Things to Do in Scottsdale
By Billings Farnsworth
If you're wondering what people in Scottsdale do besides lounge at exquisite resorts and eat at fine restaurants, then this is the guide for you. On your next vacation to Scottsdale,
be sure not to miss out on these attractions.
Shop at Scottsdale Fashion Square
Among the many things Scottsdale is known for, shopping is one of them. This shopping destination satisfies even the smallest urge for haute couture. When the rich and famous, locals, and visitors need an upscale mall, this is where they shop.
Spend the Day Golfing
Scottsdale is a golfer's paradise. With about fifty golf courses just in Scottsdale, you can golf your entire vacation at a difference course each. You will find all types of championship courses, including the Scottsdale TPC where the FBR Open is played each January as one of the first PGS tournament events of the year.
Stroll through the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
This museum is relatively new in the community and focuses on modern and contemporary art, architecture, and design. Five galleries showcase changing exhibitions and works from the museum's growing permanent collection. The museum presents a variety of educational programs and special events for adults and families, including lectures, docent-led tours, workshops, and classes.
Visit Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West
This living memorial to the great American architect is located a few miles northeast of Scottsdale. Taliesin West is a sprawling 600-acre complex designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright. Taliesin West today houses The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, The Frank Lloyd Wright Memorial Foundation, and The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. Take the tour to get the full impact of his vision and work.
Taste the Best of the Scottsdale Culinary Festival
Each April, Scottsdale hosts a four-day festival of food, music, and entertainment. Did I mention food? This very popular event is a fundraiser for arts and art education programs for students in the Valley of the Sun.
Watch the Pros at Spring Training Baseball
Every year during the entire month of March, baseball fans flock to the valley for Spring Training Baseball. The Cactus League allows the fans to see many teams up close and personal for a reasonably priced ticket. The San Francisco Giants call Scottsdale Stadium home during spring training.
Scottsdale Fashion
Fashion Design Schools
Guide to Choosing A Fashion Design School
By John Morris
A successful future in the fashion design industry depends on right choice of school to attend. Although fashion design is not one of the more popular careers to pursue, if your talents lie in this field, there is ample opportunity awaiting you. However, the first thing to hurdle is your choice of school.
When choosing a fashion design school, consider the following factors.
Area of Focus
Look into the nature of the school. Is it solely a fashion design school or does it offer other courses. Is this school well-known for its emphasis on fashion design?
Fashion design schools are few and far between. This makes it harder to choose one that fits your bill. Your first task will be to find a reputable school that will aid you in your training.
Also, look into whether the school participates in any fashion design competition or has accomplished anything of reknown in the industry. This is a sure sign of their commitment to the fashion arts its education among students.
Different schools have different strengths, find a school that plays to your strengths and has specialization in the field of your choice.
For example, you might choose a very well-know fashion design school only to find out that they specialize in childrens’ clothing, while the field of your choice is adult formal wear. This could diffuse your interests, and dull your specialization.
Make sure you know what field the school you are scouting focuses on. This will help you specialize in that area too.
Alumni and Job Placements
Does the college offer job placement assistance? And has the alumni from this school gone on to be successful professionals? Always learn from other’s previous experience. If you see that those that had gone through this school before you received proper training and are successful in their field, that is an indication of a good school.
Most of these reputable schools have numerous connections in the graphic arts industry. They usually offer job placement services. You may want to consider this when choosing a school.
It would do no harm to start looking at the educational background of your admired fashion designer. Checking out the schools they came from will give an idea of the sort of training these artists went through. From here, you may make decisions as to whether you would like to choose the same school as they did.
Curriculum
You must assess whether the curriculum is relevant to you field of study. You may want to compare the curricula of different schools to see which offers the best form of education.
It would also be wise to check the quality of the teaching staff at that school. Having established artists who teach at a fashion design school is also an indication of a good training program.
Student to Teacher Ratio
Ask yourself: how big are the classes and how many teachers and classes are available at this school before you choose it. The more the students the lesser the efficacy of the teacher. However, if there are too few students per teacher, that could tell of a different problem – that of quality. If this is the case, it may be that the school is not popular or is suffering from anemic academic performance.
Accreditation
Accreditation means the school has passed a certain standards of educational quality. Accreditation is performed by the U.S. Department of Education. Fashion design schools must be accredited to prove their level of competence.
