What to Choose an In-Class Fashion Design College Degree Or an Online One

Most of you would know that in order to get into the fashion design industry, you would require a degree or a diploma certificate from a fashion design college, at least in the initial stages to tell the clients about you knowledge. But there are times and cases when one is not able to find time to attend a school or a college because of other commitments and financial pressures at times. In most technical fields, online schools have already become a hot favorite among working professionals who do not have time to attend regular classes at the conventional brick and mortar schools. The fashion industry is also fast catching up with this trend and a number of online fashion design colleges have come up in recent times which provide high quality education and good in house training and even offer internship opportunities in collaboration with some of the leading fashion design studios and labels. These colleges offer similar courses to those being offered at actual fashion design colleges, so the aspirants do not have much problem with the learning aspect at these online fashion design colleges.Numerous degrees on offer.As most of you know, there are many diverse fields within the field of fashion designing itself, and it is always beneficial if you get a specialized degree in any one of these streams from a reputed fashion design college. This fact can go a long way in landing you to the fashion design studio of your choice. Marketing, costume designing, merchandising, logistics, accessories and shoes are some of the broader fields that are encompassed within the world of fashion designing. It is always beneficial if you have a specialized degree in one or more of these fields from a reputed fashion design college. Most upcoming fashion designers would have anywhere between 2 to 3 such specialized degrees. This increases your profileýýýs horizons, especially, if the degree is backed by a good fashion design college. A perfect example on making the best use of two or more specializations would be someone who can club merchandising and marketing together and work at a retail store.Comparison between online and in class fashion design colleges.To choose between an online or an in class fashion design college, you would need to consider your requirements and the kind of expertise you need. Although it is quite true that most of the physical establishments of repute fashion design institutes in either on the west coast, California region, or the East coast, NYC region, yet it is not true. Some of the fashion design colleges have started establishing their physical campuses elsewhere in the country as well. If you want to get the degree, and be where the classes are in order to be able to get a valuable internship and then later work under a banner or in a boutique, you might well consider attending the classes at the physical location of the fashion design institute. If you do not have time to attend classes but still want that degree, and you know you can land up with the job with just a degree, then you might well go for online learning centers of these fashion design institutes.

Let Me Show You Who is a Famous Fashion Designer

If you are in the fashion world and on your way to becoming a top fashion designer yourself, of course you need to be aware of all those whose footsteps you are following in and so you will want to know who is a famous fashion designer and what they have brought to the fashion world which you should be respective of.Ralph LaurenMost people, whether they are getting a career in fashion or not, are aware of the name Ralph Lauren. As one of the most infamous names in all of the fashion world, the famous fashion designer Ralph Lauren is a designer that all the hottest celebs love and often don to red carpet events.What began forty years ago with a collection of ties has not grown into an entire world, redefining American style. Ralph Lauren has really always stood out when it comes to providing superior quality products, and whenever you buy any Ralph Lauren product you know that you are getting the ultimate in quality.He is a famous fashion designer without a doubt, one of the most popular in the world in fact. He has always been known for providing quality products, creating worlds and inviting people to take part in his dream of delivering gorgeous, stunning designs for men and women.Christian LouboutinThis is another famous fashion designer, only he is known best for his signature red sole heels. You have probably heard of this famous fashion designer before, maybe on Oprah because she wears his heels quite often?Celebrities ranging from Angelina Jolie to Mariah Carey are fans of this fashion designer extraordinaire, and he is definitely worth checking out and learning more about if you love gorgeous heels.These are just two of the literally hundreds upon hundreds of famous fashion designers out there. It is good to be aware of the different fashion designers out there no matter who you are, but particularly if you are interested in having a lucrative career in the fashion world, you are of course going to need to be up to date on the different fashion designers and on which offer the products that you love.There are always new and up and coming designers all the time, so make sure that you keep your eyes and ears open to see what is new and hot. If you want to be a success in the fashion world, this is something that you just have to do.

The Fashion Design and Merchandising Partnership

Fashion design and merchandising go hand in hand down the runway of the fashion world. Fashion merchandising involves the business side of fashion and offers great opportunities for people who love fashion and want to have a career in buying, product development, management, or fashion marketing. Fashion design and merchandising are demanding jobs but also very rewarding.The Job Of A MerchandiserA merchandiser is involved in every stage of the process. Fashion design and merchandising are connected from design to sales. The merchandisers advise the designer on market trends, get all specifications from the project buyers, get samples approved and negotiate the price of the final sale. They are also responsible for making sure that consignments are delivered to the customers according to schedule. In the world of fashion design and merchandising it is the merchandisers who will usually have bottom-line responsibility for all projects or departments during the various levels of their careers. Most work in fashion design and merchandising involves juggling past, present, and future work. Merchandisers spend a great deal of time evaluating sales from previous time periods in order to properly plan and decide goals for future sales. In fashion design and merchandising, it isn't just about shopping; with fashion design and merchandising the merchandisers must be able to analyze and create a complex business plan aimed at specific buying habits and customers. This requires an ability to forecast trends and then translate them into a profitable business plan for the company.Anytime a decision is made to create a fashion product and offer it to the consumer, even if it is a kids fashion design or a costume, fashion merchandising is involved, including product development, buying, marketing, or management of the product. Even if it's just deciding which mannequin should face which direction -- odds are good that someone involved with fashion merchandising has the final "OK".As with most fashion jobs, the key is to start with disciplined study to direct your talent into a successful career. With the fashion design and merchandising fields there are also many opportunities -- whether you're in school or not -- for internships. These internships should be considered vital for advancing your career. Indeed, any work with experienced industry connections -- be it in a design house or in retail -- provides a key stepping stone for students to meet important industry personnel who have open positions and knowledge to share within the fashion design and merchandising field.

