How to Become a Fashion Designer
Is Fashion Your Passion? If you’ve always dreamed of becoming a successful designer, read on to learn more about how you can realize your dream and become a fashion designer.
The three most fundamental skills required to become a fashion designer are: sewing, drawing, and creativity. You can always learn both drawing and sewing in fashion school (actually, those are typically mandatory classes), but creativity is something you must have in your blood.
Besides the skills listed above, you need the following skills to become successful no matter what your career path is: motivation, determination, and commitment.
If you are serious about becoming a fashion designer, the first and most important step you’ll need to take is to enroll in a good fashion design program at an accredited institute. The advantage of going to school is that you’ll be taught everything you need to know in a well structured, organized environment. You’ll learn the industry standards, how to accomplish required tasks efficiently, get hands on experience with the latest industry technology, and learn exactly what needs to be done to break into the fashion world and how to go about doing it well. Additional benefits include potential internships with well known companies and excellent networking opportunities.
If you’re sure you want a career in fashion but are not certain as to which path is right for you, here are a few options to get you thinking: fashion design, accessory design, apparel design, fashion merchandising, fashion marketing and fashion journalism.
As with any career, a solid plan and a good education are essential. This might be even truer in fashion design, as it is definitely not an easy industry to break into. That shouldn’t discourage you however, and if you are discouraged that easily then this probably isn’t the right career for you. But with hard work, dedication, and a little bit of luck, there’s no stopping you from becoming the next Coco Channel or Calvin Klein.
A good first step is to pick a few good fashion schools and get some information from them regarding their programs. This can all be done quite easily now as most schools now have short “information package request” forms right on their websites. They’re usually pretty short forms, you fill them out and they mail you an information package which outlines their programs in details. It’s definitely worth looking into if you really are serious about getting into the fashion industry.
Fashion Trends in 2011
Summer is nearly here. The days are getting longer, the air warming up, and within no time at all, we will all be bathing in the wonderful light of the summer sun. With summer comes all the usual activities: cocktail parties, trips to the beach, BBQs, picnics, strolls through the park. And, the usual problems: what to wear, how to tame hair affected by the humidity, how to prevent white marks on clothes, and how to stay cool.
If you live in the UK, you will appreciate how difficult it is to know how the weather will be on any given day. Indeed, this April, we seemed to have a mini heat wave, and as you know, many of us have been left thinking, ‘was that our summer?’ – As has been the case in recent years. Hopefully, however, there will be many more sunny summer days to come yet, and now we turn our attention to the most important facet of summer: what styles are fashionable for 2011.
Ok, so we cannot make any predictions about the weather, but one thing we know: there will be many fashionable items this season and the shopping malls will be full of wonderful designer clothing, from Great Plains Clothing to Prada, the fashionista amongst us are certainly spoiled for choice this season.
There are several key trends this year, and the trends that you opt for should depend on your own personality and sense of style. With so many fashionable ranges from which to choose, even the most avoidant followers of fashion will find something suitable to wear.
So then, let us turn our attention to some of the leading fashion trends for summer and spring in 2011:
Summer is certainly the time for parties. In summer everybody wants to boogie on down at the local nightclub and shake of the dust of winter. Gone are the winter colours, the browns, the clacks and the greys, and in are the flamboyant summer colours: red, green, blue, yellow, pink, and gold (although avoid wearing all at once!).
Designers, such as Great Plains Clothing (who are, incidentally, part of the French Connection family) have created a wonderful array of fashionable dresses for the party season. Expect to see many bold and beautiful creations in a variety of colours. For instance, their linen tunic dress in nautical ties in perfectly the nautical theme popular at the moment, and creates a wonderful cocktail dress, which is perfect for both formal and informal occasions alike.
As well as the nautical theme for 2011, citrus shades are feature heavily in many fashion ranges this spring and summer, particularly pinks and oranges. Be careful when choosing colours, as too many different colours increase your chances of a clash. If in doubt, look to the catwalk for inspiration, if you see a common theme between designers, then this is a good sign that the colours go well together and that they will reach the high street in a few weeks time.
Dress Up Games and Fashion Shows
Fashion shows are dressup games at their very finest. Some of the many games online include virtual fashion shows, but you can have even more fun creating your own version of a fashion show – especially if you have friends over or a sister or two to play along.
Start with the Dressup Games
You can not have a fashion show without something new and exciting to wear. Dig through your dress up clothing in your play room and then go through your closet, bags your friends brought and perhaps your mom’s closet to find fun items to wear for the event. Plan out your fashions ahead of time and look for all of the accessories and detail you will need to make it a success.
Hair and Make Up for Dressup Games and Fashion Shows
Your next step is to get your hair and make up finished for the big show. Of course, this means that you will be doing each other’s hair and applying make up. If you are working with plenty of time to spare, perhaps at a sleepover, go wild with hot curlers and flat irons to make this a truly special event. Apply make up like the stars do with much glam and glitter. After all, you have to shine up on the stage.
Preparing for the Fashion Show
Speaking of stages, you will want to be sure that you have a stage to walk down as part of the show. You can set one up using tape or yardsticks down the center of a room. If you have a long hallway in your home, you are in even better luck. The stairs might also be an option, but be careful walking on stairs if you are wearing shoes you are not very comfortable in. It is probably better to walk the “catwalk” in the living room or wherever everyone is most comfortable.
When it is time to actually start the show, someone should turn on the music and the fashion show begins. The first person marches down the catwalk in their stylish dressup games outfit and then she is followed by the next individual. You take turns walking down the runway with your various outfits on until you have run out of things to wear.
You will need to change fashions quickly just like a real fashion show and do as much as you can to make the entire event seem real. Pretend there is an audience ready to review your walk and your style. Perhaps one person can even be the designer and dress everyone. You will want to take turns with this role, of course, to give all party guests a chance to be in charge of the dressup games.
Recording the Fashion Show
If you want to enjoy the fashion show more than once, you can easily record the whole thing using your video camera, or even a phone if you get it propped up just right. If you are at a slumber party, let one person volunteer to become the director and videographer. When it is all said and done, the best event of the evening might be watching the final product of the fashion show together – the video.