Check with the State Postsecondary School Licensing Bureau to see if the college you are investigating is accredited. Also, check National Approval and Accreditation for this concern.
Cost
Some people may proclaim that to obtain their education, they would spare no coin. Unfortunately, it also pays to be practical in your choice of fashion design school. If the school you choose has a tuition rate that is beyond your financial capability, you might find yourself working unable to pursue your studies consistently due to the financial stress which may lead you to look for part-time work.
Scholarships
You might want to consider whether the design school you are looking at offers any scholarships. You also might want to know the terms to them too. Some schools offer scholarships based on academic performance. Some offer them based on fashion design competitions they hold regularly.
Your choice of school is an investment that will last you a lifetime. Proper care and investigation in choosing such is truly important. When you are comfortable with your choice of fashion design schools, you can now chart your path towards a successful career.
Fashion Merchandising Internships
An Exciting Career With Fashion Merchandising Programs
By Amy Wells
If you love fashion and design, and are considering a career or further education in the field, you may want to take a closer look at fashion merchandising. Fashion merchandising combines various aspects of design, marketing, sales, and even accounting skills. If you like moving at a fast pace with a variety of duties, there are many opportunities in the field of fashion merchandising that a college or education program can prepare you for.
A fashion merchandising education involves marketing fashion lines to retail stores, or even working with the stores themselves to market products directly to consumers. Fashion merchandising is a broad field, and can encompass positions such as fashion buying, where you will select merchandise for a retail store, and event coordination, such as fashion shows. Another growing field is visual merchandising, which involves designing the way the actual clothes and products are displayed, such as window displays and floor layouts.
While the fashion industry as a whole is very competitive, there is a lot of growth and opportunity in the merchandising field, because of the wide variety of assignments available. Although clothes may be manufactured all over the world, many of the sales related aspects take place right at home. This is also the type of career that may involved a variety of different job descriptions over the years, so if you crave change and excitement, it could be a good fit.
The best way to get started in fashion merchandising involves related education. A quality fashion merchandising program will be comprehensive and involve a large variety of courses. In addition to design, you will learn other key concepts, such as marketing and advertising. You will also learn how the fashion business works, and how clothing is manufactured and delivered to retail outlets.
There are a number of choices available when choosing a fashion merchandising education. Many colleges offer fashion merchandising as an associate degree, and some that even offer it as a bachelor's program. There are also many schools that embed fashion merchandising within a more traditional marketing degree, which will give you a broader course of study in basic business.
Other options include attending a strictly fashion design school, which will offer merchandising as one of their programs. In addition, you can also study online, as many of these schools will also offer an online or distance education program, as well.
Choosing which type of school to attend will depend partially on your educational goals. Are you looking to make a quick transition into the field, and want a career-oriented education, or do to have a strong basic business and marketing foundation? Most schools will offer internships in fashion, so you can have an opportunity to get your feet wet in the industry. Whatever type of school you choose, you can be assured that you will be learning a great deal about fashion and the fashion industry, and will be preparing for a fast-paced, quickly evolving career in fashion merchandising.
Fashion Buyer
Buyer Beware - Knockoff Handbags Hurt More Than the Designer
By Anne Clarke
Many consumers justify the purchase of their knock off handbags by the high price of the originals. Unfortunately what they don't realize is that not only do they get what they pay for, but purchasing counterfeit products only drives the authentic pieces' prices higher and contributes to immoral labor practices and a sagging economy.
Eighteen percent of counterfeit products seized by US customs in 2002 were fashion related items. This is a problem because this robs the country of an estimated $200 billion a year in taxes. The American public has to make up for taxes that could be gained from our imports. This hinders our economy, while the countries these products came from continue to grow and thrive (China for example).
Additionally the funds made from selling these knockoffs often go to organized crime rings. There is evidence that the World Trade Center bombing was funded by the sale of counterfeit apparel. These organizations also commonly employ child labor forces and often use their products to transport drugs and other dangerous materials.
The lack of quality in the replicas can also be a safety issue. Replica sunglasses break more easily and don't offer the UV protection they claim. Sometimes however it's not easy to spot the difference between the imitations and the genuine articles.
