Just Don’t Call Them Inexpensive

AS much as I like the word “cheap” and its variations — cheap-jack, cheapskate, el cheapo and the effervescent cheap and cheerful — I seem to have a hard time actually getting the word into a fashion article. “Use ‘inexpensive,’ ” I’m told.

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Orrie King for The New York Times

TWO-DIGIT NUMBERS In this summer of the dress, three that leave wallets heavy: from Free People, $88 at Bloomingdale’s, above.

Orrie King for The New York Times

Forever 21, $25.

Orrie King for The New York Times

Beacon’s Closet in Brooklyn, $25.

Well, no. As the opposite of expensive, this choice only serves to make you feel less bad about the fact that you can’t afford the thing you want, and it seems as well a kind of outmoded exercise in virtue, like covering the eyes of a small boy when passing Victoria’s Secret. If cheap suggests something low and inferior, remind me what that is the next time I’m trying to find a parking place at Target or Kohl’s.

Lately I’ve been on a quest for the perfect cheap dress. It started when my sisters at Vogue declared this the year of the dress, and I thought I’d go them one better: the year of the cheap dress. If you’ve been downtown in the late afternoon, on Lower Broadway, or in one of those cheap-jack dress shops on Second and Third Avenues, you know exactly what I mean. Halters, tubes, tanks, tents, baby dolls, shirtwaists — not a single style goes unrepresented.

Though it’s pleasant to imagine yourself as Keira Knightley playing Isak Dinesen on safari in a Bottega Veneta dress, some of the nicest dresses I’ve seen on women in New York this summer don’t appear to have cost more than $100, and probably a lot less.

For many women $75 or $100 is a lot to spend on a single garment, and for others, despite a love of shopping, there’s a stiff reaction to the price of clothes. More and more the consumption of fashion involves ethical concerns, like fair-trade issues and environmental pollution. Simply: do we need all this stuff?

Sometimes a fashion looks good to us because we sense the wearer isn’t so invested in the outfit, in herself. A black cotton jersey dress with a high elastic waist and some shirring over the bust — like the one I saw recently on a 30-something woman crossing Madison Avenue near 50th Street — looks good because it is at once modest and immodest. It winks at the onlooker, but there’s no ironic game, as you might get, say, with a Marni dress. The good cheap dress doesn’t get tangled in irony.

I popped into DKNY on Madison. Funny: I almost never go to DKNY. I fear being mugged by ruffles. But I quickly found a black knit minidress, a blend of silk and cashmere, with a V neck and long sleeves I could push up. It was $195. Not bad but not exactly the cheapness I was aiming for, either. Still, I bought it.

At Barneys Co-op, my thoughts were further clarified. Who would pay $350 for a washed silk dress in a mottled beige print? It was cheap in concept and construction but not in price, and therefore seemed an insult. Whether I was looking at Theory, Marc by Marc Jacobs or the sad, pleading garments of little-known designers, it was hard to find a dress for less than $250. (This was, of course, before the summer sales started.) I had to unstitch myself from fashion to find the exquisite el cheapo number. I had to go downtown.

At Dirty Yellow Bastard and Necessary Clothing, both on Broadway, I found $39 India-silk scarf-dresses, $29 skimmy cotton shifts in every color, and a cute uniform-style shirtdress in bleached khaki by House of Freedom for $39. Unix, the big T-shirt emporium on Broadway, had some adorable striped cotton dresses for $49.50. But nothing tempted me.

The thing is, as soon as you start looking, you realize that the success of a dress or a flouncy top depends on your improvisational skills. The fit of the clothes makes you think the manufacturer stepped outside and used a lamppost for his fit model.

It helps to layer a dress over a T-shirt or wear it with a pair of leggings, to mask the cheesy quality of cotton/polyester fabric. (Have you noticed that, just as hotel breadbaskets get smaller, so cotton jersey gets thinner?) Lots of women finesse this snag with layering. I saw a young woman in SoHo in a long dress of black cotton eyelet, which she had left unbuttoned at the top. Under the dress she had on a filmy white T-shirt, its sleeves pushed up, and she had on white anklets and scuffed red pumps.

As I headed toward Mott and Mulberry, the quality improved. I saw some classic long-sleeved T-shirt dresses at Poppy for around $170. At Maria Cornejo, where the designer herself happened to be in the store and was helping the actress Tilda Swinton, there were her imaginative, breezy dresses in linen or silk from $300 to $500.

Fashion is a trade-off of private desire and social principles. If you’re shopping on the cheap, you have to accept the possibility that a $39 dress may have been made in a sweatshop. Equally, if you’re contemplating a $1,000 designer dress in plain cotton and can’t square the price and the value, it’s possible that the company arbitrarily set the price, knowing that’s what a customer will pay. Caveat emptor.

Even the middle ground isn’t always a sure thing, but it helps if there’s a clear spirit of design and value. The other day I ordered a matte jersey dress online from Victoria’s Secret — $65. El cheapo delight! The ultimate test for anything nowadays, cheap or dear, is whether it’s the real deal.

The Dress That Gets Results

By now, Brad Pitt is probably used to the mother of his brood grabbing the spotlight whenever they walk a red carpet together. But even Angelina Jolie must have been surprised that she wasn't the one — it wasn't even them together — who stole the show at the L.A. premiere of Pitt's summer hit, Inglourious Basterds, at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. The most famous attendants on that balmy California afternoon were a few strips of black leather Michael Kors had artfully culled into a strapless, body-hugging cocktail dress. Within hours of that little number's debut on the red carpet, the brand's boutiques were completely sold out of the $3,295 dress. Since then, Kors has gone into production on that dress no less than three times.

