What a relief to see our old favourite in the spotlight again for the winter 2005-2006 fashion season. As we breathe that sigh of relief one must surely ask herself the obvious question: has black ever really left us? Was navy or brown ever the new black? As fashion designers tempt us to delve into colourful new worlds, aren’t we ever true to that wonderful absence of all colour? Or is black the presence of all colours? Whichever scientific or philosophical approach you chose to follow, one thing is certain: black is officially back! In case you didn’t already know.

Rumour has it that black goes with everything. Perhaps there is some sadly accepted truth to that rampant rumour since it seems to be a widely accepted norm, but I have found that there is a good chance we have all been mislead. One can easily challenge this age-old regulation of fashion simplicity by looking into a mirror while sporting black pants combined with a lime green top. Forgive me gentle readers, but if I am to be honest I must tell you, the combination is simply indescribably nauseating. Please honour the beauty of lime green by paring it with grey, turquoise, or forest green or just the right shade of blue. One must not dishonour colours such as lime green or the black by forcing them to be seen in public together. Fashion is the one place it is completely acceptable and advisable to segregate on the basis of colour. Feel free to carry a eucalyptus bag while wearing grey trousers with a pale pink sweater. Adding a scarf which beautifully gives permission by marring the three colours will make any lady, who is able to wear pink gracefully, look simply smashing.

So, what can the elegant lady of the coming season wear with that black which is back? The answer is basically anything which won’t make you look like a peacock wearing her mourning clothes. Black is so elegant on its own. Save black for when you feel elegant, or understated and confidentorfat. Black looks wonderful on its own, with toast, cream or with any shade of grey. Don’t be afraid to pair it with navy. If the combination didn’t stop Yves St. Laurent, it shouldn’t stop you either. Just be careful not to wear it in a way which appears to be a mistake: you know what I mean, the manner of combination which leaves all those who gaze on your person wondering if you got dressed with the lights off. If you wear black trousers and a navy top, just be sure to balance the look with something black near your face which says “I meant to do that”. Another elegant way to soften black is to pair it with a chocolate brown; this combination lends a day look to a night-time colour.

What luck we have this season to find our old friend officially back. How lovely it is to see it back with its old friend azure blue. Plum and winter white are on offer for the more neutral among us and red strikes the fancy in everyone. Ladies, it is going to be a beautiful winter!

Jennifer Marvin is an American born Parisian fashion designer who grew up in the mountains of Colorado passing wintry days at a sewing machine under the guidance of her mother. Jennifer’s passion for creating and manipulating fabrics into wearable art took her from her family’s Colorado ranch to London and finally to Paris where she now considers home. Her work has been published in British Vogue magazine, sold on the most fashionable street in Paris and auctioned for charities such as Seeds of Peace in New York City and The committee for Missing Children International.

Jennifer Marvin, Paris
http://www.jennifermarvin.com
44 rue des Meuniers, Paris France 75012
Phone/Fax: 011 33 143 43 44 91

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As any young freelance designer in Paris will tell you, you must approach design houses in Europe with an answer to their plea for something new and different, innovational and having never been done before. It makes one question weather beauty and wear-ability is no longer important so long as the press makes a comment or two even if those lines in the press are unflattering. After all, there is no such thing as bad press, right?

Interestingly enough, it seems the streets resonate a different attitude as reflected on the bodies of the people who are actually buying the clothes. By in large, it appears people want to look attractive and feel comfortable even as the fashion houses struggle to give the public exactly what they don’t even know the want yet. In fact, society may never want it.

The profession used to dictate what the public will wear. But the times, they are a changing. The public will not bend to fashion rules set out by creative directors tucked away in their ivory towers. The power has shifted, and the educated masses are interrupting a long held pattern. They want us to listen. They know what they want. They want to be surprised each new season, but pleasantly; as a thoughtful lover who remembers you love yellow roses, not an angry slap in the face from someone who is trying to convince them that they “love it”.

It is our job to find out where the key to their hearts is tucked away, find it, interpret what we find inside, and then entice the fashion disciples to choose what they will define as the look of any season. The trick is to interpret the social energy and create a fashion philosophy which reflects the wearers own. That means designers and trend reporters have to tap into every trend from music to the economy to politics with a global perspective. Clients are no longer buying into the “emperors’ new clothes” doctrine; “just trust the experts and wear it weather you like it or not” philosophy. They want real clothes, and they want their attire to reflect their beliefs without having to utter a word. They want their garments to live in synchronicity with their core values.

It is a big job, and finding the synchronicity between the trend setters and the old-school fashion houses is not an easy fit. Luckily, as people begin to discover and trust their own intuition, there are more choices for shoppers to adopt a personal representation. With the interesting new “non-trends” emerging on the horizon; consumers will have even more choice as their buying power increases.

