Live music offers a fantastic fashion scene. Often full of a mixture of trends, old and new purchases and creativity loving people, each event is a great way to showcase your individual style. With this seasons fashion trends you can pick from a fantastic range of color palettes, prints and fabrics to really stand out in the crowd. Whether you are off to see Beyonce or an up and coming local band, it is important to wear your best to feel your best. Here are some top tips on how to achieve the perfect look for the occasion…

Be Cool
Standing in a crowd at a live music event can get pretty hot. Wearing a Short sleeved t-shirt, shirt or dress is the perfect way to stay cool and have the freedom to dance the night away. The roomier and lighter the material the better. Tribal patterned jersey tops and cutesy baby doll dresses are ideal.

Wear Flats
To avoid stinging feet go for flat or low heeled shoes to really enjoy the performance, if you can’t see…shimmy to the front of the crowd! Old school favorites such as converse trainers and vintage style boots can certainly be spotted at a concert – they are as comfortable and stylish as can be.

Accessorize
Concerts are the best way to show off your favorite accessories…all at once! This scene promotes an ‘anything goes’ attitude to style and wearing layers of bangles, bracelets and rings can create a very fun, creative and individual look.

Add Neck detail
Concert fashion follows the themes of festival fashion so wearing necklaces or scarves is a fantastic way to give your outfit the finishing touch. Bright and patterned accessories can really lift a neutral outfit. The collar is a current must-have and is an ideal way to add a hint of glamor to the shabby chic look.

Enjoy Pattern
The High Street is full of pattern right now and concerts are a great place to try out new styles. The clash is in, cracked nail polish is trending and there is an emphasis on enjoying experimenting. Try wearing dotty prints for a fun and feminine look.

Love Color
If you want to stand out in the crowd be to sure to add plenty of color to your outfit. If you are a less is more kind of party-goer, add a hint of beautiful bolds to your outfit with a ring, bracelet or hair accessory. There is a huge range of gorgeous colored jeans and skirts on the High Street right now which will carry your wardrobe right through to summer.

Written by guest writer Hayley from Design Jotter

Images: topshop.com, boohoo.com, missselfridge.com, schuh.co.uk, jarlolondon.co.uk

During the cold winter months, many of us dream about a warmer and sunnier place to run away to and some of us might actually be planning a vacation. Packing for your vacation can sometimes be tricky. You want to bring all your favorite summer pieces, but still leave enough space for some extra shopping. In case you are lost in your packing and need some help, here are some tips on what to take on vacation.

The good thing about packing summer clothes is that they are usually light and don’t take much space in our bags. When packing for your vacation, try and imagine all scenarios during your vacation and what you will be doing. If you are going on a relaxed beach holiday with some sightseeing, try and plan your clothes accordingly. Vary the colors and patterns so that you can mix and match the outfits but at the same time just by using a few pieces. Here are some things that you should bring with you:

1. Dresses. These usually don’t take much space, so pack a few with different styles and patterns. Summer day dresses are usually flowy and can be worn many times without needing a lot of washes. Make sure you bring a maxi dress, because this is a comfortable dress to wear both during the day or in the evening. Bring some shorter dresses, maybe one day dress and one evening dress so you can vary them depending on the occasion.

2. Tops. These are very practical to wear when it gets really hot and they usually don’t take a lot of space. Make sure to bring a top that can cover your shoulders, to avoid getting burned.

3. Shorts. This is a must for a beach holiday. Bring a pair of comfortable shorts, because these might be what you are gonna want to wear almost every day. You can mix and match the tops with your shorts and for the evening you can match them with a nicer blouse or shirt.

4. Swimwear. What is a beach holiday without swimwear? Try and pack different styles of swimwear, like one set of bikini and one-piece. Vary the colors of your swimwear so that you don’t get tired of wearing the same colors everyday.

5. Shoes. When packing shoes, try and bring a great variety because summer shoes tend to give us blisters when we are not used to wearing them all the time. So bring some comfortable sandals and flip flops. For the evenings, bring yourself a pair of heels like comfortable wedges.

