Volume 2, Issue 20 September 14 - September 27, 2000

STYLE

THIS MAGIC MOMENT

Imagine 96,000 of your dearest friends shopping in a complex nearly twice the size of Park Meadows Mall three days before Christmas. Toss in a half-dozen lounges, non-stop runway shows, and a few very well dressed drag queens ... and you have the picturesque image of the 2000 Fall Magic Market Place. Retail buyers from across the country flock here in hopes of finding and purchasing holiday and spring merchandise for their stores. 3,200 exhibitors fill two convention centers in Las Vegas, peddling their designs and accessories.

Heather Veneer from Pandora's Toy Box describes Magic as "the second largest convention in Vegas. If you have a boutique, it is an essential. You could not have a hip clothing store and not go to Magic."

"I had never been there before," said Jen from Vintage Garage. "It was bigger than I had expected, and insane-- but I totally had so much fun."

Magic is four walk-your-feet-off days of searching and buying. Amidst its convention walls rest elaborate booth displays from new and classic labels alike. "I found a lot of interesting young designers in the Italian Showcase," said Corey from The Bridge. "It's a great opportunity for me to scout out the new kids on the block."

Trends and trend setters alike are sought after and discovered at the renowned convention. This year the prevalent theme seemed to play heavy on Glam Rock and an updated version of the '70's look.

Corey noticed "knits and skins for men are replacing the button- down shirt, and polyester is no longer a four-letter word for me."

This is also the first year that Pandora's will carry gold in their seven-year-old boutique. "Fall is costume gold jewelry-- big gold hoops, gold lariats, and '70's looking purses," said Veneer.

Jen adds, "I am all about rock T-shirts. I saw girls that I never thought I'd see in studded belts, glitter, and rock tees."

Shop 'til you drop rings through the night, as Magic hosts fashion-themed after parties. This year the opening party was sponsored by Dolce and Gabena at the Hard Rock Café. "They had a fantastic Milan runway show that wandered throughout the awesome pool area and lagoon," Corey said. The D& G show primarily showcased a mod squad look, with hot pants, color faded sunglasses, and gold setting the theme.

The convention mixes Armani with Lip Service, and tweeds next to rubber stretch. The crowded hallways often look like their own impromptu fashion runway, with buyers and sellers dressing up for the see-and-be-seen occasion.

"At lunch I eavesdropped on a conservatively-suited corporate buyer discussing opposing retail strategies with a purple dreadlocked and leather-clad representative from Serious," said one buyer at the show.

Said Veneer, "I saw a guy with absolutely no piercings and no tattoos-- now that really stood out."

Being fashionable is essential in Japan-- style is a must. You can always distinguish the native Japanese person from the foreigner based on the outfit; Americans dress for comfort, and we are usually pretty comfied-out. We have walking shorts, smart suits, breathable cotton, and comfortable shoes. On the other hand, many of the young, Japanese females have disregarded the comfort factor, especially in the shoe department.

Years ago, supermodel Naomi Campbell took a fall on the runway in gargantuan, 12-inch platform heels. That particular accident can be seen on the streets of Japan. We're not talking a little two-inch platform heel. Even five inches may be considered a "small heel." The minimum you'll see on many platform heels is seven inches, and I've seen close to a foot on the streets. They kind of shuffle their feet along or move like robots, carefully lifting one foot and then the other. Rumor has it (a nice translation from my Japanese friend) that two girls have died from wearing platform heels: one while walking, the other while driving a car.

In Colorado, we usually save our "cute clothes" and "cute shoes" for party time and going out. In Japan, these elevated shoes aren't saved for nights out on the town. They are everywhere-- at the bus station, train station, supermarket, department stores, market places, and of course, bars and nightclubs.

Osaka Chemical Co. Ltd., La Carte, and C. Crew are a few of the name brands who manufacture these trendy shoes. The shoes vary in price, but they range from 7,900-22,000 yen (roughly $75-$200). Many of the platforms are light-weight (I guess that's supposed to be the comfort factor) and come in a variety of styles. There are plastic platforms, corkscrew, vinyl, animal print, and even fur-lined platforms. There's also boot platforms that vary in height from foot-to-ground to knee-to-ground. The Japanese are very fashion conscious and have an assortment of accessories that will match your platform shoes or vice versa.

If you ever see these platforms in Colorado, they're going to be in a high-class fashion show, where everything is supposed to look outrageous-- hence, the word "show." Otherwise, the one time that anyone should wear them is when they try them on in the store and chuckle at the thought of buying them. If you have to be a sucker and buy these outrageous shoes to go clubbing in LoDo, you will surely be the highlight of everyone's night before and after they pick you up off the ground.