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Image: Pinterest
I’m moving on to different pastures and wanted to take a moment to thank Common Threads for the opportunity and incredibly long leash, and to you for taking a chance on reading a blog based entirely on things I find interesting about fashion and people. I will miss writing this blog, it has been a distinct pleasure!
TO DO:
Carpe Diem
XOXO,
LUCIANN
Outdoor Voices founder Taylor Haney; image via Vogue.
“My mom was the best kind of coach growing up, and she had this saying ‘TYB, baby. Try your best, baby.’ Whether she was sending me to school or soccer practice or a slumber party, she’d say ‘TYB, baby!’ And that’s kind of this ongoing model we have at Outdoor Voices. It drums up enthusiasm and energy.”
-Tyler Haney
Outdoor Voices Promo; image via Outdoor Voices.
ALO Yoga and Outdoor Voices share overall business and online marketing strategies (see Part I and II of series), but their messages are a lesson in contrast: where ALO is exclusive, Outdoor Voices espouses and demonstrates inclusivity. “We really wanted to create a brand that celebrates activity rather than making it competitive,” OV founder and CEO Tyler Haney said in a 2016 CNBC interview. “We talk about our customer as someone who is active but not defined by it. For that reason, we get people from all walks of life.” She created the brand, she says, to “Give customers an alternative to the macho competitive feeling of existing [brands] that focus not on enjoyment of activities but on doing everything better, faster and stronger.
Examples of Outdoor Voices Social Media Campaign #doingthings; images via Outdoor Voices.
Operationalized, this means focus on fabric and fit; key partnerships with fashion houses like APC to elevate OV’s fashion status; and product design, marketing and in-store events that focus on being active, not an athlete. Outdoor Voices social media campaign focuses on real people getting out and doing things, and wearers can gather in their (relatively few—80% of sales are online) brick and mortar stores and go for dog walks, runs and more. “With Nike and so many other brands, it’s really about being an expert, being the best,” says Haney, 29. “With OV, it’s about how you stay healthy—and happy.”
This philosophy (and the understanding of consumer behavior, market trends, and gaps within them) resonates with the public: Haney made the Forbes 2016 30 Under 30 List, her company has raised nearly sixty million dollars from investors and has had triple-digit growth year on year since its founding. The company is not yet profitable, but Haney says it’s “close.”
TO DO:
Listen to Haney talk about why she thinks her company was able to raise capital here: Forbes' newest podcast, Million$,
Read this article from The New Yorker (it’s short)
Read this article in Vogue
Get out and do things!
XOXO,
LUCI
For it's not just in a declaration of independence
But the everyday declaration of its descendants
That make a people equal.
-Amanda Gorman, Believer’s Hymn Of The Republic
Amanda Gorman; image via Harvard.edu
Take time to this holiday to watch Inaugural National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman’s “Believer’s Hymn Of The Republic”, a poem she was commissioned to write about Independence Day by CBS This Morning.
Ms. Gorman, a poet, activist, and Harvard University senior, is accompanied here by the Boston Pops Orchestra playing “Battle Hymn of The Republic”:
Video Via Youtube.
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!
XOXO,
LUCIANN
PS: We’ll return to all things Outdoor Voices next time around…
Alo Yoga marketing photo; image via Pinterest.
Like all billion-dollar markets, Athleisure is crowded and competitive. Alo Yoga and Outdoor Voices stand out for their superior quality and high-style products, but experts concur it’s the culture each one espouses via online marketing that propels these companies to the levels of success attained. Let’s look at Alo first:
The only in-depth article I found online was via PIXLEE , they cite Alo’s marketing success is related to four tenants:
-Distinctive Branding (Alo embraces the trend of “studio-to-street” clothing and sells products like distressed and moto leggings; their digital branding phrases align with product names—so the consistent use of #goddess or #beagoddess across Alo’s platforms is consistent with the product name “high waist goddess legging”).
-Relationship With Other Businesses and Social Influencers (Alo partners with a highly curated list of brands, influencers and yogis; they have a shoppable IG Feed on their website that features content collected or re-grammed from social influencers and micro-influencers---expanding visibility and bolstering product credibility).
-They Use Real Customer Photos (user-generated content is a central part of Alo Yoga’s digital marketing strategy, it shares this content across social media channels and features a clear call-to-action asking customers to share Alo products).
-Clear Evergreen Hashtags (Alo Yoga always uses its branded hashtags when sharing on social media, building brand awareness and recognition; Alo users therefore know how to tag the brand properly on their own posts).
