French Fashion History

French Fashion has been important industry and cultural export of France since the seventeenth century, and modern "haute couture" originated in Paris in the 1860s. Today, Paris, along with Tokyo, London, Milan, and New York City, is considered one of the world's fashion capitals, and the city is home or headquarters to many of the premier fashion houses. Historically, many of the world's top designers and fashion houses have been French, including Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Lanvin, Chloé, Hermès, Guy Laroche, Yves Saint Laurent and shoe designer Christian Louboutin. The Paris fashion houses also attract many foreign designers.

The association of France with fashion and style (French: la mode) dates largely to the reign of Louis XIV ^[1] when the luxury goods industries in France came increasingly under royal control and the French royal court became, arguably, the arbiter of taste and style in Europe. The rise in prominence of French fashion was linked to the creation of the fashion press in the early 1670s (due in large part to Jean Donneau de Visé) which transformed the fashion industry by marketing designs to a broad public outside the French court^[2] and by popularizing notions such as the fashion "season" and changing styles.^[3]

The Paris Fashion week takes place twice a year after the London Fashion Week and before Milan Fashion Week. Dates are determined by the French Fashion Federation. Currently, the Fashion Week is held in the Carrousel du Louvre.

Since the seventeenth century, the headquarters for fashion houses have been traditionally situated in the quarter around the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. Since the 1980s, the Avenue Montaigne has, to some extent, overtaken the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in high fashion as well as accessories. Other areas, such as Le Marais, a traditional Jewish quarter, have also included the clothing industry.

French Fashion in Paris

I feel like I've just been given a top-secret map and a skeleton key that I should hide in the bottom drawer of my dresser or better yet, sell to the couture-craving fashionistas of San Francisco for a profit.

Today, you're in luck because for the bargain price of free, I'm going to reveal to you a retail treasure.

Fresh-off-the-runway threads flown in directly from Paris and Milan are in Hayes Valley. It's true.

The hidden gem, is called Nida and it's nestled perfectly between antique shops and quaint cafes with outdoor seating ... all of it evoking that magnetic Parisian flare.

Nida is a family-owned and operated business, originating in Italy over 40 years ago. The San Francisco boutique opened in 1995, selling collections from only the most exclusive designers.

Store manager and assistant buyer, Jamie Hillman, gave me a quick tour of the women's clothing that comes primarily from France, as well as, the men's selection that's mostly from Italy.

One of the haute lines that has every fashion-hungry palette (including my own) salivating eagerly for a taste, is Paul & Joe SISTER. Nida is the only retailer in SF that carries it.

If you're not really into fashion, imagine if there were only ONE place to get a hot fudge sundae or only ONE place to get an ice cold beer and you just found out where it was. Cool, right?

Paul & Joe, named after French designer Sophie Albou's two sons, actually began as a mens line. Albou's fresh take on sportswear left the ladies begging and pleading for a collection of their own. Albou delivered.

"An active, sparkling, anti-conformist who loves travel and luxury," is how Sophie Albou describes the Paul & Joe woman.

Albou's looks are truly wearable, and the cuts and fabrics are perfection, but they come at a price.

Again, answering to the needs of her die-hard fans, Albou created Paul & Joe SISTER, specifically for the high-fashion girl on a budget.

"Paul & Joe SISTER has all of the craftsmanship and fabrication of its parent line, the only difference is, it's affordable," Hillman explained as she handed me a melt-in-your-hand silk tiered dress with an asymetrical shoulder line, that left me drooling.

I must have been making some sort of desperate face, or maybe I really was drooling, because Hillman slipped "my dress" onto the front mannequin in the store.

It all got very Discovery Channel-wierd when I caught myself circling it, like some wild predator.

Hopefully, Hillman didn't notice.

Pocketed cotton shorts, a navy frock with a crocheted racer-cut neckline and a short-sleeved, heavy knit sweater that looked like it would hug and slouch in all the right places, also caught my eye.

