Archive for June, 2010
The summer has finally arrived and with it the most gorgeous sunshine and hot weather. Most of us wouldn’t dream about complaining about the heat, but it can sometimes be difficult to look stylish and keep cool on really hot days in the summer. There is nothing worse than feeling hot and uncomfortable and a red shiny face is not the most stylish of looks so if you can find beautiful clothes that also keep you comfortably cool, you have definitely cracked the secret to looking great in the summer. As a rule loose fitting clothes in natural fabrics will be the coolest. Light colours also absorb less heat and bright colours look amazing in the bright sunshine. Some other great tips for keeping really cool are investing in a sun hat and sitting in the shade most of the time (this will also be good for your skin), carrying a water spray to spritz your face if really hot, drinking plenty of cold drinks (especially water) and running your wrists under the cold tap for a minute or two. A great pair of summer sandals will also ensure that your feet are lovely and cool and also look great, don’t forget to paint your toenails in a beautiful bright summer colour.
Juicy coloured sun dress -an empire line sun dress is incredibly flattering as it skims over the tummy, hips and thighs. The lack of sleeves will also keep you nice and cool but be careful if sitting out in the sun that your shoulders don’t burn. The creased fabric of this dress also allows it to hang loosely as tight and clingy just doesn’t work on a hot day. The delicate detailing on this dress mean that it fits into the categories of day dresses and summer party dresses. Try teaming with a wide brimmed straw hat for barbeques or garden parties or an occasion hat for a wedding or day at the races.
Light weight blouse – a truly versatile piece, short sleeved light weight blouse looks fresh and cool and reflects the heat on the hottest of days. It can be worn with tailored shorts or a skirt for work or even jeans or a casual pair of trousers.
Loose fitting skirt -sometimes when it gets really hot, it is too hot to even wear trousers. A loose fitting skirt is the coolest option. This style of skirt is really on trend so try combining with a pair of gladiators for a really fashionable look or some wedges if you want to add a bit of height. Balance the volume of the skirt with a close fitting camisole or vest top.
Colourful poncho -if you are out in the garden on a hot day, you can’t beat a poncho for loose fitting and airy style. Add some of the brightest colours around this summer and you have an instantly chic and eye catching outfit that would work for all sorts of occasions from beach to party.
Cool cropped trousers – when the thermostat goes up, ditch your long trousers in favour of some cropped trousers. If you want something easy to wear and practical, the these are just what you need. Choose from a range of gorgeous summer colours and team with a t shirt in a contrasting colour and flip flops for the perfect summer outfit.
The summer has barely got going and already it is time for the summer sale at Roman Originals with up to 50% off our range of beautiful summer clothes. To make life easier we are also offering free delivery on orders over £60 and free exchanges should you find that the item that you have ordered is not absolutely perfect for you. The summer sale offers you a great opportunity to get some of the summers key trends at a fraction of the price, but hurry, they won’t be there for long.
If you have a wedding or any other important events on this summer, this dress is the ideal choice of outfit. Maxi dresses are really on trend this year but they are also becoming a bit of a classic item that is likely to stay in fashion year after year. This maxi dress has a flattering empire line or seam just under the bust which skims over tummies legs and thighs creating the perfect streamlined silhouette. It also has a lovely floral pattern.
Another key trend that is likely to last in to future seasons is animal print. This animal print dress will work equally well for the summer or winter. It is a great choice for work wear or parties, just team with either a black or neutral coloured jacket or some great heels and a clutch bag.
This lightweight waterfall cardigan is not only versatile and will go with all sorts of outfits but it is also season less and works for the cooler days in the evening and summer as well as autumn and winter. The long line of this cardigan is incredibly elegant and looks great with a pair of jeans for a causal look or tailored trousers for a smarter look.
The summer sales are a great opportunity to stock on basics at a great price. At Roman Originals, there is a great selection of tops for all occasions. For work wear, the sleeveless tops or camisoles are great for wearing under suits and there are also plenty of smart blouses which can be teamed with a pair of smart trousers for a no effort work outfit.
