Designer Fashion

How to Buy a Designer Fashion Bargain on eBay
By Jen P Carter

Have you got plenty of time, but a definite shortage of ready cash? Did you know that by shopping on eBay and a little of your time, you can find yourself genuine fashion knockdowns and designer bargains?

A lot of people using eBay rush to put dozens of items on, often skimping on the details in the listing and putting poor quality or no photos with their listing.

Often this can mean a bargain for some eager shopper like yourself.

For example, a pair of Terra Plana boots were recently listed with one simple word "shoes", only in the detailed listing was the brand even mentioned. These designer boots were worth over £120-150 on the website, but were bought for just over £4, plus postage and packing.

So, how can you scoop yourself a shopping bargain?

When searching for any item on eBay, always click on the button below the search bar which says "include Title and description". This simple move will increase the number of listings available to you , but you'll still need to trawl through each listing to see whether it's of interest to you.

For example, a Marc Jacobs handbag may be listed as "green handbag", but by clicking the "include Title and description" box, would come up in the search results as long as the words Marc Jacobs were mentioned somewhere in the item description.

Another tip is to search for misspelt items, in the above example, you might want to try searching for Mark Jacobs, or other variations of misspelling the name.

Equally, you may wish to navigate right through to the appropriate section. For example, shoulder bags, Brand - Marc Jacobs, might yield some misspelt or badly described items.

If you're looking for a particular label, such as Vera Wang, Diane von Furstenburg, then searching for these names can yield some real bargains, especially if you're an unusual size. Most designer dresses have barely been worn - so you'll be receiving a genuine designer item, but a massively reduced price. At the time of writing a Vera Wang cream dress (size 6) was selling on Buy It Now for just £35, a fraction of it's original price.

Buying on eBay is also a great way to find cheap pairs of jeans, dresses, tops and skirts - for everyday or special occasions. If you know that a certain store makes clothing that fits you well, for example, Top Shop jeans - you can probably pick up a barely worn pair for under £10, delivered to your door.

Of course, the other positive side of eBay shopping is that you don't even have to leave your home - you can do all this shopping from the comfort of your own home.

But beware, shopping for bargains can be addictive, so know when it's time to put the credit card away and stop shopping.

Daily Fashion

Fashion Contact Lenses - A Colorful Enhancement For Your Eyes
By Victoria Mistral

If you are thinking of matching your eye color with your outfit for the day, then you should opt to use fashion contact lenses which can either enhance your current eye color or change it as you wish.



These colored lenses can definitely match your current outfit and can be used as a fashion accessory and added to your daily fashion sense. There are two types of colored lenses which you can make use of such as cosmetic lenses as well as prescription lenses. Cosmetic lenses are the ones you can use if you would like to change your eye color to give it a different look while the other one enhances your eye color which usually needs a prescription of an eye doctor.



These plastic eye lenses are more often used as a vision correction to resolve issues with eye problems. However, nowadays it can now be used even by those who do not have any eye problems. All you need to do is to choose the color that you want, and that's it. You may need to consult an eye doctor to have your eyes measured properly.



This is for the reason that these lenses have to fit your eyes perfectly. Since these are fashion contact lenses, of course you don't want wearing contacts that larger than your cornea, so better have it measured by a professional before purchasing it.



If you are to purchase colored eye lenses, what you should look for are opaque tint lenses. These lenses are available in different colors and different patterns. There are contacts which have 3D designs and other styles and patterns, while you may also wear the solid ones which has an iris and a colored pupil. So this is definitely giving your eye another colorful experience and it's own fashion sense.



It is not that hard to purchase these lenses, you may even get them online for your own convenience. Apart from vision correction, these fashion contact lenses can definitely bring a new look to your eyes which can be very noticeable for others to admire.

Current Fashion

Current Fashion Trends of Spring and Summer 2009
By Marian Farkas

Every year the world of fashion comes up with new fashion styles that are influenced by different seasons and this year is certainly not different. So what are the current fashion trends of spring and summer 2009?

