As nice as it is to know that a degree from a fashion school or at least a certificate of completion may improve your chances of having a successful business, you may be wondering exactly why that is.  If you are interested in being a professional fashion designer, you may already know that thousands have tired to do so and failed.  Unfortunately, many of those individuals ended up making many simple mistakes.  By getting a degree and the training that comes along with it, you are less likely to make some of these common mistakes and you may learn many other helpful tips and tricks. The same can be said for running a fashion store or working as a fashion consultant.

Now you that you know the importance of attending fashion school, you may be wondering what it the best fashion school to attend.  When it comes to finding the best fashion school for you to attend, there are a number of important factors that you will want to take into consideration.  One of those factors is the type of school you would like to attend. Fashion schools and fashion training courses come in a number of different formats. For instance, there are traditional two and four year colleges and universities where you can walk away with a degree. On the other hand, there are training schools that provide you with a certificate of completion, which is, in a way, like a degree.

Location is another factor that should be taken into consideration.  If you are preparing to graduate from high school, you may find it easier to find a fashion school to attend, as you may be more willing to relocate than someone who has roots already established or a family.  If you want to stay local, you should still have a number of fashion schools or at least fashion training courses to choose from. In all honesty, the larger the city that you live in or around, the better your chances are of having more options.

Perhaps, the easiest way to go about examining all of your options, in terms of fashion schools, is by using the internet.  When using the internet, you may want to think about performing a standard internet search with a phrase like “fashion school.”  If you would like to stay in a particular area, you may want to incorporate that city or town into your internet search, as it will provide you with more tailored results.  You should thoroughly examine the websites of all fashion schools that you come across to see what type of training is offered and how much that training costs.

You may also want to ask those that you know for recommendations or any information that they may have on fashion schools. Although the person that you are speaking to may not necessarily have attended a fashion school, they may know of someone who has had.  Colleges and training schools are often something that is regularly discussed among friends and acquaintances; therefore, you never know what information you can get through word of mouth.  In addition, if you are still a high school student, you may want to think about speaking with your guidance counselor for assistance.

As a reminder, attending fashion school is something that is optional, especially if you are interested in starting your own business.  Despite being optional, you may still want to take the time to examine fashion schools. You may actually be surprised with how much you can learn by attending one.

How to Find the Perfect Fashion School is a post from: Shisha Forum - Your Fashion Reviews, Jewelry, and Discussion

The things to consider in buying a beautiful diamond ring are known as the four Cs – carat, color, clarity and cut. Follow these and you are well on your way to a beautiful ring.

The carat of your diamond refers to its weight – simply put, the larger the diamond, the more valuable it becomes. While larger diamonds can be impressive, certain settings suit smaller carats better. Choose a carat that appeals most to you – a large diamond may be valuable, but the most important factor is how valuable it is to you.

The color of a diamond also relates to its value – the clearer the stone, the more valuable your diamond ring. This applies to the traditional clear diamond as well as the newer ones in pink and blue.  You want to be able to look through your stone.

The third factor is clarity . Though few diamonds are perfect, the ones with less clouds or flaws are more rare, and thus more expensive to purchase.

The final factor is the diamond’s cut. The best cut will display the diamond’s brilliance to the best effect.

Your jeweler will be able to help you select a diamond that fits all these characteristics, but remember that each diamond is beautiful in its own right. Your diamond ring is special so choose the one that makes you feel happy.

Hopefully the above will help you make an informed choice when you purchase your next ring.

Choosing a diamond for your ring is a post from: Shisha Forum - Your Fashion Reviews, Jewelry, and Discussion

Popular Online Retailers for Clothing

The majority of major traditional stores that sell clothing also have an online version of their store where consumers can browse through the inventory, make purchases and have items shipped directly to them or to friends or family members. Examples of popular traditional stores who also offer online versions of their store include Old Navy, Banana Republic, Abercrombie and Fitch and Ann Taylor. Additionally, department stores such as Target, Macy’s and JCPenny which do not exclusively sell clothing make their clothing, as well as other products, available through the online versions of their stores. Shoppers who opt to peruse the online stores for clothing may find a greater selection than there is available in traditional stores. The online stores may have items available which are only available online. Additionally, the online stores may have access to a greater inventory unlike traditional stores which may run out of popular sizes rather quickly.

