Trend Report: January 2012

Dear Readers,

What a long day! And I'm not done with it yet! After publishing my blog sale album late last night, I responded to your emails - and please remind me if I haven't answered back yet! - then I headed out for a shoot for one of my upcoming articles. I still have some stuff to finish tonight but overall this was a really good day :)

Oh, and this was also a very pleasant month! Here are the three style elements I've enjoyed last month, and the three I've tried to avoid.

I've been into:

1. Hats: The January sales were what  mostly helped me to step up my hat collection. I just can't get enough. I love them all. 

2. Cap Shoes: I've posted about cap shoes yesterday. I'm still hunting for the perfect pair!

3. Brown Liner: Why did I ignore pretty much every make up artist I've worked with when they told me brown liner suits me better than black? I love it.

And, just like last month, I've avoided:

1. Animal Print: I've only bought a phone cover, so nothing too damaging!

2. Metallics: I seem the only one to be over metallics at the moment.

3. Bright Colours: Even though I must try and get them back into my life. Spring is round the corner.

I hope you all had a great month! February is birthday month for me so I'm rather excited about it. Bring it!

-B

The Boffism Guide to Double Denim.

Dear Readers,

Please look at the picture below. What's wrong with it?

The Horror, the Horror!!!!!!

Everything really. Britney and Justin look like they played 'Ex-Disney-Kids wear all the denim in da house'. Needless to say, I'm not a big fan of this game. You shouldn't play it, even if you're not a Disney Kid. NO!

This picture has been haunting my memory for ages, so when I heard that 'double denim' looks were back in town, I immediately shuddered with fear. I imagined entire groups of people wearing head-to-toe denim. They took over the world. They invaded Denmark until it became a new denim-invaded country called 'Denimark'.

But then, Spencer Hastings, that incredibly stylish character from Pretty Little Liars, came along to alleviate my poor soul. Like an angel, Spencer showed me that there was a way out of this horror. In her double denim attire, the youngest Hastings daughter made me realise that the look can actually work.

Spencer Hastings <3

So, the newly converted double-denim side of me decided to experiment with this trend. I came to the conclusion that this is one hard nut to crack, definitely much harder than colour-blocking and pattern-mixing. So, caution dear readers, caution.

Both girls and boys can rock this trend if you follow a few easy tips. For example, one of the most basic things to do is to restrain yourself from including more than two denim items. Three is  a disaster. Four is apocalyptic. You get my point, two items is the rule.

Always vary the washes of your denim items. Basically choose two completely different washes/hues of denim like black and light blue, or else opt for two denim pieces that are two or three shades apart. This difference in colour creates a contrast that helps you avoid the 'cowboy look' that gives nightmares to so many of us each day. Speaking about cowboys, it is imperative to stay away from any 'Western' details like cowboy boots, or Western-inspired belts if you're in a bi-denim mood.

The last golden rule is to break up the look: you must break up the harshness of the all-denim combo. How to do that? Easy. If you're a lady, then pop in some girly accessories, something in lace, or chunky earrings. These elements will distract attention from all the denim in your outfit. Give people something else to look at basically. Both girls and guys have another option. You can break up the look by introducing a block colour. You could, for instance, wear a bright red t-shirt beneath a denim shirt and over a darker pair of denim shorts.

Moving on to some example sets now. In Set 1, I chose two completely different washes: black and blue. I decided to break it up using a bright red turban. People always look at turbans, I swear. To break it up just a tad bit more, I slipped in a floral clutch which I so would like to own!

Set 1

Example two is a daring combination that's more adequate for a night of partying and dancing. This time, I opted for two blue shades of denim, which are about 2 hues away from each other. The American Flag on the shorts helped to break up the look, but I felt like I needed to add something else to the outfit. A pair of chunky, very Rihanna-like gold earrings solved the problem. I can so see myself wearing this.

Set 2

Do you like double-denim? Or is it still a huge faux-pas for you? I think I've changed teams, I might be in love with this trend.

I apologise for this sucky post. I feel so tired but I wanted to blog anyway because I love you all :)

-B

Mix, don't Match?

