USA Fashions

Reality TV – Spin Offs From Prime Time Shows

Reality television shows have taken the world by storm over the last few years, and they are just gaining momentum and popularity as time goes on. There are so many different types of reality tv shows today that it can be difficult to say what the most popular or best out there today.

It seems like every time there is something new going on in the world, television producers are making a new reality television show about it. Every time a regular tv show becomes extremely popular, there has to be a reality spin off of it. Take Desperate Housewives, for example. This show became very popular, partially because of the catty behavior of the women, and the crazy situations that their relationships put them in. After the initial popularity of the show, we started to see a new phenomena. The Real Housewives series. Each new season has a new city in the spotlight, with new women showing off their lifestyles. These are always higher class, women who, realistically, have more money than most of us could ever dream of. Many of them are not even housewives! This show has gained so much popularity that there is no end in sight.

The spin off of reality television after the popularity of a show does not stop here. Oxygen has recently announced that it will be having a reality show, similar to American Idol, for those that consider themselves “Gleeks”. This comes from the popularity of the show Glee. The winner of this new reality show will, supposedly, then win themselves a spot on the show itself. This is just the newest way to spin a popular show into a reality tv show. Though this may actually get more people watching the original show, it may also make the show much less popular, because the reality tv version becomes “more interesting” to people.

Filed Under: International Fashions Tagged With: American Idol, Real Housewives, Reality television

Bright Colors and Bold Statements

Bright colors. This is what spring is all about. Most especially in the fashion world, you will find that the brighter the colors, the better. This year, bright colors have been seen not only in the clothes, but in other areas as well. If you are looking for great ways to spice up your outfit this spring, add a little color to your makeup, your accessories, or even your hair.

So, what colors are really in? To be honest, pretty much everything is in right now, as long as it is bright and bold. There are some colors that have been seen more prevalent than others, depending on the medium.

For example, with eyeshadow, you will want to stock up on spring greens, oranges, purples, and even pinks. These are colors that traditionally scream spring, and this year is no different. Don’t tone down the colors, let them fly! Along with this, bright eye liners and mascaras are also in. For lips, you want to go with either a bright red or a fun pink.

With accessories, green and yellow are both very popular this spring. Getting your hands on a yellow handbag is a great way to accessorize your spring outfits. A bright blue belt may also be a great way to add some color, without having it stand out too much.

Hair colors this year are all about going crazy. Bright reds are extremely popular on the runway. Along with this, you will want to consider off beat colors. As long as it is not against the dress code at your job, consider something that is not normally seen as a natural hair color. If this is not permitted for your job, add in some wash away streaks of color for your next night on the town.

Filed Under: Designers, General Tagged With: Color, Human hair color, Red

Long Hair Fashion Trends

When talking about fashion, one thing that you must also remember is that the hair trends can change drastically each year, or even each season. Hair fashion is something that some people overlook, but those who consider themselves fashionistas should never pass by. For long hair, there are three major trends coming forward this year.

The Double Hair Knot

The double hair knot has been popular off and on for many years. This hair trend is a great way to put your hair back, simply, and still look great. Many people find it to be almost as easy as just putting your hair in a pony tail, but it has an elegance that is far beyond this. This is a style that can be worn around the house, at the office, or even out on the town for a formal event.

Bird’s Nest Bun

Seen on the catwalk through this years fashion shows already, the bird’s nest bun is a hair trend that many may find fun and funky. For many, the bird’s nest may call back to an era of housewives and tall hair. Adding a little bit of texture to your top knot or bun is a great way to pull off a classic, but fun look.

Braided Top Knot

The braided top knot is a great way to change up your normal bun. This sits higher up on the head, and since it is braided, it has a much different look. The braided top knot works well with elegant looks and evening wear, as well as office wear.

Updos are very popular this year. Those with long hair who follow the fashion trends will want to master these and other updos. Since they work well at home, on the town, or anything in between, you can’t go wrong with a new twist to a classic up do.

Filed Under: Designers, Trends Tagged With: Fashion, Hairstyle, Long hair

Belt Purses are in, Fanny Packs Still Out

One of the most popular, and generally one of the most expensive, accessory items that women crave is the purse. There are many different styles of purses, and the trends change frequently. Figuring out what is in today, when it comes to purses and handbags can be more frustrating than finding out any other fashion trends. This year, everything you have ever known with purse fashions has been thrown out the window with the belt purse fashion.

In fact, for many people, this trend may make you think about a fashion no no – the fanny pack. It is quite similar, but with a much better look. In fact, the belt purse is simply a clutch purse put on a belt. At first, you may find that you are against this fashion with every fiber of your being. Many people are. You don’t want to look like granny at Disney World or the dollar store! It is so ingrained that fanny packs are horrible, and should never come within a hundred feet of anyone with fashion sense, that it may actually take some time for this trend to catch on.

