Men’s fashion for 2011 saw some new trends emerging and previous seasons trends make a return.

Latest Men’s Fashion

2011 saw white jeans comeback into men’s fashion wants, as well as pastel colored blazers and light colored shirts. A mix of causal meets dressed up.

The new blazer style for spring/summer 2011 saw double breasted, waist cinching, and long lengths appear.

Checked and striped patterns were in for men’s shirts this season, matching them with light colored blazers or wore alone with jeans was the style of the moment.

Casual khaki pants made a slight change in color with the palest shades in blue, green and yellow becoming popular. The idea behind the trend was to create a sun bleached look.

Beach apparel saw a slight shift in trends from previous seasons. Beach short prints were similar to previous seasons with the floral print remaining popular however this season colors were muted.

Summer accessories included a comeback of the aviator sunglasses, this time in every size and color. The new trend included a matte finish with clear to silver shades, very futuristic.

Shoes popular for spring/summer 2011 include:
• Suede penny loafers in bold colors.
• Leather brogues in light caramel, off-white, and navy.
• Dessert boots.
• Canvas lace-up moccasins.
• Lace up sneakers in pastel colors.
• Van sneakers, both laced and slip-ons.

GQ

GQ, formally known as Gentlemen’s Quarterly, is a monthly magazine focusing on fashion, style, and culture. Articles include features and mentions on food, movies, fitness, music, travel, sports, and technology.

Geared towards a young crowd who want the insiders guide on contemporary style, GQ currently has eighteen international editions.

Also an online publication GQ has gained readership from around the world.

GQ cover men have included:
• President Obama
• Former President Bill Clinton
• Leonardo Dicaprio
• Johnny Depp
• Brad Pitt
• Jake Gyllenhaal

Latest Women’s Fashion

Trends for women’s fashion during spring/summer 2011 include:
• Bright bold colors; red, oranges and fuchsia pink.
• Pairing of blue and yellow shades in stripes, floral prints, block colors, and environmental patterns.
• Floral prints in every size and color mix.
• Every shade of white and off white imaginable turned up on runways and in-stores this season.
• Seventies silhouettes made a welcome comeback.
• Animal prints cameback however this time in the form of zebra prints. Both black and white, and colored.
• Evening apparel saw a lot of lace and silks.

Both men’s and women’s collections for spring/summer 2011 saw a return of retro trends. Light and easy to wear fabrics were popular. Colors for men and women differed however, men’s colors went light and women’s colors went bolder and brighter.

Looking for the top men’s Halloween costumes for 2012? With Halloween being just around the corner, many of us are already trying to plan our Halloween costumes. It doesn’t matter if you are wanting a costume for partying, or as a family theme, 2012 has a wide variety of costumes that any man will love!

Top Men’s Halloween Costumes for 2012: Popular Costumes

Want one of the Top Men’s Halloween Costumes for 2012? Now is the time to be planning your Halloween costume, especially if you want to get your hands on one of the more popular costumes this year. Nearly every Halloween store, including online stores, have all the top costumes in stock. Like every year, costumes are already going on sale and some of the more popular costumes are in short supply. Some of the Top Men’s Halloween Costumes for 2012 include:

• Retro Costumes
• Superhero Costumes
• Renaissance Costumes

Top Men’s Halloween Costumes for 2012: Retro

With the release of the Great Gatsby coming soon and other movies from the 1920s and 1930s, gangster costumes and roaring 20s costumes are gaining in popularity! While a Bonnie and Clyde is also popular for couples, quite a few men are looking at gangster outfits. While gangster costumes may not be the most popular on the Top Men’s Halloween Costumes for 2012 list, they are filling the top ten slot on money retailers list of costumes that already selling out.

Top Men’s Halloween Costumes for 2012: Super Hero

As quite a few guys know, this summer was filled with many popular superhero movies. Most costume stores already have a wide variety of Avengers costumes, which is taking the first half of the most popular costumes on the Top Men’s Halloween Costumes for 2012 list. Some of the most popular Avenger costumes include:

• Thor
• Iron Man
• Captain America
• Hawk Eye

If you aren’t an Avenger fan, you may also want to consider the newest Spider Man costume. While this costume looks similar to some of the Spider Man outfits from previous years, it does has a bit more of the design from the latest Spiderman movie. For guys who are unsure what costumes would be best to pair with their wives, consider going with Spider Man or an Avenger outfit since these can be paired with a Stacy Gwen costume or Black Widow costume.

Top Men’s Halloween Costumes for 2012: Renaissance

Want to be a knight in shining armor or noble lord? With the popularity of HBO’s Game of Thrones, quite a few men are wanting to Renaissance costumes. To pull off this look, it is recommended that men look for costumes to be a noble or a prince. If you are wanting a more laid back, fun look, you may also want to consider going with a steam punk costume!

Halloween is the time when many women can show off their inner child and get away with wearing sexy costumes in public.  With so many different costumes available, it is hard to keep up with all the trends, especially since the most popular Halloween costumes change yearly. Luckily, most of these costumes also have a male counterpart, allowing you to easily create the perfect couple outfit with our top female Halloween costumes for 2012 list.

Top Female Halloween Costumes for 2012: Most Popular

Wanting one of the most popular costumes from the top female Halloween costumes for 2012 list? Many of the costumes that are on the list this year are movie costumes, featuring some of the most popular characters from the Avengers & Spider Man. If you aren’t into superheroes, don’t worry, there are also a wide variety of costumes ranging from classic costumes to costumes from different eras in history? Do you know what you are going to be yet this Halloween?

Top Female Halloween Costumes for 2012: Medieval Costumes

With the popularity of different fantasy themed movies and Game of Thrones, many women are taking the opportunity to look like medieval princesses. Since medieval costumes never go out of style, they are one of the few costumes that women can wear time and time again. Even better, these costumes can be purchased cheaply from Renaissance festival or allow you to take part in the festivities. Some of the most popular medieval costumes on the top female Halloween costumes for 2012 list include:

• Medieval Noble Gowns
• Female Knights
• Steam Punk
• Princess/Queen Costumes

Top Female Halloween Costumes for 2012: Movie Costumes

Unless you have lived under a rock, you know that there were quite a few popular comic book movies this summer – The Ultimate Spider-Man, The Dark Knight Rises, & the Avengers. For a girl that likes comic books or these movies, there are a wide variety of sassy and fun costumes that are perfect for women of all ages, Some of the most popular superhero costumes on the top female Halloween costumes list for 2012 include:

• Gwen Stacy
• Black Widow
• Sassy Spider-Man
• Catwoman

Top Female Halloween Costumes for 2012: Classic Costumes

For women who are not into comic books, you will be happy to know that some classic Halloween costumes have made their way onto the top female Halloween costumes for 2012 list. One classic costume that seems to never go out of style is the witch costume. While witches may seem boring at first glance, these costumes go from sassy and sexy, to conservative. Depending on your choice, it is easy to find the perfect witch costume for any woman!

Halloween is like no other holiday, especially for children. This is the one holiday a year where they can dress up like their favorite cartoon characters and get as much candy as they desire. The hardest part for parents, however, is finding the right Halloween costumes for children, especially if you are buying a costume without their approval. Luckily, there are a large variety of fun costumes on the top children’s Halloween costumes for 2012 list.

Top Children’s Halloween Costumes for 2012: Most Popular

If you have a child that loves Halloween, you have likely been hearing your children talk about trick or treating and picking out their perfect costume for months. For kids, planning Halloween is just as much fun as Christmas since it involves free candy. As any parent knows, kids are more drawn to Halloween costumes that involve their favorite cartoon characters or characters from movies. All of the popular costumes on the Top Children’s Halloween Costumes for 2012 list this year involve characters that can be seen in kids favorite children’s programs. To make this list easier on parents, we divided these popular costume themes by gender, allowing parents to get the perfect costumes for the son or daughter. You may also be surprised just how easy it is this year to create a family costume theme!

Top Children’s Halloween Costumes for 2012: Boys Costumes

For little boys, the Top Children’s Halloween Costumes for 2012 list is filled with all superheroes coming from summer blockbuster movies or their favorite TV shoes. For parents, going with one of the Avengers is likely one of the safest costumes, since every little boy wants to be Iron Man or Captain America. The hard part with these costumes is finding somewhere that has a quality costumes. For a cheaper costume, you can always get these outfits from Wal-Mart or your local costume store. Some of the most popular on the list this year include:

• Spider-Man
• Avengers
• Power Rangers Samurai
• GI Joes
• Star Wars
• The Dark Knight

Top Children’s Halloween Costumes for 2012: Girls Costumes

Unlike boys, many of the costumes on the Top Children’s Halloween Costumes for 2012 list consist of classic girls costumes. Most little girls want to be a Disney princess, especially Merida from Brave. For parents, this gives the entire family a great opportunity to all wear medieval costumes. If you are not wanting to go with a Disney theme, however, many little girls was wanting to be Black Widow, making an Avengers theme perfect for most families. Some of the most popular girls costumes for 2012  include:

• Disney Princess
• Brave Merida
• Winx Club
• My Little Pony
• Avengers Black Widow

Back to school fashion trends in 2011 take inspiration from both the runway and celebrity world. Stay trendy for the school year with our guide to hot styles.

Many stores and brands offer back to school deals when the school year starts up again; however, whether these deals are what kids want is another matter.

Trends and what stores offer can occasionally be off course and more about price points.

For what is on trend for back-to-school fashion this school year, the next couple of years and a look into the last few years, read on.

Best Back-To-School Fashion Trends 2011

For young teen girls, back-to-school fashion for 2011 is simpler than previous years.

• Plaid shirts with fitted jeans top the list. Graphic tees have once again come around and have become a staple in teenage girls closets.
• Denim in all forms is popular from jeans, jackets, to shirts and accessories. Blue denim in different shades is being ranked higher than previous seasons colored denim.
• For autumn/winter 2011, long layered scarves are essential, as are flat under-the-knee length boots in suede and leather.
• Of course, layering is important for the colder season; cardigans are key in all colors and both in patterns and plains. Adding a pop of color with bright bold cardigans is easy alongside earth tones apparel.
• As in the past few seasons, leggings remain a key piece for back to school teen girls. Leggings can be worn throughout the school year. During the spring/summer they can be worn with tees and blazers and then during the colder autumn/winter months leggings can be worn under knit dresses, blouses and layered tops.
• The color palette is vast, from bright colors to neutral earth tones.

Back-to-School Bag Trends

Totes will remain popular throughout 2011 as girls carry their extra essentials in stylish affordable totes this school year. From charity inspired slogan bags like the “FEED” totes to Forever 21 bargain printed totes, there is a vast selection to choose from. Main bags for school for teen girls are both bright and neutral and come in medium-sized messengers and satchels, and of course, backpacks.

Back-to-School Shoe Trends

Shoes are varied; flats and thick heels will all come out to play for school days; however, as many schools remain strict on footwear staying flat, sneaker sales rocket when it comes to back-to-school season.

From pastel-colored hi-tops, to white tennis shoes, to sparkly, embellished basketball-style sneakers, the casual footwear for school will become more individual and customized. For non-sneaker fans, ballet flats will remain a staple, embellished with bows, sequins and colored prints.

Back-To-School Fashion Trends 2009

A couple of years ago back to school trends for teen girls were slightly different. Whereas for 2011 blazers became the outerwear of choice, in 2009, cropped leather jackets and checked bomber jacket styles were popular.

Of course, some trends remain consistent such as the plaid shirt trend with jeans.

Back-to-school bags were much bigger in 2009 as the oversized bag took over Hollywood and schoolgirls took inspiration.

Just as school kids take inspiration from Hollywood, they also take inspiration from the adult runway. ’80s was a big inspiration for 2009, both denim and neon colors were seen in schools during the warmer months. Denim jeans went from baggy to tight in one season.

During autumn/winter 2009 colors went darker; black, navy, grays and metallic highlights were seen on pants, tops, dresses and accessories.

In the shoe market, Converse became extremely popular for both girls and boys. Easy to wear and individualize, Converse was an essential piece of footwear in 2009.

Back-To-School Fashion Trends 2013

So for 2013 what will be the trendy items to wear for school-aged girls?

Well, if history is anything to go by inspiration will be taken from the runway as well as the celebrity world. Pants will be looser in fit and more structured than previous years. Outerwear will also be more structured with the ’80s playing a possible return!

The 2013 color palette will have golden yellows, coral, purple shades, sea greens, and neutral grey shades.

However as we all know when it comes to teens it can be a guessing game so we will have to wait and see what is really worn in schools and remains popular for 2013 when the year rolls around!

Online designing is quickly becoming a popular hobby amongst pre-teens and those interested in experimenting with fashion styles.

The online community is growing for those wanting to know more before singing on a dotted line. Whether you are interested in designing or being the face of a brand check out online options as many are free and without commitment.

Fashion Designing Websites: Top 3

Currently the top three FREE fashion online games are:

1. Stardoll

An online fashion community for pre-teens who love fashion, shopping, decorating, and being creative this is definitely one site to look into. Members sign up for free then start by creating a MeDoll. The dolls, as the member, can virtual shop as well as make friends within the community.

2. GirlSense

GirlSense.com is an online fashion community for young girls where members can use online tools to design outfits and shop e-boutiques. Designed for pre-teen and teen girls the website allows self-expression and creativity while learning about new technology. Via the online forum girls can leave message for friends as well as post their designs.

3. Frenzoo

A 3-D fashion experience that allows user to create an avatar which then meets others within the community and can virtually browse and shop.

Interior Designing Websites

There are thousands and thousands of interior designing websites currently on the web today. Below is a selection of popular interior designing options:

• DesignSponge.com

A design blog founded in 2004 and run by Grace Bonney. Awarded the “Martha Stewart Living for the Millennials” by the New York Times the blog offers a unique look into the interior designing industry. Having been featured on Good Morning America, The Martha Stewart Show and The Nate Berkus Show DesignSponge.com shows viewers how to design in various sized spaces. They show you the before and after pictures, feature DIY projects, entertaining ideas, and review interior designing products.

• MocoLoco.com

An online magazine dedicated to modern interior designing, architecture, accessories, and resources. Features include reviews, recommendations, and the latest news.

• Inhabitat.com

A blog dedicated to interior design, technology, and newfound materials. Started by designer Jill Fehrenbacher as a way to research new trends, products, and interior design of the future.

Modeling Websites

When you want to start modeling make sure you research legitimate websites, two of the top names in the world include:

• Elite

With offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Toronto the agency currently looks after models Veronica Webb and Yasmin Le Bon.

• Ford

Ford has offices around the world including the United States, Brazil and Canada. Ford models have included some of the biggest names in the industry such as Christie Brinkley, Jerry Hall, and Elle MacPherson.

Whether you want to design fashion, interior or look into modeling the key is to research. Get as much information as possible and use the web wisely.

Men’s summer fashion during 2011 saw accessories become more of a trend than seasons before. Denim, always a staple, stayed around and shoes came in more styles than ever before.

Men’s Summer Fashion 2011

2011 saw white suits become popular in contemporary styles, made from textured fabrics and in light shades with minimal patterns.

Waistcoats also made a comeback. Worn traditional with the full suit as well as worn more contemporary alone with shirts and jeans.

Denim as usual was popular for men but this year not in the usual blue, instead customers wanted other colors. Colors included cream, grays, khaki, shades of yellow, basically anything but blue. Two brands to head to for colorful options: Levis and Gap.

Accessories got a reworking for men in 2011 with travel options being key items to own. Large canvas bags with leather trimmings in greens, grays and blues were must have items for summer 2011.

Leather also becomes a much wanted fabric for accessories in 2011, both for mid sized man bags, small wallets and I-Pad cases.

Shoes get a new lease of life for men, the usual black is out and color is in. All shades of blue, green, brown-reds, and corals are seen on loafer and lace-up styles.

Beige trench coats in light weight fabrics and lightweight short leather jackets are the outerwear of choice during both the 2011 seasons.

Collaborations always raise eyebrows and 2011 is no exception. Some of the menswear brands and designers that teamed up included:
• Lanvin for H&M
• Steven Alan for Dockers
• Levi’s for Pendleton
• Lacoste for Earnest Sewn
• J.Press for Urban Outfitters
• Hickey Freeman for Opening Ceremony
• French Connection for Sears

Men’s Fall Fashion 2011

Suit silhouettes are more defined for fall 2011; broad shoulders, slim waists, and slim fitting pants.

Outerwear goes seamless in the shoulder department for fall 2011. Key looks are plaid, single breasted and loose hanging.

Fabrics to look for include velvet, herringbone, cashmere and soft leathers.

The color palette for men this fall sees pieces in deep reds, purples, grays, beiges, and blacks.

Women’s Summer Clothes 2011

For women’s fashion during summer 2011 shoulders are being shown off with halter necks, cut out shoulders and bandeau style tops. The maxi dress style has comeback again this year with halter necklines and bandeau style necklines.

Sheer tees and blouses were basics for summer 2011. Two high-end designers showcasing the sheer fabric extremely well are Thakoon and Bensoni. High street brands such as Forever 21, H&M, and Zara all showcased sheer tops in block colors and prints, which were seen on women throughout the warmer months.

Prints inspired by the east and tribal patterns also came out to play for summer, both Diane Von Furstenberg and Vivienne Tam showed tribal inspired dresses in their spring/summer 2011 collection.

Accessories for spring/summer were big, in size that is! Bangles, necklaces, bags, hats and sunglasses all went oversized.

Key palette colors included all shades of orange, sea blues, bright greens, fuchsia pinks, and then on the other end of the scale the basic black and white colors were seen.

The difference in men’s and women’s fashion trends is that the men’s moves much slower than the women’s. Styles and silhouettes for men stay constant longer whereas women’s trends change with the wind. Both have their uniqueness but occasionally trends overlap and stay that much longer.

When looking at the latest fashion for boys many trends will seem familiar as styles, colors and silhouettes are inspired by men’s fashion.

Latest Fashion For Boys

To feel truly fashionable boys should find clothes they feel confident and comfortable in. Whether you feel best blending into the crowd or finding a signature style via clothes there are options out there so just look carefully.

If your young man is wary of trying new trends, instead of following trends completely to the last detail, work with your basic fashion pieces and then choose key accessories or investment pieces. For instance investment pieces could include: outerwear, bags, and/or sneakers.

Latest Style For Boys

The latest styles for boys in 2011 see some trends comeback and new ones emerging for the season.

• Stripes in all widths and colors are popular for boy’s tees and sweaters.
• Fun and whimsical prints on bold colored tees, clothing brand No Added Sugar has some very cool examples currently online.
• Windbreakers have come back into trend in particular in dark shades such as navy, black, brown and khaki.
• Hooded sweaters with zip fastenings with slogans and appliqués badges are popular for fall/winter 2011.
• Boots in shorter lengths are great for the colder months and toughens up any outfit, think safari boots!
• Warm beanie hats are great accessories for the fall/winter season; as well as keeping the kids heads cozy they make boys look every inch the cool guy!
• Backpacks in traditional styles are making a huge comeback in all colors and prints.

Top Fashion For Boys

1. Skechers for kids in the Skull & Bones print, the skull embellishment is popular with young boys and the skechers are light and comfortable to wear all day.
2. Rock n roll vintage inspired tees. The most popular around the celebrity circuit currently are the Rolling Stone tees.
3. Denim jeans are always a staple item for boys. The style depends on the preferences of the wearer as you can find them in tight skater style, baggy casual style, and smart straight-legged jeans. The following brands carry jeans in kids sizes: 7 for All Mankind, True Religion, Paige Denim, Rock & Republic, Paper Denim, and Diesel.

Brands and stores to look at:
• Carters
• Children’s Place
• DKNY
• GAP
• Gymboree
• Junk Food
• Levi’s
• No Added Sugar
• Old Navy
• Skechers
• Trunk Ltd.
• Vans
Whether parents can afford to spend extravagant amounts of money or want to stick to a budget there are brands available for all price points.

Browse online or explore the shops and find your boys style.

Nineties fashion was casual, blue jeans and tee shirts came back into trend.

The first half of the nineties saw similar trends seen in the late eighties; tight fitting trousers, neon colors, oversized sweaters, and leather jackets.

Keds were the popular footwear of choice for the younger generation, other popular footwear included court shoes and cowboy boots.

The mid nineties saw the hippie style make a comeback. Floral dresses, lace, gypsy tops, as well as longer hair on both men and women. Designer brands also saw an increase in sales as many people choose to wear the brand names on the outside to show-off their status or knowledge within fashion.

Men’s fashion during the nineties saw trends emerge from the music scene as hip-hop and grunge took over. For the hip-hop scene clothes became baggy and oversized. Grunge fans took to wearing plaid, blue jeans and white tee shirts. The younger generation took inspiration from their favorite musicians.

During the late nineties women began wearing flared jeans, sweatpants, tank tops, and ugg boots. Casual was definitely in! The low waisted jean trend also happened around this time.

For men the late nineties saw sports brands become popular. Even office wear became more casual as many men opted to leave the blazer at home and dress down for work.

1990s Fashion Designers

Tom Ford was signed by Gucci to become their design director in 1994 and he revolutionized the designer brand. He picked up the flagging sales figures by showcasing chic collections, launching fragrances, redesigning boutiques, and focusing on promotional campaigns. For years later, in 1998, Gucci was named “European Company of the Year” by European Business Press Federation.

Prada was also a force within the fashion world during the nineties as their collection became more streamlined. They began producing ready-to-wear fashions, which were more in demand at the time.

Michael Kors knowledge of simplicity and designing for the real working woman made him a household name during the nineties. He created the minimalist trend the nineties became known for.

Calvin Klein was perhaps the most well known designer of the nineties, his collections were eagerly anticipated and his fragrance sales hit new sales levels never seen before for both men and women. He was one of the first designers to use promotional campaigns to sell a dream. Calvin Klein gained enormous popularity during the nineties within the young urban market.

2000s Fashion Trends

The decade of the 2000s saw some interesting trends emerge:

• Furry hoods, think North Face style, were popular on men and women during the colder months.
• Canvas shoes from brands such as converse and vans saw a rise in sales, as customization became a trend.
• Trench style coats in various fabrics and color options were a trend seen across the cultural board.
• During this era designers saw an opportunity within the sports world and began launching their own designer sneakers. Not only could you play sports in them but also you could look stylish doing it!
• Loungewear saw a mishap with velour tracksuits becoming popular. The most seen on celebrities were the Juicy Couture sweatpants. Some loved them and others hated them!

Casual style played a major role in both the nineties and onwards into the next decade. Many designers saw an opening and played into the market, giving the casual style a little chic appeal.

Online designing is the current way for young girls to experiment and be creative. Paper and pencil is no longer the only option and with young kids learning more about the technical world than ever before game hosts have had to step up their game!

Clothes Designing Games

Girls interested in fashion want access at their fingertips and demands increase daily with how they want it. As online games become more popular and designing games/websites compete for young girls attention it is more important than ever to research and find the online game for your family.

There are thousands of options for girls to choose from when it comes to games for designing clothes. Depending on what options and technical advances you are after makes the decision easier however with new technology always coming out you can be sure there will be a ‘new’ game out as soon as you get home. So check out free options before spending money on expensive options.

Makeover Games

Four of the top free online makeover games include Candy Queen, Hippie Party Fashion, Detective Dina and Girly Bathroom Decorating.

• Candy Queen:
Users can dress the Candy Queen up in bubblegum colored outfits and play with her candy citizens.

• Hippie Party Fashion:
When invited to a themed party head to Hippie Party Fashion and dress up in the best of flower power fashion.

• Detective Dina:
Dress up Dina, the young detective, in the style she needs for adventure and fun.

• Girly Bathroom Decorating:
Play interior designer and get the girly bathroom you always dreamed of!

For online users wanting some celebrity fun check out Girls Games Nation. The online makeover game center offers hundreds of dress up games including:
• Beyonce Dress Up
• Jessica Alba Dress Up
• Twilight
• Taylor Swift Makeover
• Justin Bieber Dress Up

Hair Designing Games

Hair designing games for young girls is also becoming popular as online websites compete with better graphics, ideas and community links.

One free online site to look at is DressUpGames.com where users can play hairdresser. Girls can style hair, color different styles, and cut to create a look all their own.

DressUpGames.com also hosts dress-up games, makeover games, fashion games, decorating games, as well as several more options. Launched in 1998 DressUpGames.com has grown quickly gaining thousands of fans along the way.

Whether young girls want to learn more about the fashion, beauty or hair industry or just have fun being creative online free games are a great way to experiment.

When you think of sixties fashion what comes to mind?

1. Color
2. Prints
3. Fun
4. All of the above

The answer would be four as the sixties was a time to experiment and enjoy fashion. As women’s lives and roles in society changed so did their fashion style.

1960s Fashion Trends

For the first half of the sixties popular women’s dress styles were similar to that of the fifties, pleated and swing style. For the second half of the sixties hemlines went short. For those not interested in the hippie style dresses remained conservative but colors went much brighter and bolder.

Hippies took over the majority of the late sixties fashion scene. Included on the “must have” list for the Hippie generation were headbands, beads, wide collars, necklaces, embroidery, wide belts, mini-skirts, and PVC boots.

Pants during the sixties were seen in a variety of styles from capris, and culottes, to bell-bottoms.

When it came to shoes patent materials became highly coveted as they could be produced in every color imaginable. Go-go boots or ankle boots were a huge hit with the younger generation, especially as the mini-skirt trend took over.

Along with the change in the shoe scene came the popularity of socks in every color and pattern! The most wanted length for socks worn with shoes was just below the knee.

1960s Fashion Designers

• Mary Quant made her name in the sixties via the mini-skirt. Credited with designing the mini-skirt in the perfect length and style Quant’s quintessential sixties look comprised of the mini-skirt with patent leather boots, bright tights/socks, false heavy eyelashes, and a bob haircut.
• Pierre Cardin became well known in the sixties for designing collarless jackets and emblazoned mini shift dresses in bright colors.
• Givenchy steered clear of the Hippie look and instead went elegant, winning over a cult like following of fans. Hubert Givenchy was the designer to create the famous “Little Black Dress” worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
• Pucci was the designer to head to for colorful loud prints during the sixties and it later became the trademark for the design brand.
• Ossie Clark dressed some of the most recognized celebrities during the sixties. Names included Twiggy, The Beatles, and Talitha Getty.

1960s Style

The first half of the sixties in the hair scene saw bouffants and beehives, as big hair was still very much in.

As the sixties continued straighter more slick hairstyles came into trend. Hair straightening irons were top selling hair tools, both long and short styles were popular usually parted down the middle.

Sixties hairstyles are still popular today with many female celebrities turning up on the red carpet with sixties inspired looks. Inspired women include Drew Barrymore, Kelly Osbourne, and Sienna Miller.

The twenties was an era for change and experimenting, fashion became more relaxed and both men and women enjoyed a new sense of freedom!

The 1920s, known commonly as the “Roaring Twenties” saw a shift in fashion as men chose sportswear style outfits over previous years formal suit styles. Suits however did not disappear, they remained a focal point during twenties fashion in a different pattern than previous years.

1920s Men’s Fashion Reviewed

Suit jackets during the twenties went shorter and tailcoat style suits were left for special occasions.

In the earlier part of the twenties military style suits were in fashion; jackets were high waisted, lapels were thin and tended to be buttoned up high. Pants were narrow and straight; they began to be worn cuffed at the bottom.

By the mid twenties pants became wider, these were called the “Oxford Bags” and suit jackets had wider lapels with waists becoming more relaxed.

Sportswear style outfits changed the twenties considerably as fashion became more relaxed. Sweaters and short pants were often seen on men.

Hats became a symbol of class as various groups in society were defined. Top hats and homburg hats were worn by the upper class. The middle class wore fedoras and trilby hats and the working class set wore newsboy caps. A hat that crossed both the upper and middle classes was the straw boater during the summer months.

1920s Men’s Hair Styles

Hair during the twenties for men was styled smooth and parted to one side, almost plastered down. The style was longer at the front and shorter at the back.

Younger men styled their hair after the military look, extremely short!

During the beginning of the twenties many older men wore mustaches however by the end of the twenties the fashion began to decrease.

1920s Women’s Fashion

Following the end of the First World War women’s fashion changed dramatically as many wanted to celebrate and enjoy freedom.

Bustles and corsets were out and casual styles were in!

Dresses went shorter and brighter, the higher hemline meant stockings increased in popularity.

Women also began wearing pants and wearing their hair short, similar to men’s styles at the time.

Underwear for women changed as a result of the casual looks favored by women during the twenties. Bras were introduced and corsets were dropped in favor of separates.

Hairstyles for women also became shorter and the “Bob” was a popular style worn by many women during the early twenties. Towards the mid twenties shorter hair remained in fashion but the styles were slightly altered, curls and waves were worked in at the bottom.

The twenties saw a dramatic shift in the fashion scene; both men and women tried new styles and many of these styles remained well into the thirties.

The eighties were full of choice for men’s fashion, whether you liked the preppy look, the jock style, or the experimental groupie image.

80s Men’s Fashion

Hate it or love it eighties fashions were big! People experimented and let their social groups be defined by what they wore.

There were some mistakes that should never come back like the fanny pack! But the eighties also saw some trends that have lasted the test of time and keep making a comeback, for instance skinny ties and converse sneakers.

80s Men’s Fashion Trends

A key look for men in the yuppie set was to wear neatly tailored pants, a button down shirt with the top few buttons open, and a blazer with the sleeves rolled up.

Short shorts were also a key item to have during the warmer months, and if you belonged to the jock set it often got paired with a cropped tee.

