Going, Going, but not Gone:

Greetings fashion free thinkers. I apologize that it has been some time since my last correspondence. The reason for this is that I have been spending the last several months preparing to move out of the country for a new job.

With the current economic difficulties America is facing I found myself struggling to get by. Unfortunately fashion blogging does not pay well when you are first starting out. So in order improve my financial situation I got a new job teaching English as a second language in South Korea. However this is not the end of FreeThinkersFashion.

South Korea has an impressive fashion culture all of its own and I plan on delving into it for all its worth.

Look forward to many new posts once I get my bearings here.

This is reality, dress accordingly.

Fashion with Compassion

As of late I have been noticing a rather impressive trend in the fashion industry, compassion for those less fortunate. Now when I was still going through my immature youthful faze I was not interested in fashion, especially high fashion, I know shocking but what can I say other than I grew up. One of the main reasons that I disliked fashion so much is that it always seemed so shallow in its practices. It seemed to me that big name fashion corporations were only interested in creating overpriced garments for people with more money than they knew what to do with. What made it all the worse was that many of these high end fashion corporations utilized sweatshops for their labor force, both here in America and abroad. The very idea that these companies for all intents and purposes had enslaved impoverished people as young as eight years old turned me off of their products immediately. These poor individuals were often brutalized by their supervisors and by their working conditions while only being paid pennies a day having no other choice either because they were here illegally or because there simply was no other way for them to make money for their family. There was a time in my life where I couldn’t turn on the news without hearing about the evils of sweatshops. Thankfully the new trend of compassion through fashion seems to be catching on over cheap labor. Now since I came to the party late my view of the fashion world was largely based on what I heard in the news or second hand from others. So take my past concepts of the industry with a hefty amount of salt. However what turned me on to fashion, other than the enjoyment of being eye candy, was the work of two extraordinary women with an idealistic dream that they have cultivated into a hugely successful business plan that became People Tree, the world’s fair trade pioneer. Some of you may be asking, what does fair trade mean, well you’re not alone. When I first discovered People Tree and the amazing work that they do around the world I had never heard the term fair trade before. Not too surprising but what was really shocking was that I couldn’t find a single person that had ever heard of the global fair trade movement either. I don’t know if it’s just the communities that I have lived in have disconnected from the rest of the world or if America just hasn’t caught on yet. Fair trade companies pay their laborers a fair wage and give them a safe place to work with full benefits. Replace those images of the hellish sweatshops with a clean work shop filled with elegant looms and smiling faces of people who know they will be going home with enough money to feed their families. That is what fair trade is about and so much more (for more information on fair trade and its supporters visit http://www.wfto.com/). I discovered People Tree quite by accident ironically enough. I had not yet emerged from my drab wardrobe faze yet but I was, and still am, a fan of the fantasy/ sci-fi genera and it just so happened that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince had recently come to theaters. While reading some articles about the film I noticed that Emma Watson (for those of you who have spent the last ten years at the bottom of a very deep hole she is the young sensation who plays Hermione Granger in the films) was designing a line of clothes for a company called People Tree. Thankfully this was one of those times where curiosity did not result in demise but rather showed me a different side of fashion that actually gave a damn about more than its profit margin. This inspirational company was founded by Safia Minney, a woman with an infectious smile and a beautiful soul. Her goal with this company is to help alleviate poverty in developing countries by paying fair wages to the artisans and producers who make their products. Giving them financial independence and stability. Safia is also concerned about the environmental impact that the fashion industry makes with the harsh chemicals and dyes used in textile manufacturing. She only using sustainable natural resources and uses fewer chemicals in manufacturing her company’s brands. Many would say that this business practice is idealistic without comprehension of the real world market, but both Safia and Emma have shown that a fashion establishment can thrive without compromising their moral integrity.

Safia may have pioneered the fair trade fashion movement but her compassion is quickly catching on in the fashion world. The acclaimed designer and dress maker, Alberta Ferretti, has also joined forces with people tree in a collaboration with Emma Watson to create a five piece “Pure Threads” line for this spring season. These pieces are works of casual art. I could see them easily gracing the shoulders of a New York socialite vacationing in the Caribbean or adorning a well to do San Diegan taking a leisurely stroll down the Pacific Beach boardwalk. It is unfortunate that the Pure Threads line is a tad on the pricy side, but the money helps contribute to supporting developing communities through donations to People Tree. Money well spent if you ask me.

