How I Wear: Teal and Pink

Dear Readers,

When one of you asked me to write about how I'd pair teal and pink, I felt like I was being trusted with one daunting task. I never paired the colours together, but since even the man on the moon (and his girlfriend, brother, grandma and pet budgie) are colour-blocking all sorts of 'intimidating' colours, I was looking forward to try and find my way around this combination.

Two Blocks Of Colour

So if you want to go all out, opting for a statement outfit from head to toe, you can choose to mix the two colours together as two blocks of colour (with a minimal neutral shade for details). The key factor in this combination is to keep the silhouettes as streamlined, classic and simple as possible. I wouldn't pick an overly ruffled dress or sandals with 346732 straps intertwining around your ankle. Since the colour clash is already pretty loud in itself, the shape of the garments should help to 'silence' the noisy party! In this set, for instance, I kept everything as clean as possible. I even went as far as securing the hair in a top-knot!

Weight Variation

Weight variation is one of fashion's best kept secret. Most of the time, the best thought-of outfits are those which ensure that one aspect gets more attention than the other. When I applied this principle to the pink and teal challenge, I ended up choosing a pink dress as the base of the outfit and I then went for a teal necklace as an added detail. Knowing me, this is probably the type of outfit I'd go for. It looks very Summery, especially with the warmth that brown accessories add to the overall look!

Neutralise It

I always think of neutral colours as lightning rods: they ground the boldness of statement pieces. So for my last suggestion, I decided to give equal weight to teal and pink, but they share the same amount of attention with a neutral piece. It wouldn't be a Boffism post without vertical stripes would it? Monochrome numbers like the jeans below restrain the strength of both colours, and even though the trousers are a statement piece in themselves, I still think it works well altogether. 

As I always say, your requests are always more than welcome. Sometimes you propose things I would have never thought of in a million years. So, keep them coming!


-B


P.S. I am currently participating in the New Look Fashionistar competition. If you'd like to vote for me (so I can buy myself a new wardrobe pour Paris) read this post to find out how! You can vote once every 24 hours. Thanks!

How To: Bodycon Skirts

Dear Readers,

Have you ever noticed that bodycon skirts - those figure-hugging relatively short skirts - are always out in the shops? Be it Winter or Summer, these skirts always seem to earn a space in our very crowded closets. However, in spite of their wide availability on the market, body skirts are quite a 'controversial' item of clothing (even though, mind you, 'controversial' is slightly hyperbolic in this context!). 

Many, myself included sometimes, tend to raise an eyebrow at the mere thought of a bodycon skirt. Let's remember that the term 'bodycon' is an abbreviated form of 'body concious', so our worries about its potential unflattering nature are not exactly unfounded and unjustified. Also, given that bodycon skirts are very fitted on the body, they don't only accentuate features we'd rather hide, but if worn in certain ways, they can also be the perfect method of earning the 'Queen of Tacky Land' title.

Therefore the tips I'm going to share with you address these two areas: how to make sure a bodycon skirt flatters your body without it looking tacky and oh so wrong. Bodycon skirts are very versatile, practical and easy to chuck on when running late!

Fabrics work magic!

From my experience with bodycons, I can tell that the fabric is the most important factor that determines how flattering  a skirt is going to be. I mean, flimsy and incredibly thin fabrics don't really help if you want to mask some imperfections around the booty area (I just said 'booty', oh goodness!). Ideally, if you want your bodycon skirt to make you look more streamlined, you should reach for a skirt with a thick fabric, the kind you'd need to squeeze into (not aggressive squeezing, just graceful squeezing) with some difficulty. Nothing worth having comes easy they say, so try on skirts with thick materials to make sure they cinch you in as best possible. Also, please make sure to buy the right size! Don't try to squeeze into something that's clearly having a hard time not to snap in half.

Avoid Patterns.

...unless you are completely confident with you lower body. We've been there, done that already. I've spoken about 'distracting attention from less loved areas' millions of times before, but I'm going to repeat. Patterned bodycon skirts grab attention, so unless you're ready to have all eyes on that area, stray away. Prints may be huge this season, but they're not ideal if you want to hide those extra pounds. Bodycon skirts attract attention even if they're in black, let alone if they're in a wild banana print, for instance.

Heels, girls!

Yet again, another trick I've shared endless times before. Heels make legs look leaner and they seem to create muscle (very unexpectedly, might I add!). Even though I still like bodycon skirts with ballerina flats for a casual, everyday look, I have to admit that nothing is as flattering as heels!

Proportion is key.

Here is where we make sure that skirt doesn't look tacky ladies. Bodycon skirts are tight. Very tight. So, by logical fashion rules, the upper garment should be of the billowy and floaty kind. That should make sure you're far away from Tacky Land. My personal favourite bodycon skirt looks always feature the standard sheer shirt (with something underneath, duh!). And if you're not too in love with your bottom, invest in a dip hem sheer shirt (the ones which are longer at the back) to hide les cheeks! Recently, I've also been looking at peplum and bodycon combinations. I quite like that too. Peplums are in, I'm sure you know.

Let me know whether you want me to do a bodycon OOTD post in the comments! Also, please log on to the Boffism App (on both smartphones and internet browsers) for a selection of bodycon skirts I'm currently lusting after!

-B

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

Bob the Builder had his toolkit, and I have mine too.

Dear Readers,

This week's entry for 'Independent Fashion Bloggers' is about a fashion blogger's 'toolkit'. In other words, I'm going to write about the essential bits and bobs for us bloggers. Whilst I feel rather awkward giving suggestions about blogging since I'm only been doing this for less than six months, at the same time I think sharing these tips is a good idea.

