It's always nice to KISS, Mastering the art of simplistic dressing

It's always nice to KISS

Keep It Simple Stupid, The art of simplistic dressing

                                                                                                                                                        

 The world of fashion is high-paced, and constantly changing. Many find it difficult to keep up with the constantly changing trends; it is also hard on our wallets.

Stop trying to figure out which trendy colours you can pull off, which cut fits our body type, or which eyeshaddow you have to splurge on. Start investing in things that you like, things that are 

comfortable and things that you will always love to have in your wardrobe. It is time to stop going by the trends and to start wearing classic pieces. What exactly is a classic piece you may ask? Well, a classic piece as defined in Webster’s dictionary as something that is judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind. Think Jane Birkin, a little black dress, Chanel, your perfect fitting jeans, an aged leather bag, and those ruby red lips.

Yes, a real leather bag is a little bit more expensive than a bag from H&M, but think of all of the money we spend on fast fashion purchases. In an article posted in the Daily Mail called “Britain's Bulging Closets” it is reported that women have four times as many clothes in their wardrobe than they did in 1980. Another article from the Globe and Mail, “The real cost of our 'Fast Fashion' Consumption Culture”, talks about how the average American buys 64 items of clothing a year. Do we really need all of these clothes? Do we even wear all of these clothes?

Why not buy less but wear more? Buy less of the fast fashion pieces, and wear more good quality pieces. This means no more Zara jeans but instead try on a pair of Levis. Yes, Levis is a little bit more expensive than Zara but you know that the quality is there. It is important to invest in the things that will last. The next time you are shopping and you see a new adorable sweater with the season’s hottest print on it, remember to ask yourself “Will I actually wear this in many years to come? Or will I throw it out the next time I empty out my closet?”

Classic pieces can vary from person to person, depending on their personal taste level. When it comes to shoes, I prefer to invest in a lower leather heel. Leather tends to age better than suede, especially when removing salt stains after the typical Canadian winter. During the cold months it is easy to tuck some skinnies into my booties, and when the weather warms up and I am feeling a bit adventurous I wear them with a pair of denim cut offs. The second item that I have invested in is a leather jacket. Nothing is better than slipping on a real leather jacket, throwing on some jeans and a t-shirt and sliding some sunglasses on. That to me, is classic.

  

It is important to invest in basic pieces that you will wear over the years, trends will come and go but classic pieces are here to stay.

“White Denim: My Friend or Foe?”

“White Denim: My Friend or Foe?”

My Lifelong Journey, to Find the Perfect Pair of White Denim Pants

Every year once the slush starts to melt away, the flowers begin to bloom, and the birds begin to chirp, I know that spring has finally arrived after another long cold winter.  However, I always know for certain that spring has finally arrived when both young and old ladies start to bring their white denim out from hibernation.  I unfortunately have never been able to include myself in this demographic.   Yet every year I give myself the false sense of hope, that this might be the summer that I finally find my own dream pair of white pants.  

All I have ever really wanted is a pair of crisp white, stiff denim skinnies.  A pair that is opaque enough that they do not let the city of Toronto know the precise colour and brand of my underwear.   And most importantly, a pair of white denim that do not make me look as though I have somehow managed to gain 30 pounds from my very brief walk from the store’s rack to the fitting room.

Despite my fears of wearing white denim, I set out recently on a shopping trip to see if white denim and I could finally forge a friendship – or at the very least become acquaintances.  White pants can be pretty unforgiving, but regardless of this mildly terrifying tidbit I have seen them look stunning on women of all shapes and sizes. 

I knew I had to deal with this issue head on, and the only place to tackle this was at Over the Rainbow.  Over the Rainbow is a store located in Yorkville, which is described on their website as being a “denim emporium”.  After arriving at the store I quickly realized I had arrived in Toronto’s denim heaven. If I did not manage to find my pair of white denim pants here amongst the seemingly never-ending stacks and racks of jeans, then I knew it would finally be time for me to throw in the towel and spend another summer sweating it out in a pair of yawn worthy black skinnies.

The sales people at the store were incredibly sweet and helpful.   As I explained my very serious fashion dilemma to an associate named Nadia, I was quickly ushered to the fitting room with the promise that I would not go home empty handed. 

