Fashion Public Relations – Linking Women’s Media with Celebrity Media

Juicy Couture, My Favorite!

Fashion public relations is a lot of fun for us publicists! Seriously, what woman wouldn’t want to work with gorgeous fashion apparel, picking out the stars of that season’s line and pitching them to the media? Everything from designing the press kit to writing the promotional copy and seeing the results of your fashion pr efforts in magazines, it makes me feel like a kid in a candy store.

Fashion public relations is visual and fantasy-based. It’s all about presenting a certain image. When I work with a fashion client I usually break the brand down to its foundation and re-make it from the ground up. Does that sound weird? Here’s what I mean, and these are just a few fashion public relations tips that anyone can use to achieve media coverage and consumer buzz for apparel and accessories.

In all of my career I have never seen an industry quite as saturated as the fashion industry. High end couture and celebrity-driven lines seem to reign supreme in fashion pr and everyone else is forced to fight for the remaining showroom and retail floor space.  But here are some fashion public relations strategies that can still stack the public relations and marketing deck in your favor.

How are you presenting your fashion line? Every fashion designer needs a website, that is an obvious point, and assuming you have a professional looking website, how is your line being displayed? I will never forget one particular client who I worked with a few years ago. When we first began working together she was displaying her clothing on headless mannequins and photographing her clothing that way. I didn’t understand how a fashion designer could allow her creations to hang pitifully on headless mannequins. Where is the fantasy and intrigue? Clothes are meant to be worn by people, beautiful people who carry themselves with flare and have a sparkle in their eye = confidence. Display your apparel properly… on human beings. Look at your entire line for the upcoming season and pick the stand-out pieces. Find a model or models who wear your designs well and project the fantasy you want to convey. My public relations firm, Allison Dawn PR, puts together photo shoots for fashion clients, but anyone can do this on a relatively small budget. There are many photographers, makeup artists and models vying for a chance to build up their portfolios. You can create images that will capture the attention of media, consumers, buyers and the entertainment community if you adhere to your vision. I have created lookbooks, start to finish, for $2000.00.

Be strategic with your samples. Don’t give out samples to every Tom, Dick and Harry. Samples are valuable and should only be given out with imminent purpose. Distribute samples with care to the following sources:  wardrobe stylists, editors and celebrity publicists. BUT, this should be a relatively short list. Sit down and make three lists:

Which celebrities fit the body type, lifestyle and image that reflects the image of your fashion line

Which magazines and blogs write about fashion and accessories that seem to fit the same demographic as your own line. Remember this includes the look of the apparel and accessories but also the retail price point. If there is a particular magazine or page in a magazine where the editors seem to consistently include pieces that look similar to your but the average price point of what they cover is $50.00 to $250.00 and your pieces average from $500 – $1000 then that is not the right venue for your line.

Research talent agencies that represent wardrobe stylists (yes, they have agents) and invest in a Hollywood Creative Directory to contact TV and film products directly to inquire about presenting your link to their costume designers.

Know how to use your bragging rights appropriately. When it comes to Fashion PR, it’s all about “who is wearing your line?” Retail buyers and sales reps for that matter are shaky at best about trying out new lines. However, they love to see glossy pictures of celebrities out and about wearing your line in the celebrity weeklies, or in fashion magazines. They also love to see your pieces on the red carpet, or to hear how much so and so actress just loves that sweater or scarf from your latest collection. Don’t be shy about announcing these exciting developments in press releases and in email pitches to editors and fashion reporters.

Stay tuned for more on fashion public relations in upcoming blogs.