Italian Fashion Designer "Versace"

Versace is one of the best known Italian fashion brands, and for good reason. Its founder, Gianni Versace, and its torchbearer, Donatella Versace, have made the brand the epitome of rock-star glamour, decadent style, and in-your-face sexiness. Wearing Versace has become the signature style of the glitterati. With the passing away of Gianni, the brand may have lost its continuous association with theatre and art, it remains a formidable force in the world of fashion. No red carpet is deemed complete without a few contributions from the legendary brand.
Versace as a brand was the brainchild of Gianni Versace, who was born in Reggio Calabria on December 2, 1946. His mother was the family’s main provider, tailoring clothes to make a living. This meant that both Gianni and Donatella were exposed to tailoring techniques and designs from their childhood. Gianni used to help his mother as she embroidered dresses, finding gold braids and precious stones for her. He eventually began designing garments himself, which sold from his mother’s dressmaker shop. After a stint studying architecture, he left for Milan in 1972. Here, he took on freelance designing for Italian labels like Genny, Callaghan and Complice. He designed the first leather collection for Complice in 1975, and found a lifelong fascination for leather as designer clothing material. Encouraged by the response his work received, he presented his first collection of womenswear in 1978 in Milan, and followed it up by his first menswear collection the same year. This was also the year the first Versace boutique opened, at the Via della Spiga. His style which celebrated excess, and took equal amounts of inspiration from Italian architecture, theatre, and the Miami beach life, set the ramps on fire.Gianni had an unerring sense of style, and a hunger for image, which gave him a spurt of growth seldom seen in the fashion world. Not only did he prove his mettle as a costume designer for Italian theatre, he also excelled at playing couturier to Hollywood, and to stars in the UK like Elton John and Madonna. Princess Diana was one of his more illustrious clients. His success soon culminated in the first of a series of awards in his career: "L'Occhio d'Oro" for the best fashion designer of the 1982/83 Fall/Winter collection for women. Gianni went on to win this award a few more times. This was also the year he formally entered into a collaboration with the famous Teatro alla Scala.By this time, Donatella had already joined the Versace brand, primarily in a PR role, but she went on to become his muse, inspiration, and favorite critic. Born in 1955, she was almost a decade younger than him but the two shared an extremely close relationship. Gianni said of her, "If my sister wants to do something, okay. If she doesn't like a sketch, I will cancel it." Donatella’s role in the company grew to a point where she was given the responsibility for designing the new line,Versus. Gianni Versace named a perfume, Blonde, after her to celebrate Donatella’s famous artificially blond hair
Donatella had her finger on the pulse of the youth, and was able to clue her brother in on the needs of a fashion-hungry new breed. She is widely credited for introducing supermodels in a group on Versace ramps, and began drawing celebrities like Madonna and Demi Moore to endorse the Versace brand. Versace clothing soon graced the red carpet, and the brand eventually won over celebrities like Brad Pitt, Jamie Foxx, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Lopez.While Donatella Versace was taking the brand into new realms through her advertising, Versace himself was reaching stratospheric heights in the fashion world. His contribution to the world of art and fashion was recognized by Chicago's National Field Museum, London's Royal College of Art and the Kobe City Museum in Japan. His business acumen was not far behind and he was relentlessly spinning off diffusion lines for his collections. 1989 saw the establishment of the Atelier Versace, which catered to an ultra-high fashion segment. Then came the aforementioned Versus, meant for cute young things. The classic Signature line was launched in 1991 and the Home Signature came out in 1993. It was also in 1993 that Gianni received the American Fashion Oscar awarded by the Council of Fashion Designers of America.Versace’s creed became: “Style makes sense only if it is your own.” Hundreds of sharply dressed men, and sexily clad women in nightclubs around the world echoed that sentiment, making Versace a bigger success than ever. Sensuous, revealing silhouettes and an aggressive chic became part of Gianni Versace’s design ethos, and this was best epitomized in the unforgettable safety-pin dress worn by Liz Hurley to the premier of Four Weddings and a Funeral in 1994.The brand almost received a death blow when Gianni Versace was gunned down at his own doorstep in 1997, by a serial-killer. Overnight, the company lost its guiding light, and the subsequent collections for that year were cancelled. Some of the biggest luminaries of the fashion, music, and high-society attended Gianni’s funeral, and tributes have been made to his name each year since.
It was Donatella who picked up the reins of the company as its creative director, and gave it a new lease of life. It was not always easy and the profits of the Versace company dipped before they picked up again after the turn of the century. Donatella gathered herself together, successfully battled addictions. She then began to use her famous connections and her inner style instinct to regain and even supersede the heights to which her brother had taken the brand.
Donatella retained the legacy of Gianni in the sharp, revealing, often embroidered silhouettes. But she also tuned the brand into recognizing the needs of the modern career woman, who needs to transform from smart office wear into glam evening wear with very little notice.
The collections became more varied, and while there were still shocking pieces like the neckline-below-the-navel dress Jennifer Lopez wore to the Grammy Awards in 2000, the tone of the Versace line became more subdued, less explicit.Penelope Cruz wore Versace to the Academy Awards in 2007, but it was a subdued monochrome affair. Despite the wealth of embellishments, Atelier Versace seemed to be moving in a simpler direction with more emphasis on materials used and pattern cuts than embroidery. This was amply proven in the Spring 2009 couture collection, which created quite a buzz in Italy and the U.S. As she said in an earlier interview in 2006 with Harper’s Bazaar: “....... you can’t leave your style the same as it always was and so I try to ‘feel’ the trends and make them work for Versace. I’ve taken away ornaments, obvious expressions of sexiness, sheer things, showing legs, breasts. Everything is covered and subtle and that’s my way to go in a new direction.”
The fashion world is apparently taking notice. Donatella Versace won the Superstar Award by the Fashion Group International in 2008. She has done a great job, carrying forward the Versace label in new directions while maintaining Gianni’s legacy.