These days we can clearly see not only the rise of brand new styles that have never been seen before, but we are experiencing the comeback of some old fashion trends. So the right answer to this question lies not only in the future but in the past as well. We can find the proof for this in last winter when we saw models walking down the catwalk in loose knitted sweaters, tartan patterns and embroidered skirts. But just don't go off the topic and get back to current fashion trends. This year's spring and summer are going to be colourful and playful and mostly bright and vivid colours are going to dominate. The hottest of all is going to be the red colour which, as we all know, represents love and passion. Although it is a very brave colour you shouldn't be afraid to wear it this year.

Next colour, which by the way has endured from last winter, is purple and certainly shouldn't be missing in your wardrobe in the spring and summer if you like to radiate and attract and arouse curiosity in men.

On the fashion walks we could see different tones of light green colour as a result of approaching spring. Some designers have also decided to follow lighter tones like sky blue, metallic and grey because they are considered to be a classic spring colours.

Other colours like yellow, orange and gold are going to emerge more often towards June and July, as they represent the beauty of summer and every woman's gratification during this season.

Another colour you should have in your wardrobe is gold, although it should be used more with accessories. We certainly shouldn't leave out white and black and their combinations, as they are always good to enhance elegance and feminine features in every woman. Brown is a colour for every occasion and thus is one of the colours of current fashion trends. Most of us were already getting tired of this long and cold winter and so we have all welcomed warmer temperatures. And as a new season is almost here we can obviously experience a big shift in daily outfits. Every skinny woman who wants to be attractive and look sexy should take an advantage of exposed midriff. You might think it could be too courageous for some women but it certainly is effective and also very practical in hot summer. So if your body shape can afford such a luxury just give it a shot and stay in a line with current fashion trends.

Another revealing feature of the following spring and summer are going to be one shoulder dresses. So this is a good chance for you to take an advantage of it and flatter your surrounding with the sexy look of your shoulders.

The overalls are going to be very fashionable as well and they are designed to suit as a work outfit, or for casual and special occasions. You can reinforce your lines in a big variety of overalls as they are designed as pants or shorts and made from silk, denim and so on. If you don't have them in your wardrobe you should add it to your list of clothes you want to buy as they are very charming, classy and sexy.

Even if we thought that they are never coming back the ripped jeans denoted reinstatement last year and they are going to be reinforced even more this year. I'm not only talking about trousers but anything that is made of denim and can be ripped to look sexy, stylishly revealing and in a line with current fashion trends.

A jewel encrusted clothing is probably not something you would wear for a casual occasion but it's excellent for some special occasions. They look very expensive and can give an elegant touch to your style. Don't ditch them just because they might be considered to be upstream.

Because this year is more feminine driven than any other, the pants and the shorts are not presented as an extensive part of fashion catwalks. When it comes to motifs then flora and folk motifs of Africa and North America are going to be very popular as they represent the spirit of current season when the nature is awaking and growing to the same beauty as you can achieve in such an outfit. Also the star pattern from the last year is going to be replaced with a butterfly motif.Fringing is another thing that outlasted from winter and is going to be very popular this spring and summer. When you decide to do a shopping according to current fashion trends you should definitely get a fringed dress or a skirt if you would like to enhance your elegant and feminine look.The accessories are going to play a big role as well but not as a necessary supplement in a case of need but as a style productive feature of your personality.So here it is, very short and to the point fashion synopsis for spring and summer 2009.

You can clearly see from the picture painted above that fashion is more diverse these days and huge selection of various products on the markets reinforces individuality and more personal approach instead of main stream follow up. So the best thing would probably be to be yourself and shop for clothes wisely as not every single thing is will be trendy next year. Remember that in the current fashion trends is almost everything allowed. So if you can't afford to spend a lot of money on your wardrobe then you should buy things that might prevail longer then couple of months.

