By Michael Bustamante


Looking for an interesting career in the fashion industry? Offering a diverse education; fashion schools provide comprehensive coursework that maintains up-to-date fashion and design training programs, which often include the latest accessories, clothing, hairstyles, jewelry, cosmetics, and relevant fashion equipment.

Fashion school students are trained how to blend modern trends into their own creative and customized designs; and prepares them for a frequently evolving profession in a competitive and progressive trade.

Aside from basic instruction in fabrics and textiles, common fashion school curriculums introduce and educate students about budgeting; CAD (Computer Aided Design); clothing production (including learning how to sew and sewing machines); fashion history; merchandising, retail management and wardrobe ensemble.

Successful candidates who have completed and earned a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Fashion Design or Fashion Merchandising may enter lucrative fashion careers such as buyers; costumers; cosmetic artists; cutters; designers; drapers; fashion models; hairstylists; photographers; and merchandisers.

Potential earnings of fashion school graduates are determined by individual ambition and talent. Businesses that fashion professionals often work in include beauty and hair salons; design studios; corporate settings; and a variety of retail outlets.

As an incentive, and if you enjoy travel, a career in the fashion industry often leads to widespread tours to many fashion capitals of the world such as London, Milan, New York and Paris.

Learn more about Fashion Schools by visiting our website today. Take a moment to submit a request for more information, and you could soon be on the path to a new and rewarding career!

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com

By John Morris


A successful future in the fashion design industry depends on right choice of school to attend. Although fashion design is not one of the more popular careers to pursue, if your talents lie in this field, there is ample opportunity awaiting you. However, the first thing to hurdle is your choice of school.

When choosing a fashion design school, consider the following factors.

Area of Focus

Look into the nature of the school. Is it solely a fashion design school or does it offer other courses. Is this school well-known for its emphasis on fashion design?

Fashion design schools are few and far between. This makes it harder to choose one that fits your bill. Your first task will be to find a reputable school that will aid you in your training.

Also, look into whether the school participates in any fashion design competition or has accomplished anything of reknown in the industry. This is a sure sign of their commitment to the fashion arts its education among students.

Different schools have different strengths, find a school that plays to your strengths and has specialization in the field of your choice.

For example, you might choose a very well-know fashion design school only to find out that they specialize in childrens’ clothing, while the field of your choice is adult formal wear. This could diffuse your interests, and dull your specialization.

Make sure you know what field the school you are scouting focuses on. This will help you specialize in that area too.

Alumni and Job Placements

Does the college offer job placement assistance? And has the alumni from this school gone on to be successful professionals? Always learn from other’s previous experience. If you see that those that had gone through this school before you received proper training and are successful in their field, that is an indication of a good school.

Most of these reputable schools have numerous connections in the graphic arts industry. They usually offer job placement services. You may want to consider this when choosing a school.

It would do no harm to start looking at the educational background of your admired fashion designer. Checking out the schools they came from will give an idea of the sort of training these artists went through. From here, you may make decisions as to whether you would like to choose the same school as they did.

Curriculum

You must assess whether the curriculum is relevant to you field of study. You may want to compare the curricula of different schools to see which offers the best form of education.

It would also be wise to check the quality of the teaching staff at that school. Having established artists who teach at a fashion design school is also an indication of a good training program.

Student to Teacher Ratio

Ask yourself: how big are the classes and how many teachers and classes are available at this school before you choose it. The more the students the lesser the efficacy of the teacher. However, if there are too few students per teacher, that could tell of a different problem – that of quality. If this is the case, it may be that the school is not popular or is suffering from anemic academic performance.

Accreditation

Accreditation means the school has passed a certain standards of educational quality. Accreditation is performed by the U.S. Department of Education. Fashion design schools must be accredited to prove their level of competence.

Check with the State Postsecondary School Licensing Bureau to see if the college you are investigating is accredited. Also, check National Approval and Accreditation for this concern.

Cost

Some people may proclaim that to obtain their education, they would spare no coin. Unfortunately, it also pays to be practical in your choice of fashion design school. If the school you choose has a tuition rate that is beyond your financial capability, you might find yourself working unable to pursue your studies consistently due to the financial stress which may lead you to look for part-time work.

