Keep in mind, though, that this profession is not all bright lights and glitter. Beyond the glamour lies an intensely competitive work environment that demands not only great creativity, but also knowledge of current trends, proficiency in sewing and patternmaking, and a flair for self-promotion. Ready to climb the rhinestone ladder?

Fashion Design Job Overview
Every year, fashion designers create billions of clothes, shoes, and accessories for a discerning and fickle body of consumers. They stay up-to-date with fashion trends by conducting research and attending trade and fashion shows. Over a period of 18-24 months–the standard block of time between a design’s conceptual stages and its completion; not quite the mad dash depicted on Project Runway–a designer incorporates his/her findings into hand sketches, sometimes translated into computer-aided design (CAD), and then begins the process of either delegating technical tasks, such as sewing, to others (typical of large design firms) or completing this work themselves (more common in small firms or with those just starting out).

While the public image places fashion designers in some posh Manhattan penthouse, following their own aesthetic whims in order to please the very rich and socially elite, only a few of the most successful designers score haute couture gigs. Many others create mass market deigns, open their own stores, or sell their designs to other retailers. Some even work for the entertainment industry, researching period pieces and creating costumes for films and television shows. Whether self-employed or part of a large design team, all fashion designers must be prepared for frequent travel and the occasional all-nighter.

Fashion Design Education and Other Qualifications
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that most employers seek designers with 2- or 4-year degrees. Basic coursework for a bachelor’s degree typically includes textiles, sewing, CAD training, and fashion history. Fashion design students may also want to supplement their core curriculum with classes in business, human anatomy, and psychology. Aspiring designers can also gain valuable experience from internships or retail jobs, and should always maintain an impressive portfolio.

Job Outlook & Salary Information
Predictably, many are attracted to the glamour and artiness of fashion design, and this makes for a competitive job market. The BLS notes that the best job prospects will be found in firms that create mass-market designs. Advancement is possible for those who are talented, tenacious, and willing to start from the very bottom. The average annual salary for fashion designers hovered around $62,810 in 2007.

Everyone needs a versatile casual dress for summer. When the weather is hot the last thing you want to pull on is a pair of hot denim jeans or long pants. A casual sundress or tank dress can do wonders for your wardrobe and beat the heat come summer. Majamas Sleepy Dress is an excellent choice for an all around versatile tank dress that can be worn anywhere and is a great nursing clothes item for access for after the baby is born. You may like this dress so much you’ll want to have it in several colors. If there is a cool breeze, just layer this dress with a fitted demi cardigan or light wrap.

If you need to step it up a notch for a few dressier occasions such summer weddings or maybe your wedding shower, take a look at Maternal America’s new line of summer dresses this season. To start with the Flutter Crochet dress is a show stopper! This dress was a best seller last year due to the wonderful fit and style, so Maternal America has brought it back again this Spring in a beautiful sea mist color. Another pretty sea mist color dress is Maternal America’s Front Tie dress. This dress is so versatile, you can wear it out for a casual summer day, to the office or dressy to a wedding or your baby shower. Another Maternal America style dress to check out is their Magenta dress. This dress is a classic tank style dress with rutching across the bust and shoulder straps which adds a pretty accent. This is another dress that can worn both dressy or casual with a killer color for warmer months.

Aside from dresses, another must have for any expecting mom is a good pair of maternity jeans. Maternal America has a new Megan Jean that is a relatively light weight denim and is super stretchy. This jean looks like a million buck with expert fading and 5 pocket pockets style. However the best part about this jean is the fit. The legs are wide and slightly bootcut without being too exaggerated, and the panel is wide, supportive and subtle. You will also want to wear this jean after the baby as a transition jean!

