Suggesting a good read

Illustration by Lena Corwin - source

I found this very interesting piece of writing by Brooklyn-based author Elizabeth Cline at The Etsy Blog. It was published back in May '11 but it will be relevant for months to come. Here's an extract:

"We now only make 3% of our apparel in the United States, down from 90% in 1955. The prices of these imports are so low that we have long since abandoned our sewing machines and deserted our dressmakers. Our clothes have also become increasingly casual and simplified, another reason for lower price tags.

As clothes have become cheaper, our clothing consumption has gone through the roof. In 1930, the average American woman owned an average of nine outfits. Today, we each buy more than 60 pieces of new clothing on average per year. Our closets are larger and more stuffed than ever, as we’ve traded quality and style for low prices and trend-chasing".

The whole post is worth reading, you'll find it here. Looking forward to her book 'The Good Closet' on responsible shopping in the age of cheap fashion, expected this Spring. Till then, I'll be following The Good Closet blog.

Ourania Kay vs Fashion Algorithms

Ourania Kay's show at AXDW, Chapter 2//iLLuSionS, has been scheduled for Sunday, March 20th at 20:30. The invite is out and Fashion Algorithms, official supporter and sponsor of the event, is offering 5 double invites for a front row experience. For your chance to win this rather generous giveaway, visit her blog, here.

Toi&moi for Spring

With the fantastic Spring weather we've had during the weekend, it feels quite appropriate to post more s/s 11 news. Greek brand Toi&moi is introducing part of its Sping collection in the 'Just IN' section of its e-fashion store and it looks like this:
Featured items' prices range between 55 and 65 euros and are all brand new. Half-price winter sales are still on too.

Toi&moi eshop is online since last season and could well be a case study as it openly based its launch publicity on fashion blogs, introducing the section 'For Fashionistas'. Numerous Greek fashion bloggers posed their own way featuring part of the brand's collection. The aftermath was great news and Toi&moi travelled through its eshop to many Greek islands -among other locations- such as Ikaria, Corfu, Rhodes and Chios.

1st Fashion Business Forum - Athens, finally

Fashion, besides making you pretty on a Monday morning and stylish on a Saturday night, is a business. As such, it finally had its first Fashion Business Forum last Monday. Some of global fashion's best, along with Greek players of the past, the present and possibly the future, discussed thecurrent state of fashion industry. The contribution of the latter was crucial for touching local particularities.

International speakers spoke about tendencies that should not be neglected like the effect of the economic recess and global fashion on buying habits, with value for money, strong brand awareness and consistent presence online (including social media) being more important than ever. Local speakers, noted the lack of government support, the reality of having to engage in offers and early discounts to attract buyers and gave a mixed message on whether or not they believe in the power of www.

Clearly believing in the internet were the three Greek online start-up companies, private sales Brands Galaxy, eshop Buldoza.gr (which further co-invited 15 fashion bloggers to attend) and Fashinating.com which offers the double service of personal styling to consumers through thousands of online finds aswell as market insight and targeted sales testing to businesses through detailed response statistics.

Hotel Grande Bretagne was an excellent choice of space and everything was very well organised on behalf of Boussias Conferences. The official reel of the event is available here: boussias_conf, all other relevant tweets tagged accordingly can be found here: #fbf_athens

Attendance was high as the room was full of fashion business professionals. By no means would one say that the majority of the local market was there, however, this first attempt to offer a conference of this kind was a success and there's always the option of a bigger room next year. Loud absence that of traditional fashion press, although I did see and hear a couple of fashion journalists in the room, one from a glossy and one from a newspaper.

Overall, congratulations to all the businessmen/women who accepted to participate in panels and presentations and share thoughts and tactics. Whether on the right or wrong track, it takes courage to openly talk about your business, especially if it hasn't happened this way before. Constructive criticism and discussion have a chance of pushing one to the right direction, silence does not.

There is still a lot to tell about what went on but as it won't stop being relevant for quite sometime, for now this post is limited to a (brief?) recap.

