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Team this long sleeve front frill green blouse with collar with a pencil skirt for your own take on Mad Men’s secretary style.
You might no realise it but TV and film have a huge influence on our lives right down to the clothes that we wear. Each season, not only are there countless collections inspired by TV programmes or films but many period films and programmes also have a more general affect on the overall trends and ladies fashion for he season. Many of us spend a fair few hours watching televisions but even those who don’t watch it all can’t fail to be affected by these trends in some ways. The stars of these shows have also been made into overnight style icons, this is of course no accident, some major costume co ordination is going on behind the scenes. Here are some of the biggest influences on ladies fashion at the moment.
Sex and the City
With the cult following of the TV show and recent release of the second film, sex and the city is one of the first programmes that springs to mind when thinking about ladies fashion and TV. Many don’t even care about the storyline, they just watch for the amazing clothes. The film and TV episodes revolve around four ladies, each with their own unique style and to die for wardrobe of designer clothes. The programme has even been credited with making Manolo Blahnik a household name in the US. The costume designer and stylist for the programme is Patricia Field, known for her clever mixing of vintage and designer clothing.
Mad Men
This is also a huge influence on current trends including the secretary chic look shown at both Prada and Louis Vuitton autumn collections. The full flared skirts that are likely to be every where this autumn are probably a result of this programme. Again each of the characters has their own distinct style. Stylist and costume designer Janie Bryant has given Betty Draper a style a little like Grace Kelly with cashmere jumpers, pearls and vintage scarves. The programme is filled with vintage clothes and lots of historical references.
Ugly Betty
This American TV show is all about Geek chic which is also a huge trend at the moment. The main character Betty Suarez is a style icon because of her clashing style. This is a look that has been favored by both Marc Jacobs and Prada. The stylist for the show are Eduardo Castro/ Patricia Field. In the last series the trendily ugly character has a style make over. It remains to be seen if her new look will prove so popular.
Glee
Glee is fairly new TV show which is attracting a huge following. Whilst on first viewing you might be a little confused as to what influence this show could possibly have on fashion. But there is definitely a more of a geek chic vibe going on. In contrast to other TV programmes, the costume designer, Lou Eyrich uses mainly affordable high street clothes.
Which TV programmes do you love for their fashion and style?
Orange Sleeveless Summer Dress
There is only one week to go until Vintage at Goodwood the civilised festival for grown ups that celebrates 5 decades of British cool. With thousands of people turning up to listen to some great music from the forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties and nineties in their favourite pieces of vintage clothing it is a sure sign that vintage clothing is becoming even more popular. Attendees at Vintage at Goodwood will not only have the opportunity for camping but also glamping, a very glamorous type of camoing with all of lifes little luxuries. But for those who just don’t have time to trawl car boots sales, vintage fairs and shops, there is plenty of vintage inspired clothing available on the high street and in online stores ready to cater for the huge interest in clothing from bygone years. Even for those who are not lucky enough to be going to to the Vintage at Goodwood weekend, there is no reason why they should not indulge in dressing up in some vintage inspired clothes.
There are lots of reasons for the current interest in vintage clothing and vintage inspired clothes. Part of it is perhaps a little nostalgia for those good old days before computers, Blackberries (the handheld computers, not the fruit) and mobile phones but also there is something about the vintage styles of clothes that we love. Some of the classic styles of vintage clothes have definitely proved their worth and stood the test of time like the circle skirt and the sixties style baby doll dresses. These styles of clothing are not only feminine but also very flattering for women to wear. They are a refreshing change from the jeans and t shirts that so many people live in these days and they make you feel a little bit special.
It is no surprise really that so many of these vintage features are re emerging in modern clothing designs. They are just the sort of clothes that women want to wear and the intricate embellishments and attention to detail are irresistable. Here are some of my favourite vintage inspired features that you can find on modern clothes.
- Lace – delightly feminine and delicate, lace trims on dresses, cardigans and tops are big news this summer but lace never really goes out of fashion as it is such a beautiful fabric.
- Washed out Florals – the paler coloured florals have a really nostalgic and comforting feel about them.
- Tea dresses – the classic shape of a tea dress is incredibly popular as it is so flattering. The a line is the perfect way to cover up larger hips and thighs and balance them with a wide hemline.
- Beading and embroidery – the beautiful decoration on many vintage pieces is usually handcrafted. Modern day reproductions of these works of art are perfect for evening dresses.
- Pencil Skirts – pencil skirts are incredibly versatile and are great for work wear.
- Flared or circle skirts – the fifities silhouette of a full skirt with a nipped in waist is still hugely popular today. It looks so elegant and this style looks like it will be a huge trend this winter.
Anyone can be fashionable, it doesn’t really matter what age they are. But the key too looking good in fashionable clothes is picking and choosing from the current trends and finding styles that are not only age appropriate but also that look great on you. Part of this is about where you shop. Some shops will tend to have clothes cut for a certain age range whilst other will be cut for a different age range. Once you find a shop that caters for you age, you can look out for the latest fashions in the safe knowledge that they will not look completely inappropriate on you. You do still need to consider your body shape though and which styles of clothing will best suit your body shape. Here are 5 summer trends that will work particularly well for mature ladies.
1. Nautical – navy and white looks amazingly stylish at any age. For a more mature lady, a well cut pair of navy womens trousers worn with a navy and white striped top will look amazing. The great thing about this look is that not only is it classic but it is also a key trend for this summer.
2. Frilly and romantic – frilly and romantic pieces look great on more mature ladies. Look for tops and skirts with ruffles and frills. Evening wear is probably the best way to wear this trend if you have the right occasion to go to.
