This post will give some style advice on how to look perfect in stripes and find ones which flatter you rather than make you look scruffy.

Betsey Johnson – Stripes Zippers Cardigan (Black) – Apparel

Colorful or monochrome stripes?

It depends on your taste and personal style. But simple stripes have always been the most elegant and it’s easy to match them with other items.

Liz Golf – Ribbed Stripe Turtleneck (Cream/Overcast Heather) – Apparel

Black and white stripes are classic and fashionable.

If you prefer red, pink or yellow stripes, be careful as you can dress tastelessly.

Three Dots – Thermal Stripe L/S Crewneck (Raindrop) – Apparel

Who can wear stripes?

Everybody can wear stripes. All depends on the style chosen and the mood of a person.

• If you feel light-hearted and easy, choose colorful and wide stripes.

• If you prefer urban style, opt for elegant thin stripes. They will always look good.

Stripes can be very tricky and your figure might look fabulous.

French Connection – Ribbon Knits Dress (Black/Grey) – Apparel

Know how to wear stripes to flatter your figure:

• Horizontal stripes are good for boyish figures as they create curves due to the depth they give. And vertical stripes make you look slimmer because they give an elongated look to your body.

• Horizontal stripes are to stay away from if you are curvy, have a big bust, or are chunky around the middle. Be especially careful with tops which cling around your bust and waist. Opt for darker colors, they have a slimming effect.

• If you just cannot do without horizontal stripes, wear them loose. Follow a go 1-size-up rule, to stop them clinging too tightly and having a widening effect.

• To create a longer and leaner look, opt for vertically striped skirts or trousers and a solid-colored top or T-shirt. Diagonal stripes will do the same.

• Too many stripes are not good. A single piece is stylish, head-to-toe is not.

• Darker stripes are better if you want to hide your problem areas. Colorful stripes will look nice on young girls and ageing on those who are the wrong side of 35.
• To hide a big bust, wear a dark top and a stripy skirt. In case you wish to hide heavy bottom do quite a reverse thing – opt for a dark bottom while wearing a stripy top. The effect will be great.

Juicy Couture – Cashmere Blend Crew Neck Sweater (Thistle) – Apparel

Here are 5 tips for you to use when choosing your winter outfits:

Tip 1: Opt for warm clothes for the upper part of your body

To keep warm you need to choose good items to dress your upper part. The main thing is to choose the right fabric and length to avoid fatter look.

Find a top with long sleeves that narrow to wrists. This can be a silky blouse or the one of another flimsy material. Don’t wear tops with wide wrist area even if those are top trendy. Cold wind can go inside and you might catch a severe chest cold.

Don a sweater or a clinging shirt over the blouse. What is important here is that the bottom part of the sweater/shirt shouldn’t be wide either, because you will look fatter. Those women who like wearing cashmere and wool know that properties of the material are what matter not the thickness of it.

Tip 2: Wear sexy but warm lingerie

If your lingerie is all the way covered with the clothes it doesn’t mean you can wear something horrible down there. Don’t sacrifice your femininity to the cold. It’s possible to find sexy but warm underwear.

Tip 3: Keep your feet warm

If you wear trousers don thin tights underneath. The best fabric for winter trousers is wool. And trousers should be tight-fitting.

If you prefer skirts, opt for warmer tights. And of course the longer the skirt the warmer you feel. Forget about skirts which widen to the bottom. Straight design is the best.

No matter what you choose, trousers or a skirt, you should wear a good pair of high boots which can protect your feet and ankles from the cold. Opt for high boots of the same color as your skirt or trousers.

Tip 4: Select the right coat

A coat or an anorak should be of high quality and warm. The length of it determines your entire look. Choose a coat that fits you well and flatters your figure. Opt for a design that lengthens your silhouette rather than shortens it.

To create a casual look, choose short coats or anoraks. But be careful as a too short anorak can create a ‘ball’ effect at the belly and you will look fatter. Hip-long coat or an anorak looks good on everyone and it is comfortable as well.

For a smart look opt for a coat that goes down your knees or a bit higher. Trapeze-shaped, short and loose coats look more casual than smart. The color of your anorak or a coat depends on the color of your clothes. Everything should go in harmony.

Tip 5. Keep your head warm

Headband, hat, kerchief, beret – there are so many types of headwear nowadays and you can easily find something that flatters you the most. Just don’t allow your head to get cold. Experiment with details (add a brooch, flower, etc.)

To stay elegant don’t forget about the makeup. Accentuate your lips. And take care of your hair, it should look good.