6. Accessories. When packing summer clothes, you are gonna need to bring some accessories to match with your outfits. Bring some jewelry that goes well with most of your outfits, so that you don’t need to bring too much. Sunglasses is a must when it comes to accessories, so choose a pair that goes with your style. A summer hat is very useful when going to a hotter climate and where the sun is stronger. Don’t forget to bring a beach bag, where you can fit all your things that you need for the beach or other excursions on your vacation.

Enjoy your vacation!

Image: polyvore.com

Another Christmas has passed by and we are now gearing up for the next big event of the year, New Years Eve! To celebrate the last day of the year, it’s important to dress up nice for the occasion. And the best way of ringing in the new years is to do it with lots of sparkle and colors. New Years Eve is the only day of the year when you can wear the most glamorous and sparkling outfit without feeling overdressed, so be prepared to go all in. It might be difficult to choose the right outfit for the occasion so here are a few tips along the way on what to wear for New Years Eve.

Metallic
This year the metallic trend is very hot, so going for a silver, bronze or gold sequined dress can never go wrong. Match the sequin dress with a pair of neutral heels, like a pair in black and a matching clutch.

Feathers
Feathers has always been associated with glam, especially for New Years Eve. If you want to go that extra mile to add some hot glam to your outfit, try out a dress with feathered bottom, like this one in black.

Winter colors
If you want to dress up in colors, go for one of the hot winter color trends like deep teal, dark green or burgundy like this one. Match the dress with something extra sparkly like a sequin clutch and matching heels.

Animal print
This year has been the year of animal prints in fashion. It’s a trend that you cannot miss and for New Years Eve it will definitely give that extra glam to your outfit. Add a pair of golden heels and matching clutch.

Over the top
If you’re not scared of sticking out at the New Years Eve party and follow the trend from the red carpet, try this pink and gold dress with a puff at the side. This will definitely give you attention at the party. Keep the accessories neutral, like a pair of black heels and matching clutch.

Less is more
If you like more neutral colors, then try something in nude pink with small beads. Or else keep it simple in a slim fitted black dress. Match your dress with something extra glamorous, like a pair of golden heels and matching clutch.

Image: polyvore.com

Sequin has been in fashion for many seasons and this season that extra shimmer on outfits might be hotter than ever. As we are moving into the festive seasons, sequin becomes the main attraction in clothing. Sequin is a great way of adding that extra sparkle to your outfit, whether it’s for a day look or an evening look.

For some people sequin might feel like a difficult material to wear and to get it right, not to feel over dressed or too sparkly. Here are a few tips on how to wear sequin.

1. Match it well. When you are planning to wear sequin, it’s important not to overdo it with sequin. If you are wearing a sequin mini skirt, match it with a simple and plain top. Or if you are wearing a sequin embellished top, match it with some simple for the bottom like a pair of leggings or skinny jeans. Remember that the sequin has to be the star of the outfit and keep the rest simple and neutral.

2. Accessorize. If you feel that a sequin skirt or top is too much for you, you can try a lot of other options when it comes to sequin. Today you will find sequin embellished accessories everywhere, from handbags to shoes. So why not try a pair of sequin heels for a night out, while you keep the rest of the outfit more neutral. Or go for a sequin clutch to give that extra sparkle to your evening outfit.

3. Vary with the colors. Sequin comes in everything from black to red and gold. Have fun with your outfit and try different colors when choosing your sequin piece. This season the metallic hues are very trendy, so try a gold, silver or bronze shimmer to your look.

4. Keep the cut simple. When choosing your sequin pieces, look for simple cuts like tank tops, blazers, t-shirts and plain skirts. This will keep the look more subtle and sophisticated in that glamorous way.

5. Less accessories. If you are wearing sequin on a piece of clothing, then hold back on the accessories. The more sequin you are wearing, the less accessories you need. Keep in mind that the sequin is the statement in your outfit and you don’t want to compete with that with accessories.

Lauren Conrad wearing a black sequin blazer with a grey dress.

Shantel VanSanten wearing silver sequin shorts and a red button-down shirt.

Odette Yustman wearing a silver sequin skirt with a grey top and black blazer.

Image: polyvore.com, fabsugar.com, fashionfame.com, onsugar.com

Christmas is only a day away and most people might have prepared all their Christmas presents. But for those of you who are still running around in panic looking for a last minute gift for your loved one, here’s some tips that might help you along the way in finding a Christmas gift for him.