There are some telltale signs however that can help a consumer identify counterfeit handbags. Counterfeits can be called copies, knockoffs, replicas, or imitations. Retailers are not always so quick to list their merchandise under these terms. The first major indicator of a fake is the price. A genuine Prada bag will not be found for fifty or one hundred dollars.
The location the bag is purchased is another dead giveaway. Top name designers don't sell their bags on the street, out of cars, at home parties, or in online auctions. Some designers such as Louis Vuitton don't sale wholesale at all- the bags must be purchased directly from the company itself.
If a website has fifty bags in one style, sixty in another and so on then they probably aren't the real thing. It's more likely to be genuine if the retailer has only a few bags in each style. Online sellers should not be listed as private dealers nor should the product be listed in a one day only auction. Knockoff retailers will overuse adjectives describing how genuine the bags are- "authentic, genuine real Fendi."
When looking for handbags online it's hard to determine if a product is real because the bag cannot be handled and inspected. If looking for discounts a consumer will encounter a number of knockoffs. There are some online stores that sell genuine products at deep discounts, this is usually because the bag is out of season or was an overstock from a department store.
Look carefully at the bag's description. "Inspired by" is another dead giveaway. The bag should come with a certificate of authenticity, genuine packaging, and also a dust bag all with the designer's name on them. The store should also stand behind the product, so that once the consumer receives the bag they can have its authenticity verified and it can be returned if it's discovered to be a knockoff.
Handling the bag will be the best way to determine whether the article is genuine or not. The point of origin tag is a good indicator. If it says "made in Taiwan" then it's not real. Examine the materials, real leather is supple and not at all like plastic. Check to see if the bag is misshapen. Examine the stitching, look for poor craftsmanship such as missing stitches and frayed ends. One of the reasons designer handbags are so expensive is because of the intense detail that goes into creating them.
The designer will have a high quality tag sewn in the purse. They will not be cheap fabric tags that are barely stitched on. Many designers will use leather tags in the purses or will have the name plaque riveted in. Examining the article closely is the best way to spot a fake.
Counterfeit products should be reported. Reporting counterfeits will help keep designer prices from sky rocketing even higher and stops the illegal trade that could be occurring also. Fakes can be reported at 1-800-report-a-fake. Not all discount handbag retailers are up to no good some really are offering genuine bags at great prices, but the buyer should always be skeptical.
Clothes Shopping
The Best Clothes Shopping Tips
By Marcelo Martin 
In reality these days, people are getting better and better when it comes to clothes shopping. Why pay the full amount, when you can use a few little strategies and get the same clothes for 10, 20, and 50 percent or more off the retail price? So what should we do? I am going to give you my secrets to help you become a better shopper and save your money.
Clothes shopping tip one: Go clothes shopping toward the end of the season. I would buy my spring and summer attire, in July or August rather than in March, when the prices are highest. You are going to get most of the wear out of these new clothes the following season, it is ok when you look at the payoff.
Many of us are programmed to walk in to a store, look at a nice pair of pants on the rack priced at $80, and say, "That is the price I have to pay for those pants." When the truth is, clothing stores are desperate, they have to move all that merchandise, and they will give you discounts, if you know how to take advantage of clothing store policies.
Clothes shopping tip two: Take a full price outfit to the checkout counter and ask if they can hold it for you until it goes on sale, in most cases they do not sell out of your size. Or buy the outfit and wait a few weeks until the clothes goes on sale, then you go to the register and ask for credit. Make sure to keep your receipt. You also have to make sure that the sale is within the stores return/exchange grace period. Make friends with a sales person at your favorite clothing store. This sales person would keep you updated on the current sales. Because it is harder to make a sale these days, most likely she or he would make the effort.
Clothes shopping tip three: Buy your clothes online and you will get a much better discount, the clothing market is overflowing with merchandise that need to be unloaded. This is very good news for you because you can buy almost any designer clothing at a big discount. When you go to a store and purchase something you pay premium pricing because you are also paying for all the stores overhead costs such as rent, employees etc. So go to your favorite store, find the designer clothing you like, take notes on designer name, description and size of the clothing. Then go home and search online for the designer. If the outfit is in the stores for one or two months, you will be able to buy it online for up to 70 percent off. Do not wait to find the best discounts on clothes shopping here.
