life fashion

Lady Gaga was born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta on March 28, 1986, in Manhattan, New York City. She makes her living as a singer, songwriter, musician, dancer, and plays piano, synthesizer, and keytar.

Her career began with her performing in the rock music scene of New York City’s Lower East Side in 2003. She enrolled at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and soon signed with Streamline Records. Have you heard of Akon? It was he who recognized her vocal abilities and got her signed to his own label, Kon Live Distribution.

Since then, her music career has skyrocketed to success. But she started early. She learned to play piano from the age of four, went on to write her first piano ballad at 13 and began performing at open mike nights by age 14.

But we are interested in her fashion sense. That started early as well. She described her academic life in high school as “very dedicated, very studious, very disciplined” but also “a bit insecure” as she told in an interview, “I used to get made fun of for being either too provocative or too eccentric, so I started to tone it down. I didn’t fit in, and I felt like a freak.”

Throughout 2007, she worked with performance artist ‘Lady Starlight’, who helped create her onstage fashions. The pair began playing gigs at downtown club venues like the Mercury Lounge, The Bitter End, and the Rockwood Music Hall, with their live performance art piece known as “Lady Gaga and the Starlight Revue.” Referred to as “The Ultimate Pop Burlesque Rockshow”, their act was a kind of tribute to 1970s variety acts. In August 2007, Gaga and Starlight were invited to play at the American Lollapalooza music festival – people loved it.

She made the cover of the annual ‘Hot 100′ issue of Rolling Stone magazine in May 2009. She was semi-nude wearing only strategically placed plastic bubbles. She was nominated for a total of nine awards at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, winning the award for “Best New Artist”, while her single “Paparazzi” won two awards for “Best Art Direction” and “Best Special Effects.”

In April, it was reported that her music videos gained over one billion viral views, becoming one of the first artists to reach this milestone. She has been influenced by glam rock artists such as David Bowie and Queen. “I don’t want to sound presumptuous, but I’ve made it my goal to revolutionize pop music. The last revolution was launched by Madonna 25 years ago.” Actress and singer Grace Jones was also an inspiration.

Lady Gaga has stated that she is very much influenced by fashion and that it is everything to her. She considers Donatella Versace her muse. She has her own creative production team called the Haus of Gaga, which she handles personally. The team creates many of her clothes, stage props, and hairdos.

Her love of fashion came from her mother, who she stated was “always very well kept and beautiful.” She said that: “When I’m writing music, I’m thinking about the clothes I want to wear on stage. It’s all about everything altogether—performance art, pop performance art, fashion. For me, it’s everything coming together and being a real story that will bring back the super-fan. I want to bring that back. I want the imagery to be so strong that fans will want to eat and taste and lick every part of us.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

It has been said by the best of the divas that marrying rich is just as easy as marrying poor. So, why not go for the rich life instead of struggling for every penny? In the past, many considered this taboo, and many still do. However, there is a growing group of people that acknowledge their desire to marry a rich man and aren’t afraid to admit it to the world. In fact, they have decided to use any means necessary to achieve their goal.

Recently, in New York City, an event was held with the theme: “Rich men seeking beautiful young women”. It seems that not only are woman being bold and daring by stating what they want in a man, men have also decided to be more frank. Now, many men are openly admitting that they want a young and beautiful wife. As the event approached, all eyes were watching and the press had a field day. Unfortunately, most of the reports were of a negative nature. Even though the people were being up front and honest about what they wanted, many people frowned upon this kind of open display and shunned it as immoral or improper. So many have an idea that true love or even just successful relationships can never be based upon such terms and that romance and other factors as seen in the movies must play a part. However, the people who participated said that it was refreshing to have the things out in the open the way they were. These events are becoming more and more popular and another was recently held in China.

With the advent of the internet, one needn’t go to an expensive dinner to flaunt money or beauty. Entire web sites are devoted to helping people of all sorts meet others with compatible interests. Whether it is gay people or older preferring younger, mixed races and all types of preferences, beautiful women seeking rich men is no exception and can be found easily. The internet allows so many conveniences and flexibilities – as well as anonymity until you are ready to be public – it is the perfect tool for shopping from home to weed out the ones that don’t match your criteria. Men can request a picture of the woman and women can request financial records to assess the fitness of their potential partner. This can work quite well, but there are certain caveats to watch out for.

A short while back, a woman wrote a letter to an online forum asking how to find a rich man. Confident about her looks and ability to behave properly and keep a home, she lamented about how her friends, who were less attractive than she, could have found such wonderful and rich men. She was asking for advice and her objective was clear. She wanted a man that made at least 500 thousand dollars per year. She wanted a straight answer and was ready to accept the truth whatever it may be.

She received a reply from a man stating that he, indeed, made over 500 thousand dollars per year and was qualified according to her terms. He, however, had a different opinion about what she was offering him. He said she wouldn’t be a very good investment as her looks would fade, but his money would continue to grow. He also said that there may be something a bit suspect about her story since she says she hasn’t been able to find the right man, but she is so qualified to get one. Perhaps she isn’t as qualified as she says?

Trading beauty for money is risky business when dealing with forever in a marriage. Some people seem to think it can work and some people are dead-set against it. In the long run, whoever you end up marrying will be the one you need to live with. If you’re doing it with an easy exit plan, why even get married unless it is to deceive? Whether its money, love, beauty or fame, think about it carefully before you sign a contract that means forever. You can count on the fact that your marriage will have a major affect on your happiness for many years to

Have you every heard that coffee is good…but tea is even better!!

Tea, as you may have heard, also has benefits. People who drink three to six cups of tea a day have a 36 percent lower risk of heart disease compared to those who drank less than one cup per day, the study found. While I know my coffee, I get confused about tea. Turns out, each type has its own unique health benefits. Here are some deets to help you choose your ultimate brew:

Green Tea: Battles Cancer (and Eye Issues)
Green tea has loads of antioxidants and other disease-fighting properties, which may lower incidence of everything from glaucoma (and other eye issues) to cancer. I’ve been encouraging my mom to drink more green tea lately because studies have also shown that it can also improve bone health. Apparently it contains chemicals that both stimulate bone growth and slow its breakdown — key for anyone showing signs of bone loss or osteoporosis.

Tip: If you are shopping for a skin cream with green tea as a main ingredient, look for a lotion with a beige color. Because green tea’s polyphenols darken the cream, the hue signals yours has a high dose of the ingredient. Browner is better!

Black Tea: Cuts Risk of Ovarian Cancer
According to the Journal of Food Science, black tea may boost immunity, reduce hypertension, and cut your risk of ovarian cancer by nearly half (same goes for green tea), and help control diabetes. This type of tea contains polysaccharides, which may have glucose-inhibiting properties. Earl Grey, English Breakfast, and other common blends (you know, the ones fancy restaurants bring around in a box post-dinner) are made with black tea leaves.

White Tea: Promotes Weight Loss (and Fights Wrinkles)
In a 2009 study by German researchers, when white tea extracts were introduced to human fat cells, it reduced the expression of genes associated with new fat growth and broke down some of the existing fat.
It’s also a boon for beauty: Last year, U.K. scientists discovered that white tea can hit the pause button on the enzymes responsible for the breakdown of elastin and collagen, a process that causes those wrinkles that, you swear, just appeared overnight!