I was greeted at the fitting room curtain shortly afterwards by her with a stack of luscious designer jeans, in a variety of fits and in shades of white that I did not know had even existed.  The first pair that I tried on were a pair of Rag and Bone skinny fit denim that had two lovely zips at the pocket.  Unfortunately these were a no-go, as they managed to make my already short legs look shorter than what I had thought was even physically possible.  I shuffled back into the fitting room.  I tried on what seemed to be pair, after pair of white pants that only seemed to reinforce every negative stereotype I have ever had about this style. 

I was about to call it a day, but the lovely Nadia insisted I try on one last pair.  They were a pair of J Brand mid-rise skinny’s in a grey-tinged white.  I slipped them on, took a deep breath in and stepped out of the fitting prepared to face the worst.  To my surprise they actually looked incredible.  They made my legs look surprisingly long and lean, were for once not paper thing and transparent, and most importantly of all made my butt look amazing! 

After 21 years of being ruthlessly tormented by white denim we had finally become in my opinion, not just friends but best friends.

Gananoque Getaway

From conquering castles to sunbathing on the beaches – how to plan your perfect weekend in the newly revived and re-invented 1000’s islands.

Step 1. Escape in Style – be it sunset sails or hikes through winding trails on the Canadian Shield, make sure you dress to match the picturesque landscape.

What’s your packing lacking?

Essentials for your Suitcase – swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, maxi dress, flip flops, lip balm, sun hat, sunglasses, camera, and a good book.

Step 2. Driving the Distance – the ride there is half the fun! Whether its with family or friends, make the most of the road trip by taking the scenic route and by bringing lots of snacks, maps, and a killer play list to pass the time.

Step 3. Awesome Accommodations – whether you’re looking for rustic relaxation or romantic renewal, Gananoque offers a variety of B&B’s, Resorts, and Inns all situated within walking distance of the town and marina.

Our Top Picks:

The Athlone Inn – A recently revived 1870’s Victorian mansion holds 9 available suites with whimsical themed rooms such as “The Tea Rose” and “The Magnolia”. This cozy, tranquil inn provides excellent comfort in luxurious style and features a fine dining restaurant where gourmet breakfast is always included for guests.
The Gananoque Inn – Situated on the waterfront, this is a historic haven, converted from a carriage factory in the 1860’s, features 2 restaurants, a spa and games room. Each room comes complete with a Jacuzzi and/or fireplace to help make your stay more relaxing.

            Tip: Confirm your reservation before you leave.

Step 4. Embrace Exploring- With a rich history of over 200 years and endless activities to choose from, 1000 islands provides many opportunities to discover, relax, and play.
       Our Top Picks:
 Boldt Becomes New – modeled after a full size German castle, complete with         tunnels, Italian gardens, and a stone arch resembling the Arc de Triumph. The construction of Boldt Castle began in 1900 at the bidding of millionaire hotel magnet George C. Boldt as a tribute to his wife, however, when she suddenly passed away just months before completion all construction came to a halt. Since 1977, several millions of dollars have been applied to restoring and improve the Heart Island structure – a truly revived piece of history.
Boating– canoeing, kayaking, or cruising. Pick your perfect way to spend the day exploring the beautiful 1,865 islands that are strewn throughout the waters of the St. Lawrence River.

     Beautiful Beaches – choose to soak up some sun on the shoreline with your choice of granite pebbles or fine sand. With clear emerald green water, you may definitely want to take a dip!

Step 5. Dynamite Dining – finding the right place to dine is no more a chore. Indulge and tempt your palette with pubs, coffee shops, bistro style bakeries, fine dining and more.

Our Top Picks:

The Althlone Inn – Fine dining and contemporary French cuisine, Red Seal Executive Chef, Jason McMillan, creates menus which features fresh, local ingredients, artful presentation and nightly specials created to bring your palette to life!

Muskie Jake’s Tap and Grill – The sunny patio deck and a dock & dine option available makes this the perfect place to kick back and enjoy gourmet burgers or the catch of the day!

The Nest Egg – Need something sweet? You’re in for a treat with a 24-flavour selection of Ontario made Kawartha Dairy ice cream. An ice-way to cool off of a sunny day!

Colour Me Confident

Colour Me Confident

--> Tips and tricks to solving the colour spectrum best suited for your closet           

You have survived the end of the world, and yes, this means your wardrobe still exists. Don’t be afraid! Here are some tips to dressing successfully whether you are the adventurous woman in highlighter or an easygoing gal in neutrals. The world is full of colour and now it is your turn to take the reigns and find a personal balance!

