It takes just a little care to keep your lingerie looking its best and lasting as long as possible. Caring for your lingerie properly will ensure many years of wear. By following the guidelines below, you can help your lingerie look as good as the day you purchased it.

Do’s

1. The manufacturers always attach a tag explaining the proper procedure for taking care of your lingerie. Follow their recommendations and suggestions, as they know what is best for their product. Here are a few general care instructions if your tag is misplaced:

• Gently wash your lingerie in cold water by hand

• Rinse thoroughly

• When washing your lingerie by machine, use cold water on a gentle cycle

• Use a wash bag and always wash different colors separately

• Make sure that any hooks, fasteners, zippers or buckles are done up, as it is easy for them to catch on other clothing.

2. For the lingerie owner, a wash bag is very important for use when washing your intimate apparel. A wash bag keeps your delicates from being twisted or caught on other pieces of clothing. You can purchase these online or at drugstores and most department stores.

3. Always dry your lingerie by placing it flat and out of direct sunlight. If you are in a hurry and absolutely have to use the clothes dryer, use a wash bag and set the machine to tumble dry on the gentle cycle. The temperature should be set to cool or low.

4. “Dry clean only” means exactly what it says. Again, the manufacturer is advising you of the best way to keep your lingerie looking its best. If you try washing a ‘dry clean only’ item, you will probably be very disappointed in the result.

5. Find the proper detergent for the lingerie you are washing. There are huge number of soaps and delicate cleaning products from which to choose. You want to keep your delicates, delicate.

Don’ts

1. Do not wash your delicate lingerie without a proper wash bag as they will become twisted and pulled out of shape.

2. Do not bleach or soak your lingerie. Bleaching will fade your delicates.

3. Do not use regular laundry detergents, because they are too harsh.

4. Do not use the dryer unless you are really in a bind. Make sure you use the wash bag to keep it from tangling. Line drying can stretch and crease most items – best to dry items flat.

5. Do not put your delicates out in the sun to dry, as they will fade.

6. Do not iron your lingerie. But, if you have no other choice, use the gentle steam setting and avoid touching the material.

A dress that is perfect for one woman sucks on another. Your best friend's perfect party dress could make you look like a a leftover pumpkin from Halloween.

That said, exploit this point to your advantage. If you have narrow hips, wear bubble skirts and bubble dresses to every party you attend while it is in style.

You'll look fab while other women with larger hips would look fab if they try to mimic your style.

Likewise if you are well endowed, go for a plunging neckline that flaunts your cleavage. You'd look amazing, while your less blessed sisters who might try to mimic your look will come across as flat.

Your perfect party dress is the dress that draws attention to your assets.

Another thing is your lifestyle. If you're going to a party after work, then get something that appropriate in the office and which would look fabulous at a party. Just switch the shoes and the accessories, glam up your makeup and you're set to go. Jersey print dresses are great day to night dresses for the party season.

Finally, the perfect party dress looks much better if you're in great shape. From now until party season, start whipping that body of yours into its best possible shape. Too little time? Read Get in shape for the holidays and be the envy of the competition when it is time to party.

His brilliant career: Before becoming design director for Lafayette 148 New York, Wilkerson designed for Anne Klein, Calvin Klein and Donna Karan.
His customer: Lafayette 148 New York is a favorite of women in charge who want it all: pieces that exude elegance and simplicity and also travel well. The line is sold at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and Saks Fifth Avenue stores.
Prices: From $200 for a blouse to $1,000 for a cocktail dress. For more information, call (212) 965-9606.
b michael
His take on his designs: "My work is simply complicated," says the couture designer with a laugh.
His brilliant career: michael entered the fashion arena as an apprentice to designer Oscar de la Renta in the early 1990's. By 1999 he was on his own, presenting his first collection of daytime, cocktail and evening wear.
His customer: michael's designs are a mainstay of society types such as author Susan Fales-Hill, actress Lynn Whitfield and philanthropist Malaak Compton-Rock. The line is sold at Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide.
Prices: From $1,500 for a cocktail dress to $5,000 for an evening gown. For more information, call the b michael showroom at (212) 703-9494.
epperson
His take on his designs: "My clothes are deconstructed and romantic," says the Harlem native. "They're art, but they're always wearable."
His brilliant career: In the early 1990's, the self-taught go-getter sold hats and scarves to Barneys New York as well as specialty boutiques, such as Traffic in Los Angeles and Big Drop in New York. LL Cool J and the late John F. Kennedy, Jr., were among Epperson's first fans.
His customer: His work appeals to artsy types like Erykah Badu, Cassandra Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Yolanda Adams and Les Nubians. His bridal work, which first appeared in 2000 in ESSENCE, has been a huge hit. Epperson's wife, Lisha, collaborates as his design partner. Their plus-size line debuted in October.
Prices: From $90 for a knit top to $1,500 for a bridal gown. The pieces are sold at Epperson Studio in New York City, (212) 239-2088, or online, eppersonstudio.com.
derek green
His take on his designs: "My signature fashion statement is classic with a sexy twist," he says.
His brilliant career: The Baltimore native and Parson's School of Design graduate worked for Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, so it's no surprise that his own designs are fashion-forward and popular.
His customer: Green's sexy, contemporary pieces are sold in more than 200 specialty stores throughout the country, as well as in Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom stores.
Prices: From $90 for a knit top to $500 for a leather jacket. For more information, visit derekgreen.net.
byron lars
His take on his designs: "They're whimsical and architectural," says Lars. "If my clothes could talk, they'd remind you how fierce and comfortable they are."
His brilliant career: Lars graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology and worked his way from a Seventh Avenue pattern maker in New York to a major Seventh Avenue designer.
His customer: Women who favor sportswear pieces with something extra, like his ultrafeminine blouses in menswear fabrications. Lars's designs are sold in more than 200 specialty stores, as well as in Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

