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Tracking Seasonal Fashion

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - NOVEMBER 14: A model sho...

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Fashions change from season to season, and sometimes it can be hard to keep up. Many fashion houses collaborate with each other on previous season’s fashion trends to come up with new ones for the upcoming season. You can follow along by tracking the patterns from one season to the next.

One of the easiest ways to track fashion trends is to read trend reports. Many fashion magazines and websites keep you up-to-date by providing the latest trends as well as upcoming trends from different fashion houses, including clothing, shoe, and accessory trends. You can be one step ahead of others when it’s time to shop for the new season.

Another way to track fashion trends is to follow RSS feeds of your favorite fashion blogs. This way you’ll receive updated information as soon as it’s reported. For instance, if the blog is reporting on the release date of a certain fashion company’s line, you can be first in line to buy it. You may also be able to get some great deals if you are able to act quickly at some of your favorite fashion boutiques.

And speaking of boutiques, your favorite may have a customer appreciation membership you can apply for to be first in line to hear news of new items arriving and special deals. This will allow you to grab the new line at great prices.

By tracking seasonal fashion trends, you can become a trendsetter yourself, and be the envy of all of your friends.

 

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Outfitting Your Closet for Summer

Woman's one-piece bathing suit, 1920s, USA 

Image via Wikipedia

Getting ready for the warmer weather means a complete throwing over of the heavy clothes of winter and early spring. Hang up the down jackets, put away the sweaters, and hide the boots. It is time to embrace the sun and take advantage of the longer days with a fresh wardrobe.

Summer is a time for purging your closet of the old to make room for the new. There is always a bunch of items that were put away last year for wearing the next. But do you really want to keep a garment or pair of shoes a year later? Consider the fact that some clothing items can stick around from year to year, others should be thrown out and replacements bought.

Items to hang on to are good shorts, light cotton shirts, sandals that are still in good shape, and a rain coat. None of these clothing items will ever go out of style, regardless of color or print. Summer is a time to be bold, so don’t discard a pair of shorts or a good shirt just because it is on the bright side.

Don’t try to keep items that are made poorly and didn’t cost that much to begin with. Some t-shirts will hold up over time, but ones made with fine knit fall apart faster than “beefy” t-shirts. Also replace the bathing suit, especially if you swim frequently in a pool. Chlorine eats away at the fibers, causing them to break apart and wear thin.

Clearing out the old for the new is an enjoyable activity. So don’t put it off. Do it before summer arrives.

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The Relaxed Look of the Casual Style

The casual style used to be reserved mainly for weekends, after work hours and on summer vacation for those who work a 40 hour week. Over time, this has changed to a great degree as designers have started to slowly meld more formal fashions with casual styles. This has relaxed the standard black, dark blue, gray and similar tones to include more brighter colors and nontraditional fabrics for the work week. Major designers have had enormous fun incorporating jeans, untucked shirts and a variety of past formal wear taboos into one style.

This pattern has become very popular with the college students across the country and has its greatest example roaring of flip-flops. Younger people can be seen wearing these sandals with dress slacks and button ups, formal dresses and just about any kind of outfit that you can think of. The young men were loose ties and shirttails hanging out as part of the hip style. This transition has been an interesting clash of past generations with new trendier styles. Those wanting to dress this way simply have to take their wardrobe and loosen it up. Another aspect of this trend is to wear T-shirts with suit jackets, tennis shoes and jeans. This grand remix of the fashion wardrobe has created a whole new imaginative playground for fashion designers to play and create in.

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How to Look Your Best During the Winter

As fall and winter approach, the light and airy closing of the summer months is packed away and traded for thicker fabrics decked out in dark shades. Fabrics such as wool and heavy cotton become the predominant choices for people to keep warm in. Wool is excellent for its ability to retain warmth, wick away moisture and last for years. Sweaters, slacks and coats made of wool are perfect choices to stay warm and in style. Cotton shirts are worn mainly as layers under sweaters in button ups, t-shirts and turtle necks. These are great for adding accents to your outfit and to allow you to keep out the cold.

