Scottish Textiles

Fashion evolves all the time, but there are some things that never change and one of those is how to choose the clothes that will flatter your body shape. Choosing the right style can make all the difference to how you look and feel and give you confidence, below are some things to remember when you next visit a clothes shop.

Pear shaped women have broad hips, a relatively small bust and a pronounced waist. If you fall into this type you should avoid clothes that draw attention to your hips. This includes items such as jackets or trousers that finish at the waist. Select fitted tops to draw attention to your bust and avoid lighter colours on your bottom half as this will accentuate the width. Darker shades and structured cuts are best, while bold tops in eye-catching colours will also draw attention to your upper half.

If you have the classic hourglass figure you should select clothes that show off your curves. Choosing clothes that skim the body, neither too loose nor too tight will flatter your figure. Accessorise with belts or tops that tie at the waist to accentuate your shape. Fitted waist-length jackets and tops will flatter your shape, but avoid shapeless tunics. Pencil skirts and scoop necks are also good choices.

Women who have a boyish figure should show off their slender legs. Choose skirts and dresses that lengthen the appearance of the torso. V-neck shirts or tops with a low collar will draw attention to your neck. Avoid belts, shirts or dresses that gather at the waist. Women with small busts can wear a wide range of tops, backless, strapless or plunge necks will flatter neat proportions.

If you have a round figure with a large bust, narrow hips and a round stomach you can still dress in chic styles. Typically, such women have lean legs and drawing attention to these will be their best bet. Wear tops with a longer neckline, but avoid broad collars or polo necks. Tunics are a good choice, but avoid anything that is tight fitting. Narrow belts that blend with the colour of your outfit are also a good choice. If you have a large bust then a good bra is essential. Avoid tops or dresses that don’t allow you to wear a bra underneath.

Determining the right colour to wear can make all the difference to the impression that you create. Skin tones can be divided into seasons so the first step in choosing the correct colour for both women’s and men’s clothing is to decide which skin tone you are.

People with winter complexions have blue or pink undertones. Their skin may be pale white, yellowish olive or dark. Winter people are usually brunettes with deep coloured eyes; many people of African or Asian descent will fall into this category. If you fall into this category you should choose sharp, stark colours and black, navy blue, white, red or shocking pink go well with this type of complexion. If you want a lighter colour go for icy colours rather than pastels and avoid subdued tones such as gold, orange or beige.

Summer complexions similarly have blue or pink undertones. Summer people have skin that is pale and pink and are often natural blondes or brunettes with pale eyes. Soft neutrals or pastels with blue and rose undertones go well with summer complexions. Plum, rose-brown, lavender and soft blue are good choices, but avoid orange and black.

Autumn complexions have golden undertones and many brunettes and redheads with golden brown eyes fall into this category. If this is you, go for colours with golden undertones such as dark brown, gold, orange and camel, but avoid any colours with blue tones, such as navy.

As with autumn complexions, spring complexions have golden undertones and are usually peach or creamy white. Spring people tend to have strawberry red or straw-coloured hair with rosy cheeks and green or blue eyes. Good colours for spring complexions are warm colours, such as peach, golden yellow, golden brown and camel. People with spring complexions should avoid dull, dark colours.

No matter what styles are in each season you will be able to find something that suits your skin tone whether you wear a patterned dress, or something plain, for the guys as a smart shirt or t-shirt in a colours that suits your skin tone is all you need as part of your wardrobe essentials.

When it comes to fashion, denim is one of the most popular fabrics around. It was first developed as a fabric for work wear, but rapidly became popular as a fashion fabric. Most people have at least one denim item of clothing in their wardrobe, but more than half the population will have at least two pairs of jeans. 

Denim is no longer limited to one colour. There is a range of ‘washes’ available for different looks, from vintage wash, which is a faded colour, giving the impression of a well-worn fabric, to a standard wash, which is the dark blue denim that we are all familiar with. Two of the other washes that are popular include bleached and stone. 

When looking for denim clothes, most will be searching for the perfect pair of jeans. They come in a number of different styles, with leg cuts such as boot cut and straight leg as well as a wide range of waist styles. It is a good idea to try on several different pairs before buying, so that you find one that is the most flattering for your body shape and offers the most comfort. 

