Stunning Summer Wedding Dresses

Picking out a wedding dress can be quite a pain in the bum, you need to think about a hundred and one different things at once. It can be too much but realistically all you need to think about is the season you’re marrying, what is currently trending in the wedding world and what size you’ll be on the day of the wedding. When it comes to summer weddings all you need to think about is keeping cool, the last thing you want to do is faint at the end of the isle! So here are some awesome summer dress ideas to get your wedding juices flowing.

The Corset Checklist

Corsets are one of the most beautiful pieces of apparel around, and have been around for many centuries. Thing is, they are as stunning as they are a pain in the back end. Not all women are up for wearing them simply because they are awkward to tame, but a good quality corset makes all the difference for both your appearance and your confidence. Here we look at the key questions you should be asking yourself when considering a corset purchase…

Does It Fit Evenly?

Corsets are specifically designed to give you a big bust and a small waist, but some generic or stock corsets aren’t very versatile, leaving some ladies with a tight bust or a loose waist. When trying corsets on make sure that it gives you a natural curve, and that it is snug enough to hold you together but loose enough to breath with ease.

Is It Comfortable?

Some say that no pain is no gain, but that is simply not the case with high quality corsets. As much as a corset is there to wrap you up it’s not there to make you feel like you’ve punctured a lung. The material used in the corset is quite important as rough or poor quality materials could leave you with sores or abrasions.

Can You Move?

When you find a corset that sits right and feels nice you then need to figure out how much freedom it gives you. Many corsets can be quite limiting in their design, and hundreds of women have fallen foul to their rigid nature. There are, however, great corsets out there that can give you a reasonable amount of give. Fishbone corsets are the best example of this as bone naturally has some extra flexibility.

You may be fully prepared to go the extra mile and suffer for your art, but that doesn’t mean that you have to. There are plenty of delectable corsets out there that are not only reasonable in price, but are reasonable in quality and functionality. Why not have a look around online for yourself to see what kind of deals you can find.

Typical Alternative Fashion: From Top To Toe

Tags

apparel, clothing, culture, fashion, trends

There are still a lot of rockers out on the fashion scene at the moment, as over time their overall style hasn’t changed too much. Whilst the hipster style has taken over in terms of popularity many of the rockers from the naughties still wear their get up with pride. Here we look a little closer into their apparel so you know exactly what it takes to blend in…

Beanies

Alternative people tend to wear beanies quite a lot no matter what the weather. One of the reasons they are worn so frequently is because it’s great for hiding your hair when it’s not quite up to par. It can also make people feel slightly more secure and hidden from plain site, although this is mainly psychological.

Slogan Tees

Brands are everything in this world as it can determine what kind of personality you have. There are many companies out there that sell amazing t-shirts including Atticus, Drop Dead and Criminal Damage. You can also opt for a tv or film related tee as these are pretty popular.

Belts

These are a dying accessory in the alternative world, however they still have their place for now. Studded belts are the done thing when accessorising your outfit, and the studs can vary in colour and size. Lowlife are the leading brand on the scene and most belts are bought from them.

Skinny Jeans

You can’t have an alternative look without the classic pair of skinnies keeping everything in place. Traditionally most people have only black skinnies but other colours that have been seen include red, blue and green. There are even skinny jeans for people who have a bigger build, though opinions on the look are divided.

Footwear

There are a handful of typical alternative shoes that should be in any rockers arsenal. Converse are a must, as are Vans. Non-branded footwear is also highly desired for those who go through a lot of shoes such as musicians and gig goers. Wrecked shoes are a sure sign of the good times that have been had!

For more inspiration on alternative apparel and to see where it can all be bought why not have a look around online to see what you can find.

Baby It’s Cold Outside

Christmas is only around the corner now, so we’re going to tuck ourselves away and warm up for the new year, we’ll see you guys again in January. Merry xmas and a very happy new year to everyone!