Attended the forum and blogged about it:
Eye Candies,
Posh Fashion,
Life in Athens,
Fashion Algorithms,
Mary Jane Girl,
Battered Couture,
FFFFashionmiXXXX,
LFoF,
Ordinary Style Pulse,
Little Stylist,
Sugahspank,
Spottedm,
A Brit Greek,
Wardrobe Recycle,

Fashion Architect

Past decade's top 5

Some say this post should have come about a year earlier (or maybe just a week?). Doesn't change the fact that these are 5 really important things that happened in the past decade. Plus they make a good Sunday post! 1. Second hand / DIY
It seems that the decade began with the remains of the '90s obsession with second hand clothing (think Kate Moss) and ended with the widespread acceptance of DIY clothing and accessories as something you can wear in public (think Yourself, etsy.com). This shift is a good example of how fashion really is for the masses and not just for celebrities or the elite: DIY is free, everyone can do it at home.

2. Designers went highstreet
Speaking of fashion for the elite and the privileged, about mid-decade and with WTO shifting most barriers for global production, dominating design houses are faced with a pickle: their styles are being 'borrowed' straight from catwalk and produced in thousands for a fraction of the price their collection sells. People no longer want to pay a fortune for a top with their name on.

They try to fight is with law suits and more affordable diffusion lines. In November 2004 though, a bomb is dropped by Swedish H&M: a limited edition line signed by Karl Lagerfeld, priced by H&M. Collaborations between mass production companies and eponymous designers become a standard ever since. Finally the latter found a way to grab a piece of the cheap fashion pie and shoppers are happy with the amounts they are spending.

3. E-shops
With the first e-shop, boo.com, being such a famous massive disaster in the late '90s, many were quite sceptical of the possibility to ever sell clothes successfully online. At 2004 British Fashion Awards, net-a-porter.com proved a point by winning the Shop of The Year Award and causing a stir. Now there are thousands of profitable e-shops and online shopping is a big industry with what seems to be a bright future.

4. Fashion blogs
Here's a new term that's emerged in this past decade. Much more than a term actually and you know it. For me, fashion blogs' contribution during these years will always be described best by Suzy Menkes' words in this clip: it finally turned fashion monologue into a dialogue. Shoppers have a voice too. According to wikipedia, 'Fashion blogs first appeared in the blogosphere prior to 2002, and Kathryn Finney, of The Budget Fashionista, was invited to New York Fashion Week as early as September 2003'.

5. Hellenic Fashion Weeks
(obviously this one's for the Greeks!)
Fashion shows and exhibitions have been taking place in Greece for as long as fashion exists. However, it was in 2004 that Greece officially announced the launch of a fashion week that... soon became two. 'Moda Athena' took place in October 2004 and 'Athens Collections' was established around the same time, with the first, featuring among others the likes of Doukas Hatzidoukas, Angelos Bratis and Vassilios Kostetsos and the latter listing Hellenic Fashion Designers Association members.

I believe 2004 was the year 'Fashion Forward' started in Thessaloniki too so it would be fair to say that mid-'00s were a fashion week era for Greece overall.

'Athens Collections' was based at Zappeion whereas very short lived 'Moda Athena' at the Hellenic World Cultural Centre. I was present at both as a... foreign correspondent, will try to find their booklets in my archive and show you at some point since there's not much available on the web about it.

Athens would not stay without a second fashion week for long though(!): in May 2007 'Athens Xclusive Designers Week' came to stay.

I guess all 5 somehow changed the way we see fashion today, in the year 2011. What remains to be seen is what the future holds for them.

