Best Fashion Model 2010

China Int'l Fashion Week kicks off

A model presents a fashion during the China International Fashion Week (2009/2010 autumn/winter series) opened in Beijing, capital of China, March 24, 2009. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

A model presents a fashion during the China International Fashion Week (2009/2010 autumn/winter series) opened in Beijing, capital of China, March 24, 2009. (Xinhua/Guo Shasha)

Designers Fashion

Famous Fashion Designers - Charles James 

Although born in England, Charles James is considered one of America's greatest couturiers. Photographer Cecil Beaton's iconic image of 1948, which shows a group of mannequins wearing dramatic James' evening gowns in the elegantly paneled room of a London residence, epitomizes his contribution to post-war glamor. His clothes are known for their astounding complexity, beauty and use of luxurious fabrics.

Bestowed with an obsessive personality, James was a perfectionist who was known to reconsider the construction and cut of a dress - even a single sleeve - for years. His output was limited as a result, but this was of no consequence, because he was uninterested in the cycles of fashion. However, his perfectionist drive and methods towards fashion did prevent him from entering the ready-to-wear market.

The complexity of the cut of his clothes produced garments that changed dramatically in appearance when looked at from different angles. Caroline Rennolds Milbank notes in her book, Couture, that James was 'always refining, always working towards a moment when it would exactly embody his vision. His evening dresses especially look as if they were captured in the moment or unfurling... they capture the essences of movement, they were "moments in time".'

Undoubtedly, the sculptural cut of his clothes found its genesis in his training as an architect in Chicago. His most famous ball gown was the 'Clover', based on the shape of a four-leafed clover. It was designed to be seen at best advantage from above, and consisted of four black velvet panels set into white satin. James always considered his dresses to be works of art and renewed and reworked similar designs over and over again.

Often made from vast quantities of fabric (up to 25 meters / 27 yards), using luxurious materials such as satin, velvet and tulle, and under laid with three differently cut petticoats, they could weigh up to 7 kg (15 lb). Despite this, owing to James's mastery in distributing the weight of the fabrics, the dresses were reputedly as light as a feather to wear. He had a brilliant sense of color and juxtaposed the most beautiful colored linings with the more subdued colors of his jackets and coats, which included celadon sky blue, chestnut and various shades of rose.

James started as a milliner in Chicago, in 1926, and opened his couture house in London in 1930. Following bankruptcy, and with the outbreak of the war, he returned to New York, opening another couture house in 1940. His businesses fell in and out of bankruptcy for the rest of his life.

Fashion Designers

Fashion designers: Luella – Autumn-Winter 2009/2010 at the London Fashion Week

Luella Bartley launched a collection inspired by school uniforms, a little military, and with a British punk touch. Although it is not so remarkable as the collection for spring-summer 2009, which is outstanding and charming, this new collection has really nice details like the particular zippers (or zip fasteners) with beautiful shapes, and sheer fabrics mixed with other fabrics to create a great effect.

It is very probable we will see the English It-girls wearing these garments soon. English It-girls include Alexa Chung, Daisy Lowe, or the Geldof sisters (the younger of them paraded in a Luella collection). It is very likely we will see them wearing some of the tweed, classic-cut coats or Prince of Wales checked coats (true British spirit), or maybe some of them will prefer the lovely mini dresses that were shown at the London Fashion Week.

Other memorable looks from the collection are the velvet jacket with tailored pants, the trench in  shades of red with a sort of blue leggings and lovely patterned cardigan with a classic checked pencil skirt that has zippers that adorn it.

Crystal-bedecked gold stockings are part of many looks of the collection. They add an irreverent and elegant touch in a punk style for the most preppy looks.

Visit the Luella official website

Women Fashion Model

Women's Ready To Wear - Catwalk

A model showcases designs by Nevenka during the Women's Ready To Wear group show as part of the inaugural Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival 2008 at Martin Place on August 17, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. The inaugural Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival (RSFF) runs from August 13-17, and showcases Spring Summer designs by Australia?s biggest designer names and leading fashion retailers at the first Sydney consumer event of it's kind.