Choosing Online Clothing Options Carefully

When purchasing clothing online, consumers have to be somewhat cautious. This is because it may be difficult to tell how well a clothing item will fit without trying it on first. Also, it can be difficult to assess the texture or color of clothing when shopping online. Online shoppers should read product descriptions carefully and pay particular attention to sizing charts when shopping online for clothing. This will help the consumer to make wise choices.

Online shoppers should also pay attention to the description of the cut of clothing items and should carefully compare these descriptions to the photos displayed on the website of the online retailer. This is an important consideration because consumers may prefer certain cuts which are more flattering to them while other cuts may not look as appealing. Paying particular attention to this information will help the consumer make wise decisions when shopping for clothing online.

When the Shoe Doesn’t Fit

Despite a consumer’s best intentions, there may be times in which they purchase clothing items they have to return because they do not fit well or simply because the consumer changes his mind about the item after making the purchase. For this reason, all online shoppers should carefully review the return policies of online clothing retailers before making purchases. Most online retailers will take items back regardless of the reason for the return but some of them may only assume responsibility for the shipping fees associated with the return if the item is defective. However, there are some online retailers that will not accept returns on certain items and the consumer should be aware of these restrictions before making a purchase.

Online Shopping for Clothing is a post from: Shisha Forum - Your Fashion Reviews, Jewelry, and Discussion

As an attention-getting accessory or fashion statement, designer or custom sunglasses are nothing new.  Trendsetters like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and Elton John sported designer and custom sunglasses as part of their “look” or star status.  Some have worn sunglasses to hide behind, cover their drug-affected eyes, or make a statement.  Pictures of Elvis Presley reveal that he had sunglasses custom-made for him with his initials or the letters TCB (Taking Care of Business) built right into the nose bridge.

Stars like Sophia Loren, Donald Trump, and Britney Spears have their own name brand sunglasses on the market while others may be wearing Marc Jacobs or Armani sunglasses for a classy look or Baby Phat for punk style.  The mood for the day might be for the blast-to-the-past 1950′s look of Fossil sunglasses.

The same clothing designer may also be the designer of the sunglasses that you choose to accessorize your brand-name clothing.   For instance, the smart Tommy dresser can add to the look of a Tommy Hilfiger clothing ensemble with Tommy Hilfiger sunglasses.  For casual wear, Kate Spade sunglasses might do nicely.   Carrera is known for a sporty look.  For a sensual mood, Valentino  frames that have smooth round edges and Swarovsky crystals might just put you (or whoever is looking at you) in the mood.

Designer sunglasses, if you can afford them, are a status symbol showing everyone that you have the cash (or credit card) to buy them.  However, in order to be fashionable in sunglasses, you do not have to give up quality.  Sunglasses, not being just fashionable accessories, are used to protect your eyes from damage caused by the sun’s UV (ultra-violet) rays.  Designer prescription sunglasses can improve vision, and reduce eyestrain, just like ordinary glasses.

Name-brand and designer sunglasses can be polarized to reduce the glare of the sunlight reflecting off surfaces like the highway, cars, water or snow.  Polarized sunglasses work by blocking off the horizontal light reflections and only let in vertical light reflections.  The polarization of designer sunglasses makes them fashionable in other areas of lifestyle like golfing, boating, biking, swimming, fishing and aircraft flying.

Marketers of designer sunglasses aim toward children who enjoy the same hot styles and brand-names as their parents and their idols.  Children’s designer sunglasses can also be polarized.  Sunglasses should be part of children’s daily wear as they play outside and engage in outdoor sports and activities.  Sunglasses can prevent them from the long-term affects of sun damage to their eyes.

Sunglasses in any shade, shape or size, by any name may be a “hot” fashion item for trend-setting stars, men, women and children, but the importance of protecting the eyes from damage far outweighs the importance of looking cool.