All these tips will make your winter look more stylish. And don’t forget about smile when you choose your clothes. Then you’ll make a better choice. Good luck!

However, there is an easier way to look good without doing much. It’s clothes that can help you to disguise problem areas and flatter your good ones. Let’s talk about the most common problems men have with their bodies.

Thin arms. Unfortunately few men can boast having huge biceps and broad shoulders. How can one camouflage this flaw with the help of clothes?

The main goal here is to distract attention from the arms. Try a loose V-neck sweater, an interesting T-shirt with a funny inscription or a polo-shirt. In other words any garment that accentuates attention on neck and chest will be a great choice.

Forget about clinging outfits. They will just emphasize the area you’d like to hide.

Opt for thicker fabrics and clothes with long sleeves.

Flabby chest. It is frustrating to note you’re getting older and your body changes to the worse, but one can hardly avoid this. Both men and women suffer the problem of a flaccid chest as a result of ageing. So, if this sproblem has already affected you, you better hide your new imperfections from the people around.

Multi-layered garments are good for you. For example, combine a T-shirt with a thin sweater.
Choose thicker and heavier fabrics.

Big belly. Yes, it appears unexpectedly and always untimely. If yesterday everyone considered you to be slim and fit, today beers you’ve consumed recently are no longer invisible. However, gym can help you to get rid of this area very fast. But until you don’t get the fit you want clothes can do that for you.

Heavy and bulky materials will add a few more inches to your already-big-enough waist. Flimsy fabrics are not an option either, as they highlight the size of your belly. What you need is dense materials of high quality.

Select trousers with a middle waist. Low-waisted designs will show how big your belly is.
Jacket can be the best to disguise this problem area. Try single-breasted and double-breatsed jackets because they can transform your shape dramatically.

Baggy clothes, especially shirts are the worst you can choose.

Small foot size. If a woman with small feet looks graceful, a man in tiny boots looks at least ridiculous. Besides, it is really difficult for men with small feet to choose shoes. And options to change the situation are limited.

Choose shoes with longer toes. But be carefull if you don’t want to look funny.
Footwear tailoring is a good option but it is rather expensive. If you can afforsd it your feet will look fabulous.

Unattractive buttocks. Men are lucky to have fewer problems with this part of their bodies. But it is a fact that women pay attention to men’s buttocks as much as to their eyes or hands. You can have a too big bottom or a small one.

If your bottom is too small opt for jeans made of thick denim. These jeans should fit you well and have hip pockets. In case you have a big bottom choose classic trousers which will help you disguise flabby thighs and buttocks.

Long torso and short legs. Proportions play a big role that is why if you have too short legs and a long torse ti is clearly seen and doesn’t look flattering.

Never ever opt for high-waited trousers. It is a common mistake that these can help. Rather, accentuate attention on your upper part. Choose an interesting jacket or a bright sweater. And of course, say no to low-waited trousers either.

Upper and lower parts should be of contrast colors. This way you’ll ‘break’ your shape into two parts and disproportion will be less noticeable.

Long legs and short torso. You can say this isn’t a problem at all. However, it is a disproportion again and it doesn’t make you look more attractive.

Low-waited trousers are the best for you.

Suits look good too but be careful when choosing the length of the jacket.

Rolled up jeans can make your legs visualy shorter.

One-color clothes will make you look tall without separating your body into upper and lower parts.

Vertical lines on your shirt will create the illusion of a longer torso.

Know more about 16 tips to dress yourself thin >>

Probably it is fashion or total enthusiasm about fitness that plays role but we see lots of ladies in their 40s showing pretty much flesh.

Spokesman for UK store Debenhams Ed Watson said:

It shows that women now have an increasing confidence in their bodies and are happy to dress accordingly. If this trend continues, there is no doubt that, within the next decade, women in their mid-40s and early-50s will rightly regard a mini skirt as an essential part of their everyday wardrobe.”

The executives of the chain decided to make some observations relating this topic. About 1000 females were involved. The results are as follows:

Girls aged 14 generally prefer a rather short skirt, but don’t wear them too short until they are 16.

Women between 16 and 19 spend on smaller minis, reducing the length from18ins to 14ins on average.

23 is the age for the tiniest skirts of all, 12.5ins on average.

When women turn 40 they tend to wear 18ins skirts, but at 42 the majority go back to more conservative styles which cover the knees.

By 51, ladies mostly opt for skirts of 32.5ins long.

Interesting, isn’t it? Do you think the length of the skirt and the age should correspond?

This is pretty normal as we need time to understand what exactly we want and need, and then with a few (or plenty!!!) ideas in mind go shopping to purchase all those nice clothes we will shine in.

