Fashion Dress - From Couture Beginnings to Mid-Twentieth Century

The first fashion designer who was not merely a dressmaker was Charles Frederick Worth (1826-1895.) Before the former draper set up his couture fashion house in Paris, fashion creation and inspiration was handled by largely unknown people, and high fashion descended from style worn at royal courts. Worth's success was such that he was able to dictate to his customers what they should wear, instead of following their lead as earlier dressmakers had done.

1900s
It was during this period that many design houses began to hire artist to sketch or paint designs for garments. The images alone could be presented to clients much more cheaply than by producing an actual sample garment in the workroom. If the client liked the design, they ordered it and the resulting garment made money for the house. Thus, the tradition of designers sketching out garments designs instead of presenting completed garments on models to customers began as an economy.

Around the start of the twentieth century fashion style magazines began to include photographs and became even more influential than in the past. In cities throughout the world these magazines were greatly sought-after and had a profound effect on public taste. The outfits worn by the fashionable women were strikingly similar to those worn in the heyday of the fashion pioneer Charles Worn, By the end of the nineteenth century, the horizons of the fashion industry had generally broadened, partly due to the more mobile and independent lifestyle many well-off women were beginning to adopt and the practical clothes demanded. The constant need for radical change, which is now essential for the survival of fashion within the present system, was still literally unthinkable.

1910's
During the early years of the 1910s the fashionable silhouette became much more lithe, fluid and soft then in the 1900s. Paul Poiret also devised the first outfit which women could put on without the help of a maid. Simple felt hats, turbans, and clouds of tulle replaced the styles of headgear popular in the 1900s. It is also notable that the first real fashion shows were organized during this period in time, by the first female couturier, Jeanne Psquin.

Changes in dress during World War I were dictated more by necessity than fashion. As more and more women were forced to work, they demanded clothes that were better suited to their new activities. Social events had to be postponed in favor of more pressing engagements and the need to mourn the increasing numbers of dead, visits to the wounded and the general gravity of the time meant that darker colors became the norm. By 1915 fashionable skirts had risen above the ankle and then later to mid calf. The period between the two World Wars, often considered to be the Golden Age of French fashion, was one of great change and reformation. Carriages were replaced by cars, princes and princesses lost their crowns, and haute couture found new clients in the ranks of film actresses, American heiresses, and the wives and daughters of wealthy industrialists.

1920s
Soon after the First World War, a radical change came about in fashion. Bouffant coiffures gave way to short bobs, dresses with long trains gave way to above-the-knee pinafores. Corsets were abandoned and women borrowed their clothes from the male wardrobe and chose to dress like boys. Although, at first, many couturiers were reluctant to adopt the new androgynous style, they embraced them wholeheartly from around 1925. A bustless, waistless silhouette emerged and aggressive dressing-down was mitigated by feather boas, embroidery, and showy accessories.

1930s
In the 1930s, as the public began to feel the effects of the Great Depression, many designers found that crises are not the time for experimentation. Fashion became more compromising, aspiring to preserve feminism's victories while rediscovering a subtle and reassuring elegance and sophistication. Women's fashions moved away from the brash, daring style of the Twenties towards a more romantic, feminine silhouette. The waist was restored to its proper position, hemlines dropped, there was renewed appreciation of the bust, and backless evening gowns and soft, slim-fitting day dresses became popular. The female body was remolded to a more neo-classical shape and slim, toned, and athletic bodies came into vogue. The fashion for outdoor activities stimulated couturiers to manufacture what would nowadays be called sportswear. The term " ready-to-wear" was not yet widely used, but the boutiques already described such clothes as being "for sport."

Completely Centered on Summer Dresses - The 2009 Fashion Styles

After comparing the women profile in the fashion world, we find a huge gap between the summer dresses that were designed before with the one we are having today! The concentration is getting more and finer towards the skirts and more and more emphasis has been laid on designing shoulder designs. With the availability of huge variety of summer dresses, women are getting the opportunity to emphasize more and more on their femininity! This is helping them a lot.