What To Wear This Winter

Tags

clothing, fashion, jumpers, winter clothes, winter fashion

Have you started seeing the Coca Cola advert yet? If you have then it is time for that special day of the year, Christmas and what more could you want on a day filled with joy and happiness. Before it gets to the dreaded day you may want to start thinking about a new wardrobe for the chilly season that is winter. This summer has been full of people seriously dressing down and showing more than their fair share of skin, but this winter why not dress up?

Winter doesn’t have to be the same wooly jumper that your mum bought you years ago, even winter clothes get a new lease of life after a year and fashion is influencing a lot of people these days. It’s all about getting the balance right, dressing up in too much will drown you out and you’ll just look like a walking piece of cloth, dressing too little will result in shivering and potential “smuggled peas”.

Jumpers are a must this season and this year more than ever there is a humongous array of different colours and styles so that everyone can look awesome and keep warm this winter. Retailers like T K Maxx are a heaven to go to when looking for unique styles of clothing, whether you’re a rocker or a diva this shop will have something for you. You can also go to high end fashion retailers such as Topshop, River Island and the newly branded USC for up to date fashionable clothing.

If you’re on a budget then you can jump on the make do and mend band wagon and either alter things you already own by adding beads or jewels or make your own clothes by knitting. If you don’t have the time for a jumper then just making your own scarf will help stave way the weather. The other upside to this is that its personal to you and your tastes, you won’t have to spend ages going around shops only to come up empty handed.

Jeans are a must, I know that us ladies have a little obsession with leggings which is fine but in the very cold winter you’ll need more than that to keep to your optimum temperature. Hats are good too, keeping your head warm is crucial and there are some seriously great hat designs floating about this year.

Heels That Make You Stand Tall, Really Tall…

High heels have been popular for many a century now, going back all the way to ye olde days of the plague! Thankfully no such disease exists anymore and heels are still popular with women young and old. The average heel these days sits around 4 inches tall, which is quite some feat, but they can go even higher as the new obsession to be tall and striking sweeps the nation. Here are some examples of these wonderful beasts!

Best Ladies Watch Styles

Tags

fashion, ladies watches, watch designs, watches

When you think of watches you may not immediately think of style. However there are plenty of watch designs out there that not only look rather stunning, but also suit several outfits. Here we take a look at the more common creations and talk about their plus points.

The Bracelet

Bracelet watches are great for people who don’t want their watch to look all big and clunky. The very best ones look quite seamless compared to other styles, and they can even come in charm bracelet form. Many of these watches are made from various metals such as silver and gold, but there are a few fabric thong style watches out there for all the beach lovers.

 

The Strap

The strap watch is what you might call the ‘industry standard’. They come in varying shapes, sizes, colours and patterns for you to feast your eyes on. Many of the more popular watches tend to have a bit of sparkle added on to give it a bling look. You can get thinner watches and straps, but they are less practical in the long run.

The Pocket Watch

Pocket watches have been around for centuries, and have been considered by many as an art form in themselves. The watches of today aren’t always as meticulously hand crafted however some of the classier styles are still used. Lately pocket watches are being commonly worn as necklaces and can be a small as a penny at times.

 

The Clip On

The clip on watch has seen its highs and lows, although they are still used by many. It is not uncommon to see them being worn by workers such as nurses, but their sheer practicality alone makes them a great watch for anyone that wants one. Most are made of metal, but a few of these gems are get into a gel case.

No matter what your style you can be sure that there’s a watch for you out there somewhere. You can find many great watches both online and on the high street, and it is always worth window shopping just in case there are some good deals on.

Wait, This Isn’t A Fashion Post…

Right. As you may have noticed there isn’t a post this month. That would be due to the ridiculous amount of work I’ve been doing lately!

Normal posting will resume from next month, but until then you’ll just have to amuse yourselves in other ways.

Happy Fashioning!

Chrissie x

Why Independent Clothing Stores Are Growing

Tags

2013 fashion, fashion, hype clothing

Since the recession hit England in 2007, the news has been dominated by the news that retail and chain stores are closing down. The most popular retail stores to be affected by the recession are Peacocks, JJB and most recently Republic.