Another great jean that looks and fits like a high-end designer jean and even more moderately priced is Mama Black’s Celebrity jean and Cha-Cha jean. These jeans are cut exactly alike, even with the same back pocket design, the only difference is the Celebrity jean is a darker blue dye than the Cha-Cha. So, depending on your wardrobe preferences, pick the color you like best. Both of these Mama Black jeans fit like a dream along with a lot of stretch. Unlike the Maternal America Megan jean, they hug your curves with a mild bootcut and moderate rise. The elastic waistband is very comfortable and functional while being relatively short, so people will not even suspect you are wearing maternity jeans.

If you are not a “shorts” person, a great alternative is gauchos or crops or even a Bermuda short which hits at the knee. You will be a lot cooler with a pant alternative that is not full length to your feet for the hot days of summer. Japanese Weekend makes a Crop Cargo Maternity Pant in Khaki that will go with anything and fits comfortably below the belly. Juliet Dream also has a very tasteful Bermuda Pant that comes in White, Stone or Rosemary which is a great alternative to “short” shorts and can be dressed up with a nice top. If you are looking for even more casual, check out 1 in the Oven’s French Terry Capris in Baby Camel. These lightweight capris are so comfortable, you will want to throw them on everyday and sleep in them too!

Another necessary addition to your summer wardrobe, are maternity tees and tops. The place to begin your search for amazing maternity basic tops and tees for reasonable prices is Shade Clothing. Shade’s Baby Tee and Cap Sleeve Tee will hug your body in style. These tees come in solid colors and are extra long and extra stretchy to allow plenty of room for your growing tummy without riding up. Once you try one of these fitted tees, you will want one in every color! Maternal America also makes a very stylish ribbed cotton Cap Sleeve tee with a scoop neck in a variety of colors. Although you will pay a bit more for this tee, it washes and wears very well and has a beautiful neckline that can be dressed up with a nice pant. Also, you can layer any of these tees in cooler weather, so they are worth their moderate investment.

Finally, the last must-have is a maternity swimsuit. Even though you may not be a big lap swimmer, chances are you will find yourself near a body of water sometime this summer and would like the option of jumping in. Prego Maternity makes the best fitting maternity swimsuits in town and has a number of great body styles to choose from including the Babydoll, Halterkini, Tankini and maternity bikinis. Prego’s suits are designed to stretch with your changing shape and flatter your maternity figure. Most of Prego’s are reasonably priced.

So, go ahead and buy yourself a pretty dress, some versatile maternity tees, a couple great pairs of jeans and capris and, last but not least, an awesome maternity swimsuit to kick off your summer season in style!

The first thing to look for in summer baby clothes, whether boys’ clothes or girls’, is the right fabric. Cotton is ideal, since it lets the skin breathe and wicks perspiration away from your little one´s skin. However, since cotton tends to wrinkle, you may look for a polyester/cotton blend that is at least 50% cotton.

Avoid fabrics that are shiny or slick, like rayon. These will trap heat next to the child´s body and can be very uncomfortable in warm weather. You can test baby clothes by putting your hand inside the clothing and wrapping the fabric around it . . . if your hand feels hot and sweaty in a few seconds, you will want to look for something cooler.

Boys’ clothes are fairly simple for summer. Loose T-shirts, muscle shirts and shorts are perfect for those hot days. Your sons may prefer to run around shirtless, as well, which makes the clothing selection process far easier.

Girls’ clothes are far more varied and come in plenty of fun summer colors. Choose from T-shirts and shorts, skirts or sundresses for your little girl. Just be sure that you are selecting the right fabric and avoid skirts and dresses with lots of frills and ruffles, which can also trap heat, despite looking pretty.

Baby clothing for very small children is similar to that of older kids, but you can also use onesies, which are quite cool, provided you look for short sleeves and a lightweight fabric. Onesies are ideal boys’ clothes or girls clothes and are often unisex.

Clothing designed for sports is often a good idea, as well and you´ll find more of this in the boys clothing section than the girls’ area. Sports clothing include mesh shirts and cotton socks to keep feet dry and blister-free.

Dressing your children for hot weather doesn´t have to be a big task. You can easily find lightweight clothing that suits their tastes and will keep them nice and cool. If you will be out all day, it´s a good idea to pack an extra T-shirt or two and don´t forget the sunscreen!

