The Color RED

Some people may choose to wear

a RED wedding dress, how convenient

that you can match your dress with a

RED velvet cake.

sources

cake- http://rarebirdfinds.typepad.com/rare_bird_finds/2006/09/red_velvet_cake.html

model- http://cheap-wedding-favors.blogspot.com/

This RED jacket has monochromatic

RED coloring like raspberries.

sources

raspberries- http://wallpaper-s.org/40__Red_Raspberries.htm

model-

The RED dress is designed and

colored much like that of a RED

rose bud.

sources

dress- http://www.promdresstoday.com/beautiful-prom-dress.htm

roses- http://www.glitterbank.com/backgrounds.html

The RED and silver pump reminded me of the motorolla razor phone.

sources

shoe- http://www.luisaviaroma.com/index.aspx#getData.aspxCallType=ListOfProd&season=sale&gender=women&groupList=shoes&des=L5A&catList=95&style=

phone- http://www.phonedog.com/products/motorola-razr-v3m-red/

http://orderinstant.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_65&products_id=211&zenid=fni2emhvu8r6d7jvs25qqhggi2

Vibrant RED tomatoes may have

ispired designers to create the dress

modeled by Kate Moss.

sources

tomatoes-

Designers at NIKE decided to

create a lobster style shoe with

blue claw band and the multi

shades of RED.

sources

shoe-http://www.dunksb.net/nike-dunks-low-c-41.html?alpha_filter_id=70&sort=20a

lobster-

I think that this garment was

definitely inspired by the beautiful

RED shades of Flamingo birds.

sources

flamingo-http://www.itsnature.org/air/birds-air/flamingo/

model-

Coral RED is very popular in the

summer time. It is a more orange

shade of RED.

sources

coral-http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/corals-anemones-and-jellyfish/3/2

model-http://www.life.com/image/90192291

Watermelon Pink is also a shade of RED.
This color is popular within Prom Dresses.

source
dress-http://www.beflirtydresses.com/acatalog/Princess-Prom-Dress.html
watermelon-http://www.whataboutwatermelon.com/index.php/2009/09/

These items represent some of the lightest shades of RED.

sources- http://deco-01.slide.com/r/1/205/dl/65-PK89pkMKTF9OywXZnJ50OgUPOCudo/watermarksm

Failing Retailers

It is unfortunate that due to the recession many retailers have gone bankrupt. But the cause of bankruptcy is not all from the U.S.’s bad economical standing it is also caused by what the retailer did wrong. Specifically Goody’s Family Clothing Store declared bankruptcy in 2009 after 56 years of business. As quoted from the TheDeal.com “Southern apparel chain Goody's Family Clothing Inc. became the latest private equity-controlled retailer to tip into Chapter 11 bankruptcy.” Although an article from Reuters.com quotes that “ as the U.S. economic recession has undermined its (Goody’s) ability to continue operating.” The Goody’s store could have used more retailing strategies to help bring in customers to make a profit so that they would not have to liquidate their stores. For example they could have advertised more with more commercials, having their website put out their on the radio, or they could have sponsored a local news station. I think that is the reason, besides the economy, that Goody’s failed and could not make money.

Target Market

The official dictionary.com definition of a target audience is the intended group for which something is performed or marketed; the specific group to which advertising is directed. So when retailers are brainstorming about a new product to put out on the market they have to keep a specific group of consumers in mind so they can ensure the product will sell. Retailers have to keep many things in mind when marketing to consumers. As stated by the VALS segment "Consumers are inspired by one of three primary motivations: ideals, achievement, and self-expression." Retailers have to make products that will strike appeal into the three categories of consumers. I think that VALS is very accurate at stating the different categories of consumers and the motivations of each type. I would also have to agree with VALS and that on Tuesday when we had to portray different consumers for different stores that we had to think of their motivation, achievements, ideals, and self-expression.

Background On My Favorite Retailer

Last week I discussed how my favorite retailer was FOREVER 21. This week I am going to give the background information and inside scoop on the history of FOREVER 21. The very first store opened up in Los Angeles, California it was located at 5637 N. Figueroa St. in the Highland Park district of Los Angeles. By the end of the first year, sales had risen from $35,000 to $700,000. Fashion 21 eventually expanded at the rate of a new store every six months and changed the Fashion 21 brand name to Forever 21. In 1989, Forever 21 opened its 11th store and first store located in a Mall, at the Panorama Mall(www.Panoramamall.com) which is in Panorama City, CA. Forever 21 increased its presence by expanding the average size to 5,000 square feet (460 m2) per store. Since then, Forever 21 has been running speciality stores in major mall locations nationwide. In 1995, the company expanded their chain to Florida and opened a store in Miami's Mall of the Americas, this location was the first store outside of California. Drastically expanding the number of Forever 21 stores nationally, Forever 21 opened XXI flagship stores in Georgia, Texas, Miami, Los Angeles, Orem, Chicago, and Canada. The average size of XXI venues are average of 24,000 square feet (2,200 m2). Since 2002, Forever 21 has been ranked as one of the 50 largest privately held companies in Los Angeles. In 2005, Forever 21 was operating over 355 locations nationwide with the brands Forever 21, Forever XXI, For Love 21, and Gadzooks. In September 2008, Forever 21 opened its new flagship store in North Atlanta, Georgia (Dunwoody), the first XXI flagship in Georgia. Another flagship opened in Atlanta two months later. Its numerous shop-in-shop concepts demonstrates the continuing strength of boutique and specialty retailing over the department or megastore format.

