December 1, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
Every woman wants to look her best on her wedding day. Unfortunately, many of the top designers make that harder than it has to be. Because the fashion world focuses on wafer-thin models, they seldom design dresses for real women.
Whats the big deal? When it comes to formalwear, men have it easy. The pinnacle of menswear is the tuxedo, which is really nothing more than a fancy suit. But dresses are different. Different cuts and silhouettes flatter different figures. The issue is of particular concern to curvy or voluptuous brides.
Since they are often ignored by a fashion industry that caters to skinny brides, they have to look twice as hard for dresses that flatter their unpopular figures. The irony of the situation is that curvaceous brides are far more prevalent than stick-thin model brides. This may simply be a case of an insulated industry idealizing a body type that does not actually exist in reality.
But that does not mean that the voluptuous bride is without options. Need we forget that fashion designers havent always preferred stick figures. There was a time when models were full-figured and formal dresses were designed to accentuate their best features. The first thing a curvy bride-to-be must determine is her body type.
For some strange reason, the female figure is often described as a type of fruit. There are pears, apples, and pearapples. All of these basic body types are used to describe girls who are not wafer-thin. Not surprisingly, they are far more common than the petite, ruler or column body types.
Pear
Due to basic biology, women tend to gain and carry most of their weight in their hips, buttocks and thighs. By comparison, men tend to gain and carry their weight in their stomachs, i.e., the classic beer belly. As a result, many women who are out of their twenties have a pear-shaped figure. This simply means that they are carrying most of their weight in the regions we referred to.
The problem this presents when it comes to a formal dress is that pear-shaped women tend to look a bit truncated or uneven if they dont find the right bridal gown. What they should be looking for is a dress that can help them achieve balance by adding to their upper half.
The silhouette of choice for the pear-shaped woman is the classic A-line. As the name suggests, the A-line is narrower on top and it flares gently as it drops, resembling the letter A. When combined with a dcollet or scoop neckline that shows off a little skin, the A-line often works wonders in balancing out uneven figures.
For brides-to-be that feel a bit more self-conscious about their figures, there are a few unconventional options. For instance, wearing a blazer will add more bulk on top. Dark bottoms can also help to conceal or detract from trouble areas. Pencil skirts are quite popular with younger brides-to-be who often pair them with a loose blouse.
Apple
When a woman carries her weight a bit higher up, in her stomach, arms and chest, she is an apple. Apples are much rarer than pears, which can make finding a formal gown a chore. The key for these brides-to-be is to cover the arms, suck in the stomach, and to support the bust. It is also important to add a bit more emphasis to the lower half to create a more balanced look.
The Empire silhouette has been popular for centuries. As we mentioned earlier, dressmakers werent always obsessed with stick figures. They used to design formal gowns for real woman and the Empire gown was one of their most popular creations. This high-waisted wedding dress gathers just under the bust and is often accompanied by a loose skirt that helps create balance by emphasizing the bust and concealing the stomach. Empire gowns also help to lengthen the body, which makes them a hit with shorter women who are a bit top-heavy.
Pearapple
A woman who is curvy all over is sometimes referred to as having a pearapple figure. Also known as the hourglass body type, these women have large busts and ample hips. The hourglass shape was made famous by Hollywood starlets like Marilyn Monroe. But it might be difficult for the blond bombshell to find a flattering dress if she were shopping today.
Her best bet would probably be a body-hugging sheath dress. These numbers cling to the natural curves of the body and show off the wearers best assets. Sheath dresses work best at more informal ceremonies, especially outdoor affairs when the bride-to-be can wear skinny straps and a dcollet neckline.
Whatever your size or shape, there is a silhouette that will flatter your figure. Find your perfect wedding dress now.
November 28, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
Looking for a gift for the grad in your life? Considering the advantages of the Mr. Coffee with built-in alarm clock versus the nondescript yet utterly ordinary prepaid credit card which you hope will be used for “something special,” but in reality will likely be used for gas and beer?
Why not get something that will start your grad off right – as a stylish, well-groomed young man heading off into the world to begin his life as a grown-up, an actual adult?
It is customary to shower girls with all manner of coming-of-age jewelry: strands of pearls, charm bracelets, birthstone rings, and the like. However, once the boy in your life morphs into manhood, people’s gift-giving meters just seem to slow down. Watch? Wallet? Belt?
Cufflinks are an excellent gift for the graduate. Whether you know someone graduating from high school, college, grad school, med school, or law school – it really doesn’t matter. Unless your graduating friend is soon to be bounced from clown college, this is a gift that will open doors, cement relationships, and be cherished forever.
My father still has the pair of simple, onyx cufflinks that his godmother gave him for his high school graduation, as well as the gold pair he got when he graduated from college. Besides his watch, that little bit of jewelry – worn with an excellent suit and shirt with French cuffs – was the only bling he ever sported. It was classic, tasteful, and elegant through a lifetime of tie styles, lapel widths, and collar sizes.
