Photo: Edited from free-hdwallpapers.com

We don’t expect “Walking on Sunshine” to be the first song on your playlist, but there are some things you can do so these damp days don’t get the better of you.

It’s grey enough outside, don’t wear it. Let’s not be redundant, you do not want to look like the gloomy clouds or the gloomy cement that is putting you in a gloomy mood. Color abounds this season, so put some on even if it’s only one piece, and break up the overcast day.

Coffee is not the only pick-me-up. I’ll bet you didn’t know that Matcha green tea actually has more caffeine than your average drip coffee. But the point here isn’t to get you amped up or jittery, but lift your spirits a bit. We recommend something citrus; be it grapefruit juice, orange pekoe tea, or anything with lemon (or calamansi). Our second choice would be a crisp mint or peppermint tea; it is great for digestion and the scent will give you a nice little boost.

Photo: from seriouseats.com

It’s too damp to stop and smell the roses, so add a fresh scent to your everyday regimen. No strong, overwhelming musk you hear? Nor are we talking sharp fruity scents either; if people start talking about their 85 year old grandmother or begin craving a sweet strawberry milkshake when you walk up, you need to change your approach. Think light, fresh and soft with floral and slight wood undertones. A favorite of our is Marc Jacob’s Blush, but there are even lighter scents like Bath and Body Work’s Cotton or Sweet Pea. Reese Witherspoon came out with a perfume for Avon called “Laugh Often” and its mix of green tea and peony is light and tender and understated.  Oh, and do try Burberry’s Summer, it will definitely lighten your mood.

Photo: Collected from allure.com and bellaandrobot.blogspot.com

Put the lights on. One of the reasons things seem so gloomy is because the sun is covered up. This may sound like a simple, obvious statement, but most people just go with it and feel, well, gloomy. Keep yourself alert and motivated by surrounding yourself with ample light. Put a small lamp on your work desk if you are particularly affected by it.

Make(up) yourself happy. A pop of color on your face will be as helpful as a colorful accessory or article of clothing, just make sure all of them aren’t competing for attention, we said color not chaos.

A pink lip or light sweep of olive eyeliner (non liquid of course) or a soft rosy cheek will help you look fresh and lovely even though the weather is anything but. (For more complete guide to Rainy Day Makeup, check out our Vanity Mirror). Oh, and nails, don’t forget to have some colorful fun with your nails, that is something the rain cannot smudge.

Keep yourself active. Cannot stress this one enough. Obvious outdoor runs and strolls are out for now, but how about a yoga or Pilates class? Yoga has been a proven mood-booster for decades, not only keeping you in shape, but encouraging meditation and promoting all-around balance. If that doesn’t do it for you, take up something that’s just fun or challenging. Belly dancing? Striptease classes? Or go the other extreme and take up a martial art or boxing.  The point here is to keep your body in shape and your mind from feeling down and tired all the time.

Is there anything you do to keep yourself up and alert during rainy season? We’d enjoy hearing some tips of your own. Leaves us a comment and let’s talk about it.

{S}

Photo: edited from lostsplendor.tumblr.com (Illustration by J.C. Leyendecker)

Getting ready for a big date? Going to a really important business meeting? Or just really curious about how to properly do things? We live in such a fast-paced life that oftentimes the proper way of doing things gets lost in the frenzy – especially for some guys who might not be too keen on details.

Knowledge is power, and sometimes, even the tiniest tidbits can separate the men from the boys. This week, {Style Studio} lists down some pretty mundane things that are so easily overlooked by boys, but ultimately important (or just generally awesome) for men to know.

Knot-worthy

We can never emphasize it enough – but knowing how to tie your own necktie is almost as important as knowing how to brush your teeth. There are many different ways to tie a knot to match the tie’s material, its width, and your button-down’s collar (really, it’s an art) – but just to skim the surface it’s best to know how to tie a Half Windsor. It’s smaller than the full Windsor; it’s symmetrical and spiffy, and best for standard-sized collars and ties.

