some people are born fashionistas, the rest of us just need a little help
Hola! I’ve recently returned from a wonderful vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I’m rested, tan and suffering from a head cold. However, I have been noticing a trend that has been bothering me for quite some time. I feel like it needs to be addressed and since it is a fashion-related trend, I wanted to address it here.
A couple of months ago, I made a hair transition. I cut off my dred locs and started wearing my hair in various styles. The first style I wore was a wavy weave extension. This was my first time with a major weave extension and I learned a lot. I learned that good weave is pricey and I also learned that there is a wide variety of it. The hair that I had was mid grade quality. It wasn’t top quality hair that can cost $80 plus a bundle but it wasn’t low quality hair that can cost less than $15 a bundle. I wore my hair in that style for about 6 weeks and it lasted well. Once I learned to tame the waves, it could have lasted a little longer but I was going out of the country and I needed something lower maintenance.
I went from the weave style to a braided extension style where the hair prices varied even more. I saw hair that cost as little as $.99 a pack and as much as $49 a pack. Again, I got mid grade hair that is holding up well but with all of my recent hair purchasing, I have become a lot more aware of other people’s hair. In this, I’ve noticed a very disturbing trend. There are many women that wear low quality hair extensions. Since hair extensions go beyond race and age, it is a broad reaching issue.
You can wear a great outfit, with great shoes and have on flawless makeup, but if your hair looks bad, it will ruin everything. I have nothing against hair extensions. In fact, I am a proponent of them. I wear them myself. However, if you choose to enhance your hair, do it with mid to high quality hair extensions. If you’re in doubt about what is good hair, take the time to ask around. The first place to start is with your hair stylist. He/she should be able to give you an idea of what brand of hair to look for and how much it should cost. This is a good starting point. Then you should find a good beauty supply store with knowledgeable associates. Your hairstylist may be able to recommend a place as well but if not, there should be someone at the salon you can ask.
If you want to experiment with new hair styles, colors and cuts, please do so. One great thing about fashion is that it exists without boundaries. You are free to experiment but do so with good quality things. No matter what you do, if you do it cheaply, you will look cheap. Don’t look cheap. Look fabulous.
western wear on the runway
One interesting trend I noticed for the fall is the western trend. I’ve never been a big fan of the whole western thing but when I saw it on the runways, I realized that there is a way to do it without looking like you have a costume on. It’s all about moderation. Here’s a picture from www.sassychic.com showing the western trend.
It looks quite chic and cute so I figured it is definitely something that you can start incorporating into your wardrobe if you’d like. There are a few great ways you can do the western trend.
1. Western themed jewelry. You can spice up a basic outfit with a piece of jewelry that has a western theme and give your outfit an extra pop. Plus it’s an easy way to ease into the trend slowly.
2. A great pair of boots. The western boots are another great way to slowly incorporate the western trend into your wardrobe. Plus a nice pair of western boots are really cool.
3. Plaid shirts. A plaid shirt that is tailored to fit you and not loose and baggy is another cool way to do the western thing. If you find a plaid shirt that makes you look more grunge than western, get a different size or take it to a tailor.
Now there are other ways to do the western trend and really make it work for you. However, you want to make sure you don’t look like you’re wearing a costume. The key to being trendy is to do it in moderation.
It’s October and we’re rapidly approaching the holidays, which means festive holiday parties. If you want to pump up your holiday look, try adding false eyelashes. Long, luxurious lashes will definitely make your eyes pop, but if you’re like me, you may be a bit intimidated by how to properly apply them so that they don’t fall off or look crazy. I have scoured the youtube video library and found one that I thought would be good for us eyelash novices. It could also provide some fresh insight for the eyelash pros. This will not be the last eyelash video that I post because I’ve noticed that the proper application of eyelashes is a process that can always be amended. Check out this eyelash video and start practicing with eyelash application now so that you will be a confident eyelash applier in time for that first holiday party.
