Body Shape Fashion Tips

New Fashion Sketches and Trends: Take A Walk On The Wild Side

2009-11-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

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.

Fashion Sketches With Belly Button Rings

2009-11-11T23:55:00.000-08:00

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.

Fashion and Fashion Sketches For The Little People

2009-11-09T23:45:00.000-08:00

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.

Fashion Sketches: Inspiration From Travels

2009-11-07T23:29:00.000-08:00

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 Fashion Sketches - Take Your Jacket To The Shrink

2009-11-05T23:23:00.000-08:00

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.

Winter fashion and Different Fashion Sketches

2009-11-03T23:15:00.000-08:00

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.

Wholesale Hip Hop Fashion Sketches and Clothing

2009-11-01T23:06:00.000-08:00

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 sketche s 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.

Have Fashion Sketches Imprisoned Us?

2009-10-30T22:56:00.000-07:00

Fashion is all encompassing. Do you make fashion, or fashion makes you? How much are you affected by the latest trends? Do you habitually check out the latest fashion sketches? Let us look at this issue impersonally. Please view some old photographs dating about hundred years old. You will see men and women wearing different types of clothes then now. Today, the trend is different.

The word trend, latest and in fashion take away our originality. We have stopped thinking about what kind of clothes we want to wear, so that we look good and feel comfortable. Instead we find out what the celebrities are wearing. We look at the latest collections of fashion designers. We make our choice from these. We don't make our own fashion.

This does not apply to our thinking, our motions and our value systems. In these, we have our own standards. But when it comes to fashion, we fall in queue. Why? The designers are persuading us that if we don't follow the latest fashion, we are backward and not up to date. Friends may laugh at us. Many of us display the latest acquisitions of designer clothes that we but at exorbitant prices. We don't question the prices of top designers. Why?

It has to do with some amount of brainwash all of us have undergone by the marketing companies. If everyone becomes independent and makes his/her own fashion, how will they survive? Many of us buy the latest clothing, wear it once or twice and then never wear it again, because it has gone out of fashion. We spend money again and buy the latest. Fashion has affected us to such an extent that we don't question about these issues. We simply check the latest fashion sketches and follow the herd.

Fitted Hats and Fashion Sketches- More than a Fashion Statement

2009-10-28T22:41:00.000-07:00

The urban clothing scene isn't complete without a collection of fitted hats. Fitted hats also known as a "fitted" are baseball caps that have no size adjustment. They fit snuggly on your head and have a much better appearance as there are no straps in the back. These hats are very popular among the young crowd and in urban fashion. They come in hundreds of styles and colors. Many urban outfits aren't considered complete without the wearing of a fitted. Fitted hats have now been incorporated in different fashion sketches.

Fitted hats come in various sizes but will still fit snug when you choose the appropriate size for you. The most popular hats are those displaying the logo of a favorite baseball team. Many times the team represents more of the location rather than the team itself. For example, the Boston Red Sox and NY Yankees are popular among those living in those cities. For those who do not live in the same city, the selected team hat is more a representation of a favorite team or favorite colors. Fitted hats are made by various manufacturers and one of the top ones is New Era.

You can find fitted hats in almost every shopping mall in America as well as specialized online shops. While many sporting fans still purchase these hats, they are still most popular for fashion more than anything else. The hats range in price, however, you have to beware of hats that are too low in price as there is a high chance of it being a knock-off. Knock-off hats are also made of poor quality and are likely to fade easily or fall apart.

It is not uncommon for someone who is into urban fashion to own several fitteds. They are also collectors items as some fitteds are produced in limited quantities or for special events. Some people own as many fitted hats as they do shoes. They are one of the top accessories for street wear and make as much of an impact to one's outfit as the right shoes do.

If you come across a limited edition fitted hat, it is wise to purchase two. One to wear and one to keep in your collection. Many times, rare and hard to find fitted hats can go for quite a bit of money on popular auction sites such as eBay. Fitted hats are also not limited to men and boys. Women and girls are also following the fashion sketches by wearing fitted hats with their casual outfits.

