Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Photos of cute models, bad-ass statement T-shirts and more outside fashion week


Yesterday, florals were all the rage but today’s all about leopard print. The print was seen on oversized bags, logo-sweatshirts, added layers and the trend was rounded out with a literal tiger face on Andrea Beechey’s clutch.

The finish line of World MasterCard Fashion Week Fall 2013 may officially be tonight but our street style photos stop here (sad face). To finish it off, our photographer Stefania Yarhi worked her magic (as per usual) to bring us some stellar shots of graphics, bold patterns and even a 90210 star!

Playing around with a different pattern was Elayne Teixeira-Millar, who layered black and white stripes under a graphic T-shirt with a Kendrick Lamar reference and another attendee wore striped disco pants while taking a seriously large step. Graphics were also prominent on that redheaded model Elise Gatschene, who was spotted in a truly amazing Budweiser sweater (that we really wish we owned it) and another gal with perfect eyeliner’s hat told us she “aint no wifey.” All these girls were definitely sending a message loud and clear with their looks on day four.

Leather continued to be a fan favourite with show goers and we saw Canadian actress and star of the just-cancelled 90210 reboot, Jessica Lowndes, in a leather-sleeved dress and a perfect red lip. Outside, we saw a mint green twist on the ever-classic leather moto jacket and a bright yellow clutch. Who says leather should only come in black?

In today’s society people in rich countries are linked to people in poor countries through the commoditisation and consumption of what can be called fashion. In one area of the globe people are working long hours to produce things that people in another part of the globe are anxious to consume. The chain of production and consumption of Nike shoes is an example of this. The Nike shoes are produced in Taiwan and consumed in North America. In the production end there is the nation building a hard working ideology that leads people to produce and entices people to consume with a vast amount of goods for the offering. Commodities are no longer just utilitarian but are fashionable, be they running shoes or sweat suits.

The fashion industry has long been one of the largest employers in the United States, and it remains so in the 21st century. However, employment declined considerably as production increasingly moved overseas, especially to China. Because data on the fashion industry typically are reported for national economies and expressed in terms of the industry’s many separate sectors, aggregate figures for world production of textiles and clothing are difficult to obtain. However, by any measure, the industry accounts for a significant share of world economic output.


Monday, May 13, 2013

New night creams, rosacea cures, serums and CC creams to try this season


Our skin repairs itself as we sleep, so it matters what you put on it for those eight hours (OK, five, if you count the week we power-watched the entire season of House of Cards). Dermatologist Dr. Nowell Solish suggests using a different moisturizer for day and night. “[Using] the same cream may not be as effective as two different creams if they work by a different mechanism,” he explains. That’s good news for fans of Oprah Winfrey’s favourite moisturizer, which now has an evening companion in (1) Philosophy Hope in a Jar Night ($55, thebay.com). It features glycolic acid, which helps smooth skin. If you want to boost collagen, retinol is your best bet, says dermatologist Dr. Jaggi Rao. Considered the benchmark for all wrinkle-fighters, it’s combined with efficacy-boosting niacin in (2) StriVectin-AR’s Advanced Retinol Night Treatment ($120, murale.ca), and with skin-plumping hyaluronic acid and complexion-brightening vitamin C in (3) Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Night ($25, at drugstores). Sensitive types (retinol has a rep for irritating skin) can try (4) Éminence Organic Lavender Age Corrective Night Concentrate ($66,eminenceorganics.com), which soothes skin with shea butter and primrose oil while a stem-cell complex firms and seals fine lines.

