He is going to kiss me.

    She battened a palm against his chest to stop him. Heat radiated
through the bright fabric and her pulse accelerated to match the beating of
his heart. Then the sensual light went out of his eyes, replaced by
something akin to confusion.
    Did he think she was a tease? She wanted to play fast and loose this
week, she really did. Just not quite so soon. If she let him keep advancing ,
they might end up doing it right here on the floor. Hm'm. Actually... No, not
yet.
    Nick looked down at her hand, then back into her eyes. The intimacy of
the touch unsettled her and she snatched her fingers away. Uptight.
Inexperienced. Embarrassed.
    "The only contraband I have is the soap and the herbal shampoo."
Duckjing under his extended arm, she darted toward the bedroom to
repack.
    "Speaking of things that ought to be illegal ... "
    Hearing the smoky familiarity in his tone, she tumed back in time to see
him come out of the living room. Her brows furrowed in curiosity I then shot
up in alarm. Would the humiliation of thìs day never end?
    guess you'lI be needing these back." Nick held out one sculpted arm,
dangling her bra and panties from his hand. He casually stroked his thumb
over her intimate wear.
    His fingers grazed the edge of Elise's panties, tickJing the sensitive skin
along her inner fhigh, before slíding inside. .. Meghan blinked, tried to
refocus. The comer of Nick's mouth quirked and the look in his eyes was
pure mischief, as if he suspected her reaction and dared her to come
closer to the source.
    Okay. She could do this. Lifting her chin, she threw back her shoulders
and walked toward him. He skimmed his fingers across her palm when he
returned her Iingerie. Another hot current passed between them.
    A rush of anxiety immediately followed .
    What was she doing flìrting with a guy like Nick? He could have any
woman he wanted. So what mental disorder made her think he'd waste
time on her? Loneliness and longing twisted her head， overwhelmed her.
She was boring, she was frigid-she was doing it again.
    Meghan slammed the self-doubt aside, concentrated instead on her
mission. The plan was to find an attractive man and then entice him into
spending the next week indulging in decadent pleasures. Well, she'd found
a guy and he was perfect. Nick was everything she imagiined the fantasy
lover in her diary to be. His dangerously compelling gaze made her yeam
for wild excìtement and erotic adventure.
    Alex reached into the open dresser, pulled out a nightgown she'd
forgoten in the comer. The white silk whispered through his fingers. He
held it up by its thin straps, easily picturing the delicate material against her
tawny skin.
    Alex stood close, deliberately invading her space, brushing his index
finger across her lower lip. Her eyes widened and her quick intake of
breath was one of the sexiest sounds he'd ever heard. He held her gaze,
dared her to look away.
   

Uncommon Friends, Common Faith

    Even though David had been serving intermittently in Saul's
court, he and Jonathan first met after David's stunning victory
over Goliath. First Samuel 18:1 tells us, "Now it came about when
[David] had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan
was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself'
    Have you ever met someone and instantly clicked? Been introduced
to a sister in Christ and within five minutes were chatting
like old friends? C. S. Lewis rightly said, "Friendship is born at that
moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought
I was the only one."' There is an instant bonding when we know we
are not alone in our passions and pains. Jonathan listened to David
and Saul speaking and obviously could tell from the grace in David's
speech that he and this man had much in common so much so
that from this point forward his well-being was directly bound in
David's.
    That oath had to stop Jonathan in his tracks. He knew of David's
unwavering trust in God and of David's own unquestionable integrity.
Based on all Jonathan had observed in David's character, David's
willingness to call on God as witness confirmed his accusation was
true. Jonathan believed David even if that meant siding against his
own father. Bless Jon a than for wanting to believe Saul, but Saul's past
actions hardly gave Jonathan much to work with.
    This matter of trust is foundational in any friendship, but it
is particularly important where servant leaders and laypeople are
concerned. I have often been wrongly hesitant to really open myself
to women in our congregations for fear they would discover I was
a mere mortal with hurts and hang-ups (and bizarre phobias). It's
almost like discovering your doctor failed Anatomy 101. Can you
have confidence in his diagnosis when he doesn't have the credentials
to back it up? That type of fear is what caused me to hold back rather
than to admit I was imperfect and risk how that would affect our
ministry. Could church members follow a man whose wife sometimes
missed her quiet times and had leftover chicken nuggets from
the last fast-food kid's meal under the seats of her car? I didn't know
because I didn't give myself the chance to find out.
    And on the flip side, though I can't say I've ever had it happen
to me personally, there are those women who will try to befriend the
wives of the ministers because of a seeming "inside track" they may
gain.
    What if the apostle Paul had quit when those who had worked
closely with him in ministry maligned him? What a loss if he had
cut himself off forever from Mark instead of allowing a reconciliation
that resulted in a deep appreciation and friendship. What if he'd
said, "No more!" after he'd gotten one beating too many? He could
have settled into a nice home in the Judean countryside with nary
a stoning or whipping in sight. However, he knew his calling wasn't
in safety but in sacrifice. You will never be content on the sidelines
when God has called you to the field.

"Somewhere in the South Pacific"

    The movement of WACs to New Guinea was beginning to escalate- more to Moresby, others breaking new ground at Oro Bay and Hollandia on the Dutch half of New Guinea which, incidentally, is the largest island in the world next to Greenland. Lt. Velma "Pat" Griffith, a Hoosier of f,'Teat good humor and press savvy served as the only public relations officer for several thousand WACs scattered over an area about the size of Western Europe. Without her, the war would have seemed much longer- and probably would have been.

    It was finally conceded that Pat deserved an enlisted assistant, and, in looking over the field, she decided that no one was more convincingly enlisted than I. The job was mine but I'd be stalled at yeronga while she winged off to Hollandia to prepare a place for me. In the interim, she suggested I make myself useful to a cadre lieutenant named Opgrand who hadn't the slightest idea what to do with me.

