Body Shape Fashion Tips

A quick look inside today's fashion sketches and magazines reveals top designers showing off their animal instincts more and more. From runway to real life, wildlife prints are a fashion "must" and include everything from butterflies to zebra stripes.

In fact, most fashion experts say this season's hot styles are a mixture of bohemian and wild safari. Tiger and zebra prints, jungle patterns, and tunics with detailed embellishments are a must-have fashion look that anyone can wear. Here are some body shape fashion tips that will help you pull it off:

Stylists say that wearing safari animal prints, especially leopard, is a great way to add a bold, fashionable edge to your wardrobe.

If it's a transformation you're looking for, the butterfly motif is also taking flight in the fashion industry and can be seen on everything from shoes to hair clips, bags, tops and even gowns. Celebrities are catching on to the craze, as can be seen in the pages of beauty and fashion magazines.

Butterflies have begun to flutter from fashion into other industries as well. Because butterflies symbolize freedom and the confidence that follows, some brands have selected it as an icon. Most recently, Stayfree® has incorporated a pretty butterfly logo to its fun, aqua-colored Dry Max packaging. So if you're looking for a way to energize your wardrobe, stylists say to incorporate a butterfly element-whether it's a handbag, top, scarf or pin.

The animal trend reaches beyond leopards and butterflies. Fashionistas can expect to see a lot more clothes and accessories featuring animal elements in the coming months.

Other hot trends to keep an eye out for include snakeskin accessories and sleek, African-inspired separates, as well as real and fake fur adorning jackets, sweaters and more. Luxe fabrics like croc and shearling and even fox fur collars were all the rage at recent fashion shows and are expected to hit the racks in the coming months.

When it comes to fashion, it's a jungle out there. Remember, with these bold safari-style prints and accessories, be careful not to overdo it. Sometimes, less is more.

Season's hot styles-Jungle patterns are a must-have fashion look that anyone can wear.

Hollywood has a way of promoting fashion. When the showing of bare navels was restricted during the 1940’s, it came out with a great idea. They covered the navel with a jewel. Placing of the jewels in the navel was popularized by belly dancing pictures of the time. The result, people started to believe that a jewel in the navel is part of the middle-eastern culture. It is not. It was only a devise invented by Hollywood filmmakers to get around with the prohibition but the idea caught on and no one was complaining. The idea was ridiculously great. You can imagine until now the smug smiles on the faces of directors and costume designers of the era. It became part of the fashion sketches soon after.

Like any good idea coming from Hollywood, placing accessories on the belly button has not been forgotten and has now evolved to be belly button rings.

Belly button rings today for the most part are considered necessary accessory to many as the length of shirts and blouses go up and the hip line goes down. The belly for many will look bare if it does not have anything to show on it except the bare navel, and so the belly button ring found its route to popularity.

Belly button rings come in so many varieties that are fun, pleasing and attention catchers. Belly button rings could be flashing, dangling, logo and pieces of artwork that are a gem designer’s craft.

Placing belly buttons rings will require piercing. Any piercing creates wounds and wounds could get infected. If you find therefore that belly buttons are necessary accessories, you have to first, know which materials should be used to adorn that belly and the procedures to take not to be on the sorry side.

The safest materials for belly button rings are gold (at least 14K), silver, surgical steel, titanium, niobium, rhodium etc. Avoid as much as possible the gold imitation, sterling silver and silver-plated ones as they could cause irritation that might lead to infection. Avoid base metal materials that are coated and covered which could easily break. Avoid those that could easily tarnish and corrode when it gets in contact with body fluids and those that may contain allergens. For people who are sensitive to metals, a special plastic called Tygon are good replacements for belly button rings.

To prevent infections, have your piercing done only by qualified practitioners. Doing the piercing otherwise could lead to problems like infection and body poisoning even with properly sterilized instruments. Nerve damage can also be a possibility when done by an amateur.

Pregnant woman may wear their belly button rings up to the fifth month of pregnancy or when the skin in the belly starts to stretch significantly.

Belly button piercing will take a while to heal depending on the individual. The first days after your piercing have the belly button captive bead ring removed by the shop where you got your piercing. When your belly button heals, ask the shop to replace the captive bead with the new belly button rings.