Step 1: Throw away your zip ties and clip-ons. We mean it.

Step 2: Drape the tie around your neck, under the collar. The wider side should be on your right, and should extend around 10-12 inches longer than the narrower end on the left.

Step 3: Lay the wider end over the narrower end.

Step 4: Wrap it behind the narrow end, pull it up and insert it into the hole between your collar and the tie.

Step 5: Pull the wide end down, then bring it over the narrow end again.

Step 6: Slip the wide end up through the hole between your collar and tie pull forward, away from you

Step 7: Insert the wide end into the knot in front, and with both hands, carefully pull it down, tightening the knot and adjusting it to shape.

Photo: Illustrations compiled from tie-a-tie.net/halfwindsor

The Button Situation

If you think you know how to wear a suit, think again – just because your blazer has three buttons doesn’t mean you have to button them all. Like we said, the devil is in the details, and these little nuances will turn any aspiring amateur into a dandy gent instantly.

The Single-button. Obviously, keep this buttoned, except when sitting down. Rule of thumb, keep it fastened when standing, but open when seated – this will keep the suit draping properly. Single-buttoned suits aren’t as classic as its poly-buttoned ones, though. Also, since it lets more of your shirt and tie through, make sure you pair them properly (which means you can’t wear your beloved Looney Tunes one anymore).

The Two-button Suit. The classic two-button suit is the standard when it comes to menswear. Of course, even though it’s flattering for most body types, make sure you pay attention to the fit. To wear a two-button suit, keep the top button fastened, leaving the button below to freely drape over the body.

The Three-button Suit. A bit more suited for taller gents out there, the three-button suit is a little bit trickier to wear. Nevertheless, it is still a classic, so feel free to wear one (that fits your body properly – a loose three-button suit will make you look frumpy, while one that’s too tight is just plain uncomfy). Fasten the middle button, but whatever you do never close the bottom one. This will distort the shape of the suit. Oh, and never do all three – it will make you look stiff.

To make sure your suit fits well, make sure you can close all the buttons without pulling or tugging the fabric. Even if you won’t fasten all buttons, this is a great way to see if the suit fits you well.

Photo: edited from askmen.com

Play Your Cards Right

All over the world, the business card is the standard way of presenting yourself (or the business you represent) to another person. Therefore, it is important to treat it with utmost respect and courtesy.

Photo: from ibebek.net

Giving Business Cards. As a rule, never hand out business cards like you’re dealing playing cards. Present it with your right hand (or both hands, which is a common custom in Japan) with your name and your company facing the other party. Never hand them out with your left hand, as some cultures see this as very disrespectful. Don’t forget to look them in the eye and smile!

Receiving Business Cards. Receive business cards the way they were given to you. If the other party hands it over to you with both hands and a bow, do the same. As with giving, receiving business cards with the left hand is a no-no – as is immediately putting it aside or in your back pocket upon receiving it. When you receive it, take the time to read the card, before putting it in your business card case (which means you should always have one with you!)

Photo: from hospitality-school.com

Bills, Bills, Bills

A gentleman is courteous and mindful of how he treats the people around him. Oftentimes (and this is a sad fact of life in general), the wait staff and service crew in restaurants are the first to suffer when we’re having a bad day – and that’s hardly any excuse to be rude.

Acknowledging your dedicated wait staff can be as simple as changing the way you ask for your bill. While it’s pretty common to ask for it by drawing a little rectangle in the air with your fingers, it’s more polite to discreetly call the waiter’s attention by raising your hand, and then asking him for it. Don’t forget to say please and thank you, and if the service was good, a little extra tip would be nice!

Pour for You, Glen Coco

After all the relatively formal tips we’ve given you to become a dapper and proper gentleman, it’s time to get serious and answer an all-important question: How does one properly pour a glass of beer?