    Lacking direction, I cranked out hometown releases on the whole rear echelon which, measured in line count, produced my greatest body of work ever.

    Unofficially, I had also become the resident ghost writer of those let-down letters known as "dear Johns." With such a plethora of escorts close at hand, a number of my camp mates decided to tenninate earlier alliances with gentle words tl1ey felt unable to express. Thus I became proxy pen pal, trying to break off relationships through some of the most creative work I have ever done. Except, possibly, expense accounts in my later life.

    About this time, a lurid domestic jomnal called Truth was establishing a far from tmthful predecessor for what the States would later know as the supermarket tabloid. WACs did not escape attention.

    Its pages screeched the plight of war-weary diggers - liberated, evacuated, or rotated home - finding the girls they left behind occupied with an inexhaustible supply of Yanks. Truth claimed WACs were forbidden to date diggers and, given the availability of their own countrymen, wouldn't if they could.
First part: false; second part: probably true.

    The accusation should have been ignored. Instead, someone up the chain of command decided to make peace, not war, by committing four of us to an enchanted evening witl1 four of them. And Opgrand fmally fOtmd a use for me; I would chair this allied assignation.

    Tarted up in A unifonns and jeep-lifted to a deserted and darkening stretch of Brisbane docklands, we joined our escorts aboard a launch that looked like the last out of Dunkirk. Casting off for what we anticipated as a leisurely river cmise, the boatman steered to midstream, dropped anchor, curled up over the wheel and promptly went to sleep.

    At this point, we began to doubt the efficacy of detente. Displaying our best boarding school manners, we enthused over the picnic supper laid out on the cabin roof, then stuffed ourselves, ever so slowly, with its bounty (excluding the Matmite.) We admired the beverage choice (beer, gin, no mixes) and politely asked for water.

    Down to our last time-killing ploy, conversation, we talked long, enthusiastically, and without a whit of real knowledge about war strategy, Australian football, Labor Party politics, heroics at Gallipoli, and cricket. Despite the bone-chilling cold, we steadfastly stressed our preference for the bracing open air over the warm and cozy cabin below into which one of our hosts optimistically disapperu·ed to plump the pillows on two couches. His buddies, no grammarians to start with, were soon ending every sentence with a proposition.

Here's Looking At You, Kids

    The oral history of a family, while valuable, tends to change as
it drifts through generations. Events are viewed differently by
different people; memories fade, and tales are often edited or
embellished to suit the teller. Without photographs, much family
history would be lost or inaccurate. Photos acquaint us with
kinfolk we never knew, and keep alive the memory of those who've
gone before us. They enable us to go home again and visit the past.
Pictures shore up and enrich memories; fill in details when the
mind fails. Pictures provide answers to genealogy questions. A
license plate on a car marked Just Married identifies the year a
couple wed and the state in which to find their marriage license.
    My mother had her Kodak box camera handy from the first
days of marriage, when she took a picture of her husband and
their firstborn on the farmhouse porch. Poppy was debonair in
a suit and a snap-brim cap; Joe wore baby attire, complete with
high-button shoes. Then Poppy turned the camera on Ma and
Joe (Poppy's shadow is visible in the photo). Ma is fashionably
dressed in a cloche, a coat with a fur collar, black hose and
shoes. Her hat tells me they were dressed for church; Catholic
women covered their heads back then.
    More children followed, and Ma's pictorial story unfolded
over three decades. In the driveway at the farm, a bevy of
children, along with aunts, uncles, and cousins, are piled atop
and around a car, reminiscent of a scene from The Grapes Of
Wrath.
    My two oldest brothers posed atop a snow-covered farm
building, verifying the mountains of snow during the blizzards
of 1936-37. Tunnels were dug to the barn to feed the animals,
and for thirty-eight consecutive days the temperature ranged
from zero to thirty-five below.
    There's a picture labeled: Christmas day, 1946, when we
traipsed outdoors coatless to prove that Iowa has warm winter
days. Another picture recalls for me not only my wool pants
suit made from my brother's Navy uniform, but the seamstress
who made it. Emma Tjossem was a tiny widow who smelled like
Sen-Sen. She lived across the street from the park, upstairs in
someone's house, with the outdoor flight of stairs around back.
She wore a pincushion bracelet, a tape measure necklace, and
a dress adorned with snippets of thread.
    I know that we were as poor as the proverbial church mouse,
but our apparel would not reveal that to strangers viewing our
pictures. I've looked at other people's pictures from that era
and my family doesn't look much different than they do. Our
clothing was home sewn, from church rummage sales, and
store-bought. Garments and shoes were handed down from one
to the next until there wasn't an hour's worth of wear left.
    We were captured in play clothes and dirty faces, and
scrubbed faces and angelic white for First Communion and
Confirmation. For the latter occasions the boys had fresh
haircuts; their curls, cowlicks, or crew cuts slicked down or up
with a comb dipped in water. We girls added veils, ribbons, or
bows to our pipe-curls. We each held a new rosary draped over
a new prayer book; white for girls, black for boys.
    We wore feed sack dresses and pinafores, mannish little boy
three piece suits, knickers, Army nurse and cowboy costumes,
overalls, coveralls, sweaters, snowsuits, mackinaws, pea jackets,
and coats pinned shut where buttons had been. The boys wore
blue denim jeans they called "whoopee pants." I don't know
why. With the jeans they wore "inner-outer" shirts. You guessed
it, they could be worn tucked in or hanging out.
    Our heads were capped with baby bonnets, Easter hats, ear
flappers, stocking caps, headscarves, and turbans. We were
shod in high-tops, oxfords, loafers, patent leather, sandals,
saddle shoes, and four buckle overshoes. In winter, our knobbykneed
little girl legs were covered with full-length brown cotton
stockings, wrinkled like an elephant's legs from the long johns
underneath. When it grew warm, we shed the underwear and
rolled the stockings into plump doughnuts around our ankles.
Then we switched to anklets or bobby socks, next came bare
legs and, finally, bare feet. Ah; summer had arrived.
    Pictures tell me about my three older sisters as teenagers.
Sometimes pudgy, other times slim, they were perky, giggly,
pouty, coy, and sexy. Their hair styles and clothing reveal
that they were fashion conscious. The two older girls rolled
their hair in pads called "rats," or used home permanents
to set it into tight curls. The youngest of the trio didn't need
accouterments. Her hair was naturally curly, coal black, thick,
and lustrous. When war brought a hosiery shortage, they wore
leg makeup and drew seam lines up the backs of their legs.
They dolled up in hats or snoods, spectator pumps, wedgies,
and sling-back shoes, pleated slacks, shorts and midriffs,
dirndl skirts, blouses tied under their bosoms, Rosie The
Riveter overalls, and dresses whose style has come and gone
again.
    My younger brothers, Larry and Danny, were photographed
seated in a homemade wagon, adorable in over-sized caps. A