Introduction about Dolce & Gabbana

Domenico Dolce was born in Polizzi Generosa near Palermo, Sicily on August 13, 1958. He was very young when he started his career as a designer in his father Saverio's small atelier. Stefano Gabbana, of Venetian origins, was born in Milan on November 14, 1962, and after studying graphic design turned his interest to fashion.In 1982, after having spent two years working as assistant designers they decided to work for themselves and opened a design studio. The two were united by the desire to express and communicate an unusual and extremely personal taste, much of it inspired by Dolce's Sicilian origins.Their first break came in 1985 when they were among the three chosen names to present their collections in the new talents category at the Milan shows. The duo made a big effort and the press and buyers present at the show did the rest. The name, representing a new generation of "Made in Italy", soon became famous all over the world. First success gave them confidence to pursue their own vision of fashion, gradually expanding, and avoiding offers of easy money for licenses before they were sure of their moves.They both work extremely hard making their own paper models, prototypes and accessories, following their sales, shows, public relations and advertising campaigns. Their vision and personalities are stamped on everything they do. Their philosophy is reflected in their work. Dolce & Gabbana's fashion has "real" women in mind; it is sensual and austere, and clearly draws inspiration from Mediterranean colours and culture. The fabrics preferred include lace, wool, and silk. In 1987 they moved into a larger showroom.In 1988, Dolce & Gabbana signed an agreement with the Onward Kashiyama group and started distributing their designs in Japan. The previous year their first knitwear designs was launched. 1989 marked the first lingerie and beachwear outfits, followed by a menswear collection in 1990. Dolce and Gabbana signed further agreements to design the Complice line for the Genny group. Next come the boutiques, first Milan, then Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei and Seoul.Becoming one of Madonna's favorite fashion houses certainly didn't hurt the team, and they designed a number of costumes for her to wear in one of her world tours. In 1992 Dolce & Gabbana launched a perfume which won the 1993 Perfume Academy International Prize for the best female fragrance. Their two latest lines include Dolce & Gabbana Basic, sold only in Milan, which covers a wide variety of their classic designs, and D & G aimed at the younger generation, both in style and price. Dolce & Gabbana had g ross sales of 178 billion lire (calculate $1=1600 lire) in 1994 and projects an income of 280 billion lire for 1995. These figures also include the D&G and D&G jeans brands.

Designers:Dolce & Gabbana

Dolce & Gabbana celebrates the voluptuous woman and the metro-sexual man. The Dolce and Gabbana woman glories in her curves and her inherent sexuality: Madonna is the brand’s most famous muse. Being one of the world famous singer's favorite designers helped Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana immensely on their climb up the ladder of success. Together they have designed a great many costumes for her to wear in her world tours. And their work just keeps getting better.
Domenico Dolce was born on August 13, 1958 in Polizzi, Generosa (near Palermo, Sicily). He got an early start in the fashion design business working for his father's small company. Stefano Gabbana, of Venetian origins, was born on November 14, 1962 in Milan. He began his academic career studying graphic design but soon turned his attention to his real love, that of fashion.
Both men spent two years working as assistant designers but eventually decided that they wanted to start their own design studio. They made it happen in 1982. They both had an interesting and eclectic mix of ideas to bring to the clothes they designed and it was believed (and still is) that Dolce's ties to Sicily inspired many of their fashions.
This dynamic team got their first break in 1985 when they were among three names chosen to present their collections in the new talents category at the shows held in Milan. Their work was met with much praise and admiration. Before long, Italian fashion, a new generation referred to as "Made in Italy", became world-renowned. Dolce and Gabbana were convinced they had a unique approach to fashion and their first success gave them the confidence to move forward with their designs and expand as they saw fit.
The unique vision of the duo is evident in all of the clothes they make, clothes that have "real" women in mind. This team does not make clothes that just look good on models on a runway; instead they want women from all different types of backgrounds, cultures and lifestyles to enjoy wearing their fashions.The designs of Dolce & Gabbana draw inspiration primarily from Mediterranean colors and culture. The clothes are not rigid or unyielding, but instead cheerful and sensual, bringing into fashion mainstream silhouettes and fashions like satin corset bodies, black hold-up stockings and fishnets, which were so far only part of cabarets and exotic clubs. The post-feministic women who are confident in their own abilities and not afraid to appear sexy have lapped up the Dolce and Gabbana creations in lace, silk and wool. Both men put everything into the work they undertake, imbuing it with a sort of passion and dedication that has helped them create a multi-million dollar fashion empire. They make their own paper models, prototypes and accessories; they follow their sales and shows very closely, as well as their public relations and advertising campaigns. Theirs is a "hands on" business in the truest sense of the word.
Another major success came for Dolce & Gabbana in 1988 when they signed an agreement with the Onward Kashiyama Group and began distributing their designs in Japan. This allowed them to break into a relatively untapped fashion market, up to that point. Their first knitwear designs were launched the previous year and in 1989 they came out with their very first lingerie and beachwear outfits, closely followed by a menswear collection in 1990. To say they were on a roll was an understatement. Further agreements were signed to design the Complice line for the Genny group. But it didn't stop there- following on the heels of their agreements was the boutiques they established, first in Milan, then in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei and Seoul.
Dolce and Gabanna Fashion Accessories, Italy
Dolce & Gabbana launched a perfume in 1992, which won the Perfume Academy International Prize for the best female fragrance the following year. In 2008, the perfume Light Blue Pour Homme became the "Best Men's Fragrance" judged by the Acedemia del Profumo and the U.S. Fifi award.The two latest fashion lines to come from these multi-talented designers include Dolce & Gabbana Basic which covers a wide array of their classic designs, and the abbreviated D & G which is geared towards the younger set, in relation to both style and price. Dolce & Gabbana has come a long way in the last 25 years of its existence. Its contribution to fashion in terms of original styling, fantasy, and irony in equal measure will keep the cash registers ringing for a long time to come.