Hip Hop Fashion Trends - Then and Now

Hip hop fashion trends are not a newcomer to the fashion scene by any means. In fact, this style has been around since the 1980's, when celebrities like Will Smith and Christopher "Kid" Reid showed youth how it should be done. Of course, hip hop fashion trends have evolved over the past two decades as tastes and styles have changed to correspond with the culture of the time. The following will offer you a brief but colorful history into the world of hip hop, with some of the current fashion design today.Early Hip Hop In the 1980's, major brand names became synonymous with the hip hop fashion trends. Brands like Nike, Adidas and Clark shoes were sported with leather bomber jackets and brightly-colored track suits. Sports jerseys were a hot commodity, with Will Smith showing them off in his hit television show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire. This was the time when heavy gold jewelry and large sunglasses came into play, creating an image of wealth and luxury in the hip hop culture of this time. In the latter part of this decade, MC Hammer and other rappers introduced hip hop fashion trends like baggy pants and baseball caps.The Gangsta Look In the 1900's, hip hop fashion trends shifted to the gangsta look in the fashion of the Los Angeles Chicano gangsters. This style sported baggy pants that were worn low and without a belt, shirt tails hanging outside the pants and bandanas on the head. In the midst of this fashion trend, designers were also providing something that the youth of this time liked, and brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Polo and Nautica also came into vogue. At this time, hip hop fashion trends evolved into urban streetwear, with names like Mecca USA, Lugz and Rocawear coming into play.Flash and Bling The turn of the century saw hip hop fashion trends switch to flashy ensembles and bling bling jewelry, made popular by the likes of Jay-Z and The Hot Boys. High end designers like Gucci came onto the hip hop scene during this time as well. Today, the hip hop look has toned down somewhat, with hip hop fashion trends that are more tailored and professional - preppie hip hop, if you will. However, since the hip hop fashion trends are primarily embraced by youth, this style will always be cutting edge and separate from the fashion mainstream. After more than two decades on the fashion scene, it appears that this trend is more than just a trend - it is a fashion icon that is here to stay.

Fashion Trend Alert - Keeping Up With the Latest Styles

Styles change faster than the weather, making it really challenging for the average fashion diva to know which fashion trend to follow. Are the skirts long or short this season? Are we wearing the jeans with a bootcut, or are we going for the pencil style? And what about the tops to pair with the bottoms? It's enough to drive the fashion conscious mad, but fortunately, there is a solution to this fashion trend dilemma. Whether you like to get your fashion news online or in print, there are plenty of resources to alert you to the latest and greatest so you can look "in" whenever you head out.Magazines Print magazines may seem a little passé in an electronic world, but these publications are still one of the best ways to find out which fashion trend is in and which are most definitely out. Pick up one or two at your supermarket check out the next time you are grocery shopping or browse the newsstand for some glossy selections. Many of the magazines that were popular a decade ago are still in "Vogue", so you are sure to see some familiar titles out there.The Internet If you spend most of your day staring at a computer screen, there is no reason why you can't do it wearing the latest fashion trend. There are plenty of fabulous websites that will keep you up to date on what the fashion latest trends look like. Once you find the styles you love, you can even grab your credit card and point and click your way to a fashion spree online! To ensure that you really are looking at a latest fashion trend online, check the website for a current date for the posting.The Television Maybe you don't want to look like a desperate housewife, but you can certainly learn "What not to Wear" from your own television set. There are plenty of great fashion reviews on the tube that will give you the latest news on the newest fashion trend, including ideas for accessorizing and where to go in all the latest fashions. Hair and makeup trends will also be reflected on this international medium.Keeping up with the latest and greatest fashion trend might seem like more time than you have, but there are plenty of places that you can go to quickly and easily get all of the fashion news you need. Whether you prefer to curl up in front of the television or computer or with a favorite magazine, learning about fashion trends is as easy as an evening at home.

Quality of Young Fashion Designer

As the saying goes, 'Clothes make a gentleman' (without being gender biased, lets add on 'and a gentlewoman to it'!), over the years people have become conscious about their looks and one's outfit is what plays a major role in it (with the right attitude, that is always needed).Obvious as it seems, fashion designers are sought after greatly by the wealthy and the famous, as they are in the public attention and media focus constantly. A young fashion designer is a very nice term to be referred to but it isn't as easy as one-two-three to be there.Fashion designing can be defined as a practical art that involves design of fashion wear, garments, and clothes in general along with other lifestyle accessories.A good fashion designer is paid heftily and what better than to be getting paid high when young. A good fashion designer needs oodles of talent and creativity coupled with some solid education and opportunities.Education regarding fashion designing along with talent can make a young designer earn a fortune alongside fame and a crowd of admirers.
Many wannabe young fashion designers assume fashion designing to be a not-so-difficult profession to be in and a lot more young fashion designers neglect the need of a formal education in fashion designing. A fashion institute teaches a young fashion designer (aspirant) the basics of fashion- the clothing, the pattern making, sewing and so on.Although, this isn't a must, it enhances a young fashion designer's knowledge on fashion which can be helpful in the future. It boosts the morale of a designer and gets rid of the feeling of insecurity which many young fashion designers are bugged down with.Today, young fashion designers are many in numbers and have a lot of opportunities in the world of fashion. New innovative designs, graphics and outfits come up every season. T-shirts, jeans, trousers, shirts, traditional wears, ethnic wears etc from around the world are experimented with to form unique attires unknown to the fashion world before.Modern fashion designing has two categories, namely 'haute couture' and 'ready to wear'. While 'haute couture' refers to the custom made and sewn outfits that is usually done for private clients, 'ready to wear' refers to the range of collections which aren't custom made and which come in standard sizes and fitting.A young fashion designer needs to have something which makes him/her stand out in the crowd. A young fashion designer can be called a pro, if he/she really re-defines fashion!!!

