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 WOW! What a July and early August we have had. Our seminar at the Las Vegas Market Center was incredible. I’ve truly never seen anything like this venue for the furniture and gift markets. It was first class and the attendees and exhibitors were treated royally. Free flowing food and drinks made for very happy campers. We even had a keynote speaker that you may know; Bill Clinton. What an inspiration and an opening act to my talk…Try and follow that act!
All in all, this has to be the most exciting event we have been invited to. What I found most exciting was how interested the audience was in being successful in these challenging times. The questions asked were not only non- stop, but quite informative. There was no question that “COLOR IS WHERE FASHION BEGINS”.
We walked the shopping area at Caesars and it was quite apparent that the high end stores were feeling the economic pinch. Then we passed the H& M and business was more than booming…
Texworld, New York continues to astound me with its newness in the fabric market. This is an event that we always look forward to. It’s really a must see for anyone interested in finding that “NEW” item in the market that makes for great sales.
Arnie, who presented 2 seminars at Direction, in New York, will give you an update in his section, “From the Desk of".
The Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
came to a close this month. Thousands paid homage to many signature works of this legendary genius, making it the most visited costume exhibit ever at the Met.
The Romantic Mind
“You’ve got to know the rules to break them. That’s what I’m here for, to demolish the rules but to keep the tradition.”—Alexander McQueen
McQueen doggedly promoted freedom of thought and expression and championed the authority of the imagination. In so doing, he was an exemplar of the Romantic individual, the hero-artist who staunchly follows the dictates of his inspiration. “What I am trying to bring to fashion is a sort of originality,” he said. McQueen expressed this originality most fundamentally through his methods of cutting and construction, which were both innovative and revolutionary.
Romantic Nationalism
“The reason I’m patriotic about Scotland is because I think it’s been dealt a really hard hand. It’s marketed the world over as . . . haggis . . . bagpipes. But no one ever puts anything back into it.”—Alexander McQueen
Romantic Naturalism
“I have always loved the mechanics of nature and to a greater or lesser extent my work is always informed by that.”—Alexander McQueen
Nature was the greatest, or at least the most enduring, influence upon McQueen. It was also a central theme, if not the central theme, of Romanticism. Many artists of the Romantic Movement presented nature itself as a work of art. McQueen both shared and promoted this view in his collections, which often included fashions that took their forms and raw materials from the natural world. For McQueen, as it was for the Romantics, nature was also a locus for ideas and concepts.
Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Blog
Even though this brilliant visionary is no longer with us, the influence he had on design will forever be remembered for generations to come.
Romantic Fall
Taking cues from the McQueen exhibit, there is a feeling of romance and sophistication in the air for fall. The contrast of soft feminine hues coupled with structured tailoring creates an ultra chic combination. This feel is seen in the Contemporary market with our palette House of Style; it also translates into Girls with English Rose.
Sophisticated and self-assured with an edge of ostentation. Icy teal and mauve shades coalesce with an astute graciousness while accentuating tailored lines. Charcoal and dusty rose tones offer a delicate balance of softness and elegance. Exquisite, bold and enveloped by a fascinating appeal…House of Style.
Prim and proper notions of delicate essences. Soft pink and khaki shades insinuate notions of prettiness on a backdrop of velveteen and tulle. Muted green and cream intermingle on a canvas of playful cable knits. Refined and youthful with a touch of whimsy …English Rose.
The dog days of summer are melting into the final days of summer. The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting cooler, and August is upon us. Make the most of the last days of the season with frolicking and fun colors. Infuse your space and wardrobe with sunny orange, tranquil turquoise, and bold gunmetal gray.
Reminiscent of sunsets on the beach, orange reminds us of summer at its peak. A retro side table is the perfect place to put your pina colada. Sport sunglasses and a necklace that will brighten any outfit. Cinch your shorts with a two-toned belt in coral and white. A bicycle painted in tangerine is ideal for cruising the boardwalk.
Soothing aquamarine will help you beat the heat. Cool off in an air-conditioned café on a vinyl chair in turquoise. Playful patent leather Mary Janes comes in blue-green. A ceramic foo dog guards a stack of books. Tie-dyed in teal, a light cotton dress serves as a swimsuit cover-up.
Gunmetal gray brings a touch of chic to an otherwise casual summer month. Triangular patterns of pewter and chartreuse cover a cushion. A frilly skort features pink flowers on dark gray cotton. Bring your favorite books to the beach in a gunmetal shoulder bag. A side table lamp has concrete-colored base.
Just because sunny season is winding down, doesn’t mean this last month can’t be full of hot colors. From your warm-weather attire to your outfitted beach house, continue to celebrate summer with festive hues. Pop orange, cool teal, and sleek pewter are all the rage this August and will keep fall at bay--for a few more weeks at least.
Wishing you a COLORFUL summer!
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Spring 2012 Trend Forecasts by Design Options, Inc
The Direction Show by Indigo just ended in New York and was a huge success. Attendance was up, the show had an upbeat feeling, and I can tell you, first hand, I saw more people leaving the show holding bags containing artwork. Our sales were up almost 20%. Another interesting fact was the amount of new start-ups asking for advice and direction regarding safeguards in the marketplace.
The majority of our clients are enjoying an upsurge in their business. So, my advice is turn off your flat screens, put down the paper and focus on the POSITIVE. When times become challenging people invest in clothes AND add fashion to their homes just to change their state. Think about it, what are some of the things you can do, inexpensively to alter your mood and feel better; a new accessory, top, or maybe something new on your tabletop or paint a wall in a room, just to mention a few.
Now, wear color and you become a walking statement. COLOR IS WHERE FASHION BEGINS! It’s become so clear, what gets the consumer to buy is color, style and PRICE! Why is WGSN making waves in the industry, definitely not the price? This tool gives users up to date info on fashion trends in the marketplace.
However, using this or any other on line service to forecast colors is very risky indeed. You need tools that you can touch and see and we all know the difference different monitors can make in selecting the colors and color combinations that will RETAIL. What a great segue for me to pitch the invaluable reports that Design Options has created through its 22 years in the BUSINESS OF COLOR!
So, like I said, don’t get sucked in by what’s going in the present, stay focused and keep your target clear.
Have a great rest of the summer!
Arnie
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