Another leading designer is getting into the compassionate swing of things. The eccentric and funky designer/ fashion event coordinator Parris Harris has also shown that clothes can make a positive impact in the world at large. In recent weeks he put together a spectacular show for Orange County fashion week to help raise funds for the OC Children’s Hospital, and will be hosting another fashion show with a heart on the 30^th of April at the Black Door bar and grill. This latest showcase will feature exciting music, art and of course exciting fashion from some the industry’s talented designers. This event is dedicated to the hope of ending violence in our society. Rock on Rockstars!

The world is turning to a new generation with the understanding that corporations have an obligation to the society that they serve, not only with the products they create but with the impact that those products make on the world. Fashion with compassion is only the beginning of this change. Welcome to the NEW REALITY, dress accordingly.

Project Ethos in San Diego: A Night of Firsts

Hello fashion people in the house . . . that sounded a lot better in my head, moving on. I am Robert Brewster, self-proclaimed fashion freethinker and freelance writer. What does that mean exactly? I am someone that has recently become interested in the world of high fashion and I am trying to make a career for myself as a fashion writer but as of yet I am not getting paid by anyone to do it.  To help further my ambitions/delusions I have created this page to share my views and opinions on the fashion world. Unfortunately San Diego is not a fashion hub like Los Angeles, London, or Paris leaving me to stand at the way side of the Internet and visiting magazine stands to get any idea of what is going on in the fashion world. However, if there is one thing that I have learned about the fashion industry it’s that it is in a constant state of change. San Diego may not be one of the fashion hot spots but it is developing in that direction slowly but surely, making it a somewhat ideal environment for a fashion writer trying to make some headway in the business. Enter Project Ethos, a national organization dedicated to the development of the arts, whether it is music, studio arts, or fashion.

Needless to say when I heard that they were doing a show here in San Diego as a part of their national tour, I jumped at the chance to go. Fifty dollars later I was on my way to the Fluxx nightclub in Down Town SD for the event.

I was never much of a partier, but I have been to a few watering holes in my time, every one of which paled in comparison to the Fluxx. I arrived around 7:00 pm for the VIP opening (if you are ever planning on attending one of these events don’t be afraid to pay the extra for VIP seating, it’s well worth it). Upon entering the Fluxx I was immediately enamored with the friendliness of the young woman that escorted me to my seat. Walking through the entrance hall gave me my first taste of what was to come in the club proper, the walls throughout were covered in a mosaic of panels, none of which really seemed to have much to do with the others. But what really caught my eye in the room was the array of urinating cupids behind the front desk all wearing pilots caps, crude but humorous nonetheless.

The club itself was a wild array of colors and textures filled with ambient light and thumping music. There were sections of the floor that were completely clear revealing chambers filled with silver spheres of varying sizes, that ran parallel to the enormous bar and its impressive display of spirits. The rest of the room was taken up primarily by what would have been on an average night the dance floor however it was now the staging area for the upcoming show. I was rather surprised at how small the club seemed, but what it lacked in physical size it more than made up for in atmosphere. Hanging over the stage was the Fluxx’s famous cloth chandler casting the whole room in shades of pink and red.  The bottles of VitaminWater Zero casting an eerie glow of liquid delight only enhanced the amalgamation of color. The atmosphere was charged with the thrumming beat of the DJ’s mix and the chattering excitement of the other guests. The air was filled with an electric hum that had nothing to do with the music or lighting. Restless energy permeated the room, it may have just been me but I had to keep moving or the anticipation of what was to come would have driven me nuts.

When the main event finally began I gladly returned to my seat without complaint. Before the fashion show began we were thoroughly entertained by the rhythms of Mann. I’ll admit that I have never been much of a rap enthusiast. That being said, Mann pleasantly surprised me. His rhythm was upbeat and energetic which matched the mood of the event well. He just made you want to get up and dance and I imagine that if there had been room more than a few people would have, but we had to make due with dancing in our seats.

