Tuesday, October 2, 2012
(#3) Trendsetter?
After reading
Gladwell, respond to the following prompt by POSTING YOUR RESPONSE AS A COMMENT BELOW: Describe,
with sensory detail where possible, a fashion trend that you have noticed and
participated in during the past three or four years. Where did it begin (if you
know), or where did you first begin to notice it? Who were the people to first
wear this style? Does this particular fashion help identify a particular group?
If so, who or what? Do you identify with them or it? Is there a music genre
attached to this group; a set of beliefs; ideals; behaviors or rituals? Devote
two paragraphs to this e-journal response, citing at least one quotation from
Gladwell’s text to support your conclusions. (Due 10/4)
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Vanessa Raghubar
ReplyDeleteENG 125-RQ1
Prof. Addis D’Amato
E-Journal # 3
10/4/12
There is a new trend almost everyday. As soon as one becomes very popular, there is another to follow. It is a lot to keep up with but everyone wants to be intact with the trend at the end of the day. Denim jeans have been changing over the years, well in other words, one style of jeans have always been trendier than another. There are many different kinds of jeans, such as, booth cut, flare (bell-bottoms), wide leg, high waist or high-rise, straight legs and skinny jeans. I grew up wearing flare or booth cut. Going to school that is what everyone was wearing; it was the trend of the time. Then one day, I saw a girl on the street wearing skinny jeans. I personally though who would wear something like that? I went to school and everyday I would see more and more girls wearing skinny jeans. Eventually I stated wearing them.
In the book called "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell, he discussed that “Ideas, and products and messages and behavior spread like a viruses do” (Gladwell 3) It is “contagious”, just takes one and then it starts to spread like a wild fire. Skinny jeans were once very popular in the 1950s to the 1970s. They first worn by film stars like Roy Roger and Marilyn Monroe. Then it became popular among rock band legions like The Beatles and The rolling Stones. Skinny jeans had a massive decline in the 1990’s but in 2000 it made a comeback and is now worn by most male and female all over the world. Even professors like Addis D’Amato.
Funny ending :) While I was brain storming I thought of writing about the skinny jeans trend but I decided to change it but it's great that you brought it up, it was very interesting to read.
DeleteRanita Saha
ReplyDeleteENG 125 - RQ1
Prof. Addis D'Amato
E-Journal #3
October 4, 2012
UGGs: A Fashion Do or a Faux Pas?
(Flashback) The cold wind hits my face at full force. The snowflakes stinging my face do not help the cause. I worry that I may just freeze to death while waiting for this bus...which may or may not show up. Alas, a silver lining! My feet, cushioned so softly, are in another world. It is enveloped in the warmest haven.
One of the major fashion trends to hit the late 1990s and early 2000s have been the UGG boots. With its unbeatable protection against the cold and unusual design, they had their start in Australia, especially among the surfers. However, it soon became an international affair. With celebrities like Pamela Anderson and Kate Hudson parading around in the ultra-casual yet chic boots, it became the "it" product. One could say that the UGG boots, as Malcolm Gladwell is quoted, in the essay based on the book The Tipping Point, are one of many "epidemics of fashion"(5) that have been encountered through the ages.
If one is to follow the trajectory of the UGG boots' popularity, the starting point would have to be celebrities. Society, in general, tend to look to public figures for what's "in." From verbal slang to fashion, these celebrities, consciously or not, start and end trends. The boots definitely infiltrated society as an epidemic. Pamela Anderson is seen running around the beach in her pink UGGs one day and the next, I bear witness to a newer and, dare I say it, distorted trend:mini skirts and UGG boots.
UGG boots were and are my saving grace. Although it has been subject to quite a bit of backlash from animal rights groups, to take away from its benefits and the fashion epidemic it began would be tantamount to ungratefulness. I do not see an end in sight for this product. If it had been purely an aesthetically pleasing product, the possibility of it fazing out would be great. However, its usefulness and function give me hope to its longevity.
Temur Davlatov
ReplyDeleteENG 125-RQ1
Prof. Addis D’Amato
E-Journal # 3
10/4/12
One of the favorite fashion trends that I had noticed was snapback hats. There is a myth they have been around mid-1900. The first snapback hats were made for professional basketball and baseball players. Most of the popular hip hop artist like Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and Will Smith has used the snap back hats in their music videos. The hip-hop industry has greatly promoted snapbacks. When I was in first grade almost every in my school use to wear them. Then suddenly everyone started ignoring them in some unknown reasons. Finally in recent years thanks to hip hop artist snapback hats are back! I was very excited to see this kind of hats back on top.
