Corporate public relations has always been a very dicey business. When things are going well, you are on top of the world, but when things are going badly you are practically a fall guy. You are ceaselessly in the public eye, being scrutinized by the press and attacked as a spin doctor by anyone who doesn't believe what you are telling. Never mind that the public relations firms are only representing what their clients want them to tell. Never mind that we aren't running the industries, polluting the environment, or exploiting the workers ourselves. We still get the brunt of it.
Fashion public relations always seemed safe up until recently. After all, what could go wrong with marketing relations for the fashion industry? Clothes are not particularly environmentally unfriendly or dangerous. They do not cause violence or addiction. They may cost a little bit more than they are worth, but that is it. Fashion public relations seemed like it would be a breeze. That is why got involved in in the first place – I thought I could make some good money and not have to work too hard. I should have thought twice.
Since last year, it has been nothing but a crisis public relations where I work. I cannot tell you the particular manufacturer that I work for, but it is one of the big ones – the top names in the fashion industry. In the past, fashion public relations was basically window dressing for them. They have always had such a formidable reputation that there wasn't all that much to be done as far as spin doctoring went. Then the news about the sweatshops came out, and suddenly fashion public relations became the most hot, uncomfortable occupation in the whole outfit. I am beginning to regret the day I got into pr public relations.
Apparently, the company I work for has been getting clothes manufactured in Chinese labor camps. Try addressing something like that in a fashion public relations press hearing! There is just simply no way to spin it. You can say that the people are criminals, but then someone will bring up China's record of human rights violations. You can claim that the company doesn't know, but of course that is patently false. All that remains for a fashion public relations official to do in those circumstances is to talk in circles and hope that everyone will go away.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Fashion Design College
When I first took up art, I never dreamed that I would one day get a fashion design degree. Fashion design colleges, you see, were not for me. I was into art for art's sake. I didn't want to get involved in fashion design and merchandising because I wasn't interested in the commercial elements of it. I was vaguely aware that I would have to earn money with my degree somehow or another, but I always figured that I would be discovered and then be able to sell my art.
Going to fashion design college was furthest from my mind because it was so focused on applying your skills to make money. Fashion isn't really very expressive. People try to express themselves through their clothes, but I didn't think much of it at the time. Then I took a few fashion design courses and it changed the way I felt about it. It isn't that my perspective is much different, but I realized how much I enjoyed designing clothing. I found out that I could go to a fashion design college, spend my life doing what I loved, and make a killing at the same time. Fashion design colleges just makes sense after that.
When I first got into the fashion design New York school, I was surprised at how different it was from my previous experience. The fashion design course I took was very free and very expressive, but the fashion design colleges are actually very rigorous and rigid. You do get to express yourself, but most of what you do it is pretty routine and methodical. There is a lot to be learned, and a lot of it is not very interesting. Basically, it is half art degree, half business degree. Fashion design colleges are all about sensing trends and trying to capitalize on them, not about finding ways to say what is in your heart. Still, once I started, I had to finish the program. I couldn't very well leave it half completed. After all, my student loans were killing me!
Now that I have a fashion design career, I guess I am glad that I went to the fashion school after all. In some ways, I think my fashion design colleges experience really stifled me artistically. I don't do my own original work anymore, and instead spend all of my time designing clothes. Nonetheless, my fashion design college has allowed me to have an art career. Fashion designing is somewhat creative, if not very.
Going to fashion design college was furthest from my mind because it was so focused on applying your skills to make money. Fashion isn't really very expressive. People try to express themselves through their clothes, but I didn't think much of it at the time. Then I took a few fashion design courses and it changed the way I felt about it. It isn't that my perspective is much different, but I realized how much I enjoyed designing clothing. I found out that I could go to a fashion design college, spend my life doing what I loved, and make a killing at the same time. Fashion design colleges just makes sense after that.
