Why I Follow Fashion Trends Even When I Don’t Mean To

Fashion in the modern world is an inescapable evil, pervading every sector of life. No matter where you turn, you will be bombarded by advertisements for the latest styles, tips on how to look like celebrities, or you can even catch a glimpse of the walking fashion billboards known as teenagers. With all these fashion trends around you, it can be overwhelming, and maybe you’ll decide to back off, stop worrying about fashion for a little while, and just do your own thing. Well, the world of fashion is a fickle mistress, and that “inescapable” up above was not just flavor text. Fashion Trends – Then and Now It used to be that the highlight of fashion and the knowledge of all the latest fashion trends was based solely in the really big fashion centers, the obvious ones that everyone knew; Paris, Milan, and so forth. If you really considered yourself on top of the fashion world, you kept up with what people were seeing at fashion shows in these cities, you kept up with all the fanciest dresses and nicest suits, all in the name of fashion. Ostensibly, that is still true today. If you want the newest in high fashion, you follow the same cities as always. Sure, maybe the newest in high fashion is a bit stranger than it used to be – a bit more angular, a bit more revealing, a bit less possible to wear in public (to be blunt) – but fashion changes with the times like anything else does. But notice that the above example is in high fashion, “high” being the keyword. If you want to be fancy, you wear this stuff. But fashion isn’t just runways and celebrities anymore. More and more, fashion is starting to include teen culture. And why [...]

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Why Do Fashion Trends Always Return?

Flares, corduroys, bomber jackets, platform shoes, the list can go on and on. People look back on any decade and say “God, the fashion was awful! What were they thinking?!”. Yet somehow we recycle these trends, make a few tweaks, and they keep coming back. What gives some trends the staying power of always returning? In other words, why do some fashion trends always return? Every time I return from the mall, my mother wants me to model my purchases. And somehow every “hot” item gets marred by her comments of “Oh, peasant skirts are back in?  I wore those!” or “One-piece jumpsuits are back? I’m sure Grammy still has mine in storage somewhere!”. “It” trends are now just updates of my mother’s closet. Luckily, shoulder pads haven’t made a comeback, but it seems as though nearly everything else has! The real reason these fashion trends always return is that designers look to the past and see what worked, and what didn’t. Much like music today, you rarely get an original; we sample someone else for the background and add our own twist. Tweak it, update it, and younger generations think you’ve reinvented the wheel. It’s nearly impossible to think of something that has absolutely never been done before in any shape or form. Designers have to look for inspiration from somewhere, and what better place to look than the attic? Some trends come back because they work- they’re universally flattering. Take the baby doll dress for example. It was groovy in the sixties, sure, but people of today could use the forgiving cut of the empire waist. Then there’s the peasant skirt. After a few years of miniskirts, then micro-mini’s, there’s only an inch or two left between you and a fine for public indecency. So what would make [...]

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Fashion Trends for 2012

The fashion trends for 2012 (spring and summer) are quite versatile. The choices range from sleek and modern to retro and romantic, so that every woman will find something they’ll like no matter what her style preference is. Colors and prints for the coming season are wide and varied. Pastel colors are back, ranging from barely there shades, to the prettier ice cream hues in peach, lilac, mints or blues. Dresses are being created now in pretty, lady-like florals, ranging from tiny to more modern and larger retro prints. Birds, bees, sea creatures and other animals are all choices for prints on clothing this spring and summer. Beige is always a great favorite and will be found in a variety of colors from the soft fawns, to caramels and taupes on pants, skirts and dresses. Vibrant colors such as hot red, fuchsia and orange are in, as are jewel toned greens and blues, particularly for longer dresses. Monochromatic modern and retro prints are both big for blouses and dresses. Graphic print tops and blouses are recent trends that are popular this spring. Yellow is really big, from the palest lemons to hot neon, often paired with black accents to make a dramatic statement for those who have the coloring to pull this look off. Basic black, as always, is still there for traditional cocktail wear and day dresses. A return to the retro trend of pairing black and white is seen for elegant day and evening dresses. White is a popular color and is being done in lace, chiffon or a combination of the two, worn in either floaty layers or sleek and straight. Fashion trends for 2012: The flair of hair Trends in hair, like the color choices and fashions themselves, are a combination of modern and retro styles. [...]

