Fashionable and Stylish

Fashion and style. What are they? Do they always go together? Do they mean one and the same thing? It's hard to say. According to specialists in the field, fashion is actually a synonym for style or glamour. It has been agreed on the fact that fashion is a way of personal expression, and according to this criteria, one can be fashionable when he/she fits in this expression mode, or unfashionable, which would be the opposite. Fashion has manifestations in all the fields of human activity, that is when can speak about fashion when we refer to topics such as architecture, clothing, music, cosmetics, entertainment, forms of speech or even politics or technology. Anything in these fields can be described as being fashionable or not. When one speaks about materialism or trend s using the term 'fashion', it can be associated with a negative meaning.

Most people today perceive fashion as a term referring mostly to clothes. The beginnings of what we call fashion today did actually refer to clothes and they go back as far as the sixteenth century. However, it was only two centuries later that the real manifestations of fashion took place and it happened in Europe, among the wealthy upper classes. Fashion, just like any other manifestation of human activity, underwent major and continual changes, to the point where it is today, that is, being related to many fields of activities.

Of course, it would be unjustified to assume that fashion is the same all over the world. First of all, fashion differs from one society to another. Then, within a certain society, there are a lot of factors which may influence fashion such as age or generation, social class, profession or occupation. Even the geography of certain regions may bring about differences in fashion among the people of the same society.

But how does fashion change? Because we all know that constant change is what fashion is actually about. Everyone will agree that what is new now will soon become old, and the process goes both ways, that I what was once into fashion but is now considered to be old and obsolete will soon turn into something new again. Capitalism has brought along with its numerous good aspects some less appealing ones, such as waste. People buy things which are not necessary to them and consequently speed up the process of change as far as fashion is concerned. Young generations have much to do with this change in fashion as well, because they are always eager and willing to try interesting things, things that they haven't experienced before, something new to be more precise.

What made fashion so popular among people was actually the television. The moment fashion hit television, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, was the moment when the general population became interested in this aspect. And fashion magazines, websites or even fashion blogs were only one step away.

Pretty much in the same way as fashion, style can refer to may things, from painting, music, literature, web design to linguistics or manners of addressing people. The very definition of style describes the term as a fashionable manner of doing things, which points out that style and fashion are very closely related. Not everything that is considered fashionable will also be regarded as stylish, which is why people should avoid turning into a fashion victim, one of those persons who will wear just about anything that's seen as fashionable, no matter if it suits them or not, from hairstyles and piercing to clothes. It is true that today's world and the society we live in have set some rules in what fashion and style are concerned, but these don't always have to be strictly followed. Being a fashion victim will only turn you into one of the rest. If you want to be ahead at all times, what you must try is to define your own style and that will make you look your best.

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Fashion - The Social Phenomena

Fashions are social phenomena common to many fields of human activity and thinking. Fashion houses and their associated fashion designers, as well as high-status consumers (including celebrities), appear to have some role in determining the rates and directions of fashion change. Fashion is in the sky, in the street; fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening. Fashion is a field dominated by women and primarily meant to serve women.

Fashion
Men's fashions largely derived from military models, and changes in a European male silhouette are galvanized in theatres of European war, where gentleman officers had opportunities to make notes of foreign styles: an example is the "Steinkirk" cravat or necktie. The pace of change picked up in the 1780s with the increased publication of French engravings that showed the latest Paris styles; though there had been distribution of dressed dolls from France as patterns since the sixteenth century, and Abraham Bosse had produced engravings of fashion from the 1620s.

Although tailors and dressmakers were no doubt responsible for many innovations before, and the textile industry certainly led many trends, the History of fashion design is normally taken to date from 1858, when the English-born Charles Frederick Worth opened the first true haute couture house in Paris. Since then the professional designer has become a progressively more dominant figure, despite the origins of many fashions in street fashion.

