A successful future in the fashion design industry depends on the right choice of school to attend. Although fashion design is not one of the more popular careers to pursue, if your talents lie in this field, there is ample opportunity awaiting you. However, the first thing to hurdle is your choice of school.

When choosing a fashion design school, consider the following factors.

Area of Focus

Look into the nature of the school. Is it solely a fashion design school or does it offer other courses. Is this school well-known for its emphasis on fashion design?

Fashion design schools are few and far between. This makes it harder to choose one that fits your bill. Your first task will be to find a reputable school that will aid you in your training.

Also, look into whether the school participates in any fashion design competitions or has accomplished anything of reknown in the industry. This is a sure sign of their commitment to the fashion arts and its education among students.

Different schools have different strengths, find a school that plays to your strengths and has specializations in the field of your choice.

For example, you might choose a very well-known fashion design school only to find out that they specialize in childrens' clothing, while the field of your choice is adult formal wear. This could diffuse your interests, and dull your specialization.

Make sure you know what field the school you are scouting focuses on. This will help you specialize in that area too.

Alumni and Job Placements

Does the college offer job placement assistance? And has the alumni from this school gone on to be successful professionals? Always learn from other's previous experience. If you see that those that had gone through this school before you received proper training and are successful in their field, that is an indication of a good school.

Most of these reputable schools have numerous connections in the graphic arts industry. They usually offer job placement services. You may want to consider this when choosing a school.

It would do no harm to start looking at the educational background of your admired fashion designer. Checking out the schools they came from will give an idea of the sort of training these artists went through. From here, you may make decisions as to whether you would like to choose the same school as they did.

Curriculum

You must assess whether the curriculum is relevant to you field of study. You may want to compare the curricula of different schools to see which offers the best form of education.

It would also be wise to check the quality of the teaching staff at that school. Having established artists who teach at a fashion design school is also an indication of a good training program.

Student to Teacher Ratio

Ask yourself: how big are the classes and how many teachers and classes are available at this school before you choose it. The more the students, the lesser the efficacy of the teacher. However, if there are too few students per teacher, that could tell of a different problem - that of quality. If this is the case, it may be that the school is not popular or is suffering from anemic academic performance.

Accreditation

Accreditation means the school has passed certain standards of educational quality. Accreditation is performed by the U.S. Department of Education. Fashion design schools must be accredited to prove their level of competence.

Check with the State Postsecondary School Licensing Bureau to see if the college you are investigating is accredited. Also, check the National Approval and Accreditation for this concern.

Cost

Some people may proclaim that to obtain their education, they would spare no coin. Unfortunately, it also pays to be practical in your choice of fashion design school. If the school you choose has a tuition rate that is beyond your financial capability, you might find yourself working and unable to pursue your studies consistently due to the financial stress which may lead you to look for part-time work.

Scholarships

You might want to consider whether the design school you are looking at offers any scholarships. You also might want to know the terms to them too. Some schools offer scholarships based on academic performance. Some offer them based on fashion design competitions they hold regularly.

Your choice of school is an investment that will last you a lifetime. Proper care and investigation in choosing such is truly important. When you are comfortable with your choice of fashion design schools, you can now chart your path towards a successful career.

The fashion industry is ignoring the changing shapes of women's bodies, a study claims today. Designers and manufacturers still insist on making clothes that fit the traditional hourglass figure, when women's shapes are more likely to be top-heavy, rectangular or pear-shaped.

The research found that although only 8 per cent of women now had the sort of hourglass figure flaunted by curvaceous 1950s film stars such as Sophia Loren, designers and manufacturers continued to make clothes to fit a slim-line version of that figure.

Of the 6,000 women's body shapes analysed, 46 per cent were described as rectangular, with the waist less than nine inches smaller than the hips or bust. Just over 20 per cent of women were bottom-heavy "spoons", or pear shapes, with hips two inches larger than busts or more, while almost 14 per cent were "inverted triangles" - women whose busts were three or more inches bigger than their hips.

The study, by the North Carolina State University, was based on data from a two-year study of American body types, SizeUSA. It was commissioned by Alva Products, a manufacturer of designers' mannequins determined to force the industry to design clothes for the majority rather than the minority of women.

Janice Wang, the firm's chief executive, said: "The majority of retailers are designing clothes for people with an hourglass figure." She added that industry standards for size measurements were out of date. "That needs to change if the industry wants to serve the markets they currently aren't reaching."

The fashion house Liz Claiborne has taken note. David Baron, a vice-president, said it would introduce "gradual changes" to eventually provide "better-fitting" clothes.

Although the study concentrated on American women, its implications were relevant for British women, Ms Wang said, because eating habits and lifestyle meant the shapes of women in the two societies "mirrored each other".

The British fashion designer Katherine Hamnett agreed that women who did not conform to a svelte size 10 continued to be neglected by fashion.
"The fashion industry ignores the true size of women at its peril," she said. "As to why they do, stupidity is the only reason I can think of. It is the result of adhering unthinkingly to a tradition."

And the idea that larger women are not the ideal to design for is a myth. "I have measured film stars who have 42 inch hips, and are still getting a lot of work. It is not how fat you are, it is whether you are fit that matters. People can be beautiful when they are any shape or size."

