Archive for April, 2012

Print is one of those styles that really comes into its own in the summer. Because winter dressing is all about layers, monochrome and colour blocking is preferable because too much detail on a dress or women’s top can make an outfit look messy, whereas in the summer – unpredictable British weather notwithstanding – you have the chance to simplify your wardrobe and really make a statement.

When it comes to buying jeans, the temptation to play things safe is unusually strong. Don’t believe me? Take a look in your wardrobe, are you confronted by an endless sea of blue and black denim? If so you’re in the majority – and yet why do so many of us limit ourselves when there are so many alternatives on the market? Coloured jeans are a great way to subtly make an individual statement that goes with almost anything. Here’s our guide to some alternative shades…

If you’re the kind of fashion hoarder who has a shoe collection to rival Imelda Marcos and a wardrobe stuffed with dresses that haven’t seen the light of day in years, it might be time to bite the bullet and indulge in a little bit of spring cleaning. Letting go of long-cherished old clothes can be a painful experience, but you’ll be amazed how much better it can feel to cast out the old and make room for the new.

From Debbie Harry and Chrissie Hynde to Kate Moss and Karen O, the rock chick look is a striking image of female empowerment that never goes out of fashion. Even pop warblers like Ke$ha and Katy Perry have been seen to embrace the alternative look from time to time. Rock chick styles vary, but the classic look involves a cool, androgynous appearance with jeans and women’s trousers replacing skirts and dresses, and shirts and jackets replacing low-cut women’s tops.

Here at the Freemans blog we’re not above admitting our mistakes, and it’s fair to say that like most of the nation we were well and truly hoodwinked by the supposed onset of early summer last month. After literally changing overnight from shorts and t-shirts-friendly sun to unrelenting rain, sleet and snow(!), the weather does appear to be heating up again, but we’re not quite sure we’re ready to trust it again yet.

Whoever decided that fashion always has to be hard work? Sometimes, less really can be more – and when the sun is shining (we’re pretending last week’s bizarre two-day winter didn’t happen) nothing is simpler and more stylish than going minimal. Now please don’t misunderstand us here, this does not mean braving the elements by walking the streets in the shortest, skimpiest clothes you can squeeze into without being arrested for public indecency. Minimal chic is about classic cuts and simple colours with as few accessories or layers as possible.

Peplums are a sort of two-in-one dress with a piece of pleated fabric creating a mini-skirt effect on a longer dress. You can also get them on jackets and blazers. They first came to prominence in the 40s and enjoyed a big comeback in the 80s, so they’re great if you have a taste for vintage. However, as with most things 80s, they’ve recently gone beyond retro novelty and enjoyed another return to the catwalks.

Until fairly recently, the term loungewear was synonymous with nightwear, and not something you would be likely to apply to fashion – at least not the sort that you’d wear outside the comfort of your own home, or at best a furtive early-morning dash to the corner shop. So the sudden popularity of soft, oversized casualwear might require a bit of a mental adjustment. Keep an open mind though – any trend that can successfully combine style with comfort has got to be worth persevering with, right?