In this video, the lady recommends a mascara called Hypnosis and advises against waterproof mascara. I’ve never used Hypnosis so if you decide to try it, please let me know how it works. Also, I like waterproof mascara because it doesn’t run and with a good eye makeup remover towelette, it will come off nicely. I personally prefer the Target brand makeup remover towelettes. They’re reasonably priced and work really well in removing eye makeup, which is what I wear most often. Ok, back to the video. Enjoy!
As it stands, the large purse trend is not going away any time soon. Women seem to really enjoy the opportunity to wear a large fabulous bag and include all of their fabulous necessities in it. Now, you have to be careful when you venture into the large purse territory. Not everyone can just go out and buy a large purse and look fabulous with it. There must be some things taken into consideration when purchasing a large purse.
1. Wearability. When you see the purse, try it on. Put it on your shoulder or arm the way you typically wear a purse and see how it looks. A purse should compliment you. It shouldn’t make you look heavy or dwarf you.
2. Ease of use. Before you buy the purse, check it out. Look inside and see if there are compartments, zippers or hidden spaces inside the purse. Make sure you can fully operate the purse before you leave the store. One thing about larger purses is that they may have more contraptions than small purses. Don’t get home with that fabulous purse and not be able to use it to its fullest. Large bags should be utilized fully!
3. Weight. If you tend to put a lot of stuff in your purse, you may not want one that is heavy while it’s empty. Be realistic about the weight of the purse. Don’t give yourself back problems by carrying around a heavy purse.
Those are just a few things to keep in mind when joining the big purse trend. I am a fan of the large purses myself but I have to be careful not to get a purse that will add extra volume to me. If you are ever in doubt, put it down and walk out. Don’t buy something you’re not totally sure about. Yes that rhymes!
I’ve been away for the past week or so. I took a 9 day trip to tour northern Italy. During that time I visited Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Milan and Venice. I got to see some really cool religious and historical things like The Colesseum and The Sistine Chapel in Rome; The Statue of David in Florence, and all of the churches in MIlan and Venice. I also got to see some of the Italian fashion. The people in Italy embody one word when they dress, polished. Everyone looks so fabulous because they look so polished.
I was visiting Milan during fashion week, however, it was so much more low key than fashion week in New York. I asked around and learned that the fashion shows in one of the most fashionable cities in the world take place in out of the way places. You may find a fashion show at someone’s loft or a small club but from what I was told there is no central place where lots of shows take place. I was disappointed about that but I enjoyed the city nonetheless. I did get to see the first Prada store.
This is the first Prada store!
Yes it was closed when I took the picture but it is definitely cool to see a part of fashion history. Unfortunately my checkbook doesn’t currently speak Prada (yet). I suggest that everyone visit Italy at least once. It’s a lovely country (especially the Tuscan countryside) and the history and fashion that lives there is awesome. One thing that I learned from the women of Italy is to make looking good look easy. To borrow from Covergirl Cosmetics: Easy, Breezy and Beautiful. Focus on doing all three with all of your outfits.
A cool trend that I have seen for the fall is the wearing of velvet. This is a great fabric to incorporate into your wardrobe as the weather gets cooler. It can give you a cool, hipster vibe when worn properly. Velvet can be worn by practically anyone, if it’s done minimally and tastefully.
One thing you should never do is wear head to toe velvet or anything similar. If more than 50% of your outfit is velvet, you’re overdoing it. Too much velvet can look costumey. Another thing you should shy away from is pairing velvet with other strong fabrics. Velvet will stand out in your outfit but if you pair it with something too sparkly, shiny or satiny, it could come across like you are overdoing it. Now, it is possible to pair velvet with a strong fabric but unless you can pull it off with extreme confidence, I wouldn’t suggest it.
There are a few ways you can incorporate velvet into your wardrobe, especially if you’ve never worn it before and you’re hesitant about it.
1. As a hair piece. A cute velvet headband or bow can be a cute addition to your outfit without making you feel like you’re doing too much.
