So…

I’ve been writing articles on fashion for a while now, and I must say, not too many have been on menswear. Don’t get me wrong, I’m up for the challenge, but I’m always apprehensive. Let’s face it… guys are fashion snobs! Even designers have a hard time understanding what guys really want to wear. Just for fun, I decided to survey a few men on one item in particular. Let me begin by introducing you to…

The FUR BOOTS!

I saw these boots by designer Tom Ford in my trend forecasting book for menswear fall/winter 2013-2014. I thought “hmm, this is interesting, would guys really wear this”? When I asked them if they’d wear the fur boots, the majority of them said NO… hell no! It makes me wonder if the fashion industry as a whole is actually listening to their male consumers. I’m directing this question towards the upscale retailers, because some fashion I’ve seen on the runways for men are a little questionable. I remember an article in WWD reporting that Giorgio Armani took a jab at Dolce & Gabbana, and Prada suggesting that their clothing make men look ridiculous and called the press out for not being critical of the “clownish” runway styles that men wouldn’t wear.  Giorgio feels that fashion is all about what the bankers and stock holders want. That evident to me, as well as the men I surveyed. I also discovered these facts upon further research.

Men feel there are not many options:

It’s no wonder guys seem to stick to one brand. They feel that what’s available now is all there is. Since the styles are similar to previous designs, they think “eh, I already have something like that. Why buy another”.

Men love “functionality” in fashion:

Guys only shop when *gasp* they need to, so they’re not really into fly by night fashion fads like women are. When men buy a new shirt, it’s probably because the one they have is damaged. If they buy a new carry bag, it’s because they need it for travel or durability.

Men respect the classics:

Yes, they respect the classic styles of yesteryear. A classic suit, bomber jacket with clean lines and anything with the classic clothing silhouette is a go. Maybe the patterns can be adjusted but the overall classics win.

The retailers aren’t reaching Men:

The men I surveyed said they don’t know about certain brands unless it’s word of mouth or advertised on T.V. They said that unless they actually go to the stores, they have no idea of how to find what they want. I’ve seen advertisements for men’s clothing in magazines geared towards women. The fancier labels might be in men’s magazines, but what about the average labels or the up and coming designers. I suggested they research the male target market for better understanding on how to spread the word about their brand.

That’s what I think, what’s your opinion? Comment below

It’s funny how the most mundane thing can become a hot trend.

Any hoo, look at this quirky little tidbit. Mustache Nails are so quirky and cool this summer! I’ve seen bags, necklaces, and even earrings with mustaches on them. I was instantly hooked when I first saw them in the trend forecasting reports for summer 2012-2013. I do see this trend going as quickly as it came, but for now I’m really loving it! Interesting fact: I was actually going to get a mustache tattoo… yeah, and I’m actually contemplating if I still should. I’m a very funny light-hearted person so this would suit me perfectly. There is a ring with the top hat, monocle, and mustache. HOT!!! I’m gonna get it; I saw it on Fashiolista.com and like it for my account. Happily… I don’t know why I wrote that but I did. If I decided to actually try this nail design out, I’ll definitely post for ya.

Bye bye! Oh and comment below!

Raf Simons, the creative director of Dior (replacing Galliano) has recently showcased the Haute Couture collection for Fall 2012. Little birdies all over social media have been buzzing about how much of a success it is. From the fashion show decor, down to the clothes itself. It’s said that the show was held in a private house on Avenue d’Iena in the tony 11th arrondissement of Paris France. More than 1 million flowers where used to decorate the walls; red roses, blue delphiniums, yellow golden rods, and pink roses. I bet it smelled amazing in there! Anyway, the show went off without a hitch and got some great reviews from critics. I myself saw the show online and thought Raf Simons captured the essence of Dior nicely while still expressing his vision for the brand. I knew he would do well; it’s just that everyone was so in love with Galliano’s style that they kind of put the pressure on Raf. He gave Dior a modern twist, just like Nina Garcia, editor of Elle Magazine said. The ambiance and the color palette melded together in a harmony of decadence and classiness.  His Fall collection for Dior made the fashion industry go “Galliano who?”

It was the season for change with Dior. Fate happened to where the brand was forced to take action and introduce a new legacy of Dior fashion. I look forward to see what Raf Simons has in store for the future of Dior.

What do you think of the collection? Comment below!

Since the beginning of the year, I’ve noticed that one designer in particular is doing extremely well. In a time where high end retailers are slowly but surly fading, business for him seems to be thriving. Who am I talking about? Michael Kors; He is opening up stores in all the major parts of the world;Spain,China,Japan and of course New York.  How does he do it? Could it be that he’s taking advantage of the slow economy by nabbing retail locations at a steal of a price? Could it be that he practiced patients, and struck when the pan was hot? What I think he’s trying to do is dominate the high-end retail arena by placing a store in every mall and every country, no matter where. I worry about his strategy though. Consumers don’t like over saturation. If he makes his product too “available” then people are going to shy away from it. Let’s face it, shoppers love exclusivity. The most appealing thing about high end fashion is the fact that not everyone can get it. That’s what makes Gucci, Prada, and Louis so glamorous. Opening too many stores can hurt your brand status and pockets. When you factor in store maintenance, electricity, employees, etc. that alone can be pretty pricy. It’s not like forever 21 where people are constantly shopping and buying something everyday. With high end fashion the price makes up for the lack of frequency. It would probably take forever 21 a whole day to profit $2000, but high end retailers could make that in 1 hour by selling one bag. Anyway, Michael Kors strategy could either boost profitability, or water down the label. Based on my experience in fashion marketing, I would have never advised him to open up so many stores and here is why.

The world is moving more toward e-commerce. Countries like India and China have a rapidly growing middle class due to outsourcing and import/export. Nearly 40 percent of China’s online businesses are geared towards fashion, with a population growth rate between 28 and 32 percent a year. Michael Kors biggest flagship store is in China. Why didn’t he just create an exclusive online boutique for the Chinese market? That would have been a lot more cost savvy, since it cost a boat load of money to get a retail spot, pass import tax laws, and hire a marketing/PR team inChina! Brick and Mortar stores are not really necessary internationally. What Michael Kors should have done is invested money in a rock solid e-commerce strategy. People are shopping online more now than ever! Brands like Talbot’s, Gap, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Cold Water Creek have had to make cut backs due to too many stores opening, (check the article here). To me, Michael Kors is just flexing his brands muscles. The rule of thumb for any business is to not spend money if you don’t have to. In the case of high-end retail, less is more! This greedy marketing approach is not a good look. Regardless, the year is looking good for MK brand because sales profits have increased due to the new store openings. Store openings usually raise profit temporarily anyway. I believe in longevity. Companies should make moves that count for the long haul.

What do you think about Michael Kors methods of expanding his brand? Do you agree or disagree? Comment Below

Also check out this article in Woman’s Wear Daily called Where Clicks Beats Bricks. The article explains why opting for brick and mortar in China is unnecessary. It’s pretty interesting.