1.Spotted in Armani exchange this blue and white striped pair

2. Seen at  Massimo Dutti, this printed red pair                      

3. Diesel's swimwear 2012 collection, with a really cool printed pair

4. Saving the best for the last, the colourful, trendy, made in france and available at the only Tenue de Plage in Marina bay sands 

Remember, a person is considered stylish when they display their personal style consistently, so pick the unique pair that shows of your personality and make your style statement even at the pool!

Happy reading

We mean kate Bosworth. She is one chic fashionista. Whether she dresses up for the red carpet or seen in her street wear, one thing remains a constant which clearly describes her personal style - there is always a simple detail that makes what could have been a plain outfit, an interesting one instead and brings forth her fun personal style.

How does she do it?

She does it with Colour to brighten up combinations. By adding a bright lipstick to a simple white Tee and light coloured skirt she creates an interesting look. Tan shoes and/or a tan bag are a more trendy option to combine with neutrals.

She does it with a twist in the style of a clothing item. A sarong style gray skirt even when combined with a gray top to make a monochromatic combination with some simple accessories makes a statement. A combination of neutrals is taken to another level by shorts with a scallop hemline. The difference in all these outfits is the details.

And then there are always the shoes, simplest of outfits are transformed by pairing them with statement shoes.

In summary,

Identify which are the elements in your style that you would like to highlight. For instance, do you love sequined, embroidery details on tops or do you think neutral colour combinations best express your classic personality or are you a dramatic dresser who loves splashes of colour and lots of it. Once you know, which elements best describe you, focus on making sure these come together in every outfit that you wear.

Its all about individuality and these days its all about personal branding, one aspect of which definitely is your image, whether it is at work or play, personalising it within the appropriate formality levels is key.

Happy reading

Suits: storing in suit bags protects it from insects and dust. Hang dry-cleaned suits on proper wooden hangers rather than wire hangers. Brushing regularly to remove lint will keep the moths away. Store out-of-season suits in air tight bags. Life expectancy: increased by 5 years

Ties: last longer when they are stored rolled rather than hanging in the wardrobe. Life expectancy: increased by 5 years

Shirts: last longer when hand ironed rather than dry-cleaned and machine pressed. Life expectancy: increased by 2 years

Shoes: when allowed to breathe and return back to original shape between wears last longer. Wear one pair not more than twice a week and use shoe trees in the hour or two after removing your shoes, this will help bring them back to original shape. Life expectancy: increased by 20 years.

Take care.

Article Resource:Esquire

Your accessories collection needs to be built overtime.

Match your style personality always to ensure that you not only have pieces that complete your look everytime but also make a statement about who you really are.

Here are some ideas, if your style personality is playful, quirky or funky!

1. Vivienne Westwood at isetan

2. Paul & Joe jewelery at Robinsons

3. Kenzo jewelery at Tangs

4. Kenneth Cole at Robinsons

5. Dogeared at Pacific Plaza

Create your style statement everyday.

Happy reading.

According to a survey conducted by Debenhams, this is what the perfect dress would look like.

Elements of this perfect dress: Capped sleeves, conservative neckline, right length, high quality stretchable fabric and is machine washable

We think in the right stretchable fabric this dress can definitely work for most of us. (But there are possibilities that it might not be the answer for each and every body shape.)

Your perfect dress or the combination of skirt and top is the one that:

1. Is the best representation of your personal style

2. Is in the right shade of colour to best suit your shape, with lighter colours on parts you want to bring focus to and darker colours on parts you want to camouflage

3. Is suitable for most occassions ( the perfect dress most often than not comes with a heavy price tag, so ensuring that the style is classic and you can get as much wear out of it as possible, makes it worth it)

4. Has the design elements that give you a balanced, hourglass figure

In the same Debenhams survey, 98 per cent women agreed that "the perfect dress" is extremely difficult to find. So seems like the problem is universal.

But instead of being disheartened, here are your alternatives.

Buy a dress if 90% of the design elements are suited to your shape

Try skirt and top option to assemble the look that best suits your shape, especially for women with heavier bottom half, it is challenging to find a dress that comes close to being perfect.

If you are not the type to make compromises, then you may want to find out exactly what elements work for you (right neckline, right sleeve length, right waist placement, right length of skirt, right style of skirt, right colour, right fabric )and get your "Perfect dress" tailored.

Happy reading.

