Haute Couture

  Haute couture translates into "high fashion" and is fashion that is produced with a focus on fine detail and an attention to hand executed and time consuming techniques.  Haute Couture usually refers to clothing, but can also refer to a fashion houses or designers that create the looks.  Fashion houses that create stunning haute couture pieces are Guo Pei and Givenchy.  Design houses must pass certain criteria in order to label their pieces as haute couture, you must make made-to-order for private clients with at least one fitting, have a atelier in Paris that employs at least 15 staff full time, have at least 20 technical working staff in the atelier, and every season present 50 original designs to the public.  Crafting a couture garment is time consuming and can take anywhere from 100 hours upward to 700 hours to create one piece.  Due to the time consuming work put into the garment by skilled artisans, haute couture pieces start at 10,000 at least, but evening gowns usually range between 60,000 to 100,000.  These prices enable only the wealthy to get private fittings and purchase a haute couture piece, and only the extremely affluent can be regular costumers.

Source: http://www.stylevitae.com/

What 'needs' do you think clothing satisfies? Physical Needs?Emotional Needs? Other Needs? Provide specific examples to illustrate your answer.

   Clothing satisfies needs of an array of physical to emotional ones. Clothing can combat heat or insulate against the cold which would satisfy the need to be protected fro the weather conditions. In these cases people may wear layers of linens to block the UV rays from the sun, or a thick sweater to keep warm from the frigid climate. Clothing also relives emotional tensions because people can use fashion as an artistic outlet by expressing themselves through their outfits. Clothing can also satisfy emotions needs by allowing people to feel accepted.  This can be achieved by following trends or wearing certain garments to feel part of a clique or group. Clothing also satisfies technical needs, people wear certain garments to complete tasks with more efficiency. For example, a fire- fighter may wear thicker clothes to protect from extreme temperatures.

Source: (en.wikipedia.org)

In your opinion, does wearing school uniforms increase learning? reduce violence? reduce stereotyping and prejudice? Support your answer with specific examples.

 In my opinion, school uniforms do effect the amount of learning in a classroom and the academic capability of a student in a negative way. Wearing what students care to wear would induce comfort and make it easier to learn; school uniforms would take away from that. I don't think that uniforms reduce violence, I actually believe the contrary. This is because implementing school uniforms results in repressed individuality which paves the way for a weak sense of identity.  I think that school uniforms make it all that harder to express yourself, which may lead judging others. Students may become prejudice and victimize as an outlet from their own suppression.

Source: (argarments.yolasite.com)

What messages do you think you send through your clothing? What about other people? What messages do you think they send through the clothes they wear?

  I send messages about my interests of taste and aesthetics in my outfits I piece together. For example, when I layer clothing I display my style through the narrative I build with the different combinations of textures, shapes, and colors of the garments; or if I decide to wear a graphic tee, I am sending the message of the mood of the imagery.  I also send messages about what my mood is and what I am feeling. I embrace individuality with some unique pieces I have stored in my closet.  Others also show their style through their everyday clothing choices.  People also show off their financial status through the quality of fabrics they wear and rareness of the materials they own.  People send messages about their profession or enrollment in certain cliques or clubs when they wear uniforms or symbols belonging to something.

Why did you choose to study fashion? What do you hope to learn by taking a fashion class?

 I decided to study fashion design and textile art because I wanted to explore another art form to stimulate my creativity with a new medium. I always have been obsessed with creating and designing which lead me to believe that I was going to pursue engineering until I realized I was interested more in taste and aesthetics which resonates closely with the art of fashion. I enjoy to immerse myself in studies and academics because knowledge is liberating and opens many opportunities. I hope to learn about the craft of past designers and the artistry of the visionaries that paved the their names into the industry with their creative genius. I'd also appreciate to grasp comprehensive knowledge of the technical skills available to learn in the classroom. Another important aspect of this program that I'd like to take with me is the valuable employ-ability skills that could put me ahead of others competing for the same job opportunity. Lastly, I'd like to test my academic and artistic abilities by deeply involving myself in the course.