The great thing aout belt purses is that you won’t have to worry about setting down your purse and forgetting it or losing it. There are belt purses that are for day wear, and even some that have been fashioned for evening wear, as well. Finding one in the color and style that you are looking for won’t take long once these hit the stores. The varieties are practically endless. As long as you stay to the fashionable belt purses and don’t actually get a fanny pack, you will be perfectly fine. Don’t let your budget tell you that a fanny pack is ok, though!

Filed Under: Designers, Trends Tagged With: Design, Diane von Fürstenberg, Fanny pack, New York Fashion Week, Sang A Im-Propp

Flares and Bell Bottoms Make a Comeback

You may be surprised to learn that this years fashion trends are veering away from previous years. In the last few years, skinny, straight legged jeans and pants have become all the rage. This year is completely different. In fact, this year, extremely wide legs and even bell bottom pants have come back into style.

Many designers are using a more wide legged pant look to accentuate a more masculine look. Many women, especially in the work force, have decided that more masculine looks are a great way to go. Because of this, the designers are trying to keep up with this, with new and innovative looks. Pairing wide legged pants, that practically cover the shoes entirely, with a matching jacket can add the right kind of fashion and flair, while still looking perfect for the office.

Today’s bell bottom or flare pants are a little different than in the past. The most popular on the runways right now are not tight far down the leg. Instead, they are loose around the knee, and flare from there. Along with this, the flare hem of the pants should be, at very least, as wide as your foot. Wider is great, but if you are following the current bell bottom trend, you want to go wide.

If you want to take this trend into the realm of the 1970′s look, make sure that your pants also have a high waist. Pair it with a retro, bohemian style shirt, and you’re good to go! On the other hand, you can also go for a more modern look and make sure that they have a lower waist line. No matter which way you choose to go, flares and bell bottoms have made a come back that you won’t believe.

Filed Under: Accessories Tagged With: Bell-bottoms

The Growing Number of Online Surveys

A growing trend in market research involves using online surveys to capture information about the user experience. In some cases, the offer for a survey is made when the user first lands on the site. Other companies use the exit survey strategy. In either case, the customer must decide if they’re willing to spend a few minutes answering questions about their impression of the website.

The Benefits of Online Surveys

By using free online surveys on your website, you can find out whether your customer service group is performing to your standards. Based on your questions, you may find out where you need improvement or even discover a need that you had not yet considered. By soliciting feedback instead of waiting for e-mails from disgruntled customers, you also have a better chance of getting a balanced view of the overall level of satisfaction. This is because an angry customer is much more likely to go out of their way to complain, while a satisfied online customer may simply keep their thoughts to themselves.

Who’s Using Online Surveys?

As you surf the Web, you’ve probably come across plenty of online surveys. Companies of all sizes are catching onto this valuable market research method to interact with their clients, keep customers coming back, and attract new ones. The easiest way to add a survey to your website is to invest in survey software tools instead of trying to develop something on your own. Join the ranks of major corporations like Apple, Expedia, Papa Johns, and Microsoft by adding an online survey to your website to get a good feel for your customer’s attitudes and expectations.

An online survey can be a great tool to engage your customers and increase their level of satisfaction as proven by the major players in the ecommerce game. When will you survey your loyal customers?

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: Market research

Motorcycle Chic is In!

When you think of bikers, you may not necessarily think of fashion. That is all about to change, as one of the big fashion trend for 2011 is biker chic. Burberry unveiled their biker chic fashion this year during fashion week in New York City. Though many say that it is just a spin off of the military look that has been popular recently, others feel that it is a fully new trend that will explode this year.

There are a few essentials to the biker chic fashion trend. First and foremost is the motorcycle jacket. The designers that are picking up this trend are coming up with new takes on the traditional motorcycle jacket. First, it doesn’t have to be plain black, as in the past. There are many motorcycle fashion jackets that come in a variety of colors. The style may vary a little bit, as well. Traditionally speaking, a motorcycle jacket is black leather with a variety of buckles and zippers. Some of these may be left off for a fashion motorcycle jacket.

Leather motocycle pants are also a must have for this fashion trend. Some designers have veered off, and instead of leather pants, they have paired leather skirts with the motorcycle jackets to add a more sophisticated look to the motorcycle chic look.

Along with the jacket and pants, motorcycle boots are a must have. As with the other aspects of this look, it has been altered a little in many cases. In fact, there are even stiletto heels that give the impression of motorcycle boots, while other designers have stayed more traditional with leather boots and lots of buckles.

Following the fashion trends this year is going to be a fun experiment for many people. The fashions are fun and crazy, and in some cases, full of leather. The thought is, you can’t go wrong with black leather!

