New York fashion week: Michael Kors takes wrong turn on safari style

Source From: http://www.guardian.co.uk/fashion/2011/sep/14/ny-fashion-week-michael-kors

In many ways the designer Michael Kors is the 21st-century American equivalent of Gianni Versace in the 1980s.

Like that most "molto sexy" of Italian designers, Kors's vision of the ideal woman is impossibly Amazonian, impossibly wealthy, and so impossibly retrograde that all one can really do is park one's feminist beliefs at the door and sit back and let him claim, once again, that a bathing suit is not a bathing suit unless it's cinched with a python belt, topped with python straps and finished off with some stilettos or – for spring/summer 2012 – flat gladiator sandals that strap all the way up one's personal trainer-toned calves. In the world of Michael Kors, a £15 bikini from asos.com simply does not exist.

Also like Versace, while Kors may aim very firmly at the Upper East Side crowd (Kors, one suspects, does not see the word "socialite" as a diss but as a job title), he completely understands the importance of mass appeal. Although less well known outside the US – his utterly American luxe sportswear style appeals more to those who live between New York and California – he is a celebrity in his own country thanks to his high profile and vaguely self-parodic appearances as a judge on the TV show Project Runway. Of all the American designers, Kors is perhaps the one who best knows how to play the game.

Which made Wednesday's show something of a surprise. Kors has always been one of the few designers who thinks about his customer first as opposed to what would look edgy and credibility-enhancing in a fashion shoot.

In fashion parlance, he is a commercial designer as opposed to an editorial one. But Wednesday's show, which took the eternally popular and eternally misguided theme of "safari", looked like something designed solely for a magazine fashion shoot in Africa, probably starring Angelina Jolie lounging decorously on a designer handbag while gazing soulfully at some noble tribesmen.

It's hard to imagine that even Kors's devoted and monied fans would spend triple figures on tie-dyed baggy trousers, animal print kaftans and other such gap year-esque fare.

This show was an abject lesson in the foolishness of imposing a "theme" on one's collection because, when Kors allowed himself to go out of Africa, the clothes were great: a pair of slouchy trousers fitted perfectly around the bum but bagged elegantly around the legs, the long evening gowns at the end will be perfect for Jolie to wear to the Oscars. The rest was a little too Lonely Planet, which some of us left behind a decade ago.

Significance of Shoes from Different Angels

Shoes are very important not only from the dressing and adventurism view point, but also they are handy for our health. One of the examples of such shoes is New Balance toning shoes. The new balance toning shoes is an outcome of the latest muscle toning technology. There are a number of toning shoes available out there in different designs. Each of them targeting to tone muscles of some particular area of your body. So far there have been seven prominent toning shoes introduced, among which new balance toning shoes stand out for specifically toning the muscles of lower body. It was Reebok who first introduced this kind of shoes by the name of Easytone Range of shoes and sandals made for athletic purpose. Since then this idea gained ground and is very popular now. Even many studies have been conducted to test the result of these shoes as they have attracted a large number of customers.

Now talking a about the shoes and adventurism, there is a lot to say. We will particularly talk about the skate shoes now. Skating is action sports and skate shoes are very important for a skater. Skate shoes are particularly designed use with skateboard. The skating can be done with normal sports shoe but the risk is very high to slip and got injured. The advantage of skating shoe is it provides a good grip therefore skateboard won’t slip and you have chance to do more tricks. The main features of skate shoes are flat sole made of rubber or polyurethane, a suede or composition leather and double or triple stitching. Every manufacturer of Skate shoe offer special features into their shoes like preventing heel bruises, enhanced grip and increased feeling of skateboard.

Shoes have a huge impact on our personality too, and Dansko shoes are of its finest example. Their style, elegance, precision, rate, and variety are attracting more and more consumers every day. A great number of Hollywood stars and sport celebrities are a big fan of Dansko shoes too. According to a survey, the Dansko shoes last for a long time and everybody like the styles, quality and patterns of the shoes. Owing to their reputation and good work, it is expected that people will also appreciate their apparel (introduced recently for men and women, both) line as well. Dansko shoes can work as a nice gift too for fellows that are nurses or elderly women.

The New Way to Shop More Excellent Shoes

Every now and then people like to buy a new pair of shoes. They want something that is comfortable, looks good and is affordable. Until recently, the process of getting a new pair of sneakers of high heel shoes involved going to a mall and browsing through their stores until you found a pair of footwear that was to your liking. Unfortunately, this could take hours at a time. There was also the risk of finding something that you liked and finding out that the store does not have that particular model in your size. This could turn shopping in a very stressful experience. However, the Internet has made it possible for people to shop from the comfort of their own home.

Going online to look for shoes can be done at anytime, not just during the business hours of a store. It can also be done for any amount of time. You can look for five minutes or five hours, there is nobody there to rush you. You can take your time and find the right pair of footgear for you.

The main advantage that shopping online has is speed. Finding any type of model of shoe is as easy as typing the name into a search engine and browsing through the results. Furthermore, discount shoes are a lot easier to find on the Internet. Whether people admit it or not, price is a huge factor that influences their shopping. Some might not like the idea of being in a store and finding a pair of high heel shoes that they like, only to find out afterwards that they cannot afford them. This can create a very embarrassing moment for them. By shopping online they can avoid any unpleasant situations.

