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Better Style: Six Plausible Reasons Why You Have a Closet Full of Clothes without Having Anything to Wear

 


“Always dress like you are going to see your worst enemy.” –Kimora Lee Simmons

 

Whether they wish to admit it or not, all women have been guilty of possessing a closet full of clothes and have the pressing dilemma of having quite nothing to wear.

Quite the enigma, is it not? Having wardrobes teeming with clothes and yet thinking you have absolutely nothing to wear. Sure, you might have the trendiest tops, the latest streetwear clothing, and even the most in-demand sartorial items and yet you find yourself in the midst of a clothing predicament. In this regard, you begin questioning yourself: How do I have nothing to wear when I barely have any room in my closet for clothes?

Well, the truth is far simpler than fashion pundits might lead you to believe and some of the most common reasons for this quandary are found below. However, when you do find yourself asking the very same question on an everyday basis the moment you come up with a sartorial ensemble for the day, you might want to revisit and then reevaluate your clothing options. Do be careful not to treat this problem by aggravating it in buying more clothes as this will only serve, as a temporary band-aid solution to what could be a potentially immense fashion dilemma. Sit yourself down and take a long and hard look at your wardrobes. If you find yourself to relating to any of the standard reasons stated below, perhaps their respective solutions will be of some use to you as well:

1.) You have not purged your closet for years

While you might have heard of the minimalist movement when it comes to fashion, you do not have to do anything as drastic if you are not prepared to make that sartorial commitment. However, it would do your closet a world of good if you adapted the idea of expunging your closets from unused clothes from time to time. No one is saying that you should start acclimatizing to a closet of only 30 clothing items. But if you have sartorial items that your grandmother used to rock in the seventies, then you might have a hoarding problem, and purging can very much benefit you, your closet and your fashion sense.

2.) Most of your clothes do not fit

It does not matter whether you have lost or put on some weight, but you have your reasons for keeping them around in your closet. More often than not, they are meant to inspire you to lose a kilo or more so that you can fit into them or perhaps encourage you to put on more weight so that you can finally rock them. Unfortunately for you, these clothes are doing the exact opposite by taunting you and reminding you of where you fall short when it comes to your weight. Best to get rid of them while you still can.

3.) You have way too many clothes that were given as presents

Your grandmother might have given you a sweater that never really suited your style and do not have intentions of wearing for like…ever. So, what is the reason while you are still keeping these around? Well, some individuals think it might be the only polite thing to do. While this is all well and good for a few clothes here and there, it would be an entirely different case if you hoarded the lot of them. There is absolutely no harm in giving some of those clothes away—particularly if they do nothing for you and does not really suit your style identity. After all, it is not like any of them will raid your closet the next time they visit and look for that one specific gift they have given you.

4.) You shop impulsively

We have all been there at one point in our lives, and in one way or another, it has to lead us to acquire some fashion items—even if we never really cared for them. We might be accompanying a friend on a shopping excursion and who wished to find the perfect cocktail dress for an officemate’s wedding or we might have simply found ourselves wandering around the mall only to lo and behold, end up in a clothing boutique. If you relate to either of the two, you might want to think twice before taking that clothing item to the checkout counter. Ask yourself first if you really need it and if you were not to buy it today, would you still be thinking of it tomorrow? If the answer is yes to both questions, then go ahead and indulge yourself. However, if you answered in the negative in either of the two, you might want to put it back on the rack. After all, you are not buying it for you. You are just buying it to pander your whims.

5.) You have kept all of your favorite clothes

We all have clothing items that we favor above the rest and more often than not, we keep them—regardless of whether they are still in a condition to be used or not. To some, these items hold sentimental value and can be a little difficult to let go of—after all, they are your favorites, you have had them for years, and you love them to bits. Unfortunately, holding on to these clothes is precisely what is holding you back from having a better style. While they might be a little hard to let go of, do know that you are bound to find new favorite clothes after you have made the firm decision to purge your wardrobe.

6.) You have lots of clothes that are more or less the same

We might find ourselves gravitating towards a specific style, but that in no way means that you should fill your closet with at least thirty pieces of the same style clothing. If you truly wish to elevate your style game, then you should advocate clothing diversity for your closet. Unless you want to sport one signature look forever, you need to change it up every once in a while and to do that; you will need more varied clothes in your closet.

 

While breaking these habits might a bit hard to do, realizing that they do exist is the initial step towards working on a goal to eliminate them. If you find yourself relating to any of the statements above, you might want to reassess the way you shop and the way you see fashion as a whole. After which, little by little you can start adapting style changes into your daily habits, eradicate former bad fashion practices and finally have a closet with a myriad of clothing options.

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Fashion Cheat Sheet: Six Things You Should Never Wear on a Date

 

“Fashion is in the sky, in the street; fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” –Coco Chanel

With Valentine’s Day just a few days away from today, it is highly likely that most of you have already drawn up plans as to how to spend this rather quixotic holiday.

For some, it might be a date with a long-term lover while there would also be inevitably some of you who would be breaking the waters in the game of dating on this very same day. Regardless of whether this is your hundredth or third time to go on a date, it is imperative that you always dress your best. This is especially true if you are going on a first date. After all, your clothes leave a lasting impression about the kind of person you are and the type of message you are trying to convey—so it is essential that you are saying all the right words with your clothing ensemble. First impressions do matter and more often than not, you only get one shot at making them. Unfortunately, the rubrics established when it comes to sartorial style in dating can get rather muddled and sometimes, they conflict. Show some skin, but keep it mysterious or be sultry without being too aggressive—so, where does that leave you?