Back in dear old dad’s day, business attire for men was pretty limited. If you had a professional job and missed the horror of the so-named leisure suit (which should never be worn with cufflinks, or at all for that matter), a man was pretty well limited to a suit of some variety of wool, in a dark color, with a white or light blue shirt, and dark shoes. Even in the realm of jewelry – unless you lived in Texas and wore a hat, bolo tie, and nugget ring – you probably weren’t going to wear much more than your wedding ring.
However, the Wall Street guys, lawyers and management types with the suits that cost $2,000 even back then knew that true style meant leaving no detail overlooked. And today, since there are so many different varieties from which to choose, selecting a gift of men’s cufflinks means you can personalize your offering to suit the tastes and needs of every grad.
For the high school graduate moving on to college, you might consider buying a formal set of links. It’s likely that during his college career, he’ll have the opportunity to attend formal parties, dinners, and other occasions. Rather than wearing the standard brass and onyx set that you can rent with any characterless tuxedo, let your grad stand out with a pair of plain gold or white gold links, or onyx ones trimmed with gold or silver.
A more cost-effective gift could be a pair of silk knots, also known as monkey fists. Beautifully crafted French knots in a number of colors, these are generally used for all but the most formal occasions and would look great with either a suit or dinner jacket.
Later in life, this gift could be used to fasten the sleeves of your grad when he gets married! Imagine that; marriage!
For the college graduate, you might consider a less formal, but still classic pair of cufflinks. These would be suitable for such major life milestones as job interviews and business meetings. For the GQ-guy in your life, you might consider purchasing a pair of links enameled with stripes – similar to a “school” or “club” tie, these are considered very upper-crust classics. If your grad is more conservative, a true “event” gift of simple but well-designed discs or squares engraved with your grad’s initials – either a triple or single monogram – will be cherished and enjoyed for a lifetime.
Graduation is the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance. Such an event deserves a gift that will stand the test of time, be highly valued, and even become an heirloom. The coffeemaker is nice, but it won’t be remembered in five or 10 years time…and quite possibly forgotten in just a few months.
November 27, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
The standard Wedding Tuxedo
While there is really no strict guidelines about what constitutes a tuxedo -and also a wedding tuxedo, it is left up to tradition to dictate what look must be reached by using one. For the majority of wedding ceremonies, it should be limited to a black tuxedo jacket with lapels, black pants, socks, bow tie, white shirt, a black cummerbund and also shoes. It’s allowable to alter this look in the hotter months, by allowing a switch to a white jacket, with everything else to fit.
Novelty Tuxedos
There have been instances when the wedding occasion will decide to choose a more novelty style tuxedo, instead of the conventional wedding tuxedo. These are usually available in an array of colors, however these tend to be more suited for a prom rather than for even a semi-formal wedding color scheme. The most essential thing to remember is that the groom cannot outshine the bride, regardless of what. If you want a novelty tuxedo, restrict it to black in color, with a formal, if dated cut, like the black tie and tails look.
Materials
An excellent wedding tuxedo must be made out of the best wool, by using a thread-count for at least Seventy five threads per inch for worsted wool, up to the top level of 120 threads per inch for designer tuxedos. There is some competition about the appearance of buttons on such a jacket, with several stating that more is better, but tradition dictates that a single button line jacket is more formal in looks.
Renting The Tuxedo
With all the preparations which go into planning a wedding, the renting of the grooms tuxedo, as well as those of the groomsmen is often neglected or forgotten till almost too late. In order to snag the right traditional, quality look for that half of the wedding party, fittings for the wedding tuxedo for the groom and his attendants must be performed around the same time as the women go shopping for the wedding dress, and bridesmaids dresses.
As far as add-ons go, and based on the form of tuxedo rented, it is okay for the groom to wear jewelry that suits his character, like cufflinks. Some will add more conventional add-ons for a formal look, just like gloves, silk ties or hats. Just remember, the wedding tuxedo should not outshine the brides gown, or you will be hearing about it for some time to come.
November 23, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
Beginners can sometimes feel overwhelmed when they start learning classical guitar. The technique, sight reading, interpretation and the whole complexity of the experience can make one feel a bit anxious about what proper steps should be taken to gain visible results. It doesn’t help that classical music as a whole conjures up images of snobbish people that aren’t very interested in letting someone in their private circles.
Well, it’s not like that at all. Learning classical guitar can be fun and rewarding if you keep in mind the things we will be discussing in this article. and no, it’s not mandatory to wear your tuxedo, pull out a monocle and start speaking in a “highbrow” tone.
