Designs On Society: Fashion & Politics

'Fashion & Politics', the current exhibition at the Museum at FIT, explores the relationship between fashion and the ever-changing political and social climates since the nineteenth century. The more than one hundred costumes, textiles, and accessories on display reflect not only overt political themes, like the white cotton “Ike” print dress, circa 1956, but also purely cultural movements, exemplified by the liberating “Aesthetic” dress silhouettes of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Since the exhibition is arranged chronologically, it provides a visual timeline of the social and political development of the first half of the twentieth-century. Rising hemlines and increasingly functional women’s garments culminate in two sharply contrasting WWII looks: a denim “Rosie the Riveter” factory jumpsuit and a sleek W.A.V.E.S. uniform designed by American couturier, Mainbocher, for the U.S. Navy.

Silk faille cocktail dress

The postwar 50’s saw a return to more conservative women’s fashions due to the rise of suburbia and the popular belief that women should abandon their wartime independence in favor of more domestic roles. The silk faille Saks Fifth Avenue Cocktail Dress, circa 1953, was perfect for chic at-home entertaining.

Of course, the 1950’s also witnessed the rise of the teenager as a cultural force and as the second half of the twentieth century unfolds, fashion becomes increasingly explicit, addressing such issues as communism and environmentalism. The most recent pieces in the exhibit reflect the current obsession with politics and social change, including Jean-Charles de Castelbajac’s sequin mini-dress, which pays homage to the designer’s fascination with Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign.

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF FASHION????????

Advantages: Wearing stylish, yet clean-cut tailored clothes can cause others to take you more seriously in the office. Dressing consevatively in a court of law shows respect. Men tent to be liked more by women when they are well groomed. Having a personal style that is unique, yet fashionable can give a person more confidence. Trendily dressed people tend to attract more positive attention. Dressing age appropriately causes people to respect you more. People who are not dressed age appropriately tend to attract scorn and ridicule. Dressing in certain ways can give a woman a more flattering (usually slim hourglass) sillouhette. She can call attention to the parts of herself that she likes (like chiseled abs) and away from those she doesn't (like curvy or flabby thighs). That way, she does not have to feel self conscious. Those who enjoy fashion consider it a form of art.

Disadvantages: Among girls and young women, ridiculing each other's outfits and appearances can be a form of bullying. The appearances of the homeless can keep people from offering them jobs. Fashion models tend to be skinny to the extent that it is extremely unhealthy. People may feel uncomfortable physically becayse of peer pressure not to wear a "dorky" coat or to wear uncomortable shoes. Fashion can consume money and resources that could be put to uses that help society more. Older children can feel pressured to grow up too fast. 10-year-old girls may want to shave their legs . People may support stores that use sweatshop labor because their priority is finding clothes that are "cute &cheap" or they think that the clothes from fair-trade stores are "hippie clothes." This is not true. Thegreenloop.com and fairiesdance.com ave some really cute clothes that are coop-america (and fashionista) approved. Macy's and H&M have pretty good (although not perfect) track records as to how they treat workers.

Noyon Spring/Summer 2010 Collection

Colors

Powdery pastels in flesh and blusher shades: ivory, beige, pink, lavender, turquoise.

 

Brights come in plain, tone-on-tone or multicolored versions: violet, fuchsia, yellow and orange through to red.

 

Tutti Flowers

Flowers grab the power for a very feminine theme in which colors run riot. Inspired by the hippie era, the mystery of oriental gardens, tropical luxuriance and naive meadow flowers, they bloom over lace in a thousand and one motifs. Lace is their natural habitat, where they open up cheerfully, in turn shy and dainty, even fragile, or bright and powerful!

 

Shot pink and proud poppy are the emblems of this peaceful revolution in lace!

Souvenirs

Working with the sheer wealth of Noyon heritage: lace for Summer 2010 travels back in time, delving into the archives for designs that are then reworked and brought bang up to date. Rediscovering granny's petticoats and the sheath dresses of femmes fatales from 1900 to 1940. Bygone days, yet not forgotten, when lace was the height of elegance!

 

Graffiti

Influenced by architecture, contemporary art and design for lace combining graphic effects: geometrical motifs, mosaics, random stripes punctuated with arabesques and friezes. Lace with a decidedly modern flavor embraces the spirit of the times.

The Meaning of Color in Fashion

We all come across color on a daily basis without paying much attention to the subtle messages we send, receive and interpret based on the colors we wear. The way we respond to color is influenced by a mixture of biological, psychological, social and cultural factors – while some meanings are hard-wired biological adaptations, the messages most colors communicate are a result of dynamic cultural and social factors.

