Issue No.
23
Thursday, 8 December 2011
What was in style decades ago
Fashion wear trends are always dynamic. It is not often that people’s
liking for a certain fashion remains stagnant for long. Fashion trends
do not change once in a season or once in a year in fact fashion trends
keep changing everyday.
If you have looked at a Cosmopolitan Magazine or have watched
famous movie stars prance around in the latest styles, you would
know that women’s fashion has changed a lot over the last 100 years.
Whether it’s a whole new look or visiting old fashioned favourites,
women’s fashion has made a brutal impact around the world.
Designers and fashion experts have created and critiqued the good,
the bad, and the awful!
Here are some of the styles that have begun, changed, evolved, and
have made a huge comeback over the last 100 years.
1900’s
through1920’s:
1960’s
through 1980’s:
Fashionable women during the first decade
of the 20th century needed morning dresses,
afternoon dresses, simple dresses that
didn’t fit in a specific occasion, and evening
dresses. This was due to social gatherings in
which women needed different dresses to
fit each occasion. The second decade of the
early 1900’s brought rich and exotic patterns
and fabrics, skirt lines began to skim well
above the ankle. This had prepared the most
fashionable women for the radical changes
that were about to occur during the roaring
twenties.
Known as the beginnings of modern
fashion, the 1920’s liberated women from
constricting fashion such as shorter pleated
skirts, gathers, and even slits to give women
some motion that eventually ruled the
fashion trends of the future. This lead into
such trends as the flapper dresses, low cut
necklines, and lingerie were more sought
after than their corset, below the ankle style
skirts, and the conservative dresses that were
worn for centuries before.
Women’s fashion of the 1960’s dramatically
changed. The mod look became popular
during the early 60’s with shorter hems above
the knee and fabrics that are more fitted
against the body. By the late 60’s and the
Woodstock era, many sported such things as
tie dye clothing, bell bottoms, looser shirts,
and more flowing hemlines. The look of the
late 60’s stayed on until the mid to late 70’s
when the disco era became popular.
The 1970’s started out with the hippie look
that continued on from the late 1960’s. Bell
bottoms and hip huggers were still popular.
Miniskirts were the most popular during this
decade and very short shorts called hot pants.
By the mid 70’s glitter and high waisted pants
made of various fabrics became the in thing.
By the late 70’s the disco era and new wave
became popular.
There were many trends during the 1980’s
that ranged from the disco era early into the
decade to the gothic and preppy look during
the late 80’s. Shows such as Dynasty and
Dallas influenced women in the way they
dress to show off their wealth. Lycra was big
during this time and skin tight jeans with
loose ripped sweatshirts and leggings. The
80’s hair band and hip hop look crossed over
from the late 1980’s into the early 90’s in
women’s fashion.
1930’s
through 1950’s:
The Great Depression of the late 1920’s
throughout the 1930’s influenced women’s
fashion of that era. Thrift was the rage and
more women were taking their old clothes
and making them into new ones. The more
sophisticated Garbo look was in with a more
flowing hemline at the hips and natural
hemlines were in style. The nylon stockings
became a new trend during the late 30’s
right after the time they were created.
The 1940’s had two separate styles
that women wore. This look involved
padded shoulders and knee length skirts.
Sportswear had become more popular then
and gave women a sense of diversity in their
wardrobe. Clothing was made simpler and
women began wearing more pants due to
World War II. Nipped waist, longer lengths,
and fuller skirts were favoured. This created
a more drastic feminine look that moved
into the 1950’s.
During the age of the baby boomers,
the 1950’s brought poodle skirts and the
glamorous outfit’s worm by screen legends.
The emphasis of a narrow waist became
popular by designing a pencil and full skirts
for women to wear during this decade.
1990’s through today:
Seattle Washington became the fashion and music scene with the grunge look during the
early 1990’s. This consists of ripped up pants, Dr Martens or combat boots, and flannel shirts.
As time went on, the revival of the looks from the 60’s and 70’s made a comeback known as
the Alternative look. Hip Hop was also a popular style where women wore tighter clothes to
accentuate their curves. Women’s fashion became a free for all during this era.
Today’s fashion during the second millennium consists of many different eras of fashion.
Women now dress in what they are most comfortable in, whether it’s wearing clothing of the
70’s or making a revival of styles of the 40’s and 50’s.
Many fashion designers are evolving several of the styles of the past that flatter women of
all shapes and sizes.
Women’s fashion has begun anew and has evolved over the last decade. The latest trends
are freer spirited than ever. Back then, there was one set style and the world followed the
trend to look as beautiful as possible in what they wore. Women of this era believe that being
in style is how we view as being fashionable, and in the evolving world of today’s fashion, our
personalities and individuality has begun to shine.
