NYFW FRONT ROW ACCESS SS22

Follow The Art Institutes' Ai LIVE as host, E. Vincent Martinez takes you through the shows, the runways, showrooms and fashion presentations during NYFW SS22. Hear from designers, celebrities and fashion experts on how to get to NYFW, designing collections and working with clients.

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NORDSTROM MEN'S STORE NYC OPENS Retailer Debuts First Manhattan Flagship

Nordstrom, Inc. opened the doors this to its very first flagship, full-line New York City location and first ever stand-alone men's store at 235 West 57th Street. The three-level 47,000 square foot store offers a differentiated merchandise assortment across all categories, including popular and designer brands, along with a range of convenient services to serve customers on their terms.

EXCLUSIVE MERCHANDISE CONCEPTS

Olivia Kim, Nordstrom vice president of creative projects has curated a special Comme des Garçons (CDG) shop that will feature one of the largest local selections of the fashion house's coveted brands. Olivia commissioned artist Marc Hundley to design a space that invokes both the ethos of CDG and the streets of New York City. In a first for Nordstrom, the men's flagship will also feature designer shops by Calvin Klein, Balenciaga, Valentino, and Dior. Each space is united by a chainmail motif, but are distinguished by personalized fixtures adhering to each brand. The shoe department houses a Christian Louboutin shop displaying a wide range of the shoemaker's sporty and formal offerings. The Nike Men's Project, a sportswear and shoe destination for style and fitness-obsessed customers, will offer the brand's latest sneakers and apparel collections.

The store also features an array of customization and personalization experiences, including the Levi's Tailor Shop, where customers can shop Levi's Authorized Vintage, one of the largest vintage denim collections in existence, and also design custom embroidery on any item, heat press a shirt or get an express hem while they wait; Shinolawill offer watch customization in addition to a selection of tech products; exclusive to the flagship, Samuelson Custom Suit Visualizer is an interactive digital made-to-measure suiting experience at an accessible price point; Eton Endless Aisle is a digital touchscreen offering an expanded assortment of dress shirts and ties; and cult-favorite Le Labo will create personalized fragrance labels in the grooming department.

To celebrate the Nordstrom opening, brands have created limited-time exclusives, such as Cole Haan NYCH, a curated quarterly collection only available for 30 days, exclusive denim fit and wash options from Rag & Bone, Paige, AG Jeans, Citizens of Humanity, an exclusive camo jacket by Canada Goose and footwear from Timberland and Magnanni.

BRAND ASSORTMENT

Customers can shop a comprehensive selection of apparel brands across a broad range of price points, including Adidas, Carhartt WIP, Rodd & Gunn, Stone Island, Death to Tennis, Norse Projects, Lemaire, Moncler, Canali, Topman, Ted Baker London, Hugo Boss, Giorgio Armani, Tiger of Sweden and Givenchy. The accessories department houses brands like Foundwell, Ray Ban, Moscot, Mykita, Prada and Loewe. The vast shoe department will includeReebok, Common Projects, Vans, Alden, Church's, Salvatore Ferragamo, Balenciaga, Gucci and exclusives from Greats and Jack Erwin.

The grooming department will introduce to the U.S., barber-created Murdock London, who will be sending barbers to New York for special appearances. Saturdays NYCwill launch product alongside brands like Proraso, Kiehl's, Tom Ford Grooming and exclusive Ted's Grooming Room by Ted Baker London. An extensive fragrance selection will include options from Parfums de Marly, By Killian, Chanel, Valentino, Prada, Armani, Dior and many others.

SERVICE AND EXPERIENCE

Nordstrom is committed to serving customers on their terms and the Men's Store will offer a number of shopping services that provide convenience, speed and ease. At each store entrance shoppers will find Express Returns kiosks, plus Style Boards, 24/7 Buy Online & Pick-Up in Store, Reserve Online & Try in Store and Three-Hour Same Day Delivery anywhere in Manhattan, all which seek to bridge the convenience of online shopping with the personal experience of the store. Shoppers will have access to 24/7 Express Services during all hours for fashion emergencies like lost luggage or items that went unpacked, in addition a cell phone charging station, expert Shoeshine, an onsite Alternations & Tailoring department, and Complimentary Personal Stylists.

In the Clubhouse Bar customers can treat themselves to a drink or meal, while taking in intimate views of Central Park and Columbus circle. Hand-crafted cocktails, a selection of fine wines, as well and carefully selected snacks with seasonality in mind, including warm toasts, indulgent melts and a signature lobster roll developed by Nordstrom Chefs will be available. The Coffee Shop will feature Toby's Estate Coffee, a small batch roaster based in Brooklyn, serving unique handcrafted drinks by skilled baristas. As an added twist, the coffee bar will also offer draft beer on tap in addition to a section of local pastries.

