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Perfect Gifts for Fashion Lovers

July 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment

For those who love fashion, there is no way you can go wrong with a gift if you pick up the right designer handbag or a few accessories from their favorite clothing designer. With many options on the market, all it takes is knowing what he or she enjoys in fashion to know what to buy.

Tips for Finding the Gift

For those who are fashion lovers, name brands are important. However, giving something that is going to impress them takes some creativity. Be more creative with these helpful hints.

  • Give something vintage by their favorite designer. This is a fantastic way to show you care enough. Take a look at some of the designer’s first pieces, or original lines, and pick something your loved one will enjoy.
  • Buy something that matches what they own. For example, they may have their favorite designer’s handbag. Buy the matching wallet or makeup kit that goes along with it. Find accessories that add to the look. Consider the accessories at CostumeExpress.com, for example.
  • Buy those items they will not buy for themselves. It may be a high-end perfume or that luxurious scarf and leather gloves. Buying what a person wants is an important step since your tastes may not match your gift recipient’s tastes.

If all goes wrong, or you just don’t want to risk buying them the wrong gift, go with a gift certificate to a fashionable boutique in the area. This is a surefire way to give them something usable and fun. Chances are good the gift recipient will love heading to the best fashion boutique in town to pick something out.

Filed Under: Accessories, Fashion Trends Tagged With: , ,

How to Become a Fashion Designer

July 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment

It is the dream of many fashionistas to become a fashion designer. This is no small feat, either. It takes a lot of hard work and determination to learn the skills required for fashion design, launch a fashion line, and keep your business profitable. The following are some things you need to learn in order to be successful as a fashion designer.

Evolution, UT Department of Human Ecology, stu...

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  • Learn how to budget and manage your money. This is a skill that every business owner needs to have. You can’t expect your fashion line to do well if you don’t know how to manage your profits and expenses properly.
  • Go to fashion design school. There are not many schools that offer this degree, so you might have to spend a bit more money to get into a program that will teach you the skills you need. Going to school with other people who aspire to be fashion designers, however, is a great way to network and create successful business partnerships.
  • Take undergraduate classes that will help you in your career. You’ll probably want to take art classes to get your creative juices flowing and to practice your sketching skills.

There is more to fashion design than just sewing. You have to be able to spot trends and know what is going to look good on people. You also have to have a keen eye for detail and color.

Being a fashion designer is an exciting career. You just have to learn the business skills you need in order to be successful. Combine a love of fashion with business brains and you have a winning combo.

Filed Under: Budget Fashion, Fashion Trends Tagged With: , ,

Stepping Stylish: Summer Trends 2011

June 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment
vintage candy stripe swiss dot maxi dress 

Image by no-frills marilyn. via Flickr

Sizzling weather calls for the same in fashion, and 2011 is choc full of chic trends to add a burst of heat to your wardrobe.

Shapes, Stripes, and Sultry Bygone Days

Look for new twists on old shapes to kick summer into gear. Though they won’t be totally replacing the skinny cut, wide leg pants find a home on the stylish silhouette this summer, and they shift easily from the office to the bar. As we’ve already seen, long is in this year. Maxi skirts and dresses lengthen hems—get on-trend with sheer styles.

This summer, it’s stripes with a twist: you’ll want your stripes to dominate your outfit. To be on the safe side, you can match your ensemble, or enliven things by mixing stripes with other prints. Mixing and matching is one of the biggest fashion trends this year.

While shows like Mad Men have gotten us passionate about all things 60s recently, there’s another era full of fashion love. Styled glamorous or bohemian, the 1970s have a strong place on today’s runways.

Finding Inspiration

With all the possibilities, it takes a discerning eye to interpret fashion trends. Look to fashion blogs to see what’s in and gain inspiration for risk-taking styling. You can also check out your favorite stores’ website. Many sites link to blogs where they’ll not only show you how to style pieces you know you’ll love, but also provide tidbits of inspiration beyond the clothes. And keep a look out whenever you step out. That stranger on the subway might have an interesting take on the latest trend. Keep your eyes open for inspiration everywhere.

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What Do Your Shoes Say About You?

April 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment
SAN FRANCISCO - MAY 15: Pedestrians walk by t...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Image by Getty Images via @daylife 

Sometimes there is no choice in footwear. A job may require dress shoes or work boots, making expressing yourself difficult. It is what is worn when the choice is completely yours that shows so much more about you.