In her own words," The thing I've learned is I have to be myself, find things that I like and go for it, but I enjoy fashion".

In the interview with Harper's Bazaar, she explains how the process is a nightmare (good to know that it takes an effort even for a style icon) but does end up looking effortless in the pictures. Obviously she has worked her style out well; a mix of classic with a touch of quirky, as seen below.

1.Classic: Simple white dress + Quirky : Sheer lattice bodice detail.

2.Classic: Waisted shift + Quirky: Fabric texture and interesting button detail

3.Classic: Plain single coloured dress + Quirky: Print detail on the inverted pleat with interesting shoes

4.Classic: Single coloured dress + Quirky: Peter pan collars and bow detail on the shoe

She has also been seen in lacy and printed dresses as well, but she keeps it ladylike with the right length and without many accessories. Most importantly, she makes the best use of her hair and make-up to match the mood of the dress and complete the look.

 Get Inspired !

Adopt this trend and make it your own.

Madonna's W.E releases sometime next month,  it is the story of Wallis Simpson and based on the reviews, the looks of  the fashion world's most famous style icon's  has been brilliantly recreated.

"She may not have been the most beautiful woman in the world, but she could make up for it by being the best dressed" Anne Sebba.

  That Woman: A life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor by Anne Sebba (Weidenfeld and Nicolson)

"I began with my own personal ideas about style and I've never again felt correct in anything but the severe look I developed then," Simpson told her friend Fleur Cowles, the magazine editor and society hostess, in an interview for Bazaar in 1966. That pared-down, urban elegance of her early days remained her style until her death in 1986.Read more: Duchess of Windsor Fashion - Wallis Simpson Fashion - Harper's BAZAAR

Wallis understood her personal style and was able to consistently express it through her different looks, whether it was at a formal event or holidaying in the French riviera.

Elements of Wallis Simpson's personal style 

1. Always polished

2. Elegant and chic, even when casual. She was never known to be too relaxed or casual in her look, wearing even just a striped top and capri pants, always was immaculate.

3. By adding to her no-fuss looks, the quirkiness of brooches, bold leaf patterns and fun  patterns like climbing lobsters and wool-embroidered monkeys, Wallis managed to always display her bold wit and sense of fun.

Lessons to learn from this fashion icon's style

1. Understand the characteristics of your personal style well, till you are able to describe it in so many words

2. Clearly define how you would like your style personality to be seen

3. Eliminate elements in your wardrobe that are distracting you away from your desired style

4. Slowly build up from your current image to carefully craft a personal style that is unmistakably YOU.

Building your style personality definitely does not happen in a day but knowing exactly what you want and by focusing on achieving it, will eventually get you there and have fun while doing it.

Tips to take away from his style?

1. It is all about the fit.

2. If the fit is right for your body shape, you will be able to create clean lines and a sharp silhouette.

3. Details at the collars and details at the cuffs. Keep the look classic, yet introduce an interesting detail that makes it trendy.

What did Ryan wear in this popular scene?

 1. Shirts by Alain Gossuin

2. Suits, with hand stitched leather details, quality that will last for atleast 10 years(worth the price tag) designed for him by Albert Hammond Jr.

3. Chad glasses by Selima optique

4. Don't forget the accessories - a leather strap watch, stylish shoes, sunglasses...

What Ryan Gosling also does best is suits in uncommon colours like the ones below

 Personalise your style. We say its all in the details!

What are the main elements of her style?

 Skinny jeans and dressy tops

When wearing obvious,  prints and patterns, go minimum on accessories. Its all about the dress,  shoes in a complimentary colour or a single piece of jewelery to balance the look.            

  Bold Colours with minimum jewelery, neutral shades for shoes

Accessories - Necklace, handbags, shoes, scarves, always with neutral outfits, to add accent. 

Outfits with textures ( glitter, shimmer, sheer fabrics) in deep shades.

Conclusion: Romantic dresser. Blake's style is feminine, fun, chic with a great balance between the outfit and accessories. If the outfit is bold in colour, texture, prints or patterns, then accessories are kept to the minimum and if the outfit is neutral and plain then accessories are used to lift the look and make it dressy.

Easy ?!

Happy reading

Have a look

 The Classic dresser. Characteristics: Traditional and timeless style. A formal looking shirt and trouser can take him through all activities in his day and even over the weekend. Accessories include classic watch, ties and good quality shoes. Wears more neutral colours - black, grey, white, beige. 