A stylist is either a person who co-ordinates the clothes, jewelry, and accessories used in fashion photographs and catwalk shows or a kind of designer whose designs are based on existing things, trends, and designers collections. A buyer is responsible for ordering stocks of clothes for shops, particularly the larger chain stores. An illustrator draws and paints clothes for commercial use. Talented illustrators--among them Paul Iribe, George Lepape and George Barbier--drew exquisite fashion plates for these publications, which covered the most recent developments in fashion and beauty. A model models clothes at fashion shows or for photographs. A photographer photographs the clothes on fashion models for use in magazines, newspapers, or adverts.

Season
Fashion design differs from costume design due to its core product having a built in obsolescence usually of one to two seasons. A season is defined as either autumn/winter or spring/summer. Ready-to-wear collections are usually presented by fashion houses each season during a period known as Fashion Week. They often wait around a season to make sure a style is going to catch on before producing their own versions of the original look. To do this, they look at what the fashion directions have been in previous seasons, keep an eye on what others in the fashion business are doing, and read fashion forecasting magazines. They also rely on knowledge of their own customers to see which styles succeeded and which were less popular in past seasons.

Fashions may vary significantly within a society according to age, social class, generation, occupation and geography as well as over time.

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To-Be Fashion Trends

At the end of past century and of course in the dawn of new millennium, the "HAPPENIING", with substantial enthusiasm and lasting long in "FUTURE" were the key influencing factors in the fashion Industry. People wish to live in present - No looking back. The reality was significant, as the world changed so rapidly, resulting in huge developments, making people to expect more n more from the present and the emerging economy.

Today, the world has completely different future, since forecasted. After years of negligence the history again emerged with wider acceptance. People again started appreciating the core values, old traditions, ceremonies and hold them as a treasure for us. They look back to the past, searching for our origins, something significant to have. All this affected our lives, our preferences and our selections to reposition ourselves. This is also happens in fashion too.

Old Fashion - Back In Rhythm
People are thriving to get equilibrium point in a wavering world. Here, history is only our inspiration. The fashion industry is surged with look-alikes that were present in the market even before the originals, which empowers to a few designers. It is time mull over the situation, as the fashion industry paused instead moving ahead in creating new innovation. It is going diving deeper into the past to bring out contemporary version than the fast trends and buildups. Alike politics, ideology for ethics, values, regulation, category and style is apparently noticeable in fashion industry too.
Bouncing Back of Historic Echoes - Repeating History

History rolls out our own tradition. In fashion industry, the journey starts from ancient Europe. People value and re-organize treasures, diving deep into the times of past European clothing fashions till great designs of embroideries and laces of great grand mothers. People are witnessing the coming back of old fashion and retro-trends.

Class Fashion
Attraction, high-class and stylishness are keys for to-be trends. Designers inspired from the old members of the aristocracy, at present it is the high society. The sophisticated lady is now dressing like a queen, princess or an empress. The present high class is circumspect and less lavish, in contrast to the show-off fashion trends.

Classic styles
Due to change in preferences, all the inspiration sources (like Couture classics, British classics, and masculine weaving classics), are embedded with elegance, turn into feminine fashion.

Styles from pioneers and plains
The journey of historic fashion crosses all borders of the different countries, fashion from Britain, France, Russia etc... to the country life, gypsy and folk fashion styles. People can find the routes of fashion inspiration from the initial European emigrants to the America.

Ethnic Styles
The influence of Eastern countries over fashion industry is declining; however, their economy is becoming a real competitive dilemma to the Western World. Albeit, there is considerable cultural influence of African Muslim countries with their exotic jewelry and embroidery designs.
It is confusing that nothing is clear for future. People would only witness influence of above all...

Natural Preference
After a long time with extreme elegance, glitter, shine, mad design, print and pattern mixes, people are moving towards natural harmony. The originals from the Mother Nature, natural textures and shining, the zigzag, allure us. Now, people want to go for endurance and quality of a fabric, the luxury, and the exotic designs.

People are tired of fast fashion trends and the hip hops, now they wish long lasting and timeless comfortable clothing fashions. Keeping distance from 'low cost' clothing, with appearance unveiling high standard of living. People desire all these extravagances for low price.

Conclusion
People will prefer smart and stunning matches, which are the major keys for fashion blends for various motives, materials, and prints all in single outfit. At haphazard mixing, mix-and-match fashion, blended patch works and intense style odds are talk of past.