But my blog is not called Free Thinker Music, so onto the main event.

Since this was my first big fashion show, though hopefully not my last, I really had no idea what I was going to see. I’ll be honest I did not expect macabre ballerina’s with an intriguing and incredibly beautiful performance. I don’t just mean that the costumes or girls were beautiful, though they were quite enticing, but I found the entire performance to be an excellent representation of the overall theme of Project Ethos. It began with a single dancer moving to the front of the stage and cocooning herself in a white sheet, greatly contrasting with her black apparel. When she had completely incased herself she began to rhythmically remove herself from her confines. The other performers began to filter out into the spotlight and danced to the same rhythm. The entire spectacle spoke to me of rebirth and new beginnings, which I found appropriate since Project Ethos characterizes themselves as “[T] he incubator for emerging artists in fashion, music and art,” and by combining the traditional form of the Ballerina with the modern styles of today they kept true to their mission statement of bridging the gap between traditional mainstream fashion and the indie fashion culture. Now maybe I am simply grasping at straws to get a higher word count on this article but this opening performance to the fashion show really spoke to me of Project Ethos commitment to themselves and the fashion industry’s up and comers.

Though not all of the designers presented at this event were up and comers, CardiWrap by Kymaro presented our next visual feast. CardiWrap is one of the affiliates of Project Ethos and judging from what they presented at this show they have a truly impressive array of style that is constantly changing before your eyes, literally. CardiWrap’s signature versatility was displayed with the deft sensuality of the models. A flip of a loop, untying a knot and an entirely different application for the garment was presented. In an instant a casual flowing blouse was turned into a sexy top for an evening out. I have always been a fan of practicality in my fashion as well as good looks good and CardiWrap delivered that in droves. There was only one off-putting detail, chains. A lot of the presented clothes had chains attached to the shoulders, which to me looked like the old-fashioned shoulder decorations of the military. They were interesting but seemed to add a gaudiness that was not displayed in the rest of the clothing. Overall however these garments were a unique approach to casual grace and sophistication while making the statement that change is constant in the world of fashion.

Change in fashion can usually be attributed to someone taking a step in a new direction or even down a well-worn bath with a different pair of shoes. These first steps aren’t always taken by the fresh young minds of a new generation of designers; sometimes the old dogs have to learn a new trick to keep up with the young pups. Fredericks of Hollywood, the self-proclaimed “Original Sex Symbol”, has been the number one trendsetter for the more intimate side of fashion since their founding in 1947. Their mission since then has been simple, to create a style that makes women feel beautiful and sexy inside and out no matter what body type they may have, being most well known for their tantalizing lingerie. However, Fredericks of Hollywood unveiled their latest project for the first time at the Fluxx, swimwear. The ladies playfully strutted down the catwalk, tossing beach balls into the cheering crowd, and my jaw promptly made contact with the floor. This swimwear was smoking hot enough to make a Sports Illustrated cover seem frigid by comparison. But what really impressed me was that the suits were not overly skimpy. There were no bottoms made of floss, or tops shaped like bottle caps, just well-cut fabric that let the natural grace of their human counterpart shine through. There was only one piece that I found was less than flattering to its wearer. The bottoms looked as if they had been sewed together from multiple suits of varying sizes and just made the model look like she had multiple posteriors, not a great look. Over all great job Fredericks you live up to your reputation of creating both aesthetic beauty as well as making people feel good about themselves.

Now I mentioned earlier that Project Ethos is a strong supporter of emerging designers, giving them the chance to show off their designs and make a name for themselves. Part of the experience for these designers was the challenge of creating a style to best express one of the flavors of VitaminWater Zero. One of the designers showcased was Stacey May, who presented a very unique line of clothing primarily consisting of charming club attire that gave me the impression of Midwest meets Manhattan, other than the patterns however there was very little originality in the designs. Her design for the contest was in complete contrast to the rest of her clothing, which I found to be a good thing. It was a sleek straight cut evening gown reminiscent of a very form-fitting toga.