The Nordstrom Men's Store NYC features the company's newest store design concepts, including an all-glass façade to bring in more natural light, unboxing the display windows, and connecting the shopping experience to the city. An open, flexible floor plan allows for an evolving curation of how products are displayed over time, depending on what New York customers respond to. The store environment will create a sense of discovery, allowing customers to navigate easily and find new brands they haven't experienced before.

Nordstrom has been a longtime believer of investing in artwork for its stores. New Yorkers will experience an extensive collection, featuring 39 works by both international and American artists, with a quarter being local. Suspended in the center of a three-story staircase, a floating, diaphanous tree sculpture entitled "Arctic Tree" by the Seattle-based artist John Grade is a nod to the retailer's Seattle roots.

COMMUNITY

Nordstrom believes we have a responsibility to give back to the communities we serve, so each year we donate 1% of our gift card sales to worthy nonprofits in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Our contributions most often take the form of a cash grant, but we are also proud to partner with local and national organizations through specific giving programs and by volunteering our time and resources.

As part of our Men's Store opening and as we continue to expand our presence in the New York metro area we have committed $5million dollars to NYC over the next three years. To stay true to our Nordstrom Cares mission we plan to support a number of programs and organizations that care for kids and empower youth, as well as those that have a significant impact on the community. In the coming months, Nordstrom will be forming a NYC Community Advisory Board to attract, vet and award community grants. We are proud to announce our first grant will be to the Hetrick-Martin Institute, the nation's oldest, and largest, organization supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth to reach their full potential.

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Kendra Scott Jewelry 2014

E. Vincent Martinez Kendra Scott

Kendra Scott's energy and personality is as sparkly and beautiful as the jewelry she designs. I absolutely loved meeting her and learning about the Kendra Scott brand. Thanks for a great interview Kendra!

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Party at Jeffrey!!

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Last night, Jeffrey Atlanta at Phipps Plaza hosted their annual Jeffrey Fashion Cares VIP Patron Party. They went all out with a "pink" carpet and a red carpet, cocktails, catering, "informal" modeling in formal attire and, this was a fabulous treat, live fashion illustrations.

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As always, Jeffrey is at the top of the most spectacular displays in Atlanta! The Patron Party serves as a celebration of so many supporters and truly gets everyone excited to kick off the social season in the city. Visit JeffreyFashionCares.com for event info & deets! Save the date for August 25th!!!

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Questions to Ask When Turning your Passion into the Fashion-forward Business of your Dreams

"The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy." —Yves Saint-Laurent

If you're considering starting your own clothing line, opening an online fashion business or otherwise taking your entrepreneurial and fashion skills to the streets with flair, chances are you've already got a fantastic dose of passion and motivation. In many ways, that passion can carry you through some of the most rewarding and challenging phases of entrepreneurship. But in order to succeed, you'll need to couple experience and know-how with your already blossoming passion for fashion.

1. Are you as passionate about running a business as you are about fashion and design?

Working in the fashion industry and owning your own business are two very different things. If your passion is design and you want to spend the majority of your time working on your craft, starting a fashion business might not be for you. It's not all glamour and glitz.

Like a skilled writer opening a publishing house, you'll be trading in much of your craft for business ownership, paperwork, employee payroll, marketing and sometimes even trying to break even.

                                                       Photo by Reidaroo via Wikimedia Commons

If you have little to no experience in the business world, it would be in your best interest to gain know-how before you get started, whether that means formally studying business in your spare time and getting a business management associate degree or working under a successful businessperson who's willing to teach you everything they know.

2. Do you have the connections you need to succeed?

You don't necessarily have to be super experienced (although experience is definitely a powerful asset) to open your own fashion business. But you do need connections, and not just with people in the fashion industry. You'll need to find people you trust to join your team, as well as people to work with you in marketing, brand development and Web design. You'll need funding to get your new business off the ground and someone who knows public relations inside and out to generate interest as you get started.

3. What is your demographic?

Once you've determined you've got what it takes to get started—and the perseverance to stick with it even when the going gets tough—you'll need to pinpoint your target demographic. Who will wear your clothes? Are you aiming for high fashion or do you want to design clothes for infants and toddlers? Identify the people who will actually be doing the purchasing. 

Don't start too big; you'll want to focus on an audience and cater to them before widening your scope.

                                                               Photo by Charlie Brewer via Wikimedia Commons

4. What is your brand?

Obviously, your brand needs a name, logo and style that reflects your passion and personality in an appealing way. In an article by Inc.com, fashion experts underscore the importance both of being business savvy as well as having the ability to brand your line. Your brand serves to lure both investors and, later, customers who like your style, so take the time to get it right. Constantly collecting feedback, looking at ways other up and coming fashion designers keep their brand fresh and selling a look rather than a motley collection of individual pieces will work wonders when you're branding your style.

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