You can visit many urban fashion forums and see exactly which fitted hats make the cut. These forums often have users post their photos wearing fitted with their favorite outfits. Other forum members rate the overall outfit and usually comment on the fitted hat as well. Fitted hats work for any age. You don't have to be a teenager to wear one and be in style. If you want to save money on a fitted hat, you can find very good deals on the internet. There is so much competition online that many online shops will lower their prices or have closeout sales.

Stunning, Timeless Women's Fashion Sketches and Trends

2009-10-26T22:24:00.000-07:00

Have you often wondered why women's fashion sketches and trends never end? Year after year, women are bombarded with new styles, colors, designs, and women's clothing accessories. It's enough to make your head spin! So, why all the hype? Maybe the fashion designers need to keep their jobs... and to do so, they must somehow cause women to go out and shop for brand new items every season.

Fortunately, there are ways women can avoid falling into the "new trendy fashion" trap. Here are some hints about women's clothing that fashion designers don't want you to know.

Timeless Colors for Women's Clothing

There are some basic colors in women's clothing that will never go out of style. They're "in fashion" year after year, season after season. These are black, khaki tan, green, and blue. Some bright colors that never seem to go out of style are red, white, and many light pastels. Though designs and styles may change, these colors are always around. The good news is women can mix and match these colors to create all sorts of stylish outfits.

Women can always wear black for a slimming effect - Hollywood stars do it all the time! Black is a great color that can be used any time of the year. In winter, they can wear black slacks or a black skirt, full-length black dresses, black jackets, and black blouses or sweaters. With any of these, women can add a splash of color with colorful jewelry, scarves, belts, shoes, or even hats.

Black can also be used with any of the colors mentioned above for those who don't want to wear all black. Women who wear plus size clothes always look great in black as well. Black is the number one in a multitude of body shape fitness tips.

In summer, black garments can be worn with other colorful items. For example, women can wear a hot pink or bright green shirt with a black skirt. Shoes with a little color can match the shirt. Or, a bright-colored blouse under a black jacket can be worn with matching slacks. Summer is the season for brightness, so women can count on wearing their bright shirts, shorts, slacks, and skirts each year, no matter what the latest fashion and trends.

How to Design Clothes

Fashion designers and women's fashion magazines aren't the only ones that can design women's apparel. Whether it's American apparel or express fashion design straight from Paris, France, most women could probably design their own clothes even better if they had the skills. Why? Each woman is unique in her makeup and physique. She knows better than anyone what type of women‚s clothes will complement her figure.

Women might not be able to actually design the clothes, but they can create the perfect outfits in their minds and maybe even on paper if they try. This will give them a guideline to use while shopping for clothing. For choosing an outfit, they can write down the perfect size, the length of the blouse, skirt, or dress, the type of waistline needed, and the style that looks best with their figure. They can sift through photos in women‚s magazines to get ideas. While shopping, they can look for these types of clothing specifically and save much time and energy.

Layer Clothes for Dramatic Effect

Women can layer their clothes to create a more dramatic effect as they walk and move. Some great layering methods include wearing a tank top under a sheer shawl or a partially buttoned blouse, wearing a trendy jacket over an otherwise dull outfit, covering the waist with a colorful scarf tied to the side or in the front, and so forth. Layering also allows the blending of colorful pieces with one-colored garments in a tasteful way.

Fill the Wardrobe Armoire with Versatile Clothing

Women can stretch their clothing budget by filling their wardrobe armoire or closet with more versatile clothing. This means buying pieces that can be mixed and matched with other pieces to create multiple outfits. For instance, a woman might buy a sweater or blouse that can be worn with several skirts, pants, or shorts. Also, women can accessorize certain outfits to make them look like two totally different outfits.

