Scottish Textiles

Over the past couple of seasons, printed t-shirts in both menswear and women’s wear became quite popular. Used as a way to express yourself, make a statement or just because you liked the design, they seemed to have become a fashion main stay.

T-shirts are many peoples go to clothing especially for casual wear, when you have brands like Firetrap, French Connection, Voi and Diesel popularising printed t-shirts it’s no surprise that many people chose a design over just a plain old shirt. Many brands incorporate their own logo’s and style into their t-shirts which also help them on an advertising front. Someone seen out and about wearing branded clothing is basically a free form of advertising for many clothing companies.

It’s not just branded t-shirts which are popular, many people like to show off their tastes through their clothing choice and thanks to a surge in printed t-shirt companies you can now show off much more of your personal tastes such as: Favourite band/singer, movie, actor/actress, even food and drink. As mentioned before you can choose to make a statement maybe a film quote, a line from a song or just a well-known phrase.

Printed t-shirts are also a great way to show your support to a cause such as charities or foundations, so they are a little bit more than a piece of fashion. I do think though for the foreseeable future printed t-shirts will still be a firm fashion favourite, after all there are some great looks to be created which work into a lot of the latest trends.

For men one of my favourite looks is a printed tee worn with Police jeans, checked shirt and a good pair of boots, tying in a matching belt also finishes off the look and it’s perfect for smart casual. In fact this look also rocks for women as well!

Men's printed t-shirts

Stand out amidst a sea of LBDs this season is a bold green dress, one of the many favourite colours with designers this season.  Green and other jewel-tones have taken over from the bright colours of summer, blending in with the richness of autumn.  Seen on both daywear and as an alternative to the black dress at night, jewel tones are all set to become the hottest new colours of this autumn.

Bejewelled Glamour

From emerald to citrine, designers have borrowed from a host of warm jewel-inspired colours to create an ensemble that is luxurious and eye-catching.  Ready-to-wear collections were full of glimmering outfits in gold, honey yellow, ruby red and sapphire blue, among others.  Satin materials added an extra bit of vibe to the creations.

The best way to wear this look is to put the dress with accessories like jewelled bags and shoes.  While the mixed-hued look is also popular, more usually seen is the more traditional one colour, worn with a neutral colour like black, camel or grey.  As the dress is the centre of the entire outfit, the accessories will have to be toned down accordingly.

Jewel tones look great on all types of figures and because they feature details like pleating and draping, it is possible with a little experimentation to put together an elegant look by combining a few pieces.

This season make the best of jewel tones and sparkle like a gem at the next cocktail party.

You would easily forgive British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood if she made the decision to sit back, put her feet up, and take it easy as she enters her seventh decade in this world, but that is not how this godmother of punk chooses to operate and she has moved onto another bold new venture, this time aiming to help those in Africa take control of their own lives.

Speaking about her Ethical Fashion Africa Collection, Westwood said: “What I do, making bags, can make a difference.  This project gives people control over their lives.  Charity doesn’t give control, it does the opposite, it makes them dependent.  These people have more control over their lives and can therefore choose not to exploit the environment because they have an alternative way of making money.”

New Range of Handbags from Recycled Materials

Westwood’s latest collection is a range of handbags that have been produced from a wide variety of materials including old tent fabric and recycled flip-flops. These have all been converted into highly desirable accessories by many of the poorest people living in Kenya, all the while ensuring they are working in the fairest conditions.

Head of the International Trade Centre’s Poor Communities and Trade Programme, Simone Cipriani, said “Our project enables some of the world’s poorest people to enter fashion’s value chain as producers.”

Vivienne Westwood

Dressing smart can be really simple, with the right wardrobe basics you can easily achieve a smart casual look or a smart evening look (suits aside). Smart menswear doesn’t necessarily mean you have to follow the latest fashion trends, in fact more classic styles of clothing will help you achieve a more stylish smart look, plus it will also last you a lot longer.

Getting smart casual right is all about balance, suits say smart but jeans and men’s jackets and shirt says smart casual. Accessories also have an impact as well, and you can forget about the right pair of shoes or boots.

