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Elizabeth Taylor’s Early Life in Fashion

April 7, 2011
Posted by David

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The late Elizabeth Taylor was known for her extreme beauty, her many husbands, her two Oscars and her chic style. Born in 1932 Elizabeth Taylor lived through some of fashions most glamorous decades, which helped shape her killer style!

The 1920s and 1930s had seen the liberation of women’s fashion with shorter hemlines and loose fitting dresses, even trousers – and actresses of the 30s such as Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich would have influenced the young Elizabeth Taylor enormously. Coco Chanel would have been an early fashion favourite, as the designer pioneered comfortable yet incredibly stylish clothes for women.

In the late 40s fashion took on a more structured, sophisticated look following the war, with Christian Dior leading the way with his ‘New Look’. Worn by the likes of Veronica Lake and Rita Hayworth, the Dior label became an instant hit. By this time Taylor had become a star  following her performance in the film National Velvet in 1944, and she signed a long-term contract with MGM, which brought her both fame and money.

She entered the 1950s as a young woman of wealth and could therefore afford the designer fashions of the era. Dior was a leading name in the 50s and labels such as Balenciaga, Balmain and Givenchy had emerged on the fashion scene. The style of the 50s was demure and ladylike with a bit of sex kitten thrown in for good measure. Nipped in waists were key, and big full skirts, kitten heels, little cardigans and dramatic sunglasses defined the era. Elizabeth Taylor’s slim curvacious figure suited the fashions perfectly and her beauty only served to highlight everything she wore. Taylor was also a big fan of designer sunglasses, and in particular she was fond of cats eye shaped sunglasses and oversized lenses. Of course these style of sunglasses were very popular in the 1950s and the 60s among women and are copied to this day. The recent fashion for vintage style sunglasses has seen Tom Ford, Prada and Dior all produce homages to the feline shaped lenses of the Fifties. Taylor’s film ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ is a great portrait of 50s fashion.

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The 1960s was of course the decade of the mini skirt, as popularised by Mary Quant. Fashion became more colourful and fun, and the sophistication of previous era’s was laid to rest. Elizabeth Taylor’s most talked about movie ‘Cleopatra’ was released in 1963 and it was at this time that she met Richard Burton. The combination of the popularity of the film and the couple’s celebrity ‘power’ elevated Taylor’s status and as such she became a definitive symbol of the 1960s. Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses made their mark in the 60s and stars like Audrey Hepburn helped popularise their style.

During the following decades, Taylor’s acting roles began to dry up and she concentrated her efforts into raising awareness and money for HIV and Aids victims. To this day she is considered one of the worlds greatest humanitarians having raised in excess of $100 million for Aids related charities.

For all her charity work, acting and lovers, Elizabeth Taylor will always be remembered for her incandescent beauty and her incredible style.



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Dior Gets Technical with iPhone Movie

January 25, 2010
Posted by David

When you think of the luxury brand Christian Dior, you immediately think of glitz, glamour, drama and sophistication and that is exactly what surrounds the theme of the brand outside of the actual products. Famous for its elaborate and movie style commercials, earlier this year, Dior also homed in on the tech craze and made mobile fashionable in its multichannel effort to promote its iconic product the Lady Dior handbag.

The movie which is available to view via an iPhone application , is reminiscent of a black-and-white Alfred Hitchcock style film and is titled ‘The Lady Noire Affair’. The app allows viewers to watch a trailer, the entire movie and its making all from the comfort of their iPhone.

The Christian Dior brand, founded by French fashion designer Christian Dior was properly launched back in 1947 but what even older brands are recognising and embracing is that old fashioned marketing strategies are no longer effective in today’s era whereby mobile and interactive marketing is far more successful and reaches and engages consumers instantly.

The Dior movie is much like the commercials seen on television for Chanel starring actress Nicole Kidman. The mini-movie is about a woman named Lady Marion and what she may possibly have in her Lady Dior bag. To build anticipation and increase demand for the new Lady Dior bag, the company used social media tool Twitter to reveal one clue a day about the film until its release which of course built up anticipation and created a buzz and excitement about the Dior handbag. The film is a tribute to Dior’s renowned Parisian style and the Lady Dior bag. The film is eight minutes long and is the first of a series of four mini-movies.