With so many possibilities, any woman can stay ahead of the clothing game using the tips above. Update your wardrobe today with these timeless, trendy women's clothes!

Fashion Sketches That Flatter

2009-10-24T22:12:00.000-07:00

Good news for many women is word that looking both stylish and more slim can be easier than you think. Good thing, body shape fitness tips are everywhere. That's important, as one recent study discovered. In fact, the survey by a major apparel company found, almost 90 percent of American women reported their looks determine how they feel about themselves.

Other findings:

Most women, regardless of age, shape or size, perceive that they have body flaws.

Sixty-three percent cited their stomachs as their major problem area, followed by thighs (45 percent), hips (34 percent) and rear ends (33 percent).

These "problems" significantly increase for women who wear larger than a size 10.

Sixty-five percent described their attempts to control their weight as unsuccessful.

Diet and exercise are the best solutions for looking and feeling better but women have also turned to shape wear, such as old-fashioned girdles and other undergarments for instant effect. One of the most effective yet least expensive is called shape fx®.

Unlike other shape wear brands, it features a unique collection of ready-to-wear apparel with built-in shape wear panels that trim the waist, slim the hips and shape the rear. These unexpected bonuses come in great-fitting pants, skirts and dresses, and are invaluable assets in an extensive swimwear collection. The collection does include conventional shape wear intimate pieces as well.

The designers also offer these five slimming style tips:

1. Higher necklines support and minimize a full bust.

2. Vertical stripes, princess seams and single-breasted jackets provide a slimming illusion.

3. Bootcut pants and flared skirts minimize heavy hips, thighs and rear.

4. Tunic tops stylishly conceal hips and rear.

5. Clothes containing super control fabrics with Lycra and power-mesh panels can smooth away imperfections.

Remember, whatever your imperfections may be, if you wear fashion sketches that flatter, you won't feel so washed-out and unstylish anymore.

Do You Remember: Retro Fashion, 80s fashion and 70s Nostalgia

2009-10-22T21:53:00.000-07:00

Take for example the Mini Skirt.

Mary Quant, chanteuse of the swinging 60’s Carnaby Street, is credited as the first to reveal the ultra-short miniskirt which is staple in the 80s fashion. The mini was shocking, and not since the 20’s flapper had exposing your knee caused such a stir. Respectable ladies wore skirts at knee length, and young girls were supposed to follow the respectable path, but something happened when the daring Quant shortened skirts, and the world went mod.

Designer Andre Courreges is also credited with the mini’s creation, but Quant successfully commercialized the new freedom of teenage fashion, exposing the sexually explosive 60’s to the mini. The all-too-revealing miniskirt coincided with the birth of the sexual revolution, and exposed more than legs. The birth control pill hit the market in 1960, and in 1962, feminist and future Cosmopolitan editor Helen Gurley Brown published Sex and the Single Girl, a support manual for young women who refused marriage but didn’t want to sacrifice the most primal urge. Sex was everywhere, and even more shocking than girls enjoying sex was that they were talking about it. And the miniskirt was the best advertisement for the sexual revolution.

Girls could strut their stuff, free to expose their sensuality, and men were just going to have to deal with it! No more covering up, keeping flesh under wraps because of the consequences of temptation. The miniskirt boldly stated the new confidence of a woman’s body, and her place in the feminine world. Protection and ‘providing for’ was no longer what the 60’s gal wanted. She called the shots, and in her sexy new miniskirt, she got what she wanted.

The miniskirt has remained a major staple throughout the years, as a sign of both sexuality and confidence (though we should warn you that showing thigh won’t instantly turn you into an Amazon princess. The mini might make you look sexy, but the confidence part is up to you). The 80’s returned the miniskirt back to pure unadulterated sensuality when Madonna slithered across the floor in thigh-high, black lycra miniskirts. Paired with lace tights and mesh shirts that exposed the navel, the 80’s miniskirt was unashamed and in your face. The 60’s mini was mild in comparison to the body-hugging shamelessness of 80's cotton lycra.