Dear Readers,

I read about 23 fashion newsletters per day, which adds up to approximately 140 newsletters per week. This week, at least 60 of those newsletters focussed on pattern mixing.

I'm not a person who's usually hesitant to embrace a bold trend like pattern mixing, but for once, even Lara Boffa found it difficult to understand the inner workings of this trend. I did a lot of trial and error work, and I think that I've finally grasped the basics of pattern mixing. However, I still have a lot to learn about this trend and I feel like I'm not being bold enough as I would expect myself to be. Pattern mixing is fun and fresh, but so incredibly frustrating to master. Anyway, these are a few of the things I've learnt after hours (literally) of experimentation.

The less, the merrier

This is a case in point. I think that overdoing it is a big no-no. Don't get too enthusiastic about mixing patterns. I think that limiting yourself to two different prints is enough. As I said, I'm walking down the road of caution with this trend, so I'm not for having 345 patterns in one outfit. Two is enough.

Vary the weight

Not your physical weight obviously. I'm referring to the print's weight. If one of your items has a very heavy statement print, then combine it with a more muted printed item. For example, if your skirt has a huge flower print - so huge you could actually be mistaken for a giant bush - then don't choose another patterned statement piece to go with it.  Look at the set I found on Polyvore below. I think the entire outfit works well because one of the two patterned elements is smaller and less 'in your face' than the other. Keep this rule in mind: one dominant, one muted.

Find a common denominator

Even the two most different people can live in harmony if they find something in common with each other. That's the golden rule for pattern mixing as well. Prints seem to work better together if they have a common denominator. That common denominator is usually a specific colour or a colour family (ie. different shades of the same hue).

In this Polyvore set above I chose a grey and white striped top and paired it with a bolder black and white polka dot skirt. Black and grey are not the same colour obviously, but they do stem from the same colour family. I always recommend to keep accessories simple if you're pattern mixing, you don't want to have too much going on. In this set. I chose silver shoes and accessories because I think they look slightly simpler than gold pieces! Kudos to my sister for inspiring this set :)

Throw in a neutral colour

This is the tip that was most frequently mentioned in the articles I read recently. Neutral colours rock, they have this divine ability to water things down when things are too fiery. Rawr! Personally, this is a recommendation I fully embrace. When things start to tilt towards the 'too statement' side of the scale, then pop in a neutral colour like black, white, beige or grey.

Both prints in this set make a statement, and even though they both have a strong element of red in them, they needed to be 'calmed down'. Then the Black Flat Sisters and Mr. Handsome Black Bag came to save the day. And they all lived happily ever after, in spite of their differences. The End.

In my world, stripes are a 'neutral pattern'

I think that I'll never get over stripes, they're the answer to the 'What the F am I gonna wear today' question when I wake up looking like Shrek. If only they solved all of my life's problems in that way. Since I'm naturally inclined to throw on a striped piece every time I open my closet, I admit that I experimented with stripes mostly. And you know what? I'm glad I did because I found out that stripes (white + colour stripes) are neutral. They matched everything I paired them with: polka dots, florals, aztec and the list goes on. So, I guess that stripes are can help you tame this trend a little bit better though I do have to admit that I'm still opting out of the stripes + animal print combo.

Experiment as if your life depended on it

The above suggestions are things I learnt from experimenting with things I already had in my wardrobe. However, I suggest you all try to find what works out for you! Go to your room, put some playful music on, and start trying to mix prints and patterns!  My almost scientific experimentation of the trend made me realise that for me, the best pattern mixing look involves stripes and florals. However, I'm sure you're going to come up with some interesting combinations yourselves and I can't wait to hear all about them :)

Striped Blazer, Floral Scarf and Neutrals in Rainy Brussels <3

If you have any other suggestions please let me know! As I said, I'm still trying to master this look so any help is more than welcome!

-B

The Boffism Guide to Doing It Like A Dude

Dear Readers,

I don't mean to shock you with this statement but I have to declare that Jessie J isn't the only one who likes to 'do it like a dude'. I like it too. However, whilst dear old Jessie enjoys grabbing her crutch, drinking beer and rolling money like a pimp, I like to dress like a dude.