Malcolm Gladwell has discussed the fashion trends in his book called “The Tipping Point”. The trending fashions are very unusual and unexpected for most cases like Malcolm Gladwell bring up the Hush puppies and points out’s this idea in this quotations “It made no sense to them that shoes that were so obviously out of fashion could make a comeback”. I think that is awesome that people except fashion trends. Now most of the younger generation is wearing the snapback hats.
Michelle Andrade
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Prof. Addis D’Amato
E-Journal #3
10/02/2012
Color Block Your Life
Fashion trends have always had an impact on individuals. Fashion has a major influence on Self-esteem and how good you feel when you’re up to date with the trends. These past few summers, I always try to incorporate color- blocking, which is using bright bold colors and patterns, similar to neon colors and adding a fun splash of color to your wardrobe. Color blocking originated in the 1960’s and then appeared again on the runways in 1980’s and now in 2012. In this time period, color-blocking was made more modern and elegant and focused on touching up a few techniques to make the look more tasteful to the human eye. While viewing Seventeen, Harper Bazar, Vogue Magazine’s and previous New York Fashion Week Fashion Shows, color blocking has been a major component to their outfits, while trying to not make it look like the retro 80’s style . Color blocking requires a lot of attention to detail and the organization of certain pieces. Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj as well as Kanye West advertise this form of trend and made it more relevant to the everyday people in our society. Before, color Blocking was only available to kids, and adolescent teenagers, because of the era and was seen as “self- expression for young folks”. However, color blocking is now available for all age groups by adding a neon purse to your attire, selecting 2-3 pieces of bold statements, or having a simple dress with color blocking shoes or vice versa. I am most definitely a subject of color blocking because it’s very refreshing, different and a nice way to use my creativity in fashion which I adore.
In the article “The Tipping Point”, Hush Puppies and the Fashion trend: Color blocking turnout was far more successful, than what they expected it to be. “It made no sense to them that shoes that were so obviously out of fashion could make a comeback.”-Gladwell (1) Fashion is always changing but sometimes, we try to bring back old trends and styles from the past and reinvent and improve them to fit in with our modern society. Moreover, he later explains that “Kids simply wore the shoes when they went to clubs or cafes or walked the streets of downtown New York, and in so doing exposed other people to their fashion sense.”- Gladwell (4) In relation to color blocking, many would use this mode of fashion on a night out on the town, at social events, clubs and to work when used appropriately. Many loved the look and it became “contagious” (4) and well known in London, Paris, Italy, Spain and New York. The article “The Tipping Point” by Gladwell and Fashion Trend: Color Blocking both share a relationship in that, they both were brought back into the new generation, not knowing what to expect and was successful in broadening their merchandise.
Samar Nadi
ReplyDeleteENG 125 -RQ1
Prof. Addis D'Amato
E-Journal #3
10/03/2010
Throughout time, we have noticed that fashion trends have been completely evolutionary. Now, some enjoy the old classics. A new trend that is noticeable especially in urban areas are that young kids in their teens or college students enjoy wearing vintage clothing. The reasoning for this trend is to bring back the clothes people liked to wear and now they are being extremely popular in areas like Williamsburg, Brooklyn. A lot of kids are known as "Hipsters" that follow this trend, they enjoy shopping in thrift shops, used clothing, and also enjoy new trends and try to incorporate it into their style. Zooey Dechannel, an American actress and singer, shows that this trend can be accepted. She made it very popular in the public view. Majority of these "Hipsters" also enjoy a form of music genre which is Indie, or independent artists or bands. They don't try to usually follow the mainstream or what the majority is doing.
According to Malcolm Gladwell, in his article, "The Tipping Point", "It made no sense to them that shoes that were so obviously out of fashion could make a comeback" (Gladwell, 1). This shows that some fashion trends are actually classics and will never get old. Why do women invest so much money into a Louis Vuitton handbag? This is because it actually is a great investment because every woman knows that it's a staple item, or "must have". Some forms of fashion are classics and no matter what you do to change it, it will comeback because it was obviously worth something more than what it was.
Nazirah Muhammad
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Prof. Addis D’Amato
E-Journal #3
10/4/12
Most “new” trends that are popular these days were popular back in the old days and some are actually newfound trends. For example, this summer I noticed a lot of females wearing maxi dresses instead of short skirts and males were wearing snapbacks instead of fitteds. I first began to notice girls on the subway wearing these dresses or skirts then I eventually began to see females of all ages wearing them. As for the males, usually they would wear different fitted caps to go with whatever they were wearing but now it’s all about snapbacks. Both of these trends were out a long time ago but their popularity declined as other trends began to take the spotlight. These trends do not help identify a particular group because all types of people can be seen wearing these types of clothes. Although these dresses are pretty, personally I am not a big fan of wearing dresses but I was talked into buying one this past summer and snapbacks are nice as well but I don’t like wearing hats.