Vogue
Fashion over the years is a loop of
events that repeats itself. If you ever
happen to browse a fashion archive
you would notice that the hot fashion
trends tend to repeat themselves
every twenty to thirty years.
The funny part is that we always
blindly follow what fashion houses
tell us to wear or else we are geeky
or out of fashion, but the question
is- have we ever asked ourselves why
do we follow their ideas instead of our
own?
Why do we always think about
what people want us to wear instead
of thinking what we want to wear?
Well, before putting on something
that is in, it is important to know
whether you fit in or not.
Looking like a model seems quite
easy but believe me it’s not!
Bloom unravels the secret behind
those curves and the glamour that will
help you re-discover a new enjoyment
of style, clothes and shopping, with
fashion advice that honours your
body and celebrates the woman you
are!
Keep writing and suggesting how
you would desire Bloom to shape up
in the coming days. Drop us a word at
bloom@qimqatar.com. Your feedback
is always welcomed. So be it science,
technology, lifestyle or fashion take
your pick right away. We will be
eagerly waiting for your reply.
Follow us on
2
Health
Thursday, 8 December 2011
A fashion model’s top 10 diet tips
The
basics of losing
weight are no mystery
- eat less, exercise more and
watch the pounds fall off. Real
life, however, is not always that
simple. Sometimes we need a little
push in the right direction before we
can start to really achieve our goals.
Mentioned below are the top 10
diet tips that have helped motivate
models to lose weight, making
dieting easy.
Follow them and see if
they work for you!
1
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Keep a Food Diary
Writing down every bite and sip
in your food journal can be an
invaluable tool for a successful
diet. It can help you track what
you are eating, and make you
understand how much you are
really consuming. Try writing
down the calories next to each
entry too.
Keep Snacks
in the House
A common mistake of most dieters
is to take all snacks out of the
house. Models know that snacking
throughout the day is actually a
key element of successful dieting.
Everyone gets hunger pangs - just
make sure that when you lose your
willpower it’s with healthy, low-fat
snacks rather than pizza or icecream.
Great ideas for healthy snacks are
low-fat yoghurt, sweet potatoes,
edamame and salted popcorn. Try
to carry snacks with you when you
leave the house too. A healthy nut
bar in your purse will prevent you
from stopping in at McDonalds on
the way home.
3
4
Frozen Fruit
Before you go to bed at night,
throw some fruit in the freezer.
It can be grapes, berries, or
whatever’s left in your fruit bowl
just sliced up. The next day you
have a nutritious, healthy snack
ready for you.
There are two reasons why this
is a great diet tip. Firstly, you eat
the frozen fruit slower than if it
were at room temperature. This
gives your stomach time to tell
you when it’s full. Secondly, the
lower temperature makes your
body work harder, increasing your
metabolism and helping you to
burn off more fat.
5
Baking and steaming are fine
too, but you get the point! You
have to steer clear of fried food
if you want to lose weight.
When you cook, try to use the
absolute minimum of oil. Many
foods contain natural oils that
speed the cooking process
anyway, there’s just no need for
spoonful of cooking oil.
6
Quit the
Emotional Eating
Let’s face it life is difficult! Many
of us make excuses for a box of
chocolates on a bad day. Learning
to deal with the pains of life
without turning to food is an
important habit to create.
Try to get stuck into doing
something you love, like a hobby
or your favourite exercise, when
life deals you a blow. Alternatively,
consider seeking professional help
with emotional eating issues.
Don’t Order
the Sauce
Believe it or not, restaurant
food doesn’t have to be a dieter’s
nightmare. Dishes like salads,
grilled meat and fish are perfectly
fine for calorie-counting diners
as long as you don’t put a thick,
creamy sauce on top of them.
Order dishes without sauces if
you can. If you really have to,
go for something light like a soy
sauce or vinaigrette. In an Italian
restaurant, try the sauces with a
tomato base as they will generally
be lighter.
Go Grilling
7
Drink Lots of
Water
When it comes to weight loss,
water is a model’s best friend.
Staying fully hydrated will
increase your metabolism, stave
off hunger pangs, improve your
complexion and slow down the
aging process.
8
Spice It Up
Boost your metabolism with spicy
food, it really works! Spicy food
can make you feel fuller, and it
also gives your system a kickstart,
forcing it to burn more calories.
You have to be careful though - lots
of spicy dishes in restaurants are
extremely high in calories.
Add ingredients like black pepper,
ginger and chilli peppers to your
home cooking for a flavourful way
to increase your weight loss.
