Fashion

Caring for a Suede Jacket

Caring for a Suede Jacket

by | Fashion |

They may not boast the same level of popularity as leather jackets, but suede jackets remain a classic, time-tested choice of outwear among both men and women. Featuring a soft, almost fuzzy texture, it’s a welcomed alternative to many traditional fabrics and materials. But if you’re going to buy a suede jacket, you need to know how to care for it. Don’t Wear Suede in the Rain Suede and water don’t mix, which is why you should avoid wearing suede jackets (or any other garments made of this fabric) in the rain. When suede is exposed to water, it tends to soak it up, promoting the formation of mold and mildew. This doesn’t necessarily mean that splashing a small amount of water on your suede jacket is going to destroy it, but if you’re looking to prolong the life of your suede jacket you should keep it dry whenever possible. Spot Clean Stains It’s bound to happen sooner or later. Maybe you accidentally spill your morning coffee on your suede jacket, or maybe some mud makes its way onto your jacket. Rather than attempting to clean your suede jacket in the washing machine (never a good idea, by the way), you should spot clean these stains. The best way to spot clean a suede jacket is by blotting the stained area with a lukewarm washcloth topped with a small amount of liquid laundry detergent. As long as you blot the stain and don’t rub it, it should come out with relatively ease. For more severe stains, however, you may need to use vinegar. Instead of using liquid laundry detergent...
5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Look

5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Look

by | Fashion |

Color Coordinate When planning your wardrobe, make sure it features colors that match or at least flow cohesively with one another. Randomly pairing different garments together with no sense of color coordination is a recipe for disaster. You may get lucky and find a winning combination, but nine out of ten times it will clash. The bottom line is that you need to make sure the colors of your outfit match before walking out the door. Wear a Belt Some women assume that belts are only useful when wearing jeans or other traditional pants, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Belts offer a great way to accessorize a dress as well. Whether it’s little black dress (LBD), formal dress, etc., you can wrap a belt around the waist to enhance your appearance. Press Your Garments I think we’ve all been guilty of wearing wrinkled clothes at some point or another. While it may seem harmless enough, wrinkled clothes will have a negative impact on your appearance, so it’s best to avoid this fashion faux pas. Using an iron and ironing board, press your garments before wearing them. Or if they are dry-clean only, take them to the dry cleaners. Dress in Layers One of the easiest ways to improve your look is to dress in layers. This offers greater versatility in terms of defining your appearance for specific occasions. If you want a new “look,” you can simply take off the outer layer. Assuming the under layer consists of a different color and/or style, you can change your appearance on the fly by wearing multiple layers. And...
How to Accessorize a Leather Dress

How to Accessorize a Leather Dress

by | Fashion, Leather Dresses |

Nothing says modern fashion like an elegant leather dress. Featuring the subtle yet sophisticated characteristics that define leather, it’s a stunning choice that’s sure to enhance any woman’s appearance. But like most garments, the trick to successfully wearing a leather dress in the most appealing manner possible lies in the accessories. Unfortunately, many women struggle to choose accessories for their leather dress. Because this isn’t an ordinary cotton dress, it requires a different approach. If you wear the same “ordinary” accessories with it, you’ll likely fail to achieve an attractive, thought-out look. So, what are some good accessories to wear with a leather dress? Belt Just because your leather dress lacks the standard belt loops around the waistline doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t wear a belt with it. On the contrary, accessorizing your leather dress with a belt is a great way to enhance its appearance while adding new color to your outfit. If you have a black leather dress, for instance, try accessorizing it with a red belt. The contrasting relationship between the black and red creates a stunningly bold appearance that’s sure to turn heads. High Heels High heels are an excellent choice of footwear for a leather dress, assuming you choose the right color. Going back to the example above, if you’re going to wear a black leather dress with a red belt, then you should complete the look with a pair of red high-heeled shoes. Maintaining cohesion with your belt and shoes is essential to creating a uniform look. Clutch Purse Yes, a clutch purse is also considered an accessory — and it’s a...
Essential Fashion Tips for Travelers