Here's a key to communicating with color, based on symbolism in contemporary Western societies:

The Color White

White is the sum of all other colors in the spectrum, reflects light and is considered a summer color. Wearing white keeps you cool and contrasts bright colors of spring and summer nicely. Brides wear white to symbolize innocence and purity. Doctors and nurses traditionally wear white to imply sterility.

White can expose you to fashion faux pas, however, since lightweight fabrics in this color easily reveal visible panty lines and/or colors and patterns of underwear. Wear a thong, Spanx or flesh-toned undergarments to avoid arming standers-by with x-ray vision.

White clothes show dirt easily and are therefore much more difficult to keep clean than other colors. The no-white after Labor Day rule is a bit outdated, but getting it right requires a bit of an expert eye.

The Color Black

Black absorbs light and is hands-down the most stylish and timeless color in the world of fashion. This legendary status may be in part due to the fact that black makes people look thinner. Dramatic black is often worn by creative types, and in our commercial society black is the color of authority and power. No wonder the little black dress is the perfect number!

The Color Red

Red is the color of passion and love, and the most emotionally intense color. Red also produces a biological response, getting people all hot and bothered by quickening the pulse and increasing the breathing rate.

While red is definitely regarded as a sexy color that draws attention, red also makes the wearer look heavier and is an appetite stimulant – perhaps this explains common weight gain during the holiday season. Red can also appear confrontational – think of matadors – so avoid red when carrying out negotiations, as it may work against you.

The Color Pink

Pink is a very gentle and calming color that stimulates feelings of innocent romance, in contrast to the lusty emotions linked with red. Pale pink draws energy and relaxes making its wearers more approachable; this makes pale pink a wonderful color to wear on a date!

The Color Purple

Purple is a color rarely found in nature – a fact that instantly draws attention to anyone wearing it and sometimes makes it appear artificial. Purple has traditionally represented luxury, royalty, wealth and sophistication; purple is a color of power also has a feminine and romantic appeal, especially lighter shades.

The Color Blue

Blue is one of the most popular colors. After all, it is found so many places on our planet: from the sky to the ocean, to baby blue eyes, to the forever-fashionable blue jean. Blue usually produces the opposite emotional response of the color red; blue stimulates a chemical reaction in the body, producing feelings of peace and tranquility, so blue is the perfect shade for yoga apparel.

Fashion consultants advise wearing blue to job interviews because it has been shown to symbolize loyalty.

The Color Green

A calming and refreshing color, green represents nature. Green is easy on the eye, and studies suggest that it may even improve vision!

The color of money, dark green is masculine, and suggests wealth. Related to this message of prosperity, medieval brides wore green to symbolize fertility and fruitfulness.

The Color Yellow

The most difficult color for the eye to process, yellow can be overpowering – perhaps this is why people tend to lose their tempers and babies cry more in yellow rooms. Yellow is a cheery color, though, and does have its positive attributes: over and above attracting attention, yellow enhances concentration, which would explain its use for post-its and legal pads. It is also believed that yellow may speed up your metabolism!

The Color Orange

Wearing orange is a fantastic way to command attention. A combination of passionate red and happy yellow, orange shares moderated attributes of both colors. Like yellow, orange is intellectually stimulating, but also signifies warmth, energy, change, and health. Like red, orange is very stimulating, but orange (and especially peachy orange) is less aggressive and more soothing.

The Color Brown

Brown is an earthy color that is abundant in nature, which makes it perfect for safari styles. Shades of brown symbolize reliability and structure, so it's an ideal shade to wear in the office.

Fashion Designing Vs Costume Designing

Though fashion designing is now a day gaining much attention, importance and preference, one more profession which is more related to fashion designing and having a vast scope but not that much gained attention and preference is "Costume Designing".The success of any movie or drama serial also depends on the characters costume but the audiences are mainly interested only to know about the actor, director, musician, lyricist, chromatographer or choreographer but hardly anybody interested in to know about the costume designer.

The dynamic growth of entertainment media -Television, Cinema, and technology etc., has lead to budding of number of TV channels and making of increased number of movies either nationally or regionally. The TV channels have to come up with more number of drama serials, programmes, shows in order to attract more number of viewers. Every channel whether it is a kid channel, sports channel, news channel or commercial, all have various programmes, specialty shows, drama serials. all need a Right Costume rather to say a good costume.Costume Designing

Costume designing is an art of designing or choosing or procuring a suitable/right costume-from dresses to accessories-to a character/presenter in a play or movie or show.

Changes in Fashion Trends Among Women in India

Fashion plays an increasingly important role in an individual’s life because it is considered as a means of self-expression. The garments and accessories that women wear, help them to identify with a group of others-whether it is a lifestyle, profession, a religion, or an attitude. Thus, the term “fashion” has become synonymous with the overall growth of the country as well.