Back to school clothing is a big deal, and kids this year are going for more sophisticated, more dressed-up clothes. The layered look is big for both sexes and leggings under short skirts and dresses are what girls want. And the older kids especially are clamoring for skinny jeans.
washingtonpost.com Fashion and Beauty Editor Janet Bennett Kelly a nswered your questions about what's big this year and what's reasonable.
____________________
washingtonpost.com:
Hi, everyone and thanks for joining us on this lovely late-summer day to talk about back-to-school fashions. What will the kids be wearing? Have you started shopping? What are you finding out there? Let's talk!
_______________________
Maryland:
This chat is probably for school-age children. I'll be entering grad school this fall; can I wear the same thing I wore for undergrad? Can I continue to live in jeans?
Janet: Jeans are a great standby. You can dress them up for the evening or dress them down for the library.
Darker washes are more in style this year and so are skinny jeans. Get a pair if they're flattering to your body shape; otherwise, stay away. Good luck in grad school.
_______________________
Anonymous:
Hi, Janet, I have a question for you. I would like to know what is the style for people over forty and older? I am tall, with beautiful olive skin, brown eyes, great legs, nice bust line and I would like to compliment all of my good qualities with really nice clothing that fit well. I did some modeling in the '60s. But, times have changed and I am older. Times have changed and so have I. Please help.
Janet: It sounds like you have a great figure, and you can wear almost anything you like. And I think this fall there's going to be a lot for you to like. Tailored suits, for example, are a good look for day, and with a change of blouse, also work for the evening. Low-rise jeans and bare midriffs are pretty much a thing of the past, if that's what you're concerned about having to deal with when you visit the stores.
_______________________
Tallahassee, Florida:
What are some of the primary reasons why kids are wearing clothing that is so sexually revealing these past ten years or so? Is it a loosening of attitudes about the body? Or is it the cultural industry of explicit videos, music, and TV? Have parents talked about this in any public forum? Where could one find more practical information?
Janet Bennett Kelly: I'm not a sociologist but kids have been and are influenced by celebrities, football players and the like. So, yes, low-rise jeans and bare midriffs have been very popular in the past, but this fall, the new byword is layering, which means bodies will be much more covered up.
_______________________
Washington, D.C.:
For the eco-conscious mother, there is a great organic children's clothing store in Georgetown called Yiro (it's at Wisconsin and P). They have buttery soft, colorful clothing. I heard the owner is launching her own label this fall and all items will be Swiss-made.
Janet Bennett Kelly: I've heard about Yiro and am looking forward to going. Thanks for the info.
_______________________
Burke, Va.:
I know the chat is about back-to-school clothes but I'm hoping you'll take a minute to solve one of the biggest fashion mysteries of the modern world. Why is it so hard to find petite clothes, particularly business suits? There's only a handful of places (Talbots, Banana, Ann Taylor) and then they have limited selection at $300 or more. For a 5-foot woman who wears suits everyday, it's incredibly frustrating not to easily find petite clothes. Thoughts?
Janet Bennett Kelly: I think one reason for the dearth of store sections devoted to petites is that people in general are just getting larger. When was the last time you could find a size-5 shoe?
That said, I thought I heard that Saks Fifth Avenue was bringing back its petite department. Hope that's true. I do agree with you that it's frustrating not to be able to find clothes for your proportions. At least Banana, A Taylor and Talbot's still have your size. Know a good tailor?
_______________________
Skinny jeans:
I'm horrified by the new tight, skinny jeans with the layered, unflattering tops. I'm in decent shape, but I have thick thighs and prefer to wear skinny tops or cropped jackets with looser "boyfriend" jeans. I'm also short, and the long tops make me look dumpy. What can I do besides wear skirts for the next few years?
Janet Bennett Kelly: Given the unforgiving nature of skinny jeans, I suspect that a lot of people will balk at wearing them. So, go ahead and wear the jeans that look good on you!
_______________________
Washington, D.C.: Low rise jeans are a thing of the past? Are the waisted jeans from the 90's coming back?
Janet Bennett Kelly: Clothing always comes back but not exactly in the same way. But, yes, waists on jeans are rising to cover more of the tummy.

