Archive for January, 2012

Into The World Of A Fashion Stylist

Posted by in fashion world on January 30, 2012

By Luke D Porter

There are a lot of perks when it comes to fashion. Society dictates that people who have an extensive knowledge in fashion would most likely have a successful lifestyle. Fashion is all around us. From the people that we work with, various educational institutions, in the market, in malls and in every setting we can virtually see fashion everywhere. The entertainment scene has added color and beauty in the fashion world and the fashion industry seems to be growing rapidly. All types of cultures also have their own style of fashion from the primitive setting to unique designs. There are millions of fashion statements in the world and there is a specific type of category for each and every one of us. Politicians have their suits and formal wear which are often provided by a fashion stylist. Doctors and people from the medical field also have their garments and clean scrub suits. Even priests have their own unique trademark.

The fashion industry is catered to everyone. Children have their own unique styles and brands. Older men and women also have their style of clothing. However, the category with the most extensive clothing apparel would be teens. As the modeling world shows new and exciting designs of clothes, teenagers are the most prone in the search for clothing. Virtually any type of clothing can fit young adults. That is why most artists and entertainers which fall under this category have their own fashion stylist. Through exercise and a balance diet, clothing would not be a problem. Most people who have a good physique can wear any type of clothes. Actually, the attitude and the character of a person would decide if he has what it takes to wear such clothes. It all depends on mainly two factors. One is on confidence. If a person is confident, it does not matter whatever clothes he is wearing. The other one is through gender since clothing is divided according to women and men.

The music industry has also been a major influence in the fashion industry. Millions would lineup to clothes shops and mini malls in order to acquire the clothes that their idols are wearing. Most bands would sport a new and fresh look that people would enjoy. For instance, most bands that fall under the gothic genre would sport a gothic look. The gothic look comprises of black eye liners with simple colors of black or grey. People who enjoy rock would tend to also wear clothes which are similar to the clothing of their idols, for instance, a shirt which has the name of the band or the icon of a singer. However, much as the music industry is concerned, a fashion stylist would often select the type of clothes that he would advice according to the modeling world. Since people are looking for new and hip ways to express themselves, they would rely on the new trends of the fashion world which are basically created by fashion designers, fashion enthusiasts and trend setters.

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History of Leggings in the Fashion World

Posted by in fashion world on January 30, 2012

By Ali Raza

Leggings have been worn for many centuries by both men and women. Recent times have however seen them remain fashion attire for just ladies and no longer men. Though some wear them to look fashionable, they also help protect the skin by keeping it warm. Leggings were also used to protect one form getting bitten by insects or animals like ticks. Originally, they were worn in Scotland during the 14th Century all the way to the 16th Centuries. Back then, they were designed as two separate parts for each leg. As they spread to other parts of the world, they changed in their make and their usage. Some were even made from pure leather. Leather leggings were mainly worn by men who were preparing to go out hunting or mountain climbing.

As the years advanced, leggings became a fashionable attire rather than protective clothing. Vegetable tanned leather became the most preferred material for making them; the same that is used even today. In the 19th Century, leggings became common attire put on by women and young girls. Still, they were made in pair-as two separate parts for each leg. The early 60′s-1960 is the era when they hit the stores. These were much tighter than the latter ones and also came as one. The modern leggings were attached at the top like a normal trouser. These are the times that saw them becoming more of a woman’s cloth than unisex clothing.

In the 1980′s, they became a common clothing to wear for gym sessions and other sporting games. During the 90′s, they hit the streets and were being worn with short skirts, dresses, sweaters and huge shirts. Today, they are also worn with shorts. Other than the tight fitting leggings, new designers have tried to replace the older materials with others. Skinny jeans for instance are believed to have borrowed greatly from the latter. Leggings for men got a renaissance in 2007 when they hit the fashion runway scene during the annual Fashion Week. Today, they have become an accepted way of dressing even in the corporate world as an official wear. Being made of varying colors, styles, designs, sizes and stretchable material makes them a cloth for all. However, other than being worn in the gym, today’s man is yet to put them on.

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Chinese Wind Blows in Watch Fashion World

Posted by in Uncategorized on January 30, 2012

By Mabel Xie

As Chinese consumers greatly influence the high-end watch market, renown-watch brands present Chinese faces one after another to attract Chinese consumers. It seems that Chinese style watch has become one of the development trends of international wristwatch fashion. In recent years, either traditional color enamel, classic Chinese subjects or more modern designs are often applied to attract Chinese watch lovers.