couple of years later, Ma caught the same pair, plus four friends,
perched on a bench like crows on a telephone line, reading
comic books. The twin babies of the family are shown doing
this, that, and the other thing. Coming along in late 1945 after
the deaths of two children within seventeen months, twins
brought Ma's models to a baker's dozen.
    Norma had died at fifteen from kidney disease; eight -monthold
Donnie from pneumonia. The last picture taken of Norma
belied her illness; only my parents knew she was dying. I was
eight at the time, and nine-and-a-half when Donnie died. I
recall their deaths, but almost nothing about their lives. Family
snapshots verify their brief existence.
    Ma sometimes stopped her work and our play and appeared
with her camera. "Hold still a minute," she'd say, and we'd
freeze like a game of statues. On one such day, when winter
had conceded to spring, she posed us in the yard where the sun
had melted enormous mounds of snow. The resulting picture,
showing trees and houses mirrored in large puddles, was one
of her favorites.
    "Larry, you little devil, get away," she often said when she
had a select group of us arranged just so. "I want only the girls
in this picture." But like Alfred Hitchcock appearing in all his
own movies, Larry played the extra in our scenes. His mug can
be seen behind a bush or in the corner somewhere.
    One day I asked Ma to show me how to use her camera. She
handed it over and instructed, "Hold it at your waist, find the
picture in the window, and push this button. The sun should be
behind you. Turn this knob after every picture or you'll have a
double exposure."
    "Who should I take a picture of?" I asked.
    '~nyone but me," she replied. She preferred being on the
business end of the camera rather than the object of its curious
eye.
    When I began earning money of my own, in the 1950s, I
bought a camera with a flash attachment. This opened new
possibilities: we could be photographed inside as well as
outdoors. That was about the time Ma retired her old black
box, thinking, I imagine, that newer is better. Not always so.
I had several cameras after that, but the color has faded from
many prints taken only a few years ago. Ma's black and white
images remain sharp, and continue conveying stories to her
grandchildren and their children and beyond. Many are now
spread across the Internet and on Facebook.
    Ma could never have imagined the photographic legacy
she left us. But I thank her for it whenever I sift through the
treasure trove of images, all of them now digitalized and shared
with several generations.

Ohhhh Canada

    I went to preschool at Saint joseph's Church, and I'd give a shout out
to the teacher now if I could remember who she was. There were a few
things that happened at preschool that I would like to touch upon that
stick out in my mind. One time, we were having big wheel races down
the empty parking lot outside and everyone knew that the Spider Man
big wheel was not only the coolest but seemed to go the fastest. Two by
two, we would line up and make our way down the marked raceway. Well,
I had lined up in a way that allowed me to get the sought after Spidey
Mobile.
    As the kid in front of me walked the masked beauty with the three
wheels my way, some bitch girl cut in front of me and got on it. There are
several things you don't do to a man, and at that time I knew only one:
Do not touch my Spider Man big wheel! This girl clearly didn't know. I
figured the teacher lady would have my back and take this wench away.
Wrong! She just told me to get in the other one to take my turn. I looked
over and saw a creme-colored frame, purple wheels, and a giant Cabbage
Patch Kid head on the front of the handle bars. I knew at that early age
that this wasn't good at all.
    I could cry and scream and tell on her and get my Spider Man bike
back, or I could take this girlie ass CPK doll bike and somehow whip
h er ass down this track. I got myself all amped up go race and after

a quick pump-up talk I was ready to do this shit. I braced myself for
this showdown and was waiting for the word to go when I looked at my
opponent for a brief but intimidating stare down. Just as I did this, the
teacher yelled "Go!" The girl took off like we all knew Spider Man would
and caught a little plastic on the pavement. She kicked up a little bit of
gravel, and she was gone. I would love to say that I caught her on the
backstretch and pulled off the miracle at St. ] oes, but I cannot lie. She
whipped my ass down that hill, but I know to this day that she butted my
line and took my ride.
    Another incident happening at preschool was someone threw a
rock through the window of our classroom and got glass all over the
magic carpet. Upon this discovery, our teach er b egan crying. We weren't
afforded the customary naptime that day, so to whoever threw that rock,
you owe me some sleep bitch. We went on a field trip to go sled riding
later that winter and that's when I got in trouble at school for the first
of a lot of times. Apparently as the day was winding down, the teacher
began yelling for and herding us in, and I didn't hear her, so I kept on
sledding. I really didn't hear her, and she came up to me and dragged
me to the bus just as I got to the top of the hill for another go at it.
She scolded me in front of everyon e. I felt terrible and started crying,
because I was shy and wasn't yet the little shit head that I'd become.
    !-leading into Kindergarten, I was nervous as most kids are but also
wanted to go to school because my older brother Damien was already
in second grade and anything he did, I was all about that. Back in the
1980s in Oil City at least, you had the choice between morning nonnal
kindergarten and afternoon kindergarten. My mom sent me in the
afternoon. I have never asked why she didn't send me in the morning with
my older brother who was by now going full days, but it is my personal
belief that if I went in at ten or eleven or whatever time I had to be there,
that she would be rid of me for the afternoon, and thus freeing up time
for The Young and the R estless. Again that's only my personal assumption.
I enjoyed going to school, and in Oil City, there were only four main
elementary schools going from Kindergarten through fifth grade. They
were Lincoln Elementary, Seventh Street Elementary, Hasson Heights
Elementary, and Smedley Elementary. Since we moved around as often
as people did on America's Most Wanted Top Ten lists, I did a couple
tours of each school.
    Mter the first day or two of school, I began walking to school by
myself which was a few blocks away. This is true. I walked there alone and
home in the afternoon with Damien, who probably shouldn't have been

