FashBlog.com

From www.artfulwears.com

Many women are aware that proportions are very important in fashion for clothes, but did you know they are also important for handbags? The proper bag can actually make you look THINNER! Ok, so now that I have everyone’s attention let’s discuss this burning topic. We are going to run down a list of handbags do’s and don’ts for you.

First, let’s talk about shape. If you are broad woman, that doesn’t necessarily mean fat, you want to think about longer shaped bags. The longer bag will create a longer illusion on the body, balancing out your width. The Velvet Slouchy Bag By Deux Lux is a perfect example of a longer (rather than wider) bag, or a north/south handbag. You could even do something a little more narrow.

For those women who are more narrow and are looking to add a bit of volume to their figure, we suggest a wider, and perhaps fuller bag. Again, the width of the bag will counteract the narrowness of your frame. The Metallic Textured Bag by Deux Lux is the type of shape we are referring to or some would call the shape east/west.

Next is proportion, generally speaking EVERYTHING you wear should be proportionate to your body size and stature. Taller and larger women really shouldn’t carry tiny bags. They simply get lost on a larger body. In fact, not only do they get lost, they can make you look larger. It’s kind of like at 5′2, I look MUCH shorter standing next to Magic Johnson than I do next to my Mother! That doesn’t mean you can’t carry a clutch, but we do suggest going for a larger clutch. Handbag designers have truly expanded your options by making clutch of all sizes and particularly oversized ones this season.

For petite, smaller frame, and shorter women, you want to go with a smaller bag. That would seem obvious after the last rule huh? A large or oversized handbag can swallow you up. You certainly don’t have to carry something teeny tiny but don’t go for the largest bag you can find.

Ladies, I am truly sorry if I rained on your parade. I know that you thought handbags one of the few items that fit everybody. However, you still have plenty of options. Next time you shop for a handbag, keep these things in mind. Certainly we are not telling that you can never stray from these rules, they are simply the ideal options.

For more tips, trends, and shopping guidance, visit www.artfulwears.com!

One of the hottest trends in the fashion world today is linked to the world of photography, and involves commemorating that once in a lifetime wedding or prom of every girls dreams, by exactly what the title implies, trashing the dress! Yes, you read that right. And in truth, the first time I heard about it, all I could think of was what a shameful waste of some very beautiful dresses. Once I saw the fun that the girls had though, and the reasoning behind many of these sessions, I could hardly wait to try the idea out firsthand.

A little background first. Every little girl, or nearly every little girl I should say, dreams of not only who her prince charming might someday be, but also what dress she will wear and what it will look like as she walks down the aisle. I am sure that as a young girl, taking that dress and putting it through some wear and tear was not anywhere in her thoughts and dreams. As for a favorite prom dress, in todays economy, many of these are recycled, or passed down to family members or friends. Once in a while though, the girls would rather not pass it along for various reasons, even though there is no intention of wearing it again. In addition, as for that dream wedding dress, some girls take that vow of marriage ever so serious, and do not wish to keep the dress to be passed along to someone else. If no future need exists, then why keep it hanging in a closet, taking up space? Moreover, even if they do want to hang onto it for whatever reason, that does not necessarily negate the total idea of a Trash the Dress session, it just alters it a bit.

So what exactly is a Trash the Dress session? A great way to take that wedding or favorite prom dress and create even more lasting memories than those created the first time the dress was worn. Boyfriends or husbands can be involved in the Trash the Dress sessions, but are not one hundred percent needed.

Water is often a part of these sessions, but I have also seen paint, good old fashioned dirt (think down on the farm), or whatever activity the bride or prom girl might otherwise enjoy that ends up with their clothes not as clean and pristine as someone would normally associate with such fashionable wear.

Water, whether in a pool, stream, or lake, is one of my favorite. The shoot starts out with the subject having her photo taken in what most people would consider typical fashion. Some simple poses, with the water as a background feature, but then, the Trash the Dress action kicks in. Instead of just having the water as a backdrop, they step into the water, splash a bit, even eventually go in for a full soaking, all the while the camera is snapping, capturing the fun and abandonment that takes place when the once pristine and honored dress becomes just another accessory for some fun filled photos.

When I asked one recent bride why she would want to take part in such a photo opportunity, her answer was as simple as one could imagine. She responded that this was going to be her one and only marriage, and she decided that this was the best way for her to show her husband that he was ultimately, what mattered. Not the pomp and circumstance of their wedding day, not the flashy wedding dress, although she added that it was a beautiful moment at the beginning of their union to be treasured and remembered forever. This though was to be her gift to him now for putting up with what had become a somewhat drawn out affair. The photos showed she had had her day, and that it was over, and said, here I am honey, fun, and eager to spend the rest of her life seeking out adventure with him by her side. He joined her for the end of the shoot, and she said she treasures one particular photo of the two of them that day, standing ankle deep in the water, dripping wet from head to toe, just as much as one of the two of them exchanging their vows.