3. Florals – again florals work well at any age. Look for brightly coloured floral prints or lighter more subtle patterns. What really matters when choosing a floral dress is finding the right cut or fit. Opt for just below the knee and short sleeves for a flattering look.
4. Maxi dresses – everyone is wearing maxi dresses this summer an they can work at any age. Look for styles with higher cut tops and wear with a cropped cardigan or bolero to cover your arms if you are self conscious of showing them.
5. Neutral colours – neutral colours is another trend that will work well at any age. As with most trends it is all about picking the right version to suit you. Try layering different neutral shades and textures for a subtle but interesting combination. Look for the right shades of neutral to wear as they will really illuminate your skin and make your complexion glow. You can choose from white, cream, beige, camel, grey, blush and rose.
So don’t get stuck in a style rut and think that your age what ever it be prevents you from wearing the latest trends or looking fashionable. You can look both amazing and fashionable at any age as long as you pick and choose your clothes carefully. Pay careful attention to the style, cut and colours of your clothes. All of these can be used to compliment you and make you look great. Look out for the trends that can work for you each season and you will always be both fashionable and stylish.
In recent years, the blouse has become a little forgotten in favour of jersey and knit tops. But everyday blouses have a lot to offer and is perfect for both smart and casual outfits. A blouse is a versatile piece of clothing that is cool in the summer and can easily be layered with jackets, cardigans or jumpers in the winter for extra warmth. The fitted nature of a blouse is incredibly flattering as it skims over the body to give a smooth silhouette. Blouses can be a variety of lengths and neatly cover the waist band of a pair of trousers or a skirt. They can be layered over camisoles, vests and t shirts and done up to the top or left with a few buttons undone depending on the look that you are trying to create. Plain or patterned blouses are a great option for creating flattering and stylish outfits.
Although not all blouses have collars, in fact there are plenty that don’t, the collar is particularly flattering for ladies of over forty as it covers the neck and draws the attention up towards the face. Turning up the collar of a blouse or rolling up the sleeves is a great way to make a casual but very stylish outfit.
A colourful blouse is a great casual option for the summer. This yellow blouse is bright and cheery, it would look great with white trousers and is semi fitted with a tie around the waist to give a great fit.
A longline blouse is a really elegant style and looks amazing for casual and smart casual ocassions. You can find longline blouses in a range of colours and prints and they look great worn over leggings or cropped trousers and even worn open over a t shirt.
A white blouse is a classic piece of clothing that everyone should own. It can be worn with anything from a pair of jeans to leggings or a smart pair of trousers or skirt. A white blouse will look good with a suit and acts as a great blank canvas for dressing up with some great accessories.
Floral print blouses are really in trend this season and also very feminine. They look great with all sorts of denim but also can look smarter when worn with a skirt or trousers in a light or pastel colour.
A blouse with frills is an elaborate style statement and can look stunning for work or other occasions. There are all sorts of frilled blouses to choose from. Frills and volume on the top half of the body is a great way of balancing out wider hips as well as making the bust appear bigger.
A black or dark coloured blouse in a chiffon fabric is perfect when worn with black trousers for the evening. It is very slimming and can be dressed up with sparkly accessories.
Over blouses are a great way t cover up your shoulders with an occasion or evening outfit. By wearing them open you can create a slimming column effect which makes your torso appear thinner.
There are plenty of different women that have been classed as style icons over the years but Grace Kelly is probably one of the most recognised for her style throughout the world. The current exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London pays homage to her evolving style from glamorous Hollywood actress to fashion royalty as Princess Grace of Monaco. Her sudden, tragic and premature death in car crash 1982, ended her life as the worlds most photographed woman admired by so many for her elegance and style.
Grace Kelly’s image in the early days was very much related to her career in the movies. Her look was the perfect combination of glamour and wholesome, a classic style that has been copied by so many and is still popular now. She was recognised for always getting the look just right no matter what the situation and was definitely one the early pioneers of understated chic. Her simple shirt waist dresses and casual shirts and trousers combined with her immaculate grooming became her signature style on and off screen during her career as a movie star.
As Grace Kelly progressed through her life and gave up her Hollywood career for a place in one of Europe’s oldest royal family when she married Prince Ranier of Monaco. A a princess she wore some of the finest clothes around including those by Balenciaga, Dior and Chanel. Highlights of the exhibition include the beautiful lace bodice and skirt that she wore for the civil ceremony of the wedding. For her wedding day she looked amazing in a Gown by Helen Rose made from 450 yards of Brussels Rose Point Lace and silk Faile. She also wore jewellery from Van Cleef and Arpels that the Prince had given her for the engagement.
Grace’s style does encompass many different looks from elaborate couture ball gowns to her elegant casual wear but probably the most memorable is the capri pants, head scarf and sunglasses or Pringle twin sets worn with a Hermes scarf. She was also the inspiration for the Hermes Kelly handbag which still enjoys huge popularity and has been copied so many times. The prominent way that she carried her handbag over her stomach whilst she was pregnant changed the way that women carried handbags.
With such a glamorous life, it is not surprising that Grace Kelly was known for the beautiful clothes that she wore and her style. There was something about Grace Kelly though that made her such a style icon. As the old saying goes, ‘it is not what you wear, it is how you wear it. Her name was so perfect and really described her so well.
The V & A Grace Kelly Style Icon exhibition runs until 26th September and shows many of her clothes alongside photographs and film. It includes the dresses from her films including High Society and Rear Window, as well as the gown she wore to accept her Oscar in 1955. It also examines her role as a style icon, her glamorous Hollywood image and her enduring appeal.
For a modern take on Grace Kelly’s twin set combine this Ivory Sleeveless Flower Print Vest with this Ivory flower print long sleeved knitted cardigan.