Honk Kong Fashion Week - Spring/Summer October 31, 2007
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Fashion & Apparel Accessories October 29, 2007
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LANGUAGE OF TEXT: English PUBLICATION DATE: Before 30th of every June and December. —————————————————————————- For those who are in search of quality conscious suppliers to deal with, it is an indispensable guide to source profitable and price-competitive products, or alternative suppliers.HERE’S WHAT IT GIVES YOU: |
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Fabrics Moving Toward Trend-consciousness October 18, 2007
Posted by wenbi in : Fashion , add a commentttnet.net - [2007/05/04]
Fashion comes and goes too often. Now, people are rethinking the good old values, traditions, class and style, looking back in time and reinventing these old treasures while diving into the past looking for something to reposition themselves, cherish historical costume couture art and translate it into contemporary fashion. We therefore see a more contemplative vision than a quick jump into trends and hypes. As doing this, we have the enough reasons for nostalgia trends, retro-trends, romanticism, Bohemian moods, echoes of folk and ethnics, and country life, new upper class luxury with reduced opulence, the classics in styles, conservatism styled with elegance and class, translated into very feminine styles. After a long period with too much opulence and colors, we need something peaceful, elegant, sophisticated and differently luxury. Sophisticated sporty looks in luxury glamorous fabrics grab attentions of fashion-sensitive shoppers.
Futurism & Metallics
Here comes a fashion transition happening at the moment with romance in dress, versus futurism in dress. Coming seasons follow futuristic space age looks, gleaming shining iridescent fabrics, romantic folkloric delicate softness, sporty slouchy looks, body conscious sculpting and an 80s neon color vibe. Futurism is an up-and-coming trend that will lead us into 2008. The metallic fabric, either in silver or gold sequins, becomes personal decorative jewelry. That¡¦s because with the metallic shimmer look, consumers need minimal jewelry. Cream jacquard fabrics enable expensive looking matching dresses and coats. This year, hemlines have been rising steadily. Lace is used as a border technique on clothes and helps create the illusion hemline.
The Echoes of Nature
The earth fascinates us with their natural expressions of textures and sparkles and enriches our inspiration to create the fashion textiles in more relaxed styles and designs. Natural fabrics like linen get mixed with silver or gold threads to capture that shimmer of the season. Fabrics patterned with blooms, roses, sprigs, botanical embellishment and floral trails, jungle plants or very bold prints with lush cabbage flowers are quite adorned. African and sepia animal prints tune with botanical and massed floral prints and futuristic textured fabrics. As combined with futuristic silhouettes, glamour zebra, leopard, tigers, cows and giraffes are all adapted as animal prints evolve into modern looks with a modern feel. These wildlife prints give a sense to get close to the nature. Green concept has been applied in performance fabrics. It refers to yarn manufactured from organic cotton and recyclable fibers. Today, however, a more environmentally conscious consumer not only is more receptive to these types of innovations, but also is demanding them. Consumers prefer the fabrics with natural, structured surface along with a handcrafted knit effect. Recent emphasis on ¡§green¡¨ has directed a highlight on bamboo as a natural fiber that provides luster as well as superior performance in terms of antimicrobial properties, dyeability, moisture absorption and breathability.
Healthy & Comfortable Wearing
New technology is applied to dress socks to provide moisture wicking, storing and releasing of body heat and destruction of odor-causing bacteria. Some new fabrics are designed to freely keep warm and release heat. Moreover, they are infused with silver particles to resist odors. Outerwear is made with new water-repellent finishes for cotton fabrics, yet, never reducing its breathability and durability. Spacer fabrics are increasingly used. The inner mesh of monofilaments crisscrossing between the fabric¡¦s two surface layers provides lightweight structural integrity, resilience and flexibility. Spacer fabrics also feature superior air and moisture permeability and temperature regulation and are easily washed and quick-drying to enable a hygienic wearing.
Fashion Palette
Strawberry ice, apricot gold, silver and blue are trendy colors for springtime. Colors of the forest after the rain, an infinite variety of greens and browns are seasonal hues for spring and summer. Brilliant blue is back. Sky blue, electric blue, brilliant ultramarine blue make a comeback to the fashion trends within the color palette. Golden apricot, sky blue, opal gray, clear greens and coffee cream as well as gemstone colors in rich slinky satins are hot for summertime. The chalky pastel colors work well with summer romance in lightest blues, mauves, orchid pinks and sweet wrapper metallic colors. Tangerine will linger to terracotta by autumn. Purple is welcome in spring but it has warmed into hollyhock tones that will move toward next autumn. The warm earthen tones plus golds, reds and violets will be key tone in the fashion palette through autumn & winter.
