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Monthly Archives: April 2015

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TREND REPORT: 70s FASHION DECODED

By | Fashion, Trend Tutorial | 2 Comments

Every fashion industry insider and style lover worth their salt will tell you to hold onto to your mom’s or grandma’s vintage threads since they’re bound to come back in vogue in the not to distant future. All trends are cyclical and this season, the 70s are again taking the fashion world by storm. Now before you conjure up images of Studio 54 and Woodstock, let me remind you that this year’s 70s revival is more modern and definitely more tailored.

Just like with every other trend that resurfaces, the key to pulling off the 70s trend is to strategically mix classic or personal sartorial staples from your closet to some choice pieces from the prevailing trend. Decking yourself out in head to toe 70s garb will have you labeled fashion victim in a snap. The trick is to carefully choose iconic 70s pieces that speak to your personal style and work with your lifestyle, and figure.

The following is a rundown of trend wardrobe items worth considering adding to your wardrobe to embrace 70s flair.

Platform Sandals

Now this kind of footwear is a no-brainer to add to your closet. Platform Sandals don’t just give you height, it has the added appeal of being comfy too. These sandals are perfect for the summer with breezy pants or sundresses. However, platform sandals look just as good when worn with tights and socks during transitional weather. Platforms certainly have a 70s appeal that women of all ages and body types can confidently rock. These look best when paired with another item on this list, the flared pant.

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Fringes

Wear anything fringed and you’ll be well on your way to a 70′s vibe. The texture and bohemian feel of a fringed bag is a fun and low commitment way to add some 70s trend to your wardrobe. If you’re feeling more daring, you can try your hand at fringe jackets, skirts or shorts. A fringed clutch is a quirky way to add a contemporary edge to an evening outfit. 

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Flares

For a straight shot into the 70s don some flares. Whether its denim or a more polished trouser, wide legs pants and flares are versatile and fashion forward.

The wide leg bottom works especially well to balance wide hips and tall frames. If you’re of a more petite stature, consider a slight flare so as not to overwhelm your look. Denim bell-bottoms will look great with your favorite staple tees, while tailored wide leg trousers is a great departure from standard office wear.

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70s Floral

Floral prints are another vital part of the 70s trend. The late 60s to the early 70s was the flower power age after all, and this was when the bohemian and hippie movement started. Florals were a big part of that fashion history. Reach for a vintage floral piece if you can, and opt for bolder and larger print florals over the more dainty feminine type of floral print. Sweeping florals from head to toe can be your go-to maximum drama high impact look this season.

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Fur Movement

The opulence and elegance of those 70s disco days, of Studio 54, and Andy Warhol downtown parties are manifested in the dominance and richness of fur. It may be a fur vest worn with denim or fur-lined collar, or even a luxurious fur stole, the texture that fur gives to a look cannot be overlooked and demands the right kind of attention.

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Oversized Sunnies

Again, just like with every fashion trends, accessories are the quickest, most hassle free, and least risky way to get into a trend. Oversized eyewear especially in oval shapes or in rose-tinted styles are a great way to hint at some 70s bohemian vibe in your look. As always, try a pair on and see what works with your face shape.

 Image_OversizedSunnies

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Floppy Hats

Wide brim floppy hats aren’t just exclusively for the summer anymore, this head accessory looks just as stunning in the fall/winter too. Floppy hats are a bohemian style staple that is fast becoming a must-have outfit add-on that every fashionistas reaches out for, especially when in need of some extra glam. Neutrals are an easy pick, but picking more bold hued hats like in royal blue or Marsala will give your look a definite upgrade.

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Peasant Tops

Another bohemian 70s piece that will work for all ages and body types, the peasant top is a great investment for your summer/vacation wardrobe. If you’re younger, go for more vibrant prints and off-shoulder variations and pair with denim cutoff and boots. For a more mature wardrobe, opt for earthy tones and breezy fabrics that you can work for a variety of occasions.

IMage_Peasant Tops

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Lace-up Sandals

Instead of your boring, old flip-flops or ballet flats, you should mix it up with lace-up gladiator sandals. Thinner straps in nude and blush tones are universally flattering and will go amazingly with your maxi dresses and denims.

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Jumpsuits

Think Bianca Jagger’s all white jumpsuit in Studio 54. This one-piece closet workhorse is a chic investment that will outlast this current 70s trend. The clean lines and wearability of this piece make it an easy pick. If you’re going to update your closet this season, let the jumpsuit be a part of your style overhaul. Whether in more structured silhouettes and dressed up fabrics or whether done in denim or more casual and playful prints, jumpsuits are stunning on just about everyone. As an added bonus, this piece can easily go from work to play, AM to PM.

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 Source: Image 1Image 2Image 3, Image 5.

