Male fashion forecast predicts business attire

Posted on 25. Jan, 2012 by admin in Fashion

Suits are tailored, and colors are dark and sober, with luxury expressed mostly through the materials.

MILAN – Gentlemen, things are going to get serious next fall and winter.

It could be the crisis gloom, but many Milan designers are thinking business. Double-breasted suits are a favorite in preview shows. As are flat leather bags, good for computers, or even newspapers.

Shoes are classics, oxford lace-ups. Photo Rainer Ersfeld

Shoes are classics, oxford lace-ups, loafers, fringed moccasins or ankle boots, often with silver accents.

Suits are tailored, and colors are dark and sober, with luxury expressed mostly through the materials alpaca, cashmere and tweeds. There is little sportswear in this round of Milan menswear with the overcoat making an elegant comeback.

Scarves are also making a strong showing.

Scarves are also making a strong showing  a layer of security, not only against the bitter winter nights but also the financial chill. AP

Associated Press text, photo and/or graphic material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.

By DANIELA PETROFF and COLLEEN BARRY

Southland’s Regina King on Her Newest Beat: Jewelry Model

Posted on 25. Jan, 2012 by admin in Brief Fashion Notes

Southland's Regina King models AGTA Spectrum Awards jewelry. Photo: Ben Cope. (PRNewsFoto/American Gem Trade Association, Ben Cope)

DALLAS, – Whether she’s playing one of the LAPD’s Finest in TNT’s hit police drama Southland, or wearing some of America’s finest gemstone jewelry, Regina King brings her distinct personality to the role. That said, portraying Detective Lydia Adams on Southland is admittedly more familiar territory for the talented veteran TV and film actress than her gig as one of the celebrity models for the winning jewelry designs of the 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™. PRNewswire-USNewswire

Loungewear Market to Grow as Consumers Spend More Time at Home

Posted on 25. Jan, 2012 by admin in Brief Fashion Notes

NEW YORK, – Inside Fashion, a leading provider of proprietary industry intelligence and international trends, has confirmed loungewear (often called homewear) as a key growth category for intimate apparel in its Spring/Summer 2013 StyleBook Lingerie Forecast.
“We see homewear, or loungewear, as much more than a trend. It’s a reflection of consumers’ lifestyles,” said Jane Singer, Editorial Director, Inside Fashion. People are spending more of their leisure time at home, instead of always going out. This is, in part, being driven by the economy, which has forced many consumers to cut back on entertainment spending. PRNewswire

Four Top Trends

Posted on 25. Jan, 2012 by admin in Citizen Weekly Tip

Choose from a variety of details, such as pointelle textures, cable-knit patterns and rosette accents.

Here are four easy and affordable ways to incorporate the latest trends into your wardrobe:

1. Make a statement with must-have colors—amber, burgundy and orange. Found in everyday essentials such as denim, handbags and scarves, they’re easy to incorporate into any look.

2. The ‘70s continue to be popular with vintage-inspired styles from soft, sheer blouses to flattering wide-leg pants.

3. Add luxe details for less with faux-fur and shearling accents.

4. Stay cozy with reinvented sweater styles, including ponchos and long cardigans.

Find these seasonal trends and more at Kohl’s and www.Kohls.com from the portfolio of national and exclusive brands, including Jennifer Lopez, LC Lauren Conrad, ELLE, Daisy Fuentes, Dana Buchman and Levi’s.

Aeropostale, Inc., DoSomething.org and Hollywood Join Forces to Collect Jeans for 5th Annual “Teens for Jeans” Campaign

Posted on 25. Jan, 2012 by admin in Brief Fashion Notes

People can participate by bringing gently worn jeans, any size and any brand, to any Aeropostale or P.S. from Aeropostale store in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. All donations will be distributed to local youth community shelters. Photo: Cptimes

NEW YORK– Aeropostale, Inc. a mall-based specialty retailer of casual and active apparel for young women and men, and teen not-for-profit DoSomething.org announced their fifth annual “Teens for Jeans” campaign. The campaign raises awareness about youth homelessness by encouraging teens to donate the number one requested item at shelters: jeans.

Anyone can participate by bringing gently worn jeans, any size and any brand, to any Aeropostale or P.S. from Aeropostale store in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. All donations will be distributed to local youth community shelters. As a thank you, for each pair donated, Aeropostale will give an additional 25% off a new pair of jeans, though no purchase is necessary. To jump-start donations, Aeropostale is donating over 10,000 brand new pairs of jeans for the campaign. The program runs Jan. 16, 2012 to Feb. 12, 2012. PRNewswire

Blair Underwood Launches Clothing Line

Posted on 12. Jan, 2012 by citizen in Fashion

Blair Underwood shows off a two-button, 100 percent wool-vested suit, part of his BU Collection, a premier line of men's tailored suits, now available exclusively at K&G Fashion Superstore and on KGstores.com. (PRNewsFoto/K&G Fashion Superstore)

ATLANTA, — K&G Fashion Superstore is proud to announce the launch of the BU Collection, a premier line of men’s tailored suits inspired by Blair Underwood. The entire collection will be available exclusively at K&G stores and on KGstores.com.

“I wanted this collection to be available to every man without a steep price barrier,” said Blair Underwood fashion icon and actor. “I felt K&G was a great partner to launch this line because of their ability to bring well-made designer clothing to the public at affordable prices.” PRNewswire

For Many, Weather Armor Includes Wicking Fabrics

Posted on 29. Dec, 2011 by citizen in Fashion

The purpose of the inner layer is to draw the sweat away from the skin to the next layers, which makes the wearer feel warmer and more comfortable. The transfer of moisture happens due to capillary action. This is sometimes called wicking, and thus the used materials are called wicking materials.