A bolero or shrug is the perfect accessory for wearing with dresses on a summer evening or to keep you warm on those slightly cooler days. The cropped style of a bolero looks great with both casual and party dresses as well as jeans and t shirt. The great thing about boleros and shrugs is that they do not affect the line of a beautiful party dress.
If you don’t already have a great pair of smart or tailored trousers, the sale is a great opportunity to get one. A pair of boot cut trousers is incredibly flattering. If worn with heels it will have a lengthening effect on your leg. It is also a real wardrobe staple which can be teamed with just about any blouse or smart top for a work outfit. This navy pair of trousers is a great colour which works with a number of trends including the summers nautical trend but will also never go out of fashion.
Your wedding is a really important day and is probably the only day when you will get to wear a really beautiful dress and everyone’s attention to be on you. If you have chosen the traditional white wedding route, it can be quite an expensive day with not only the wedding dress but also bridesmaids dresses, ceremony and reception and then there are the cars, a photographer and a cake. But don’t worry, if you only have a small budget, you can still have an amazing white wedding with the all important white wedding dress.
At Roman Originals you can get your wedding dress, bridemaids dresses and even outfits for the mothers of the bride and groom. With dresses from just £60 in the sale, you should still have some money left for a reception that all of your guests will remember.  You can pick a simple and classic style of dress which flatters most body types and is will make you look amazing for your big day.
This beaded ivory wedding dress features exquisite and delicate embroidery and beading and a lace up back to ensure the perfect fit. Its classic style will never go out of fashion and you will be able to admire it in your wedding photographs for many years to come.
Evening dresses or occasion dresses make great alternatives to bridesmaid dresses from a specialist bridal shop and could well cost a lot less. They will look elegant and stylish and you will also have access to a huge choice of colours.
There are plenty of other ways that you can have the perfect white wedding on a budget. Just remember making your wedding day special is not about how much money you spend but more about how much though and effort you put into it. A day that is personal to you and your groom will be the most special and memorable day that you can have. It is the little touches like having a good friend sing at the cermony, some great speeches and a fun quiz after the meal for the guests.
Here are some other ways that you can have the perfect white wedding on a budget:
- Having your wedding later on in the evening will eliminate the need to provide two meals for guests. Why not arrange a meal at a local pub or restaurant for a much more cost effective option than a hotel.
- Ask any friends with useful skills for their help. If you know someone who takes great photographs to take some photographs of the ceremony and reception or ask all of your friends to send copies of their wedding photos and pick out the best for the wedding album. You may find that the natural style of these photos is just as good as the posed photographs of a photographer.
- Choose simple flowers. a single stem like a Cala Lily will look great with your wedding dress as an alternative to a bouquet and you can easily make simple flower arrangements for the church and reception.
- Many supermarkets will sell a wedding cake which you can then decorate with sugar flowers or fresh flowers to make it look really individual.
- Why not arrange a honeymoon in the UK? there are some amazing places to see and a honeymoon is the perfect time to spend some time going to places that you might not usually visit.
When we have an important evening party or formal event to attend, we usually spend quite a bit of time considering which dress to wear but all too often the weather is colder than expected and we either spend all evening freezing or end up with a jacket that covers up our beautiful evening dress. With the British weather being what it is and evenings even in the summer often being a little chilly, most of the time an evening dress needs some sort of cover up. Occasion wear for outdoor events can also have the same issue, the weather is not warm enough to wear a dress on its own but what do you wear to keep slightly warmer without ruining the look of your dress or outfit?
A bolero or shrug is the answer to so many evening and occasion wear dilemmas. They are great for travelling too and from the event but are also perfect for wearing the whole time including for a sit down meal. If you are a little self conscious about showing your arms, they are also great for covering them up when wearing a sleeveless dress. A bolero is a sort of cropped jacket and can either have long or short sleeves. A shrug is a looser and less structured type of cover up that is a cross between a shawl or wrap and a cardigan. The beauty of both of these cover ups is that they are short and so do not ruin the line of the dress or stop it from hanging properly. A shrug or bolero can even become a feature of your outfit in its own right especially if it has embroidery, beading or an interesting texture like crochet.
