The 5th Annual Fashion 2.0 Awards

A couple weeks ago I had the fortune to attend the Fashion 2.0 awards. Since the launch 5 years ago, social media has changed drastically from something that brands never talked about to an integral part of marketing strategy and customer relations.

The Fashion 2.0 awards founded by the beautiful Yuli Ziv, the founder of Style Coalition and Fashion 2.0, are the first industry recognized distinction honoring fashion brands for outstanding achievements and communication strategies across a variety of digital media channels. When the awards first launched, DKNY's DKNY PR girl aka Aliza Litch was one of the only attendees and Foursquare was honored as the best start-up. Could we have dreamed then how much times would have changed? Today over 400 industry insiders helped celebrate the event at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. 

The awards were hosted once more by the ever charming Robert Verdi with legendary designer Zac Posen invited to give a keynote speech. After he ended his speech he attempted to take an audience wide "selfie" but ended up leaving himself out of the picture. Host Robert Verdi later corrected the error in good fun and soon the entire room was standing to be a part of it!

As for some of the winners, Marc Jacobs won big, sweeping awards for best Instagram and Twitter. Nordstrom won for the Best Pinterest. DKNY won for best online campaign with DKNY Draft. The campaign featuring both models and football players for the Super Bowl taught us in the words of pioneer Aliza Litch that "Models can't throw for shit". Acustom Apparel won for best start-up

Eva Chen was honored by Fashion GPS with the online Navigator award and rushed in a little late after being caught in a heated ping pong match with the Warby Parker boys. The Fashion Navigator Award took into consideration the fact that ambitious women are not just bossy, ambitious women can become the boss. Eva Chen exemplifies this modern attitude.

Fashion expert Jeannie Mai presented the Visionary award to the Warby Parker boys, while telling a touching story about how the brand changed the life of one woman who had a life altering ordeal in which she no longer had the confidence to go shop in public. The award celebrates not only what fashion can do, but what fashion can do for others.

The beautiful and charming Coco Rocha presented the evenings top honor for Top Innovator to ASOS as she shared how this year both the internet and herself turned 25. "For decades, industry standards dictated that models be seen and not heard. This model is one with an opinion, not seen but heard. If you have a loud voice, have something to say. Social media has given me a voice to be someone beyond just a face".

After the awards ceremony let out, everyone hit the cocktail reception for some in-person socializing. It was a grand night with red carpet glamor and beautiful people celebrating the digital world. I wonder how the awards will change and change again in the next 5 years!

Special thanks to photographer Ken Arcara for the bottom three images.

The 3rd Annual Fashion 2.0 Awards–February 2012

Last night I had the chance to attend the 3rd Annual Fashion 2.0 awards at the SVA Theatre.  Since I first attended 3 years ago the event has grown exponentially along with the advent of social media as part of our everyday lives.  The event was bigger than ever with bloggers from Style Coalition, social media enthusiasts, social media superstars (like @dkny) in attendance and mingling over cocktails and appetizers.  I got to meet ladies I've seen only through their blogs or twitter and finally have a chance to put a face to a name.

As for the awards ceremony it was hosted by the most adorable, energetic, charming and hilarious Robert Verdi who began the show by tossing a couple pairs of sunglasses from his brand new HSN line to the audience.

There was no surprise when the award for Best Twitter went to @dkny for her witty and constant Tweets!  Best Facebook Award went to Bergdorf Goodman.  Best Blog award went to DKNY.  A special new visionary award was presented to the Gilt Groupe co-founders Alexis Maybank and Alexandra Wilkis Wilson to acknowledgement of their achievements and leadership as e-commerce game-changers and their tremendous impact on the way the fashion industry/luxury brands, perceive the online space.  Best website award went to Marc Jacobs international.  Best Mobile App went to Tiffany and Co.  Top Innovator Award went to Kate Spade NY.  Last but not least the Best Online Video Award went to Prada for their Real Fantasies Spring/Summer 2011 video I've posted below.

