UNIQLO Billie Eilish x Takashi Murakumi

Billie Eilish signature baggy tees are the star of the UNIQLO Billie Eilish x Takashi Murakumi collaboration. The five time Grammy winner worked with UNIQLO to drop a 18 piece collection, the basics tees are oversized, colorful and graphic.

The tees come in multiple colors, such as blacks, greens, blues and oranges, as well as colorful graphics. Some tees features the Blosch symbol and the iconic smiley pop flower icon.

This isn’t the first time the singer worked with Japanese contemporary artist, Takashi Murakumi. The duo worked together for the creepy crawly “you should see me in a crown” music video. The artist is known for the iconic colorful pop flower.

The collection consists of shirts for men, women, and kids. The brand recently restocked due to high demand. The tees retail for $14.90 each. There is a two shirt set limit and is available on the UNIQLO website.

Photos taken from UNIQLO

Report: Katie Mok

The Re-Opening of Thrift Stores

As many shops and restaurants begin the process of re-opening in light of COVID-19, one corner of the fashion industry facing unique concerns is resale shops. A main anxiety is the overwhelming amount of donations being received as charity shops re-open. Not only have these stores been closed for the past 2-3 months, leading to a surplus in donations, but many people took their extra time being in quarantine as an opportunity to do some deep spring cleaning—leading to even more spring donations than usual.

The nature of donating to thrift shops is also a concern. How does one safely sort through the personal belongings of complete strangers amidst a pandemic? How do shoppers safely browse these selections? Some stores have taken to requesting that those wishing to make donations schedule appointments ahead of time, while others are suspending donations for the time being until merchandise can be cleared or sold from the sales floor.

One other remaining concern is the fact that while supply appears to be surging, demand isn’t necessarily doing the same. Although COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted slowly but surely, people are still hesitant to go out unless absolutely necessary. This leaves many thrift shops with significantly less customers, and therefore significantly less sales. So, while donations are pouring in, merchandise is being sold at a much slower pace.

The struggles of resale shops are important to note for the fashion industry. Thrift businesses bring in an estimated $18 billion in revenue each year and contribute in enormous ways to promoting sustainability in an otherwise largely unsustainable industry. The resale of items in thrift stores prevents them from entering landfills and prevents buyers from buying unnecessary new items. Additionally, thrift businesses provide employment to thousands. It’s important now more than ever to support resale businesses and make smart, thoughtful donations in order to help the environment and the economy.

Report: Grace Carlos

The Iconic Victoria’s Secret Will Shutter 250 of its Stores

The coronavirus pandemic has forced countless businesses to file for bankruptcy. Many are struggling to make ends meet and keep up with finances, resulting in drops in sales, leaving them hopeless with nowhere to turn.

The iconic Victoria’s Secret is closing down 250 stores in shopping centers and other locations in the U.S. and Canada.

Victoria’s Secret is prestigious for its women’s lingerie, fragrance, body care, accessories and athletic and loungewear. The brand is also notorious for its celebrated Angels and fashion events. Victoria Secret’s products are sold in more than 1,600 stores worldwide and online at VictoriaSecret.com

The store has continuously seen a drop in sales amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Along with its stores closures, the brand’s parent company, L Brands, will eliminate 22% of the company’s 1,091 stores along with 1.26 million square feet of real estate, according to ABC News.

Victoria Secret’s CEO Stuart Burgdoefer has indicated that there will be additional store closures in the future saying: “We would expect to have a meaningful number of additional store closures beyond the 250 that we’re pursuing this year, meaning there will be more in 2021 and probably a bit more in 2022.”

Bath & Body Works, another brand under the mass retailer is also expected to close 50 stores nationwide and one in Canada.

Although Bath & Body Works climbed 20% in soap and sanitizer sales, L Brands dropped 37% in sales across its brands during its first quarter of business amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to ABC News.