The next designer was a very talented young man named Kenneth Barlis. I know the media is supposed to keep an unbiased opinion but thought Kenneth was awesome. He was by far my favorite designer of the night. His designs took you on a veritable fashion world tour. Even with my untrained eye I saw influences of the Middle East, Spain, Paris, and ancient Egypt, and while not every item was to my own liking they were very aesthetically pleasing and unique to behold. His design for the competition was an elegant flowing crimson gown with glistening white flowers adorning the breast and crown of the piece. The well-deserved winner of this event’s challenge was a garment worthy of any delicate young goddess. Congratulations Kenneth I hope to see more of your work in the future.

Keisha Audry was the next designer to grace the runway with her creations. Unfortunately her designs were my least favorite of the evening. I liked the Asian theme that she used in her styles but there was very little variation from garment to garment, which made the whole experience rather uninteresting to behold. Her shining moment was her very sexy short plum colored cocktail dress that looked to be a vision of a modern sugar plum fairy. Overall however, it was a gem among some rather unimpressive and ordinary stones. Keisha, you have some good ideas I would just like to see you apply more variety in your application.

Yrenne Landeros created the next designs we witnessed. She presented a very clever minimalist style combined with upbeat textures and patterns. The overall display was quite eye-catching, with each piece having its own unique personality that it flaunted before the crowed. What was truly impressive was that while the schemes were lively I never felt they were bombarding me. Balance is key to a lot of fashion, you want to stand out without overwhelming the senses and Yrenne accomplished this by leaps and strides. Her final piece was an intriguing futuristic styled swimsuit that looked like it belonged on the set of “The Fifth Element” rather than a runway. However, I found the whole sci-fi look to be an interesting twist on all too common swimsuit attire, although I would be surprised to ever see this design grace the beaches, to many places for sand to get caught.

Tatiana Z was the final designer for this night’s extravaganza. She is a talented young woman with a unique style. Dresses have always been my favorite among women’s attire, primarily because there are just so many different ways to create a new concepts for what is basically an archaic idea; Tatiana seems to share that sentiment. Every one of her designs was a bold rendition. There really are few words to say other than Bravo. Her challenge piece was an elegant flowing gown with many ruffles that flowed and fluttered as it was paraded down the runway. Even though Kenneth won the challenge I would have to say that this was my favorite of the evening’s garments.

My first experience within the world of high fashion was a grand event and I enjoyed the displays of talent in all its forms throughout the evening’s festivities. However my first experience with the Fluxx nightclub was less so. Now it has been my experience that when you rent out your facilities to a private event you should do everything you can to accommodate their guests. It’s a good business plan and just plain common curtsey. Well the staff of the Fluxx apparently didn’t get that memo as they proceeded to demand that several of the VIP guests, myself included, leave our seats at the beginning of the fashion show so that they could make room for club goers. What is truly infuriating about this is that the guests that were given our seats were not there for the fashion show, just for the alcohol. Servers streamed through the area bringing a ludicrous amount of liquor to the tables of these patrons, disrupting the few VIP guests and press members that had managed to retain their seats. Now I am not a person of any particular importance . . . yet, but I did purchase a ticket (and it wasn’t cheap), which was supposed to guaranteed me reserved VIP seating throughout the show. The reserved seating that was paid for was not just denied to me but also several other Project Ethos guests who have considerably more influence than myself, including a woman who claimed to be friends with the owner of the club. Needless to say there were several infuriated people who had to stand and try to avoid servers and club goers for the duration of the show. I was assured by two of my fellow ejecties that this was not the norm for an Ethos event. Brianne Bear, the Project Ethos PR director, has assured me that measures have been taken to rectify this situation so that future incidents do not occur. My hope for future events is that Project Ethos will look for a better venue with a more considerate and courteous staff.

These unfortunate events did not ruin my experience however; I enjoyed the fashion show immensely and plan on attending any future events put on by Project Ethos. Jason Peskin and staff I applaud you for the fabulous job you did putting together this event despite the hostility shown by the hosting facility. Congratulations on a job well done and I hope next time we will have a chance to talk face to face.