Household Textile
We see some new trends in home fabrics, curtain fabrics, tablecloths, bed linens, bathroom textiles and carpets. Generally speaking, household fabrics textiles emphasize on their functional qualities and, meanwhile their aesthetic glamour. For instance, blackout fabrics come in with more homely colors and eye-catching designs. Textiles with high smoke or noise absorption functions are also welcome. Curtains are gorgeously dressed up with trimmings. Simple, modern versions, in plain, clear colors are the mainstay. Plastic magnet curtain restrainers in graphic or romantic designs are used to secure the fabric in the desired position on both sides.
Trend-conscious tablecloths present Mediterranean, Asian or country house ambiance. We see table lines in graphic and floral elements, perfectly mixed for charming designs. Sixties-style bed linen is still hot. Checks and stripes, cream, caramel and stone are popular patterns and colors. Bathroom textiles come in the palette from pale pink to fuchsia red, from pale blue to deep midnight and from soft Reseda to bright grass green. Patterned towels come in stripe and check designs, floral and climber patterns or opulent Baroque and camouflage layouts. The latest carpet designs have lighter, softer shades like nougat, midnight blue, honey and putty as well as abstract floral designs and fluid stripes. Multicoloured stripes, carpets adorned with large puzzles are welcomed youthful furnishing style.
Nature, Retro-style, Ethnic Jump on Fabrics
Posted by wenbi in : Fashion , add a commentttnet.net - [2007/01/04]
Somewhat weary of too opulent luxury, consumers shy away from all the loud colors and the glitter trends of the last few seasons. We see more subdued looks in 2007, full of natural colors, animal prints, retro-styles and ethnic themes. The summon of nature draws people getting close to it and see natural beauty as it comes. People not only see a heaven in a wild flower, but in an inset, an animal, a mineral and even a stone. These natural creations tickle our inspiration to create exciting new waves for fashion textiles.
The romantic aesthetics in fashion also includes ultra-feminine silhouettes and makes apparels full of excessive shapes and styles such as the A-lines, the strapless poufs, shifts, columns and trapeze shapes. The shift spurs our needs for the materials used to render continuous elegance, feminine looks and poetic style.
The up-and-coming apparels will be less opulent but more functional, comfortable and oversized. We start to yearn for those “good old days” at the 1950s and 80s, the times when everything was simpler, yet sweeter and more enjoyable. Retro-style classic harmonizes with contemporary materials in a pure, simple and joyful way. Some have a vintage look yet are also renewed with a touch of craft and art.
Here come the echoes of folk and ethnics of several countries. The images of folk remind us of country life in large castles and in mansions surrounded by wide land. Ethnic themes abound with exotic beauty and romance. Oriental dressing is typically characterized with coats, jackets, evening pants and dresses, made of fabric filled with the embroidery, print or damask weave of exotic birds, feathers, chrysanthemum blooms, luscious peony forms, leaves and heraldic forms.
Color Accents
Black and white is just right for spring. All shades of blue ranging from icy blue to peacock blues and teals are for summer. And warm earthen tones, gold, red and viola colors are the choices for fall and winter seasons. Bright colors are still welcomed, especially when accentuated by bright shots of color. White continues to be a popular color, especially as paired with black or splashes of color. Lime, yellow, purple, cobalt blue and light blue are more often used on dresses. Deep warm, tone-in-tone colors usually alternate with strong color accents. Growing popular are earthy tones with sun dried rich ochre, sandy light and dark, warm and cool neutrals, naturals and skin tones; humid blue ocean and frosty colors. Pink is still around, yet it is either warmer becoming more coral or watermelon toned. Unusual hues from blue-gray to golden taupe to earthy red give a light of mystery. Retro style leads to the inspiration translated into essential basic colors, grays, taupe, and black & white together with clear color accents.
Patterns & Prints
Ethnic theme is seen on those prints with raw edges, tropical vegetation and exotic birds such as toucans and parrots. The love for nature also incurs a passion for animal prints such as leopard, cheetah motives. However, pattern combined with prints such as spots with chevrons compete with animal prints. The love of animal print has not abated with animal print trench coats, animal print shoes and cuffs. Retro prints, usually abstract imagery, come in multiple design motifs, making print fabric a geometric quality. The oversized floral textiles around have the effects seen in impressionist qualities. A pointillist approach enables overblown flower prints exotic and fantasy like. New classic with comfort features graphic form details.
