Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York & Los Angeles

Fashion PR & Political PR Mix with Runway to Change

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:08:43 -0500

New York Fashion Week begins today, something I certainly look forward to each season. With Mercedes Benz button-ladened site, it seems this season is all about flair. Flair in style, flair in attitude and this Tuesday night, flair for name-recognizable fashion icons supporting a Presidential candidate well known for his...flair. When I heard about Runway to Change, a major fashion event to support the Obama Victory Fund, I giggled with school-girl giddiness at the thought of being in one place with so many amazing fashion industry greats, but then I reflected more on how fashion and politics seemed to have coincided in a mutually beneficial PR effort.

Runway to Change will include special guests Anna Wintour and Sarah Jessica Parker, both obviously synonymous with style. While that alone may get the press to attend, some pretty incredible fashion designers are participating as well, such as Zac Posen, Vera Wang, Marc Jacobs, Isaac Mizrahi and Diane von Furstenberg (plus about 22 other designers); all headliners themselves. Specifically taking place during fashion week to draw out the hard core fashionista's (mainly due to the price tag), this fashion event is actually nothing less than what I would expect from the Obama campaign. With WWD and other fashion publications covering Michelle Obama's incredible style and the possibly wanted (but not) branding of Obama as a "rockstar," this fashion come political fund-raising event is killing two birds with one stone--PR for the designers, Wintour and Parker and PR for Obama's campaign. (Something we've been seeing more and more of lately with the fashion industry such as their love affair with reality television.)

Whether Obama wins or loses in November, one thing will be certain--he will have left an indelable mark on how future candidates will be creative in how they raise money for their campaign and seek out each and every person for their vote. We are already seeing this with his use of social media, his online presence and his PR outreach overall. Pairing up with Anna Wintour for Runway to Change is just another creative idea that further solidifies the fashionable aspect of his image.

I'll be attending Runway to Change and blogging about it further. Will you be there? And more importantly, what do you think of this fashion-political mix?

*Photo credit: MB Fashion Week

Stand Up to Cancer Fundraising Event

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:40:15 -0500

Cancer Initiative Unites Separate Forces of Public Persuasion

Scenario: You are flipping through the channels on a Friday night and you think something is wrong with your remote as the same picture appears despite your less than ginger pressure on the channel button. If this Friday happens to be the frist one of September 2008, don’t try to replace the batteries in your remote. Stand Up to Cancer, a fundraiser for the Cancer Cure Initiative, will be appearing on CBS, NBC,and ABC. The collaboration is a first in television history.

The typical news that is worthy of a simulcast is exactly that—news. The networks are hoping simultaneously broadcasting a commercial free prime time hour of the Stand Up to Cancer fundraiser will add that same urgency and attention-grabbing quality that say, the State of the Union Address evokes (the original simulcast). The organizers of the event are positioning soft news as hard news to create awareness that starts a strong case of persuasion for the cause at hand.

Though the fundraiser doesn’t qualify under the technical definition of hard news, I do believe it is a hard piece of news to swallow when you realize each and every one of us has been touched by cancer in some way. It seems appropriate that a historic collaboration educates on a historic health epidemic.

Emphasis is being placed on the cause’s relevance and strength by bringing together many otherwise separated bold-faced names. Proving this is a cause that transcends the existing differences between public figures that are very publicly competitors:
-Fifteen of the top Divas across all genres of music (Carrie Underwood, Melissa Etheridge, and Mary J. Blidge, three of the features artists are from three drastically different music worlds) collaborated under two feuding producers to create a mega track called “Just Stand Up” that will have its live premiere during the event.
-Katie Couric, Brian Williams, and Charles Gibson might be used to sharing the same time slot but never the same frame. The three network anchors will host the event together.
Star-studded PSAs have been riding the donated airwaves of the three networks for this highly anticipated fundraising extravaganza.

The event takes place within this very busy week of presidential campaigns, New York Fashion Week, the NFL kickoff, the MTV Video Music Awards, season and series premieres, Fashion Rocks, America United: In Support of Our Troops…the list goes on!

The Olympics and the new television season squeezed Stand Up to Cancer with no other choice than the early September date. Hopefully the blitz of premiere programming will not take away each of the production’s value—specifically the pertinent importance of funding research for the leading cause of death.

PR Tactics: Reality Television Affiliation

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:18:21 -0500

Our Favorite Fashion Pubs Double as Reality TV Stars

According to the weather related definitions of the seasons, spring is the season for newness. I would argue that fall is the real season of newness with everyone looking to make a fresh start. School starts, fall fashion reigns, Broadway shows debut and perhaps most exciting of all—television begins its season.

I must admit, I am the most excited about Vinny Chase coming back into my life at last with the return of Entourage this season BUT there are some newbies that have caught my attention as well. According to our Haute List - 90210 and Kath and Kim will be the new shows to watch out for.