Patricia Munster's Fashion & Art - interview

Patricia Munster's relationship to both fashion and photography is special and her work reflects that, whether her subject is on the catwalk, backstage or on stage. Now she's got a blog of her own: IsFashionArt. Comes from Holland, lives in Athens and is currently one of the dearest behind-the-scenes faces in town. Meet Patricia, in her own words and shots:
"Photography is a hobby since I was a little child. During highschool I developed my own photos already. I worked at a clothing store at Saturdays and school holidays to support this hobby. At 22 I graduated from fashion management and worked in the fashion industry as merchandise manager, enjoying my hobby photography. Three years ago I decided to make my hobby, my profession".
Why do you feel that something as commercial nowadays as fashion, is art?
Art is an expression of creativity to generate aesthetic pleasure, in any kind of form. So fashion can be. But who are the real artists in the fashion world is an interesting quest.
As a fashion photographer, how did the fashion blogging boom influence your work?
There are many blogs that inspire me to take better photos. But also opportunities to expose my work world wide.
Why have you started a blog of your own?
I love to photograph and share my photos. But also to do something more than just photographing, to be able to comment. I am still in the beginning and exploring the possibilities of my blog.
Special moments captured by your lens?
I loved to photograph Jean Paul Gaultier, Diane von Furstenberg, George Michael and Beyoncé when they were in Athens. A special moment for my 'Dutch' lens was photographing Pieter van Hoogenband and Inge de Bruijn, two Dutch swimmers, winning each of them a golden medal in Athens during the Olympics. But most special moments captured by my lens are with friends.
How's the fashion photography profession in Greece vs other countries you've worked in?
In every country there are opportunities and challenges. Only in Greece the price you get for publishing your photo in a magazine is very low. Not to mention assignments... I do not like the attitude of some people here that think they can get photos for free and it doesn't cost you anything! And I hate when they copy my photos without even mentioning it!
Favorite Greek designer shows?
To select my favorite Greek designer show is difficult. So many shows I have captured and each one is unique in its own way. I enjoyed photographing the fashion weeks at Zappeio in the center of Athens, it had a more sophisticated ambiance than at Ethniki Asfalistiki or at Technopolis.
But the lighting is most important for me when capturing a show so the piece of art gets written well by my camera!

Give a warm welcome and check out what Patricia has been up to lately, here:
http://isfashionart.blogspot.com/
Browse Patricia's work archives, here:
http://www.patricia-styleandimage.gr/

Rox illustrated

It's nice when press professionals appreciate what you do, but there is no greater honour than when a fellow fashion blogger says so.

Wait a minute, there is. It's when a fellow fashion blogger says so and is inspired to make an illustration about you. At least that's how I felt today seeing me illustrated at Fashion Algorithms' top post.

Gee, this could well be me!
Ever so flattered as very skillful Katerina went into all the trouble of making this fab collage but also because she spoke of me as her 'most favorite fashion blogger'. *blush* Click on image to see what she's dressed me in, she's used actual existing outfit details!

*A whole series of fashion bloggers' illustrations is about to follow, so visit her blog regularly, HERE.

Suit.gr

A very good piece on fash-blogs GR, finally referring to the marketing implications and spot on briefs of the mentioned blog spots. Clearly the author, George Anagnostopoulos read them thoroughly before writing typing. Honoured to be part of it, especially as it's titled 'leading fashion blogs in Greece'.

Sharing the page with:
Shopping Therapy
Streetgeist
Fashion Architect
uN nouVeau iDEAL
Life Full of Fashion

Full piece on suit.gr, HERE.

Forget not that it doesn't matter who gets the mention, fashion blogs are different voices on the same subject yet equally important, never enough and are all waiting to be discovered on each others blogrolls.

Currently inside Drivers Only

When journalist Zoe Koskinidou said she's doing a piece on fashion bloggers for a car magazine I thought she's teasing. She was not. She actually put together a damn good piece on the Fashion Blogs VS Magazines issue. A pink break on the pages of a car mag and an interesting take on blogging.

Sharing the spread with:
Las Ninas y Los Ninos
Life Full of Fashion
Life in Athens
Fashion Architect
Dimitris Strepkos
and
Chara Lembessi

Sotiris Georgiou - faces

From left to right, Angie Karantoni, Kostas Karantonis and Ilianna Papageorgiou. These are the three models that opened the show, meet the next generation.
Holding the guestlist, Katerina Stamatelatou. Impressive piece on her shoulders: Sotiris Georgiou a/w 10.
From left to right, Life Full of Fashion, Fashion Architect, icon Makis Papasimakopoulos, Nafsika Lalioti, Alex Kavdas. (click on names for reports on the show)
Fashion stylist Christos Kaliarekos.
Far right, The Way I Do with friends. (click on name for report on the show)
On the right, Patricia Munster at work. (click on name for report on the show)
From left, The Soho Symposium, Fashion Paths and Andreas Avgheris, next generation designer still in the making. (click on names for reports on the show)
The Way I Do, The Soho Symposium and Life In Athens. (click on name for report on the show)
Konstantinos Kalfakakos and friend.
The crowd from this side.
The crowd from that side.
And the making-of of this smashing photo outside the premises.