Fabric Focuses
Yarns are becoming more rustic, yet having a lightweight looking in autumn/ winter fashion. For a more feminine spirit, silk is treated in a sophisticated, even extravagant manner. Rich satins in the jewel tones are the fresh fashion fabric trend for autumn. For spring and summer seasons, clean qualities of poplins, crêpes and denim are in wool, linen, cotton and blends. One of the strongest textural uses of yarn is definitely the revival of the cable knit pattern. Light, natural, refined materials such as cotton, summer wool and linen are in pure or mixed versions. Layering and blending of textures are moved up to a new art form with the use of organza, gorgeous feather-light knits and gossamer chiffons. All played a hand in giving clothes a sumptuous, light touch.
Cottons are important, yet are often combined with nylon or polyester, for a touch of modernity. Cotton and linen are reinforced in a fresh, slightly rustic mood. Clean qualities of canvas, gabardine, denim and poplin for fresh cotton hands. Canvas is captivated by new whimsical prints of flowers, dots and stripes. The dry, rougher looking fabrics yet in skin-friendly qualities are made by blending with natural fibers such as linen and jute, straw and raffia in sophisticated technology. Lace theme sticks to the hole like meshes, crochet and macramé. Lace, crochet and embroidery render clothes with romantic expression and, meanwhile, a modern feeling.
Denim is ever popular, pared with in every style. Washed jeans have passed in favor of denim jeans that look like a brand-new one. Plaid fabrics are strongly bold in larger than usual scale in black and white. Surprising bursts of color mean there will be red tartans which par well in taffetas. Taffeta textiles are used to create flamenco ruffles. Fabrics made from earth-friendly materials, especially in bamboo, are gaining interests from eco-conscious customers.
Looking Different Simply by Accessorizing
Posted by wenbi in : Fashion , add a commentttnet.net - [2006/12/04]
By the second half of 2006, fashion apparel will become more streamlined and subdued. Opulence is out; understatement is in, alongside quality, elegance, and a cool classic look. In the wake of a long period with too much opulence, color, shine and crazy fashion design, our mind and eyes are itching for some peace, elegance, sophistication, and a different kind of luxury. A return to a more classic way of dressing just enables a sense of getting everything right. Sporty casualness maintains en vogue with a playful mix of casual and classic chic. The fashion of apparel changes all the time, so does that of accessories. Apparel accessories belong to a vogue-sensitive business that fares well in both strong and weak economic climates. Despite of the soaring prices of energy and precious metals, consumers even can¡¦t afford a whole new outfit and they are also capable of updating their look at a minimal cost with accessories. We want the extra values of modern and high-tech innovation to be experienced for less money.
Here, we also see apparel accessories improving on all coverage, from fundamental items to super luxury. Some hot items making a comeback for the ladies include wedge heels, retro British leather shoes, unstructured hobo bags, saddle multi-pocketed bag in suiting fabric, tweed caps and, of course, iPod cases, a just-right example to illustrate how accessories react to trends rapidly and overwhelmingly.
Handbags
Handbags are one of the best-selling accessories. They are vital pieces of equipment for a woman as she uses to carry all her most crucial possessions. Handbags have plenty of accessories such as pockets, dangling charms, key rings, tassels, leather appliqué, free form logo attachments, and metal and non-mental ornaments as buckles, gold and steel tone studs, crystal beads and leather rouleau bows. In leather handbag sector, apart from beige, white tones and pearlized finishes, metallics are the spokesmen of “neutral” trend. The top sellers are bronze, gold and pewter tones. The fashionable oversized handbags are often textured and embellished. The texture primarily includes the use of furs and tweeds yet now also includes knitting, macramé, Suffolk patchwork puffs, lace or crochet, leather gold studded surfaces, woven, etc. For esthetic reason, some bags are embellished with tassels, ties and bold, or gold hardware details such as turnlock closures, chains and zippers, eyelets and over embroidered with raffia, and embedded with gemstones such as turquoise.
