Posts Tagged ‘shoes’

Dress Shirt Tips

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

It is universally accepted that you are judged by your appearance. Nothing else in your wardrobe other than an attractive suit can stand testimony to this statement. But, your suit is complete only when it is donned with the right additional items like, shoes, tie, shirt, etc.

Among them, it is the shirt which can make or mar the entire appearance of your selected attire. The shirt must be an ideal complement for men’s suits to have the desired effect. Otherwise, it can spoil the entire fun.

It is common these days for celebrities in magazines and on-screen to loosen their ties or undo the top few buttons on their shirts to achieve an air of informality. It is advisable however, to leave that style to the stars. While some individuals have been inspired to imitate this look to appear younger, it rarely fools anyone. But it will encourage others take you less seriously.

It isn’t hard to find the perfect shirt to go with your suit. When you acquire just a few dress shirts chosen with your suits in mind, you can easily mix and match for nearly any event. Just be sure to follow these simple guidelines:

Pair solid-colored suits with striped shirts for the office and patterned shirts for social occasions. When it comes to color, black suits go best with shirts that are pastel-colored, such as yellow, blue, or white. Brown suits on the other hand look best when accompanied with a shirt of light blue or off-white. But when wearing white, pastels will look washed out and are best forgone for darker colors.

A navy blue suit looks fantastic with a pale pink, pale blue, navy blue or white shirt. If it’s pinstriped or patterned though, go for solid colors.

While it’s true that this article focuses on dressing to a tee rather than merely appearing polished and professional, these principles are important to remember. Fair or not, people judge on appearance. First impressions especially depend on not only how you present yourself, but how you dress.

Apparently, these are a few tips of value in the business arena. You have to remember to create the right impact instantly. Donning the well-matched suit shirt will certainly enhance the effect you wish to create.

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Women’s Dress Shoe Changes And New Trends

Friday, July 10th, 2009

Treating yourself to the best womans shoes bargains is the sign of a smart shopper. Scouting around and by shopping discount shoes from various online shoe store sources will generally snatch the best bargain. You’ll find a variety of colors and styles including sneakers, boots and sandals by scouting online, making it easy to maintain your color-coordinated wardrobe.

Today’s trends are influence by upscale nautical active wear and sportswear which carries over into women’s dress shoe styles accordingly. Complimentary adornments add flourishes to the nautical shoe look.

Over-the-top shoe designs and colors do their deed in spicing up any wardrobe. Out of the ordinary styles like gladiator shoes add that certain flair to a women’s dress shoe that gets noticed. With a little patience and diligence, one can find bargains online and not break the budget.

Womans dress shoe are an increasing arena for studded inlays and subtle embroidery. A sassy edge gives a fashion drum-beat that wears well on an evening out.

Popular are gladiator sandals, the thick and chunky heels, platform heels, stiletto heels as well as the peep-toe womans dress shoes styles. As with any shoe style, you need to complement them with appropriate clothes to make it complete.

Avoid the purchase of poorly made footwear. Don’t compromise quality. By purchasing a known brand and trendy fashion style, you’ll generally be assured your investment is protected.

Styles and fashions change and one need to beware of trends. The best way is to watch for magazine ads that do not sell shoes and clothes and observe what they are wearing. You can be assured they portray the best womens work shoes fashion because the best and ablest fashion designers and admen are pulling the strings.

Tasteful womens dress shoes styles sometimes take center stage and grab the fashion spotlight. Sometimes actors opt for crazy horrendous styles. Be your own boss and choose well

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Making Sure To Match Your Tuxedo And Tie

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

There are some men who cannot look elegant in a tuxedo. They could be attired in a good looking shirt, a tie, and yet appear shabby. This may be on account of the fact that they are the kind who seem badly groomed irrespective of what they are donning. I have a on who fits into this category.

In all likelihood, it could be because of the fact that the suit, tie, shirt and shoes just do not agree with one another. In many cases, this is the crux of the problem. A number of men are just not able to synchronize the overall appearance, or may not be too bothered about the whole issue.