Everyone has a favorite pair of shoes. Comfortable shoes, perhaps durable shoes, but most of all, shoes that make a statement about the person wearing them. Is it more comfortable to wear a pair of slippers and some sweats, or will rocking Nike clothes let people know more? Women love shoes, and men need something to keep them from getting nails in their feet. Yet, the choice of the shoe says a lot about the person wearing them.

Nike makes the statement, conveying both fashion sense and comfort at the same time. While a woman may own many pairs of shoes, her favorites will be her signature. They will be well cared for, yet fit her like a glove. Men will wear their favorites until they literally fall off their feet. Whatever the case may be, shoes are an important part of every wardrobe. People are cranky at the end of the day if their feet hurt, but they are ready to take on more if they have spent a day in comfortable shoes.

Don’t be cranky, be comfortable. Make choices that show who you are, without suffering with ill-fitting or uncomfortable shoes. With so many brands and styles to choose from, you have so many choices that there is bound to be something that says just who you are.

Filed Under: Budget Fashion, Fashion Trends Tagged With: , , ,

Buying Gifts for the Fashion-Lover

April 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Purchasing gifts is difficult enough. But how about buying a gift for someone who loves fashion? Indeed, that can be even more difficult, considering that you want to get something in that arena. However, there are some ideas that can support this person and their love – without dictating a trip to the “returns” area of the store.

Do some research to try to find wish lists for the recipient-to-be. For instance, Amazon will let you search by name or email to find someone’s list or items. You could try this with regard to certain sites, or ask those around the individual if they know of any ways to locate gift ideas.

You could also consider gift certificates to the person’s favorite store. While some consider this to be too general, at times, it is a good option, according to many. Plus, you could choose a new fashion location that the person likely hasn’t been to, make it into a fashion road trip, or something to spruce it up a bit.

If you really must buy the fashion item – at your own risk – stay to items that aren’t as personal. For instance, purchasing a dress or a tie is quite difficult, as some have highly personal taste for these items (and fit for the dress). Consider a watch, piece of jewelry (cufflinks for a man), or something else that might work better. Of course, make sure they can return the item!

Don’t be too afraid to buy a fashion-related gift. There certainly are ways to allow for room in terms of taste.

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Following Trends

March 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

It’s much easier to follow a trend than to start one. Following trends are quite easy if you can catch on to them. You can easily follow trends by paying attention to what celebrities are wearing, what others are wearing, and what you see in stores and magazines.

Celebrities are generally the first to wear a trend. Once they begin wearing it, everyone else does. If you pay attention to what they are wearing, you can easily tell what’s going to catch on and what has already turned into a trend. You can see what celebrities are wearing in magazines, on television, and on the Internet.

If you notice that plenty of people are wearing a certain thing, it’s probably already a trend. It’s definitely a trend if a lot of people in a small area, such as your school or work, are wearing it. You may want to begin wearing it as well to continue the trend.

Stores generally only sell things that are in style. If it’s being sold brand new, it’s probably in style at that time. You may see the same style in several different stores, and you can rely on that to make sure something is actually in style.

Magazines are a great resource for fashion advice. They will tell you what’s in style now, what is going to be in style, how to wear it, and where to buy it. If you’re unsure about fashion, you may want to read fashion magazines to get a good idea about what’s in style and where fashion is going.

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Fashion Trends

February 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

You don’t have to be the one to start a trend to be one of the first to catch on. Usually celebrities are the ones to begin trends. If you can keep up with them, you can be one of the first to wear a trend. You will be seen as one of the fashionable people, and people will know that if you are wearing it, it’s going to become big soon.

Read magazines often that have fashion information in them. The magazines you read don’t have to be all about fashion, but simply have a fashion section. Magazines such as Seventeen aren’t completely about fashion, but they have fashion sections. These magazines will give you tips about your fashion and a heads up on new fashion for the coming seasons.

Keep your eyes on the celebrities. You can look up pictures of them and research their fashion to see what they are wearing. Chances are, if a celebrity is wearing it, it is going to catch on sooner than later. The faster that you can catch on to celebrity trends, the earlier you will be wearing the trend and then everyone will wear what you are wearing.

Watch what is being sold in your favorite stores. If you see something new, you may want to research it before you buy it. If you really like it, then go for it. If you like something new, other people most likely will as well and it is going to catch on.

It takes a lot of researching to catch on to new trends fast. When you already see everyone wearing it, you’re almost too late. The trend is bound to die soon. That’s why being able to catch on to trends early is a good thing. You want to catch on fast so that the trend isn’t already old by the time you catch on.

