Fuzionz Magazine and TV Summer Issue 2013 | Page 35

Photos Furnished by LaKendra Anderson Welcome to the Fashion Flash page, where you can read about fashion related articles, history facts, photos & etc. Send in your photos, fashion tips or other fashion related ideas to [email protected]. Anne Lowe was an AfricanAmerican woman, long forgotten and unknown to many, who made fashion history before it was fashionable to do so. She was a trailblazer in fashion whose name has fallen through the cracks of history. Her quiet claim to fame, however, was the wedding gown she designed for Jacqueline Bouvier in 1953, when she married John F. Kennedy. Ms. Lowe was also commissioned to make the ten pink bridesmaid’s gowns and hats. The history of fashion design can be traced back to the beginning of the19th century when the designs were the product of the dresses worn in the royal courts. Eventually, Charles Frederick Worth, the first fashion designer, set up his first fashion house in Paris. Zelda Wynn Valdes was the first African-American fashion designer and costumer. In 1948, she opened her own shop on Broadway in New York City. Some of her clients included other famous black women during her era, such as Dorothy Dandridge and Marian Anderson. She also designed the original costumes for the Playboy Bunnies and the Dance Theater of Harlem, which she is noted most famous for. Teen fashions have become just as, if not more recognizable as adult fashions. With more teen idols starting their own clothing lines, the selections to choose from are limitless. The days of matching two-piece sets have departed. Today’s teens are much more fashion conscious. The realm of fashion design, by its sheer glamour and grace, has always been exciting and intriguing. When we speak of fashion design, it implies a form of art that incorporates the meaning of creating clothing and accessories.