2. As a velvet blazer or jacket. This is my favorite way to wear velvet. A cute, burgundy velvet blazer can make a simple jeans and t-shirt outfit look more pulled together and chic, especially in cooler weather. You can throw a velvet blazer over your favorite shift dress and add some extra class to your look without trying too hard.
3. As a pair of pants. This look is definitely for the more daring but it can also look really cool. When you pair some nice velvet pants with a simple shirt and a few basic accessories, you can have a great look for the office.
Really, velvet is a great fabric to wear when incorporated in small doses. As the dog days of summer pass us by, we are going to need some ways to blend our summer wardrobe with the fall one and velvet is a great way to do that. So take the plunge…go out and buy a piece of velvet to add to your wardrobe. Any doubts? Send me your questions and concerns.
They’re back! Those lovely things that managed to sneak their way onto many dresses of little girls, especially around holidays like Easter and some birthdays. What has managed to return from our childhood? Ruffles. One of the big trends for fall 2009 is the resurgence of ruffles.
As a total non girlie girl, I was worried when I heard that ruffles were making a come back. I had images of Prince circa the 1980′s and I shuddered at how many poorly informed ladies would be donning overly ruffled blouses in an attempt to be trendy. Wearing ruffles is something that should be done with careful awareness. You don’t want to run the risk of looking like you are a reject of the 19th century or the 80′s. If worn improperly, you run the risk of looking like you have on a costume.
Before you jump into the ruffle trend, remember that ruffles will accentuate whatever they are near. It’s best to wear them where they won’t accentuate any areas that you’d rather not emphasize. If you’re top heavy, stay away from shirts with a lot of ruffles on your chest. If you’re bottom heavy, stay away from heavily ruffled skirts. Actually try to stay away from heavily ruffled skirts altogether. Those tend not to look flattering on anyone. If you decide to give it a try, make sure you try one on with a really honest friend and a three way mirror close by.
Here are some pictures of good ways to wear ruffles.
Cute ruffled sweater from http://clothesarealwaysnecessary.blogspot.com/2008_04_13_archive.html
Pretty peach ruffled dress from www.againandagainvintage.com
For those of you unfamiliar with Fashion Week, it’s the biggest event in the fashion industry. It happens twice a year, in the Winter and in the Fall. The Winter Fashion Weeks typically cover fall fashion trends for the upcoming season while the Fall Fashion Weeks typically cover the spring fashion trends for the upcoming season. Confused? I suppose that could be a bit confusing if you’re not into the whole Fashion Week phenomenon.
For clarification. Right now we are heading into the fashion week season for Spring 2009. Starting in a few days and running from September 5-September 12 is Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York. Mercedes Benz sponsors several fashion weeks throughout the season and New York is one of the biggest. For a full week, fashion industry insiders, celebrities, recording artists, actors and budding fashionistas will converge on the already bustling New York city for fashion shows and parties. The main stage for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is Bryant Park where there are several stages set up for the most high profile fashion shows. However, if you don’t have the budget or celebrity status to be invited to those shows, there are other fashion shows that will be going on as well, which will be just as fabulous but possibly more accessible to us non celebrity types. One of which is Nolcha Fashion Week, which runs September 8-September 12 in New York and from September 14-September 18 in London. Check them out if you happen to be in one of those cities during those times. www.nolchafashionweek.com
After Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York is over, there are more fashion weeks happening all over the world. Here is a list of the ones coming up this year and their websites.
New York-September 5 – 12, 2008 www.olympusfashionweek.com
London-September 14-19, 2008 www.londonfashionweek.co.uk
Milan-September 20-27, 2008 www.cameramoda.it (this website is in Italian so read carefully)
Paris-September 27-Oct 5, 2008 www.modeaparis.com
Los Angeles-October 12 – 16, 2008 www.mbfashionweek.com
I went out this past Friday night with some friends. It was a lovely, late summer night. It wasn’t too hot but it was warm enough for the short shorts and strappy sandals to still be in full effect. This will be another feature segment that I will write every so often discussing things that people should not do.
