fashionblog

Britain-based fashion label Luella has reportedly stopped trading after the company’s sudden closure last month due to the financial crisis.

According to reports, the company owned by British fashion designer Luella Bartley stopped trading after the producer of its ready to wear line which included clothing as well as undergarments such as lingerie stopped its operations and the company’s main investor stopped sending in the money. This development was reported by Reuters.

The fashion line has garnered popularity through the years since popular model Kate Moss and singer Lily Allen have been seen wearing the line in numerous occasions, thus boosting sales.

Bartley won the Designer of the Year award in the prestigious British Fashion Awards last year.

In a statement, Bartley said that she was extremely disappointed with the outcome of her 10-year old company but added that she has a lot of options open for the future and will announce her decision in the coming months.

Fashion designers these days are capitalizing on the popularity of plus size dresses since there’s a growing demand for these products. For plus size women, this is simply great news!

Here are some fashion tips provided by experts to plus size women when it comes to wearing the appropriate clothes:

- Start with the right undergarments. Make sure that the undergarments are not tight enough to leave marks on the body. Having comfortable lingerie underneath the clothes do wonders.

- Wear the right plus size clothes. More women are attempting to wear dresses that are several sizes smaller than their actual size. Experts said that this is not recommended. Stick to your current size and be proud with what you have.

- Try out different colors. Go beyond the traditional black. There are simply a lot of great clothes with different colors out there. Shop with friends to get their insights on what colors fit you.

Clothing retailer John Lewis has reportedly launched a direct marketing campaign in a bid to launch his winter fashion line.

The said campaign has been spearheaded by Kitcatt Nohf Alexander Shaw, an integrated ad agency. The rollout is expected to take place later this month.

The direct marketing campaign involves direct mail to the customers’ houses. The package is made to look like a clutch batch with a strap line that states “Invigorate your fashion sense.” Inside the package are the upcoming winter and autumn fashion range.

Image photos were shot by none other than John Akehurst, photographer for Vogue magazine. Among the models featured in the catalog is Jacquetta Wheeler, a British supermodel.

John Lewis is also launching its own lifestyle magazine which caters to their target audience. As for the purchases of the products, consumers can go online or order at the nearest retail stores.

You need not buy new clothes in order to be fashionable. If you are short in cash and trying to save as much as possible, then make use of your existing wardrobe. All you need to do is to be creative. Create a new look without shelling so much money from your pockets. Here are some useful fashion tips for you:

• If you already have a set of heels in your cabinet, choose the ones with short heel if you are planning to wear a shorter skirt. Same applies the other way around. Make sure that if you are wearing open-toed sandals, your toenails should really look good.
• For handbags, if you already have a small selection then all you need to do is mix and match. Make sure that bags should be proportionate to your size and matches the dress too.
• Make sure your clothes fit well. You’ll look more fashionable if you wear the right size. Don’t forget your lingerie. Try a bra fitting if you arenot sure.
• Make use of your jewelry. It usually catches attention and people tend to take notice of your dress.
• Sunglasses and scarves. Great for summer fun! It mixes perfectly well with your casual attire and your summer clothes last year could still be used, thanks to the mix and matching techniques.

Clothing retailer Blair, which is based in Warren, Pennsylvania, reportedly recalled more than 160,000 units of chenille robes because the said items did not pass the flammability requirements set by the federal government. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said this week that the wearer may be in danger of catching on fire on the robe by exposure to an open flame. So far, there are three incidents of robe owners catching on fire, one sustained second-degree burns.

The robe was described in the website as a “one-piece garment made of plush sculpted chenille, a shaped stand collar, and horizontal chenille front and back yolks and cuffs. The robe has a full-button front with seven matching button closures, with self cuffs, a straight bottom with self hem and two sideseam pockets.

