FLIGHTS OF FANCY | FANCY DRESS & FASHION

Archive for February, 2009

If England has Rumpelstiltskin who spins gold fabrics, Italy has Count Giorgini who spun the fabrics of the fairytale story of Italian Fashion. The remarkable date was on February 25, 1951 when a fashion show was staged by the Italian legend in front of a global audience in the beautiful city of Florence.

What has the Count done for fashion in Italy?

Count Giorgini revived the fairy tale ambiance of the elitists by setting up his own palace as a place for fashion shows, thus providing courtly scenery for the production of fashion anthologies. In other words, members of the high society themselves, who wore the dresses that were considered fashionable during those times, took part in epitomizing the standards of fashion and beauty. From then on, the trend of presenting fashion for the nobles and by the nobles was evident in courtly rooms of their own museums and/or abodes alongside erected sculptures of this kind of fame.

He and his class have made a clear statement that dress can be a medium to assert one’s individuality. Subtly, he communicated that fashion can be a language of desire. Furthermore, fashion can be a game of emulations, erotic domination, and flirting glances.

There was also a time when even cinema was predisposed by Italian fashion. The nuptials of Tyrone Power and Linda Christian in the year 1949 created a stereotyped yet fantastic image of Italy as the Land of Love, of Art and the Beautiful as the bride chose a dress made from Italy. Dress served as an object of charm that can make beautiful transformations to an individual, just like in well-loved fairy tales.

In the 1960s, about the same time when London took the spotlight in the world of fashion, every majestic way of life in Italy has crumbled. During the industrial boom, social status and social roles were also revolutionized. Novice fashions in produced garments flowed into the marketplace and women around the world started to realize that they could dress stylishly at a low price.

Global recognitions for Moda de Italia garments were gained with the success of Prêt-à-porter” between the 1970s and 1980s. These were the years when Milan grabbed the attention of the world and transformed itself into a fashion landmark. Until now, topnotch fashion designers continue to create fashion statements from the mini-skirt to denims or blue jeans and other various evolutions continue to enchant the world.

Now, consider the following institutions that have been established to serve as citadels that provide artists who can revolutionize the world:

1. Moda Altieri, Accademia Altieri is located at 00187 Roma, 50 San Nicola da Tolentino (info@accademialtieri.it; http://www.accademialatieri.it).

2. Academia d’ Belle Arte di Viterbo is located at 01100 Viterbo, 17 Col
Moschin (abavt@tin.it).

3. Accademia Europea d’ Moda e Costume d’ Franco Reale is located at
00186 Roma, 35 Lucina at Piazza San Lorenzo.

4. Accademia Internazionale d’ Alta Moda ed’ Arte del Costume Koefia is
situated at 00192 Roma, 203 Cola di Rienzo.

5. Istituto Carlo Secoli can be found at 20154 Milano , 5 G. Prina
(info@secoli.com).

6. Istituto Europea d’ Design lies at 20123 Milano, 1 Giardino.

7. Istituto Italiano di Fotografia (Italian Institute of Photography) is situated at
20144 Milan, 13 Forcella.

8. Istituto Superiore di Alta Cataldo lies at 00184 Roma, 204 Nazionale.

9. Polimoda campuses at 501443 Florence, 77 Pisana in Villa Strozzi (info@polimoda.com; http://www.polimoda.com).

10. Scuola Progettisti di Moda, Universita degli Studi di Urbino can be found
at 61029 Urbino (PS), 54 Bramante (scuola.moda@uniurb.it).

It suffices to say that the fashion of Italy has evolved from a sense that dress confirms how one is situated in a social status into an instrument that can create the appearance of a beautiful city and presently a place of creativity and competency.

Through the years, more and more people have shown a great deal of interest in venturing into the fashion industry. Its popularity may be attributed in part to success stories of famous fashion designers the world over, like Tommy Hilfiger’s.

It was told that Hilfiger drove to New York, bought trendy clothes, and sold them to his townspeople for a huge amount of profit. This story is very inspiring, knowing that Hilfiger is now one of the most expensive and sought after brands out there. However, not everyone who is interested in the fashion world was born with a sharp business knowledge and outstanding fashion sense like Hilfiger’s.

Here is where education makes the difference.

With this rising interest of people in the fashion industry comes a rise in the competition, but then, so as with opportunities. It is getting easier to enter a fashion school and obtain a degree ? may it be in fashion design, fashion merchandising, or fashion marketing.

These industries may focus on various aspects of the fashion industry, but they do overlap in numerous ways, including the need for knowledgeable instructors in the chosen industry. The competition may be stiff, but if you will be educated and trained in the proper way, you are sure to get an edge in the competitive fashion world.

First of all, you must determine which field you want to specialize in. As enumerated, the three – fashion design, fashion marketing, and fashion merchandising ? are the top choices as far as the best opportunities in a fashion career is concerned.

Here are some of the basic information about each:

Fashion Design. If you are a fashion designer, you are considered as the artist of the fashion industry. You are expected to be a highly creative individual who has the eye for an array of colors, lines and textures and has a good sense of style.

As easy as it may seem, a fashion designer’s job does not start and end in bringing visions into paper and doing sketches of masterpieces. Based on the final sketch, a designer must still sort through different textures and materials, and then predict how it will fit a fashion model or consumer’s body. Once the material has been chosen, the pattern must be cut from the textile, and finally, sewn together. After numerous considerations, it is only then that the “vision” or final product will be seen.

Fashion Marketing. This is an aspect of fashion that basically operates behind-the-scenes. If you will become a fashion marketer, you will have to keep yourself side by side with the ever changing consumer purchasing habits and fashion trends; come up with advertising campaigns that will attract the attention and appeal to the tastes of specific types of consumers; and mind the various innovations that are introduced to the field every so often.

The visionary that is in every fashion marketer should foresee what would be successful and interesting to specific groups, as well as making sure that the apparel would be bought. Fashion marketers should be able to link fashion designers and the consumers.

Fashion Merchandising. Fashion merchandisers and marketers go hand-in-hand. Just like marketers, merchandisers must be able to foresee what is going to be the next new trend and style and determine the specific needs of a target consumer group. However, if the marketer is responsible for the advertising stints, a merchandiser actually buys the apparel and presents them to the various boutiques.

If you are going to be a merchandiser, you will aid the consumers in the selection of the right clothes ? may it be through proper lighting, presentation, or simply giving valuable suggestions.

There you have it! Do you want to get high with a new career? Find yourself a school and choose the course that is best for you! Submit yourself to the lures of school and the fashion industry.