NEW YORK -- Oscar de la Renta, Kenneth Cole, Perry Ellis, and ... George? Wal-Mart staked its claim among high-end fashion designers earlier this month during New York's Fashion Week by showing off its hottest fall juniors' apparel at a Times Square fashion show. The show, which was also sponsored by top teen fashion magazine ELLEgirl and television show "America's Next Top Model," is the latest effort in Wal-Mart's effort to revamp its image.
"This show is meant to share with our customers and the community at large what's new, fun and in stores," said Celia Clancy, Wal-Mart's vp of product development. "It's just one spoke in the wheel of our strategy in terms of being relevant and fresh with our consumer."
Wal-Mart also just launched a fall ad campaign in this month's Vogue, signed a multiyear music deal with country crooner Garth Brooks that might include exclusive products and teamed up with pop group Destiny's Child for a holiday promotion. In addition, Wal-Mart will launch an exclusive ELLEgirl shoe line, called Dare2B. The shoes will debut with seven styles in 300 stores this month and expand to 500 stores in November. And the retailer isn't just stopping there, said Raol Vazquez, vp of marketing for Walmart.com.
"We do have a few things that should be exciting to hear about in the coming weeks," said Vazquez, who could not go into more specifics on future deals. "We feel very good about the evolution of our product, and our marketing, in stores."
To support its new focus on fashion, Wal-Mart has made strides to improve its in-store experience, personnel and merchandising. The company is currently testing ways to improve its dressing rooms, Clancy said. The shoes and jewelry departments have also been blended into the apparel and product development area, she added. Earlier this year, Wal-Mart also added a new position, called a fashion merchandiser, to its district staffs.
"We have somewhere between 300 and 350 fashion merchandisers, one in each district," Clancy said. "They are responsible for understanding the strategic assortment and the direction from the home office and helping stores execute that direction. We are teaching them how to merchandise the floor and clean it up as new product comes in."
George, Wal-Mart's most fashion-forward apparel label, has been moved to the front of the store to appeal to consumers with slightly higher incomes who already shop occasionally in the store, said Lee Scott, the company's ceo, in a Back-to-School Prudential Conference earlier this month.
"We have moved George up to the front and what we found is that we are having much-increased sales because it is the right fit, it is the right quality and it is the right style," Scott said. "The other thing that is happening too is that we are having customers of more modest income who are looking to dress better ... also shopping there ... so it is a win-win [situation]."
Lee also attributed the company's investment in simulated wood floors in stores as "giving our apparel a much better look." Wal-Mart began to test the simulated wood floor concept in late 2003, replacing its formerly all-carpeted merchandising area.
Wal-Mart is also enhancing their Web site to attract even more customers into its stores, said Vazquez. "We're trying to invest in more imagery and making sure that we're offering fashion solutions to the customer. We're going to provide a Web cast of the fashion show on the Web site to the customer, as well as show off some of the pieces highlighted in the show."
Also, Wal-Mart has collaborated with ELLEgirl to form a separate Web site, called daretobeu.com, which focuses on fashion, tips and trends provided by ELLEgirl. The Web site, which directly links to walmart.com, could potentially expand to include beauty, electronics and more online and onair coverage from stores, said Deborah Burns, vp and publisher for ELLEgirl. The partnership with Wal-Mart should continue to grow, she added.
"Each day brings a new way to connect the marketing and sales dots, with endless possibilities to build success," Burns said. 'Wee are very pleased with the scale and scope of Wal-Mart ... and the fashion, [the clothes that are already] in Wal-Mart, that we can help bring out through this partnership."