Victoria Secret shoppers expressed their concerns and frustrations on Twitter with one user saying: “#VictoriaSecret I was rooting for you, we were ALL rooting for you.”

While another person tweeted: “that’s what I’m saying they want us to buy that shit where???? Walmart? #dobetter @vsactu @VSPINK @bathbodyworks like ok u want us roaming around smelling like that bootleg perfume from urban planet? Mhmh ok.

As you can see loyal customers are not too happy about the stores closures and their clearly not having it.

With the stores closures in effect, definitely expect to see MAJOR sales. STAY TUNED!!!

Report: Juana Norales Instagram: @juana.n_

Gucci Calls the Fashion Schedule "Worn Out" and Decides on Seasonless Shows Twice a Year

It's no secret that the coronavirus is the push the fashion industry needed to clean up its act. Now that everything from garment supply chains to performative fashion shows are in desperate need of restructuring, who will be the voices of fashion's future? Gucci's Alessandro Michele is one person leading that conversation and thinks the annual seven-season fashion show schedule is "worn out" — we couldn't agree more.

Following Gucci's virtual press conference on May 24, creative director Alessandro Michele took to Instagram to elaborate on how the brand is embracing a more sustainable fashion show schedule. "I will abandon the worn out rituals of seasonalities and show to regain a new cadence, closer to my expressive call," Michele muses in a poetic Instagram carousel captioned Diario. "We will meet just twice a year, to share the chapters of a new story. Irregular, joyful and absolutely free chapters, which will be written blending rules and genres, feeding on new spaces, linguistic codes, and communication platforms. And beyond. I would like to leave behind the paraphernalia of leitmotifs that colonized our prior world: cruise, pre-fall, spring-summer, fall-winter. I think these are stale and underfed words. Labels of an impersonal discourse that lost its meaning."

Report: Amanda T Lou

Meet the Designer Behind Vashtie's Wedding Veil

Like many people, Vashtie had plans for a big, extravagant wedding. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that plan was out the window. She and her husband, Emil Boye, secretly married at City Hall. They didn't wear the traditional wedding attire, however. "To honor tradition I wore all white, but to be true to myself I donned an ensemble consisting of a white Supreme Hanes T-shirt, white Dickies, white Air Force 1 Lows, and a custom Durag Veil by Evita Loca," Vashtie told Complex. "My now-husband stayed true to his Danish style wearing a minimal look of all black and Retro Mid Jordan 1s." Vashtie has always been known for her streetwear and style. She has worn high end designer pieces of clothing with sneakers and graphic t-shirts. She was also the first woman to design a Jordan sneaker.

Evita Loca was excited to design the drag, but she had no idea it was for Vashtie's wedding. Loca was asked to design the piece for a photoshoot, and ended up finding out with the general public. Loca has been designing durags since 2017, after friends invited her to go to the Durag Festival. "The night before I kind of rummaged through my little stockpile of fabric and I wanted to make a piece that stood out, because by nature I’m a shy person. I wanted the piece to speak for me. I came across sequined fabric and thought, ‘What if this durag has like a Met Gala-esque vibe to it?' It was a black sequin and it came down to maybe the back of my ankles. I went to this festival and people were taking pictures and stuff like that. It had a good response," she says.

Report: Anna Bechtel

Betty's Skater-Inspired Costume Design

HBO’s newest eight-episode miniseries Betty is an exemplar of immersive storytelling through costume design. The show’s wardrobe has indeed resonated with its audience, its chic casualness creating an authentic modern setting while enticing viewers to emulate the obtainably stylish fashions. Costume designer Camille Garmendia’s familiarity with urban skateboarding culture inspired these coveted looks, and her deep analysis of Betty’s characters helped to further bring them to life.

