Valentine Fashion

Valentine’s Day is coming very soon. Valentine’s Day is a special day especially among lovers and couples. For some, this day is not complete without having a date or party. Parties are part of this event. Probably, you have already decided on the particular dress that you will wear for this special occasion? If not yet, then there is no problem because here are few tips for you. Anyway, you still have two (2) weeks to decide for your outfit. However, before we start to enumerate, you should know first what kind of social gathering you are going to attend. In this case, you can properly plan your best attire and dress accordingly.

If you will have a date in daytime, it would be exciting if you shift the mode from demure to flirty outfit. You can wear camisole and a shrug over it. Wearing jeans is also sexy. The bag that you will use also adds glamour to your outfit so it must be charming - not the one that you usually bring for other hang-outs. For the footwear, flats are the most ideal than heels. Feminine type of dress is very attractive to wear for daytime date.

Having an evening date is a different perspective. You have to dress according to the night’s event. You should know whether if it is a formal dinner party or less formal? Your dress and bag should match elegantly. Be more stylish. This time, heels are the most desirable for footwear. Prefer those shoes with glittery and glamorous details.

At the end of the day, it is not only the outfit that we have to consider. As long as you are comfortable with your dress, you feel sexy, and most importantly you are confident, then probably you have a perfect outfit. There is no question for that. Hope this post had gave you some ideas on what to wear this heart’s day…

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

source: http://iamfashion.blogspot.com/2005/02/valentines-day-what-to-wear.html

69th Golden Globe Awards: Celebrities Who Stand Out

The much awaited winners for the 69^th Annual Golden Globe Awards were finally named on Sunday (January 15, 2012), at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California.

George Clooney was hailed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) as Best Actor in the Motion Picture (Drama category) for the film “The Descendants” while the Best Actress was awarded to Meryl Streep for the film “The Iron Lady”. Other winners in a Motion Picture under Musical or Comedy category were Jean DuJardin (Best Actor for the film The Artist) and Michelle Williams (Best Actress for the film My Week with Marilyn).  Christopher Plummer for the film Beginners and Octavia Spencer for the film Help also received the title as Best Supporting Actor and Actress of the 2012 Golden Globe Awards. You can also check here for more lists of winners.

Aside from knowing who are lucky to receive an award from HFPA, there’s still one thing that makes a few female celebrities noticeable as they step on the red carpet. And that is no other than but their nicely-fitted outfits. So let’s check out who these actresses are. 

Angelina Jolie, the 36-year-old humanitarian and actress, step on the red carpet wearing this well-designed white-off shouldering-baring Atelier Versace gown accented by a sharp triangle of red around the collar. Her outfits is  one of the best gowns of the evening.

Nicole Kidman also arrives at the Beverly Hilton Hotel wearing an off-white fitted Atelier Versace gown studded with gold detail.

Even though she may have missed out the Best Actress Award (TV show category), Zooey Deschanel still dazzles in this Prada dress embroidered with black and dark green pearls; and collar framed with ivory pearl.

Who would say that she’s 64? Glenn Close, another Best Actress nominee, looks classy elegant in this black velvet dress and matching shawl.

Emma Stone also looks sophisticated and lovely in this Lavin gown as she steps on the red carpet.

The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign. And looking at the photos above, this year’s ceremony seems to follow a minimalist theme as bouquets of flowers, punch, and trippy colors are missing on the red carpet. Most outfits of celebrities come in simple embroidery designs – no prints and not even underwent through cheap digitizing.

Finnish Clothing Retailers Support Clean Clothes Coalition Campaign on Sandblasting

In my previous post regarding sandblasted jeans, I mentioned there some of the clothing companies that provide support on abolishing sandblasting techniques. The last apparel manufacturer to announce their support on the said campaign of Clean Clothes Coalition was Versace.

Five months after the famous Italian clothing brand Versace supported the movement of CCC that aims to improve the work conditions in textile industry by ensuring the health safety of every worker, clothing retailers and sellers in Finland likewise stop importing jeans that underwent sandblasting process. According to the recent survey released by Finnwatch, 22 out of 24 apparel shops respondents of survey claimed that they are no longer buying sandblasted jeans.

Rising concerns over sandblasted jeans came out when a group of researchers found the hazards brought by sandblasting to the health of workers in textile industry. Studies revealed that the process could cause severe damage to the lungs and lead to silicosis.

By the way, below are some of the denim jeans for ladies that do not undergo sandblasting method and are surely safe to wear.

