Fashion 2.0: The Future of Media + Fashion

Last night I attended the Fashion 2.0 meetup hosted by Yuli (co-founder of MyItThings.com) at the Audrey Café & Lounge at W New York – The Tuscany on 120 E 39th St. Basically, it was a meetup of tech, social media, and fashion enthusiasts coming together to network and learn about upcoming trends. Luckily, I work a couple streets down from the W Hotel and got there a little early and met some interesting people- of course we exchanged contact cards. This is mine It’s smaller, and everyone has their opinion about professionalism, BUT, this is my personal contact card not my company business card – plus, its a touch of my personality.

I was among students, designers, and people in investment banking researching investment opportunities, advertising executives and many more …

I apologize for the ooogly images, dang-it-iphone-that-comes-with-no-flash – it’s probably going to be a new feature in the next generation of iphones, ugh.

The panel started off really good, for a couple reasons the moderator was quirky and added humor which is ALWAYS needed (you don’t want to have a boring panel).

It began with speaker introductions:

1. Ian Schafer, CEO and Founder of Deep Focus, has redefined the way the way brands and entertainment properties are marketed online, and actively promotes the idea that “interactive” is not just a medium, it’s a philosophy that should be used to bring people closer to brands – and each other. Deep Focus, OMMA Magazine’s 2007 Media Planning & Buying Agency of the Year and winner of a Cannes Lion, is an experience driven, thought-leading interactive marketing agency that boasts a client roster that includes some of the most recognizable names in entertainment, lifestyle and CPG brands. Recently tapped as an AdAge Media Maven, Ian is considered by many as one of the foremost experts in interactive and social media marketing solutions, and has been featured in Wired, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, ADweek, New York Magazine, Variety, CNN, Fortune and The Hollywood Reporter. He is also a featured columnist for Advertising Age.

2. Greg Verdino is a futurist, marketer, writer and speaker who works as Chief Strategy Officer at marketing consultancy crayon LLC. His first book, microMARKETING, is due from McGraw-Hill in summer 2010. This blog looks at trends in media and marketing, as these industries grapple with the changes being brought on by disruptive technologies, new business imperatives and the rise of the empowered consumer.

3. Barry Lowenthal, President, The Media Kitchen.

Next:

A question that stuck out in my mind was asked to jump start the panel, “could you pick a brand to describe you” and unanimously everyone began responding with Ralph, Chloe, etc…!!

Summary of my notes:

(it’s just random notes that I took during the event, so bear with me and look to these points as just ideas and things to ponder, OR they could be conversation starters…)

• Does print still have a role? Role of editor is diminishing. We don’t need to go to runways for runway shots anymore – increasingly these exclusive events will begin being for the mass consumer market
• Future of digital channels? Story of Lauren Luke, a single mother who began posting her own makeup tutorials online and now she has her own agency and representation. Pretty awesome, eh?
• Gucci, 1/2 million fans on facebook – Gucci can utilize the FB community and offer them images first before it reaches print publications and it costs $0.00
• Century 21 – invited top style bloggers to their store. And asked them to style their own looks followed by blog posts (of course) – one form of online marketing.
• Armani Exchange paid Kim Kardashian to post an official tweet about her in-store shopping experience, providing her own promo code. Results: the Armani Exchange website blew up. Did you know she has 2.7 million followers on twitter.
• Emerging problem: How do we know what’s authentic?
• Instantaneous Awareness is key – how do we successful provide that?
• It’s not that we don’t have control anymore, we never did. It’s just NOW, people are communicating what we talk to friends over coffee online – it’s more open and accessible.
• Did you guys see the live streaming of the U2 concert?
• Needless to say, we’ve heard this before BUT, it comes down to monetization!
• Videos are the next BIG THING. (With that said, I’m trying to figure out how to get video on my mac without buying the QuickPro program?!?! anyone?)
• Job forecasts in new media: Ad Trader, Relationship Management, Social Media Manager, Community Leader/Curator…

Like always, I encourage you to comment if you have something to say, anything… this is a topic I am passionate about and would love to hear from you!!