Breast enhancements and other types of cosmetic surgery could influence the findings, Ms Hamnett said. With breast enhancements likely to create the "inverted triangle" body type, the popularity of cosmetic surgery means there are new shapes that are less likely to be affected by diet or exercise.

The findings concur with a similar study of British women, SizeUK, published late last year, which found that the average woman's waistline had expanded by six inches since the 1950s.

Carried out by University College London and the London College of Fashion, the study found that women and men had shot up and out, with today's woman taller, with a bigger bust and hips than her 1950s counterpart.

Hourglass

Exemplified by the actress Sophia Loren, only 8 per cent of women tend to have equal hip and bust measurements with a narrow waist

The spoon

Just over 20 per cent of women, like Jennifer Lopez, have a pear-shaped figure, where the hip measurement is larger than the bust

Rectangular

Forty-six per cent of women fit this shape, where the waist is less than nine inches smaller than the hips or bust. Mel C is a good example

Inverted triangle

Another modern outline, where the bust is bigger than the hips. The swimmer Sharron Davies is one of the 14 per cent who fits this shape

LONDON (Reuters) - Supermodel Kate Moss underlined her durability in the notoriously fickle world of fashion on Friday with a commercial for phone operator Virgin, just three months after a cocaine scandal threatened her career.

The 31-year-old was dropped by several fashion houses after pictures allegedly showing her snorting cocaine appeared in a tabloid in September, but since leaving a drug rehabilitation clinic the following month she has launched a comeback.

"Kate Moss is an icon," said James Kydd, brand director of Virgin Mobile.

"We are thrilled that she has agreed to appear in our latest commercial," he said in a statement, which added that the advertisement will feature Moss poking fun at her own public image.

The advertisement, which first appears on British television on Christmas Eve, includes a rare speaking role for Moss, who has adorned countless fashion magazine covers in her 17-year career as a model.

Moss, who has a 3-year-old daughter, has also just appeared on the cover of French Vogue, one of fashion's most prestigious publications, with the title "Scandalous Beauty".

She was made guest editor-in-chief for the latest issue, a decision that was made in the summer but which the magazine honoured despite the scandal. It is issuing four different covers of the December publication, all of them featuring Moss.

Moss, whose gaunt features ushered in the "heroin chic" fashion style of the 1990s, did not admit to the cocaine allegations made against her, but did issue a short statement after the scandal broke apologising to people she let down.

The allegations prompted British luxury fashion house Burberry and Swedish-based fashion retailer Hennes and Mauritz to sever ties with one of the most famous faces in fashion, raising doubts over whether she could continue a successful modelling career.

France's Chanel also said they would not renew their contract with her when they expired.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White in London and Caroline Brothers in Paris)

(Independent News and Media) - It takes considerable chutzpah to persuade Paris Hilton, draped with £2m of diamonds, to strut down a catwalk at London Fashion Week. Julien Macdonald, whose autumn/winter show opened the five-day event last night, has got a knack for publicity stunts, and this was one of his most impressive. After all, London Fashion Week is the place to spot up-and-coming young designers, but rarely celebrities.

Coincidentally, last week at the New York collections a Paris Hilton impersonator managed to slip into a glitzy Versace store opening party on Fifth Avenue. It is a coincidence because while Macdonald may have had the genuine article modelling on his catwalk at the Freemasons Hall in Covent Garden, his collection - one-shouldered silk jersey gowns with jungle prints and rich-bitch chinchilla fur coats studded with crystals - was a poorly executed imitation of Versace in its heyday.

It is the younger designers with less familiar names who are likely to provide most of the thrills this season at London Fashion Week.

The event has a stronger-than-usual line-up of upcoming names on its schedule, with Gareth Pugh and Roksanda Ilincic being among the most hotly tipped. On Saturday, serious talent scouts will attend the graduate show of fashion college Central Saint Martins, alma mater to Alexander McQueen, Hussein Chalayan and many other star designers.
Nevertheless, the organisers of London Fashion Week are determined that the event should improve its status as a runner-up to Paris, Milan and New York. In December the British Fashion Council appointed a new chief executive, Hilary Riva, who has a track record of turning around fashion retailers in her former role as managing director of Rubicon, which owns Principles and Warehouse.

It also shifted forward its position in the international collections schedule, to encourage non-European press and buyers to fly into London before going directly to Milan fashion week, which begins on Sunday.

"I was very much in favour of the date changes, because it enables press and buyers, who might otherwise be limited by finances, to come," said Alexandra Shulman, editor of Vogue magazine.

According to the organisers, the event can still pull in more than 5,000 visitors, with the US Vogue editor, Anna Wintour, being this season's most-wanted guest. The British-born Wintour, roundly acknowledged as the most powerful figure in fashion, this week returns to London's front rows after a lengthy absence.

Although Wintour is unlikely to attend more than a handful of shows, on Friday she is due to co-host a party with Shulman, said to be in order to shore up support for the Metropolitan Museum's "Anglomania" exhibition of British fashion, which opens in New York in May and is partly sponsored by Condé Nast, the publisher of Vogue.