Young men look towards popular TV shows at the time for fashion inspiration and one top rated show was Miami Vice. The lead characters were often seen in designer suits worn with tee shirts, and shoes without socks. The look started a trend amongst the yuppie set. For the more casual middle class crowd the Hawaiian shirts worn by characters also started a trend, often worn with white shorts or khakis.

Michael Jackson was the biggest selling musician of the decade and fans looked to him for setting trends. Leather studded jackets in black and red sold out, oversized tops became popular with young fans, and who could forget the one hand glove look!

On the other side of the musical stage were rock bands such as Poison and Metallica. Many fans would copy their worn tee shirt and ripped jeans look as well as wear bandanas as headbands.

For the younger generation trends during the eighties included a rise in popularity of converse All-Star sneakers, Ray-Ban sunglasses, and skinny acid washed jeans.

80s Men’s Hairstyles

Popular culture played a large role in setting trends for men’s hairstyles during the eighties.

Big hair worn by groups such as Jon Bon Jovi made the working class set decide to poof up their roots and wear their hair big! Hair products at the time were big business as hairspray and mousses sold like never before to the men’s market.

For the older generation the mullet was a big trend; the idea was to have short hair in the front and on the sides while the back grew long. Teenagers experimented with the style but added in the ponytail.

Just as fans copied Michael Jackson’s fashion, they also copied his hairstyle and in particular the Jheri Curl style. The look called for a lot of gel and time to get the perfect curl!

The preppy look of the eighties was completed with the wet look hairstyle. This meant that even when dry men’s hair looked wet due to so much gel being used. The style was slicked back and extremely neat.

The eighties saw men dress like never before, as individuals who defined who they were and what they believed through their fashion style.

It was a time of fun and color.

Wholesale is a sale of goods or merchandise to retailers, to industrial, commercial, and/or other professionals within the business.

Wholesale is considered the selling of goods to anyone other than a standard customer.

Wholesale Costume Jewelry Distributors

• Judson Company:
Choose from a huge selection of costume jewelry including necklaces, rings, watches, earrings, and pendants.

• AlamodeOnline.com:
Alamode Online carries costume jewelry based on current trends at low wholesale prices.

• Wholesale Costume Jewelry Distributor:
From current trends to high fashion inspired pieces highlighting costume stones such as rhinestones and crystals.

• Wholesale Costume Jewelry:
Choose from necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and classic sets all made with current costume trends.

Wholesale Vintage Rings

Krivi International is a wholesale jewelry company based in New Delhi, India and specializing in handmade fashion jewelry. Offering clients wholesale costume jewelry, vintage pieces and Indian design that is both exquisite and affordable.

Using the Krivi International website customers can easily browse and shop online for the pieces they desire. Choosing from high quality pieces at low prices.

Wholesale Costume Jewelry NYC

• Wholesale24x7.com also known as Elegant Essence Inc is based at:
22 W. 27th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001
A family run based business Wholesale24x7.com is a fashion accessory wholesale shop for retailers looking for bulk purchases.

• TreasureJewelry.com is a wholesale costume jewelry shop with a store in New York City.
Founded in 1984 they now have an online global presence.

• Eosjewel.yourwebhosting.com, Eos Jewelry International, has a base in NY at:
390 Fifth Avenue, Suite 704, New York, NY 10018
Customers can find high quality glamorous pieces online and for wholesale low prices.

• JewelryGalore.com / Descent Trading Inc, has it’s base in NY:
1220 Broadway, New York, NY 10001
Created to provide the industry with wholesale low prices and a selection of quality jewelry JewelryGalore.com makes it easier for wholesalers to shop while feeling like they are in a boutique.

Looking for wholesale jewelry online or in a major fashion capital is getting easier than ever before. Shopping these great low prices is restricted to those in the business just as it needs to be for prices to stay low and continuing running the industry as we know it.

If you are thinking about getting into the wholesale business or just want to learn more check out any of the websites above to see an example of how they work and what is currently on offer within the costume/vintage jewelry market.

The prices might seem low but profits are there to be made, just be prepared for long hours and hard work, as the wholesale business is a competitive one with many trying to break through.

Some celebrity fashion stylists come and go, just as fashion seasons change, however there are a handful that have lasted the test of time. Those few work hard, live and often breath fashion as well as have built a solid client base that love the work they do!

Celebrity Fashion Stylists

Behind every well dressed, and sometimes bad dressed, celebrity is a stylist who has put in countless hours as well as thought into the outfit appearing in front of you.

Hollywood Celebrity Stylists

• Nicole Chavez

Los Angeles based Nicole Chavez’s clients include Rachel Bilson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Scarlett Johansson. She prefers giving clients a fresh “real” look, the girl next-door style. Chavez mixes high-end designer pieces with bargain brands such as Target and Chanel! Her advice for creating an up-to-date look is to accessorize; purchasing affordable accessories and mixing them with staples that are more expensive. This leads to building a base for a stylish wardrobe season after season.

• Christina Ehrlich and Estee Stanley

Stylists and designers, of label Miss Davenporte, Ehrlich and Stanley are based in Los Angeles. Clients include Nicole Richie, Demi Moore, and Penelope Cruz.
“We like classic, chic style – not trendy… find a classic piece and build around it – like a little black dress.”

• Alana Kelen

As a stylist, for VH1, Kelen dresses the on-air hosts and occasionally the celebrity guests. After studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology and interning within the fashion industry, Kelen came across an opportunity at VH1 that began her career as a stylist. As a stylist and keen shopper her motto is ‘Never Pay Full Price!’
She advises shopping online at sites such as Ebay and BlueFly.
“This industry is all about networking, building contacts, and being up-to-date on current trends, events, and news. Try to get experience early, be open to working during school, volunteering or assisting on shoots where you might not necessarily get paid, because sometimes the experience is much more rewarding.”

Jeff Ihenando

Jeff Ihenando styles models Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and Liberty Ross amongst others. He owns a vintage boutique in London called ‘One of a Kind’; makes regular TV appearances and has built a steady base of loyal celebrity clients.

“I have always been into vintage clothes and I always knew how to co-ordinate things… I have a talent for fashion, styling, and several years ago I decided to make a living out of it” – Ihenando.

Ihenando prefers dressing clients in vintage pieces rather than the latest runway pieces. He adores the color, fabrics and history of vintage apparel and accessories. His inspirations include the late Alexander McQueen and respected designer Vivienne Westwood.

His days are long, tiring and often hectic however he loves nothing else!

After years of struggle and wartime restrictions the 1950s were met with hope. It became a time to blossom and live life.

1950s Men’s Fashion

Suits for older men were designed in a conservative style; the “Grey Flannel Suit” was a commonly used phrase in men’s fashion. Popular blazer styles were single breasted and unwaisted.

When at home men would usually replace their blazers with cardigan sweaters, this was considered outfits to relax in. During the fifties tee shirts were seen as under garments and older men rarely wore jeans.

Hats were worn less than in previous years and the penny loafer shoe became the popular footwear of choice. Penny loafers were slip on shoes with a cut out apron that could fit a penny.

Many teenagers broke away from their parents group and rebelled to dress in a style all their own during the fifties. Groups defined themselves through the clothes they wore and it was easily spotted what social group teenagers belonged to via their appearance.

As rock and roll began gaining popularity so did the musicians that performed, Elvis Presley and James Dean were two icons copied for their fashions over and over again. Slicked back hair styled to perfection, leather jackets, tight jeans, and white tees became a uniform for many teenage boys.

Another trend for teenagers was the preppy look, often referred to as the “Ivy League” style. This was when cardigan sweaters were worn over collared shirts with crease free pants.

1950s Men’s Hair Styles

The wet look was also in with many men parting their hair to one side.

Hair for men in the fifties reflected the fashion, conservative; it was kept short and neat.

1950s Women’s Fashion

Fifties fashion for women saw more feminine silhouettes than the previous decades. Shoulders were soft, waists defined, and stiletto heels came back into style.

A sexy option for women during the fifties was the pencil skirt or the “wiggle skirt” as many named it. The shape was very form fitting and was often worn by women working in office environments.

Christian Dior was a popular designer during the fifties, releasing styles called Princess Line, the Profile Line and the A Line.

Other designers popular at the time were Bonnie Cashin and Helen Bond Carruthers who designed elaborate cardigans embellished with beading, buttons, and appliqué work. Cardigans became a staple in women’s wardrobes as they could be worn throughout the day with almost any outfit.

The fifties saw the older generation become more spendthrift due to the years of struggle they had witnessed whereas the younger generation wanted to celebrate life and take risks. There was a definite line drawn amongst the generations when it came to fashion, and depending on where you stood often defined your status in society.

Wholesale: the sale of goods or merchandise to retailers, industry professionals, businesses, or to other wholesalers and not to a standard customer.

Wholesale Accessories For Women

Wholesale accessories for women can be found for discounted prices and purchased by retailers and business professionals throughout the year. Top sites to visit are WholesaleFashionSquare.com, ApparelCandy.com and PrimeTimeClothing.com:

Wholesale Clothing For Women

• WholesaleFashionSquare.com is a clothing wholesaler that stocks quality apparel and accessories. Their main stock is from Los Angeles manufacturers and importers that have overstocked their own supply. By purchasing the overstocked supplies from manufacturers WholeSaleFashionSquare.com are able to offer customers discounted prices, often at sixty to eighty percent below regular wholesale price.

• ApparelCandy.com is based in Los Angeles and aims to give customers the highest profit margin possible. By buying large quantities of apparel and accessories they are able to sell at much lower wholesale prices, often between fifty and eighty percent below wholesale price. Buyers travel worldwide to stock up on merchandise and find the latest fashion pieces. Specializing in junior clothing ApparelCandy.com has established relationships with some of the worlds leading manufacturers and now also offers plus sizes, maternity, and active wear. Unlike many wholesalers ApparelCandy.com do not have a minimum order price and they also offer free shipping on orders over two hundred dollars. ApparelCandy.com also has an online store where customers can browse the regular wholesale items as well as the clearance items at even lower price points!

• PrimeTimeClothing.com gives customers a premium selection of wholesale apparel and accessories at low discounted prices. Working closely together with Los Angeles manufacturers and importers and over twenty-five years experience PrimeTimeClothing.com sources merchandise daily. As well as daily specials and seasonal trends PrimeTimeClothing.com also offers customers a sale section at even lower prices.

Wholesale Jewelry

WholesaleFashionSquare.com also offers customers jewelry at wholesale prices but for those wanting to deal with a specialist in wholesale jewelry check out JewelryMax.com, a top jewelry wholesale website.

JewelryMax.com directly import from sterling silver and fashion jewelry manufacturers worldwide. Choices include:
• Sterling silver
• Cubic zirconia
• Swarovski crystal jewelry
• Semi-precious stones
• Costume jewelry

Choose from bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings, anklets, and pendants.

Wholesale accessories, fashion and jewelry for both women and men have become an expanding business.

If you are thinking about getting into the wholesale business or just want to learn more check out any of the websites above to see an example of how they work and what is currently on offer for women.

The prices might seem low but profits are there to be made, just be prepared for long hours and hard work, as the wholesale business is a competitive one with many trying to break through.

From layered cuts to various techniques long hair can be extremely versatile however you do need to ensure the strands are kept healthy. Try the DIY hot-oil treatment, as described below, for an easy to do moisturizing treat!

Long Hair Trends 2012

Glamour Puss

Long layered hairstyles will be a big trend in 2012, take inspiration from actress and beauty Penelope Cruz. Her long locks work well with long bangs that frame the face and layers that go from mid length to long.

Feathered Cuts

Another long hairstyle that will be trendy in 2012 is the feathered long layer cut with bangs falling just below the eyebrow line. This style needs constant trimming but gives off an easy casual vibe.

Sleek Long Hair

A hairstyle often seen amongst the A-list is the sleek long style; keep bangs slightly rounded and an inch above eye level for the updated mod look. Your long tresses should be high shine and extremely straight so keep those flat irons close by.

Half Up, Half Down

Make the most of your long hair and glam your style up in 2012.
1. Leave the front shorter layers loose.
2. Taking the top section, hold it up while liberally spraying volumizing spray into your hair and backcomb the strands.
3. Then using bobby pins secure the top half so you get a slight pouf while the ends fall loosely over the bottom section.
4. Finish with hairspray to keep strands in place.

Remember long hair needs regular conditioning to keep it looking healthy and moisturized. Try a monthly deep cream/oil treatment at home if visiting the salon gets too expensive.

Messy Laidback Long Hair

Use volumizing mousse for a tousled messy look that still has control. Use your fingertips to create the sections you want and forget the comb as that can cause strands to appear too worked on.

Braids

Long hair looks fabulous in braids and for 2012 there are many braid options:
• Loose one sided braids
• Tight neatly combed braids, one or multiple
• High braids
• Braids with center parting
• Low loose braids that start mid way through so the top is left unfinished.

DIY Hot-Oil Treatments

1. Blend together equal parts olive oil and canola oil, warm them together in the microwave for approx 20 seconds.
2. Make sure the oil is not burning and comfortable to handle. Using your hands apply the warmed oil to damp hair.
3. Comb your hair to ensure oil has penetrated throughout the entire area.
4. Leave the oil on for thirty minutes, you can wear a shower cap or wrap your hair with a towel to protect your clothes and keep the oil in.
5. Rinse with warm to cold water, wash hair with your regular shampoo and conditioner. Style as normal.

Women’s fashion boutiques today have grown from the brick and mortar store to an online industry. E-boutiques are the new way for the fashion conscious to shop.

Women’s Fashion Boutique

Blend New York is a fashion and art boutique with an aim to not only dress women in fabulous clothing but also contribute to worthy causes. A percentage of sales are donated to progressive organizations with a mission to change, for the positive, the way the environment, animals and people are treated.

Featured designers include Christine Marchuska, Sharon Pell, and Vanessa Quijano.

One of the featured designers, Christine Marchuska, is an organic eco fashion with an affordable price range. Other eco-designers include A.D.O and Jonano. Eco fashion for Blend New York is about offering customers clothing that is environmentally friendly. Eco fashion at Blend New York is achieved by using sustainable materials and bio-friendly production techniques; at the same time style is not sacrificed.

Blend New York stocks tops, bottoms, dresses, accessories, and art.

Customers can shop designer artwork, featuring paint and prints.

Blend New York also has the option, for customers, to shop via trends and styles. Choose from trends such as Ice Queen, Jungle Patrol, Mod Remix, and She’s a Lady.

One of the boutiques favorite quotes by a fashion icon is:
“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening” – Coco Chanel

Tobi Clothing

Tobi.com is an online boutique, based in San Francisco, selling women’s and men’s designer apparel and accessories. Designers customers can shop include Alexander Wang, Vince, Hudson Jeans, and Cheap Monday.

Tobi.com offers customers new season arrivals at RRP as well as past season pieces on sale.

Forever 21 Boutique

The online version of Forever 21 Boutique is coming soon and shoppers, already fans of the brand, cannot wait!

The collection focuses on vintage inspired pieces for women

Boutique by Forever 21 is about an antique feel. Pieces feature embellishments such as feathers and sequins. Using high quality fabrics a secondhand vibe is achieved, though do not worry all pieces are brand new and clean!

Expect more of what you see in-store; floral dresses, sequined soft tops, and necklines emblazoned with intricate detailing.

The Forever 21 Boutique is a place to head to when looking for trendy pieces at fabulous value. Started in 1984 and originally called Fashion 21 the store quickly became a popular brand with young women across America.

So whether you want soft and romantic, modern and edgy or an eco-conscious outfit online fashion boutiques have it all. Find what you want from the comfort of your seat and browse your favorite e-boutiques.

What are you waiting for? Fashion is only a click away!

Fashion trends for men in 2011 see some trends reemerge and style go more casual than previous seasons.

Men’s Fashion Trends 2011

Spring/summer 2011 saw white jeans make a return to men’s fashion, as well as pastel colored blazers and shirts. Think a balance of causal meets dressy. Both checked and striped patterns were in for men’s shirts this season.

The new blazer style for spring/summer 2011 was the double-breasted, waist cinching, and longer length style.

Casual khaki pants made a slight change in color with the palest of shades in blue, green and yellow becoming popular. The idea behind the trend was to create a sun bleached look.

Summer accessories included a comeback of the aviator sunglasses, this time in every size and color. One of the new styles for 2011 was a matte finish with clear to silver frames, a futuristic vibe.

Shoes popular during spring/summer 2011 include:
• Suede penny loafers in bold colors.
• Leather brogues in light caramel, off-white, and navy.
• Dessert boots.
• Canvas lace-up moccasins.
• Lace up sneakers in pastel colors.
• Van sneakers, both laced and slip-ons.

Men’s Hair Trends 2011

Men’s hair trends in 2011 are about ease.
• Classic cuts, with a little bounce on top is one trend to look for.
• Front waves have become popular; think the 80’s with less volume.
• Longer layers have also made a comeback, this time neater than previous years. Think longer in the back and more combed than grunge.

Women’s Fashion Trends 2011

The seventies came back for 2011 with designers such as Marc Jacobs and Tory Burch sending seventies inspired pieces down the runway. Wide legged pants, high waisted jeans, and loud prints were seen for both seasons in 2011.

Minimalism was a trend throughout the year with Yigal Azrouel, and Alexander Wang designing simple paired down looks throughout both their collections.

Block colors became a popular trend as oranges, turquoise, candy pink, and sunshine yellows came into trend. Often paired with gold’s and silvers, block colors were seen in collections by Gucci, Christopher Kane, Rachel Roy, and Jil Sander.

Spring/summer 2011 saw prints become louder and more daring than previous seasons. Both designers and ready-to-wear brands played around with prints this season. Stella McCartney mixed prints on silk dresses, Proenza Schouler mixed and matched colors, prints and separates for playful glamour, and Prada had fun with whimsical prints. Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters were two store brands quick at picking up on the trend.

Flower prints were another trend for spring/summer; both big and bold as well as small and girl like. Alberta Ferretti was one designer bringing flower prints into 2011.

2011 for men and women saw color in all shades, prints become popular and a mix of casual and dressy.

Forget brassy colors and dulled hair of previous seasons, the key word for Fall 2011 hair color is REFINED. Elegant colors that go into warming red, sleek blonde and sexy brunette.

Latest Hair Color Trends

Warming Red

Forget the vibrant red that made Rihanna a cover star and think more natural, as in Julia Roberts warm red hue. Warm reds can be difficult against most complexions so ask your colorist what warming shade would suit you and take chance being prepared for the upkeep!

A Sleek Blonde

A bright sexed up blonde for the current season means starting off ashy blonde at the root tips and then continuing into an extremely light blonde that is almost golden.

Falling Highlights

Quickly transform your hair color with highlights that are ultra thin, this way the highlights seem more grown up and glamorous rather than streaky.

Ombre

For fall the ongoing ombre trend is dark on top and light below but using the same color base so it does not appear too contrasting. This way when the color begins to grow out your hair will not look tired and dull. Check out actress Olivia Wilde and designer Lauren Conrad for inspiration.

Brunette Contrasts

For a simple yet effective look try coloring the top and outside strands an inky black and then highlighting the underneath layers towards the bottom a deep chocolate shade. The end result is a stunning sexy look that with each turn adds mystery.

Tips To Keep Hair Looking Refined

• Ensure you get regular trimming so split ends are in the past.
• Deep condition once a week or apply monthly hot oil treatments at home.
• Wash hair with color protecting shampoos and conditioners to keep your color at it’s best for as long as possible.

Grown up glam is what fall 2011 hair is all about and these colors will easily transition you into 2012.

DSW, Designer Shoe Warehouse, is a shoe haven for the style conscious wanting value and style in one destination.

Thousands of choices for both women and men can be found as well as a constant changing inventory so customers can easily find new styles when they come in.

DSW Locations & Brands

Designer Shoe Warehouse currently has stand-alone DSW stores in thirty-nine states across America including California and New York.

California alone has thirty-one stores, with two more planned to open later this year, and New York currently has eighteen.

Brands currently on offer at DSW include:
• Adidas
• AK Anne Klein
• Betsey Johnson
• Converse
• DKNY
• Fergie
• Harajuku Lovers
• Jimmy Choo
• Kenneth Cole Reaction
• L.A.M.B
• Liz Claiborne
• Marc by Marc Jacobs
• Nike
• Ralph Lauren
• Rock & Republic
• Sergio Rossi
• Timberland

Designer Shoe Warehouse Coupons

DSW offers loyal customers with an award winning loyalty program and exclusive discounts.
• Twice a year members get double points on purchases.
• $5 certificates on birthdays.
• Money rewards every time members reach a certain level of points.
• Free shipping for reward members.

Designer Shoe Warehouse also offers customers to give the gift of shoes via their DSW Gift Cards and e-Gift Cards.

Gift cards can be customized with personal photos, artwork or one of the DSW styles can be chosen.
• DSW greeting cards with the gift card come at $1.95
• Personalized greeting cards come at $4.50

Designer Shoe Warehouse Hours

DSW is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio and opened their first store in 1991.

Hours vary from store to store however generally Designer Shoe Warehouse locations are open between 11am – 8pm. For full store hours it is best to call the location you want to visit.

Another way to look over the hours and shop 24/7 is to shop online!
Features online include:
• New Arrivals
• Wedding Shop
• Wide Width
• Hot For Fall
• Luxury Designers
• Clearance, annual sales find shoes at up to fifty percent off.

Online customers can shop by style and/or category as well as browse the women’s, men’s, kids, handbags & accessories, luxury, and brands sections.

Handbags and accessories include satchels, totes, cross body bags, shoulder bags, wallets, clutches, socks, tights, leggings as well as slippers.

For shoppers wanting to find shoes with style, or a certain brand name, versatility, and value for their money then Designer Shoe Warehouse is a one-stop location.

Customers will find multiple choices under one roof and for lower prices than at most other stores.

DSW commercials are regularly uploaded and kept current on their own YouTube channel. Designer Shoe Warehouse can be followed via Twitter, FaceBook and watched on YouTube.

With today’s competitive online discounts for designer clothes it is easy to find bargains within fashion.

A few clicks can find discount designer sites that will have you amazed at the value offered. Find active wear, suits, denim, shoes, and/or accessories for men at any of the below top three discount online retailers.

Discount Men’s Designer Clothes

Three online discount destinations to find men’s designer clothes are:
• Gilt Groupe, a member only shopping location. Designer sales find pieces up to sixty percent off full retail price. The sales work on a first come, first served basis and email alerts let members know of advanced sales so bargain hunters can log in early. Past sales have included VINCE, Burberry Prorsum, Michael Kors, Ted Baker, and Jack Spade.
• HauteLook, where each at 8 AM Pacific new sales begin featuring savings at up to seventy-five percent off. Membership is free and past sales have included Kenneth Cole, O’Neill, and True Grit.
• BlueFly

BlueFly

Founded in 1998 Bluefly, Inc has become a leader in discounted designer brands. With their headquarters in New York and a website updated daily Bluefly is growing constantly with new arrivals and unbeatable offers.

Men’s designer brands include:
• Armani
• Burberry
• Dolce & Gabbana
• Gucci
• Kenneth Cole Reaction
• Marc by Marc Jacobs
• MICHAEL by Michael Kors
• Paul Smith

Categories for men include:
• Active wear
• Bags
• Outerwear
• Denim
• Pants
• Shoes
• Shirts
• Suits
• Swimwear
• Sunglasses
• Underwear

Bluefly can be followed and communicated with via social media sites such as Twitter and FaceBook.

Discount Men’s Designer Jeans

Bluefly offers shoppers a variety of jeans in their denim category. Styles at Bluefly for men’s jeans currently are bootcut, regular, relaxed, slim, and straight leg.

Sizes range from 26 to 42 and designer names at Bluefly for jeans include:
• 7 For All Mankind
• Alexander McQueen
• Dolce & Gabbana
• Diesel
• Dsquared2
• G-Star
• Gucci
• Hudson
• Hugo Boss
• Marc by Marc Jacobs
• MICHAEL Michael Kors
• Paper Denim & Cloth
• Prada
• Rock & Republic
• Tom Ford
• William Rast
• Y-3 Yohji Yamamoto

Prices range from $48 to $600, with discounts at up to sixty percent off regular retail price.

Whether you are looking for jeans, other apparel or accessories there is an online discount retailer that will have a selection for you.

Never pay full price again!

Trends for winter 2011 go from the easy to do style revamp through to the high maintenance change.

Easy Ombre Trend, a low cost style revamping your winter looks

If your hair is already colored and the roots are starting to show do not fret as the ombre trend is happening naturally to your hair! To step it up a notch or get your desired ombre shade ask your colorist to darken your roots and lighten the end strands.

One Hue, One Step

Whether you want rich brown or champagne blonde opt for a one step one color change to keep your strands low maintenance. Remember for winter 2011 the richer the color the better, so try dark shades of your chosen color that will make your strands appear glossy.

Deep Reds, warming winter up

Brassy reds are out and deep warm red hues are in. Be warned red shades are high maintenance but when dyed correctly can look fabulous.

Winter Freshness

Mid length hair is perfect for winter, it can be styled up into a short up-do or left loose for a smart bob. Leave hair two inches below shoulder length for a style fresh for winter.

Wavy Hair

If you have naturally curly hair smooth the roots out with some frizz ease cream/gel and loosen the curls to create casual waves. If your hair is straight then curl, using tongs, ensuring to keep curls loose and flowy not tight. Think summer beach wavy hair made sleeker for the city winter season.

Braids

Seen across the runway, Lanvin for one, for fall/winter 2011/2012 were braids that have gone glamorous with a new twist. Keep hair tousled at the top for a casual chic style and then braid, leaving a few small strands out, to one side. Spray all over with a high shine spray for the finished glamour look.

Ponytails, both mid and low tied

Both mid and low tied ponytails are in trend for winter 2011; just make sure the look is sleek and glossy. Key tools include flat irons, frizz ease serum and shine spray.

For winter 2011 change you color, length or try a new hair technique. Revamping has never been so easy or versatile!

Plus size fashion rivals fashion from all ranges. Today more and more designers are starting to realize women come in more than just the mannequin shape. To reach their audience and gain followers designers have started to launch their own plus size collections as well as extend their size ranges in existing collections.

Plus Size High Fashion

Find plus size fashion in-stores and online, whether you want the latest styles on the runway or something a little more casual find it with ease.

Plus Size Juicy Couture

Sizes for Juicy Couture go up to 3X, the brand specializes in velour loungewear and jogging suits for women but have grown into a brand encompassing much more.

Juicy Couture is all about having fun, being glamorous an discovering the brighter side of fashion.

Launched in 1997 by two friends, Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor, Juicy Couture quickly gained worldwide recognition from fashion obsessed fans as well as celebrities across the globe. Six years later in 2003 Liz Claiborne acquired the company and today it continues to grow with success.

Currently there are over a hundred Juicy Couture stand-alone stores and outlet stores in the United States. Juicy Couture can also be found in department stores, such as Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom, as well as online.

The brand covers fashion apparel, handbags, shoes, lingerie, swimwear, fragrances, jewelry, sunglasses for women, girls and babies and more recently the brand has entered the men’s apparel business.

Juicy Couture is probably most well known for their casual tracksuits that have the brand name emblazoned across them. Famous faces that have been spotted in the velour tracksuits include Paris Hilton, Eva Longoria, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, and Ashley Greene.

Plus Size Fashion Designers

Some of the best plus size fashion designers, some of whom also design for “average” and petite sizes, include:

• AK Anne Klein, a contemporary sportswear designer with sizes up to 24W.
• Baby Phat, urban styles from designer Kimora Lee Simmons, sizes go up to 3X.
• David Mesiter, find cocktail dresses, eveningwear, and office wear in sizes up to 24W.
• Dereon, urban fashion and designer denim from Beyonce and her stylist mother in sizes up to 3X.
• DKNYC, an extension of Donna Karan’s brand that continues to be contemporary and casual.
• Eileen Fisher, get natural fibers and simple pieces in sizes up to 3X.
• Elie Tahari, a brand that has separates and dresses for all occasions in sizes up to 24W.
• Jones New York, tailored pieces for the office up to size 16 with select styles going up to 24W.
• Juicy Couture
• Karen Kane, bohemian styles up to 24W
• Kenneth Cole, tailored sportswear in sizes up to 24W.

Women’s fashion catalogues have come a long way since their inception, from small mail order magazines to an essential fashion guide for busy women.

Women’s Fashion Catalogs

Both Coldwater Creek and Chadwicks started off in the eighties as small businesses with an aim to change the way mail ordering was done. Today they have grown into successful companies with a market share to rival high-end designer brands. As leaders within women’s fashion apparel both catalog businesses have proven that quality and affordability mixed with an opportunity to easily shop from home makes for a profitable business.

Coldwater Creek

Coldwater Creek began in 1984 as a small home business with one telephone line and a vision to start a new mail order business. Today the company is a leader in the women’s fashion industry, selling through retail stores and direct mail catalogs as well as online.

The first Coldwater Creek catalog was mailed out in 1985 and has become a steady source of income for the company. Showcasing the Coldwater Creek’s aim to create beautiful timeless design and offer customers unique pieces the catalog is an important part of business. Customers can order via the catalog, online or visit one the many retail locations to see the merchandise up close.

Coldwater Creek catalogs can now be found online, browsed through and ordered from – therefore cutting down on paper being mailed out. Another advance in modern technology!

Coldwater Creek also has an outlet option where customers can find pieces up to sixty percent off retail price as well as a Factory section where pieces can be found at “compare” prices.

Visit Coldwater Creek to see their vast collection of women’s apparel and accessories as well as home décor.

Chadwicks

Chadwicks started over twenty-five years ago as a place for women to find apparel and accessories they could easily fit into their busy lives.

Chadwicks fashion includes basics that become staples in women’s wardrobes as well as the most popular trends translated into wearable pieces.

