Fashion and Hair Style Category

When one thinks of Asian style fashion, one thinks of Geisha Girls and kimonos. But it is much more than that!  When I did some research into this subject, I noticed that there was a very eclectic and diverse variety. Most of the photos I have seen included from Japan and Korea.

When I googled images of ‘Asian style fashion’, I came up with a plethora of different styles. The most notable is the bobbed ‘pixie’ style haircut.  Unnatural dye jobs for hair are also quite prevalent in Asian fashion. The colors can range from pink, to purple, to green and combinations of these.  These beautiful ladies much resemble characters from Japanese animated programming. The use of hair spray and sculpturing is also quite noticeable. Not to be outdone by the hairstyles, the dress itself has quite a western appeal. Many of the young ladies pictured have on form fitting t-shirts, with either pedal pusher type jeans, short Capri-style French cut jeans, or shirt flouncy skirts with leggings underneath. These will usually have stripes or plaid.  A variation is the thigh-high sock, usually white, with chunky platform shoes to give height.

Nail art is also a characteristic of Asian style fashion.  Many of the models pictured in my Google search had manicures that varied from anything to decals to fancy paint jobs.

I think many of the Asian models like to emulate Lady GaGa with her unique looks. I am seeing images galore of bathing suits (bikini tops and bottoms mostly) being used as street wear, topped with thigh socks, high heels, and a shrug-type jacket, a neck tie, scarf, and of course the wild hair. Asian women also like to incorporate menswear into their wardrobes, since you will often see what looks like a private school uniform with a man’s button down shirt and a tie.

My favorite of all the Asian style fashion trends is the prevalence of bold prints and Paisleys.  These look the best, in my opinion, on maxi dresses. They are a toned down version of the classic kimono, and often have flouncy princess skirts. Short dresses have too much deserved attention, since many of these are strapless numbers with oversized bows on them. These come in classic colors and are usually made of silk, satin or similar shiny material.  Floral prints, paisley prints and plaids seem to be very popular.

Of course Asian fashion should not be limited to The Pacific Rim and countries like Korea, Laos, and Japan.  India should be included in the mix too. Indian women wear the traditional sari in both short and long styles.  The hair is much different than the Japanese/Korean counterparts.  The hairstyle most frequently seen is a knee length braid.  These are either natural or extensions.

Since tattoos are popular, henna tattoos that usually last about two weeks are also pretty apparent and prevalent.  Henna tattoos look like the real deal, and cost just as much sometimes, but they have the added benefit of being semi-permanent. If the wearer decides at a later date not to sport a tattoo, or wants a change in design, they can easily make the switch to a different one or go without one entirely.

As far as makeup, the current trend is to make the eyes look as large as possible. This is achieved either by contact lenses that give that effect, or techniques with mascara, shadow, and a combination of eyebrow shaping and eyeliner to complete the effect.

The only thing about Asian style fashion that one must consider is that it will not work for everyone.  It will work best on a woman with a small, angular frame, and who weighs less than one hundred and fifty pounds.  Since this fashion trend is varied, one can always experiment with the looks depending upon body type, and colors that flatter the skin tone.

“I dress for the image. Not for myself, not for the public, not for fashion, not for men.” These are the words of Marlene Dietrich. Who knows better than her on how to become an icon of style? Fashion and style. These two words are always together, like an inseparable couple. To me, they are like sun and moon, black and white, fire and water. They cannot be together and they cannot be without each other either.

The simplest definition of fashion is ‘a popular trend’ and style, ‘a manner of doing something’. I always went with these specific definitions of these two words. In my personal opinion, to be popular and wear what is popular would not give me a sense of satisfaction. I always wanted to be affiliated with a style that is specific to me and up to date. It does not always mean to wear exactly what is fashionable during that time.

I started my journey as a child by watching. I watched everything and everyone. I was curious how specific outfits fit different types of figure. Sometimes it was good, sometimes – a disaster. It made me very interested in fabric. I was thinking that depending on a fabric used, some disasters could have been prevented. What a smart child I was… I especially liked watching what my mom was wearing. I loved going through her clothes and picking what would suit me the most. I would always finish the ensemble with the appropriate hair, make-up and shoes. Just like my mom did. And still does.

Soon after that, as my body was changing, my understanding of what I wanted to wear and how I wanted to look changed too. Maybe, it was not a change itself. It was more likely a transformation. I started understanding what made me look better and what looks were not mine at all. I started developing that feeling or sense, which made me happy or not at all by the way I looked. And later on- the way I lived. Very quickly, I understood that to dress nicely and act poorly was not my style at all. I did not like inappropriate behavior and it was clear to me that it has to be part of that satisfaction that I received from my appearance. It doesn’t mean that I didn’t have fun. I did. I just did it with my own understanding of how it should be done. I guess that’s when I started working on my own style. That part of my journey brought me to the 18th century, understanding of tea parties in England, research of my mother’s relatives who were Russian nobility. And again, I was amazed by my mother. I started believing that whatever she knows was in her blood.  Nobody had to teach her how to be stylish and always look fabulous. It also gave me hope that I might have inherited at least some of that wisdom.

I continued experimenting, and it brought me to different TV shows and fashion books. I was amazed by how many resources are out there. And the more my knowledge grew, the more I was thinking that not many either had access to these resources or thought they needed any guidance.  I could not afford spending thousands of dollars on something I would wear once or twice. And I didn’t expect it from others.  But I knew that there were affordable great options and I could not understand why not everybody would want to take advantage of those. There were only a few I would look at and appreciate their style sense. It made me think of Albert Einstein’s famous quote all the time : ‘A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy?’.