This all sounds smart, but here’s the rub: the only in-depth article assessing Alo Yoga’s marketing is provided by a vendor (PIXLEE). If you dig a little on the article’s claims, you may find some of them flimsy (it is difficult to locate real people on Alo Yoga’s social media platforms, I found only beautiful Yogi’s with strong followings on the prominent Alo Yoga accounts—I’ll keep looking!!). You will also find articles about an interesting lawsuit: https://mediakix.com/blog/alo-yoga-sues-influencer-dana-falsetti/.
TO DO:
-Bop around Alo Yoga’s social media accounts and see what you think..I didn’t include links purposely so you can see take the journey.
XOXO,
LUCIANN
NEXT WEEK: OUTDOOR VOICES: MARKETING STRATEGIES, CULTURE
Lululemon Ad via Pinterest
Lululemon will go down in retail history as legend: the Starbucks of athleisure, they’ve profited incredibly off a trend they created and made exclusive. A few years ago it seemed Lulu couldn’t be eclipsed; despite controversy, leadership changes, and the Lululemon Murder they still perform well.
But a handful of smaller companies are giving Lulu a run for its money; two of our favorite disruptors are Alo and Outdoor Voices. This week we’ll introduce them, and next time we will examine the marketed cultures of each.
Alo IG post; image via Pinterest.
Alo—an acronym for air, land, ocean--was founded in 2007 by Danny Harris (CEO) and his partner Marco deGeorge. Mr. Harris sites his lifestyle as impetus to start the LA-based company, “We practice yoga daily. We eat organic. We're about minimizing social and ecological footprint…about this whole mindfulness, whether it be meditation or presence."
Alo focuses on making technologically advanced performance yoga clothing, and their IG feed is a lesson in modern marketing. They follow a strict yogis-only social media strategy: this means they shoot beautiful yogis working hard in gorgeous settings (many of these yogis are social media influencers with strong followings of their own).
The strategy’s working: Alo Yoga has its own e-commerce platform, two bricks and mortar stores, and is carried at Bloomingdales, Nordstrom and Saks nationwide. Alo is also a cult celebrity brand favorite by way of Jennifer Garner and the Baldwin/Bieber/Hadid/Jenner set.
Outdoor Voices TechSweat Campaign; image via Pintereset.
Outdoor Voices has a resonant philosophy: We believe in going out and Doing Things. Moving our bodies and having fun. Let's let go of our expectations, rules, shoulds and should nots. Let's have fun, be free, make discoveries, make friends, and make progress.
Founded by Tyler Haney (CEO) in 2013, the company designs and sells mens and womens athletic apparel and has a focus on activity and inclusivity. They sell online and at bricks and mortar stores, and they are incredibly successful.
Haney (a self-described tomboy) grew up playing basketball, soccer, and running track. She planned to run hurdles in college, but took a gap year and different path instead.
She graduated from Parsons School of Design in 2012 and started Outdoor Voices the next year. In 2014 J. Crew selected Outdoor Voices for its "Brands We Love" sections; soon after, Outdoor Voices opened its first store in Austin. In 2017 they received $7.5 million in investments to start an active apparel line, moved headquarters to Austin, and began collaborations with fashion blog Man Repeller, ClassPass (a fitness-class booking startup) and French fashion label A.P.C.
By March 2018 the company had Mickey Drexler (former CEO of Gap Inc. and J. Crew Group, Inc.) in place as chairman of the board, and raised roughly $57 million in funding (lead investor include GV (formerly Google Ventures), General Catalyst Partners, and Forerunner Ventures.
NEXT BLOG : A Look at Marketing, Culture, Profits…
XOXO,
LUCIANN
Image via Cabi
White jeans are everywhere-evolved from a chic summer staple to a year-round classic. And suddenly a great pair of white jeans is the Holy Grail. Let’s arm ourselves for the pilgrimage.
FIT White jeans should be fitted & figure-hugging but never tight enough to create lines. Find the right silhouette and avoid the urge to size up (it looks sloppy and does no favors). Here’s a starter guide.
Curvy: high-rise, flares, slim and cropped (showing ankle to lengthen leg)
Kim Kardashian in high-rise, ankle-length white denim; image via Pinterest.
Tall: brands that offer 34-38 inch length (FRAME is wonderful), flares, crops that hit above ankle
Miranda Kerr in Stella McCartney flares; image via Denim Blog.
Plus Size: high waist, good stretch to fabric ( 2%-4% Lycra)
Ashley Graham in higher rise white jeans; image via Pinterest.