Betty tells the story of a group of women skateboarders living in New York City, the personalities of whom served as the basis for Garmendia’s costume designs. Adding to the genuineness of the clothing was the characters’ actresses incorporating their own style into the outfits. Nina Moran relates to her character Kirt’s eccentricities, and as such she selected bright, colorful clothing that reflects her happy-go-lucky attitude. Ardelia Lovelace’s true admiration for former president Barack Obama led to her character Janay wearing an Obama Supreme shirt, claiming that it represented personal growth. The boldest example of this blend between characterization and real-life personality is the character Honeybear, a visual artist who wears such outlandish adornments as a necklace made of bike chains and pasties instead of a shirt. Most interestingly, her actress Kabrina Adams confirmed that there was very little difference between her own wardrobe and that of Honeybear.

Betty has most accurately brought New York’s indie fashion to television screens, enthralling viewers regardless of their proximity to skater culture.

Photo credits: https://www.nylon.com/fashion/hbo-betty-costumes-spotlight-new-york-city-skater-style

https://www.popsugar.com/fashion/photo-gallery/47505305/image/47505405/Tank-Tops-Shorts

Report: Nia Hunt

Hanifa Used 3D Models to Launch Its Latest Collection on Instagram Live

The coronavirus pandemic is changing so many industries worldwide. One such change that is already taking place is the move to make fashion shows more accessible by using 3D digital models to launch new collections online.

In an interview with Teen Vogue, Hanifa's designer, Anifa Mvuemba, revealed that she already planned to launch her new collection, Pink Label Congo, online, but wondered if it was still the right move when the coronavirus pandemic changed everything. Mvuemba explained, "The news came out about how serious things were and I started to feel a bit anxious about everything going on. I started feeling like maybe it would be insensitive to create and share a new collection online while people were facing very difficult realities."

With her designs, Mvuemba wants to celebrate the beauty of Congo, while drawing attention to the issues faced by people in the locale such as illegal mining. Using 3D models is a natural next step for Mvuemba, who told Teen Vogue, "designing content using 3D models and now an entire collection has been a complete game changer for me." Making the launch entirely digital has only been positive for the brand, as the designer revealed, "My decision to keep going could impact our customers for the better in ways I never imagined. That’s when I knew it was time."

Instagram is also the great leveler when it comes to fashion, as Mvuemba explained, "We know that some people may never experience a fashion week or Hanifa showcase, so we wanted to show up for our audience where they show up for us on a daily basis. That’s when Instagram became the obvious choice."

Report: Amanda T Lou

Michael Jordan: Trendsetter On & Off the Court

Micheal Jordan is known mostly for his talent on the Basketball court, being coined as the greatest to ever play the game. Let’s not forget his glowing baseball and golf careers! And acting! Let face it, this man could do it all. All of this being said it is fair to say that Jordan has his thumb in many pies, including fashion. And I’m not just talking about his Jays and sportswear. Since the premiere of The Last Dance, a 10 part docu-series, Jordan’s famous looks have been trending all over social media. Although many have been questioning his sense of style there is no denying that many of Michael's fashion choices in the ’90s can be found in fashion trends today. From graphic tees to baggy denim, Michael can proudly say he was one of the first to rock the look.

Micheal has been known for rocking oversized jeans. This “lived in” or vintage look of oversized distressed jeans have been seen a lot in this season’s fashion. These jeans could be dressed down with sneakers or dressed up with heels and a blouse.

Micheal has been known to add a trench coat to any outfit. Brightly colored and oversized trenches made a come back in 2020 fashion. These coats have taken the place of the classic beige and natural-colored coat like the one Michael is seen rocking above.

A graphic tee is a staple. I always have at least 10 in my closet at a time. Jordan is known for wearing a classic Bull graphic tee. This is far from a new trend but after the premiere of The Last Dance, there has also been an increase in sales of vintage Chicago Bulls gear, specifically championship tees. While not everyone can get their hands on a classic 1997 championship tee, we could at least appreciate a cozy oversized graphic tee with biker shorts or a pair of jeans.

