Archive for September, 2010
At the beginning of a each new season, you may some gaps in your wardrobe that need to be filled and online shopping is the quick and convenient way to do this. But sometimes looking for ladies clothes online can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. There are so many different stores and so much to choose from.
With autumn and winter on the way, it is a great time to have a little clear out of your wardrobe and once you have made some space, it is much easier to get an idea of what you actually need. Think about the sorts of clothes that you will spend most of your time wearing and whether you have enough of these. Once you have established what you actually need you can begin shopping. Here are a few tips on how to get the most out of your online shopping for ladies clothes.
1. Research and plan – look around a bit and look at your existing clothes to see what sort of styles you prefer and what looks best on you. Fashion magazines, shop windows and fashion websites are all great places to look for inspiration. By choosing one or two key styles for the season, it will be much easier to mix and match in your wardrobe.
2. Find the right online stores for you – look for stores that fit in well with your budget and your style. It is worth trying new ones once in a while but generally if the cut and sizing of clothes from a particular shop work for you, it is worth going back to them.
3. Check out the size guide and returns policy – One of the most difficult parts of online shopping can be getting the right size of clothes. On the plus side though, you get to try the clothes on on the comfort of your own home instead of a crowded changing room and you can take your time to consider each purchase. To have the best chance of success, you should compare your measurements with the size guide and check the returns policy just in case anything doesn’t fit.
4. Use the search facility – it might be obvious but using the search facility to look for a particular type of clothing is by far the quickest and easiest way to find exactly what you want. If you have lots of time browsing can be a good way of getting inspiration, but once you have your wish list browsing will only distract you.
5. Bookmarking – using a bookmarking facility to save your favourite items as you see them is a great way to save time when it comes to online shopping. There are a variety of different websites that will allow you to bookmark items or pages on a website. You can also add your favourite stores to your favourites lists on you browser tool bar.
Should we look fashionable and trendy for work? it all depends on where you work. It is always important to fit in with the culture of your organisation; otherwise you could be heading for trouble.
If you work in a creative industry or retail, the dress code is likely to be more relaxed and allow fashions and the latest trends to play a greater part. In these scenarios, you probably donâ??t need to wear ladies suits but you still need to look smart. You can probably experiment with bolder colours and more innovative looks.Â
In these environments, your choice of attire could say a lot about how creative you are, and as a result how good you are at your job and how well you fit in. . Trendy and hip could be essential in certain industries. The size of your organisation and the average age of the employees is also likely to influence the look that is acceptable. The smaller the organisation and the younger the average age, the more likely a bang up to the minute trend is likely to be appropriate. That said it is no good being a blind follower of fashion.  You need to pick trends that suit you and your body shape. Cut of an outfit is very important and you need to think about what flatters you. Also consider your skin tone and hair colour when selecting colours.  It is no good wearing the latest fashion, if you donâ??t wear it with style. However, you still need to remember that you are there to work, so an overly sexy look is probably not the best style.
 Some industries such as banking and accountancy tend to be very traditional and your dress will need to reflect this. You will probably need to wear a suit, probably in dark colours such as black, grey or navy. However, there is still an opportunity to show you are fashionable and trendy whilst wearing a more classic look. Choose a suit with a fabulous cut. If you are a larger lady, avoid double breasted jackets, and those which stop at the waist or the hip. Three quarter length jackets can be flattering as they make you look slimmer.  If you are lucky enough to have a curvy figure, wear nipped in jackets to accentuate and flatter. If you have a small frame, avoid wide legged trousers as they swamp you. Pencil skirts accentuate curves and A line skirts hide a multitude of sins. Boot cut trousers suit a smaller frame or a pear shape equally well. But the golden rule is look for the nuances of a cut. An expensive jacket can look terrible if the cut doesnâ??t work for you whereas a cheaper jacket which accentuates your best bits can make you feel a million dollars. Now you have your classic suit, it is time to add the trend factor and make you feel more fashionable. Look out for trends that are not too obvious and will not jar in the workplace. Also, donâ??t abandon bright fashionable colours altogether. Keep an eye of what colours are on the high street this year and pick a colour that is bang on trend. Then incorporate the must have colour but just donâ??t let it overpower your outfit. Add a touch of colour with a top to go under that suit jacket or a scarf with a funky pattern. Donâ??t forget jewellery. Keep an eye out for the latest fashions and allow yourself a bit more extravagance there. Just keep it in proportion and maybe choose a feature piece. A big chunky necklace that stands out might be best accompanied by a more discrete pair of earrings.
 Most of us probably work in an environment that is somewhere between the two. Look at the more senior women in your company and that can give you an idea about where to pitch your look. Just remember to avoid overtly sexy or scruffy looks. And no matter how â??on trendâ? grunge might be at a particular time, it is never likely to be work wear.
It is official faux fur is one of the most on trend fabrics to be seen in this winter. At Chanel the autumn winter collection was filled with faux fur, even perhaps a little too much for the fairly temperate climate of the UK. But during the cold winter months there is nothing more comforting than something really warm to wear. The texture of fur is also a great way to add interest to any winter outfit. By its very nature, faux fur which is supposed to mimic real animal fur is usually in natural colours like greys and browns. These colour schemes are great for creating a subtle but interesting and very warm looking outfit.
Anyone can wear faux fur (if they want to). There are really no limitations in terms of age, body shape or colouring, it looks good on everyone. The big question is though how should you wear your faux fur this winter? Depending on how you choose to wear it you can create a number of different looks.
