The dark season is over…

Summer is known to be about being able to go to outdoor events, we are able to wear our favourite dresses and shorts without having to worry about the ‘cold’ weather. It’s all about the sunglasses, open toe shoes, light weight clothing and being free from the cold and fever. A lot of people plan road trips and vacations in summer, let us do all of that in style.

Summer 2013 is all about colour, monochrome and graphics. Don’t be afraid of standing out with bold colours and contrasts. Play around with different patterns, shapes and stripes. The following are a few ideas on what to wear this season (summer must haves).

You will never go wrong with neons (bright and bold colours).

Look stylish and chic in graphic and monochrome.

Summer does not exist without colour, combining colour and elegance.

These are a few looks that you can consider for this season #summer2013….

Sources

Images are from: Google images

Graphic: http://cdn2.chicisimo.com/thumbs/files/2013/06/miu-miu-argento-zara-occhiali-occhiali-da-sole~look-main-single.jpg

Our crowning glory…

I thought that writing about women and hair would be an easy task because it is something that I can relate to however to my disadvantage it was quite challenging. When I asked my friend and my sister to read my first draft they both didn’t like it. They thought that it was boring and that what I wrote did not make sense. So I took their advice and re-wrote it.

Not everyone is blessed with beautiful and lavish hair. Some people have thick hair with volume but others have few hair that take time to grow. There are women who have naturally beautiful hair. Whilst others do not have the type of hair that they want, fortunately we can do something about it.  I love hair that is rich with volume. Apart from this it worthwhile to know that humans are inherently creators and we also create our own realities. When it comes to hair we have a variety of choice from hair products to hair extensions.

There are different types of weaves and they range from cheap weave to the ridiculously expensive weave: brazilian, indian hair, peruvian and 100% human hair just to name a few. Some women think that you cannot put a price to beauty/the perfect hairstyle. We go through it all in the process of enhancing our beauty. From waiting long queues in the hair salon to paying exorbitant amounts of money for hair and waiting long hour to do one hairstyle eg. Braids.  If you want long hair you buy a weave or plait braids and If you want a different colour you simply dye it. If want short hair you cut it or put a short weave the list s endless. I still maintain that Women have a variety of choice when it comes to hair. The range hairstyles include: an Afro, dreads, relaxed hair, bald hair (aka chiskop) or weave just to name.

Some women prefer keeping it natural and chic and they still  look fabulous.

Dreadlocks

Braids

Getting your hair done is a process but you feel good after it. Hair can enhance how you look like, and it can make you look prettier or just change how you look like. No matter what type of hairstyle you have the key to having great hair is knowing how to take care of it. Whether you have a weave or natural hair you have to treat your hair and use the right hair products.

A girl’s best “friend”

Contrary to popular belief that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, I think that shoes are a girl’s best friend. I love shoes more than diamonds, sometimes I feel like I cannot get enough shoes. I wish I could have them in different colors, shapes and designs and have an abundance of choices but with the shoe size that I wear it’s not easy to get the shoes that you want because they sometimes do not make size 3 heels. When I find the perfect pair of heels, I wish I could have the same pair in different colours. Apart from this shoes complete outfits and they can make you stand out and feel more confident/glamorous especially heels. Shoes can enhance your outfit. For example a casual outfit such as wearing a simple shirt and jeans can be enhanced by throwing a pair of exquisite heels.

There are shoes that you can wear to go anywhere because they comfortable on the contrary there are also those that you only wear for special occasions. There are some heels that you can only wear when you are going out for dinner and know that you will be sitting down, because they look good but they are very uncomfortable but you bought them because they looked perfect. I have also realized that I cannot follow all the trends in fashion. I settle for what I like and that is simple, classy, stylish and elegant shoes (timeless shoes). For example gladiators are in but I personally would not buy them because I do not find them that appealing however they might look good on someone else.

Alexander McQueen and avant-garde shoes

There are shoes that we would love to have just to keep in our shoe collection and there are those that we love but we cannot afford and one of which is a pair of Alexandra McQueen’s.