Fashion Programs
Fashion Design Programs
By Jennifer Bailey 
The fashion industry is a fierce business. The cliche "One day you're in, and the next day you're out" really holds true to this trade. Numerous fashion designers have already come and gone but if you will notice, those who are still out there have reliable, solid collections. For example, designers such as Tom Ford have gone from one fashion house to another, making Gucci an in-demand brand in the 90s. Betsy Johnson has created hip, funky, and crazy designs that are still making waves in the fashion industry, regardless of the fact that they are not really wearable.
Fashion design schools play a major role in shaping and honing the next Betsy Johnson and Tom Ford of the fashion industry. Programs set by the school board every school year usually determine if the students can cope with the real world. Internships to famous fashion houses are also included in these programs so student can apply what they have learned in fashion to school to the real fashion scenario.
The International Academy of Fashion program was described by critics as a comprehensive, technical and very demanding. The fashion curriculum provides a solid learning program with a specific goal of developing in their students creative individual thinking and a sense of uniqueness as well as preparing them for a professional career. An associate in science degree in fashion design and marketing or a bachelor of fine arts degree in fashion design and marketing are usually the choices offered to students.
The American Intercontinental University, on the other hand, has an Association of Arts degree in fashion design that fashion experts say is designed to inspire the individuals to construct innovative and edgy designs. Computer skills in designing are also taught so students can combine traditional techniques with computer-assisted designs. An association of arts degree in fashion marketing is another program offered to talented and fashionable students. The programs in this curriculum offer teach the inner operations of retail and wholesale fashion, market analysis, and evaluation of the production needs of the fashion industry.
Fashion Advertising
Hunter Wellingtons Wellies and Today's Advertising
By A West
Today's technology is moving fast and to be kept up to date with all of fashions trends consumers are looking for information that is happening now. The celebrity culture has taken over the once famous advertising billboards and Department shop windows. They are the marketing tool for any brand.
Last summer, we saw this happen with Kate Moss at Glastonbury Festivals in a set of Hunter Black Original Wellingtons. After Kate was pictured wearing this very British Welly, Hunters saw an increase in sales. Market research showed that sites such as Twitter.com/Hunter_Wellies had a dramatic impact with the information the consumers were looking for. The average consumer wanted to know how they too could look like Kate and where they could purchase a set of these famous boots. Kate is not the only famous person to wear Hunters in fact a pair of Hunter Originals worn by Lady Diana Spencer in her engagement photographs sparked a shortage.
And it appears they are still going to be hot this coming spring as well, as they were seen on Nicole Richie, out with daughter Harlow, on February 6th, 2009.
This addiction to "I want what she/he has" has increased with the number of sites like Twitter, Facebook and My Space. You can even see an increase in shops who now sell this "Symbol of British Country Life".
Society's need for information now has expanded Hunters brand internationally and can be found around the world, of course with the help of a celebrity who needs advertising.
Fashion Assistant
What To Expect At A Fashion Magazine Internship
By Kimberly Joy
The movie "The Devil Wears Prada" left many aspiring fashion magazine interns wondering if the interning at a fashion magazine is really the way it was portrayed. It may be a surprise to many but most of what is seen in that movie is not an exaggeration; after all, it was written by someone who worked for Vogue magazine editor in chief Anna Wintour.
It's A Seasonal Position
Of course every magazine will have a different schedule. Top fashion magazines, like Allure or Marie Claire for instance, hire fashion interns for the season. Usually the fashion intern would start in late December or early January and work through May for the Winter/Spring season. If you impress the boss during your fashion magazine internship, they will keep you on longer.
You'll Work Your Manicured Fingers To The Bone
One of the most accurate parts of "The Devil Wears Prada" was the long hours that Anne Hathaway's character had to work. The amount of hours your scheduled for means nothing. Expect to work 12 hour days, maybe shorter, maybe even longer. Most of the work will be running errands, going to showrooms to pick up items, answering phones and emails, and organizing the fashion closet.
When your work is done a lot of times you'll be asked to stay later until the fashion assistants are finished with their work. And it's highly unlikely that you'll have any interaction with the editor; at Vogue magazine interns are told never to look Anna Wintour in the face and not to look in to her office. The fashion assistant will be your boss, but that doesn't mean they're not demanding.