Source: Finnish clothing retailers say 'No' to sandblasted jeans | Amazon

Barbie Tattoos: A Fashion Fun or Bad Influence?

Barbie has always been an amazing role model for young girls. But when Italian-based, Japanese inspired brand Tokidoki unveils its latest collection of Barbie dolls it leads to a big controversy, especially to conservative parents. The new doll collection of Tokidoki is a Barbie that sports a pink bob-style hair,  heart-and-crossbones off-shoulder black shirt, leopard-printed leggings, a dog named Balladrino, and tattoos across her left arm, neck, and chest. 

Does Barbie's new reinvention create a harmless fashion fun or a bad influence to young girls?

A Barbie that gets inked is not the only controversial doll collection of Tokidoki brand. In 1999, Butterfly Art Barbie was introduced but quickly withdrawn from stores after parents complained and ten years after (2009) the company once again released the Totally Stylin’ Tattoos Barbie, a doll with removable sticker tattoos that some people found a tittersome use for. 

By the way, for conservative barbie doll collectors out there, here are some of cheap barbie dolls I found on amazon.

2011 Fall/Winter Fashion: What's Trendy for this Season?

The biannual fashion show in Manhattan New York has just ended and now fashionistas like me already have an idea what are the trendy styles for 2012 Spring/Summer. But before we get so excited on the new trends for the next seasons, let’s take a look first the best styles of dress to wear for this year’s fall/winter season. In less than a week, we will welcome fall season and it is good if we already updated our wardrobe as early as now.

Want some ideas on what colors of dress to include in your closet for this season? Check this out.

If there’s a type of color that designers never get tired of using, they are the ones that come in neutral hues. Black is said to be the best neutral color for all seasons and no one can look bad by wearing black. It is also a perfect pick if you want to appear slim, elegant, and chic. But for people who are not used to wearing apparel in pure black, other neutral hues like silver, brown, grey, and white are often used to create contrast. These neutral colors also blend well with other hues.

neutral hues unify diverse color palettes and often can stand alone as the only or primary focus of a design

Excluding the neutral colors, the most ideal shades for 2011 fall/winter season are hues that are more subdued. You have plenty of subsued shades to pick provided that they are not as bright or flashy as the colors for spring/summer. Here are some samples of hues ideal for 2011 fall/winter season.

these shades create a bit of drama and luxurious appearance 

these hues radiate the warmth of a glowing fire and add a bold punctuation point

here's another ideal colors that bring a warm, exotic flavor to fall season 

midnight blue is another great color that is always safe to use no matter where you go

this strong, blue-toned green or popularly known as deep teal is also trendy for 2011 fall/winter season

But if you think soft hues are dull, here’s what you can do to add a fashion statement. Add bright accessories! There are so plenty of accessories to use like scarves, bags or hats. Finding for a nice-looking pair of boots can also add glamour to your overall appearance.

Cannot stay away from shiny colors like orange, magenta, yellow, and the likes? Then go for it if you  think they are the shades that make you feel good! But remember some of the rules when wearing sparkling clothing to ensure you will not be out of style.

By the way, here's another collections of apparel that are a fashion hit for 2011 Fall/Winter season.

polka dots

plaids

nouveau swirls

leopard printed

Camouflage-inspired

maxi or floor-gazing skirts

fur coat

*note: images are taken using google image search engine

Traces of Toxic Chemicals Found on Popular Brands of Apparel

Do you know that because of the different technological innovations, many of the products and services today are bringing harm to the environment? Global warming or climate change is still among the hottest issues when mother earth is concerned.  According to various environmental studies, the rate of warming continues to increase because of the malpractices of the people who are supposedly the prime caretaker of nature.

Just recently, a number of popular US clothing manufacturers were named after their products were traced positive for the toxic chemicals called nonylphenol ethoxylates. The said chemical, which is according to research is used as detergents in industries including the production of natural and synthetic garment, has hormone-disrupting properties that mimic female hormones, alter sexual development, and affects reproductive system of both human and animals. Natural and synthetic textile are among the essential items needed by embroidery digitizers.

Greenpeace International, the group that led the research, identified some of the clothing brands that have great contribution in the discharge of hazardous chemicals into the waterways in China and across the world. Below are some of the some of apparel brands found to be tainted with toxic chemicals.

Adidas - The second-biggest sportwear manufacturer in the world. The company products include sports footwear, bags, shirts, watches, eyewear, and other sports- and clothing-related goods.

