STYLITICS

Today in Fashion History: February 27th

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 06:00:52 -0500

“Fashion is like eating, you shouldn’t stick with the same menu - it’s monotonous. You need changes in your dress and your food to have changes on your spirit.” Kenzo Takada (1)

On this day in 1939, Japanese fashion designer Kenzo Takada was born in Himeji, Japan. He is best known for mixing patterns and using large silhouettes, which are heavily influenced by Japanese styles. His rise to fame not only helped put the Tokyo market on the map, but he also helped bring attention to other Japanese designers.

At the age of 18, Kenzo attended the University of Kobe to study literature. However, he soon lost interest in his courses and enrolled at Bunka Fashion College, a prestigious fashion school, where he was one of the first male students to be admitted. After earning his university diploma, Kenzo moved to Paris 1964. Six years later, he opened his first boutique, Jungle Jap, at the Galerie Vivienne—a renovated, former antique clothing store where he sold his handmade women’s collection.

Kenzo presented his first show in 1970, and his designs were featured in American Vogue in 1971. These designs included smock tent dresses, oversized dungarees, and shoulder shapes that were predicted as the next it-trend. Kenzo would go on to create a menswear collection, women’s perfume line, men’s fragrance line, and skin care line.

Although he retired from the fashion industry in 1999, his namesake fashion house has become a cult favorite among celebrities and fashion bloggers. Kenzo has most recently emerged as a decorative designer with his new lifestyle and home brand, Gokan Kobo.

Sources 1, 2, 3

Written by Shayla Hayward-Lundy, Stylitics Ambassador from Earl L. Vandermeulen High School

Oscars 2013: the Red Carpet Winners

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:03:00 -0500

New York Fashion Week has come and gone, and now, so has awards season. With two fashion mega-events under our belts, it’s time to take a look back on what we’ve seen. We’ve checked to see how the runway trends are holding up post-Fashion Week off the red carpets. It’s time to announce the winners. And the Oscar goes to…

Velvet: A+

Selma Hayek wasn’t the only celeb spotted in this lush look last night — we actually saw this trend cross gender lines. Whether it was used on a tailored tux jacket or fitted bodice, velvet seemed to be everyone’s favorite surprise fabric.

Over the past 5 months, we’ve seen a whopping 146% increase in the wearing of this trend – and the red carpets were no exception. Velvet receives a well-deserved A+ and is officially the big winner of the Oscars (sorry, Argo). Not only has it seen a meteoric rise, but it also happens to be just as well suited for men as it is for women. A non-exclusive, flattering, and comfortable trend? Bravo!

Blush Tones: B+

In perhaps the most anticipated arrival of the night, Jennifer Lawrence debuted her choice of a pale pink, Dior Haute Couture gown. Though she undoubtedly had countless dresses to choose from, Lawrence opted for one of this season’s most ladylike trends: blush tones.

Her career is on fire, but this trend is actually only lukewarm. It fell just over 25% in the past 5 months, with periodic fluctuations showing no clear signs of a significant change in popularity. In other words, it’s a safe choice. Given its prevalence lately, though, we’re prepping to see a sudden spike in spring. Until then, this trend’s report card will read B+ for a solid effort with a lack of creativity.

Lace: B-

Ms. Bullock, no stranger to red carpet dressing, must have been paying close attention to NYFW, because she chose one of this season’s most unexpected trends. Made modern in a dark shade with metallic details, she would have fit right in on the Tadashi Shoji runways.

Neither red carpet nor runway has done much for this trend, though. Since October, lace has seen a more than 45% decrease. To its credit, lace is typically not a winter trend, so that’s why we’re giving it a B-. We’re still hoping this one picks up in spring, in which case we’d be willing to offer some extra credit.

Paisley: A-

We saw ornate paisley prints on celebs ranging from it-girl Amanda Seyfried to editor Louise Roe last night. This romantic print proved reminiscent of several NYFW collections, Erin Fetherston and Red Valentino included.

But, like lace, this one didn’t necessarily translate off the red carpet. With a 73% decrease in wears in the past 5 months, paisley’s popularity has declined. However, we can’t ignore its recent omnipresence. To be honest, the revival of this old print has us excited, so we’re going to go ahead and give it an A- for originality and perseverance, and hope that the public wises up and follows suit.

Metallics: C

Naomi Watts was just one of the many metallic mavens on last night’s red carpet. With a body-conscious silhouette and sharp cutouts, her gunmetal look was hard to ignore. Metallics have always been a red carpet staple, but will they make it to the sidewalks?

It’s unclear. With an almost 60% decrease in wearings since October, we’d be inclined to say “no.” This red carpet favorite is just not translating into everyday wear. On the red carpet, though, metallics (and beads, and sequins, and glitter) are almost a requisite. So, while we give Naomi an A for her figure-flattering cut, this trend receives a C for being totally and unabashedly expected.

Written by Annie Wazer, Marketing Coordinator for real-time trend insights company Stylitics. Annie can often be found wearing leather leggings and has never met a cup of coffee she didn’t like.

