WK9 EOC: My (Jenny Beavan/ Charolette Child)style

 My personal style that is not reflected in a movie, but in a costume designer in its self.  The two-costume designer I would choice is Jenny Beavan and Charlotte Child. Both of these women are known for different styles of movies. The one thing the have in common is that they do period pieces so well. When I say period I am not saying Marie Antunet. There style in the way they design is vintage, but dark. In which I love. These women are more than just an inspiration in design and style, but an inspiration in career life. Jenny Beavan is known for movies such as Sherlock Homles, The Kings Speech, The Black Dahila, and Timeline. Charlotte Child is known for her costume design of Johnny Deeps character in Sweeny Todd.

The reason why I think these designers represent me is because they really reflect my personal inner style and love for those mid-century designs. I have always felt like I was born in the wrong era. The fifty’s design is how is speaks to me an my inner retro diva. I just have a respect for designer from that time ear. Woman really put thoughts into what they wore and wanted to be lady like. Attention to detail wasn’t over looked, you would have five different pieces to one out fit and everything was perfectly placed where is belonged. Even men looked so sharp and clean. So If I could hop into one of their wardrobe closets for these films, I would take everything fitting or not. 

EOC- CH9 Exersice

                                                                Exercise 9

  Creating a personal brand starts with a great idea like Brini Maxwell. Creating a personal brand you want to figure out what you want to market? Do you want to market yourself, an alter ego (Brini Maxwell), and a label?  I would create a brand geared towards an over all brand with different labels under this main idea. My logo would be colorful and something to rememberible. It would be cute and sweet, just how my brand would be based around.  Before you design one, you must understand what a logo is, what it represents and what it is supposed to do. “A logo is not just a mark – it reflects a business’s commercial brand through the use of shape, fonts, color, and / or images. A logo is for inspiring trust, recognition and admiration for a company or product and it is our job as designers to create an identity that will do its job.” (http://www.davidairey.com/5-useful-logo-design-tips/) I would design my business card around my logo, I want to keep the overall brand theme together and concise. So the logo will match the business cards and will also match the name. I would take the lead from Miss. Brini Maxwell and I would love to sell anything for the home. This brand would be sheets and towels to kitchen décor to animal, and children wear. This brand company is your one stop shop, for you home and family needs. The target audience is young hip woman who loves to decorate them selves and every aspect of their surroundings. “Women are high value customers because once they join your brand, and are happy, they are likely to stay loyal to you. What’s more is women talk a lot to their friends. They talk about what they like and they talk about what they don’t like.”(http://allurethemes.com/why-women-should-be-your-target-market/) I would show the brand on TV, networks like HGTV, STYLE, DYI, and ENEWS. “The goal of any advertising program should be to cost-effectively reach the largest audience possible and attract new customers. If done correctly, advertising can be a wonderful investment for your small business; if done poorly, advertising can become a huge money sink.”

Source: http://www.allbusiness.com/10-tips-effective-advertising/16566950-1.html#ixzz1wNIogrDP

EOC- CH9 Discussion Questions- Brini Maxwell

Chapter 8 Discussion Questions

1.     What makes the Brini Maxwell television show personally unique? How does her personality benefit the brand?

In my personal opinion Brini Maxwell show was and is unique is because It was a man targeting woman in house hold work, cooking, manners, and day to day advice. He was the first person to take a woman’s advice column and put is on TV in drag. He revolutionized the alter ego. “ Her reinvention of bygone era pays homage to her predecessors while maintaining a contemporary sensibility, and exceeds the creative of her current competition.”(Brand Story)

2.     What were the steps taken by Ben Sanders to develop his character, Brini Maxwell? Was he successful? Why or Why not?

“ Brini Maxwell visual milieu is composed of retro twentieth-century modern and contemporary designs that were popular in the 1950-1970.”(Brand Story) Brini wears vintage fashions from that period to get her inspiration and her over all feel of the Maxwell character. His character elements were perfect for the over all design that Sanders wanted to got with the show. He was spot on, woman wouldn’t have watched the show is there was a man on the screen. The Brini character was very relatable for his woman audience.

3.     Why do you think Brini Maxwell made it into national spotlight on television? What was her brand’s message?

Brini Maxwell made it into national spotlight because it took the audience back to when they were younger. The feelings that they had as children were being relived on the show. Also the non-contervisual trans gender host, also made it interesting for the audience to watch. Also having tried other characters (Tigs Vanderveer) I believe help Sanders figure out what he truly wanted to do with his idea.

4.     What do you think Brini Maxwell’s target market is today? Why would baby boomers be drawn to watching Brini Maxwell?

