American Idol Fashion Mistakes
January 17, 2008 | 1 Comment
Do you watch American Idol? Some of it frightens me a little bit sometimes. I mean, I love the show. I’m addicted. Every day, I’m plopped in front of mine or my boyfriend’s television, watching it. And, to me, just as important as the people’s voices is what they’re wearing. How you dress says something about what you think about the activity
Here’s what I think: the American Idol audition is an interview. You need to dress professionally. If you don’t dress professionally, you don’t have a future for the show. For this type of thing, a suit or a dress isn’t necessary, even if that is professional; jeans are perfectly fine. On the other hand, dressing up in a costume is not acceptable. Yes, you have personality, don’t show it to us by dressing up like someone else. You won’t be taken seriously.
Have you ever noticed how nice Paula and Randy and Simon always look on the show? That’s the way it should be.
Jeans, skirts, dresses are fine. T-shirts are fine.
So, this man would be perfectly dressed for an American Idol audition, but not a job interview:
Interview wear:
Jennifer Aniston’s outfit is appropriately for both an American Idol audition or a job interview:
This man is not dressed appropriately for either:
See the difference?
Tyra Banks Tells Us How To Look Thinner
January 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment
As we’re still only in the very beginning of the new year, we still have plenty of time to make changes and complete our new years resolutions.
For those who made a new years resolution to lose weight, this could help. Obviously, I can’t help you lose weight, but I do know some ways to make you look slimmer - which helps along the way. It’s possible to look slimmer - and feel slimmer - even if you haven’t lost a pound. Sometimes, that’s all you need to feel like you’re being successful.
On the Tyra Banks show a short time ago, Tyra shared these six tips:
Four other ways to look slimmer are:
1) Good posture - good posture makes you look slimmer because you’re standing taller - it makes you feel better and is good for you, anyway, so keep your chin up.
2) Wear dark colors with monochromatic schemes - dark colors make you look slimmer, light colors will make you look bigger. You can use colorful things for accessories, if you want, which will (obviously) brighten up your outfit.
3) Wear tailored clothing - tailored clothing makes your waist look smaller and makes all of you look more together.
4) Wear smaller prints if you’re small and bigger prints if you’re big.
Wearing 2008 Designer Fashions Realistically
January 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The Louis Vuitton and Chanel Cruise 2008 Collections may be incredibly fashionable - and pretty cool, but that doesn’t mean they’re realistic to wear other than on the runway. That’s okay, though, because it is possible to wear them (or similar, less-expensive things) and look like a normal human being.
There are a few things to keep in mind, no matter what you’re wearing, be it today’s latest styles or something ten years down the road from now.
1) Be comfortable with what you’re wearing.
2) Wear things that flatter you and suit you.
3) Don’t wear something just because it’s popular.
Now, to practically wear the designer fashions in 2008, here are a few things to keep in mind.
1) Black and white and bright colors are in. That being the case, find bright colors that suit you. You don’t need to wear all bright colors. Pick and choose the ones that you like and wear it either minimally or with something that tempers it.
My sister and I were looking for a dress for her college graduation and senior-year banquet the other day. We eventually settled on two dresses, but that’s not the point. She found a dress that suited her. The style was perfect, it was mostly black and it had a bright pink bow around the waist, and pink lining at the top and bottom. The dress was short enough to be in-style, but long enough that she felt comfortable (knee-length). And the pink made her eyes pop.
2) Florals are pretty in moderation. I truly believe that floral dresses should be should be saved for special occasions - like weddings, funerals and holidays. They can also be worn to church, but they shouldn’t be overdone. A floral skirt, or a floral dress are fine. But if you’re wearing a floral skirt, find a matching top and pair it with that, and if it’s cool, pair it with a shirt and jacket. You can still be stylish, but you won’t look like you came from Never-Never land.
3) Short shorts and short skirts are in. There are very few people those look good on. I honestly recommend staying away from them, and choosing either the bell-bottom style pants or the baggy shirts to wear instead. Long, bell-bottom pants also have a way of making you look slimmer than you are (especially when paired with heels) because it gives you both height and length, while the short shorts make you look very very short. However, if you decide to wear the short shorts or short poofy skirts, do everyone a favor and wear some underwear with them.
4) Typically, when wearing patterned clothing, smaller women look better in smaller prints and bigger women look better in bigger prints.
Beauty Trend For the New Year
December 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment
This year, 2007, was the year of crazy fashion, with a style that was part-70’s, part-80’s, part-90’s and part something completely different. That said, it’s hard to predict what will be stylish in 2008. But there’s one way to begin preparations: makeup.