The mini-skirt received even more controversy when it found its way into the professional realm of the 90’s. Heather Locklear’s ‘Amanda’ on Melrose Place stirred up attention in her skirts that barely hung below the hemline of her suit jackets. Professional women were conflicted: yes, the mini-skirt made your legs look fabulous, but was this going too far? When Calista Flockhart’s title character on Ally McBeal received more attention for her skirts than for her law practice, girls had to wonder if the line had been crossed.

Hemlines rise and fall faster than the stock market—where liberated women are down on the exchange floor beside their fellow man, thank you very much. The true fashion icon of the 60’s, the mini skirt is fearless: it allows women to celebrate their sexuality, and yet defies the old fashion in the middle ages convention.

Hip Hop and 80s Fashion

2009-10-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

Generally Hip Hop clothing is broken into classic styles and modern styles. The former is defined as styles from the seventies and 80s fashion and the later the very late eighties, nineties and after the year two thousand.

Classic Hip Hop includes large glasses, multi-finger rings, gold necklaces, and Adidas shell toes with oversized laces. Hair styles took on a very strong African American influence, many people choosing jheri curls, chains and dreadlocks. Red-black-and-green became common color pallets, made famous by several prominent actors and actresses. This time period was one of establishing Hip Hop as a movement and a very distinctive culture and modern Hip Hop clothing and culture owes its popularity to these 1980s fads and fashion roots.

The more modern style taken in by Hip Hop has much been effected by rap artists who made popular the wearing of brighter colors, often in neon, and wearing usual clothing items in unusual ways. Baseball hats at various angles and clothing worn backwards are good examples of this. As styles closed in on the year 2000 Hip Hop clothing took on an influence from thugs and inmates, larger clothing, belt less pants and military accents became a prime point of recognition of Hip Hop style. Other marks of this change of trend were flannel over shirts and gold teeth, or at least gold fixtures placed over one's real dental pallet.

Currently there are many places 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 and popularity it has been picked up by many big markets, charging a big dollar for what they provide. In order to push back against this trend online websites such as urbanhotlist.com have sprung up, offering discounted brand names and a place 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 you have access to a much broader base of merchandise, and the ability for bulk ordering allows the prices to be kept very reasonable even after adding the extra charges for shipping and handling.

Tips On Pulling Fabulous Fashion Sketches Together

2009-10-18T20:41:00.000-07:00

Girl, are you intelligent, funny with a fab personality and an eye for the newest fashion sketches but need a little help pulling it all together? Look no further, here are some tips on pulling together the right look.

Your personal style speaks volumes about who you are so let’s not blow it after you’ve spent your hard earned money on the latest new trends!

The key to putting together a great outfit is risky and simple. The rule of thumb is balance and “less is more.”

Choose one “wow” item and build around it. For example, if you have this absolutely fabulous piece of jewelry that you mush show off, try wearing it with a simple black dress. Black flatters just about all figures without overwhelming the look of your jewelry.

Want to show off your new elaborately stitched jeans? A solid shirt paired with heels works well with decorated jeans. If the design on the jeans is too busy the shirt will tone it down some.

How about those new bright pink pumps? You can’t go wrong by complimenting the shoes with a pair of solid black jeans and white shirt. Black jeans and solid colored shirt matches well with any brightly colored pumps.

And what about those gold sequin flats that you just couldn’t pass up? Petal-pushers and a simple shirt are ideal compliments for your golden feet.

The key is to pick one item and build around it. Don’t just stick with one look. Be glamour one day and urban the next.

Take the time to educate yourself on different styles. Learn how to draw inspiration from your favorite looks of past eras.

Fashion is about confidence. If you feel great in an outfit, others will feel your vibes. And if you don’t feel confident, fake it! Know the different body shape fashion tips so you'd feel confident with what you are wearing. Whether you are 18 or 50, take pride in your appearance and it’s important to feel comfortable in your style.

