Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York & Los Angeles

New York Fashion Week begins today, something I certainly look forward to each season. With Mercedes Benz button-ladened site, it seems this season is all about flare. Flare in style, flare in attitude and this Tuesday night, flare for name-recognizable fashion icons supporting a Presidential candidate well known for his...flare. When I heard about Runway to Change, a major fashion event to support the Obama Victory Fund, I giggled with school-girl giddiness at the thought of being in one place with so many amazing fashion industry greats, but then I reflected more on how fashion and politics seemed to have coincided in a mutually beneficial PR effort.

Runway to Change will include special guests Anna Wintour and Sarah Jessica Parker, both obviously synonymous with style. While that alone may get the press to attend, some pretty incredible fashion designers are participating as well, such as Zac Posen, Vera Wang, Marc Jacobs, Isaac Mizrahi and Diane von Furstenberg (plus about 22 other designers); all headliners themselves. Specifically taking place during fashion week to draw out the hard core fashionista's (mainly due to the price tag), this fashion event is actually nothing less than what I would expect from the Obama campaign. With WWD and other fashion publications covering Michelle Obama's incredible style and the possibly wanted (but not) branding of Obama as a "rockstar," this fashion come political fund-raising event is killing two birds with one stone--PR for the designers, Wintour and Parker and PR for Obama's campaign. (Something we've been seeing more and more of lately with the fashion industry such as their love affair with reality television.)

Whether Obama wins or loses in November, one thing will be certain--he will have left an indelable mark on how future candidates will be creative in how they raise money for their campaign and seek out each and every person for their vote. We are already seeing this with his use of social media, his online presence and his PR outreach overall. Pairing up with Anna Wintour for Runway to Change is just another creative idea that further solidifies the fashionable aspect of his image.

I'll be attending Runway to Change and blogging about it further. Will you be there? And more importantly, what do you think of this fashion-political mix?

*Photo credit: MB Fashion Week

Our Favorite Fashion Pubs Double as Reality TV Stars

According to the weather related definitions of the seasons, spring is the season for newness. I would argue that fall is the real season of newness with everyone looking to make a fresh start.  School starts, fall fashion reigns, Broadway shows debut and perhaps most exciting of all—television begins its season.  

I must admit, I am the most excited about Vinny Chase coming back into my life at last with the return of Entourage this season BUT there are some newbies that have caught my attention as well.  According to our Haute List - 90210 and Kath and Kim will be the new shows to watch out for.

As PR professionals we should be looking out for a new editorially affiliated reality show.  Stylista, referred to as Devil Wears Prada in a reality show, will be hitting the airwaves for the first time this October. The show features “Andy” wannabees competing under the scrutiny of Elle’s fashion director Anne Slowey to become a junior editor at the magazine.

Our Fashion PR Account Director, Real Hamilton-Romeo, has been featured on iVillage's Weekly Top 10 in Beauty & Style regarding transition pieces. Check out Real's fashion tip on page 4 of the 10 page spread!

Love on a Leash

Bideawee, one of the nation’s oldest humane organizations, is presenting its 8th annual pet parade and fair, Love on a Leash. Welcoming all dogs and pet owners, the festival will take place on Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 from 3:00-6:00pm, with a parade at 4:30pm, at The Village Green in Westhampton Beach.

Entertaining activities for crowds of all ages include kid’s games, face painting, a “doga” demonstration (yoga with dogs), and special shows with trainer Nadja Palenzuela and the high-flying Purina Incredible Dog Team performing extraordinary acrobatic tricks and amazing freestyle flying disc routines.

The Love on a Leash parade will feature the Little Red Wagon Contest, encouraging pet owners to decorate a little red wagon, walk in the parade with their pet, and compete for Best in Show.

Special celebrity appearances will include The Today Show’s Entertainment and Animal Rights Correspondent Jill Rappaport, General Manager for the NJ Nets Kiki Vandeweghe, Celebrity Pet Trainer Bash Dibra, Pet Author Arden Moore, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and Max from Max and Ruby.

It will be a great event for a great cause! Find out more at www.bideawee.org

Recessionista: n. A person who dresses stylishly on a tight budget; according to wordspy.com. According to me? A catch phrase to encourage fashionistas to continue their infrugality regardless of the economy by choosing less expensive versions of their favorite luxaholic products and services. It's making light of a situation that isn't so favorable for the consumer driven industries of our nation, spinning it 360, and delivering a luring message to the masses—PR 101 ladies and gentlemen.