Today in Fashion History: February 26th

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 06:00:37 -0500

“In ‘Thriller’, Michael’s outfit and its stylistic features – the wet-look hairstyle, the ankle-cut jeans and the letter ‘M’ emblazoned on his jacket – reinforce this meta-textual superimposition of role.” Christine Gledhill (1)

Thirty years ago today, the “Thriller” album went to #1. Now, even the word, “thriller,” calls to mind the music video, featuring Michael’s iconic get-up. The music video is so well known around the world that the red leather jacket that he wore in the video actually sold for $1.8 million! With original estimates targeting its selling point somewhere between $200,00 and $400,000, the influence of “Thriller” has exceeded expectations.

The designer of this amazing piece of fashion history was none other than Deborah Nadoolman Landis. Though her name might not sound familiar, she’s also responsible for creating another iconic piece of fashion history: Indiana Jones’ leather jacket and fedora from Raiders of The Lost Ark. Both jackets top the lists for Halloween costumes year after year, but only Mr. Jackson’s started a fad that lasted throughout most of the ‘80s.

The candy apple red jacket was so popular that, during his career, Michael continued to wear jackets of the same general design whenever he performed the song. Thirty years later, the fashion and musical influence of “Thriller” can still be seen and heard today by the likes of Kanye West and Chris Brown.

Sources 1, 2, 3, 4

Written by MaryKate Guidry, Marketing Intern at Stylitics.

Today in Fashion History: February 25th

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 06:00:56 -0500

“NOWNESS…proves that LVMH has its finger on the pulse of luxury, fashion, art, consumers, and its own mission.” CBSNews (1)

Most retailers focus their energy on promoting their own brand and products, showing how they’re edgier, newer, and fresher than their competition. In 2010, luxury powerhouse LVMH took an exceedingly different approach by launching NOWNESS.com.

This innovative site, created in place of eLuxury, is an editorially independent facet of the Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton (LVMH) group. In 2011, they won award an from WWD Japan for Best Fashion Media, a Webby for Best Fashion Website, and a Clio Award for Best Interactive Website.

NOWNESS can tell you everything you need to know about art, beauty, culture, design, fashion, gastronomy, music and even travel. It’s a one-stop site for viewing the images and reading the stories that you need to stay on trend.

Believe it or not, LVMH understands that not everyone can afford products straight off the runway. Their solution is to bring the inspiration from said runways to the homes of those who can truly appreciate it — you! And speaking of you, if you feel like you don’t get enough individualized attention from other sites, fear not. On NOWNESS, you’re able to create a profile, which helps the site recommend stories and even allows you to view the profiles of people who share your style and taste.

Sources 1, 2, 3

Written by MaryKate Guidry, Marketing Intern at Stylitics.

Today in Fashion History: February 24th

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 06:00:00 -0500

“We had no master plan. It was totally seat of the pants.” – Phil Knight

Today in 1938, Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike, Inc., was born. The former track star founded the company with his coach, Bill Bowerman, in 1964, as Blue Ribbon Sports. The pair began selling Tiger shoes, now called ASICS, at track meets out of a green Plymouth Valiant automobile while Bowerman researched new ideas for footwear design. After taking the leap from distributor to designer, BRS made its first pair of shoes for Olympic gold medalist and student athlete, Otis Davis, who said they were actually too tight and offered little support.

Knight and Bowerman changed the name to Nike, named after the Greek goddess of victory, and commissioned its now ubiquitous logo for only $35 from a graphic design student in 1971. The company took off in the early 80s with the success of the patented Nike Air technology, which was inspired by Bowerman’s wife’s waffle iron.

The apparel and accessories conglomerate has since left its mark on the worlds of branding, fitness, and urban street style. From its acquisition of Cole Haan in 1988 to acquiring Converse in 2003, Nike has become a more and more prevalent fixture in footwear and pop culture.

A far cry from its humble beginnings, Nike has morphed into a leading lifestyle and fashion brand, launching collaborations with the likes of Levi’s, APC, Comme des Garcons, and Liberty of London, and collaborating with contemporary music artists like Ellie Goulding and LCD Soundsystem. Its own designs have become more fashion-forward as well, with the introduction of a wedge sneaker last spring, a direct response to the hugely popular runway versions by designers like Isabel Marant.

Nike, Inc.’s revenue projections for fiscal 2015 are between $28-$30 billion dollars. Knight still serves as chairman of the board.

To a visionary pioneer and epitomic entrepreneur, happy birthday, Phil Knight!

Written by Jessica Novak, Marketing Manager for real-time trend insights company Stylitics. Jessica is a blogger, runner, coffee addict, avid alliterator, and chambray enthusiast.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

Today in Fashion History: February 23rd

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 06:00:00 -0500

“I had to have it. Those fashion moments happen by mistake – you can’t plans things like that.” Jennifer Lopez (1)

On February 23, 2000, Jenny from the Block stepped out onto the Grammy red carpet in a green Versace gown – and consequentially redefined the meaning of a “bare midriff.” The dress in question, comprised of a sheer, jungle-printed fabric, was held together by no more than a brooch. Paired with swimsuit-style boy-shorts and a healthy dose of confidence, Lopez braved the red carpet with her then boyfriend, P. Diddy.