Nonprofit international association of designers Color Marketing Group (CMG) once again revealed some fashion trends in fabric colors that are expected to hit major retail outlets in the near future.
Here are the colors to watch:
Blue: Popular shades are sky and a title=Blue water shopping water blues. However, they said that any blue color would really fit well in everyone’s style.
Purple: A really popular fashion color for this year. In fact, it’s been featured since late 2008 as a preview or teaser. It perfectly works as a neutralizer and attracts appreciative attention.
Yellow: Yes, the color is back in the limelight. According to CGM designers, the bleak economy really needs brightening up. So if it’s not going to be by money, it can be done through clothing clothing. Wearing yellow emanates a cheerful color – a ray of hope during these hard times.
White: The ever-reliable color white is the new “in” thing in the corporate world. White fabric installed in corporate offices gives an impression of professionalism and a friendly environment for the employees.
Gray: This color is also an appropriate shade during these hard times. Black, according to the designers, seems a little harsh and gives a negative statement. Gray is fine, they added.

Many women look frightened when passing the new collection in clothing shops. And they are not alone. Some well-known fashion designers share their concerns about the return of the 80s in the shops and on the high street. So is Valentino.

Vulgar football players
“I cannot believe that the 80s are back in fashion. That was the least stylish decade ever. Why would people want to re-live the big shoulders? Women looked like football players those days. Very vulgar.”

Red
However, Valentino more than welcomes the use of red. The man who introduced the colour red into the world of high fashion, and even has its own red (Valentino Red), loves the fact that red is seen all over the catwalks. “As if people suddenly discovered that red is a nice colour. Well, I already knew 45 years ago that it is beautiful colour!”

We see it every year: when spring comes, colour comes out again! Pink, blue and green are back in the shops in fresh and flirty designs. This year the colour will be more subtle than ever, we welcome back the washed-tones! Chloé, Jill Stuart and even Banana Republic use soft colours, like sandy rose, lots of beige and faded yellows. You can find it on flowery dresses and girly accessories.

This year we were surprised to see some cleavage on the runway. Usually the models aren’t even curved enough to show cleavage, but this year something changed. Maybe it is because Scarlett Johansson became the shining face of Dolce and Gabbana. Or because it just fits those beautifully shaped strapped-in waists. I don’t care, just love it!

This season we can wear white again. No matter what fabric, you will always be in fashion wearing fresh white.  Update your wardrobe with a few classics, like a spotless white V-neck shirt, excellent for those with limited financial resources. Or go crazy with a white feathered jacket.

You can spot a lot of girly-girl fashion this season, ruffles, sensual dresses and laced lingerie. But on the other hand there are the enhanced shoulders. You can use them as a powerful look. Are you confident enough to wear them?

Winter can be very challenging when it comes to picking the right clothes to wear. These days, women are not the only ones who are conscious with their winter attire. Men are starting to keep themselves updated with the latest fashion trends. This can be evidenced by the existence of male fashion lines by the biggest names in fashion design.

Here are some of the latest male fashion trends for winter:

• Ralph Lauren’s Polo has come up with checked dress shirts. For men, having plaids and checked patterned dresses is a must. However, fashion experts say that don’t overdo with the selection. These patterns should only apply above the waist while pants should be with neutral colors.

• The latest Nautica fashion lines include bright ski jackets under wool coats. The line also came up with colorful and sporty vests and knit caps.

• It’s about time to experiment with your clothes. You can try using charcoal-colored pants and wear colored sweaters (yellow, blue or red) and why not wear some sexy lingerie under it to make you feel good!

• If you are finding matching clothes to be very tiresome, you can always resort to clothes with dark colors and classic sharp lines. These are always great to look at and can be bought anywhere.

Spice Girl, socialite, actress, mum and fashion designer Victoria Beckham is sporting a shorter and darker hair cut. Beckham debut her new hair cut during the show in New York fashion week. Beckham was photographed sharing the front row with actresses Jennifer Lopez and Eva Langoria - Parker.

Beckham stole the show when she showed the world her new do. When asked why she made her locks shorter, Beckham replied:

“You know, I just like to change things up. I get bored very, very quickly and I just fancied a change.”

Before she paraded this new do, Beckham was sporting a sleek bob that was nicknamed the ‘Pob’ - after her. The ‘Pob’ was on the top of the most requested hair cuts list in the UK. She has also worn hair extensions in the past and has even bleached her hair blonde. Her new hair cut is a sleek bob cut close to the scalp with lots of layers. Beckham paired her new hair cut with a strapless black dress (probably with a strapless bra) she designed herself.

Fashion week is also big for Beckham because it would be the first time she would show the world her latest collection of ladies’ clothing.