The History Of Fashion

Where did fashion originate? Some people say Paris, France! However, others believe that fashion, as we know it nowadays, came from different countries and people who emigrated to France or anywhere else in the world for that matter. Wherever people traveled, they brought their fashion with them. Silk, still one of the most popular materials in fashion, mainly came from China and were sought after.

There is no right or wrong answer to the question of origin, as fashion didn’t originate all at once. It evolved over the years. If we look back in time to the earliest days, human beings dressed themselves in more than just leaves and tree bark. The first written records of people’s clothing indicate that fashions…. in the forms of jewelry, fabrics, elaborated hair styles, body painting…  was already widespread and in use. This goes back at least as far as the homonin species: shells have been found in graves of earlier hominids, which indicate that they wore necklaces and bracelets during life. Whether this was mere fashion or portable wealth or both, it is clear that homo sapiens have always been dedicated followers of fashion.

Over the last century fashion has experienced continual upheavels and major changes. Clothing styles and popular fashions are constantly in flux, the fashion world is continuously inundated with runway innovations and fly-by-night fads. From 1900 to 2007, popular fads have included fashion statements such as rear-enhancing bustles, short flapper dresses, wide-leg bell bottoms, and deliberately ripped jeans. These and other major fashion trends make up the fascinating history of 20th Century women’s clothing.

Areas Of Fashion

Ladies day wear should be fashionable, practical and last but not least comfortable. Taking a bit of time and effort to put the right colours together makes the outfit extra special.

Outerwear should be smart, casual, trendy, comfortable and look nice with whatever you are wearing.

Shoes, boots or whatever you decide to wear, should always compliment the outfit. Choose a colour that will match well with other accessories.

On a night out with friends or a special evening occasion, your outfit should be chosen carefully. Glamorous, Sophisticated or Casual, depending on the occasion, take time to make the right choices.

Teenagers like to keep to date with fashion trends, the latest jeans, jackets, trainers etc.

Fashion is everywhere, magazines adverts, television programmes, it is all the rage!

Accessories should be striking, stylish and fashionable.Jewellery, scarves and handbags should complement your chosen outfit.

Your hair should be clean, well-groomed and styled to perfection.

Of course the makeup, this should be applied for the occasion, choose the right shade of foundation, blusher for cheeks and eyeshaddow / liner, not forgetting the eyelashes whether you choose false lashes or volumising mascara.

When choosing Lingerie, most importantly it should be comfortable, the right colour to wear under your chosen outfit, always matching and if you like, SEXY!

Designer Vs High Street

What is the difference between High street and Designer? Is it the price? The high street now offers a high and low end alternative, at the low end of the market you have Primark selling jeans for £10.00, whilst at the high end Designers at Debenhams command prices of £150.00 for a dress. In turn the Designers are producing more affordable diffusion lines such as Armarni Exchange or Versace for H & M.

Is it quality? High price does not necessarily guarantee high quality and sometimes surprisingly good quality may be found on a budget. Being stylish doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. Here are some tips on how to look stylish on a high street budget.

Sort out our wardrobe Look at your wardrobe and decide what you really need. Clothes that haven’t been worn for over a year should be cleared out. Think about what items are suitable to your lifestyle and what you are likely to wear often. Also bear in mind what suits your body shape and what sort of styles you like.

Invest in the basics Get timeless pieces like white t-shirts and jeans as they can be styled in all sorts of different ways making them seem new every time you wear them.

Get Inspired Buy weekly and monthly fashion magazines and see what’s happening in the world of fashion, from the catwalks to what celebrities are wearing. Make a list of your favourite looks and hit the high street and pick some clothes that match your finds. But make sure that you can wear every item on your list with at least 3 other garments in your wardrobe to achieve new looks.

Customize your clothes Update your wardrobe by customizing your clothes. You can give a garment a totally new look using buttons, ribbons and other creative accessories. This will not only make your clothes look amazing but will make you stand out from the crowd and one of a kind.

Sign up to letters Many high street stores create newsletters to keep you updated with the latest fashion trends, this will help you with what to buy for your wardrobe and also keep you updated with sales that will be happening where you can grab a bargain.

Nail Foils And Gels

Nail foils

Nail foils are new in this year with just as many colours and patterns as acrylics and nail polishes.