Fashion Faux Pas in Itlay

With hot summer weather here and lots of people visiting Italy, there comes the age-old question of what to pack. What, in the land of fashion and “la bella figura,” will be acceptable to wear in Italy? Is it okay to wear the denim cutoff shorts, flip-flops and baseball cap I wear at home, or will I be forced to wear stilettos mini-skirts just to keep up with the fashionable Italians? As you might imagine, the answer is somewhere between those two extremes.
Truthfully, you can pack and wear whatever you want in Italy - your usual weekend wardrobe isn’t going to get you kicked out of most informal restaurants or museums (although immodest dress will get you turned away from most churches) - but it really is smart to think about what you are wearing and alter it slightly when visiting Italy. You’ll fit in better, and feel more at home.
Of course, I should say at the outset that no matter how hard I try, whenever I go to Italy I always feel out of place. Let’s face it - I’m a wannabe Italian, and will probably never really achieve the goal of looking like I fit in, as much fun as it might be to try. The husband and I make a policy of buying at least one clothing item (shoes count) on every Italy trip, and the unwritten rule is that if we see everyone wearing something in particular, we’ll buy it - even if, at the time, we don’t think we’ll end up liking it. So far, we’ve not been disappointed by a single purchase.
So, here are a few tips for men and women who want to steer clear of the shorts, white tennis shoes and ball caps - in other words, for the people out there who want to try to look less like a tourist and more like you know what you’re doing.

Men’s WearUntil 2004, I had never seen a pair of shorts on an Italian man who wasn’t playing soccer. Even in summer, men wore long pants (albeit made of linen or some other lightweight material) and nice-looking leather sandals, if it was a casual setting. Last summer, however, what the husband and I called the “man-pri” made their first appearance, and they’ve been going strong ever since. They’re not shorts, and they’re not trousers, but somewhere between - they’re usually baggy and stop at mid-calf, like a woman’s capri-pant. I couldn’t convince the husband to get a pair, but I’d recommend it to any man willing to take a fashion leap. They’re worn with t-shirts and sandals or fashionable tennis shoes. If you’re not ready for the “man-pri,” stick to long pants - khakis or linen pants are best in the summer when it’s hot, although you can certainly get away with jeans at any time of year. If you must bring shorts, make sure they aren’t too short, and remember to wear knee-covering and shoulder-covering clothing when you visit churches, as many have a dress code. There’s no need to do only button-down dress shirts, although if you’re planning a night at a nicer restaurant you will feel more comfortable if you bring at least one along. Otherwise, polo shirts or nice t-shirts are perfectly acceptable.
Women’s WearLadies, let me assure you that unless you’re planning to really go all in, you’ll never quite achieve the look you see around you. But you are a tourist, even if you’re trying not to look like one, so stilettos aren’t practical for all-day walks around a city or museum. You can still look stylish, just don’t try to compare yourselves to the Italian women you see. It’ll just be disappointing. (Trust me, I know from personal experience.) 2006 was the first time I saw women wearing shorts in Italy, and it was only younger women (college and under) and with an extraordinarily odd choice of footwear - nearly knee-high cowboy boots. In summer. Crazy. Still, shorts were available and being worn. They weren’t short-shorts, they went almost to the knee, so if you want to bring shorts you might opt for longer ones to begin with. But Italian women by and large wear skirts or dresses in the summer with sandals or heels. Skirts are a fantastic option in hot weather, as they provide a natural “air conditioning” that shorts don’t, and if the skirt goes below the knee you can walk into most churches without worrying about your knees showing (some churches don’t like ankles showing either, so be sure to check). Tank tops or shoulder-baring tops are perfectly fine in the summer, but bring along a wrap or light jacket for the times when you want to see a church with a dress code.
Really, the bottom line is to remember that while it’s fun to try to fit in and dress like a local, you’re a visitor and you’ll never get it perfect in a two-week vacation. Will people look at you funny if you’re wearing shorts? Maybe. But will you see these people again after a few days visiting their city? Probably not. Above all, your clothing has to be travel-comfortable, or you’ll be miserable.
Besides - the Italians have had centuries of practice to look as good as they do. The rest of us are still playing catch-up.