Brands: Massimo dutti, Boss, Emporio Armani, Burberry, Agnes B                  

 The Natural dresser. Characteristics: Comfortable, relaxed approach to dressing. More open to using accessories, for eg: belts in different colours, one or 2 different styles of bags and shoes. 

Brands : Diesel, Timberland, Banana republic, Prada

The Romantic dresser. Characteristics: Loves to experiment with colours, fabrics, accessories and is not afraid to show his flair of putting it all together.

Brands: Cavalli, Versace, Kenzo, Mango

 The Dramatic dresser. Characteristics: Loves to play with colour. Exaggerated styles, accessories like bracelets, scarves, oversized glasses, frequent change in hairscuts, constitutes this flamboyant style.

Brands:  Dolce and gabbana, Dsquared, John Galliano, Yohji Yamamoto

Knowing your style personality helps you make more informed choices and at the same time you can build an effective, versatile wardrobe where everything works.

Till the next time...

Lets start with how many basic types are there to begin with (not counting the sports bags):

Formal bags to take to work

   Envelope bag     Doctor bag    Kelly bag         Tote(shorthandle)    Satchel

Casual bags to match your casual, informal wear.

             Tote             Hobo               Messenger           Swingpack         Beach bag

Evening bags for social events and evening get togethers

                   Clutch                   Envelope Chanel         Minaudiere

How many do we need ?

Atleast

One casual in leather, one beach or summer bag, one sports bag

One formal

One evening

and you will find yourself sorted, as far as the handbags are concerned.

Happy reading..

 3 reasons to install this color wheel

1. The wheel gives you 4 different combinations - Complementary, triad, analogous and tetrad. You have so many more colours to play around with. Vary the shades of the combination colour and create different contrasts- what ever suits your mood. In the above example, if you are in a dramatic mood go for the bold pink and blue combination, if you would like to go for something more subtle then match the pink with a lighter shade of blue, atleast you are sure that it goes well together.

2.You will never again wear only black and grey because you are unsure of which colour goes with what.

3. Last but not the least, its a handy tool available to you anytime, anywhere. Also, if you have had your colour analysis done, now you can make best combinations with your best colours in a jiffy!

The best thing to do in this case would be to at least try and identify features that can make wearing heels less painful.

Features to look for:

1. Shoes that are light. Heavy shoes lead to painful calves very fast.

2. Shoes made in leather, both inside and out. Yes, we all know this and yet we end up spending too much money on patent, plastic or fabric shoes, that are inflexible. Leather gets softer with time and proper care.

In high quality shoes, the insole lining is made of leather too, that is not only at the bottom but the sides as well. Leather also absorbs moisture and allows your feet to breathe.

3. Cushioning on the inside. Press the inside of a shoe, where the ball of your foot is supposed to sit, it should have some cushioning. If there is no cushioning, use gel inserts.

4. Chunkier heels rather than stilletos. Heels with wider contact area with the floor offer more support definitely. Also do look where the heel sits, it should be centred under the heel of your foot for better weight distribution.                   

5. Sole should not be too thin and smooth, that it gives you a walking on concrete feeling. For shoes with thin soles, your shoe repair guy can put a rubber sole on the base,  not only does it make the shoe less slippery but the rubber sole acts as a shock absorber too.

6. The right size. We all do look for the right size but we also talk ourselves into the idea of 'breaking in' the shoe. If it does not feel comfortable, its not the size for you and sizes vary from brand to brand. So do try 1/2 size or 1 size up. Never ever settle for tight shoes and hope for them to expand.

7.Top stitching on leather shoes. Avoid them. Shoes that have obvious stitches running all around on the top part of the leather shoe makes the leather lose its ability to stretch.

8.Low vamp shoes rub on the widest part of the foot and can cause bunions. Ouch! (Bunions are misaligned big-toe joints at the base of the toe) Therefore, avoid the shoes that give you toe-cleavage and go for styles where the toe box covers your entire toes.

Quality shoes will have all these features. So, spending more on shoes that give comfort and last you a long time are definitely a good investment.

Shop smart always.

Thanks for reading

The top 3 colours were:

Pink (big favourite of women between the age of 22- 45 years old), Purple and Black. The other colours which followed were white, blue and emerald green.

Colours have a great impact on how we feel and look. Wearing the right colours for clothes and make-up, to suit your skin tone will make you appear healthier, energetic and youthful.

