Introduction to Fashion Designing and Its Types

Introduction to Fashion Designing and Its Types. 
Fashion is a form of self-expression and autonomy at a particular period and place and in a specific context, of clothing, footwear, lifestyle, accessories, makeup, hairstyle, and body posture. The term implies a look defined by the fashion industry as that which is trending. Fashion is also a source of art, allowing people to display their unique tastes and styling. Different designers are influenced by outside stimuli and reflect this inspiration in their works.Fashion is unique, selffulfilling and may be a part of someone’s identity.
Different Categories of Fashion
 • Garments
 • Lifestyle
 • Beauty Sector
 Garments 
Different categories of garment are as follows:
 1. Casual Wear 
 2. Formal Wear
 3. Sports Wear 
1. Casual Wear
Casual wear is informal dress code that is comfortable and relaxing to be worn. They mostly do not come with any kind of embellishment or any sort of adornments. It may include T-shirts, trousers, jeans and so on.
2. Formal Wear Point to Ponder!
Formal wear garments are mostly worn at special Do You Know about occasions. They tend to be highly embellished with Ballerina and Tea luxury fabrics like silks, chiffons, satin, velvets, organza Gowns? You can take etc. They mostly include long flowy gowns with help from internet to interesting cut lines. find out!
3. Sports Wear
Sportswear is categorised as active wear worn during a sport or doing a physical exercise. The design of the garment depends upon the kind of sport you are doing. While designing sports wear it is important to keep in mind that it allows maximum comfort and flexible to body so you can do the sport with ease.
Lifestyle:
Lifestyle is defined as a way or style of living. Lifestyle may be the interests, behaviors, work, activities and opinions of an individual, group or culture. Lifestyle is mostly adopted with reference to the cultural and environmental context. In general the way a person dresses up, sets up his living spaces and his overall way of living defines his lifestyle.
Beauty sector:
Beauty sector involves self-adornment products like makeup, cosmetics related to skin, hair and other related accessories. Recent years have witnessed a rapid increase in peoples’ inclination towards using such products for personal grooming. At the same time this sector has made a profound place in fashion industry.
Tools and equipment used for fashion designing Tools and equipment are significantly important for a person who is supposed to produce a creative work. A fashion designer cannot work if he does not have his tools and equipment in hand. Enlist below are the important tools of fashion design without which design process cannot be carried out and executed.
1. Scissors:
 It is an instrument used for cutting of fabric or paper etc.
Scissors are of different types and used for different purposes:
Fabric Scissors: This kind of scissor is a bit heavy than a paper scissors. Scissors also have a long blade which is ideal for cutting fabrics; even for cutting several layers of material at the same time.
 Paper Scissors: This kind of scissor is lighter in weight than fabric scissor. This scissor should strictly be used for cutting paper because changing the material for cutting can damage the blade.
2. Tailor’s Chalk: Chalk is an essential tool for marking fabrics. It is mainly used to mark the measurements on fabric. The markings are not permanent can be easily removed or washed when not needed.
3. Tape Measure: 
A Fashion Designer usually keeps a measuring tape with him during his work. This equipment is essential for fashion tools as it will allow creating a perfect measurements of the garments.
4. Dressmaker Pin Tools: 
These fashion tools are a short straight, stiff piece of wire that is used for fastening pieces of fabrics or other materials together. The Dressmaker pin is helpful in joining the fabric pieces together before stitching as they allow fabric pieces to stay in place and make the process convenient to get completed.
 5. An Adjustable Dressmaker Mannequins:
 Using an adjustable mannequins will allow a fashion designer to make clothes without worrying about the sizes. They enable the designer to check and re check the measurements of the garment to get an accurately stitched product. It will also be a great help for getting the correct positions of buttons, pockets, fasteners, hooks etc.
6. Calico
A white or off white cotton fabric used to make test garments. This is a very important step to make toils (test garments) before the final garment stitching as it will allow to identify and resolve any mistakes that can be corrected while stitching the garment on true fabric.
7. Sketch book and Trace Roll Paper: 
The Sketch book and Trace Roll Paper are is a must-have fashion tool as it is used for creating sketches and detail work. Designers must have a skill for drawing; that is why design and tracing paper is crucial.
 8. Sewing Machine:
The sewing machine is the one used for sewing fabrics and other materials. A sewing machine plays a vital role in the fashion design industry. It is the tool for making a variety of plain or patterned stitches.
9. Japanese Scale:
 It is a scale used for measuring length and width of the fabric. It consists of smallest readings of 0.5 cm which help in accurate measurements.
10.French Curve:
A tool used in drafting a pattern manually and design to draw smooth curves. It is composed of several different curves used to create curves at different points of a garment.
2. Importance of fashion in everyday life :
On a larger scale, fashion is important because it represents our history and helps to tell the story of the world. Clothes help to keep people ready for whatever they may face in life but fashion keeps up with the current crazes and changes that we all face so that we’re ready for whatever life throws our way.Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories.
Fashion in daily life:
 Fashion is always considered the important part of our life. It has been followed from the ancient time but as time passed, the fashion trends changed. In the olden times, fashion was regarded as the possession for the high-class people but, as time and thinking of people have changed, the view about fashion also changed.In today’s world fashion is accepted by people of all class and culture. Fashion is a word, which is recognized by all people of the society. Various culture and tradition has also accepted fashion in its own way. People who want to be up to date with the latest fashion follow various fashion magazines and media. Fashion designers work hard to fulfill the wish of all people from various backgrounds. Therefore, fashion is very important in our life. Hence, many fashion designers work hard to create new designs, which can attract people and accept them.
 2.2 Common Accessories in Fashion:
                                              Fashion is incomplete without accessories. Various accessories such as designer belts, clutch, bags, jewelry, hair accessories etc. enhance your fashionable clothes. The latest fashion designers and stylists use various types of accessories to enhance and complement the design of the outfit in order to improve its look.
2.3 Fashion Values and Beliefs:
                                Fashion values and beliefs totally differ according to the perspective about fashion. A true fashion designer values the beliefs of the people and designs clothes according to their taste. There are various values associated with fashion in different culture and designers need to incorporate them accordingly in their designs. Designers should also take care of the beliefs and cultural values of people associated with fashion too.
 2.4 Fashion Online:
                        As this is an internet world, fashion can be easily located online. There are various websites, which offer fashion online and can be browsed as well as ordered from the comfort of the house. The latest trends can be followed through internet too. Online fashion gives you a broad view about not only national, but also international fashion trends.

