My predictions of how ‘the Internet of Things’ will affect the fashion industry

Business Fashion Fashion Talk

What is the Internet of Things? According to my friend Wikipedia, it’s a proposed development of the Internet in which everyday objects have network connectivity, allowing them to send and receive data.

Is your fridge out of milk? Let me add it to your grocery list! Not sure how to clean your coffee maker? Just ask your machine! These are just some of the conveniences you could expect from the Internet of things. The scary thing is that we are almost there, it’s just that the Internet of things would be a global strategy to have everything talking to each other. I mean, we already have smartphones and smart TVs… so this would just mean that all your household appliances would also be.. well …smart!

Because this is a fashion blog, not a tech blog, I have decided to share my predictions of how the ‘Internet of Things’ could potentially affect the fashion industry:

  1. Cher’s closet will become the norm. It’s a brilliant idea, but why on earth is this not mainstream yet? Whether it’s automated purchases to complete a look, or styling advice based on your schedule of activities, I think getting dressed will become more digital than we think. I also saw this body measurements tool that helps you buy jeans online! Now that is pretty cool!
  2. Smart jewellery. Wearable technology is already a thing, I know, but I think more of it. For example, I just bought myself a gorgeous lavender and gold Fitbit Charge 2! An all-in-one accessory and watch that will track my health score all while keeping my wrist looking gorgeous. I can also get involved with an online network to keep me motivated and engaged. And what about changing colours? Michael Kors has already released a smartwatch that has an interchangeable face.
  3. Colour changing makeup. Remember those mood lipsticks from the dollarstore? The colours always seemed to turn into this dusty pink that would stain your lips. Well, I bet there is a fancy brand out there looking at developing a better digital lipstick that would give us a plethora of colours to choose from. Just point at a colour you like and “bam!” instant lipstick change! Have you also seen the nail polishes that change colour based on your temperature? A similar technology could be used for the lipstick I just invented.
  4. Colour changing clothes. Apparently, the 80’s had all of this figured out. Remember the hypercolour t shirts? Man, I wanted one so bad. I think there would be room here for digital improvements, don’t you?
  5. Shopaholic budgeting. Yes, I think we can use this technology for good. Maybe if we start tracking more where our money is spent or the cost-per-wear of our clothes, we will be able to make more informed decisions… and waste less! I’ll take a little budget-friendly and eco-conscious with a side of technology, please!

So maybe, my predictions aren’t super riveting, but what can you do?!

Plus, do you really think I would share a million dollar idea on my blog for all my readers to see for free??!! Any smart business woman would say, helz no!

 

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Big Words- Plus-Size, Curvy, Full, Voluptuous and Ample

Mode Xlusive

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but names can never hurt me” … the fat girl credo.

Words are just words. But yes, they can hurt. Trust me, I can talk about this, because I was always “big-boned” as a kid. You know, I had a lot of “baby fat”. It seems I was always reminded of this particularly when it was time to try on dresses for my Armenian folk dance group. It didn’t matter if I was taller than all the kids (no, this was a good thing!) as soon as that dress wouldn’t fit my arms or zip up my back… I was labelled as a fat kid. And trust me, I could see the look of disappointment on the teachers’ faces, because I was a “good dancer”. At an early age, I learned the best way to deal with being made fun of, is to develop a witty sense of humour and attack yourself before anyone else has the chance. When others do the same, don’t think they have low self esteem… it’s a defense mechanism to actually make you feel good about yourself. I know this sounds backwards, but just trust me on this one. After the summer of grade 8, the good lord blessed me with more growth spurts and sporty skills which helped me shed some of that “baby fat” everyone hated about me. But still today, I struggle with weight.

But I digress. The real reason I am writing this post is to address some talk about labels. Words that are supposed to help women shop for clothing that fit them. The fashion industry has chosen to segregate “regular” people” from “larger” ones by stopping at size Large. That’s when the official “Plus-Size or 14+” market was born! It’s still however, a touchy subject. After having conversations with other women, some more “plus-size” than others (yes, there is a prejudice for people of my size that are not deemed fat enough to represent larger women) I realize that we cannot change the words. We must focus on behaviours.

synonym-for-large
The word large has a more negative connotation.

I started this blog to help inspire women of any size to look good and feel good about their image. Maybe you hate your legs, maybe you want to show off your tiny waist, but at the end of the day, all women have their insecurities and assets. I want to help women get over their insecurities, by sharing what I do with mine, and teach them to flaunt what they love about themselves. When you are truly happy with your image, these words won’t mean much to you.

Even though I am not about the words, I was challenged to find a better word to replace “plus-size”, so my word is “Voluptuous”. Now it’s your turn! Share your word in the comments below.

synonym-for-voluptuous
I like how the word voluptuous is filled with positive vibes!
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