Incredible Fashion is All About What Suits You the Finest

We generally adore people who know their body well and wear clothes accordingly. These are the people with great fashion sense. Some clothes suit a particular set of people, while they might not look good on others. So fashion is a very individual statement as it is nothing but just a reflection of your personality and thought.To have a good judgment of fashion, one should go for a variety of getups and ask for feedbacks from the people around. This may bring you faith in yourself and the clothes you are wearing. Many people who are confident of themselves and their choice of fashion and do not want others to decide for their fashion statement, can go for what they like. The only important thing for ones fashion viewpoint is the way a person carries ones self. The wackiest of clothes as per one person can become the perfect fashion stroke for others.The approach of goth and emo.These days, certain section of the society, especially the teenagers and the kids are drifted towards this new approach called Goth or Emo. Emo means emotional, which represents teen agony, weirdness, peculiarity, fetish and eccentricity. This style puts forward, enormous sum of black garments, ragged fishnet stockings, black hair and makeup. This style is no more just feminine but attracts a lot of men these days. These men are very fashion conscious and are ready to put on makeup and loud accessories. This style of fashion can only be a magnet for the people who are into Emo music and dramatics and understand its pain and feel.About the preppy.There is another style of fashion which is known as preppy. This is a young, adorable look, most popular among the school and college going kids. This fashion style depicts ones concern and apprehension for ones clothes. These clothes are very efficient, well ironed and clean. People who are sensitive and refined prefer this kind of fashion.Emo and preppy are the two extremes of fashion. One being very loud and vindictive and the other one is simple and polite. One can stay in between and enjoy the familiarity of both the worlds. One can also go in for a complete mad experience by experimenting with fashion which is entirely ones own. This style is called the go wild fashion. A lot of new styles can be created by doing mix and match, combining different fashion styles and putting them collectively in an amusing fashion. Make your imagination as your fashion statement. If you do not understand this, try surfing the internet for online fashion.These days internet provides you with plenty of online fashion websites which give you the prototype of most up-to-date fashion trends and moods. These online websites can give u clues of different tricks, guidelines and ideas of combining styles to create your own identity of fashion. This kind of an approach can lead you to the creation of wonderful fashion, fascinating many people and inviting a lot of praise and compliments.

Why Fashion Blogs Are So Important For Online Fashion Retailers

A fashion blog is a great way for online retailers to create lots of regular, relevant fashion content for their website. It serves three important purposes, to provide a service and information for readers that will make them want to visit the site again, to help optimise the website and increase its search engine rankings and traffic for relevant key words and to provide a showcase and information on the sites products which help increase the conversion rate. Fashion is all about being up to the minute and it is important that that everything you do including your methods of communications end the right message about your company. Blogging is currently a very fashionable and trendy form of communication.A fashion blog will add credibility to fashion website by showing that the company is up with the latest trends and knows about the fashion industry. It can talk to customers in an appropriate language and tone and is a great way of communicating with the younger fashion consumers that have enjoy reading blogs. A big attraction of blogs for readers is the speed at which they can be updated allowing them to give up the minute information on the latest trends and styles.Search engines love blogs, partly because of the huge amount of content and partly because they are frequently updates. A fashion blog about the latest trends or fashions will naturally include lots of relevant keywords so will be great for bringing lots of interested customers to a website. In fact recent findings by Heathcote Communications suggest that fashion blogs give a much higher ROI than many other forms of Internet marketing including pay per click. It all comes back to that old SEO mantra 'content is king'.Finally a blog allows the retailer to showcase their products and help in your customers in their decision making process. You can give them information on how to wear your clothes and what combinations go together well. Also how your clothes relate to current fashions and trends giving the customer assurance that they will look stylish and up to the minute in the clothes that they choose to purchase.In the competitive industry of fashion and the current global economy, a successful online retailer will be one that takes advantage of every opportunity available to them and stays ahead of the game with the latest and most innovative methods of communication. A fashion blog is an ideal way for online fashion retailers to do so and drive traffic and sales to their website.

10 Reasons Why Every Online Fashion Retailer Needs Its Own Fashion Blog

1. In a competitive market like fashion and with the current economic climate you need to be ahead of the game and make the most of every opportunity to keep ahead of your competitors.2. A fashion blog will providing interesting fashion information and ideas for your prospective customers and will add credibility to your fashion site.3. A fashion blog will help to optimise your your website by providing lots of regularly updated, relevant fashion content.4. A fashion blog will a naturally contain lots of key words that are relevant to your products helping to bring customers that want to buy your product into your website.5. A fashion blog has been found to give a much greater ROI than many other forms of online marketing including pay per click.6. A blog allows you to talk to customers in an informal tone and relate to them in a way that a traditional website may not.7. The blog is regularly updated and so is a great way to keep up with trends in the fast moving world of fashion.8. A fashion blog is a great way to showcase some of your products and provide further information on them and how they relate to current trends.9.A fashion blog will help you to build links and network with a whole community of fashion bloggers. Great for increasing website traffic.10. And finally fashion is all about being up to the minute and keeping up with the latest trends. A blog shows that you are up to minute and forward thinking company by making use of the latest and most fashionable methods of communication.

Becoming a Fashion Designer - Part II

Before you venture into the fashion biz, you'll want to familiarize yourself with industry terms and fashion seasons.Here are some fashion terms you may find useful in planning your fashion career:Haute Couture: This fashion term is French for "high sewing" or "high dressmaking" and refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted fashions. While the term is very loosely used, it's actually a "protected name" in France, so it can only be officially used by designers that meet certain well-defined standards.Lookbook: A lookbook is used by designers and retailers to show the range of a collection. You can use these to send to buyers, editors, journalists or on your website for the viewing public.Off-the-rack: This refers to apparel made in standard sizes and available from in-stock merchandise. Also referred to as "ready-made" and "ready-to-wear".Fashion SeasonsJust as the weather changes, so do fashion seasons. We've all walked into a store in early March and seen summer tops and wondered what they hey? The reason is that the fashion seasons change before the grass turns green or the first snow falls. Knowing the fashion seasons is critical if you're going to become a fashion designer. You'll also want to work with a fashion forecaster to predict the trends, so that when you present your collections to buyers-or to the public directly-they'll buy it!Trend forecasts are based on the fashion seasons, taking into account color and fabric variations for different times of year. For example, earth tones are generally more popular in the fall, jeweled colors for the holidays, pastels and floral prints for spring and white and bright colors for summer. Of course, there are always surprises! But for the most part, designers and manufacturers include some of these standard colors in there collection planning.If you're working on your first line, plan to work six months before any given selling season. Successful designers produce four or five seasonal lines a year. Targeting delivery a month ahead gives consumers a continual supply of fresh merchandise each season.Fall markets take place between February and April. The fall selling season is the biggest season of the year, so it lasts longer than the other seasons, which usually only last two months with some overlapping. "Fall II" starts in mid-April and goes through mid-June.Holiday is June-July; with the occasional show in August.Resort/Cruise is August through early September. Spring fashion is from October to November, with some shows in early December. Summer is shown in December-January with a late show in February.Since the buying shows happen in well in advance of upcoming seasons, you better have good insight into what buyers are looking for. For example, if you wait until February to show your spring collection, many buyers will already have placed their orders in the fall. They'll be looking for some summer, but mostly fall and winter samples for the following year. Even if they like what you're showing, they may have already exhausted the budget. Also, you will need to have your product ready in time for the promised ship dates.Stay tuned for more on How to Become a Fashion Designer