Jolie's look packed a punch, not only because it tapped into some of the season's key trends — leather, edge, girl power — but also because it completely summed up the woman it was clinging to. It was all Angelina, from sensuality (strapless, open clavicle) and danger (black leather!) to modern modesty (a conservative length) and good fortune (the best accessory ever: Pitt). She got the precise results we imagine she wanted, because, let's be frank, no one goes on the red carpet to not get noticed. Blake Lively had some equally good fortune in a fuchsia cashmere version of the same dress at the CFDA Awards. DJ and party girl Leigh Lezark qualifies the effect of such striking numbers wisely: "It's the dress that every girl in the room wants to get into and every boy in the room wants to get you out of."

In the past year, there have been several fashion hits of that caliber: Rihanna at a charity gala in exaggerated Louis Vuitton shoulders; Beyoncé Knowles at the BET Awards in sequined, thigh-grazing Balmain; and Nicole Kidman at the Academy of Country Music Awards in a L'Wren Scott gown with a daring low-scooped back. Celebs and social fixtures alike have turned heads this year by zeroing in on fashion's flashiest trends, from novelty fabrics to outrageous silhouettes. Leather looks were a ubiquitous choice for many. Model Dree Hemingway accompanied Alexander Wang to the CFDA Awards this past summer, where he won a young-designer award, in one of his leather dresses — which ended up propelling the daughter of Mariel and the great-granddaughter of Ernest from being a fresh face to a face of the moment.

Another ingenue who recently made her mark is actress Emma Watson. Her sampling of carefully chosen frocks, from a tulle Rodarte confection to a short gold sequined Burberry Prorsum, turned her into a major fashion player in a few short months. But it was a Proenza Schouler dress with a leather bodice that she wore to the New York premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince that asserted what many were saying about the 19-year-old star: She is fashion's freshest icon. "I'm feeling tough tonight," Watson said at the time. "And kinky!" Proenza Schouler's Lazaro Hernandez was impressed with Watson's transformation. "It takes a sophisticated girl to pull off a leather dress in the middle of the summer, and Emma did just that — effortlessly," he says. "The confidence involved belies her age." Leather also showed up on women like Erin Wasson and Daphne Guinness in an altogether different form: pants. Wasson chose a pair of trousers from Phi with zippers running up the front seams for the Met Gala in May, proving yet again that her uniquely sexy tomboy style is unforgettable — especially at an affair where everyone else was in a gown fresh off the runway. "I felt powerful, mysterious, like the dark horse," Wasson says of the look.

Guinness was so taken with an old pair of leather pants that she started making her own trousers with PVC she sources herself at fabric stores in downtown Los Angeles. "They're the most comfortable thing in the world, and they go with everything," the fashion icon says. To prove it, for the New York premiere of the short film she created for her new eponymous fragrance for Comme des Garçons, she showed up at the Hudson hotel in the same shiny black trousers she wore on the plane over from London. Those will surely get you noticed at customs. That said, it's hard to overlook a woman who makes dominatrix pants look divine.

On the complete other side of the style spectrum, bright colors were a big hit over the past year too. "I think it's about having fun again, especially with what else is going on in the world," says Lezark, no stranger to wearing ensembles that get her plenty of attention. She explains that while one response to the Great Recession is to face hard times with hard looks, the other approach is to dress to distraction. Hence the bright-pink Dior and Giambattista Valli outfits she wore during Paris Fashion Week this past March and the white strapless Versace she wore to a party at the label's New York store.

Lezark's most, er, interesting look of the year? A pair of ripped purple tights that she paired with an Hervé Léger swimsuit for a party during New York Fashion Week. "I figured, why not?" she says. Brights and neons dominated the scene. Demi Moore showed off her rocking body in a purple Louis Vuitton dress at an L.A. movie premiere, and Margherita Missoni outshone the competition in a scarlet-red Missoni fringe dress at an amfAR event in Milan. MTV hostess and recent London expat Alexa Chung, an aficionado of darker duds, made a foray into color with a short red Calvin Klein Collection dress she wore to host the opening of the label's shop at Saks Fifth Avenue. The result? An affirmation that you can blend bright Americana with hip East London. "Recently, I've been dabbling with crimson, but I'll never be coerced into yellow!" says Chung, laughing. Girl-about-town Byrdie Bell ventured into bright-yellow territory for a night of cocktail parties in Manhattan, under the assumption that "bright colors and unexpected hemlines equal results," according to the actress. "Frumpy will always be frumpy. So yes, less dress, please!"