In the Shadows

         Having trouble-wearing colour? There are many ways to add a pop of pizzazz into your outfit without looking like you jumped out of the dark and into someone else’s closet. Hop out of your comfort zone and add a metallic pump to that little black dress or even a colourful statement necklace to liven up those dark shades of gray. You may feel a little self-conscious at first, but the baby steps make it count. The next time you are out shopping, choose a few items in colours that you would not normally select, take a deep breath and bring them to the fitting room. Then, make a mental note of the aspects you like and do not like about the item. This will open up your mind to many new outfit ideas and help you decipher what colours you may actually allow yourself to wear out in public- imagine that! Never hesitate to ask a sales associate for their personal opinion of whether you look silly or if that is just your judgmental-self talking. The golden rule: take is slow.

I Saw the Sun

            Find yourself wearing too much colour? There is absolutely nothing wrong with a bright denim or floral print sundress, but a pair of fluorescent yellow Doc Martens are no way to compliment such a fun and flirty look without making this ensemble an eye sore. Try to tone down the shade of colour from a highlighter pink flat to a blush pink. This will subtly compliment your once called costume into a statement and bring the whole outfit together calmly in peace. If in doubt, do not hesitate to throw a neutral in the mix. White will always compliment sun-kissed skin in the summer months, add a few of your favourite brights and ta-da! Your extreme fashion efforts are toned down in a notably stylish way, while wearing your favourite lively tints without over doing it.
Colour Palette
          Love Ocean blue, but does it clash with your lavender blonde locks? In comparison to the colours you enjoy wearing, there are many that compliment features that include your skin tone all the way to your hair colour. Here are a few dos and don’ts of tones and tints that will flatter your over all appearance.
Light featured ladies --> For a fair skin tone and blonde-red hair, pastels are your best friend. Blues and browns will also draw positive attention to the colour of your hair, but try to avoid harsh colours that will contrast the skin too powerfully that will then draw attention in the wrong way.
Medium featured ladies --> For an olive skin tone and medium-dark brown or black hair, try warm colours such as navy and variations of purple such as a plum or burgundy. Neutrals such as white will compliment the slightly coloured skin and warm grays are also best suited to compliment the over all look. Try to avoid colours that blend in with your skin tone i.e. red if you have red undertones in the skin.
Dark featured ladies --> For a dark skin tone and dark brown or black hair, the more brights the better! This will highlight the darker tone of this skin and hair and make it pop. You can also try whites, light blues and pinks, but avoid dark shades. You want to accentuate your tones as much as possible with the use of colours on the bright side of the spectrum.

Lip Service

The tips, trends, and care regime you should know for the perfect pout in Summer 2013.

The Why and How

Great lips start with a solid foundation to keep them soft and kissable all year round.

Why do your lips still need special attention in the summer? Because of two very important reasons; the skin on our lips has no melanin, or oil glands. Melanin is a natural sun protectant produced in the rest of our skin, the pigment that causes you to tan when exposed to UV rays. A lack of oil producing glands in the lips means the skin cannot maintain its own moisture and drys out very easily. (Discovery Health)

What you can do to keep your lips moisturized and protected is 

1. invest in a moisturizing lip balm containing SPF. Depending on whether you have sensitive skin or not you'll need to choose between a beeswax (or other wax), or petroleum based product; there are a few glycerin based products (the best for sensitive skin) on the market but they are difficult to find. And of course taking into account how much sun protection you want SPF ranges from 5 to 30.

2. Use a lip scrub weekly to slough off any dead skin cells; about 15 to 30 seconds once per week should do the trick. And remember not to overdo it on the exfoliation as you'll damage the healthy skin on your lips leaving them raw and sore.

Recommended Products

Balms; Bert's Bees Sun Protection with SPF 8 and grapefruit extract (beeswax) , Blistex Silk & Shine with SPF15 (petroleum).

Scrubs; Lush Lip Scrub in Mint Julip, The Body Shop Lip Scuff.

That's Sooo 2013!

Trends: What are they, how to wear them, and where they were spotted.

 

The 3 distinct trends in lip colour to emerge from the Spring / Summer 2013 runways shows are... Naturals, Neons, and Rubies.

Naturals: These are shades the boys won't be afraid of. Soft pinks, browns, and other shades similar to natural skin tones are what make up this range of lip colours. These colours can be worn with any makeup style.