Hollywood fans who've been able to get their hands on Paul & Joe SISTER include Julia Roberts, Gweyneth Paltrow, Sienna Miller, Nicole Ritchie and Vanessa Paradis.

Hillman, said that there is no average age or profile that fits the line, or the Nida store.

"They're in their early 20s to late 50s ... and they're very loyal, " she added.

This all proved true in the short time I was there, women and men of various ages and personal styles walked through the door. Some of them even called Jamie by name.

Nida, located at 544 Hayes Street, is having a sale May 5-14th. Mark your calendars.

French fashion

While American fashion has evolved in recent decades to become a high powered industry, there is something so irresistible about the sophistication and innovation of European fashion markets. Since the 16th century, France has been the epicenter of high fashion. From the elegant designs of the old royal court to the stylish threads made by contemporary French Fashion Designers like Christian Dior, Coco Chanel, and Jean-Paul Gaulthier.

French Fashion can be described as being elegant. From the couture style of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Cardin to the experimental street style of Andre Courreges, french fashion is renowned for its sophisticated designs and innovative touches. In 60s fashion, the French Fashion Designer Courreges developed a style that can be described as the moon girl look. With sheer chiffon tops and clothes that contained controversial cut-outs and peep holes, this uniquely french fashion soon made huge waves in the fashion world. Fashion items such as the thigh high skirts that were decked out in spacey white and silver colors dotted with geometric shapes continue to be striking examples of French Fashion.

One of the most fascinating aspects of French Fashion is the way it is embedded in French society. Paris continues to be the Fashion Capital of the world and it is no surprise to see why. Considering that Paris is home to a gigantic fabric industry that works with couture houses, French Fashion will always produce different styles that will push the envelope and influence future generations of fashion. A country that understands the importance of fashion on popular culture, fashion is taken very seriously in France.

Its role in French society has led to many developments of fashion styles influenced by popular culture. For example, the Left Bank Look developed in the 1960s inspired by the budding political student movement of the time. A daring style that was representative of the look of people in the streets, the Left Bank Look popularized narrow skirts, narrow tops, berets, and stripes. This is the style that is most commonly associated with french fashion and had its biggest icon in actress Brigitte Bardot. This look can be classified as timeless and its sultry but playful style is guaranteed to turn heads.

Although French fashion lines like Dior and Louis Vuitton continue to represent the elegant element of french fashion, popular French Fashion today is an amalgamation of past styles. New-rave fashions are a huge hit among boys while women are returning to a more modest, elegant look that is inspired by the 1950s. With its thriving fashion industry and its reputation for having designers that have their finger to the pulse of emerging trends, you can expect french fashion to manufacture some of the most stylish fashions for generations to come!

The Italian Fashion

While the fashion industry in America has grown to immense proportions, it hasn’t really been fully embedded in the country’s cultural fabric. While people love the styles of American fashion designers, the fashion industry isn’t taken as seriously here as it in other places. Europe in particular is well known for its stylish residents and the reason for this is because of how high fashion is held up in countries like Italy.

Italian Fashion is well regarded for its sophisticated style and its elegant designs. While Italian Fashion Designers like Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Prada, and Versace produce items that are not cheap, the money is worth it. After all, if you buy an italian fashion product, you aren’t just buying a piece of clothing – rather, you are buying an attitude of class and sophistication. Italian Fashion is well known for producing some of the best high end clothing out there and it is guaranteed to impress people when you walk around decked out in Italian Fashion.

While fashion and Italy seem to have been connected for centuries, the birthplace of Italian fashion can be traced back to 1951, when a fashion show was staged in Florence. From a social perspective, Italians began to view fashion as an important way of self-expression and self-assertion. A nation that doesn’t particularly tolerate sloppy dressing, Italian Fashion soon began to take off from here.

Early Italian Fashion harkened back to an earlier time where nobility held fantastic parties and were proud of their elegance. Elaborate dresses and fine clothes were commonly worn. However, italian fashion would drastically change in the 1960s as Italian Fashion Designers began to create clothes that were still uniquely arty but more street savvy. The Made in Italy fashion style of the 1960s reached new heights culminating in the Prêt-à-porter look of the 1970s and 1980s. The popularity of Italian Fashion can be seen in the development of Milan as a fashion hotspot.