Tip: If you are sensitive to caffeine, opt for white tea, which has significantly less caffeine than other leaf varieties.

Oolong Tea: Boosts Metabolism, Lowers Bad Cholesterol
One study found that, when consumed post-meal, Oolong tea boosts your metabolism by 10 percent (compared to 4 percent for green tea). In addition, it may reduce absorption of fat during a meal, and help lower levels of bad cholesterol.

Tip: This can be the trickiest of the four to find at the store. It’s sometimes referred to as Wu-Long, so look for that when scanning the shelf.

What about all of these blends?
A lot of tea companies are now adding fancy ingredients (herbs and whatnot) to their teas to pile on additional health benefits. My fave is Partners Tea Co.’s Popeye blend. This green-tea based bag-o’-tricks includes yerba mate (shown to increase energy and focus), goji berries (believed to boost fertility), peppermint (a friend to your digestive track), ginger (another tummy pal, and may lower cholesterol), and lemongrass (relieves insomnia and stress). And it’s organic and free trade, which makes me feel doubly good.

Tip: According to Partners’ owner Sarah Scarborough (who’s seemingly part-chemist … and bartender!), it’s also great iced with lime, mint, and agave. And, if you add rum, it’s a healthy (or at least justifiable!) mojito. That’s my kind of tea, people.

e decided to get a dog. Good for you! Dogs can be fun and you can share a lot of joy with a pet. But, as you know, along with having a pet comes responsibility. You must treat the pet well and consider its needs. With a dog, you mustn’t forget the issue of exercise.

Dogs love to run. Have you seen dogs at the beach or at a park running just as fast as they can? They need to do it because it is what they are designed to do. Like birds confined to a cage, if your dog has no place to run all day, you’ll need to get him outside and running and playing. Depending upon the type of dog you have, you will need to take him running at least once or twice every day.

Dogs usually need to follow the lead of their master – that’s you. This means that your dog will try to keep up with you while you’re running, but will also get distracted a lot. Depending upon if you’re a strict owner or more easy-going, you’ll allow your dog to stop and smell things, try to meet other dogs or take detours when playing fetch.

You must also consider others when you take your dog for some exercise. Make sure you take your dog to a proper place. Many places don’t allow dogs to run without a leash, so you must run with your dog instead of letting him run free. Also, you must clean up after your dog if he makes a mess- don’t leave messes for others to step on. Even in places where it is ok to have a dog, remember that many people, especially children, can be very afraid of dogs. You must consider this when you allow your dog to approach someone or if your dog is barking at others.

What about your dog’s health? Remember that your dog is just like you in many ways. When it’s hot or he exercises, he’ll get tired and thirsty. Of course a dog has no way of telling you that, so you’ll have to be considerate. Give him a rest when he seems exhausted and make sure he has plenty of water during and after exercise.

s true, many men don’t know how to say I’m sorry and many people wonder why it is difficult for most men to do so. Unfortunately, it has become common in our society for men not to apologize. As kids, most men learned from their elders to say “excuse me,” “please,” “thank you” and “I am sorry.” But as men grow older, the latter becomes more difficult to utter, especially with the opposite sex. It’s kind of annoying.

Too Much Pride?

A proud man may find it difficult to apologize, even though deep down inside he knows he is wrong. This is an example of a man’s ego that is out of line. He is more worried about hurting his pride than saying he is sorry, or worse, he worries more about his pride than his partner’s feelings.

Appearance of Weakness

Similar to the first, it is all about the image or perception. Appearing weak in front of the opposite sex is something most men try to avoid. To some men, asking for forgiveness is a sign of weakness. They think that apologizing diminishes self-respect.

Men Don’t Like to Be Wrong

Some men simply do not like to be wrong. To them, it is a sign of incompetence. If they admit their mistake by asking for forgiveness, it is an admission of guilt. Some men would rather be rude and not apologize than admit they were wrong.

Action Speaks Louder Than Words

Men apologize in a different way than most women do. To them, it is much more difficult to say it with words; therefore, they show it in deeds. Buying their partners peace offerings such as flowers, jewelries, chocolates or other gifts are enough to show how sorry they are. Sometimes, men become extra attentive to their partners, hoping they will notice. Interestingly, women often do realize their men were apologizing even when there were no words spoken.

Fear of Rejection

Some men do not apologize for fear of rejection. Apologizing becomes a dilemma to most men who expect a negative outcome. These men go through a roller-coaster emotional ride of making a decision whether to apologize or not. They find it difficult to plan on how, when and where to say the dreaded “S” word because they fear the outcome will not be favorable.

Avoiding Confrontation

Some men cannot apologize because they try to avoid a confrontation. This may be because of a bad experience with a past attempt at asking for forgiveness that ended up in a war of words. Women can be guilty of being confrontational; rather than accepting the apology and forgiving their partners, they make sure they have the last word. Some women want to teach their men a lesson rather than just accept the apology and move forward. Nagging words can cut like a knife and be lethal to a relationship.

Just like human beings, dogs thrive on routines. This doesn’t mean regimented behavior or extreme control and discipline, but we all enjoy some predictability and regularity in our lives. Dogs are no exception. If you have a certain time that you come home from work each day and take him out for a walk, he will come to depend on that time and probably be ready for you in anticipation. This will be good for you, too.

There so many benefits to having a dog, but you must take this responsibility seriously. If you keep your dog healthy and happy with plenty of exercise, he will reward you with wonderful companionship, entertainment, joy and exercise, too. For more information, find other dog owners in your area and talk with them. They will be happy to share experience with you and perhaps you’ll have someone to talk with next time your dog goes running off to have an adventure.

life fashion

Huate hues for a cool summer

What will the 2010 summer fashion palette look like?

The summers are here and it’s time to revamp your wardrobe. With the heat wave in the country at its highest in the last 10 years, fashionistas are looking to put a stylish foot forward while trying to stay cool. So while buying that piece of luxury and quality, make sure you purchase ‘cool couture’ to beat the heat.

Daytime story
While the temperatures soar during the day - breezy, light and youthful couture is what one craves for. “Everyone is trying to look slim, yet trendy. Jumpsuits with broad belts are hot, as are leggings in different fabrics,” says designer Abhishek Dutta.

And if it’s summer, then how can one not don a pair of trendy shorts? If hemlines are anything to go by, things are certainly looking up - skirts are creeping up the thigh and revealing bloomers. Yes, you heard it right, ‘bloomers’. “This year, the ever-favourite shorts come with a big twist. Styled like bloomers and wraparounds, shorts will be trendy,” quips Dutta.

Designer Archana Kochhar too, gives an insight into the season’s hip trends. “The silhouettes float from fluid caftans which morph into shirt dresses clinched with patent belts. Jersey playsuits with zipper embroidered cuffs and patterned ballooned pants with crepe shrug-shirt are absolutely in,” confirms Kochhar. For designer Ritu Kumar, no matter what the trend, the clothes have to easy and comfortable. “Resort wear is big because they are loose and easy to wear and not at all clingy,” says Kumar.

“Those who swear by ethnic wear can go in for kurti dresses with big prints and minimal embellishment. They can team it up with leggings minus a dupatta or go for a big belt,” advises Dutta.