I'm going to skip the obvious 'you need a computer, a camera, and a blog' argument and focus on some things that might be easily overlooked. If you don't have a computer, a camera and a blog already think about those and then read this post *feels awkward*.

Get your stylish hands on a photo editing software

You don't need to be the world's next photo editing prodigy, but you should have some basic knowledge of a basic photo editing software like Photoshop. Obviously, pictures are a basic element of every fashion blog, so you want to make sure they're all set to shine. This means you should be able to do basic amendments like cropping, adjusting contrast and brightness, rotating images. If you can tweak a picture even further then good for you! You don't need the latest camera on the market to capture a good photo, but you do need a photo editing software to make sure it's perfect!

Set up a Twitter account and get yourself a Facebook Page

Yeah, for sure. Both social networks are an excellent way of promoting your blog posts. They're also an ideal platform to interact with your readers and followers. All those who 'like' my Facebook Page are immediately notified when a new post is up, and in addition, I like to post certain things I wouldn't have posted on my blog. You know, sometimes I post an extra picture or two for all those who read my blog and bothered to like my page as well.

Establish a good relationship with your readers

Don't neglect your readers. Answer their requests, reply to their comments, ask them for advice, get their feedback. Don't ever forget that you're writing for them. They keep you going. I strongly believe that a bunch of good, loyal readers is a prerequisite for every successful blog. Love your followers, and they'll love you back. 

Save up your pennies and get a Smartphone

If you're always on the move, and you don't have time to sit down at your desk all day - well, you shouldn't, it's not very healthy - then you need a Smartphone to keep up with all the latest news from Fashion World. This is a competitive industry, and the earlier you write and react to a piece of news, the better it is. Smartphones help you to be more on the ball. You can also use your Smartphone to take pictures - emergency pictures only! - post pictures and update your Twitter and Facebook. If you can't afford a smartphone, then try to get a netbook or an iPod touch. I have them all because I'm a tech geek, but one will suffice!

Subscribe, subscribe, subscribe!

Let's admit it, there's so much to write about! So many things happen in one day and personally I don't want to miss any of it! In order to be as updated as I possibly can, I subscribe to many fashion newsletters from leading fashion websites including Vogue, Elle, and WhoWhatWear amongst many others. I receive about 30 newsletters per day and I read through all of them. I make it a point to skim through all the articles. Receiving all this information in my own inbox saves me a lot of time as well. I always recommend setting up a separate email for all your blog related mail, and make sure you receive all of your newsletters on that email. Yeah, I think an inbox full of good newsletters is a must for every fashion blogger. 

Make sure you have a Polyvore account

Polyvore is one of my closest friends. Whenever I write a post about a specific trend, for example, I always give as many illustrations of the trend as possible. That's where Polyvore comes in. It allows bloggers to create sets to embed in their blog posts. Polyvore also has many other perks, but I'm sure you're good enough to find them yourself :)

One page of Vogue per day, keeps writer's block away

Fact. It also keeps fashion disasters away. Every blogger's toolkit must contain a decent amount of Vogue magazines and any other important fashion magazines like Elle, V, W and the like. Read as much as you can. It doesn't matter if your magazine dates back to 1986, read it anyway. Look at the pictures. React to what there is and write something about it. I love flicking through old editions of Vogue and write about something I've spotted to try to bring back a new trend. I also suggest referring to some books about fashion and style. Your inspiration gland (I invented that so don't look it up in your anatomy books) will swell with enthusiasm.

Mind your language

The nerd is in the house. As an English graduate, I want to make sure that my posts are as grammatically correct as possible. I'm not a native speaker of English, so I have to be extra careful. This is why I always have a dictionary next to me when I write. I also like keeping a thesaurus handy to look up synonyms or else everything I describe would be 'nice', 'pretty' or 'horrible'. Diversity is a lovely thing, even in a linguistic context. Thankfully, there are plenty of online dictionaries and synonym finders to make the task easier!

A Fashion-Glossary translates into Mega Descriptive Precision

I'm a perfectionist so I either describe things precisely or I don't describe them at all. I'm currently compiling a glossary of fashion-related terms, including words related to sewing and textiles, to make sure my posts contain all the precise words they require. I'm gathering all these terms from a number of sources including fashion magazines, sewing magazines, and other online glossaries. I want to study fashion later on this year, so this is sort of my prep work as well. It's so helpful, I promise! Now I can identify different waistlines, cuts and materials instantly. Having a handy list of basic terminology really works wonders!

Thank for the Music!

I strongly believe there's a strong relationship between music and fashion. I can't write unless I have the right type of music in the background. For yesterday's post on Androgyny, for instance, I needed a good dose of Jessie J and Robyn playing to write. Every blogger needs his or her music. In my opinion, having a specific music playlist to listen to whilst blogging is essential. Just put in a selection of music you find particularly inspiring. Here's a screenshot of my 'Let's Write' playlist. Click it to see a larger version. Yes, it has a cheesy name. Don't judge me.

Pile on plenty of Patience, Determination and Individuality

Last but not least, every blogger needs a great deal of patience, determination and individuality. The first is one of those really important things. Be patient, don't spam people to read your blog. You won't become the next Anna Wintour overnight. It takes time! Just sit back, write and enjoy it. The second is what keeps you going. I feel committed to my blog and to its readers and I'm determined to do anything in my power to do the best job possible. The last is what you should hold tightest to. Be yourself. Don't imitate others. Write about things you feel strongly about. Don't write about something just because everyone else is writing about it. You are who you are, and the sooner you learn to appreciate that, the sooner you'll see people flocking to read your stuff!

That's all I have in my little toolkit! I feel like concluding this post by encouraging many more people to start blogging because it's a truly fulfilling experience! Geez, this conclusion sucks.

-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

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)