Filed Under: Accessories, Trends Tagged With: Fashion, Motorcycle, motorcycle boots

Spring 2011 Hearkens to an Age Gone by

As winter slowly comes to a close, many people are looking toward spring. Not only does spring invoke warmer weather, it also means that new fashions are coming out. Anyone who has any interest in fashion in the United States has been watching New York in February, as with every year. Fashion week is something that all designers, models, and anyone interested in the new fashions look forward to with glee.

This year, many people may be surprised with the fashions that have come down the runway. Harkening to eras gone by, the spring fashions for 2011 are very reminiscent of the 1970′s, as well as the 60′s and even a few things from the 1950′s fashions.

The bohemian look from the 1970′s is in this spring. With bead necklaces layered over vests, jumpsuits and hot pants, and straight hair, many people are taking these trends and applying them today. The housewife look from the 1960′s is back in, as well. Even for those that don’t consider themselves housewives can pull off this look with the styles of Louis Vuitton and Prada. Long, gathered skirts, known as the granny skirt, paired with a cardigan is a fun way to hearken back to the 1960′s.

When you think of days gone by, and admire the fashions of those time periods, don’t dispair. They are in style again, and there are options to pull these looks off. Wether you hit up a vintage shop, pull out the clothes in the attic, or decide to buy new designer option, you will find that pulling off the hot looks of Spring 2011 can be fun and easy. Even though the styles may be old fashioned, you don’t have to feel out of place in these great styles for spring.

Filed Under: Designers, Trends Tagged With: Design, Fashion, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Shorts

Fashion Models Over 35 — She’s Got the Look

In the fashion industry being over the age of 35 usually means you are retired. However, there is a relatively new reality television show featuring women over the age of 35 who are competing to become the next supermodel 35 or older. This show’s title is She’s Got the Look, and originally aired in 2008 on TV Land network. This show has already run three successful seasons and is scheduled to run a fourth season in 2011.

Throughout the season celebrity judges narrow down the cast from an original 20 until they find the one with just the right look. After the initial interviews of the 20 semi-finalists, which included displaying the contestant’s fashion knowledge and presenting oneself well, the cast is narrowed down to a final ten contestants.

Once the final ten contestants are chosen they then live in a loft together and compete in challenges. These challenges include tests of their fashion sense, photo shoots, and runway competitions. Contestants are then eliminated as time goes on. The final episode leaves two contestants remaining. In the end, one woman is the winner and goes on to become the next supermodel 35 or older.

Some of the past winners have included average women from average lives. The things that set them apart are their beauty and confidence. The first winner in 2008 was 45-year-old married mother of five from Orange County, California. During the second season the winner was 39-year-old Cindy Cohen. Cindy lives in Calabasas, California. With her son heading off to college she decided to give modeling a try and auditioned for the show, and the rest is history! The 2010 third season winner was a 38-year-old bus mechanic and married mother of two from Los Angeles, Marlin Archie.

The winners earn a modeling contract, $100,000, and a photo spread in Self magazine. The goal of this show is to prove that women over 35 are still confident, beautiful, and definitely model material!

Filed Under: Fashion, International Fashions Tagged With: Fashion, Los Angeles, Reality television

Fashion-Themed Reality Television

Reality television has become a rage over the past few decades. It continues to be strong today. The fashion industry is no exception. There are many reality television shows featuring one aspect or another of the fashion industry. Some have stuck around for many, many years, while others have only managed a year or two. Some of the most popular reality television shows include fashion-based shows.

Project Runway, which is a show where designers meet several challenges throughout the season to design clothing. The show usually starts with 12 would-be designers who compete for the top design. As they participate in the challenges each week, one designer is eliminated until only three designers remain for the final runway show. This show has had eight successful seasons thus far.

America’s Next Top Model, is as you guessed it, a show featuring contestants hoping to become the next top model. This show was created and hosted by supermodel, Tyra Banks. In the first episode of each season the show begins with ten to fourteen aspiring models. Each contestant has to meet challenges along the way or be eliminated. The challenges each wanna-be model faces deals with some aspect of modeling. The models then go out on photo shoots, with the resulting photos determining who will be eliminated and who will go on.

A relatively new reality show, The Fashion Show, which airs on the Bravo network, features designers who compete against each other to create designs with limited materials and limited time. The designs are judged each week and one or more designers are eliminated. In this show, America is the judge and participates in the elimination of designers. The winner receives $125,000 and a chance for their fashion designs to be sold retail.

This is just a small sampling of the reality television shows featuring fashion. If fashion design or modeling interests you, you might find fashion-based reality television fascinating. Each of these shows offer insights and fashion tips that the general public can use as well.

Filed Under: International Fashions, Trends Tagged With: Fashion design, Project Runway, Reality television, Tyra Banks