Fashion Design As a Career - The Truth That No One Told You

So you've decided that you want a career in fashion, and maybe you're even about to enter the real world with your portfolio full of stunning fashion illustrations and a head full of hopes. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that glamorous perception of the design industry is a myth, and that vision of yourself as a famous fashion designer with your own clothing line is almost close to impossible to reach. The actual chances of that are probably the same as becoming a movie star. It doesn't mean that you won't become a successful fashion designer working for a company- it means that your chances of becoming the type of designer you envision yourself as are quite slim. Not only do you have to compete with the already established professional fashion designers, but nowadays throw pop singers, celebrities, and TV stars into the mix. There is a better chance that you'll end up working for an established designer collection or as a designer for the next big celebrity's clothing line.If this sounds like old news to you, then congratulations - you're a step ahead of the game because you already know what you're getting into. If what I just said comes as a total surprise, take a moment to let reality sink in - and then keep reading. In either case, we want to give you the info you need to know to prepare yourself for some of the challenges that lie ahead...In school most of your time was spent learning fashion illustration, draping, sewing, and patternmaking. While these are certainly good skills to have, they aren't very practical when you're trying to land your first job in the fashion industry. In the real world you'll be expected to know how to sketch flats, create garment specs, CADs, and presentation boards.Knowing popular computer applications for creating flats and CADs is extremely important. Most companies expect proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Microsoft Excel. Many companies also request knowledge of WebPDM. Many fashion school grads believe they know these programs well. But schools don't teach computerized flats or the software used to create them well enough for entry-level designers to be competent within the industry.Whether you're applying to different fashion schools, already in school, about to graduate, or already have your first job in the industry, it's important to have an idea of where you ultimately want to end up. You might think that as a fashion designer; you'll have the opportunity to work with all types of clothing, but you should be aware that there are different categories and specializations within the fashion industry. Have you thought about which fashion market you want to end up in? What specialization? Developing a plan of action will increase your chances of reaching your goals.When creating their first fashion portfolios, many design students and entry-level fashion designers make the mistake of filling them with all of their favorite fashion illustrations. But companies don't need to see tons of imaginative avant-garde sketches - they just don't sell! Following an organized portfolio format is a better approach to get your ideas across and show off all of your talents and skills, while demonstrating your knowledge and understanding of what companies expect from you.You'll also need to create a well organized, intelligent resume to get yourself through the door. If you don't look good on paper, recruiters won't give you a second glance. Not only do your skills and qualifications have to impress, but you need to make sure they stand out amongst the hundreds, or thousands of other applicants for the same position.Employers know that entry-level candidates will require a lot of training to fill in those education gaps. However, they do look for a candidate that won't be difficult to train, or take up too much training time. Someone who learns quickly and is willing to go the extra mile is a worthwhile candidate for the employer to hire. Express your interest in the company, and your flexibility and eagerness to learn and develop within the field. To really impress, make sure your have researched the market and are familiar with common industry terms so you won't get caught off guard when they are mentioned in the interview.Despite what I said earlier, I'm sure there are still some of you who are determined to become your own designer; create your own label, design your own fashion line, runway show and all. We commend your ambitiousness and of course, we are here to help! With our advice and observations, we want to provide you with our suggested approach to make it happen. Educating yourself, knowing the business, designing for a cause you love, and promoting yourself through new avenues are all steps towards becoming the designer you've always envisioned!Keep in mind that the above issues are topics that deserve serious individual attention. In our upcoming articles, we'll discuss each topic further, giving you insider tips and insight so you can sidestep the pitfalls of the industry, giving you that much-needed competitive edge and increasing your chances of getting where you want to go within the industry. Basically, we want to prepare you as much as possible, so take it from designers who have been in your shoes, and soak it up!