As seen at Chanel, Chloe, and Alexander McQueen

Neons: Think 80's pop done right. Oranges, pinks, and corals all verging on the fluorescent are what to look for. This look is best worn with a neutral almost bare looking face. The good news is that most cosmetics companies are jumping on the neon bandwagon, so you'll be able to find those wild and out there hues at your local drugstore.

As seen at Missoni and Moschino

Rubies: The screen siren is making a comeback. Bold rich reds are ideally worn with subtly smoky eyes and a fresh complexion to achieve the maximum va va voom look of the 1940's.

As seen at Burberry Prorsum, and Jean Paul Gaultier

Avoiding Faux Pas

Tips for keeping inside the lines.

With bold, bright hues, and classic screen siren glam being the hot tickets to a statement beauty, looking fierce rather than foolish is key.

• Products like No Bleeding Lips (at Shoppers) are a fantastic solution to stopping the dreaded feathering lipstick.

• Matte and long last lipsticks can dry out your lips use a base of moisturizing lip balm to keep your pout soft and supple.
• When applying your colour, using a brush can help with precision.
• Or you can go with toned down versions of the bold trend and pull double duty with tinted lip balms.

For a more detailed look at makeup application tips and tricks checkout websites like ohwowyouworethat.com, founded by GBC student Jack Harding.

New World Order

2012 for the fashion world was much like Eastern Europe following the breakdown of the Soviet Union: brands have collapsed, labels were renamed and designers have been abruptly replaced. We have seen one man’s dramatic return from exile and have watched others simply…disappear overnight. Wherever your politics lie, it’s clear that we are in the middle of great change. Not fully caught up yet? Don’t worry- below, we give you our handy guide to the fashion landscape as it stands today.

Fresh Faces
It’s impossible to discuss politics without mentioning the pretty, young things that have taken their places at 3 of fashion’s most celebrated houses: Alexander Wang at Balenciaga, Raf Simons at Dior and Hedi Slimane at Yves Saint Laurent (I’m sorry, make that Saint Laurent Paris). While Simons has been in his new role for almost a year, F/W 2013 marked the first collections by Wang and Slimane in their new positions. All 3 designers are famous, all 3 have had previous commercial success, so why the controversy? It’s a question of appropriateness- Wang has never worked in for a corporately-owned label, Simons has never done couture and Slimane, interestingly enough, has never created womenswear nor has he designed a collection in the last 8 years. It’s too early to say whether they have the allegiance of brand loyalists but it remains safe to say, we’re going to be hearing a lot more about these 3 in the next year.  

Disappearing Act
On January 4th, Nicholas Ghesquière sent out his first and only communication with the outside world: a single Tweet from a newly created Twitter account. Since parting ways with Balenciaga in November of last year Ghesquière has not talked to the media and has not even been photographed in public. Most disappointingly, there has been no talk of his return to fashion. While this is likely the result of a confidentiality agreement and not something more sinister, one has to wonder: what happened at Balenciaga last November?  

The Reinvention Tour
After it was announced that Raf Simons would be taking over at Dior it seemed as though John Galliano was well and truly finished: where else would Galliano’s design sensibility be appreciated if not at Dior? The Galliano- Dior partnership worked so well that many could not imagine one without the other. It turns out that there is a hunger for Galliano, in the United States of all places, at the studio of Oscar de la Renta. While the designer is not officially retiring from his label, many see Galliano’s temporary placement under de la Renta as a trial period for the real thing. Galliano is committed to a mere 3 weeks working for the brand, however, it’s hard to see this not turning into a permanent position.

Reclamation 
After many months of rumours and industry gossip, Raf Simons made a messy transition to Dior in order to allow Jil Sanders to come back her namesake label. Unlike a conqueror returning for the spoils, Jil Sanders returned to her label to bring the company back to a profitable level and not to gain from Raf Simons’ success: the company hadn’t actually profited for the entire 7 years that Simons was designing. Because Simons was so respected by the press it was assumed that this translated into profitable sales when in fact they never managed to break even. Hopefully Raf can bring more to the plate while at Dior because we’re certain that Jil Sanders will achieve renewed success at her own label.

"Out with the old, in with the New"

“Out with the Old, In with the New”- Tying the knot on the Beach. 

A 5 Step Guide to a stress free destination wedding for you and your Groom.

