Suit Yourself...

Gentlemen, now it’s time to focus on you, and only you.  For starters, it is important to figure out what your “fashion identity” is.  This is vital because it is a true projection of what you represent and the impression you want to make.  Lucky for you, a male presence never goes without notice.  It is very rare to come across a man that doesn’t capture a room with confidence or the illusion of this.  Regardless, you are naturally intriguing.  Your wardrobe however, will determine how long this “attention” lasts.  Are you trying to make an impression: at a business meeting, seminar,  job interview,  first date, special event, night out on the town, or just catching up with a friend?  Know the impact you want to make and stick with a comfortable style personality.  Try not to insist on being someone you are not.  Your image will make the first impression, and then your personality and ability to communicate ultimately leaves its mark on how someone will remember you, so feel secure in your clothing choices.

The Boss: You mean business, you are business, and you wear business.  This style personality is strong and right to the point.  This spring and summer is all about tailored, slimmer suits.  Accessorize your debonair look with a pocket square and a notable shirt and tie combination to really make a statement.  Bravo, to the 60’s and 70’s inspired suits with a hint of English refinement.  Retro never looked so modern. 

Blue and Gray: These color suits are popular this season. The idea behind the blue and grey suits is to wear the color together, complementing different hues, not in a monochromatic way. The blue seen on runways during this seasons fashion week is more of a heightened blue hue; don’t be afraid to make a statement.

Checks and Balances: Plaid suits are also in.  The best part about a plaid suit is the jacket can turn into a great sports coat when worn with jeans.  Shadow plaids are the best to buy because you can pair this pattern with shirt and tie combinations.   Bold plaids require a little more attention.  You have to be careful when going for more of a bold look; you don’t want anything else competing with your suit so pair it with a white button down and solid colored ties.

Let it Shine: Sateen suits are also in this season.  Yes it’s true, you can shine your way into a board room without any judgments; if they have any sort of fashion sense that is.  The Gray sateen suits featured this springs Gucci collection can make any man look and feel dapper no matter what the occasion.

Seeing Double:  Ah yes, the double-breasted suit; the classic suit every man has, or has worn at some point in his life.  However, the double-breasted sports coat is showing up in every spring/summer men’s wear collection.  Go for a coat as slim as possible and a little shorter so you can wear it unbuttoned.  Try pairing it with a loose necked tee and light scarf.

The Look, The Feel: That’s right, Cotton. The cotton suit should be a staple in a man’s summer wardrobe.  Two-tone, gray, basic khaki or navy are always winners.  Pair this cool suit with a light color, or patterned shirt and tie combo for a handsome summer impression.  Remember to embrace the wrinkles, it adds a little attitude.

For great suits, style ideas, shirt and tie combinations my favorites are the spring/summer collections from:

• Burberry
• DKNY
• Giorgio Armani
• Gucci
• H&M
• J Crew
• Louis Vuitton
• Tommy Hilfiger
• Roberto Cavalli

The All American: This style personality is conservative and classic.  Alluring essentials featuring polo shirts, tipped cardigans, oxford cloth shirts, rugby shirts, light sweaters, jeans and tailored shorts.  Think James Dean but more of a turn of the century “cool kid”. 

Knit Pick: Love your ties? This season is all about light, striped, cloth ties.  A lighter fabric can give you the satisfaction of assembling your outfit with this fantastic accessory and not look out of place.  The upside to this slighter tie is you can pull it off with basically any style shirt.

White Out: White pants are also trending this season. Don’t be afraid.  These pants make a statement, attract attention and give you the versatility to dress up or dress down your outfit.  However the rules to wearing white pants are as follows: make sure they are slimmer style and stay away from pastel colors on top.  Darker, valiant colors will leave you with the perfect balance of style and should be paired with an appealing sandal.  If your sandals involve Velcro, or rubber, slap yourself, “Tevas” and “Crocs” should have never existed.

I See Stripes: The Striped sweater is back with a vengeance.  This retro style look is great to create an illusion of bigger, broader shoulders.  Look for the sweaters with a bold stripe; think rugby or football jersey for a sporty athletic vibe.

