This was a quick in class assignment on fashion vocabulary that my beautiful friend Devon Brittain and I wrote together:

Trend

Eco Friendly- All of a sudden going “green” is all the rage. In Hollywood, in the media and even in your own recycling bin. This Trend has seemed to pop up just recently in the beginning of 2007 with the EP!C launching in Vancouver B.C. Ethical Progressive Intelligent Consumer’s mission was to showcase a variety of designers and companies efforts to be more efficiently “green.” The government has issued every house be appointed a recycling bin all over Canada and is just now starting to complete its mission. It seems everything from organic fabrics, re usable coffee mugs and grocery bags, the world- and the trend report seems to forecast a decrease in carbon footprints.

Style

High Heels- High heeled shoes can be dated as far back as the 1500’s when the original "rider's heel," (approximately 1-1/2 inch) was introduced. Since then, Heels have been getting bigger and bigger in the fashion industry and can be found in a variety of different shapes, including the Pump, Block, Wedge and the most famously known stiletto. This revival of the opulent heel style can be attributed to the French designer Roger Vivier, and many more designers throughout the 1950’s for creating similar versions of the high heeled shoe. The idea behind creating a raised shoe was to generate the illusion that elongated the leg- making it appear slimmer and more toned.

Mass/volume production

Ugg Boots- Ugg boots were being manufactured in 1933 by Blue Mountain which originated in Australia. The initial use for the boot was in the 1960’s to keep surfers feet warm after exiting from the surf. The mass popularity within the boots in North America has only been brought out in the last few years and since been so undeniably popular that teens and elders alike can’t keep their feet out of them!

Classic:

Plaid- Plaid is a tartan fabric consisting of perpendicular intersecting solid lines. The use of plaid is one that in 2008 has recently inflamed in the fashion industry and still holding strong in the new decade, although the Burberry check pattern was originally designed and widely used in 1924, plaid combines style with a rural or unrefined style relating directly to the “grunge” look which is a reoccurring theme throughout the modern fashion scene.

Fad:

Choker Necklaces- A choker necklace is a necklace that leaves no room around the neck and is often worn mid neck instead of hung over the chest. This was a short fad that influenced young girls throughout the 90’s. Because choker necklaces were mass produced, cheaply made and went out of style quickly, it is hard to pinpoint a specific designer who started this fad although jewelry worn tight to the neck has been in style for centuries. This 90’s fad has made other materials than gem stones and metal around the neck more common, such as lace, ribbon and leather.

High Fashion:

Fur- Fur is animal hide covered in fur used in fashion. Fur was used and worn throughout history. In fact some of the first garments ever worn by humans were made of fur. This is a timeless material that has never not been worn. Pinpointing a designer that made fur fashionable seems unethical as fur precedes its designers. Today in our animal rights conscious world, fur is still being used even synthetically. It’s a sure bet that real, or not real, you’ll always see fur on the runway.