Promote Your Own Clothing Brand - Top Fashion Networking Sites

Fashion marketing is undergoing a quiet revolution at the moment. Traditionally new fashion designers have had to compete with the major corporate labels through magazine advertising, direct mail, events promotions and if the budget is there, television ad campaigns. The Internet has for a long time been a useful tool for introducing sales leads to your clothing range, but until recently, budget dictated your site's popularity on the net.Things are rapidly changing, and it is almost all due to the Social Networking phenomenon. You will have no doubt heard of Facebook and MySpace, however over the past couple of years there has been a distinct increase in social community sites that have geared themselves towards the consumer lifestyle market, and in particularly fashion. Many of these online communities run on a democratic principle. Ideally, if enough people vote or bookmark a particular product, say a t-shirt for example, the product and designer's popularity increases. Within a relatively short time. Using tools such as bookmark sharing and recommendations, a relatively unknown designer can attract an enormous amount of positive publicity.I have researched and collated a list of the most popular and useful fashion social networks for you to browse at your own leisure. You will find there is a wide variety and scope offered by these fashion-related communities. The larger and more established sites are great for breaking new products in to the fashion consumer market, others will provide invaluable assistance from fellow designers, retailers and manufacturers. Most of whom I am sure will be more than willing to guide you through the next stages of your burgeoning fashion career.Fashionising.com is dedicated to fashion, this social fashion community offering a news, photo and video service for upcoming and established designers, labels, models and more. Very friendly and welcoming community, mainly professionals in all fields of fashion.Stylehive.com is an online style portal for people who love and/or work in fashion, design and retail. You can connect with fellow style addicts and share all of your new design discoveries and latest finds together. A trend-setters social-networking club, part pop-culture lab, Stylehive.com is one big ensemble cast of trend-setters creating, discovering and buying the next big thing!Kaboodle.com is a social shopping network where people discover, recommend and share products. Kaboodle's excellent range of shopping widgets mean you can begin organizing all your favorite items in shared lists, discovering new things from people with similar style. Easy to find the best prices and discounts on the most popular products. This site offers fashion products amongst many others including gadgets, soft furnishings, art and more.ThisNext.com focuses its online and social-shopping community more towards the next big trends. Your popular votes count, everyone recommends their favorite up and coming products for others to discover and purchase online. This global community is in the pursuit of cross-cultural shopping habits for the year to come. This site is laden with more branded advertising and e-commerce solutions making it a more attractive media platform for corporate marketing. The system encompasses each product in a process of discovery, consideration, trial and purchase. Fashion is a big favorite here.StyleFeeder.com is a personal shopping engine that uses a unique matchmaking system to offer daily personal recommendations, just for you. It's a great way to find new clothes, shoes, in fact anything stylish and keep track of what you're shopping for online, using visual their bookmark options. Great widgets for incorporating your style-feeds in to your personal blogs or commercial sites. I regularly use this site to promote my own fashion -- a great resource for designers.ShareYourLook.com is a new fashion community for all trends-setters, shoppers and designers, (currently in beta). If you read articles New York Times, Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, you will probably recognize the co-founder's name - fashion have appeared in The New York Times, Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, fashion journalist Melissa Ceria. The format is easy to use and on the eye: upload photos of you modeling your favorite outfits, and let other members rate your look and leave you comments. Don't worry, there is a policy of fair and objective criticism, even compliments and most of all useful style tips. The whole site relies on a great blog style tagging process, plus a great feature where you'll be able to post favourite 'looks' to your network of fashion friends. You even get your own styleblog.OsoYou.com is the UK's first social networking and fashion website. Focusing more on High Street fashion and all the latest clothing items, plus features on the hottest celebrity styles and a chance to share fashion with your friends via some innovative social networking options.Avenue7.com should be classed as up and coming. From my research it seems to be aimed at a younger audience. They already use some rather clever programming to help you create your own perfect outfit and also offer fashion scouts. However there are some even more promising features in the pipeline including 'The Fashion Show' and 'Start a Makeover'. This is more of a hot or not direction for the field of fashion social networking, but it's bright, bold and adventurous and I'll take a punt it will do well in the future.StyleMob.com is rather funky looking (though corporate owned) street style community StyleMob offering a service that is part Hot or Not, part fashion magazine and part MySpace.TeamSugar.com is one of the latest contributions to the market. Backed by the Sugar Network, this series of blogs primarily targets fashion-conscious women. The most popular is PopSugar.com, where celebrity gossip and fashion come together in a hedonistic mix. TeamSugar.com pro-actively promote their content, encouraging their community to form around it. Blog syndication integrates the network -- PopSugar.com, DearSugar.com, TeamSugar.com and FabSugar.com, encouraging users to switch sites to see the latest news on each one. Ultra intelligent marketing - helping to boost the popularity of the whole network at the same time. Standard social networking features friends list, leave comments, send messages, write a blog and voting in polls.This supplemental list offers links to more general/shopping social networks that feature some fashion content, and a few to keep an eye out for in the future:TheFind.com is the leading shopping search engine to find stores, brands and products, bigger than any other product finder online.ShopWiki.com is a shopping search engine designed to help consumers find specific products on the Internet with ease. It is the only shopping search engine that combines advanced Web-crawling technology with a consumer-written wiki.Etsy.com is an online marketplace for buying & selling all things handmade and only handmade.Fastmatch.com Very new and more social model, however the site is currently still in beta and the interface needs some serious work.Whatsbuzzing.com Productwiki.com Yub.com Selfploitation.com A brand new site for artists to help each other to promote/sell their products.

The Advantages of Attending a Fashion Show

For some people a great time means having a party, then for others it is just being themselves and watching the latest movie or reading a book that they like. Even so, for others, there specific idea of having fun is going to a fashion show.It is often found to be true that you might find yourself ending up being a fashion show addict after just one show. A fashion show is not just simply numerous hours of sitting and watching attractive woman walk down the catwalk in extreme outfits. It is a great deal more fun than that. You even have the opportunity to get a lot out of the show as well.Latest News In FashionClearly, if you go to a fashion show, you will get to view the latest fashions. This can assist you, even if you're not a fashion sellout. This can help you out by giving you an idea of what particular fashion is in at the moment. Even though you may not be particularly interested in what everyone is wearing, you might be inspired to update your wardrobe just a little bit more or find some idea for a fashion that is uniquely your own.Additionally, a fashion show can provide good entertainment when you find that the latest fashion is, well, hideous. How much fun do you think it will be to have a good laugh with your family and friends about some model who appeared wearing a lion mask and a tail when you get back home?Goodie BagsEven though not all fashion shows provide them, some fashion shows give out goodie bags to their attendees. Who doesn't like free stuff? Even though you may not like all the things that goodie bag has in it, you can re-gifted at some later point to someone who you know will like it. The bigger and better the name of the fashion show, the bigger and better the goodie bag they will hand out.Meeting PeopleFashion shows typically end up being excellent social gatherings. First off, you might be able to make some new friends. You might realize that your new best friend was sitting right next to you at a fashion show admiring the same male or female model (as the case may be) that you were. Even better than that, you might meet some important people.I am not just speaking about the beautiful models, fashion designers, or guest appearances by celebrities. I am referring to important people who could quite possibly shape your career. For example, if you've been trying to break into journalism. There might just be a newspaper editor reporting at the show. Making a social connection with them could give you a jump start into a possible job.Going to a fashion show might not be your idea of fun or your 'cup of tea' as the saying goes. Nevertheless, everyone should at least go to one. You might find a new trend you would like to try out, meet someone that is life-changing, or even realized your newfound love of fashion.If you end up not enjoying the show, you can always head back home and vow to never go to one again. Regardless, you'll have some type of funny story to share later in life and now you will not be able to say that you have never seen one before.

