 | Follow us on Twitter. Get latest design news, events and competitions. twitter.com/dexigner |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |  |
 |
      |
 |
|
 |  |
|
 |
 Easy Wearing Fashions Define Spring 2005The most outstanding theme to come from Spring 2005 Olympus Fashion Week in New York was the absolute wearability of the designs."This season, more than any other, women will be embracing the trends and fashions as seen on the runway," shares Linda DeFranco, women's wear trend specialist for Cotton Incorporated. "In past seasons, there were some outrageous designs that were all about effect and getting coverage in the press. Now the story is about what women can and will wear." "Spring 2005 is about real fashions," agrees Kim Johnson, owner of Johnson on Manhattan's Lower East Side. "There were some subtle updates to the styles that women love." "The spring season has a real 50's feel to it," adds Wenlan Chai, designer for Twinkle, a collection that garnered great praise from those who saw the Spring 2005 show. "There were plenty of dresses, fuller skirts and cropped pants. It's about looks that women love." Continuity in fashion seems to be important with both women and designers alike. "The Lilly Pulitzer Collection is always tied to its tradition and heritage," shares the company's vice president and creative director Sandi Davidson. "Since its early years, Lilly Pulitzer has been worn by the most glamorous and beautiful young women. more www.cot... (186) added by Senay TOPCUOGLU |
 |
 Give Your Look Some Sparkle With a Pin or Two - or MoreWhile Coco Chanel popularized pricey sportswear and ladies-who-lunch suits, she did the same for drop-dead gorgeous costume jewelry that only looked outrageously expensive.Which brings us to one of the most wearable trends of the season: the brooch. On the fall fashion runways, brooches embellished curvy Versace gowns, discreet Ralph Lauren tweed and silky Calvin Klein twin sets. They were absolutely everywhere - adding a little flash, funkiness and femininity to looks all over the style spectrum. "Brooches are a very whimsical, playful accessory," says Elizabeth Schaaf, owner of Elizabeth's Timeless Attire, an upscale vintage store on Frankfort Avenue (which was recently featured in the new glossy Shop magazine). "And jewelry designers are taking inspiration from so many different decades that you're seeing everything - from art deco pieces to florals to animals. Anything goes. The idea is to use a pin to make a statement." You can pick up a perfectly respectable sparkler for about $10 at your favorite department store, one-of-a-kind vintage pins for $20 to $40 at shops such as Elizabeth's or Nitty Gritty, and newer costume pieces at boutiques such as Girl Talk in Middletown, She and Karen's. Of course, you could spend much more on heirloom brooches at jewelry and antiques stores, and you could even more www.cou... (173) added by Bige OZLER |
 Ten Fashion Tips for The UnfashionableImplausible styles worn by impossibly-skinny models - it must be London Fashion Week. But as the catwalks are dismantled, here's a rundown of the latest fashion indicators which have emerged over the past few days.You might be feeling the chill this week and digging out your chunky-knit jumper, but the fashion world is looking ahead to next year's spring-summer collections. While we hardly saw enough sunshine this year to bother taking off our winter coats, designers' thoughts are already on what we will be wearing next year when we prepare to peel off the layers. So if you can't see beyond the more outlandish offerings on show to decode the coming trends, here are some key themes which will be hard to avoid. 1. The waist is in. Forget baggy, anything that accentuates that clinched-in look is a must. From belted jackets to hip-hugging pencil skirts, it's time to go tight again. If you can throw in a bit of tweed, all the better. Just take inspiration from Miss Jean Brodie. 2. It's time to start raising your trouser length, as jodhpurs and knickerbockers are making a comeback. Think gymkhanas and highwaymen. And what might those knickerbockers be made of? Why, tweed, leather and suede of course. But if you are feeling brave they were spotted in pink on one catwalk. 3. The decade de jour with fashionistas i more news.bb... (142) added by Levent OZLER |
 Fashion Leaders Naf Naf Expanding BoundariesNaf Naf is one of the rare French brands to have a truly international presence.This ready-to-wear fashion group has joined the league that already holds chains like H&M and Zara as specialty retailers who thrive on fast-to-market fashion. The company, led by Paris-based brothers Gerard and Patrick Pariente, which primarily started as a boutique in the Passage du Caire in Paris called 'Influence', has gone miles ahead since its inception way back in 1973, mapping out an aggressive plan for further expansion with a key to take measures to shorten supply chains for maximum flexibility. In 2003, Naf Naf saw its net income rise from $3.3 mn in 2000 to $15 mn. Under the new strategy, the company intends to expand its overseas business to 50% from the existing 35% over the next few years. The company plans to achieve this dream by capitalising on its ability to offer bright, youthful clothing, while keeping up with changes in style. more www.app... (576) added by Senay TOPCUOGLU |
 Textile Dreams from St GallenFabrics produced by the canton's textile industry are sought-after by some of the biggest names in haute couture and turned into stunning catwalk creations.Dresses made by the likes of Akris, Chanel, Romeo Gigli, Christian Lacroix, Paco Rabanne, Emanuel Ungaro and Vivienne Westwood adorn the exhibition. Apart from their rich beauty, they all have one thing in common: they are made from fabrics produced by Jakob Schläpfer, one of St Gallen's leading textile companies. The close collaboration between the museum and Schläpfer has produced a visual feast showcasing the range of fabrics produced over the last 50 years. The exhibition is divided into three parts: the history of the textile industry in western Switzerland; the world of fabrics; and the world of haute couture. "For us, it is important to connect past and present. And to explain the present, you have to look on what happened in the past," Sigrid Pallmert, the curator of the Swiss National Museum, told swissinfo. The opening section leads visitors from the beginning of the textile industry in the 12th century through to the present. "After linen came cotton, after cotton came [the renowned St Gallen] embroideries and afterwards haute couture," explained Pallmert. more www.swi... (265) added by Bige OZLER |
| Design Directory | Design Database | Agenda | Newsletter | Map | Mobile | Link to Us | Advertise | Contact & About Us |  |
21,381 articles, 1,016 online visitors, 283,787,187 page views |