Night time faves
With the daytime dressing taken care of, it’s the party nights that one needs to look into. “Toga dresses, which are light and easy, are apt for the season,” says Dutta, adding, “They can be modified into different drapes and silhouette according to your preference and they work best during night outs.”

Designer Asmita Marwah too swears by comfortable clothing. “You can put off showing your curves for another season, as form-fitting outfits are out. Cuts should be relaxed and comfortable. Styles like halter-necks, backless and low-backs work best,” says Marwah. And yes, shorts too can be worn during an evening out. “A well cut pair of shorts with a great shirt, teamed with strappy sandals can make you look hot. But the shorts need to be well-made,” warns Marwah.

A single shouldered jumpsuit or strapless one too can work wonders. Architecturally inspired designs are hot as well.

Colour me cool
While white has always been a trend for the summers, this year fashionistas are expecting a complete whitewash. “White has been a perennial favourite with everyone for the summer. But this year thanks to the heat-wave, people are ditching other colours in favour of white,” confirms Kumar. “And if you want to make things interesting, go in for pastels,” she adds.

Marwah however, is in favour of summery hues. “Apart from ivory, go in for orange and yellow. If you want to experiment, team up a bright colour with a toned down one, like beige.” For Dutta, this season provided one with a good opportunity to go ‘eye-popping colourful’. “Tangerine, orange and tomato puree red are sizzling, yet cool.”

Cloth capers
While women would always like to look sexy and beautiful, ‘flirtatious’ is the key with fabrics like chiffon, cotton and linen being a complete sell-out. “Cotton is definitely an all-time fave. But this year, I’m working on the Chanderi fabric and it’s proving to be quite popular,” says Kumar. “The jersey fabric is cool. If you’re one for cotton, wear your feelings on your sleeve with big prints - psychoanalytic, graphic, Freudian-slip print, geometric patterns - you name it. But no florals please. They are so 2009!” says Dutta.

life fashion

The life of a designer is intimately linked to tastes and sensibilities that change at a moment’s notice, and she must be able to capitalize on, or-even better-influence those opinions. Designers reflect society’s sensibilities through clothing design. “You have to know just about everything that’s been done before, so that you can recognize it when it becomes popular again,” wrote one respondent.

Fashion designers are involved in every phase of designing, showing, and producing all types of clothing, from bathing suits to evening gowns. Those with talent, vision, determination, and ambition can succeed in this difficult, demanding, and highly competitive industry.

Fashion design can be more glamorous than a 1940s Hollywood musical or drearier than a bank statement, but it’s always taxing. A designer’s day includes reading current fashion magazines, newspapers, and other media that reflect current trends and tastes. She looks at materials, attends fashion shows, and works with other designers on projects. A designer should be able to communicate her philosophy, vision, and capabilities clearly and comprehensively through sketches, discussions, and, occasionally, samples.

No matter what her personal style is, a designer must produce a creative, exciting, and profitable product line. As in most professions that produce superstars, it is easy for a competent but otherwise unremarkable designer to wallow in obscurity, designing small pieces of collections, generic lines (the plain white boxer short, for example), or specialties (cuffs, ruffles, etc.). The personality that raises itself above this level must be as large as the vision of the designer; perhaps that’s why the word “crazy” showed up in over 75 percent of our surveys as a plus in fashion design.

Paying Your Dues
Those entering the field should have a good eye for color, style, and shape, an ability to sketch, and some formal preparation in design. An excellent portfolio is a must for the job search. A two- or four-year degree in fashion design is helpful, as is knowledge of textiles and a familiarity with the quirks of a variety of fabrics, but no formal certification is required.

Candidates should have a working knowledge of business and marketing. Hours are long for a fashion designer and the initial pay is very limited. This is one of those hit-or-miss occupations where beginners work as someone’s assistant until, when they can muster up enough confidence in their abilities and sell that confidence to their superiors, they design a few pieces themselves. The superstar rise is an unlikely event, but it happens. Based on the number of “international star designers” in the last ten years and the number of people who have entered the profession, the estimated odds of becoming an internationally famous designer is roughly 160,000:1.

Associated Careers
Fashion designers who become unhappy with the lifestyle (low pay, long hours, hard work, low chance of advancement) leave to do a variety of things. Some use their color and design skills to become interior designers, graphic designers, or fashion consultants. Over one quarter of those who leave remain in the clothing industry, either on the production end or on the institutional buying end. Another 10 percent enter the advertising or promotions industry.

lifestylefashion

Fashion designer plays a key role in establishing the Fashion statement of the country. There is a list of Pakistani Fashion designers working tremendously in the Pakistani Fashion Industry. Fashion designers of Pakistani Fashion industry are continuously polishing the name of the Pakistani Fashion Industry in the international Fashion market.

Discover emerging and top Pakistani Fashion designers and popular brands through Fashion Central. Fashion Central is your guide to fashion's top Pakistani Fashion designers with profiles and photos of their recent collections. Now you can explore a list of Fashion designers and select your desired Fashion style.

lifestyle fashion

Shopping and trade show event brings signature trifecta back for 2nd Anniversary exhibition

New York, June, 2010 – For two years, Cargo Tradeshow and Shopper's Delight has been at the cutting edge of what's new and next in lifestyle fashion, art and music. The bi-annual, independent trade show and shopping event returns to New York July 19 and 20, 2010, with a 2nd anniversary celebration.

A much-anticipated fixture during New York 's industry fashion week, Cargo presents a well-edited selection of sportswear and streetwear apparel and accessories, original art and music under one roof for lifestyle gear industry and enthusiasts. The event is a go-to spot for retail buyers and shoppers alike seeking the latest emerging and established designers in an uncluttered and personalized atmosphere.

Cargo broke the mold as the first fashion industry show of its kind to open to the general public. This July, Cargo expands the lifestyle pop-up shop experience, adding new visual artists and a live DJ line up to the mix. As always, shoppers get a sneak peak at the next season's goods, great deals on clothes and accessories directly from the designers and free stuff to taste, sample and take home.

"Cargo has followed the natural evolution, and we're happy to say there's something for everyone interested in lifestyle gear and street-style art," says Rich Rodriguez, Cargo co-founder. "When Cargo launched two years ago, we started as a small rack show intended to take it back to basics and let the designs speak for themselves. As Cargo has grown, we've embraced the natural progression to build on what our brands, buyers and shoppers really respect about Cargo—fashion, art and music with an unpretentious vibe. Even during uncertain economic times when other trade shows have fallen off the map, Cargo is only growing and improving."

life fashion

in Fashion and Style, Inspired By, Your Life

Charlotte Ronson Inspiration Board

Style or inspiration boards are used as a tool by designers as they plan a new collection for a line. They include inspirational images, fabric swatches and photographs of inspiring people. All of these images together create a mood, or a feeling that the designer then uses as a guide while working on a future collection.

Why not create style boards for your own life? Cultivating and creating your own sense of style takes a little bit of work. Why does knowing and defining your style aesthetic matter? It matters because developing your own sense of style results in being surrounded by things that are beautiful to you and pleasing to your eye. This in turn makes life itself more full and beautiful. If you discover you love colour but always wear black, you will never feel comfortable or happy in your clothes. If your home is filled with contemporary objects but you really crave the story behind antiques, you won't feel at home when you walk through the front door.