I think the target market would be exactly the same, the great think is she knows who her audience is. That’s what makes her successful. “ “My target audience is primarily young and urban. There is also little cross over in to forward baby boomers. Our brand is more traditional aesthetics.” Sanders (Brand Story)

5.     Why were the itunes podcast and the reproducing of her old shows as vidcast a smart step towards rebranding Brini Maxwell? Would you have done anything differently?

Well Brini Maxwell needed to be reborn with the new technology upgrade that we all use and now worship today.  There are new media outlets and Maxwell still wanted to reach her target audience knew how to do it. I don’t think redoing the brand or doing anything different could have made this a bigger success. Sanders had a great idea and original idea. Sanders created a revolution in trans gender TV, with shows like Rupauls drag race and other shows on that list.

EOC- Ch8 Discussion Questions

Week 8 Discussion questions Dante Beatrix

1.     Why do customers feel such a close attraction to their bags?

“The company focuses on bags for every purpose: tote, laptop bags, diaper bags and pets carriers.”  Its initial mission was to create the bag that a girl with the “it” bag would use for all her other stuff.”

2.     What is your favorite brand, bag, briefcase, or backpack, and why? How does this brand reflect your personality? Do you think you will ever switch to a different brand?

I really do not have a favorite brand yet. I am still shopping the market to find my go to favorite brand that will never fail. My dream bag would be medium to large size that matches everything, and that is not heavy. I have currently been shopping through the Marc By Marc Jacobs collection.  I have been using handbag brand such as, fox, Brighton, Katy Van Zeeland bag, I am not brand loyal and would switch for the right bag.

3.     Now that you have read this chapter, go to www.dantebeatrix.com and explain how the company has evolved. What is the latest news? How do you think the lines reflect current fashion?

The company has involved in the online site and also the clientele a well.  In the chapter her key advertisement was toward woman. Now online her catalog is geared toward children and the mother who buy for their children.

4.     Why do you think Dante Beatrix is so successful with the company’s idea to pursue graphic design instead of just focusing on designing bags? Is branding a key element that drives you to purchase a bag, brief case or backpack? What is the brand? What feature really makes it special, or is it really just name that makes it unique? Describe your answer?

“ Reflecting the current trends among women, this company is successful because the product line us unique and stylish. “ “ Dante sells many bags at retailers such as Nordstroms, Barneys New York, A Pea in the Pod,  and Baby Style.” This is why she is so successful.

EOC-Chapter 7 Exercise Question

Chapter 7 Exercise question

If I was to create a brand such as the “ Johnny Cupcake” brand I would use viral marketing to reach my target market. I would use a collection of social media outlets, Facebook, stumble upon, and tumblr, word to mouth and self-promotion, such as different celebrities to wear the brand. I would have an almost food truck style of promotion, using twitter fans can follow where the next trunks show will be and they can drive and get the newest limited addition t-shirt for that week. I would create a limited addition t-shirt that would be featured one month, but it would be sold one week out of that month in selected cities. This is a great way to create word of mouth.  It depend on how much the customer loves the product to be able to tell how fast it will spread on a national, or international level.  If the customer takes to the product right away I would estimate within five years that the brand could be at a international level. With a two year for a national (United States) level. You can't always predict the market place, but if you keep up with the forecast the company will succeed.

EOC-Chapter 7 Discussion Questions(Johnny Cupcakes)

Chapter 7

Discussion Questions

Johnny Cupcake

1.     What is viral fashion branding? How did this form of branding make Johnny Cupcakes a well-known product line in the youth market?

Is a mulit-million dollar brand that grows through different types of branding.  “All of Johnny fashion branding had been implementing through self-promotion, word of mouth, or by using electronic methods such as e-mail and the pruner.”

2.     Why is viral fashion branding a good method for promoting product? Can you think of other brands that are currently using this process?

This is one of the best marketing forms because it is the least expensive with word of mouth, and internet promotion. “This allows each person who visits the to feel as if he or she is a part of the success.” The first brand that comes to mind is Threadless, they only use viral marketing methods as their marketing and advertisement campaign.

3.     How does Johnny Cupcakes allow customers to feel like they are special? Is this important and why?

“The company added surprise’s to the boxes when filling internet orders. Customers would find items such as trading cards that were popular in the 1980s and 1990’s featuring ninja turtles, Ghostbusters, and garbage pail kids.” Yes, I believe that this very important for the brand image that Johnny Cupcakes really wants his brand to create. This is why he has such a cult following.

4.     Do you think Johnny Cupcakes brand to older customers like the baby-boomers and generation Xer? Why or why not? How does his use of nostalgia and popular culture influence his ability to reach different audience?