When I first got into the fashion design New York school, I was surprised at how different it was from my previous experience. The fashion design course I took was very free and very expressive, but the fashion design colleges are actually very rigorous and rigid. You do get to express yourself, but most of what you do it is pretty routine and methodical. There is a lot to be learned, and a lot of it is not very interesting. Basically, it is half art degree, half business degree. Fashion design colleges are all about sensing trends and trying to capitalize on them, not about finding ways to say what is in your heart. Still, once I started, I had to finish the program. I couldn't very well leave it half completed. After all, my student loans were killing me!
Now that I have a fashion design career, I guess I am glad that I went to the fashion school after all. In some ways, I think my fashion design colleges experience really stifled me artistically. I don't do my own original work anymore, and instead spend all of my time designing clothes. Nonetheless, my fashion design college has allowed me to have an art career. Fashion designing is somewhat creative, if not very.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Popular Fashion Tips For Fashion People
I have a few friends who often asked me for fashion tips. I have to laugh when they do this because I am hardly what you would call the clothes horse. I have other friends who are much better at picking out clothing, and I often refer questions to these people. If you want fashion tips I am the last person in the world you should ask. Though I can trust myself for my own choices, I would not trust my fashion sense well enough to guide someone else. If you have friends like me, there are other places you can go to get great tips so you can look good whenever you leave the house.
One of the best places to get fashion tips is to read a fashion magazine. There are some magazines out there that offer nothing but advice about clothing and accessories. I never personally purchase any of these magazines, but I have a lot of friends who do. You can find fashion tips in almost any women’s magazine that you find on the rack, but the best tips will come from those devoted to fashion exclusively.
If you are looking for specific fashion tips, you may want to buy a specific magazine. For example, if you are about to be a bride, you may want to buy bridal magazines to help you decide what dress to wear, what shoes to wear with it, and how to choose your accessories. If you are concerned about dressing your children, but you are unsure about fashion like I am, you can find many children’s magazines that will offer you fashion tips just for little ones.
You may also look for fashion tips online. You may find many of the fashion magazines on the shelves also have websites online. The best thing about these websites is that for the most part, they are free. You won’t have to pay the cover price of a magazine to get the same fashion tips they offer in their monthly editions. You may not find everything the magazine has to offer, but she will probably find what you need. There are many from which to choose, and there are other websites to help you as well. A simple search online should dig up all the fashion tips you could ever need. Remember that not all advice is created equal, and that you will know your own style when you see it.
One of the best places to get fashion tips is to read a fashion magazine. There are some magazines out there that offer nothing but advice about clothing and accessories. I never personally purchase any of these magazines, but I have a lot of friends who do. You can find fashion tips in almost any women’s magazine that you find on the rack, but the best tips will come from those devoted to fashion exclusively.
If you are looking for specific fashion tips, you may want to buy a specific magazine. For example, if you are about to be a bride, you may want to buy bridal magazines to help you decide what dress to wear, what shoes to wear with it, and how to choose your accessories. If you are concerned about dressing your children, but you are unsure about fashion like I am, you can find many children’s magazines that will offer you fashion tips just for little ones.
You may also look for fashion tips online. You may find many of the fashion magazines on the shelves also have websites online. The best thing about these websites is that for the most part, they are free. You won’t have to pay the cover price of a magazine to get the same fashion tips they offer in their monthly editions. You may not find everything the magazine has to offer, but she will probably find what you need. There are many from which to choose, and there are other websites to help you as well. A simple search online should dig up all the fashion tips you could ever need. Remember that not all advice is created equal, and that you will know your own style when you see it.
Grand And Bizzarre Fashion Industry
I'm often amazed to see the how grand and bizarre the fashion industry has become. For some reason it's difficult for me to fathom people and their utter love for clothing. Don't get me wrong! I like a decent pair of jeans as much as the next guy, but you won't catch me forking out hundreds of dollars for a pair. Forget that. Not that my taste has any effect on the fashion world whatsoever. Oodles of young people are flocking to fashion design and merchandising colleges to better learn the business. Hey, I can't say that I blame them. There is plenty of money to be made there. I'm pretty sure Tom Ford is starving these days.