While most guys would just hack that cap off and chug it from the bottle, there’s a proper way to pour a glass of beer that will not only prevent too much foam, but will actually enhance your tasting experience of your favourite drink.

Step 1: Choose beer in dark bottles. Exposing beer to sunlight can cause it to change its smell and flavour, and dark bottles can help prevent that.

Step 2: Choose a tall glass or mug for your beer. Using glassware will allow you to fully taste its flavour. Also, make sure it is clean, with no dirt, moisture or oils in it that can hamper your beer from forming a proper head (or that layer of foam on top, which releases the beer’s aroma).

Step 3: Tilt your glass around 45° towards you, and begin pouring the beer onto the glass, targeting the middle of the slope of your mug or glass.

Step 4: When you’ve poured halfway through, bring the glass back up and continue pouring, creating the foam head. An ideal head on your beer’s surface should be around 1 to 1 ½ inches thick.

Photo: from beercollege.net

Remember to chill beer in the freezer before serving it, instead of dropping some ice cubes into it. This will water down the beer and affect its overall taste. And of course, know your limits when you drink – a true gentleman never destroys his properly-knotted tie and two-button suit by unintentionally revealing to the public what you had for dinner before your drinks.

{S}

Photo: from jeongmeeyoon.com/aw_pinkblue

Pretty in pink. The Little Boy Blue. She’s “one of the boys.” Only girls do that.

While growing up, if there’s one thing that we are taught one way or another, it’s that there are specific things only boys can do, and another set of activities that’s for girls. A lot of these have no actual biological basis that makes them specific to genders – most of them are imposed by society, depending on how the tasks seem “feminine” or “masculine.” From colors to jobs and activities, it’s important to look at them with a more conscious eye – and challenge them.

The Problem Between Hue and Me

We’ve been taught that pink is for girls, and blue is for boys. Apparently, the whole blue-for-boys and pink-for-girls issue isn’t an old, ancient societal construct. Some studies and accounts show (such as in Michael Kimmel’s book Manhood in America: A Cultural History) that the gender stereotyping of the colors pink and blue are rather recent, becoming a practice only in the early twentieth century. Even then, accounts show that which colors should be associated with which gender were heavily-debated, taking into consideration the specific traits of boys and girls and the hue that would symbolize it best. In fact, it is said that initially, pink (and red) was used for boy babies, as it symbolized their strength, while girls – who were said to be “flighty” like the sky – were swaddled in blue.

Later on, the colors were switched depending on how they were seen as reflective of stereotypical masculinity and femininity, until finally becoming standard after years of wide acceptance.

Boys Vs. Girls

More than colors, certain activites are also deemed specific to each gender. The ones that are seen as delicate are reserved for the girls, while the ones that involve strength are for boys. A family health and welfare website, Healthguidance.org, gives us a list of the common gender stereotypes, and it’s rather curious to dissect them. For example, women are supposed to have “clean” jobs, such as academic occupations (teachers, librarians) and those that involve organization (secretaries). Men are expected to work in “dirty” jobs, such as mechanics and carpentry. Women should be preoccupied with grooming themselves, while men prefer to remain unkempt. In the hospital, the nurses are women, while the doctors are men. Women are supposed to do housework, while men are supposed to go out and earn.

They feel outdated (and should be), but the stereotypes are still rather common today. In fact, even the internet is not exempted from it – a popular meme (a viral internet joke, idea or behaviour) openly typecasts women through the make me a sandwich joke.

It’s curious to note, though, that in the animal kingdom, these concepts are reversed. For example, male birds and fish are notably more colorful than their female counterparts (grooming themselves and showing off their colors to woo their female mates – such as in the peacock). Male penguins are the ones that incubate their eggs until they hatch, while the female ones hunt for food.

Nowadays, however, social structures are slowly being challenged openly. It’s not the easiest things to engage in, but people are slowly becoming more aware of the stereotypes that exist, and are challenging them. In the world of art and fashion for example, boundaries are continuously being pushed, and androgynous looks and styles are becoming more and more celebrated, from unconventional cuts and silhouettes, to bolder uses of color and print.