Androgyny, from 'andro-' meaning 'man' and 'gyn' meaning 'woman', denotes the tendency of mixing strong masculine and feminine traits. Androgyny has taken the fashion industry by storm, there's no denying that! 'Boyfriend looks' are set to be one of the dominant trends of A/W 2011-2012 as I described in my post about upcoming A/W trends.

Why I like it.
I like boys, a lot. I don't like including masculine details because I'm into girls, although there's nothing wrong with that, obviously! Anyway, there are other reasons why I like to do this, including the following:

• Androgyny makes a statement. Why fit in when you can stand out?
• Men's clothes are incredibly structured and I'm a sucker for structure and clean lines. Hello, boyfriend blazers!
• Warning: paradox ahead. I believe that a woman is more feminine when she's in touch with her masculine side. I understand that this might confuse many of you, but I strongly support this assertion. I'm convinced that a woman looks sexier in an edgy masculine tuxedo rather than in a red dress with a plunging neckline. This belief of mine also explains why I thank God for blessing me with a small chest: I have a better canvas for androgyny.

It takes two to tango

Excuse the cliché, but I just couldn't help myself. What do I mean by the tango expression? Simple. I'm not encouraging you to dress like a boy head to toe. The trick is to water down those harsh masculine details with softer feminine touches like a bright red lip, hoop earrings, lace details, sheer materials, pearls, a skirt or a statement ring. Look at Kirsten Dunst in the picture below. She wears a masculine inspired tuxedo and pairs it with a pair of high heels and large hoop earrings. The key is to include elements from both genders until they even each other out. Voilà!

Go shopping at men's stores

Whilst you can find plenty of male-inspired pieces in women's stores nowadays, you have to make an extra effort and explore the uncharted territories of men's clothing shops. Yes, be brave women! I know this can be a bit difficult at first. Shop assistants might look awkwardly at you when you try on something from the men's section, but you'll get used to it. Just think that those shop assistants are incredibly ugly by nature, they're not looking nastily at you! Go on, if you want to slay the dragon you have to go and hunt it down in its own cave.

Tips from a Seasoned Androgyny Lover 

I have a few tips that I can pass on to Androgyny newbies and to anyone who wants to experiment with this trend. There are a few go-to clothing items that instantly make your outfit more masculine. First up - and rather obvious - is the boyfriend blazer. All decent stores have boyfriend blazers and they come in all colours and sizes. Check out the stunning ASOS boyfriend blazer I've posted below! Many also like replacing their skinny jeans with a pair of boyfriend jeans, but personally, I avoid these jeans. I think they're very unflattering and I don't think I can pull them off. You're free to try them for yourself though!

The right type of accessories can increase the masculinity of your outfit drastically. Take braces for example. Paired with a simple white t-shirt and a pair of light-wash denim skinnies, braces can give an extra 'boyfriend' spice to your outfit. I also like to wear bow-ties with blouses or else I like to tie a piece of black ribbon to my blouse collars for that extra masculine touch. 

Another thing you could easily do is to ditch your girly ballerina flats for a pair of brogues, and guess what, they're comfortable anyway! I don't know why, but brogues remind me of naughty school boys so I tend to wear brogues if I want to androgynise a look (yes, I invented that verb. Blogger's licence). Are you going to wear a blouse? Then fasten all of your buttons, all the way up! Do it! That's the easiest injection of masculinity...no cleavage allowed. Personally, ladies with heavier chests should avoid doing this, because it looks wrong, very wrong. I'd rather have you flaunt what your mama gave you than trying to hide it.

Chinos also give a masculine flair to an outfit, even though they accentuate feminine curves impeccably. I included a pair of bright green chinos in the example set above. The 'masculine' elements are the chinos and the pair of brown brogues. In order to tone the harshness down, I chose a flowered vest, a pair of cat-eye sunglasses (nothing screams WOMAN like cat-eye sunnies) and a red bandana for your hair. Oh, and the Chinos' bright colour is more feminine than masculine, in my opinion. The above set is a playful combination of the pin-up look and tailored masculine cuts. I personally adore this. 

