New Styles in Fashion

Everyone loves being in ‘the know’ on all things fashion, right? Read Style Bust’s fashion posts to find out what we see happening in the fashion industry from multiple viewpoints. We have ten guest bloggers dedicated to bringing our readers that latest fashion news from different parts of the globe!

Men’s Fashion: Winter Trends

As the cold weather sets in, wrapping up warm takes precedence if you’re venturing out of the house. You’ll still want to look and feel good though, so here are a few tips on the 2011 Autumn/Winter season key trends for mens clothes.

Sweaters
The soft touch is very much in, with cashmere, wool mix and chunky knits all making a big appearance this season. Warm, practical and classic, these are sure to keep you happy on the coldest days of the year. The key to color is to keep it neutral and add a splash of brightness elsewhere. The heavier sweaters (made of wool or knit) are ideal for wearing over a shirt at work and fantastic for casual weekends.

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Jackets
The military cut is still at large and bang on trend this Autumn/Winter. Buy a masculine military jacket with smooth lines and pair it with clean-cut jeans or trousers and chunky boots to make this look current and on trend. Colors like slate grey, olive green and black will go with anything in your wardrobe. You can find some stylish mens jackets online with retailers such as Superdry.com where they stock both military styles and leather jackets (mens leather jackets are also popular for Winter 2011).

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Rock Style
The rock style hasn’t changed a lot over the years.  Those comfortable, faded and ripped jeans teamed with your favorite band t-shirt will still be bang up for almost any casual outing this winter. Some metallic accessories such as a watch or bracelet) will update a classic look for 2011.

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Layering
This look can be a little difficult to achieve without ending up looking like a scarecrow crossed with the Michelin man, but keep your base layer light with clean-cut jeans and a fitted sweater, pair the look with a knee-length coat. And don’t forget the all important hat, scarf and gloves combo – remember it’s cold outside. Prints are big for this look, but stick to wearing printers on only one or two pieces, unless you like the rag-doll style (we don’t recommend the rag-doll look)!

image of Missoni Mens Fall 2011-3

Boots
Military style boots are key for this Winter season. Good news on those wet, icy days that, depending on where you live, will no doubt be frequent. Keep them as simple as possible so they can be worn with many things and may even keep going until next season. Remember neutral tones are best for shoes anyway, and military boots are no different. If they’re really not your style however, a classic, sturdy hiking style will keep your feet warm and dry too.

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Keeping it real

It’s easy to get lost in fashion.  There are so many trends – and if you’re like me, you basically like a little of everything.

I recently learned that staying true to your style is the key to getting dressed in the morning.  By finding a style that makes you feel confident and most importantly; comfortable – I can guarantee that getting dressed (and shopping) will become very easy!

Now let the searching for your personal style begin!

 

the romantic
the artiste
the fashionistathe artiste
the luxuriate

* Outfits created using Polyvore

It took me years of horrible fashion choices to realize what style of clothing looks good on me and also makes me feel good.

Now days, I do a regular closet sweep – it gives me a look at what I’m not wearing and I think about why I’m not wearing it.  I also check out street style blogs for inspiration and I bookmark my favorite outfit posts (ok – I might have too much time on my hands)!  But what I’ve noticed from my street style photo collection, is that  I’m naturally drawn to neutral colored, minimal and cozy looking pieces.  And for those of you who have seen me lately – that pretty much sums up my style.

Spring & Summer 2012 color trends

The foundation of any season’s collection are the colors and hues that underlie them, shape them, and eventually come to define them.

Interfiliere Paris is always the first to release their take on any season’s color trends, and for spring and summer 2012 it’s no different.
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Interfiliere has also grouped their color trends for spring 2012 into different moods. For the spring / summer 2012 season they’re seeing three distinguishable color groups: tender, earthy, and floral.

Tender: The clearest and palest of pastels, ideal for lofty and silky fabrics and for a new vintage mood that is more sexy than candid.

Earthy: The earth hues: ochres, oranges and copper tones which support the passion for nature and organic environments to use with mat or shiny effects, with top-of-the-range laces, and for beachwear. Note a surge of ‘hand-dyed’ effects, especially indigo.

Florals:Floral tones, essential nuances for charming prints available now for ranges of limited volume.

Suno Resort 2012

Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty, the design duo behind Suno, has blown us away with their mix of beachy-tropical prints and patterns, as well as their use of the boldest and palest colors. The striped orange cardigan in the collection would pair just as well with a cashmere turtleneck as it would over a bandeau, and the florals were quite intentionally printed over a heavier chambray. When you consider that pattern in this collection was a head-to-toe uniform, and not Suno’s usual mixed-media fare, then the overall look was actually more approachable. Combining three prints in one outfit is no small feat, even for the most seasoned stylist, but wearing a printed bikini to the beach is a sunny proposition for us all.

“Resort is always less about artistic expression and more about having fun….After all, isn’t going on vacation supposed to be about having a good time?” Besides tongue-in-cheek souvenir shirts, that sense of play left room for plenty of charming Suno-isms, including hypercolored tropical-print button-downs and necklaces fashioned from South American worry dolls. After the more serious and grown-up mood of fall, that carefree exuberance felt right, and it’s hardly surprising that Hawaii, the ultimate in kitsch picture-postcard American getaways, was Suno’s source of inspiration.” said designer Erin Beatty.