Great style may seem effortless but it is not! Style mavens are usually obsessed with style and therefore study and absorb it and surround themselves with it every day. If style and design are not your passion but you find yourself craving a home that suits you better or a wardrobe that is a better representation of you, then a styleboard is a great place to start. (Note: You could also start a file or binder, but a board is the best option as you can see how all your favourite images relate to each other)

Here are some tips for creating a style board:

1. Flip through magazines and tear out any pages or images that appeal to you for any reason. Don't question why, just know that you like it and rip'er out. If it is just a door knob or a pair of shoes that appeal to you, cut that specific image out.

2. Review all the tearsheets in front of you for common elements. You may find that you're attracted to clean lines and lots of white. Or in fashion, you prefer structured dresses and blazers. You are learning something already!

3. Pin these images up on two separate boards. Add new images to the boards as you go along.

5. When it comes time to shop for yourself or your home, refer back to your board. When I look at my style board I know that I like ethnic inspired prints, utility and safari shapes, jewel toned colours and preppy stripes and blazers. I know never to buy graphic black and white prints or overly structured or conservative dresses. These elements combine to form my style (for now). When shopping for your home, your style board will remind you not to make purchases just because of great deal, but because you truly love something.

My current style board

Before you decide you don't have a sense of style, spend a little time exploring what you like through a style board. You're more stylish than you thin

lifestyle fashion

Many fashion and budget savvy women have been singing the praises of affordable retailer Target since the company began collaborating with high-end designers to produce limited-edition capsule collections. Target’s GO International have always been – well, international, but there’s a definite Brit kick lately. One of Target’s most recent collaborations was with Liberty of London, the famous high-end department store in London known for bright, floral-printed fabrics. The limited-edition collection was extremely well received, with the New York pop-up store receiving 11,000 shoppers who forced the retailers to pack up shop after everything sold out a day early. {Racked}

Can we hope for a velvet 'Alexa'?

But, it seems that was only the beginning of the UK pairings. Signature9 UK knew that a collaboration with Mulberry was on the horizon for this coming holiday season, and now more details are beginning to emerge.

Mulberry, the British design house known mostly for its handbags and leather goods, is already a staple handbag in Britain. This isn’t the first collaboration the brand has done Stateside: there was a previous pairing with Gap’s RED campaign which featured classic shapes in jersey, rather than leather. Available from October 10th through Christmas Eve (let’s see if they last long enough to save last minute shoppers), these bags are expected to follow a similar path. Instead of bringing down the price by relying entirely on pleather, which can be hit or miss in terms of appearance, many of the styles will b offered in velvet or denim. {Fashionista}

Target will work primarily with Mulberry designer Emma Hill. Hill designed the Alexa Bag, one Mulberry’s best-selling bags, in honor of Alexa Chung, the British “It” girl who carried Mulberry bags for years

life fashion

Fashion is larging it with voluminous silhouettes this season:

RIGHT: Black dress (worn as top) £49.99, Morgan, 0800 731 4942. Black bow belt, £15, New Look, 0500 454094. Chain shoes, from a selection at Alexander McQueen, 020 7355 0088. Gold bangles £400 and £265, Manguette, 020 7937 2897. Embroidered skirt £472, Ashish, 020 7434 4546. Tights, as before

Dress Avshalom Gur, from a selection at Palette, 020 7288 7428. Necklace, £65, by Bagie Boogie at EC One, 020 7713 61

Navy dress, £2,200, Tim Van Steenbergen, 020 7434 4546. Tights, £8, Marks & Spencer, 0845 302 1234. Grey patent shoes, £65.99, Office, 0845 058 0777

Red dress £285, Hall Ohara, www.hallohara.com Tights, as before. Beaded necklace £500, Swarovski, 01737 856 814. Suede shoes £360, Valentino, 020 7235 5855. Ring £145, Kabiri, 020 7224 1808.

Check coat £70, New Look, as before. Navy wedges £310, Chanel, 020 7493 5040. Wide leg trousers £250, Jaeger, 0845 051 0063. Ring, £360, Daniel Swarovski, 020 7499 7555

lifestyle fashion

New Delhi, Jan 29 – One of Asia’s largest fashion trade events, the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW-autumn/winter edition) will be held March 24-28 at the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) Exhibition Complex here, it was announced Friday.

Hosted by the India’s apex fashion body, the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), this season of WIFW will witness the largest-ever event space spanning over 14,000 sq. meters.

‘FDCI will be making special arrangements to ensure that the venue is tailor-made for an event of such magnitude,’ it said in a statement.

‘An interesting rendezvous of exquisite lounges, plush salons, special on-site restaurants and exhibition cafe counters will ensure all guests and participants enjoy their time at the WIFW.

‘In addition to the ample parking space available, a dedicated valet service will also be made available for the invitees,’ the statement added.

According to FDCI president Sunil Sethi, WIFW ‘has always been a much awaited fashion trade show of the country. It has created a niche for itself by bringing a unison of fashion, style and business at the same time.

‘WIFW, as the only business of fashion event is committed to promoting excellence and encouraging talent. We hope this edition of WIFW will usher in multiple trade opportunities through larger participation by designers, buyers, sponsors and fashion fraternity,’ Sethi said.

‘FDCI’s commitment to the fashion industry has also made us take a closer look at providing best logistical facilities with an eye for innovation,’ he added.

Atul Chand, divisonal chief executive of ITC’s Lifestyle Retailing said: ‘WIFW is the country’s most prestigious fashion event that has been growing in size and stature from edition to edition.

‘With a spectacular show of the WIFW autumn/ winter edition, we look forward to an even bigger and better experience in the new season,’ he added.

A ‘by invitation only’ event, the fashion week aims to serve as an effective platform to promote fashion design and provide industry professionals the opportunity to form trade linkages within India and globally, the FDCI statement said.

The event ‘offers participating designers a business presence and a series of marketing tools all aimed at informing and updating buyers, investors, corporate houses and the media’, the statement added.

In the past, the NSIC Exhibition Complex has played host to the Akon Live concert, Indian Idol finale, Saif Ali Khan musical concert – Parikrama and the Farhan Akhtar musical concert, to name just a few

lifestyle fashion

ALLSTAR PRODUCTS GROUP VIA AP
The Snuggie, as seen on television infomercials, will be the attire of choice at the first Boston-area Snuggie Pub Crawl. (Allstar Products Group via Ap)

By Danielle Dreilinger Globe Correspondent / January 28, 2010

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In the depths of the New England winter, it can be nearly impossible to pry people out of the house, even though a draught of brisk air might be the best thing for their mental health. But the couch is so warm . . . so cozy. Which is why Diana Weisner’s planned outing is, in its way, so perfect. This Saturday, the reclusive can simultaneously socialize and hibernate at the Boston-area’s first-ever Snuggie Pub Crawl.

That’s right, wear your Snuggie to a bar, perhaps several bars. And drink.

The cozy crew will start at the Independent in Somerville at 8 p.m. and move on to Precinct, Sally O’Brien’s, P.A.’s Lounge, and Bull McCabe’s, everyone snug as a bug in a well, you know.

