fashionhodgepodge

Photos by http://www.eminphoto.com/

Even though it’s crazy-warm in LA, I will most likely turn to at least one black apparel item this week. I can’t help it. Cheers to all black outfits, volume, and cool lines. What. A. Mega. Shoot.

Tis the season for sparkle, fringe, and shimmy-ing all night.

All Photos via Fashion Gone Rogue – Vogue Germany, January 2012

So disappointed that I didn’t get the Christmas maxi dress I had wanted, so I’m on the search for a new year’s dress. Whatever I find, it’s probably going to be inspired by one of the above. Thanks, Vogue Germany.

xo,

Tam

Photo via Fashion Gone Rogue – Deutsch Magazine – Vika Falileeva by Nyra Lang – December 2011

Photo via Fashion Gone Rogue - Deutsch Magazine – Vika Falileeva by Nyra Lang – December 2011

Photo via Fashion Gone Rogue - Deutsch Magazine – Vika Falileeva by Nyra Lang – December 2011

Photo via Fashion Gone Rogue - Deutsch Magazine – Vika Falileeva by Nyra Lang – December 2011

Photo via Fashion Gone Rogue - Deutsch Magazine – Vika Falileeva by Nyra Lang – December 2011

Growing up in AZ, I never was super fond of hats since it’s typically hot 9 months out of the year and sweaty hair isn’t too attractive. So when I moved to New York, and seasons broke me into head gear, now I’m diggin all the fedora hats this season. I’m looking for a black fedora, that can act as my staple hat and go with anything. After seeing this gorg editorial, I think it’s a pretty done deal.

Right?

xo,

Tam

Photo via Behind The Curtain (Kate Spade’s Official Blog)

Mashable published an article the other day about the brand brilliance of Kate Spade and it’s about time I acknowledge it’s radness. So, Kate Spade team , you are a rainbow of rad. Done.

Jk.

This article of praise got me reminiscing about fashion brands in the digital spotlight.  Think, think, think…you know Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Coach, DKNY, etc. and all their awarded digital stunts. But, Kate Spade was one of the first brands I followed on instagram. In fact I feel like for a long time they were the only brand I could find on there last year.

I remember thinkin – uh, yah this is what brands should do to show a “day in the life”. I really thought the content curation and creation was so vivid and it still is. By following the brand’s instagram, you get to know and kinda view the brand as a person and not so much as this giant company trying to shove purses down your throat. It’s like a visual stream of consciousness that personifies Kate Spade.

I think what made me more fascinated was that a year and a half ago when instagram was a “nothing” on the radar, Kate took a risk at investing time into it.Yah, they did a site rebrand, they do cool contests on Facebook and Twitter, but the big thumbs up goes to it’s “risky business”.

Coming from a couple of handful of  years here – new channels, services, platforms pop up everyday – but the key is to pick the ones that best fit your brand communications, brand image, and can help continue to tell your story – and then commit to it. Sticking to your guns.  It takes time and support to make it work. It also takes effort to make everyone else at the company believe its worth the time and resources.

Photo via Unknown Source

It’s not easy to start time investing in a new medium, figuring out, waiting around to see if it will work for you and Kate Spade took that leap and made it work with all of their other channels, efforts, and story.  The main thing is – they stuck to their brand in everything they did. On her way to 68k followers strong on instagram, Kate is consistent in what she throws out there,  from the words to describe tweets, photos on instagram, to the creative used on profiles for its channels, and skins on its blog. Heck, even taxi cab wraps in the city.

What can we all learn from her?

1) Know Thyself. Keep it real.

2) Know who your friends (er, customers) are

3) Know that its ok to take risks. It’s how you learn.

4) Know that anything great – takes time, hard work, and patience.

So, Mashable, the reason that Kate is on the road to digital-fashion-global-domination, is that she knows herself, she knows her friends, stuck to her intuition, and made it a consistent holistic effort digitally and in the real-life too.

Two thumbs up to the sky & iPhone keyboard.

xo,

Tams

Photo via Fashionising.com – Vogue China, July 2010

Photo via Fashionising.com – Vogue UK – November 2009

Photo via Fashionising.com – W Magazine – September 2009

Photo via Fashionising.com – Harper’s Bazaar US – November 2010

Georgia May – you are cooler than cool. And…so is your dad.

xo

T