What Inspires Today's Fashion Designers?

Designers of Tomorrow

Ever since the days of Greta Garbo, fashion designers have looked to celebrities for inspiration. Today’s designers are no different. Karl Lagerfeld and Calvin Klein are fascinated with Lindsay Lohan, Halle Berry has the starring role in Versace’s spring/summer ad campaign and Marc Jacobs, who famously picks among a variety of obscure muses from Lil’ Kim to Sofia Coppola, has recently signed White Stripes drummer Meg White as the face of his upcoming campaign.

“No matter what designers say, they’re still inspired by the stars,” says George Simonton, ready-to-wear designer and professor of fashion design at NYC’s Fashion Institute of Design, and whose clients include Katie Couric and Laura Bush. “It’s still a celebrity world.”


That might be true, and stylist Amanda Reno, who works with Carmen Electra, Virginia Madsen and Kristin Cavallari, says celebrities are the first place designers go for inspiration. “Designers know how important it is to get their clothes on these women. The customers who shop at Barneys and Saks are looking to these stars for inspiration for what they’re buying and wearing.”



Are stars today inspirational or influential?—that’s the question, says Christopher Crawford, co-designer of the contemporary ready-to-wear line Christopher Deane. “Celebrities are more important today because models aren’t even a factor anymore,” he says. “[Celebrities are] influential because anytime you can get a dress on a star, you get hundreds if not thousands of inquiries about that particular dress. But I don’t find them inspirational.”



Certainly, sometimes there’s an obvious source of inspiration, such as Yves Saint Laurent’s Mondrian-inspired dresses in the 1960s. But designers can be inspired by anything—a movie, book, art, travel and just daily life.



“When I’m in Europe, I just sit in the cafes and watch people,” Simonton says. “The men and women there look effortless.”



Cynthia Rowley recalls one of her designs, a jacket the color of her father’s eyes—Paul Newman blue. “A color will just jump out at me. It can be anything, but when you see it, it is really inspiring.”



We spoke to a variety of designers about what inspired their fall 2006 collections—and here’s what they revealed:



*Christopher Deane’s Crawford says he and co-designer Angela Deane were inspired by gothic influences from old photos in Prague. “The colors tend to be a bit darker with a lot of black, charcoal, deep rose and navy.”



*Psychology and exploration of the mind inspired Rowley. “Fashion is cyclical and is always drawing from history. It is inevitable that you will go back to your youth,” Rowley says.



*Junk food and pop art inspired Jeremy Scott’s fall collection. “It’ll be like an 8-year-old girl’s fantasy couture fashion show,” Scott says. “I liked the idea of the food fight and … throwing food in a cafeteria. It sounds like hamburger against hotdog and I thought it was kind of funny and it just inspired me.” Expect things like “ice cream bustiers and spaghetti straps,” he says.



*For Nicole Romano, a painting by Joseph Mallord William Turner, “Hannibal Crossing the Alps” (1812), struck her. “The painting is gorgeous and has that dark sort of twist,” she says. “I chose my color palette based on the landscape—there’s dusty and misty teal blues and lavenders.”



*Nashville-based designer Manuel Cuevas Jr. says he was inspired by his Mexican heritage. “Flamboyant colors are prevalent in the fall collection—lots of oranges, reds and pastels used in conjunction with a lot of embroideries and rhinestones.”



* “Bucolic Elegance for the City Girl” is how Paris-based designer Afshin Feiz describes his fall collection. “I was inspired by a girl who grew up in the country and moves to the city,” Feiz says. “So there [are] references to the country but in a citified way. The clothes are chic city girl with sweet details.”



*Contemporary designer Beth Bowley says the movies The Godfather, Scarface and Breakfast on Pluto and the 1930s inspired her fall collection. “It’s an odd mix, but I was feeling ’70s mixed with ’30s. I like the longer tops and menswear influences from the ’70s and the details and fabrics from the ’30s.”



*Bridal designer Henry Roth says everything from the hip-hop artist Nelly to the rudeness of NYC taxidrivers to riding the subway inspired him. “Humanity inspires me,” he says. “I walk around Central Park and look at the beauty of what’s around me and I’m inspired.”

Eat your way to health this winter with the right food and supplements

Stop your sniffling! Tips on preventing a cold
It’s cold and flu season again. But don’t take the next sniffle lying down, says registered dietitian Elizabeth Somer.

The immune system is your body’s No. 1 line of defense against the onslaught of viruses, bacteria and other germs that are in abundance this time of year.

That system is turned on or off in part by what you eat and how you supplement. Eating right helps maintain a strong immune system, Somers says, and consequently, you’re less likely to get sick and if you do, the symptoms will be milder and you’ll recover more quickly.

We asked her what foods, supplements and herbs people should make sure to consume this winter:

Q: What should we eat to prevent the common cold?