In any case, your date ensembles require meticulous thought and consideration. After all, you want your new suitors or potential lovers to see your best, so these outfits should be deliberately planned. Ideally, whether you are aiming at wearing wholesale clothing or retail buys, you should go for something that is both fashionable and comfortable without being too revealing. Look like yourself but the best version of you. The choices you make play a key role in communicating a variety of things to your date and as such selecting your ensemble is of critical importance. To help you narrow down the list of sartorial items you can consider wearing to your date, here are all the things that you should keep from wearing on a date:

1.) Thigh boots

Unless you are aiming for a hooker look, wearing thigh-high boots is never a good idea. Sure, they definitely look great when you are dancing at the nightclub with your squad of besties. On a date, they just look woefully out of place. Unfortunately, some women think that this is acceptable footwear on a date seeing as how Richard Gere’s character in Pretty Woman became pretty receptive to handing Julia Roberts his credit card. In reality, however, you do not want to send the wrong message that might make you seem either available or easy. Your allure should be focused on playing up your mystique rather than strutting in something that will definitely get the wrong kind of attention.

2.) Too tight clothing

Too tight clothing is never a good idea for anything. This is especially true when you are out on a date and are planning on having dinner or at least sharing a meal together. Remember, comfort is key and fit is everything. If you try to cram yourself into something that is two to three times smaller than your original size, there is a likely chance you are going to be very uncomfortable on your date. Moreover, it gives off the message that you have low self-esteem and are trying to gain attention in the wrong manner. Lastly, you will spend roughly eighty percent of your time fussing and fidgeting with your clothes which can be incredibly distracting.

3.) Too loose clothing

Quite the opposite of the preceding number, but all the same you should never wear clothes that are too loose for you on a first date. Again, the fit is everything and wearing clothes are too loose would make you seem like you are concealing your body. Moreover, it makes you seem disinterested in either the date itself, yourself or both. Sloppiness is never a good look, and there is a likely chance you will be turning off your date. Sure, loose clothing may be the epitome of comfort, but wear something that makes you feel like yourself as well without looking like the messy version of you.

4.) Brand Icons

Wearing sartorial items that scream off the brand at their emblazoned front makes you look like a walking advertisement. Moreover, it makes you look far too casual—or it might seem like you are showing off. Never wear clothing that contains noticeable brand icons or slogans as your ensembles are meant to be subtle and properly picked. With these, you can elevate your ability to communicate with your date. The brand of your clothes does not help your cause either as it would encourage your date to have preconceived notions about the kind of person you are before you even get the chance to talk to them. Let yourself do the talking instead of your clothes.

5.) Slogans

While shirt slogans look hip and trendy, they do nothing for your date apart from making you look silly or corny. Shirt slogans can be an excellent icebreaker—particularly if you have a date with a great sense of humor but remember, it might not sit well with everyone. Avoid wearing slogan shirts to avoid embodying the slogan for the duration of the date. Instead of relying on your sartorial items to do the ice breaking for you, do them yourself.

6.) Dirty attire

This one is a given. After all, you do not want your date to think you are a slob. Wear clothes that are not only clean but pressed as well. Stains on clothes leave a lasting impression on your date and would make you seem like you are incredibly disinterested about how you look and your date. Dirty and unkempt clothes would make you seem like you are messy and sloppy.

 
Ensure that you will have a memorable night to remember by choosing clothes that are not only comfortable but reflect the real you. Ensure that they convey the right message and would make you seem like the best version of yourself. You might not just know it, but your clothes play a pivotal role in potentially scoring that second date.

 

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Fashion in Focus: Five Trends You Can Forget About in 2018

 

“The customer is the final filter. What survives the whole process is what people wear. I am not interested in making clothes that end up in some dusty museum.” –Marc Jacobs

 

There has never been any doubt that a new year brings with it a fresh new set of fashion trends that would soon become worthy and classic staples in women’s closets. However, while back in the day it took weeks (and some even months) for a trend to take off, today it is only a matter of days. As a result, trends stuck around for quite some time before they totally fade into obscurity.

But with the rise and raging popularity of social media, the rise and fall of trends are more rapid than ever—big thanks to social media platforms such as Instragram and online influencer marketing. Years back trends were dictated only by what fashion pundits think are fashionable and what people mainly see on the runway. Today, that still remains a relevant concept but ordinary people with a huge following can leverage what is also considered fashionable and stylish by promoting those same trends on their pages. Unfortunately, with trends rising faster than ever comes with the consequence of them being obsolete much faster than ever—not that it is a bad thing. After all, these are trends, not classics, obsolescence is practically synonymous to them.

Each year we hoard these by the numbers and stock our closets up only to pack them up and ship them off to consignment stores or donate them at the end of the year. As a fashion forward individual, it is imperative to understand that these fashion trends are nothing more than mere patterns that come and go. In this regard, you should develop and cultivate a fashion sense that is more of what styles speak to you rather than follow what everyone else is wearing—regardless of whether this is the latest trend in streetwear clothing or not. In any case, for you to enhance your closet curation skills, here is a list of the fashion trends you should probably forget about this year. If you have any of these lingering in your closets, it is finally time to pack them up and let them go.

 

Statement Shirts

While this trend saw a major rise and finally hit several spotlights in 2017, it looks incredibly dated this year. After all, if you think about it, the tee is nothing really special aside from it being a canvass for a combination of words. In any case, this year would see a serious upgrade in this basic statement shirt. With the sense of empowerment on the incline, you can soon expect people to wear their feelings on their shirts. And clothes would more or less have a voice.

Corset belts

Introduced and sensationalized by none other than Kylie Jenner herself, women have started wearing corset belts as a trend in the previous year. It initially baffled me as corsets were not meant to be concealed underneath your ensembles and not blatantly displayed for many to see. However, it caught on and everyone was suddenly sporting a corset belt. While they are all the rage, this trend is not here to stay and is probably one trend we are all happy to say goodbye too. Sure, they give your body more of an hourglass shape when you are wearing loose dress, but they can be rather expensive. Furthermore, you can achieve the same silhouette with practically any other chunky belt.