(Independent News and Media) - No darling of the fashion world likes to be seen wearing the same outfit twice. So the designer Julien Macdonald may keep a low public profile for the rest of London Fashion Week after being pelted with flour by anti-fur protesters following his Covent Garden show on the opening night.

Macdonald, 32, was coated from head to toe as he posed for pictures with the hotel heiress Paris Hilton outside the Cuckoo Club in Mayfair, on their way into the after-show party. The white-faced Welshman laughed off the incident, although Hilton, who escaped with a sprinkling on her shoulder, looked less impressed as she was dusted off.

Members of Peta ­ People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ­ are promising further attacks on those leading lights of the industry who continue to support the promotion of lavish pelts on the catwalk.

Number one on their hit list is American Vogue's editor, Anna Wintour, who took her seat in the front row of Paul Smith's show yesterday morning wearing her trademark fur coat and dark glasses. Her presence ­ after an absence of four years ­ has stirred great excitement on the London scene, but protesters are salivating at the thought of scoring a direct hit against a long-standing enemy of the animal rights movement.

Wintour has been repeatedly targeted in the US for refusing to ban fur from the pages of her magazine. Protesters have stuffed cream pies in her face, thrown paint over her, jumped naked into a bath of fake blood outside her offices and posted her a package of maggot-infested animal guts.

In one notorious incident 10 years ago, an activist approached her in a New York restaurant and threw a dead racoon in her soup, reportedly shouting: " This is for the animals, fur hag." Wintour claims to have coolly ordered a waiter to remove the animal and continued with her meal.

Macdonald too has been targeted before ­ hence, perhaps, the calm resignation. "They had just got out of their car and were posing for the cameras," said an onlooker. "All of a sudden, a woman approached from behind the cameras and emptied the flour bomb over them. Julien was covered, as was the doorman standing next to him. They were both bundled back into the car and driven around the block."

The female protester was held by door staff while they called police, but she escaped and ran down the street just as sirens came into earshot.

Yvonne Taylor, a spokeswoman for Peta, said there was "nothing fashionable about the torture and death of animals killed for fur". Referring to the fur-clad models in his show, she added: "Julien Macdonald may have been able to ignore images of bloody skinned animals gasping for breath in the past, but hopefully a dash of flour will help him forsake fur once and for all." A spokesman for Macdonald said the Merthyr Tydfil-born designer did not wish to comment.
A spokeswoman for the British Fashion Council said that the council did not interfere with the aesthetic of any designer.

She defended the organisers' arrangements: "We always have a very strong security system and this season was no different. Security at the Julien Macdonald show was excellent because the protesters did not get into the show."

Peta targeted Macdonald in February 2003, storming the catwalk during his winter collection at the London Fashion Show. At the time, he justified the use of fur, saying it "was inspired by sex and glamour. It is for the women who... aren't afraid to look sexy." He shrugged off the demonstration, saying it was "a bit of a waste of their time" because his fur jackets and coats were manufactured from rabbit pelts and by-products of the meat industry.

The Protests
* Peta anti-fur protesters carrying "Fur is dead" placards leap on to the catwalk at Julien Macdonald's spring-summer collection in London in September last year. One demonstrator, pictured, held aloft a mis-spelt banner as the designer took his final bow

* Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen, in stockings and suspenders during the Victoria's Secrets show in New York in 2002, is targeted by Peta for her contract with the American fur company Blackglama

* Peta protesters wearing masks of American Vogue editor, Anna Wintour, protest outside the New York office of the "Fur Witch" in October. Twice last year she received the tofu cream pie treatment

* Calvin Klein's black suit is plastered with a tofu cream pie as he arrives at the Council of Fashion Designers of America awards ceremony in New York in June 2001

* An unpleasant moment for a Peta protester on the catwalk of designer Jean-Paul Gaultier's show in March 2003. The designer's assistant threw a fur blanket over the activist

* The Pretenders' lead singer, Chrissie Hynde, is arrested in March 2000 for protesting in the window of a Gap clothing store in New York, against what she claimed was the company's use of "illegally and cruelly" slaughtered cows in India

* The Italian fashion giant Prada was in the firing line hours before its autumn-winter catwalk show in Milan last year when Peta protesters in red paint caused havoc in their upmarket store in the northern city

* Shoppers at the Galeries Lafayette in Paris survey semi-naked protesters from Peta. The sign reads: "We'd rather be dead than wear fur"

That amazing holiday of picnics, grill-outs, road-trips, and of course fireworks is just a few days away. It is amazing how this holiday seems to fit so perfectly with summer. I have often wondered if our founding fathers made the choice of July 4th as our Independence Day because that was when they signed the Declaration of Independence or because they knew families couldn’t have their holiday cookouts in the dead of winter. My guess would be the former, but we should be ever grateful to them for both liberating us from the British and choosing a summer day as the time to celebrate our freedom. It also allows us to wear some of our more comfortable and fun outfits.