The faux fur coat
A full faux fur coat is by far the most dramatic way to wear this trend. You can opt for full length, three quarter length or a short coat but all will add instant glamour to your outfit. Faux fur coats are not for the faint hearted they send out a strong style statement which says that you want to be noticed. Â A faux fur coat is ideal for an evening out, not only does it look super glamourous but will also protect your from the winter weather in your party dress.
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The faux fur gilet
grey faux fur gilet with velvet front ties
If you want to work that boho folk vibe this winter, then wear an outfit which combines deep, rich colours with paisly prints then top off with a faux fur gilet. This look is more casual than wearing a faux fur coat and works well for in doors on a really cold day. A gillet looks best when layered over a long sleeved top or blouse.
The faux fur trim
For a more subtle way to wear faux fur, a trim around the neckline or hood of a coat is ideal. It gives a little hint of luxury to any coat and also a little extra protection against a cold biting wind. Most coats with faux fur trim are fairly casual in style for example a parka coat, but it is some times possible to find a more formal style of coat.
The faux fur accessories
Faux fur mittens are right on trend this winter but if they aren’t your cup of tea, you could also add a stylish touch to your outfit with a faux fur hat (trapper ones are very fashionable and have the added bonus of keeping your ears toasty warm) or a faux fur snood. As is often the case with accessories ‘less is more’. One faux fur accessory at a time is usually more than enough.
Whilst there has been a lot of talk about neutral colours this winter especially when it comes to coats, with navy and camel being by far the most popular, some people like to be a little bit different and stand out from the crowd. Neutral coats certainly have a lot of benefits in terms of being versatile and long lasting but a statement coat is just so much more exciting.
A statement coat works for people who like to catch peoples attention and be instantly recognisable when they are out and about. They are not for shrinking violets or people who prefer to sink into the shadows unnoticed. You can make your statement anyway you wish. Using colour, pattern, shape, texture or embellishment but you should ensure that your statement coat will either completely cover your clothes or go with the clothes that you are likely to wear it with. Wearing a bright red coat is great but if all your clothes are also red it may look a little too much. You should also consider your outdoor footwear and how it will work with your statement coat. A good neutral pair of shoes or boots will usually go with most coats. AÂ statement pair of shoes or a statement hand bag will probably compete with your coat and look too much.
You can find some great statement coats which follow some of the seasons key trends or you can choose something completely different which will really set you apart from the crowd.
The Floral Coat
Floral patterns don’t just have to be limited to dresses and blouses, this rose print teal coat with long sleeves And buttons is the perfect way to work florals as outer wear. This coat is great for wearing to work with grey, brown and black trousers and can be brightened up with a bright pink scarf.
The Bright Coloured Coat
Statement coats are not just for smart outfits. You can also wear a casual coat that makes a statement and bright red is the perfect way to do this. This fur hood long draw string coat looks great with jeans or casual trousers and a pair of flat boots. It is really warm and also incredibly practical.
The Patterned Coat
This long sleeved fully lined grey funnel neck coat is a simple style but has a really bold pattern that it is impossible to ignore. The neutral colours fit in well with the on trend colours of the season but this coat is by no means minimalist.
The Luxury Coat
This coat definitely makes a statement as it is so luxurious. It is long and black but is finished with a magenta and green chalk effect design. It is fully lined and has magenta buttons making it perfect for adding a little luxury to your every day life. It would look great worn with a dress or skirt, thick tights and knee high black boots.
Which ever statement coat you decide to get, you should look for one that compliments the clothes and shoes that you already have and adds a bit of interest to your outdoor outfits.
There has been plenty of talk about the colour camel for autumn and winter fashion this year. Camel is a bit of a strange description for the colour that falls somewhere between brown, beige and yellow. A sort of warm toffee caramel colour that can also include sand or taupe as a description.
One of the key reasons for the huge interest in this colour is its versatility and adaptability. It is a colour that will never really go out of fashion, which is important when it comes to investment buys. It also goes with almost every other colour that exists and looks great with almost all hair colours and skin tones. It has a warmth that many of the other neutrals don’t possess and yet still looks calm and subtle when worn alone or can look striking when combined with black or bright colours. The camel coat is one of the clothing items that everyone wants this year and it is not surprising as these factors are all really important when looking for an everyday coat that you will want to keep for future seasons.
Grey is another great neutral colour which works well for all sorts of clothing from work suits to knitwear and really casual jersey pieces. Whilst not as flattering for everyone, grey still has a place in this winters neutral colour palette. Like all colours grey covers a range of shades from almost white through to almost black. Picking the right grey for your colouring is key to looking good. You can even opt for a kind of combination between grey and beige which has recently been given the name ‘greige’. To add interest to a grey outfit try layering different shades of grey.
Black is obviously the king of neutral colours. It is slimming and goes with every thing but does have its down sides as it can make you look quite drained. To make best use of black try wearing it on areas of the body that you wish to minimise or make look smaller and combine it with other neutral colours for a subtle look or bright colours for a more eye catching look.
White and cream are some of the best neutrals to wear for the summer but not colours that would immediately spring to mind for wearing in the winter. Knitwear and thick or woollen clothes in these neutrals can work really well for the winter. A really striking minimalist look can be created by just wearing white or cream with perhaps a few tan leather accessories.
Navy is another very flattering colour that also looks amazingly chic. The colour navy is mostly associated with the nautical trend but can also be combined with many different colours for a really striking look. Finally brown is a great colour for autumn and looks great when combined with oranges, yellows and reds for a really rich and warm coloured outfit.
So even if you love bright colours, neutrals might have their place in your wardrobe. They make a great background or base on which to feature your bright colours and to make sure that they can really stand out.