The pretty ribbons, the carefully wrapped presents, the shiny
boxes hiding the horrors, the horrors that wait for Christmas
morning.
Grandma may have thought a patch-quilted jacket was the perfect
gift, but now it just begs to be returned. Not to worry. An
estimated four to six percent of gifts are returned after
Christmas.
The pretty ribbons, the carefully wrapped presents, the shiny boxes hiding the horrors, the horrors that wait for Christmas morning.
Grandma may have thought a patch-quilted jacket was the perfect gift, but now it just begs to be returned. Not to worry. An estimated four to six percent of gifts are returned after Christmas.
That’s somewhere between $8.6 billion and $13 billion dollars’ worth of pom-pom sweaters, footie pajamas, novelty boxers and unwanted kitchen appliances all making their way back to the shelves from whence they came.
And with that extra store credit, why not work on building a wardrobe that can weather any fashion season from poncho pageantry to the crazy conniption over capelets?
Dressing well is all about investment, but don’t think of your closet as the stock market. This is not a lifetime approach, because all items have a shelf life. Instead, envision the contents of your closet as a CD – a temporary commitment with a solid promise of return.
Clothes, as they say, make the man (or woman). Their transformative power lends the wearer the tools he or she will need to gain confidence by masking figure flaws, conveying a sense of personality and presenting a situation-appropriate tone or image. Who, after all, would consider venturing into a five-star restaurant in flip-flops and a T-shirt? (If you said, “Me,” read on. That reply was a clear cry for help.)
More than the cost of a piece of clothing, fit is key to looking your best. Women’s pants should have a hem that hits at the bottom of the heel and should fit properly through the hip and thigh. Pants that pucker aren’t tasteful pants, but don’t allow reams of fabric to bunch up between your legs either, advise editors from Lucky Magazine in The Lucky Shopping Manual. Limit yourself to no more than 1/2 inch of wiggle room downtown and shop for “lightweight wool or a comparable blend for work,” remembering that “trousers that show the outline of your upper leg and flare from the knee add length.”
Men tied to their spare-tire-masking pleated-front pants are in for a shake-up, too. According to Queer Eye For the Straight Guy’s Carson Kressley, it can actually make them look bigger.
Flat-front pants create a thinner line and the best way to create an even slimmer silhouette is to go with a monochromatic color scheme, wrote Kressley in his new book “Off the Cuff: The Essential Guide for Men – And the Women Who Love Them.”
Suits are perhaps hardest to shop for fit in. Those for both men and women should fit well through the shoulder and underarm with no puckering (especially at the shoulder seams) or pulling when buttoned.
To achieve the dimensions you need it may be necessary to buy a suit that is too big and have it tailored.
For more sex-specific rules, remember that women should keep the bottom button undone for fit when sitting. Men should concentrate on accessories – no to short-sleeved dress shirts, yes to ties and pocket squares, cuff links and well-shined shoes. (Both sexes should avoid double-breasted styles unless the wearer is tall and skinny, because the style adds girth.)
To get an idea of what’s in style, it may be wise to pick up a guide, but if you’re not comfortable with the idea of buying a fashion Bible, at least settle for the pictorial version – a current subscription to a reputable fashion rag.
Men may enjoy GQ, Details, Esquire, Arena, Men’s Journal or Cargo while women can thumb through Lucky, Glamor, Jane or Vogue for ideas.
Pay attention to the cut of a piece of clothing or a shoe as it will reveal the timelines of your ensemble.
For instance, knee-high black boots have been in, in one form or another, for more than 30 years.
The shape of the heel and toe are about the only thing that’s changed.
Keep up with the basic silhouette, and you’ll always be in with the pack, but remember that what looks good on you is always more important to what looks good on 5th Avenue.
10 Fashion Commandments for Men
1. Disregard trends.
2. Never underestimate the power of details.
3. Keep it simple, sassy.
4. A garment should never be made of more than 25 percent of an unnatural fiber.
5. Experiment with style.
6. Never go shopping alone.
7. Don’t overdo it.
8. Never wear anything sheer.
9. Spend within reason.
10. Cashmere is seasonless.
– ‘Off the Cuff: The Essential Style Guide for Men – And the Women Who Love Them’
20 Must-haves for Every Woman
• Wool A-line skirt
• Evening dress
• Knee boots
• Sexy suit
• Good watch
• Parka
• Overcoat
• Black leather bag
• Black pumps
• Leather jacket
• Evening sandals
• Sequined evening bag
(Other things pictured left)
