Guide to fashion

Fashion is a term, which is referred to as a state of mind. This word comes from Latin word, which means, "to make." Fashion is most commonly associated with clothing, but it even applies to anything from interior architecture, to models of toys. It is a spirit, where an individual is comfortable with his mode of clothing and converts this comfort into a personal style. It is a way of measuring a mood that can be useful in many aspects, culturally, socially even psychologically. Perhaps the most distinctive quality about the fashion since the early times is that it is increasing in simplicity.                                                                

However, fashion is commonly used to describe a style of clothing worn by most people of a country. Thus, as the word goes, fashion is generally associated with, textile, garments and trends. The word textile refers to woven cloths. It is a way of celebrating the diversity and variety of the world in which we live. A fashion remains popular for the period of time that a large segment of society accepts it; that could be for a few months or years. However, it is normal for the fashion trends to change according to the seasons. For instance, during summers the common colors worn are the pastel shades and lighter fabric. Come winter and the preferred color ranges are the darker and brighter ones and the fabric is heavier.

Each season does bring into fashion a particular color and style. The trend of the sixties and seventies are in, with the gypsy style being a preference. Fashion is not just limited to female fraternity even men have been taken over by the fashion world. They have become more conscious of what is in and what is not. They pay more attention to their appearance than hey did earlier. Children are also aware and prefer to wear what is in fashion. While seasons are a major contributory factor, the glamour world of modeling and acting are the actual fashion leaders. Fashion houses endorse the latest trends through the media. So to know what`s happening and what`s not, you need to keep a keen watch on what models and actors are wearing, what kind of make up do they have on and even their hair-do depends on the present fashion trend. So who said that keeping in times is difficult? Expensive maybe, but yet not beyond one`s reach!

For centuries individuals or societies have used clothes and other body decoration as a form of nonverbal communication to indicate occupation, rank, gender, sexual availability, locality, class, wealth and group affiliation. Fashion not only embraces clothing, but also hairstyles, body art, shoes, bags, jewellery and beauty products all constitute today`s fashion trends. Fashion in all its forms from a tattooed and pierced navel, to the newest hairstyle, is the best form of iconography we have to express individual identity. As far as clothes are concerned, fashion is based on fabric, color and cuts.

Fashion is something we deal with everyday. And one thing certain in the fashion world is change. The collections in Paris, New York and Milan, and now London, typically set the stage for the industry one-year in advance. Fashion stylists too get new fashion ideas from music, videos, books, television and even movies. Even the street is the real barometer of style. More and more designers are drawing their inspiration from life on the street. Indian fashion has some prominent names to boast off, like Ritu Kumar, Suneet Varma, JJ Vallaya, Ashish Soni. If a particular clothing or accessory is depicted by famous personalities, it definitely becomes a trend for the people to follow the same. Films have become catalogues and people are copying from the particular style of actors and icons. Actors like Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, to name a few are considered as the trendsetters for the youth.

However, Indian consumers are the ones, which give the Indian fashion a distinctive quality and a mark of its own, here in India and in the international market as well. Thus, from various surveys one can say that India has about three categories of buyers.

