Being Fashionable

You see some people dressed to kill but when they open their mouth and speak the entire image and effect falls flat on the ground. What could be the reason for this? ever wondered ? it is because they have not taken care to cultivate their entire persona, which is what style and fashion is all about...I personally tend to think that being stylish and fashionable is not only about dressing well, but also about being well mannered, having good clean habits and generally making a favorable impression and impact with your personality. It is more about your total personality and how you carry yourself and less about how you dress.

However, the Fashion industry worldwide is thriving and how? Today all the brand leaders are names to reckon with. I saw a simple, of course well cut and tailored cotton dress in a pale shade of beige in a boutique abroad which cost $250 and the most amusing thing was , it was made in India. I am sure it would cost nothing more than Rs 500 to put the dress together, labor and everything included and just look at what it fetches the moment it gets stamped with a brand name. The fact that labor is cheap in India makes many of the fashion houses to outsource their products and they are making huge profits.

What is the difference between fashion and style ?

When we refer to fashion , it actually is all about clothes and accessories that match or don’t match as dictated by the fashion celebrities for a particular season( they even say what colors are fashionable and are ‘in’) The fashion industry goes back as far as the sixteenth century popularized in Italy. Today most of the top brand names come from there. However, it was only two centuries later that the real manifestations of fashion took place and it happened all over Europe, with the wealthy upper classes going all out to woo Fashion. More and more people began to take fashion seriously and it began to evolve as one of the most thriving industries ever as it underwent major and continual changes over the years.

Definition of Style describes the term as a fashionable manner of doing things, which points out that style and fashion are very closely related. One can use them for the same context. People refer sometimes to other people as being stylish and also fashionable. Making a style statement and fashion statement are almost similar.

What exactly does Fashion mean?

You look at all the models cat walking on a ramp with a cultivated bored of the world (audience) expression, wearing most of the time unwearable dresses and hideous head gears that include feathers, wires, yards of chiffon or other such material , false hair and what not - all that you want to do is wonder in amazement and ask yourself, is this what fashion is all about? Definitely not, that is hype and commercialization of fashion by some very smart fashion gurus who dictate what fashion should be. But again does one need to be dictated by someone else as to what is fashionable and what looks good on you unless you surrender yourself to such a thing. That is of course left to the discretion of an individual.

We see some people looking good all the time even if they are dressed in everyday clothes and wearing a pair of slip-ons, so we ask ourselves what is it that makes that person stand out in a crowd and look presentable all the time? The answer is that they know how to be fashionable and more importantly they also have cultivated fashion from the inside and outside, that’s how they are able to make an impact even while wearing simple everyday clothes. The quote ‘Clothes make the man’ may not always hold good since it was probably coined by a fashion specialist in the first place to give importance to clothes and fashion industry in general !

However, there is no harm in trying to be fashionable, in fact it does wonders for our ego. I am giving here some tips on how to make the most of fashion and its trends to suit your life style so that you develop a whole new personality.

1. Fashion is all about organizing yourself – Like everywhere else in life ,organization is a very important fact of life. It is also true of being fashionable. Take a good look at your self and your dresses and generally everything else that is needed to make yourself presentable. Take a deep look into your wardrobe and see if there are dresses and ensembles that you have not used for more than a year or sometimes never worn even once having bought it on an impulse. If that is the case, you may never use it, so instead of feeling guilty each time you look at it and the other dresses that you don’t feel comfortable in( if you did you would wear it) get rid of them instead of letting them clutter and clog your wardrobe. Chances are that, if they remain there you would want to wear them and it wouldn’t flatter your looks .

2. Some tips on buying what is most suitable to you 

*Take a good look at yourself and be dispassionate and practical about it. Analyse your body type before you shop, what looks good on Sweety next door may not look good on you and vice versa. Also, look at your weak spots and flattering points, like for example :- you might be slightly plump which is a weak spot , so you need to select clothes that flatter your figure and you may have nice arms, so wear short sleeves so that you can proudly show them to the world. So it is better to evaluate and see what can be emphasized and what needs to be concealed and pick dresses and tailor them accordingly

*Your likes and dislikes are important – you may be a very trendy dresser in which case you would want to go in for clothes that are in season and are being currently worn by all the fashionable people and those who follow fashion trends.Be well informed about the current trends and depending on what suits you the most buy clothes accordingly. On the other hand if you are comfortable wearing simple clothes that are ethnic, by all means go for clothes of your choice – ethnic and classic clothes are always in. A saree or a Salwar Kameez will never go out of fashion. Make sure that you go for colors and patterns that flatter you rather than what is fashionable or in. This is a rule that has to be followed by everyone who wants to be fashionable while buying clothes for yourself.This why I never like to gift garments and dresses to anyone since they are too personal and individualistic.