She wasn’t the only one to wear “That Versace Dress,” though, as she was actually preceded by the likes of Geri Halliwell, Christy Turlington, and Donatella Versace herself. Whether you credit her curves or her confidence, though, it was Lopez who brought the dress into infamy.

Lopez recently opened up about the $6,000 gown in the February 2013 issue of Harper’s Bazaar. “I have that at home,” she said. “The other day, my housekeeper put it on a mannequin in my spa, where I get my hair and makeup done. She sent me a picture. She was like, ‘You like this dress?’ Um, yeah, but I don’t know if I like it out in the house!”

Out in the house or hidden away, it’s just not That Dress without J.Lo.

Sources 1, 2, 3

Written by Annie Wazer, Marketing Coordinator for real-time trend insights company Stylitics. Annie can often be found wearing leather leggings and has never met a cup of coffee she didn’t like.

Closet of the Week: Michael Stancil

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:30:19 -0500

This week’s featured closet is Michael Stancil, Pinterest prodigy and head of search for Buzzshift. Named one of the top pinners by Huffington Post, his over 1,000,000 followers put him in the same league as brands like Esquire, GQ, and Details. Favoring quality over quantity, Michael’s curated boards showcase his impeccable taste. Browse his Pinterest and you’ll find boards ranging from “Architecture” to “Headgear,” each as well-edited as the next. His personal style follows suit with every pair of shoes in his collection sporting a unique detail. Check out his closet:

Number one item on my wishlist is a SuitSupply Boston Blue Plain Suit

More often than not I can be found wearing shoes with a bright blue sole

An item I can’t live without is Gray Solid Cargo Pants by GQ for Gap X Ovadia & Sons

If I could raid one person’s closet it would be Nick Wooster

I couldn’t function on a daily basis without Pinterest

Written by Annie Wazer, Marketing Coordinator for real-time trend insights company Stylitics. Annie can often be found wearing leather leggings and has never met a cup of coffee she didn’t like.

Today in Fashion History: Febraury 22nd

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 07:48:45 -0500

“If your wardrobe is rotten, you can’t just throw on a cute shoe and think it’s going to work. Throw out the garbage and start replacing it with pieces that work.” Clinton Kelly (1)

Panama-born and Long Island-raised, Clinton Kelly’s resume reads: fashion expert, author, designer, and television personality. Best-known for co-hosting the hit TLC series, What Not to Wear, with the lovely Stacy London, Kelly’s superfluous sarcasm has charmed fans. London and Kelly’s mission? Find the fashionably-impaired and help boost their confidence by teaching them styling tips and tricks before sending them out shopping — total makeover included! Since the show began in 2003, Kelly has appeared in over 250 episodes.

In 2005, he began a partnership with Macy’s. The partnership, which entails some fabulous national commercials, also has Kelly going out on the road to hold style seminars around the country. In 2008, Kelly expanded his style repertoire by joining forces with Denim and Company to launch his exclusive line for QVC, Kelly by Clinton Kelly.

But, even fashion experts have a fashion faux pas here and there: “I owned a pair of pleated-front, acid-washed Z. Cavaricci jeans in high school…in my own defense, it was 1987 and I am from Long Island, the capital of scary fashion (in the 1980s, that is).” If you’re going to learn anything from the stylish Mr. Kelly, it should be that you have to build your wardrobe from the bottom up with pieces that will work with the rest of your wardrobe. And, like all mistakes in life, a fashion flop makes a great story.

Sources 1, 2, 3

Written by MaryKate Guidry from LIM

Today in Fashion History: February 21st

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 06:00:53 -0500

“You want to do away with the only thing that keeps women quiet - their sewing!” Isaac Singer (1)

On this day in 1842, in Washington DC, John Greenough patented perhaps the most important technological contribution to the fashion history: the sewing machine. Dubbed “The Queen of Inventions” by Gody’s magazine in 1860, the sewing machine offered women relief from the countless hours and tedium of hand sewing.

There is a long-standing debate over who exactly created the first sewing machine. Dating back to the Industrial Revolution, the sewing machine aimed to reduce the manual labor that had to be done at various fabric units.

It is said that Thomas Saint had discovered the first sewing machine in 1790. However, in 1791, Saint’s design was patented, but he had not yet built a model built based on his design. The Australian tailor, Josef Madersperger, was the first to invent the first physical stitching machine. In 1833, Walter Hunt came up with the “lock stitch” stitching machines. Hunt then sold the machine without asking for a patent.

Nevertheless, it was in the U.S. in 1842 when John Greenough was the first to patent the stitching machine. Although Greenough takes credit for the patent, the man behind the design was Elias Howe, who greatly improved Hunt’s model. As a result, many Americans attempted to ignore Greenough’s patent request, but he contested and won in 1854.

Today, the Queen of Inventions remains one of the most important inventions precisely because it gave rise to the clothing industry. Its creation sparked companies to continue experimenting with technology and revolutionize the textile industry.

