Current Season

Today, we did a shop report for this weeks project at college. A shop report is basically explained as this: you choose a shop or a few shops, go in and look at things, feel things, look at what the prices are like, the type of people shopping there, basically take in as much a mentally possible, and (because copying direct from a shop is illegal) you can't take notes or photos or sketch in a shop. So when you can't absorb any more information you go outside, or hide in the toilets and note down, sketch, do whatever you can to get down on paper what you can remember. It's used by companies and designers to compare competition and generally look at what's happening in fashion.

We spent five hours trawling round all of the shops in the shopping centre, briefly being followed by a security guard and being asked a few times what exactly we were doing.

It was really interesting to visuallise what is really going on at the moment for A/W 09.

The general consensus I got was that sequins, studs and embelishment in general is BIG right now. Nearly nothing didn't have some sort of detail on it. Also, zips, ruffles, frills, lace were repeatedly on show (occasionally even combined in the same garment). All different types of prints - paisley, floral, striped, was very aparent and the military/sailor style is still around. Tailoring is always in fashion and something that fits your body really well will last decades. Talking about fitting well, body-con dresses were everywhere but when you actually get to see real Herve Leger dresses (as I did today in BCBG) nothing from the high street honestly compares. The real deal are stunning and the material feels like it would wrap around your body and give it a hug in all the right places. The colours were generally rich burgundys and greens with different style sleeves (one sleeve, off the shoulder) but in any case, beautiful in their entirity and I wish I could afford one of my own!

The colours au jord hui were deep, earthy reds, greens, browns. Black is always used but purples and emeralds, jewel colours in general were also around.

Accessories are always important but I think because of all the embelishment around at the moment, they have got more eye catching, interesting and more independent as an item in themselves, rather than just an addition to your outfit. People are now picking the bag/necklace/bracelet first, and then choosing the outfit to go with it, rather than it previously been done the other way around.

So I think that's about all for my conclusion of what I found today. I hope you've found it interesting and now are more aware of what your shopping for. Is it a unique, hand-made, embelished piece? Or is it a generic sequined tank top that thousands of girls will be wearing?

I will leave you with that rhetorical question...

Loveness,

Maria

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