Hats & Caps
Hat business showed somewhat a downturn in 2005 years as hats were reduced to an impulse buy as compared to handbags. The neutral trend is also seen on hats, basically in metallics or more subtle metallic flecks. Some are also blended with straw such as fabric, embroidery, beading or sequin touches. Fabrics like jacquard or damask enable a vintage touch. Cloches shape the fashion, also brilliant in vintage style. Felt fabrics with minimal embellishments steal the hearts of wearers. Natural materials and hand-crafted techniques are quite stylish in 2006 in accents on straws.
Shoes & Boots
Many shoes in velvet or suede, some also decorated with diamante create sumptuous footwear with a decadent feel. Evening sandals have feather and decorative jewel trims. Retro shoes have lots of lavish fur or are laced thirties style. Shoes of bamboo stilt style wedge stacks and wedges grant interesting footwear options. Denim rope on skirt hems keeps in vogue and we also see this influence on the designs of sandals and shoes. For wearable elevation, wedges or thicker stacked heels in layered wooden, cork or fabric covered are smart choices. Shoes are sometimes in fabrics such as brocade and compact tweeds.
Boots are the big footwear statement. People are looking for boots with laces, fur cuffs, stud eyelets, fur up the sides, knee boots, crocodile boots, moccasin slouch boots with ikat and Inca designs, boots with grommets and biker buckles, flat boots, heeled boots and wedge.
Belts & Buckles
Belts are largely spurred by ready-to-wear trends such as peasant skirts, blousy tops and coats. Farewell to years of hip-hugging styles, the new waistline is right under the bosom, focused with a belt. Meanwhile, as jeans are crammed into everyone’s wardrobe, belts greatly benefited as a must-have item, both in jean belt styles and in wider contour belts worn below belt loops. Now, belts have moved up from the hip and are on the waist and mostly waist cinching statement pieces as well. There is a wide range of trendy belt styles such as embellished buckles, woven straps, patchwork leathers and sash belts. Several belts are made from grosgrain ribbon to enable a new look for a long established material. Vintage-style leathers and Western-style buckles are evergreen options. The newest fashion tends to be shifting to straps with unadorned metal buckles and tie closures.
Scarves
Scarves in a ravishing material, wonderful complexion offer an instant way to catch attention with fashion colors and mix. Now they have come back, ideal for all ages. As for prints and patterns, floral motifs and geometrics are warmly welcome while textured solids with a form of embellishment such as appliqués, and beadwork are still popular. Satin beaded sashes are sold well as sometimes doubled as embellished skinny scarves. Often crochet is a dominant theme as texture, detail and dimension turn more crucial than patterns.
Furs
Furs are the token of youthfulness, attractiveness, sex-appeal and a sense of well-being. The three mainstream designs are classicism, purism and modernism. Classicism emphasizes more on means the silhouette than on the up-to-date decorative elements to present design aesthetic and fidelity. Classic fur types include mink, chinchilla, Persian lamb and fox, in minimalism design, clear lines and the latest processing techniques. Romantic purism combines a clean, classic line with a subtle touch of romantic or folkloristic elements in lightweight sheared furs like Persian lamb. Modernism seeks to break the barriers of tradition and explores new dimensions in fur design, such as an experiment with unexpected material combinations and unusual silhouettes, etc.
Fabrics in Ritzy yet Understated Manner
Posted by wenbi in : Fashion , add a commentttnet.net - [2006/10/05]
As minimalism faded away, women are now confident to dress up and to experience luxury. This encourages them in use of more luxurious fabrics. We continue to see the mélanges of natural ingredients blended with technical outcomes in fiber development. For example, we see a comeback of using heavier weight woolens, brushed finishes and decorative details for a more opulent and fantasy approach. In pursuit of new opulence, people snap up luxurious fabrics including duchesse satin, elaborated jacquards, richly textured brocades, organza moiré and silk jersey. Some bygone techniques tend to revive, including old handcrafts and fabric manipulation, shaping entire fashion landscape throughout 2007.
The rising concerns about chemical toxicity in our surroundings have led to a call for “healthy” textiles, no matter it is clothing, bedding, or upholstery. Consumers are demanding healthier textiles that take the overall production process into account to ensure no chemical residue on the finished products.