I've traveled everywhere--to all 50 states and nearly 50 foreign countries--and the one thing that stays with me, despite all the trends that come and go, is how everyone loves classic American style: the worn-in jeans, T-shirts, the leather jackets, our swagger. That thing we do without even knowing it.
Now, some guys admire the European look. And you should-it's elegant. And some dig the English-cool factor--one part Saville Row, another part punk rocker with a twist of grit. Others maintain their minimalism--black on black with accents of black. Me, I've tried them all (and sometimes it wasn't all that pretty), but I always came back to what is true to myself--what I call Classic. But like a lot of you, I've got my own version, which for me is a navy blazer, a button-down, dogged-up jeans, and the ultimate wingtip shoes, no socks.
Knowing what your defining style is, what works, and how to put it all together sometimes takes a while--and quite frankly, with all the choices out there, it ain't easy. The key is to stay true to yourself but be inspired--without fear.
This year some of my coolest friends can help: Dolce & Gabbana, who mix sex appeal and rock 'n' roll style with fine tailoring; John Varvatos, who marks every inch of his pieces with authenticity and a whiff of vintage (hell, he puts the boots on Bruce Springsteen); and Ralph Lauren, who still takes tradition and refinement and somehow makes it modern and cool every year. Perry Ellis, Calvin Klein, Prada, Tommy Hilfiger, and, of course, Giorgio Armani are all here for us, too. Consider these talents, as I do, trustworthy friends in the pursuit of what's right for you no matter how you choose to mix it up.
TOMMY HILFIGER
Tommy Hilfiger Crest Collection York corduroy blazer, $225, and vintage Manchester five-pocket jeans, $85
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
JOHN VARVATOS
John Varvatos washed antique-finished motorcycle jacket, $1,995, ribbed cashmere-blend turtleneck, $298; wool fringed scarf, $175, and dark-washed jeans, $245
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
RALPH LAUREN
Polo by Ralph Lauren hooded cashmere sweater, $397, and suede fatigue pants, $880
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
CALVIN KLEIN
Calvin Klein Collection patent-leather blazer, $1,995, and cashmere-blend crew. $225
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
PRADA
Prada cashmere crew-neck sweater, $745, and blue suede pants, $1,085
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
PERRY ELLIS
Perry Ellis merino-wool striped sport coat, $185, salt-and-pepper pants, $295, and driving gloves, $115
ARMANI
Armani Jeans leather bomber, $778, and distressed jeans, $238; Giorgio Armani dress shirt, $425, and silk tie
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
DOLCE & GABBANA
Dolce & Gabbana herringbone wool blazer with attached zip-up sweater. $2.550, jeans with multicolored paint, $575, and wool tweed newsboy cap, $195

With nothing else in retailing that quite compares to its format, off-price apparel retailer Citi Trends manages to effectively target the African-American shopper in a concept that merges the unlikely retail worlds of cool, trendy urban fashion and extreme value.
Though small at 236 stores in 14 states, Citi Trends made a lot of noise this past year with a May IPO and fiscal-year performance that stunned retail experts. Revenue grew 42.5% to $289.8 million while comparable-store sales rocketed up an unprecedented 16.1%.
"Our value-conscious customer has a strong appetite for current urban fashions at strong value prices," said ceo Ed Anderson during the chain's last quarterly conference call.
Citi Trends sells urban apparel and accessories for the family at prices 20% to 60% below that of department stores. About 70% of the chain's customer base is African-American, a ratio achieved through careful location of stores in neighborhoods with this demographic. Locations average 10,500 square feet in selling space.
Besides a focus on urban apparel, Citi Trends also offers a small home department with an emphasis on black cultural items, such as African tribal decor and books with African-American themes.
Edgy urban apparel and brands with high interest among African-American shoppers are the key sales driver, however, with signature national brands highlighted such as FUBU, Rocawear, Phat Farm, Baby Phat, Sean Jean, Apple Bottoms and Dickies. Citi Trends also sells apparel under its proprietary labels Citi Steps, Diva Blue and Urban Sophistication.
The outlook for urban and off-price apparel remains strong, making for a winning combination. A study by The NPD Group showed sales from 13 national urban apparel brands totaled $1.9 billion in 2004 (the most recent year reported), an increase of 46% from 2003. In the mainstream off-price apparel segment, sales grew about 15% that same year.
With fashion trends being so fickle, however, and the challenges of getting product to market quick enough to be effective in the off-price arena, one analyst posed a question during the conference call about what Citi Trends viewed as its secret to success. Anderson said it related to having an effective, trend-driven buying team with an ability to focus on key looks for the season rather than specific national labels.
"We view the look as more important than the brand. We know that's counter-intuitive to what a lot of people believe about urban fashions, but we really believe it's got to be the right look first and the brand second," Anderson said.
Citi Trends does face competition, but nothing that could be considered a direct similarity. Value-oriented retailers such as Dots and Rainbow also target African-American consumers, but mainly women, as opposed to Citi Trends' focus on family fashion. Most similar perhaps to the concept is AJ Wright, an urban fashion concept of TJX.
Founded in 1946 as Allied Department Stores, a family apparel chain, the company became Citi Trends when acquired in 1999 by a private equity firm. Since the acquisition, Citi Trends has grown from 85 stores to its current size of 236, increased sales per store from $800,000 to $1.1 million in fiscal 2004 and more than doubled annual sales.
Last year, Citi Trends opened 36 stores, while 42 to 45 are scheduled to debut this year, equating to a square-footage growth rate of 20%. Analyst Patrick McKeever of SunTrust Robinson Humphrey characterized the chain as an "early-stage growth retailer" in an initiation report, forecasting maximum potential growth of between 800 and 1,200 stores by the year 2014.

