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Is Fashion Week becoming less diverse?
Feb 22nd
New York's Fashion week for 2010, featuring mostly fall looks, features less ethnically diverse casts of models than in previous words. Are we in the fashion world backpedaling? Why are designers, who set the standards for beauty across the word using exclusively, or a majority all white cast when choosing models for their designs?
This is not exactly a new trend. Magazines have been cited as another prime culprit of lack of racial diversity in the fashion world. Fashion print shots, and the highest paid models are predominantly white. Are minorities being intentionally excluded from the fashion world, or is this just an oversight on the part of the designers (or a tendency to keep a consistent look among models?)
Intentional or not, there are hard figures to support the idea that the fashion industry has a predominantly white face, especially in North America and Europe. During New York's fashion week of 2010, a full 85% of all models cast were white. The next largest majority were Black models, at only 8%. Asians created the next segment, at 6%, with Latinas at 1%, and other or mixed races barely even on the register. The result is a hugely skewed model of the lack of diversity within the fashion world.
Some designers, such as A Detacher, Alice + Olivia, and Preen had no models of color at all. The rest used very few ethnically diverse casts. Some designers used only one non-Caucasian model, including brands like Calvin Klein and Diesel.
There have definitely been efforts in the past to reform the fashion industry. From everything from regulating BMI and trying to reduce cases of Anorexia in Models, to fighting the whitewashing of the industry, some fashion activists are trying to make themselves heard.
Perhaps activists are being actively ignored. In 2007, there was a full 20% non-Caucasion modeling cast at New York fashion week. Designers have even started speaking out against models that are bigger than the sample size (0). Is there a war going on between designers, and people who work in the fashion industry? In the effort to find the ideal from to show clothing, have fashion designers stepped over the line?
We'd love to hear your comments. What do you think about the overwhelming majority of white women in the modeling world? What can we do to bring in some diversity? How can we convince designers that we're tired of seeing the same old unattainable looks?
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Lingerie for preteens? Has Noah Cyrus lost her mind?
Feb 5th
Even without a celebrity family, it would be shocking for a young girl to be interested in developing lingerie with her best friend. Comfy pajamas are one thing, but the looks the young Noah Cyrus has planned are a far cry from footed pajamas and teddy bears.
Noah's no stranger to controversy. Last Halloween, she was seen in a few questionable outfits as costumes. Patent knee high boots, and fishnets really have no place on a nine year old, but she was seen in two such outfits during the holiday when most girls her age are dressing up like princesses or butterflies.
You have to wonder who thought this kind of fashion move was a good idea. Is it just bad PR on the side of the Cyrus agents? Or is it indicative of questionable parenting skills? Even worse , is it deliberately exploitive? Are her parents knowingly using the controversy for buzz?
It's one thing to let a child wear whatever she wants around the house. As a child gymnast, I spent a lot of time running around in leotards and tights. But my parents didn't let me out in public like that, and I certainly knew the difference between appropriate clothing, and stuff that was for playing around in only. I certainly didn’t do a pole dance with all my friends to songs like "Smack That" as Naoh was seen doing last year.
What kind of fashion trends is this behavior setting for pre-teens? Will fishnets for kindergarteners be considered appropriate in 5-10 years? I am not sure if I should be more disturbed by the fact that the parents think this is appropriate, or the fact that Noah herself believes that it is. We can't expect a child to understand the connotations of her fashion choices – that's why it's up to parents to teach children what is not appropriate until they're old enough to know the reasons why.
I can only hope that as Noah ages, she's a little embarrassed of this kind of behavior. If she's got the usual celebrity need for attention, maybe she'll find more constructive ways to get it – like developing some kind of talent for acting, singing, or just doing charity work for people who are also lacking an education.
