Researching your Fashion Designer
or
How to look up any still-living person – famous or otherwise

1) Basic biographical information

            Use the tools
                                    Print resources (all of these are in the reference collection) Find these using GIL
                                    Who’s Who and all the related titles
                                    Current Biography
                                    Newsmakers

                                    On-line databases – available through GALILEO
                                    Lexis-Nexis
                                    Expanded Academic

Do the Google search BUT be careful of what you find.  Look for “official sites” rather than fan sites. Official sites will often offer services like selling you the products of the designer or telling you where you can find them or about shows in your area.  But do remember that even information from official sites may be biased and/or inaccurate. Checking Wikipedia is not a bad idea – but the people who write the entries for the on-line encyclopedia use the same resources you have access to!

2) Business strategies/Marketing information

            Use the tools

                        On-line resources – available through GALILEO
                        ABI-Inform – COMPLETE  (has full text of Women’s Wear Daily)
                        Lexis-Nexis – the business information section
                        Historical New York Times for print ads and information from years ago (Look under the tab and then choose History. A fantastic resource.

3) Pictures?

            Current
            Do a picture search on Altavista
 
            Vintage
            Historical New York Times (available through GALILEO) is a great source for fashion photography.

V. Horst 4/06