Thursday, 08 February 2024 20:49

How To Make High-Waisted Jeans Look Formal

In recent years, high-waisted jeans have become a staple in women's wardrobes, offering a flattering and comfortable fit. However, many women struggle with how to style high-waisted jeans to make them appropriate for a professional or formal setting.

Published in Fashion

Choosing the right dress is more than following the latest fashion trends; it is about finding what works best for your unique body shape. As everyone is different, understanding your shape is the key to a fantastic look.

Published in Fashion

The arrival of the first cold drafts does not mean you have to pack away your favourite maxi skirts during autumn and winter.

Published in Fashion

Clothing lays the foundation but accessories bring the flair and the individuality that make an ensemble truly memorable: discover the fine art of accessorising.

Published in Fashion
Friday, 18 August 2023 07:44

POSE 21:20: Becomin' Her

The threshold to womanhood is awaiting us, waiting for that moment when we feel ready to cross the line after a long journey of daily discoveries.

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Blooming into the woman we are meant to be. Becomin' Her is Maryanne Alabi's fashion story of this powerful and empowering transformation.


Nigerian style consultant and stylist Maryanne Alabi explores women's development and self-affirmation through the refined power of fashion.

Becomin' Her: Style Notes

Solid blocks of contrasting non-colours – black and white – and a bold thunder of magenta define the silhouette of a newly discovered self with the taste of Old Hollywood glamour. Audacious slits reveal a smoothly full-bloomed body without showing too much; a cascade of golden threads evokes an opulence worn with a noble spirit. The 'her' portrayed in this editorial by photographer Shola Ajisegbede has truly found her meaning and place in this world. She manifests herself without asking for approval.

Through these snapshots, Maryanne Alabi tells a story of grace, resilience and strength in becoming her.

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 Team credit:
Photography: Shola Ajisegbede @sniper.ajix
Creative Direction / Styling: Maryanne Alabi @mayreejay
Makeup Artist: Preye Albert @mzpreyemakeovers
Hair stylist: Tony Aigbogun @tonysbeautyace
Model: Joy Ejiro Niovo @joyejironiovo
Wardrobe: @oboylagos @isiatagamenofficial @mayreejay
Accessories: @mjsstylefactory

Published in Blog

We all know that sorting out clothes, shoes and bags can be some people’s worse nightmare. Keeping your wardrobe organised will make life stress-free but what to keep and what to get rid of can sometimes be chaotic.

How to organise wardrobe. Ph. Amanda Vick, UnsplashPh. Amanda Vick, Unsplash

This guide will unveil the secrets of the "craft" of keeping your wardrobe up to date and always well-organised.


There are different ways of dividing and sorting your clothing and accessories, below the easiest and the most effective.

Dividing Your Wardrobe

The easiest way to sort out your pile of clothes is by dividing each clothing piece into categories. For example, all blazers and jackets will be together, all bottoms – such as skirts, shorts, jeans and trousers – will be next to one another. Therefore, when looking for a jacket to match your jeans, you can see them all against each other and, for that reason, styling an outfit would be simpler. Also, when buying more clothes on a shopping spree you will know what items you may need or want to replace, due to all categories being in one place.
An example of this method is the image below, where all the tops are hung together.

Tips on on how to organise your wardrobe. Ph. Priscilla du Preez, UnsplashPh. Priscilla du Preez, Unsplash

The Colour Technique

Another way to organise your wardrobe in a very therapeutic way is by colour coordination. Starting with whites, light pastels, beiges to browns, greys and blacks, making your very own rainbow in your closet. This way, colours are easier to pick out and complement each other. Some of you may have a more neutral rainbow, while others may have bright, bold colours; either way, this is a great way to section your wardrobe to know where everything is and to keep your clothes, looking aesthetically pleasing.

Tricks to organise your closet. Ph. Liza Summer, PexelsPh. Liza Summer, Pexels

Address The Seasons

The last way to arrange your closet is by season, which is a great way to store your clothes in a time when you may not need them.

Winter clothes are bulky and thick compared to the clothes you wear during the summer period. Therefore, it is undeniable that you may need more closet space in the coldest months. Instead of throwing your favourite summer dresses which – you know well – you will not be able to wear, store them. It could be in a suitcase, a box or in a spare room to maintain their quality, just be careful not to store them anywhere damp. This simple way of separating clothes to weather-coordinated will save you storage and money, while also keeping your wardrobe tidy and accessible. Make sure to keep those statement pieces and give away those that are purely a miss.

