Betsey in the Day...

It's hard for me to keep up with the news, but it's not hard for me to keep up with suspicious going out of business sales. I learned about a week ago the Betsey Johnson LLC filed for bankruptcy protection. And now everything must go.

I can't really think of anyone coming close to another Betsey Johnson. While she'll still design for Steve Madden, and the brand will still live on primarily because Betsey Johnson the brand is still strong...something feels a little lost. I feel like Volvo was sold to the Chinese all over again.

I recall buying a rather funky cool vintage suit back in the day. The brand was Joseph Magnin. I did some research, and found the really cool department store posters, but Joseph Magnin is a world that I discovered had come to an end long before I got to know it. I can't help but feel that some people will probably end up feeling that way about Betsey Johnson - delightfully discover the brand and then discover it's gone. Part of the disappointment is that Betsey Johnson was...to some degree, kind of a gateway designer. What other designer makes crazy cupcake tea dresses that utilize girlishness and cuteness to bring you down a rabbit hole into the world of fashion?

They weren't too different in terms of funkiness. (left) Betsey Johnson scarf, (right)Joseph Magnin Department Store Poster

It's a depressing sale. Outlets will be open the longest as they'll get the material that other stores can't sell. Texas? That means San Marcos folks.

There's a little reluctance to go on my side. There's also a dress I long since have not been able to fit into anymore that I'm inclined to sell...but at the same time I want to keep. Who knows, I have a hunch that Betsey Johnson will develop an eBay cult following.

...still...I don't fit into that dress.

WTF LVMH!

As noted before, I don't know much about fashion, I can't elaborate on fashion, but I do know patterns, evolution, and after almost a full academic year of being a chemistry teacher, I can call out BS as I see it.

I'm referring to the targeted takeover of Hermes by Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

There's something I find highly unappealing about giant conglomerates, afterall, being a teacher you know that the larger your class is the less individual attention you can give to each student. I'm not saying that all conglomerates are bad, but this certainly explains why I've been seeing traditionally high end designer labels almost everywhere in the masses.

I find Hermes decision to remain completely independent of the conglomerate very admirable. Until yesterday, I was unaware of how large LVMH was. I recognize that the conglomerate has a knack for revitalizing old brands, but even so, striving to appeal to a younger market is not...very impressive. All you have to do is lower prices. Cheapen materials. Create an outlet store. They only care about the name anyway.

This is where I admire Hermes dedication to quality even if they can only appeal to a small audience that can actually afford their products. They also are very well aware of how trend-based fashion is and how the good majority of fashion is transitional.

Family members recoil as they recall an LVMH official’s suggestion that Hermès bolster sales by creating a line of lower-priced bags.

“It’s exactly what you shouldn’t do,” Mr. Dumas says. “Because you will make a cheap Hermès bag which will sell like hotcakes for three years, and after three years people will say, ‘Hermès is not what it used to be.’ ”

Mr. Thomas says: “If you tell me I have to double the profit of Hermès, I will do it tomorrow. But then you’d have no Hermès left in five years.”

Fashion is business. Business is all about money. The article seems to show that LVMH has a blind eye towards the economics of reputation, and reputation standards.

Given that I'm not much for explanations on fashion, I'll do what I do best which is: give science examples.

Dogs are a beast that have evolved over the past 4000 years. One thing that I really enjoy about dogs is that if you look at other countries, almost all of them have a culturally significant dog that was developed for specific useful purposes. There is beauty in function. On a side note, I think that some may not realize that a lot of the best and most creative ideas arise out of need. Anyway, if you fast forward some 4000 years, we have miniature designer dogs that were bred for the purposes of being able to be carried around in purses without being burdens to their owners, accessories, if you will, and more importantly, dogs that would not be able to function without human intervention. Dogs that really can't stand on their own. Point being made, it's easy to create a sad situation when you cater to the wants of people. I hope that Hermes will continue to evolve naturally and if they ever feel it necessary to commit brand name suicide, I hope that it will be on their own terms.