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A Case for Blotter Art
There are moments in our past that shape our vision. Going through my childhood photo albums, I catch a glimpse of Anna in the early grades, a quiet girl who, if she were still alive, does not know how even in grade 4, she was pointing the way to...
A Modern Hope Chest
When our neighbors moved away, they left behind an old cedar chest and wanted to know if our family would like to have it. I was sure I could find some use for it. They're not that easy to come by, and it was still in pretty good shape.
I already...
Have You Considered To Attend A Bridal Show?
Are You planning a wedding? Why not attend a bridal show? It offers you a great shopping option as a wedding consumer. At this show, you will be able to meet first hand with local vendors all in one day and in one location. You can take a friend or...
It's Raining this Morning
It’s raining! I woke up this morning and it was raining, not a startling fact in itself but for a brief instant my life flashed up strong as if viewable on a giant TV screen on the ceiling above my head! It’s raining, it’s 7.30am, my wife and baby...
Wedding Dresses -- How to Choose the Right Wedding Gown for Your Big Day
Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search. First you need to...
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Drop The High Street Drag - Shop For Style Online!
Surely it’s considered a major fashion faux pas – turning up somewhere in the same outfit as someone else. If the current crop of high street shops are anything to go by, however, you’d be forgiven for thinking that clothing conformity is something we’re all striving towards.
Let’s face it, for those of us looking for something a little bit ‘different’, high street shopping can be a pretty dreary and dispiriting experience. Just imagine that you’re blindfolded and parachuted into a UK city’s shopping street – your blindfold is removed – do you know where you are? The answer is that there will probably be very few clues, as you will find exactly the same shops wherever you go. The ‘usual suspects’ will be side by side, churning out similar-styled garments and cashing in on the latest ‘celebrity style’ craze with cheap copies of couture pieces.
To those who crave individualism and want to dress with a bit of flair and originality, this copycat culture is depressing. Kate Moss only has to appear looking stunning dressed in her own inimitable style – inimitable being the moot point here - and suddenly we’re being bombarded by ‘where to get the latest look’ articles and fooled into spending our hard earned cash on faked fashion which isn’t going to make us look a million dollars, and won’t make us look like Kate in a million years. When it comes to mock fashion the real mockery is the one we make of ourselves.
Don’t despair! The internet is a fantastic resource for anyone seeking their own unique style. There are plenty of places to shop online offering distinctive, desirable apparel and accessories which will set you apart from the ‘clothing clones’ without breaking the bank. The benefits of buying online are many; no more trooping round town elbowing others out of the way, no queues, and no last minute buying because the shop’s about to shut, only to get home and discover your panic purchase looks terrible on or has traces of cosmetics on the collar. Instead you can shop from the comfort of your home, browsing and buying at your leisure.
Small businesses and solo fashion designers use the web to showcase their products, and because their overheads are lower (no huge retail premises to maintain and large staff to pay) you have a real opportunity to purchase gorgeous garments and attractive accessories which won’t cost the earth. There are also sites selling quality
second-hand and vintage fashion pieces, allowing you to track down your own style statement for a fraction of the price of buying new. If something is described as ‘hand made’ don’t let memories of Auntie Dot’s amazing asymmetrical unravelling knitwear cloud your judgment – handmade usually means lovingly crafted with great attention to quality and detail, and can definitely denote a one-off, original clothing item which will be the envy of others and a fashion favourite for years to come.
If you’re more concerned about the look you want than the designer label you’re wearing, there are a few points to consider when buying over the internet. Search for sites with decent product photographs and detailed descriptions, not tiny little ‘thumbnail’ images. After all, you wouldn’t buy a product from a catalogue unless you had a good idea what it looked like. Use careful keywords to narrow and speed your internet searches. For example, if you’d prefer a product in a quality fibre, include ‘wool’ or a more specific term such as ‘mohair’ as one of your search words to find precisely what you want faster. Vague, all-encompassing search terms will only drag the high street to your desktop, and you’ll end up ploughing through ‘virtual’ polyester! Make sure sites offer secure checkouts that encrypt your credit-card details; safe and trusted payment methods include PayPal, WorldPay and NoChex, although there are plenty of others.