Apple: mid-rise, narrow-leg, stitch-down front pockets
Kate Upton in mid-rise, narrow-leg white jeans; image via Pinterest.
Petite: low to mid-rise, cropped styles, cool petite denim lines (Citizens of Humanity, Topshop )
Kate Bosworth in cropped flares; image via Daily Mail
FABRICATION Unless you're a teenager, supermodel or both seek thicker and stiffer fabrics than you might in darker shades. These can and likely should include stretch (though selvedge is very cool). Avoid trends like embellishment, too many zippers, too much distress… When fabric wears, donate and replace your jeans diligently.
White denim fabric; image via Amazon
TO DO
1. Get inspired here: WHO WHAT WEAR WHITE JEANS
2. Find yourself a great pair of white jeans (new or new to you) armed with this guide and in-store help
3. Basque in the eternal glow and infinite possibilities of your Grail
XOXO,
LUCIANN
Image via AHS Walkout.
Twenty years ago the Columbine school shooting changed the face and frequency of gun violence in American schools forever (The Washington Post School Shootings Database).
Last month a teenage girl obsessed with Columbine-who may have been planning an attack to mark the anniversary-flew to Denver from Florida, bought a shotgun, and was found dead of self-inflicted wounds after a 24 hour manhunt. Her family provided significant information leading to her capture. She was 18 years old.
Last Tuesday Kendrick Castillo rushed a shooter in his STEM School Highlands Ranch classroom; the move gave other students the chance to tackle the gunman and escape. Kendrick was shot in the chest and died. His father told interviewers he talked with his son about what to do in a school shooting, telling him you don’t have to be a hero. But Kendrick insisted he would act, “You raised me this way. You raised me to be a good person. That’s what I’m doing.” Kendrick would have graduated tomorrow and studied mechanical engineering at Arapahoe Community College. He was a hero. He was 18 years old.
No words are sufficient to describe the agony dealt victims’ families; no explanations sufficient for our country’s limp response. Blaming, politicizing, and marketing to fear wastes time: our children are being slaughtered. But chickens come home to roost: https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/secrecy-self-dealing-and-greed-at-the-nra
XOXO,
LUCIANN
Here’s a curated list of three cool, user-friendly trends we love from Spring 2019 and a little related discussion.
1. Layered Neutrals Tisci’s Burberry re-brand is credited for the easiest, most elegant trend of the season. If you do one thing this spring get a classic trench and layer it over everything. Alternately try a nude statement shoe, a pair of tan-framed sunglasses, a light brown belt…
Burberry via Harper’s Bazaar.
Gabriela Hearst via Harper’s Bazaar.
Jil Sander via Harper’s Bazaar.
Tie Dye at Taco Rabanne; via Harper’s Bazaar.
Surfer Girl Chic at Michael Kors; image via Harper’s Bazaar.
Tie Dye and cutoffs at R13; image via Harper’s Bazaar.
3. Vintage Scarf Prints No longer the exclusive territory of Ladies Who Lunch, 70’s inspired vintage scarf prints showed strongly at Chloe, Etro, and Balenciaga. I think the best way to wear this trend is with actual vintage scarves tied to your handbag, your wrist, in your hair, as a belt…around your neck (!)
Vintage Scarf Print at Monse; image via Harper’s Bazaar.
Etro runway; image via Harper’s Bazaar.
Vintage Scarf Prints at Balenciaga; image via Harper’s Bazaar.
Other notable trends crochet, babydoll dresses, platform sandals, 80’s denim, polka dots, anything yellow, biker shorts
Bike shorts at Fendi; image via Harper’s Bazaar.
Still relevant 90’s styles, bag straps, dad shoes, chokers, utility wear, small, and layered gold jewelry, hoop earrings
Utility look at Loewe; image via Harper’s Bazaar.
TO DO
-Explore the three trends above and find things that fit you and your life. Invest in some key pieces (shop your closet and dry clean/repair things as needed, then shop strategically keeping cost per wear concept in mind). Make yourself wear these things once a week. At least. See how it goes, you stylish minx…
-Pair trends with updated basics
denim high waisted, Levis 501’s, mom jeans, 80’s styles
tee shirts/tanks Hane’s 3-Packs are model off-duty staples for good reason
shoes dad shoes, birkenstocks, sdlides, Havianas, 90’s styles
sunnies: aviators, 90’s styles
XOXO,
LUCIANN
Marc Jacobs and Char Defrancesco at their wedding celebration in New York City last Saturday night; via The New York Times.
