Sunday, 26 February 2012

Color Block Fashion

If you have been lapping up fashion news regularly, you will know how horribly in color blocking is. A good reason to wear this trend is to use it to hide the flaws of your body. Dark colors have a slimming effect so use a darker column of color down the torso, this can easily be created by wearing a colored cardigan, jacket or blouse worn open. Generally a color blocked outfit will work best if you stick to the usual rules for your body shape. If you are pear shaped, opt for darker colors on the bottom half. If you are apple shaped avoid horizontal blocks of color around the stomach area but highlight legs with color blocks created by brightly colored tights. If you are hourglass, a color block around the waist is a great way of highlighting it and drawing attention to you womanly figure.








 As usual, i got in on the trend, what do you think?




 













Men's Wear inspired

Menswear-inspired fashion has been around for quite a while but year after year, we see it reinvented to suit the tastes of the modern woman. Last year's boyfriend jeans and boxy blazers were well received. This year, we got sleeker, cleaner looks that balance loose fit with crisp tailoring. Here are a few things to consider when you’re attempting to pull off the new menswear look:

First, go with pants. This season’s retro chic style has ushered in a range of wide-leg trousers and palazzo pants, so you won’t get bored with the same old denims.

Second, look for masculine touches especially with dresses. Jacket collars, multiple buttons, and shirty details give you a cool, androgynous feel.

Third, toss a blazer over a polo, or a slip a buttondown under a jumpsuit. Aim for a 3 piece outfit or strap on a belt

Finally, wear boy shoes. Brogues, oxfords and booties are a gateway to "mannish" looks.

Below are 13 outfit ideas for menswear. Talk about tomboy-chic!
















Monday, 20 February 2012

Hats

Sift through your mother’s old photos, the sepia-tinted mementos of her youth, and you are most likely to see her crowned in an array of vintage hats (check out my mum at vintage queen) . Fast-forward to present day, and you’ll find that a lot of people (including guys) are still rocking this accessory, these hats; the thoughtful, beautifully crafted kind that make a statement. As seen on stylish stars like Nicole Richie and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Not only do they have a cool, bohemian vibe, but they are the perfect accessory for a bad hair day, they look great with just about anything you pair them with, and they will instantly elevate your outfit from simple to statement









Double denim

Denim shirts are definitely in right now, as seen on a lot of celebrities and runways (especially D square). But a lot of people wonder if they can pair these stylish shirts with their denim pants/ jeans. The double denim is quite a tricky look to pull off without looking like a cowgirl or Britney. But, thanks to brands like Chloe and Chanel, celebrities like Alexa Chung and Sienna Miller, and a slew of street style starlets, double denim has become a fashion moment you can steal. To pull off this look, First, break up your denim pieces with stylish separates such as a boyfriend blazer or slouchy tee. Then, make sure your denim pieces are different hues of blue, such as pale icy blue and dark inky blue. The result is a double denim look that is fashion-forward and fresh, all at once.



Sunday, 19 February 2012

Bag-a-holic: A Bag Glossary

From convertible bags to minaudieres, there are 20 styles every woman should have in her fashion dictionary. Bags are a reflection of your personalty, they reflect your style and can make u look unique, definitely an important accessory.

BACK PACK

A backpack or a knapsack or rucksack is easily one of the most recognized bag types, since it's what students normally use for school. It has two thick straps that lie flat and that are worn over the shoulders.

BOWLING BAG
A bowling bag was traditionally used to carry bowling balls. Many designers have since come out with bags that bear the original bowling bag's slightly rounded shape. Some are more square than round, though are still rightfully called bowling bags.



BAGUETTE BAG

A baguette is a small bag which is longer horizontally than it is vertically. It usually has a single short strap worn over the shoulder.


BUCKET BAG

This type of bag is called a bucket bag because it resembles a bucket; it's as simple as that. Like the bucket, this bag commonly has an open top.


 CLUTCH BAG
"Clutch" means "to grasp or seize something tightly." This is how the clutch bag got its name, since it has no handles and must be held by its body. You can also tuck it under your arm to free your hands.


 CONVERTIBLE BAG
A bag is usually considered a convertible bag if it has various straps that allow it to be used as both a handbag and a shoulder bag. It may also be a handbag that folds into a clutch (similar to the fold over clutch).


 CROSS BODY BAG

A cross body bag is a great option when you want your hands to be free, since it has a long strap worn across the chest that runs diagonally across the body. Cross body bags vary in size.


MINUADIERE 



A minaudiere is a small evening bag with no strap or handle. Hollywood celebrities usually carry variations of this style when walking the red carpet. A minaudiere may be encrusted with beads and stones or come in a sumptuous fabric.


 DUFFEL
A duffel is a bag that is long and cylindrical in shape. This is the bag athletes usually bring to tote their things.


DOCTOR'S BAG
Fashion truly seeks inspiration from anything and everything! This flat-bottomed structured style was traditionally used to carry medical necessities on house calls, thus the name. This bag usually bears a frame that easily opens when the straps are separated. Nowadays, more women than actual doctors use this design, but it's still called a doctor's bag.


FOLD OVER BAG

A fold over is a bag with a handle that can be folded or stowed away, in order to transform the bag into a clutch. It's a great day-to-night option, since it doubles as both a roomy bag and a smaller, less intrusive purse.


 HOBO BAG



A hobo bag is usually large in size and made of material that's slouchy and soft. It's the complete opposite of a structured purse, since the hobo pretty much slumps over when unsupported.


ENVELOPE BAG

An envelope bag is a type of bag (often a clutch) that is flat and either square or rectangle in shape, with a triangle-shaped flap. It's exactly like an envelope.


SADDLE BAG




The saddle bag, like the doctor's bag and the bowling bag, is a type of bag that was initially more functional than stylish. It was traditionally fastened to the saddle on a horse for the rider to stow things in. Fashion-wise, it's a great accessory for vintage style outfits.


SATCHEL


A satchel is a bag that often features a long strap to be worn over the shoulder. It usually has buckled closures in the front. It is commonly associated with English schoolboys, since it was traditionally used to carry books.


SHOULDER BAG


A bag is considered a shoulder bag as long as it has a strap (or two) that can be worn over the shoulder. Functionality is what counts here, not the strap length.


SLING BAG



Like the cross body bag, the sling bag features a long strap that can be worn across the chest. However, this style is usually smaller in size and commonly worn over one shoulder.


TOP HANDLE



Top handle bags is what we often picture when we think of a bag. It has two handles that are not long enough to be worn over the shoulder, thus the need to clasp it with the hands or hang it over the crook of the arm.


TOTE


A tote (also known as a shopper) is typically large in size, since it's meant to carry a number of things at a time. It features a long handle on the center of each side and an open top (convenient for dumping things in).


WRISLET
A wristlet is a small bag that bears a striking resemblance to the clutch. The major difference is that a wristlet has a strap that a woman can wear on her wrist (hence the name) like a bracelet.