Emphasis on the eye:
For 2008, the smokey “cat’s eyes” are in. This can be achieved with dark liner around the whole eye that goes to the far corner of the eye with an upward sweep. Eyebrows should be done with a fuller, more natural look, and the eyelashes should also be fuller and darker, which is complimentary to the darker, smokey look that’ll be in. (By the way, an extra layer of mascara will make you appear much less tired than you really are.)
The lips:
All shades of red are in for lip color, from brick red to plum reds to bluish reds and everything in-between; it’s just a matter of finding the right shade.
One thing to keep in mind, though: don’t do up both your eyes and your lips. If you’re going all out on one, be more subtle with the other. Draw attention to only one part of your face, and use a lip gloss or nudes for the other thing.
What Should Pregnant Jamie Lynn Spears Wear?
December 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Top maternity fashion designer Liz Lange offers some fashion tips for Jamie Lynn Spears as she embarks into the world of covering baby bumps. Of course, she’s only 12 weeks along, so she’s not showing yet, but she will be soon enough. Since Jamie Lynn is in the public eye, wearing overlarge clothing isn’t exactly going to work.
And Liz says she doesn’t think big sister Britney Spear’s look will be great for her. (Britney wore little dresses and cowboy boots.) “She’s a young girl, so I would want to keep her look innocent… I think little cute dresses and jeans with tight-fitting tee shirts… she’s 16, and I would like to see her look her age.”
Kate Moss Steps Out In Style
December 19, 2007 | 1 Comment
Kate Moss isn’t exactly known for her great sense of style, mostly because she usually lacks it (until recently), but she managed to pull it off this time: style and beauty. And she didn’t even trip!
Note her long black tights, with the black wrap skirt. Not everyone can pull off such a high slit, but Kate sure can! And she looks reasonable because of the tights beneath. I think my favorite part is the reddish-orange shirt that peeks through the jacket she’s wearing and adds color to an otherwise very dull outfit. It makes her pop.
The only thing I don’t like is her shoes. I just don’t like black peep-toed heels over black tights. It looks fine, I guess, but another color would be a million times better.
For those at home, this look is easy to imitate - even if you don’t show off all the leg. Just find a color that makes you pop!
Men and Women’s Fashion Accessory: The Scarf
November 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Scarves are easily one of my favorite fashion accessories - for both women and men. Like anything else, scarves have a wide range of prices from expensive, to very inexpensive, and they can be worn to keep you warm, with a coat, or completely separately, to add some color, or just to look nice. Scarves are quickly becoming an important fashion accessory for men and women alike. They have been worn for centuries, in all different countries, in all different styles, for all different reasons. Amazing that they’re still hot now.
The rule for wearing scarves:
It should compliment the rest of what you’re wearing, but it doesn’t need to match exactly. I once bought a matching shirt and scarf combination. It was a bad, bad idea - I looked like I was trying to be a chameleon. Fortunately, they can be worn separately.
Instead, it’s better to use a scarf to accent certain colors. For instance, this $98 green men’s scarf can be worn with a green shirt in a different shade, or to emphasize green stripes or pattern in another shirt.
Scarves can also serve to add color to something that might not otherwise have much of it. This $20 pink and women’s scarf is nice because the dual colors give it a different look and feel, which could look great with white, black, brown, and even some shades of gray. Men’s scarves can also have more than one color, and that is actually very trendy.
Here are two of several ways for women to wear them as accessories:
- The long tie: For this, you need a rectangular scarf, and then, you put it around your neck, with one end hanging down longer than the other. Then, tie the longer end in a not around the shorter, and pull the short end until you have it the length you want. This is a soft, feminine look appropriate for almost any occasion.
- The double flip: Probably the easiest, and still very classy. Again, with a rectangular scarf, put it around your neck, with one end hanging down further than the other, and wrap the other end around your neck a second time, and simply let it hang down. Like in this picture.
Here are two of several ways for men to wear scarves as accessories:
- Wrap it around your neck, and leave one end around you shoulder (or you can bring it forward like in the woman’s option).
- The Italian Loop: Fold the rectangular scarf in half, and put it around your neck, pulling the loose ends through the loop, and tighten it as you like. This is elegant and warm, and very European.
Try Them Both On: Color Makes A Difference
November 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Have you ever had the problem of trying on two pairs of pants, two shirts, or whatever that are exactly the same, except for the color? I mean, you loved the shirt, and you want it, but the first color just was NOT up to par, and looked awful, so you bypassed the shirt all together? Next time, get the shirt in the other color - all three colors - that you’re considering. Sometimes, the color really does make all the difference in the world.