Fashion In India

Fashion in India has become a growing industry with international events such as the India Fashion Week and annual shows by fashion designers in the major cities of India. The victories of a number of Indian beauty queens in International events such as the Miss World and Miss Universe contests have also made Indian models recognized worldwide. Fashion designers such as Ritu Kumar, Ritu Beri, Rohit Bal, Rina Dhaka, Muzaffar Ali, Satya Paul, Abraham and Thakore, Tarun Tahiliani, JJ Valaya and Manish Malhotra are some of the well known fashion designers in India.
Fashion in India covers a whole range of clothing from ornate clothes designed for wedding ceremonies to prêt lines, sports wear and casual wear. Traditional Indian techniques of embroidery such as chikhan, crewel and zardosi, and traditional weaves and fabrics have been used by Indian designers to create Indo-western clothing in a fusion of the best of East and West.
Traditional costumes in India vary widely depending on the climate and natural fibres grown in a region. In the cold northern state of Jammu and Kashmir, people wear a thick loose shirt called a phiran to keep them warm. In the tropical warmth of south India men wear a sarong like garment called the mundu, while women drape 5 meters of cloth around their bodies in the graceful folds of the saree. Sarees are woven in silk, cotton and artificial fibres. Kanjivaram, Mysore, Paithani, Pochampalli, Jamdani, Balucheri, Benarasi, Sambalpuri, Bandhini are some varieties of beautiful sarees from different regions of India. In the dry regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat men wrap and twist a length of cloth in the form of a dhoti around their lower limbs and a shirt-like kurta above. Colorful turbans complete the picture. In the northeastern regions the tribal communities such as Khasis, Nagas, Mizos, Manipuris and Arunachalis wear colorful woven sarong-like clothing and woven shawls that represent the identity of each tribal group. In urban India the salwar kameez and the churidar kameez, are commonly work by women and the saree is worn on formal occasions. Men wear kurtas and pajamas, or a sherwani for formal wear. Western wear such as shirts and trousers are commonly worn by men across India. Jeans, T-shirts, capris, bermudas and various kinds of casual clothing are worn by the young and the young at heart, who are the trendsetters of fashion in India.
Fashion in India is continuously evolving as new designers from leading institutes such as the National Institutes of Fashion Technology continue to redefine the meaning of Fashion in India.

Indian Clothing

Civilization brought in clothing, but over the years, its not just civilization that provokes us to clothe ourselves. Now every second person has gotten fashion conscious. So they dress to belong. In India the variety of clothing available can make one buy wardrobes to be in vogue. Every season or every 2 months fashion has changes its identity. Indian clothes vary from the conventional sari and salwar khameez for women to trendy western wear like skirts, pants and dresses. For men, traditional would be the dhoti, kurta, leggings, sherwani or the modern, shirt and pant. Indian is rich in resources like cotton and other raw clothing materials. Hence there is a huge export market that lies in the country. Its only when you get your hands on the export surplus that you will find excellent quality.

Clothing from India includes baby suits to tops, skirts, shirts, trousers; everything gets exported in the best of material available. No doubt it has earned its name abroad and exports have always added to the country’s GDP. The excess from the export is then circulated in the country. In the new millennium a huge foreign investment hand in clothing is visible, especially in the metropolitan cities. So the clothing in India available ranges from Rs. 100 that you get from the roadside markets, around Rs. 300 in local shops and then anything above Rs. 500 to Rs. 2000 in branded shops. So it all depends on your taste for clothes and how much you want to shell out. Clothes are a woman’s prerogative as the options for her outlast the options available for men.
However Indian clothing for women differs in different regions. After all clothing is indirectly related to customs, cultures and traditions. So every few kilometres that you cover in India you will have a difference in cultures and clothing. Down south, women mostly wear saris, younger girls wear sharara types skirts with matching tops with typical south Indian borders. In the north it’s more of salwar khameez, in the west again its sari and salwar khameez, while in the east its traditional full dresses.

In cities and towns Indian women’s clothing are more liberal. They prefer branded clothes and shop according to their usage. Shopping is a delight for any woman, but when it comes to shopping for a wedding everyone has a voracious appetite. The market for Indian wedding dresses is huge. Women normally buy heavy hand worked saris that range from anywhere between Rs. 3000 to Rs. 10000 and more. They shop for the different occasions they have to attend, while men too do a good amount of shopping for weddings. It could either be the traditional sherwani or a tailored suit. Besides this heavy monies are invested for accessories and jewellery.

While previously a master weaver was recognized for his skill, today a fashion designer is celebrated for his or her creativity. Young urban Indians can choose from the best of East and West as Indian fashion designers are inspired by both Indian and western styles. This fusion of fashion can be seen on the streets and ramps of the fashionable cities of India. Fashion in India is also beginning to make its mark on the international scene as accessories such as bindis (red dots worn on the forehead), mehendi (designs made by applying henna to the palms of the hands and other parts of the body) and bangles, have gained international popularity, after being worn by fashion icons like the pop singers Madonna and Gwen Stephani.

Italian Fashoin Designers

Many Italian fashion designers that manage to change the way people all over the world dress with their creations.They shows their creation and art in the events. Events like the “Milan fashion week” and “Rome fashion week” are great occasions for Italian designers to show their work, and let fashion creators from all over the world find inspiration for their own creations.
As an Italian fashion passionate, you’ll find this website very useful.Through the fashion of Italy you’ll learn to decide which fashion accessories fit you best. You'll find fashion tips which, if you take them into consideration, will change your life for the better. You think you have to best in the occasion or event, after all, we live in a world where appearance is a pretty important factor in social interaction.
It is well known that the italians are the most important fashion creators in the world. Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Fendi, Missoni, Robe di Firenze, Silver Chianti, Sogni D'Arte, Tagliamonte are the well known Italian Designers in the world. Their designs are followed by the well known people in the world. They are know for thier designs in the world.