Christian Dior is an incredibly iconic brand and the designer was renowned for his ability to create beautiful shapes and silhouettes and made women look ultra feminine. A famous quote from the designer ‘I have designed flower women’ and this involved a look which accentuated the waist and bust and creating garments which created a curvaceous look.

The collection of Dior sunglasses are wonderfully exquisite and glamorous, and designed to look fabulous and create a high couture style statement. Famous for the love of the colour pink which is a common colour in many of the Dior accessories, some of the sunglasses feature rose tinted lenses and pink frames but remain ultra chic and sophisticated. Some of the new styles also include dramatically oversized frames which are reminiscent of 1950’s Hollywood glamour and there is also a selection of contemporary frames that are simple in style and highly on trend.

Dior is a classic brand that it has a unique style of its own. If you wear Dior, it definitely says something about your style personality and this is a high fashion designer label that depicts the essence of femininity. Dior is incredibly popular and regarded as sought after by many young people who favour the brand for the reason that it was loved decades ago. By keeping up with technology and adapting its marketing strategies accordingly, this has enabled the brand to reach out to the younger and tech savvy generation. The style of advertising campaigns and movies are also directed to portray the brand as one which oozes beauty, delicacy and glamour and also adds an element of the entertainment factor to the Dior brand which has proved to be very effective.



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Festival Chic Sunglasses

July 27, 2009
Posted by David

Whilst we’re half way through the summer and a number of the big festivals have been and gone, there’s still time to choose your perfect shades for the upcoming UK festivals. Still to come are; Global Gathering, Womad, The Big Chill, V Festival, Reading and Leeds, SW4, Get Loaded in the Park and Bestival. For every one, there’s a great pair of sunglasses to make you look and feel fabulous.

If you like your weekends sweaty, chaotic and hardcore, then dance festivals Global Gathering and Clapham’s SW4 and Get Loaded are for you. Accessorise your skinny jeans and vest with sunglasses in bright colours and retro styles. The original Ray Ban Wayfarers are enjoying an extended fashion moment and are currently the coolest shades to be seen in. Choose them in red or blue for the perfect dance festival look and to ensure protection from flashing strobe lights!

Carrera is another great brand to be seen in, worn by Beckham and Kylie, these retro aviator style sunglasses are super fashionable. We think the Carrera ‘Hot’ style or ‘Champion’ in tortoiseshell would be right on the money for dance festival chic.

Indie and rock kids who have bought their tickets to V or Reading will be swept away by Dragon’s ‘Fame’ style sunglasses or Von Zipper’s ‘Hoss’ shades. Both are a chunky retro-looking aviator style of glasses, that ooze savvy.

For some, a laid back vibe and world music is the order of the day – if this sounds like you, team your high-waisted jeans and trilby with sunglasses that give you a slightly more grown up air or glamour. Ray Ban’s Clubmaster shades lend an ultra cool nerdy chic or if you prefer a 70s look, opt for oversized swirling Pucci sunnies for ultimate glamorous revelry. Marc Jacobs does a sexy line in oversized shades perfect for lazy afternoon dancing or you may like an injection of vintage, with a pair of classic Christian Dior sunglasses from Shade Station’s brilliant ‘Vintage’ section.

There’s the perfect pair of sunnies for you at Shade Station and with our summer sale now on, festival style can be achieved on a shoestring!

Click here to visit our Ray Ban Sunglasses section



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Desperate for Dior!

March 13, 2009
Posted by David

Christian Dior. As soon as I hear those two words I think glamour, beauty, luxury and sophistication. The brand, whose designer was one of the most influencial of the late 1940’s and 1950’s (and one of the most iconic of our time), is created for people who adore fashion and thus Dior sunglasses are made for the fashion conscious. They make a statement and proof to the fact that practicality can easily be combined with striking beauty.

The range of Dior sunglasses for 2009 is simply divine and of course complete with an array of frames, styles and lens tints. One of the new styles includes the Very Dior white to gold coloured frames which are quite retro in appearance and the complete essence of glamour. Think Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) style in The Devil Wears Prada! The new Dorita 2 pink and brown design is also fantastic and has a funkier edge as the colour is graduated. The brown tinted lenses also make for a very sophisticated 70’s feel. Of course, the classic frames including the plastic edge Stronger style are still as popular as ever and the brand perfectly carries its own unique flair within all the designs within the range.