Sources 1, 2, 3

Written by Mary Cabigao, Stylitics Ambassador from Georgetown University

8 Fashion Week Trends and Which Ones We Think Will Take Off

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:51:00 -0500

Peplums and paisley and pantsuits, oh my! New York Fashion Week has come and gone and, as promised, has left a bevy of new trends in its wake. To separate the one hit wonders from styles with staying power, we consulted Stylitics data for a look at how you’re wearing and buying these trends right now. Based on the data, we were able to predict which trends will hit it big. The results might surprise you.

Peplums

Alexandre Herchcovitch

The verdict is in: the peplum perseveres. Making its debut last February and solidifying its top trend status in September, the peplum was everywhere this Fashion Week, now appearing in velvet, metallic, and leather for next fall. According to Stylitics data, the public started stocking up on this trend back in June and subsequently started wearing peplums en masse in August.

Purchasing of peplums has done nothing but increase since October, so we expect wearing to do the same. It looks like the peplum is here to stay – at least for another year. This is one trend you can buy and wear now.

Leather

Theyskens’ Theory

Limiting leather to outerwear and accessories is a thing of the past. Leather has quickly proven to be a ready-to-wear staple. As seen on the runways of Theyskens’ Theory, Rebecca Minkoff, and Tibi (to name a few), it’s been used in tops, pants, skirts, dresses, anything you can make from fabric, really.

From your buying patterns, especially after September Fashion Week, leather looks like a trend that will translate off the runways, as well. Leather appeared most often off the catwalks last March, just after February Fashion Week, and made a modest comeback beginning in November and lasting throughout the fall season. But despite a slight drop-off in the amount of leather you’ve been wearing, it seems like you’ve been stocking up on leather goods, especially since leather made its mark on the Spring 2013 collections in September. If the peplum trend is any indication, a spike in buying means a subsequent spike in wearing. Our verdict? Stock up on this trend – leather is here to stay.

Suiting

Rag & Bone

Suiting has become more and more prevalent on the runways since last February, and this Fashion Week was no exception. Off the runways, it looks like you were inspired last March to rock this look (perhaps a testament to Prabal Gurung’s Spring 2012 printed pantsuits?), but retired your power suits come summertime.

However, data suggests that suiting might just make a comeback. With buying spiking in January of this year, it looks like it’s setting up to be a very corporate-chic spring.

Lace

Tadashi Shoji

Lace is one trend that was unexpected, but prevalent in collections like Tadashi Shoji. According to Stylitics data, it looks like this one might have thrown you for a loop as well. Lace peaked in popularity last March and had staying power through the spring, but fell off drastically last fall. Data shows that buying has also tapered off since last summer.

The verdict is still out on this one, but we’re curious to see whether lace picks back up in March. Our guess? Lace will still be a trend to watch throughout the summer, but it’s unclear whether this will hit it big next fall. Wait this one out for now.

Metallic

Milly

It’s no secret that metallics were everywhere this Fashion Week. And while we take to shiny things like a shopaholic to the Barney’s Warehouse sale, we can’t help but wonder whether this trend will resonate with the masses. Bright and shiny certainly has a good track record as of late, as evidenced by the surge in neon last summer, but the question remains: can metallic be the new neon?

The answer? We think so. Our data shows a slight increase in metallics on the streets, especially in the past few months, and a big surge in buying metallics going into fall. And, historically, if you’re stocking up, it means you’ll be wearing it out. Here’s to hoping, anyway! This is one to buy now.

Dark purple

Rag & Bone

From Rag & Bone to Carolina Herrera to Kimberly Ovitz, eggplant certainly made its mark on the runways. We’re all about jewel tones for fall and, as it turns out, so are you. From the data, this is one trend we can say with confidence is happening right now. From wearing to buying, purple has done nothing but skyrocket since last fall.

But whether or not it’s hit its peak remains to be seen. Our guess? Come next fall, the plum pantone will be everywhere. Keep this one on hand.

Burgundy

Kimberly Ovitz

Burgundy was big last fall, but still showed up in several of the 2013 collections. Looking at the data, it seems like this trend may have already hit its peak – at least for now. This hue showed promise going into December, but the tides turned as soon as the New Year hit. If buying of burgundy continues its downward trend, we’d imagine you’ll stop seeing it on the streets as well.

But don’t run to the consignment stores with your burgundy gear just yet. Going into next fall, this is one that could go either way. So keep your burgundy stash around, but hold off on adding anything new for now.

Paisley

Jenni Kayne

Paisley for fall was certainly a pleasant surprise. We’ve been hoping for the resurgence of this print, especially since 10 Crosby by Derek Lam’s Spring 2013 collection. And while this trend fell dormant through the fall, it looks like you might be ready for a comeback as well.

Stylitics data shows a steep decline in paisley – both in what you’re wearing and what you’re buying – through fall, but activity over the last couple of months bodes well for the future of this trend. Buying picked up in January, and wearing subsequently picked up right in time for Fashion Week. If this pattern continues, this is one trend you’ll want to snag early.

What were your favorite trends from New York Fashion Week? Tell us in the comments!

