Fashion At All

2011-03-06T12:05:00.001-08:00

Recycled fibers Recycled or reclaimed fibers are made from scraps of fabrics collected from clothing factories, which are processed back into short fibers for spinning into a new yarn.[5] There are only a few facilities globally that are able to process the clippings and variations range from a blend of recycled cotton fibers+added rePET yarns for strength to recycled cotton fibers+virgin acrylic fibers which are added for color consistency and strength. Designers Designers say that they are trying to incorporate these sustainable practices into modern clothing, rather than producing "hippy clothes." Due to the efforts taken to minimize harm in the growth, manufacturing, and shipping of the products, sustainable fashion is typically more expensive than clothing produced by conventional methods. Celebrities, models, and designers such as Stella McCartney, Rogan Gregory, Peter Ingwersen, Ali Hewson, Bono, and Summer Rayne Oakes have recently drawn attention to socially-conscious and environmentally friendly fashion. Portland Fashion Week, which has featured sustainable designers and apparel since 2005, has also attracted international press for its efforts to sustainably produce a fashion week that showcases 100% eco-friendly designs.An increasing number of Hollywood celebrities have been associated with sustainable fashion, including Natalie Portman, Cameron Diaz, Alicia Silverstone, Adrian Grenier, Jennifer Aniston and Salma Hayek.[citation needed] Brands As well as fashion designers, there also exist entire brands built on the concept of sustainable fashion. To be truly sustainable, brands must use natural, sustainable materials to make their clothing; and sustainable, renewable forms of energy to power their factories. For example brands such as Rapanui, a UK based sustainable fashion brand use Vestas Wind Turbines to power their textile mill in India, where organic cotton is turned into products for the UK market. To use conventional methods of generating electricity, by burning fossil fuels, would negate the positive effects of using sustainable materials and consequently the company could not honestly call itself sustainable and may be guilty of Greenwashing. For this reason, it is important that sustainable fashion brands are 100% transparent about the way they do business so that the customer can find out more about every stage of the supply chain and judge the sustainability of the product themselves before buying. Traceability tools are becoming increasingly popular, usually in the form of an interactive map displaying each stage of the supply chain and providing honest, factual information about the processes that occur at each stage of the supply chain.Controversy Though all cotton has a large carbon footprint for its cultivation and production, organic cotton is considered a more sustainable choice for fabric, as it is completely free of destructive toxic pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Many designers have begun experimenting with bamboo fibre, which absorbs greenhouse gases during its life cycle and grows quickly and plentifully without pesticides.[8]. Even with this, bamboo fabric can cause environmental harm in production due to the chemicals used to create a soft viscose from hard bamboo.[9]. Some believe hemp is one of the best choice for eco fabrics due to its ease of growth, though it remains illegal to grow in some countries. These facts make recycled, reclaimed, surplus, and vintage fabric arguably the most sustainable choice, as the raw material requires no agriculture and no manufacturing to produce. Recently, another alternative to sustainable fashion has emerged that uses synthetic fibers with a process called AirDye technology that eliminates all water from the dyeing and printing process. While critics still point to the chemicals used in making synthetic materials, this method significantly reduces water consumption and pollution, while cotton (organic or not) uses a tremendous amount of water during the growth and dyeing phases. Critics of sustainable fashion have argued that the trend merely seeks to stamp high-priced luxury goods with a seal of liberal social approval.[citation needed]. Another major criticism about "sustainable fashion" is the potential of constantly changing fashion to encourage customers to repeatedly discard last season's clothing to purchase the latest fashions.

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Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person. The more technical term, costume, has become so linked in the public eye with the term "fashion" that the more general term "costume" has in popular use mostly been relegated to special senses like fancy dress or masquerade wear, while the term "fashion" means clothing generally, and the study of it. For a broad cross-cultural look at clothing and its place in society, refer to the entries for clothing, costume and fabrics. The remainder of this article deals with clothing fashions in the Western world. Contents Early Western travelers, whether to Persia, Turkey or China frequently remark on the absence of changes in fashion there, and observers from these other cultures comment on the unseemly pace of Western fashion, which many felt suggested an instability and lack of order in Western culture. The Japanese Shogun's secretary boasted (not completely accurately) to a Spanish visitor in 1609 that Japanese clothing had not changed in over a thousand years. However in Ming China, for example, there is considerable evidence for rapidly changing fashions in Chinese clothing. Changes in costume often took place at times of economic or social change (such as in ancient Rome and the medieval Caliphate), but then a long period without major changes followed. This occurred in Moorish Spain from the 8th century, when the famous musician Ziryab introduced sophisticated clothing-styles based on seasonal and daily timings from his native Baghdad and his own inspiration to Córdoba in Al-Andalus. Similar changes in fashion occurred in the Middle East from the 11th century, following the arrival of the Turks, who introduced clothing styles from Central Asia and the Far East. The beginnings of the habit in Europe of continual and increasingly rapid change in clothing styles can be fairly reliably dated to the middle of the 14th century, to which historians including James Laver and Fernand Braudel date the start of Western fashion in clothing. The most dramatic manifestation was a sudden drastic shortening and tightening of the male over-garment, from calf-length to barely covering the buttocks, sometimes accompanied with stuffing on the chest to look bigger. This created the distinctive Western male outline of a tailored top worn over leggings or trousers. Marie Antoinette was a fashion icon The pace of change accelerated considerably in the following century, and women and men's fashion, especially in the dressing and adorning of the hair, became equally complex and changing. Art historians are therefore able to use fashion in dating images with increasing confidence and precision, often within five years in the case of 15th century images. Initially changes in fashion led to a fragmentation of what had previously been very similar styles of dressing across the upper classes of Europe, and the development of distinctive national styles. These remained very different until a counter-movement in the 17th to 18th centuries imposed similar styles once again, mostly originating from Ancien Régime France.Though the rich usually led fashion, the increasing affluence of early modern Europe led to the bourgeoisie and even peasants following trends at a distance sometimes uncomfortably close for the elites—a factor Braudel regards as one of the main motors of changing fashion. Ten 16th century portraits of German or Italian gentlemen may show ten entirely different hats, and at this period national differences were at their most pronounced, as Albrecht Dürer recorded in his actual or composite contrast of Nuremberg and Venetian fashions at the close of the 15th century (illustration, right). The "Spanish style" of the end of the century began the move back to synchronicity among upper-class Europeans, and after a struggle in the mid 17th century, French styles decisively took over leadership, a process completed in the 18th century. Though colors and patterns of textiles changed from year to year, the cut of a gentleman's coat and the length of his waistcoat, or the pattern to which a lady's dress was cut changed more slowly. Men's fashions largely derived from military models, and changes in a European male silhouette are galvanized in theatres of European war, where gentleman officers had opportunities to make notes of foreign styles: an example is the "Steinkirk" cravat or necktie. The pace of change picked up in the 1780s with the increased publication of French engravings that showed the latest Paris styles; though there had been distribution of dressed dolls from France as patterns since the 16th century, and Abraham Bosse had produced engravings of fashion from the 1620s. By 1800, all Western Europeans were dressing alike (or thought they were): local variation became first a sign of provincial culture, and then a badge of the conservative peasant. Although tailors and dressmakers were no doubt responsible for many innovations before, and the textile industry certainly led many trends, the history of fashion design is normally taken[by whom?] to date from 1858, when the English-born Charles Frederick Worth opened the first true[weasel words] haute couture house in Paris. Since then the professional designer has become a progressively more dominant figure, despite the origins of many fashions in street fashion. For women the flapper styles of the 1920s marked the most major alteration in styles for several centuries, with a drastic shortening of skirt lengths, and much looser-fitting clothes; with occasional revivals of long skirts forms of the shorter length have remained dominant ever since. The four major current fashion capitals are acknowledged to be Milan, New York City, Paris, and London. Fashion weeks are held in these cities, where designers exhibit their new clothing collections to audiences, and which are all headquarters to the greatest fashion companies and are renowned for their major influence on global fashion. Modern Westerners have a wide choice available in the selection of their clothes. What a person chooses to wear can reflect that person's personality or likes. When people who have cultural status start to wear new or different clothes a fashion trend may start. People who like or respect them may start to wear clothes of a similar style. Fashions may vary considerably within a society according to age, social class, generation, occupation, and geography as well as over time. If, for example, an older person dresses according to the fashion of young people, he or she may look ridiculous in the eyes of both young and older people. The terms fashionista and fashion victim refer to someone who slavishly follows current fashions. The fashion industry is a product of the modern age. Prior to the mid-19th century, most clothing was custom made. It was handmade for individuals, either as home production or on order from dressmakers and tailors. By the beginning of the 20th century—with the rise of new technologies such as the sewing machine, the rise of global capitalism and the development of the factory system of production, and the proliferation of retail outlets such as department stores—clothing had increasingly come to be mass-produced in standard sizes and sold at fixed prices. Although the fashion industry developed first in Europe and America, today it is an international and highly globalized industry, with clothing often designed in one country, manufactured in another, and sold world-wide. For example, an American fashion company might source fabric in China and have the clothes manufactured in Vietnam, finished in Italy, and shipped to a warehouse in the United States for distribution to retail outlets internationally. The fashion industry has long been one of the largest employers in the United States, and it remains so in the 21st century. However, employment declined considerably as production increasingly moved overseas, especially to China. Because data on the fashion industry typically are reported for national economies and expressed in terms of the industry’s many separate sectors, aggregate figures for world production of textiles and clothing are difficult to obtain. However, by any measure, the industry accounts for a significant share of world economic output. The fashion industry consists of four levels: the production of raw materials, principally fibres and textiles but also leather and fur; the production of fashion goods by designers, manufacturers, contractors, and others; retail sales; and various forms of advertising and promotion. These levels consist of many separate but interdependent sectors, all of which are devoted to the goal of satisfying consumer demand for apparel under conditions that enable participants in the industry to operate at a profit. [14] [edit] Media Fashion shot from 2006 An important part of fashion is fashion journalism. Editorial critique, guidelines and commentary can be found in magazines, newspapers, on television, fashion websites, social networks and in fashion blogs. At the beginning of the 20th century, fashion magazines began to include photographs of various fashion designs and became even more influential on people than in the past. In cities throughout the world these magazines were greatly sought-after and had a profound effect on public clothing taste. Talented illustrators drew exquisite fashion plates for the publications which covered the most recent developments in fashion and beauty. Perhaps the most famous of these magazines was La Gazette du Bon Ton which was founded in 1912 by Lucien Vogel and regularly published until 1925 (with the exception of the war years). Vogue, founded in the US in 1892, has been the longest-lasting and most successful of the hundreds of fashion magazines that have come and gone. Increasing affluence after World War II and, most importantly, the advent of cheap colour printing in the 1960s led to a huge boost in its sales, and heavy coverage of fashion in mainstream women's magazines—followed by men's magazines from the 1990s. Haute couture designers followed the trend by starting the ready-to-wear and perfume lines, heavily advertised in the magazines, that now dwarf their original couture businesses. Television coverage began in the 1950s with small fashion features. In the 1960s and 1970s, fashion segments on various entertainment shows became more frequent, and by the 1980s, dedicated fashion shows like Fashion-television started to appear. Despite television and increasing internet coverage, including fashion blogs, press coverage remains the most important form of publicity in the eyes of the fashion industry. However, over the past several years, fashion websites have developed that merge traditional editorial writing with user-generated content. Online magazines like iFashion Network, and Runway Magazine, led by Nole Marin from America's Next Top Model, have begun to dominate the market with digital copies for computers, iPhones and iPads. A few days after the 2010 Fall Fashion Week in New York City came to a close, The New Islander's Fashion Editor, Genevieve Tax, criticized the fashion industry for running on a seasonal schedule of its own, largely at the expense of real-world consumers. "Because designers release their fall collections in the spring and their spring collections in the fall, fashion magazines such as Vogue always and only look forward to the upcoming season, promoting parkas come September while issuing reviews on shorts in January," she writes. "Savvy shoppers, consequently, have been conditioned to be extremely, perhaps impractically, farsighted with their buying. [edit] Intellectual property Within the fashion industry, intellectual property is not enforced as it is within the film industry and music industry. To "take inspiration" from others' designs contributes to the fashion industry's ability to establish clothing trends. For the past few years, WGSN has been a dominant source of fashion news and forecasts in steering fashion brands worldwide to be "inspired" by one another. Enticing consumers to buy clothing by establishing new trends is, some have argued, a key component of the industry's success. Intellectual property rules that interfere with the process of trend-making would, on this view, be counter-productive. In contrast, it is often argued that the blatant theft of new ideas, unique designs, and design details by larger companies is what often contributes to the failure of many smaller or independent design companies. In 2005, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) held a conference calling for stricter intellectual property enforcement within the fashion industry to better protect small and medium businesses and promote competitiveness within the textile and clothing industries.

