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What your fashion says about you

by Jamie Hanson


The way you dress is a direct representation of what you want others to think of you, whether that is that you are wild or a straight down the line square. Your appearance is one way that you assert yourself into the world; it will be the thing that people you know associate with you.



So what are you hoping to say about yourself? Do you want others to think that you are incredibly confident or that you have a fun quirky personality. Wearing bright colours obviously draws attention to the wearer much like wearing low key pale colours makes the wearer disappear in the crowd. We are sending out so many different messages with our appearance without even noticing it.



Some people obviously dress to be provocative whether they are showing that it is their right as a human being to dress in whatever manner they deem appropriate or whether it is because they want others to look. It can't genuinely be said that if you dye your hair bright green and wear it in a 10 inch Mohawk that you are not trying to provoke in some way. What is seen as provocative has changed drastically over the last one hundred years and fashions have become more inclusive of a huge range of trends for both men and women.



Changing Attitudes



If you are a man who enjoys his suits, this is no mistake because they were designed to highlight masculinity and the power of the masculine physique. The broad shoulders represent strength and show off the bulk of the male frame. Like the female dress styles of the 1950's show off the female body shape that have become en vogue again today. A woman who wears a dress that pulls in at the waist is showing off her femininity by emphasizing her waist and chest, sending out a message of comfort and highlighted gender.



Fashion towards the two sexes has changed dramatically over the last 100 years with an increasing number of clothes and fashions being unisex. Trousers being the most notable item that became an item for both men and women, the first women to wear this item of clothing were seen as daring and controversial. but now it is seen as a perfectly normal occurrence. Women are increasingly wearing more and more mens' styles, including shorts and the modern sports item, the board short.



Surfer style clothing became popular in the 1970's when the sport really took off, it was mostly men who initially wore the relaxed board shorts look with the women's fashion at the time being the end of the hippy trends and the start of glam rock disco era. However, as fashions moved on to the modern day items like boardshorts have been embraced by the female surfing community as well as by the male surfing community.



The surfer style suits many people and if you are wearing a pair of boardshorts and flip flops it is highly likely that others will make judgments about you being chilled out and outdoorsy.



Through clothes you can encourage people to see you in a particular way demonstrating the power of clothes and how people perceive each other.



When it's time to hit the beach or bar, a pair of boardshorts should be the first item of clothing you reach for!



Source: http://www.PopularArticles.com/article202968.html

Fashion Me: Summer 2010’s Hottest Trends

by Rachelle Salinger


In the world of fashion, a new season does not only mean a change in the environment. It’s more importantly a change of trends, colors, textiles, textures—a whole new template by which to dress the world.



At the end of the day, being fashionable is all in the way you carry yourself. You’ve seen enough fashion-forward personalities looking quite dreamy in what would have been a nightmare if worn by anyone else. But if you’re not one of these rare beings gifted with a fierce sense of style and self-confidence, here are some of the hottest trends to hit the fashion world this summer season to clue you in:



Sizzling Shorts

Hot pants are not for everyone, but if you’re brave enough to try, then go for it girl! Take note that hot pants are not your everyday idea of “pants” at all. Having the word “hot” in its name serves to warn you that these articles of clothing are only to be worn by those who can handle the heat.



With hemlines riding up to shorter than short, these hot pants give you one more reason to hit the gym religiously. Pair it with a dainty billowy top, a simple loose tee, or another hot trend, the boyfriend blazer and chic heels to further elongate your legs.



From the Boys

The boyfriend blazer is simply that: a slightly over-sized blazer that is meant to look like you borrowed it from the boys. Take note though, it may be over-sized, but it should not swallow your frame. Go for one size bigger, no more, no less. When choosing one, the shoulders should come no more than an inch and a half away from your own. Roll up the sleeves for an instant dose of relaxed cool.



Fashion Wars

Hints of battle gear are all over the fashion world lately. From gladiator sandals to belts and buckles to military styles to tribal prints, it seems fashionistas are bracing themselves for a fashion war. If you’d like to enlist yourself, remember that the key pieces are leather, metal, buckles, and strong shoulders. Top with unexpectedly feminine hair accessories in dark colors to add a few soft details to an otherwise masculine look.