Never Ending Self Discovery

Style, I’m sure you have all heard that word used on a near daily bases, but how often has it been used in reference to you personally. If you’re an average Joe like me then you probably don’t hear people saying that you have a great style very often. Hope is not lost however my fellow Joe’s, like me you can change how you are perceived while still staying true to yourself with some simple tweaking of your wardrobe.

Now I know there are those of you out there who are thinking that fashion is stupid and that your wardrobe has had no need for an update since the nineties. I understand your skepticism; I use to be the same way for most of my life, I hated fashion. Thought it was a pointless waste of time and money. I honestly could not understand why people would hand out hundreds if not thousands of their hard earned salaries on impractical clothes that didn’t serve an immediate function. Throughout my university years I wore the same thing I did in high school. Blue jeans, T-shirts with quirky sayings or pictures of dragons on them (hey, it was a phase and I like dragons so sue me) and, of course, endless supply of sweatshirts for those frigid Nor Cal days. It was about mid-way through my fourth year that I realized that this just was not working for me any longer. Oh I was comfortable enough and I still liked my clothes but it came to my attention that people didn’t take me seriously. Now I am not an uptight serious person but I was tired of being treated as the comic relief to my group of friends and having anything I said or did that didn’t play into that role passed over for more amusing antics. I imagine that there is more than one person out there that has felt this way at some point in their life.

There is hope my fellow Joes, it’s not necessarily easy but it works.

The easiest way to change a how people perceive you is to change the presentation. People rely on vision primarily to interact with their environment. Now I don’t believe myself to be a shallow person, and I firmly believe that a beautiful personality is far more important than a beautiful body. That being said I am much more likely to approach a woman I find attractive than someone that is less so. The same is true for women; you are far more likely to get their attention if you put some effort into your appearance, especially your wardrobe. This philosophy doesn’t just apply to the dating scene but to just about every aspect of your life where you have to interact with other human beings. Potential employers are going to hire the person that looks professional; people are far more likely to listen to what you have to say if you look like you are educated. Heck even your friends and family will take you more seriously with the proper attire. As the saying goes first impressions are everything, but that impression is made not when you actually meet someone but when they first lay eyes on you. BAM! You’ve just been judged. It’s unfair, it’s superficial, but it’s reality.

That ends the berating portion of this article now on to the meat and potatoes so to speak. It is not too late to change how you present yourself to the world, never is never will be. While it’s never too late this does not mean that it is easy by any stretch of the imagination. It took me well over a year of study and experimentation to find a look that fit all of my criteria. It’s comfortable, multifunctional, and stylish and the best part is that it didn’t suck my bank account dry. You don’t need a six figure salary to look like a million bucks. Here are a few tips that have worked for me in my personal quest for a fashionable identity.
Research:

That’s right there is a homework assignment for this lesson. Good research opens multiple avenues of discovery for you, possibly ones you would never have even considered before. Try looking at some fashion blogs like www.theurbangent.com  which boasts a host of information pertaining to the latest trends in fashion, grooming and celebrity fashion. Another good place to look is at Hollywood. Take a look at the personal wardrobe of your favorite celebrities, but don’t copy them. This is about finding inspiration for your own personal style not copying someone else’s. It would also be beneficial for you to subscribe to a men’s fashion journal. I have found that GQ is one of the better sources up to date men’s fashion and it only costs about five bucks to buy individually and even less when you subscribe for a full year. It doesn’t hurt that it just a fun magazine to read in general either. Now while you want to know what is trendy you don’t want to fallow a fad. Fashion like technology moves quickly, what is “in” now is not likely to be next year, or even next week. The best bet is to find a look that has been designated “classic” and make it work for your own personality.

Reflect:

What I mean is self-reflection. What makes you, well you. Take a good look at your life, your goals, your likes and dislikes and ask yourself how you can express these things in your wardrobe. If you’re passionate about something then it should be reflected in your appearance. Take me for example, I am a rather artsy person who enjoys being comfortable and looking sophisticated while still retaining a sense of practicality. So I wear comfortable workmen’s boots, loose fitting dark blue jeans, usually with a thermal T-shirt depending on the weather. The whole thing is very coffee house chic which I find ironic since I don’t actually drink coffee. That is the basic foundation for my day to day attire. It has a great deal of versatility to it, is incredibly comfortable and with some minor tweaks can function in a variety of social environments. More than anything though, these clothes make me feel comfortable not just physically but mentally, I look more confident and that makes me feel more confident.

