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Archive for June, 2011

Social Changes Affect Fashion

In the 1960s, fashion really kicked off with the introduction to many new and diverse trends. You can easy determine trends from the early, middle and end of the decade. Traditional, conforming man’s attire was lost due to social changes. Throughout the 60s, the focal point in fashion was the uprising of bright colors and tones. The changes in the fashion of this time were more so than any other time previous. This renaissance in fashion was influenced heavily by Italian designers and by the Modernist, Hippie and Edwardian styles of dress.

The British & the Modernist Movement

At the forefront of style in the 60s were the British. The modernist movement came about at the beginning of the era, allowing young men to push boundaries and make way for the many new trends that would follow. It was all about moving away from the ‘lack of style’ in the 50s and experimenting with psychedelic prints and gregarious patterns. No man wanted to be seen in dull and pale shades. No! It was time to add color and plenty of it, the brighter and more flamboyant the better. It wasn’t uncommon to see frills and cravats on a man’s shirt. Even neckties enjoyed their rebirth, from the skinny tie at the beginning of the 60s to the very wide ties in the Hippie age, all adorned with unusual prints, stripes and patterns.

The Mods versus the Rockers

If you lived the 60s, you were probably a Mod at one stage, and if you weren’t, you were a Rocker. The two were notorious rivals. The Rockers were heavily into 50s rock-and roll, big bikes like the Harley Davidson, leather jackets and ‘Elvis’ greased back hairstyles. The Mods were classier, listening to British bands such as The Beatles. They preferred Vespers over Harleys and took their trends from respectable French and Italian clothes designers. Most commonly, tailored suits with slim shirts, pants and skinny ties slimmed down to just an inch. The Modernists also brought us the anorak, an item of clothing regarded as their trademark.

The Edwardian Movement

A bit further down the line, specifically the year of 1966, men embraced the Edwardian movement. Double-breasted suits in velvet were worn by men following icons such as Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones. These suits were accompanied with brocade waistcoats, shirts with frilled collars and longer hair as opposed to the previous shorter styles. All variations of colors, stripes and patterns were evident in this so-called ‘dandified’ look. The Nehru jacket also came about in this time and was popular with both men and women.

Hippies and an Even More Flamboyant Fashion

Towards the end of the decade, fashion became even crazier, people were not afraid to customize their clothing. Hippies were born and men became more in touch with their feminine side with long hair, polka dot neckties, paisley patterned shirts and florescent colors. Skinny became wide; for example, bell-bottomed trousers and ties returning to the 5” width. Nearly every item of clothing was tie-dyed or produced with floral prints, pop art and paisley patterns. Neckwear was commonly sold with the shirt together and designers continued to play with bold colors.

When it comes to clothing, men can have a hard time; there is little out there by way of fashion tips and style advice, for example, do you know how to dress for your body shape? Do you know which colours and styles of men’s clothing suit you? Well, if you are looking for information regarding how to dress for your body type, then look no further. Here, we will consider the kind of clothing that suits shorter men.

In order to look your best, you need to understand which clothes suit your body shape and your complexion; which materials are most flattering, and which to avoid. By reading this article, you will be well prepared for your next shopping trip, and also know which of your current clothes needs to be taken to the local charity shop!

A short body shape for a man is anywhere below 5’7″, the frame is largely irrelevant as short men can be slim or stocky; nonetheless, the advice outlined here holds true.

For any individual, the ‘right’ clothes are always those that accentuate positive features, and downplay the perceived negatives. Short men are actually very lucky when it comes to buying men’s clothing, because trousers and tops can always be shortened to fit – so a bonus already! A great tip for choosing clothes if you are a shorter male is to opt for an East Asian brand, such as Issey Miyake or Sanyo Shokai, as they manufacture clothing with smaller men in mind.

Tops:
Choose tops that deflect attention from the torso. In order to do this, purchase tops that have a somewhat interesting collar, such as a shirt. Never buy a v-neck if you want to appear taller, as they accentuate the torso area and enhance its qualities, so if short, short will be Read the rest of this entry »

Fashion Scarves and Shawls! One of the most enduring fashion accessories that have never lost their appeal are scarves. Even through generations have worn them across several centuries. Worn for functionally throughout the world to provide warmth and protection against the bitter cold, or worn for its religious and cultural significance… their use of one has also evolved into other purposes.