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A muff is a fashion accessory for outdoors usually made of a cylinder of fur or fabric with both ends open for keeping the hands warm. It was introduced to women's fashion in the 16th century and was popular with both men and women in the 17th and 18th centuries. By the early 20th century muffs were used in England only by women. It is also reported that the fashion largely fell out of style in the 19th century. It briefly returned in the late 1940's and 50's.[citation needed] In Roman times the place of the glove was taken by long sleeves (manicae) reaching to the hand, and in winter special sleeves of fur were worn. In Medieval Latin we find the word muffulae, defined by Du Cange as chirothecae pellitae et hibernae. He quotes from a cartulary of the year 817, of the issuing to monks of sheepskin coverings to be used during the winter. These may have been, as the Roman certainly were, separate coverings for each hand, although the cartulary cited also distinguishes the glove for summer from the muffulae for winter wear. The Old French moufle meant a thick glove or mitten, and from this the Dutch mof, Walloon mouffe, and thence English “muff,” are probably derived. Fingerlings are a fashion accessory worn on the finger. They are made from textiles such as denim or cotton, as an alternative to traditional metal rings. Fingerlings were invented by Tyler Campbell in 2008, whilst he was 6 years old. With the help of Campbell's business partner and stepfather, Jason Weber, fingerlings were sold online and at Dadeland Mall, Miami. In 2010 Weber presented fingerlings in the Elevator Pitch Contest at the The University of Miami’s Launch Pad entrepreneurship center. Campbell won the Grand Prize in the community category.

2011-03-06T11:51:00.001-08:00

1990s In the 1990s it was no longer the done thing to follow fashion slavishly, a sharp contrast to the highly a la mode 1970s and 1980s. The phobia of being underdressed was finally completely displaced by the fear of overdressing. Fashion in the 1990s united around a new standard, minimalism, and styles of stark simplicity became the vogue. Despite the best efforts of a few designers to keep the flag for pretty dresses flying, by the end of the decade the notion of ostentatious finery had virtually disappeared. As well as the styling of the product, its promotion in the media became crucial to its success and image. The financial pressures of the decade had a devastating effect on the development of new talent and lessened the autonomy enjoyed by more established designers. Fashion at the end of the 20th century tackled themes that fashion had not previously embraced. These themes included rape, disability, religious violence, death, and body modification. There was a dramatic move away from the sexy styles aimed at the glamorous femme fatale of the 1980s, and many designers, taken with a vision of romantic poverty, adopted the style of the poverty-stricken waif, dressed in a stark, perversely sober palette, with a face devoid of make-up. Clothes by ready-to-wear retailers such as The Gap, Banana Republic, and Eddie Bauer came to the forefront of fashion, managing to tap into the needs of women who simply wanted comfortable, wearable clothes. Retro clothing inspired by the 1960s and 1970s was popular for much of the 1990s. The famous Italian fashion house, Gucci was created in 1921, by Guccio Gucci and was originally a firm that sold luxury leather goods. Under Guccio Gucci's children, by the end of the 1960s the label had expanded to include a plethora of products with a distinctly Latin glamor. However, only in the 1990s, when the Gucci heirs gave up control of the company to Invest Corp., who planned to turn the business around, did it truly begin to enjoy the kind of success it enjoys in the present day. Employing an unknown designer, Tom Ford, as design director in 1994, the fashion house was endowed with a great prestige, as Ford triggered a tidal wave with his chic and shocking collections, perfumes for men and women, revamped boutiques, and advertising campaigns. In 1998 Gucci is named "European Company of the year" by European Business Press Federation.[1] Today it is the second biggest-selling fashion brand (after LVMH) worldwide with US$7 billion worldwide of revenue in 2006 according to BusinessWeek magazine.[2] Most importantly Gucci is the biggest-selling Italian brand in the world.[3] In the 1990s the designer label Prada became a true creative force in the fashion industry. The Milanese company was first established in 1923, two years after Gucci, and like Gucci, it was a firm that sold high-quality shoes and leather. It was not until the 1980s that Miuccia Prada, the niece of the company's founder, began to produce ready-to-wear fashion, gaining fame for her subtle, streamlined, yet unquestionably luxurious style, that catered for the privileged young woman who prefers understatement to flamboyant extravagance. In America three of the most influential fashion designers of the time were Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, and Calvin Klein. Michael Kors set up his own business in 1980. However, it was not until the 1990s that the designer reached the peak of his popularity. His knowledge and consciousness of trends enabled him to produce simple well-cut garments, whose sophistication and elegance appealed to a whole new breed of wealthy American customers drawn to the new vogue for minimalist chic. Marc Jacobs is one of the most notable American designers of the period in that, unlike many American fashion designers in the past, he was not so much the co-ordinator of a mass-produced garment as a designer in the European sense of the word. One of the most promising talents in the fashion industry at the time, the LVMH (Louis Vuitton-Moet Henessy) group offered him the job of designing a line of ready-to-wear to compliment the de-luxe products of luggage specialist Louis Vuitton in the late 1990s. One of the first fashion designers to anticipate the globalization of world markets, the already well-known designer Calvin Klein started to market his fashions, perfumes, and accessories not only right across the US, but also in Europe and Asia, achieving an unequaled success. A brilliant artistic director, Klein used carefully constructed advertisements containing images tinted with eroticism to promote his sophisticatedly functional mass-produced designs, which won massive popularity among the urban youth of the 1990s. The group of designers known as the 'Antwerp Six' (so named because all of them were graduates of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp), who first emerged in the 1980s, came to prominence in the 1990s. Three of the most influential of the group were Ann Demeulemeester, Dries van Noten, and Walter Van Beirendonck. Ann Demeulemeester, from her first collection in 1991, demonstrated a great deal of confidence and inventiveness. Naturally inclined to understatement, she built her designs on contradictions, introducing contrasting elements into her fluid and streamlined fashions, which appealed to women who dressed, above all, to please themselves. The work of Dries van Noten was founded on a solid mastery of the art of tailoring, to which the young designer added discreet touches of fantasy in a highly personal style. Managing to be both classical and original, his fashions appealed to those who preferred to express their individuality rather than slavishly follow trends. Walter Van Beirendonck, who erupted onto the fashion scene in 1995, produced decidedly futuristic designs under his label W & LT (Wild and Lethal Trash). Deliberately using fabrics developed by the very latest technologies, in violently contrasting colors, he produced clothes that were full of erotic and sadomasochistic references, touched with a caustic adolescent humor. His highly distinctive approach related to a resurgence of anti-fashion, but this time an anti-fashion with nothing in the least ethnic about its origins, instead based on science fiction that provided the inspiration for displays of such high-spirited provocation. In Italy, Gianni Versace, with his brilliant, sexy, and colorful designs, and Dolce & Gabbana, with their superfeminine and fantastical style, broke away from the serious and sober-minded fashions that dominated during much of the 1990s. The British designer Vivienne Westwood produced many influential and popular collections in the early 1990s, which included outfits inspired by 18th-century courtesans and the Marquis de Sade, with rounded hips, corsets, and platform heels. The London-based designer Rifat Ozbek was also popular, particularly in New York and Milan. His youthful style, which mixed references to India, Africa, and his native Turkey with clever takes on historical clothing, was reminiscent of hippest nightclubs and the more outrageous street fashions of the time. Rap music was a prominent influence on popular and street fashion during the early and mid-1990s. Followers of hip hop adopted huge baggy jeans, similar to those worn in American prisons, with big patterned shirts and heavy black shoes. The sports label Nike had great popularity and materials such as Lycra and Spandex were increasingly used for sportswear. Increasing eco-awareness and animal rights made even top couture houses such as Chanel introduce fake fur and natural fibers into their collections. 2000s In the 2000s, as the future began to seem increasingly bleak, fashion, and indeed the Arts in general, looked to the past for inspiration, arguably more so than in previous decades. Vintage clothing, especially from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s (the 1980s idea of clashing, electric colours becoming especially popular in mid-late 2007) became extremely popular and fashion designers often sought to emulate bygone styles in their collections. The early 2000s saw a continuation of the minimalist look of the 1990s in high fashion. Later on, designers began to adopt a more colorful, feminine, excessive, and 'anti-modern' look. Name brands became of particular importance among young people and many celebrities launched their own lines of clothing. Tighter fit clothing and longer hair became mainstream for many men and women. For many of the own-label designers who emerged in the early years of the 21st century, financial factors became increasingly critical. Many new young talents found they now depended on investors (to whom, in extreme cases, they would even surrender their names) and were always burdened by the risk that their partners, motivated by market realism and the desire for quick returns, would severely restrict their autonomy. Designers like Rodrick Gilchrist and Berny Martin of Catou struck out on their own to places like the midwest. Their hopes were to bring fashion design back to its artisan roots. Martin founded Midwest Fashion Week (MFW) to showcase the local talent and bring business to Indianapolis. By 2011 Martin had devised a simple blueprint for other cities to follow. His own line spread across the U.S. and abroad. He borrowed from the previous eras and created a line of custom clothing that he called 'business forward'.

