Fashion Dimensions

Fashion And Media – Is Hype The Cause Or The Consequence Of A Popular Fashion Trend?

Image by han Soete via Flickr

Does the fashion trend become popular because it is highlighted by the media or is it highlighted by the media because it is popular? Such a question is very similar to chicken and egg one where it is impossible to find out which came first. The truth is that the media latches onto any new trend introduced by a reputed and well established fashion house and highlights it before it becomes a real success at the ground level.

The end result is that the media hype forces many persons to opt for the trend, which in turn makes it more popular. This creates a vicious cycle where even bad fashion trends can quickly become very popular and may appeal to a large number of persons in a very short period of time.

However, such trends fade away because people, at the end of the day, do not like buying anything that makes them look bad. Yet, the reputation of the big fashion house gets reinforced and the role of media is highlighted. This cozy relationship often leads to a loss for the average individual on the street who is forced to accept whatever the media says.

Take media hype with a pinch of salt. If you believe fashion is all about following the popular trend, then you would do well to listen to what the media says. However, if you have your own perception of what looks good on you, you should keep track of the media and the latest trends but should apply your brain before making any choices for your clothes and accessories.

Filed Under: Current Trends, Runway Tagged With: Arts, Fashion, Media circus

Finding Accessories for American Girl Dolls

Girls love to accessorize, whether it’s with the latest shoes, hairstyles or outfits. Even though it might not seem like it, the lessons learned playing dress up while growing up would serve kids throughout the rest of their lives. One of the best ways to teach girls how to present themselves is to give them dolls, like the American Girl doll series, to accessorize.

The American Girl doll series celebrates American history by presenting dolls that celebrate different eras. The back-stories teach the children about history from colonial times to modern American in an interesting and informative way. One of the best features of the dolls are the accessories. Girls can pick out different outfits based on the seasons. For example, the dolls can wear flip-flops in the summer and boots in the winter.

One of the lessons of the American Girl dolls series is how fashion has changed by era. Each doll wears clothes that were popular in her time, from hoop shirts during the Civil War to the popular fashions of today. Every doll has a full line of clothes and other accessories, including doll shoes and hair ties. Girls will love seeking out different outfits for their dolls and spending time decorating their hair or picking out an outfit for different occasions.

To find accessories for American Girl dolls, look online. Outfits that are no longer being made are still for sale in secondary markets. Parents and children might find the best deals for accessorizing American Girl dolls through online shopping. If your little girl likes to dress up her doll, consider this doll series.

Filed Under: Apparel, Designer Influence Tagged With: American Girl, Doll, United States

Dressing Like French Woman: Chic Summer Choices

Image via Wikipedia

French women are well known for their sense of style and can turn heads even when heading out for a simple beach vacation.

If you’re interested in achieving the classic boating look that the French call Riviera Chic, be inspired by Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn and these tips to keep you looking amazing thoughout your vacation.

While it may be easy to throw a couple T-shirts in your overnight bag, planning to embrace Riveria Chic fashion requires some simple but more classic clothing staples. For instance, you won’t get far without a Breton-striped top. This is the classic horizontal striped “sailor” shirt that has come back into style. Don’t forget crisp button down shirts. Choose from white, red or blue for the most classic color combinations.

Some fashion wannabes may think that French women don’t wear jeans. Not true! But choose flattering, skinny cuts and colors should be reserved to either darker blue or white.

If you’re heading out to dinner, cover up in style with a smart blazer over your Breton stripes or that button-down shirt. You’ll score an even larger fashion win if you find a classic blazer with brass buttons.

This is a vacation we’re talking about, so don’t skimp on the accessories. Think about good-quality loafers or sandles that are either flats or have kitten heels. Make sure you’re comfortable walking around in them or you won’t have a very enjoyable vacation. Remember: French women never wear jeans with sneakers. You can keep your standard leather handbag or ditch it in favor of a fun, versatile straw tote. And, of couse, a pair of oversized designer sunglasses never hurt anyone.

Filed Under: Current Trends, Runway Tagged With: Coco Chanel, Dress shirt, Fashion

Fashion Is Smashin’ So Don’t Be Bashin’

As the seasons change it’s important as ever to keep up on the latest developments in the fashion world. What colors will be hot this season? What patterns will accentuate the effects of the weather? What are the movie stars wearing and what designers are making those outfits? More to the point, where can you buy one…or two or three? (Outfits, not designers.) It’s a challenge to be fashionable and it can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. With clever shopping habits you can show off your seasonal fashion without breaking the bank.

