Huggies recently released a limited edition line of Jeans Diapers designed to look like the popular denim threads.

Despite the innovative commercial and memorable tagline (“The Coolest You’ll Look Pooping Your Pants”) parents are concerned about how these jeans diapers are sneaking commercialism into a baby’s psyche long before they should be caring about what to wear.  With the commercial featuring sexy women gawking at the baby, clad in his trendy Huggies Jeans Diapers, it’s even stirred up mention of the over-sexualization of children.

“Denim has always been a summer style staple, and the Huggies Jeans Diapers are no exception – they are a unique, fun and stylish way to make your little one the coolest and cutest around,” said Stuart Schneider, a Huggies spokesperson.  “Huggies Jeans Diapers feature a fashionable blue denim design, providing parents and little ones everywhere with a trendy way to express their personal styles.”  Funny.  Last time I checked, babies don’t have personal style yet!  Any personal style belongs to that of the parent.

But Huggies isn’t the only one pioneering designer diapers.  Fashion designer Cynthia Rowley has partnered with Pampers to create a line of fashionable diapers with stripes, ruffles, madras prints, and plaids.  Says Rowley of the diapers, “It’s the first piece of clothing your baby will ever wear and it should be special.”  Rowley’s line is projected to hit shelves in Target July.

Since babies are evidently more concerned with food, sleep, and play than the color of their diaper, these trendy lines of designer diapers seem to be marketed more towards hip moms than drooling babies.  It will be an interesting study in fashion marketing to see whether these designer diapers catch on in the long run.

Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green Wedding Photos

And the Bride Wore Armani

Since Fox signed on as Armani’s newest underwear model in 2009, the couple both donned Armani for the occasion.  The bride wore a white Armani Prive gown and Green wore a white Emporio Armani outfit.  A form of inadvertent advertising, celebrity spokespeople associate their name with a brand or service, creating awareness and recognition with the product.

Megan Fox was working on her wedding day and didn’t even break a sweat.  Impressive.

Heidi Klum wearing Project Runway contestant Anthony Williams' design on the cover of Marie Claire, April 2010

If you’ve seen April’s Marie Claire magazine cover, you’ve beheld Heidi Klum modeling the winning design of Project Runway contestant Anthony Williams.  Called the biggest payoff in Project Runway history, the designers were given the challenge to design a cover-worthy look, on a $150 budget, in a color other than black, that emphasized the upper body.  Williams’ design embodied each piece of criteria and led him to the coveted prize cover!

Anthony Williams' winning design

If you are a budding fashion designer and the thought of having your designs in a national magazine makes you drool, why not enroll in a fashion design program?  Take the first step to following your dream and check out the fashion programs at My Colleges and Careers!  Even if you have no sewing or design experience whatsoever, MyCollegesandCareers.com will help you find the perfect program to get you on your way to your dream career in the fashion industry!

Beyond the mannequin: What is Fashion Design?

Fashion designers create the apparel and accessories seen in store windows and on shelves for various consumer target markets, ranging from wholesale to haute couture.

Depending on the size of their design firm and their experience, fashion designers take on varying levels of involvement in aspects of design and production (studying trends, sketching designs, choosing colors and fabrics, and seeing product placement to fruition). A designer in a small fashion house or firm may do more technical patternmaking and sewing tasks in addition to designing the actual clothing, whereas someone working for a larger house may only see one step of production. Haute couture, a small piece of the fashion design market, design custom pieces for high-budget clients.

Being a fashion designer can be glamorous...and gritty hard work!

PERSONALITY TYPES

Have that sixth sense of fashion: Potential fashion designers have an intrinsic eye for style aesthetic, which includes a sense of balance, proportion, detail and color.

Love to travel: The global nature of the fashion business requires constant communication with suppliers, manufacturers, and customers all over the world. Most fashion designers travel several times a year to trade and fashion shows to learn about the latest fashion trends.

Be practically crafty: Designers must also need to have sewing and patternmaking skills (even if they do not perform the tasks themselves), because they need to be able to understand these skills so they can give proper instruction to suppliers and manufacturers in how the garment should be constructed.

Be professionally presentable: Fashion designers need strong sales and presentation skills to effectively pitch designs to clients. Fashion designers also need excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

I was born ready for the fashion world. How do I start?

Step one: Get educated.  In fashion design, employers usually seek individuals with a 2- or 4-year degree who are knowledgeable about textiles, fabrics, ornamentation, and fashion trends. The National Association of Schools of Art and Design accredits approximately 250 postsecondary institutions with programs related to fashion design. Basic coursework will include study of color, textiles, sewing and tailoring, pattern making, fashion history, computer-aided design (CAD), and design of different types of clothing such as menswear or footwear. Some fashion designers also combine a fashion design degree with a business, marketing, or fashion merchandising degree, especially those who plan on running their own business or retail store.

Step two: Build a portfolio. A good portfolio is often the X factor in getting the job or not.

Step three: Move to California or New York. It’s where the most careers and jobs in the fashion world are found.

Step four: Be prepared to WORK. Regardless of fashion house size, all designing jobs are notorious for possessing long hours to meet production deadline or prepare for fashion shows

BUT- No sooner will you flip open a glossy magazine than will you witness the glamour, glitz, and sparkle the fashion industry affords.

Ok, so what are really my chances at becoming the next Donna Karan or Marc Jacobs? By the numbers:

Fashion designers held about 20,000 jobs in 2006. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

About 28 percent of fashion designers worked for merchant wholesalers; and the remainder worked for corporate offices involved in the management of companies and enterprises, clothing stores, performing arts companies, and specialized design services firms.

Another 24 percent were self-employed.

The best job opportunities have always traditionally been found in design firms that create mass market clothing sold in department stores and/or retail chain stores that fit budgets of the masses.

For more about a fashion design program, check out My Colleges and Careers and start your dream career today!