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Predicting the Unpredictable: The Future of Fashion
Jan 25th
No matter what else is going on in the world, fashion will never cease to be a constant source of speculation, celebration and surprise. It is always influencing, never limiting and ever-changing. That being said, predicting the future of fashion can be a risky game, but therein lies the beauty of the sport. In this fashion-forward, anything-goes world, it can’t be argued that “getting there,” ‘there’ being the next memorable, change-the-way-people-think-about-fashion trend, really is half the fun. So with that in mind, here are a few fashion trends that will, inarguably, grace the catwalks of the next decade.
Green. Contrary to most shifts in the fashion world, experts predict that “green” materials, manufacturing, trade and shipping will become more of a lifestyle than a trend. And really, who isn’t on board with that? In fact, Julie Gilhart of Barney’s has already introduced a slew of green initiatives that she hopes will ring in the new decade(s) of green fashion. These include Philip Lim’s “Go Green Go,” a partnership between Keds, Loomstate and Barney’s, YSL’s “New Vintage,” and Theory for Barney’s Green. The phrase “better late than never” has never been so true.
Smart Clothes. While Spandex and Ultrasuede were the break-through fabrics of the last few decades, the next 10 years brings a whole new realm of new fabrics. There have already been some creative fabrics surfacing to kick off the new decade, such as DuPont’s Lycra T400, which does away with any practical need to wear a belt by creating a type of stretch jean which never loses its elasticity. But, as always, the fabrics of the future will be 10 steps ahead of even the latest inventions. “Smart clothing” is a fusion between fashion and technology (when you can’t beat ‘em, fuse ‘em…right?). “Wearable technology” has thus far consisted of jackets with built-in sony disc systems (made by snowboard maker,
Breaking the rules. Oh wait, there aren’t any rules left to break. The widespread popularity of creatively outrageous and original icons such as Lady Gaga is a good example of the manifestation of this trend. Love her or hate her, she follows no rules and lacks no confidence. This may be a foreshadowing of a more pervasive existence of niche fashion, meaning many fashion trends influencing different groups of people rather than one all-encompassing set of fashion rules. Either way, it’s the start of something new and more empowering for fashion lovers everywhere. Be confident in breaking the old rules and you might just end up contributing to the new ones.
Any way you look at it, the future of fashion is up to those who are bold enough to create it, so for those who don’t mind taking a risk, there’s nothing stopping you from making history. And for those who prefer to watch it unfold—get ready, you’re in for a wild ride!
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Top Ten Fashion Designers in 2010
Jan 25th
The fashion industry is buzzing as the top designers have released previews of their collections for 2010. Unveiled in the Fall of 2009, the world stands ready to cash in on the new designs. All signs are leading to fresh, fabulous and funky for the new decade. Let’s take a sneak peak at the top ten designers for 2010:
Chanel has once again created a moveable feast for the senses as the 2010 line was unveiled in
Mark Fast rocked the fashion world by daring to use normal-sized models in his launch. Continuing on with his classic designs, Fast promises more handcrafted body knits, and vows to keep the costs down again this year.
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How will we remember the fashion of the ‘00’s?
Jan 25th
If 2010 is heralding a new era in fashion, how will the 00’s be remembered? Will we look back and think of it as the decade that wanted to be the 60s again but couldn’t quite achieve it? Certainly the 90s had no clear definition of what it wanted to express. Perhaps the 00s will be a tribute to the resurrection of previous fashion eras that did not understand their influence at the time.
Gangsta rappers made fleece track suits all the rage, as well as jerseys and a mix of sporty urban and Ivy League styles. All this bagginess lost its appeal, however in 2007 when form fitting fashions and skinny-fit jeans became popular among hipsters and Scene kids.
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Finding the Perfect Valentine’s Day Outfit
Jan 8th
Regardless of whether you favor a stylish and demure little black dress or lean more towards the wild red stilettos and a short party dress, finding the perfect outfit for Valentine’s Day is all about combining taste, style and comfort. The fact that Valentine’s Day falls in February may not matter to most living south of the Mason Dixon, but in the north, women must do some creative planning to put together an outfit that can accommodate possible freezing temperatures and inclement weather.
