Big autumn styles to watch out for
You always know when the new clothing season is on its way, clothes shops start making room for their new season wears with their big 70% off sales and new trickle of styles come in that can be worn now and as we head into autumn. It’s always good to get ahead a bit but it can feel a bit disheartening to be buying winter coats in August, however it’s always good to be prepared as you may never know what the British weather has in store for us.
A great trend that you can wear now is the 50’s trend, many designers such as Chanel and Louis Vuitton took inspiration from the post war fashions of the 50’s with prints, shapes, cuts and patterns like retro looking mid-length full skirts, vintage shops are great places to get clothing from this era and can be mixed and matched with some of the high street offerings.
As the cooler nights approach a great way to wrap up warm is with a cape, they are set to be a big trend this autumn/winter and they are also a great way to keep a chill off on an evening when the temperatures start to drop. You can get lighter versions for now then as it gets colder opt for a thicker wool cape, much trendier than a coat.
This summer has been all about maxi dresses and you can’t get enough of them, which means that its great news that they will be around for autumn/winter too, they are more vamped up with chiffon and pretty detailing rather than the bold patterns seen over summer and they look great toughened up with boots and a leather jacket.
Leather Clothing
Leather clothing might traditionally be associated with bikers, but in fact there are many articles of leather clothing available from coats, to dresses, to lingerie. Leather has a timeless elegance and has carved a niche in the fashion world.
Leather clothing is renowned for its appeal and versatility. Designers create many different looks with leather and it is available in a wide variety of colours. Leather clothing is glamorous, sexy and suggestive of wealth. Leather clothes have long been associated with celebrities from Marlon Brando in the 1950’s film The Wild One, to Madonna.
Leather is a unique material and despite many attempts, no substitute has been created. Its unique fibrous weave allows it to absorb perspiration, which it transmits to the outer surface; the air spaces between the fibres provide excellent insulation.
Leather clothing is a major market in the United States where the versatility of the leather jacket is much appreciated. Leather jackets are perfect for matching or mixing with other clothes and they can be worn with elegant evening dresses, jeans or even office clothing. Leather jackets provide good protection against the elements, but for many people it is their timeless style that truly appeals. Leather jackets are not cheap as special equipment is required to make them, but when you buy one you know that you are buying something that is well made and will last for years.
In autumn 2010, leather bomber jackets will be popular. Burberry showed them combined with sheer dresses, while DKNY had simple fitted black jackets that could be worn by anyone.
Leather dresses are also becoming popular and they are easy to care for and comfortable to wear in summer or winter. They come in many different styles, from sexy minis to elegant evening dresses. Leather dresses are unique and are perfect for making a statement.
Men’s Hairstyles – For medium length hair
If you have medium length hair and are stuck for some styles, a quick flick through your girlfriend gossip magazine or even GQ will give you an idea of the range of styles out there that are sported by celebs. Having medium length hair is great for styling it gives you great scope for different styles so you can easily change your look and now it’s the norm for men to use styling tools and products such as ghd hair straighteners.
Many medium length hairstyles give a man a more classic appearance and as long as they are not too outlandish they will also be accepted in all professions as appropriate hair styles, the most common cut for men involves cutting the hair to different lengths, then using product to create texture all over, sort of a ‘just got out of bed look’. With this in mind companies such as ghd have designed styling tools which are ideal for men with shorter hair, as well as women and you can create smoother funkier styles when you need to, like when you go for a night out.
Summer time and holiday essentials for men
When summer comes there is so much made about women’s clothing for summer, that it feels that guys choice gets pushed into the background, however, it does not mean no thought cannot be put into what men’s clothing you wear this summer, as there is a great choice out there so with that in mind below is a selection of summer essential clothing which also includes ideal pieces for holidays too:
Trousers & Shorts
Summer is the time to put jeans on the back burner and instead opt for lighter and cooler options such as trousers and shorts, trousers are great especially as some people are not comfortable showing their legs and this year there are some good options to keep you cool, comfortable and smart for summer. Shorts also don’t have to be confined to holidays, there are some fab styles such as tailored shorts that sit just above or below, these look great with shirts and t-shirts and boat shoes for a smarter summer look.
Shorts
Shirts, T-shirts & Vests
You always need options for summer and a good collection of the above will make sure you are covered for summer fashion, plain t-shirts in neutral colours make a great base for any wardrobe, the look great on their own or with this year’s hot check shirt trend. A good, crisp white shirt is also a wardrobe must, they are saviours when it comes to a last minute summer do, where you have to look smart. Vests are also handy they look good under t-shirts but are also great on their own when you are on holiday in hotter climes.
t-shirts and tops
shirts
Festival Goers
With music festivals under full flow at the moment it’s pretty hard to get t shirts in bulk as most companies are having low stock issues. Festivals must use hundreds of thousands of cheap t shirts for promotional clothing. T shirt printing is so easy now that companies can just buy in bulk for a lower cost price.
There’s usually around 5-7 designs per band and then around 4 sizes that’s 20 t shirts before you start getting multiples of sizes and designs. T he t shirts can vary in price greatly from £20 to £40. Which probably isn’t bad to say the t shirts only because a few pounds each?
If they printed as they required then it would probably allow for more of a flow through the smaller suppliers.
Underwear as Outerwear
Lily Allen, Lady Gaga and Beyonce have all been seen sporting their underwear as outerwear. This growing trend has led to soaring sales in sheer lingerie and nipple covers as female shoppers are no longer hiding lace bodies underneath clothing.
