FASHION

When it comes to fashion be unique

THROW THE FASHION RULE BOOK IN THE DUMPSTER

Rules are meant to be broken, some rules anyway, like fashion rules. We now live in a world of conformity where everybody is wearing what everyone else does without thinking for themselves. Sometimes the key to fashion is not always wearing the latest trends is about being yourself. One of these trends that you should throw in the trash is: wearing pajamas only to bed. Because pajamas come in chic designs, not your old, checkered PJs grandpa use to wear, now you can go outside in your PJs. Just put on a pair of fabulous shoes, maybe a stunning belt, and you are all set. Another new trend in the fashion world is wearing leather in spring and summer. Leather outfits are no longer just for cold weather. Recent leather outfits will not overheat and will let you stay calm and sexy throughout the day. One of the old fashion traditions is being conservative when showing skin; that’s not the case right now. When the fashion word invented sheer outfits, the designer wanted people to show more skin. The “bare-feet-sandals” trend should also be thrown behind bars. Many people are shy about showing their feet in public, that is why wearing socks with your sandals are godsent. This way, you wear your favorite peep toe, strappy heels, and even birks without exposing your feet to people or the elements. One of my least favorite fashion trends is “matching everything,” now it is fantastic to wear one shoe in one color and one shoe a different color and wearing asymmetric earrings and two-tone dresses. One final trend that is outdated, “less is more,” is the thing of the past. Go wild, over-accessorize, mix prints, and wear crazy colors, be your fashion designer because it is the trend right now. 

HOW TO WEAR PINK

One of the boldest colors to wear is pink. The color pink is no longer only suited for children’s outfits, in recent years, wearing pink is a fashion statement. Contemporary designers have transformed the fashion industry by creating a range of pink items, from dresses, to nightgowns, from t-shirts to lingerie and sneakers. Pink is everywhere. On top of all the various pink outfits, there are also multiple accessories in pink, such as jewelry, sunglasses, and shoe wear.

One way to wear pink is to add a little texture to your outfits. Texture always gives this color a bit of an edge and flair to your wardrobe, making it multi-dimensional and cool.

Add contrast to your pink outfits by choosing black, white, or grey blouses, but have pink flowers or print designs. The monochromatic colors black, white, grey give the pink character, and color complement the black, white, or grey color scheme. A neat trick to take the girly-girl out of the pink is matching it with menswear. If you wear masculine clothes with pink, the pink counterbalances the masculinity, and the ragged manly clothing gives the pink a softer tone. You can wear a menswear sports sweater (black, grey, or white) with a pale pink pair of jeans. Use pink as an accent. If you decide to wear a black, white, or gray outfit or a combination of these colors, you can use pink accessories such as a pink scarf, shoes, necklaces, and even color your nails and hair pink. If your outfits look a little too girly girl toughen them up with different fabrics, such as studs or leather or both. A studded pink leather jacket will look fabulous with a black or white outfit; pink would even look cool with a dark gothic look – think pink and black. A classic way to wear pink is to look for chic styles such as a classic pink trench coat or a pink leather jacket. If you love to wear hot pink clothes, you might alternate between wearing a bold pink with mellow colors; or mix pink with pink to make a statement. Some of the best colors to mix and match pink with are black, red, white, yellow, and grey.

Black and pink mix the sweetness of pink with the toughness of black, giving you a more rounded appearance. Pink mixed with red is a unique choice since both colors are in the same color wheel group. Pink and white complement each other perfectly. Either keep your outfits mellow with a tan-like pink color, or you can go bold once more with bright pink. A more “out there” combination is pink and yellow or orange, especially if you wear softer color tones. One last fantastic color combination is pink and grey. Because grey is a neutral color, it stands out if you pair it with bright pink, and at the same time, the color tones down the pink, making the sweetness of these fabulous colors more subdued. Pink is a fantastic color no matter how you look at it, and through combinations with other colors, they will make your outfits pop out and look stylish. So when it comes to pink: go for it!

THE PERSONALITY OF COLOR

People wear colors for different reasons. When they go to a funeral, they wear black. When they go to St. Patrick’s Day party, they wear green. When they go on the beach, people often wear every color under the rainbow. But what makes a person wear a particular color, and more than that, what does color tells us about our personality.

Black is for people who want to be taken seriously. This color is worn by those in power who want to portray themselves as serious, smart, and educated. In many countries’ graduation gowns are black. Wearing black makes you look ambitious, driven but also vulnerable. Most people who wear black tend to project their personality onto others rather than their appearances.

Brown is the color of old, something always there, reliable, robust, like a 1000-year-old oak. Still there and respected by everything around it. People who wear brown are the elderly, the wise, the peacemakers that hold the family together. An intelligent and rational person wearing a brown jacket, a brown shirt, and brown shoes who everyone around him can rely on.