With these three tips on the ways to organise your wardrobe, you should have a tidy and iconic setup in no time – just without the hassle.

Published in Blog
Tuesday, 11 January 2022 12:35

How To Find The Right Jeans For Your Body

It is essential to know what jeans are best for you to maximise your confidence on a day-to-day basis!
Guide women's jeans for different body shapes. Ph. Priscilla du Preez, UnsplashPh. Priscilla Du Preez, Unsplash

While jeans are a staple in everyone’s wardrobes, it is sometimes hard to figure out the style, colour and length which may be the best fit for yourself. To work out the right type of jeans, you need to be able to learn and acknowledge your body type first.

Whether you are tall or petite, have an hourglass body or many more, here is your guide to uncover your body shape and what jeans will be the best for you.


Hourglass

madison compton rRaMgfGdEEI unsplashPh. Jarritos Mexican Soda, Unsplash

An hourglass body means your top half and bottom half are well proportioned to one another. Your waist will be defined and smaller than the rest of your body. To accentuate those natural curves, you may want to opt for a fitted style of jeans, mainly flares or bootcut. These denim types will give focus to your waist while creating another hourglass appearance on your legs as the bottom of the jeans will widen. Another option for those who do not appeal to that style is slim jeans. Like flare denim, slim jeans will hug the waist, but also the rest of your leg, showcasing your calves as well. As for choosing the colour denim, light or washed denim would increase the appearance of your voluptuous curves.

Flare jeans, recommendations:

Blue mid-rise flared jeans | River Island

Circle

jasmin chew j vpjNZwnBE unsplashPh. Jasmin Chew, Unsplash

A circle body, often known as an apple-shaped body, suggests your upper body is fuller than your lower body. A lighter bottom half will centralise the focus to your slim legs. As for the style, mom jeans – which are cuffed at your ankles – will highlight your waist and the bottom of your legs. Another style that will also suit your shape is straight leg jeans. This style will still wrap your figure perfectly; however, a loosened fit will make your legs appear much slimmer.

Mom jeans, recommendations

PrettyLittleThing Vintage Wash Mom Jean | PrettyLittleThing

Rectangle

marcel strauss uNGKm9 RIcQ unsplashPh. Marcel Strauß, Unsplash

If you have a rectangular body shape, your measurements will all be proportional to one another. You will also appear on the slimmer side and your waist may not be as defined; therefore, the focus purely needs to be on your legs. Skinny, slim and distressed jeans are going to be right for you. Tight jeans are going to accentuate your slenderness, while distressed jeans will give you a chance to show off some leg: a necessity for you when going out.

Skinny jeans, recommendations:

Stradivarius super high waist skinny jeans with rips in grey | ASOS

Inverted Triangle

brooke cagle y0WxUZEApek unsplashPh. Brooke Cagle, Unsplash

An inverted triangle body shape is the complete opposite of your normal triangle. Your shoulders and chest will be the widest part of your body, while your legs are the slimmest. A pair of cropped straight jeans is going to be the ideal style for you. The style will fit your legs, without being too tight or loose, whilst the length will show off your slim clave. Darker denim will give the illusion of even slimmer legs and hips.

Cropped Jeans, recommendations:

COLLUSION x005 90s cropped straight leg jeans in washed blue | ASOS

ONLY Dark Grey Double Waist Crop Jeans | New Look

Triangle

jarritos mexican soda NinBAe4vniI unsplash resultPh. Brooke Cagle, Unsplash

The triangular body consists of your hips and buttocks being the widest part of your body, creating the bottom of the triangle with your waist being the sides and your chest as the tip. Some women with this body shape may want to highlight their hips, as men and women typically see this trait as a positive feature. Therefore, you should most definitely go for a pair of dark wash mom jeans, as they naturally have a slight curve from your waist to the upper thigh which will give definition to your curves. However, some women may not want to bring attention to these parts, so boyfriend jeans would be the best style choice. Boyfriend jeans hug your waist but they are typically looser and look more relaxed. Occasionally, there will be some rips and frays on boyfriend jeans which adds more to the relaxed and chilled appearance, that they give off.

