Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel has made a very big impact in the world of fashion. She has transformed the way that people express themselves and paved the way for new innovations in the fashion industry. She introduced the LBD, or better known as the Little Black Dress, in a time where women only wore corsets and uncomfortably big dresses. She dared to be different and did not mind what people thought of her as long as she was happy with herself and the outfits that she created. The fact that Chanel went through many hardships in life only added to her need for success. She was abandoned by her father at a very young age and was in relationships that were not fulfilling. Her style was simple but also a bit masculine compared to the fashion that was available for women back in her days. The hats that she created were also what gave her career a push start. They were different than the normal hats that used to be made because they were not as wide and made it possible to see instead of blocking out most of the view that was in front of the person wearing the hat. Gabrielle Chanel was her real name and she was a very strong self-sufficient woman that could provide for herself and persevered through her hardships in life to become the successful and unforgettable woman that we know of today.

The Met Gala 2015

The Met Gala is a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art which is held every year. It is attended by famous people from the fashion industry, upper-class, famous actresses and actors, and also well-known music artists. This event has occurred at the Metropolitan Museum since 1946. The most influential woman in fashion, Anna Wintour, is the chair of the event and she oversees who is invited to this grand occasion so that alone would tell you how important this gala is in the fashion world. Each year they have a theme that correlates with the art that they are debuting in the museum that year. This year for 2015 the theme was, “China: Through the Looking Glass,” so all of the attendees were expected to wear outfits that went with this theme. You see many extravagant outfits that look like pure works of art being worn by the people at this event. I had many personal favorites from the gowns that the women who attended wore. One of them would have to be Kim Kardashian’s which was made by Roberto Cavalli. It is absolutely elegant and simple. Another one of my favorites was Rihanna’s dress which was hand made by a designer in China and took her 2 years to make. The designers name is Now Guo Pei. Rihanna is known for her extraordinary choices of outfits so this dress did not disappoint.

Life in 1984

In the book 1984 by George Orwell, the characters had very poor living conditions and were closely watched by the government. The government wanted to be able to tell apart the different classes of people so they gave them certain dress codes. The Outer Party wore blue overalls which was the party that the main character ,Winston, was a part of. The Inner Party wore black overalls. The proles did not have a dress code because the government did not care about them. The main character Winston was informing the readers at one point about how he does not remember a time when his socks did not have holes in them or when they were in good condition. It is just mind boggling to think of a time where people are not allowed to express themselves how they want to and a time where everyone looks so similar to each other. 1984 makes us realize how the most simple things in life that we take for granted every day are actually very important and make us who we are. The freedom to dress the way we want is not appreciated very much by society. Especially in California, people are not afraid to express their personal styles and show who they are to the world.

The Fashion Industry Transforming

The fashion world is always changing and tries to incorporate new things in it all the time. While I was watching the news the other day I learned that Vogue is putting the first transgender model in their magazine. This is a huge step in not only the fashion industry but also in our society. It shows that our society is slowly accepting people that are transgender and that they are slowly getting rid of that type of discrimination. The models name is Andreja Pejic and this is a great accomplishment for her. As she said in her interview, she has always felt like she did not belong and that something was not right and having a supportive family around her really helped her to be the person that she really was. I am glad that Vogue has decided to take this step in their magazine because it helps towards the road to equality for all people. Since fashion is a way that people can relate to each other and find comparisons with their styles and ways of life, that makes the fact that they gave Andreja Pejic a spread in the magazine very influential. I’m sure that there are many people out there that can relate to the models struggles or can sympathize with her so I think this is a great thing.

Coachella

Coachella is one of the most popular events for Californians and other music lovers. Everyone gets together in the desert of Indio and they enjoy the sunshine, the good music, and most importantly, the trendy outfits that people wear. I can only imagine how amazing it must feel to be able to enjoy your favorite artists performing in a beautiful outdoor environment while being with your good friends. What really sticks with me the most when I see pictures of people at Coachella are the clothes that they are wearing. What you would most likely see people wearing are bohemian styled outfits and urban clothing. In my opinion the trends at Coachella really represent the typical Californian style because our style is very laid back and effortlessly chic. As the second weekend of Coachella is arriving, be prepared to see many more of these boho chic styles being worn by many of the concert goers.

