In a world extraordinarily focused on outward appearance, we need only to open a magazine or turn on our televisions to see the latest and greatest fashion trend; it walks the red carpet, checks out a movie premier, and heads out nightly to the hottest restaurants. And we, as a society always mindful of what’s popular, follows dutifully along, eager to purchase the “must have” item of the season. But, ultimately, the fashion style that works best for us is that which looks good on our particular body and reflects our very individual personality.

As anyone who follows the fashion industry will tell you, trends come and go. What is one year’s hot item is the next season’s fashion “don’t.” Designers present their newest lines and before you know it stores are carrying these clothes in every conceivable variation. And then, just as quickly, they’re gone. It’s almost impossible to keep pace. Luckily, the fashion style that makes the most sense on an individual level is the fashion style that reflects who we are as people; and that never goes out of style.

The most important thing to remember is that just because a particular fashion style is popular at the moment does not mean that it will look good on your particular body. Wearing something just for the sake of wearing it ultimately goes against the principles of fashion. A fashion style that you choose to wear should be something that accentuates your positives, downplays your negatives, and complements the overall line of your body.

Take the time to get to know your body and what styles work best with it. Assess your body objectively; if you have trouble spots, look for cuts and fabrics that camouflage what you need them to camouflage; if you are on the shorter side, look for a fashion style that elongates your body; and always choose colors that complement your skin tone.

Once you find a style that works – stick with it and add your personal touches to reflect your personality; that is the best fashion style you can possibly wear.

By: Michelle Bery

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Take a blend of many decades of style, add a dash of old Hollywood glamour, and you have the magic of the trends for spring 2008. This season the designers added modern twists to our favorite classic and timeless pieces. Fashion icons like Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, and Princess Diana wore many of these sophisticated and classic trends: romantic, flirty, and colorful in design and mood. Here are my top twelve trends for spring. You may not love all of them, but I encourage you to select a few to add to your existing wardrobe to look more modern and fashionable.

1). Crayola Colors This season the designers have added a lot of vibrant hues in saturated colors like bright yellow, grass green, royal blue, red, safety orange and fuchsia. These bright colors may be hard for everyone to wear. If you want to experiment with bold colors, start with a bright blouse or jacket and pair it with a pair of white pants or a skirt, which will tone it down a bit. When you wear bright colors like these, keep your accessories simple, so that the color becomes the focal point.

2). Pattern Punch, Creative Strokes & Floral Dresses, jackets, tops and skirts will come in all sizes of patterns this season. The popular prints will have graphic, geometric and abstract motifs. You will see some beautiful new prints that look like creative brush stroke patterns off an artist’s canvas in a light whimsical scrawl or a blurred watercolor abstract. Romantic florals will dominate the season in medium to large prints. When selecting a print to wear in the professional business arena, remember to keep it in the small to medium range, and in a subtle color.

3). The Waist-Defined Dress Springtime is all about dresses this year. The two most popular styles, which I adore, are the shirt dress and the sheath dress; both of which accentuate the waist area. I love these styles because they work well in a business casual work environment, and can go from day to night with a change to dressier accessories. The shirt dress is a tailored, stylish, and classic silhouette, with a collar that can be worn turned up a bit, and a button-down front, which when unbuttoned, can create a great V-neckline. A shirt dress with a sash or belt can compliment a waistline, or help to create one that is not prominent enough. This style of dress is flattering to many different body types. Many sheath dress styles can be worn without a belt but are shapely to your body and define a bit of waist. This dress looks professional worn with a modern or tailored jacket during the day, and worn with a great purse and clutch handbag for an after-hours event. For work this style of dress worn with a jacket conveys professionalism, expertise and femininity for women in business.

4). The Timeless Trench The classic trench returns in time for the springtime weather and it is a great wardrobe essential that every woman needs in her closet. This season you will see a more modern version of the classic trench coat. The latest twists are brighter colors, lighter fabrics and shorter jacket styles, which look great with dress trousers. The timeless trench takes on a springtime, fresh look with softer fabrics and fun colors. This is also a great item to pair with jeans and sandals during those cool spring evenings to look stylish and chic.

5). The Feminine Blouse The mood of the season is romantic and flirty when it comes to blouses. Beautiful soft blouses in pastels and prints with lots of feminine details like ruffles, pin tucks and tiny pleats. With the fine detailing on these blouses, keep jewelry to a minimum. This is a great must-have for every workingwoman, as this sophisticated and romantic item can modernize a classic suit and add a womanly flair to a basic tailored suit.

6). Out of Africa Safari wear is a great timeless trend again this season. From the 1970′s era, you will see African safari jackets, khaki shirt dresses, and belted safari pant suits. In with this trend you’ll find great animal prints, like leopard and giraffe, in dresses and tops. To give this style a great head to toe look try pairing a safari outfit with some natural wood accessories and trendy wide strapped sandals with wooden soles and heels.

