Men and Fashion

One might be tempted to believe that the fashion world belongs first and foremost to women. Most of the fashion ads and shows are dedicated to them. You can tune into your favorite tv show or watch a movie at http://www.direct.tv, and see how much the fashion industry is influenced by media. Indeed, according to some preconceived notions and stereotypes, it is assumed that men are not attracted to anything like fashion and designer looks. However, upon closer inspection, much more is discovered and assumptions cannot be used to prove a rule.

This assumption is not new! Who said men did not like taking care of themselves and that they do not care for their style? Many people seem to have forgotten the times in which men wore powdered noses before donning outfits decorated with stickers and ribbons. Their heads were topped by a wig.

Later, the men of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries reduced a few frills, but always took care of their appearance. The dandies grew even in this passion for style even more. They adopted fashion costumes extensively, and studied the characteristics of dressing for their social status. Finally, in many ways, men’s fashion has been found over the centuries to be more outlandish than the style of the ladies. It was not until the 1970s that then began to wear clothing that really different.

The men were able to change their style by playing with the hair length, or not wearing a mustache, beard, sideburns, a variety of hats, gloves, sticks or other capes and coats for much longer. If the masculine style of dress has long been a reflection of social class, the twentieth century has brought a new approach to men’s fashion.

Comparing Celebrity Styles: Shopping

fashion photography

Image via Wikipedia

Fashion dominates your days. It’s an endless quest for style, shadowing the favored looks of celebrities for inspiration — wanting Hollywood glamour to color your existence. Such glamour often proves expensive, however. The necessary silhouettes demand dollars you don’t have: your budget is meager; trying to expand it for the sake of clothing is impossible.

You still crave the looks splashed across magazines and cinema screens, however. You simply lack a way to afford them — unless you choose to comparison shop online.

Individuals suffering from empty bank accounts must rely on the virtual world for relief. The Internet is stuffed with boutiques, vendors and department stores (all of which offer an excess of inventory and an excess of rewards). Seeking out these shops enables users to compare prices — finding the best available deals and discounts.

Celebrity fashion isn’t confined to the runways of Paris or Milan. It’s instead scattered across the online world: where affordability is a virtue. Buyers tailor their searches (looking for specific designers, styles and more) and then receive results. Countless stores can be examined — with their prices judged within a screen, offering instant savings.

Trying to create designs worthy of the media demands more than an understanding of color. It instead requires patience: with shoppers comparing all possible deductions and utilizing computers for help. Introductions to similar — but far less expensive — brands are offered; and outfits can be shaped with ease.

Channeling the styles of celebrities is possible. It simply demands time and technology.

 

How to Shop Celebrity Looks for Less

If fashion is your vice, but your wallet cannot handle it, you have to learn some tips and tricks for looking like a celebrity without having their bank account. Fortunately, there are some quick and easy ways to find these celebrity looks, and you can even put your shopping alerts on autopilot.

Flash and Private Sales

Here are some of the websites that offer members special deals on high-end luxury goods and fashion at deep discounts. Websites include Hautelook, Gilt, Rue La La, Ideeli and Gilt. Some membership sites require you to register as a member, while other websites require that a current member of the site refer you to be a member of the site. The discounts that these private sales offer reach as high as 90% off the retail price.

How it Works

Once you become a member of one of more of these sites, you will receive a daily email that previews the specials for the day. These are private sales, so the deep discounts on designer fashions are only available to members. There are also a limited number of items available and the sale only lasts for a set period of time. The sale ends when the item sells out or the time runs out, whichever of the two occurs first.

Additional Perks

Some of these private sales websites even reward you for recruiting additional members. Some sites offer you a discount off your next purchase on the site. Other sites offers gift cards to retailers, which can range from Starbucks and Omaha Steaks to fashion retail stores such as Gap and L.L. Bean.

Celebrities Taking Over Car Commercials

Car commercials are sounding very familiar to many people these days. You might be watching a commercial for a car and be thinking, “Wait, I know that voice”. You would be right in thinking it. These days, celebrities are lending their voices to many car companies who want to utilize the familiarity in a celebrity’s voice.

Not only do celebrities lend their voices to commercials for new cars, but they can also lend their voices or image to car refinance companies.