walking himself but nonetheless we forged on and made the best of it. I
do remember in first grade being in Miss. Scott's class, I accidentally shit
myself and absolutely could not bear to tell anyone. I vividly remember
thinking 'just get through the day and you'll be OK" Every time Miss.
Scott carne over to my side of the class, she made a face, and curled her
nose like she was sniffing the air. I knew I was busted now that this damn
basset h ound with the shit-seeking missile nose was on to me. "What is
that smell?" she would say with disgust. "It's terrible." All the kids around
me would immediately point at rne and say "It's him, Ms. Scott ... it's
him!" "No, it's not," I lied. Finally, she pulled me in the hall and did an
embarrassing check of the back of my pants revealing that indeed it was
me, with the turd, in the classroom as if I had cleverly devised a solo game
of Clue. Bodily Function Edition. I was sent to the office where surprisingly
they had extra clothes for the kids my age that may occasionally do their
thing in the privacy of a cramped desk as opposed to the privacy of a
bathroom stall or at the very least a kitty litter box. Unfortunately for
me, however, the ensemble of pants thrown down to 1ne to choose from
wasn't would one would consider for fashion week. I was very poor with
mismatched clothing as it were already, but this was a bit too much . The
pants were a white base (after Labor Day) with red, green, brown, and
black stripes all over them in a vertical pattern. This, along with my orange
shirt, did not look like something anyone should be wearing.

'One's Real Life Is the Life One Does Not Lead'

 They say we only have one life, but some people make a
career out of resisting that idea. Everyone starts with a blank
page, but all too soon the biographical data creep up on us:
where and when we were born, to whom, in what order and
of what gender, who taught us, who loved us and who did
not. The facts crowd in and shape our options. Actors,
bigamists and conmen are some of those who keep grabbing
for a fresh sheet of paper on which to reinvent their lives.
    Actors are parasites. We function through other people's
inventions and borrow other people's lives. Protected by the
camoutlage of character, we can express our truest selves and.
yet avoid detection. We are moving targets. We are refiections
,but which is more 'real'-the light or the reflected light?
    A Memory
    I am about five years old . I am wafting Isadora-1ike round the
drawing. room of our London home to Chopin's Nocturnes
on the gramophone. I wallow in the melancholy as only the
young and basiailly hopeful can bear to do. The hugeness of
my yearnings threatens to burst my little seams. My
aspirations are as deep as the music, as high as the sky. And
yet I cannot name them.
   Now I am eleven. I have been taken to Covent Garden to
wateh Rudolf Nureyev dance As he spins and leaps he takes
me  with him.THe Nameless Aspiration is within groping
distance. I want to dance like him? No, I want to be him? No,
not exactly. I want to be the music? That's getting nearer but
still not right. I woulld just have to carry on groping.
    Meanwhile, there was childhood to get through.
    An Early Leuon
    In reality I was an unexcptional child, the younger and
weedier of two girls being brought up in uneventful comfort
in London in the 1950s. I juggled those irreconcilable
opporites that go with the job of growing up. I was both
massively important and totally insignificaut at the same
time. I was shy but desperate to shatter my shell and be
heard.
    I was surprised to hear my mother and sister say very
recently that they remember me as being very funny as a
child- According to my own memory; my sister was unbeat-
ably hilarious (to this day n.o one can make me laugh like &he
an) and deletve.d the limelight every time.
    At my first school, I was the one who ducked under the
desk when they were lookimg for volunteers to be in tlle play.
I suspect this had more to do with cowardice and pride than
modesty. Already acting wu too important for me to be seen
doing it badly.
    However, in the safety of my own home I do recall the
sweaty exhilaration of being given my head in the
'entertainments' which my sister and I would knock up from
time to time . One evening, my act in front of the grown-ups
seemed to be going pretty well when suddenly, by some adult
yardstick which totally bewildered me, 1 must have tipped
over a limit.
    'Now you're just showing of£. .. ' said by a friend of the
family. Jam on the brakes. Screech to a halt. Then an interminable
huff. I bad been a star for a few minutes, now all of
a sudden I was a worm . There never seemed to be anything
in between.
    We have all been there. But why can I still feel the sting of
that slap in the face? In a way it was my first acting lesson,
delivered in a teacher's voice, stern and witheringly gentle .
Learning through shame, is that the deal! Fair enough .
Swallow hard.
    The thing was to learn to anticipate that point of going
'over the top' and temper the act myself.
    Compared to the dangers of real life, the stage can be the
safest place on earth.

Famous Fashion Designers

Fashion designers use flair and know-how to create everything from hospital uniforms to the eye-popping outfits worn by rock stars and models. Jobs for fashion designers are expected to grow more slowly than the average for all careers through 2014, according to government economists. A study of the work of several other fashion designers records how fashion changed throughout the decade.

