What Makes A Great Designer?

My favourite designer clothing is made by Dolce and Gabbana; I think their clothing is divine. It just epitomises everything I would expect from a high class design house.

Dolce and Gabanna is an Italian based design house but has stores and premium outlets throughout the world from London, Mumbai, Bangkok to New York and lots more in between. They are a truly globally international fashion name. Dolce and Gabanna is a design House, it employs a number of designers perhaps with a flair for a particular aspect of designing. The Dolce and Gabanna label is not only fabulous for fabulous womens and mens clothing but also for handbags, footwear and even fragrances.

The Dolce and Gabanna clothing range can perhaps be divided into three very distinct areas, the famous and luxurious Dolce and Gabbana label, the D&G range and a new departure the D&G Junior range. I have purchased from the Dolce and Gabbana range and the D&G, more from D&G than the premium Dolce and Gabbana ranges. I have not bought anything from the D&G Junior range but I am sure it is as good as the other areas within the label.

Dolce and Gabanna is a premium designer range; designs have been worn by the likes of Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Isabella Rossellini. The range is famed for its luxurious and exclusive designer wear. The range is very expensive but it is well worth the money. The fabrics and prints used are vivacious, colourful, feminine, floaty yet hot and sexy.

I have had the pleasure and good fortune to have been able to purchase a beautiful dress from this range; it was for an extremely important and one off event. I have only had reason to wear the dress once but hopefully I will get the opportunity to wear it again. Whilst the dress may not have been an exclusive it was still handmade for me and my body shape, I am not tall and I wanted something that would look in proportion when altered for my height. The dress made me feel terrific I felt really well dressed and that I looked good in the dress, it was money well spent. The material of the dress was very floaty and it looked very feminine yet it was very modern in design, not too over the top but very flattering. It was a pleasure to wear the dress.

I have had more experience of buying from the D&G range; this is a more casual, urban inspired range. The range includes everything from great quality jeans to casual jackets and tops, there are also beautiful shoes and boots available. I have shopped in Dublin and Manchester for D&G clothing; I have bought some beautiful suits and some everyday wear. The clothing makes me feel very special. It is well made and finished and is designed to compliment the figure. Many of the items are bright and colourful and there is definitely a feel of Italian styling to the designs.

Even though Dolce and Gabanna clothing is expensive I definitely feel it provides good value for money. The clothing is beautifully designed and well made using top grade fabrics and accessories. When buying a piece of Dolce and Gabbana I feel that I am doing something very positive, I am investing in the clothing but also investing in myself. Wearing the designer clothing makes me feel good and very positive, it is not the sort of clothing I wear when I am sad or depressed, I wear it because I want to make a statement and be noticed.

I have also bought some Dolce and Gabanna fragrances, although I must admit these would not be my favourites. I do really like their handbags and do own three bags; they are very beautiful and very pretty. For me Dolce and Gabanna is a label that I am proud to wear and proud to recommend to others.

10 Fabulous Fashion Books

1. The Beautiful Fall by Alicia Drake

2. The Look by Paul Gorman

3. Stylist by Sarah Mower

4. 100 Years of Fashion Illustration by Cally Blackman **

5. Things a Woman Should Know About Style by Karen Homer

6. Fashion Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones

7. The Photography Book by Ian Jeffrey

8. Vivienne Westwood by Claire Wilcox

9. In Vogue: The Illustrated History of the World’s Most Famous Fashion Magazine by Alberto Oliva

10. The World of Coco Chanel: Friends, Fashion, Fame

Hand-Painted Vintage Clothing: Get Unique

If there is one thing that trendsetters have in mind, it is that they want to look unique.  I know many people whose worst nightmare is showing up at a party (or any gig for that matter) and finding another girl wearing the same exact same dress.  Wake me up!!!

That is why I love going for the vintage look.  The idea behind vintage is that while you get that unmistakable aura of something coming from a time before now, you tend to get pieces that are not likely to have been replicated, right?

Well think again.  I would be the first to admit that the chances of finding two similar (or maybe even the same!) items of vintage clothing are quite high.  Sad to say, vintage clothing is not always one of a kind.

But what if you really have this thing going on for vintage?  Should the chances of bumping into someone else wearing the same dress put you off?

