Fashions and designers that stick around

Women's Wear Daily, a famous fashion magazine, recently wrote about the "A to Zs" of fashion over the last 100 years. These are the fashions and designers that have stuck around, no matter what style is currently in and what every fashionista seems to be wearing.

Seeing as the industry is constantly adapting to new fashions, these designers and designs should be recognized because they have not fallen short of what people are looking for in clothing. Examples are the miniskirt, pantsuits for career women, and of course, flappers.

According to executive editor Bridget Foley, "the very best designers have to push forward, but [they] always consider what women will wear." It is important to always remember the everyday woman and keep their bodies and interests in mind.

Skinny jeans and pencil skirts seem to always be available for shoppers amongst the new designs and fashions. I think this saves the industry in part because many of the modern designs today do not have that lasting approach such as just putting on something black does, for example. Foley adds that "however modern and urban we like to think black is, women have been wearing it regularly since the 1920s."

As I have mentioned before in my blogging, the power of social media and buzz that has been around for ages substantially contributes to fashion and shapes the minds of consumers everywhere. Without the word-of-mouth that exists today, many designers would not be as successful.

Some of the designers that were chosen for the article that shaped fashion were Paul Poiret, Claire McCardell, and Christian Dior. Of course Coco Chanel made the list seeing as she basically "created an entire culture around a brand."

Many other designers made the cut such as Giorgio Armani, Oscar de la Renta, Donna Karan, and Donatella Versace. New talent was included in the list because balance was necessary, especially seeing as fashion is so often described as "representative" and not always "really good."

Source: Yahoo! Fashion News

Did Karl Lagerfeld have a change of heart?

Famous designer, Karl Lagerfeld, has been known to push a few buttons regarding the "skinny ideal" of models. He puts pressure on models to be thin because he feels that "no one wants to see round women."

Controversy was stirred when Lagerfeld was interviewed by Focus magazine in response to another German magazine, Brigitte, and their newly stated desire to only shoot "real women" and talk about ordinary lifestyles in comparison to their earlier issues which focused on professional, skinny models.

"These are fat mummies sitting with their bags of crisps in front of the television, saying that thin models are ugly," said Lagerfeld while explaining to Focus what he thought of the women and media criticizing the thin models. He supports the fashion industry and the clothing lines that are made for these size 00 women.

However, a few months later, Lagerfeld shot a spread for V Magazine's "Size Issue." The woman posing for him was Miss Martini, an extremely voluptuous burlesque artist. She was wearing lingerie in the magazine, which showed her curves quite explicitly.

The media was buzzing on whether or not Karl changed his mind about his previous remarks concerning models and their weight. Many people did not think there was any way a designer such as Lagerfeld would go back on their word just to subdue a bad image.

In my opinion, I don't think Karl Lagerfeld will change anything about which models he chooses in the near future. I agree with many critics in that Miss Martini is not an actual model herself and that she wasn't even wearing Chanel clothing, so therefore he wasn't really doing anything to retract former statements.

The skinny ideal portrayed today is definitely improving with certain designers and their strides for a more healthy outlook on women, but designers such as Lagerfeld will continue to exist in the industry and stand in their opinions that a skinny woman is the best fit for the runway.


http://www.stylelist.com

Fashion playing its role in the World Series...who knew??

So, I thought I would take a different approach to my blog this week by mixing fashion with sports. Even though this might seem like an interesting combination, the Texas Rangers have actually brought a new spin to recent “sport’s fashion.”

Seeing as I am an avid Ranger fan, and the fact that they are going to the World Series for the first time ever, their team has been occupying my mind lately. I attended the game in Arlington on Friday evening and saw a very interesting theme amongst the outfits being worn.

As some of you may know, the “claw” and “antlers” have become popular topics for Rangers’ fans. Josh Hamilton, outfielder for the Rangers, created a sensation when he associated the gesture of creating a claw with your fingers and thrusting your arm over your head to represent the completion of a good play. Putting your hands over your ears to symbolize deer antlers is used to prove that the team members can run "as fast as a deer" around the bases.

