2/18/2019 0 Comments Everyone wants to be an InfluencerSocial Media. The wonderful tool that helps us find just about any aesthetically pleasing content without disconnecting ourselves from the digital space. It is the location where memes are shared, moments are created for audiences and an overflown of Gucci belts appear. The culmination of social media has granted beautiful people to create an endless amount of creative visual content. The question is, how much longer will there be trusting relationships among influencers and their audiences?
New and aspiring "fashion" influencers are tagging brands and pretending to be #sponsored for content they are clearly not being paid to do. Some other noticeable mistakes are wearing knockoff designs and tagging luxury brands with hashtags to create the illusions of a high-end lifestyle blog. It is not only distasteful but alarming. There seems to be such an outcry for attention from people pretending to have the most desired lives online. This creates a problem with further issues than just doing stuff for the clout. The overexposure of brand association has given luxury retail to enter the mass market and allowing more people to indulge in name brands. The increase in brand exposure from luxury has made fashion more challenging for bloggers. There is a sense of pressure to own more items with certain labels rather than expressing uniqueness regardless of the initials on your back. Brands have always been important in fashion; however, the style has become simplified. I used to admire the pioneers of fashion blogging and influencer lifestyle because they could wear multi mix patterns and evoke their personality through an outfit. One of my favorite moments in life was discovering Iris Apfel. Her bravery to combine bold colors and vibrant textiles was enough for me to be inspired by her. Every major trendsetter has a personality. Somewhat rare to find among picture-perfect moments for the gram of girls wearing the same exact thing. It is okay to be inspired by other people's looks and follow trends because that is what fashion does, but I hope there is some personality behind the lenses. I want to keep seeing those bloggers and influencers that are pairing luxury brands with fast fashion items and make ensembles look different. It is fun. It is playful. It is something that refreshes my Instagram feed and motivates me to try new styles and adapting them for me. Businesses thrive better when bloggers have the magic to wear tulle skirts more than one way because it diversifies the product they are selling. It is intentional for items that are popular to be versatile and with more neutral tones because that is what most people will eventually purchase. If you advertise yourself as a fashion influencer, you should be a pioneer for risky fashion moves and still make it work. You have the title to inspire looks out of the norm. The term originates from the word "influence" and that should be someone who is a leader in change and holds power to set the new trend. Not a follower. Most "bloggers" have refrained from written content because people are less interested in that and therefore spend less research time on what they advertise rather than what they snap about. Some feeds look identical because people are trying to mold themselves into a beautiful fashionable standard rather than creating their own out of imagination. People trust product placement and marketing from "influencer" culture. It appears as if almost anyone who can advertise vitamins and holds an account over 5K can be trusted. It is questionable for how long will companies continue to invest in a digital space where everyone seems to be an expert. The doubts continue with new tools that allow people to purchase followers, likes, sponsor posts to generate larger audiences and have ghost accounts increase their numbers. As more products and brands are exposed to the public, any brand partnership can become more doubtful for consumers. Smart influencers are creating relationships with their audiences and inviting them into all experiences through their Instagram content, which makes people part of a community. This engagement method is genuine when people are truly passionate about creating and sharing something different. For businesses, the engagement levels are highly valuable and considered more attractive when offering partnership with online public figures. These relationships are asking for applications, recommendations and an overall verification that the influencers they partner with are credible content creators that can be good spokespeople for their brands. I think this will eliminate some of the followers who aspire to become influential without the hard work behind cameras. The more bloggers rise, I can only hope for people to continue creating original content doing what they love. I am an advocate for everyone to be fashionable and find their own style; however, being an influencer is greater than just dressing nice. It involves using style to build customer relations. It involves translating fashion into something not found in magazines. It is being the voice to inspire new culture through the power of clothes.
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12/12/2018 0 Comments Top 3 Gifts for under $50One of my favorite phrases is "treat yo' self"! This holiday season, I hope you set out a budget to buy yourself something nice to get you started on a positive note for the new year! We always get stuck buying presents for everyone else, and then we end up with $5 for ourselves. I hope this holiday season you get to splurge on yourself a little more with the top 3 gifts that hopefully will benefit the #BossBabe in YOU! 1. For the makeup lover: Weather you are a full glam beauty queen or a beginner who dabbles in neutral eye shadows, this is a wonderful gift for all skin types. The base is always the most important! Grab the Clinique "Go-To Glow Set" This fabulous set includes all the basic skin needs for a glowing radiant skin. The value set is $119 and it can be yours for only $39.50 at Sephora! 2. For the #fashionista in YOU: I know being a shopaholic is so hard when you know there are thousands of outfits you are able to rock, however I hope this piece is unique enough for you. This year we are looking for the item that makes us comfy and stylish in one. Shop the Loly in the Sky "Logan" tennis shoes I have had two pairs of tennis shoes from this brand and they are super comfy! This is a Mexican brand that supports Mexican shoe makers and designers. I have worn my tennis shoes for casual looks as well as with cute black dresses to go out! Highly suggest this shoe for the next fashion move in 2019! These awesome tennis shoes are currently priced at $30 so make sure to online order them before they are gone. 3. For the #GirlBoss we all got inside: Vision Board This is for all the inspiring minds we have. Looking beautiful on the outside and dressing well is totally a benefit from this blog, but so is focusing on your #goals and mental health. I know coffee and candles might be considered "self-care" but don't forget to work on deeper parts of yourself. This season I recommend to purchase a vision board for 2019. This total DIY project can be as minimal or extravagant as you please! You may get inspiration from Pinterest or go freestyle! Write down what you have a vision for, paste the photos of the people you love, and dedicate time to it. This gift will not only look aesthetically appealing when you do Sunday Self-Care time, but will nourish your soul in times of reflection. Time for yourself, a gift that will I hope is worth the investment on a few arts & craft supplies. I hope some of these gifts make your list or at least they inspire you to reach the potential of greatness you will have in 2019! I wish for you glowy skin, stylish shoes and many more goals that bring happiness for YOU! Take care of that brilliant mind of yours by being kind to yourself.
