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Monthly Archives: October 2015

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HOW TO REINVENT OUTFITS

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

Next time you feel bored with your look instead of heading to the mall for some new fashion pieces why not get creative and reinvent your present outfits. Hiding in your closet are many new looks and combinations just waiting for you to discover them.

1#. Flirt with sheer tops

This little styling trick is great to not only mix up your looks but also to softly camouflage heavy upper arms, and to help transition a sleeveless summer dress over the fall period.

Sheer tops1Source: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4

2#. Pair pants with dresses and skirts

Instead of your trusty pair of leggings, try a pair of fitted pants instead. Add them under a skirt or dress, a pair of pants for a look that’s been making the rounds lately. When in a leather or sateen type fabric your outfit will take on a luxe look. 

Pants Under Skirts

Source: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4

3#. Button-up

Bored with an old jacket or need to ramp up its polish? Swap the old buttons for new ones. Believe it or not good buttons are expensive and are often the first place a manufacturer will reduce costs. From vintage to quirky buttons all the way to top of the range, new buttons will definitely give your outfit a new look.

4#. Reuse and repurpose

Repurposing your clothes is the best way to reinvent your look while saving your pennies and the planet. From doing it yourself to using an alteration service, the reward is worth the effort and creates a truly unique garment.

repurpose

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5#. Shorten, taper, shape

Sometimes all it takes is an alteration to make an unworn garment into a hands-down favorite. Shortening, tapering and shaping are all techniques that can totally reinvent a garment and your shape. At this juncture, it is important to say that a good relationship with a great tailor or seamstress can be extremely beneficial to your style.

AlterTaper

6#. Accessory mix-up

Get creative and mix up your accessories to a display your unique style and twist on fashion. Your accessories can go a long way in creating look looks from old pieces.

Accessories

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7#. Coat as dress

Make your coat a standalone statement dress by donning killer heels, metallic belt, cabochon jewelry, or even a lightweight patterned scarf.

Coat as dress

Source: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3.

8#. Break with tradition

Just because there’s a traditional around when to wear an item of clothing doesn’t mean you have to stick with it. Create your own style and reinvent new looks by breaking with convention. The possibilities are endless! Keep one rule in mind: always balance wearing one out-of-season item by making the rest of your ensemble all about the current one.

Out of season

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9#. Experiment with the unexpected

Similar to mixing up seasonal items let your imagination run wild and experiment with mixing all manner of colors, prints, shapes and textures together. Suzanne Dekyvere is a great example of someone who does this well.

Suzanne DSource

Have you another way to reinvent an outfit?  If you do I’d love to hear about it

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If you enjoyed this week’s feature
please like it on Facebook or Instagram
or leave a comment/question below.
Thank you.
Ann Reinten AICI CIP
Author


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CLEVER WAYS TO HIDE HEAVY ARMS

By | Figure Flattery, How To... | No Comments

No matter how many times we are told to stop body-shaming ourselves, there are some areas we just can’t get over. I admit and raise my hand as being guilty. Let’s face it, in this age of Photoshop and caked on cosmetics, it’s hard to know what a “real” woman looks like.

Let me give you a clue: look in the mirror – yep, she looks just like you. She’s your cubicle mate, your best friend, your sister, that woman sitting across the restaurant from you—we are the real women, not those we see in the pages of Glamour or Vogue.

So today, I’m starting with our arms (the area I dislike most). As much as we’d like to showcase guns like Angela Basset’s and Michelle Obama’s, everyone’s body is different and some areas are nearly impossible to tone compared to others. However, there’s no need to completely miss out on a lovely blouse or dress because of this tricky area! So here’s my tips to look amazing while hiding heavy arms.

Embrace a Shawl

Scarves are becoming a big closet staple thanks to their useful versatility, and endless options of styles and designs. Deck your shoulders with a nice sheer silk scarf to play with a light breeze, or a chunky option to help keep you warm through the day. You can even belt a longer scarf to make it into a stylish poncho. Over a nice dress or even a t-shirt and jeans, you can definitely have some wiggle room here.

Shawl Collage

Make Your Jacket a Statement Piece

If you love jackets then make it a statement piece that you’ll feel confident—not covered—in. Make your jacket, blazer, or cardigan a stand out piece that will make people wonder where got it from, not what you’re hiding underneath. A statement jacket is a great way to show a little personality and get the right attention. You definitely won’t be worrying about your arms, you’ll be fixated on how fabulous you feel instead.

Jacket Collage

Relaxed Sleeves Can Save the Day

You don’t always want to cover up entirely, and let’s face it – fashion is too much fun to stick with a few top styles. Loose/relaxed sleeves are a playful way to camouflage any top arm bulge you may feel insecure about. From floral kimono tops to flutter sleeves and relaxed sweaters your look will leave you instantly worry free. Just be careful not to create too much bulk – soft, relaxed or flowing is the key.

Loose SleevesCollage

Accentuate Other Areas

When you have a trouble spot, simply don’t place all the focus on it. When it comes to makeup, we contour what we want to shape, and highlight what we want to accentuate—this can be done with fashion too! Using accessories, pattern or colour attract the attention to one of your best features or areas. Add a belt to cinch your waist, or step into some pumps to make your calves look like you’ve been running miles. It’s so easy to accentuate what you love and divert attention off away from area you’d rather camouflage.