The hi-class, people who are fashion conscious and who go for labels and name. Instead of the budget, they are more interested in designer clothing. The upper middle class people who are fashion conscious and who make it a point to stay up to date with the ongoing fashion trends. The last and final category consists of the youth, corporate group, who look out for regular wear clothesline and are budget conscious. What we wear and how and when we wear it, depicts our personality for changing situations. It is from the clothes a person wears that we get our first impression of personality. They provide mental clues to a person`s status and occupational role, as well as being a means of conforming to peer group expectations. Fashion is important to us because it`s a means of self-expression. It helps to identify ourselves with a group of others like us--whether it`s a lifestyle, a religion, a profession, or an attitude. Thus, there are many reasons we wear what we wear. Protection From cold, rain and snow: mountain climbers wear high-tech outerwear to avoid frostbite and over-exposure. Personality Identification Those with high status occupations will wear the clothes they think others expect them to wear They also act as an aid to modesty or immodesty as the wearer so desires. Physical Attraction Many styles are worn to inspire "chemistry." Emotions We dress "up" when we`re happy and "down" when we`re upset. Religious Expression Orthodox Jewish men wear long black suits and Islamic women cover every part of their body except their eyes. Clothing and Posture Many models spend so long worrying about their makeup that they forget that presentation is one of the most important aspects of beauty. You don't always have to be the most beautiful girl in the crowd, but if you carry yourself well and dress to suit your body type, chances are you'll be the one that everyone notices. Clothing and posture are two more ways in which you can make the most of what you have. Take a good look at the actresses in the entertainment pages of your magazines. Not all of them are classically beautiful, but they all have a presence about them, a quality that comes from the way they dress and the way they hold themselves tall, upright and elegant. Dress for your Body Type Here's a list of typical body complaints, together with the clothing tips that can hide them from view. Sometimes you should make the most of your assets, sometimes you should hide them away, but you should always have the confidence to step outside and feel beautiful! Larger Bodies Always bet on black. Darker clothing reduces the appearance of folds and bumps in the fabric, and has a wonderfully slimming effect on your body. Those of you with larger physiques should avoid tight clothing and definitely steer clear of loud prints. Try to always wear properly fitted clothing. Loose, baggy tops and pants just draw attention to your worst angles. Wear fitted shirts with vertical stripes to show off your curves the right way! Small Bust A padded bra is not the only way to give yourself a fuller bust. Try wearing fitted shirts with features like pockets or other details at the bustline. Make sure the neckline is not too low though. Another good tip? Layer up. By wearing a tanktop under your shirt you will make your bust appear much fuller. Large Bust Again, your bra is very important. By wearing one that is too small, you bring attention to your large breasts, rather than making them appear smaller. As for clothing, steer clear of tight-fitting tops and shirts with loud prints. Longer sleeves and a high neckline will take attention away from your chest and on to your arms and face. Large Hips If you're a little wide around the middle then don't worry, there are plenty of things you can do too. Wearing tight fitting trousers will only accentuate the difference in width between your hips and your legs, so use a bootcut leg that drops straight down from your hips. Buy pants without pockets or details around the hipline. Pleats are your absolute worst enemy. As for colors, make sure never to buy patterns - instead stick to dark, solid colors on the bottom, with perhaps some lighter colors or small patterns on your shirt. Short Bodies A short shirt can make your legs appear longer, while wearing similar colors across your outfit will eliminate the color boundaries that can make you appear shorter. Avoid overly detailed patterns and be sure to buy well fitted clothes. If you're drowning in your outfit it just makes you look smaller. Tall Bodies Exactly opposite to shorter women! If you're tall then you should use horizontal stripes, plus sharp color boundaries between your top and bottom to make you appear more petite. Long shirts and knee-high boots will shrink your legs too. Improve your Posture Posture is something we don't really think about that much, but subconsciously we judge others on how they carry themselves. A person who carries themselves tall and confident commands so much more attention and respect - just look at the elegant posture of your favorite celebrities. Slouching does not just just affect the impression that others have of you though, it can also have an impact on your health. Many back problems source from your back, and often this is the trigger for finally sorting out posture problems. Now's your chance to prevent those problems before they even start! Practicing Yoga and Pilates will create a self awareness of your posture - you will actually feel yourself standing upright more and it will help you to develop flexibility and a strong core. There are also many posture belts and underwear devices that can help, if you find it difficult to fit Yoga into your schedule. Outside of the gym classes, make sure you have a good chair at home and at work. Slouching is your worst enemy. Also, when you sit down be sure to always plant your butt right in the back of the chair. This simple action forces you to sit elegantly and is a great tip for interviews too! So stand tall, it's an instant beauty tip! Health and beauty tips If you want to look like a model, you need to do more than just look after your complexion. To really make it in the modeling world, your body has to look the part too. Listed on this page are some exercise tips that I've picked up throughout my years as a model. Remember, staying shape is not just something you do for two hours a week at the gym, its a decision that impacts on your whole life. If you do it right, making healthy changes to your lifestyle can actually reduce your gym time. Yoga/Pilates Yoga and Pilates are great for losing weight - they don't just burn calories, they also improve your muscle tone and increase your metabolism in the long term! I have used Yoga and Pilates for years, as I like the way it tones my body and keeps me slim. It also feels like less of a workout that other exercises! Yoga and Pilates are actually used regularly by many models, who love the increased muscle tone and better posture they can bring to their photo shoots. Lifestyle It doesn't need to be much - just a few small lifestyle changes and you'll be doing more exercise without even knowing it! During my career I have burned hundreds of calories each day crossing town to go to castings and jobs. Here are some other ideas: - Walk up the stairs at work rather than catch the elevator.  - Walk to the local shops rather than drive.  - Park your car further away from your workplace.  - Take the dog for a walk, rather than leaving him in the yard. Another great idea is to increase your water intake. As well as prolonging your life and keeping your internal organs (liver, kidney etc) clean and healthy, water also speeds up your metabolism and aids weight loss! Lastly, every model knows the importance of a good night's sleep. Muscle is regenerated during the final hours of sleep. The longer that you sleep, the easier you will find it to add muscle mass and increase your metabolism. Those extra hours are the most crucial ones. Those who sleep more produce less of a hormone named Cortisone, a nasty substance that contributes to belly fat.   - Aerobic Dance    - Boxercise    - Body Sculpt Other exercises that are great for weight loss, but low-impact on your joints, are rollerblading, the elliptical machine, skiing and biking. Try to exercise with a friend if you can, make it a social event rather than a chore. Weights An often-neglected part of weight-loss programs is weight training. Its a great way to build your body's metabolism so you can stay slim long after you finish your diet! An intensive weight training session also elevates your metabolism in the immediate aftermath of the session - sometimes for as long as 36 hours afterwards! Cardio You can't stay in model shape without putting in those hours in the gym or pounding the pavement. Nothing will keep your body toned and fit like proper cardio exercise, so it should be a part of any weight loss plan you undertake. For more content related to this item please visit: http://www.catfashionhouse.com