It’s unfortunate, but we judge others based on what they wear. When you wear an outfit, you want it to say a positive message about yourself. You can spend very little on an outfit and still look good. Read these clothing shopping tactics below, so you can buy cheap clothes, but look expensive at the same time.

Get Quality Clothes Over Quantity

Some people think to purchase quality clothes means you have to spend a lot of money on designer clothes. This statement is incorrect. In fact if you purchase a garment because it is cheap, you wasted your money. It is better to have a good, quality piece of clothing that fits you well and flats your figure than to have “junk” clothes. When shopping for good quality pieces, you can still get great deals on the clearance rack or in bargain bins. However, make sure the garments have quality stitching and fabric, and it fits well before you add it to your wardrobe. On the other hand if you are purchasing babies’ or children’s clothing, you can purchase cheaply made clothes if they are going to last for a season since babies and children grow out of their clothing easily.

Try On Everything Immediately

How many times did you buy shirts, pants, skirts, or dresses and didn’t try on them until weeks or months later? This has happened to everyone. When you purchase either in the stores or through the internet, try on your garment as soon as you receive it. If you purchased it for someone else that is not a gift, make sure they also wear the garment before they keep it. It’s more difficult to return your purchase after a few weeks because of strict return policies. Otherwise, you would be wasting money on clothing that you or someone else can’t wear.

Purchase Out of Season

The best times of the year is to purchase at the end of seasons. You can find great deals through end of season clearance such as a cheap boots in spring, tank tops in the fall, leather jackets in winter, etc. Make sure you purchase clothing because it fits well and will last for years. Do not buy solely based on price. You can save money on babies’ and kids’ clothes through end of season sales. Don’t forget to account for their growing patterns by purchasing clothes that are bigger.

Save Money With Clothing Coupons

Finally, you can get great deals throughout the year on clothing, handbags, and accessories with clothing coupons. By finding clothing coupons online, you can find the latest deals without the drive. Online Store Coupon has clothing coupons and clothes coupons for clothing deals and bargain clothing. Just visit the link below to save money.

Online Store Coupon is always updating their clothing coupons and other online coupons. Purchase quality clothes from quality merchants and save money at the same time. You can find the clothes coupons for women, men, girls, boys, toddlers, infants, and babies. Save money without the hassle of searching through multiple stores in one place at OnlineStoreCoupon.com.

Now that summer is right round the corner, there’s no better time to start subtly adding a little colour to your skin. Sure, nothing beats a natural tan, as sunlight in moderation makes you and your skin look and feel great, but we don’t always have the luxury of dashing off on holiday every time we want to get a little bronzed. So, before you look out the summer shorts and T-shirts, first top up your complexion, as there’s nothing worse than being the pastiest bloke on the beach.

Where to start? Well today everywhere that offers fake tanning services for women know full well that more and more men are getting onboard too, so don’t be afraid to just ask your girlfriend or friends where they go and follow suit. If not though, just head to the nearest respectable tanning salon.

Tanning beds do traditionally give a more natural looking tan that bottled tanning lotion, as the bulbs actually produce UV radiation; the same stuff the sun gives out. However, the key word here is ‘radiation’. Do not spend too long on a sun bed, as the rays are potentially harmful and over use can lead to dry and damaged skin.

Most people find that simply booking a few minutes at a time keeps the skin looking bright and healthy though, without going over the top. The golden rule is, if you’re not sure of anything, just ask the assistants.

If sun beds aren’t for you, or you’ve got a night out ahead and don’t have time to hit the tanning shop, then keep a bottle of tanning lotion in your bathroom cupboard. These start from lightly coloured moisturisers which gradually darken your skin tones over many applications, for a subtle approach to summer, and go right up to instant golden tan in a bottle.

Whether it’s creams, gels or sprays, they all do much of the same thing. However, remember that you’re applying something all over your skin, so don’t forget to test a small amount somewhere sensitive, like the inside of your elbow, first. Don’t get dressed for at least 15 minutes afterwards either.