Painful shoes

Over the years, painful shoes have given women all over the world better leverage on their height and made them look a lot more sophisticated and elegant when walking. Unfortunately, these shoes did nothing to improve their gait and only caused them pain and agony at the end of the day. As a result, podiatrists and footwear designers have seen a reduction in the demand for these shoes. In fact, women are gravitating away from these painful shoes and are selecting styles that will not cramp their style instead. In this year, you do not have to needlessly and incessantly suffer if you wish to look great and sexy. This year choose fashion that harmoniously coexists with function without causing you any pain at all.

Pompoms

Pompoms were seen practically everywhere–from your sartorial choices, shoes to even accessories such as bags. However, while pompoms might be an excellent accent to add a little panache to your accessories and ensembles, they are woefully obsolete and retired this 2018. Much like chokers, patches, furry slides and tassels, pompoms do not make the cut this year. This is because runway trends tend to convert to fast fashion. Fast fashion items are seen almost everywhere that after a while, it can get rather easy to become weary of them—even before you have the chance of wearing them a little more often than you already have. However, no one is stopping you if you wish not to let go of these trendy items. Just ensure that you do not overly invest in them—both financially and emotionally.

Male Rompers

Let us face it, this trend was more of a gag than a serious trend. While the male romper made several waves in the fashion industry last year, it was probably more on men poking fun at the ludicrous idea and design. In any case, the trend craze cannot continue seeing as how this is more likely to end up in someone’s list of regrets soon after. Today, men are foregoing trends altogether and are opting for more traditional and less in-the-moment styles. Similarly, the lumberjack look which took the fashion industry by storm last year would be supplanted by the always superior and classic suit. The latter is a timeless style after all while the former is just a trend.

 

 

Of course, this year is going to be no different when it comes to fashion trends. However, as a stylish individual, it is your responsibility not to overly invest in them. In any case, it is also a great opportunity for you to edit your wardrobes and reevaluate your fashion choices. After all, if your mentality has always been the “buy now and dispose later” kind, you would soon find yourself wasting a lot of resources on trends alone.

 

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Fashion in the Stars: What Your Zodiac Signs Says About Your Style

 

“Fashion is what you are offered four times a year by designers. And style is what you choose.” –Lauren Hutton

 

It has been said that style is a very personal aspect in our lives. What we wear and how we wear it largely depends on our preferences. However, our characteristics and traits–mainly who we are also plays a pivotal role in our sartorial choices. After all, it has always been said that there are hints of who you are in what you wear and that has never been more evident than in your assemblage of clothes every single day. Although most will dismiss star signs as hogwash, there have been numerous studies linking astrological signs to an individual’s personality, character and even something as negligible as their style.

It matters not whether you predominantly favor wholesale clothing over retail, if you have noticed yourself picking a certain kind of clothing over time and time again, chances are it is your astrological sign at work. Regardless of whether you religiously check your horoscope daily or are seemingly skeptical of such implausibility, one cannot deny that there are certain traits and characteristics that align with our star signs and more often than not, they can be undeniably accurate. Our astrological signs often reveal what styles you find yourself most attracted to or at least gravitating to while you are out shopping. If you are a bit doubtful, take a look at this list and see for yourself:

 

Aries

Aries is characterized as being radiant, bright and confident. With this in mind, Aries individuals are known to favor bright and vibrant colors that beckon onlookers to take notice. Some notable colors an Aries loves would be bright blues, reds and greens or any other bold color that makes them shine through.

 

Taurus

Taurus individuals tend to favor quality over quantity. In fact, one might say it is paramount to their nature. More often than not, they find themselves more inclined to earth tones and neutral colors. Taurus individuals would hardly pick outfits for their brands but rather for their craftsmanship and design quality.

 

Gemini

Geminis tend to hog the attention of the room with their incredibly chipper attitude. In this regard, they tend to favor magentas, oranges and yellows which bring their ensembles to life. Unfortunately, their wardrobe might be a little hard to read considering the duality of the twins. Their best bet is to stick to classic staples and pair it with bright accessories.

 

Cancer

Cancers often love to play safe and would play only with colors such as pastels, silver or white. They often look very put-together and ladylike. Vintage and retro accessories are two things a cancer will love.

 

Leo

Leos have a penchant for dramatics—so much so that their tastes tend to be luxurious and demand only the boldest sartorial assemblages. Gold, black and red are colors they tend to favor and would help boost their already soaring confidence.

 

Virgo

Known to be perfectionists, tidy has nothing on a Virgo. In this regard, Virgos feel an incessant need to look their best at all times. For this reason, they would favor basic black and white combinations and would often mix in a bit of earthy tones just to give the look a bit of an accent. If there is anything that personifies this zodiac, it is the fact that they always seem to have a tailored look.

 

Libra

Beauty and style are two things Libras love. With this in mind, they tend to find themselves gravitating towards the colors pink, blue and white. As a consequence of their more extravagant tastes, they would often indulge in luxurious fabrics such as silk and cashmere. Cool, classic and feminine are three things that would characterize a Libra and are known to have a dress for just about any occasion there is.

 

Scorpio

Bold, daring and confident, Scorpios are known to feel their very best in deep plums, black, reds and blues. Making rich and bold colors look their very best is something Scorpios are known to be good at. They also have a knack for playing up their sex appeal as well as enshrouding themselves in mystery which makes them all the more alluring. In fact, one of their go-to outfits would be a pencil skirt with a slit at the side finished off with a knee high boots.