The right pair of jeans are key, straight cut styles in dark denim is the best, no fancy detailing, maybe in a slight stone wash but that is all. Dark denim always looks tidy so a couple of pairs in your wardrobe will come in useful. Trousers can also work for smart casual however keep away from the khakis instead go for simple styles in dark browns, blues and even a light camel colour.

During winter many men tend to stick to darker colours however that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have some bursts of colour in your collection such as red, moss green or even mustard yellows. You can go for shirts, t-shirts and polo shirts in a brighter pallet which will be offset by the simple dark denim.

Finishing off your smart casual look is easy, shoes or boots which co-ordinate with the rest of your outfit and a belt is also a nice addition too. This season hats also seem to be becoming more popular so experiment with a style which suits you.

Smart casual menswear

Many businesses are opting for a more casual workplace atmosphere.  Offices everywhere are opting for once a week dress-down days or forgoing formal business attire all together with a daily business casual dress code.  Although the idea behind business casual should make most workers feel more comfortable at the office, this relatively new category of work attire can be confusing.  The lines between casual weekend wear and casual work attire can become blurry.  In a business casual environment, the key is to look professional yet comfortable and approachable. 

When in doubt, it is always wise to refer to the office dress code.  Anything that may be unclear should be discussed with human resources.  One must never take the notion of casual too literally when dressing for the office.  It is important to look neat and professional regardless of what the employee handbook says.  A man should always make sure his clothes are well pressed and in good condition, even in the most casual work settings.  In workplaces that do not allow denim, corduroy, chinos and khakis are always a nice choice.  When in doubt, leave the denim for after work. If one’s place of business does allow denim, it is important to keep other pieces more conservative.  Pairing jeans with a button down shirt or sweater with a blazer and a nice pair of oxfords is casual yet serious enough for the office.

The cold weather is starting to come in as the nights draw in, there is a distinct chill in the air that means it is time for the jumpers to start coming out. When you were a kid when it was cold enough to wear jumpers normally you had to do with an oddly knitted one, given to you by a distant relative, however now you are older there is a great selection available and guess what, jumpers are big hits in fashion.

Cable knit Gio Goi jumpers are going to be big this season so stock up in some in a range of colours, the more natural looking the colour the better so opt for sandy creams, biscuit whites and camel and browns. Stripes, horizontal ones are also a must this season so invest in some striped jumpers or cardigans, great for layering with shirts.

You will also find that jumpers work well with a number of trends this season such as heritage, look out for traditional English knit styles which work well with tweed, perfect English gent! Embracing other trends this season such as bold colours can be utilised with a new jumper, a bold red or navy blue for example.

Jumpers do tend to go more for casual wear, which makes sense really when you’re out and about over winter you need to be warm. This is why they do look best with 883 Police jeans and boots or trousers and a good pair of shoes.

Back in the spotlight and better than ever are pointed-toe shoes, or pumps.  Seen on most runways and sported by the latest trendsetters, this iconic footwear style is back with a bang.  Available in both stiletto and flat modes, the clean lines make them work with a range of different looks and are thus hugely popular.

Always Fashionable

The sexy and sophisticated pointy-toe pumps were famous in the 80s with style divas like Madonna making them a wardrobe essential.  Now that they are back in vogue, retailers are outdoing each other to come up with different versions of this iconic shoe.

The pointed-toe shoe fad since spring this year has remained alive all through summer and is expected to be a part of our wardrobes for a long time.  They can be worn dressed up or down, looking equally good with a sleek black party dress or with cropped pants.  Fashion gurus advise women to keep the look simple by not teaming the shoes with textured or coloured tights and by opting for simple dresses rather than outfits involving lace or texture. 

Designers have brought in several flavours to their pointy-toe pump collections, with many featuring patent leather and animal print stilettos, they also use suede and snakeskin finishes.  The best part about the pointed-toe pumps is that they make your legs appear longer and this is one of the reasons for their popularity.