 How do these colours affect our mood?

Pink is a colour of feminity and passiveness. It is a calming colour and is associated with romance. Wear pink on your first dates in warm shades to evoke attention.

Purple, symbolising power, luxury and ambition, is associated with royalty. To encourage creativity wear purple. people wearing purple are perceived as creative and individualistic.

Black is associated with power and authority. This is a favourite, simply because of its illusory effect to make one appear slimmer and taller; but too much black can be overwhelming as it evokes strong emotions.

Black has both positive and negative psychological effect. It conveys seriousness and classic taste and can also convey conservative, conventional outlook.

Try wearing other darks closer to black like dark purple or dark blue to create the same illusion of slim figure. Contrary to popular belief, blacks are not suitable for most skin tones, so wear your blacks away from your face. Wear a combination of black and white at work to create an authoritative look.

White is best worn to evoke feelings of fresh, new beginings and to evoke trust, as it signifies purity.

Blue causes the body to produce chemicals that are calming, because of which people are more productive in a blue room, as they can be more calm and focused. Not all shades of blue have that effect and too much blue can come across as cold. Blue is a colour to wear when interacting with men on a professional level.

Wear dark blue to evoke confidence and dependability and lighter blue to convey faithfulness and calm.

Green is the colour of peace and harmony and creates a pleasing feeling. Presenters and speakers get a favorable response when they wear blue-green. Green is the colour of nurturing, hence helps to wear green when you feel the need to renew and restore energy.

Colours are a part of your visual image, wear them well and wear the ones that suit you the best.

Happy reading...

How long you wear your trousers, is a matter of personal preference totally. For those in slightly more creative field or following very casual level of dressing formality at work, wearing your trousers 4 inches above your shoe can be your personal style statement.

For those in the more conservative or traditional, that is to say, following business formal or business casual dressing, wearing the trouser at the right length is important for your overall balanced look.

Here is a guide:

Cuffed suit pants: should have a straight hem and should be long enough to sit on your shoe without a break. The cuff works better on tall men, on shorter  men it creates bulk at the base and makes them appear shorter. The right width of the cuff is ideally between 1.5 inches to 2 inches wide.

Uncuffed pants: should be long enough to make a small break in the front crease. The hem line is sloped, longer at the back, to reveal only an inch above the shoe sole.

Jeans: should cover the shoelace and can go as far down till it is barely touching the ground at the back. It can break a couple of times but not too much to look bulky around the ankle.

Chinos: Also known as America's official trouser, several men opt for chinos for business casual look.

What's the difference between chinos and khakis? Chinos are a pair of pants and Khaki is the colour. The right length would be long enough to end in a few breaks above the shoe and should never show your socks when standing. Do keep in mind, chinos tend to give a very relaxed look and might not be suitable for all business settings.

Choosing the proper length and styles can make you look taller, shorter, lean and sharp, so do give your trousers a proper break.

Happy reading.

1. They can help you create an efficient wardrobe. Build your wardrobe on classic pieces and accesorise to create different looks. For example, a simple black dress, accessorised in different ways can help you vary your look over and over again

2. They can help you take your look from day to evening. Replace classic pumps with strappy evening heels, add a fancy necklace or replace your handbag with a fancy clutch. But remember don't add all these accessories all in one go. Its important to create a balance. For example: if you are wearing a heavy bracelet, you don't have to wear a ring too. If the neckline of your dress has details balance it out with tiny earrings. In case the dress has a simple neckline then wear eye catching earrings or a chain. Its easy to over accessorize, so accessorize carefully.                      

3. They can help you add a touch of class to your style. A classy good quality handbag or shoes can take an ordinary outfit from simple to tres chic in a second. Invest in good quality classic styles, they will never let you down.

And its not just about handbags, shoes, belts, scarves and watches, your best accessory is one that is free and most impactful and that is your smile. Research shows that smiling helps to reduce stress as it releases endorphins in our body. You can influence others' attitude in a positive manner if you smile regularly. In addition, it helps to lower heart rate, dilate arteries and burn up calories. Most importantly, its one accessory you can never overdo.

Happy reading and keep smiling.

Here is a guide to help you:

For suit, shirt and tie -

Combine 3 plain colours: always looks sophisticated if the colour combinations are right.

Two plains and one pattern: interesting, easy and appropriate for work. Adding one pattern in place of an all plain combination, is an easy way to create an elegant and clean look.