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Late twentieth century During the late 20th century, fashions began to criss-cross international boundaries with rapidity. Popular Western styles were adopted all over the world, and many designers from outside of the West had a profound impact on fashion. Synthetic materials such as Lycra, Spandex, and viscose became widely-used, and fashion, after two decades of looking to the future, once again turned to the past for inspiration. 1980s The society of the 1980s no longer criticized itself as consumerist, but was, instead, interested in 'the spectacle'. The self-conscious image of the decade was very good for the fashion industry, which had never been quite so à la mode. Fashion shows were transfigured into media-saturated spectaculars and frequently televised, taking high priority in the social calendar. Appearance was related to performance, which was of supreme importance to a whole generation of young urban professionals, whose desire to look the part related to a craving for power. The way in which men and women associated with the latest styles was no more a matter of passive submission but one of active choice. As fashion once again looked to the past, baroque evening dress and long gowns made a reappearance. Disco music rapidly fell out of favor as the decade began, along with its associated clothing styles. By 1982, the last traces of 1970s fashion were gone. The two French fashion designers who best defined the look of the period were Thierry Mugler and Azzedine Alaia. Strongly influenced by his early career in the theater, Thierry Mugler produced fashion designs that combined Hollywood retro and futurism, with rounded hips, sharply accentuated shoulders, and a slight hint of the galactic heroine. Mugler's glamorous dresses were a remarkable success, and signified the complete end of the hippy era and its unstructured silhouette. Known for his awe-inspiring combinations, Azzedine Alaia greatly influenced the silhouette of the woman of the 1980s. The master of all kinds of techniques that had previously been known only to haute couture, he experimented with many new and underused materials, such as Lycra and viscose. The finish, simplicity, and sheer sexiness of Alaia's look made women of every generation identify with his seductive style, and during the 1980s he achieved a certain glory and was held in high regard by members of his own profession. Also creating designs very typical of the era were Claude Montana, whose imposing, broad-shouldered designs, often made of leather, would not have looked out of place in the futuristic universe of Thierry Mugler, and Christian Lacroix, who sent shock waves through the world of haute couture, with his flounced skirts, embroidered corselets, bustles, and polka-dotted crinolines which evoked the rhythms of flamenco. A number of promising newcomers entered the fashion scene in the 1980s. Angelo Tarlazzi, an extraordinary technician who once worked for Patou, bewitched both the press and his customers with his 'handkerchief' dresses. Made of squares of fabric, they transpired, when you came to put them on, to be far more complicated than at first appeared. Many a Parisian soirée of the 1980s was enlivened by his dresses, all in a fluid and original style, in which cutting and sewing were kept to a minimum. Chantal Thomas, the queen of sexy stockings and lace, won a devoted following for her seductive underwear and for evening gowns that looked like nightdresses and vice versa. Guy Paulin was one of the first designers to promote a severe, plain, and uncluttered look. His garments were classical in their proportions and made for comfort and simplicity, with their harmonious lines reinforced by a subtle palette of colors and fine materials. Under his own name, Joseph designed luxurious knitwear along classic lines, creating loose, sexy garments in neutral colors. Carolina Herrera, long regarded as one of the most elegant members of the jet set, in 1981 launched a series of collections aimed at women like herself, featuring impeccably cut clothes of high quality and attractive evening dresses. Japanese designers such as Rei Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto offered a look which marked a total break with the prevailing fashion image of the time. Flat shoes, no make-up, reserve, modesty, and secrecy were the hallmarks of this modern look. Eventually, it began to include details from the fashions of the past, as Europe's ancient sites were revisited by these anarchists of fashion, whose influence on shape of clothes, at the end of the 20th-century, became legendary.

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The Second World War created many radical changes in the fashion industry. After the War, Paris's reputation as the global center of fashion began to crumble and off-the-peg and mass-manufactured fashions became increasingly popular. A new youth style emerged in the 1950s, changing the focus of fashion forever. As the installation of central heating became more widespread the age of minimum-care garments began and lighter textiles and, eventually, synthetics, were introduced. In the West, the traditional divide that had always existed between high society and workers came to be considered simply unjustifiable. In particular, a new young generation wanted to reap the benefits of a booming consumer society. Privilege became less blatantly advertised than in the past and differences were more glossed over. As the ancient European hierarchies were overturned, the external marks of distinction faded with them. By the time the first rockets were launched into space, Europe was more than ready to adopt a quality ready-to-wear garment on American lines, something to occupy the middle ground between off-the-peg and couture. The need was all the more pressing because increases in overheads and raw material costs were beginning to relegate handmade fashion to the sidelines. Meanwhile, rapidly developing new technologies made it easier and easier to manufacture an ever-improving high-quality product. Faced with the threat of a factory-made fashion-based product, Parisian haute couture mounted its defenses, but to little effect. It could not stop fashion leaking out onto the streets. In these years when the old world was taking its final bow, the changes in fashion were one of the most visible manifestations of the general shake-up in society. Before long, whole categories of women hitherto restricted to inferior substitutes to haute couture would enjoy a greatly enlarged freedom of choice. Dealing in far larger quantities, production cycles were longer than those of couture workshops, which meant that stylists planning their lines for the twice-yearly collections had to try to guess more than a year in advance what their customers would want. A new power was afoot, that of the street, constituting a further threat to the dictatorship of the masters of couture. 1940s Many fashion houses closed during occupation of Paris during World War II, including the Maison Vionnet and the Maison Chanel. Several designers, including Mainbocher, permanently relocated to New York. In the enormous moral and intellectual re-education program undertaken by the French state couture was not spared. In contrast to the stylish, liberated Parisienne, the Vichy regime promoted the model of the wife and mother, the robust, athletic young woman, a figure who was much more in line with the new political criteria. Germany, meanwhile, was taking possession of over half of what France produced, including high fashion, and was also considering relocating French haute couture to the cities of Berlin and Vienna, neither of which had any significant tradition of fashion. The archives of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture were seized, most consequentially the client list. The point of all this was to break up a monopoly that supposedly threatened the dominance of the Third Reich. Due to the difficult times, the number of models in shows was limited to seventy-five, evening wear was shortened and day wear was much skimpier, made using substitute materials whenever possible. From 1940 onward, no more than four meters (thirteen feet) of cloth was permitted to be used for a coat and a little over one meter (three feet) was all that allowed for a blouse. No belt could be over 3 centimetres (one and a half inches) wide. Despite this, haute couture tried to keep its flag flying. Humor and frivolity became a way of defying the occupying powers and couture somehow survived. Although some have argued that the reason it endured was because of the patronage of the wives of rich Nazis, in actuality, records reveal that, aside from the usual wealthy Parisiennes, it was the wives of foreign ambassadors, clients from the black market, and a whole eclectic mix of people who continued to frequent the salons, among whom German women were but a minority. In spite of the fact that so many fashion houses closed down or moved away during the war, several new houses remained open, including Jacques Fath, Maggy Rouff, Marcel Rochas, Jeanne Lafaurie, Nina Ricci, and Madeleine Vramant. During the Occupation, the only true way for a woman to flaunt her extravagance and add color to a drab outfit was to wear a hat. In this period, hats were often made of scraps of material that would have otherwise been thrown away, sometimes incorporating bits of paper, and wood shavings. Among the most innovative milliners of the time were Pauline Adam, Simone Naudet, Rose Valois, and Le Monnier. Paris's isolated situation in the 1940s enabled the Americans to exploit the ingenuity and creativity of their own designers. During the Second World War, Vera Maxwell presented co-ordinates in plain, simply cut outfits and also introduced innovations to men's work clothes. Bonnie Cashin transformed boots into a major fashion accessory, and, in 1944, started to produce original and imaginative sportswear. Claire McCardell, Anne Klein, and formed a remarkable trio of women who were to lay the foundations of American sportswear, ensuring that ready-to-wear was not simply thought of as second best, but as an elegant and comfortable way for modern women to dress. Among young men in the War Years the zoot suit (and in France the zazou suit) became popular. Many actresses of the time, including Rita Hayworth, Katharine Hepburn, and Marlene Dietrich, had a significant impact on popular fashion. The couturier Christian Dior created a tidal wave with his first collection in February 1947. The collection contained dresses with tiny waists, majestic busts, and full skirts swelling out beneath small bodices, in a manner very similar to the style of the Belle Époque. The extravagant use of fabric and the feminine elegance of the designs appealed greatly to a post-war clientele and ensured Dior's meteoric rise to fame. The sheer sophistication of the style incited the all-powerful editor of the American Harper's Bazaar, Carmel Snow, to exclaim 'This is a new look!'. 1950s Flying in the face of continuity, logic, and erudite sociological predictions, fashion in the 1950s, far from being revolutionary and progressive, bore strong nostalgic echoes of the past. A whole society which, in the 1920s and 1930s, had greatly believed in progress, was now much more circumspect. Despite the fact that women had the right to vote, to work, and to drive their own cars, they chose to wear dresses made of opulent materials, with corseted waists and swirling skirts to mid-calf. As fashion looked to the past, haute couture experienced something of a revival and spawned a myriad of star designers who profited hugely from the rapid growth of the media. Throughout the 1950s, although it would be for the last time, women around the world continued to submit to the trends of Parisian haute couture. Three of the most prominent of the Parisian couturiers of the time were Cristobal Balenciaga, Hubert de Givenchy, and Pierre Balmain. The frugal prince of luxury, Cristobal Balenciaga Esagri made his fashion debut in the late 1930s. However, it was not until the post-war years that the full scale of the inventiveness of this highly original designer became evident. In 1951, he totally transformed the silhouette, broadening the shoulders and removing the waist. In 1955, he designed the tunic dress, which later developed into the chemise dress of 1957. And eventually, in 1959, his work culminated in the Empire line, with high-waisted dresses and coats cut like kimonos. His mastery of fabric design and creation defied belief. Balenciaga is also notable as one of the few couturiers in fashion history who could use their own hands to design, cut, and sew the models which symbolized the height of his artistry. Hubert de Givenchy opened his first couture house in 1952 and created a sensation with his separates, which could be mixed and matched at will. Most renowned was his Bettina blouse made from shirting, which was named after his top model. Soon, boutiques were opened in Rome, Zurich, and Buenos Aires. A man of immense taste and discrimination, he was, perhaps more than any other designer of the period, an integral part of the world whose understated elegance he helped to define. Pierre Balmain opened his own salon in 1945. It was in a series of collections named 'Jolie Madame' that he experienced his greatest success, from 1952 onwards. Balmain's vision of the elegantly-dressed woman was particularly Parisian and was typified by the tailored glamour of the "New Look", with its ample bust, narrow waist, and full skirts, by mastery of cut and imaginative assemblies of fabrics in subtle color combinations. His sophisticated clientele was equally at home with luxurious elegance, simple tailoring, and a more natural look. Along with his haute couture work, the talented businessman pioneered a ready-to-wear range called Florilege and also launched a number of highly successful perfumes. Also notable is the return of Coco Chanel (who detested the "New Look") to the fashion world. Following the closure of her salons in the war years, in 1954, aged over seventy, she staged a comeback and on February 5 she presented a collection which contained a whole range of ideas that would be adopted and copied by women all over the world: her famous little braided suit with gold chains, shiny costume jewelry, silk blouses in colors that matched the suit linings, sleek tweeds, monogrammed buttons, flat black silk bows, boaters, quilted bags on chains, and evening dresses and furs that were marvels of simplicity. Despite being a high fashion designer, American born Mainbocher also designed military and civilian service uniforms. In 1952, he redesigned the Women Marines service uniform combining femininity with functionality. Previous redesigns include uniforms for the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) in 1942, and uniform designs for the Girl Scouts of America and the American Red Cross in 1948. Dior's "New Look" (that premiered in 1947) revived the popularity of girdles and the all-in-one corselettes. In the early 1950s, many couture houses used the interest in "foundationwear" to launch their own lines, soon after many lingerie manufacturers began to build their own brands. In 1957, Jane Russell wore the "Cantilever" bra that was scientifically designed by Howard Hughes to maximize a voluptuous look. The invention of Lycra (originally called "Fibre K") in 1959 revolutionized the underwear industry and was quickly incorporated into every aspect of lingerie. After the war, the American look (which consisted of broad shoulders, floral ties, straight-legged pants, and shirts with long pointed collars, often worn hanging out rather than tucked in) became very popular among men in Europe. Certain London manufacturers ushered in a revival of Edwardian elegance in men's fashion, adopting a tight-fitting retro style that was intended to appeal to traditionalists. This look, originally aimed at the respectable young man about town, was translated into popular fashion as the Teddy boy style. The Italian look, popularized by Caraceni, Brioni, and Cifonelli, was taken up by an entire generation of elegant young lovers, on both sides of the Atlantic. Plaid was very common in 1950s men's fashion, both for shirts and suits, along with the "ducktail" haircut, which was often viewed as a symbol of rebellion and banned in schools. The designers of Hollywood created a particular type of glamour for the stars of American film, and outfits worn by the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, or Grace Kelly were widely copied. Quantitatively speaking, a costume worn by an actress in a Hollywood movie would have a much bigger audience than the photograph of a dress designed by a couturier illustrated in a magazine read by no more than a few thousand people. Without even trying to keep track of all the Paris styles, its costume designers focused on their own version of classicism, which was meant to be timeless, flattering, and photogenic. Using apparently luxurious materials, such as sequins, chiffon, and fur, the clothes were very simply cut, often including some memorable detail, such as a low-cut back to a dress which was only revealed when the actress turned her back from the camera or some particularly stunning accessory. The most influential and respected designers of Hollywood from the 1930s to the 1950s were Edith Head, Orry-Kelly, William Travilla, Jean Louis, Travis Banton, and Gilbert Adrian. Everyday women's clothing during the decade consisted of long coats, hats with small veils, and leather gloves. Knee-length dresses combined with pearl necklaces, which were made instantly popular by First Lady Mamie Eisenhower. Short, permed hair was the standard women's hairstyle of the period. By the end of the decade mass-manufactured, off-the-peg clothing had become much more popular than in the past, granting the general public unprecedented access to fashionable styles. 1960s Until the 1960s, Paris was considered to be the center of fashion throughout the world. However, between 1960 and 1969 a radical shake-up occurred in the fundamental structure of fashion. From the 1960s onward, there would never be just one single, prevailing trend or fashion but a great plethora of possibilities, indivisibly linked to all the various influences in other areas of people's lives. Young people, with a power and culture that was all their own, now at an age to speak out, were a force to be reckoned with and had a powerful impact on the fashion industry. For perhaps the first time in history, there was an independent youth fashion that was not based on the conventions of an older age group. In the 1960s fashion became just as much a statement of personal freedom. In stark contrast to their mature, ultra-feminine mothers, the women of the 1960s adopted a girlish, childlike style, with short skirts and straightened curves, reminiscent of the look of the 1920s. At the start of the decade skirts were knee-length, but steadily became shorter and shorter until the mini-skirt emerged in 1965. By the end of the decade they had shot well above the stocking top, making the transition to tights inevitable. Many of the radical changes in fashion developed in the streets of London, with such gifted designers as Mary Quant (known for launching the mini skirt) and Barbara Hulanicki (the founder of the legendary boutique Biba). Paris also had its share of new and revolutionary designers, including Pierre Cardin (known for his visionary and skillfully-cut designs), André Courrèges (known for his futuristic outfits and for launching the mini skirt along with Mary Quant), Yves Saint Laurent (known for his revolutionary yet elegant fashions), and Emanuel Ungaro (known for his imaginative use of color and bold baroque contrasts). In the United States, Rudi Gernreich (known for his avant-garde and futuristic designs) and James Galanos (known for his luxurious read-to-wear) were also reaching a young audience. The main outlets for these new young fashion designers were small boutiques, selling outfits that were not exactly 'one-offs', but were made in small quantities in a limited range of sizes and colors. However, not all designers took well to the new style and mood. In 1965, Coco Chanel mounted a rearguard action against the exposure of the knee and Balenciaga resolutely continued to produce feminine and conservative designs. The basic shape and style of the time was simple, neat, clean cut, and young. Synthetic fabrics were very widely-used during the 1960s. They took dyes easily and well, giving rise to colors that were both clear and bright, very much mirroring the mood of the period. Hats suffered a great decline and by the end of the decade they were relegated to special occasions only. Lower kitten heels were a pretty substitute to stilettos. Pointed toes gave way to chisel shaped toes in 1961 and to an almond toe in 1963. Flat boots also became popular with very short dresses in 1965 and eventually they rose up the leg and reached the knee. Two notable and influential designers in the 1960s were Emilio Pucci and Paco Rabanne. Emilio Pucci's sportswear designs and prints inspired by Op art, psychedelia, and medieval heraldic banners earned him a reputation that extended far beyond the circles of high society. His sleek shift dresses, tunics, and beachwear, created a 'Puccimania' that was all part of a movement to liberate the female form and his designs are today synonymous with the 1960s. Francisco Rabaneda Cuervo (later Paco Rabanne) opened his first couture house in 1966 and, from the start, produced resolutely modern designs. Rather than using conventional dress materials, he created garments from aluminum, Rhodoid, and pieces of scrap metal. His designs, as well as being experimental, were also closely in tune with what modern adventurous young women wanted to wear. Among his innovations are the seamless dress made, after much experiment, by spraying vinyl chloride on to a mold, and the low-budget disposable dress made of paper and nylon thread. Rabanne was also the first fashion designer to use black models, which very nearly resulted in his dismissal from the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. The success of his perfume Calandre helped support the less profitable areas of his work, while his utopianism assured him a unique position in the conservative world of haute couture. The principal change in menswear in the 1960s was in the weight of the fabric used. The choice of materials and the method of manufacture produced a suit that, because it was lighter in weight, had a totally different look, with a line that was closer to the natural shape of the body, causing men to look at their figures more critically. The spread of jeans served to accelerate a radical change in the male wardrobe. Young men grew their hair down to their collars and added a touch of color, and even floral motifs, to their shirts. The polo neck never succeeded in replacing the tie, but the adoption of the workman's jacket in rough corduroy, and especially the Mao jacket proved to be more than simply a political statement. A few futuristic rumblings were set off by Pierre Cardin and Andre Courrèges, but the three-piece suit still survived intact. In the early 1960s there were influential 'partnerships' of celebrities and high-fashion designers, most famously Audrey Hepburn with Givenchy, and Jackie Kennedy with Oleg Cassini. Also, many models had a very profound effect on fashion, most notably Twiggy, Veruschka, Jean Shrimpton. Early in the decade, culottes were in style and the bikini finally came into fashion in 1963. The hippie and psychedelic movements late in the decade also had a strong influence on clothing styles, including bell-bottom jeans (designed by the English tailor Tommy Nutter, from his Savoy store), tie-dye and batik fabrics, as well as paisley prints.