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This weekend is always a whirlwind of trips to the beach, to friends’ parties and family BBQs. As nice as these summer days are, they can also be hot--very hot. It is hard to look nice for a get together when sweat is pouring out of you like a waterfall. Luckily, clothes designers have gotten smarter about the types of outfits that are best for the summer time:

I was watching a show the other day that had on the British duo of “What Not to Wear” and one of their first declarations was that no one should ever wear shorts. I thought it was the most absurd thing I had ever heard. I realize they are from that cold island that we just happened to have had a break-up with about two hundred and twenty-nines ago. I mean it must get warm in Great Britain sometimes, right? There must be a time where a British person would feel the need to wear a pair of shorts sometime. Shorts are an essential part of any summertime wardrobe as are capris which are the next best things to shorts since some people want the summer look, but not wanting to show extra leg.

There are many great tops to choose from for summertime. If you want to get a nice tan on your shoulders, but you don’t want to wear a bikini then try a halter top. It ties around the neck leaving the shoulders and back free for some exposure to the sun. Or if you want to stay cool, but not expose so much skin, try a tank top that goes under a tunic. Most tunics are made of a thin material making it transparent, but it makes for a nice cover-up for your upper body.

As with everything else about New York, even its weather has to be in fashion. It may have been fall but it was spring-like temperatures in New York City which was very fitting since designers were introducing their Spring 2006 clothing collections to an eager audience and to even more eager buyers. But the appropriate heat did have its drawbacks: It was so hot that Anna Wintour and Patrick McCarthy left Calvin Klein show early due to overheating. It looks like not everyone is willing to suffer for fashion.

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The greats were there as usual, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabanna, Vera Wang and they can all be viewed at http://www.newyorkmetro.com/fashion/fash... which does a stunning job of reporting on all the shows that went on. For me, however, I want to focus on some newer designers: Those who have only been around for a few years and those who just made their debut. Will some of these designers be the wave of the future or just a thing of the past?

The first I have come to admire is designer is Zac Posen. Posen has been designing since 2001, but his first runway show debuted in 2004 and was a stunning success and his 2006 spring collection is just as eye-pleasing. This designer is very popular with the young Hollywood scene and celebrities. Yet for someone considered so hip, his designs for spring are surprisingly relaxed and most certainly attainable. Soft beige is the primary color with hints of subtle greens and yellows. He left color for the finale with a model in a blue pleated gown with a skirt so big that it reminded me of a Southern belle making an entrance at a ball.

Speaking of southern belles, Derek Lams collection was an amazing display of airy white dresses where the models looked like they were taking a stroll through a Tennessee Williams tragedy. He also offered sundresses that could be worn in the office or a day out at the park. The clothes were soft and flowing creations and of all the collections Lam’s was the most appropriate for spring with the loose comfortable fabric to keep anyone cool on a hot New York day.

B-Rude by Boy George is absolutely wild and silly, but it had what many designers did not and that was color! One would think that the theme of spring would inspire arrangements of electric yellows and vibrant greens in this season’s collections, but many designers stayed with white, grey, and what one fashion critic describe as “greige”, which is the combination of grey and beige and while this is actually a very attractive color it seems a more appropriate color for fall and winter not the life-enhancing season of spring! Perhaps B-Rude horded all the colorful fabric this year because it was on display with eye-popping enthusiasm. Models wearing vibrant yellows, reds, oranges, and hot pinks with polka dots all screamed for attention as they strutted down the runway with colorful punk hair to match their outfits. The stunning finale was Janice Dickinson (of Top Model infamy) in a sweeping gorgeous green design that looked like a cross between a geisha robe and something that Merlin the magician would wear.

Below are three definitions of the term "fashion victim."

The first definition comes from Karin Eldor, a fellow fashion correspondent at AskMen.com. She describes a fashion victim as "someone who takes all the trends of a given time and ends up looking like a store mannequin; in a word, absurd."

The second one is courtesy of a friend of mine, who I consider a sleek dresser. To her, a fashion victim is someone who:

a- only purchases brand-name apparel;
b- is a compulsive shopper;
c- will only consider wearing an item that is "the latest trend," regardless of whether he can pull it off or not.

I found a third definition on a fashion website while researching the expression. The definition states that a fashion victim is "someone who buys an outfit that is perfectly in style, but when he wears it, he looks perfectly ridiculous."

"It's all about graphic transparency," said Karl Lagerfeld of his latest collection. Excuse my ignorance, but what the hell is graphic transparency and how does it relate to fashion? I'm not so sure the eccentric source of the comment knows himself .

If designers can't describe their own handiwork without resorting to vague abstractions, I'm doubtful that anyone can, yet fashion critics abound. Only they're not so much critics as they are sycophants and they don't criticize so much as they praise. Designers and so-called fashion critics are members of a mutual admiration society; an arrangement that defeats the purpose of criticism altogether.

Certain women's magazines, beacons of the fashion genus, along with other fashion outlets, perpetuate this scenario. All editors are aware of the thrust of their publication (or network), so it should come as no surprise to Vogue 's Anna Wintour and Cosmo 's Kate White that most, if not all, fashion coverage is about one step away from outright butt-kissing.

This season sees designers moving towards smart, androgynous looks, British influenced classics and eighties retro styling.

