Before we get too globally glamorous, we thought you may be interested in seeing what we were up to last week. Take a peek behind the scenes of our photo shoot for a taste of fun to come in Spring 2010. Stay tuned … there’s many more fabulous fashions and sneak peeks ahead!

In the world of fashion, designing is not a job, it’s a joy. Designers live and breathe fashion! Take a look at the how they’ve decorated the world with their innovations and creativity.

	Pencil Skirts: And the style award goes to … Christian Dior! This French designer popularized the pencil skirt in the 1940s, particularly for office wear. Women were ready for new fashions in the wake of WWII, and in the tough economic climate where fabric was still rationed, full skirts were seen as wasteful. Pencil skirts became popular again with the power suit in the 1980s and have been a fashion staple ever since!
	Ankle Jeans: The skinny jean is not a novel silhouette - since the 1950s, it’s been seen everywhere from Audrey Hepburn and Elvis, to Billy Idol and the Sex Pistols, and from Flash Dance to punk rock. But it wasn’t until the 2000s that skinny jeans really exploded into today’s popular culture. After Kate Moss was seen wearing them, the trend immediately caught on in London. Skinny jeans soon made their way across the Atlantic, and though it took America a couple of years to embrace the “new” trend, eventually, they were everywhere! And the style award goes to … London! Thanks for opening our minds to this fabulous fashion!
	Structured Shoulders: Nothing says strong and sophisticated like a perfectly structured shoulder. While bold shoulders used to be a cliché of 1980s power dressing, they’ve been reintroduced into fashion in a chic new way. And the style award goes to … fashion designer Christophe Decarin, whose Balmain jackets have taken exaggerated shoulders to an edgier, more creative level. This drummer boy, Michael Jackson style jacket has become one of the most imitated pieces in the fashion world today.
	Bomber Jackets: This functional fashion was first designed and manufactured for the United Kingdom Royal Air Force during WWII. Because of the high demand, subcontractors were enlisted for manufacturing, which accounts for the variations in color and details. Bomber jackets eventually filtered into popular fashion and became a symbol of honor, adventure, and style. Today, bombers have taken on many forms of fashion, from traditional leather, to denim, and even sweaters, and the style award goes to … the United Kingdom!
	Leggings: For centuries, in various forms, under various names, leggings have been worn by men and women for warmth and protection. But the style award goes to … the United States, who introduced leggings as we know them into popular fashion in the 1960s. In the 1980s, the flash dance craze made leggings fashionable as gym-style street wear, and their popularity continued through the nineties, when they were actually outselling jeans in many parts of the US.

Oh tapestry, oh tapestry, how lovely are you, tapestry! Tapestry is a heavy textile with a woven and/or embroidered design - a form of fabric art, really - and it’s often used for upholstery and curtains. But leave it to fashionistas to reinterpret this fabulous fabric into a fabulous frock! Because of its ornate nature and standout appeal, a tapestry piece is sure to turn heads, so make sure your outfit is ready for this guaranteed attention! Let the tapestry be the star of your style, and craft a creatively chic ensemble with a supporting cast of simple pieces in solid colors, either neutral or bold. Choose hues that complement the threads in the woven design and accessories that enhance the style your striving for. It’s ok to build an outfit with more than one tapestry piece, but keep the print consistent or you’ll be turning heads for all the wrong reasons. Check out how we’ve styled CAbi’s Fall 09 Asian-inspired tapestry pieces, the Chinoiserie Jacket and Chinoiserie Skirt.

There’s no question that fashion’s international influence has stemmed from many countries. And while no one designer defines a nation, there are those whose designs seem to personify Style and reach far beyond their realm to make a global impact. Let’s take a tour around the world to check out just a few of these designers and get to know the man (or woman) behind the brand.

United States

Ralph Lauren

While one might assume a designer of this stature most definitely attended design school, Lauren actually dropped out of community college just short of his business degree. Born and raised in New York, inspiration from the city around him, along with his innate fashion sense, was all he needed to flourish! After stints as a glove salesman and tie manufacturer, Lauren got his first break designing ties for the store he worked in, which eventually led to the founding of Polo Fashions in 1968. Today, Lauren is a mainstay in American fashion, known for his preppy-chic fashions, understated elegance, and timeless sophistication. He looks into the lives of women, seeking to bring out and complement their beauty with the characters he creates through his designs.

Italy

Valentino Garavani

Valentino was destined for fashion royalty. Born in Italy, he studied fashion design in both Milan and then Paris, where he apprenticed under Jean Desses and Guy Laroche before returning to Italy to open his first salon in Rome. His signature style embodies the opulence and luxury of classic Italian fashion, and his designs are absolutely unique, incredibly elegant, and perfectly feminine. Delicately and deliberately highlighting a women’s femininity, he affirms his statement that “[he] does not think any man in the world wants to go out with a woman dressed like a boy.” He personally designed wedding gowns for such fashion icons as Jackie O and JLo, and his list of friends is like a who’s who of the rich and famous. Valentino is a key component in the allure of the “Made in Italy” label that has become so equated with quality and luxury.