Boyfriend jeans, recommendations:

Plt Acid Blue Wash Open-knee Boyfriend Jean | PrettyLittleThing

Long Tall Sally Indigo Boyfriend Jean | Next UK online shop

Published in Blog
Monday, 20 December 2021 12:19

Fashions Finest's NYE Outfits Stylebook

The countdown to New Year's Eve is getting closer, and so is the time to plan your outfit for the last night of 2021. An explosive mix of sparkles and red-carpet glam is the most popular choice, but there is no rule. We encourage you to dress to impress as you are.

New Year's Eve Outfits, stylebooks and tips. Ph. Inga Seliverstova, PexelsPh. Inga Seliverstova, Pexels

Are you not sure about what to wear on New Year's Eve? No panic! The editorial team put together their best festive outfits in this NYE stylebook where the key denominator is your personality.


We did it many times: buying a shiny, daring, excessive New Year's Eve outfit and wearing it just once. Fashions Finest's team opened their wardrobe and picked their best NYE looks. Browse our unconventional lookbook for inspiration and tips to let your personality shine and save some money for the new year!

Bethan’s New Year's Eve Look

Bethans New year Look
"My NYE look is styled with a 1960s' glamorous American housewife in mind," says Bethan Carrick, fashion historian and editorial intern at Fashions Finest - "think Mad Men's Betty Draper, my ultimate style icon. My plans for NYE are up in the air so I'm keeping my options open with this outfit but making sure I'm glowing. I have gone for a palette of luxurious golden hues which is tied together with a black Prada centrepiece - can you ask for much more? It is always important to me to match what I'm wearing on my feet with what I'm wearing from my neck and upwards: so these delicious jewel-encrusted Manolo Blahnik heels which no doubt are inspired by the court of Versaille are paired with an equally luxurious vintage gold pill necklace. To balance out the statement of gold I'm wearing a dainty Chanel cloche hat. These Batsheva orange dotted trousers signal to me where luxury meets comfort, which I am all about. Finally, wherever I will be it is going to be cold so I'll need a cosy jacket to take me through till 12 am and this Dior faux fur jacket is ideal. This outfit makes me feel like I'm going to gracefully glide my way through 2022. Cosy golden vibes only, please."

"I've chosen Vestiaire Collective to source my NYE look as I'm a big supporter of resale and believe it's the future of fashion. I spend a lot of time trawling through this site looking at beautiful garments that I hope to one day have money and space in my wardrobe to own."

Find Bethan's picks:
Top - Trousers - Coat Necklace - Hat - Shoes 

Leila’s New Year's Eve Look

Leilas New year Look
"This is an alternative and mainly vintage-inspired take on the New Year’s Eve outfit. It does not always have to be a dull sparkling glitter dress. Embrace the ‘90s and draw all eyes to you, while simultaneously supporting small independent designers and sustainability by shopping pre-loved."

Leila Katharina Kaess, international student and editorial intern at Fashions Finest, goes into more detail: "Snakedivine is an independent brand, based in Kassel, Germany and run by Rebecca. She studies free arts, makes tattoos and began to engage with CGI. Most of her items are unique single designs with an exclusively-limited batch of one to three pieces. This makes everything you buy extraordinarily special and individual. With one of these pieces, you are safe to avoid turning up in the exact same outfit some else is wearing. Rebecca is also keen on sourcing the fabrics from small sellers, remnant fabrics and second hand. The entirety of the range offered online is carefully crafted by hand. In an attempt to conquer fast fashion and overconsumption she invests a lot of time and creativity in every single piece. Thus, it is all the more devastating to see that a variety of her designs have been stolen, manufactured in horrible conditions and with synthetic materials, by the Chinese ultra-fast fashion brand SHEIN, to be sold for a few pounds. She is only one of several upcoming designers to be named. That is why we must support small and independent businesses!

The corset jacket by the infamous ‘90s brand Catwalk Collection is now considered deadstock, as those are not produced anymore, so you might want to get one as long as they are privately sold. A cute bralette underneath means that you could also open up the jacket or get rid of it entirely if you want to wear it as a top.

The well-beloved NODALETO platform Mary Janes pick up the jacket’s black velvet material, thereby creating a continued theme, as well as bringing top and bottom together coherently.

