Styleash

An annual doggie show which is held in Davidson, North Carolina (USA) disproves the popular belief that fashion is limited only to the human species. The event in 2009 saw a number of dog lovers showcasing their beloved pooches in the finest and most unique of apparel and accessories.

The very first dog show was held in 1988, which then experienced a long period of no show and was later revived, in 2009. Candidates are not expected to be trained models, and are supposed to be on leashes at all times, in their owners' full controls. It is indeed a rare sight to watch dogs catwalk down a runway, in full swing.

Dressing up pets in unusual outfits is not a new concept. Tinkerbell was one of the canines who made doggie clothes popular as a trend, as owner Paris Hilton swooned over the 'cuteness' of it all and indulged in designer labels for the petite chihuahua.

In India too, dog coats are not an uncommon sight. Although they were first launched to beat the chill, they are now available in a variety of designs and colours- from girly pinks to macho army prints, highlighting on the characteristics of every individual mutt. Off shoulder sweaters seem to be all the rage amongst pugs and smaller dogs . Whereas Diego, my golden labrador grandly masquerades in a coat which says 'Bodyguard' on the back, doing justice to his brawny appearance.

The people of Davidson are obviously one step ahead, perhaps paving the path for Doggie fashion weeks in the future. If only designer Emilio Pucci gets a whiff of this, 'Poochie' by Pucci may just be the next big thing.

Music Access(ory)

Japanese designer Lee Won Jun has come up with the perfect gift for a woman- a MP3 player which doubles as an accessory. It consists of a large sleek gold hoop, and tiny gold loop earrings that go inside the ears, functioning as earphones.

Another one of those inventions teaming aspects of both fashion and technology.

Music is a form of escape for many. It is a popular pastime during travelling, and for some even during boring lectures. A wide variety of design and color in devices such as ipods and MP3 players is thus more than welcome. Won Jun's creation has provided scope for even music players to be personal and individualistic. The best part about his design? You can listen to music, lost in your own world, without anyone being aware of it. In their eyes, you will simply be a fashionista, with the most recent bling-bling hanging off your ears.

The perfect way to get noticed, without really getting noticed.

Practicality reigns runways this season

Dutch designers Viktor Horston and Rolf Snoeren baffled audiences while presenting their spring/summer 2011 collection with their surprisingly wearable designs. The duo approached classic pieces with a certain casual flair. The result was a mosaic of bright theatrical shirts with starched cuffs and collars, off shoulder dresses, button down "swing" shirts. The tone was monochromatic with blues and neutrals.

Viktor and Rolf have always received a tremendous amount of criticism and attention for their outrageous outfits, which are only fit for the ramp. They have however, always been praised for the show they put on. In their fall 2010 collection, they presented their layered concept: models were dressed in countless layers, which were then duly stripped off and used on other models. It essentially became more of a spectacle than a show.

Another of their collections featured tweed fox fur coats so large, that the models were almost toppling over due to the weight. Although interesting to look at, these weighty designs which were reminiscent of Harry Potter's Hagrid, could hardly be imagined as a means to escape the cold on a regular woman walking down the street.

Fashion of course must appeal to the eye- but unlike other forms of art, when it starts to defy practicality, it partially loses its purpose. Viktor and Rolf have now gone beyond their solely showy, yet remarkable designs to ones that viewers can aspire for. After all, what good is a beautiful dress that cannot be worn and envied?

"The Michelle Obama Effect"

"When dressed to go out, the final thing one should do is subract one accessory from the entire outfit"

-Coco Chanel

The first lady is someone who has always looked elegant and sophisticated. Her sense of style always lands her in the list of best dressed people in magazines like People, Vanity Fair, Vogue. But what makes her truly unique is her blend of street fashion with high end couture. She never looks overdressed, and maintains a kind of classy simplicity.

President Obama and her visit to India has been long awaited and prepared for. On the day of their visit to the Gandhi Memorial, Michelle Obama whipped up a concoction of a Dries Van Noten skirt with a simple fitted black blouse. A silver belt around her waist added an element of glamour to the whole outfit. Minimal, yet chic.

Ms Obama has helped boost sales of some of her preferred brands, simply by carrying them off beautifully. Between 2008 and 2009, she has caused an upside of a whopping $2.7 million to a few select brands and retailers. On the other hand, a rival brand experienced a loss of 0.4% during the same period.

In an article titled "The Michelle Obama Effect," Yermack wrote “The first lady’s influence may be tied to the fact that consumers know she’s not paid to wear what she does, whereas they may subconsciously discount models’ endorsements as inherently corrupt.” As the US President's wife, Ms Obama's influence on the masses is tremendous, as is her credibility. She is looked up to and respected.

Indian- American designer Naeem Khan claims that ever since Michelle Obama wore one of his designs to a dinner, his clothes have been flying off the shelves.

Michelle Obama has undoubtedly established herself as an internationally acknowledged fashion icon, one of the rare few who is completely unrelated to the fashion industry. Not only does she have the power vested in her as the First Lady, she also has the power to make or break a fashion brand. A powerful, impressive figure, she maintains the perfect balance.

It's a bug's life

Montreal based fashion designer Liz Vandal was asked to design costumes for the performers of Ovo, a show by Cirque du Soleil. The result was a variety of insect outfits, ranging from butterfly costumes to that of a cockroach. "Ovo" is a performance which takes the audience into the mysterious world of insects, where they live in harmony amongst each other, engaged in constant play, as well as the perils of life. The creators have even brought in a romantic angle.

Vandal has been fascinated by insects since childhood, and her elaborate study on the same helped her create apt costumes, which are at the same time "evocative." She attributes her attachment to creepy crawlies because of their "beauty, complexity, and organization." "Insects were here before we (humans) were here, and they will probably be here after we are gone, and we would die without them, " Vandal reflects.

In an interview between journalist Stephanie Green and Liz Vandal, they discussed insect based accessories to enhance the costumes of the performers. Accesories such as butterfly hair clips, ladybird brooches, lizard rings have been extremely popular with teens in the past, and continue to appeal to a large section of the youth. These knick knacks deviate from conventional jewellery, which consists mainly of designs revolving around hearts and flowers, and thus are highly individualistic. I myself own a pair of spider shaped earring that appear to be crawling up the ear when worn. There is a whole new dimension of thrill when it comes to insect inspired accesories and clothes. Think Spiderman.

Apart from her Ovo collection, Liz Vandal has created costumes for many artistic organisations in the last twenty years, the Washington Ballet being one of the prominent ones. She remains an independent, one-of-a-kind fashion designer.

The artistic duo, Guerra de La Paz consisiting of artists Alain Guerra and Neraldo De La Paz have come up with an innovative method of recycling old clothes. Rather than throwing away old worn out clothes, Guerra and La Paz transform them into completely new pieces of art work.

The idea behind these creations is not simply aesthetics, each work represents a social issue or idea or tells a story. Using old clothes as raw material makes their art truly eclectic and eco friendly. Gierra de La Paz have helped to keep the fashion in clothing intact even after the clothes have turned into colourful pieces of art.

Much like the Patta Chitra tradition of West Bengal, where artists use paintings to convey a specific message to the audience, or to narrate an event/occurence, Guerra De La Paz does the same through their cloth sculptures, creating an unusual blend of fashion, art and culture.