Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Pleats: for and against

Even if you granddad says it is the latest fashion and that without pleats your trousers cannot be worn, it’s just the case when you can and have to stand your own ground. It is necessary to know that pleats are only useful if you wear your trousers high, or if you are overweight. Otherwise you may avoid them all together!

If the trousers are worn on your natural waist (it is above your hip bones), pleats are appropriate. The waist is normally the slimmest point on a person, which is one reason men wore their trousers there, and why jackets are nipped in there – to accentuate the difference in width from shoulder to waist. Pleats, worn on the waist, can be flattering for larger men. They mean that their trousers fall straight down rather than going in first, highlighting a belly.

If your trousers have a high rise (the length from crotch to waistband) and are sitting on your waist, they need to go out before they go in. They need to expand from this slim point to get up and over the hip bones. Otherwise they would be skintight from the waist all the way down to the middle of the thighs. Pleats are necessary. They enable this expansion neatly and elegantly, dovetailing back into the line of the trousers when width is no longer needed after the mid-thigh point.

But you do not need them if you wear your trousers on your hips (as most do these days). This is also easy to determine – your trousers sit on the hip bone. The skin has hard hip bone underneath, not squidgy stomach. Pleats worn on the hips make your thighs look like melons. They create needless volume. Combine pleats with a sharp narrowing to the ankle, and cuffs at the bottom of the trouser, and you have the abomination of so many American khakis. The pleats give volume at the top of the leg. The narrow ankle accentuates this proportion. And the cuffs make your leg two inches shorter.

So, now you have at least the slightest inkling of how and when pleats may be flattering and when you should get rid of them, if you don’t want to look ridiculous.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Three essentials for buying clothes

There are so many things we should keep in mind in order to be stylish, fashionable and look our best! It is sometimes next to impossible to notice all those details which do form our style and behavior and thus, other people’s attitude towards us. Still there are some essentials which cannot be ignored: these are fit, color and fashion.

What thing is the most important for you while buying a piece of clothes? Fit, color or fashion? It is necessary to point out that all three parameters are part and parcel of your successful purchase.

While buying a thing, you should first of all take into account whether it really suits you, then whether it is your color and only in the end, if it is stylish, fashionable and extraordinary. These gradual steps can be easily explained. If you buy the most expensive thing, it is sure to lose all its originality if it doesn’t fit you. The classic silhouette of a suit is classic because it flatters a man more than almost anything else. Even women that eschew formal wear – and therefore suits – for their men, find they prefer t-shirts, jeans, sweaters that fit well. If a t-shirt is skin-tight, has no waist or has a collar that covers your Adam’s apple, it will look unattractive.

Coming up to color, keep in mind some general tips of advice: bright colors with black look cheap; brown rather than black with blue; reds and greens for those with ruddy complexions; stronger colors for those with darker skin; white makes you look tanned unless you are already too white.

If you feel comfortable in this piece of clothes and sees that the color is also yours, even a bit outdated thing may look OK. But never vice versa!

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Cycles in Fashion Trends

They say that everything in our life is developing in a spiral. The same saying concerns fashion as well. Remember, “everything new is simply well forgotten all”? It is just about fashion, thus, we’ve come to the conclusion that fashion, as well as all our human history, is cyclical. The main point for understanding is that in our life we don’t live through so many cycles, and sometimes cannot even notice these obvious changes.

Some things travel from one generation to another. They stay with us for a while and then are replaced by the new coil of fashion. Sure thing, they bring the fashion of 2008 with them, but original design and form remain the same. Here are some typical examples.

Slim trousers have been in the ascendancy in men’s fashion for almost a decade now. From their first daring suggestion on the catwalk, through gradual acceptance as the norm in high-end tailoring, to the point now where it is hard to find anything other than straight or skinny jeans in high-street stores. This is the end point: as soon as your mate Dave (who knows as much about fashion as he does about French literature – Beckham and the three musketeers is about it) is wearing narrow jeans, the trend is finished. The high street is saturated and the designers are searching for something new.

That was the cycle. The next cycle will see a different shape dominate – bootcut is the current favorite. But because the cycle is so long, it could last the whole of your twenties. You will identify slim trousers with your youth, and bootcut will seem like a breath of fresh air – a more mature, flattering shape. It will seem like an original trend since, even though it was popular in the past, you weren’t around to wear it.

The same would be true of baggy jeans or flairs. They may not be original, but that hardly matters. You didn’t get to wear them before.

You really only get two of these cycles, possibly three. By the time you are into your thirties, you may stop noticing anything about trends or fashion. And even if you end up wearing the dominant shape of the times, you will hardly notice. You may even keep the same pair of jeans for decades – many men do.

