show blasts the entire audience and light with the camera bulb.

“Arghhh, gasps the model who rapidly looses her footing while being promptly blinded”

“Shhhh” hints the thirty people in the row with us.

“I hope I didn’t interrupt your writing,” she notes as I scramble on the floor for my pen which has been knocked to the ground by her humongeous handbag.

“Not a problem,” I croon, and with that, instant recognition.  She knows it’s me, she’s worked with me, she’s picked my brain…for I was one of the interns!

“I am sitting here with ingénue, Lynn Furge and she is back” she shouts into the camera.  Apparently now we are going to do an interview.  Right in the middle of the show.

“Shhh” the crowd shouts again.

Without boring you, just imagine that this volley goes back and forth another 20 times throughout the designer presentation.  I write a comment, she glances over at my notepad, I say “smart fabric choice” she writes, smart fabric choice on her press kit.

So I ask you… when is it time to pass the baton? Do we as American’s throw her away as yesterday’s news that couldn’t recognize a Altuzzara if it trotted it’s way right into her closet?

The annoyed young “ingénue” in me wanted to yell… “STOP STEALING MY IDEAS” but the more I really started to watch her I saw the love of garments in her eyes.  I saw the goosebumps that appeared as hand-embroidered tulle made its entrance on the runway because I had the same chills. 

I started giving her hints.  “Amazing use of contrasting colors” “A more feminine version of Alexander Wang” “Valentino during his inception” and away she wrote and smiled.

Because here is the thing about passing the baton.  You might need a fast runner for the final leg but the initial start is just as important.  The relay is a team sport, and although I might have days of dusty warehouses with “fashion instillations” and video links under my belt, she has the Hotel de Crillion and evenings with Halston at Studio 54.

In fashion, learning is never a one-way street, so just as I teach my mother to “Bcc” I sat, and I hinted and I helped, and she helped too, for at the end of the show she turned to her camera man and said…

“With a flick of her hair and a turn of her heel she was gone, to find the next big star.’

And that heel turner she was referring to was me.

-Lynn Furge

Wedding season is upon us.  All the smiles, flashbulbs and singles tables could not keep me away.  It is a joyous celebration that for most people only happens once.

My favorite part of weddings is not seeing the groom’s face as his future wife walks down the aisle (although that melts me) or the kind of cake that is served (I love cake).  No it is the outfits donned by the audience in attendance.

There are books and articles on wedding decorum.  Countless advice columns on what and what not to wear depending on the season, time of day, location and phase of the Zodiac the wedding takes place in. Rules and regulations bore me.  All I can hope for is that guests wear clothes that not only fit them but cover up their body art as well. 

Recently I attended a wedding and I feel the need to share my experience.  As I sat in the pew waiting for the rest of the guests to gather, a woman strolled in wearing a giant disco ball fashioned out of all the colors of the rainbow.  What was she doing wearing this?! Where did, respect for the bride go? No one would be shining more than her kaleidoscope dress! I sweated as I clutched my Bible harder.  It was shocking that she had the nerve to wear this dress in God’s house. *Gasp* Like Janice Dickinson’s original body parts, her decorum had gone to the wayside.  I needed to find out more.

At closer inspection, I noticed the gown was a vintage Adrienne Vittadini, comprised entirely of sequins, and had a plunging “v” back that was not “church appropriate.”  I would call this a Balmain “representation” but even the edgy French Label couldn’t come up with such shoulder pads.  The sequins resembled geometric shapes and this pure product of the 80’s garnered cautious glances, whispers, a few dirty looks and many smiles to the faces of all who admired. 

Was the Vittadini wedding appropriate? Maybe.  Maybe not.  The mere colors and sparkle of the dress encompassed the full celebration that is a wedding.

The kicker… the girl in the sequin gown was me!  As I noted earlier, I do not like rules and regulations and or dress codes.  I realized wearing the sequin Vittadini was a risk and it was a risk worth taking. I was concerned about how the bride might have felt until the announcement of the bride and groom was made at the reception and the wedding party walked in to the tune of the Austin Powers theme song.  We danced to Lady Gaga, drank champagne and while my dress was not “traditional”, it was on point for the celebration. 

