Fashion is such an individual preference but everyone has an opinion on what they like and dislike or which fashion look they should go for or not. There exists today a plethora of different styles, designers, patters and brands to chose from and not all of them are appealing or professional looking for certain occasions. My personal styles will be reflected in this article as well as styles that I believe a large amount of my peers are praying will pass quickly.

Choose a fashion look that will agree with your features

My favorite fashion look for women depends on the appearance of the woman, including her hair color, body shape and skin tone. For myself, a young woman with dark hair, who is larger than average women and has very fair skin tone, I like the look of dark wash jeans with a light colored top. As fall approaches, lighter hues such as robin’s egg blue, light pink, and lavender are favorites for lightweight sweaters. Paired with dark slacks or jeans, this outfit can be worn to any type of gathering or event from a bonfire to a company party.

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In the case of younger men, the fashion of sagging pants, jerseys, and torn jeans do not appeal to me. I would much rather see a young man in un-torn jeans, a t-shirt or button down shirt which can either be plain or plaid. My favorite look for a man includes a mix of casual and formal when a casual outfit is completed with a dark colored sports jacket. This gives the appearance of formality with the addition of comfort and brings the outfit to a slightly higher level without too much effort or cost. Young men should present themselves as more respectful and interested in their appearances than they have been in recent years. The attire one wears makes a personal statement about judgment and personality.

What more can you add to complete your own fashion look?

Women’s fashion includes other stylistically pleasing additions to the outfit beyond the clothing choices. Footwear, make-up, and hair design are also important to take into consideration for style and fashion. Personally, I think make up should look natural on a woman rather than looking painted on. Bold colors or neon tones are not acceptable, although they have become rather popular in recent years among younger girls. The same goes to hair coloring. If hair does not naturally occur in the color, there is no need for anyone to dye their hair that tone. It gives off poor perceptions of the person.

Footwear varies throughout the seasons when you live in a climate where the seasons bring extreme temperatures. My favorite footwear includes tall boots with short sturdy heels, plain running shoes for exercise, and a dark shoe for daily wear. During the summer, sandals are cute and fun but there is a time when wearing flip-flips is not acceptable. For example, in the rain, when the shoes become slick and dangerous or painful to walk in or when going out somewhere more formal. Recently, Ugg boots have become popular despite the research that they can cause problems to the arch of the foot. These boots come in a variety of heights and colors and often are suede or woolen. In the winter, they absorb the salt and often are left with a white residue which does not look nice. These boots are warm and comfortable and keep the elements out, which I think we can all agree is the main focus when you live in an area which receives a lot of snowfall and slush melt. On a more formal level, I think high heels are appropriate for most situations and my favorites include peep-toes and pumps. The beauty of high heels is that they come in a variety of fashions, colors, styles and heights. They can fit into any woman’s outfit and give her an elegant look of sophistication as well as making her appear taller, thinner and have more toned legs.

Men’s footwear is something that does not get as much notice as female footwear choices. On average, men tend to wear tennis or running shoes most often with a plain black dress shoe for occasions. I appreciate when men wear cowboy boots as it gives a rugged, manly appearance while still looking more formal and handsome than some of the other options available. These are boots made for work and walking and are very comfortable in addition to looking nice. I approve of some nice leather work boots for the working man and think that wearing them gives him a tough look as well as the added safety while on the job.

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Fashion is a constantly changing creature with as many options as designers imaginations can present. Although there are fads that come and go, as well as some that stick longer than they should, there will always be the classically approved styles which present a well-rounded, smart fashion look for both men and women. For example, the classic little black dress has been a staple in every woman’s wardrobe for decades and presents the sophisticated, simple, elegant look of beauty. The little black dresses now come in a variety of lengths, styles, embroidery or enhancements and strap or sleeve lengths, but it is still recognized as a classic item of dress wear.