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IN LOVE WITH LACE: 10 ways to wear lace year round

By | How To..., Wardrobe Savvy | No Comments

Lace is the fabric of femininity and elegance. From medieval fashion to the roaring 20s, lace has always been in vogue.

From a feminine item and used primarily for dressy events, lace has evolved into a versatile fabric that can be worn by women of all ages, used within many garments and easily transfers from season to season. It’s unwavering elegance and ladylike romantic feel makes it a winner in our book. 

Lace for Summer

White Lace

The breathability and sheerness of lace make it a no-brainer choice for summer dressing.

White lace is an especially good choice, it’s a modern classic that exudes innocence and has that girl-next-door vibe. Whether you choose a full lace cover-up to wear over a slinky sheath dress for summer parties or a dainty fit-and-flare lace dress, white lace is the ideal form of the go-to sundress. Other looks to experiment with are: white lace tanks layered underneath chambray shirts or denim jackets, white lace maxi dresses for the beach, and a white lace matching set with sherbet color accents.

Summer 1

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Ladylike Lace

Lace is a quick fix for summer office dressing. Lace has that preppy polish to it that gives visual texture and dimension to your work ensemble, without taking away from that professional vibe. Try a lace midi skirt with a structured dark floral top with a blazer over it for a look that commands respect and attention while conveying feminine elegance.

Another option is to wear a lace top underneath a matching colored pantsuit. Lace is also a great styling choice for the summer weddings and formal events that are sure to pop up on your social calendar. Lace dresses done in either white or cream will keep you cool and feeling fresh while still looking chic and on-trend. You can even wear shorts with a lace top and blazer for as glam alternative to a frock.

 Summer 2

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Colorful Lace

For a look that’s sure to say summer, seek out lace pieces in bright and vibrant colors. If that’s not something you’d like to invest in, you can pair your more traditional white/beige lace pieces with vivid summery colors like orange and yellow. Either way, there’s a number of ways to make bright color work with lace. For example a coral orange mini dress with tan espadrille wedges will instantly up your style for any summer afternoon party. Alternatively, take your lace skirt out to brunch with edgy hues like bright purple and electric blue, and pair with a graphic tee and statement heels.

 Summer 3

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Lace for Winter

Lace Layering

The easiest way to wear lace when the temperature drops is to use it as a layering piece. 

A summery lace dress can transition quickly into fall when worn with opaque tights and a cozy cardigan. While a sexy lace see-through top can add a dash of seduction to winter pieces such as the classic trench coat or a fur-lined jacket. If you have a lace crop top from summer, try wearing it over your sweaters or long-sleeved shirts for an extra dose of style. It’s all about balancing the lightness of lace with more heavy fall/winter appropriate pieces.

Feel like baring your lingerie is not your thing? Cover up underneath with a nude camisole to work the trend with out the embarrassment.

Winter 1

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Lace Detailing

Sometimes, a touch of lace is all you need to jazz up your fall/winter ensembles.

A lace sleeve detail or a lace hem on a classic pencil skirt can make a big difference in your overall look. Lace also can soften the image of any look, and is a great way to combat those dreary and cold days.

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Dark Romantic Lace

If white lace is your best bet in the summer, when the leaves start to fall it’s time to turn to the darker shades of lace. Black, purple, and red lace is more suited to the season. The modern and contemporary feel of lace done in dark hues exudes drama to the fullest.

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Statement Lace Outerwear

Turtlenecks, oxford shirts and coats done in lace add a feminine feel to your go-to pieces for the winter. This will do wonders for your fall/winter style rotation since lace increases the stylishness of your look and gives your look more texture and visual curb appeal.

 Winter 4

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Lace Over 40

Classic Silhouettes

Sometimes, it is best to stick to tried-and-tested classic silhouettes that already work for your body type and personal style. Just a little lace to change up your go-to look, and you’ll get out of any style rut. A lace tunic over blue jeans also looks so refreshing and more put together than your standard cotton tunic top. Midi skirts, A-line dresses, and LBDs when upgraded with lace convey increased sophistication.

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Structured Lace

Lace is commonly associated with flow and airiness. Adding lace to more structured silhouettes and shapes creates a look that combines power with femininity. The contrast between ladylike lace and modern structured shapes simply oozes confidence. This also makes a great look for the office.

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Peek-a-boo

A hint of lace is more than enough for a shot of sexy. With just a dash of lace detailing, you can express your sexy style without being too over-the-top or without overwhelming you. A lace sleeve there or lace pant piping detail here is all a fashionistas needs to finish off your look of the day.

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 Want More?

  1.  The History of Lace 
  2.  Why Brides Wear Lace.
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JUST ADD ACCESSORIES: part 2

By | Accessorizing | 4 Comments

In Part 1 I discussed how to accessorize solid colored garments, how some accessories are linked to a season or time of day and how to create a mood with accessories. This time we’ll go a step further and discover how visual weight harmony matters, how to dress up pr down an outfit with accessories and lastly, how to accessorize a patterned/printed garment.     