It’ll be a good exercise to ask ourselves these things as we go about our daily concerns. For the girls, do you feel ashamed when you say you love to play basketball? For the boys, embarrassed to admit you enjoy shopping for your clothes? With the momentum that individuality and personal style has right now, it would be refreshing to see more people going against the grain, thinking about their different frames of mind, and then challenging the different constructs society has built around us.

{S}

Photo: by Ryan McGinley from smashingpicture.com/ryan-mcginley

Shape is inescapable. Everything has shape – even the amoeba’s form can be described in terms of how its edges relate to its environment. Even our molecules follow a certain geometry.

With its undeniable presence in our daily lives (no matter how much it remains unnoticed), shape affects our perceptions of the world. Curved silhouettes, angled prints, linear designs – all of these can influence our thoughts. In this issue of Life.Style, the {S} team takes some time out to talk about the different shapes in our lives and how they affect our thoughts and feelings.

Photo: from new-living-room.blogspot.com

Loving Those Curves

Circles, ovals, oblongs; curved edges and swirly flourishes – these shapes give off feelings of love, affection and tenderness. In general, circular prints, objects and edges are friendlier and more inviting (think wedding rings!) Meanwhile, soft curves, spirals and waves bring to mind rhythm, as well as a sense of femininity.

Photo: from monoxious.com

Fair and Square

On the flipside, angular shapes – triangles, squares, rectangles – evoke feelings of strength, stability and balance. They also give off a more masculine feel, the way the flapper dress made women in the Twenties look more boyish, as it hid their figures. Sharper angles, on the other hand, give off a very dynamic, youthful vibe.

Photo: from perspectives.3ds.com

All Lined Up

Different lines also have different effects on people. Vertical lines give off dominance, power and authority – like tall pillars and columns. Horizontal lines, on the other hand, are more peaceful, calm and silent.

So after this little bit of insight, take a look at the shapes that you’ve chosen to be with, decorate with and even wear. Do they reflect who you are or what you’re trying to express? What could that tell you about your favorite piece of clothing, jewelry, favorite café or room in the house? A lot of us are unaware of why something makes us feel uncomfortable or at ease, (and we know there are other variables involved) but shapes and patterns and different silhouettes are all about us this season, and this may help you understand not only your personal preferences, but what designers are communicating.

Knowing how shape and form affects a person’s perception can greatly impact the way you dress, draw, paint or design your living (and work) spaces, giving you not just a deeper understanding of it all, but a little bit more freedom to play around with it according to your intent and desires.

--Photo: Runway photos from bottegaveneta.com, bcbgmaxazriagroup.com. Traditional garment photos taken at The National Museum’s Textile Gallery

Top houses like BCBG, Bottega Venetta and DKNY are doing it right now: tribal pattern dresses; fabrics painted, printed and embellished with repeating shapes and colours. They are earthy, intricate and organic – deep-seated remembrances of an older, more natural aesthetic. Don’t they look familiar?

Survey these current collections and you’ll see that these fabrics resemble a lot of our very own indigenous tribal fabric – rich materials woven and patterned from natural fibres. Unfortunately for most of us, we’ve forgotten these old traditions; it’s a dying art you might say. This week in Life. Style., {Style Studio} takes a deeper look at some of our very own beautiful tribal pattern fabric, the spirit that is spun deep within its colourful threads, and its relevance to our daily lives.

Threads of Life

Travel further north of Manila or way down south and you’ll see bits and pieces of these amazing samples of fabric; sometimes in souvenir shops as coin purses, bags, or table runners; occasionally on old postcards and photos. These striped, patterned and embellished garments are mostly derived from plants such as (the most commonly-known) pineapple, abaca, cotton and various types of tree bark. Woven on a floor-mounted loom, the fabric is made into garments worn by our beloved people such as the Tinguian cloth in the northern part of Luzon, traditional Ifugao cloth in the Mountain Province; textiles such as the Bilaan from Southern Mindanao, the printed and hand-woven Malong of the Maranao and T’Boli tribes, and the Banton Burial Cloth found on Banton Island in Romblon.