Fall is taking a muted approach for 2006, playing off the neutral colors popular this spring: dark blues, greens, blacks and heather greys are combining with power suits, sweater dresses and dramatic outerwear for next season's fashion. Based on attendance at New York Fashion Week and at the MAGIC show, here are some key trends for women's wear for fall 2006, broken down by category:
* Outerwear: Capes, capelets, hooded trench coats and toggle coats were seen on the runways of designers like Marc Jacobs, Derek Lam, Lacoste, Tuleh and Cloak. At MAGIC, long, wool jackets and pea coats with exaggerated collars were seen in nearly every fashion show. Blazers made out of velvet and corduroy also made prominent appearances.
* Ready-to-wear: Sweater dresses, both at MAGIC and at FashionWeek, were huge. The runways of BCBG, Lacoste, Y-3, Michael Kors and others all had their own interpretation of this piece, which seems to be taking over where last year's wrap dress left off. Vests and power suits (minus the giant shoulder pads) were also key items on the runway.
MAGIC had its own touches of elegance at its show: one of its fashion shows ended with an eveningwear segment, and dress designer Badgley Mischka had a booth for the first time at MAGIC this year.
Bubble skirts made appearances again oil the Calvin Klein, Doo Ri, Twinkle and United Bamboo runways. Not many of these skirts appeared at MAGIC; instead, some vendors seem to be trying to reinvent the bohemian peasant skirt that has been popular in seasons past.
Fashion is finally moving back to age-appropriate dressing, and the youth contemporary section of MAGIC had its own inspiration: the rock rebel culture. Denim mini skirts, off-the-shoulder slouchy shirts and embellished, tattoo-inspired tops pervaded the collection of contemporary offerings, at booths ranging from Everlast to Free People.
* Details and silhouettes: In the youth sector, some hardware (in the form of studs) and embellishment (in the form of embroidery) is still being seen on denim pieces like jackets and pants. Fur as accents on outerwear, or as an entire jacket, loomed even larger this year than in the past. MAGIC showed several fur outerwear pieces on its runways, and traditionally all-denim companies, like Silver Jeans, introduced fur-trimmed bomber ski jackets in an attempt to cash in on this style.
On the runway, plaids, chevron detailing and Asian-inspired looks were also important. Low-rise paints are being replaced with high-waisted ones, as seen at the Calvin Klein, Zac Posen and Richard Chai shows.
* Accessories: Leggings and stovepipe cigarette pants will be important in both the teen and women's markets. Cropped leggings were spotted at the Pepe Jeans booth at MAGIC and on the runways of nearly every designer this season.
Look for small and square sunglasses to replace this season's bug-eyed look. Chain handles will bc the latest look for handbags. Hats will be hot this season again too, ranging in style from berets, to newsboy caps to floppy chapeaus.
COPYRIGHT 2006 Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale Group