Weisner’s enthusiasm banishes all thought of cold-weather blues. The Union Square resident, 25, planned the pub crawl as a small event for friends like the pajama party she threw at Maggiano’s a couple of years ago. But everyone who’s heard about the Snuggie crawl wanted in. Now she’s expecting 100 people.

Scenesters who complain that Boston’s behind the times have a legitimate point this time. According to snuggiepubcrawls.com, 62 cities held such crawls last year. Even Scranton, Penn., beat us to the (fuzzy) punch.

Perhaps it’s a sign of the staying power of the dubious (and ironic) style quotient of the fleece fad. Weisner herself mocked Snuggies for months, she said. In retaliation, her aunt gave her one. Weisner fell in love and gave them to her smirking roommates.

“Now we all sit on the couch in our living room looking like a bunch of monks,’’ she said.

So Snuggie fans, emerge. You have nothing to lose but your clean hems trailing along all those sticky pub floors. (To preserve her own treasured blanket with sleeves, Weisner has purchased a special one for the event. She declined to describe it in detail -animal print? sequins? -but admitted, “It is noticeable.’’)

Participants will compete in contests at each stop on the trail, with prizes from Union Square institutions such as the Neighborhood Restaurant and Bloc 11. It starts with Best Pirate Snuggie, Weisner said (her tip: bring props), and moves on to something called “Snug a Stranger,’’ several athletic events, and Snuggie Clown Car (guess). At the finish line, attendees will crown a king and queen.

lifestyle fashion

Guess what the fashion industry's movers and shakers were busy doing...

Mar 25, 2010 at 10:03 AM, by Team iDiva

New Delhi, March 24, 2010: Today’s Day 1 at Wills India Fashion Week (WIFW) in Delhi, even though the shows haven't happened yet, we’ve spotted lots of beautiful people doing lots of interesting things or wearing interesting clothes (hey come on, it IS fashion week!)

Jewellery designer Farah Khan Ali arrived in a pretty, one-shoulder Nandita Mahtani dress embellished with bling border; gold Walter Steiger bag, her own jewellery and Vabene watch. She said, “I picked this dress because I like to wear Nandita’s flirty, feminine, sexy clothes. I’m also looking forward to the Rana Gil, JJ Vallaya and Atsu shows because I love clothes that are not overly-embellished - I can accessories them then!”

Also, television actor Neena Gupta, ever the helpful mother, was spotted helping Masaba at her stall.

Okay, so he’s not a model, but still this Robin Williams lookalike caught our attention in because of the mouse that was peeping out of his suit pocket and the spider sitting on his hat! He goes by the name of Julius and works for an NGO. And he got our attention thanks to his bright red spectacles and hat.

And a little after lunch, we spotted Nethra Raghuraman squealing in delight while little fish nibbled at her feet at the spa kiosk!

fashion life

Although in modern times fashion and style are determined by fashion houses and clothing designers, the same was not true during the Renaissance. During this period of re-birth of classical learning and advances in many areas, fashion was most often dictated by the nobility. With the exception of Elizabeth I, with her grand sense of uniqueness and style, the most unique style to come from the Renaissance was a man's accessory, the codpiece. The codpiece came into existence during the Middle Ages, became popular during the reigns of the Yorkists monarchs in England, attained full prominence during the reign of Henry VIII, and disappeared during the reign of Henry's daughter, Elizabeth I. The question of why the codpiece developed, changed and evenutally disappeared can be answered fairly easily, if consideration is not given to the influence of the nobility in determining fashion and style.

That the development of the codpiece was a necessity is commonly agreed upon by fashion historians. However, there is some disagreement about when it first came into use. James Laver assigns the introduction of the codpiece to the Middle Ages section of his book, The Concise History of Costume and Fashion. "The main garment was still the doublet, but it could be worn extremely short, so short as to demand the use of a codpiece at times."(1) Nevil Truman argues that the codpiece was a much later development. He credits the introduction of the fashion accessory to the Yorkist kings of England. "The years from 1461-1485-the brief reign of the Yorkist kings, Edward IV, Edward V, and Richard III, were not years of great change in costume, though they will ever be remembered by reason of the startling codpiece."(2) Whether Truman means that the Yorkist kings reigned when the codpeice was first used or when it became more noticeable is difficult to tell. Marion Sichel, in his book on men's costume, suggests that the necessity of the codpiece was not the result of the gap left between the right and left halves of men's hose, but because hose became so tight as to restrict movement. "This was the origin of the codpiece which was a small bag with a flap at the fork of the hose, closed by ties. It was also known as the braguette (from the French) and was popular in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries when it was rendered prominent with padding."(3)

If legends have value, then Sichel and Laver are more accurate in their assessments. Legend has it that Edward III, king of England from 1327-1377, had the codpiece of his armor enlarged to astounding proportions because he had heard that strength and military prowess were correlated with a man's endowment. As he was in the midst of the Hundred Years' War with the French at the time, it would not be surprising that he would try to seek any possible advantage available to him. He then ordered that the nobility and knights do the same to their armor. The legend goes on to say that the gullible French (from the nobility all the way down to the peasantry) were scared to death by the advance of the "well-equipped" men. If this legend is true, and the personality of Edward III would support it, it is an example of how the nobility can influence fashion.

However, the influence of the nobility on fashion during the Renaissance was usually more subtle than the direct order given by Edward III. Assuming that the codpiece did actually come into existence earlier than the Renaissance, there must have been some impetus to bring about its greater prominence, if, as Truman suggests, the main fashion change from 1461-1485 was the "startling codpiece." Fashion historians, it seems, are loathe to attribute any reason for the rising prominence of the codpiece, as most just acknowledge that there was a change. In his study of the history of hosiery, Grass acknowledges the change, but gives no reason. "[The] copiece...was a flap or a bag, attached to the front to conceal the opening in a man's tights. This additional feature of male attire was at first necessary for sanitary reasons. But it soon developed into something else, a protuberance which particularly called attention to the male anatomy."(4)

Since Truman fixes the codpiece to such a narrow time frame in England, consideration must be given to what was happening in England during that time period which might account for, not only the increasing prominence of the codpiece, but for the corresponding shortening of the doublet. During the majority of the first half of the fifteenth century, England was ruled by two pious monarchs, Henry V (referred to by Shakespeare as "the mirror of all Christian kings") and his son, Henry VI, who was even more pious and who, some thought, under different circumstances, might have been destined for sainthood. Certainly, during this period it is highly unlikely that any more attention than was necessary would be called to the male anatomy. However, pious as Henry VI was, he was an incapable ruler and the result was the Wars of the Roses. In 1461, Henry VI lost his crown to Edward IV, purported to be the handsomest man in Europe. Edward's younger brothers, George and Richard (in contrast to Shakespeare's famous creation) were good-looking as well.

