I was walking through Caesar’s Palace, The Venetian and Paris’ fashion-filled hallways in Las Vegas last week and had a very conscious thought about left versus right coast fashion as I studied some of the styles I would have not paid attention to a few years ago……
I thought, “since I’ve moved to the west coast, I don’t shop at Ann Taylor anymore.” Meaning, I don’t even go into the stores, get tempted to or look for a similar style. French designer Agnes B, who many of my East Coast girlfriends recommended I visit in Paris, was largely too conservative when I finally found two of four stories throughout the city. I left empty handed. Something happens when you move west.
A few hours after I had this thought, I ran into four industry girlfriends from the east coast, all of them reporters or editors from Boston and New York. They often shop at Ann Taylor and Banana Republic remains a staple.
It does not mean I’m now attracted to rhinestones, rubies and diamond shirts, or embroidered jeans (okay, perhaps some of the jeans). Nor does it mean I only wear flowy new age shirts found at coffee shops in quaint Marin neighborhoods or bright sweaters, rather than more traditional tans, greens and navies.
And not to pick on Ann Taylor, but c’mon, she’s all about straight conservative lines, tends to be tailored and safe rather than bold and daring. Simple and elegant is great. Conservative and tailored is also great and there’s definitely a place for it. I’m just glad there’s less of a place for it on the west coast.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