Italian Fashion In Winter

There is already that nip in the air, and fall has set in. Before winter dons your world in a coat of white, you might as well hurry up and pick up your own coat for the season. Or, if you are like me, you would choose in plural: coats! Yes, I am a believer in glamorous coats that beat the brutal cold but still manage to make the wearer look hot. Protection from the weather does not necessarily mean saying goodbye to glamour, and in a season that doesn't offer any skin-baring options, well designed coats can do the trick. And should you take my word for it, some of the best coats styles in the world are set on Italian ramps.

One of the perennial coat styles that comes out with new variations each season is the military-inspired line: epaulets, high collars, natty belts, all the works and more. Something in the mind of fashion gurus likes to twist these war-like, usually male attire into wickedly alluring stuff for women.
I say more power to them, because it sure does make women look awesome. Check out some of the styles that went on the Italian ramps for this fall. The button-studded khaki French look from Dolce and Gabbana, and the belted beauty from the house of Fendi, that nips in the waist and lengthens the torso.

And of course there is always the seasonal staple, the trench coat, which has been in fashion for as long as I can remember. From practical rain wear to fashion statement, trench coats have come a long way. They cover up but do so with elegance or pizzazz depending on the color or styling you choose. Bright fall colors like the Forzieri on the right here can put a spring in your step even on a cold, gloomy day. Of course if you prefer the classical type, you could go for this smart, muted khaki number that would look gorgeous for a normal day at work or a day spent around the skating rink.

Any of these trench coats can carry you through the season, and to my mind it is important to invest in a very good piece. These will never go out of fashion, so it makes sense to invest generously in one. Check out Roberto Cavalli's interpretation of the trench: luscious printed velvet, fur and a stunning gold belt cinch, perfect for the diva in you, especially in case money is no object!
You could also go for a cropped trench version with big collars that are such a rage this season. Deceptively simple, they give you that no-nonsense air. But combine them with black leggings and they give you a hint of hidden mystery. Or wear it with a skirt that just peeps underneath for that uber-cool semi-casual look. Best in a shorter length, like the Fendis in sober beige, sumptuous black velvet and the kimono-sleeved black with the wide, nipping belt, these cropped trenches are the ultimate in smart, go-getting Italian outerwear this fall.

How to Dress Italian Style

In a country where police uniforms are designed by Armani, it isn't surprising that the women take dressing very seriously. When I moved to Italy, I desperately wanted to look like I fit in. If you're planning a trip to Italy soon, and don't want to be pegged as a tourist, there is one important thing to remember. The objective of Italian dressing is not to blend in.Italian women take great pride in putting themselves together - "la bella figura". To show off your best features is the idea, so to blend in you must strive to stand out, which might sound like an oxymoron. Once you get your mind around this however, you already know the secret. But where do you begin to acquire that special Italian flavor? In a nutshell, here are a few key ingredients:
1. Shoes- Nothing makes or breaks a look like footwear. Leave the tennis shoes for tennis and the walking shoes for the park. Spice comes from style not comfort. The hottest designs could conveniently incorporate pointed toes and high heels in the same shoe for maximum discomfort.
When shoe designers create such shoes it is doubtful they concern themselves with practicality. If they had, they would not have manufactured four-inch heels for streets paved with cobbles. Credit goes to the women promenading in these shoes: not wincing, not complaining and not watching where they step. It is a wonder that they never seem to look down and never get their heels caught between the stones.When I asked Simona, who runs a pensione with her family, about shoes, a huge smile crossed her face. She proudly showed me one of her favorite pairs, which just happened to have pointed toes and high heels. I asked if they were comfortable and she immediately shook her head and the smile disappeared. When asked how she walks in them, she replied, "S-l-o-w-l-y."
2. Denim- Jeans have been a wardrobe staple for years, but do you have the "new-aged" ones? "New" meaning trendy and "aged" meaning they have gone through some kind of ageing process - perhaps being chaffed with a cheese grater or sandblasted. They might also have been seasoned with a dash of bleach or a teaspoon of glitter.
To modify your old jeans, go to your nearest piazza and scoot around on the steps for a related effect. Wait! When it comes to jeans, you can't forget the fit. The leg should start out a bit wide and taper near the calf. The jeans must actually become part of the body from there on up. Denim jackets and skirts are important too. The key is for the fabric to appear as if it has more years on it than you do.
3. Crystal nose stud- What once was bizarre is now considered mainstream. This garnish is not what you would see in small-town America maybe; but, this is Rome, not Little Rock. Hip mommies have them. Simona has one and remarked that having it done did not hurt at all.
4. Avoid routines from abroad- Despite having these three basics, you still risk being taken as a tourist if you cling to certain routines from home. Painted fingernails mark you as a foreigner given that nail polish is only applied for very special occasions. Sun hats or baseball caps are dead give-aways, as is showing too much skin.

