Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Finally! Direcroty Info for NYAF!
Good news, people! I finally found out where we will be in the NYAF Artist Alley. Table E1, according to the chart they emailed me, is one of the fisrt 4 tables at the entrance for the area :D So if you're attending the con, come by, say hi and see if we got something you like. Totally psyched! Just 3 more weeeks!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Editorial: Is Fashion Journalism Dead?
**Original posting on Daily Fashion Report's Blog**
DFR Daily Fashion Report for Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Editorial: Is Fashion Journalism Dead?
Informed vs Uninformed Criticism: Who Needs It?
Do designers care or even want anyone reporting on their shows who has an experienced & educated eye that really looks at the clothes, how they are made, fitted and presented? Sure, there are plenty who write about the shows - the Internet is awash with these so-called journalists expressing their opinions about this designer or that one. But what of all these opinions? Is everyone an expert who has an opinion? What is the difference between informed and uninformed criticism? Should someone with 20 years experience covering the shows be of equal weight with someone whose only experience in fashion is viewing collections on the Internet? If the editor with 20 years experience gets a 1000 readers a day and the 16 year old blogger gets 10,000 a day is the blogger's content better informed or more valuable?
"Sorry but due to the great demand, we cannot not accommodate your request for tickets this season". - KCD
Critical review of collections is an essential. Good criticism helps point out the areas of strength and the areas of weakness in a given collection. This feedback helps the designer grow and develop. But, these days, everyone is an expert. Informed opinion is lost in a sea of uninformed opinion that permeates magazines and the Internet disguised in clever graphics, snarky tweets and celebrity worship.
Frankly, most designers are not interested in someone who is in a position to really judge the quality of their designs. What good does it do them? It is just another opinion among so many. Just look at any major NY show and you will see who is considered of real importance. The front rows are filled with celebs, socialites, family, close friends and those editors of status deemed friendly to the designer. Hardly a critical audience. The designer is preaching to the choir.
There was a time when the out-of-town press would come in to cover and review the shows for their readers. These full-time paid fashion writers took their jobs seriously and expressed their approval or dismay over what they saw on the runway. They also provided serious feedback to the designer. But, over the past 10 years, most of them are gone now. They do not come in because they are not invited. Why, because their opinion is no longer wanted. Why should a designer risk negative press? No press is better than negative press.
So, in their place, the rooms are now filling with 20-something year old fashion bloggers (and even younger) with mostly dubious credentials and questionable taste, junior staff members of major magazines (how many depending upon how much the designer spent on advertising in the magazine), pr firm "favorites" with no direct relationship to fashion other than they are well connected, sponsors' friends, and more and more these days paying ticket holders who have deep pockets.
Besides Cathy Horyn, and maybe Robin Givhan, in New York where is the cadre of "informed" independent writers who cover the designer collections? Even WWD, being owned by Conde Nast, is alway suspect of playing up those designers who advertise the most in their other fashion books. Who dares speak for fear of not being invited next season? Designers and their publicists have to put up with some of the big national press, but for the rest of us it is: "Sorry but due to the great demand, we cannot not accommodate your request for tickets this season".
-Ernest Schmatolla
I have to agree with Mr. Schatolla on this subject. I understand that celebs are the walking ad boards for designers. What they wear is supposed to set the trends of the streets. Where have all the independant writers gone? I did a few locan fashion shows so I was more concerned with press than "omg what if X is actually going to show up?" Really? Like, since when was is okay to wear bootie shorts outside the clubs and have your ass cheeks and boxers out for all the world to see? My sister got flashed one day on the bus and you call that fashion? If looking like jail bait and walking around with the prison calling card that you want it in the back fashion, then bring on the zombies! We're ready for anything now. Just the last few days, women are wearing burnout tees with nothing underneath but their bra. When did that happen? it's bad enough I can see the print and color of a bra under a regular bra but a different thing to see it as clear as eye-searing day.
Call me a little old fashion, but certain things just should not be worn during certain times of the day. It seems that, thanks to popular media like the music industry and celebrities, it's okay to go to school like you're ready for the clubs. Yes, I went to a fashion school and that corta thingis expected. I knew a girl that came every day looking like at any moment she would be needed to walk the cat walk but to see kids that go to normal schools dressed "like they grown", as a coworker put it, bothers me. When I was their age, we had a dress code. Now, the dress code seems to be just how "fly" I can look. Girls look like they're asking to be attacked and guys are walking around like they "hood" enough. And when I think about it, if I had to choose the fashion of now and what I wore back in the day (my day being all black, chains, spikes and the stuff that labeled me "goth" even though I got along with everyone) then I choose to put my platforms and ripped fishnet stockings back on than have my ass cheeks hanging out and risk twisting my ankle (again) for the sake of looking like I'm in.
Mr. Schmatolla's article just raised the point that I have felt for the ages: who really does say it's okay to look like a skank hoe at 6 o'clock in the morning when you're on the way to school or work or where ever? With the exception of select locations, I really, really REALLY don't need your cheese searing my retina's so early in the morning before I've had at least 2 cups of coffee to restrain myself from telling you off.