A cute little handbag to fit all the little things one needs when heading out are perfectly stored in this lovely vintage Vivienne Westwood bag. Vestiaire is always a good place to buy designer handbags since they are vintage (good for the environment and your wallet) and undergo testing for proof of authenticity by professional staff, which ensures that no dupes are sold. Lots of chunky silver jewellery and the eyecatcher, a huge Vivienne Westwood pearl choker, bestow the look with an edgy retro vibe. Also, notice how the cross earrings pick up the green colour of the bag, while the nail polish and lipstick match the colour scheme used in the trousers. Attention to little details like this compliment an outfit. This compilation can be used as inspiration, maybe you have some items in a similar, or would like to try your hand at an upcycling project."

Find Leila's picks:
ShoesBralette - Corset jacket -Trousers Bag - Necklace - Earrings - Rings - Hairclip - Lipstick - Nail polish

Olivia’s New Year's Eve Look

Olivias New year Look
"For me Christmas and NYE is the best excuse to wear a full outfit of glitter and this dress is the perfect example."
  Olivia Brecque, editorial intern and Fashion Design Management student at the LCF, considers the holidays as the perfect time to do something good for someone in needs: "To get you in the Christmas spirit I decided to pick my outfits from Cancer Research in Islington as I believe there are endless choices of outfits in Charity shops, not only is it good for the environment but you are helping to raise money for a cause. This outfit in total cost 69£. Any pair of black boots that you own should do the trick as all the focus is on this glitter dress. I would like to thank the staff at Cancer research Islington for being so helpful and kind."

Olivia's top pick:
Earrings 
To make something meaningful this Christmas and NYE, visit Cancer Research UK.

Deborah New Year's Eve Look

Deborahs New year Look
"I have chosen a look from my wardrobe because I like the idea of thinking sustainably and reusing clothing rather than buying new clothes that I don’t really need." Deborah St. Louis, founder of Fashions Finest, is a champion in sensible fashion choices.

"Most of the items I have worn many times and in different ways. The ASOS top is a new purchase and I love the combination of burnt orange with the black floral design. The warehouse tan skirt is one of my favourite items which I have had for over 10 years so no longer available online but here is a similar look from Warehouse which I’m sure anyone could find in a charity shop for less than half the price.

I have finished my look with a selection of jewellery that I have had for many years and that will complement any look. Similar jewellery can be purchased at an affordable price from Accessorize

My go-to leather handbag has been with me since the '90s and it cost me around £20.00 back then. Here is an alternative from Ted Baker. My go-to heeled boots, which finish this look so nicely, find a similar alternative online at ASOS

Now I’m all set to step out and enjoy my NYE party with friends without even having to spend any money on an outfit."

Find Deborah's picks:
Top - Skirt - Handbag - Boots - Accessories 

Valentina’s New Year's Eve Look

Valentinas New year Look
"How things change... In the past, I was more bothered by the idea of celebrating the year leaving us rather than looking for party outfits and having fun. The fussy me was not ready to bid farewell to the year, especially if it was a generous one for me!

My NYE outfit idea has the typical broken student, my old me, in mind. Here is a versatile look that allows you to reuse the dress and any item in the new year, again and again. The OOTD plays around colours and feels making the '70s the decade of freedom, youth and carefreeness. The essential piece is this Reformation 'Briea' halterneck mini dress. Pattern, colour palette and neckline take inspiration from the party decade for excellence. Move around in this dress; as the silk flows, the cubed pattern acquires fluidity. Geometries break.
Reformation follows the Net Sustain 8 eco-conscious production keys. A candid ZARA faux fur jacket accompanies the dress to keep toasty and conceal the sensual open back. It is 100% artificial fur and crafted in line with the brand environmentally-friendly standards.

2021 footwear saw barely-there sandals and chunky heels alike. These vegan MONKI ankle boots give a strong sense of stability with their structured heel so your feet will thank you too!"

Valentina Chirico, chief editor at Fashions Finest, moves on matching jewellery. "The handpicked accessories recall the dress warm colour scheme: gold. NuebeStudio polymer clay drop earrings in the shade Sahara are a dainty touch of exclusivity and lush: 100% handmade with 14k gold leaf. Behind NuebeStudio is Noelia, a former Spanish model turned SEO marketer, then jewellery maker.