As fashion creators in the world, it is our job to do more than cover bodies so they don’t get arrested in countries where garments are required. It is our duty to listen, hear, and let the public know we understand them and care about what they think. Not just in words, but through our gifts and offerings to them each season.

Jennifer Marvin is an American born Parisian fashion and accessories designer whose impeccable reputation is supported by international devotees. Her exclusive handbags, wedding gowns and made-to-measure pieces are hailed as rare treasures. Her work has been featured in British Vogue, auctioned by Sotheby’s, and sold on the worlds most fashionable streets. Jennifer Marvin serves an a consultant in fashion branding, market, color and trend forcasting globally.

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As the world becomes more and more complex, the sane seek more sanity in simplification. It seems pure shopping pleasure just isn’t there anymore. Is it just because we have no time? Are the choices just too overwhelming? Or do we just detest fitting rooms? While many of us can answer “yes” to at least one of these, the question remains, what do we do about it? We have to wear clothes in most societies and most people have a desire to be attractive in public, polished and well groomed in the office, and comfortable enough not to be thinking about their appearance all day. Let’s face it, spending Saturday at the mall begins to lose it’s appeal sometime after our 25th birthday.

Little has the power to make a person feel more uncomfortable than an ill fitting ensemble. No matter how fabulous it looks on the hanger, if it drapes poorly on your body, it is a mistake. But don’t despair! Just because a particular cut fails to flatter your body, it certainly doesn’t mean you have to abandon the idea all together. A custom clothing professional can re-create something more suitable to your frame in keeping with the style you desire.

Here are a few points to take under consideration as you revamp your wardrobe for the coming season:

1. When you buy career wear, evening wear, or even a good jean “off the rack”, the chances of a perfect fit are rare. If it flatters your body, you feel good in it and it requires simple alterations, it is money well spent to spring for the little added expense of having a trained professional alter the garment to fit your body.

2. Time is money! How many times have you spent an entire day shopping only to come home empty handed or with disappointments? A better use of your time and hard-earned income is to find a professional in your area to make a custom creation for you. It may seem an impressive expense. Certainly, custom clothing is an investment, but done in the finest fabric you can afford and created especially to fit your body, it is a contribution worth making.

3. If a custom clothier is out of your reach, consider employing your local seamstress. Every style imaginable is at your fingertips in the form of a ready-to-sew pattern available at any fabric store. Before choosing your material and haberdashery, enlist the aid of a professional to find the highest quality textiles to suit your budget and flatter the style of the pattern you have chosen. Be sure to have your measurements honestly recorded by a friend or your dressmaker to be sure to obtain a perfect fit.

4. Whether engaging a custom clothier or a seamstress to create a garment for you; don’t hesitate to ask for reference or to see some examples of their work. A qualified professional should welcome the request.

5. When investing in custom clothing, be sure to insist on generous seam allowances. None of us like to imagine the possibility of finding the need to accommodate a few extra pounds, but the expense of a slight alteration will be considerably more welcome than the price of remaking the garment.

If you still aren’t convinced custom clothing are for you due to the rapidly changing world of fashion trends, consider basing your wardrobe on well fitting essentials. The simple little black dress, made to perfectly flatter your frame, will rescue you from many last minute emergencies for years to come. A basic, impeccably tailored pencil skirt or pant in your choice of neutral color will serve as a companion to the trendy new tops you find off the rack. A good, classic overcoat will be your best friend for years to come. You don’t have to be wealthy to invest in good custom pieces. Think of them as a business investment since, let’s face it, image counts for a lot. With well fitting garments, you can look great regardless of your shape or size.

The wrong accessories will spoil your perfectly groomed image. Be sure to choose good quality shoes and handbags which reflect your personal good taste and style. A tattered handbag will spoil any outfit, no matter how beautiful your ensemble, it is the first thing people will notice. After seeing an inappropriate bag, their eyes will drop instinctively to your shoes and your custom clothing expense will be an unnoticed effort.

Consider investing in one good custom piece to add to your wardrobe this season. Try it, and I estimate by next season you will be adding as many pieces as you can afford. You will surely wonder how you ever managed without your custom wardrobe!

Jennifer Marvin is an American born Parisian fashion and accessories designer whose impeccable reputation is supported by international devotees. Her treasured handbags, wedding gowns and made-to-measure pieces are hailed as rare treasures. Her work has been featured in British Vogue, auctioned by Sotheby’s, and sold on the worlds most fashionable streets.

http://www.jennifermarvin.com

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