Winners of the 6th Annual Fashion 2.0 Awards

Celebrating the best of fashion and tech! The Style Coalition has been celebrating fashion brands for innovation and influence in the social media fields with their Fashion 2.0 Awards for six years now. When they first started, many large brands were still struggling with even attempting to use tech in their marketing efforts.

The Fashion 2.0 Awards celebrate the best of tech and social media in fashion

Fast forward to 2015, the fashion brands recognized at the awards are leading social media innovation and tech brands are moving into style. The ever-changing world of tech and social media, the categories have changed over the years to reflect the most influential platforms. Pinterest and wearable tech were not represented at the first awards, but I can't imagine the fashion landscape without them now.

Multi-year host Robert Verdi always manages to be funny and topical. He is one of the few "style" entertainers with actual fashion industry cred. He addressed speculation on a possible return to E's Fashion Police by simply acknowledging that saying it should have been called the "Joan Rivers Show" because only she could do it. Also, he noted how sad he was that she has passed because of "all the plastic that was now released into the environment" (Joan would have been proud of that one!) He closed with a gesture to accompany his pitch for a F*CK Indiana campaign in response to their discriminatory legislation.

Sports Illustrated model Hanna Ferguson, Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza, editors Danica Lo, supermodel Carol Alt were among the many presenters. Sam Edelman was the keynote speaker. Brands like Opening Ceremony won for best Instagram. Kate Spade NY won for their Pinterest content. Tory Burch, a no-show won for best wearable tech. Marc Jacobs won for their "Cast Me Marc" online campaign. Rebecca Minkoff, one of the leaders in social media for fashion won the award for both Interactive Retail and Top Innovator.

I like particularly like the category of Digital Philanthropy Award. Calling out and recognizing the collaboration of your favorite fashion brand and a worthy cause will hopefully be the biggest trend of all. Dressember's work with Kate Spade was the winner here. Dressember works with the International Justice Mission to rescue the victims of slavery and violent oppression. Women were asked to wear a dress every day in December to raise funds and  awareness.

The Style Coalition was founded by Yuli Ziv. They work with influencers and brands to collaborate on projects together. I worked with them while I was at Hello La Mode to have bloggers show how they used the site. They might not have been the biggest network, but we had the best engagement through their influencers.

For any fashion brand that still hasn't realized that their marketing strategy cannot survive without tech and social media, the pure success of the brands represented at the 6th Annual Fashion 2.0 Awards has ended your argument. Check out all of their winners on their website.
photos by Mariana Leung

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Black Friday Round-Up

Gift shopping? Treating yourself?  Make sure to wear good footwear and your warrior face for this year's Black Friday sales mission:

Mara Hoffman will be 50% off current fall ready to wear and 15% off sale merchandise.

Modcloth has 50% off new styles.

Tibi is discounting up to 60% off their current season downtown chic .

Cynthia Rowley has 60% off selected styles.

Ted Baker - 30% off in-store and online

Edun is 30% off.

Diesel - 30% off in-store

TopShop - 30% off select merchandise from Topshop online and in store. Plus if you spend $30 you get $10 off, if you spend $50 you get $20 off, and spend $100 to get $50 off your purchase.

H & M is promising crazy deals like $5 dresses.  Will that include the Martin Margiela collaboration? Let's hope.

Hipster heaven Opening Ceremony is discounting 30-40% off designers like Jean Paul Gaultier, Jeremy Scott and their private label collection.  

Trina Turk will be 20-60% off in the Meatpacking District.

Looking for bling? Swarovski will be 30% off their sparkly baubles.

Woodbury Commons will have additional deals at designer boutiques like Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino, but be forewarned, a good friend of mine drove out there at 4 AM and never made it past the highway exit.  Timing and the level of desire is everything.

Tory Burch nemesis, C. Wonder is discounting 50% off sale items until 8 AM, 25% afterwards.  

Henri Bendel has big deals before 11 AM on Friday, and $25 off every $100 spent afterwards.  

For gentlemen, Ben Sherman coats, knits, boots will be 40% off.

James Perse has a private 40% off sale.

Photo from nydailynews.com behring/AP

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Proper Attire by Isaac Mizrahi

"Proper Attire Required For Entry" is the cheeky tagline on the collection of designer condoms launched by fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi last night.  The protective gear is offered in pink gingham, polka dots and abstract floral print.  

This unique collaboration came about because the designer wanted stylish condoms that women would feel comfortable carrying around.  Other fashion designers who have participated in this project include Rebecca Minkoff.  The event was a festive night at the Soho Grand Hotel, with champagne cocktails garnished with suggestive raspberries and coordinating petit fours.

Proceeds benefit the Planned Parenthood organization. The collection will be for sale at MOCA in California as well as Opening Ceremony boutique. 

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Ked's for Opening Ceremony

Remember Keds?  They were THE shoe that my junior high school heart were after.  Their simplicity and clean lines were the epitome of preppy pre-teen chic.

Now, uber-hipster retailer Opening Ceremony is bringing them back to us in their collaboration online and in stores.  I loved the big intarsia dogs on sweaters and cute ditsy print dresses.  Ladylike and still a bit preppy, with just a bit of irony.  The pieces run anywhere from $45 to $400, making them accessible for those on an allowance or earning their own.

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Chloe Sevigny Launches Her Collection Partying at Don Hill's

 

Downtown New Yorker's have always claimed this not-so-indie actress as her own.  Her Bohemian-waif chic is now a new clothing and shoe collection at hipster store Opening Ceremony.

The actress/designer launched the collection with a party at the classic West Village spot Don Hill's.  Celebs and other notable Downtown figures came out to support like film director Spike Jonze and Benjamin Cho.

The clothing itself is a collection short, feminine dresses in dainty prints.  The shoes are chunky heeled clogs and platform shoes.  Accessories included tinted sunglasses, patterned berets and half-moon handbags.  There are a few slim leather pants and cozy cardigans.  Each look represents Chloe quite well, it looks like everything came directly out of her closet.

Photos by Bettina Chin and Opening Ceremony

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Monster Chic - Big & Furry Makes the Cut?

For anyone who observed the runway offerings for Fall 2010, you probably noticed that fur was making a comeback. At first, I was excited that it signaled a return to luxury. Now, as I look over the past year, I realize that it has less to do with decadence, but an excuse to be a beastly ogre.

While I expected movies like Young Victoria and Coco Before Chanel from 2009 to inspire fashion trends for this year, I never expected Shrek and Where the Wild Things Are to make the cut. The cast of the Green monster movie starred in a photo spread for VMAN magazine. Downtown chic boutique Opening Ceremony offered an entire collection around the wild ones. In Paris, right there on Chanel's icy catwalk, was the Abonimable snowman. I suppose when you are over-sized and covered in hair, it hides all sins...

That's just what every girl needs...To have her boyfriend's Star Wars Wookie fantasies validated.

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