2011-03-06T11:48:00.001-08:00

Fashion Design Services provider is an entity that provides services like trend & color forecasting, market analysis, design concepts & design documentation etc for manufacturers. This way the manufacturer can contract out the design requirements & get the design job done rather than maintaining an in-house design team. Fashion Design services provider can either sell the designs outright or license them out on royalty basis. The fashion Design Services is a broad term. However the concept is that if someone is interested in launching their own line in footwear, handbag, bedding etc and are looking to outsource the design work, then a fashion design services provider can help. While initially launching the business, it might be expensive to launch with a lot new designs, thus a licensing option from such a company might save startup cost. Couture beginnings Dress designed by Charles Frederick Worth The first fashion designer who was not merely a dressmaker was Charles Frederick Worth (1826–1895). Before the former draper set up his maison couture (fashion house) in Paris, clothing design and creation was handled by largely anonymous seamstresses, and high fashion descended from styles worn at royal courts. Worth's success was such that he was able to dictate to his customers what they should wear, instead of following their lead as earlier dressmakers had done. It was during this period that many design houses began to hire artists to sketch or paint designs for garments. The images alone could be presented to clients much more cheaply than by producing an actual sample garment in the workroom. If the client liked the design, they ordered it and the resulting garment made money for the house. Thus, the tradition of designers sketching out garment designs instead of presenting completed garments on models to customers began as an economy. Early twentieth century Throughout the early 20th century, practically all high fashion originated in Paris and to a lesser extent London. Fashion magazines from other countries sent editors to the Paris fashion shows. Department stores sent buyers to the Paris shows, where they purchased garments to copy (and openly stole the style lines and trim details of others). Both made-to-measure salons and ready-to-wear departments featured the latest Paris trends, adapted to the stores' assumptions about the lifestyles and pocket books of their targeted customers. At this time in fashion history the division between haute couture and ready-to-wear was not sharply defined. The two separate modes of production were still far from being competitors, and, indeed, they often co-existed in houses where the seamstresses moved freely between made-to-measure and ready-made. Around the start of the 20th century fashion style magazines began to include photographs and became even more influential than in the future. In cities throughout the world these magazines were greatly sought-after and had a profound effect on public taste. Talented illustrators - among them Paul Iribe, Georges Lepape, Erté, and George Barbier - drew exquisite fashion plates for these publications, which covered the most recent developments in fashion and beauty. Perhaps the most famous of these magazines was La Gazette du bon ton which was founded in 1912 by Lucien Vogel and regularly published until 1925 (with the exception of the war years). 1900s Fashionable lady of the era The outfits worn by the fashionable women of the 'Belle Époque' (as this era was called by the French) were strikingly similar to those worn in the heyday of the fashion pioneer Charles Worth. By the end of the 19th-century, the horizons of the fashion industry had generally broadened, partly due to the more stable and independent lifestyle many well-off women were beginning to adopt and the practical clothes they demanded. However, the fashions of the La Belle Époque still retained the elaborate, upholstered, hourglass-shaped style of the 19th century. As of yet, no fashionable lady could (or would) dress or undress herself without the assistance of a third party. The constant need for radical change, which is now essential for the survival of fashion within the present system, was still literally unthinkable. The use of different trimmings were all that distinguished one season from the other. Conspicuous waste and conspicuous consumption defined the fashions of the decade and the outfits of the couturiers of the time were incredibly extravagant, elaborate, ornate, and painstakingly made. The curvaceous S-Bend silhouette dominated fashion up until around 1908. The S~Bend corset was very tightly laced at the waist which forced the hips back and the drooping mono bosom was thrust forward in a pouter pigeon effect creating an S shape. Toward the end of the decade the fashionable silhouette gradually became somewhat more straight and slim, partly due to Paul Poiret's high-waisted, shorter-skirted Directoire line of clothes. The Maison Redfern was the first fashion house to offer women a tailored suit based directly on its male counterpart and the extremely practical and soberly elegant garment soon became an indispensable part of the wardrobe of any well-dressed woman. Another indispensable part of the outfit of the well-dressed woman was the designer hat. Fashionable hats at the time were either tiny little confections that perched on top of the head, or large and wide brimmed, trimmed with ribbons, flowers, and even feathers. Caroline Reboux, Legroux, and E. Lewis were the most sought-after names of the time. Parasols were still used as decorative accessories and in the summer they dripped with lace and added to the overall elaborate prettiness. 1910s Dress designed by Paul Poiret During the early years of the 1910s the fashionable silhouette became much more lithe, fluid and soft than in the 20th century. When the Ballets Russes performed Scheherazade in Paris in 1910, a craze for Orientalism ensued. The couturier Paul Poiret was one of the first designers to translate this vogue into the fashion world. Poiret's clients were at once transformed into harem girls in flowing pantaloons, turbans, and vivid colors and geishas in exotic kimono. Paul Poiret also devised the first outfit which women could put on without the help of a maid. The Art Deco movement began to emerge at this time and its influence was evident in the designs of many couturiers of the time. Simple felt hats, turbans, and clouds of tulle replaced the styles of headgear popular in the 20th century. It is also notable that the first real fashion shows were organized during this period in time, by the first female couturier, Jeanne Paquin, who was also the first Parisian couturier to open foreign branches in London, Buenos Aires, and Madrid. Two of the most influential fashion designers of the time were Jacques Doucet and Mariano Fortuny. The French designer Jacques Doucet excelled in superimposing pastel colors and his elaborate gossamery dresses suggested the Impressionist shimmers of reflected light. His distinguished customers never lost a taste for his fluid lines and flimsy, diaphanous materials. While obeying imperatives that left little to the imagination of the couturier, Doucet was nonetheless a designer of immense taste and discrimination, a role many have tried since, but rarely with Doucet's level of success. The Venice-based designer Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo was a curious figure, with very few parallels in any age. For his dress designs he conceived a special pleating process and new dyeing techniques. He gave the name Delphos to his long clinging sheath dresses that undulated with color. Each garment was made of a single piece of the finest silk, its unique color acquired by repeated immersions in dyes whose shades were suggestive of moonlight or of the watery reflections of the Venetian lagoon. Breton straw, Mexican cochineal, and indigo from the Far East were among the ingredients that Fortuny used. Among his many devotees were Eleanora Duse, Isadora Duncan, Cleo de Merode, the Marchesa Casati, Emilienne d'Alençon, and Liane de Pougy. Changes in dress during World War I were dictated more by necessity than fashion. As more and more women were forced to work, they demanded clothes that were better suited to their new activities. Social events had to be postponed in favor of more pressing engagements and the need to mourn the increasing numbers of dead, visits to the wounded, and the general gravity of the time meant that darker colors became the norm. A new monochrome look emerged that was unfamiliar to young women in comfortable circumstances. By 1915 fashionable skirts had risen above the ankle and then later to mid-calf.

