Colour

Colour is an important feature to any item of clothing as it's the first thing that attracts you to it.  Any colour you wear accentuates the same pigment colours in your eyes, hair and skin tones.  For example, a blue-green eye will appear bluer when wearing blue and greener when wearing green.  The colours in your skin, hair and eyes are affected by the colours you wear so you will look your best when wearing the right colours for your tone.

Colour theory

Basic colour theory states that complementary colours on opposite sides of the colour wheel, when paired together, visually “pop”.  Red and green appear brighter together than they do apart.  So do purple and yellow, and blue and orange.  To achieve this look:

1) Start with the neutrals: a grey drapey blouse and a black and white textured pencil skirt.

2) Adding to the neutral base, slip on a pair of grey tights and a pair of black boots.  If you're feeling it, you can also try wearing a neutral coloured headband.

3) Layer on the colour: a gorgeous green overcoat and a bright orange textured clutch.  Remember, red and green are opposites on the colour wheel - but move one shade over from red and you get orange.  You get most of the visual pop, but none of the Christmas associations of the red-green pairing.  

1)  

It is very easy to be attracted to a colour that you like but is not necessarily suited to your tone.  At the same time a lot of us know what suits us naturally but don’t necessarily know how to mix and match and instead get comfortable with one particular neutral colour to play it safe.  It’s worth finding out what your colour tone is to save yourself buying a ton of garments that don’t suit you.  A great and fun way to do this is to book a personal shopper session at Debenhams.  They go through your body shape, colour and your likes and dislikes to find the right outfits to suit you.  It usually takes about an hour and a half and it’s very informal with no obligation to buy anything (unless you want to of course!).  You can take a friend and they offer you drinks as well and the best part is it’s free! 

Check it out…

http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&userType=G&categoryId=65591

The names Bond...

Right guys, I have been meaning to get round to writing this post, especially as many of you are becoming quite the business professionals…

I have chosen a Bond theme as he in my opinion is the guru of suit wearers, and I know you all secretly want to be like him!

Here are some tips to purchasing a Suit:

These are the four most common suit fabrics:

1) Wool

The majority of modern suits are made of wool.  It is the most versatile fabric, most comfortable, wrinkle resistant and has greater longevity than most.  The fabric is one of the most ideal as well for its ability to absorb moisture, so if you have to wear a suit on a hot summers day it will keep you cool.  The most common types of wool suits are merino, cashmere and angora.

Best season: All year long.

2) Flannel

Flannel is quite a heavy fabric, that doesn’t breathe much therefore you will kept warm in any climate.  It doesn’t last as long as a wool suit either so it’s not very economical.  

Best season: Winter

3) Cotton

Like Wool, this is quite a popular fabric, although not favoured worldwide.  It’s durable and keeps you cool in all climates as it absorbs sweat.  It’s also quite practical, easy to maintain and machine-washable.

Best Season: Spring, summer, autumn

4) Linen

This might look good if you are on a tropical holiday but its not practical to wear as its lightweight therefore it will only be wearable in the summer months when you want to keep cool.  It also creases easily so tread carefully if you are thinking of buying a suit in this fabric.

Best Season:  summer.

Single or double breasted?

The two sides of a double-breasted jacket overlap at the front closing.  There will typically be two vertical rows of buttons, only one of which has a corresponding set of buttonholes.

A single-breasted jacket only has one set of buttons, and no overlap at the front closing.  This more classic, simple look is more versatile and fashionable than the double-breasted and is a better choice for first time buyers.  The double-breasted however, is more elegant and refined and usually earns its place in most men’s wardrobes.  The double breasted suit is more ideal for tall, lanky men as it puts more emphasis on the width of the chest and therefore can make short, stout men look shorter and stouter so please bare this in mind if you are thinking for buying this type of suit.

Which suits should you buy first?

1) Navy

Navy is the most versatile suit and therefore one of the most important suits you can own.  You can wear it to all formal affairs – job interviews, weddings etc.

2) Charcoal

It’s not as versatile as Navy but good enough.  If you own a navy and charcoal suit, nice mix of shirts and ties to match them with you can sustain the illusion of owning many suits for a long time.  Again, solid colour and single breast is best.