Fashion

Fashion design is also a labor of love, requiring long hours and little chance of superstardom -- but for many, the work itself is the reward. Fashion designers, in fact, are some of the most creative and eclectic people that you will ever meet. Men's fashions during the 19th and 20th centuries have been conservative and dull in comparison to women's. The fashion industry is a big part of our economy. Here is a short list: Chanel Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel (1883-1971) created feminine fashion that provided the feeling of luxury and combined traditional women's clothing with styles, fabrics, and articles of clothing used by men. Her fashion revolution liberated women to express their femininity with elegance and grace.

The Hollywood film "The Devil Wears Prada", starring Meryl Streep, has brought a lot of attention to the world of fashion. More information about Prada Versace Gianni Versace (1946-1997) became interested in fashion working in his mother's small dress shop. By 1978 he had become a design leader of women's and men's fashions. More information about Giorgio Armani Jean-Paul Gaultier (1952- ) is a French fashion designer who never received formal design training. In 1967 he purchased the Polo label and launched a world-wide fashion empire that includes clothing lines for men and women.

Fashion

The high prices commanded by the fashionable Fendi purses have created a large market for fake goods from Asia bearing logos that are eerily similar to the inverted FF. In 1985, they took part in a fashion show featuring "New Talent", and the following year, they presented their first independent women's ready-to-wear show. You'd have to be walking around with a shopping bag over your head to not realize that fashion is everywhere. In order to succeed in the often cutthroat--and frequently debt-ridden--world of fashion, designers can no longer hide behind their model's skirts.

Most fashion designers, however, work for apparel manufacturers, creating designs of men's, women's, and children's fashions for the mass market. Employment growth for fashion designers will be slowed, however, by declines in the apparel manufacturing industries Designers in most fields are expected to face strong competition for available positions.

Most women of means had a dressmaker who would create garments according to the latest fashions. Instead of catering strictly to a few wealthy clients, coveted fashion designers now create product lines ranging from perfumes to pantyhose that can reach consumers at every price point. "Consumers at the middle and lower level have realized they can get just as good a fashion direction with clothing at disposable prices that they can wear once and throw away--or if it falls apart, who cares.

Making a Fashion Designer Salary

Donna Karan, Christian Dior, Ralph Lauren - who knows how many millions these famous designers pocket yearly as a fashion designer salary? The average fashion designer, on the other hand, makes much less than this, more so for those in entry-level positions. But the good thing about the fashion industry is that it pays well, and there's a lot of room for growth and a hefty pay raise for those who are really motivated.Christian Dior, Ralph Lauren - who knows how many millions these famous designers pocket yearly as a fashion designer salary? The average fashion designer, on the other hand, makes much less than this, more so for those in entry-level positions. But the good thing about the fashion industry is that it pays well, and there's a lot of room for growth and a hefty pay raise for those who are really motivated.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the normal fashion designer salary range is very wide, with starting pay grades at around $32,500 per annum for the lowest ten percent and a whopping $130,890 annually for those in the highest ten percent. The median annual fashion designer salary is at $74,440 and the average annual salary is $64,530.

Factors Affecting Salaries

The fashion industry has a very broad scope, encompassing so many different fields globally. It even crosses boundaries to interact with other professions and industries. Because of this, there are quite a number of positions in the field, from seamstresses to fashion advertising executives. Position is of course the main factor affecting a fashion designer salary. The higher you rise, the more you get paid, and there are certain areas in fashion that pay more than others.

Educational background is another thing that employers consider when promoting people and wages. The more knowledge and skills you have, the more confident your employers will be in you and the more likely you are to rise in the ranks. Another thing to consider is the geographic location. There are more opportunities in the urban areas, especially in the known fashion capitals like New York, L.A., or Paris and you'll have better chances of earning a higher fashion designer salary.

High-Paying Areas

According to research, the highest-paying areas in fashion are those that have to do with the film and television industries, wholesalers, footwear manufacturing, electronic market and durable goods. The highest employment levels were in piece goods, apparel merchant wholesalers, cut-and-sew apparel, notions, knitting mills and specialized design services.employment levels were in piece goods, apparel merchant wholesalers, cut-and-sew apparel, notions, knitting mills and specialized design services.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has also forecast that between 2008 and 2018, there will be little change in the industry, as the high demand for fashion designers and other career opportunities continues to draw fierce competition. Clothing brands that mass-produce for the public are said to have the best chances for success. In the United States, the highest-paying states for fashion as of 2010 were New Hampshire, New York, Maine, Wisconsin and California. Meanwhile, New York, California, New Jersey, Ohio and Florida had the highest employment rates in the American fashion industry.career opportunities continues to draw fierce competition. Clothing brands that mass-produce for the public are said to have the best chances for success. In the United States, the highest-paying states for fashion as of 2010 were New Hampshire, New York, Maine, Wisconsin and California. Meanwhile, New York, California, New Jersey, Ohio and Florida had the highest employment rates in the American fashion industry.

There are other related occupations that you might want to consider, such as interior design, jewelry, metal and precious stone workers, artists, photographers, writers and editors. Interior designers contribute by creating beautiful and safe office spaces and may even help during shows while those in the jewellery are in charge of producing accessories and other materials for clothing. If you really want a fashion designer salary, you'll have to work your way up by using your skills and talents and find your niche in the industry.Interior designers contribute by creating beautiful and safe office spaces and may even help during shows while those in the jewellery are in charge of producing accessories and other materials for clothing. If you really want a fashion designer salary, you'll have to work your way up by using your skills and talents and find your niche in the industry.

Samantha Lorence is a consultant for up and coming fashion designers and her mission is to get aspiring designers to get the best start possible. She likes searching the web and other resources to seek out what is worth while and what you should steer clear of.

How to Be a Fashion Designer

To be or not to be a fashion designer is a tough choice. Fashion designers are not people you get introduced to all the time. And successful fashion designers are usually too busy or too secretive to share how they got the job. So it can be a dilemma on whether you should take the plunge and invest a small fortune on an unknown future.