As PR professionals we should be looking out for a new editorially affiliated reality show. Stylista, referred to as Devil Wears Prada in a reality show, will be hitting the airwaves for the first time this October. The show features “Andy” wannabees competing under the scrutiny of Elle’s fashion director Anne Slowey to become a junior editor at the magazine.

The presence of a fashion editorial in a reality show is hardly a new publicity tactic. We saw Teen Vogue’s presence in the plot of The Hills a few seasons in a row (People’s Revolution PR has picked up where they left off this season). Seventeen’s Editor in Chief always appears in a few challenges in America’s Next Top Model in addition to the portion of the ANTM prize being the cover and a 5-page spread in the magazine (as Tyra robotically reminds us each and every panel). And of course Elle has had a long time presence in Project Runway and now fronts Stylista.

Besides the obvious publicity received from the integration of the magazine into the show’s content, series contract’s often include other publicity measures for the magazine. Essentially the magazine becomes a part of the brand package the series conveys to the public whether it be through advertisements, release parties, special events etc. Sometimes magazines even hold the exclusive rights to ad space for the show. Sounds like a win-win situation, right?

Well, there are a few challenges that can arise with this type of exposure. Personalities cast to represent the magazine might be doing well on the show, but could lose their place on the magazine’s staff while the show is actually airing. Two words: Project Runway.

Runway’s long time editorial affiliation with Elle has been exhibited through Nina Garcia, former fashion director of the magazine. The likable Garcia effectively put Elle back on the map in the fashion cult series. Recent staff reconstruction at Elle left Garcia without a job. Runway felt Garcia was an integral part of the show’s success so they kept her on the show even prior to the news that she would be the fashion director at Marie Claire (starting today actually). Runway immediately picked up the mag as a future sponsor upon hearing this news. Because these shows aren’t broadcasted live, Garcia will still be representing Elle as an “editor-at-large” in the upcoming season. Does this very publicized debacle negatively affect the image of Elle? Add a positive one to Marie Claire? How does this influence the success of Stylista, fronted by Slowey?

Apparently, the repercussions of reality television participation are mostly positive. There are talks of a Runway spin-off that would feature Nina Garcia and the staff of Marie Claire somehow. How do you feel? Does it bode well for magazines to expose themselves through the medium of “reality” TV? Is TV presence going to determine the overall readership of a magazine?

We're on iVillage's Weekly Top 10: Transition Pieces

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:31:55 -0500

Our Fashion PR Account Director, Real Hamilton-Romeo, has been featured on iVillage's Weekly Top 10 in Beauty & Style regarding transition pieces. Check out Real's fashion tip on page 4 of the 10 page spread!

Bideawee Gears Up for their 8th Annual Parade and Fair

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:31:03 -0500

Love on a Leash

Bideawee, one of the nation’s oldest humane organizations, is presenting its 8th annual pet parade and fair, Love on a Leash. Welcoming all dogs and pet owners, the festival will take place on Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 from 3:00-6:00pm, with a parade at 4:30pm, at The Village Green in Westhampton Beach.

Entertaining activities for crowds of all ages include kid’s games, face painting, a “doga” demonstration (yoga with dogs), and special shows with trainer Nadja Palenzuela and the high-flying Purina Incredible Dog Team performing extraordinary acrobatic tricks and amazing freestyle flying disc routines.

The Love on a Leash parade will feature the Little Red Wagon Contest, encouraging pet owners to decorate a little red wagon, walk in the parade with their pet, and compete for Best in Show.

Special celebrity appearances will include The Today Show’s Entertainment and Animal Rights Correspondent Jill Rappaport, General Manager for the NJ Nets Kiki Vandeweghe, Celebrity Pet Trainer Bash Dibra, Pet Author Arden Moore, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and Max from Max and Ruby.

It will be a great event for a great cause! Find out more at www.bideawee.org

Public Relations Tactics in a Time of Recession

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:31:23 -0500

Recessionista: n. A person who dresses stylishly on a tight budget; according to wordspy.com. According to me? A catch phrase to encourage fashionistas to continue their infrugality regardless of the economy by choosing less expensive versions of their favorite luxaholic products and services. It's making light of a situation that isn't so favorable for the consumer driven industries of our nation, spinning it 360, and delivering a luring message to the masses—PR 101 ladies and gentlemen.

What has turned into a large scale "recession chic" PR movement has benefited a number of familiar brands. A host of discount brands kneel graciously at the feet of recession and position their products and services not only as the smart thing to do, but the posh one. Target leads the pack with already-in-place "design for all" strategies that flourish even more now. Huge designers like Botkier and Proenza Schouler have participated in the past with leaks of a possible Alexander McQueen and Target venture in the future. Now THAT'S recessionista.