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1. Shoe Fashion Trends
2. Fashion Runway Trends

A Comparison of the Fashion of the 1980s With the Fashion Now

For a good number of us born into Generation X, the 1980s were the bombdigity. MTV – when it was actually music television (remember that?) – was among the current technology of the day for helping to completely revolutionize fashion. We watched the popular music videos just as much for the cool out fashion trend news as we did for the totally def jams. For others of us, looking back on it, the ‘80s and its “fashion” trends were merely bad music, worse hair, and ooglay clothing trends. We were so cool. As if! What were we thinking? But apparently, we were blazing a trail for the Gen-Z’ers of today’s fashionable fashions. History has a way of repeating itself, and the saying, “What’s old is new again” could not be more true when it comes to the fashion of now. And Generation Z is making its mark to help the vehicle of ‘80s fashion make a Back To The Future style comeback in the 2010s. While we might not yet be using the hoverboard, McFly had it right when it came to the righteous fashion trends of the 80s still being used in our now-modern day. Today’s generation is trying just as hard as those of yesteryear’s Gen-X teens to make their own fashion statements known to be ones that reflects individual personality and a bite me style defiance towards anything that might be the boring brainchild of the establishment. Fashions that only a mere decade ago were considered “that’s so ‘80s” and “what a geek” have become the fab Geek Chic, wide-spread trends of teens and tweens today who are constantly trying to find, define and redefine themselves. Let’s get the 411 here. So what gives with all the hype about the success of ‘80s style in its heyday [...]

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Spring Sandals

Being fashionable in this season doesn’t mean you have to go broke. In my quest to find amazing spring sandals, I discovered that I can still get those amazing spring looks for less. For college students or those just on a budget- it is still possible to look a million bucks this spring. Here are a few of my favorites for under $50. Color-block Sure color-blocking has taken the world by storm in the clothes we wear but in our shoes too? Yes, color-blocking is going to be a popular trend this season. Whether you’re wearing sandals or wedges, this season expect to see color-blocking everywhere from the office to the beach. The color-block wedges above add a perfect pop of spring colors to any outfit and are only $50 from heels.com. Detailed Sandals Simple sandals are a thing of the past. You better get rid of those flip flops. You can now accessorize with what you wear on your feet. Check out the cream tasseled sandals from H&M. They can take a pair of jeans and t-shirt to a whole new level. Did I mention they are affordable- only $15. Patterned Sandal Wedges Patterned wedges were big in the fall. Why wouldn’t they be big in the spring? This trend will continue to be popular this spring. From Aztec designs to polka dots, I imagine everyone will be owning at least one pair of patterned sandals wedges this spring. These funky stripes and floral designed wedges above are from ModCloth.com and won’t break the bank. Only $40. The Infamous Platform The 70′s are back and they are better than ever. This season, expect to see the revival of the platform-in funky colors too. Wear them with short shorts, a maxi or fun dress and you will be sure to turn [...]

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Do Fashion Trends Always Return?

The question of whether fashion trends return or not is a rather obvious question to answer. The answer is – unfortunately, sometimes, yes. Why is it so unfortunate? Well, it is that the nostalgia seems to end up controlling the culture – and we seem to end up almost in an inescapable cycle of watered-down versions of what was once considered original. What does this cycle mean for individualists, rebels, and the permanent adversarial culture? The Return of the Fashion Trends A good example of a returned fashion trend is seen in popular culture – Lady Gaga’s audience has said of her many times that she’s a Madonna for the 21st century – both critics and admirers seem to recognize this return to pseudo-shock culture, grotesque displays, sacrilegious theatre and so on. It resonates with the same audiences – the sex-craving, fun-seeking, carefree, party-free-or-die crowd embodied in an anthem of their own making: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Who can resist singing along after a few shots? In mass culture, there will always be sexual themes, money, and a chorus to sing. People who will sing Journey‘s Don’t Stop Believing, will probably end up also knowing Soulja Boy’s dance. But is there more to trends than just those trivial and material things? Those things will never go away, but does anything else stay around? What of trends in the counterculture – or even, if the counterculture is still, truly, around? No one can argue if fashion trends return or not – it is nearly self-evident: John Lennon’s Imagine at the end of the year, watched by the neo-hippies on their iPhones – the mainstreaming of punk culture and clothing (Anarchy in the UK), the slightly changed hairstyles of teens in the eighties to the disillusioned and nostalgic youth of today [...]

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How To Be Fashionable In Your Own Way

Fashion is one of those things in life with endless ways to express one’s self. Whether it be in cut, color, with accessories or without, the options are limitless! In this article I’ll explain some easy ways to show your personality through your sense of fashion, while remaining presentable. When it comes to clothes, there are a lot of appropriate things for the workplace that most people don’t even consider as part of an outfit! Take hair accessories for instance. A statement headband or elastic can make a huge impact on your overall appearance and with all the options out there, you can say a lot! Fabric flowers can be both feminine and timeless, or bright, funky, and charming. Through different colors and textures, you can achieve some great results. Customizing your wardrobe to fit your personality doesn’t always need to be expensive, either. What better way to express yourself than to make your own accessories or add to clothes you already have? Talk about saving your wallet! With a few simple everyday household items, you can turn that boring white-collar blouse into a work of art, while maintaining that professional look! You can embellish with a brooch made from buttons, fabric flowers, recycled beads, or even applique. There are endless resources to help you find that crafty niche to customize your clothes, so don’t hesitate to browse the web or head to the craft book section of your local library and start getting creative. There are also less daunting ways to express yourself through your sense of style for those who aren’t so craft savvy. Browsing through catalogs and magazines and finding things you really like might give you some inspiration for your everyday wear. I personally really like finding quirky things that represent my morals or beliefs, without [...]