NOTE: No, I don't know Mr. Schatolla nor to I work for DFR but their opinions matter to me and his article merely inspired me to write/ vent and say, "finally! an authority that speaks truth!" if you feelthe same, go follow DFR. If not, continue to be one with the flock and jump off that cliff like the lemming that some of the population seems to be.
DFR Daily Fashion Report for Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Editorial: Is Fashion Journalism Dead?
Informed vs Uninformed Criticism: Who Needs It?
Do designers care or even want anyone reporting on their shows who has an experienced & educated eye that really looks at the clothes, how they are made, fitted and presented? Sure, there are plenty who write about the shows - the Internet is awash with these so-called journalists expressing their opinions about this designer or that one. But what of all these opinions? Is everyone an expert who has an opinion? What is the difference between informed and uninformed criticism? Should someone with 20 years experience covering the shows be of equal weight with someone whose only experience in fashion is viewing collections on the Internet? If the editor with 20 years experience gets a 1000 readers a day and the 16 year old blogger gets 10,000 a day is the blogger's content better informed or more valuable?
"Sorry but due to the great demand, we cannot not accommodate your request for tickets this season". - KCD
Critical review of collections is an essential. Good criticism helps point out the areas of strength and the areas of weakness in a given collection. This feedback helps the designer grow and develop. But, these days, everyone is an expert. Informed opinion is lost in a sea of uninformed opinion that permeates magazines and the Internet disguised in clever graphics, snarky tweets and celebrity worship.
Frankly, most designers are not interested in someone who is in a position to really judge the quality of their designs. What good does it do them? It is just another opinion among so many. Just look at any major NY show and you will see who is considered of real importance. The front rows are filled with celebs, socialites, family, close friends and those editors of status deemed friendly to the designer. Hardly a critical audience. The designer is preaching to the choir.
There was a time when the out-of-town press would come in to cover and review the shows for their readers. These full-time paid fashion writers took their jobs seriously and expressed their approval or dismay over what they saw on the runway. They also provided serious feedback to the designer. But, over the past 10 years, most of them are gone now. They do not come in because they are not invited. Why, because their opinion is no longer wanted. Why should a designer risk negative press? No press is better than negative press.
So, in their place, the rooms are now filling with 20-something year old fashion bloggers (and even younger) with mostly dubious credentials and questionable taste, junior staff members of major magazines (how many depending upon how much the designer spent on advertising in the magazine), pr firm "favorites" with no direct relationship to fashion other than they are well connected, sponsors' friends, and more and more these days paying ticket holders who have deep pockets.
Besides Cathy Horyn, and maybe Robin Givhan, in New York where is the cadre of "informed" independent writers who cover the designer collections? Even WWD, being owned by Conde Nast, is alway suspect of playing up those designers who advertise the most in their other fashion books. Who dares speak for fear of not being invited next season? Designers and their publicists have to put up with some of the big national press, but for the rest of us it is: "Sorry but due to the great demand, we cannot not accommodate your request for tickets this season".
-Ernest Schmatolla
I have to agree with Mr. Schatolla on this subject. I understand that celebs are the walking ad boards for designers. What they wear is supposed to set the trends of the streets. Where have all the independant writers gone? I did a few locan fashion shows so I was more concerned with press than "omg what if X is actually going to show up?" Really? Like, since when was is okay to wear bootie shorts outside the clubs and have your ass cheeks and boxers out for all the world to see? My sister got flashed one day on the bus and you call that fashion? If looking like jail bait and walking around with the prison calling card that you want it in the back fashion, then bring on the zombies! We're ready for anything now. Just the last few days, women are wearing burnout tees with nothing underneath but their bra. When did that happen? it's bad enough I can see the print and color of a bra under a regular bra but a different thing to see it as clear as eye-searing day.
Call me a little old fashion, but certain things just should not be worn during certain times of the day. It seems that, thanks to popular media like the music industry and celebrities, it's okay to go to school like you're ready for the clubs. Yes, I went to a fashion school and that corta thingis expected. I knew a girl that came every day looking like at any moment she would be needed to walk the cat walk but to see kids that go to normal schools dressed "like they grown", as a coworker put it, bothers me. When I was their age, we had a dress code. Now, the dress code seems to be just how "fly" I can look. Girls look like they're asking to be attacked and guys are walking around like they "hood" enough. And when I think about it, if I had to choose the fashion of now and what I wore back in the day (my day being all black, chains, spikes and the stuff that labeled me "goth" even though I got along with everyone) then I choose to put my platforms and ripped fishnet stockings back on than have my ass cheeks hanging out and risk twisting my ankle (again) for the sake of looking like I'm in.
Mr. Schmatolla's article just raised the point that I have felt for the ages: who really does say it's okay to look like a skank hoe at 6 o'clock in the morning when you're on the way to school or work or where ever? With the exception of select locations, I really, really REALLY don't need your cheese searing my retina's so early in the morning before I've had at least 2 cups of coffee to restrain myself from telling you off.
NOTE: No, I don't know Mr. Schatolla nor to I work for DFR but their opinions matter to me and his article merely inspired me to write/ vent and say, "finally! an authority that speaks truth!" if you feelthe same, go follow DFR. If not, continue to be one with the flock and jump off that cliff like the lemming that some of the population seems to be.
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