AboutZ. Amanda Chen Expertise I have always been interested in fashion and actually design/redesign some of my own clothes. Since I'm a teen, I can answer questions relating to teenage fashion, what kinds of clothes make you look older or younger than what you actually are, and where you can find bargains that resemble designer clothes. However, since I'm usually focused on the new, I don't know much about vintage clothing. Additionally, although I know a lot about skirts, shorts, and shoes, outerwear fashion is beyond me.
Experience I design or redesign some of my own clothes, and I am constantly trying out new looks. Additionally, I've also learned quite a few fashion tricks on how to stand out and how to blend in.
Expert: Z. Amanda Chen Date: 7/18/2007 Subject: hot trends 07-08
Question hey, just wanted to ask you.... like, whats in style now for GIRL teens ages 11-17? I want to become a fashion designer for teens, and just wanted to know...
what are the best magazines to subscribe to that actually shows REAL FASHION and just not stuff that looks pretty?
i hav seventeen, GL, Teen, and Teen Vouge, and cosmo girl!.
I have been designing my clothes for some time...
do you know where I can take my drawings and sketches to so they can make it into real clothing?
thanks for the help!!
Answer Hi Michelle!
OK, for what's in style right now, it's pretty much the following...
accessories: scarf headbands, oversized sunglasses, and metallics (gold/silver makeup). Purse styles change so much that most teens don't really pay attention to them.
shoes: flats, cork sandals, and flip flops (always). I don't really count fads such as crocs a part of what's in style, although they are comfy.
tops: babydolls, tunics, wraps of all kinds, and of course the staple tank tops and camis.
skirts/dresses: For some reason, I've noticed a lot more girls wearing dresses this year than before. They're mainly wrap dresses, babydolls, and little white dresses. As for skirts, I don't really see many girls wearing skirts other than jean skirts or pleated ones, possibly because this year almost all the skirts on the market are A-lines.
pants/capris/shorts: flare-legged jeans, Bermuda shorts, and cuffed capris are in.
Now, it seems like you have a lot of magazines that give good fashion inspirations. Teen Vogue and cosmo girl are already good ones, but check out other Condé Nast magazines such as W, Vogue, and WWD. WWD (Women's Wear Daily) is often termed the "fashion bible," although it's more like the CNN of fashion, giving people the scoop on what happened to designers and what styles appeared in certain fashion shows. Other great fashion magazines are Elle, Vanity Fair, and Harper's Bazaar.
As for the last part of your question, all I can say is keep on trying. There's really no guaranteed place where you can submit your designs and get them made into real clothing. I actually just make my own designs for friends or me to wear. You can try entering fashion designing contests, although most are only open to people 18 . In the meantime, a few great websites for (teen) fashion are http://www.fashionclub.com/fashion-file/index.shtm
and http://www.genart.org/fashion.htm