Much love, and see you in the next post. -Leslie 4/3/2018 0 Comments April 03rd, 2018Spring CleaningSpring time is here and you know what that means. It is time to clean your closet, put away the heavy knit sweaters and take your favorite floral dress for a spin. As a fashion lover and somewhat shopaholic twenty-one year old, I have to admit spring season is a nightmare due to the crowded closet space not being able to handle any more hangers. The scariest part is that I have bins of even more clothes back home for absolutely no reason. I do love to shop but I feel owning this much clothes that I do not use is a waste. I have expressed my feelings of fast fashion and sustainability before, and how I think it is a disgrace to see so much clutter at stores. Fashion cycles are constructed to expect sales of different styles every season. Most people will recognize fashion seasons beyond the regular four (winter/spring/summer/fall) including cruise season and of course wedding season. The combination of social media and store displays are designed to create persuasion methods to increment sales of clothing. I understand why businesses do it and I am not opposing to stop people from buying clothes. Rather I would like to encourage others to shop with a different mentality. Every time I go home and go through my closet I realize I do not need about 85% of anything there. If I am truly willing to be a fashionable person I should be challenged to recreate looks with a smaller closet. Fashion gives people the ability to use the same item in different style looks, and we shouldn't be afraid of recreating the same look we loved before. People refuse to post Instagram pictures with the same outfit, however if it is something you love to wear you should not be limited to showcase it. If you are serious about your social media branding, using similar or identical looks per postings could actually benefit your aesthetically pleasing grids. It is all a matter of how you can style each item. I am hoping to really have a deep spring cleaning this season. My closet back home is being reorganized and my mom is helping me sell my old clothes that could benefit other people's style. One of my goals for this year is to shorten my closet to essential fashion statement items that I can recreate fun looks with. The purpose of this goal is to strive for a more sustainable clothing rack and help me in my values of helping the world a little bit more. I know that this will not save the world from pollution, but maybe I can inspire others to pursue fashionable choices that are higher in quality instead of quantity. Next time you decide to purchase a $10 dress for one occasion , try to think if you have anything already at home that could work or be styled differently. Again, I think if a purchase is a good deal and you genuinely love it you should buy it. Nonetheless do not be the compulsive shopper movies have glamorized to be. Read and be educated on stores such as H&M , ZARA, and Forever 21. The fast fashion is suffering financial repercussions due to overflown of inventory and mostly being trashed. Help your local designers by shopping handmade items. Help fashion students that are willing to recreate styles for you as their practice. Help by selling or donating old clothes to those in need. When you love fashion, nothing will ever stop you from putting your best outfit forward from whatever you have with you . (Example: Project Runway) If you truly struggle with this, then ask for help. It will be fun and cost efficient. Happy spring cleaning season! 11/5/2017 0 Comments The positive note you need today.As much as I enjoy writing about fashion reviews and lifestyle, there are times I reflect upon my life and find out that I can communicate much more than just styling tips. These past few weeks have been rough trying to cope with schoolwork, work events, and personal problems. It was as if the world decided to take a pile of sand and dump it on my head. As much as I tried shaking off all the sand and wash it away, there was still some sand that slipped through the cracks and stayed. Sometimes we disregard the small details that bother us, but in the process we start creating a bigger problem we can't untangle on our own. So, how do we fix it?