 

Sagittarius

Saggitarians are known for favoring comfort above anything else. Of course, this is not to say that they would compromise style over comfort either. Individuals of these star sign tend to favor colors such as beige, white and peach and pair it with a good pair of jeans for an everyday look. Unrestrictive flowy dresses and simple throw-on blouses are two of their go-to sartorial items that have never failed them.

 

Capricorns

Known to be the most sophisticated and elegant of the zodiac, a Capricorn’s style is often mistaken to be something incredibly austere and somber. However, this is not always the case. Although they favor sophistication above all, they can make it look incredibly effortless. Tailored pieces such as trousers and blazers are their forte and luxurious fabrics in colors such as green, black and indigo will always have a special place in a Capricorn woman’s heart.

 

Aquarius

Aquarians love to experiment and it shows in their sartorial ensembles. In fact, some of the things that they do love are sheer maxi skirts or clothes with eccentric designs. In fact, out-of-this-world designs are excellent for playing up their up for anything nature and their flair for experimentation. Staple colors that should always have a place in their closets are violets, electric blues, turquoise or anything that is vibrant and bright such as red—the boldest known color.

 

Pisces

Lovers of romance, individuals ruled by the Pisces star signs would look best when their romantic personality is shown through their clothes. They should showcase their feminine silhouettes with shimmering and soft fabrics that would complement their inner quixotic personalities. Softer colors such as pale blue, sea foam green, lavender and pinks are colors that would match a Pisces’s personality.

 

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Style Oaths: Five Fashion Resolutions to Make in 2018


“Fashion is something that goes in one year and out the other.” –Unknown Author

In anticipation of the brand new year, it is best to take stock of the fashion choices you have made all throughout this year and determine which ones of them are worth keeping for the next year. In this regard, you should be able to identify which ones should be modified and tweaked a bit or downright discarded. Fashion purveyors such as well-known stylists and designers provide fashionistas with the latest clothing styles and trends every single day in the year. Furthermore, they furnish their avid followers and readers with style advice every now and then, but it is ultimately up to you to distinguish which ones of them are worth turning into habits and which ones you should ignore.
As you usher in and welcome the brand new year, it is best to come up with a to make better fashion choices and come up with a concrete plan to be a more put-together person not only for the next few months but over the next 12 months of 2018 as well.

However, it is not only enough to make promises such as wearing fewer hip-hop clothing and more of smart casual clothes, but you also need to ensure that they would be realistic enough for you to fulfill for every single day of the next year. With this in mind, it is best to come up with a set of style mantras that you would still want to do after the second week of February. In any case, if you have been looking for attainable fashion resolutions for the next year regardless of whatever your style might be, take a gander at the list below for some suggestions.

1.) Be the most dressed-up person in the room

There is a difference between overdressing and being the most-dressed up in the room. The former implies that there is a strict dress code to be followed and you simply went overboard while the latter means there is a sense of cohesion among all the fashion items you have chosen to sport for that day. For the next year, aim to be the latter and endeavor to be always the best dressed or at least the most dressed up. Being the most dressed-up person in the room for 2017 inspires confidence while allowing you to have fun with fashion as you enjoy putting together an ensemble. Moreover, you will likely get a lot of feel-good compliments which can truly boost your self-esteem.

2.) Look after the things you already have

2017 was all about adopting a minimalist lifestyle in almost every aspect of life which means it would invariably include how you dress. 2017 inspired us to edit our closets and get rid of things that no longer do anything for us and leave only the things we want to wear. As you have already gotten rid of the things you no longer need, let 2018 be the year you take better care of the things you already do have. In a sense, this means dry-cleaning your blouses, having your shoes repaired before it becomes an emergency and damage becomes irreparable and irreversible. Doing so would save you from doing any needless shopping sprees where you might feel compelled to acquire more clothing items than necessary which would be counterintuitive to your minimalist movement.

3.) Buy more of what you love

Fashion columnists have always encouraged their readers to have a more diverse wardrobe by buying from different boutiques and designers. In this regard, they were compelled to break the mold and try on different styles—even if they do not necessarily need to do so. If you have already found your personal style and know which styles do look on you best, do not be afraid to buy more of it and wear it on repeat for the next year. While some might argue that this sounds like a boring option, it is also a subtle way of forming a signature style in which a specific kind of clothing could be identified with you. Bulk up on what fashion styles do work for you and have fun wearing them in a myriad of ways you can imagine.

4.) Embrace fun fashion

For the New Year, try not to conform too much and simply have fun with fashion. There is absolutely no reason for you to follow every style edict and fashion advice and take them to heart. Have fun with fashion and mix it up every once in a while. Be bold and try something new that has not been done before. Mix some of your frilly and girly dresses with your boyfriend or tomboy jeans. Alternatively, you can do an epic fashion fusion from different eras by digging up old vintage apparel which you would then mix with contemporary staples and new pieces. Next year, endeavor to stand out and make a fashion statement.

5.) Do not resist color

If you have a streamlined wardrobe consisting of only basic and neutral colors such as blue, black, grey, white and different shades of brown and cream, then it is time to inject some color into your closets. Instead of blending in with your surroundings, go for bold hues and rock a vibrant fashion ensemble that would be sure to turn heads in your direction. Embrace color and have more of it in your wardrobes. Moreover, try not to make them something you wear once a week and instead rotate them on different days. After all, wearing brighter colors can affect your mood, and if you are looking to have a more cheerful mindset in 2018, you best start by wearing cheerier, brighter and happier-looking colors.

If you have wanted to look better fashion-wise for the next year, keep in mind that there are some style choices you have to adapt and some to discard. For your sartorial well-being, some of the doable deeds are already mentioned above, and you should definitely consider incorporating them into your daily habits. After all, 2018 should be the year of the better-dressed you.

