Tweet

It’s important for every fashion conscious person to keep an eye on changing trends. Just pay some close attention to the latest runways and ramp walks and you will find out a lot about what to expect in the upcoming season. However, if you talk about the latest trends, you have to talk about the roaring twenties, as that’s what you’re going to see very soon.

Speaking of the old trends coming back again, you will find many turn towards Cristobal Balenciaga’s Classic couture shapes that were introduced during the 1950’s. And when it comes to shapes, you will see a return of the exposed midriff designs. This is really going to be the New Year’s erogenous zone for fashion designers. Considering this change in trend, you should not be surprised to see some souped-up gym clothes getting utmost attention on the runways. Not only this, you will also find designers like Balenciaga, Chloe, and Akris come up with highly stylish and somewhat unique lineups. Just stay tuned and make sure you keep a close eye on all latest fashion shows, as this season is surely going to bring something hip, stylish, and distinctive clothing options.

The New York Times recently released a new fashion-focused periodical app for the iPad dubbed The Collection, which is currently available to anyone with iOS 4.2 or later. It’s been described as a tablet-tailored breakdown of, and immersion into, the world of fashion. Vivid photographs that make every thread and fabric almost touchable provide you with around the clock coverage of cat walk revelations and celebrity wears from around the world, while some of the globe’s greatest fashion reporters give you the details regarding the most recent releases. When Dion Lee finally releases his next line of dress designs, or if Burberry Prorsum decides to make a bold entry into mens nightshirts, you’ll not only be one of the first to know about it, you’ll be one of the first to get a glimpse of it. Whether the tech team behind the construction of this app will ultimately mend some overt errors in judgment – mainly landscape only viewing and a lazy interface – remains to be seen. It’d be tremendous if one could view a worn outfit in a vertical image, as clothes tend to look frumpier and less complementary to the human form when squashed into a horizontal format. Their attempt to combine the best parts of a pulp magazine with the breakthroughs of a tablet – a common effort made by many builders of such iPad media conversions – fails to incorporate a coordination between information regarding a particular fashion line and the high resolution images to back them up. With the kind of potential for seamless access that’s possible, this is a fundamental error.

But until the 12th of March, The Collection will be completely free to download and pore through, so don’t hesitate to give it a look if you’re interested. After March 12th, only those with a digital subscription to The New York Times will have unfettered access to The Collection, while everyone else will have restricted access. That pretty much means that all the good stuff will cost money, and what you can get for free you can find anywhere else on the web. While the constantly updated runway photography, or at least the images you’ll have access to, will still make a free version worth it, articles and other insights will likely be off limits to those without a subscription.

So if you want to check out The Collection, the time is now. If you visit fashion section of the The New York Times website, a link near the top of the page will send you to the iTunes App Store to go ahead with a download  However, you can look over their own help section for the app here, as well as information regarding “purchasesq01” digital subscriptions.

It’s free for the next three and a half months, so take advantage of it while you can. Either you’ll find out what you could be missing, or you’ll realize The Collection is an added expense you can do without.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

When it comes to finding a top-notch outfit that is trendy and helps you make a great style statement, you can always look up to what celebrities wear on the red carpet of the latest awards function. For now, you can have a closer look at what some top celebrities came wearing at the 69th Golden Globes.

There were many, you have to check Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to have an idea about the sheer star power. They were wearing Salvatore Ferragamo and Atelier Versace. Angie didn’t manage to secure an award for her directoral debut, but she sure beat everyone else in the best-dressed competition. No contest whatsoever.

Michelle Williams

Jessica Biel

Julianna Margulies

However, there were still a number of knockout looks. Take for example Michelle Williams, who was also the Best Actress Winner. She was all covered-up in beautiful gown designed by Jason Wu – her dress also implies that long sleeves are going to be a percolating trend, as Julianna Margulies who were in Naeem Khan and Jessica Biel who was wearing Elie Saab also supported it.

Kate Winslet

Claire Danes

Kate Winslet and Claire Danes were also looking great; they both were wearing white and black columns. Winslet was in Jenny Packham, whereas Danes was wearing J. Mendel. Overall, it was a star-studded night, and you can definitely take some inspiration from it.

Tweet

Tweet

Here are our top tips to look great at this year’s festive events:

A Shift in Style

The shift dress originally rose to prominence during the 1950s under the guiding hand of designers Hubert de Givenchy and Cristobal Balenciaga, and nowadays no girl wants to be without this classy little number, which can hide a multitude of sins. Shifts not only disguise those bothersome lumps and bumps, they also slim the waist and detract from the shoulders and hips, ensuring that everything looks in proportion and elegant.