Couture Fashion

The Latest Couture Fashion Designers

"Couture" is quite a different category than just clothing or fashion clothing. In the world of style and high fashion, the top of the line, utmost fashion designs are most often referred to as couture. Being at the height of what is new, fashionably current and at the highest end of style to the point where you are even longed for by your fashion peers is to be "couture."

Couture houses frequently turn out elaborate gowns, dresses and bridal wear. The French designers have always been ahead of the fashion curve. British designers are getting recognition for themselves in the world of high fashion. Each year, the fashion world begins looking for the new big thing in high-end and couture fashion. The cheaper clothes you find on the rack are not good enough for it.

Couture Fashion Week is frequented by the elite of the fashion industry. Only top designers are featured during Couture Fashion Week. Following is a group of a few of the designers who have taken part in the Couture Fashion Show 2009, adding the much coveted 'couture' to their status.

- Jorge Diep; Linda Ellis; Nina Gleyzer; Andres Aquino; Soucha Couture; Dany Atrache; Catalin Botezatu; Nedret Taciroglu; Vocce Couture; Space Couture; Sushma Patel

Their standout qualities are creativity and versatility of design. These designs are unique and have earned the respect from their peers. They can try out various color combinations (though black is the timeless color of elegance) and materials yet bring out the absolute top dresses for this time of the year.

These designers had educational as well as professional training that helped them to end up at the runway of Couture Fashion week.

Soucha, for example, is a graduate of the Academia Della Moda in Florence, Italy, is the owner of Soucha Couture which is one of the most popular Italian fashion institutions. Arab stars and celebrities liked his innovative fashions and he began to design for them. With the confidence of youth, he created his new fashion brand and became famous. At present, he runs two small stores in Cairo. Many people in Egypt would be familiar with Soucha Fashion. Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are starting to see an influx of Soucha Fashion and it expands its selling base. The company plans to enhance the offerings in its stores to cover more casual apparel and apparel accessories than it has in the past.

In order to succeed a designer must work hard and have a natural artistic ability and sense of style. It is of no doubt that these designers keep improving with each collection. The fashion world has shown an endless appreciation of these items, and constantly gives us new variations on this theme. Because designs take on different creations and inspiration, no one design is like the other.

Costume Fashion

Costume and Fashion History of Jewelry
By Victor Epand

In the ancient times, gold was in great demand for making jewelry. Gold was rare, it would not get dull and the best part was that it was flexible; therefore it was quite easy to make various designs out of it. Fantastic necklaces, diadems, bracelets, earrings, pendants, armlets, head ornaments, rings, pectoral ornaments and collars created out of gold were all manufactured in ancient Egypt.



You must be aware that ancient Egypt was the land of the Pharaohs. In the year 1922, Howard Carter in one of his excavations stumbled upon the grand discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb along with a lot of gold funerary relics; each and every piece depicted the work of art that was prevalent in ancient Egypt. Then comes the Gold and Gems that was available in Greece in the 1400 BC era.



During the ancient times in Greece, beads that were in the shape of natural forms such as beetles, flowers and shells were created on a huge scale. Gorgeous and fragile earrings and necklaces were discovered in burial locations in parts of Northern Greece. By 300 BC, the Greeks were busy manufacturing multi colored jewelry and they made use of pearls, emeralds, amethysts and garnets.



In addition, they made use of materials like enamel, colored stones and glass. They also created carved cameos of Indian Sardonyx together with filigree gold work. Indian Sardonyx basically is a brown pink and cream agate stone with stripes. Beads were manufactured in a method by sticking two flat pieces of gold together and packing them up with sand. Now let us know about the magnificent Italian Gold and striking Roman Coinage.



During the Eight century BC, the Italian Etruscans in the Tuscany region manufactured gold work that had a texture of granules. They manufactured huge earrings, necklaces, bracelets and fibulae or clasps. In addition to all this they manufactured pendants that were unique. These pendants were created to be hollow so that perfume could be filled in it. To this day and age the Italians are well known for their excellent quality as well as stylish fashion of manufacturing gorgeous designs in gold.