A: While an apple a day won't keep the doctor away, heaping the plate with broccoli, spinach and oranges might be just what the doctor ordered. Colorful fruits and vegetables are sources of the antioxidants, including beta carotene, vitamin E, selenium and vitamin C. The antioxidants work together to boost the immune response and increase resistance to infection, colds and flu bugs. Ample intake of beta carotene-rich foods, such as carrots, apricots and broccoli, also maintains the skin and mucous linings in the nose and lungs, which are the body's first line of defense against germs. Most people don’t get enough of these foods and would do well to double or even triple current intake to at least 8, and preferably 10, servings daily. Simple immune-boosting snacks include:

Smoothie made with persimmons, OJ concentrate and yogurt
One-half honeydew melon filled with lemon yogurt
Top low-fat ice cream with a cup of thawed blueberries
Dunk baby carrots in peanut butter or red pepper slices in hummus
Stuff dried plums with almonds for a sweet and chewy alternative to a candy bar
Quench your thirst with OJ or tomato juice instead of soft drinks
Pack a black bean burrito with baby spinach, tomatoes and salsa
Add frozen or leftover vegetables to canned soups
Next, cut back on meat and full-fat dairy products, as well as many processed foods in order to keep saturated-fat intake low. While low-fat diets stimulate the immune system and help ward off the common cold, typical American diets high in saturated fat increase a person's susceptibility to colds and the flu.

Q: What nutrients help us stay well this time of year?

A: Vitamin E is important, with studies showing that vitamin E increases resistance to the flu and reduces the risk for upper respiratory infections. However, it looks like you need at least 100 IU or more, which is virtually impossible to get from diet alone, so you would need to supplement with this nutrient.

Although the antioxidants are your first line of defense, other vitamins and minerals also affect a person's resistance to colds and infections. Studies from Loma Linda University in California and Oregon State University report that increasing vitamin B-6 intake in some people raises blood levels of the vitamin and enhances the immune response. You can increase your intake of this vitamin by eating more bananas, avocados, and dark-green leafy vegetables. The minerals, including iron, selenium, copper and zinc, also boost immunity. These minerals are found in whole grains and cooked dried beans and peas.

Q: What about vitamin C? I’ve heard that it cures the common cold. Is there any truth to that?

A: While you can get all the vitamin C you need from foods to help you prevent the common cold, you might need to supplement with this vitamin once you feel a cold coming on. A large number of studies have verified that vitamin C might not prevent the cold from happening, but it does help curb its severity and duration. The effective dose here is about 500 milligrams to 2,000 milligrams daily, starting at the first signs of a cold and taken in divided doses. That’s only for adults; young children are much more susceptible to toxicity effects from vitamins and minerals, so keep their intake to within recommended levels or discuss higher doses with your physician.

Q: Are there any other supplements that might help us once we’re sniffling?
A: Possibly. Although controversial, there are a few studies showing that zinc lozenges might help curb the symptoms of a cold. Taking one or two of these daily is worth a try. Nasal zinc gel seems to shorten the duration of a cold, while zinc nasal spray does not. However, watch out for overdoses here. More than 50 milligrams of zinc daily over time actually might suppress the immune system and could interfere with your body’s efforts to get well.

Airborne: This popular supplement contains a mix of 17 vitamins, minerals and herbs, including hefty amounts of vitamin C (and also vitamin A if you take more than one tablet a day). There are no studies to prove this supplement works, although this didn’t stop Americans from spending an estimated $300 million on this supplement last year. If there is any basis for the claims, it is probably because of the high vitamin C. But you can buy a handful of vitamin C pills for the price of one Airborne tablet. Although Airborne claims it can “repel germs in an airplane, restaurant, or other crowded places”... sorry, nothing you swallow can do that.


more.....


Vitamins and Supplements—What do you need, and who can you trust?
GNLD realizes that for every person who wants to feel better and live a healthy life, questions come to mind as they stand before the wall of supplements at the local store. What should I be taking? Which product is the best? Fact is, you can get lost in a world of promises and labels that don’t deliver what your body really needs. Nutrition has come a long way and for nearly 50 years, GNLD has established a reputation for setting the highest standard.

Whether you have been guided to GNLD for a specific product, or you are here to discover Vitality in one easy-to-use system, we welcome you to the world’s best blend of what nature and science can deliver. Good nutrition, done right, will deliver more energy and vitality to your life than anything you’ve ever tried before. GNLD takes the guesswork out of good nutrition!

Philosphy
At GNLD, we believe the right decisions about nutrition-deciding what to put into your body and what to keep out of your body-are among the most important decisions of your life. These are the same decisions we make everyday for ourselves and our families, and they are the same decisions behind every GNLD product. And when it comes to our health, our families, and our products, there's simply not room for compromise.