Chadwicks sizes go from misses, womens, petites, to tall. A reason for the popular appeal is the ease in shopping, not only for size but also for finding essentials that stay on trend under one brand.

The first catalog was mailed in 1983 and today Chadwicks continues to mail out catalogs as well as having an online presence.

Brands at chadwicks include:
• Calvin Klein
• Nautica
• Italian Shoemakers
• Larry Levine
• Julian Taylor

Collections at Chadwicks include signature styles, linens, and shape benefits.

Women’s fashion catalogs are a convenient way to shop apparel and accessories without spending time in traffic or fighting the crowds.

So whether you want basics or pieces from designer names subscribe to your favorite catalog online today and watch shopping get easier!

Dressing in the mornings, for the office, should not be hard or cause stress. Know the basics and add your own personality as you grow within the role.

If there was a manual for men’s business attire it might read something like this:

Men’s Business Fashion

• In an office environment where the majority of men wear suits it can be best to also wear a smart suit in dark colors such as blue, black, brown and grey.
• When it comes to shirts go simple: white, off white, pale colors.
• Coordinate your tie with your shirt and suit colors; avoid loud patterns.
• Shoes should be polished and also coordinate with the overall style of outfit.

Men’s Suits

For men wanting a slightly different look but needing to fit into the business “office” style look towards designer suits. The majority of men’s designers include classic suits within their collections. The suits are tailored and fit the classic style but still have a flair of individualism about them.

Designers to check out for suits, shirts, ties and accessories include:
• Giorgio Armani
• Dunhill
• Dior Homme by Hedi Slimane
• Prada
• Calvin Klein
• Gucci
• Helmut Lang
• Tommy Hilfiger
• Jil Sander

Women’s Business Fashion

Women’s business fashion is not so different from men’s, some guidelines to follow in a traditional office environment are:
• Whether women choose to wear pants or a skirt the safest colors to wear when new in an office environment are shades of black, blue, brown and grey.
• When it comes to blouses opt for neutral colors that match the suit. Collars can be softer than originally on men’s style shirts.
• Accessorize with scarves and jewelry, classic and chic is best for new environments.
• Shoes can be the most played with accessory when it comes to women’s business fashion. Choose from low heels, high heels, stilettos, stacked heels, wedges, to boots. Open toe shoes are probably the only style to stay away from when wearing a business suit.

For both men’s and women’s suits avoid the following:
• Shoulder pads
• Long lengths, the blazers should never be too long or loose. Get pieces tailored if necessary though most brands offers petite ranges so finding your size should not be hard.
• Creased suits, there should never be a reason to arrive at work with an overly creased suit!

Dressing the part needs to reflect your environment and the position you are in. Stick to traditional when new and then later down the road take risks as you settle in. Playing with color and prints can work well when accessorizing so start small if unsure; cufflinks, ties, scarves etc.

2011 men’s fashion trends saw many changes & some consistencies within the market. Denim stayed a staple & leather made a comeback!

The two seasons during 2011 saw many changes and some consistencies within men’s fashion trends. Denim stayed a staple throughout the year and leather made a comeback, this time in a softer texture.

2011 Men’s Fashion Trends

Specific changes included:
• Color shades for the two seasons; summer saw light pastels and shades of white whereas fall saw deep maroons, purples and grays.
• Suit silhouettes for the summer went more contemporary than previous seasons with waistcoats making a comeback. For fall suit silhouettes were more defined as waists went slimmer, and shoulders became broader.

2011 Men’s Clothes

Denim as usual was popular for men but this year not in the usual blue, instead customers wanted other colors. Colors included cream, grays, khaki, shades of yellow, basically anything but blue.

Outerwear had various styles for 2011 depending on the season. For fall silhouettes were loose and casual, keys fabrics to look for were plaid, herringbone and soft leather. Trench coats in lightweight fabrics were the outerwear of choice during both the 2011 seasons.

Leather also becomes a much wanted fabric for accessories in 2011, both for mid sized man bags, small wallets and I-Pad cases.

Accessories got a reworking for men in 2011 with travel options being key items to own. Large canvas bags with leather trimmings in greens, grays and blues were must have items.

Shoes get a new lease of life for men during 2011, the usual black was out and color was in. All shades of blue, green, brown-reds, and corals are seen on loafer and lace-up styles.

Collaborations always raise eyebrows and 2011 was no exception. Some of the menswear brands and designers that teamed up included:
• Lanvin for H&M
• Steven Alan for Dockers
• Levi’s for Pendleton
• Lacoste for Earnest Sewn
• J.Press for Urban Outfitters
• Hickey Freeman for Opening Ceremony
• French Connection for Sears

2011 Men’s Hair Trends

Men’s hairstyles for 2011 either went 50’s preppy boy neat or casual messy waves; the two extremes were seen on runways across America as well as on the streets.

Perry Ellis showcased medium length and short curls in a natural beach style and Lacoste highlighted the fifties side parted style.

Also popular during 2011 was the faux-hawk where the sides are cut short and the center left longer so it can be styled spiked up.

Razor hairstyles remained popular for 2011. Hair is grown longer and then razor cut to change the texture as well as add layers.

Men’s trends from year to year may change slower than women’s however the two seasons do see fabrics, colors and silhouettes change frequently. The comeback ratio is just that more higher for men, especially when it comes to staples they cannot give up!

The nineties saw a causal approach to fashion though that did not mean the end of designer labels; in fact brands were more obvious during the nineties as names were often worn on the outside.

’90s Fashion Trends

The first half of the nineties saw trends from the late eighties stick around; tight fitting trousers, neon colors, oversized sweaters, and leather jackets.

Keds were the popular footwear of choice for the younger generation, they were found in several color options and the “in” style was to leave the tags on to show they were original keds.

The mid nineties saw the hippie style make a comeback. Floral dresses and gypsy tops was the style to aim for as well as longer hair on both men and women.

The younger generation took inspiration from their favorite musicians. Men’s fashion during the nineties saw trends emerge from the music scene as hip-hop and grunge took over. For the hip-hop scene clothes became baggy and oversized. While grunge fans took to wearing plaid, blue jeans and white tee shirts.

During the late nineties, women’s fashion became more casual as they began wearing sweatpants, tank tops, and ugg boots. The low waisted jean trend also happened around this time. It was common to see underwear poking out from beneath low-rise jeans!

For men the late nineties saw sports brands become popular. Even office wear became more casual as many men opted to leave the blazer at home and dress down for work.

’90s Fashion Designers

The difference seen between the two biggest selling designers of the nineties showcased the differing styles that were popular at the time. Gucci dressed the woman who loved the spotlight while Calvin Klein dressed the woman wanting a simpler casual look but wanting to remain stylish.

The nineties was definitely the year for Gucci as sales figures rose. Tom Ford was signed by Gucci to become their design director in 1994 and he revolutionized the designer brand. He picked up the flagging sales figures by showcasing chic collections, launching fragrances, redesigning boutiques, and focusing on promotional campaigns. For years later, in 1998, Gucci was named “European Company of the Year” by European Business Press Federation.

Calvin Klein was perhaps the most well known designer of the nineties, his collections were eagerly anticipated and his fragrance sales hit new sales levels never seen before for both men and women. He was one of the first designers to use promotional campaigns to sell a dream. Calvin Klein gained enormous popularity during the nineties within the young urban market.

’80s Fashion Trends

The decade before, the eighties, saw a lot of trends emerge. Some good and some considered bad! However you categorized the fashion during that era the trends were unforgettable:

• • Neon colors in block color and print, small and big and everything in between.
• Oversized sweaters; worn over leggings, nipped at the waist with skinny belts and with miniskirts.
• MC Hammer pants were tight at the ankle and loose towards the top, now more famously known as the harem pant.
• Leg warmers that were thick and not confined to the dance studio.
• Fingerless gloves; made popular by Madonna and most commonly seen in lace and leather.
• Shoulder pads; made popular in the late eighties, they stayed around for the early nineties too.

Two decades with very different styles, some overlapped and others were quickly forgotten. Which were your favorites?

Designer petite clothing has made more brands rethink their ranges, collections are becoming more diverse as designers realize women need original fits.

Fashion designers and brands have realized not all women are the same shape or height. Petite women want what other women have, choice but also need it fitted to their proportions so petite ranges are starting to become a part of everyday fashion.

Designer Petite Clothing

Petite clothing needs to be fitted just right to attain the style of the original piece and still look good on shorter body proportions. Two stores currently successful at this mix are Anthropologie and Banana Republic.

Anthropologie

Since 1992 Anthropologie has been offering fashion and a shopping experience for women wanting beautiful well-crafted clothing and accessories.

Anthropologie not only offers customers the regular clothing sizes you find in most stores but also designs for the petite woman. The designers at Anthropologie know not all women are the same and that we all need our own fit so the petite range goes from a size zero, extra small, to a size fourteen, large. Choose from dresses, skirts, pants, blazers and outerwear.

Anthropologie also offers customers their own personal shopper, an assistant who provides complimentary one-on-one advice to fashion, home décor, and gift giving. Your personal shopper understands style, trend, colors, and the silhouettes that will suit your shape. Just book an in-store appointment!

Find Anthropologie in stand-alone stores and online.

Banana Republic

Banana Republic brings modern style together with versatile pieces that give a vibe of luxury.

The brands mission is to give customers new designs, luxurious fabrics, and price points that can be attainable. The range currently includes apparel, handbags, jewelry, eyewear and fragrances.

Founded in 1978 and acquired by Gap Inc, in 1983 the brand has grown to have stand-alone stores across the country as well as an online presence.

Banana Republic’s petite range is extensive and includes tees, blouses, sweaters, dresses, skirts, pants, blazers, jackets, suits, denim, shoes, handbags, sunglasses, and jewelry.

Be inspired online with the brands idea for styling outfits, their new arrivals picks, and featured items.

Other stylish successful petite brands include:
• BCBG
• DKNY

DKNY symbolizes New York style with an international flair and at the same time gives women what they really need whether it is for work, relaxation or transitional pieces.

• Gap
• J. Crew

With their launch in 1983 J. Crew quickly grew to have retail stores nationwide, an online store, and a popular catalog business.

• Michael by Michael Kors
• Miss Sixty
• Old Navy
• TopShop

Since TopShops launch in 1964 the store has grown from a small British store to an international brand. The brand mixes high street fashion with designer pieces. They often collaborate with style icons such as Celia Birtwell and Kate Moss.

So however petite you may be there are options, many options, in the fashion market for you.

The Fall 2012 fashion shows showcased a varied amount of hairstyles, ranging from bombshell to contemporary.

Hair Fashion Trends 2012

Here were the top three looks that made waves on the runways, and the designers who have proved to be ahead of the trends.

Casual Girl, Messy Bun

Seen at Narcisco Rodriguez and Alberta Ferretti was the messy bun.

The classic middle styled bun this season is slightly messed up by leaving a few strands out loose and not combing the hair to perfection. Use various sized bobby pins to achieve a loose bun style. Less old school ballet and more modern day prep school.

Key Hair Product: Bobby Pins.

Classic Style, Retro Poof

Seen at Jean Paul Gaultier, Peter Som and Bottega Veneta the classic poof made a comeback!

Channeling a sixties housewife meets Brigitte Bardot starlet this hairstyle is high maintenance. Use volumizing spray generously on damp hair and then blow dry. Back comb as much as possible to create your desired height and turn the ends into a French twist securing with bobby pins.

Key Hair Product: Volumizing Spray, Hairspray and Bobby Pins.

Good Girls, Sleek Ponytail

Seen on the runways of Alexander Wang, Marc Jacobs and Gucci were the sleekest of ponytails.

Imagine the good girl in school that always looked well put together and more times than not you’ll remember the neat high ponytail! This style allows for no strands out of place and for hair to be as shiny as possible. Blow dry hair straight and liberally spray a gloss/high shine spray all over your hair. Go over hair, small sections at a time, with a flat iron ensuring strands are as straight as possible. Carefully comb hair into a high ponytail and secure with an opaque/hair colored thin elastic band. If you want to go for the ultimate neat ‘do’ take a one-inch section from the ponytail and wrap it around the elastic to hide the band, secure with a small pin. Finish off with a high shine hairspray to keep strands in place.

Key Hair Product: High Shine Spray and Flat Irons.

So whether you are looking for high maintenance hair, extremely neat looks or casual easy to style hair this fall, 2012 has something for you and your lifestyle.

Celebrities are like the rest of us; they want change and follow trends from the runway. Often however they get the tips from the hairstylists before we even know what trends are emerging, so keeping hair watch when it comes to celebrities color change can lead to your own change inspiration.

Celebrity Hair Color 2012

Redheads, brunettes, blondes, and ombre tips are all in trend for 2012. Check out below what the A-list is turning their shade to this season and what might work for you.

Ombre Hair Color Trend

Many celebrities are turning their strands into the ombre trend. A fantastic trend to grow out your old hair color while you decide on a more permanent color.

• Rachel Bilson is one beauty making the ombre trend her own, with dark brunette streaks at the roots and a sun-kissed blonde hue towards the ends of the strands.
• Hilary Duff has let her hair go the ombre root naturally since she discovered she is expecting her first child and it looks stunning on her. Her strands are going from a deep auburn to beach-lit blonde.
• Drew Barrymore is a starlet that keeps the ombre trend alive season after season. Often photographed with deep brunette roots and light blonde tips she keeps this look casual and fresh.

Natural Rich Color

A trend that will last well into 2012 is the more “natural”-looking rich brunettes and deep auburns. Think of Sofia Vergara’s golden undertones and her warm brown shade. The good news about the natural-rich color of brown is that it is low maintenance and suits most complexions.

Champagne Blonde

The luxurious champagne blonde seen on Taylor Swift and actress Sienna Miller is a popular hue to transition from 2011 to 2012.

Deep Red

The deep red shade for 2012 goes more natural rather than shocking, though saying natural might be misleading as the red hue is one of the most high maintenance colors to choose. Celebrities that wear it well are Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts and Julianne Moore.

Go low-maintenance with ombre hues or rich browns, risk a change with champagne blonde, or spend your time looking after high-maintenance locks with deep red shades. In 2012 make your hair stand out for all the right reasons, healthy glossy strands!

Hair trends for the fall/winter 2011 season saw a mix of looks. Choose the look that suits your lifestyle from messy unkempt looks to neat styles and many hairstyles in-between.

• Country Girl Gone To The City Bun

For fall 2011 the bun updo is messier than previous seasons. Leaving pieces out and adding roughness to the look was seen on the runways of Chanel, Michael Kors, and Narcisco Rodriguez.

How-To:

1. Gather hair into a mid ponytail and secure with a thin elastic band.
2. Spray on salt spray/beach texture hairspray to create a rough look and texture.
3. Twist the pony around the elastic band and secure with pins in the same color of your hair so they are not too obvious.

Purchase: Wella Professionals Ocean Spritz Beach Texture Hairspray.

• Grown-Up Bouffant Hairstyle

Blame this new look on mixing classic style with reality TV, seen on models at Jean Paul Gaultier, Peter Som, and Fendi.

How-To:

1. Spray volumizing hairspray onto slightly damp hair.
2. Back comb at the crown for desired volume on top.
3. Secure the back into a French twist, using pins to secure.
4. Spritz all over with hairspray for a final lasting touch.

Purchase: Garnier Volumizing Anti-Humidity Spray and Garnier Fructis Hairpsray Style XXL Volume, Extra Strong.

• Neat Schoolgirl Style

This innocent look is back this season with a sleek ponytail. Alexander Wang, Gucci and Marc Jacobs all highlighted this serious style this season.

How-To:

1. Flat iron your hair.
2. Gather tightly into a high ponytail and secure with a thin elastic band.
3. Using an inch strand of hair hide the elastic band by wrapping the hair around the band or use an opaque band for ease.
4. Spray a shine spray all over your hair for a wet look.

Purchase: Chi Shine Infusion Thermal Polishing Spray

Tip: Head to drugstores for hair products on a budget.

Tip: Shop online for multi/bulk buys to get cheaper options and for an even better deal sign up for coupons from beauty/hair stores such as Ulta Beauty.

Mix classic with contemporary and make your mornings easier this season!

Choosing the perfect hairstyle is just one of those things that elude most women. Sometimes, a gorgeous cut is undermined by the fact that the woman wearing it is too busy to style it properly. Other times, a cut is chosen because of how great it looks on someone else, but ends up looking pathetic on the woman wishing to mimic the style because her hair type and texture is the exact opposite needed to wear the style beautifully.

But not everyone is destined to encountering hairstyle disaster after disaster on their quest for the perfect cut, and neither are you. All it takes is just a little bit of preplanning and consideration to get the perfect hairstyle each and every time you go to the salon. Here are just a few questions that you should ask yourself when changing your style:

· How does the cut or style flatter my face and body shape? Probably the number one mistake that women make when choosing a new style is to choose a style that is unflattering to their features. For example: A swept back style would make a round face look even rounder, but a style that softens up the facial features with a little forward movement can make a round face appear more balanced and oval. Haircuts can also be tailored to draw the eye to your most stunning features and to detract it from those you’d rather hide.

· How much time and effort will I have to put into styling each morning? In today’s hectic-paced world, who has time to burn styling hair? Most of us need a style that is easy to work with and requires little time primping in front of the mirror. Even if you have a style that requires more work, it is likely that you will bypass a majority of the care and maintenance needed for it to look its best on most days. And that could add up to a lot of bad hair days. Instead, choose a style that is easy to work with and compliments your hair’s natural tendencies.

· Will this style work with my hair’s type and texture or work against it? If your hair is limp and straight, choosing a heavily layered style that requires a curling iron or hot rollers every day could get exhausting. Likewise, a sleek, flat style on extremely curly locks could take a lot of effort to maintain. So, try to choose a style that will work with your texture. By doing this, you can have a style that seems to go into place magically with little or no fuss on your part.

· Will this style accommodate my lifestyle? If you have to wear your hair up for your job or if you’re a tomboy who loves to throw on a ball cap, you should consider this before deciding on a hairstyle. After all, who wants to be stuck with a style that they have to curl each and every day when their tendency is to wear it in a pony tail? If you wear your hair up often, be sure to choose a style that will still allow you to do this when the mood or need strikes you.

Choosing the perfect hairstyle does not have to be complicated. Just take a little time to really think about what your needs and wants are, and you should be able to get the style you dream of easily. And the best part is that you won’t regret it once you have it.

Fashion trends for teenagers in 2011 took inspiration from celebrities and women’s runways. Less is more when it comes to baring skin but more is more when it comes to jewelry, as stacking is still very much in!

2011 Fashion Trends For Teenagers

Teenage girls often look towards celebrities when planning their fashion outfits and 2011 is no different.

This season celebrity inspiration comes in the form of:

• Blake Lively, her love of accessorizing has inspired a generation. Oversized scarves and stacked bangles are a favorite with the young starlet.
• Lea Michelle, has been spotted around town wearing a stylish military inspired cape. Teenagers wanting to stand out and change out of their usual high school jackets are buying these in a variety of colors.
• Selena Gomez, of course is a teenage inspiration. From her glossy hair to her impeccable outfit changes. From the sheer blouses to the casual long vests she wears, all are selling out fast in the teen market.
• Jessica Lowndes loves her dresses and this season she is making the most of the floral pattern. A great bright style for back-to-school days, the floral pattern will keep the summer lasting a little longer. Transition floral dresses into fall with a light cardigan, tights and ankle boots.

2011 Fashion Tips For Teenagers

For teenagers looking for back-to-school accessories there are some key items to buy this school year:

• Backpacks are back! Forget oversized handbags and last year’s cross-body bags. This school year backpacks in every style and color is the school bag to look for. One style to keep an eye out for is celebrity designed backpacks; Gwen Stefani has designed some fun styles under her Harajuku Mini label.
• Embellished sneakers are the comfortable choice for teens when in school. This season Converse has a fabulous selection of studded and embellished footwear at affordable price points.
• Pencil cases that look like cosmetics cases are what teen girls should be looking out for, and the best thing is they are often cheaper than regular pencil cases at this time of year!
• Oversized scarves are great for back-to-school season as the weather is changeable and scarves easily change up an outfit. Look out for colorful patterns and prints.

2012 Fashion Trends For Teenagers

For the 2012 spring/summer season teenagers will be seen in many adult runway inspired designs:

• Nautical stripes in black and white, yellow and white and shades of green.
• Color will come through in accessories such as belts, shoes and jewelry.
• Separates in bright colors will be paired together, creating a fun youthful look. Think burnt oranges, yellows and rich purples as seen on the runway at DKNY.
• Baggy dresses and tops styled with thin belts will create a sophisticated casual look for teens in 2012.
• Hooded sweat tops grow up for 2012 with the use of muted colors and girly embroidery. Jason Wu demonstrated this beautifully during his resort 2012 collection.

Above all for 2012 teenagers should look for pieces that are comfortable as well as versatile.

Latest urban fashion has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Designers are taking their share in the market & accessories are becoming key.

From baggy sportswear, to sleek silhouettes with neutral colors and back to sportswear made more stylish with fit and on trend color.

Latest Urban Fashion

During the last few decades’ designer brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Giambattista Valli have all been inspired by hip-hop/urban styles. Musicians and their partners have been seen wearing the designer labels in videos and when out. When not wearing the cloths they have been spotted carrying the accessories!

True Religion

In 2002 Jeffrey Lubell in Los Angeles founded True Religion, with a mission to redefine premium denim. The vision was to make quality, American made, great fitting jeans inspired by the seventies but for today’s generation.

True Religion quickly went from a new young brand to a household name that offers customers timeless pieces. They are now leaders in the premium denim market and a brand name to be reckoned with in the urban market.

The brand has regular features in publications such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, Men’s Week, Nylon, and GQ.

Today the True Religion brand not only consists of jeans but also knitwear, sportswear, tee shirts, shirts, accessories, and fragrances. With over thirty stand alone stores True Religion is set to grow even bigger this decade.

Newest Hip Hop Clothes and Urban Clothing Lines

During the late nineties and into the 2000’s many hip-hop musicians launched their own clothing labels. Successful artists and their labels included:

• Russell Simmons with Phat Farm

Phat Farm has become a symbol of American culture that mixes urban streetwear and preppy culture. From a small showroom to a multi-million dollar business Phat Farm has grown into a successful sportswear lifestyle brand.

• P Diddy with Sean John

Offering a collection of signature sportswear pieces Sean John caters to a man that wants quality, sophistication, and an urban appeal.

• Nelly with Apple Bottom Jeans
• Damon Dash and Jay-Z with Rocawear
• 50 Cent with G-unit

Other top selling hip-hop/urban clothing brands include FUBU, Eckõ, Billionaire Boys Club, Southpole and Timberland.

Styles showcased within the hip-hop and urban clothing genre are baggy pants and skinny low-rise jeans. Lately adidas has made a comeback into hip-hop fashion with track jackets becoming popular again.

Accessories are also key pieces when dressing in the style of urban fashion. Skater fashion mixed with hip-hop style has seen a rise in popularity during the past few seasons. Popular pieces include knit caps, long shorts, sportswear tees Van slip-ons, and Converse shoes.

Whether urban fashion will once again go back to sleek and slick or stay more sportswear style is anyone’s guess, however lets hope for a mix in-between!

Men’s Halloween costumes for 2011 should be relaxed & fun. Find out about easy DIY options such as Clark Kent & the modern day Vampire.

Halloween is a time of year for everyone to relax and enjoy playing dress up. Adults can look crazy and funky while having the freedom to look stupid for a full twenty-four hours without restrictions or judgment.

Unique Men’s Halloween Costumes for 2011

Every year, there are a few Halloween costumes that are unique to the year. This year, there’s plenty of famous celebrities that will elicit laughs from everyone at your Halloween party. A few options:

• Charlie Sheen. Find some sunglasses, a white shirt, and a bottle of “tiger’s blood” and you’ll be covered. Add to the effect by saying “Winning!” all night.
• Presidential Candidates. From Mitt Romney to Rick Perry, dress up in a suit and tie to pull off the look. For Rick Perry, you can add a gun and even a coyote pelt.
• Lady Gaga/Jo Calderone. This year, the guys can have fun with the Lady Gaga costume and channel the male persona she adopted for the MTV Music Video Awards. It just takes a black blazer, white shirt, and lots of hair gel to get it in the ’50s, Elvis-style.

TV/Movie Inspired Halloween Costumes for Men

For a few always classic options, try one of these iconic characters from the entertainment industry.

• Robin Hood
• Ninja Turtles
• Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters
• Ghostbusters
• Karate Kid
• Batman
• Superman

Classic Halloween Male Costumes for 2011

These costumes never go out of style and are easy to find in costume shops.

• Greek Toga
• Clown
• Wizard
• Mario Brother
• Gorilla
• Pirate
• Elvis

DIY Halloween Costumes

Whether you were being lazy/had no time in your bust schedule to find a costume or perhaps you want to get creative below are some fantastic DIY ideas for Halloween costumes.

Ghost Costume, maybe the easiest costume to make yourself

1. Get a large white sheet, big enough to cover your whole body back and front.
2. Cut holes out for your arms to go through.
3. On the space that will cover your face use a black marker pen to draw on a face. Choose between a growling ghost face or a sinister happy one.
4. Step the design process up a notch by cutting jagged edges along the hem.

Modern Day Vampire

1. Using face paints/costume makeup make your face pale using white paint/powder. Use a black/grey paint to create circles under your eyes, red paint for your lips and blood drool from your mouth.
2. Wear an old zip up hoodie over a torn tee shirt and jeans for the teen Vampire 2011 look!

Clark Kent

1. Wear a superman tee shirt under a classic dark suit with a white shirt. Remember to leave the shirt ripped open to show the superman tee logo.
2. Get some fake thick rimmed glasses for the “before” look.

’50s/’60s Basketball Player

1. Cut your gym shorts and hem them to make a tighter shorter version, pair with a sleeveless jersey
2. Get a sweatband for your head and wrists, you can find these for cheap at the dollar store or Party City.
3. Borrow a girlfriends knee high socks.
4. Wear old plimsoles or classic converse high tops.
5. Make your hair look sweaty and messy with some gel.

This Halloween 2011, above all,  have fun!

’70s Halloween costumes are about color & fun. Think of The Brady Bunch and Saturday Night Fever. Have fun & experiment with these ideas!

’70s fashion trends focused on fun and color, so your Halloween outfit should reflect this! The seventies saw a mix of styles. From late sixties fashions continuing into the seventies, new trends emerged. Movies and television that came out in the 1970s also played a huge part in creating the fashions.

Pick a theme whether its Disco or Charlie’s Angels and accessorize! The seventies saw a lot of accessories such as chains, sunglasses, and headwear that will make your outfit stand out among the crowd.

Basics of 1970s Fashion for Halloween Costumes

The seventies was a mix of skirt lengths from minis to maxis and every length in-between.

High necklines were popular especially on maxi style dresses when worn in the evening.

Women wanting a change from dresses often chose to wear catsuits in the seventies and often the neckline came in a halter neck style.

Flared trouser suits reached new popularity in the seventies, they were often found in pastel colors such as blues and apple green.

The seventies also saw disco fashion become popular, especially after the movie release of Saturday Night Fever. Lycra, sequins, hot pants, and stretchy jumpsuits all became popular pieces on the dance floor.

Both the TV character Marcia Brady from The Brady Bunch and movie actor John Travolta were copied celebrities when it came to fashion.

A trend that followed the seventies from the late sixties was the hippie look made even more popular by TV show The Brady Bunch. Flares, tie-dyed tees, headbands, and fringe stayed around becoming the style of the youth generation.

A key footwear style in the 1970s was the platform shoe. However also popular were white go-go boots, which were often made in PVC material.

1970s Halloween Costume Ideas

• Jumpsuits in colorful shades, metallic spandex or loud patterns.
• White Saturday Night Fever inspired suit, think big collars and flares.
• Mini dresses in an A-line style with go-go boots.
• Pimp disco suit.
• Sequined hot pants or flared trousers.
• Hippy Costumes.

Essential ’70s Accessories:

• Afro wig
• White sunglasses
• Platform wedges
• Go-go boots
• Floral/swirl printed headband
• Peace and Love sign necklaces

Dressing inspired by the seventies can be as colorful as you like, it really does feel like playing dress up as costumes can get outrageous!

There were definite lines drawn between adults and teenagers during the fifties as each group chose their own style.

Basics of 1950s Fashion

Fifties fashion trends reflected the times, since the War was over restrictions were removed bringing a time for a new era of prosperity and hope.

Women’s clothing during the fifties became more feminine and fragile looking. Shoulders were soft, gloves were key accessories, pencil skirts were in and smaller hats appeared with soft fabrics such as lace and feathers. Hair was high maintenance for women in the fifties as popular styles included long curled and pinned up styles.

Men’s fashion mainly consisted of formal wear such as suits and hair was kept neat and short.

Teenagers at this time however rebelled and wanted to get away from their parents style as much as possible. Rock and roll was popular in the fifties and teens wanted to dress like their idols Elvis Presley and popular actor James Dean. Gelled hair was in for teen boys as well as the white tee shirt and jeans look.

’50s Halloween Costume Ideas

The movie Grease was a huge hit when it released, set in the fifties it focused on the lives of teenagers. The fashions have been copied ever since so it’s no surprise that Grease inspired costumes come out to play during Halloween.

Grease Inspired ’50s Costumes:

• Sandy Leather Pants and Bodysuit Costume
• Sock Hop Costume. Full A-lined skirt and fitted sweater accessorized with a neck scarf.
• Pink Lady Costume. Either match your Capri pants or A-line skirt with the shiny pink jacket worn by the Pink Ladies.
• Danny T-Bird Jacket. Simple white tee, jeans, and black leather jacket styled with gelled combed back hair.