To this day, Italian Fashion Designers continue to produce some of the most elegant and innovative clothing in the world. Inspired by avant-garde art and cultural movements, Italian fashion has produced advanced new twists to popular fashion items like the min-skirt and blue jeans. Italian Fashion continues to produce gorgeous dresses, stylish suits, and some of the best eveningwear you can find in the world.

If you are striving to have a classic fashionable look, you can’t go wrong with Italian Fashion. With its array of accomplished fashion designers and a populace that understands the importance and power of personal style, Italian fashion is a force in the fashion world. A nation that reveres its fashion industry, you can expect Italian Fashion in the future to continue its tradition of elegance, innovation, and sophistication!

Chinese Fashion Garments and Fabrics

China, an ancient and mysterious nation, a land of beauty and fascination. With over 5,000 years of culture and history, China has made significant contributions to the world. Among them are wonderful arts, crafts, clothing, and culture. As time elapses, they become more and more valuable as well as fashionable. It is our honor and responsibility to continue treasuring them.

This online retail and wholesale store and catalog will bring you some of the most beautiful Chinese products, both traditional and modern. They include: Chinese Brocade Silk Fabric, Cheongsam Dress, Tang Jackets, Halter-top Lingerie Dudou, Embroidered Shoes, Table Cloth, Bedspread, even pet clothing. They will provide the exotic and exciting style you require, be it for an oriental theme party, or just another average daily occasion.

Our #1 main product: Chinese Brocade Satin fabrics. It has been produced in southern part of China since ancient times. Skillful textile workers interweave mixed color silk and artificial threads to form exquisite patterns. The resulting fabric has a beautiful pattern that is neither the expensive embroidery, nor the cheap and simple print. Brocade satin fabric is very colorful; normally it has 3 to 7 different colors in one design. The pretty colors were dyed into the threads. Because it's not pure silk, brocade fabric is stronger and has much better shape retention, yet it's still very shiny, smooth and relatively soft. In many practical aspects, it's even better than pure silk fabric. Thus, this beautiful piece of fabric is perfect for Do-It-Yourself lovers! Application of this fabric includes almost everything you can think of, from clothing to home decoration.

Our #2 main product: Cheongsam Dress. Cheongsam dress (qipao) is the native dress of the Manchu nationality - one of the 56 nationalities in China. The Manchurians lived in north-eastern China and their history traces back almost 3,000 years. Gaining quick popularity in China, the qi pao soon became the traditional costume for Chinese women. The Cantonese called the qi pao "cheongsam," a term literally meaning "long dress." Like a magical flower with beauty that never fades, the traditional Chinese cheongsam continues to hold great appeal to women eastern or western till this day. The high-necked, closed-collar cheongsam, with a loose chest and fitting waist, is one of the most versatile costumes in the world. It can be long or short, some with full, medium, short or even no sleeves at all - to suit different occasions, weather and individual tastes. What serves as a worthy testament to the beauty of the cheongsam is, however, it does not require the wearer to pep up the look with accessories like scarves and belts. Designed to show off the natural softness of the female form, it also creates the illusion of slender legs. The overall picture: practical, yet sexy.

Our #3 main product: Dudou. For thousands of years, Chinese women and kids have been wearing this traditional underwear called "Du Dou," which literally means "belly cover." Dudou is a lingerie that's cut very simple - just a square or rhomboidal piece of silk with ribbons that tie around the neck and the back. This Chinese version of corset is making a comeback in recent years. People all over the world are wearing it as fashion, not only as an underwear, but also outdoors as a top. The dudou that was a hidden part of women's attire in the ancient times has become the daily wear of the bold and vanguard young ladies in summer.

Other wonderful products include: Pet Dress, Height Increasing (Elevator) Shoes, etc. Check back often for new products!