These pattern dresses, vests and other garments, however, are not just things of beauty. Yes, they are worn for their intricate designs and striking colours, but these garments also serve as bearers of culture. They symbolize various stages of life for the wearer, swaddling them through every phase they go through. Sadly, for most of us, the clothes we put on our back have become too mundane, losing all the depth that fashion used to mean for our people, showing the world little more than which celebrity we idolize.

Photo: Valentino AW2012 from sarety.wordpress.com

Hearts on Our (Patterned) Sleeves

The current resurgence of tribal-inspired fashion, however, brings us a great opportunity to look back at our own artisans – talented men and women fighting to keep the art of weaving alive in our country. Acquaint yourselves with what sort of indigenous fabrics we have. Visit the National Museum and immerse yourself in the various cloth samples they have on exhibit. When you’re out on vacation this summer, ask about quaint little shops and stores that sell hand-woven textiles (especially when you’re in the provinces that are popular for their patterned cloth, like Baguio, Vigan, or the locales in Mindanao). Check them out, talk to the weavers and support them – listen to their stories and get to know them.

More than that, incorporate pieces of our culture in your wardrobe whenever you can. It can be a simple a patterned bead bracelet you picked up in a flea market in the province, or a vest you purchased from the local weaver you met when you travelled up north. Use a hand-printed sarong or malong as a cover-up on the beach, or a nice little Ifugao patterned woven sling bag from Baguio.

The possibilities, as cliché as it sounds, are endless – especially right now that the global fashion market has its eye on tribal prints as one of the it pieces of the season. A little tribal print detail on your outfit will instantly make you trendy right now, but an appreciation of our own local art form – one as rich in history as the tribes that make them – will never go out of style. {S}

Looking perfectly put together begins with wearing the proper undergarments for the outfit you have.  I’m sure you have noticed how even the cutest, sexiest, or trendiest ensemble can be ruined by the wrong underwear or bra, or lack of (lord help us.)

They are called “foundation garments” for a reason, they are supposed to be, literally, the foundation of your look, to keep the right things enhance and everything else under control.

Since we are talking mostly about knit jersey material, let’s start from there.

As liberating as knit jersey is, it can be just unflattering as it is comfortable if not worn with the proper undergarment. Here are some tips we’ve come up with from both personal experience, and consulting some experts:

1.    Do not wear a bra or panty with lacy detailing underneath.
One word: tacky. It’s fun to own bras that are playful and lacy, but that detailing will show through knit jersey material and look like messy bumps, ruining the entire look.

2.    Nude is best. Believe it or not, both black and white undergarments can show through jersey, especially if it is fitted, so your best option here is to go for nude: the closest shade to your actual skin tone.

3.    Wear the correct size. We’ve seen it, so I’m sure you have: lines made from underwear being too tight, or even bra straps hugging too severely create a strange bumpy appearance (heard of back cleavage or the muffin top, yea, not good things). On your next visit to buy bras or undies, ask the saleslady to measure you so you are really buying the right size. Trust us, it makes a huge difference in both appearance and comfort.

4.    Full coverage undergarments are not a bad idea if you are wearing a form fitting suit, pencil skirt, or evening cocktail dress that hugs your figure. We are long past the days of corsets, and the body suits these days give you incredible freedom while holding it all in.