What is the Curated Closet?

The Curated Closet refers to a personalized wardrobe designed to reflect an individual’s unique style and life needs. This approach emphasizes confidence and inspiration, avoiding trends and generic wardrobe essentials that fail to cater to specific lifestyles.
Introduction: This chapter narrates the author’s journey from a cluttered, unfulfilling wardrobe to a more curated and functional one. Living in a small apartment in London, the author repeatedly faced outfit dilemmas, despite an overflowing closet. The Curated Closet is a step-by-step process for defining your personal style, editing your existing wardrobe, and making strategic, fulfilling purchases. Think of yourself as the curator of a museum. A curator doesn’t just collect every piece of art they see; they carefully select pieces that fit a specific vision, tell a cohesive story, and bring value to the collection. Growing up with a keen interest in fashion, the author spent considerable time and money on clothes, yet struggled to create appealing outfits. Your wardrobe should be no different. It’s a curated collection of pieces that are:
Intentional:  The phrase implies a thoughtful selection of clothing that reflects a personal style and is well-chosen rather than just a large collection of random items.
Cohesive: All your pieces work together to create a multitude of outfits.
• Functional: Your closet supports your actual lifestyle.
• Authentic: It reflects your unique personality, not just passing trends.
Clothing Blunder.
The author attributes the wardrobe issues to several factors: – Limited financial resources as a student led to shopping at fast-fashion retailers and impulse buying. – A misguided belief that great style equated to following every trend resulted in a disjointed collection of clothes. – Quick-fix shopping habits, fueled by sales and discounts, neglected the importance of quality and personal style. Over time, dissatisfaction with the clutter and a lack of personal expression prompted the author to rethink her approach. Inspired by style icons who forged their unique looks, the author aimed to cultivate her personal style and develop a replicable system for others.