Wedges – comfortable shoes that you can wear anywhere. You can wear them to work, whilst shopping and on a ladies night out.

You can never go wrong with platforms and they are more comfortable than your normal stilettos because they are elevated in front. This makes your foot feel more stable and comfortable.

Latest shoe trends for spring/summer 2013: transperant details, chuncky heels, pointed toes, bold gladiators and metallics just to name a few. Look stylish and fabulous in your favourite pair of heels…

REFERENCE

All images are from: Google images

http://www.google.com/images

The Tomboy Look as an alternative…

The tomboy look is usually mistaken as a style that is only worn by butch lesbians or girls that behave like men. A tomboy is a girl who acts or dresses in a boyish way. Tomboys are sometimes called hoydens or romps. Additionally girls or ladies who love this look are also sometimes mistaken as trying to be man, which entirely true there are a lot of straight women (heterosexuals) who sometimes feel like wearing male clothing or clothes that look masculine. It is not about trying to be man it’s just about one’s own personal preference or sense of style. Sometimes people dress according to how they feel or they like the tomboy look because it is comfortable or for various other reasons. Owing to this every individual has his/her own preference when it comes to style and it could vary based on a particular occasion or how you feel however sometimes people’s dress sense varies according to the latest fashion trends. They want to keep up with recent trends.

Baggy jeans, male sweaters, tracksuit pants, Timberland boots or Bronx are the different clothes that epitomize the tomboy look. On the contrary, there are some aspects of the tomboy look that have become more acceptable as a fashion trend such as boyfriend jeans.

There was a period whereby the tomboy style was considered the in thing where ladies would wear baggy pants and Timberland boots. In the 80’s artists such as TLC, Da Brat and Aaliyah were known for their style of choice which was the tomboy look. I think it’s worthwhile to know that the tomboy look is still quit prevalent in 2013 people still love wearing the tomboy look. Moreover Ciara, Amber Rose and Rihanna just to name a few are well known people who are straight and they wear this look as an alternative style/dress sense hence the reason why I am say that the tomboy look is just a style preference and it sometimes has nothing to do about one’s sexual orientation. It’s about expressing yourself through clothing.

REFERENCES

Definition: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/tomboy

Images: http://www.google.com/images

A female’s perspective on men’s clothing

This blog was inspired by the feedback that I received from men about my blog. They said that they also want tips about how to dress up and trends in fashion. This is dedicated to men and it is my opinion on different types of clothing and styles that I like for men. In my perspective males fashion is not as hard to pull off as compared to females. You must just know how to choose the right clothes that compliment your body. In addition what I have realized about fashion and style is that it brings out or exudes your own personality or how you feel.

However as much as we are all unique as individuals our style and fashion sense is also unique and it varies from each individual. Hence the reason why I said this is my perspective on male’s clothing and the type of clothes that I like in men. There are people who like sports wear, casual, smart casual or formal wear moreover your dress sense always comes out in your outfits or how you put it together. In the past I thought that male’s fashion is not as complicated as female’s clothing but it is not only about wearing a simple shirt and a pair of pants it’s about colour, texture, patterns etc. If you do not know which colours work well together, you will end up wearing orange and lime green or colours that do not well together. I personally do not quite like bright colours on men such as neon colours. For me staple colours (black and white) are a must have, followed by navy blue, grey and brown (neutral colours). I think men can wear colour if they know how to pull it off, but if you can’t stick to the basics.

The following items are about looking simple, classy and stylish.

Contrast between the older and the younger generation

REFERENCES

All images are from: google images

http//www.google.com/images

Moving from Black & White to Monochromatic

This is a continuation from my previous post on the monochrome trend. Its also driven by my interest in the monochrome and monochromatic trend (simple elegance) you do not have to try too hard to look stylish. The monochromatic trend is quit intriguing because it is not about matching colours or colour blocking. Monochromatic is about using the same colour for the entire outfit, its no longer only about wearing all black or all white. You can use one colour for the whole outfit. You can create variations and contrast through the use of different shades and textures by using the same colour scheme.

