• Apparel or any item is considered vintage only if it is made 20-100 years ago. “Retro” refers to clothing or item made to replicate a vintage pattern or style of a different period.
• The four major International Fashion Shows takes place in the following order – first in New York then London, followed by Milan and the last is in Paris. Each of these cities hold a fashion show twice in a year- February & September.

• The first false eyelashes were invented in 1916, when Hollywood producer DW Griffith decided to enhance eyelashes of Seena Owen in the film “Intolerance”.
• The skirt is considered to be the second oldest women’s garment in the world after the loincloth.
• During the different eras, women applied color to their faces by various means. In Cleopatra’s time, berries and other natural ingredients were used as makeup to enhance the face.

• The modern era of perfume was first launched in 1921, when Coco Chanel launched the exotic floral blend, Chanel No. 5.
• The first issue of Vogue was published on 17th December, 1892 in the United States of America.
• Napoleon Bonaparte ordered for buttons to be attached to the jacket sleeves so as to prevent soldiers from wiping off their runny noses on their sleeves.

• Today it is common to see women and girls in short hair. But decades ago, if a woman spotted short hair, she was considered to be an unfaithful wife.
• Neck ties were first used in Croatia and hence were known as “cravats”. These are the most popular Father’s Day gifts in the world, till date.

• The low-waist baggy pants originated in the prisons of Los Angeles, where inmates were not allowed to wear belts
• Umbrellas were invented initially to shade people from the sun and not from the rain.
• Fashion trends are changing constantly. So the eyebrows
• While bushy eyebrows are in vogue these days, the fashionistas during the Renaissance period used to shave off them off.
• 99th Mayor of New York – Fiorello Henry La Guardia – invented thong when he saw exotic dancers in bars of the city to dance naked. Then immediately ordered to sew tiny bikini for them.

• During the reign of Peter the Great in Russia, men were not supposed to grow a bread only to look more ‘European’. A special tax would be fined to those who did not abide to this rule.
• During the 15th century, being pregnant was considered as fashion. During this period, if girls were not pregnant, they would hide pillows under their dress to fake a baby bump.
• The clothing collection “New Line” was introduced by Christian Dior with his spring-summer collection in 1947. It featured a cinched waistcoat that accentuated the bust and gave an hourglass look with the long pleated skirt.
• The first bra was invented by a New York socialite, Mary Phelps in 1914.

• Crocodile brand “Lacoste” is the first logo that is put on the shirt.
• In 1997, PETA members dumped animal guts in front of Givenchy’s Paris boutique doorstep, after Alexander McQueen used animal and bird heads in his fashion show.
• Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel was almost kidnapped by an elaborate German gang called Red Army Faction (RAF).

• There was a period, when Christian Louboutin shoes were available with baby blue soles. These were related with an intention to enable “something blue” for brides-to-be but was very short-lived due to certain trademark issues.
• Your favorite designer, Marc Jacobs was ranked 14th in a list of “50 Most Powerful Gay Men and Women in America” by Out magazine in 2012.

• The first designer suit was launched by Coco Chanel in 1923. She had created the look by combining woolen boxy jackets with gold buttons, knee length skirts and large pearl necklaces.
• Alexander McQueen committed suicide on February 11, 2010, just days after his mother’s death.
• During World World II, there was a scarcity of nylon pantyhose, as nylon was exclusively used for parachutes. So, women painted their legs with a solution including instant gravy powder and drew a line down the back of their legs with eye make-up to recreate the look of stockings!
• During 15th century, designers used little dolls instead of females as models to showcase their creations to the clients.

• Next to Christian Dior, it was Giorgio Armani who was featured on the cover of the Time Magazine following his power suit design for women and men in the 1980s.
• In 1943, NYC was the first City to organize a Fashion Week. Fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert initiated this show just to give a chance to the American fashion designers to showcase their work and to compete with established European elite.
• Fashion Weeks, which were originally started as trade-only events for buyers and manufacturers, are changed and have now become highly publicized events, which attract the “creme de la creme” and celebrities from all across the globe.

• The Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani quickly became known for his amazing red dresses, all made in a bright shade of red. He soon became to be known as “Valentino Red” in the fashion industry.
• Did you know that one bale of cotton that weighs under 500 pounds (186 kg), can make 215 pairs of jeans?

• The LBD or the Little Black Dress can be attributed to Coco Chanel for its timeless ingenious creation of simplicity and elegance.
• The invention of the automobile had a significant influence on women’s fashion. During the late 18th century, skirts became shorter only to help women to step into automobiles conveniently and comfortably.
• Before the 1850s, 70% women made clothing for themselves. It is today that handmade clothing’s and other accessories have become pricey.

• Elizabeth I loved hats so much that she made it compulsory for all females over the age of seven to wear hats on Sundays and holidays. Anyone who refused to do so was stiffly fined.
• Are you aware that one of the key ingredients in manufacturing lipstick is fish scales?
• In ancient Egypt, the wealthy women placed scented grease cones over the head. As the grease melted during the course of the day, their skin and clothes were covered in an oily fragrance. What an alternative to Perfumes.
• Did you know it was Mark Twain that invented the bra strap clasp?
• In 1907, a woman was arrested for wearing a fitted one piece swimsuit on a beach in Boston.
• Wearing a white dress was initially associated to mourning, until Queen Victoria decided to wear one on her Wedding Day.

Marilyn Monroe in ‘The Seven Year Itch’