by PR Couture | July 3, 2009

Are we witnessing the demise of Fashion Week? (via WSJ)

• Los Angeles may be better known for wearing fashion than selling it, but the problem goes beyond L.A. There is a growing sense among designers and producers of fashion events that the time-honored system of selling fashion from runways is losing ground.

Inspired by the recent PR Couture post on fashion blogger  samples, IFB enlists fashion marketing maven Macala Wright on how Fashion Brands and Bloggers can and should work together (via IFB)

• So how does a blogger, who never in his or her wildest dreams thought their blog would be so sought after,  work with fashion brands?
• How does a fashion blogger, who’s committed to building his or her own brand, build their awareness through these retail partnerships?
• Moreover, how do they monetize it (yes, I said monetize – meaning MONEY) in ethical ways?

Coach has teamed up with Brickfish for the second time; to celebrate the launch of its new handbag and Apparel line, Poppy. (via Brickfish)

DKNY launches Facebook Fan Page, Twitter account (via FabSugar)

• “After seeing the many Donna Karan and DKNY fan sites that were being created by anonymous people and joined by thousands, we have decided that the interest and enthusiasm for our brands deserves attention beyond what our Web sites provide,” said Patti Cohen, executive vice president of global marketing and communications.

Florida high school to provide Fashion Marketing classes (via Tampa Bay Online)

• The school will offer several specialty programs, such as veterinary assisting, culinary, fashion marketing and – appropriately for its Yankee owner namesake – a sports, recreation and entertainment marketing academy.

Press registration now open for London Fashion Week (via London Fashion Week)

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by Nancy | June 28, 2009

Jason Wu Resort Collection 2010, Ed Kavishe

Designer clothing and fashion design without images are hard to imagine…and visualize. If a picture speaks a 1,000 words, imagine what not having them will say about your collection. The combination of a well-written and informative press release, along with professional images or video can help to create a powerful media story.

PR Couture spoke with world-renowned fashion photographer, Ed Kavishe of Fashion Wire Press to get his take on the importance of having quality images for the media. Kavishe’s work has been featured in top publications including Marie Claire, The Daily Front Row, Vogue UK and Elle.com, and he travels the world covering major Fashion Week events, fashion shows, red carpets and award ceremonies. Here’s what he had to say:

How often should a designer have pictures taken of his/her collection or new line?

Designers should have their collection photographed whenever they have a new line out at least twice, in a runway/presentation for the press and a studio look book format for advertising.

Is it necessary to have professional pictures when pitching to the media?

It’s absolutely necessary to have professional images. What media wants to print images that are out of focus or blurry or not balanced correctly in light and color? That’s the same reason magazines and newspapers hire their own photographers to ensure they have the highest quality imagery possible.

Who owns the rights to images? Why is it important to be granted permission from the photographer to use images, share images online, share images with media, etc. – even if they are photos of a designer’s collection?

US Laws grant the photographer 100 percent copyright to the photos. All media usually have to sign a license agreement with the photographer granting them the right to publish his or hers photographs for a certain period of time. Designers do not own the copyright to photographs. Designers do have the copyright to their designs which are in the form of the garment, sketches etc.

How important is it to use a real model in images versus a model form/mannequin?

That’s a model’s job, to present garments. Real people also connect to real models versus a mannequin. Clothing on a real model allows you to see the contour of the clothes and movement.

What do you think media reporters prefer to see when looking at designer collections? What captures their attention?

Clean presentation, articulate not sloppy, and plenty of attention to details. That’s what garners the most media attention.

Don’t forget the power of images. Truly great pics of a designer’s collection can actually speak for itself and require few words. Even so, taking the time to craft an entire package (words and images) will provide the most positive impact for your collection.

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by PR Couture | June 26, 2009

Edelman Chicago’s senior VP for consumer brands social media, Danielle Wiley (via Advertising Age)

• …when we’re coming up with a list of bloggers to work with for any one particular program, we look through the list of bloggers that we know; we ask bloggers we know for recommendations; and we don’t ever work with anyone, or reach out to anyone, until we’ve read back at least three months to get a sense of what that blogger’s like so that we do know that they’re sane, that they’re disclosing, that they are doing things in a way that fits within the ethics of our company and of our clients’ companies.

Everyone should read Laura Jane Faulds Magnum Opus  (via nogoodforme)

• If you are reading this, chances are, you know who I am, and are interested to hear what I have to say…Chances are, this is based on your having read things I’ve written in the past, and liking them. Chances are, some of the things that I’ve written and you’ve read (and liked I hope!) were written between July of 2008 and April of 2009. Every single last word of that bulk of writing was written by a human being who was fatally ill, completely insane, and dying of starvation.

It’s been a big week for PR Couture! Crosby was interviewed for Alix Rose’s quirky fun Snap Shot series and in the IRL Hayden Harnett Newsletter

• The lovely Crosby of PR Couture is one of the most hard working ladies I know. She is constantly on go, busy being a foster mom to a array of kitties, hosting events and keeping her fashion pr website fresh and updated.. I wonder how she does it all? Also where did she find the time to answer these questions?

Taking on the Total Beauty Crisis from beauty blogger, TB member and fashion/beauty social media professional Dina Fierro (via Eye4Style)

• As both a blogger and a social media professional, I have a pretty unique perspective and I disagree with Kovacoglu.  At Attention, I work with some of the leading beauty brands in the business and consistently, we counsel them on the value of building relationships with beauty bloggers and on the importance of continuing a conversation once it’s begun.  On the other hand, Total Beauty’s Sneak Peek program sends bloggers (there are well over 100 that are part of the network, though fewer participate in this program) packages of products (with no regard for whether they’re a good fit for that blog), no press materials to give context to the product and no contact information for anyone at the brand. That isn’t relationship building, it’s one way communication (or as I prefer to call it, the antithesis of social media.)

WWD takes note of fashion companies using social media (via Guest of a Guest)

• Fashion companies and designers are on YouTube, MySpace, Facebook. All great exposure for the brands, large or small, and a good way for interested parties to check out new products, lines, and promotions. But does everyone really want to know what their favorite designer is eating for lunch? (Hm, maybe). Or be bombarded with sales messages every other day?

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