Fashion Design Schools

Guide to Choosing A Fashion Design School
By John Morris

A successful future in the fashion design industry depends on right choice of school to attend. Although fashion design is not one of the more popular careers to pursue, if your talents lie in this field, there is ample opportunity awaiting you. However, the first thing to hurdle is your choice of school.

When choosing a fashion design school, consider the following factors.



Area of Focus

Look into the nature of the school. Is it solely a fashion design school or does it offer other courses. Is this school well-known for its emphasis on fashion design?

Fashion design schools are few and far between. This makes it harder to choose one that fits your bill. Your first task will be to find a reputable school that will aid you in your training.

Also, look into whether the school participates in any fashion design competition or has accomplished anything of reknown in the industry. This is a sure sign of their commitment to the fashion arts its education among students.

Different schools have different strengths, find a school that plays to your strengths and has specialization in the field of your choice.



For example, you might choose a very well-know fashion design school only to find out that they specialize in childrens’ clothing, while the field of your choice is adult formal wear. This could diffuse your interests, and dull your specialization.

Make sure you know what field the school you are scouting focuses on. This will help you specialize in that area too.

Alumni and Job Placements

Does the college offer job placement assistance? And has the alumni from this school gone on to be successful professionals? Always learn from other’s previous experience. If you see that those that had gone through this school before you received proper training and are successful in their field, that is an indication of a good school.



Most of these reputable schools have numerous connections in the graphic arts industry. They usually offer job placement services. You may want to consider this when choosing a school.

It would do no harm to start looking at the educational background of your admired fashion designer. Checking out the schools they came from will give an idea of the sort of training these artists went through. From here, you may make decisions as to whether you would like to choose the same school as they did.

Curriculum

You must assess whether the curriculum is relevant to you field of study. You may want to compare the curricula of different schools to see which offers the best form of education.



It would also be wise to check the quality of the teaching staff at that school. Having established artists who teach at a fashion design school is also an indication of a good training program.

Student to Teacher Ratio

Ask yourself: how big are the classes and how many teachers and classes are available at this school before you choose it. The more the students the lesser the efficacy of the teacher. However, if there are too few students per teacher, that could tell of a different problem – that of quality. If this is the case, it may be that the school is not popular or is suffering from anemic academic performance.

Accreditation

Accreditation means the school has passed a certain standards of educational quality. Accreditation is performed by the U.S. Department of Education. Fashion design schools must be accredited to prove their level of competence.

Check with the State Postsecondary School Licensing Bureau to see if the college you are investigating is accredited. Also, check National Approval and Accreditation for this concern.



Cost

Some people may proclaim that to obtain their education, they would spare no coin. Unfortunately, it also pays to be practical in your choice of fashion design school. If the school you choose has a tuition rate that is beyond your financial capability, you might find yourself working unable to pursue your studies consistently due to the financial stress which may lead you to look for part-time work.

Scholarships

You might want to consider whether the design school you are looking at offers any scholarships. You also might want to know the terms to them too. Some schools offer scholarships based on academic performance. Some offer them based on fashion design competitions they hold regularly.

Your choice of school is an investment that will last you a lifetime. Proper care and investigation in choosing such is truly important. When you are comfortable with your choice of fashion design schools, you can now chart your path towards a successful career.

Fashion Merchandising Internships

An Exciting Career With Fashion Merchandising Programs
By Amy Wells

If you love fashion and design, and are considering a career or further education in the field, you may want to take a closer look at fashion merchandising. Fashion merchandising combines various aspects of design, marketing, sales, and even accounting skills. If you like moving at a fast pace with a variety of duties, there are many opportunities in the field of fashion merchandising that a college or education program can prepare you for.



A fashion merchandising education involves marketing fashion lines to retail stores, or even working with the stores themselves to market products directly to consumers. Fashion merchandising is a broad field, and can encompass positions such as fashion buying, where you will select merchandise for a retail store, and event coordination, such as fashion shows. Another growing field is visual merchandising, which involves designing the way the actual clothes and products are displayed, such as window displays and floor layouts.



While the fashion industry as a whole is very competitive, there is a lot of growth and opportunity in the merchandising field, because of the wide variety of assignments available. Although clothes may be manufactured all over the world, many of the sales related aspects take place right at home. This is also the type of career that may involved a variety of different job descriptions over the years, so if you crave change and excitement, it could be a good fit.