Through its limited-edition, quarterly GO International apparel program, Target is continuing to do what it does best: add excitement and buzz about its brand. Apparel continued to be a top performer for the mass retailer in 2005, and the company hopes GO International will help further its fashion credentials even more in 2006.
"GO International is a series of limited-engagement apparel collections from internationally renowned designers geared toward our trend-conscious junior and contemporary customer," said Gregg Steinhafel, Target Stores president, during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call. "She's already shopping in our stores, and it's just a way for us to add freshness and newness ... so we're excited about it."
Target launched the Luella Bartley for Target collection in February. Bartley, a British fashion writer turned designer, is known for her preppy yet punky fashion design. Her collection at Target reflects this, and includes items such as a denim sandblasted biker jacket, $49.99; a heart tattoo screen T-shirt, $12.99; and tartan plaid dress with bubble skirt, $39.99. The entire collection's price points range from $8.99 for a plastic bangle to $149.99 for a suede jacket.
Target's next designer, Canadian-born and Paris-raised Tara Jarmon has a completely different approach to fashion. Although specific pieces or prices for her collection have not been announced, Jarmon's high-end line is known for its refinery and femininity. Her Web site says her line includes "smart and comfortable pieces, colored and sexy but never provocative, embellished with details such as embroidery, bows [and] flowers." The Jarmon for Target collection will land in stores in May.
Target has not announced the designers for its other two collections just yet, but the retailer expects that they will perform well.
"Luella is off to a great start. We're very pleased with her," said Steinhafel. "We expect that the subsequent brand and designer launches will be equally successful."
The GO International program is not Target's first experiment with limited-edition collections in its apparel department. During holiday 2005, Target debuted its limited collection of luxury gifts. It included women's cashmere sweaters with Swarovski crystals and silk scarves. For men, the collection had $29 silk-jacquard ties, silver cufflinks and cashmere sweaters. Also during the holiday season, the retailer sold a 60-day run of merchandise from Italian fashion house Fiorucci.
Target's move to sell limited-edition merchandise most closely mimics the one-off designer series sold by Swedish retailer Hennes & Maurtiz. H&M has had three designer collections in its stores over the past year and a half or so: Fiorucci, Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney. The McCartney collection was so successful that it sold out within a few hours of being in some stores.
Unlike H&M, Target has not chosen designers who are particularly well known in the States. Bartley has more of an identity than Jarmon does. Bartley's handbags sell at high-end department stores, and her collection has shown at New York Fashion Week. Jarmon's high-end line only shows in Paris, and her apparel is not readily found in the United States.
But the GO International program is not as much about driving sales as it is about building upon Target's reputation as a destination for fast fashion and great design, say some retail experts.
"I'm not convinced that the Fiorucci or the Luella collections have really done all that well in terms of sales," said Jane Hall, vp and director of retail and merchandising for the Coleman Research Group. "But it creates excitement, and it makes them a great place to go for those looking for fashion."

"A touch of couture. Everybody deserves a touch of couture."
That's what Tina Knowles said when, on the red carpet at yet another glamorous event, she was asked about the new fashion line that she and daughter Beyonce have launched. Tina emphasizes that House of Dereon is much more than just couture. It is also kick and soul.
Since Beyonce became a pop and fashion icon with megahit girl group Destiny's Child as a teen, the mother-daughter duo has established a reputation for creating and strutting fabulous cutting-edge fashions. Beyonce always has credited her mother, the group's stylist who started designing performance costumes for Beyonce when she was a child.
Tina, Beyonce and Destiny's Child have launched a number of fashion trends. So it's not surprising that mother and daughter would launch their own line. They call it House of Dereon in honor of Tina's late mother, Agnez Dereon, who is their creative inspiration. From Mama Agnez comes the soul. Tina's influence is the couture. Beyonce says she added the kick.
"I'm excited about House of Dereon," says Beyonce. "It's been my dream and my mother's dream for a long time. So many opportunities have come, but I did not want to put my name on something I would not wear, that I was not a part of. We have put together a great team and I have input on every item that we are developing. I add my flavor-the kick-to it all.
"House of Dereon is named after my grandmother, so it is a celebration of three generations," the multitalented artist continues. "I love the clothes from the '70s, my mother's clothes. I love clothes from the '40s, my grandmother's style, so elegant. We wanted to take elements from my grandmother's legacy--the beaded lace, lush colors, fine fabrics--and mix them with clothes from my mother's generation and my generation."
Tina Knowles echoes her daughter's enthusiasm. "I grew up surrounded by great style," says the East Texas and Louisiana native, adding that Beyonce was brought up in that same kind of style-conscious environment. "Dereon is dedicated to my mother's memory and it is a reflection of everything that she brought to both our lives ... My mother was ahead of her time," says Tina, sipping water in the showroom of Dereon's New York offices. On a rack nearby is an original dress created by Mama Agnez. "She used paper to cut her patterns," Tina continues. "She made beautiful dresses for customers and for us. She did a lot of hand-smocking and beading. She crocheted, knitted, upholstered furniture."
Tina says the family "had no money, we grew up poor," and as a child she wondered how her parents could afford to send her and her siblings to private Catholic school. "I later learned that my mother paid part of the tuition by making robes for altar boys, cloaks for the priests and altar cloths for the church. She was really talented. People would come to her for prom dresses and fancy gowns."
Tina adds that her daughters don't sew, but they know about "darts and hemming and what makes clothing fit well." Tina tells of the time that Destiny's Child was scheduled to perform at a U.S. presidential inaugural event for teens, and the wardrobe luggage was lost. When Tina rushed from the venue to find a local store, she forgot her identification and backstage pass. Security would not let her back in. As show time approached, Beyonce and colleagues resorted to embellishing T-shirts and jeans with studs and sequins and were on stage performing--and looking great--by the time Tina fought her way backstage.
That resourcefulness obviously came from the stylist and author who put the girls on the fashion map. Another close call came when, a few hours before she was to perform for Nelson Mandela in South Africa, Beyonce learned she was to do a second number. Tina rushed to the local market to get fabric, cut out a dress "free-hand," stitched up the sides, and wrapped fabric around her daughter's head. "It turned out beautifully," recalls Tina. "We kept the dress as a souvenir; we have a picture of Beyonce wearing it with Mr. Mandela. That time I surprised myself."
Neither fans nor fashion mavens should be surprised by the exquisite selections offered by House of Dereon, which caters to ages 13 to 40. The greatly anticipated holiday and denim collections are now in fine department and specialty stores. "I'm working on fall 2006 right now," says Tina.
"It's my dream, but I'm finding out just how much work is involved," she says of the fashion world. "It's a lot of work. Yet, it is a labor of love for this talented mother-daughter team that seems to be unstoppable on so many fronts.

