July 29, 2010

Male Fashion Steal of the Week: Sunglasses

There are only a couple of months left until summer hits; it’s never too early to be prepared!

Protect your eyes from the harsh rays with these slick AE Palmer Sunglasses. Not only do they look sleek and stylish, they also offer 100% UV protection, as well as gradient lenses, a nose guard and metal wide-lens frames.

If you’re the kind of guy who loses sunglasses on a regular basis, why spend an arm and a leg on an expensive pair? Instead, grab these bad boys – at less than $20, it’s an investment that’ll keep you made in the shade this summer.

Available at American Eagle Outfitters or via their website. Check out their other reasonably priced sunglasses while you’re there if these don’t strike your fancy.

5 Summer Fashion Trends You Should Try

Temperatures are rising, and there are plenty of cute summer trends to try out. The following looks are some of the key fashion trends that promise to be hot, hot, hot this summer; try one or try them all (just not all at once, please!)

Fuchsia

Bold colors are huge for summer, but fuchsia seems to be the shade taking the season by storm. Be brave and don a bright fuchsia dress or pumps; if you prefer a more modest look, carry a cute clutch or wear a bright bangle in this season’s hottest shade. Whatever way you wear it, fuchsia is going to be everywhere as temperatures soar!

Polka Dots

There’s something about the whimsical polka dot that makes a woman feel equally girly and glam. This current spring trend will easily transition into your summer wardrobe and will be just as chic. Try a frilly polka dot blouse paired with your favorite pair of shorts or a skirt; don a pair of espadrilles and you’ll be made in the shade!

Sheer Fabrics

While sheer fabrics might look intimidating, this trend can be very alluring when done right. The trick to pulling off a sheer garment (be it a dress, a jacket or a blouse) is keeping it simple. A bit of skin strategically showing is fine; if we can see your bra, it’s too much! Keep the rest of your outfit minimal; a lot of accessories aren’t necessary and will simply detract from the elegance of the trend.

Bright Handbags

I love the crop of brightly colored handbags popping up; they are perfect for the summer season and add an instant dose of style to any outfit. To pull off this trend effectively, pair a bright bag with muted colors in the rest of your outfit to avoid clashing. I especially love this bright orange tote from Nordstrom; it’s the perfect summer color!

Bows

Nothing says “girly” quite like a cute bow, but the look now is anything but childish. Bows have been spotted on everything from shoes to handbags to blouses; pick a look you like and go with it! I recommend sticking with small bow details on tops unless you want to look overwhelmed. If you love big bows, play it up with a handbag like this one; a large bow on your go-to bag won’t overwhelm your features!

These 5 summer fashion trends promise to be a huge hit now that the temperatures are rising, and I’m excited to try all of them out. Which trend are you eager to try?

Can YOU Wear Skinny Jeans?

Skinny jeans seem to be the favored style for celebrities, models and the women who look like them… but can the “average” woman pull it off? Of course you can! Keep these tips in mind and you’ll discover how wearable skinny jeans are for nearly every woman.

Consider the Color

Skinny jeans are meant to make you look long and lean, so the wash you choose will help you get that look. Look for skinny jeans in a dark black or dark blue wash; these are the most slimming and will help to accentuate the positives without drawing attention to any “flaws” you might have.

Choose the Right Shoes

If you’re already long and lean, you have a few options when it comes to what footwear to pair with your skinny jeans. Ballet flats or pointy toe shoes can look amazing, but if you have thicker calves you should opt for a pair of tall boots and tuck your jeans into them. If you’re in love with high heels, choose a pair of basic pumps to help elongate the leg and make you look slimmer. Your favorite pair of sneakers can give skinny jeans a casual-cool vibe too, but choose non-bulky styles like low tops to avoid overwhelming the fitted look.

Keep It Balanced

Because skinny jeans are so fitted, you need to balance your look with a top that has a bit of volume to it. A fashionable tunic top or a top with flowing, bell sleeves will work to keep your look in check. If you choose a shirt that’s extra long, you can belt it to feel more pulled together AND disguise problem areas. Bonus!

Be Comfortable

Skinny jeans don’t have to be uncomfortable or skin tight; in fact, there are plenty of skinny jeans that will give you the look of a leaner silhouette without making you feel like you’re going to pop. Look for slightly wider leg openings when shopping for skinny jeans; these are much more forgiving.

Add Accessories

Your look can be maximized by choosing the right accessories to go with your newly long and lean silhouette! Add a funky headband; don a chain necklace, or stack a few flashy bangles on your wrist for instant glam. Don’t go overboard with accessories, but definitely be creative and have fun mixing and matching your favorite pieces – with skinny jeans, nearly anything goes!

Many women are afraid of the skinny jean, but nearly any woman can pull the look off if she knows how. These tips will help you get over your fear and make that first leap into the world of skinny denim. Good luck!

A Male’s Guide to Cocktail Party Attire

Invited to a cocktail party or other semi-formal gathering? Don’t stress over what to wear; if you’re not lucky enough to have a woman help you out, this fool-proof guide will help you figure out what to wear to your next semi-formal event.

Depending on the keywords in the invitation, you may have to choose from several different items to wear. Does the invitation say cocktail attire? Black tie? Semi-formal? Semi-casual? With all these different terms, it’s no wonder people get confused over acceptable attire!

If the invitation doesn’t state a specific dress code, determine what to wear based on the time of day the event will be held.  For example, an afternoon event usually calls for something a little less formal; think light weight fabrics and pair a knit blazer with casual slacks or black denim jeans with a dressy sports coat and loafers.

Evening gatherings will probably require you to wear darker colors and something a little MORE formal, such as a full on suit and tie (if it’s black tie) or “business casual” if it’s semi-formal.

Ultimately, when in doubt simply ask the host of the get-together. They will be able to inform you of the proper attire, so you won’t have to be clueless when it comes to your neck cocktail party or formal/semi-formal event!

How to Buy Sunglasses

An often-overlooked accessory, sunglasses serve not only as a means to protect your eyes, but also a statement about you; your personal style. So, how do you buy sunglasses that not only protect well, but are fashionable too?

Your face shape will determine what type of sunglasses will look best on you. Generally speaking, large faces look best with large frames, whereas for small faces the opposite is true.

However, particular face shapes also play a role in choosing sunglasses.

For example, if you have an oval-shaped face, count your blessings – almost any type of frame will work for you! However, to call attention to the balanced look of this type of face, look for sunglasses that have slightly square-ish frames, rounded at the corners. This pair would look great on an oval face.

If you have a square-shaped face, stay away from frames that are square themselves; it’s too much! Instead, balance your face shape with a pair of oval lenses. These are a great example of the type of sunglasses that will work best for you.

Rounder faces need sunglasses that will make the face appear longer. Avoid dainty frames; instead, look for a pair like these that will create the illusion of angularity because of the rectangular frames.

Finally, heart-shaped gals would do well with purchasing aviator-style glasses, or sunglasses that that are wider at the bottom than they are at the top. This will help soften the angular lines of your face; try these for a great fit.

While sunglasses serve an important function when it comes to protecting your eyes from harsh sunlight, they are often overlooked as a fashion staple. Fortunately, these tips should help you choose the frames that will have you lookin’ stylish this summer and all year ’round!