The best way to get started in fashion merchandising involves related education. A quality fashion merchandising program will be comprehensive and involve a large variety of courses. In addition to design, you will learn other key concepts, such as marketing and advertising. You will also learn how the fashion business works, and how clothing is manufactured and delivered to retail outlets.



There are a number of choices available when choosing a fashion merchandising education. Many colleges offer fashion merchandising as an associate degree, and some that even offer it as a bachelor's program. There are also many schools that embed fashion merchandising within a more traditional marketing degree, which will give you a broader course of study in basic business.



Other options include attending a strictly fashion design school, which will offer merchandising as one of their programs. In addition, you can also study online, as many of these schools will also offer an online or distance education program, as well.

Choosing which type of school to attend will depend partially on your educational goals. Are you looking to make a quick transition into the field, and want a career-oriented education, or do to have a strong basic business and marketing foundation? Most schools will offer internships in fashion, so you can have an opportunity to get your feet wet in the industry. Whatever type of school you choose, you can be assured that you will be learning a great deal about fashion and the fashion industry, and will be preparing for a fast-paced, quickly evolving career in fashion merchandising.

Fashion Buyer

Buyer Beware - Knockoff Handbags Hurt More Than the Designer
By Anne Clarke
Many consumers justify the purchase of their knock off handbags by the high price of the originals. Unfortunately what they don't realize is that not only do they get what they pay for, but purchasing counterfeit products only drives the authentic pieces' prices higher and contributes to immoral labor practices and a sagging economy.



Eighteen percent of counterfeit products seized by US customs in 2002 were fashion related items. This is a problem because this robs the country of an estimated $200 billion a year in taxes. The American public has to make up for taxes that could be gained from our imports. This hinders our economy, while the countries these products came from continue to grow and thrive (China for example).

Additionally the funds made from selling these knockoffs often go to organized crime rings. There is evidence that the World Trade Center bombing was funded by the sale of counterfeit apparel. These organizations also commonly employ child labor forces and often use their products to transport drugs and other dangerous materials.



The lack of quality in the replicas can also be a safety issue. Replica sunglasses break more easily and don't offer the UV protection they claim. Sometimes however it's not easy to spot the difference between the imitations and the genuine articles.

There are some telltale signs however that can help a consumer identify counterfeit handbags. Counterfeits can be called copies, knockoffs, replicas, or imitations. Retailers are not always so quick to list their merchandise under these terms. The first major indicator of a fake is the price. A genuine Prada bag will not be found for fifty or one hundred dollars.



The location the bag is purchased is another dead giveaway. Top name designers don't sell their bags on the street, out of cars, at home parties, or in online auctions. Some designers such as Louis Vuitton don't sale wholesale at all- the bags must be purchased directly from the company itself.

If a website has fifty bags in one style, sixty in another and so on then they probably aren't the real thing. It's more likely to be genuine if the retailer has only a few bags in each style. Online sellers should not be listed as private dealers nor should the product be listed in a one day only auction. Knockoff retailers will overuse adjectives describing how genuine the bags are- "authentic, genuine real Fendi."



When looking for handbags online it's hard to determine if a product is real because the bag cannot be handled and inspected. If looking for discounts a consumer will encounter a number of knockoffs. There are some online stores that sell genuine products at deep discounts, this is usually because the bag is out of season or was an overstock from a department store.

Look carefully at the bag's description. "Inspired by" is another dead giveaway. The bag should come with a certificate of authenticity, genuine packaging, and also a dust bag all with the designer's name on them. The store should also stand behind the product, so that once the consumer receives the bag they can have its authenticity verified and it can be returned if it's discovered to be a knockoff.

Handling the bag will be the best way to determine whether the article is genuine or not. The point of origin tag is a good indicator. If it says "made in Taiwan" then it's not real. Examine the materials, real leather is supple and not at all like plastic. Check to see if the bag is misshapen. Examine the stitching, look for poor craftsmanship such as missing stitches and frayed ends. One of the reasons designer handbags are so expensive is because of the intense detail that goes into creating them.



The designer will have a high quality tag sewn in the purse. They will not be cheap fabric tags that are barely stitched on. Many designers will use leather tags in the purses or will have the name plaque riveted in. Examining the article closely is the best way to spot a fake.

Counterfeit products should be reported. Reporting counterfeits will help keep designer prices from sky rocketing even higher and stops the illegal trade that could be occurring also. Fakes can be reported at 1-800-report-a-fake. Not all discount handbag retailers are up to no good some really are offering genuine bags at great prices, but the buyer should always be skeptical.