Indeed, it may benefit you to do so, as the latest research indicates that shopping can be good for one’s health! Like anything else, doing so excessively will not help you—in all things moderation, as the philosopher says. In moderate amounts shopping can stimulate the mind and body, providing health benefits you won’t get just sitting in your chair (unless, perhaps, you’re shopping on TV or online).

If you want the premier labels you’ll have to shell out the big bucks; if you want to be fashionable you can do so with economical choices. In either case, make sure you’re using a prepaid card so you don’t go overboard. With a prepaid card, you can indulge in the latest and greatest trends in clothing without overspending—you’ll always know when it’s time to stop and cut back to “browse” only. Save the other outfits for another day and save the money for another time. The most fashionable thing is to save some money for when the next designs arrive. That way you can spread the style the whole year ’round!

Filed Under: Celebrity Influence Tagged With: Arts, Fashion, Shopping

Vintage Fashion Time

Cover of Marlene Dietrich

Watching timeless movies from bygone eras or perusing old photos at the museum makes one take note of yesterdays fashions. There are some interesting designs in clothes from eras past. Whether it is Marilyn Monroe’s halter top dress, the Marlene Dietrich look, or Ginger Rogers in a ballroom gown, it leaves you yearning because those clothes are not to be found. If you know where to look in many of your larger metropolitan areas there are stores that sell vintage clothing, and there is a Vintage Fashion Show Exposition.

The Vintage Fashion Show Exposition is located in La Verne, California puts on a set of traveling shows five times a year.The shows attract fashion experts, costume designers, and the general public. Over 75 dealers set up booths to sell vintage clothing, accessories, and jewelery. Clothes come from the Victorian Era to about the 1980′s retro style wear. Fashion artists from around the world come to view the clothes. Many modern styles of clothing inspiration come from a designer team pouring over clothes of yesteryear. Since all five shows happen in California many of the Hollywood crowd come out to buy for movie sets.The five shows occur in the San Franciso and Santa Monica areas from September to May.

Metropolitan areas such as New York, or Houston have whole streets dedicated to vintage clothing. In most urban areas the stores are scattered and must be sought. FashionDig provides a website where a person can do an Internet search by city, state, country, or zip code to locate vintage clothing and paraphenailia.

Filed Under: Current Trends, Runway Tagged With: Clothing, Marilyn Monroe, Vintage clothing

Breaking into Fashion Editorial

Since the inception of the Internet, the market for good writers and editors has grown significantly. Whether these writers produce simple content for web site pages, or they are reporters that produce content for online magazines and newspapers, the field has grown drastically over the past ten years. Due to the popularity of the Internet, many popular magazines and newspapers are shifting their emphasis towards producing an online version of their physical product. This has opened the door to droves of possibilities for aspiring writers in a number of industries, particularly the fashion industry.

A successful career in fashion writing and editorial begins with an educational background that pertains to the industry. Fortunately, there are many accredited online degrees that provide convenience in going to school regardless of the demands of life. Whether going the route of an advanced English degree, or something pertaining to fashion, education will provide a basis in the skills necessary to succeed in this field.

There are many options available for an aspiring fashion writer or editor with a relevant degree. The Internet provides a great deal of choices in terms of building up a resume through writing for smaller institutions. Many prospective fashion writers provide free written consultations for various web sites simply to get their name out into the mainstream and have something to reference back on. In addition to writing for various online sources, it is also a good idea to create a web site pertaining to the various skills you possess that potential clients and or employers can seek out.

Filed Under: Current Trends, Runway Tagged With: Arts, Fashion, Writer

Looking Regal Without Paying Royally

Image by CyrilChen via Flickr

With a royal wedding fast approaching, women are paying close attention to what the future princess is wearing. You can look like royalty in a variety of inexpensive ways, either by using what you already own, or if you know your way around sewing machines, making it yourself.

Instead of worrying about spending too much money on your apparel, make two outfits out of one, make four out of two, and so on. You can match colors of separates or mix them, or you can match light colored garments with a darker hue of the same color. You might choose busy patterns to compliment subtler ones. If you are creative and want to toot your own fashion horn, you can make combinations of crazy, wild prints with others.

Match the color in layers

You can wear plaid, that is making a comeback in big ways, in two tones such as yellow and black, and wear a bright color yellow turtleneck and a black over-sized shirt on top. Leaving the top buttons open on the plaid coat, the underlying colors will bring out both the color and dimension of the plaid design

Neutral and Fluorescent

Choose a bright colored skirt, pair it up with separates of neutral colors such as tan or gray. One color will flatter the other in a way that is not overdone, but will definitely not look plain either.