Ask yourself this simple question: "What's important to me?" Is it important to you that the nutritional supplements you choose are made from ingredients Mother Nature intended for your body, ingredients proven safe and effective by centuries of human consumption? Is it important to you that these supplements are based on real, valid science backed by the industry's leader in advanced nutrition?

All GNLD products are Based in Nature, Backed by Science. Members of our Scientific Advisory Board, all recognized worldwide as leading edge scientists, strictly adhere to Nature's Blueprint as they research, develop, and maintain our world-class products. Our unique and enduring commitment to product excellence has attracted the attention of researchers from the United States Department of Agriculture, Centers for Disease Control, major universities, and respected scientific institutions around the world. It has caused GNLD product science to become a frequent topic in major scientific journals and allowed us to form lasting partnerships for the continued expansion of scientific knowledge about nutrition and health with such prestigious organizations as the Stanford University Health Library.


If it is important to you that what you put into your body is the very best nature and science has to offer, then you have come to the right place. You can trust— that GNLD will never compromise your health and your family's health— and neither should you.

16-year-old Ishikawa of Japan turns pro after helping revitalize Japan PGA

Teen dreams big: Play with Tiger, win Masters
Ryo Ishikawa has simple goals. The 16-year-old wants to get good grades, improve his distance off the tee and one day win the Masters. Playing with Tiger Woods wouldn't be bad, either.

Ishikawa, who last year became the youngest winner of a Japanese men's tour event, announced Thursday he was turning pro and immediately set high standards for himself.

"I want to play with Tiger Woods in the future and win the Masters," he said at a news conference.

Ishikawa was an amateur in May when he won the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup, making him the youngest winner of a Japanese men's event. According to the Japan PGA, Ishikawa now is the youngest pro in Japanese golf history.

Since winning the Munsingwear Open, Ishikawa has helped to revitalize the Japan PGA, which has struggled against the recent popularity of the women's tour and young stars such as Ai Miyazato, Sakura Yokomine and Momoko Ueda.

Ishikawa said he was up to the challenge of balancing school with the pro tour.

"I know it won't be easy and I know there will be days when I don't want to do my homework," Ishikawa said. "But I'm determined to keep up with my studies and do my best in golf."

Ishikawa's soft-spoken manner and good looks have earned him the nickname "Shy Prince" in Japan, where huge crowds follow him around at every tournament he plays.

At the Dunlop Phoenix tournament in November, defending champion and British Open winner Padraig Harrington played in relative obscurity while Ishikawa had a gallery that could rival only those enjoyed by Woods.

After winning the Munsingwear Open, Ishikawa played in seven domestic events with his best finish a tie for 15th place at the Fuji Sankei Classic.

Ishikawa is aware that many Japanese golfers have excelled on the domestic tour only to flop on the U.S. and European tours. Hall of Fame golfer Isao Aoki has advised the young prodigy to play as many tournaments as possible overseas and not get discouraged from his losses.

"That's good advice," Ishikawa said. "Aoki-san told me you learn more from your losses than your wins and I'll keep that in mind."

more Ishikawa ....

Japan hails 16-year-old's pro golf switch

Japanese media heralded teenage golf sensation Ryo Ishikawa’s professional switch with a flurry of bold headlines on Friday, many screaming: "Bring on Tiger!"

The high school student announced his decision to join the Japanese men’s tour at 16 years and three months at a packed news conference a day earlier.

Little Ryo wants Woods!" declared the Sankei Sports daily, splashing pictures of a grinning Ishikawa across its pages. while the Nikkan Sports echoed an almost universal headline.

Ishikawa, widely seen as the potential saviour of the flagging JGTO men’s tour, is the youngest player to join Japan’s professional ranks.

He shot to fame in May last year, becoming the youngest winner on the Japanese tour at 15 years and eight months at the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup in a remarkable debut.

"From now on golf will be my job," Ishikawa told reporters. "It’s a dream come true. I want to play against Tiger and win the U.S. Masters."

Ishikawa promised his school teachers he would not neglect his studies after making a decision that could net him close to $10 million (5 million pounds) over the next five years.

Already a household name in Japan, television endorsements could earn Ishikawa an estimated $30 million in addition over the coming few years, according to estimates.

"I will get less chance to go to school but I won’t be dropping out," he said, blushing in the glare of camera flashes.

"It will be difficult to juggle golf and studying but I’ll try. Turning professional is something I thought of only recently but it’s a way to say thank you to everyone for their support."

Ishikawa’s tour victory last year shattered the previous record held by Spain’s Seve Ballesteros, who won the 1977 Japan Open aged 20 years and seven months.

The local press were quick to label Ishikawa the "Japanese Tiger" and his marketability gave the men’s tour a timely boost at a time when sponsorship and interest were on the wane.