Bell hit on the third major trend of some of 2009's standout dresses: A convincing look is a short, tight one. Diane Kruger worked this to great effect for the majority of her Inglourious Basterds press tour, with highlights being the backless beaded Atelier Versace she wore at the Hollywood premiere, a bright-red satin Marchesa cocktail dress in Sydney, and a canary-yellow Louis Vuitton dress for the film's photo call in Berlin. Similarly, art-world darling Dasha Zhukova, who once teased that she had to be careful that when she played with color she didn't leave the house looking like a Christmas tree, stood out three times in shorter styles this year: a pink-and-white Rodarte at an opening in Moscow, a glittery Marios Schwab for dinner with Jeff Koons in London, and a specially made Proenza Schouler at a dinner party at Larry Gagosian's house for her first issue as editor of Pop magazine. Yet for those who are trying to look modern and relevant, the question of length still remains: How short is too short? "If you can see your underwear, then it's too short," Lezark clarifies, provided one has the legs to carry it off. "However, everything else is fair game." To the sexy debate, Chung adds, "'Body con' is something I've been more into lately. A smock dress basically makes you invisible. Even if other girls admire your commitment to not giving a shit what boys think of you, after a while it's nice to be noticed."

L'Wren Scott, whose perfectly tailored, sleek, and sexy dresses have garnered results all year on the likes of Nicole Kidman, Ellen Barkin, and Sarah Jessica Parker, says what's important to remember about impact dressing is the shape and the wearer's attitude. "A great silhouette is very important, and you must feel good wearing it," she says. "If you feel great, you will, in turn, look great." As all the stars who dare to wear her clothes invariably do. "The dress that gets results is the one that suits your shape the best," says Chung. "That advice has been around since forever, but I really think people are beginning to take it to heart now."But if a girl would prefer not show off her gams or dress in neon, she needn't feel out of style. Outlandish six-inch stilettos like Nicholas Kirkwood's sometimes get as much attention as a barely-strung-together dress. Not to say that long gowns can't still turn heads. Harley Viera-Newton, the house DJ for Dior Beauty, has been banking on their impact. As a gesture of rebellion to her peers working flashy minis, she's chosen long. "My friends were surprised that I picked longer gowns. But I felt like I was being daring by doing so," she explains. "So I'll probably change to minis when everyone is wearing long again."

Look Slim and Dress in Style

Women all over the world spend thousands of dollars every year on diets, weight-loss plans, and exercise programs. Up to 70% of the women in the world are not satisfied with their bodies, and the majority are desperate to shed kilos and look slimmer.

So why do millions of women want a body that less than 1% of the population can attain (and not without their fair share of starvation and exercise torture)? The answer is simple. Because that small minority of women who seem to have the “perfect figure” are models. Women who flaunt their bodies, wear the latest designer clothing, and show off millions of dollars worth of products as their career. Models simply look good because it is their job to do so. They are paid to be human clothes hangers. For us ordinary women going about our daily grind in offices, homes and shops, looking good and feeling great should not be hard things to achieve. If models look good because of the clothes that they wear, then perhaps we should stop obsessing about that extra gram of fat, and start looking at how we can dress well, look good, and feel great.
Good clothing is made of fabric that is natural and comfortable against the skin. Good clothing consists and styles that complement your body shape and your skin tone. Good clothing often needs to be tailored and not bought off the shelf.

The latest designs in the haute couture world can be copied and custom-made to suit your own looks and body shape. It is not necessary to spend thousands of dollars to purchase a piece of clothing that a model wore, just for the sake of trying to look like her. It is important for a woman to recognise the positive points of her own body, and tailor-make clothing that complements that. A designer fabric store in Melbourne, recommends that women find designs that interest them, and then ask for advice on the best types of fabric that could utilise the style and complement her own body. d’Italia has in store a range of all-natural Italian silk and French lace that has been used by some of Australia’s best dressmakers, to create unique designs for women of all ages, sizes and shapes. The shop also offers an optional referral service to seamstresses.

launches 'ethnic', womens' fire uniforms

LONDON — Today sees the start of a roll out of new uniform for the Fire and Rescue Service that has been specifically designed for a modern diverse workforce. Until now the protective clothing and uniforms available for women firefighters have often been an adapted version of the men's. Better fitting protective clothing means that the firefighter is better protected. Better fitting corporate and station uniforms look more professional.

The range of clothing available now available includes personal protective clothing for use when attending fires and other incidents including boots, gloves and helmets; corporate and station uniforms — for public events and visiting people at home or business to advise on fire prevention; sports wear; and maternity wear. The new uniforms also recognise the needs of different cultures. For example, hajib (headscarf), full length skirts, long sleeved shirts and turban options are available. In the long term the new colour of the uniform — grey with red — has the potential to give the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) an easily recognisable national identity, which they do not have at present. The new clothing, covering all aspects of a firefighter's working day, has been subject to rigorous testing by volunteers from FRS from all over the country. Communities and Local Government helped fund the garment testing, as part of its investment to ensure the modern FRS has the equipment it needs for the challenges of today's world. A key aim in developing the various clothing options is to encourage the widest possible range of people to consider a career in the Fire and Rescue Service. The testing was designed to identify the physiological impact and to ensure that the items worked when worn together.

Wider range of applicants

Fire Minister Sadiq Khan said, "We want the widest range of applicants to apply to join the Fire and Rescue Service. To do achieve this it is important that all applicants — men and women — know that the uniform and clothing they will be issued with, will not only protect them but will also fit properly and be comfortable. The introduction of more appropriately fitted clothing is just one initiative to help to both retain female firefighters and encourage others to consider a fire service career.