When inserting the belly button ring, it is important to wash your hands with anti bacterial soap for at least four minutes. While inserting the body jewelry, massage both holes with the finger that is pinching the skin adjacent to the belly button holes. When the belly button ring is secured, clean the belly button ring once more to reduce the chance of infection. It is helpful to look at a virtual fashion model before piercing your own navel just to check and confirm your decision.

Rich Flanagan is the manager of www.8ball.co.uk, where visitors can purchase not only baby t-shirts, but also a large variety of kids t-shirts. If grownups can wear the most outrageous, funny and unique t-shirts shouldn’t kids have the same rights as their parents? Shouldn't the kids have their own fashion sketches too? The answer is yes and there are plenty of websites on the Internet that offer dozens of t-shirts for kids. Ranging from AC/DC, The Simpsons to the famous The Rolling Stones, the offer is rich and we can all agree that there is a t-shirt for every child out there.

The question is which websites are the best? If indeed you are interested in this subject you should start by looking at those websites that have their t-shirts divided into intuitive categories so that the visitors can find what they are looking for fast and easy. Another important aspect that should be taken into consideration by potential t-shirt buyers is that high quality websites offer plenty of images of their products so that the visitors can figure out which t-shirts are the best for their kids. Having a virtual fashion model could make easy the customers' way of choosing clothes.

A catalogue with the latest models should be available for users in order to make a better picture about the baby t-shirts that are for sale. Unfortunately, babies can’t tell their parents which t-shirts they prefer so parents have to figure out on their own. But luckily there are hundreds of models from which parents can take their pick. Of course, such websites should offer t-shirts not only for babies, but also for kids and with a little bit of patience, every kid will the ideal t-shirt for him.

Funny slogan t-shirts are a boom these days in terms of sales and more models are available each day along with other models like music-based, cartoon-based and the list could go on. Other popular categories are: slogan & funny, TV & film, 80s fashion and others. In most cases, the availability of these t-shirts is for babies and kids ranging from 6 months to 12 years. A well-thought website should have a “ New “ section in which there should be listed the latest baby clothing products along with information regarding sizing, prices and availability.

Another interesting issue regarding these websites is the rating option. If you are wondering how this works it is quite simple, users of the website will rate a certain baby t-shirt and future users will find the most popular t-shirts in terms of rating. Of course it is a personal rating that most likely won’t be appreciated by all the future users but it can be a great tool to find the most popular t-shirts on the website.

Kids these days want to stand out and what better way to do so if not with a funny kid t-shirt? There are dozens of models for kids and babies out there; you just have to pick one. Kids can pick up their own t-shirts and for babies, parents take their pick and luckily, the babies will enjoy their brand new, let’s say funny slogan t-shirt.

All things considered, if you can’t find the perfect t-shirts for your kid on the local shop, the best way to search for one is on the Internet as there are plenty of websites that can offer exactly what you are looking for, a unique and funny baby/kid t-shirt.

World traveler and native New Yorker Edward Wilkerson brings a global aesthetic and sophisticated style to today's modern American woman.

As design director for Lafayette 148 New York, Wilkerson travels the globe for inspiration for his fashion sketches. He brings rich cultural touches to his feminine, chic designs using luxurious fabrics and exquisite tailoring. A true artist, Wilkerson is inspired by the culture, architecture and rich palettes of each exotic locale he visits. "Traveling has taught me to see the beauty in everything," Wilkerson said.

He designs polished and sophisticated fashion sketches that allow a woman to create her own individual style. Mixing fabric, texture and color is a hallmark of the Lafayette 148 collection.

Drawing from Indochine influences, Lafayette 148's early season offerings are expressed in sheer fabrics, creating a light, airy mood. Contrast is key; soft leathers mixed with flowing chiffon and cotton seersucker teamed with fluid linen. The spa-inspired colors -; beach glass, taupe, muslin and coral -; are accented with lustrous gold. Flowing, feminine skirts in both solids and prints are coupled with fitted, short jackets.

Wilkerson's Moroccan sojourn is apparent in a grouping of colors and fabrics that call to mind a brightly colored street bazaar: think spicy saturated shades of cinnabar, curry, chocolate and orchid. Distinctive handcrafted embellishments such as beading, embroidery and jeweled sequins define the look.

