Posts Tagged ‘Fashion Magazine’
How to Read a Fashion Magazine
When I recently advised a client to study a few fashion magazines to glean some ideas for the
upcoming season, she flatly refused.
“I HATE those things!” she told me vehemently. “Skinny girls, expensive clothes – what does that have to do with my life? Nothing!”
Now since this isn’t the first time I’ve heard this argument, I realized that she was missing
the point of the exercise – much like the women who tell me that VOGUE or W are “their bibles.” In this corner, we have someone who’s way too caught up in her own reality; in the other, we have someone who’s much too caught up in someone else’s. Let’s all move a bit more to the center and learn how to read these things properly, shall we? We’ll all dress a lot better for it.
Let’s start with a little dissection first, then move on to the “how to” part of the lesson.
THE MODELS
Overall, fashion magazines tend to show young, thin, attractive people in their pages for the
exact same reason that grocers tend to polish their apples and car dealers tend to have you
test drive clean cars: because it sells more. It’s as simple as that. Fashion Marketing 101.
Whether you agree with it or not is beside the point; it works — VERY well.
So well, in fact, that somewhere along the line, many women went from trying to determine whether the clothing being shown would work well on their bodies to bemoaning the fact that their bodies don’t look like the mannequins. Let me let you in on a secret: those girls don’t look like that every day, either. They have an army of people to get the hair, makeup, clothes, and lighting just right. If that doesn’t work, they airbrush the photos to get the right look. And if the model packs on a few pounds or starts to show signs of ageing, she’s replaced. Nothing like being a “has been” by the age of 30, eh?
What a shame that so many teenage girls and women have allowed the slick marketing to muddle their thinking and impact their self esteem. Don’t be one of them. Look at the clothes and the mood that the picture evokes; don’t compare yourselves to the mannequins.
THE SETTINGS
In fashion magazines, you’ll often see a beautiful girl in gorgeous clothes in an enviable
setting surrounded by handsome men. If only, right? Well, that’s part of the marketing. It’s
called projecting, and if you’ve ever envisioned yourself swapping places with the gal in the
picture, the marketers have done their job. It’s a set up. A complete fabrication. A ruse.
Remember that the next time you see a shot that makes you want to rush right out and buy the
clothes you see so you can be just like the girl in the picture.
THE ADS
Ever wonder why you see so many high end designers advertising in fashion magazines and
why the fashion magazines, in turn, show so many of those same designers in their editorial photo spreads? It’s no coincidence. Those one-page ads are VERY expensive, often costing tens of thousands (or more), depending on the magazine’s circulation. So the fashion houses don’t spend all their advertising dollars in one place. Oh, no.
They’ll put a portion of their budget into ads, a portion into lending clothes to magazines for
photo shoots, and a portion into creating clothes for celebrities for red carpet and other media events. That way, they spread the name recognition around. It’s clever – and expensive.
But it works. If you love labels and see a look you like in a couple of fashion magazines and on a favorite celebrity, wouldn’t you be more inclined to buy it if you had the money? Many
are. A look through the society pages will tell you as much.
THE LESSON
So now that we’ve addressed the models, ads, and editorial spreads, here’s what you SHOULD be
looking for when you read a fashion magazine (and yes, it’s okay to rip out pages and put them in a file for future reference – but only if you own the magazine!):
1. The Trends
Fashion magazines will call them “must have” items, but look at trends skeptically to see
whether they fit your body, clothing personality, and lifestyle. Don’t worry about the price. If you find something you like and want to wear, look for an inexpensive version of the trend at your favorite discount or outlet store. Buy cheap, wear often, and discard when then trend is over.
2. The Updated Classics
Most women recognize that classic styles are a good value, and fashion magazines know this. So
they’ll show trendy new ways to wear classic styles and give you plenty of ideas in the
process. All you have to do is take a moment to break it down to see how you can apply this to
your own closet.
3. The Designers
If you have a “thing” for designer labels, high end fashion magazines (Vogue, W, Marie Claire,
Town and Country) are a great place to learn about the different fashion house philosophies.
Even if you can’t afford those brand names, don’t fret. If you find a look you really like, you’ll probably be able to find it a little later in the season in a budget-friendly copy-cat version.
4. Styling Ideas
Styling refers to the way the clothing and accessories are presented in a picture. Look at
how the clothes are layered, draped, or wrapped. Look at how the jewelry is worn. See what they did with the bag and shoes. Look at the hair and other accessories. If you see something you like, try creating a similar look with pieces from your own closet. You’ll be surprised how you can breathe new life into your old standbys just by wearing them a different way.
