Pierre Balmain Couture Show, Paris 1954
photo by Mark Shaw
Are you constantly in search of an item of clothing, or accessory, that you cannot find? Do you read fashion magazines and feel like you have seen it all before? Not interested in 'following the trend', rather in creating your own?
These questions, and a multitude of others were addressed at the 92nd Street Y panel discussion with Leandra Medine, of ManRepeller.com, and Lizzie Tisch and Kim Kassel of Suite 1521.
For those that don't know, Suite 1521 is a new platform for trunk-show shopping, where customers interact with designers and view the entire collection for the season, items featured on the runway and those not. Located in chic Upper East Side apartment style offices, customers are able to build their own wardrobe based on their wants and needs, as opposed to what buyers in department stores think one should want.
LM spoke about the influence social media has on fashion. Gone are the days of seeing the collections for the first time on the pages of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and the like. Style.com, the front runner for putting the collections online, are now being scooped by blogs, instagram, twitter, and vine. It is instant, and everyone can have a front row seat.
But, social media isn't always so positive. LM stated that she recently had to reassess her social media strategy, her instagram following was surpassing her website traffic. Social media can be too easy, twitter is 140 characters, vine is a short video, instagram is photos, and all are accomplished using a smartphone on the go.
LT and KK spoke on how the shopping environment has evolved. The internet has allowed shoppers to shop anytime, anywhere; Social media has brought the average consumer backstage at fashion shows, into the atelier of top designers, and day to day inspirations. What Suite 1521 seeks to do is allow you to buy all of the designer items seen throughout various social media outlets. Department stores and boutiques buy a very small selection of what designer collections actually consist of. Suite 1521 allows for the collections to be catered to your needs. What I also find poignant, Suite 1521 is not online. Yes, they have an instagram account, and membership sign up is online, but the shopping experience is purely in person. Human interaction, touching fabrics, trying items on, what was once considered old is new again.
Style.com's Dirk Standen moderated the event with Leandra Medine, Lizzie Tisch and Kim Kassel of Suite 1521
image courtesy of pinterest.com and Fashionista.com
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