Colors & Shades
Colors are in motion; they spice the season. In coming season, one color will have multiple tone nuances, namely printed mixes to generate special effects with the textiles. Thus, no single color can dominate seasonal palette. Colors with dark shades go on. For instance, black will be black yet with stronger visual impact. The neutral hue not only sustains but also grows more significant, rendering an escape for life’s complexities. Designers embrace consoling shades with occasional splashes of rich, vibrant colors to complement an exotic feature the neutrals in their fashion catwalk collections. They highlight the most colors should be basic, warm-hearted but easygoing tones. Colors will be highlighted with a feeling completed through classic neutrals as a keynote, vivid in exuberant hues. The mélange of pale khaki and red mahogany has a touch of classics. White makes women more girly looks especially with lace effect. Orange in warm tone is accented with an umber undertone in elegant manner. Browns last from sepia through brownish red. Teal will be a rare shade that generally adds all skin tones as a beautiful color for pleasing designs. Mineral red against a base of purely taupe, details a fundamental but enjoyable neutral.
Patterns, Prints & Textures
Classical designs are a hit among the patterns as we see a return of Baroque. These designs come in herringbone or hounds-tooth, often reminding us of fine hand-woven patterns. A big transition in the fashion print cycle moves towards retro motifs from 50s to oversized 60s geometrics. Such a fashion textile print is rather evident and even bold as compared to some wispy pastel prints of the past seasons. Long-established woven patterns mixed with simple or bolder checks make a comeback in casual looks of cowgirl and cowboy trends in fashion.
Fabrics with special treatment to create dimensional textures or layering effects continue to draw attention, the same as the metallic effects, which enable more natural sense and the mineral-like effects, giving a used and rough outlook as if found and discovered in rocky ground. Zigzag and geometric oval and octagonal patterns harmonize with black and white background. Exotic print jersey fashion fabrics also become more popular. Oriental designs of floral can be a stereotype as just in black and white. There are lots of striped fabrics in soft-touch, lightweight and woven cotton. Bright stripes and patterns, such as swirls and oversize florals, are big hits for outdoor fabrics. Many designers love to blend up patterns, putting stripes on the sofa, floral on the ottoman, and checks on the cushions.
Fabrics Spotlight
Denim is intensely dyed, hardly washed out and some have a smoother surface while the darkness of denim is matched with the softness of the finest white voiles and batiste. Chiffons of the same ilk, with the glimmer of golden lamé, contest with golden threaded denim. Lightweight airy tweed fabrics still abound, yet more frequently lightened with the sparkle of golden metallic threads. Metallic fabrics take the place of the used-to-be popular beading of past seasons, as distressed leathers, particularly in military-inspired apparels, had a modern-sensing look.
Fleece has long beloved due to its aesthetical appeal and quality-sensing value. One of the things that differentiates fleece from past years is the new anti-static finish now applied to it. The use of the new carbon technology is the other innovation on fleece, enabling softer aesthetics. By means of body-mapping technology, which is a jacquard process that is introducing textures to a fleece garment, we can determine the pattern that will be in a particular part of the garment just like mapping out a picture. The lighter micro-fleeces are much finer and more sophisticated looking.
Household Textile
Household textiles are hued with optimistic colors such as gold, quite often mixed with turquoise blue, along with bold patterns. Red is everywhere in all shades from Chinese red to burgundy, pink and fuchsia. Dark shades are overwhelming, especially in mocha, nougat, anthracite and black, which are used on large surfaces as background. The color mixes are more untraditional and bolder than ever. For instance, pink, turquoise, yellow and mint are blended in the patterns of many fabrics to create a bright, cheerful atmosphere in the room. Floral motifs are evergreen favorite for designs. Stripes are largely used, added with diamonds and ranges of plain colors.
For safety reason, we see more household fabrics made in flame-retardant yarns, however they look and feel like natural fabrics thanks to new technology. Other up-and-coming “high-tech textiles” function to fend off harmful compounds or with anti-bacterial and anti-static features.
Luxurious Rich Fabrics Shaping Autumn/Winter 2006
Posted by wenbi in : Fashion , add a commentttnet.net - [2006/01/24]
Luxurious rich fabrics bring a new opulence to Autumn/Winter 2006. Dressy looks emerge, bringing luxury fabrics to the forefront. Decoration continues, as well as a growing interest in luxurious fabrics such as velvets, satins and furs. Vintage is another theme, as it is more sophisticated, high-end with auction, museum or estate qualities. “Going Green” is not a new phenomenon. However, environmentally friendly fabrics are found only a handful of companies selling organic cotton and fleece made of recycled soda bottles. Now, new fabric-processing technologies have made natural and sustainable fabrics more affordable. For instance, bamboo is a successful demonstration as it is natural and biodegradable fiber that also happens to be soft against the skin and is proven to be antimicrobial.