Fashion Photographer - Through The Lens Of a Career In Fashion

You may love all things having to do with fashion, from the diverse clothes that are worn and beautiful dresses, to the offbeat designers, to the celebrities as well as models that show off the clothes - lets face it, one of the most exciting and diverse industries is the fashion industry.However, perhaps you do not have the creative drive necessary to become a fashion designer, and most people would not blame you if you do not wish to lose thirty pounds to become a fashion model. This however does not mean that you can't get into the fashion industry. There are numerous other options available to you in the industry of fashion.There is one type of career in the fashion industry that is very common choice and that is as a fashion photographer. Some people are under the impression that this type of career is out of reach for most who wish to get into this line of work, however, in reality you can achieve this position with a good amount of effort and just a little bit of luck. So if your very interested in photography in addition to fashion, then you should give fashion photography a try.What Exactly is a Fashion Photographer?A fashion photographer conceptualizes shoots, develops and prints out photos of models wearing the attractive creations of fashion designers. One of the significant attributes that a fashion photographer should have is a creative eye and the ability to capture the models in a way that is creative that will catch the attention of various prospective buyers.The photographs shot by a fashion photographer can be utilized in numerous fashion magazines. for instance Vogue and Elle, or they can be featured in various advertisements. A fashion photographer must be at ease while working with models to capture the right quality poses and photographs.They must have the necessary skills in the proper use of lighting, and quite often they have the responsibility of choosing the appropriate venue of the shoot. If you end up choosing to be a fashion photographer, you should be comfortable and prepared for competition as this field is one of the most competitive in the fashion industry.Nevertheless, it is also one of the most exciting. An additional benefit of being a fashion photographer is that you get to develop the opportunity of developing relationships with famous celebrities as well as models. They also have the opportunities to travel to numerous on location destinations for one site photo shoots. The median salary that a fashion photographer can get is between $25,000 and $40,000.How to Accomplish Your DreamYou have the ability to become a fashion photographer through working your way up one step at a time. Begin by being an assistant to a photographer. Then gradually work your way up to either a staff or freelance photographer, then move onto a photo editor, and then to a director of photography. Even starting out as an assistant to a photographer it is very important that you have a portfolio that shows all of your work.

Everyday Fashion Mistakes to Avoid

Everyone knows the fashion world is constantly changing and this can only mean that the list of fashion mistakes is constantly changing as well. If you are interested in avoiding fashion faux pas this year, check out this helpful checklist below to make sure you are wearing only the hottest styles and avoiding the styles that have died out.
Luckily, see-through tops and bottoms are definitely out for 2008. Although many people say that less is more, this style has quickly gone from stylish and sexy to tacky and distasteful in no time at all. If you have any see-through tops or bottoms in your wardrobe today, throw them out immediately!
Many people make this mistake and that is wearing jeans or bottoms of any kind that are far too tight creating a belly bulge that is unnecessary. Whether you are thin or bigger, wearing pants or bottoms that are too small for you is not stylish, it is one of the biggest fashion mistakes of the century. Accepting your own size and wearing what fits you properly is the style of 2008.
Do you find that your pants are so long that the hems are constantly getting stuck on the bottom of your shoes? There is nothing stylish about this; in fact you are simply ruining your pants. By having your pants hemmed properly you can still have the longer length but make sure they are not catching on your shoes and dragging needlessly on the ground.
Sweaters and layering is a very popular look this year but it can become tricky if you are trying to layer up and you have a small winter coat to squeeze all those layers into! Make sure your coat has wide enough arms to support your stylish layered look or you will find yourself quite uncomfortable.
Please don't wear tops that are stained with your underarm sweat. If you have a shirt that is stained, consider throwing it away or wearing it only for working around the house.
Panty lines have always been a major fashion blunder, and today they still are. Consider what your under garments look like and throw out the ones that have seen to many fashion eras!
If you choose to wear a slip under your dress or skirts, make sure you buy something of high quality so you never have to worry about your slip showing at any point during the evening.
Wearing white panty hose with a black pencil skirt is an obvious mistake! Always make sure that your panty hose match the hem of your skirt and your shoes to avoid this common fashion mistake.
If you color your hair, it is important to keep up with the treatments because showing your roots is also a very common fashion faux pas.
These are the top and most popular fashion mistakes that men and women experience on a daily basis. Even the most highly fashionable and stylish person can display a fashion blunder from time to time, its okay! It is important to be aware that although fashion is a large part of our society today, it is not the end of the world if you find yourself with your roots showing, a run in your panty hose that don't really match your outfit and a slip that just will not stay in place! Everyone has days like this, as long as you are aware of these problems you have the ability to correct them. It can be hard to keep up with today's fashions but the key is if you feel uncomfortable in your outfit, something is not right.Everyone knows the fashion world is constantly changing and this can only mean that the list of fashion mistakes is constantly changing as well. If you are interested in avoiding fashion faux pas this year, check out this helpful checklist below to make sure you are wearing only the hottest styles and avoiding the styles that have died out.
Luckily, see-through tops and bottoms are definitely out for 2008. Although many people say that less is more, this style has quickly gone from stylish and sexy to tacky and distasteful in no time at all. If you have any see-through tops or bottoms in your wardrobe today, throw them out immediately!
Many people make this mistake and that is wearing jeans or bottoms of any kind that are far too tight creating a belly bulge that is unnecessary. Whether you are thin or bigger, wearing pants or bottoms that are too small for you is not stylish, it is one of the biggest fashion mistakes of the century. Accepting your own size and wearing what fits you properly is the style of 2008.
Do you find that your pants are so long that the hems are constantly getting stuck on the bottom of your shoes? There is nothing stylish about this; in fact you are simply ruining your pants. By having your pants hemmed properly you can still have the longer length but make sure they are not catching on your shoes and dragging needlessly on the ground.
Sweaters and layering is a very popular look this year but it can become tricky if you are trying to layer up and you have a small winter coat to squeeze all those layers into! Make sure your coat has wide enough arms to support your stylish layered look or you will find yourself quite uncomfortable.
Please don't wear tops that are stained with your underarm sweat. If you have a shirt that is stained, consider throwing it away or wearing it only for working around the house.
Panty lines have always been a major fashion blunder, and today they still are. Consider what your under garments look like and throw out the ones that have seen to many fashion eras!
If you choose to wear a slip under your dress or skirts, make sure you buy something of high quality so you never have to worry about your slip showing at any point during the evening.
Wearing white panty hose with a black pencil skirt is an obvious mistake! Always make sure that your panty hose match the hem of your skirt and your shoes to avoid this common fashion mistake.
If you color your hair, it is important to keep up with the treatments because showing your roots is also a very common fashion faux pas.
These are the top and most popular fashion mistakes that men and women experience on a daily basis. Even the most highly fashionable and stylish person can display a fashion blunder from time to time, its okay! It is important to be aware that although fashion is a large part of our society today, it is not the end of the world if you find yourself with your roots showing, a run in your panty hose that don't really match your outfit and a slip that just will not stay in place! Everyone has days like this, as long as you are aware of these problems you have the ability to correct them. It can be hard to keep up with today's fashions but the key is if you feel uncomfortable in your outfit, something is not right.