Marc Jacobs married Char Defrancesco last weekend in what the New York Times called ‘The Wedding of the Century’. The intimate ceremony was held Friday at their 1955 Frank Lloyd Wright house in Rye, N.Y. and they celebrated Saturday night at the old Four Seasons-gnoshing on sliders and caviar, drinking champagne and dancing the night away with fashion and drag queen royalty.
Marc Jacobs penguin pin; image via Hola! USA.
Guests included Anna Wintour, drag queens Miss Fame and Manila Luzon, Phoebe Philo, Rita Ora, Bette Midler, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, the Hadid sisters, Kaia Gerber and L’il Kim. The grooms wore custom Saville Row suiting by Huntsman with diamond and onyx penguin pins from Prada designer Fabio Zambernardi to symbolize fidelity. At the end of the night they drove off together in a 1962 Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Marc Jacobs exploits his exploits : ) image via out.com.
Jacobs has long extoled the virtue of more (see guests dressed in vintage and recent collections, his sexcapade slips and ability to shrug off and market them). He turns turns 56 this year and seems to be carving out a different kind of life for himself including lots of time in Rye with his new husband the chandler.
Cutting the cake; image via FQ.
It’s easy to lose sight of this event’s significance in the pomp, circumstance and sense of happily ever after cloaking it. Lest we forget—
- The American Psychiatric Association removed the diagnosis of homosexuality from its Diagnostic Manual in 1973. Prior to that homosexuality was considered mental illness.
-Same-sex activity was illegal in fourteen states and Puerto Rico until 2003.
Vaping on the hood of a Rolls; image via The Baller.
Fake designer boots are made by children in China. Image: The Mirror
"'I remember walking into an assembly plant in Thailand a couple of years ago and seeing six or seven little children, all under 10 years old, sitting on the floor assembling counterfeit leather handbags,' an investigator told me... 'The owners had broken the children's legs and tied the lower leg to the thigh so the bones wouldn't mend. [They] did it because the children said they wanted to go outside and play.”
- From Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster by Dana Thomas
According to Forbes, counterfeiting was the largest criminal enterprise in the world last year. Global sales of fake goods now total $ 1.7 trillion annually (that’s more than drugs and human trafficking).
The industry is predicted to grow to $2.8 trillion in sales per year by 2020, costing 5.4 million jobs across the world. And it’s not just handbags--everything from pharmaceuticals to military gear, baby formula, toys, electronics, food, and cigarettes are faked. The results are often tragic. Further, The Counterfeit Report recently said, "China produces 80% of the world's counterfeits and we're supporting China. Whether or not it's their intention to completely undermine and destroy the U.S. economy, we [in the United States] buy about 60% to 80% of the products."
Counterfeiters work with crime syndicates who deal in human trafficking, gang warfare, money laundering, and child labor (see above). Although law enforcement is improving (The Feds arrested 32 people last August and seized a half billion dollars’ worth of counterfeit goods after a 6 year investigation) and companies defend themselves well (Louis Vuitton won a $23 million dollar judgement against Chinese retailers selling fake bags online in the US in 2017), the counterfeit industry is thriving.
One thing we can do to combat the human cost of counterfeiting is work towards decreased demand: learn about this industry, share what you know, and shop mindfully. At Common Threads we’ve had steep learning curves on fakes and our knowledge bank continues to grow-please ask us anytime about how and why we authenticate.
To Do
Taking note from Harper’s Bazaar:
If you see someone selling counterfeits contact the STOP! Hotline 1-866-999-HALT; stopfakes.gov
If you see suspicious activity such as a clandestine workshop or smuggling, call U.S. Customs and Border Protection (1-800-BE-ALERT)
Support the Teacher of Ten Thousand Generations Foundation, which rescues child laborers from counterfeit factories in China and puts them in schools (confuciusfoundation.org).
Check out Bazaar's fakesareneverinfashion.com.
XOXO,
LUCIANN
Here are links to our primary Sources: The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, BBC.com, Wikipedia, Fashion Network
Karl Lagerfeld and Choupette; image via The Telegraph.
Karl Lagerfeld’s legacy is mixed: alongside the celebrated genius we must also remember the extraordinary version of himself he presented to the world, and the controversial things that person said and did.
Lagerfeld at his home in Paris, 1974; image via Conde Nast.