COLORS & PATTERNS
Moving away from vivid brightness, fashion colors tend to be softer, subtler, dustier shades and cooler tones. Rich vibrant colors and equally plush regal fabrics will make Autumn/Winter 2006 a spectacular fashion spectacle. Spring-like colors will flourish on autumn fabrications in full-spectrum color in tweeds, prints, patterns and mixed outfits, which is unusual for an autumn season. Each shade will have new depth and clarity with breathtaking harmonies, blending arts into fashion. Here, multiple-color is dominant. Here, a jacket will be more a tweed jacket with over four colors than, for example, purely blue one.
Tweeds have a new twist too with more color and sparkle effects. The blues, once considered safe, become more bohemian, funkier spin, blended with teals and yellow-greens. Blues with purple have an elegant look. Warm oranges, corals and browns look lush as paired with the new beiges, tans and creams. Black is come back yet, it is not the minimalist black of the 1990s. The new black often has subdued and subtle decoration. Designers use diversified divine luxury fabrics from black silk, black gauze, Persian lamb, black taffeta, black velvet, panne velvet black denim, black cashmere, black jet, corduroy, black suede and Shearling.
Gemstone colors are increasingly beloved. Deep rich violets and aubergines melt into dusty softer contrast accent tones and flow through into glowing garnet and rich intense ruby wines. Champagne tones move through apricots and burnt gingers to metallic coppers and bronze effects. Metallic look burnt oranges and caramel color scheme is frequently seen as matched with fur. Boldly vibrant colored checks, colorful tartans and tweeds are all applied in coats, dresses and skirts. Cubist paint techniques as prints gain popularity in 2006 and stencil print effects are likely to be more welcomed.
VELVET & VELVTEEN
Velvet is very appealing or even alluring in sense of touch on women’s apparels. Velvet is typically manufactured from silk, rayon, nylon, polyester or cotton. Silk velvet is usually soft, luxurious and flowing, perfect for eveningwear. Velveteen has similar effect to velvet in appearance. It is almost textured from cotton and the weft pile loops are cut short. Velveteen is not so expensive as fine velvets, yet high-end velveteen can be quite luxurious and also easy to launder.
LACE
Lace never had a practical purpose, but is used for embellishment of the seams of garments or household textiles. The latest metallic look lace is as popular as palest pink, ivory, cream and white lace. Recently, black lace becomes more popular than ever. It is heading toward gothic as in Victorian mode and often seen in underwear products. In evening dresses, there are strapless and spaghetti strap little black lace dresses of feminine tulle and lace. Instead of black or as an accent to black, berry colors and purples are other choices.
EMBROIDERY
Embroidery products create a 3-D effect. Often, it is combined with feathers in craftwork to create innovative textures. Embroidery mainly functions to decorate skirts as it is often blended with appliqué or follows new looks with Romanian/Russian influence of cross stitch peasant bandings and old traditional rustic designs. In interior application, there are plastic-coatings, foam-backs, bonded fabrics, crochet-look, crude wool embroidery, hand-finishing and experimental techniques. Folklore elements in exotic theme or culture come together again in the designs.
HOUSEHOLD TEXTILE
As we saw in Heimtextil fair, nature theme is evergreen while sleek Scandinavian design and woods such as beech, teak and jacaranda are universally applied in home interior. The idea of nature is vivid on the characteristic feature of the fabrics: cotton and linen with reduced designs, dobby and shaft weaves, faux-linen created with effect yarns, batiste, nattés, etamine and cotton twill, distinctive for their structured, dry, grainy qualities.
Mini-designs, stripes, checks and feather drawings are the patterns attributed to this character type. Elegance can be found in top-quality materials, including silk, wool and leather, which are used, complemented by woven effects like sherly, brocade, taffeta, moiré, jacquard and satin. Masculinity is bolstered by metallic designs in modern, contemporary architecture. The featured fabrics have a glossy synthetic look, mixed with open effects and special added, bionic-based functions.
In Exuberant, Luxuriant, and Alternative Moods
Posted by wenbi in : Fashion , add a commentttnet.net - [2006/01/24]
Fashion is a common language around the world, which functions as a form of tribal identification that crosses barriers and classes. Its totems spread from handbags, belts, scarves, footwear, headwear to furs and much more. Although less expensive than clothes, accessories offer consumers with the same semiological comfort and a sense of being en vogue. Switching from sporty styles and masculine look, fashion is heading towards a comeback of femininity and a zest for glamour. Consumers want something really feeling good. The focus of well-being has turned to luxury.