Sunglasses are “Hot!” is a post from: Shisha Forum - Your Fashion Reviews, Jewelry, and Discussion

The method an online payday loan operates is straightforward. First, search for payday loans services in the Internet. You will wonder at the amount of opportunities, though, not all creditors provide efficient servicing, so be choosy. As soon as you’ve selected one, fill out the application form. On-line request embraces a few points demanding typical personal data: full name, place of residence, phone number, e-mail id and social security number. Do not get puzzled if a lending institution asks the number of your banking account or employment data; this is implemented to make sure you’ll be able to reimburse. Recommendations (indication of operability) and location (the USA) are demonstrations of the creditor’s legality.

In our times nearly all banking establishments offer possibilities for individuals of receiving credits, however this procedure might be rather intricate and time-consuming. Borrowing money has transformed into much simpler procedure with online payday loan servicing.

Once your application form data is checked and confirmed, your advance is always transferred into your checking account by the next working day. The lender usually applies for affirmation to ascertain the successful transferring procedure. Finally, remember that each monetary problem can simply be resolved thanks to the faxless payday loan servicing.

Instant Faxless Payday Loan Options is a post from: Shisha Forum - Your Fashion Reviews, Jewelry, and Discussion

It’s always interesting to see which star is carrying a certain designer purse since they certainly seem to have a fetish with designer bags. Most of the big handbag designers have boutiques in Hollywood and it’s unlikely that you will see your favorite star without a trendy bag.

Among all the designers that make these high-end handbags, perhaps one of the most popular is the Coach handbag. Based in Manhattan, Coach is the maker of some very hot leather bags. Coach sells their exclusive handbags through it’s own stores, but you can still find great deals on these great bags through online stores, often for significant savings.

Of course Chanel is another popular and sought after handbag designer. Originally started by Coco Chanel, you might be familiar with their fragrances and designer clothing. Chanel is also very well known for their high quality handbags with their signature logo featuring two interlocking “C”s.

Dooney & Bourke is yet another designer that makes some great handbags that have received much attention. Although they haven’t been in the handbag business as long as others, they have made their mark on the industry. Since 1975 this U.S. based company has been designing some unique and high quality handbags with prices falling in the mid-range of designer handbags.

Other hot designers include Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Chanel and Burberry just to name a few.

So what kind of bag is your favorite famous socialite carrying? Hilary Duff has been spotted with a Prada Fairy handbag, while Lindsay Lohan was seen with a Chanel bag. Most stars tend to have many designer handbags, but it’s unlikely that anyone can beat Victoria Beckham. She is said to have over 100 Hermes handbags alone! Hermes bags can cost $50,000 and more for one bag!

Unfortunately there is a downside to these hot and trendy handbags. Since they are so popular right now and every woman wants to own an exclusive bag, counterfeit goods are sold as though they are the real thing. Although it’s reasonable to expect significant discounts by buying your next designer handbag online, if the offer looks too good to be true, you will want to make sure it’s authentic. Usually these fake handbags are easy to spot as their quality is poor and they lack the detail of the real thing.

Designer Handbags are Everywhere Chanel, Gucci, Lv, Prada, and the Most Expensive a Hermes Handbag is a post from: Shisha Forum - Your Fashion Reviews, Jewelry, and Discussion

Know Your Purse

The best defense against purchasing a counterfeit product online is to research the products. That’s right, if you want to know how to tell an authentic Coach patchwork purse from a fake in mere minutes, you need to familiarize yourself with the quality of Coach products. Some internet websites claim that counterfeiters have become so savvy at replicating designer goods that only the manufacturer will know the difference. This is not necessarily true. A skilled fashionista who already owns several Coach handbags will be able to determine the authenticity of the product by the weight, interior, and stitching of the handbag. Bottom line is: if you don’t know what an authentic Coach patchwork handbag looks and feels like, you won’t be able to contrast it against a fake product.

Hence, spend some time in a Coach store before purchasing any Coach merchandise on the web. Take a look at the product discount. If the average price of a Coach handbag is close to 300 dollars and you’re purchasing the bag for close to 100 online, then something is most likely wrong with the vendor. Even vendors who buy Coach bags at wholesale prices cannot afford to sell goods at a fifty percent or more discount.