Favorite Retailer

My favorite retailer although it may be a bit cliché it would have to be FOREVER 21. I enjoy being able to go to one store and purchasing an entire outfit complete with matching jewelry. They also offer the most current up to date styles and fashions for an affordable price. FOREVER 21 also offer other brands made by the same company such as HERITAGE 1981, and Twelve by Twelve. Each different brand has its own look and style too it. HERITAGE 1981 has more of a bohemian style to it for a free spirited person who likes flowy clothing. Twelve by Twelve offers a modern twist to 50’s inspired clothing. It also offers more clothing to be worn for dressy occasions, with much of the clothing made out of satin material. Another reason I love FOREVER 21 is because of the wonderful prices. They have the best clothing for the price compared to similar retailers like Charlotte Russe or Wet Seal. The last reason FOREVER 21 is my favorite retailer is because I like their return policy, it's that if you purchase something and want to bring it back you can get a store credit or an exchange.

Art or Usability and Milan Fashion Week

Those who do not know about or study fashion may consider the Milan Fashion week just a work of art. The Milan fashions are very extravagent, wild and crazy. I think that fashion is both artwork and usable. The fashions from many of the Milan shows have very colorful designs with big hair. The artwork of the designs is how they are put together and how they can create such large hair and all the many shapes on the clothing. The usability of the designs is that the big hair style is making a come back, and that many read to wear clothing is going to consist of many shapes and bright colors. The height of the heels that were worn represented architecture and the structure of buildings. The artwork of the heels is the proportion of how the heels are wearable at such an extreme height. The usability of the heels is that it can give the illusion of lengthening the leg even more. Here are some examples of the high, high heels and some of the

My inspiration

My inspiration for my dress came from whenever I would go prom dress shopping in high school I could never find a dress I truly loved. I always wanted to find a short red dress. The red dress would have popped on the dance floor and could have been so fun to wear. Now I designed this dress for semi-formal. I also got inspiration from Hillary Swank's 2005 Oscar gown designed by Guy Laroche. I loved how elegant the gown looked with the high collar and the extreme "v" back. I choose to emulate the plunging back to give the dress a sexy appeal without if being skimpy. I used a heart shaped bustline to give the dress a soft innocent look. The top of the dress is very form fitting and snug around the body. The skirt part of dress is going to be flowy and flirty so you can dance in it. The material is going to be satin, but not stiff. The dark red band underneath the bustline and edging the back plung has crystal jewels on it to embellish the dress and give it an extra touch of elegance.

Ethnic Influences

Ethnic influences on Amercian fashion was seen alot this season. Alot of jewelry was big and chunky bangle bracelets. Lots of beading, embelishment and natural toned patterns. Animal print is really poplular and it comes from African influences. Also the fabrics have been influenced. Linen has become popular because of the lightness and comfort, it is p0robably influenced by hot climated cultures. Gwen Stefani's, Harajuku girls have also influenced American culture. These Harajuku girls wear clothing that is influenced by Japanese cartoon characters, the clothing is a fun, funky, and fresh trend (http://www.pulsemagazine.com/). In Alexander McQueen's collection he had silk head scarves wrapped around the models heads. It was a modern, hip, way to show a muslim interpretation on fashion. (http://www.pulsemagazine.com/). Now in America you can see scarves being worn by hip, stylish women. Sarongs worn by many people at the beach were influenced by Indonesian women. "The Indonesian sarong and the way to wrap skirts around the waist were also frequently adopted in modern fashion." (http://www.wileyinterscienc.com/). I think that because designers and marketers go to many different ethnic cultures to get ideas that of course in American collections there will some type of ethnic flare.

Organic Clohing

So the new thing in fashion is clothing and materials geared toward the "Go Green" movement. Clothing can be made out of organic materials like bamboo fibers, organic cotton, hemp, soy, and natural fibers. There is also environmentally friendly clothing such as biodegradable products, and fibers made from recycled items. The bamboo clothing is made from fibers of bamboo grass. This resource is very “green” because bamboo is one of renewable resources on the planet(organicbambooclothing.com). Organic cotton is a lot better for the environment because it does not use insecticides, herbicides, pesticides, or chemical fertilizers. (treehugger.com). Hemp clothing uses the cellulose fiber from the hemp plant to create many products (earthyeasy.com). The hemp plants require very little water and help renew the topsoil (earthyeasy.com).
These environmentally friendly clothes are still very fashionable. They can be worn as evening wear, casual clothing, and lounge wear. I really love how the fashion industry is supporting the eco-friendly movement. The fashions can really help the environment because if the fashion trend is to wear clothing made out of organic products then that is what the “new it thing” is.

DOLCE and GABBANA

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are the two men who create my favorite designer line. The two met in Milan in 1980 while working as assitants. They presented their first women's ready to wear line in 1986, soon after the line started creating knitwear, beachwear, lingerie and accessories, men's wear and fragrances. Their designs have fun, classic uses of color. It has a nice fitting line and can make a girl feel very sophisticated. I also think that Dolce and Gabbana are known for beautiful hand bags. They again use classic, sophisticated colors. I feel like when I hopefully go out into my career I will be able to wear Dolce and Gabbana clothes because they are very professional. The dresses and gowns are always very elegant with a touch of flare. Madonna and Jennifer Lopez also like Dolce and Gabbana. The two singers have a funky yet classy since of style which Dolce and Gabbana can provide. I also love how they designs can also use loud, bright colors. Whatever mood you may be in I feel like Dolce and Gabbana has an outfit or a garment that fits my mood. I really am in love with the 2008/2009 Fall Winter line. I think the lines and colors fit my style, as well as all Dolce and Gabbana lines. I think that Dolce and Gabbana is such a creative line and that is why it is my favorite :)