The smart trend includes pencil skirts, smart blouses and wide trousers with turn-ups. Jackets are fitted, either 80’s cropped style or a ‘borrowed-from-the-boyfriend’ tuxedo. The catwalks were also full of shift dresses and crisp white blouses teamed with ladylike accessories.

The androgynous look is epitomised by a continuation of last summer’s trend for skinny jeans along with cigarette pants. The season’s hot coat is tipped to be the parka, another masculine look, made feminine in a shiny fabric.

If you prefer a more girlie look, this season’s skirt length is the mini, ranging from just above the knee to very short indeed. The look is a mini skirt worn with opaque tights, or a mini dress worn over leggings. As the dresses get shorter, tops are getting longer, almost to tunic length, and so may be interchangeable.

Once again many designers were showing the influence of traditional British clothing with tweeds, tartans and checks used for coats, dresses, skirts and trousers. You may have the elements of this look in your wardrobe already, so if you stashed your classics now is the time to get them out of storage.

An eighties vibe ran through many of the collections; as well as the baggy top over leggings look, there were neon colours teamed with black, black and white graphics and well, more black.

If you want a new coat and feel a parka isn’t your thing then the shape being offered for this winter is a rounded shape dubbed either the ‘egg’ or the ‘cocoon’. This voluminous silhouette can also be worn by getting into this seasons chunky knits in Aran, Nordic and Fair Isle designs. Tulip shaped dresses and skirts were also in evidence.

After the colourful shades of spring/summer 06 the colour for autumn is grey, in any shade from dove to charcoal. If you need a little more colour in your life then ruby red is the colour for this season’s party dress. The only pattern to be seen in is an animal print which can be found on everything from coats and dresses to scarves and shoes.

This season’s must-have accessory is a handbag and it should be huge. Classic black, brown and tan bags are available everywhere along with dark greens and burgundy so this could be your investment purchase of the season. Belts from thin to thick were used on the catwalks to reign in the roomy sweaters and cocoon-shaped dresses.

The fashion shoe of the winter is the shoe-boot, a cross between a court shoe and a low ankle boot. There were also plenty of platform court shoes reminiscent of the early 1990’s but with super high heels. Boots are knee high with either high heels or in a biker style.

For jewellery lovers, last summer’s trend for wearing just one statement piece, almost always a necklace continues, with earrings and bracelets rarely seen on the catwalks.

If, like me, you are petite, (that’s 5’4” tall or less for the uninitiated), you will know that dressing fashionably can be extra difficult. Designers tend to create clothes that look fabulous on a 5’10” stick-thin model, which means they often don’t suit normal shaped women. The clothes can look even worse if you are truly petite.

The bad news is that this season designers have presented us with a number looks that don’t do us any favours. The first look to avoid is a 1980’s retro look that was big on the catwalks for this season. The big baggy sweater over tight leggings or skinny jeans look will simply swamp anyone with a small frame. Trust me this look needs big shoulders to carry off successfully; I should know I wore it first time round and it didn’t work then!

The next look that the petite woman should give a wide berth to is this season’s hot silhouette, known as the ‘cocoon’ or the ‘egg’, which may be a coat or tulip shaped dress or skirt. From the shoulders or waist the garment balloons out then is pulled back in at the bottom. Again the smaller woman will be swamped by this type of style. Without long legs to balance the proportions you will simply look like an egg.

You may want to wrap up warm as the weather gets colder, but you should also think hard before buying into this season’s chunky knits and voluminous parkas. Cosy they may be, but you may find you simply disappear under all those thick layers.

The catwalks were also awash with large checks, a design guaranteed to overpower anyone not blessed with supermodel proportions.

Is there any good news? Yes, a little. There were some slimmer fitting, more elegant trends on show. There was an abundance of smart tailored suits, neat blouses, shift dresses and pencils skirts which are all more flattering for a petite woman. If you can show your legs there were plenty of mini dresses and skirts, and waists were cinched-in with belts of all widths to give a much neater silhouette.

Changing fashions, soaring variety and shrinking sizes – that seems to sum up women's clothing. When Shakespeare wrote, "apparel makes half the man", he probably told himself that it makes all of a woman. Women's clothes sellers seem to have understood this only too well.

What's in right now?

Fashion keeps changing – more so in women's clothing. You need to keep abreast of current trends. However, trends can also convert the new look into a sort of uniform that everyone seems to wear. You can't complain because you cannot conform and be different too. Designer and exclusive wear could offer a solution by creating a trendy but different look that attracts attention.

The current trend seems to favor black and white and stripes. They seem to be a common element in a number of fast selling dresses including solids, prints, embellished pieces, separates, dresses, swimwear and accessories. Shorts and pants have been spruced up too, ranging from knee-length shorts to convertible, rolled-up cargo pants.

Denims are in with a new look – in the form of handbags and shoes.

Blouses with an airy woven top and a Victorian touch such as lace, crochet, bell sleeves and ruffles can offer you a fresh look this season.

Suit the style to the weather

Now that summer is here, the question is what makes the best wear to suit the weather. If it's hot outside, you need to choose your clothes in such a way that it looks trendy while keeping you cool and comfortable at the same time. Choose light colors rather than dark ones. Go in for natural fabrics like cotton and open-weave fabrics that offer better ventilation. Avoid tight clothing.

