Monday, October 13, 2008

The Minimalistic 1994

Wear Cu-Tees to Save Lives by Willette Francis

Betcha didn’t know wearing a polo shirt could save lives. I’m not talking about any old polo shirt, so don’t even go searching your closet for that sweet little crocodile (or is it an alligator?). I’m talking about the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer polo designed by Ralph Lauren for the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign.

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The Council of Fashion Designers of America began the FTBC campaign in 1994 as the fashion industry’s response to breast cancer. The initiative has created public awareness and continues to support breast cancer research, education, screening and patient care. This year, Fashion Targets Breast Cancer has teamed up with Ralph Lauren to design a polo shirt that raises money for the cause in addition to making fashionistas for the cause look cute. The polo shirt, available for $75.00 exclusively at Net-A-Porter.com, will be the first item to launch the global retail partnership. Sixty-five dollars (close to 90%) of each purchase will be donated to Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Worldwide to support local breast cancer charities around the world. Since the inception of the program, Fashion Targets Breast Cancer has raised over 40 million dollars for breast cancer charities in 13 countries.

In the upcoming months, the website will feature limited-edition merchandise by other internationally renowned designers, all available at the “FTBC store” on the Net-A-Porter website. In another partnership to raise funds and awareness, look for a quilted ballet slipper with the FTBC bull’s-eye logo inside from Scoop beginning in October. Currently, Scoop offers a different style flat that has raised over $30,000 since 2006 available at select Scoop boutiques.

For more information, go to http://www.fashiontargetsbreastcancer.org/ and http://www.net-a-porter.com/ to purchase a polo (available in white and neon blue, green, red and yellow) to support this emergent problem that affects nearly 1.5 million women annually. Show some love for your fellow sisters, now.

www.beautynewsny.com


Models wear matching purple,orange and fuschia dou...
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES: Models wear matching purple,orange and fuschia double coats during the Bill Blass Fall 1994 fashion collection, 08 April 1994, in New York. The shows will run through 13 April. (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)


Models wears matching purple and green plaid coat...
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES: Models wears matching purple and green plaid coats during the Wellman Fall 1994 fashion collection, 10 April 1994. All the outfits were made from Fortrel EcoSpun, a fiber made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)


ritish model Naomi Campbell presents this fake fu... PARIS, FRANCE: British model Naomi Campbell presents this fake fur jacket in pink and green over matching, leather-like vests, a stretch black minidress and leather boxer belt, with a coordinated Siberian-like hat, for the Chanel 1994/95 Fall/Winter ready to wear collection 10 March 1994 in Paris. (Photo credit should read PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Images)




A model displays a transparent black chiffon bodic...
PARIS, FRANCE: A model displays a transparent black chiffon bodice top with a high multicolor floral skirt 16 January 1994 in Paris for Christian Lacroix 1994 Spring/Summer haute-couture collection. (Photo credit should read GERARD JULIEN/AFP/Getty Images)


*Although the colors of 1994 were particularly dull, somber or too
neutral (or too black) there are clear statements within these
minimalistic designs that blend bright and bold splashes of color.

www.gettyimages.com

1994 showcased:

  • Narrow, lean silhouettes
  • Fitted bodices
  • Low V's, round, high, or shawl collar necklines
  • Long sleeves with no pads
  • Mini, calf-length, ankle, figure hugging skirts
  • Woven, knitted wool, silk, cotton and stretchy fabrics
  • Clear, bright/shiny, subdued,
  • muted colors: black, gray, navy, blue
  • Knee-length boots, high spiked heels,
  • pointed toes, shoulder bags, chunky jewelry, leggings in all colors
  • long blazers with multi-colored blockings
  • "the transparent look"--layered over lace bodysuits
  • bustiers
  • bras
  • rise of extreme sports and marketing of brand names:
    • Stussy,Quiksilver, Louis Vuitton, Escada, etc.
  • T-shirts were iconic for sexuality or minimalism--
    • Calvin Klein and other logoed shirts like Lacoste, Ralph Lauren
  • Rising designers from Paris, London, etc. i.e. Helmut Lang
    • ("new casual" in workplace), Gianni Versace
    • (defining figure of '80s & '90s), Prada (new "bad taste" styles),
    • Lawrence Steele (known for feminine, sexy designs stemmed from riotous/radical ideas) etc.
    • took new directions in their designs through the meshing
      • extreme styles and radical, unconventional ideas and tastes
  • California's Long Beach unified school district:
    • the launching of school uniform since 1994 involving about 60,000 students in uniform and is said to significantly decrease violence
  • the minimalist look was very popular:
    • dark, deep and somber colors matched with simple and lean silhouettes and designs
  • "the diffusion theory"
    • as fashion trends spread throughout the populations and become more mainstream, it influences people in different ways and as a result evolves
  • post modernism and post subculture: "new age"
    • the 'supermarket of style', "those who frequent the supermarket of style display...a stylistic promiscuity which is breathtaking in its casualness. 'Punks' one day, 'hippies' the next, ...converting the history of street style into a vast theme park.." (Polhemus, 131) Ted Polhemus was an anthropologist, his insight was provided in the text that I researched in [Streetstyle: From Sidewalk to Catwalk" London: Thames and Hudson, Inc. 1994
  • the "youth market" or "teenage fashion"
  • became more popular to a broader market, extending into the 20's, 30's + age group and targeted the female preteen also was characterized as a broad cultural appeal
Taken from "Fashion since 1900--the complete sourcebook" by John Peacock (1993, 2007) London & "Encyclopedia of Clothing & Fashion" Thomson & Gale, Inc. (2005), "Fashion: Examining Pop Culture" (2003) Green Haven Press, Gale Group Inc. & Thomson Learning, Inc.


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