Was it Carrie Bradshaw that once said, “George Clooney is like a Chanel suit, it will never go out of style”? And how true that is. There are simply some timeless icons of fashion that never die. So how do we know what pieces of today are going to be timeless tomorrow? It is true that the future’s best collectibles are sitting in stores today; they will be our future’s “vintage” styles. The truth is, vintage is the latest personal style option that brings with it a true sense of mystery. And it seems that isn’t about to change anytime soon. As trends become ubiquitous and fashion shows are reproducing every price point, buying clothes today that will become tomorrow’s vintage will add value and a cash cow to your wardrobe. So how do you know what pieces today will be valued tomorrow? Well as I said earlier, Chanel anything is a good start. Have a look at any of Chanel’s Fashion Week or fashion shows and you can see just how timeless these pieces are. You also want to look into collecting items that you have seen on celebrities. Big Sunglasses AKA the Olsen twins and Nicole Ritchie. Any gown or designer made replica of famous events – Halle Barre’s Oscar winning gown for example. You also want to try and find pieces of famous “last collections”. Tom Ford’s last Gucci collections are going to be rare and hard to find, but collector’s pot of gold. Another way to determine exclusivity is by purchasing from up and comers. If you can support an emerging fashion designer, you will not only have a chance at buying something unique, but if they break into the business like a Tom Ford or Stella McCartney then owning one of their first pieces will be another great vintage find. Also, if you can find out how many of a particular piece has been produced, do so, the fewer pieces produced the more exclusive the item. These limited edition items will be absolutely priceless in 5-10 years and more. Lastly, if you have found a decent source for good vintage collectibles, don’t tell anyone. Chances are there is someone out there just like yourself looking for vintage fashion clothes. Good luck! Oh and by the way…definitely not vintage are the latest Mens Clothing and Mens Designer Clothes by many top-designers I have seen lately. But later more about that.

June 13th, 2007
Categories: Fashion News, Latest Trends . Author: designerfashion . Comments: No Comments

We women need to help our men out because sometimes they just don’t get it. It’s ok, we are genetically coded to know what does or does not look good on a man. If you are male and reading this however and don’t have a woman to help you with your choices, these tips on men’s fashion may steer you in the right direction.  That’s not to say that men don’t know what they’re doing, I’ve seen many men that know how to dress far better than some women. But let’s face it, there are a few of you out there that need a little direction.  These are the first little baby steps you can take to start ensuring you are a well-dressed man.

Socks and sandals – don’t do it. That’s all I am going to say, this unwritten fashion rule has been made officially public. I don’t know who decided that was cool to begin with, but it so isn’t.

Novelty Ties – again, big no no. This can be extended to novelty shirts and boxers.  There is nothing novel about this, these cartoon adorned pieces just make you look like a kid, and we will accordingly treat you like one.  Sorry, put those away, no wait, throw them out all together.

Blaring Designer Labels – ok, women can be just as guilty here. It is cool to wear a signature piece; it is not cool to ensure the whole world knows you are doing so.

Shiny ANYTHING – no.

Loose Fitting Clothes – in a word, these translate into sloppy. And unless you are an established rap or hip hop professional with a contracted label, in a word, sloppy.

Bad Colors – Next week we will talk more about what colors you guys should be wearing, but for now, go with, if it makes you look sick, turf it.

June 13th, 2007
Categories: Fashion News, Mens Fashion . Author: designerfashion . Comments: No Comments

There does seem to be a designer label everywhere you turn these days. There are designer clothes, shoes, bags, accessories and sunglasses and now there are designer mobile phones. The Prada phone by LG is the first result of the collaboration between LG Electronics and the renowned maker of designer bags, Prada.

Screen size isn’t everything, but it does turn a few heads when designer mobile phones such as the LG Prada are in use. Besides an above average design of thin, smooth, and black features; the Prada is most noted for its three inch screen size. With many innovative features packed in, the LG Prada can easily claim to be one of the best designed mobile phones today.

Most touch-screen mobile phones can be cumbersome to use, since they require a stylus to be used. For most of the population a stylus is too small to keep without losing it constantly. This can cause a lot of headaches if you’re not careful. The LG Prada solves this, with an innovative approach to touch-screens, as the user’s finger can do everything a stylus could. It is much harder to lose a finger than a stylus so it is unlikely the touch-screen will ever become a problem.

