There’s something to be said about the laid back California style, it must be something to do with the long hot summers and comfy, easy style of clothing that goes with it, that makes it a popular trend and this year is no different. Many designers and clothes shops are offering cute hotpants, baggy vest tops and crop tops which have been filtering into fashion this season and they go great with the warmer weather we are experiencing this summer.
The sportswear style of clothing was tipped at the beginning of the year to be a big trend this summer and this relaxed California style fits ideally into this with sports tops, jogging bottoms and hoodies with sport motif designs are just what you need to carry on this trend.
You can mix and match the different styles such as body con that goes hand in hand with the sportswear trend, which are perfect for holiday or just lounging around in at home.
California style clothing
Now we are into the thick of it lets have a look at a big trend that is heading your way this summer, the American trend is very popular at the moment but it has spawned a new summer style, the preppy look. It is quite a classic look that pops up every now and then but has not really taken off however this year riding on the back of American it is really coming into its own in men’s clothing.
Taking its props from the East coast American style of dress that was popular amongst men in the 1980′s, it adds in a little ‘Ivy league’ style of dressing, think wealthier and more educated guys who attended Harvard and Yale with their single breasted suits. This style has recently seen a revival thanks mainly to the fashion conscious TV show Gossip Girl which follows the lives of the rich spoilt East Coast kids who happened to fall into this retro look.
Fear not though, you don’t have to have mummy and daddies bank balance to play with to get this look or even be that posh, if you add key clothing from this trend you should be able to pull off this look effectively. Look for smart tailored trousers such as chino’s, classic shorts, worn with tailored blazers, baseball jackets and stylish boat shoes.
One of Britain’s most successful designers and fashion businessmen, Paul Smith, is launching his first collection of children’s wear called Paul Smith Junior. The range is designed for newborns up to 14 years old, will retail between £34 and £250 and will be stocked at Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Brown Thomas as well as other major stockists.
His children’s range will follow similarly to his adult clothing ranges with his signature style of quirky classics-with-a-twist approach, featuring child-like charm. Borrowing from the main men’s and women’s collections and ‘downsized’ he also uses a bright, punchy colour palette.
The ranges focus on the traditional with the girls range including rose-print, silk dresses and cute, cardigans as well as soft, jersey, long-sleeve T-shirts to layer under wool smocks. He also focuses on tiered peasant-skirts, corduroy jackets, wool pea-coats and kilts and tweed shorts, all with a nod to the past.
For the boys he opted for practical clothing style that is ideal for play, the collection includes multi-stripe and floral shirts, graphic-printed padded jackets, quirky Tees, khaki parkas, pinstripe jackets and luxurious cashmere knits.
The internet is a good place to purchase vintage fashion items and there are many specialist shops that have their own websites, as well as several internet auction sites where bargains can be found regularly.
When purchasing online, be sure that you have a full description of the item that you are interested in. If not, contact the retailer to obtain more details. Vintage clothes are by definition old, and more than likely, used. This means that there could be signs of wear and tear on the item and maybe even a bit of damage. By obtaining as much information as possible you are avoiding the possibility that you may end up with an item that is unusable.
You should also obtain the accurate measurements of the items. Dress size calculations have varied a great deal over the years and you need to be aware of individual measurements of bust, waist and hips, not just of the item, but of yourself as well.
It is a good idea also to ensure that you check with retailers to find out if they offer insurance on deliveries. If you are paying for a classic vintage item you may be spending several hundred pounds, so insurance will be necessary if the items are lost or damaged in transit.
Internet auction sites such as eBay are favoured for the purchase of items such as vintage handbags, as when many people clear out their wardrobes they are now more inclined to sell, than to throw away.
Jimmy Choo is a shoe designer, whose designer label shoes are much sought after. The Malaysian-born designer is based in London and produces hand-made women’s shoes that have been popularised by shows such as Sex and the City.
He first began making shoes at the age of 11 and graduated from what is now the London College of Fashion in 1983. He began his own business in 1986. He first came to public attention when his designs were worn by the likes of Diana, Princess of Wales. He was awarded an OBE in 2002 and was given the status of Professor at the University of the Arts, London, in 2004.
In 1996 he joined forces with Tamara Mellon to create Jimmy Choo Ltd. Since then the company has produced couture lines as well as ready-to-wear items. There is also an accessories line that includes handbags. Stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Kidman regularly wear Jimmy Choo shoes.
In collaboration with the high street store H&M, a range of Jimmy Choo shoes and bags has been made available for those who cannot afford to buy at designer label prices. On the first day of sale, customers queued outside the shops and many sold out within a few hours of opening.
The official Jimmy Choo website has an online shop allowing customers to purchase the designs 24/7. The shoes are also available online at other websites and occasionally feature in sales, making it easier to pick up a bargain.