Blue, like the deep ocean, is worn by a confident and reliable person. Usually, found in business-like settings. People who wear blue have a calming effect on others. They are trustworthy, cool, intelligent, and at peace with everything surrounding them. People who choose a blue wardrobe are curious, kind, and sometimes shy, role models to their children, peers, friends, and people who can always rely on.  

People who wear green are always in a good mood, surrounded by friends and family. They choose to be surrounded by their crowd, have a public and active life, and choose stability over adventure. People who wear green are financially accomplished, kind, and have a golden heart, always ready to give a helping hand to someone in need.

Throughout history, purple has been the color of the royals and the people who roam around in society’s highest circles, mainly because only the rich could afford this color. The favorite color of Cleopatra, but purple is also the color of the art lovers, the insightful creators of the passionate and dreamy generation. Who told stories through film, painting, and art, unpredictable, dangerous, and adventurous.

The color of passion and love, red, is for the vibrant and energetic people and the attention lovers; they are the people who crave the attention of the opposite sex and want to be admired, coveted, and passionate. They are the ones who are easily excitable and sometimes self-absorbed.

The color of happiness, joy, and the sun, yellow, quickens serotonin abundance and boosts mood. This color brightens people’s day and makes them enjoy life. According to psychologists, yellow is the focus of the eye. When someone looks at colors, they see yellow first; that is why emergency vehicles are yellow. People who wear yellow like to be the center of attention. They like to be surrounded by their loved ones and be the focus of the conversation. People who wear yellow are creative, active, and ready for their next adventure.

People who wear white are independent and optimistic; after all, white symbolizes purity and innocence. This color is loved by freedom lovers and rebels who are focus on the task at hand and try for perfection in everything they do. Organized, punctual, and neat, lovers of this color tend to stay out of the crowd.

Pretty in pink, like all the flirtations girls, is also wildly seen in children’s wardrobes. For mature people, a pale shade of pink symbolizes femininity and fashion. Pink calms people down, and it is considered the color of tranquility. In many homes, pink walls give you a feel of serenity, calmness, and peace. People who love this color are hopeless romantics, optimists, and kind, who see the good in everybody around them.

Orange is energetic, fun, and optimistic. This color is worn by people who are attractive and happy. People who enjoy wearing orange tent to be a little bit off-beat, unconventional, and sometimes dreamy, but when push comes to shove, they are not afraid to go after it.

Many people say gray brings balance because it is not too bright or too dark. A person who has too many gray outfits wants to stay off the radar. The color gray symbolizes peace, calmness, and maturity. People in their 60s, 70s and, even 80s choose to wear this color because grey is a neutral color. Most people who wear gray like to live by their own rules and want to keep to themselves while not attracting too much attention.

THE BEST TIME TO BUY CLOTHES

Thanksgiving is all about football, food, and family. But there is another event that captured the lives of Americans on this holiday – shopping. People spend days, even weeks outside their favorite store to catch the next mega sale.

The best time to go shopping is at the end of each season, especially at the end of summer in August when all the summer items go on sale, and in late January, when all the winter clothes are significantly marked down.

On December 26, Canadians celebrate Boxing Day, the Canadian version of Black Friday, when everything goes on sale one day after Christmas.
If you live in Canada or live in the Northern United States, take a trip over the border for some cool bargains.

Here in America, the biggest shopping day is the Friday after Thanksgiving. Every Black Friday, stores open their doors around midnight to all the eager customers looking for amazing deals. Some stores even offer a Black Friday week. During which store reduces prices for an entire week, culminating in Cyber Monday – the online version of Black Friday when bargains fill the web for the costumers who are not reluctant to spend hours outside in the cold three days prior.

Few people ever heard of the White Sale. As the Christmas season dies down, retailers offer drastic discounts on winter items like Christmas trees, Christmas ornaments, and others. Sometimes in January, Christmas items go on sale for up to 60-80% off. If you wanted to buy that $199, 9-foot spruce for Christmas, now you can have it for a fraction of the price.

In September, the back-to-school sale offers end of summer sales not only for summer clothes but also on items for the upcoming fall season. At the end of August and at the beginning of September, stores markdown summer clothes and replaced them with fall clothes for the Fall.

During Spring Break, many stores lower their prices for the season. Because people spend a lot on air-fair, retailers, know that customers don’t wish to spend a fortune on their wardrobe. Therefore, many stores mark down their stock. During this season, buyers can make a killing on shorts, shoes, dresses, skirts, and swimsuits for their upcoming vacation.

Whenever you wish to go bargain shopping, take your favorite credit card, get you shoes on and go crazy.

HOW TO WASH YOUR CLOTHES

How many times have you thrown your favorite shirt or sweater into your wash machine only to ruin it? Clothes get ruined because people do not know how to wash them. They just throw their favorite outfits with all the other clothes in the washer and hope for the best. Unfortunately, that is the wrong way to wash your clothes because every fabric needs to be cleaned differently.