If we don’t take risks in fashion, where is all the fun?  It is called fashion forward for a reason.  However, I will not be surprised when the next wedding invitation arrives in my mailbox kindly requesting that I do not wear a dress that can also be seen from outer space. 

When my big day comes, my guests will be clad in Versace, Gucci, Rodarte, Marni, McQueen and Margiela (minus the stockings over their head) because what is an event, formal or otherwise, with out a little bit of a fashion show.”

-Oriana DiNella

Dear Mama: It was like a self-centered Kanye West Song, with fashion loyal hipsters and cronies from the scene around town came in swarms to see little old me and a lot of infamous art.

Riddle me MODERN, the Young & Modern Party at the Art Institute honored two colleagues of mine with the privilege of showing their fashion designs at the last, giant hoorah before it opened to the public, a benefit for the Pritzker Foundation at the Art Institute. Marisa Swystun and Michelle Barone revealed their creations which included: a shredded kimono, gorgeous gowns and fabulous organza creations on Elite models.

I was also privileged to style the girls from head to toe, I couldn't resist the chance to make a few headpieces. Using metal, plastic and yarn- I came up with 6 modern creations to accessorize their already dazzling vetements! I wore a gorgeous vintage, beaded-fringe blouse from the 60's, and my mother arrived as a more fashionable version of Diane Keaton in a white suit--- F-A-B. The night was filled with great conversation and the champagne was flowing, finding our way through the Modern Wing was quite a challenge, but the galleries were filled with amazing art and a party full of great people. It had been a SOLD OUT party for weeks for a great cause, the re-emergence of art.

Later, we all danced to a little bit of N.E.R.D-  to get the crowd goin'. The after-party was fantastic as the night continued in style with a bare-chest revealed in way of a gold lame Vivienne Westwood for men and I think I saw a few bowties on the floor. What's a party without some stripping? Haha, It was fantastic to see everyone in their finest, it was the party of the season.

Just remember: Diamonds are a girls best friend.

XOXO

Marsha  

I have had to type, speak or even mime the word “trend” over 300 hundred times (yes I counted) this week. According to Webster’s Dictionary:

 Trend: noun the general direction followed.

In doing further research, there are vast comparisons to “fads vs. trends” mostly being based on duration and the ability to grow the marketplace.  Others say it depends on the amount of industries said trend affects.

As for “tracking trends” according to Trendtracking.com it is important to know why, you are tracking trends in the first place. Is it to garner inspiration? Is it to predict future profitability?

But in terms of fashion trends, this is what I know.
      1) The Organic/Sustainability Movement is not going anywhere, Governments are going to start demanding their manufacturers be more responsible and this will include the garment industry.  Eco-Fashion will evolve as far as fabric choices and patterns.  It’s like the cell phone, it started out looking like a brick and now it fits in the palm of your hand.  So what once looked like a linen potato sack, will one day pass for Herrera (we hope).
      2) On-line Shopping: We can now scan our closets and post them for friends to pick our look of the week.  We can bid against our neighbors for potentially authentic Halston.  This is not going away.  Whether it is because we live in an instant gratification world, or because Macy’s never changed the lighting in their dressing rooms, grabbing what you want, when you want it will only become more and more possible.
      3) Quality vs. Quantity: With the government opening more international trade options and looking at giving small business a boost the possibility for young designers will soon start to climb again, but as “Change” is promised, fashion talent will need to “promise” to create quality, original items or they will not get the money.  Gone are the days of artistic interpretation   Now is a time for a good product and a tight business plan.

So if any of these things fit into your plan as a soldier in the fashion industry you are on the right track.

Things that are not a Trend.
1) What Paris Hilton wears
2) What they talk about on Extra, E, The Daily 10 or Us Weekly

The above are “fads” and if you find yourself molding your collection from any of these inspirations, then you are two seasons too late!