Her latest accessory is a pair of enormous black visor sunglasses covering her face from the middle of her forehead, right down to her cheeks. Whilst her new celebrity status as one half of superstar couple with Kanye West may  mean that she has to live up to the celebrity image, these paparazzi-proof glasses are bordering on the quirkiness of Lady Gaga’s style.  It should also be mentioned that Miss Kardashian wore these giant sunglasses in London… in winter. She teamed these specs with long leather trench coat and thigh-high black pointed boots to complete the look.

But Kim is no stranger to bizarre eyewear. She posted a photo of herself in a pair of oversized John Lennon style glasses, similar to the dark tinted round sunglasses Lady Gaga famously wore. Though Kardashian would probably never admit it, perhaps the two celebs have a sense of style more in common than they think…

In 2011, both she and her sister, Kourtney, were spotted in oversized Tom Ford Alessandra 0094 sunglasses with huge bug-eye style frames similar to this D&G pair.

In fact, it appears Kim will wear any glasses shape, so long as they are oversized and make a bold style statement. Kim has even teamed up with her sisters to create their own range of eyewear called the ‘Kardashian Kollection’, available in Sears Opticians. The glasses are as feminine and stylish as you would expect from the Kardashians and come in variety of tortoiseshell, animal print and black acetate frames.  As for the sunglasses in the range, they are of course, oversized. They feature large dark lenses in cat eye, square and aviator frame shapes. It is clear from looking at the designs that the details have been carefully considered, with each style making a different bold statement. For example, one pair is in the classic aviator shape with delicate gold frame and leopard print detailing for a feminine take on the iconic style. For a different look, the girls have created a striking pair with huge oversized square lenses in a black frame with unique silver arm detailing. The overall impression is futuristic and fashion-forward, something Kim would definitely consider wearing.

So whilst her thigh-high boots and leather trench coat may not be for the faint-hearted, the Kardashians’ range of eyewear is versatile enough for everyone to wear.

Victoria writes for online retailer of cheap prescription glasses, DirectSight.co.uk

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Jaguar Umbrella by Archer Adams

This smart black umbrella by Archer Adams with silver jaguar topper is perfect for a wet spring. You can use it to add a touch of gothic panache to practically any outfit. The jaguar topper is reminiscent of something a Sherlock villain would use, or perhaps a character in Alan Moore’s graphic novel From Hell. Why should an umbrella be a purely mundane and functional item? An interesting brolly can really boost a practical outfit from boring to interesting and witty.

Amazon Jungle Scarf by Emma J. Shipley

This beautiful olive green printed scarf by Emma J Shipley celebrates the complex beauty of the Amazon rainforest. Its hand-drawn design feature peacock feathers and tropical birds in the Victorian naturalist style. You can throw this over any shirt or dress and instantly create an interesting look. A beautiful scarf is always sure to gain you compliments and update your wardrobe in one purchase.

Tiger Print Clutch by Zara

This black and white striped clutch with a very on-trend tiger motif  is all you need to vamp up your cocktail-hour outfits. It’s a subtle nod to glamorous design houses like Givenchy and Versace, which frequently reference luxurious architecture and beautiful animals in their prints. The cute envelope construction makes this clutch a great party piece.

Rees 2 Part Hi Sandals by Topshop

These strappy sandals by Topshop are absolutely the business. The minimalist style will add a chic edge to absolutely any outfit that you wear them with. They are available in white, black, or white-and-green colour ways. So you can decide whether to be faithful to monochrome or to mix it up with a pop of colour. Strappy sandals are the hottest shoe trend for this summer, and they also give you the chance to show off your colourful summer pedicure.

Accessories are bigger than ever as a way to make a statement.  They’re the easiest way to update or look – or as in investment to make a cheap and cheerful look appear timeless and classic. At the moment, designers know that unique accessories will keep fashion fans happy, so the trend is for outrageous and quirky designs.

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Use a hard-sided case

This should be done to avoid any damage to breakable items you may have placed inside the same case. It is usually best to avoid putting anything that could break and stain your formal wear in the same luggage. A hard-sided case will also protect your clothes from impacts and further wrinkling for any reason.

Roll them up

This is a technique which works for some formal wear – instead of folding them and placing them inside. Fold them the usual way and then wrap them in a roll – this won’t keep all the wrinkles out but it will be better if you’re not stuffing your clothes as the creases will be less noticeable. Avoid doing this to shirts with hard collars since this will make them worse than before.

Heavy on the bottom

If you have shoes being packed then place them at the bottom of the luggage and away from the handles. This will ensure that the weight will be distributed toward the bottom and they won’t put any pressure on the clothes you leave there.

Ziploc bags

These can go a long way in protecting your items from any liquids you might be transporting. You might want to place such items in those bags to minimize the damage in case something bursts during transport. They will isolate the spill as much as possible. Once again it is best not to place anything staining or breakable with your formal wear.

Pack tightly

Extra space can leave some items moving around thus allowing wrinkles. Whatever you do however, make sure you don’t cram the luggage full until you’re having difficulties closing it. You’ll want some balance in this – you may even break a zipper if you’re not careful.

Ways to protect

There is no perfect way to save your formal wear from wrinkles, but you can take some small steps to ensure they will look better and possibly wrinkle-free. Packing them in plastic bags first will protect them. A good number of cruise lines offer freshening and pressing services for a small fee which help keep your formal wear in a better shape. Polyester materials are more resistant to wrinkles so if you need to travel a lot consider changing the materials your clothes are made of.

