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!

Kanye West’s Girlfriend Needs The Fashion Police

She may not want it, but Amber Rose definitely needs to get some good fashion advice! Kanye West and his current girl friend were seen (A LOT) at the Chanel Spring-Summer 2010 fashion show in Paris this week. The couple is already striking without having to wear outlandish outfits but I guess their personalities required them to put on “unique” clothing.

Take a look at this picture.

That’s the couple when they arrived at the show. I must say Kanye looks pretty good and Amber…well, it doesn’t look half bad but I think it’s more interesting than fashionable. What’s up with the hood???

Now how about this picture?

Again, Kanye looks pretty decent. As for his companion, what the heck was she thinking? I simply do not get the dress. The undergarment looks off as well. I think the coat may have some redeeming value, don’t you think?

Here’s one last picture.

Obviously, the couple’s attires lent them vulnerable to criticism from animal rights activists. PETA has already issued a statement about it. This is what Dan Matthews, PETA Vice President, had to say: “Kanye can’t help making himself look like an idiot, whether at an awards show or a fashion show. He and his girlfriend look like pathetic creatures from a shabby roadside zoo.”

Um, honestly, I don’t have the hots for Kanye but moral issues aside, I think his coat actually looks good. As for Amber, again it’s a major fail. Ooops, do I hear sirens?

First Pakistan Fashion Week Ends Today

Pakistan has made history this week, as the first ever Pakistan Fashion Week ends today. The show is being held in Karachi, and is quite different from many other fashion shows in many respects. One of this is the fact that the security is very tight, making the show more like a gathering of leaders of nations. More so, the country has never experienced such a show.

The BBC reports:

The organisers say they hope to show a different side of Pakistan than the usual images of suicide bombings. The event had been postponed after threats to security which kept foreign models and designers away, but the fashion world in Pakistan was determined to stage its shows.

“After many, many years, fashion in Pakistan is being taken seriously,” said leading Pakistani designer, Rizwan Beyg, who has designed for international jet-setters, including the late Princess Diana.

So what kinds of clothing and styles were shown during the fashion week? Believe it or not, the designs worn by the models on the catwalk included those that show bellies and midriffs. Not only that, but even cleavages were exposed! This may seem such a small deal to some, but in that part of the world, this is such a big step. More than furthering the world of fashion in Pakistan, the event also presents a different view of the country and the culture to the whole world. We can expect a lot more to come from Pakistani designers and artists in the future, I suspect.

Photo courtesy of BBC

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.

Simon Fuller-Kate Moss Tandem Set To Take Over The Fashion World?

These two names are quite well known to most people who watch even just a smidgen of television. Kate Moss made it big many years ago in the fashion world. Simon Fuller is known for his hand in a lot of TV shows, among other things. But what you may not know is that Simon Fuller has actually been busy in the fashion world for quite some time now.

Ever heard of Brand Beckham? Well, Simon Fuller has been called the svengali (read: someone (usually maleficent) who tries to persuade or force another person to do his bidding) behind that. It was actually two years ago when Fuller first dabbled in fashion. He got together with Roland Mouret, a designer, to start the label 19RM.

Today, Fuller’s company announced that he has bought a 51% stake in Storm Model Management. What does this mean? Oh, it’s just this agency that represents celebrated models like Kate Moss. Aside from Moss, Fuller now has full control over other models such as Jourdan Dunn, Lily Cole, Carla Bruni and Cindy Crawford.

While “ordinary” people like you and me may not feel the effects of this take over immediately, I am pretty sure that what we buy in the future will somehow be affected by this move. The Beckhams already have an extensive fashion line, who knows – the models connected with the agency just might find themselves with a sparkling future!

Full-Figured Fashion A Hit In Jamaica

Women in Jamaica who are not model-slim are having a grand time, thanks to Tracey Woods. Her story is that she got tired of having to go to a dressmaker each time she wanted new clothes. Instead of having someone else make clothes that would fit her, she decided to start her own clothing line that would cater to full-figured women like herself. Hence the birth of Curvy Lady.

Woods started up her business with her sister, and they began with lingerie. Soon, their clients asked for more – dresses, pants, etc. Now, their line has expanded to carry all sorts of outfits from the casual to the semi-formal outfits.