By the early 2000’s Lagerfeld was both an industry icon and distinct public personae: he wore a white ponytail and uniform of slim black pants and jacket, starched white shirts with detachable collars, fingerless gloves, and black sunglasses. He was demanding, eccentric, lavish, pencil-thin (via lots of Diet Coke and a diet he then sold). His real estate portfolio boasted properties in Paris, Britta, Hamburg, Biarritz, Manhattan and Vermont; and he collected lavishly. At one point he owned a Red Point Birman cat called Choupette with whom he fell in love and discussed marrying in a 2013 interview. This near caricature version of himself was perhaps his best marketing tool, and it served him well. Everyone knew Karl Lagerfeld, and by extension Chanel and Fendi (ironically, his own line never really succeeded).
Lagerfeld’s sketch shows Adolf Hitler thanking Angela Merkel for inadvertently the far right to re-enter German Parliament; image via WWD.
It may be the case that the caricature gave the man permission to say and do controversial things that furthered his reputation-Lagerfeld wasn't shy, and everything he did was on brand (even the contentious, unnecessary, unkind things). Time will tell how we view this interplay, between now and then here’s a sample of his more infamous words and deeds:
-Asked about women who object to thin models: "They are fat mummies sitting with their bags of crisps in front of the television, saying that thin models are ugly."
-Speaking about plus-sized models on the catwalk: "No one wants to see curvy women".
-On being fed up with the #metoo movement: "What shocks me most in all of this are the starlets who have taken 20 years to remember what happened. Not to mention the fact there are no prosecution witnesses."
-Expressing disdain for German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her decision to open Germany’s border to refugees: “Did she really need to say it was necessary to welcome one million migrants at a time when France, which casts itself as the land of human rights, pledged to take in 30,000? If this keeps up, I'll abandon German citizenship."
-Accusing Merkel of fostering the right-wing party AfD’s rise to power: "The AfD didn't exist, yet with one sentence she made it exist by alienating two million voters and sending 100 of these neo-Nazis into parliament.”
-Contributed caricature of Adolf Hitler thanking Angel Merkel as part of his work with the monthly magazine supplement to the daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
TO DO:
Read these if you have a chance, and ponder mixed legacies (I’ve been doing that a lot)-
Women’s Wear Daily Retrospective
XOXO,
LUCIANN
Thank you to excellent reporting referenced in this blog from: The New York Times, Women’s Wear Daily, The Guardian, The Telegraph….
Karl Lagerfeld and Diana Vreeland; image via The New York Times.
Karl Lagerfeld was the most prolific designer of the past two centuries and is credited with revolutionizing Luxury Fashion as Industry. He was the first Shape Shifter: never creating new silhouettes like Dior and Balenciaga, he created a new kind of designer. Shape Shifters breathe life into heritage lines by reworking iconography. For all this he was called a styliste, never a true designer. Closer to the truth-he was a forward looking genius with a mixed legacy whose impact is immeasurable.
Karl Lagerfeldt as a child in Germany; image via Vogue.
Karl Lagerfeld was brilliant in his understanding of reinvention. Born Karl Otto Lagerfeldt in Hamburg, Germany in either 1933 or 1935, he never revealed his true birthday and removed the ‘t’ from his name to make it ‘more commercial’.
Karl and his two sisters enjoyed a privileged childhood where intellectual activity and artistic expression were encouraged. His father Christian made a fortune bringing condensed milk to Germany, and his mother Elizabeth was an accomplished violinist. When Hitler rose to power in the 1930s the Lagerfeldts moved to rural north Germany, where Karl (of his own account) was cut off from any knowledge of the Nazi party.
Winning the coat division at a Parisian design competition at approx. age 16; image via The New York Times.
Lagerfeld took a strong interest in the world of high fashion when the family returned to Hamburg, and at 14 he moved to Paris. Two years later he took first place in the coat category of an esteemed design competition; Yves Saint Laurent won the dress category. Lagerfeld apprenticed with Pierre Balmain for three years afterward, and was soon taking the reigns at Chloe and Fendi (where he introduced Fun Fur-an irreverent concept that made Fendi hip again and inspired the FF logo).
1999 Chanel Campaign with Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista.
He left Chloe in 1982 to head Chanel: this proved a match made in heaven given the house’s rich collection of icons (pearls, camellias, interlocking C’s) and Lagerfeld’s penchant for irreverent use of them. The resulting alchemy built an empire whose sales near $4 billion dollars annually, and paved the way for designers like Tom Ford (who transformed Gucci), Stella McCartney (Chloe), and Ricardo Tisci (Givenchy and Burberry). As Anna Wintour said, “More than anyone I know, he represents the soul of fashion: restless, forward-looking and voraciously attentive to our changing culture.”