IF YOU WATCH the fashion pages, you already know that last year's must-have item was designer Roland Mouret's "Galaxy" dress, the curve-accentuating retro number in which Scarlett Johansson strode down the red carpet at the 2005 Oscars. Thanks to a thriving knock-off industry, today you can stroll into the U.K.'s TopShop or browse eBay for bargain copies so close that even Edith Head would have trouble telling the difference.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America is hoping a new proposal to extend copyright protection to clothing designs will compel the most blatant borrowers to, well, knock it off.
Traditionally, fashion has been exempt from American copyright laws, on the grounds that clothing is primarily a functional rather than creative good. The Design Piracy Prohibition Act, introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) would change that, creating a limited three-year term of protection for original clothing designs. Instead of working under the traditional copyright framework, where terms are far longer, the bill would amend a statute granting similar short-term protection to boat hull designs.
Southern Methodist University law professor Susan Scafidi regards the proposal as a "creative and self restrained effort to correct a cultural imbalance": the exclusion of fashion from America's intellectual property rubric--an exclusion, Scafidi argues, that's partly rooted in the fact that fashion has historically been "gendered female, considered a craft and not an art." Meanwhile, the fact that the fashion industry has remained so vibrant for so long has led many to wonder whether the law governing books and movies should look more like the law governing fashion, rather than the other way around.
There's also the possibility that fashion simply follows different rules. In this area, law professors Kal Raustiala of UCLA and Christopher Sprigman of the University of Virginia argue in a recent paper, copying may actually spur innovation, as imitations of each season's hot design creates "induced obsolescence," pushing consumers to demand new and different looks with which to distinguish themselves.

In 1983 the Nike shoe company released a plain white sneaker they trademarked the Nike Air Force One. These were a quality sneaker intended for sportswear sales, being introduced into a market where such footwear was gaining popularity and traction. Initially the Air Force One shoe line was a plain white shoe available in either a low cut or a high top. In 1986 Michael Jordan was contracted for marketing and took to the courts wearing red and black Nike Air Force Ones, which have become a trademark shoe for him since that time. Almost over night the popularity of the shoe boomed.

Upon their sales to the public prices for the Air Force One shoes ranged from $70 to $80 retail for the standard white or black Nike Air Force One and up to $300 for customized colors and logos. Almost instantly this also created a market for wholesale Nike Air Force Ones, but that market was harder to maintain in competition with the larger stores carrying the retail marketing power and recognition.