 

Tips on the monochromatic trend: you can use different shades of the same colour to make your outfit look more interesting (using light and dark contrasts). Another tip is to add a bit of personality and variation by wearing different coloured shoes, accessories and bags. You can also accessorize with your metallics such as your gold or silver neck pieces and earrings. In my perspective I think  white and neutral colours are the best colours, to add a bit of variation to the entire look. Apart from this I think monochromatic is a simple trend to pull of and its something that you have in your closet. Simplicity is key. For instance you can wear a coral colour, with a hint of peach or orange and white.

Monochromatic pant suits

Look stylish, chic and fabulous in monochromatic. I love this trend because it is easy to articulate and its another timeless trend. If you love colour and you like standing out and being acknowledged monochromatic is for you…..

REFERENCES

Images are from:

http://www.hercampus.com

http://2.bp.blogspot.com

google images

The Monochrome Trend…….simple elegance

The constant changes and re-emergence of trends in fashion are quit intriguing. At one point florals are ‘in’ followed by pastel colours then comes neon colours. These are bright and vibrant colours and they also epitomize the spring/summer season. However spring 2013 is also about embracing staple or basic colours such as black and white this is also known as the monochrome trend. In my perspective monochrome is a constant trend. In addition black and white are staple colours and almost everyone has something black or white in their closet. These colours are often perceived as colours that you wear when you go to work or to a funeral. Some people think that black and white does not stand out which is not true, you can look elegant and fashionable in a simple black and white outfit.

Apart from this there are other positive connotations to these colours. For instance white represents purity, precision and humility. Black is about sophistication, style and elegance. In my perspective black and white are colours that are easy to match and one can pull of stunning outfits with those colours both independently and combined. What I love about monochrome is the ability to play around with patterns such as stripes, blocks and spots. It’s not about knowing which colours work well together its about knowing which items of clothing can you put together to pull of a fabulous outfit.

 

This is how I wear  black and white, a simple black and white dress and a pair of heels.

REFERENCES

The meaning of colours:

http://www.three-musketeers.net/mike/colors.html

http://www.incredibleart.org/lessons/middle/color2.htm

All images are from: google images

GENUINE LEATHER VS PLEATHER…….timeless trend

I have acknowledged a trend in clothing items that are made out of leather. There are lots of clothes that are made out of leather. It is no longer only about leather jackets,  leather shoes and bags. Leather is constantly being re-invented and recycled when it comes to fashion. Leather is now being used for shirts, dresses, skirts, shorts etc. This is similar to my previous post about denim. I have realised that leather is also a fashion staple and you can wear it in different seasons and in different colours. In addition I have leather jackets that I bought in 2011 and I still look good when I wear them now. You can wear leather for two or more years and still look stylish, you just need to know how to take care of it hence the reason why I say leather is a fashion staple.

INTERESTING FACTS

I read an article about leather just to gain a bit of insight about leather. I have established that leather can be created/made from different animals; leather is made from ostrich, pigskin, lizard skin, calfskin and chamois just to name a few. In addition I think it’s worthwhile to know that suede is made from the inside out of leather or the inner split of leather. This is probably one of the reasons why suede is cheaper than genuine leather. Apart from this I have observed a difference between pleather (fake/faux leather) and genuine (real) leather, the advantage of pleather is that it is cheap and easy to maintain. Genuine leather on the other hand is expensive and it is high maintenance however it lasts longer than pleather. Genuine leather is made from animal skin in contrast pleather is made out of a fabric base and it is manmade.

Ostrich leather is usually used for bags, shoes and belts and it is one of the most expensive types of leather.

