Fashion’s Night Out or Fashion’s Last Stand?
Like Lt. Colonel Custer fatally leading his army of men in the Battle of Little Bighorn, Fashion is battling it out to the end in an attempt to save the day (in fashion speak that means maintaining its current heirarchy of power players, including luxury retailers and their executives: see documentary The September Issue, and all about Fashion’s Night Out on September 10th, 2009 during Fashion Week in New York).
Who is Fashion’s Custer?
Looks like Anna Wintour (above image right sitting next to tennis great, Roger Federer), American Vogue’s Editor and highly esteemed fashion power player: mmmm, but that’s so yesterday. We all know we are in an age of ice melt.
PSA for Fashions Night Out.
History has it that Custer’s assumptions re his charge onto the battlefield were based on inaccurate information from the field (see Wikipedia). Wowser, you think?.
So, who might tomorrow’s leader of the fashion industry be….dare I say it…..could it be???
Yes, that gorgeous creature, Heidi Klum. Supermodel, TV producer and star of emmy nominated “Project Runway,” Heidi knows her fashion. But it’s not just that, she’s loved by all and represents a new generation as well as a new method of fashion speak. She’s married to the one and only “Seal” and she’s a mother of five.
Who in the fashion world would not want to know how Heidi Klum would steer the next generation’s fashion ship? With Tim Gunn as her wingman, or in keeping with the ship’s metaphor, the ships mate, the voyage would no doubt be interesting.
Am I wrong or what?
The biggest issue with print media is that it doesn’t know how to align itself with new media and still be what it is, whatever that is. In this case it’s fashion. And the fashion industry is struggling to keep itself relevant with it’s consumer. For decades, Anna Wintour has led that march by managing the shark infested waters of the industry as being an all powerful editor in chief of American Vogue. And she’s been incredibly good at it.
But as we know, all the kings horses and all the kings men couldn’t put humpty back together again. With the industry’s numbers, especially at the higher end, being as dismal as they are and have been, and confusion, to say the least, reigning, especially on Seventh Avenue….like “Oh, where did the fashion industry go?…” (China, anyone?)
To think they may fix it with a global Fashion Night Out and a documentary about the Devil Wears Prada American Vogue editor Anna Wintour …I don’t think so. That’s just akin to sticking one’s finger in the dike–am I the only one that sees that? The deal with Project Runway is that it’s already included us, for several year’s now…so for the fashion elite to all of a sudden declare themselves at one with their market is, shall we say, a little after the fact?