Slimming Fashion Sketches For Plus Size Women

2009-10-16T20:29:00.000-07:00

We all want to look our best, whether we're short and slim or tall and heavier. Here are a few fashion sketches and tips I've collected for plus size women that will help us look our best.

Pants

Choose pants that are long enough for you. If your pants are too short, it visually cuts the length of your legs. The longer your legs look, the slimmer they'll appear.

Also choose pants that fit you well, not too tight or clingy. Fabrics that are too thin tend to cling to your legs and reveal bumps we'd rather keep out of sight.

Choose pants that are either boot cut, wider legged or flared at the bottom. The boot cut is slimming, while the wider cuts also add a slimming effect by keeping a visual straight line from our hips to our ankles. The worst choice would be a tight, tapered pant leg bottom as this enhances the width of your hips and thighs.

Capri pants are very slimming as well if they're the right length. Choose a style where the bottom of the pant ends a few inches above your ankles but below the widest part of your calves.

Skirts

Choose skirts that rest just above your knees. A mid-calf skirt cuts the length of your legs and draws eyes to the thickest part of your lower legs.

Again, proper fit is key here. Something too tight will visually enhance and draw attention to bulges that we'd rather not publicize. Also look for skirts that fit below the waistline if you have a thick waist.

Bras

A well fitted bra is a must for every woman. Not only to give support and comfort, but a too tight bra can pop out those back rolls like nobody's business!

If your cup size is not too large, consider trying a sports bra for a comfier fit that has adequate support. No wires here ladies!

Colors

Choose darker colors for areas you don't want the eyes to focus on and brighter colors for places you want to accentuate. Darker colors such as black and navy are very slimming and should be in every woman's closet.

Dressing from head to toe in one color is also very slimming as it makes a person look taller. Matching your pantyhose to the color of your shoes and skirts helps achieve this look.

Patterns

Stay away from large patterns and look for vertical stripes - thin is best. Thin stripes help give the illusion of length. Adding length helps give the illusion of a longer body, which helps you look thinner. Small, delicate prints can also be very flattering.

Fit

If your clothing is too tight, it accentuates and magnifies all flaws. If our clothing is too loose and baggy, we think we're hiding our size but the opposite actually happens: we magnify our size.

So many tips to keep in mind when shopping for new clothes! But the key points to remember are proper fit and visually lengthening fashions. Have your own virtual fashion model to see which fits you. We have so many options now in plus size fashions that we can find exactly what works best for our body types.

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Men's Fashion Tips and Clothing Accessories

2009-10-14T20:21:00.000-07:00

Are men fashionable?

A few decades ago if you would have asked this question, the term fashionable more or less was associated to women. However with growing times the word fashionable can now be heard in men’s vocabulary too. If you have a look at the Men clothing catalog you will notice that it is very large and encompasses innumerable items ranging from designer watches and leather wallets to sleek eyewear, trendy belts, comfortable socks, exciting ties and fragrance perfumes etc. Different fashion sketches also address men nowadays as well.

Fashion Man Accessories

• Designer belts for men: Designer belts for men are available in distinct styles and colors and are one of the most fashionable and happening accessories.
• Men eye care wear: Nowadays men just cannot compromise on their eye care wear. Comfort, fit, durability and of course style all are priorities while choosing men's eyeglass frames, contact lens and designer man sunglasses.
• Perfumes for Men: Modern men wear perfumes are an indication of their style and passion. Perfumes for men speak about the wearer’s attitude and defines a fashion statement for him.

Clothing tips for Men

Short Waist Men

Short waist men should avoid wearing jeans and pants as much as they can. Avoid wearing short lengthy tank tops as they tend to highlight your short waist. A combination of pink shirt and black trouser will not go with your body type as it would interfere with the vertical flow. It would always be advisable to keep an inch higher on waist while stitching your pants.