A denim jacket is the ultimate casual fashion item. There are lightweight versions, which are ideal for cooler summer days or heavier fabrics that are suitable for milder winter days. 

Denim clothing is available from most designers, although for those on a budget there is always a wide range of affordable shops to choose from. This fabric is always a popular choice when considering vintage clothing and jeans from the 1960s are much sought after. 

Denim, jeans especially really do go with most things and can be easily dressed down for a casual day look with a t-shirt or vest top or dressed up for a glamorous evening look with a pretty top and great accessories.

Denim selection

Red carpet fashion is a much-publicised phenomena and each time there is a film premier or awards ceremony the fashion journalists are eager to decide which designers are in favour at the moment and to spot the latest fashion trends among the stars. They are also very keen to highlight the stars that have made a fashion faux pas. 

The stars that usually get a good write-up from the fashion editors are those who keep it simple. Male celebrities are usually fairly safe if they turn up in a tuxedo and keep their hair neat, but their female counterparts can come in for a lot of criticism if they do not look absolutely perfect. An overly fussy hairstyle and neckline can take the polish off a look and leave the journalists wondering where the stylist was. 

Awards ceremonies tend to show fashion trends; for example, the Oscars ceremony a couple of years ago saw a number of ‘A’ list female stars opt for flesh-coloured dresses. Other years have seen trends for black, silver or red, but it is worth remembering that these trends change very quickly.

Some retailers will see a dress on the red carpet and very quickly bring out a similar item at high street prices, although most people rarely have the occasion to wear them. The designers that are showcased on the red carpet often have their careers made or broken by the clothes that the celebrities wear. It is the perfect opportunity for an unknown designer to become better known and some have become overnight sensations. 

The best part of summer is being able to enjoy the sun and this year so far we have not done that bad with the sunshine (compared to previous years), so to make the most of the sun you need to make sure you have some great stylish clothing and there is plenty of women’s clothing available that ticks all the boxes. There are plenty of different trends at the moment meaning there is no excuse to not enjoy them all.

For a tropical feeling whether you going abroad on holiday or just staying at home you can opt for bright sunshine colours and bold funky prints, you don’t need to bother with too many accessories and can mix and match with white linen and denim to show off your prints. If you want to opt for a girly look then pastel colours and ditzy flower prints on cute little dresses and lots of pretty jewellery will fit the bill, they are also great if you have a summer wedding or party to attend.

Summer colours

The best part of summer is being able to experiment with colours, as well as different clothing, especially if in winter you find that you generally don’t tend to get out of jeans and trousers, lots of little girly dresses, maxi dresses, skirts and shorts will get you out of a winter frump.

Summer colours

A designer handbag is the must-have accessory for most wardrobes, as the right one can give your outfit a touch of elegance. Choosing a handbag can be a difficult task as there are so many designer labels now producing handbags and other accessories.

Choosing an item for its quality is essential. Every season sees another designer handbag become the latest craze, but unless you have a lot of money to spend on handbags they are not always necessarily a good buy. You have to choose one that will suit your look and lifestyle.

Handbags in garish colours are best avoided, as this will limit the number of outfits that it can be used with. If the bag works just as well with a casual outfit as it does with your smart work clothes then it will be a good investment.

It is also a good idea to take into consideration the size of the bag. If you are the sort of person who needs to carry around a lot of paraphernalia each day then a small handbag is no good, even if it is the one all the WAGs are seen with.

Popular brands of designer handbag include Chanel and Chloe, with the Chloe label producing the first real ‘must-have’ handbag, the Paddington, in 2002. Chanel handbags are easily identified by the distinctive logo, although designer handbags are a lucrative field for counterfeiters. If you are unsure if the bag you are looking at is genuine, check the quality of the stitching and workmanship as well as the quality of the fabric used.

If you want to make the most of the summer its worth making sure you have your wardrobe essentials as we have had a full week of sunshine, for many men the heat can be a bit of a problem with many worrying about what to wear. So it’s time to put your stifling jeans away for now and look at some other options for men’s clothing.

Now with them away its time to look at shorts and no cut off jeans or football shorts, decent tidy shorts so you have something to wear for beach or bar, so it’s worth investing in some decent pairs. Colour is a personal preference but remember you want to be able to wear them with different tops so go for cargo or combat shorts and make sure they sit no higher than the lower thigh.