The new flirty skirts are cool (pun intended!) and can be accommodating even if you're not perfectly sized. Try them in favor of the more popular shorts and T-shirts routine for a change. You'll like them.

What's the perfect length of your skirt?

You'll have to figure that one out to suit your body shape and preferences, but remember one golden rule of fashion. The width of your skirt should never be more than its height.

How about the designs?

Try florals – it's not a bad idea. The only thing to remember is that you should choose the prints to suit your shape. The general rule of thumb is that larger frames look good with widely spaced and larger sized prints, while smaller frames will look good in smaller prints.

Shrinking Numbers

While the average woman's waistline is increasing the size of her dress is decreasing – at least going by the numbers given to them. So the first point that one notes about women's dresses is that there is no standardization in the numbers and they change not only from time to time but also from shop to shop.

When ready-made (or ready-to-wear) clothing first made its appearance, there was no standardization at all, and the garments fit the wearer poorly. It was only in the mid 1940s and early 1950s that various agencies came in to set the standards and now we have the standards in place although the numbers keep changing. Efforts are still on to find a more scientific basis for the measurements and standardization of the sizes for women's dresses.

How do you find all those dresses?

Whether you are looking for standard ready-to-wear material keeping with current trends or for designer-wear, there are a number of online stores that give you a choice of clothes. You can have a look at the various styles and designs before you find the right choice for you. Even if you are going to make the purchase from your own friendly neighborhood store, it makes sense to do a bit of window-shopping from online sources.

The world of fashion design encompasses more than design. If you love the world of fashion and want to make your mark on it there are many other ways to do it other than to become the next Vera Wang.

Fashion design schools offer courses in fashion and retail management, fashion merchandising and fashion marketing.

If you can't design fashion but have an eye for putting the look together and knowing intuitively what the next "hot" look will be, perhaps you'd want to look into a fashion design school with an eye towards becoming a fashion purchasing manager in the retail sector.

Every big department store such as Nieman Marcus and Saks has fashion buyers. Everything that is in a department store that is offered for sale was picked out by a buyer.

These fashion purchasing managers or fashion buyers choose and buy the products that are sold in retail stores. Imagine for a moment attending the latest fashion shows in the US and Europe. Seeing first hand the latest fashion offerings of the big name couture design houses such as Lauren, Dior, Gaultier, or the ready-to-wear collections of Balenciaga and Herrera.

Don't think for one minute that the life of a fashion buyer or fashion purchasing agent is all glitz and glamour and hobnobbing. A fashion buyer must have a solid education and expertise in sales and store management.

Fashion buyers are usually graduates of a fashion design school and are hand selected by stores such as JC Penny to enter their training programs. They need a bachelor's degree in marketing and merchandising. Some stores require that a buyer hold an MBA.

There is a hierarchy that is followed in fashion buying. Generally stores will hire new employees as junior buyers to help associate buyers. A fashion buyer usually starts out responsible for one or two different fashion brands. It may take years of experience before associate buyers become senior fashion buyers.

Fashion Buyers must be able to develop strong working relationships with manufacturers reps. They must be able to negotiate prices and be able to communicate with a wide variety of people. Strong work ethic and a positive attitude are also required.

While the world may be leaning toward more casual attire, there are still a number of fashion mistakes and faux pas you need to avoid regardless of the occasion or dress code. These include:

1. Wearing The Wrong Colors

All skin tones are not created equal. The lime green or hot pink that you saw on the runways may look fabulous on the models, but horrible on you. Experiment with different colors and stick with the palettes that look best on you, regardless of what's "au currant". Don't waste your money on clothes that make you look pale, sallow, jaundiced, or washed out. You may even want to consider color analysis if you're uncertain which are your "best colors."

2. Wearing Too Small a Size

If it doesn't fit, don't wear it. Squeezing into a size 8 may feed your vanity, but it will may you appear overfed to everyone else. Shop by FIT, not by size. If you can't sit down or feel as trussed up as a turkey, you're not going to feel your best. Why put yourself through that kind of torture? Find clothes that fit or have them tailored to fit and stack the cards in your favor.

3. Inappropriate Makeup

Light for day, heavier for evening, sheer for sports or other strenuous pursuits. You wear different clothes for different activities in you life; your makeup should change as well. And if you're still doing Cleopatra eyes, it's time to turn the page and see what's happening THIS century in makeup styles.

4. Wearing The Wrong Color of Hose

You'll look taller and trimmer by matching the color of your hose to your shoes and your hem. Wearing a black skirt and shoes? Opt for sheer black hose. Have a bright blue dress and taupe shoes? Go for the taupe-colored hose. What? You only wear black hose because they hide things you don't want people to see? Well, guess what: unless your whole outfit's black, you're CALLING ATTENTION to your legs. If that's not what you want, it's time to rethink your plan.

5. Rundown Shoes

You look great...from the ankles up. If your shoes have seen better days, find a good shoe repair shop and put them in for some TLC. Polish them regularly. Use a felt tip marker on scuffs, and put a piece of soft carpet under your feet when you drive. And most importantly, invest in a good pair if you're going to wear them every day. Don't buy them at the 5 and Dime and then wonder why they don't last.

