I definitely spend too much time on social media. Every Sunday when I get the notification showing my weekly screen time I want to crumble because I KNOW 90% of that time is spent on Instagram and TikTok. I really go on social media for two reasons: 1) to distract myself and 2) for inspiration. I use social media as a creative outlet, so I follow people that tend to do the same. This week I was so inspired but some of the fashion I saw from my favorite celebrities and influencers, so I just needed to share my favorite outfits I saw on social media this week.
If you aren’t familiar with SSENSE, let me introduce you. SSENSE is an online retailer that specializes in high end luxury goods and street wear items. This Canadian based company has made quite the name for themselves since 2020, and they have some of the best deals I have seen. I would consider myself a very light luxury consumer, as I am always considering what to purchase at the best price.
SSENSE often runs sales and private sales on huge designers such as Gucci, Saint Laurent, Off-White and more, at discounts I can’t seem to find anywhere else. Right now, I have gone through and found my favorite picks from shoes to dresses, and what I recommend snagging before it sells out. During these sales, things go fast.
Shop each individual link here, or see more on my LTK.
After a month break, I am back. This month is a new beginning and I am taking December to focus on good intentions with myself, and remember how grateful I am for all of the good people in my life. There is nothing like a step back that brings you two steps forward.
Starting of WOTW with a new month, seems fitting to me.
A life balance – words that have seemed foreign to me recently. Right now everyone is busy adjusting to new lifestyles: new school, new city, new job, whatever it may me it can be overwhelming.
Just a couple months ago I moved to Chicago, somewhere I had really never been to prior to my big move. I began a new job in a field I knew nothing about. Right after I began working, I started my full-time masters program online. Sounds like a lot right? Well it was extremely overwhelming at first. With the combination of a new city, new job and new school, I was left with little time for myself. I was missing out on all of my favorite things like cooking, going on long walks, working out, and even writing. If you have read my blog before this post you may have noticed I have been a little M.I.A. Well, that’s because I’ve been figuring out my life balance.
Finding your life balance is like searching for the perfect balanced diet – it’s near to damn impossible. But slowly after the trial and error of new routines, you are able to figure it out a little bit better to work towards your end goal. My goal of my life balance is to have enough time for work, school, myself and my friends. That’s it. But I know that’s a lot to ask and prioritize. When you have a full plate you have to figure out your prioritizes; what you need to do (like work and school), who you want to spend time with and what you need to do for yourself to make your mental capacity better down the road. Those three things that I carry with me day to day help keep me on track and find my balance.
If you’re struggling with finding time for yourself, remember that the only person that can make that time is you. Our schedules fill up so fast, but we can make our own time just as quick. For me, I have a hard time saying now because I tend to be people pleaser. Saying “yes” to everything makes other people happy, but overall leaves minimal time for myself. Sometimes it can be as easy as turning down a night out or a quick lunch just to make room for things you need to do for you. That’s not being selfish, that’s looking for yourself. And no one looks out for you like you do.
In all of my craziness I know that I am not alone. So many people are going through extensive & time consuming life changes, and nothing is too big or too small. While this can be such an overwhelming time of our lives, things will even out. As I have been balancing my changes for the past couple months, I am finally finding my groove again to make time for myself as every part of the day counts. Yes, it is important to work hard, but it’s almost as important to play harder.
Aritzia, Aritzia, Aritzia. The new colt favorite (and personal favorite of mine) has been steadily releasing their fall collections throughout the month of August. First came Wilfred, then came TNA, now comes Sunday Best.
Sunday Best is an Aritzia in-house brand that is tailored more towards their Gen-Z customer. The many tennis skirts, sweater vests and baby tee’s are the 90’s reinvention that we didn’t know we needed. And this 90’s to early 2000’s look is all the rage and a huge hit with the company’s target audience. But there is one issue with this style being so popular – the copying of designs from other companies.
I was beyond excited to see Sunday Best’s fall collection, but there were a few things that stuck out to me from their release. Their graphic tee’s are almost exact designs from Réalisation Par and Brandy Melville.
On the left, Aritzia, on the right, Brandy Melville.