My answer’s a definite no!  Instead, why not follow this tip from Mary Kincaid of Style  Hive? She suggests going for hand-painted vintage clothing, for the very reason I have outline above:

Let’s not kid ourselves…not every piece of vintage clothing we see is totally unique. When you’ve been buying and wearing vintage clothing as long as I have, you occasionally find yourself shopping the thrifts or online sites and seeing something very familiar. It takes just a moment and then you realize you either have the exact same item in your own closet or you’ve sold it in the past. And I’m always surprised how frequently this actually happens. So that’s why I’m a complete sucker for any hand-painted vintage pieces–each one is totally unique. And there’s something very special about wearing a custom-made piece that exhibits someone’s artistry.

Indeed, hand-painted anything normally offers that one of a kind look that many of us look for.  Start your hunt now!

Beat The Heat And Look Good

Summer’s here and boy, is it hot! Well, I guess it depends on where you are but for the most part, the heat waves seem to be right on schedule. You can opt to stay inside and chill out with the air conditioner on full blast (and pay for it when the electric bill comes) OR you can go dress yourself up for the summer and have fun outdoors! Guess what I suggest?

Here are some tips on how to dress for the heat and maybe get some longing stares down your way.

• Sweat much? Don’t wear silks or heavy linens. Opt for cotton and light fabrics instead. While these materials may NOT stop your glands from producing sweat, stains will not be much of a problem.
• Time to ditch the black and other dark colors. It’s common knowledge – white and other light colors are necessary to beat the heat while staying hot.
• Let the breeze in. Forget tights and body hugging clothing. While they may accentuate your curves, they just might make you feel irritable and uncomfortable all day. Instead, opt for light breezy designs that will let the air in and make you feel cool all day long.
• Go bag shopping. That is, if all that you can find in your closet are big heavy bags. You may not think much about the bag you lug around but during summer, a heavy bag can make you feel warmer and more uncomfortable. Buy a couple of smaller bags that you can use instead.

Any other hot summer tips?

Which decade are you? the 80’s!

1980s:

This is the decade I grew up in and the decade that at the same time scares me the most. Flat shoes, leg warmers, shoulder pads (I can’t believe they came back), leggings, leather jackets, fingerless gloves which I still don’t understand, lots and lots of neon colors and heavy makeup. All are just wrong except for the leggings. I used to love wearing leggings and I am glad they are in style now because they are very comfortable!

How Madonna got away with the lacy tops, leather jackets and fish net stockings is beyond me, but at the time it shocked the public and became one of the most recognizable looks to date. The music industry flourished with the beginning of the MTV generation. When I think of the 1980s I think Footloose and Flashdance, I mean, how can you not! Jeans became acid washed and men started wearing eyeliner and lipstick. Enough said…this decade was a disaster. I don’t know anyone who would look back at their pictures from this decade and say ‘Hey! I looked hot!’

Which decade are you?

1950s and 1960s:

These are the decades I belong in fashion-wise. Most of my favorite movies and style icons came out of these decades. I consider the 1950s and 1960s to be the most classic periods in fashion and the majority of the styles are still mimicked today.

The best style that came out of this era in my opinion was the pencil skirt/suit. They were tight, sexy and brought an extremely feminine touch to a more masculine look. Style icons of this decade included Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Sophia Loren, and Elizabeth Taylor to name just a few.

The 1950s revolutionized the poodle skirt and leather jackets…you know…because Grease is the word.

In 1961, my favorite movie of all time was made Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I remember the first time I saw the movie; I was just a child of maybe 7 or 8 years old. I was in awe of Audrey’s character Holly Golightly. I think I pretty much wanted to be her, (how worried my parents must have been for me, wanting to be a call girl and get $50 for the powder room). Her style and beauty was nothing less than perfect to me.

Click here to see the style icons of the 1960s

Summer 2010 Denim Overload

From the time the miners of old donned their super sturdy jeans, denim sure has come a long way. Nowadays ask anyone you meet if they have anything made of denim in their closet and you’ll be hard pressed to find someone who’ll say no.

This summer denim is considered to be one of the top fashion trends. You’ll see everything made of denim for this season’s clothing line and denim accessories galore. Fashion icons have also been spotted wearing everything from white denim jeans to the coolest denim-strapped shoes. Below are just some of the ways you can wear denim this summer and come out feeling cool while looking hot.

Denim shorts – Its summer and short shorts are the staple wear for many. You’ll find great denim shorts from almost any label. Take your pick!