Photo Creds: bleacherreport.com, prettylittlething.com, Esquire, and whowhatwear.com

Report: Lauren Tucker

Looks from the Cannes Film Festival

In a recent Instagram post by Priyanka Chopra, the actress reflects on last year’s Cannes Film Festival. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic this year’s festival has been cancelled. It began in 1939 when the French war drama, La Grande Illusion, was not allowed at the Venice Film Festival. Now considered one of the most premier places for cinema, it is located in the French Riviera and a strict dressing code is enforced.

Although the 2020 Cannes Festival won’t be happening, the years of high-end fashion it has brought us can still be looked backed upon and admired. Here are some iconic looks that celebrities have showcased in the festival’s recent years.

PRIYANKA CHOPRA

Priyanka brought simple glamour to the festival in 2019 at the premiere of Les Plus Belles Années D’une Vie. She wore a white tulle-layered gown from Georges Hobeika, a diamond necklace and earrings, and finished off the look with minimal makeup and hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail.

Crowned Miss World in 2000, Priyanka is best known for her roles in the ABC thriller series Quantico and Hollywood comedy blockbuster Baywatch.

FAN BING BING

Fan stunned in pastel elegance at the 2018 opening ceremony. Wearing a mint couture gown from Ali Karoui, she completed the look with De Beers jewelry.

Another high-paying actress in her own right, Fan is also considered to be a global fashion icon. The star of many Chinese award-winning films, she portrayed Blink in the 2014 superhero movie X-Men: Days of Future Past.

LUPITA NYONG’O

Lupita made heads turn with her bright couture gown at the 2015 premiere of La Tete Haute. She wore a Gucci jade green pleated gown adorned with floral embellishments and a deep-cut neckline. The outfit was accessorized with a gold head and Chopard jewelry, and finished off with a magenta lip.

A graduate from the prestigious Yale School of Drama, Lupita’s breakout role was as Patsy in the biographical period drama 12 Years a Slave, earning her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

BELLA HADID

Bella’s daring style was on display during the 2016 premiere of The Unknown Girl. Famously choosing not to wear any underwear underneath, she wore a red silk-wrap gown from Alexandre Vautheir. The look was finished off with teardrop-shaped diamond earrings and jewelry adorning her fingers and wrists.

Alongside sister Gigi Hadid, Bella is a prominent model that has collaborated with the likes of Dior Beauty, Chanel, and Jacquemus.

MARION COTILLARD

One can’t talk about the Cannes Festival if they don’t talk about French actress Marion Cotillard. Appearing at the 2012 premiere of De Rouille et D’os she wore a Christian Dior ball gown that had a black strapless bodice, dark navy skirt, and black patent leather belt. The look was completed with Chopard jewels and an 8k white gold watch set.

The new face of the Chanel No. 5 fragrance, she won an Oscar for her portrayal of French singer Edith Piaf in the biographical musical film La Vie en Rose.

Photo Credits: Harpar's Bazaar, Elle

Report: Charlene Piccio

Levi's Golf Wang-Inspired Anniversary

Having been in business for an astonishing 147 years, Levi’s Jeans celebrates each anniversary with their 501 Day, in homage of their signature 501 jeans. Each May, Levi’s hosts worldwide events and campaigns commemorating their legacy as the leading brand of jeans for over a century. A noteworthy milestone of this year’s 501 Day has been the collaboration with Golf Wang, Tyler the Creator's fashion label.

Levi's and Golf Wang are two brands that complement each other well due to their respective mission statements. Levi’s 501 jeans embody self-expression and individuality, as their simplistic build makes them adaptable to customizations and redesign. Meanwhile, Golf Wang is a brand rooted in whimsicality, consisting of brightly colored hats, sports jerseys, and duffel bags emblazoned with random images such as chicken and waffles. Defying the hip hop fashion convention of glorifying luxury items, Tyler opts to imbue with his products with dark, absurdist humor.