The Romans used to make use of 18 and 24 carat gold in coinage. The coinage happened to be the craftsman's raw material for ornamental jewel work, as it was quite easily accessible. Some 2000 years back, the Romans used to make use of sapphires brought in from Sri Lanka, amber, cloudy emeralds, Indian diamond crystals and garnets. When England was ruled by the Romans, fossilized wood known as jet from the North of England was shaped into remarkable pieces. Then there was the Pearls and Gems Authentic and Artificial Jewelry.



Jewels at all times have been made use of as symbols of love. Excellent quality gems and precious metals were used to make good quality artificial jewelry in order to trick people into buying them instead of the authentic ones. Authentic pearls and gemstones were brought in from the east and the Italians were the ones who mainly purchased them. The Italian traders after that went on to sell the merchandise in Europe.

Club Fashion

Are You a Fashion Victim Too? Join the Club and Grab a Pair of Gladiator Shoes!
By Sarah Pucci

One of the strongest trends in fashion nowadays is gladiator shoes. Hollywood stars wear them and even the chic ladies love to collect them. You can see them anywhere - on TV, fashion magazines, or on the internet. You can see them everyday - while strolling in your favorite malls, walking down the street, or sitting on a bench eating an ice cream. You can see them anytime - today, tomorrow and trust me you'll keep seeing them for the years to come. Yes, you might have even seen them in Roman-themed movies and books.



There are different types of gladiator shoes, as they come in different shapes, colors, sizes and of course, prices. You can choose from a wide range of these super hot shoes. These trendy gladiator sandals are made for different types of fashionistas. From those that prefer high-heeled to those who just want them flat. You even see knee-length, mid-calf and ankle-length gladiator sandals. Ankle length gladiator shoes are suitable for any leg shape. If you have a flawless leg to show off, this would be what you need to get. Mid-calf gladiator shoes are the best option for thin legs, whereas knee-length is the best choice, if you want your legs to look longer. However, these must-have shoes for any fashionista can be difficult to take off your feet, and I don't just mean that you won't be willing to take them off cause they look fabulous! Then again, there are designs that have a zipper at the back to make it easier.



Now, the question which comes in your mind is what to wear with gladiator shoes? Surely, you will have no problem when it comes to choosing clothes that look good with your gladiator shoes. These shoes will be a great match with any clothes you wear. You can wear your skirt, mini-dress, or long dress. You can even wear it with your sexy pants, capris, and short shorts.



Gladiator shoes are really the hottest fashion trend this time and it makes sense. You will feel the tickle to buy it every time you see it. You just can't be left behind by your chic friends when you are out partying. Let me just say - If you want to grab the attention of your man, wear it and you will be prettier and sexier than you ever were.



Every lady, who wants to be 'IN', can choose what she thinks suits her best. You can create a fashion statement just right for you. You can have fun in choosing from different styles and designs. Choosing the right gladiator shoes can make you stunning with lesser efforts. So ladies, have one before it is gone.

Classic Fashion

The Classic Fashion Personality
By Arline James-Thomas

The classic dresser has a linear approach to fashion. She is one dimensional, conservative and her wardrobe is sturdy and reliable. When it comes to clothes, the classic dresser invests for the long haul. She goes for the timeless wardrobe and this includes her fashion accessories. She likes tailored clothes in classic durable fabrics such as tweed, wool blends, cashmere, silk and good quality cotton.



Neutral Palette and lots of navy

She is conservative when it comes to colours sticking to neutrals or monochromatic colours i.e. one colour in several shades. She loves navy. She dresses elegantly and so her fashion accessories reflect her fashion personality and are just as tailored and elegant as her clothes. As such she will spend money on handmade accessories like a handmade leather bag, handmade leather purse, handcrafted shoes and sandals etc.