Check The Detail

Cheap knock-offs are usually only profitable for their makers because they skimp on the quality of materials and labour. One of the tips good buyers use is to check the alignment of the monogrammed “C’s”. If the C’s don’t line up then it’s probably a rush job and the bag is fake. Luxury manufacturers like Coach take extensive measures to ensure the quality of the workmanship – it’s part of the appeal of the brand, whereas counterfeiters are only driven by profit, meaning that the attention to detail is often overlooked. When buying online always buy from a listing that shows the detail closeup if possible, but especially avoid listings that just have thumbnail images. You could be buying anything.

The Interior

Coach purses are also heavy. This is because of the luxury materials and leather used. A genuine Coach bag will also sport a quality interior. Unless you have been face to face several times with a Coach bag it will be difficult for you to determine the authenticity of the product by weight alone, but luxury goods are made with quality materials. Unfortunately, its impossible to tell the weight and build quality of an item from a listing, but you can raise a dispute with EBay over the item if you believe that its fake when it arrives. Always pay using PayPal if possible as you are protected – often for the full amount.

Coach does not want its merchandise sold on the streets or discreetly out of car trunks, and I’m willing to be they are not too thrilled about vendors selling them online either. Online vendors who hide their feedback are giving you a clear message – beware of scams. Personally I would only even buy a Coach purse online if it looked like it was from a ‘normal’ private seller rather than an online store vendor.

Finally, all Coach Purses have a serial number. Although fakes often have serial numbers too, you can verify your serial number if you look inside the bag. The serial number should be stamped in there. All you have to do is call Coach at 1-888-262-6224 and verify that the serial number is authentic. You’ll also need to give them the bag’s color and style, so you may want to visit their site first and get the proper terms for the purse version you have.

Are You Carrying a Fake Coach Purse Around? is a post from: Shisha Forum - Your Fashion Reviews, Jewelry, and Discussion

It’s finally Fall gals, and the designers are starting to show their offerings. There are a lot of fabulous high end designer shoes to choose from and some are absolutely to-die-for!

Prada is offering a fantastic bronze pump for fall. This pump has a 3 inch heel and a perforated leather on the toe cap and the back of the shoe. The vamp and body of the shoe are actually covered with bronze paillettes (sequins) that mimic a lovely snake skin design. It’s gorgeous, and so in demand that some stores are limiting the number you can order!!

Brian Atwood is offering a lovely d’orsay pump in black and white leopard skin. It has a peek-a-boo toe with an adorable bow….meow! I’m not sure if I like that one best, or the Dolce & Gabbana leopard print hair-calf and leather sling back. It has a leather toe cap that is adorned with gold toned studs.

Christian Louboutin is offering platform pumps in a leopard print
or brown or black suede.

Perhaps the shoe of my dreams is the new Dior leather pump.It has a 3 1/2 inch heel to start. It’s offered in what I call a winter white. It has a bow at the toe and is covered with fabulous leather weaving details. The heel is horn and is embellished with the famous Dior “D”. Dior also is offering a leather shoe they call “Rebel” that has a zipper on either side of the heel. It has a buckle logo across the toe and rivet details.

I can’t not mention my favorite shoe designer, Manolo Blahnik. He is also working with hair-calf offering it in several different styles, from a open toed pump with a blush (light pink) and brown/tan leopard print to “wow-em” unmistakable tan/black leopard print pump with a keyhole vamp with a bow. This has a lovely 1/2 inch heel. Of course his classics include his ever popular halter and crisscross designs in alligator.

Go ahead Gals, fulfill all your shoe dreams!

Designer Shoes For Fall 2011 is a post from: Shisha Forum - Your Fashion Reviews, Jewelry, and Discussion

Whether you collect the new high precision watches or ones that come from a past era, the fact is that over the years this hobby has become a high turnover business. And collecting watches is in a lot of circles regarded as a wise form of investing.

At the start of the last century the clocks that were available for men or women were firstly pocket clocks, and then clocks that held by a pendant attached to the lining of jackets or corsets. The advent of war, industrialization, and the development of the sport activities, brought over new trends which extended to not only the way we dressed, but also how we carried our clocks.