1. Warm sweater. In Christmas time, there’s nothing more needed than a warm and cozy sweater. If he loves fashion, go for a knitted cardigan like this one in navy blue by John Smedley for $199.

2. Watch. Guys and watches is a match made in heaven. If there’s one type of accessory that guys like, it has to be watches. Check what style and colors of watches that he already has and try and find a different one to complement his wardrobe. Having different styles and colors of watches gives him more options to match depending on what clothes he wears. If he likes simple and clean designs, then try this one by Swiss Railway for $175.

3. Perfume. This is a very practical and appreciated gift and something that you cannot have too much of. Choosing a scent that you like will create a very personalized gift for him. Try this one by Ralph Lauren for $56.

4. Scarf. For the cold winter months it’s always nice to have a warm winter scarf. When it comes to scarves, it’s important to wear something very comfortable and soft to the skin. Go for a style that you think he would like with colors that complements his wardrobe. Try this one by Burberry for $375.

5. Gloves. If your loved one already has a winter scarf, then why not give him a pair of gloves to complement the look? Gloves comes in different fabrics, but for men they are very popular in leather. Try this one in camel colored leather from black.co.uk for $163.

6. Belt. Belts are something every guy needs for his wardrobe. A variety of texture and colors is very useful when matching it with his outfit. Try and find one that he doesn’t have, also knowing what style he likes. Try this one by Fossil for $30.

Image: polyvore.com

]]> http://www.fashionzest.com/style-tips/christmas-gifts-for-him/feed/ 0 http://www.fashionzest.com/style-tips/how-to-wear-leggings/ http://www.fashionzest.com/style-tips/how-to-wear-leggings/#comments Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:00:37 +0000 Jenny http://www.fashionzest.com/?p=6625

Leggings has been in fashion for quite a few years now and it seems like it won’t budge any time soon. What’s great about leggings is that it’s a very comfortable and affordable piece of clothing. But probably the best part of it is that there are so many variations of leggings with different fabrics, colors and styles. The difficult part might be to find a way how to wear each style in a chic and trendy way. But don’t worry, here are tips on 5 ways how to wear leggings.

1. Prints like Fair Isle is very trendy this winter and not to mention knitted leggings! Try on this trend with a pair of Fair Isle knitted leggings and choose a color that you like. Match the leggings with a neutral colored over sized knitted jumper like a white, cream or grey. This will give a very cozy and wintery look and there’s a great contrast between pattern and neutrals. Complete the look with a pair of lace up ankle boots with a matching color.

2. Velvet brings a warm and wintery feel to an outfit, so try a pair of velvet leggings in a trendy color like this one in burgundy. This style of legging is a great option for a nice occasion. Match the outfit with a blazer like this one in black. Add a pair of matching sexy heels to complete the look.

3. For a very chic look, try out the knit leggings with different thickness and patterns. This creates a more playful look and works great for both day or evening wear. For a day look, keep the rest of the outfit more dressed down and neutral like adding a denim shirt and a pair of comfortable lace up boots.

4. Many leggings come with different accessories like this one with zippers. This gives an edgy look which works great both for an evening or a day look. Match the leggings with a contrasting color, like this red loose tee. Add a pair of matching shoes in the same color.

5. Don’t we all love leather? Imitation leather has been around for many seasons now and it definitely works well on leggings. You will find them in a mix of imitation leather and fabric or in full imitation leather like this one in black. Match your pair with a feminine top like a soft blouse in a contrasting color. Add a pair of sexy heels to complete the look.

There are a few basic rules when it comes to wearing leggings that you should remember. Make sure to wear the right size for you. Leggings are leggings, so don’t wear them as normal trousers. This means that you should wear them with a top which is slightly longer to cover the top of the leggings. Match your leggings with a looser top to create a nice contrast, which will make you look chic.

Images: polyvore.com

Christmas is approaching and people are planning their Christmas gifts to family and friends. But maybe the most important gift of them all is to your loved one. Are you still trying to figure out what to give to your girlfriend for Christmas this year? Well, if you are clueless then fashion is something that will always work. Here are some tips on Christmas gifts for her 2011.