9
Green Tea
Studies have shown that
drinking green tea between
meals results in weight loss.
It’s not just the caffeine either,
so coffee is no substitute. Buy
some green tea and give it a try
- it has plenty of other health
benefits besides weight loss so
you have nothing to lose.
10
Ditch the
Mayo
In every model’s list of
foods to avoid, one of the
top spot is always taken
by Mayonnaise. Low in
nutrients, high in fat, adding
Mayo to your sandwich can
turn a healthy treat into a
high-calorie nightmare! Try
mustard instead, it’s much
healthier and will help keep
your snacks low in calories.
Health
Tips
make healthy Treat yourself well
choices
during the holidays
at fast-food restaurants
Rolling through
the drive-through
doesn’t mean your
healthy diet has to
take a nose-dive.
The American
Diabetes Association
offers the following
suggestions for
healthier fast-food
choices:
tStick to a regular or junior-sized meal or sandwich. Avoid anything labelled as
jumbo, super-sized, deluxe, giant or big-sized.
tStick to lean meats that have been broiled or grilled. Skip fattening condiments
in favour of veggies or a dash of mustard.
tOrder a sandwich on an English muffin, instead of a biscuit or croissant.
tStick to fresh veggies at the salad bar, avoiding heavy dressings, croutons,
cheeses and bacon bits.
tOpt for lean chicken, rather than beef.
tStick to thin-crust veggie pizza without too many toppings or extra cheese.
The holidays can be physically, emotionally and financially overwhelming.
So take care to avoid letting the stress of the season get you down.
The Cleveland Clinic suggests how to take care of yourself during the
holidays:
t Keep up with your regular exercise routine, and stick to a regular schedule
of healthy, nutritious meals.
t Get plenty of sleep each night.
t Find a few minutes to do something fun each day.
t Make sure your holiday goals are realistic.
t Enjoy the season with people who are supportive.
t Take a break from your hectic schedule when you need it.
Fine Living
Thursday, 8 December 2011
3
How to look like a model
Models are typically very skinny, but there are plus-size models. The industry is
tougher on plus-sizes but if they truly are models, they will get booked and can
become supermodels and role-models for other plus-sizes. Being a model means
being comfortable with yourself, loving the way you look, and being happy. Models
have a confident mystique about them. Even the most conventionally beautiful
models carry themselves with an aura that exudes style, grace, and health. They
have a glow in their photos; that glow is confidence. Here’s how to get in touch
with your own inner model and who knows, maybe even get discovered!
Get fit
Mind your style, top
to bottom
Being healthy is a million times
more important than being thin.
Check with your doctor for your
proper weight range and work to
get and stay within it. Exercise,
eat properly, and drink plenty
of water. You are what you eat,
so learn to like it in order to
achieve the weight you want and
be as healthy as you can be. As
long as you’re in your healthy
range, you’ll look fabulous. And
if you’re already happy with your
body, then you can still look like a
model. You don’t have to be thin
to look like a model. You don’t
have to lose weight to look great.
Don’t want to change? Then you
can still look fab.
Be fashionable
Feel good about
yourself
A lot of people don’t realize how
wrong they are in the clothes
they wear. Learn about your
body type, height, skin tone and
preferences. Discover yourself,
and fashion will come to you.
Rid yourself of any insecurity,
because you can look bad in a
Gucci & Manolo shoes if your
shoulders are slouching and you
have a scared look on your face.
You don’t have to wear designer
clothes, especially if you can’t
afford them. Just look through
fashion magazines, pick your
favourites and then find look-alikes. Remember, clothes don’t
make you, they complement you!
Smile, be merry and people will
notice that. It will help you meet
people and be talked about. But
to smile genuinely, you have to be
genuinely happy with yourself.
Some models are unhappy, some
have eating disorders and use
unhealthy ways to lose weight.
Just because they do that,
doesn’t mean you have to. Don’t
hide behind your smile all the
time. If you are unhappy about
something, express your opinion
- the key to being a good model
is emotiveness (the ability to
convey emotions).
Watch your posture
What does it matter to look
gorgeous if the only one that
sees it is your family, and your
teddy bears? Go out dancing
with your friends, or dining,
or whatever it is you like to do.
Have fun and live it out.
Be your own makeup artist.
Makeup is amazing, and any
fashionista knows that. You can
transform into so many different
looks if you have the necessary
tools and skills. Look through
fashion magazines and practice
the looks you see on yourself and
your friends. Then invent your
own looks and perfect them.
Being able to apply makeup like
a pro is a must for looking like
a model. It requires practice,
practice, and then some more
practice.