Androgyny rocks my socks. I like to get the best of both worlds. Suck on that Miley.

-B

Sometimes, the solution is a detachable collar.

Dear Readers,

I was diagnosed with the 'closet full of clothes, nothing to wear' syndrome at the the tender age of 15. It's such a horrible condition and the treatment is so heartbreaking.

You know how things roll. You have hundreds of tops and blouses in your wardrobe, but somehow, you have nothing to wear. You try things on but they seem to be missing that certain something. They don't have that special detail.

If you know what I'm talking about, then ladies, I invite you to invest in a detachable collar. Sometimes they're also called 'collar necklaces' or something along those lines. As a fussy lover of vintage details, I can vouch for these little miracle makers. They provide that extra detail that we would like to have on plain t-shirts and blouses. Detachable collars instantly change the outfit they're paired with. The come in lace, pearls, leather and a number of other materials.

If you're wondering where to get one for your own, then here comes the low-down. Start by looking in jewellery stores like 'Accessorize'. As I said, many times these collars come in the form of necklaces so it makes sense to look in a jewellery section or store. You can also try visiting your local haberdashery and see whether they stock them there. Haberdasheries tend to sell them because many seamstresses purchase them to attach to a dress or top they've  made. I personally visited my local haberdashery and it had a very interesting variety of collars on sale. However, don't forget, you will need to attach the collar to a little bit of string if you get it from the haberdashery's!

Since I'm a hard-working blogger, I found you a couple of detachable collars from ASOS. Prices vary, and some of them are on sale at the moment. Click on the picture to be directed to its respective ASOS page for details and prices.

I'll show you the detachable collar I bought yesterday later on today in a recent purchases post. I'm going to get a few more so I'll keep you posted on those as well :)

-B

My take on 'Ombre Hair'

Dear Readers,

We might soon forget the days when girls fretted about their regrowth or their roots. Ombre hair has come to save the day.

'Ombre' is a French word for 'shaded'. So, by implication, 'ombre hair' is shaded hair, or rather, hair with multiple shades. In other words, it's simply a fancy way of describing hair that's dark at the roots and light at the ends. 

This hair trend is very low-maintenance because you don't have to touch it up frequently (you don't have roots!) This means that you don't have to worry about regrowth like I do. However, maintenance is not non-existent. Remember, your hair must be bleached to achieve the lighter ends so keep a good nourishing shampoo and conditioner handy! 

I think ombre hair is ideal for those ladies who are unwilling to dye their entire hair in one block colour. It's also a perfect choice for those who want to spice up their hairstyle and try something different without looking 'too different', if you know what I mean.

The two colours that are mostly used to achieve this look are a stunning caramel colour and light blonde. The key to rocking this trend is to choose a colour for your ends that is 3 of 4 shades lighter than the colour at your roots. Some girls I've seen have been slightly braver and chose very contrasting colours like black and red. The latter option is definitely more original but it's also very difficult to pull off.

There are hundreds of 'Ombre Your Hair Tutorials' on the internet, but I would advise you to consult your hairdresser and not to try and do it at home, especially if you're a newbie! Take a picture of the look you'd like to achieve and ask your hairdresser to recreate that look for you. Here are a couple of photos of ladies who are sporting the ombre hair trend to perfection. I tried to choose pictures that demonstrate various extents of ombre hair :)

I'm assuming that many of you might be wondering about two things. The first is whether you should skip touching up your roots next month to get an ombre look. I say, it depends. It really depends on so many factors. Firstly, it depends on the way your hair colours are working together. Does it look faded out? Is your natural hair colour black and your hair is dyed blonde? Does it look bad altogether? If the answer to any of those questions is no, then forget it. However, some can actually skip their retouching and try out this look. For once, I'm one of those lucky people. My natural colour is brown and my hair is dyed in a bright copper colour. But, for some reason, when my hair grows my roots and ends look even. I can't explain it to be honest. It doesn't look that horrible. It looks like I got bold copper highlights. I might skip my next touch up to see how it goes. One word of caution, you can't keep postponing touch ups forever. There's a limit. I say skip it once and that's it. Then it will start to look awkward and we don't like that!

