:-)

The most creative/unusual designs of 2010

Alexander McQueen for Lady Gaga

Poke-her-face: Lady Gaga dressed as herself at the music awards

Ear-plugged- a piece of the computer for the geek on the go

Roaring rage- Triceratop handbags by Gilles Deacon

Monsters Inc

Pretty as a flower?

Do not look into her eyes: Medusa Fashion, China

Fully loaded: Tights by Quency de Sardines

Dolce and Rihanna- design by D&G

Shoes to leave you feline purring satisfaction- design by Kobi Levi

"Blue is for boys, pink is for girls"

This phrase is so deeply engraved in our minds since the very beginning of our existence that the slightest deviation from it can send us hurling into a frenzy. Men wearing pinks and oranges instantly lead us to assume that they're homosexual. But have we ever considered the possibility that men may just like colours? That they could get bored of their wardrobe full of drab grays and blues? I hadn't till I came across this blog post on The Freelancer's fashion blog.

This era however calls for a change. Salmon pink shirts have gained a fair amount of popularity in recent years. Men are finally coming out of their gray shells and going much beyond their usual black and white world. And if one lets go of the age old stereotypes, one realizes how something as simple as bright orange socks can completely transform an otherwise typical colourless man's outfit.

There will always be men out there who will always be too scared to experiment with colour, lest they appear less manly. However, colour is not emasculating. It is only fair to let men evolve their fashion perspectives alongside, and in sync with womens' fluctuating tastes and trends.

In the end, colour is what paints a happy picture.

Adam- The first (scissor) Man

I recently came across a post by someone who had first handedly experienced the genius of Adam Saaks- the shirt cutter. She speaks about his great talent and personality. Saaks is a wardrobe stylist turned designer from Los Angeles. His claim to fame are his beautifully cut Ed Hardy t-shirts (in affiliation with Christian Audigier).

Using a pair of scissors as his sole designing tool, Adam Saaks creates a variety of designs ranging from geometrical shapes, horizontal cuts, butterflies, criss-crosses and anything else that might happen to strike his mind at a given point.

He works his magic with an effortless snip of the scissors and then uses intricate knots and symmetry to provide the final touches. All this at superhuman speed. It is a herculian task for the naked eye to follow the swiftness of his hands, as can be witnessed in this video.

Adam Saaks can be called a designer of the people. He does not simply create a bunch of designs and put them on display for sale. He likes to custom design his 'cutting' art for different clients according to what suits them. The most remarkable aspect of his creating process is that he transforms a simple t shirt into something that is sexy and glamorous, all while the t-shirt is still worn by the model/ client. This perhaps gives him a better feel of the desired product.

In a youtube video Saaks claimed that he "likes to see more skin." And skin is what he reveals as his scissors snaps apart at a harmless looking t-shirt into what seems like smithereens. One could never expect the piece of couture that emerges.

Although Adam Saaks' brilliance lies in the designs he creates live for a specific person, this is also his most major drawback, as it makes it challenging to own one of his 'saaks-y' masterpieces.

A Warne-ing to all

Australian Cricketer Shane Warne, after his spinning career is now trying his hand at fashion. He launched his mens wear collection in Australia in 2009, which was a success and has encouraged him to continue in the field. His success however may be as much a result of his celebrity status as his clothes.

After taking a look at his collection, one can't help but wonder why he did not stick to the cricket field. He has nothing new to offer in terms of casual wear. The same old t-shirts, shorts and cargoes. They could just as well have been from a thrift store, had the label 'Spinners by Shane Warne not been splashed across. Although Warne claims that he has a well rounded idea of clothing, as he has travelled all over the world and seen different types of fashion, he does not incorporate his observed uniqueness in any of his designs. No flaws can be pointed out in his clothing, but it evokes a feeling of 'been there, done that.'

Shane Warne however, is not going to back off. He is all set to expand to India in the coming year. Shane Warne is a powerful public figure and his image alone can help him to an extent. Whether people will invest in clothing just for his name is yet to be seen. Although the majority of people in Australia seem to absolutely love his clothes, his success as a designer cannot be attributed to just one collection and that too in his own country, where he assumes the stance of role model for many.

Many sportspersons have been migrating to the fashion industry in recent years. But they have been posing as models so far. Warne's attempt to run the show is commendable, seeing that he does not come from a fashion or an art background. But sometimes the basic qualifications are what is required the most.

Acme Dressing Kit (spare parts available)

How many of us have found the perfect dress and wished it was available in another colour? Or another pattern? Or simply got bored of it? In such scenarios, the investment we make in clothes comes haunting back. The solution to getting rid of this guilt? Customizable clothing.

Designer Sebastian Errazuriz has created a dress out of 120 zippers all of which can be unzipped and zipped back into countless designs. The dress can be anything you want it to be: long, short, low neck, high-neck, halter, tube; anything ranging from a casual day dress to a fancy evening gown. It can even be converted into a two-piece. With this one item in your wardrobe, you pretty much need nothing else.