Be confident
Make sure every
part of your body
is as flawless as you
can make it
We all have this idea that
models are perfect human
beings with perfect super
powers, but they’re just
normal men and women like
you and me. Of course, they
have been refined, polished,
re-invented, and perfected.
You can be all of these as well,
with proper maintenance!
Hygiene
is
extremely
important.
Stay on top of the arts, film,
music, fashion, news and all
things hip. Learn key phrases
in various languages from
countries with an active
fashion scene. Travel the world,
or watch the Travel Channel.
Professional models learn to
feel at home in any part of the
world, and so must you--or at
least you can pretend!
Be seen
Be your own makeup
artist
How you carry yourself affects
how people perceive you more
than you think! Perk up that
chin, throw those shoulders
back, and glide through the
air as if you just signed a ten
million dollar contract. At home,
practice carrying books on
your head. Move like a dancer.
Keep your head back, chin up,
and shoulders down and back.
Remember that every moment
is a potential pose! However, you
shouldn’t become obsessed.
Educate yourself in
culture
There are two things that can
make or break your look: your
hair and your shoes.
Look through hair magazines
and talk with your hairstylist
about what would look good
with your face structure. Always
keep your hair clean and styled,
and make sure you go back to the
salon every 2-3 months as your
hair grows. Make sure the shade
of your hair is vibrant; there’s
nothing worse than dull hair. If
your colour is any dull, dye it.
Many, many models have dyed
hair. And they cover their rootscompletely. If you don’t want
to colour your hair, use a shine
serum to add a healthy shine.
Wear clean, nice shoes. Models
wear sneakers, too, and they wear
them with style. Just make sure
your shoes aren’t worn out, and
that you can walk comfortably in
them.
You’ll never get anywhere if
you don’t believe in yourself.
So be confident and don’t let
people pull you down!
Don’t bite your nails
and always keep
them polished
This doesn’t mean always have
some nail polish on. Just make
sure to buff them and maintain
them.
Keep your feet in impeccable
conditions at all times.
Soft elbows and knees are just
as important as matching shoes
and belt.
To get softer skin, try to exfoliate
your skin at least twice a week
with something simple like white
sugar and aloe vera mixed.
Keep those pearly whites pearly
white! Use whitening strips if
you need to, and stay far away
from cigarettes and coffee, which
will turn them yellow. Always
use enamel safe teeth whitening
or else your teeth could chip off
or become see through and very
unhealthy.
Looking like a model
doesn’t mean you
have to cake yourself
with makeup
They don’t so you shouldn’t
either.
Moisturize
every
morning. Curl your lashes with
an eyelash curler. Use bronzer if
it suits you, but don’t be afraid
to embrace your natural skin
colour. Foundation should be
light. Eye shadow is nice also
but don’t overdo it. Eyeliner and
mascara are better in brown or
similar natural colours. Makeup
should be about enhancing your
beauty, not covering it up.
Clear skin is
absolutely necessary
Be nice
Models carry themselves with
a smile that tells everyone
they’re friendly. Cultivate an
amiable nature so that people
like being around you.
No zits, pimples, whiteheads,
acne. Have a good face cleanser
to use twice a day. Have a good
toner, spot treatment, lotion. Do
face masks and exfoliate once a
week. Drink lots of water. Get
enough sleep. Do what you have
to, to achieve perfect skin. Wear
concealer on anything you might
have. Wash off makeup at nightno doing the “I’m tired I’ll skip
washing my face”.
4
Lifestyle
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Types of Modelling
The market determines what models are
needed. These needs tend to cluster into
market segments and allow us to look at types
of models.
It is important to understand the type of model
you want to be. By understanding the type of
modelling you are interested in you can learn
what the requirements are and if you can meet
them. This also helps in avoiding getting ripped
off.
Greatest number of rip-offs and bad business
decision happen when a wannabe model is
thinking of one type of modelling (usually high
fashion) and a scout, agent, photographer,
etc. is recruiting for another (life style, Playboy
glamour). So it is very important you understand
what type of modelling you are interested in.
Commercial
Modelling
Commercial modelling is sort of the catch all for
everything that isn’t fashion and isn’t glamour. It is vast
and diverse. The physical requirements can vary greatly. The
‘look’ can be that of a mom, business executive, scientist,
glamorous beauty, etc. The pay can be good but not to the
level of the top fashion model and commercial models who
tend to find work less often. But it can be an area one can
work part time for their whole life. Again, the purpose of
commercial modelling is to sell something - a product,
service, or an idea.
Types of Commercial
Modelling:
Commercial product modelling - Generally we are
generating a photo to sell a product and the model is used
to show how the product is used. Also, model may be used
to convey an image about a product. An example would be a
model dressed like a doctor holding a blood pressure device.