With Anna Winter; image via The New York Times
Rest In Peace Karl Lagerfeld
XOXO,
LUCIANN
NEXT WEEK: Karl Lagerfeld Part II: Controversy, Caricature, Cats…
Dior Campaign; image via Huffington Post.
I love quotes-knowing many of them I hold onto are in fact misquotes. But it doesn’t seem to matter…funny, that. Here’s a small collection of quotes on love, passion and beauty from Sartorial Gods Past and Present (we think). I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
“Don’t sacrifice yourself too much, because if you sacrifice too much there’s nothing else you can give and nobody will care for you.” ― Karl Lagerfeld
“The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy.” -Yves Saint Laurent
“Elegance is elimination.” -Cristobal Balenciaga
“You've got to invest in the world, you've got to read, you've got to go to art galleries, you've got to find out the names of plants. You've got to start to love the world and know about the whole genius of the human race. We're amazing people.” -Vivienne Westwood
“Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.” -Yves Saint Laurent
“Make me a fragrance that smells like love.” -Christian Dior
“The only love that I really believe in is a mother’s love for her children.” -Karl Lagerfeld
“By being natural and sincere, one often can create revolutions without having sought them.” -Christian Dior
“I design clothes because I don’t want women to look all innocent and naïve… I want woman to look stronger… I don’t like women to be taken advantage of… I don’t like men whistling at women in the street. I think they deserve more respect. I like men to keep their distance from women, I like men to be stunned by an entrance. I’ve seen a woman get nearly beaten to death by her husband. I know what misogyny is… I want people to be afraid of the women I dress.” -Alexander McQueen
“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” -Coco Chanel
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!
XOXO
LUCI
Pages from one of Peter Beard’s Field Notebooks, via Pinterest.
Pages from one of Peter Beard’s Field Notebooks, via Pinterest.
Pages from one of Peter Beard’s Field Notebooks, via Pinterest.
For the past few weeks I’ve been working in a completely different field, reminding me how much the world of fashion retail is a bubble. I guess every field is—
Anyhow, this turn has given me the chance to road test some theories about dressing well and smartly I’ve sworn by for years. Here’s what I’m learning:
The Why
In fashion, we tell people that dressing well and strategically makes a difference in life.
And of course if you work retail it does.
But guess what? It makes a difference everywhere. I feel more confident and more myself in new situations when I’m wearing things I love. Good things.
And it’s funny- I’ve noticed peoples’ clothing, jewelry, or shoes spark easy conversations-- great pieces make great ice breakers if nothing else.
The How
A few concepts we’ve talked about here show up over and over again in practice. The points I refer to most are here (we’ve done deep dives on these ideas, so scroll down if you would like more details on any of them):
Muses
Start here. Find a public figure or two whose personal style resonates with you—shoot for someone who’s seen often in formal and informal settings so you have reference points for both. Google them, analyze, make some lists, and get inspired. My muse sits somewhere between Kate Moss, Jane Birkin, Sienna Miller and the Olson twins. Go figure.
Bones
Next, look at your life to determine the bones of your wardrobe—those things suited to 80% of your life right now (the bones of my wardrobe right now are super stretchy skinny jeans, button downs or good tee shirts, and flat boots; looking ahead I need some event-worthy things).
Yes to Uniforms
Taking muses and bones into account, I can identify a uniform and stick to it. All of this makes life easier, and allows me to focus my time and budget. My uniform right now is black or gray skinnies, beat up moto boots, cool tee shirts, and great coats. I’m leaning on layered vintage jewelry, belts and hats to personalize. Looking ahead to events, I’ve got some insanely good blazers and heels in my closet as a starting point.
TO DO
Consider the concepts above, and make mental notes or a few lists of things you think you need to build your uniform.
Shop your closet first to fill any wardrobe holes—I often forget about really cool things I already have.
Make a list of what you do need and invest in those things only (this could be some cool, unexpected accessories). NOTE: I shop second hand almost exclusively so that I can afford great quality.
Enjoy the grace one feels when they are effortlessly well dressed and healed and not in debt.
XOXO,
Luciann
Dior 2018 Campaign (with re-issued saddle bag); via Dior.
About two years ago we had this great vintage Dior saddle bag in the Denver store—it was beautiful, iconic, in excellent condition…
We couldn’t give it away.
Fast forward to 2018: Dior reintroduced the saddle bag in response to demand from vintage markets, and end of year reports from Vestaire Collective confirm sales of the bag on their site increased one thousand percent over last year (including vintage).
