Very often, people equate style with fashionable clothes but style is far from merely donning the latest trends. It’s about having a sense of self-expression that translates who you really are from inside out; it’s in the subtle body movements, the way you carry yourself, your natural swagger, and even the way you shrug your shoulder as you walk. Clothes are simply tools that help individuals express their emotions.

Different clothes determine the way you move as the style, cut and structure of the garment put you in different states of mind. There is a distinct psychological change between wearing a loose pair of pyjamas and a suit; or the difference between a pair of sneakers and heeled shoes that almost certainly affect your posture and poise; something happens and it affects your mannerisms, and perhaps even your thought processes.

You don’t need a lot of clothes to be stylish. Timeless items can be some of the best style companions: A classic navy pinstriped suit, a pair of well-worn jeans, a well-cut white shirt, a fitted T-shirt.

However, it is the way you mix things together that ultimately creates your style. Dressing head-to-toe in designer labels isn’t being stylish, it screams “fashion victim”. Mixing old and new items are great but you must have a sense of aesthetics and creative imagination to make it work.

There is no room for modesty when it comes to creating your own style; you have to be narcissistic, get the right hairdo and the right outfits – and look effortlessly put together. You need to know yourself and who you want the world to see.

While it’s hard to pinpoint what makes a certain style desirable, suffice it to say good taste is only one small part of what makes a person stylish – you can be a geek and be extremely stylish, or you can be super-wealthy with zero style.

Karl Lagerfeld probably sums it up best when he says: “Good taste only tastes ‘good’ to the people who think they have good taste; good taste can be very uncreative and boring. Good taste is something very bourgeois, very established, so it needs fresh air.”

It’s time to own your style.

No Comments  Email This Post

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

APPROPRIATE SHOE STYLE FOR THE OFFICE There are many kinds of offices, some that are more accessible to the public than others and the considerations that you need to apply when buying shoes for the office are these.

STYLE

The style of shoe for wearing in an office should complement the clothing which you choose to wear. Although women are tempted with high heeled shoes, a moderate heel and conservative style will enhance the professional business woman’s look. Those that work in an environment where they are expected to climb ladders etc., for filing, would be well advised to choose a style that is practical as well as looking nice. Laces for example are not the best choice for women for work, because of the neatness factor, though also from the point of view of safety.

COLORS

Conservative is always safer. Colors that blend with the clothing look rather professional, and matching a handbag to complement the clothing chosen tops off that look. Garish colors in shoes look cheap and tacky and don’t add to the corporate image.

COMFORT

Since much of your day will be spent in an office, it is important to establish how warm that office environment is, and how comfortable your feet would be in closed shoes all day. Many women have problems with swollen ankles, and if the office is too hot, a choice of open shoes may not only enhance the look, but make the choice a comfortable one. Heels kept to a minimum add to the commonsense question of comfort, as eight hours on excessively high heels really can make your feet hurt.

BUDGET

In budgeting for office shoes, put enough aside to buy quality, because at the end of the day, quality not only looks nicer, and gives a better image to the company. It lasts longer and makes economical sense.

Shoes are a very personal item, and one of the main issues is that workers wear footwear that doesn’t look ridiculous, or call into question the seriousness of the office environment. Keep your casuals for after hours, and look after your feet by buying great shoes with appeal and style that last. Classic styles of womens shoes always give the right impression, take care of your feet, and never look out of place.

No Comments  Email This Post

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Some people view shoes as practical necessities, while others have a shoe obsession. Most people probably land somewhere in between. This article provides some basic but useful rules for men to choose shoes.

General rules:

1. Try to pick a shoe that matches, or is darker than your pants.
2. Although it is a safe bet, socks do not need to match your shoes. Instead, think of your socks as you would a tie – an item that can bring bring the whole outfit together.
3. If wearing a belt, try to match your shoes to it, unless of course, your belt is some multi-colored striped thing.

Men’s Shoes for Jeans
You can wear almost any color or style of shoe with jeans, but avoid very shiny shoes that were obviously intended for more dressier outfits.  Boots, lug soles, sneakers, loafers and sandals all work great with jeans, so you may find it helpful to let the style of your shirt guide you.  For example, a sporty, polo shirt might work with a loafer; t-shirts go well with sneakers or retro-style shoes; long, artsy button-downs work well with sandals or contemporary styles.

Men’s Shoes for Casual Pants
Whether you call them Dockers, chinos, or khakis, there are a variety of loafers, oxford and other men’s shoes that work well with casual pants.  Let the ornamentation and style of the shoe guide you towards the look you’re trying to achieve.  For example, a tassle or a buckle is a little more on the dressy side, while a woven pattern or heavy stitching is a little more on the casual side.