When I went out, I saw so many offenses that I will just list them here and explain why you shouldn’t do it.
1. Boots in August. Don’t do this because it’s just not seasonally correct. There are some very specific exceptions. The current trend of wearing a sleeveless, summery dress with some cute boots (often low heeled or flat) makes it somewhat more acceptable to wear boots in August but I saw a lady with jeans and some very cute calf high boots and a tank top. Don’t do that. Wait until at least October if you live in a warmer climate or mid September if you live in a cooler climate. Now I’m sure some people may disagree with this one, but I think we should respect the seasons with our outfits.
2. High waisted shorts that are too tight and make you look uncomfortably jacked up. Don’t do this because it is not flattering. As I said in this post How do I wear that trend…high waisted, “if you put on anything high waisted and you look jacked up or sausage-y in any way, take the item off”. Apparently the lady that I saw looking both jacked up and sausage-y didn’t check her full length mirror.
3. Too short shorts. Don’t do this because it’s not tasteful. I saw a lady with a very cute white shorts jumpsuit on but the shorts were waaaaay too short. So in addition to seeing her cute jumpsuit, I also saw way too much of her butt. It was hanging out below the shorts. She kept tugging at the shorts but it was impossible to pull them down so her cute outfit lost a lot of its cuteness because it wasn’t tasteful.
These are just three things that I saw this weekend. I have pledged to be more diligent about carrying a camera around with me to show you guys visuals of what not to do so stay tuned for more of this feature.
Much to my dismay, the trend of wearing high waisted skirts, shorts and pants will continue into the fall and probably winter. The reason I’m dismayed about this trend is because there are so many people wearing it the absolute wrong way. When done properly, it looks fabulous, when done wrong, it looks like a hot mess.
The main thing to do when considering wearing anything high waisted is to try it on first. Spend some time in front of the three way mirror and be totally honest with yourself. If you look jacked up or sausage-y in any way, take the high waisted item off. If you are being swallowed by the high waisted item, take it off. Fashion is not all about being trendy. Fashion is about wearing clothes that compliment you and make you look pulled together and great while feeling confident.
There are a few types of people that should tread lightly with the high waisted trend.
1. Top heavy people. If you are top heavy, you should be careful with high waisted bottoms. The waist of your pants should not be too close to your breasts. You run the risk of looking like you have no waist and end up making yourself look shorter and possibly dumpy. If you want to wear high waisted bottoms, go for the ones that are only slightly higher than normal. Don’t go for the really extreme high waists.
2. Pear shaped people. If you are shaped like a pear, you may want to be really careful wearing high waisted bottoms. You run the risk of over emphasizing your pear shape and that won’t look flattering.
3. Bottom heavy people. If you have a large bottom, hips and/or thighs, you may want to not get too deep into the high waisted trend. High waisted pants and shorts will emphasize your large area and make it look larger. If you want to go high waisted, skirts may be the safest bet but you should still make sure you spend some time in front of the three way mirror to make sure that skirt makes you look your best.
Now don’t get me wrong, that isn’t an all encompassing list of body types that should shy away from the high waisted trend. If you want to take the plunge but you aren’t sure that it looks right on you, walk away from it. There are so many other trends you can wear that make you look great. You can leave this particular one alone. Below are some pics of high waisted worn right. The top pic is from rebelfashion.blogspot.com. The bottom pic is from urbanaudrey.blogspot.com. Check them out!
High waisted shorts worn right as shown on http://rebelfashion.blogspot.com/2007/07/high-and-wasted-or-high-waisted-sorry.html
High waisted pants worn right as shown on http://urbanaudrey.blogspot.com/2007_12_01_archive.html
I’m a writer and blogger that works in television and film production. I am a Clueless Fashionista dedicated to making fashion fun and easy to understand. If you’d like to learn more about me, visit my website www.ashiasims.com.
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