Other ’50s Inspired Halloween Costumes:

• Bowling King Pin Shirt Costume. Either wear the shirt with straight leg pants or go up a notch and accessorize with a bowling bag and bowl!
• Buddy Holly Costume. Checked blazer, white shirt, bow tie, and glasses.
• Diner Waitress Costume. To roller skate or not is up to you!
• Archie Comic Character Costumes. Choose from good boy Archie, comic Jughead, Pretty girl Veronica or cheerleader Betty.
• Marilyn Monroe Costume.
• Lucy from I Love Lucy Costume. Grab the red lipstick and wig and get talking!

So whether you decide to dress like a grown up for Halloween, rebel against society like a T-Bird or go classic like Marilyn Monroe the fifties has some fabulous inspiration.

Celebrity fashion blogs are slowly being taken over by the celebrities themselves, read on for whose hot & those we love to watch!

With celebrities creating their own blogs they have opened up a new window into how readers can view them. A more personal and intimate portrayal is formed and a chance to answer back critics is allowed.

Celebrity fashion critics are also becoming more and more popular as the humor aspect draws attention. Having celebrities comment on fellow celebrities fashion is often seen as less harsh than unknown bloggers criticizing celebrity style.

Celebrity Fashion Blogs

Perhaps one of the longest running celebrity blogs dedicated to fashion (criticism) and gossip is PerezHilton.com, a notorious blogger who has found fame and scrutiny.

Named the number one celebrity website in 2007, 2008, and 2009 by Forbes Magazine he grew fast since his blogs launch in 2004. Currently the site gets over three million hits a month!

A blog entirely dedicated to fashion and celebrity is CoutureCandy.com, where readers can read up on celebrity style and find out where to shop the latest “must-have” pieces.

Celebrity Blogspot

One of the most popular celebrity blogs is from the leggy beauty Khloe Kardashian.

Features on KhloeKardashian.Celebuzz.com include:
• Updates on the Kardashian clan’s comings and goings.
• The latest celebrity news, video and highlights.
• Top stories from the web regarding celebrities.
• Links to twitter feeds, other Kardashian blogs, and family videos.

With blogs, a new season on the E! channel, a recent book launch, a fragrance and constant social media updates from the Kardashians it seems the world cannot get enough of the stunning sisters.

Celebrity Fashion Critic

Fashion Police, debuted September 2010, is a show that provides visual and commentary on celebrity fashions. It has become the number one celebrity fashion critic show on TV and continues to grow in popularity due to the presenters’ one-liners and honest fashion opinions. They say what many are afraid to!

Presented by Joan Rivers, Giuliana Rancic, Kelly Osbourne, and George Kotsiopoulos the show features banter between the presenters on “horrors” and “stars” of the fashion red carpet.

Regular segments include:
• Bitch Stole My Look, where two celebrities are shown wearing the same outfit and then it is decided after bantering between the presenters who wore it best.
• Starlet or Streetwalker, a photograph is shown with the celebrities face obscured. After some light hearted ridicule the presenters decide whether the outfit is a star look or a streetwalker look after which the celebrity is revealed.

Whether you choose to laugh along with the critics or take offense at what they say, in the end they are here to stay as the ratings usually prove. So take it as it is, when in the limelight you are bound for some feedback!

Women’s plus size fashion is becoming more mainstream and can be found in-store and online, making shopping much easier than ever before!

Women’s Plus Size Fashion

In today’s fashion market there are many options for plus sized women. From stand-alone stores, to department stores to online fashion websites women with curvier figures can easily find stylish apparel to fit their lifestyle.

Avenue.com is an online retailer with four hundred stores nationwide offering fuller figured women apparel and accessories that are both trendy and comfortable. Pieces are affordable, youthful and on trend. Easily shop apparel, maternity, shoes, work wear and casuals.

Roamans.com is a leader within the plus sized fashion industry with over a hundred years experience. Buyers search the world for pieces that will have women with curves looking stylish and feeling confident. Shop dresses, denim, suits, outerwear, shoes as well as lingerie.

FashionToFigure.com’s mission is to offer online and store customers an ultimate fashion experience. Created by Nicholas and Michael Kaplan, the great-grandsons of Lena H. Bryant, Fashion To Figure is an extension of their great-grandmothers desires to offer full figure women just want other women get from retail stores – a fashion community that understands them.

Women’s Plus Size Lingerie

1. Hips & Curves is an online store for plus size lingerie, launched in 2000 by Rebecca Jennings the business has grown year after year. The lingerie offered by hips and curves ranges from sweet and demure to exotic and daring. Hips and curves focuses completely on plus size lingerie resulting in pieces that support and make the full figure look more amazing than the regular lingerie on the market. Customers can find pieces that fit them and were designed for the fuller figure, not for a petite body frame.

Rebecca Jennings founded HipsandCurves.com for fuller figured women to find lingerie that was designed for them and focuses on them. Jennings has been a small size six to a bigger size at sixteen so she knows what women from each category want and need when it comes to lingerie.

Hips and Curves lingerie has been featured in magazines such as Vogue Italia, InStyle, Curve, Essence, and Ebony. With a growing customer base, new designs based on seasonal trends and classic favorites Hips & Curves is ready to become even bigger!

• Plus Size Plum lingerie is an online site dedicated to full figured women offering plus sized lingerie such as babydolls, corsets, and bustiers. Their mission is to offer customers new styles, quality fabrics and outstanding customer service.

Deborah Friedman founded PlusSizePlum.com after many years in the plus sized fashion industry. Having modeled as a plus size model, been a feature writer for Big Beautiful Woman, and worked as a salesperson within the plus size apparel industry Friedman knows what the curvy woman wants and needs when it comes to lingerie. She wants plus sized women to feel like every other confident woman in lingerie.

Plus Size Apple Bottom Clothing

Apple Bottoms is a fashion brand that caters to women of all shapes and sizes. Their mission is to celebrate curves and was founded by musician Nelly.

“A woman should not try to fit the clothes; the clothes should fit the woman” – Nelly.

The team behind Apple Bottoms ensures a perfect fir for curvy silhouettes as well as women with other body types, making each one look stunning.

When launched in 2003 the first collection of Apple Bottom jeans sold out within two weeks! Since then Apple Bottoms have grown into a full range of women’s apparel, accessories and fragrances. At Apple Bottoms find plus size clothing, intimates, handbags, jewelry, girls wear, infant apparel and of course denim.

Celebrity fans include Oprah Winfrey, Fergie, and Ashanti.

Many more styles are available for fuller figured women today than ever before making it easier for women of any size to remain looking fabulous!

’80s Halloween costume ideas are about fun, so get in the groove and try out these ideas, from Madonna’s Like a Virgin look to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Halloween outfits inspired by the eighties are all about fun, color and experimenting – just like in the original eighties!

’80s Halloween Costume Ideas

When dressing or applying makeup for an eighties inspired look think excess, don’t hold back. Volume on hair, bright layered makeup, and stacking of jewelry is key.

Key looks from the eighties include:

• Madonna’s Like A Virgin look
• Preppy style
• Aerobic Bunny

Madonna: Always a huge hit when dressing up! Ripped net tutu, lace gloves, as many bangles that fit onto your arm in mixed styles, hoop earrings, bow headband, off the shoulder cropped tee, neon leg warmers over leggings. For makeup go bright and layered. Blush and eye shadow layering is important for the Madonna look. With the hair tease and make it big, perhaps styled to one side!

Preppy Style: Wear penny loafers with no socks, polo shirts with the collar turned up, Ray Ban sunglasses, a blazer with the sleeves rolled up.

Aerobic Bunny: Tight than tight bright leotard matched with either spandex shorts or neon leg warmers. If cold pair this with an oversized cropped off the shoulder sweater that can possibly be cut along the neckline. Hair should be either pulled into a side ponytail and curled at the ends or teased for the eighties pouf.

Other Ideas for ’80s-Inspired Costumes

• Ninja Turtles, either dress in a Ninja Turtle costume or get creative with a tight green dress and some cut and stick accessories!
• MC Hammer, harem pants in metallic and gold chains!
• Karate Kid, maybe the easiest outfit to get away with for the eighties. Find a karate outfit or some white pjs accessorized with a black belt.
• Rock God, think Slash or any guitar hero your older siblings might have had! Let the hair go big and curly for this costume look.
• ’80s Power Dresser, get those shoulder pads out and dress as Melanie Griffith did in Working Girl. Formal, neat and uptight!

Dressing in an eighties theme for Halloween lets you have fun and get creative. There is color, volume and excess with the eighties. With the eighties it is definitely the more, the better!

Today’s fashion trends are a mix & match of styles from around the world. Designers popular w/ women today are those that design for the ‘real’ woman.

2011 in fashion has seen many previous trends comeback and newly formed trends rise in popularity.

Designers have realized women want apparel they can wear and not just look at on the runway, which has expanded the read-to-wear lines throughout the market.

Today’s Fashion Trends

Today’s fashion trends are a mix and match of styles from around the world.

The forties and nineties are two eras that have comeback; silhouettes from both eras make their way into eveningwear as well as sophisticated womenswear.

Prints for fall/winter include traditional floral and experimental modern abstract prints.

Textures for the season include silks, fur trimmings, leather, velvet, and soft draped fabrics such as chiffon.

The color palette consists of bright and bold shades such as yellow, reds, blues, and greens.

Today’s Fashion Tips

When wanting something unique and affordable in today’s fashion market you need patience and persistence!

Browsing online sales, discount sites, and visiting outlets as well as signing up for fashion sample sale alerts is the way to get your fashionable bargain.

Not all sale items are last season or to old/worn to wear, more often than not fashion lovers can snag a fabulous piece at astonishingly low prices.

Places to look at include:
• Gilt.com – daily sales on designer pieces.
• Ruelala.com – exclusive online private designer sales.
• PremiumOutlets.com – everyday discounts on designer pieces at outlets across the country.
• And don’t forget to register with your favorite department stores for sale alerts and insider fashion event information.

Today’s Fashion Designers

Some of the top fashion designer’s today design apparel for the real woman. They have forward thinking designs yet at the same time their pieces can be worn in the real world and don’t just look good on the runway or in magazine editorials.

• Alexander Wang – the fashion wonder kid! Raised in San Francisco, Wang relocated to New York to work his way into the fashion industry. After a year at Parsons he decided to launch his own collection that immediately caught the attention of fashion editors and fashion insiders. The collection featured cashmere sweaters crafted to perfection. Today Wang’s signature style is the “off-duty model” look and his collections feature a full range of ready-to-wear pieces.
• Anna Sui – got her break during her studies at Parsons. She began working with Erica Elias who gave her a design room, staff and an opportunity to showcase her talent. In 1981 Anna Sui launched her own mini range that landed her contracts at Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s. After ten long years hard at work Sui decided to stage her very first runway show, which lead to boutique openings, cosmetics lines, perfume collaborations and of course global media attention. Anna Sui’s realization that women want wearable clothing is what makes her pieces so popular. She listens to her customers, and though her runway shows may feature crazy makeup and hairstyling, Sui designs beautiful pieces that can be worn daily by real body types.
• Michael Kors – best known for designing sportswear for women got his start at FIT in New York. In 1981 Kors launched his womenswear collection that went onto to catch the attention of Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. He later went onto work for design house Celine before leaving to add a menswear line to his own brand. Today Michael Kors has a vast range of collections including accessories, ready-to-wear, and runway apparel. A favorite with headline making ladies Kors has dressed Jennifer Lopez, Michelle Obama, Heidi Klum, and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Whether you shop designer pieces in their boutiques, online or at outlets the above mentioned designers should become staples in women’s wardrobes as they design pieces that last the test of time!

Halloween is upon us in a few weeks and it is time to start thinking about your Halloween costumes for 2011.

Should us ladies play dress up? Go old school, superhero style? Fantasize as a Princess? Follow a favorite celebrities style? So many choices and not enough time!

Surprising Ladies Halloween Costumes for 2011

With so many fun choices out on the market below is a list of top picks party-goers can customize to make their own:

Superheroes

• Wonder Woman is a sexy look for ladies to choose this year, play up the red, white and blue with your makeup!
• Supergirl, she might be an older superhero but she still has style!
• Catwoman is one for the not so body conscious as this costume leaves nothing to the imagination!

Male Influenced Costumes For Females

• Elvis, many costume stores have female inspired Elvis suits. They are tailored slightly tighter, in a catsuit style, and show a lot more cleavage than Elvis ever did. Accessorize with sunglasses, jewelry and a pouffed hairstyle for a night on the town.
• John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. Who cannot recall the white suit worn by John Travolta’s character? Have fun with accessories and add some lady-like flair to the outfit.

Movie Inspired Costumes

• Flashdance is making a comeback on the big screen this year but look towards the original to get costume ideas. Think classic 80s ; leg warmers, headband, big hair, off the shoulder sweaters and bright neon colors.
• Grease can inspire many costume ideas. From the good girl Sandy at the beginning of the movie to her bad alter ego in the black leather pants. Lets not forget the Pink Ladies!

Celebrity Inspired Costumes

• Lady Gaga is always a fun celebrity to dress up as. She has so many costume inspirations to choose from; the meat dress, the iconic blue swimsuit/futuristic style outfit, the red lace body suit, or perhaps you are brave enough to wear the egg shell!
• Katy Perry wears fabulously fun costumes in her music videos so have a glamorous time choosing which outfit to be inspired by.

“We expect that the Katy Perry costumes are going to be the best seller for the 2011 season,” said Michele Nuccitelli, founder and CEO of HalloweenAndCostumes.com

• Madonna is always a classic Halloween inspiration. Choose from her ’80s style or her current more lady-like outfits, just make sure you accessorize well to achieve the perfect Madonna look.

Just remember ladies whichever inspiration you go for when it comes to Halloween costumes have fun! This is often the one time of year we get to dress up and behave like kids again!

His and her Halloween costumes do not need to be romantic/sappy. Think outside the box & both have fun this Halloween. Read on for ideas.

If you are in a relationship think about dressing up as a couple for Halloween this year as “Partner/Couple Costumes” are extremely popular and more importantly easy to find!

The costumes do not have to be romantic as in Romeo and Juliet; they can be fun and quirky.

Think outside of the box for Halloween.

Best His and Her Halloween Costumes

• Homer and Marge Simpson
• Fred and Wilma Flintstone
• Barney and Betty Rubble
• Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street
• Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog
• Pink Lady and a T-Bird
• Harry Potter and Wizard Girl
• Shrek and Princess Fiona
• Popeye and Olive Oyl
• Priest and a Nun
• Batman and Batgirl/Catwoman
• Lilly and Herman Munster
• Lucy and Charlie Brown from Peanuts
• Cheerleader and a Jock
• Hugh Hefner and a Playboy Playmate!

Two DIY Costume Ideas for Couples

• Buy an XXXXL tee shirt and both wear it together.

• Hershey’s Kisses. All you need is duct tape, 6 wire  hangers (3 for each person), six rolls of tinfoil (3 for each), scissors, two feet of thick white ribbon each and a blue marker.

For each Hershey’s kiss costume:

1. Unfold two wire hangers into a circle approximately four feet around and fasten together with the duct tape. Make a second coat hanger loop that can sit on your shoulders.
2. Measure from the edge of your neck to the base  below the hips. To form straps cut eight pieces of duct tape twice the length of the neck to base measurement and double it over itself.
3. Use tape to fasten the straps to the hanger neckpiece and the other end to the base hanger ring. Repeat this for all eight pieces as you go around the base ring. A cone shape should start to form.
4. To make the cone shape more firm you can use extra duct tape to cross hatch.
5. Now use the tinfoil and wrap it around the duct tape structure until completely covered. Overlap the pieces so nothing shows underneath. Using tape on the inside make sure the tinfoil stays together when moving around.
6. Cut out armholes and reinforce the edges with tape so no tearing occurs.
7. With the blue marker write “Hershey’s Kiss” as written on actual kisses on the ribbon and tie the ribbon to your head like a headband.

An important rule for couples Halloween costumes is to agree and both be happy with what you are wearing. Neither of you will enjoy yourself if you force your partner into a costume they won’t have fun in!

Lady Gaga Halloween costumes in 2012 can be loud and experimental. From the Meat Dress to red lace, here’s how to get Lady Gaga’s look.

For those of you considering dressing as a celebrity for Halloween this year there could be no better inspiration than Lady Gaga!

The lady has lived her life in the spotlight wearing costumes when on and off stage. Some have been memorable, others controversial, and some just plain crazy but whatever you think of her she certainly does inspire.

Some Lady Gaga-Inspired Ideas

1. The Meat Dress – Perhaps a little hard to achieve without using actual meat!
2. Red Lace Body Dress and Head/Face Cover – Remember to cover your face and head area for maximum Lady Gaga effect.
3. Sharp Blond Wig and Oversized Sunglasses – Lady Gaga’s day outfit. Match these accessories with fake lashes, super high-heeled shoes, shiny leotard, glitter and of course a microphone.
4. Blue Poker Face Futuristic Swimsuit – A classic song and video featuring Lady Gaga in the blue futuristic swimsuit style outfit.

Make-up Ideas for Lady Gaga Halloween 2011

1. Lightening bolt over one eye
2. Bold red lips, perhaps in a heart shape
3. Pale foundation
4. False long eyelashes
5. Ace of hearts card painted over one eye

What did Lady Gaga Wear for Halloween?

In 2010 Lady Gaga tweeted to fans and followers that she would become a little monster for Halloween. Later that evening she came out dressed as Cruella de Vil. Looking fabulous in a faux fur Dalmatian print coat, graying wig, fake gun, and fake blood Lady Gaga was trailed by girls dressed as the Dalmatians themselves!

Celebrities that have Dressed Up as Lady Gaga

Celebrities in the past that have dressed up as Lady Gaga include:

• Perez Hilton had a costume made by the Haus of GaGa in 2009.
• Kelly Ripa that same year also dressed up on the Regis and Kelly show as Lady Gaga and sang her little heart out!

One store to head to when wanting to easily find a Lady Gaga costume for Halloween is Party City. Currently they have eight different themed costumes, twelve wigs and hair accessories, as well as makeup and other Gaga accessories.

At Party city find Lady Gaga’s famous American Flag costume, tuxedo suit costume, sequined dress similar to the one worn by Perez Hilton and the iconic blue swimsuit style costume.

However you choose to symbolize Lady Gaga this year remember the number one rule – Have Fun! Her outfits, her makeup, her style, they are all about fun and taking risks.

The online community is growing fast and online designing is quickly becoming a popular hobby amongst young girls who are interested in designing clothes.

Design Clothes Games For Girls

Girls interested in fashion want access at their fingertips and demands increase daily with how they want it. As online games become more popular and designing games/websites compete for young girls attention it is more important than ever to research and find the online game for your family.

There are thousands of options for pre-teen and teen girls to choose from when it comes to games for designing clothes. Depending on what options and technical advances you are after makes the decision easier however with new technology always coming out you can be sure there will be a ‘new’ game out as soon as you get home.

Check out online free options to see what you want before purchasing a video game:

1. Stardoll, lets you dress up celebrities and virtually shop.
2. GirlSense aka My Sense
3. Frenzoo, create 3D avatars and take part in animated catwalk shows.
4. GoSuperModel, create outfits and play games.
5. I-dressup, shop and customize outfits with easy clicks.

Become Fashion Designer Kids

Younger and younger kids are demanding the latest technology and more are realizing what they want earlier in life than ever before. When a young girl tells her parents she wants to become a fashion designer it is no longer enough to just hand her a piece of paper and some coloring pencils. In today’s modern technical age online fashion designing is the new paper and pencil!

My Sense

GirlSense.com is an online fashion community for young girls where members can use online tools to design outfits and shop e-boutiques.

Designed for pre-teen and teen girls the website allows self-expression and creativity while learning about new technology. Via the online forum girls can leave message for friends as well as post their designs. Members can be honored for their design skills by being featured on the GirlSense.com wall as well as get daily gifts in form of special fashion badges.

Links include:
• My Boutique
• Fashion Avenue
• Market
• Outfits
• Style
• Salon
• Polls and
• Groups

GirlSense.com has also made their social presence go beyond their website with twitter links and community groups.

To date GirlSense.com has 18, 805, 348 members and membership is currently free.

New technology has increased the demand from young girls and designing clothes online is becoming more popular by the day.

Whether it be for a hobby or for young kids to experience more about the designing world online fashion designing is a fabulous format for learning.

Tween Halloween costumes in 2011 are all about playing dress up, so make sure the kids are having fun with their outfits. Read on for ideas & budget tips.

Tween also known as pre-teen costumes should be about fun and playing dress up. Halloween costume ideas for tween girls for 2011 include fun outfits, TV/movie inspired character outfits, Disney styles as well as many more.

Tween Halloween Costumes 2011: Fun Outfits

• Mad Hatter
• Eskimo Princess
• Princess
• Evil Witch
• Pirates

TV/Movie Inspired Tween Costumes

• Alice in Wonderland
• Miley Cyrus/Hanna Montana
• Legally Blonde, Reese Witherspoon character

Tween Disney/Cartoon Styles

• Sesame Street characters
• Minnie Mouse
• Bears

Often Halloween is the one chance a year to dress up like when we were children and play pretend so make sure your pre-teens are having fun.

Family Costume Ideas

For family costume ideas try the following:

• Where The Wild Things Are
• Harry Potter Cast
• Disney Character Family
• Superheroes

It is not just costume stores that carry Halloween costumes, check out regular stores for example:

• Target
• American Apparel for animal accessories such as beanies
• Gap for fun tees and accessories such as sunglasses and socks

Budget Halloween Costume Ideas 2011

If you want to cut costs this year and try making your costume at home which also makes a great project for the family try these tips:

• Cotton Candy costume – Spray cotton balls in pastel blues or pinks and stick them to an old coat. Wear white pants/leggings to create a stick look.
• Hippie – Wear a tie-dyed tee shirt over flared jeans. Accessorize with a peace sign necklace, a headband and some face painted flowers on your face.
• Dice – Find a cardboard box big enough to step into. Cut holes for your head, arms and legs. Paint the box black and when dried paint white dots on each side like dice.
• Bag of Potatoes – Find a burlap sack and cut holes for your tweens head, arms, and legs. Make potatoes out of foam pieces and stick them to the sack.

If you cannot face making a costume but still want to stick to a budget visit your local discount stores. The Salvation Army and thrift stores are also good places to visit and browse for cheaper costume ideas. Consider throwing a “swap costumes” party with other parents or family before Halloween, as another person’s trash could be your costume treasure this year!

Men’s fashion websites & blogs are taking over from the traditional newsstand magazines. Discover the best men’s fashion sites in our exclusive review!

Men’s fashion websites cover online magazines, blogs as well as online retailers. With the availability of the Internet men’s fashion is easier to access than ever before.

Men’s Fashion Websites

The latest and no doubt most stylish men’s fashion websites has to be MrPorter.com, the online shopping destination for men.

Featuring luxury designer apparel and accessories MrPorter.com gives men the opportunity to browse and purchase with ease on online.

Some of the designers selling on MrPorter.com include Burberry, Gucci, Paul Smith, and Viktor & Rolf.

A website for men to get up-to-date information on men’s fashion, style, global politics, entertainment, sports, travel, health and all things male related is GQ.com; the online magazine.

What began as a newsstand magazine over fifty years ago for the male sector is now available online. GQ.com is updated daily, both with the latest news as well as having an archive full of popular past articles for readers to browse.

GQ.com is for the modern man who wants to remain looking on style and sharp. The .com version of GQ makes life easier for men to gain access to tools and information instantly.

Men’s Vogue

The now defunct Men’s Vogue was a monthly men’s magazine covering fashion, design, culture, sports and technology. Lasting approximately three years Men’s Vogue was an extension of the original Vogue for women. Featuring leading male celebrities such as George Clooney, Will Smith, and Roger Federer on the cover issues were praised for highlighting male related issues on a global level.

Staff at Men’s Vogue when the magazine closed its final page did not simply disappear; many went onto successful positions at other Vogue publications. Other publications ex-staffers joined include: Portfolio, Rolling Stone, men.style.com, and WSJ.

Men’s Fashion Blogs

Fashion blogs have upped the style stakes for men and are becoming more popular by the day.

StyleSalvage.blogspot.com is an open discussion on men’s style founded by two friends, Londoner Steve and Manchester based EJ. Neither Steve nor EJ work in fashion, which gives them the opportunity to honestly discuss, and feature styles they believe to be interesting.

Started in 2007 the blog highlights emerging as well as established designers, features include a daily style diary, interviews, DIY projects and links to recent fashion news.

TheDandyProject.com is a popular blog launched as a project by founder Izzy. Posts include discussions on menswear, DIY projects, features on designers as well as cultural events.

DapperLou.com is a blog started by American Ludget Delcy to showcase the style of innovative men. The aim is to create a platform for creativity and discussion between those loving men’s style.

Blogs in general serve the online community as a way to discuss and find information from people with a passion and not just a motive to sell.

Are blogs taking over from traditional online magazine platforms?

’70s fashion trends focused on fun & color, the eras before & after also had their extravagant moments which made fashion that much more interesting!

’70s Fashion Trends

Wild prints and colors on dresses, skirt and blouses were a huge hit. High platform shoes with five-inch wedges were the popular footwear of choice.

TV and movie idols included Marcia Brady from the Brady Bunch and actor John Travolta.

Skirts came in three lengths, the short mini-skirt of the ’60s was now considered too short by many. Lengths included the 60s mini, midi which was between the knee and ankle and then the maxi which reached the floor.

A key trend for pants in the ’70s for women was the hip hugger, a style that sits below the waist and hugs the hips.

Jumpsuits also became popular for both women and men!

Accessories in the form of jewelry became top sellers in the 70s. Peace sign pendants were seen on the younger generation, thread style necklaces and bracelets layered were also seen in multiple colors.

Belts and traditional handbag handles were replaced with beaded versions.

Handmade pieces replaced mass produced fashion for the young generation of fashionistas as individuality took over.

’60s Fashion Trends

Hippies took over the majority of the late sixties fashion scene. Included on the “in” list were headbands, beads, wide collars, necklaces, embroidery, wide belts, mini-skirts, and PVC boots.

For the first half of the sixties popular women’s dress styles were similar to that of the fifties; pleated and swing style dresses. Conservative and lady-like in style.

For the second half of the sixties hemlines went shorter. For those not interested in the hippie style dresses remained conservative but colors went brighter.

Pants during the sixties were seen in a variety of styles from capris, and culottes, to bell-bottoms. Pants were often worn during women’s days off or for causal wear, as they still were not considered work or school appropriate.

When it came to shoes patent materials became highly coveted as they could be produced in every color imaginable. Square toes came in, some in different colors to the base color of the shoe.
When relaxing tennis shoes were often seen in pastel colors. Go-go boots or ankle boots were a huge hit with the younger generation, especially as the mini-skirt took over.

Along with the change in the shoe scene came the popularity of socks in every color and pattern! The most wanted length for socks worn with shoes was just below the knee.

’80s Fashion Trends

From conservative to wild, the eighties saw it all when it came to fashion.

The conservative fashion set saw both men and women dressed in power suits; details included shoulder pads, blazers in longer looser styles than previous seasons, silk blouses, and thin ties.

When not working leggings became the pant choice for casual days. Often worn with oversized sweaters, tees and loose blouses as well as accessorized with belts in every width.

For the wilder set Madonna became an inspiration. Bustiers worn as outerwear during the day was normal, costume jewelry was considered as bigger the better, and lace became the fabric of choice.

Neon colors were seen on everything from pants, tops, and accessories.

The eighties fashion scene made a statement whichever social group you belonged to!

Clearance designer clothes can be found at low prices online. With a little patience & research you’ll be sure to find the best bargains around!

Clearance Designer Clothes

Shopping online is the latest way to find designer apparel and accessories at much lower prices than in-store. Many online retailers have consistent sale prices, many up to seventy percent off RRP.

The following online stores are able to offer customers sales throughout the year rather than have to wait for seasonal sale events.

Clearance Designer Brands

• Overstock.com, also known as O.co, is an online retail store that offers designer brands at discount prices. Shoppers can find apparel, accessories, home décor, jewelry, and much more.

Founded in 1999, Overstock.com provides online shoppers with quality goods, value for money and quick customer service.

Dr. Patrick M. Byrne realized the potential in liquidating excess inventory via online shopping. Before websites like Overstock.com bargain hunters would either wait until seasonal sales or travel to outlets. The concept quickly grew as more people began to realize the savings that could be made.

Today Overstock.com still sells excess inventory but also supplies current décor, furniture, cars, vacations as well as insurance.

Current brands on Overstock.com include:
• Calvin Klein
• Kenneth Cole
• Fendi
• Michael by Michael Kors
• Prada

• DesignerBrandsClothing.com is an online retailer selling designer apparel and accessories at up to sixty percent off the original price.

Founded in 1992, to meet the needs of customers wanting designer apparel at discount price points, the company combined technology with fashion to offer customers choice.

Designers stocked by DesignerBrandsClothing.com include:
• Armani
• Betsey Johnson
• Burberry
• Dolce & Gabbana
• Gucci
• Miu Miu

Clearance Designer Baby Clothes

• Bubble Belly is an online boutique specializing in designer maternity jeans and baby apparel and accessories.

Find many of the items at fifty percent off throughout the year, no need to wait for seasonal sales!

• Zulily offers daily deals for baby apparel at up to ninety percent off.

Members get emailed sales alerts on quality designer apparel and accessories. Sales usually last up to seventy-two hours and it works on a first come, first buy system.