Sometimes it is hard to distinguish between fake and genuine leather. Genuine leather is not always best choice in my opinion when it comes to clothing. I prefer genuine leather in furniture, jackets and shoes but I would buy a dress or a skirt that’s made out of fake leather as long as it looks real and not like plastic. In most cases genuine leather is heavier than pleather; I can only imagine myself wearing a dress made out of genuine leather in summer.

Simple street fashion, wearing a leather skirt and a denim jacket and still look stylish…

REFERENCES

All images are from: google images

http://crafts.creativebug.com/difference-between-leather-suede

Different types of leather: http://www.askmen.com/fashion

The denim/jeans affair…….

Most people do not differentiate the words denim and jeans some people use these words interchangeably. It could be said that the word jean/s is mostly used to define pants and denim is the material that is used to make jeans. In addition there are different types of jeans and these are; skinny, low cut and narrow bottom jean just to name a few. Denim is something that could be worn by people of different ages and different shapes and sizes. Denim can be used in anything it could be used in shirts, dresses, skirts, jacket, shorts, jeggings and even bags and shoes. What I love about denim is that it is a timeless piece of material which can be worn on different occasions and it is something that you can wear throughout the year. Denim can be worn through out the different season and the styles of denim are constantly evolving and adjusting to different trends in fashion. Apart from this you can dress it up or down, in different colours and shapes/cuts. You can’t go wrong with denim especially when you don’t know what to wear. Even though I sometimes do wear coloured jeans my favourite is still the classic blue jeans.

How to look elegant and chic in denim.

Simple and classy way of wearing denim; a white shirt, jeans and heels.

Different ways of wearing denim on denim. You can wear this with different shades of denim or the same color/shade of denim.

Denim is used in various types of clothing, even in bags and shoes.

One of my favorite and most comfortable pair of jeans are high waisted jeans

What to think about for the next season, dungarees are coming back (spring 2013).

http://www.au.glam.com/files

REFERENCE

Google images: http://google/images.com

Horoscopes and fashion…an outlandish combination

This blog was inspired by my horoscope (Pisces). In the past week I have been reading about astrology I particularly focused on my star sign which is Pisces. As I was reading I came across different aspects about people who were born between the 19^th of February and 20^th of March. We are defined as thinkers, dreamers, sensitive, passionate, gentle and nurturing people. Apart from this what stood out the most whilst I was reading about Pisces and learning about different aspects, personality, relationships and colours just to name a few. One of the topics about astrology was Pisces and sense of style I found that quit intriguing because I didn’t know that your style or your dress sense and the colours that you choose could be determined by astrology or your horoscope. I was fascinated by this and finding out itn this true or not, if I could relate to what was written about my horoscope.

What I have learnt was that Pisces women love pastel colors and that their choice of colours are sea-green, lavender and blue. According to xstrology scopes (website) Pisces women love wearing dresses and skirts, they are very girly. Pisces women love colour and patterns. I have also realized that we can not relate to everything that is written about our horoscopes. Owing to this I am not that fond of dresses but what I do agree with is the colour blue. The signature colour for Pisces women is blue. Pisces is a water sign and water is usually associated with blue. Hence the reason why Blue is one of my favourite colours and it is also a colour that signifies Pisces. I have realized that I am more susceptible to choosing blue clothing items, I have blue accessories, dresses, shirts, shoes and blue denim jeans just to name a few. The colour blue symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth and heaven.

The similarity between grey and blue is the different shades and the number 50. There are fifty shades of grey and fifty two shades of blue. Different shades of blue include; deep sky blue, navy blue, indigo, Alice blue, Yale blue, midnight blue powder blue and royal blue just to name a few. The following images are about how to be stylish in different shades of blue.

This is how I wear blue

References

Images from: http://watersignlove.tumblr.com/page/2

http://imgfave.com/search/eyes%20fashion%20style

Google images: http://google/images.com

Pisces and fashion:

http://xstrologyscopes.com/articles/pisces/fashion-tips-for-pisces

The meaning of blue:

http://www.ask.com/question/what-does-the-color-blue-mean