 

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Five Compelling Reasons Why Women Love to Shop

“I have been shopping all of my life and yet, I still have nothing to wear” –Every Woman Ever

 

It has been said and widely believed that when it comes to shopping, men go to malls and shops to buy what they want while women do the same to find out what they want. From this perspective, it can be readily seen that shopping is largely a woman thing, and you would be quite hard-pressed to find a woman who does not have at least the slightest inclination for indulging her purchasing desires. Indeed, nothing ensnares and entices a woman’s senses more than a shopping mall blatantly proclaiming that they are on a mall-wide sale. Much like a trained bargain hunter, females would descend to malls in droves and would be immediately ready to sniff out the best deals in a matter of minutes.

While some males cannot even begin to fathom the fascination of sifting through items, looking for deals and discounts for hours at a time, most women thrive on them. And malls did quite well to exploit on that fact which is why for this reason, mall sales would profit most from the fairer sex. However, what is it about shopping that drives most women wild and encourages them to go on a frenetic spree of acquiring things of all sorts? Where does this innate proclivity come from? Regardless of whether they are purchasing wholesale clothing or retail, it is no question that women would be there—especially during sales and with their wallets and credit cards at the ready. So, if you have been wondering what inspires this intrinsic behavior from the most of us, here are some of the reasons we have unveiled below:

 

1.) Jealousy or Peer Pressure

While jealousy or peer pressure is not two reasons for shopping prevalent among women, it can play a significant role in influencing their decision of whether to shop or not. The truth is when a well-dressed and attractive woman walks down the alley; it is not only the men that take notice but women as well. In fact, you can probably bet that the woman has already dissected every inch of her outfit and is dying to know where she got them. One of the initial things a woman takes note and observes in another woman is her outfit and then her footwear. All the rest such as her hairstyle, makeup and the rest would come second. In this regard, a woman would feel compelled (or encouraged) to dress better and if a woman has better-dressed friends, it is safe to assume that she would want to be even more impeccably dressed than them.

2.) To impress men

Although most women largely dress for themselves (and none of them would ever care to admit this next fact), some women dress to impress men. They are not proud of it, but making a lasting impact on the opposite sex would also motivate a woman to dress her best. With this in consideration, women would be impelled to shop for better-looking clothes. Although it is not something that they would ever probably admit, women do love getting compliments—especially when it comes from men. Being noticed and flattered because of your style would go a long way to boost a woman’s self-confidence after all.

3.) To invigorate herself

If a woman has gone through a rather harrowing ordeal or a traumatic event such as a breakup, loss of a job or pet, she would need to take her mind off the stressor. In doing so, she would need to distract herself from what is currently ailing her and one excellent avenue for distraction is shopping. In fact, some women would even swear by the adage that shopping is much cheaper than seeing their therapists. Plus, they get a dress out of it too! Picking out things they love and trying out clothes that look great on them is a way of indulging themselves. In a sense, it gives them a rush of excitement and euphoria. And at least for that moment, they can forget anything that might have caused them despondence and suffering. After all, to most women, even the tiniest trinket can serve as a balm to their pain.

4.) Always confused about her clothing

More often than not, you would hear a woman protest that she has nothing to wear while possessing a closet filled to the brim with clothes. It might be something of a paradox and to most, a woman’s thirst for more sartorial items despite having a complete arsenal of one would be an enigma, but it is a reality. The truth is, some women are just confused about her clothing and may not exactly be happy with what she is wearing. At times, she would be dissatisfied with her ensemble and would feel prompted to make better sartorial choices. She may have a myriad of clothes and shoes of every variety possible, but as she would always want to dress her best, she would do more shopping whenever she can.

5.) Best way to kill time

While killing time in this manner does not exactly bode well for your credit card as well as your finances, there is no denying that some women would do it out of boredom. However, do know that women do not necessarily have to buy anything just to have a good time and she would hardly need the company of another person. She can simply walk into a retail shop, stroll around, try on stuff and simply just do window shopping. If she sees anything that she likes, she may either buy it or make a mental note of it to buy soon.

 

 

Indeed, while a woman’s penchant for shopping remains as an enigmatic wonder, perhaps the reasons given above would give you an insight as to why they love it so much. After all, women are not called the fairer sex for anything, they have to live up to that fact and earn that title each and every day of their lives. In order to do so, they must continue to refine and edit their wardrobes and acquire those that would put them in the best light possible. And because of that, shopping is not only an activity or hobby to them but a lifestyle.

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Five Factors That Affect Your Style (That Are Not Clothes)


“Fashion is a language. Some know it, some learn it, and some never will — like an instinct.”-Edith Head

There is no doubt about the fact that clothes play a significant role in everyone’s lives. While some people may regard it as another thing to do in their daily routine, it is a reality that everyone has to choose clothes every single day before heading out to work. In this regard, some individuals may exercise a rather blasé and apathetic attitude towards their sartorial choices while fashion-forward, and style enthusiasts take a little extra care in ensuring that what they choose passes their standards. With this in mind, the latter people would be the meticulous set–ones with a little more concern as to how they present themselves to the world. The former, however, would be the kind of people who think that their lives do not revolve around clothes–that they have other more important things to think about other than the ideal color of sweater they should wear for that morning. But if there is one thing in common about the two sets of people despite their contrasting outlooks on clothes, it is that both do value style to a certain degree. Stylish people value it more, but while those who have an indifferent attitude towards clothes would not place as much importance on it, there are certain types of clothing they would feel themselves gravitating to.

