Fashion & Style FAQs

1. Becoming a fashion designer
Q.I am a 14 year old designer wanna-be PLEASE HELP! Can someone my age be a designer ? Where do I start?
A.I think it's great that you want to be a fashion designer. You're still a little young to be working, but that doesn't mean you can't make lots of sketches, play with fabric and read and surf the net about design. First of all, you might want to think about checking out schools to go to in a few years -- here's a list.   Also, in the meantime, you should definitely look at and read anything that interests you in the world of fashion, including looking at other designer's stuff and fashion shows. Also, don't forget to study up on fashion history. Once you get to be 16 or so, you might want to think about working in a retail store to find out how customers try on clothes, decide what items to wear, put colors together, etc. It's the greatest training.

2. What's a stylist?
Q.I was wondering if you could tell me exactly what a fashion stylist does and how you get into that profession. Would a degree be needed? How much experience?
A.A fashion stylist can work for a designer/manufacturer, individuals (including celebrities), magazines, photographers etc. They create looks with their keenly developed eye for fashion, mixing the different clothing pieces and accessories to make a statement. A top-notch fashion stylist has to be so far ahead of the curve, most people wouldn't have a clue what he or she is talking about!
The individual stylists develop a total look for a client. Phillip Bloch is probably the highest profile celebrity stylist, but these folks create the total look, run the errands to get all the pieces together, etc.
Like most things in this industry, a fashion degree isn't as important as experience and contacts. (Although I always strongly recommend a liberal arts or business degree -- will come in very handy in building a business!)
Retail would be an excellent place to start building a clientele. Especially very upscale boutiques or trendy stores, where you can show off your ability to find fashion that suits individuals (it's a very unique and difficult art to master)

3. What are the dress codes for Special Occassions?

Black Tie

A Black Tie invitation calls for formal attire. Men wear tuxedos, women wear cocktail, long dresses or dressy evening separates. A little black dress is completely appropriate for black tie functions.

Formal usually means the same as Black Tie, but in some trendier cities like New York or Los Angeles, it could mean a black shirt, no tie with a tux. Women wear cocktail, long dresses or dressy evening separates.
A White Tie or Ultra-formal invitation requires men wear full dress, with white tie, vest, shirt. Women wear long gowns.

Black Tie Optional

A Black Tie Optional or Black Tie Invited gives you the option of wearing a tuxedo or formal dress, but it should clue you into the formality of the event, meaning a dark suit and tie would be your other option. Women wear cocktail, long dresses or dressy evening separates.

Creative Black Tie

Creative Black Tie leaves room for trendy interpretations of formal wear. He can go more modern with a tux -- maybe a black shirt, no tie. She wears long or short dresses or evening separates.

Sometimes, themed parties call for dress codes like Texas Black Tie, or other variations of Creative Black Tie. In that situation, you can have more fun with it, choosing a dressy look with a theme (for him, it could be a tux with boots and for her it could be a long dress paired with Southwestern style silver belt and jewelry).

Resort formal is a designation for warm weather locales (like a beach wedding) where the women can wear something bright and lightweight (floral sundress for example.)

Semi-Formal

Semi-Formal or After Five means that tuxes are not required, nor are long dresses. An evening wedding (after 6 PM) would still dictate dark suits for him, and a cocktail dress for her. Daytime semi-formal events mean a suit for him and an appropriate short dress or dressy suit for her.

Business Formal is the same as Semi-Formal for him, but for women it suggests that women opt for more tailored dressy suits and dresses. The idea is to still be business appropriate -- which means nothing too sexy or slinky -- but still dressed up.

Cocktail Attire

Cocktail Attire means short, elegant dresses for her and dark suits for him. The little black dress is the ultimate cocktail dress and appropriate for most special occasions.
More about cocktail dresses: Best Little Black Dresses
10 Perfect Cocktail Dresses

Informal

Informal is often interpreted as the same as Casual but it actually calls for the same dress as Semi-Formal -- dark suits for him, short dresses for her -- especially when associated with a wedding or special event.

Festive Attire

Festive Attire is usually seen around the holidays, with the mood of the party being Informal or Semi-Formal. For her, it means to choose looks with a bit of sparkle or holiday bent (i.e. a beaded sweater with black pants, a red silk blouse with a black skirt).

Casual

Dressy Casual calls for dressed-up versions of casual looks. For him, it could be trousers and a sportcoat, for her a dressy pants look. Jeans, shorts, T-shirts and other casual looks are not appropriate for Dressy Casual.

Casual generally means anything goes (including jeans, sneakers, etc.) If the host or hostess wants a more dressed-up approach, it would be dictated on the invite.

And when in doubt about what to wear, remember you can always ask the host or hostess what they expect party guests to wear.