Although I love seeing the new styles of clothing make their appearances and appreciate how exciting it may be for the designers to see their dreams come to fruition, I am most attracted and appreciative of the simpler looks for both men and women and feel that having basic, good quality items will give a better appearance, and will last longer than if I or anyone else were to constantly buy the newest fad fashions as they make their rounds throughout the seasons and years. One or two pieces now and then which are beautiful can be appreciated but in most cases, the clothing will be out of fashion by next spring and will no longer be appropriate or fashionable to a vast majority of the public. My motto is to find your own fashion look which means discovering what you like, what compliments your own style sense and features and to stick with it rather than trying to blend in with the rest of the crowd.

When buying brand new clothing at a department store becomes too expensive then it’s time to find alternative sources where you can find fashion for less. I have found four different places where I can find shoes, purses, articles of clothing and jewelry for less money than department stores. A few of these sources may not be appealing to everyone but they are good for finding some great bargains when it comes to shopping for clothes and accessories. While it’s true that these items have been used by someone else, they are still in good condition and indeed, a good way to acquire fashion for less.

People donate or throw away clothes before they have reached the end of their useful life for several reasons. The clothes are too big, too small or they are no longer in fashion for the original owner. The first user has many choices for disposal of the clothing, shoes or purse. They can take it to a consignment shop, thrift shop, have a garage sale or they can throw it away.

Where can you get fashion for less?

Consignment shops are at the top of the list of great places to find fashion for less. Most consignment shops will only accept items that have not been previously stained or damaged. The proprietor of the shop will sell the item for a fraction of the original cost. Some items still have the original price tags and have never been worn. Perhaps, the original owner is an impulse shopper and no longer has room in their closet for clothes they will never wear. Consignment shops have an added bonus for the seller. The seller will earn a portion of the profit when their item is sold.

Consignment shops are usually owned by private individuals so they tend to be smaller in inventory than thrift stores. The selection at the consignment shop is a little more higher-end than a thrift store. If I need to find a dress for a cocktail party or a business suit for an important meeting at a price I can mange, then the consignment shop is the place to go.

The thrift store is a fantastic place to find name brand, fashionable clothing for even less than a consignment shop. Most thrift stores have everything – casual everyday wear to business office professional. Large volume thrift stores have blouses, pants, skirts, T-shirts, shorts, dresses, sportswear, nightgowns, pajamas and even bathing suits. They have dress shoes, sneakers, casual shoes and sandals. They have big purses, little purses, name brand purses and sometimes even day planners.

Like consignment shops, thrift stores price items to sell. They need to keep the inventory moving – starting with the back door where it came in to the front door where it goes out with a happy consumer. On certain days of the week, the prices are cut even more for unbeatable bargains. All of my fashion needs are met for less at the thrift store because they have accessories like watches, rings, bracelets and necklaces. Most of the time, if the items are not successfully sold at a garage sale or an estate sale, they are donated to the thrift store.

Garage sale: A place to find fashion for less

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Garage sales are a beloved American pastime. They are a great venue to socially connect with surrounding neighbors and complete strangers, and they are a great source for finding fashion for less. The awareness of being able to sell and buy good clothing articles at a garage sale has risen for both the seller and the buyer. The seller takes the time to fold and organize the clothing according to size and style. Sometimes, they hang them on hangers for easier viewing. The buyer sees the care the seller has taken to present the items and has a good idea that the seller has taken care of these clothes even when they were first purchased.

Even though garage sales are third on the list of great places to find my fashion for less, they are no less worthy of recognition for quality and price. Where else can someone buy a very stylish blazer for $1 or a pair of shoes for $2? Putting together a stylish outfit derived out of someone else’s closet is nothing of which to be ashamed!