For an elaborate evening dress, you could opt for a plain or simple bolero or shrug that will not detract from the dress. Alternatively you could dress up a simple black dress with a beaded bolero or choose an evening or occasion dress with a matching bolero or shrug.
Boleros and shrugs can also work really well for everyday wear. Try wearing a brightly coloured shrug with jeans and a tunic top. Boleros and shrugs are particularly flattering for short or petite ladies as they play with proportions making the body look longer.
This black satin cropped bolerois incredibly versatile as it will go with so many different outfits for the evening. The diagonal cut of the opening means that it will cover your shoulders and arms without covering up too mush of your dress.
For lighter coloured dresses and occasion wear this bolero jacket gives a little more coverage on the arms with three quarter length sleeves and the floral pattern makes it a great choice for wearing with a plain shift dress.
This black and white contrast shrug is a real feature piece and is perfect for wearing with a simple black dress for cooler evenings in the late summer.
This black bolero jacket is not only versatile and smart but also has a great shape and bell sleeves which adds an interesting feature to any evening wear outfit.
Skirts make a great alternative to trousers for the summer as they are cool, comfortable and easy to wear. They are also great for the winter but there are slightly more practicalities to consider such as which tights or stockings to wear and whether they are suitable for the weather conditions. In the summer, everyday skirts are perfect for casual or work wear. They are versatile and you can use one skirt to create so many different outfits just by changing your top or jacket. Skirts are also really feminine and make you feel like you have made a little bit of an effort.
You can make the most of summer skirts by picking the best style for your body shape.
The A line skirt
The a line skirt is the pear shaped girls best friend. The gently flaring shape skims over the hip and thighs without adding any bulk or drawing attention to this area. The wider hem also helps to balance out the width of the hips. As a line skirt that finished at the knee or just above is probably the most flattering. You should wear with a top that finished at the waist as this will highlight the narrowest part of your torso. You can also look for a line skirts with interesting patterns or border prints along the hem, this will also help to balance the hips.
Pencil or straight skirt
Straight or pencil skirts are really feminine and great for showing off hour glass curves. They are often worn as part of a suit or with a blouse for work wear but can also be worn for a going out outfit. The style of a straight skirt will usually look best when worn with high heel shoes and a fitted top that skims rather than clings for a stylish and sophisticated look. Straight skirts can be difficult to walk in so it is sensible to geta good fit to ensure that you are comfortable and able to move freely.
Full skirt
A full skirt tends to be more suitable for occasion or evening wear. It is similar to the a line skirt as the skirt flares out from the waist but a full skirt will usually be bigger and fuller. There are varying degrees of fullness from fairly gently flaring skirts to a full circle skirt. The volume of the skirt will also vary with a circle skirt having very little bulk around the waist and hips but other styles or skirt having gathers which create various amounts of bulk. Generally full skirts will look best on quite tall ladies as they can be a little over powering on shorter ladies although someone short may get away with a skirt with medium fullness. Slimmer ladies will look best in skirts with lots of gathers and volume around the waist. The type of fabric will also effect how full a skirt looks, fabrics like chiffon will tend to drape and lie flatter than cotton or linen. Longer flared skirts are an easy style to wear as they do not have too much volume and create a streamlined silhouette.
Flared Hem Skirt
The flared hem skirt is similar to the straight skirt but it flare out around the hem. It is a great option for pear shaped ladies and slightly easier to walk in than the traditional straight skirt. The flared hem skirt works really well with suits or blouses for work wear but also for parties or occasion if made from a fabric like chiffon.
Skirt Length
What ever style of skirt that you choose to wear, you should carefully consider the length of your skirt. It will tend to be most flattering if it does not finish at a wider part of your leg like the mid thigh or mid calf (unless you have very slim legs). A skirt that finishes at or just above the knee is probably the most flattering for most people.