Archive for August, 2009

Plus Size Clothing: It Is Time For The Fashion To Realize The Changing Size

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

Most models and fashion designers are not people who are touched by obesity. There are many people in the general population that struggle with their weight and need to purchase clothing in larger and larger sizes. It is time for the fashion designer and the industry as a whole to look into this growing need.

There is a growing problem and it is obesity. Estimates show that about half of all women are overweight or obese. This percent is even larger for women who are middle aged, where almost two thirds of them are overweight. The number of teens who are overweight is also increasing. The results of the increasing number of people who are overweight is a growing market for clothing plus size and bigger.

Indeed, the fastest growing market segment in the business is for plus size clothing . However, the fashion industry has yet to fully meet this demand. There is consistently a lag in fashion trends before they reach the plus size market, and even when they do they are merely sized up or scaled versions of clothes designed for skinny bodies.

The response to this is size inflation. This is the term used by the industry observers. Simply put, a garment that used to be size 14 is now a size 10. Consumers do not address the real concerns while feeling smaller in size. Plus size fashion clothing as dissatisfied customers as a result.

The good news is that changes are on the way. For the first time since World War II, a consortium of clothes manufacturers, led by American plus size clothing makers, has conducted a huge sizing study for women. This way, they can be sure that clothing that they make will fit the women of today. There are some plus size only fashion shows and plus size models, but their numbers are still limited.

The epidemic of obesity is running on showing no signs of decreasing. It actually appears as though it may be increasing, at least during the near future. The fashion industry is well aware that this trend is occurring and they are beginning to capitalize on the trend. Plus size clothing stores and fashions are no longer a niche market, but rather are quickly becoming the standard size for a large portion of today’s consumers. This new reality should, and will, quickly become reflected in high fashion, with plus size fashions being designed specifically for this market.

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Men’s cardigans: a new fashion revolution

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

The cardigan has long been a staple item of clothing in the wardrobe of many a woman – but, while cardigans have always been a unisex staple of knitwear, the men’s cardigan has recently experienced a fashion resurrection. In fact, the men’s cardigan is one of this year’s most essential male fashion items.

But this trend of male cardigans is nothing new. Famous male cardigan wearers throughout the twentieth century have included a range of personalities, from the American comedian Bill Crosby and the British comedian and TV presenter Simon Amstell, to the renowned children’s writer Roald Dahl and even rock legend Kurt Cobain.

In fact, the Cardigan was first named after James Thomas Brudnell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan, who was a British military commander during the Crimean War; since this time the cardigan has always been worn by both sexes. The male cardigan even made the headlines in the twentieth century, when the outspoken Bulgarian-born broadcaster and dissident, Georgi Markov, was involved in an attempted assassination – a poisonous pellet was saved from entering his skin too deeply because he was wearing a very thick woollen cardigan!

2007 sees a range of men’s cardigans transform a range of men’s fashion outlets – from the catwalk to designer boutiques and top high street fashion stores. Whether you’re looking for a smart cardigan to adorn a formal outfit, or you’re more interested in finding a stripy cardigan to complete an effortlessly casual look, 2007 is the year to enhance your wardrobe with cardigans!

This season’s collections sees many top fashion retailers in the UK take their influences from the Beatnik era of the 1950s and 1960s, with strains of Parisian chic and jazz-soaked fashion penetrating the Spring/Summer 2007 look. Casual cardigans were a large part of the sophisticated image perpetrated by both well-known French philosophers, like Jean Paul Sartre, and legends of the American beat generation, Jack Kerouac and William Boroughs. If this is the look you’re going for this season, then make sure you invest in some stripy cardigans or plain woollen cardigans for maximum effect.

And as the summer fast approaches, cardigans could also form an essential part of your festival fashion wardrobe. In fact, the men’s cardigan is one of the most flexible and adaptable items of clothing a man could own. For instance, a cardigan can be worn loose during the day over a t-shirt for a chic but informal look; however, paired with a skinny tie, smart trousers and formal shoes for an effortlessly stylish evening look. So make sure you’re not left out of this year’s men’s cardigan revolution and give yourself the freedom to adapt your look!

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Is A Jessica McClintock Prom Dress Right For You?

Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

While a Jessica McClintock prom dress is very beautiful you need to be sure it’s right for you. After all, designer prom dresses aren’t cheap and there are plenty of other fashion houses to choose from. So, before buying, have a review, and make sure that a Jessica creation is right for you.

Jessica McClintock has been designing prom dresses since 1969, when she founded her fashion house in San Francisco. Since then she has picked up many prestigious awards and is a favorite designer for many girls looking for a unique and beautiful prom gown.

The current collection is broad, encompassing all styles – many fashion houses like Tiffany and Joli specialize in one or two styles. The company designs and makes more traditional designs with full length tulle skirts, but it is the shorter designs that are more interesting and mark out this fashion house.

The short skirt styles are perhaps a little further removed from Prom than other styles but each dress can be summed up with two words; romance and elegance. This combination runs right throughout the collection. You won’t find the more avant-garde styles of say, an Xcite prom dress; Jessica’s designs will appeal to modern, confident girls who aren’t afraid to stand out from the crowd, but still want an air of romance in whatever gown they wear.

Despite being a sophisticated fashion house, prices aren’t as high as you might have expected. A Jessica McClintock prom dress can be bought for as little as $120. Of course, depending on the fabric used, the quantity used and the type of cut, the prices can go as high as $500.

You can’t buy the gowns directly from the company, but the company’s website has a store locator so you can easily find your nearest boutique. Also, you can easily find and buy a Jessica McClintock prom dress online. If you do order online, remember that just like wedding dresses, prom gowns are about a size smaller than a normal dress. Most online sites have a measuring guide; by just following the instructions provided you should have no problem in ordering a gown that is going to fit perfectly.

Although this really has no bearing on whether a McClintock gown will suit you better than other fashion houses, the dresses are entirely made in America – around the Bay area as a matter of fact.

A real plus point in buying a Jessica McClintock prom gown is that the company makes a pretty comprehensive range of accessories, so getting the entire look is made so much easier – no need to tire yourself out running around looking for those all important accessories to complement your gown. You can even purchase your Prom perfume from the company. Why more fashion houses don’t design accessories for their gowns is a mystery to me. So much time and effort goes into choosing the perfect dress and then you have to spend even more time in finding the accessories; it would make life so much easier if you could buy the accessories that were specially made to go with the dress.

Choosing to wear a Jessica McClintock prom dress is choosing to wear a gown that oozes elegance and romance; if this is what you’re looking for in a gown then one of them could be just right for you.

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