 It seems like more and more couples nowadays are trading in the traditional wedding for one in the sun. Seeing as it is that time of year again for weddings, we thought we’d give you a 5 step guide on how to do your destination wedding the right way, so you and your Groom have a stress free experience and a nice tan, no matter what your budget.

1. The Budget: It’s the “B” word that no bride really wants to hear (well one of two), but it’s the most important part of your wedding planning. Setting the budget, gives you and your groom a better idea of how you will make this destination wedding affordable, so you aren’t stuck moving into his parents’ house after your honeymoon (no one wants that!).

2. The Destination: What you should consider is where you want to say your ‘I Dos.” Usually, when couples think of destination weddings, they think it costs a lot of money. However, nowadays there are resorts and beaches for every budget. So, now is the time for you and your husband-to-be to choose which beaches are best suited for your fairy tale nuptials.

 3. The Dress: Clearly, the most important decision after you have decided on the destination. This is your time to shine, not sweat, so perhaps the ballroom gown isn’t the best option. You should look for a dress that will not only make you feel beautiful but will make you feel comfortable throughout the entire ceremony.

4. The Guest list: First things first, you must decide on whether or not you want a big or small wedding. Once you and your Groom have come to an agreement you should also realize that because it is a destination wedding, the majority of your guests probably won’t show because it does get a little pricey. Not to say, that just having immediate family there isn’t special enough! It will make it that much more intimate and stress free because not having to mingle with your future husband’s boss…well that might be a good thing!

5. The Honeymoon: Congratulations, you made it!! The best thing about having a destination wedding is that it will be a two in one spot for you; your wedding and honeymoon. So all you have to do now is relax and enjoy some quality time with your new hubby.

 It wasn’t that hard was it? If you follow this 5 step guide for a stress free dream destination wedding, you’ll be glowing and relaxed in no time!!

Oh, George vol. 9 no. 2 – Theme and personality

Personality

 

Fun
Informative
Class
Edgy*
Direct
Current
Vibrant
Unique*
Not cliché
Insightful
Clean*
Fresh
Organized
Trendy*
Adventurous
Artistic*
Elegant
Sleek*
Sophisticated
Quirky
Forward
Modern

 

Theme

• Dawn of a New Age 12 (high end?)
• The Times They Are A-changing 6 (hipsterish?)

Double cover

Fast Fashion

Fast Fashion

Have you ever stood looking in at your closest for hours, trying to choose something to wear out in your jam-packed closest, yet still at a loss? Personally, I love to shop and I feel sometimes that’s all I spend my time and money on. Too many times I have been faced with the situation of constantly looking at boring and non-standout pieces to satisfy my wants. If your closet is the same, you are likely a shopper on the fast fashion train.

Fast fashion if you aren’t already aware, emerged in the late 20^th century and has changed the way society consumes fashion. Fast fashion is best described as producing on trend fashion products to the consumers the fastest way possible. Brands started to compete amongst each other for market shares by introducing more collections per year. Traditionally the majority of fashion labels had two main collections a year, spring/summer and fall/winter. Today fashion labels can have up to 18 collections a year. From 2002, the amount of time and money people spend on shopping and buying new clothing pieces has jumped and the majority of people are spending a third of their disposable income on clothing. Globalization has grown rapidly since the 80’s and 90’s and has paved the way for value and mid price brands to shift the bulk of their production to the developing world where labor and overheads cost a fraction of those in the world.

This had several benefits to the fashion label companies. Firstly, it decreased their financial cost on forward orders and allowed flexibility in the decision making on their fashion items to come later on in the season. This in turn ensured the companies that they were able to react to the market quickly for the latest “on-trend” items. As a consumer, we loved this concept and this became the coming in the widespread of speeding up fashion.

Having a fast fashion concept was a great alternative to consumers rather than having to buy designer wear straight from the runway that would normally cost a fortune. Buyers these days do an excellent job of choosing alternative pieces straight from the runway that they believe will sell to us consumers, having them fast tracked made and before we know it are on the shelves in two weeks time. However, fast fashion induces people to continuously replace discount wardrobes. As a result, we tend to get less use out of each purchase. It may seem counterintuitive, but only by looking for cheap and fast, do we spend more and benefit less.

Zara is a perfect example of a Spanish retailer that has been on the fast fashion movement since the 1970’s. The company uses a quick response model of production is minimize the time between design and consumption. Other leading companies that are guilty of being on the fast fashion train are H&M, Forever21, JoeFresh, and Topshop follow the same production model.