Celebrities help to promote a product and company by identifying themselves with the product somehow. This may come in the form of them merely endorsing the product or company as being one they would recommend, or it could be on a more personal level with the celebrity saying that he or she actually uses it themselves. In doing this, the viewer does tend to trust the product and/or company more, because a celebrity who they know is endorsing it.

Some celebrities that have appeared in or lent their voice to a car commercial include:

  • Sean “Diddy” Combs for Mercedes Benz (appearance)
  • Tim Allen for Chevrolet (voice over)
  • Robert Downey Jr for Nissan (voice over)
  • Jeff Bridges for Hyundai (voice over)
  • Donald Sutherland for Volvo (voice over)
  • Michael C. Hall for Dodge (voice over)

Although celebrities physically appear in car commercials, the most popular form of appearance seems to be with voice over. It is interesting to note that male celebrities dominate. Currently, no female celebrities are being used in car commercials. They have however been used in the past, with Patricia Clarkson having previously appeared in commercials for BMW.

 

Fashion Tips for Summer

Orchard Fashion Runway 2011 

Image by ♥myu via Flickr

Staying fashionable is important even in summer, when most people are worried about staying cool and comfortable. Following these tips can help you stay comfortable, cool, and stylish all at the same time.

Avoid fabrics that attract and show sweat. Silk, for example, makes sweat very obvious. It is also not a fabric that breathes, so you’re likely to sweat and get uncomfortable in it very quickly. Stick to cotton and cotton blends that keep you fresh. Special fabric blends that wick sweat away from the body are a good choice as well. Clothes made from this blend are form-fitting and attractive, but they also keep you feeling cool and comfortable.

Minimize your accessories. Wearing too much jewelry in the summer makes you look as if you’re trying too hard. When the temperatures rise, it can also be very uncomfortable! Instead of wearing all the jewelry you can fit, stick to a nice pair of earrings and a fun summer necklace. You’ll look composed and put together without looking like you are trying too hard.

Finally, stick to light colors. Dark colors are more appropriate for winter and they can look unnecessarily gloomy and heavy during the summer months. In addition, they attract heat and can make you sweat more quickly than lighter-colored clothes. Matching a light-colored tank top with some white capris or a pair of jean shorts is one of the most timelessly stylish summer outfits.

You don’t have to give up style and fashion to stay comfortable during the summer. By following these tips, you can look great and feel great during summer!

Shopping For Your Body

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Image by S@veOurSm:)e via Flickr

When you shop, you may find it difficult to find clothing that fits your body type. Everyone’s body is different, so it makes it difficult for companies to make their clothing universal. There is so much variety out there that you should be able to find the right clothing for your body. Here are some tips to help you find clothes for your body.

When you shop, try on the clothes you are interested in buying. Sometimes it’s easy to tell what will fit you just right, but it is also easy to be mistaken. Trying on clothing in the dressing room will help you determine what looks best on you and help you to make the best purchase. Plus, trying on clothes prevents you from spending money on something that won’t fit or that you’ll never wear.

You may be confident on your opinion, but asking for a second opinion can help you determine what really looks good on you. When you shop, drag your friends along. If your friends can’t make it, try asking an employee for a second opinion. They may even suggest something that will look even better on your shape that you may have overlooked on the racks.

You don’t have to compare yourself to others, but noticing what other people wear can help you decide what you will look good in. You may notice someone with a body type similar to yours. Take note of if what they are wearing looks good on them so you can make a better choice of what to wear on your body.

The Best Way to Build Your Wardrobe

If you are looking to build your wardrobe, there are many ways that you can go about it. In fact, everyone has his or her own way of putting together a wardrobe. The best way to put together a stellar wardrobe, though, is piece by piece.

You don’t have to buy everything at once. Instead, you can choose to preload enough onto your reach prepaid card to buy just a few items of clothing at a time. Buying a few things — one outfit, for example — can help you piece everything together in the long run.

Not only this, but you have the time to save the money that you may need for a full wardrobe makeover. Purchasing a full new wardrobe is not a cheap endeavor. It can cost hundreds, or even more, to get a whole new set of clothes. Because of this, spacing out the purchases out a little bit can make it a much easier thing to do.