The second reflection you should make is on your own body. This can be a real challenge for most people because we tend to focus entirely on the negative aspects of ourselves; however that is not the purpose of this reflection. Right now I want you to focus on only the things that you do like about yourself. Identifying your positive traits will give you an idea about what kind of clothes you will want to buy, not to mention giving you a good boost of confidence to go with your new wardrobe.

           Now this does not mean that you should ignore your flaws, because they help distinguish you from the masses more so than your aesthetic traits. However it’s not always a good idea to rely solely on your own desecration. People are notoriously bad at critiquing themselves, they are either blind to their own flaws or they see nothing but flaws that aren’t really there. It’s a good idea to find a trusted friend that will give you honest but not harsh criticism. It’s important to not take their comments as personal attacks but simply areas that you might need to improve on. Me for example, I am very out of shape and physically weak. When I was told this I didn’t get upset, simply because that doesn’t help anything, instead I asked my friend to help get me in shape, and started improving my diet. Another fun trick is to turn your imperfections into a positive quirk, scars are good for this.

Shop:

Now that you have an idea of how you want your style to change it's time to implement those changes. Your first stop should be one of the nicer department stores like Nordstrom’s or Bloomingdale, not to buy but to get a firsthand look at what’s available and what actually looks good on you. This first venture should not be made alone however; as with your self-reflection it’s good to have a friend whose opinion you trust and who won’t pander to your ego. You need someone that is going to tell you the honest truth about how something makes you look otherwise you’re not really accomplishing anything with this. They can also provide you with an alternative point of view when it comes to matching up an outfit and what colors make you look more respectable. Colors are very important in fashion because people will respond to different colors in different way. It may be beneficial to take a painting class to learn more about color effects and what colors go well with one another. You will also want to pay attention to the pros and cons of the type of fabric your chosen garments are made from. Synthetic fibers are less glamorous and won’t last as long but are much cheaper to buy and maintain, while organic fibers like Cotton or silk are much more expensive and usually have to be specially cleaned so that they do not deteriorate. Always pay attention to the cleaning directions on the tag if you want to keep your clothes for more than a few months.

 After you have an idea of what looks good on you, choose your absolute favorites that fit your budget and purchase those. These will be the foundation of your wardrobe, but they are going to be expensive so you’ll want to limit your selection to only a few. By buying items infrequently from these stores you will be able to own some top of the line items while maintaining your bank account. And don’t feel that you have to wear your more expensive purchases exclusively with others like it. Experiment with different combinations of items, the items that make up a suit can be taken apart and used in less formal settings and a more casual shirt can be combined with a nice over coat for a night on the town.   With the purchase of your foundation apparel you can finish up your wardrobe with items from less expensive stores. Rue21 or Forever 21 has several trendy clothing lines that resemble the higher end brands.  These aren’t cheap knock offs, but simply a more affordable alternative to buying name brands. TJ Max and Ross are also great places to look for savings, especially considering that you can find many of the high end items in these stores for a fraction of the price. I recently purchased a tie from Trump's line that was originally $75.99; I only paid $9.99 for it. Not too bad if I do say so myself. Unfortunately if you are looking to buy a sports coat or suit of any quality you are probably going to have to fork over a couple hundred, but this is not something that you want to cut corners on. See above comments on getting a classic, well fitted suit.
The quest for recognition in the modern social jungle has never been fiercer than it is right now, and being fashion conscious is one of the greatest tools in your arsenal to get ahead in life. Learn from your own mistakes and triumphs but also from those that have gone before you.  Change is a necessity of success, because the world is changing around you. Technology is getting faster and styles are constantly changing. However these changes are actually a good thing for you. They offer near limitless opportunities to reinvent yourself, or maybe just to improve on what’s already there. Welcome to reality, dress accordingly.