DivertCollage

Opt for Sheer Sleeves

A transparent overlay can make a big difference as a sleeve option. Yes, your arms are covered, but not as if they were long cotton sleeves. Sheer is very in at the moment, but sheer sleeves are even hotter! You will definitely cover what you want while staying on trend. Are you afraid of that sleeveless dress you used to love? Take it out of the closet now and rock it with a completely sheer long sleeve top underneath.

SheerSleevesCollage

Sheer sleeves are also excellent for adding under a sleeveless dress leaving you cool, your arms flattered and you wearing a smashing dress in the knowledge You Look Fab!

 

Sheer slleves under dres

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If you enjoyed this week’s feature
please like it on Facebook or Instagram
or leave a comment/question below.
Thank you.
Ann Reinten AICI CIP
Author


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BoHo DEFINED

By | Trend Tutorial | 5 Comments

The word “bohemian” literally means travellers and was originally associated with gypsies.

In the 16th century the Bohemian culture movement was formed and Bohemians became those who lived alternative lifestyles and existed on the fringes of society. In the 1960s, bohemian lifestyles and fashion shot to mainstream fame largely due to the hippie movement. Hippies and bohemians are the same when it comes to both their style of dress and way of living. The laidback ease and free spirited essence of bohemian fashion was seen as a rejection of the overtly feminine and sexualized women’s wear. Thus, boho style was in vogue in the 60s, and quickly felt like home to the burgeoning bra-burning feminist movement.

For many the resurgence of the bohemian look heralds a welcome departure from the conformity, speed and structure of many trends and lifestyles. A liberating fashion tree-change if you will that with its inherent irreverence and its self-embracing free spirit allows the wearer to just ‘be’. Just like the trend’s origin, its popularity is less about the clothes and more about the spirit you embody when wearing them. That is precisely what makes bohemian fashion so enticing for women all over the world.

Here’s what you need to embrace a Boho chic look

Hair and Makeup

A hippie girl has that au naturel look down pat. Keep your makeup look as natural as possible. All you need for this look is minimum coverage, a touch of blush on your cheeks and lips, and a swipe of mascara; you’re all set. As for a true boho hair look, you’ve got two options. You can either go with tousled waves or a poker straight look. But when it comes to the boho look, braids and flowers are always winners.

Boho HairSource: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4

Key Pieces

These 5 items are what you should keep at the top of your shopping list for that quintessential hippie chic vibe. Mix and match them with classic pieces in your closet to avoid looking like a bad retro flashback.

  1. Platform Shoes
  2. Bell Bottoms / Wide Leg Pants
  3. Aviator/Round Sunnies
  4. Peasant Tops
  5. Fringes
  6. Floppy and Rimmed hats

Other classic Boho items to include on your list: flowing maxi skirts and dresses, patchwork denim, suede mini skirts, fur collars and coats, crochet tops, and jumpsuits.

Boho Key ItemsSource: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4, Image 5 

Boho key items1

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Patterns

Prints are a great way to integrate some boho hippie charm into your look. Paisley, tie-dye, and floral prints are popular patterns for this trend.

BohoPrints2

Source: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4, Image 5.

Women who defined the look

Who better to look to for inspiration than these style icons that made bohemian style what it is today, take a cue from these amazing women and you’ll be on the right track. Whether you fancy a girly type of boho a la Ali McGraw (scarf headbands and flowing dresses), rock n’ roll influenced boho a la Stevie Nicks (bell sleeves and long dresses), out-of-this-world prints like Janis Joplin, or effortlessly chic peasant tops and denim like Jane Birkin; you’ll get endless inspiration from this range of historic bohemian and hippie looks.

  • Ali McGraw
  • Stevie Nicks
  • Janis Joplin
  • Jane Birkin

Muses of BohoSource

Movies that define the look

Sometimes you need moving images to kick-start you sartorial creativity, these movies ought to give you enough material to work with for your next show stopping boho look. Take your pick from the ultimate hippie chic costume of the ensemble cast of Hair, or from Almost Famous’ Penny Lane’s platform knee-high boots, fur, and embroidered tops, or from the youthful characters on Dazed and Confused.

  • Hair
  • Dazed and Confused
  • Almost Famous

Boho Movies

Modern Style Icons

Now that you know the key pieces for the hippie look, and have seen the classic style icons and movies that embody it, it’s time to make the boho trend your own. Let’s look to our modern boho-loving celeb style icons for styling tips and tricks in updating the bohemian style and making it work for you.

Vanessa Hudgens
For modern boho inspiration, look no further than Vanessa Hudgens. This petite style star knows how to make the boho look work for her. Given her petite frame, she chooses lower hemlines and balances the voluminous sleeves at the top with sleek booties. Also take note of the trendy mirrored sunnies that give a contemporary flair to this hippie chic ensemble. Always mix the old and the new, and never forget to take your body type into account.

Florence Welch
A bold paisley print coat with a Stevie Nicks inspired wide brim hat makes for a strong boho style statement. Balance that with understated leather accessories for an edgier take on the bohemian trend.

Nicole Richie
One of the original boho style mavens in Hollywood, take a cue from Nicole Richie’s leather wide leg pants and seek out unique materials done in classic boho silhouettes.

The Olsen Twins
A style lesson to learn from the Olsens is this: if you love it, wear it and own it. Despite frequent criticism, the Olsen Twins continue to rock boho frocks that ooze vintage glamour and individual style.

modern muses