It is said that it was a nanny who invented wrist watches at around the end of the 19th century, who fixed a clock around her wrist by using a silk band. The first watches to be made were in fact smaller models of pocket clocks that were fitted with a leather strap. Once this product hit the market newer designs started to be produced based around this same concept.

It was Louis Cartier who first made the kind of watches we see today when he created a watch for a flying pioneer hero by the name Santos Dumont. By 1911 this same type of watch was on general sale. That same type of watch became the blueprint of what wrist watches look like to this day.

Soon after the design of wrist “clocks” began to diversify away from the classical round shape that had been in vogue up until that time. From the Cartier classical wrist watch other makes of watch started to emerge which were characterized by their shape. Movado is the perfect example of these new designs when it came out with the “Polyplan” shaped watch. Then came the famously and cryptically called “clock reference n. 1593″ by Patek Philippe which was a rectangular shaped watch.

From 1913 onwards more and more watches started to be developed in all shapes and styles. From the “gondola” watch of Patek Phillipe to Louis Cartiers’ “Tank”; named thus because it was inspired by the shape of English armored cars of the time. These are watches which are very much sought after. There were other numerous watch makers like Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin who along with Patek Philippe and Cartier came out with many other designs which added other features to the watches like lunar phases, month and day most of which are found in modern watches now.

Of course we could not mention wrist watches without mentioning the most famous of them all: the Rolex watch. In the 1920s Rolex debuted in the world of wrist watches with the elegant Rolex Prince and its revolutionary “dual time” feature made famous for having the “seconds sector” larger than that of the minutes. At the same time Jaeger Le Coultre produced an even more advanced piece called the “Reverse”, also very revolutionary in that it could be turn 180 degrees within its case, thus protecting the crystal and dial. It became incredibly popular and was only prevented from achieving even greater success by the recession of the 1930s and the advent of world war 2.

These early watches of the 1910s to 1930s are what define all the makes of watches that we see and wear today. This short article has only scratched the surface of what is a very vast subject which has many more watch makers with diverse and revolutionary designs. However it is makers like Rolex, Cartier, Jaeger Le Coultre and the others mentioned that are amongst the most valuable and collectible, and should you ever be so lucky to get one then make sure you hang on to it – preferably to your wrist.

A Short History of the Wristwatch is a post from: Shisha Forum - Your Fashion Reviews, Jewelry, and Discussion

During a casual dinner with friends, my sparkling white gold two-carat Moissanite earrings stole the show.

One dinner companion whispered, “Those are the most beautiful diamond earrings I’ve ever seen.” I explained they weren’t diamonds but a new jewel: Moissanite.

Before I knew it, I was the talk of the table. People had questions and comments like “What is Moissanite?” “They’re so brilliant, they must have cost a fortune!” “Are they rare?” and “I have to have them.”

Well ladies, if you want to know my secret, read on.

Moissanite is giving women the opportunity to own quality, eye-catching jewelry at affordable prices.

What is the story behind this jewel? In 1893, Dr. Henri Moissan, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist began studying fragments of a 50,000-year-old meteorite. In these fragments, Moissan believed he discovered diamonds from space possessing superior fire and brilliance. After extensive research, it was concluded that Moissan discovered a new mineral. In 1905, it was named Moissanite in his honor.

During the late 1980s, inspired by Moissan’s discovery and by the fact that natural Moissanite is incredibly rare, Charles & Colvard (Nasdaq: CTHR) developed a proprietary process for producing large crystals of Moissanite.

By 1995, Charles & Colvard were the sole source for Moissanite jewels, possessing two worldwide patents.

“Moissanite’s superior diamond-like appearance is incredible,” said Nat Hyman, president of Landau, the nation’s largest accessory boutique with more than 70 stores. “The customer is getting so much more for the money.”

“But once they leave the store, are they going to tell even their best friends?” asked Nick Baxevane, also of Landau. “Moissanite looks like what a beautiful diamond should look like, so what they tell their friends is their decision. They can have the million dollar look without the million dollar price tag.”

Moissanite is available at Landau nationwide in upscale malls, hotels, casinos and airports.

A Woman’s New Best Friend is a post from: Shisha Forum - Your Fashion Reviews, Jewelry, and Discussion