As for the clothing being connected to a music genre, maxi skirts do not really have a connection that I know of but snapbacks do. There is a rap song called “Snapbacks & Tattoos” by Driicky Graham. The title itself can basically give you an idea of what the song is about which is having snapbacks with tattoos to compliment it to make appear “fly” towards others. Within “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell, he discussed that the idea of the tipping point contains the characteristics of: “contagiousness”, “little causes can have big effects”, and “change happens not gradually but at one dramatic moment”. This relates to these current fashion trends because it all starts out with a small group of people then it spread to larger groups of people, with snapbacks it spread so much that it ended up in a song.
Sandra Shamburger
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Prof. Addis D’Amato
E-Journal # 3
10/4/12
I have never been very fashionable rather very practical. If I follow fashion trends then more in a subtle way, since I don’t walk around like in the 80s. Nevertheless I do remember the last fashion trend I did follow, even if it was more for the practical reason than for fashion and is a bit longer ago. Flip Flops was something I picked up really quick. I come have a swimming background and I worked at swimming pools my whole life, means my whole life I have been wearing flip flops & Co. that is why I assume they have complete different meaning to me than to other people. I am used to them and they were and are just convenient and comfortable. Once I saw that it became fashionable that was it I have been wearing them everywhere. It was spreading out just “like a virus“ and I was infected (p.4). That is how Malcolm Gladwell in “The Tipping Point“ compares this phenomenon with an outbreak of an infection.
I cannot remember when exactly I have seen flip flops the first time in the streets so far it was more common to wear them at a swimming pool or at the beach. There is also no certain music scene to which flip flop wearer belong. There might be also a strong association to casual beach, giving you a soupçon of vacation? Or is everybody just wearing them for comfort and convenience?
New fashion trends tend to develop every single day. Nowadays everybody tries to be different in their own way so most people chose to come up with their own fashion style.Especially teenagers these days always find a new fashion style to introduce to the society. I fashion trend that I have noticed and participated in is the wearing of the "nerdy glasses". I'm not really sure about when the trend began but it i know it was present around the 1990's. It's funny because back in the days the nerdy glasses was actually meant for only "nerds" to wear but nowadays almost everybody from little kids to adults wear them. Back in the days, people that wore the nerdy glasses got teased and laughed at.Even basketball players wear it or should eI say all the NBA players rock them now. The nerdy glasses tend to be the new cool look that everybody seems to adore now. I remember the nerdy trend started of with the 3D glasses from the movies and its still in process.
ReplyDeleteMalcolm Gladwell quotes in his article "The Tipping Point " that "how does a thirty dollar pair of shoes go from a handful of downtown Manhattan hipsters & designers to every mall in America in the space of two years". It relates to the nerdy glasses trend because how can something that was worn by only nerds and smarty pants switch up and being worn by professional basketball players and other famous celebrities.Fashion trends never ceases.
Betty Hendrich
ReplyDeleteEnglish 125-RQ1
Professor Stephen Addis D’Amato
E-Journal # 3
October 4, 2012
UGG BOOTS
UGGS: when I first heard of UGGS, to be completely honest I thought they were ugly and use to make fun of the names. To me UGGS were too plain and had no purpose to them .UGGS equals ugly, get it? That was when it was once in a blue that I would see it. After a while I noticed more people starting wearing it and it was now a trend. Almost every girl had at least one pair of UGGS. One day my mom came to me and asked me to order her a pair online for her and that’s when I knew this was serious. I asked my mom why she wanted them and she said because she wanted to be in the “loop”. I laughed because I didn’t have a pair which meant I wasn’t in the loop. I also remember having a conversation with my friends and one said “a girl, who doesn’t have a pair of UGGS, is not a real girl”. That when I decided to buy my first pair.
Although UGGS were meant to wear during the cold, I noticed some people would also wear it during the summer, with shorts or short dresses. I don’t believe this fashion trend has any set of beliefs; ideals; behaviors or rituals I just believe people wear it just because they want to, or in my case wanted to be in the “loop”. One person starts the trend and others simply follow. Just like in The Tipping Point Gladwell States “no one was trying to make Hush Puppies a Trend. Yet, Somehow, That’s exactly what happened. The Same Way The Hush Puppies became a trend, so did the UGG Boots.