Fashion Programs

Fashion Design Programs
By Jennifer Bailey




The fashion industry is a fierce business. The cliche "One day you're in, and the next day you're out" really holds true to this trade. Numerous fashion designers have already come and gone but if you will notice, those who are still out there have reliable, solid collections. For example, designers such as Tom Ford have gone from one fashion house to another, making Gucci an in-demand brand in the 90s. Betsy Johnson has created hip, funky, and crazy designs that are still making waves in the fashion industry, regardless of the fact that they are not really wearable.



Fashion design schools play a major role in shaping and honing the next Betsy Johnson and Tom Ford of the fashion industry. Programs set by the school board every school year usually determine if the students can cope with the real world. Internships to famous fashion houses are also included in these programs so student can apply what they have learned in fashion to school to the real fashion scenario.



The International Academy of Fashion program was described by critics as a comprehensive, technical and very demanding. The fashion curriculum provides a solid learning program with a specific goal of developing in their students creative individual thinking and a sense of uniqueness as well as preparing them for a professional career. An associate in science degree in fashion design and marketing or a bachelor of fine arts degree in fashion design and marketing are usually the choices offered to students.



The American Intercontinental University, on the other hand, has an Association of Arts degree in fashion design that fashion experts say is designed to inspire the individuals to construct innovative and edgy designs. Computer skills in designing are also taught so students can combine traditional techniques with computer-assisted designs. An association of arts degree in fashion marketing is another program offered to talented and fashionable students. The programs in this curriculum offer teach the inner operations of retail and wholesale fashion, market analysis, and evaluation of the production needs of the fashion industry.

Fashion Advertising

Hunter Wellingtons Wellies and Today's Advertising
By A West




Today's technology is moving fast and to be kept up to date with all of fashions trends consumers are looking for information that is happening now. The celebrity culture has taken over the once famous advertising billboards and Department shop windows. They are the marketing tool for any brand.



Last summer, we saw this happen with Kate Moss at Glastonbury Festivals in a set of Hunter Black Original Wellingtons. After Kate was pictured wearing this very British Welly, Hunters saw an increase in sales. Market research showed that sites such as Twitter.com/Hunter_Wellies had a dramatic impact with the information the consumers were looking for. The average consumer wanted to know how they too could look like Kate and where they could purchase a set of these famous boots. Kate is not the only famous person to wear Hunters in fact a pair of Hunter Originals worn by Lady Diana Spencer in her engagement photographs sparked a shortage.



And it appears they are still going to be hot this coming spring as well, as they were seen on Nicole Richie, out with daughter Harlow, on February 6th, 2009.



This addiction to "I want what she/he has" has increased with the number of sites like Twitter, Facebook and My Space. You can even see an increase in shops who now sell this "Symbol of British Country Life".



Society's need for information now has expanded Hunters brand internationally and can be found around the world, of course with the help of a celebrity who needs advertising.

Large Size Fashion

The Quest For Large Size Ladies Shoes
By Lauren Simon Oliver

If you've suffered from the big foot syndrome all your life where shoe shopping has been a living hell because of your inability to find a pair that firstly fits right and secondly does not look like you pulled it out of the back of your grandmother's wardrobe, then this is just the article for you. All your worries about your inability to find large size ladies shoes are now over, and your next fancy pair is just a click of a mouse away. Yes, with the Internet you can now find not only regular flats, but also high heel pumps, boots and spring shoes on any of the large size ladies shoes websites.



Here are a few things you should think about before you visit these sites and purchase your next pair online. There are numerous customers who are very satisfied with their online purchases and it is well worth a try even if you are a bit sceptical.



*Womens shoes start generally around size 3 and continue up to size seven or eight maximum. And despite there being a large demand for women's shoes that go above these sizes, you can only find them in a limited number of shops. Not only that, the designs are very limited as well which makes shoe shopping in stores not very exciting for women with large feet. Therefore visiting one of these websites will give you an idea of how you can order these shoes which even come in sizes 10 and 11. Sometimes these are custom-made and therefore allow for you to design your pair and choose the fabric and embellishments you want.



*Most regular shoe stores assume that women with large feet are also very tall. And while this is true in most of the cases given common physiology, it is not always the case. Online you will be able to find varieties of designs and if the website you are visiting allows you to make requests then you can actually come up with something that will make every other woman in the room completely jealous.



