FATED TO BE HATED: wwdmagic

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Saturday, September 15, 2012

BLOGGERS AND BRANDING: MAGIC Discussion at FN Platform

There’s no shortage on visual inspiration at a fashion tradeshow, but what largely goes underappreciated is the treasure trove of advice shared by experienced bloggers and style presences at discussion panels. Fortunately, I took meticulous notes at MAGIC last month for my and your learning pleasure! At FN Platform, bloggers Olivia Lopez, Rachel Schwartzmann, and Kiara Schwartz offered their audience advice about what content generates most traffic and which brands are most receptive to collaborations.

Olivia of Lust for Life advised writers to “pay attention to what your readers value.” She noticed that photos of new shoes scored hundreds of notes on Tumblr, which meant more visits on her blog and the chance to foster a stronger relationship with viewers. Maintaining authenticity and integrity is another paradigm she stressed. “Posting content for the sake of hits will never go over well in the blogosphere.”

Rachel of The StyleLine and Le Style Child shared that her readers love seeing photos of her in her New York City neighborhood. It makes sense for her to satiate the world’s fascination with NYC and its respective culture with photos and words since so few artists are able to capture its essence candidly.

Kiara of Tobruck Ave emphasized the values a brand must share with a blogger to initiate a strong and honest partnership. “A good brand features their customers on the site and genuinely appreciates the publicity they offer through blogs and social networks,” she explained. “Reciprocation.” I couldn’t agree more with Kiara’s assessment; a brand that seems indifferent to its audience is not one that piques my interest or loyalty. I feel more inclined to support a brand that establishes a relationship with me as a person.

Goes without saying that MAGIC isn’t all business all the time… ;) Check out this awesome video the GIOGO girls put together detailing their fun at the convention! It was such a pleasure to meet them and experience their spontaneous energy in real life.

So many cool people, such a short amount of time! All I can say is SEE YOU IN FEBRUARY!

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

MAGIC Style File: What I Wore

MAGIC offers the most comprehensive collection of fashion brands and buyers under one roof -- with that in mind, the pressure was on to dress in duds that expressed where I fit into the trend horizon this season! Fortunately, I had Kelsi on hand to document three of my looks from the show.

DAY 1: Bohemian Color Block

Vest from Lucca Couture, blouse from Ellison, skirt from Lulu*s, pumps from Irregular Choice

This look was ALL about the shoes. I pulled colors from the pumps' retro print and found garments to match. Thanks so much to Ellison, Lucca Couture, and Irregular Choice for making this dream ensemble a fashion reality!

DAY 2: Sportpunk

Tank from Lovemarks, shorts from Lucca Couture, sneakers from Keds

With all the athletic influence on and off the runway these past few months, I felt obligated (in a good way) to illustrate how functional and chic the theme can be. A pair of perforated, elasticized shorts allot the ensemble some distinctly sporty edge and the Keds affirm that comfort is in my list of priorities for a busy day on the fashion floor. But the rhinestone encrusted tank top proves that a comfortable outfit doesn't mean glitz and glam are off the table. Thanks to Lovemarks, Lucca Couture, and Keds for the swag!

DAY 2 1/2: Eastern Wild Streak

Kimono from Darling, shorts from Lucca Couture, boots from Sheinside

Typical me, I opted for an outfit change before an afternoon discussion panel about blogger-brand relationships! I wanted to show our audience that any collaboration with any retailer can work if a blogger has aesthetic flexibility: my transition from rock n' roll sportswear to funky leopard and blossom print made that philosophy physically evident. Thanks to Darling for the gorgeous waterfall kimono!

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

TOP 10 MAGIC DISCOVERIES

Though I instantly recognized hundreds of brand names as I entered this year's colossal exhibitor arena at MAGIC, there were hundreds more that looked unfamiliar to me. I’m curious to a fault at times, but my fascination with new and novel retailers actually led me to some incredible discoveries that I’d like to share with you guys! Here’s my ultimate Top 10 Magic Discoveries list:

10. True Fit. This awesome denim company arranged a lunch with the digital influencers to share with us their innovative new service for online shoppers. If you’re shopping for jeans online but fear that you’ll purchase an ill-fitting pair, dispel your anxiety by signing up with True Fit through Nordstrom or Macy's. They’ve generated a system that displays which styles of jeans will fit you best according to the preferences - NOT measurements - you provide! Read more about their revolutionary system here.

9. Vigoss Jeans. Okay, so I’ve ALWAYS known about Vigoss, but what I didn’t know is that their latest selection of prints and colors plays into my recent obsession with BOLD brights. Naturally, a champagne toast ensued.

8. This eyeball bag by Kreepsville 666.

7. Nathan’s chili cheese fries. SORRY I’M NOT SORRY I CAN’T NON-STOP TALK ABOUT CLOTHES. “Easily distracted by greasy, deep fried American cuisine drenched in processed yellow high-calorie goo.” – My impending OK Cupid bio. Mmmmm.

