November 16, 2009
What do the designer-mimicking mavens at Forever 21 and Karl Lagerfeld have in common? Well, apparently they both love magazines -- starting their own, that is. Launching this Friday is the premiere issue of Forever 21's new fashion, beauty, and lifestyle magazine. "Each issue will include two to three features, a fashion gallery of looks with styling tips, coverage of trends available at Forever 21, street style, makeup and beauty tutorials, a lifestyle section including the latest in books/art/music, coverage of noteworthy Forever 21 collaborations, and an interview with a notable VIP," says Nitrolicious. In other words, the seasonal publication will likely follow much in the same vein as fellow fast-fashion mecca H&M's eponymous magazine (which is published four times a year and also showcased online).


These days, front and center in the dialogue on the recession and its effect on fashion is where high fashions fits into the picture. Will the economic downturn wipe out the luxury market for good, or merely sour its sales temporarily? According the findings of an Abrams Institute survey released yesterday on the subject, luxury fashion is here to stay. "A whopping 96% of respondents said that they thought the luxury goods market would endure the recession. 36.8% thought a 'stronger, smaller core' would make it, and 34.9% were confident that the aspirational noveau riche would keep business brisk. Only 4% thought that the recession had killed conspicuous consumption." As for the quality that will most ensure luxury brands' staying power: timelesness (which seems like somewhat circular logic).
Less than two weeks ago, Karl Lagerfeld made headlines for quotes he’d made in the New York Times in a