What has turned into a large scale "recession chic" PR movement has benefited a number of familiar brands. A host of discount brands kneel graciously at the feet of recession and position their products and services not only as the smart thing to do, but the posh one. Target leads the pack with already-in-place "design for all" strategies that flourish even more now. Huge designers like Botkier and Proenza Schouler have participated in the past with leaks of a possible Alexander McQueen and Target venture in the future. Now THAT'S recessionista.

Small businesses have taken this positioning tool under its wing as well. I just read that Fresco by Scotto, a posh New York eatery known for its very "upscale comfort food", has opened an "on the go" version in the heart of the financial district that offers sharp suited bankers gourmet lunch options for under $10. (Yes it seems even the bankers are looking for a great deal with the joint's opening day lunch crowd wrapping around the block). 

Some celebrities have even attempted to boost their own image by demonstrating, very publicly of course, recessionista ways. Kimora Lee Simmons, a die hard fashionista and luxaholic, proclaims her choice to travel commercially in place of her usual private jet-setting behavior to a gang of paparazzi as she waited in line at LAX in June. The 13 extra bags she brought along would rack up some serious extra charges so she may not be the beacon of saving money after all.

I’d love to hear your feedback on this growing positioning strategy. Where is the line that needs to be drawn between the educating of and the taking advantage of the consumer in these trying times we face? How long before consumers are no longer phased by the recessionista twist on ad campaigns and PR efforts?

We have always prided ourself for staying ahead of the trends and having the foresight to know who is on track for becoming a haute property. We've comprised a Haute List that contains brands that are haute now as well as brands you should be keeping your eye on.

Indie Fashion & Beauty Magazines:
1. Visionaire
2. Metro.Pop
3. VMAN

Foreign Beauty & Fashion Magazines:
1. Company (UK)
2. Jessica (Hong Kong)
3. Trendi (Finland)

TV Shows:
1. 90210
2. Kath & Kim
3. Gossip Girl

Women’s Apparel:
1. Topshop
2. Valentino under Alessandra Fachinetti
3. Rodarte

Men’s Apparel:
1. Pastelle
2. RMC Martin Ksohoh
3. ANAMA

Jewelry Brands:
1. John Hardy
2. Alexis Bittar
3. Trollbeads

Handbag Lines:
1. Rebecca Minkoff
2. Foley+Corinna
3. Timi & Leslie

Cosmetic Lines:
1. e.l.f.
2. Colorescience
3. Classified Cosmetics

Continue reading "Pierce Mattie PR's Haute List of Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle Brands" »

Numbered are the weekends of barbeques and pool parties with summer quickly coming to an end. Even though hot dogs and hamburgers will be put to bed until next summer, partying certainly doesn’t end with the warm weather. It’s called football season—and people gather to watch the games on their HD Plasmas nearly every weekend. Our football favorites have been hard at work on the off-season to make sure you get your Direct TV NFL Ticket’s worth.

I had the opportunity to sit down with James Ihedigbo, safety of the New York Jets, to talk about just what kind of work he's been doing to get ready for this season and what we as non-athletes can take from his regiment to be more physically fit. Obviously none of us are aspiring to have biceps the size of Ihedigo, but we can learn a thing or two from someone whose job it is to exercise and play a sport demanding the greatest in agility and strength. And if you are after the physique of an NFL player, good luck. His mammoth muscles are from some extremely hard work.

The super talented football player comes out of UMass and is in his second year playing in the NFL. James lives by the motto, "To whom much is given, much is expected.” He has never let natural talent stop him from working as hard as humanly possible. He was injured in training camp last summer and was out the remainder of the season so this year is big.

Watch James' video and hear his fitness tips on our Fitness PR blog.

Houston We Have a Trend: Space Bound Futurism at its Best

After closely reviewing the runways from fall 2008, I noticed a fun trend across a few big names that I feel is losing some attention. A minimalist flavor with just the right touch of space-suit like metallic accent to create an out of this world look- Future Femme if you will.

The Jetsons would be considered fashionable with this season's stark and structured dresses coming from the top design houses. These bold shapes can opposition the flowy chiffon hemlines that are also a wardrobe must have this fall.

Read the complete post on our Fashion PR blog, The Fashion Rag.

Rachel Bravman: Publicist turned Jewelry Designer

Everything Rachel Bravman touches turns to gold. Yes, most of the fashion jewelry she designs for her line Rachel Leigh is already a gold color, but her finishing touch turns the celebrity coveted baubles into editorial gold.

Bravman was working as an Yves Saint Laurent publicist when she launched her jewelry line in the fall of 2004. The line was a direct answer to demands for luxury fashion jewelry that could compliment designs featured in the best fashion editorials. What resulted was a fun yet fashion forward jewelry empire worn by all the Hollywood "It" girls.

Read the complete post on our Jewelry PR blog.