5. Subtlety-"Italian women love to look sexy and it is very important for men to notice them on the street," says Simona. But this doesn't mean overt nakedness. Italian women suggest a subtler brand of sexiness by keeping their bodies fit and wearing slim-cut clothing. For example, visible brassiere straps create a look that tries not to be one. The idea is to let your bra strap show but not look like you're trying. It can't be a dingy, elasticated, old-fashioned bra strap either. Care must be taken to purchase a new bra with transparent plastic straps. Yes, transparent, because you don't want what is supposed to show to show too much.

6. Adaptation- Each fashion season comes with its set of theme-based looks. Italians have an uncanny ability to choose styles that flatter their figure. Strive to cover your flaws and flaunt your assets, and you will be dressing like an Italian in no time.

Trends are fleeting and new ones will be sprouting up by the time you read this. So how, you may be wondering, can Italian women afford new wardrobes each season? Cristina, an Italian friend, explained that "it isn't necessary anymore to buy the expensive, designer brands." In fact, she said it is considered hip to wear "knock offs." She even heard a celebrity claiming on television that she had purchased counterfeit designs. Sporting fakes may not be such a great idea, though, considering that an overwhelming majority of Italians believe in superb quality and original products.

Regarding the issue of the money required to stay with the trends, Cristina added, "A lot of women work but still live at home with their parents, allowing them extra discretionary income." Some women go for shops that sell last year’s fashions at a discount, pick up well-fitting designer clothes in classic shapes and then update the look according to current trends through suitable accessories. Italian style also has a lot to do with ingenuity.

Rome has scores of inexpensive shops carrying today's fashionable styles. With the proper ingredients, you can be confident (even if not terribly comfortable) that you too can master the secrets of Italian dressing and cut a bella figura. In bocca al lupo, donne!

Ornaments of Indian Fashion :

Nose pin: More common than a nose ring, both are symbols of purity & marriage, though today many unmarried Indian girls wear this adornment.

Necklace: These are very popular fashion accessories across India amongst girls and women of all ages. Necklaces are made of a variety of materials, ranging from glass beads to gold and diamonds. One special necklace is the mangalasutra, worn only by married Indian women. It is the Indian equivalent of the western wedding ring. Traditionally a woman wore it during her wedding ceremony and took it off only if her husband died.

Bangles: Worn on the wrist, bangles are believed to be protective bands and women always wore them as symbolic guards over their husbands. As with other ornaments, bangles today are worn by women of all ages all over India and are made of silver, gold, wood, glass, and plastic, among other materials.

Ear rings: Rings, studs and other ornaments worn in the ears are popular all over the country. In fact, a girl's ears are usually pierced before her first birthday.
Other important ornaments are finger rings, toe rings and anklets. Rings for the fingers are again, of various materials and designs and worn by unmarried and married women. Since the ring has become a common adornment, it is no longer considered a symbol in Indian marriages.

However, toe rings and anklets are still worn mostly by married women. Ornaments for the feet are usually made of silver because gold, being a 'pure' metal, was not supposed to be worn on the feet.

This privilege was given only to women of royal Indian families.
In addition to these ornaments is the 'mangatika' or 'tikli'. This ornament, worn at the top of the forehead in the parting of the hair, is usually a small pendant on the end of a chain that is clasped to the hair. Although traditionally this ornament was also worn as a symbol of marriage, today it is not so commonly worn even by married women.

Kajal or Eyeliner : From the time a child is six days old, its mother applies kajal to its eyes and also a small black dot on the forehead to mar the child's beauty. This 'imperfection' is said to protect from evil.

Sindoor : dot on forehead of woman indicating married status of Indian Women, power, protection for her husband. It is applied by the husband as part of wedding ceremony.

Indian Fashion

Ancient Indian fashion garments generally used no stitching although Indians knew about sewing. Most clothes were ready to wear as soon as they left the loom. The traditional Indian Dhoti, the Scarf or Uttariya, and the popular Turban are still visible India and continue to be part of Indian fashion. Likewise, for women, the Dhoti or the Sari as the lower garments, combined with a Stanapatta forms the basic ensemble, and once again consists of garments that do not have to be stitched, the stanapatta being simply fastened in a knot at the back. And the Dhoti or the Sari worn covering both legs at the same time or, in the alternative, with one end of it passed between the legs and tucked at the back in the fashion that is still prevalent in large area of India. Indian men and women for these garments in the usually hot Indian climate. - dhoti when he speaks of 'turbans used for trousers', and a kaupina when he is speaking of 'a rag of two fingers' breadth bound over the loins.
Indian sari remains the traditional clothing of Indian women. Worn in varied styles, it is a long piece of flat cotton, silk or other fabric woven in different textures with different patterns. The sari has a lasting charm since it is not cut or tailored for a particular size.
This graceful feminine attire can also be worn in several ways and its manner of wearing as well as its color and texture are indicative of the status, age, occupation, region and religion of a woman.
The tightly fitted, short blouse worn under a sari is called a choli. The choli evolved as a form of Indian clothing around the tenth century AD and the first cholis were only front covering; the back was always bare.
Another popular attire of women in Indian clothing is the Indian salwar-kameez. This popular Indian dress evolved as a comfortable and respectable garment for women in Kashmir and Punjab region, but is now immensely popular in all regions of India. Salwars are pyjama-like trousers drawn tightly in at the waist and the ankles. Over the salwars, women wear a long and loose tunic known as a kameez. One might occasionally come across women wearing a churidar instead of a salwar. A churidar is similar to the salwar but is tighter fitting at the hips, thighs and ankles. Over this, one might wear a collarless or mandarin-collar tunic called a kurta.
Though the majority of Indian women wear traditional Indian dresses, the men in India can be found in more conventional western clothing like shirts and trousers.
However, men in Indian villages are still more comfortable in traditional attire like kurtas, lungis, dhotis and pyjamas. Indian dresses & styles are marked by many variations, both religious and regional and one is likely to witness a plethora of colors, textures and styles in garments worn by the Indians.
Use of Gold in Indian Fashion: For this reason, some gold ornament is usually worn against the skin at all times. Indian Gold ornaments are popular because the metal is believed to have the power purify anything it touches.
Ornaments of gold and other metals, often combined with precious and semi-precious gems and beads, are popular with both men and women in India.
Traditionally, Indian ornaments had economic significance for women too. The ornaments given to her at her wedding constituted a daughter's inheritance from her father ( Dowry).
Customarily land and other property was divided among the sons, though this no longer holds true. In addition, a bride's ornaments were financial security throughout her life.