No matter where a girl lives, there are some practical and steadfast rules to dressing for this sexy holiday. Remember on this special day of love, you want to look your best, but your best doesn’t have to mean expensive or over or under-dressed.
When dining out, keep things simple and dress according to destination. Being treated to a casual night? You can still look classy by combining pumps with your vintage tee and comfy jeans, covered by a fitted jacket. Try complimenting this with trendy jewelry, a bulky bracelet or funky watch, and an over the shoulder leather bag. Try a light application of pastel eye shadows and soft blush.
It always feels good to wear something special yet comfortable. For example, you can look very good and sexy wearing dark jeans and Carolyn Taylor Knit sweater. However, the steadfast rule is to wear what looks good on you. No one can better judge this than you.
Fine dining demands the famous little black dress with classic heels and a classy wrap. Accessorize with dangling earrings and a simple but fun clutch. Never carry a large bag with a little dress. Here you can go a bit heavier on the liner, and use a deeper and rich lip color.
For the clubs, let loose with something red or pink, and don’t be afraid to pair dressy boots – but avoid the shiny glittery look. A strapless dress always says sexy. And don’t be afraid to get funky with your eyes and hair.
If you and your sweetheart are planning an active date, don’t resort to worn sweats and old leggings. There are so many great brushed fabrics, and just make sure you don’t make the mistake of choosing an outfit that too baggy or big. Just because it’s active wear doesn’t mean it shouldn’t fit well.
Staying home to cuddle on the couch?
Try touchable fabrics in light purples and plum. What would this holiday be without a bit of naughty lingerie? Give yourself permission to feel good about being bad! But never wear synthetics. Only silk will do. Something in a pale beige or off-white, or, if you must go with black or red, wear solids. Feathers are passé, no matter how fun you might consider them to be.
Not in a relationship?
No need to be blue. Don’t let being single slow you down. Consider celebrating the love you have for yourself by dressing up in your most comfortable, flattering women’s clothing and heading out to hang with other singles. Regardless of the weather, destination or the company you keep, always find something that is comfortable and makes you feel confident, sexy and comfortable, for both you and your man.
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Summer apparel 2009
May 18th
The 2009 summer season is just around the corner. Have you gotten your summer apparel? Summer is the time of year where we seem to have a lot of choices when it comes to clothing. We have shorts, t-shirts, short-sleeved shirts, skorts, skirts, capri pants, dresses, flip flops, sandals, open toed shoes and there is so much more summer apparel to choose from as well. Summer just may be the one season that has the most clothing options?
Summer apparel 2009 comes with new designs and fun new patterns. It also comes with the summer apparel sale. Around this time a lot of stores are getting ready for their fall collection, crazy I know considering summer isn’t even upon us yet. If stores aren’t getting ready for their fall collections just yet, they are definitely getting ready for their second round of summer apparel. Don’t worry, this is good news for you, because whenever a store gets additional merchandise around this time it means they will be offering a summer apparel sale and you could get that bathing suit or shirt at a fraction of the price it was originally sold for.
Summer apparel for 2009 is available in all sizes and for people of all ages. Summer apparel ranges in color and size as well as offering a slue of different foot options and accessories. When is comes to summer apparel 2009 we aren’t just talking about clothes. You’ll need that perfect pair of shoes and accessories to dress up any summer apparel for 2009. Don’t be shy, spoil yourself, go all out and if you’re really lucky, you’ll find yourself a nice summer apparel sale and be able to get twice the amount of summer apparel for 2009.
Summer apparel can be found in stores as well as online. Some good summer apparel sales I’ve come across can be found online at different retail stores such as American Eagle, Victoria Secret, Carters, Gap and Old Navy, just to name a few. All these merchants can be found online as well as having several physical stores all over the world and they all carry spectacular summer apparel for 2009; clothes, foot wear and accessories.