It is a known fact that style is more than just your clothing selection. It is how you wear them and what you are trying to convey by wearing them. In this regard, you can easily spot those individuals who took the extra effort in refining their look from the bunch of individuals who just donned an assortment of clothing because they cannot be in the nude. So, what influences style? What makes one prefer streetwear clothing over more polished and formal designs? How does one choose what kind of clothes they purchase? Well, you might be surprised, but plenty of what influences someone’s personal style has little to do with the fashion industry. Although social media, favorite designers and various forms of media have a pivotal role in covering trends, there are other things that would factor into someone’s aesthetic. Here are some of the things that influence your style that are surprisingly not clothes:

1.) Climate

Of course, this one is a no-brainer. After all, you cannot actually expect one to wear a fur coat during a scorching day, or a flimsy blouse when it is freezing outside. In fact, one of the initial things you do before you get dressed is checked the weather outside. After all, you would not want to be wearing too thick clothes that would leave you stewing on a hot day or filmy ones that would not give you so much insulation on a cold day. Climate plays a significant role in influencing what you wear, and if you are lucky enough to live in a tropical climate, you can get away with wearing shorts and tees all your life. However, if you experience harsh winters, you would be better off having a go-to winter coat.

2.) Your Job

While most contemporary companies have a very modern view on dressing for a corporate environment, there is still a semblance of a dress code which they expect employees to adhere to. Today, most employees can get away with wearing jeans and casual sneakers—something that might have been preposterous two decades ago. However, this does not mean that employees can just get away with anything. If no uniform is imposed, there is a likely chance that a dress code would be enforced.

3.) Other People

While you might not be ready to admit such fact, it is an established reality that humans have an innate craving to be accepted and a desire for approval. Most of the time, this is evident enough in the way we dress. In fact, it is for this very reason that most of our clothing choices are subconsciously affected by our desire not to stand out. While considered stylish and fashionable, outrageous trends that beckon attention tend to look weird or crazy. Furthermore, some of us would want to wear clothing to make us seem more attractive to the opposite sex or to be accepted by our peers. While we might not care enough to admit it, the type of people we surround ourselves with tend to play a considerably significant role in influencing our clothing choices and style.

4.) Hobbies

Do you have a penchant for skating? Or perhaps, do you listen to heavy rock music? Well, you might not have noticed it, but your hobbies tend to show themselves in your clothing choices. Of course, you would want to choose clothing that would make it easier for you to perform the activities you find yourself most interested in. In fact, just take a gander at your closet, and you would notice that some of the things inside are inspired by the activities you do and hobbies that you have. It is precisely for this reason that trends such as the urban lumberjack and the skater chic have come to life.

5.) Sports

Varsity jackets, cheerleader skirts, basketball jerseys—these are just a few things of the slew of sports-inspired fashion you can get today. All these trends stem from the world of sports, and what their athletes wear and they have a huge impact on your clothing choices and style. More often than not, if you wish to support a specific sports team, you would be wearing your team jersey or if you are gearing up for a big game, whatever sport you might be into would play a critical role in what you wear to the field. For this reason, you would find many men and women wearing coordinating colors that would inspire team spirit and complement each other as well.

 

Indeed, whether we like it or not, our current environment plays an integral role as to how we dress ourselves and how we select our clothing. It plays a significant role in developing and shaping personal styles—so much so that no two people entirely dress in the same way. It is in this manner that we can truly express who we are as individuals and what makes us unique and different from one another.

 

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Men’s Fashion 101: Five Pairs of Shoes Every Man Must Have


“Shoes transform your body language and attitude. They lift you physically and emotionally.”-Christian Louboutin

It has been said that a pair of shoes says quite a lot about the person wearing them. While most would think this sentiment would apply to women in general, there is no stopping from onlookers assessing a man’s character based on the footwear he prefers. Furthermore, it is an established reality that quite a majority of men do love shoes despite it going against the grain of a somewhat archaic gender stereotype. After all, when men are sporting mostly jeans, shorts and the like, they would certainly have an inclination for adding a bit more glamour and zest in their choice for shoes. In this regard, it would be best if men invested in some choice pieces when it comes to shoes as when it comes to sartorial pieces, it is in shoes where men would find the most variety above all. You cannot expect to keep on sporting sneakers for every single day of your life after all.

However, there is no reason for you to acquire just about every shoe style possible—there are quite a few styles that are a cut above the rest and these are the ones that are worthy of your attention as well as your investment. In any case, here are some of the best pairs of shoes you should include in your closet. You can be assured that they go with everything from any urban streetwear clothing to your most formal ensembles.

1.) Loafers

Loafers are the ultimate go-to shoes that no man should ever have a shoe closet sans them. In fact, even the man with even just the slightest bit of proclivity for fashion would still have a trusty pair of loafers in his closet, and this is because loafers are the perfect shoes that strike a balance between casual and formal wear. The shoe style is incredibly versatile that you can wear it for a stroll to the park or to your best friend’s wedding. Moreover, loafers are excellent alternatives to boat shoes, plus they do not make you look too casual. There are plenty of variations of the shoe to choose from as well—from the plain leather ones to those that come with buckles, tassels and the like.

2.) Work Boots

Of course, if you do any type of manual labor, a pair of boots should always be an automatic addition to your closet. But even if you do not do any heavy lifting or any sort of outdoor activities, there are still merits to having this shoe style as a staple. A pair of work boots in your arsenal would ensure that you can rough it up whenever possible and get as dirty as you can without giving any second thought. Moreover, it affords your feet and toes ample protection that you can drop something incredibly heavy on your toes without any fear of fracturing any of your bones. They also provide proper sole traction for digging your feet in the ground which makes them an indispensable shoewear for heavy rains and muddy landscapes as it ensures that you do not slip. Regardless of whether you use them frequently or as seldom as you want, every man needs them as you will never know when you might be called to do some heavy manual labor work to do.