Fashion Incorporated with Education

Courtesy of Fashion Adventures

During my four years of high school I have learned a lot of things and one of those pieces of knowledge that I have acquired is that some people view the school halls as being a fashion runway. Since they are at school 5 days a week, they might as well add a little style to their days so it won’t be as mundane as it usually would be. When someone feels like they are wearing a nice outfit and feel like they are well-put together, that impacts their day. If someone feels and looks good then that could boost their confidence, make them happy, and make them more productive since they are feeling so organized and put together. At school we are surrounded by a variety of different people with different cultural backgrounds and different interests which influences their fashion sense. If you walk around the school during break then you could easily tell which people belong to which clique because of the way that they dress and the style that they have. Fashion is a way to show the world the type of person you are. When a new fashion trend starts to become popular, it spreads around the whole school like a wildfire. We see a new trend under the spotlight and everyone decides that they need to have an outfit exactly like it. We also have a Fashion Club at our school where fashion lovers can get together to discuss fashion and we have the privelige to speak to representatives from fashion colleges such as FIDM. It gives students a closer look at what they will be experiencing if they choose a career in fashion. Our school is filled with students that have all types of different styles and it is very interesting to see what new styles people always come up with.

kekkoz (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Anna Wintour is easily the most influential woman in the fashion industry. She is the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine and is known for her famous pageboy haircut and her big oversized sunglasses. She is also known to have a very cold personality which is understandable when having to guide such a high class magazine. Many people look up to her and admire her sense of direction. She came into the magazine when it was not doing as well and made it thrive. Wintour is the type of woman that knows what she wants and will do anything she needs to in order to achieve her goals. I personally really admire her strong personality and hope to have as much success in my future career as she has right now.

The Devil Wears Prada

I’ve recently been looking all over for a movie to watch about fashion but I have yet to find a movie that portrays the fashion industry as well as The Devil Wears Prada. In the movie The Devil Wears Prada there’s a girl named Andy that works at a high fashion magazine company as an assistant. Her boss ,Miranda, is extremely evil, hence the name Devil. This movie is one of my favorites since it consists of so much fashion and luxurious lifestyles in the lives of upper class people in New York and Paris. It shows us how intense the fashion industry could be at times and we get to enjoy looking at a variety of different outfits. In the beginning of the movie, Andrea Sachs is not at all interested in the fashion industry but just takes the job as assistant to the editor-in-chief of Runway fashion magazine in hopes that it will get her a job as a journalist somewhere else. She does not start out with the best fashion sense but with the help of her co-workers Andy gets a wardrobe makeover and becomes a very stylish version of herself. I personally love seeing before and after shots of people so when Andrea had her style transformed it was really interesting to observe how such a little change in somebody’s outfit could change their whole look and the way that they are perceived by the world. This is a movie that will never get old to me and that I would recommend to any fashion lovers.

From A Different Perspective

I have recently took the time to interview one of my fashion-loving friends. Considering the fact that she has an impeccable sense of style and is going to pursue a career in fashion, I figured she’d be the perfect person to speak about her personal views on fashion and to give us a little information on what she aspires to achieve with her future career in the fashion world.

Me: Define “Fashion.”

A.S: Fashion is a sense of style that changes from decade to decade, century to century. Each era of fashion can change by very little or drastically.

Me: How would you describe your personal style?

A.S: My personal style is edgy and hipster at school but when I go to college in New York I hope to have a high, street fashion style

Me: Where would you like your career in fashion to lead you?

A.S: I would like my fashion career to lead me to VOGUE magazine and to the red carpet and fashion week.

Me: What has inspired you to be in fashion?

A.S: My inspiration in fashion is history. I love how women’s fashion has evolved over time.

Me: Do you read fashion blogs, and if so, which ones are your favorites?

A.S: I don’t read fashion blogs but I would consider my Tumblr to be a blog because I get inspired from it and I express my creativity and sense of style through photos on Tumblr.

Me: What influences your sense of style?

A.S: Today’s fashion trends and what the celebrities are wearing is a huge source of where I get influence with my style. I love seeing what’s new on the runways and on the red carpets.

Me: What industry in fashion do you see yourself working in?

A.S: I see myself working as a fashion director which design concepts. That is, you define an overarching fashion vision, typically for a department store or fashion magazine, which hires you to translate its’ business objectives, its’ target customers, marketing plan, and messaging into a cohesive fashion motif.

Me: Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me, I love the way that you view fashion and I wish you best of luck on your journey to acquiring the goals that you wish to achieve in the fashion industry.

Fashion Week 2015

Dolce and Gabbana Spring/Summer 2015

Fashion week has come around the corner yet again. Currently occurring is Milan Fashion Week and this is the Dolce and Gabanna Spring/Summer 2015 line. These are my personal favorite looks from the show because it conveys the Spanish feel very beautifully while still keeping the look elegant and detailed. It gives it a sort of modern twist of the old Spanish looks.

Oscar De La Renta

This Oscar De La Renta dress is the epitome of girly chic. The color of this dress combined with the pattern and the attention they payed to the detail all comes together to give off this romantic and girly vibe. It is a more feminine look and is a length that is short but not unacceptably short.

Vera Wang

I think that every girl needs an LBD in her wardrobe considering you can almost never go wrong with one. It is a staple to have in your closet and what better than this little black dress designed by Vera Wang. This piece is simple yet makes a statement at the same time. The embroidery on this dress is breath-taking and it really enhances this seemingly simple dress.

I’m very excited to see what the popular trends will be this Spring/Summer and how designers incorporate what they have seen during Fashion Week 2015, into their own designs. I am seeing a lot of fringe, military prints, and outfits that utilize  a variety of patterns so we will stay tuned for what is to come.