Boyfriend Jeans – Relaxed, comfy and very versatile. Jeans from Banana Republic.

Footwear – A hint of denim is all you need to make your outfit pop. Pear these espadrille wedges from Old Navy with your boyfriend jeans or with a denim bag. It’s all in the accessories!

Denim bag – So many to choose from but I’m loving this rope bag from Mango. Shouts beach to me!

Rompers – The rompers on the left is from Hilfiger and it sure shouts summer! You can also fake the denim because the one on the right is actually made of 100% cotton (from GAP).

Emma Watson: Fashion Entrepreneur

Emma Watson is no stranger to fashion. Indeed, one look at her and you’d know that she has her own fashion sense, which actually appeals to a lot of people. This young actress is not sitting idle, though. Instead of being a mere consumer, she has crossed to the other side and has launched a clothing line. Yeah, she also models for Burberry and Chanel by the way.

That isn’t her biggest achievement in the fashion world, though. Going back to the clothing line I just mentioned, Emma has partnered up with People Tree, a clothing brand that prides itself in being ethical. People Tree has a very good reputation in terms of excellent fashion sense and dealing only with fair trade products.

Emma has lent her artistic talents to People Tree, coming up with her own artwork. The people from the company praise her dedication to the clothing line and say that she is really serious about the project. It looks like the young star is paying more than lip service to the line. More than being involved in the design process, she has also enlisted the help of friends and family members to pose as models for the clothes.

From her end, Emma says that she has no aspirations to become a fashion designer. Her only motive in getting involved, she says, is her passion for the cause. She says that she really cares for trendy fashion as well as fair trade. Big words from a young girl, but hey, it looks like she means it!

Milan Loves Fashion

That’s the tagline of the Milan Fashion Week, which is in full swing as of this writing. The coverage is nothing but phenomenal, and it seems that the designers have gone out with all the ammunition that they have, even on the first day.

The main attractions of the first day’s show were the collections of Moschino and Dolce & Gabbana. According to Moschino, fashion is “full of chic.” The slogan was actually printed on canvas tote and was backed up by oversized jumpsuits decorated with daises. Oh so plum white ruffles and striped t-shirts reminiscent of candy colors also livened up things.

D&G, on the other hand, sparked a lot of interest with their cow girl line. Some models were showing off skin in pannier mini skirts. Others wore faded denim shirts and brown obi belts. Bottom line: the D&G show oozed sex appeal, which no one can ignore!

Blumarine’s line featured silk skirts and cotton knits. Colors were bursting – hot pink, lemon yellow, and lime. Tie-dye cloths were also present, adding to the plethora of colors that made for very nice eye candy. Designer Anna Molinari decided to take Jamaica to Milan with a rasta theme. Her tube dress in yellow, red, and green definitely took viewers to that island paradise.

Sportmax took the lingerie route, with padded bras serving as tops. They also made use of lace to soften up sports wear. Other features: garter belts on the hips of loose shorts and laced up corsets for blouses.

Needless to say, Milan Fashion Week is making waves.

New York Fashion Fashion Week Finds

The New York Fashion Week kicked off last week on Thursday, and it seems that the trends are already very evident. In spite of the pall that has been cast by the prolonged economic crisis, the best of designers seems to have outdone themselves with bright bursts of color. Regulars were present at Bryant Park in Manhattan early, even though the most interesting shows do not usually run till the weekend.

So what awaited the early birds? Paolo Messana writes of beautiful colors invading the fashion week:

Opening the shows was New York’s own Michael Angel, who sent out a collection of waistlined mini-dresses with no sleeves, but with epaulettes.

France’s New-York based BCBG Max Azria brand followed with a line of also tiny close-fitting dresses cut in a patchwork of fabrics, multicoloured in part, plain in others.

Colour was taste of the day, and in a poll released in the influential Women’s Wear Daily newspaper, designers picked their five favourite colours as violet, yellow, turquoise, coral and red.

Bottom of the barrel were beige, olive green and petrol blue.

More than the color, another trend that seems to be making a comeback – bra tops, cropped shirts, midriff tops. What does this means for you fashionistas out there? Well you better get it on with your crunches and other exercise routines. That is, if you want to wear what’s going to be the in thing in the next several months! For those who are not into baring their bellies, at least you have the option of wearing colorful clothing.