• My Miracle Baby offers customer’s high quality designer apparel and accessories at up to seventy percent off the regular retail price.

My Miracle Baby has become more than an online store, it is also a place for parents to network and share stories on parenthood.

Whether you are looking for designer apparel for yourself or your children there are several options online at discount prices.

Browse, be slightly patient and click on your find. And don’t forget you get to avoid the traffic and store bustle!

High school fashion trends change frequently, inspiration comes from celebrities as well as teen resources such as online fashion magazines.

So how does a teenager know what to wear? Simple go with what suits you and you feel comfortable in, as confidence is the key to looking stylish throughout the year.

High School Fashion Trends

When looking at past fashion trends for high school students there are many similarities throughout the years and also a lot of differences.

Denim comes back season after season, perhaps in different shades and silhouettes but denim is certainly a staple in teen wardrobes.

Shoes change style, color and shape seasonally depending on the outfit trends current at the time. Though for high school comfort usually wins out, especially with more schools getting strict with footwear rules.

Current High School Fashions

Looking for back-to-school accessories for some high school kids can mean big business to stores and brands nationwide. Promotional campaigns are geared towards catching teenager’s attention with special deals and new designs highlighted. To get the most out of their allowance or parents generosity, teenagers need to look out for some key items when shopping back to school fashions:

• Embellished footwear is the style to look for in sneakers and flats. Converse has a fabulous selection of studded and embellished footwear at affordable price points and Payless is a great store to head to for embellished flats at bargain prices as they often have BOGO offers.
• Denim is all shades of blue will be popular this school year whether it be jeans, dresses, shirts, or jackets. Diesel has some great worn in options for jeans and for bargain options check out Kmart’s L.e.i collection, jeans can be found for $12!! J. Crew has reworked the denim shirt and has a great lightweight popover style, for a traditional denim jacket head to Levi’s or Hudson.
• Blazers will be seen in softer fabrics than previous seasons; Forever 21 has a great terry cloth option, which looks smart but at the same time effortlessly casual.
• Scarves that are oversized are great for back-to-school season as the weather is changeable and scarves easily change up an outfit. Look out for colorful patterns and prints. Forever 21 and Anthropologie are two wonderful stores to check out for scarf options.
• Backpacks are back! Forget oversized handbags and last year’s cross-body bags. This school year backpacks in every style and color is the school bag to look for. One style to keep an eye out for is celebrity designed backpacks; Gwen Stefani has designed some fun styles under her Harajuku Mini label.

High School Fashion Research

When wanting to know what to wear when heading back to school there are some common resources teenage girls look to:

•  Teen Vogue gives young girls information on fashion, beauty and entertainment. With the power of the Vogue brand behind them Teen Vogue is a fabulous source for teenage girls.
• Elle Girl is a source for fashion, beauty, and entertainment as well as back to school information found on newsstands and online.
• Celebrity style is probably one of the largest sources of inspiration for high school teenagers. This school year two of the most influential women have been:

1. Blake Lively, from her chic way of accessorizing to her recent relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio she is one of the main leaders in the pack.
2. Selena Gomez, her style easily transitions from casual to elegant. Match that with her glossy locks and fresh faced look she gives teen girls an ideal look to follow.

2011 should be the year for high school teens to get comfortable and ease into a style they can own, whether it is high glamour or the girl next-door look. At the end of the day confidence is key!

Hot fashion trends for 2011 come in the form of the 70s, block colors, minimalism, prints & mixed fabrics. From hair to fashion some trends came back.

Hot Fashion Trends For 2011

The seventies, minimalism, block colors, mixed prints, and fabrics from opposite ends of the wheel paired together made 2011 an interesting fashion season.

Best Fashion Trends For 2011

The ‘70s came back and the fashion world rejoiced with designers such as Marc Jacobs, Derek Lam and Tory Burch sending seventies inspired pieces down the runway. Wide legged pants, high waisted jeans, and loud prints were seen for both seasons in 2011.

Minimalism was a trend throughout the year with Rag & Bone, Yigal Azrouel, and Alexander Wang all sending models down the runway in more simple paired down looks.

Block colors on separates made the year brighter and much more relaxed as oranges, turquoise, candy pink, and sunshine yellows came out to party. Whether paired with other bold colors or toned down with neutral shades the block colors of 2011 had fun! Seen on the runways at Christopher Kane, Rachel Roy, Jil Sander, and Z Spoke.

Spring/summer 2011 saw prints become louder and more daring than previous seasons. Stella McCartney mixed prints on silky dresses, Proenza Schouler mixed and matched colors, prints and separates for playful glamour, and Prada had fun with whimsical prints. Givenchy brought back the animal print trend proving the much-loved print from last year is still in style.

Flower prints were another trend for spring/summer; both big and bold as well as small and girl like. Alberta Ferretti was one designer bringing flower prints into the modern age.

When it came to fabrics both lace and light leather made the trend list for 2011. Phillip Lim gave both fabrics a try, pairing them together for a minimal contemporary look.

Hot Hair Trends For 2011

Hair trends for 2011 took inspiration from the celebrity world as well as past eras.

Bouffants on long hairstyles looked glamorous this year, think old-Hollywood starlet rather than MTV’s Snookie.

Messy waves gave hair volume during the spring/summer season, leaving hair looking relaxed and less controlled than previous years. Both Ports 1961 and Thakoon experimented with the style during their runway shows on various lengths.

Less traditional braids came out in a variety of styles; loose short braids at Georges Chakra and tight controlled braids at Behnaz Sarafpour were highlights this year.

Prabal Gurung and Carolina Herrera both styled models with side partings and sleek tight hairstyles during 2011 seasons.

Both hair and fashion trends took inspiration from the past; so whether you thought of them as trends making a comeback or new trends emerging there was definitely a familiar line to follow!

Which trend did or are you following this year?

Children’s fashion trends are similar to trends from the adult world, some last while others change with the seasons. Read on to find the latest tips!

Children’s fashion trends are similar to fashion trends of their adult counterparts; some trends come and go while other quickly fade. The difference in children’s clothing is fabrics are usually harder wearing and colors more playful appealing to children and their parents who do the paying!

Children’s Fashion Trends

For spring/summer 2012 children’s fashion trends take inspiration from outside elements, bright colors and memories.

Modern shapes come into play with silhouettes becoming more simple and minimalist. The outdoors is shown through patterns and colors for this trend; earthy shades of brown, greys, sunset oranges, sea blues, and neutral creams. Patterns include florals and fireflies.

Another trend for children’s fashion for spring/summer 2012 is bright cheerful colors. Think primary colors mixed with pure whites as well as sea greens and blues.

As silhouettes get simple so do fabrics for children’s clothing. Back to basics is what it is all about; sustainable materials are perfect for the hardwearing fabrics children need.

Denim comes back for another season in the form of jeans, jackets, dresses and shirts. A popular choice for children as it is also seen in the adult world and a big hit for parents due to the hard wearing element of the fabric.

Baby Fashion Trends

When it comes to fashion trends for babies similar patterns are seen as in those for the older market. Basics stick around season after season such as onesies, and swaddling blankets. Certain pieces are inspired by the adult market; some parents often want to dress their little ones as baby “mini me” which can lead to big business for babies brands.

This spring/summer 2011 season for instance the baby fashion market saw a lot of soft fabrics make a comeback such as cotton.

Girls clothing saw appliqué work also make a return on necklines of dresses and over skirts. Polka dots on dresses were seen in every trend color for the season.

Gingham for both boys and girls came in colors bright and neutral as well as big and small prints.

For boys this season Hawaiian prints brought the sunshine in on shirts and long beach shorts.

Children’s Fashion Blogs

Baby Chic 101 is a blog for baby and children’s fashion, furniture, toys and more from all over the world. Posts take inspiration from the celebrity world, giving parents information on the most coveted children’s gear the world over.

Petit Blog gives readers regular updates on children’s fashions with a focus on style.

Bel Air Mommy’s blog is a place for information on everything children and mom. From fashion, to workouts, to activities, as well as daily life experiences to provide knowledgeable info.

Whether you choose to take inspiration from a blog geared towards a specific topic or you like to make decisions based on your own children’s needs there is a blog out there for you, just click and browse!

Men’s designer shoes now come in nearly as many varieties as women’s shoes & are becoming more unique by the day. Find the best male shoe designers here.

Today men’s designer shoe collections encompass boots, moccasins, lace-ups, sandals, sneakers as well as many more options.

The male footwear market is head on with the women’s market as more designers launch collections and men demand a look of their own.

Whether shopping online or in-store men can find a vast range of footwear, today the designer market is growing steadily with larger seasonal collections.

Men’s Designer Shoes

The male designer shoe industry is a big market today, with names competing for business such as Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Kenneth Cole, Prada, and Dolce & Gabbana.

Men’s Designer Sneakers

One place to head for men’s designer sneakers is MrPorter.com, the online luxury retailer for men’s fashion.

At MrPorter.com customers can find sneakers from high-end designers including Lanvin, Maison Martin Margiela, Rick Owens, Jimmy Choo, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, and Yves Saint Laurent.

Prices online currently range from $45 to $1,140 depending on the designer; the style and season that shoppers are looking for.

Men’s Gucci Shoes

Gucci has a large versatile range of men’s shoes in their collection. Find quality footwear in fabulous styles such as moccasins, boots, sandals, drivers, sneakers, and lace-ups.

Each range features different design details including tassels, horse-bit rings, Gucci script, and leather webbing.

Customers shopping online are at an advantage if wanting a little something unique. Exclusive footwear designs are available online in various styles.

Gucci launched in 1921 by founder Guccio Gucci, he opened a leather goods store selling small luggage in Florence. Gucci luggage was a huge hit with higher society; the horse-bit detailed merchandise in particular became a top seller. Gucci grew to sell handbags, accessories and apparel.

It was during the fifties that Gucci became a global brand; stores opened in Milan and New York. In the sixties household names such as Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Sellers and Samuel Beckett began carrying Gucci bags. It was during the sixties that Gucci came out with the legendary double G logo. The seventies and eighties saw Gucci expand worldwide. They opened stores and grew the collections season after season. In 2007 Gucci was named “Most Desirable Brand in the World” and today they continue to grow.

Mark Nason

Mark Nason handcrafted footwear is a collection made in Italy and designed for the man who dresses casual but wants to remain stylish. Using luxurious leather the men’s footwear collection contains boots, shoes and sandals – all unique in design.

Celebrity fans of Mark Nason include Billy Ray Cyrus, Rascal Flatts, Alice Cooper, and Nikki Sixx.

Mark Nason footwear can be found online at Zappos.com, Piperlime.com, Endless.com and BlueFly.com. Stores stocking Mason Nason include Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Fred Segal Feet.

Men’s designer shoes cover a variety of styles to match personalities, outfits, as well as lifestyle demands. So whether men are looking for casual, dressy, unique, or versatility in footwear there is something out there for them waiting!

Fall/winter 2011 fashion trends see some old trends come back & new trends appear. Learn what will be hot for next season by reading here.

Fall/winter trends see many similarities whatever the year; pants come back, layers are preferred, and outerwear becomes bigger.

However certain seasons also see key trends emerge and 2011 has become a fabulous mixture of styles from around the world.

Fall Winter 2011 Fashion Trends

• Androgynous – women’s silhouettes will become more like men’s for pants and blazers during fall/winter 2011. Chanel, Stella McCartney, Moschino, and Reed Krakoff are just some designers highlighting this trend.
• Pleats and Frills – for those not fans of the manly look romance is brought back for the winter with dresses and skirts designed with pleats and frills. Valentino, Oscar de la Renta and Christian Dior all prove they are the masters of glamour with soft womanly silhouettes.
• Midi and Maxi Skirts – both these lengths will be big trends for the season. Midi’s will fall on the knee at Carolina Herrera stores while maxi’s hit the ground at Moschino.
• 1940s – the forties trend is making a comeback. Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana both highlight the sophistication of the forties through their eveningwear for fall/winter 2011.
• 1990s – another era for inspiration is the nineties. Designers such as Sophie Buhai revisit the era with a sophisticated take; silhouettes will become more streamlined.
• Prints – fall/winter will brighten up with a mix of prints. Choose from the traditional florals, experimental broken glass print, to the Givenchy panthers.
• Textures – for fall/winter textures will be mixed. PVC with furs and silk, leather with velvet and soft drapy fabrics with voluminous outerwear.
• Color – the colder season takes a turn this year with the color palette going brighter and bolder than ever before. Paul & Joe showcased bright yellow pants, Thakoon mixed bold reds with primary blues, and Burberry designed outerwear in turquoise shades.

Fall Winter 2011 Hair Trends

Hairstyles for fall/winter 2011 is versatile, styles include:

• Long sleek hair – Inspiration is taken from the seventies, partings are down the middle and the more natural the better.
• Super short – The androgynous trend goes into hairstyles as well as fashion trends. Strong bold looks are key; take a cue from Halle Berry!
• Retro – The forties comes back with wavy short styles.

Fall Winter 2011 Fashion Tips

Pieces to invest in for fall/winter 2011 include:

• Plaid separates such as pants and outerwear; both traditional plaid and the modern printed versions seen on runways will be key.
• Chunky knits in neutrals were seen from Missoni, Etro, and Michael Kors. Invest in a longer length and wear them with pants, leggings, and dresses.
• When shopping for shoes look for buckle detailing, whether it is on ankle boots or chunky heels.
• Chunky heels are also a key trend to look at for fall/winter 2011.

Whether you choose one trend or layer up with a mixture make sure the style suits you and your lifestyle, that way you will walk with confidence.

Current fashion trends in 2011 have seen old trends revisited & designed for today’s era. Looking ahead, 2012 fashion will focus on florals & soft colors.

Trends for 2011 saw old trends revisited and brought into the modern age; blue denim made a comeback, seventies silhouettes, and maxi dresses were all found in 2011.

Current Fashion Trends 2011

Denim for 2011 is big, seen via jeans, blazers, shirts, dresses and anything else it can be constructed into.

• Fitted and loose denim comes in a variety of weights.
• Both Dries Van Noten and Celine made denim feel dressier with evening and office inspired pieces.
• Denim for 2011 was back to the original blue color and was definitely smartened up with little distressing.

For the warmer months in 2011 shoulders are being shown off to the maximum limit with halter necks, cut out shoulders and bandeau style tops. The maxi dress style with halter necklines and bandeau style is particularly popular this season.

Mixing color and prints is a trend for 2011 throughout the year.

• Rodarte mixed plaid, brocades, and colored stripes.
• Proenza Schouler’s collections for 2011 highlighted acid tones, big patterns, and a mix of fabrics with lace and chiffon.
• Peter Som mixed color blocking with tweed pieces in one collection showing us everything goes for 2011.

The seventies tread came back for 2011; high-waisted wide leg pants, silk evening dresses, turban had accessories, oversized sunglasses, tucked in blouses and tops.

Recent Fashion Trends 2011

Spring/summer 2011 had some trends for the warmer months alone, like sheer tees and blouses. Luxury designers Thakoon and Bensoni as well as high street retailers such as Forever 21, H&M, and Zara all showcased sheer tops in block colors and prints.

Prints inspired by the east and tribal patterns came out to play for summer, both Diane Von Furstenberg and Vivienne Tam showed tribal inspired dresses within their spring/summer 2011 collection.

Fun patterned leggings and pants worn with short tees were a key trend during spring/summer. Prints went wild and colors went dark.

Tees went shorter this season; crop tops in particular were key items to stock up on.

Accessories for spring/summer were big, in size that is! Bangles, necklaces, bags, hats and sunglasses all went oversized.

Key colors included all shades of orange, sea blues, bright greens, fuchsia pinks, and then on the other end of the scale mixes of black and white.

Current Fashion Trends 2012

Sustainable fashion will be high priority for designers during the 2012 seasons as customers look for more organic materials.

Silhouettes will be soft and draping with details focused on the feminine and whimsical.

Florals will once again be a major pattern trend but this time in small girly prints and more daring bold splashes.

For those not a fan of prints there will be some relief as fabrics are paired together to create textured looks; lace, chiffons and silks will come out of the lingerie world and create outfits for the day.

The color palette for the 2012 fashion scene will include tonal soft colors such as golds, corals, neutrals – think sunsets.

2012 fashion trends will see many mix and match styles such as grunge and lady-like.

For men fashion in the 1960s meant options and lots of them.

1960s Men’s Fashion

Turtlenecks were seen in every color possible and worn with anything and everything from blazers to vests over the top.

Details with a twist on everyday men’s pieces became popular; the Nehru collar on jackets and shirts inspired the younger generation. Famous trendsetters included musicians The Beatles and The Monkees.

Suits for men went more fitted, drainpipe pants and narrow waists were in during the 60s.

Skater fashion started taking over surfer fashion trends in the United States, as did the youth influence.

Mod fashion influenced the younger generation; clothing for the Mod group was smart and tight fitting. Suits and smart boots were in as was the combed back hairstyle for men.

Colors became brighter and bolder as an Eastern influence took over the 60’s color palette. Prints were also popular, on everything from shirts to men’s accessories.

Accessories for men started new trends; man bags and men’s jewelry allowed men to express themselves in a new way.

1970s Men’s Fashion

The ’70s saw a return of the suit for men but this time popular culture was also taking over. Suit designs were influenced by one of the biggest movies of the decade, Saturday Night Fever. Wide legged pants, big collars, fitted blazers slightly flared at the bottom and light colors were the trends for ’70s suits.

Hip hugger pants for both sexes became a huge trend until the very end of the decade when straight jeans came into fashion.

Baseball style jerseys, tight fitting and in team colors, worn with jeans became daily wear for men during the 70s.

Casual long hair was a trend for men’s hairstyles, though during the ’70s layers also became fashionable meaning hair looked tidier than in previous seasons.

1960s Women’s Fashion

During the first part of the ’60s women’s dresses were long though mid way through the 1960s mini-skirts and baby doll dresses became a key trend, hemlines went higher and higher. Anything from four to eight inches above the knee was normal for skirts and dresses, Mary Quant was “the” designer credited with the movement at the time but the trend went worldwide.

For women not showing off their legs culottes were big sellers, they gave the impression of pants but with an easier fit.

Pop art was a big influence when it came to colors, prints and materials used in fashion. Dyed furs and PVC fabrics were commonly used for coats, skirts and boots.

Colors were bright and prints loud, Pucci was a designer that became popular with women in the ’60s.

Women’s hairstyles went higher as the bouffant came into style for the beginning of the ’60s, towards the end of the decade women’s hair went short and slick.

1980s fashion trends included neon, shoulder pads, & other crazy fads. Designers like Ralph Lauren came into vogue & everyone defined themselves with clothes.

The 1980s fashion decade is well known for having some unforgettable style moments. A time known as the good, the bad and the ugly!

1980s Fashion Trends

Popular trends included:

• MC Hammer pants; tight at the ankle and loose towards the top, now more famously known as the harem pant.
• Leg warmers; thick leg warmers were worn when in the dance studio and out.
• Stretchy stirrup pant leggings; ill fitting and unflattering.
• Oversized sweaters; worn over leggings, nipped at the waist with skinny belts and with miniskirts.
• Shoulder pads; made popular in the late ’80s, they stayed around for the early 90s too.
• Mini skirts; went shorter and shorter. From denim to spandex, the colors were varied and often worn with brightly colored tights.
• Fingerless gloves; made popular by Madonna and most commonly seen in lace and leather.
• Neon colors; in block color and print, small and big and everything in between.

1980s Fashion Designers

The ’80s fashion scene saw many designers rise to the top, amongst the famed were the following:

• Ralph Lauren; it was during the ’80s that Ralph Lauren opened his NY flagship store, after receiving worldwide publicity through his costume design in the movie The Great Gatsby. During the ’80s his polo shirts were must have items for the preppy set.
• Calvin Klein; in the ’80s signature jeans by Calvin Klein took over a generation. More than 200,000 pairs of jeans were sold in the first week of sales. The famous suggestive campaigns for Calvin Klein featuring the young Brook Shields with the line “Nothing comes between me and my Calvins” took the design house to cult status. In the same decade CK underwear changed the world of under garments forever with its sexy campaigns. $70 million was made in a single year.
• Christian Lacroix; during the 1980s Lacroix was awarded the first De d’Or for Most Influential Foreign Designer in the World.
• Donna Karan; the ’80s saw power dressing for women become popular and Donna Karan was amongst the designers making it possible. Best known for creating separates that women could mix and match easily she was awarded the Coty Hall of Fame in the early ’80s.
• Gianni Versace; the ’80s was the era when Versace became internationally known. He created collections technically crafted and designed to show off the female figure. Versace also designed costumes for operas by Richard Strauss and collaborated with world famous photographers to showcase his talents.
• Bruce Oldfield; becoming famous for dressing a Princess is how Oldfield turned his name into legendary status. He designed color coordinated outfits for the Princess of Wales and later went onto design for actress Joan Collins. In the late ’80s he became known for designing wedding dresses for international celebrities.

1990s Fashion Trends

So from loud colors, baggy clothing, power suits, and preppy styles the 90s turned anti-fashion. Fashion went simple and fuss went out.

The older generation of women still held onto the suits of the ’80s, with shirts becoming more softer and less stiff as in previous seasons.

The younger generation fought against the restriction of the power suits from the late ’80s and went grunge. Plaid shirts worn over white tees, sneakers and blue jeans became popular.

1990s was a split decade for generational fashion.

1940s fashion for women was a decade of change from simplicity to extravagance, due to WWII and its end. Read on for more on war fashions and ’40s hairstyles.

On September 3, 1939 England and France declared war on Germany for invading Poland.

June 14, 1940 Paris fell into German control.

On December 8, 1941 the United States officially entered World War II.

Life drastically changed for men and women everywhere, including within the fashion world.

1940s Fashion For Women

At the beginning of the war fabric was at a shortage. Stanley Marcus, the apparel consultant to the War Production Board, stated that American designers had a duty to design pieces that would last and remain stylish for more than one season.

American designers began introducing more separates that women could co-ordinate and therefore create multiple looks with. Outfits became practical but women kept their style as they mixed and matched the separates.

Dresses and skirts became slightly shorter and much more simpler as fabric was limited. Padded shoulders became popular for the work force, as did button front blouses for women.

Women at home who wanted casual wear chose to wear simple housedresses, shorts during the summer and playsuits in cotton. Designers were using more easy care fabrics than ever before. Fabrics such as wool, cotton, linen, and synthetics were used for apparel and accessories.

Colors for women’s fashion were reminiscent of army colors during the early and mid 1940s; greys, blues, bottle green, and shades of brown.

Shoes popular at the time were oxfords, sturdy pumps, and leather sandals. Heels were shorter than in previous years and women went for comfort and versatility when choosing footwear.

On the other end of the fashion spectrum swimwear went glamorous, perhaps due to the feeling when at the beach it was the one time to relax. Swimsuits were tailored; tummy control panels were sewn in and boning included to create the popular 40s hourglass figure.

Towards the end of the 1940s undergarments were designed as separates. Out went the corset and in came the bra and girdle. Designers began using wire in bras and nylon stockings made a comeback.

In 1947, with the war ended, a designer named Christian Dior (virtually unknown at this point) came out with his first collection. The collection would later become known as “The New Look.” It featured pinched in waists, long full skirts, and natural shoulders.

1940s Hats for Women

Due to the material shortages during the beginning of the ’40s, new hats were smaller in size. Recycling old style hats also became popular as money became restricted during the war.

1940s Hairstyles for Women

During the war more women went to work in factories and on farmlands; jobs that were once considered men’s work were now women’s territory. One thing to change with women, appearance wise, was their hair. Safety was priority so headscarves were worn to stop hair falling into their faces, eyes or even machinery.

Hair was cut shorter or pinned up; however, this did not mean style was sacrificed. Small curls were formed when pinned up and shorter styles were always neat and well maintained.

Women in the ’40s sacrificed a lot, especially during the war years; however, 1940s fashion for women was still incredibly stylish, even as times changed.

Today the men’s fashion market is growing and competing head to head with the women’s fashion market.

Season after season more pieces are added to men’s collections. Designers and name brands are offering men just as much as women have been getting more years; choice and variation.

Fashion ranges for men include sportswear, loungewear, office wear, shoes, bags, sunglasses, accessories, as well as many more pieces.

Whether customers choose to shop in-store or online there are many options out there for men. And with today’s competitive industry many stores are slashing prices and offering customers much more than the usual RRP.

Burlington Coat Factory

Burlington Coat Factory stocks current, designer and name brand apparel and accessories at discount prices. Many pieces are up to seventy percent off regular retail price.

Customers can find men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, shoes, bags in various categories such as active wear, casual wear, office wear and outerwear. Also available at Burlington Coat Factory are linens, home décor, and baby gear. Find merchandise in-store or online

Burlington Coat Factory history goes back to the twenties when in 1924 they began selling ladies coats and children’s suits. In 1972 Burlington opened their first outlet store in New Jersey. As the name suggests coats were the main focus of business at the beginning, however over time more apparel and accessories were stocked. Within ten years the men’s department alone had grown, offering suits, active wear, sportswear, shoes, bags, and accessories.

Currently Burlington Coat Factory has over four hundred and fifty store nationwide with their headquarters still located in New Jersey.

JC Penney

Originally called the Golden Rule, after the idea that customers should be treated just as you yourself would want to be treated, JC Penney is currently one of America’s leading retail stores.

They stock apparel, accessories, home furnishings and much more for both men and women.

JC Penney started in 1902, in Wyoming, as a small family store selling jeans, fabrics and sewing equipment to working class families.

Men’s brands at JC Penney include:
• Adidas
• Nike
• Carhartt
• Hoodie Buddie
• Jockey
• Lee
• Levi
• SouthPole
• Van Heusen
• Vans

Today JC Penney can be found across America in malls, stand alone stores and online. Currently they have one thousand, one hundred and eight stores across the country with their headquarters now in Texas.

Shopping in-store or online can find bargains within men’s fashion. Designer and name brands do not necessarily mean high prices anymore and with a little browsing customer’s can be in new styles season after season.

The latest men’s fashion trends are more interesting for 2011 & 2012. Collaborations will surprise & please consumers wanting a change in the coming seasons.

Mixing old with new is how men are dressing for the 2011 seasons. Looking into the past for style inspiration and into the future for color palettes.

Latest Men’s Fashion Trends

2011 sees white suits become popular again but not the traditional type; instead a contemporary style in textured fabrics is preferred. Look towards Dolce & Gabbana for white suit options.

Waistcoats are making a comeback; both worn traditional with the full suit and more contemporary alone with shirts and jeans.

Denim is once again a staple in men’s wardrobes but this year in other colors and not the usual blue. Choose from cream, greys, mustard, khaki, basically anything but blue. Check out Levis and Gap for colorful options.

Beige trench coats in light weight fabrics and lightweight short leather jackets are the outerwear of choice during the 2011 seasons.

Accessories get a reworking for men in 2011 with travel options being key items to own. Large canvas bags with leather trimmings is popular, colors high on the want list are greens, greys and blues.

Leather also becomes a much wanted fabric for accessories in 2011, both for mid sized man bags, small wallets and I-Pad cases.

Shoes get a new lease of life for men, the usual black is out and color is in. All shades of blue, green, brown-reds, and corals are seen on loafer and lace-up styles.

This fashion year men are taking over in the style stakes!

2008 Men’s Fashion Trends

Though in 2008 menswear was extremely similar to womenswear. Lines were sharp and crisp as usual in menswear but inspiration was definitely taken from women’s fashion.

Cardigans, both fitted and loose, turned up on designer catwalks and stores nationwide.

Shirts were sheer, shorts short and accessories became more popular than ever before. Man bags, small clutch type bags, hats, jewelry, and scarves sold in stores from the high-end to bargain level.

Popular colors went from light greys and browns to bright purples and blues.

2008 was a relaxed period in men’s fashion with fun in mind.

Top Men’s Fashion Trends

Collaborations always raise eyebrows and interest and 2011 is no exception. Some of the menswear brands and designers teaming up include:

• Lanvin for H&M
• Steven Alan for Dockers
• Levi’s for Pendleton
• Lacoste for Earnest Sewn
• J.Press for Urban Outfitters
• Hickey Freeman for Opening Ceremony
• French Connection for Sears

The top trends in men’s fashion can be linked back to those fashions that made a difference and opened up the world of male style. From key accessories such as baker boy hats, to thin ties, to man bags onto key pieces like fitted pinstripe suits and pieces with historical inspiration such as grandpa cardigans.

Trends come and go but for men more staples have remained, and change in the latest men’s fashion trends have come much more subtly.

’60s fashion trends & designers changed the industry. Masculine silhouettes, costume-like dresses of Jackie O & hippie styles all came into fashion popularity.

The 1960s was a decade to be remembered for the fashion conscious. Style was a high priority and the time was recorded as challenging past years in the fashion stakes.

’60s Fashion Trends

It was in the ’60s that fashion capitals Paris, Rome and New York became major players in the industry. Each showcased designers that expressed their own views on fashion and made changes for the better.

American designer Norman Norell changed women’s fashion by opting to leave out the skirts in his collection and instead replaced them with tailored trousers. The silhouettes similar to men’s styles at first caused uproar across the fashion spectrum. However the comfort and ease for women soon replaced the negative feeling and his collections began selling out.

Bill Blass was part of a group of American designers that led the comeback of the 1930s-inspired bias-cut blouses.

Women’s clothing was structured and almost ‘costume’ like in appearance. Sleeveless dresses covered by fitted jackets became popular. Piping replaced collars and was also seen on jacket, pocket and cuff edges. Layering was popular as designers used this technique to create volume on dresses and skirts.