Small businesses have taken this positioning tool under its wing as well. I just read that Fresco by Scotto, a posh New York eatery known for its very "upscale comfort food", has opened an "on the go" version in the heart of the financial district that offers sharp suited bankers gourmet lunch options for under $10. (Yes it seems even the bankers are looking for a great deal with the joint's opening day lunch crowd wrapping around the block).

Some celebrities have even attempted to boost their own image by demonstrating, very publicly of course, recessionista ways. Kimora Lee Simmons, a die hard fashionista and luxaholic, proclaims her choice to travel commercially in place of her usual private jet-setting behavior to a gang of paparazzi as she waited in line at LAX in June. The 13 extra bags she brought along would rack up some serious extra charges so she may not be the beacon of saving money after all.

I’d love to hear your feedback on this growing positioning strategy. Where is the line that needs to be drawn between the educating of and the taking advantage of the consumer in these trying times we face? How long before consumers are no longer phased by the recessionista twist on ad campaigns and PR efforts?

Pierce Mattie PR's Haute List of Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle Brands

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:18:28 -0500

We have always prided ourself for staying ahead of the trends and having the foresight to know who is on track for becoming a haute property. We've comprised a Haute List that contains brands that are haute now as well as brands you should be keeping your eye on.

Indie Fashion & Beauty Magazines:
1. Visionaire
2. Metro.Pop
3. VMAN

Foreign Beauty & Fashion Magazines:
1. Company (UK)
2. Jessica (Hong Kong)
3. Trendi (Finland)

TV Shows:
1. 90210
2. Kath & Kim
3. Gossip Girl

Women’s Apparel:
1. Topshop
2. Valentino under Alessandra Fachinetti
3. Rodarte

Men’s Apparel:
1. Pastelle
2. RMC Martin Ksohoh
3. ANAMA

Jewelry Brands:
1. John Hardy
2. Alexis Bittar
3. Trollbeads

Handbag Lines:
1. Rebecca Minkoff
2. Foley+Corinna
3. Timi & Leslie

Cosmetic Lines:
1. e.l.f.
2. Colorescience
3. Classified Cosmetics

NFL Fitness Tips from Jets Safety, James Ihedigbo

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:35:36 -0500

Numbered are the weekends of barbeques and pool parties with summer quickly coming to an end. Even though hot dogs and hamburgers will be put to bed until next summer, partying certainly doesn’t end with the warm weather. It’s called football season—and people gather to watch the games on their HD Plasmas nearly every weekend. Our football favorites have been hard at work on the off-season to make sure you get your Direct TV NFL Ticket’s worth.

I had the opportunity to sit down with James Ihedigbo, safety of the New York Jets, to talk about just what kind of work he's been doing to get ready for this season and what we as non-athletes can take from his regiment to be more physically fit. Obviously none of us are aspiring to have biceps the size of Ihedigo, but we can learn a thing or two from someone whose job it is to exercise and play a sport demanding the greatest in agility and strength. And if you are after the physique of an NFL player, good luck. His mammoth muscles are from some extremely hard work.

The super talented football player comes out of UMass and is in his second year playing in the NFL. James lives by the motto, "To whom much is given, much is expected.” He has never let natural talent stop him from working as hard as humanly possible. He was injured in training camp last summer and was out the remainder of the season so this year is big.

Watch James' video and hear his fitness tips on our Fitness PR blog.

Fashion PR: Fall Trends 2008 Future Femme

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:43:47 -0500

Houston We Have a Trend: Space Bound Futurism at its Best

After closely reviewing the runways from fall 2008, I noticed a fun trend across a few big names that I feel is losing some attention. A minimalist flavor with just the right touch of space-suit like metallic accent to create an out of this world look- Future Femme if you will.

The Jetsons would be considered fashionable with this season's stark and structured dresses coming from the top design houses. These bold shapes can opposition the flowy chiffon hemlines that are also a wardrobe must have this fall.

Read the complete post on our Fashion PR blog, The Fashion Rag.

Jewelry PR: Rachel Leigh is a Celebrity Favorite

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:45:33 -0500

Rachel Bravman: Publicist turned Jewelry Designer

Everything Rachel Bravman touches turns to gold. Yes, most of the fashion jewelry she designs for her line Rachel Leigh is already a gold color, but her finishing touch turns the celebrity coveted baubles into editorial gold.

Bravman was working as an Yves Saint Laurent publicist when she launched her jewelry line in the fall of 2004. The line was a direct answer to demands for luxury fashion jewelry that could compliment designs featured in the best fashion editorials. What resulted was a fun yet fashion forward jewelry empire worn by all the Hollywood "It" girls.

Read the complete post on our Jewelry PR blog.