Written by Jessica Novak, Marketing Manager for real-time trend insights company Stylitics. Jessica is a blogger, runner, coffee addict, avid alliterator, and chambray enthusiast.

Today in Fashion History: February 20th

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 06:00:57 -0500

“Taste is something that can be taught and learned—good judgment is the product of sound thinking.” Jessica Daves (1)

Jessica Daves was born in 1894 in Cartersville, Georgia. She grew up with four siblings — one sister and 3 brothers — in a strict, Southern home with her parents, Walter Weaks Daves and Annie Hopkins Daves. She first entered the fashion world in 1921, when she began working in the advertising department of Best & Co., a children’s clothing store. Her career path eventually took her to Vogue, where she was offered a position as the Fashion Merchandising Editor. Only ten years later, Daves was named the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, as well as a director of Condé Nast publications.

Daves was hand selected as the Editor-in-Chief by the previous editor, Edna Woolman Chase, due to her work ethic, passion, and merchandising skills. Daves famously brought art to the magazine by working with photographer Irving Penn, who was able to modernize fashion by simplifying what was being photographed without adding extra elements. New features, such as the notable people, travel essays, and “People are Talking About” sections, all of which touched upon theater, art, and film, filled the magazine for the first time. These sections now appeared alongside fashion articles and spreads, allowing Vogue readership to become more diversified.

Daves also noticed a trend popularized by Yves Saint Laurent: Ready-to-Wear. She was able to make the idea of Ready-to-Wear chic by incorporating it in the magazine.

In 1962, Diana Vreeland became the assistant editor at Vogue. Shortly after, Daves announced her retirement and Vreeland took over as Editor-in-Chief. After her retirement, Daves coedited and compiled a few books before publishing her own: Ready-Made Miracle, the Story of American Fashion for the Millions. After a long and successful career, Jessica Daves passed away in 1974, but her influence on Vogue can still be seen today.

Sources 1, 2

Written by Lauren Mullin, Stylitics Ambassador from Kent State University

Today in Fashion History: February 19th

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 06:00:56 -0500

“The most important thing is to enjoy yourself and have a good time.” C.Z. Guest (1)

On this day in 1920, the celebrated socialite and American style icon, C.Z. Guest, was born in Boston, Massachusetts. C.Z. is best known for her clean-cut, elegant look that embodied the classic American style of the 1950s and 60s.

She was born Lucy Douglas Cochrane but became C. Z. when her brother could not pronounce ”sister” and she kept the nickname her entire life. In 1947, C.Z. married polo star, Winston Frederick Churchill Guest, in the home of their close friend and best man, Ernest Hemingway. C.Z. would become an international socialite and go on to be photographed in countless magazines, including Vogue and Time.Throughout her life, she would associate with and befriend the likes of Truman Capote, Andy Warhol, and Diego Rivera.

Although C.Z. lived a life that most people dream of, she was in fact known to be incredibly down-to-earth. She was particularly fascinated with gardening; from an early age, she would follow around her family’s gardener to gather as much knowledge on the subject as she could. After a horseback riding accident, she turned her passion into a career by selling gardening books and tools as well as writing a gardening column for The New York Post.

Sources 1, 2, 3

Written by Shayla Hayward-Lundy, Stylitics Ambassador from Earl L. Vandermeulen High School

Decoded Fashion: Decoded, Pt. 2

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:03:00 -0500

To cap off another fantastic Fashion Week, we participated in the Decoded Fashion event for the second time on February 14th. Decoded Fashion serves to bring together the leaders and up-and-comers within the fashion and technology industries. Beyond offering a perspective on the future relationship between fashion and technology through a carefully curated group of fashion’s most successful entrepreneurs, leaders, and designers, Decoded Fashion is also an opportunity for three start-ups to present their missions to a panel of judges for a chance to win a $10,000 cash prize!

On the roster of featured guests this season were fashion designer Zac Posen, supermodel Coco Rocha, and Foursquare founder Dennis Crowley, among others, and Stylitics was honored to join their ranks! We wanted to fill you in on some of our favorite moments from the event as we presented the future of the digital closet

The day started with a panel discussion on the future of e-commerce with Shauna Mei of AHAlife, Bryan Wolff of Bonobos, Farryn Weiner of Michael Kors, and Lisa Green of Google. On social media, Shauna Mei explained, “I think for a lot of brands, they want be able to tell their story.” Social media, as a form of storytelling, resonated with the rest of the panel as well. Each company shared how they continue to tell their story, with Farryn Weiner pointing to the recent livestream of the Fall 2013 collection as a way that Michael Kors told his. Livestreaming is becoming increasingly popular in the fashion world, particularly during Fashion Week as this year’s MBFW was the first to be entirely livestreamed. If Fashion Week and top designers like Michael Kors are indicators, then you can expect to see even more livestreaming in the future.

We also heard from Fashion Keynote, Zac Posen, who was interviewed by Scott Dadich of WIRED. One of the most interesting takeaways from this segment was Posen’s discussion of his Instagram usage, namely how he shares pictures of his designs as he works on them to get feedback from his fans. “We live in a very voyeuristic culture,” he said, “and if you help curate that voyeurism, it’s the biggest opportunity in the world.”