Jumping straight into complicated material is one of the biggest mistakes that beginners make and it leads only to frustration. Imagine for a second that you are trying to work on your car’s engine with the blueprint in front of you. Now, if you have never taken an auto mechanic course and don’t know much about how engines work you won’t get very far. You might be able to figure out where certain parts are by looking at the blueprint but you’ll have no idea what exactly they do and how you should fix them.
If your car engine would be your guitar playing, then your blueprints would be the sheet music. But there is another component that must be brought into the mix for things to work. Either take classical guitar lessons or teach yourself using a classical guitar method such as the one by Mateo Carcassi or Sagreras.
These books have been written in such a way as to gradually give you tangible results. Because they are method books, they teach the student in a progressive and correct way, and as a result you may find yourself tackling your favorite piece easily and with great results. They use exercises as well as “studies” (musical pieces devoted to teaching you a certain technique) to build your technical as well as interpretative skills. Besides teaching technique, methods also facilitate intimate knowledge of your instrument, which is just a fancy way of saying that you will know your guitar inside and out. But can you really teach yourself classical guitar? Yes, you can. Two of the greatest classical guitar players ever, Tarrega and Segovia, where self taught.
In the beginning it is a good idea to spend at least half of your practice time doing exercises. This will help you become more limber on the guitar and you will also see great progress in the pieces you’re working on.
After you get a classical guitar method and you start working it, the next step is getting some material so you can build your repertoire. Pick carefully so that you balance your own personal taste with the level of the piece. In other words, the piece you choose should be one that you like and at the level that you can handle technically.
You may go to a gym wanting to be Arnold Schwarzenegger, however trying to weight lift 250 pounds when you can barely get 70 pounds off the ground isn’t the way to do it. If you do attempt it, instead of bigger muscles you will probably end up in the hospital. It’s the same thing that’s happening when you attempt to play pieces that are way above your current level. Having said that, it should be noted that it’s good to get pieces that challenge you a little bit. This makes you grow. You will have to use your good judgment as to what constitutes challenging. Just like getting a hernia isn’t a muscle building technique, playing way above your level will only lead to failure and frustration.
Because of the nature of baroque music and of his compositions, Bach’s works are extremely conducive towards gaining great balance and technique on the instrument. Therefore, any student would benefit immensely by learning from the master’s material. Bach’s pieces are also great for developing great tone and they are fun to play. For example: Prelude BWV999 (originally for lute), while incredibly beautiful in its sound is also great for working with the fretboard hand because it is based on a series of chord progressions combined with a loosely melodic bass line.
If you don’t own a metronome, GET ONE! Learn to play slow and in time with it. This way you will form all the right reflexes and once you move the material up to speed the difference will be clear. Arguably, mastering rhythm with a metronome is an essential quality that will separate the amateur from the pro. To the people that may scoff at this and not understand the true importance of working with a metronome, think of it this way: imagine something as simple as a person walking across a hallway. If I ask you to describe them you would probably tell me what they looked like, what they had on and so forth. Now imagine another person walking across the hallway, but this guy is very shaky on his feet, he sometimes double steps, stumbles and flails his hands about trying to keep balance while walking. If I asked you to describe this guy, you’d probably tell me that he had a crazy walk, and he couldn’t walk straight etc.. That would be the impression that would stick with you. Same with your rhythm skills. If you don’t master them, people won’t be able to remember or appreciate your playing because their attention will constantly be distracted by the tempo stumbling and bumbling about.
If you follow the steps noted above you will see great improvement in your overall classical guitar playing. Not only will this affect your playing but also your enjoyment of the instrument. As you follow this route you will see results and feel satisfaction. Like a veil being lifted, you will be able to see the path you must follow and pretty soon you will be tackling with great ease and elegance the piece that seemed so hard a while back. As always, if you need some advice as to the material you should be pursuing, or what book you should get, feel free to drop me a line.
November 20, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
The modern day dress pant has many uses – it’s a work “go-to” when denim is unacceptable, dresses up an ultra casual top, and makes a statement when paired with stellar heels. But as trends come and go, a once fabulous pair of dress pants can start to feel very dated and stop inspiring style and confidence.
This week Savvy City Girl shares 3 quick and easy ideas that are guaranteed to help you get more mileage out of the dress pants that aren’t holding their own in your closet.
1) Tailor them into Dress Shorts
The most obvious edit to a pair of dress pants is to have them tailored into shorts. This is a cost effective and easy fix that any good seamstress can do for you. The key is finding the right length that looks good on your body and fits your lifestyle.
(Check out the following runway looks: Rebecca Taylor S/S 2010; Christian Dior S/S 2010; Balmain S/S 2010; Rebecca Taylor F/W 2010; Dolce & Gabbana F/W 2010; Salvatore Ferragamo F/W 2010)
Keep In Mind:
– Leave pant legs in tact and let your tailor cut and fit them on you. An experienced seamstress or tailor will be able to take enough of the leg off and pin it at various lengths to give you an idea of how they will fall on your leg. (Savvy City Girl 101 – you must have a seamstress or tailor whom you trust, who has reasonable prices and who hears you. If you don’t have one, start auditioning them today!)