Indeed, function is important when choosing a pair of sunglasses but let’s be honest, Dior shades in addition to function are also heavily geared towards the wonderful feeling of owning an iconic accessory and looking aesthetically beautiful. They certainly achieve that sense of satisfaction! Celebrities who love a touch of Dior include Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Heidi Montag and Angelina Jolie to name only a few. Christian Dior sunglasses are definitely the perfect fashion accessory for those who value style, looks and creating an impact.

Click here to visit our Christian Dior Sunglasses section



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Antique Chic

June 29, 2008
Posted by David

Never has vintage been more in vogue. Second-hand shops are flinging open their well-oiled doors, vintage fashion fairs are on the up, and sites like ebay have made stepping back in time to source some classic clothing as easy as pie.

But if you feel a bit funny about slipping into your Grandma’s prom dress, try her dancing shoes instead, because one area that vintage really flourishes in is accessories. From sunglasses to stoles, belts to brooches, heels to handbags; the possibilities are endless. And the best thing about vintage is you’ll never turn up at a party wearing the same outfit as someone else!

It’s also a great way to adapt new trends. OK, so that cinched in waisted belt might not be brand spanking new, but it lends itself to the 50s vibe a treat, just as a pair of 70s platform courts could easily be paired with any of today’s ditsy floral prints. As for sunglasses, Jackie O’s are as popular now as they were in their heyday, as are Rayban Wayfarers, so why not search out an original pair?

Alternatively if you’re looking for a one-off set of sunnies to make you stand out from the crowd, check out Shadestation’s very own vintage selection. With authentic, never-to-be-worn designs from designers including Christian Dior, GianFranco Ferre and Porshe Carrera, you won’t have to worry about cheap counterfeits ever again. And despite coming in at over £100 each, remember to work out your budget as cost per wear - even if you only shade your peepers from the sun once a week, it amounts to less than £10 from now until Autumn – bargain or what?

Forget shabby chic, to checkout the ultra luxe vintage collection, click on the below link.

http://www.shadestation.co.uk/cPath/-1_738/index.php



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A Tribute To A Fine Fashion Icon – Yves Saint Laurent

June 4, 2008
Posted by David

Yves Saint Laurent, one of the world’s most prestigious fashion icons, sadly passed away on 1st June 2008 at his home in Paris aged 71. The designer first made his mark on the fashion scene in 1958 as the successor to Christian Dior and proceeded to become one of the most renowned and influential couturiers of the 20th century.

The designer retired in 2002 and throughout his career he was very much responsible for changing the face of fashion. Women now wore trousers for daywear and evening glamour, in addition to the ‘le smoking’ tuxedo jacket. He also was responsible for introducing leopard prints and the trench coat which has become a classic wardrobe staple.

Taking inspiration from what he observed on a day to day basis, Yves Saint Laurent creatively adapted Parisian beatnik style to couture runways and skilfully altered the sailors’ peacoats he found in Army-Navy stores in New York into jackets that would soon proudly be worn by every fashionable woman around the globe. His glamorous evening attire was often inspired by artists such as Picasso, and Matisse and frequently featured stunning elaborate embellishments. The designer become known for his artistic use of colour but his garments were never perceived as ‘loud’ or ‘over the top’.

The designer was a mere 21 years of age when he presented his Trapeze collection for Christian Dior (following Dior’s death), which subsequently launched his career in the industry. Laurent sustained his fame and respect throughout his working years and successfully managed to change his style from formal, custom-made haute couture to casual sportswear which was equally embraced.

Yves Saint Lauren is favoured by many stylish women including Paloma Picasso and Lauren Becall. He provides inspiration to many established designers and is a fantastic role model to forthcoming talent in the fashion industry. A deeply passionate man who took great pride in his work, Yves Saint Laurent is a figure in fashion that will be sadly missed but remembered for great things. Recognising all those years ago that masculine attire could be adapted to suit females, he could well be the reason that women wear trousers today and can still be perceived as feminine and glamorous.



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