Top Five Spring/Summer 2011 Men’s Fashion Trends

On this blog I’ve noticed that I have been focusing a lot on topics for women and been a bit selfish when it comes to the men.  I am going to try and put a stop to this and try to make the blog equal for both men and women.  Men are fashionable as well and would like to know this seasons top trends for the spring/summer season just as much as the women would.  I’ve done my research and come up with in my opinion this seasons top five most important trends for our male fans.

1.  Windbreakers:These are jackets that are great for the spring/summer seasons when it is a warm windy day, a summer rainy one, or your just out at night and need something casual to throw over your arms. 

2.  Minimal neutral color palettes:  This season the colors are all about simplicity and neutrality.  Nothing is to busy but yet everything is very minimalistic.  It’s an easy trend to follow as you cannot screw up when it comes to color coordination.

3.  Sheer shirts: Sheer slightly see through shirts are a huge trend for the spring/summer season as well.  The fabrics are very lightweight and very seasonally appropriate. 

4. Stripes:  Stripes are all the rage this season! Its a popular print for the season and done with the above trends can also be seasonally appropriate.

5. Whites:  Very summer in the Hampton’s, classic all white silhouettes.  Easy, can never go wrong, and very attractive especially when done in an all white suit.

Fashion & Comfort….Mixing the two

Lately on my appointments with our fashion stylist Amanda, I have noticed most of our clients being concerned with comfort within a good fashionable walking shoe. If your a true New Yorker, you nkow nobody wears sneakers anymore unless they’re running or excercising. Many clients laugh and wonder of what shoe they should purchase to both feel comfortable while walking and looking trendy and fashionable.
There are three types of shoes for this coming spring/summer season that are very trendy, fashion forward, and comfortable all at the same time; the wedge, the clog, and the flat.

 The wedge shoe is an extremely fashionable shoe that is the most comfortable heel.  It also can serve as a comfortable walking shoe depending on your threshold level of pain.  A wedge is not painful, but it is the alternative to a heel.  A comfortable wedge that serves great as a walking shoe as well is the Stuart Weitzman classic wedge that is made every spring/summer season.  Yes it’s a bit expensive, but it is well worth the price as it would be a shoe you would live in throughout the entire season.

 The clog is a shoe that was very popular during the 60′s/70′s era.  It has now comeback in full force on the spring/summer runway trends. The clog is another fashionable and comfortable alternative to the average heel.  It’s not as comfortable as a wedge, but it can serve as a walking shoe again depending on your threshold level for pain.  Clogs come in all different sizes and heel heights so the lower the heel the more comfortable, and the higher the heel the less comfortable.

 The flat is a classic shoe known to women everywhere.  Flats are extremely fashionable and serve as perfect casual walking shoes, and even sometimes can serve as a cute evening shoe.  This is the most comfortable out of all the three.  During summer months you can also wear another flat called a gladiator sandal. 

 

Expensive Handbags… Is it Really Worth It?

While working with our fashion stylist Amanda Sanders, Ive noticed a trend that she always pushes on every single appointment; the purchase of an expensive designer handbag.  I never questioned why she always did this as every bag she would choose would automatically go with every item the client is already purchasing, but sometimes the client does not see or understand the logic in purchasing one.  The answer to that dilemma is “If you want quality, you must pay for quality.” 

An expensive designer handbag in my opinion is definitely worth the amount of money your typically going to spend on it.  With an expensive handbag your purchasing quality leather or whatever other fabric the handbag is made out of, extensive and quality stitching, hand work, and sometimes bead or jewel work, and of course the luxury of having a great designer name on your arm.  When a expensive designer handbag is produced the best of the best are spending loads time and effort on producing the strong and quality handbag for the customer.  But, there is one thing about all handbags no matter what the price; No handbag is bionic and invincible.  All handbags no matter what the price whether it is the most expensive handbag in the world, or the cheapest inexpensive bag on the planet; all handbags will eventually wear and tear away.  Now here’s another great point of difference with purchasing a designer handbag, at any time when you see the handbag wearing away you can take it to the designer retailer for a fix up, and then your handbag will be good as new again.