Finally, I was smart enough and had this conversation with my mom. I was afraid at first that she would not be able to understand my concerns. But as always, she made me feel so comfortable and content. I asked her many questions, and I remember all her answers so well. The most important was the advice she gave me: Not to run after fashion, but adopt fashion to my own needs and style. At first, I was confused. I could not understand the difference in those terms. And even more – how they applied to me. That is when it hit me. I finally understood that whatever ‘sense’ I developed was my own, personal style. I knew how to be fashionable and I did it in my own way. I didn’t have to like what I saw and now I knew what I didn’t like. I didn’t like that everyone was wearing the same things, the same way. And it didn’t matter if it was not complementing their complexion, skin or hair. It was a very inspiring realization. I understood that I could make a difference by encouraging them to personalize their style and their lives. And all I had to do is be myself and keep developing my own style.

Understanding of your own style comes with a lot of work and experience. This challenge is everlasting. But that is the beauty of it. It is a personal achievement that can be shared with others. Style is something that can be shared and passed on. But at the same time, it is something very personal and individualized. It includes all the human characteristics. You might not like someone personally, but you might respect them for their sense of style. In case of doubt, search for inspiration. Do your research. Ask questions. Educate yourself. And the most important, do not be afraid to experiment. Fashion style will always be part of our lives and as the amazing Yves Saint Laurent once said: ‘Fashion fades, style is eternal

When you are deciding what to wear, there are some rules to follow if you want to look your best. You always want to consider your body shape when you pick out your clothes. There are five main body shapes to think about. They may go by different names depending on the article you are reading but they all boil down to the same thing. One thing to keep in mind is that you are born with a particular body shape and diet and exercise won’t change that shape, just your size. Taking a look at your body shape and dressing accordingly will ensure you always look your best. Keep in mind that you always want to offset your unwanted features and accentuate your good ones.

In order to decide what body shape you are, there are ways to determine that. First you want to get familiar with the body shapes. The pear shape identifies a more round figure. This shape tends to have more weight on the hips and a heavier bottom side. It is narrow at the shoulders with heavier thighs. If you are an apple shape, your upper torso is heavier. This shape also has a bigger bust line and a larger waste. Women who are a rectangular shape tend to have a more athletic figure and are slender in build. The bonus with this shape is that any weight gain is distributed evenly through the body. The petite shapes are short with small frames. Finally, the most coveted shape is the hourglass. This shape is curvy and proportionate with slim hips. Once you familiarize yourself with these, you can look in the mirror and judge what shape you are.

You can also take measurements of your body or have someone do it for you. You want to measure across the middle of your breasts, being sure to exhale before you read the measuring tape. Then, measure your waistline. This is done just above the belly button. To measure your hips, you want to get the measurement at the widest part. These measurements will give you an idea of your body shape. The pear shape is heavier on bottom. The apple shape has waist measurements that are significantly larger when compared to the chest and hips. The rectangle finds little difference between the chest and the waist. For the hourglass shape, the chest and hip measurements are very close and the waist is small. Petite body shapes are small and proportionate.

There are some items of clothing that work wonders for your appearance. Black is a slimming color. It will make you appear to be thinner. A blouse and pants with vertical stripes also will cause a slimming effect, whereas horizontal stripes will make you appear fuller. If you have fuller, wider hips, you want to choose jeans and pants with flared legs to offset your unwanted curves. Slim cut or ‘skinny jeans’ works great for someone who has a hard time filling out their pants. For larger ladies, keep in mind that baggy, loose fit clothing does nothing for your figure. You want to go for clothes that contour your body.

There are certain items of clothing and accessories that look best on certain body shapes. Pear shaped women want to go for clothing with vertical lines. Like I mentioned earlier, this will create a slimming effect. Keep in mind, the pear shape is a more round figure with more weight on the hips. The pear should wear dark colors on the bottom and go for lighter shades for the upper torso. V-neck shirt and long, straight skirts are highly recommended for this body shape. This will draw attention away from your fuller hips and wide pelvis. You can also wear wrap dresses and jackets that cover the hips. Shirts that are right for the pear include attractive, large prints, shiny tops, and bright colors. Be sure to stay away from high waist pants with pleats or decorations. Boot cut pants with longer tops will also look amazing on the pear shape. The goal is to draw eye movement toward the upper area.

The petite build can enhance their appearance with simple ideas. Clothes that fit well will accentuate their short, small frames. Shirts with vertical lines will give the appearance of being taller. U-shape and V-shape necklines in lightweight fabrics also look fantastic on the petite shape. The pear should avoid short skirts and opt for fitted, knee length skirts paired with medium heels. Narrow belts are also recommended for this body shape. When considering what pants to wear, choose straight leg, neat cut pants to help you look your very best.

The rectangle doesn’t have to worry much about what will look good on them. Since they have very few curves, patterns will add dimension. Full skirts will give the appearance of a fuller figure. The rectangle will look amazing in peasant style blouses with ruffles and gypsy skirts. Striking patterns and interesting designs will break up the straight lines of the pear shaped body. The apple shape needs to use clothes to create a more balanced looks. They should lean toward tops with comfort fit and tunics with v-necks. They look their best in simple cuts. They want to stick to things like A-line dresses and fitted jackets. Solid colors also work perfectly for this body style. When choosing skirts, they want to stick to a knee length one that can be paired with formal tops. Always choose fabrics with a nice fall that doesn’t hug the body. Avoid clingy tops and fancy fabrics and the pear will look incredible.

The hourglass shape will fit most styles easily and can experiment with fashion trends. Their curvy, proportionate shape will look dynamite in fitted jeans that will show off their slim waist. This shape can also go for straight leg trousers. This shape is perfect for halter tops and tees, as well. Being the most envied body shape, they can take advantage of all the tight fitting, trendy clothes.

Stick to these tips and you are sure to look your very best.