The French designer Jean Patou was born on 1887 in Normandy, France. His first job was in a small dressmaking shop, Parry, before World War I. He produced his first collection in 1914. In 1919, after serving as Captain of Zouaves during the war, he returned to the fashion industry and opened his own couture house.
Patou’s involvement in the evolution of sportswear is extensive, its influence, rather obvious. Clothes were made to be beautiful yet comfortable, functional and simple, with accents limited to seam linings and embroideries, as exemplified by his creation of the cardigan. He developed a fabric for swimwear that resists shrinkage and is non-colorfast. He also invented the knitted swimsuit and tennis skirt. His collection was publicized by famous names such as Wimbledon tennis star Suzanne Lenglen and American aviator Ruth Elder. Women of the 1920s started to imitate this sporty look even if they did not engage in sports.
His vision of the ultimate sportswear collection was realized when he opened Le Coin des Sports, a boutique in Paris that catered to all sorts of sportswear, including accessories. He extended these shops to Deauville and Biarritz, both popular resort areas to travelers.
He proved to be a pioneer in ways more than one. In the 1920s, he invented designer ties made from women’s dress and the famous cubist sweaters. He is accounted for the first designer label that he had sewn to his designs. He was able to produce exclusive colors through a special dyeing method so as to eradicate competitor replicas. In 1929, he raised the waistline of the skirt and brought it back to its natural hemline – a move that Chanel followed through quickly.
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On the reality show aired on Bravo TV, Project Runway, Michael Kors has endeared himself to many millions of viewers with his humorous and waspish comments when it comes to the disaster-prone fashions of the shows amateur designers.
A Michael Kors handbag is identifiable in its sleekness as well as elegance. The austere designs and classic lines are a find for anyone who is searching for something of a subtle nature. A Michael Kors handbag means an unerring eye for taste as well as classiness. Michael Kors’ sensational creations fit beautifully in any evening social occasion.
The Michael Kors handbag offers the stylish woman an excellent accessory to stand out. His Small Mesh Hobo is a superior selection – beautifully constructed with black mesh and leather trim, the shimmering handbag is a first-class addition to a cocktail outfit.
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When it comes to men’s shirts and generally, men’s fashion, no other brand is offering much color and vigor as Paul Smith. The fashion house has truly become one of the biggest and most prestigious brands with 12 different specific collections to choose from.
The name Paul Smith is synonymous to loud and attention catching apparel, especially for men. The brand is also offering collections for women and some for kids and teens, but it is the collection, especially shirts, for men that has made Paul Smith more popular as a fashion brand. In a world where men are less fashionable than women, Paul Smith stands up and makes the world think otherwise.
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The highest quality line of straw hats money can buy comes from a company called Shady Brady Hat Company. They have been in business for over 32 years and know better than anyone the detail it takes to make a quality hat. This line of straw hats is probably the most durable, stylish and comfortable hats in the straw market industry. One great thing that you don’t see much anymore is that these hats are manufactured right here in the U.S.A. Every hat that they make has its own distinctive character. The hat bands that they use are handcrafted with many different kinds of leather, feathers & natural fibers and materials & are interchangeable as well. The hats are made out of a guaranteed unbreakable raffia straw which is very tough & durable to last you through many years. Each and every one of the Shady Brady Hats have a brim that can be easily shaped & reshaped back into its original form.
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The fashion world is a constantly changing place that serves as a revolving door for the hottest fashion designers. Fashionistas strive to stay on top of the fashion world by keep an eye on the up and coming designers that are producing the top trends on the market today. One great way to stay aware of the newest designers is to regularly look at the fashion magazines. Most magazines have a special section devoted to the designers who are working to make a name for themselves in the world of fashion. Also, check out the cable channels that specialize in fashion and style to see interviews and tips from these top designers.
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From the posh Jermyn Street in downtown London can be found numerous high-end and fashionable fashion houses. One of those fashion retailers is Charles Tyrwhitt (Tyrwhitt pronounced as ‘tirit’). The company is different in that it is specializing in designing and delivering mail order shirts not juts locally but also to key important cities around the world.
The company was put up in 1986 by Nicholas Charles Tyrwhitt Wheeler. That time, Nicholas was still a student completing his degree at the prestigious Bristol University. Despite that, Charles Tyrwhitt has continued a rapid growth and expansion. It has strived to become the biggest mail order supplier and dealer if classic dress shirts across the United Kingdom and reaching the other side as far as the United States.
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Chic is a new ‘must have’ for summer 2008. The love is in the air and filled with romantic nostalgia when it comes to woman’s wardrobe.
The focal point of the new season’s fashion is the silhouette, freely molded and shaped with layers of fabric, asymmetrical cuts, pleats, gathers in crossover mood between yesterday and today.
A flurry of colors, embroidery and lace invade the wardrobe of woman. Begin with wearing delightful lingerie petticoats trimmed with leather belts on the hips and tinny dresses with masses of pointy frills. With a touch of romance, knitted mini dresses that flaunt sprays of roses and with gym-chic pullovers and tracksuit pants in deluxe versions. Short lengths prevail with mini hems and lots of shorts styles that vanish for evenings that are enhanced with long caftans covered with sparkly sequins.
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The French Design Company Louis Vuitton has been around for more than 100 years and they have done a good job of selling handbags. The Company started with selling high quality luggage to travelers who were in desperate need of luggage that could withstand a lot of travel. Eventually the company was known for its handbags and its signature LV pattern that has made the brand recognized throughout the world. It does not matter what part of the globe your are people recognize a Louis Vuitton LV logo handbag in brown canvas.
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Guy Laroche is the name of the French fashion designer who founded the company Guy Laroche. His career actually began in millinery, or in the design and creation of women’s hats and the accompanying trimming. In fact, another famous fashion designer, Coco Chanel, began as a milliner as well.
Laroche went to work for Jean Desses in 1949, one of the world’s leading fashion designers at the time. Laroche became his assistant, and inevitably began to pick up a lot of fashion knowledge and experience from his renowned master. A few years later, in 1955, Laroche went off to the United States to investigate and learn from some of the new manufacturing methods for ready to wear apparel in the country.
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Born Pierre-Alexandre-Claudius Balmain in St. Jean de Maurienne in 1914. Pierre Balmain started his creation in 1945. His early training started with Molyneux and Lucien Lelong, this lead to the opening of his own Haute Couture house following the war in autumn 1945. He also created one of his best-selling perfumes called, Vent Vent in 1947 with Jolie Madame from 1953, and Ivoire in 1979. Pierre was known for sophistication and elegance and always was found quoted saying, “dressmaking is the architecture of movement”, thus making his mission, which was to beautify the world – like an architect.
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The French designer Jean Patou was born on 1887 in Normandy, France. His first job was in a small dressmaking shop, Parry, before World War I. He produced his first collection in 1914. In 1919, after serving as Captain of Zouaves during the war, he returned to the fashion industry and opened his own couture house.