Scholarships

You might want to consider whether the design school you are looking at offers any scholarships. You also might want to know the terms to them too. Some schools offer scholarships based on academic performance. Some offer them based on fashion design competitions they hold regularly.

Your choice of school is an investment that will last you a lifetime. Proper care and investigation in choosing such is truly important. When you are comfortable with your choice of fashion design schools, you can now chart your path towards a successful career.

By Jack Vel Race


A Way Beyond Fashion analyzes the shifting boundaries between style and fashion design. Fashion Beat must pleasantly execute them and the styling of the pieces is an understatement. Have you ever seen someone wearing clothes that are very smart and very nice, but the person is just not pulling them off? They're evidence that even a great wardrobe does not equal great style. And that lack of a few simple essentials will sabotage any look. Follow a few basic guidelines to avoid this problem

Fine grooming

This has got to be the number one means to make or break a look. Nobody looks good with straggly, greasy hair, chewed up fingernails, gross skin, unplucked eyebrows, and leg stubble. Take care of your skin. Take care of your hair. Take care of your cleanliness. Take care of your nails. In short, take care of yourself in all aspects.

Pleasant clothes

Nice clothes don't mean expensive clothes. Style is priceless, but doesn't have to be high-priced. Take care of your clothes, as you should present yourself in a pleasant way. USE AN IRON. An iron is always your friend. More importantly, it is your clothing's companion. Love your iron. It loves you too!

Moderation

Please, do not do accessory too much. No one likes wearing huge hoope earrings, a beaded fringe necklace, a lariat, bangle bracelets, and those gross little butterfly hair clips. ALL IN ONE OUTFIT. Words can not describe how wrong this is, so know about it by yourself.

Find What Works

Don't trust mirrors. Pictures are much better indicators of how you appear. So find a really good picture of yourself, one you actually like. Why do you like it? Think of what is pleasing you, whether it's the color red, a great hairstyle, good lighting, or falling in love. And put together the most of it with every outfit.

By Harry Simons


Fashion is our world. Directing yourself towards it would be something of great fun. We are living in such kind of society where people are much more conscious about their looks than inner instinct. And with looks, it simply means how attractive you look in your outfit and accessories. Fashion and textile design world includes everything from clothes to accessories etc which is used by everyone for gaining attraction.

Both Fashion and textile design are popular in terms of every kind of industry. In shoe industry, its textile of some variety and in house, textile is of another type. Streams are many and fashion styling is also much to explore. Different companies are dealing with different stuff. There is no such are of expertise but is subdivided into all aspects equally. Clothing too can be included in this only as fashion today is much more into it.

One can see fabric of cotton, jute, silk and tricot. All are different stuff in textile and much of more variety is introduced each day under this which defines fashion statement. One can see a huge variety of silk saris, suits and other clothing material. Apart from them, silk blankets, pillow covers, bead sheets etc.

We have taken this just as an example to explain the textile industry. What us further sub categorized is the fashion stream in which you have different colors to select, patterns, designs which get popular according to the market.

Fashion and textile design industry is attracting more and more people towards itself. The industry is a huge one and people who all are on the initial stages of their careers often choose it as we all know that fashion is an ongoing process which gets flooded with more an more amount of money. The pool can move towards growth but can never get empty.

Anyone who's willing to build a successful career in fashion and textile industry should be careful about the below points:

Handle the research part about the industry yourself: You should be careful about it and should understand the requirements and offering of the industry. Skills and jobs should be considered well in advance before you step into it.

Make sure you know everything about the raw material: Fashion and textile industry starts and ends on the material and fabric so you should have knowledge about the raw and well furnished material both to build in a good career.

Enroll in a degree course, if possible: Many people get into the industry by default may be through family business or assistance of the friends and colleagues. But the best way would be to learn the techniques through some reputed educational institution first and then start anything on your own.

Computer skills would be an added advantage: It is the demand of our society that success comes through online skills and knowledge so better equip you with all that required stuff.

Keep practicing whatever you learn: This is the best way of increasing knowledge.

Work for yourself: You should have that spirit that you are really willing to work and establish yourself. Fashion and textile design professionals are like that.

Rest you'll learn for yourself, the moment you get started with this.