6. This fluorescent, feather print suit from Lucca Couture.

5. Marchez Vous by Yeardly Smith. Okay, it’s ONE thing to discover an awesome new shoe line. It’s another thing to discover that the awesome new shoe line is designed entirely by, um, LISA SIMPSON. Yup! The actress who voices one of the most iconic cartoon characters of our generation makes SHOES! And they’re CRAAAZY cute. Check ‘em out here!

4. Flat Outs. These are genius, obviously. Every gal has suffered the Great High Heels Dilemma: you want to go out for dinner in your sexiest stilettos. But after a couple hours of pounding the pavement, you’re due for a couple blisters. And then what? Plaster your tortured toes in band-aids and Neosporin? Or drown the pain with ten margaritas? Save yourself the hangover and invest in a pair of Flat Outs, which are adorable little flats that curl up into a TINY box and fit perfectly in your purse! So you can take a comfortable pair of shoes WITH you for a night out on the town. Get 'em here. (P.S. I have the leopard pair!)

3. These Irregular Choice heels. That I now OWN. Sometimes I question whether or not I am even deserving of such color-block perfection.

2. Gypsy Junkies. I could go on for hours about this crew – BEYOND the insane level of bohemian inspired, rock and roll groupie uniforms is an incredible team of technicolor pixies and counterculture enthusiasts. Here’s some blurbs from my “Road to Magic” post!

Today I had the pleasure of rockin' the BEST Almost Famous inspired ensemble I've ever laid my eyes (and hands!) on. Gypsy Junkies, a free-spirited brand inspired by classic rock and 1970s hippie glamour, swathed me in a gorgeous white fur coat, fuchsia tie-dye palazzo pants, and a mushroom-print ruffle blouse!

I wore the outfit to my discovery panel to share the glory that is their incredible line with buyers and consumers on the MAGIC floor. If you didn't get a chance to check out their booth at the show, find them online! http://www.gypsyjunkies.com/

Learn more about their AWESOME rebel youth team here.

1. Chanelle, Deniz, Amber, Emily, Tiara, An, Rachel, Enocha, Emily K, Erica, Jamie, Jenny, Joellen, Kiara, Melissa, Stephanie, Sheryl, Wendy, and Gina – new friends, fellow bloggers, partners in crime. You should already know my other buddies: Bethany, Olivia, and Peter! See the entire blogger list here.

Everything is infinite!

Bebe Zeva

Friday, September 14, 2012

MAGIC ROUND UP!

This August, I had the pleasure of attending my third WWD MAGIC summer tradeshow with Two Point Oh! LA. Without a doubt, this convention experience trumped all others. Discovering new brands, communicating with retailers, and sharing your industry perspective with an interactive audience is always a thrill – but when those moments are enjoyed in the presence of friends, new and old, they sublimate into memories so powerful that it’d defy reason to forget why the fashion community is such an incredible, creative force. It was a genuine privilege to have been invited to MAGIC as a digital influencer, representing the American fashion blogging community and bestowed the impressive responsibility of generating coverage throughout a medium bloggers know best: the internet. Between meeting an inspirational lot of women as empowered as they are stylish and introducing myself in the flesh to retailers like Pink and Pepper or Lucca Couture(with whom I’d only previously connected online!), I learned. Some girls expressed their concerns with blogger-brand relationships and others offered solutions. Some girls campaigned for their favorite fashion-forward social networking sites like Pinterest and Tumblr. Some girls, like me, encouraged others to get involved in the community by starting somewhere obvious, like Lookbook.nu. No matter what the topic of discussion was, knowledge ricocheted off the walls of the Convention Center and landed deep within the crevices of our inventive brains. Anyone who argues that the fashion industry is superficial and dry has clearly never attended MAGIC. Never in my life have I been surrounded by more brilliant businessmen and women in my life than in those three days. I extend my deepest and sincerest acclaims to the Two Point Oh! LA team and WWD MAGIC staff for making this adventure possible. And I’d like to especially offer everlasting gratitude to my –and the girls’ – “blogger Mama,” Kelsi Smith, who coordinated this ENTIRE collaboration. You are all so indescribably fated to be appreciated!

In the spirit of fond memories, here’s a collage of my MAGIC experience, as documented through Instagram.

FN Platform blogger panel, MAGIC Digital Influencers blogger panel, day 3 at MAGIC wearing Funny People Co. and Tunnel Vision, me and Carmen, Caribbean Joe Hawaiian prints, me before the All Saints preview party, new Keds, feather print suit from Lucca Couture, me pole dancing in a party bus, me rockin' a 10 Dollar Tee, poolside after a long day, makeup for Day 1.

Everything is infinite!