Another group evokes a chic seaside resort destination: wild Ibiza with bright, colorful prints; or dazzling St. Barth's with its white sand beaches and clear blue water. White featherweight knits are paired with full folkloric skirts. Cool, breezy dresses are summer must-haves.

The Lafayette 148 New York Collection is available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and more than 250 fine specialty stores throughout the U.S.

Fall and winter may have brought out long peacoats and trenches before, but not this year. One of the most sought-after fashion sketches for the upcoming season will be the shrunken jacket, in a variety of styles. The difference between these new, tinier versions of your traditional autumn and winter favorites is their length; cuts are the same as traditional coats, but they hit slightly above the waist and often tie or button under the chest. The beauty of these new pieces is that they provide coverage in colder months without sacrificing sexiness or femininity.

The perfect jacket is one of the most important elements of your wardrobe, and with so many shapes and fabrics available this fall, it would be a crime to choose just one. The ever-present denim jacket is back with a new vengeance. Instead of the washes of last season or bulkiness of years before, this season’s denim jacket is soft, body-conscious and far more feminine than the traditional denim jacket. Corduroy and leather are back again, cropped and ready to be worn over anything from your favorite dress to distressed jeans.

A new take on an 1980s fads and fashion are safe, but take advantage on the amazing new fabrics and styles the end of the year has to offer. Brocade is big this season and some of the most sought-after new jackets are made of the rich, detailed design. Many of these brocaded, boudoir-style jackets are trimmed in rich velvet or lace piping and can be paired with tweed trousers of you favorite jeans. Many of these new jackets are cut at the hip but some are reaching even higher—cropped just below the chest (H & M). Made in rich, new fabrics like tweed and velvet, these jackets have mixed a traditionally matronly fabric with a cut and cling that makes it youthful and sexy. Even faux fur and metallic finishes are adorning the newest trend (Allen B. by Allen Schwartz).

Getting short isn’t the only new addition to a cold weather favorite. Sleeves are getting revamped this season, retro-80s fashion-style. Traditional coat fabrics like houndstooth are being used in a new way. Bell sleeves (think bellbottom sleeves, cut below the elbow) mix cropped length with a traditional fabric and throwback to 70s style (Banana Republic). You’ll also see a mini version of the military jacket this season; a cropped, girlie take on the long, heavy style, adorned with brass buttons and zippers (Bebe).

The beauty of these new jackets is the versatility they bring to your own style: mix them with denim, dresses, skirts and trousers. Since there isn’t one specific style or fabric that will reign this fall, all styles and sizes can take advantage of a new take on an old favorite.

Tired of winter? Who isn’t -- except maybe pro-snowboarder Shaun Palmer and pro-skier Shane McConkey.

Even people who make their living off of winter, like tire salesmen, chimney sweeps, and snowplow drivers, can’t seem to wait for the frosty days to end. Fortunately there’s one good thing about cold weather: winter fashion and the different fashion sketches. It’s just fun, with all the layers and bold colors, not to mention the furry lambskin boots.

This time of year, every glossy cover of Elle, Vogue, and Mademoiselle makes me dream of looking like one of those glam girls wrapped up in a delectable sweater and plush boots. Unfortunately every time I try to mimic one of those magazine looks, everything goes astray.

Just this week I tried the tight jeans-bulky sweater-chunky boots look. It looked winter, but it didn’t work for winter. I fought with every jacket in my closet, trying to cajole one to button over my new oversized turtleneck sweater. I was relieved when I finally got my pea coat to close, but the relief washed away when I bustled over to the mirror to see that I looked about 7 months pregnant.

All the layering would be great -- if I was studying polar bears in the Arctic for the day. I wasn’t. I was on my way to work. I made a quick stop at the coffee shop, and the second I walked in, I started overheating. By the time I got to the counter, I could smell my perspiration starting to mix with the wool of the sweater. I like the natural beauty look, but I’m not fond of the smell. I was waiting for my mocha and madly fanning myself with a menu, when I glanced down to see that my new furry boots had nearly been ruined by the rock salt scattered on the city sidewalks.

After all the time I spent buying, planning, looking at fashion sketches, and putting on my new outfit, my sparkly chandelier earrings were the only thing that survived the morning. They were the least expensive part of my attire, and I got compliments on them all day. Apparently a little twinkle makes people feel good.

