Fashion Hookup

Keeping You Up On The Latest Fashions

Spring is on the Horizon

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Even as most of us are still bundled up in winter coats and gloves, the fashion-savvy it’s already time to start educating ourselves about the new fashion trends for spring. The new pieces are arriving in stores and display windows even now. What pieces can you keep and update with a trendy accessory? What absolutely requires an updated replacement?

One of the easiest ways to begin evaluating your current wardrobe versus exciting—and possibly expensive—new fashion trends is to take a look at the “new” colors emphasized on the runway. Instead of overturning your entire wardrobe, though, consider incorporating accessories like bracelets, scarves, necklaces and even shoes into your closet to keep it current.

2013’s New Colors

Unlike previous years’ easily described pastels or neons, the colors of 2013 include dynamic brights mixed with unusual neutrals and also new, lighter shades too powerful to be called pastel. “This season’s color palette emphasizes the need for balance, while at the same time allowing for individuality, self-expression and excitement,” explained Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. Use Elseman’s quote to justify your new color combinations and pairings of the old and new.

·       Greens

Appropriate for the season, a range of greens is prevalent in designers’ collections. First, there’s Pantone’s Tender Shoots shade, a mix of a light yellow with a pale lime green. The color combination is almost neon—but not quite—and provides a significant degree of power to a piece despite its gentle shade. A second green common to this season’s collections is known as Grayed Jade. Unlike the muddy mix you might imagine, it’s in fact a more subtle, lighter hue. Finally, the most vibrant of the spring greens is that of Emerald, described as sophisticated and radiant.

·       Blues

The new blues of spring have nothing to do with a down mood and everything to do with the range of shades you might associate with a summer day at the beach. Dusk Blue is the shade of a child’s crayoned ocean: a light to medium tone with its slight potential for brightness just barely held in check with a very slightly gray undertone. The much darker Monaco Blue is a navy blue infused with a purple tint that allows it to serve as the foundation of an outfit, if necessary. In between these two blues is a light but corporal African Violet shade—almost like lavender with muscle.

·       Whites

Get ready for white, a lot of it and in almost every type of garment. The crisp, clean white of 2013 is less a neutral shade to provide contrast against a color, and more of a stand-out shade on its own. Designers have played with white to demonstrate two huge fashion trends of the season: laser cut-outs of the primary white fabric for a peek-a-boo effect and the sheer craze that teases the eye with pretend exhibitionism. Pantone’s Linen hue most likely stands in as the light neutral of the color family as white holds court on its own.

Ready for the Change?

After a few seasons of color blocking bright neons against seemingly incongruous shades of deep intensity, the hues of 2013 seem fresh, fun and gentle to the eye. There’s still plenty of power to be had in the new Poppy Red and Nectarine shades; they just don’t have to be worn together to catch the eye and keep up with style.

 

The Best Bangles for Your Outfit

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Any outfit won’t be complete without some accessories. Don’t go overboard, though, as to wear several of them because less is always better. You can choose between accentuating your outfit with a belt, a scarf, a necklace, a huge ring or a pair of sunglasses and perhaps some bangles or bracelets.

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Bangles and bracelets are always in fashion. Whether it’s the chunky bangles you like or several pieces of bracelets, they improve one’s look and appeal.

The great thing about these bracelets is you can mix and match them regardless of the size, color and texture. If you’re not familiar with the ways on how to do that, we share some simple steps you can follow.

Bangles and bracelets are made from different materials. The wooden type is the most versatile as it can match everything even the chunky bracelets.

If you want to use the metallic colored ones, you can choose to wear a single piece particularly one that looks elegant. Feel free as well to use them together with the wooden ones.

There are also the metal bangles which you can use in a bunch particularly the small ones. The sound they make when you move your arm should be music to your ears.

For the jeweled bracelets and bangles, the best way to use them is by wearing only one piece and on one arm. This is most ideal for the more formal occasions although it can also be worn casually.

Flower prints go well with a white outfit and flats while animals prints can be paired with green and wooden bangles to achieve a jungle and sexy accent to your outfit.

Overall, the key is to mix and match. Plain colored ones can go with patterned and printed bangles while bangles with prints and patterns are best paired with plain colored outfits.

Photo via exist-media

Keeping Your Festive Spirit Alive After the Holidays: 3 Wardrobe-Enhancing Tips for Staying Stylish in the New Year

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The bulk of the holiday season is officially in the past, and that means no more dorky Christmas sweaters or sparkly sequin New Year’s Eve dresses. How’s a girl supposed to have a little fun with fashion once these festive items are no longer appropriate? Although you may feel like your outfit selection is dreary without these quirky pieces to choose from, there are plenty of ways to keep the fun spirit of the holidays alive in your wardrobe without looking like you don’t own a calendar.