Acrylic has been around since the 1940s and is best washed in warm water. Acrylic is easy to clean; what is unfortunate is that acrylic is usually paired with other textiles. Therefore, always check the label before tossing it in the washing machine. When you iron this material, use medium heat because the heat makes the material peel making your favorite sweater shed.

Cashmere is a very delicate and expensive material. The fabric comes from the silky coat of cashmere goats making the fabric a statement of luxury. Because cashmere is so costly, most people send it to the dry cleaners, which is unnecessary. Cashmere can be cleaned in a regular wash machine using the “delicate” or “wool” cycle. If you want to hand wash the material, use baby shampoo and cold water. When it is time to dry, don’t wring the fabric; lay the sweater flat and let it dry by itself.

Common throughout the world, cotton is one of the easiest materials to clean. All cotton shirts and sheets are machine washable and can be ironed. While it needs to be washed in hot water, colors need to be washed in warm or cool water. Be careful not to keep them in the drier too long, or cotton will shrink.

Leather and suede are both very delicate materials and are vulnerable to dehydration and dirt. There are typically four things that can ruin leather: abrasion, chafing, oxidation, and oily compounds. If you can’t afford a professional cleaner, try to use mild soap and water. If you hand clean suede, use a suede protector afterward. Suede protector is water repellent and will protect your clothes from the wet weather. While suede is wash machine friendly, leather isn’t.

When linens are concerned, you can wash them even though some are labeled “dry-clean only.” The key to washing linens is not to overcrowd them because linens absorb more water than other clothes. Wash linens separately. To eliminate wrinkles on linen clothes, turn them inside out and iron them using steam.

Nylon is another common material found in almost everything from bras to underwear; nylon is wash-machine friendly and can be washed either using cold water or warm water. For white fabrics, use only cold water. If you want to avoid wrinkles, lay the fabric down and let it dry by itself or put your clothes in the dryer at a low heat setting.

Made from recycled plastic bottles: polyester is a low-cost wrinkle-free fabric. Polyester is machine washable at a warm wash setting. If you have a dryer, use a low heat setting as well.

Rayon and Viscose are some of the most challenging fabrics to wash, mainly because they are usually mixed with other fabrics and tend to shrink. The best way to clean this delicate material is to either take it to the dry cleaner or hand wash them using cold water and let them air dry.

Expensive silk comes from the silkworm cocoon and can’t be synthesized. When it comes to silk, follow the label. When the label says “dry-clean only,” take it to your trusted dry cleaner’s. Although some fashion experts say it is okay to clean it at home, be careful because silk fades. Test a small area with a damp cloth to see if the color fades. If it doesn’t, hand wash it with a mild shampoo, roll it in a dry towel to get the water out and let it air dry.

Spandex holds on to odor, so if you want to wash gym clothes, use a sports’ detergent and separate your light-colored spandex from your dark ones because colors can blend in the washer.

While wool fabrics are machine washable, it is recommended to use the “delicates” cycle on your washer and not wash them too often. Always use a gentle detergent on wool. Even if you choose to hand wash your clothes, most detergents are too harsh on wool, damage the fabric, and always remember to read the label.

How to wear white

FIFTY SHADES OF WHITE

There is a saying: “never wear white after Labor Day.” In recent years more and more people wear white when the snow flurries start dancing in the air and when the cold season lays its white carpet upon the earth. But what is the secret of wearing white during the winter? One way to add white to your wardrobe is to mix it with other colors: black or gray. 

While some women are shy to wear white pants because white shows all their features, and their clothes will get dirty in the muddy streets of winter. As a rule of thumb, wear a white turtleneck or a white sweater with colored pants. It is also stylish to wear white pants with a black or gray sweater. But if you still wish to wear white pants, wear a thick dark-colored slouch or a shirt, also wear dark-colored shoes in the dirty streets of winter. When it comes to accessories, chose either a white or a substantially black color handbag or a white-black checkered purse.

In the wintertime, you can also wear more than one tone of white or mix white and white. If you wear different shades of white, your outfit will stand out. A crème or a rich shade of beige will, without a doubt, enhance your outfit. Another color that works miracles with white is pink. While you do not have to go full pink panther, light pink works wonder with white. Wear pink gloves, scarves, or hats to make white be the focus of attention.

If you wish to wear only white, wear different textures of white. Use flee, wool, leather, suede, and other textiles to make the “white” stand out. While white lance looks amazing on anybody, the material is not sturdy enough for the winter weather. Leather is a fantastic fabric for winter, especially if you mix it with wool, faux fur, cashmere, or other material. Adding colored accessories like bracelets, handbags, chockers to your outfit will make your white pop.

Accentuate your white with camo prints. A camo jacket or a trench coat will make the white sweater and white leather the center of attention. The different shades of gray, brown, olive that camo prints offer will give your white outfit a magnificent contrast from jackets to beanies to boots.