Estate sales hold a little less appeal for finding my fashion for less. In most cases, the estate sale is being held to disperse the accumulated goods of a person that has passed on. The prices are very reasonable but the sadness is a little overwhelming. Finding my fashion for less at an estate sale requires an eye for detail because the articles of clothing may not be age appropriate. If that’s the case, then it’s best to look for jewelry and casual footwear such as sneakers. Estate sale prices are usually comparable to garage sale prices. In either case, it just takes a little extra time and effort to sort through all of the items for sale to find great fashions at a great price.

The best time to have access to the complete selection of clothing is at the beginning of the estate sale. The best time to go for reduced prices is in the waning hours of the estate sale. The sellers want everything sold so the prices are drastically reduced. Second-hand clothes can be purchased at very reasonable prices and will complement any wardrobe if the selection is right.

Keeping up with fashion trends can be very costly because the trends come and go so quickly. My fashion for less requires a little more work at finding style and quality for a lower price that will fit my budget. The department stores have bargain racks for seasonal clothes that don’t sell. The prices are marked down but not as much as in a consignment shop or thrift store. It is much more gratifying to go to one store and buy five to 10 items for $20.00 than it is to go to one store and buy 1 item for $20.00. Finding my fashion for less makes good sense for my wallet and my closet.

Eva Longoria walked out onstage with co-host George Lopez in a stunning Goldsmith & Klein couture gown to present at the 2011 NCLR Alma awards.  The plumb colored gown, created by Rebecca Goldsmith, is a strapless fitted silk gown with individually hand tucked bias cut tiers and bias cut train and is a new addition to the 2011 fall couture line.

Goldsmith & Klein is a luxury fashion house, located in West Hollywood, Ca., that creates exquisite couture gowns and
ready to wear items.  First introduced in New York during the 2010 Fall Fashion Week, Goldsmith & Klein continue to garner the attention of stylists, fashion photographers, fashion magazines, and Hollywood celebrities.

www.goldsmithklein.com

Slutwalk Protests are protests against rape victim blaming inspired by a Canadian Police Offer’s comments after a rape case that discouraged women from dressing ‘like a slut’ in order to avoid getting raped. The outrage spurred these protests, in which women dress provocatively to prove a point. The point is that even though they are dressed in scantily clad numbers, they do not ‘ask’ to be raped. While you might think that this would make the Fashion Industry pick a side, that is not necessarily true.

It would seem that fashion is on its own trajectory. At the time of this writing, there is no real evidence to support the theory that Slutwalks are influencing fashion at all. That is not to say that the fashion industry has risen up against these protests, in fact, they may even be silently nodding to this movement. There has been no definite ‘decline’ in scanty clothing from any designer, but there has not been a rise in it either.

Image by Man Alive! via Flickr

It is not because the Fashion industry doesn’t care. In fact, this would seem to be a cause that is close to the hearts of many in the industry, but so far, no one seems to have spoken up about it. The fact of the matter is: the Fashion Industry is just that – a business. A business that makes simply what sells, whether it is daisy dukes and fishnet stockings, or long A-line pencil skirts.

That is not to say that if this movement is successful, that the demand for sexier clothing won’t go up, in fact, it probably will. However, we don’t know if the movement is successful yet. There have been no purported ‘laws’ going into effect on how it’s illegal to assume consent from clothing (although that law would definitely come in handy), there is also not any laws to prevent law enforcement from ‘profiling’ based on attire. (They’re too busy with getting rid of racial profiling at the moment.) So until there is some political upheaval there, we will probably not be seeing a stark increase in sexy clothing.

The Fashion Industry itself is probably not going to say much because along with women who like to dress provocatively, it also caters to women who don’t dress provocatively. It is a business and as a whole, has to keep all sorts of tastes in mind when supplying the demand. While there is certainly a large market for skimpy, sexy attire, it is not the only market out there. It will continue to be a niche market because women are still climbing the corporate ladder.

It is rather amazing that more people in the fashion industry have not commented on this. At the time of this writing, there has not been one designer, guru, or company that has commented on this movement. One would think, with the fashion industry becoming more and more in-tune with the media, that at least one of the more famous personalities put their two cents in, or at least mention that they support or denounce the movement, but so far… no dice. Perhaps, they’re just not aware, or perhaps they are afraid of offending the rest of their market, the market that does not dress ‘slutty’.