As travel became popular and consumers became money conscious, designers began highlighting pieces that had multiple uses and fabrics that were easy to take care of. At the same time, high society wanted to flaunt their wealth; extravagant pieces like alligator handbags costing $200 were sell-outs, fur became a trend, as did expensive hand-embroidered work.

’60s Fashion History

During the early 1960s fashion followers watched First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy intently. Anything she wore was copied and almost immediately sold out. Pillbox style hats, tailored suits, shift dresses, tight fitted waisted dresses, Capri pants, and stilettos were all trends closely followed.

In 1964 designer Mary Quant introduced the mini-skirt and it revolutionized fashion forever.

Mid-1960s saw the Mod look appear and take over the younger generations style. Tailored suits and clean lines were how both men and women dressed when in the Mod mood set.

Rivaling the Mod trend was the Hippie style also popular in the mid-’60s.

Footwear also changed as shoes went from stilettos to low heeled sandals and under the knee boots.

During the late 1960s, men and women began mixing styles even more as the androgynous look took over mainstream society. Frayed jeans, tie-dyed tees, and headbands became key items in the daily wardrobe. Eastern influences also became a key trend with peasant style blouses, Indian prints, and accessories such as bangles and fringe being seen on women from the runway to the streets.

’60s Fashion Designers

Norman Norell

Norman Norell was an American designer famously known for his tailored suits. He studied fashion design at the Pratt Institute and later when onto work with Paramount Pictures, there he designed for silent movie actresses. He then worked as a costume designer on Broadway after which Hattie Carnegie hired him in 1928 where he stayed for twelve years. In 1943 Norell won a Coty Fashion Award, shortly afterwards he launched fashion company Traina-Norrell with Anthony Traina.

Mary Quant

Mary Quant is a Welsh fashion designer who was well known for launching the mini-skirt. Her designs were fun and full of color, and she designed for the young generation but her appeal went across the age barrier. Quant experimented with fashion; some of her most popular designs included plastic collars and knickerbockers. After studying illustration and art she began working as a milliner’s assistant. It was in 1955 that she opened her first store selling pieces she made at home and ever since her career blossomed. Today, she has an OBE for her outstanding achievement and contribution to fashion as well as a Hall of Fame Award from the British Fashion Council.

Kids designer clothes sales happen more often than ever these days; as prices drop, bargains can be found. Here’s where to find the best sale online & in stores.

Sales are no longer annual events that happen two, three or even four times a year. Sales happen more often and at irregular times during the fashion calendar. Perhaps it is the economic situation or a clever marketing ploy by brands and stores. Whatever the reason, kids designer clothing can be found at much lower prices than they are originally set.

Kids Designer Clothes Sale

Kids look to their adult counterparts when choosing what to wear so when they see idols wearing a designer brand they too want that look. Buying clothing at full price is not necessarily an issue as today we have sales available throughout the year. Both the designer’s own stores as well as department stores offer sale prices, often at 50% off full retail price.

Kids Burberry Sale

As well as the annual Burberry in-store and online sales, there are several high-end department stores that offer Burberry kids clothing for sale price throughout the year on a more regular basis. Two of the most popular, both in-store and online are Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Nordstrom takes up to 60% off original Burberry retail price when having their sale season.

Nordstrom, Inc. is a leading fashion retailer. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store Nordstrom grew to operate one hundred and fifteen full line stores, ninety-six Nordstrom Racks, two Jeffery boutiques, one full time clearance store, an online portal, and annual catalogs.

Saks Fifth Avenue regularly has Burberry kids clothing under their sale section. Prices can drop 50% when the sale is at its peak.

Saks Fifth Avenue opened its first flagship store in 1924 by founders Horace Saks and Bernard Gimbel. Today Saks has forty-six stores and an online presence.

The trick to finding designer brands, like Burberry, on sale is too look often and browse different stores to get the lowest possible price. Even high-end stores slash their prices!

Dash Baby Clothes

Dashin Fashion is an online designer children’s clothing magazine and store. It allows customers worldwide to connect with designers and boutiques while browsing designer and brand name kids clothing.

Dashin Fashion was founded by Laura Yatim, the idea came about during her work travels when she shopped for her own children’s clothing. Once back on home soil people would often ask her where she purchased her kids outfits. Realizing the need and want for good quality and international design by parents Yatim launched Dashin Fashion. Not only a store but also a community and resource tool for children’s clothing the site quickly gained support and followers. Today social networking has grown the online portal of Dashion Fashion; Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Blogspot are all outlets for the company.

Dress your little ones like a star for a fraction of the price, just be patient and wait for the best kids designer clothes sale, then feel free to browse the online world of fashion!

2011 fall fashion trends for women see investment pieces highlighted & colors become richer. Prints, pencil skirts & outerwear become must-haves for 2011 & 2012.

The fall fashion season is an extravaganza in the fashion industry; it is the season that defines what will continue into the following year and sets the standard for the year we will soon leave behind.

Fall fashion pieces are usually more expensive and thought of as investment pieces.

An investment piece to look into is the women’s bag for fall 2011:

• Louis Vuitton, Alma MM bag in Prune Electric, $2,390.00 A classic shape for a long lasting look with rounded short handles.
• Dolce & Gabbana, Miss Sicily Leather Handbag in Black, $1,995.00 A classic silhouette with leather construction and a color for all seasons.
• Burberry, Buckled Leather Hobo in Burgundy, $1,395.00 This hobo is big enough to carry everything and small enough not to look like a travel bag. Golden hardware with the deep wine color exterior will remain your go to bag for years to come.
• Victoria Beckham, Tote Mini in Black Buffalo, price on request. A sturdy classic shape with nappa lining and gold hardware.

2011 Fall Fashion Trends For Women

For 2011 a major trend for fall fashion goes back to the ’70s, taking inspiration from silhouettes and color palettes. Glamour from the ’70s gives us evening dresses made in silk and lace fabrics. Pants are high waisted and come in dark deep rich colors.

Details include pleats, fur trimmings, wide legged pants, and cuff features.

The color palette for fall 2011 mixes urban greens, all shades of brown, rich purples, deep blues, hot pinks, mustards and the seasonal black.

The biker theme is also a popular theme for fall 2011. Colors from the ’70s theme cross over into the biker theme such as black, rich purples and new ones are introduced including deep red, grey, and burnt orange hues.

Fabrics include lightweight soft leather and dark denims.

2011 Fall Clothes For Women

There are some “must” have pieces for women’s wardrobes this fall 2011 such as pencil skirts, capes, certain colors and prints.

Pencil skirts make a come back, as do fitted waists on blazers.

Outerwear trends include capes as seen on the catwalks of Lanvin and Alexander Wang.

Deep purple is a great color to transition from fall/winter 2011 into 2012; the color is festive without being too seasonal like previous years reds.

Popular prints for fall 2011 include leopard print and 70s small floral prints.

2012 Fall Fashion Trends For Women

Many in the fashion industry have predicted women in 2012 will clean out and simplify their wardrobes. Pieces that can be worn with multiple outfits, colors and prints that can be mixed and matched will become popular.

Colors for 2012 fall/winter season include mustards, maroon, bottle green, browns, blush tones, and creams.

2012 and 2011 fall fashion trends for women will be all about versatility and simplicity.

’80s fashion trends for both men and women came from a need to define the individual in society. The fashions definitely made a statement while also being fun!

The 1980s were a time to experiment with fashion, both with color and style.

Social groups were being divided and fashion was one way to easily tell which group consumers belonged to.

Popular ’80s Fashion Trends

From hair to clothing, both men and women made the 80s fun, an era to play and find out whom you really were! One big trend that emerged was a new spin on the classic preppy look.

The young yuppies of the ’80s made the preppy look their own with pastel colored polo shirts, argyle sweaters, peg legged jeans, and loafer style shoes.

Brands famous for their preppy designs were:

• Polo Ralph Lauren
• Benetton
• GAP

’80s Hair Trends

Women’s hairstyles in the 1980s were big, and by that we mean big in volume! By backcombing and using an extravagant amount of hairspray hair women were able to “poof” their hair to extreme heights. Matched with the volume were the bangs, both short and curly and long and straight.

Another great ’80s hairstyle was the side ponytail made popular by pop singers and high school teenagers. The side ponytail could be styled in a variety of ways; neatly to one side, up tall and curled at the ends, or side swept and spiked.

Crimping was also popular amongst young girls, whether it be one strand or the full head.

Perms were what hair straightening was this decade to women in the 1980s. Tight, springy curls were the most popular style when requesting a perm.

As music changed so did hairstyles during the mid-’80s; asymmetrical styles became the “in” thing amongst the teen and twenties generation. Cuts included short bangs increasing in length around the front, short cuts on one side and longer lengths on the other, and long bangs in front and short over the rest.

To create your ’80s hairstyle certain hair products and tools were essential:

• Hairspray
• Mousse
• Gel
• Colored sprays
• Crimping Iron

’80s Fashion Trends For Men

Men’s hairstyles seemed average from the front, but then you took a look at the back of male heads and saw rat-tail ponies in a various forms. Long, short, curled, straight; all the types were there in the 80s.

’80s men’s fashion reflected what the generation were seeing on TV and on their favorite celebrities. Style was of utmost importance and new looks never dared to be worn before were now what men wanted. Many men were divided and fashion is how they expressed who they were and where they belonged.

Miami Vice was a hit show on TV during the ’80s and the outfits of the lead actor Don Johnson instantly became sell-out pieces. Styles included tee shirts under blazers with rolled up sleeves and dress shoes worn without socks.

The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, was the biggest musician of the decade during the 80s and 90s. What he wore was closely followed by the press and copied by fans worldwide. Popular items included:

• leather jackets in black and red
• one glove white accessories
• tee shirts with sequined logos

Another musical favorite during the 1980s was rock, bands such as Poison and Metallica sold out arenas globally. Fans copied their hairstyles by backcombing and curling their hair, accessorizing with headbands and bandanas. Torn jeans and sleeveless tee shirts with the bands logo printed on the front was the uniform of choice for loyal fans.

’80s fashion trends helped define a generation. Whatever social group men and women belonged to could easily be identified by what they wore and how they wore it!

Pakistan fashion for 2011 combines tradition & modern inspiration. Whether you want everyday wear or bridal fashion, find info on the best Pakistani style here.

Pakistani women’s fashion changes just as often as any other major fashion country. Colors go in and out depending on the season, and styles are altered as last year’s become worn out. However, some basics remain such as silhouettes; the popular salwar kameez, pants and long shirt, has been a staple in women’s wardrobes for as long as fashion has existed.

Pakistani Latest Fashion 2011

Popular 2011 women’s fashion in Pakistan included patchwork designs, beadwork, and embroidered trim work. Color palettes showed orange and yellow shades with fabrics in lace and silk. Long flowy dresses were a key trend with a mix of prints and block color. Both traditional loose pants and long skirts turned up in the streets of Pakistan as well as modern takes on short leggings and harem pants.

Pakistani Bridal Wear Fashion

One of the toughest aspects for Pakistani brides when picking their main bridal outfit is whether to go traditional or modern. Lately the trend has gone towards a more traditional style as wedding lenghas (brides outfit) have once again become heavily embroidered and elaborate.

For 2010 and 2011 popular colors were pastels whereas for 2012 colors are going dark again with maroon, rust and oranges.

2012 sees a return to traditional red shades for the bridal outfit, as royal shades once again become the colors of choice. The most popular silhouette on the catwalks for the 2012 season was the sharara suit style. The sharara suit style has a heavy dupatta and the main suit is usually made in either silk or chiffon. The amount of embroidery varies for 2012 from the less is more approach to the heavy and elaborate handwork. Embroidery and stitching is seen in gold, copper and silver for the 2012 wedding season.

Of course there are also several options for the bride that wants a more modern take on the bridal outfit for 2012. Mixing colors is a modern trend to look out for next year as brides wear one color on their skirt and dupatta with a contrasting color on the shirt, tied altogether with matching trimming and embroidery color.

Pakistan Fashion Magazine

In the era of online information, Pakistani fashion magazines are now available online making information more accessible and current.

StyleaBlaze – styleablaze.com

StyleaBlaze is an online fashion magazine, giving readers the opportunity to view worldwide fashion via one platform. Covering fashion, accessories, beauty and entertainment StyleaBlaze.com gathers current information from around the world and provides it in a concise easy to read way.

Pakistan Fashion Magazine – pakistanfashionmagazine.com

Pakistan Fashion Magazine promotes Pakistani fashion globally but mainly focuses on their UK, USA and Canadian readership. Covering Pakistani fashion, bridal, designers, jewelry, and beauty the online magazine gives its registered readers concise information.

Pakistani fashion is evolving with the times. Just as other leading fashion markets base trends on the economy, seasons and culture so does Pakistan.

European fashion trends in 2011 lead the way for the fashion markets of other countries. Learn which country has the best style & how to achieve the look.

When it comes to fashion, some lead while others follow. One country that has consistently stayed in the front-runners group is France; the French style evolves and sets trends across the world for women every season.

European Fashion Trends 2011

French street style during 2011 saw a lot of monochrome coloring, army green and all shades of brown.

Handbags went from oversized to smaller satchel styles.

Details were key, from buttons, to statement jewelry to various sized pockets.

Silhouette and fit in 2011, which are always important in French style, were just as glamorous as always. Fitted and constructed to hug a woman’s frame just perfectly is how the French style continues.

French Fashion Trends 2011

Capri pants, loose fitting blouses and tailored shorts were all key during Spring/Summer 2011 for women. Mixing and matching textiles, colors and layered pieces is what makes French women stand out from their European counterparts, easily taking key pieces from day to night with one accessory or layered piece change.

Capris in all forms were available during Spring/Summer 2011; in leggings, jeans, and straight leg pants. To lengthen the legs, women wore them with heels and for a more casual look they were worn with flats.

For those body conscious of the Capri or skinny pants look, Spring/Summer 2011 also saw baggy styles like the loose-fitting harem pants and wide-leg pants.

Replacing short skirts were the tailored shorts, with a more masculine silhouette the shorts can be worn with loose-fitting blouses as well as fitted tops.

The main color palette is nude for Spring/Summer 2011; beige, tan, peach, and cream all played a major role with highlights coming from hot pinks, aqua blues, and deep oranges.

Versatile pieces for Spring/Summer 2011 include sundresses. A favorite style is fitted at the waist with loose sleeves and a flowy bottom half. Worn with flats during the day and heels at night accessories easily transform the must have sundress.

To brighten up the nude color palette, bright pinks, blues and oranges were found on all pieces such as shorts, pants, tees and accessories. One brightly colored piece is enough to make the French style chic and not tacky for Spring/Summer 2011.

World Fashion Trends 2011

Mixing and matching feminine to masculine silhouettes, various fabrics and styles was a key trend across the fashion world during the 2011 season.

Lingerie on the outside was a big trend in the UK and Italy; in France it was a little less obvious as they played on the trend using lace and silk fabrics as trimmings.

America and the UK saw a lot of designers use knotting and twisting techniques to create Grecian style pieces.

Shorts were a common staple across many countries during the summer season however each country designed them differently. Whereas in France they were tailored and more masculine, in Italy they were very tight and played on the idea of under garments and in the UK shorts were fitted on top and loose at the thighs.

When it comes to European fashion trends in 2011, some will stay consistent while others are sure to fade. Fashion is all about the individual as trends come and go.

Want to design your own skate shoes? It’s easier than ever with online custom design tools. Looking for Vans or other skate shoes?  Here’s how to get the look.

Designing your own skate shoes was once options only for the rich and famous, however, today with the competition and demand on the market, prices are falling!

How to Design Your Own Skate Shoes

With a few computer skills and an eye for style, skate shoes and accessories can be customized with a few clicks on the keyboard.

Design Your Own Skate Shoes Online

Vans offer a customization service online for four of their skate shoe styles. Customers can choose from slip-on, era, old skool and 106 styles.

1. Once you pick which style of shoe you want select the gender type and shoe size.
2. You then pick a base color of either white or black.
3. Then the fun begins: You choose the block color or pattern for the different sections of your shoe. Sections include the vamp, heel, binding, and collar.
4. You can then decide to save to scratchpad, start over, add to wish list or add to cart for purchase.

Customized skate shoes can be delivered within five to seven weeks.

Vans started as an American sneaker manufacturer. Founded in 1966 in California by four friends Vans ended up selling skateboard shoes, BMX shoes, snowboard boots, surfer style shoes, apparel and accessories.

During the 1970s the brand grew; 1975 was the year of the Era style shoe. With a padded collar and color options offered, the Era was the shoe of choice for skateboarders across America. In the late ’70s, Van Slip-On shoes launched, another hit for the company as skateboarders went crazy for the style. Like many companies that started small and hit it big quickly the brand hit financial trouble in the late ’80s as they found it hard to keep on track with all the products Vans offered; however, in the ’90s the company turned over a new leaf. By cutting costs and strategically choosing which store locations to keep and close down Vans began making a profit. Clever marketing also helped; 2004 saw the Vans Customs idea launch where customers were able to customize their own skate shoes.

Design Your Own Skateboard

Fans of customization do not have to stop at just their shoes, skateboards have been available to customize for several years now. With the growing demand and competition it only gets easier each year, now online customization is available and one company offering the easy click feature is Zazzle Skateboards.

Zazzle skateboards offer locally sourced North American Maple decks and can ship to customers within eight to ten days.

Using their online design tools customers can create professional looking skateboards from the comfort of their homes.

1. Choose from Comp, Mini and Old School style boards.
2. Then select the original image you want.
3. Choose the text wanted, if any.
4. Finalize your image, text placement and colors on the skateboard.
5. Choose your deck type from the vast collection offered.
6. Check order complete and choose payment option, for as little as sixty dollars you can have your own designed skateboard!

Customization is today’s way to make an impression and stand out from the crowd. With so many choices out there, why would you not design your own skate shoes to be custom fit for you?

Fashion catalogs for women have been popular since the 1900s when Spiegels brought Euro styles to US homes. Now catalogs like Victoria’s Secret are worldwide.

Fashion catalogs have come a long way since their inception. Fashion catalogs have gone from the type of mail order magazine housewives looked forward to onto an essential tool for busy women whether working outside the home or inside.

Whether your favorite catalog is the thin magazine kind or the heavy doorstop kind, you just need to find the one that fits your lifestyle and image needs.

Fashion Catalogs For Women

Spiegels mailed their first catalog in 1905 and ever since have reached over ten million customers with fashion and furniture products. Spiegls has been credited with bringing European fashions to everyday American homes. Today Spiegl catalogs mix fashion styles with expert tips and advice from stylists.

Chadwicks has been in business for over twenty-five years and is a popular catalog for women who want style at low prices that also fits into their busy lifestyle. Busy women can shop online or via their catalog which started being mailed out in 1983.

Chadwicks sizes go from misses, womens, petites, to tall. A reason for the popular appeal is the ease in shopping, not only for size but also for finding essentials that stay on trend under one brand.

Another popular catalog for women is the Victoria’s Secret Direct seasonal catalogs. Each year customers can choose between several catalog choices; underwear, swim, and clothing from the seasonal collections and the seasonal sales.

Subscribe to Catalogs

Subscribing to catalogs eases shopping headaches for many women; the catalog comes to your door directly, you find what you want without fighting the crowds and once ordered without the store queues the fashion find is delivered straight to your door.

Subscribe to catalogs online today:

• Spiegel
• Chadwicks
• Victoria’s Secret

Fashion Magazines For Women

Much like catalogs from the past, fashion magazines give women a look into the best trends of the day. Magazine subscriptions are becoming more popular as not only does it guarantee the issue you want will not sell out, but often subscribers get their issue before it hits the newsstand and for a cheaper price.

When thinking of the top fashion magazines for women certain titles pop up time and time again:

• Vogue founded in 1892
• Elle founded in 1945
• Harper’s Bazaar founded in1867
• In Style
• Glamour
• Marie Claire
• Tatler

All these publications have their own readership, some overlap and others get more readers than others but all have remained popular since their launch.

Available to read online or in your own hands each magazine offers readers the chance to subscribe, some even enticing fans with promotional offers such as free gifts or cheaper prices when buying yearly subscriptions.

For a limited time only Vogue US is offering an exclusive free handbag as well as a celebrated special issue.

Currently In Style is offering new subscribers 62% off the newsstand price and Tatler is giving the first issue for new subscribers free.

Convenience is the key word for shoppers and fashion mavens today, whether it’s finding the still-relevant fashion catalogs for women or the top magazines that define an industry.

Online discount clothing stores make it easy to find brand-name bargain & free shipping to boot. Find our favorite websites for great deals & stylish finds.

Why pay full price when you do not need to?

With today’s savvy customers and the demand for bargains higher and higher the discount clothing market is a competitive one. With the market being so competitive it only means good news for the customer, lower and lower prices!

Discount clothing stores online are convenient, you can compare prices online and with some member online sites you can get email alerts when the brands you want are on sale.

Top Online Discount Clothing Stores

One of the largest and most popular online discount stores online is Overstock.com, an online retailer offering brand names at discount prices. Overstock.com sell fashion, beauty, furniture, luggage, and electronic items. Customers are able to shop conveniently from their home or office while knowing they can find a bargain.

For price comparisons between various brands online PriceGrabber.com is the destination to head. The information is free and unbiased so customers can make informed decisions before purchasing clothing, accessories or household goods.

A division of Rue La La, Inc is SmartBargains.com where you can discover brands at lower prices. Clothing can be purchased at 75% off and new arrivals are available online weekly.

Online Discount Shoe Stores

The fabulous thing about online shopping is the footwear you can discover at discount prices.

• Zappos.com was founded in 1999 after an idea that shoes should be available in all styles, colors and price points in one place. Online shopping was soon to become big! From earning $1.6 million within the first year Zappos.com went onto earn over $1 billion nine years later.
• DSW, Designer Show Warehouse, is a leader in the U.S. footwear market. Offering a wide selection of branded footwear for men and women as well as accessories DSW currently has an online presence at dsw.com as well as 318 stores.

Online Outlet Clothing Stores

Designer outlets are not just for those with heavy wallets, now designer fashion can be found online at low prices.

• RueLaLa.com is a member’s only online boutique where premier brands set up sales for a short amount of time, keeping fashion slightly exclusive while offering a bargain. Membership is free but by invitation only or by joining the waiting list. Brands can be purchased for 30% to 80% off the original price. Past brands to feature on Rue La La have included 7 For All Mankind, Vera Wang, Dolce & Gabbana, and Miu Miu.
• HauteLook.com is another top online site for designer brand sales, everyday at 8 AM Pacific new sales begin with up to 75% off the original retail price. Membership is free and the more the merrier!

Make life easier, leave the queues and traffic of outlet shopping behind and instead click online and shop discount prices from home while still keeping in style with brand names.

Gone are the days when Christmas fashion trends meant Christmas-themed sweatshirts or tinsel in your hair. Holiday fashion has come a long way since the ’50s, and in the past few seasons, it’s grown into its own trendy festive collection with edge and glamour.

Colors for Christmas Fashion Trends

Christmas goes hand in hand with certain festive colors such as red, green, white and gold. During the last few seasons the colors have grown up and gone from kid-themed to adult chic.

• Santa red has been seen on outerwear, shoes, and handbags. Last year Lanvin drew attention to the color with striking, knee-hitting coats.
• Christmas tree green grew up in Gary Bigeni’s stylish jacket for his autumn/winter 2011 collection.
• Snow flake white is always a popular choice for designers to play with during the Christmas season. This year autumn/winter sees Louis Vuitton has the Mirabeau PM handbag, Donna Karan has gone all festive with their Reversible Shearling Coat in pearl white and Chanel showcased dresses both long and short, tight and loose with white embellishments and in plain virginal white for autumn/winter 2011.
• Festive gold was highlighted with Kate Spade’s winter 2009 handbag a few years ago that became so popular the style was revised for the following year.

Santa Fashion Trends

During the Christmas month of December women love to dress up festive and you cannot get more festive than Santa Claus. Celebrities just like everyone else love dressing up and those that do it right can easily be counted on one hand:

1. Looking absolutely gorgeous in her “All I Want For Christmas” music video the celebrity that started the sexy Santa Claus style right was Mariah Carey in 1994 with her red bodysuit with white fur trim and black belt.
2. Katy Perry looked stunning last year at the annual Jingle Ball concert in a Santa Claus inspired red silk and white faux fur trimmed short dress with black lace up ankle boots. Accessorizing perfectly with a glittery headband and bold red lips made her look chic and not at all tacky.
3. Sienna Miller gave Santa Claus a run for his presents in the chic stakes by wearing a red cape with a black fur lined hood during St Paul’s Knightsbridge carol service in London.

Christmas Hair Trends

• Updo hairstyles are always popular for Christmas as they show off the neckline and keep your strands from looking too fussy allowing you to show off your festive outfits.
• A low, slightly messy bun is trendy amongst the young Hollywood crowd as it looks fabulous with neat makeup and sexy dresses.
• Of course, va va voom hair gets high points during the festive party season; it is a style that needs to be maintained well so think ahead.

Though following Christmas fashion trends can be fun, the most important thing to remember is to have fun and stay safe!

Tween fashion trends are a cross between junior and teen fashion trends, and often follow what inspirational celebrities are wearing. Learn how to get the looks here.

Tween fashion trends reflect both the junior market as well as the teen market. Tweens are stuck between being children and young adults so the styles they want and choose to wear have a resemblance to both age groups.

Tween Fashion Trend Inspiration

As well as following what the teen market is wearing and keeping a little of the junior market styles in their outfits tweens take inspiration from older celebrities. Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Miley Cyrus and the Kardashian sisters are all young women that tweens take fashion inspiration from.

Tween fashion for parents can be a circus rope act as they try to walk an unbalanced path between childhood and adulthood.

Just as with adult trends, tween trends come and go as each season passes. For 2010 trends were upbeat and fun, perhaps due to the economic situation and the feeling of wanting to forget the past through fashion.

Tween Fashion Trends 2010

For Spring/Summer 2010 tween fashion highlighted ’80s trends: graphic tees, neon sunglasses in Ray-Ban style, leggings in bright colors, longer denim shorts than previous seasons and jelly bracelets. Nautical stripes, plaid and floral prints were all found during the warmer months in shirts, dresses, rompers and accessories.

Converse sneakers saw a big surge in 2010, both in bright colors and fun prints as well as in more neutral colors.

Autumn/Winter 2010 saw animal prints, metallic colors and denim in beiges, greys, seasonal reds and oranges for tween girls. For boys plaids stuck around and layered outfits became a key look. Hoodies, sweaters, long sleeved tees, and shirts all played into the layered look.

Ugg style boots for girls once again became popular during the chilly months and both boys and girls were spotted in high top sneakers.

Celebrity Tween Style

Many tweens take their inspiration from celebrities just as their older counterparts do, though the “tween” idols they look to may not actually be tween age. Clever marketing and youthful looks have us all guessing at the real ages of many tween trend setters.

Young women not officially tweens anymore but still major trend setters in the tween market for 2010:

• Miley Cyrus
• Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
• Ashley Tisdale
• Hilary Duff

The young men making the cut last year and setting goals for tween boys:

• Jonas Brothers
• Zac Efron
• Taylor Lautner

Tween fashion is a difficult market to tackle, parents are the ones paying for the products and with their children at a crossroads they do not want fashion that makes them seem to much older. At the same time they want to make their kids happy and not treat them like “kids,” therefore the fashion industry for tweens needs to find a middle ground. Successful brands that have managed this so far are:

• H&M
• GAP
• Old Navy
• Aeropostale
• Billabong
• Urban Outfitters

Children’s designer clothing has grown into a huge market rivaling that of the adult world. Read on for more on both Juicy Couture & Ralph Lauren.

The children’s designer clothing market has grown incredibly fast the last few years, from specialality boutiques and stores to designers launching children’s collections alongside their existing lines.

Best Brands in Children’s Designer Clothing

Juicy Couture and Ralph Lauren both have children’s collections for girls aged between two and mid teen years. Both ranges were spin offs from their adult collections and have grown into their own successful lines.

Juicy Couture for Children

Juicy Couture has an apparel collection for young girls aged between two to six and seven to fourteen as well as collections featuring swim, accessories, shoes and jewelry.

Many of the pieces in the children’s collection are reminiscent of the adults Juicy Couture collection; velour tracksuits remain almost identical. However the underlining focus for the children’s collections are the kids and the fact that they are young children and not adults.

Design and style features for the 2011 season for the two to six age range include animal prints, leggings, hooded tops, fun printed and applique tees. For the six to fourteen age range animal print is included again as well as more grown up nautical stripes, denim pieces, and slogan tees.

Juicy Couture is a contemporary collection of apparel and accessories featuring casual and lounge wear. Founded by two friends in 1996, Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor in California and now owned by the Liz Claiborne company. It was in 2002 that Juicy Couture launched the children’s line.

Recently celebrity kids have been spotted out and about wearing their latest Juicy Couture find; Jessica Alba’s daughter Honor favors their leggings, Suri Cruise and Violet Affleck both love their Juicy Couture grey and pink cardigan.

Juicy Couture know, like many brands, that young children want to wear similar styles to their parents and celebrities are no exception!

Ralph Lauren for Children

Ralph Lauren offers young girls and boys fashion styles the same as what adult customers can buy. In particular their polo tops are big sellers for both markets.

The girl’s collection for ages two to six includes block color dresses with frills, denim pieces, loose fitted blouses, cardigans, shoes and accessories. For the seven to sixteen age range the collection includes sweater dresses, belted dresses, polo top style dresses, cardigans, sweaters, hoodies, leggings, pants, skirts, shoes and accessories.

In the late 1960s, Ralph Lauren launched a fashion collection for adults featuring quality pieces with an American style. In 1978 Ralph Lauren launched their first childrenswear collection; “I had two sons by then, and my wife came home from shopping telling me that there were no pure cotton shirts for boys,” he says. “Everything was polyester, nothing of the kind of quality we like. So I started making boy’s clothes.”