3.) Chukkas

A pair of chukkas is a pair of boots more business casual relative. They look formal without being pretentious and are exceptionally comfortable to wear. You would be surprised how well they would go with most of your business outfits and would make you look sharp and dapper enough for most social functions. Indeed, if you want to make an impression on someone without going through the lengthy hassle of donning fussy clothes and shoes, a pair of Chukkas would be an excellent choice. They would make you look polished, sophisticated and refined while remaining comfortable. Furthermore, despite the shoes’ incredibly casual appearance, it would not give you the demeanor of a slob but rather an elegant gentleman who knows how to choose stylish shoes without compromising comfort.

4.) Gym sneakers

If you frequently go to the gym and do routine workouts, it would be unimaginable for you not to have any gym shoes at your disposal. You might think that your casualwear sneakers would pass off as gym shoes, but you should never make this mistake. What you wear to the gym—especially your shoes, should never be worn casually on the streets. Your pair of gym shoes is the footwear you can sweat in and more often than not, it would bear most of the brunt of your workout regimes. In this regard, you want one that can support your body as well as do heavy workouts in. Just ensure that your gym sneakers stay fresh at all times.

5.) Casual Street Sneakers

When it comes to shoes, you should always have a pair you can easily put on and not give a second thought about—whether you are going to the mall or are picking up groceries. This is where brands such as New Balance, Keds, Sperry and Adidas Casuals come in handy and in this regard, they should be a staple in your closet. These shoes are not only stylish, but they are comfortable, sturdy and reliable and are excellent for casual day-to-day use. In fact, one might say these are to men what staple casual white sneakers are to men. These shoes are built mostly for comfort and style rather than speed and durability, so do not expect to do any of your workout routines while wearing them.
While your clothing ensembles might be something that is readily seen, it is your choice in shoes that speak the loudest so ensure that you choose them meticulously. Complete your shoe collection by referring to the list above and have a shoe appropriate for any occasion, social function or season. In this regard, not only will you have an incredibly versatile wardrobe, but a stylish one as well.

 

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Fashion Hacks: Six Styling and Clothing Tips to Instantly Elevate Your Outfits

 

“Fashion is just another accessory for someone with great style” –Author Unknown

 

For some, wearing clothes might be a negligible aspect of their daily routine, but to fashion-forward individuals, dressing impeccably is not only a form of courtesy and manners, but a lifestyle. With this in mind, the latter individuals would give their best endeavors in ensuring that they are dressed appropriately (and stylishly, if I might add) in every single day in their lives. However, no matter what kind of affinity we have with fashion and clothes, there are just some days where our sartorial ensembles would work for us and other days wherein they seemingly work against us. Considering the latter, it would only be understandable for men and women alike to consult online fashion and style articles as to how to make their clothes work for them best.

After all, fashion can be rather confusing at times—especially when you see a myriad of outfits that look great and yet when you try them on, they do not seem to complement and flatter your curves the way they did on the mannequin. Fashion, albeit easy on the eyes, can be a bit difficult to work out and it is in this regard that fashion hacks; tips and tricks can become rather indispensable. You might be surprised at how fairly easy and straightforward some of these tips are, but once you try them, you will immediately see a significant difference—regardless of whether you favor wholesale clothing over retail. So, if you want to elevate your sartorial game and make your clothes seem more stylish, here are some tips you might want to keep in mind:

1.) Knot a button-down shirt to show off your waist

Take a simple outfit to the next level by tying a knot at the waist. Your button-down plaid polo blouses would look so much better when you tie them into a knot at the waist instead of having them simply laying flat. While there is nothing wrong with having them hang by your waist, the knot at your waist tends to show off your shape rather than conceal it. Furthermore, the look is more sophisticated and polished compared to the rather dull and conventional way of wearing it. To make the perfect knot, undo the last three buttons of the blouse and tie those shirt tails into a knot. Make them tight and straighten the ends for a more refined look.

2.) Belt Layers

Layering clothes is an excellent avenue for giving your outfit more dimension and your fashion taste more definition. However, when you tend to pile too many clothes at once, the end result can easily look sloppy and bulky and would do no favors to flattering your silhouette. However, this does not mean you should put off layering altogether but for a more polished and less bulky look, let a belt pull the whole look together. Moreover, the belt carves your figure out from underneath all those clothes so the layers would not overwhelm you.

3.) Cuff your jeans

Although there is nothing wrong with donning your jeans as it is, cuffing it at the ankles is the simplest way to give it a more sophisticated and polished look. This easy upgrade is an easy style trick that would immediately make your entire ensemble more depth and elegance. Moreover, it gives a unique look to an outfit that you have probably worn a lot of times before and it gives you the opportunity to show off whatever footwear you have on. Choose the right technique based on the style of jeans you are wearing. It looks best when it is smaller as it keeps in touch with the streamlined look of the fitted pants. Roll them twice over each other and make sure they are only about half an inch wide. Bigger jeans present a bit of a challenge as the technique is to roll them instead of cuffing them. Should you be wearing baggier styles such as boyfriend jeans, keep the casual vibe of the pair of pants intact by rolling the jeans about three times with just an inch cuffs. For the final touch, mess it up so it does not look too perfect which would be in complete contrast to the rest of pants’ look.

4.) Stack your rings

Accessories are great for amplifying your style and rings are an excellent source for this. However, how do you execute the technique without looking like a prepubescent girl who is overly fond of showing off her jewelry collection? Make it look cool and edgy by strategically placing the rings on your fingers and stacking the different styles appropriately. The biggest and boldest ring should go on your index finger while the smaller styles on your ring finger. For a layered look, mix regular rings and midi styles and finish it off by stacking a couple or three midi rings for contrast. Be careful not to overdo it and stack your fingers with so many rings lest your hands look like a horror show.

