Tartan has long been a favourite in the fashion world. This type of pattern can be worn in many ways, from the most formal occasions to more casual styles for everyday use. Many women love to wear tartan, although it is most popular with women of Scottish or Irish descent.
Fun Tartan Accessories
Many women choose to use a more understated look with tartan by wearing an accessory with tartan fabric. Tartan scarves have been popular for many years, and remain a popular fashion accessory. They are especially attractive when worn with sweaters or other knitwear products. There are also caps and other types of hats made from tartan fabric. You may choose a driving cap similar to those worn by men, or a warm winter hat with earflaps. Other popular tartan accessories include bows that look good with longer hairstyles.
Everyday Items
There are numerous tartan items available for everyday wear. Many are well suited to office wear. Blazer-style jackets made from tartan fabric are always a winning choice during the cold weather months. This style looks good when worn with a collared shirt, sweater and plain skirt. Some women like trousers that feature a tartan print. Since these are particularly bold, they should be worn with shirts or sweaters in plain colours. A tartan skirt is always a good addition to any wardrobe. Many women prefer the longer, straight style commonly associated with traditional highland dress. Others may prefer shorter skirts, commonly known as mini-kilts.
Formal Occasions
Tartan is good for many formal dress-up occasions. There are several types of events where tartan is suitable. Some brides who are of Scottish ancestry choose to use their family tartan as part of their wedding dress. This is especially ideal when the groom wears full Highland dress. The tartan skirt should feature a matching sash with a brooch that features the family’s clan crest. Regardless of the event, the right tartan should be chosen. One should choose their family’s tartan, if available. If not, some other tartans like the Black Watch or Irish National may be appropriate.
Tartan
It is hard to go wrong with denim. This hard working, versatile fabric can be worn as an edgy and rock and roll look with a leather jacket and motorcycle boots or preppy and classic with a blazer and loafers. No other fabric is so versatile and customizable. Whether one is willing to spend big money or on a budget, there is a perfect jean for every man. Finding the perfect jean may take some initial leg work but once the perfect fit and brand like Levis, Wrangler or Republic jeans are found, a man may continue to buy said fit in different washes and hues depending on trend for a lifetime of comfort and good looks.
To ensure a good fit, one must go through a few simple steps. The first rule is to find out one’s waist and inseam numbers. This is where one must check one’s male ego at the door. Some men are lucky enough to sport the 32” waist from their early twenties for the rest of their lives but this is more the exception than the rule. Use a tape measure to figure waist size before shopping for denim is always a good idea. For the inseam, when trying on jeans it is a good idea to make sure that the cuff meets the top part of the sole of one’s shoe. Most mens jeans shrink when washed so one should make sure that the jeans are slightly longer than preferred and avoid hemming a pair of jeans before they have been washed.
The theme for shoes this season seems to be classic with a twist. Autumn/Winter 2011-2012 is built off of some basic staples. The loafer, the oxford and the desert boot are the main offerings from Jimmy Choo, Alexander McQueen, Gucci and J Crew. If a man were to only buy three pairs of shoes this Fall, these three trends will ensure that he will be on trend at the office, the opera or on the street.
The loafer has long been a staple for office attire. While the style is conservative and traditional, designers have made loafers a tad edgier. Alexander McQueen is offering his loafers in velvet with tassled and embroidered styles. Another trend in textiles for Fall is patent leather. Both Lanvin and Gucci are showing this shinny leather option. Gucci’s leather loafer with horse bit detail gives a nod to the equestrian; while Jimmy Choo’s leopard print calf hair option is a new fun way to wear the classic style.
In formal wear, one cannot go wrong with an oxford. While J Crew is showing a substantial wing tip variation while Jimmy Choo is using fashion forward suede, the patent leather that most designers are offering is obviously made for a tuxedo.
For weekend wear, J Crew and Pierre Hardy have chosen the desert boot as their casual staple. Like J Crew, most designers are offering this casually cosy footwear option in classic suede with a sand hue.
Pierre Hardy twists the idea a little with full grain leather in rich colours such as red, brown and suede.