Of course, it’s not really a surprise that designers and companies don’t want to comment on this movement. They build brands and building a brand is hard enough without having the term ‘slut’ to contend with. However, it’s amazing that none of the models have commented either. Mum’s the word on that front too. Unlike companies or designers, models are individuals and women too. It is hard to believe that everyone in the fashion industry is quiet about this, but perhaps they have their reasons. Perhaps, more people in the fashion industry would be behind this movement (or at least acknowledgement) if the term did not have ‘Slut’ in the title, but that would be defeating the purpose of the movement itself. There are not too many professional women that would want their name and that term to be in the same sentence, even if it is ultimately for a good cause. Unfortunately, society is not yet enlightened enough to hear the term ‘slutwalk’ and not immediately assume ‘streetwalker’s convention’. So it takes an extreme amount of confidence and security to speak out about such a movement when you are in a large position.

There’s also the theory that this could backfire. There were decades upon decades in which feminist’s blamed the fashion industry for over-sexualizing women and promoting a body that was not attainable to young girls. The industry could think that if they said anything now they would be undermining the years in which they fought this particular backlash. Maybe they feel it would backfire later and the feminists who spoke out about this would regard this as an admission of guilt. So they are not saying anything at all about it and keeping a ‘united’ front’ on the matter.

There is also the fact that a lot of designers are not exclusively women, in fact, a lot of them are men. While one could argue that men do not usually think about these things, it is not known if that blanket statement applies to men who design the clothing itself. However, one can safely venture the theory that no designer, male or female asks themselves the question, ‘Will my design get someone raped if they wear it out?’ before taking pencil to paper. If they did, it is doubtful that half the looks on the runway today would get made.

One could also argue that the recent ‘pin-up’ movement is to blame, because there is an increasing trend toward dressing like old Hollywood pin-up girls. There are lots of looks today geared toward the heavy make-up and more modest dress of yesteryear. However, that theory is not really proven, because as many women want to look like Betty Grable, there are twice as many who want to look like Jersey Shore, but not all the time. There’s not a woman on earth who wants to dress provocatively all of the time. Even at the slutwalks, some girls were dressed conservatively. Whatever the case, it seems that the fashion industry is not going to actually be ‘moved’ by this movement anytime soon.

There are only three stances one can truly take regarding anything: to approve of it, disapprove of it, or be able to care less (if you are a cool kid, if you are not, however, then you would be unable to care less). I will attempt to explain each perspective, and then close with my own.

Power dressing allows people to look assertive and add to their appearance. It can be empowering, allowing one to broadcast exactly how they perceive themselves, or perhaps more accurately how they wish others to perceive them. It allows people to become role models and express themselves more clearly by putting themselves into templates which others are used to. These templates can be used as channels for communication and since they are familiar, it may actually be convenient. It can be team-building and morale boosting the same way a team in uniform works. Power dressing also allows people to create social stratum, very clearly communicating who is where and who belongs where. Again, this is a case where people know how to treat others in an office hierarchy and helps with communication.

Then on another note, this must do wonders for the fashion industry. Power dressing, for males, typically involves layers and layers of clothing. Not only is it heavy, but it can very quickly get extraordinarily and exceedingly warm under certain weather conditions. This creates necessity for multiple colors of suits, which very quickly multiplies the cost of a typical office workers’ wardrobe. Additionally, if changing colors is not an option then it calls for demand for suits that are less warm, which seems a bit silly in itself: let us make a multiple piece outfit and then present the problem of making it as cool as possible, but that is neither here nor there – the primary issue is that it is a difficult task and can get quite expensive.

