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Archive for January, 2012

Fashion is a fickle creature. Even when it comes to men’s shirts, styles are ever changing. Some styles of shirt stay in fashion longer than others but the fashion industry moves with such speed it is hard to keep track. Until the nineteen eighties shirts barely changed at all but now there are more styles than can be cataloged. New fabrics and innovative styles are introduced to the industry all the time. Nevertheless, classic shirt designs, like patterned shirts remain at the heart of all modern shirt concepts.

New fabrics and sophisticated production techniques ensure that shirt designs are constantly changing. Here is an overview of some of the more modern shirt designs.

Ready-Made Or Made To Order?

Most people will buy their shirts in store or from a catalog. These shirts come ready made and are designed to fit certain sizes of man. But not everybody is the same. We’re all different and our dimensions change. Because of this, it is sometimes better to have your shirts made to order. This means having them specially made to fit your unique requirements. Made to order shirts will undoubtedly fit you better than store bought shirts, but they are much more expensive. If you are one of the fortunate men that fit the measurements of the average person, for which most shirts are designed, this won’t be an issue and you can go ahead and buy regular shirts.

On the other hand, you might trust your tailor to make a better fitting shirt. This is often true but shirt designers do know what they are doing. They make a living from designing shirts to fit men of all sizes and they are known as experts for a good reason. It is rare to find a tailor that knows more about shirt design and men’s fashion than the designers driving that fashion.

To Tuck Or Not To Tuck?

This is a question that has dogged men for many years. Some prefer to leave their shirts hanging loose. An untucked shirt can look good in certain circumstances. Others prefer to err on the side of caution and tuck their shirts in at all times. Many modern shirts are designed not to be tucked in and are cut short for this reason. Some people would say that people over forty should always wear their shirts tucked in, this being because an untucked shirt is associated with youth, but this is nonsense; it’s just what we are accustomed to seeing. The answer to the tucking issue really depends more on the situation and on the particular shirt than it does on the person. Long shirts should be tucked in to avoid looking like dresses. Shirts that are cut short are most likely designed to be casually left untucked.

Of course, in a formal occasion, shirts should always be tucked in. This is simply because it is the social norm. Recently, fashion designers have come to realize that an untucked shirt can look good with a suit. But at a formal dinner or job interview people would call you a slob for adopting this look. In many senses, society is still governed by the expectations of last century. When it comes to T-shirts, the answer is definitely never tuck. T-shirts are designed to be casual and attempting to look smart by tucking them into your pants is nothing short of a fashion crime.

New Fabrics

Traditionally, both natural fibers and artificial fibers have been used to manufacture shirts for men. Typically, most shirts are still made from either cotton or polyester. Cotton, being a natural fiber is the more expensive of the two.

These days, a blend of both cotton and polyester is popular, being both comfortable and cost effective. But shirt fabrics don’t stop there. Fashion designers have come to realize that a major way to change the design of a shirt is simply to apply a new material to its creation. Designers have experimented with several materials. Silk is increasingly popular, as a luxurious material for formal occasions including weddings.

Fashion shoes vary in style, design and purpose and with that said, it’s a given that no woman can simply live with one pair of shoes alone. There is no one perfect shoe that you can where anywhere and everywhere, so at most, you will most likely need at least five pairs to wear to different occasions. Here are some essentials that you should have in your closet.

Pumps

Black pumps are not optional. Like the little black dress that you have inside your closet, you should also have a pair of black pumps. Pumps can range in height and can have heels ranging from 2 to 5 inches high. Two inch heels are ideal for everyday office wear. Four inch black pumps, on the other are great to wear during dressier events. Nude pumps are also great and can work well with different outfits, too.

Flats

Flats work well with jeans, skirts, shorts and dresses. They’re comfortable to wear, especially if you think you’ll be spending a lot of time on your feet. It’s a good idea to keep two pairs of these fashion shoes. One pair should be a bit more girly and fashionable, perhaps encrusted with jewels or designs making them smart enough to wear to more-than-casual events. The other pair could be a cute and casual one that you can wear with jeans or shorts. There are plenty of flats in the market. Bright and colored fashion shoes like these are casual enough to wear but will ooze with personality, even as you pair them with basic outfits.