Finally, enjoy the experience! The internet gives you a great choice, and buying online from a smaller supplier often means you’ll receive a much higher quality product and level of service than you’d find in a vast anonymous ‘bricks and mortar’ store. Independent online retailers are keen to involve their customers in a real relationship, and you’ll find yourself returning regularly to your favourite fashion sites. Shopping to suit yourself can be very rewarding, and not just financially.
www.billcoo.co.uk
email@billcoo.co.uk
The author has an interest in distinctive, desirable female fashion, shared with the wider world at http://www.billcoo.co.uk. Please link to the Bill Coo shop if you wish to reproduce this article!
email@billcoo.co.uk
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fashion net - the guide to all things chic |
Directory of selected chic fashion, art, luxury, shopping, and work sites. [English and Japanese] |
www.fashion.net |
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Fashion TV - HOME |
International TV channel dedicated to fashion, broadcasts 24 hours a day on satellites and cable systems. Site features programs and lots of info on fashion ... |
www.ftv.com |
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Style.com: the online home of Vogue and W; Fashion, Fashion Shows ... |
Portal of Vogue and W magazines. Detailed coverage of designer runway collections and style news with a list of job opportunities and links to other Condé ... |
www.style.com |
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Vogue Articles, Features, and More on Style.com |
Magazine features and articles, fashion show coverage, celebrity style, fashion trend reports, party and award show coverage, shopping guides, and more. ... |
www.style.com |
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Fashion for women -- fashion designers, latest trends, fashion tips |
Fashion for women: a comprehensive guide to everything about women's fashion including current fashion trends, information about fashion designers, ... |
fashion.about.com |
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Fashion & Style - New York Times |
Fashion & Style · Dining & Wine · Home & Garden · Weddings & Celebrations · Travel · Jobs · Real Estate · Autos · Comedy on the Hot Seat. By ALLEN SALKIN ... |
www.nytimes.com |
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Fashion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
The term "fashion" is frequently used in a positive sense, as a synonym for ... In this sense, fashions are a sort of communal art, through which a culture ... |
en.wikipedia.org |
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fashionoffice.org : trends in fashion - Europe . America . Asia |
fashion magazine - international trends in fashion, style, design, photo, film, art, beauty. catwalk TV, shows, photo stories from New York, Paris, London, ... |
www.fashion.at |
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Fashion, from the concrete to the catwalk | fuk.co.uk |
London designer interviews and runway archive, photo shoots, street style, weekly updated news and a fashion clinic. |
www.fuk.co.uk |
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FASHION Magazine |
The web component of Canada's general fashion title, with fashion, beauty, gift ideas and online competitions. |
www.fashionmagazine.ca |
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Telegraph | Fashion |
Fashion Director Hilary Alexander looks at an expanding market. ... Fashion 'Oscar' winner Giles Deacon is to join luxury label Daks, reveals Hilary ... |
www.telegraph.co.uk |
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Telegraph | Fashion |
Fashion 'Oscar' winner Giles Deacon is to join luxury label Daks, ... Buying vintage is more than a fashion trend, it's a good investment says Maria ... |
www.telegraph.co.uk |
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Fashion Jobs | Fashion Jobs at 24 Seven Inc. |
We're 24 Seven Inc., the number one source of fashion jobs and talent for the ... Our success at connecting the right people with the right fashion jobs has ... |
www.fashion-jobs.biz |
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Fashion History Costume Trends and Eras, Trends Victorians - Haute ... |
Pauline Weston Thomas and Guy Thomas place costume alongside the social history of an era, focusing on fashion from 1800. Includes undergarments, haute ... |
www.fashion-era.com |
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Fashion Planet: Summer |
New York-based site looks at collections, trends, personalities and global lifestyles with monthly updates. |
www.fashion-planet.com |
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New York Fashion -- New York Magazine - Designers, Fashion ... |
Fall Fashion. rachel weisz The Sexes Get Dressed. For her? ... Spring 2007 Fashion. philosophy and versace European Shows. The best of the big collections. ... |
nymag.com |
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New York Fashion -- New York Magazine - Designers, Fashion ... |
The recently maligned country struts its stuff at a fashion show in Manhattan. ... Fall Fashion. rachel weisz The Sexes Get Dressed. For her? ... |
nymag.com |
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Fashion Icon |
Features latest trends, dressing tips, an ask the fashion experts column, and fun craft projects. |
www.fashion-icon.com |
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Fashion News on Yahoo! News |
Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet Shine at "The Holiday" Premiere Fashion Wire Daily ... JAKARTA (Reuters) - Mention the words Islamic and fashion and most people ... |
news.yahoo.com |
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Hint Fashion Magazine |
Hint Fashion Magazine, featuring fashion news, model pages, photo shoots, designer interviews, beauty reports, party pictures and message boards. |
www.hintmag.com |
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