Despite the Prada being a touch-screen mobile phone, playing games on the LG Prada is perfectly easy, which provides light entertainment while you’re waiting at an airport before jet-setting off to your next tropical holiday. The Java platform is supported, so downloading popular Java games is no problem for gamers. Programs, music, and games can be easily shared through Bluetooth and USB technology.

The LG KE850 Prada packs a little extra punch that makes it above average. The ability to view and work with Microsoft documents such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and others makes productivity both possible and efficient. Flash support is another great feature that extends the value of the Prada. All in all this is a great mobile phone for those who enjoy a little extra entertainment and style.

June 12th, 2007
Categories: Fashion News, Fashion Accessories, Fashion Glamour, Latest Trends . Author: massex . Comments: No Comments

Manolo Blahnik started his career in shoes in the Seventies and he continues today to be an iconic fashion designer of beautiful and timeless designs. Today his shoes are synonymous with glamour and sex appeal and the shoes themselves are as notorious as the women that wear them.

Manolo Blahnik was born in 1943 in the Canary Islands and lived on a banana farm. He started studying architecture and literature at the University of Geneva, but moved to Paris in 1968. Two years later he found himself in London working briefly as a photographer for the Sunday Times where he immediately fell in love with fashion. Here he made friends with Paloma Picasso and Eric Boman a photographer. On a trip to New York in 1971, he met Diana Vreeland, the then editor-in-chief of US Vogue. At that point, Blahnik wanted to design in theater, but after showing Vreeland his sketches and she had admired the shoes he had on, she convinced him to “concentrate on the funny little things on the feet”. We can all thank Vreeland for being so successful in convincing Manolo Blahnik, or we would not know what his shoes are today.

His first collection was for Ossie Clark in 1972, and since then his shoes have graced fashion shows and fashion week for a large number of fashion designers. In 1973, he opened Zapata, a boutique on Old Church Street in London that saw regulars such as Bianca Jagger, Marie Helvin, and Jerry Hall. He became somewhat of an uncle to Bianca’s baby Jade Jagger and would visit frequently and even change Jade’s diapers.

Contrary to popular belief, it was not Sex and the City that put Manolos on the map, but rather Marge Simpson. In 1991she wore a pair of his mules during an episode of The Simpsons. It was not long after that for his shoes to take on ‘supporting roles’ in Sex and the City and Absolutely Fabulous.

He is a true craftsman with an eye for detail, and he plays a role in the creation of every design – from his own ad campaigns that always highlight his drawings. During his 30 year career his shoes have become sought after and yet his business is very small with only two boutiques – one in London and one in New York. He has been named Accessory Designer of the Year by the British Fashion Council in 1990 and 1999, and also has honorary doctorates from the Royal London College of Art and the Royal Society of Arts in Britain. In 2003 he received an exhibition of his drawings at the Design Museum in London.

June 8th, 2007
Categories: Fashion News, Fashion Designers, Designer Shoes . Author: designerfashion . Comments: No Comments

designerfashion.biz found a really great website for an extremely hard item of leathergoods. If you are looking for one or more elegant cheque book covers, you should take a look at cheque-book-covers.co.uk. They are providing a huge selection of some of the best quality cheque book covers online. You can also find some interesting folding versions. I browsed the site and,  unbelievable but true, found some of the most stunning cheque book holders available. All that gets only topped by an incredible price. These fashion accessories are affordable, which is even more rare than the item itself.
If you are really interested you will be happy to hear, that these great products will be delivered fast and with a 14 day money back guarantee. If you are a lucky one, you live in the U.K., than shipping is free.