One plain and two patterns: When combining two patterned garments, the pattern size should vary, one subtle and one a bit more obvious. For eg: a pin striped suit would coordinate best with a tie with slightly broader stripes.

Stripes and checks: Dont' be scared to mix checks with stripes, checks with checks and stripes with stripes but remember to vary the sizes and it will all work out well.

Combining 3 patterns is a tricky one, not impossible but needs a little daring.

For shoes, trousers and socks - always match your socks to your trousers and not your shoes.

For belts and shoes - match shoes and belts in color. Black shoes are an obvious option to wear with gray or navy but to add a touch of style and sophistication wear dark brown shoes with your navy or gray suits. Chocolate brown is the best colour to wear with navy suits. Black suits only go with black shoes.

Happy reading

The black and white combination, camouflages her silhouette to make it look curvy. Since lighter colours advance and darker colours recede, the dark panels framing the white bring the focus to a curvy figure.

Use colour blocking to suit your figure

For wide hips, take a cue from J Lo's outfit - bright on top, dark at the bottom. This combination brings attention to the upper half and the darker bottom gives a slim appearance to her hips.

For wide shoulders and narrow hips, wear dark on the upper half and brighter or lighter at the bottom

To suit a tall figure, colour block at the bottom half brings the attention downwards to balance out your tall figure

To highlight your waist, wear an eye catching colour on your waist.

Adopt this trend and make it work.....

Happy reading

One button suit - always buttoned when standing and unfastened when sitting and of course this holds true for every other button style suit as well.

Two- button suits - always button the top and never the bottom. Suits are designed in a manner where the bottom button is meant to be left open for proper fit and drape.

Three - button suits - button the middle. You have the option of buttoning the top if you like but never the bottom. If the lapel rolls down to the middle button, then only buttoning the middle button would be correct.

Four or more button suit - often seen on celebrities, this suit is more of a fashion statement and definitely not a suitable option for formal business environment. But, if you do ever feel overly adventurous and want to make a brazen fashion statement, remember to leave the bottom button undone.

Double breasted suits - remains buttoned at all times untill you take the jacket off. Fasten every button, except the bottom but you can choose to button this one as well, following Prince Charles style.

Jacket sleeve buttons - a mark of quality. There are traditionally 4 buttons that sit very close together, touching each other slightly, on the sleeve. You may also find 3 buttons on the jacket sleeve.  Also known as the surgeon's cuffs, the buttons should be able to unfasten and allow you to roll the sleeves up as they were originally menat to be functional and not just a detail on a suit, as it is today. But unfastening your jacket buttons might make you look like a show-off. Therefore, these buttons are best left buttoned.

Happy reading.

  If you are looking for fashion inspiration or just looking to improve your knowledge about anything and everything fashion related, these 3 style guides are a good read to understand more about timeless style and individual expression.

Happy reading        

Besides dry-cleaning, which needs to be done only once a year, there are a few other things you can keep in mind to add longevity to your suit's life.

Hanging device, the right hanger preserves the shape of the suit. The hanger should mimic one's shoulder profile, which preserves the shape of the tailored collar and drape. The shoulders of the hanger should have a generous thickness, to ensure that jacket shoulders maintain their shape, and a strong metal hook. While hanging, hang suits few inches apart to reduce squashing it out of shape.

Cleaning device, the bristle brush is a great friend of the suit, helps to remove stuff that clings on to the fabric. Besides the bristle brush, the lint remover is a quick solution to visible fluff, pet hair and dandruff. Essential tools to have in your wardrobe.

 When worn, its best to keep out of the rain. A fused lining, a cheaper and less labour intensive option for interlining suits, will pucker and become out of shape when wet. Once this happens, no amount of ironing can bring the suit back to its original condition.

When stored, use suit bags. The bag protects it from dust, insects and from fading. The moth larvae that are invisible to the eye, can cause damage to your wool suits, as they feed on keratin, the natural protein found in the wool. Dry-cleaning before storing will get rid of these moths and the eggs. 

Rotate your suits between wears, this helps it to relax and restores its shape. 

It's totally upto you how long your suits are going to last.

Happy reading. 

  Recreate, reuse, reconstruct!