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Into the World of Style and Fashion Photography

Fashion photography is ALWAYS in fashion. Although it is mainly dependent on commerce, fashion photography is now considered as an art. Unlike before where fashion photographers see the craft as a source of income, modern fashion photographers see themselves as artists who can invent and reinvent different photo shoot techniques and style.

BECOMING A FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER
If you are a budding photographer and has always been fascinated with fashion and photography, you may want to make fashion photography as an option.

Imagine yourself traveling the world and setting foot on exotic islands and historical sites, working and hanging out with famous, most creative, and talented people in the fashion industry, taking the photos of international super models to have them published in various fashion magazines, having your named renowned internationally, and to top it all, you are paid a huge sum of amount while enjoying these perks.

Today, where almost everybody can become a fashion photographer through the use of reliable digital cameras, soft wares, and other photo editing gadgets, more and more people photo and fashion enthusiasts are into the lucrative business of fashion photography.

But, how do you break in? Here are some of the things you may want to consider:
- Make up your mind and decide if you really want to be in the business.
- Don't hesitate about potential clients and income because fashion photographers are always in demand.
- Choose where would you want to land on the business-either freelance, ones without an agent;
freelance with an agent, employed by a retailer, employed by a publication either a magazine, a book publisher, a newspaper, and the like; employed by an established fashion house, employed by an advertising company, employed by a fashion or clothes manufacturer, employed by a direct-mail company or you would want to open up your own studio and get clients on your own.

FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY CHECKLIST
So, you really want to become a fashion designer? After deciding what you really want to do and where would you want to land in the gigantic world of fashion industry, you should make a short reassessment of your skills, you work ethics and etiquette to become successful in the path you have chosen to take.

There is more to fashion, photography, and fashion photography than meets the eye. Bear in mind that the craft and the business are beyond the realms of taking good photos, models, clothes, and products. Also remember that being a fashion photographer is more than an average person who takes good pictures. Technical and artistic skills in photography are required. Additional skills in styling, natural knack for clothes, great artistic inclination in modeling and composition, and entrepreneurship spirit are also a must.

If you didn't make it in the fashion photography scene yet, consider some options and career paths like working periodicals, ad agencies, department stores, fashion houses, modeling agencies, retailers, catalogues, galleries and in stock photography agencies while waiting for that big break. Experiences in these fields can hone your innate skills and may open up doors to greater opportunities.

More tips in becoming a fashion photographer, breaking into and succeeding as fashion photographer, starting a fashion photography business, starting a fashion photo studio, starting a glamour photo studio and even getting paid to take beautiful fashion pictures and travel the world in the internet. These sites also provide information, and pieces of advice and tips for those who are interested in entering the industry as well as for those who would want to enhance their knowledge in the craft.

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Cycle of Fashion Trend

It's a fashionista's worst experience, even worse than looking oversize buddy, more degrading than wearing the same dress in another party -- it's the fear of symbolizing looking yesteryear fashion trend model.

Sometimes, fashion trends is considered as fads, are disreputably erratic. The fashion industry players are always on the quest to bring up something "NEW" & "HOT".

What is Fashion Trend?
Trend is the lead in which something new evolving, mostly leaning, penchant and line of growth. Hence, fashion trend is the latest evolvement of the fashion industry.

What is Fashion Trend Really About?
Your closet can give the answer. If you don't want to look at it, well.well. this resembles that you are matching your steps with the latest fashion trends. What it's relation to fashion? People stick rigidly to the rules - okay, maybe not 'YOU'. You may be one of those who walk their own way and dress as they like. When it comes to the fashion industry, it's a continuously changing world. Even though some trends are considered as ludicrous and outdated, many other comebacks with innovative ideas.

Pace and Re-emergence of Latest Fashion Trends
Now its new millennium, but most of fashion things like the pegged pant legs, jelly bracelets, and finally the denim jeans, seem to be returning in trends again. It comes out that the latest fashion trends are simply have nothing new at all. Almost everything re-emerged in fashion trend. You can virtually find torn jeans in every clothing retail store.