On a very much related note, when one climbs far enough, then it is time for a wardrobe update yet again, and there is money to be made yet again. This can be viewed as a positive note for the economy, as it creates a demand to be supplied and things are done and money is exchanged. Due to gender roles, which I will not express my views on, power dressing creates yet another situation that females have to be prepared for. Once again, this is a huge case of wardrobe expansion and another place where money can be spent. Although females less often have the body temperature regulation issue, double standards typically dictate that they wear different outfits whether it be for variety or to convince one’s co-workers that it is certainly not the same outfit that is being worn multiple times a week. Economy stimulated and some more people are happy for it.

As for disapproval, a glaring issue could perhaps be the reinforcement of double-standards the attire calls for. This may alarm some advocates of gender equality as well as the perception of either gender. Additionally, as lovely as it is to re-stimulate the economy in this way, this spending is not something that all people truly wish to deal with. If anything, it is overhead for an employee to look such a way. It limits freedom of expression, and creates a vacuum where the attire is strict and can only mean a few things, whether one would like it to or not. The temperature regulation issue is not something all can afford to solve and the issue of discomfort becomes a very big problem very quickly. The stratifying effect that power dressing can have can also be viewed as a negative effect. Though the issue may be more deeply rooted in how some choose to judge people based on an arbitrary set of criteria (such as how they are dressed and where they work determining how valuable others are as human beings), power dressing creates an environment that allows people to do that. It could be viewed as yet another utility that allows corporations and big money to encourage the less-financially-well-endowed populace to continue running in circles in this way.

When disapproving of power dressing though, the issue of how to eliminate it arises, and this is an issue that is not so easily answered. Clothes are used to identify people in terms of status, occupation, and even personality; these are impressions and connotations that have existed for a nontrivial amount of time, and eliminating them for another system would surely be a nontrivial task. Imagine transitioning  a society with power dressing into one where people are wearing their comfortable and or casual clothes every day – the connotations for being not power dressed then would still linger.

And of course, there is the apathetic party. There is very little to say about that stance, other than such a perspective would imply the individual is equally happy or miserable power dressed or not, and the cost of power dressing (or not power dressing) gets evened out in some way.

As a whole, I would say power dressing is unnecessary and expensive, but kept due to humanity’s love of both uniforms and comparison to others. Indeed, clothes have been used to differentiate people for ages and ages, regardless of both time and place. Royalty wore special clothes, workers were identified differently, and power dressing is just another specific example of society’s fascination with uniform. It is not notably harmful, as many of the problems it enables manifest themselves in many other aspects of everyday life, and eliminating power dressing wouldn’t address the problem at all. It is, however, largely inconvenient, as mentioned before, the clothes are not always comfortable and can get exorbitantly expensive; in terms of communication, however, it can be useful to establish hierarchy. Addressing the point of communication, however less expensive and obstructive forms of clothing could be use as cues, though this would be an extremely difficult transition that is unlikely to ever happen, due to how hard it would be to un-root the instilled connotations and impressions that people already have towards power dressing and power dressed people.

I suppose, my opinion is something like: power dressing is a tad expensive and uncomfortable and can cause problems, but these problems are deeply rooted and eliminating power dressing wouldn’t even fix the problem; changing power dressing is impractical and it would be most reasonable to keep the stupid thing and minimize the inconvenience while maximizing its utility.

No woman’s wardrobe is complete without a little black dress. There is a black dress style that fits all body types and ages and is wearable for most occasions. The little black dress is so enduring because of its ability to look great on everyone at a variety of social functions. The little black dress is a symbol of chic and sophisticated simplicity. It is the perfect background for many different accessories such as white or pink pearls, diamond earrings, a long tear drop necklace or a beautiful Hermes scarf tied around the wearer’s neck. The little black dress has been a classic for many years and comes designed in a multitude of styles and fabrics. Depending on whether silk, merino wool, cotton, linen or what fabric is used, the black dress will have a totally different feel and style.  A little black dress also travels well and is a must to pack for any vacation.  It is a perfect garment for those occasions when a woman thinks she has nothing to wear in her closet.  It is a comfortable and stylish look. The little black dress comes in many price ranges from various designers to fit all budgets. The style is so practical that many women have more than one little black dress hanging in their closets.