France

Coco Chanel

Chanel has become synonymous with impeccable taste, chic confidence, and simple sophistication, but the life of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel was not always so glamorous. Soon after her mother’s death, Chanel’s father put her in an orphanage, and it was there that she first learned to sew. As a young adult, Chanel tried her hand, not so successfully, as a nightclub singer, and soon became involved with a textile heir. With a gift from him (which she later paid back), Chanel opened her first boutique in Paris, where she sold hats and dresses, and thus her legacy began. In the 1920s, Chanel cemented her name in history with timeless designs that are still popular today, including her trademark suits and the little black dress. Her groundbreaking designs borrowed elements from menswear and focused on comfort, saying goodbye to the days of corsets and other constraining fashions that were popular at that time. As Chanel once said, “Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury.” Amen, sister!

England

Stella McCartney

Stella may be ex-Beatle Paul McCartney’s daughter, but her talent stands alone. Her star status was clear from a young age, and at merely 15, she apprenticed with Christian Lacroix on his first couture collection. She later attended design school in London, where friends Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss walked in her graduation show, and this final project had the rare compliment of being picked up by influential stores such as Bergdorf Goodman. Two years and two collections later, McCartney became creative director for the house of Chloe in Paris, where she received triumphant reviews and had a monumental effect on the brand. Four years later, she launched her own Stella McCartney fashion house in partnership with the Gucci Group. McCartney’s designs combine sharp tailoring with humor and sexy femininity, ultimately creating wearable fashions that make women feel and look good. Her passionate commitment to both animal and human rights is evident in all of her products.

Japan

Issey Miyake

Miyake, one of the most famous Japanese fashion designers, is known for the artfully inspired layered and wrapped look found in his East Meets West style. After graduating with a degree in graphic design from Tama Art University in Tokyo, Miyake moved to Paris to study tailoring and dressmaking. Soon he was working behind the scenes with French fashion legends Guy Laroche and Hubert de Givenchy and American designer Geoffrey Beene. After four years, this rising star was ready to shine on his own, so he opened his design studio in Tokyo and three years later was rocking the Paris runways. Miyake has won countless awards and aspires to continue designing what he considers “art pieces” that are more than just clothes or ready to wear ensembles. His design process involves balancing tradition with innovation and constantly exploring the space between the human body and the clothes that cover it.

We know where to buy our favorite things and what brand we like, but have you ever wondered about the origin of these products we can’t live without? Well, you’re in luck! Though the nature of many of these items has changed significantly over the years, we fluttered back in time to find out whom we have to thank for these delectable delights …

	Dark Chocolate: The first people known to make chocolate were the ancient Mayan and Aztecs of Mexico and Central America. The original recipe mixed ground cacao seeds with various seasonings to make a spicy, frothy drink. Spanish conquistadors eventually brought the drink back to Spain, where new recipes were developed and spread throughout Europe. New technologies have changed the texture and taste of chocolate, but it remains one of the world’s favorite flavors.
	Purses: Louis Vuitton started as a luggage company in nineteenth century Paris, right around the time travel became popular in the modern world. When Vuitton’s son took over the company in 1892, he introduced the power and popularity of the handbag. Today, these posh purses attract a cult like following from celebrities, socialites, and fashionistas alike.
	Lipstick: History tells us that 5,000 years ago, in the ancient city of Ur near Babylon, semi-precious stones were crushed and smeared on the lips. Ancient Egyptian women squeezed out purple-red color from iodine and bromine, which, due its dangerous nature, came to be known as “the kiss of death.” It is also said that Cleopatra’s lipstick was made from carmine beetles, which gave a red color pigment, and was mixed with a base of ant eggs. Henna was also one of the preferred substances among Egyptians, and fish scales were used to provide the shimmer to the lipstick.
	Mascara: Ancient Egyptians play a large role in mascara’s history. Dating as far back as 3400 B.C., Egyptians used bone and ivory as mascara applicators, and blended kohl with crocodile dung, water and honey to create the first mascara. Because eyes were believed to be the windows of the soul, they used mascara and lined their eyes with kohl to protect them from evil spirits. It wasn’t until the Victorian era in the 1830’s that the practice of enhancing lashes was revived. In 1872, petroleum jelly was patented and eventually became the most prominent ingredient in modern mascara. In 1917, the founder of Maybelline Cosmetics created the first packaged cosmetic mascara.
	Perfume: Though France is often considered the birthplace of perfume, it actually originated in Egypt, where it was used for a wide variety of reasons, such as cosmetics, medicinal, as toiletries, and even aphrodisiacs. The use of perfume spread to other countries across Europe and the Middle East, but it wasn’t until the reign of Louis XV in France that perfume became more popular and accessible to the masses.
	Face Cream: Thank you, ancient Rome! When archeologists unearthed a metal container - with the lid still on - researchers learned the ingredients, duplicated the recipe, and then rubbed it on. What it produced was a white layer with a smooth, powdery texture - thanks to the starch - and this is still used in modern cosmetics.
	Nail Polish: Around 3000 B.C. in ancient China, the early mixture of nail polish included beeswax, gelatin, gum Arabic (found in African trees) and egg whites. They also often added rose petals and orchids for color. Around the same time, upper class Egyptians wore nail polish similar to lacquer paint as a symbol of money and prosperity.

We may not all be able to travel the world, but why not play the part of an international jetsetter with these globally inspired accessories! Oh, the places we’ll go! Imagine far off places, and channel their stunning style.

Share your CAbi finest from locations around the world and you could be featured in an upcoming edition of the CAbiCanary! Just use the form below to send us your best pics.