6. Broken Nails, Chipped Polish

Keep your nails clean and evenly trimmed. To make repairs quickly, have clippers and a nail file in your purse and desk at work. Paint over chips or remove all polish. If you're in a business environment,stick with conservative nail polish colors at work and save the sparkly/neon/funky looks for weekends and vacations. Dragon-lady lengths are never appropriate for business.

7. Slips That Show

Unfortunately, one length does NOT fit all. Buy slips in several lengths and replace them once the elastic wears. For the most discreet linings, buy slips in the colors you wear most often, like black, navy, beige, and white. You want to mute the sheerness of your garment-not all attention to the color of your slip.

8. Underarm Stains

First, buy deodorant that works with your body. You may have to try a few to find the best one for you, and you may need to change every now and again if your chemistry changes, like after having a baby, starting new medication, going through menopause, or the like. My personal favorite: Mitchum solid. If you perspire heavily or need a surefire method to prevent stains, consider using dress shields.

9. Visible Bra Lines

Make sure your bra fits properly. If it rides up in back, slips of the shoulders, or lets your breasts sag instead of offering support, then it's time to seek professional help. You can usually find trained fitters in the lingerie departments of better department stores. Call around for an appointment.

10. Roots

Hair color can do wonderful things for you, but it can also be hard on the budget. If you can't afford the regular maintenance required by allover color, consider getting highlights instead. And whatever you do, make sure your hair color matches your skin tone.

What is it about leather handbags that make them so intriguing? They come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and styles. Maybe it is the butter soft material they are made from. There is also a fashion status attached to a good leather handbag. Many famous fashion conscious women carry them, making them even more popular. A nice bag that completes an outfit can give someone a little extra confidence as they go about their day.

Leather in its most basic form is made from the hide of an animal. First they are cleaned to remove the hair and any other debris. These hides are stretched and tanned through the use of a chemical process. During this time, depending on the process and chemicals used the type of leather produced is determined. It can be from very soft leather to suede to hard stiff leather depending on how it is treated.

Fashion designers use this leather to make many products, not just handbags. There are also shoes, belts, and hats. So an entire ensemble can be achieved. No one wants to have the wrong shoes with the right bag. Leather is a very durable material that can withstand the every day use, wear, and tear the average person can put on it. It is one of the reasons leather is such a popular material to use in clothing. There are still many vintage leather handbags out there, and rarely do they go out of style.

Leather goods are made to last a lifetime. But you have to take care of them. The best way is to keep them clean and supple with the use of a good leather cleaner. Leather cleaners can smell bad so if you are planning to use your bag on the weekend it would be better to clean it earlier in the week. Before cleaning your bag with any product it is always recommended to test it on an area that won't be seen.

Just in case the cleaner is too harsh and changes the color or texture of the leather. Usually after a good cleaning your handbag will look brand new. There are many animal rights groups that are trying to ban or just discourage people from the use of leather in fashion. Some of these groups are very aggressive and will try to destroy animal goods by throwing paint on them. Or just make the owner feel immense guilt over the use of leather.

What these groups are fighting against is an age old tradition. The earliest man made his clothing from the hides of the animals he killed. In most cases these animals are not killed just for the hide, the whole animal is used for a variety of purposes. Most importantly they are used for food.

It is great to be able to express yourself through the way you look. There are many times you can tell what a person is like by the way they dress or the accessories they use. One way to be different from everyone else is to have a unique handbag. A handbag can say "hey look at me"; it can express a level of class and sophistication nothing else can. But first you have to find the bag that tells your story. So buckle up, the search is on.

The first place you can look is in your local stores. Often these stores are shopped by everyone else in your area, so finding something truly unique may be difficult. Especially if it is a large chain store there are probably many of the same styles to be found there. Sometimes you might get lucky and find an odd discontinued bag that everyone else doesn't already have.

The next place is the second hand stores. Some people don't like the idea of buying someone else old stuff but this is exactly the kind of place that will have a large assortment of different items. And if you are looking for something that is actually vintage and just not a knock off, a second hand store can be perfect. Also if vintage is what you are searching for maybe a look in grandma's attic can be a treasure trove.

After a look in the local areas with no success, a trip around cyber space might do the trick. Looking through designer websites can give an idea of what is out there and the prices. Often on these designer sites the prices are very high for the couture handbag. But you can get an idea of what you are really looking for and determine the price range you are willing to pay.

If the expense is too much for a brand new original handbag, you can go to a web auction site to search. After looking through the designer sites and finding what you want a trip through the auction sites might produce the same bag for much less. Let someone else pay the high price for the brand new one, a good bag doesn't go out of fashion for a long time. And if you really like it, then you won't care what the fashion industry says about what's in and what’s out.

Then there is the last place you want to look, in your own closet. Sometimes we buy things to use later on or we are given gifts we aren't thrilled with at the time and throw them in the closet and forget about them. You can get lucky here too. Some handbag Aunt Lucy gave you for Christmas a couple years ago might have seemed like an unlikely candidate for use, but now a second look could be in order. All it could need is a couple accessories to make it stylish and acceptable.