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Colors

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Coats and jackets

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Handbags

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Accessories

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Shoes

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Shorts are beautiful, comfortable and multifunctional. And of course there are different styles of shorts.

It is preferable that every woman knew which styles fit her best as certain shorts can flatter the woman’s appearance much while others might absolutely ruin the view.

We’ll begin from classic shorts. These are of mid-length and are universally good. They have many names – walk shorts, day shorts, golf shorts, classic shorts, etc. – but are best recognized by an inseam of about 7 or 8 inches.

This style is great for three main reasons: it looks well on all women, makes legs look longer, and at the same time covers problem areas at upper thighs.

Slim-cut knee-length shorts are ideal for those women who want to hide their cellulite or flabby highs and still look slender.

They usually come with a low waist and tend to make legs look shorter but with a pair of heeled shoes or wedges the problem no longer exists.

Shorter shorts are most loved by younger girls because they create the illusion of longer legs. Such shorts ordinarily come with a 5-inch inseam.

But stay away from this style if you feel your legs aren’t in a perfect shape at the moment.

If you wish to hide some excessive pounds Bermuda shorts or long and wide enough shorts are the best. They do hide all those little imperfections you would like to hide and also are great and comfortable for doing lots of active things like shopping, travelling and walking.

Roll-up shorts are a nice decision for ladies with too thin legs. This style breaks up a long, thin line with cuffs thus creating a shorter but fuller figure.

The length is adjustable, so you can experiment with the length trying to find the most flattering one for you.

Every time you go to an interview, prepare for the first workday or in case it is Friday and everyone can come in more or less casual clothes – the process of thinking and choosing the right outfit is inevitable.

You should be careful each time, because if something goes wrong the best what can happen to you is listening offensive remarks from your cynical colleagues about your appearance all day long.

Interview

The interviewer IS interested in what you are wearing. To simplify the process of choosing a candidate many interviewers make notes in the margin of resumes about candidate’s appearances.

When it’s time to choose the best the interviewer will opt for a person in a perfect suit rather than a guy in a cheap jacket and dirty shoes.

It is essential to demonstrate how intelligent and skillful you are – just ideal for the job you are applying for. And your knowledge should be complemented by your flawless appearance.

It means your clothes should be a bit better than those which you can wear if you have already been hired.

The safest variant is an elegant and well-tailored suit with a three-buttoned jacket. Black and navy colors are preferable. Make sure you don’t demonstrate famous labels or top trendy accessories – you might overdo.

Before you go to the interview wearing your suit, have a short walk in it, FEEL it, get used to it. An awkward and strained look of a person wearing a new suit is not what you want.

Opt for a white shirt with no patterns, a tie in a muted hue, elegant black shoes and black socks. Check your view from the back.

First working day

Think about what your colleagues wear to work. You will be the center of attention for a few first days at work, and the less you look different, the better.

Don’t wear the same suit you have worn to the interview. Your boss might think you have no imagination or other clothes to put on.

If you had no opportunity to see what your colleagues wore while waiting for the interview, go on the safe side: dress in an elegant three-buttoned suit of lighter colors with a solid shirt.

Usual working day

If your salary isn’t very high now and you can’t afford to purchase several suits, two of them will be quite enough.

But in this case you need a few sweaters, shirts and ties which you can successfully combine with jackets and trousers available in your wardrobe.

Buy several items that match each other well and get plenty of nice combinations!

If you don’t have to wear a suit all the time opt for simple pants which fit you well, a single-breasted jacket, a plain shirt and a pair of shoes of high quality.

When people get used to their new work place they often start experimenting with their style trying to express their individuality.

Be careful not to overdo. Your boss will hardly be glad to know he’s hired a clown. Choose socks that match the color of your trousers and shoes.

And remember that the color of your belt should coincide with the color of your shoes.

Getting a promotion

Getting ready to talk about the promotion or a salary increase try to look convincing and be well-dressed. Try the interview variant again: an elegant dark suit, a solid shirt and a tie.

If the suit is not necessary to wear, don a light jacket and classic trousers. Choose the outfit you feel comfortable in. If you are sure you look good your boss will notice that you look good!

Casual Friday

Casual Friday is a day when you can breathe freely and wear some less formal garments. However, this doesn’t mean you can come in shorts and sneakers.

Try to stay elegant. Cotton trousers are perfect. Combine them with a solid shirt (avoid bright colors and variegated plaids), a polo shirt or a nice pullover. Beige shoes or dark suede boots will go well.