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Prior to the 1920′s, women would only be seen in public wearing a black dress if they were attending a funeral or were in a state of mourning. A black dress was mainly associated with mourning. It was considered indecent if a woman wore a black dress outside of these social circumstances. A widow during the Victorian ages was expected to wear various black clothing at different stages of the mourning period. Fashion during this time was symbolic of the sophistication and status a woman held in society.  Due to World War I occurring, it was increasingly more common to see women wearing black in the public because of the high war casualties. This set the stage for the introduction of a fashion revolution by one of the most famous fashion designers in recent history, Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel.

In 1926, Coco Chanel published in American Vogue a picture of a short simple black dress that was calf-length. It was short and simply designed with diagonal lines.  Her simple sleeveless sheath was simple and sexy. The style had its initial critics who declared it was sophistication for the poor, but the little black dress quickly caught on with both wealthy and moderate income women. The 1920’s was the era of the Flapper, when women took off their long to the floor gowns, cut their hair short and enjoyed the life of going too fast paced parties and society events.  Chanel’s little black dress was a fashion innovation that revolutionized the fashion industry. Hemlines prior to WWI were long and to the floor but due to the fabric shortage that occurred during the Great Depression, hemlines rose to be calf-length for a woman’s dress.  The style continued to be popular during World War II as women entered the workforce to replace the men who had left for active duty.  Dior’s ‘New Look’ which created fitted black sophisticated suits for business women and Hollywood and created the femme fatale halter dress look. This helped to turn the little black dress into a woman’s daily uniform.

Hollywood has also helped to promote the popularity of the little black dress. Audrey Hepburn wore a simple black sheath designed by Givenchy in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The look featured a beautiful strand of pearls decked gracefully around Audrey’s neck and fashionable sunglasses. She was the epitome of a classy fashion icon. Many women wanted to be Audrey’s character Holly Golightly, the carefree party girl in search of love and a good life. Holly was the ultimate party girl who inspired many women’s black dress shopping sprees. The influence of the little black dress extended into cartoon movies with Betty Boop wearing her short trademark halter style black dress. There have been numerous films that have featured the little black dress on fashionable leading ladies. There is nothing that can take the place of wearing a beautiful black dress.

Wearing a little black dress can make a woman look effortlessly dressed in a classic style. Chanel’s classic design has withstood the test of time and critics. The little black dress is so enduring, because women of all ages and backgrounds continue to adore and buy it.  Today, there has been a return to a more form fitting look in black dresses.  Dress lengths also vary from floor sweeping formal lengths, to just below the knee looks to short mini or mod dresses.  Feeling and dressing well still conveys to the world a woman’s sense of style, self worth and sophistication.  Coco Chanel created a timeless, comfortable essential woman’s garment.  Simple can be beautiful and elegant.

American Vogue declared Coco Chanel’s little black dress a timeless hit in the 1920′s, and decades later, the look is still prevalent in many fashion magazines each season. American, European and women throughout the world confirmed this declaration by swarming stores and buying the little black dress off the racks in droves. The little black dress is enduring and looks wonderful in the winter and as well as the summer with simple modifications of the fabric choice to keep the design comfortable for the season.  A simple black sheath allows its owner to dress for date night or any social event in a matter of minutes.  This is especially important since most women are working in addition to all of the other daily chores that they need to do during a busy day. Many women would love to have the fine detailing of a Chanel little black dress but no matter what the budget or price paid, the dress is a woman’s best figure flattering friend.  Women tend to wear their trustworthy, little black dresses with confidence, knowing that they are designed for the modern woman. The little black dress will continue to endure in the hearts of many women for plenty of decades to come.