The Summer of Virtual Fashion Weeks
Paris, Milan, and London Fashion Weeks have each announced the different ways in which they will be transporting their awe-inspiring shows to digital media.
This summer, Europe’s most prestigious fashion events will be joining the rest of the industry’s temporary relocation to online platforms. Paris, Milan, and London Fashion Weeks have each announced the different ways in which they will be transporting their awe-inspiring shows to digital media. Interestingly enough, the sudden and mandatory switch to online spaces has actually compelled each Fashion Week to present their collections more creatively.
Going digital for the first time, London Fashion Week aims to be inclusive of both industry professionals and everyday fashion enthusiasts by making their shows accessible worldwide. As a result, this will also be the first London Fashion Week that merges womenswear and menswear, creating a gender-neutral showcase that will be less wasteful than those of previous years.
Following London Fashion Week is Milan Digital Fashion Week, which will be available through the National Chamber of Italian Fashion’s website cameramoda.it, as well as their many social media accounts. To further immerse viewers in the Fashion Week experience, there will be additional online features, including masterclasses and webinars led by industry experts. Remaining mindful of the pandemic, Milan Digital Fashion Week is an extension of the “China, We Are You With You” initiative, which began in February as a means of remotely keeping Chinese citizens who were unable to travel to this year’s event updated on its affairs.
Lastly, Paris Fashion Week will debut its new video format on July 9 through July 13. This Fashion Week is more traditional than the previous two, however, as the focus is more on the adherence to industry conventions and the display of collections rather than any digital innovations. Nonetheless, even this devotion to Fashion Week customs has the potential to elicit creative ideas for making audiences feel as though they are attending the grand event in person. Paris Fashion Week has yet to confirm its schedule or featured brands, but the fashion capital of the world will never fail to dazzle audiences during its most significant week, regardless of venue or format.
Report: Nia Hunt
Simon Porte Jacquemus: Growing up in the French Countryside
How a small French fashion designer, Simon Porte Jacquemus grew up, his childhood, muse for his label, and became a designer.
Born on January 16th, 1990 in Salon de Provence, France, Simon Porte Jacquemus was seven-years-old when he cut a skirt for his mother out of a linen curtain. Being the founder and designer of his very own label, Jacquemus, life wasn’t always as glamorous as what you see on the runway. Before his RTW collections, he moved out of his parents house at eighteen to Paris in order to pursue his dreams in the fashion industry. Simon was studying at a French school for fashion, when he already had thoughts about a collection he wanted to release. This was going to be a brand of his own and he set to release this at nineteen. Unfortunately, a month later, his mother passed away and left him in a state of confusion and where he would go on with his life from now. Simon told AnOther Magazine that, “My brand would be named after my mother’s maiden name, Jacquemus, and designed for the girl my mother was.” This was how the charming and playful French brand was born.
He launched his first collection. In order to get his clothes more coverage, he encouraged his friends to wear his collection during Vogue’s Fashion Night Out. He was walking through a flea market in Paris where he met a seamstress who offered to make him a skirt. He asked if she could make it for 100 and he was back with the materials, and fabric of how he envisioned a skirt for his first collection. His clothes consisted of simplistic fabrics and details that were not over the top with effortless prints and he has since continued this into his brand now.
He dedicated his Resort 2016 collection as well to his mother and has her name, Valérie, written on his moodboard for new pieces in order to capture her style and imagine her wearing these pieces. Jacquemus has taken the fashion world by storm and his brand has become synonymous with happiness, childhood memories, France, the beach, summertime, and sun. Simon Porte Jacquemus continues to lead his designer collections by leaving a story in everything he makes for his mother. This is all for Valérie.
(Photo sources: Pinterest, WMagazine, and Instagram)
Report: Pamela Valdez
Paris Fashion Week Spring 2020 Trend Recap
As Paris Fashion Week has come to an end last week, take note of upcoming trends from fall. Our favorite runway trend includes all-black outfits with bold pops of red showing your boss attitude and femininity.
Alexander McQueen - Fall Ready To Wear 2020
Chanel - Fall Ready To Wear 2020
As Paris Fashion Week and Fall 2020 Ready-To-Wear collections wrapped up a week ago and the weather transitions to Spring, now is the time to consider pieces, styles, and colors to incorporate in your wardrobe for Fall. Fall 2020 Ready-To-Wear notes collections from renowned designers, including Chanel, Saint Laurent, Yeezy, Sacai, etc. Each has their own interpretation of what the modern millennial woman should be wearing, but as great minds think alike, there are trending looks you should be paying attention to. While there are many trends to follow, our favorite and affordable trend includes all-black pieces with red statement pops. While each was designed differently, all featured the predominant black outfit featuring a pop of true red showing a bold, boss woman ready to take on the world.