Diana Cuevas
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Professor Stephen Addis D’Amato
E-Journal # 3
October 4, 2012
From Native Americans to the Sole of Our Feet...
I’m strolling through the streets on a pleasant school morning, while experiencing the crisp fresh air that identifies fall is yet to arrive. I’m in the clothing boundaries between summer and fall, still uncertain in what to wear when the sun is gracefully beaming and the atmosphere has experienced a frigid afternoon wind. My shoulders are dressed in a lukewarm, blue woven cardigan, while my feet are standing above a pair of black cushioned flip flops, that suit my everyday run around lifestyle, but yet still experiencing a division between hot and cold. My upper half is temperate, my ankles to the base of my feet remain in shock, all due to this rapid weather transition that may have been too early to discern. Where to go from here?
I was aware that I was in desperate need for shoes that would not smother my feet or lead them to experience a menopausal phase (metaphorically speaking), but then it was too cool for my feet to be uncovered in shoes that will identify them completely. I momentarily looked to my side and there it was, it was like the luminosity of Heaven was glaring in particularly at this woman’s feet. These shoes that were being illuminated were Minnetonka Moccasins. The brand Minnetonka Moccasins has been established since 1946 by Philip Miller, and worn primarily by Native Americans long before Columbus discovered America. The popularity of these shoes started to spread in 1966, but became a must-have fashion and celebrity accessory by 2007. Since 2011, Minnetonka shoes are proudly across six continents. The reason behind Minnetonka Moccasins having soft soles inside the shoes is principally because the Native Americans were so in touch with mother Earth that they wished not to harm anything while walking on solid ground.
In an essay that became the source of a bestseller, The Tipping Point, written by Malcolm Gladwell, it took just a few kids to go off and wear Hush Puppy shoes for others to catch on to this fashion trend (2). For me, it took that one female walking beside me on a windy morning, which lured me into purchasing shoes just like the ones she had on. I also became aware of the countless number of Hollywood stars that would casually be seen wearing these shoes. Fashion trends are clear examples of "contagious behavior" (4), when there is an up rise in the purchase of an item, especially from celebrities, it becomes in higher demand.One can see the recent tabloids and magazines with different models, movie actresses/actors, and music performers with these shoes on. "The shoes passed a certain point in popularity and they tipped."(2) Minnetonka Moccasin shoes do not represent a particular group for the reason that society all around are seen wearing these shoes and the prices are affordable. There is finally an in-between factor between sweaty ol’ boots and basic lifeless flats, in which one can now have a perfect pair of shoes for chilly autumn days and nights or for any other occasion. Minnetonka Moccasins’ produce boots, slippers, sandals, lined boots and of course…moccasins. Personally, these shoes make my feet feel as if they were walking on clouds, it may sound like a cliché, but undeniably true. Not only are these shoes known for allowing comfortable mobility but for its simplicity. Minnetonka Moccasins’ are created for babies, kids, women, men and seeing the rate our society is going, perhaps soon for dogs.
“It's a simple idea...Classic design that never grows old combined with a natural, free-spirited heritage. Minnetonka Moccasin continues to define casual and comfortable American style.”
Shafaq Javed
ReplyDeleteProf. Addis D’Amato
e-journal#3
10/4/2012
Fashion Cycles
Fashion catches the society attention and it has influenced by cultures, religion and the arts. Individual personalities have also had an impact on fashion. Every fashion follows a cycle, and It has no time period. Some styles stay for long time or some die out soon and some styles come back again. Fashion changes with the time and has always been evolving to fits the taste, lifestyles and demands of society. Fashion changes everywhere around the world, and Pakistan in one of them. In 1980s, the dresses with long shirts were the fashion trends for some ladies but it did not stay for long. But in 2010, The fashion week in Dubai caught the attention of many people when the Pakistani’s top models showed up in dresses with long shirts. Since then, the long shirt dresses are the most wanted fashion in Pakistan and even in some other countries like India, Bangladesh and United Arab Emirates. I also get to see those dresses in some Indians and Pakistani’s boutiques in New York. I am loving that fashion because I love the designs and the work on shirts. Therefore, My aunt just sent some dresses for me from Pakistan, which I really liked.
In the book, The Tipping Point, Gledwell states, “Ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread like viruses do (4).” That fashion spreads like viruses, especially in Pakistan, every girl wants to be in that beautiful long shirt dress. This particular fashion also helps me to identify the women from Pakistan, especially now, when I am in U.S.A. It makes me happy that I get to see girls in those fancy dresses from my culture. I hope I could get all those latest designs, which always gets my attention.
