You must have been living under a rock for the past few years if you haven't noticed the affect the current economic slump has had on the luxury goods industry. High end retailers have been hosting sale after sale and continue to work on strategies to pull consumers onto the shop floors. Department stores, in particular, have felt the brunt as the ultra rich have scaled back on their spending - but not anymore it seems. According to The New York Times, the rich aren't shy to spend again.
Need evidence? The Olsen's crocodile backpack priced at a whopping $39,000 has already receieved orders and a Chanel coat retailing at $9,010 has sold out at Nordstrom with a major waiting list. And ithey're not just spending on clothes. Mercedes Benz recently revealed that they sold more cars in the US last month than they did in the last five years.
We coming baring sad news. William Tempest has decided to move his Spring/Summer 2011 show to New York in September for fashion week. The 24 year-old has been showing at London's Vauxhall Fashion Scout, after receiving their Fashion Merit award for his debut show, for the last three seasons but is ready for a change.
"Showing on-schedule in New York is a fantastic opportunity for me to present my collection to the press, buyers and stylists in the US. New York has such an amazing and positive energy and I can't wait to show my collection there," he told Vogue.com.
We can't say that the move was a surprise. After the critical acclaim of his recent collections, it was only a matter of time before the designer began thinking about potential opportunities. According to Vogue.com, the designer's show will take place on Monday September 13th at the new Mercedes Benz IMG venue at Lincoln Centre.
Not only a legendary fashion photographer but also the director of SHOWstudio, Nick Knight is responsible for bringing fashion media to the masses. And yet again, he fails to disappoint. Knight is now collaborating with designers Alexander Wang and Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte, presenting a live “digital calendar” of their collections on SHOWstudio, supported by Mercedes-Benz. Wang’s show, available here, and viewable after the presentations, will be on the site February 13 at 5 p.m. EST and Rodarte on February 16 at noon EST.
“I see the future of fashion weeks around the world as not only a physical schedule of shows, but also as a digital calendar of fashion experiences online, which bridge the industry and consumer experience," said Knight. "When the industry talks about the ‘future of fashion weeks’ this is ultimately where they will arrive."
“Working with Nick Knight and SHOWstudio is truly an honor," said Alexander Wang. "We are so excited to bring our show to a new platform, and to do something truly innovative in the way it is presented to our audience." Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte added: “With each Rodarte show, we aim to create a visual and experiential immersion for the audience. Working with Nick Knight to bring our next show environment to a wider audience is a thrilling opportunity.”
Imagine the collaboration of a luxury sports car company, one of fashion's most technologically advanced photographers and a pioneering young fashion designer, and you see why we were excited at the prospect of Nick Knight and Gareth Pugh for Mercedes-Benz.
The trio came together after Benz commissioned Knight - renowned for his innovation - with an open brief for the campaign of their new sports coupe, the SLS AMG. Knight then approached Pugh. The young British designer went on to create an armour-like ensemble for German model Julia Stegner to wear in the shoot, consisting of architectural leggings, a corset and shoulder pieces all in black patent leather, and described by a Mercedes-Benz spokesman as reflecting the "angular and smooth natural lines of the car".
Amerie has been spotted all over the Mercedes Benz tents over the last two days. Yesterday she was spotted in this white skirt, multi coloured top and black blazer combo sitting from row at the Mara Hoffman, Nichloas K and Whitney Eve show.
London Fashion Week is not the only fashion week wanting a revival. LA continues to fight for its position as a fashion capital.
It's been a rocky couple of years for them. If Smashbox, Mercedes Benz and IMG pulling out as official sponsors isn't bad enough, several designers don't actually want to show there anymore. Let's just say that the Pussycat Dolls and Lauren Conrad's clothing line are the biggest shows on the show schedule. Enough said.
Fashion insiders have been less than kind about the city. As The Cut said, 'It hardly pays for them [designers] if no one important is there (and as great as it is to have Tori Spelling or P. Diddy on the front row, they won't place large wholesale orders or put the clothes in Vogue'. Rick Owens also lashed out at the city saying, "Get off your ass and go to Europe... [W]hy do they have to be a fashion capital? They're the movie capital of the world and they've always been that, can't they just be satisfied with that?"
Do you think LA Fashion Week can follow in the footsteps of London Fashion Week this season and reinvent themselves?