So don’t criticize fashion cycles for being unoriginal. You only get two or three – enjoy them while they last.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Spring brings the change

Do you feel life in every wind movement? Do you want to love and to be loved day and night long? Do you feel that the way you look is somewhat outdated? You do? Congratulations! For you Spring 2008 has come!

If it is so, you need changes in your wardrobe: more brighter colors, more interesting designs and designer decisions.

White shoes
It’s extraordinary how much attention white shoes attract. Nevertheless, they are an excellent and refreshing change from the muddied blacks and browns of winter. They are incredibly versatile but, in rainy weather, they can attract more than attention; save them for sunny, cloud-free days.

Denim
The time of winter denim is now aglow in twilight; the steel and gunmetal greys, the thick blacks and the browns are to be packed away and blue sky, indigo and white are to be deployed as seasonal substitutes. Somehow, gothic tones are the antithesis of what spring represents so, the brighter the better.

Green/Blue/White against Black/Brown/Grey

Green, blue and white are three of the best representatives of the undeniable freshness of spring. They do not need to be particularly bright, but using them in conjunction with less inspiring colours can help to lift an ensemble.


Going sockless
Although it’s a little early yet for such a practice, going sockless is elegant and attractive. With jeans that swing just above the top of a loafer, showing a little ankle on a sunny Sunday looks, and feels, marvelously youthful.


Doing the ‘neckerchief’
To many, one of the joys of warmer weather is not having to wear a scarf to keep warm. However, there are those who miss an adornment for the neck. The solution? To wear a silk handkerchief around the neck with a shirt and sweater or cardigan. It can feel slightly strange at first, but it allows for more color matching or complementation and it looks terribly romantic.


Buy new fragrance
Dumping the spicy and heavy ‘winter scents’ into the ‘winter bin’ leaves space for a spring scent; something fresh, fruity and much lighter, something that will complement your sleek, bright and mouth-watering spring ensembles. There are great options from the likes of Acqua di Parma and Marc Jacobs.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Fit and Silhouette: Synonyms or Different notions?

Can you easily without reading this article distinguish between these two notions: fit and silhouette? Let’s find out whether they have anything in common and in what way they differ.

We shall start with the top of your suit. A suit with massive shoulders, tiny waist or short trousers does not necessarily fit badly. It just has a bad silhouette.

The shoulders of your suit, for example, may end exactly at the edge of your actual shoulders, continuing in one smooth line down the rest of the sleeve. They may, alternatively, extend an extra half an inch to an inch. The line of the shoulders may be square and straight; they may be concave, curving down from the collar and then rising toward the outer edge; they may even be slightly convex.

Any of these styles may fit perfectly. If the shoulders extend slightly beyond your actual shoulders, and have a square, boxy line, they will require extra padding and support. If they curve naturally and with a slightly concave line, they will need to be carefully aligned with the line of your own shoulders, lest these ruin that line.

It is true to say, that these variations create a different silhouette. They do not necessarily fit better or worse than the alternatives. Silhouette is more akin to color or pattern – it is a personal choice, but one that can still be made badly.

Let’s continue our investigation. The waist may be designed to be more or less pinched, creating a more or less defined skirt. If the suit is designed to have a generous waist, but you buy a smaller size to try and achieve a pinched waist, the wool will ripple with complaint when you button up the jacket. You have confused fit and silhouette – in trying to achieve the latter; you have failed in the former.

Moreover, it is likely to fit worse elsewhere, as you are deliberately buying a size too small. Your shoulders will press against the sleevehead. The back will feel constricting.

If the suit were designed to have a pinched waist, the wool would be darted, with slivers of material taken out and sewn back up again. The shoulders and back would fit fine and you would have achieved your desired look.

Silhouette is about what a suit is designed to look like. Fit is about whether a particular size of that design fits to your body. Don’t confuse the two. Be aware of what the suit and its designer are trying to do. Then judge its fit.

Friday, April 11, 2008

What you may wear in Spring 2008

Once we have already talked about modern tendencies for spring-summer 2008. Now I’d like to illustrate these very tendencies with photos from the runways of Milan and Paris:

Neon
This spring designers have thrown in a touch of color, in contrast to previous seasons’ emphasis on neutrals. A touch of bright color can act as a conversation piece, a way to heighten an otherwise bland look, or tie an outfit all together. Still, be sure to keep the color minimal. Try bold colored shoes or an intense button down under a suit jacket. A little neon goes a long, long way.












The Biker Jacket
The biker jacket has made a come back this season, and honestly, what woman can resist the bad boy? This spring, the jacket’s return is a bit more upscale. Gucci’s take on it resulted in leather that was silver, candy apple red, and of course, classic black. Other designers embellished it with strategically placed zippers and studs.