2011-03-06T11:46:00.001-08:00

CAD It specifically refers not only to the design process, but furthermore to the manufacturing, which is defined as being "advanced". It utilizes CAD, to patternmake and design. The first CAD package for clothing came out in 1985, which significantly helped to decrease inefficiencies in making and readjusting panel patterns. Since 1985, computer clothing design software packages have made tremendous advancements. [edit] Main functions 1. Allow for panels to be digitally made 2. Virtual garment fittings on virtual models Generally, using CAD for fashion design requires background knowledge in: * Pattern-making principles * Garment construction * Fabric and fibre characteristics * Sourcing materials * Cutting * Draping * Grading; * Fashion drawing; * Fashion trends and forecasting; * Trade sketching; * Embellishing garments; * Using electronic fashion design tools; * Interacting/networking with the fashion design industry * Quality assurance The fashion industry has been using databases to aggregate and organize information specific to the industry. Below are some examples of such databases. 1. Mix-and-Match databases The mix-and-match database is a database that is being used in Hong Kong. Traditionally, fashion companies depend on sales associates to complimentary clothing recommendations for customers. The mix-and-match database essentially does the same thing, but in a different way. In order to use this database all clothes in the store have to be tagged with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. In addition, each fitting room has to be equipped with a computer monitor. When a customer brings a clothing item with a RFID tag into the fitting room, the computer monitor will identify the garment, and display photographs of complementary items using the database. 2. Fashion Library databases An example of a useful database that is the National Fashion Institute of Fashion Technology's Virtual Fashion Library (VFL) in India. This database is specifically organized to meet the needs of India's fashion designers. The VFL's most useful tool is the its Fashion Image Inventory. The inventory includes three image banks: the Indian fashion museum, the virtual swatch library, and archives of fashion shows. The Indian fashion museum contains pictures and videos of Indian costumes and dress throughout various historical periods. The virtual swatch library includes a collection of fabrics from all over India which helps designers select fabrics and patterns made in India. The archives fashion show contains videos of India's top fashion runway shows.

2011-03-06T11:45:00.001-08:00

Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social lattitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories. Some work alone or as part of a team. They attempt to satisfy consumer desire for aesthetically designed clothing; and, because of the time required to bring a garment onto the market, must at times anticipate changing consumer tastes. Fashion designers attempt to design clothes which are functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. They must consider who is likely to wear a garment and the situations in which it will be worn. They have a wide range and combinations of materials to work with and a wide range of colors, patterns and styles to choose from. Though most clothing worn for everyday wear fall within a narrow range of conventional styles, unusual garments are usually sought for special occasions, such as evening wear or party dresses. Some clothes are made specifically for an individual, as in the case of haute couture. Today, most clothing is designed for the mass market, especially casual and every-day wear . Fashion designers can work in a number of ways. Fashion designers may work full-time for one fashion company, known as 'in-house designers' which owns the designs. They may work alone or as part of a team. Freelance designers work for themselves, selling their designs to fashion houses, directly to shops, or to clothing manufacturers. The garments bear the buyer's label. Some fashion designers set up their own labels, under which their designs are marketed. Some fashion designers are self-employed and design for individual clients. Other high-fashion designers cater to specialty stores or high-fashion department stores. These designers create original garments, as well as those that follow established fashion trends. Most fashion designers, however, work for apparel manufacturers, creating designs of men’s, women’s, and children’s fashions for the mass market. Large designer brands which have a 'name' as their brand such as Calvin Klein, Gucci, or Chanel are likely to be designed by a team of individual designers under the direction of a designer director. Designing a garment Fashion designers work in different ways. Some sketch their ideas on paper, while others drape fabric on a dress form. When a designer is completely satisfied with the fit of the toile (or muslin), he or she will consult a professional pattern maker who then makes the finished, working version of the pattern out of card. The pattern maker's job is very precise and painstaking. The fit of the finished garment depends on their accuracy. Finally, a sample garment is made up and tested on a model to make sure it is an operational outfit. Fashion design is generally considered to have started in the 19th century with Charles Frederick Worth who was the first designer to have his label sewn into the garments that he created. Before the former draper set up his maison couture (fashion house) in Paris, clothing design and creation was handled by largely anonymous seamstresses, and high fashion descended from that worn at royal courts. Worth's success was such that he was able to dictate to his customers what they should wear, instead of following their lead as earlier dressmakers had done. The term couturier was in fact first created in order to describe him. While all articles of clothing from any time period are studied by academics as costume design, only clothing created after 1858 could be considered as fashion design. It was during this period that many design houses began to hire artists to sketch or paint designs for garments. The images were shown to clients, which was much cheaper than producing an actual sample garment in the workroom. If the client liked their design, they ordered it and the resulting garment made money for the house. Thus, the tradition of designers sketching out garment designs instead of presenting completed garments on models to customers began as an economy.

2011-02-04T05:58:00.001-08:00

Bucket Handbags Are A Welcome Return To The Fashion World

The bucket handbag is back because Louis Vuitton reinvented it. The bucket hand bag was first used as a shopping bag in 1968 when fashions were mod and everyone used the bucket handbag for shopping in the larger urban areas. In the 80's it was even adopted to wear in Japan with a Kimono.

The bucket handbag works wells today because it is a welcome return to the fashion world. Women buy Louis Vuitton bucket handbags because they look smart and hold everything they need from morning until night and still look chic.

Designers create the trendiest bucket handbags that are on the runway this season. Besides using their signature logo, Louis Vuitton puts out styles, prints and colors that change all of the time. The first thing to remember is that bucket handbags come in different sizes.

The smallest bucket handbag is for when you just want to carry a wallet and smaller personal items. A medium bucket handbag is great for when you want to go to lunch and then go shopping for a few small items. Instead of carrying shopping bags you can put everything you buy into a bucket handbag and keep looking great, while you keep everything in the same place. A large bucket handbag keeps shopping items, personal items and the things that an office executive needs to keep while she goes about her busy day.

The colors are the next thing to look for in bucket handbags. The colors come out in the fall and the spring and are always different. Spring colors for bucket handbags are different from the fall. Spring colors are like Easter eggs. They are bright and saturated.

Most fall patterns are more subtle and go with shoes that are also on the runway during the season. Matching bags with shoes sounds a little outdated, but still holds up with sophisticated Louis Vuitton. Louis Vuitton makes handbags, shoes, wallets and other accessories that match and change from year to year.

Changing your look from year to year is important when you buy handbags and accessories. Retro and modern styles are important when going from look to look. Even retro Louis Vuitton bags can be combined to create a fresh look all year long. The Louis Vuitton bucket handbag creates a look that is both timeless and functional.

Even the large Louis Vuitton bucket hand bag can be worn in the evening, if you need to go right from the office to an evening Gala. Louis Vuitton bucket handbags hold a lot and make you look your best. That is why they have been around for years and will be around for years to come.

2011-02-04T05:57:00.001-08:00

Handbags - A Historical Perspective

A recent study revealed that the average handbag and its contents are worth a whopping nine hundred dollars! That is 120 billion dollars women are carrying around in handbags nationwide. And can you blame us, really, when there is such an abundance of variety in the handbag market?

It could well be argued that handbags have overtaken shoes as the luxury collectable accessory of choice for celebrities and ordinary women alike.

But in fact handbags may have had as long and controversial a history as the ubiquitous high heel, and according to handbag historians they were used in a similar way - to show the status of the wearer.

In the fourteenth century, the richer and more powerful the person was, the more jewels and embroidery festooned the handbag. Not much has changed in the handbag world, then.

Over the centuries handbags have gone through many adaptations and fashions, but the word handbag was only coined in the 1900s. The start of the twentieth century also heralded the type of handbag we would recognise today - with bags getting increasingly smaller and the introduction of handbag fasteners, inner compartments and locks.

But that is enough history: clearly the most important time period in terms of handbags was the fifties, which saw the rise of the ultimate handbag designer houses; including Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Hermes.

Like Chanels Number 5 perfume, some of these handbags have become instantly recognisable fashion icons; signifiers of the rich and the famous. Sadly, though, this means that showing off your new Louis Vuitton at the office party, or having a stash of Gucci handbags in the wardrobe, is out of the price range of almost everybody.

We should be grateful for the Internet, for perhaps giving us mortals a chance to own a genuine Gucci handbag without having to win the lottery or shoplift. The web is so full of second hand designer handbag dealers that auction giant Ebay have branched out with their own dedicated handbag site, e bags.

Even better, high street shops and even hypermarkets are increasingly living up to the ideals set by the exclusive and expensive designer houses, and it has never been more possible that you can buy a handbag for eight dollars and pass it off as a unique one-off! Truly this decade ought to be the decade of the handbag: and specifically the stylish and affordable handbag. Handbag fans rejoice!