Ask many mothers who go to collect their children as school finishes for the day and they will regale you with stories of fashion faux pas, one-upmanship, and rivalry which only seems to be growing in intensity between mums who are competing to ensure that they are the best dressed and sporting only the latest designs by the best designers.
With a reported two-thirds of mothers saying that they try and get one over on fellow parents when their children head back to school following the summer break, one in six making sure they have a new hairstyle to display at the school gates along with their new outfits and others ensuring that they have a new tan, the school run looks set to change forever.
A survey conducted by a leading supermarket chain found that mums will spend an average of 25 minutes on hair and make-up before leaving the house to collect their children, a whole 7 minutes more than they take to get the children ready for school in the morning. A spokeswoman for the famous supermarket chain said: “People are often quick to judge, and a massive number of mums feel the need to impress at the school gates and purposefully get their hair done or splash out on new clothes. So much so that they are spending more time and money on themselves, rather than getting their kids ready to step out of the front door in their new school uniform.”
School Gates
Picture courtesy of The hills are alive
Layering has always been a key element for winter warmth and fashion so what does Winter 2011 have in store? The tunic and trouser combination is a sophisticated solution for looking stylish and fashionable this winter, and well as keeping wrapped up and warm. With this style, you can look good effortlessly. Why not play with textures, shades and silhouettes? There is a whole-load of looks that can be created using this style of fashion this winter. Tunics and trousers is not something that we will grow easily bored of.
Firetrap have a great collection this season, they have worked in plenty of shapes and silhouettes into their ladies wear collection and it all has a bit of an edgy dark look to it.
Designers, are also taking in it their stride to ensure that the ‘trouser and tunic look’ is a success this winter. Designer clothing icons including Osman, Richard Nicoll and Michael Kors, are all having a go at creating the perfect trouser-tunic look. Whatever you style, with this look, there is something for everybody. For those who are a bit unsure, or even those who are slightly unhappy with their body, why not try a relaxed, loose look. Others that are more confident should try block and bright colours, which have been proven to add both interest and depth.
Any look is achievable when trying out this style. This combination of clothes can be worn anywhere, whether it is dressing up for a night out, or dressing the look down, pairing it with layers and a hat and scarf set, for just a casual day around the house.
Tunic and trousers sets are good for women who want to wear nicely coordinated clothing that is somewhat more conservative. One of the best things about these sets is that they are available in several fabric types and colours. Depending on your build, you can select different types of sets to emphasize the features you want to highlight the most.
Choosing a Style
One of the best things about tunics is that they feature a looser fit than many other women’s tops. You can purchase them in sleeveless, short-sleeved or long-sleeved styles. There are also several types of necklines available, with the most popular being square or scooped. Trousers are usually made from a loose cut, although slimmer-looking trousers are also available. Women who are full figured will usually prefer loose-fitting clothing, while slender women will often prefer more form fitting.
Choosing Colours and Prints
There are several colour options available for these types of sets. One advantage is that you can buy several sets, then mix and match to suit your preferences. Black is a versatile choice, especially for eveningwear. Another alternative in a softer colour is charcoal grey. Several designers offer tunic and trousers sets in block prints that add a little more contrast, without making too much of a statement. Some are sold with prints all over the garments. However, these may not always be ideal for some settings. Large prints or very loud colours often have a less than flattering effect.
How to Choose Accessories
Accessories are very important to this look, especially when the sets are worn in the evening. If the tunic has a low neckline, short or medium-length necklaces work best. A very long necklace may draw too much attention below the neckline. When wearing a tunic with a high neckline or in a halter-top style, a longer necklace may look better. If the tunic is somewhat embellished, additional jewellery may be too loud. Take the type of handbag that you choose seriously, too. You do want to make sure you carry one that does not clash with your outfit.
The wild animal look is hitting fashion hard this season. Bold animal prints and fluffy furs seem to be everywhere we look recently. As well as the prints and furs, the actual faces of the animals seem to be printed all over the autumn collections. Whatever the animal, it is sure to feature within the latest trends. Fashion’s gone wild!
