iPad Apps For Fashion Brands Increase: Cosmo, Gucci, Stella. Who's next?

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Cosmo's iPad app for men.

Within the past few days, these three brands alone has announced apps for the iPad, a strong business statement that the fashion and luxury market is utilizing social media and the e-commerce channel to compete.  Cosmo's app is solely for reading and engaging the male demographic, while Gucci and Stella McCartney's intent is driven by the positive sales results the luxury market has realized due to e-commerce.  Many major luxury fashion brands such as Fendi and Dolce & Gabbana has already graced their presence with an iPad app and other brands were probably waiting to follow after seeing results.  Stella McCartney for example, was already on the iPad and this new app is really a revamp of the one she started with, after seeing good results and in time for the upcoming New York Fashion week shows and demand.  Follow and connect with us on Facebook for more pics and fashion news.

Gucci's iPad app.

Stella McCartney's revamped iPad app.

Business Fashion Brands Picking Up Pace In Their Ads Using QR Codes

Fashion is business and as I was flipping through my latest issue of New York Magazine, I noticed the inside front page print ad space, dominated by Macy's new 'Backstage Pass' a blog post I wrote about two weeks ago.  The ads are dominant with a three page fold out and one page with the QR code with no surprise here because it can also be seen on television during prime time slots.  Though both beauty and fashion businesses Sephora and Bloomingdales have been listing QR codes on their ads for some time now, it seems Macy's is among the first in trying to take it mainstream.
QR codes have been around for a while but getting participants to become engaged in this form of social media interaction is what might be challenging.  There are many other business brands picking up on the trend but fashion is what this blog is about, so I have listed a few here to try out for yourself.  It's fun, but at first even I myself thought it's faster for me to just type the address in my browser but once you try it a few times you will like it and get the hang of it, to probably want to use it when you see codes from other brands.
The ads I've listed are the ones that follow the Macy's 'Backstage Pass' print ad in the latest New York Magazine because it looks like other fashion brands are following suit to at least being perceived to being a part of social media. Its makes absolute business sense to be involved because there is an opportunity for it to peak if a major fashion brand invests with ads utilising the codes.  My opinion is that a fashion brand that does so, will run away with the strong social media credibility as being in the fore-front with something techy cool for their customers though it's been around for some time, if it peaks for them. I flipped through the latest issue of VOGUE and there was not one beauty ad with QR code, so go figure. 



Bloomingdales 'Scarved' ad QR code



Sephora HD Foundation ad QR code.
(This link requires flash for mobile phones when I tested it.)

Refinery29 Kicks Off New York Fashion Week With A Bang

New York Fashion Weak F/W 2011, got off to a big start last night, as fashionista stylists, writers and digital marketers, lounged over champagnes and signature cocktails at The James Hotel Roof Top Bar. Refinery29, is a website dedicated to 'shopping, exclusive deals, trends, beauty news, local hot-spots and at-home sneak-peeks of fashions finest.' In light of many fashion brands positioning themselves to embrace social media , it is only fitting that Refinery29 whose main target is e-commerce consumers, be ready to shine. We love Refinery29 for it's innovative approach to fashion and style, and for taking the lead to kick off NYFW F/W 2011.

BARNEYS launch 'The Window'

Barneys New York's presence in the new world of social media, is certainly being established with its' new microsite called 'The Window'. Don't confuse 'The Window' with the over the top, annual window displays that legendary Simon Doonan; Barneys Creative Director, has been producing for years. Although I am sure it's a homage to The Great Doonan, social media presence is serious business in today's marketing and public relations initiatives. A website is just not enough anymore, because fashion savvy consumers communicate and shop via new technological channels such as Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Foursquare, Youtube and Blogs. Glamour magazine just launched the 'Young and Posh Blogger Network', that consists of seventeen bloggers, a major social media initiative, that entails a major campaign shot by Garance Dore, with spreads in WWD magazine and ads all over fashion week events this coming week. Many other major fashion brands, have taken heed to incorporate some form of social media medium for their forthcoming marketing initiatives. It'll be no surprise therefore, to see the marketing and public relations events for upcoming New York Fashion Week shows embracing the new world of social media in one way or another. Barneys, The Window, is aesthetically pleasing with its' black and white layout of images, news and twitter feeds. True Fashionista Now loves the site and look forward to more social media initiatives from other major fashion brands. Check out The Window.