Right now at American Eagle the summer apparel sale includes: t-shirts for both men and women starting at $11.95 and clearance items being offered at an extra 60 percent off. Victoria Secret is offering free shipping on orders over $100, bras for $12.99 and panties for $3.99. Victoria Secret’s summer apparel sale is called the semi annual sale. Carters is a children’s clothing store and right now parents can find great deals of summer apparel for 2009 starting at just $3.99 and clearance items ringing from 50 to 70 percent off.
Summer apparel 2009 can be found at Gap both in their physical store locations as well as their online store. Right now Gap is offering buy one kids bathing suit or board shorts and get another one 50 percent off at their summer apparel sale. New summer apparel for both men and women is being offered as low as $15 a piece. Last, lets discuss what great summer apparel f or 2009 Old Navy is carrying. At Old Navy expect to find some great deals in all their departments: children, men and women. Right now at the summer apparel sale at Old Navy you can get shirts starting at just $5 and flip flops at two pairs for $5; what a steal! So you see, right now there are some great summer apparel sales going on, probably as your reading this post. So, what are you waiting for? Go out and get some summer apparel at a bunch of different retailers for a fraction of the price.
Another store, geared towards the younger generation having a great summer apparel sale at the moment is PacSun. Some items are being sold at 50 percent off and with every $40 you spend you’ll be rewarded with $20 PacSun loot to be spent at a later shopping date. Lane Bryant is also offering some great deals on their summer apparel right now as well. Expect of find summer apparel 2009 deals on t-shirts, camis, polos and tanks that are going for two items for $25. What great summer apparel for 2009 finds. Don’t miss out on all these great summer deals; get yourself shopping today!
Be smart about the way you shop for your summer apparel for 2009. Don’t be fooled by the flashy marketing and convincing sales men and women; make sure your getting the best bang for your buck. Several online companies such as Amazon or eBay have some summer apparel items for sale that select retailers may still be selling at full price, or even with their summer apparel sale prices you might be able to find better deals elsewhere. Going through a different site such as Amazon or eBay, which could have some items in comparison to different retailer’s prices could really save you a bunch of money. Lets face it, these days in this horrible economy we should be doing all that we can to save where we can, without sacrificing our summer apparel fashion needs!
Some great finds I found on both Amazon and eBay are as follows: The American Apparel Sheer Jersey Short Sleeve Women’s Summer Tee, available in several different colors can be purchased brand new on Amazon.com for just $10. Another great find was the Circo girls two pack of shorts for just $7 also found on Amazon. On eBay under the new and buy it now sections I was able to find a lot of junior sized summer clothing going for just $39.99. I was also able to find a great deal for men on eBay, also listed under the new, buy it now clothing. I found a pair of men’s green golf shorts size 34 for just $12.99. Come on folks, I think I’ve shared some incredible summer apparel for 2009 deals with you, don’t you?
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Lady Apparel- the Look of Elegance
May 10th
Initially, clothing was used as a mean to protect the vulnerable human body from extreme weathers and to keep safe from harsh environment. Although it is still a necessity for all mankind to be fully and presentably clothed, in most part of the world, clothing has evolved into a fashion statement that epitomizes the sense of wellbeing of a person, especially for a woman. Nowadays, the lady apparel and the impact of fashion is something perceived as a very judgmental tool to benchmark a woman’s success.
The textile industry was the first to be mechanized during the Industrial Revolution. Before this, the process of making Joules fabric was considered tedious and required intensive labor. Today, although mechanized, the process of turning fabrics into apparels is still not as easy as it seems and modern day consumer has often take clothing for granted.
As humans became more better at making clothes, Joules Sweatshirts the fashion industry starts to progress and has enriched the ways to create and beautify daily apparel. Embroidery is one of the significant methods in beautifying clothes.
Embroidery is known as the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with designs stitched in strands of thread or yarn by using a special needle. Evidence suggests that Ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Phoenicians and Hebrews used embroidery for decorating their robes. The Moors has been found to decorate much of their apparels with embroidery as well. The style and uniqueness of each individual culture is usually embedded in the pattern and designs of the embroidery. Back in the days, embroidery also represents the sign of wealth and power one possessed. The rich traders and merchants are often willing to pay a large sum of money for the luxury of embroidered clothing. The one who always benefits the most from this are their wives and mistresses.