5. Hair and Makeup
Are you in a hair and makeup rut? Peruse a few fashion magazines to see what’s hot for the
season. Not only will you glean some new looks, you may discover that a new ‘do may be all you
need to look “au currant” this year.
Fashion magazines are a great way to learn all about what’s happening in fashion AS LONG AS you
remember that they’re created to sell clothes and accessories. Forget about the models and the
price tags and focus instead on the clothes, trends, and styling ideas that might work for
you. Then copy or adapt them to your own budget and lifestyle. Before you know it, you may look like you stepped out of a fashion magazine – whatever your age, shape, size, or budget.
Diana Pemberton-Sikes is a wardrobe and image consultant and author of “Wardrobe Magic,” an ebook that shows women how to transform their unruly closets into workable, wearable wardrobes. Visit her online at http://www.fashionforrealwomen.com
Author: Diana Pemberton-Sikes
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Fashion In Clothes – An Expression Of Emotion
Fashion in clothes has allowed wearers to express emotion or solidarity with other people for millennia. Modern Westerners have a wide choice available in the selection of their clothes. When people who have cultural status start to wear new or different clothes a fashion trend may start. People who like or respect them may start to wear clothes of a similar style.
Design
Designs are difficult to protect in court, because they incorporate elements that are effectively in the “public domain. Designers in turn respond to this obsolescence with new designs. Although tailors and dressmakers were no doubt responsible for many innovations before, and the textile industry certainly led many trends, the History of fashion design is normally taken to date from 1858, when the English-born Charles Frederick Worth opened the first true haute couture house in Paris. Since then the professional designer has become a progressively more dominant figure, despite the origins of many fashions in street fashion.
At the same time there remains an equal or larger range designated (at least currently) ‘out of fashion’. Fashion houses and their associated fashion designers, as well as high-status consumers (including celebrities), appear to have some role in determining the rates and directions of fashion change. Haute Couture designers followed the trend by starting the ready-to-wear and perfume lines, heavily advertised in the magazines that now dwarf their original couture businesses. While brand names and logos are protected, designs are not. Smaller, boutique, designers have lost revenue after their designs have been taken and marketed by bigger businesses with more resources.
Designers
Designers and fashion magazine editors, who hire models, and executives for agencies that represent the young women, are skeptical that the profession can be regulated or monitored. In any given season, we see designers working on similar design themes that define the current mode. Young and unknown designers will be worst off, as they will not be able to afford the lawyers’ fees that will be part of the new price of admission to the industry. Fashion marketing and merchandising professionals are responsible for identifying and creating fashion trends to sell the products created by fashion designers. There are fashion designers who are making history from with innovative designs. New York City is home to some of the biggest designers. Individual designers’ shows are searchable under season and city.
Fashion and accessory designers use their knowledge of design principles, techniques, and tools to create sketches and models of original garments, shoes, handbags and other fashion accessories. Men wore loin-clothes while women were bare to the waist. As a result we find more and more men and women adopting the swadeshi clothes and designs. As of late the industry has started to use more realistic models so that they can defend themselves, but many are saying that clothes simply look better on skinny models, and it’s only about what the clothes look like, not the person inside of them.
Trishia Lopez is a successful Webmaster and publisher of www.TheFashionGurus.com. She provides more information about Fashion and fashion issues that you can research in your pajamas on her website.
Author: Trishia Lopez
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Fashion Trends and Styles – Cultured Pearls or Tote bags
A single strand of classic cultured pearls is always in fashion. The Autumn/Winter fashion season is at its best. Each year, on fashion runways from New York to Paris, Milan, and Toyko, sterling silver is “new again” as designers interpret it in new and exciting ways.
Now non-celebrities may purchase the pin in sterling silver pin to demonstrate both their commitment to peace and their fashion sense. Think of Fall – Winter fashion trends as the darker, richer version of spring and summer trends: turquoise turns to teal, gauze becomes wool, camisoles become romantic blouses. Accessorize to suit your style and you are all set no matter what the fashion trends are.
In order to keep up with the latest trends in fashion, consider building your wardrobe around staple items that are sure to be in style regardless of the season. Sleeveless tops are the latest trend in sports fashion. Look around yourself and you will notice that most of the top athletes like Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya adore them. Cloth purses are very casual fashion items, so colorful fabrics and whimsical patterns are the strongest trend.