The second thing you might be wondering about is whether this look is solely reserved to girls. I admit that I personally haven't seen any pictures of men with ombre hair, but you know what, I say why shouldn't they try it out? I'm really curious to see how it would turn out. Go for it boys!

-B

Men's A/W 2011-2012 Trends

Dear Readers,

Since I believe in gender equality, I decided to write about men's fashion A/W trends after writing about women's trends yesterday.

Relaxed Tailoring: Loose Pants

I have good news for all those men - and I know there are plenty of them - who hate skinny, figure hugging trousers. Whilst skinny pants are not completely 'out', this Autumn and Winter designers have opted for more relaxed, loose, drop crotch trousers. If you want to follow this trend, look for tailored trousers which are loose around the thigh and crotch areas. Many argue that loose tailored trousers undermine the 'formality' associated with tailored trousers, but I think that unless they're excessively baggy, they're still more formal than your casual pair of jeans.

Relaxed Tailoring: Jackets

The relaxed tailoring trend is not solely relevant to trousers, it's also applicable to jackets. One dominant element of this trend is the 'seamless shoulder', which can be explained as the lack of a stitch line where the shoulder meets the arm. In many ways, the shoulder style is very similar to a kimono sleeve. The 'seamless shoulder' trend was spotted in several collections on many different pieces, from casual sports clothing to more structured outerwear. 

Another element of the relaxed jackets trend is the 'deep shoulder seam / dropped shoulder' detail. This implies that the shoulder seam should rest somewhere beneath your shoulder and closer to your bicep. I haven't been to men's stores recently so I've no idea whether shops are stocking these jackets already, but just in case they don't, get a size larger and it will do the trick. As long as your jacket looks oversized from the shoulder area, then you're acing it :)

Plaid

This is probably my favourite men's trend for Autumn and Winter. Though plaid has been around for a couple of years already, it has never been this popular. This pattern will dominate men's collection in the coming season, so make sure you stock on your tartan, dogtooth and Sherlock Holmes-like garments. This trend is not only limited to jackets by the way!

Double-breasted suits and coats

Whilst sleek single-breasted suits are also in fashion next season - they never go out of fashion anyway! - we're going to see a huge return of double-breasted suits! The cut of the double-breasted suit is different this time. Whereas originally double-breasted jackets were intended to hide a fuller figure, this year's double-breasted jacket is in a V-neck form which accentuates a well-built body. For inspiration, consult Chuck Bass.

Overalls

I've mentioned overalls yesterday when I wrote about women's trends and here I am again exalting the charm of the one-piece! Overalls / Dungarees / Boilersuits are an incredible statement piece for men and I just can't wait to see people strolling around the street in them :)

Tonight, before going to bed, I'll pray to God and say, 'Dear God, please make many men follow at least one of these trends this Autumn. Make them throw those white undervests away! Amen.'

-B

The Boffism Guide to A/W 2011-2012 Trends

Dear Readers,

As I was telling my family earlier, I start gearing up for Autumn after the 15th of August. I love Summer, but I miss my blazers too much, so I can't wear to start layering things on. Before clearance sales end, I thought of giving you the lowdown on some of next season's biggest trends, just in case you wanted to bag a few bargain buys before they're gone.

Black and White
Thank you God. This a very easy and doable trend and you can hardly do it wrong. Black and white outfits are so easy to put together and dress up and dress down. You can adapt the trend to your workwear, and you can spice it up for an evening look.

Boyfriend Looks
Get your hands on any boyfriend blazers you find on sale women! Masculine looks are going to be BIG next Autumn and Winter, so you want to make sure you're equipped. I'm not going into too much detail on this trend because I intend to dedicate an entire post to the topic during this week. This is my favourite trend, hands down.