Wearing an embroidered garment or accessory is one of the best ways to express one’s identity. The lady wearing the garment will look elegant and stylish. Hand-made embroidery is distinct because of the work and energy devoted into creating the perfect piece. Working to create this perfect piece will usually take days or even months as the creator work carefully on every part of the fabric. With advancement of technology, machines have helped simplify the work and the quality of machine-made embroidery is now as fine-looking as their hand-made counterpart.
Every garment can be embroidered to give a personalized feeling to the wearer. This can be easily done with the availability of machine work. The rich and famous are often those who create their own identity on their apparels. They would usually tailor-make their clothing and embroidered them with their own initials. Fashion is a universal concept and covers all industry and activity. Nowadays, even sportsmen and women are also affluent with styles. Lady golf apparel for instance is making statements on golf courses. Although being on the green, golfers are bonded by their own dress code and rules; it has not stopped them from being fashionable and classy. Consequently, more and more fans of big names such as Tiger Woods and Michelle Wie are copying the way their idols are dressed.
Clothing has now really evolved into something out of necessity into an indicator of social status in today’s community. The previous practical function of clothing which is to protect the human body from dangers in environment has now certainly progress into not only protecting the user but more often than not, is able to give a sense of confidence and pride. The world of fashion is really a dominant market in our world right now as more and more designers creatively explore and produce original lady apparels for all the beautiful ladies out there.
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Dressing Up the Plus-size Teen
May 9th
Experimenting with their looks and being open to a plethora of apparel choices in the market are just some of the perks of being a teen. Admittedly, buying trendy clothes can be hard when you live in the suburbs. The big cities are the surest places of finding plenty of specialty shops for the plus sized. Most of the large retail brands present in these cities are better stocked too and offer a wider range of styles.
Need is the mother of invention, a famous saying goes. Fashion should be both fun and functional. A plus size teen can have as much excitement on dressing up as his thinner counterpart does.
Tired of the clothes in your closet? Plus size teen fashionistas living far off the city come up with great ways to expand their wardrobe and keep in style. They prove that you can be fashionable wherever you live.
You can request for home order catalogs of large retail brands. That way you can be informed of their available designs and conveniently place your orders by phone. Most of these brands also have a lenient return policy, even paying for the postage of returned garments, in case you ordered the wrong fit by mistake.
There are also a number of plus size stores in the Internet catering to teens. They’re worth checking out and you’ll be amazed that not only most are reasonably priced, the designs are also distinctive. You would definitely stand in the crowd fitting them on.
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The Growing Plus Size Clothing Options
May 9th
As if it wasn’t enough that a plus size woman’s weight was the subject of brickbats for many years, she also had to contend against unappealing plus size clothing. Since most ready-to-wear garments are for the lean-bodied, the larger than average woman was left with limited, and worst, dull choices.
Well we can put that aforementioned thought away for a while, maybe even for good, as today’s fashion world finally heeded the call of creating stylish clothing for the plus size woman. The market for plus size clothing proved to be mutually rewarding both on its target audience and its perpetrators or better yet “fairy godmothers”. A wide range of fashionable choices is especially tailored to the womanly curves of the plus size female.
Despite differences in appearance, height and weight, all women would like the access to trendy clothes. Shopping is an activity they take seriously and as such, what they buy should very well make up for how much they spend. A well-fitted garb can boost self-esteem and we all know that in the ways of the world, life seems to be more rewarding to people who feel good about themselves and face the world head high.
For instance, attending the prom is an important occasion in a teenage girl’s life and the plus size teen can have as many chances of finding a flattering nightgown as her thinner counterparts would.
So for the plus size woman, embrace your silhouette and show the world what you’ve got.
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