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Excess baggage

Fall fashion is always exciting to me, but this year I’m quite excited about the handbags.  This Fall we’re seeing; vintage inspired ladylike bags, oversized clutches, jewel tones and some interesting graphics.

Below are some of my top Fall 2011 handbag picks.

Small and Structured

The Row Flap Bag – this bag will cost you a very pretty penny, but it will definitely add a touch of class to all of your Fall looks.

Graphic Design

Proenza Schouler Jacquard Blanket book bag – I love the simple leather straps and the bright graphic prints of the Fall 2011 PS bags.  This bag is sure to liven up any of your drab Winter outfits.

Practical Shopper

Marc by Marc Jacobs Helmut Shopper – ditch your basic canvas tote and carry your important papers (or magazines) in style this Fall!  This is the perfect bag for heading to the office.

Satchel of the Season

3.1 Philip Lim Pashli Satchel – this is my favorite bag this Fall.  With it’s classic shape, gemstone color and zipper details, this is the perfect “everyday” bag.


Shoulder Sling

 

Alexander Wang Marion Sling – this is a great vintage inspired bag that can be carried as a clutch or worn across the body – perfect for those upcoming Holiday parties! 

Chicest of them All

Miu Miu Oversized Nappa Clutch – this oversized clutch is a must-have for Fall.  This is the only accessory you’ll need for a sexy, yet chic look.  

Pattern mixing made easy

Mixing patterns is a trend that I absolutely love.  But it’s definitely much harder than it would seem.  Mixing patterns takes a lot of experimenting, but it’s a lot of fun – and you might just discover some hidden gems in your closet!


Photo credits: LeFashion blog

Two of the best pieces of advice when mixing patterns:

1. Mix patterns that are in the same color family

2. Mix patterns of different weights

Play around with what you’ve got in your closet, start out small – pair a printed scarf with a top of a different pattern.  And if you’re like me and have to “see it to believe it,” then this pattern mixing chart should be very helpful!

EZ Textiles – check out and sign up – have fun mixing and creating you’re own patterns.

 

Fall fashion favorites

New York Fashion Week begins on September 8th – and you can bet that I’ll be sharing my favorite designers and looks with you!

But lets not get too ahead of ourselves.  We still need to dress for this Fall.  After spending hours looking through magazines (I know, it’s hard work, but someones got to do it), I decided to summarize what Fall 2011 will look like.

The trousers – pair a colored pant with some major outerwear for a downtown chic look or try a striped sweater for a preppy daytime look.

Alexander Wang and DKNY (Fall/Winter 2011)

Monochromatic and Color – monochromatic neutrals look very classic, but wearing head-to-toe shades of a bright color (mustard for example) is very on trend for Fall.  If you like to wear more than one color, add a shade of red to your wardrobe this Fall – don’t be afraid of reds or burgundy, they tend to look good on all skin tones.

Acne, Akris, Jason Wu, and Roberto Cavalli (Fall/Winter 2011)

The Midi and Maxi – both midi and maxi lengths skirts or dresses are very versatile.  You can pair them with sexy pumps, for an evening on the town or toughen the look up a bit and wear wedge ankle boots.  The midi and maxi lengths are perfect for a chilly Fall evening.

Proenza Schouler, Rag & Bone, Chloe and Edun (Fall/Winter 2011)

 

Photo credits: Style.com

Shopping for Bedroom Furniture

There is a lot to consider when shopping for bedroom furniture. Dimensions, room size, durability (especially if you have children) and aesthetics. Of course you want something that looks great!

Why not decide on a theme? Oak and pine furniture look very elegant and grown-up. Both woods are hard-wearing and will last a long time. If you opt for oak or pine furniture, make sure your room is on the larger side, or your bedroom could end up looking rather cramped and uninviting.image of Oak Bedroom Furniture

If your room is large and you have extra money to spend, why not have your bedroom designed and fitted specifically to your tastes. Many furniture stores offer deals and discounts when you buy everything from them. By doing this, you can ensure every piece of furniture coordinates. Going with this options allows you to have input every step of the way – the result will be a bedroom that is tailored to you and your needs, as well as a design you love. Shop around to get the best deal and be sure to check out the furniture guarantee.

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Smaller rooms call for lighter furniture, and not just in color. That four-poster cherry wood bed may have looked fantastic on the shop floor, but if you don’t have any floor space left when you get it into your bedroom, it will be a bit inconvenient. Sofa beds are a great compromise for a small room and are available in a range of colors and styles. Sofa beds are also ideal for studio apartments too. Make sure the bed you desire is suitable for everyday usage (not all of them are) to ensure you get the most out of the furniture.

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Many online stores often have good deals on bedroom furniture if money is a bit tight to shell out all at once, and their guarantees mean if anything goes wrong, you will be covered for replacements or repair, providing the item is still under warranty.

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