A Fashion Crowd: women's tops

Showing posts with label women's tops. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

A Collar-ful Shirt

Iconic Actress Rita Hayworth in Gilda, 1946

Once women began wearing oxford shirts with collars in the 1940s there was no turning back; especially, once film stars such as the great Bette Davis and Rita Hayworth, began wearing them in such earnest. I believe shirts with collars remain just as popular today because of the fantastic way they are able to pair so effortlessly with most other garments. Fashion designers have taken the oxford shirt to the next level by covering the collar with all types of bling.

Shirts with collars embellished with sequins, studs, crystals and an abundance of other fabulous baubles are everywhere these days. It is effortless to incorporate shirts with embellished collars into your existing wardrobe. This type of shirt can be worn to the office and to any after-work event which makes it so versatile. An embellished-collar shirt worn with a classic-style gray, navy or black blazer and straight-leg trousers can add pizzazz to a routine outfit. This type of shirt adds an element of elegance to an outfit that would otherwise be considered humdrum. This makes it a superb article of clothing to pair with a simple crew-neck or v-neck sweater and trousers or a skirt. An embellished-collar shirt is also the perfect fit for days where you struggle to find the right outfit for work because you hit the snooze button on your alarm too many times. You don't even have to search for a necklace or earrings to wear with your outfit. This type of shirt is a statement piece.

Often wearing articles of clothing that represent more than one trend is considered a fashion don't; however, the marriage of peter-pan and embellished collars is a match made in heaven. Shirts with peter-pan collars consistently have a consistent level of recycled popularity in the fashion industry; however, embellished-collar shirts have never been more popular then they are now. Designers have cleverly combined the two collar styles to create a fashion gold mine. A shirt with a peter-pan collar suddenly becomes more visually interesting when it is embellished with lace, gems, studs or sequins.

Tips:

Do:

Limit the addition of jewelry to your outfit. Earrings can be complimentary, depending upon the style, but a necklace is overkill.

Pair the shirt with a sweater, cardigan or jacket to get the most use out of this investment piece.

Interested In Doing It Yourself? Please reference the sources below for do it yourself tips:

Coast to Coast Central DIY: Embellished Collars
It's Always Autumn The Easy Tee: DIY Peter Pan Collar with Free Pattern

What do you think about embellished-collar shirts? Comments are always welcome.

Shop the Trend:

Dark Dancer Crop Blouse, Nastygal

BCX Sheer Blouse, Macys


Vince Camuto Blouse, Nordstrom

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

The Top Half

Photo Courtesy of a17n6awi

I am not a fan of crop tops but I have come to appreciate their appeal. I know that seems like a misnomer but I truly understand the attraction. Maybe I have just been worn down by the constant stream of crop tops I see in fashion magazines, on the sites of online boutiques and worn by hipster celebrities such as Rihanna. I have been defeated by the crop top mentality that currently exists and that’s alright with me. I have come to appreciate that they can look totally glam if paired with the right pieces and, of course, worn at the appropriate venue. I have a few regrets about statements I made about crop tops in the past which consisted of the reason anyone would willingly bare their midriff outside of the pool, beach or gym. I have now come to realize that my initial dislike for crop tops was based on the thought of how vulnerable I would feel if I bared my midriff in public. I have come to understand that just because I am weary of exposing that particular body part in public, I don’t have to make my level of discomfort with the crop top prevent me from celebrating it for what it is: An example of feminine liberation. It represents to me the freedom we now have as women to wear what we choose without the restrictions that women who came before us had to endure.

I originally believed crop tops were a fad that would disappear just as quickly as they rose to popularity. I perceived crop tops as a 1980s retread that would quickly fade away in popularity as new fashion trends came on the horizon. Imagine my disappointment when I was proven wrong. Perhaps, that disappointment is another reason I was so resistant to the endurance of crop tops. I believe crop tops continue to remain culturally relevant because there is a fondness associated with them that evolved from their 1980s debut. The lead character in 1983’s Flashdance, Alexander Owens, danced her heart out in her leotard and tights but crop tops were frequently her garment of choice. Madonna also routinely rocked her crop tops during the same time frame. Check out or revisit a few of her 1980s music videos or concert footage.

