Fashion Blog Marchesa

The word FASHION

Posted on December 5, 2012 by admin

According to the Irish poet Oscar Wilde, “Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months”. The word ‘fashion’ is used to indicate a change in the tastes of clothing, footwear and other personal accessories. Fashion, when it comes to personal attire, has been flourishing since the Roman times. But, fashion as an event is not restricted to clothes and accessories. The effect of fashion is evident in all facets of the society; paintings, drama, architecture, music, dance, arts, entertainment and even household decoration. Furthermore, fashion is evident in formidable fields like business management, science, medicine, and mortuary practices.

Celebrity fashion plays an important role in marketing

In addition, the success of many commercial products is also due to the significant impacts of fashion. For example, the footwear and apparel industry is always following a rigorous seasonal fashion cycle. They release new designs based on the season: winter/fall collections and spring/summer collections. According to experts, majority of the consumer’s purchasing power that is spent on apparel and footwear is fashion driven rather than need driven. Other products that are clearly fashion driven include cars, furniture, electronic gadgets and so on.

Fashion is a major economic importance in the financial world and it also has a widespread impact on our lives. For this reason, it is important to understand why fashion is adopted by individuals and how designs that are affected by the choice of individuals together leads to the ups and downs of fashion in any industry. In broad terms, sociologists and economists have promoted two major distinctions in fashion. One – fashion signifies wealth. Two – fashion signifies culture. The American poet Henry David Thoreau made a good point when he said “Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but [religiously follows] the new [fashions]”.

The rich community purchases and consumes products that are expensive in order to exhibit their wealth amongst others. As time goes on, these products are also purchased by the middle class community and hence the products lose their value. The rich then move on to purchasing newer ones to show off their wealth. As a result, this process creates a consumption pattern which leads to continuous changes in fashion cycles.

Sociologists argue that fashion signifies culture or good taste. A person’s culture or taste is related to his/her knowledge and experiences of literature, music, art and other such information. People who have a strong culture implement certain symbols to signify their taste or access to diverse information. Gradually, this information becomes widely known to the general public and to those who do not have a very strong culture. As a result, the highly cultured people stop using those products as symbols and move on to newer products to symbolize their culture. Once again this gives rise to cycles in fashion.

About the Author: Melissa Welsh is a content writer who loves writing and a creative thinker as well. At the moment she is writing about fashion and conducting trade promotions with t shirt printing. Follow her on Twitter.

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Online Shopping: Getting What You Want in the Internet

Posted on December 4, 2012 by admin

Don’t you just love how technology works? With the emerging technological advancement that is the internet, people’s lives have been made much easier as far as purchasing different kinds of items including clothes and fashion accessories are concerned. instead of trooping to the department stores or boutiques, you can avail of the latest clothes, shoes, accessories and other trendy items with just a couple of clicks from your computer via purchasing from a fashion or clothing store online.

The only downside, if you would want to consider it, is the risk of getting inferior products from websites and sources that are not really established or have been marked for producing inferior and mediocre items. There are a lot of factors to consider if you plan to shop online so here is a simple guide which will lead you to the right sources and the right products that will give you the best value for what you are paying.

Online shopping can be fun!

Knowing the sources

First thing you would want to do is to make sure of the websites you will be purchasing from. Surely, you already have options or a shortlist of where to buy but before you click on that “buy now” button, let us first try to classify them as much as we can. There are what we call the blogshops or online shops owned by individuals who retails clothes, shoes and other items. They can also be seen posting some of their products in more famous sites like ebay and the like. And there are the more established brands that sell their products through their official websites. Now the difference between the two is that you are much safer to shop with the latter but the former offers you more choices from different brands all at one time. There is really nothing wrong with going for the former, just make sure that you buy from someone who has already established a good reputation among their clients.

Careful examination

Doing your research and careful examination on the pictures of the items that are posted is important if you want to get something that will really equate to value and to what you are really looking for. Try not to settle for a clothing online store that has pictures of shirts and dresses that are just laying on top of a table. Go for the ones that have the items being modeled by real people or at least by mannequins so that you will have an idea as to how the items will look on you. And if there is something that you really want, you can also request for more pictures as well.

Sizing, materials and your rights

As a consumer, you would want to have the best items you can possibly get, therefore, it is important that you find out the materials that were used in creating the items, the actual sizing and of course, your rights to return the product should there be any problems concerning the quality of the products.

About the author: Clarence Reyes has been writing about general fashion and chic handbags for posh-moda.co which she truly loves to death.