The physical requirements and look for commercial product
modelling can vary a great deal. It all depends on the image or
story you are trying to tell.
Commercial lifestyle modelling - Models are used in photos
showing a period of life or doing something in life. The photo
might be of a young couple playing in a park with their children
and the photo is used in an ad for a life insurance company. The
models are used to act out some concept or idea of life.
Commercial corporate modelling - Corporate modelling is
like Lifestyle but it always has a business theme. Again physical
requirements can vary greatly, but usually attractive people
are used - although sometimes character models are used.
Product demo - In smaller markets this seems to be a
favourite area to start models. Models stand in front of, or
in a store or mall, and hand out free samples of something.
The idea is they want someone attractive that people will
be drawn to and will work for just a few hours or a few days.
Trade show modelling - Once again attractive people are
attention getters. When a trade show comes to town some
exhibitors may hire models to hand out literature at their
booths. One of the classics examples of this is the auto show
Sports/athletically proficient/fitness - This is kind of
lumping a lot together but this has been a growing area in
modelling. With sport attire companies like Nike and the
increase number of personal sports, fitness and outdoor
magazines the need for models that look like they actually
know what they are doing has grown.
Hobby modelling - This is modelling for the fun of it, to
help out a cause or a place to get started. Some folks may
never make a living at modelling but enjoy being in front
of the camera or being on the runway. It also ties in with
organization that might put on a fashion show as a
fundraiser.
Alternative modelling - This term has been coined
for the whole gothic/punk modelling. This is a very
specialized niche.
Warm body modelling - This is where you just need
someone to put in a photo. When doing an outdoor
tourist bureau type photos you often find you need
someone hiking a trail or standing at an overlook, this
is where you need a warm body to help animate the photo.
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The Garment and Beauty product industries are large
users of models. People want to see what clothes or beauty
products look like on somebody.
Your high-fashion, designer-label garments, are designed
for what fashion designers view as the “ideal woman.” This is
someone tall and slender, somewhat leggy, with a swan like
neck and very young.
It is more important you just have a look of being tall and
slender and that the sample clothes will fit you. The “look” can
run from classic beauty to some extreme looks for fashion.
Types of Fashion modelling:
Body Part
Modelling
Body part modelling is a special category that belongs
in both fashion and commercial modelling. This is
the use of just part of the body in a photograph.
Often standard models that look great in fulllength shots or headshots don’t look so good close
up. Their hands or feet may look horrible. This is
where the body parts model comes in. A shoot is
set up using the standard model’s face but the
body part model’s hands and it looks like it is
just one person. Usually body part models will
specialize in just one part of the body like hands,
feet, legs, ears, or neck.
Body parts model follow a similar path as
regular models with finding modelling
agencies, building portfolios and having comp
cards. They simply pursue a very special
niche in the market.
Fashion editorial modelling - Vogue, Elle, Glamour, Cosmo,
etc. - these and many other magazines today that focus on
fashion have lots of editorial pages they must fill each month.
Many of these editorial pages feature models wearing what the
magazine thinks will be the next trend in fashion.
Fashion runway modelling - Clothing designers traditionally
show their new collections twice a year (Fall and Spring) to
perspective (store) buyers. Designers present these collections
to a gathering of buyers by sending models down a walkway or
runway. How well a model brings the clothes to life and shows
important features of the garments can determine how well they
sell.
Fashion catalogue modelling - There are a lot of clothing
Glamour modelling is modelling for
catalogues produced. These catalogues, whether business-tophotos with a sensual theme. This might
business, store, or direct marketing, require models to pose in
be a simple cheesecake or beefcake
the clothes they are trying to sell. Generally, catalogue models are
picked for a project because they represent the ideal of the market
photo. They can include bikini, sexy
segment for which that catalogue is targeted.
outfits and lingerie modelling.
Fashion print modelling - This is fashion and beauty for print
On the cheesecake level, photos can be
advertising. It can be display ads or collateral print materials.
used for calendars, posters, and
This is the most demanding work to get but pays the best
other pin-up girl products.
because of usage and exclusives. With these ads it is very
As one moves to greater
important that the concept, photo, and model work
states of undress you move
perfectly to convey the ‘image’ that is wanted.
to the adult entertainment
Fashion show room modelling - Modelling for buyers
industry with high-end
in the designer’s show room. This is lower pay but very
men’s magazines like
regular work; it could even be a full time job. Only happens
Playboy and then on
where there are designer show rooms.
down to the low-end
Fashion lingerie modelling - Because this type of
back-ally magazines.
modelling may be more revealing it requires very good
But it is the Internet
body tone and proportions.
that dominates this
Fashion bathing suit modelling - Again, more
field
and is now
revealing requires excellent body tone and a healthy
loaded with all levels of
look. In this case the models should be very fit.
sensual model photos.