"Fire prevention is vitally important today as we continue the aim of driving down fire deaths. To achieve this, the FRS needs employees from all ethnic groups to reflect the diversity of our communities. This will enable better mutual understanding when the FRS undertake fire safety visits. The uniform now available shows that cultural beliefs are being recognised, as we seek to increase the representation of ethnic minorities within service. "We ask a great deal of our firefighters every day, and their professionalism was again called upon in the testing. I want to thank all who were involved in the rigorous trials and tendering process." The extensive testing included ergonomic and physiological impacts when undertaking realistic scenarios. Eight women and eight men volunteered and many FRS provided observers for the trials at the Health and Safety Laboratory in Buxton. Tests included flame engulfment. The trials, which required the volunteers to carry out the normal moves of a firefighter, monitored the effects of the protective clothing to ensure that they did not become overheated and unwell and that the clothing was practical. The trials in the thermal chamber included monitoring firefighters core body temperatures; monitoring how much water firefighters needed to drink to keep hydrated; weighing the 16 volunteer firefighters and the clothing before and after the tests to measure how much sweat they produced; and firefighters were timed picking up small objects and tying knots to see how easily they could carry out awkward tasks whilst wearing protective gloves.

'Comfortable' fit

Jagtar Singh OBE national spokesperson for the Asian Fire Service Association commented, "AFSA are pleased to note that the Fire Service is now taking seriously the issues of culture and religious belief when purchasing corporate and protective clothing for firefighters. This can only help to support the service to recruit more BME men and women." Nicola Lown from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said, "The uniform was comfortable in its entirety and the trousers, for once, fitted well. Lincolnshire FRS is the first to purchase the clothing. Lincolnshire's Chief Fire Officer Mike Thomas said "Having been involved in the development of this clothing project I have been particularly impressed with the robust and extensive garment trials and the development of the national identity. I look forward to seeing my operational firefighters protected to the best standards available with clothing that is clearly fit for purpose, suitable for all staff. The clothing presents a positive image of the modern fire and rescue service.

Casual Wedding Dresses

A wedding is a dream-come-true occasion for everyone involved, especially the bride. After dreaming for years of her handsome Knight in Shining Armor, she has eventually found him, and is about to embark on a completely different phase of life – one that includes him, and actually revolves around him, with only their love and commitment as the focus. It is a pious union of two souls, blessed as they are by the great Lord, encouraging them to fuse into one complete entity, and face every aspect of life in this very form, with complete dedication and loyalty to each other, and enough love to fill every heart that beats in this entire world.

Now, since the wedding is one of the most significant events in a woman’s life, each and every aspect of it is also equally significant. However, there happens to be one aspect which, at least for the bride, is actually a little more important than the others, and that is her special bridal wedding dress. There are many facets to be taken care of when it comes to selecting the perfect wedding dress for you, and all of them are equally important.

First of all, you need to know the theme of your wedding. This decides the important aspects of the wedding dress. You need to know whether you are holding a gothic wedding, or a casual one, for then it will require a wedding dress that will match the concept, namely a celtic wedding dress or a casual one, respectively. Your budget also plays a very important role in deciding the kind of wedding dress you ought to choose. Next, you must take care of the fabric of the wedding dress. You could select between any comfortable types of clothing material, the thickness depending on the season, and, once again, the theme. Once you have decided this, your next step would be to decide on the kind of cut you want to wear in the form of your wedding dress. The cut not only includes the length and neckline, but also the overall contour ad fitting of the dress. Ensure that you choose a cut that suits the theme, season, and of course, the fabric of the dress in itself, and is, most importantly, comfortable for you to wear. For instance, in case you are expecting a baby, you will need a pretty maternity wedding dress, which will enhance your motherly beauty, apart from the obvious bridal kind. Depending on these factors, you need to decide on the color of the wedding dress. While white is the traditional and conventional hue for a bride, you could select any other one based on your wedding theme and, obviously, your preference. The accessories that you select for your wedding dress, such as gloves, veil or tiara, and the special hand bouquet of beautiful and fragrant flowers, depend on all the facets mentioned above. You can make your choice from the available options. Choosing the perfect wedding dress is going to be extremely difficult, but if you follow the right steps in the right manner, you are sure to look absolutely stunning on your wedding day, just as you always wanted, and it is really doubtful if your Prince Charming, or any other male in the vicinity, for that matter, will have eyes for any other woman, apart from you. So, choose wisely, and get gorgeous for your wedding day.

On the Wedding Day

Soon After Your Engagement or Wedding Proposal Start by determining your wedding date - get an idea of when you want to get married - is it during June (usually the hottest season in Singapore) or December (the rainy season in Singapore)? For instance, an outdoor garden wedding during the rainy season may not be a good idea because you have a higher probability of being rained out! You should also start to think about your wedding theme - indoor elegant dinner reception, outdoor garden or pool lunch reception etc.