When I asked my teenage daughter what field she wanted to pursue, she started rambling on about fashion design and merchandising. Hmm, big surprise! What teenage girl isn't interested in the fashion world? As far as I can tell, they all go gaga over clothing, shoes, and accessories. Anyway, she began taking a high school course in fashion design and merchandising her senior year. Unfortunately she hated it. Now she is a bit torn regarding her future plans. She still dreams of a job in the fashion industry, but is naturally worried about whether or not she'll like it. I told her to give fashion design and merchandising another shot when she heads off to college next year. And no one said she had to delve into this particular aspect of the fashion world. There are a few choices out there.
It's certainly a tough business. If you truly want to see how things work, check out the Style network on occasion in order to see real fashion designers in their element. Or you can catch that little reality series "The Hills." Although the main character in this show has plenty of money coming in from her folks, she's getting a fine dose of the fashion design and merchandising world. You can see her work as an intern for "Teen Vogue" and get an idea of what's expected of her. It's definitely not all glitz and glam in the beginning, but I'm sure any successful fashion designer can tell you that. You have to be willing to work hard and vie with the many. The best place to start is a highly recommended fashion design school.
When I asked my teenage daughter what field she wanted to pursue, she started rambling on about fashion design and merchandising. Hmm, big surprise! What teenage girl isn't interested in the fashion world? As far as I can tell, they all go gaga over clothing, shoes, and accessories. Anyway, she began taking a high school course in fashion design and merchandising her senior year. Unfortunately she hated it. Now she is a bit torn regarding her future plans. She still dreams of a job in the fashion industry, but is naturally worried about whether or not she'll like it. I told her to give fashion design and merchandising another shot when she heads off to college next year. And no one said she had to delve into this particular aspect of the fashion world. There are a few choices out there.
It's certainly a tough business. If you truly want to see how things work, check out the Style network on occasion in order to see real fashion designers in their element. Or you can catch that little reality series "The Hills." Although the main character in this show has plenty of money coming in from her folks, she's getting a fine dose of the fashion design and merchandising world. You can see her work as an intern for "Teen Vogue" and get an idea of what's expected of her. It's definitely not all glitz and glam in the beginning, but I'm sure any successful fashion designer can tell you that. You have to be willing to work hard and vie with the many. The best place to start is a highly recommended fashion design school.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Fashion Trends For The Generations On The Change
A few times a year, there seems to be a shift in fashions. I really don’t know much about each trend, but I see what is going on when I look at what everyone else is wearing. You never know what to buy because the trends go so quickly. Quite often you can look back at the things you wore when you were young and wonder what you were thinking. This happens often, and it makes me want to buck the trends and dress the way I want to.
I always wonder who decides what the fashion trends will be for that year or that season. Is it some overpaid fashion guy in Paris? Why do we allow that person to tell us what will be in that year? I have watched friends cringe when looking through the new fashion trends, yet they go out and buy the stuff anyway. I’m sorry, but there is no way I’m wearing tapered leg jeans again. It may be an upcoming fashion trend but I’m not going to participate, and I am indeed going to laugh in my head at those that do. They went out of style for a reason and they should be allowed to rest in peace.
As far as I’m concerned, the latest fashion trends show me how little imagination fashion designers can have. I know it’s hard to come up with something new, but I hardly think recycling the same looks is something that should be considered genius. Why do we have to go back and revisit a decade that we gladly left behind? Come up with something new if you really want to start fashion trends that may stick around for more than five minutes.
The best way to find fashion trends is to ignore what people are wearing and buy what you think you want. Get stuff that looks good on you and your body type. I have seen far too many girls in low-rise jeans and half shirts that should never have even considered wearing them. It’s not fashion if you look ridiculous. Come up with your own fashion trends. This way you will know you look good, and you know that you are truly expressing yourself. There is nothing wrong with wearing the latest fashions as long as you truly feel good in them, and aren’t doing it just because everyone else is doing it. I don’t know about you, but for me, being everyone else is not acceptable. There is only one me and I am proud to be who I am, fashion trends be darned.
