GreatA2Z.com - General Web Directory - links grouped by category with the best worldwide websites concerning to investment, realestate, education, cooking, business, economic, health and more.
 

Archive for January 10th, 2008

The History of Fashion Design

Thursday, January 10th, 2008

What Is Fashion Design?

Fashion design is a form of art dedicated to the creation of clothing and other lifestyle accessories. Modern fashion design is divided into two basic categories: haute couture and ready-to-wear. The haute couture collection is dedicated to certain customers and is custom sized to fit these customers exactly. In order to qualify as a haute couture house, a designer has to be part of the Syndical Chamber for Haute Couture and show a new collection twice a year presenting a minimum of 35 different outfits each time.

Ready-to-wear collections are standard sized, not custom made, so they are more suitable for large production runs. They are also split into two categories: designer/createur and confection collections. Designer collections have a higher quality and finish as well as an unique design. They often represent a certain philosophy and are created to make a statement rather than for sale. Both ready-to-wear and haute-couture collections are presented on international catwalks.

Who Invented It?

The first fashion designer who was more than a simple seamster was Charles Frederick Worth, in the 19th century. Before he set up his fashion design house in Paris, clothing was made by anonymous dressmakers and fashion standards were derived from the styles worn by royalty. Worth was the first designer to actually dictate to his customers what to wear rather than following their demands.

His fashion house became so famous that people were able to attach a face and a name to designs when they knew they were from the House of Worth. This was the beginning of the tradition to have a designer of a house not only create clothing, but also represent the symbol of the brand.

What Does It Take To Be A Fashion Designer?

Fashion design is a form of art. To work as a designer, you should have an artistic and creative personality. You also have to be good at drawing and able to express your ideas in sketches. You don’t necessarily have to be a great artist, but you must have some special skills for combining colors, tones and shades. You also have to be able to work with fabric and use textiles in a creative and original manner. Fashion designers have a good visual imagination and are able to think in three-dimensions and put their ideas into garments.

Fashion designers have to be aware of the fashion market requirements. They have to be very interested in learning new things and read magazines, journals and books on fashion design history and new trends. They also have to be interested in art, visit art galleries and interact with all kinds of artists whenever they have the opportunity. A designer should also have some knowledge and experience of tailoring (cutting, draping, sewing etc.) and be able to tell the difference between different fabric quality levels.

A good understanding of the audience’s lifestyle and customer needs and requirements is also needed in fashion design. Designers should have good communication skills and be able to express their ideas clearly. But most important, they have to be very original and have fresh, innovative ideas.

Home And Garden Decorating

Thursday, January 10th, 2008

Home and garden decorating is a hot topic. This is evident in television programming. Every second television show is related to decorating your home and garden. Programs such as The Decorating Challenge, Curb Appeal and The House Doctor are great examples of home and garden decorating shows. These programs are quite interesting and quite helpful for people who are looking for ideas to make changes to their home and garden. These shows take everyday living spaces and transform them into beautiful, inviting places. Since these programs generally work with a budget, they help people realize that home and garden decorating can be accomplished without going to great expense. They also demonstrate that even small changes can make an enormous difference in home and garden decorating.

Home and garden decorating involves anything, materials, paint, fabric, accessories; items that can be used to make decorative improvements to a home or garden. When considering making changes around the house or in the back garden, some people may feel intimidated because they aren’t creative nor do they have any crafty skills. Home and gardening programs, magazines, books and catalogs, show homeowners that it isn’t necessary to be a skilled individual to make home and garden decorating changes. These resources teach people that simple, basic changes and additions can transform a space, either home or garden, into something completely different and beautiful.

Many homeowners and decorators decorate so that the home and garden compliment each other. When people have beautiful gardens, they often like to have that beauty brought into their living space. One easy way to accomplish this is to display, fresh-cut flowers from the garden, throughout the home. Flowers provide a lovely, fresh scent and add color to any space. When home and garden decorating, perhaps a homeowner might like to bring the country theme in their home, out into their garden. A patio could easily be decorated to portray country home decorating. This would allow people to enjoy the warmth and coziness of country decorating both inside and outside the home.

There are many home and garden decorating ideas. A person could take a drive around town and find details of other houses and gardens which interest them. They can then take these ideas back to their own home and garden. Window boxes make lovely decorations for any home. These decorations, filled with seasonal flowers, can be enjoyed both inside and outside the home.

Home and garden decorating can add hours of fun to your day. Since it’s your space anything, that interests you, goes. If you’re a person who doesn’t like clutter, redefining your property may be a simple as removing unwanted items from your home or cutting down overgrown trees from your garden. You’d be surprised at the difference this could make in your home and garden decorating plans. A fresh coat of pain on the interior or the exterior of your house will certainly be an improvement. Replacing the wooden planks on a patio and finishing them with a rich stain would definitely compliment your garden as well as your home. There are many home and garden decorating ideas. When you’re out with a group of friends, why not ask for home and garden decorating suggestions. Once you begin your decorating project, you’ll discover all sorts of techniques to make improvements to your home and garden.