Fashion fitness modelling - As health and fitness
There are no height or size
has moved more into the public consciousness a greater
requirements as in fashion
demand has grown in this type of modelling. Where once
modelling. Where fashion
everyone exercised in baggy grey sweats, fitness attire
modelling wants you to look
continues to evolve and become more everyday wear.
like a beanstalk, glamour
Fashion fit modelling - Fit models have the perfect
proportions for a given clothing size. Garment manufactures
modelling wants you to
and designers hire fit models to use to piece together new
have curves. Where fashion
creations, see how they move, and develop their patterns. The
may want a ‘special beauty
key for a fit model is to never gain or lose an inch.
look’, glamour modelling
Fashion tearoom modelling - This once was very popular (the
wants traditional drop dead
‘80s) in smaller markets. Usually it would be at ladies’ luncheons
gorgeous!
where models would wander between tables wearing designer
clothes from local fashion boutiques. The models would describe the
outfit they wore and where to buy it.
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Science
Thursday, 8 December 2011
5
Fashion & brand
driven children of today
Vinodh K. Pisharom
“You are from the old school”, chided my child on seeing the clothes and shoes I bought for him from the local market. It was clear that neither of them conformed
to his tastes, but the chiding was chiefly in disapproval
of the unbranded and unheard-of stuff I brought home.
My solo venture to the local market was to surprise
my child with new clothes and shoes, as he had fast outgrown the older ones. But, as it turned a misadventure,
I learned that he, like most other children, has long outgrown us, the older ones, in fashion and brand awareness. The ensuing class on brands, logos and fashion
unveiled my ignorance, confirming my child’s allegation
that I belonged to the old school of thought. “You would
wear anything we chose without a fuss till the other
day”, I quipped, not to give in to his designs of stamping me utterly out-of-date. To verify my claim he flipped
through the family albums, sighed out loud in disbelief
at some of the outfits and exclaimed, “Dad! How could
you do this to me when I was too small even to talk?”
Are children as young as five so driven by consumerism and fashion that they are in danger of ‘losing’ their
childhood? Dr. Jane Pilcher, a sociologist at the University of Leicester undertook an unusual research to
study the influence of fashion on youngsters between
the ages of five and twelve. Her findings showed that
brands and logos are highly important to some children, which is influenced by family attitudes, peer pressure and celebrity culture. This indeed raised concerns
if young children are becoming more like teenagers in
their behaviour and the ways they use fashion to create
their identity.
While Dr. Pilcher agrees there are worries surrounding children and fashion, she believes it would be unrealistic to expect the nature of childhood to stay the
same when society itself is changing and becoming
dominated by consumerism and the celebrity culture.
However, she believes that youngsters do remain children in many ways and are saved from turning prematurely into teenagers because of the greater controls
and intervention exercised by their parents. She argued:
“I would emphasize that we should be looking at what
parents buy for their children and the negotiations that
take place round that consumption. “Parents might give
in and buy something they don’t necessarily approve of
but they can place quite heavy restrictions as to where
that item of clothing can be worn. “For instance, the
child might only be allowed to wear a glittery off-theshoulder top in the safe, monitored environment of the
school disco and not anywhere else.”
Dr. Pilcher’s study, conducted with colleagues at the University of Leicester, found that even very young children have a
great deal of knowledge about the clothing retail sector and
they know exactly which shops will sell the kind of clothing
they want. She also found a strong association between family culture and the value children placed on brands and logos,
citing two cases, ‘Robert’ and ‘Hayley’ (not their real names).
Robert came from a family where brands and designer fashions were valued, and he ‘name-dropped’ constantly about the
brands of his clothes. Hayley, on the other hand, came from a
family with little disposable income, where brands and logos
were of so little importance that she had difficulty in understanding what the terms meant.
Parents, however, do not have it all their own way. Dr. Pilcher commented: “There are a variety of fashion influences on
children and you can’t ignore the pressures from their peer
groups, especially friends of the same sex, and their ideas of
what is cool.” A further influence on young children is the celebrity culture, which they may wish to copy or they may reject.
Is the dependence of young children on fashion a bad thing?
Not necessarily, it seems. The acquisition of brands that are
in vogue and therefore cool can give great pleasure and act as
a bonding between peers in a group. For young people themselves, it is a matter of image rather than money. Although
consumer culture clearly has financial implications, many of
the brands favoured by young people are available in high
street stores very cheaply. Children who do not participate
in that culture, however, can be isolated from their peers in
a form of social exclusion. This, Dr. Pilcher says, is something
to be borne in mind by teachers when considering school uniform policies and by parents doing battle with their children
on the shop floor. Her research findings on children and fashion were recently reported in the journal Childhood.