While you wear white, add a splash of warm color to your outfit. While less is more, do not be afraid to accessorize your outfits with bright colors like orange, magenta, cyan, crazy blue. Pick one item of clothing like your scarf in crazy color and let the rest of your outfit be white. Jewelry, sunglasses, hats, scarves, anything under the sun, if it has a color, it will look great on you. But color doesn’t stop there. When you wear a white outfit, wear bright color makeup, or look eccentric, dye your hair a bright color. Imagine yourself all in white with purple hair.

In the end, the answer to the age-old question: “Should you wear white after Labor Day?” The answer is a resounding “YES.” Put the fashion police behind bars, take your white out of the closet, and be yourself in this beautiful winter wonderland.

REAL LEATHER v FAKE LEATHER

What is the difference between real leather and fake leather? How many people get ripped off when purchasing a leather purse or a leather jacket from a local merchant or a thrift store? Let’s face it; not too many people can buy a $3000 bag from Louis Vuitton. Most people go to thrift stores or their local mom and pop store and sometimes get ripped off. Nowadays, many merchants sell leather goods that are not precisely leather. But how can you distinguish between the two? How do you know the difference between real leather and fake leather?

One obvious thing to look for is the words “real leather,” yes, folks; it is that simple. Many manufacturers are proud they use real leather and are happy to advertise this. The product might say “100% Real Leather”; other labels might include words like “Genuine Leather,” “Top/Full grain leather,” “Made with Animal Products.”

A good indicator of leather quality is the “feel” of the leather. If you touch the product and feel a grainy surface or “pebbles,” it is “real” leather. Real leather is not perfect; every piece is unique like every animal is unique, no two cows look alike, and no two purses look alike either. Real leather has wrinkles, scratches, and creases. That is why buying leather goods online is risky because you cannot see the product up close.

Real leather has a smell. Have you ever heard the expression “it even smells like real leather”? Genuine leather has a musty smell, while fake leather has a chemical plastic-like smell. Usually, leather smells like skin, while a fake will smell like plastic. If you have a leather sample, hold it to a flame for about 5-10 seconds, and see what happens. Real leather will only char slightly and smell like burned hair, while the fake counterpart will smell like burned plastic.

A key indicator of real leather is the rough edge; faux leather has perfect edges. The rule of thumb is – fake leather looks too perfect. When you bend the leather, you will also see a slight color change. If you test something that twists like a belt, real leather has a certain elasticity and will have a little change of color, while fake leather will stay the same.

When you drop a small amount of water on the leather product, the material will absorb the water. When you repeat the process on faux leather, the water will stay there. Real leather is dense and absorbs water quickly.

Price. Genuine leather goods are expensive and have a fixed price. If you search for a product, you will find a base price. The cost of synthetic leather will be all over the place. A $500 purse will never be $99.99; the price will fluctuate between $400 and $600 based on the product availability, quality, brand, and season.

Ignore color. Colors and dyes can be added to both the real and the fake product. Just because a leather wallet is blue doesn’t mean it’s fake, and just because the product is brown like leather, it doesn’t make it real.

How to dress warm for winter

WINTER IS COMING…

Winter is coming! For some reason, I have the Game of Thrones theme song in my head. But in all honesty, winter IS coming. Today for the first time, I wore my football jacket. Go Hawks! And it was chilly. The weather changing got me thinking about people who live in cold places, in Boston, Seattle, or Chicago. What is the best way to dress up for temperatures like ten or even 5 degrees when the cold weather gets in your bones; talking to some friends who live in a near arctic climate, I came up with a plan to survive the winter. The key to getting dressed for winter is wearing layers of clothes.

An essential thing to do is to wear a base layer. A base layer traps your body heat from dissipating, keeping you warm. An excellent way to build your generous base layer is to wear some long johns or some thermal heat clothing that will keep your body nice and toasty when you go outside. An excellent winter clothing brand to invest in is SmartWool or every other clothing line made from wool. Long underwear made from 100% polyester is recommended, especially when worn under jeans or a shirt; this way, you won’t get the same bulky feeling you do when wearing regular winter clothes.

Layer your body for winter. Start wearing a thermal (long johns) layer of clothing on top of your underwear. Try a regular t-shirt; this way, a basic t-shirt will not cost you a fortune; you can use a t-shirt too ugly to wear during the summer or a shirt made to sleep in. Waffle-knit t-shirts are an excellent choice to wear. They are made from a soft, thin material and made from a thermal fabric that gives you the extra heat to keep warm. Long-sleeved shirts make a generous winter base layer, especially if you choose a crew neck over a v-neck shirt. If you want to protect your neck, try a turtleneck.

Flannel is a fantastic insulator. Not as thick as a sweater, flannel protects the body from the wind. In wintertime, flannel is also a temperature insulator and can be worn under a shirt or a jacket; and does not have the same scratchy feel as a wool sweater. Flannel is versatile, and it can be worn alone or in combination with a shirt or jacket.