For past generations, becoming pregnant meant that women were condemned to 9 months of baggy, shapeless clothing choices. Maternity clothing which wasn't comfortable or appealing. Today it is different though; wider ranges of maternity clothing are available. Celebrities and well known personalities, wearing the most fashionable maternity wear have helped to broaden our options in modern maternity wear. This of course, helps to increase the success and range in maternity wear stores throughout the world.

In turn, the larger demand for greater choices in modern maternity wear dictates that the stores will have better selections available. Higher disposable income amongst pregnant women also helps. There are many more attractive and comfortable options available today.

Variety in Women's Clothing

Especially over the last 5 years or so, the public has seen many more pregnant celebrities. This has generated more interest in how they present themselves and what they are wearing. Pregnancy has become a fashionable time in many celebrities' lives, translating to more interest and demand for this clothing in the general public.

This demand has flowed on to department, specialty and discount stores as women demand more flattering and better fitting maternity wear. Retailers take their cues on how women spend their money; this explains the greater maternity clothing ranges on display and the ever growing new lines in maternity wear.

Lifestyle changes such as women choosing to have their pregnancies later in life, perhaps after they have built a career have also become reason for changes in the maternity clothing available today. The same applies to many celebrities, who leave child rearing until later in life so they can establish a stable and financially secure life.

However, there are differences between what an average family and celebrities can afford, even in maternity clothing. Compared to say, five years ago the choices in maternity clothing, often driven by what pregnant celebrities wear are definitely broader.

It is now much simpler to find appealing, flattering maternity clothing online. You can find versions of celebrity maternity fashions alongside more basic lines; this has helped online sales grow immensely. Also, you will find that by shopping online you have access to much wider clothing options than you would by walking into any clothing store.

Informed by both the maternity clothing of celebrities and clothing the average woman wants, retailers have definitely come to the party, increasing the clothing options available today. This of course, raises the retailer's profitability.

Several years ago late on a Thursday afternoon, my husband called me at work to say that he had just been handed box seat tickets to a touring performance of "Mame," starring Juliet Prowse. Would I be interested in going? The tickets were for 7:30 that night.

When the curtain rose three hours later, we were there, as was our hostess and her boyfriend. A third couple, however, couldn't make it. Why? Given the extremely short notice (our hostess received the tickets late that afternoon), they had to decline because the woman had nothing to wear. Which was really too bad, because the show was terrific -- and was probably the last tour Ms. Prowse ever did.

Now let me ask you: if you were handed tickets to a show (or dinner or gallery opening or ball) with just a few hours' notice, would you be able to accept knowing you'd be properly dressed?

Most women would have to say "no."

Because, like the gal who missed out on "Mame," most women have gapping holes in their wardrobes that prevent them from going to certain places appropriately dressed. They funnel the majority of their clothing budgets into their primary activity, like work or taking care of kids, and are caught like a deer in the headlines when something out-of-the-ordinary comes along. They're either forced to decline a last-minute invitation, or go with what they have and spend the whole time feeling inappropriately dressed.

It's all so unnecessary. Because with just a little bit of planning, they could be ready for ANYTHING - even a last minute invitation to a touring Broadway show. So let's take a few minutes to discuss an appropriate eveningwear wardrobe.

Now if you think this subject really doesn't apply to you because you rarely go to formal functions, keep reading anyway. You'll soon discover that by having just a few of these pieces in your closet, you can easily transform almost any outfit into appropriate formal attire, whether you're headed to an evening wedding, an association cocktail party, or even a New Year's get-together with a few of your nearest and dearest.

So what are the five top eveningwear pieces you should have?

1. A Dark Dress

This can be a little black dress, if black looks good on you, or navy, brown, red, or even plum. For maximum durability, it should have simple lines and some sort of sleeve. That way, you can add a splash of jewelry and wear it to semi-formal functions like cocktail parties, nice dinners, and the theater, and to more solemn affairs like weddings, bar mitzvahs, and the like.

2. An Evening Top

This can be anything that smacks of evening, from a satin or sequined camisole to a diaphanous lace blouse. Pair it with a skirt or pants, wear it under a suit, or mix it with your other evening pieces for an elegant, classic look.

3. An Evening Skirt or Pair of Pants

A simple skirt or pair of pants in an evening fabric (lace, chiffon, velvet) can take you to a variety of functions for years. Pair them with your evening top, a trendy blouse, a simple top with knockout jewelry - the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

4. Evening Shoes

Sandals, pumps, or slingbacks in metallic, lace, or satin will upgrade almost anything else you're wearing to a more formal status. Pair them with a suit, an evening gown, a simple sheath, or whatever, for a glamorous evening look.

5. An Evening Bag

An evening bag or minaudière, like evening shoes, instantly upgrades your attire to a more formal status. Since you can only carry your lipstick, a key, a credit card, or folded currency in one, it says that you're there for the evening's festivities with nothing more important to do.

Should you have ALL of these pieces in your wardrobe? Ideally, yes, particularly if your lifestyle carries you through a wide variety of activities and you need versatile pieces to go the distance. If your life is pretty predictable with few surprises, consider just adding an evening top or handbag for spur-of-the moment things.