Friday, December 28, 2007

Fashion stereotypes we need to get rid of

Fashion is a rather capricious woman. It changes very quickly, at the same time leaving a remarkable record of itself. In course of time fashion gets rid of some perpetuated stereotypes, which were so popular and unbreakable before. It’s high time we got rid of them and felt freer in our choice and desires.

One of such stereotypes or “fashion rules” is “No white after Labor Day”. Originally, mostly shoes were here meant, because in nasty weather it is more appropriate to wear shoes in dark colors. But trying to follow this stereotype, we all turn into a mass of dark, unfashionable creatures, who by no means stand out from this herd. You may easily change the situation by wearing light colors in autumn and in winter. Why dressing as if for the funeral? We want to look our best not only in summer – we want to remain ourselves in winter too! So leave your fears behind and express yourself!!!

Another stereotype is as follows: your belt and your shoes should be of the same color! Actually, they shouldn’t be of the same color – the most important thing is that they should go well with each other. I mean here colors of the same family, like brown, orange and green. Moreover, if all your clothes are of the same color, you are likely to look very dull and not at all interesting.

You shouldn’t be afraid of combining patterns as well. But you should be rather careful here! If you do it in a wrong way, you’ll look ridiculous. The best variant is to combine the patterns of your shirt and your tie. There are some rules you are to follow: the colors in both patterns should be in the same tone (belong to the same family of colors) and one pattern should be more subtle than the other.

Do not be afraid of adding some classic accessories to your image. As they say, everything new is simply well forgotten old. So do not refuse to wear cufflinks, especially when they come in such a rich variety of forms, shapes and prices accordingly!

In a nutshell, I advice you to wear what you like and in what you feel comfortable. All these old-fashioned rules are not working any longer. Today’s fashion is much more democratic and lax, it enables you to express your individuality the way you (and not somebody else) see it!

Friday, December 21, 2007

Men’s overcoats for winter 2007-2008

You want to look elegant and stylish in all situations, don’t you? If yes (otherwise you are not reading this) have a look at the modern collection of overcoats for winter 2007-2008. Wearing these coats, you are sure to look your best in all situations and will be ready for all kinds of events.

Kenneth Cole Reaction dress coat

This coat will do all right for both: office and corporate parties, if you wear a suit under it, or for unofficial situations with your favorite sweater. Being neither short nor long, neither avant garde nor conservative it will serve you many years, because it is really very convenient.




Zegna wool overcoat

Wearing this winter overcoat from Zegna, you are sure to feel very comfortable and convenient. The three-button closure enables you to be buttoned up without feeling cramped, and the strong shoulder line allows the coat to drape over you instead of fall around you. Besides, its gray tone enables you to pair it with different color of your suits and add your personality something of enigma.

John Varvatos Star USA coat

This winter coat is sure to emphasize your advantages due to its three-button closure, notch lapel, killer drape and the strongly tapered line under the arm down to the hip. In this overcoat you’ll always feel younger.




London Fog Piermont overcoat
If you are a real inveterate traveler or it’s the specific character of your job, that demands lots of business trips, this is the best offer for you! The all-weather material with zip-out lining adds this all-season coat the kind of versatility we are looking for in clothes these days.



Brooks Brothers Balmacaan coat

This tweed winter overcoat will never go out of fashion. Generous cut of the shoulders and arm holes that keep your suit jacket free of wrinkles, leather buttons make this coat a real gem of this season.




A good modern stylish overcoat creates your style and put the last dot in your appearance. Don’t neglect this excellent opportunity to say something more about yourself by means of clothes you wear!

Friday, December 14, 2007

Do not let sweat be in the way of your style!

Fashion is a real art and not everybody possesses this very art. For some one it is a real torture to go shopping and choose clothing corresponding to his lifestyle, work and figure. Especially, if this person has some peculiarities, which should be taken into account while buying clothes. For instance, if you sweat much, you should give preference to certain fabrics, which will enable your skin breath and which will make you feel more comfortable.

Choosing a breathe-easy wardrobe begins with understanding what fabrics to use for a solid foundation. You should be looking for those fabrics that are considered “breathable.” Breathable fabrics are those that are composed of unique fibers able to transport moisture from one side to the other. So, as the body sweats, the fabrics allow the moisture to move outside the garment.
The best variants in this category are cotton and wool. These two breathable fabrics, woven from natural fibers, will always be your best bets. Luckily, both cotton and wool come in a variety of blends that offer wonderful foundational pieces on which to build a breathe-easy wardrobe. Buy 100% cotton undershirts, pima cotton sweaters in the fall, and linen shirts and pants in the summer. If this problem is familiar to you, give preference to 100% cotton, pima cotton, seersucker, linen, 100% wool, merino, and cashmere.

