Category: Fashion Forward

  • Keep your beauty products on you, not your clothes

    According to Cosmopolitan magazine,  lipstick, foundation, and deodorant stains can do a number on your clothes, and so can that spritz of perfume. Most fragrances are alcohol-based, and the alcohol will react with a silk or satin blouse and disrupt the color. The neck’s natural body oils can also discolor the collars of suede and…

  • Upscale classic.

    Since its founding in 1963. St. John Knits has set the standard for classic wool and rayon knits, Chanel-inspired jackets and pure, primary colors. Today, St. John is sold in specialty stores in 29 countries and 27 company-owned boutiques with annual sales over $325 million. A classic St. John garment has knit-in hems and an…

  • Chino alert.

    Warm weather means chinos for most guys, dressed up with a white cotton shirt, dressed down with t-shirt or polo. Chinos come in colors way beyond khaki; we’re seeing classic blue, green, grey, brown and black. And there are a lot more colors in chinos than ever before (try Dockers).  For a crisp tailored look,…

  • Veiled wedding.

    The right veil adds elegance, romance and the finishing touch for a bride’s walk down the aisle. Refinery29 reviews  ten veils with a modern vibe to match almost any gown. Shorter veils are ideal for garden-party or City Hall nuptials. Or choose a full-length tulle veil embroidered with a lace appliqué floral crown. Choose a…

  • Summer fashion.

    According to fashion blog Marie Claire , this summer you’ll see oversize silhouettes marrying the nonchalance of streetwear and athleisure trends with perfectly baggy T-shirt or blazer. Animal prints are back, providing a touch of wild with timeless appeal. Metallic looks are back, from subtle hints of woven metallic thread to all out runway-ready golds…

  • Denim, America’s favorite fabric.

    When Gold Rush miners needed durable workwear, a pioneering merchant by the name of Levi Strauss used serge de Nîmes to create a riveted “waist overall” that changed fashion forever. Until the 1950’s the best denim in the world was made in the US, but  manufacturers bought new large looms, replaced indigo with synthetic dyes…

  • Beanie or stocking cap, there’s nothing warmer.

    Pull on a snug knitted cap to keep out the cold and add some style to your bundled-up look. Knit or crocheted hats made of natural fibers should be handwashed in cool water. Soak for twenty minutes in a mild detergent, agitate gently and never squeeze or wring. Rinse in cool water, lay flat and…

  • Tweed isn’t just for English professors anymore.

    The classic woolen fabric is looking modern in slimmed-down menswear jacket and coats this winter. Rough Harris tweed is hand-woven, Donegal’s known by its thick slubs of woven-in colored yarns, and Herringbone is the most classic with its V-shaped parallel lines. Plush modern tweeds aren’t itchy or hot and look great with a classic white…

  • Luxury goat hair.

    Luxe cashmere comes from the underbelly of goats living in the Gobi desert. When the goats molt in late spring, workers comb to remove the undercoat of superfine fibers from the belly. After cleaning and refining, the fibers are spun into yarn. Before you invest in a cashmere garment, check for loose fibers prone to…

  • Time for plaid.

    Back in the 1500’s, plaid patterns identified rival Scottish clans. Great Britain banned wearing plaid for the last half of the 18th century to punish for the Scots rebellion. By the time plaid made it across the Atlantic, it was adopted by cowboys, lumberjacks and, in the 90’s, grunge bands like Nirvana popularized the classic/cool patterns.…