No rewarding career in life is ever made to be simple. Fashion design is no exception. Famous designers work extremely hard for their fame and money. But one thing is for sure - if you plan from the start to dedicate yourself, half the battle is won.

Many professionals in the fashion industry will readily agree that fashion students nowadays think that they deserve a paycheck without "paying their dues." What dues, you ask? Most of them might sound like modern-day slavery. This includes frequent 18-hour work days; weekends spent at work; fetching coffee for the entire department; and being criticized and picked on constantly by co-workers.

Yes, the horror stories you see on reality TV are true. Some of them at least. In a creative industry, anything can happen. So be prepared for it.

Still want to be a fashion designer come hell or rain?

Here are three mantras you should memorize:

1) Your portfolio is your design identity

Just like how celebrity models value their looks and work on maintaining their charm, you have to do the same for your portfolio. Future employers and the public are going to judge you based on your skill to design fabulous pieces. And your portfolio is going to show them exactly what you are capable of.

No matter how hard you work, procrastination can be really hard to beat sometimes. So the best way to get the most versatile fashion design portfolio would be to enroll for a fashion course. Being in school will force you to leave your comfort zones. With the right training and dedication, results are often impressive.

2) Understand why people dress the way they do

The Japanese have their kimonos, the Indians have their saris, and the Chinese have their cheongsams. Even though global fashion is now mainly influenced by top fashion cities like Paris, New York, and London, people around the world still dress differently. A true fashion designer has the EQ to understand what customers want and need.

Are people feeling warm in tropical climates? Do others need to cover up for religious reasons? What kind of jobs do they have? Are your designs simplistic yet stylish enough to be worn every day?

When it comes to fashion psychology, the variables are endless. Yes, you may argue that it is more fun to design for haute couture. But in reality, fashion is more of a business than an art. Even the rich from the highest echelons are still humans. One of the best ways to grow as a fashion designer is to create clothes for everyday people.

The exciting bit about fashion is that it changes every day. So no two days will ever be exactly the same.

3) Find a good fashion school

It can make all the difference in your life. Good schools have the facilities you need. And they also hire lecturers who are well-connected within the industry. Have plans to be an international fashion designer? Consider enrolling into an international school. This allows you to meet many sorts of people from around the world. And it can help you learn a bit more about understanding people like mentioned earlier.

While in school, you will work on assignments necessary to build the best portfolio before you graduate. You will make your own fashion collections, sketch your best designs, and pay homage by studying about the various designs and designers that made fashion history. A fashion design student's life is nothing short of colorful and exciting.

If you feel that your country may be too conservative for full creative expression, an alternative is to study fashion abroad. Countries like Australia and Singapore are ideal for an English-speaking environment and career opportunities after graduation.

Feeling adventurous? Studying in developing nations can help you save money on craft materials. Not to mention, countries with strong manufacturing industries allow you to build a contact list of reliable suppliers. This will come in handy when you want to start your own label. Living costs in a developing nation is also less costly, so you spend less on your overall education. Countries like China, Thailand, and Sri Lanka can offer you this experience.

Want to find out more about studying fashion design abroad?

Everyone's case is unique and we want to give the best advice that works for you. To ensure quality education every semester, there are limited seats in Raffles. And they are filling up fast! Need more information? Fill up an enquiry form and an experienced Education Consultant will provide you with a free consultation.

Donald, International Admissions Director of Raffles Education Corporation, a leading education provider in Asia Pacific operating 36 fashion design colleges across 33 cities in 13 countries (Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, China, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Sri Lanka & Indonesia). Certifications such as Advanced Diploma, Bachelor and Master Degrees are also offered for various design disciplines such as visual communication, animation, multimedia, interior design, product design, jewellery design, biomedical, infocomm security and early childhood.

Fashion Designer Handbags - Totes

INTRODUCTI0N: Most Designers carry a selection of their designer handbags for their fashion collector patron's choice. This article will have written descriptions for all of the selected designer handbags.

TOTE HANDBAGS: These handbags are large and come in various styles, colors and shapes. The shell materials are canvas, various types of leather, different methods of detailing and a number of other combinations to offer the fashion conscious owner with a beautiful designer handbag that is functional and attractive. Examples of Tote Handbags are as follows: 

• The Prada Vitello Designer Tote Handbag in luxurious Carmel color; pebble grained leather is very striking and stylish. This designer handbag is rectangular in shape with a single leather shoulder strap. The gold tone hardware combined with the Carmel shell and the fully lined interior gives an elegant statement of the owners taste in fine fashion. The interior has a zipper pocket and cell phone compartment. The designer's Logo is on the side of the bag. The dimensions are: 15"L x 13"H x 6"W


• This Gucci Ivory GG Plus Tote Designer Tote Handbag in Ivory coated canvas with tan leather trim and leather shoulder straps is a very classic fashion handbag! The shape is rectangular. The Tan detail strips allows the designer to give a beautifully striking contrast with the Ivory background. A very tastefully fashioned bag with lined interior and interior pockets to store items for easy access. Material: Coated Canvas and Leather. Double leather shoulder straps with 8" drop. The dimensions are: 12.5"L x 9"H x 5"W.


• The Gucci Abbey Convertible Tote Fashion Handbag in Black Logo Nylon with pebble leather trim is a unique combination of leather and fabric in which the designer and craftsmen have joined their skills to produce a beautiful high fashion product. The shape is rectangular. This handbag is a designer's gem that will always be in style. The Tote provides the owner with variations in its use. It is comfortable to carry over the shoulder, on the arm or by hand. The dimensions are: 18"L x 14"H x 2"W.


• This Gucci Red Tote Handbag is the perfect accessory for the Fashion Bag Collector. The shape is rectangular. The fire engine red, Designer Logo canvas and gold tone hardware will have you looking stylish and sophisticated! The owner should be ready to receive positive comments from their friends and associates for their excellent taste in designer handbags. This stunning bag has a red leather straps and trim, an interior zip pocket, a cell phone pocket and an open top. The dimensions are: 4.75"D x 7.5"H x 13.5"L.