I think that it only appeals to generation Xers, is that is style of his trunk show. He sells out of the old suit case truck. Other than that I do not believe his brand appeals to that specific generation.

5.     In your opinion, is Johnny Cupcakes a unique brand? What others items would you include in his product line?

I think how he sells his product in his brick and mortar store is very unique shopping experience for anyone. As a product line I think its basic, in the Indy style. Its your basic graphic t-shirts, sweaters, and other merchandise.

The Pitch_3 Kings

Man best friend is an over rated phrase used to describe our household pets. As a pet owner we all know they are much more than a “best Friend” they are family. My animals are my children and I do not like treating them like there are second-class citizens. I treat my babies like kings as they truly are. So I want them to have the best. The best animal accessories, food and anything they might need. I do not spare expense for them to get the best, but I do wish there was a affordible solution for the expense. 

The cure is here for the horrible animal wear. Three kings provided a luxurious animal wearing experience that will take your dog from drab to fab in a matter of seconds. There is something for every animal, small, big, manly, girly, tough and not so tough. Does not matter what type of child you have there is something for everyone.

Chapter 6 Discussion Question A&F

Chapter 6 Discussion Question

Abercrombie &Fitch

1.     Does A&F reinvent its brand strategy every year through its product assortment? Is it successful? Why or why not?

A&F does not change their brand every year. They have a consistent image that they up hold.  A&F sticks with their preppy, dim lighting, the smell of fragrances, and booming music. A&F has proven that this is a successful method, by selling good quality products. A&F is selling a life style that it’s consumer’s need and want.

2.     How does A&F brand its products? Do you think its brand practices are successful?

A&F brand its products with it signature logo all over the place. When the bold logo is not cross the garment, there is a little recognizable logo place perfectly. I think it is very successful towards their target market they are trying to reach. “ A&F believes it offers the consumer excellent quality and key trends, and pride it’s self on the capability to sell product at full retail price.” Page 90

3.     How do retail stores atmosphere such as fragrance, lighting, store props, and retail brand associate strengthen a brand message? How do you they weaken?

With all of these features, is how A&F translates their brand message their visual aspects of their store.  The loud blaring music, dark ambiance, and shirt less men are what draw in the customers from walking by.  “ The darken back drop of the store enhances the in-store marketing and the ideology that this space might be exclusive.” Page 98 This can also weaken the brand because they can scare away other demographics that might like the brand but not the retail environment.

4. What feelings or emotions do you experience when you enter an A&F store? Do you think A&F tries to intimidate its customer by using extremely attractive models?

No, I do not think that they are purposely trying to intimidate their customers, but they might by giving them the impression that only good people should, and only wear A&F. “ The presence of shirtless greeter at A&F stores has gen generated a niche market for this company and reconnects the to the sexual innuendo that was present in the magalogues.”

EOC-Chapter 5 Exercise

Chapter 5 Exercise

              My professional plans for the future is to create a life style brand, and a film costuming company. Creating different lines for every aspect of the home, person, Film and fashion. The first thing I would like to start off with my jacket collection, and casual wear collections.  I plan on starting with an online store, “ E-comerence” website. With having an extensive marketing and advertisement campaign is where I will create brand recognition. Once the site is up I would like to open a small boutique. This is where customers will have the opportunity to try-on the clothing.  One major stumbling block along the way is creating brand recognition on a new product. This is a major obstacle, but it has been done before, so I know it can and will be done. Only time can tell how long this will take. I am already doing freelance work in film for costuming. So with passion comes will to successes, and I have tones of passion.

EOC Chapter 5 Discussion Questions

Vera Wang

1.     In what ways is Vera Wang a great example of the ever-changing career path of an individual?

She is a get example because, she has been all over the industry, an editor at Vouge, unemployed, designer for khols, and a designer of bridal gowns and wear.  Wangs career has expanded over a twenty year span.

2.     Go to www.verawang.com. What changes have occurred in the company since the writing of this chapter? Has the brand expanded into other products?

The only thing that has changed on the Vera Wang website is that she has, updated it too be technology correct. She has a blog link, and app options. The brand has not expanded since the writing of this book. “ The company continues to grow and may well be on the way to becoming a global brand.”

3.     In your own words describe the Vera Wang brand. How does this brand differ from others, such as Ralph Lauren or Dolce & Gabbana?

The Vera Wang brand is tasteful and classy. Wang is what every little girl dreams of when dreaming of her big day. “ She has proven that you can pursue your dreams and reach your ultimate goal.” The one major way I differs from D&G and RL is that Vera Wang only sell woman’s clothing. Her brand is not targeted toward men one bit. Her and her brand focus on woman’s clothing for every occasion. From the big day to everyday.