NEW YORK – Doing battle with the winter elements? After all, going from the warm house out into the cold air to the hot office and then dashing back outside can be tough not to mention a temperature-fluctuating airplane or subway car.

Maybe you’re one of the many adding a wicking shirt to your armor.

The functional under layer that over the last few years has become a favorite of skiers, hikers, runners and other athletes is finding new fans in urbanites, who find a fabric that draws out perspiration, serves as insulation from wind and keeps body temperature stable has purposes beyond the outdoors. It complements smooth, fitted silhouettes that fit nicely under other things, from a man’s button-down shirt to a ladies’ cashmere turtleneck.

“Research today shows that consumers will make apparel purchases based upon look, need and performance,” says Tom Julian, a New York-based trend and retail analyst. “I believe that `products that perform’ has been a marketing mantra ever since we saw smart-care clothes come to life as a result of casualization. I think the economy has made it inevitable that apparel has to do more than look nice, be on-trend.”

“I have found that men like to use these shirts as layering for travel perfect on the plane to keep one comfortable but warm and should the heat become an issue they allow for perspiration Julian says

They have additional life because they go under weekend clothes or be worn as workout wear, he adds, and they’re very malleable in a suitcase. AP

Associated Press text, photo and/or graphic material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.

Party Hosts Attire: Think Practical

Posted on 20. Dec, 2011 by citizen in Fashion

``I can't imagine any more pressure when you're putting on a party _ when you are so focused on wine and food and you have to look beautiful as well.'' (Photo: Tibald)

NEW YORK – One more thing to add to the to-do list for your holiday party: Find an outfit that creates a celebratory mood, is welcoming and warm.

“I can’t imagine any more pressure when you’re putting on a party  when you are so focused on wine and food  and you have to look beautiful as well,” says Simon Kneen, creative director of Banana Republic. “Men have it a little easier, but you still have to make it look effortless and easy to manage.”

Dressing for the role of host is a little bit different from a guest, with many more practical considerations. Just like every other aspect of the party, seasoned, stylish party-throwers say you’ll likely want to do as much preplanning as you can.

Other tips:

Photos: At some point, someone is going to snap a photo of the host.  Ricky Wilson, Dior Beauty’s celebrity makeup artist says you may as well take one before any guests arrive, just so you know what it will look like. “Make sure you have your outfit on and hair close to done if not finished,” Wilson says. “This will give you an idea of how you will look in the photographs.”

No outfits: An “outfit” already has too many parts for a multitasking host, says Kneen. Women should stick to a simple-shape dress in a flattering color. Even black works when the house is decorated, as long as there’s some point of interest created by an interesting or conversational accessory, he says. AP

Associated Press text, photo and/or graphic material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.

Keep Fitness Off Your New Year’s Resolution List

Posted on 15. Dec, 2011 by citizen in Citizen Weekly Tip

Here’s how:

* Don’t wait. Leave the December binge/January purge cycle behind. If you tend to blow off moderation in favor of “treating” yourself and justifying poor choices, it’s time to reframe your approach. Vow to conquer the holidays in healthy ways. Start by taking the initiative to cook holiday meals so you can prepare healthy options, and during the party circuit, don’t succumb to the pressure to indulge. “Learn to say no thank you,” says Tom Nikkola, director of nutrition and weight management for Life Time Fitness. “Not ‘No thank you, I’m on a diet,’ or ‘No thank you, I’m trying to stick to my nutrition plan,’ because friends might give you a hard time and egg you on.”

Orange: Top Hue of 2012

Posted on 13. Dec, 2011 by citizen in Fashion

``There's the element of encouragement with orange, it's building on the ideas of courage and action, and that we want to move on to better things.” Photo: Creole Collection

NEW YORK – The world doesn’t need more gray, and the blues are covered, too. What consumer products need is a jolt, a shot of energy and boldness, all of which comes from Tangerine Tango, the reddish-orange hue that Pantone announced as its top color for 2012.

“There’s the element of encouragement with orange, it’s building on the ideas of courage and action that we want to move on to better things. I think it would be a disservice to go with a relaxed, soothing color now,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, the research division of Pantone Inc., which creates color standards for the fashion, beauty and home industries.

The annual forecast for the next year’s dominant color takes into consideration both what Pantone thinks shoppers want and need. Those are influenced by the designer runways, fabric shows, news events, pop culture and consumer habits. “Part of what we do is look at the zeitgeist,” Eiseman explained. “We have to look at everything in the world around us. It’s not an arbitrary choice.”

Consumers weren’t always so keen to orange, however, said Eiseman, who wrote the new book “Pantone: The 20th Century in Color.” It’s been used a lot in high fashion think Versace and Hermes for years, but to the general public, especially in the United States, it was more closely associated with fast food or children’s products, she explained. It all started to change as computers opened many doors in the 1990s.

“When use of the computer started taking off, you could see the awareness of colors used in other cultures. The orange began to come through. Italians got it and certain Asian countries like India and Indonesia used orange, and then it started to make its way into the mainstream. And then in 1998 one of the iMac choices was orange,” Eiseman said. “And at this point, we’re ready to acknowledge orange as a `happening’ color.” AP

By SAMANTHA CRITCHELL

Associated Press text, photo and/or graphic material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.