Corresponding with the release and early popularity of the Nike Air Force One line was the revolution of the Hip Hop movement and the growing trend of Hip Hop clothing. Hip-hop fashion began to gain momentum in the late seventies and continued to survive as a unique culture and fashion through out the early eighties. Marked by clothing with an African American influence, early Hip Hop fashion included the wearing of large glasses, gold necklaces and rings, oversized loose fitting clothing in pallets of black, red and green and an emphasis on brand name footwear, Nike, Addidas that was comfortable and reflective of personal style, often with oversized laces.

Within the Hip Hop fashion culture Nike Air Force One shoes became very popular almost immediately. Bright colored with over sized laces, which were often left untied, or as white sneakers peaking out from under overlong pants Nike Air Force Ones maintained their hold on the Hip Hop market through the late eighties, nineties and continue to hold a strong place beyond the year 2000. They have become a much more casual wear shoe, seen just about everywhere, not only the basketball court.

Currently many top of the market shoe stores sell the Nike Air Force Ones at retail, leaving wholesale Nike Air Force Ones for outlet stores, prices ranging from $70 to over $300, averaging out around $100. In order to combat these prices and take a share of the wholesale Nike Air Force One market many online websites have appeared. They offer discounted prices on these shoes, through wholesale options and bulk orders. This guarantees the authenticity and quality of the shoes, but for a much lower price.

Both advantages and disadvantages exist when it comes to purchasing from an online wholesale sites. The access to a much broader base of merchandise, in this case additional colors and styles of shoes that might not be available in stores and at wholesale pricing, can be kept reasonable, even after shipping and handling. For these reasons, among others, websites such as urbanhotlist.com have become popular with wholesale Nike Air Force One consumers.

Customers must be sure to get a good refund policy before placing an order, so that any defects or sizing problems can be easily addressed. As long as this movement continues it seems that Nike Air Force One shoes will continue to be popular and with websites, consumers will have places to go to get what they want for the price they want to pay.

Description

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Description

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Summary

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Beginning in the 1970s Hip Hop fashion has gone from a fringe cultural group a fast moving fashion trend, particularly in the United States. The greatest popularity of such fashions tends to be along the coasts and in the larger cities. Hip Hop fashion is traced to the African American community but has quickly spread into being a universal clothing style for people of many ethnicities and genders and a mainstay of Hip Hop culture.

Generally Hip Hop clothing, retail or wholesale, is broken into two groups, classic and modern styles. The classic styles are those that were popularized in the 1970s to late 1980s. Modern styles come from the very late eighties, nineties and after 2000.

Classic Hip Hop clothing includes large glasses and sunglasses, multi-finger rings, multiple gold necklaces, and various brand tennis shoes with oversized laces. Hairstyles at this time took on a strong African American influence. These styles included tight jheri curls and dreadlocks as well as closer cut and shaped styles. Red-black-and-green was a common color pallet, sizing towards being baggy and overlarge, which continued into more modern Hip Hop styles. This time period was one of establishing the Hip Hop movement and modern Hip Hop clothing and culture owes its success to these roots.

The more modern style Hip Hop was much affected by musical artists and actors who made popular the wearing of brilliant colors, often neon, and wearing usual clothing items, baseball hats and even condoms, in unusual ways. Some went as far as to wear their clothing backwards. As the year 2000 dawned, and highly influenced by the remake of Scarface Hip Hop clothing styles took on an influence from street thugs and prison inmates. These styles included over sized clothing, large pocketed pants without a belt and military accents in shoes and jackets. Other marks of this change of trend were flannel over shirts, hoodies and gold teeth, or at least gold fixtures.

Currently many places exist where Hip Hop clothing can be acquired. Some of the simplest pieces may come from the corner thrift shop or flea market, but as the Hip Hop style has progressed in complexity these pieces have been picked up by many big markets, charging a big dollar and opening a huge marketplace for wholesale Hip Hop clothing options

Many advantages and disadvantages exist when it comes to working with an online sales sites, Very often there is access to a much broader base of merchandise. The ability for bulk ordering allows the prices of wholesale Hip Hop clothing to be kept very reasonable even after adding the extra charges for shipping and handling.

This is particularly of concern when the merchandise in question is something that requires sizing, such as the clothing lines that have been spoken about here. Fortunately many wholesale Hip Hop styles aren’t fitted, preferring an oversized fit, which addresses many of the sizing concerns, but make sure that any place you are purchasing such items has a returns policy if something arrives damaged or in the wrong size.

No matter whether you prefer the early Hip Hop clothing or more modern choices there are many options for getting the wholesale clothing pieces you want. One thing, however, is for sure. Hip Hop is here to stay.