Fashion editorials

To be recognized

How to look expensive on a budget!

I think a lot of us love the idea of an unlimited shopping spree.  There are so many things that I wish I could afford but the fact of the matter is I am a poor college student.  When I started going to the Art Institute of California I found myself feeling embarrassed when I would tell people what my degree was because I felt like I didn’t look the part.  I couldn’t afford the beautiful lavish cloths I see in the magazines.  

Random tangent. I hate the fashion magazines that say budget dressing and all the items are still in the $100-500 range.  

With my frustration and desire to dress to impress I started to observe those that I thought were the best dressed. 

What made them stand out and what should you spend your money on?

•   Tailored or fitted cloths. So many of us are afraid to show our shape that we buy clothing that is too big for us. Shape is better than none.
•   Jewelry!!!!!! Always accessories with fun accent necklaces, shoes, purses.  Go for a watch.  They are classy and can look expensive.
•   Good shoes.  I have this horrible habit of wearing shoes until they fall apart. Don’t follow in my error.  If the shoes start to get beat, through them out!
•   Great accent pieces! This can be done with jewelry however a fabulous blouse or jacket goes a long way.
•  Iron your clothing! Clean pressed and ready to impress!
•   Materials! Sheers, cottons, etc.  Avoid high synthetic counts (30% or more)
•   Jeans are something I like to spend money on but you can buy cheap but if you go cheap go dark.
•   Though its work, Hair! Take time to create a beautiful full look. 

Places to shop on a budget and achieve an expensive look.

•  H&M! Oh how I love them! They have clothing that is well tailored and at a great price. Their goal is to create clothing that is quality at a good price.
•  Charming Charlie’s! Check them out for awesome accessories! From jewelry to purses.
•  Anthropology is very expensive but a great place to hit the sale rack for that awesome signature piece.
•   Hair styles don’t pay a salon.  Go to pinterest.com and look up hair tutorials.
• My final advice. Never rule a store out! Sometimes they might have just the right piece. I love shopping at Good Will of the Desert Industries for fun vintage/retro clothing.  

How to Dress Your Best As a Men

 How to dress your best as a men!

“cause every girl crazy ‘bout a sharp dressed mAn” -zztop

The Trapezoid:

You have broad shoulders that tapper to your waist. This is the ideal body shape.  With this body shape you have the freedom to try almost anything. So take the time to try fun new styles and prints.

Examples:

The rectangle:

                Rectangles are the same width at the hips as they are at the shoulders. So how do you dress your body to achieve the ideal shape of a trapezoid?

 

A rectangle should wear:

 

·         Tailored jackets.  This creates long lines and creates an indent around the waist that gives the illusion of a trapezoid shape.

·         Layers. Layers are able to bulk up the body helping to define features.

·         Circular Necklines. This makes the shoulders look broad.

The Triangle:

               This is where you appear widest at the hips. 

 

A triangle should wear:

 

·         Well fitted clothes.  Clothes that don’t fit well will make you look over weight.

·         Use jackets that are either double or single breasted or that have shoulder pads (the look of). This helps to elongate the chest and adds bulk to the shoulders.

·         Wear dark colors on top.

Oval:

                Much like the rectangle you are about the same width at the shoulders as the hips. 

A oval should wear:

·         Vertical stripes or pinstripes. This lengthens the chest.

·         Wear prints or textures in darker hues.

·         Straight or boot cut jeans are the best.  They create a long line which is desirable.

Inverted Triangle:

                You typically have broad shoulders and a smaller waist then a trapezoid.

A inverted triangle should wear:

·         V-necks. V-necks are more narrow around the neck and the point at the collar directs the eye down and away from the shoulders.

·         Use centered graphic tees. This also directs the eye away from the shoulders.

·         Wear straight or boot cut jeans. Skinny or slim jeans will make your shoulders look more broad and thus the straight and boot cut creates a balance with your shoulders.

·         Contrast belts. If you are wearing a black shirt and dark jeans wear a light brown belt.  This draws the eyes to the belt and adds the illusion of wider hips.

·         Use tops that have straight lines such as vests, jackets, and some blazers.

Let me just start by saying I love fashion!

