(IMO) a Fashion Meetup

I attended my first "meetup" on Tuesday evening - an event where like minded individuals come together to discuss, debate, defend and denounce the topic at hand. On Tuesday evening, that topic was innovation and technology in the fashion industry.

The Fashion 2.0 Meetup is (at the moment) a once monthly gathering hosted by Yuli Ziv and held at secret location disclosed only to those selected as members. Yuli is a fashion blogger of increasing prominence. She is the co-founder and EIC of My It Things, a leading user generated fashion magazine and community; and a founding member of Style Coalition, an alliance of independent online publishers in the fashion vertical. Thankfully for all of us, Yuli is using her expansive network to help introduce entrepreneurs, the online community, and fashion ingenues in general to a wide array of industry professionals who are currently making big waves in fashion.

Tuesday's meetup brought one hundred members face to face with an impressive panel of fashion executives including Alexis Maybank, Founder, Gilt Groupe; Michael J. Smith, President and CEO, AVELLE (the new Bag Borrow or Steal); Susan Engel, CEO, Portero; and Adam Dell, Managing General Partner of Impact Venture Partners. Four of the most successful names in the online fashion market offered their view points - sometimes converging, sometimes diverging - on topics ranging from designer price points, discounting merchandise, the greying consumer, and the potential for competition in the niches they respectively dominate today.





A common thread throughout the discussion was that the current economic turbulence is a time for opportunity and action. The online consumer market is busting at the seams worldwide (pardon the bad pun). Ecommerce sites cutout the paralyzing overhead that is driving brick and mortar operations out of business, and they offer services that a traditional retail store simply cannot - there are of course limitations and downsides to both operations. Nonetheless, the numbers speak for themselves, and for anyone looking to make a name for themselves in fashion today - the Internet could, and should, be your angel.

In fact, more than that it is, quite frankly, the intelligent alternative for anyone looking to get involved in a start-up. And perhaps, as employment in corporate America continues to dwindle, this is becoming an intriguing consideration for many of us. "You have nothing to lose today," said Adam Dell. "It's not like you're walking away from the job at Merrill Lynch that you would have had last year. You've got no where to go but back to live with your parents." Depressingly honest, but sickeningly true.

Gilt, Avelle, and Portero - all first to market ventures - are introducing a younger set of consumers to the designer market, and challenging the credibility of the luxury price point. "We're hoping it leads to greater price equilibrium," espouse Alexis Maybank of the often absurd price tags on full mark-up products. With that sentiment in mind, and while acknowledging their intimidating dominance over the market, the panel both welcomed and encouraged competition. Michael Smith made the point that greater competition inevitably brings more awareness to the industry, and results in more customers spending more money. To revert to an timeworn analogy I heard far too often at business school: it is not about dividing up the pie into small pieces - it's about baking a bigger pie.

So there is room for us yet! And anyone still struggling or dreaming about making their name in fashion still has plenty of opportunity. My most recent personal favorite is Khoi Lee - a small time designer making a lot of noise thanks to her unique creative output and fashion blog Refiner29. Joining forces, scratching backs, and dropping names, the online fashion community is producing something enviable. While the behemoth department stores and designer stand-alones probably aren't going anywhere, neither is the online community, and those having the biggest impact are the ones that have found a way to work together. My personal opinion is that it is within this synergy that the greatest opportunities are to be found.

Adam Dell made the point most eloquently when he closed with:

"There is still a lot left to be built."

Ahhhhh, finally a bit of positivity!

(IMO) a Better Life Philosophy

On a dreary and drizzly Sunday evening I wrapped myself in an old over sized cardigan and took myself to the movies. I think I have said it before - I am not a movie goer. I hate the scratchy seats that too many bums have imprinted, and the stench of popcorn dampened with butter... it's just really not my thing. But their is an irresistible allure to a Woody Allen movie...especially a Woody Allen movie set in New York City...that hooked me. And so, with no other plans this evening I succumbed to the urge to wonder down to the Angelika Film Center and sit anonymously in a room full of strangers to watch Whatever Works - I like to think that Mr. Allen would find this state of mind entirely appropriate for one of his films - especially this one.

Movie reviews are tricky. They inevitably give something away or at the very least create a false sense of expectation. Given this, I am going to steer a way from a review of the movie itself (although I do suggest you see it) and instead jot down what I was thinking as I left the flick.