Let’s discuss.
Bella Hadid with vintage Dior saddle bag circa 2017; via Pinterest.
CONTEXT
According to ThredUp’s 2018 Resale Report the US Resale Market will reach $41 billion in annual sales by 2022, meaning sales will grow 15% per year until then. Which is unheard of. The industry has responded with more sophisticated, user-friendly stores, sites and apps that appeal to buyers and sellers groomed by Social Media. All of this positions resale to have a significant impact on the larger fashion universe, or to start and impact trends.
THE ROLE OF STYLE INFLUENCERS
While it’s still typical for models to start a trend (Bella Hadid circa 2017 for the vintage Dior saddle bag), the real work of trend setting is left to professional Style Influencers (modern day It Girls paid for product placement). Last year Dior sent an army of them the re-issued saddle bag with orders to fan the flames of a valuable trend.
IT WORKS IT WORKS!
The dye was cast, the trend set, and sales of the Dior saddle rocketed (see opening segment). Importantly, this drove business to traditional and resale retail outlets; more importantly it marks an era where resale exerts more influence on trends and fashion than ever before.
Style Influencers with Dior re-issued saddle bag; image via myfatpocket.
TO DO:
Think about all of this, it’s super ponderable.
Then shop resale : )
XOXO,
LUCIANN
Image via Spin Magazine.
Myriad studies are dedicated to understanding why we love Year-End Lists (don’t you worry, we’ll get there); most research findings cluster around these things:
Predictability/Schemata No matter the content we all know what to expect from Year-End Lists; the predictable format allows us to develop schemata (mental maps of what to expect from something familiar), and digest content more easily and meaningfully.
Image: Time Out London.
Pavlov and Conditioning Many experts simply believe we’ve come to associate Year-End Lists with other things we love about the season; over time this positive re-enforcement loop conditions us to feel the same way about them as we do about, say, setting cookies out for Santa. So basically we’re just like Pavlov’s dog.
Pavlov in his lab; image via appstate.edu
Definitiveness/Sense of Control The world is an unpredictable place full of moving targets we crave control over. Lists play to our desire to feel in control of things because they’re finite, definitive, and feel complete (significant research shows that people both desire and experience more well-being when they feel they are in control).
Image via Mark Goldman
Round Numbers A list’s format aligns with our tendency in life to round things off to whole numbers and assign meaning to those numbers or groups (Mathew Isaac and Robert Schindler’s recent research indicates people lump things into round number groups and view everything outside that group as inferior).
FOMO Loss aversion research demonstrates we hate losing something we already have. Online Year-End Lists can feel like knowledge we own and will lose if we don’t click, so we do. In other words, the medium plays to a universal Fear Of Missing Out on things we feel belong to us.
TO DO: READ THESE YEAR-END FASHION LISTS (BECAUSE IT FEELS SO GOOD)
GLAMOUR: BIGGEST FASHION MOMENTS 2018
VOGUE UK: TOP TEN FASHION BRANDS
VOGUE: THIRTEEN STREET STYLE MOMENTS THAT DEFINED 2018
*BRITCO: WEIRDEST FASHION MOMENTS 2018 (SO FAR)
XOXO,
LUCIANN
*EXCEPTION AS NOT END OF YEAR BUT TOTALLY WORTH IT
THANKS TO REPORTING FROM THE NEW YORKER, THE NEW YORK TIMES, AND BBC FOR RESEARCH REFERENCES.
1968 NM Christmas Guide Cover; via Worthpoint.
Gift Giving Guides-glossy spawn of the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book-typically provide curated lists of things you should buy people in your life that are popular right now (and need to move before end of fiscal year). This approach may be steeped in commercialism and exclusivity, but it does pose a slightly more meaningful question-what’s the thought process behind giving gifts that mean something?
This year we’ve dedicated our Gift Giving Guide to exploring a simple method or way of thinking about finding gifts that are personal and signifcant.
Chanel No, 5; image via Chanel.
Keep It Simple
We’d all love to give exotic gifts that rocket people into the Fifth Dimension...reality is, they rarely do. The best gifts express personal knowledge of the recipient, so stick to you what you know about a person and keep things simple. If a girl loves Chanel…
Image via YMCA.
Experiences vs. Things:
Experience-related gifts are some of the best gifts out there because they reflect this: by and large, things done are more memorable and have more impact on a person than things possessed. Experience-related gifts can and should be wildly creative, deeply personal, and inspired by thoughtful insight. The perfect gift may be reservations to a lecture at the public library or a membership to the local YMCA.
