As fashion editor of Fashion FACTS Folio, a trade newsletter for subscribing clients like Neiman Marcus and Joan Rivers, I shopped, scouted and wrote about accessories trends. It was fun. I went to fashion shows and reported on tidbits such as Monica’s bags, the sneaker-shoe phenom and Prada’s mausoleum in SoHo.
Fashion FACTS Folio: FACT Notes, October 2001
I’m not sure how I actually wrote this column in the weeks following September 11th. But in retrospect, it made me realize that while fashion is widely regarded as frivolous, it’s an indicator our emotional and cultural state 3 as was seen in the spangled, I-Heart-New-York and even military fashions (some of which had a spooky presentiment) that abounded last fall.
VALERIE REISS
10/01/2001
Oh Say Can We See…
…flags everywhere. The patriotic looks that were already big for fall now seem like an eerie coincidence. But now, no longer limited to the in-the-know fashion crew, hats, bandanas and t-shirts with the flag are cropping up on every New York street corner. Also chillingly appropriate is the timely return of military looks. Keep an eye out for political and fashion cross-overs—the perfect activity for when fashion seems a tad½ frivolous in light of recent events.
Somber Emmys
The usually fashion-fabulous Emmy Awards, initially scheduled for September 16, have been re-scheduled for October 7. The ceremony will be broadcast bi-coastally for the first time since 1970 because New York-based nominees weren’t thrilled about getting on a plane right now—even Saturday Night Live had to fly host Reese Witherspoon in on a private jet that she requested. Guests and presenters have also been asked to “dress down” for the occasion and red, white and blue lapel pins will be available. Also, the red carpet will be replaced with interview tents for post-awards interviews.
I Love New York
New York has filled with its own urban nationalism these last few weeks. Also already popular with fashionistas, the “I Love New York” theme is now extra-everywhere—on tees, mugs, ties and totes. The Daily News even had the original logo designer, Milton Glaser, do an update for their cover that reads “I Love New York More Than Ever,” with a slight singe on the heart. Also cropping up are much-deserved FDNY and NYPD fashions—from standard oversized tees to $90 silk-screened fashion versions (from Flying A on Spring). Suddenly the Fire Department souvenir store on Lafayette has morphed from simple tourist attraction to popular boutique. All we can say is if you’re going to be selling (or buying) these, please make sure a cut goes to charity. This is one fashion that should do as much as it says.
Crystal Colours
Swarovski, the dominant supplier of rhinestone crystals to the fashion jewelry industry, keeps coming up with new colours and cuts. Their latest sparkling additions include: “lime,” a delicious, clear yellowy green; “indicolite,” a moody deep-sea green; and “Classical Square”—a large, symmetrically faceted crystal available in burgundy, Indian sapphire, smoked topaz, tanzantine and white opal.
Rock Star
Movies released right now are nearly lost in the chaos of the moment. The good news for Mark and Jennifer’s Rock Star, is that it did all its press months ago. Though the film itself is lame, the metal-god fashions are quite memorable. The snug leather pants, the leather vest with blue lapels, men with makeup, headscarves and skull-motif prints are all hot styles that have a good chance of resurging. Keep an eye out for big hair and tough looks.
Final Fantasy
What Risky Business did for sunglasses, Final Fantasy does for watches. Well, sort of. Seiko has launched a limited edition watch like the one worn by the heroine in the new Japanese-inspired sci-fi flick, Final Fantasy. The watch itself is super-sleek with a cuff-like band, large glowing green numbers and all sorts of cool mysterious buttons. It’s also precise to 1/100 of a second and has an automatic calendar good until the year 2046. Needless to say, it also helps the heroine, Dr. Aki Ross, successfully evade the aliens.
MoMA Design Store
Now shoppers don’t have to fight their way through tourists to get to Frank Lloyd-Wright-inspired jewelry, pretty plastic dollhouses and Eames-inspired coat hooks. The latest spacious MoMA store in SoHo is an instant classic. Upstairs is filled with housewares, well-designed toys and of course great jewelry like Alexis Bittar’s fabulous Lucite. There are also Pantone’s line of colourful (duh) wallets, bags and business card holders, Tibor Kalman’s witty cloud-lined bags and Arik Levy’s titanium jewelry. A relief after recent retail disappointment Fiorucci.
Skinny Scarf
Pashmina went to a spa. And became: skinny scarf! The “it” scarf of the second is super-long and super-thin. According to Daily Candy, Tracy Feith has a lovely sparkly version. According to us, J.Crew has a cashmere blend in blue, camel and black. They can be left dangling or be coiled many times around the neck. A retro revival to make Stevie Nicks proud.
Ciao, Mille
Conde Nast recently announced the door-closing of Mademoiselle, its 66-year-old magazine for young women. Though the mag had a circulation of 1.1 million, ad sales were down enough to inspire the shut-down. Some say it was a combination of editorial identity crisis and economic hard times. The current subscriber list has been passed on to Glamour magazine.
Draw Me a Tee
Inspired by the Little Prince’s request to “Draw me a sheep,” the new international magazine Dealer De Luxe asked renowned fashion designers to draw them a T-shirt. The results were hung on the walls at Jean-Charles de Castelbajac’s Galerie Du Concept Store in Paris. Participating designers include Dolce & Gabanna, Moschino, Chanel, Christian Lacroix, Vivienne Westwood, Sonia Rykiel and John Galliano. Luxe plans to auction the shirts to raise money for victims of the terrorist attacks in the United States.
According to Fashion Wire Daily, the already well-received bi-annual, bi-lingual (English and French) mag will come out in September and February, timed with the ready-to-wear collections. Each issue costs around $11.