Doll Clothes Patterns - Five Top Fashion Trends

By Peggy Britton

Are you sewing doll clothes patterns inspired by today's fashion trends, or are your dolls hopelessly out-of-style? Girls today want to dress their dolls in the same fashion items they want to wear themselves. They're influenced by the styles they see kids wearing on TV and in magazines. So, let's take a look at five of today's top fashion trends and consider how we can translate those popular styles into doll clothes patterns.

1.) Baby doll tops

These pretty, feminine tops are made of delicate fabrics, like lace, silk chiffon, translucent cotton voile and lightweight knit. They often feature an empire waistline and/or a belt tied in the back. They hang close to the body, are soft and flowing, never starched or stiff.

2.) 'Cigarette' jeans

These very tight-legged pants are usually worn with long tunic-like tops. They're great looking tucked into knee-boots or worn with ballet slippers. At the other end of the spectrum, we're also seeing very wide-legged pants and jeans. So, for an updated look, choose doll clothes patterns with either very skinny legs or very wide legs.

3.) Layers over layers over layers

Short over long is the key to this look. Wear short-sleeves over long-sleeves, a short jacket over a long top, or a short vest over a long-sleeved dress over pants. The look is clean and uncluttered, with lots of solid colors. It's all about the 'lines' of the design, not the pattern on the fabric. You probably already have lots of doll clothes patterns you can use to create this look. Experiment. It's just a new way of combining old 'basic' pieces.

4.) The 'hoodie' is taking on a new form

The best new sweater is a textured knit, knee-length wrapped design with a loose hood. It's worn over a one-color long top and skinny pant combo. Add knee-boots and a big bag for a totally pulled-together look. The second new 'hoodie' shape is the short-sleeved hoodie, worn over a long-sleeved tee or sweater. It ties two strong trends together: the hoodie and layering.

5.) Opposites attract: Mixing hard and soft

Puffy textures are used with smooth, flat fabrics to create visual contrast. The short 'puffa' jacket is worn with skinny spandex pants. Fuzzy fur peeks out the top of smooth leather knee-boots. A fluffy chiffon skirt, made of layers-upon-layers of ruffles is worn with a clingy silk knit tee.

So, get started! You have plenty of information about the new apparel trends to help you select doll clothes patterns and create a closet full of great clothes for your dolls. Now, get inspired and release your inner fashion designer.

Peggy Britton http://www.dollclothespatterns.net/ Peggy Britton, trend expert and fashion designer, is offering creative ideas, 'how-to' advice and step-by-step doll clothes patterns that look just like the latest fashion items girls want to wear themselves. Create an original, affordable wardrobe for your American Girl or 18-inch doll, using doll clothes patterns that are fun and easy to sew. Get yours now athttp://www.dollclothespatterns.net/

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Hip Hop Fashion Trends - Then and Now

By Tim Yu

Hip hop fashion trends are not a newcomer to the fashion scene by any means. In fact, this style has been around since the 1980's, when celebrities like Will Smith and Christopher "Kid" Reid showed youth how it should be done. Of course, hip hop fashion trends have evolved over the past two decades as tastes and styles have changed to correspond with the culture of the time. The following will offer you a brief but

colorful history into the world of hip hop, with some of the current fashion design today.

Early Hip Hop In the 1980's, major brand names became synonymous with the hip hop fashion trends. Brands like Nike, Adidas and Clark shoes were sported with leather bomber jackets and brightly-colored track suits. Sports jerseys were a hot commodity, with Will Smith showing them off in his hit television show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire. This was the time when heavy gold jewelry and large sunglasses came into play, creating an image of wealth and luxury in the hip hop culture of this time. In the latter part of this decade, MC Hammer and other rappers introduced hip hop fashion trends like baggy pants and baseball caps.

The Gangsta Look In the 1900's, hip hop fashion trends shifted to the gangsta look in the fashion of the Los Angeles Chicano gangsters. This style sported baggy pants that were worn low and without a belt, shirt tails hanging outside the pants and bandanas on the head. In the midst of this fashion trend, designers were also providing something that the youth of this time liked, and brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Polo and Nautica also came into vogue. At this time, hip hop fashion trends evolved into urban streetwear, with names like Mecca USA, Lugz and Rocawear coming into play.

Flash and Bling The turn of the century saw hip hop fashion trends switch to flashy ensembles and bling bling jewelry, made popular by the likes of Jay-Z and The Hot Boys. High end designers like Gucci came onto the hip hop scene during this time as well. Today, the hip hop look has toned down somewhat, with hip hop fashion trends that are more tailored and professional - preppie hip hop, if you will. However, since the hip hop fashion trends are primarily embraced by youth, this style will always be cutting edge and separate from the fashion mainstream. After more than two decades on the fashion scene, it appears that this trend is more than just a trend - it is a fashion icon that is here to stay.

Tim Yu is the owner of e-FashionSchool.com providing information on beauty tips and fashion advice about a variety of topics, such as Fashion Design, Fashion Trend, Teen Fashion, Famous Designer and etc. Go to [http://www.e-FashionSchool.com] for more information.

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