If you buy an outfit, you have time to look at it, wear it, and think of other ways to use the pieces of the outfit. This allows you to think ahead to your next purchase. You are able to buy items that have multiple uses, rather than items that can only be worn with one outfit. This can also save you a lot of money, because the more outfits that a specific piece of clothing can be worn with, the more likely it is to be worn on a regular basis.

 

Summer Shopping Tips for the Athletic Woman

Native nikes

Image via Wikipedia

When shopping for athletic wear, keep in mind a few helpful tips. Whether you are shopping for Nike clothes for the gym or yoga pants for your Bikram yoga class, you’ll want a look that’s stylish, comfortable and affordable. You may be sweating and exerting too much energy to care, but you just might catch a glimpse of yourself either in the gym mirror or in the coffee shop window reflection as you jog by. You’ll feel better if you’re looking stylish in your workout gear.

Sports Attire for the Gym

Invest in some Nike clothes and custom build your Nike shoes in the colors of your choice. When shopping for the summer, keep the colors bright. Stay away from an all-black workout outfit. Always splash a bit of color. Try black running pants with a Nike sportswear t-shirt in a vivid pink.

Yoga Wear

Try Capri pants for yoga with a scoop neck t-shirt. Choose earth colors for your yoga outfit with patterns and images that bring you a sense of peace.

Your Summer Swimsuit

If you’re a swimmer, pick up a few swimsuits for the summer so that you can switch them out daily. Try a low-cut leg swimsuit with a pastel themed paisley print. If you’re more modest in your taste, choose a navy blue suit that keeps you covered. Darker colors will make you look trimmer. For a plus-size figure, try a two-piece with a tankini top. Choose a suit with built-in cups if you need the extra support.

Tips For Creating a Classic Fashion Look

Classic styled clothing tends to be more tailored in style. In the workplace, women’s suits will be basic colors of black, navy or grey. They look well with white blouses and a splash of colorful accessories such as a red earrings, necklace, or scarf. You won’t see lots of ruffles and frills on classic styled blouses. Blouses are generally fitted and sometimes have rows pin tucks on the front. Classic skirt styles include the pencil skirt and the A-line skirt.

Cashmere sweaters will always give you a classic look. By nature, their styles are not flamboyant or trendy. The styles are ones that will last through several seasons and not look dated. Cashmere sweaters generally do not come in garish colors. Many will be in the basic colors – white, black, tan, navy, red. Many times they also come in a more subtle shade of fashionable colors.

Tan suit 

Image via Wikipedia

When buying accessories to compliment a classic fashion style, think small. Earrings, necklaces, and watches will be modest in size. They won’t be huge and oversized. Their color will match the color of your outfit or be a complimentary color. Belts will also be normal widths. Shoes that match the classic style will be medium pumps with a simple strap at the ankle. They will be the same color as the tailored suit that is work in the workplace.

Purchase a single or double breasted coat when buying a classic styled winter coat. Your coat could be an A-line style or a princes style. To complete your winter ensemble, get some leather boots. They can be either slightly above the ankle or knee-hi.

Building Your Career as a Stylist: Dressing the Stars

Being fashionable seems to come naturally to some people. If you have a sense for fashion and accessories, then a styling career is something worth considering. While dressing the stars is probably your ultimate goal, it won’t be easy to find your way in the fashion world without the proper knowledge. There is far more to being a stylist than grabbing outfits you see in the stores. The stars will only hire those who know a great deal about the art of being stylish.

Choosing from the many accredited online degrees is only the first step to take in building your career. Once you have gained knowledge about fashion design, body types, material, and even art, you can take that knowledge into the working world. You need practical experience along with book knowledge to make the most of your career.

Along with working, you will need to start the process of client networking. The networking process is how you connect with potential clients and get hired for jobs. Your personality, knowledge of how to create styles and a killer portfolio are important to landing styling jobs with influential clients. These people can give you a leg up in your career.

Don’t be afraid to offer your services at every available opportunity. Think outside the box and look for events at which a stylist might be needed such as charity fashion shows or a big speech. Often, charities will have big name supporters. If the stars like the work you do, they will remember you. Perhaps in the future, they might even hire you.

 

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