12 Months Before the WeddingKnow your budget. If you are not sure of your expenses, start creating a budget as soon as you can. It will help you in keeping within your limits and not overspending. Select your wedding venue. Begin shopping for your wedding bridal gown(s) and groom's suit. If you need to, you can always hire a wedding planner to help you organize your wedding - if you choose to, this would be a good time to select a wedding planner.
If you want to look your radiant best on your wedding day, start yourself on a facial regime. Also be sure to exercise regularly to keep yourself in shape. Watch what you eat. We tend to get a lot of unwanted calories through snacks and soft drinks. If you need to lose some weight, you can engage a fitness trainer to help you achieve your target weight.
8 Months Before Your Wedding Place a booking with the Registry of Marriages (ROM) in Singapore to confirm your wedding date. Decide on your wedding gown - if you are getting it tailored, then you should start working with your designer now. Send out "save the date" cards to your intended wedding guests, and see how many are available to attend. Be sure to send them to your oveaseas guests as they need time to plan a trip for your wedding. Make a booking with your photographer - if possible, ask for a trial photo shoot to see how comfortable you are with your photographer. If not, be sure to see sample wedding photo shots - both studio ones and actual wedding day shots. Book your vendors - make-up artist, florists, videographers, musicians, wedding car, decorators etc. Select members of your wedding entourage - best man, maid of honour, bridesmaids, flower girls and ring bearers.
5 Months Before the Wedding

Confirm your wedding invitation designs, and then begin printing them. Your wedding gown should be fitted and ready for studio photo shoot. Confirm your wedding venue decoration theme and be sure to confirm supplies needed for decoration, such as the flowers, wedding favours. Confirm the menu for the wedding reception with your caterers.
3 Months Before the Wedding Prepare your wedding guest list and mail out wedding invitations. Set the RSVP to three to four weeks before the wedding day. Plan your honeymoon.
1 Month Before the Wedding Finalise the RSVP lists and seating arrangements. But thank you gifts for your parents and wedding entourage.
2 Weeks Before the Wedding Email guests to confirm attendance, and finalise any last minute seating arrangements issues. Arrange for a wedding rehearsal no more than a week before the actual wedding day, or else people will forget what they are supposed to do. Finalise the honeymoon details with the travel agent or hotel.
1 Week Before the Wedding Collect the wedding rings, and be sure they are the correct size. Have your final facial, do not do anything new to your skin now, as you don't want to have an allergic reaction to any new product - stick to what you know works. Pick up your wedding certificate and documents from the Registry of Marriages at the scheduled date.
2 Days Before the Wedding Get yourself and your bridal entourage a manicure and pedicure. And Relax!
On the Wedding Day Leave all the last minute issues to someone else. You don't need to pull out hairs on the very day you are supposed to be at your happiest. And enjoy yourself - you are Queen for the day.

WEDDING GOWNS STYLES OF SKIRTS

This style suits all brides as it disguises the body from the waist and hips down. No matter who you are, it is VERY flattering, when worn with the right style bodice.

These skirts are worn with tulle and/or a hoop underneath. They can also be very heavily gathered or pleated at the waistline. This gives them the poof.
This style of skirt can be made entirely of tulle, with no other fabric. This gives the very soft romantic look. The bottom of each layer of tulle can also be fluted which gives that curly effect, which is really sweet when it matches the fluting on the veil. This is somewhat a young style, but very pretty and classic nonetheless.
A-Line wedding dress

This bridal gown style is very simple and elegant. It too suits brides of all shapes and sizes. The A-Line can be slender and narrow or it can be quite wide, requiring a hoop. You do need to bear in mind, however, the larger your hips, the wider the base of the skirt will be. Remember, you want to create an illusion of being tall and slim. If the skirt is too narrow, and your hips too wide, it will simply draw unnecessary attention to that part of your body.
Princess wedding dresses

The traditional version of this gown is a strapless A-Line. There are now many variations whereby you can have pleats, shoulder straps, and the like. The distinct feature of the princess style wedding gowns is the fitted bodice and waist which continue on to the A-Line Skirt.
This style is very flattering for overweight brides as it is simple and elegant, and this creates the illusion of height. However, to make it work, you need to have some bust. Likewise, going strapless is not the most appropriate option if you are big busted. And, surprisingly, if you are very petite and slim with little or no bust, it most likely will not be suitable as it simply emphasises the fact that there is nothing to you. Fish Tail & Mermaid bridal dresses
The mermaid style is quite fitted both at the waist and the hips; it then flairs out delicately at the base of the skirt below the knee. This skirt will hug very tightly at the waist and hips, flaring out from knee downward.
The fish tail is the mermaid style skirt with an extension of fabric at the bottom of the skirt at the back – effectively a small train. Both styles suit the bride that has a slim to medium build and bust. You can not get away with this style successfully if you are large busted with small hips and delicate backside. You will appear top heavy.
This style is extremely elegant with a low cut back. This emphasises the figure and accentuates the curvature of the back and hips.

This skirt was extremely popular in the 1980’s and early 1990’s. It is very classy and elegant; however, the skirt is simply fitted at the hips and falls straight down to the floor.
You can have an attachment that ties around the waist like a wrap around skirt and this can be your train. This attachment can also be quite puffy so you have the effect of a princess style skirt that is straight at the front. This is very pretty. You can then chose to take the attachment off when ever you chose, and this does add variety to your professional photographs!
Naturally, this style will only suit the bride that has a healthy curvaceous figure. You do not necessarily need to be slim and petite, but you do need a reasonably flat stomach and backside. You will also need a reasonably slim waist as you may find you hang over the edge at the waist, and this will not be attractive.
You may find that you don’t really want any particular ‘style’; you just want a dress that falls softly without having defined structure. This gown would not have any waistline, and would need to be either empire line or seamless, entirely. Whilst being seamless it would still be fitted at the bodice, and would just flow naturally and softly from the waist or hips downward.
This style is very flattering for the bride who is curvaceous but not necessarily slim. This design highlights the curves, and as long as you elect a suitable bodice, this style will be most flattering.