Pullover fleece is another excellent choice for the winter. While being comfortable to wear at home watching television or going out, wearing a pullover fleece is exceptionally chic, especially since it comes in various colors. Pullover fleece is also comfortable, more comfortable than cotton sweatshirts, if you wish to work out at the gym or have some chores to do in your home.

If the winter’s bitter cold is invading your bones, invest in a good quality winter jacket. Look for brands like Northface or Carhatt, or a coat that has goose feathers. Other good quality jackets are made with down, polyester, polyurethane, goose feathers, or wool – especially those bomber jackets with sports logos on them.

For the lower part of the body, Fleece-Lined pants are fantastic to wear, protecting your legs from the cold winter. If you do not have a pair, make your pants: buy a pair of jeans, stretch jeans, or a size or two bigger and wear a pair of long johns under them. Leggings or yoga pants are also a great choice to wear under large jeans. It is also an excellent choice for insulation against the cold – on a long windy day, flannel-lined jeans will also give you that layer of protection to survive the winter.

Now, since your body is covered, how about your feet? Try SmartWool socks made with merino wool, incredibly soft and warm. SmartWool socks are as well comfortable as fashionable and come in fun colors as well as patterns.

Down booties provide the perfect protection for your feet. Down booties have a thick sole, which gives insulation between your feet and the snowy terrain you walk on. Lightweight at only 6 ounces, down booties, have a foam insole, a waterproof finish, and non-slippery, perfect for a walk through the snow. Bogs are great for the winter wonderland. They are waterproof, comfortable, and lined with heat-trapping material, especially for the cold weather. Even if they do not make a fashion statement, bogs are durable, warm, and a well-known brand. For a wet fall or wet early winter, you can wear some old fashion leather work boots. They are a good fit for your feet, especially in a stormy environment. These work boots are waterproof, made of rubber, and can keep your feet dry is a puddle filled city like New York, Seattle, or Chicago. They are suitable to wear in the winter and during the fall or on a rainy summer day.

The last layer but not the least, is a good beanie. Heat usually escapes your body from your head, and covering your head with a beanie will trap the heat from escaping your body, keeping you feeling warm and toasty inside. A wool visor beanie keeps your head and ears warm and is extremely fashionable. Worn by many, the Acrylic Watch Hat is a classic. Coming in every color, the Acrylic Watch Hat gives you protection for your head and especially for your ears. Popular mostly with women, the hat scarf combo made from wool is a fantastic insulator from winter’s bitter wind and cold weather. Worn by many, it is one of the best ways to protect yourself against the wind and the cold.

Dress warmly for the winter but also have a passion for fashion because spring is around the corner. So, enjoy the winter wonderland, the snow, caroling, the holidays, and all the magic this season brings because winter is coming; who knows what exciting and unique things the season will bring.

What do your shoes tell about your personality

THE PERSONALITY OF SHOES

Do you remember Carrie Bradshaw, and how many shoes did she own? How she had a pair for every occasion, whether she went shopping with Samantha or had a cup of coffee with Charlotte or whether she went on a date with Mr.Big? She had a pair for every occasion and every mood… And this got me thinking: do shoes have their own personality? Do they say something about the person who wears them? Or are shoes just shoes? You put them on, walk out the door, and that is that. What do shoes tell about you and your personality?

Dress Shoes

Dress shoes are made for professionals. For mature, good looking, and confident people that believe in themselves and their dreams. For people who trade comfort for style. Whether they are in a board meeting or contemplate their next merger, these are the goal-oriented people who go after their target, and nothing and nobody will get in their way of accomplishing their mission. A reliable individual who is everybody’s person who is not afraid to take control of the conversation. A good orator as well as a sharp dresser.  

Slip-Ons

Women who wear slip-ons believe that being comfortable is the key to footwear without neglecting style. They are the ones that are easy to get along with. Surrounded by friends but don’t like to be the center of attention and yet don’t want to look too bland or boring. They are easy to talk to, have many friends but don’t like to be stepped on. Not only slip-ons are super comfortable, but these fashionistas are creating their very own trend; they are passionate entrepreneurs who believe that individuality is the key to a successful life.

Street shoes

The young generation of women is the one who fills their closets with Nike, Vans, and New Balance. While only in their teens or early twenties, they are the women of the future. They will be the ones who will cure cancer, invent the car that runs on water, and find a way to travel from London to Tokyo in 30 minutes flat. But until that day arrives, they will enjoy the latest fashion trends, fit in with the crowd, and in two words, “stay cool,” because the future can wait for one more day.

Flats

Women who wear flats are easy going, modest, intelligent, and kind. While life is hard, they are focused on where they are going; and nothing will stop them from achieving their dreams. They are the ones who believe in the beauty of their dreams and give everything to achieve their goals. Because if you are motivated and work hard, no goal is impossible to achieve.

Running shoes

Sometimes you just need the open road. You wake up before the sun comes up, put on a pair of comfortable running shoes, and just hit the open road. Because the road does not care how you look, the road does not mind that you have only 30 minutes to run on a busy day full of activities. The road wants you to be yourself: a hard-working, goal-oriented woman who will give her 110% but for 30 minutes a day lets the world fly by. Just you, a pair of running shoes, and the open road.

