Thursday 31 July 2014

Steal Their Look - Alexa Chung

Welcome to our new weekly feature, where we grab a celebrity street style and steal it using findSimilar!

This week we caught the beautiful Alexa Chung in NY, wearing a stunning floral on black summer dress. She accessorized with simple black sandals, and retro sunglasses. Alexa never fails to inspires us with her vintage style! 




Big graphic floral prints have been huge this summer, and with black being the out of place colour of this what better way to rock two trends at once?

For our steal we chose this little number by Warehouse, this is the kind of dress that’s formal enough for the workplace, but a pair of trainers can transform the look for after hours.

It’s been reduced to £70!  http://www.shopstyle.com/p/warehouse-floral-print-dress/455734330

We might have nabbed this one for ourselves (Don’t judge!) it’s just so tempting what a few clicks can do!

You can download StyleThief today from iTunes, and use the findSimilar software to search for your own looks!             https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/style-thief/id741521998?mt=8

Wednesday 30 July 2014

Kiroco - Interactive Jewellery





Have you got a piece of jewellery that reminds you of someone you love? Imagine being able to actually see, hear and get messages from that person, through the jewellery itself. Kinda steps it up a notch doesn’t it? 

We found an innovative jewellery company this week called Kiroco, that does exactly that. 




Not only are the pieces beautiful, but the unique pendants make a live connection between you and the person that gave it to you. You can then view photos, videos or messages sent via the pendant, by swiping it against an NFC enabled smartphone. 

You can build up updates from the sender, almost like a private conversation, all held within a physical piece of jewellery. 




There is a huge choice of designs for different pendants and bracelets, with prices ranging from £20 for a simple pendant and leather strap bracelet, to £130 for a stunning enamel and Swarovski crystal necklace. 

You can get a piece directly from http://www.kiroco.com/ or if you want to keep updated with the company you can follow them on Twitter @KirocoJewellery





Tuesday 29 July 2014

TrendTuesday : It's the Time of the Season


Welcome to our new weekly feature TrendTuesday! Where we'll be dosing you up with a quick fashion trend and using findSimilar to mix it up a bit. This week we're looking to our beloved British festivals for a fashion fix.

The big G might be over, but there's plenty more festivals just around the corner. We've put together a 60's chic look, all pieces from TopShop, and found Similar using our software. We are in love with this embroidered cape by Who's Who, and it's sure to keep you feeling nice and cosy when roaming the fields.

To find your own festival inspiration, you can download the StyleThief app now (it's free - woohoo!) and use the findSimilar software to search for new looks!

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/style-thief/id741521998?mt=8

Thursday 24 July 2014

Fashtech launches in New York!

Here at findSimilar HQ, you may know that we are proud to sponsor the FashTech events which currently run in London and San Franciso, and now we are super exicted to announce that we will be joining them as they head over to the Big Apple! So we decided to take a look back over the history of New York fashion and why it is today titled the Top global fashion Capital of the world.
 
America’s fashion scene was pretty un-exciting in the early 1900’s, with Paris dominating fashion through it’s romantic Parisian style and Charles Worth’s influences to make dressmaking an art with the unique creation of Haute Couture. 
The designers that followed suit through Paris such as Paul Poirot and Chanel led to revolutionize the way fashion was perceived, it was no longer a private affair tied to wealthy clients but a showcase to be shared and sought after by the whole world. Catwalks were invented, designers were empowered and publications such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar began to promote the aspirational attire of the French. 
 
  This all changed In the 1940’s, as World War 2 had a dramatic effect on Paris’s influence over fashion. Houses that were still operating drew disapproval from the public, as fabrics were being heavily rationed and there was no place for the luxurious and superfluous world of dress-making in the Allied Countries. 
The fashion industry looked to New York to continue operating and the American Look was born.
American styles were praised as being “modern, streamlined and flattering,” they made use of fabrics not in demand by the war effort and “War Wise” dressing became a fashion trend.
New York fashion week’s first calendar was created by Ruth Finely in 1944, who compiled all of the week’s events into one comprehensive guide. This was essential to bring together the fashion and beauty industries, including buyers, manufacturers, designers and editors. But there was still the problem of where the event should take place. 
With sponsorship secured by a number of companies, including Mercedes-benz, the original venue in Bryant Park held the Fashion Week, under a series of large white tents. “The Bryant Park shows forever changed the fashion industry,” designer Tommy Hilfiger told Time. “They united designers in an unparalleled situation.”
Today “The tents” are located uptown in Lincoln Centre, with more room to accommodate new generations of designers, trying to break through on fashions most watched stages.

We can’t wait to join FashTech in NYC - and if you are a fashion tech start up based either in London, San Francisco, or New York, then get involved!

Follow them on Twitter, @FashTechLDN @FashTechSF and @FashTechNYC to find out more.

Friday 18 July 2014

Kate Bosworth for Style Thief


Our findSimilar technology has been put to good use in the Style Thief app, and Kate Bosworth has got on board to launch the “Snap and Steal” craze!