Prints help in bringing out more ecstatic effect to your dress. Be a dress with multi-print or dual-print, both of them have their own speciality. What matters is, starting from the shoulder to the knee part, it should be beautifully designed. Above all, bright colors contribute a lot in making a perfect fashion statement for your summer dresses. There is an endless variety in color as well as styles to choose from. A double layer skirt of a bold strong color is highly in fashion and fashion designers are putting in more and more effort in this direction!

As the title says, the 2009 summer collection is 100% dedicated towards summer dresses and the results are visible as well. The best part with such dresses is that, they are stress free. Stick to any dress, choose the accessories and you are done! For summer and spring, the colors that are mostly preferred are blue, white, hot pinks and above all, bold strong color. It sounds very interesting to compare the previous fashion trend with the one prevailing today, like summer dresses account for perfect comparison.

This year, blue has become a very important color as one can enjoy multiple combinations with blue. Having elegant embroidery or bead work in the middle of your summer dress will embrace it a little more. The most vivid and exciting part is that, each and every piece has been designed exquisitely and is completely different from the other one! One thing that will attract you the most is the newness of these fondant colors and the combinations would result in infinite summer collection. So, start collecting unforgettable experiences in your lap right away! If color and pattern is not what you are looking for, then you can go with the natural color schemes that are available in abundance.

Fair Trade Fashion - The Ultimate Guide

The days when fair trade fashion meant tie-dyed pantaloons and ill-fitting ethnic smocks are long gone. Top designers are now working with new ethical fashion labels to create clothes and accessories that are desirable, not just because they're associated with a good cause, but because they're stylish and beautiful.

So what makes fair trade fashion fair? Here is a quick summary of the 5 things to look out for:

1. There are a number of fair trade certification bodies that you should look out for when you're browsing for fair trade products. A good one is the World Fair Trade Organisation, while in the UK, the British Association for Fair Trade Shops (BAFTS) is another standards organisation. These organisations help customers know that the products they're buying are genuinely ethical.

2. Where are the products made? And under what conditions? Do you really want to buy from companies that outsource their production to sweatshop manufacturers with poor conditions and low wages for their workers? Fair trade or ethical fashion companies will be happy to explain where and how their products are made. Rembember: transparency and fair trade go hand in hand.

3. What materials are being used? Fair trade and environmental sustainability are different concepts, though in practice fair trade fashion companies will also engage in eco-friendly sourcing practices. So look out for organic cotton, recycled items and other 'green' materials.

4. Fair trade fashion isn't just confined to the margins of the fashion world. Many mainstream shops have fair trade concessions, and there are now ethical and eco-friendly fashion labels showcased on the catwalk at all the major fashion shows.

5. Price. Ethical fashion is no longer the preserve of the wealthy, with increasingly affordable products available as the movement becomes more mainstream. However, fast fashion goods like T-Shirts for £2.99 are not a realistic price. Someone somewhere will be paying the true cost of that T-Shirt - most likely in a miserable wage and poor conditions. According to the NGO ActionAid, if the retail price of a £6 dress was increased by just 10p it would be enough to double the wages of the factory worker in Sri Lanka who produced it. Ethical fashion can make a real difference.

You might think the global economic downturn could impact on customers' appetites for fair trade fashion. But according to the Cooperative Bank's Ethical Consumer report, sales of fair trade and organic clothing grew by 70% to £52m in 2007, and this year is scheduled to see still further growth.

And consider this: in 2007 a survey by TNS Global found that 60% of under-25s said they bought what they wanted, regardless of where or how it had been made. This year that figure had dropped to 36%, suggesting that child labour and sweatshop scandals have made their mark.

The future's great for ethical consumers and suppliers.

Runway Fashion Recreated on a Budget in Minutes

Runway fashion can be completely overwhelming (not to mention costly). Purple is the new black, patent is a must have for Fall, drop the gloss because it is all about a matte lip this season, and the list goes on. Who has time to keep up with it all?

