International Women of Fashion Day

By Paige McKirahan

 

In an industry that seems male-dominated at a first passing glance (think names like Giorgio Armani, Gianni Versace, and Yves Saint Laurent), the world of high fashion is more than just the male names gracing the labels of your favorite designer bags. With all these brands at the forefront of fashion, sometimes we are left to wonder: how does a women centric-industry seem to so overtaken by the opposite gender? Here at Talkingfashion, we commend all fashion-forward trailblazers that have made groundbreaking innovations to get the industry where it is today. And in celebration of International Women’s Day, we have decided to take a look at some of the most powerful women in the industry whether it be designers, writers, editors, and everything in between. We want to celebrate the women who ran in their heels so all after them could strut confidently, so read on to learn a little more about ten of our favorite fashion moguls!

 

Anna Wintour

 

Born in 1949 in the UK, Anna Wintour is regarded as one of the major pillars in the fashion industry. As editor-in-chief of the iconic fashion bible, Vogue, she is the basis of all major fashion choices made by designers and celebrities alike. If you were wondering what it is truly like to work with Ms. Wintour, check out "The Devil Wear Prada" as Meryl Streep's character was based on her work with Vogue!

 

Vivienne Westwood

As one of our favorite designers of all time, Vivienne Westwood has been a pioneer in the fashion industry as her contributions to the world of design and business have scarcely been replicated. She has been at the helm of couture for over 40 years and burst onto the scene when she designing clothes for The Sex Pistols!

 

Cathy Horyn

 

One of the "original" fashion bloggers, Cathy Horyn reimagined what it was to be a fashion critic. Her emblematic 16 years run with The New York Times signified her status as the true voice of haute couture. Her honest, sometimes abrasive critiques spare no label regardless of how large or small, which is why many industry greats like Giorgio Armani fear her legendary wrath.

 

Miuccia Prada

When Miuccia created her Prada label in 1978, she made huge waves in a sea of male designers. Time and time again she stuns the industry with her beautiful collections, skyrocketing her to global fame; she is now one of the most respected designers in the industry and a trailblazer when it came to defining modern femininity and female power.

 

Rei Kawakubo

This Japanese designer with an affinity for all things avant-garde; her 40-year-long reinvention of the fashion game has not gone unnoticed as the theme for the 2017 MET Gala was based upon her career. After founding Comme des Garçons, she truly established herself as a longtime industry great and broke the internet when she created a MET look for Rihanna that shook the world.

 

Natalie Massenet

After founding the most globally recognized shopping site Net-a-Porter, Massenet proved that she was unmatched when it came to the entrepreneurial spirit. Her contributions have made leaps and bounds when it comes to accessibility to fashion, and because of this has consistently topped the lists of the most powerful women by Forbes and Times.

 

Donna Karan

A huge name in the fashion industry for decades, Donna Karan is known best for her creation of DKNY and Donna Karan New York. Though her brand has seen ups and downs over the past 20 years, it is undoubtedly true that she completely reinvented the idea of the luxury store layout.

 

Iman

From being one of the most world-renowned models to the founder of an award-winning cosmetics company, Iman truly has dominated the industry. She has been at the forefront of fashion since the mid-1970s and her wide scope of influence paired with her dedication to philanthropy has garnered her high industry accolades.

 

Rose Marie Bravo

Though her time as the CEO of Burberry has come to a close, the industry is still feeling the effects of her energetic reign as she is a true embodiment of a "girl boss". This New York-bred fashionista revived the Burberry brand and went on to become one of the most highly regarded fashion entrepreneurs of our time.

 

Diane von Furstenberg

 

Last, but definitely not least, looks to the creator of the wrap dress. In addition to running her namesake brand, she has also been the president Council of Fashion Designer or America since 2006. She created such a stir when she entered the fashion world that she was dubbed "the most marketable woman since Coco Chanel"!

We hope you spend the day celebrating all of the amazing women in your life and remember to wear what you love, every day! The future is female, and we thank the amazing women above for breaking barriers for those all over the world!