“Understanding how to refine search for the customers is, I think, something on the forefront of tech and fashion.”

Kate was constantly wanting to steal looks from the likes of Cate Blanchett, Julianne Moore and Alexa Chung. She said “Everyone can relate to that feeling of looking at an editorial, for example - or a friend, or the runway, for that matter - wanting to steal something exactly as you’re seeing it, or something Similar.” We know this feeling!

The App launch party was held at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Kate used Style Thief to help pick out her outfit. She wore a beautiful pastel floral print RED Valentino mini dress, and teamed it with a pair of burgundy Bionda Castana heels.


She posted an adorable tweet about her partner Micheal after the launch, who is said to have helped with the design of the app, “Thank you my love, @micheal_polish for being the greatest partner.” The duo together looked picture perfect.

Style Thief is available for download on iTunes now, with an android version being released later this year.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/style-thief/id741521998?mt=8

It’s great to see a star who is as constantly on point with fashion, such as Kate, using our software for inspiration. We’ve used findSimilar to steal the Bosworth look!



Thursday 17 July 2014

Couture Fashion Week 2014


Haute Couture has been the pinnacle of Parisian fashion since the 19th Century, and whilst the clothing may be exclusive to the rich and famous, the looks and styles are not. So what makes this label the most limited in the industry?

Translating to “High Dressmaking” in French, Couture is is the most supreme quality of clothing shown on runway throughout the whole fashion calendar. Each designer has to go through vigurous training and tests, all the while under scrutiny of the Chambre Syndicale- a panel containing 18 members from the most renowned fashion houses in the industry.

Once a designer gains Haute Couture status, they must adhere to strict rules in order to show their creations. No sewing machine is allowed, each outfit will have taken 100 - 400 hours to create, and only the most skilled Atelier’s would be able to accomplish the complexity required. All this adds up to an equally ‘Haute’ price tag, an average dress can cost between £20,000 to £100,000.

 
We’ve picked out 5 dazzling trends from Couture Fashion Week 2014

Matrix : We knew the 90's were back, but didn't expect to see these fierce ladies wearing full leather Jackets and gloves.

 Ladies in Red : A constant colour seen throughout the week, the ultimate shade of Glamour. 

 Avant Garde : The best of the weird and wonderful, we love the mixture of colours. 


Trapeze Please : Yves Saint Laurent's shape gets relived, we're thinking cute cocktail dresses.

 
Bridal : Preferably pregnant in Karl Lagerfeld's eyes, these are the wedding dresses we've been DREAMING of. 


We're going to use FindSimilar to get the Couture look! Follow us on Twitter @FindsimilarLDN














Wednesday 9 July 2014

Martin Peniak for TEDxBratislava - Achieving Dreams through higher education.




One of our Cortexica researchers Martin Peniak was invited to speak at TEDx Bratislava, to talk about his astonishing journey from working in a fish processing factory to completing a PHD in Cognitive Robotics in Plymouth. Today Martin has undertaken a number of projects, innovating the approach to artificial intelligence and more recently experimenting on the iCUB humanoid robot allowing it to acquire complex motoric actions and simple language.

Martin traveled to England from Slovakia, a 19 year old with passions for astronomy, electronics and photography. He spent his first night in Plymouth taking shelter in a bus stop but soon managed to land a job working in a fish factory- even though he was Vegetarian. After a chance meeting with Professor Simon Davies, from the school of Biomedical and Biological Sciences, Martin was determined to enroll in higher education.

In the talk Martin emphasized the importance of perseverance, motivation and hard work needed to achieve your dreams. Something he is sure to have mastered, as he attended university throughout the day and then worked till the early hours of the morning to fund his studies. Martin was awarded the Revel Research award for best student on the programme nonetheless and continued onward to complete his phD.

If you wish to hear about the exciting developments that are happening in the world of robotics and electronic engineering, or see why Martin received a standing ovation from over 700 people, then be sure to check out Martin Peniak’s TEDx talk which will be available in the next month. 


At Cortexica we strive to work with some of the countries leading researchers, Martin is currently working here at Imperial College breaking the boundaries for research within image recognition visual search. You can follow Martin on twitter @mpeniak

Thursday 3 July 2014

Dress Easy


Could this be the ultimate collaboration between fashion and technology yet?

The practical saviour that is the pocket has lined our garments from as early as 18th century, but with the help of A. Sauvage and Microsoft it’s golden hours of holding lint and 2p’s might be ramped up for an upgrade.

A worlds first these techno chino’s were unveiled at London Collections Men, they feature the Nokia DC-50 wireless charging plate within the pocket which is capable of charging Lumia smartphones.


There’s no denying that our phones have integrated into every aspect of our lives, and perhaps blossomed into a more obsessive relationship then would be comfortable for any human to endure (toilet breaks aren’t a thing to be shared!) But nonetheless we are smitten.

A study showed that 53% of people in Britain admitted to checking their phones first thing when waking up, even before muttering a “Good Morning” to their partner, and a further 26% confessed to sleeping with their phone in bed. 