Today's Hot "Italy Plans Fashion-Industry Bailout"

While the Obama administration cooks up (boring) bank and auto bailouts, Italy is planning a bailout of its fashion industry. Italian minister of economic development Claudio Scajola promised to present the "first interventions" to help Italy's fashion industry by the middle of the month. Last month the Italian government approved a stimulus package of about $2.54 billion to help the auto and domestic-appliance sectors, ignoring the fashion industry. Head of Italy's Chamber of Fashion Mario Boselli would not stand for this and called out the injustice. “I can understand helping the automotive industry but wouldn’t fashion deserve the same, if not more, consideration than the furniture industry?” Boselli told WWD. The fashion industry in Italy employs around 80,000 people and is home to 30,000 distribution companies. Revenues in the Italian fashion industries were down 4 percent for 2008, with things getting especially bad at the end of the year. It's also sort of an image booster, only proving that Europe is infallibly more glamorous than we are. Even their bailouts are chic.

Past View of Italian Fashion

The story of Italian fashion began on 25th February 1951 when Count Giorgini staged a fashion show for an international audience in Florence.André Suarès wrote that “fashion is the best form of farce, though nobody laughs because everyone takes part”. Dress has always been regarded as a means of self-assertion in society, an instrunment of personal confirmation and an important means of communication for individuals and peoples. It is also the language of desire: a game of flirting glances and emulation that talks about the evolution of costume, of modesty and of imagination over the centuries; erotic motivation is therefore a dominating impulse that determines one’s choice in clothing.
Giorgini rekindled the myth of the noble classes by opening up his palace for fashion shows, providing a fantastic, courtly setting steeped in history for the presentation of fashion collections. Members of the nobility themselves were often the ones who wore the dresses, for obvious reasons: only these princesses and noblewomen, ladies or misses, could, by their eductaion, customs and culture, wear these fine clothes properly, and would end up presenting them in the courtly rooms of their own abodes or in museums alongside sculptures of fame, the epitome themselves of beauty. Cinema too was influenced by Italian fashion: a classic case was the wedding of Linda Christian and Tyrone Power in 1949 for which the bridal dress was chosen in Rome. All of this went towards creating a stereotyped yet realistic image of the Land of the Beautiful, of Art and of Love. Dress took on the role of a charm for just like in ancient fairy tales, it was the magic means that made transformation possible.
In the Sixties everything changed: social roles and status changed in these years of protest and industrial boom. It was now clearly understood that through dress every woman could share the magic and interpret the myths of her own time, meaning that dress had now to be seen as creation and design. New styles in manufactured garments came onto the market and women across the world began to dress stylishly at a low cost. International acclaim for Made in Italy fashion reached its height with the triumph of “Prêt-à-porter” in the Seventies and Eighties when Milan became a fashion landmark, continuing through into the current trends of recent years inspired by avant-garde art and cultural movements of the XXth cent.: from Haute Couture to “Prêt-à-porter”, from the mini-skirt to blue jeans, fashion advances in a tireless process of regeneration and alternating of styles.
To sum up, the story of Italian fashion unwinds like a fairy tale for its purpose is fundamentally different from that of fashion in Paris, London or New York. For Italians, fashion is an instrument of social redemption whereby class is determined according to what one wears; elsewhere all of this is inconceivable: beyond the confines of Italy, fashion is only a tool for confirming social status.

“Fashion is the best form of farce, though nobody laughs because everyone takes part.” Fashion has always attracted people and dressing in one's own style gives one a self identity in the crowd. Italian Fashion has been a landmark in the history of fashion. Italian fashion took its course from the finely dressed women in Italy. Education and culture of Italy had great influence over the fashion scenario of the country. Fashion also influenced many costumes and dresses in Cinema. Italian fashion reflected Italy as a land of art, beauty and love.