I always forget that. Yesterday, while I was getting ready for the all-important Thanksgiving meal, I had on a shirt that I bought especially for Thanksgiving. And I hated it. Changed my pants. Worse. The color was wrong, I didn’t like the fit, I didn’t like the shape… anything that could be wrong, was wrong.
Finally, in desperation (after texts of complaint to my roommate who was miles away with her family), I picked up the other shirt that I bought - which was exactly the same, except for the color: same size, same cut, same shape, same fit, and a “miracle” happened. It fit perfectly.
The color was good, the shape was great, the fit was wonderful, and I didn’t even notice the cut. There was also the small voice of my roommate, telling me to buy both: both colors are good on me, and I could wear one for Thanksgiving, one for Christmas. They were both fine in the store, but yesterday, yesterday it was the red that won out… the turquoise just didn’t cut it. So I’m glad I had both, or I would have been miserable.
Another thing to try when you love a shirt, or pants or whatever, but they’re not quite perfect, is to get another size. Sometimes, going down a size, instead of up a size, makes all the difference in the world. Of course, sometimes it’s just not meant to be.
Holiday Clothing For the Girls
November 21, 2007 | Leave a Comment
My two younger cousins may be sisters, but they’re as different as two little girls can be. The older one hates dresses, and hates dressing up. The number of times we had to tell her to put her skirt down as a child… But the younger one loves dresses. She loves to dress up and look pretty - Christmas and Easter are her favorite times of year. She’s almost guaranteed a new dress.
Here are a few tips to help find that special girl a holiday outfit she loves and can shine in.
For the girls there are several options dresses, pants or skirts, and shirts.
1)Dresses
Long or short, dresses are as different as the girls who wear them. Sometimes, length is better with age - when kids are younger, they can get away with shorter dresses without a problem. Funny how that works.
This two-piece burgundy dress is available at Target for $23.
This $40 dress from JC Penny is very pretty and covered in a nice lace - could be perfect for the child who is conscientious and careful.
This beautiful $40 red and black velvet dress is also at JC Penny.
2)Pants
For kids like my little cousin’s sister, pants are the perfect way to go. Black pants are best for the winter holidays, but khaki are okay, too.
These black velvet pants are available at Target for only $12.
These brown corduroys are available at JC Penny for only $32.89
3) Skirts
The great thing about skirts is that, unlike dresses, they can be worn more than just a few times, and they’re just as pretty.
This brown skirt is available at Target for only $15.
This black skirt is available at Target for only $17.
4)Shirts
This sweater is available at Target for only $13 in black and white, and can be paired with a nice shirt and worn frequently. It’s pretty and can easily dress up an outfit.
This pretty buckle top t-shirt is available at JC Penny for only $15. The sweater beside it is available in red, black, purple, blue, white, brown and gray for only $11.
This rhinestone heart tee is available at The Children’s Place for only $6 in black, brown, blue, red, white, purple, pink, green, off-white and various pastels.
Getting the Kids Ready for Christmas
November 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment
It’s just over a month before Christmas (did it come early this year, or what?), and it’s time to be thinking about what to put those kids in for the big day. My brother hated Christmas clothing as a child (he might still hate Christmas clothing, but he’s not so young anymore), but my sister and I loved it.
All kids are different when it comes to dressing up, and no matter how your family does it - take the kids shopping with you, or give it as a morning Christmas gift - finding the right clothes are an important part of the day. Here are a few tips to make it a little bit easier.
For the boys:
1) The pants
Khakis are nice, because, according to my brother “they’re not as scratchy” and they still look nice. They can also be worn for Thanksgiving, Easter, and other occasions. Black pants are nice for Christmas and Easter - they have a more formal look about them. And unless they’re from an actual suit, my little brother’s complaint is null. And not every little boy complains about suits. My best friend’s little boy loves them because “he can get more girlfriends.” Straight from the mouth of a six-year-old. He’s just like his mother.
These cotton pants are available in khaki, black, gray and navy at JC Penny for only $17.
These suit pants are available at C&T, www.clothesandthings.com (as are the shirts that accompany them) for only $10.
2) Shirt
If you’re going for the suit look, the shirt is easy - a nice, long-sleeved button up combined with the suit jacket that matches the pants. But other options include a nice polo shirt, or just a long-sleeved button up.
This white Ralph Lauren polo shirt is only $32, and it might be a little cool with the short sleeves, but as long as he stays inside where it’s warm, he should be okay.
These boy’s long-sleeve button-up Oxford is available at Inka’s Coolwear, www.inkascoolwear.com for only $19.
Tomorrow: look for Christmas shopping for the Girls.