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Fashion and First Impressions

January 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Fashion does not define us. It expresses our personality. It is a fact that people are judgmental, and one of the first things that people see when they first meet you is your fashion. It may not be their intention, but they use your fashion as a way of determining what type of person you are. Your hair, makeup, clothing, accessories, it all gives them insight into who you are. Sometimes you are that person they initially see, and sometimes you’re not.

First impressions are made within the first 15 seconds of meeting a person. Because fashion is one of the things the mind subconsciously takes note of when you first meet a person, you can use fashion to your advantage to gain a better first impression from other people.

The key is to never pretend you’re someone you’re not. Wear what you’re comfortable in. Do your hair the way you like it. Don’t try to be someone else because most people can see through this and can tell  you are uncomfortable.

When you are meeting people casually, dress the way you normally dress. If you are meeting a friend of a friend, you want that person to look at you the same way your friend does. You may want to stick with this rule for casual dates as well, especially blind dates. It’s okay to dress up a little, but try to be yourself, in every way possible, including your fashion.

It’s easier to use fashion to your advantage when you are meeting someone socially above you such as at an interview. Dressing nice will help gain a better first impression from your interviewer. You can use this for other situations as well where you are meeting someone important and in a formal setting.

Fashion is something that shows the world who you are. It is an expression of your personality. When your personality changes, its okay to change your style as well. This generally happens in teenagers. The main thing is to not pretend to be someone you’re not. You want your fashion to reflect who you are.

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Keeping On Track With Fashion

January 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Taylor Swift

When you become interested in fashion, it is hard to keep up with what’s in and what’s out. There is actually a lot of research that needs to be done if you want to keep up with the latest fashion trends. If you really want to be known for your taste in fashion, there are several things you can do such as read magazines, search online, and watch what others are wearing.

There are plenty of magazines that you can find that talk about fashion in every issue. Magazines such as Seventeen, Glamour, Vogue, and many other magazines will talk about fashion in every issue. Subscribe to one or more of these magazines if you really want a heads up on fashion. Not only will you get a heads up, but they will give you advice on how to save money, where to shop, and other great things about fashion, including a hair and makeup section.

Keep up with fashion online. You can do this by checking up on certain blogs and even searching fashion on search engines. You can even search for recent celebrity pictures. If you see Miley Cyrus or Taylor Swift wearing it, it is sure to catch on. This can give you insight into what styles are coming up and what you should prepare for next season.

Watch what other people are wearing. If you see a lot of people wearing it, it is in style. Perhaps once you see that many people are wearing it, you know that it’s accepted and you would want to go buy it also. Keep on track of when trends begin to change. Get rid of the old trends and begin early on the new ones.

These tips should help you stay on track of recent fashion. If you really want to be fashionable, you have to be ahead of others in fashion trends, but remember that if you don’t like it, you don’t have to wear it just because it’s in style. Choose clothes that you want to wear and are comfortable in.

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The Ghost of Fashion Past

December 31, 2010 by Leave a Comment

The fashions of the ’80s went out when the ’90s came in. Good clothes worn badly, like dress coats with the collars popped and the sleeves pushed up, lace dresses worn with a disheveled appearance with jeans underneath, were out, and layers, layers, layers were back in. Just for a few years, though. The grunge look was only an interim until the kids born in the 1970s entered college. Then, their fashion came back. Puffy vests, brand names on shirts (see American Eagle, Abercrombie and Fitch)outlandish platform shoes and sandals.

The cycle repeated itself. The early 2000s saw another half-time fashion come in, Ugg boots and ripped jeans, spaghetti straps and decorator belt buckles. Then, in 2006, with the last of the the next generation graduating high school and shipping off for higher education, the ’80s came roaring back for part II.

Day-Glo everything. Black tights go with any outfit. Off-the-shoulder exercise tops. Pinstriped vests can be found in stores again. Grandma’s shoes, cause you’re indie cool. Thankfully, leotards were lost to the ’90s, but the rest of 1986 had a score to settle, and it’s not leaving for a few more years. It’s the law of current fashion; whatever generation is in college, their clothes get the limelight until the next decade’s children strike out on their own.

So hold on to those jeans of yours; they’ll go from “old” to vintage” before too long. Rip some holes to win some cred, or just put a lot of life into them.

The remnants of each reigning fashion linger on in the next big thing. Traces of ’90s layers can still be found in the resurrected ’80s fashions of today, Ugg boots underwent a slight retro re-outfitting and kept going strong. Call it fashion Darwinism if you will, where the good gets brought along by the rising threads, and the bad dies in the bargain bin, destined to languish in a second-hand store.

And fashion rolls on.

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