Since saving money is an important aspect for anyone, the Internet makes it easy for people to find a nice pair of discount boots. There are plenty of online stores that have bigger discounts and more frequent sales than they do at the stores in the mall. Furthermore, most of them provide coupons for future purchases as well as free shipping to entice more clients to do their shopping there.

Discount shoes are a hot item so hundreds of websites have been created ready to provide them at very low prices. Anyone can find a pair of discount boots that they like, comes in their size and, most importantly, in their price range.

What Makes Successful Footwear?

In the past fashion years detail on what it made and its targeted client had never lost its grip. When shoes became a fashion symbol the focus still managed to take its grip on them. Now the purchase of shoes is no longer a pick and go affair. Step into any shoe store and ask any sales attendants about the customers’ way of purchase and you will definitely hear them say that before any purchase is done questions on the pair being bought are almost a must. This proves that footwear like the Style & Co shoes have taken a large fashion following. Fashion goes with brand name recognition and appraisal for brands to sell however this will not take all the glory. Quality will be the fuel that keeps the glory fire ablaze, thus brand name and quality of product will influence the purchase possibilities of a brand.

Kenneth Cole reaction shoes are designed with an eye paid on elegance. Material used in making these shoes will vary, from natural to artificial to a blend of both. This material will be the key structure elements that will give quality to a pair of shoes. A lot of focus also has to go into detailing and design. This is where designers of brands like Style & Co shoes have to apply their intrigues in beauty to come up with footwear that simply put hugs one’s feet. Comfort is the element most sort after coupled with durability. A targeted client base will seek certain appeals from one pair of footwear design to another in regards to purpose and outfit a factor that Style and Co has adhered to.

If you take the lady collection of Rocket Dog shoes from Style and Co, there is an evident appeal that is keenly made to capture the female clients. The Stylish footwear will not only lean on classy and expensivedesigns but leans on simple yet eye catching designs. This is a way of ensuring that all levels of taste and elegance are addressed in one fashion basket. At first glance of the simple designs like the loafers, sandals and flats you will see that quality is well address thus shrugging off the simplicity factor in them. That is a good element in designer footwear products.

If a shoe brand has a global recognition that is a sure pointer that its design team is doing something right. Style & Co shoes are also available on the online market. Some of the online stores and retail outlets will offer an easier way of finding and buying a desired pair of shoes. These stores will have designer footwear like Style and Co put in an easy to use search option that will take in one’s choice of design based on gender, or color, or design, or brand as well as size.

New Zealand Fashion Week: Flirty, Angular, a Bit Wintery

Source From: http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2011/09/05/new-zealand-fashion-week-flirty-angular-a-bit-wintery/?mod=google_news_blog

The girliness of 1950s dressing squared up against the big, the bold and the angular of ’80s couture, as New Zealand designers sent a flirty but well-cut look down the catwalk.

Local designers launched their 2012 winter collections at the country’s Fashion Week in Auckland, New Zealand because, although the country is heading into the summer season, the show is just as much about impressing Northern Hemisphere buyers as the local industry.

New Zealand’s fashion industry remains in its adolescence but has growth considerably since the inception of Fashion Week in 2001. More than 50 New Zealand designers have showcased collections this year.

While designers like World, Karen Walker, Zambesi and Untouched World are now available internationally, the event also gives lesser-known designers a chance to broaden their buyer base.

New Zealand’s fashion industry is estimated to contribute around 240 million New Zealand dollars (US$204.2 million) annually in exports — a figure that does not take into account New Zealand designers who manufacture offshore and export to those markets — and has grown about 20% since the country began holding Fashion Week.

EMU Boots, Up For Grab

Boots are a trend nowadays. Many women from different parts of the world buy boots for fashion, and there is a high demand for it. One of its leading producers is EMU, a company based in Australia. EMU boots are stylish and of high quality. Their boots can withstand any kind of weather, making it one of the leading brands of boots.

EMU boots have different prices. Their prices range from $80 to $200, depending on the material and the design, of course. These boots can also be discounted, depending on where you buy them.

The internet had given us these discount boots. For a much lower price, women are able to buy boots from EMU that are actually lower in value, but same in quality. However, when choosing the right pair of boots, you have to be sure that it is an authentic pair of EMU boots, and not just a replica.

Aside from boots, EMU also sell other types of footwear, apparel and accessories. EMU had grown into a big clothing company, with buyers from all over the world buying through their website. However, EMU still continues focusing on their boots, as it was their first product.

To know whether an item is a replica or original, you will have to consider the prices first. Though discount shoes are priced lowly, it cannot go lesser than $40, as these shoe brands still have something to gain. There are also bogus online stores which will take your money, but not really send an item to you. Aside from user reviews, there will be no way for you to know whether a seller is bogus or not, so the best option for you is to order directly from EMU.

Other things to look out for, when buying online is if the item fits your feet or not. It is hard when you buy pairs of shoes online, as there is no way for you to fit it first. The only time when you will be able to fit these pairs of shoes is when you get the shipment already.

If you are looking for quality brands which sell boots that are great in appearance, then you must order from EMU. They have an online store which will help you in buying your own boots from them, and you will only have to search their catalog for your favorite design and such. With just your credit card, you will surely get what you want from EMU.