I do. My name is Stella, and I have been working/living in the land of high end fashion for almost a decade. I started on the sales floor in couture where I could see the latest collections roll in each season. That is where I learned why Giorgio Armani has the reputation he does, how Missoni keeps the signature zig-zag pattern relevant, and why Dolce & Gabbana are known for the corseted look.

I could never afford the runway pieces that I pined over, nor did I have the patience to shop the markdown racks. Still, I wanted to figure out how to recreate these runway looks on a budget, and without having to go to battle in a store. It boiled down to three things: price, convenience, and personal style. When it comes to personal style, what I am referring to here is knowing your measurements when shopping on-line, but more importantly, know what makes you feel good when you put it on and building on that.

Overall, it is a process that ideally keeps one in a constant state of "style evolution." I know, it sounds intense, especially with the topic being that of fashion, but the bottom line is that it is about self expression and, most of all, having fun with it.

Baby Clothes - Choices For Parents and Kids Alike

Fashion is no longer the prerogative of only adults. Baby fashion is fast catching up. Earlier toddler clothes were maybe just a mini version of adult clothes. But now the fashion-conscious parents do not want to settle for mediocrity. They want up to date, fashionable baby clothes. The aim is not only to cover and keep them warm, but also to make them look cool and fashionable. Kids themselves are increasingly conscious about what they wear and many of them like to choose their own clothes these days.

There is huge variety when it comes to baby clothes these days. Babies outgrow their clothes very fast so many parents are unwilling to spend huge amounts on their children's clothes. It is surprising what you can buy these days with even modest budgets.

So why is fashion becoming more important for parents shopping for clothes for their children? Perhaps when you are dressed smart ready to go out, you wouldn't like your child to look less so. Another reason is children compete with each other to look their best.

So what should we buy? Well children grow up fast. The trick is to buy the right children's clothes, perhaps slightly bigger size too so that your baby can be comfortable and wear the clothes for longer. As for baby clothes, ideally are clothes which open up easily. Clothes that you don't have to struggle to put on your baby girl or boy. Go for minimum number of pieces and where possible, just one piece with some snap buttons may be a good idea.

When it comes to baby clothes , colours tend be gender based; blue for boys and pink for girls but then your baby grows up, and so do your choices! Boys' clothes have evolved over the years. There are some wonderful designs, colours and patterns to choose from these days. Boys' clothes are no longer dull and boring. They have become vibrant, attractive and cool. Bright colours, varied texture, multiple designs have made their way into boys' clothes. Trendy boys' shoes and jackets are also readily available on the market.

There are even more choices of clothes for girls. Girls tend to be more fashion conscious than boys. Girls not only care about what they wear but in many cases define themselves by their clothes. It is up to the parents to help choose the appropriate clothes for their daughters. In some cases girls tend to want to grow up too fast. The trick is to guide them and help them make the right choice. Girls have a huge variety to choose from. Let's face it, they can wear dresses, skirts, shirts, shorts and trousers. They could even wear boys' clothes and get away with it. That's one advantage that the girls have over boys. They can carry off trousers or jeans with equal ease as boys.

Fashion is fast catching up amongst children. So watch out for those latest trends and pick the right clothes for your children.

Women's Fashion Ponchos Get Sexy This Summer

Ponchos have come down from the high plains and back into high fashion on to the catwalks this season.

Women's fashion ponchos featured strongly on the catwalks this season.

Gone are the heavy, horse-blanket style ponchos of yesteryear, replaced by delicate fabrics and sexy styles that complement every body. Fashion ponchos hide a multitude of sins.

Whether you choose silky, sheer and sexy, or embroidered ethnic style, the poncho can be adapted for all sizes and all occasions.

Your fashion poncho can be thrown over a pair of jeans for a chic, casual look, or dress it up with a glittery brooch over your favorite little black dress for night time style.

The hot fashion trend straight from the catwalk was the shabby-chic boho-style fashion poncho, ornamented with embroidery, beads and sparkles. Or the casually elegant cashmere poncho, perfect with your favorite jeans.