A Short Background:
Contrary to what some people might think, the use of the scarf is not a modern thing. These people probably got that notion from chic culture or from contemporary and high fashion circles where the use of the scarf has not lost its appeal. In the ancient days, particularly during the time of the Greeks and the Romans… the use of the shawl had been in wide practice. People during those days called the scarf-shawl as the sudarim which literally means a sweat cloth. People were wearing them to absorb perspiration while working or traveling during hot weather.

During the Middle Ages and all the way through the Renaissance period, they have been used by the nobility to signify their upper social strata and class. This was attributed to the opening of Read the rest of this entry »

In a classic Carol Burnett sketch spoofing Gone with the Wind, the comedienne’s Scarlett character creates a dress out of drapes, complete with curtain rod, tassels, and tiebacks. While the relationship between fashion design and interior design might not be always be so explicit (or comical), the two fields have always influenced each other. Runway trends find their way into furniture and accessories, and vice versa. This Spring 2010 season, the worlds of fashion and interiors share the following hot looks.

Feathers. Designer Jason Wu has embraced wispy, feminine feathers for his collection, and Bebe is featuring feather capelets and headbands. In home decor, the feather motif is super hot, with lampshades of marabou and placemats made of peacock feathers. The feather graphic is also appearing on area rugs and wall coverings.

Cheerful colors. Both Diane Von Furstenberg and Bottega Veneta put bright, happy colors on the runway, and we can’t pass a store window this season without seeing bursts of yellow and turquoise. Likewise, flip through your favorite home furnishings catalog, and you’ll find these optimistic colors on every page. What better way to Read the rest of this entry »

Many men aren’t as into accessories as women are. That is understatement. A lot of men simply aren’t bothered and we prefer to focus on items that are essential. Also it is hard to understand why you should spend so much money on an item that is so small.

So there are some men’s accessories that we simply have to buy but the difference between men and women is men like to budget a bit more and think long and hard about what they are going to buy. However, once we have made our decision we usually stick with it. Its true that most accessories for men are actually needless, however there are many that are very much appropriate.

A watch is very important to a man and it is often worth spending a little more to get a high quality time piece. Everyone needs to be able to tell the time and taking your phone out of your pocket to Read the rest of this entry »

Fashion jewelry is something that women sought for throughout the world. Jewelry means personal ornaments, which includes, bracelets, rings, necklace, imitated or precious metals, pearls, etc. The word jewelry is extracted from the French word Jouel in the 13th century. Jewelry has been worn as early as 100,000 years ago. The earliest fashion jewelry consisted of shells and beads. Jewelry had been worn to show the wealth and the financial status of individuals in a community, as well as wealth storage.

Today, the fashion jewelry has taken a huge turn with less expensive metals that are carved and pieced together in an excellent way, which is light as well as jazzy and can be worn on different occasions. If you are buying fashion jewelry, you must be careful to know as to what metal your jewelry is made of because this information will prevent you from getting an infection or having a skin problem. Therefore one must be careful in making the decision as to what jewelry they should buy.

People mostly sought for the latest trends and styles in the fashion jewelry and a lot of different designs are being inspired through the different parts of the world and are incorporated into the designs and thus a fusion of different regions give the fashion jewelry a very awesome look. If you want to buy the jewelry that is the current fashion, then the best place to start looking for it would be the internet, where you can see a lot of different designs. Therefore, with such a broad range of styles and fashions, one can select and buy the jewelry that comes in their budget range.

For most women having jewelry in their wardrobe is a must. There is two types of fashion jewelry which all women want both of. There is the type that is less expensive than the real thing but looks as good and then there is jewelry that makes a fashion statement. Either way a female should have a variety of both. You should choose a few different colors ranging from neutrals beige, white, gold, tan, silver, and black to more upbeat colors such as red, blue, pink, green, and purple to add a bit of fun to your outfits.

For those who are looking to purchase fashion jewelry on the less expensive side you can often buy many pieces to fit any season or to match any type of wardrobe. With the cost being fairly cheap you can simply tuck them away if they go out of style. You can often purchase fashion jewelry in different types such as plastic or metal which can be bought in earrings, necklaces, bracelets, lockets, ankle bracelets, and broaches. These are all pieces that can enhance and complete a beautiful outfit. Regardless of the style you are going for such as classic, elegant, business, or casual with the right piece of jewelry you can pull it all together.