Please visit our web site to check out these and many other European fashion designer handbags. We sell at wholesale prices. The bags can be viewed in Designer Handbag Category on the web site shown in this Resource Box. This provides the reader with an image of the subject bag for the reader's information. Have a wonderful day!! Jewell

Fashion-Designer-Handbags - Boston Handbags

NTRODUCTI0N: Most Designers carry a selection of their designer bags for their fashion collector patron's choice. The descriptions of these selected designer Boston Handbags gives the reader information about the characteristics of the bags.

BOSTON HANDBAGS: Boston handbags are mid-size to large roomy bags which gives the owner a beautiful, fashionable image to their friends, associates and other travelers. The bags usually have the shape of a tube or a rectangle box with a carrying handle or shoulder strap. They have tough, durable shells and handles or straps for the long haul trip. Many of the handbags have studded feet on the bottom of the bag to protect the bottom from wear. These bags are designed by famous brand designers who combine various materials, colors, workmanship and detail to produce attractive, pleasing products admired and used around the world by fashion conscious people. There are many Designer Boston Handbags. A few of the Boston Bags are described below.

• The Burberry Nova Check Designer Boston Bag is beautifully detailed with the stylish Canvas beige and black bag, trimmed with black patent leather and is finished with gun-metal hardware. The bags shape is a rounded rectangle box. This beautiful bag has double leather handles for easy carrying. Drop: 5.5 inches. Dimensions: 11"L x 7"H x 6 "W. The bag is made in Italy.


• This Gucci Silver Designer Boston Handbag is in fashionable metallic silver canvas with designer logos and metallic silver leather trim. The bag has double leather handles. The shape of the bag is a rounded rectangle box. It features Interior zipper pocket, interior Cell Phone compartment, protective stud feet, and fully lined in black canvas fabric. Dimensions: 12"L x 7"H x 4.5"W. The bag is made in Italy.


• This beautiful Gucci Burgundy Designer Boston Handbag with burgundy shell and coordinating leather trim is fully lined in cloth. The signature material is water-resistant and durable. The bag's shape is a rounded  rectangle box. Light gold tone hardware complements this fabulous bag. The detail and workmanship puts this bag as a must have to express your exquisite taste in your accessories. The bag is made in Italy. Dimensions: 13.8"L x 7.5"H x 5.2"W


• A timeless classic is the Gucci Princy Boston Designer Handbag. The designer has joined the classic Boston shape with the designer's crystal canvas and traditional web detailing to create a stunning handbag. The color is Beige/Ebony. It is fully lined in dark brown cotton with interior zipper pocket and cell phone compartment. The bag has a zip top closure. The bag is made in Italy. Dimensions: 15"L x 10"H x 4.5"W.


• This Yves Saint Laurent Designer Gold Leather 32 Top Handle Bag in a gold metallic leather is a striking handbag. It features welted seamed detail along front and back, front and rear zip compartments. This bag has a shape of a rounded rectangular box. The bag has dual interior open top compartments with center two-way zip compartment, satin lining with interior zip and cell phone pocket. Measures 13"W x 11"H x 4"D with 2 dual leather handles with 4 drop. Five metal base feet protect the bottom of the bag.

Make your dreams come true. Visit our designer handbag web page: http://www.sexysandalshoes.com to check out these and many other European fashion designer handbags. These and other designer handbags may be viewed at Designer Handbags on our web site. We sell at wholesale prices where you can save up to 50 % of the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price. We guarantee our products are New and the Quality of the Workmanship and Authenticity of the designer Brand Name.

Women's Shoe Designers - Steve Madden

Steve Madden is a designer for and the founder and former CEO of Steve Madden ltd. a shoe company that is known for its high heeled shoes inspired by thick chunky heels from the 1970's.Steve Madden is a designer for and the founder and former CEO of Steve Madden ltd. a shoe company that is known for its high heeled shoes inspired by thick chunky heels from the 1970's.

Madden founded the company in early 90's. In the early years of the company, the shoes were produced and designed out of a small factory in Queens, New York. He started the business with a little over 1,000 dollars worth of seed money, and launched his entire career and company, from a small, single line of shoes.

Although Madden is no longer CEO or on the board of directors, he still plays a major part in designing the shoes that the company makes. In fact his return as a designer for the company he founded was part of a major design launch in the Spring of 2005. In 2006 the company was named Company of the Year at the Footwear News Achievement Awards, allowing his company to continue to redefine itself.

Steve Madden Designer Shoes have been a well respected name for 20 years, and the brand has expanded over the years as styles have changed. While many of the shoes still are inspired by the thick clunky heels of the 70's that first inspired Madden to become a shoe designer, the brand and styles have continued to evolve over time.

Today, the company that Madden created has a wide variety of product lines that includes shoes for men, women and children, as well as a line of designer handbags. The company has grown immensely from its humble beginnings and now has an average revenue of 450 million dollars each year.

The company is known for its iconic style of shoes, handbags and accessories, many of which Steve Madden himself designs. They are often bold, and are fashion forward. The brand of shoes is popular world wide and can be seen on many superstars and fashion models.

In addition to his work as a designer, Steve Madden has been known to occasionally participate in charity work. In particular he did some relief work after the 2010 Haiti Earthquake.

The Steve Madden Designer Shoe brand continues to be very popular because of its iconic style. It is particularly popular with teenagers who really identify with the line of bold stacked heels. Madden shoes are in the moderately high priced range with heels averaging between $50- $150 per pair.

Fashion Designer David Dixon "The Designer Guy"

Fashion designer David Dixon, is known as the "designer guy". He is recognized as one of the leaders in Canadian fashion and as one of the most respected designers.

This year he celebrates his lines 10th anniversary. From 1995 to 2000 Dixon was a Toronto Fashion Incubator. However, he became tired of working for other designers, so he pushed out on his own using the TFI resources to get his start.