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A History of Ready to Wear Clothing

The phrase ‘ready to wear’ is a translation from the French term ‘pre-a-porter’ and can also be known as ‘off-the-peg’ or ‘off-the-rack’. According to the American Heritage Dictionary of English Language, there are two things that make a clothing item a ready-to-wear item – standard sizing and finished to be worn. Some definitions differ in their specifics. The definition from the Random House Word Menu mentions mass manufactured means applied to fashion designs. Mass market seems to be the term for clothes that are not considered to have come from a high fashion designer. Both definitions have a root in the same history and we will start here. Then, we will look at the development of ready to wear in the high-fashion market and talk about some recent history events that have helped shape what we have today. Ready to wear clothing: When did it  really start? Since people have had the ability to create clothing in quantity, measure and communicate through standard written symbols, it was possible that some scale of manufactured clothing could have been made with a simple production line. In addition to that, a designer may already have invented ready to wear clothing during that time but was never recorded. Like many things in history, we simply have to look at what we do know. This brings our attention to manufacturing from recent times because the phrase “ready to wear” is used to describe the fashion industry in Europe and the U.S. These two markets and the inventions of mass manufacturing machines and practices effected the whole modern fashion market. Ready-made fashion was resulted from the industrial revolution and technology, material and innovations. An example of this was seen with Levi jeans. The material was from France, Levi (the man) started to experiment with it for [...]

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1. What to Wear for Different Body Shapes

Should You Dress for Yourself or for Your Partner?

Throughout the ages, males and females have used different tactics to attract their mate. Birds use plumage, fish use their pretty scales and we humans use our clothing. Everyone has their own individuality when it comes to our articles of clothing. But being humans, we are taught when we get older to impress the opposite sex. So the question is: should you dress for yourself or your partner? You can go into many stores and see six inch heels or tailor made suits. But if you ask the people who buy them if they wear them often, you may get the response of “no, they’re only for show”. Fashion and dating magazines always have articles that tell you which shoes or dress or tie to wear to attract a mate or impress your partner. Rarely are the articles that have clothing to create your own individuality. The most common answer to this question is dress for your partner. When it comes to dressing for yourself, being unique can sometimes lead to a negative effect that your partner perceives you to be. If you enjoy wearing undershirts and pajama style pants every day, your partner will see you as not needing to be impressed anymore and find someone else who is willing to take the time out to impress him or her. Or you have people from other walks of life such as Goths, bohemians, thugs, etc. that have their own way of dressing and feel comfortable in their clothing. That doesn’t mean that your partner will like that as well. When it comes to relationships, your partner becomes a big part of you. You would want to do everything for them. But would you want to change yourself in order to stay? When your partner takes you out, he/she wants [...]

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What are the Most Comfortable Fashion Styles?

Comfortable fashion styles? You’re maybe wondering if those kinds exist. Well, they do and cannot be denied. It’s a win-win. Fashionable and yet, comfortable. When it comes to comfort, there are a variety of choices – and they don’t have to just be sweatpants. If you’d like to be comfortable and remain fashionable, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Comfortable fashion styles: Loose is in. Tight is out. First, it’s advisable to always keep it loose. Wearing loose clothing doesn’t mean it can’t be sexy or fashionable. To have comfortable fashion styles, if you’re a lady, a loose peasant style blouse with an open back, or a nice flowing summer dress, are both stylish and supremely comfortable. For you guys out there: Don’t be afraid to rock a t-shirt. The trick to wearing a t-shirt fashionably is to pair it with a nice (cotton!) blazer. Stay away from stiff fabrics like corduroy or polyester. You want to appear casual, but not sloppy. A good rule of thumb for any fashion concerned citizen wanting to stay cozy is to keep your clothing fitting well. It’s not fun having your waistband digging into your skin, but it’s also not comfortable to always have to be pulling up loose pants. If need be, don’t be afraid to buy your pants a size up if you’ve gained a little weight. This is only temporary until you get back to the gym and back on the wagon with your eating habits. In the meantime, keep yourself happy and comfortable. Additionally, if you’ve lost weight, or your clothing has just lost its shape in the washer and is fitting too loosely, toss it out. You don’t need to always have a hand hiking up your belt loops. Is this something you want [...]

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