There are also some fabrics, which are out of the question for the guys with heavy perspiration problems. Here we refer some cotton and wool blends: corduroy and flannel respectively. Silk is another natural fiber that should be avoided. Though considered breathable, silk can’t withstand constant moisture, which means that a guy who sweats a lot is going to need to wring out his shirt several times a day. Synthetic fibers won’t do as well. Polyester, polyblends, nylon, and acetate don’t possess the necessary characteristics that allow fabric to breathe, so profuse “sweaters” don’t want to be caught in them. Even worse, these synthetic fabrics, because of their stifling properties, will compound your problem and can make you sweat even more. So you’d better avoid such fabrics as corduroy, flannel, silk, polyester, polyester blends, nylon, and acetate.

Color may also hide your problem or at least make it less noticeable. On this issue, it’s safe to say things are black and white - almost. Black and white are near-absolute color values, so they don’t show sweat marks as readily. Thus, guys who sweat a lot want to shop for black, navy and pure white as these colors easily disguise sweat marks. And for variety’s sake, patterns also provide great camouflage for profuse sweating. Consisting of varying shades, patterned fabrics appear textured and variegated, which means sweat stains are harder to identify. On the other hand, light colors like grey, green and light blue shouldn’t be included into your wardrobe. They change there color at the first sight of moisture, thus will betray you on the spur of the moment. You’d better wear clothes of black, dark navy, dark hues of any color, white, and any sort of pattern.

If you know how to choose your clothes and mask your problem, you should also know how to get rid of antiperspirant stains and sweat stains. The first problem is easy to avoid letting your antiperspirant dry before putting on your shirt. For salvation the second problem, there exist several ways, used by many people. You have to try some of them and see which one work in your case. Simply soak garments in cold water before washing. If that’s not enough, try adding a ¼ cup of white vinegar into a cold water wash; dry your clothes in the sun, which will help bleach stains out naturally. Besides, drying your clothes on the warm-hot cycle will only cause the stains to turn darker and set in deeper. Of course, before you do anything, be sure to read the care instructions on the label as to prevent damage of a more serious nature.

The information given above will be of good avail for both: heavy sweaters and other guys who sweat from time to time (I mean some big dates or other important events). Thus you’ll feel more self-confident and will not allow sweat interfere in your life!

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Facial Hairstyle – your own accessory

Facial hair is a natural phenomenon for men, but it is important to know what suits you personally, what kind you should have on order to look fresh and young or manly and older depending upon the situation.

Clean shave will never go out of fashion. It adds your face more youth, freshness and self-confidence. Besides, your girl-friend will be always FOR this kind of shave and will be able to kiss you without a feeling of kissing a porcupine!

Here's the facial hairstyle at the extreme opposite of the clean shave: the full beard. Keep your beard trimmed and neat by using clippers or an electric razor. If you don't have to shave every day, it does not mean you can neglect caring and tending for your beard. You can experiment with your beard, but don’t overreact and don’t look like a Biblical character or a goat (sorry!).

It may also look very sexy when men have some stubble as if at the end of the day. To maintain this facial hairstyle you should shave each couple of days, depending on how quickly your facial hair grows. Mind, that it doesn’t suit everybody, so first see whether you like it and then ask for an opinion of a person you trust.

Another facial hairstyle: the goatee. It also must be maintained, and may be stylish only in that case when you care for it regularly and maintain it thoroughly.Make sure that the goatee remains neat and trimmed, otherwise you’ll look ridiculous.

Mustache is out of date already. Even those people who were never expected to get rid of it, have chosen to have their upper lip bare. Perhaps it will return into the first charts, but so far don’t wear moustache!

Sideburns add a nice touch to a man's face, but again, make sure to keep them short and trimmed. To achieve this, an electric razor would be most effective.

A change in facial hair is a great way to change your look. You can experiment with different facial hair styles and be creative. It’s up to you to choose the “pattern” you want to “wear” on your face. If you find the way it looks like OK, it’s fine.

You shave almost every day. There is a number of different opportunities to change your appearance while experimenting with your facial hairstyles. Remember, whichever style you choose, you need to maintain the neatness and length of the hair. Besides, mind your occupation, because some facial hairstyles will not be appropriate for certain professions. And all the rest is down to your creativity, desire to stand out from the herd and looking for your own style.