Posts Tagged ‘american apparel’

Fall Trend: Women’s Necklines Rise, Men’s Fall

Posted by: admin   
July 19th,
2008
Let’s all just embrace chest hair now.Photo: Courtesy of American Apparel

If you’re the kind of girl who likes to flaunt her cleavage, we have some bad news for you: Cleavage is out for fall. The runways were devoid of plunging lines. Even Dolce & Gabbana showed high necks with ties or scarves. Why the sudden return to modesty? The Guardian reports:

Dr. Valerie Steele, director of New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology, believes that this new prim mood is a reaction to an overdose of trashy looks. “We’ve had years of thong underpants flashing above everything, and too much cleavage. I think it’s just a very natural pendulum swing,” she says.

And of course, this wouldn’t be a fashion-trend story if the recession didn’t have something to do with it! Steele says designers are trying to make their pieces look more couture during hard economic times. Customers want their expensive clothes to actually look expensive, rather than, you know, cheap.

Ironically — yet unsurprisingly — while women’s necklines have risen, men’s necklines have plunged! Yes, those deep Vs American Apparel made so popular aren’t going anywhere. We’ve said it once but we’ll say it again: Men are the new women. Have fun, boys.

Prim and proper [The Guardian]

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Cardigans II: The Long Ones

Posted by: admin   
July 19th,
2008
Beyond the classic cardigans, I am also obsessed with long cardigans. They give off that effortlessly chic look that is just so…well, chic.
The beauty of it is that the long cardigan look really IS effortless and easy to achieve. Take a plain long cardigan, like these two from UO (left) and American Apparel (right), and pair it with a tank top (black/white or more interestingly- contrasting colored!), skinny jeans (or shorts) and flats (or heels!) and you are good to go! And because the look is so plain and simple, it is also the perfect canvas to accessorize with. Throw on a sharp colored headband, a bold colored scarf, a funky long necklace, crazy earrings, chunky bangles or a fabulous bag for a touch of fun. If you are too lazy to even do that (like me!), then you are in luck. The long cardigan trend has been around long enough to evolve with sharp, geometric prints, contrasting colors and bold details like big gold buttons that it can be worn just as it is, sans accessories, and still look fabulous and fun. I am loving these two refreshingly colored cardigans from Marc by Marc Jacobs. The bold contrasting blue colors with the geometric prints and the gold lining (left) gives the cardigan an old fashioned yet retro look that is both refreshing and stylish. And I just LOVE the dark blue sleeves with the line of gold buttons on that pale yellow cardigan. That little details gives the otherwise ordinary yellow cardigan that extra something that makes it special.
For more washable options, there are these classic cardigans with bold contrasting colors from American Apparel. This is the perfect way to add some color to your summer wardrobe!
For something a bit more subtle that may even last you through fall, try these cardigans with details and trimmings from Vince (left) and Urban Outfitters (right). They are far from “mumsie”- just remember not to pair them with bermuda shorts like that model above (left), it should be paired with something either really long or really short!

Image Source: American Apparel, UO and Saks

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The Latest Tight-Pants Extremism: Man Leggings!

Posted by: admin   
July 1st,
2008
From left, Givenchy, Bernhard Willhelm, John Galliano.Photo: Imaxtree

What could be more mantastic than the man purses on the Milan men’s runways? The man leggings on the Paris men’s runways, that’s what! Well, maybe they not more mantastic (apples and oranges, really), but they certainly hold a candle. Bernhard Willhelm‘s two-toned version hearkens back to Renaissance court jesters, while Givenchy‘s shiny scrunched pair look suspiciously similar to the ones they showed on women for fall. Meanwhile, John Galliano‘s fabulous neon-pink pair are like American Apparel gear (only significantly better, obviously). In any case, we’ve certainly witnessed a shrinking of below-the-belt fashions for men over the past couple years. After all, why should tightness stop at skinny jeans? We can only imagine what next season will bring — if they have any pants left at all. —Sharon Clott

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