Over the past 12 months I’ve collected lots of suiting swipes. Though the editorial’s not terribly current, the textures are timeless. Styled and shot for Dazed & Confused, Another Man, Calvin Klein and Zink, the black and white pairings are interchangeable, simplistic and a nice mixture of high and low design. Which patterns will you be wearing this Fall?
These days, social strategy should be part of every one’s growth plan. From crowd-sourced content to rewarding five minutes of fame, every brand is hoping to engage using digital technology, beyond the sweeps of yesteryear.
Here are a few snapshots of Forever 21‘s Time Square store. The video loop on their LED screens is playful, engaging and larger than life. Models “walk” up to the screen, summon the crowd then take a Polaroid shot of the street, capturing everyone who’s a fan. Remarkably, hundreds of people are willing to wait through the five minute loop to see themselves on the big screen, over and over again.
Just across the street, the monolithic LED screen that belongs to American Eagle takes a similar approach, merging their customers, twitter and a branded photo booth. Developed by the brains at RGA, customers can have their picture taken with a short caption and it will scroll down the outside of the building. Not only do the photos make their debut in Times Square, they’re also easy to share using a computer or mobile device.
Keeping with the theme of models trapped inside their own advertisements, Lara Stone‘s most recent billboard for Calvin Klein located at Lafayette and Houston is as engaging as it gets for still imagery. Similar to Forever 21’s loop, her proportions are skewed, slightly edgy and entirely engaging.
Ah, the infamous Cosby sweater. We’re all aware of the jokes that defined much of the 80’s. Fast forward a few decades and it seems like the creative folks at American Apparel, Calvin Klein and Oxbow for Colette are tapping this fun-house style for their latest lines. While the mismatched textures are somewhat overwhelming, the cuts are modern and the themes coherent, allowing customers of all ages to take part in this pattern bazar. It’s also interesting to note MC Esher and Dali’s influences continuing on into winter. We wonder if Patricia Field will be the next visionaire to jump on board, as these textures seem like a seamless fit for her eclectic style.