Piaget Dancer Chinese Zodiac is the best example. This series draws inspiration from Chinese traditional chronology and includes twelve models: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. The bezel is set with 36 round exquisite-cutting diamonds while the lifelike animal, hosting the black agate dial, is embedded with diamonds and adorned with rubies. Every animal image is full of sensitivities. Meanwhile Piaget Dancer Chinese Zodiac adopts Piaget 430P ultra-thin manual winding mechanical movement, making it has greater collecting value. And it is true that not a few of collectors brought a set of Piaget Dancer as collection. Take a closer look and you will find that the shape of animals and the clouds, actually, reveals western styles. However, Chinese still can recognize that they are Chinese Zodiac signs. Apparently, Chinese style not only comes for Chinese consumers but also for all watch lovers in the world. And this is why Chinese style can become a new trend around the world.

As early as 2006, Jaeger-LeCoultre invited the most excellent enamel painting master Millos Merczel to apply traditional Chinese zodiac signs on its celebrated Reverso. Besides, it specially designed an active dial that could open and close, making the time display as colourful as a drama. In fact, these designs are simple compared with those appeared in 100 years ago. From the late of Ming Dynasty to the entire Qing dynasty, the main watch-making and enamel-making countries like Switzerland, France and Britain regarded China as a big market and specially produced products that met Chinese taste. These watches featured gold and pearl decoration and enamel scenes which were mainly flowers, western beauties and characters wearing Qing clothes. As the enamel-making techniques once faced extinction, there were some earnest Chinese watch collectors. And Sandberg Knight, the chairman of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, was the most celebrated one among those collectors. Every enamel watch and jewelry he collected was masterpiece.Now, It is estimated that the big enamel collectors in Europe and Asia has amounted to several hundreds. Supported by big customers, the prices of ancient enamel watches and jewelry kept soaring. Between 1997 and 1998, you could get a well-kept ancient enamel watch from renown factory at a cost about 60,000RMB. The prices exceeded 120,000 RMB between 2000 and 2001. Now the prices rise to above 300,000 RMB. It is surprising that there is no signs that enamel products may get weak after long term rise. On quite a reverse, a series of masterpieces that have been hold by collectors for years appear in auction market and fetch high prices. Many people, under this situation, turn to the newly-made enamel watches from well-known brands. And that is the reason behind renaissance of enamel techniques in recent years.

Speaking about Chinese style, European may first think of dragon. In 2000, Chinese year of Dragon, Switzerland watch factories, from Vacheron Constantin, Tudor to Hublot, launched dragon watches one after another. These dragon watches sported nice decorations, complex movements, and exquisite enamel, very attractive. Recently, I saw the dragon watch launched by Cartier in 2000: the dragon emerges between clouds and sea on the dial, highly decorative. On 2006 watch exhibition, there showed two dragon watches. One was the Star special edition from Pano Matic of Glashutte Original: on the red dial, the golden dragon head, diamond body, and the inverted “8″ work perfect with watch functions. Another one was produced by the small factor JeanRochard: it features gorgeous colors. The golden dragon with diamond decoration represents Asian. The dragon looks a little like lizard, adding a kind of modern feeling. Last year, independent watch-maker Peter Speake-Marin from Britain Essex launched Dragon Phoenix Couple. Japanese Artist Yamazaki Mushu made the dial of Eternal Phoenix stand out using the Maki-e technique: mix paint with gold and fix the shape after cooling. There are several layers. You have to wait till the first layer is dry and then treat the next layer. The splendid visual effect is not second to that of enamel. Geneva sculptor Kees Englebarts designed the dragon figure: Two dragons are fighting on the dial, very impressive.

Panda is another figure that represents China. More than a decade ago, Corum once selected Temple of Heaven golden coin and Panda golden coin made in China to make watches. Now, in the Shanghai Patek Philippe Specialty Shop located in East Nanjing Roal, we can see the Panda Table Clock which full of Chinese characteristic. It took about 9 month to complete this table clock worth up to 900,000 RMB.The lifelike panda, baked by colored enamel technique, matches with hand-curved metal flowers, revealing the excellent craftsmanship of Patek Philippe. In addition, Cartier released a enamel panda watch in 2006. This panda watch features enamel decorations that continues to the end piece and large-area diamond inlay, full of design sense and avant-garde feeling.

More than one century ago, over-sea made wristwatches occupied Chinese market. Those oversea factories, in order to attract Chinese buyers, tried their best to add Chinese style even on basic and simple watch models. Collectors who often visit ancient watch shops know that it is very easy to find Chinese characters or trademarks on hundred-year-old pocket watches made by Switzerland, France or Britain. Now, they have been added to the collection of watch lovers. To appeal modern Chinese buyers, more and more watch factories launches new Chinese style watches. Chinese wind keep blowing in watch fashion world.

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