WEDDING DRESS STYLES

Your wedding day will be one of the most memorable days of your life. Work on creating your own style for your wedding, it doesn't have to cost you a fortune to do this. Spend some quite time alone, and picture what you would like your wedding to be. Talk to your husband to be, to get his input and go about creating the picture that is in your mind. You will have the happiest memories of your wedding if you create your own dream wedding and stick to what you want to do.

Wedding dresses Types:
This is a basic guide to wedding dress types, but if you dream up something else, by all means create that dream.

Very Formal
These ceremonies are always held in a house of worship.
Can be 6 - 12 bridesmaids / groomsmen.
Bride wears floor-length bridal dress, a full cathedral train and a full veil.
Bridesmaids wear floor length bridesmaid dress of the same style, they are normally different but harmonising colours.
Mothers wear formal bridesmaid dresses.
The groom, fathers, and groomsmen wear full evening dress, opera hat, and kid gloves.

Formal
These ceremonies are always held in a house of worship.
Can be 4 - 12 bridesmaids / groomsmen.
Bride wears floor-length bridesmaid gown, a full cathedral train and a medium length veil.
Bridesmaids wear floor length bridesmaid gowns of the same style, they are normally different but harmonising colours.
Mothers wear afternoon dresses of shorter or longer length.
The groom, fathers, and groomsmen wear formal wedding gown.

Semi Formal

This ceremony can be held in a house of worship , at home, or at a place of your choosing.
Can be 6 - 12 bridesmaids / groomsmen.
Bride wears ballerina or floor length wedding dress, with a short veil.
Bridesmaids wear ballerina or street length dresses, all of the same length but not longer than the brides.
Mothers wear street length dresses.
The groom, fathers, and groomsmen wear dark business suits.

Informal

All wear street dress.
One maid of honour and the best man.
Small, day time ceremony attended by relatives and close friends. The appropriate dress for a civil ceremony.
Two general rules:
1. All males should wear dress shirts of whatever style; the idea being to compliment the bride's bridal gown.
2. The bride's gloves should have the ring finger split, as tradition indicates that she does not remove her gloves until the ceremony and all festivities she participates in are complete

The Urban Apparel Business

For years, fashion has been a creative and often times necessary outlet for designers. Designers! Creators and fans of ARTWORK, that was designed with the consumer in mind. Clothing companies consisted of a creative director that was a mastermind in coming up with concepts for collections, ad campaigns, and runway shows because they lived and breathed this thing called fashion. Marketing directors who studied the wants and needs of the consumer they catered to, and by keeping the consumer first, was able to execute effective advertising that would lead to an eagerness to purchase because they identify with something. Brand managers that oversaw the design of logos, forming a brand identity to further enhance brand recognition, and to build a loyal following. And of course, there are the interns.

Along this way of fashion, both affordable and affluent, entertainers (whether it be rappers, singers, actors, actresses, etc.) decided they wanted in on the action. $300 billion worth of action! Most notably, urban entertainers. Now, the urban apparel business goes way back! Further back than I really care to go, but let’s just pretend it started with Phat Farm. Once upon a time, it was a relief to see brands catering to the urban community because for so long we were unrepresented, not under represented, UN represented! Gucci, Prada, Diane von Furstenberg, Mary McFadden, Dolce & Gabbana, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Tiffany’s, they were all the rage, but not for us! So besides the cheap, no name brands we would find in bargain stores, and JC Penney brands like Arizona, Mudd and Skechers, we really had no brands to identify with and latch on to. Until the birth of urban apparel.

They offered familiarity in fashion, because for so long we had been left out. They offered a lifestyle we could identify with. There were hoodies, and sneakers, and denim jeans, graffiti, turntables, and it was packaged in pretty little boxes that made us want to treasure it as if it was our first Gucci handbag. At last, fashion noticed us, and we noticed fashion. Then came Kimora, offering us a lifestyle we were largely unfamiliar with. She was in ad’s with maids, and chauffeurs, with private planes, and servants around her. It was aspirational, we wanted to be her. She was offering us something we could relate to and could afford, but fed us her lifestyle through her ad’s, while never going too far over heads.

The urban apparel business was at it’s peak, because they were filling a void. What their high end contemporaries like Roberto Cavalli, Valentino & Versace were doing for the affluent, they were doing for the hood. And it didn’t come in bits and pieces, it was a package! It was clothing, it was music, it was culture, it was a lifestyle.

Then came Rocawear and Sean John, both dropping in ‘99, that offered something totally different than Baby Phat and Phat Farm. They offered urban wear, straight no chaser. They didn’t try to pretty it up (well, not in the beginning, more so now that urban brands are going towards the more contemporary, sophisticated look), it was what it was. Urban. We respected Rocawear, because we respected Jay-Z and Damon Dash and what they were doing for music, and deep down, a part of us wanted to be down with the movement. We respected Sean John, because we bopped with Diddy and dug his swagger, and deep down, a part of us wanted to roll with him.