These two gestures have created amazing team unity as well as a connection with the fans. Everywhere I turned at the stadium, I saw fans wearing the claw and antlers shirt. It was made in blue and red, the Texas Rangers’ colors. There was also a plethora of people wearing foam antlers on their head!

Google Images

Right after winning the game on Friday that solidified their spot in the World Series, people were already packed tightly into the various souvenir shops at the stadium. Scoring a shirt that proved the Rangers had won the American League Championship was top priority in hundreds of fans’ minds. Fans all over the country go crazy over their team’s fashion merchandise after a big win.

Wearing your team’s colors and memorabilia shows a unity amongst fans that has existed for generations.

The top 10 collections for Spring 2011

Style.com recently released their top 10 collection picks from the Spring 2011 Fashion Week that was hosted in New York City.

Coming in first, with extravagant butterfly-winged dresses and tailcoats, was Alexander McQueen. Sarah Burton McQueen needed to prove herself in order solidify this amazing label's legacy, and she definitely met everyone’s expectations with an even friendlier and softer vibe. Tears and a standing ovation rounded out this amazing runway performance.

Next came Chanel, stacked with three fountains and an 80-piece orchestra. Karl Lagerfeld demonstrated a “couture-come-undone feel” with skirt suits filled with holes and perfect materials cut up and damaged. Chanel has always been my personal favorite and I would give anything to see such a breathtaking show.

The short-and-sexy look coined by Christopher Kane came next. Although, Kane altered his famous look this year with tattoo prints and leather lace, but his designs continued to be alluring even with the added strangeness.

Emilio Pucci’s collection came fourth in the rankings, but Peter Dundas still managed to design the hottest lace-up boots of the season. Dundas brought sexy to another level with “slit-up-to-there gowns,” and nobody could top his sultriness.

Haider Ackermann is not a name to dismiss with his modern gowns made of silk and black leather. Everyone is always pleased to see a daring take on modern apparel.

The Lanvin label came in seventh with their “irresistibly chic” designs that address women’s needs. The outfits were breezy and colorful, paired with flat sandals-Alber Elbaz definitely knows how to fulfill a woman’s fashion desires.

Marc Jacobs is another personal favorite of mine, with his “feel-good” seventies inspired designs and the floral touches he never fails to perfect. Marc Jacobs, ranking at number eight, is a classic designer who will always shock an audience with his brilliance.

Finishing off the top 10 picks was Proenza Schouler. Their sophisticated collection consisted of tweed jackets and pastel skirts, officially shedding Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough of the “young designer” title.

All of these designers did an excellent job at putting their own twist to modern fashion themes. Spring 2011 will experience fashions like never before, and I agree completely with Style.com’s take on who led New York's latest fashion week.

Social media changes fashion as we know it

Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week took place September 9-16 and featured many established designers as well as the lesser known ones.

Celebrities and fashionistas from all around came to the city of lights to preview the fabulous designs that they will be sporting for the next spring season. While seated in their reserved rows, the fashion icons immediately began tweeting about the various ensembles thrown before their eyes.

Social media today is one reason that the average consumer has any idea of the hott new fashions of the season.

Sites such as Twitter and Facebook have made it possible for just about anyone to access what’s going on during fashion week through celeb’s tweets, live video, photos and interviews.

Fashion week even has its own twitter account that allows for complete interconnectedness on the publicity front. Links are available through their social media sites for the sponsors and designers to get their name out there significantly more than previous years.

When clicking on a link automatically lays out a designer’s entire collection, the search cost decreases drastically.

Any interested consumer, whether 13 years old or 40, can catch a glimpse of the design going down the runway in an instant with photo attachments available on tweets. This is an excellent way to reach the public seeing as the majority of a designer’s target audience does not receive an invitation to their runway show.

A lot has changed since Women’s Wear Daily was fashion’s leading source, most notably the time lapse from the runway show itself to the eyes of materialists everywhere. Fashion bloggers have created an outlet for designers that was never thought possible before.