Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Prom, Party, Ball and Evening Dress Trends For Winter and Christmas 2008

With Christmas fast approaching, it is time to cheer yourself up and get dressed up for a party, ball or prom./ One of the most enjoyable parts of a night out at this time of year is choosing something beautiful to wear. For Autumn Winter 2008 and there are so many options to choose from but here are just a few of the best.

The Classic Prom Dress

This style of dress is just about every where. The beauty of it lies in its simplicity. It suits almost anyone and will usually be strapless, one colour with a flared below the knee skirt. It is great for showcasing a beautiful statement necklace or a gorgeous pair of high heels or an amazing clutch.

The Lace Dress

Lace is a big trend for Autumn winter 08 and there is a huge choice of lace dresses on offer to choose from ranging from lace style prom dresses to high necked ones similar to those seen on the catwalk at Prada.

The Beaded Dress

Beaded dresses are a great way to add a bit of sparkle and are great for a special occasion or a Christmas party. Choose from coloured beading for a really eye catching look or black for a slightly more subtle look. Keep jewellery to a minimum with a beaded dress as you do not want to look like a Christmas tree (even at Christmas).

The Asymmetrical Dress

The asymmetrical dress is another key trend for 2008, it usually has only one sleeve or shoulder and is often Grecian or draped style. This style of dress looks great either long or short and should be teamed with a simple pendant necklace if any so as not to interfere with the look of the neckline.

The Maxi Dress

Maxi dresses were around last year and were very popular. This year they are back again with many formal styles which are great for proms, parties and balls. This is a great style of dress for those that don't want to show off their legs or at occasions where it may inappropriate. Unless you are very tall be careful not to choose a maxi dress with too much volume in the skirt.

The Little Black Dress

The little black dress is a classic party dress made popular by both Coco Chanel and the classic film breakfast at Tiffanys. These days the term can mean anything from a beaded mini dress to a classic style shift dress. The popularity of the little black dress is probably due to its versatility and ability to flatter most figures. The little black dresses for Autumn and Winter 2008 can encompass many of the other key trends including the asymmetrical dress, prom dress, mini dress, lace dress or beaded dress.



Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Prom,-Party,-Ball-and-Evening-Dress-Trends-For-Winter-and-Christmas-2008&id=1568509

Top Trends For Bridesmaid Dresses

The biggest complaint of bridesmaids is the ugly dresses that they are forced to wear. You hear horror stories of gold lamé, dresses in rainbow colors with matching ruffled parasols, and even electric blue satin with enormous bows. It does not have to be this way! The top trends for bridesmaid dresses are all focused on making the bridesmaids feel attractive, and hopefully even choosing a dress that they will want to wear again.

If you haven't been to a wedding for a while, you may be in for a surprise. Gone are the days of a gaggle of girls decked out in petticoats, ruffles, and poufy sleeves. Today's bridesmaid dresses are much more like regular cocktail dresses (in fact, they may even be cocktail dresses from a non-bridal store). Dresses are slim, not full skirted, and most of them do not even reach the floor (the better to show off a really cute pair of shoes and a great pedicure!). Your bridesmaids should be able to move and dance easily in their dresses, without feeling encumbered.

Bridesmaid dresses are definitely sexier than they used to be (within the limits of good taste, please!). One of the hottest necklines is the halter, which is flattering to almost every woman in any size. If you like the halter, but are having a formal ceremony in a house of worship, matching wraps are a great idea for the service. Wraps provide a more modest look for the ceremony, and then they can be discarded for more of a cocktail dress look during the reception.

The cookie cutter look is definitely out of style. Brides are allowing their attendants to customize their look. A very popular idea is to have each girl choose separates in a designated fabric and color. That creates a look that is coordinated, but not too matchy-matchy. It also means that each bridesmaid can select the cut that is most flattering to her figure. Your attendants will thank you for that!

Another top trend is for the bridesmaids to wear a range of colors. Now we are not talking about the aforementioned rainbow of pastels that were seen in the 1970s. Rather, the bride specifies a theme, such as "shades of pink" or "autumn colors", and each attendant has the luxury of picking a dress that she loves within those parameters. It is a good idea, though, for the bride to take a look at all of the dresses before the wedding, because sometimes you can end up with one off-choice that sticks out like a sore thumb.

Bold colors are hot right now, including hot pink, aqua blue, canary yellow, and kelly green. For Heaven's sake, exercise some common sense if you are choosing a very strong color, and pair it with a low key fabric like a shantung or a chiffon. A super shiny hot pink satin dress is not something that your bridesmaids will be likely to ever wear again. Another idea is to use the bright color as an accent, like a sash, on a less dramatic background color. Some fabulous color combinations include aqua blue with espresso brown and kelly green with pale pink.

If you are not a fan of bright colors, do not worry; the other big color trend is just the opposite: gray. Gray may sound like a difficult color to pull off in a festive way, but the gray bridesmaid dresses are surprisingly pretty. They are most often seen in soft, ethereal styles like floating chiffon or delicate tulle. The feminine treatment prevents the dresses from being too somber. It would also be great to use the neutral gray as a backdrop for bolder accent colors. Bridesmaid jewelry sets with rich burgundy Swarovksi crystals would be a beautiful accent. You could also choose a brighter color for bridesmaid jewelry sets and bouquets like coral, which would really pop against the gray dresses.