Being on the factory side of the fast fashion concept isn’t so glamorous. Factory workers are definitely feeling the effects of this. They are under extreme amounts of pressure to get the product made and shipped out quickly to stores. Just last year the deadlines for the factory workers were about 90 days. This year the deadline timeslot decreased by about 30%, leaving the workers about 60 days to deliver the product and depending on the company sometimes it’s cut down to 45 days. Rather than 40,000 garments being manufactured across four styles 20 weeks at a rate of 500 per style per week, now all that is confirmed with the factory workers is the first five weeks across four styles at 500 per style per week. In the end this works out to a commitment of 10,000 garments and the remaining 30,000 garments is unknown. There’s no promise to the workers of how many styles should be produced or the manufacturing rate per week.

Not only does the fast fashion idea have an effect on the producers of the garments but also the amount of clothing people are consuming is having a major impact on our environment. With the life cycle of garments being so short lived, statistics show that on average about 70lbs of clothing and textiles per person is being sent to the landfill each year. Moreover, the synthetic textiles present particular problems in the landfills because these products will not decompose, while the woolen garments do decompose producing methane contributing to global warming.

So yes, while all of us fashion lovers love to shop, read glossy magazines that show off the newest and latest trends and watch the most glamorous fashion shows which we try to imitate, is fast fashion spiraling out of control? Rather than going out every weekend looking for a new outfit to wear for ladies night out or a hot date, we could focus on finding new ways to wear our garments that have been worn once and now are collecting dust in our wardrobes. There’s great DIY’s out there that show off different ideas on how to upgrade your old school jeans and even the boyfriend T-shirt that we normally wear to bed. Add some studs, tear off the pockets and sew some funky thread on those garments, be creative! I think we’d all be surprised to see just how similar we can make our “off-trend” garment pieces “on-trend” again without spending all our time and money in these fast fashion clothing stores. 

slow fashion, vote for change

Is “slow fashion” a viable movement, or is fashion innately “un-green”?




“Slow Fashion” is a concept developed by Kate Fletcher in 2007 and modeled on the “Slow Food” movement pioneered by Carlo Petrini in 1986. Both ideals involve the substitution of low-quality and frequently-consumed “Fast Goods” with the alternative concept of consuming goods that take longer to create and represent greater intrinsic value and quality.



In the case of “Slowly-Made” clothes, the idea is that such clothes can be made more carefully, thoughtfully and hence to be generally “better-made” than clothes designed solely for “Fast” consumption and disposal. By being “Slowly Made and Better Made” such “Slowly-Made” clothes might be priced at a higher point than “Fast Clothes” and also to be considered by their owners to be more valuable than “Fast Clothes” and hence worth retaining for longer periods of time. Such clothes would last longer (conserving resources right along the entire supply chain) and by being more expensive they would also constrain customers from buying as many other items as if they were purchasing solely cheaply-produced “Fast Clothes”. Hence, consumption of clothing materials and transportation energy used for distribution of the clothes, plus sales packaging materials and advertising media could all be conserved. In these senses, the “Slow Fashion” concept of conservation of resources can be seen to be perfectly functional, as a concept.



The question that needs to be answered is whether the “Slow Fashion” movement is indeed a viable one. Being viable means more than just being plausible or conceptually functional. In order to be successful, the “Slow Fashion” movement will need to convince broad swathes of the fashion-buying public (most especially embodied by young women) to change their concepts about what’s “fashionable” to a sufficient degree to persuade them to change their long-engrained, almost “reflexive” “Fast” buying habits. In other words, it will somehow have to become “cool” and “high fashion” to still be seen in older clothes than the styles currently appearing in all the “inherently Fast” media such as web sites and TV programs and also in consumer-to-consumer chatter.



In support of the “Slow Fashion” movement, one can state that there are some “compassionate” consumer trends already in existence and able to persist and survive for years. Fashion examples are the “faux fur” trend, the “No animals hurt in the development of” certain brands of cosmetics, the “I Love New York” tee shirts sold following the events of 9/11 and the Tory Birch feed handbags which aimed to raise $100,000 to provide meals for starving children and families in developing nations.



