Get Bitten

Actress and fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker has recently been seen out-and-about promoting “BITTEN,” her first clothing line. “BITTEN” is sold exclusively at Steve & Barry’s stores nationwide, and was designed by Sarah Jessica along with a team of Steve & Barry’s designers. The amazing part of this line is that every piece in the collection costs less than $19.98, making it appealing to a wide range of consumers. Another thing that makes Sara Jessica’s line stand out from other celebrity-created fashion is the way in which she has chosen to promote herself.

The first smart move Sarah Jessica made was to promote the amount of time she has personally invested in designing the clothes. Through professionally shot and visually appealing videos posted on the “BITTEN” Web site, Sarah Jessica discusses her involvement in the creation of the line. This lets consumers and the public in general know that she was personally involved throughout the entire process. It also helps build trust with the consumer, who wants to know that the products they are purchasing are quality despite a low price tag.

So far, Sarah Jessica’s strategy for promoting the new line has included activities such as appearances in Steve & Barry’s stores throughout the country, an interview on the Oprah Winfrey show including a showcase of different styles, and probably one of the most practical tactics, being photographed wearing her own clothing line in everyday situations.

During her promotional tour of the new line, videos were shot of Sarah Jessica’s interactions with people in the Steve & Barry’s stores, and were then posted on her Web site. After viewing the videos myself, I have come to the conclusion that she does a great job of promoting herself because she is so professional, yet approachable in her conversations with everyday people.

My favorite part about the new line? Sarah Jessica Parker’s motto:

“It is every woman’s inalienable right to have a pulled-together, stylish, confident wardrobe with money left over to live. Get Bitten.”

Gossip Girl

“Gossip Girl,” the popular television teen drama based on novels by Celcily con Ziegesar, has become more well-known for its characters’ trend-setting wardrobe than the show’s dramatic plot. “Gossip Girl” follows the lives of a group of socialite teenagers living in the Upper East Side of New York, and is told from the perspective of an omniscient, unseen blogger called “Gossip Girl.” “Gossip Girl,” voiced by Kristen Bell, creates controversy between the teenagers by commenting on the other characters’ every move in her blog.

What led me to finally sit down and watch this show was not the twisted plot or the “talented” actors, but the characters’ wardrobes. In fact, the show has recently received more publicity for the trend-setting styles featured on the show than it has for the premise of the show itself. The entertainment news show, “Entertainment Tonight,” recently did an entire segment on the wardrobe selection and featured designers on the set of the show. After seeing the show and the extravagant clothes showcased in each episode, I realized how much publicity these clothing brands were getting and thought about what an effective public relations strategy this is for those companies. Not only are viewers of the show noticing the characters’ wardrobe and paying attention to specific brands, entertainment news stories are also reinforcing their popularity.

After visiting the show’s Web site, I was blown away by the amount of effort made by these brands to advertise and promote their products. When visitors of the website click on the “Style” tab, they are given the choice of browsing clothing worn by the “Gossip Girl” characters by brand, product, episode worn, or the character who wore the outfit. Once a product is selected, visitors have the option of visiting the product’s Web site or clicking a link to buy the product directly. Brands such as Nine West, Max Studio, Anne Klein, and my personal favorite, Jimmy Choo, are featured on the Web site. In addition to the brands are links to retailers such as Urban Outfitters, Gap, Nordstrom, and Shopbop.com.

So, next time you’re watching your favorite TV show and find yourself wondering where that cute pair of patent-leather pumps came from, try looking on the show’s Web site, or watch an entertainment news show. If the company’s P.R. department is doing its job, they will have made it very easy for you to buy those shoes.

Allow me to introduce myself

Hi, my name is Kelly. I am 22 years-old and a public relations major and a Spanish minor at the University of Oregon.

After my graduation this spring, I hope to broaden my experience by working as an intern for Senator Gordon Smith in Washington, D.C., the city where I was born. Since this is an election year, I expect that it will be an exciting time to work in the Congress where I can put my public relations skills and experience to the test.

Although I look forward to the possibility of interning for the Senator, my ultimate goal is to start work for a P.R. firm, where I have the opportunity to work with many different types of clients. I believe experience working with distinct companies will help me discover the types of P.R. work I really enjoy.

So, you might be wondering why I have decided to start writing a blog about public relations and the fashion industry. The truth is, I have no idea what I want to do with this public relations degree. What I do know is that I have always owned more shoes than I know what to do with. I have always enjoyed drawing, painting, designing, accesorizing, and dressing up. To me, this translates as an interest in fashion. That’s what I feel passionate about, so that’s mainly what I’m going to write about. I also plan on using this blog to discuss other public relations-related topics, such as podcasting and using social media.