Archive for December, 2009
Your fashion choices; what do they say about you?
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009
I (Jason) came across a quote the other day on a personal blog:
“Fashion and style, in the past, was all about creating an image but now that image can also include the personal value set of the wearer and it looks as if this connection between fashion and social issues is here to stay.”
It got me to thinking about my own fashion choices and the brands that I support. Do I make choices above and beyond how the item I am purchasing looks/feels? If the article of clothing or the accessory does not reveal the brand name to anyone other than the wearer, am I influenced by the name? Certainly we all know the power of brands and the reason why companies such as Coach or Burberry command the prices they do. But I’m talking about more than just a logo. It’s not just the quality or the look of the item (although that comes first in the mind of the buyer), but it’s also the promise made to the consumer. A promise of quality, of originality, of beauty, and now more than ever, a promise of social responsibility. Our culture has never been more influenced by the conscientiousness of businesses, large and small. The New York Times has a very popular blog, Green Inc., which highlights various corporations and alerts consumers as to who is and isn’t environmentally responsible. Making that list, for one reason or another, can have a profound impact on a companies image and even their bottom line.
All in all, I believe this is a good thing (our cultures trend of holding brands responsible). With that in mind, how far are you willing to go when it comes to fashion? Will you boycott irresponsible brands? Will you seek out and support those that associate themselves with positive and influential movements? Why or why not? What do your fashion choices tell others about what is important to you? Have you ever become emotionally involved with a brand?
We all like Mickey and Ozzy, but with their level of influence, should they be saying something more?
Clothing should be fun and allow for a range of expression. It can be both playful and thought provoking. It can be about the actual piece of clothing being worn, or it can be about the name on the tag. Alison Lurie says that “To choose clothes, either in a store or at home, is to define and describe ourselves”. Some may see that as too much pressure. On the contrary I think it can be a very natural fit with our personality. The key is finding that brand that represents what is important to you. You can be verbally vocal about your value system, or you can say it with fashion. What fun that is!
Tags: authentic, brand responsibility, graphic tees, Our thoughts, socially responsible
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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from F&F
Friday, December 25th, 2009
Wishing you and yours a safe, joyful and happy holiday season!
Happy Holidays from the Faith & Fortune crew!
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Am I too old (read:too uptight) for a graphic t?
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
The short answer, is “no”. We can say with a fairly high level of confidence that if you’re packing your
kids off to college and your daughter’s roommate has the same tee…OK, time to move on.
Having said that, just because you may be out of college and are in the “I have to wear a suit to my 9-5 Mon-Fri” phase,
it doesn’t mean you need to kiss creativity and boldness goodbye for good, my friend. In fact, that’s why the weekend
was invented! (“For t-shirts?” you ask…no, for fun we say!). Whether paired with your favorite jeans and a scarf, or slightly hidden beneath a button up for that “no, I’m not going to let you see the whole design” look, it’s still one of the great ways to reveal your expressive side (side note: even if you don’t really have an expressive side, giving off the impression that you do can’t really hurt, right?).
You’ll notice in the F&F collection that our offerings range from bold to subtle, specifically for the reason that we want you to be able to represent that side of you that doesn’t make it out during the work week, but without looking like you sit ringside for ultimate fighting bouts or a reality TV reject. Which brings us nicely to example #1, of how not to rock the graphic tee:
Ed hardy throws up on Jon Gosselin
Now, we’re glad to hear that Mr. Gosselin has sworn off his fashion disaster ways (see his self deprecating “funny or die” video), but nonetheless here serves as a wonderful example of what to never, ever, ever, wear. It’s not his style, it doesn’t fit his personality, and the built in undershirt just looks ridiculous.
This example of poor taste aside, there are some very tasteful and bold looks you can pull off with the appropriately timed graphic tee,which is exactly the sort of practice we promote! Take for example our good friend Ashton Kutcher (ignore the suspenders and celebrity wife for the moment…two things at this stage that you are surely convinced you could not pull off):
Ashton color coordinating the jacket and multi color T
The always fashionable JT:
JT & Cameron may be a thing of the past, but his style carries on
This look fits the personality of the wearer, incorporates both a graphic tee and a classic piece (the cardigan), and does not scream “look at me”.
So there you have it; one glaring example of how not to express your love for the graphic arts, and two more fashionable, prudent choices (in fact, Ashton and Justin are a couple of great examples of guys who push the fashion boundaries without going over the top, and may even serve as an inspiration for you). The bottom line though, is this: Whatever look you decide to go with, wear it with confidence….and own it. That’s a look, people will have to respect.
Disclaimer for the ladies: We hope you don’t feel ignored here. Truly, it’s the men who need the help. Let’s work together on this. More coming for you….
Tags: advice, Ashton Kutcher, fashion advice, graphic tees, Jon Gosselin, Justin Timberlake, style
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
The Wildlife t-shirt is back…can you rock it?
Sunday, December 20th, 2009
We all know that fashion is cyclical right? But aren’t some trends best left in the past (think acid washed, tight rolled jeans) while others are worth investing in again every ten years or so? Well, one trend making its way back into the spotlight after a reasonable hiatus is wildlife scenes emblazoned on t-shirts. And nothing helps a trend pick up speed quite like celebrity endorsement…
Jack Black apparently alluding to being raised by wolves
The only question that remains though, is what will you do when the weather gets warm and t-shirts become de rigueur for everyday wear? Are you raiding your childhood closet at your parents home to find an authentic bald eagle t-shirt from your 8th grade year or is this one trend you will let others enjoy?
Tags: authentic, cyclical, wildlife
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Faith & Fortune gifts that “give back”
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
If you are looking for that opportunity to give someone a unique gift that shows some thought and originality,
look no further!
When you purchase either our men’s Pelican or women’s Geisha, $5 will go to our feature organization
AFH (www.afhboston.com). The gift of fashion, the gift of support!
Pelican
Geisha
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Welcome to Faith & Fortune!
Sunday, December 13th, 2009
The last three years of our life have been spent planning, building, and working towards the moment when we could finally begin a conversation with you. So having said that;
Jason & Jim
The intent behind this blog is to share and begin a dialogue with you about things that more
than likely we all care about; fashion, art, community involvement, and sometimes things that just make us laugh.
As you explore the Faith & Fortune site you’ll begin to identify the theme of involvement we truly hope for. This means that we want to hear from you as we make various decisions. To help you understand why your help is needed, see below for how decisions are often made around here (sometimes things get a little heated).
It only looks blurry b/c of the speed at which we play...
In closing, thanks for reading and please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have anything to share!
Happy Holidays!
Jim
Jason
Tags: Our thoughts
Posted in From the founders | 2 Comments »
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