Fashion

The 20th century saw unprecedented use of synthetic materials in all aspects of life. Fashion designers in particular were drawn to modern plastics for their unusual appearance and superior performance. Due to their unstable composition, however, these types of materials have shorter lifespans than natural fibers; some actually self-destruct.

The Secret Life of Textiles: Synthetic Materials exhibition, the third in a series at The Met focused on textile materials, features more than 40 ensembles and accessories from The Costume Institute’s collection, along with a special section that illustrates the typical deterioration process of plastics that have been integrated into historic fashions, emphasizing the material’s problematic behavior. Analytical images accompany selected objects, highlighting their physical properties.

WHEN: March 6 – September 4, 2017

WHERE: The Met Fifth Avenue
1000 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10028

ADMISSION: $25. Buy tickets at https://rsecure.metmuseum.org/admissions

Decorated Hems – Pompoms, tassels and fringe galore. Minnie Rose’s detailed hemlines this season will give your outfit an extra touch since it’s all in the details, right?

Peekaboo Fabrics– It’s pretty transparent that mesh and other see-thru fabrics rule summer wardrobes. Perfect for adding a little edge to an outfit or giving yourself a breathable layer for some extra warmth on those cool Hampton nights.

And a few words about the designer, Minnie Rose:

Founded in 2005, Minnie Rose delivers the sophistication of the global jet set with their luxury collection that offers cashmere, cotton and knits separates.

Celebrity fans include the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, Selma Blair, Jennifer Garner, Eva Longoria, Giuliana Rancic, Alessandra Ambrosio, Lisa Rinna, January Jones, Oprah Winfrey, Vanessa Hudgens and Christie Brinkley. The collection is available at high profile specialty boutiques such as Planet Blue, Neiman Marcus, Elyse Walker, Stanley Korshak, Shopbop, and and retails from $84 – $450.

We’ve rounded up some images from both Twitter and Instagram to give you a peek into what’s happening behind-the-scenes as makeup artists, designers and hair stylists prepare for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Get excited!

@Zac_Posen (IG):

“In the #ZacPosen #Atelier today. #process #craft #madeinny #FW15 coming soon!!”

@ElaineTurner (Twitter):

“Our #NYC Showroom is a buzz with preparation for #NYFW! It’s the final countdown to @MBfashionweek! #ElaineTurner”

@MACcosmetics (Twitter):

“#NYFW prep is under way! MT @MAC_Rebecca_B: Kit condensing continues! Chromacakes in emptied Trend Eye palettes.”

@JKHoroshilov (IG):

“Mondays with Mara #nyfw #mbfw #zancasting #marahoffman”

@CSiriano (Twitter):

“Day one of NYFW fittings. The girls look beautiful and I can’t believe the show is a week away!”

@ELLEmagazine (Twitter):

“30 designers share their fashion week inspiration–from sketch to STUNNING: http://on.elle.com/1Cbt2zh”

@prabalgurung (iG):

“In the studio. Casting Fall 2015 showing on Sunday February 15th at 7pm – live streaming on prabalgurung.com #pgnyfw #nyfw #fall15 #live”

@StylingOn (Twitter):

“In preparation for @amconyc #POPUPXRUNWAY, we had a great time at the casting call with @bicoastalmodels #NYFW”

@bespokenNyc (IG):

“A little #fw15 prep for weds #nyfw”

@sarahluceroglam (Twitter):

“My personal lash stash! Fashion week kit prep today here at @stilacosmetics @Ardell_Lashes xo”

@beauty_works (Twitter):

“#NYFW hair prep with lead hairstylist Matthew Curtis! Keep your eyes peeled for Beauty Works on the catwalk!”

@tracy_reese (IG):

“Behind the scenes on the weekend fashion grind with the #tracyreese design team hard at work! #NYFW #NYFWprep”

Important Links for MBFW FW15:

The complete calendar for New York Fashion Week is here.

Not able to make it to the shows? That’s OK. Follow @MBfashionweek on twitter MBFW and check in at MBFashionweek.com to watch the shows live. As you watch, join in on the conversation with MBFW and company. Live shows start streaming on February 12 at 9 a.m. sharp.

By Wendy Rose Gould

Image credit: via Instagram and Twitter

We live in an interesting time.

The same thing was also said amidst the boom of print media, especially when haute couture glossies first hit the market and the whole fashion industry became more of an “event” as opposed to a utilitarian means to an end (read: being clothed).

I’d argue that when online blogging hit the scene roughly 15 years ago — the late ’90s — fashion underwent a notable shift. Once “the people” received a megaphone (in this case, the Internet), their amplified voices slowly began competing with the opinions of fashion designers and magazines across the globe. Don’t get me wrong, to this day designers and glossies certainly have a huge say regarding what we wear, but the whole social aspect of the Internet indubitably turned the style world on its head.

Fast forward another five-ish years or so — into the early 2000s — when “all about me” social media websites such as MySpace were at their height. The early 2000s also marked the dawn of the Facebook era, a website which has a bigger influence on the world than most even realize. It was also around this time when deep and thought provoking online diaries shared between close friends (hello, LiveJournal) lost their luster and lifestyle blogs gained momentum.

Today, you can’t go anywhere on the web without running into a blogger or a niche website that focuses specifically on fashion/style or beauty. And with the prevalence of smart phones and Apps (fashion-focused and otherwise, including Instagram), we can’t even pick up the phone without seeing what other people are wearing or buying.

This social media/Internet whirlwind frenzy makes me wonder: Are we better dressed now compared to 10 years ago?

The Stylish City’s own founder, Mirela, says: “Everybody — stores, bloggers, fashion magazines, etc — has “looks” to draw inspiration from. There are literally thousands of bloggers, personal stylists, celebrities and reality shows we are exposed to every day.”

This undoubtedly affects our decisions when we walk into a store or peer into our closet. With the potential for more people to see how we’re dressed, are many of us less apt to throw on scroungy sweats even while sauntering around the house? And do we make better fashion choices now as a result of being exposed to the more fashionable who want to put themselves out there for the world to see?

Another question I have, in regard to the Internet/social media influence:  Do we approach fashion on a more “individual” level these days? Or does the influx of online/media inspiration cause us to all sort of look like each other?

Personally, I think cities such as NYC, where there a lot of people coming from all walks of life, are more likely to dress individually, but there’s still this “NYC vibe” that permeates all fashion in the city.

Perhaps the boom of social media has made us dress better as a collective whole, but with that have we lost a sense of individuality when it comes to fashion choices?

What do you think? Have your wardrobe decisions changed over the past 10 to 15 years as a direct result of the Internet and social media? Has it gotten worse? Or have you sort of shrugged your shoulders and not changed much at all? Share your comments below!

By Wendy Rose Gould