Together, Levi’s and Golf Wang have previewed a more vibrant iteration of the classic 501 jeans, one spangled with multi-colored polka dots as Golf Wang’s heart-and-flower logo adorns the back pocket. These rainbow jeans are truly a vivid, fantastical creation, and they are available for purchase on both of Levi’s and Gold Wang’s websites on now.

Photo credits:

https://hypebeast.com/2020/5/golf-wang-levis-tyler-the-creator-501-day-polka-dot

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-hook/6099335/tyler-the-creator-golf-wang-style

Report: Nia Hunt

Examining Professional Athlete Fashion

Professional athletes are not normally known for their fashion choices. They usually have assigned uniforms they have to wear while on the job, but they do get to choose how to look when the camera is still on them before and after the game. While many well-dressed male athletes opt for a simple suit and tie, some have been known to show off much more flamboyant looks. There’s also no shortage of female athletes who know how to dress off the court.

Serena Williams is the perfect example of someone whose athletic ability is complimented by their stylish drip. She recently headlined Sports Illustrated’s fourth annual Fashion 50 list, a ranking of the most fashionable professional athletes put together by a team of sports and fashion experts alike. Williams explained that her ambition to display her chic, empowering style when she isn’t playing goes hand in hand with her mentality as an athlete. “I always try to send the message of just being confident and being fierce,” she said.

There’s no shortage of male athletes who aspire to look confidence and fierce on the field and through their clothes. Many of the athletes from SI’s list play in either the NFL or NBA. Odell Beckham Jr., Russell Westbrook and James Harden are all ranked very high due to their outfits that range from vintage to latest, designer to unconventional, and masculine threads to feminine apparel. There’s also of course Cam Newton, the former Carolina Panthers quarterback and current free agent. He is most known for his headwear, showing up to his press conferences in everything from a Sunday best top hat akin to a traditional churchgoer from the Deep South to bandanas worn in the style of Rosie the Riveter.

While the bigger focus on fashion for athletes has been much more apparent in recent times than in the past, there are still some early trendsetters who loved to wear more than just a suit and tie. Broadway Joe Namath came about as the New York Jets quarterback in the late 1960s and his long hair and cocky attitude represented the cultural changes taking place in the United States at that time. He was also known for wearing fur coats while on the sidelines. Walter "Clyde" Frazier came up around the same time as Namath and appeared in multiple clothing advertisements. He’s still known for his tastes whenever he wears a unique suit during Knicks broadcasts. Then there is Dennis Rodman who frequently changed the color of his hair and even wore the occasional dress.

Still, fashion plays a much larger role for Millennial athletes than previous generations. Nearly everyone on SI’s list was born after 1980. Zoomers, such as Zion Williamson and Lamar Jackson, are just beginning to take over the sports landscape. It’ll be interesting to see how fashion trends change with the new generation and future generations to come.

Photos courtesy of Imgur and Flickr user cliff1066™

Report: Michael Rosen

The Ryan Murphy Series "Hollywood," and its 1940s Costumes

Ryan Murphy's newest TV masterpiece is the Netflix show Hollywood. It centers around the TV and film industry in the 1940's, with aspiring actors and directors trying to make it big. It is almost a "what if" look at the industry, with fictionalized versions of well-known figures, like Rock Hudson.

Since the show is a period drama, the fashion and costumes were a big part of the series. Costume designers Lou Eyrich and Sarah Evelyn based the fashions on "golden age cinema". They used a color palette of golden browns, pinks, caramels, reds, greens, and purples. Evelyn and Eyrich call this palette "harvest tones". They also took references from famous 1940's icons and movies, like Woman Of The Year, Casablanca, The Red Shoes, The Killers, Gilda, and Gentleman's Agreement. "As we looked at the characters and made the tone board, we developed style icons for each of the characters", Evelyn says about their process. Evelyn and Eyrich also worked closely with the hair and makeup departments, to determine the looks. "If Ryan chose a specific hair color or wig", Evelyn said, "that would affect our work greatly".

