For women, Fashion is one of the most important things in life. They always want to look at their best and possess the latest and the most unique looking fashion accessories in the market. They always want to be the most fashionable and beautiful of all the competition.

 

However this can be a difficult task especially for women of the lower class as they do not have enough financial resources to fulfil their desires. Buying a fashion item once is hard enough but if they have to buy it again and again due to its wear and tear then this becomes a serious problem.

 

The simplest and easiest solution to this problem is to make sure that the things we buy once serve us long enough to satisfy our need for them. Shoes are perhaps the most roughly used fashion accessory. They have to go through all sorts of situations, rain, dirt, mud and so much more therefore it is only logical that their wear and tear is the most among all items of fashion. However the damage done due to this rough usage can be controlled by caring for your shoes.

 

Proper cleaning and maintenance is the first and foremost step in taking good care of your shoes and is sure to increase the useful life of them. Different types of shoes demand different cleaning procedures and technique. The only hard and fast rule to clean your shoes; is to the use a cloth and clean them at least once every day. However taking proper care of your shoes is much more than just that.

 

Shoes made up of different material demand different types of cleaning. Leather shoes and suede shoes are the hardest to maintain and clean. They require special care and attention to maintain their original look or the suede might wear out or the leather might become dull. Such shoes should be cleaned thoroughly at least once every month or whenever you see mud or dirt on them.

 

Cleaning suede shoes is a lot tougher than cleaning any other type of shoes. To clean suede shoes always use a soft clean cloth and gently rub the surface of the shoe. Use specific suede erasers to rub out any stains without damaging the suede. If a specific suede eraser is not available then any ordinary good quality pencil eraser can also be used. This will allow you to maintain the life of your suede while removing the stains.

 

To smooth the surface of the suede one can use a suede metal brush and brush out the effect of using the eraser. Always brush the suede in a circular pattern to avoid damaging the suede. It is always advisable that you use tools designed specifically for cleaning suede as they will not damage the suede.

 

Cleaning leather shoes is altogether a new story. Always use products designed specifically for the type of leather your shoe is made of. If you use products which are not specifically designed for your shoe leather material then you could end up damaging your shoe. Commercial products are available at shoe stores which are not expensive compared to the increase in life they give to your shoes.

 

If one is low on cash then mineral oil can also be used to clean the leather which is an active ingredient in all leather cleaners. However it is advisable that you test the mineral oil on that part of your shoe which doesn’t show much. To maintain that shine in your leather shoes it is a good idea to use a soft cloth with white vinegar to polish the shoes.

 

However before using anything on your shoes always remember to test it on a little part of the shoe. Never use suede cleaners to clean leather and vice verse.

 

New trends and styles for men’s clothing and accessories are often influenced and preceded by women’s fashion. If floral’s are on the cards for spring 2009 then similarly you’ll see watered down versions in suits through to silk ties.

It might sound ridiculous, but, it has been so for centuries.

Louis Patou a Paris fashion designer made silk ties from women’s dress material, hence the advent of the designer tie.

So the concept is nothing new. The fact is women’s fashion is specifically designed to attract man.

And so naturally including a smidgeon of femininity into men’s accessories, silk ties in particular, makes perfect sense. The other thing is, you’d be surprised at the number of females that design men’s clothing.

It is our good fortune that they do, otherwise we’d end up with nothing other than grey suits, striped ties and tattered old wallets.

I’ve seen the spring summer 2009 silk tie collection, they are drab and colourless, a series of stripes and geometric patterns, no floral’s at all, which, after seeing what women plan to wear is in contrast to logic.

How much longer do we have to be confined to conservative shades of grey?

Well, luckily there are changes afoot and if you’re prepared to look hard enough will be rewarded. There are designers out there who accurately forecast future trends and they’re the ones to watch as they buck the critics view.

The women fashion designers I know of and or associated with all share common traits, the way they incorporate colour and pattern cannot be mimicked by man. And that’s where the great appeal is, it’s the scent of a women in the designs they create.

Rather than follow mainstream, we’ve created our own regime with a small cluster of male and female designers. People may ask, what’s so special about that? Well there’s only one way to find out.

By name, Cressida Bell, Victoria Richards and Vivienne Westwood, Shane McCoubrey, Ian Flaherty, Lbb London and Simon Carter.

By unique product; Falling Leaves autumn silk ties, Bar, mens jewellery, and the famous cube cufflinks by Ian Flaherty.

And if it’s Jewellery for men you’re searching for? The best is deigned by a woman.

Now here are a few historic anecdotes from our data base.

1971: Maverick screen actress Katherine Hepburn, whose long-term lover Spencer Tracey was a customer of Huntsman, takes the extraordinary step of ordering bespoke denim jeans from her late lover’s Savile Row tailor. Hepburn’s commission foreshadows bespoke denim collections launched in 2006 by Timothy Everest and Evisu.

1973: Robert Redford stars in the definitive film of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald was a dedicated customer of Jermyn Street bespoke shirt maker Turnbull & Asser. The shirts that reduce The Great Gatsby’s socialite heroine Daisy (Mia Farrow) to tears with their beauty in the film all bear the Turnbull & Asser bespoke label.

1974: Gieves Ltd acquires Hawkes (and the precious freehold of No I Savile Row) and become Gieves & Hawkes.Tommy Nutter seeks sanctuary at Kilgour, French & Stanbury after his acrimonious exit from Nutters of Savile Row. Kilgour also incorporates the famed hunt tailoring specialist Bernard Weatherill. Nutters of Savile Row continues with Sexton, Roy Chittleborough and Joseph Morgan.Maurice Sedwell hires Trinidad-born Andrew Ramroop who will go on to become Managing Director and a Professor of tailoring at the London College of Fashion.

There will always be a niche to fill and our aim is to do so.