The Cargo Pant: This style pant is back and better than ever.  Unfortunately, that does not mean you can dust off the old “painters cargo pant” you have kept all these years hoping for a fashionable return. This spring/summer idea of a cargo pant is slimmer, and tailored.  Roll up the pant legs, ditch the socks and go for colors like salmon, slate blue, or cement.  Dress it up with a blazer and oxford, or garb it down with a tee.
Khaki Kraze: Now it’s time for me to get you out of the olive, tan and black box. This season it is fashionably acceptable to kick it up a notch with colored chinos.  Orange, blue, green, lavender, or whatever colors you like make sure it is the only focus in your outfit.  Hold back from any “matchy-matchy” mistakes; tone everything back so your pants make the statement. 

Wing Man: Don’t get too excited, I am not giving you tips on how to dress your weekend partner in crime, I am talking about shoes.  Suede wingtip style shoes are huge this season.  When you think suede, usually the mind reverts to fall or winter.  However, these different spirited shoes have a colored or two tone sole to them and can be worn with a skinnier suit pant, khakis, or sockless with tailored shorts. 

To complete your” All American” style personality look for ideas and color combinations from a few of my favorite designers and shops:

• Banana Republic
• DSquared2
• Emporio Armani
• Gap
• Gucci
• H&M
• J Crew
• Moschino
• Nautica
• Prada
• Ralph Lauren
• Simon Spurr
• Tommy Hilfiger

 The Vacationer: Your style is lackadaisical and your fashion is effortless. Light fabrics, floral prints, safari style coats, and nautical influence accentuate this personality.

Hawaiian Punch: Floral shirts are making a big comeback this year with a popular island spirit. Pair these shirts with a neutral cargo short or pant to accentuate your outfit. The rest of your wardrobe shouldn’t be too loud; this Hawaiian style shirt is your main focus and remember, the slimmer style the shirt, the better you look.

Lions, Tigers, and Bears: Your safari style look is huge this season. Tailored style jackets are in and screaming adventurist.  Pair these jackets with a color, keeping it casual so you don’t look like you belong in the bushes, or working as a tour guide at the zoo.

Sea Stripes: Think weekend getaway with this laid back, nautical look. A light striped sweater paired with a colored chino rolled up at the bottom, or fitted color shorts, is a look that will make a bold statement with a freewheeling flair.

My favorite designers and shops from the “Vacationer” style personality:

• Banana Republic
• DKNY
• Givenchy
• Gucci
• Gap
• J Crew
• Jean Paul Gaultier
• Lacoste
• Louis Vuitton
• Loden Dager
• Michael Bastian
• Ralph Lauren
• Tommy Hilfiger

As always, thank you for reading.  Enjoy discovering your new found style personality, and please share with anyone who might need a little assistance.  A good deed never goes out of style...

Color Me Fabulous

Color Me Fabulous by ericasimage on polyvore.com

"I See London, I See France..."

Spring and summer are upon us and let’s face it, ‘tis the season for tighter, smaller clothing.  This also opens up a lot of opportunity to commit major fashion faux pas.  Temperatures are high, and the alluring combinations of warm weather fashion are endless. However, you have to be aware of the fact that there is a lot to be said for leaving a little to the imagination. 

Versace Spring/Summer 2012

It’s refreshing for us women, to have the versatility to choose between skirts, dresses, shorts, romper jumpsuits, and summer dress pants.  Nevertheless, there are a few simple rules to be followed before you add your own personal style to your summer outfits. 

"She's Got Legs": If you are going to show off your legs in a short style skirt, shorts or dress, be certain to cover more of your “upper torso” with either a blouse, a loose tank and jacket, or for a more casual spin, a beautiful floral print scarf.

"Busty, Busty": If you want to accentuate your bust, be sure to pair your outfit appropriately.  A low cut, dress, tank, or shirt should be worn with a long skirt, dress shorts, or summer style pants.  Celebrate your womanhood without giving it all away in an outfit.

