Imagineering Style

What’s Up with Fashion?

          Let’s face it people, no one knows what to do with fashion these days!

I am a designer and an owner of a few fashion websites, I work with many designersfrom the U.S. and abroad. I receive countless trade magazines, e-mails and let’s not forget the classics Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar. I tend to read about 20+ fashion magazines each and every month and I have come to the conclusion…We in the fashion trade game are absolutely clueless!!

          To prove my theory I pulled up various magazines, (I will protect their identity so they are not too embarrassed), and viewed what they had for the past two years. Then I pulled up my photos of clothing in the retail sector (I have merchandised for several big name manufactures since 2001), analyzed a two history. And hmmm, nothing really changed. The same type of, well you know.

          I was baffled! Yes, most designers try to introduce new product. Let’s take those molded wild flower-trimmed pumps by Prada, hot, fun and new at $790: Love it! But just can’t afford them when it cost $100 a week just to fill up my SUV!

          Single mom’s across America (myself included) need to put food on the table, gas in the car and stylish clothes on our school age kids. My teen wants designer clothes, but I am not happy with the cuts or styles for today’s teenage girls, but that’s a whole different blog!

Back to fashion…

          How many tees can I own? How many pairs of jeans!? Don’t get me started on low rise for women over 30 post-child births! I need more, more I tell you! That’s why I started this blog. I want women no…Let me rephrase that… I need American women to shout out and say:

I want more…

I don’t want any …

I am bored with…

Please no more…

I need better…

          I don’t know, you fill in the blanks. All I know is that I am an American woman with fashion needs and I am in a position to do something about it!

Every month I will post a few fashion blogs on the N.Y. fashion scene.

•   -What’s up with Fashion (exposé, style vs. affordability)

•    -NYC Street Scene (What’s on the streets of NYC, everything from tourist to celebrities)

•   -Trends a la N.Y.C! (the rundown on what to expect from N.Y. Fashion capitol of the world). Yes we still are…

Write me with your views or send me pictures at patrice@imagineeringstyle.com.

Imagineering Style’s answer to The Perfect Fitting Skirt

It all started when a woman asked me “Do you know where I can get my skirt copied? It is the perfect fitting skirt!” This is when I decided to help others who have the same desire!

I was in NYC recently and I met a receptionist who was the sweetest person. She asked me what I did for a living. I explained to her that I was a pattern maker and owned a small design studio. We create patterns and sew samples for fashion designers. I mentioned to her that I help designers get started in the fashion industry by producing and selling their collections.
She then asked me “Do you know any designers that could help me?”
I asked her in what way?
She said “I have a skirt that fits me perfectly. The style is chic and classic. I bought this skirt a few years ago and I’d like to make this skirt in several colors and different fabrics. It is the perfect skirt for Church. I need someone who can copy the style. Do you know where I can get my skirt copied?”
I smiled and said, “I would be happy to copy that pattern for you”. And so this sparked my imagination.

This is not the first time that people have asked me to do this. My mother use to ask me to copy her blouses, suits and pants all the time. Over the years my friends have made the same request. People on My Space have approached me asking for help recreating that perfect style.
I met is a group of very tall sisters, (over 6 feet), who are in great need of clothing. I also met petite woman, moms with tweens in need of dresses, women with unique body types. You name it I’ve met them.

So my question is to all of you ladies out there: Does anyone else have this problem?

Do any of you have that perfect fitting skirt, pants, dress, or blouse and can’t find that style anywhere, anymore? Did you see a style in a magazine or catalog and would like it for yourself, but you need to have it custom made because standard fit is not standard you?

Do you sew? Or have access to a seamstress? If you had this pattern who would sew it for you?

It will be my mission to tackle this issue and find an affordable way for women to get a custom fit at a department store price! Can I do it? Stay tuned…