I think all of us have certain eras we love for their beautiful fashion statements.  I am in love, head over hills for the 40’s/50’s fashion!  It was so beautiful and classy! I miss that! I miss the beautiful famine look that graced the earth during that period.  Though our era is fun in its own way with what I will call the explosive generation.  My reasoning is our generation has a little bit of every era. We are expressive and vibrant with the clothes we wear.  We don’t fit in with our clothing, we stand out and we love it!

I think we have a super fun style and are taking fun pieces from our history and adding them to our closets.  The one fear I have with our generation is that we sale ourselves short. We have these sweet expressive styles and then when a woman attempts the look of sexy she fails.  Why?

Our world is demanding, asking for woman who do it all. If you are not noticed you stay unnoticed.  Thus woman have resulted in showing everything they have to offer to receive the attention we all long for.  This allows others to disrespect us and often shows the lack of respect we have for ourselves. I am pretty sure no woman is truly aiming for that.

What does it mean to be sexy? Melanie, Rickey Writer for the Times, (The United Kingdom)says,
“Essentially it's a move away from obvious vulgarity. It's modest without being prim. It doesn't expose flesh; rather it shrouds it and plays hide and seek with shape and form.”

I love the idea of walking around confident and knowing that I am making men curious about me. There is a certain amount of fun in the chase.  This is the new sexy!  

Remember the post I wrote about dressing your body shape? Check it out! Use those tips to create a sexy look. PLAY UP YOUR CURVES. Find confidence because showing your shape is better than hiding it!

Check out this sweet video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJVHRJbgLz8  This video shows the power of dress and its effect on others.  She is my hero so watch it! :D

Finding an outfit that says it all.

More then half of my life I have spent hating water activities. It was a December, cold and unbearable in Utah when I stumbled across a swimsuit that hung below my favorite sign, sale! This little black swimsuit was a one-piece backless beauty.  I didn’t think this single purchase of a little black beauty would change my view of water but I felt sexy in the swimsuit and gained confidence.

 If we feel comfortable and beautiful in what we wear our personal confidence shoots through the roof.  I find that when someone has confidence nothing stands in their way.

This is something I want to be a part of.  I want the opportunity to bring confidence and power to someone. To help them find self worth because a beautiful garment has the magic to do just that.  Because for me, after that little black beauty, I changed and now no one can keep me from the water.

I believe there are times for all of us where we are going somewhere that we feel nervous or uncomfortable.  For example, a job interview.  Job interviews are intimidating at times. I am trying to interview with my favorite fashion company H&M and to me it is intimidating and yet exciting. With a resume or a cover letter, even a letter of motivation can do a lot to describe me but the power of people’s first impression when they see us seems to be a big part of what gets us the job. So here are some tips when it comes to dressing to impress.

1.     Pintrest: I am pretty sure every woman knows about this fun website where we can look at pictures and get an idea of things we want.  I have a fashion board that is called “my future closet” this board helps me get a clear perspective of my style because sometimes I feel like I am all over the place with my style, which leads to a mess in my dress.  Take the time to find out what style you are by finding outfits you like.

2.     ACCESSSORIES: so many people have cute outfits but the accessories are what makes colors pop.  If any of you are in to art work the artist has to create a movement in the piece of work so the eye works its way through the piece and back to the beginning.  That is what effect the accessories have on an outfit, they tie it together and allow the eye to work its way through your fashionable statement.

3.    The message of the colors you wear:

o   Blue: is the color of success.  This is great for an interview!

o   Red: is power and strength.  This is great for after you get the job to show your confidence and that you aren’t afraid to stand out. Hopefully this will help along side with your hard work to get a promotion

o   Beige: this color is good for the days you want to blend in, a day to be calm.

o   Greens: shows sporty and is also a more casual color.

o   Pink: perfect for a date. Pink is a more approachable color making people see you as bubbly and fun.

o   Yellow: outgoing, happy and fun

o   Brown: let brown be more of an accent color or a statement piece like a coat.

o   Purple: can also create the idea of fun but more sophisticated then pink.

(for more info on colors check out this website: http://blog.teamtreehouse.com/how-colour-communicates-meaning)

Here are some examples of using the color to express yourself.