By David Gonzalez C.


As in any other Muslim country, there are in Morocco a series of rules specific to how women should dress. Muslim women are often guided by the Koran in this respect and by their husband's desire to determine the degree of modesty and decency with which they should attire themselves before going out. But, just as any religious book, the Koran is subject to as many interpretations as there are readers, and this is why there are, also in terms of dress code, so many differences and contradictions.

In any case, tourist women are not subject to these rules. People in Marrakech are immensely respectful towards foreign customs, so they will hardly feel offended by a woman wearing tank-tops or a short skirt. In fact, it could even make their day...

In general, most women start wearing the "hijab" (veil covering hair, ears and neck) after they get married, although some burkas can be seen too. Young women and teenagers often combine the "hijab" with jeans and Western-like T-shirts, but it is also quite common to see women wearing djellabas (a long loose garment with full sleeves and a hood) or kaftans (a cloak with full sleeves and sash reaching down to the ankles).

In the shops in the Medina there is a great variety of these garments that can be bought at very different prices, depending on the quality of the dressmaking and the fabric. It is also quite common for Moroccans to go to a tailor to get them made-to-measure. There is a good guild of excellent tailors in Marrakech who, besides traditional garments, can make suits, dinner jackets or excellently cut trousers at very affordable prices.

In the evening, in the hot spots, dressing style is 100% Western. "Hijabs" are rarely seen in luxury restaurants and never seen in nightclubs. Women in Marrakech can easily succumb to the temptation of a slight excess in the distribution of their neckline, high-heeled shoes and miniskirts. These are rather new garments for their culture and they are still in the process of adopting them, so at times it is fairly evident that they are not yet used to wearing them.

On the other hand, the evolution of men's dressing style has been quite different. The youngest men have replaced the djellabas with jeans and T-shirts. They love flashy sunglasses and caps and hats.

In the last few years, a generation of male and female fashion designers has burst with its own éclat in the country. The mixture of traditional elements with new fabrics and designs has turned the creations of these artists into a true temptation for those who like to dress well. For instance, you can visit Kenza Melehi's boutique in Marrakech, located in a narrow street in the Gueliz neighbourhood and surrounded by innumerable art galleries and exhibition halls. We also recommend you to visit a tiny shop called Kasbet, located in 216 Rue Riad Zitound Jdid in the Medina, where Cassie and Rebecca, two Australian women designers, will serve kindly.

Come to the fascinating city of Marrakech and enjoy its design, its fashion and its unique style. The Ochre City also offers culture and a fascinating tradition, monuments and countless tourist attractions, and also a great nightlife, a delightful cuisine and the widest range of shopping opportunities.

By Jacquie Generra


Currently, fashion has taken over society in general in the most personal ways possible. The current styles in the magazines tell us what to do to make us look good in school, in our residence, and at the office. Have you ever questioned how you can be employed in the fashion business if you are not really a designer? Here are some of the selections that you will have if you choose to pursue a career in fashion design and merchandising.

First of all, when it pertains to designing, many people do the job of making a dress for the runway. The design director or head designer has the final word in the creative process, nevertheless, supporting staff are also necessary to get the show ready. Consider the jobs of artist and sketcher, sewer, pattern grader and maker, and assistant designer, if being involved in clothing creation is for you. Other job choices include being a specialty designer, a set and exhibit designer, a spec and fit technician, or a trend researcher. A good way to learn to do this is by taking classes at universities or institutes. If your life is busy but you still want the training for this work try online fashion schools. Using these schools will give you information on the field you're studying to help you get the job you desire.

In order to be successful in fashion merchandising you will need to have management and marketing skills with emphasis on fashion. If you're good at predicting what the community wants, the job of a fashion buyer is the one for you, as you will have a personal hand in choosing what the store you hold will carry on their racks and in their display window.

Necessary skills for planning fashion events include a desire for organizing and a love of putting on a great show.

For the individual with administrative skills and the knack to trade commodities, you have the prospective to be an outstanding store manager of retailers who convey the products faster to the customers.

Product development is a great field for thinkers to use their creativity. For those with good fashion sense there is the advertising industry that is always on the look out for trend setting individuals.