Ponchos also come short and long this season. The chic little shrug-style poncho clasped or tied on the shoulder in soft knits and delicate lace was featured by many European designers for spring/summer. Also featured were longer, asymmetrical fashion ponchos in a rainbow-bright display of colors and patterns.

Whatever your look for this summer, there is a women's fashion poncho to suit.

Top Pakistani Summer Collection 2009

Summer is considered to be a season of assuaging color combination; for the Pakistani designers. As on one hand it promotes creativity and innovation and motivates of the idea of creating a distinctive line in their relative market, and on the other one they try to promote the modest form of the designs as summer tends to be a season of soothing colors coalesced altogether in an affluent manner. Normally it is seen the fostered philosophy of to wear well, and wear affordable.

An exclusive range of sundry products has been introduced in the potential markets of the pertinent designers and a good outcome of it is seen so far. As the practical anticipation is to opt a concentration strategy that enables communication at a niche level; Salina Wardah has brought a wide range of lawn, chiffon and Swiss voile with the simplest and appealing designs and her venture truly is an ambassadorial act towards being the season specialty. Flaunt of the entire range signifies essential fashion components i.e. color combination, design and embellishments. Usman Buksh, on the same side joined Salina, and introduced vibrant collection of exquisite designs under the stream of cotton, lawn prints and dupattas, enriching these with beautiful embroidery technicalities. Maria B lawn too, securely is a true art of feminine style that certainly has an eye catching range of glorious designs ranging from comfy zone to articulate piece of art works. Sana and Safinas Lawn has been launched, adding to these; with exclusive eye catching designs that really are appealing and are appreciated, and is a delicious treat for this summer season. Stylish and eye catching designs with a blend of a wide contrast color range, is surely one of the best collections of this summer.

Sonya Batla Lawn collection 2009 is a glamorous range of modern color prints with opulent eye catching softness and truly an indication of modernism. Similarly, adding on to these, Gul Ahmed lawn 2009, ever enchanting as before satisfies every niche and micro aspect of the summer strip in the market where it has exclusive designs and prints to offer.

Recently Lajwanti launched a fashion show which proved to a foretaste of the offered upcoming ranges. And further they displayed an array of various products, e.g. sleeveless shirts, sarees, capris, to stylish sherwanis. And hats off when Hassan Shehryar Yasin, who understands the market in a unique and innovative way, launched their exclusive summer/spring 2009 collection and upon arraying during the pertinent fashion show in Dubai. This zone of him offers the customers a mélange of lush pure fabrics in concoction with the symbolization of whites, beiges, and muted monotones; leading a step ahead towards a modernized grace.

Similarly Nickie Nina & Karma have launched their present collection for this summer which was admired and appreciated in Islamabad upon its launch, which was a conglomeration of certain creative ideas and thoughts according to intrinsic needs and demands of this summer season. Summer this year, has top most collections to nurture you with, and for itself as all has a long haul to get soared in terms of fashion.

Fashion Design Colleges

While many people go into modeling and fashion design with no real experience and certainly no formal experience, those that do seem to fair much better. Modeling and fashion design colleges can help you lay the foundation for what may become a beautiful career. Modeling and fashion design may appear to be easy and straightforward, but there are many small details that one cannot learn by just stepping into the business. A formal education can clue one into these little details so that you can go into the business with all the confidence in the world. An education through one of many fashion design schools will simply make you seem more reputable to those that you seek employment with, which can open the door to new and exciting things as well.

Modeling and Fashion design colleges have been around since the beginning of the industry for those that really wanted to pursue the business in a professional manner. For a long time these colleges were often laughed at and dismissed, but as more and more unqualified people entered the business place, these fashion design college options seemed more and more worthy. While some just have a knack for modeling and fashion design, most can benefit from some formal training as it enables each person to refine their personal abilities as well as develop new ones that are nice to have in the business.