If it’s just your face you’re self-tanning, wash and exfoliate it first to ensure an even complexion, and moisturise afterwards to maintain your new healthy glow. Don’t get caught out though, always remember to wash your streaky fake tan hands afterwards.

So to join the ranks of celebrity tanners like Hugh Jackman, Jude Law and Gerard Butler; either visit a top notch spray tan or sun bed shop, or head to the nearest pharmacy and apply as much as you need to look and feel ready for the mens T-shirts, shorts and sandals this summer.

The world of color has come a long way from neutrals of a few seasons ago with a bright color palette dominating swimwear ranges across the globe. In particular fuchsia, purple and emerald green have prove to be big winners with the fashion conscious consumer. Jewel tones are still big news with a few shades of blue also spotted in collections gracing the catwalk in 2009/2010.

Shapes for this season are varied with a move toward the ‘anything goes’ mentality. While bikinis still reign supreme, monokinis continue to be popular with the younger crowd. One piece malliots are continuing to make a comeback across all ages and are now seen as stylish and elegant rather than dowdy and uninteresting.

Tankinis are always big sellers due to the fact they offer the wearer flexibility in being able to cover or expose their stomach area.

Those searching for a briefer look are turning towards bikinis with tie sides and bandeau tops which are perfect for avoiding unsightly tan lines.

Frills have been a huge trend on the runway this season, a look that has spilled over to clothing. The great advantage of frills on swimsuits in that it adds volume to areas that might need it, perfect for women with small busts or those looking to add a little size to their booty.

Other embellishments to look out for are metallic rings in various shapes and a smattering of beads or sequins in some collections.

For those not wanting their swimsuits in basic block colors there are quite a few prints around for the 2009/2010 season. Animal prints continue to be big winners in particular zebra & leopard prints still dominate the wardrobes of those bold souls who don’t mind standing out in a crowd. If a Zebra swimsuit is a bit too out there for you there are many alternatives to add some animal print to your swimsuit style. Zebra print accessories are perfect to give your overall look a bit of a lift. A cover up, dress, sandals or even a great bag are perfect accessories for that hot summer look. You can even find some great zebra jewelry if you choose to go with a more classic black swimsuit.There are also some stunning geometric prints both in bikinis and one pieces incorporating the hot color for this season.

So get out there this summer in your perfect swimsuit and do not forget your best accessory…confidence. Wear what you have got with confidence and everyone will think you are the most fashionable woman on the beach.

They currently manufacture jackets in Hong Kong, knitwear in Uruguay and accessories in their native England, so there is a very diverse production base. Due to the increasing success of their clothing range in 2004 Folk branched out into the footwear market in the shape of their sister brand Shofolk. The shoes are designed by the same team that design the clothing range and you can clearly see this reflected in how they use different fabrics, shapes and styles to create functional and stylish footwear. Shofolk take classic designs such as the dessert boot and add a twist to it.

The shoes are hand crafted in Portugal from natural raw leather. The men’s footwear collection started out with hand stitched moccasin style shoes, but has now progressed to include track sole shoes, and the desert boot. They use a variety of colours to keep the range different and exciting which helps them to stand out from the crowd. Folks 2010 spring summer collection has a real retro work wear feel to it. From big chunky waffle knit cardigans, to the chambray style distressed shirts. The collection has a real light and fresh feel, with perforation detail on the Henley tops, to uber bright coloured t-shirts. The perfect pieces of Folk clothing to profile their spring/summer collection is the blue stripe long sleeve undergarm knit, with its contrast bright yellow cuffs, and perforation detailing. The second piece would be their navy lightweight cotton over shirt jacket. This is a perfect example of a work wear jacket, with its vintage finish, front pocket detailing, waist adjusters, all of which give this jacket a more durable feel. The work wear jacket is bang on trend for this season with its hard wearing simple clean styling, and it perfectly encompasses the Folk ethos for summer 2010. Folk have two main stores, both of which can be found in London.