1940’s Flashback: High waist shorts and bra-let tops took over the 2012 spring and summer runways.  If you are fall into the "legs" category, High waist shorts would be a great fit for you. Compliment your high waist shorts with a lightweight blouse, whether it be cropped or tucked in.  If you fall into the "Bust" category, wear a bra-let top appropriately; pair it with a high-waist shirt and blazer, or high waist pants.  A very small part of your midriff should be shown, a bra-let does not mean “belly shirt” or bra.  To maintain a level of innocence with this daring fashion trend, choose light colors and floral prints to uphold a "girly" flair.

Versace Summer 2012

Summer Cocktail Dresses: This part of your wardrobe can show a fun, flirty, fabulous side or the exact opposite.  If you have the figure to pull off a mini dress, good for you, but it’s always imperative to show that even though you are a “woman”, you can still be a lady.  A lightweight blazer complements a short dress beautifully, and a glamour “bib necklace” is a perfect accessory to a dress that shows a little too much up top. This takes the focus off of the fact that there is a lot of legs and a lot of chest.  And for the love of fashion; if your dress is too tight or too short causing you to tug on it all night so your “assets” don’t show, you shouldn't wear it. 

Gucci Spring/Summer 2012

Gentlemen, spring and summer fashion for you also has a lot of flexibility; shorts, tanks, tees, lightweight fabrics, and suits.  No one buys tickets to your gun show, so stop cutting off the sleeves of your t-shirts, home-made fashion does not consist of this.  Also, if your shirt is so tight that it is questionable whether you’re shopping at Baby GAP, or your girlfriend’s closet; don’t wear it, it’s not sexy. 
Tanks: Be cautious with this particular item because it has the ability to completely make or break your outfit. If it is an item you "must have", wear it proudly, just wear it appropriately. Tanks look nice with a light linen pant, colored jean pant and/or shorts. Pair your tank with a light scarf, blazer or jacket.  Hats can also balance a tank top to maintain a relaxed, casual and stylish look.

Calibre Summer 2012

Tees: Are versatile and should be a staple in every man’s wardrobe.  I am not talking about tees that you buy in a package of 3; I am talking about nicely fitted, colorful tees that can be dressed up with a blazer, or casual with shorts or jeans. 

Oxford style and Button Downs: Also have a lot of changeability.  Roll up the sleeves of your lightweight fabric button down, pair it with shorts and a belt for a relaxed casual spin on your outfit; or pair your colorful, nicely pressed, fitted oxford with flat front dress pants for a night out on the town. 

Belts: Never leave home without one. Pull your pants up; there should never be a time when someone can see the brand of your boxers or briefs. You can still be “manly” and polished at the same time. There is no such fashion as lazy fashion, so always wear your accessories, even if it is as simple as a belt.

Remember to use color; resort to my previous post about color blocking to bring your summer style from drab to fab.  

How to look like a Fashion Guru with Color Blocking

Spring is finally upon us and that means new fashion collections with COLOR!  I personally believe that wearing a color can change how you feel and how you present yourself.  One of the biggest trends that caught my attention is COLOR BLOCKING.  It is a trend that is far from new, however it is back, more fabulous, and hard to ignore.  Color Blocking is combining the use of two or more blocks of color in an ensemble.   It can include monotone, bright colors, muted colors, contrasting and complimentary colors. Clothes, shoes, handbags and accessories can all feature color block designs or can make up different blocks of color to be put together for an outfit. The beauty of this trend is that it is fun, playful and gives you endless options when standing in front of your closet trying to figure out your wardrobe for the day.

This particular trend can make you look like a fashion guru or just the opposite.  One of the biggest secrets of color blocking is it can mask the “flaws” we tend to see in our bodies.  Creating an illusion with your outfit can essentially make you look taller, slimmer, and vibrant.  Collectively this leaves you feeling more confident and beautiful.

Experiment:  You can “cheat” your way into this trend essentially by purchasing a color blocked dress or tunic. Easy enough, right?  Another way to feel more comfortable with color blocking when pairing separates; pair a bright hue with a neutral hue (nude, grey, white, brown or black).  Once you get the hang of it, try pairing two bold colors together.