There is an illness that bestows our little electronic lovers though, and we are constantly battling their death. The low battery sign can bring tremors of fear into the best of us. It can be the difference being able to complete work tasks, being able to find a route home safely, or even just making that tube commute a bit less boring.

The collaboration was inspired by the “Modern Man” and A. Sauvage’s slogan of “Dress Easy.” And we can think of no slicker solution to a low battery then to just put it back in your pocket.


Just another example of success when technology meets cutting-edge fashion design. Francesca Bernard here at FashTech illustrated a couple days ago that her phone battery life was the one area of tech that she would like to see improved and we at FindSimilar would love to be able to search for clothes all day long.

Wednesday 2 July 2014

Sporting the Trend with findSimilar



 

Sportswear has taken the fashion world by storm in the past decade. From trainers being made for fashion wear rather than their original purpose (which is what again?)  to Nike logos inco-operated into high fashion runway designs.  It’s pretty clear that tomboy style is coming back in more ways than one.  

The ‘Sports Luxe’ trend has definitely been a hit on street style, globally. The physical trend is now being seen as much as it is on males to females thanks to a certain Karl Lagerfeld SS14! Londoners are certainly showing us that you can, in fact, have both comfort and fashion.

Even Net-a-Porter has created a frenzy in the sporting world with their new clothing line – ‘Net – a – Sporter.’ We absolutely love it and can’t wait to be jumping on board on July 9th!  Of course, going to the gym will be no catwalk but at least we can feel the part!



With such high fashion exposure, findSimilar are sure this trend won’t be fading out anytime soon.  So, here are some outfit inspired looks findSimilar have come up with.


How would you use findSimilar to ‘sport’ your new look?

Tuesday 1 July 2014

Bodi.Me : The Solution to Vanity Sizing



Sizing has created hours upon hours of hair- pulling stress for females today. With one shop plainly slapping you in the face with a size 10 compared to next door kindly presenting you with a giftly size 8. We wonder why all shops can’t be the same, saving us a lot of disappointment and return postage fee.

Otherwise known as the problem of the 21st century for the average female, sizing continues to fluctuate at an uncontrollable rate. Since the slimming seventies, sizes 6 and 8 were beyond rare and your typical modern 12 was a well- suited 14. With an increasingly weight gaining population, it was never questioned why as we got bigger our sizes remained the same. Recent studies have shown that smaller sizing is a new form of measurement for self-worth, all the more easy to snap out your credit card and buy those size 8 jeans, truly knowing your inner size 10.  This hard evidence has been taken into consideration by numerous retailers to manipulate their sizing chart for a wider (both senses of the word) and happier audience.  Whilst classic fashion outlets such as Marks&Spencers, Zara and Mango stay true to seventies sizing, they lose out on sales due to forcing the unwanted truth on their customers.

So what? Its’ the question on everyones’ lips. Well, whilst the deflating of sizing may make you feel temporarily happy, it is causing smaller framed women to be outsized by clothes – introducing the worlds first ever “Triple Zero”. Secondly, it allows variation between shops, causing online shopping to be virtually impossible.

Bodi.me has now put an end to Vanity Sizing overall. An online log of all your exact measurements in one place giving you the right size for the right shop. Its as quick as standing in front of your web scan right now for a full body scan to booking the portable booth to a facility near you.  This can be updated whenever you feel necessary, (we feel that after Christmas may have to be pencilled in) allowing you to know your exact measurements, handy for a tailor and your own size unique to the high street.

Bodi.Me offered a free 3D body scan at the London Technology Week June event - guests were scanned and then sent their measurements for each retailer. If you missed out, you can do it at home using your webcam.

Cortexica & findSimilar are proud sponsors of FashTech LDN and FashTech San Francisco events, follow them on Twitter to find out about the next event : @FashTechLDN



Fashion Focus : The White Out


Wimbledon is undoubtedly one of most fashionable sporting event of the year. We're talking the trend that everyone is talking about, complete WHITE OUT. Whether it’s a white on white suit, or your very own take on a LWD, findSimilar will have you kitted out for Centre Court in Vogue 2014 trends, whilst sipping on a glass of pimms. Who said tennis was tiring?!

This trend has been seen multiple times across the 2014 catwalk platform as well as being the visual front row of every Topshop in the UK.  A clean and classic look that is guaranteed to impress for any occasion! As well as being perfect for summer in general this look can be dressed down for work and tailored for any nighttime soiree. FindSimilar love this classic 3.1 Phillip Lim band collar blouse. 



What’s more is it’s not just tennis players sporting the look. A-list celebrities have equally chosen the look as a summer favourite such as Eva Longoria and Jennifer Lopez, with the white making them look more bronzed than they already are.

So for a good way to accentuate your tan in an outfit even Federer wouldn’t miss, use FindSimilar to create a perfect White-on-White outfit choice to last you all summer.  


What's your favourite way to wear The White Trend?






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