2011-02-04T05:55:00.001-08:00

Holiday Plus Size Clothing Store Guide

Shopping, for most women, is a relaxing and fun experience; something to look forward to greatly. However, shopping during the Christmas holiday season can be far from relaxing.

The people infested malls and stores might turn around the relaxing shopping spree altogether, make you feel uncomfortable and more stressed! The added pressure of needing to buy so many things in a short period of time definitely does not help and continue to add to the pressure.

During the Holidays, shopping around would be so much easier if everyone knew exactly where to go and which shop to visit, to find items needed. Going into a store with the assurance that the item you are looking for will surely be found, would make any stressed out shopper so much more relieved. How many hassles and headaches would be avoided!

In this article I attempt to relieve some of that tension, by guiding curvy women to the right plus size clothing stores. For easier reference, I have separated the suggested plus size clothing stores by type of person targeted and area of specialization.

Curvy Teen
1. Torrid - Torrid has quickly, and rightly so, become one of the favorite plus size fashion stores among teens and the young at heart. Specializing in sizes 12 to 26, Torrid offer a very wide variety of fashion items, including accessories and footwear, which would appeal to any plus size teen who is looking for something fun, stylish and colorful. Here you can find clothing to suit any time of the day, from career wear, formal wear and casual items.
2. Alight - Carrying plus size clothes in sizes 14 to 28, Alight is often termed as an online plus size shopping mall, and for a good reason too! Alight features a very extensive collection of fashion for full-figured ladies from a handful of different clothing lines and designers. This extensive choice ensures that teens will find what they need at Alight.
3. Sydney's Closet - I have said this before, and I still think that Sydney's Closet is a plus size teen girl's dream come true! Teens who are looking for a formal dress or ball gown for a special occasion, especially with the Holidays on the way, will find a wide variety of options at Sydney's Closet.

Plus Size Career Woman
1. Avenue - Avenue is without a doubt a familiar and dear name with all plus size ladies. A name that crops up in any plus size fashion search, Avenue offers great options for the busy curvy career women who always need to look their best. Whether it is shirts, skirts, blouses or suits that you are looking for Avenue is indeed a place to check out. Catering to sizes 14 to 32, Avenue also carries the CloudWalkers footwear line.
2. Jessica London - Catering to sizes 14W to 32W Jessica London should become another go to spot for career women looking to update their wardrobe. Again Jessica London offers women a wide variety of options, including suits, skirts, blouses, jackets and even footwear. With prices to suit all pockets, and promotions going on frequently to help you save some dollars, Jessica London is another option which should not be overlooked.
3. Lane Bryant - Another name which is very familiar with plus size women, Lane Bryant, is a great place to go to for formal and career wear. Quality, as well as reasonable prices, reigns highly at Lane Bryant, where the area of specialization is sizes 14 to 28.

Sophisticated Cat
1. IGIGI - Any plus size woman who wants quality and stylish fashion, created to make her stand out from the crowd will fall in love with IGIGI. Catering to women who wear size 14 to 32 IGIGI carries a wide variety of items, all of which scream out style, and most of all class. If you're looking for dresses, or skirts, or tops, or pants, check out IGIGI.
2. Kiyonna - Sophisticated plus size fashions in sizes 12 and up are all you will find at Kiyonna, that is their area of specialization, and they pull it off well! Again, Kiyonna carry a wide variety of items which will help any curvy woman complete her wardrobe in style.
3. Monif C - If you are looking for something classy, sophisticated and one of a kind, definitely check out the clothing offered by booming plus size fashion designer Monif C. Her items scream out style, are very colorful, and make the most of a woman's curves.

Full Figured and Mature
1. Catherine's - Catering to sizes 16W to 34W Catherine's is a sure winner for mature plus size ladies. Mature women are able to find at Catherine's a multitude of clothing items available in plus sizes, including intimates and swim wear. Classic styles and impeccable quality will put Catherine's in every mature woman's good books.
2. Ulla Popken - The clothes found at Ulla Popken epitomize quality and style for the mature plus size woman. An all rounded store which will help women fill up their wardrobe! The styles and designs offered will surely appeal to mature women who are looking for something special to wear.
3. Zaftique - Zaftique offers a variety of quality plus size items in sizes 12 to 38. Again, Zaftique features a wide variety of items, including accessories and swim wear which appeal to the mature plus size woman.

The stores detailed above give you a very good round up of the best places to turn to during your Christmas holiday shopping spree. Knowing where to look, will help you greatly save time and find the items you need.

2011-02-04T05:54:00.001-08:00

Sleek Looking Skin Tight Jeans

Sexy skin tight jeans, whether you are a fan or not it is the hottest jeans in town! Tight jeans have been popular since the 1980’s, back then it was the fashion norm among the teens. Wearing tight skin tight jeans were the early Mod scene and very popular to both men and women especially among the youth culture fashions.

It came across America on the account of the Rock ’n’ Roll boom during the 1950’s. Elvis the king of rock ‘n’ roll shocked the country by donning tight jeans while showing off his famous gyrating moves. The skin tight jeans gave opportunity to people with ‘bulging packages’ to show off their assets. Men especially those who plays in rock bands are great fans of skin tight jeans giving them the impression of the ‘bad boy’ image such as the Rolling Stones and other popular heavy metal bands particularly thrash scene bands like Megadeath, Slayer, Anthrax and Metallica.

Skin tight jeans are also known in the early years in other terms such as skinny jeans, skinny pants, cigarette pants, slimjims, carrot leg pants, pencil pants, drainpipes, tapered pants, peg leg pants, ice cream cone pants and old school hood jeans.

Tight jeans have started to gain currency and the new concept of this denim is rather brave when it comes to the men’s fashion. Skin tight jeans come long and lean and as tight as you may like. Blue denim jeans have always been the most popular tones but today color fashion of tight jeans are available with the coolest and hippest undertones.

Skin tight jeans are so tight it hugs the legs and a shape the bottoms of the person wearing the jeans appearing like it’s almost a second skin. Women are so much into tight jeans, making skin tight jeans fast becoming the newest trend in town selling like hotcakes in the market now. Tight jeans are very stylish in a way that somehow it makes a lot of people look a lot thinner, enhancing the shape of the body into a more curvaceous form. There are also skin tight jeans stitched and cut into different styles that enable figure enhancements and makes miracles in camouflaging unwanted body features.

A person who wants to achieve a slimmer impression will be more successful with the right pair of skin tight jeans. Stretch denim jeans are also very hot in the market, it is considered to be the second best selling when it comes to clothing items. The materials of stretch denims are very popular in cotton and spandex fabrics and the common combination of the materials of stretch denim jeans constitutes of 1% spandex, 28% polyester and 78% cotton.

If you are aiming for the sleek look, cotton-Lycra blends of stretch denim jeans are the right pair for you. There are also artistically designed skin tight jeans available in the market. You can have these skin tight stretch denim jeans in floral, beaded and embroidered. A pair of tight jeans that has a light tone at the thighs thru the knees will give your legs a shapelier looking form.

2011-02-04T05:53:00.001-08:00

Tween Scene - No More Kids Clothes?

Shopping for kids clothes is, if not fun, at least a relatively painless parental task. All a parent needs to know to buy clothes is the child's age and favorite over-commercialized cartoon character. He then need only buy something with that age printed on the tag - 2T for a two-year old, 6X for a tall six-year old - bearing the appropriate Elmo or Dora the Explorer images. Not a flawless system, but one that has stood the transition from shopping moms to shopping, clueless dads like me. However, this system starts to unravel as your child approaches the tween years - generally recognized as the ages between nine and twelve. The tween years are similar to the toddler years in that your child feels the need to assert independence, test limits, and even push a few buttons. But there is the added confusion of raging hormones causing body changes, mood swings, and occasional fits of pique. At this age, clothing not only fits differently due to growth (and those darn hormones), but your young person begins to have a sense of his own style, or at least a sense of what his peers are wearing. No more Rugrats, Blue's Clues, or Barbie clothing themes. No more kids clothes.

What will my kids want to wear?

Tweens begin feeling the need to express their independence from their parents by emulating their peers. It's the prelude to full-blown teenager-hood, and as such, fashion plays a role. However, fashion and popular culture should never override parental wisdom, or common sense. Do we really need to see an eleven-year-old boy's boxers billowing out of his low-slung pants like the braking chute on a drag racer? Should we really know what color underwear a ten year old girl is wearing as it climbs over the top of her jeans? Tweens will look to teens, and teen pop icons, for what's "cool" to wear, and in so doing will see a proliferation of skin and undergarments. Leaving aside the issue of whether this attire is appropriate for anyone, these are definitely not kids clothes. Yet they may very possibly be the clothes your kids will want to wear.

No kids clothes? What should I buy?

Fear not, all is not lost! The aware parent can be fashion-forward and still lose the "babyish" kids clothes. Today's tween/teen fashion seems to be centered on baggy and low slung, with an eye to 80's Prep. Plain white tee shirts are popular for both boys and girls, as are polo shirts (yes, the collars are back up!). Loose fitting cargo pants, jeans, khakis and chinos are also worn by both girls and boys. Many of today's jeans are low-rise, which means parents need to keep an eye out for peeping underwear and "plumber's cleavage," but the right fit can be found. As silk scarf belts are in for girls, obtaining this accessory for your daughter might help keep the jeans up at their proper height. Popular with boys is the silk (or silk-like) shirt over that white tee. Untucked, this also can help disguise pants that seem to be hanging at knee level.
One way young ladies can be "skin-fashionable" without being inappropriate is by wearing Capri pants coupled with the ped-like "no-see" socks that don't rise above the tops of the sneaker. Showing a little ankle may have been risqu? in Queen Victoria's day, but in today's Britney Spears boobs-and-bellies world, the ankle is an easy compromise. These socks are also worn by boys, so stock up.

What's this going to cost me?

Let's face it - fashion can be expensive. And if my tween is going to be growing out of her clothes in three months, outfitting her could become prohibitively expensive. Fortunately, part of the problem is solved by the fashion itself. White tees, ankle-height socks, and even polo shirts are relatively inexpensive, and can be purchased at Target or Wal-Mart. However, some of the retailers that are offering these trendy kids clothes are on the higher end of the pricing scale. Abercrombie, American Eagle, Old Navy, and Gap are on the frontlines of kids clothes fashion, and are more expensive. It's best for the budget-conscious parent to pick a few pieces of "anchor" clothing from these places that can be accessorized or added to from discount stores.

Remember: You are the parent

As your child grows out of her kids clothes and into tween clothes, remember who is in charge. A tween is yet a child, and needs parental guidance and supervision. You decide what is or is not appropriate attire. And, unless your tween has a high-end, low-carb, no-sugar lemonade bar, you are probably the one paying for the clothes. You can allow your young person to grow and express herself within your parameters, and make the transition out of kids clothes a smooth one.

There are many resources for parents to communicate with and help each other through each stage of child development. One such is the Parents.com website, which has message boards and forums for each age group. Check the tweens board to see what other parents are thinking of doing regarding their tweens.

