The Best Sunglasses of 2022
Go beyond style with sunglasses that combine classic good looks with next-level technology and design. We’ve got some of our best sunglasses ready for summer.
In recent years, sun protection clothing has become increasingly popular among outdoor enthusiasts. In 2023, sun shirts are the unofficial uniform of climbers, mountain bikers, backpackers, and more.
Sunshine is essential for human health and well-being, but excessive exposure can lead to unwanted outcomes. For people who work and play outside, sun protection is a crucial part of self-care.
UV rays can reduce the skin’s immune functions and increase the risk of melanoma and other forms of skin cancer. Additionally, UV light damages the skin’s inherent elastic qualities, leading to wrinkles, sun spots, and other noticeable changes.
A good sun shirt provides thorough skin coverage, protects against a broad spectrum of UV light, and won’t get in the way when you’re out enjoying the world. We think of sun shirts as wearable shade.
To compile this list of the best sun protection shirts of 2023, we researched dozens of products and tested over 25 different shirts. We evaluated each shirt’s quality and performance through various conditions and activities. We’ve organized our picks into numerous categories to help you quickly identify the best sun shirt for your personal needs.
In addition to product recommendations, we’ve also included a comparison table and FAQ. To learn more about materials, UPF ratings, breathability, and more, hop down to the Buyer’s Guide below.
After rigorously testing dozens of sun shirts, the KUIU Gila PRO Long Sleeve ($99) takes the overall best spot.
The Gila PRO is technically designed for hunting, but it’s plenty versatile for any outdoor activity. We wore the Gila while fishing, hiking, and rock climbing, and it always performed exactly as needed. It’s a simple hooded pullover-style shirt with a tapered yet semi-loose fit.
We tested the Gila during the peak of summer in central Wyoming, and it kept us cool and protected from intense high-altitude sun exposure. The Gila sets the standard for sun shirt breathability. KUIU’s “cool touch” fabric isn’t just marketing noise; it really does breathe.
As expected from a high-end sun protection shirt, the Gila has a respectable UPF rating of 40+. The thoughtful design touches throughout add up to unbeatable protection. The sleeves are elongated for hand and arm coverage, and the thumb loops are exactly where you want them. The hem is longer than most shirts, so you won’t have to worry about exposing your lower back or midriff to the sun.
The standout feature of the Gila PRO is its form-fitting neck gaiter. Even without the hood up, this gaiter shields the ever-vulnerable neck from UV and won’t slide down out of place.
At $99, the Gila PRO isn’t the cheapest hoody on this list, but if you’re seeking breathable UV protection and elite durability, the price is justified. It’s also available in hoodless and sleeveless configurations.
For the price point, the quality of the REI Sahara Shade Hoodie ($50) is unmatched. Just like our top picks, this shirt had a UPF rating of 50+. It’s also light, stretchy, and very comfortable.
The Sahara Shade’s internal drawstring hood is a unique feature, and we found it to be quite handy for protecting the forehead and cheeks. Compared to a few other shirts on the list, the material of the Sahara Shade feels a bit heavy. The actual weight isn’t listed by REI, but our scale clocked a men’s medium at 7.1oz.
Antimicrobial treatment helps keep this shirt from smelling decent, and the thumb loops are well-placed for optimal hand coverage.
Overall, the Sahara Shade is a do-it-all, versatile sun hoody that’s useful for hunting, fishing, biking, and everything in between.
One of the lightest hoodies on this list, the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake ($65) is an excellent sun layer at an affordable price. It weighs just 5.5 oz in a men’s medium and feels wonderfully light and airy during active use.
The ultra-light fabric of the Crater Lake Hoodie makes its 50+ UPF rating all the more impressive. This hoodie has become our go-to for long sun-soaked alpine hikes and approaches. Even while wearing a heavy pack, this hoodie breathes well and rarely becomes saturated with sweat.
For active uses like climbing and kayaking, the armpit gussets allow a full range of motion. The Crater Lake never feels restricted, provided you purchase the correct size. We stuck with our shirt size, and the Crater Lake fit like it should: close to the body yet slightly flowy.
Both the men’s and women’s versions come with thumb loops, but only the women’s option has a drawstring hem. The hood stayed on reliably, and the collar area has a nice overlapping design, adding extra sun protection for the neck.
Any of the sun shirts on this list are a solid choice for anglers, but the Howler Bros Loggerhead Hoodie ($69) has a few key features that give it extra fishing utility.
First, this hoodie is just plain comfortable. It has a flowy, loose fit, and the material feels soft against the skin. The porous weave on the polyester material breathes exceptionally well.
While fishing, we appreciated the storage capabilities of the roomy kangaroo pocket — a rare feature on sun shirts. A microfiber-lined sunglasses pocket is also included, which helped keep our lenses clean and clear while out on the water.
The Loggerhead hoodie isn’t the most fitted, but an included drawstring helps tighten it up when the wind starts blowing. As a bonus for anglers, certain colorways of the Loggerhead come with fish-inspired graphics on the back.
Most sun shirts on this list are primarily made from polyester. Uniquely, the Free Fly Bamboo Lightweight Shore Hoody ($68) is made from 70% Viscose — a product of Bamboo. The difference in materials is immediately clear — the Shore Hoody is incredibly soft. It feels like silk blended with cashmere.
The glorious texture of the material is the standout feature of the Shore Hoody. It’s a simple layer: no pockets or drawstrings, just pure sun protection, and comfort.
If you’re between sizes, we recommend sizing up in the Shore. We usually wear a medium, and the large fits perfectly. It’s a fairly slim cut overall, so the extra material helped increase airflow. We like that the Shore is plenty long through the sleeves and hem.
The Shore lacks thumb loops, and the hood doesn’t always stay on during active use. While this may not be the most technical hoody on our list, the Free Fly Bamboo has quickly become one of our favorite everyday layers. It’s just that cozy.
This high-tech hoody ($120) is a souped-up version of Black Dimond’s popular Alpenglow Hoody. It was designed with climbing in mind, and it’s the best style we’ve tested for that specific application.
Our favorite feature of the Alpenglow Pro is the fitted hood. It’s lined with an elastic strip, and it fits snugly over a climbing helmet. The neckline is very high, providing excellent neck and chin protection. The quarter-length zipper is great for dumping heat, and the zippered chest pocket is ideal for storing a phone or topo during a multi-pitch.
The articulated shoulders and stretchy materials allow for a full range of motion. In hot conditions, the large mesh underarm side vents are clutch. If you’re a fan of climbing desert towers, these vents could prove to be an invaluable saving grace in the heat.
With so many positive attributes, the only real downside of the Alpenglow Pro is the price. At $120, this is one of the most expensive options on this list. However, we believe it’s the best sun protection shirt for rock climbing in the heat.
This sun hoodie is yet another solid option. It has a few minor flaws, but it ultimately impressed us during testing. The most important function of a sun hoody is sun protection, and the ActiveIce Spectrum hoodie ($100) delivers.
Outdoor Research’s proprietary “ActiveIce” fabric is a blend of polyester and spandex treated with HeiQ –with uses “bio-based products” to deliver a cooling sensation for the wearer. According to the brand, the Activeice fabric collects moisture and uses it to cool down the skin.
We’ve been wearing this hoodie while hiking, biking, and climbing in the dry summer heat of Wyoming. We can’t say we’ve noticed any major cooling sensation as advertised by the brand, but it’s still a solid layer. It breathes well and offers a top-notch UPF rating of 50+.
Before one particularly grueling hike, we soaked the hoodie in cold creek water to stay cool and simultaneously test the claim of “moisture-activated” cooling. The damp shirt felt great in the hot sun. It maintained its breathability, never caused chafing, and dried quite quickly.
The prominent seam along the ActiveIce Spectrum’s shoulders showed signs of wear after a few uses, but it hasn’t been a major issue so far. The thumb loops are well-placed, and the hood offers great face and neck coverage. Overall, it’s a quality sun shirt at a fair price.
Five12 Apparel is a relatively new activewear upstart based in the pacific northwest. We tested the Mission Hoody ($68), and it thoroughly impressed us.
Of all the sun shirts we tested, the Mission is one of just a few that incorporate recycled materials. According to Five12, the fabric is made from 34% recycled plastic bottles, and the remaining 66% combines polyester and spandex.
Five12’s “SeaBreeze” technology utilizes “hollow yarns infused with cooling minerals.” Whatever the material makeup, the Mission breathes quite well, and the shirt feels smooth and silky against the skin. It did feel slightly sticky in hot temps, but it dries extremely fast.
We like the slim and long fit of the Mission, although it might be worth sizing up if you are in between sizes. The shirt offers a fairly snug fit around the shoulders and arms.
The Mission’s four-way stretch is awesome, and we never felt limited in our movements, despite the semi-tight fit. It’s a first-rate layer from an exciting new brand.
The Mountain Hardwear Canyon shirt ($70) has been around for years. The shirt received a recent update, and we think the latest iteration is the best yet. It’s a simple 100% polyester button-up, and it’s a great choice for any activity on a warm summer day.
We love the lightweight breezy feel of the Canyon. The primary material isn’t the most breathable, but a series of small mesh vents along the back of the shoulders improve airflow without compromising sun protection. These vents aren’t as large as those found on the KUIU Mesa, but they’re well-placed and effective.
As for looks, this is a handsome form-fitting shirt. It’s designed for outdoor activities, but you could absolutely wear this during the less-fun parts of life and look semi-professional. It fits a bit snug through the chest, so we recommend sizing up if you want to maximize airflow.
Overall, the Mountain Hardwear Canyon Long Sleeve is a quality button-up sun protection shirt at a reasonable price.
The RAB Force Hoodie ($70) is a streamlined sun shirt built for climbing, trail running, and multiday trekking. Replacing the ever-popular Pulse Hoody, the Force had a lot to live up to, and it delivers.
Designed as a direct-to-skin baselayer, the Force is made from RAB’s “MOTIV” fabric, which is 100% polyester and quite soft to the touch. At just 5.8 oz in a men’s medium, the Force is one of the lightest sun shirts on the market. The “Motiv” fabric is quick to dry, and the seams aren’t bothersome — even while wearing a pack.
We noticed that the Force fits a bit tight, and we’d recommend sizing up to achieve its fullest breathable potential — especially if you’re in between sizes.
While wearing a climbing helmet, the close-fitting hood stays on and provides good coverage. The Force is a bit more expensive than similar options on this list, but it’s still a good value for adventurous climbers and mountain runners.
Duck Camp has deep roots in fishing — its founder’s grandfather started the New Orleans Big Game Fishing Club over 60 years ago. Naturally, the brand has a good sense of what anglers need. The Rockport Sun Hoodie ($89) is a fine example. We tested this shirt while hiking, fishing, and rock climbing. It offered full protection of crucial exposed zones like the neck and back of the hands. Plus, it’s made of soft quick-drying material that eliminates the need for an undershirt.
Available in men’s and women’s sizes, the Rockport went through a thorough and thoughtful design process. It’s form-ftting, yet still loose enough to allow the breeze to flow through. The deep hood fully shades the face and neck from peripheral UV. It’s not quite as cool or breathable as some other shirts on this list, but the zippered front pocket offers rare storage utility.
The Voormi River Run ($139) is 100% merino wool but made with a unique blend and construction. Voormi uses its Dual Surface ultralight Precision Blended Wool, a fabric weighing under 100 g per square meter. That’s 30 to 50 g lighter than the leading ultralight merino fabrics currently on the market, Voormi claims.
In hand, when packing, and when wearing, we can attest that it’s light. It’s also colored using a wool-specific, individual-yarn dying method.
Now, on to our feedback. I’m not sure where I haven’t worn this Voormi layer — that’s how versatile it is. Paddleboarding, camping, climbing, snowshoeing, kayaking, hiking, running errands, and if I fishing.
The Voormi River Run was designed with everything from fly fishing day trips to multiday river trips in mind, which is one of the main reasons we love it.
But it’s also a UPF 50-rated long sleeve with a hood. So, if you are heading up into alpine territory, or looking for a merino base layer for fall, it’s a good choice for that as well. And, it’s made in the USA. Our only con? It’s crazy ultralight and soft, meaning it’s prone to snag easily.
Sun Shirt | Price | UPF Rating | Weight |
Materials |
---|---|---|---|---|
KUIU Gila Pro LS Hoodie | $99 | 40+ | 9.7 oz. (men’s small) | Body: 100% polyester; Neck gaiter: 92% polyester 8% spandex |
Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoodie | $65 | 50+ | 5.5 oz. (men’s medium) | 88% polyester / 12% spandex |
REI Sahara Shade Hoodie | $50 | 50+ | 7.1 oz. (men’s medium) | 92% polyester / 8% spandex |
KUIU Mesa Vented LS Snap Shirt |
$109 | 50+ | 8.6 oz. (men’s medium) | 100% polyester |
Howler Bros Loggerhead Shield Hoodie | $69 | 35 | 8.1 oz. (men’s medium) | 100% polyester (50% recycled) |
Free Fly Bamboo Lightweight Shore Hoodie | $68 | 40+ | 9.7 oz. (men’s medium) | 70% Viscose from bamboo, 30% polyester |
Black Diamond Alpenglow Pro Hoody | $120 | 50+ | 6.7 oz. (men’s medium) | 92% Nylon, 8% Elastane |
Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Hoody |
$100 | 50+ | 7.2 oz. (men’s medium) | 94% Polyester, 6% Spandex |
Five12 Apparel Mission Hoodie |
$68 | 40+ | 6.6 oz. (men’s medium) | 34% recycled plastic bottles combines with polyester and spandex |
Mountain Hardwear Canyon Long Sleeve | $70 | 50+ | 7.4 oz. (men’s medium) | 100% Polyester dobby |
Rab Force Hooded Shirt | $70 | 30+ | 5.8 oz. (men’s medium) | 100% Polyester |
Duck Camp Rockport Hoodie | $89 | 50+ | 9.5 oz. (men’s medium) | Unknown |
VOORMI River Run Hoodie | $139 | 50+ | 7.0 oz. (men’s large) | 100% Merino wool |
This list of sun protection shirt recommendations is the product of many hours of meticulous testing. We gathered dozens of sun shirts from leading brands and smaller upstarts, and carefully assessed their quality in the field.
While testing, we paid attention to breathability, durability, and overall comfort. We made sure to wear these shirts in the environments and conditions they were designed for. In the peak of summer with temperatures pushing triple digits, we hiked, fished, climbed, hunted, and biked in all kinds of sun shirts.
All of our recommended sun protection shirts scored highly in their namesake department. A good sun shirt provides ample coverage of the arms, neck, head, and hands. We tested the protective ability of hoods with and without helmets. We sought hems and sleeves that are long enough to do their job even during active use.
We primarily wore sun shirts as base layers, in direct contact with the skin. This allowed us to gauge both the comfort and breathability of the material. To evaluate durability, we made sure to wear each shirt multiple times while recreating in rugged terrain.
To gather accurate specs, we weighed each shirt on our own scale and communicated directly with brands regarding UPF rating, materials, and anti-odor treatments.
Every shirt on this list offers protection from the sun, but each has a unique set of features, pros, and cons. Sun shirts come in a variety of materials and styles. Some are purpose-built for certain activities such as climbing or hunting, while others are designed as do-it-all wearable sunscreen.
The popularity of sun shirts has recently ballooned, and there are more options to choose from than ever before. To help inform your decision, this buyer’s guide includes every relevant topic under the sun.
There are multiple kinds of sun shirts on the market, but the baggy button-up and hooded pullover are the most popular by far.
Hooded pullover sun shirts are generally preferred by climbers, trail runners, and mountain bikers. Typically, these sun shirts are made from 70-80% polyester and 10-20% elastane or spandex.
Not all sun protection shirt hoods are created equal, but the best ones fit comfortably and won’t blow off in the wind. The sun protection benefits of a hood are immense. We like hoods that cover the neck, ears, and forehead. If your activity of choice requires a helmet, hooded polyester sun shirts are your best bet. Well-designed hoods stretch easily over climbing and cycling helmets and stay put during active use.
Other key features of many hooded pullover sun shirts are thumb loops (which are great for back-of-the-hand sun protection), and high-cut collars that protect the chest and neck. On this list, the KUIU Gila Pro LS and the REI Sahara Shade are some of our favorite pullover hooded sun shirts.
The downside of a hooded sun shirt is the same as any pullover — they’re a bit of a pain to put on and take off. Plus, while many hooded sun shirts are light and breathable, most of them do not come with vents. There are a few exceptions to this, such as the Black Diamond Alpenglow Pro which is a hooded pullover with mesh side panels.
Still, for the most part, sun shirts in this style are usually ventless. One final downside of hooded pullover sun shirts — they get stinky. Elastane and spandex in particular develop unpleasant odors more quickly than natural fibers.
Pro tip: if you want a hooded sun shirt without the stink, buy something made from natural fibers and minimal elastane. On this list, the Freefly Shore is partly made from bamboo-derived fibers.
For activities like fishing, hunting, and bird watching, the baggy button-up sun shirt is your best bet. Button-up sun shirts typically come with a collar instead of a hood, which does mean you’ll need to also wear a hat if you want to protect your face, neck, and ears. For this reason, we don’t recommend button-up sun shirts for activities that also require helmets.
Unlike the active-wear appearance of hooded pullover sun shirts, button-ups have a more traditional look. Most button-up sun shirts look perfectly at home at the bar or a backyard barbeque. Plus, they’re easy to put on and take off.
Anglers, in particular, tend to prefer button-up sun shirts for a few reasons, First, button-ups often come with pockets — a handy place to keep bits of spare tackle such as lures and tip-its. Also, many button-up sun shirts have vented panels, which increase airflow and breathability in warm conditions.
On this list, the KUIU Mesa and the Mountain Hardwear Canyon are our favorite button-up sun shirts.
Ultraviolet Protection Factor, or UPF, is the rating system that gauges a fabric’s effectiveness at filtering ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) light. For example, a fabric rated to UPF 30 allows roughly 3% or 1/30th of available UV to pass through it.
UPF ratings always fall between 15 and 50+. Garments below UPF 15 are not considered UV protective. Any fabric that allows less than 2% of UV to pass through is considered UPF 50+.
Multiple factors can affect a fabric’s UPF rating. Darker colors tend to filter out more UV than lighter colors. Thicker fabric usually offers more protection than thinner fabric. A tighter weave may have reduced UV transmission compared to a loose and porous weave.
Brands are left to solve the complicated problem of creating a sun shirt that is light, breathable, and highly protective. The recommended products on this list possess a fine balance of breathability, comfort, and performance with impressive UPF ratings.
Brands conduct UPF tests on their own products. Just last year, Patagonia issued a voluntary recall on a series of sun shirts that failed to live up to their advertised UPF rating after independent testing.
In any case, all of the sun shirts on our list are made by reputable brands. As a general rule, we recommend purchasing a sun shirt with a UPF rating of at least 30 — especially if you have a fair complexion or recreate at high elevations.
For a variety of reasons, polyester is the most common base material for sun shirts. Compared to bleached cotton, which has a natural UPF rating of around 5, polyester offers far more protection. Plus, it dries much faster.
In recent years, many brands have incorporated 10-20% elastane or spandex into their sun shirt’s polyester weave. Integrating stretchy material is great for airflow and mobility, but it also has some downsides. First, elastane can lose its springy quality over time. If your shirt is made with lots of elastane or spandex, it probably won’t retain its original shape and fit in the long term.
Also, synthetic fibers like elastane develop odors faster than natural fibers like cotton or wool. Sun shirts are known for their gnarly stench that can develop after a single day of sweaty outdoor recreation. Anecdotally, we noticed that shirts with a high elastane count did in fact seem to smell pretty bad after a workout.
In our research and testing, we found that most hooded pullover sun shirts are made from 80-90% polyester and 10-20% elastane or spandex. Of course, there are some exceptions to this. The Freefly Shore is made from 70% bamboo viscose and the VOORMI River Run is made from merino wool.
Button-up collared sun shirts tend to be made without spandex or elastane, so they aren’t as stretchy.
Sun protection shirts are designed to protect against sunshine, so naturally, they need to be comfortable in warm conditions. A fabric’s breathability is defined by its ability to let air pass through. Breathability decreases drying time and also helps to minimize odor.
On this list, the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake is the perfect choice for those looking for a sun shirt for active use in warm weather. It is important to note that increased breathability can sometimes lead to a decreased UPF rating. A looser weave that allows airflow will let more UV reach the sun underneath.
All of the sun shirts selected for this list are relatively breathable. A few styles, such as the VOORMI River Run are built with thicker material. Sun protection is essential even in cooler conditions, but naturally, a hot summer day calls for breathable clothing.
Sun shirts are known for being a bit stinky. There are a few reasons for this. First, sun shirts tend to be worn for active use in warm conditions. Strenuous activity plus heat equals sweat, and sweat leads to odor.
Secondly, sun shirts are usually made from synthetic materials like polyester and elastane. Synthetic fibers are made from petroleum products — polyester threads are essentially thin ropes of plastic. Unlike natural materials like cotton and wool, synthetics don’t absorb sweat. Instead, the sweat combines with bacteria from your skin and becomes trapped in between the fibers. Elastane fibers in particular are highly effective at trapping bacteria. Over time, the bacteria builds up — and so does the odor.
If you’re looking for a sun shirt that won’t ever smell, your search may continue forever. Luckily, some sun shirts are more odor resistant than others. If you want to minimize the stink, we recommend following these three tips:
On this list, the Black Diamond Alpenglow Pro is noticeably impressive in the odor resistance category. It has a relatively low elastane count and it’s treated with Black Diamond’s HeiQ Pure Odor Control Treatment.
If maximum UV protection is your goal, you’re going to want a sun shirt with a well-fitted hood. The benefits of a hood are obvious: neck, face, and ear protection. However, not all hoods offer the same utility and value. For the most part, pullover sun shirts have hoods, and button-up sun shirts do not.
A hood that won’t stay on during active use is almost worse than no hood at all. During our testing, we wore sun shirts while hiking, climbing, and biking in windy conditions. The best hoods stayed on against the odds.
If your activity of choice requires a helmet, you’ll need a stretchy hood that can fit over it. One of our favorite hooded sun shirts is the Outdoor Research ActiveIce Hoody. The hood is well-fitted, helmet-compatible, and highly protective. We wore this sun shirt over a helmet for many months, and the material maintained its fit and elasticity.
The fingers and hands see a lot of sun exposure, making them susceptible to skin cancer. A sun shirt with well-placed thumb loops can help protect these vulnerable areas from excessive UV.
Most sun shirts with thumb loops are in the hooded pullover category. In most cases, a thump loop is a small opening that fits over the thumb and keeps the wrist and back of the hand covered by the sleeve.
Though most pullover sun shirts on this list come with thumb loops, a few styles surprisingly do not.
We love the thumb loops on the REI Sahara Shade. They’re positioned comfortably, and keep the entire hand’s back protected.
The way a sun shirt fits will define its performance. As a general rule of thumb, sun shirts should have a semi-loose fit. A loose-fitting sun shirt breathes better, and it’s less likely to limit your range of motion. If you usually wear a snug size medium at the office or out at the bar, we recommend sizing up to a large size when you purchase a sun shirt.
One more reason to size up: for your sun shirt’s thumb loops to properly protect your hands, it needs to have full-length sleeves.
Sun shirts are designed to protect against ultraviolet light during outdoor recreation. All clothing blocks some UV, but sun shirts are specifically crafted for this purpose, and the best of them provide much more protection than a typical cotton t-shirt.
To filter out UV, sun shirts combine effective materials with intentional weave/knit patterns. Most sun protection shirts are primarily made from polyester, which is rated as a top option for UV protection.
All of the sun shirts on this list come with a UPF rating. UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. The UPF scale runs from zero to fifty-plus. The UPF number indicates the percentage of UV rays that are allowed to pass through the material. For example, a shirt rated UPF 25 allows 1/25 (or 4%) of the sun’s radiation to reach your skin underneath.
If you’re seeking maximum sun protection, look for a sun shirt rated UPF 50+, which will allow just 2% of UV (or less) to pass through.
Sun shirts are meant to be worn in the sun, so they need to be breathable to be comfortable. A nonbreathable sun shirt will perform like a sweat-trapping garbage bag.
For sun shirt manufacturers, it is a challenge to maximize breathability and minimize UV infiltration. Still, through a combination of high-performance materials and intentional weave/knit patterns, it can be done. The Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake is one of the most breathable sun shirts on this list. We’ve worn the Crater Lake while climbing and running in temperatures up to 100 degrees, and it always remained airy and comfortable.
Clouds may filter out some UV, but it’s very difficult to know how much. Strangely, certain clouds can actually create higher UV levels than a clear and cloudless day. In other words, it’s important to protect yourself from the sun, even when there are clouds in the sky.
Go beyond style with sunglasses that combine classic good looks with next-level technology and design. We’ve got some of our best sunglasses ready for summer.
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]]>When it comes to footwear, we all crave that perfect balance between fashion and sophistication. We want a pair of shoes that not only elevates our style but also exudes elegance and charm. Look no further than golden sandals—a mesmerizing creation that combines the allure of gold with the comfort of sandals. In this blog post, we will delve into the enchanting world of golden sandals and explore how they offer the ideal fusion of fashion and sophistication.
Gold has always held a special place in the world of fashion. It symbolizes luxury, wealth, and opulence. From ancient civilizations to contemporary runways, gold has been a treasured element in jewelry, accessories, and apparel. Its lustrous and radiant nature captivates the eye, effortlessly adding a touch of glamour to any outfit. The allure of gold is timeless and transcends fashion trends, making it a perfect choice for those seeking sophistication and elegance.
Golden sandals are a testament to the harmony between fashion and sophistication. They bring together the radiance of gold with the laid-back appeal of sandals, striking a balance that is both eye-catching and refined. Whether you’re attending a garden party, strolling along a sunlit promenade, or enjoying a summer wedding, golden sandals effortlessly elevate your ensemble.
Wearing golden sandals not only enhances your appearance but also boosts your confidence. The fusion of fashion and sophistication brings an air of refinement to your overall look, making you feel poised and elegant. As you stride with confidence in your golden sandals, you’ll notice heads turning, compliments flowing, and a distinct aura of sophistication surrounding you.
Whether it’s a casual outing or a formal event, golden sandals effortlessly elevate any ensemble, leaving a lasting impression. So why not add a touch of glamour to your wardrobe and let your feet sparkle with golden sandals, a true testament to the art of merging fashion and sophistication?
The post Golden Sandals: The Perfect Fusion of Fashion and Sophistication appeared first on Style Motivation.
]]>While I can’t stand Wheel of Fortune, millions of Americans watch the show and most of those Americans love Vanna White. I’m one of those people – I love Vanna White. She probably has one of the highest Q-scores on television, she’s an American institution, she’s unproblematic and naturally glamorous and she seems like an incredibly normal person. Vanna White’s job is co-hosting the show and touching the letter blocks as she struts back and forth on the stage. She’s non-judgemental and supportive of all the contestants. While it’s not a difficult gig, Vanna White has owned that stage since 1982, which is when she was selected as the permanent hostess. Well, Pat Sajak is finally retiring after forty years as the main host of WoF, which led Puck to do some reporting on whether Vanna is staying. As it turns out, Vanna wants to stay and she’s currently trying to negotiate a new contract… with a pay raise. Because Vanna hasn’t had a pay raise in 18 years!!! From Puck:
Vanna White Would Like a Raise: The longtime ‘Wheel of Fortune’ co-host hasn’t had a pay increase in 18 years. Yes, 18 years. And now, with Pat Sajak leaving, she’s hired an aggressive new lawyer and is finally asking for more.
After I wrote about Wheel of Fortune on Sunday and the impending retirement of host Pat Sajak, a Sony TV source reached out to note one thing I missed: Vanna White, Sajak’s co-host for four decades, is negotiating to continue on Wheel beyond when her deal ends at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season. I’ve since confirmed that fact, and it led me down a wild path about “America’s Game” and what’s going on behind the scenes.
White currently makes about $3 million a year for her duties on the syndicated Wheel, per multiple sources. Sajak makes almost five times as much.
…There’s no real comp for what Vanna does, which means she’s not exactly Jennifer Lawrence or Michelle Williams when it comes to shining examples of pay disparity in Hollywood.
But… that’s a pretty shortsighted way of assessing value, in my opinion. White spends the same time on set as Sajak—more, actually, due to hair, makeup, and wardrobe obligations, my Sony TV source noted. She does way more publicity for the show than Sajak. She’s a personality, part of the show’s look, feel, and, let’s be frank, appeal. Her enthusiasm and silly button segments with Sajak at the end of each episode are fan favorites. And at this point, she’s arguably become more associated with Wheel of Fortune than Sajak is. The duo are in all the Wheel marketing together (unlike the late-night shows), and Sony’s own research shows Vanna’s appeal to women helps drive the show’s older, female viewership. In short, she arguably adds just as much value.
While $3 million per year is nothing to sniff at, it’s bonkers that is her salary after being on the show for FORTY YEARS. As I said, Vanna White is an American institution. She’s extremely popular, she never does or says anything problematic, she’s beloved by viewers and contestants, and (I suspect) advertisers love her. To not get a pay raise for 18 years… well, I hope she’s hired the best agents and lawyers and gets a big pay raise and a rock solid contract extension. Now that Ryan Seacrest is on board to replace Pat Sajak, I kind of hope they’re setting things up for Seacrest to play second fiddle to Vanna. Seacrest will hate that.
]]>Being a part of the K-pop prodigy BTS comes with immense fame and fortune. Our beloved Bangtan Boys know how to enjoy these riches. From representing top-tier luxury brands to clinching Guinness World Record titles, each BTS member is on a journey to global domination. The band’s oldest member, Kim Seokjin, aka Jin, continues to inspire us with his musical ventures and business acumen. Whether it’s his chart-topping songs like The Astronaut or Awake or his entrepreneurial journey as a restauranteur, Jin is climbing the ladder of success and how. Let’s break down Jin’s impressive net worth for you!
Jin’s penchant for all things luxury is visible in his swanky car collection, sprawling real estate investments, and uber-luxe wardrobe. Most importantly, Jin is also an active philanthropist who has been closely associated with UNICEF Korea since 2018.
Keep reading to know everything about Jin’s portfolio – his net worth, solo projects, brand deals, and the most expensive things he owns.
According to a report in South China Morning Post, Jin’s net worth was around USD 20 million as of 2021. Considering the rise in Jin’s solo activities following BTS’ group hiatus, this figure has surely increased in recent times (according to Celebrity Net Worth, Jin’s estimated net worth as of June 2023 is USD 30 million).
The BTS vocalist has released some incredible solo songs within and outside the band. Jin’s solo tracks Awake, Epiphany, and Moon have been released as a part of BTS’ albums like Wings, Love Yourself: Answer and Map Of The Soul, respectively, cementing his credibility as a soloist. All the tracks bagged impressive positions on the Gaon Digital Chart.
Later, he collaborated with other BTS members, including V and Suga, on tracks such as It’s Definitely You and So Far Away. Not only this, Jin’s solo covers of Mate’s I Love You, Ra.D’s Mom as well as In Front Of The Post Office In Autumn by Yoon Do-hyun have all been loved by fans.
Jin’s first independent song, Tonight, was released in 2019 as a part of BTS’ sixth-anniversary celebrations. It was followed by releasing his second solo, Abyss, in 2020 and the third one, Super Tuna, in 2021. Interestingly, all these three songs simultaneously bagged the top three spots on the World Digital Song Sales chart in 2022, making Jin the third soloist in the chart’s history to accomplish the feat.
While all these ventures were largely successful, Jin’s debut solo single The Astronaut changed the game for him. Before starting mandatory military service, Jin released his chart-breaking track, which he co-wrote with Coldplay. Astronaut earned the artist his first solo entry on the Billboard Hot 100 at 51 and another number-one position on the World chart.
Besides his musical outings, Jin has hosted several Korean music award shows, including Music Bank and Inkigayo. Lastly, he has several songwriting credits with BTS as well.
With Jungkook, V, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin and RM, having climbed the luxury bandwagon with lucrative brand deals, all eyes are on Jin.
While Jin is yet to sign a luxury ambassadorship deal, he currently serves as the face of Ottogi’s Jin Ramen. According to a report in Sportskeeda, the noodle brand’s revenue jumped 15 per cent from 2021 to 2022 owing to Jin’s association. In the last quarter of 2022 (when Jin was appointed), Ottogi’s Jin Ramen witnessed a whopping USD 630 million in sales. We’re sure the ‘Jin effect’ reaped great benefits for the brand.
Meanwhile, speculations are rife that the BTS member will be tapped in as the brand ambassador of Cartier. The rumours have also gathered momentum considering Jin’s earlier appearances in Cartier’s exquisite timepieces. While there’s no confirmation about the deal, we’re rooting for Jin x Cartier to come to fruition soon!
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Jin is surely an automobile enthusiast, with multiple reports suggesting he owns two stunning sports cars. These include the Porsche Panamera GTS and Lamborghini Aventador S. He also has a gorgeous Mini Countryman in his garage.
Porsche Panamera GTS: One of the best-performing Porsche models, the Panamera GTS is sleek, fast and offers a great driving experience. The car, which Jin was spotted driving back in 2017, reportedly came at a price tag of USD 190,000.
Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster: The beast-like Aventador is sure to give you all those adrenaline-boosting thrills. With its luxe interiors and aggressive yet fine exteriors, the shark-like model costs around USD 460,000.
Mini Countryman: The four-door crossover is another interesting automobile Jin owns. The urban crossover isn’t just high on style, but equally practical and fun to drive. At 4.3m long, the ‘mini’ Countryman isn’t all that small and boasts great space. It’s priced at around USD 30,000.
The BTS members don’t shy away from splurging on luxurious properties, most of which are in Seoul. Jin, too owns a luxury apartment in Hannam The Hill, one of the plushest localities in Seoul. As per South China Morning Post, Jin purchased a flat worth USD 3.4 million here as a gift to his parents. Other reports suggest that the musician bought himself another flat in the same complex.
For those unversed, all seven BTS members lived together in Hannam The Hill from 2017 to 2021. Even the music video for their track Life Goes On was shot here. Situated at one of the prime locations, Hannam The Hill gives sprawling views of the Han River and Mount Namsan, and you’ll find a lot of tourists gathered here. Apart from BTS, other notable celebrities like Lee Seung Chul, Han Hyo Joo, and Choo Ja Hyun are known to live here.
A part of Jin’s net worth also arises from his entrepreneurial ventures. Jin is the only BTS member to have tapped into business with the launch of the Japanese-styled restaurant, ‘Ossu Seiromushi’. Operated by Jin and his brother, the restaurant has two outlets, one next to Seokchon Lake and the second next to Lotte World.
Always brimming with customers (thanks to Jin’s massive stardom), the outlets offer a range of impeccable traditional Japanese cuisine. Served in wooden steamers, complete seiro-mushi style, the dishes will satiate your taste buds like no other.
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While many BTS members are hailed for their quirky attires, Jin usually leans towards a more polished look. With a splash of colour and patterns, he always manages to impress the fashion police. One of Jin’s most eye-grabbing outfits has been his airport look in 2022 when he was on his way to be a part of Coldplay’s concert in Argentina.
Have a safe flight, Jin! 🇰🇷✈️🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/hhvUkyBH63
— BTS Charts & Translations (@charts_k) October 24, 2022
BTS’ Jin wore a statement Louis Vuitton Monogram Crazy Denim Workwear Jacket, which retails for a whopping USD 3,200. He also carried the Louis Vuitton Anton Tote in Damier Graphite, which retails for no less than USD 2,000. Lastly, he rounded up his Louis Vuitton look with the brand’s Abbesses Derby shoes in white, which cost around USD 1,125. With just his airport look costing more than USD 6,000, we can’t imagine the prices of other luxury staples in his wardrobe.
He has previously sported a trail of expensive luxury clothing including the Mini GG jacket from Gucci (USD 2,700), a Polka dot shirt from Saint Laurent (USD 1,000) and an Eggshell button-down shirt from Gitman Bros (USD 1,000) among other things.
The potential Cartier ambassador has also flaunted the brand’s exquisite timepieces from time to time. He wore the Tank Louis Cartier Watch in 18k yellow gold and red leather at the premiere of the movie, HUNT in 2022. The watch easily costs somewhere around USD 13,800.
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(Hero and feature image credits: jin/ Instagram)
The post Jin’s net worth: Know everything about the BTS member’s assets, earnings and more appeared first on Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong.
]]>“Business casual” is a term often thrown around, but what does it really mean? Essentially, business casual is a dress code that falls between formal business wear and casual wear. It’s a step down from wearing a full suit, but it’s certainly a notch above your favorite t-shirt and shorts combo.
When it comes to “men’s summer business casual”, we’re looking at the same business casual dress code, but with an added layer of complexity: hot weather. So, the challenge is to maintain a professional appearance without sacrificing comfort.
Summer business casual attire consists of 3 main elements: fabric selection, color palette, and accessories:
Your summer business casual wardrobe should be versatile and easy to mix and match. Here are some essentials:
Polo Shirt: A well-fitted polo or golf shirt in a solid color is a summer staple. It’s more formal than a t-shirt, but cooler than a long-sleeved button down shirt.
Dress Pants or Chinos: Dark wash jeans are perfectly acceptable as business casual wear, but for the hotter months, chinos are a better choice. They’re lighter and more breathable. Go for colors like khaki, navy, or grey.
Dress Shoes or Loafers: Boat shoes or loafers in brown or black can keep your feet cool while maintaining a professional image. Remember to wear socks that match the color of your shoes.
Button Down Shirt: On cooler days or for more formal events, a long-sleeved button down shirt is ideal. Oxford shirts are a classic choice. Keep the sleeves rolled up for a more casual look.
Blazers or Sport Coats: An unstructured blazer or sport coat in a lightweight fabric like cotton or linen can be perfect for those days when you need to dress up a bit. Stick to neutral or pastel colors.
Top Pick: Under Armour Men's Tech Golf Polo | Runner Up: Haggar Men's Premium No Iron Classic Fit Khaki Pants | Best Value: Amazon Essentials Men's Regular-Fit Quick-Dry Golf Shirt | |
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Material | 100% polyester fabric | 61% cotton, 37% polyester, 2% spandex | 100% polyester |
Advanced Fabric Tech | Yes, efficient sweat wicking and rapid drying | No | Yes, quick-dry fabric |
Design | Three-button placket with a self-fabric collar, loose cut for freedom of movement | Flat front design, off-seam front pockets, single welt back pockets | Classic cut, convenient button closure |
Unique Features | - | No-iron nature, hidden expandable waistband | UPF 50 sun protection |
Care Instructions | Machine wash | Machine wash | Machine wash |
Size and Color Options | Standard and tall sizes, various color options | Regular and big & tall sizes, various color options including Dark Navy, Dark Gray, Tobacco | Wide range of colors and sizes |
Top Pick: Under Armour introduces its versatile Tech Golf Polo for men, a perfect combination of comfort, function, and style for your business casual summer wardrobe. This Polo is designed in the USA and comes in a lively assortment of color combinations that suit a wide range of styles.
Key Features:
Runner Up: Haggar’s Premium No Iron Khaki Pants redefine comfort and convenience, making them a summer wardrobe must-have. These classic fit pants, available in both regular and big & tall sizes, offer a blend of style, practicality, and a tailored fit perfect for the summer. You can wear these to the office or out to dinner, and you’ll always look great and put-together.
Key Features:
Best Value : The Amazon Essentials Men’s Regular-Fit Quick-Dry Golf Shirt is a versatile wardrobe staple that prioritizes both comfort and style. Made from 100% polyester, this shirt is ideal for a variety of settings, from the golf course to a casual business meeting.
Key Features:
The Nautica Men’s Classic Fit Polo Shirt, with its distinct design and high-quality fabric, provides a blend of comfort and style that’s perfect for summer wear.
Key Features:
Incorporating style, comfort, and practicality, the Amazon Essentials Men’s Slim-Fit Chino Pants are an ideal addition to your summer business casual wardrobe. Available in several stylish colors, these pants are perfect for business casual summer outfits, lending a polished finish to your look.
Key Features:
Upgrade your summer business casual wear with the Dockers Men’s Classic Fit Easy Khaki Pants. Perfect for regular and big & tall sizes, these pants strike a balance between style, comfort, and ease of movement.
Key Features:
The Vineyard Vines Men’s Gingham Stretch Poplin Shirt, with its flexible fit and appealing design, is an ideal choice for your business casual summer attire.
Key Features:
Carhartt’s Loose Fit Midweight Short-Sleeve Plaid Shirt combines functionality and style, making it a solid choice for your summer wardrobe.
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The Columbia Men’s Under Exposure Yarn Dye Short Sleeve Shirt blends comfort and style, becoming a go-to piece in your summer business casual collection.
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Show off your sense of style this summer with the PJ Paul Jones Men’s Slim Fit Lightweight Linen Jacket. Tailored to perfection, this sport coat serves as a staple piece for any business casual outfit.
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Boat shoes are summer staples, and Sperry makes some of the best. Their original boat shoe blends traditional craftsmanship with modern comfort, perfect for a business casual dress code.
Key Features:
Hey Dude shoes are everywhere lately, and with good reason. These loafers are comfortable and fashionable, with enough available colors and patterns to suit every taste! They can go from the office to the park, and almost anywhere in between.
Key Features:
Creating the perfect summer business outfit involves balancing formality with comfort. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
To illustrate how these elements come together, let’s look at two successful businessmen known for their summer business casual style.
First, think about Mark Zuckerberg, the king of casual Fridays. He’s known for his signature jeans and t-shirt combo, but when he dresses up, he often opts for a classic polo shirt and dark wash jeans, paired with casual shoes.
Next, consider Richard Branson. He favors light, breathable fabrics in his shirts and often pairs them with straight fit chinos. He’s rarely seen without his trademark loafer shoes, showing that a business casual look can still carry a sense of authority.
Smart casual is slightly more formal than business casual. For instance, smart casual might require a blazer, while business casual might allow for a polo shirt without a jacket.
This depends on your office dress code. While shorts aren’t typically considered business casual wear, some offices with more relaxed dress codes might allow it.
Choose lightweight, breathable shoes like loafers or boat shoes. They should be clean and in good condition. Flip flops and sandals are usually not suitable for a business casual dress code.
Common mistakes include wearing clothes that are too casual (like Hawaiian shirts or shorts), choosing heavy fabrics, or forgetting about dress codes in favor of comfort. Remember, even if it’s Casual Friday, you still need to look professional.
In most business casual dress codes, a tie is not required. However, a lightweight, knit tie can add a formal touch to your outfit if necessary.
Embracing the business casual style offers benefits beyond staying cool in summer. It provides an opportunity to show some personality while maintaining professionalism. Don’t be afraid to add personal touches like a favorite watch or a unique pair of shoes.
Remember, the goal of the business casual dress code is to make sure all office workers are on the same page regarding work attire. So, while there’s room for individuality, don’t stray too far on the casual side. Always remember that you’re dressing for work, not a backyard barbecue.
This guide to business casual for men in summer should equip you with all you need to know to maintain a professional and comfortable look in the warmer months. Whether it’s choosing the right fabric or color, picking out the perfect polo shirt or dress pants, or navigating the ins and outs of casual Fridays, you are now ready to face the summer in style!
Remember, the heat of the season doesn’t have to compromise your business casual style. Instead, it can enhance it, opening up a world of options that strike the perfect balance between comfort and professionalism. Now, go out there and conquer the summer, one business casual outfit at a time!
This article, "Summer Business Casual For Men: Style Tips and Top Picks" was first published on Small Business Trends
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]]>Attending a summer wedding looking stylish and without melting into a puddle before the speeches commence is something akin to an art. In fact, it can seem like witchcraft to the uninitiated. But supernatural it is not. And with the right know-how, any man can pull off a summer wedding.
The most important thing to take into consideration before selecting your summer wedding attire is to pay close attention to what it says on the invitation.
Generally speaking, there will be a dress code stated, giving you a marker against which to gauge what is and isn’t appropriate. Given the sheer number of these codes, it can be tricky to know what’s what. Helpfully, there might not even be a dress code on the invite.
So, before you turn up to a smart casual ceremony in your dinner suit, here’s a quick crash course in the fundamentals.
Black tie is the most formal type of dress, aside from perhaps white tie. It’s unlikely you’ll find this on a summer wedding invite. But if you do, this is what you need to know: black tie means dinner suit (or tuxedo, if you’re American). Don’t turn up in anything else. The issue? You’ll likely sweat.
Aside from that, you’ll want a pressed dress shirt with a bib front, a pair of black, well polished Oxford shoes (patent leather is an excellent way to stand out subtly) and, of course, a black bow tie.
One of the more confusing dress codes. Black Tie Optional really just means your hosts will be wearing black tie but are courteous enough to understand that you may not wish to. To play it safe, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and go in a dinner suit (see above).
If for some reason this isn’t an option, a normal two-piece suit worn with a tie is perfectly acceptable. Just make sure it’s dark and as close to a dinner suit as possible (think peak or shawl lapels).
Congratulations, you’re not formally required to burn to a crisp in a dark, wool suit. Summer Smart is a popular dress code for warm-weather weddings as it allows guests more freedom to play around with colours and materials.
Tailoring in light, neutral or pastel shades works well here, as does navy. When it comes to material, linen, tropical wool or seersucker are breathable and will enable you to remain cool and classy throughout.
Team with a pair of loafers in a complementary shade and your favourite sunglasses.
Feel free to ditch the jacket as another way of keeping cool. Or, if you feel it may be necessary to keep the sweat patches hidden but don’t want to be the only guest in a full suit (you probably wouldn’t be anyway), you could choose to wear separates instead.
Footwear wise, you aren’t confined to leather Oxfords, Derbies or monk straps; loafers and brogues, as well as suede or even canvas construction, are all perfectly suitable too.
It’s rare but a casual dress code on your invitation means you can more or less wear whatever takes your fancy. Even so, it’s always best to keep things on the right side of relaxed. In other words, it’s probably not wise to show up in a T-shirt and flip-flops – regardless of how hot it is outside.
Instead, go for something along the lines of chinos or smart trousers worn with an Oxford shirt and some desert boots or minimal leather sneakers.
In short, cocktail attire means tailoring with a twist. For example, wear that patterned or bold colour two-piece suit but swap the dress shirt for a band collar version or even a plain white tee.
Again, separates will work just as well as a suit. Try wearing a statement jacket with pared-back trousers and an unassuming shirt or polo. Remember, no two items of clothing should ever be fighting one another for attention.
As you may be beginning to realise, dressing for a summer wedding can be a complex affair, but it needn’t be. There are a few classic outfits that will work every time. If you don’t quite feel up to experimenting, these are the go-to combinations that will always see you right.
Tailoring traditionalists may sneer and, it’s true, it isn’t for everyone. However, linen – in all its crinkled, crumpled glory – is the perfect fabric to get you from church to end-of-night chariot sweat-free and feeling fresh. For the unadventurous, navy is the safest option. Wear it with a white shirt, black monk-strap shoes and, from a distance, nobody would be able to tell the difference.
If you’re happy to try something different (and the dress code permits it), a beige or sand shade is the classic colour for linen tailoring. Opt for a white or light blue shirt (chambray is an excellent choice here) and brown leather loafers to anchor.
A contrasting dark and light separates combo is a surefire winner year-round. During the warmer months, consider going for a lighter hue on your pants (stone, white, beige) and a darker shade on the jacket. In winter, vice versa.
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to matching footwear with separates. But generally speaking, most traditionally “smart” silhouettes will work.
You’ll likely have one of these in your wardrobe already, which is fine – but be warned, if it’s a wool version then it will be much warmer than something in a cotton or linen blend. Colour wise, mid-to-light grey, navy or beige are your best bets here. Stay away from black as A) it can come across as a bit morbid, and B) you will be very, very hot.
Your shirting choices rest with the dress code but a white or light blue Oxford is a fail-safe option for pretty much everything bar black tie. Keep the accessories clean, remembering not to match your tie and pocket square, but feel free to let a bit of personality shine through.
Further south, your footwear should be smart and classic. Try a double monk-strap, loafer or Derby shoe to keep things refined yet not too formal – you’re not going to a board meeting.
It’s extremely tricky to look suave and sophisticated when your face has taken on a sort of beetroot colour and you’re sweating from every pore on your body. Aside from periodically dabbing yourself with your napkin and hoping none of the other guests notice, there is one thing you can do to alleviate it.
The key lies in a bit of forward planning – AKA picking the right materials for the job. Male model David Gandy may swear by a navy wool suit, but even he knows that there’s a limit to what it can do. And, unfortunately, keeping you cool in 30°c heat doesn’t fall under its remit. The solution? Be clever with your choice of fabrics. Here’s how.
A linen suit is the perfect breezy option but some men can be put off by the ageing hippy connotations (Richard Branson, we’re looking at you). But wear it right and the results will speak for themselves. The secret lies in making sure the fit is immaculate, while adding contemporary touches with your choice of shirt and accessories.
For example, a will-fitting, sand-coloured linen two piece may sound a bit bland. However, team it with a chambray shirt, a patterned pocket square and some laid-back suede loafers and you’ll soon change your mind.
Next to linen, seersucker is one of the definitive warm-weather fabrics. It’s light, it’s cool and it lends itself perfectly to spring and summer wedding suiting.
The material tends to come in striped or checked patterns that look great on laid-back, unstructured tailoring. However, plain options are also available, meaning it is still possible to do the classic navy suit without bursting into flames.
Denim shirts are a key fashion trend at the moment and they can look great when paired with suit separates or casual tailoring. The problem is they’re not exactly the most breathable option when the sun comes out. Chambray is a slightly lighter alternative, offering a similar look from a much more breathable fabric.
The post What To Wear For A Summer Wedding (To Be The Most Stylish Man There) appeared first on Ape to Gentleman.
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The best part about this wardrobe essential is the variety of styles available on the market. For me, a higher neck with ribbing is more flattering, but there are so many fabrics and cuts to choose from to suit everybody and anybody. Your wardrobe will grow instantly if you invest in this closet staple, and with the wide variety of silhouettes to choose from, the smallest details can make the biggest difference.
The styling options of this classic piece are truly endless, which can be a bit intimidating when you go to get dressed in the morning—but don’t fret, we have you covered. If you’re looking for some new inspiration to spruce up your wardrobe as we head into summer, keep reading for eight ways we are styling a classic white tank top this season. The best part? You probably have a lot of these items in your closet already.
You can’t go wrong with an all-white outfit if you want to look and feel put-together. There’s something so crisp and clean about a fresh white top paired with your favorite pair of slouchy white denim. This monochromatic fit is a quintessential summer look that wears from daytime to nighttime seamlessly—just swap out flats for heels for a more dressed-up look.
The silk skirt has become a wearable wardrobe staple that every fashion girl has in her closet. You can easily dress yours up or down, but for a sultry summer daytime look, style it with a ribbed white tank and your favorite black accessories.
For an elevated workwear-inspired look, try layering your favorite white tank with an oversized button-up. You can opt for a neutral color palette or make the look more playful with a pop of color, similar to the look above.
A T-shirt and jeans is a notorious pair that you can’t go wrong with. You know the saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?” Well, this simple formula needs no fixing, but can be updated to feel fresh for 2023. If you’re looking for a new-and-improved white top, splurge for the iconic Loewe rib tank that’s one of the most sought-after items of the season. Pair with a good ol’ pair of blue jeans and you’re good to go.
If Kendall’s wearing it, then so am I. Grab your itty-bitty micro mini and take your denim skirt to new heights with a scoop neck tank and trucker jacket. You can’t go wrong with denim on denim, especially on a warm summer day.
If the micro mini skirt isn’t your cup of tea, try styling a cotton-jersey tank with a denim midi skirt. The denim midi skirt is having a major moment for the summer and upcoming fall months. Brands like AGOLDE have perfected the denim midi, making the item one of the most coveted of the season.
We love a matchy-matchy moment. Whether you’re looking to style a white tank with a pantsuit, or a set like the below, it’s the perfect layering piece under a matching set.
The classic ribbed tank can easily dressed up or down, which makes it the perfect item to keep in your capsule wardrobe. Headed to the club or a fancy date night out? Style a cropped tank with a sequin mini skirt and coordinating oversized blazer for a perfect out-on-the-town look.
The post 8 Easy Ways to Style Your White Tank Top This Summer appeared first on The Everygirl.
]]>One of only a small number of portraits by Klimt still in private hands, Lady with a Fan will be offered in Sotheby’s marquee Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction in London on 27 June with an estimate in the region of £65 million ($80 million).
“Dame mit Fächer (Lady with a Fan) is the last portrait Gustav Klimt created before his untimely death, when still in his artistic prime and producing some of his most accomplished and experimental works. Many of those works, certainly the portraits for which he is best known, were commissions. This, though, is something completely different - a technical tour de force, full of boundary-pushing experimentation, as well as a heartfelt ode to absolute beauty.”
Sotheby’s to offer a work that is not only the star of the summer auction season in London, but also one of the finest and most valuable works of art ever to be offered in Europe.
Still standing on an easel in Gustav Klimt’s studio at the time of the artist’s unexpected and untimely death in February 1918, Dame mit Fächer (Lady with a Fan) – a beautiful, rich and alluring portrait of an unnamed woman – brings together all the technical prowess and creative exuberance that define Klimt’s greatest work.
The last portrait Klimt painted, Dame mit Fächer is also among his finest works, created when he was still in his artistic prime, and at a moment when the ‘formality’ of his earlier commissioned work gives way to a new expressivity – an ever-deeper, ever-more joyful immersion in pattern, colour and form, which – while clearly influenced by his contemporaries Van Gogh, Matisse and Gauguin – became something entirely different in his hands.
Similarly, while the slightly earlier works of Klimt’s famous ‘golden period’ – led by the iconic portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I of 1907 – see their sitter presented icon-like, amid a tapestry of golden shapes, here the sitter almost dissolves into the background, the soft patterning of the woman’s skin repeated in the pale-yellow background.
Klimt first started work on Lady with a Fan in 1917, by which time he was among the most celebrated portraitists in Europe: commissions came thick and fast, for which he was able to command prices far higher than any of his contemporaries. But this was a rare work painted entirely in the pursuit of his own interests. Full of freedom and spontaneity, it reflects Klimt’s joy in painting it and in celebrating beauty in its purest form. It also reveals his innovative approach. Traditionally, portraits were – and still are – painted in the eponymous ‘portrait (or vertical) form’. Here, Klimt returns to the square format that he used for his avantgarde landscapes earlier in the century, giving this painting a uniquely ‘modern’ edge.
Klimt also here gives full expression to his complete fascination with Chinese and Japanese art and culture. Luscious, silken kimonos and Chinese robes are known to have been his dresswear of choice, and his home abounded with beautiful objects from the East. Egon Schiele, a regular visitor, describes it like this: ‘the sitting room, [was] furnished with a square table in the middle and a large number of Japanese prints covering the walls… and from there into another room whose wall was entirely covered by a huge wardrobe, which held his marvelous collection of Chinese and Japanese robes.’
In Dame mit Fächer, Klimt draws principally on Chinese motifs: the phoenix (symbol of immortality and rebirth, good fortune and fidelity) and lotus blossoms (symbols of love, happy marriage and/or purity). Meanwhile, his flattening of the background and juxtaposition of patterns reflects his deep interest in Japanese woodblock prints.
“The beauty and sensuality of the portrait lies in the detail: the flecks of blue and pink which enliven the sitter’s skin, the feathery lines of her eyelashes and the pursed lips that give her face character. Klimt here gave himself full freedom to capture on canvas a devastatingly beautiful woman. Her provocatively bared shoulder, poise and quiet self-assurance combine to stunning effect.”
The painting was acquired shortly after Klimt’s death by Viennese industrialist Erwin Böhler. The Böhler family, including Erwin’s brother Heinrich and his cousin Hans, were close friends and patrons of both Klimt and Egon Schiele. They vacationed with Gustav Klimt on the Attersee, a lake near Salzburg that was the inspiration for many of the artist’s most important landscapes and can be seen in photographs together. In 1916 Erwin purchased the Litzelberg – a small island in the lake immortalised in Klimt’s paintings. An important supporter of the arts, Erwin Böhler commissioned leading architect Josef Hoffmann to decorate the rooms of his apartment in the Palais Dumba in Vienna where the painting hung in the Music Room alongside Klimt’s landscapes Waldabhang in Unterach am Attersee and Presshaus am Attersee which were also part of his collection. The work eventually passed to Heinrich and then, upon his death in 1940, to Heinrich’s wife Mabel.
By 1967 it was in the collection of Rudolf Leopold, who is known to have purchased a large group of Schiele drawings from Mabel Böhler in 1952 and may also have acquired this work from her. Dame mit Fächer was last offered for sale nearly thirty years ago in 1994, when it was acquired by the family of the present owner. Most recently it was the subject of an important exhibition at the Belvedere in Vienna where it was reunited with and shown alongside Klimt’s other great, late masterpieces.
The exhibition of the painting in Sotheby’s New Bond Street galleries later this month will mark a major moment for Klimt lovers in London, with three major portraits by the artist on view simultaneously in the capital for the first time ever. (The other portraits, Hermine Gallia of 1904 and Adele Bloch Bauer II of 1912, are currently on view in the National Gallery’s much-acclaimed show, ‘After Impressionism’.)
The appearance of this major work at auction marks an important moment for the market: not only is the painting the most valuable ever to have been offered at auction in Europe, it also now joins the ranks of the most valuable portraits – of any era – ever to have come to auction.
Klimt himself also sits in the select pantheon of artists to have achieved over $100m at auction – his Birch Forest having sold as part of the Paul G. Allen Collection last year for $104.6m. While that was a landscape, only one portrait by Klimt of this calibre has ever appeared at auction before: Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II, from 1912, which made $87.9m in 2006.
Dame mit Fächer also joins a strong sequence of spectacular works to have starred in Sotheby’s Marquee Seasons in London: most recently René Magritte’s L’empire des lumières (sold for £59.4m / $79.8m, March 2022) and Wassily Kandinsky’s Murnau mit Kirche II (sold for £37.2m / $44.9m, March 2023).
The star offering in London this June, Dame mit Fächer will feature large in what is set to be a very special season of auctions, exhibitions and events at Sotheby’s this summer, much of which will be focussed around the subject of portraiture – timed to celebrate the much-anticipated reopening of the National Portrait Gallery in London.
Accordingly, Sotheby’s marquee Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction on 27 June will include a strong grouping of portraits - by leading artists such as Alberto Giacometti, Edvard Munch, Leonor Fini, Elizabeth Peyton and Kerry James Marshall – all to be presented in a special sequence (‘Face To Face’) dedicated to this long but totally timeless and multi-faceted tradition.
That too will be complemented by a special exhibition of masterpieces from Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, one of Britain’s finest stately homes, featuring works by Rembrandt, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Lucian Freud and Michael Craig-Martin, many of them never seen in the UK outside of Chatsworth before.
Portraits from Chatsworth – A Loan Exhibition will be on public view from 30 May to 4 July. Meanwhile, Klimt’s Dame mit Fächer, and other highlights from Sotheby’s suite of flagship June sales will be on view to the public from 20 to 27 June. Both exhibitions are free and open to all.
Lucian Freud's "Tender Portrait" to highlight Sotheby's London summer sales season | ||
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LONDON.- This season’s major evening sale of Modern & Contemporary art at Sotheby’s London is set to star four extraordinary pieces by three visionaries of British Art: Lucian Freud, Frank Auerbach and Frank Dobson. Coming to auction from a distinguished private collection, all four works were created within just a few miles of one another in London.
Lucian Freud’s naked portrait of Penelope Cuthbertson leads this exceptional group with an estimate of £8-12 million. While from a first glance, the painting appears to be simply a portrait, a closer inspection also alludes to the presence of the artist himself: the haphazard wardrobe offers a glimpse of Freud’s overcoat and boots, while the glowing reflections in the window perhaps hint subtly to Freud’s form, his brush, and his easel. Freud’s meditative portrait will be offered alongside two remarkable paintings from Frank Auerbach’s most revered series’: Mornington Crescent, which carries the highest estimate ever placed on a work by the artist at auction (est. £3.5-4.5m), and a portrait of his most famed sitter Juliet Yardley Mills, J.Y.M. Seated II (est. £800,000-1.2m). Scraped and sculpted, its richly impastoed surface powerfully conveys the depth of Auerbach’s emotional response to his subject in a manner akin to Freud’s portrait of Cuthbertson (Night Interior). The collection also comprises a white marble sculpture of a female form by Frank Dobson - a prominent player in the revival of ‘direct carving’ in Britain (est. £600,000-800,000). Rare to market, only ten carvings by the artist have appeared at auction in the last thirty years. Please find further information on each of the works below. All four works will go on public view as part of Sotheby’s preview exhibitions in its New Bond Street galleries, opening on 20 June, before they are offered at auction on the evening of 27 June. A Closer Look at the Works
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Lucian Freud’s Night Interior, 1969-70 Estimate: £8-12 million. Courtesy Sotheby’s. At once tender and meditative, intimate and contemplative, Lucian Freud’s Night Interior is an entrancing naked portrait of Penelope Cuthbertson, the daughter of Teresa Jungmann, one of the original Bright Young Things, grand-daughter of the artist Nico Wilhelm Jungmann, and wife of the late Desmond Guinness. Here, Cuthbertson is portrayed sitting in a chair in front of a large window - her legs dangling over its arm, her eyes shut, dreaming. She does not confront the viewer, or the artist, rather the viewer confronts her in an intimate moment of privacy. Night Interior is one of seven painted portraits the artist created of Cuthbertson during his lifetime. They first met at a party in the late 1960s, and soon after Freud asked Cuthbertson to sit for him, creating the very first portraits of her in 1966 and a further three in 1968, before embarking on this final work in 1968-70. Night Interior illuminates Freud’s mastery in the genre of portraiture, though his output was restricted to capturing only those closest to him. Whether self-portraits, or portraits of his children, friends, lovers, fellow artists and luminaries, Freud did not take commissions and instead chose only to paint those with a particular significance to him. He would scrutinise his sitter for hour upon hour, day upon day, as an artist notorious for taking months and even years over a particular work. Alongside portraiture, ‘the nude’ was the other defining leitmotif of Freud’s career. Across six decades of painting, innumerable mutations of painterly style, and a multitude of sitters, he would return to this subject time and again. It was, in many ways, the greatest challenge of his career; a problem to which he never found a solution: “All portraits are difficult for me. But a nude presents different challenges. When someone is naked, there is in effect nothing to be hidden. You are stripped of your costume as it were. Not everyone wants to be that honest about themselves. That means I feel an obligation to be equally honest in how I represent their honesty. It’s a matter of responsibility. I’m not trying to be a philosopher. I’m more of a realist. I’m just trying to see and understand the people that make up my life.” Night Interior once resided in the collection of the late Garech Domnagh Browne, cousin of Lady Caroline Blackwood, before it was acquired by Charles Saatchi and then by the present owner. The painting also has an illustrious exhibition history: it was a formative part of Freud’s first major UK travelling retrospective which began at the Hayward Gallery, London, in 1974; it was included in the seminal show, Lucian Freud. L’Atelier, at the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, in 2010, and six years later in the Irish Museum of Modern Art’s loan exhibition Lucian Freud (2016-2018). Frank Auerbach, Mornington Crescent, 1969 Estimate: £3.5-4.5 million Courtesy Sotheby’s. Mornington Crescent is among Frank Auerbach’s earliest and largest painterly musings on North London. After moving to his studio in Camden Town, taking it over from Leon Kossoff in 1954, Auerbach would soon begin to explore the streets on his immediate doorstep, as well as those around Chalk Farm, Primrose Hill and Mornington Crescent, all of which carry long cultural associations: the painter Walter Sickert live there, and Charles Dickens attended a school nearby. These areas quickly became places as familiar to Auerbach as the faces of his long-standing sitters: “This part of London is my world. I’ve been wandering around these streets for so long that I have become attached to them, and as fond of them as people are of their pets.” Painted in tandem with his inimitable portrayals of the human figure, London’s topography remained a central focus of Auerbach’s career for over half a decade, counterbalancing yet corresponding to the zoomed in focus of the studio-based recordings of his sitters. In this regard, Auerbach's dynamic landscape paintings go beyond mere landscape, instead becoming daring recreations, rather than representations, of places that resonate on a profoundly personal level with the artist. Mornington Crescent has remained in the same private collection since it was first acquired from Marlborough Gallery in 1982, and exhibited only once on the occasion of the Royal Academy’s momentous retrospective of Auerbach’s oeuvre in 2001. Auerbach, J.Y.M. Seated II, 1987 Estimate: £800,000-1.2 million Portraying his most famed sitter, Frank Auerbach’s Head of J.Y.M. was painted in 1987, thirty years into the artist’s friendship with Juliet Yardley Mills, referred to by her friends simply as J.Y.M. The two formed a close bond that resulted in some of Auerbach’s most significant paintings. Mills first posed for the artist in 1956 when she was a professional model at Sidcup College of Art and continued to do so for over forty years until 1997. Every Wednesday and Sunday, J.Y.M would take two buses from her home in Southeast London to Auerbach’s studio in Camden Town. Speaking of the experience, she said: “We had a wonderful relationship because I thought the world of him and he was very fond of me. There was no sort of romance but we were close. Real friends. Sundays now I’m always miserable.” Punctuated with swathes of yellow ochre and orange - in dramatic contrast to the outlines of black impasto which vigorously sculpt the eyes, nose, mouth and jaw - Auerbach portrays his subject sitting upright, her back firmly pressed against the back of a supporting tall Windsor chair, exuding an imposing presence within the composition. This portrait comes to the market on the heels of Sotheby’s record-breaking sale of another of Auerbach’s most celebrated portraits of J.Y.M. for £5.6 million in October 2022. The artist is also currently the subject of a major solo exhibition, ‘Frank Auerbach: Twenty Self-Portraits’, at Hazlitt Holland gallery. |
Hiking in shorts can give you a level of freedom and flexibility that is sometimes missed with the full coverage of pants or leggings. The breathability can also be a godsend on those hot summer hikes, keeping you cooler and more comfortable as you navigate your favorite trails. Plus, let’s face it, there’s something undeniably liberating about feeling the sun on your skin and the breeze on your legs.
But not all hiking shorts are created equal! In this blog post, we’re going to share our top picks for the best women’s hiking shorts. At Bearfoot Theory, we’re an all-women team who’ve spent countless hours on the trails, testing out different brands, styles, and materials, to bring you a list that features only the best of the best.
In addition, we’ll dive into the important aspects to look for when choosing the right pair of hiking shorts. We’ll explore features such as comfort, durability, pockets, and materials that stand up to the rugged outdoors to help you find the perfect pair.
Where to shop
The North Face Aphrodite Motion Shorts have quickly earned the top place in our hiking gear rotation for their exceptional blend of comfort, durability, and practicality.
These are the shorts that BFT founder Kristen & team member Linda often wear on their outdoor adventures. Crafted from a lightweight, quick-drying material, these shorts are designed to keep you comfortable no matter the weather conditions on your hikes.
Kristen loves that these shorts have a comfortable, wide waistband to support dynamic movement. The length is long enough to protect your thighs from uncomfortable chafing but not so long that they feel baggy or impair movement. But there’s more than just comfort at play here.
With multiple secure-zip pockets, these shorts are great for keeping your essentials secure. We’ve put them through their paces on our most challenging hikes, and they’ve come out on top every time.
The Smartwool Intraknit Active Lined Short is an ideal pick for hikers that struggle with chafing (like me).
With a built-in long liner, these shorts give hiking legs another layer of thermal-regulating protection. I’ve worn these shorts in the gym, outdoors, and at home and their most striking feature is their comfort.
I’ve found that the liner, though made of wool, isn’t itchy or uncomfortable at all. Instead, it’s soft to the touch and naturally odor-resistant and moisture-wicking. Since I struggle with chafing, I also love that these shorts provide extra thigh coverage.
These shorts also have a regular fit with a mid-rise waist. Finally, the exterior zippered pocket is a great feature for storing my keys, ID, and phone that need to be safely packed away.
Where to shop
When most brands design a pair of shorts, the shorts are intended for a specific use. Maybe they are geared specifically towards runners, climbers, OR hikers. But the Mountain Hardwear Dynama 2 Short is built to tackle everything.
These shorts easily fit into a variety of changing environments, accommodating dynamic athletes as they climb, run, travel, putz around, and hike.
While wearing these shorts, I was most impressed with their abrasion resistance. I often rock scramble or climb in shorts and they usually become unusable after a single season, but these shorts exhibit a construction that’s likely to support long-term use.
Equipped with a UPF 50 rating, they come with built-in sun protection. They also feature a durable water-repellent (DWR) finish, which makes the shorts water-resistant in inclement weather.
And the antimicrobial treatment helps to keep these shorts smelling fresh for longer. Finally, these shorts come with an array of pockets. In fact, there are two front pockets, one back pocket, and a thigh-zippered pocket to keep all of your valuables safe.
The REI Co-op Trailmade Shorts are designed with the hiker in mind, featuring a durable, quick-drying fabric that’s up to any challenge the trail may throw at you.
After BFT team member Courtney put the REI Co-op Trailmade Shorts to the test on the trails in California, we can confidently say that they’re built to elevate your outdoor adventures. Plus, they’re cute enough for everyday wear!
With ample pocket space, you’ll have plenty of room to stash your trail essentials. These shorts have SIX pockets: 2 deep side pockets, 2 rear drop-in pockets, and 2 envelope thigh pockets.
What we really love is the incredible blend of comfort and practicality; the stretchy material allows for dynamic movement, and the adjustable waist ensures a perfect fit.
If you prefer a biker-short style for hiking, we’re obsessed with the lululemon Align Shorts. They come in a variety of lengths including 4″ (upper thigh), 6″ (mid thigh), and 8″ (lower thigh).
While the 4″ are great if you want something shorter, we personally recommend the 6″ for hiking because they’re not too long and not too short, plus they stay in place better than the 4″ so you don’t have to pull them down as you hike. If you want extra coverage that hits closer to your knee, pick the 8″.
The 6″ and 8″ Align shorts also have a large pocket on the side that’s big enough for your phone and the fabric is super comfortable.
Designed with a high-rise waistband, they offer excellent coverage and comfort, staying in place as you navigate tricky terrains. Meanwhile, their four-way stretch material ensures that your movements are never restricted, whether you’re climbing over a log or climbing a steep incline.
One downside of these shorts is the fabric isn’t as snag-resistant as traditional hiking shorts or thicker biker shorts so you’ll need to be more careful wearing these. We wear these on our more casual hikes and wear something a little more durable if we know the terrain is going to require any scrambling.
The Nani Swimwear Hybrid Explorer Shorts truly live up to their name, seamlessly blending style, functionality, and comfort—making them a fantastic addition to your hiking wardrobe.
Kristen wore these shorts both to the beach and on waterfall hikes on her trip to Maui and loved how comfortable they were. Made from quick-drying, stretchy material, they are designed to move with you, whether you’re clambering up rocky slopes or getting wet on a waterfall hike.
As they inevitably grow heavier from the saturation, you can cinch the clip on the elastic waistband to tighten and keep them in place.
There are few pairs of hiking shorts that can do it all, but the Janji 3” AFO Middle Shorts are one of them. These shorts come with a 4-way stretch material in order to support dynamic movement. While designed as running shorts, they’re also ideal for hiking, trail running, and backpacking.
The first characteristic I noticed about these shorts is their bright, catchy style. They’re colorful but tasteful. And when you slip them on, it quickly becomes evident that they’re lightweight enough that you won’t even feel them and they’ll stay dry during intense hikes. Plus, weighing only 3 oz. they’re perfect for backpacking trips where every ounce matters.
They are made out of a recycled polyester material that is extremely flowy and lightweight and the elastic waistband with an internal drawcord allows you to adjust the tightness as you go. One thing to note is these shorts do have a moisture-wicking liner.
Another way that these shorts stand apart from other products is in their color and print choices. These shorts are available in several different colors and prints, allowing you to take your pick from neutral colors to super creative and bold color options. Who doesn’t love a little bit of creative expression with their hiking apparel?
When you’re looking to commit to a trusty pair of hiking shorts, it’s all about focusing on the features that count for YOU.
Here’s our guide to what you should consider when choosing a pair of shorts:
Choosing between hiking pants and hiking shorts largely depends on a few key factors:
Ultimately, the choice between hiking pants and shorts comes down to a combination of the expected conditions, your personal comfort, and the type of hiking you plan to do.
What are your favorite hiking shorts for women? Let us know in the comments!
The post 7 Best Hiking Shorts for Women of 2023 appeared first on Bearfoot Theory.
]]>After spending countless years being a slave to fast fashion and consumerism, I read more and more about what it was doing to the planet and wanted to make a change. So, in 2021, I made a conscious decision to reassess my relationship with it.
At the same time, I’d noticed how fast fashion was making me lose my sense of style. Everything I’d previously bought was trend-led, which caused me to struggle when creating outfits. So, I started to build a capsule wardrobe and since then my style has changed completely.
Now I proudly re-wear my clothes all the time – and, in a bid to continue being a sustainable girly, I’m always on the hunt for second-hand clothes.
Not only is it helping the planet, but I find vintage clothes have more character. I still buy a few pieces from fast-fashion brands every now and then (because I’m not made of money) but my priority is to shop less and be more intentional when I do so.
As a way of trying to cultivate my style and find new pieces, I religiously use TikTok to help me search for second-hand goodies. And as I was doing my usual scrolling one day, I saw a user talk about her new favourite app for second-hand clothes called: finds.world.
She described it as a video app and my growing excitement turned into fascination. So, of course, I downloaded it.
It looks just like TikTok but specifically for clothes. And honestly, it feels like the dream destination for any Gen Z fashion lover.
After speaking to Jemma Stacey, CEO and co-founder of FINDS, I realised that the video element was an intentional decision. Stacey tells HuffPost UK they built their platform with a Gen Z audience in mind: “How they shop, consume content and get inspired is through video content.”
I spent what felt like an hour exploring the app, its users, and more importantly the clothes. And I couldn’t resist making a purchase – a gorgeous Save The Queen vintage dress.
Once the dress caught my attention I knew it had to be mine – a knee-length dress in varying shades of green and blue with a striking series of patterns, it’s very light-weight, making it the perfect summer shift.
It also reminds me of the 90s, which is the epitome of my style right now – and it looks as good as new, which is fantastic considering it was only £60.
It’s hard to find clothes that feel unique in the current landscape of fashion. Everything feels and looks the same which is why I love finding vintage pieces like this.
I’m a big fan of second-hand clothing apps like Vinted and Depop but sometimes it’s difficult to picture yourself in a vintage item by just looking at a picture. Especially since buying second-hand clothes can be so hit or miss.
This is where video listings change the game. As Stacey says: “Video listings offer a more transparent and inspiring way of buying and selling vintage and secondhand clothes.
“You can see the fit, hang of the fabric and highlight any wear and tear or flaws. You can also find styling inspiration, the same as you would from an OOTD or styling video on social media, or just seeing someone on the street who looks amazing – except you can buy what they’re wearing straight away!” she adds.
That’s something that I immediately liked about the app. As someone who’s on the taller side, I avoid buying trousers or skirts for fear the items will be too short. With FINDS, I was able to see a realistic depiction of how an item would actually look.
Another thing that makes the app so fun is the use of music. Each page or video plays a song in the background, similar to TikTok. However, at points, I did feel like I was seeing very similar clothes from different users. But I’d put this down to the app being quite new.
It feels like a community of second-hand lovers, which Stacey agrees with. “FINDS is truly social and community-led, with Livestream shopping enabling our sellers and creators to connect and interact with buyers via live video functionality,” she adds.
She emphasises the fact that secondhand and circular fashion is not a fad or a trend – it’s essential and non-negotiable.
“Fashion production makes up 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions, dries up water sources, and pollutes rivers and streams. What’s more, 85% of all textiles go to landfill each year (UNECE, 2018), so we just don’t need any ‘new’ clothing,” Stacey shares.
“The secondhand clothing market is set to be twice the size of fast fashion by 2030, so it’s most definitely here to stay and we plan on FINDS playing a big part in that change!” she adds.
In a world where fast-fashion rules, FINDS is showing the Gen Z generation how cool and fun vintage shopping can be. I can’t wait to see the app grow and have the opportunity to buy more pieces that I can fall in love with.
Instead of making her debut as a quintessential Bollywood heroine, dolled up in chiffon sarees romancing some hero on the snowy Alps, she made her maiden appearance on the big screen in a spandex singlet as a Haryanvi wrestler. She knew this movie will change her life and break open the doors that had so far walled her dreams. And it did. Nitesh Tiwari’s Aamir Khan-starrer biographical sports drama film Dangal (2016), became the highest-grossing Indian film worldwide, a record that was broken only this year by Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan. Although hailed for Aamir Khan’s mind-blowing physical transformation matched with a heavyweight performance as wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, Malhotra — even with her relatively shorter screen time as Babita Kumari — packed a punch.
“I knew my life was going to change post Dangal; but I couldn’t anticipate the magnitude of it. I got a call from Ritesh Batra the very next day of the release. He had seen Dangal and wanted to meet me. It was all too surreal. I had never thought that there would be a day when I would directly get calls from directors and writers. And this was happening right after my very first film had hit the theatres, and the director was Ritesh Batra! His Lunchbox is one of my all-time favourite films. He said he had a script that he would like me to read. I was too excited to work with him, but I eventually read the script and loved it. That is how my next film Photograph happened,” reveals Sanya.
Ritesh Batra’s wistful and poetic 2019 slow-burn romantic drama was selected in the Berlinale Special section of the 69th Berlin International Film Festival, and the movie saw Sanya Malhotra almost outshine the marvelous Nawazuddin Siddiqui with her quiet brilliance. Her evolved and exquisite performance as the shy and reticent Miloni was a sharp contrast to her Babita, and firmly established her range as an actor. Not only did she pick up a few nominations, her Dangal act set her firmly on the path of her dream career.
The powerhouse performer, who never had any formal training in acting, would go on to play Chhutki, Renee, Anupama, Shruti, Sandhya, Meenakshi, Jyoti, Neha, and Mahima with equal gusto and ensure that each character got a fulfilling life of their own on screen. It is not often that one can boast of such a consistent and prolific career as hers — it is a seven-year-long journey without a single misstep. So, is then the Bollywood journey really not as difficult for ‘outsiders’ as it is made out to be?
“For me, it wasn’t, because I started with a film as huge as Dangal. I am sure that otherwise, things would have been very different,” she explains. “I took a lot of time to find a sense of security. I would always feel that if I take one false step my career might disappear… one bad performance and I might not get the next movie. It was probably a pressure I was putting on myself. Even during Dangal, Fatima and I would often say that we couldn’t slip up for if we did, we might not ever get another opportunity. But yes, that one-and-a-half years between landing in Mumbai and landing that audition was tough.”
It seems her sense of insecurity and the fear of missing out on the next project has ensured that all her performances to date are top-notch. Excerpts from a free-flowing chat with the actor:
Your last release Kathal was a Netflix film. How have OTTs changed the game, if at all, for actors like you, who are not getting into the conventional Bollywood heroine mould?
Thanks to OTT and good writing, I am so glad that I am an actor now. The kind of characters I am getting to play today isn’t the kind of woman I would see on screen while growing up. Most women characters used to be easily replaceable. OTT has definitely changed the game. I have seen it happen with Ludo, Pagglait, Meenakshi Sundareshwar, and now Kathal. Thanks to OTT, that shift has happened in my career where I am getting so much love from the audience.
You have headlined movies like Patakha, Pagglait, and now Kathal. Do you see women-led movies finally becoming mainstream instead of being a sub-genre?
I think that has definitely changed with films such as Sherni and Thappad. I am glad that my seniors in the industry and other actresses are taking up roles like these and headlining movies. Even the audience wants to watch such movies today. There are writers writing stories like Pagglait and Kathal and there are producers backing those. From the time I joined the industry to now, there has been a tremendous change in the kind of roles I am offered. But yes, we still have a long way to go.
While growing up was the dream ever to play the quintessential Bollywood heroine dancing in a chiffon saree?
Of course! I definitely used to imagine myself doing such movies too while growing up. I would really love to be part of such a movie, and sing and dance. But content has taken over and I am definitely not complaining!
Were you a filmy kid? What was the impact of Bollywood on you while growing up?
Weirdly, neither of my parents was a movie theatre enthusiast. I don’t know why. But we never used to go to cinema halls. We used to watch a lot of movies on television. Papa was a huge Sunny Deol fan. He used to watch and rewatch only his movies every weekend. I must have seen Vishwatma about a hundred times! Also, I had this friend who would watch every film first-day-first-show. She would watch the movie in the morning and sit with us in the evening and narrate the entire film replete with dialogues, wardrobe details, and even songs. Bachpan se narration le rahi hoon mein (laughs). We would then do our own choreography for the songs and dance. It was my dance group. I used to love dancing and would copy steps from famous Bollywood song. My go-to was Ek Pal Ka Jeena and Kajra Re. I used to ensure I have a solo dance performance at every birthday party, shaadi, sangeet that I used to go to. In fact, I would get really offended if I was not asked to do a solo dance… phir mujhe bulaya hi kyun? Kal Ho Naa Ho was the first one I had watched on the big screen.
You were also part of a dance reality show. What was the initial dream… to become an actress or to become a dancer?
The dream was always to become an actor. But that kind of shifted when I reached college. Being in Delhi, the dream to become an actress and work in Bollywood seemed too farfetched. After my graduation, I was teaching dance in a school, and I loved every bit of it. I was also learning ballet. Then out of the blue I got an email from a dance reality show. I decided to participate because I thought it was a good opportunity to be on television and maybe some director will spot me, and I would land a movie. I came to Mumbai for the auditions of the reality show but got rejected. I went back to Delhi and told my parents that I wanted to shift to Mumbai and give acting a shot. Till then I had not shared my dream to become an actor with anyone. Mom was insistent that I finish my degrees, in fact, she still keeps asking me to join some course every now and then. But thankfully, my dad was rather supportive. I shifted to Mumbai. But back then I was so shy and reticent that I would not even go for auditions (laughs). I was also scared. I had no idea about Mumbai or Bollywood or how these auditions go.
Failures often turn into great life lessons. Did the dance reality show experience and the rejection teach you anything?
Definitely. It taught me to never doubt myself. I used that for my Dangal audition. I was so confident for that. I have to also give credit to my roommates, I saw how they believed in their capabilities and their dreams, and that really inspired me to build my confidence.
It is great that getting rejected for the reality show helped you get rid of your self doubt…
But I was still too harsh on myself. I definitely have imposter syndrome. But I have really worked on it in the past few years and got it a bit under control. Before 2020, I used to not like anything that I did. I would reprimand myself as I would think that I was not good enough. It all came from a sense of insecurity; I knew if I messed up once, I might not get a second opportunity. I would be fine while shooting — I love becoming a character, I love being in front of the camera — but would become a bunch of nerves during the release of the movies. I never enjoyed promoting my work or talking about my performances. I made a conscious effort to change this during the promotions of Shakuntala Devi. I watched how wonderfully Vidya (Balan) would go through all the promotional events and give such wonderful interviews… we would often do these Zoom interviews together and I would notice how much she seems to be genuinely enjoying talking to the journalists. It really helped me to make that change. During the promotions of Kathal, I didn’t feel how I used to feel before. In fact, I have started to like talking about my work and giving interviews like this. I am finally able to not take things so seriously. It is also because I know that I am part of some really good films and it can’t all be due to sheer luck, I must be putting in the work.
You have had 11 releases in 7 years. That’s a lot of movies. You have been constantly shooting for or promoting movies. Does it ever take a toll on your health?
I had gained about 15 kg for the second schedule of Pataakha and it took me about a year to lose the weight. And that was because I was suffering from multiple injuries during that time. I met with a bike accident right after finishing the movie and had a plastered leg for the next six months. I was still working out a bit, but it was not intense enough to lose weight.
That got a bit healed and there were so many events I was attending — Pataakha had released followed by Badhaai Ho — that I wasn’t paying too much attention to my health. And then I broke my ankle, twice. I was in and out of plasters. My films were releasing and there was so much work that was happening, but physically I was a mess. I remember I was in Gujarat for a promotional event for Badhaai Ho, and while on the stage I couldn’t stop myself from breaking into a dance, and I broke my ankle there again. I was all over the place, but I didn’t stop working. I was still figuring out how to balance everything. But things are much better now. I have not only recovered fully but I ensure that my health, both emotional and physical, is not compromised. I am much more aware now; I take enough breaks between work. Last year I worked on five films back-to-back. This year is packed with releases. I am currently on a month’s break in Delhi and spending time with my family.
And what about your mental health? You play such intense characters. Do they leave any residue, especially emotionally?
I used to often come home from shoots feeling sad and heavy. I didn’t realise that the emotions I am inducing for a particular scene while playing a character, I was imbibing those inside me. It took me time to understand that those are not my emotions but that of the character. In 2020 I started getting therapy and that was the time I realised this. I am much more aware of this now and therapy really helped me dissociate from the characters I am playing and create that healthy boundary. Sometimes, if a movie or a scene requires it, I let myself flow and be in that emotion, but now I do it intentionally. I don’t get confused with those feelings.
And… what can you tell us about your next two releases Jawan and Sam Bahadur?
Just that I am in them! It is still too early to talk about both. I still can’t believe I am part of Jawan; I am a huge SRK fan! I had a huge star-struck moment on the first day of the shoot. But thankfully, I could eventually be all professional and do my job.
______
In a career spanning just seven years, Sanya Malhotra has created a niche for herself in the industry portraying various shades of fearless female characters on-screen. The powerhouse performer goes down memory lane and discusses 5 characters she has brought to life in these years and how each shaped her as an actor:
Apart from being emotionally overwhelmed to be part of such a big project and scared of losing the opportunity, it was physically challenging to become Babita Phogat. It was a biopic, so there would be comparisons and we had to be extra cautious about getting the body language right. Wrestling is a very difficult sport and although I am seen wrestling on screen for just about a minute, I trained for a good eleven months. While training, both Fatima and I had multiple injuries, my knees were gone, but we would initially not tell the production people or the ADs that we were hurting. But eventually they got us physiotherapists both on sets and off it. Also, I was very harsh on myself while shooting the movie. Working with Aamir Khan wasn’t challenging at all. When he met us at the audition, I could not recognise him; he weighed about 110 kg and was already looking every bit the part — we didn’t meet Aamir Khan the star, we met Mahavir Phogat. But what he did with that role, the way he transformed into the character, became a lesson. Working on Dangal and with Aamir Khan became a conditioning whereby I never reach a set without doing my homework.
Chhutki is so loud and spiteful. She is not me at all. And that is why I wanted to audition for that role. Those were the initial days and I wanted to challenge myself and see what my capabilities as an actor are. For Pataakha I did my first acting workshop where I was completely dragged out of my comfort zone. We shot the film in 28 days and after the first schedule of 14 days, we came back to Mumbai and I was supposed to gain 10 kg in less than two weeks for the second schedule where the character is shown to have grown older, had children and become overweight and lazy. I started eating like a maniac and gained a whopping 15 kg. It would be a lie if I say I was not scared to put on so much weight at that stage of my career, and it became quite a task to eventually shed those extra kilos. If I have to do such a thing now, I will be much more careful and ensure that it is done in a much healthier and planned way. But when it is a Vishal Bhardwaj film, you don’t think about these things (laughs). I am so glad that I got the opportunity to play Chhutki at that point in my career; it gave me immense and much needed confidence as an actor.
Photograph was different from Dangal. While for Babita, I had to work extensively on the physical aspects of the character, I had to know and imbibe Miloni emotionally. I needed to get into the psyche of the character. Ritesh helped me build that world and I got locked in it for quite some time, even once the shoot was over. I had no boundaries as an actor back then. I played Miloni and for months, I stayed Miloni. I became her; I took her home. I started imagining things as Miloni and started believing that I was like Miloni. I was unable to dissociate from the character. I shot Badhaai Ho right after Photograph. As Miloni I had an option to not say the dialogues. Ritesh used to say that if you don’t feel like saying things, don’t; but if you want to, these are the dialogues. I got used to that. I was very shy and reticent on the sets and did not talk to people. I was still Miloni. But I had to become Renee Sharma! Pataakha, especially the acting workshop I did for it, helped me to eventually snap out of it. I learnt to create that boundary between the actor and the character. Characters require you to imbue their feelings and emotions but now I know how to get in and out of their worlds.
There are some characters that you want to transform yourself into. Sandhya in Pagglait was one such character. Her life experiences were not anything that I had ever experienced, so I couldn’t find any material in my memory bank that could help me play her. Even her backstory as shown in the movie is a compilation of fleeting moments. I started to write a journal as Sandhya. I would imagine situations as her in an attempt to understand her and to become her. I remember when we had about two days left for the shoot, one day after returning to my hotel room, I started cleaning my cupboard. I am otherwise a very organised person and have a neat cupboard. I had not realised that while playing Sandhya, my cupboard had started to look like hers — there is this scene in the movie where you see her messy cupboard contrasted with her late husband’s neatly organsied one. When I started cleaning my cupboard, I could feel Sandhya leaving me.
For a character like Mahima, I had to do extensive research. Most of the characters in Kathal, including Mahima, were based on real people and Yasho [director Yashowardhan Mishra] had interviewed them for the movie, I went through those recordings. I read a lot, one book that proved to be the most helpful was Coming Out as Dalit: A Memoir by Yashica Dutt. But I had never seen that world. So, just reading up on it was not enough. Also, I had never interacted with a cop before and I had no clue how the real police, not their movie versions, talk, walk or function. I mentioned this to Yasho and we visited some of the villages near Gwalior where the story is set. We also met a number of women cops stationed in the region. Before meeting them, I had a very masculine approach towards the character, I would imagine Mahima walking like a man, and her body language was not flowy and feminine in my head. But here are these real female cops who looked pretty, they would have a tinge of makeup on, they were also maybe dealing with phone calls from their MIL [mother in law] while on the job. They were every bit a woman and every bit a cop. Mahima was purely inspired by these women that I had met and spend time with. We don’t have characters like Mahima in Bollywood. Also, I found this very impressive UP cop named Shrestha Thakur on YouTube, and I tried to copy some of her mannerisms.
Describe your style in three words
Preppy, comfy, and casual
Essentials that you don’t step out without?
Water bottle, watch, phone, and wallet
The most precious accessory piece you own?
A pair of drop earrings my mother had gifted me
One family heirloom that you have repurposed, or have your eye on?
My mom’s gorgeous emerald and cut-diamond choker
One fashion trend that you are currently excited about and would like to incorporate into your wardrobe?
Waistcoats! I think they look really good on me and are chic and comfy. You can dress them up or dress them down. I am glad that they are back in fashion.
One thing we will always find on your nightstand?
My journal
Which is your favourite destination for a holiday?
Maldives. I love scuba diving there and I have recently got my certificate
What was your last luxury purchase?
I got myself a car last year
What is your dream car?
An Audi Q8 — it is the car I bought last year!
Credits:
Stylist: Meagan Concessio
Styling assistant: Harshita Samdariya
Photography: Mohit Varu |
Hair and makeup: Natasha mathias
Hair and makeup assistant: Janvi shau |
Styling intern: Sakshi sarda
The post The Effortless Brilliance Of Sanya Malhotra appeared first on Man's World India.
]]>When you think of the quintessential summer uniform, does a puff-sleeve dress or a slouchy white T-shirt come to mind? Well, it’s time to add another piece to your lineup of warm-weather staples — the mighty striped button-up shirt.
It might be yet another sign of the quiet luxury trend taking over the world, but we’ve been spotting many iterations of this classic top everywhere, from the classic blue-and-white combo to punchier colorways and stripe motifs. The kicker? They look absolutely amazing on everyone.
While a long-sleeved shirt may not sound like a summer-ready garment, this button-up shirt is built different. For one, the sleeves can be rolled up for a casual but put-together vibe. You can wear it unbuttoned as a coverup over a sports bra, or turn it into a crop top by knotting the hem. Plus, the casual cut of many oversized options are often cooling and can feel lighter and breezier than a short-sleeve tee. Then, in the winter, you have a layering piece you can wear under sweaters.
Ahead, we’ve picked out the cutest striped button-up shirts on the market, so you can get a full taste of its multi-tasking styling power. Thank us later for landing on a versatile item that you will be wearing forever and ever.
There’s something about the crisp blue hue of this shirt that reminds us of being on a yacht. You can echo the widely spaced white stripes by pairing it with white jeans and statement earrings, such as gold hoops.
Shop J.Crew
While the blue-and-white pairing reigns supreme, we have been seeing green-and-white trending hard lately, too. If you get too hot in this oversized poplin shirt, it still looks super chic draped across your shoulders, with the sleeves tied together in a knot.
Shop Madewell
This cotton-twill boyfriend shirt gets high points from in terms of wearability, thanks to the affordable price tag, the classic color combo, and the wide range of sizes. It’s a no-brainer if you’re new to the stylish potential of striped shirts.
Shop Old Navy
Crafted in sustainable French linen with buttons recycled from Brazilian nut, this understated shirt is made for longevity. The linen has been treated with natural softeners and retains its shape even without ironing.
Shop Alex Crane
The intricate striped pattern of this Acne shirt is a real head-turner and guaranteed to win you plenty of double takes and compliments. It looks good either tucked or untucked, and the appliqué brand logo is one of those quality details we love in an investment piece.
Shop Net-A-Porter
Rejoice, tall and short girlies. This striped beauty from Banana Republic comes in an extensive range of Tall and Petite sizing. We love the elongated shirt sleeves and the high side slits. The brand is currently offering an additional 20% off on this already on-sale item, so it’s wise to add this to your cart ASAP before the sizes run out.
Shop Banana Republic
If you are a fan of color, this cheerful confection — featuring a patchwork of striped fabric in different summery hues — will be a real joy to look at. The extra hidden buttons in between do a great job of preventing any gaping issues, and reviewers recommend sizing down due to the very relaxed fit.
Shop Tuckernuck
Everlane is one of our go-to brands for wardrobe staples, and this dress shirt is no exception. The contrasting white collar and sleeves add a subtle preppy touch, and reviewers love how the silky organic cotton fabric feels against the skin.
Shop Everlane
The pink and gray combination of colors offers an interesting departure from the usual styles, where white stripes feature heavily. The colorway will look especially dreamy with blue jeans or over a simple slip dress. The sale price (and Rag & Bone’s famously enduring construction) makes this an even more enticing deal.
Shop Shopbop
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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The 20 Best Summer Rompers For A One & Done Look
]]>Seeing that the official start of summer was yesterday, I decided to share a few of my recent Amazon Summer Fashion Finds. Whether you’re searching for an easy sundress to wear to outdoor dinners or a versatile midi skirt to wear to work, here are some of my favorite pieces.
I love an easy dress you can throw on in the mornings with a pair of sneakers, grab a tote bag, and head out the door. It’s a dress you could totally wear from your desk to dinner with friends. It comes in a bunch of colors and patterns, but the seersucker one is my favorite.
This maxi dress is such a cute piece to add to your summer wardrobe. I love the puff sleeves, smocked bodice, and tiered skirt. It’s a timeless silhouette that you can easily dress up or down. I love the way it looks styled with raffia sandals.