Simple answer is: we can't fix it immediately. I have gone through difficult situations that test my limits and certainly make me doubt myself, but I am still here trying to make life work. I still write my essays the night before they are due, just like any other college kid, but I always come back to what makes me happy. It took me a while to understand it, but I truly believe that I have a purpose in life. Although I am only 21 years old, and I have no clue if my fashion marketing career will be successful, I know that I want to cultivate happiness in people's lives. That is the root of what makes me happy, and that is what always comes back to me when I plan out my goals. The world of fashion has provided me with such a wonderful opportunity to share happiness and beauty form my own perspective. I really hope you look at yourself in the mirror and find at least one good thing you can compliment about yourself. I know it is a difficult thing, but we need it. As a society, we need to engage in positive empowerment and encouragement to be kind. You are probably such a wonderful human being, but your vision is clouded by all the hate you give yourself. Trust me. I know it sucks to feel like the world is ending and there is no escaping, but I believe someone is looking up to you. Whatever project you worked on last week and you thought it was trash? Someone saw it and learned more about you, and they liked it! You are not trash. Your ideas are not trash. You are in a brainstorming session to be the best version of yourself, and that is okay. Even through my dark times I know there are people that love me and look out for me. I know that at least one person in the entire world is looking up to me. I know that I matter. You might be going through some very difficult situation that has left you broken on the inside. I can't promise I will fix it, but here is my inspirational speech to you: ----There has been so many tragedies in 2017, and I know you also have your personal issues to resolve. There might be times when you don't feel like leaving bed, or there is not enough power to hold back the tears. It happens without notice, and you might feel alone, but you are not. There is at least one person that cares about you. You have so much potential to develop your dreams into goals, I know you can do it. I always got told I was too much of a dreamer and that i should be more realistic, but I kept being a dream driven girl. Those dreams could be classified as stupid by some people, but I just stopped caring because I have gotten great results and happiness by following my heart. I know you can get through it (whatever darkness is holding you down) and you don't have to do it alone, I believe in you, and I look up to you for waking up today and already taking the initiative to be kind to yourself. The 4th of July is such a great time to see people wear their "Merica" t-shirts or some denim shorts with stars. I understand why people might opt for comfy clothes, but I know there is someone out there hoping to find a different take on the colors of the American flag. Here is my take on how you can use these colors for a day to night look that is non-traditional and very fun! Fear not. This is a look anyone can pull off with the right accessories and a pop of bright colors in the right places. The usual plans for a 4th of July include a plethora of food, beer, and patriotism. It is the opportunity to demonstrate to the rest of the world that the United States of America is still the place where dreams can thrive thanks to the independence we righteously own. In our current political times, it is difficult to focus on how fashion can be of any relevance of our daily lives, but let me give you some details on why fashion politics and independence day tie in together. The picture above was my absolute favorite from the shoot. It is the perfect amount of red, white, and blue for a close-up on the details. The red Kate Spade purse was made possible thanks to hard working people (about 6,800) employees that are dedicated to make this American brand successful. Thanks to its bold colors, fun spirit designs, and fearless business decisions Kate Spade has grown into being one of the most on-demand American brands of the moment. You think that if these employees stopped and considered every move on being racist or how to avoid immigrants to work for these brands, they would be as successful? It is some food for thought! In fashion, we truly care how good someone can do their job and those barrier between cultures break so we can get amazing products and lifestyle brands like Kate Spade. This super comfy and adorable top is from another famous American brand... you guessed it, its from Guess. The cotton and mesh combination is perfect for summer outings, but the detail makes it a top perfect for day and night time looks. Guess is one of my favorite retailers because it makes simple items look chic and sexy in an effortless manner. That is saying a lot for someone who is not sexy, but this brand always gives me that vibe. Established in 1981, the American household has been able to compete in the billion dollar fashion industry, among European brands that offer similar products. The sexy items and iconic denim looks are some of the well-known characteristics of the brand that have made it a classic luxury name. You can find any white top with significant details to make it a powerful look, or add some bold accessories for a night out statement. Okay let's talk about the best part of my outfit; the cute striped shorts. It is one of my favorite summer pieces and I cannot express how much I move in them. They are comfy, they are cute, and they are classic. You can wear these cotton shorts instead of denim if you want more flexibility in your outdoor grilling activities, or before going to see the fireworks with your summer crush. The shorts I got are from BCBG Generation. This is a brand that originates in Los Angeles by designer Max Azria who was born in Tunisia, studied in Paris, and moved to LA to launch his dreams. His revolutionary concept of opening up "good style, good attitude" quality pieces at affordable prices was innovative. His model changed how retailers were being developed in the late 90's. His story is an example of hard-working immigrants who take a risk and contribute to the American society. For this look I kept jewelry to a minimum because I wanted to create an effortless look. I got this pair of Kendra Scott earrings to go with my outfit. Another American brand established by successful business entrepreneur, Kendra Scott. Being a female CEO is turning out to be more common than before, but it is women like Kendra Scott who paved the ways for upcoming business female leads. Besides serving the gap between high-end and low quality jewelry, she was also able to build her brand around heartwarming causes that help shape the communities in the Unites States. I hope I will be as cool as her, or any female in the fashion industry that is thriving for a stylish America with an open heart (and mind). I hope this look was able to open up how fashion relates with our Independence Day. I have high respect for the troops that have fought for my liberty. I am grateful that I am able to write and express myself in something that I love. It is important to notice how fashion, although it is a global business model, it does not mean that American designers and brands are not thriving. Recognize the brands wherever you go, and keep in mind that these brands (and great deals of fashion) are made possible thanks to immigrant workers as well as people who are from different cultural backgrounds. Whatever activities you are engaging this fourth of July, I hope you get to be thankful for the privilege we have to open our minds and hearts for people who come here following their dreams. There is no Kate Spade, Guess, BCBG, or Kendra Scott even if we don't have the right hands behind our businesses as well as our consumers who fill up a variety of demographics, form all around the world. Keep your patriotic spirits up by inviting others to celebrate the joy of being American, but never take away from other cultures and languages. Let's be inclusive, and share the American dream.