Many modeling and fashion schools just do not focus on one aspect of the business, so when you attend you get to look at the bigger picture and really find your place in it. Many of the fashion design schools offer education in modeling, fashion, fashion merchandising, as well as sales marketing. All of these elements come together to give one a great background from which to draw for their entire career. All of this formal education and information allows those that are interested in fashion design to choose which way they would like their career to go. Any fashion design college such as Barbizon or Brooks College offer this full education that can really allow students to try many things before they settle on just one aspect of the fashion industry.

Modeling and fashion design school are commonplace now and most of those that are interested in fashion have to attend them now to be taken seriously. Even a two-year program is considered worthy in the eyes of many professionals, so long as prospective employees have had some formal training. Fortunately, for most of the students, most of these fashion design college choices are not very expensive so they can get their education completed and out into the fashion world in very little time. Many of the colleges offer classes over the Internet, which is great because it will allow them to apprentice or get real world experience at the same time.

The bottom line is that modeling and fashion design schools are worth the time and money that they take to get an education. One must be sure that the college of their choice is accredited before signing up, but generally these colleges are worth their weight in gold. An education through a fashion design college can be priceless, especially if you take the time to really learn new things, refine your skills, and even make some contacts in the business to make breaking into the business even easier. Design colleges often allow young students to begin as early as 16-18, which can really put some people a step ahead when it comes to beginning their business and will get you into a fashion design career.

Fashion Designer Education

Fashion designer school is for people that have a passion or extreme interest in all things fashion. While putting together great outfits for friends has always been something you've liked to do on the side, you can do it for a living. Creating clothing and accessory designs just comes naturally to some people, and when you attend classes to really refine your skills you'll be impressed not only with how much you can learn, but how much you can be paid to do the things that you love to do! While designing clothes and even putting together patterns and outfits for yourself and your friends may be a great hobby, it can be an even better job if you go to school and learn how to do it all the right way so that you can come across creative and professional to prospective clients.

Fashion designers will be taught to sketch their ideas, draw and cut patterns, create simple garments, fit and modify finished garments, arrange showings for press as well as buyers, compare merchandise to that of competitors, learn how to keep current, and how to visit textile showrooms when they attend fashion design school. These skills will all contribute to helping someone with a passion for fashion develop their skill and utilize it in the real world.

Most fashion designers are self-employed and simply design for individual clients. Designers become popular by setting themselves apart by being professional, reliable, and using different colors, shapes, and materials that will allow them to stand out among their competition. A great way to learn how to create your own methods of creating great clothing, accessories, or jewelry is to become a designer's assistant. Helping a designer will not only allow those that are learning to see what goes into the business, but will also help them define a sense of self and a true sense of what they want to do in the fashion business.

Some fashion designers work for larger firms and this may be a great way to get a fashion designer education when you get out of fashion designer school, as well. These firms or corporations typically have a head designer, which is responsible for most of the creative aspects and supervision of the design room staff. Assistant designers are often hired by firms and often make the first patterns and help the head designer oversee creative and personnel issues. There are also specialty designers that may be hired by corporations that will work with other designers to help create limited or special lines of clothing. Special designers will often have a specific article of clothing or accessory that they work with and often they design for a specific market or country and can play a vital role in a large design company. There are also theatrical costume designers that create costumes or articles of clothing and accessories for plays, movies, or other theatrical productions and these designers may work on contract. Of course, all of these jobs can be done independent of a firm, but some individuals find these jobs easier to get through a firm first, for a more consistent income.

The work environment for every designer varies, as some work in very professional settings while others work in very cramped and rushed environments. If you work for yourself you can really set the standard for yourself so that you do not have to work in unfavorable situations. If you are looking at working for a firm, be sure to ask hard questions about the work environment and schedule. Just because you just graduated from fashion designer school doesn't mean that you should be subjected to less than comfortable working conditions! Freelance fashion designer work can also be done outside of your own job so that you can slowly create your own client base away from your corporate job.