So the choice is yours, you can keep spending money on inexpensive handbags and continue to have to constantly purchase another, or you can go ahead and make the ultimate sometimes sacrifice purchase on a quality designer handbag and let that be one of greatest investments.  Here are the top five handbag brands in the world today: Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Prada, and Hermes.  So take your pick of these five brands and make the purchase of a lifetime!

Spring/Summer Swimsuit Trends

Everyone should be aware by this point that the spring/summer season is well upon us.  It’s been a rough winter, but things are finally beginning to look up weather wise.  Now that the weather is taking a turn for the better, many people are contemplating vacation, and the summer fun that the 2011 year will bring.  Along with warm weather and summer one piece of clothing scares many people to their core about this season; swimsuits!

Many people become very frightened at the thought of shedding their clothing for swim attire.  This is usually due to two different reasons; not finding the proper swimsuit for their body type, not being comfortable showing that much skin.  Swimwear comes in a variety of silhouettes made for every different body type on the planet; swimwear silhouettes are the solution to everyone’s fears.  Swimsuit silhouettes include: one piece, bikinis, monokinis, tankinis, high waisted bottoms, skirted bottoms, bandeau tops, string bikinis, and cover ups. Each silhouette has a different degree and level of coverage to please everyone.  Whether you want to bear it all in a string bikini or be discreet in a one piece or tankini, Most swimwear brands produce silhouettes to please everyone.  If your still not satisfied or comfortable with showing skin in swimwear cover ups are the perfect answer.  Cover Ups range from being a slight to full body cover up so whatever cover up you choose it’ll make you happy.

Various Swimwear Silhouettes:

Worn Lipstick Queen Yet?

So while working here at New York Image Consultant, I have been exposed to some great and exciting brands that I had never previously tried.  One of these brands has been a cosmetic brand by the name of Lipstick Queen, and I must say I am pleasantly surprised at how in love I am with this brand.  It is currently a cosmetic line made up of products specifically for your lips; hence the name.  The product line is consisted of lipsticks, lip glosses, and makeup accessories.  The owner Poppy drew her inspiration to form the line due to her not being able to find lip wear that embodied lip wear like the 1940′s.  In my opinion owner Poppy captured the 1940′s feeling while still making the lip wear very light and modern.  The lip wear is long lasting, moisturizing, and adds extreme pop and dimension to whatever your wearing; whether dressed up or casual.  My personal fave is the alt Jean Queen Lip Gloss.  Meant to be worn with jeans, but I’ve added it to my special occasion makeup kit.  It adds the perfect sheen, tint, and pop to your lips. Jean Queen is also made to flatter all skin colors, and ethnicity’s so its flattering for everyone.  Be sure to visit Lipstick Queen’s website at www.lipstickqueen.com to view all of her amazing products, I’m sure you’ll fall in love with them just as I have.

Lipstick Queen- Jean Queen

The Oscars! We Had to Re-cap the Night!!

Two popular trends that were seen on Sunday nights 2011 Academy Awards red carpet were nude and silver sparkling dresses. Other than the other spring trends that previous red carpets have been showing, these two new trends are the first we really saw on the carpet.
The nude sparkling trend is a light, airy, and somewhat fairytale look making it look like you are only wearing jewels on your body and nothing else. The trend can also vary in different directions; either very sexy, or very young and fresh. Sunday night stars Halle Berry, Hailee Steinfeld, and Mandy Moore wore the trend very well all in which were different variations.   Incorporate this trend into your everyday lifestyle by wearing jeweled clothing, and light and airy jeweled fabrics during the upcoming spring season.

  Hailee Steinfeld in age appropriate Marchesa nude dress

  Halle Berry in a very sexy Marchesa nude gown

  Mandy Moore in a stunning Monique Lhuillier

The Silver sparkling trend is a more glamorous trend that is sweeping the upcoming spring season.  A great trend to wear when going out for special occasions as it will be a huge statement color this season.  Stars such as Hilary Swank, Gweneth Paltrow, and Erin Andrews shimmered this past Sunday night in their show stopping silver gowns.  The trend is made to look very sleek like wet metal; all in all a very chic look. 

  Erin Andrews in a head to toe sequins gown

  Gweneth Paltrow in a chic Calvin Klein gown

  Hilary Swank in  stunning Gucci Premiere