There is a foundation of “better behavior” behind such social trends and it is quite feasible to turn the concept of better behavior into “superior” behavior. Superior anything is inherently fashionable. If enough leading personalities were to support the concepts and ideals of “Slow Fashion” most importantly by their own (highly visible) personal behaviors and buying habits it is likely that a “following” of personality-conscious buyers could be created. Also, more mundane means of communication such as newspaper articles could be used to educate fastidious members of society into slowly changing buying habits into slower, more careful (and conservative) patterns which they would deem to be for the “general good” of society. It is quite likely that, with sufficient impetus given to educating the public about the conservation of resources benefits of practicing “Slow Fashion” buying habits, a sustainable movement could develop and be sustained, at least among the higher echelons of society and intelligencia.



On the downside for “Slow Fashion”, one honestly has to acknowledge the magnitude of changing the mass buying habits of the consuming public at large. Such change is especially difficult to accomplish given the near-constant, daily, bombardment of clothes advertising, fashion media articles and fashion shows and other “trend-setting” appearances by popular personalities, many of which are designed to drive the pursuit of fashion trends (that is, buying more new stuff) by members of the general public.



There are many positives for this slow fashion movement and how it can affect and benefit the everyday fashion consumer. For example, consumers are encouraged to buy less frequently, as the clothing garments made using the slow fashion technique are built to be quality and last long, therefore do not need to be replaced as often. They will cost slightly more, as cost of quality materials, better working environments, and higher hourly wages (or not outsourcing to countries with extremely low hourly wages) are all contributors to a superior and slightly more expensive product. Consumers can feel good about what they are buying, as they are supporting more than a movement, it is a positive lifestyle change for the earth, and many employees in the apparel manufacturing job market. This is a movement that is promotes consciousness to the buyer, diversity as it is different from much of what is currently on the market, slowing down mass consumption, and using local resources. This all gives consumers the power to vote with their dollar, do they want to vote for positive change of today's environment? Or continue to spend recklessly and irresponsibly not realizing the potential damage?

It can be stated that that while the “Slow Fashion” movement can and likely will sustain itself at a certain level of vibrancy and relevance, it is only reasonable to express some doubts about it soon (if ever) becoming the predominant “mass” behavioral trend and thus really making a large-scale difference in consumption and sustainability trends in the whole world. But one can hope!

Ethics vs Fashion: The Fur Debate

The Ongoing Fight For or Against The Fur Trade... 

              Throughout the past, the fashion world has been affected by several situations regarding the ethical choices that designers and consumers make. As each person has their own personal views on certain issues, the likelihood of all consumers to be completely satisfied runs low. One of the biggest controversies in the fashion world is fur for apparel, and the method of treatment upon those animals captured. This ongoing debate outlines the issues that arise when it comes to the way fur is acquired – either by trapping wild animals and skinning them, or raising animals domestically for their fur.

                Designer labels such as Christian Dior, Chanel, Burberry, and Prada just to name a few, are infamous for featuring animal fur and leather in their collections and are often criticized for the choices made during the production of their garments. Organizations like PETA and The Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (CAFT) are world renown for their strong opinions against the use of fur or anything related to the unethical treatment of animals, and take any measures needed to make their points clear to the public. Recently, CAFT sent a message to all their followers to protest outside a Burberry store in their area and shed light on the secret behind this prestigious brand label.

                The fur debate is always a heated topic of discussion, as it brings the morals and strong beliefs of society to the surface. Essentially, there are two sides to this dispute. When asked about his standpoint on the issue, head designer and creative director of Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, defended the use of animal fur by saying that “beasts would kill us if they could”. He goes on to mention that "in a meat-eating world, wearing leather for shoes and clothes and even handbags, the discussion of fur is childish" (2009). A spokesperson for PETA fights back, arguing that there is an increasing number of designers who believe that “there is no place for cruelty in fashion”, and that Karl is ignorant to the fact that there is suffering behind every piece of fur used for garment production.

                There will always be the underlying question that remains: is it morally acceptable to produce, promote, sell, purchase, and wear fur, even though animals are treated unethically? Does it make a difference to consumers or the general public if these animals were raised domestically for their fur? People can and will boycott the Fur Trade, but will the message to save them ever be taken seriously? The reality of it is that, in the Fashion Industry, there is such a large amount of consumers who want the most prestigious styles, and will spend their money on the most exclusive fashions, including the rarest of animal fur and skins. Many designers would not have the reputation they carry now if it was not for their elite fashion designs that feature real animal fur. Therefore, this trend is likely to grow into an even larger scale rather than diminish, as some consumers may hope.