*While making large size ladies shoes online purchase it is important for you to remember that standard rules apply. Firstly you need to be above eighteen years of age and you also need to be residing within a particular area or in particular countries for the company to be able to deliver to you. Therefore check these specifications before you place your order to avoid disappointment. Also check how long delivery will take just in case you want to wear shoes for a special occasion. The first time you order from the company might be a bit nerve wracking especially if you are worrying about how and when the pair is going to reach you. But most companies selling large size ladies shoes are very professional and you will be happy to get the pair in the condition that you were guaranteed.



Once you have received your pair and are happy with it, it would be a good idea to advertise what you have found. You might not realize the number of women around the world facing the same predicament as you. It will only be a service to the world of fashion and women if you let them know about your big find.

Fashion Management

Fashion Industry Management - What Happened to Me?
By Midge Hand

What would you do if the unexpected happened?



Hi, I would like to tell you my story about "the unexpected". I was gainfully employed (for five years) in fashion industry management, as the General Manager of a high end fashion label schmoozing and musing with the artistic and the egotistic. A fascinating industry to be part of, where everyone loves everyone darling! Filled to the brim with young, gorgeous, new up and comers straight out of design school, sitting not so comfortably side by side with tired and cynical doyennes of the fashion industry.

And whammo! Along came the economic squeeze, the wallets of the fabulous ones tightened, sales fell and jobs were on the block - I was out, made redundant, given the boot - albeit, a beautiful designer spiky stiletto fair up my ass!! Luckily, (or so I thought) I found employment with another company settled nicely amongst the movers and the shakers and on the way to building their empire. Originally from the provinces, they moved to the Big City and set up shop with the big boys. I started on Monday and come Tuesday there was another beautiful designer stiletto boot up my ass! Sales fell, they panicked and I was out of a job again. "No loyalties from these fashionistas. It was at this point I thought "my fashion industry career is over".

So, what to do now... Fortunately, I have a varied and interesting career to fall back on having worked in many industries over the years, such as the oil industry, local council, health industry, legal fraternity, worked with people with disabilities and had dozens of temp jobs here and internationally - I've even been a driving instructor and a model. So I knew there was something out there for ME.



But, out of every cloud there's a silver lining and I'm happy to say I've found it. How did I do it? I started searching the Internet for a home based business and was totally blown away by the amount of businesses on offer. There is a lot of hype, promises, get rich schemes, lots of BS and shysters out there, so be very careful. The diversity of my business background served me well and gave me the ability to sort through the good, the bad and the ugly and decide on a business that has seen me fly from day one. The only thing that really bothers me is I wish I'd found it earlier, but then, it's all about timing.

Benefits of my new lifestyle:



no commuting - I now work from home

I get to spend more time with family



I'm the boss

I get all the rewards for the work I do

I choose to work the hours I want, when I want and who I work with



The tax benefits are great

I don't have the corporate stress

I am making more money than ever before

I get to meet some incredible people

AND BEST OF ALL, NO-ONE CAN GIVE ME THE BOOT.....

Student Fashion

Being Fashionable As a College Student
By Ray C. Subs




College students have to carry a lot of items. Consequently, it is unusual to see a college student without a bag of some sort. Since they must often carry larger bags to accommodate all their belongings, many girls give up on looking fashionable and resign themselves to carrying boring backpacks or lumpy sacks. However, just because you have a lot to carry doesn't mean you can't still be fashionable. Here are some great options for hauling your laptop, books, papers, and other paraphernalia around.



Backpacks aren't always a bad choice. With an interesting pattern or a multitude of pockets, backpacks are probably the best choice for those days when you have non-stop classes and huge textbooks to tote around. Add a laptop to the mix and it seems like your choices are either a backpack or luggage. Remember to choose a model that provides plenty of support for the weight it is placing on your back and don't use it every day. Part of the trouble with backpacks looking boring is carrying the same thing day in and day out. To spice up your look and give your back a break, only use your backpack on the days when you really need the space for stuff.



Another possibility is a messenger bags. These are awesome for laptops. The easy access and organized interior make messenger bags especially suited for student use. For lighter days when you have soccer practice, lab class, or some other event that requires lots of equipment that's not necessarily books, a tote bag can be a girl's best friend.



One of the advantages of a tote bag is the variety and customizability you can choose from for a totally unique emblem of your personality. Because a tote bag is so basic, it can be used for a huge number of tasks such as a purse, gym bag, book bag, grocery bag, and many others. According to one college student, "Tote bags are definitely more chic than backpacks, and they can make your outfit look pulled-together and polished. If you've ever hit the mall or a coffee shop after class with your backpack, you know how awkward it can feel carrying it off-campus, but with a tote, you won't have that problem!"

