How do you live on the fashion side?

There are always so many rules out there that dictate how one should interpret fashion such as, "don't wear white after labour day", "black is always slimming" and "don't even think of wearing heels with cutoff shorts". As fashion followers, we all know that these rules have been broken many a time but are there new ways to interpret fashion rules? Aren't there different ways to think of how we dress?

Awhile back I wrote Amanda's Fashion Spot: Top Ten Commandments of Fashion   and Flare.com has compiled their own commandments from celebrated fashion designers. Here's my favourite quotes:

Jeremy Laing says.......BE YOURSELF! "Forget fashion, just do 'you'...Try different looks until one sticks. Ease is everything."

Charlotte Dellal says.......CELEBRATE YOUR BEAUTIFUL SELF! "It's a bit old-fashioned, but there is something about dressing up during the week rather than just on a Friday night or on the weekend...Also, if you feel like you're having a bad hair day or bad anything day, put on red lipstick and you're always good to go-even if you're feeling a bit lazy."

 Kimberly Newport-Mimran says.......HAVE AN IMAGINATION! "One should not be afraid to experiment; you need to always try things on [in multiple sizes] to see the fit. Do not judge something on the hanger alone."

 Donna Karan says.......WALK THE WALK! "If you have great legs, show them. You can hide the part of your body you don't care for and expose the parts you like. It's not about being 'fat' or 'thin'. A woman's beauty is in how she carries herself."

Prabal Gurung says.......BE A TRAILBLAZER! "Sometimes the best looks come from pairing separates you wouldn't expect together. Trends have to start somewhere."

These couldn't sound better if I have written them myself! Whenever you need some fashion advice or a fashion pick-me-up, remember these five little rules!

What fashion rules do you live by?

Enjoy!

Amanda
amandasfashionspot@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/AFSpot

The Top Ten Commandments of Fashion, Shopping and Everything in Between

Alright-y, it is the fourth and exciting installment of The Top Ten Commandments of Fashion, Shopping and Everything In-Between! 

7) Thou Shall Not Wear Clothes That Need Adjustment Whilst Wearing

The other day I was with my friend and I noticed that she was wearing a fitted t-shirt that required constant tugging at the waistline. Like many shirts with any amount of stretch (and sometimes not), her shirt was riding up and revealing her tummy. A lightbulb lit up in my head and I instantly thought that proper fitting clothes should never be adjusted, they should comfortably fit your body. In some cases, you shouldn't feel the clothing at all. The moral of the story is, if the clothes don't fit then don't wear it! By fit I mean that you do not have a muffin top while wearing your pants, you do not have crease lines left on your skin after changing your clothes and you are not swimming in your sweaters. Next time you go shopping, look for items that are not too tight and not too large. Don't be afraid to go up or down a size, for it is not the number but the fit that counts. Last but not least make sure there is no tugging involved! 

8) Thou Shall Not Reserve Fancy Clothes for Fancy Occasions 

Meeting a friend for lunch? Why not thrown on that statement necklace to accompany your casual tee and hot jeans. Going out for cocktails? How about you try on that printed dress you have been dying to wear. Not always having a formal occasion to attend does not mean you have to let your favourite dresses, tops and heels collect dust. Clothes are meant to be fun and serve as a visual representation for the wonderful person that you are. Don't hide behind gigantic sweaters, baggy pants and dull colours. Take some extra time to add some sparkle to your look.

Amanda

The Top Ten Commandments of Fashion, Shopping and Everything in Between

Here is your second round up of The Top Ten Commandments of Fashion, Shopping and Everything in Between!

3) Thou Shall Value Style Over Brand

Who cares if you bought a basic white t-shirt from Aritzia or Joe Fresh? As long as the clothes are flattering and they look great on you that's really all that matters. With that in mind, when purchasing clothes from fast-fashion retailers such as Zara and H&M look for clothes that contain natural fibres like, cotton, linen, silk or wool. These items will generally last longer and wear better. Also, look at stitching to make sure there are no broken stitches and fabric ends are serged. If you are going to splurge on a pricey well-known brand make sure it is something classic that you will love forever. For example, a good pair of leather boots or a wool coat. My mother once bought a silk blouse from Calypso and she has worn it more times than I can count!

4) Thou Shall Take Care Of Their Clothes

Always read the care label when washing your clothes. From working in retail, I cannot tell you how many times customers have come to me complaining that their beloved dark jeans have faded and shrunk! As a general rule, wash items in cold water with like colours and hang to dry, especially jeans. This is the best way to preserve the longevity and quality of your clothes. If you have items that require a dry cleaner, take them there. Need hand washing? Do it!

Amanda

The Top Ten Commandments of Fashion, Shopping and Everything in Between

As a fashion graduate and writer, I am often approached with questions about fashion and style. Therefore, I thought it would be very helpful to Amanda's Fashion Spot readers, to have a fashion guide to assist them through their style journeys. 

Read on for the beginning of the Top Ten Commandments of Fashion, Shopping and Everything in Between:

1) Thou shall dress for your body type

Whether you are pear-shaped, an apple, boyish or an hourglass, the best way to get the most out of your wardrobe and look like a million bucks is to wear clothes that flatter your shape. If a certain cut or trend looks great on one person it does not mean it will look great on you. As a general rule, 

-Pear-shapes emphasize your top half with colours and prints. Keep the bottom half darker.

-Apple shapes emphasize your bottom half with items such as, white or coloured pants. Keep the top half darker.

-Hourglass? Emphasize your waist, think belts.

- Have a boyish figure? Wear body-skimming cuts and create curves with strategically placed details

2) Thou shall wear colours that enhance their features

I always say, if a colour does not look good on you, then why wear it? It's always best to wear things that make you feel the most confident and flatter what the Lord gave you. As a general rule,

-If you have lighter features such as, blonde hair, blue eyes and fair skin, try pastels, light greys, bright blues, oranges and pinks.

-If you have medium features such as brown hair, brown eyes and olive skin, try jewel tones like raspberry shades, emerald green and cobalt blue.

-If you have red hair and freckles, try neutrals like olive green, browns and khakis. Pink, burgundy and teal shades look great on you.

-If you have darker skin, dark hair and eyes, bright colours are your best friend. 

Overall, everyone can pull off white, black and any colour as long as you find the right shade for you. When going shopping, experiment a little and look for colours that really make you pop!

Stay tuned for the remaining Top Ten Commandments of Fashion, Shopping and Everything in Between!

Amanda