Bebe Zeva

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

WWD MAGIC PART TWO

Tuesday and Wednesday marked my next two days at the MAGIC tradeshow here at my home base of Las Vegas, Nevada! On Tuesday, there was a style-off between some of the other bloggers, a live craft conducted by DIY prodigy Erica Domesek, an interactive buyer chat with Moxsie and their thousands of twitter followers, and an interview with me, Chloe, and my sister Rachel about fashion consumerism here in the city. On Wednesday, I took a trip to the Mandalay Bay and checked out the Jeffrey Campbell booth. I nearly fainted when I saw all the unreleased shoes; they're the best yet and I'm ecstatic to get my hands on all of them- YES, ALL OF THEM. I decided today that it's my goal to become an official Jeffrey Campbell shoe collector. Gonna buy a walk-in-closet dedicated to every platform wedge and lace-up Lita ever produced.

Tuesday's outfit: Coco-chic Chanel to boost my confidence!

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Veiled hat- Frank Olive for Neiman Marcus

Dress- Blaque Label from Lulu*s (www.lulus.com)

Necklaces- 2 Chanel, 1 Juicy Couture, 1 vintage, 1 Chanel-esque DIY project!

Heels- Vera Wang

Wednesday's outfit: Parisian poncho.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Beret- Saks Fifth Avenue

Sunglasses- Rotunda Clubmasters from 80s Purple

Poncho- BB Dakota from Lulu*s (www.lulus.com)

Wedges- Jeffrey Campbell

Some photos of the girls, captured by my new Sony Touch Bloggie!

Nacole:

Elim:

Jazz:

Blogger beauties!

You can watch an interview with me in which I discuss my blog, my inspirations, even the outfit I'm wearing in the video right here: http://tinyurl.com/4ulwwbm

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

WWD MAGIC PART ONE

For those that haven't already heard, I've been selected as a Teen Vogue fashion blogging panelist at the Womens Wear Daily MAGIC show at the Las Vegas Convention Center! WWD Magic is a mecca of women's fashion brands- some mainstream, some alternative, some designer, some independent. There are hundreds of booths and an exponential number of apparel pieces and accessories. For the past two days, I've been overwhelmed with inspiration from new and novel lines introducing their spring, summer, and fall collections. The colors and textures are as inviting as the showroom is vast- and that's saying something.

I wore a 1970s Boheme influenced outfit inspired by Marc Jacobs' Spring 2011 line.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Hat- August for Macy's

Jacket - My Tribe

Shirt- Guess

Belt- Vintage

Skirt- Oilily

Shoes- Qupid at Lulu*s

If you're not already familiar with Lulu*s, you need to bash the rock your head is under with a Louboutin stiletto (kidding... never deface a sacred heel). Lulu*s presently my favorite online store for jackets, dresses, accessories, the whole nine yards. Every element of my style is covered by Lulu*s- goth, grunge, free-spirited, and vintage. Need new shoes? WELCOME. www.lulus.com

I was privileged to have been invited to view the Miss Me denim and couture lines yesterday. Miss Me jeans are famed for their extravagant stitch work, rhinestone embellishments, and pocket bling. If your butt wants to make a serious statement, treat it to a pair of Miss Me jeans or jeggings! If you're interested in something more sleek and understated, consider the couture line. I especially fell in love with the studded jackets and neutral capes.

One of the most prominent displays at WWD Magic is the Desigual booth. I feel ridiculous calling it a booth, considering the grandeur of its presentation. But the collection certainly deserves the attention its flashy environment attracts; the clothes themselves command an incredible presence. "Desigual" translates to "it's not the same" in Spanish, since the company is based in Barcelona. The title couldn't be more fitting- Desigual clothes and accessories are bold, brave, and completely individual. Influenced by Spanish culture, bohemian energies and springtime color schemes, the Desigual collection is hard, if not downright impossible, to miss. Even celebrated designer Christian LaCroix collaborated with the company to curate a series of pieces any fashion addict would demand right on the spot. It was hard enough for me to walk away without a one-of-a-kind patchwork jacket.

And while the designers lived up to my expectations, it was still the smaller companies that captivated me most. One of my all-time Magic favorites was an LA-based designer called "Brandy Melville". Brandy's tees and tanks are lightweight and incredibly youthful, with fabric so soft you could wear it to sleep, wake up, and wear it out on errands without taking it off once.

There's also jewelry with an earthy, Native American vibe:

Check out their lookbook at www.brandymelvillewholesale.com!

I also spied some other brands displaying some of spring's most popular trends.

A little bit of lace,

A little bit of floral,

And a LOT of vivid prints and solids!

Me + Audrey

Today I'm back in the action, completely immersed in the WWD Magic energy and surrounded by a group of wonderful fashion bloggers from all over the map. Some of our celebrity stylists include Crosby Noricks of PR Couture, Erica Domesek of P.S. I Made This, Jane Aldridge of Sea of Shoes, and Hilla Ohayon! Some day we'll all be "fashion famous"... shout outs to mah gurlz Nacole from Rich Skinny Pretty, Colby from Minnie Muse, and Renee + Rebecca from Styluste! You're all amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva