The coat is the godmother of a woman’s winter collection. Not only is it warm and a fashionable icon of winter – no woman can deny the ‘sexy coat and boot’ is what makes winter bearable and makes it less painful to trade-in the cool and light summer look for the heavier and layered winter look.
Maybe you don’t have as many coats in decent shape as you thought you did. Or you simply need to refresh or reboot your coat collection by adding a few new ones. Whatever your decision for shopping for a coat, it’s advisable not to shop for the coat in isolation of what is already in your wardrobe – try to visualise how the coat will look with some of your pants, jeans, dresses, shirts, tops, blouses or skirts.
As you plan to shop for one, two or more winter coats, here are some titbits to arm you for a more ‘considered’ coat shopping experience. Now onto the fun stuff...
Classic or Trendy?
Are you going to go for the classic coat or the trendier coat? In my opinion, it’s good to balance this out and have a few of both.
The classic coat is timeless and versatile and will last you many winters if you are good to it. It can be dressed up or dressed down with ease. That’s what makes it a firm favourite with many women.
But there is always room to spice up your winter ensemble with a trendy coat or two. Ruffle collars or sleeves, balloon sleeves, tiers are some of the styles available in women coats, making for an interesting coat shopping experience.
In both classes of coats, you will have the options of a button coat, zip-up coat, belted coat or open coat.
Plain, Striped or Check? Bold or Conservative Colours?
Your choice will also extend to whether you will buy the plain coat, printed coat, floral coat, striped coat or check coat (also sometimes called the plaid coat). The colour palette goes all the way from the traditional winter colours such as black, grey, deep purple, the various shades of brown, white, cream, red and burgundy to the more vibrant and bold options such as yellow, brighter blue hues, the bright pink and green; to name a few.
If this will be the only coat you own, it’s always better to go with a plain coat as it is easier to match with other clothing. If it’s not your only coat, then buy something you don’t already have in your wardrobe.
It also won’t hurt to mix up the colours in your winter coats – the more range you have, the better – after all, winter is long (or simply feels long) and you don’t want to quickly get bored with your coat collection.
Heavy or Light?
The heavier the coat, the warmer it usually is, which comes in handy for those wicked ‘minus degree’ temperatures. The wool or wool blend coat offers warmer protection against the elements. The Acrylic and Cotton blend coat also fares very well in providing warmth. Some fur coats (mostly faux fur is widely available and more affordable), puffer coats and quilted coats are great at keeping you snuggly and warm.
The lighter coat is best for those days that are not too cold. Some polyester and cotton coats offer warmth whilst not weighing you down with their weight. The trench coat remains a firm light coat favourite (lined or unlined) and will see you through those chilly summer, spring and autumn nights too.
So, you need both a heavy and a light coat if you are going to do winter properly. You can certainly build your winter collection without crippling your bank account - start now and slowly and build up your winter collection over time.
Short, Midi or Maxi?
Don’t forget the length is important too. There is the short coat which tends to sit just below the waist and looks quite dapper with jeans or even smart pants for a day at the office. The midi coat generally sits anywhere between the thighs and knees. Not forgetting the maxi coat that falls way below the knee, most times sitting just above the ankles. The longer the coat, the more it helps to keep the lower body warm. The short coat, although it only covers the upper body, has its own appeal and should certainly not be overlooked when one is putting together their winter coat collection.
As you can see, too much choice is the problem you will likely encounter. So happy shopping for that coat... or two! The search just got easier - check out our wide range of winter coats – you are bound to love them all!
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With so many different cuts and shapes of women’s dresses available today, the ladies are certainly spoilt for choice. From the sexy bodycon dress that accentuates the right curves and can easily be the suitable cocktail dress you need or the more classic pencil dress for your more professional " work dress " look. Don’t forget the relaxed shift dress that hides all the humps and bumps and still gives you a sleek look. Or the flattering A-Line dress that shows off your hips.
Maybe length is the deciding factor for you – from showing some leg in a mini dress to leaving more to the imagination by settling for the more conservative length that a midi dress or even a maxi dress offers?
And by all means, let’s not forget style…after all, one can’t have fashion without style, can they? So much choice to leave your head spinning - from the ruffle dress to the sexy slip dress or the flattering wrap dress. Or maybe you fancy the lace dress or the tulle dress for that more provocative look.
Could it be that you want to shop by occasion – it could be a daily dress or a casual dress you need for that laid-back Sunday afternoon church outing or a more classic dress for the office. Or you have finally landed that hot date and need a party dress for a night out on the town – a sexy red dress or a sexy black dress! Maybe your friend is getting married and you need to look the part – after all you can’t dismiss the possibility of meeting some perfect ‘ride into the sunset’ type of hunky bachelor at the wedding, as your mother dutiful is sure to remind you, if you are still single. Oh wait…you have an invitation to that gala or black tie event and have been waiting for such a chance to go all out for that evening gown or evening dress.
Ladies, the reality of shopping for dresses is that your problem is not really a problem – you have lots of choice! Sure beats the one dimensional 18th century dress, although it had its own unique charm. Not only do you have choice - there are affordable dresses lining up and begging you to choose them and give them a home in your oh so wonderful closet. That’s not to say one always has to buy cheap dresses and should pass up the opportunity to treat oneself to a few high-ticket dresses. After all, you work hard for your money and should never forget to reward yourself every once in a while.
Whatever your motive for buying a dress, why not check out the wide selection of affordable daily dresses, work dresses, party dresses and evening dresses at www.poised.co.za
As they say ... not the fashion police ... happy shopping! So dress up!
]]>You often hear that one should dress for his own taste and comfort to be able to carry off his ‘look’. However, the one piece of advice that makes all the difference but is normally neglected is reminding men to “to dress for their body type”. When you dress for your body type, comfort is almost always guaranteed.
When it comes to suits, there are generally 3 cuts – the American, the English and the Italian cuts, each of which sits differently on different body types. Below is a brief overview of each cut and the body type it’s best suited to:
This cut is broader on the shoulders and the chest giving it a looser fit. This type of cut tends to be more suitable for the heavier or stockier body type as it does not emphasize the waist. The jacket more commonly has 3 buttons and the trousers have the “flat front’ look, i.e. no pleats, and tend to hang loose. In other words, the American suit has the least tailored look compared to the English or Italian cuts.
Aaah….who does not concur that the English gentleman is ever so dapper in his tailored suit with a tapered waist, 2 button jacket, side vents and lightly padded shoulders. This cut gives men a leaner look due to its tapered waist which also helps to emphasize the chest. The light padding in the shoulders helps to give off a more muscular look for its wearer. It’s difficult to go wrong with this type of cut as it is flattering for the average or athletic body type.
Sometimes also referred to as the European cut (after the Italian and French), this cut of suit spots a shorter jacket, high buttoning, a closer fit and sharp shoulders. Making it ideal for short or thin guys and the average body type. This type of cut doesn’t wear well on the heavier or stockier body type because of its very close fit to one’s body. In-fact, most of the popular suits nowadays, especially for the young folk, get their inspiration from the more fitting Italian cut.
Armed with the right kind of information can make shopping for a suit a lot less daunting. To shop for the right suit, click here
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