How to wear a silk shirt

admin — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 10:44:19 +0000

It goes without saying, a men’s silk shirt just oozes glamour. Paired with even the plainest of trousers, the soft sheen of silk is a sure sign of style. But wearing a silk shirt can be tricky: how do you stay classy and not end up looking tacky?

1. Stick to colour blocking
A plain men’s silk shirt in off-white or cream is an undisputed classic style. But this spring why not branch out into on-trend soft pastel shades? A pale green or yellow men’s silk shirt teamed with casual trousers will give your wardrobe a much needed boost for the New Year.

Try to avoid busy scarf prints: the Versace-esque silk shirts may be tempting for fast, trendy fashion, but it won’t make for a shirt you can wear time and again. Go for simple, classic, versatility and focus on the quality of the shirt.

2. Try smart/casual
Silk shirts for men are not just occasion garments: with the right cut, they can be worn for smart/casual daywear too. Tuck your silk shirt loosely into casual tailored trousers or smart jeans, and accessorise with a pair of sunglasses and boat shoes.

The 50s have been on trend for the past few years, and there has been a deluge of smart/casual styles to suit: this is a great time to go vintage with a soft cut silk shirt.

3. Splash out
When choosing a men’s silk shirt, don’t be frugal. If cared for properly, a silk shirt will last for years to come, so pay a little bit extra for one you really love and will definitely wear again. A good cut, loose fit and soft colour will make a shirt that fits well and looks great.

4. Keep extras to a minimum
Silk shirts for men are a statement piece in themselves. Worn best under a suit or with smart trousers, men’s silk shirts need no more accessories than a simple watch or sunglasses and a smart haircut.

5. Opt for Granddad or soft collars
For a modern look, granddad collars and softer neck shapes are perfect. If you can’t find a men’s silk shirt with a loose collar to suit you, don’t despair. Silk shirts with sharper collars are easily relaxed by loosening by teaming with chinos and opening one or two shirt buttons to open the neck line.

Author: Ruth Dawson

1980′s Lingerie

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:54:34 +0000

Many of the significant changes that took place in the world of women`s lingerie throughout the 60s and 70s were motivated by a general demand for underwear that was more comfortable. After decades of corsets and girdles women were more than ready for underwear that was neither rigid nor restrictive and thus in the 60s and 70s lingerie manufacturers placed emphasis heavily upon comfort and wear-ability.

In the 1980s, however, things started to change in the world of lingerie. Underwear was no longer a matter of politics or even practicality, but instead reflected the contemporary society`s love of style and aesthetics. Comfort was certainly no longer the word of the day, as it was forced to take a back seat to the highly stylised lingerie designs that became widely popular with women throughout the 80s.

One of the most significant developments in the world of lingerie to take place in the 1980s was manufacturers` and lingerie designers` willingness to overtly acknowledge a relationship between lingerie and sex for the first time. Of course by its very nature lingerie had always been linked to sex and sexuality, but throughout the 50s and even the 60s and 70s this had always been conveyed in a rather subtle, almost innocent manner. Naturally there was lingerie during the 50s, 60s and 70s that was designed to be alluring and seductive, but this was always conveyed in a rather soft, feminine and perhaps passive way.

The 80s, however, was a time of power suits and strong empowered women, meaning that there was no longer a place for the flouncy fabrics and pastel hues of previous decades. Taking inspiration from characters in television programmes such as Dynasty and Dallas, lingerie in the 1980s was unashamedly provocative, overtly sexual and downright erotic. Unsurprisingly then red lingerie soared in popularity, as did the use of lace. Although lace had been around for hundreds of years it was absolutely everywhere throughout the 80s and was particularly heavily used in the manufacturing of lingerie.

Lingerie designers also borrowed elements from previous decades that they found to be particularly sexy, which is why stockings and suspender belts enjoyed a resurgence in popularity throughout the 80s. Likewise during the 1980s basques and corsets also became popular again, however not as an everyday underwear item as they had been in the 1950s. In the 80s basques and corsets were worn for aesthetic reasons alone, as they were marketed as the perfect accompaniment to any seductive bedroom ensemble.

But despite all of this, without doubt the most iconic item of lingerie to be born out of the 80s was the body suit. The body suit looked very similar to a swimsuit but was fashioned out of a cotton jersey fabric and fastened with poppers at the gusset. Body suits were designed to be worn under clothing instead of vest, but a trend soon developed for wearing them with skirts or jeans as tops in their own right. As a result of this embellished body suits heavily trimmed with lace were worn by many women, despite the fact that most believed them to be uncomfortable and rather unflattering! Body suits were also frequently designed with low backs, meaning that wearing a bra underneath them was not always possible. For this reason women with larger busts often found adhering to the body suit fashion to be rather difficult, as they offered nothing in the way of support.

These days lingerie designers draw on decades gone by for a lot of their inspiration and the 1980s in no exception. If you are in the mood to embrace some 80s lace then a great modern lingerie collection to look at is After Eden, as they have lots of items fashioned from typically 80s lace,even in red!

BLACK GREY BEIGE WIDE ELASTIC WOMEN BRACES WASPIE CORSET BELT SIZE 14 16 18 20
£8.99

ladies Vintage suspender Corset 1950s pale pink elasticated Waist 34" Hips 40"
£20.00

BEAUTIFUL VINTAGE BLACK LACE 50's SLIP, CORSET BURLESQUE FETISH SIZE 16
£30.00

RARE VINTAGE BONED AND STRAPPED OPEN GIRDLE,CORSET,BY SPENCER BURLESQUE,FETISH,
£20.00

Vintage HollyWood glam French Designer Sweetheart Corset Dress Uk 12
£40.00

RED/BLACK CORSET * rockabilly retro Hemsby vintage pin-up burlesque
£9.99

D&G Corset
£20.00

Antique Victorian silk boned corset bodice w. lace 1880s
£62.00

VINTAGE PEACH LACE UP HIGH WAISTED CORSET, SUSPENDERS
£17.00

VINTAGE PEACH LACE UP CORSET, SUSPENDERS XXXL
£14.99

TWILFITWHITE EMBRIODERY CORSET, DEEP SUSPENDER 34-35"
£1.99

VINTAGE 60s EMBRIODERY DEEP SUSPENDER, CORSET
£2.70