Jimmy Choo for H&M
Picture courtesy of Shibuya
As festival season is now upon us, a lot of fashion is geared around these big events, you can find lots of women’s and men’s clothing geared towards festivals. It’s a great opportunity to show your style, as anything goes so whether you like hippy boho looks or funky punk looks you can dress as demure or as outrageous as you want.
If you are going to a festival you will find it’s a great place to try and stand out from the crowd, well as much as you can, however there are a few essentials that everyone should bring, just tailor it for your styles! Wellington boots are normally a must just in case of rain, and Doc Martin worker style boots, you need to keep your feet protected and as clean as possible as there are a lot of things you could step on.
For the evenings you also need to remember something to cover up with if the weather turns cool, hoodies, cardigans or a jacket, as well as waterproofs, just in case of the rain. You also need to take with you some spare clothing if it rains and you have jeans they can get so wet that they can be not ideal to wear, cut off’s and short’s are a better option, it’s much easier to clean your legs that your jeans.
Layering up clothes is big this year and ideal wear for a festival, it’s also a great way to mix and match your styles, clashing colours and patterns, it’s a great way to experiment with your style.
This summer for your families summer holiday, why not design some cool t-shirts for everyone to wear, there is a huge range of clothing to choose from and you can use t shirt printing to bring your designs to life. If you’re going on a large family holiday, you can make matching t shirts for everyone to wear it will make it easier to find people in your group if you lose them! It’s also a great way to commemorate the holiday, and its great fun to get the whole family involved in the design process.
If you use an online printing company such as www.splashlogo.co.uk you will have a huge choice of clothing to choose from, not just t shirts, they also stock polo shirts, vest tops, hoodies and accessories such as hats and bags, all of which they can put your designs on!
By using an online printing company, you will probably find like with Splash Logo you will get a discount on larger orders, so if you have a huge family you will be able to save yourselves some money. They also have a quick turnaround time so if you are going away soon ordering now means you will have it just in time.
Why should guys have all the fun with slogan t-shirts and football orientated t-shirts, there are loads of women’s t-shirts out there that are just as good, in fact I would say better because they are for women!
This summer you can say what you feel with a slogan t-shirt, and one popular brand with the ‘it’ celebrities is Local Celebrity, their t-shirts take inspiration from retro images and cheeky slogans and come in a wide variety of cool colours, perfect for summer.
Local Celebrity
Large print t-shirts are also big this season, with big graphics and funky patterns, these fancy designs can do all the talking so don’t over accessories when wearing loud patterns of complicated designs, otherwise you could look a bit ott!
Prints
If you want to stand out from the crowd then opt for some bold and bright t-shirts, in neon colours or bright logo’s, great to add a bit of colour to your wardrobe this summer. T-shirts look great for daywear with denim jeans, shorts or light linen trousers.
Bright t-shirts
The New York Fashion Week is part of the fashion marathon that covers four major fashion centres of the world. The other three are Paris, London and Milan. New York was the setting of the world’s first fashion week in 1943. The intention was to take the attention away from the French, as those in the industry were not able to make the trip to Paris due to the war.
Since 1994 the event has been held in Bryant Park, in a group of huge marquees. Those who attend have to be invited, and invitations are limited to industry professionals and celebrities. The show moved to Damrosch Park at the Lincoln Centre in 2010.
The 2009 event saw the designers introduce a series of cost-cutting measures due to the economic climate. These measures included staging smaller shows and displaying clothes on mannequins instead of using catwalk models.
There are several fashion weeks held in New York. These are to showcase autumn/winter collections, spring/summer collections and ready-to-wear collections. The collections presented during the February week suggest that menswear for women is going to be a popular look. One of the most popular shows was that presented by Victoria Beckham. Her fourth dress collection met with the critics’ approval. It consisted of elegant tailoring and attention to detail, silencing those who have dismissed her attempts to recreate herself as a fashion designer.
The show has its own website which details the designers and the shows which are taking part.
Not everybody can afford the latest designer labels, so for those people the High Street offers a cost-effective alternative. There are many different clothes shops to be found there that will suit all budgets and which offer quality clothes and accessories.
Primark has become one of the leading names in budget fashion. The clothes are not made to last, but are cheap enough so that even those on a low budget can shop regularly for something new. The shop makes the effort to keep up with the latest trends and often offers their own version of designer label items.
Topshop is a popular store and is frequented by many celebrities. Supermodel Kate Moss has her own range of clothing available in Topshop. The clothes on offer are a mix of casual and smart, with some vintage-inspired ranges.
Zara is a shop suited to those who prefer a designer look, but who do not have the bank balance to go with it. It is ideal for those who need a smarter look for work clothes and going out.
New Look is another budget high street store that is ideal for wardrobe basics such as jeans and t-shirts. They also offer a good range of shoes, bags and accessories that are reasonably priced.
TK Maxx is a Mecca for bargain hunters. They offer branded goods at reasonable prices, though shoppers have to be prepared to hunt for them. Stock changes every day, so most serious clothes shoppers should be able to find something they like there.