 $100+ Sneakers

 Have you ever been to the store and see that one pair of shoes that if you don’t buy, you can’t sleep, can’t eat until that pair is in your hands? Just take that almost maxed-out credit card and make a statement because being up to date with the current trends is your life’s goal. If you are that person, then no price is too high for a pair of sneakers. Because if you have that pair, you can be anybody you want to be. Energic, fearless, and ageless; you are unique, in a world of mundane people wear a pair of no-name black shoes. Life is too short to be ordinary.

 Heels

What is sexier than a pair of high heels? A powerful woman at the height of her professional career. Skipped prom to study for her college entrance exam, and now she is at the top of her game, confident, glamorous with a hint of sexiness; because what is the point of wearing heels if you can’t feel sexy. While you are open to any type of conversation, you still hide that ten percent of secrecy.

Dirty Converse

If you enjoy a pair of dirty Converse, you’re old-school. You want classic things, affordable clothes, and simple outfits. As a unique and relaxed person, you don’t care what others think about you. You just sketch your path in life at your own pace. And even though your house might not be the tidiest in the world, you find comfort in simple things.

Birkenstock sandals

While being extremely comfortable, Birkenstock sandals are for women who enjoy the outdoors. The people who are all about a life full of activities and being in nature. Comfort is the number one reason you buy sandals, and as a laid-back person relaxing with a cup of coffee and a magazine, this might just be what the doctor orders.

Chukkas

These laid-back shoes are made for the hipsters, who wear shoulder bags and are passionate about coffee while enjoying a more classic look. As a life learner by trade, you could not care what others think or say because the mainstream is not for you. You are the person that keeps away from the crowd, an artist, a poet, a creator who enjoys following your path through life, always on the move, one day surrounded by the solitude of nature, the next day finding your way through crowded city streets.

Chelsea Boots

Stylish but not too stylish, casual but not too casual, the grey and black chicness and style of Chelsea boots are made for those who know what they want and are not afraid to go after it. They have a firm idea of how they want to look; and will never be like everybody else. By nature, a risk-taker, women who wear Chelsea boots, are always ready to take whatever life throws at them.

Western Booties

You are laid back, and you like to look cute — a stylish girly-girl who likes to wear clothes that flatter your figure. Imaginative and somewhat artsy, you creatively express yourself. As an attention seeker, you always try to look your best. A beauty by nature, you are also graceful, warm, and kind. Your imagination is your primary asset, and if the world doesn’t give you what you seek, you are ready to create your own: just you, a pair of jeans, and some cool western boots.

Off Brand Sneakers

They are made for the girls that don’t focus too much time on their style. Who don’t care how popular or unpopular their shoes are; the only thing that matters is the affordability and comfortability of what they wear. Haters be damned if your feet feel good. The main aspects of your shoe closet are affordability and comfort. Standing out is not your priority because, after all, it’s the personality that matters

Make your own ripped jeans

SINCE WHEN RIPPED JEANS ARE BACK?

Going through this outdoor mall, I saw almost everybody wearing ripped jeans, and it got me thinking: did everybody fell into a woodchipper? Or did someone tick off Freddy Kruger? Because you know that one… two… Freddy’s coming for you. But let us pretend that a fictitious homicidal maniac with knives for fingernails is not terrorizing my town ripping jeans.

So, how can you get jeans to look like that? Well, the easiest way is to buy them that way. But let us pretend people don’t want to spend $50-60 on a pair of old jeans that look like they were made on Elm Street. Your next bet is to make them look like that yourself. Try to find an old comfortable pair of jeans preferably that you wore a hundred times before. The best pair of jeans is a medium to heavy washed pair whose color has faded.

Then gather up some tools like an X-acto knife, razor blade, scissors, or anything sharp for that matter. Lay your jeans flat on the table and use a pencil or chalk trace on the jeans where you want the rip. Most people like their rips around the knee but try to aim higher. This way, when you walk, you will not make the tear supper big. You can also put a small cutting board in your pant leg while you do the distressing; this way, you don’t scratch the surface you work on and don’t make the mistake of cutting the jeans’ backside as well.

A suitable method of making jeans older is to rub sandpaper, pumice stone, or steel wool to help loosen the fibers giving them a worn-out look. You can also pick on and tug the area where you just used your steel wool on; this process will make the jeans look ever “worse.” Use your scissors to make holes in your jeans, try to make them small at first, and as you wear them; you can decide how big the rips should be. The process also can be done with your hands. You can tug on the material as hard or soft as you wish, depending on how you like your jeans to look.

When you get your jeans to look like you wish, sew around the perimeter of the holes. This process will prevent the holes from getting larger. For this step, use white or light blue thread to blend effortlessly with the fabric’s color. The key to fashionably ripped jeans is imagination. Find your way to cur your jeans. As for all those naysayers out there: ripped jeans are here to stay!