Gold is rather expensive, so why not add some brass bracelets instead? These stackable brass bangles are handmade and fair trade by People Tree, plus they shine like gold! '70s' earthy and saturated colours find a nicely surprising balance in this Louis Vuitton embossed leather pochette in an acidic lime hue. You can go second-hand for that piece of luxury you deserve."

"My country wants red as the go-to and super lucky colour for the festivities, including NYE. But this year, I want some gold and sunshine in my makeup.

Swirl Benefit Galifornia blush on the apples of your cheeks and forehead for an instant healthy glow. Galifornia is more of a warm peachy shade with a sweet and exotic fruity scent. For more gold and lush I would ask imPRESS, it replies with its 'Luxurious' press-on nails dipped in champagne gold and pearls. If time is running low, I trust the brands' innovative cushioned glue pads for extra hold and its superb salon-worth designs.

I almost convinced myself to celebrate this year!"

Find Valentina's picks
Dress - Jacket - Boots - Earrings - Bracelets - Handbag - Blush - Nails 

Katie’s New Year's Eve Look

Katies New year Look
"2022 is right around the corner and people across the world are readying themselves for fresh starts, inspirational Instagram stories and resolutions that they will definitely stick to this year. The best way to channel this positivity and abundance into your New Year" - says Katie Bowman, social media intern at Fashions Finest - "is to dress for success, or so the old saying goes."

"This year I will be ringing in the New Year with my best friend and her daughter at their home, so my take on the glamour and glitz of New Year’s Eve may differ from previous years. By this I mean pyjamas.

This pale pink satin trouser pyjama set from John Lewis is the perfect co-ord to sip strawberry daiquiris on the sofa. To keep in with the pink colour scheme, these pink fluffy slide slippers from Ugg matched with this cosy dressing gown from Boux Avenue will make you the envy of everyone who decided to party out in the cold.

So whether you’re out in the club, staying in with friends or asleep before the clock strikes midnight, have a wonderful and safe New Year and enjoy the night in style."


Find Katie's picks:
Pijama set - Slippers - Dressing gown 

Sophie’s New Year's Eve Look

Sophies New year Look
"I have mainly chosen this outfit because you could wear this outfit for any occasion. You do not have to underdress or be overdressed. This is more a sort of casual wear."

Sophie Schot, creative media student and media intern at Fashions Finest, embodies a young and practical take on the festivities.

Find Sophie's picks:
Skirt - Sweatshirt - Boots - Earrings 

What a way to wave goodbye to 2021! There are many ways to dress up for New Year's Eve, all varied and still valid, whether you plan to spend the last night of the year partying all night out or staying in all wrapped up nice and cosy.

Mixing and matching our favourite clothing and wishlist picks was a fun game and a good style exercise. Fun aside and most importantly, our NYE stylebook wants to be more than a simple shopping guide. Indeed, it is not.

We like to think we are like no other e-zine around. We do not want you to feel compelled to buy so that you can feel gratified and conformed. Fashion should make you both look good and feel happy. You can do it in many ways; for example, you can join the secondhand brigade and give new life to pre-loved clothing online or in-store. You can buy to support a cause dear to you, wear independent and handmade labels, rent a luxury outfit or even design and sew your own holiday outfit! Being fashion smart is always among the latest trends, and there is no shame at all in wearing something casual on New Year's Eve or repurposing glam pieces to spice up your daily outfits.

Use this NYE outfit stylebook to steal some great tips. Save on money (and headaches), not on fashion!

Published in Blog
Friday, 24 September 2021 15:28

8 Tips and Tricks: Crafting a Sustainable Style

In 2021, as sustainability becomes a buzzword in the industry, we are increasingly opting for ‘pre-owned’ / ‘pre-loved’ garments found in charity shops, online auction sites, curated vintage shops, and luxury reseller platforms. But secondhand shopping is not the end of this movement towards a sustainable fashion future. This past year the creativity of looks has become an important marker of style, inspired often by snackable videos of DIY fashion projects proliferating Tiktok.

nafinia-putra-WgRj6Hc7yZw-unsplash.jpgPhoto by Nafinia Putra, Unsplash.

Sustainable fashion isn’t just about spending hours, physically and virtually, rummaging around secondhand shops to find the most unique item. By giving your garments a personalised touch with these 8 tips and tricks on crafting a sustainable style, we can wear our clothes with pride, no matter if it is ‘in fashion’ or not.