They romanced us with images of a lifestyle we couldn’t afford. They showed us a different world, through effective advertising and marketing, they gained our loyalty through branding, they appealed to our desperation to stay fresh through creative design, and they made sure we never fell off by making sure retailers like Dr. Jays, Jimmy Jazz, Planet Earth, Against All Odd’s, Demo and Macy’s had the goods in a timely manner. We respected the urban apparel business for making us somebodies, and they respected us. But it became too much with the birth of brands like Apple Bottoms (not to single anyone out but… oh, okay I’m lyin’), where it became less about the people and more about the money. It was no longer a matter of filling a void. I mean, don’t get me wrong, by all means get that paper. But if you’re not adding value to the game, your making it stagnant, and at this point you need to back off! The birth of this brand, and many other urban brands after that, marked the death of the urban apparel business. It was like, “what the f*ck are you doing? What are you trying to package and sell? I don’t want that!”, and with advertising it seemed to be getting worst:

Selling us watered down images of what seemed to be music video stills, capturing the better part of the aftermath of a 15 hour video shoot. We didn’t want it. Ineffective marketing tactics like this, and forgetting the message, contributed to the deterioration and inevitable unraveling of the urban apparel business. With the birth of black exploitation disguised as “marketing”, and “far fetched” advertising, came the death of urban fashion. Just like that! Because like anything in fashion, it’s about current-cy. In this ever evolving industry, where one minute you’re in, and the next you’re out. Where one minute your the hottest thing since heat waves, then the next your irrelevant. When the currents of fashion change, you have to set your sail to go in the way of the wind while still maintaining your point of difference, and they didn’t. And that, boys and girls, is how urban fashion failed. They failed to stay current, they failed to set their sail to go with the ways of the wind, they failed to keep us aspiring, and they failed to keep hope alive. They failed us, so we failed them. Thee end.

Getting In the Apparel Business

A vast majority of talented designers carry an impression that talent alone is sufficient for starting an apparel business. While that may not be true, the fact is that talent and creativity is the basic requirement that one needs to have. Other factors that contribute to a successful line can be learnt, acquired and imbibed.

There was a time in this competitive industry when learning the tricks of the trade meant attaching yourself to a large and reputed design label. Getting into the apparel business only on the basis of talent did not ensure success. While capabilities like conceptualization, fabric analysis, finance management and communication skills are still necessary along with knowledge of apparel design and creativity, today these components of success in an apparel business are easily available for those who are really passionate about showcasing their work.

For those wanting to get into the apparel business the real concept that needs to be understood is that each creation needs to be derived from some inspiration. Translating the inspiration into an apparel design that will catch the imagination of a buyer and compel him/her to buy your product is where the real thrill lies. With technology and various design software that are now available the process of creation, modification and final touches has become far simpler than before. Additionally one does not really have to be an expert artist to be able to recreate creative ideas that emerge in the mind onto paper since user-friendly apparel design software can be used.

Other aspects that those wanting to start a clothing line or a label need to keep in mind relate to the fabric. Fabric analysis, fabric costing and draping are all extremely important. Once the apparel design is on paper (or shall we say, the computer), there is a need to understand the exact fabric that can give the right kind of look when actually created.

Fabric selection actually and truly defines the apparel design. In the apparel business each and every detail must be defined for those who are actually producing your piece. Since the actual production may involve outsourcing, giving detailed instructions to your supplier regarding the material to use, the GSM of the fabric and other technical details becomes extremely important.

All this also needs to be done keeping in mind the current fashion trends since fabrics that are not in vogue are not likely to be picked up by potential buyers. Keeping in touch with the trends in the industry is easily accomplished by reading fashion magazines, building contacts in the industry and of course signing into online fashion portals.

While the apparel design and the apparel are the most important aspects, finance cannot be ignored. The fabrics and cuts need to be chosen so as to make the buyer feel that the apparel design is worth the cost. Other aspects like defining the target consumer for the product, deciding a label name, marketing the label, quality control, credit lines also exist. However, with online help and guidance available online, getting into the apparel business has become far easier than before.

However, this does not mean that starting a clothing line is the easiest thing. There are various steps that you will need to take and just like starting any other business your apparel business will need perseverance, hard work, patience and continuous drive for it to succeed. What you need not worry about is the guidance and the information that you will need along the way. The fashion industry offers excellent opportunities for people looking for an opening in apparel business. A course offered by can prove to be of great help to you in guiding you in every single step in translating your apparel design ideas into reality and starting an apparel business.

Selling Your Own Designs

While many new fashion entrepreneurs spend their time trying to get well-known retailers to carry their designs, they often overlook the advantages of online clothing selling for themselves. There are a lot of online clothing selling retailers, and it’s tempting to want to use the power of their brand to propel your own business. The same is true of brick-and-mortar retail stores. Of course, the best way to be successful is to offer your designs in as many ways as possible. So, instead of just relying on these locations and online fashion stores to move your merchandise, consider setting up your own retail web site.

There are plenty of reasons to sell your own designs, rather than only depending on the online fashion stores; but there are two major ones you should consider. First, it takes very little time to set up a web site and begin selling your designs. With a small amount of work on your part, you can either create your own site or have one built for you. In as little as a few hours, you could have a site set up to do online clothing selling. Compare this to the process required to get your clothes carried by a major retailer. It takes time to find the right company, to set up meetings with its buyers, and to get contracts and processes in place. This is all time that you are not selling your designs. While you should still pursue this angle, you may find that it is helpful to set up your own site to do some online clothing selling during the search for a retailer.

