The Changing Fashions In Haircuts

By Jimmycox

Although fashion is so important to women, the fact is that surprisingly few women understand its workings. Fashions develop, usually with logic, from human nature, from the lives people lead, their needs and desires, sometimes unconscious.

A wise man once said that if he could have only one book from which to learn about any era in history, he would not choose a serious scientific study but a book of fashion plates. It is the costumes people wear, their haircuts, accessories and cosmetics that show what they were really like at any time in history.

It is generally agreed that women choose their hair styles and their clothes in order to look beautiful, but beauty in fashion is not absolute like beauty in nature. A rose that was beautiful a hundred years ago would still look beautiful today.

Although standards in art are less positive than standards in nature, a Renoir painting that was beautiful in his time still looks beautiful to us. But the fashions of past periods which were considered lovely in their own day may look strange, quaint, or even grotesque to us.

The lack of an absolute standard for fashions is proved by the fact that as fashions in hair styles and clothes change, women adopt or adapt each of them in turn and still always succeed in looking well.

During World War II, long pageboys and upsweeps were the vogue. In 1947 the New Look introduced short, cap-shaped haircuts. Yet at both times, women looked attractive because they were in fashion. The styles in women's clothes followed a similar pattern.

This leads us to the conclusion that a fashion is successful partly because we have become accustomed to looking at it. When designers or stylists try to change fashions too quickly, they meet resistance from some of the public who cannot adjust their standards abruptly. They need time for their eyes to become accustomed to the new fashion.

Fashions in beauty

There are also changing conceptions of women's beauty. Every period has its own ideal of beautiful womanhood. Fashionable Greeks and Romans admired women with oval faces and figures that were much fuller than those we admire today.

In our grandfathers' time, popular beauties looked like Lillian Russell. In the Twenties, the flat-chested, hipless figure was in vogue.

There are many reasons for changing fashions in beauty. Some we can figure out, others must remain obscure. In earlier periods of history, it was often a queen or a member of court circles who influenced fashion.

Because Queen Elizabeth I had red hair (genuine or otherwise) her followers admired red hair. Later, fashions were set by social leaders, by stage stars and then movie stars.

Mary Pickford inspired a whole generation of mothers to force corkscrew curls on their daughters. Greta Garbo popularized the long bob, Jean Harlow the platinum blonde craze.

It is safe to say, however, that none of these women could have created the various vogues single-handed, unless the public was ready for each of them in turn. In Miss Pickford's time, the ideal was the little girl type. Later the worldlier Garbo and Harlow answered the public's need for a new standard to follow.

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Business Skills For Careers In The Fashion Industry

By Artgib

If you have even a slight interest in fashion, the industry may offer what you need to have an engaging, exciting career. This industry caters to a range of interests, including fashion photography, merchandising, marketing, buying, fashion stylists, and fashion design.

Some have what it takes to survive in the fashion industry. Some don't. Some say success in fashion depends on talent, others sure will power. One thing is for sure- very few make it to the top echelon of fame and fortune to design fashion couture. But one may succeed in the fashion industry on a smaller scale.

Merchandising, marketing, and buying skills will most likely be the part of the same job description, unless you work for a large company that can afford to employ specialists in each area. A fashion merchandiser makes sure a storefront puts on a strong front. They are in charge of the presentation of items- the placement of clothing on mannequins- what jewelry highlights which outfit, for example. A fashion merchandiser is a trend spotter in a sense- they keep up on latest trends so they may know what to stock the store with.

Fashion merchandising requires more than a knowledge of what's hot in fashion. A merchandiser must also be business savvy- they have to make sure the clothing bought by the store is in the target customer's price range, that the store itself can afford to purchase the clothing at a certain price, and how much of the clothing will sell. And a merchandiser will need a few marketing tricks up his or her sleeve. A fashion merchandiser must also know how to negotiate with the suppliers of the clothing. Negotiating skills involve excellent communication and possibly ability to wheel and deal.

Fashion photographers must have the best job in the photography business. The high end photographers get to meet famous people. Fashion photographers must go where the shoot is, so they may take many expenses paid vacations.

A fashion stylist is the bridge between fashion and psychology. Stylists match clothing to people's personalities. A good stylist is able to ensemble an outfit that will list the spirits of the wearer. A fashion stylist may work for individuals and prepare outfits for special events and occasions, or they may work for television shows or on a movie set.

Fashion styling requires pure talent. A stylist must choose clothing that is a flattering color as well as the right fit and shape to flatter the individual's body type.

An entrepreneurial nature is a bonus in the fashion industry. Many jobs require you to work for yourself and your success will depend on your ability to market yourself. An entrepreneur must be self-motivated and able to network socially.

The fashion industry is always changing. This makes for a lot of work for someone working in this field, albeit a perfect field for anyone who becomes bored easily! Competitiveness and creativity are perfect personality matches in fashion related occupations. If you have what it takes the fashion industry has a lot to offer.

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Art Gib - read more chic fashion career articles at http://www.chicbeautyandfashion.com/. Chic Beauty and Fashion is the newest and greatest place for the latest beauty tips and fashion trends beauty blog to date