Fashion Business School Is Just Plain Smart

Fashion is big business, and is a multi-billion dollar industry. Over the years, more and more fashion students are considering entering fashion business school. At first glance, possibly fashion school seems a frivolous course of studies, but when you think that some haute couture designer dresses go for $20,000.00 dollars and more, you realize that there is a lot of money in fashion, and if you are dealing with any amount of money, a business course seems only reasonable.Another excellent reason to go to business fashion school is if you are interested not just in working for another designer, but if you are interested in designing your own line. In this case, you have to know how to run your business in a business-like way. You can't think that Gucci or Lauren went into fashion with no idea how to manage money, are have any business skills, even if they now use others to do the business end of fashion for them. It should be obvious to you that any students out there who are serious about their success should think about taking some fashion business courses.When you are looking for a fashion business school, there are a few criteria that you should be looking for. You will want a school that has courses that not only teach the business end of the business, but one that teaches current fashion trends, and the history of fashion. A truism is that you can never know what is going to happen with fashion in the future until you know what went on in the past. Where fashion came from is just as important as where it is going. The evolution of fashion is an important trend that has great bearing upon the business of fashion today. You can see this in the repeating of styles, and the retro look that occurs nearly every year in at least one collection.The fashion business schools should offer courses that cover all the aspects of fashion, from project to production. The commercialization and distribution of garments should be covered, as well as all aspects of retail. The product of fashion will be studied; including how long the trend is speculated to last, and what the next trend will be. Market trends and customs are also important aspects to know, and of course, market demands must be met.The Business school should also teach about fabrics, quality control, collections and how to control costs. Communication and promotion are also important subjects for an all rounded study.
At the completion of the course, you should know not only how to take your projects from start to finish but how to collaborate with others on the various aspects of all stages of fashion and designSo if you are considering a career in fashion, you should be aware that it is not only the designing aspect of fashion that is important, and any school that you are considering should also teach the business end. You will need to learn all aspect of the fashion industry, from the design to the clothing, the marketing, retailing and promotion. If you know all of these things you will be able and confident to handle all aspects of the fashion industry. This will help not only your career with the company you work for, but for yourself when and if you decide to head out on your own with your own designs and collections.So a fashion business and design school is and excellent idea for any student that who is interested in getting into the industry. If you love designing, but don't know anything about fashion design or fashion business, then you should definitely consider going to a Fashion Business School.

Top Fashion School - Do You Have What It Takes to Get Into One?

Part of the beauty of deciding to go into the fashion industry is dreaming about getting into a top fashion school. Every future fashion designer or aspiring student of fashion has dreamed of attending one of the top fashion schools in the nation at some point or another.It just so happens that dreaming about something and making it happen are completely different things these days, and it takes a special person to push themselves to that limit in the first place.How Are Your Grades?All too many aspiring students make the mistake of thinking that grades not matter when it comes to getting into the top fashion school of their choice because they are not applying for interest on a traditional college or university. Things are actually quite to the contrary; getting into the top fashion school in the nation is going to require a great deal of smarts and dedication and intelligence, and good grades are a reflection that a potential student has all of those qualities and more.If you are not used to having to work hard to get good grades, there will be no success for you at a top fashion school. A fashion school is an art school, and an art school is a type of postsecondary education where degrees are given out once studies have been completed. If you are trying to get a degree, it is important that you do as well as you possibly can to earn good marks and learn everything you can.How Are Your Skills?Let's face it, just because you didn't going to a top fashion designer school [http://www.fashion-school-info.com/fashion-designer-school.html] does not mean that you actually have talent. Just because you can style yourself in the morning to school does not mean that a career in fashion industries for you. Perhaps you should be a business owner or a celebrity ensemble artist. People with no artistic skills whatsoever are probably not going to do that well in a top fashion school atmosphere, so is important to keep that in mind.If you can't draw but you dream of going to a top fashion school, perhaps you should consider a business in fashion marketing or fashion business; design just may not be your forte. That's perfectly okay.Getting into a top school is about more than wanting to do so. It's about having the drive and the skill and the grades necessary to make the cut. Even people who have all of those qualities and more may not be successful. Only a small fraction of students actually become successful designers, but more than likely attending a top fashion school can help you find your personal niche in the fashion industry.

