THE TOP 10 FASHION SCHOOLS IN THE U.S. IN 2017

THE TOP 10 FASHION SCHOOLS IN THE U.S. IN 2017

Fashion may seem like a daunting industry to break into, but a very good place to start is in college. Some of the most prominent figures in the industry were once exactly where you are now, trying to make an informed decision about where to study. 

From location to tuition to resources, there are a lot of factors to consider and compare — and not as much guidance available as there is for more "traditional" fields of study. That's why, since 2010, we've put together rankings of the best fashion schools culled from data and our own extensive surveys. This year, we'll be releasing two lists: This one encompasses the 10 best fashion schools stateside, and next month we'll have a longer list of encompassing international universities as well.

LIFE IN PLASTIC IS FANTASTIC FOR CHANEL'S SPRING 2018 COLLECTION

LIFE IN PLASTIC IS FANTASTIC FOR CHANEL'S SPRING 2018 COLLECTION

With Chanel's over-the-top sets, Karl Lagerfeld has taken us to Ancient Greece, the base of the Eiffel Tower, inside cyberspace and even to outer space. For Spring 2018, Uncle Karl was all about stripping things back to nature, with another elaborate set piece inspired by a gorge in the Alps. Walking into the Grand Palais, guests were greeted by the sounds of water gently falling down the side of a giant, mossy cliff. 

When the show kicked off, the flow turned into fully churning waterfalls. If you were worried what that backsplash would mean for the models making their way around the winding dock, don't fret: The Spring 2018 collection is full of plastic, from frilled, hooded capelets to cap-toed PVC boots. (There were also brimmed hats, which gave the models quite a bit of trouble exiting the make-shift grotto; after several girls gingerly stepped around one-such fallen hat, Mariacarla Boscono straight up kicked it into the flowing river, easily one of the chicest moments of fashion month.)

VALENTINO'S RESORT 2018 COLLECTION WAS INSPIRED BY 'HIP-HOP AS A MELTING POT'

VALENTINO'S RESORT 2018 COLLECTION WAS INSPIRED BY 'HIP-HOP AS A MELTING POT'

It is well-known fashion law that if a brand presents a collection inspired by hip-hop, the runway must take place in New York City. Valentino brought its catwalk back to the Big Apple for Resort 2018, an airy space in NoHo providing the backdrop for the deep greens and bright pinks of a collection that was tinged with references to "urban metamorphosis.'

Of course, this is Valentino, which means there were multiple references in the mix. The show notes indicate that creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli was inspired by "the street," engaging in a dialogue with different cultures. To that end, Resort 2018 is about "hip-hop as a melting pot," sporty details and pre-Colombian art. If that sounds like a lot of very different points of influence, that's because it was: The show could have been edited a bit more tightly to provide a more cohesive story.

THE VALENTINO SPRING 2018 COLLECTION BROUGHT GLAMOUR TO FUNCTIONAL FASHION

THE VALENTINO SPRING 2018 COLLECTION BROUGHT GLAMOUR TO FUNCTIONAL FASHION

If you're a fashion lover who's had it up to here with the industry's current fixation on athleisure, streetwear, logomania, merch and all things millennial-inspired, you are certainly not alone. While there's nothing wrong with investing in well-made, practical, seasonless clothing — or the occasional trendy piece emblazoned with a super-hyped brand name — many everyday staples can start to feel monotonous, especially when one label after another continues to turn out collections of hoodies, denim and sneakers. Where's the fantasy gone? Isn't fashion supposed to be fun, even if you're just heading out to run a quick errand or have a quiet dinner with friends?

Valentino's Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli surely had this question in mind while designing his fantastic Spring 2018 collection. According to the show notes, he believes that fashion's main function is to "make the ordinary extraordinary," and he did just that with his lovely showing in Paris on Sunday evening. Utilitarian pieces you might not expect from the Italian house — anoraks, rain slickers, army jackets, coveralls — were given a glamorous makeover, thanks to a feminine color palette, loads of sparkling paillettes and embroideries, artful layering and oversize bows or ruffles. 

VIOLETTE: FROM PARIS TO THE WORLD

VIOLETTE: FROM PARIS TO THE WORLD

Violette is going to tell us her story and you’re going to love it. I know I did. How did this young, beautiful and stylish Parisian land the title of Global Beauty Director of Estée Lauder with no connections, no mentors and a job she learned on her own? She’s just street smart, honest and completely passionate about what she does.

I’ll keep this intro short because I know you’re going to get hooked on Violette the second you hear her beautiful French accent. So, thank you Violette and thank you so much Estée Lauder for making this podcast happen.

Gigi Hadid Had an Emotional Response to the Las Vegas Shooting

Gigi Hadid Had an Emotional Response to the Las Vegas Shooting

Since Sunday night's tragic mass shooting in Las Vegas, celebrities have been speaking out, sharing support for those affected by the event. Gigi Hadid was one of them. She tweeted that her heart was broken by the news.

Daymond John Brings FUBU Back

Daymond John Brings FUBU Back

This year marks the 25th anniversary of FUBU pioneering the integration of fashion with hip-hop culture, multimedia and entertainment. The urban apparel line founded by CEO Daymond John was synonymous with T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, hats, footwear and denim with the conjoined "FB" in bold, all caps font stitched on the fabric.

Entertainers like LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige, TLC, P. Diddy and Beyonce all wore FUBU to award shows, in music videos and in numerous print and television ads. At its pinnacle, FUBU had netted $350 million in sales through 5,000 retail stores: eventually grossing more than $6 billion globally.

An acronym that stands for "For Us By Us," FUBU was created to specifically target young African-American consumers. John, who started the operation with his childhood friends Keith Perrin, J. Alexander Martin and Carl Brown, created the clothing as a response to high-profile fashion brands expressing they didn't want to market their collections to ethnic audiences.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet Never Had Crushes on Each Other

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet Never Had Crushes on Each Other

Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio are best friends. People of the Internet know this—and they're obsessed. When Winslet revealed she and DiCaprio quote Titanic lines to each other, Twitter let out a collective "awww." Nineties babies across the world did a happy dance when the two of them were photographed on a (platonic) BFF vacation in Saint-Tropez. And when Winslet cried and cheered on DiCaprio for essentially the entire 2016 awards season? Done.