One unique thing about Curvy Lady clothing is that they are not the basic blacks which are usually suggested for plus size women. Instead, Woods believes in the idea that plus size women should experiment with various colors as well. As a result, her clothing line is a mix of all colors. She says that the important thing is that her clothes accentuate the positive points that each woman has. More so, she says that she prioritizes her clients’ comfort, and that comfort leads to confidence, which in turn leads to a stunning look.

Her customers seem to agree with her, as her business has grown over the years.

What I am thinking is that I wish there would be more people like her in other parts of the world. While we have plus size clothing in many major stores, I think that we could use more of them, don’t you think?

Tickle Everyone Pink

The new hot color has been picked out, people! It seems that fashion designers all over the world have come to a consensus – black is out, pink is in! Don’t make the mistake of thinking that pink is a bland, girly color. What fashion designers are working with right now are powerful shades of pink that one cannot help but say “WOW” to.

Thakoon Panichgul says: “I love fuchsia. I’m always drawn to it. It’s a reaction color, and that’s what fashion is. You can’t quantify it, it’s just you know what you like. You can’t analyze it.”

True enough. If you go out wearing a hot fuchsia dress, you will probably get the stares of everyone within a mile. Another reason to go pink is the fact that these shades go well with many other colors. Hope Greenberg, the fashion director of Lucky has this to say: “From neon to fuchsia, hot pink is very versatile. It goes with gray, brown, navy, army green. There are a million things to wear it with.”

Indeed, if you are worried that you would have to get a whole new wardrobe to match the season’s “pinkness,” no need for that. Your old grays, browns, and other shades could very well match your new pinks.

Of course, you should not simply jump into the water and get everything in pink. The smart thing to do would be to test the color out with small items. Say, get a blouse or a belt in a flashy pink shade. Try it out first and see how it suits you. If it works – which it probably will – then go all out get ready to be the center of attention!

No To Size Zero?

Who is your favorite model? Do you lean towards waif-like creatures (think Kate Moss) or do you prefer a woman with a whole lot of curves?

In Australia, believe or not, they prefer models who have a little bit of weight in them. That is not to say that plus size is the trend – although I seriously wouldn’t mind if this happened. However, Australian fashion designers have admitted that they have had to tell models that they are “too thin” and that they need to “put on more weight.”

This is quite contrary to what we are seeing in the international fashion circuit, where thin and thinner is what people want. Indeed, the pressure of going size zero seems to be getting to some Australian fashion designers. According to Damien Woolnough, the online editor of Vogue Australia, many Australian designers are now following the lead of the international community and that models AND clothes are ever shrinking.

Still, there are those who think that Australian fashion will be able to resist the international trend. Priscilla Leighton Clark, the owner of Priscilla’s Modelling Agency and judge on Australia’s Next Top Model, says that she thinks that her fellow Australians prefer sporty bodies rather than pole thin ones. As such, she thinks that the country will be able to resist the “zero size pressure.”

I really hope so. I may not live down under and may not be affected by what happens in the fashion world there, but hey, realistic sizes are always my thing. After all, not everyone can be a size zero, right?

Watch Out For These Fashion Designers

The world of fashion is an ever changing landscape. While we do have certain fashion designers who have made names for themselves and can be considered fixtures in the fashion world, there is no doubt that new talent crop up all the time. These are the people that you should be on the lookout for if you’re the type who likes fresh ideas.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded nine upcoming fashion designers, who are to receive financial assistance from Swarovski Crystal. Here are some of my favorites.

Alexander Wang
The label Wang launched in 2005 while still attending Parsons The New School of Design is steadily expanding. There’s been a full womenswear collection since 2007 and come July there’ll be men’s. Wang, a 25-year-old California native, says he’s appreciative of the recognition he’s received. (His runway shows are hot tickets: Sarah Jessica Parker attended the last one.)

Thakoon Panichgul
Thakoon Panichgul is, at 34, a veteran of the council’s emerging designer category — he was previously a nominee in 2006 and 2007. And while he has steadily gained buzz, it was first lady Michelle Obama, who wore a Thakoon dress at last year’s Democratic convention, who really ramped up his name recognition.

Patrick Ervell
He envisions a look in American men’s sportswear, one that’s more modern than the Americana epitomized by a more traditional designer like Ralph Lauren. His own personal uniform is “Levis and a T-shirt.”

Chic women’s fashion, the person who dresses the First Lady, and men’s sportswear. What else do you need?