Fashion Trend

Imagine this; you are shopping online for a new tailor made dress shirt, and something catches your eye, just before you click to buy the custom made dress shirt… so what got your attention? Is it the colour or pattern, the brand or the price? Whatever the reason may be, you probably weren’t looking at the cuffs. Although you may not always pay attention to cuffs, but it’s an important detail of the dress shirt.

Various cuff styles to choose from

So let’s start with the basics. There are three main types of cuffs, Barrel, French and Turnback (or the Napoleon). Barrel cuffs are the most common, normally with one or two buttons; some online tailors will also have a three button option available as well. These cuffs are found on many store bought shirts and it is a great option for the office or worn casually. French cuffs are more formal, elegant, and require cufflinks. French cuffs are best worn with a formal suit, where your cuffs fall slightly below the blazer sleeves. Lastly, the Turnback cuff is a combination of the French and Barrel design. This is perfect for cocktail occasions, and its a great option to show off your personality!

So how should cuffs really fit?

The size of your cuffs should be chosen based on your body proportions, therefore there isn’t a set standard. Keep in mind, different cuff styles will determine the height of your cuffs. Cuffs should be snug, approximately 1 – 1.5 inches wider than your actual wrist; you’ll have room for movement, but it won’t be too big. On a side note, pay attention to the length of your sleeves and the collar style too.

Why is it an important detail?

Well, cuffs can spruce up your suit or blazer when coupled with a set of cufflinks. Also, it double duties to help balance out your arms, by creating horizontal lines above your wrist creating the illusion of shorter arms. This needs to be done right, so if you have long arms, select cuffs with longer barrels like a two or three button cuffs. If you have short arms, elongate the arms visually by selecting narrow cuffs. If you have big biceps, balance out the arms with French cuffs. Read the rest of this entry »

As a teenage girl, fashion-school wannabe, or fashion lover in general, you’re always on the lookout for a fresh, new look that you can try out to express yourself style-wise. Well, when it comes to fresh-faced style-tips, there is almost nobody better to look up to than reality TV star, fashion designer, author and L.A. Native, Lauren Conrad. Designs from Conrad’s multiple fashion lines are youthful, fresh and great for a Southern-California summer. Read on for just a few Lauren Conrad style tips to help inspire your very own wardrobe decisions.

The Lauren Conrad style is certainly chic and feminine, but overall, designs from her collections show that for Lauren, comfort is key. From her LC collection that was released in 2009 exclusively at Kohl’s department stores, you can see a lot of comfortable, cotton-based wardrobe basics that compliment the life of a woman who jet-sets all over town and beyond. Designs include many knee-length or above-the-knee, cotton sundresses, loose-fitting chiffon blouses and peasant tops, and a lot of stretchy skirts and leggings. Ms. Conrad definitely knows that you won’t look good unless you feel comfortable in what you’re wearing, so you should plan your wardrobe out accordingly.

Ms. Conrad has spoken openly about ideas in fashion design that she thinks are important. Among several good ideas, she has stated the importance of fashion lovers cultivating their own sense of personal style. She has acknowledged that this can often take time, as a fashion lover must sift through trends and really find what they love and what works well for them, but that it is the key to a timeless, sophisticated closet full of clothes. In her latest book, appropriately-titled, Lauren Conrad Style, Ms. Conrad elaborates more on the idea of adapting the look of your own personal style icon to fit yourself and your individual needs, both fashion-wise and as a person going through the motions of every-day life.
Read the rest of this entry »