THE HISTORY OF LINGERIE: CLOTHING OR EROTICA?

We all have seen Victoria’s Secret commercials. Those commercials are usually about some fashion model rolling in her bed wearing almost nothing except lacy panties and a bra. In the last second of the commercial, the model looks at the camera and asks: “do you dare?”.

What is the commercial about? If you ask a woman, she will probably reply that the commercial is about selling clothing items. If you put the same question to a guy, he will probably reply – the commercial was about some “hot babe” rolling in bed half-naked. The question remains – is lingerie made as an undergarment for women to wear, or is lingerie made for visual stimulation before or during an intimate act. The answer: who cares; as long as the lingerie industry makes money and the consumer is happy with the product.

The origins of the word “lingerie” is derived from the French word “linge,” meaning undergarments. This word was first used in 1922, referring to underwear and bras. The world of lingerie was born in the first part of the 20th century. Lady Duff-Gordon of Lucile invented the undergarment as a replacement for the corset. According to Wikipedia, women wore lingerie for three reasons: 1) to alter their shape, 2) for hygienic reasons and, 3) for modesty. Before lingerie, most of the underwear on the market were too large and too bulky.

During the late 19th century, corsets became smaller and less constricting. With the bra’s invention by Mary Phelps Jacobs, the fashion world started seeing a decline in corset manufacturing. Later, with more bras sold in stores, the corset became obsolete. The manufacturing industry then started creating bras from a more breathable fabric, and in 1935 retail stores start selling padded cups. In 1938 the underwire was introduced to give the bra a projecting bust line. Twenty years later, lingerie manufacturers such as Frederick’s of Hollywood began creating more glamorous lingerie.

In the 21st century, the lingerie market, with the help of modern technology, began to create new products such as laser-cut seamless bra and modulated t-shirts. Designers started creating flamboyant and colorful lingerie designs emphasizing on brighter colors, lace, and embroideries. In 2003 the lingerie world was estimated at $29 billion, while experts predict that by 2025 is expected to hit the $325 billion mark – an 1100% increase in just 21 years.

In recent years, the lingerie world also added a sexual aspect to it. While some customers buy undergarments for daily use, most consumers purchase lingerie for more intimate occasions. Between 1984 and 2013, the adult magazine playboy has published bi-monthly special edition versions of the magazine depicting women in lingerie and then to nothing at all. Is the lingerie world about fashion or sexuality? As long as consenting adults have a passion for fashion and lingerie. The answer is: who cares.

THE HISTORY OF JEANS

Researchers believe the word “jeans” dates back to 15th century Genoa, Italy. The French name for Genoa “Genes” may be the original word for jeans. During this period, weavers in Nimes, France, tried to reproduce the jean fabric. Failing to do so, they developed something quite similar, which later became known as denim, or: “deNimes,” meaning “from Nimes.” The low cost of this new fabric was used by the Genoese navy and laborers in northern Italy; the material was sturdy and did not rip easily like most fabrics. The navy used this material for garments such as smocks or overalls. During that time, merchants traveling back and forth from India brought the bluish dye from Indigo plantations. They used it to dye the new fabric until the late 19th century, when it was replaced by an indigo synthesis method brought from Germany.

The word “Jeans” first came about in 1795 when Jean-Gabriel Eynard, a Swiss banker, and his brother Jacques moved to Genoa to start a textile business. Five years later, when the French army under Andre Massena fought the Austrian invading forces during the siege of Genoa, Jean-Gabriel Eynard, was entrusted with the army’s supply line. Their uniforms were made from a blue cloth called “bleu de Genes,” later named as we all know “blue jeans.”

A little more than fifty years later, in 1851, a young German entrepreneur named Levi Strauss moved from Germany to New York to work for his brother, who owned a goods store. Two years later, Levi Strauss moved to San Francisco looking for fame and fortune and opened his own business called Levi Strauss & Co. By 1872 Jacob Davis, a local tailor who often bought textiles from Levi Strauss & Co, wrote to Strauss and offered him a partnership to create and distribute clothing reinforced with rivets. Strauss accepted the offer and began the Strauss-Davis partnership a year later.

The earliest attempt to create what is now widely known as “Jeans” was to use a fabric called brown cotton duck that was later dyed blue and sold to miners. After this fabric’s initial success, Strauss sold his pants to factory workers, miners, and cattle ranchers throughout the west. In 1873 the company added two pockets in the front but only one pocket in the back on the right side, later adding an extra small pocket for costumers to store their pocket watch. In 1901 the left back pocket was added to the 501 models giving birth to the jeans we are all wearing now. 