Sources:

Designer Spotlight: Mandana Mani

By Paige McKirahan

 

 

In the wake of our discussion regarding the top influencers of 2018, we were left wondering if there are any designers that use their platform to operate their own store (similar to our model!) After some research, we came across the fabulous Mandana Mani; this Iranian fashion designer born on January 12th, 1978 (Happy Birthday Mandana!), hails from Tehran and is the owner and creator of her namesake clothing brand, Mandana Mani. Mani posts her contemporary, classic designs on her Instagram account to over 300,000 followers almost daily and invites them to contact her where they can purchase the clothing directly as her pieces are exclusively sold online.

 

 

Her Instagram is vibrant and appealing as her stories feature great style inspiration that go hand in hand with her personal designs! Working as her own model, she commonly posts product photos of her wearing her pieces as part of a full outfit, giving the viewer a great idea of how the piece is tailored. She also is active on Telegram, where she frequently posts photos and videos of her clothing to supplement her Instagram feed. Her designs are mostly revolve around outerwear and she makes stylish coats for every season and gender.

 

 

Though she is very private about most aspects of her life, we do know that she is a lover of fashion and Jennifer Lopez. She also commonly pairs her beautiful outfits with a variety of colorful headscarves, making her a woman after our own hearts. This elusive fashion mogul was the obvious choice for our spotlight this week because as fellow online business owners and lovers of all things fashion, we could relate to her boss lady ethic! To see more of Mandana and her designs, check her out on Instagram at @mandanamani!

 

Sources:

Editors. (2018, December 5). Who is Mandana Mani? Everything You Need to Know. Retrieved from https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/mandana-mani-43076.php

Rossignal's Ski Success

 

Wherever you may be, are you surrounded by snow? If not, we will take you on a trip to Las Leñas Ski Resort, a beautiful spot in Mendoza, Argentina.

Today, I am sharing a personal experience from my teen years when I visited the beautiful Las Leñas for my first ski trip. My dad and I spent 15 days in the mountains going up and down all day long, as any typical first timer would do.

At night, we would go out around the resort area; most of the evenings my dad went to play cards, while I went out dancing in the some of the most fantastic nightclubs around the globe. What a blast it was! Some of these places were incredible-- I'm talking glass buildings with multiple activities happening on every floor. The music, people, clothes (it was 1986 so you can imagine); everything was amazing!

It was during that trip when I got hooked to Rossignol Sunglasses. My first pair featured mirrored lenses held by a black frame. Rossignol, a French ski goods company, was founded in 1907 by Abel Rossignol; as a carpenter who was an avid skier, he used wood products from his textile company to craft a pair of skis out of solid wood.

Abel began selling his wooden skis, capturing the attention of recreationalists all across Europe. His work was highly regarded and sold well, putting his factory at the forefront during World War I when skis were needed for the Army. The company was shot to true global fame in 1937 when Frenchman Émile Allais became triple world champion using Rossignol Olympic 41 skis. 

Allais began collaborating with Rossignol, and together they created dynamic designs and brought in a new partner Boix-Vives, a lift builder. He began funding their factory and Allais and Abel worked create laminated aluminum skis and then in 1964, the brand released its first fiberglass ski dubbed the Strato. In the following decade, Rossignol became the world’s largest ski manufacturer after the construction of an American distribution company. 

Even though the company does not currently still hold that top spot, they remain one of the strongest ski brands in winter sports. The brand’s line of cold weather wear that includes skis, sunglasses, and other slope accessories has withstood the test of time and has been a cornerstone of the industry for over a century. With more Olympic and world titles than we can count on both hands, Rossignol is undoubtedly a trustable brand that delivers great products time and time again (and we attest to that!). Want some of this iconic ski wear of your own to help you brave the winter winds? Check out our Rossignol collection!