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1. Overload Your Accessories

Accessories can transform any basic, dull outfit into a fabulous, eye-catching look. If you’re used to a subtle pair of studs or just a simple necklace for your everyday outfits, add a little more color and pizzazz with accessories to keep your holiday spirit alive. Attachable embellished collars are a popular fashion item this season, which can make your outfit preppy and pretty in no time. Wear them with your favorite bold colored sweaters for a pop of sparkle and texture. You can also give your wardrobe more festive flavor without spending a fortune by going to Claire’s for fun feathery hair accessories, animal print scarves and glittery belts for a fun accent.

2. Brighter is Better

Maybe your wardrobe is feeling a little “blah” because you’re only choosing between blacks, grays and beiges. Although every wardrobe needs these colors represented, they tend to drag your mood down when it’s all you ever wear. When you’re looking for a fashion pick-me-up, go for bright colors like hot pink, sunny yellow and classy royal blue. Bold and vibrant colors give your outfit that brand new look, which keeps you confident in your style all year round.

3. Experiment with Textures

Color isn’t everything when it comes to choosing the right outfit; texture is also an important element for finishing off a stylish outfit. Lace is definitely in this season, and is a perfect choice for giving your look a subtly sexy touch, while still staying appropriately covered. Velvet is also a fitting post-holiday fabric to stay cozy and add a unique, opulent shine. Lucky Brand has a great selection of velvet jeans right now, while Victoria’s Secret carries beautiful long-sleeved lace tops that are perfect for a bottom layer in the chilly winter weather.

Without the holidays to distract from the dreary winter weather, it’s easy to get down in the dumps and bring your wardrobe down with you. However, you don’t have to abandon all hope and high spirits just because the Christmas lights are down and you’re back to the daily grind. These fashion tips will help you replenish your wardrobe with more of the festive spirit you brought to the holiday season, which will keep you going until warm spring finally arrives.

How to get that celebrity style with hair extensions

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It’s not fair: celebrities seem to have a brand new ‘do every time they make public appearances, and they always seem to look flawless no matter how they wear their hair. In fact, it almost seems too good to be true. What’s their secret? Pretty much every celebrity has at one point, if not regularly, worn hair extensions to enhance her natural locks. I know what you’re thinking: “Hair extensions? Those fake, doll-hair weaves I saw everywhere ten years ago?” Not exactly.

Earlier versions of hair extensions had a reputation for looking phony, being uncomfortable and just overall being poor quality. However, the industry has advanced tremendously since the first hair extensions came onto the market, and today’s methods and materials are about as close to the real thing as you can get.

If you want to use extensions to create a red carpet look, here’s what you need to know:

General guidelines

As the quality of hair extensions has increased, the variety of these hair-enhancing accessories has also increased. Although this gives fashionistas tons of new style options, it can also be intimidating for someone who’s fairly new to hair extensions. Deciding which hair extensions are right for you will depend on a number of factors, such as style preference, hair color and even face shape. However, the following short and sweet tips will help you make the right choice:

·         If you have a long face, avoid adding too much length

·         Always choose extensions that match your hair color exactly

·         Do not color your hair during the period you plan on wearing extensions

·         Always blend real with artificial through teasing and styling

(For some equally helpful tips on what not to do, see this list of celebrities who didn’t get it right the first time).

Types of extensions

Most women choose one of two ways to add extensions: pay a stylist to have extensions sewn-in at a salon, or buy quality clip-in extensions and create your own look at home. There is a major difference in price between these two options, but surprisingly not a major difference in quality. You’re lucky to get out of a good salon with a hair extension bill of less than $1,500. Alternatively, clip-in styles generally run around $100 and

are much easier to apply. Not to mention, clip-ins are non-committal, so you can easily remove them when you don’t feel especially glamorous. With clip-ins, you simply add a little volume, style it with your ‘do, and you’re ready to hit the town.

Care for your new hair

Even if you choose affordable clip-in styles, you’ll want to take good care of your hair extensions to maintain the quality and lifespan of your gorgeous new locks. Simply wash your hair extensions with a mild shampoo and cold water, making sure to rinse thoroughly. Apply a leave-in conditioner and use a wide-toothed comb to work through any tangles. Let your hair extensions air-dry overnight by hanging them on a pants hanger. If you must blow-dry your extensions, make sure to keep the dryer on cool, low heat.

Hair extensions can be a dramatic solution for changing your entire look, but that doesn’t mean they have to come with a dramatic price tag. If you want celebrity-style hair that wows at your next big party or even just a fun evening out, clip-in extensions are a quick, easy and cost-effective way to give you the body and volume you’ve always wanted. Make sure to keep the tips above in mind to find the perfect fit for you.