Bridal wars…We’ve lost that loving feeling
Have you ever lost your will to shop..
Has someone ever taken this precious gift from you?
Just like these women from the film Bride Wars, David Jones and Myer are involved in a pointless battle online.
May 2
5 lessons everyday retailers can learn from luxury fashion brands
Does the “rational” fashion consumer really exist?
Before fashion became my focus I was actually a student of economics (go figure !) and the study of economics teaches us the following about our shopping habits….
- The consumer is a rational person, who tries to use his or her money income to derive the greatest amount of satisfaction, or utility, from it. Consumers want to get “the most for their money” or, to maximize their total utility. Rational behavior also “requires” that a consumer not spend too much money irrationally by buying tons of items and stock piling them for the future, or starve themselves by buying no food at all. Consumers (we assume) all engage in rational behavior.
I suppose I wanted ask… does this theory ever apply to the fashion industry? – Hannah Brooks
Fashion, Inspired or a Knock off?
Something Borrowed?
‘When is something borrowed, inspired or simply a knock off? Copyright in the fashion industry is a heated and controversial topic. Since “clothes” are considered to be utilitarian they generally don’t qualify for copyright protection. (Just to clarify, I did not classify clothes as utilitarian, personally I believe that there is more to them than mere function.) When an industry that combines both art and commerce innovates who owns and defines innovation? It’s a much debated point…just look at the recent legal battle between Louboutin and YSL over the rights of ownership of red soled shoes (wwd.com)‘- Olya Bell.
‘Back in our teens years, ripping off the designs of international brands was a common place practice by many Australian labels. The Australian fashion industry has developed significantly since, back then lead times were long and virtually the only way you could purchase up to the minute fashion was to travel overseas. These days Australian fashion labels export their own innovative ideas, the brands we used to travel for are located on our own shores and international online shopping has meant that the rules of the game have changed forever’ – Hannah Brooks.
Intervention Required! Readers Please HELP!
‘Dear readers,
As fabulous and stylish as my dear friend Hannah is I realised it’s time for an intervention. Yes… a sunglass intervention! In writing our previous story I went through and did an autopsy on my sunglass collection to discover it to be healthy (varied and substantial). Hannah and I were originally thinking of including photos. When I saw Hannah’s photos I knew… it was time! They all look pretty much the same! Yes, I know that there are minor but important detail differences but in essence they do all look pretty much the same! (see pics below)
Like this:
Sunglass Hut or Sunglasses Factory?
“With my sunglasses on, I’m Jack Nicholson. Without them, I’m fat and 60.” - Jack Nicholson
Perception is in the eye of the beholder….
“Sunglasses for me can make or break an outfit. How many times have you seen a celebrity wearing a drab outfit saved by a fabulous pair of sunglasses and a killer handbag? The value of sunglasses should never be underestimated and relegated to being just an accessory! Oh and did I mention they can also protect you eyes!
In preparing my summer wardrobe this year I pulled out all my sunglasses to see which ones needed to retire and if there was a gap in my looks. I counted 12 pairs! Is this normal? How many sunnies do you own? It sadly made me think about how much would I actually spend on sunglasses in my lifetime? I would buy probably 2 pairs a year, as they are nowhere near as expensive in Europe as they are back in Australia. Recent research in the UK suggests that an “average British female spends over £2,200 on sunglasses in a lifetime, owning as many as 42 pairs of shades“. Read more
Death in the High Street
Bye, Bye, Boutiques
Much of our 2OPINIONATED, 1980′s misspent youth was spent perusing the boutiques, restaurants and sometimes bars of Oxford St Paddington. Cast your mind back (if you can) to the absolute heyday of Paddington… it was a time when we considered it essential to allocate hours each week to researching our Saturday night outfits in the Oxford St shops. Olya and I were very fortunate during this time… not only were the best boutiques located just a stones throw away… but very conveniently, the nightclub of the moment (Paddo’s) was located around the corner from my Underwood St home. We would tell me parents that we were heading to Oxford St for pizza…when in reality we were popping around the corner to Paddo’s for a ‘party pash” – ah to be young!
TOD’S Needs Therapy
Tod’s gets back on the couch again….
“The excitement of Anne Hathaway lounging on the red sports cars seems long forgotten with the release of the Tod’s Spring 2012 ad campaign, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. The print advertisements seem world apart visually, the colour and excitement have all but disappeared. All that is left if Anne Hathaway, clutching a clutch, on the couch. We all need a bit of therapy at certain times in our life but I would prefer that Tod’s encourage me to do some retail therapy and not make me look at another couch! Doesn’t a “Tod’s woman” have more to do in her life than to always be seen reclining. ” – Olya Bell.