Tips:

Pair crop tops with high-waist pants and skirts to highlight your figure at its best. An added benefit is that your legs will appear to be longer. This is particularly important if you are petite.

A crop top is a great layering piece. If you don’t want to bare your midriff but you enjoy the look of crop-tops try layering your crop top over a tank or t-shirt in a contrasting, yet complementary, color or print. Try pairing a solid-colored crop-top over a sequined tank for example or over an animal or polka dot print tank or-shirt.

Shop the Trend:

Olivia Crop Top, Alloy Apparel

Lights Out Crop Top, Living Royal

Rapture Crop top, Nastygal

Related Stories:
Manrepeller: Dissecting the Crop Top
Why of Fashion: How to Wear Crop Tops

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Wednesday, October 30, 2013

T Time

Modal-Cotton Blend T, Mango

T-shirts have a lot to say these days. A t-shirt can broadcast much about your personality or your mood with just one or two words. It is much easier and less expensive, whether you want to be a queen for the day or a princess, to announce your entitlement to the world than it is to dress the part. If you can not marry into royalty like Kate Middleton at least you can pretend. Royal titles seem to have obliterated the competition for the most common title listed on Ts. Not a royal pretender? Perhaps, you want to magnify the fashionista aspect of your personality. T-s imprinted with the word, glamorous, chic or trend-setter may be more your style. There is no shame in being a shopping fiend; particularly, if you are a great bargain hunter. I think I just came up with another t-shirt catchphrase. Bargain hunter it is.

Maybe your preference is for a picturesque view on top rather than a statement-making top. Life’s not a beach, as stated on many t-shirts, but you can advertise your love of beaches on your top. Sunrise, sunset, cliff top, hillside and other beautifully tranquil landscape views are among the many beautiful images commonly imprinted on t’s. Landscape t-shirts not only represent the beauty of nature they often can announce to those in your orbit your love for a favorite vacation spot and cause individuals to discuss that particular locale with you. This phenomenon is similar to the reaction that occurs when a t-shirt emblazoned with a favorite sports team is worn. Suddenly, you become friendly with individuals you’ve never met before all because of a t-shirt.

A t-shirt with the name of or picture of a solo musician or music group on it can also be an icebreaker if you are initially shy or quiet when meeting new people. Let your t-shirt do the talking. Music is always a dependable topic of conversation. Wearing a t-shirt with a musician or band on it will definitely spark conversation when mingling with those new to your social circle. This is especially, accurate if people are not acquainted with the musician or group. It is more than likely they will ask you to tell them about the artist or band. A t-shirt containing a picture of a legendary rock band will also ignite conversation.

Jeans are consistently paired with t-shirts containing typography or graphic print images; however, t-shirts can effortlessly be matched with many other garments to create a chic casual outfit. Before reaching for a pair of jeans in your closet try reaching for one of the garments listed below to create a spectacular casual outfit:

A print t-shirt, maxi-skirt and ankle boots is a superb fashion trio.

Create a glamorous look with a print t-shirt, leather pants and faux-fur vest.

Mix a print t-shirt with a pencil skirt and booties or oxfords for a vibrant ensemble.

Pair a print t-shirt with a short-hemline skirt, a moto jacket, tights and over the knee boots to create a trendy look.

Favorite T-shirt Retailers:

Nastygal has an excellent vintage t-shirt section. The prices are in the $100 range for the music icon t-shirts and tanks but the quality of the t-shirts is exceptional.
Mango's typography t-shirts are ultra-glamorous and very affordable. Several of the t-shirts are priced at $20.
Topshop is another great source for budget-friendly t-shirts.
Threadless is a site I became acquainted with as a result of my perusal of the blog, Pop Culture Tees. Threadless has a terrific inventory of graphic print t-shirts, many of which are priced at $20.