Celebrity children who have spotted wearing Ralph Lauren pieces include Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, Tori Spelling’s daughter Stella, and Marcia Cross’s daughter Savannah.

The young children’s designer market is a growing industry; kids are getting more opinionated about what they wear and in particular “who” they wear!

Season after season more designers and brands are launching children’s collections along with their existing ranges. Choices are vast and the competition high so it can only get more colorful!

Holiday fashion trends for 2011 revisit old styles. Contemporary design & bold prints will make an impact, as well as versatile footwear fit for any occasion

To stay looking fabulous during the summer holidays, fashionistas need to stick to basics; swimwear, shorts, flat shoes, spacious but stylish day bags and accessories that won’t get ruined in the water. However to stay on top of trends each element needs slight updating, sometimes it need only be one aspect whether it be the color or silhouette but as all summer fashion followers know comfort is key!

Holiday Fashion Trends 2011

Nautical stripes made a comeback for the summer of 2011; seen on swimwear, summer tees, cover-ups, shorts, and accessories. Stripes did not just come in blues as both Sonia Rykiel and Marc Jacobs gave the striped look a blast of energy with bright oranges and yellows.

Lines were thin at MaxMara and neon at Jonathan Saunders, while Katie Holmes and Khloe Kardashian kept the look classic with black and beige stripes.

Floral prints were also big this season, seen on summer apparel and swimwear. D&G went full bloom this season with pieces for both women and men; shirts, dresses, skirts and swimwear all got the petal treatment.

Of course maxi dresses came into play again, with silhouettes going from the super tight and clingy to the flowy and oversized.

Beach Fashion Trends 2011

Swimsuit trends varied in 2011; one pieces, monokinis, tankinis, and bikinis were spotted on beaches across America and worldwide.

One piece swimsuit trends included cut outs, especially around the waist area and large animal prints such as the ones designed by We Are Handsome and made popular by celebrities including Rihanna and Diane Kruger.

Bikini trends saw halter neck and bandeau styles become more popular as did mix and match bottom and top colors.

Day Fashion Trends

Day fashion trends for 2011 incorporated the usual suspects like cover-ups, long dresses and layered accessories. The differences this season were the colors, fabrics and silhouettes.

Cover-ups were shaped like tunics, short but loose with some featuring belt ties. Long dresses became popular when off the beach and silhouettes were fitting at the top while long and flowy at the bottom. Colors varied for dresses and cover-ups, from the bright to the neutral.

Shorts and jeans went from the usual blues and blacks to pastel colors as the days heated up. White tees stayed a staple as they did in past summers however now other colors were added in sheer fabrics. The worn in distressed look for tees became a common look amongst the summer crowd during the day.

Accessories included long necklaces, some layered and others with statement whimsical pendants. Day bags were big, made from cottons and linen fabrics while night bags turned small and more compact.

Shoes for the day during summer 2011 went from wedges, to clogs, to ballet flats and back to the summer flat sandal. Wedges varied from colorful to beach neutral, platform bases were covered/made in wood, cork, suede and leather. Ballet flats went from past seasons girly bows to contemporary prints, colors and embellishments. Flat sandals this season range from the trusty gladiator style of last season to T strap sandals, and onto strapped sandals that be tied into a bow. The versatility of the flat sandal is it can be taken from the beach, into town and worn past the day to night activities.

Holiday fashion trends for the summer work best when they are versatile, that way you can travel light and still look fabulously chic!

Design your own shoes and get them exactly how YOU want them. Find your fit, style, color and fabric all in one place online for less money than you think.

Designing your own shoes has become widely available and is no longer just for those with thousands to spend thanks in part to customization offers by footwear brands as well as online designing sites.

How to Design Your Own Shoes

Whether you want to personalize your footwear, add an accessory, change the color, customize the style, or design a shoe to match a favorite outfit designing your own shoes is the way to guarantee you get what you want.

Design Your Own Shoes Online

Milk & Honey is one popular website that allows customers to create their own shoes, choose the toe shape, add straps, pick their heel height, and select the perfect color shade and materials.

Milk & Honey was launched by sister team Llissa and Dorian Howard, after discovering their love of shoes they soon realized they didn’t want to spend their life savings on footwear and also that the shoe market was not offering exactly what they wanted in terms of design. The result ended up becoming Milk & Honey, an online store where shoe-a-holics could create and order shoes to their specifications and taste.

How It Works at Milk & Honey

Visit the online design now studio, select your preferred toe shape, heel back design, heel height, and strap preference. Next choose your desired color and fabric, you can click on different swatches and play around until you find your perfect combination. Finalize your order with details such as size and fit options. Order your creation and have them delivered to your door.

Design Your Own Wedding Shoes

Wedding shoe choices can become a major factor when planning your big day. You need the right heel height, the right color shade, a comfortable shoe you can spend hours in dancing and greeting people as well as something a little different to make your shoe memorable.

So designing your own wedding shoes could be the best option and Milk & Honey now have a Bridal collection. Customers can pick from bridal shoes, bridal party footwear, as well as honeymoon shoes selecting their preferred color, heel height and style.

A quick look at past customer testimonials proves how wonderful the customization service at Milk & Honey is:

• “I custom ordered a pair of 5” pumps from Milk & Honey and could not have been more pleased with the outcome. I wanted them more custom than the site allowed so I called and much to my surprise I reached Dori, the owner, who chatted with me… So if you don’t see something on the site call them” – Purple Pam, Texas.
• “I am so happy! I get to wear my dream shoes! Thank you so much for making my dreams come true!” – Amy M, Bride-To-Be.
• “I just took off my gorgeous shoes after wearing them for 12 hours! They were AMAZING!! Not a pinch, blister or hint of discomfort anywhere! LOVE THEM!!” – Angel C, Ad Exec, Los Angeles.

For more on Milk & Honey, or to design your own shoes, visit their online store.

Joseph Ribkoff ladies fashion started off small & evolved internationally. Karen Kane also started off in a garage & is now selling at Nordstrom.

Ladies fashion is constantly developing, new brands and designers are breaking through and old names remain successful as they develop with the trends. Change as well as staying consistent to what your customer base values about your brand is key to existing designers as both Joseph Ribkoff and Karen Kane know well.

Joseph Ribkoff’s collections include dresses for day and evening, eveningwear, separates, and casual sportswear.

High-end pieces are offered to women who want trendy pieces for every occasion.

Joseph Ribkoff Ladies Fashion

Joseph Ribkoff launched small in 1957 and today has grown worldwide into a brand selling in over forty international markets.

As one of Canada’s leading exporters Joseph Ribkoff is proud of the brand’s achievements. As he explains, “Not many designers have survived globalization and the competition of Asian countries.”

Joseph Ribkoff has appeared in publications such as Elle, Fashion and Drapers Records. One of the most recent model fans to wear Ribkoff is Miss America 2011, Teresa Scanlan. Finding ready to wear outfits for her media appearances and dresses for evening events is easy for Teresa Scanlan at Joseph Ribkoff.

On the other side of the border is Karen Kane, also a successful woman’s apparel brand that started off small and ended up demanding attention from the industry.

Karen Kane Ladies Fashion

Karen Kane launched in 1979 from a small garage space, today the company has grown to a 130,000 square foot facility in California.

Designing dresses, separates, knits and jackets Karen Kane is the destination for women wanting stylish and versatile pieces. Since 2010 Kane can also be found online as well as in department stores and boutiques across the country.

Karen Kane has evolved from a small garage space to a successful brand balancing both apparel design and social media; fans can follow Karen Kane on Facebook and Twitter.

Nordstrom Ladies Fashion

Karen Kane is one of the brands to sell at Nordstrom; Nordstrom is a leading retailer in the U.S selling fashion, beauty and lifestyle products.

Founded in 1901 and starting off as a shoe store in Seattle, Nordstrom has now grown into a brand that operates 116 stores, 96 outlets, a clearance store and also has an online presence.

Women’s brands currently stocked at Nordstrom include:

• 7 For All Mankind
• Betsy Johnson
• Brian Atwood
• Giorgio Armani
• Gucci
• Herve Leger
• Versace

Nordstrom stores are considered one of the high-end department stores within fashion and many fashionistas spend hours browsing the collections offered there. It’s where the celebrity world and regular shoppers with money to spend meet.

Nordstrom knows not everyone can afford extravagant price points, so in 1972 Nordstrom Rack was opened. An off-price division of the high-end store, Nordstrom Rack carries the same brands as Nordstroms at 50 to 60 percent off the original price.

Nordstrom also supports the community through their Nordstrom Cares program. Following a simple rule of “leave it better than you found it.”

Kids fashion trends 2011 & future trends share similar inspirations such as fun prints & bold colors. Read on to learn where the inspiration comes from.

Kids fashions can be found in boutiques, department stores, outlets, as well as in designer collections. Ranging from the overly expensive to bargain prices children’s clothing remains a top seller. The styles and brands that have lasted and remain selling well however are those that offer a reasonable price point, quality as well as practical choices.

Kids Fashion Trends 2011

Spring/Summer in young girls fashion saw a lot of floral prints – large, small, bright and dark. Boys fashion went classic, back to stripes and checks as well as slogans for a more ’80s vibe.

Colors varied for children during Spring/Summer 2011, floral prints reminiscent of William Morris prints came in neutral browns, and nature inspired greens and blues as well as girly pinks.

Of course beach and seaside inspiration was around during the summer months, prints came from sea animals as well as nature found objects such as shells and pebbles.

Fun colors also came into play as summer activities played a factor. Bright oranges, blues, reds, yellows, and greens were found in both girls and boys apparel for 2011.

One brand that showcased all these trends at a budget friendly price was H&M. The brand offers customers functional clothing that is both on trend and for children playful in color and print. For 2011 H&M gave children both bright shades and neutrals as well as prints and block colors. Separates were key for the layered look as well as being able to work well for creating various outfit changes. Styles that looked similar to teen apparel but remained kid friendly. Fun was seen through the floral prints and slogan tees while practical pieces were found in utility-inspired clothing.

Kids Fashion Trends 2012

For Spring/Summer 2012, there are two big trends for girls clothing. One inspired by fairy tales and TV shows: a fantasy world of color and playfulness. The other inspired by memories and nostalgia. Practical vintage objects and family possessions will mold the color palette and prints for 2012. Cookware, sustainable toys and decorations such as pastel baking bowls, wooden cars, light fixtures from the ’70s will be key when creating new trends.

For boys clothing inspiration comes from urban living and minimalism, tough fabrics and neutral colors play a large role. Simple shapes and clean lines from retro objects inspire colors such as browns, greens and oranges.

Outside influences are key just as they have been in past summer seasons, this time with jungle and surf themes. Prints of trees and paradise florals go hand in hand with collages and surfboards.

Kids Fashion Trends Future

The future of kid’s fashion trends in 2011 is playful, perhaps due to the economic uncertainty in the air. With inspiration coming from fantasy figures and past fun memories prints are lively and colors varied.

2000 fashion trends throughout the decade covered everything from denim to boho-chic. We tried the styles & some we laughed at. Read on to reminisce.

The ’00s saw a lot of fashion trends come and go; some we hope return and others we wish we had never tried.

Best 2000 Fashion Trends

Denim made a comeback into the fashion world’s media glare. It went from casual weekend wear to being acceptable in the workplace. Designer denim was what everyone wanted, largely due to the fact popular celebrities at the time such as Destiny’s Child, Britney Spears, and N’Sync were spotted wearing them in videos, on the red carpet and when off-duty.

Hipster and skinny jeans made our parents wonder how and why we squeezed into such tiny pants. Celebrities such as Jessica Simpson, Vanessa Hudgens and Miranda Kerr took the UGG boots from an indoor shoe to being worn anywhere and everywhere outdoors. The boho trend became a phenomenon with women across the country when A-list stars such as the Olsen twins, Nicole Richie, and Lindsey Lohan wore the hippie inspired styles daily. Singers Gwen Stefani and the Pussycat Dolls showed off their toned abs in with the cropped tee trend.

From early, to mid- and onto late 2000, fashion trends have made us shop like never before.

2005 Fashion Trends

Late 2004 and the whole of 2005 saw the over-sized sunglasses trend emerge; in fact, oversized on petite frames became trendy not just with sunglasses but with every aspect of a woman’s look. As celebrity clients of stylist Rachel Zoe were photographed daily with oversized bags, dresses, and hats, women across the country wanted more and began to copy the boho-chic trend.

2008 Fashion Trends

Leggings made an appearance circa 2005 underneath the baggy layered looks, but really made a statement in 2008 being worn with everything from dresses, to short tunics and even as tights under shorts. From neutral colors to bright colorful shades, leggings became a fashion staple.

Khaki made a return and designers such as Donna Karan based entire collections around the theme, giving customers a more grown up lady-like style with long dresses, pencil skirts and wide belts to cinch in the waist.

Mid-year saw the maxi dress make a comeback, flowing and colorful maxi dresses became an easy to wear summer staple.

Towards the end of 2008, men’s silhouettes were seen on the runways of women’s fashion shows. Tailored trousers, button down shirts softened up with more girly fabrics and long trench coats were must have items for women in the workplace.

With constant changes and demands growing it is no wonder online shopping grew between 2000 and 2010. Online shopping activity has grown each year, with a dip occurring in 2006 for a short time.

Fashion trends are not only followed from the fashion runways or inspired by designers but also largely affected by stylists and the celebrities they dress.

Whichever trend is followed, no doubt one day fashion trends from 2000 will return and will surely make us cringe a little!

Designing clothes games for girls are advancing as users skills increase and demand grows. If you have a fashion-forward daughter, read on for the best games.

Slowly the days are disappearing when girls would spend hours with their Fashion Wheels and fashion board games, now the virtual world has taken over and girls can express their creativity via online and video games.

Designing Clothes Games For Girls

Young girls want fashion at their fingertips and demands increase daily with how they want it. Customization is key so when it comes to playing games what could be better than games where girls can design their own fashion!

There are thousands of options for pre-teen and teen girls to choose from when it comes to games for designing clothes. Depending on what options and technical advances you are after makes the decision easier however with new technology always coming out you can be sure there will be a ‘new’ game out as soon as you get home.

Check out online options to see what you want before purchasing a video game:

• GirlSense.com
• HeavyGames.com houses Fashion Designer New York
• azDressUp.com houses several design games including Independent Accessories Designer, Design Diva, Costume Designer, French Designer Chic, and Design Your Prom Look.
• DressUpGirl.net has options such as Gothic Dress Up, Vintage Princess, and Hippie Style.
• BumArcade.com has several designing games including Fashion Designer, Working Girl Dress Up, Cutie Makeover, Fashion For Christmas, and Paris Fashion Show.

The Top Five FREE Fashion Games

Currently the five ten fashion games online for free are:

1. Stardoll, lets you dress up celebrities and virtually shop.
2. GirlSense
3. Frenzoo, create 3D avatars and take part in animated catwalk shows.
4. GoSuperModel, create outfits and play games.
5. I-dressup, shop and customize outfits with easy clicks.

My Sense

GirlSense.com is an online fashion community for young girls where members can use online tools to design outfits and shop e-boutiques.

Designed for pre-teen and teen girls the website allows self-expression and creativity while learning about new technology. Via the online forum girls can leave message for friends as well as post their designs.

My Fashion Studio Game Online

My Fashion Studio, Paris Collection is a Nintendo DS game that incorporates creativity and modern technology to provide entertainment for pre-teen fashion minds.

With advances in technology and creative expression members can open up their own Paris studio, display their creations in boutiques and participate in fashion challenges.

Designing clothes games are advancing day after day, with users requesting new options and with all the competition out there to gain members attention game developers need to offer the best.

Whether you decide to play online for free, pay a membership fee, or buy a game for your computer there are thousands of options to choose from.

If you’re wondering how to become a show designer, you can take different paths, from traditional schooling to working within the industry. Here’s how to start.

To become a shoe designer you need to emerge yourself with every aspect of the industry. From the design, to construction, to promoting and onto selling the footwear the more you know the better.

First Steps to How To Become A Shoe Designer

Discover the differences in shoes; the materials, the styles, shapes, and looks achieved. Look into the different brands, designers and stores. Find out how the designers you admire got started and think seriously about how you would contribute to the industry.

Ways To Become A Shoe Designer

To become a shoe designer you can attend schools that offer courses and programs or you can follow an untraditional path and work within the industry. Working your way up to a career is how many fashion insiders have attained their dream so there are no set rules to how one should become a shoe designer. There are options and each ‘student’ needs to figure out what works best for them.

Learn To Become A Shoe Designer

There are several design schools and courses, in the US and abroad, that can be attended in order to learn how to become a shoe designer.

• FIDM – The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising offers students a course in Footwear Design for those wanting to stay focused. During the one-year course students learn every aspect of footwear industry as well as learning how to design and make footwear.
• FIT – The Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, New York offers degrees in Accessory Design. Students learn about shoe designing, learn new skills regarding making footwear, as well as learn about other accessories such as belts, handbags, and hats.

If you want to study abroad there are four top schools to attend:

• Istituto Europeo di Design has a one-year course called Accessories & Shoes Design in Rome.
• Also Polimoda in Florence, Italy offers a two and a half year program called Design Footwear and Accessories. Students learn about the footwear industry, footwear history as well as new technology information such as the software aspects.
• The London College of Fashion in the United Kingdom offers several short courses in Footwear Design and Shoemaking throughout the year.
• De Montfort University in England offers a single honors Footwear Design course that also offers work placements.

As well as course and programs at schools often people decide to work within the industry learning as much as they can. Working within the industry means you can network building your contacts, learn from professionals, get a ‘foot’ inside the workplace before you officially begin and build your skills both designing and working.

So whatever your decision, to go traditional or follow an unconventional course to attain your dreams there is a way for you to become what you want.

Designer jean brands have changed dramatically over the last few centuries, from apparel worn by farm workers to hot designers taking a hold of the market.

Jeans are a staple in the fashion world. They went from casual wear to being able to be worn anywhere and everywhere. From the workplace, to evening events, dinners, to weekend wear jeans can fit into any occasion fittingly.

Top Designer Jean Brands

Levi’s, Diesel and Guess are amongst the top selling designer jeans brands of this era. All three offer a variation on a classic style and the fit, designs and prices usually decide which a customer will purchase.

The history of denim is often dated back to the 18th Century when farm workers would wear denim when out in the fields due to the strong consistency. In 1853, Leob Strauss started a business supplying clothes. He later changed his name to Levi! It is claimed Levi’s also made the first “label” when in 1886 they sewed a leather label into the back of a pair of jeans showing an image of jeans being pulled by horses.

In the 1930s Western movies increased the popularity of denim jeans and ten years later in the ’40s Wrangler and Lee were founded. In the 1950s Hollywood “bad boys” like James Dean popularized denim jeans to a new level, in fact to the point where some US schools banned students from wearing them. During the ’60s and ’70s embroidered jeans and customization became a feature as hippies wore them religiously.

It was in the 1980s that designer jean brands hot the market in full speed, famous designers began launching jean collections as well as their original collections. In the ’90s older jeans brands such as Levi’s and Lee started to loose appeal as the younger generation wanted designer brands and not what their parents wore. In 2000 and onwards jeans brands see a rise again with unexpected sales figures. Gucci sell out of their $3715 jeans almost as soon as they come onto the market. Older brands such as Levi’s realize they have to change their image in order to compete. They become more stylized and geared their promotional campaigns to a younger audience. And judging from recent sales figures the change certainly paid off!

Jeans Brand List

The most popular brands of 2010 were:

1. Levi’s
2. Diesel
3. Guess
4. Wrangler Western
5. Miss Sixty
6. Guess by Marciano
7. Mavi Jeans
8. Miss Me Jeans
9. True Religion

True Religion

Premium denim brand True Religion was founded in 2002 by Jeffery Lubell with the aim to create quality, American-made, 1970s-inspired jeans with a contemporary style.

Today True Religion not only sells jeans but also knitwear, sportswear, tee shirts, shirts, sweatshirts, and sweatpants.

True Religion has a steady base of loyal celebrity fans including Denise Richards, Cindy Crawford, Halle Berry, Sofia Vergara, Marc Anthony, and Slash.

Part of the True Religion jeans appeal is the timeless design and incredible fit the styles offer.

In fact the appeal for jeans in general is the timeless designs offered by a vast number of brands and the versatility of the denim look.

Men’s wedding fashion has evolved from the traditional tails & top hat to individual tastes, going to casual back to formal again. For options, read on.

Men’s wedding fashion has changed since the traditional days of three-piece suits and top hats. Trends for men’s wedding fashion has gone from formal suits, casual summer suits, converse sneakers, beach shirts and back again to three piece suits.

Where to Find Men’s Wedding Fashion

Wedding apparel and accessories for men can be found in designer stores, department stores, boutiques, and online. Prices vary depending on the style, pieces, and places you purchase them from. Whether the bride and groom want a formal wedding or casual, there is an incredible amount of options out on the market for men to choose from.

Men’s Wedding Attire

A man’s wedding outfit should not only fit in with the wedding theme but also the season, darker for winter months and lighter for summer.

For black-tie formal weddings, it is best to dress in a tuxedo, classic and elegant can never go wrong for black-tie affairs. Think 007! You might want to match your cummerbund, vest or handkerchief to the flower colors.

For evening formal weddings you could also choose to wear a white-tie tuxedo which is a tail styled tuxedo that accessorizes with a top hat, overcoat, and white tie.

Different designers, brands and stores offer different fits so do you research before settling. Prada is a good destination for fitted suits and Giorgio Armani is great if you want a looser style.

If you have decided not to theme the wedding then pick your suit depending on the season:

Spring/Summer Weddings

• With warmer weather linen suits in light colors look fabulous, match it with a casual non-shiny tie and you are set to go!

Fall/Winter Weddings

• Stick to darker colors, black or grey work best with white shirts.

Men’s Casual Wedding Fashion

Many couples decide to go casual for their weddings, but this does not lessen the stress of shopping for outfits!

While you do not have to buy new dress shoes and can instead wear your trendy Converse sneakers, there is still the rest of your outfit to plan.

If casual is your thing make the wedding outfit comfortable, lightweight and breathable as the days stresses may make you sweat!

A loose shirt with light colored pants is one popular option, especially for beach weddings.

If you want to dress casual but still have something a little trendy and not so laid back visit Tommy Bahama for casual and/or beach options in men’s wedding fashion.

Another trendy option is to have fun and wear bright pants with a white blazer, play up the festive mood with your apparel and accessories making not only your day fun but also capturing great moments on photos.

Places to visit for men’s wedding fashion options:

• Prada
• Giorgio Armani
• Tommy Bahama
• Neiman Marcus
• Macy’s
• Men’s Wearhouse
• Megasuits.com

Celebrity winter fashion is an anticipated season for trend watchers as celebrities show-off their cool weather style. Learn how to get the look here.

Even when it gets cold outside there is no excuse in the celebrity world to get dowdy or loose their glamour titles.

From designer UGG boots to customized winter accessories, celebrity winter fashion is a huge market for brands as they start trends and spark rising sales figures.

Celebrity Winter Fashion on Rihanna, Paris, and more

Many celebrities like to have fun with winter fashion as the Kardashian sisters, Rihanna, and Paris Hilton have proved in the last few seasons with their fun headwear. Brightening up cold days with warm fake fur lined hats or colorful cartoon inspired headwear has drawn attention and media debate. Whether you like it or not at least the ladies are having fun!

Celebrity women such as Jessica Alba, Beyonce, and Keira Knightly in the last few seasons have kept their winter style demure, choosing to wear fitted outerwear in basic colors such as black and brown.

The boyfriend look is also popular during winter months when celebrities can layer up. Rachel Bilson and Ashley Olsen have both been spotted layering up with baggy sweaters and oversized coats while still remaining winter chic.

Whether it be the festive mood of the winter season playing with their moods or the cool chill in the air making them want to wrap up celebrities dress to impress and set trends wherever they go.

Last Year’s Celebrity Winter Fashion

In 2009 and 2010, fashion saw many embellishments and dramatic designs on everything from winter boots, bags and onto outerwear.

Outerwear also saw a trend with belted coats, double button fastenings, and padded shoulders.

Catwoman style footwear made a fashion comeback and was spotted on celebrities walking around town as well as the red carpet. From suede to leather and with various heel heights thigh high boots were huge and worn to make a statement!

’80s inspired fashions were key when it came to bright colors in 2009 and they stayed well into winter to turn the mood light during the colder months. Marc Jacobs was one designer who tried all shades of neon of the runway that season.

Of course glitter and metallic fabrics came out for the festive season but this time in more sophisticated styles.

Fur was spotted on celebrity women in various colors and lengths, from capes, to waistcoats and onto full on oversized Eskimo style coats.

Celebrity Winter Trends

Two major celebrity trends from years past were the thigh high boots and the love of fur, both fake and real.

Thigh-High Boots were spotted on many women including:

• Madonna
• Blake Lively
• Shakira
• Rihanna

The Fur Trend, fake and real, was spotted on:

• Victoria Beckham
• Fergie
• Nicole Richie
• Kim Kardashian
• Khloe Kardasian
• Catherine Zeta Jones

These celebrities and many more start a trend the moment they step out into the media spotlight whether they mean to or not. We watch them, follow them and occasionally base our shopping decisions on their choices.

Celebrity winter fashion is a largely followed market and continues to grow season after season, both in fashion sales and media attention.

’90s fashion trends for women changed dramatically from the beginning to the end of the era, from grunge to preppy outfits & onto individual styles.

The ’90s are often overlooked when fashion trends are mentioned, however, the original TV show Beverly Hills 90210, the movie Clueless, and the female pop group the Spice Girls all sparked some favorite fashion trends from the ’90s and beyond.

What inspired ’90s Fashion Trends For Women?

Beverly Hills 90210 aired from 1990 to 2000 and gained the attention of millions worldwide with the characters and much wanted fashion statements. As each character won the loyalty of fans the fashions were copied and the women of the show gained attention for their outfit choices. The original four actresses were probably the most copied and watched; characters Brenda, Kelly, Donna and Andrea gave us inspiration and a healthy dose of fashion envy.

High-waisted light washed jeans, waistcoats, floral dresses, office blazers, bodysuits and wide headbands were on every girls and young woman’s shopping list.

Then Clueless came out in theatres in 1995 and plaid pleated skirts with matching fitted blazers, thigh high socks, and faux fur trim became the rage. The movie was colorful and based on the thought that style and shopping were most important. However director Amy Heckerling knew these thoughts were silly and laughable which is exactly why she made a movie to poke fun at the “in-crowd” which she made to be happy and light hearted. No one knew it would become a cult classic and win so many women’s hearts and cause a fashion phenomenon.

The Spice Girls formed a year earlier in 1994 and within a short time girl power was launched. The girls from the start had individual styles and to begin with their looks were affordable resulting in many copycat outfits by fans. As each Spice Girl developed into her own “character” nicknames were given reflecting each personality and girls appearance. From Sporty Spice’s style, to the girly outfits of Baby Spice, onto the designer inspired looks of Posh Spice each girl gave the air of power by wearing what they wanted and not what their best friend wore. Setting trends and not following them was a Spice Girl rule.

Affordable clothes from the ’90s

With the end of the recession and rise of the dot-com business, a surge happened within the garment industry. Affordable and easy to access fashion from around the world was available for women wanting what their counterparts had from across the globe.

’90s Fashion Tips Beyond Grunge

According to WhoWhatWear, many people associate nineties fashion with “something sloppy, involving flannel.” But they add, “While it’s true that these Alice-in-Chains-influenced styles were certainly emblematic of the time, grunge wasn’t the only trend in town… The decade was also front-loaded with lots of edgy silhouettes, bright accents, and zany looks.”

So whether you’re planning to dress up for a ’90s-themed party or just reliving this time in fashion history, know you don’t have to dress down in flannel, but you can pick and choose from a wide variety of ’90s fashion trends for women.

Designer women’s shoes can be found for less money than ever! Learn where to buy designer shoes by Jimmy Choo, bebe, and other top brands for a discount.

From flats, to wedges and onto sky high heels designer women’s shoes range from the budget friendly to the unbelievable high end prices some will only lust after. Whether you like to browse and find your footwear in-store or prefer the convenience of shopping online there is a designer women’s shoe destination waiting for you.

Designer Women’s Shoes

Designer women’s shoes are not just about name brands anymore or shoes that you can only look at but not touch. In today’s competitive business market shoes from top designer names can be found at a variety of price points. Customers not only want designer names but quality and price points they can afford. Some will compromise but the savvy shopper knows they no longer have to. Women just need to know where to look!

Designer Zappos

Zappos founder Nick Swinmurn came up with the idea of Zappos while walking around a San Francisco mall searching for shoes in 1999.

In one store he found the style he wanted but not the color and in another store he found the color but not the size resulting in him going home empty-handed.

After searching online, Swinmurn realized there were no major shoe retailers online offering a wide choice of footwear hence Zappos.com was launched.

Zappos.com offers a variety of brands, styles, sizes and price points. Over the last twelve years Zappos has grown from an idea to a revolutionary business providing the best footwear, clothing and accessory options online and unbeatable customer service.

“We believe that the speed at which a customer receives an online purchase plays a very important role in how that customer thinks about shopping online again… so at Zappos.com, we have put a lot of focus on making sure the items get delivered to our customers as quickly as possible” – Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com, Inc.

Zappos.com has proven its success year after year with growing sales figures. Going from almost nothing in 1999 to over $1 billion in 2008.

Discount Women’s Shoes

Designer Shoe Warehouse is the shoe haven for customers wanting quality style-conscious shoes at an affordable price.