Fashion, brands and logos may change with time, and children may adapt to the changes with ease. However, parents
may still be branded old-fashioned, as our parental instincts
haven’t changed much over time. Time and again, by giving
in to the whims and fancies of the children, parents are only
endorsing this brand name ‘old-fashioned’. Perhaps, the only
saving grace to look up-to-date is to update ourselves with the
latest in fashion, brands and logos.
To turn back
the hands of time
Vinodh K. Pisharom
Ahmed was sad that his parents
had aged a lot since he left home
for employment in the Gulf two
years back. Had it not been for his
hopeless poverty, he would not
have left his parents alone in their
old age. “You needn’t worry about
us. Just get us that wonder drug
to stay young, which people say is
available in the Gulf”, his father
said.
Ahmed was prompt in sending
the wonder pill ‘Minus-ten’ to his
parents. Each pill was claimed to
have the power to reduce one’s
age by ten years. Hence, they were
cautioned about the
potential dangers
of not taking the
pill as per instructions. Relieved at
his parents’ assurance on being cautious, Ahmed eagerly awaited his next
vacation to meet his
youthful parents.
True to his belief,
and thanks to the potency of the pill, Ahmed was
greeted by his sprightly young mother at
the airport. His eager eyes searched
for his father,
but there was
no trace of him.
Mom’s stony silence to his queries about dad indicated that he was
no more, and it
was intentionally kept a secret.
“How and when
did dad die?” Ahmed demanded. “Die? I would have
accepted even that rather
than being a nanny to this
nasty kid”, said mom, pointing to a diaper clad toddler
by her side. Dumping the
kid into Ahmed’s hands, his
mother continued, “Here!
This is your dad! An overdose
of Minus-ten has turned him
into ten-month old toddler
with the cranky brain of a
sixty-year old grouch”. As
Ahmed wiped off the gooey
stuff which oozed out from
his dad’s diapers on to his
hands, he knew that his mission had terribly backfired.
We definitely live in a
youth obsessed culture and
it seems that everyone wants
to look younger than their
age. It’s no surprise that people seek wonder drugs like
the fictitious Minus-ten, or
take extreme measures like
that of Ahmed’s dad. If you
are one of the lucky ones
born with youthful genes and
you naturally look young,
you are very fortunate. Most
people have to work at it.
Many people choose surgery
or injections as an option for
looking younger, but there
are many things you can do
right at home that will really
make a difference in your appearance without having to
visit the doctor.
Here are some tips that
you can naturally turn back
the hands of time for you!
Most of these are very simple and anyone can do them.
t Eat organic whenever possible.
t Moisturize your face, neck & hands
every day.
t Drink lots of water.
t Get your Vitamin C.
t Wear a young smelling fragrance.
t Whiten your teeth.
t Wear V-neck shirts and sweaters.
t Reduce stress.
t Stay away from sugar.
t Fit exercise/yoga into your daily
schedule.
t Get plenty of sleep.
t Update your hairstyle.
t Wear light colours.
t Improve your posture.
t Drink a glass of fruit juice rich in
antioxidants.
t Skip a meal each day or fast one day
a week.
t Have a positive attitude and smile!
For those who find it tough to follow these harmless tips, the good news is that Minus-twenty
will soon be in the market to grant you youth
without pain.
6
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Technology
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Playfulness
Modernity Does this go well with my shoes?
Believe it or not, that is a question that’s not strictly related to clothing
accessories anymore. Many of the big technology players in the market
now adopt this mentality when designing and promoting their product.
Nokia’s latest series of N9 smartphones are a very good example of
how the variety of colors and shapes attract the masses. Another
example is DELL and their economic and multi-color Inspiron laptop
computers which are always advertised in a way that promotes the
variety of colors that suit all tastes.
Technology had also given birth to an entirely new market
industry. Accessories such as mobile phone covers, laptop
skins, fashionable headphones, and many other quirky addons have made their way into global markets and given
users the ability to customize how the products look.
What better way to show the world what mobile
phone you own than plastering it on your
car’s windshield, or creating your
own customized printable skin
cover?
With all the dreary news we’re surrounded by every day, it’s
only natural for people to want to relax and take their minds
off the world in any way they can. And what better way to do
so than to immerse yourself in a smartphone, laptop or music
player?