Animal prints and furs are hitting the more urban fashion styles this season. Snakeskin prints and gorilla jackets have been extremely popular and the demand for animal-style clothes has boomed with many brands such as Firetrap, Diesel, Franklin and Marshall and Karen Millen featuring them in their collection especially fur trimmings.
Where should I wear these styles you may ask? Bold statements are perfect for a night out and are sure to make you stand out from the crowd. As for during the day, the look definitely needs to tone down, you could maybe exchange animal print for a couple of everyday accessories. Faux fur jackets and snakeskin bags could be quite easy brought into the everyday look with a pair of skinny Voi jeans.
With Christmas fast approaching, you will need a warm coat and furs are the perfect fashion alternative. As well as keeping you nice and toasty, as well as making you look smoking hot.
Just remember, when styling your animal look try to have one main piece. Too much animal print can just look overwhelming, and let’s face it, a little bit stupid. If you did want to go all out with this style, then why not try a coat with some matching shoes, or a bag. It’s suggested no more than 2 animal print items at once, especially if they are different types of prints.
Polo Shirt
Polo shirts are available in many different colours and they make an excellent pairing with either jeans or smart trousers. Polo shirts have been a classic piece of fashionable clothing since the 1950’s. This is a clothing item that should be in every man’s wardrobe for the spring.
Men’s Shorts
It is always important to include a pair of men’s shorts in the wardrobe. Whether the shorts are printed with plaid or striped would depend upon the trends at the time. Plain coloured shorts are also a good choice to have as a staple in a man’s wardrobe during the Spring.
Jeans
A nice fitting pair of jeans is an essential staple in a man’s wardrobe. Whether the jeans are a slim fit or straight leg they can always be matched with almost anything. Denim comes in a wide variety of styles and fits so this clothing item is an important part of a wardrobe no matter what the season.
Sports Jacket
Sports jackets are a great piece to add to a wardrobe because this item can dress up any outfit. Wearing a sports jacket with jeans can even create a stylised look. It is important to choose the colour and design of the sports jacket wisely. A wide range of styles are now available on the High Street.
It’s been quite a few months since the autumn/winter shows for this season so it no surprise that some trends have changed since then, some have made it into fashion mainstream and some haven’t so let’s have a look at what designer clothes are still with us.
Androgyny is still going strong, this girl boy fashion hit is proving popular due to its versatility, tuxedo suits, box jackets and brogues are fashion must haves and no wardrobe is complete without these.
Bold colours another designer led trend which has filtered down to the highstreet, everywhere is awash with autumnal jewel tones with plenty of burgundy, mustard yellows, petrol blue and scarlet reds.
Native influences are also going strong with Apache and Navajo patterns are all over at the moment mixed in with some western influences with fringing and fur details. Rustic pairing s for casual daywear and bright prints for evening is an easy option.
Heritage is one of my favourites this season and it’s still sticking around which is good to know. Making the most of Great British Classics, with lots of tweed, tartan and plaid, as well as knee length skirts and quilted jackets and gilets is key to get the look.
Every decade or so, a certain trend from the 1970’s threatens to return and reclaim its place in our fashion subconscious. As soon as they reach their high fashion peak in popularity they disappear to be shunned once again to the back of the closet to wait another ten years for their triumphant return. That’s right – bellbottoms are back.
Their most recent incarnation of the men’s bellbottom is slightly more conservative than the footwear swallowing monsters of years past. Both men’s and women’s styles are reinventing the 70’s era classic by cutting down on the volume of the leg in favour of a slimmer thigh and a length that hits the bottom of the sole to flare out to a bit farther than mid shoelace. The ultimate effect is an easy going fit that compliments a fall/winter wardrobe and can even be carried on to spring when paired with sandals.
Acne seems to be hitting this trend the most accurately with its subtler, more laid back surfer approach.
To take this trend too literally would be to miss the point entirely. One should avoid trousers that flare directly below the knee and never under any circumstances be tempted by polyester. For men, the trend is more influenced by casual beach style and less influenced by 70’s disco. Those who keep the colour palette simple and stay away from prints will be rewarded with a look that is edgy yet clean and casual.