Visual Weight

Like the timing of accessories, selecting an accessory that harmonizes with your outfit in weight will create a pulled together and appealing result.

This is not the actual weight if the accessory but it’s perceived weight and is based on a combination of factors.

In general terms, visual weight increases with the following factors:

  • Size: the larger.
  • Opacity: the more opaque.
  • Color: the darker.
  • Structure: the less structured.
  • Surface: the more matte the surface.
  • Texture: the more textured.
  • Embellishments: the more embellished.

In addition

SHOES:

  • Exposure: the less open the shoe/less foot it exposes.
  • Sole: the thicker.
  • Heel Height: the lower.
  • Heel Style: the thicker/ chunkier. 

JEWELRY:

The following necklaces are large which may cause some to believe the scale is inappropriate for them however, if the color of the beads are light or the beads are transparent the visual weight decreases and the necklace will be more easily worn by those who are short, petite or over their ideal weight.   

Likewise the more light reflects off the surface of the the necklace (shiner) the visually lighter the necklace will appear to be. 

Also the finer the detailing the less weight (visually lighter) the overall design will appear to be.  

Combining accessories with a visual weight that matches your garment will also result in a harmonious design.  In this set the accessories on the first dress are too heavy for the lightweight dress while the 2nd and third examples coordinate well to create a stylish and harmonious look.  

FORMALITY

Accessories are perfect to dress a garment or outfit up or down or update it, with relatively little cost. This is stretch the usefulness and life of your garments.

One of the critical factors is to start with a dress or outfit that has a simple yet flattering style to effectively work as a blank canvas to allow for the maximum number of different looks.  These dresses from Dorothy Perkins are perfect examples,
  • solid colors,
  • classic unadorned necklines
  • elegant semi fitted styles

Each allows for a multitude of possibilities and none can be pegged to a particular fashion date making them worth extra dollars, as they are likely to wear out or you get sick of wearing them before they have to be tossed for being out of fashion. 

In general terms, formality increases with the following factors:

  • Size: the smaller.
  • Style: more classic, less trendy
  • Opacity: the more opaque.
  • Color: the darker.
  • Structure: the more structured.
  • Surface: the more reflective (polished/shiny/sparkly).
  • Texture: the less textured.
  • Embellishments: the less embellished.
  • Print/Color: solid colors.
  • Fabric: natural.
  • Condition: good to excellent.

In addition

SHOES:

  • Exposure: the less open the shoe.
  • Sole: the thinner.
  • Heel Height: the higher.
  • Heel Style: the finer and more classic. 

 

Accessorizing solid colored outfits and garments is relatively easy but when it comes to accessorizing patterned garments some women feel a little lost. Like most things it’s not that difficult with a few tips and a little practice.

The following dress has all the basic traits of ‘The Versatile Dress’ talked about in Part 1 with the exception that it’s a graphic print.  No don’t be scared, it’s not that hard.

Breakdown the Style

  • Color Temperature: Cool
    Wearing accessories on the same side of the color wheel as the colors within the garment is the easiest option and will always result in a harmonious look.
  • Color Hierarchy: Black, Yellow, White, Grey. 
    ~ By hierarchy I mean the color that is the most dominant.  In this dress black is the most dominant followed by yellow, white and grey. 

    ~ While you could accessorize this dress with any of the four colors, balance is more often created when you use the dominant colour.
    ~ When it comes to shoes, neutral colors like skin tone can also be used, and in cases of garments with unusual colors neutral shoes are a God send. 
  • Design and Structural Shapes: Mainly curved shapes.
    ~ Echoing the shapes within the garment creates an insync appearance. The top half of the dress is very curved making the selection of similarly shaped earrings the best option.  
    ~ The lace pattern at the neckline makes adding a necklace or pendant un necessary and unless very fine may create a cluttered or overly busy appearance.
    The design angles at the base of the dress allows for pointy shoes to be worn.
    The scooped neckline allows for a short pendant and the rounded shape of the pendant harmoniously echoes the shape of the neckline.
  • Theme: Graphic Print + Color Blocking Trends
    Print based on lace.
  • Image: Strong Femininity 
    ~ The strength comes from boldness of the black against the lighter and softer colours of white and lemon and the delicate lace pattern.
    ~ Being able to look at a garment/outfit and determine its perceived image will give you the advantage of knowing when to select a look that will work towards your daily goals.
  • Size of Print: Large
    ~ As a general rule, the larger the print/pattern the larger you will appear. If you are petite, the larger the print the higher the risk the design will overwhelming your frame.
    ~ The color contrast within the pattern will increase or decrease the effect.  A large print of similar depth colors that softly blend into each other has less enlarging power and a print (any size) of bright contrasting colors has more power to enlarge.
  • Neckline: Scooped (medium depth)
    The shape and height of the neckline determines the type and length of neckline accessory. Some necklines and collars are best left unadorned (see below).
  • Sleeves: Sleeveless
    ~ The type of sleeves (or lack of) helps determines the type and number of arm and hand accessories.
    ~ The shorter the sleeve the more you can add
    .
  • Occasion: Dressy
    ~ The base formality level of a garment will determine how far it can be dresses up and down.  This dress being dressy in its unaccessorized state is unlikely to be able to be dressed down enough to wear on casual occasions. However, the second dress is basically casual and can be dressed up for business casual or down for the weekend but it will always appear too casual for a evening dinner.
  • Timing: Day+
    The dressiness of this dress means it can be accessorized to wear to work as well as evening events such as a dinner.  The second dress is suited to day wear only.    