For more classy pieces of fashion jewelry you can purchase them with gems and stones in them instead of being fake. These are more expensive but can definitely bring a smile to your face. Purchasing a new piece of jewelry to add to your wardrobe can be exciting especially if you receive it as a gift. By taking care of your jewelry properly you will have it for when they come back into style again.

Classic fashionable jewelry often includes things such as pearls, semi-precious stones, diamonds, rhinestones, gems, and many other well liked stones. These pieces can range anywhere’s from $100 to the upper thousands depending on how much you want to spend.

If you are on a budget you should opt to purchase items that will go with the majority of your wardrobe and maybe a special piece or two for your dressier outfits. This will save you money overtime since you can use your new jewelry to mix and match with your entire wardrobe. You won’t need to purchase a new piece for each outfit. For most people simple chains, hoop earrings, elegant charm bracelets, and a selection of other similar pieces are perfect for any wardrobe. You should choose a few different colors ranging from neutrals beige, white, gold, tan, silver, and black to more upbeat colors such as red, blue, pink, green, and purple to add a bit of fun to your outfits.

Once you have found the right fashion jewelry for you make sure to take good care of it so it will last you for a long time. This includes any cleaning instructions as well. You want to follow any specific instructions to ensure you don’t break, rust, or destroy your jewelry permanently. By taking care of your jewelry properly you will have it for when they come back into style again.

How much importance do you attach to a piece of jewelry? Is it a means of investment for you, an heirloom that you will pass on to your next generation, an aesthetic piece that you wear to make yourself look attractive no matter what its value is? Or, are you a fashion-conscious person who likes to wear what’s “in”? If the last reason defines your preference, then you are fond of what is popularly called “Fashion Jewelry”.

Beautiful designs and affordable prices, a special something to wear with your favorite dress–these are what fashion jewelry is all about. You definitely would not want to spend too much money on something that won’t be in style the next season. Obviously, a piece of expensive jewelry cannot be as easily discarded as a cardigan that is Read the rest of this entry »

Fashion can often be a confusing thing. Items can be hot one minute and not the next, so what should the savvy man be wearing? We’ve put together a little guide to give you the lowdown. Striped sweaters are very popular right not as they’re both slimming and attractive. We love the sweaters that come in block colors and have the occasional sliver of horizontal piping across them, but you can choose anything from lots of thin stripes to a few thick stripes.

An absolute must for men who hate ironing is the broadcloth shirt. These are essentially long-sleeved dress shirts but with a bit of added rumple for that ‘just got out of bed look’. But don’t worry – you won’t look like you’ve dressed in a hurry as they’re also really well cut so Read the rest of this entry »

Men’s wear in the 1920s is not very different from men’s business attire today. A good suit, tie, hat, and shoes were all a man needed to dress in the day. Evening events were much more formal will full tuxedos even for a dinner party with friends.

To dress like a man from the 1920′s you will need the following:

Suit- Suit jackets were usually single breasted, with minimal buttons, and had an overall loose appearance. Pants were held high on the waist with pleats at the top and cuffs at the bottom. In cool seasons suits were dark grey, blue or brown wile summer colors were white, ivory, pastels and occasionally pink (Gatsby wore a pink suit in novel The Great Gatsby.)

Vest- A daywear vest, if not designed to match the suit, would be a similar shade of color such as tan with an off-white suit, or pastel color with a darker suit.

Shirt- A typical button down dress shirt in white would be most fashionable and comfortable. Collars were “club” style meaning they had rounded edges instead of pointed. These can be very difficult to find today.

Tie- Bow ties were more common then neck ties. Bright solid colors or patterns of geometrical shapes were the height of fashion. Ties were thinner and a bit longer in the 20′s then they are today.

Pocket Square- Also known as a handkerchief, the Pocket Square matched the bow tie in color if not in pattern as well. Pocket Squares were folded in the men’s front jacket pocket.

Suspenders- They not only held up men’s pants but were a fashion accessory. Belts started to be popular only in the late 1920′s.

Hat- Men do not wear hats today as they did in the 1920s. Winter hats included the bowler, flat cap (also known as a cab driver hat), panama (felt), or its cousin the Fedora. Summer hats were made of straw, such as the straw Boater (aka Skimmer) or the Optimo Panama hat. Top hats were still used for formal wear.

Shoes- The final defining element of a man’s dress was his shoes. Two toned spectator dress shoes were the most appropriate. Fringed tongues and wingtips on Oxfords and Brogues were seen frequently.