Women Fashion Model

Slump helps Berlin tread global fashion catwalk

Fashion show of Marcel Ostertag at the Berlin Fashion Week

By Eva Kuehnen
Berlin is hosting fashion week with a slew of parties, shows and exhibitions as it tries to carve a niche for itself on the global map alongside wealthier rivals like Paris, New York, London and Milan. The once-divided city, labeled "poor but sexy" by its mayor Klaus Wowereit, has yet to attract the Guccis, Versaces or Jean-Paul Gaultiers of the world. But local designers say this is the very reason the city once renowned as center of ultra-liberal, Bohemian excess in the 1920s, has the sort of potential other cities can only dream of. "People are sick of the big labels," said Angelica Blechschmidt, who edited Vogue Germany for over two decades. "Berlin is a rough diamond. Other cities are too established. Berlin could set new global standards." Since Wednesday, the show's focal point has been a cavernous white tent bisected by a long catwalk in central Berlin. For nearly 12 hours a day, dozens of models have paraded up and down into the glare of spotlights and flashing cameras sporting an array of outfits ranging from glittering evening gowns, fur-lined coats -- to nothing but a necklace. Commentators have noted that as the recession bites across Europe and unemployment rises, people are becoming more reluctant to splash out -- exposing established fashion labels to young competitors with much lower overheads. Few big European cities come cheaper than Berlin, where the fashion week first staged in July 2007 runs until Sunday.

Top Hair Fashion Model

Hair fashion: Hair Extensions as hottest spring fashion accessory

Hair extensions are quickly becoming the hottest fashion accessory in Hollywood and for women the U.S who are prefering dating site and who want to stimulate their look. From FOX's American Idol stars to sophisticated spring brides, hair extensions are becoming mainstream accessories.

Glamorous shouldn't be an adjective reserved for only today's hottest celebrities, especially since it's easier than ever to look like a star.

More and more women are making hair extensions part of their beauty routine because they are extremely affordable. Many products found at the trendy, fashionable online wig and hair extensions store, WigShop.com start at less than ten dollars. Shoppers can choose from popular Easihair extensions for dramatic looks to 100% human hair clip-ins.

Today's hair extensions are easy to wear and maintain. In the past, the extensions had to be glued or weaved into the hair by a professional in such a way that often times damage was caused to a women's natural hair. "That's not the case now," said S J Moore from WigShop.com. "Today extensions can be clipped into place with a few simple steps and can add natural body or length to hair of the web model in the modeling world.."

Also topping the list for a trendy celebrity fashion accessory: wigs. Britney Spears has unveiled a string of contemporary wigs, of which several styles can be found at WigShop. From the popular Florence Human Hair Wig to the Chanel Wig, Spears has to keep a variety of wigs on-hand to supply her newest fashion feature. And she's not alone. Among celebrities known to wear lace-front wigs are Beyoncé, Gwen Stefani, Li'l Kim, and Tyra Banks.

The social taboo associated with wearing false hair is wearing thin. Hair extensions and wigs used to be associated with illness, but with the increased celebrity exposure, they are seen today as in vogue fashion accessories.

Among online stores offering Hair Extensions, WigShop.com is probably the premier one; fashionable wigs, hair extensions, and hair related products and offers a unique style guide to help customers choose the best wig and color options to the models like bikini model and editorial model. Launched in 2005 WigShop.com features products from top designers, stylists and celebrities including Jessica Simpson and Ken Paves, Raquel Welch, Naomi Sims, Star Jones, Paula Young, and many more.

Top Hair Fashion Model

What do models wear to fashion shows?

We all know that models wear the designer’s clothes when they are in a fashion show. But what do the top models wear when they watch a fashion show? Well, it is very individual. And, not surprisingly for the fashion industry, it varies from season to season.

Terrific photos of what models have been wearing to the top fashion shows this year can be found here at JAK & JIL’s Model Style 2008.

AAFM’s top three picks for best-dressed models from this collection are:

1. JESSICA STAM for her urban-chic practicality and layering.
2. SKYE STRACKE for her effortless elegance and comfortable but fashionably feminine look.
3. HYE PARK for her ability to maintain simplicity while making a unique statement.

Note how NATASHA POLY paired long black leather gloves with her cropped black leather jacket — a great solution for slightly too-short sleeves or to make a cropped-sleeve jacket practical during cooler weather. We also like how LILY DONALDSON has comfortable shoes on her feet and high heels in her hand!

You’ll also really enjoy a look back at what models were wearing to fashion shows last year at Model Style 2007. Top style nods go to (in order that they appear): CARMEN KASS, CAROLINE TRENTINI, JULIA STEGNER, and LINDSAY ELLINGTON.