In the Trenches

Literally and figuratively! This post is in two parts: first, an interview with a fashion insider who works in the trenches and second, actual coats!
I. Through Fellow Fashionista Trixy Tran of Tutti Dolce, CC was recently introduced to Fellow Fashionista Nathan Stobezki of MyOwnRunway.com, a fabulous fashion site with runway videos, photos and reviews. CC is pleased to present this exclusive interview with Mr. Stobezki!
Photo credit: First two pictures in this post courtesy MyOwnRunway.com. At right: Christian Dior Couture. Below left: Bottega Veneta.

1. What sort of educational background do you have, Nathan?
Currently, I am majoring in Communication Studies at Rowan University in New Jersey; am also an Independent Retail Analyst and Economic Forecaster and operate MyOwnRunway.com.

2. What are your 5 favorite fashion blogs and your 5 top fashion magazines or publications?
My top 5 fashion Blogs are Couture Carrie, Fashion Toast, Style Bubble, Karla's Closet and Fashion Squad. My top 5 favorite fashion magazines are Vogue, W, GQ, Esquire and Bazaar.

3. Why did you opt for this format instead of a traditional fashion blog?
I want to collaborate complete fashion shows into one successful website. You see, life to me is all about sharing [my] knowledge about fashion, retail, designers, trends I feel everyone should enjoy it by not only reading but by viewing it as if they are at show and that's why I am glad that MyOwnRunway can serve to gurus as a fashion hub to fashionistas around the world.

4. Other than via Facebook, how did/do you get the word out about your site?
Our two forms of marketing, which have worked tremendously, are interviews and word of mouth.

5. How do you intend to compete with style.com, nymag.com and others that offer runway coverage, and how do you distinguish yourself from those sites?
Our competitors are amazing companies, we look up to them; we really do. We are providing a service for fashion designers and we intend to provide a strict confidential respectful relationship in our industry.

6. How many people currently work at MyOwnRunway.com and how did you/will you go about hiring?
I, Nathan Stobezki focus on marketing strategies, David I. Buryn focuses on the business behind the scenes operations, but we have our friends who are helping us out. We are showing good faith from business to business relationships. We have many plans to expand but we are extremely careful in our steps to reaching our goals.

7. Your runway photos are both gorgeous and tightly edited. Do you have your own photographer on staff?
As I mentioned, word of mouth as our marketing tool. We have freelance photographers who hear about our website and would like to join our team and want a chance to get in the fashion industry and show their talents and building their portfolios. As I said before, we like to show good faith in the industry.

8. What is your favorite aspect of your job, and what part do you find the most cumbersome/irksome?
My mentors and peers always said to me "work for something which you love to do". This is exactly what I am doing. I love what I do. Attending fashion shows and joining the ambiance and being able to share it with all the viewers on MyOwnRunway.com and giving the ability for viewers to learn and look forward for the new trends of the designers. Therefore, I don't find any part of my job cumbersome or even irksome; I just do what I am supposed to and enjoy it to its fullest!

9. What advice can you offer Fellow Fashionistas who are interested in emulating your incredible site or entering a career in fashion?
My message to our Fellow Fashionistas: I started MyOwnRunway.com so I can give back to the Fashion Industry and help others learn. If you have a dream, just get out there and do it; shoot for the stars and do what you love to do. Don't let anyone tell you can’t because if you push hard enough you will and can succeed. Do what you love and enjoy life to its fullest.

10. Which shows are you going to be seeing at Fashion Week? Of the lot, which are you most excited about?
I will only be attending like 4 fashion shows. Miss Sixty, Oscar De la Renta, Rodarte, and Abaete. I am most excited to see Rodarte because The Mulleavy sisters are extremely talented and create wonderful clothes and Oscar De la Renta… Well, it's Oscar De la Renta! He knows how to dress a woman and make her look gorgeous and polished.

Thanks, Nathan!
CC looks forward to interviewing Mr. Stobezki again after Fashion Week to pick his brain on the hottest looks for Fall 2009, so stay tuned! And don’t forget to visit myownrunway.com!
II. From traditional shapes and colors to transparent, patterned and abbreviated versions, the trench is omnipresent, and terrifically sexy!
High shine at Vivienne Westwood Red Label, via nymag.com. Other runway photos courtesy style.com except where noted.
Louis Vuitton’s multiply belted, tipped patent coat is inventive and fun!
Salvatore Ferragamo’s deconstructed, cropped look; this and next via nymag.com
Blumarine’s lavender half-sleeve confection – CC is enamored!
Isaac Mizrahi goes green
Paul Costelloe prefers transparency; this photo via nymag.com
MaxAzria’s sheer patterned trench doubles as a dress!
Sonia Rykiel goes to great lengths
Charles Nolan does a drop-waist with a nontraditional belt
Halston is sweet as can be, offering a bow-belted nude
Nicole Farhi’s patterned trench calls “Spring”; courtesy nymag.com
Tracy Reese’s ornately landscaped coat is a work of art!
Derercuny’s monochrome floral smells nice!
Blumarine lives up to its name with a short-sleeved printed version
Moschino’s short ruffled sleeves give the trench a chic makeover
At Cher Michel Klein, the trench is even more abbreviated – CC is captivated by this sleeveless floral trench; photo via vogue.fr.

What to buy, you ask?
Certainly, a traditional take is a wardrobe staple: Gap classic trench with removable wool lining; visit gap.com.
A cropped or colorful version is a welcome addition for Spring 2009:
Marc Jacobs short green trench coat, at net-a-porter.com
Brian Reyes magenta moiré trench, at Saks Fifth Avenue
Dolce & Gabbana’s yellow silk organza trench is sure to brighten the dreariest of days! At Neiman Marcus.
Try a new shape, a pattern or an embellishment!
Diane von Furstenberg lab coat, at net-a-porter.com
Soia & Kyo Lotta funnel collar trench
ASOS dip side full-skirted Mac

Last look: 3.1 Phillip Lim silk trench coat, at net-a-porter.com.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend, darlings!

xoxox,

CC