Beyond these observations, Posen also made note of the way in which technology is actually affecting fashion trends. He marveled at the rise of dressing down instead of dressing up, perhaps due to the more casual nature of social media as opposed to traditional media. “It’s almost the new punk,” he said on this fashion movement. It’s still too soon to know for sure, but this trend may have popularized with public figures allowing fans into their private lives, breaking down formal barriers that traditional media once upheld. As social media continues to grow in significance, we can only imagine that we’ll see even more dissolve of these barriers — street style is here to stay!

During our presentation, Rohan Deuskar, Stylitics co-founder and CEO, introduced the Connected Closet, asking industry professionals to think about how they fit into their customer’s story, and not the other way around. “When you connect the closet to the power of web and mobile,” he said, “you can do incredible things.” Watch our intro video here, or read Rohan’s entire speech here.

The Fashion Hackathon, the first of its kind, featured three aspiring start-ups. The finalists, 42, Coveted, and SWATCHit, presented their concepts to a panel of judges, including Steven Kolb of the CFDA, Zac Posen, Susan Lyne of Gilt Groupe, and Dirk Standen of Style.com.

The first finalist, 42, presented a concept built around creating a personal profile for shoppers, with the idea that a loyal shopper’s experience should be tailored to his or her history with that store. Then, Coveted presented a one-step checkout integrated with Tumblr, created so that brands’ images are easily identifiable and the products in those images are more readily available. Lastly, SWATCHit presented their concept, introducing an app that would help connect designers and brands to artisans.

All of the presentations were compelling, but ultimately SWATCHit took home the grand prize: $10,000 in cash and a launch supported by the CFDA. Congratulations, SWATCHit!

The event closed with remarks from the founders of Decoded Fashion, Liz Bacelar and Stephanie Winston Wolkoff. The event, once again, successfully brought together the voices of the future of fashion and technology and shed light on what we can expect to see in the next year and beyond. “This is just the beginning of something really incredible,” they said — and we wholeheartedly agree!

All images courtesy of Decoded Fashion

Written by Annie Wazer, Marketing Coordinator for real-time trend insights company Stylitics. Annie can often be found wearing leather leggings and has never met a cup of coffee she didn’t like.

Today in Fashion History: February 18th

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 06:00:46 -0500

“Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere.” Helen Gurley Brown (1)

Magazines are a cyclical product. Some have only lasted a few years while others have withstood the test of time, as is the case with Cosmopolitan magazine. A publication so well known that it has spawned international counterparts and countless byproducts. Without its editor, Helen Gurley Brown, Cosmopolitan could not have achieved its current status in the industry.

Born in February 18, 1922, in Green Forest Arkansas, Brown had a knack for writing since an early age. It was while working as a secretary for an advertising agency, though, that her employer recognized her writing skills and promoted her to copywriter.

In 1962, she published “Sex and the Single Girl,” which would shake up the sexist world it was born in. Advocating for active sex lives, affairs, and ways for women to look their best, Brown ignited a spark in the impending Women’s Movement. In the sixties, Brown spent much of her time advocating for women’s rights and later landed her famous role at Cosmopolitan.

In 1965, she stepped up as Editor-in-Chief and, for more than three decades, was a pioneer for women’s empowerment. She shocked many with her controversial bedroom advice, and continued to strive for equality in the workplace. Cosmopolitan was the top selling magazine worldwide and birthed 67 international editions.

Brown left Cosmopolitan in 1997 but continued to work at Hearst Magazines with a strong role in producing the international editions. Together with her husband, Brown established the Brown Institute for Media Innovation to support aspiring journalists.

Brown passed away in August 2012 at 90 years old and left a strong impact on aspiring women in media across the world.

Sources 1, 2, 3, 4

Written by Stephanie Lara, Stylitics Ambassador from Texas State

Today in Fashion History: February 17th

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 06:30:00 -0500

“I’ve always been interested in fashion — it’s a valid art form. And as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more interested in sophistication.” Scott Weiland (1)

On February 17, 2009, former Stone Temple Pilots frontman, Scott Weiland, launched a clothing line with English Laundry. The legendary rocker, now the frontman for the Velvet Revolvers, is best-known for pushing glam rock off the charts in the early 90s in favor of the grunge rock movement.

His rock-and-roll isn’t all he’s known for, though. Weiland has been associated with a slew of memorable looks, attributing his creative sense of style to other music legends, “From early on, I was inspired by rock icons like David Bowie and Keith Richards who helped in molding my personal sense of style.”

In the start of his career, Weiland could be found wearing a gas-station-attendant workshirt with scruffy, unkempt hair. Later, he died his hair fiery red, added eye-liner to his repertoire, stocked up on pin-striped suits, cross-dressed, and, occasionally, wore nothing but an American flag. In more recent years, with the Velvet Revolvers, Weiland has opted for leather jackets and studded belts, a decidedly cleaner approach to his bad-boy image.

