For Something different, try Indian fashion

One reason I like International fashion magazines and websites is because sometimes I can get some new, original ideas for fashion designs that I might make or try to imitate. Today I was looking at the website for Vogue India magazine, which is at www.vogue.in. The fashion designers listed on the sight are totally different from the ones that we know in the US and in Europe. I didn't see one designer's name that I recognized. Here are a few photos that I got from the website:

James Jean Illustrator of Prada print art

You have all see the Prada collection featuring the beautiful fairies, but have you ever heard about the illustrator behind the prints? Until today, I thought that the illustrations were by Prada herself! It turns out that the artist is comic book illustrator James Jean! If you want to read more about him, go to his website and blog at www.processrecess.com. There is also a great article about him at comics212.net. Here are some of his illustrations that are not on Prada clothing.

The Coolest hairstyle I've ever seen!

This is the coolest hairstyle I've ever seen. I found it on a website called emohairstyle.blogspot.com. I wish I had enough hair to do something like this!

Fashion Illustration in the News

Right now, Style.com has a section called the "Fall 2008 Fashion Week Preview" and several great fashion illustrations are featured. First of all, the will be a party to celebrate the publication of "Drawing Fashion: The Art of Kenneth Paul Block."

There are also several other fashion illustrations shown in the Fall preview, including one by Bill Blass. I hope this is an indication that fashion illustration is becoming a more popular art form.

I'm a new fan of Marc Jacobs

I must confess that I have recently become very fascinated by the fashion designer Marc Jacobs. He particularly caught my interest when he appeared as Andy Warhol on the cover of Interview magazine a month or two ago. I absolutely love his ready to wear collection of clothes for fall, I particularly love the boots and the clothes with lots of buckles and zippers. The line is a little rock chick, motorcyle chic and punk, and very sophisticated.

What is a hipster?

Lately, I seen some fashion blogs and magazines talk about "hipsters" and the young adults who were asked about whether or not they themselves were hipsters seemed like there was no way they wanted to be associated with this description. Until recently, I mostly associated hipness and hipsters with Jack Kerouac and other Beat writers. For those of you not familiar, Jack Kerouac is most famous for having written "On the Road," a novel about he and his friends taking car trips around the US in search of their identities and the meaning of life.

When they used the term hip, it was often used to describe African American jazz musicians, who they tended to idolize.

The word seems to mean something different to todays young adults. Anyone out there want to comment on this?

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Dear readers, if you are looking for one of those novels that is hard to put down, I recommend that you check out the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I am almost finished with the first book which is called "Twilight." I bought the book in the first place when I noticed that all three books are at the top of the best seller lists. When I read that it was about a high school girl who falls in love with a vampire, I must admit I was a bit sceptical. After all, I am a sensible woman in my forties, and have never been particularly attracted to stories about vampires or other occult themes. However, after reading most of the book, I have been pleasantly surprised. The story is very well written and the vampire character could almost be any boy who is from the wrong family, the wrong side of town, or similar situations. I was particularly amused when the boy takes the girl to meet his family for the first time, and her biggest fear is that they won't like her! Anyway, if you read the book, or have read it, please leave your comments!