And while not everyone took home awards I was glad we got a chance to sit back and pause and appreciate some of the other videos like Bergdorf's Unleashed, Lanvin with Pitbull, Norma Kamali in 3-D and Rachel Roy's Casual Friday campaign.

We also got a chance to listen to Norma Kamali herself talk about her love of technology and her journey into fashion and tech starting in the 60s.  Kamali stated, "Fashion is not about the clothes today.  What matters and where innovation is, is how we tell the story.  How we personalize it and humanize it...I used to say the 60s were the most exciting time in my life, but it's not anymore.  It's about today and tomorrow."  Kudos to Ms Kamali for her inspiring words and for always looking forward to the future and embracing it.  Can't wait to see her next 3-D fashion video bring fashion to life on the screen.

Fashion 2.0 Holiday Party!

Earlier this week, Erin and I had a chance to stop by the Fashion 2.0 Holiday Party presented by Beyond the Rack at the Griffin in the Meatpacking district. I was feeling a bit under the weather but after getting some booze into my system, compliments of Martin Codax, I was feeling much better. Overall - definitely a great way to start my holiday season!

The venue was nice and reminded me of a more posh lounge with mirrored ceilings, chandeliers and plenty of space to sit around or mingle. There were lots of different people across various industries and bloggers so it was nice to touch base with people before the holidays! Tunes were provided by DJ Belle De Jour with plenty of Katy Perry blasting in the backdrop.

There was a contest to score a $1,500 shopping spree to Beyond the Rack which was great - too bad Erin and I were slow and couldn't score any points =/

Special thanks to Yuli for organizing such a great event!

Photos courtesy of Sunny Norton

On a side note, the plaid shirt I'm wearing is from the William Rast for Target collection that launched last week. While I wasn't a huge fan of the line when I saw it in person, I loved the plaid shirts and grabbed a couple. They're lightweight fabrics and easy to layer with.

On Erin:

Over the Knee Boots - Delman
Tank Top - LnA
Ruffle Taffeta Skirt - Lanvin x H&M
Floral Print Tights - Primark
Chunky Necklace - Club Monaco
Velvet Collar Blazer - Vintage YSL (picked up at Housing Works!)
Chain Strap Satchel - Botkier Ava

On Jeff:

Blue Plaid shirt: William Rast x Target
V-neck T: Uniqlo Heat-Tech (seriously the best thing ever)
Dark Skinny Jeans: Jonathan Alders for 7 For All Mankind
Satchel bag: Matt & Nat
Nut/bolt leather wrapped bracelet: Giles & Brother

Fashion Week Blizzard

Today marks the unofficial start of New York Fashion Week! Although the tents are not open yet, there are a myriad events scheduled to happen tonight and happen they will!

So far the consensus is:
Geren Ford - "neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor dark of night....the show will go on"
Rebecca Minkoff - "We're not going to let a little snow get in our way!Rebecca Minkoff's Fall 2010 Presentation is NOT canceled. Come in your goulashes. "
Yuna Yang - "Despite the forecast we will still be presenting The Collection. After all, the show must go on!"
Tribal Couture - "Snow or not, the show is ON!"
Fashion 2.0 Awards - "We won't let the snow ruin our celebration"

What can I say except New Yorkers are resilient folks!

I actually got sent home from the office as New York City braces for the worst snow storm we have faced in my 3 1/2 years of living here! Something about the heating grates and the subway usually keep snow at bay in the city and usually it's gone almost instantly, leaving sidewalks clear but a bit slushy on the roads but today I noticed it was starting to pile up. Here are a couple views from midtown...looks like the folks at the Tents are keeping busy as multiple shovellers are working hard to keep the doors clear for tomorrow.

Unfortunately this is what it currently looks like outside my apartment! Will I make it? I'm Canadian, so I will definitely try...will I make it back home? Only time will tell ;) I'm packing a toothbrush and relying on the Subway and some waterproof boots!