 Inspired by Gok Wan's Fashion fix, this blog is all about thinking out of the box. Gok Wan repeatedly works out different ways of wearing a top or a dress and creates many different looks and of course his creatively styled high street clothes always win the challenge against the expensive designer brands, in the fashion face off section of the program. Well, its high fashion and not all looks are practical but the point is, with just a snip here and a stich there he transforms the ordinary to extraordinary.

So, if you have a wardrobe full of clothes that you dont want to part with and yet feel like you need a new look- get your thinking caps on and here is what you do -

Get a very clear idea of what looks best on your body shape. After which, you seperate the pieces that you wear regularly from the ones that dont seem to work for some reason or the other.

Your style revamp to-do list:

1. Change the length of a skirt, a dress or a top. More often than not, every wardrobe has some long dresses and skirts that are much loved but never worn or not worn enough. Alteration is the answer.. get them taken up. 

                              image courtesy:Pretty ditty

2. Change a neckline - you will be suprised how changing a crew neck to v-neck or turtle neck to scoop neck can totally change the way the top looks.

3. Change a sleeve length - if a sleeve is too long for this weather, get it altered to cap or sleeveless

3. Take inspiration from the uniform project ( introduced to us by our lovely client). It shows how one dress can be worn throughout the year and made to look different everyday. Some looks work better than the others for sure but notice how changing the accessories can make a big difference. Use these accessories as accents to brighten up a dull combination.

4. Again, think out of the box, look at shop window displays and fashion magazines for ideas and try to create combinations that you might not have tried before.. create different colour combinations...

and if you really want to get into it, you can even try to reconstruct your own clothes. There are many books available that give you ideas on how to reconstruct clothing.

Don't let your wardrobe weigh you down....Enjoy recreating and reduce your carbon footprint..

Happy reading 

Skin care is just as important for men, as it is for women. Having said this and seeing many more men's skincare brands popping up in the recent years, what has not changed is men's views on skin care. We still come across men with dry dehydrated skin, who will spend some time in finding the right clothes for their outer appearance but are totally unaware of the type of skin they have and how to take care of it.

Here is the truth - grooming is important and skin care is an important part of it, besides haircare, nails and teeth.

Benefits of adopting a basic skin care routine

1. healthy skin = younger looking skin
2. less inflammation and irritation during shaving
3. less breakouts, oily spots or dry flaky skin = more attractive appearance
4. looking good = boosted confidence

What is a basic routine?

Cleansing- get a liquid facial cleanser that is suitable for your skin type, instead of a normal soap

Moisturising- shaving dehydrates your skin. Use a moisturiser, right after your shower, when the skin is soft and avoid using aftershaves that contain alcohol, that dry out your skin. If you spend most of your time in an air conditioned room, moisturising will keep your skin from getting dehydrated and in the long run this will keep away the lines and the wrinkles.

Sunscreen- use a sunscreen, it is an important protection that your skin needs. Use sunscreen after the moisturiser and apply to face, neck, including the back of the neck and ears.

In the evening cleanse, moisturise and treat. Treat your skin with a retinoid cream which will help reverse sun damage, rebuild collagen and help to give your skin a smooth appearance. Retinoid creams can be obtained from dermatologists. 

Keep your regimen simple and short and soon it will become a part of your grooming routine and yes, women do notice the difference.

Thanks for reading.

One essential piece of garment that every woman needs to have in her wardrobe is Shapewear. Why?

Because....

a) it gives you great shape

b) and it flattens out all the bulges, that might have been stopping you from trying out certain styles of dresses

c) and like Sara Blakely from Spanx ( love!!) says, if every celeb has it, so should you! 

You can choose shapewear that is most suitable for your shape. The different types available are:

Body briefers and shapers: that shape and flatten your tummy and some go all the way from your breasts to your butt.

Cami top or cami bra: a camisole look alike that gives a toned look under fitted tops. Perfect for keeping the bra bulges in control.                         

Waist cinchers: works on your waist and gives you the ideal hourglass shape.

and there are many more versions, depending on where you want the control. You can choose between light control, medium control, firm and extra firm. The extra firm offers great shape but can get very uncomfortable very soon, so wear this only if you are not going to have it on for very long.

We would recommend to look for shapewear in the soft bamboo fabric by Triumph, available in all lingerie sections of the shopping malls. This material is sweat- absorbent, soft and comfortable to wear, besides being an environmentally friendly fibre, of course.

So, broaden your style options, go get your shapewear.

Happy reading.