Long Waist Men

Long Waits men need to do things the other way round when compared to short waist men. You should wear jeans as much as you can. You can wear contrasting color T-shirts and a double breast jacket to prevent people’s eyes from falling on your legs. You could also opt for belts with a high buckle.

Men with flat butts

Are you worried about your flat butts? You need to take special attention about your pants. Wear pants that give you proper fitting. Straight long pants will go with your body type.

Men's Fashion Tips that can help:

• Bigger and bolder patterns make you look bigger than what you actually are.
• Horizontal pattern clothe help you look wider
• Vertical pattern clothes help you look taller and thinner.

Body Shape Fashion Tips for Women

2009-10-12T20:15:00.000-07:00

Are women fashion style statement just about wearing women fashion clothing? Every one of us is different and so it's important that we have a fashion statement that best suit our personality. Fashion is nothing but highlighting the best and hiding all the flaws.

Some body shape fashion tips and other points all you women wanted to know about clothing:

• Always wear a free flowing fabric in one tone to achieve a long and slim look.
• Wear clothes on the basis of your body structure.
• Velvet and leather is apt for winters and silk, organza and cotton for summers.
• For a morning party opt for lighter shades like emerald green, ocean blue, pink or you could also try out for some trendy pastel colors.
• For late evening occasions opt for vibrant colors that can add sparkling effect to your dressing sense.
• If you are short it would be advisable you avoid wearing short dresses. Rather go for long skirts with a nice fish cut.
• If you are thin avoid wearing sleeveless clothes. It would be advisable to wear dark color clothes as they hide your pale body structure.
• If you have a medium structure you need to wear beige and fawn color clothes.

Skin tone

• If you have a fair complexion, then gold with a blend of copper would just look beautiful.
• If you are medium wheatish colored, then mixed shades of white, beige and bronzy golden would suit your style.
• Dark skin women should wrap themselves with golden copper shades.

Helpful tips

• Wear clothes of your own size. Never opt for oversized clothes.
• Be careful while selecting accessories for a wear. Just don’t pick up something for the heck of it. Remember your accessories speak more about you than your clothes.
• Make sure whatever jeweler you wear blends well with your style.

Mixing and matching accessories with clothes allows one to stand out and to create their own different fashion sketches.

Wearing Purple, Body Shape Fashion Tips

2009-10-10T20:11:00.000-07:00

When you get bored of all the options that you have in your wardrobe and want to add some interesting yet smart options to it, purple may be a color worth considering. Even though the first thought that may come to your mind while reading this is that the author is out of his mind, read on and think again. Many people are choosing to adopt the unconventional purple because it makes an elegant and strong fashion statement.

Here are some body shape fashion tips admixed with the royal color:

The trick, however, is in the manner you choose the other accessories and how you combine your purple with other colors depending on the shade of purple you decide to wear. Other bright colors are a big no-no with purple. Pinks, oranges and red are color which you should not even give a single glance to while deciding to wear something purple.

If you are in the mood to wear a bright shade of purple, then you should consider dark accessories or a black coat to go along. A black skirt / trouser with a light purple top will make you look like royalty. Dark purple, on the other hand, should be teamed with light neutral colors like beige, cream and off-white. If you don’t want to be ousted by your friends and colleagues in a social gathering couple purple only with blacks, brown, cream, beige, white or on the outside a tan color. At no cost should you include any other colors.

If you are not confident about being able to decide the right color mix and are not positive that you can carry off a purple dress but still want to flirt with the color, you could try adding a hint of purple to your attire by using purple accessories. These could be in the form of buttons, earrings, scarves or pins.

But this piece of advice does not mean that you venture out and wear purple socks or shoes to match your purple shirt. It will smack of being cheap and flashy. Avoid purple shoes and any kind of purple dresses which are the same color from top to bottom. Too much of purple makes you look exactly the opposite of what you want to appear as. Purple should be used selectively with a certain angle to give a hint of nattiness without seeming to be flashy.