 

By reworking your secondhand steals or mending the back-of-the-wardrobe relics through these tips and tricks, not only will your wardrobe be reinvigorated by authentic staples at a low-to-no cost but it also builds your personalised style.  

Embroidering The Imagination

Nothing says sustainable style more than embellishing your clothes with DIY crafts. Hand embroidery has been practised all over the world for centuries, meaning there are multitudes of techniques and styles to try your hand at. Using transfers, stencils or going free-hand on your jean pockets or hems, around a logo on a t-shirt, or on the cuff and collar of a shirt will add your unique signature to your style.

You can also add beads or sequins to your embroidery too.

##sunflower ##embroidery ♬ sunflower -


To Paint Or To Print

Whilst embroidery may be for those who want a more subtle impact, painting or printing on garments you will achieve a large-scale, unapologetically bold impact. Fabric paints (acrylics can work too) can be used to create individual figurative or abstract designs. 100% cotton fabric will respond the best to the paint but you can try your designs on synthetic fabrics, silk or leather - but before you get going, make sure you test the paint out on a segment of your chosen fabric.

For those who have less time or are less confident in their artiste skills, you can print images through an ink-jet printer onto transfer paper and iron the product onto your chosen garment. 

##paintedjeans ##paintingart Programs - Mac Miller


Button It

However, DIY crafts can be fiddly and not everyone has the time or patience. There is a simpler way to rework your old garments such as simply adding or changing buttons on a shirt, jumper, trousers or skirt. If you’re like me, you have probably accumulated hundreds of stray buttons in your lifetime that you can use. If you are not, why not consider swapping some buttons from other garments around?

##learnontiktok ##tiktokpartner ##sewing BONES - Mahrah
 


Patch It Up

In the past 18 months, there has been a resurgence in the ‘make do and mend’ mentality, recalling the war-time sentiment. Rather than throwing away clothes with holes in or looking past a garment with a stain on, you can elongate the lifetime of your pieces through patchwork. By patching up holes or stains with scrap materials from pillows, table cloths or kitchen towels you can re-energise the signs of wear-and-tear. Darning holes with opposing coloured thread also offers a new lease of life to your garment.

Ready-made patches can also be bought or you can create your own through embroidery.

original sound - jitterbybug


New Day, New Dye

Dyeing your garment is a sure way to invigorate your clothes with a new lease of life. Some materials such as cotton, silk etc. will respond better to dyes. Reminiscent of the '60s Summer of Love, tie-dye has made a comeback. By following a tie-dye kit or the DIY bleach method, you can imbue your style with a blast of ecstasy whilst California Dreamin’ rings in your ear.

You can also simply dye your item in block colours with dyes from your local craft shop or online.

original “sound - Teresa Caruso


Alteration Station

Altering your clothes is another option. This is not for the faint-hearted though. If you are not confident with the processes of altering, find your nearest tailors. Before embarking on a journey to the tailors, make sure you have a measuring tape handy so you can go in prepared with the details of what you want to do. You can ask to get things taken in, up and sometimes out depending on the garment. You can also ask to change the style entirely.

original sound - Kaitlyn
 


Simply Accessorize

Sustainable styling can also be about reducing expenses. If you have got a big event coming up and you have the urge to buy something new that you might not wear again, why not just look for accessories to reinvigorate your outfit like a scarf or some jewellery?

Groove Is in the Heart - The 90’s Band!


Reducing Time / Reducing Choice

Sustainable style can also be about reducing choice and time spent on daily outfits. You could plan your outfits around what you're doing in a week to save time. Or even pick a colour you could focus around this week. Or perhaps a specific silhouette. This way you can really start to narrow down your wardrobe and realise that you don’t need a lot of clothes to be stylish.

This way you can really start to narrow down your wardrobe and realise that you don’t need a lot of clothes to develop your personal style. This narrow approach is perfect if you are packing to go away: reducing space in the suitcase.

original sound - BuzzFeed!


Conscious consumption habits are not the end of the discussion around sustainable fashion. By approaching your everyday fashion looks through the lens of constant renewal through creative means, we begin to gain a greater appreciation for our clothes. This renewed appreciation allows us to move toward a more cyclical fashion industry and away from our inclination to consume and waste. And TikTok has the answers!