Stocking sports brands, household brand names and luxury designers DSW has something for everyone’s taste. From adidas, to Bebe, onto Jimmy Choo find your shoe whatever the occasion you need to step into.

DSW also offers a rewards program for loyal customers; get coupons and gift certificates for money spent, $5 birthday certificate, free shipping and email offers. A company that offers something beyond the footwear customers search for is a great promotional factor and one that will have customers returning for the best designer women’s shoes.

It is definitely time to visit your nearest store or click online!

Celebrity fashion stylists have become more than just dressers. Thanks to leaders in the industry like Rachel Zoe, styling has become an empire.

“Style is what one creates… glamour is a state of mind” – Rachel Zoe.

Celebrity Fashion Stylists

A stylist is more than just a person that dresses someone else. A true fashion stylist has to become a part of the industry learning the ins and outs of haute couture, street style and possess a natural flair for within styling.

To become a successful name within the celebrity styling circuit they need to not only style A-list names but also branch out and create an aura around themselves. Turning their name into a brand is essential in becoming more than just a celebrity dresser.

Styling, book deals, TV endorsements, the full glare of the media spotlight, and intense hard work is how one woman went about making her name into an empire…

Rachel Zoe

Raised in New Jersey Rachel Zoe Rosenzweig studied psychology and sociology at George Washington University before moving to New York City. It was there she decided to take on the fashion world, based on her passion for designer treasures, she began working as a fashion assistant at a magazine and soon got promoted to senior fashion editor. Soon after she realized her natural talent for styling and began working directly with celebrities creating their fashion image as seen by the outside world.

As her styling work progressed Rachel decided to relocate again to Los Angeles where Hollywood royalty was calling!

Hollywood Celebrity Stylists

Rachel Zoe etched out her name in the media spotlight in early 2005 by bringing back the colorful fun era of the 60’s and 70’s styling celebrities such as Nicole Richie, Lindsey Lohan, Kate Hudson, Liv Tyler, and Anne Hathaway.

By bringing together her passion and knowledge of haute couture and personal style she became the go-to stylist for Hollywood elite.

Celebrities are not the only ones thanking her for getting them positive media coverage; designers love her even more for showcasing their designs on the red carpet. It is a well known fact designers across the world send Rachel Zoe thank you flowers and gifts after award shows as a way to highlight her achievements.

Working with elite designers and celebrities is not all Rachel Zoe is about, she spots trends before most of her counterparts and highlights new names and brands proving her fashion worth.

“When you’re a creative person your brain is constantly moving. What is beautiful? What gets you going? I have a 99 percent accuracy rate on my gut” says Rachel Zoe.

Today the Rachel Zoe, Inc empire consists of styling work, book deals, reality TV shows, consulting work for fashion brands, designing apparel, accessory and lifestyle collections as well as an online social media presence.

Her work within the fashion industry has been documented, criticized and awarded. Whichever way you look at Rachel Zoe one thing remains clear, she works hard and gets the job done!

FIDM is a leader for shoe design school, where graduates exit into the fashion industry. Read on for info on the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.

Picking a major at school can be one of the toughest choices a perspective student has to make. Thinking of not only the major but also the cost, relocation possibilities, and end results etc can be a heavy burden to take on. For certain courses and majors there are instant names that crop up, for instance FIDM is a top school for anyone wanting to pursue a career in design or/and fashion.

Shoe Design School

FIDM is a Californian based school that offers a shoe design course in Los Angeles as well as twenty other creative majors.

Set up to educate students and prepare them for the fashion, graphics, interior design and entertainment industries FIDM is a leader within the teaching world.

Being hands-on and industry focused has led to professionals within the fashion and design industry to praise the students that come out of the school a success.

“The fast-paced curriculum at FIDM is a perfect first step towards a career in the fashion industry. With a little luck, a little creativity, and a lot of hard work, FIDM can help you accomplish your goals.” – Private Label, A Fashion Industry Trade Magazine.

Shoe Design Courses: Footwear Design

Prerequisites for the Footwear Design major are an FIDM degree in Apparel Industry Management, Fashion Design, or Merchandise Product Development as well as a demonstrated proficiency in Photoshop/Illustrator.

For the Footwear Design major certain courses have to be taken including Applied Footwear Design, Marketing Strategies, Research and Trend Analysis, Creative Design and Computer Aided Design for Footwear.

Shoe Design Software

Computer Aided Design for Footwear requires students to develop their skills designing footwear using a computer. They prepare color stories and fabric concepts for a collection which involves scanning, manipulation using software, and drawing showcasing the students technical skills versus traditional methods. However traditional methods of creative drawing are still used and developed at FIDM giving students a wider knowledge from which to work from.

Students come out of this program with skills to identify trends, understand business practices, have the ability to design and construct footwear to high standards and express their individuality.

Graduate Success: Cherise Angelle and Nicole LaFave, Founders of luxury shoe line Omelle

After graduating from the Footwear Design program at FIDM Angelle and LaFave went onto launch Omelle, a luxury shoe line that has literally become an overnight success. The footwear has been featured in Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Women’s Wear Daily as well as being spotted on the feet of A-list celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Gwyneth Paltrow.

FIDM:

For more on the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising click on http://fidm.edu or call one of their campus locations:

Los Angeles Campus: 800.624.1200

Orange County Campus: 888.974.3436

San Francisco Campus: 800.422.3436

San Diego Campus: 800.243.3436

Top shoe designers create designs that women crave. Christian Louboutin & Manolo Blahnik gained fame for their to-die-for-heels and superior shoe quality.

When you ask the fashion industry to name some of the world’s top shoe designers certain names constantly come up. Those are the names linked to fabulous designs and quality craftsmanship season after season. They are the names behind the shoes we lust after.

Two Top Male Shoe Designers

The god of the red sole Christian Louboutin and the detailed eye of Manolo Blahnik have created a world of desire in women’s minds across the globe.

Christian Louboutin: History of the Red Heel

“In 1992 I incorporated the red sole into the design of my shoes. This happened by accident as I felt that the shoes lacked energy so I applied red nail polish to the sole of a shoe. This was such a success that it became a permanent fixture.”

Born in France Christian Louboutin would regularly sneak out of school to sell his shoe designs at the local flea market where the gypsies loved his style. At seventeen Louboutin became an apprentice in the dressing rooms of Paris’ famous cabaret the Folies Bergere where he would watch the girls walking up and down the stairs. It was there that he learnt shoes are all about posture and proportion.

Early in his shoe career Louboutin designed shoes for Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. In 1992 he was able to open his own store in Paris, on Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, where today he still sells his shoes. Today however Christian Louboutin shoes can also be found across the world and with the media referring to the, red soled, shoes as the “most luxurious shoes in the world”.

Louboutin has often been credited with the return of the stiletto as he designs heels between 4.27 inches and higher.

Manolo Blahnik: Shoes that Transform a Woman

Manolo Blahnik has over the last thirty years become one of the worlds most influential shoe designers.

Born in the Canary Islands he studied languages and art in Geneva before moving to Paris in 1965 where he decided to become a set designer. On a visit to New York in 1970 he showed, the then editor-in-chief of America Vogue, Diana Vreeland his theatre designs and after noticing his shoe design sketches she encouraged him to focus on them rather than set designing.

For a year Blahnik learnt everything he could on the art of making shoes and by 1971 he had moved to London and was crafting them himself. In 1972 designer Ossie Clark used Blahnik’s shoes in his shows and a year later Blahnik was able to open his own store in Chelsea, London.

Manolo Blahnik once stated, “shoes help transform a woman” and transform his shoe designs certainly do. His handcrafted heels and designs are instantly recognizable.

Today Manolo Blahnik is a worldwide brand and the man himself has been honored countless times for his work in the design world.

Reaching New Heights:

Two men who have made changes and unimaginable statements within the women’s shoe world were once just two little boys who grew up with an idea and turned it big, and in turn, became two of the world’s top shoe designers!

Male celebrity fashion is evolving faster than ever before, as celebrities designing their own collections have become successful business ventures.

When it comes to fashion and style ranks, the men are competing against the women better and better as the seasons go by. Some may say they get it easy as how much can a person go wrong wearing a tuxedo. However contemporary male celebrities have showcased their individual style through accessorizing and customizing pieces, proving their worth on the red carpet.

Male Celebrity Fashion and Styles

David Beckham, George Clooney, Mario Lopez, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp and Justin Timberlake are names and faces that appear year after year on the “Best Dressed” lists, whether it be for dressed-up tuxedo looks or casual street style.

All these men have differing styles and have proven themselves as more than fashion horses as they let their individuality shine through.

Some have natural talent, others evolve their style from roles they have been playing and some have taken their styling and fashion knowledge to the next level by designing their own fashion collections.

Justin Timberlake Creates New Denim Brand

Justin Timberlake and his business partner Trace Ayala launched a denim and lifestyle brand called William Rast in 2005, both for men and women. Inspired by a “new America,” the brand consists of tailored pieces reminiscent of the Rat Pack-era as well as more contemporary styles. Woven shirts, flannel plaid, and of course strong denim pieces all work their way into the collection for men. The women’s wear collection balances girly with tomboy favorites, basing the silhouette on a woman’s body shape but with men’s tailoring methods the collection has become a quick success.

Male celebrities spotted out and about wearing the William Rast brand include David Spade, Kellan Lutz and Brad Paisley.

Selling in boutiques and high-end department stores across the United States William Rast profits have been rising season after season.

“I don’t want to be Mr. Sexy Back forever,” explains Timberlake on his evolution into the fashion business.

GQ: Male Style Maker

William Rast has also become a firm favorite with male style magazine GQ, highlighting pieces from the collection in fashion shoots as well as asking Justin Timberlake to appear on the cover countless times.

Justin Timberlake decided to repay the favor by asking to incorporate GQ into his new movie Friends With Benefits. Timberlake plays an art director in the movie that ends up working at the Manhattan based magazine GQ.

Proving to be more than just a one trick pony Timberlake is building a brand that includes more than just his musical talents.

However Justin Timberlake does admit to having made fashion mistakes in the past,

“The cornrows I wore with ‘N Sync were pretty bad… Britney and I wore matching denim outfits to the 2001 American Music Awards, yeah another bad choice. I’d probably pay good money to get some of those pictures off the Internet.”

Famous shoe designers like Christian Louboutin and his famous red heel have changed the way the footwear industry operates with collaborations & new designs.

“It’s the mystique of the extremely sexy pump and of course the subtle branding of the red sole” says Saks’ Fashion Director Michael Fink that helps to make Christian Louboutin shoes remain one of the store’s top selling famous shoe brands.

The red sole on Louboutin pumps was not simply a marketing concept dreamt up by a team, it was in-fact a simple idea done by Christian Louboutin himself. One day while working on shoe designs in his studio he realized his prototype was lacking energy so spotting a bottle of red nail polish nearby he applied the bright color to the sole of the shoe and a brand was born!

Louboutin shoes sell on average for $800 making them luxury items many women can only dream about however for the lucky ones who do own a pair or two they are treasured.

Christian Louboutin, the famous shoe designer

An extremely lucky soon-to-be bride asked the shoe designer to sign her wedding shoes so he grabbed a blue pen and wrote, Here Is Something Blue.

Another woman once told Christian Louboutin that, “Since wearing your shoes, I love my street! I walk slower, and take everything in.”

Celebrity fans include A-list royalty such as Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker, Katie Holmes, Beyoncé, Liv Tyler, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez, and Nicole Richie.

Collaborations, Famous Fashion Designers and Food!

Though celebrities and everyday women are not the only ones lucky enough to wear the red soles of Louboutin, Barbie is another lady who can count Louboutins has a much loved part of her shoe collection. To celebrate Barbie’s 50th birthday Christian Louboutin was asked to design a pair of pumps for the beautiful doll. “I guess I always had a little ‘girlie side’ that liked Barbie,” said Louboutin. Made with the classic red sole the Barbie pumps came in nine styles. Of course there was the Barbie Pantone 219 Pink pair and all nine towered high with their own matching shoe bag and box.

More recently Louboutin teamed up with famous fashion designer Bella Freud to create a capsule knitwear collection featuring his sketches.

Fashion is not the only realm Louboutin has stepped into when collaborating, delicious macaroon brand Ladurée partnered with Louboutin in 2009 on three different gift boxes. Each box illustrated by Louboutin was designed with shoes and purses and then filled with red and black macaroons.

Famous Shoe Brand

Louboutin’s towering red soles are synonymous with luxurious style and sexiness. However, becoming a household name was not an overnight achievement for the now-famous shoe brand. Louboutin worked hard crafting his skills, studying the way women walked, and how they stood when in high heels. He worked for other famous fashion designers such as Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent until he set up his own studio in the 1990s.

Since then Christian Louboutin has become a household name and sells all over the world with styles often selling out, he remains in demand and some might say on top of the high-heeled world!

Celebrity street fashion is scrutinized on a daily basis. Do we expect too much from today’s stars? Plus, tell us your fave street fashion looks from celebs.

When it comes to what celebrities are wearing, the spotlight is strong and focused. Every turn on the red carpet is criticized and each look voted best or worst of the event. However, is that not what celebrities are asking for by working in the limelight? It is, after all, part of the package and hardly a surprise when they demand attention via promotional tours. What about everyday life? Do celebrities deserve to get scrutinized on their days off, away from the cameras as they stroll around dealing with everyday task? Is street style fair game?

Celebrity Street Fashion and Style

We have all seen those shots of celebrities ‘out and about’ seemingly doing what we all do on a daily basis; grocery shopping, stopping for coffee, picking the kids up from school and so on. Now imagine if we were photographed doing these tasks. Would our hair be brushed into the latest craze sweeping Hollywood? Would we have makeup applied just right? Would our outfits be styled to perfection? The answers are most probably no to all three questions. On a day-to-day basis we cannot always look ‘styled’. So why do we expect celebrities too?

Are the famed and rich supposed to be switched on 24/7, is that the price for fame?

Hollywood Street Fashion

A certain standard is expected from Hollywood stars and it seems lately the celebrities are letting the standard slip. In old-Hollywood starlets would never have been seen with a hair out of place or a crease in the clothes. However perhaps because of the fashion trends and changes in attitude new-Hollywood has become more relaxed and wants to let the audience see another side of their character.

Best Street Fashion

Would you rather see your favorite celebrity dressed “in-character” mode when out and about or do you prefer getting a sneak peek into their everyday closet?

Just as we vote for best dressed on the red carpet we now vote for best street fashion. When a current in demand celebrity is photographed wearing their everyday street fashions the item can almost certainly be guaranteed to sell out. Perhaps that is why designers and brands ‘gift’ clothing and accessories to certain stars. Free promotion after all is fantastic advertising. That leads to the question how much of a celebrities street style is genuine? Are the items of clothing they wear and the accessories they carry really picked by them or their stylist? To get on the ‘Best Street Fashion’ list, are celebrities never switched off?

Whatever celebrities decide to do the ‘Best’ and ‘Worst’ lists will continue. Magazines dedicate entire pages to them, shows are created around the concept and we all love to vote!

Looking for the best fashion websites for women? We’ve rounded up the best in online shopping sites, whatever your spending budget, to find the best brands.

In today’s technology driven world there are thousands upon thousands on fashion websites, including shopping sites, online magazines/newspapers and of course the vast range of fashion blogs.

How you dissect and scan through the choices is a personal decision. Some like to create an imaginary world where they browse through luxury items and popular celebrity purchases. Others take their online time more seriously, finding a way to time manage effectively and working out a budget that works for them. Cutting out the time spent going from store to store or lugging shopping bags back home can be an essential part of coping with today’s hectic lifestyle. Think with a few clicks you can find and purchase online as well as get the item delivered directly to your door!

Finding an online shopping website that works for your budget has never been easier as the choices today reflect the current economical situation. From high end luxury fashion purchases, to mid range through to budget-friendly options online shopping has it all from the comfort of your home.

Best Luxury Fashion Website for Women

If it’s high end designer fashion you want for women’s clothes and accessories look no further than NET-A-PORTER.COM, a luxury online retailer.

Since launching in June 2000, NET-A-PORTER has become a leader in luxury shopping. Not only do they stock clothing and accessories from designers such as Burberry Prorsum, Christian Louboutin, Diane Von Furstenberg, Jill Sander and Donna Karen but they also offer exceptional customer service.

Best Mid-Range Shopping Website

For fashion clothing and accessories that look high end but are priced more friendly on the wallet click onto US.TopShop.com where you can find fashion items from $10 to $550 with everything in-between.

Starting out as a UK store in 1964, Topshop quickly became the store to head to for a quick fashion fix. Stylists, fashion students and the fashion conscious hailed Topshop as fashion paradise, as you could easily find an entire outfit within budget and still come out looking completely different to the women exiting the store with you. Now Topshop is available online in the US and is updated 5 times a week with over 300 new styles. Get your fashion fix instantly!

Budget-Friendly Fashions for the Online Shopper

A golden nugget in the vast online desert is how Lulu*s should be described.  Not only do they give customers exceptional styles within clothes and accessories, but they also offer value, quality and friendly customer service.

Since their launch in 1996, Lulus.com has grown from a family dream to an online success within the fashion community. Traveling around the world Lulu*s buyers find emerging designers and bring customers the best on offer. As a company policy, they stick to is buying in limited quantities so you can guarantee a style all your own!

What are you waiting for? Find your budget and get shopping on one of these favorite fashion websites for women!

Designer children’s clothing attracts celebrities and luxury-loving parents. Do buy your kids designer clothing or do you say no? Read this & decide for yourself.

Dressing children in today’s competitive society has become a harder task than most of us would have imagined growing up. It is no longer about simply matching colors or a name or store brand, but more about “what” designer children’s clothing your kids are wearing.

With a focus on celebrity parents and what names they dress their children in as well as designers launching designer baby and kids clothing along with their regular adult collections, the pressure is on. But how far are parents willing to go? How much is too much when it comes to your children and their clothes?

Celebrities Who Buy Designer Children’s Clothing

Actress Jessica Alba is often spotted with her daughter Honor who has been seen in cashmere by Bambeeno Cashmere. The brand has a fabulous collection of cashmere sweaters for girls and boys ranging from sizes 3 months to 12 years old. The colors are fun and the designs playful. However is $75 to $140 too much for a sweater your child will most probably get dirty? Has dressing like mommy gone too far?

Celebrity couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have their mini-brood dressed in designer children’s clothing to display their own individualities, but one thing remains the same: these outfits would take most adults months or even years to save for. Ralph Lauren outerwear is a Jolie-Pitt favorite, and at roughly $150 per child’s coat, the brood is expensive! When you have more than one child, how do you split the budget and can you always get away with hand-me-downs?

Ed Hardy: A Favorite Designer For Kids

Another celebrity favorite amongst the younger generation is Ed Hardy. Designed bright and loud, the brand naturally attracts kids. At $100 a hoodie and $50 a tee, the kids had better learn to love keeping their clothes clean too! Ed Hardy started as an adult’s clothing brand; however, as many designers soon realized, young kids and toddlers love to dress like their parents. With the demand comes higher prices and with fashion conscious young minds comes big bills!

Is Designer Kid’s Clothing Worth It?

Often when it comes to purchasing high-priced designer children’s clothing, the tag price is not the end of the issue. After that comes dry cleaning, as you cannot throw cashmere or the majority of designer outerwear in the machines at home. So when you purchase outfits for your childrem, do you look at designer names, what the celebrity parents are purchasing, seasonal trends, quality, or does cost still pay a higher role?

How do you say no when your child wants what the other kids have? Should you set limits on designer children’s clothing in today’s society of “Keeping Up With The Joneses” or is it more important to build a standard for your children to aim for?

Italian fashion trends have lead the way for the last 10 centuries. With brands like Armani, Versace, & Gucci, Italy is a fashion force to be reckoned with.

From fashion history to today’s leading fashion houses and onto the faces that represent the designers names Italian fashion has remained a leader in the industry for the past ten centuries.

Italian Fashion Trends Lead the World

When it comes to fashion trends in Italy they more than often lead the way for the rest of the world. From trend leading textiles, to new fabrics and onto silhouettes that customer’s lust over Italian designers/brands houses many of the best names in the business.

Italian Fashion History

Ever since the 11th century it has been noted that Italian fashion became a powerhouse for other countries to compete against. Italy became not only a source of inspiration but cities such as Venice, Milan and Rome began producing garments, jewelry, and textiles making the Italian economy grow.

For six centuries Italy ruled the fashion industry within Europe, but then the decline hit in the 17th century when designs from Spain, England and France began to take a bigger role. It took Italian fashion until the late ’50s to early ’60s to regain a larger stake in the fashion industry.

Fashion houses such as Prada, Gucci, and Bulgari were founded in Italy in the 19th and 20th centuries. Gucci became a favorite with Hollywood royalty including actresses Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn, as well as First Lady Jackie Onassis.

In the late ’70s Milan became Italy’s fashion capital, both Versace and Dolce & Gabbana opened up boutiques in the area, the city continues to grow as designers expand their collections. Today A-list celebrities such as Madonna, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Beyonce, and Halle Berry are regularly spotted wearing Italian fashions.

Italian Fashion Designers and Brands

Recognizable faces are a major part of designers’ promotional campaigns and each designer brand has their own image to portray.

• Versace is known for being flashy, loud and risk taking so it comes as no surprise that they pick campaign models that reflect that with their personality. Models for the design house have included Madonna, Christina Aguilera, and Kate Moss.
• Giorgio Armani creates collections that give women effortlessly sexy styles so it comes as no surprise the women they choose to be the “face” of their campaigns radiates that same image. Megan Fox, Rihanna, and Victoria Beckham have all modeled for the designer brand.
• Dolce & Gabbana often go for old school glamour when they shoot the seasonal campaigns so both Madonna and Scarlett Johansson were ideal choices for their high end lines.
• Gucci is a long time favorite amongst Hollywood; loyal fans include Jackie Onassis, Grace Kelly, Jennifer Lopez and Drew Barrymore. Previous seasons celebrity models have included the latter two ladies Jennifer Lopez and Drew Barrymore as well as singing sensation Rihanna.

Italian fashion over the years has proved they are a force to be reckoned with as just when you think their time is over and another country might take over they come fighting back.

Mad Men fashion for women is at the forefront again with Banana Republic’s new fall collection due out in August. Learn how to recreate the iconic style here.

Set in the 1960s, in New York, Mad Men is a drama following the lives of Madison Avenue advertising men and women who live in a world of competitiveness and ego. The AMC TV drama is styled to be sexy and provocative. Going into the characters private lives as well as their work drama has made this show a huge hit amongst TV watchers as well as revitalizing ’60s fashion.

Who Creates Fashion from Mad Men?

Janie Bryant is the fabulous costume designer behind Mad Men and she has contributed to the shows success as much as any writer could have. By showcasing true 60s styles she has kept fashion folk and global media talking long after the episodes are over. Bryant explains, “The year 1960 is a transitional period in women’s fashion,” she says. “The hemlines are becoming shorter as opposed to the earlier fifties style of a circle skirt.”

Christina Hendricks Fashion For Women

Christina Hendricks plays Joan Holloway in Mad Men and probably showcases the style of the show through her costumes more than any other character. Joan Holloway could be dressed bold and daring as Bryant explains, “Joan is a woman who knows exactly what her assets are, and I think she totally commands that office.” She is  known for her form-fitting outfits that never reveal too much skin.

January Jones Fashion For Women

The classic style Bryant went for when it came to the character of Betty Draper, played by January Jones, was a surefire winner. Women and men swooned over her pearls, cashmere sweaters and Hermes style scarves. Her style speaks to her role as an upper-class housewife, where image is important to neighbors and Don Draper’s business associates alike.

More Basic Clothes From Mad Men

Not all the characters are dressed to be vixens or to be the center of attention.

“We don’t want to see everybody looking like a model. The interesting thing about the characters in the show is that everybody is beautiful for being different, each looking like individual characters. With all different body types; curvy, straight, tall, short,” Bryant explains.

For example,  let’s look at the character of Peggy Olson. She is new to the advertising world and her dress sense reflects that. She is more innocent and stuck between the work place and her school years. You can see from season to season how her character grows in confidence via her outfit choices. Going from full skirts and scarf ties reminiscent of high school dress codes to ill fitting office wear through to matched accessories and form fitting dresses Olson becomes a woman to be reckoned with.

Mad Men Fashion Banana Republic

The latest on Mad Men fashion is the launch this fall of Banana Republic’s collection in collaboration with the show. The entire collection will be launched in-store and online this coming August based on the styles and looks of the Mad Men characters.

The collection will consist of 65-pieces and will be a team effort between Banana Republic’s team and Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant. Women’s pieces will include pleated skirts, hounds-tooth patterned dresses, silk blouses, and chiffon neck scarves.

Creative director for Banana Republic Simon Kneen described the process working with Bryant, “Working with Janie to gain a true understanding of the Mad Men look and feel was a delight.”

Women’s fashion magazines have become a staple in fashionista’s lives across the globe. From students, working women, to those looking after the family at home women and men buy/read fashion magazines almost as a ritual every month.

Favorite Women’s Fashion Magazines

When you discuss women’s fashion magazines certain titles come to mind instantly, like:

• Vogue
• Harpers Bazaar
• Tatler
• Elle
• Marie Claire
• Glamour
• InStyle

You can buy them in print or read them online. Movies have portrayed the offices where editors create the titles and songs have even mentioned their names.

Magazines That Make Fashion Designers

Each magazine has its own target audience and concept however one factor remains constant, the love and occasional hate relationships with fashion designers.

Each publication has their favorites and September remains the ‘big’ issue for designers as new collections are showcased and highlighted. An editors review or exclusion can have a huge impact on a designer’s collection for the season. Often editors and their teams can make a career, especially for new emerging designers.

“You either know fashion or you don’t.” – Anna Wintour.

Anna Wintour, former editor-in-chief of Vogue US, has launched countless careers including those of fashion designers Zac Posen, Tory Burch, and Marc Jacobs.

Highlighting the early collections of Zac Posen within the pages of Vogue US pushed him to the forefront of the fashion world. Encouraging Tory Burch to pursue her fashion career and giving Marc Jacobs career advice has assisted not only the designers themselves but has also given women the world over page after page of luxury fashion to lust after.

“She’s smart and she surrounds herself with the most talented people. And she’s a risk-taker unafraid of taking chances” – Marc Jacobs on his admiration for Anna Wintour.

Top Women’s Fashion Magazines

• Vogue, the world’s number one women’s fashion magazine published in eighteen countries worldwide. Founded in 1892 by Arthur Baldwin, Vogue has become almost like a Bible to fashion lovers everywhere offering a glimpse into the fashion industry.
• Elle, founded in 1985, combines fashion, style, beauty, entertainment and real life issues to give readers a well rounded look into the industry.
• Glamour, founded in 1939, focuses on empowering women by offering advise on how to live and documenting current social issues.
• InStyle gives readers information on high-end to budget fashion, beauty and entertainment. Letting readers have the information they need to make their own choices when it comes to fashion and beauty.
• Marie Claire focuses not only on fashion but social issues affecting women across the globe. Telling true everyday stories as well as highlighting affordable fashions makes this magazine a popular choice amongst all age groups.

Women’s fashion magazines are as much for pleasure as they are for research. Whether you read women’s fashion magazines in print or online the choices are varied, and opinionated – just as we like them!

Staying on top of fashion trends for teenage girls can be an upward battle for parents & girls themselves. Be in the know on hot brands to check out today.

Fashion trends for teenage girls constantly change, from the latest Disney star gone wild look to what the Gossip Girl set are wearing. However one thing remains the same: the basics! Basics are what make an outfit, we all need them and the choices are plentiful. With hundreds of brands aimed at teenage girls where do the stylish go? One popular choice amongst the fashionable and trendy is contemporary brand Wet Seal.

Best Places to Buy Hot Fashion Trends For Teenage Girls

Stylish fashion pieces are simply not enough for today’s teenage girls, social interaction is also vital. Knowing what your peers think and giving opinions of their own is what today’s teenager wants. Wet Seal came up with a social interaction brand winner when they launched “Shop With Friends” – making it possible for customers to invite friends to chat, share and shop with the brand. Customers and members can also save items they like to their own “Boutique” and create outfits to save for reference or share with the Wet Seal community.

Running contests, organizing events, and making it possible for today’s savvy teenager to use social media as an outlet when connecting with Wet Seal make the brand a much in demand choice within the teenage fashion circle.

The Runway is an online option for girls wanting advise when shopping a certain concept, whether it be Back To School Outfits, Outfits For Hangin’ Out or Goin’ Out.

Wet Seal is the place to head for tops with graphics, trendy prints, sweaters and skirts in both casual and dressy categories, dresses for all shapes, swimwear, accessories, and outerwear. Despite having friends that also shop at the same store, customers can be sure that the way they accessorize and customize will individualize their outfit.

Wet Seal Headquarters and Store Locations

Headquartered in California, Wet Seal has become a leader in contemporary fashion and accessories for teenagers. Currently Wet Seal has 436 stores across America covering 49 states including California and New York.

New stores opening in 2011 include locations in New Jersey, Texas, Florida, and Hawaii.

Finding the Perfect Unique Style

Teenage girls are constantly on the look out for items that their friends do not have or that they can claim to have discovered. Now that Wet Seal has launched their online exclusives selection, the brand is bound to get more popular. You can find shoes, dresses, tops, shorts and skirts offered online only for amazingly competitive prices.

Wet Seal also offers a Junior Plus-Size section proving they are not one of the brands to discriminate or highlight a body image not every young girl can live up to.

Wet Seal is proving year after year that they are a brand to keep an eye on and shop at!