“Somewhere along the way rock lost its elegance,” Weiland said on his motivation for starting his line. “After all, you can’t continue to dress like you did in your early twenties — unless you’re Keith Richards.”

The line includes button-down dress shirts, woven jackets, vest, striped slacks, ties, t-shirts, and hats, among other styles. As an added touch, Weiland chose to add a personal feature to his designs, explaining, “I had my parents get my family crest together and that’s one of the icons.”

Sources: 1, 2, 3

Written by Annie Wazer, Marketing Coordinator for real-time trend insights company Stylitics. Annie can often be found wearing leather leggings and has never met a cup of coffee she didn’t like.

Today in Fashion History: February 16th

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 06:00:58 -0500

“Never underestimate the power of a woman.” The Ladies’ Home Journal (1)

February 16, 1883 saw the creation of The Ladies’ Home Journal, an iconic magazine that now covers topics like beauty, fashion, food, relationship advice, and health. Originally, the Journal produced a very different range of content, publishing things like government messages intended for housewives.

Louisa Knapp Curtis, founder and editor of the magazine, had originally intended to title the publication, The Ladies’ Home Journal and Practical Housekeeper. At the time, women were strictly housekeepers, but in 1886, this part of the title was removed and it quickly became one of the leading magazines in the country. Around the 20^th century, The Ladies’ Home Journal began publishing the work of social reformers like Jane Addams, while also publishing content like Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural designs. At its inception, the magazine focused on the domestic housewife; however, in 1946, The Ladies’ Home Journal chose to use the slogan, “Never underestimate the power of a woman,” an appropriate concept for a time when the question of women’s equality was particularly relevant.

The magazine was among the “Seven Sisters:” seven similar, rival magazines. Out of the group, including Better Homes and Gardens, Family Circle, Good Housekeeping, McCall’s, Redbook and Women’s Day, The Ladies’ Home Journal was the most popular. However, in 1961, it fell behind to Redbook, prompting Curtis to sell the magazine only seven years later. The Ladies’ Home Journal was finally acquired by the Meredith Corporation, where it remains today.

With a dismal subscription rate, The Ladies’ Home Journal took part in the technological magazine revolution in the early 2000’s, revitalizing the magazines success. More recently, in the March 2012 issue, the magazine released a new visual and editorial design that included cover photos by photographer Brigitte Lacomb. The Journal was one the first consumer magazines to crowd source a portion of their editorials to readers who would be paid for their work.

Beginning as a magazine for domestic housewives, and developing into an every-day-woman publication, The Ladies’ Home Journal has continually adjusted to shifting social perspectives and cultural preferences to ensure its longevity.

Sources 1, 2, 3

Written by Ashley Thode, Stylitics Ambassador from the University of Wisconsin

Date Night: 3 Perfect Looks

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:17:00 -0500

Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but we still have date-night dressing on our minds. We’ve taken a look at how you’ve worn the color of love — classic red is the way to go — and what items you’ve worn most on dates — skinny jeans reign supreme. Now, let’s take a look at three of our influencers who make date dressing look as easy as gift buying (just put a ring on it!):

Grace Atwood, of Stripes & Sequins

A printed dress, an eye-catching clutch, sheer tights, and some killer heels: Ms. Atwood has date dressing down to a science.

Shop Grace’s Yves Saint Laurent heels and check out the rest of her closet: http://bit.ly/XLemU1

Katy Atlas, of Sugarlaws

Sometimes all you need to take an outfit from daytime to date night is a pair of skinny jeans in an unexpected color. Katy shows us how it’s done by toning down her snakeskin, gold skinnies with a black tank and heels.

Shop Katy’s Zara pants and check out the rest of her closet: http://bit.ly/YwnxEZ

Caroline Knapp, of Caroline in the City

“Casual” and “dress” don’t always go hand in hand, but Caroline makes her mini look casual cool with a chunky scarf and a burgundy shoulder bag.

Shop Caroline’s Rebecca Minkoff bag and check out the rest of her closet: http://bit.ly/VlmKcp

What’s your go-to date night outfit? Tell us in the comments below!

Stylitics at Decoded Fashion: The Connected Closet

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:16:48 -0500

This Fashion Week, we were invited to take part in Decoded Fashion, an event designed to bring together the leaders in fashion and technology in open discourse on the future of the relationship between the two. Our Co-founder and CEO, Rohan Deuskar, spoke to the audience of 400 brands, entrepreneurs, bloggers, and journalists, on Stylitics’ role in creating the future of the smart, connected closet. Check out the intro video here and read his entire speech below:

2013 is the breakout year for the digital closet. That’s very good news for everyone in this room — for publishers and bloggers, for brands and retailers, and especially for consumers.

If this is surprising to you, I’ll tell you, we’ve seen this movie before. For example, we saw it with the rapid rise of online retail. As recently as 2009, a lot of people were still asking, “Why would consumers shop for clothes online? There’s so much friction. What about fit and sizing? Returns? Customer service?”

These are fair questions…a lot of this friction is still there. So why did online retail take off? Because when we connected the store to the power and convenience of web and mobile, we unlocked an amazing new set of capabilities that were great for consumers and great for the industry.