Pencil Me In

Kate Middleton is a big fan of the tailored pencil dress, and it isn’t difficult to see why. She looks sensational in them – and you can, too. A pencil dress can flatter any woman’s shape and make her look both sexy and sophisticated this Christmas. They also go great with a killer pair of bright heels and leather gloves to make you look and feel like a movie star.

The Beauty Panel

If you’re guilty of overdoing it on the chocolates, mince pies, and of course, turkey at Christmas, then panel dresses may be right up your street. These stylish little numbers are renowned for their secret slimming techniques, and are even used by top celebrities to keep them looking their best.

It can be a terrifying prospect, especially if this is your first time meeting your significant other’s family. What should you bring as a hostess gift? What should you cook to contribute to the family supper? And, perhaps most importantly, what should you wear to make the best impression?

Never fear! We’ve lined up some ideas for you that include all types of holiday occasions and affairs. You’ll be dressed to impress if you follow these simple guidelines.

Here’s what to wear if…

…Your boyfriend’s family is traditional and formal. This is the family that brings out the fine china and uses several forks at dinner. For this occasion, wear a just-above-the-knee-length dress (no cleavage!) and a nice jacket or cardigan. Spice it up with accessories as always, but keep it classy, not too funky. We’d suggest plain tights and no more than three-inch heels to finish off the outfit.

…You’re joining his laid-back family for a cozy celebration. For this type of holiday affair, we’d suggest a more casual approach. Choose a more casual dress or a nice pair of jeans with an embellished top. Go for flats or boots instead of heels for occasions like this. We love flowy tops or sparkly, embellished sweaters to go with your skinny jeans.

…You’re spending New Years Eve with his hometown friends. For this event, go all out! This season, we love sparkles, bold patterns and asymmetrical dresses; partner those with a stunning pair of heels and some bold accessories and you’re ready for a night out on the town. If you want to wear tights, we’d suggest a bold, funky pattern or a shimmery finish.

…You’re going last-minute gift shopping with his mom and sisters. This is the perfect occasion for skinny jeans, a cute blouse or a comfy sweater, boots and your favorite coat. Be sure to layer; you’ll have to be able to adjust to indoor and outdoor temperatures while you’re trolling the outlet mall for great deals. Don’t forget your favorite handbag to complete your outfit.

…You’re helping him babysit his four little cousins. Kids are adorable, but they love to be rough-and-tumble and aren’t always the neatest eaters. Wear your good old blue jeans and a nice comfy t-shirt, cardigan or sweater; perfect for playing with the kiddies. Avoid big bold accessories and dangly earrings to minimize damage to your jewelry and the kids.

If you’re not sure what type of holiday celebrations you’ll be walking into, don’t worry. Just be sure to pack a few versatile mix-and-match outfits; for example, a plain black pair of skinny jeans can be dressed up with a cute blouse and heels, or dressed down with a comfy sweater and flats. Bring along your best basics in an easy-to-match color scheme and you’ll be ready for any occasion.

CakeStyle is a personal shopping service for busy women. Your CakeStylist takes your fit and wardrobe needs and hand-selects four to six outfits for you each season, consulting with you along the way. Then, you receive a box of clothing and accessories in the mail along with a video explaining each look – try everything on at home, keep what you love and send back the rest. Shipping both ways, and your stylist’s services, are free!

This year cash strapped consumers in the United Kingdom have had reason to see some ray of light where fashion is concerned. First Kate Middleton became the new princess, the future Queen and the latest fashion icon.

Unlike previous princesses though, Kate Middleton preferred to wear high street clothes as opposed to donning exclusive designer wear, a fact that led to sighs of relief from girls all over the world because it meant they could also afford to look the princess and easily get their hands on what she was wearing. Most of what she wears costs less than £200 a dress. Makes for a juicy story in the media but girls all over love Kate for it.

Today however things look even brighter than ever. The giant and extremely popular Swedish store chain of H&M today introduced its exclusive collection of Versace dresses that were made especially for the store at its famous Regent Street shop. Donatella Versace who is part owner of the Versace brand was there in person to introduce her new line. But that isn’t the best part of the fact that Versace is being placed in a high street store. The best part is that it is being sold for record budget prices so that pretty much anyone can afford at least one dress and be able to wear the incredible Versace experience.