I always wonder who decides what the fashion trends will be for that year or that season. Is it some overpaid fashion guy in Paris? Why do we allow that person to tell us what will be in that year? I have watched friends cringe when looking through the new fashion trends, yet they go out and buy the stuff anyway. I’m sorry, but there is no way I’m wearing tapered leg jeans again. It may be an upcoming fashion trend but I’m not going to participate, and I am indeed going to laugh in my head at those that do. They went out of style for a reason and they should be allowed to rest in peace.
As far as I’m concerned, the latest fashion trends show me how little imagination fashion designers can have. I know it’s hard to come up with something new, but I hardly think recycling the same looks is something that should be considered genius. Why do we have to go back and revisit a decade that we gladly left behind? Come up with something new if you really want to start fashion trends that may stick around for more than five minutes.
The best way to find fashion trends is to ignore what people are wearing and buy what you think you want. Get stuff that looks good on you and your body type. I have seen far too many girls in low-rise jeans and half shirts that should never have even considered wearing them. It’s not fashion if you look ridiculous. Come up with your own fashion trends. This way you will know you look good, and you know that you are truly expressing yourself. There is nothing wrong with wearing the latest fashions as long as you truly feel good in them, and aren’t doing it just because everyone else is doing it. I don’t know about you, but for me, being everyone else is not acceptable. There is only one me and I am proud to be who I am, fashion trends be darned.
Fashion Tips From Magazines And Journals
I have a few friends who often asked me for fashion tips. I have to laugh when they do this because I am hardly what you would call the clothes horse. I have other friends who are much better at picking out clothing, and I often refer questions to these people. If you want fashion tips I am the last person in the world you should ask. Though I can trust myself for my own choices, I would not trust my fashion sense well enough to guide someone else. If you have friends like me, there are other places you can go to get great tips so you can look good whenever you leave the house.
One of the best places to get fashion tips is to read a fashion magazine. There are some magazines out there that offer nothing but advice about clothing and accessories. I never personally purchase any of these magazines, but I have a lot of friends who do. You can find fashion tips in almost any women’s magazine that you find on the rack, but the best tips will come from those devoted to fashion exclusively.
If you are looking for specific fashion tips, you may want to buy a specific magazine. For example, if you are about to be a bride, you may want to buy bridal magazines to help you decide what dress to wear, what shoes to wear with it, and how to choose your accessories. If you are concerned about dressing your children, but you are unsure about fashion like I am, you can find many children’s magazines that will offer you fashion tips just for little ones.
You may also look for fashion tips online. You may find many of the fashion magazines on the shelves also have websites online. The best thing about these websites is that for the most part, they are free. You won’t have to pay the cover price of a magazine to get the same fashion tips they offer in their monthly editions. You may not find everything the magazine has to offer, but she will probably find what you need. There are many from which to choose, and there are other websites to help you as well. A simple search online should dig up all the fashion tips you could ever need. Remember that not all advice is created equal, and that you will know your own style when you see it.
One of the best places to get fashion tips is to read a fashion magazine. There are some magazines out there that offer nothing but advice about clothing and accessories. I never personally purchase any of these magazines, but I have a lot of friends who do. You can find fashion tips in almost any women’s magazine that you find on the rack, but the best tips will come from those devoted to fashion exclusively.
If you are looking for specific fashion tips, you may want to buy a specific magazine. For example, if you are about to be a bride, you may want to buy bridal magazines to help you decide what dress to wear, what shoes to wear with it, and how to choose your accessories. If you are concerned about dressing your children, but you are unsure about fashion like I am, you can find many children’s magazines that will offer you fashion tips just for little ones.
You may also look for fashion tips online. You may find many of the fashion magazines on the shelves also have websites online. The best thing about these websites is that for the most part, they are free. You won’t have to pay the cover price of a magazine to get the same fashion tips they offer in their monthly editions. You may not find everything the magazine has to offer, but she will probably find what you need. There are many from which to choose, and there are other websites to help you as well. A simple search online should dig up all the fashion tips you could ever need. Remember that not all advice is created equal, and that you will know your own style when you see it.
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