Suede leather is a popular style for its warmth and look, but the owner has to be careful when having it cleaned. Sweaters, especially wool pullovers, are a popular look not only for the quality of the workmanship but also for the long lasting durability of the material. Italian wool is an excellent choice and well worth the investment as it provides the wearer with years of use. The colors for this season are primarily gray, black, navy blue, mauve and similar shades. These blend well together and make for a very versatile wardrobe.

Navy pea coats have become a fashionable style, both for their warmth and ability to be worn with both casual and formal attire. Men and women both can be seen in this fashion. Additionally, women have begun to wear boots more often, decked in leather.

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The 50’s, 60’s and 70’s are making a Comeback this Spring Fashion Season

Many people will be shocked to see the 50-70’s fashions are making a comeback.  You can safely pull your vintage clothes out of the attic or storage this season.  This also means we will be seeing clogs and kitten heels for footwear.  When you step out this spring, do not think you have been transformed back to the 50-70’s era.  It is just the spring fashion season.

Yes, this includes bell-bottoms and high-wasted jeans.  Hopefully, the teenagers won’t freak out too bad.  They are clearly not use to high-wasted jeans, since they enjoy their low-riders.  Parents will be glad to see their teenagers not showing their underwear when bending over.  Maybe this will be a trend that last for more than one season.

People are looking forward to the free spirit of the 70’s style.  Loose fitting clothes and colors will certainly catch the eye.  There will be some people who will oppose the 70’s fashion style.   For those not interested in the 70’s, they will enjoy seeing the glamour of 50’s and 60’s.  This will give people the elegant feel of that era.

The military look is out, but the biker look is rocking the runways.  Leather will never go out of style.  Crochet and tassels are coming back in style this season.  Many people do not care for the tassel look, so we will have to wait and see how long it will last.

Other spring fashions are lace clothing to give an antique or vintage look.  Crop tops are trying to make a comeback, which we will see more in the summer months.  Capri’s are in this spring.  Accessories that top off the outfits are the vintage-inspired 50’s and 60’s cat eye sunglasses.  The belt purse is pushing its way into this spring’s fashion.

Men’s fashion suits will change slightly, but the most significant change will be to wide-legged pants or jeans.  The biker look will be the best change of the season.  Many have already complimented on this look.

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Shopping by Season Can Drive Big Savings

Whether discussing mens or ladies styles of clothing, they can almost always be distinguished by season. This type of classification drives supply chain choices from designer and manufacturer all the way to the consumer. When the seasons change, retailers can bring in new merchandise. New merchandise can bring in new customers or regular customers that require fresh wardrobe additions for an upcoming season.

The design process for a line of clothing could start a year or more before the clothing is actually sold by a retailer. The manufacturer needs time to complete the design and costing process and then the actual manufacturing and logistics to get the product to the actual retailers. It is not uncommon for winter coats to be designed in the summertime to allow time for a new product to land in a retailer’s outlet.

Retailers and consumers work together to make room for the new fashions when the seasons change. Retailers often make the bulk of their profits on a seasonal line of clothing at the beginning of that season. This is when supply and demand is at its highest. Price would also be at its highest. When the end of the summer or fall, for instance comes around, the retailer must make room for the new lines. This is when deeply discounted sales can take place to make this room.

If one can afford to buy at the end of the season there can be some great bargains at retailers. There may not be much time to wear these items when we don’t buy by the season but there may be opportunities to wear these fashions during the next year or years to come.

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The Future of Online Shopping

These days everyone is looking for a deal wherever they can get it. There are plenty of people who realize that the best place to look for a deal is online. Companies, especially fashion companies, have concentrated all their efforts to online shopping. There are plenty of stores from which to buy the latest clothes and accessories for rock bottom prices.

If you are a deal-conscious shopper, you should get interested in buying your clothes online, not just for the savings on the clothes themselves, but for the free giveaways. There used to be a time when a giveaway was scoffed at. It was something that symbolized a token effort by the retailer to thank you for your service.