Well known for his amorous pursuit of the ladies, it is not surprising that the fashion of the times (still dominated at the time by England) led by a teen-aged Edward IV, would focus on his "gifts." The Plantagenets were well known for their physical beauty and style, and that that style should compliment a young and handsome king is not surprising. Virility, or at least the projection of that image, was important to monarchs during the early Renaissance, both in portraying an aura of strength to enemies and in presenting an image to the people that the succession would not be a problem. That Edward IV wanted to present a virile and masculine image by wearing shorter doublets might very well be, but it is only part of the answer for the fashion change. Since most, if not all, of the portraits of Edward IV are from his later life, when over-indulgence had cost him his looks and his trim figure, it is impossible to know whether Edward IV subscribed to the new style of shorter doublets. His predecessor, Henry VI, only wore long somber-looking gowns (which were rarely washed) at the end of his life, and he did not start a new fashion trend.

What Edward IV did do, was to make England young and prosperous again. The people responded to the young and virile king on the throne. With prosperity once again returning to England, people had the time and money to be concerned about fashion. The Yorkist dynasty ended with the death of Richard III on Bosworth Field in 1485, resulting in Henry VII, the first of the Tudor monarchs, coming to the throne.

Not being as handsome as his Yorkist predecessors, Henry VII's reign saw the lengthening of the skirt of the doublet and the temporary "cover-up" of the codpiece. Henry VII's reign was relatively short, only twenty-four years, so the codpiece had not been entirely forgotten when his son, Henry VIII, came to the throne. During the time of Henry VIII, "[t]he main male garment was the doublet sometimes long enough to fall to the knee. It had an opening through which could be seen the codpiece."(5) Now, however, the codpeice was not just a protector of a man's modesty, it had becme an advertisement. In Let There Be Clothes, a rather irreverent view of fashion extremes, Lynn Schnurnberger sums up what happened to the codpiece quite well. "When doublets grew scandously short, the codpiece was introduced to protect a gentleman's modesty by covering the opening between his hose. So far so good, but some wags started using codpeices as pockets and one thing led to another. By now [the reign of Henry VIII] they're so heavily padded that they're simply brazen eyecatchers."(6) The expansion of the silhouette in men's fashion during the reign of Henry VIII was not limited to exposing the codpeice to view once more. There was a literal expansion as well. "The silhouette presented was thus massive and thrusting, with a bulky torso carried upon legs that were freed for movement. The impact of this virility was emphasised by the use of the codpiece." (7) Although Henry VIII was considered to be one of the handsomest men in Europe (no doubt through his grandfather, Edward IV), he was a large man later in his life and the new style suited him perfectly. The boxy silhouette can be explained by Henry's desire to hide his excess bulk, but it doesn't explain the expansion of the codpiece. "The codpiece was exaggerated in size, the bag was puffed and slashed, and even ornamented with jeweled pins." (8) This new prominence, according to Boucher, was an effort by men to exaggerate their endowments.(9) If this is true, and it seems logical, why would a man who was nearing middle age choose to exaggerate his endowments when a young man, still in his teens, only sought to display them?

At least two explanations are possible; one is physical and the other psychological. Henry VIII, like many men of his time, was afflicted with syphilis, and according to a Cambridge, Massachusetts anthropologist, Grace W. Vicary, the exaggerated codpeices contained medication for the relief from the symptoms. They enclosed a specialized bandage and protected outer clothing from being stained by the medicine.(10) Considering the widespread occurrence of venereal diseases during the Renaissance, the greatly enlarged codpiece as a huge protective device is not too far-fetched. A second possible explanation for the growing proportions of the codpiece is particular to Henry VIII himself. Although Henry lived long before insight into genetics brought to light the knowledge that males determined the sex of unborn children, he was very likely concerned with the image he was presenting to the other rulers of Europe. So much did his inability to beget a healthy male heir (his son, later Edward VI, was always sickly) weigh on his mind, that Henry VIII changed the entire religion of England. He could then divorce his wife and try again with a new wife. Henry VIII understood succession problems, having only come to the throne because his older brother, Arthur, died young. Ever conscious of his image, the exaggerated codpiece told England, and the rest of Europe as well, that his equipment could not be at fault. His syphilis, however, likely affected his fertility. Henry VIII will always be known more for his six wives than for his codpiece (which often entered the room before he did), but such is the fickleness of fashion.

During the reign of Henry's youngest daughter, Elizabeth I, fashion fickleness was perhaps at its height. Whereas Henry's reign provided fashions that merely exaggerated what was normal, Elizabeth's reign sparked fashions that had the most unnatural of silhouettes. With a woman on the throne, it would seem logical that the codpiece would fall from use, or disappear altogether. "The codpiece continued in fashion until about 1575, becoming smaller with less bombast from about the 1540's. It was finally discarded at the end of the century, and was replaced by a vertical slit in front which was concealed in folds of material."(11) Queen Elizabeth never married, and by 1575 it is likely that she had given up hope of conceiving children, even if she did choose to marry, as she was already well into her forties by that time. Being reminded of her obligation to provide an heir to the throne through such obvious flaunting of the male anatomy may have helped precipitate the demise of the codpiece.

While Elizabeth I had a great influence on women's fashion during her reign, it was Henri III, king of France, who had an impact on men's fashion. That Henri III was a homosexual may or may not have influenced his ruling of France, but it had a marked effect on men's fashions. "With the disappearance of the codpiece, the overall costume showed a tendency towards the feminization inspired by Henri III, accentuated by the small muffs carried and the earrings worn." (12) During a time when homosexuality was not only condemned by the Church, but punishable by imprisonment (or in some places, like England, death) it does not take a great leap of faith to imagine why the area of the male anatomy most associated with the "unnatural practice" would be de-emphasized.

With a woman on the English throne and a homosexual man on the French throne, it would not be surprising that the codpiece disappeared entirely. But, did it? Would men be so willing to yield up a fashion component that had been around for over two centuies, particularly one that showed them to their best advantage? "Whether the odd device was just sexual nonsense or the strange artifact of a venereal pandemic, it did not last past the 16th century. But no one knows whether codpieces fell out of general use or went underground, vanishing into the bloomers worn by the noblemen of Elizabeth's England."(13) Tracing the progress of the codpiece, which is, after all, only a minor fashion component, would seem to be a frivolous undertaking. But, as clothes, fashion and style represent societal attitudes as a whole, and nowhere more apparently than in sexual attitudes, i t is not superfluous at all. One look at a gown from the Victorian era speaks volumes about the repressed and restrictive societal values of the times with regard to sex. The late Middle Ages and early Renaissance was a time when mortality was high and maintaining the population was of prime concern. Any aid to procreation would seem to be beneficial, be it the turn of a well-formed leg in tight hose or a protruding codpiece. The population of Europe was able to be maintained and to grow, despite plagues, famines, and natural disasters. If the codpiece played even the smallest of roles in helping to achieve that worthy goal, it was indeed "necessary."

fashion trends

As spring approaches, it is time to put away the sweaters and turtlenecks and maybe add a few new outfits to the wardrobe. This spring, floral print tops and khaki pants are the look for both men and women. The colors are soft and natural, instead of bright. Springtime pastels are especially eye-catching this spring season.