While this original design from Brandy Melville has been copied many times in fast fashion, I was not expecting to this at Aritzia in their fall collection. They have also made similar designs on other shirts with the words “Ranger”, “Rodeo Kid” and “Buckaroo”.
The second design that I immediately recognized from another brand is this shirt originally designed by Réalisation Par. This brand rapidly increased in popularity through social media as their floral dresses were seen on many influencers throughout the summer. Their dresses weren’t the only thing that stuck out on their website. Their unique baby tee’s were flying off the shelves. Constantly sold out, this is an immediately recognizable shirt. So I was yet again shocked to see this on Aritzia’s website. Aritzia and Réalisation Par bring in the same kind of customer, so this won’t go unnoticed.
On the left, Aritzia, on the right, Réalisation Par.
While unfortunately designs are copied all the time, I am disappointed with these pieces from Aritzia. What sets Aritzia apart form its competitors is its timeless, unique yet classy pieces that are wardrobe staples to keep in your closet for years. But with this collection that is launching on Thursday, it shows that the company is taking a different approach to reach their target audience. And to be honest, the target has been missed. By this ever so slight rebrand from Sunday Best, they are putting themselves on the same playing field as other overdone Gen-Z brands. What they have works, there is not need to change that and it shows in their numbers. Some of their past quarters have hit company records in terms of revenue, so I am curious, why the change to be like everyone else?
The collection comes out tomorrow. While I will be browsing the new items, you won’t find me making any purchases from Sunday Best.
Instagram influencers are the backbone of product advertising. Every time you go on Instagram think about how many times you scroll past a post promoting a product. And when I say a promoted product it doesn’t have to be from the self-proclaimed influencer, but even from your favorite actor or athlete. So, now that you’re thinking of it that way, it’s probably a lot. On my social media pages it seems like I can’t pass three post without seeing a photo with the caption #ad. A few years ago, this marketing tactic worked. Extremely well. Now? The excessive Princess Polly and Crest Whitening Strips ads aren’t cutting it.
Before we talk about the downfalls of influencer marketing, let’s talk about its perks. Customers like hearing from a person that they trust. The word influencer is defined as “a person with the ability to influence potential buyers of a product or service by promoting or recommending the items on social media”. They influence because they are trusted. Without these people having a trusted following, they wouldn’t be able to get other people to buy what they “love” so much. Have I bought things that an influencer promotes? Absolutely! I have girls and accounts that I follow that I feel like I have built a connection with, which makes me trust their recommendations, which leads me to purchase their beloved product. This form of product advertising does work. But it has to be done correctly. And as it has become more popular, this form of advertising is over saturating the product market. Therefore, decreasing its effectiveness.
Despite brand’s best efforts to appeal to the Gen Z and Millennial age group, something is missing between the consumers & their sought after purchase. These generations have taken it into their own hands to become a typical “Instagram influencer”, and it’s hurting the market. And I want to note that I am not knocking influencers in any sort of way. I know it is crazy hard work, time and effort to achieve the things that they do. Shoot I even struggle to work my full time job and get blog post up a few times a week. They work hard, but the influencer world is overdone. Oversaturated. It has been roughly ten years since Instagram started, and about the same time since the first influencers gained their following. Technology is evolving, and so is the product advertising in a digitally driven world.
According to Forbes, affiliate marking is already maturing. While it seems like every brand is on social media looking for people to push their product out to their target audience, classic, luxury brands like Bottega Veneta have steered clear of this tactic. Could this be because the market has too many brand’s doing too similar of advertising? Part of me thinks so. I give these luxury brands props for sticking to traditional advertising methods that seem to be working. Bottega doesn’t seem to be having a problem as their Mini Jodie & Chain Pouch have been seen everywhere for the past year.
Despite the constant change in advertising tactics, product marketing is important. And necessary for a brand to succeed. The question that remains though is what is next for the “influencer” world? Will Instagram remain on top, or will a new platform reign in the world of influencers? Hard to say due to the evolution of technology, but keep your eyes peeled for something other than the #ad.
Kayce Wright 