Hopefully, the items in this store are as easy to browse through as they are affordable. Our vision and mission is to provide low-price solutions to Chinese fashion, culture, and art to the very people who love them. We hope that through our efforts, the ancient China and her culture can be brought one step closer to the people elsewhere on earth.

Source : http://www.chinese-fashion.com/

Chinese Fashion

For some, Fashion can be a good way to represent yourself as a unique individual,. This decade in particular there are so many styles of Fashion all of which are acceptable. People are wearing fashions from the seventies, eighties and nineties. We seem to be struggling with finding a new Fashion that can represent us in this millennium.

Buying clothes can be unlike any other form of retail. A new outfit can produce temporary happiness, like adding a new and brighter layer to our personalities. Unfortunately the euphoria is often short-lived which is why many people have an addiction to shopping in these modern times.

Looking at ancient Chinese clothing it is easy to see that one outstanding feature of the historic Tang dynasty (618AD to 906AD) was the strict system of full dress. It demonstrates how the individuals of these times were careful about maintaining their standards and responsibilities in society, regardless of whether they were sovereigns, officials or civilians. Each class showed their integrity in how they dressed.

These ancient Chinese people had a view of the world and their way of thinking was expressed in their dress. For instance, morning before daybreak the sky was black in colour; so people would wear their top clothing coloured black, as it should resemble heaven.


Source : http://www.dexigner.com/fashion/news-g4028.html

Lingerie Style in Japan

The COMPANY underwear famous in Japan, Wacoal, launched their newest underwear by the name of Fundoshi. Fundoshi was underwear (underpants) for the Japanese man ancient the time. The difference is, this time Fundoshi was allocated for the woman. Underpants with the form only a sheet of cloth it was guaranteed gave a comfort for the user because of giving the freedom in moving. This product was sold by the unit or could also 1 set (upper and low) with the price 1.890 Yen (around Rp250.000) to bra and 1.260 Yen (around Rp150.000) for the underside.

Sexy Lingerie

Has been enough did you satisfied uptil now with your underwear, especially underpants? How his comfort? With even more of them the underpants model, certainly as the user, you better know him well...

Various underpants kinds:

Lingerie this had the section's model resembled the bikini. The line of the waist (waistband) fell far was supervised the navel or exact on the hip. This model is usually very comfortable to be able to be used everyday like trousers jins that fell on the hip. Boy-leg brief the Line of the waist fell under the navel, exact on the hip but the part foot him was longer arrive in on the thigh. Closed all the bottom part. This model appropriate was put on when you wore the short skirt or tight trousers/stretch, also comfortable was used to play sport. Brief Garis of the waist fell exact in the line of the navel or a little under the navel. The bottom part was closed, exceeded the line of the hip.

Control Brief Modelnya almost was similar with brief, only to the front was added the material was harder to 'press the' stomach' part. The two models brief this usually was girls best friend lingerie because comfortable and did not form the line of underpants. French Cut Seperti model underpants brief, only the part foot was enough in. This model also often was acknowledged as High Cut Brief. If you wanted to feel sexy, this model could be the choice. G-String Model this was drafted especially so that the line of underpants (pantyline) was not seen clear when you put on tight trousers. These model underpants did not cover the bottom comprehensively. Waistband him took the form of the thin rope from the same material. Agreed if you wore thin party clothes so that was avoided from the line of underpants.

String Bikini Celana Dalam the form of the bikini only the cover of the front side and behind was connected with the rope. High Cut Rio Hampir was similar with string the bikini, but the place indentation foot more in. This model could be used by you everyday good when wearing long trousers or the skirt. Tap Pant Celana Dalam this resembled shorts, only was illustrated by lace in his part of the tips. Thong Celana Dalam with the model minimalis. The side behind was similar with g-string, but the front side more was closed compared to the model G-String. Was suitable to be put on when putting on tight trousers, so that the line of underpants is not seen clear. Thong Boy Model this was the blend from the model thong with boy brief. Covered your bottom from the side samping down to behind although not all of them.