An old saying is that “clothes maketh the man” which indicates that it is necessary to look your best to give a favorable impression. This holds true regardless of the context-be it clothing for the job, night out, or special occasion.

The wrong approach would be to attempt to go with a tuxedo based upon matching what you already have. Ideally you would have previously considered the type of garment you are interested in. If you are using a fine tailor, you should definitely get their advice and plan accordingly. It is highly recommended that you go basic, preferably with a simply black or other dark color tuxedo.

Power suits, need to be navy blue with a clean, plain white shirt and a plain dark tie. A white shirt with a plain dark tuxedo always looks very formal and businesslike. Pastel shades of blue are also fine. Again the tie should contrast and complement the tone of the tuxedo.

Ties with a repeating design are not as formal as solid color ties. They clash strongly with patterned shirts, so they should be avoided in this context.

A white or ivory-colored tuxedo would require a light colored shirt. This will agree very well with printed ties. A fine striped or paisley silk tie in a darker shade would be appropriate.

It is really important that a minor amount of the primary jacket hue is represented in each piece of the suit. Utilize a mirror to make absolutely sure that this is the case when you assemble your suit. It is always a good idea to have someone else check to get another opinion.

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Learn How To Match Your Suit And Tie Perfectly

Saturday, June 13th, 2009

Sometimes people never look right in a suit and tie, maybe it is because they are the wrong type of person for the suit. Some people may look untidy even though they are wearing a suit. I have a son who is like this. No matter what he would be wearing, he always looks like a pile of junk.

Maybe it is because the tie, shirt, suit, and shoes do not look good together. This is usually the case. A lot of guys are not able to organize a suit properly or they just don’t care.

The adage says “clothes maketh the man” and should always take some pains to look his best. One should remember to do it whether he is attending his office or is socializing. It is quite simple.

It is by no means an easy task to select a suit which will agree very well with a shirt and tie you already own. Hence, it makes sense to begin with the suit. Presumably, when you purchased it, you must have paid attention to the design, material and the shade. If it was tailor-made, the tailor must have had adequate information about every one of those aspects. Unless you want to appear somewhat garish, go for plain dark shades.

If you are looking to have a powerful suit, look for the suit to contain navy blue, the shirt to be white, and a regular dark tie. This combination will make you look professional and formal. A few alternative choices could be blue pastels. Just make sure that the tie contrasts with the rest of the color scheme.

Ties with a pattern tend to be more informal in their use and should be worn as such. They must be avoided when wearing patterned shirts because the impression will be that there is just “too much happening” within the attempted look.

Men’s suits having light shades need shirts of lighter shades to go with them. These can agree well with printed ties. A beautiful, preferably striped, silk tie would seem ideal.

Finally, when wearing shirt, suit and tie all of which contain more than one color, ensure that they each contain at least a small sample of the major suit color. Full use of the mirror or a second opinion is always useful.

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Clothing that is Eco-Friendly, Part 1

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

The world is a blaze with talk about going green, so I wanted to see how all this eco-friendly talk could impact the fashion industry. Well, I found that there is quite a bit to talk about, so I’m going to divide my thoughts into a few articles to cover everything.

Going green or being eco-friendly are terms that relate to products and/ or lifestyles that are environmentally friendly. This can mean consuming less natural resources, using sustainable resources, using organic products, recycling, creating less waste, and much more. The more septs in the production process that are eco-friendly, the greener the end product.

In fashion, the most effective way to be eco-friendly is to simply buy less clothing, shoes, and accessories. The next most effective is to purchase used items from garage sales or thrift stores, reducing the amount of new products that need to be manufactured, keeping goods from ending up in landfills, and often making a charitable contribution at the same time. Another good option is to Freecycle which is a great way to get (and give!) free stuff locally. With the average American throwing out 68 pounds of clothing and textiles a year, it is easy to see how these options can make a huge difference.

Sure, these are great options, but most people like me love to shop, love shoes, clothes and purses. There is something about the thrill of the hunt and finally getting the perfect item for the perfect price. For people like me, there is still some hope, so do not fear! Team Treehugger gives us the following words of advice for building an eco-friendly wardrobe.