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Fall in Love with Some Handbag Trends this Fall 2012

Posted on October 5, 2012 by admin

Fall is the season of the year wherein the scorching hot, beachy-summer fun is ended and the anticipation of the colder and longer nights of winter begins. It is also a time when the colors of the leaves in trees change in splendor. And much like the changes that take place in the environment, the fashion world also keeps in step with the changes of the season. Fall is one of the most exciting seasons in the fashion world as there are trends that really make and leave a lasting impact among women. But as the years pass and the seasons change from year to year, the trends also take shape and evolve. And when it comes to ladies handbags, here are some trends this Fall 2012 that you should keep in step with and will eventually fall in love with as well.

Isaac Mizrahi purse

Going back to basics

Fashion is about progression, innovation and creativity; I guess we all have to agree on that. But sometimes, the basics still come into play and outplay the latest trends. Despite being old, these simple trends prove that they are timeless, and that can be proven with Fall 2012’s handbag picks as the minimal approach takes center stage anew. The minimal shapes of the ladies handbags are what is going to be the “in” thing this fall season. Regardless of the treatment of the bags and the materials that you prefer as some would want the traditional black leather handbags while other prefer other textures like the use of fur and utilizing other embellishments and adornments, it is the minimal shapes that will be the key this season.

Prada satchel

Embroidery makes noise

Another trend that will be a sure fire hit this Fall of 2012 is the use of embroideries in the ladies handbags and purses. Like what we mentioned above, fashion is all about innovation and creativity, and the trends for this year’s Fall season will give you ample room to strut your stuff as far as creativity is concerned. So don’t be afraid to turn your handbags, be it black handbags, canvas or bag that is made of any other material into your very own “canvas” for your artwork. Try to do some embroidering on your plain-looking bags and purses and set the trend this Fall of 2012.

Balenciaga bag

Blood of style and elegance

And when it comes to the colors that are considered to make a stunning impact this Fall, burgundy red or oxblood is the color that you should be seen wearing and carrying as far as your handbags and purses are concerned. Yes, you will never go wrong with black handbags but bags and purses with burgundy color will make you stand out this season. The colors boasts of a different kind of class and elegance, giving you that elite look with a brush of sexiness.

It really doesn’t matter what type of bag or purse you go for as burgundy most likely works great on any of them. But try to go for satchels and clutch bags that have this color to complete your classy look even on the most serious, important or intimate gatherings that you have for the season.

So keep in step with the handbag trends this 2012 and be the star wherever you may go.

About the author: Patricia May has been writing about general fashion and chic handbags which she truly loves to death.

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The History of High Heels

Posted on October 2, 2012 by admin

High heels are a big part of our lives today. We wear them when we go to formal events, on dates, if we have some doubts about our height, etc. High heels are associated with an elongated and sexy female shape and they often increase a woman’s confidence in her appearance. How did it all start, though…?

Murals found from 3500 BC show Egyptians wearing elevated shoes for ceremonial purposes. There is also evidence that butchers from that time also wore such shoes to keep their feet from getting dirty with blood.

Beautiful neon high heels

In ancient Greece and Rome where the theatre was very famous, actors often used such elevated footwear to indicate a difference in the social status of the characters they were representing. Also, since prostitution was legal in Rome, the women who practiced that profession were often recognized by their higher shoes.

There is a widespread theory that concubines and odalisques in the harems of various rulers, were made to wear high heels, not only to look more aesthetically pleasing, but also to be prevented from escaping as these shoes were difficult to run with.

In later years, especially during the Middle Ages, Venetians, amongst others, associated wearing such shoes with a high social status and possession of significant wealth. As the streets were quite muddy in those periods, pattens (higher wooden soles) were attached to the shoe in order to keep it from getting dirty.

A ceramic bowl dating to the 9th century indicates that the platform was divided into a front section and a heel as to make it easier for horse riders to keep their feet in the stirrups. That is also the reason why today’s cowboy boots have a little heel as well.

A model called chopines was designed in Turkey in the 15th century and was famous throughout Europe until the 17th century. These wooden platforms were the first such shoes to be worn exclusively by women.

The fashion sense we give to high heels today is due to Queen Catherine de’ Medici. In 1533 she was supposed to marry the Duke of Orleans who was a tall man with a tall and pretty mistress. As Catherine was a rather short and not-so-beautiful person, she ordered a pair of heels to be made in order to gain height and a more elegant silhouette.

Sexy heels from Le Silla

High heels suffered a bad reputation in the 18th century. They were banned by the Massachusetts Colony as they were believed to be used by women to entrap men. They went so far as to declare any woman who was wearing heels to be a witch because the heel was thought to be a representation of the Devil’s hoofs. In 1971, Napoleon also banned high heels due to his equality policy and the idea that no single sign should separate the higher from the lower classes of society.