For women, this spring is the perfect time to wear turquoise jewelry. Those who do not own turquoise should consider investing in some. Floral hair decorations also work well this spring, bringing back the popular look of the 60’s and 70’s. Big bows are also great hair accessories this spring and will give women a fresh, new look. Pink is often a color that works well for women, especially during the springtime. The shades of pink can range anywhere from rose shade to fuchsia. Yellow is also appropriate for the spring, but this year should be worn in a pastel shade. Looking for a spring dress? White is a sophisticated and glamorous choice. Add some variety to solid colors by incorporating animal, plaid, and floral prints. Skirts and shorts can be worn with a pair of leggings underneath, which is a look that has become increasingly popular over the past few years. Flats or platform shoes can be worn with many outfits this spring. According to todayshottrends.net, this spring’s style is encouraging women to be ultra-feminine. Ruffled blouses, dresses, and handbags will all work to bring fashion to life.

For men, ripped jeans will add a laidback look to style this spring. Whether regular or wide legged, jeans should be ankle length. If the ripped look is a little too casual, try a pair of skinny jeans instead. And belts are a fashion necessity! Leather is a timeless trend that can make a great addition to almost any outfit. Fitted jackets and chino pants are also quite stylish. Colors are dull and soft, so look for browns, tans, and charcoals. White is also a fresh look for men this spring.

Screen printed-tees are still popular this spring for both teens and adults. Women always have a variety of footwear and men are encouraged to add to their collection. A pair of fashionable sneakers and shoes is essential. Take a risk when it comes to the color of the shoes, too. Style is from head to toe, so hats are also a fashionable accessory this spring.

There are a few more items women and men may want to invest in this spring. A new cologne or perfume will add a splash of fresh air to that spring fashion. Speaking of splashing, April is notorious for its spring showers, so it is also important to invest in a stylish raincoat and/or umbrella. Also for those rainy days, rain boots are becoming more and more popular. A button-up spring jacket is also a wise investment. Find a jacket that is not too hot or cold, and will be just enough to show-off that spring fashion sense.

10 top hairstyle tips

These tips assume that you are going to be using your regular hairdresser to plan your style and on your wedding day.

However if you plan to style your hair yourself, you can easily follow the same timetable and I have added some extra tips for you.

Check out our partner site,
ForeverBrides.com

1. Plan! Plan! Plan! The earlier you start to plan the better. This gives you the chance to get your hair into the best condition possible and to have practice runs with your hairdresser trying out different styles and colors as well as trying out veils, tiaras and flowers. Ideally start this process 6 months before.
2. Collect pictures of possible hairstyles from all different magazines not just wedding magazines and discuss them with your hairdresser at least 4 months before your big day.
3. Each time you go to the hairdressers to try out a potential wedding day style take photos to help you remember what you liked about it for future reference and take someone with you whose opinion you can trust.
4. Make the most of what you've already got, maximize your good points rather than going for a look that isn't really you.
5. Start weekly conditioning treatments at least 3 months before your wedding.
6. Give you hair a break from harsh styling methods and equipment; this will help with getting your hair in tip-top condition.
7. If you are having flowers in your hair have a trial run with your hairdresser a couple of months before and make sure you have your appointment booked for the wedding day.
8. One month before have a trial run with your veil/ tiara and finalize with your hairdresser the style you have decided upon.
9. If you are having an updo on the day, wash your hair the night before as just-washed hair can be harder to manage.
10. Make sure you have an SOS kit on your big day, which you can give to the bridesmaid with the biggest handbag! - Plenty of hairgrips and pins in a matt color in a shade similar to your hair, hairbrush, tail comb, hairspray and shine spray.

fashion india girls

Indian fashion varies from one village to another village, from one city to another city. India's fashion heritage is rich in tradition, vibrant in colors and prepossessing. Bold colors created by the inventive drapes of these textiles catches the imagination like no other contemporary clothing.

Indian Fashion - ancient fashion in India

Ancient Indian fashion garments generally used no stitching although Indians knew about sewing. Most clothes were ready to wear as soon as they left the loom. The traditional Indian Dhoti, the Scarf or Uttariya, and the popular Turban are still visible India and continue to be part of Indian fashion. Likewise, for women, the Dhoti or the Sari as the lower garments, combined with a Stanapatta forms the basic ensemble, and once again consists of garments that do not have to be stitched, the stanapatta being simply fastened in a knot at the back. And the Dhoti or the Sari worn covering both legs at the same time or, in the alternative, with one end of it passed between the legs and tucked at the back in the fashion that is still prevalent in large area of India. Indian men and women for these garments in the usually hot Indian climate. - dhoti when he speaks of 'turbans used for trousers', and a kaupina when he is speaking of 'a rag of two fingers' breadth bound over the loins.

Indian sari remains the traditional clothing of Indian women. Worn in varied styles, it is a long piece of flat cotton, silk or other fabric woven in different textures with different patterns. The sari has a lasting charm since it is not cut or tailored for a particular size. This graceful feminine attire can also be worn in several ways and its manner of wearing as well as its color and texture are indicative of the status, age, occupation, region and religion of a woman. The tightly fitted, short blouse worn under a sari is called a choli. The choli evolved as a form of Indian clothing around the tenth century AD and the first cholis were only front covering; the back was always bare. Bollywood sarees : When it comes to fashion, Bollywood is a huge source of inspiration for all fashion enthusiasts and trend followers. Be it a plain transparent saree or a designer wedding saree, Bollywood films showcase them. Right from the time when Mumtaz and Saira Banu flaunted tight fitting typically draped sarees to today where Katrina and Kareena seen dancing in beautiful sarees, Bollywood encompass an entire gamut of different styles of sarees. Yesteryear’s actress Mumtaz made the Santhali style of draping a saree very popular in the 1960s and the 1970s, so much so that it was popularly called as the ‘Mumtaz style of a saree’. The saree is draped in such a way that it hugs your figure like second skin and pleats are avoided. Mumtaz made a very fashionable entry with a glittering orange sari and a short sleeveless blouse in her film Brahmchari (1968) for which she received a lot of compliments. Her song “Aaj kal tere mere pyar ke charche” thus became a craze amongst the audience! Mumtaz’s style of saree had frills at the bottom which is below the knee line. Well, the good news is that this style of draping the saree is very much in trend these days and girls are buying such sarees in large numbers. After all, old always remains gold! Be it Madhuri Dixit in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun flaunting her violet embroidered saree with back open blouse or Kajol in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai wearing plain cotton casual sarees or Aishwarya in Devdas exhibiting her beauty in a bengali saree, Bollywood has showcased a range of styles, fads and trends that most of us have been following religiously!

Talking of Bollywood sarees, one is also reminded of Sushmita's red chiffon saree in Main Hoon Na! Her sarees became very popular during that time. Every actress in Bollywood chooses her saree from the fashion designer she likes and also makes sure she is dressed keeping the latest fashion trends in mind.

What is also seen a lot in Bollywood these days is an explosion of colors. Indian actresses are experimenting with new colors; they are mix-matching and wearing contrasting color sarees that really catch the eye! Bright multi-colored sarees are really something that is totally in vogue. Fine embroideries, zardosi on velvets, blouses with deep cuts, chiffons are all a part of the wardrobe of most Bollywood actresses today.