Bejeweled Heels

Some outfits (such as long gowns or pastel dresses) just won’t work with black or nude pumps, so you might want to keep a bejeweled or metallic pair of fashion shoes inside your closet. Bejeweled open high heels are great for gowns and dresses and are appropriate enough for garden weddings and events. Choose between silver and gold and buy a clutch or small handbag to pair it with.

Boots and Booties

Knee length or mid-calf boots are great fashion shoes, especially during the colder seasons. Flat boots look fantastic with jeans and skirts. Leather high heeled booties are dressier and can be paired with skirts and short dresses and can be worn from day to night.

Athletic Shoes

Admit it, even if you don’t regularly go to the gym, certain events will certainly call for athletic shoes. Keep one inside your closet. Who knows when you might just need it?

A Pair Of Fashion Shoes Of Your Choice

It’s fun to wear something outrageous every once in awhile, so pick out a fun pair of fashion shoes to wear during days when you just want to dress up glamorously or outrageously. You can pick sky high canvass wedge, yellow gladiator heels or animal print party shoes. Make sure to pick one that complements your personality, is completely fashionable and can be paired with more than one outfit inside your closet.

Thong Sandals/Slippers

Thong sandals are must-have especially during the summer months. Great for walks in the park or a quick trip to the grocery, using thong sandals rests and relaxes your tired feet.

If you have at least one of these must-have pairs, you can certainly say that you’ve got everything covered. But of course, like any woman, there’s no stopping you from buying more fashion shoes than you need, as long as you can pay for them, and as long as they keep you and your feet happy.

Fashion shoes vary in style, design and purpose and with that said, it’s a given that no woman can simply live with one pair of shoes alone. There is no one perfect shoe that you can where anywhere and everywhere, so at most, you will most likely need at least five pairs to wear to different occasions. Here are some essentials that you should have in your closet.

Pumps

Black pumps are not optional. Like the little black dress that you have inside your closet, you should also have a pair of black pumps. Pumps can range in height and can have heels ranging from 2 to 5 inches high. Two inch heels are ideal for everyday office wear. Four inch black pumps, on the other are great to wear during dressier events. Nude pumps are also great and can work well with different outfits, too.

Flats

Flats work well with jeans, skirts, shorts and dresses. They’re comfortable to wear, especially if you think you’ll be spending a lot of time on your feet. It’s a good idea to keep two pairs of these fashion shoes. One pair should be a bit more girly and fashionable, perhaps encrusted with jewels or designs making them smart enough to wear to more-than-casual events. The other pair could be a cute and casual one that you can wear with jeans or shorts. There are plenty of flats in the market. Bright and colored fashion shoes like these are casual enough to wear but will ooze with personality, even as you pair them with basic outfits.

Bejeweled Heels

Some outfits (such as long gowns or pastel dresses) just won’t work with black or nude pumps, so you might want to keep a bejeweled or metallic pair of fashion shoes inside your closet. Bejeweled open high heels are great for gowns and dresses and are appropriate enough for garden weddings and events. Choose between silver and gold and buy a clutch or small handbag to pair it with.

Boots and Booties

Knee length or mid-calf boots are great fashion shoes, especially during the colder seasons. Flat boots look fantastic with jeans and skirts. Leather high heeled booties are dressier and can be paired with skirts and short dresses and can be worn from day to night.

Athletic Shoes

Admit it, even if you don’t regularly go to the gym, certain events will certainly call for athletic shoes. Keep one inside your closet. Who knows when you might just need it?

A Pair Of Fashion Shoes Of Your Choice

It’s fun to wear something outrageous every once in awhile, so pick out a fun pair of fashion shoes to wear during days when you just want to dress up glamorously or outrageously. You can pick sky high canvass wedge, yellow gladiator heels or animal print party shoes. Make sure to pick one that complements your personality, is completely fashionable and can be paired with more than one outfit inside your closet.

Thong Sandals/Slippers

Thong sandals are must-have especially during the summer months. Great for walks in the park or a quick trip to the grocery, using thong sandals rests and relaxes your tired feet.

If you have at least one of these must-have pairs, you can certainly say that you’ve got everything covered. But of course, like any woman, there’s no stopping you from buying more fashion shoes than you need, as long as you can pay for them, and as long as they keep you and your feet happy.

Just as a well-balanced diet is essential for a healthy body, a well-balanced wardrobe is essential for healthy fashion statements. Fashion faux pas, may be unavoidable, but the least you can do is to be fashionable! Fashion is not about blindly following the trends of a fashion week, but about adopting a style that compliments your body type. ‘Fashion fades, only style remains the same’ is an apt quote by Coco Chanel elucidating the same. With a few wardrobe essentials, you would have closet that is ready for any party any time and anywhere. Let’s see what are some of the essential wardrobe items, without which, living seems incomplete.