Mandeep Singh
ReplyDeleteENG-125
Prof. D'Amato
Oct.4,2012
E-Journal #3
I am not a trend-setter. Do I have a sense of style, and certain templates I enjoy--yes. But I have never been one to change my attire to match with the societies ever-changing pastels. There is on style which I do enjoy, and which is an ever-lasting, simple, wear. The classic long-sleeve, button down T-Shirt, and a pair of nice, straight fit jeans, or pants. In the urban-city, which I've always lived in, no matter what ridiculous twists and turns the media, or the tool-ish idols imply on us--the plain, button down t-shirt, jean/pant look, is dimension-ally economical, efficient, and a nice look. I believe the everyday man is who is most associated with this look. It's presentable--the look is always associated with positive interpretations. No barriers, universal messages go with it, which is something I personally like.
Within "The Tipping Point, by Max Gladwell, focused on the centralizing point of fashion is indeed "contagious", and in a sense we are all sub-stable to the wanting of the "in" crowd, which dictates this uniform of societies majority. Gladwell says,"Ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread just like viruses do", meaning we sometimes just don't have a choice sometimes but to take the infection of society, and that's fine at times. But this also highlights why I enjoy the button down t-shirt, and straight, plain, jean/pant look, because it's something which will always be adapted to by the marks of our cultures, and be "timeless".
Tashoya Young
ReplyDelete10/9/12
e- journal #3
Eng 125
Trends!!!!
Every day there is new fashion statements made either by ordinary people are famous people. One thing that is interesting thing is that someone can just come up with something unique and by wearing it outdoors people will copy it. I find that peoples are such copy cats when it comes to fashion because we always want to keep up with other people, if not we will feel left out are left behind. Most times, people don’t want to be wearing clothes that they think is in fashion but it’s really not so they like to watch what other, buy fashion magazines and watch fashion shows.
This obsession with fashion can be a burden in people’s pocket, especially parents whose children are really into fashion and want to change their clothes rapidly. Gladwell states that when one child starts a trend other child wants to follow. This causes strain on the parents because they will like their children to be accepted among their peers. Fashion is like the iphones, every few months it changes and upgrades, which takes a lot of money from people’s pocket. Ultimately, fashion gets old and there is always a need to change.
Mazel Kurayev
ReplyDeleteEng 125-RQ1
Prof. D’Amato
E-Journal #3
10/9/12
As the years passed by, I realized that fashion trends always repeat themselves. Looking back I noticed the biggest fashion trends originated from history such as gladiators. They were worn by ancient Greeks and Romans to let air circulate through their feet. Now every girl has at least one pair of her own. My baby cousin who just learned how to walk already has a pair. Gladiators have been revived by the fashion world and spread throughout the world. It has become a must have for every summer wardrobe.
Just as Malcolm Gladwell describes in his text about Hush Puppies, “It made no sense to them that shoes that were so obviously out of fashion could make a comeback” (Gladwell 1). Nobody expected gladiators to make a comeback like hush puppies did. Gladiators were brought back, reinvented, and could be worn with any outfit. They have even been designed as a high heal shoe. It made a very big statement in the fashion world to bring back gladiator sandals. Just like “The Tipping Point,” gladiators found their way back to society.
Gabriel Clerval
ReplyDeleteEnglish125 RQ1
Professor Stephen Addis D’Amato
E-Journal#3
10/10/12
Fashion Trends, no matter how stupid or smart, pretty or ugly we fall into the group of people who participate in them. Are they something that one truly needs? No not really. Their just a way of people connecting threw fashion. One of the trends that bother me is the shoe trends. No matter how ugly or how much critique a person gives a shoe/sneaker they still end of getting them. One big example is uggs. When they first came out a lot of females that I know hated the way they looked now they have 2 or 3 pairs of them. Another example foamposites there not ugly but they do coast a lot. To me I’m not a huge fan of them but I might get a pair maybe. One day I saw a kid walking down the street with a pair and everyone around me started to look at them. The celeb’s where them so maybe that’s the reason why the kid and everyone around him (included me) wanted a pair.
Malcolm Gladwell talked about trends in his book “The Tipping Point”. He goes into detail about how Hush puppies a dying shoe Fashion suddenly becoming a huge trend. He also talks about crime in NY drastically dropping. Gladwell calls the sudden turn of sales the tipping point. He uses words such as virus and infected to show his idea. “Somehow a large number of people in New York got ‘infected’ with an anti-crime virus in a short time.