The color purple is beautiful and men and women alike should use it. But still, judicious use of the color is essential to get the desires result. Try mixing colors to get the fashion sketches that fit you.

Body Shape Fashion Tips for Women Online

2009-10-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

A noted philosopher and politician Aristotle once said, women are the best creatures of god.

And for ‘you’ creatures that are bold, beautiful, gracious and smart, wrapping and carrying yourself is of utmost importance. According to the varying shape and size or body shape and colors, etc, here are few wrapping and carrying tips i.e. Body Shape Fashion Tips For Women.

But before jumping into those tips to make you smarter, beautiful and bold definitely you would like to know What is Fashion for Women, especially if you are a bit extra cautious about your looks and appearance.

Fashion Sketches For Women

Women are directly linked with fashion. It would be right to say that the word fashion is synonyms to woman. It is something more than wearing clothing. If you are an urban beauty, the fashion trend and style should go well and that too in advance with you. Few of the factors that define your fashion statement are body frame, skin tone, level of comfort and personal attitude.

So beautiful ladies, come on, lets have a feel according to your body frame, skin tone and after all your level of comfort.

Body Frame- Are you a plump women, if yes, try avoiding sleeveless cuts. Choose dark color clothing rather than lighter shades. Or prefer over a range of dull colors like dull blue or dirty blue. If you wear small prints and vertical line prints, you will look slimmer. If you have extra pounds in you, avoid kota sarees and cotton sarees and stick to Chiffon and Georgette Sarees.

Choose beige and fawn colors, if you have a medium structure. In case of blouses, try on nets as these are of great help in disguising physical flaws.

Thin women, cheer up, you will look gorgeous in all the color ranges. All the colors and shades will suits on you. You also can try on sleeveless, deep cuts and strapped blouses.

Skin Tone- If you have fair complexion, gold with a blend of copper will make you cool. If you are a medium / wheatish colored, prefer mix shades of white, beige and bronzy golden. If you have dark skin, prefer to wrap yourself in golden copper shades.

Personal Attitude and Level of comfort- Your attitude and level of comfort is very important along with your appearance and clothing sense. If you want to maintain a cosmopolitan outlook but do not feel very much comfortable with western wear, try Indo Western style. A blend of Indo Western style should add an extra charm to your personality. A boat necked saree with a squared necked blouse is definitely for a shy and introvert women. Bold ‘n’ beautiful should choose from sleeveless, deep-necked blouses and may be straps.

So no matter what is your body frame and skin tone or how bold is your personality, fashion is for you, LADIES.

Body Shape Fashion Tips For Plus Size Ladies Over 50

2009-10-06T19:57:00.000-07:00

Women are just like fine wine. As they get older, more mature, and more beautiful, their inner woman seems to gain a sense of assured confidence, brought on by the years of experience in life. I have always admired women over 50 who carry their age with a sense of pride, style and class.

As women get older their sense of fashion seems to mature along with them. What is trendy and ‘in fashion’ might not necessarily be the apparel of choice any longer. They now know the different body shape fashion tips applicable to them. Why does this happen? Probably as women get busier and have more responsibilities they seem to opt for items which are comfortable to work in not necessarily stylish.

However I think women should not give up their sense of style, just because their day got busier and a few gray hairs are showing up here and there. On the other hand as women get older they should adjust to their age, by choosing items of clothing which enhance their beauty and their figure.

Plus size women who are over 50 have every reason to dress in a stylish manner. Stores which cater for their needs might not necessarily be easily available, that is true. However that is no reason to compromise. Especially with the Internet being so widely available these days, a multitude of store are suddenly available to cater for a mature plus size woman’s needs. For instance store like Ulla Popken and Junonia have a great selection of plus size clothing available which is great for the mature woman’s needs. Prices are reasonable and sizes are vast.