There is a lot of money to be made by fashion designers once they have graduated and obtained some experience. Many designers make more than $20 an hour and the average salary for a designer is more than $57,000 a year! Of course, education, experience, licensing and a grasp of trends and professionalism are what get you to such a salary, but after attending fashion designer school you can achieve all of these things. Remember that you may not start out at the top, but when you get there all the little jobs you have worked will seem more than worth it so get your fashion designer education now.

Kimono Fashion Evolution

Many Japanese wore Kimonos in Ancient Japan. Kimono styles have changed with the times as with any fashion but the modern Kimono still bears a striking resemblance to those of ancient Japan. The choice of material, cut, colors, and decorative design of a kimono are different depending on many variables.

From the beginning of Japan's recorded history until present day the Kimono has been an integral part of Japanese fashion, adapting to changing lifestyles and trends. Weaving and dyeing skills and the ability of various raw materials have improved over time thus allowing the Kimono to improve in quality and design. Traditional style clothing plays and important role in Japan and even today the Imperial family will wear clothing from as far back as the Nara period during special rituals and ceremonies.

Men of ancient Japan wore kimonos in white, black, brown, blue, and gray color tones which tended to be more conservative in design than those worn by females. Around the waste a narrow sash tied into a knot at the back was worn. This was known as an Obi. In summertime, which is very hot and humid in Japan, a Yukata is worn which closely resembles a kimono except it is made of much lighter material and is usually white or blue. Floral patterns and bright colors are usually popular with women who wear kimonos. In martial arts films you may see Japanese men wearing a Hakama, or pleated pants, over their kimono. A bridegroom might decide to wear a Haori, a type of jacket, with his Hakama and kimono. Braided material tied into a fancy knot keeps the Haori closed.

A young woman not yet married wears a Furisode which is a bright kimono which flows around the ankles. Married women might choose to wear a similar style but with short sleeves. The Obi is often eye-catching and can be as much as 30 centimeters wide and 4 meters long taking up to an whole hour to tie properly. At a wedding a bride will usually wear a white kimono with a red or orange outer-kimono. Brighter patterns and prints have traditionally been worn by children and seldom by adults.

Although kimonos are not as common as they were in ancient Japan they can still often be seen on certain Japanese holidays. A special technique is used to produce these kimonos. The fabric is at least 14 meters long and up to 40 centimeters wide and is cut into eight pieces and then sewn so as to not create any waste. A lot of the material and embroidery methods originated in China.

Japan is no longer the only country enthusiastic about kimonos as the fashion trend spreads around the world. It is easy to adapt wear them with a skirt or even pants. One can purchase Japanese fabrics and have them made into dresses, shirts, and of course kimonos.

Fashion Design Sketches

The intense competition in the fashion industry makes it important for any fashion designer to showcase the designs to a larger audience. This can be done by creating fashion sketches and displaying them on the Internet. The sketches give an insight to the fashion fraternity and also to the common audience on the concept behind a particular fashion design. It is a way of communicating the theme to the people associated with the apparel industry. Hence, they are extremely important for any fashion designer.

Fashion sketches are illustrations made by professional artists and designed in a way that they can be easily displayed on the Internet. They portray the true creative genius of the designer. These can be considered a blue print of the final product. The perfection in making sketches is a prerequisite as they serve as the main marketing tool of the fashion professionals. The sketches reflect trends and the value added features of the design. They can also be used to evaluate the various patters used by different designers.

Fashion sketches are important, since they are the preliminary designs that have to be taken to the different apparel manufacturers in the market. The sketches are then used to select the different fabric samples from the wide range on offer.

Computers are increasingly being used for the purpose of making fashion design sketches. Several software are now available that assist the designers in making the drawings. While some still prefer the traditional hand-drawn sketches, others choose to opt for the speed and convenience of computer-aided designing. Hand-drawn sketches can also be fed into the computer with the help of a scanner.

The art of making fashion design sketches is important for creating a niche in the highly competitive fashion industry. Fashion designers can make their presence felt only if their sketches are different and original. Good quality sketches are the only means of establishing a firm foothold in the fashion industry.