Passionate Patterns

Choose any herringbone patterned vest or sweater and match it up with striped or dotted separates. Add a puka shell necklace and a bangle bracelet to resemble the free spirit of young people in the 1960′s.

Filed Under: Current Trends, Designer Influence Tagged With: Clothing, Color, Sewing machine

Fashion For Those of Us Less Than Perfect

Image by susu9 via Flickr

If a person receives the privilege of living a long time there often comes a point where clothing has to be adapted to what the body has become. Then there are the mishaps and tragedies in life that change us forever. The image and the life identity a person once had is gone and replaced with something different. Physical disabilities happen through accidents and aging. No matter what, society requires us to wear clothes. If you have to wear clothes they might as well be functional and fashionable.

There are companies out there who create functional and fashionable clothes for seniors, and people with disabilities. No matter who you are or what life has dealt you, you would like to look good for you. Clothes are adapted for those with mobility issues, wheelchair inhabitants, parapalegics, and I can no longer reach the toes people. The clothes range from practical to absolutely gorgeous. Normal designs of pants, blouses, shirts, etc. have been modified for easy putting on and taking off. Clothes have been also designed in a manner that makes a caregivers life easier as well. A short browse through each Internet store shows a person the clothes are reasonably priced and look great. Even if there is no disability the comfort provided by the design tempts one to buy anyway.

The companies are scattered throughout the world and easily accessed with the Internet. There is Care Apparel Center in Hong Kong, Leeds Solutions in Canada, Care Apparel in Ohio, and Designed to Care in England to name a few. This could definitely start a new fashion trend.

Filed Under: Current Trends, Runway Tagged With: Clothing, Fashion, Ohio

Popular Costumes for Pets 2011 Edition

Pet owners all over the world love to spoil and pamper their pets, but this year, dressing their pets up in costumes will be the top pet trend. Whether it is dressing up your dog for Halloween or a special event, pet costumes are the most popular pet accessory for the year 2011.

As with all fashion trends, even pet related, there are certain types of pet costumes that will have a higher demand than others. If you are considering dressing your pet up this year, check out some of the most popular and best-selling pet costumes for 2011.

Tuxedos

Tuxedos are great pet attire for weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties, black-tie events, or even incorporated into a Halloween costume such as a James Bond theme. The ability to use this costume for multiple events makes it a very popular choice.

Bunny

Bunny costumes can be used for Easter, spring events or Halloween. Nothing is considered cuter than seeing a small dog or cat dressed up in a cute, white, floppy-eared bunny suit.

Cheerleader

Every girl wants to be a cheerleader and the same is true for every female dog/cat. Pet cheerleading costumes are popular because of the accessories and ability to use the costume for Halloween or sporting events.

Police/Fireman

There is just something about a dog in uniform that makes pet lovers swoon, which is why the police/fireman costume is popular this year.

All these 2011 popular pet costumes can be found at online pet costume shops, specialty pet stores or party supply stores.

Filed Under: Apparel, Current Trends Tagged With: Costume, Easter, Halloween costume

Will Latin American Design Dominate the Media Landscape?

Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in Americas and birth rates of Latinos is three times as high as birth rates among Whites in US. As the white population in US is aging, shrinking and disappearing, the Latino population is younger, rapidly multiplying and expanding. As a consequence there is an enormous growth in Latin American clothing and design.

Whether it is shoes, trousers, shirts, belts, wallets, or Ladies dresses, Latinos are increasingly influencing the American taste in what should be worn in daily life and what colors and patterns are the wave of the future.

One aspect in Latin fashion and design is that the clothing and footwear is extremely eye catching and bright colors are used with great effect. One can often see bright red, bright yellow, bright blue and black colors used in a very creative manner to design shirts and trousers so that the overall appearance is much more striking compared to traditional American clothing.

Same trends can be seen in footwear design for both females and males. For instance, the male footwear is now increasingly witnessing Latino cultural influences such as long tapered front, very narrow or narrow mid-section and a higher than average height for the heel. The long and tapered front often features bright colored stitching and protruded tip which signifies excitement and “ready to tango” nature of Latin fashion.

This design flair and exuberance is seen in the wallets also, which feature bright red, yellow and black colors with exotic mosaic and other patterns which is sure to catch other people’s attention as it is revealed countless number of times at stores, supermarkets, restaurants, theatres, shops, public transportation and airports.

Filed Under: Current Trends, Designer Influence Tagged With: Latin America, Latino, United States