High heels emerged again much later, in the 1920s when hem lines were going higher and higher and there was a need for a more elegant shoe rather than simple comfortable ones. In the 1930s and 1940s, however, due to the Depression and WWII, the designs were mostly shorter and wider as, again, the need for comfort, was most important.

The stiletto heel, as we know it today, was created in the 1950s by Christian Dior and Roger Vivier. Feminists rose against it, though, as according to them, it represented discrimination and male oppression. In the 1960s and 70s, when the hippy culture was dominating, heels were left behind by platform shoes, only to emerge again in the 1980s when the idea that wearing high heels was pleasing to women was first introduced.

Edmundo Castillo heeled sandals

Today’s shoe industry is indebted to Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo. They were the first designers who let their models walk in stilettos on the catwalks in the 1980s and 1990s. Manolo Blahnik even invented the heelless high heel in 2006, totally revolutionising our perception of fashionable shoes. Their coveted shoes are also more freely available through internet shopping, also enabling the general public to obtain designer shoes at discounted prices.

We have so many choices and such unprecedented access to heeled shoes today… If only Napoleon and The Massachusetts Colony could see the high heel races organized all over the world, and understand that today a woman wearing high heels is considered elegant and stylish.

Rita Rova writes fashion articles for www.love-my-coupons.com; the home of coupon codes for Australia’s top fashion stores.

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Getting Smoky Eyes without the Backbreaking Work

Posted on October 2, 2012 by admin

There’s something about smoky, smoldering eyes that make a nightout look complete. Even the Hollywood red carpet shows just how timeless and dramatic this eye makeup is! But what if you lack the time, necessary research, or plain magical hands to transform those plain eyes with a touch of eye cosmetics? What could potentially save the day (or ladies’ night)?
Easy: follow this quick, fuss-free resource on smoky eyes! The first tip? Go for black, gray, brown, or dark shadows and liners to have the best impact possible. Blue shades are quite a no-no, unless you want to look like under-eye circles are having a party on your face.

Kim Kardashian loves smoky eyes!

Follow these steps to doing your eye makeup. Thanks to Marie Claire for the tutorial!

Apply a cream concealer over your eyelid. This will create a smooth base for your eyeshadow.
Use a black or gray pencil liner for tracing your top lash line, from the inner to the outer corner. Afterwards, use the same pencil to dot between your lower lashes. Afterwards, smudge both lash line with an eyeliner brush or a plain cotton swab.
Sweep preferably brown, gray, and dark green shadow over your eyelid and going into your crease. Blend the color up and outward. Here’s a handy tip” prevent color from fading – and offer a more shimmery finish to your lids – by patting a cream shadow over the concealer on your lid. After five minutes or so, top it with a powder shadow that matches the original color.
Dust a lighter, neutral eyeshadow over your browbone. Colors like ivory are recommended!
Finish with two coats of sexy black mascara.

You see, achieving a sultry look like smoky eyes isn’t rocket science at all – what you simply need is the right information (and a YouTube instructional video while you’re at it) to get the hottest tips and ideas. The above steps, for instance, are highly doable that you’ll wonder where they’ve been hiding all along!

Sexy smoldering smoky eyes on the runway

Here are bonus eye makeup tips from About.com:

Use a concealer to prep your eyes – use it to hide under-eye circles or the discoloration present under your inner eye. For concealing undereye circles, apply three concealer dots under each eye and patting it with your ring finger until it disappears.
Use a highlighter to brighten those eyes – apply a bit of your lightest eyeshadow in the inner corner of your eye to bright it instantly. A true makeup artist’s well-kept secret, if you ask us!
Don’t forget to highlight your brow! Take the same light eyeshadow. Dab it on your browbone, focusing on the mid-brow outward. Use your finger to blend.
Curl those eyelashes – you may also heat the curler for added effect. Do it by putting the curler under a blow dryer for a number of seconds. Test the curler before applying to your lashes, because there’s the danger of burning yourself.
Mascara is a must! A few sweeps of the wand and you can transform your eye area further. Don’t forget your bottom lashes, too.

Author bio:
Chrissy Cruz is always on the lookout for beauty and cosmetics news, so she decided to get the news herself and blog about products – from Revitalash reviews to new Mac releases – on her personal site.

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T Magazine: Edible Selby | Bell De Jour

Posted on October 1, 2012 by admin

How an artist and former waitress created the Dinner Bell, a supper club held at her home in Long Island.

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On the Runway Blog: Givenchy: Coming Up for Air at Paris Fashion Week

Posted on October 1, 2012 by admin

Givenchy’s Paris Fashion Week show didn’t present the most challengingly new collection, but for Riccardo Tisci it was the equivalent of taking a deep breath and perhaps entering a different phase of his career.