2011-02-04T05:52:00.001-08:00

Fashion Forward 2008 - The Top Hot Fashion Trends

You probably can't recall who said it, but whoever first uttered that fashion comes full circle every 30 years or so was not too far off. This season on the runway is reminiscent of the flowing 70s in both fabric and style. We are seeing much more of the long skirt and much less of the micro mini. Materials like silk and chiffon, which tend to flow and gather, are much more popular for Spring 2008 than fabrics like cotton or denim which tend to hold shape and stay stiffer in appearance. The word for the season is feminine, feminine, feminine! The exception to this seems to be in outerwear, where rubber is oddly back in style. Indoors, though, thin little belts, hats, and scarves are also popular and a throwback to the 70s as well as being womanly. Don't despair, though - some things from last season are still popular and can be recycled for this season. Accessories like metallic bags and clutches, as well as sequins and some of the longer pencil skirts can still be worn with confidence. Dresses with color blocks are still around as well, left over from last season and still cute. Headbands are still a popular accessory as well.

Sheers are in this year as a fabric style, which works well with the flow-y nature of the season. Pairing a sheer shirt over a camisole with denim jeans is a great casual look. In fact, a sheer scarf works with almost anything this season. Especially cute is the above-mentioned shirt and jeans with a little scarf and dressy sneakers. "Dressy sneakers" are another big hit this year, which will keep your feet happy as you get to be comfortable and stylish at the same time. Low-lying, patterned variety sneakers with ties that sport the best of brand names are the most popular for the young trendsetter.

Speaking of patterns, big bold prints such as tropical themes and jungle prints are back. For whatever reason, and it seems to happen every several years, tribal and jungle themes like leopard prints and zebra stripes make their way back to the runway. This year is no exception. Color is back, and black is out, at least for now. Last year, brown was the new black, and this year it is muted silver and grey that's all the rage when you want to opt for a non-color.

What about shoes, you ask? Pointy-toe pumps are back! Not that they ever really went out of style, but they certainly came second to the flip flop, the ballet slipper, and other such cutesy flat footwear, along with the rounded toe pump. Also noteworthy is what's in store for later on in the season. Fall 2008 promises to be chock full of the "bigger is better" theory. Bigger, chunkier heels, bigger, longer boots, and bigger and heavier accessories on the shoes themselves such as thick buckles and chains should be on your radar for footwear.

Of course, if we are going to talk shoes we must talk shades. Still popular, especially with the Divas, are the ever-present round and dark sunglasses that cover most of your face. The celebrities, of course, brought this trend to the forefront of fashion and it doesn't look like it's going anywhere anytime soon. Also popular though, is the blue lens which seemed to disappear for a while. This lens is more appropriate with a smaller frame than with the oversized shades discussed. The RayBan Wayfarers, so popular in the 80s, also seem to be making a comeback this year.

Last but by no means least, there could not be a fashion article written about what's hot for 2008 without mentioning jeans. Designer denim continues to be the hottest thing around. We all know that True Religion, Citizens of Humanity, Buffalo, Seven for all Mankind and Lucky have become standard, almost run-of-the mill designer jeans. Even though they cost upward of $200.00, they are still the 'norm'. Slightly more pricey is Diesel, and this brand continues to be popular as well. Relative newcomers, though, are some of the names that were actually around long before these newbies even existed. Yves St. Laurent, Donna Karan, and some of the more elite designer's names are being plastered on the derrieres of the most discriminating fashionistas this season. As for jean style and cut, the zipper-ankle and straight-leg varieties that were popular in the 80s are making a comeback. Expect to see them on the legs of the trendsetters this fall.

This season proves to be an interesting and eclectic mix of 70s and 80s styles. This may seem contradictory, but the feminine nature of the season's styles pulls from flowing 70s fabrics and cuts and seems to just use a hint of 80s metal and accessory - and it's a hit.

2011-02-04T05:51:00.001-08:00

Handbag Styles Fit to Women's Lifestyle

Handbags have become one of the most well-known women's accessories available on the market. These are not just considered as functional items that help them carry their necessary belongings but also one of their significant preferences in succeeding the best fashion style they most desire. Today, handbags come out with several varieties of styles and designs to choose from. These different types of handbags are intended for various functions and purposes which enable them to match and fit to their different daily lifestyle. For this reason, most of them own a minimum of three unique styles of handbags that are best appropriate for different occasions because they believe that each outfit requires for a distinct style of handbag.

Here is the list of the most common handbag styles helping women easily choose what handbag style that best match for a certain occasion:

1. Tote

This is often called a carry bag. It is used to hold their personal belongings that are too large for a purse. It is very popular they are casual and practical at the same time. Most women use it for their daily hang outs because they always feel comfortable when they carry this type of handbag.

2. Clutch

It is a handbag that is intended to be carried in the hand because it has no handles. It is a perfect lady-like small bag where women's essentials such as make up and other cosmetic products can be placed to make them stay fresh and look beautiful all day long. Most women use this style of handbag whenever they have to go to an evening gathering and other formal occasions.

3. Satchel

A handbag that has one, sometimes two, large straps that goes over one shoulder and across the body. This type of handbag is best appropriate in most women who are working in an office. They have to use this handbag because they need to carry their important files whenever they have a meeting or if they need to bring their paper works in their home. It is also often used by most students to help them carry their books and other school stuffs. Using satchel does not only help women to hold their bulky files and things in a more convenient way but also enhance their fashion outlook.

4. Duffel

This type of handbag is used for traveling purposes because it has large compartments where women can able to place several necessary items such as clothes, shoes and other stuffs they have to bring on their trip.

5. Hobo

It is a style of handbag that is typically large and defined by a crescent shape designed to wear over the shoulder. Hobo handbag has a feminine and stylish design which makes woman looks more attractive and eye-catching. This handbag is often used by most working women who don't have to bring more bulky things.

There's no doubt, that choosing only one handbag style is really hard for most women since every outfit calls for different handbag style. They really require to have multiple handbags in order for them to pick out the best style of handbag that perfectly meets their needs and complement their outfits. Knowing how to choose a right handbag for a specific occasion is the best way for them to enhance their outfit to a more stylish and elegant-looking and to stand out among other women.

2011-02-04T05:45:00.001-08:00

Silk Scarves Can Make You Radiant!

Silk scarves make fantastic fashion accessories, more so than a set of hat and gloves, because these are wearable year round. They can keep your hair in place during the windy fall weather. They can keep the chill off of your neck during the cool winter months. They can keep the rain from your hair during the wet spring months, and they can keep the sun from burning your neck and head during the hot summer months. And all year round...they can make your outfit look remarkable.

Every woman should have about a half dozen scarves to choose from. But doesn't keep these silky beauties in the closet! Keep one on you, and keep an extra one in your purse. A quick scarf change can turn your professional outfit into a professional casual or even casual outfit!

When shopping for silk scarves, how do you know what to get? Here is a guide to help you:

Some people may choose to wear one that matches their shoes, belt, and purse. This is a bold statement and you need to be careful if you choose to do this. It's not always a fashion faux pas, but it could be overwhelming and even dangerous to do. However, if it also matches your shirt, it may work well.

Otherwise, choose one that coordinates with what you have and don't choose any colors that are too bright; instead, go for bold but subdued colors. Metallic blue and moss green can look great. Pumpkin is the new red this fall and purple is the new black so you may want to consider those if they go with your wardrobe.

One good way to choose appropriate colored scarves is to find one that have two colors: one color that matches your shirt and another color that either matches a business suit coat or coordinates with it well. One great looking example might be a light blue shirt, a dark blue business suit coat and a scarf that combines a light blue (matching your shirt) and a pumpkin. This could be a great look on many women!

Should your silk accessory be patterned or unpatterned? If a lot of your clothes are bold patterned clothes, consider using ones that are plain. If you have unpatterned clothes, then a splash of color and pattern at your neck can be good. If you have a patterned one, keep it around your neck and don't wear it as a head wrap. If you do, you run the risk of making your head appear too large. However, if the rest of your clothes are plain and unpatterned and your accessory has a pattern and it is tied around your neck it can draw attention to your face...which is exactly what you want!

These also make a great addition to your wardrobe and work well for both formal and casual functions. You can dress yourself up or down with the simple addition of these beautiful items! This holiday season, give yourself a gift by picking up a half dozen scarves.

2011-02-04T05:44:00.001-08:00

Silk Scarves...Put Yourself in Front of the Line

Beautiful silk scarves are the height of fashion this season, and look to continue through the spring and early summer. Because silk is so smooth and silky, it makes the perfect year-round fashion accessory. Do you have one in your wardrobe? You should. In fact, you should consider owning half a dozen!

The silk scarf is to women's wardrobes what the tie is to men's wardrobes: it's a great looking accessory that can be used to really make an outfit "pop". Your scarf should be paired with an outfit carefully. But it may surprise you to learn that the way you wear your silk scarf also matters!

Silk scarves are also so good because they are so versatile. You can use them as a head wrap, as a bandana (formed in a triangle around the neck... almost like you'`re about to pull it up over your face to rob a bank in the wild west), folded into a strip and tied around your neck, or, tied at your collar and hanging down (like the feminine version of a tie). Some women even choose to tie their scarf around on wrist, like a piece of flash (If you talk with your hands, though, this could be more distracting than outfit improving).

Which way is best for you? When should you choose one style over another?

Use it as a head wrap: A subdued color that coordinates well with your coat is a good choice when looking for a scarf to use as a head wrap. This style is a great classy style that hints at an era gone by when men and women always dressed very well. Today, this style works well especially during inclement weather. If it's windy or slightly rainy, a head wrap is perfect. One very appropriate time to use it is if you have very bright hair and you are going to a funeral. Although style may not be at the top of your mind, a black silk scarf tied around your head as a head wrap looks good, keeps your hair in place, and looks appropriate for the circumstances.

Use it as a bandana: This can look good on a casual weekend when paired with jeans and a jean jacket. It's a look that combines cowgirl with the catwalk of Paris. This might be an appropriate time to use a color that matches with the shirt you're wearing under your jean jacket or (if your shirt is white) choose a bold blue or red.

Fold it into a strip and tie it around your neck: This is a great look if you are trying to dress up your jeans. Also, women who have longer necks or are self conscious about a very skinny neck or a larger adam's apple can wear this very appropriately. Don't choose a color that is too bright, pick a subdued color that coordinates with the main color that you're wearing. This will help your scarf to appear as part of your outfit and will seem like it blends in.

Tied like a tie around your neck: This great look is very appropriate for the office or for semi-formal occasions. A great looking scarf to get for this use is one that has its main color as your shirt and a second color in the design that goes well with your entire outfit.

2011-02-04T05:42:00.001-08:00

Three Shoe Essentials For Any Woman

When it comes to creating an outfit for a social event, accessories are even more important than the clothes themselves. Necklaces, earrings, handbags and shoes, each play an important part in giving any outfit that finished and polished look we demand. From all those accessories, shoes may not be the ones you see most, but they do have the most impact on your overall comfort throughout the event. After all, if your feet are not happy, you probably won't be.