Clothes should be chosen carefully taking into consideration lots of factors, including style, color, size, detailing, etc.

However, one should know that there are so-called wardrobe staples, pieces every woman must have to be able to create the most perfect image.

These are usually dark-toned items intended to give a classic look.

The list of must-haves includes:

Two pairs of dark trousers – either black, brown or navy blue. Opt for a slim cut in a wool crepe or a year-round cotton. One pair of dark trousers should go well for evening wear.

Two pairs of jeans – reserved-toned. One pair should be hemmed for heels and the other – for flats.

Three skirts – an A-line skirt which works for all body types, a pencil skirt and a skirt in a neutral fabric and color to mix and match with others items like tweed, wool or boucle.

Shirts - a white button front shirt and a few shirts of muted tones.

Three sweaters – opt for a lightweight, merino or cashmere fabric. One sweater should be black and suit with your black trousers ideally.

The second one needs to be more neutral like off-white, camel or taupe. And the third sweater must be the one you like much and feel comfortable in. It has to be simple and look pretty both with jeans and a skirt.

Two Jackets – one is for office wear – a tailored jacket that looks nice with your black pants; and another is just a good sporty leather jacket.

Three coats – a classic trench coat with a zip-out wool liner for multiple seasons, a transition coat of knee-length that is great for both day and night, and a warm winter coat in a wool or cashmere blend.

Dress – the only thing you need here is a little black dress that can give a good go to everything well combined with the dress.

Three handbags – a usual classic leather bag which matches absolutely everything, a big tote bag for huge things, and a beautiful clutch for the evening.

5 pairs of shoes - a pair of black pumps with an average heel in a the classic or current style, a pair of evening shoes made in black satin or suede with a closed toe, a pair of sneakers, high black boots and boots for rainy or snowy weather depending on the climate.

Having all these in your wardrobe means you can always look good by combining them with each other and adding other suitable styles as well.

Experiment and find what looks best!

Lens design

If you are careful about your eyes and all concerning that I am sure you have already consulted with your eye doctor about the type of lens design. There are two general options: single-vision lenses or multifocal lenses.

Single-vision lenses are intended for correcting a single vision problem. Such lenses function as all purpose glasses for persons who have normal accommodations.

They can also be worn by those who normally wear bifocals or trifocals for distance or near (reading) lenses.

Single vision lenses can also be used as occupational glasses for certain types of work.

Multifocal lenses work to correct more than one vision problem (for example, nearsightedness and presbyopia). There are different types of multifocal lenses:

• Bifocals: These lenses are divided into two sections. The top part is for distance vision and the bottom part is for close vision. The two segments on the glasses are seen clearly as there is a line dividing the area.
The segment for close-up vision commonly has one of the following shapes at the bottom of the lens:

o A half-moon, also named a flat-top, straight-top, or D segment. This is the most popular type of bifocal.
o A narrow rectangular area, also named a ribbon segment.
o A round segment.
o A full bottom half of a lens, named the Franklin, Executive, or E style.

• Trifocals as well as bifocals come in a variety of designs. Flat top trifocals are the most widely used form. Visible lines divide the lens into 3 sections: the top is for distance, the middle for intermediate vision, and the bottom for close-up vision.

The added segment provides clear vision at arm’s length distance, the area that is usually blurred for bifocal wearers. These can be useful for people who need to work or read at 2 distances.
• Progressive lenses: Progressive lenses have a smooth transition between the sections of the lens with no line dividing the sections. Both bifocals and trifocals can be progressive. However, there is a drawback here – some distortion on the outer edges of the lenses.

But many people prefer progressive lenses for the cosmetic advantage they have – they never reveal the user wears bifocals as there is no line of distinction between the sections of the lens.

Materials

Glass has been the only material possible for many centuries. It has plenty of positive sides but there are disadvantages either.
• Regular glass lenses are not as easy to scratch as plastic lenses. Besides, they are used for many types of prescriptions. But they are heavier than plastic lenses.
• High-index or aspheric glass lenses are made of material that is compressed; as a result less material is used than for regular glass lenses production. High-index lenses are much thinner than normal lenses and can be ideal for people with a strong correction who would ordinarily need very thick glasses.

The purpose of using high-index material and special design techniques is to make the lenses thinner and provide built-in protection against ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Plastic was invented not so long ago but it has become the primary material for many industries including eyeglass lenses production.

• Hard resin lenses are much lighter than glass lenses, almost half the weight. Hard resin lenses are more durable but more easily scratched than glass.

• High-index or aspheric plastic lenses have the same effect as high-index glass lenses. These lenses are manufactured from a compressed material to make lenses thinner and provide built-in protection against ultraviolet (UV) rays.