Shop with a plan. When you bring an article of clothing into your life, its kind of like adopting a dog or cat. That cute little number has to have a place in your wardrobe, and youre agreeing to provide for and give it the longest possible life with you. Abandoning the impulse buy may sound boring, but how exciting is a closet full of stuff that doesnt work? In the long run, knowing what youre looking for before you shop will save time and eliminate clutter. Youll get more use out of a piece that looks and feels great: What colors work for you? What fits work the best? How will the piece get along with everything else in the closet? If the answer to Will I still want to wear this rhinestone-studded bustier in two years? or Can I eventually find a way to use it in a craft project? is no, skip it.

Love your duds! No matter what you’ve chosen to buy, treat them right. Have a comfortable leisure outfit you can change into when you get home from work. Don’t lounge around the couch, cook or check the tire pressure in your nice work clothes. You’ll be amazed at how long they will last if you take care of them. Learn how to sew a button on a jacket or how to coax a kind friend to do it for you. Have a local seamstress help out with major repairs or alterations.

Dry cleaning is not eco-friendly. The industry is getting better, but the little shop down the street uses perc (tetrachloroethylene), a know carcinogen. These are really harmful the the environment. Although your article of clothing may ask for dry cleaning, often it can be hand washed, especially sik, wool and linen. If not, see if a local green cleaner uses wet cleaning or liquid CO2 techniques.

Buy vintage or used. People unload clothes for all types of reasons, and you know that adage about trash and treasure. From Oscar-worthy vintage dresses to Freecycled denim, you can likely find the piece youre looking for second hand. Youll be giving a cast-off garment a second life, and possibly supporting charitable work in the process.

Wash well. Washing wreaks the most havoc of all. It requires lots of water and energy, so only do it when you absolutely need to and have a full laundry load. Turn articles inside out and use the lowest temp possible. If you know you glowed all over a piece, make a thin salt paste and soak the affected fabric for a half hour before washing. Choose phosphate-free and biodegradable detergents and line dry as much as possible. Treat stains quickly with nontoxic removers. If youre buying a new washing machine, look for one with an Energy Star label.

Wear organic when possible. Though cotton is marketed as clean, fresh, and natural, conventional varieties are anything but. It takes a third of a pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to produce the cotton for one T-shirt! That means lots of direct, unhealthy exposure for farmers and nearby wildlife, and heaps of unnecessary pollution. Ick. Luckily, organic cotton is becoming easier and easier to find. As mega-stores get into the game, however, its important to stay vigilant about what organic means, so you know youre really getting clean clothes. Also know that though the cotton may have been organic to start with, your T may be full of processing chemicals and metal-laden dyes.

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Is a Wool Tuxedo Worth the Extra Expense?

Friday, June 5th, 2009

Regardless of the fact that wool can be one of the most expensive of all fabrics from which to produce a tuxedo, it has long been accepted that it’s the best overall compromise. The compromise is between the cost and the practical advantages that wool has due to it’s properties over most other fabrics. It can be warm in the winter, cool in the summer and tailored beautifully.

Furthermore, there are quite a few types and levels of wool that you can find. A few of these types are recycled from old clothes. The highest quality type would be virgin wool, which is not recycled. Also, you should notice the thickness of the wool strands. The thinner they are the finer the end result will be.

Wool doesn’t only come from sheep either. Camels, goats and llama’s wool can also be used. However, of all the other choices, it’s the pure, thinly stranded virgin sheep’s wool that is the most sought, and subsequently the most expensive to buy once turned into your tuxedo.

In cheaper tuxedos it is common to use a mix of polyester and wool. This combination lowers the cost and still provides good crease resistance. Actual, pure wool is still the optimum choice.

Another advantage is that using different wool, your tuxedo can be made heavier or lighter depending upon which season you will be wearing it the most. Wool maintains an air barrier so it’s perfect when made slightly heavier for keeping you warm in the winter. A lightweight woolen tuxedo will do the exact opposite, providing benefits in the summer climate.