Mature plus size ladies should be careful to choose items which make the most of their curves, and also their age. Some body shape fashion tips to abide by are the following –

1. Be careful to choose the right size to fit your body. Don’t go for items which fit too tightly, the idea if for clothing to hug your body so that is gives it definition and enhances the curves. Choosing items which are too tight will not look too classy. At the same times items which are too baggy should also be avoided. Your dress of choice does not have to look like a tent! Just because you’re plus size, does not mean you have to hide your body. Show off those beautiful curves in a classy and chic manner.

2. Avoid fussy prints. Fussy fabrics have the tendency to make plus size women look even bigger. While we are proud of our curves, the clothing we choose should make the most of our full figures, enhancing them instead of giving them wrong definition.

3. Stick to classic designs and clean cuts. Just as fussy printed fabrics make us look a little bit bigger, so do fussy designs. For example avoid too much frill and things of the sort. Such clothing does not help define a full figured body to the best of it’s shape. Instead stick clean cuts and classic designs which work best for our curves.

4. Try and avoid wearing anything that is too short. If you have beautiful legs, be proud of them and by all mean show them off whenever you get a chance however, do this with taste, style and moderation. Do wear skirts and shorts. However avoid anything that is too short.

5. As we get older, some parts of our body tend to lose some of that useful gravity. This is nothing to worry about, as when choosing clothes and underwear with good support, things can be kept up to the necessary heights at all times. However I would suggest not to exposure the arms too much.

Being over 50 does not mean women have to give up on having a sense of style. Especially not plus size women! On the other hand women should make the most of this time in their life. With the right clothes any plus size lady who is over 50 can look and feel like a million dollars!

Korean and Japanese Fashion

2009-10-04T19:46:00.000-07:00

Asian culture is very old. It is the Asian people's belief and way of thinking that make their style so different which effects the type of Korean and Japanese Fashion.

First of all, right around one of the early centuries. Most of Asian peoples clothing was made out of silk. It started in China and then spread through out the rest of the Asian nations.

Now, you say that the Japanese people expose too much. Well, in Japan the people at a young age were taught not to be ashamed of their bodies. Male and female took baths together to save water. That is why in Japan today they have what is called bath houses.

In history, most of Asian people had clothing that would cover them from head to toe. A couple of years after WWII, westerners was finally aloud to enter Japan. What you see today is the exposure of western culture mixed in with Asian culture.

The Korean culture is rather conservative whereas the Japanese culture is rather open and exhibitionist...They are far from the same. Koreans tend to be closer to the Chinese than the Japanese in culture.

Surprisingly Chinese are very interested in Japanese and Korean fashion from tv shows and music, so in the future more focus will be on Korean and Japanese fashion.

Body Shape Fashion Tips

2009-03-17T18:01:00.000-07:00

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Conclude one "wow" article and make throughout it. For instance, if you have this surely story-book bit of jewelry that you pan express off, try wearing it close to an easy dusky dress. Ebony flatters impartial circular all figures relieved of unbearable the scan of your jewelry.
Lust prep to register off your new elegantly stitched jeans? A cubic shirt paired close to heels plant well by elaborate jeans. If the design on the jeans is too engaged the shirt resolution tones it down various.
How round those new burning in top shape pumps? You can't go wicked by complimenting the shoes with a team of cubic black jeans and milk-white shirt. Raven jeans and cubic colored shirt matches enough next to any gaudily colored pumps.
And what about those tow sequin flats that you uniform-handed couldn't pass up? Petal-pushers and a understood shirt are pattern compliments for your flaxen feet.
The key is to opt for one ingredient and set up on all plus size fashion margins it. Don't just violence with one survey. Be glamour one day and borough the touching.
Acquire the period to sort yourself on different styles. Uncover how to tug bite from your favorite looks of over eras.
Acceptance is close by sound charge. If you feel repellent in an outfit, others will handle your sympathy. And if you don't note snug, forge it! Whether you are 18 or 50, gain pride in your appearance and it's laden to faculty undisturbed in your type body shape fashion tips.