Several factors contribute to the evolution of fashion as a whole. It is a widely accepted fact that the rich and the famous, and the political figures and royalty have always moved the seasonal trends of fashion. The advertising media also contributes equally to update us about the daily style checks.

Fashion in India, a land rich in culture and tradition, has evolved through the centuries. This country, rich in culture represents a kaleidoscope of changing trends and traditions. Here, clothes perform different functions depending on the occasion. Be it festivals, parties, profession, or just a matter of reflecting attitude...fashion is simply ‘in’.

Right from women who sport a dash of vermilion in the parting of their hair, to professionals on the go who wield the ladle and the laptop with equal ease, fashion forms an integral part of their lives. Today, fashion, for women, does not necessarily mean glamour, or the urge to follow the current trends. It is more a way of life, a reflection of inner beauty, where the intellect shines through, complete with comfort quotient.

Fashion not only highlights the social history and the needs of women, but also the overall cultural aesthetic of the various periods. The evolution of fashion dates back to several hundred years and as our attitude and culture change, fashion comes along with it.

In India, the fashion scenario was different in different political periods. During the British rule in India, the fashion trend within high society was strongly influenced by the British fashion style and western clothes became a status symbol in India.

Again during 1930s, emergence of different ideologies like communism, socialism and fascism imparted a more feminine and conservative touch to the women’s fashion. However the period also witnessed the predominance of body hugging dresses with dark shades. The foundation of the Indian cinema also proved to be the strongest influence on revolutionizing the fashion scene in those days.

1940s was a decade marked by the second World War and the ensuing independence of India. Hence the period portrayed relatively simple yet functional women’s clothing. During 1950s, the advent of art colleges and schools led to popularity of narrow waist and balloon skirts with bouncing patterns. Also, the adoption of khadi by Mahatma Gandhi made khadi garments a rage among women.

In the 1960s, the sweeping changes in fashion and lifestyle resulted in highly versatile fashion trends. In 1970s, the traditional material were exported in bulk to other nations. Thus, excess of export materials were sold within the country itself, which resulted in popularity of international fashion in India.

During 1980s and 90s, the advent of television and other advertising means gave a new edge to the Indian fashion scene. Influenced by ideas of several foreign designers, new design & pattern were introduced into garments. During these periods, power dressing and corporate look were the style statement. The revival of ethnicity was also witnessed in these decades.

Fashion trends keep changing and most fashion divas and models are the one to make them. The youth is a major follower of fashion trends. Fashion trends also get influenced from Bollywood as well as Hollywood. Metros like Mumbai and Delhi witness the quick changes in fashion especially in college going crowds.

Thus we see how fashion for women in India has changed over the decades. Not only India, but the whole world has witnessed changes in fashion statements for both men and women.

Top 10 Spring Fashion Trends

With spring already in tow, we’re seeing a lot of new and different styles gracing the covers of magazines, the catwalks and of course, the streets. So here are the top 10 spring fashion trends to watch out for this year!

1.Asymmetrical Tops and Dresses

 

Everyone looks great and asymmetrically cut garments, so I was excited when I saw so many designers had opted for this look. This spring, go for asymmetrical skirts, dresses and tops.

2. White Dresses

Show your inner goddess this spring by replacing your LBD with your LWD. Instead of the simple LBD though, go for sheer and frilly white dresses that scream elegant, playful, and feminine.

3. High-Waisted Everything

 

If you can pull off the high-waisted look, kudos to you! Unfortunately, I’m not a big fan, but I still appreciate the look of it - on those that can pull it off of course. This spring, go for everything high-waisted from shorts, to pants to skirts.

4. Jumpers

 

Pantsuits and shortsuits are in, aka jumpers, so don’t be afraid to try this trend just make sure you don’t pull them out of your 80s closet. This time, jumpers are a little more drapey and simple than you might have remembered them back in the day.

5. Sheer Fabrics

 

Sheer fabrics are super feminine and elegant and this season you’ll see them everywhere! Sheer tops and sheer dresses covered the runways, but on the street, please make sure you wear a light tank or slip underneath a sheer garment.

 

6. Harem Pants

Again, if you can pull these babies off, wear them! If you’re not very thin though, these pants might make your hips 10 times wider than they actually are, so I would suggest putting those aside for now.

7. Cleopatra Styles

And now we travel back in time to Egyptian fashions, like Cleopatra’s. You’ll see tons of jeweled necklines and gold accents.

8. Bohemian

Bohemian styles are making a comeback yet again, and I have absolutely no problem with that! Go for peasant blouses and skirts, flowery prints and loose-fitting garments to get the look.

9. Lots of Color

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, color is the it thing this season. Think bright, tropical hues such as green and mango.

10. Bows and Ruffles

If you’re a girly girl, you’ll love this one. Bows and ruffles are coming back like nothing else and they’ll be adorning everything from dresses to accessories.