You have just bought yourself a new leather handbag. You are taking care to carry it properly and try to avoid getting it dirty, as much as possible; but what most of us tend to forget is that a leather handbag needs regular cleaning to maintain its durability. 

Therefore, what you also need to get are the products that will help you take care of it and make it last for a long time.

Here is what you need to do to care for your leather bags:

1. Read the care instructions carefully and purchase a leather cleaner that is suitable for your bag. There are several leather cleaners available in the market, just match the one that is right for the leather of your bag.

2. Use a non-dyed cloth and start by doing a color test on a small part of the bag that is not visible. If ok, follow it up with using the cleaner on the whole leather portion of the bag.

3. Use a leather conditioner, with the non-dyed cloth, rubbing it into the leather, in small circles. This will keep the leather soft and prevent it from drying out and developing cracks.

4. Use a leather protectant spray, that will protect your bag from the rain and dirt.

Things to avoid:

1.  Never use too much water, as leather is difficult to dry out and may develop stains.

2. Never  store your bag in a plastic bag, it will cause it to dry out, as well. The best cover to store your bag in, is a breathable material like a cotton pillow case.

Clean and condition your leather bag regularly once a month and you can cherish it for a long time.

In case of big stains, get professional help- dry cleaners who can clean leather handbags.

In case of any related questions, please feel free to write to in,

Thanks for reading.

Cozycot Holy Grail beauty and fashion award is a weekend long celebration of all things related to beauty and fashion.

Lots of gifts, exciting prizes, lucky draws, stage shows and above all, exclusive beauty products showcase and sales and 70% off on limited stocks of luxury handbags.

We will look forward to seeing you there.
 

We found at Instyle.com a summary of all that we at Image and me have been talking about during our style sessions. Indeed they are the Best style tips ever, to help you enhance your personal style

Click on the link to read further,

Enjoy.

Not many of us wear jeans during the day in singapore, therefore it is important to know how to make them work best for an evening look.Knowing how to take your jeans from casual to smart casual evening look is a great way of wearing your comfy pair to suit different occassions (considering you have found the one that is a perfect fit and shows off your curves).

What takes the jeans from day to evening....

A darker pair over a lighter one- A dark denim looks more formal and not only that, it will always give you a leaner appearance too

 Swap your t-shirt for a blouse in a rich looking fabric, such as silk

Accessorise ! nothing glams up an outfit more than the right accessories to match the mood. Add a long necklace, dangly earrings or a bracelet. Remember to maintain a balance, all you need is a hint of sparkle to lift the look up. Alternatively, wear a top that has the sparkle detail, in that case go easy on the accessories

Finally, the shoes will say it all. Replace your flats for a cool pair of heels, nothing adds more formality than heels.

And yes you can combine blue and black!

Don't hesitate to experiment in putting all these together for a new look and making your pair of jeans more versatile and your wardrobe more effective.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Thanks for reading.

You don't need more than 5 pairs of good quality shoes to take you through your weekday and weekends.

If you have invested in good quality shoes for your work wear or casual wear, it will pay. Your shoes can last you a very long time, but only with proper care.

This is how

1. Shoe tree: shoe trees are essential to maintaining the shape of your shoes. The important thing to note is that you don't need to have one for every pair, because you only need to have them in your shoe for an hour or two of taking off your shoes. Shoe tree helps to draw out moisture, i.e. sweat, out of your shoe and your shoe lasts much longer. The less fancy, unvarnished shoe trees are definitely more effective than the pretty looking varnished ones. The best ones would be the unvarnished, cedar with a split toe and fully shaped heel.

2.Mending your shoes: Leather soles need to be resoled to not only prevent them from being slippery but also to give the sole a long life. Make sure once the sole is nearly worn out, you get them resoled and reheeled as soon as possible and before it is totally necessary.

3.Wet and smelly shoes: Stuff wet shoes with newspaper and dry them out. When almost dry, put in the cedar shoe tree to bring them back to shape. If your shoes are smelly, you need to give them a break and use that shoe tree to deodarize them. Rotate your shoes, wearing the same shoe everyday will cause them to wear out really fast. Changing the insole at some point helps too.

4.Suede: Suede shoes need a suede rubber to rub of any marks and then brush them with the special suede brush to restore the look.

To keep your leather shoes shining, use Kiwi wax based polish, lint free cotton or linen and horse hair brush.

Put a little time and effort into taking care of your quality pairs and they will take care of you.

 Thanks for reading.