If you read this far, thank you! Covering music festivals has been an honor for me. It involves some of my favorite things such as music, fashion, art, and food. There is special magic located at the center of every music festival you attend and I would like to share my experience with you. First of all, thank you to all the beautiful people that were able to pose for my camera at Neon Desert Music Festival, thanks to you this is possible. Thank you for not being afraid of a few photo shots and opening up to me, I appreciate every moment I get of meeting someone new and noticing how they think of fashion. Walking at a music festival for hours in a hot summer day is no joke, especially when you have to take about +100 frames and just choose the best 10 for a post. Before any music festival I have a mini ritual where I mentally prepare myself to be ready to sweat, squat and stalk. I know that sounds a bit weird, but there is a logic behind the madness. I have to carry camera equipment, chargers, laptop, first-aid basics and some makeup to freshen up. There is not a possible way to avoid sweat from myself or from others when I happen to be in the mosh pits listening to good music, it happens. Regardless of the cuts and bruises most festival goers encounter, there is the famous stalking you have to do when you are doing blogging, especially when it comes to fashion blogging. Yes, I did stalk some of the festival goers because I have to search for great content to post, and I want to deliver unique festival fashion that avoids flower crowns. Besides some stalking… or as I like to call it, research, it is also frightening for all the bloggers and journalist to decide when and how to stop people. Sometimes we get rejected, other times we get ignored, but those brave souls that happen to talk to us can make our stories great and thanks to them we can expose out content! Once you finally chose someone and they agree to contribute, you must make the most count within 5 minutes. Yes, that is my record time in getting 10 frames and receive some sort of valuable thoughts of the people. After all, I do my blogs for others to stay inspired and create content for the fashion community I love. I got to stop some of these awesome people and here is what I have to say about them. They are fearless, they are beautiful, and they are inspiring. I recall every person I chose because they were wearing something unique or possibly handmade. They made bold choices that were good for an indie music festival, and above everything they allowed me to step inside their lives for a short time. After a long day of shooting, I rewarded myself with iced coffee from my trusting Coffee Box and took a breather before finding my friend David and going off to enjoy the rest of the night. Listening to artists was going incredibly well, and I only got spilled beer on my hair once, which is a huge accomplishment. By 11:30pm I had already been elbowed in my head, and stepped on more times that I could possibly remember, but hey it was still fun! I met some random people in the crowd that shared the same passion for music and I got to be at the front of a mosh pit. I was having a really great time until midnight approached, and almost like Cinderella, I had to go.
6/4/2017 0 Comments home boundHome sweet home. Such a beautiful concept that captures the idea of warmth and security our homes bring to us. Home is that place we happened to grow up in, or a location that took gathering of very important people and moments we hold dearly. I love the concept of having a home and I am sure that someday I will be able to build this kind of environment, but right now I know I am not home.
Yes, I am home for the summer. I live in my old room, I have seen friends and family, and I am experiencing home cooked meals rather than dry cereal flakes 24/7. This place is what I am expected to call home; however, it feels more temporary. The feeling os being home is more of a restraint of following things I really want to do and pursuing creativity. You could say that nothing should stop someone from chasing their dreams, but could you really develop all your creative potential when you are drained from influential peoples and taken away from any possible inspiration? How can you grow if you keep going back to a state of childhood and comfort. That is how I currently feel about such home. It brings me back to a worry-free time and it is wonderful...for about two weeks before I realize I have binge-watched Game of Thrones non-stop. There is no shame on coming back home and being pampered, but once you are passed a certain timeline, you are just turning into a mess and not following the next big thing. Currently I feel like a slob, I am not taking my responsibilities as seriously as I should and I have this uncontrollably lazy spirit. It is almost as if I didn't have any aspirations to do anything and I am lacking the motivation I need to move forward with my personal projects. It might be too dramatic and it might be a case only for me. I am really trying to enjoy my time here and it has been fun, but sometimes home is not going to be the same home you always knew. I think my time to start building my own (temporary) home has come. I can start by installing new doors that hold great experiences, building those walls to keep as much lack of motivation outside of my system, and invite the people that I care for and care for me. Sometimes our starting homes are so huge that we don't see how much maintenance must be invested in those places and they end up tearing apart. I rather build a tiny home for the moment. A small place in my mind that will allow me to feel inspired and create, rather than destroy that feeling of warmth, safety, and love. I am moving out soon, I am not sure where or how, but I already have my suitcase...and if I can't build a tiny home yet, at least my 20s is my prime time to adventure out and live in various places. 4/18/2017 1 Comment toxic trendsSustainable clothing and the avoidance of overproduction in clothing manufacturing is a rational ethical choice that helps the environment stay protected for future generations. Natural fibers and a higher quality production is one alternative to stay away from developing toxics from being released into the atmosphere, however, it is difficult to monitor why companies hardly choose a different approach to clothing production. In fact, most popular retailers have imposed a fast fashion trend, where clothing production occurs instantaneously to maximize on profit and the clothing remains cheaper than expected. Companies use the sustainable claims in their marketing strategies to influence consumer purchases, and there remains in question if the ethical choices from these brands are genuine or true at all.
