FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ALT.FASHION

What is alt.fashion?

Alt.fashion is a newsgroup dedicated to the discussion of all aspects of
fashion. Clothing, designers, stores, makeup, hair, style, and the
industry in general are all appropriate subjects for this group. Many
questions about "where to get" are found in this FAQ and it is highly
encouraged that you read this before posting such a question to the group.
It is a very informal group for the most part and consists of generally
light-hearted conversation concerning fashion and its many varying
aspects.

What is inappropriate subject matter for this group?

Anything not related to fashion or style or self-maintenance.
Advertisements and solicitations for models
fall into this category.  Get rich quick spams.  Binaries. This is an
unmoderated newsgroup, however it is requested that you lurk before
posting a new subject to get a general idea of the topics at hand. 
You may find a thread is already underway discussing something that may
answer your question.

Under no circumstances is alt.fashion "free advertising space" for those
wishing to solicit their wares, but discussions about marketing are
acceptable. It is acceptable to post about your website if it pertains to
fashion, whether it contains advertising or not.  It is requested that in
the subject header you write: "New fashion website" to discern these posts
from the others.

Posts of an insulting nature are not tolerated. You will find yourself
quickly flamed!  Criticisms should be made in a constructive manner;
posting about things you wish to be discussed is much more productive to
the group than complaining.

What is a troll and how do I respond to one?

A troll is a post within the group intended to generate hostility and a
never-ending thread of flaming responses. A troll may also be defined as
anything ridiculously off-topic that is cross-posted to a variety of
newsgroups. Please please PLEASE do not respond to these within the
newsgroup.  Direct
response via email saves bandwidth and keeps the newsgroup on-topic. If
you feel a troll is particularly
offensive, it is recommended that you complain to the system administrator
of the original poster.

Who is Paula?

She is Paula Begoun, author of many books concerning cosmetics.  She is
known for her unbiased reviews
of cosmetics ingredients and their effectiveness.  More information
concerning her can be found in the biography section of the FAQ.  Her
website is http://www.cosmeticscop.com.

How do I ask Paula a question?

To ask a question of Paula specifically, put "For Paula:" in the subject
header of your question so that she
and the alt.fashion readers discern these posts from the others.  Some
people are especially interested in
these questions and others like to skip them. She can be emailed directly
at [email protected] and
she also has a website coming soon. All readers of alt.fashion are welcome
to offer their responses to
questions for Paula also.
 
Note: Although she is happy to help with questions about specific products
or ingredients, she does not review entire lines within the newsgroup;
that is why she wrote her books.  Her books are highly recommended reading
BEFORE posting a question to her. The titles and publishing house of her
book
can be found in the RECOMMENDED LITERATURE section of the FAQ.

How can I subscribe to Paula's newsletter?

Paula is the author of the _Cosmetics Counter Update_  which is a
bimonthly newsletter containing
reviews of new products, more cosmetics lines, fashion trends, and hair
products. You can receive a
free introductory copy by writing or calling:

Beginning Press
5418 South Brandon
Seattle, WA 98118

(206) 722-7200

The newsletter is $25 (US) / $35 (US) in Canada.  To order by credit card,
call 800-831-4088

Who are some other industry experts within the newsgroup?

Alt.fashion is a newsgroup for both professionals and people interested in
fashion as a non professional interest. Some of the industry people who
contribute regularly to the newsgroup are:

Jeffrey Bentley--Member of the AAEA, American Aestheticians Education
Association, a non-profit professional organization dedicated to
generic and non-biased education, litigation, and research for the aesthetic and beauty
care service provider industries.

Mary Clarke--Former beauty editor to _Sassy_ magazine before it was bought
and fashion journalist. She wrote an extensive article about alt.fashion
in Vogue's August 1995 issue which can be found in this FAQ. (See also biography
section for more information.)

Robert Craig--Professional hair colorist, creator of "No More Bad Hair
Days" kit cited as an editor's  favorite in Allure's March 1996 issue. See also
Biography Section and COSMETICS COMPANIES
phone number list.)

Elke Von Freudenberg--Professional makeup artist based in Beverly Hills,
Ca. Creator of her own line of cosmetics, makeup video tapes,
and Beauty Editor of  Fashion Stance e-zine.

(See also biography section.)


...and many others.  These are just a few who contribute their very
valuable advice regularly. Please see the BIOGRAPHY sections for further information about them and other
regular alt.fashion fashion pros.



I want a career in fashion. What are some good schools?

As far as education, some of the best two schools in the USA are Parsons
School of Design and the
 Fashion Institute of Technology. If interested in your BFA, you may
request an Undergraduate Catalog by calling or writing:

Parsons School of Design
66 Fifth Ave
New York, NY 10011
Tel:212-229-8910

Fashion Institute of Technology
Office of Admissions
Seventh Ave. at 27th Street Building C
Room 159
New York, NY 10001
Tel:212-760-7675

Freelance advice for makeup artists, hair professionals, and stylists are
found in the CAREER section
of the FAQ.