 

Sources:

Masia, S. (n.d.). 100 Years of Rossignol. Retrieved from https://www.skiinghistory.org/history/100-years-rossignol

Skis Rossignol. (2018, December 20). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skis_Rossignol

Fur in Fashion: Faux Pas or Fabulous?

By Paige McKirahan

 

One material that has been on trial in fashion court for decades is one that was, for a large portion of its life, associated with high status and class. Fur accessories and clothing have been in circulation for 170,000 years and were used as a status symbol in as early as the 11^th century. European royalty sported fur coats, capes, and accessories commonly made from mink, sable, and chinchilla fur. This increase in fur wearing prompted the creation of laws that regulated which social classes were permitted to wear specific furs. Prior to this, furs were more so used out of utility; the real pelts offered warmth and comfort to people in primitive cultures, starkly contrasting their new popularized purpose.

As the desire for luxury furs increased over the next five centuries, so did the development of fur farms. In the Victorian era, we saw a rise in popularity with both genders as the use of furs in movies put a spotlight on the wild textile. Coats worn by men tended to be lined with fur with other materials covering the outside of the piece. Women’s coats boasted fur accents throughout at the collar, wrists, and hems. We also saw the popularity of dress and shoe clips begin to inflate in the same period; these accessories were either adorned with fur details or accessorized the fur pieces themselves.

 

Victorian Era Furs

(photo credits to grandladies.com)

Other accessories that loved fur fun were scarves, shawls, and hats. Looking back at their basic use surrounding warmth, people used fur to accessorize cold weather outfits in style. These small hints of luxury could elevate any look and were sure to illustrate the wearers high status.

The 1900s brought big change to the fur industry as imitation furs began to take over the market. Real furs were expensive and many fashionistas, especially animal rights activists, associated them with cruelty. As technology improved, so did the quality of fake furs created from silk and synthetic pile fabrics. Designers began to create more casual looks using fur, moving away from glamour and more towards department store chic. The ’50s and ‘60s saw fur be more affordable than ever, with faux fur options being front and center on account of Old Hollywood influence.

 

1950s Fur Ad

(photo credits to vintagedancer.com)

Now, fur is still one of the most widely debated fabrics in the industry and and increased amount of high profile brands are declaring themselves as fur free. The ‘90s pushed the faux v. real fur debate and used iconic supermodels as spearheads for the movement away from a fur-filled future. Fendi seems to be at the center of this debate as their haute couture counterparts seem to be ahead in the faux fur conversation; Gucci and Versace have vowed to ditch the real thing, while Fendi continues to unapologetically create pieces with real animal fur. Whatever style you prefer, we encourage you to research furs and the benefits of both styles before deciding on a side! Remember to wear what you love, and find fur items you love in our collection!

 

The Benefits of Consigning Your Jewelry and Vintage Accessories

By Paige McKirahan 

 

Looking to get rid of any pieces collecting dust in your closet? Look no further! Here at TalkingFashion, we are always looking for fun, fresh inventory to join our collection. We accept high quality women’s and men’s vintage or antique jewelry, as well as bijoux accessories. If you don’t see the designer of your piece on our A-Z Designers List, not to worry; if you have an unmarked or unknown piece that is unique or valuable, we would be happy to take a look at it! Wondering how you can consign? You can take your pick of our three easy methods below:

1. Schedule a free in-home pick up with a team member. (Columbus, Ohio residents only!)
2. Ship your items to our office directly
3. Come into our office for a free valuation and drop-off.

Once we receive your piece, one of team members will carefully evaluate your item to ensure it is properly identified, authenticated, photographed, and priced. We will then market and ship your piece once it is sold, and you can be paid by online cash transfer, direct deposit, or site credit (which earns you an extra 20%!). Our commission rates vary by item price, and you can view our commission structure here.

Consigning in general has great benefits as it is a sustainable practice that extends the life of pieces, putting their beauty back on the map. When you consign with us, the list of benefits only seems to grow; our high commission rates makes us the obvious choice for all your vintage and bijoux consignment needs! Have more questions? Email use at consign@talkingfashion.net and we would be happy to help!