One of the most difficult looks to pull off is that of exposed stay-ups and suspenders. However, this hasn’t stopped the most daring women from trying out the trend with many highstreet clothes shops selling lacy clothing. If you want to experiment, choose patterned stockings and tights, for example Agent Provocateur’s snake stay-ups, which have a snake motif that will distract from the fact that they are stay-ups.
Slips and camisoles are easier to wear, as their light fabrics and intricate detailing put them on a par with many of the dresses that can found in high-street stores. However, this means that they are most suitable for the spring and summer seasons. Try pairing a slip or camisole with other fashion trends such as the sheer style, which is a feminine look that is harder to pair with heavier items. Take inspiration from the catwalks and pair a slip or camisole with leather belts, bold accessories and chunky heels.
Corsetry as outerwear features in many collections, especially with ribbon lacing, which was used to create the stencil like effects of underpinnings. Body contours are created by applying lace and tapes and popular colours are pale pink and creamy flesh tones. Designers have also begun using lace rims and inserting lace or chiffon pieces of fabric to create a focus on the seams.
Underwear as outerwear look
Choosing your companies summer uniform
We have been told that this year we are finally going to have a long hot summer, so the winter uniforms for you staff will not be suitable this summer, with many of them probably choosing not to wear a uniform while the temperatures rise. The solution, opt for a light and airy summer uniform, this will allow your employees to feel comfortable when it gets hot you can then use t shirt printing to put your company identity onto the clothing.
You will probably find that many of your staff will have their opinions on what sort of summer uniform they would like for summer, so to get everyone involved you can ask your pick out their favorites from a selection. You can then pick which ones have the highest number of votes as your new summer uniform this will help mean your staff will feel much more comfortable wearing their summer uniform because of their involvement in choosing it.
If you choose a printing company such as Splash Logo that offers a huge range of different clothing styles you will defiantly find something suitable for your employees, plus they also offer discounts for bulk orders and have a very quick turnaround time, thanks to their state of the art printing techniques.
Harvey Nichols celebrates five years of Lula magazine
To celebrate five years of Lula magazine, luxury department store Harvey Nichols is teaming up with them in a unique collaboration hat will see a launch of an exclusive pop-up shop, the celebrations of the first five years of style title Lula will be curated by the magazine’s editor-in-chief Leith Clark and designed by set designer Fiona Leahy (who has planned parties for the likes of Stella McCartney and Dasha Zhukova).
The Knightsbridge store’s recently revamped fourth floor is host to the concept space which has just been launched and will be a celebration of all things Lula, featuring lust labels Rodarte, Miu Miu, Lover, Charles Anastase, Sonia Rykiel and Erdem who have created exclusive designs for the project. Also getting in on the act is Chanel who is offering shoppers a special treat when they make a purchase from the store.
With it been Lula magazine it isn’t just about the clothes you can also snap up books and music by Karen Elson, Daisy de Villeneuve and Derek Blasberg, to name a few, and do not worry if you won’t be in London to enjoy the Harvey Nichols/Lula action, you can also enjoy the fun by logging on to the Harvey Nichols website.
Trends in Trousers 2010
A new fashion trend in women’s trousers is trousers on the ankle. This is a recent development, which has grown in popularity with the rise of skinny jeans and in fact, the best way of achieving this look is with skinny designer jeans. This is because the jeans are tight to the legs and do not flap around the ankle. It might seem that the same look could be achieved with fitted trousers. However, there is a danger that you could get it wrong and simply look like a child with trousers that are too short.
There is a range of brands on offer and roll up skinny jeans are good because they add extra detail to an otherwise plain pair of jeans. Choose a pair with studding detailing and you can even dress them up for an evening out. There is also a trend for leggings that look like skinny jeans and stop at the ankle. These look good with pumps and oversized jumpers or women’s t-shirts.
Harem trousers are also a new trend. They won’t suit everyone, but if you want to try a pair, choose one with a good fabric. Harem trousers have a lot of material, so make sure that the fabric is comfortable and try to ensure that your waist doesn’t disappear; adding a belt will help to emphasise your waist. If you are a bit nervous about wearing them then think about a pair for evening or holiday and choose solid colours until you are confident enough to pick a print.
High-waisted jeans and trousers are back, with many designers opting to make jeans that fall either above the navel, on it or just below. Leggings will also become more glamorous with sequins and sparkly materials.
Choosing Clothes for Your Holiday
Choosing the right clothes to take on holiday depends on the type of holiday, at this time of year many clothes shops have a huge range of clothing to choose from. If you are going on a cruise to Alaska you will need to take warm clothes that can be layered, but if you are going on a beach holiday swimwear and light flowing fabrics will be more important. For travelling choose comfortable clothes that are crease resistant. Be prepared is a good motto, but if you are travelling abroad those extra clothes will mean excess charges at the airport and you may not wear many of the clothes that you take.
If you are travelling to somewhere warm pack linen trousers. These are great for covering up, but staying cool in hot climates. A pair that come down past the ankle will lengthen your legs. Pear-shaped women should choose darker colours with a floral top to draw attention away from their bottom half. Women with thin legs can go for cropped trousersor shorts.
A black or camel pashmina is perfect for creating a chic look for the cooler evenings. They are also good for travelling on planes as they can pack neatly into hand luggage when not required. Kaftans are a good choice for the poolside or for the evening when dressed up with shorts and wedges. If you have a small bust choose a kaftan that is more fitted with detail around the shoulders and bust. For those with larger busts and good legs deep V-necks will flatter the bust and short lengths will draw attention to your legs.