Clothing manufacturing is evolving in opportunities to develop natural fibers and better techniques of production. Companies understand the evolution of consumer choices and how important eco-friendly fashion is for consumers which helps them decide what to produce. These brands “informed by the experiential & collaborative marketing approaches are mute on issues of sustainability since they compete on emotional dimensions enacted as constant identity improvement through novel clothing.” The more clothing they can sell as part of the marketing strategies the companies can remain profitable by introducing new garments every season. The discussion of sustainability issues within the clothing industry opens up more questions on how ethically produced garments are created, as well as the issues on how often clothes are produced. With awareness of the issue, more people would probably take the chances to purchase less and decrease sales. Companies are not afraid to use and market eco-friendly fashion, but they are afraid to raise awareness about consumerism and be part of the consequences. The ethical compromise to implement sustainability are labels for the consumer, however the companies still remain with a responsibility to its share holders to keep promoting certain profits. Reducing production costs is still more beneficial for the company and for consumers who want to purchase cheaper garments. The garment industry has been critized for various ethical dilemmas that question the integrity of brands. Influential figures such as Vivienne Westwood understand the importance of providing sustainability options for the fashion industry and she even advocates to consume less. The part that makes Westwood successful in the ethical fashion business is the form she embraces the transparent clothing production and making the consumer knowledgeable. “These consumers are knowledgeable about the way the clothes are made and alive to the historical lineage of their making and use” making them part of the process. This makes people more invested in their purchases and willing to care for the planet. It has become more significant for people to know the origin and production of their clothing since people want to be responsible for their contributions to the environment. The “study shows how the active involvement of consumers in not only important for commercial viability, but also…wearing clothes has ethical resonance” and people can be responsible for the clothing production. Westwood active stance on over production and natural fibers is still a developing brand, and just as much of the efforts to change, her brand is still part of the waste. Westwood is a luxury brand that is advocating for less consumerism to fight the issues regarding climate change and waste, however “ethics urges consumers” to be active in questioning “the value and meaning of what is being consumed.” The disclosure of information between brands and consumers can open up choices of purchase and changes within shopping habits to minimize clothing waste in the environment. The survival of global retail chains relies on fast fashion, which makes it much more difficult to create a structure to change the production process. Some industry names such as H&M, ZARA, and Gap are some of the highly recognized brands involved with mass production, as well as being loved among consumers for their affordable pricing and versatile designs. We are in “the era of fast fashion wherein the life of a garment can be measured in mere weeks” and people have a “disposable mentality” towards everything. Retailers cannot stay away from fast fashion because if they respond to trends, but are not quick enough “they are left with a supply of unwanted product requiring reduction at selling price” and moving on to producing the following trends. The phenomenon of fast fashion has implemented quick response strategies beneficial for companies and consumers that value clothing to have a finite life, however the business benefits from quick responses disregard the environmental factors affected by mass production. Some traits of fast fashion include the purchasing of cheap materials, mass usage of toxic chemicals to manipulate fabrics, and heavy machinery to cut, sew, and ship products. The faster the trends change, the more pressure is being held by retailers to reproduce, restock, and take away what is not selling. Despite the facts of massive retailing, H&M is one of the brands that has developed a 30-year plan to commit to sustainability within the fashion industry. This case has raised many questions and uncertainty on how this production is being developed. In online publications and on the H&M website there are findings of how the brand claims to be sustainable and the commitment they serve to becoming an ethical brand. The studies found on an academic journal demonstrate how the H&M brand uses its digital marketing to promote these claims and how effective they are as perceived by the consumers. There is no clear strategic plan where H&M discusses how it is improving its facilities or interacting with its suppliers for better fabrics, there is just a communication of “the issue of sustainability on their websites” that “investigates if they are being effective in influencing consumer awareness and perceptions as being more sustainable.” The claims of being a sustainable brand are not necessarily credible by consumers but they still play a part of how and where people decide to purchase, and overall it brings the attention to H&M as part of their marketing opportunity. Reaching out to consumers and letting them know about their responsibility to the environment is a great way to open the conversation, however it does not indicate a clear initiative for H&M to be a part of this change. It is not only up to consumers to be informed and make responsible choices, but it is retailers obligation to its consumers to provide the options of purchase as well as a more transparent