Kick it up a Notch:  Once you have your neutral and bold hues covered, add another color.  Try a bright purple shirt with a soft hued cardigan, or a bold turquois with a pastel.

Take it to the next level:  Now you have your main hues represented in your outfit.  It is time to pair it with an accessory.  Offset a deep hued top, bottom, or dress with a light hued accessory or vice-versa.  A cobalt blue top looks great with a bright yellow handbag, or a deep purple dress looks beautiful with bright yellow tights.

How to make Color Blocking work for your body type:  When planning your perfectly colorful outfit, remember its best to consider the general rules of your bodies shape.  Wearing a darker hued color down the torso will have a lovely slimming effect and can easily be created by wearing a jacket, a blouse (worn open) or a colored cardigan.  If you are pear shaped, select darker colors for the bottom half.  If you are apple shaped, elude horizontal blocks of color around your midsection; highlight legs with brightly color tights. If you are an hourglass shape, color blocking around the waist is a fantastic way of highlighting a drawing attention to your womanly figure.

How to choose your colors and fabrics wisely:  Until you fully understand the art behind color blocking, always resort to the color wheel.  Remember opposites attract.  Primary colors and Secondary colors go exceptionally well together.  For example, when reverting to the color wheel, the color Red is across from the color Green.  Stop. Get Christmas out of your head.  A deep green looks amazing with a muted red (peach).  Or a bright yellow looks fabulous with a deep purple.  The beauty of muted colors is it has either a more pastel look, or a grey look, which consequently compliments your deep hued colors.  Fabrics are an important staple in every outfit.  Keep in mind that materials in silk, satin, and taffeta in a bright color combination will add a glamorous impression on your appearance and will leave you feeling more luxurious.

You now have the tools to expand your wardrobe in more ways than you thought before, and don’t be afraid to dare in fashion. When color blocking outfits for business, keep it appropriate. You want your outfit to compliment you, not divert the successful business person you are. For social settings, experiment and have fun with it. It’s amazing how good you will feel.

Have Fun with COLOR

Have Fun with COLOR by ericasimage09 on polyvore.com

First Impressions and the case of the "Mondays"

As another weekend comes to a close, how do you prepare to begin another week?  Mondays have unfortunately been shed in a negative light; “the case of the Mondays”.  I could never understand this thought process.  I look forward to Mondays; it’s a new beginning with new opportunities ahead.  Instead of dreading waking up in the morning, find something to look forward to.  If you’re not overly thrilled about going to work, find an outfit that you feel dynamite in, style your hair a different way, or do something different with Make-Up.  Spring is upon us and this means fabulous fashion, hair, and make-up trends.  Color, prints, and fun fabrics are a huge trend for spring 2012. 

Do yourself a favor,  when getting ready for work, or your day tomorrow, wear a colored shirt, pants, or an accessory that will help you look and feel good as you go into this “Monday”.  Many of the working public have a 9-5 job that the schedule can often times be monotonous.  Just because you are living by the same schedule you did last Monday-Friday does not mean you will not be presented with a new opportunity.  Dress every morning as if it was your first interview, first day at work, or you are meeting the President/CEO of your company.  People notice how you look.  We are human, we observe, and make judgments.  It is up to us from that point whether our judgments become positive or negative.  Remember you have 30 seconds to make an impression.  Those 30 seconds usually happen before you even open your mouth to speak.  We communicate with our appearance and body language.  Your image projects how you feel about yourself.  The true beauty of individuality is just that, expression of your own uniqueness.  As long as you can honestly say that you put your best foot forward in how you feel, your style falls into place.  Some individuals need guidance on how to wear clothing properly, what colors can be outfitted together, fabrics, hair, make-up, etc. but as long as there is an effort, then you are doing right by yourself. 

Make goals for this week, challenge yourself.   It’s amazing what a little self-motivation can do for the soul.  Take a little more time in the morning to put your “look” together.  Dress for success.  Monday is an opportunity to create your first impression for the week.  Remember, you never know what opportunity you will be presented with so try and make every day you’re your greatest first impression.