The Fundamentals of a Curated Closet
The structure of a designed closet rests on three main bases:

1. Discover Your Personal Style:
This is the foundational step. Before you buy or sell anything, you need to be clear about what you’re working to achieve.

How to do it: Create a style idea board (Pinterest is perfect for this). Share each picture you’re attached to without overthinking it. After you have 50-100 pins, step back and review. What colors, designs, fabrics, and themes keep coming up? Is it classic blazers, flowing romantic dresses, or sleek sneakers? Give your style a name (or a few!) to firm up the idea.

2. Conduct a brutal closet check.
You can’t build a new outfit on a dirty foundation. This step is about honestly reviewing what you already own.

How to do it: Empty your storage space. Try on everything.
For each item, ask:

Do I love how I look and feel in this? (Does it fit well? Is it flattering?)

Does it fit my present lifestyle? (Do you have places to wear it?)

Does it align with my style vision? (Does it fit with the design you’re building?)

Group stuff into Keep, Give or Sell, and Maybe groups. Be honest and harsh!
3. Shop with purpose and plans.
This is where the true magic happens. Shopping for a designed closet is the opposite of buying without thinking. It’s a targeted task.
How to do it: After the review, you’ll find the gaps in your clothes. Maybe you have five party dresses but no trendy tops for weekend suppers. Create a shopping list of what you need. This list is a barrier against trendy intrusions and deals that don’t serve you.

Research and Development:
To achieve this, the author conducted extensive research, reading fashion literature and testing techniques on herself and others. She also started a blog to share insights and refine her ideas based on feedback.
Example Key Point: Personalized style trumps trends.
Example: Imagine standing in front of your closet filled with clothes you bought on impulse. You see items that may have been trendy at one time but don’t resonate with who you are. Instead of feeling inspired, you feel overwhelmed and confused. Now, picture taking the time to curate your wardrobe, choosing each piece meticulously to reflect your personality and lifestyle. You reach for a tailored blazer that complements your favorite jeans, knowing it expresses your unique aesthetic. As you dress, the confidence radiates because your outfit tells a story that’s entirely yours, ignoring fleeting trends and embracing the joy of a curated closet.
The 10-Item Capsule Challenge:
Your Initial Step:
Feeling inspired yet a bit overwhelmed? Begin with a simple step using this amazing exercise from The Curated Closet:

The challenge is to wear only ten essential pieces from your closet such as dresses, shirts, and bottoms, for two weeks without wearing any shoes, accessories, or outerwear.

Why it is effective: This forces you to get creative, shows your most-loved items, and displays what you’re truly missing. It’s a lightning-fast way to start your curation task.

The Toolbox.
The resulting book serves as a toolkit filled with strategies and exercises aimed at helping individuals build a functional and expressive wardrobe. Achieving a curated closet is portrayed as an enjoyable, ongoing journey rather than a quick fix, emphasizing the long-term value of understanding personal style and fostering self-expression through clothing.


A Curated Closet’s Life-Changing Benefits:
Why make all this effort? The benefits are more than just a clean closet:
The End of “I Have Nothing to Put on”: With every piece becoming a winner, getting dressed becomes fun, not a chore.

Save Money Long-Term: You stop spending money on cheap, modern clothing that you’ll wear once. You invest in products that you’ll love for years.
Effortless Morning Schedules: A uniform style means everything mixes and matches. You can create many outfits from a smaller number of pieces.
Increased Confidence: When your clothes are a true reflection of you, you project honesty and confidence. You feel put-together every single day.
Make Earth-Friendly Choices: Buying less and choosing well-made, timeless pieces is a powerful way to minimize your fashion environmental impact.
Final Thoughts:
It’s all about the journey, not just the destination! Creating a curated closet takes time and patience. It’s a continuous journey of honing your style, looking after your wardrobe, and thoughtfully adding pieces as you grow. The aim isn’t to be perfect. The aim is to create a wardrobe that truly reflects who you are most genuinely and delightfully. So, open that closet door not with dread, but with the excitement of a curator eager to create a masterpiece.