Archive for May, 2010
At last it is summer, the sun is out and the weather is great. If you are going on holiday or staying at home, perhaps indulging in a ‘staycation’, you will probably be starting to think about what you will wear and how to look stylish in the heat. When the temperatures rise and the sun gets really hot, the most sensible people cover up with pieces of clothing that prevent sun burn and damage from the suns rays whilst still keeping cool and looking stylish.
There are some great ways to cover up this summer in bold and bright clothing that is versatile enough to be worn in the day time or evening. Tropical temperatures call for tropical colours, think pinks, greens, yellows and blues. All of these colours will reflect the beautiful sunlight and make you glow, the perfect look for a summers day.
The Tunic
The tunic works really well as a daytime top. It is the ideal piece of clothing for when you are out and about or sight seeing on holiday. Its long length and loose fit make it really cool and easy to wear. You can opt for a long sleeved or short sleeved tunic. Obviously the long sleeved option in better for covering up and keeping the sun off your arms but either will work equally well for the evening. A tunic can be worn as a mini dress or beach cover up in the day, with cropped trousers or jeans and smarter trousers for the evening.
The Over Blouse
Over blouses are perfect for layering over a camisole or t shirt during the day if the going gets too hot or in the evening if things are a little cooler. The collar neckline works well for covering and protecting the back of your neck especially if you are out in the midday sun. An over blouse is incredibly chic. There are lots of different styles available to suit most tastes and they can be worn open or done up.
The Poncho
The Poncho is a loose fitting top without defined arm holes. It works really well for the beach or poolside as it is so easy to take on and off. The large area of fabric in a poncho lends itself to some really stunning and bold designs. If wearing a poncho with trousers, always opt for a fitted pair to balance out the volume of the top.
The Kaftan
A traditional kaftan is generally a cotton or silk cloak buttoned down the front, with full sleeves, reaching to the ankles and worn with a sash. More recent adaptations of kaftans this look encompass all sorts of loose fitting top, dresses and shirts. All of these styles make great beach wear and also can be worn buttoned up as a dress or unbuttoned as a jacket.
So if you want to look stylish and cool this summer, kaftans, ponchos, tunics and over blouses are all great cover ups to take you from poolside to evening out. Even better they will protect you from the suns rays and keep your skin looking young. Don’t forget your sunglasses to protect your eyes and a straw hat to protect you head, face and neck.
It seems that the whole world is talking about the new Sex and the City Film which premiered at the the New York City Music Hall this week. Patricia Field is the stylist for the film and her mix of extravagant and stylish fashion is part of what has made the series and films so popular. Of course the storyline is important too and everyone will be wanting to know what happens to Carrie and Big but for many it is the and clothes by designers like Marc Jacobs that is the draw. What we love about SATC is that the girls never wear a plain old pair of jeans and t shirt.
The Sex and the City series has a very important influence on fashion over the years. It is the styling of Patricia Field that has brought hair flowers, Manolo Blahnik shoes and expensive designer handbags to the masses. But the Sex and the City Style is not all about spending lots of money. There are plenty of ways that you can take inspiration from the new film and create a great look without spending too much money.
Each of the characters in Sex and the City 2 has their own unique style that suits their personality and role in the film do well.
Carrie the main character played by Sarah Jessica Parker is well known for her simple but very stylish look and dramatic accessories. Her long honey coloured hair is definitely part of her signature style. She loves shoes and handbags and is incredibly fashionable. The SATC 2 film also sees Carrie wearing a number of dresses by Halston Heritage, not surprising really as she is the Creative Director for the label.
Samantha played by Kim Katrall has a sexy but very strong style with a heavy nineties influence. Power suits and body con dresses are important part of her wardrobe. She loves bold bright colours which match her personality perfectly.
Charlotte is played by Kristin Davis and has a sweet preppy style. She loves clothes with frill and bows and colours like bright candy pink. Her outfits are always accompanied by the perfect combination of shoes and handbags.
Miranda is a high powered career girl and has plenty if suits to match this role. Her look is often androgynous with bright autumnal colours to match her bright red hair.
Here are some of our favourite pieces from SATC.
Maxi Dresses Galore
All of the SATC girls love maxi dresses. They are the perfect thing to wear for sipping champagne on a sunny balcony.
Carrie’s checked shirt
Only Carrie could make casual look so glam. A simple fitted checked shirt teamed with cropped trousers or jeans and of course some killer heels is a really easy way to create her look.
Charlotte’s pink frills
This magenta lace detail top is the perfect piece for SATC’s Charlotte. In the film she wore a beautiful pink frilled suit by Dior this top recreates this look.
Miranda’s beautifully coloured clothes
We think this emerald green georgette silk trim dress would go so well with Miranda’s vibrant red hair. Other colours like orange, yellow and red would also look amazing.
Samantha’s pencil skirt suit
You can get Samantha’s strong bold look with a bright primary colour suit with a pencil skirt. Team with a camisole top and heels.
A handbag is a really important part of a women’s wardrobe. Not only do we use it for carrying all of life’s essentials but, how it looks will effect the whole look of an outfit. A handbag can literally make or break an outfit. As a handbag is so key to your overall look it is a good idea to invest in a good quality leather handbags. Not only will the quality show but the handbag will also last longer making it so much better value for money.
If you are investing in an everyday handbag to go with almost everything in your wardrobe you will want something versatile and practical. Having just one handbag for the daytime also saves so much time as you will not need to change all of the contents over an swap between bags each day.
Depending on the colours of clothes in your wardrobe a black, grey or brown handbag will probably be the most flexible. Grey is a really on trend colour and black and brown work well for a more classic look.