White Out
This look has also been en vogue during Summer, and as you might know I'm not one of its biggest fans. I have this little aversion to white trousers, bags and shoes, so I'm definitely not going for the look. But you're free to challenge  me :)

Maxi Dresses
YES! I love maxi dresses in Autumn, especially when paired with a boyfriend blazer or a cute denim jacket. Oh, one thing to keep in mind, never wear maxis during a rainy day unless you want to dry the land you're walking on. This is experience speaking.

Fetish
I must admit I chuckled when I read about this trend. You might be wondering what 'fetish' implies in this context. Well, easy, it implies plenty of latex, leather and textiles you're likely to see in a porn movie. Whilst I don't encourage any of you to go out looking like a hooker or a call-girl, I do encourage some 'softer', 'milder' experimentation. On my part, I'm glad that I'm going to have an excuse to wear my recently purchased leather top (what I tend to call my 'bulletproof vest'). It's a difficult trend to adapt, but we oughtn't give up!

The Parisian Look
Well, you know what I think about this trend. I won't be making too much of an effort this Autumn to follow this trend, considering this is my 'go-to' style every consecutive Winter. If you want to have a go at this trend, stock on tweed, dogtooth, sombre colours, refined jackets, and clear cut short coats. Ask yourself, 'Would Blair Waldorf wear this?' and if the answer is 'Yes', then you're doing it right.

Seventies Style
The seventies trend is still alive and kicking! It's been around for a couple of months now and we can't get enough of it! I personally love the trend, even though I usually avoid some of its most typical elements like flared trousers and platforms. But, having said that, bring on those floppy hats and huge sunnies, Jane Fonda ain't got nothing on us dear readers!

Lady in Red
Yikes, as much as I love red, I'll have to go slowly with this one. As a redhead, I try to avoid red as much as I can, although sometimes I just can't resist it. I'll have to stick to my loyal red lip but you readers can go for it, especially if you're blondes.

Pencil Skirts
As I read about this trend, I nearly screamed with happiness. Damn, I love pencil skirts. Forget those miniskirts ladies, midi-length is the way to go. Do you know what the French equivalent for 'pencil skirt' is? It's 'jupe crayon'. I think that's the cutest thing ever.

Fur
I won't go into ethical considerations and all of that jazz, because we all have opinions about the subject and this is not the place discuss the issue. I love fur, though I go for faux fur myself, just saying. If you're a fur newbie, then start with a fur scarf and work your way up gradually. Psychedelic / Multi-coloured furs like the one in the picture will be very, very in.

Spots
Yay, that's a very easy trend that practically everyone can enjoy! It's simple, fun and easy to come by. I've seen a hundred and one million spotted items on the racks already. So go for it, girls!

Brocade
I'm rather obsessed with brocade. I've got a brocade desktop background, a brocade iPod Touch wallpaper, a couple of brocade inspired room decorations and plenty of brocade clothing items. Without further ado, I declare that I'm all for brocade and so should you! For anyone who doesn't know what brocade is, it's a  type of embossed material which is usually made from gold or silver threads. I ADORE BROCADE! This reminds me I need a brocade blazer, mhmmm!

Overalls / Dungarees
Bingo! I can proudly say that I just bought one for 4.99 Euro last week. Many people don't like dungarees, but some people like me love them to death. The problem with overalls is that I barely see any in shops, which is totally unfair.

Snakeskin
Animal Print? Hell yes. Go.Buy.Now.

Aztec / American-Indian Prints
At the moment, Bershka are full of these designs and I just want to buy the entire section. Pair these items with feathers or fringes and you''ll give Pocahontas a run for her money!

Orange
Boo! This is such a big no-no for me unfortunately. Orange-haired women aren't meant to wear orange unless they want to look like the Annoying Orange. But, you all know I like challenges, so I'm going to try and defy this belief. I'll do it, I hope. I found an amazing orange blazer that I can't afford to leave in the shop. I must do this!

Mustard
Mustard is one of my favourite colours. My favourite blazer is mustard. My favourite coat is mustard. I needn't say more right? Oh, I want this gorgeous mustard Lanvin dress, pretty please!

I'm having an pleasant, crazy Summer but quite frankly, roll on Autumn!

-B

(all pictures via Vogue.fr)