What is the deal with the alt.fashion t shirt?

In December of 1995, Martha Guthrie suggested a very tongue-in-cheek idea
of creating an alt.fashion
shirt.  Although this was done somewhat in jest, lots of readers decided
it was a good idea and many suggested ideas for the style and design.  The
collective interest warranted actual production of the
shirt which can be ordered in two colors and many sizes.

It was agreed upon that the back should read "What are *you* wearing
today?" which is a fun, ongoing thread which alt.fashion readers
contribute a description of their fashion ensemble for the day.

What does the alt.fashion t-shirt look like?

The original design is black with silver letters.  The lettering is in
courier font (similar to the font your newsreader uses) and is half an
inch high. There is also a white version with black lettering.

The front of the shirt reads: alt.fashion
The back of the shirt reads: What are *you* wearing today?

Black styles include regular t-shirts in  extra small, small, large, and
extra large. These are $15 each.
There is a black, long-sleeved mock turtleneck available in medium. This is
$18 each.
White styles are one-size-fits-all "baby t's" and long-sleeved "skinny"
t's. These are $15 each.

All prices are US dollars and include shipping.

How can I get an alt.fashion t-shirt?

Send $15 (check or money order in US funds), your style choice, shipping
address, and email address to:

XX. XXXX
XXX XXXXX
XXXX XXXX

Please allow up to four weeks for delivery.


Is wearing --blank-- still in style?

Generally, these questions are most often answered with a  "If you feel
comfortable wearing it, and it reflects your style, by all means wear it."
 The fashion industry is fickle and it is a ridiculous and impractical
goal to reflect the very essence of to-the-minute fashion at all times. If
you are worried about wearing a trend that is outdated, you can always
call it retro! Fashion is me too. Style is me only. (As quoted from a sig.
in alt.fashion.  I think Givenchy said this originally.) On that same
note, don't feel compelled to follow trends that you don't feel
comfortable wearing in order to maintain the status quo.  Chances are if
you feel uncomfortable wearing it, you won't be reflecting your own
personal style anyway.

What is my personal style and how do I achieve it?

Style is what sets one apart. Your unique likes in terms of colors, lines,
time periods, and textures are all apart of what makes your style
yours...and it is yours alone. It is what you are naturally attracted to
and reflects your personality and sense of aesthetics. It means taking
current trends and discriminating what is for you vs. what isn't.
Inability to separate  personal sense of style from what is currently in
vogue is an easy formula for becoming a fashion victim.

Look at people whose dress and style you admire. This includes clothing,
hair, and makeup. Why do you admire it?  What is it that you admire, and
would you feel comfortable wearing it?  Are you comfortable being stared
at--if so, you are probably more comfortable wearing things more on the
edge.  If you are more shy, you probably feel better in conservative
clothing.  What is appropriate attire for your job?  All these things
determine your basic style.

Image consultants specialize in helping you coordinate a wardrobe that is
uniquely your own.  Color analysts can determine what colors will
naturally work with your hair, skin and eye color.  Many recommended books
on this subject can be found in the LITERATURE section of the FAQ.

See also the STYLE section of the FAQ and the "Dressing Hip" article
included.


What is MAC and what does it stand for?

MAC is an acronym for "Makeup Art Cosmetics" which is a Canadian based
company of makeup and skincare.  They are especially well known for their
lipsticks and incredible array of colors in every product. MAC is
pronounced "mack".

See also COSMETIC COMPANIES and MAKEUP section of the FAQ.

How do I determine my skin type?

http://www.cais.com/cosmetics/afe1.htm

What is the definition of "haute couture"?

It's literally translated as "high needlework" or loosely as "high
fashion". Not to be confused with "haut-le-coeur" ("high the heart) which
means dry retching.

Haute couture is the stuff that is not "ready to wear" which means it's
often a) enormously expensive and b) unwearable. All that weird stuff with
baskets, breastplates and theme makeup or accessories (like green skin or
huge, weird horns on the head) is haute couture. It's not really meant to
be fashion so much as wearable art, and not many people buy the stuff as
serious clothing. It shows some range/imagination/creativity and whets the
appetite for the ready-to-wear collections. And if you examine the stuff
closely, it really is exquisitely made, however ridiculous it looks.

(Special thanks to Dyan Campbell for writing this
explanation.)

What is the best --fill in the blank (with a beauty
product)?

What do alt.fashionites have to say? This is a survey taken
of everyone's Top 10 Favorite Products. Readers responded by
listing their favorite products in no particular order. When
comments were made pertaining to the product itself, they were kept
and put in parenthesis next to the product. The numbers
following the product indicate the number of responses a particular
product got if it was mentioned by more than one person.

For information on locating a resource for any particular
company, please see the Cosmetic/Hair Care Companies Phone
Numbers/URLS section. See also Beauty Supply Phone Numbers
for stores that might carry some of the more obscure items.