Grab a few pairs off the shelves this season – going by forecasts, the pointy-toe shoe trend is here to stay.

The collar is a hot trend for Autumn/Winter 2011-2012 with cute necklines featured on everything from dresses and shirts to winter coats and jumpers. The particular collar shape that is causing a huge stir on the fashion pages is the Peter Pan collar.

The cute Peter Pan shaped collar is a long standing firm favourite with vintage fashion fans, but is now flooding the Autumn/Winter collections as the ultimate style to be seen in. Alexa Chung has sported Peter Pan collars as part of her key look for years, and the collar craze is spreading fast through the fashion hot list with Michelle Williams and Hailee Steinfield recently seen sporting a cute collar.

Preppy and vintage looks are achieved by having a crisp white Peter Pan collar peeking from underneath an understated thin knit jumper, but there are also a variety of glitzy numbers hitting the market. Adding a feminine and flattering touch to some of the heavier winter trends, the collar can give a unique pretty edge to even the baggiest woollen knit. Sequined or embellished collars are proving a popular addition to the coming season’s dresses, adding an additional touch of a la mode glamour. Started by the designer collections of the likes of Louis Vuitton and DKNY, there are a vast number of Peter Pan collar adorned garments making their way to the high street, from prim neat necklines to oversized statement collars.

Get ready to shine this autumn/winter as fashion takes a shiny turn, plenty of sequins and glitter can be found with lots of fringing, embroidery and applique detailing to be found. Designers such as Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney and Christopher Kane, featured plenty of high shine couture in their runway shows. Perfect for the party season and the highstreet will be adorned with glittering party dresses.

Metallics and glitz are all part and parcel of the party season, however this year there is much more emphasis of this in the fashion world, new fabrics have been used to create high shine looks such as polythene and laminated fabrics in metallic colours such as copper, bronze and gold. Reflection is also important so look out for wet look finishes and plenty of leather and PVC for a sexy, shiny look.

The dazzling fashion isn’t just limited to women’s dresses, Louis Vuitton and Dolce & Gabbana also embraced sequins and glitter, with embezzled cashmere perfect for day to night looks. To make the most of this fashion trend and avoid looking like a Christmas tree you need to follow a few simple rules:

Firstly don’t go head to toe glitz, a pair of sequined trousers or metallic leggings will come in handy for an easy glam night look teamed with a simple blouse. A sequined blazer is also handy to wear with skinny jeans or a simple dress, you don’t have to stick to black though, try on different colours to find one that suits you.

Don’t wear clashing prints and lots of different fabrics, try and keep it as simple as possible for maximum impact. Also if you’re not into that much glitter, why not opt for a plain dress, glitzed up with glittery shoes and bag?

Your sequins don’t just have to be kept for evening wear, a sequined jumper or embellished top can be a great way to dress up your day wear, or you can just add a simple sequined scarf and hat, simple!

Dazzling fashion

For those who fancy the idea of getting a tattoo but are not willing to go through the long, painful process, fake tattoo sleeves are an inspiration.  These flesh-coloured nylon fabric pieces with tattoo work from the upper arms down to the wrists can be worn by attaching them to either a T-shirt or a tank top.

Making a Statement

Fake tattoo sleeves are a great way to make a statement.  They are also a good way to try out a tattoo before deciding whether to go for a real one.  Women can try out different kinds of tattoo sleeves, like the flower and butterfly types and see how they look.  Since the average cost of a tattoo sleeve is less than £5, you could also try out several styles.

In the fashion world, fake tattoo sleeves have created quite a stir.  However, with tattoo enthusiasts the reaction is somewhat muted, with some of them pronouncing the trend as demeaning to the art form of tattooing.  Whatever the reaction, this new trend has caught on fast among buyers.  Many prefer wearing them as they are a safer substitute to real tattoos.

Wearing a fake tattoo sleeve is a little tricky as disguising the edges of the sleeve has to be considered.  The best way to wear them is to hide the wrist area with bracelets or wide wrist-bands.  So, the next time you are going out to a party or a concert, slip on a tattoo sleeve and impress your friends.