It’s time to get ready for the new season, so let’s take a page out of a fashion designer’s book. Every season they need to come up with a brand new idea for their fashion collection.
In most cases, this means designing at least four complete new looks every year. I find this to be such a great model for us in the event industry.
Let’s work on designing at least one brand new collection for ourselves a year. We’ll concentrate on this together from start to finish, which means: a new look (have you ever looked at your own design and said, I am so over doing the same thing over and over, even if my clients like it?) and new ways of giving service (if you are in the service business of course).
For our To Do list for this week: Step 1. I’ve broken it down into three buckets:
1) A name. What are you calling your new collection? What has inspired you the most in the past year? Here are some starting points for your muse:
- Nature. Think of gardens you have visited, your mother’s garden, or flowers you have recently rediscovered.
- Movies. Think Avatar or Alice in Wonderland.
- A time period. Maybe you like the look of Art Deco orr the flowers from the French traditional.
- Fashion designers. For example, I loved John Galliano’s last collection.
2) What colors are you feeling this year?
Last year I was in love with lavenders and purples. Surprisingly, this year I am feeling a lot of classic whites and creams.
3) What look? Are you feeling a clean modern look, something more traditional, eclectic or a mixture of combinations? (I am feeling a modern background with strong traditional statements.)
Once we establish these three directions, we can then move forward by collecting images of our selections. You can use everything from photos and cut outs to color and fabric swatches. If you want to become the next trend setter in your community, I think this is a very important practice to work on every year.
Next Monday, we’ll discuss step 2 in getting our new collection together.
I’d love to know–what colors are you feeling for this year? What are some names you’re throwing around? What direction do you love most? Modern, traditional or eclectic?
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George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
Bisi Bordley
August 9, 2010
You read my mind, stop it.
xb
Harvey Designs
August 9, 2010
Definitely feeling the art deco look with the creams and black and whites. great advice! can’t wait for next week!
Nishaka
August 9, 2010
This is so awesome! I was just thinking over the weekend the common colors my clients love right now and I needed to break out of it. New colors I want to pursue are charcoal gray, purple, and lavender. I am doing that right now for a December Bride. I love the a modern look and square tables at an event. Thanks so much for this blog. I am definitely thinking along the lines.
kisha
August 9, 2010
Good afternoon, Preston! Thanks for this post. After all this time, I’m still in love with and inspired by the bright, bold colors of Samantha, Charlotte, Miranda and Carrie in the wedding (that never was) in Sex and the City I….. Neutrals with a bold pop of color (orchid, gold) for the fall…and mainly eclectic.
Rachelle of So Fabuluxe!
August 9, 2010
Simply Fabulous – Preston!
Nancy
August 9, 2010
A bride this past weekend literally had a “white wedding”. The bridesmaids dresses, all 13 of them, were white. The groomsmen ties were also white. The reception room was decorated all in white, with lily flowers, roses, white lanterns, giant white sofas with glittering white pillows, an ornate white cake, and white barstools & mirrored tables outside for the cocktails. I agree with you about feeling the whites and creams for this year!! It was hard to imagine this wedding at first, but seeing it all put together was truly inspiring!
Ebony Coston
August 9, 2010
Thank you so much Preston. I love forward to this assignment. I’m thinking slates blues, grey, with a POP of color like yellow or reds, oranges. A mixture of clean and modern but with an eclectic touch. Square tables instead of the traditional round……..in creative mode….
Erik H.
August 9, 2010
Excellent blog as usual. Already thinking about fall. Goin up to the cabin where I will set a table outdoors with a greyish/ash color fabric to emulate the fire pit. I’ll have a fringed burlap table runner and my centerpiece will be a birch log, I’ll cut a V into the log and place oasis foam and pack in some burnt orange mini callas, antique haydrangeas, orange ilex berries, some yellow wild flowers and galex leaves. We will probably have my world famous stuffed walleye with crushed walnuts and lobster newberg sauce paired with a Trinity Oaks Pinot Grigio-my favorite.
It’s 95 degrees here in Minny-it’s too hot! Bring on Fall!!!
All the best.
Erik H.
Rayna
August 13, 2010
Super fabulous Preston!!!!!
Calli
August 14, 2010
I love this! Definitely adding it to my list.
rupal
September 24, 2010
hi preston,i m such a big fan of yours and just love all your ideas and designs. i m so very happy and excited to read about all the ideas and get lot of inspiration from u.