Apart from Errazuriz, a number of other designers have been creating clothing that can be altered according to the customer's taste. We are talking way beyond personalised couture. Berber Soepboer, thinking along the same lines, launched her DIY (Do it yourself) Dress. Inspired by childrens' coloring books, this dress comes in basic patterns which have to be filled in with any desired colour. She has also added a number of buttons, the closing/opening of which can change the colour of the attire, or unravel a whole new pattern. Designer Fernando Brizio does something similar, where the colour scheme of the outfit can be changed with each wear.

Customizable clothing comes as a major breakthrough in fashion as for the first time, the buyer has paramount control over the final product. As such, the customer becomes the designer, making her/him the master of her/his clothing. Compromise on even the most trivial things is on its way to becoming an archaic notion of the past.

Clothing gets Ethical

Ethics form an integral part of everything, including fashion. Gone are the days when a mink coat was on the wishlist of every woman. Celebrities and even the common masses are dead against wearing something dead. Pamela Anderson, in an interview with The Hindu stated that "fashion should be fun, not fatal," and elaborated upon her views against wearing animal skin and fur. "The most innovative designers are refusing to work with animal skins, and they're proving that it's easy to create a look that kills without killing animals," she asserted.

The Anti Fur coalition is a worldwide one, triggered off by an ad launched by PETA featuring a naked picture of Chad Ochocinco. Pro skater Jason Ellis also stripped down for PETA in support of the same cause. The sentiments against animal cruelty are so strong all over that a crowd of concerned Israelis protested against fur for fashion on the streets of Tel Aviv on November 26.

Renowned fashion labels such as DKNY have become targets of PETA's anti-fur statement on their Facebook page. Fur items which were once considered a luxury, are now being condemned and for good reason. This shows the maturity we as a people have attained over the years. The desire to look good at the cost of innocent lives has finally come to an end. People are opting more and more for synthetic leather and fake animal skinned bags, as they have become more conscious.

A wrap around made out of synthetic fibres looks just the same as one made out of fox fur. The killing of fur-bearing animals was therefore always futile, not to mention cruel. Also, one can't deny that shoes made out of suede or plastic are considered just as stylish, if not more, than those made out of leather. A variety of the most beautiful (non animal) materials are now available for apparel and accessories. Dead animals do not belong in showbiz.

So, for those people who sit idle thinking that petitions and protests are a waste of time, this goes as a classic example against that kind of thinking. Awareness can and has altered the mindsets of people.

Is less really more?

For decades, fashion has come to be synonymous with showing more skin; plunging necklines, the mini-est of mini skirts, the skimpiest dresses. So much so, that some women while going for a job interview focus more on revealing skin to impress, rather than working on the skills required for the job in question. A blog titled 'The more skin you show, the less authoritative you become' by Judith Rasband showed this image of a woman who was offering her services as an expert consultant.

Needless to say, the focus of another person would constantly remain on her chest, rather than her face or what she has to say in her favour. This also gives a rather tainted image of the woman.

Even outside the professional sphere, revealing skin is not always equivalent to style. Boat necks, cowl necks and even turtle necks can make one look classy and fabulous when teamed with the right accessories. Not to say that low necklines are unattractive; when worn on suitable occasions and carried off with panache, they are anything but unattractive.

However, fashion is dressing up according to the situation and according to what suits oneself. Blindly following any trend is not going to get one anywhere. And showing skin is not going to get one anywhere, at least not professionally.

Yes, one needs to be presentable for an interview, but presenting all of oneself will only lead to a rather unpresentable and unpleasant scenario. Dressing in context is key.

Coffee- a timeless indulgence

Zeroing in on a stylishly dressed woman in Paris or Milan or New York or London, apart from her high heeled shoes and her pencil skirt, you will notice that in her hand will be strategically placed, a cup of her favorite latte. And then you will see that she is not the only one indulging in the aromatic goodness, but every single person around her has a cup too. People on the go, people lounging around or people dealing with tension. The consumption of coffee is at an all time high.

Coffee has become an integral part of our lives. We start the day with a freshly brewed cup. It is also what bonds us with others- what better to do on a first date than to go out for coffee? All nighters are almost always accompanied by mugs of the strongest arabica. The most magical property of a café noir is its ability to cure a deadly hangover. Coffee becomes a sort of companion with which we cherish the best moments of life, and also what we turn to during our worst times.

Coffee has gained more popularity in recent years than ever before. Although tea is the most popular beverage in the world, after water, coffee is catching up rapidly. Cappuccinos have become a kind of accessory, seen in the hands of every second person on the street in styrofoam cups.

One may wonder about the permanence of certain trends but coffee is very much in vogue and here to stay.