*Your lifestyle matters – where you live and your day to day activities have a lot to do with the way you dress. One can be fashionable even while wearing everyday clothes. All that is required is a bit of imagination and a few minor add-ons which can enhance your everyday look greatly. Like for example :- you are required to wear a uniform dress code to your work spot, you can take a smart bag with you and put up your hair in a smart chignon once in a while or wear some small pieces of jewelry. It is all about conforming and at the same time making an impact and feeling comfortable which is something that one needs to cultivate. If you are a housewife spending most of your time within the confines of your home, you don’t need to loll around in a sweaty, soiled housecoat, with unkempt hair all day long. Once you have a bath and finish your house work change into something fresh and comfortable even if it is another cleaner housecoat, at least you will be more presentable.

 * Shop wisely – Take your time and make some mental preparations before you shop like your budget and the kind of occasion for which you are planning to buy the dress and accessories. Make a mental budget on how much you are going to spend and try and stick as close to it as possible.The best thing to do is to buy clothes that are of good quality and are long-lasting and will retain their class for a long period of time. Fashion changes quickly and keeping this fact in mind, don't fill your wardrobe with things that may not be appropriate next year, and don't spend a lot of money on fashion items. Always buy clothes that flatter your figure even if it takes some time for you to try them out and make the final choice.

It is a good idea to buy accessories too along with a dress, it need not be expensive but as long as it enhances, it is better to go for a complete look. When you shop wisely and brought things to your satisfaction it gives you mental satisfaction and confidence to wear the dress in comfort without feeling guilty about having spent too much on it, which is bound to show outwardly in way you carry yourself!

* Take someone along while you shop – Sometimes it is helpful to get a second opinion when you are not too sure about how a certain dress looks on you. Take someone who is able to give you an honest and frank opinion rather than simply keep saying that every dress looks good on you even it is not, or keep on criticizing. When you are able to rely on the opinions and judgment of a person, it is a good idea to take them along with you since it works to your advantage. It has been old that the image reflected in the mirror is not always how you look since you are able to see only one side at a time.You can always return the favor by doing the the same when he/she is shopping for personal clothes.

Following Fashion Trends

Be Confident - More than anything your confidence matters ! Being fashionable is all about being confident. When you have made the right choices in selecting clothes, accessories including shoes, you should have no reason to feel low when you dress up. It is only when you know that the dress is either too tight or sloppy or your you are unable to walk confidentally because the heels are too high that you become stressed and this emotion gets reflected on every srtep you take and clearly shows in your facial expressions.

So as far as possible wear clothes that make you feel good and you are not constantly adjusting and fidgetting about when you wear them.Once you wear a dress and the accessories that go with it, you should be able to forget all about it and enjoy yourself and that is what is called 'making a style  statement '

Don't follow fashion trends blindly - Just because you see a famous actress and a model wearing a figure hugging dress that is well above the knees and which is supposed to be the favor of the season, don't go and buy it for yourself unless you have an opportunity and an occasion to wear it. Many of the celebrities don't wear their own dresses ,the big fashion brands sponsor them to wear their dresses so that it gets talked about, whereas in following them you may end up spending a few thousand rupees, which may not even serve the purpose. We can see many of our top society ladies well past their prime, wearing such clothes and parading in Mexican hats and carrying out sized bags for a party,which only make them look ridiculous instead of flattering their looks. Take your age and your own neighborhood and life style into consideration before going in for fashionable clothes.

No doubt that one does want to indulge at times wanting to wear some clothes even if they are different. I would suggest that you keep them for informal parties where no one bothers about dressing up or about other people's dresses and you may gain confidence after wearing them once and even feel comfortable after which you can experiment and buy some more of the same kind.

Develop a style of your own - You are the best judge on what suits you best and what makes you comfortable.

1. Never shop at one go, instead keep on adding as fashion trends change and new styles come up. Never buy anything that you are not sure about just because someone else bought it or there was a 25% disciunt tab hanging on it.

2. Mix and match your ensembles to get the maximum out of your outfits . Dont go for the usual combinations like for example :- people prefer to match black/red/blue/green with white and now it looks almost like a uniform, so strike out to be different when you go for color combinations.

3. You don't need to buy ready made clothes carrying brand names all the time. Instead get a good tailor to tailor your dresses and if you give him your specifications he may come up with something that is perfectly suited to you and also as good at probably one third of the cost.

4. Making some minor changes to your looks is good for your overall personality - be it changing your hairstyle or trying out a new changed overall look.

5. Don't blindly copy anyone since it only shows that you have no individuality of your own and more than that it also kills your spirit of self expression. And this is not a good fashion trend !

6. Using make up is an art and needs to be cultivated taking into account your own personality and demands of your life, strike out to be different instead of following what is being preached by the fashion enthusiasts .

7. Being trendy doesn’t really mean anything much except that trend changes very quickly and you may be left holding on to dozens of last year’s trendy dresses that would look out of place today. Do buy trendy dress but only a few just to last the season...

Last but not least , be clear about what you want before trying out any dress or fashionable garment. Never wear any dress that doesn’t look good on you even if it is the hottest dress of the season. Make sure that you take care of hygiene and remain clean since when it comes to personal hygiene you can never be too careful and this is the most important fashion statement of all...