Fashion marketing colleges will give you the training you need to excel in your field. There are many career paths in designing and merchandising in the fashion business for people who are enthusiastic and hard-working, and it is up to you to choose which one is best for you.

By Kelli D Smith


If you're one of those professionals who believes that a career should be more than just a paycheck, then a college of applied arts may be for you. You can parlay your creative talents into a respectable salary in art niches such as graphic design, performance art and gallery curator.

Arts and Design School: The Benefits of Distance Learning

Because art and design programs are inherently visual, they sync well with the distance learning format. You'll appreciate the variety of standard benefits that online study has to offer: classes from home, convenient scheduling, reduced expenses, and the ability to maintain your personal and professional obligations, just to name a few. As an arts student, you'll love the way the online degree format develops the technical skills that could give you the edge in a competitive hiring market.

College of Applied Arts: Program FAQs

Committing to a particular field of study for four or five years deserves thoughtful consideration. Here are just a few frequently asked questions that potential art and design school students have:

* Will I have to attend any campus sessions? This depends entirely on the program of study. Most online programs are just that--distance learning sessions that you can complete entirely from home. Some programs may require periodic meetings on campus to turn in portfolios or deliver recitals
* How long before I must declare a major? Many programs allow you to complete prerequisite classes for the first year or two before requiring you to declare. Due to their complexity, some art and design programs require immediate commitment
* How will the content be delivered? Online programs combine electronic textbooks, class blog and chat technologies and video conferencing in a web-based framework
* Will professional certifications help me to get hired? Professional certifications are particularly helpful in the technical design fields, such as graphic design and multi-media arts

From Classroom to Career: What to Expect

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics paints an encouraging picture of the employment opportunities for graduates of arts and design school. Here are just some of the professions that you'll qualify for with the job outlook and salary potential for each.

* Artists and Related Workers. Employment of artists and related workers is projected to increase by 16 percent from 2006 through 2016--that's faster than the national average for all occupations. May 2008 salary projections vary widely, from art directors at $76,980 per year to multi-media artists at $56,330 per year
* Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation. The career fields poised to see the largest growth in hiring from 2006 to 2016 include management, business, and financial occupations at 26.4 percent and professional and related occupations at 24.2 percent
* Other Arts-based Career Options . Graduates of college and applied arts programs may also choose careers as commercial and industrial designers, fashion designers, floral designers, and graphic and interior designers

The bottom line is that you can earn a living by doing what you love by graduating from a college of applied arts. Also, attending an arts and design school online makes the transition from classroom to career convenient and affordable.

By Constancia Andrade


Those of us with particular tastes may have a hard time finding the type of things we like in the mega-stores that have taken over. It can be difficult for a small niche store to generate enough business even in the largest of cities, especially when those small businesses are producing items like handbags and diaper bags that are typically kept safe and treasured more often than they are worn out or even with daily use.

The advent of the Internet has changed the game for people who have something artistic, beautiful, or unique to offer to the world of fashion and accessories, allowing them to offer their products to people all over the world from the comfort of their homes. This ability to produce from home without the need to maintain an expensive storefront has allowed some of the quirkier and more unique designers to form their own customer base online, and helps place some wonderfully creative things on the market.

Buying a personally designed and handcrafted purse or handbag online is a dream come true for some people, and allows you to show off your personal style in public with something that is simply not for sale at the store around the corner. Even better are those rare and wonderful designers who create a lovely style of handbag or a whole line of bags, and then let you customize the details for your own unique self.

Not all of us have the creative and technical ability that it takes to create a work of useful art that is both wearable and durable, but anyone can now have a purse or bag that reflects their own personal sense of style as well as their personality. At the best of these sites, choose from a handful of different designs and then customize your bag's color and pattern design, straps, and accessories from a list carefully chosen by the designer.

Once you have designed your own bag, all you have to do is wait while it is lovingly and skillfully stitched together exactly the way you want it, crafted by hand and mailed to you as a one custom designed item. You will love the way that your handcrafted bag looks and the quality that will allow it to last and last, and since it is the perfect expression of your personal style, you will want to wear it for years to come!

