Classmate blogs

Bonjour to all! Today I am taking a little break from the chaos that is the fashion world of PR and taking a look at some of my classmates blogs. The amazing thing about public relations is that there are different sectors of it ranging from sports, entertainment, and travel to health care. There is always a need to represent a company or brand, and public relations gives you a vast variety of options to explore in order to find your perfect match.

The first blog I decided to read belongs to my dear roommate Lisa Perez. Her blog focus is entertainment PR- my favorite! She discusses various topics that involve celebrities and events we hear about everyday in the news. Forms of advertisement surround our daily lives- from TV commercials, magazine ads, and billboards we are continuously being convinced to use this product, and buy that one. As Lisa discusses in her research ethics post, consumers are captivated by celebrities using everyday products that relate to us. The Proactiv commercials are a great example of this because they use celebrities and everyday teens to promote their product. These commercials let teenagers see that celebrities aren't pictures of perfection- they have many of the same issues that we do, such as acne. Proactiv gives quantitative research with statistics while still holding the audiences attention and selling the product. Lisa did a great job at recognizing this and relating it to research methods.

The second I read was Paige's fashion blog. I decided to read hers because we have both focused our blogs on fashion. We both explored similiar situations in fashion- such as brand design and imitation. Fashion is all about getting your name out there and receiving approval from consumers. Paige's blog highlights these important factors, as well as the imporatnce of research in every way.

Fashion Research and Ethics

Research in the fashion industry is crucial in targeting specified groups of people. The industry has recently shifted towards targeting consumers who are for the ethical treatment of animals, as well as those who "go green." The emergence  Organizations such as PETA have been known to rally at many major fashion shows by jumping on the runway, or throwing red paint at models and celebrities wearing fur.

In order to conserve animal rights, many celebrities such as Eva Mendes and Pamela Anderson have spoken out against the unethical treatment of animals, particularly in the fashion industry. Celebrities such as Khloe Kardashian, Steve-O, and Christina Appelgate have all participated in the "I'd rather go naked  than wear fur" campaign. Designers such as Stella McCartney have proved that it is possible to stay on top in the fashion industry while still respecting animals rights. Consumers have become more aware of ethical issues involving animal rights, child labor laws, and environmental protection. This has helped consumers make more informed decisions. Elaine Giles, research executive at TNS Worldpanel Fashion states:

"7.1 million consumers say that ethical issues are important to them but feel availability of such items is poor ... retailers must not underestimate the importance of ethical credentials, as ethical fashion is high on the consumer agenda."

Designers are constantly doing research in order to keep consumers happy. The top three stores that offer organic clothing are target.com, ecomall.com, and soul-flower.com. 

Fashion Week, continued

     Fashionistas around the world were able to join together in high heel heaven as the spring 2011 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week proved to be a hit. Not only did the change in venue from Bryant Park to Lincoln Center prove to be a success, but various shows captivated the public as well as the celebrities sitting in the front row.
     According to New York Times fashion, most collections could be placed into three different categories. Marc Jacobs and Diane Von Furstenberg took us back to the 1970's with high shorts, knit tops, and flower head wear as their inspiration while Derek Lam and Michael Kors designed clothes ready for a California sun goddess. Carolina Herrera and Vera Wang kept their clothes ultra chic with a theme of east meets west.
     Public Relations took an interesting twist this year. Some shows were broadcast live over the internet allowing up to date publicity on the latest designers while giving those an opportunity to view the show like their favorite celebrities.  Another great tool used for publicity during this hectic week was twitter. Celebrities were able to tweet about upcoming shows, as well as take pictures of exactly what they were seeing come down the runway. If you follow Peoples Revolution on twitter you will notice their hectic PR schedule as well. The companies hand on approach with their clients including casting calls, lighting, and seating arrangements as well as being thrown into the chaos backstage.
     I have viewed a few shows from the spring 2011 collection, and found Marc Jacobs presentation particularly interesting. Here is a youtube video for those of you interested. Au Revoir!

Beginning of New York Fashion Week

It is no surprise to those interested in the industry that public relations is a cut throat community designed to test your limits. The daily tasks involved with public relations are constantly changing as well as the situations you may find yourself in while representing a client or company. The change of scenery associated with unfamiliar places, new people, and trends have attracted me to the fashion sector of this community.

The fashion world is gearing up for their version of the World Series. Blood sweat and tears- or shall we say pins, hemlines, and heels- will take over New York City from September 9 to September 16.Designers will be showcasing their latest creations for the spring 2011 season. It is glamorous to watch models sashay down the runway overlooking the celebrities sitting in the front row. Many people do not realize what goes on behind the scenes to make these trend setting displays of clothing into fabulous displays of art.

 Fashion public relations companies such as Peoples revolution produce shows for over 46 clients including Sass & Bide and Vivienne Westwood. Kelly Cutrone, the founder of Peoples Revolution, help represent designers, create seating charts, control lighting and deal with the chaos that ensues backstage.

            

With this blog I will keep those who are interested up to date on different fashion PR companies with a concentration on Peoples revolution. In addition I will investigate important fashion events occurring in the New York area. 


For up to date information regarding the time and dates of upcoming shows, please visit 
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week