Tote bags are the most casual fashion accessory of all, and perfect for the beach, for picnics, or for a little shopping. With one glance through a fashion magazine, the importance of sunglasses as a summer fashion accessory becomes very apparent. Bridget Allen has worked for many years in the fashion industry, at a senior level, and she has written an amazing, totally free fashionista minicourse that will thrill, entertain, and most importantly educate you about what you absolutely need to know about fashion.
Hairstyles fashion trends are all easy do’s and don’t require heavy makeup or jewelry. Sample a bit from each Fall – Winter fashion trend and mix it in a unique way, making it personal with jewelry, color and layering. Pearl jewelry with more designs is also a somewhat comeback in fashion trend.
At the fashion shows, bows and sashes adorn every conceivable place on a garment – top, bottom, front and back. About half of the people wearing color contact lenses don’t have any vision problems – for them color contacts are just fashion accessories. A good example of “definition” color contacts is Freshlook Dimensions by Ciba Vision.
They never seem to be out of fashion. Reflecting our country’s growing sense of nostalgia for less-complicated times, fashion this spring will represent a “return to innocence”. Many of today’s youth enjoy making their own jewelry and spring break provides the perfect opportunity for them to showcase their work.
Belly rings and belly chains are available in many designs, but perhaps one of the best-selling designs for college students on spring break is one that features Greek society symbols. Flowers People at 1-800-FLORALS, third-generation retail and wholesale florists specialize in fresh flowers, custom floral designs, and nationwide flower delivery. Traditional red may dominate the Christmas season again this year, but watch out for a greater variety of fresh evergreens, berries, roes and accents.
We have given you a taste of the basic thats in and ‘happening’ this season. Trousers are around in many styles, including skinny ones carrying on from last season and high-waisted, pleat-fronted for the very slim. Layered looks provide one of the hottest trends with multiple strands from short to very long.
o Cropped pants – If you see pants that are too long to classify in the shorts category and too short to qualify as the regular long pants those are referred as cropped pants.
o Cuffed pants- Many of the cuffed pants are also cropped. Drawstrings pants or Nadal style Capri will complement your sweatshirt while going to the Gym and later in warming up.
A casual yet stylish sweatshirt will be perfect to help your body warming up. The perfect jacket is one of the most important elements of your wardrobe, and with so many shapes and fabrics available this fall, it would be a crime to choose just one.
Uma is an avid reader and writes on a variety of topics including oil prices, U.S.elections, fashions, advances in medicine, public opinions in different areas. All with a view to share and learn together. For some more free articles and interesting reading go to http://www.articles-abundant.com
Author: Uma Gupta
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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New Fashion Trends For the Workplace – How to Discover What’s Best For You
Did you get a new job and want to look trendy and fashionable? You may want to consider looking at what’s common with business offices today. Do you know what your options are? What are the most popular fashions in today’s workplace? If you do not know it’s a good idea to read this article.
First resource to check for latest workplace fashions is a good fashion magazine. This will present you all kinds of tips and advice on what to wear that’s in style right now. For the cost of a value meal you can get a quality fashion magazine and pick up all the latest workplace fashion trends you need before you start your first day. Not all fashion magazine however have fashion tips.
So before you just run out and buy one you should consider browsing through the contents first. Since you’re concerned about workplace fashions that is what you want to look for. What you should and should not wear will go a long way with how people perceive you and that crucial first impression.
Of course there are many ways to find hip fashion styles. If you have a computer and know how to do a Google search, with a few clicks of your mouse you can get hold of valuable information on fashion advice in the workplace. Fashion websites are everywhere Online.
Compare what the magazine has against your Online resources and look for commonalities in them. As you compare what they have in common chances are those characteristics are good choices to consider in your workplace fashion tips.
Another resource is the TV. Ever watch the E Channel? There are all kinds of fashion tips on E, and another great place to discover fashion trends that are chic right now. Another resource or way to unearth fashion trends is to simply go shopping. If you decide to shop Online you will likely come across many fashion websites. Pay close attention. Often they will prominently display fashionable trends right on the first page so you don’t have to go digging for it.
As you can see, you have a number of different options when it comes to familiarizing yourself with workplace fashion trends. As a reminder, just because you see that something is trendy at the moment, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is right for you and your workplace. Before implementing any new workplace fashion trends, you are encouraged to examine your workplace location. You will also want to keep in mind what is considered acceptable and what is not.
Brad writes articles on fashion, shoes, mens jeans, golf, and relationships. You can see his latest website on Guys Skinny Jeans. Another fashion that seems to go in and out of our society is Guys Skinny Jeans. Do you have a pair?
Author: Brad Long
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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