Who decides What's 'Hot' and 'Not' in Fashion Trends
There is no existence of specific group who declares what is hot fashion trend or not. In fact, the fashion designers and consumers who buys-out the fashion merchandise make their judgment and throw several opinions out there and observe what is grabbed.

Basically, 'WE', the consumer decide which merchandise is hot by making our minds what to purchase and wear.

The Fashion Trend Cycle
First part of the cycle, where the trend is highly hunted immediately after seeing that great fashionable hat, dress or shoe on the runway, red carpet or music video. Next, comes the emulation phase, where everyone wants a piece of the trend. Only big shots, celebrities and fashion industry players have approach to latest fashion right off the runway, which yet not showed up in retail stores.
During second phase, this newbie will appear in news papers, fashion magazines, TV and internet. At last, the trend will be soaked in the market, commonly at bit lower cost.

In the second phase new merchandise is available in bit expensive designer collections. It is only the third phase, where the merchandise is available to the mass market at affordable cost for most buyers.
The major part of over all mass will purchase it somewhere between second and third phase.
Before two or three decades it might have taken a some rears to make it from runway to mass market, however, nowadays producers have put the fashion cycle into rapid speed. Now, a hot trend often makes it appearance in low cost or discount retail store in as little as a few days or months.

In & Out of Fashion Trend
Reasonably priced fashionable clothing is a double-edged sword that make possible to buy fashionable looks at real-life budgets, at the same time leads to abolish the trend rapidly. However, when the market is completely saturated with a same monotonous trend it loses its appeal.

So how we can assume that how long a fashion trend will last? Let us find out:
Generally, most fashion trends last nearly one year, but some trends, usually the acceptable, last much longer. It is considered that normally fashion trends re-emerge nearly every twenty years. Hence, the minis skirts of the 80s are back in trends again.

The key to assume that how long a trend will last depends on from when you bought the collection. If you bought when the knock-off or discounts are going at retail store, then the count for the trend last not more one or two seasons. Fashion industry normally dumps together two seasons together, Spring and Summer, Fall and Winter, which provides you about six months to wear before it seems looks outdated.

In fact it is not specified that how long a fashion trend will last, you can put money on the just fads such as jeans, Uggs, hats etc... It doesn't signify that you might not get fun in purchasing them. They are the evergreen items you would like to purchase any time.

Purchasing power can keep a trend on oxygen. In some cases people love particular trends so much they wouldn't let it die.

The safeguard against rapidly changing fashion trends is to have a clothing line stocked with more traditional looks: T-shirts, jeans, and black dresses.

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Understanding Plus Size Fashion Segments

As fashion and plus size evolve into a recognized and (soon-to-be) respected segment in fashion, so do the idiosyncrasies and nuances of fashion itself, as it pertains to plus size.
You see, ten years ago, plus size only belonged in one lump segment, leaving us fashionistas with very little or if any options for shopping and discerning which pieces were of a "fashionable" standard. However, now, with the amalgamation (yes, I had to use this word) and plethora of fashions within plus size clothing, one could easily find herself lost, frustrated, confused, irritated, or flustered when shopping for an ideal outfit or piece of clothing.

Why?
We no longer have "one type" of fashion option for the plus size woman- we have many. However, to better understand and sort through the madness of them all, a budding fashionista must first understand what these newer segments are and learn the identifiers of these to shop smarter, not harder.

No really... WHY?
See, as in the straight- sized market, you will find certain segments within fashion that are grouped together, and for the most part, you know what to expect when shopping from that retailer or specific set of retailers. With the evolution of Plus Size Ready-to-Wear Fashion, the same now holds true. For sake of argument, we will group these segments for plus size fashion as straight sized fashion does to help explain the price discrepancies, size differences, in relation to the integrity and quality of a retailers' or designers' garment. The fashion industry is divided into five segments: haute couture, luxury, contemporary, fast fashion, and discount.