production and supply chain structure. Most often referred to as the “second dirtiest industry” in the world, garment production can be blamed for various environmental issues and global concerns about the future of the planet. Among one of the demanding synthetic fabrics is polyester. This fabric along with other synthetic fabrics is created through “energy-intensive process requiring large amount of crude oil and releasing emissions including volatile organic compounds and gases. which can cause respiratory disease.” Another popular fabrics is cotton, which although it is not entirely man-made fabric, cotton crops “accounts for a quarter of all pesticides used in the United States” and allows for “subsidized low prices and high production of cotton.” Industrialization and rapid growth within fabrics remains a competitive approach for the Unites States in fabric production and cheap manufacturing. The cotton industry remains dominant in the United States instead of investing in new opportunities to expand the market or different options that will limit the waste of treating cotton fabrics. It has been cheap for manufacturer to produce and outsource clothing outside the United States but the environmental effects from over production have impacted the global spectrum. The expenses from releasing toxic gases into the air and creating health and environmental issues for future generations leave in questioning how cheap production is and the real payment consumers are making by choosing fast fashion. There is a careless attitude some retailers take on approach regarding the importance of over production. The issues go beyond disposing a few cotton t-shirts into a landfill. The significant issue is the masses of trash being collected every season, and every season actually meaning every few weeks. The wasteful mindset of disposable materials and cheap quality is also a reflection of the lack of originality in design. The reason fast fashion has become so effective is due to the rapid changes of what is considered stylish by a few days, and how every person wants to be a part of that original movement, faster than everyone else. The fast fashion pieces are easy to produce, and easier to throw away, and each brand will make profit of even the disposed materials because the prices are so cheap, someone will purchase them for when the trend comes back a second time. If fashion is really a cycle and trends come and go, it would be a much better option for consumers to develop recycling or upcycling methods to improve the life of their garments. Instead of purchasing the same shirt five different times, maybe it is easier to create one’s own alterations until the fabric is completely worn out. Clothing is a luxury market, and there is not a physiological need to fulfill a closet with multiple garments and throw them away every month. I am not disregarding the idea of the importance of clothing for some consumers and the psychological value for others, but there is more damage in the environment every time another shirt is being made. Influential brands and fashion icons have a position on sustainability and are active on addressing their opinions. While they do a great job in educating the consumers on dangers and various positions on the environment, these brands use most of the information to their advantage without ever performing acts of sustainability. There is a lack of connection between the marketing campaigns advocating for sustainability, and the contrast of seeing the same clothes every month for cheaper prices. From the consumer perspective, it is easy to blame the companies that refuse to alter the over production, yet we still pressure for faster new clothing and adopt the disposability of trends instead of making small changes in our wardrobes. It is a responsibility from consumers and leading brands to create that change and influence markets to minimize production. The environment, health, and business benefits are at stake for future generations if there is no commitment to establish rules for a more sustainable garment industry, and better fabric production for the fashion industry. Works Cited Claudio, Luz. “Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry.” Environmental Health Perspectives 115.9 (2007): A449–A454. Print. Dach, Lilian and Katrin Allmendinger. "Sustainability in Corporate Communications and Its Influence on Consumer Awareness and Perceptions: A Study of H&M and Primark." Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, vol. 130, no. 4th International Conference on Marketing and Retailing 2013, INCOMaR 2013, 15 May 2014, pp. 409-418. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.04.048. JEACLE, Ingrid. Governing and Calculating Everyday Dress. Foucault Studies, [S.l.], p. 82-98, apr. 2012. ISSN 18325203. Available at: <https://rauli.cbs.dk/index.php/foucault-studies/article/view/3508>. Date accessed: 3 apr. 2017. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.22439/fs.v0i13.3508. Vivienne Westwood and the Ethics of Consuming Fashion Jean S. Clarke, Robin Holt Journal of Management Inquiry Vol 25, Issue 2, pp. 199 - 213 First published date: July-01-2015 10.1177/1056492615592969 4/17/2017 0 Comments a caribbean dream11/11/2016 0 Comments Take the riskLast weekend I was fortunate enough to travel to New York City by myself and attend FashionistaCon. It was an overall inspiring beautiful experience where I got to meet people who have the same love I have for the fashion industry. I got to learn first hand experience from industry leaders whom I admire and find inspiration to be ambitious in pursuing my dreams. I was living my dream by walking alone throughout 7th ave and Fashion Ave, and buying coffee that was from small coffeeshops. My first morning in NYC i woke up extra early just to order coffee and a small pastry, and walked over to the nearest Tiffany's store to recreate a moment of solitude like the one Holly Golightly has before starting her day.