3) Light coloured

Go for light brown, khaki or light grey, depending on what colour suits your skin tone best.  This suit is best for the summer to dress down a formal look.  If you can pull off a double-breasted look then this is the time to add some variety to the suit silhouette. 

4) Black

 You might think that this is the logical first suit purchase but in fact their use is rather limited.  They are very heavy and harsh looking and aren’t very suitable for daywear.  Most particularly in warmer weather’s sunlight, a black suit looks quite out of place when you pay attention to it.  Having said that, it does look pretty sharp and on some occasions nothing else will do.  Stick with single breasted for the most versatility. 

 Also, just for fun...I have found this website for bond fans...

http://www.jamesbondlifestyle.com

More on Bonds fashion as well as cars, lifestyle etc!

It's all in the jeans

Here is a quick guide to finding the perfect fit jeans to suit your shape:

Women

Voluptuous Curves: Best fit is classic or relaxed fit worn on the hips rather than on the waist.  Avoid too-tight legs and small, widely spread back pockets that add width.

Curvy with a small waist: Best fit is stretch, straight and tight.  Worn low-rider style.  Avoid high waisted jeans, which make the bottom look out of proportion.

Heavy thighs: Best fit is bootleg.  Worn with an easy, looser fit on the hips.  avoid high, tight waisted jeans at all costs!

Petite: Best fit is straight with a long leg.  Worn on or just above the hips.  Avoid low-cut jeans and wide legs as they have a shortening effect.

Short Waist:  Best fit is the hipster.  Worn low-slung and with super high heels.  Avoid high waists.

Boyish Figure:  Best fit is high waisted or low-rise straight-leg.  Worn either high or low-slung.  Avoid cuts that don't optimise your curves.

Men

Tall and lean: Best fit is straight cut with a flat front and a straight leg.  Boot cut is another option particularly if you have wider hips - as a flared cut will balance out your shape, creating a straighter, streamlined look.  You can also carry off wide-leg jeans, but be aware that they will look very casual on this body type and therefore better suited for weekends than for the office.

Slender: Best fit is straight-cut, low rise jeans that sit comfortably and low on the hips with a couple of extra inches of room through the leg.  Slightly flared jeans also flatter slender figures by creating the illusion of a better defined silhouette.  For a more ample-looking rear, look for back pockets with flaps or extra material as this will add bulk to your behind.  Avoid jeans that adhere too closely to your body as well as wide-leg jeans as you will risk looking lost in your clothes.

Athletic: Athletic and muscular types look best in jeans with a wider leg since looser cuts show off the shape of a toned body.  Jeans cut too close to the body are not as good a choice for muscular shapes as they can make muscles appear overly bulky.  Wider-leg jeans, however, will subtly show off all of your hard work at the gym!

Heavy-set:  Larger frames should stay away from flare-cut jeans, as these tend to make heavier men appear larger.  Wide-leg styles, however, are really great for concealing love handles and thick waists.  Be careful not to choose styles that are too baggy, however, as they will make large bodies appear even larger.  Instead, go with a loose shape that has a few extra inches of room to show the shape of your body without hugging your frame too closely.  Also, bear in mind that deeper pockets will give the illusion of a smaller rear so are therefore a good choice for heavier frames.

A great website to check out is Zafu which matches jeans to your specific shape!

http://www.zafu.com/

Countryside is inside

The big trends for this season are bringing the country indoors, Apres ski and minimalistic.  Ladies, think hiking boots with heels, riding boots, capes, tweed, wooly jumpers, chunky cardigans, polo necks, snoods, faux fur, patterned scarves and leather is also very in.  In particular I am loving the ski print at the moment.  I love skiing and it just reminds you of going off into the mountains, with white all around, sipping on your hot chocolate, dressed all warm and cosy.

Shown below in D&G's fashion show for Autumn/Winter 2010 in Milan...

Kate Hudson sporting the Ski print look -

Shops I recommend for this trend: Zara and Mango


Men, its all about the country gentlemen - Tweed, wooly jackets, flat caps, cravats, brogues, hiking boots.  Instead of denim, try mole skin denim cut trousers which work really well with the camel this season.  Apres ski type cardigans also work well with the look.

Shops I recommend for this trend: Topman

Jason Gardiner sporting the look for the gents -

Its all about layering it up this season.  Whether you are warm or cold it means you always have the perfect look to hand and you just look so cosy...all ready for the winter!

xxx