Many of the costumes were custom made because, "1940s clothing is extremely difficult to find and generally very small", Evelyn explains. However, some of the pieces were bought from vendors who specialize in vintage clothing.

Several of the show's actors enjoyed their costumes, some even got attached to them. "We definitely had characters who got attached to their costumes and wanted to take stuff home", Evelyn says.

Report: Anna Bechtel

Return of the Tie Dye

During quarantine, most of us are stuck in our homes wondering what we can do to keep ourselves busy. Spending about 8 hours on TikTok is definitely one way to pass time, but many people have also been bringing out their creative sides. Painting, baking, home projects and having some fun with their wardrobe.

TikTok is famous for people creating fun dances, making viewers laugh, and also for spreading some fashion tips and tricks. There has been a recent trend that has surfaced with this latest social media platform. Tie dye tutorials have always been around, but it has become much more popular thanks to this app and more people giving it a try.

Did I mention how easy it is? All you need is any piece of clothing you are willing to spice up, rubber bands and of course, bleach. You can also buy liquid dye in various colors to create your own look. These tutorials are easy and fun and are always displayed with songs that are trending on the app. This helps lure viewers, likes and makes the whole experience fun for people to do.

If you're looking for more ways to be fun and creative, other than tie dye, TikTok is the best place to check out. One account called Style is one of the best sources to use for style and beauty. What is so neat about it is it shares average people like you and myself and their style tips, then tags and shares them on their page.

Overall, the tie dye fits have become very popular and it can be used as a fun way to keep busy or even just to spruce up old pieces of clothing you were thinking of getting rid of. You don't just have to bleach it, you can cut it and turn it into crop tops or incorporate cool designs. Have fun with it and make it your own!

Photo Credits: Pinterest

Report: Melissa Adragna

QUAY X LIZZO FOR GOOD

You're going to need a pair of sunnies to shade your eyes from the shine of Quay's new collection. The Australian sunglass company just dropped a new line in collaboration with, the only and only, Lizzo. With a spark and originality that only the artist herself could embody, the new shades will be the vibrant addition to your summer wardrobe that you’ve been craving.

The singer, songwriter and performer took the world by storm with her fun, empowering, resilient music and energy, and these qualities become tangible as they are integrated into the new designs. Featuring colorful yet sophisticated styles, the collection has superstar written all over it.

The Lizzo inspired line includes a variety of silhouettes such as aviators and cat eye, as well as sunglasses with metal brow bars and studded embellishments like mini stars and rhinestones. Some of the shades are also offered in a translucent rainbow finish. No matter what style you choose, every pair will help you shine a little bit brighter before you ever even hit the sun.

Probably the most significant reason why this new collection outshines that of its predecessors is the fact that proceeds from every purchase will be used towards donating meals all across the United States. In addition to teaming up with Lizzo, the Quay company has also partnered with Feeding America during this time of uncertainty. Each individual purchase is the equivalent of 100 meals that are distributed by local food banks.

Besides the obvious charm and enthusiasm of the new collection, the ability to contribute meaningful meals and provide a sense of security to fellow Americans is what makes this line one of our favorites of the season. You will undoubtedly add a spark to your style when wearing these fun and eccentric shades while simultaneously making a difference in the lives of people who need it most.

All photo credit can be attributed to the Quay website.

Report: Alexandra Donnelly

Insecure Where? These Looks Exude Confidence!

Though titled Insecure, the looks that the ladies on this show have been serving this season are far from that! Costume designer Shiona Turini, who also designed the clothing elements on Queen and Slim for which she was nominated for the Costume Designers Guild Award for Excellence in Costume Design for a Contemporary Film, is the fashion mastermind behind it all. What I admire most about Turini is that she purposefully seeks out Black designers and brands for Insecure. Doing this is not only important because it gives black designers a platform, but it also connects viewers with the characters as informed young individuals who understand the importance of supporting black-owned businesses. Here are just a few of my favorite looks from this season of Insecure.