Accessorizing Necklines and Collars

  • Necklines Best left UnAdorned

Any neckline or collar that is ornate or already impacted by strong pattern are best left accessorized.  The addition of beautiful earrings are all that is required to complete the neckline.

  • General Necklines:

While there are plenty of Google and Pinterest sites with examples of what accessory to place with which neckline, my opinion is that what you place at the neckline has more to do with getting the harmony right with color, style and formality rather than shape.  Mirroring the shape of a neckline does work but being restricted to that idea is very limiting.  My advice is to experiment; accessories are so inexpensive and abundant that you should allow yourself to experiment and play until you find the styling that works with your personal style.

In the meantime here’s some inspiration:    

End of Topic
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PETITE CHIC: HOW TO WEAR A LONG SKIRT OR DRESS

By | How To..., Wardrobe Savvy | 20 Comments

It is a common misconception that petite/short girls should avoid wearing hemlines that are on the longer side. Most people would recommend shorter hemlines would showcase one’s legs and elongate one’s overall look and create a flattering and statuesque silhouette. However, there are ways for petite fashionistas to pull off this coveted and hot hemline, especially for this season. Maxi dresses and long skirts abound on the runways and on the street style scene, and there’s no reason that petite girls can’t get in on the fashion fun. Get with the trends with these styling tips and tricks to ensure that you look your absolute best.

Wear shoes with medium to high heels

This will give you some extra height to help carry off the long length. Nothing too extreme 3-5 cms (1-2”) will do the trick.

Add Heels

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Avoid Shoes with Blunt Toes and High Vamps

These are the quickest way to make legs look heavy and aged. Toes that have a slight to extreme point will slim and elongate your feet and ankles. High vamps (where you place you foot into the shoe) will make feet look broad, and very rounded toes will make ankles appear thicker and the legs shorter.

Heavy shoes

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Bottom Row: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3

Wear Boots

Wear boots that either reaches under the hemline to create a smooth line with the skirt and boot or wear opaque hosiery the same color as the boots. This tip works especially well with knee-grazing silhouettes. A great styling tip to add variety to your skirt rotation, there is no need to limit oneself to mini hemlines.

Pointed Heels

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Wear Straight or Tapered Styles

Straight and tapered skirts are by far the most slimming. Wide, flared styles will make you look shorter and heavier. Keep in mind that you will appear to be as wide as your widest hemline. Likewise ensure the fabric is not too heavy, nor should there be so much fabric that it will drag your apparent height down. Lighter fabrics that skim your figure are best.

Straight over wide

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Keep Your Hemline Understated

Avoid hemline borders or embellishment as well as too loud or bright footwear, as these lead the eye to the base of your body. Opt instead to add an item of interest above your bust line to encourage the impression of height and draw the eye upward. Nude heels for when you’re going bare legged or shoes that blend in color with your hemline are both excellent choices as they continue the elongation of the legs and silhouette. A statement necklace or a pair of eye-catching earrings is flattering accessories that a petite girl would do well to invest in.

When in Doubt, Go Monochromatic

Keep this fashion rule top of mind. Wearing one color from head to toe is the surest way to achieve a lengthening overall effect. It is also a chic, easy, and elegant way to get dressed.

Mono2

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Show Off Your Shape

When accessorizing and/or styling yourself, never forget to accentuate your waist. Creating a flattering waist shape or showing off your hips and bottom is a great way to showcase your figure when wearing longer hemlines.

ShowOffYourShape

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Opt for Slits

Slits of all lengths and styles are now being spotted everywhere, most especially in long skirt or maxi dress silhouettes. These slits are a great way to break up the substantial clothing silhouette and add a subtle hint of sexy. Slits can be elegant and fashion forward when done right. When wearing something with a slit, keep the accessories minimal and let that feature be the focus of your ensemble.

Splits

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