Abercrombie & Fitch - an American retailer that focuses on casual wear for consumers not just in America but around the globe. Abercrombie & Fitch product collection promises creativity, innovation, and quality.

Polo Ralph Lauren - Founded by Ralph Lauren. The company specializes in luxury casual/semi-formal clothing for men and women as well as accessories, fragrances, home (bedding, towels) and housewares.

Converse - an American shoe company that become famous for its all-time great "Chuck Taylor All Star" style that has served as a symbol of uniqueness and rebellion. The company, which now a subsidiary of Nike, has also a collection of  kids, men and women's wear, bags, and accessories.

Lacoste - Founded by French designer René Lacoste, the company is known for its high-end collections of clothing, footwear, perfume, leather goods, watches, eyewear, and most famously tennis shirts. Home line of sheeting and towels are also now included in their products.

Calvin Klein - One of the world's well-known brands when it comes to classic, American style of apparel for men and women. The company likewise produces elegantly chic handbags and footwear as well as high quality perfume, watch and jewelries.

Uniqlo - A Japanese fashion brand that tells uniqueness in clothing. The company produces high quality unisex  casual apparel for men, women, and kids but are offered at low-cost. The clothing designs are mostly simple but non-committal.

Meanwhile, clothing brands like Puma and Nike pledged to eliminate all toxic chemicals from their manufacturing processes by 2020.

The research team purchased 78 brands of clothing from 18 countries around the world and the samples of branded clothing subjected for analysis were mostly made in China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Philippines.

How Digitizing Software Simplifies Today's Embroidery

Image Source:Venturelli/WireImage

In fashion industry, embroidery is among the common techniques used to design clothing. The use of embroidery to aesthetically improve the appearance of a garment has been around even before computers were invented. By that time, the designs for embroidery were created by hand.

But now, along with new advances in technology, designing for embroidery is made a lot easier and faster. In fact, anyone can create the design they want to be stitched on the base material in just a couple of hours. And how are they able to do that? Well, through the aid of a custom digitizing software.

a sample of design program used in embroidery digitizing

So what is this embroidery software? It is just the same as the other design programs you installed in your computer. It is equipped with multiple lettering, stitch editing and digitizing features that are essential in creating embroidery designs. Through the tools provided in embroidery digitizing software, the user will be able to generate stitch files of logos or texts that will be used for custom embroidery.

Embroidery digitizing software are now widely available in the market and often come in variety of brands. So if you wish to have this graphical interface, make sure you conduct a thorough research first on which type of digitizing software works best for your computer and embroidery machine. It is essential to consider the compatibility of the software program to your embroidery equipment because it can significantly affect the overall quality of the custom embroidered product.

But for those who don’t have enough skills in embroidery digitizing, there are lots of online sites that provide professional and affordable custom digitizing service for all types of embroidery designs. All you have to do is use your internet and explore these online resources.

How to Look Fashionable even when Dressed in Conservative Business Attire

Have you ever experienced working in corporate offices? If yes, for sure you also experienced wearing a specific type of uniform for work. Owners of many elite corporations do require their employees to report in the office wearing a conservative type of business attire instead of their own clothing. For what reason? Well, these elite companies do believe that if the employees are dressed in nice work uniform like formal business attire, it leaves a good first impression from the customers. And because of that established good image or branding, more and more customers will believe on the products and services the company offers.

If requiring the employees to wear a certain work uniform brings a number of advantages to the company, for the employees it has both pros and cons. For some employees who agree to have a work uniform, it let them save money as they don’t need to frequently replace their wardrobe just to be in the latest trend. They too don’t need to spend hours in the morning just to decide which outfits are best for work. But for employees especially the fashionista ones who feel uncomfortable wearing formal business attire as work uniform, they see this as one way of hindering self-expression.  

So if you happened to work in a company whose work uniform is shaped plain and themed one color, here are the two top secrets on how you can make a fashionable appearance. Add add accent to your plain-looking work uniform and choose the right footwear. 

There are so plenty of accessories you can use to make your uniform look even more attractive and fashionable.

Common accessories use by most women are jewelries and bag.

But you can also pair your blazer with scarf in great hues. Wearing of scarf is now also a fashion hit not just for women but also for men. Although wearing of a tie and putting a hankie on the the blazer's upper pocket (for men) is still in.

A belt in solid color can also be a good accent for one color themed work uniform.

Last but not the least, finding the best type of footwear can also make a big impact in your fashion style. Just make sure the footwear you choose goes well with your outfit.