I loved that from New York City, the power of being completely alone to think, but at the same time being with millions of people and somehow communicating with them. After my quick breakfast I was able to walk up two blocks before realizing I was wearing a skirt in a 55 degree weather, and I decided to extend my arm up and hail a taxi. I felt very independent and powerful to step out of that taxi and walk straight into the the doors of the conference. My boots were really made for walking, but at that point I was strutting, and definitely feeling welcomed at the place. Throughout the day I was part of mentoring sessions, speaker panels form great people, and surrounded by beautiful vibes from complete strangers. I got to share a Photo Booth moment with strangers and feel like I bonded with them over the same life goals. Leaving that room of wonderful people I felt like I was leaving a place that understood how important fashion is for me, and the true significance from building a brand. I t was very tough to move out of the conference, back to the concrete jungle and finding something to eat for dinner. I hailed another cab and went to an area that seemed recognizable, and stopped there to walk around. I went to some burger place that was blasting alternative rock and had low lighting, perfect fist-date location. Since I was alone, the waitress pointed me towards the bar, and I sat there witnessing all the craft beer choices I was not going to taste that night. As the night progressed and I was enjoying a double patty, extra cheese goodness with fries on the side, I noticed more people around me started to get drunk and my bartender, by this point he was my friend, kept pushing them out of our conversation. Leaving the restaurant the bartender and the waitress were kind enough to pack me a cookie on the house for me to take on my plane the following day. Sarah, the waitress, was kind enough to walk with me one block closer to my hotel and advised me to "never give up", an overused phrase that I love to hear. Just like that my time in NYC was over and I only had seven hours to catch my plane back home. Before parting my plane i stopped by to get pizz and walked through many stores to admire the beautiful displays and the stories behind each one. Afterwards I just took off. I arrived back home and nothing felt the same, it felt better. I was missing NYC, but I know I will be back and I need to start acting on my goals right now which just inspired me more to work harder. I want to build fashion that unifies people, empowers them, and creates a loving atmosphere for people to become more acceptant of themselves. I want others to view the kind of fashion I see, the kind of fashion that helped me be who I am today. It will always be hard to follow your dreams and people will try to take you out form being fearless with those dreams, but sometimes you just have to hop on the next flight to NYC and find out for yourself if the risks are worth it. (Spoiler alert: It is always worth it) 9/27/2016 0 Comments Fear notLast week I took one of the most impulsive decisions I have ever made without questioning. I took the opportunity to buy a ticket to the Fashionista Conference in New York City. I saw the conference and it took me exactly 4 hours to debate if I should waste my money, until i realized this was an investment for my future. I bought the tickets without telling my parents or friends. I didn't ask for permission from anyone. I did not have air flight tickets, a place to stay, or even sure if I had enough time to miss school for the conference. It was one of my most adult decisions so far. I regret nothing about purchasing that ticket and planning a trip to the city of dreams... but I must admit I am scared.
I am truly frightened about this trip and conference. I am sure it is going to be a unique experience, but how do I know if I am truly ready for this? I will be breathing the same air as Cristian Siriano, and I will sit in the same room as Rachel Roy, there is no reason to be scared, right? The frightening parts are not only being in a huge city that is unfamiliar to me, spending hotel nights alone, or even trying to hail a cab on time. The most frightening part is stepping inside this conference and finding out I don't fit in. It might sound a bit ridiculous to think I would feel out of place in a fashion conference, specially since i have dedicated my lifetime invested to fashion; but how do I know I truly belong to a place like that. There is no way for me to be certain that the industry I love will be able to accept me and love me back. Getting rejected by fashion leaders would be more heartbreaking than having any boy in the world tell me they didn't like me. I have been heartbroken by guys before and I still survive, no big deal. The difference here is that none of those guys have ever defined who I am, or had an incredible impact on my life , they have simply been nice to kiss (some not so nice) guys. They are additions or subtractions that affect me emotionally, but not enough to change everything I am, but this industry is what I am. If I am not loved by the industry that literally defines everything I believe in, how am I supposed to survive that heartbreak? I am probably getting ahead of myself since I am still two months away from this journey. I have time to prepare my bravery to open myself for any scenario. There is no way to reduce my stress, but I just need to be confident and stronger than I have ever been before. Just in case I arrive at the conference and everyone hates me, I am not stepping down form my dreams. No matter what. I need to have this mentality, and keep my priorities straight. I rather struggle finding my way around NYC, than playing it safe and staying in my hotel room. I rather step-up and introduce myself as an outsider who is not attending a design school, but as a student who is aware of global economics and the impacts of fashion in history. This is who I am, and there is no reason to be afraid of that, everything else is just details. This November follow me on my Instagram @log_styleguru and be part of this adventure with me. Do not let any fears tie you down from life changing experiences, take the risk. 9/11/2016 0 Comments Beauty is a one size fits allThe designing industry is always complicated in the sense that you always have to innovate. Every fashion season, designers are challenged to create new garments, and replacing the fabrics in storage. Tim Gunn has recently been advocating for the plus-size industry and highlighting the issue that designers have for making clothes for these women. I would like to agree with Tim Gunn and say, designers simply cannot even visualize larger sizes to wear their garments and that ideas is repulsive.Go on Instagram and find how many sketches can you find of plus-size clothing designs? How many plus-size models are size 14 and represent more than half of the American women population? That is not a plus-size, this is just a size like every other. Every person on earth has the right to feel fabulous, and it makes no sense that people try to limit that.