Another popular attire of women in Indian clothing is the Indian salwar-kameez. This popular Indian dress evolved as a comfortable and respectable garment for women in Kashmir and Punjab region, but is now immensely popular in all regions of India. Salwars are pyjama-like trousers drawn tightly in at the waist and the ankles. Over the salwars, women wear a long and loose tunic known as a kameez. One might occasionally come across women wearing a churidar instead of a salwar. A churidar is similar to the salwar but is tighter fitting at the hips, thighs and ankles. Over this, one might wear a collarless or mandarin-collar tunic called a kurta. Though the majority of Indian women wear traditional Indian dresses, the men in India can be found in more conventional western clothing like shirts and trousers.

However, men in Indian villages are still more comfortable in traditional attire like kurtas, lungis, dhotis and pyjamas. Indian dresses & styles are marked by many variations, both religious and regional and one is likely to witness a plethora of colors, textures and styles in garments worn by the Indians.

Use of Gold in Indian Fashion: For this reason, some gold ornament is usually worn against the skin at all times. Indian Gold ornaments are popular because the metal is believed to have the power purify anything it touches. Ornaments of gold and other metals, often combined with precious and semi-precious gems and beads, are popular with both men and women in India. Traditionally, Indian ornaments had economic significance for women too. The ornaments given to her at her wedding constituted a daughter's inheritance from her father ( Dowry). Customarily land and other property was divided among the sons, though this no longer holds true. In addition, a bride's ornaments were financial security throughout her life.

fashion 2010

I was out with my friend Ms S the other day, she was of course looking as fabulous as always in her sleek maxi dress, hip handbag and beaded sandals. When I complimented her on her outfit she blurted out something to the effect of – these old things I’ve had them since the late eighties. Now this isn’t the first time that Ms S has worn something jaw dropping that was purchased more than twenty years ago, on one occasion she was perfectly swathed in the most gorgeous Jean Paul Gauthier number that looked like it was born yesterday…yet again- late eighties. Okay, now I am no slouch in the wardrobing department, I am a stylist for heavens sakes, this is my terrain…. but, apparently I did not inherit the protect and preserve gene from my mother who also famously has a stash of in- tact garments that look untouched by human hands… So in the spirit of trying to return to my practical roots in this “downturn” I want to share some great ways to get the most wear out of your wardrobe.

Burberry

Suits, dresses, coats; Avoid too many (overpriced) trips to the dry cleaners., in time those pungent chemicals will cause colors to fade and fabrics to wear. Eco safe detergents that are made for fine fabrics and dry clean only items can be a good substitute on occasion but you need to handle with care and for the life of that silk – read the labels luv, wring out items by rolling inside a towel and lay flat or hang on one of those cute little fold up racks based upon tag recommendations.

Giorgio Armani

Store your fashionista coats, jackets or soon to be out of season items on large hangers that won’t stretch out their shape.. Stuff any shoulders, arms, pockets etc etc with non- acid tissue paper and place them in breathable cloth (not stinky vinyl) garment bags. Steer clear of storing any items in plastic for extended periods of time.

Sweaters

Care for wool and cashmere gently, these items should always be handwashed whenever possible. The preferred method is in a sink full of lukewarm water and a capful of non- phosphorus detergent made especially for knits or delicates. I love The Laundress Wool and Cashmere wash, in fact I adore the entire line from dark wash, to white wash, to stain sticks, to fresheners… they had me at hello I have a stain!

fashion life

Is the Fashion Oligarchy Losing Relevance in the New Era?

by Claire @ Saturday, March 28th, 2009. Filed under Aspiration, Business of Fashion, Cautious Pause, Consumer Crunch, Corporate Media, Defining 'Classics', Fashion journalism, Looks that Last, Making it as a designer, Tastemakers, Underbelly of Fashion

from Alexsandro Palombo's upcoming book of illustrations, 'Vanitas, Inshallah'

Robin Givhan’s latest article for the Washington Post zeros in on what everyone knows but that no one of any importance dare to speak of, lest they be ignored and excluded by the same inner circle they seek to critique:

There is an assumed degree of extreme intimacy, among those who are in the business of making and marketing expensive clothes, that sometimes borders on incestuous.

One of the most recent examples of how the various strands of the fashion industry are interwoven — or more aptly, tied into a tight, complicated little knot — comes in the form of a Prada project called “The Iconoclasts.” The Italian design house announced that four well-known fashion editors will each window-dress one of its flagship stores. The guest merchandisers’ work is organized to coincide with Fashion Week in each of the four cities.

…The point, however, is whether they should be doing it at all. In a business where conflicts of interest occur every day, this is a step too far and poorly timed. Fashion does not need such a public blow to its credibility during an economic crisis that has it quite literally — and at times, unfairly — having to justify its existence.

Yes, that’s right, magazine editors are not offering us an objective, unbiased view of fashion designers offerings, and show favor to their advertisers. This situation is already so taken for granted that it only serves as the background context for Ugly Betty episodes rather than a full plot line. So why does Givhan now see this as such an issue, worthy of risking exclusion from the relevant insider parties? The Washington Post is making serious budget cuts, so could be there’s a ‘nothing left to lose since they won’t pay for me to fly to Milan anyway’ undercurrent, but Givhan expresses concern that given the current about face in consumer spending, this now undermines their credibility:

…the Paris store will be merchandised by the editor in chief of French Vogue, Carine Roitfeld — which would seem to be a bit like the editor of Sports Illustrated calling the plays at a football game and then writing about how brilliant the coaching was.

…Magazines have never pretended to be objective observers of fashion. They have always seen their role as that of cheerleader and champion. They celebrate the most talented designers and the most beautiful clothes and simply ignore the rest. They give special attention to advertisers. And so it’s often hard to know whether the best truly is any good at all. Maybe the only reason that a collection gets press is because the designer just happens to be a good schmoozer with the right connections or a compelling story.

Yah think? Again, this is not an earth shattering revelation. So why is it now such a big problem?

At a time when the industry needs all the credibility it can muster, Prada is bragging about its coziness with editors. With so many folks scratching each other’s back, why should any reader put stock in a story about clothes that supposedly have lasting value?

No kidding. It’s the same extreme trend over the top flashy excess that last year was sold as a ’splurge’ but now is spun with the new buzzword, ‘investment.’

Why should anyone believe magazines, designers or anyone in this industry? No wonder so many consumers believe the fashion business is just one giant conspiracy out to dupe women. It’s just what the paranoid always thought: They are all in this together.

Perhaps it was less of a problem when there was an ever increasing supply of cash flow into the industry fueled largely by the arms race between aspirational desperate housewives convinced that buying ‘It Bags’ on credit was necessary and innocuous.

The fashion industry painted itself into this corner over the long haul. It doesn’t see itself as a conglomeration of businesses that are interdependent and yet provide each other with checks and balances. Instead, the industry would best be described as an unruly family filled with enablers who encourage behavior that weakens consumer trust.

This sudden new reverse status of thrift and restraint combined with how excessive displays of consumption and lavish lifestyles have become unfashionable (in case you haven’t heard, bankers and by association the arm candy they used to finance are way unpopular symbols right about now) have left this insider clique looking, dare I say, out of date. And scurrying to regain their relevance in a way that seems to echo Wall Street’s denial that the way of life they’d become accustomed to isn’t going to ‘return to normal.’ Ever.

Hopefully these cracks in the establishment will provide opportunities for genuine innovation and relevant collections from heretofore excluded designers.