T Shirts
Whether it’s men’s wardrobe essentials or wardrobe essentials for women, t-shirts are a must have. For women it’s V-necked t-shirts and for men it’s round neck t shirts. Most t-shirts don’t last a lifetime, so keep replenishing them. A white and a black are the two colors you have got to have, besides the rest. Buy t-shirts that fit your size and not the one that cuts into your flesh. Make sure the fabric of the t-shirt allows your skin to breathe, to prevent rashes other skin irritations.

Denims
A right fit of dark blue denims is something that cannot go wrong. The low waist denims may be in fashion, but if you aren’t comfortable wearing them, drop the idea. Find a pair of jeans that suits your body type and flatters your figure. You may have to spend a few extra bucks on the right fit, but in the long run, it’s all worth it. Dinner with friends or a parent’s meet, a pair of denims teamed with flat shoes or heels a plain t-shirt and you are set for the occasion.

Little Black Dress
Cocktail dresses may be many, but when in doubt, the little black dress will always come to your rescue. So, you’ve got to own one! Sometimes, you may have to attend formal functions such as a office party or a funeral. Dressing up for such occasions must be as subtle as possible. A simple A-line black dress, which compliments your figure would do the job.

Formal Suit
A well tailored suit, to be the best man or to be your bosses man, is a necessity in a man’s wardrobe. Wardrobe essentials are basically those, which equip you with apparels for every event. Never buy a suit, always get it tailored, is the advice I would want to give you. A suit is mostly worn for special occasions. Hence, a well tailored suit is what you need to have for the most important events.

Casuals
Besides the essentials, you also need to have a few casuals. For women it is skirts, linen pants, cotton and khaki pants, tunics and summer dresses. Airy and sheath fabrics are few clothing items you need to have. As for men, it’s khaki, linen and cotton pants, shorts, shirts, and t-shirts. All of these put together will sum up for summer wardrobe essentials too.

Shoes
Last but not the least, shoes are the most important part of wardrobe essentials. Footwear can make or break your look in more ways than one. Heels, flats, joggers, a pair of flats and flip flops are mandatory for a women’s wardrobe. For men, a pair of formal shoes (always polished), joggers and floaters will do the job.

So, these were some of the wardrobe essentials that one needs to have. Sweaters and sweat shirts are two more essentials that can be tucked away in a wardrobe for the winters. Accessories such as neck pieces, belts, scarves and bags will further enhance your look. Finally, it takes passion for fashion to put these essentials together with panache, to be a classic fashionista!

Fit

First and foremost, as its name implies, custom dress shirt is made to your measurements, your form and your physique. It is made specifically for you. Once you experience the fit of a custom dress shirt, it is impossible to go back to an off-the-rack shirt that is somehow, never just right.

Selection

Even if you wear a 16/34 off-the-rack shirt, selection is always limited. Stores rarely offer the scope of fabrics that you will find from your custom shirt maker, where hundreds of fabrics in different weights, patterns and qualities are abundant in your size.

Style

When was the last time you were able to choose from variety of collar, cuffs, pockets and fronts styles, such as a wide spread collar, angled French cuffs or sport front? Or for that matter, how about something really special, like a black shirt with white collar and white cuffs? All of this is possible with a custom made dress shirt.

Proportion

What if your neck size is big in proportion to your body, where the rest of the shirt fits like a tent? Or you can never find the correct sleeve length? With a custom made dress shirt, you won’t have to put up with this any more…You can enjoy a comfortable well-fitted shirt for the price of a shirt off-the-rack.

Quality

Superb workmanship, and fine fabrics are the hallmark of a custom made dress shirt. Imagine collars and cuffs that stay firm and crisp. Want to know the secret? Custom made dress shirts have 20 stitches per inch compared to a commercial dress shirt that only has 12.

Individuality

Taking all of the above points into consideration, your custom dress shirt is as individual as your own signature. Theres not another like it anywhere!

Value

When you consider all of the advantages, a custom dress shirt is truly the best value of all, a far better than ready-made and in some cases even lower in price than expensive designer shirts.

For custom dress shirts visit www.bestcustomshirt.com.