Remember when Tom Ford hosted a super private showing of his first-ever Women's Collection with barely any editors, no celebrities in the front row and ONE photographer (Terri Richardson)? Well, he finally unveiled images of his collection in next month's Vogue shot by Steven Meisel and presumably to his dismay, those images have hit the internets.
Like Marc Jacobs and Tracy Reese's Spring 2011 collection, Ford presented a seventies-inspired line of fitted dresses in vibrant colors and playful prints like leopard and tye-dye with traces of menswear. For some reason, perhaps given the mere obscurity of all, I thought I'd be laying eyes on something more fascinating, like feathers and hair used as fabric for example.
Ford's desire for exclusivity and elusiveness I can understand (afterall, he's a fashion designer), but his aversion to the internet...to celebs? I mean, it's all a little perplexing. You don't want celebs in your front row, but Beyonce, one of the biggest pop stars of our generation, can walk in your show. If that's not vying for media attention, what is?
Here are Tom Ford's (who now goes by Mr. Ford) quotes on the internet, celebrity and fashion journalism via Vogue:
“I do not understand everyone’s need to see everything online the day after a show. I don’t think it ultimately serves the customer, which is the whole point of my business — not to serve journalists or the fashion system. To put something out that’s going to be in a store in six months, and to see it on a starlet, ranked in US magazine next week? My customer doesn’t want to wear the same thing she saw on a starlet!"
Do you agree that seeing fashion the day after a show (or the day of on The Glamazons, haha) doesn't serve YOU as the customer? Does the fashion industry benefit from celebs wearing their garments?
I'd argue that it does, but immediacy does represent the democratization of fashion, and some people prefer the traditional hierarchy (designers -> editors/buyers -> (and six months later) the public). Even though I'm an editor, I'm not one of those people. Are you? Do you think the new and improved, digitally-enhanced "fashion system" undermines the retail business?
And finally, on to the most important question, which dress do you think Beyonce wore? LOL.
Do you like the collection?
Kisses,
Coutura
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