Courier services

Companies like FedEx, UPS, DHL and so on can ship these items for you alternatively if you don’t want to bother with too much problems. This is of course a solution which largely depends on when you need your formal attire, though their services are capable of protecting your clothes better than you can.

A guest post written on behalf of : http://www.movingcompany.co.uk/.

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The colour:

Cobalt blue was prominent on the A/W catwalks this season, featuring bright blue tailored dresses and trousers. Although cobalt is a particularly bright shade, blue is naturally considered to be sensible and functional, ideal for the office.  It also offers a bold step away from classic navy and black. Lanvin showcased a sleeveless, tailored cobalt dress which would be an ideal staple for a work wardrobe, particularly if layered with a black blazer. For this look, keep accessories to a minimum.

The shape:

Trousers featured prominently on the catwalks, particularly of a cropped, slim shape. Layer these up with turtle necks and a trench coat for feminine winter style. On the high street, Whistles offer a wide range of tailored trousers in black and grey tones for basic, classic work wear.

Oversized garments also made an appearance as cocoon coats and billowing sleeves dominated the Chloe, Jil Sander and Proenza Schouler catwalks. But if you’re not quite brave enough to attempt the oversized trend, an oversized jacket in a neutral colour could be a staple piece to reinvent your wardrobe, ready for the upcoming season. On the high street, Reiss offer a range of oversized jackets with wide collars and rolled sleeves.

The accessories:

Femininity is important for autumn/winter 2012 and the best way to achieve this is through carefully chosen accessories. A pair of sunglasses such as Chloe CL2180 would be ideal for shading eyes from any later autumn sunshine and with a classic cat eye frame, they perfectly channel prim, ladylike chic. Team with a pretty pea coat to complete the look.

Waisted belts were also popular for the upcoming season as designers cinched in waists to create feminine silhouettes. These were worn over peplum jackets to highlight curves and over tailored dresses for a smarter take on the look. Christian Dior’s show featured soft, slouchy trousers with an elasticated belt held around a tweed jacket. This look can be easily adapted for the office with a pair of tailored trousers and smart shoes.

The materials:

Country style was an important feature of the catwalks for autumn/winter, primarily defined by the textures and fabrics of the garments. Utilitarian tailoring meant corduroy and plaid jackets were juxtaposed with brown fur collars and knitwear. If you’re going to invest in one item to attempt this look, a plaid trench coat would be a great way to start. For the rest of your work wardrobe, choose all-over earthy colours layered with creams and grey.

So when you’re choosing your wardrobe essentials for autumn/winter, consider the upcoming trends to ensure your work wear is functional and stylish.

Victoria writes fashion articles for online retailer of round glasses, Direct Sight.

The post Back To School: Office Workwear Trends For Autumn 2012 appeared first on Fashion and Lifestyle Trends for Men & Women.

Paris

Paris is synonymous with elegance and style, Paris is what London tried to be all throughout the Victorian era. These days Paris is still a recognised fashion capital. Many excellent fashion houses are French, like Louis Vuitton or Catimini clothing, which specialises in children’s wear. Fashion week in Paris takes place twice a year catering for the Autumn/Winter lines and Spring/Summer lines. These events revolve around a main catwalk where the most high profile design houses exhibit. During the weeks though there are other official unveilings and satellite events where designs like the less high profile Catimini clothing can take stage.

London

London is currently ranked the no.1 fashion capital in the world, a title it gained in 2011. It is unusual for a city to remain at the no.1 spot for more than one year, however prior to 2011 New York had held the title for 5 years. The rankings are calculated by the Global Language Monitor and sometimes the big 4 fashion capitals may not feature in the official top 4 fashion cities for that year at all. The Global Language Monitor works out the rankings by tracking what people are searching for in terms of fashion on the internet, and in up to 75,000 other media sources including those in print. As a result of the research London came out on top, jumping from its 2010 position of 3rd. It is likely that the reason for the top-spot-takeover was the Royal wedding, during which Kate Middleton received significant exposure, especially in regards to her image and fashion.

New York

As previously mentioned, New York had held the top spot as the no.1 fashion capital of the world for 5 years until 2011. New York plays host to a fashion week in February and September every year which features designers from around the world. It was in New York that the first ever fashion week occurred in 1943, at the time it was known as Press Week. It was in fact a French fashion week, but due to the occupation of France by Nazi forces the Americans offered to host the event. When the show finally made it home to France, and as the other major fashion capitals began to run their own competitive but complementary shows, the name ‘Press Week’ had to be altered to define the event.

2009 was a big year for New York fashion week. The global financial crisis had struck just a year earlier and much of the world was gripped by recession. The fashion industry was not immune from the effects and as a result New York fashion week saw many of the host of designers creating recession friendly pieces. The pieces that were being designed were created with the purpose in mind that they could be used for more than one season, so the versatile designs could be utilised by the consumer all year round, helping to make the pennies go that little bit further.

Milan

Fashion weeks allow the industry to pick up on the overall trends for the coming season. Classy Italian fashion houses will often display at the Milan Fashion Week which again is held twice a year, in February/March and September/October. 2011 saw the inclusion in the top 4 official fashion cities for that year of the actual big 4 fashion capitals, with Milan reaching a position of 4th, behind London, New York, and Paris. Over the years though Milan has often worn the crown as the top fashion capital and it is certain to regain the title at some point again in the future, perhaps when the hype of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and the London Summer Olympics dies down.

Citations:

• Photograph by Simon Ackerman

For full access to wonderful children’s Catimini clothing head over to Scarlet Sky’s fabulous online store.

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