Image via Caviar House.
Things They’d Never…
Little indulgences you know a person would love but would not buy for themselves make sublime gifts. They don’t need to cost an arm and a leg to be memorable, but they must reflect the person’s taste and affections. A Diptyque candle, a La Mer lip balm, a tin of Beluga caviar, a Mercerized Cotton tee-shirt…all of these are delightful, memorable gifts that are so darned personal they’ll alway hit the mark.
TO DO:
Underpinning all of this are two guiding principles, remember them:
1. A gift should be something the person receiving it will love, not something you wish they would.
2. The best gifts are always thoughtful, they are not always expensive.
XOXO,
LUCIANN
Vintage Macy’s Day Parade Image via PInterest.
Happy Thanksgiving!
We are so grateful for you.
Now go have some pie : )
XOXO,
COMMON THREADS FAMILY
TO DO (links provided):
Browse Cooking with The New York Times: Happy Thanksgiving!
Listen (12pm ET) Turkey Confidential
Listen (scroll down a bit) Giving Thanks, American Public Media
Via Glamour Magazine.
I keep thinking about those articles in the back of Elle and Glamour called Dos and Don’ts and things like that. I love them because they feel expert, definitive: a welcome change from life’s shades of gray. Of course they’re snarky, exclusive, aspirational…that’s a big part of the appeal. In the end they tend to provide pretty sound advice. Here’s a take on my favorite of the genre: Save vs. Splurge (an expert guide to fashion budget allocation).
SAVE
1. Tee Shirts and Cotton Underthings Cotton basics need to be replaced often so don’t spend money on them : ) The good news is there’s virtually no difference between yummy 100% cotton tee shirts from Walmart or Saks.
Image via GQ.
2. Anything Trendy Who doesn’t love a good trend? They’re fun and keep things relevant, but they have a short half-life. A good rule of thumb: don’t spend on things you won’t want to wear in two seasons.
Chloe Belt Bag; image via Harper’s Bazaar.
3. Sneakers, Gym Clothes, Phone Cases "Don't invest in sneakers, gym clothes, or phone cases," says Nordstrom fashion director Jeffrey Kalinsky. High-use items that need to be replaced often shouldn’t be investment pieces.
Gucci Iphone case; image via Nordstrom.
SPLURGE
1. Coats and Outerwear Never underestimate the power of outerwear! Start with a dark neutral coat that’s classic, cut well and warm (the best fabric you can afford). Over time add pea coats, trenches, and other timeless styles to your capsule.
Black wool coat from The Row; image via Vestaire.
2. Jackets Like outerwear, great jackets are wardrobe heroes. Spend money on traditional, expertly tailored jackets in dark colors (first). They should be versatile and a little sexy: something you can wear with a pencil skirt, 501s or a slip dress.
Stella McCartney jacket; image via Goop.
3. Shoes and Handbags Get the best you can afford because these are signature pieces that define everything else you wear and put it in context. Start with a statement bag you love—maybe in a neutral so it can be worn throughout the year. Consider adding other classics annually. Regarding shoes-fine black pumps or oxfords are a good place to begin.
Chanel Classic Handbag; image via Chanel.
To Do:
The big take-away here is to invest in classic luxury pieces that serve you over time and save money on everything else. Start shopping this way!
Remember that all this advice can be heeded on the second-hand market to great effect.
XOXO,
LUCIANN
Thank you to references from Elle Magazine, Diply, and Vogue Magazine.
Image via St. Petersburg College
The political climate in our country is toxic; as of yesterday it feels down-right dangerous. One thing we can all rally behind is getting out the vote. Whatever your views, vote. If you’re angry, vote. If you’re happy, vote. If you are frightened or frustrated or feel left behind, vote. If you need to make arrangements to leave work to do it, vote. If you’ve never done it before, vote. If you are young, or old, or rich, or poor, or black, or white or brown, vote.
RESOURCES
Colorado Secretary of State Election Guide
This is a non-partisan, comprehensive election guide that includes online registration information, polling locations, etc.
Colorado Democratic Party Site
Some useful resources on this site aren’t clearly called out, so you may need to dig.
Colorado Republican Party Site
The 2018 Election portion of this site provides clear candidate, amendment, and proposition guides.
Colorado Public Radio’s Voter’s Guide
Though CPR and NPR skew liberal, this guide’s Where the Candidate Stands, Amendment Explained and Proposition Explained sections are straightforward and really useful.
XOXO,
Luciann