Any woman's closet should have a few essential pairs of shoes. These shoes can go with any of your outfits and make them look just a little better, and will save you from having to buy countless pairs to go with countless dresses. One shoe you can never do without is a pair of simple, black pumps. It serves much as the black cocktail dress would, and is suitable for any occasion. Be it a quiet dinner in a restaurant or a night dancing the salsa, black pumps will suit your needs. No matter what the color of your outfit is, black will never clash with it, and since pumps will never go out of fashion you will be set for years to come.

When it comes to comfort, a lot of women tend to wear sneakers. There is no disputing that sneakers will keep your feet from getting sore, but it doesn't help you look fashionable. Instead, a pair of clogs will function just as well as sneakers. You can wear them for a day in the mall or simply a trip to the beach, and can even take them jogging if you want to. It won't be as comfortable as sneakers of course, so if you jog regularly you might want to invest in sneakers after all. If you don't, with a single pair of clogs you save yourself from having to buy sandals, sneakers and slippers. Talk about a good deal!

Last but not least is a good pair of boots. For winter and summer, boots are a perfect blend of comfort and fashion. They don't go very well under a cocktail dress, but gives that little extra something to a skirt and blouse, or pants depending on your choice. Black is recommended, but brown serves just as well and looks a little warmer. With these three types of shoes in your closet, you can never go wrong no matter what you wear.

2011-02-04T05:40:00.001-08:00

Wool Socks Are Perfect For The Feet

Socks are knitted garments that are made to enclose the human foot and usually extend up to the lower leg. They are designed to meet several objectives, one of which is that it is supposed to ease the chafing caused by footwear when worn directly on bare feet. It makes the feet warm and absorbs the sweat that emanates from the feet. To provide a meaning with a different context, the term sock is also the word describing the thin layer of leather of similar material that covers the insole of the shoe. The term half-sock is described to the half-covered insole where the forepart is made visible.

As mentioned above, socks are very useful for absorbing the sweat produced by the feet. It draws the sweat to areas where free-flowing air dries up the perspiration avoiding feet odor build-up. Likewise, in cold environments, socks serves as remover of moisture produced by the feet and decreases the risk of a person being inflicted with frostbite.

Athletic shoes, casual shoes, and even boots require the use of socks. Fashion has also allowed the use of socks on open-toed shoes such as sandals. Still, this practice of using socks in sandals is considered unfashionable in several social circles. Indoors, socks can be worn without a shoe just for the comfort and warmth that it brings. It is most convenient if the socks worn are wool socks. Wool socks are worn for the comfort that the wool material gives to the wearer. During the old days, people used to wrap their feet in wools from sheep, much like sandals, to protect them from harsh elements and keep them warm throughout the day.

Though socks are usually made from cotton and polypropylene, wool socks are becoming more popular due to the softer and warmer touch it gives to the feet. Socks come in many colors but the usual fashion requirements are colored or dark socks for formal attire and white socks for athletic and casual attire. The length of socks also varies either from ankle-high up to being knee-high. Just-below-the-knee socks are used in sports such as soccer, football and basketball. The fencing sports wear extra long socks that reach beyond the knee. Ankle socks, on the other hand, are usually used with athletic shoes, especially by teenagers and young adults.

Other styles of socks available are mid-calf, bare, crew and toe socks. The important thing that people must always observe in terms of fashion when wearing socks is that the color of the socks must complement the color of either the shoes or the pants.

2011-02-04T05:39:00.003-08:00

A Look At Shoes All Women Should Have

Women's shoes come in innumerable styles and colors and a lot of women think they must have them all!

In reality, there are some necessary women's shoe styles and colors all women should have and to keep it effortless for you we are going to give you a guide that will help to make the process easier.

The first shoe on our list of indispensable women's shoes is the low heel black pump. This shoe is perfect for those occasions when strapped sandals are inappropriate or even to refined, like for an early dinner or business meeting. These comfortable women's shoes are essential for every woman.

Next, you need a pump that is of a neutral color, no white. These will pretty much cover what the black pumps will not.

You will also want a semi-casual flat women's shoe. This is one that will look fine with jeans, but also classy enough to wear nicer dress pants with them as well.

If there is a "must have" in women's shoes, it is the black high heeled dress shoe. Don't overdo it on the straps and stick to the basics. A classy black high heel shoe is a definite necessity for every woman's shoe collection.

One of the newer styles that has become a needed shoe due to the demand for metallic accessories is the metallic high heeled shoe. There are some dresses out now that black just doesn't go with. For those, wear the metallic pumps.

For comfort, you will want an everyday casual shoe like a sneaker or loafer. This is a personal choice as to what you feel comfortable wearing. Choose a shoe you will get the most use from.

Another popular fashion these days is the boot. Whether you choose a high heeled fashion boot or a comfortable winter type boots or even cowboy boots, these are a definite must have for the winter season. You must have at least one pair.

2011-02-04T05:39:00.001-08:00

A Look At Shoes All Women Should Have

2011-02-04T05:37:00.005-08:00

Diamonds and Denim

It may come as a shock to those of us with more traditional tastes, but the elusive ideal of "class" can be achieved through unusual ensembles - such as those which combine diamonds and denim. In fact, you don't have to wear purely expensive stuff to look classy. You can be creative and quirky and at the same time show sophistication.

Diamonds and denim? Seriously? Yes, indeed! It may seem a little far-fetched for the more conventional of us, but this unique combination of high society and working class fashion brings out a grand mix of glamour and grit. As a diamond symbolizes the woman's finesse and nobler aspirations, denim represents the everyday woman's readiness to get "down and dirty," and to get her dainty yet strong hands soiled, should the need arise.

The dark colors of most articles of clothing made of denim are accentuated by the light caught in the facets of diamond jewelry. And even if denim items are washed into lighter colors, the stark bright flashes of diamond only serve to enhance the lightly feminine colors upon the rough fabric. In fact you can mix and match diamonds with basically any other fabric - diamonds and silk, diamonds and lace, diamonds and satin. Just as the diamond looks good with any metal base, when it is used on jewelry, the clarity inherent in the diamond ensures that it will look good with any sort of apparel.

But the diamonds and denim combination comes with a unique appeal. It brings out the dual nature of the woman: strength and delicacy, roughness and gentleness. This combination works for intense, down-to-earth women who won't compromise their style, and yet are open to displaying their more sensitive sides.

Another thing represented by denim is recumbence, the utterly casual, relaxed look. Denim, after all, is barred from most coat-and-tie establishments, and other gatherings that require tight dresses and un-flashy attire - in other words, events and places that require you to be uptight. On the other hand, diamonds are not frequently spotted in rough-and-tumble places and events, such as monster truck rallies, outdoor picnics and mosh pits. But why deny yourself the opportunity to create a pleasing blend of these two contrasting atmospheres? It is when a woman deviates from the norm that she is best able to express her individuality and creativity.

And if you don't believe me, you can always ask exquisitely fashionable creatures like Sela Ward, Alexis Bledel and Sports Illustrated model Melissa Keller. They both once attended the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in 2004, hosted by Judith Ripka and Cotton Incorporated, wearing their favorite jeans and accessorized by elegant diamond jewelry. If you wish to bring out your more unconventional "classy" side, go for diamonds and denim!

2011-02-04T05:37:00.001-08:00

Sterling Silver Jewelry Fashion Trends for the New Year and Beyond

Each year, on fashion runways from New York to Paris, Milan, and Toyko, sterling silver is "new again" as designers interpret it in new and exciting ways. What makes sterling silver a fashion perennial? The answer is clear: when it comes to beauty, versatility, durability, and affordability, sterling silver jewelry is unsurpassed.

In the hands of talented artists and designers, sterling silver is constantly "reinvented" to suit the evolving tastes of the women who wear it. But whether as a ring, a necklace, or bracelet, standing alone or presented in combination with gemstones and other precious metals...sterling silver is always in fashion.

Here's a look at what's "hot" this year:

Peace of Silver

In 2004, many Oscar presenters and recipients wore gracefully and simply designed "Dove of Peace." pin. Embraced by such Hollywood luminaries as Meryl Streep, Susan Sarandon, Drew Barrymore, and Leonardo DiCaprio, it has also been seen on the Dali Lama and Nobel Peace Laureates Oscar Aria Sanchez, Betty Williams, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, and former UN Assistant Secretary-General Gillian Sorrensom.

Now non-celebrities may purchase the pin in sterling silver pin to demonstrate both their commitment to peace and their fashion sense. The 2005 sterling silver interpretation was designed by award-winning American jewelry artist Henry Dunay to resonate the energy of Picasso's "Dove Of Peace."

Silver Screen

With the enormous popularity of the "Lord of the Rings" series, it comes as no surprise that designers have created jewelry based on the elaborately crafted pieces in the films. Based on the actual pendant worn in the Lord of the Rings film, the Arwen Evenstar Pendant is crafted in sterling silver and comes in a wooden gift box. Measuring 2-1/2 inches in length with a 18" sterling silver chain and a Swarovski crystal stone, each piece is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, adding long-term value to its other charms.

Works Like A Charm

Charm bracelets are both wonderfully retro and extremely cutting edge. Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Avril Levigne, Hilary Duff, and other high-visibility high-fashion celebrities are wrapping their wrists in silver bracelets with the hip L.A. brand "Eldorado Club."

The "Girlie Charm Bracelet" is adorned with charming femme-friendly charms including a cat, a cocktail glass, and a kitty.

Sterling Silver - Always In Style for Your 25th Anniversary No matter what list you consult -- traditional, modern or the now popular "ultra-modern" (which includes items like clocks and appliances) -- silver is the 21st Century gift of choice for a 25th wedding anniversary. Whether it's silver's durability, its strength, its flexibility or its unparalleled beauty, sterling silver is an exquisite memento of 25 years of loving commitment between a couple.

Topping the list of this year's "What's Hot" in silver wedding anniversary gifts, women say they want charm bracelets, hoop earrings, and hair ornaments. For wives who would like to present their husbands with sterling silver tokens, the "top of the charts" picks are cufflinks, tie clips, money clips, neck chains, and I.D. bracelets.

But #1 for him AND her -- a classic sterling silver Tiffany keyring.

2011-02-04T05:35:00.001-08:00

Ladies Golf Club Bag : To Suit Every Womans Individuality

Why is it important for women golfers to have a stylish ladies golf club bag? Well to a lady golfer it is not only important that her convenience is catered for but it is equally important that her individuality is catered for also. Women tend to be far more fashion conscious than the average male so it is very important for a woman to have accessories such as golf bags to be stylish as well as convenient.

Luckily for women around the world that there are many manufacturers that cater for the fashion conscious lady golfer. You will find that the ladies golf club bag can come in an array of different colors from hot pink to dark blue or if you want more than color, why not look at an animal fabric such as zebra or tiger.

Most these days come with matching head covers, organizer tops and even purses and bags to add as accessories. And of course if you really want to be an individual then you always have the added option of having a custom made ladies golf club bag in your own design. The choice is limitless. And not only will you find great bags but also other accessories such as gloves, shoes, clothes and so on. Now you wont only be playing a game that you love but you will look fantastic as well.

And don't let your budget hold you back either, because there are so many reputable companies that produce these bags you will have plenty to choose from, all at different levels of affordability. This enables everyone to get what they want at great bargain prices.

The easiest and most affordable way for you to purchase your new ladies golf club bag and other accessories is by checking out what is available online. Shopping online will always enable you to find products at discount prices.