By Carolyne M


Often we see Fashion Shows, hear people commenting about fashion on the Red Carpet, and Fashion experts telling us how to create our own style, and look fashionable. Even in our own environment we notice that some people look more stylish than others. It does not mean that they are wearing expensive clothes or they have more money. The trick is to wear clothes that match your figure, temperament, life style, and remember to pick unique accessories and jewelry. Do we really know what Fashion is and how to look stylish and find your own style?

Fashion is the style and custom prevalent at a given time. The Important idea is that the course of design and fashion will change more rapidly than the culture as a whole. Cities such as Paris, Milan, New York and London are recognized as global fashion centers. Fashion week in these cities is big because designers exhibit their new collections. An important tip to remember is that just because it looks good on someone else doesn't mean it will look good on you. Always dress according to your figure. Fashion usually remains popular for about 1-3 years and is then replaced by newer fashion. What never goes out of fashion are unique accessories such as jewelry, belts, purses or shoes that are handmade and different. Always accessorize, you will look very fashionable and stylish even when your cloths are last season's trend.

Tips on how to look stylish:

• Get a few unique pieces of jewelry and fashion accessories; colorful scarves, good quality purses or handbags, belts or unique handmade pieces of jewelry. The accessories will make you look trendy whatever outfit you wear.
• Remember, accessories make your outfit, and if you look stylish; you feel stylish and exude confidence.
• If you go shopping, buy what you need and what is nice, but do not purchase anything just because it's new.
• Buy clothes that would go with some of your old wardrobe- this is smart way to get new looks with your old clothes.
• Select the right hairstyle that would go with your make up and clothes to look more stylish. Select your hairstyle according your face type and hair volume.
• Before purchasing clothes, know your figure. If you feel uncomfortable with some parts of your body, do not highlight those parts.
• Select clothes, accessories and jewelry according to the occasion.

By Samantha Pearce


Many people have a preconception that the fashion industry is very glamorous! What they don't know in fact is that it is a very fast paced and cut-throat environment - especially if you choose to go down the pathway of becoming a designer. Fashion design firstly requires talent. You need the passion, enthusiasm, drive and commitment to survive in this kind of industry. Along with excellent organisational skills, a good eye for detail, colour, form and line. But with all the hard work, the results are very rewarding. When you see someone photographed or walking down the street in something you have designed/created it is a very surreal and proud moment.

Our Top Tips

- Stay patient! It will pay off
- A lot of people find pattern cutting boring initially, but once you have mastered it, it won't be, so keep at it
- Watch out for pin pricks! You don't want any drops of blood on your garment
- Look out for inspiration at all times, wherever you are always keep a camera handy
- If you can't already use Photoshop, buy yourself a self-teaching book, it will really help when producing range plans and illustrations
- Always make a toile, before making the real thing, this will save making costly mistakes
- Recycle old garments/fabrics to keep costs down
- Keep good care of your equipment, if you do so it can last you a lifetime
- Any work experience in the industry would be a great insight. Try to keep in touch with anyone you meet or work for
- Be well rounded: it's not just about great designs; it's about communicating, negotiating and working to tight deadlines. Use skills learnt at school or college
- Regularly read fashion magazines such as "Women's Wear Daily" and "Vogue" to remain current on trends and future trends, and industry magazines such as "Drapers"
- Try and visit as many shows as you can, for example London Fashion Week, and Graduate Fashion Week, to get an insight into how a professional show works

Training and Qualifications

You can gain qualifications by studying part-time whilst working or you can take a full time college or university arts, crafts or design course.

- NVQs and City and Guilds are available part time whilst you are in work
- If you stay in further education, you have a wider range of qualifications to aim at - GNVQs, A-levels, various Diplomas, there are vocational qualifications specifically designed to qualify you for entry into employment and many will open the doors of higher education
- If you go on to higher education, a range of Diplomas and degrees are available - HND, BA and so on
- You could then go on to postgraduate studies and take a masters or PhD. Taught and research courses are available

But whichever route you choose, your first step is to decide which branch of the industry you wish to be involved with and then research the places that can offer you the right course or courses to enable you to succeed in this industry. And one final tip, keep your portfolio up to date, interviewers will almost certainly want to see it whether you are going for a job or trying for acceptance on your preferred course.