FashBlog.com welcomes submissions from its users. If you have an article you would like to submit, including one with a reasonable level (1 or 2) self promotional links, post it as a comment here by clicking on "comment" below this message. We'll review the article and, if it seems like it is useful to our readers, we'll post it. It is that easy!

No, this is not an article on ethnic dressing. When I hear the say Fashion Fiesta, I am referring to color, mixing and matching a variety of colors actually, that the average person just randomly grabbing something from their closet might not think to do, or are afraid to do.

Too often, when we try to coordinate colors, it is so easy to play it safe. How often have you reached into your dresser drawers or pulled an article of clothing off the hangar, only to quickly toss it aside because it is not what one might consider an exact match. If this is you, it is time to learn the rules of what many refer to as Fashion Fiesta.

First rule of Fashion Fiesta is not to think you need to dress looking like a rainbow or some multi colored serape.

Second rule of Fashion Fiesta is to grab some color that you might otherwise think is way too much for the outfit you have in mind, but to find it in something that will bring the color into your ensemble in moderation.

Third rule of Fashion Fiesta is to learn to recognize that spot of color I just talked about in Rule number two. We do not want you heading out the door looking like Francis the clown or some overzealous teenager on his or her first trip down fashion lane.

Fourth rule of Fashion Fiesta is to have some fun. I would like to know where it is written down in stone that dressing for everyday wear, be it for the office or the next PTA meeting, means you have to lose your innate sense of color and style. Getting dressed and shopping for what you wear should allow you to show your spirit to those around you. Believe it or not, by bringing some Fashion Fiesta into your wardrobe, you can show your coworkers that you are not some dodgy wallflower stuck in the corner, or the parent at the PTA meeting that leads such a boring life that the others can always ask you to do anything, because surely you have no life outside of kids.

Your personal Fashion Fiesta can start right now. Go and dig through your drawers and check all your hangars to discover your personal hidden treasures. Most everyone has them. That stunning teal blouse that you just had to have, but once you got it home, you were unsure of what to wear it with, or that bold, deep red tie that has slowly been pushed to the back of your selection. On the other hand, maybe those slightly overdone red heels that fit perfectly, feel smooth as a glove on the foot, but really, every time you go to pull them on, you think that maybe you should have just left them on the store shelf. Gather up these and similar items and take an honest to good look at them.

This is also the perfect time to look through your jewelry box and check out what you own in the form of tie clips, jewelry, scarves, and handbags too. If you are actually lacking in these areas, then maybe it is time to plan a shopping trip in search of a few items of color to help you create your personal Fashion Fiesta the next time you head out the door to work or play.

Once you have these articles of clothing and assorted accessories, turn back to your closet and pick out what you might on a normal day choose to wear. Go ahead. Nobody is looking over your shoulder. Just grab whatever it is you would wear on an average day. Lay it out on the bed, stand back, and take a good look at it. If you are in a rut that is lacking color, the ensemble will likely just seem to fade into the bedcovers or look so blah against it that you will start to wonder how anyone even notices you, whether it be your spouse, your kids, a boss, or even the checkout person down at the local five and dime. Acknowledging this fact is half the battle. For only then can you come to realize just how badly you need a bit of Fashion Fiesta in your life.

Next, turn and grab something from those gathered up finds of color. Grab that teal blouse or those to die for red heels. This is where you are going to have to have just a bit of faith in the Fashion Fiesta thought process. Actually get dressed now, in that normal, every day outfit, but put on at least one item from the Fashion Fiesta group, maybe even two items! And yes, eventually you will be brave enough to wear two if you are serious about bringing some color back into your life.

Wear it for a couple of hours around the house, even if you think it just too much. Then, if you begin to feel confident, leave it on and go out to some place not that crowded. The park, the grocery, maybe even venture into a store or two and soon, you will wonder what was so scary and intimidating about color in the first place. Most people, once they get past that stumbling point of fear about color, realize just how fun it is to wear color. Toss on a scarf, wear that bright colored blouse under a navy or black jacket, pull on a pair of heeled, and brightly colored boots, and you will soon be doing it as naturally as you once avoided color. You will find yourself looking for belts with a bit of color and bling, necklaces that are made to be worn draped down the front of your blouse to showcase their color and shape and not tucked discreetly into the front of your shirt. Even hats may be something to consider, as they are coming back into vogue by the minute even as I sit here writing this. That is for another article however!