Fitness PR: 24 Hour Fitness

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:27:43 -0500

A Master Class in PR Partnerships at 24 Hour Fitness

California based chain, 24 Hour Fitness, has choosen celebrity endorsed centers as part of their Fitness Public Relations strategy to combat forecasted consumer frugality. Celebrity endorsements might not be a new form of PR, but the cross-promotional tactic has been enjoying frequent use across many industries recently. High-profile personalities have been linking themselves with clothing collections, perfumes, restaurants, television shows, record labels--it seems no single product/service/idea cannot avoid being branded with a well-known person including fitness centers.

Read the complete post on our Fitness PR blog.

Pierce Mattie PR is Now Hiring for Hollywood and Times Square Locations

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:13:20 -0500

Pierce Mattie PR is now hiring for our New York and Los Angeles offices. Please feel free to forward this post to anyone that may be interested.

Open Divisions:
• Beauty
• Jewelry
• Women's Fashion
• Men's Fashion
• Food & Beverage
• Home Furnishings
• Resort & Travel
• Fitness
• Men's Lifestyle
• Women's Lifestyle

Open Positions:
• Account Supervisors
• Account Directors
• Account Manager
• Sr. Account Executives

Read more on how you can join our award winning team!

World Image: China's Biggest Olympic Feat

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:32:00 -0500

China might be dominating the medal count (at this very moment they lead the U.S. by 2 medals) but as an entire country they are participating in an even larger olympic event: World image. It has been no secret that China is willing to do whatever it takes to change their image in the world's eye.

The opening ceremony was simply one big PR event broadcasted to the world. While it remains incredibly impressive that thousands of performers coordinated many intricate arrangements in outlandish costumes on even more outlandish sets (who ever knew a 500 ft LCD even existed), some of the coverage of the ceremony was altered.

In the days following the "cinematic" performance China put forth on the opening day, reports continue to pour in, regarding different elements that were misrepresented. Fireworks were apparently altered for the broadcast using computer animation. There are also reports that the final torch bearer was falsely depicted when it appeared he was running along the top of the national stadium.

Now an even bigger misrepresentation has unfurled with the discovery that the "smiling angel" child performer seen to the right (Lin Maoke) was actually just lip-synching the notes of a talented child who was deemed not attractive enough for the cameras and was forced to sing backstage.

China's efforts to have a "perfect" Olympics are beyond the opening cermonies. The Chinese government has been said to pressure the country's gymnastics teams to win in this, their hosting Olympiad. And who could forget the outrageously detailed code of etiquette the country's government issued that included advising against wearing too many colors and recommending taxi drivers to eat less garlic?

In the spirit of the new gymnastics scoring, let's judge China's execution in comparison to it's start value. China definitely put the bar up there with the degree of difficulty their PR efforts demanded, but have they executed these efforts properly? Is there an air of desperation around these efforts? Or is China dead on in taking full advantage of this world platform in order to try to change the world's perception of them?

Beauty PR: Paul Mitchell Philanthropy

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:19:11 -0500

Would you believe me if I told you that one of the beauty industries biggest companies has a co-founder that used to make a measely three dollars a day returning bottles while living out of his car? Well it's true, and it's the rags to riches story of Jean Paul Dejoria, co-founder and president of Paul Mitchell, the multi-billion dollar beauty biz leader.

Because he is very familiar with what it's like to be in an unfortunate position, philanthropy is very important to him and he does everything in his will to instill it into the legacy of his company.

"It’s about each of us paying more than our share of rent on this planet in order to help many people have much better lives or even have the chance to live one. What a great culture that is!" -Dejoria

Continue reading at our Beauty PR blog Beauty Pro.

Rolling with the Change: Rolling Stone Gets a Redesign

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:41:26 -0500

As more and more media switches to online, print outlets are seeing a significant drop in readers. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, magazine sales at the newsstand dropped 6.3 percent in the first half of 2008. This brought the 47.1 million copies sold in the last half of 2007 down to around 44.1 million. It could be that people just don’t read anymore, but it’s more likely that consumers are holding onto every cent they have these days in light of the recession.

While the decrease has forced many popular magazines to fold or move to the online medium, others are taking a different approach to reach the upcoming generation that was raised on TV and internet. Case in point, the iconic music magazine, Rolling Stone, announced Monday that when the October 30th issue hits newsstands it will no longer tower over the other magazines, but will instead resemble the standard-size format.

"The consumer we want to reach watches 'Lost' on a big TV screen, on a computer screen and on an iPhone...They're agnostic on format," said Gary Armstrong chief marketing officer for Wenner Media, the publishers of Rolling Stone.

When asked about the change, Rolling Stone's founder, Jann Wenner stated, “What the magazine has done for over 40 years is evolve with the times.”

Whatever the reason for the redesign, hopefully the new look will keep loyal readers happy while introducing the magazine to a new pool of rockers interested in the latest rock news and features on the hottest bands. If nothing else, the current fan base will have about 20 more pages added to each issue. Here’s to rocking on for another 40 years.

Photo Credit: Rolling Stone