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Entering the Summer Time

May 24, 2011 by Leave a Comment
TIBERIAS, ISRAEL - APRIL 08: A religious Jew ... 

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Summer is a great season for a lot of things. Getting eaten alive by bugs, feeling like the sun is trying to set you on fire and getting so sweaty that it feels like you’ve gone swimming in your clothes are just a few of the great joys of the season. However, you can still stay cool if you know how to dress the right way. It ultimately comes down to layering and how you carry it off.

For one thing, a fresh set of Coogi clothes can do wonders for your look. While a lot of people think that wearing long pants and hoodies are completely antithetical to staying cool, this isn’t always the case. For one thing, lighter colors reflect off a lot of the sun’s rays, which let you stay a lot cooler. Also, sometimes having well-ventilated layers can keep some cool air space between your skin and the great oven that is the summer sun. If you have air conditioning too, this makes it even easier to keep up your image while your body stays comfortable.

Just keep in mind that staying cool during the hot months doesn’t mean you have to walk around in swim trunks and a wife beater. While that’s okay if you’re on the beach or sitting around the house, you still have to keep up some kind of an image. Unless you want to spend the hot nights sleeping by yourself, you have to keep looking good. And an important part of looking good involves covering yourself in solid fashion, regardless of heat.

Filed Under: Designer, Runway, Seasonal Influence Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Beat Generation and Beatnik Fashion

April 24, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Jack kerouac's room in the Beat Museum, in San...

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The beat generation rose up out of a post-WWII generation. Many of those in the beat movement came to be referred to as beatniks. Although the term was not popular amongst those within the beat generation itself.

In popular culture, a beatnik is portrayed as a black clad, poetry reciting, red wine drinking bohemian. However there is a lot more involved in the beat generation in terms of politics, sexuality, creativity and fashion. Those referred to as beatniks are commonly thought of as the more suburban version of the more hardcore members of the beat generation.

Beatniks were the first form of hippies. The style of the beat generation was much more relaxed than the generations before. Men grew out their beards so they were wild and woolly. Women were liberated from wearing bras and shaving their legs. There is the usual stereotype of black turtlenecks and berets. However beatnik fashion also encompassed striped shirts, over-sized sweaters and cowl-collared tops. These styles were popular amongst both sexes.

Young women often wore jersey with short collars. The beatnik look is when slim-fit pants became popular, think Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face. The slim fit black pants were often teamed with a short-sleeved sweater. Pencil skirts were also favoured by the females in this fashion generation.

Men didn’t stray too far from previous generations when it came to beatnik fashion. Tailored slacks were still popular, however they were worn more casually, with either short-sleeved shirts or t-shirts. Some men even took the plunge and experimented with black tight fitting pants, thought this was mainly worn by the female beatniks of the time.

Filed Under: Runway, Seasonal Influence Tagged With: , ,

The Enduring Popularity of Red

March 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Regardless of the time of year, red is a popular choice for both designers and shoppers to add to their wardrobe. Its shade transition well with the seasons, from dark mauve of fall to the brighter tones of spring and summer. The color also goes well with a variety of fabrics and styles, both formal and casual. Red button ups are perfect with jeans or dress slacks, depending on the occasion. Red also adds a festive nature to the wearer, giving them a sense of adventure and daring that is not found with other colors. Wearers have to be careful when putting shades together, as a darker red will clash terribly with a lighter, pinker shade. Designers love to use red stripes, polka dots and other interpretations in their designs. A small splash of red in an outfit can go a long way. The most daring examples are ones such as red leather jackets and bright red stiletto boots, only worn by the adventurous shopper.

Wearers do have to be careful with red dyes in some cotton clothes, as it can fade with washing. With careful maintenance the color can stay bright for a long time. A formal outfit can have a more festive look with the addition of a red tie or a red scarf, especially when wearing a solid color such as black or navy blue. “Power ties” are often adorned with red stripes or other designs, giving the wearing the impression of a forward thinking individual.

Filed Under: European Influence, Runway Tagged With: , ,