Fashion 2.0

I learned about PR 2.0 in class but what exactly is Fashion 2.0? It is similar to the concept of PR 2.0 and the integration of social media into the fashion industry. Brands are tapping into social media and launching their products into a larger audience. Online shopping is only a step into the social media world. Now when we see a product, we can like it, share it, and tweet it. Just recently, the pin it button has been integrated into our shopping experience. Fashion shows are being streamed live via Facebook thanks to Valentino and live tweeted from backstage. The fashion industry is just taking social media for a whirlwind. We are seeing labels utilizing Pinterest to engage with the public while promoting their brands. Oscar de la Renta used the platform to upload looks from their show while having people vote on their favorite look. The winning look was then available for purchase after the show marking the first time any "off the runway" look was ever sold.

Digital Valentino Museum

Did someone say Valentino? Better yet, did someone say digital fashion museum? I can't even wrap my head around the concept right now. The well known label, Valentino, had an exhibit that was completely online! It was part of the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, New York. Audience members were able to take the virtual tour and see into the mind of Valentino Garavani. The exhibit was seven rooms featuring 300 dresses from Valentino's sacred archives. The museum was 10,000 square meters and was a technological masterpiece. Walking through, you were exposed to certain themes from dramatic animal prints to the signature Valentino red. The exhibit also had recordings of the label's fashion shows displayed with around a 100 featured. 3-D fashion museums take fashion to the next level. This even earned media like none other bringing in stars like Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman. Using something like this that involves the audience in a new innovative ways is only the start of what the fashion industry has to offer.

Burberry Live Tweeting

I have heard that people will live tweet concerts and events lately but Burberry live tweeted a fashion show. Social media is becoming more and more present in the fashion industry and it is here to stay. The fashion label, Burberry, is known for their plaids and luxurious scarves. I have to say I am guilty for indulging in the brands rain boot... Might as well look fashionable while mucking around in Lubbock's non existent sewage system. The company live tweeted photos of their show to followers and gave some backstage insight. The support to for this idea can be summed up into this great quote " Live tweeting Fashion Week turns a once largely, private trade event into a mass consumer event, underscoring how social media can be used to transform events into a global, everyday experience." Amen, live tweeting reaches your audience on twitter and provides them with a level of immediacy. I learned that phrase in class.. Twitter is becoming an important platform to use for companies. Customers want updates and they want them now! I love the idea of being at a fashion show without actually being there. Since I won't be in the front row seats at Burberry anytime soon, I'll stick to their live tweeting.

Facebook Hanger Likes?

One of the coolest things I have seen done with social media is in the article. The fashion retailer, C&A, launched a campaign called "Fashion Like" in their Brazilian branches. The concept is actually quite simple and uses the social media platform, Facebook. The company posts photos of their products on their Facebook page and customers like photos they are interested in. The likes are fed to the special hangers in the store and shoppers can see which outfits people are liking. It is really such a cool idea and really innovative. I find it interesting how C&A came up with such a technological idea. They used Facebook to their advantage and really took off with the idea. Social media is no longer meant to just be be through a computer screen. Hanger with likes? I mean really.. How amazing is that?

Fashion.me could be the next big thing

There are so many sites available to us today that help bring out our inner fashionistas. Sites that come to mind off the top of my head are Pinterest and Polyvore. In this press release, the new social network, Fashion.me, is explained. This ingenious site takes window shopping to a whole new level. It allows users to mix and match different pieces from their favorite sites making them the trendsetters and fashion gods. Fashion.me will help the spread of products just like the sites mentioned above. Users creating outfits on the site will show users the possibilities of purchasing an item from a department store’s site and increase online shopping. 

Occupation: Fashion Blogger

Finding a job is a major challenge for many in today’s society. I read this article today and I think that it can inspire us to maybe try the career path it suggests. Student journalist, Mike Huynh, discusses in his article, “Fashion Lovers Make Careers of Blogging,” the increase of professional fashion bloggers and the opportunities this career potentially has. This article was also particularly interesting to me because my Social Media and Public Relations class talked about blogs in their relation to PR this week.

The world of blogs has grown rapidly in recent years and continues to expand its presence. Huynh recognizes that it is rather easy to become a fashion blogger because the “tools of the trade are nothing more than an iPhone armed with photo-blogging app, Instagram, and fashion-forward gusto.” He uses blogger, Anna Nguyen as an example, and explains that her blogging on the side led to a full time job. Nguyen advises aspiring bloggers that even though you will not be paid when you first start, there is the possibility that it can lead to paid opportunities. I really enjoyed this article because it provides insight into the potential of making a name for you from just blogging. Blogging has helped the fashion industry because it aids in the spread of products and also helps consumers consider what to buy. Professional bloggers showcase clothes and accessories that help designers promote and establish their brand. It benefits both the buyer and the label. Blog posts that have a lot of traffic bring more publicity to brands and help fashion spread. The main point I took away from this article is that blogging can be a smart hobby because it has the potential to become something greater. Who knows, maybe this blog can lead me to a career… I just need your help!

Innovation is Never Out of Style

I read this article over the weekend and I immediately knew what direction I wanted to go with this blog. I have been thinking about the type of industry I wanted to relate social media with and to be honest, it has been quite a struggle. After this article, I realized that the fashion industry is a perfect choice for my topic because well... I am a girl and anything fashion related intrigues me. 

This article, written by David Hatch, centers around the well known apparel chain, Nordstrom, and the role social media is playing in its market. Nordstrom is a store that is always on the edge of technology. It is doing much more than just utilizing social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. They are going beyond just text and attracting consumers through photo sharing sites such as Tumblr and Pinterest. As of 2010, Nordstrom also began offering free Wi-Fi in their stores. Another interesting feature that the article mentions is that 6,000 iTouch devices were issued to Nordstrom staff. The devices allow them to ring up patrons on the spot making checkout more efficient. Ipads are also used in the store to further assist customers with choosing out products. The portable devices allow personnel to have the whole store at their fingertips.

Nordstrom is brilliant for trying to stay up to date on technology and social media sites. Social media is an increasing presence and it is important for companies to stay connected. Fashion is a huge industry and in order to bring in customers, you have to provide your products in innovative ways. Nordstrom has allowed social media to strengthen their company and bring in more consumers. I am a loyal customer to this store and I have greatly noticed the ease of finding products I like on sites such as Pinterest and Tumblr. Photo sharing sites have created a new era of social media because they are all about images. Nordstrom has recognized that customers enjoy visual sharing compared to just text and have expanded into other sites like thefancy.com and pose.com. Social media has become an integral part of not just Nordstrom but the entire fashion industry as a whole and it is here to stay.