June 8th, 2007
Categories: Fashion News, Fashion Accessories . Author: designerfashion . Comments: No Comments

When it comes to fashion design, fashion shows, fashion week, and clothes in general, a lot of industry terms get thrown around with the expectation that we know what these couture big wigs are talking about. In the world of high fashion, there are three main categories of clothes that are created – haute couture, ready-to-wear, and mass produced (also known as “off the rack”). When you are watching fashion week or the fashion shows, you will hear the first two terms used quite frequently, and the mass produced types of fashion are going to be found in your American Eagle, Juicy Couture, Gap, or Hollister type stores. What do these terms actually mean? Haute couture was the type of fashion that predominated until the ‘50’s and was “made to measure” and literally translated from the French means “high needlework”. This kind of fashion could be made specifically for one client. All haute couture items will be one of a kind, you won’t see them on anyone but the person that is wearing them. Nowadays, this term is protected in that it can only be used by companies that meet certain standards set by Chambre Syndicale de la Couture. Many companies claim to produce haute couture, but use it as a marketing ploy. A couture garment is made to order for one person, and is generally made from high-quality fabrics with extreme attention to detail and finish. The cut and the fit are the priority. Ready to wear items are a cross between haute couture and mass market. They are not made individually, but the cut and fabric are exquisitely chosen. Items are made in small quanities to ensure exclusivity and they are expensive. These are the items you will find at Fashion Week. Mass market or off the rack is what the fashion industry relies on for wide spread sales. Less expensisve materials produce affordable fashion. The end product is sold at a much lower cost. Nowadays, many high-end designers are turning to mass market sales to increase their bottom line. This is why you can buy Ralph Lauren “off the rack” at a specified Ralph Lauren store, but not pay the ready to wear prices for it. Another example would be Proenza Schouller launching their Target lines.

June 8th, 2007
Categories: Fashion News, Fashion Industry . Author: designerfashion . Comments: No Comments

Born in 1962, Tom Ford hails from Austin, TX and spent most of his life in Santa Fe, NM. As a teen, he moved to New York City and attended New York University studying art history. He then moved to the famous Parsons School of Design in both New York and Paris, and concluded at Parsons in New York. Here he would hang out in Studio 54 meeting A-listers and writing his papers and designs on napkins. In 1990, he got his first break with a move to Milan and being hired at Gucci as the women�s wear designer. 1992 saw him become the design director and in 1994 he became the creative director at Gucci. This made him responsible for designing all lines from clothing to perfumes, as well as for the Gucci image, advertising, and store design.

In 2000, Gucci acquired the Yves Saint Laurent group and Ford became the creative director of this segment of Gucci. At this point he was creative director of both YSL and Gucci designing and positioning both brands, product categories, and communications. In 2002 he was named vice chairman of the management board, and in 2004 he resigned from the Gucci Group after a buyout from Pinault Printemps Redoute.

Following this, Tom Ford branched on his own and has just recently opened a new menswear store in New York. You can find the three-story flagship at 854 Madison Avenue, and you won�t be able to miss the huge brass nameplate signifying his solo creation. The couture you will find here is strictly Ford`s personal style, and the second floor itself is an entire floor dedicated to the bespoke design.

His success has been recognized through four prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America (1996, 2001, 2002, and 2004), five VH-1/Vogue Fashion awards (1995,1996, 1999, 2002, and 2004), Best Fashion Designer TIME Magazine and many many more. In March 2004 Tom Ford received a Rodeo Walk of Style Award for his contributions to fashion and film, and in 2005 he received the Andre Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

June 6th, 2007
Categories: Fashion News, Fashion Designers . Author: chrissie . Comments: No Comments

Designerfashion.biz does not get tired persuading you, that pink is the color of the year. We had an article about The Must Have Pink Fashion Accessories 2007 as well as an article about the hottest colors this spring. Now we found something new. A website that features only pink luggage and we also fell in love with Aerosmiths Pink.

But OK, coming back to the pink luggage website. It`s a site specifically made for all you pink-lovers, for all you true girlies out there with a wide range of luggage, suitcases and purses with pink as pimary colour . Encompassing cases ,travel bags and vanity cases. They have it all. I can only hope you are from the U.K. because the offer free delivery for all orders within the United Kingdom.