Italian Fashion

Elegance is in the Italian blood, and most Italians would unhesitatingly give up comfort in order to achieve it. Italy is a nation that cherishes outward appearances. Yes, it is great if you have a good heart, but Italians would expect you to have well-groomed hair, an impeccable sense of dressing and a really neat pair of shoes besides. So it is no wonder that some of the world's best sartorial artists are from Italy.
Starting from one of the pioneers of modern fashion, Elsa Schiaparelli, to the modern czar of extravagant opulence, Roberto Cavalli, Italian fashion has had it all. Italian men and women have had some of the best fashion visionaries watching over what they wear; be it clothes, perfume, shoes, jewelry or hair, for almost all of the last century.
The privileged Italians have had names like Brioni and Zegna look after their work wear, and the house of Valentino to call upon when they needed clothes for that real special occasion. Armani has been at hand, letting Italians know that they can be subdued yet elegant, as has the house of Versace which has given a new meaning to glamor. Diesel is a world conqueror in a category all its own, and the likes of Prada, Missoni, Ferragamo, Ferre, Bottega Veneta, Damiani and Bvlgari are discussed in hushed tones of awe in fashion circles across the world.
And for the everyday lives of stylish Italians, there has been the eponymous Zara, and countless other names strewn across Italian cities that continue to take pride in making men and women beautiful. Hollywood has paid homage to Italians and their sense of dressing: for the past few decades most of the glitterati on the red carpets are clad and bedecked in clothes and jewelry made in Italy.
Fashion is almost a national passion, and to see the latest trends one need only glance around the various piazzas, restaurants and streets. Interestingly, these are trends worn to show off the best of the wearer, and imperceptibly conceal any flaws: individual Italians for the most part follow trends that suit them. Besides, few fashion conscious Italians would go for something trendy that is not also durable, classic and genuine.
A svelte Italian woman striding down the cobbled streets in the latest ultra-high wedges without missing a step, hair flying in the breeze, epitomizes an attitude almost all Italians have: of dressing with care and confidence, but seeming artless. And this attitude can only be achieved through a tradition of seduction and refinement handed down through generations. Italians love to show off, but mostly in an individualistic, understated way: while their clothes fit, they still allow room for sensual movement.
For Italians, it is not about clothes at all. Italian fashion is actually all about an attitude; an attitude of custom-made, fluid, sophistication.

An American Style

Under a big sky, the back of a straw-haired girl in jeans snapped by Ryan McGinley graces billboards across Manhattan for Levi’s new ad campaign, which reads: this country was not built by men in suits. We couldn’t have said it better. As we put a cork in the champagne age and all its giddy excesses, a grassroots countermovement is stirring in the fashion world—from the forests of North Carolina to the shoals of Alabama, the desert ranches of Arizona, and even the beaches of East Hampton. The aesthetic? Pure American heritage in all its wholesome, can-do glory.
Harvesting pine flooring from a cotton gin in Louisiana and antique furniture from his home in Florence, Alabama, mens- and women’s wear designer Billy Reid put down his Southern roots in NYC at the Bouwerie Lane Theatre this year, with one of seven new stores (Charleston, South Carolina; Nashville; Charlotte, North Carolina; Dallas; Houston; and Florence) he has opened with the relaunch of his namesake label. A player on the men’s design scene in the ’90s, Reid decided to move from Manhattan, where he lived for two years, to Florence after September 11, and now returns with smaller production runs and an emphasis on the environment and country lifestyle behind his clothes. His painstakingly decorated shops embody every charming detail of Southern gentility, including mismatched china and vintage pocket squares; racks of deconstructed poplin and gingham shirtdresses; riding boots (women’s footwear is new for fall); and distressed leather jackets.
Unlike other designers who do Southern charm, Reid’s connection stems from a childhood spent in a shop much like his own. “My mother had a boutique in the small town in Louisiana where I grew up, and it was just like Steel Magnolias—there was always food, parties, and people,” he says. In this way, Reid, whose wife’s family has been in Florence for more than 50 years, has stayed true to his roots. The music lover hosts two-day-long shindigs for the town, offering moonshine, boudin balls (a delicious treat made with rice, pork, and spices), and live performances by his favorite Dixie bands (including spontaneous sets by his own, the Seersuckers) at his new store on the town’s main drag. He even posts photographs of the locals on his website. “You’ll see a sweet old man walking down the street in a seersucker suit he’s had for 30 years, and you say, ‘Damn, that guy looks good,’ ” Reid says. “That kind of good-lookin’ tradition can’t help but hit you.”

Fashion & Style

Fashion is the style and custom prevalent at a given time. In its most common usage however, "fashion" describes the popular clothing style. Many fashions are popular in many cultures at any given time. Important is the idea that the course of design and fashion will change more rapidly than the culture as a whole. Fashion designers create and produce clothing articles.
The terms "fashionable" and "unfashionable" were employed to describe whether someone or something fits in with the current or even not so current, popular mode of expression. However, more so in the modern era items termed 'not so current' may indeed fit into the term 'Retro.' Retro fashion allows rule shifts, such as 'old is suddenly new,' thus fashionable. The term "fashion" is frequently used in a positive sense, as a synonym for glamour, beauty and style[citation needed]. In this sense, fashions are a sort of communal art, through which a culture examines its notions of beauty and goodness. The term "fashion" is also sometimes used in a negative sense, as a synonym for fads and trends, and materialism.
There exist a number of cities recognized as global fashion centers or fashion capitals. Fashion Weeks are held in these cities where designers exhibit their new clothing collections to audiences. The main five cities are Tokyo, London, Paris, Milan and New York - these five are renowned for their major influence on global fashion and are headquarters to the greatest fashion companies. Other cities, including Los Angeles, Berlin, Rome, Osaka, Toronto, New Delhi, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Dubai, São Paulo, Melbourne, Moscow, Madrid, Singapore, Seoul and Shanghai also hold fashion weeks and are better recognized every year.a