First are the Cancun Vegan Leather Blazer and Wrap Skirt by Nanushka that Issa wore to the mixer she threw to promote her upcoming block party. I love this look because it gives me boss vibes which is exactly what Issa is radiating throughout this season. She is all about the success of her block party and has proven to be a hard worker.

My next favorite is the Diverge Drape Dress by Dion Lee that Molly was wearing on her date with Asian-bae Andrew. In my opinion, this dress is so fitting for Molly’s character whose high fashion sense matches her high expectations. Another favorite of mine was the cardigan dress Condola wore by Alessandra Rich. This dress looked so elegant especially with the details on the buttons and reminded me of something I’d see on Coco Chanel.

Another Molly look that I loved was the Asymmetric Deconstructed Blazer by Monse that she wore on the Thanksgiving episode. This top is just so bold and unique from anything I have ever seen, and for Molly to wear it on Thanksgiving there’s no doubt that she is the Beyoncé of her family.

Last but certainly not least, is the light blue pleated dress that Tiffany wore to Issa’s mixer, which happens to be from one of my personal favorite brands, Pyer Moss. The way this dress flows and the color really highlighted how beautiful maternity is and looks on Tiffany. I could probably go on forever about the stylish ladies of Insecure and how Shiona Turini never misses but you guys should just see for yourselves! Tune in with me on HBO Sundays at 10 pm EST.

Photo credit: @Insecurehbo

Report: Corine Gauthier

Fashion and Stocks: Everything To Know Before Investing

As investors plan their next move when it comes to either buying or selling their stocks, the thought of buying a share towards a fashion company is often not considered. For those not familiar with the stock market, it is indexes of investments towards sharing ownership in a company. Technology companies and big brands such as Amazon, Tesla, Apple, Paypal, Shopify and more are all what these investors normally strive towards. But what about the fashion market and the constant growing of consumers everyday who rely on these companies? Some of the most successful fashion brands such as LuLuLemon is not only an expensive stock but it is at the top of the list for several fashion stocks. Ranging from yoga, loungewear, lifestyle and fitness, this stock has continued to grow to about 90% since last year. Another strong stock in this industry is Nike. Being such a popular and valuable apparel company, there is no doubt that they continue to sky-rocket every year when it comes to sales and revenue. Despite not being a cheap stock being priced at almost $100, it is inevitable that even the highest priced stocks will continue to dip in the midst of the pandemic.

Even luxury brands such as Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and more continue to remain steady in their sales and profit. The most important question regarding all of these brands is, are fashion stocks worth the price? It can be a risky investment due to the fact that a lot of people have been switching their shopping habits from fast fashion to more sustainable and ethical ways. It is okay to invest in a brand you know a lot about and consistently shop at but you need to be aware of the risks that you are taking when doing so. Some of the essential tips you should know is doing deep research on the brand itself. Look at their quality, how much people shop there, how much they make, gross margin, sales data, growth rates, earnings, and their competition.

If you invest into a fashion brand but then there is a competitor that can slide your stock off the market, then it will affect how much you’ve put into the stock. Once figuring out the research of the brand and their success, it is based on personal judgement whether you should make this investment or find another company.

Photo Sources: capital.com, currency.com, ig.com

Report: Pamela Valdez

Opening Ceremony's Announcement

The fashion industry has been struggling for a long time, specifically their retail stores. With online shopping getting more and more popular, and people finding it way easier to use, retail stores have started to close. The COVID-19 crisis and lockdowns have already forced most businesses and retail stores to close. However, this might not be a temporary thing. Several high end and well-known brands, like Neiman Marcus and Forever 21, have already closed locations, citing financial issues. Last week, Opening Ceremony, an American clothing brand founded by Carol Lim and Humberto Leon, announced it would be shutting all of its locations down permanently. Lim and Leon announced this development on their Instagram. "We were going to set up a karaoke machine and ask you to sing a song with us. Make you a drink and give you some snacks. We were going to work in the stores for our last month so that we could thank you and hang out the way we did in 2002 when we first opened,” they wrote. “But while that is not in the cards, the feelings of gratefulness and love are still there.”