• Polycarbonate lenses are extremely impact-resistant that makes them popular with athletes, people who need safety glasses for work and kids. Polycarbonate lenses are light and comfortable, and have built-in UV protection.

Coatings

• UV coating provides protection for your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. A UV coating can be found on both tinted and clear lenses.

If you choose polycarbonate and high-index lenses remember they already have UV protection.
• Scratch-resistant coating is particularly helpful for plastic lenses, because they are more easily scratched than glass.

• Antireflective coating: This coating is particularly effective for reducing eye fatigue for computer operators and anyone driving at night. Besides, antireflective lenses enhance appearance by removing all distracting reflections. However, be extra careful with such glasses as the coating can easily wear away.

• Mirror coating is popular with those who dislike anybody seeing their eyes. They can come in a variety of colors.

This coating protects the eyes of the wearer against glare from surfaces such as water or snow.

• Tinted lenses can be tinted in a range of colors. All lens materials except glass can be tinted in any color desired.

Shades of any color ranges from 1 to 4 with 3 being the most common sunglass shade ordered. Solid and gradient tints are available.

• Photochromatic lenses can be a good option for those who need to go in and out often as the lenses automatically darken when you go outdoors and return to normal when you go back indoors.

• Polarized lenses are perfect for outdoor wear. They tend to cut down on glare and give better clarity and depth perception.

But in the rush for trends they can absolutely forget about things men should never do.

Guys, remember, even one only fashion mistake can ruin your entire look! Here are the most common fashion mistakes men make when dressing.

1. Too many colors

You can attract lots of attention wearing a multicolored outfit but this is hardly the attention you are looking for. Restrict the number of colors in your clothes up to three hues and try to choose simple garments. Contrast colors look great together (for example, blue and orange) but do not use too much of them.

As for the tints which are close in the palette (red, pink), they are rarely combinable effectively.

2. Too many patterns

The most radical choice should be limited to three patterns. But to look really good and appropriate opt for one printed garment and a few solid ones.

3. Too many fabrics

Each fabric belongs to a special ‘type’. So, silk is more official than denim and flax is more democratic material. Leather looks more masculine than tweed.

That is why it is significant to combine fabrics basing not only on their texture and color, but also on the ‘type’.

Besides, one should differentiate between summer and winter wardrobe. It might seem strange but men often wear clothes made of heavy thick material in warm weather.

4. Stains

Before putting the garment into the washing machine one should make sure there are no stains on it. If there are ones they might not wash off. Nothing can be more horrible than a perfectly washed suit with stains.

5. Unseasonable clothing

I know it sounds funny but sometimes one can put on a summer garment during winter or vice versa. To avoid that, separate your clothes seasonally and hang them in different closets.

6. Too long/short pants

Try on pants and jeans before you buy them. If the length is wrong even the trendiest pair will look bad.

Remember that khaki pants and suit pants should not go lower than the upper part of your heel.

Jeans can be a bit longer and cover the heel, but avoid choosing a too long model. Shorter pants will create the illusion of shorter legs.

Ensure that your socks aren’t seen when you walk. And just an inch or two of your socks can be seen when you sit down.

7. Too high waist

If nature granted you with a short torso and long legs you need to wear low-waisted pants with front pockets. However, this model will look perfectly on those men who have an ideal tummy.

8. Length of T-shirt

If a T-shirt is too long one will never be able to tuck it in trousers neatly.

Any top should end right at the middle of the fly. If it is shorter than that, your back will expose each time you bend forward.

Try to find a brand that suits you best. This can take long time but the result will be great.

9. Too heavy top

Bright colors, catchy patterns, provocative words and famous logotypes are great but only in certain situations.

In most cases monotone T-shirts will look much more appropriate.

10. Crumpled clothes

One should be always neat and well dressed. This is impossible to achieve if the man doesn’t iron his clothes.

In no way I want to say that men don’t iron their outfits. It’s just that sometimes men don’t pay attention to details. For instance, crumpled fabric between buttons looks terrible.

If you travel much there is always a problem that clothes can get crumpled after a few journeys.

If that happens, wet the crumpled spot and smooth it with your fingers, then dry it off with fan if you have it.

11. Poorly knotted tie

As practice shows the art of knotting a tie is hard but feasible if you train a few times.

And don’t forget that a classic tie should go down to the man’s belt, no shorter or longer.

12. Socks plus sandals

Never ever do that! If you buy sandals forget about socks!

Well, I think this advice will help you look better and more attractive.