Fashion and Economic Trends Analysis

    With the economy in a state of recovery and unemployment rates decreasing, the Fall/Winter 2012 runways have produced trends that may represent an improving market.

(From left: Mara Hoffman, Rag & Bone, Michael Kors, Dries Van Noten)

The "comfort" trend consists of thick cashmeres, blanket coats, and flannels to convey a sense of ease as the economy gradually restores and stabilizes. This cozy garb will make everything seem more calm and relaxed.

(From Left: Lacoste, Balenciaga, Céline, Prada)

The "luxe" trend describes the use of expensive and lavish textiles. Tweed garments and structured suits are heavily featured on this season's runways. Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel revolutionized the tweed suit in the 1920s, a time of economic prosperity. With a growing interest in vegetarianism, leather and equally expensive faux leather share the spotlight in many fall collection. There are also many garments that were hand-beaded or encrusted with jewels.

(From Left: Prabal Gurung, Givenchy, Salvatore Ferragamo, Herve Leger)

The metallic trend represents the rise in industry and technological development. This unconventional fabric is used to construct many innovative pieces such as the ones displayed above.

(From Left: Derek Lam, Doo.ri, Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang)

Winter wardrobes traditionally consist of blacks or muted colors, but this season, designers commit a fashion faux-pas. Wearing white after labor day is now popular and encouraged. White is the color of purity and innocence. White clothes represent youth and hope. Hope that will perhaps be translated into the health of the economy.

~~These predictions are not set in stone, only branded into fabric. Though some fashion trends follow the status of the economy, I wouldn't look to clothes as the solution to our nation's problems. Fashion is simply here for people like me who can't understand the economy through other terms.

New Blog Format

Now that we're allowed to write our blogs about anything, I have decided to start a style blog. Since I can already sense some eye-rolling, I am going to try to present my posts in a different way. I was thinking of maybe interpreting current events and political trends through fashion and photographs. Since this week is the first week, this post is mostly going to be introductory. I get so many questions in the hallway about my clothes and my style and I'm taking this opportunity to explain this to everyone.

Here are some frequently asked questions:

Where do you buy your clothes?
There's no one place that I always go to shop. I like to keep expanding my horizons and going to new stores. I like to shop when I'm on trips because clothing is the one functional souvenir. Yes, I do shop vintage and I do shop at thrift stores. Now before labeling me as a hipster, there are some things I want to address. I think that hipster is actually an insulting term. Rather than connoting "cool" or "interesting", I think that people use the word "hipster" mostly to describe people that are arrogant about their clothes or music. There are many valid reasons to shop at thrift stores, including cost, and uniqueness, and I think that a reasonable portion of my wardrobe comes from consignment stores and thrift stores. On occasion, I will go to a high end store or a department store to buy pieces that are classic and that I can wear for a long time.

Why do you dress up everyday?
Out of all the questions people ask me, this is probably the most common. Some people express themselves through art. Others take up a musical instrument. I don't see how my clothes can't speak for me in the same way. I dress up because I can. I like to look nice everyday. I like to put in a bigger effort. People might not always like my style, but that doesn't mean that I can't.

Who/What is your inspiration?
My style is greatly influenced by music. I would describe my style as polished with an element of rock-n-roll. I like structured blazers and dresses, but I have a soft spot for leather and studs. I take note of interesting outfits I see on the street as well as at concerts and even in scenes from movies. I do follow the various fashion weeks, but I would rather follow my own style than what everyone else is wearing.


That's all for now. After this post, I will launch my new format. Until next time!

Update-Dystopian Trailer

Currently, our group is in the script-writing process for our trailer. We have scripted about 30-45 seconds of our film. Our dystopia is meant to criticize how society puts pressure on youth to be the best. The shots in the trailer are split apart with narrations and text. The opening shot is a rack focus, showing a student writing down notes and shifting to a view of a quasi-robotic teacher reciting the textbook. Our figurehead is Julia, the "smartest" girl in school. We show our main character, Matt and his girlfriend, Jessica having a conversation about her and there is a poster of the background of Julia with her GPA on a card. We show establishing shots of the setting at the school. The hallways are dark and silent and there is tickertape around the school that displays the highest and lowest GPAs of the students. We also include a shot that pans across the students in the classroom as they yawn and show signs of exhaustion to enhance the nightmarish state. Students are kept at school all day and all night. We view a phone conversation with Matt explaining to his parents that he has to stay at school at night to study. The climax of our hypothetical movie occurs when Matt overhears the principal giving answers to Julia. We see Matt telling this to Jessica and Jessica is shell-shocked. That is all we have written so far in our script. Eventually, our catalyst will be Jessica's suicide. We will see Matt undergo a change in attitude after this occurrence. Hopefully we will finish our script soon so we can start to work on the logistics of filming this trailer. We asked two teachers as well as the principal to participate in this trailer and hopefully we will be able to make do with limited resources.