Handcrafted jewelry

Her jewelry is as timeless as her clothes and would include pearl necklaces, antique jewelry and handcrafted jewelry. Chunky necklaces are not her style as they may be a bit too flamboyant for her style. Instead she will wear pearl necklaces, choker necklaces and handmade necklaces. Statement jewelry for her would be wearable art like art deco designs as opposed to bold coloured necklaces.



Sustainable fashion ...smart investment choices

For the classicist, fashion trends come and fashion trends go. She is not perturbed as fashion trends do not dictate the way she dresses. She prefers to spend more on a single quality item of clothing than spend loads on throw away fashion accessories.. So in a sense she supports sustainable fashion by making smart investment choices in her wardrobe. She has peace of mind in knowing that she can rely on her neutral colours and dark suits for years to come.



She is comfortable in designs by Pringle of Scotland, one of the oldest luxury label in the world, and by American fashion designer Ralph Lauren whose fashion exudes grace, elegance and understatement; qualities traditionally associated with fashion icons such as Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, Princess Diana and more recently Michelle Obama. So the classic dresser is in good company.



This article was written by Arline James-Thomas for Munique Fashion - muniquefashions.com. Munique brings you unique, quality handcrafted fashion and accessories from artisans around the world. These exotic designs communicate rarity and say something about you the wearer.

British Fashion

English Laundry Clothing Puts a New Spin on British Fashion
By Blake Morgan

English Laundry is an upscale brand of clothing designed by Christopher Wicks which features a uniquely English style and attitude. The clothing line borrows heavily from traditional English clothing as well as pop culture styles of clothing that have prevailed throughout the past decades. It features men's clothing predominantly, but there is an off shoot brand, English Rose, which is dedicated specifically to women.

The male line of tops include such designs as: short sleeve woven shirts, short sleeve tees, jackets and blazers, long sleeve tees, long sleeve woven shirts, vests, sweaters, and hoodies. The short sleeve tees feature designs like the Thomas of Ardwick Tee in off-white, Lions Crown in light blue, British Blue Legs in off-white and black, and the Union Crest tee in off-white. The short sleeve woven shirts include Cotton City in white and black, Dot in black and white, Village in white with grey, Rylands in navy and white, and Flanders in tan and white. The sweater and hoodies section features just two designs: the light blue and white striped Ribble Hoodie, and the sleeveless Old Cricket sweater in brown, navy, and off-white.

The women's English Rose line is not quite as large as the men's section, and only includes tops. The selection currently offers Long Sleeve Woven Shirts, Jackets and Sweaters, and vests. The designs are still very nice though, and you are sure to find just the right top you're looking for. The Long Sleeve Woven Shirts features the long, belted Whaley Range design in either white or black, the Virginia in Red design which features a bucolic red and white plaid design, and the Lady Barn design which has a unique floral pattern consisting of small red flowers, an embroidered design, and comes in either red or grey. There are four jackets and sweaters available, and 5 different kinds of vests that are sure to go well with your other outfits.

As English Laundry is primarily a men's label, only the men's section features bottoms available such as shorts, jeans, and slacks. The two different types of shorts to choose from are the Tameside Cargo Short and the Peterloo Cargo Short. The Tameside features a single color in black, brown, or cream. They are based off of the traditional cargo short style that has large pockets on each side. The Peterloo Cargo Short features stripes and comes in either grey plaid or olive. English Laundry also has two different kinds of jeans: the Crest Jeans which comes in black wash and vintage wash and features an English crest on the pant leg, and the Red Selvege Jeans which offer a tight, straight leg and come in either dark wash or rinse wash. English Laundry also features two different designs of slacks: North Slacker and Hathersage slack.

Besides the tops, bottoms, and dress shirts which English Laundry offers, there are accessories such as wallets, ties, scarves, and belts as well. Each sports images that are uniquely English, such as: the Union Jack British Flag, the lion from the English crest, and the royal crown. English Laundry brings true sophistication back to fashion.