In January, Opening Ceremony announced that it would be selling a majority of its stake to the New Guards Group. Later, they announced that they would be transitioning away from retail by closing locations. Lim and Leon stated that Opening Ceremony would now be focusing on in-house collections of ready-to-wear clothing and accessories. Opening Ceremony's online stores will continue to operate into June. Their official re-launch is scheduled for later this year. However, Opening Ceremony will continue to "tie fashion obsessions to culture at large," which has been their goal from the beginning.

Report: Anna Bechtel

Savage x Fenty Teams up with Megan Thee Stallion for Their 2020 Campaign

Rihanna’s lingerie line, Savage X Fenty, has announced Megan Thee Stallion as their 2020 brand partner. The collaboration deemed #SavageXTheestallion, is part of the brand’s community-led summer campaign where brand partners, ambassadors and influencers take photos from inside their homes. The brand is teaming with mixed media artist Rafatoon to put together the campaigns.

The “Savage” and “Hot Girl” singer was given this opportunity with Savage X Fenty after she helped launch TikTok’s account in April with the #SavageChallenge. From the app, she was seen modeling the brand’s lingerie while dancing along to her hit song, Savage. The challenge has become viral and has nearly 800 million views.

When interviewed about the collaboration, Rihanna said “Meg is the energy we were looking for. She is a risk-taker with an attitude, character and personality.”

In the first campaign shots, Megan is seen wearing a yellow lace bra, paired with a matching thong. Another shot shows Megan on top of a leather chair featuring the same lingerie that she wore from the original #SavageChallenge video.

The collaboration will feature fits of all available sizes, from 32A-42H and XS on www.savageX.com, Amazon.com, ASOS.com and Zalando.com and is nothing short of classy, bougie and ratchet.

Report: Woo Jong Kim

The Summer of Virtual Fashion Weeks

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

JCPenney Files for Chapter 11

As America’s economy has continued to drop over the past 2 months due to the global pandemic, the future of our country is anything but clear. The governments decision to halt economic growth in order to save the lives of our country is a tough decision to understand, but also to make. With the amount of time passing where stores remain closed, we can foresee many businesses filing for bankruptcy.

JCPenney has officially filed for Chapter 11 as of Friday May 15 in order to bring down their astronomical amount of debt and restructure financially. Of course, filing for any form of bankruptcy seriously discredits a business, but if JCPenney wants to continue opening its doors, this was the only way to help it.

JCPenney’s plan of action includes a restructuring support agreement (RSA) that the court will continue to oversee between lenders who hold about 70% of JCPenney’s lien debt. Terms and agreements have been pre-arranged to allow a sense of relief during this process. As the debt is payed off, the financial restructuring will occur within the organization to ensure this never happens again. Even with a smart new plan, some stores are still expected to close for good.

JCPenney continues to support its customers throughout this time, and with new states opening every week, its stores will open when the timing is safe. JCPenney has been a major department store for years and has been shown a tremendous amount of support from its employees, customers, and vendors. JCPenney is doing everything they can to protect its loyal workers, and will continue to provide relief for its customers during these unprecedented times.

JCPenney is not the only nationwide department store to file for bankruptcy as Neiman Marcus has also filed for Chapter 11 in the recent weeks. The two department stores offer brands to different levels of cliental, but have both built a solid plan for future endeavors.

If you are a supporter of either of these two businesses, please consider supporting them throughout this crisis.

Photo Credits:

https://www.dailywire.com/news/jcpenney-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy

https://abc11.com/jc-penney-has-filed-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-protection-a-report-said-friday/6186759/

Report: Kaitlin Gallagher