1. Dress. Give your better half a cute dress with a Christmassy feel like this one in deep red from Dorothy Perkins for $24.

2. Handbag. Every woman loves a cute handbag or clutch. If you don’t know what color she prefers go for a black colored one like this clutch by Betsey Johnson for $118.

3. Jewelry. Sparkling jewelry is always a safe bet when it comes to gifts for women. Choose a piece of jewelry which has a romantic statement like these pair of heart shaped earrings from funaccessories.com.au for $4.80.

4. Shoes. Is your girlfriend a shoe fanatic? Well then nothing will work better than a pair of sexy heels. Go for a trendy pair like these snake leather heels from Zara for $90.

5. Perfume. A bottle of perfume never lasts forever so this is definitely something that will be appreciated and especially when the scent is chosen by you. One suggestion is “the one” by Dolce & Gabbana for $75.

6. Watch. A watch is the most functional piece of jewelry and something she can never have enough of. Go for a color and material that she doesn’t have and made by a designer that she likes. We recommend this watch by Marc Jacobs for $175.

We hope that this will help you in finding the perfect Christmas gift for your loved one. Merry Christmas!

Image: polyvore.com

Bird prints on clothing have become a huge trend lately. You will be able to find it on almost any type of clothing from dresses and tops to bags and jewelry. It’s definitely a trend that can be worn all year around and it brings that fresh and playful look to an outfit with that bit of innocence.

If you choose to wear a bird printed dress, choose a color that works for you. If you are going for a darker colored dress, keep the rest of the outfit in light neutral colors and the opposite for a lighter dress. For the cold winter months, add a pair of tights to your bird printed dress. Finalize the look with a nice pair of neutral colored heels or flats.

If you are wearing a bird printed top like a blouse, sweater or a tee, match it with a pair of boyfriend jeans to contrast the cute and girly with the more masculine jeans. You can also wear the bird printed top with a pair of jeans shorts and for the colder months add a pair of tights underneath. Add a pair of lace-up ankle boots for winter or flat sandals for summer.

For a more simple look with less showy bird prints, go for a bird printed handbag that matches your outfit. If the handbag has a busy print, keep your outfit more neutral and avoid other prints so they won’t clash. Adding some bird inspired jewelry will also work for a more neutral outfit to keep focus on the jewelry.

Image: polyvore.com

Even though winter weddings haven’t been the most popular one’s due to the cold season, the number of winter weddings has increased a lot in recent years. Many couples takes the opportunity to incorporate the Christmas theme into their winter weddings and make it into cozy and romantic celebration.

If you have been invited to a winter wedding, you might wonder what to wear for this occasion. Well, you need to choose the right colors and cuts that are appropriate for the season. To help you out in finding your winter wedding outfit, we took a closer look at the color trend for this winter season as well as cuts and accessories. Here are a few tips on what to wear to a winter wedding.

1. If you want to go for a Christmas theme, by wearing a red dress, first of all make sure to get a dark red hue to avoid any bright colors. Bright colors are best worn for spring or summer weddings. Make sure the dress has simple cuts and doesn’t reveal too muchYou can match your red dress with a black blazer and a pair of black platform heels, which are very trendy this season. Accessorize with some silver jewelry to complete the look.

2. Plum is a very trendy color this season and brings that wintery feel to your outfit. Match your plum colored dress with bronze, like a pair bronze shoes and jewelry. Add a faux fur wrap-around scarf to add that extra wintery and glamorous touch.

3. Velvet has been a hot fashion statement for a few seasons now and is still here to stay. You can find velvet in many colors, but if you want a more simple look go for a black velvet dress. For a hot and trendy look, find a one-shoulder cut dress and match the black with some Christmas red on the accessories. Go for a pair of red shoes and scarf and finalize the look with some gold accessories.

4. Another nice winter color for this season, which goes well for winter weddings, is the deep teal. Some weddings that have a more strict dress code might require a long gown. You will find a lot of longer gowns in winter with different fabrics and cuts. Match the teal color with some black, like a pair of black heels and black jewelry. Add a nice wrap-around faux fur scarf in a burgundy color to add some warm hues to your winter wedding outfit.