Nowadays, it’s not enough for brands to promote the product
on its own. They have to go the extra mile and surround that
product with a real-life scenario that potential consumers,
like you and me, can relate to. MP3 players have existed a
long time before the iPod ever saw the light of day. I, for one,
was perfectly content with my 4GB mobile phone’s music
playing ability until that glorious day when I saw a dancing
silhouette of a young, hip and cool woman dancing her heart
out with white headphones sticking out. Needless to say, I
found myself buying an iPod the very next day! Even Nokia’s
“Connecting People” slogan relays a powerful message relating
to consumers’ lives and how it’s important to stay connected
with your loved ones, preferably using a Nokia phone!
Weekly App Review
My Style
Fashion App
This app is the dream of all fashioncrazed shopaholics! If you have more
than 10 pairs of shoes, and a plethora of
clothing items that can barely fit in your
double-spaced closet, then this app will
save you hours in deciding what to wear
for that smart/casual dinner soiree.
App Features:
t Priced at a measly 1.99 $.
Available for
with items in your existing
wardrobe to find that
perfect match.
t Very simple to use, just
take snapshots of your t Get a second opinion while
shopping by sharing your
wardrobe, and start creating
snapshots with friends for
ensembles with just a swipe
immediate feedback.
of your finger.
t When clothes shopping, you t Shop online and browse
what brands are available in
can take snapshots right
nearby stores.
at the store and compare
Beauty
Thursday, 8 December 2011
7
How to do it
right for runaways
The object of a runway collection is to heighten
the senses and stage a show. But in reality,
it’s more chic to have a classic look you always
do with your hair and makeup, and then just
tweaking that a bit here or there depending
on if you want to be edgier one morning or
prettier the next!
Runway model eye makeup varies widely
depending on season, fashion show theme,
and other factors. There, are however, some
commonly seen styles of eye makeup seen on
the runway.
What’s more, you can achieve a catwalkworthy look with the help of our handy eye
makeup tips and eye makeup technique
tutorials mentioned below:
Styles of Runway Model Eye Makeup
A
vant Garde Eye Makeup: Avant garde,
innovative eye makeup art looks
are often showcased on the runway.
These may be achieved with airbrushed or
painted designs accentuating the eye area,
dramatically emphasizing the eyes with
colour and dramatic lines, and/or use of highly
unusual elements to create a distinctive look.
While runway makeup trends may var y
each season, they often fall into one of
these broad categories of styles:
F
antasy or theme:
Fantasy and theme
eye makeup is filled
with imagination and
places heavy emphasis
on the eyes, making
them dark, dramatic, or
mysterious for the runway.
Thematic elements may
be incorporated into the
makeup looks, such as
heavy silver-toned glitter
and shimmer shades for a
winter show, or rich plum
or mauve shades to create
sultry eyes for a spicy sexy
feel.
N
atural or Understated: On
the other end of the runway
spectrum,
eye
makeup
sometimes gets underplayed in order
to emphasize another facial feature,
such as the lips or cheeks, or to reflect
a more natural makeup theme. More
natural shades and shimmers may
be used. The fresh-faced appeal of
understated eye makeup is one that
can easily be pulled off for every day
with a flesh coloured eye shadow,
a brown or other medium neutral
liner on the top eye, and two coast of
mascara on curled lashes.
P
eriod: Often reflective of
the clothing inspirations,
period makeup can play
up the theme and revive eye
makeup looks form eras past.
Thick pin up girl eyeliner, eyecatching cat-eyes, or bold blue
shadow might appear.
S
moky Eyes: Smokey eyes are a runway eye makeup
staple, although colours vary from season to
season. Whether it’s a bold, rich purple hue or a
more organic brown tone, creating a smoky eye makeup
look instantly makes eyes stand out with an incredible
allure.
8
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Fashion
Designer Clothing
With an eye for starting trends and an understanding of what women want, Elie
Tahari creates sleek, city-wise styles that effortlessly go from work to a night out. His
passion for architecture is evident in the clean lines and understated elegance of his
modern, feminine collection.
Women have been drawn to Elie Tahari’s designs for decades and his clientele continues
to revel in the feminine, sensual fabrics, subtle textures and detailing that have
come to define the much-loved brand. Elie Tahari has come to characterize modern
sophistication with his inspired collections of understated grace and elegance.
His unique talent has positioned the collection as a force in the world of fashion
for over 30 years. Elie Tahari’s devoted following continues to revel in the feminine
embellishments, sensual fabrics, and subtle textures synonymous with the collection.
Fabrics from silk to wool to laid-back linen to comfortable cotton are carefully selected
to provide the best and longest wear. Each piece in the Elie Tahari clothing collection
allows for individual style.
boutique
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