One is situated in Lambs Conduit Street, and the other is on Brick Lane Drey Walk. The stores have a very earthy clean feel to them with lots of wood, white walls, old vintage furniture, and equipment from old gyms displaying the clothes. As with the clothing Folk have managed to make the stores feel fresh and inviting, showing their playful and carefree side, without being too pretentious or over the top. Folk clothing is the perfect accompaniment for those lazy Sunday afternoons in the park.

This summer marks the first warm season since the financial crisis has started to wane. Surely there’s no better way to celebrate the gradual beating-back of the recession than by heading into town and splurging on some great new outfits without having to worry about pinching the pennies any more. What exactly is going to be on offer in the high street this year?

Well, if you’ve been meaning to join the gym this year but haven’t so far, you might want to change your mind: one of this summer’s hottest fashion items are hot pants and boy shorts. These skimpy shorts show a lot of leg and are a bold, daring and sexy piece that will certainly put you at the centre of attention. Of course, you won’t have to worry about showing too much skin as long socks are also in – a pair of thin, over the knee socks teamed with the right pair of hot pants will create a look like no other and one that you’ll love showing off when you’re out at the park enjoying the warm rays of the sun.

When it comes to dressing up, however, you want your dresses to be airy. That doesn’t mean they should be loose and floaty – this year’s hot fashion trend in dresses is the split: a gap in the hem of the dress that forms a large slash up the leg, exposing some thigh as you sashay into the clubs. This is already a favourite with celebrities and now you can join them as you strut your stuff in style this summer.

The military look is also a key summer trend, though it’s evolved from its popularity over the last two years. No more focussed on reproducing old uniform styles, the military look has created itself anew and has some incredible new looks for this summer.

Maybe the military look’s evolution has something to do with the new sci-fi and futurism trend that’s also sweeping the style ranks. Except wacky designs and out of this world style as clothing gets imaginative over the coming months.

It’s definitely a time to get excited about women’s clothing and, now that the recession is, well, in recession, there’s no better time to hit the shops!

Pillowcase dress – The pillowcase dress is a super cute and comfortable clothing item for summer.  They are just what the name implies.  They are very free flowing, nothing too tight or constricting to inhibit summer play.  Many of them have a tie going through the neck line to tie the dress.  That’s it!  They are very simple.  You’ll find many different colors and designs.  Don’t forget the bloomers as it is a dress.  You’ll find these from about $25-$60.

Sandals – A good pair of sandals is essential for the summer season.  Whether you choose pink and flowers for girls or brown for boys, the key is to make sure they will last all summer long.  There is nothing worse than buying a pair of sandals and having them fall apart midway through the season.  Expect to spend anywhere from $15 -$35 for a good, quality pair of sandals.

Sunglasses – A must for adults, but don’t forget about the little ones too.  Summertime is a great time for kids to relax and take a break from school.  So that also means more outdoor activities.  Buy your kids a good pair of sunglasses to protect their developing eyes from the sun.  Kids of all ages need them.  Look for a pair with a soft silicone brow and nose piece.  Kids will need a good, breathable strap as well to help them stay on.  Expect to pay $15 – $30 for a pair with a strap.

Tunic & leggings set – These are such a great item for girls of all ages.  A couple pairs of leggings and a few tunic shirts and you have a versatile summer essential waredrobe.  These sets can also be dressed up with a cute bow or headband.  The prices for these can vary, around $30 – $45 for a set.

Swimsuits – This seems like a given since summer and swimming go hand in hand, but notice the “s” on swimsuits.  A few swimsuits will definitely serve you well this season.  Boys trunks can be paired with all sorts of t-shirts, for instant water fun.  Girls can wear swimsuits with a cute pair of shorts.  Purchase a few and they will certainly get their use.  Expect to pay anywhere from $20 – $50 for swimsuits.

There’s the top items for a fun and comfortable summer season 2010.  Enjoy!