* Haute Couture: Synonymous with "high fashion," haute couture is a derivative of the French term "high sewing." In France, the label "haute couture" is a protected designation. Designers, who attain this elusive and oft coveted title, produce custom-made clothing for the world's most influential and wealthiest.
* Luxury: Pret-a-Porter or "Ready to Wear" is one-step down from Haute Couture relative to price and exclusivity, but still serves a discerning and well to do client.
* Contemporary: This fashion forward segment presents mid-priced fashions both fashion forward and quality driven. Oftentimes, these designers interpret fashions from the couture houses, making these fashions readily accessible.
* Fast Fashion: Quickly produced product in a cost efficient manner, delivering "high fashion looking" garments, at the lowest price possible. Relates to the manner of which items from the runway manufactured predominantly overseas with an extremely efficient turnaround.
* Discount: Usually looked at loss leaders, have quickly adapted to the fast fashion concepts leveraging their consumer's buying power and reputation to fashion exclusive designer collections.
However, the division and classification of what to expect from these segments do not stop there. Please read further into each segment, sans Haute couture, as to understand which designers and brands fall into each classification and what differentiates each one.

Luxury Plus Size Designers
Yes! They do exist! Goods that are of a higher quality and a respective higher price point are the fashion leaders within plus size. Designers such as:
* Anna Scholz
* Cinzia Rocca
* Elena Miro
* Lafayette 148
* Marina Rinaldi
* Peggy Lutz

Are oftentimes carried in either specialty boutiques, specialty department stores such as Saks and Neiman Marcus command, at minimum, a $250 starting point. Expect the finest fabrics, usually imported from overseas, naturally a more conservative cut, with the exception of Anna Scholz and Elena Miro (the only plus size designer to continually show during Milan Fashion Week), impeccably tailored, fully lined, natural fabrics, with exclusivity in feel and wear.

Contemporary Plus Size Designers
Mirroring the contemporary collections represented in Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, and Saks, contemporary plus size fashion offers the fashion forward plus size woman options tailored to her curves at a moderate price point. These designers such as:
* Amanda Uprichard
* David Meister
* Igigi
* Jibri
* Melissa Masse
* Monif C.
* Svoboda

Are often the thoughts leaders, innovators, and risk takers within the plus size fashion segments, as they continually challenge the status quo or the norm in what fashion should be for the discerning plus size woman. This segment's prices usually range from the low $100's and can command up to $500 for more specialty pieces. Quality in these fabrics are only a sidestep lower than their luxury counterparts, introducing innovative blends in fabrics, specific silhouettes inspired by the designer's artistic inspiration, and, like its luxury designers, have more intricate detailing.

Plus Size Fast Fashion Designers
In the light of Forever 21's counterfeit lawsuits, fast fashion has received a tarnished image although fast fashion provides an amiable compliment to its contemporary counterparts. Popular designers in this segment include:
* Torrid
* Faith 21
* Ashley Stewart
* Lane Bryant
* Evans

With the ability to mass produce up-to-the-minute trends and incredulously low price points, fast fashion provides edgy, often directly inspired from design houses, looks that range from as low as a $10 price point up to a $150 price tag. In order to deliver the trends to the market quickly, the quality, can, at times, be inferior to the luxury and contemporary designers. Expect polyester blends, wool blends, single stitched garments, either a looser silhouette or a variety of shapes that vary from garment to garment. To be worn for the moment, the lifespan of these fast fashion fashions are intended to last for the current season.

Discount Plus Size Designers
Challenging and changing the fashion climate over the last year, discount leaders have created strategic partnerships with Contemporary Designers to bring affordable fashions to the masses. Retailers such as:
* Old Navy
* Wal-Mart
* Target

Have collaborated with the likes of Norma Kamali, Just My Size, Pure Energy, and others to bring quality fashion at an affordable retail price. Discount leaders have allowed women an introduction into fashion options rarely seen and experienced. Discount designers serve as an introduction as well as dispel the notion of plus size fashion not being available. Each segment both provides and serves its purpose for the 60% of us plus size women in the ever diversifying industry of plus size fashion. It is important about knowing the differences in these segments so that you know what to expect when shopping a particular designer or retailer. Learning the difference affords you the ease of a headache or frustration when shopping to put your best curve forward.

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