Alexander McQueen included a deep-necked black suit and patent leather heels. The suit, not average, featured a detailed, elaborate sleeve, which also is in trend, in red. Chanel followed with a different approach to the trend featuring a dramatic, black evening gown with red accessories, including belts and handbags. Stella McCartney’s collection proved to be a favorite with a black and red flannel pattern in a two-pieces sweater and skirt with cutouts. As we will transition into Fall in the coming months, we are sure to see this black and red statement trend made affordably in fast-fashion stores like Zara, H&M, and ASOS.
Stella McCartney - Fall Ready To Wear 2020
Words by Necole Jackson.
Photo Credits: Vogue.com, Gorunway.com, Isidore Montag, Alessandro Lucioni/ Filippo Fior.
Review: Chloe Ready to Wear Fall Winter 2020
Chloe Ready To Wear Fall 2020 Collection Was Blessed By Beiges And Individuality.
The Chloé Fall Winter 2020 Ready to Wear was filled with beige, brown, navy, and olive. The collection showed perfect it-girl fall: flowy skirts and pants, outerwear, and knit pieces. Chloé Creative Director, Natacha Ramsay-Levi channeled contemporary femininity into the collection. Ramsay- Levi worked with painter Rita Ackermann, bringing looks from her work to the runway.
Golden totems and pearl white floors were blessed by the models with their hair neatly slicked back. The looks were chic and tidy, yet soft and romantic. Each look was coupled with a belt at the hip or waist, showing off a great silhouette. The makeup worked to show off the model’s features and the facial expressions were at a strong neutral. The design ranges from modern graphics to soft, cozy patterns meant for the changing moods in the upcoming autumn. The jewelry was simple yet individualized. It completed the looks, making it look much more approachable to the common eye. Pins were worn together like an everyday person would. The collections overall sense was to highlight individuality and the collection was the perfect representation of Natacha Ramsay-Levi.
Words by Katie Mok.
HOW TO SEE PARIS IN 48 HOURS OR LESS
"With just two days in Paris, I was determined to knock out all the best sites. Here’s how to conquer Paris in 48 hours." - Aliza M.
During my study abroad experience, we were constantly moving around and would only stay in each city in a few days. With just two days in Paris, I was determined to knock out all the best sites. Here’s how to conquer Paris in 48 hours.
Day One: Notre Dame, Versailles, and the Eiffel Tower
In the morning we headed to Notre Dame. This building is absolutely stunning, and the best part? Free entry. The line may look daunting but it moves quickly and is totally worth the wait. Plus, a great way to make time go quicker while you’re in line is to grab a crepe to eat while you wait. For you “Hunchback of Notre Dame” fans, you can finally fulfill your childhood dream of seeing where Quasimodo lives! After basking in the glory of Notre Dame, we hit up one of the many cafés around the church and grabbed a quick lunch (I suggest a croque-monsieur).
After lunch, we headed to the RER, the above-ground train, to head to Versailles. The train costs about seven euros for the round trip and the ride is about 20 minutes. There are very detailed maps in the station so you know which train to get on and Versailles is the last stop. If you want to tour the palace at Versailles, plan on spending another 15 euros. But, the garden at Versailles is free entry. I paid to tour the palace and it was absolutely breathtaking, but if you are trying to save money, there is plenty to do in just the gardens. We spent the rest of our afternoon touring around Versailles until it closes around 6:00 PM.
We then headed back into the heart of Paris for our last stop of the day, the iconic Eiffel Tower. In front of the Eiffel tower is a large field where you can sit, eat, drink and watch the tower light up at night. We stopped at a grocery store, grabbed some food and set up camp to watch the show. Starting at ten o’clock, the tower sparkles for five minutes and it looks gorgeous. It repeats this every hour until midnight.
Day Two: The Louvre and The Arc de Triomphe
The next morning we headed to The Louvre, the world’s largest museum. The cost of the visit was included in our program costs, but tickets are typically around 15 euros. This museum is huge and you can spend hours upon hours there. The most famous painting in this museum though is easily The Mona Lisa. You have to wait a few minutes to get to the front but it’s totally worth it.
The last big Paris icon is the Arc de Triumph. Due to time restrictions we could not make it to see this landmark, but if you have time left after The Louvre, it is just a short metro ride away. It is located in the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle and is at the end of the Champs-Elyees. The Arc honors those who have fought and died in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Under the arc is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.
There is obviously so much else to see in Paris, but when you only have 48 hours you have to make the best of it! If you have more time, you can check out the many other museums, cafés and shopping areas, but if you only have a short period of time, I suggest these five places. This guide should hopefully be helpful if you are studying abroad in another city and just want to head over to Paris for the weekend. Happy travels!
Credits: Aliza McAndrews, Access PR Intern
At the rise of Covid-19 many of us first questioned the timeline of fashion week and would we see the regular calendar continue - the question weighed over many of us for months! It was refreshing to see design houses and designers across the globe take advantage of the uncertainty and plow into production mode - thus my interest in Jerri Reid New York - The Black Designer based in Brooklyn New York wow’d instagram with his latest collection paying homage to the Black Is King film which debuted earlier this year in July. I was taken aback at quick of a turn round the young designer produced and released his well crafted designs reflecting some of the films most memorable moments.