Sales of suspenders are booming as women copy celebrities such as Kylie Minogue and Lady Gaga, whose alluring use of “underwear as outerwear” has made them fashionable again. The combination with recent cool weather appear to have led to a resurgence in their popularity, said Debenhams, the High Street retailer. The store said that black suspender belts, with embroidery, sequins and bows were most in demand with sales soaring by 238 per cent over the past month alone. As a result the store said it has been forced to change its “buying patterns to accommodate customer demand”. Experts said the increased demand for the traditional style of lingerie, reversed the universal popularity of tights, which captured the lion share of the market in the early 1960s. They say women fell out of love with stockings and suspenders with the arrival of self-supporting tights after the Second World War. Ruth Attridge, a Debenhams spokeswoman, said the recent unpredictable weather appeared to have been one of the major factors behind the rise. She also said that the growing number of celebrities using underwear as outerwear, such as Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Katy Perry and Dita Von Teese were also behind its resurgence in popularity. "The unpredictable spring and summer weather as well as a growing number of celebrities showcasing their stockings on stage and at star-studded events may be behind the trend," she said. "Our British summer has started in the traditional way with frequent spells of sun and rain in the same day, leaving British women up in air about what to wear. "Stockings and suspenders, just like leggings, have become the popular alternative to tights. They provide coverage for legs on an unexpectedly chilly day, but at the same time are cooler than tights and far more comfortable to wear in overheated City offices." She added: "We've had to change our buying patterns to accommodate customer demand.” She added that black stockings from J by Jasper Conran and Jonathan Aston were the most popular.Stockings and suspenders back in fashion as sales soar
Stocking and suspenders appear to be back in fashion for the first time in almost 50 years as retailers report a dramatic rise in sales.
Rebecca Thomson, a 22-year-old graduate of the Manchester School of Art, claimed top prize in the gala show at Graduate fashion week last night for a collection that mixed hand-pleated details with jogging bottoms - a look the designer dubbed "casual couture".
The judges praised Thomson's work, above, for its contemporary feel. Other winners included Thomas Crisp of Ravensbourne College for menswear. Crisp, who offered a mix of metallic pieces and interesting tailoring, was singled out by the judges for his "skills as a modern menswear designer with a good commercial edge".
Rhea Fields of Northbrook College won best womenswear while Anna Lee of De Montfort University took the Zandra Rhodes textiles award for her kaleidoscopic prints worn with jumbo animal necklaces.
Lorraine Candy, editor of Elle and on the judging panel, said the standard of work was high. She praised an overall move to more accomplished designs that were less "out there". This more grown-up approach reflects the fashion zeitgeist. In February, during Londonfashion week, commentators said the shows were slicker and less edgy.
The designer Alberta Ferretti, also on the judging panel, employs British-schooled graduates in her design studio. She thinks the fashion education in this country strikes a perfect balance between "the fantasy of fashion" alongside skills such as tailoring.
Dame Vivienne Westwood has been spotted checking out the next generation of talent at the event, which is in its 19th year and has helped launch careers of designers such as Stella McCartney.
Candy said 2010 hasn't been any tougher than normal. "It's always really tough for graduates," she said. "But in times like this creativity thrives - the will to do something brilliant has to be very strong."
The new movie Cyrus started out as a bunch of dudes. Directors Jay and Mark Duplass wrote the part of a down-and-out single guy specifically for John C. Reilly, then cast Jonah Hill as the clingy, weird, full-grown son of the woman he falls for.
Is this the new face of Thierry Mugler? Rumors are swirling that Gareth Pugh (pictured) will be tapped to head the French label, though no official announcement has been made yet. [