Why are designers limiting their market to sizes 0 to 4? Why are we allowing the market to indicate that "plus-size" must have their own section in a store, rather than just incorporating it to be like any other size? It is mortifying for someone like me, who loves the fashion industry so much, and always talks about how clothes can build confidence, to see some women actually feel worse about it. I am currently between a size 4 and 6, however even the retailers I shop at do not always feature my size to be even close to the perfection of the models at display. In the United States, the average size for women is between a size 16 and 18, and the clothes designed for them is extremely limited. My mom for example is between a size 10 and 12, yet whenever she tries on a dress she feels extremely overweight, or she can never find something she truly loves to wear. It is an injustice to have women feel like outsiders and horrified by their own bodies. It does not matter what size you are, because you can still be beautiful. Your personality and character are what truly matter. It is very cliche to say, but it is truthful. If you can demonstrate to the people around you that you have a gorgeous soul, it will shine through whatever you wear; however, it does not give the right to any designers to block you out of their target market. It is time for a change in the fashion market, and a time for people to be inclusive of all sizes. Please let us eliminate the term "plus-size" from our fashion dictionaries, and incorporate more numbers in our stores. I stand with Tim Gunn, not only because he is such a guru of style, but because he has made a wake-up call for every designer to listen to our people. This industry is based on self-expression, and if all voices can't be heard wearing what they truly love, then I would have no reason to love fashion. True beauty is a one size fits all, and I believe everyone has the right to feel fabulous. 9/8/2016 0 Comments NYFWMy favorite time of the year is here.This week is better than my birthday week, and slightly better than Christmas Eve. You know that feeling you get when you wake up next to someone you like and everything seems to feel just perfect for like 10 seconds, and the world doesn't matter? That is the feeling I had this morning when my mom texted me this morning and asked if I was mentally prepared for today.
New York Fashion Week has officially begun, and i feel ALIVE. I worked out homework in advance, I scheduled an hour off from work, and I even got late to a meeting in order to have everything settled to watch this glorious event in peace. Sorry if I haven't answered your texts promptly, now you know why. I can silence myself from my surroundings and find out why I do what I do. Every September it is a personal rebirth of my love for fashion, and I remind myself why I shouldn't care if I am the only person wearing bright colored pants in a crowd filled with black slacks. Some of the shows I am looking forward to are Michael Costello, Cristian Siriano, Vera Wang, the Project Runway one (I doubt they will live stream this one, because then we could guess the winner without the season starting). I am currently on the live stream page and I keep waiting for new shows to start. I might be in the middle of class, but this laptop will not be researching the deeper meaning of Socrates teachings, this laptop will be open for the NYFW LIVE STREAM and I will learn more about the shapes for this season. Honestly you can spark notes half of the notes you need for college, but spark notes cannot predict the shoes I need. These are the existential questions I care for right now. I might be sounding superficial right now, but it is what makes me happy that is okay. Innovation seems to be an impossible task for some visionaries in the fashion industry. The trends always seem to cycle back into the season, and as much as we like to think we are changing the fashion industry, nothing seems to truly speak independent originality. The reason behind the difficulty of innovation is that millennials lack the establishment of personal branding. Social media has converted into a powerful tool that helps people express their own brand as they transcend within the latest trends; however, nothing truly stand out because nothing lasts as a revolutionary change. Luxury brands such as Prada, Burberry, and Louis Vuitton, have significant brand styles that have shaped them into powerful fashion houses, yet at the moment they seem to lack financial stability due to people's desire of rapid changes. "Nothing is new" is the perspective of some people, but maybe there is nothing new because we do not create space for novelty. We are so scared to try new trends, that we find comfort in the same style, color palette, and designers.
Chanel was the first to bring about the little black dress for social events, rather than only restricting the color black for funerals. Diane von Furstenberg is the icon remembered for the wrap dress and unique colorful jersey patterns. Christian Louboutin has remarkable red soles in his shoes and Burberry holds a distinct check pattern as part of their brand. These successful power houses created something new and revolutionary within their time period, and it is time for someone to do a similar effect now. Luxury brands are not attainable for all of us; however I find that the trademark of these designs are important to recognize that designers create art for a purpose. It goes beyond popularity and fame. Fashion is art, culture, and a representation of today's society undergoing changes of who we want to become. We need a new kind of revolution that inspires new designers to create clothes with purpose. This might be the kind of innovation we are searching for within our closets. Instead of falling into boredom with the same styles it is our responsibility as a fashion society to establish new ideas that adapt to our current lifestyle. I believe in fashion promoting self-love and building image brand that involves confidence. We are looking to empower individuals with a sense of equality, we desire to help non-profits, to promote fair trade production and to conserve our ecosystem. These are the issues we must address with reasonable resources that can help us find new fashions. Public figures are investing themselves in these issues because they recall its moral value as well as opportunity for new job openings in different industries. I look forward for these changes to become a new era that brings fresh faces into an industry that for the past decades has been ruled by icons like Karl Lagerfeld and Anna Wintour. As a believer and supporter for their involvement in the fashion industry, I also acknowledge the time for change has arrived. The pages of Vogue will remain with that intact elegance but with a twist of what matters to our society.It is not about re-inventing the fashion, but about re-inventing ourselves, and investing in what truly matters for the consumer. It might be a bloody battle to change the norms of what fashion embodies for some people, including the misconceptions of glamour and poise: The "change" might be daring, but I do look forward for companies to invest in real people, with real issues. The garments we wear (whether you care about fashion or not) narrate the story of who we are and where we are going in life. This industry is much more than a change of prints between the seasons. |