Light Layers

Many designers opted for lightweight and sheer fabrics this season. Translucent, pastel and cream-colored shirts and short-sleeved blazers can be worn over white t-shirts. Calvin Klein even debuted jackets made from Lenticular, a glossy plastic material, for a lighter-than-air result. This look creates a relaxed, minimalist look.













One thing, you should not wear this spring:

Parachute Pants
Although M.C. Hammer will be thrilled, the rest of the male population should absolutely, under no circumstances, be caught dead in these pants. The 80s made some huge fashion faux pas and these ridiculous pants were one of them.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Online shopping possibilities

This piece of information will be of good avail for those busy men who cannot find time and go shopping, for those who’d rather prefer to buy something new with several clicks. It is nice and convenient and becomes more and more popular. Online shopping is convenient, because you may choose something to your liking without queuing for hours and spending half of the day shopping. At the same time, you cannot try the thing on – but it is to be noted that most companies have flexible return policies, detailed product descriptions and a contact e-mail address in case you have any additional queries about either a garment or the ordering and shipping process. Besides, while choosing a thing with the help of the Internet, you may easily compare prices, qualities and latest trends, which also makes online shopping so popular.

Here is the list of the most popular online shops which will offer you rich variety of clothes to everybody’s liking.

Revolve Clothing
www.revolveclothing.com
If you are looking for a site with over 150 brands dedicated to men’s apparel and accessories, you are sure to visit Revolve Clothing. Apart from jeans and T-shirts, Revolve Clothing stocks parkas and waistcoats from Adam + Eve, Hawaiian-style board shorts from B. Son, trousers and pea coats from Fremont and athletic jackets and leather creations from Mike & Chris. Don’t forget to check out Krane’s selection of leather-trimmed luggage, as well as Mads Norgaard’s blazers and Rag & Bone’s masterfully tailored dress shirts.This online clothing boutique is perfect for picking up smart casual pieces, funky basics and tailored separates. Prices at Revolve Clothing range from mid- to high-end to affordable for everyone and the site has fabulous sales, so visit often to check if the product you have your eye on suddenly drops in price.Major credit cards are the accepted form of payment so make sure you have a valid one before checking out. Shipping is free and American residents can expect to receive their purchase within two to three days. Returns are permitted within 30 days of purchase and the company even has a 30-day price-match guarantee, so if you find the item you’re lusting over on a competitor’s website at a lower non-clearance price, let Revolve Clothing know and they’ll match it and accept their competitor's coupons.

ASOS
www.asos.com
The biggest e-store in the UK, ASOS was established in 2002 and stands for As Seen on Screen. Trend-oriented, affordable clothing that suits a modern and youthful lifestyle is what you’ll find at this online clothing boutique. What ASOS really excels in, however, is matching the expensive garments you see celebs sporting in photos with attractive, reasonably priced alternatives. In some cases, you’ll also find the exact pieces worn by your favorite style icons.

With over 200 new products launched each week, fashionites on a budget will think they’ve died and gone to shopping heaven after visiting this online clothing boutique. Try Sunspel for the most fabulous basics like V-neck cotton T-shirts, and check out Villain’s fall and spring trenches. Each season, a dizzying array of knitwear in the latest and hottest colors is available from labels like J.Lindeberg, Diesel, French Connection, and more. The stock is constantly changing at ASOS, but other labels you might come across include Calvin Klein, Junk de Luxe, Evisu, Firetrap, Puma, and Bjorn Borg.Footwear, accessories, grooming products, sunglasses, underwear, and even socks with saucy messages can be found here. Shop by trend or garment type and pay using major credit cards.

Zappos
www.zappos.com
You may know that Zappos began by selling footwear, initially making next to nothing in 1999. Fast-forward just a few short years and you find a company that has expanded astronomically, raking in profits of over $800 million a year. Along with every kind of shoe, boot and flip-flop you can imagine, Zappos offers competitively priced apparel and accessories, including eyewear, watches and more. Of course, the online clothing boutique’s specialty remains its footwear.As far as customer service goes, Zappos is unparalleled. They offer free shipping that takes approximately four to five business days, and if you choose to return a product, shipping is free then too. Incredibly, you also have 365 days to decide to return a purchase.Should you have any queries about using this online clothing boutique or a particular product, customer service representatives are available 24/7 by phone. If you are a resident of Canada, you can waive pricey import fees by using the Canadian branch of this store. All in all, with a list of brands and products too long to count, you could spend days browsing Zappos, but trust us, once you’re through, you won’t be leaving this e-store empty-handed.

