I love Zac Posen since I bought the most sensationally tailored Capri pants in the world I wore them out!! This season phenomenal tailoring and bright pop art colours make for a colourful delight.
This red carpet dress imaginatively uses gold stars across the bias to show off the silhouette. Movie Star glamorous and feminine.
This lovely dress uses zigzags to cross the body and the polka dot silk blouse adds a demure but see through sexy touch.
How to Start Your Own Fashion Empire!
With the credit crunch biting more and more of us are looking to the internet as a source of income. In both Europe and the US retail sales have fallen whilst internet sales are still holding. Around 75% of us now have a home computer, and clothing sales account for 17% of US and 37% of UK online sales in 2007. The US market topped $100 billion in 2007 so there is a massive market to go for.
Fashion Internet sites are still starting all the time. The Bauer Media group who own Grazia magazine have just launched a new fashion site. http://www.cocosa.com. This is a designer retail internet site similar to net-a-porter. Check it out. It is by invitation only. Type in fashionstylist. It is by limited invitation and the code lasts until 31st October 2008.
Retail shops are finding it very tough with rising rates, and consumer confidence dropping. So the time is right to start a fashion empire. Niche markets do very well, Bravissimo the online bra company for fuller figured women started on a kitchen table. Other ideas may be children’s clothing, plus size women, tall men etc.
Next, start a blog with a free newsletter and find out as much as you can about your target market and customers prior to launch. The newsletter will give you your mailing list for your launch. This will get you known to your target customers and get some healthy web traffic. It will also give you competitor data for you business plan.
Then source your product and start a website. There are many website software packages now to build your own i.e. Mr Site. Google Adwords provide instant advertising and with a website focussed on your most relevant keywords you will soon have sales. Market by email to your customer base and keep marketing to them, on average it takes 7 access points before someone buys.
Now you have your killer product, a great website, stay focussed, network like crazy and don’t give up. Take a long cool look at your business regularly and refine it. Many big businesses start very small so be motivated and get out there to build your very own Fashion Empire.
The Difference Between Clothes And Fashion
As a personal stylist I spend many hours reviewing wardrobes. Given the fact that we only wear a shocking 20% of what we buy, frankly most of my clients waste money. The buzz of buying translates into the unworn, there is nothing remotely glamorous about this. I have improved since I learned the difference between “clothes” and “fashion” and now wear most of my wardrobe until it wears out.
“Fashion” is last season’s sleeveless jacket. Hugely expensive, but did you ever see anyone wearing this?? This is a non garment too cold to be a jacket, too edgy to be worn often by most in public. “Fashion” is also the here today, gone tomorrow looks that reinvigorate your wardrobe. Shoes are a fantastic “fashion” statement and so are bags. Fashion should be fun!
We all need regular “fashion” hits but we should not pay too much for them. Remember the 80:20 rule, and do not pay over the odds for something you will wear only for a season or not at all. Buy the diffusion ranges or the better high street brands and look to wear for 2 seasons only.
Sometimes we are all hit with a “I will die if I don’t have that” and these instincts should be followed for the sheer fun occasionally but if you let them dominate your wardrobe you will have nothing to wear.
“Clothes” are what you actually wear 90% of the time so spend money on them, buy the best you can afford and look to keep them. A great beautiful coat in your style and colours will last 10 years so buy a more expensive one. The “fashionable” coat will last 4 months so don’t pay too much have fun with it buy a great colour and look to replace it.
“Clothes” are your signature style. Last summer when smocks were in most of my clients bought them, these are now part of the vast unworn in your wardrobe, along with the sleeveless jacket etc. “Clothes” should be items that you love deeply that you will wear for ever. Jackets, jewellery, coats, cashmere should not be dull but beautiful in rich colours. Fit is everything, buy for how you are now, not I might lose some weight or I am fat so I will buy a bigger size this does not work. Buy beautifully cut garments that flatter whatever shape or size you are.
If grey is in and it does not suit you don’t buy it. In short, learn what suits your body, learn what style you are and buy clothes that fit you. Baggy clothes generally don’t flatter and make you look fatter than you are. Go spend your money on fantastic must-have shoes instead or a great piece of jewellery and when things are in the shops that you love, that make your heart sing, that really really suit you, buy them. These will form a great wardrobe for many seasons to come. Aim to be beautiful and fabulous and you will be!
Vogue.Co.UK Blog Hub recommends Gabrielle Teare as one of the world's most exciting fashion blogs.