{Important note: We are not trying to kill the fun in shopping for undergarments (us? Come on now.) But you must realize that there is a difference between underwear and lingerie. We are all for fun, sexy, girly-ness when it comes to what’s closest to your skin, but we don’t want that distracting from your look.}

Some of our favorites are:

For all that the different cut, color, contour and crafting of denim, the one thing that all jeans will do is show your shape. Granted, there is stretchy denim, loose denim, shaping and push-up and hold-in denim, so many options to make you look good and feel comfortable while showcasing whatever your personal denim style is. But we all know that some things just cannot be hidden, and we know how important it is to enjoy dressing up and not worry all the time if everything is in place.

Well, since this is the lifestyle section, we thought we would give you some insight into some incredibly effective ways of keeping yourself healthy, energized, and in amazing shape for any denim trend you may want to try. It’s not about being skinny; it’s about keeping fit and working those jeans.

1. Barre 3 has made its way to the Philippines, and is a great way to get those legs in shape (along with the rest of you). Combining yoga, pilates and the using the ballet barre, this workout improves flexibility and circulation while firming your core.

There are studios in the The Fort, Alabang, Rockwell, and Eastwood. Check them out at www.barre3.com.ph

2. Zumba is a latin inspired dance program designed specifically for fitness purposes, read: these are not moves to try in the club. Taken in a group environment, this might be a fun way to spice up your weekly routine. The only catch is that (so far) only membership gyms offer Zumba classes, it isn’t its own studio.

3. Yoga has been praised to the sky and from all we’ve researched (and personally tried out) the benefits and results live up to the hype. From increased flexibility to just tightening up everything….seriously, everything, to helping you de-stress, we believe yoga classes are a great investment. One thing to keep in mind though is that the different types of yoga available can be overwhelming (and sometimes intimidating) in the beginning. There really is no “one size fits all” kind of yoga because we all are so different. For a comprehensive list, go to www.matsmatsmats.com to get an idea of which type would suit you best.

4. Circuit training is an intense but extremely effective workout that builds strength and endurance, and will give your legs (and pretty much the rest of you) some definition. It is only a 30 minute workout, but burns up to 500 calories in one session. Whoa.

We are aware that there are a lot of different types of exercise, (and we are keeping our eyes and ears open for the best ones out there) but so far these workouts promise lasting results, a refreshing break from “normal” cardio and your typical gym.

And hey, if you know of any that more people should know about, let us know so we can check it out! {S}

Last Spring 2011 the world of fashion finally gave avant-garde RTW a rest as they went into something closer to minimalism, with what is called COLOR BLOCKING.

The fashion industry took the color wheel, adding shades and tints to shoulder pads, sartorial dressing and haute couture. The trend remained until the end of 2011, and with the arrival of the New Year came new rules for Color Blocking. Playing outside the realms of the “two thirds rule,” (going back to the color wheel) the trend is predicted to reign supreme until 2013. It will not hurt to keep tabs and tips on how to color block. Which is exactly what we are doing here:

1. Familiarize yourself with the Color Wheel

For you to actually color block, you must first know about the colors.
The Idea is to mix colors that are not under one tone.  If you’re a newbie at color blocking, we suggest limiting your color blocks to under 2 colors first, then just go wild when you get the hang of it. Opt for mixing complementary colors like lavender and yellow. However, there is a limit to how many colors you can use at once.  Heed our words: 4 different colors worn at once makes you look like the color wheel itself, and you don’t want that.

2. Summer 2012 shades and tints

“Shade” means colors with an added black, and “tints” are colors with an added white. For Summer 2012, there are no limitations to mixing the two while color blocking. Think of mixing sorbets and neon, like mint and lime, and jewel tones with mineral colors such as emerald and rust.

3. The Frills and Prints must GO

Yes they must go, as they are not the stars of the show. We want to emphasize the bold colors of the outfit and don’t want anything to distract the eyes. Don’t fret, as color blocking does encourage and welcome accessories. Pair your color blocked outfit with jewelry, sunglasses or a scarf, but then let’s keep the scarf far away from your neck and give it another purpose, such as a bag accessory or headband. But an exception to the rule is texture, which is next.