5.) Cinch a simple dress

Boxy shift dresses are great fashion statements but they can easily hide your shape and more often than not, it would make you look a size bigger than you originally are. Make a knot in the middle and gather the extra fabric so that you can transform a shapeless dress into a form-fitting one that would complement your physique. Simply turn the dress inside out and gather two inches of the section in the middle. Twist the first later and tie it into a knot, flip the dress right side out and you are done.

6.) Add a scarf

Let us face it, some of the items in our wardrobes are far too basic that they could use a little touch me up to be considered stylish. In this regard, accessories such as statement necklaces would come in handy. However, if you are sick of wearing all your necklaces or simply want another alternative, a handkerchief scarf and bandana can easily be utilized to take a boring outfit up a notch. The great thing about handkerchiefs and scarves is that it is incredibly versatile that the ways of styling it are practically limitless.

 

Whether we like or not, we have a daily relationship with our clothes seeing it as we wear it every single day. With this in mind, it makes perfect sense to have a few clothing tips and tricks up our sleeves to ensure that we look our polished best no matter the occasion. Upgrade your everyday casual ensembles with the tips and techniques above and see your outfits transform from fine to fabulous.

 

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Men’s Fashion: Five Reasons to Invest in a Tailored Suit

“Style is when they are running you out of town and make it look like you are leading the parade” –William Battie

It has been said that nothing is more attractive to a woman than a man wearing a suit. In fact, a rather well-known adage has proclaimed that suits are to women what lingerie is to men—and this could not be any truer. In mainstream media and pop culture, the most attractive men are perpetually seen in suits—from the iconic James Bond to his cartoon counterpart, Sterling Archer. There is just something so sophisticated and debonair about a man in a suit—and this does not mean just any suit either, but rather a well-tailored one that fits you appropriately and accordingly.

However, in the age of contemporary fashion, we have seen a steady rise of baggy jeans, hip-hop clothing and snapbacks. As a result, the modern male has saved this most revered fashion staple solely for formal events such as weddings, funerals and cocktail parties. On the rare cases that they do see the light of day, the man in question happens to have a corporate meeting or something similar. Over the years, a certain stigma has been attached to wearing a suit. Individuals wearing it out of formal events would either be seen as stuffy business executives or would otherwise be considered as trying too hard. However, this notion should be dispelled because, until today, the suit remains a cult classic. In this regard, women can all universally agree that it looks exceedingly attractive on a man. In fact, simply wearing one would make any male ten times more appealing and alluring. Considering all this, it should go without saying that a well-tailored suit is a vital sartorial piece in your wardrobes—a fashion and style staple if you may.

However, if your closets seem to be appallingly short of one, here are good reasons why you should invest in a well-tailored suit as soon as possible:

1.) Save time

While suits off the rack are more accessible for purchase, are more affordable and conveniently displayed and sold in shopping malls, they can look too common. Moreover, there is a likely chance that your options when it comes to sizes would be limited—chalk this up to the consequences of mass production. As suit sizes would be generic, it can take a lot of shopping around before you finally find one that would fit you decently and yet even then, you would still likely need some adjustments. All of these would not only be time-consuming but a hassle as well. Invest in a tailored suit instead, it may cost you a bit more and may take a bit longer to make but it will eliminate the stress and hassle—plus you will end up looking sharp and confident.

2.) More fabric options and choices

Off the rack, suits come in fabrics that are already pre-selected for you. In this regard, choosing a specific pattern or fabric in your size can be especially difficult seeing as your choices are reduced and limited. However, investing in a custom and well-tailored suit bespoke for you presents you an array of fabric options and patterns. All you would need to do is simply choose one to your liking, and you will consequently have a unique suit that compliments your silhouette best.

3.) Longevity of the suit

As a consequence of mass production and perhaps, time constraint, off the rack suits are rarely of any quality. If anything, they may last you for a few years before they start deteriorating—especially if they are stashed away for most of the time inside closets. A custom made one on the other hand, however, is made with precise and detailed craftsmanship. Seeing as your tailor would not have to mass produce suits, he or she can spend time dedicated to perfecting your suit. Seeing as a quality suit would effectively reduce the frequency of suit purchases, you will ultimately be spending less over time.

4.) Better fit

This one is a no-brainer, but it bears stressing that a custom-made tailor suit would always fit you better than the one you bought off the racks. Custom suits are made-to-measure which would mean that it would be created from an existing pattern which would then be adjusted to match your measurements. As a result, the suit is made to fit your body with alterations only necessary if you have lost or gained weight. The tailoring is not only based on your body measurements but an analysis of your posture as well. Wearing a tailored suit ensures that you are wearing a garment created precisely for your body shape and as a result, people will take notice and even do a double take.

5.) It looks more stylish

As said before, department stores tend to carry a lot of suits that look the same—leaving you with little to no options at all. Sure, they may reflect current and modern trends, but they still retain that generic veneer that is notably absent in tailored suits. Wearing a tailored suit means you wish to be on the cutting edge of men’s fashion. Purchasing and wearing one ensures that not only will you be getting the highest standard in fit and fabric, but the look can be as on trend or as classic as you wish it to be. After all, a bespoke suit can be whatever you want to it to be—allowing you to customize everything from the width of the lapels to the number of buttons you wish the suit to have. Custom-made suits are incredibly versatile that it can serve as couture as you want it to be or you can downplay trends and have it reflect your personality instead.

 

While off the rack suits are convenient and are more affordable, they are nothing in comparison to well-tailored suits. You may get lucky and find one from off the rack that fits you well, but regardless there will always be something missing, and it can never beat one that is made to measure. So, do yourself a style favor and invest in a bespoke suit that would instantly augment your style.

 

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