You should think that as the major retail chains who have had years of experience in selling and designing clothes and brands are closing down, that there is no way that independent clothing stores could even be set up, yet alone be successful. But that is quite the understatement, we will take Hype Clothing, for example.

Hype Clothing

Hype was established in the summer of 2011, when two university students wanted to do nothing but kick back, relax, and design a few t-shirts to sell to friends and family. By the end of summer, their product range was nothing more than a n engraved cigarette lighter and a range of alternative t-shirts. By the midnight of the day of release, all of the t-shirts had sold out, and the ‘hype’ had begun.

The two friends moved out of their bedroom office and into offices in Leicester. Hype is now, after only two years of selling and after being set up in a bedroom by two friends who were bored, is now features in shops worldwide, including TopMan, FootAsylum and soon to be ASOS and is planning on opening up their own Hype store.

Hype clothing is just a case study I used for this article, there are hundreds of independent clothing brands that are making it into the fashion business, but how come they can strive then chain stores can’t?

 

The world is becoming forever more diverse. Increased travel opportunities for all means that when we walk outside our front door we are exposed to loads of new cultures. New technologies are emerging every day, the world is just diversifying.

As the world becomes more diverse, so do we. This is reflected on our choice of clothing. Independent clothing brands like Hype offer alternative designs that are outshining the high streets mainstream t-shirt print. Independent brands offer something new and exciting, and the idea of owning a item of clothing that not many people own satisfies today’s youth, which allows them to do well.

Big Cartel has become a major tool for independent brands to get their clothes out into the market. Big Cartel is a shopping cart platform whereby you can feature your brands designs, and visitors can buy from the website and the costs will be referred back to you.

The Little Black Dress

Tags

Dresses, fashion, little black dress

We all know the one, that dress you see in the shop window from across the street that gleams in your direction but has a price tag that is more than your entire life’s savings. It is such an iconic item of clothing and has been around in fashion since the 1920’s when fashion guru’s Coco Chanel and Jean Patou started creating short black dresses that had never really been seen before in that era.

 

Many famous celebrities have taken the phrase and used it to their advantage when on the red carpet. Jennifer Aniston, Mila Kunis, Megan Fox, Kim Kardashian and Scarlett Johansson have all walked down the red carpet in a stunning black evening or cocktail dress that has gotten media attention. It is a phrase that has been coined for centuries and will be coined for many centuries to come, it is something that cannot really age.

It is a “rule of fashion” now to have at least one in every woman’s wardrobe and was a chosen style due to its versatility, accessibility and affordability. All fashions outlets have at least one little black dress for sale, it is a popular choice among women as black is a slimming colour and will go with just about anything as it is a neutral colour. Most people would not know that in Hollywood movies, black dresses were popular as coloured dresses often turned out to look discoloured or distorted on the film reel.

The little black dress had become famous in most TV, Films and even cartoons. In the early 1920’s Betty Boop was created, an adorable and stunning young woman who famously wore a short black dress. Audrey Hepburn also made the dress famous in her role in the film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” where she wore a longer black Givenchy dress. The same dress which was auctioned in 2006 and was bought for an overwhelming £410,000, which was estimated to be 6 times its original price.

 

They are extremely easy to come by these days and are wonderfully affordable, coming in all different varieties. Varying in length you can get one that is thigh length, knee length or calf length, or you could have a body con, strapless, flared or ruffled styles. There is always going to be that one little black dress just for you, it’s written in the stars. Finding it however can be a little tricky, you can always shop online for these kind of dress but not being able to try-before-you-buy is a little daunting to most women.

You can use the internet for inspiration and thankfully these days most websites also have retail shops that you can visit, order and try on the dress before putting your hand in your purse. Going to smaller and more ‘one-off’ shops however are the way forward, as you’ll be guaranteed a dress that is unique to you and is hand made with the best of care. Don’t cop out when buying your first ever little black dress, spend a good amount of money and treat it with respect, do this and it will be your best friend for life.