Do You Want to Go To Fashion School? Italy and the World Are At Your Fingertips

If you have spent years dreaming of the perfect fashion school, Italy just may be the type of thing that you have to set in your sights. Not everybody has what it takes to make it in the fashion industry, but those who are successful have found ways of setting themselves apart from the rest by doing things that are extra and setting themselves apart from the rest as extraordinary. With studying fashion abroad at such a fashion school, Italy could really help a person set themselves apart from the rest of the fashion students who did not have the resources or ability to travel abroad.Fashion School? Italy Might Work For YouIf you want to go to fashion school, Italy is only one of many European countries that have an edge in the fashion industry that American students could stand to gain. The thing about American fashion students is to become a dime a dozen, and when it comes to the best of what it has to offer, Paris and Milan and other European countries and cities really have what it takes. Fashion in America takes after the many different ideas and designs that are put out by Italian fashion designers and Parisian designers. If you have to go to one, Italy is a great place to start because it puts you right in the middle of the action.Choosing a Fashion School: Italy Isn't Your Only OptionWhen it comes to choosing a fashion design school, fashion industry is one of the most fun jobs a person could have, but not if you get the short end of the stick.Selling fashion in mall stores is not the type of thing that people see as the proper type of fashion school; Italy and other foreign schools are more what people are looking for.If you're interested in becoming a part of the ever growing fashion industry, you have to look into some of the fashion school. Italy is not the only place where you can study, but if you wanted to know the ins and outs of fashion from all over the world Italy is a great place to start.For those who aren't comfortable with the Italian thing, there are many places to go about getting your fashion degree. What is important is that you leave home, and explore the many things that the world has to offer to your budding career.

Fashion Photography Tips For Success

We see them all over the place; in television advertisements, in magazines, and on the runway. They are the beautiful men and women who strut their stuff while showing off the latest styles from the hottest fashion designers. These are the fashion models of today and tomorrow, and the subject of high fashion photography. It is through photography that these models and fashionable clothing are brought to the public. Therefore, these photographs must be taken with a certain level of precision and a special attention to color, style, and lighting composition. Learning a few key fashion photography tips will help to make this possible.High fashion photographers such as Mario Testino and Eva Mueller may not be as famous as the models they shoot, but they are actually sought out more than their model counterparts by fashion magazines and designers. While the dream of huge paychecks and hobnobbing with the rich and famous might appeal to the aspiring fashion photographer, it is not easy to become successful in fashion and model photography. For every one talented young photographer who makes it big, there are hundreds are left dreaming about the moment their photo will be chosen.Here are a few fashion photography tips for anyone interested in getting started in the field of fashion photography. The first thing you must do is study your subject. As with any field, you can never learn enough. Read as many fashion magazines you can possibly get your hands on. There are a number of fantastic books on the subjects of fashion and model photography available. They can be purchased cheaply online at sites like Amazon.com or even cheaper if you get them used on eBay. You will also need a good camera, a tripod, and a lighting system. One of the more often overlooked fashion photography tips, is to ensure that you always have plenty of film and extra batteries available.One of the most important fashion photography tips to focus on is having a portfolio. You need to start assembling a portfolio of your work and you need to keep this portfolio handy at all times. You never know when you will have the opportunity to show your work off to someone in the fashion world. Sharp, vibrant images on a 4 x 5" transparency will best show off your work, so focus on them when putting your fashion photography portfolio together. If any of your work has already been published regardless of whether it was a local magazine, newspaper or contest, add a tear sheet (literally a sheet you torn out of the magazine) is a great addition to a portfolio. You should have a minimum of 20 photographs in your portfolio and showcasing different styles.In this day of the internet, it is wise to display your fashion photography talent online as well. Setup a simple website displaying your work and submit your digital photos to online contests. Also, submit them to online fashion gallery websites. This will help tremendously with getting your work seen and showcasing your talent around the world. Probably the most important of all the fashion photography tips is to get your photographs seen by as many people as possible. There is no better way of doing this than by putting them online.Remember that most fashion magazine editors are looking for your personality in the photographs that you take. Each fashion photographer will captures the essence of a fashion design and model differently. Most importantly, if this is your dream, do not give up, ever! Keep learning the latest high fashion photography tips and keep working to get your photographs on the cover of my next hot fashion magazine.

New York Fashion Week - Tempest In The Big Apple

For the many people involved in fashion, you may be wondering exactly what is New York fashion week? As it is, New York fashion week is a week long occasion that began on June 7th in the year 1993 and is supported currently by Olympus. Fashion week is frequently known as Olympus fashion week due to the fact that its current sponsor is Olympus; however in recent years past its was also known as Mercedes Benz fashion week because they were the sponsors at that time.The venue for this occasion takes place in Bryant Part in New York City (located at the corner of forty-second and sixth streets). The which is eight acres in size is changed into an immense arena of fashion garnered in large tents.Each separate gigantic tent has air conditioning and is separated into several areas. Each individual venue is separated into roughly twelve thousand square feet and has an integrated runway, accompanying guest seating, lighting sound, as well as area for back stage activities.The venues are used by the designers to present their ongoing designs and work; they arrange and furnish the area in accordance with their own personal taste. The tent walls are outfitted with small booths, where products designated for promotion are being given away or sold. New York fashion week happens two times a year.Designs for the forthcoming fall season are featured at the fashion week show which occurs the preceding February. Designs for the approaching spring are featured in the September fashion show.So Your Thinking About Going to Fashion Week?The typical attendees at fashion week are celebrities, journalists, fashion purchasers, and social types. Because this event is by invitation only, journalists who wish to go must seek accreditation prior to the event. You will very likely see just a few celebrities at each show.It is clear, you will very likely notice fashion models in addition to numerous well known designers. If you happen to work your way into an invitation to the event, curiously there is not formal type of dress code to follow. The majority of individuals adopt the "anything goes" rule.Although comfort does play a part, the primary goal of dressing up for fashion week is to establish a unique wardrobe that will give expression to your own individual sense of fashion. If your an individual who has a passion for design fashions, then a trip to fashion week is the event for you.In addition to receiving the opportunity to witness all the up to date designs prior to then showing up in stores, you will have an incredible amount of fun as well. So even though it might appear to be next to impossible to receive an invitation to fashion week, never say never - if nothing else, at a minimum you can read about the exciting events at the show in the latest fashion trend magazine.