Jeff Augustine's Weblog

One time critic gives T.O. thumbs up

jeffisthegreatest — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:53:28 +0000

Ever since celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch bemoaned Toronto fashion week as amateurish four years ago, his caustic criticism has haunted Hogtown’s runways.In his mind, a dirty runway showed a lack of respect and price tags still visible on the soles of models’ stilettos were simply careless. “It’s all in the details,” he concluded to a cadre of designers and journalists.

Website: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v5/content/subscribe?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FLAC.20080329.BLOCH29%2FTPStory%2FEntertainment&ord=19120442&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true

The difference between price and cost

jeffisthegreatest — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:50:51 +0000

Reading a book last night, this stood out:

“You seem quite convinced of his veracity.”
“The man’s word is something more than a vague promise.”
“Are you saying he never lied to you?”
“Not exactly. I was an enemy officer.”
“So, in this word of honor business, you believe he never breaks it?”
“I have seen him do so. But the cost was huge.”
“He breaks it for a price, then.”
“Not for a price. A cost.”
“I fail to see the distinction.”
“A price is something you get. A cost is something you lose.”

I sense this is the difference between what many of you think you’re negotiating for, especially with contractors. You think you’re talking about price. But for a vendor dealing with an unknown quantity, the issue is calculating cost.

Quebec designers broaden their reach

jeffisthegreatest — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:37:05 +0000

Montreal’s fashion week began the week after Toronto’s. Quebec designers and manufacturers are wary of their Asian counterparts who can produce clothes at a much cheaper rate. The organizers of Montreal’s Fashion Week have attempted to solve this problem through getting subsidies to open a showroom showcasing designs form French-Canadian designers so buyers can have a better chance to review and buy.

Website: http://www.thestar.com/living/article/404628

Canuck finds growing fashion scene in Turkey

jeffisthegreatest — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:35:54 +0000

Shelley Lashey is an English-born, Canadian raised make-up artist who has been transplanted to Istanbul, Turkey. She is pursuing fashion design and photography, and is engaged to a Turkish photographer whom she met within a month of moving to Turkey in 2005. She has worked with many well-known artists and directors in Toronto, and is hoping to expand her horizons in Istanbul.

Lauren Conrad says move from reality TV to fashion is ‘double-edged sword?

jeffisthegreatest — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:04:46 +0000

This article is about reality TV star Lauren Conrad starting her own L.A. based clothing line. She mentions the uphill battle to prove herself as a fashion designer, as well as the pressure to succeed given her celebrity status. Many people in the fashion industry and the celebrity gossip world will be watching her closely, some with good and bad intentions.

Website: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?pid=1447&cpcat=entertainment&stry=35191024

From reality TV to the runway

jeffisthegreatest — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:20:01 +0000

Recently, there was a show on TV called Project Runway, which had aspiring designers competing to wina $100,000 prize. 4 of these designers were showing their lines at the recent fashion week in Toronto. The article here talks about their issues with their first real fashion show, and how they are handling life after the TV show.

Website: http://www.thestar.com/article/346662

Toronto fashion week woos the wealthy

jeffisthegreatest — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:12:52 +0000

This article describes how the designers in Toronto’s recent fashion week were showing very expensive pieces depite the fact that the economy and the Canadian dollar are heading for a down turn. The pieces were clearly aimed at the upper class of society, and in some cases, no expense was spared to give the clothes the look and feel of rich.

Website: http://www.thestar.com/article/349176

Fashion and Apparel Blog

jeffisthegreatest — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:23:04 +0000

This blog is about the fashion and apparel industry cluster in toronto.