FUR WEAR
Fur wear is major beneficiary to this change on account that it lends itself to the wish for something unique, comfortable and expensive looking, for a piece of pure individuality. The fur business is heading into the new seasons with an optimistic outlook. This confidence is rooted in the strong showing of fur at the recent fashion fairs and weeks in Paris, Düsseldorf, London, New York and Milan. The fur design tends to be more feminine, adorning, and decorative. Lightweight, courtesy of special deep fleeces and the innovative processing techniques have been applied to shaggier hides, by making good use of both front and back of the hides for reversible parts from the classic coat to the sassy fashion accessories. With the comeback of the classic fur look, full-length mink coats are radiant in catwalks often with slim silhouettes and styles of the ’60s and ’70s.
BAGS
Bags are must-have accessories for every season. In the past when clothes had no pockets, a bag was essential for holding money and personal items. Bags were made from leather, cloth, velvet or silk and left unadorned or decorated with needlework, stitched designs of figures, flowers or mythical beasts. Nowadays, women use the bag in a semiotic way in front of knowing assistants to get serious attention. They emphasize their esthetic value more than their functionality, that is, shopping. Indeed, color is central part of the handbag equation. Fashion colors turn from traditional black and brown to pink, light blue, chartreuse and orange. Textured surfaces shape the trend toward luxury- particularly with embossed crocodile, python and lizard as animal prints such as leopard, cheetah and zebra become popular.
FOOTWEAR
Footwear is people’s closest friend. Most of us wear many shoes during the course of a 24-hour day, such as dress shoes, casual footwear, athletic shoes, and finally household slippers at the end of a long, tiresome day. Women adorn boots with laces, stud eyelets, knee boots, crocodile boots, wearable pirate/highwayman cuffed boots. Also the boots with grommets and biker buckles, the boot with fur cuffs, moccasin slouch boots with ikat and Inca designs and fur topped elegant boots. Some shoes are in velvet or suede creates luxury footwear with a quality-sensing feel. Retro shoes have many lavish fur or are laced ’30s style. Exotic satin colored evening shoes with crystal trims are perfect match for a pair of jeans. Rugged but cozy boot-style slippers in imitation shearling and fleece are sold well throughout the colder months. Casual footwear with jelly-style kitten heels, as well as espadrille wedge silhouettes, is worn everywhere on floors.
NECKTIES
As men become more interested in expressing their individual style, in this case, they prefer to wear formal clothing as an expression of their own style. Although half of neckties is bought by women as gifts, the increasing numbers of under-25s show intense feedbacks on purchasing neckties. Such a trend reinforces stronger growth of premium products.
HEADWEAR
Hair styles change all the time so does headwear fashion. Some changes dance with how a particular celebrity cuts. By this, the street version is always slightly different. Younger generation loves their hair being a blonde, although never will. In fact, dyeing seems a good way. Women pretty up their hair with hair accessories, including combs, barrettes, decorative bobby pins, clips, butterflies and hair bands.
In hat sector, we saw a return to a more dressier hat, with molded felt and straw shapes frequently replacing cut-and-sew silhouettes. Hats with jeweled brooch decorations turn to a more “multi-media embellishment“, like feathers, sequins, velvet trim and lace. In addition, flower pin designs can be found on hats, either in matching fabrications and colors or contrast colors, creating a hybrid of girl-meets-boy.
BELTS
Jeweled belts, buckles with fabric as scarf wrapping at the waist have been welcomed. Brooch belts with colorful colored stone or clear rhinestone buckles are pretty echo-friendly. Some are combined with materials like distressed and rugged leathers for a “rock n roll” look of glam to suit street fashion. Fabrics are woven and mixed with pearls or chain, or even woven through leather. Ring buckles decorate soft fabric or ribbon belts are friendly for consumers in dealing with sizes. The hot sales are charm bracelets, charms on chain belts. Gold color is popular as gold price surges in international market.