7). Full, Flirty Skirts Skirt silhouettes will be full and stylish this season like the dirndl, the A-line, pleated styles and soft flirty skirts with a fuller silhouette. These styles will be in solid bold colors, color blocked prints, floral and artistic prints. A soft A-line skirt that gently drapes over your hip is a flattering style for many women, as it camouflages large hip areas. Any of these styles worn with a modern jacket, a twin set or a soft feminine blouse makes for a winning combination to keep in mind for a business casual workday.

8). High-Waisted Trousers This is a hard trend for many women to accept since we have, for years, had to become accustomed to the low-rise pant. This trend started last fall and we are definitely starting to see more dramatic waistbands rise to new levels. The styles that illustrate this trend are the sailor pant or wide-legged pant. While this trend may not work for everyone, if you have a defined waistline, this can really show off your small waist area. You will look curvy, but womanly. When you wear a higher-waist pant be sure to balance it with a form fitting top on your upper torso, making your legs appear slimmer and longer. If your body type doesn’t look great in this trend – skip it, as there are a lot of pants options this season.

9). Global Chic This season the designers traveled the world and went outside the box to get inspired for new patterns, shapes and accessories to give that “melting pot” allure to dressing. You will see a large ethnic influence like apparel with embroidery or intricate Bali-influenced prints. In jewelry you will see tribal beads, stones, chunky wooden carved necklaces and natural wood pieces. When you wear a piece of this global look, incorporate it with some other pieces in your wardrobe. Perhaps add a dramatic necklace or bracelet from a faraway place to finish a look on a safari ensemble, or casual jean outfit.

10). Shoes – Architectural Heels and Bold Colors Shoes this season will be very structured with lots of architectural details on the heels and artfully designed platforms. The structured high wooden heels and soles on sandals will look natural and earthy when worn with dresses and skirts. At the other end of the spectrum is color. You will see pops of color in a modern mix of color blocking on shoes like bright pinks and yellows mixed with black. If you decide to wear some colorful shoes in vivid colors, let them be the focus and keep the ensemble simple and elegant.

11). Shades of Gold: Metallic Jewelry Necklaces, bracelets and earrings this season will be in new shades of metallic gold. Rose gold is the new modern gold to wear. If you are warm in coloring, adding rose gold accessories will make your current wardrobe more contemporary. This shade of gold looks beautiful with many of the beautiful neutral colors coming out this spring and summer.

12). Stacked Bangles and Cuffs In the bracelet category you will see cuffs in various metallics, and bold color in Lucite. Stack up your arm with some fun bangles in different shapes and sizes. This is a fun item to wear to add some style to a dress or if you are wearing a short sleeve or sleeveless blouse. Do be careful if you are in the workplace that you don’t overdo it. Perhaps go for one cuff bracelet so you aren’t jingling all over the office.

I hope that you find at least two to three trends that you are willing to try to incorporate into your existing wardrobe. If you add a few of these into your classic-trend ensembles, you will look stylish and chic for every occasion.

By: Sarah Hathorn

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A combination of hippie, gypsy, and some sort of individual style is what bohemian fashion made of. It is simple yet unique style of clothing. Mostly bohemian clothes are mixed with a touch of rugged whimsy and a messy haircut with jewelry. Bohemian clothing is very popular nowadays; people want to show off the styles of the fashion craze they have. And they usually try to dance with the beat of the drum. We can see this commonly at the coffee shops, and festival.

The impression when people see you wearing this are that, it is a type of organic, very new and relaxed. Did you know that this type of clothing can be able to decipher from day to evening times? Now, are you ready to have this new way of wearing? Then fasten your seatbelt for we will give you guidelines on how you can be able to be “in” in this world.

The first thing that you should do is to shop in the stores who are offering traditional clothes. Try also to consider the accessories that will match and that will make you look sophisticated. Actually, there is no such rule with regards to this, but the most common one is that it can be jewelry that made up of fibers or stones. A chandelier type of earring could also make you look different everyday. Consider the bag that you should wear. It is good if it is a large, hobo handbag.

When you have purchased the best for you, your varied appearance will pair together naturally with the casuals or a cool vibe that really describes what the bohemian clothing is.

By: Victoria Mistral

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The 70′s gave birth to a style that has endured more than 3 decades and introduced 2 new generations to its clothing, music and attitude.

Punk was not just a whimsical stab at fashion creation; it was a revolution and encapsulated a complete era lifestyle, the music, the clothing, dance, language.

And it brought together one of the most consistently influential groups of individuals, in the right place at the right time.

Names we are all too familiar with like Vivienne Westwood, Malcolm Mclaren, Richard Branson, Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten, the names behind the pistols. It was Richard Branson who signed the Pistols to a recording contract with the newly founded Virgin Record label and their first album Anarchy in The UK was a huge hit. This culmination of different talents gave birth to styles still embracing our senses.

Each individual went solo to become household names in their own right.

From record stores to airways and railways, the Virgin name has been branded all over the world. Richard Branson has become the inspiration for generations. He left school at the age of fifteen suffering from dyslexia. Gifted with a highly creative imagination his weaknesses never deterred his resolve as he went from strength outright. Richard Branson was born on July 18, 1950. His entrepreneurial ways began early when he was publishing a student magazine at just 16 years. Branson did not go on to graduate school but in 1970 the now famous Virgin brand had its beginnings in the form of a discount records mail order venture that he and his friend Nik Powell worked on.