Published in Blog
Thursday, 27 December 2018 15:12

Menswear-Inspired Pieces for Women

5 Menswear Inspired Pieces for Women result
Photo source: Unsplash

In high-fashion and fast-fashion menswear-inspired pieces have become an indispensable part of many a collection. Take for instance, Erdem, who created an entire spring 2019 line inspired by “Stella and Fanny, who in fact were Frederick Park and Ernest Boulton, who lived as women in the 1860s.” The collection is absolutely stunning, and it’s a perfect amalgamation of the masculine pieces turned feminine. Women have been drawing inspiration for their outfits for decades – just look at Diane Keaton in Annie Hall – the woman actually took actual menswear pieces and made them her own.

Decades later, we’re still obsessed with this type of style, and given that numerous designers have created brand new pieces of this variety for us to integrate into our outfits, let’s see what the five essential menswear-inspired garments are and how we can rock them and still retain a certain air of femininity.

The Bold Type

The bold type result
Photo source: Unsplash

Not just a name of a TV series, but an ultra-glamorous, surprisingly feminine look completely snagged from the gentlemen. We’ve gotten pretty familiar with the concept of the power suit, but one of the biggest fashion icons of today – Blake Lively, has taken it upon herself to show us how it’s really done. The actress has recently appeared to a number of events rocking conspicuously men-inspired suits, complete with wide-leg pants – like in those older, more traditional men’s suits, and she has even upgraded the look with pinstripes, vests and even ties. Just looking at her makes us wonder – is it Blake, or do suits actually look better on women? Dear fellas, we didn’t want to step onto your territory, but if suits keep getting this good, we just might be obliged to.

The Best Of Both Worlds

The best of both worlds result
Photo source: Unsplash

Sure, sneakers are universal. However, most sportswear brands have made sure that there is a clear distinction between men’s and women’s sneakers. However, we did manage to find a loophole in one of the world renowned Skechers brand, which has somehow managed to create the perfect sneakers which are in no one’s and both lands at the same time. The design and some of the colors are clearly masculine, but we can totally picture ourselves pulling a Bella Hadid and rocking them full-athleisure style with black leggings, a puffer jacket and a hoodie. Just as no one puts baby in the corner, no one tells us which colors of sneakers are for women. We will be making that decision, thank you very much.

Take It Away

Take it away result
Photo source: Unsplash

The next time you go shopping for shirts, make sure you turn left or right – wherever the men’s department is. That is where you will find the impeccable and iconic crisp, white Oxford shirt that you can rock perfectly. Men’s shirts have, for some reason, always been better than women’s, so just grab one in a size that will fit you right – meaning, a tad loose, but in your size and you can rock it with a great deal of items. It’s such a versatile piece of clothing that you can rock it with a full-on power suit, high-rise culottes and a fitted blazer, on its own with a cool pair of boyfriend jeans, or even with a pencil skirt. Leave a few buttons undone for an air of nonchalance, roll up the sleeves when the mood strikes you, and voila – you have the perfect top for any and every occasion.

They’re already called that

Theyre already called that result
Photo source: Unsplash

We’ve already mentioned them, but they still do deserve a room of their own – the mighty boyfriend jeans. We have a firm belief that boyfriend jeans will never go out of style, as they are the perfect mixture of masculine and feminine vibes. The degree of the individual ‘vibe’ always depends on what you pair them with. If worn with an oversized blazer and oxford shoes – you’ll definitely have a more masculine look. If worn with a fitted blazer, a dressy top or an ultra-breezy feminine blouse, they’ll lean more on the feminine side. That is what makes them so perfect – their incredible power of modification and transformation. That is what also makes them one of the must-haves.

The Original Boy Piece

The original boy piece result
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We’ve come to our last must-have piece, one that you probably already own, but perhaps weren’t aware it originally belonged to men. Yes, it’s one of the first pieces we took and made our own – the motto leather jacket. Hey, it’s such a cool and versatile piece that can, given the right combo, look super-edgy and even make you look a little tough if you want to, or be completely casual and. It’s no wonder we drew inspiration from men, adapted the jacket to fit and flatter our bodies and it’s now a signature staple of women’s fashion.

So, now that we’ve come to the end, how many of these items do you own and which ones will you be purchasing first? Hey, if you have a man in your life – steal his Oxford shirt. We steal their hoodies, why stop there?

Published in Blog
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