Image: polyvore.com

Beyonce was seen out and about in New York earlier this month. The singer was hiding her baby bump, wearing a red pea coat with a pair of skinny jeans and a white loose blouse. She accessorized her outfit with an animal printed scarf to try and hide that bump a bit extra. She matched her look with a pair of brown lace-up ankle boots.

Do you like Beyonce’s look? Here are a few tips on where you can find similar pieces from Beyonce’s outfit for a wallet friendly price.

1. White blouse – H&M $30

2. Red pea coat – Debenhams $261

3. ELLE skinny jeans – Kohls $27

4. Leopard print scarf – Topshop $32

5. Brown leather ankle boots – Debenhams $97

Images: fashionfame.com, polyvore.com

Do you have a lot of scarves in your wardrobe but you don’t know with what to wear them? There are many ways to wear a scarf, with simple day looks to glamorous evening outfits. Here are a few tips on ways to wear a scarf.

1. For a warm fall day, you can wear a light floral scarf with a day dress. Match the outfit with a pair of riding leather boots and a cool floppy hat. This gives that bohemian look, which works great when you feel like wearing something comfortable but also chic.

2. For a more edgy look on a cool fall or winter day, you can match a knitted scarf with a leather jacket and black skinny jeans. Complete your look with a pair of sexy ankle boots and pilots.

3. If you are planning an evening out, wear a more glamorous scarf made by silk and a nice print to match your outfit. You can wear it with a colorful top and a pair of leather shorts. Finalize the look with a pair of tights and sexy heels.

4. For a relaxed day look, yet chic and trendy, you can wear a soft scarf with frills with a boyfriend blazer and match it with a pair of boyfriend jeans. Add a pair of comfortable lace-up ankle boots and a pair of cool shades.

Image: polyvore.com

Christmas is getting closer and shops are bringing out the Christmas decoration. Now is also the time when people start planning their Christmas parties and celebrations with family, friends and colleagues. Some of you might already be thinking of what to wear to your Christmas parties. Since Christmas only happens once a year, it’s an occasion where you don’t want to wear the same outfit from last year since most probably someone will remember you wearing it. And obviously it’s just a nice occasion you want to get yourself a nice Christmas outfit.

Whether it’s a Christmas party with work colleagues or with friends and family, you want to look your best for the evening. Here are a few tips on Christmas party wear for this year’s celebrations.

First of all you need to find a dress which feels like Christmas yet makes you feel chic and sexy. Go for warm winter colors that are in trend this year like burgundy, deep purple, yellow mustard and of course black. If you want to feel very “Christmassy” you can always wear the classic Christmas red dress. If you like lace, go for a sleeved lace dress to give the winter feel. If you don’t want to wear a dress, try out the jumpsuit in a dark color.

Match your dress with some nice accessories in gold, black or red depending on the color of your dress. You can add a golden belt or a gold clutch with a nice pair of gold earrings for example. If you prefer something less showy, get a pair of black or red heels and matching clutch. As a last touch to your Christmas party wear look, add a faux fur waist coat to add that wintery and glamorous look.

Image: polyvore.com

There’s no secret formula when it comes to deciding what to wear on a first date, but there are a few simple rules that you can keep in mind when putting together your dating outfit.

First make sure to go for something feminine and approachable. This means for example soft fabrics like cotton or cashmere, or draping fabrics that will give you a soft look. Details like bows and ruffles are very feminine and approachable colors are for example light pastels. If the colors are too strong, like a bright red, it can become intimidating and you don’t want your date to feel intimidating. Also remember, colors are very individual so keep in mind what colors works on you.

Second, choose the right area of skin. Bring out your assets, but be careful not to show too much! If you love your legs, you can wear a dress or skirt that accentuates the legs but keep it more neutral in other areas with for example a turtle neck or a long sleeved shirt. You don’t want to give it all away on the first date!

Third, don’t over dress or under dress so keep it casual yet dressy. You don’t want to look like someone who just came from the prom when you meet your date at a relaxed coffee shop by over dressing. And you don’t want to make your date feel like you didn’t really care about the date by not putting any effort into your outfit. So keep it somewhere in the middle, like how you would dress when meeting your girl friends for an after work drink.