Men’s Shoes for Dress Pants
With dress pants, shoot for the same type of shoe that you might wear with a suit. Shinier materials usually indicate a dressier shoe, as do less bulky heels and soles. Choose a shoe that is the same color or darker than your pants, and if wearing a belt, match your shoes to it.

Color Matching for Men’s Shoes

1. Black shoes work well with navy, grey or black pants.
2. Brown shoes are best suited to tan, brown, beige, greens, other darker earth tones.
3. Burgundy shoes work well with khaki, lighter browns, blue and grey.
4. Tan shoes look great with lighter earth tones, blue, beige, lighter tan or white.

2 Comments  Email This Post

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

When shopping for a new dress this season, be sure to keep your body type in mind. By following these simple tips, you can accentuate the positive and downplay the areas of your body that… well, aren’t so perfect.

Full hips and thighs

For pair-shaped women with full hips and thighs, the dress should shouldn’t be shorter than an inch or two above the knee. Select a dress with an A-line skirt but not something too full. A short, fuller dress will look like a tu-tu.

Adrianna Papell printed halter dress To draw the attention away from your lower body, select a dress with a plunging V-neck, halter top or embellished neckline.

Thick waist

If you are apple-shaped with a thick middle, you need to elongate the look your torso and draw the attention away from your waist. Select a dress with an empire waist or drop waist to re-define your waist line.

Avoid thick belts cinched around your waist and instead choose a chain or sash belt slung low on your hips.

Heavy arms

Sleeveless and cap sleeve dresses aren’t for you. Instead, select billowy, bell sleeves that are 3/4 or even full-length to hide flabby arms.

Use hand-held dumbbells 15 minutes a day to get your arms in tip-top shape.

Small bust

If you weren’t endowed with ample breasts, avoid deep plunging necklines. Instead select dresses with a scoop or bandeau neck with sequins or other adornments to add a little dimension up top.

Layered necklaces are very popular right now and they can add some dimension to depth to your bust. You can also follow these simple instructions to make your breast look bigger with makeup to enhance your cleavage.

Big bust

Dresses with halter tops and deep V’s are very attractive for women who want to accentuate their big bust. Select fabrics that aren’t skim your body rather than bind, which can make your breasts look too big.

To draw some attention away from your bust and balance out a smaller lower body, choose a dress with an A-line skirt that falls one or two inches above your knees.

Plus size

Don’t pack on layers of baggy clothes to try to cover-up your body. Contrary to what you may believe, baggy dresses will just make you look bigger. Select fabrics that don’t cling to your body, but drape nicely.

A wrap dress is particularly flattering to full-figured women. Don’t avoid color and prints. The colorful collection of plus-sized dresses at Avenue.com offers a variety of different types of dresses for full figured women, including bold prints and sexy styles.

Too thin

Sweater or knit dresses are terrific options for thin women. Add layers to your dress, such as a cardigan or fitted jacket to add some bulk. If you have extremely thin legs, avoid mini-skirts and choose longer, flowing dresses instead.

Thin women can add a thick belt to give their waist more definition. Bubble dresses are very trendy right now and can also give the appearance of a larger lower body.

Shift to the shift

The shift is a dress that hangs straight down from the shoulder. It’s a dress type that is flattering to almost everyone. It skims your body nicely, but doesn’t cling. For summer, you can find shifts in cool cotton, linen and light knits. When fall arrives, wool and heavier knit shifts will continue to be popular.

Though the typical shift dress has a straight skirt, some fashion designers have created shifts with a slightly A-line cut this season.

The Lilly Pulitzer crocheted shift dress pictured here is perfect for a summer party. It’s beaded jeweled neckline adds some glitz. You can get this dress for $328 from Nordstrom.

Whatever your body type, you can find a beautiful dress that will flatter your figure. When shopping, bring a trusted girlfriend along for her honest opinion and be sure to look at the dress from all angles in the dressing room mirror.

Remember to accentuate the positive and don’t obsess with the negative. If you dress confident, you will look and feel beautiful too!

5 Comments  Email This Post

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Tie is an essential in men’s fashion.  However, many men do not know how to tie a tie properly.  Here is a step by step guide for how to tie the most east tie knot: Four in hand tie knot.

To tie the Four in Hand Knot, select a necktie of your choice and stand in front of a mirror. Then simply follow the steps below:

1) Start with the wide end (“W”) of your necktie on the right, extending about 12 inches below the narrow end (“N”) on the left.

2) Then cross the wide end over the narrow end.

3) Turn the wide end back underneath the narrow end.

4) Continue by bringing the wide end back over in front of the narrow end again.

5) Then, pull the wide end up and through the loop around your neck.

6) Hold the front of the knot loosely with your index finger and bring the wide end down through the front loop.

7) At last, remove your finger and tighten the knot carefully to the collar by holding the narrow end and sliding the knot up.

No Comments  Email This Post

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•