Fashion Jewels Smile with Gorgeous Dreams
Posted by wenbi in : Fashion , add a commentttnet.net - [2006/01/11]
Here today, gone tomorrow! Trends of fashion jewelry are subject to switch just like the moods of women. Farewell to the dull days of “less is more” or minimalism, fashion jewelry is poised for fruitful hay days. Conventionally, jewelry is bought for engagements and weddings as well as gift-giving purpose. However, a rise in the self-purchase of items somewhat changes the buying habits. Color remains a crucial fixture. Pink stole the show, yet green also come on surprisingly strong. Gems, either precious or semi-precious, glamour with their natural beauty, the strength, the long-lasting quality and the rarity, whispering cycling tales of innocent, fun, romantic, exotic, sparkling, eternal, sophisticated and much more. Wearing jewelry set in precious and semiprecious stones is an ancient tradition. Ethnic look embedded in oriental elements arises romantic sensation. Recently, ethnic inspired jewelry in exotic colors is a big hit. In 2006, popular will be oriental gems mostly of Chinese and Japanese images, and in materials like green and lavender jade with carving. Not so expensive in comparison with precious stones and metals, semiprecious stones as bridges in costume jewelry are in great demand. Small and simple costume jewelry used to be in vogue; yet, big and flashy pieces are now fashionable. Some semi-precious stones like quartz, blue lace agate and citrine are popular as deemed to have healing or sentimental properties. Colored stones, such as amethyst, peridot, garnet, citrine and blue topaz, has also regained its glamour for fashion-conscious consumers. Garnets that come in a variety of reds have come back in fashion, looking lustrous and luxurious and matching ruby colors yet not so pricy. Blue sapphires craze jewelry lovers with lighter color sapphires from Africa proving to be a popular alternative to the traditionally richer blue sapphire hues. Nature-inspired designs surely win the hearts of consumers with many lines featuring classic flowers, leaves, fruit, vegetable, butterflies, snakes, animal prints, ants, feathers, pebbles and other organic shapes, also abstracted in many lines. EARRINGS In spite that the chandelier trend lasts, earrings switch to more linear looks, along with orbital hoops and embellished hoops that have been a mainstay of women’s earrings for years, and currently large hoops are in fashion, but the newest trend is long, dangling earrings in metals or stones. Earrings are set with pink, orange and green gems with lily accents and removable feather drops. Dangle earrings take the place of the once-dominant chandeliers as the most popular jewelry on the red carpet. Earrings with natural look celebrate a prosperous future. They are made in simplest layout, featuring turquoise, red coral and amber. For younger women, the designs are magic symbols, insects, animals and flowers. BROOCHES Brooches outperform than expected in 2005. Brooches are commonly made as sideline to that of other costume jewelry such as necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets. Trendy designs of pendants focuses on carved variety in Asian-inspired styles and spiritual icons to meet bohemian trend. Flag brooches with red, white and blue gemstones continue to be seen. Elegant and sophisticated brooches in the style of the 1940’s are quite popular. NECKLACES Long necklaces become mainstay of fashion. The layered or multi-strand necklace with a single clasp offers the outlook of multiple layers. Long length of loosely looped chains usually attached to a necklace with an enhancer. Waterfall styles, multiple-wire necklaces that looked like swirling hurricanes and space orbits were also popular. Today, women prefer to wear two or three necklaces together wrapped and twisted together. For instance, a strand of pearls wrapped with round freshwater pearls and seed pearls then decorated with rough, engraved natural chip or fine cut crystals or semi precious stones all set against diversified shaped pearls like flat square quad pearls.
PENDANTS
Pendants are presented in a row of materials like precious and semiprecious stones and metals, bone, wood and glass. Popular looks include midsize single-stone pendants on interesting chains and beads that fit the neck. Here is the return of the pendants particular in briolette cut pear drops, sometimes called a teardrop. Chic design of pendants spotlights on carved variety in Asian-inspired styles and spiritual icons to meet bohemian trend. RINGS Bold rings with hefty colored gemstones do steal hearts. Bamboo-style rings, with its rows of horizontal bands, have geometric designs, squared shapes and bypasses. Selling well are cocktail, stackable and interchangeable rings. Cocktail rings are important looks often with colors like pastel blues, pinks and greens. BRACELETS Personalization is still the mainstay in designs of bracelets. Consumers love bracelets because they are easily seen on wrists. Medium-sized bracelets for day or evening use are the most popular, particular great as gifts since the standard length fits most wrists. Wrist-wrapping bracelets such as bangles, cuffs and coils are somewhat hot as are bold, gold cuffs scattered with colored gems or enamel.