The fashion industry is a product of the modern age. Prior to the mid-19th century, most clothing was custom made. It was handmade for individuals, either as home production or on order from dressmakers and tailors. By the beginning of the 20th century—with the rise of new technologies such as the sewing machine, the rise of global capitalism and the development of the factory system of production, and the proliferation of retail outlets such as department stores—clothing had increasingly come to be mass-produced in standard sizes and sold at fixed prices. Although the fashion industry developed first in Europe and America, today it is an international and highly globalized industry, with clothing often designed in one country, manufactured in another, and sold world-wide. For example, an American fashion company might source fabric in China and have the clothes manufactured in Vietnam, finished in Italy, and shipped to a warehouse in the United States for distribution to retail outlets internationally. The fashion industry has long been one of the largest employers in the United States, and it remains so in the 21st century. However, employment declined considerably as production increasingly moved overseas, especially to China. Because data on the fashion industry typically are reported for national economies and expressed in terms of the industry’s many separate sectors, aggregate figures for world production of textiles and clothing are difficult to obtain. However, by any measure, the industry accounts for a significant share of world economic output.
The fashion industry consists of four levels: the production of raw materials, principally fibers and textiles but also leather and fur; the production of fashion goods by designers, manufacturers, contractors, and others; retail sales; and various forms of advertising and promotion. These levels consist of many separate but interdependent sectors, all of which are devoted to the goal of satisfying consumer demand for apparel under conditions that enable participants in the industry to operate at a profit.

The definition of fashion and anti-fashion is as thus. Anti-fashion is fixed and changes little overtime. Anti-fashion is different depending on which cultural or social group one is associated with or where one lives but within that group or locality the style changes little and stays constant. Fashion is the exact opposite of anti-fashion. Fashion changes very quickly and is not affiliated with one group or an area of the world but is spread out throughout the world wherever people can communicate easily with each other. For example, the 1953 Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation gown is an example of anti-fashion because it is traditional and does not change over any period; whereas, a gown from fashion designer Dior’s collection of 1953 is fashion because it will change every season as Dior comes up with a new gown to replace the old one. In the Dior gown the length, cut, fabric, and embroidery of the gown changes for season to season and does not stay the same. Anti-fashion is concerned with maintaining the status quo while fashion is concerned with social mobility. Time is expressed in terms of continuity in anti-fashion and as change in fashion. Fashion has changing modes of adornment while anti-fashion has fixed modes of adornment. Indigenous and peasant modes of adornment are an example of anti-fashion. Change in fashion is part of the larger system and is structured to be a deliberate change in style.

Kate Hudson designs an exclusive collection Ann Taylor

If celebrities were described by their fashion sense then Kate Hudson would be LA cool. And those are the exact words we would use to describe Hudson’s new capsule collection for Ann Taylor. That’s right; if you’ve been looking to embody Hudson’s free-spirited beachy style, look no more. The exclusive summer 2013 collection will feature a selection of chic white pieces and rose-gold accessories all inspired by Hudson’s love for fashion.

The easy-breezy collection will be available at Ann Taylor stores nationwide on Wednesday, May 22nd and will feature a selection of dresses, skirts, tops and accessories. Sophisticated retailer Ann Taylor has expressed their love for Hudson before, making her the face of their Spring 2012 campaign. “I’m so excited about the capsule collection and working with Ann Taylor”, Hudson said in a press release. “It was such an honor when they asked me to come back for the campaign and to work on a collection inspired by my personal style.” 

Hudson, who is known for her stunning red carpet ensembles, describes the new collection as very chic and incredibly wearable. With pieces priced from $78-$128, footwear at $158 and accessories priced up to $58, there’s sure to be something for everyone. To celebrate the collaboration, which marks the actress’ first foray into fashion, Ann Taylor will host a White themed Party at Ann Taylor stores nationwide on Wednesday, May 22nd from 6pm to 8pm.

The change from anti-fashion to fashion because of the influence of western capitalist civilization can be best seen in eastern Indonesia. The ikat textiles of the Ngada area of eastern Indonesia are changing because of modernization and development happening in that area. Traditionally in the Ngada area there was no idea similar to that of the Western idea of fashion. But anti-fashion in the form of traditional textiles and ways to adorn oneself were widely popular. Textiles in Indonesia have played many roles for the local people. Textiles defined a person’s rank and status and indicated being part of the ruling class. People expressed their ethnic identity and social hierarchy through textiles in Indonesia. The ikat textiles were also bartered for food by some people of Indonesia thus being considered economic goods. Textiles took on many different forms in the social custom and religion of the Indonesian people. Textiles were also a way to communicate religious messages as some motifs had spiritual religious meanings according to the local culture.