Wool fabric has the advantage of retaining its shape even when worn often. If your tuxedo is made from virgin wool, you may find it to be crease and wrinkle free even freshly removed from a suitcase after a long trip. It will be ready to wear almost immediately. If you find it does need some ironing, it is important to use a lot of steam so that the dry heat from the iron does not damage the wool fibers.

Try not to put any stress on any part of it when wet. The fibers will weaken, so it must be allowed to dry naturally and not hung.

If you care for your appearance, get yourself the best pure wool tuxedo you can afford. It will last you a lifetime, especially if your waistline doesn’t expand too much.

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Nike Shoes Then and Now

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

Unless you’ve been living under a rock you’ve probably heard of Nike shoes and are familiar with their swoosh logo. These popular shoes are sold all over the world and are worn by children, men, women, and professional athletes. You’d be hard pressed to walk into any shoe store and not find a pair of Nike shoes for sale.

The original swoosh logo was originally designed in 1971 by a student studying graphic design at Portland State University. Carolyn Davidson was paid $35 for the famous design but some sources say that the co-founder of Nike, Phil Knight, later bought her a diamond ring engraved with the Nike logo and also an undisclosed amount of Nike stock after she left the company in 1983. It’s interesting to note that Knight originally wasn’t too impressed with Davidson’s work. He said, “I don’t love it, but it will grow on me.”

In 2008 Nike made a net income of $1.9 billion dollars. Not bad for a business that started with a couple of guys selling sneakers out of the back of their van. This is the perfect example of capitalism in action and what can happen if you set goals and work hard. As of late, the company has received bad press due to claims associated with poor working environments and human rights issues with workers overseas.

The name Nike comes from the Greek goddess of victory, and like many other successful companies, had a humble beginning. Philip Knight was a track athlete at the University of Oregon and joined up with his coach, Bill Bowerman, in 1964 to sell shoes out of their cars at track meets. At that time they called themselves Blue Ribbon Sports.

Blue Ribbon Sports started developing their own personal line of shoes in 1971. Before that they sold shoes manufactured and produced by a Japanese company. In the beginning they specialized in shoes designed for football and eventually began making other types of shoes. The Blue Ribbon Sports name was dropped in 1978. By 1980, fifty percent of shoes sold in the U.S. were Nike.

In the past Nike once owned rights to the Bauer Hockey and Starter sprots brands. It currently own numerous other sports apparel companies including Converse and Umbro. You can also still find Nike headquarters in the state of Oregon where it all began over 30 years ago.

Nike Shoes continue to be popular today among professional athletes, sports enthusiasts, and those just looking for a comfortable and attractive pair of sneakers. While Nike is often criticized by others for its mass appeal, I’m sure the co-founders would argue that success never comes easy.

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Cufflinks For A Suit. A Noticeable Statement.

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

Added to attire, cufflinks look great. Every man who wants to look sharp should have them in their wardrobe. This is often not the case but should be for every man.

In recent times cufflinks have changed in the minds of people, most considering that they should be the first item chosen for while assembling a suit after which would come a shirt and tie to match them. The fashionable dresser’s wardrobe should always have them as a part of it.

Check out the photos in magazines and newspapers of the best dressers, usually attending gala dinners, oscar ceremonies, opening nights etc. You will see that most of the men are dressed in their designer suits sporting cufflinks.

It is however, not only the rich and famous who are wearing cufflinks. Gone are the days when you had to own a Bentley with your own chauffeur to be seen wearing them. Most men with any fashion sense are wearing them to add that touch of class to the finishing look of their attire. They can set off the whole outfit if chosen correctly. A fine finishing touch.

You must have a nice shirt… no, the perfect shirt and the best, and most stylish men’s suit you can afford. Black suit and good cuflinks is, always has been and probably always will be the correct contrast.

Cufflinks are available in a lot of forms, designs, colors and materials in almost every way you could think of. You can purchase gold or silver styled items. Cufflinks can look like mini ipods, circles, squares, as well as being checkered or barcoded.