Jeans appeared for the first time in the fashion world in the 1935 June issue of Vogue. Being absent from the fashion world during World War II because of denim’s military use, jeans came back in the 1950s – mostly since 50s bad boy James Dean wore them in Rebel Without A Cause. Some people believe that jeans became a fashion statement because of this movie, worn by both men and women. The zipper was down in the front as we are all used to wearing. In 1965 Limbo, a fashion boutique from New York East Village was the first retailer to wash a new pair of jeans and give them the old ruggedly look people are used to. In the 1980s, the denim industry introduced the stone-washing technique developed by a Canadian named Donald Freeland, who invented the method. The jean was brought to a much larger audience in the decades to follow.

WHY DO PEOPLE WEAR CLOTHES?

Why do people wear clothes? The short answer, because they get arrested or freeze to death if they don’t. But the real question is: why we choose certain clothes to wear and why others choose a different style to wear? Back when I was in college in my senior year around 2006, I had a thing for Miami Vice, for how Sonny Crockett, played by Don Johnson, was wearing those pastel colors and white loafers. Now you remember that 2006 was 16 years after the show ended, and for some people, I looked ridiculous wearing white pants, an orange shirt, and a white blazer that I bought at a women’s section of my Burlington’s Coat Factory – it was $9.99, so sue me! So, I got this blazer; actually, I got four (white, orange, green, and pink). I changed the buttons to look mainly, and nobody was wiser to call me out on my “cross-dressing” choice. I looked good! 

The reason I told you this story is that fashion is about what makes you happy. Fashion is about enjoying the clothes you wear. Just like eating or watching movies. If you like eating Chinese most of the time and watching romantic comedies, knock yourself out. Fashion is about enjoying yourself with what you bought. Mainly because clothes will never judge you, they will not ask you: why are you unemployed? They won’t ask you why at 44 you are not married, and they will never raise your cholesterol. Clothes are there to make you feel good; and if you like to wear a suit and tie while you are walking your dog at nighttime, why not? Just do not go out naked because I am sure the police will have a problem with that. Not the fashion police, the real police.

We wear clothes because of how amazing it makes us feel every time we go out. My 87-year-old grandmother still puts lipstick on every time she goes out, wears a matching purse, matching hat, and matching shoes; and, if she has to go to more places during her day, she goes home, changes her clothes, and then continues her journey to where she needs to go. What does she have to do with a guy who wears a white shirt, black short shorts, and slippers when he goes out? They both are happy with what they wear. When you talk about a passion for fashion, you are not only talking about wearing an Armani suit and Gucci glasses, but you also are talking about putting on what you like. Because if you are happy with how you look and how you feel, who cares what people say.

A passion for fashion is not about wearing Versace, Armani, and some other high-end brand; it’s about wearing what makes you happy, and if you do not care about how you look, wear any shirt with any pants that you wish. It is all about you, and what you like to wear. It is about you and your passion for your fashion. Whatever style you wear, just make sure you feel good wearing it.

DRESS UP FOR FALL

Dress up for fall because the season is upon us. The summer is finally over. The hot hands of the sun are not embracing us anymore, and with the torrid heat of the day diminishing little by little every day, a new season is upon us. Fall has finally arrived. With her arrival, the majesty of mother nature and the blessings of this season are knocking on our door. Are we ready? Are we going to answer, or are we going to hide under our beds until next summer? Because if that is your plan, I am with you. But let us give this fall a chance. Who knows what miracles she will bring?

With mother nature turning shades of brown, red, gold, and rusty, why not dress for the part? Who says that you must conform when you can focus on a fall color scheme? With the array of colors mother nature provides, you can wear an infinity of harvest colors. Be one with mother nature when fall knocks at your door when the rusty leaves crunch under your heavy footsteps. Wear something warm when the wind whispers to the trees about the end of the summer.

Fall is among us once more, and with her mother, nature brings us gifts, like she does every year. Warm pumpkin pie, children are laughing on Halloween while trying to scare all the surrounding adults. Teenagers are trying to steal a smooch while watching a horror movie, ending with the biggest feast of all on the last Thursday in November, when the whole family gathers around a full table of yummy things to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Fall teaches us how to dress. How to use colors like red, yellow, orange, brown in our daily wardrobe? Scarves are back this season, but not those heavy raggedy scarves that we wear in winter, but colorful ones, complementing our outfits. If you wear a darker tone outfit, try a lighter hue around your neck, and if you wear dull color clothes, try a darker tone to wrap yourself in. Scarves, hats, and even leather gloves make beautiful accessories this fall, especially if their colors complement your outfit.

We dress up for fall to keep us warm and be one with nature, to receive her blessings until the bitter winter arrives. All over the country, you can buy clothes with a rust-fall color scheme, from sweaters to scarves, hats, shirts, and everything else that your heart desires. Why not accessorize your outfit with a nice hot cup of apple-cinnamon cider or your favorite warm spicy beverage while you enjoy a wonderful stroll with your loved one. Dress up for fall, but dress warm because the key to fashion is comfort. For those who have a passion for fashion, nothing else matters other than being yourself. So, for this season, wear your reds, your orange, your browns when you go out, and don’t forget the most important thing in fashion: have fun.