After some struggling and an interesting roller coaster ride, Dixon has become quite a successful designer and his name has become well recognized in the fashion industry.

Dixon graduated from Ryerson Polytechnic University in 1994. He was named the City of Toronto New Designer of the Year in 1996, Fur Council of Canada Bronze in 1998. and the Matinee Fashion Foundation Grant Recipient in 1999 and 2000.

Dixon Strives aims for growth in his collections. Evolution is important to him as he is known to thrive on change. He is not a man to find success and stick with it. His designs are every changing, fluid and in motion.

He constantly is on the move working with the passion of an artist deep in thought. Dixon is a man that follows his heart and grabs the moment. His fashions are more than fashion, they reflect the inner deeper sole.

Dixon's collections can be found in Canada, the Middle East and parts of the United States. He is known for using unusual fabrications to create a simple silhouette. David Dixon's signature is built on fabric.

Each of his collections features at least one unique accent. Last season he used ostrich feathers on skirts and dresses. Dixon is often associated with Glamour and Romance. For the women who wears Dixon age is never a factor.

His fashions are designed for woman of all ages, but you must be a woman with a sense of fashion and love the bold and unusual lines Dixon tends to use.

Just have a look at Dixon's 2005 Summer collection. Romantic, Glamorous, yet done in classic lines he so loves. It is obvious that he stays true to his heart with black and white.

This seasons collection is not only romantic, it is trendy. Dixon's heavily uses capri pant, floral prints, hot shade of ochre and brown go along way towards adding a little sizzle.

It is quite apparent that great thought has gone into mixing color with the lines of the garment and the fabric texture. His collection boasts of more than just another designer garment.

David's clothing is known for combining luxury with the functional, fantasy with the sensible. They say fashion reflects the society it is part of.

If that's the case Canada must be hopelessly romantic, elegant and just a little bit edgy.

Canada is often forgotten in the designer world, with places like Paris and Italy front and center stage. The designs of David Dixon have put Canada on the Fashion Radar Screen.

If you are a woman with a strong sense of fashion who wants more than just another designer garment, do take some time to check out Dixon's Spring and Summer collection, and watch for his fall collection coming soon.

Kids Ask, Fashion Designers Answer

To find out whatkids really wanted to
lmow about this profession, we went to the source and asked
real middle school students for questions they would ask a
working fashion designer. We posed their questions to two
busy young designers-Alison Dahl Kelly and Sean Shin.
Alison Kelly received national attention when she appeared
on Season Three of Project Runway on Bravo TV. She
studied fine arts and metalsmithing in Mexico, and she incorporates
her own sterling  clasps and notions into many
of her garments. Her first line, Run Rlot, soon became Dahl,
a line of one-of-a-kind dresses, tops, and jackets popular with
celebrities such as Hillary Duff.
Sean Shin specializes in menswear. He is currently an
assistant designer in the menswear department at Geoffrey
Beene. Beene was known for his simple, comfortable, and
dressy designs for women, but he also made clothes for men.
He died in 2004, but his popular brand lives on. Sean and four
other classmates from FIT also designed men's outfits for the
band Panic! at the Disco. Sean plans on introducing his own
line of men's fashion in the near future.

Top Fashion Designers

Most of us tend to stick to the high street for our retail therapy, but sometimes it's well worth spending a big extra on that special piece of designer clothing. The competition is fierce out there as there are loads of hot designers to choose from, all with unique and fabulous styles.

Burberry

Burberry is a British fashion label whose design is an instantly recognisable beige tartan colour. The label was created by Thomas Burberry in 1856, and has grown in popularity throughout the years. It is adored by celebrities including Sarah Jessica Parker, who is often seen wearing the designs in the Sex and the City television series. Burberry designs clothing and fashion accessories, with the latest range being a more tougher leather look, including thigh high boots and leather jackets. The 'right on trend' aviator jacket was also part of the Burberry collection, displayed recently at London Fashion Week.

Dolce and Gabbana

Dolce and Gabbana, or D & G as it is also known as, is a famous Italian fashion label created by two dynamic individuals. Dolce and Gabbana is famous for it's clothing, jewellery, footwear, with a large slice of the sunglasses market. Many of the clothes designed by the label are black in colour and the look is always sexy, young and extremely vibrant.

DKNY

DKNY (Donna Karan New York) was created by American designer, Donna Karan and has a sophisticated but fun style. The label's new collection features in House of Fraser and consists of lots of winter styles, including gorgeous cardigans and jackets. The DKNY label has many different brands, including DKNY Active, Kids and Baby.

Christian Dior

Christian Dior is a French design house, established in 1947. The label creates clothing and accessories, which are of a very feminine and sensual quality. Dior has many celebrity fans, including Charlize Theron and Sharon Stone. The latest collection from this designer follows with the latest trend of leather and sexy thigh high boots.

Marc Jacobs

American designer, Marc Jacobs is known for his feminine style, gorgeous dresses and fabulous cuts. Selma Blair and Soffia Coppola are both celebrity followers of this highly respected designer. Marc Jacobs latest collection has followed the current trends.

Prada

Prada is an Italian fashion label, which oozes celebrity status. This fashion label is
one of the top influences throughout the design world whose styles are worn by the crème de la crème of society. Prada is known for its feminine styles which are both sensual and seductive. Recently the fashion label has started to use more curvaceous women to model their clothing range, a positive move which is bound to spark a following from other competitors.

Chanel

Parisian fashion house, Chanel is a huge player in the fashion world, with an impressive celebrity following, including Nicole Kidman and Keira Knightley. The main trend by Chanel for this season is fur, and lots of it.

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen is a fashion label with plenty of pizazz and creativity. Many designs by this label are worn by Lady Ga Ga, which gives you an idea of how far out and imaginative the clothing ranges are.