Soon after opening a record store on Oxford Street, London, Branson began a recording label in 1972, Virgin Records. This was to be the first major success for the British entrepreneur as he started the label with a hit record. The instrumental artist Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells” released in 1973 was a cash cow for Branson’s Virgin Records and it stayed in the UK music charts for 247 weeks. The record label went on to sign top music artists like “Genesis”, “The Pistols”, “The Rolling Stones” and “Simple Minds”.

In the mid 1970s as a young man not yet thirty, Malcolm McLaren owned and operated a London shop simply called “Sex” and dreamed of fame and fortune. He met a half formed group of teenage rock star hopefuls and fed them happy half truths about the great bands he had led to stardom. With his help in finding corner stone members John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) and Sid Vicious those boys became the English punk rock legends “The Pistols”. The group met its ends less then four years later and McLaren walked away with a little bit of personal fame, but with most of his big dreams unfulfilled. Using his status as a legend maker McLaren would later manage such 80s punk influenced pop successes as Adam Ant, “Bow Wow Wow”, and Boy George, and even release albums of music under his own name.

Vivienne Westwood accepted a DBE in the 2006 New Year’s Honours List “for services to fashion”, She has won the award for British Designer of the Year three times. In December 2003, she and the Wedgwood pottery company launched a series of tea sets featuring her designs, testimony to her versatility and maturity and the respect she has garnered, a far cry from Punk. Endurance in such a volatile industry for a prolonged time is a hallmark by any measure.

Together they forged a new creative direction for music, clothing and attitude, without a single academic qualification to share this is testimony to “born to succeed or fail”.

Meanwhile Vivienne Westwood carved out her own place in fashion history with her Pirates Collection and Buffalo Girl style.

Vivienne Isabel Swire was born in Glossopdale, Derbyshire, on 8 April 1941. Her mother had been a weaver in the local cotton mills and her father came from a family of shoemakers. Her parents ran a sub post office in Tintwistle before moving to north-west London in the 1950′s.

In 1965 she met Malcolm McLaren together they went on to become one of the most creative partnerships in history and as they say the rest is history.

In all design disciplines there have been few that are true leaders; worth names are, Frank Lloyd Wright, the father of modern architecture applied his genius to The Falling Water House, perfect in proportion and modern in any era. And yet it was built more than 70 years ago. His work in the late 18th century paved the way to The Art Deco style, which began to take shape around 1920. He was decades ahead of his time, it’s well documented. And, an engineer driven by steam and steel, Isambard Brunell the greatest structural engineer in living memory. The Clifton suspension Bridge is testimony of his ability to create a structure that performed a vital function poetically. Not even the Golden Gate and Sydney Harbour hold a candle to it, especially in the wind.

Their symbols live on in architectural structures, silk ties, bridges, business ventures, music and cufflinks, clothing and jewellery, all, instantly recognizably punk.

By: Patrick McMurray

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Vintage fashion refers to styles which have been recycled from previous eras, and there are vintage outfits to suit any interests, from the 20′s through to the 80′s. Vintage has seen a major revival over the last few years, and is a trend which will keep your style unique and timeless. Many of the recent catwalk shows have showcased vintage trends, with top designers creating wondrous replica designs.

Some tips to remember before you go looking for any vintage items of clothing, is to consider what exactly you are looking for. Are you interested in a classic piece from the 1920′s, or maybe the hippy style from the 1960′s is more up your street. You also want to think about why you are buying your vintage clothing, whether it be for a special occasion or just for the sake of collecting a unique piece of clothing. Knowing exactly what you want is half the battle to finding the perfect vintage outfit, and there are looks to cater for all needs.

The next thing to think about is where you are going to find your vintage clothing. As vintage has become so popular lately, you will often find a lot of niche vintage markets, where you can pick up a piece of unique clothing at an inexpensive price. There are many shops on the high street which also have a collection of vintage pieces, although you may have to pay a bit extra for these.

When shopping for vintage, you really have to be patient, as it may take some time before you find the perfect item, and it can be a lot more complex than the clothes shopping you are used to. The beauty of vintage clothing is that it is a trend which is timelessly fashionable. The fabrics and patterns are unique, so have a good feel of these in order to determine which clothes will make you feel most comfortable.

Always try the clothing on before you purchase it and be aware of it’s condition. It can range from being in mint condition (just like new) or good condition (some repairs needed.) If you feel a bit weary of trying second hand vintage clothes on, then wear your other clothes under it, to get a feel of what it looks like and if it suits you. It may also be an idea to take someone along with you when you’re out shopping for your vintage clothes. As long as it’s someone who will give you an honest opinion. If you are working from a tight budget, then it’s a good idea to look at replica designs, as these are usually a lot more affordable.

Current fashion trends tend to mix up vintage with a more modern look, which will streamline your look, and make it more wearable for all different occasions. You may want to wear vintage with a popular key trend for the season, as this will keep you looking stylish, but will also give your look a unique edge.

By: Ceri Heathcote

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