Enjoy The Perks
After you're established in your fashion magazine internship, you might get the chance to fly across the country or perhaps out of the country, just like Lauren Conrad of The Hills did for her internship at Teen Vogue. Part of your work will probably include assisting on shoots and styling the models, which is a lot of fun for any fashion loving girl. And even interns are gifted with high fashion designer label items from the closet.
A fashion magazine internship certainly isn't a walk in the park, but it's a good test to see who can and can't make it in the industry. And if you're looking for a careers specifically it's basically the only way to get your foot in the door.
Large Size Fashion
The Quest For Large Size Ladies Shoes
By Lauren Simon Oliver
If you've suffered from the big foot syndrome all your life where shoe shopping has been a living hell because of your inability to find a pair that firstly fits right and secondly does not look like you pulled it out of the back of your grandmother's wardrobe, then this is just the article for you. All your worries about your inability to find large size ladies shoes are now over, and your next fancy pair is just a click of a mouse away. Yes, with the Internet you can now find not only regular flats, but also high heel pumps, boots and spring shoes on any of the large size ladies shoes websites.
Here are a few things you should think about before you visit these sites and purchase your next pair online. There are numerous customers who are very satisfied with their online purchases and it is well worth a try even if you are a bit sceptical.
*Womens shoes start generally around size 3 and continue up to size seven or eight maximum. And despite there being a large demand for women's shoes that go above these sizes, you can only find them in a limited number of shops. Not only that, the designs are very limited as well which makes shoe shopping in stores not very exciting for women with large feet. Therefore visiting one of these websites will give you an idea of how you can order these shoes which even come in sizes 10 and 11. Sometimes these are custom-made and therefore allow for you to design your pair and choose the fabric and embellishments you want.
*Most regular shoe stores assume that women with large feet are also very tall. And while this is true in most of the cases given common physiology, it is not always the case. Online you will be able to find varieties of designs and if the website you are visiting allows you to make requests then you can actually come up with something that will make every other woman in the room completely jealous.
*While making large size ladies shoes online purchase it is important for you to remember that standard rules apply. Firstly you need to be above eighteen years of age and you also need to be residing within a particular area or in particular countries for the company to be able to deliver to you. Therefore check these specifications before you place your order to avoid disappointment. Also check how long delivery will take just in case you want to wear shoes for a special occasion. The first time you order from the company might be a bit nerve wracking especially if you are worrying about how and when the pair is going to reach you. But most companies selling large size ladies shoes are very professional and you will be happy to get the pair in the condition that you were guaranteed.
Once you have received your pair and are happy with it, it would be a good idea to advertise what you have found. You might not realize the number of women around the world facing the same predicament as you. It will only be a service to the world of fashion and women if you let them know about your big find.
Ladies Fashion Catalogues
Women's Clothing Catalogs
By Seth Miller 
A catalog is an organized, detailed, descriptive list of items, arranged systematically under categories or sub-categories. There are many catalogs that are dedicated to women’s clothing and apparel. While some of them are published by independent magazines, many others are brought out by the mail order companies and fashion houses. Fashion houses usually publish their catalogs on seasonal basis, such as to mark the winter, spring, summer or the fall collections, whereas the publishing frequency of independent magazines may vary from monthly to quarterly.
Women look forward to new catalogs, as they are the best source of information regarding the present and upcoming trends in fashion. These catalogs are used by different people for different purposes. For example, the mail order and retail stores use them to make their regular customers aware of the new range of stock, whereas the designers use them to give ideas to their customers on the basis of what they can design that is more made-to-order.
The best part of catalogs is that one can easily find something that suits them, without getting into the hassle of moving from shop to shop. What this means is that even if you are overweight or short of money, all you need to do is to pick up a catalog and see what will fit your body and budget.
A majority of catalogs work on the formula of attracting women by either showing perfect fittings or curves, or by getting celebrity endorsements. While some of them target the super-rich class of ladies, the others entice common working women by offering a good price for items. Most of the catalogs nowadays have both printed as well as online editions. The online option has made catalog shopping far more affordable and accessible to everyone.
The great thing about a clothing catalog is that the various publications cater to specific categories of customers, whether that is among the richest women in Hollywood, a leading professional in a multinational corporation, an office executive or a homemaker. Every woman is certain to find a clothing catalog that suits her lifestyle preferences.