4.  Take advantage of textures

This is different than frills. Texture complements a plain outfit and gives it features and styles that make it look interesting. Pleats, sheer, and furs are examples of textures. A green shirt matched with a pleated peach midi-skirt is far from boring and looks rather chic.

5.  Shape dynamics

Color blocking is useless when worn with the wrong silhouette, so be sure that the bottom and top complement each other. There are certain formulas when it comes to dressing-up. There’s a fine line between looking sexy and trampy. You don’t want everything fitted and short, and a fitted tangerine tank top matched with an aqua ultra mini just shouts “hook-her.”  To add variety to the shape, put on a contrasting blazer like Violet to break the ill-fitting ensemble. Now you have a sophisticated top and a teasing mini. The same goes for being sophisticated and looking like you just raided you great grandma’s closet. Again, think carefully of the balance and play with shapes and sizes.

6.    Accessorize wisely

If you’re already wearing too much color then pile on accessories that don’t contrast, your look will be a bit much. For example, if you’re wearing mustard and carnation, you want to avoid wearing another hue of mustard (like Sunkist, or yellow orange) because it kills the variety, is too busy, and we don’t know what is complementing what.

Another note in color blocking is that in using a 3rd or 4th color, it must complement the rest so that each color will shine (which is the whole purpose).  If you’re not too sure what color to use, go for nude tones, black or white, as it won’t over power any of your color choices. Another alternative is to include your accessories in the process. An example is wearing a coral maxi dress and accessorizing  with mint shoes or a floral necklace. AHA! You finally can use pints when it comes to accessories, so there.

We think this a pretty complete list of Color Blocking tips, and believe this will give you a good foundation. If you think we’ve missed some, tell us! These are all just guides, and we urge you to experiment, trust your gut, and try something new. {S}

They say if all else fails, a little black dress will save the day. But then again what about the lazy summer day? As classy as it may seem, black is far from what we have in mind while on the summer streets of Manila, or even for the Studio.

If we could define a lazy outfit it sure does not mean boring. Another term to call it is “laid back” or “effortlessly chic”. So what are the key elements for this look? Well here are tips on how to carry staple lazy outfit wear

Loose Large top

Enough said, a loose top is the ultimate lazy outfit. It’s something that you can just grab from you closet if you’re in a hurry and partner it with tailored shorts or a neon mini, and you’d definitely still look chic. The thing to avoid is to partner it with boring, unflattering shoes such as flip-flops, yes just flip flops. Why not wear it with pumps or sneakers and accessorize?  Another thing to avoid is destroying the balance. There are certain formulas when it comes to fashion; if you’re wearing something loose above then wear something form-fitting on the bottom. If you’re not going for the 90’s rapper attire, then stick to what we suggest; even Andrew E. moved on from that stage.

The roomy dress

What makes a baggy dress work is that it doesn’t have the restriction of embellishments, cuts and anything that comes in sartorial dressing, this allows you to show a little skin yet is very figure forgiving and is a great alternative for any summer occasion. And when I say any, we mean anything that does not consist of you having to do a cartwheel or hard labor job. Anyway, the same principle applies with the Loose Large Top but this time minus the bottom half of the outfit. The difference now is that you can actually wear it with flip-flops for a very summer feel. The roomy dress comes in a variety of mini, midi and maxi, so you can wear whatever length that suits your fancy.

The Vintage Men’s watch

Lazy to accessorize? The Men’s watch has now become a classic must- have. It’s big and it makes your wrist seem small. Another great thing about it is its masculine feature, if you’ve followed the top steps then you can finish off the look with just this, as it’s already the added twist and eccentricity that you need to your outfit to break any monotony or matchy matchy look

The trusty Cardigan

Here’s a no brainer. You feel that your lazy outfit is missing an element; your classic cardigan will put any “lazy” ensemble together. But because of the summer heat, you might want to wear something cool underneath such as a summer dress or a loose tank top partnered with a floral skirt and ankle strapped sandals.{S}