*Note: Images are taken using Google Image search engine

Sandblasted Jeans Named as Killer Jeans

Photo: Courtesy of Levi-Strauss

When it comes to choosing the styles of apparel, I always love and feel more comfortable wearing clothes that come in worn out, used, or faded look. And my primary reason for choosing such style, apart from being cool and unique, is easy maintenance. For example in jeans, when I wear sandblasted or faded look denim trousers I don’t have to bother much in case a dirt stick on it. But little I know the production of sandblasted jeans put the health of the operator at great risk.

A couple of days ago, I read the press release of the popular Italian clothing brand Versace stating that they will now support in the campaign of other denim manufacturers worldwide to ban the practice of sandblasting.

Sandblasting is a technique used mainly in the garments producing countries when designing denim pants. In order to bring a fashionable faded or worn out denim pants, silica sand is used for styling. Sandblasting with silica sand makes a lot of dust and this fine dust, once inhaled, are very dangerous to the lungs as it could cause an acute form of silicosis and then results to death.

Considering the health condition of operators or production workers of fabrics needed for sandblasted jeans, a group of non-governmental organizations and trade unions named Clean Clothes Coalition (CCC) started their campaign to condemn the production of sandblasted jeans. The said campaign aims to improve the work conditions in the textile industry by ensuring that the workers’ health are not compromised.

Before Versace declared their support to stop sandblasting, there are already several famous clothing brands worldwide that joined in the campaign of CCC. To name some of them we have Benetton, Carrera Jeans, Gucci, Levi-Strauss, H&M, Pepe Jeans, and Replay.

friendship is always the best...

The Inexpensive Way to Look Fashionable

Image Source: newyorkbigevent.com

Having fashionable outfits don’t always mean buying a new one. You can produce trendy clothes out of the outfits you have in your wardrobe. Simply look for apparel that will go together, do a little modification (either by adding some accessories or removing the long sleeves, depending on your desired style) and you can now have something to wear for yourself that is not only unique but in the latest trend.

When trying to mix and match some of your garments, here are some important things to keep in mind in order to come up with a truly fashionable one. These include the colors, the fabrics, the accessories to use, and the perfect footwear to pair for your outfit.

The first thing that people immediately notice about your clothes is on how you choose the colors. Colors can create a big effect on the wearer’s overall personality because they can evoke emotions (good or bad). So make sure you pick a shade that will accurately depict your mood while dressed in those clothes.  Aside from that, you should be able to determine also the perfect colors that will complement to your skin tone, hair, and eyes.

The next thing for you to work on after finding the right color is the fabric. It is important for you to be able to distinguish which type of fabric will flatter your figure. Good for you if you have a voluptuous body because you can wear any type of fabrics. But if you are skinny or chubby, then you have to be more careful in choosing the fabrics or else it will just divulge your unwanted or not so good body features.

Now that you already have identified the right color and type of fabrics, it is time for you to look for the right pair of footwear. When finding for the perfect shoes, aside from selecting a style that will complement to your outfits, look for something that will fit your feet rather than making your feet fit the shoes.

So you are almost completely dressed. And it is now time for you to pick for the right accessories. They are considered the side dishes of your apparel. Accessories can make you look more fashionable (especially you are in plain clothing) or overdressed when inappropriately pick. 

Pantyhose are Back into Fashion

In today’s fashion, inner garments like pantyhose are already considered as symbol of elegance and style statement. It is proven by famous celebrities wearing their most impressive dress paired with black or nude pantyhose, depending on which will look perfect to their attire. This is one of the delightful lingerie that can make a woman (wearing a simple yet formal dress) look even more delightful and stunning.

Wondering how does pantyhose can make a significant effect on the overall outfit style and appearance of the wearer? Well, this delightful women lingerie help conceal the physical impactions such as blemishes, bruises, scars, hair, and varicose veins. Wearing soft and silky pantyhose also display the alluring charm of a woman. This comfortable to wear lingerie, which is available in variety of shades starting from nude to brazen colors, likewise ease chafing between the foot and footwear, or between thighs. And because of this, the wearer’s legs looks even more attractive and sexy.

I have here below some of the famous celebrities today who were captured pairing their outfit with pantyhose and that makes even more captivating. 

Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton wearing sheer pantyhose during her North American tour

American sexy Hollywood actress Eliza Dishku stands out in mock seam pantyhose

World's best female tennis player Serena Williams wearing opaque pantyhose during the ESPY Awards

English-American fashion model Mischa Barton looks even more elegant in black pantyhose