Like any smart woman, I resort to black in the wintertime despite what the houses of haute couture scream at us about wearing more color. Black looks good day or night, and for a girl on the run, it doesn’t require much thought. The best thing about black is that it hides all types of flaws, like those caused by eating an entire pumpkin cheesecake on Thanksgiving. But black is not only thinning; it’s a great palette for accessories.

This year, women have a lot of jewelry options. You can fall back on the old basic of diamonds. Or you can try this winter’s exciting new collections of colored pearls and shells. They look fabulous with black, and they can be as dressy as a diamond necklace, while offering more personality and flare. You can also highlight your eye color with a similar colored necklace. Nothing is more beautiful than a pair of sapphire blue eyes with a matching necklace.

Rhinestones are always a holiday favorite. This season, designers are using them with fiber optic glass and silver. It’s a new take on a jeweler’s staple. Red stones can highlight the flushed skin and rosy cheeks of winter. And the fiber optics in the glass makes the necklaces, earrings, and bracelets glow. The combination creates a look that no one will forget.

And something that will always go with black, more black. Onyx is a gorgeous stone that when highlighted with silver can make a simple black sweater and slacks into a classic cosmopolitan look. Dangly onyx earrings are stunning with pulled back hair. Onyx is great because it can go with almost anything. It makes red more refined, pink more subdued, and white more exotic.

So don’t let gray skies and stale snow keep you from feeling beautiful. Next time you go to your closet and feel bummed out about having to squeeze your outfit under your jacket, toss on a gorgeous pair of earrings. Everyone will notice them, even with your jacket on. And unlike that oversized sweater, you can keep wearing them when the warm spring days finally return.

Generally Hip Hop fashion sketches and clothing, retail or wholesale, is broken into two groups, classic and modern styles. The classic styles are those that were popularized in the 1970s to late 1980s. Modern styles come from the very late eighties, nineties and after 2000.

Classic Hip Hop clothing includes large glasses and sunglasses, multi-finger rings, multiple gold necklaces, and various brand tennis shoes with oversized laces. Hairstyles at this time took on a strong African American influence. These styles included tight jheri curls and dreadlocks as well as closer cut and shaped styles. Red-black-and-green was a common color pallet, sizing towards being baggy and overlarge, which continued into more modern Hip Hop styles. This time period was one of establishing the Hip Hop movement and modern Hip Hop clothing and culture owes its success to these roots.

The more modern style Hip Hop was much affected by musical artists and actors who made popular the wearing of brilliant colors, often neon, and wearing usual clothing items, baseball hats and even condoms, in unusual ways. Some went as far as to wear their clothing backwards. Many have made hip hop clothing into men's fashion tips. As the year 2000 dawned, and highly influenced by the remake of Scarface Hip Hop clothing styles took on an influence from street thugs and prison inmates. These styles included over sized clothing, large pocketed pants without a belt and military accents in shoes and jackets. Other marks of this change of trend were flannel over shirts, hoodies and gold teeth, or at least gold fixtures.

Currently many places exist where Hip Hop clothing can be acquired. Some of the simplest pieces may come from the corner thrift shop or flea market, but as the Hip Hop style has progressed in complexity these pieces have been picked up by many big markets, charging a big dollar and opening a huge marketplace for wholesale Hip Hop clothing options. In order to push back against this trend online websites such as urbanhotlist.com have sprung up, offering discounted brands and a places to fill many needs at once.

Many advantages and disadvantages exist when it comes to working with an online sales site, like urbanhotlist.com. Very often there is access to a much broader base of merchandise. The ability for bulk ordering allows the prices of wholesale Hip Hop clothing to be kept very reasonable even after adding the extra charges for shipping and handling.

For those above-mentioned reasons websites like urbanhotlist.com have become rather popular and continue to grow with each month. This is particularly of concern when the merchandise in question is something that requires sizing, such as the clothing lines that have been spoken about here. Fortunately many wholesale Hip Hop styles aren’t fitted, preferring an oversized fit, which addresses many of the sizing concerns, but make sure that any place you are purchasing such items has a returns policy if something arrives damaged or in the wrong size.

No matter whether you prefer the early Hip Hop clothing or more modern fashion sketches and the wide choices, there are many options for getting the wholesale clothing pieces you want. One thing, however, is for sure: Hip Hop is here to stay.