The other big reason to sell your own designs is a financial one. When the brick-and-mortar and online fashion stores sell your merchandise, they are going to take a large percentage of the sale price. If you do your own online clothing selling, you do not have to share the profit with anyone. You can then use that money to grow your business instead of someone else’s. One of the biggest mistakes that new designers and fashion labels make is to ignore the importance of having their own site.

It’s true that you may not sell as many pieces as you would through a bigger retailer, but you could potentially make just as much or more money while selling less. Not only that, but consumers are most likely to look for new designs directly on the clothing line’s web site rather than through the online fashion stores. Additionally, a retail store is only going to carry some of your designs. By creating your own space online, you can showcase even more merchandise and sell more designs than is possible when you only offer clothing through the retailers. Your site is your opportunity to share your entire collection, not just the pieces that were picked up by others.

Getting your line sold by a bigger retailer is certainly not a bad goal. However, it’s not always the most important—or even most appropriate focus. Make your web site your number one goal, and then you will be in a better position to start marketing your clothing line to other types of retailers. Your site should be up and running as soon as word starts to spread about your collection. The moment prospective customers hear about it, you want to be sure they have a way to see it, buy it or even just register their names on your newsletter for later contact if your line hasn’t came out yet. If you have a great name for a clothing line, the first thing you should do is get a domain name for it. Make sure you keep this article in mind when you get ready to launch your own clothing line. Also, for less than $10 you can get from using the link below from godaddy.com. If you need to check out whether someone has a trademark for it first - read this article on how to start a clothing line first.

Fashion Business

The large fashion industry is booming and there is a place for anyone who has talent that can be exploited. However, while there is a place for everyone and various niches that are waiting to be adopted by entrepreneurs, there are various aspects of developing a profitable business model and sustaining it.

There are many talented new entrants to the fashion industry who fail to sustain their fashion business even when they are one of the most innovative and talented designers that are to be found. This is mainly because of the fact that many creative and talented new designers fail to recognize the fact that the success of a fashion business depends not only on creativity and innovation but also on entrepreneurship and a sound business model. A proper business model and finance are perhaps the most common factors that plague emerging designers.

Even thought the fashion business is unique in its own respect, the business model needs to be sustainable, like in the case of any other business. In the fashion industry, it is the conceptualized idea that sells. The focus is to hatch exciting ideas, create special products and designs that enthuse. But all this needs to be done keeping in mind the dynamics of demand and supply and what really excites the customer.

bThe first step is to think of an idea and decide the consumer that you are planning to target. This is likely to dictate the manner in which you proceed with almost all other aspects of your fashion business. The fabrics you chose, the manufacturers you hire, the colors you popularize, the fashion houses and retailers that you tie up with are all likely to be decided based on overall basic concept and the target consumer. For instance, if you are targeting the wedding niche, then you are targeting young males and females who are looking at buying themselves a wedding dress. Accessories, bridesmaids’ dresses and bouquets can then be line extension once you have established yourself. On the other hand, if you are looking at positioning yourself as a ‘green’ fashion label, then you will look at collaborating with other environmentally friendly fashion houses.

Once you have decided the target consumer and the concept, it is time then to create the actual product and designs. This involves creativity, viewing collections of various designers and exploring research ideas. Fashion design is a continuous process that requires developing at least five to six collections a year. The moment one line is complete the next one has to start developing in your mind for your label to move on to the next season.

Trends are extremely important in the fashion industry. It is one industry where you cannot relax and sit on your laurels of the past. The success of a fashion business necessitates keeping abreast with what the consumer is buying. Information to this effect flows in from several sources manufacturer’s representatives, fabric producers and from professional online trend services that sell information regarding expected trends in the coming season. Keeping yourself in the loop may require you to be part of online forums and blogs so that you are aware of what really is being talked about as the next best thing and be prepared for it.

Controlling cost and maintaining quality are critical to the success of a fashion business, as any other business. For this purpose a workable business model should be developed because without good financial planning any business is likely to fail. Boring as it may seem in comparison to apparel design; bookkeeping is important and helps you keep track of finances as well as material that you may send to a contract manufacturer.

Barring a few large companies who prefer in house production, fashion business is largely based on contract manufacturing. A contract manufacturer takes the cut material and sews the garment. Some large companies even ship cut material to overseas contractors to save costs. Maintaining a balance between quality and costs is extremely important as you begin to grow and expand. Supervision, quality control, maintaining a sound retail distribution chain and cost control need to be handled in conjunction with creating new lines for each season.

Contract manufacturing works on the basis of one operator sewing in one piece. That means one operator sews only collars while the other, only sleeves and one sews all the pieces together to produce the finished product. In a modular method a group of operators sew the entire garment. This ensures better quality of the end product. Fashion business that lays emphasis on quality should opt for the garments to be sewn completely by one operator.

The fashion industry is unique, artistic, profit driven and at the same time very demanding. In this industry one person can make a big difference and there is always room for more. The first two years are critical for the success of a fashion business. Without help it may become difficult for new designers to survive in fashion industry.

Success in the fashion business is as easy or as difficult as success in any other industry. Irrespective of the industry that you are entering, it is essential that you understand the unique characteristics of the trade and the industry before you take the plunge completely and sink in the investment. However, the good news is that offers a complete agenda of what you need to know before and after starting your own fashion business line and this includes fashion design, fashion design products like design software, branding, marketing and positioning a fashion label, contacting retailers and getting your line in the outlets, supplier contacts and step by step guidance that ensures success in the fashion industry.