Essential Fashion Tips for Travelers

by | Fashion |

Staying up to date with the latest fashion trends is hard enough, but it’s even harder when you are busy traveling. Whether you travel for work or leisure (or both), you may have trouble maintaining a stylish persona. After all, how are you supposed to carry all of your garments and accessories in a single piece of luggage? If this sounds like a familiar problem, keep reading for some essential tips on how to stay fashionable when traveling. To Where are You Traveling? You can’t expect to pack the right clothes without first understanding your destination. If you are traveling to the beach for a summer vacation, for instance, you should pack beach-appropriate clothes, such as bathing suits, tea dresses, mini/midi skirts, floral print garments, etc. On the other hand, if you are traveling to the city to attend an important business meeting, you should pack business attire garments like a suit and/or pencil skirt. The bottom line is that you must identify your destination in order to select the right clothes. Do Your Laundry in Advance I know this sounds like common sense, but it’s still worth mentioning that you should wash and dry your clothes in advance, before you begin packing for your trip. Waiting until the last minute to do laundry is a recipe for disaster. You may “think” your dress is clean, but when you check the closet, you notice it isn’t there. Don’t let this happen to you. Prepare your clothes in advance by having them washes and dried several days before your trip. Choose Versatile Garments When possible, pack garments that can be...
Tips on How to Store Clothes for the Winter

Tips on How to Store Clothes for the Winter

by | Fashion, Leather Care |

In case you didn’t get the memo, the winter season is fast approaching. When the temperatures begin to drop, you can usually put away some of your warm-weather clothes and accessories until next year. Doing so will free up space in your closet/wardrobe, while making it just a little easier to find the “right” clothes. But how exactly should you store clothes for the winter? Clean Before Storing First and foremost, make sure your clothes have been washed and cleaned before storing them for the season. It’s not uncommon for people to wear a shirt or pair of pants, and then put it back in their wardrobe without washing it. As long as it’s not visibly dirty, there’s really no need to wash it — except when storing the garment for long periods at a time. So go through your wardrobe and pull out and wash any garments that you intend to store for the winter. Fold Them You aren’t out of the woods just yet. Before you can safely store your clothes for the winter, it’s recommended that you neatly fold them. Taking the extra time to properly fold your clothes before placing them in storage will reduce wrinkles while helping to retain the clothes’ original shape and structure. Choose a Storage Container You will now need to choose a storage container for your clothes. Most people choose cardboard boxes, simply because they are cheapest and most readily available. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are the best choice. Cardboard boxes are susceptible to mold, mildew, and insects — three things that you want to keep away...
Easy Ways to Accessorize a Leather Dress

Easy Ways to Accessorize a Leather Dress

by | Fashion, Leather Dresses |

Few garments offer the same level of style and visual appeal as a leather dress. This bold item is a simple yet sophisticated way to enhance your appearance. In fact, you can wear a leather dress by itself, with nothing more than a pair of shoes, for a full and complete look. But if you really want to go the extra mile, you should consider pairing it with one or more of the following accessories. Belt Who says you can’t wear belts with dresses? Some people assume that belts are only useful for holding up a pair of pants, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. While they are certainly useful for this purpose, belts can also be worn as a fashion accessory, adding a fun new element to your outfit. When wearing a leather dress, consider accessorizing it with a large belt. The key thing to remember is that you want to choose a belt of opposite/contrasting color of your leather dress. If you are wearing a standard black leather dress, for instance, a white belt would be a smart choice, as the two colors will contrast with one another. Jewelry Of course, you can also accessorize a leather dress with jewelry. Whether it’s a beaded necklace, dangle earrings, gold bracelet, gemstone rings, etc., these are all great choices.  Think about when and how you’ll be wearing a leather dress and choose the most appropriate jewelry. For formal occasions, genuine gold and diamond jewelry is preferred. But for casual occasions, you can venture into beaded pieces. Clutch Purse Another essential accessory that works well for leather dresses...