To apply foils just follow these simple steps:

• Apply the Foil adhesive on top of a base coat (Clear or coloured)
• Let the adhesive dry until clear but is still tacky
• Choose your foil design
• Cut into sections about the size of your nail (If required)
• Place the foil (Design facing up) on your nail with the tacky adhesive
• Press the foil on – Lots of pressure
• Finally peel off the nail foil leaving the design on your nail
• Last but not least, seal your design with a clear top coat

Nail Gels

Nail gels are slowly becoming a replacement for acrylic nails. They’re glossy and don’t harm your natural nails! Again they can be used to enhance the strength of your nail if they are weak and brittle. It’s always best to start off with a base coat when applying any nail polish, but with nail gels its better not to have a buffed nail before starting and then applying a base coat. With these gels you must apply each coat like any other polish; a special brush usually comes with the nail gel. You apply at least three coats, letting each layer dry under a special UV lamp, which is almost instant. After you can file to the shape you want.

Gel nails can look like your average manicure, but more shiny or can be all one colour of your choice. An added bonus with gels is that they can also be applied on top of acrylics to strengthen them or make them more durable. Gels are flexible but hard-wearing, so they do not chip or crack. Unlike the acrylic nails the gels don’t have to be placed on the nail, so there is no risk of fungus and infection growing near the cuticle and nail bed if put on incorrectly.

Acrylic Nails

Acrylic nails, also known as Artificial nails are the most commonly used when you want to make your nails appear longer but also want them to look natural. They are not a replacement but an extension for natural nails.

There are two main things to think about when wanting artificial nails, the form of the nail and then the tip. These days, tips for artificial nails come in a variety or different colours from plain simple colours to animal prints and other patterns of your choice. The most popular and frequently requested is the french manicure acrylics. It compliments any outfit and the white tips give the design a sharp clean and sophisticated finish.

Temporary tips are a cheaper alternative where you’re able to apply them at home. Some of the many designs available are:

• French manicure
• Animals prints
• Aqua nails

Of course your nails can be all one colour if you wish, or paint on your own design.

Benefits and Health Risks

As well as making your nails look nice and attractive there also a few health benefits such as being able to prevent people from biting their nails. As for broken or damaged nails, acrylics can help conceal or even fix these. Acrylics are able to prevent splits and breakage of the nail.

There are also some health risks when applying acrylic nails so ensure that they are professionally fitted as not to risk infections and growth of fungus. If they are not fitted properly they can damage the nail bed.

Top 10 Nail Colours This Fall/Winter

Popular nail colours change throughout the seasons, year in, year out. Spring was pastel colours and Summer was bright yellows and pinks. But this Fall/Winter is all about the blues, nudes, purples and more!

                                              Nude Nails

Nude nails are back in this winter, worn with casual wear or even when you dress up.

Blues

Navy, Midnight and Denim blues are the perfect colours to dress up any evening wear.

Browns and Blacks

Simple and has that neat look to them. Can be worn for going out or just to be casual.

Greys and Purples

Grey’s are a cool casual look, perfect for this winter season. Purples are great for wanting to dress up and go out. But also available this Fall/Winter is a grey like purple, so if you cant pick between the two you have a third option!

Reds

Reds can look great any time of the year with mostly any outfit. But the shade this season is all about the wines and the berries to fit in with that Christmas feeling. These reds give that simple yet sophisticated look.

Crackle effect and Glitter

The crackle effect is great! It turns plain colours into something more fancy and attractive, but it’s just as easy as putting on any old polish. With the range of crackle effect colours you can mix and match with outfits and dress up your nails with one stroke.

Glitter nail polish is exactly the same. You can use it plainly, on top of a coloured base coat, in a design or just on the tips, it turns all nails into something more attractive. Not only does glitter improve the appearance of the any nail design, it fits in with the festive season.

HAIR & MAKE UP

A womans hair is her primary beauty weapon, and we all want silky, shiny, lustrous locks. Healthy hair equals beautiful hair.You need to visit the hairdressers several times per year. How often you get it cut will depend on your budget and of course on the style of your hair.

If you have a short sazzy haircut, you need to visit the salon every four weeks, If your hair is medium length you should visit  every five weeks.If your hair is long  you’ll need a trim every six weeks to avoid split ends. Depends on the condition of your hair you may need more or less visits to the salon.

All to often women make rash decisions about changing their look, thinking a new colour, a perm, or a much shorter cut are called for, only to be filled with regret a few days later.

Hairstyles have been shown to be one of the most prominent factors for making an impression. It is important to consider the various aspects of your appearance, including hairstyle as well as clothing and makeup.

Make up

Are you sure what type of makeup will suit you? One of the problems we have, is choosing the right makeup for the right occasion. So we need to take time to choose the right shades that suit us.

There are lot of differences in getting ready for work or a night out with friends. If you want to choose your make up for work, choose minimal light shades, keep the darker shades for the evening. When getting ready for that night out you can use heavier shades to the eyes and stronger shades to the lips, not forgetting a few extra coats of mascara, or if you prefer, wear false eyelashes, this is your personal choice.

Then add a spray of your favourite perfume, and slip into your chosen outfit!