When it comes to your makeup and hair, keep the makeup simple and natural. If there’s anything men love, it’s the natural look. So keep it fresh and simple with some light mascara, blush and possible some lip gloss. The hair should follow the same rule, keep it in a simple hair style like with some flowy waves or a cute ponytail.

When going on a first date, it’s all about giving your date a good impression by being yourself. So wear something you feel comfortable in that also represents your personality.

Images: polyvore.com

What we love about the fall is all those lovely knits to choose from when shopping for our fall wardrobe. This season has brought a lot of different trends when it comes to knitted cardigans and jumpers. There’s everything from cozy cable knitted jumpers to oversized boyfriend cardigans and lots of different prints and warm colors. And what’s fun about these knits, is that there are so many different ways of wearing them with your outfit.

We found 10 different fall 2011 must have knits for your fall and winter wardrobe and some tips on how you can wear them.

1. Chunky Cable Knitted Cardigan from scotch-soda.com. This can be worn with a pair of leggings of skinny jeans and a warm scarf.

2. Coral Knits Raglan Jumper from French Connection. Since this jumper is rather short it works well on top of a longer shirt and a pair of skinny jeans of leggings.

3. Stripy Knitted Cardigan from H&M. Wear this cardigan on top of a longer top or shirt with a pair of skinny jeans, or else you can match it with a cute skirt.

4. Navy Blue Cardigan With Belt from H&M. This works for a more sophisticated look and can be worn with a pair of black leggings.

5. Knitted Bowknot Print Beige Cardigan from romwe.com. This cute cardigan can be worn with a pair of jeans or a solid colored skirt.

6. Knitted Stepped Hem Jumper from Topshop. This colorful knitted jumper works well with a more neutral colored skirt or on top of a shirt with a pair of leggings.

7. Grey Relaxed-fit Knit Cardigan With Bow from Mango. This cute jumper goes well with a pair of black shorts and if you want to more bold wear it with a pair of leather shorts.

8. Aztec Oversized Cardigan from Miss Selfridge. This cozy cardigan can be worn on top of a neutral winter dress or a top with leggings.

9. Knitted Raglan Boyfriend Cardigan from Topshop. This wintery colored cardigan works well on top of a patterned top and a pair of leggings and a warm scarf.

10. Knitted Fair Isle Print Cardigan from axparis.co.uk. This cardigan can be worn on a simple top or a shirt with skinny jeans or leggings.

Image: polyvore.com

Do you find it a challenge every single morning to put together the right outfit for the day? Or just uninspired to get that right causal day look? Well, you’re not alone. Many of us out there have the same problem every morning and it might be a time of the day when you just don’t feel very fashion inspired. So, to get some inspiration for our daily causal outfits we looked at what causal clothes celebrities wear when they leave their houses.

Take a look at what casual clothes our celebrities are wearing and get your inspiration on!

Blake Lively’s causal style wearing a brown coat, grey knitted top, leggings, ankle boots and checked scarf matching it with a red handbag.

Beyonce’s casual style wearing a white top, patterned wool jacket, beige wide legged pants, knitted hat and a snake skin handbag.

Zoe Saldana’s causal style wearing beige loose blouse, wide legged ripped jeans and a matching beige chunky handbag.

Jennifer Lopez’s casual style wearing a white tee, boyfriend jeans, heels, brown handbag and white shades.

Kim Kardashian’s casual style wearing a grey fringed and over sized jersey sweater, ripped boyfriend jeans, black ankle boots and matching black handbag and scarf.

Mary-Kate Olsen’s casual style wearing an over sized checked shirts, ripped skinny jeans, black ankle boots, brown chunky leather bag and red shades.

Nicole Richie’s casual style wearing a white top, high waisted jeans shorts, leggings, black ankle boots, black jacket with a red handbag, black hat and animal printed scarf.

Rachel Bilson’s casual style wearing a grey tee with a black blazer and ripped boyfriend jeans, beige ankle boots and black handbag.

Sienna Miller’s casual style wearing a grey tank top, leggings, black boots, animal printed scarf and black handbag with a pair of pink shades.

Images: celebuzz.com, singer22.com, hubimg.com, prettyallthetime.blogspot.com, ceimbracazi.ro, whowhatwear.com, hollywoodlife.com, purseblog.com, thefashiondealer.com