Too Cute to be True

From hot to boyish to downright mannish, this new summer trend takes you to the exact opposite direction: ultra-feminine. Hair accessories have come back with a vengeance. But if you think it’s back to the good ol’ prim and proper plain Janes with the plain bows, you’re thankfully wrong!



This summer season, it’s all about being fun, quirky and free while still celebrating your femininity. Hair clips are no longer just cutesy baby gifts, big girls can wear them now too. Recently seen on the runways of Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg, Temperley and Luella, this is a trend that’s definitely here to stay.



It’s never easy to predict which trends are keepers and which are simply “flavor of the month.” These trends may be hot right now, but tacky next season. So how do you know which one to invest in? Invest in yourself. If you have a strong sense of self, whatever you wear will merely serve to complement your glowing personality. Still, what better way to complement your fun personality than with the season’s fun trends, right?



Rachelle writes for No Slippy Hair Clippy, purveyor of the finest (and first!) non-clip hair accessories for girls of all ages. These award-winning products are designed and manufactured in the United States using only the highest quality materials, featuring the finest craftsmanship and offering fun and unique styles.



Source: http://www.PopularArticles.com/article204117.html

Luxury, Near Luxury & Standard Apparel – The Challenges Facing Fashion

by Adam Lamperto


Fashion trends appear unexpectedly and fade away even quicker than they appeared. Sustaining their slice of the pie and attracting new customers is a key issue facing the retailers. Especially in the case of apparel retailing, where garments have a short life cycle, fads move even more rapidly. The retailer would lose his profits if he did not keep abreast of the springing trends, and simultaneously would lose money if he invests in the wrong trend. This is one big challenging aspect facing the fashion industry.



Luxury, Near Luxury, & Standard Apparels:



The major concern for apparel retailers is brand positioning. Luxury apparel stores like Banana Republic target high income customers who do not mind to pay a hefty price for their merchandise. They seek attires with premium quality with a premium price. The second category of retailers are those who deal with near luxury garments; clothes which are little lavish, but within the budget of middle and upper middle class consumers. They target customers who crave for wearing stylish clothes matching the latest trends; those cannot afford to pay premium prices for their outfits, but can settle for these near luxury brands. Brands such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Fitch & Abercrombie fall under this category. Gap captures consumers with apparel at mid-range price. Last are the standard apparel retailers, those who aim at the middle and lower level customers with average incomes, who generally seek to buy apparel during clearance sales. Brands such as Old Navy targets low end price products of the apparel industry.



Brand positioning during tough times:



Brand positioning of apparel is very crucial especially during the times of economic turmoil. During these times, only the rich people go in for their shopping spree without any restrictions of their budget. Luxury apparel retailers do not face much problem during these times as their wealth-laden customers generally do not have any issues regarding their spending patterns. After being bludgeoned by recession, middle and lower income people curtail their shopping patterns and cut back from spending on non-necessity items. Clothing comes under this kind. Sales in the near luxury and standard apparel stores will have a deep impact during these times.



Profit margins of apparel retailers too have variations due to the discounting strategies and variation in price levels. Profit margins for high end apparel companies range around 67% and 20% for standard apparel companies. Low priced apparel retailers keep low profit margins and still go for a discount when they do their clearance sales.



The fashion industry is going through a price overhaul with companies like H&M, and Forever 21 coming up with apparel with fair quality and low price. Todays consumers are picky and close minded regarding their shopping preferences, especially when it comes to apparel. The market trends keep changing to go with the consumers taste.



Customers will look for value as well as the price tag. From the perspective of attitude, shoppers will have a different thinking. In order to compete in today's market; the successful strategy for apparel retailers is to offer a wide range of clothing at as many price ranges as possible. Visit http://www.fibre2fashion.com/ for more information.



Source: http://www.PopularArticles.com/article204604.html