Footwear can be a bit of a conundrum for some men during the summer, if you have relatively tidy feet or will have, then go for flip flops, they’re great for long, leisurely afternoons in the park, or lounging around in the garden. If you don’t fancy flip flops then lighter trainers or boat shoes can also be good, but don’t go out with your ankle sock on show!

If you don’t fancy shorts then trousers can be a cooler alternative to denim, you can go for linen however they can be a bit of a chore when you have to constantly iron them, a better option are light chinos, if you invest in a good pair they can last you well into winter.

Vests, well not every man can pull off a vest, but if you can there are still some guidelines to follow, they are great for long, hot summer days on the beach or in the garden but not to go out to pubs, clubs or bars in, you will most probably get turned away. Swap to a smart t-shirts or short sleeved shirt for an evening it will look much smarter.

It’s normally all about the little black dress (LBD) a wardrobe must have, however in women’s clothing this season the LBD is taking a back seat to the little white dress (LWD). You don’t need to play it safe in black instead take a risk with white this season.

The LWD is this seasons must have, crisp and cool, it’s the best way to keep cool this summer, it’s also a great place to start off you outfit, think of it as a blank canvass and showcase some fabulous pieces of jewellery or statement shoes. You can wear during the day with pretty sandals then glam it up for an evening ala Cheryl Cole.

Its not just popular little dresses either this seasons maxi dress trend is also cool in white, you can bring out your Grecian goddess style, a perfect look for a holiday.

Little white dresses

Yves St Laurent is one of the most famous French fashion houses, launched in 1962 by Yves St Laurent and Pierre Bergé. It is now more often referred to by just the initials YSL.

Yves St Laurent has broken new ground in the fashion world on several occasions. It was one of the first luxury designer brands to branch out into ready-to-wear and was one of the first fashion houses to hire black models to take part in the catwalk shows. Amongst the designer’s muses is Catherine Deneuve, the French actress.

The label was bought by Gucci fashion house in 1999, and Tom Ford was brought in to design the ready-to-wear collections, while Yves St Laurent himself concentrated on the haute couture. The couture business closed in 2002 after Yves St Laurent had suffered several years of ill health, and several collections had received negative reviews.

The YSL brand still produces a ready-to-wear collection and also has a very successful cosmetics range. The ready-to-wear designs are produced by Stefano Pilati, and are influenced by French chic.

Yves St Laurent was one of the first lines to produce clothing for women that had been influenced by men’s clothes. The first tuxedo for women was produced by YSL. The brand also popularised the trouser suite and blazer for women. Customers are able to purchase YSL online through the company’s own website. Fans will find that there are items that they can buy online which are not available in the shops.

YSL logo

Picture courtesy of wvfonseca

For women there are a few handy rules and tips to bear in mind when looking for an a perfect designer women’s wear outfit for a wedding, by following these you should be able to find the perfect outfit for the day.

Style

The style of dress you choose can depend on a couple of factors, body shape and body size, you need to remember not everything looks the same on everyone so make sure you choose a dress that flatters your figure not one that accentuates you bad bits.

It’s also helpful to keep in mind for a wedding that you should not go for something OTT you don’t want to be competing with a bride on her big day for attention, you need to go for a look that is subtle and smart, because you will be photographed and no one will want to remember you in a bright garish dress.

A n appropriate dress length also is required, luckily maxi dresses are in this season so if you’re not comfortable bearing your legs you don’t have to, but if you are happy to show some leg just keep in mind not to show too much so avoid miniskirts and mini dresses.

Accessories

Weddings can be a great occasion to wear a hat but this is one area you don’t want to go overboard, remember it’s not Ladies Day at Ascot so some large creation will probably not be appreciated. If hats don’t suit you, you can always opt for a simple fascinator,cute headband or a pretty slide.

If you have some lovely pieces of jewellery then a wedding can be a great place to show them off, especially if you don’t always get much of an opportunity normally, but as with everything else we have mentioned here this is another area not to go over the top in. A simple necklace, diamond earrings and a thin bracelet is all you need to finish off an outfit.