Anything imaginable may be found in the varying designs, those in the shape of dartboards in miniature and those indicating perhaps your passion for poker, drinking, movies, golf, tennis, dominoes or soccer may be found, if you can think of it, you likely can find it. You can even have them custom made in the form of miniature replicas of your home.

For a man to be taken seriously, the design of his cufflinks, if anything other than a classic style should be subtle. A man might ruin instead of complement his ensemble if sharply dressed in an Armani suit with silk shirt and tie and cufflinks that don’t fit in such as a pair of giant beer mug cufflinks dangling from his sleeves. That would be bad. Make sure when choosing the cufflinks to have them subtly but excellently compliment the suit, and that the shirt and tie match as well.

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Help! What Color Shoes Should I Wear With My Suit?

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

Very little can contribute to a huge fashion disaster than wearing totally the wrong color shoes with your suit. Of course, it goes without saying that what looks good with one outfit may not look good with the whole of your wardrobe.

If the suit you have on is black, dark gray or navy blue then you can’t go wrong when you wear black shoes. If you choose to wear brown shoes, it must be a dark brown color. Definitely paler brown shades with a dark suit won’t look right.

If you have on a white suit or a very pale colored suit, then light colored shoes such as tan or light brown will look nice. The more light the color of the suit is then more light the color of the shoes should be. Usually wearing a belt with a contrasting color will help prevent an excessive amount of contrast between the suit and the shoes.

You should always attempt to add a matching colored tie (or at minimum a color that almost looks like the same color) to your shoes if you are not sure if they are an exact match. This tie could, actually “tie” this outfit together. Frequently people who wear clothes pay little attention to whether the shoes go with their clothes. When they glance at their reflection in the mirror it is most likely only from the upper part of the body.

Never wear slip-on shoes to any fancy occasion. Always wear shoes that have shoelaces. Remember this, that if you leave too much space while you crisscross your laces this can appear casual, so be careful about this.

Think about the finish to your shoes and the material from which they are made. Black leather shoes with a high shine are a good complement to a sharp men’s black suit worn at a business function.

But, just don’t think about the color only. Think about black suede shoes paired with the exact suit. It is unusual for suede (Hush Puppies for instance)to go well with any kind of suit. It is definitely not for the business world. The exact circumstances apply to slip-on shoes and loafers.

Keep them clean and well polished. Socks are important too and should always match the color of your trousers unless your suit is light brown, then your socks should match the color of your shoes.

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To rent or to buy a tuxedo

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

You might never need to put on a tuxedo. You could spend your whole lifetime and never have to go to a formal event, or you could attend a formal event but wear regular clothes and be noticed in the crowd. But, there might be an occasion that you just have to put on a tuxedo for a special event. Then you must make a choice if it would be better to purchase it or lease it. What should you think about when it comes to choosing if you should lease or make a purchase?

First of all, the most important thing to consider is how often you will need to wear your tux. Is it likely that you will be asked to attend more and more such events? If so, then buying might be the best option for you.

You should also consider the difference in prices. If you were to rent the entire tuxedo including pants, jacket, tie, vest or cummerbund and dress shirt you would spend anywhere from $100 to $150 dollars. On the other hand, if you were to buy the same exact tux, you will most likely spend between $500 and $800 dollars.

It is easy to add up the math to figure out which is the best choice for your money. If you intend to wear a tuxedo on five occasions then it will be best for you to purchase one.

Certain events in your life may require you to wear a different style of tuxedo then the one you may have. Keep in mind that the traditional style of tuxedo will always be in fashion when worn with the right shirt and tie combination.

You could always lease another kind of tuxedo. The rental place will have a large variety of tuxedos, but you should put in your request early or you will end up with the leftovers.

Another reason that renting may be better for you is because everything is taken care of for you. When you buy there is the additional costs of cleaning, altering when needed, and mothproofed. Renting allows you to never have to worry about these things.

You will want to look your best at the event. Buying a tuxedo allows you to have one made to measure. No tuxedo that is removed off the peg when renting is ever going to fit you perfectly. This should be something that you take into account when deciding to rent or buy.

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