Bluefly
www.bluefly.com
Label lovers aiming to shop on a budget should bookmark Bluefly, an online clothing boutique that caters to those who have expensive taste with the bank balance of Joe Average instead of Donald Trump. So, next time you get a hankering to buy some cashmere, a buttery leather carry-on bag or a wool suit, check out this company’s offerings before you max out your credit card, which include deals on names like Prada, Joie, John Varvatos, Hickey Freeman, Theory, and Cole Haan.From briefcases to complete suits, waterproof trench coats and even ties, Bluefly’s choice selections and slashed prices make getting dressed for the office a snap. Of course, their range of casual garments is just as top notch too.A word to the wise, however: You may not always find your size here, so one great way to speed up your shopping experience is to select the type of garment you’re looking for and then narrow down your search results to include only items that are available in your size.


eLuxury
www.eluxury.com
As its name suggests, eLuxury offers its customers the finest from prestigious designer labels. Come here again and again for high-quality classics like cardigans and perfect-fitting blazers. Stop in once or twice a season as well to pick up high-end must-have seasonal apparel from a well-edited collection that includes names like Louis Vuitton, 3.1 Philip Lim, Band of Outsiders, Dsquared2, Opening Ceremony, and a whole lot more.Men who are pressed for time or consider themselves style-challenged will find the look book a particularly useful tool. Simply glance through it, moving from picture to picture, and just point and click your way to the looks you crave, and within days, a super-stylish ensemble will arrive on your doorstep.If you have a bit more time, add items you’re interested in to a wish list and sort through it later to narrow down your favorites. Love the clothes on this site, but worried about receiving a sketchy knockoff when you order your Just Cavalli blazer? Don’t be. As an authorized e-retailer for every brand they carry, you can rest assured that the products you’re purchasing from eLuxury are authentic.
If you love what you see at eLuxury, but you don’t live in the United States, come try your luck at Yoox. This site features just as many sought-after labels as eLuxury, but it delivers to over 50 countries worldwide, including the USA. View clothes and accessories according to brand name or by the type of clothing you’re in the market for. Choose from amongst designers like Comme des Garcons, Dries Van Noten, Alexander McQueen, Prada, Rick Owens, and Vivienne Westwood.If that all sounds a little heavy for your bank account, don’t despair because you’ll also find products from other labels, including Timberland, Ben Sherman, Adidas, and Gola mixed in with the high-end designer fare. Die-hard fashionites should consider signing up to this online clothing boutique because registered users have the advantage of seeing the season’s new arrivals first.Yoox accepts PayPal in addition to common credit cards.Also of important note is that Yoox recently launched a luxury clothing site dedicated solely to men. Featuring the latest designer threads in addition to choice items from lesser-known brands, www.thecorner.com is tipped to be the next hottest one-stop-shopping site for men in search of upscale looks and labels.

As you see, the number of opportunities for online shopping raises day by day. Even several years ago it was not that rich. Now you may buy a tuxedo, a shirt, boots etc. even during your office break or sitting at home in your favorite arm-chair! Enjoy online shopping!

Friday, April 4, 2008

Cannot iron a shirt? Shame on you!

For men who always want to look their best it is not a trifle to iron a shirt. A real man should know how to do all kinds of things including ironing. You should be ready to take care of your clothes, thus, you will save time and money while buying new elements of your wardrobe.

With these easy tips you’ll learn how to not to lose heart and do your best while creating your ideal image

1. Take time - make sure you have enough time to do the job right.
2. If you have a cotton dress shirt, wash in cold water on delicate or wash by hand in the sink. Hang to dry and don't iron until it's almost completely dry.
3. Set up the ironing board and iron, ensuring the board is close to an electrical outlet so that the electric cord of the iron doesn't get tangled or encumbered when ironing.
4. Fill up the iron with water. This will help steam press your shirt.
5. Plug in the iron and set the fabric dial to "Cotton" (or other appropriate setting). The further the dial goes to the right, the hotter the iron gets. Too hot irons can ruin your shirt. Check the tag at the back of the collar for fabric type and temperature settings.
6. Stand the iron upright so the hot area does not sit on the ironing board. To avoid burning through the ironing board cover, never leave the iron sitting face down. Wait for the iron to heat up, flicking a few drops of water on the bottom - if it sizzles, it's ready. If it's hot, let's start!
7. If the shirt has a button-down collar, unbutton the collar. Then iron these parts of the shirt in order:
Collar - both sides Sleeves Back Front
8. Iron only one part of the shirt at a time, leaving the rest of shirt to droop off the side of the ironing board. On the collar and cuffs, start at the points and move inward.
9. Don't forget to iron all seams. They can be stubborn to get "straight" but will add a nice finished touch to the shirt.
10. After ironing hang the shirt on a hanger until you are ready to wear it. Turn the iron off and pull the plug.
11. Leave the iron sitting upright on the ironing board for 15-20 minutes to cool down. It is then safe to put away.

Sure thing, you may prefer giving your shirt to a professional cleaner launder and press it, but what if you don’t have enough time for the whole procedure? Nothing doing, but stand up, plug in the iron and learn!