The first consideration when buying your new handbag is the size. Do you like to carry everything but the kitchen sink in your bag? or are you more of a minimalist when it comes to handbags, just carrying a purse,keys, phone and lipstick? If you have a really big handbag, it can be really handy for popping a few pieces of shopping into but it can also be really heavy and you consider whether it will be comfortable to carry when full. Larger bags can also be more difficult to organise so you should look at how many side and internal pockets a bag has. If it doesn’t have enough pockets, you can use make up bags and other small bags like perhaps pencil cases inside of a big bag to keep everything organised.
How you carry your handbag will also affect how your outfit looks here are some examples:
Across the body - this is a really practical way to carry your handbag and will tend to look best with casual clothes.
In your hand - a very chic and sophisticated way to carry a handbag. A clutch bag usually works well with a more formal outfit but can also work well to dress up a more casual look.
Over the forearm - carrying your handbag over your forearm is a classic and lady like way to carry it. It works well with smart business or work wear. It is really only practical and comfortable to carry a small or medium bag in this way.
Over the shoulder - a shoulder bag is probably the most common and versatile way to carry a handbag. It will usually look equally good with smart and casual clothing.
The final but very important consideration when you are shopping for a new handbag is the style of the bag. Look for the type of leather, softer leather will look more luxurious whilst a harder and stiffer type of leather will look more business like. Features like buckles, studs, embellishment, pockets and fastenings all change the look and style of the bag. You should choose a style that compliments most of the clothes in your wardrobe.
With the weather being so beautiful in the UK, many of us will be starting to think about our summer holidays. Summer holidays are the time for rest and relaxation and also for some a chance to explore and experience new and different places. The clothes that you pack to take on holiday may be a bit different to your usual day to day clothing because the weather may be hotter and you will most likely be doing different activities to those that you usually do. Looking stylish and being comfortable whilst on holiday is all about being able to plan ahead and pack versatile clothes that can be adapted according to the weather and situation. Here are some essential items of clothing to pack for this years summer holiday.
Camisole/ vest top
Camisoles or vest tops are ideal for the hot weather. They don’t take up too much room in the suitcase and don’t crease up too easily, so why not pack a few. They look great with shorts for the day time of a pair of trousers for the evening. To flatter a round tummy, opt for an empire line style which will skim over any lumps or bumps.
Summer dresses
Dresses are probably the coolest option for the really hot weather and a loose flowing style will look really elegant. Choose a style of dress that looks good for daytime or evening for maximum versatility. A dress made of crinkle cotton is perfect for holiday as it won’t crease in the suitcase and you can easily wash it out and won’t need to iron it.
Long sleeved shirt
A long sleeved shirt is another really versatile piece for your summer holiday wardrobe. Use it to protect your arms, shoulders and back from the sun when sitting on the beach or by the pool or wear it with trousers in the evening. It is also a great way of protecting your arms in areas where there are lots of mosquitoes.
Sandals
A comfortable and stylish pair of sandals is worth its weight in gold, especially if you plan to do lots of walking or sight seeing on holiday. A neutral tan pair for the daytime and a heeled, metallic or embellished pair for the evening should be all you need unless you are planning any trips that require more heavy duty footwear.
Pashmina
A pashmina is a great accessory for travelling. If you are flying, you will probably find that the aeroplane is quite cold. You can stylishly wrap your pashmina around your shoulders or even use it as a blanket. It is also great for the evenings in case it does get a little cooler especially if there is a sea breeze. Â
Beach Bag
Whilst a small handbag is perfectly adequate at home, you will probably want something a little more roomy for holiday to carry essentials like suncream, bottles of water, sunglasses and beach towels. A beach bag with a bold print is the perfect way to add colour to any summer holiday outfit.
White Trousers
The perfect pair of white casual trousers is great for wearing during the day or with heels for the evening. White is a really versatile colour and will go with almost any top.
Summer is finally here and with its arrival comes an increase in the number of wedding invitations which are sent through the post. Everyone wants the sun to shine on their wedding day and as such many people plan their nuptials so that they take place on a summerâ??s day. Consequently there is a an abundance of summer formal wear in many high street stores, in addition to online shops. Therefore it is generally quite straight forward to find a dress or outfit to wear to a summer wedding.
However, despite the ease with which a dress can be found many women often overlook one key aspect when dressing for weddings and that thing is accessories. Often many women invest so much time in finding the perfect dress to wear that they simply forget to spend an adequate amount of time trying to source some wedding accessories to make their outfit stand out. Hats are a great wedding accessory and one which should be given careful consideration. Hats have the ability to really enhance an outfit and make it stand out, whatâ??s more hats can even make the simplest of outfits appear slightly more special and glamorous.
Moreover, there is often an unspoken etiquette at weddings that women should wear hats. However,  many women  often donâ??t feel confident or comfortable wearing a hat and as such there is an alternative available to them in the form of fascinators. Fascinators have become increasingly more popular in recent times and are very much accepted as the norm at most weddings. Not only do fascinators provide the same level of formality as hats but they also offer a greater degree of flexibility. Generally hats need to be removed after the ceremony in order to fully enjoy the reception and consequently careful attention must be paid to the hat to ensure that it does not get damaged throughout the course of the celebration. Fascinators on the other hand can be worn for the entirety of the day and do represent any cause for concern.
Both fascinators and hats should be given consideration when planning a wedding outfit. Weddings are special occasions which warrant elegant and sophisticated outfit choices and hats and fascinators can help to enhance the level of elegance and sophistication of an outfit.