These days, the competitive world of online fashion has caused retailers to up their game and give you better giveaways than you have ever imagined. Many companies are giving out things like credit cards and prepaid credit cards as a way to thank customers for their shopping. Of course, these cards are always used to encourage customers to give that money right back to the store. Many times, the use of that same prepaid card is offered with a steep discount on products.

No matter what the free gift is, it’s a step up from the norm, and it’s up to you to take advantage of the situation. For instance, going to the front page of most fashion retailers’ websites should tell you if there is anything going on in the way of savings.

There are also sites that aggregate such information out so that you can go to one place to find the savings. Some places are even giving away cars if you meet specified purchasing amounts. Don’t waste a second ignoring these retailers. The best thing you can do is start looking online to find the best fashion deals. You never know what you are going to walk away with.

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The Rise of Urban Fashions

Urban and hip-hop fashion originated in the counter-culture movement of the 1970s in New York. This time, the counter-culture wasn’t made of disillusioned college youth protesting an unpopular war, but the young adults in the inner city who felt trapped by their circumstances. Like most young rebels, their frustration came out in the form of music and dance, and the hip-hop genre was born.

Celebrity Status

As the music industry saw a new opportunity for advancing their financial cause, they began to sign the best and the brightest from the hip-hop scene to lucrative music deals. Some business-savvy artists formed their own label to retain creative control over their work. Regardless of the behind-the-scenes workings of the music business, these amazing musicians soon rose to fame and celebrity status. As the youth of America observed their style of dress, a new sector in the fashion industry was created in parallel with the edgy music. As demand grew, so did the variety and brand names available to the average consumer.

Celebrity Endorsements

The history of hip-hop music wouldn’t be complete without a discussion of the history of urban fashion. Because traditional designers weren’t quite right when they attempted to match the original styles of club-goers, the celebrities stepped in to fill this market. The hip-hop fans clamored to buy the exact same clothing that their music icons both wore and designed. Just imagine going to see a Jay-Z concert while wearing an outfit from his Rocawear line of hip-hop apparel! Whether you are a suburban wanna-be or an authentic inner-city kid, nothing could make the experience more complete. Other brands designed by big names in the hip-hop industry include Dereon, Phat Farm, and Apple bottoms.

Although these styles are directed at the young and trendy, almost anyone can find something they like about urban fashion. These clothes are well made, affordable, comfortable, and trendy. What more could you ask for in your choice of clothing?

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Accessorizing Your Head This Spring

Man wearing turban, Afghanistan

Image via Wikipedia

As you are out purchasing pieces for your wardrobe this Spring don’t forget to consider something for your head. Head accessories are back and lovelier than ever. Many of our old stand bys are back with a new twist.

Hats are back, coming in many different styles. Some designers feel the bigger and floppier the better. Wide felt hats paired with an animal print scarf are a favorite. Great for a Sunday morning outing or a nice garden party. Fedora’s are back too, in felt or a macrame weave, there are many different styles. Great for dressing up or dressing down.

Bandanas are back with that country girl feel. They give the wearer a look of freshness and innocence. Wear printed or plain, anything goes. Paired with a pair of jeans or even a short outfit the bandana will give that little extra something.

The turban could be used in either a casual or formal setting. There are some beautiful designs out there to chose from.  Printed or plain, the turban will dress up any outfit.

Headbands are another head piece that has gone through some changes. The usual headband piece is still acceptable, but there is so much more to chose from. The style for this year is a 70′s retro, worn on the top of the forehead giving that Bohemian look. Whether a scarf that you might already have or a brand new piece take advantage of this retro style. The new pieces come in many different designs: feathery, glittery, even flowers attached. Whatever catches your fancy and matches your outfit, go for it.

Don’t be afraid to give the Spring styles a try. Pair a wide brim floppy hat with a turban underneath, add some cat-eye sunglasses and you will be styling. Try something new, find that little something that will allow your beauty to shine through.

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