It can be difficult when you first begin buying clothes online, as it is hard to know whether or not they are going to fit and buying shoes this way is no exception. Shoes are the one item that you should really be able to try on before committing to purchasing and shopping online takes that option away. However, by buying carefully you can avoid making an expensive mistake and find a bargain at the same time.
The first rule of buying shoes online is to opt for an established retail outlet. Companies that have been in business for some time offer a good standard of customer service and if there is a problem you need to know that they will help you. A site that offers secure shopping is also a must, as you do not want to risk your personal financial information being stolen.
To ensure that you get the correct size, some online retailers offer the option of sending a foot measurer in advance, so you can be sure that you are getting the correct size and width of shoe for your foot. Many people buy shoes without realising that they may be wearing the wrong size, so it is a good opportunity to check.
The Internet is a good place to find alternative styles of shoes and other clothing items. There are a number of vintage stores, alternative retailers and auction sites, which can be searched if you want something that just cannot be found on the high street.
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
The former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has had many roles over her career, singer, mother and most recently and quite successfully clothing fashion designer, however recently Mrs Beckham has turned her designing skill to car interiors. After unveiling Range Rover’s ‘Baby’ car she revealed that she is set to design a fantastic flashy interior for it.
At the celeb-packed launch in Kensington, Victoria said: “I am incredibly excited to be collaborating with Range Rover, I like to take on a challenge and I’m ready for it.” She also stated that she has already started work on designs for the inside of the brand’s latest model, the Evoque.
The new model from Range Rover is set to be the most environmentally friendly 4×4 yet and that it will also be the lightest and most-fuel efficient of the Range Rovers so far, the new design is aimed at a younger, more fashion-friendly market, which is why Mrs Beckham has been invited to design the interior.
As with fashion changes throughout the seasons, hair colour and styles change too and as with fashion what’s on the catwalks normally comes in to mainstream styles and because it is summer many styles we have seen in the past are in. Perennial summer favourite blonde was big on the catwalks with a relaxed surfer chic look about it, with loosely curled creamy blonde locks and laid back style. The surfer chic is easy to create with some texture gel and ghd hair straighteners, like the style it doesn’t take a lot of effort which is great during the hot summer months.
If you not a blond, fake or natural, fear not other hair colours are in, like the Little Black Dress, brunette hair will never go out of style, its considered sexier than blonde hair, more sophisticated than red locks and less goth than black which means it’s the perfect all round colour. It’s also easier to maintain than blonde and looks super shiny especially when its poker straight, you can use shine serum and ghd straighteners for glass effect finish. Any style looks great with dark hair, like long Hollywood waves to short sexy crops or do like Cheryl Cole and ditch hair extensions and go for a sleeker shoulder length look.
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.
When you’re on holiday it can be quite hard to keep your hair looking at its best especially if you’re in a hot and humid country but as long as you remember to take your ghd hair straighteners, and the correct adaptor plug then you should be okay to create some sexy holiday hair!
Its best to style your hair after washing and blow drying, especially after a day on the beach or by the pool, you need to make sure all dirt and chemicals are washed out and your hair is conditioned. Before you blow dry your hair, then apply ghd thermal protector to protect it from the heat of your hair dryer and irons. Whilst drying use a round barrelled brush and brush hair out from the root to add extra volume.
The simply take sections of your hair starting at the back and twist them together and then run your ghd straighteners over the twisted hair and clip back up, continue until you have done all sections, then leave to cool. Once its cooled shake out the twists and apply some ghd sea spritz and shake your hair to add a matt texture.
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
TV & film has a great influence over what people wear, it can be a style seen in a movie or TV programme or it can just be showing how much you like your favourite film or TV show by wearing a printed t-shirt. This year printed t-shirts are really popular so you can get on the bandwagon by using t shirt printing to create your own design, take inspiration from your favourite film and use a still from a scene, or use a favourite catchphrase from your beloved TV show. You can use iconic moments from TV and film as a design basis, some are more recognisable than others but to you it can be personal.
T-shirt printing is a relatively easy process you come up with the design, choose what it can be printed on and use a printing company such as Splash Logo to make up your design. Splash logo are an online printing company that stocks a huge choice of clothing such as t-shirts, vests, polo shirts, hoodies and hats as well as a wide range of accessories. They use cutting edge printing methods to get the right finish for your design. So it’s easy to bring your favourite TV programme of film to life.
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