What’s happening with digital closets is the same story for the same reason. When you connect the closet to the power of web and mobile, you can suddenly do some incredible things with recommendations, retail, styling, and analytics that simply weren’t possible before.

So, what does this mean for you? Well, like with online commerce, like with social media, to get the most out of this movement requires a new mindset.

As an industry, we need to stop thinking so much about how the customer fits into our story – as a sale, as a like, as a follow. Instead we need to focus more on how our brand, our product fits into the customer’s story: into their outfits, into their closet, into their identity.

For the first time, this is actually possible. For the first time, hundreds of thousands of your customers are opening up their closets to you, inviting you in, and sharing their tastes and behavior with you in vivid detail. There’s tons of data here — but forget big data, this is best friend data: intimate access, on a massive scale.

Brands and retailers we work with describe this experience as eye-opening, humbling. For the first time, they see they’re only, say, 5% of the closet of even their most loyal customers. They know this intellectually - we all do. But when they see it, the wheels start to turn. They see lost sales and missed opportunities, trends evolving in real-time, new ways to engage. It’s incredibly powerful.

This is great for consumers and great for brands. And the key to taking digital closets mainstream is to make it extremely easy for consumers to put their closets online. So, Stylitics is working with top brands and retailers on a program we call Closet Connect, which lets people pull in all their past purchases from across brands and retailers, at one time, into their digital closet. It’s free for retailers, free for consumers, and we think it’s going to change the industry.

So, I’ll leave you with an important question:

Given that hundreds of thousands, millions, of your customers will be putting their closets online for the first time, how does that change your conversation with them? How does it change what you can do in marketing, merchandizing, and design?

You answered this question for your brand with online retail, and again with social media. For digital closets, we think the answer is just as important.

Thank you!

Follow Rohan on Twitter at @rohand

Image courtesy Getty Images

Today in Fashion History: February 15th

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 06:00:00 -0500

“We all must maintain freedom to show off individuality.” Adolfo Sardina (1)

Adolfo Sardina was born February 15, 1933 in Cardenas, Cuba. Adolfo, who never uses his last name professionally, started out as an apprentice to the renowned designer, Balenciaga, in Paris. He immigrated to New York in 1948 after being encouraged to do so by American buyers. He started his career as a hat designer, with the belief that that if he could design a hat, he could design anything. In 1955, he won his first Coty Award for his designs. His hats quickly developed a reputation, which helped him gain a large following. “I started as a milliner, but I never enjoyed making hats. But I met the clients who became my dress clients,” Adolfo said of his career.

Adolfo started his own company in 1962 and began making suits, that many called “Chanel copies,” as well as luxurious evening gowns. He also began pairing silk skirts with Chanel jackets, insisting that it was actually Chanel who was copying him. He was then awarded his second Coty award in 1969 for his unique women’s wear designs. He started designing menswear in 1976 and his brand continued to grow when he began designing shirts, active wear, personal leather goods, perfume, ladies’ blouses and knits, and more. His menswear collections earned him a nomination for this third Coty award.

The Duchess of Windsor, one of Adolfo’s loyal clients, introduced the designer to Betsy Bloomingdale, Babe Paley, and First Lady Nancy Reagan, all future clients of his. In 1982, Adolfo became a member of one of the most prestigious groups in the Fashion Industry, The CFDA (The Council of Fashion Designers of America). He resigned in 1993 because he decided to focus more on his licensing business.

Happy birthday, Adolfo!

Sources 1, 2

Written by Caroline Vazzana, Stylitics Ambassador from Albright College

Today in Fashion History: February 14th

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 06:00:39 -0500

“People love to listen to her, listen to her diction, watch her poise, try to understand what’s going through her mind.” Douglas Brinkley, CBS News Consultant, on Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1)

On Valentine’s Day in 1962, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis took television viewers on a tour of the White House while wearing a red, Christian Dior day dress. When she first moved in, Mrs. Kennedy Onassis thought it was a shame that hardly anything prior to 1902 was still remaining in the White House. To remedy this décor dilemma, she set off on a $2 million renovation to restore its historical roots. With 80 million viewers tuned in, the First Lady won over Americans by treating them to the first in-depth look at the White House.

Mrs. Kennedy Onassis took viewers into state floor rooms, including the Diplomatic Reception room, which she adorned with wallpaper of American landscape scenes. She installed a private dining room and family kitchen, and also focused her attention on redesigning the West Wing. She built the Situation Room and re-landscaped the Rose Garden for meetings with the press. Unfortunately, she would never see the Cabinet Room or Oval Office complete renovation. She left the White House before they were finished and the rooms were left in the hands of Mrs. Lady Bird Johnson.

The tour cemented the image of the Kennedy presidency as one filled with elegance and youthfulness and served to propel Mrs. Kennedy into celebrity status, influencing the future of media attention on presidential spouses.

Mrs. Kennedy was awarded an honorary Emmy for her time as the White House tour guide. The statue is on display in the Museum at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.

Sources 1, 2, 3, 4

Written by Colleen Kratofil, Stylitics Ambassador from Ohio University.