– If you can wear dress shorts to work, consider a longer short. You’ll be surprised at how often you’ll go for shorts over pants or a skirt when the weather warms up. That’s because there is something understated and sexy about dress shorts. And they stay in place while showing a little leg.
– Micro shorts look amazing on tone legs, so if you’ve been working out regularly, consider being a little daring with the length. Don’t worry, you won’t be alone – for S/S 2010 short short is everywhere!
– Dress them up. Blazers, heels, lace, ruffles, sequence – dress shorts are the opposite of casual. And they work wonderfully for day-to-night looks.
– Dress shorts have been here for awhile, with tweaks being added each season. But it doesn’t look like this trend is on its way out. This look will take you into F/W 2010 when paired with opaque tights or leggings.
– Be sure to incorporate the 2010 bow trend by adding a wide satin belt tied into a chunky bow.
– Works best with all styles of dress pants.
2) Get Tied
Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! is more than a sexy and controversial film by Pedro Almodovar. It’s also one of my fave 2010 runway looks. This edit is so easy and can change a pair of ordinary pants into a statement piece that elongates the legs and slims the thighs.
(Check out the following runway looks: Prabal Gurun S/S 2010; Kris Van Assche S/S 2010; Chris Benz S/S 2010; Jaeger London S/S 2010; Charlotte Ronson S/S 2010; VPL F/W 2010)
Here’s How:
– Select two 4 foot long strips of fabric ribbon (1/4 inch to 1-1/2 inches wide) in a complimentary color/print
– Starting at back, wrap around the ankle 2-3 times and tie into bow at front or side
– Pair with heels or ankle boots
Keep In Mind:
– This is the easiest day-to-evening look to get you from the office to a cocktail party. Just tuck the ribbons into your handbag and tie up those ankles before heading out.
– Military inspired, Asian fusion or ruffled prints are just a few of the many styles that will work with this look.
– Borrow from Gucci runway S/S 2010 and use your ankle tie or strap shoes to tie down those pant legs.
– Worried about your ties coming loose? They should stay in place as long as you aren’t dancing the night away or running a marathon. Still not sure? A simple stitch by your tailor or a safety pin will keep them in place for SCGs on the move.
– Works best with straight leg pants that fall at the ankle, wide leg pants that fall below the ankle, and adds a nice twist to tuxedo pants.
3) Turn So-So Dress Pants Into Hip Ankle Drawstrings
Adding a cinching drawstring to the bottom hem of dress pants gives an unexpected casual feel to these fashion workhorses. The ankle tie pant was all over the S/S 10 and F/W 10 runways shown by designers from Jean-Paul Gaultier to Calvin Klein. And there’s an oh-so-easy way to convert so-so to fabulous with a few simple steps.
(Check out the following runway looks: Preen S/S 2010; Calvin Klein S/S 2010; Vanessa Bruno S/S 2010; Missoni S/S 2010; Y-3 F/W 2010; United Bamboo F/W 2010; Jean-Paul Gaultier F/W 2010)
Here’s how to convert your pants into ankle drawstring pants:
What You Need:
– 2 yards (6 feet) of 1/4 inch to 1-1/2 inch fabric ribbon (try satin) in a complimentary color
– Pair of scissors
– Medium or large safety pin
4 Easy Steps:
1) Turn pant legs inside-out to expose underside of pant leg hem and locate either an inner vertical seam or an outer vertical seam.
2) On each side of the vertical seam, cut two small slits in the underside of the hem. Slits should be between 1″- 2″ apart, leaving 1/4″ on the top and bottom edge of the hem.
3) Attach the safety pin to ribbon and tread through one slit into seams by cinching fabric around safety pin and pulling through until you can pull the ribbon out the other slit.
4) Turn pant leg rightside-out. Remove safety pin from ribbon and tie into a bow.
Keep In Mind:
– Drawstring ankle ties will help keep the pant leg at the ankle while giving a hint of fullness.
– Wear now with flats, flip/flops or open-toe pumps. This look will tuck into your ankle or mid-calf boots for F/W 2010 leaving a nice billow above the boot.
– Pair this casual pant look with an ultra feminine and flirty top (think soft silks and ruffles). Add a biker jacket or cashmere cardi for F/W 2010.
– Tired of the look? Remove the ribbon and you’re pants are back to their original style!
– Not sure you want to try this at home? Your tailor can do this for you for pennies.
– Works best with: straight leg pants that fall right at the ankle, cargo pants, full leg pants and below the knee cropped pants. Avoid trying with flare leg pants.