June 1st, 2007
Categories: Fashion News, Fashion Accessories, Handbags & Purses, Latest Trends . Author: chrissie . Comments: No Comments

It is next to impossible to buy uniform sizes in women’s fashion. And this angst is not limited to either the robust or the petite figure, it is one shared by any body type. The unfortunate matter in today’s clothes is that labels and designers do not follow uniform sizing charts. At best, you will find close proximities to standard size charts. Ask any woman what size is in her closet and I can bet you will see a variety of sizes in clothes that all fit the same woman, at the same time. And sadly, this matter is true whether you are purchasing from a fashion designer, or off the rack. Here is a classic example. As I write I am currently wearing a pair of Hollister shorts, size 3 / 4 . I also just purchased a Ralph Lauren strapless dress, size 7. Both fit me perfectly. And I have a host of other items in my closet that range across these sizes and beyond. It is aggravating, and I know I am not the only woman suffering this. For the longest time it has been thought that larger women are the only ones suffering from size anxiety. The fact is, it doesn’t matter what your size is, (and who knows if that is the real one anyway) you need to rethink how you purchase your clothes.

Men’s clothing is so easy to figure out. They go by measurements, and they purchase accordingly. Well no flipping wonder it takes them three times as less time to shop! We have to mutter and groan and squeeze and pull and tug and take 5 different sizes into the dressing room with us until we find the one that fits, well, as closely as possible. Because unless you have a personal tailor on hand, women’s clothes are just not going to fit as perfectly as much of the time because our bodies are so different. Put ten women in a room that are the same “size” and I can guarantee you that you will find a host of different measurements. So that is the key that you need to tap into. Buy according to your measurements, and not according to what mythical size someone told you that you were. Doing this in-store is going to be trickier. But if you purchase your clothes online or through catalogue, buying clothes will be a snap because every company and every catalogue is going to have a sizing and measurement chart. They are required to because you are purchasing the clothes sight unseen, sort of. Since I started buying clothes this way, I have a near perfect fit every time. Which explains why my closet is not full of 7s where some fit and some don’t. So, as much as it STINKS to take those measurements girls, before you make those purchases do the standards – inseam, bust, hips, and waist. And purchase accordingly. If you are going to the mall, bring your tape measure with you. Who cares what people think, YOU are the one that has to be seen in these things.

If you don`t want to stress yourself with sizes, just buy accessories like a fine pair of Radley Handbags. But whatever you do, whatever you buy - Good luck!

May 31st, 2007
Categories: Fashion News, Fashion Shopping . Author: designerfashion . Comments: No Comments

Anna Sui (pronounced Swee) was born in Detroit in 1964 to immigrant parents. She started her iconic career at a young age by clipping out pages from fashion magazines and filing them away in her “Genius Files” that were her source of inspiration during her entire career. It was during her senior year where she obtained a full scholarship to attend Parson’s School of Design in New York City. During this time she networked and developed a friendship with Steven Meisel, a man currently recognized as an industry leader in fashion photography.

After Parson’s, Sui began work with minor sportswear corporations and her business grew through the 1980’s. It was in 1991 when she launched her own runway show for the first time, and 1992 when she risked her own line in her first boutique on Greene Street in New York’s SoHo District. The red floors and purple walls of this little store parodied her preference for flea market furnishings and mannequin doll heads. Her relatives now say this store became the icon of culture in a fashion world that is continually changing. In 1997, Tokyo launched Sui’s first free-standing boutique and her second the same year in Osaka. It did not take long for Sui’s career to catapult after this with a resulting 200 independent locations through all of Japan. As a result, the Anna Sui Corporation has become a leader in Japan’s exclusive luxury fashion. This same year, Anna Sui Shoes debuted on the fall runways. This collection worked both day and evening styles in fabrics that only Sui could work on shoes – velvet, patent leather, silk, suede, and sherling.

The next year, Sui went Hollywood with her first boutique in Sunset Plaza and boutiques then went international cropping up in China, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong. In 1999, we saw Sui launch her cosmetic and fragrance line. Since then her fragrance line has exploded to include Sui Love, Sui Dreams, Dolly Girl, and most recently, Victoria’s Secret “Secret Wish”. By 2006, Anna Sui had over 506 international independent boutiques in 26 nations and her fashion empire was valued at well over $400 million. She is listed in the top five of this decade’s fashion icons by Time Magazine, and continues to produce signature collections in her New York City headquarters. This year, the Twinkle by Wenlan and Betsey Johnson dresses are Anna Sui’s signature pieces, and you will soon see the Sui Phone, as she has been contracted through Samsung to design their next cell phone.

May 29th, 2007
Categories: Fashion News, Fashion Designers . Author: chrissie . Comments: No Comments