As I strolled up Bleecker I pondered the validity of having a life plan...

I grew up with quite a strict life plan - well plans really. As I grew up the plans changed and evolved, and as it should, but the point is there was always a 'plan', a path for happiness and success. I don't think there is any problem with having a life plan, in fact I would argue that it's in many ways necessary to live a life of accomplishment. My sudden problem with my life plan is what it's composed of and how I arrived at it.

White picket fences? A six, née seven digit salary? I Brad Pitt-esque husband? Rock star status? Private schooled children? A second home in Napa? A third in The Alps? Who decided all of this anyways?

OK, my life plan is a little more elaborate than this, but the point stands that so many of us carry these perfect visions of what happiness ought to be - what we think it is - rather than going after what it really is. It all gets muddled up because what's happy for you maybe isn't so happy for me, and vice versa. In a world that looks for objectivity over relativity the idea that happiness is different for everyone can become more than a little perverted - I don't even want to think about the religious implications of this argument!

I guess the point is: Whatever Works man! For me, it was a strangely liberating notion to be able to vocalize within my own head. The idea that I can let go of all my preconceived, preordained, society-influenced ideals and find what makes me really happy...well that frees up a whole realm of possibilities that are other wise closed off, forbidden, unthinkable!


I know that these ideas and concepts have been there - available to think about and discuss long before Woody Allen came along - but it's kind of nice when someone spells it out so perfectly succinctly for you! The ironic part is Larry David lays it out quite simply in his first monologue, "this is not the feel good movie of the year," but that's exactly what it turned out to be - if your open to a slightly different interpretation!

And now for the "review" part, just take a peek at the trailer (you can turn the music off at the bottom of the page)

(IMO) Dad's are Heroes!

Something really weird, and entirely unexpected happened to my father just seconds after I was born. Without warning he transformed from Clark Kent into Superman - permanently. He didn't have a snazzy suite - at first. Those would come later as I dragged him through the many floors of Canada's Harry Rosen in search of Boss, Etro, Canali and Ferragamo. He didn't have the ability to fly or the superhuman strength required to save the world from a meteorite attack, but he did have his Lois Lane and, in the moments after my birth, and least one life long fan!

how it all began...Gordo & Virginia

In his first feat of superhero activity my dad taught me the unparalleled importance of a hug. In my naive infancy I was blissfully unaware of the true power of my father's hugs. I believed them to be daily perk occurring around 6am when he left for the office, and again around 6pm when he dashed home for family dinner before returning to the office. It was not until later years that I came to understand the sanctity and safety of my father's hugs.

I was by no means a perfect child, in fact I probably offered more than my fair share of sleepless nights and unnecessary excitement. Despite the associated groundings, yellings, and arguments, at the end of they day I always knew it would be OK, and that I had not in fact been disowned by the family, once my dad wrapped his superman arms around me, kissed the top of my head, and asked me very kindly to stop having such massive "brain farts". While they certainly have not faded altogether, I would like to think they have become "less massive" in recent years.

quality time with the old man

The most super of my father's superhero abilities was an uncanny knack for being in all places at once. While garnering not unnoticeable acclaim in the business world, he simultaneously made it home to read to me nine nights out of 10, taught me how build a princess throne on wheels out of over sized lego blocks, took me sledding on winter weekends, attended every soccer came that I can remember and coached every single softball team that my sister and I ever played on - we one several championships as a result of his parental enthusiasm!

The funny thing is - at the time it was never enough. Call it love, call it adolescence, call it whatever you like. When I was in the midst of it all, it seemed like he was never around enough. But then again, I also believed that I was responsible enough to stay home alone on the weekends, grown up enough to drink vodka, and in control enough to have raging house parties. Let's just say I was not the best judge of reality while growing up.

As the years have passed, and my childhood has become startlingly more clear, I realize that my dad really was the most superhero of them all. He never lost me, he never forgot me, he never put me second, he never stopped the love - and ooooooooh did I give him reason! I don't know how many corporate Presidents, CEOs, and Chairmen can make this claim to fame - I haven't done the poll; I'm guessing not many. But I do know that my father is the one man who wins the prize for being a superhero father.

To dad. xoxo.