Dimitris Petrou - faces

Designer and host of the night, Dimitris Petrou with The Soho Symposium (left), Fashion Paths (right) and Life in Athens (further left).
Handbags designer Georgina Skalidi & friend, holding one of her creations which is especially made to perfectly fit the pelvis.
DElight with MTV VJ, stylist & stylish Alex Kavdas.
*remember their show is on October 16th.
Celebrity Skin mastermind Dimitris Strepkos with Fashion Architect.
*remember his show with Eleni Mparla is coming up on October 25th.
Video creator Tina Sardelas and show organiser Margarita Gourgourini.
The Soho Symposium, designer Evangelos Kavathas and Petrou's behind the scenes team.

Many more familiar faces on the spot, like the man himself Lakis Gavalas, designer Stelios Koudounaris and many other members of the athenean fashion community and press.

Alecca is two

I didn't have a birthday cake. If I did though, it would look like this, created ideally by the hands of someone like Jenny. (hope it's thick chocolate fudge inside)

This blog has been around for two whole years now.
This blog is now two.

Update 11/09/10:
Thought on the cake: I wouldn't walk around in Chanel total looks but in this case, I wouldn't mind eating them.

Also: [space reserved for the little blog 'birthday' speech I am supposed to be making. It will come up when the words in my brain go in the right order]

Words always in the right order: this blog would only be half as special to me had it not been for all of you special people reading it.

Bloggers Preview chez Valuecom

(Ffffashionmixxxx - Life Full of Fashion - Fashion Paths)
It was bloggers preview time at Valuecoms headquarters last Thursday, a whole hour reserved before everybody else arrived for the showcasing of the company's represented brands' a/w 10 collections. It is safe to say that Valuecom ...values bloggers, as well as that that all attendants enjoyed the hospitality. It may be too early to talk winterwear right now, so here are a few refreshing pictures of what went on:
The colour palette of Benetton (above) and Sisley (below). Safe earthy hues and grey are suggested as a basis, with red, yellow, green, blue and lilac flashes.
Life in Athens encourages Valuecom's Penelope to go for the more imaginative styling of her necklace she had in mind all along. 'Wear it as you please' - a fash blogging value.
Summer shoes are already out. Summer is here then.
From left to right: The Soho Symposium, Las Ninas and Los Ninos, Fashion Paths & friend, Life in Athens, Life Full of Fashion.
An interesting initiative on a sunny, spring-summerish afternoon.

Tachydromos

issue 532, 08 May 2010
photo: Spiros Staveris
text: Dimitris Papadopoulos
Special thanks to Tachydromos Magazine for having us.

"Independent fashion bloggers are the voice of buyers, whereas fashion editors are the voice of sellers" is what's featured next to my name and indeed this is what I said, word-for-word. By no means does this translate though into "independent fashion bloggers will tell the truth, whereas fashion editors are those devils wearing Prada, on a mission to trap you into buying".

Fashion editors will show you what the companies are selling this season. Someone has to. Indie fashion bloggers will show you which of that they bought/liked and what they did with it. Someone had to. The first one gets paid, the second one pays, the first one acts, the second reacts. Someone always has to.

It's like two different sides of the same coin: 'professional' and 'personal'. Distinction brings balance. That's how I see it.
Other fashion bloggers on Tachydromos today: The Soho Symposium, Fashion Architect, Chloe in the Sky with Diamonds and Life Full of Fashion. However, the bigger picture is fashion blogging and not just us. We are always honoured to be featured, but we only represent rather than dominate. Our side-menus are full of links. If fashion is your thing, start checking them out.