Fashion Phones

The LG GT505 - A Fashion Phone That Rocks
By Simon Drew

The Multimedia experience.



The GT505 mobile phone offers a satisfying internet multimedia experience that becomes possible with a slew of features that while shared with the competition in one form or another, brings any mobile to at the top of its class. Here's a sampling of these:

• It sports a 3" TFT touchscreen display supporting 256k colors in QVGA resolution, providing brilliant screen display that is the envy of bulky Windows-based mobile phones.



• The camera is no laggard as it captures images at 5 megapixel resolution. Auto Focus and LED flash, together with image stabilization assure you of vibrant clear photos virtually all the time. It even has what its rivals have - face and smile recognition, as well as geo tagging.

• Enhanced with Dolby 2.0 processing, its media player makes possible a truly engaging music listening experience.



• Bluetooth 2.0 support with A2DP enables you to use wireless Bluetooth headphones.

• FM radio is thrown in like any in the market.



• 130mb internal memory is among the largest out there. But this can be expanded up to 8Gb with its external memory slot for microSD, giving you all the memory space to accommodate your multimedia files.

The Social Networking Focus

The GT505 is among the first touchscreen phones positioned to give users the entire social networking access it needs while on the road. Empowered with a capable internet browser and support for high speed networks under 3G and HSDPA, the new LG phone makes access to your favorite social network sites like MySpace, Facebook and YouTube a real breeze with fast access and picture uploads.



In the office

There's no pretense to it being a Blackberry alternative. But the GT505 can maintain its head up high in the office with some useful features to make routine work life less of a burden and a real asset on the road. It has document viewers for PDF files as well as MS Office documents. The 3" display certainly comes out handy for this purpose. Its push email functionality is as good as it gets, allowing you to work and get in touch with the office from anywhere on the planet with its high speed data connectivity support.

Fashion Desinger

Vintage Desinger Handbag-Is it Vintage or Just Plain Used
By Deanna Key

Vintage bags are new again. Just look around, they are everywhere. They were the talk of the fashion industry when many ‘A list’ celebrities were seen toting vintage handbags, gowns and accessories at this years Emmy Awards.



Buying vintage handbags is a great way to broaden your handbag collection. There are thousands to choose from and can sometimes be bought for pennies on the dollar. But when is a vintage handbag right for you, and what makes a bag vintage and not just used?

You will need to determine if the new handbag you are in the market for will be used frequently or are you more interested in the bag as a collectable. There is no harm in wanting to use a vintage handbag, how else are you and your impeccable sense of fashion going to be the topic at this years Christmas party, but it is important to buy a bag that will hold up to the challenge. So make sure you follow some simple guidelines when purchasing your new vintage handbag.



Only buy from a reputable dealer. Many of your questions can be answered and your worries set to ease when you know the dealer has done their homework and has a reputation of being honest and fair.



Obviously, anything that you use often must be made to last. Do not buy a handbag that is worn or stained more then a little. Some ’wear and tear’ can add mystique, but too much damage only looks used. Handbags can be restored and repaired, but it is highly unlikely you would want to go to all the trouble of having a handbag repaired, only to use it on a daily basis. Also, although most people would not be able to tell the bag had been repaired, repairing a bag greatly decreases it open market value.



Understand what you are paying for. Vintage handbags are given value not only for their popularity of past and current times, but also for workmanship. This can include things such as the clasping mechanism. Your biggest concern might be that the handbag close properly, but you could pay top price because the bag you are eyeing happens to have the first magnetic closure ever used on a designer bag. If you happen to find these types of things interesting then this is the bag for you. But if you are more interested in the appearance of a handbag, you might not want to pay this much for a piece of ingenuity and history.

Prices for vintage designer handbags can range from less then a hundred to several thousand. The price depends on condition, uniqueness, design, rarity, condition, adornments (beading), the material from which the bag is made and age.



When shopping online for vintage designer handbags, try using different search words: purse, handbags, vintage purses, vintage designer handbags, clutch purses, lunch box purses, cigar box purses and so on. Also look for an online boutique that offers great detail on the items they sell. A good description of the bag, estimated age and a full list of any flaws should be provided. It is essential that the retailer offer a money back guarantee.

A vintage handbag is right for you if you want genuine GUCCI or Hermes leather bag at a great price and couldn’t afford one new. Nobody has to know that it is vintage, but everyone will be wondering where you got it.