Your bridesmaids will have to spend a lot of money on their dresses. Do them a favor, and choose something that they will actually be pleased to wear. The top trends in bridesmaid dresses are all geared towards dresses that are simple, modern, and elegant. And not a yard of gold lamé in sight!

Ask Bridget for advice in areas of jewelry or weddings. She writes numerous articles providing information for the customers of Silverland Jewelry.com To make your bridesmaids feel even more beautiful in today's bridesmaids dresses choose the perfect bridesmaid jewelry set to complement the dresses.



Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-Trends-For-Bridesmaid-Dresses&id=1319542

Maxi Dress - Trend For 2009


Not everyone could pull of the mini skirts and dresses of 2008, but 2009 is set to be different. The maxi dress is set to be huge this year replacing the shockingly short clothes and anyone can wear it. Celebrities like Paris Hilton and Eva Longoria have been wearing this feminine flowing style on and off the red carpet.

Achieving the celebrity look is so much easier with the maxi dress. There's no need to have perfect legs or bodies to wear this style. It has the ability to suit all shapes and sizes. Another great characteristic is the flexibility of the maxi dress. It can be both formal and casual with the implementation of different accessories. Teamed with flip flops, it can be worn to the beach or wear with heels and glamourous jewellery for a night out.

A Maxi Dress For Your Body Shape

Whatever trend you are trying to dress for you should always consider your body shape before making a purchase and the maxi dress is no different. Your height, bust and width etc can play important roles in the end result. Here are some tips for choosing a maxi dress to suit your body shape.

To those that are vertically challenged, I'd suggest staying clear of gypsy skirts. Since a skirt cuts you in half, a flowing skirt can make you seem shorter and sometimes wider than you are. If you are short it is best to opt for dresses that are more fitted than flowing. Some people opt for high heels to help create the illusion of length and to create a slimmer silhouette.

The maxi dress style makes it easier to dress taller or wider women because it offers enough coverage while making you feel feminine. If you are super model tall gypsy inspired dresses will look great and elegant.

If you're wider around the waist area then maxi dresses help you disguise this. The main tip is to draw attention up top keep it fitted at the bust or waist with a slight flow at the bottom. A-line dresses are a great choice for your shape since they don't cling in the wrong places and offer room without a tent affect.

Striking prints and colors are the best choice for heavier women. The opposite of light colors and small prints should be avoided since they can add width and depth to your body.

The maxi dress is can be difficult for those with a bigger bust. Searching for maxi dresses with halternecks are more flattering on your body shape but make sure it's not to tight. Spaghetti straps are best left alone because they can make you look even bigger and ruins the style of the dress.

These are just some of the tips to bear in mind when selecting a maxi dress. You have no excuse not to rock this style in 2009.




Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Maxi-Dress---Trend-For-2008&id=949956




Fashion Trends

Successful retailers need to forecast the fashions that their consumers will be seeking. Even top designers routinely perform surveys prior to designing their seasonal lines and the large retailers consult forecasting specialists prior to purchasing stock for their stores. So how does the independent boutique retailer gain access to valuable industry information and trend predictors?

Above all observing what's going on in the weekly celebrity glossy's and monthly fashion magazines, will give you an upfront view of the new names in design, what consumers will be shopping for and where the trends are headed.

Consumer spending is powerfully influenced by the media but tempered by the economy so to find out what consumers are actually buying it is advisable to make frequent visits to busy similar retailers and local shopping malls. Take time wherever possible to chat with sales assistants. They are in the frontline and this gives them a unique perspective of consumer's needs and what the customer is seeking. Other extremely rich sources of information will be found online in the magazine fashion forums, Elle, Vogue, InStyle etc have very active fashion consumer forums. These are useful indicators for finding out what is being purchased and the buzz on upcoming styles.

In the past, US retailers looked to European retailers for market trends. Today, more US retailers are finding inspiration closer to home. There is a wealth of undiscovered local designers in our own back yard who are acquiring a dedicated following. With little detective work you can find these rising stars and establish a relationship that will be mutually beneficial.

Other important ways to anticipate the trends is to subscribe to industry trade publications like Accessories magazine, Apparel News and WWD. These publications are essential especially if you are a boutique in a small town and do not plan to attend industry trade shows. These magazines also now have websites which give up-to-date trend reports.

Today, between each marked fashion trend, we experience new adaptations on the fashion standards and especially routine-retro-revivals. Currently this is taking the form of spandex, leggings, 80's fashion and the neo-preppie look. Wayfarer sunglasses as popularized by movies such as "The Blues Brothers" and "Risky Business" have returned (but in larger sizes and bolder colors) and even some of biggest names of the 80's and 90's fashion modeling scene are enjoying a career revival with major fashion and cosmetic companies featuring them in ad campaigns.

The best way to anticipate new fashion trends is to seek relevant visual input wherever you can - in vintage stores, flea markets and in the street. There are also an abundance of fashion blogs and online showcases discussing what the locals in major cities are wearing, thse are an invaluable resources. Chief amongst these are The Satorialist, Streetfashion.net, London Street Fashion (ftp2.dns-systems.net) and styleandthecity.com.

Whether you are an established retailer or a current boutique owner, ongoing research and trend watching is a vital function of your business if you are to evolve and succeed. Spotting trends or even setting trends will be achieved by keenly observing the market, paying attention to street trends and knowing your industry. As ever 'knowledge is power' in this case it is the power you can leverage into strong sales!




Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Fashion-Trends&id=2733502





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