Maxi skirts are a wonderful style staple for summer. Style it with a white tank or tee, layer over a denim jacket on cooler evenings outside or inside air-conditioned buildings, and wear it with leather sandals or sneakers for a simple summer outfit.
Click on any image below to shop now.
The post Amazon Summer Fashion Finds appeared first on Kelly in the City.
]]>
Reviewed on:
PlayStation 5
Platform:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Publisher:
Activision
Developer:
Toys for Bob
Release:
Rating:
Everyone 10+
The match was too close to call – 1990 to 1995 – but I wasn't keeping track. All that stood between my team and victory was a chubby crocodile with a vacuum. I danced and jumped around him as he used his big belly and Luigi's Mansion-like hoover to bounce me around like a loose piece of cat fluff. I just needed a few moments to deposit my Wumpa Fruit, and victory would be ours. I had my blinders on, and that was a mistake. The enemy team's Wumpa Fruit meter quickly filled to 2000, and the match was over. My team had been defeated, but I was still hungry for more of Crash Bandicoot's favorite fruit.
Crash Team Rumble, like Crash Bash and Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled before it, is a hectic multiplayer take on the famously difficult 24-year-old platforming franchise. It pits two teams of four against one another in a race to see which team can collect and deposit 2000 Wumpa Fruit first. It's a simple formula, enhanced by streamlined controls, that makes for a delightful bite-sized and competitive multiplayer experience.
That simplicity is one of Crash Team Rumble's most enticing features. There is a barrel full of DNA brought over directly from the mainline Crash Bandicoot series. Running, jumping, and attacking all feel like another run through Cortex Castle. Controlling Crash – or one of nine other starting characters from the franchise – feels wonderful.
You can enjoy Crash Team Rumble with these elements alone. All you need to know how to do is navigate around the map, collect Wumpa Fruit (either directly off the ground or by smashing boxes), deposit them into your team's capture point, and avoid any enemies who want to fight. You'll learn all that within seconds of jumping into Crash Team Rumble, but there is far more depth to unlock as you explore everything these fast-paced bouts of berry collecting have to offer.
A lot of the extra complexity falls to the wayside as you jump, claim gems, and use Dingodile's vacuum to hover in the air for a few seconds. The three character classes – scorer, blocker, and booster – can also sometimes shift to little more than tidy organizational buckets, as any character can fill any role if used creatively.
Your team's needs will change organically as a match progresses, so you may need to do all three in a single game. Dingodile is classified as a blocker, although I found myself going after gems and boosting my Wumpa-collecting teammates instead of solely blocking for several matches.
The joy of single-player Crash Bandicoot games is all about execution. You have to learn every inch of a map to conquer and unlock all its secrets. It's easy to move on to the next level or to a new game once every box is smashed and boss defeated.
Even though Crash Team Rumble is built off part of the foundation of single-player Bandicoot games, the end goal couldn't be more different. The only bosses you defeat are other players, and it often won't be through perfect execution. It is messy, chaotic, platforming-filled matches that come down to the wire.
Abilities, gems, and relics add significant layers of complexity to Crash Team Rumble. Claiming multiple gems, usually three diamond-like platforms positioned next to each other, gives your team extra Wumpa Fruit for every deposited batch. Side abilities can be dropped almost anywhere on the map. Relics, also collected, can be used to unlock special stations all over the map.
Outlining many of these abilities and relic stations would ruin part of the fun of exploring them. Unlocking a spiky-vine ball for the first time and rolling onto the enemy point like Miley Cyrus made me unreasonably happy, and you are likely to feel the same way when you discover some of these wacky tools. Various team compositions, map-oriented squad movements, and well-timed item usage lead to considerable strategic depth – so much so that some players may find it intimidating.
Those hours are incentivized like most modern multiplayer games. You unlock the full cast of characters and abilities as you play and earn cosmetics as part of the game's battle pass. While giving Crash a whole new wardrobe before you send him out to pick more fruit is rewarding, players who aren't looking for a battle-pass-driven multiplayer grind may succumb to frustration.
Crash Team Rumble could be viewed as the natural progression of difficulty in the Crash Bandicoot franchise. It takes an entirely different type of preparation and offers a different reward, though. Crash Team Rumble's take on multiplayer platforming madness is unique, with enough depth to keep you on your toes after hours of gameplay. Those searching for a fresh take on the long-running series should give it a try.
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23 Maxi Skirts That Go The Length
]]>INDOOR-OUTDOOR KITCHEN INSPIRATION FROM THE MYERS TOUCH
The Myers Touch Kitchen Design Studio designed this kitchen space within a new extension in a detached, modern home. The space is focussed on how to create a living space that works perfectly as a kitchen, and including natural, warm materials. Neutrally-coloured laminate cabinetry is from SieMatic, paired with work surfaces from Silestone. Designer Helen Myers explains ‘We’ve found that homeowners want to engage with their outside environment as well as their interiors environment. It enhances positive emotions, drawing in the sounds, smells and visual pleasures of the garden whilst enjoying the pleasures of a beautiful, streamlined kitchen’. Photography by Miriam Sheridan, Inara Home Imagery
A VIEW OF THE GARDEN FROM INSIDE THIS MYERS TOUCH KITCHEN PROJECT
The Myers Touch studio blended SieMatic cabinetry and Silestone work surfaces for this open-to-the-garden project. The mix of subtle colours and materials merge seamlessly with the dramatic timber aspects of the extension, and whilst there is a lot of contrast and some very striking elements, it all works together to create a kitchen-garden space that is elegant and dramatic.
DAVID SALISBURY LAUNCHES A COLLECTION OF BESPOKE KITCHENS
Garden rooms, orangeries and beautiful conservatories spring to mind when we think of David Salisbury but now they’re also designing kitchens, utility and boot rooms. It all makes perfect sense and the results are stunning. There are currently three bespoke ranges, Brompton, Windsor and Clifton. The team draw on their years of experience producing timber orangeries and garden rooms, now offering clients the opportunity to have a bespoke kitchen for their new garden room, led by Creative Director Karen Bell, who leads the design team. Partnerships include Fisher & Paykel, Miele and Everhot.
THE GREENS FROM MASTERCLASS
Green kitchen shades are undoubtedly having a moment, and genuinely do offer a calm and neutral alternative to the plethora of blacks and greys we’re still seeing. This is the Shaker Bloomsbury in Sage Green and Olive from Masterclass Kitchens, which opens up plenty of opportunity for styling with both lighter and darker shades, and the subtle colours are enhanced here by pale work surfaces. However, if green isn’t your thing, maybe consider Wisteria or Vintage Rose for a pink-themed scheme.
VELVET GREEN FROM ROTPUNKT
Green is definitely a shade that lends itself very well to a smooth matt finish, and is seen here in a brand new soft-coat lacquer, Velvet Green, on the contemporary Smala door, from Rotpunkt. The new soft-coat finish is anti-fingerprint and easy to keep clean. Matt Philips, Head of UK Operations at Rotpunkt describes the Smala door as a modern alternative to more traditional Shaker looks, and Velvet Green addresses the latest style trends where both dark and light shades of green are top accent colours.
NEW SERIES, URBAN CRUSH FROM SILESTONE® BY COSTENTINO
The new Urban Crush series from Cosentino, inspired by the city and urban trends, has been designed to suit new urban space with it’s modern and vibrant aesthetics. The collection recreates the look of limestone and sandstone, with Brass Relish shown here. Brass Relish has the appearance of fine-grained sandstone, and teams with the design elements of modern vintage style. The series uses HybriQ+® technology, using recycled water and renewable electric energy.
BOSCA KITCHEN IN AMBER OAK BY SCHMIDT
The new Bosca kitchen from Schmidt is a distinctive door that embraces Japandi style (the combination of both Scandinavian and Japanese design). Natural timbers and grooved wood provide textural looks, warmth and interest. It’s elegant and understated, with a statement island and tall floor to ceiling cupboards. The knotted oak veneer brings the natural touch, and every kitchen has a bespoke look thanks to the number of options for both exterior and interior finishes.
BLUE HARTFORD KITCHEN BY TOM HOWLEY
This stunning space is the Blue Hartford Kitchen by Tom Howley … and it combines classic blue cabinetry for the island with paler perimeter cabinets – the official paint names are Lithadora and Thistle. Painted tiles by Ca’Pietra and a swathe of colour and pattern for this elegant, spacious kitchen that was designed for a busy family. Iconic White work surfaces by Silestone provide the contrast and add to the feeling of space and light in this kitchen, where everything is perfectly planned and within easy reach for whoever is cooking …
GREEN AND PINK KANANGA PROJECT BY WOOD WORKS
We love the cheerful complexity of this kitchen … lots of colour and pattern, but all very nicely balanced, and not overwhelming. This is the Kananga project by Wood Works Brighton, featuring their trademark birch ply cabinetry with colourful painted finishes. The island surface is in Foresso composite sheet material, which is made from wood waste. The main run of cabinetry uses Formica, and the coloured surfaces are painted ply. Wood Works also design, make and install bespoke storage and wardrobe solutions, see their bedroom loft projects here.
SEA GREEN INSPIRATION FOR THE BATHROOM BY DECORUM TILES
We’re showing you these fabulous Arc Sea green tiles from Decorum Tiles in a bathroom setting but of course, they can look just as wonderful in a kitchen project, or indeed perhaps a hallway, utility or cloakroom. There are lots of other colour options, including Arc Satsuma, Arc Lemon, Arc Blossom and Arc Citrus – check through the range here. The Arc design is hand-stencilled, with the resulting hand-finished, textured look. Each tile measures 13cm x 13xm and they can be used in wet rooms and for fire surrounds as well as kitchen or bathroom splashbacks.
SWIVEL SPOUT MYTHOS TAP BY FRANKE
This elegant new tap is the latest addition to Franke’s premium Mythos Collection. The solid stainless steel swivel tap turns 360 degrees, has sleek and slim geometric lines and a square base, and features an L-shaped spout. Shown here in Stainless Steel, suitable for high-pressure systems, with a single lever operation. Also in Industrial Black finish and available as a Mythos Pull Out Nozzle version as well.
KEEP THAT KITCHEN GREENERY ALIVE WITH A WATERING STAKE!
Plants are very abundant in many kitchens, and often placed on high shelves or above islands – to get the full effect of trailing greenery! And yes, being a plant person myself it is often a pain to get to higher shelves to monitor the Monstera. So, enter a new favourite gadget, the Terracotta Watering Stake from Fred Aldous. It can be used on it’s own, just topped up with water, or if you’re away on holiday, it can hold an upside-down water bottle (just a normal size) to let water seep through the terracotta over a longer period.
SUMMER CLEANING WITH CARE+PROTECT
I’ve been having a blitz in the kitchen and bathrooms recently! Since Easter and all those bank holidays we’ve had a constant stream of visitors and guests, and I’ve realised that everything needed a good clean-up. I’ve tried several different products from CARE+PROTECT and, being a bit of a clean-freak, will probably end up working my way through the entire range. The Rapid Action Descaler for Coffee Machines worked a treat, and yes, I admit, it must have been clogged inside because it’s flowing much better now! Ditto regarding the 3 in 1 Limescale Remover – Degreaser – Hygienic Cleaner for the dishwasher. I also sorted out the washing machine, and have been using the 100% Pure Essence Concentrated Laundry Perfume for the endless bedlinen washes that accumulated. All highly recommended, take a look at the whole range.
The post Outdoor-Indoor Project + New Ideas for Colour appeared first on The Kitchen Think.
]]>In a world where fashion trends come and go, there’s one versatile garment that continues to make a statement season after season: the women’s hoodie.
While traditionally associated with casual wear, hoodies have evolved into a fashion staple that effortlessly combines comfort and style. There are many reasons why women’s hoodies deserve a prime spot in every fashion-forward woman’s wardrobe. Let me explain why!
Comfort Reigns Supreme: When it comes to clothing, comfort is a non-negotiable factor for many women. And what better way to achieve ultimate comfort than with a cozy, well-fitting hoodie? Whether you’re running errands, working from home, or simply relaxing on a weekend, slipping into a hoodie feels like a warm embrace. The soft fabric and relaxed fit create an instant sense of relaxation and ease, allowing you to conquer the day in both comfort and style.
Gone are the days when hoodies were limited to gym sessions or lazy days at home. Today, women’s hoodies come in a vast array of designs, colors, and materials, making them suitable for a wide range of occasions. From classic zip-up hoodies to trendy oversized pullovers, there’s a style to suit every taste and event. Pair a sleek black hoodie with tailored pants and ankle boots for a chic urban look, or opt for a vibrant hoodie layered with a leather jacket and jeans for a bold street-style statement. The possibilities are endless!
In a world where self-expression is highly valued, women’s hoodies provide a blank canvas for showcasing your unique personality. Brands now offer hoodies with various prints, graphics, slogans, and artistic designs, allowing you to express your passions, interests, and beliefs. Whether you’re a fan of minimalism, streetwear, or vibrant patterns, there’s a hoodie out there waiting to become an extension of your personal style. Embrace the opportunity to make a statement and let your hoodie do the talking.
One of the most appealing aspects of women’s hoodies is their year-round versatility. While they provide warmth and comfort during chilly winters, they can also serve as lightweight outerwear during transitional seasons. Opt for a hoodie made from breathable fabrics like cotton or fleece for comfort and temperature regulation. Layer it over a tank top or under a jacket depending on the weather. No matter the season, you can rely on a hoodie to keep you comfortable and stylish.
In addition to the individual charm of women’s hoodies, their ability to create cohesive and stylish matching outfits cannot be overlooked. Coordinating outfits with hoodies allows for endless creativity and a sense of unity among friends, couples, or even family members. Whether you opt for matching hoodies in identical colors or choose complementary shades, the result is a visually appealing ensemble that exudes a strong sense of togetherness.
I’m absolutely obsessed with the “clay strata” color collection from adidas. Here are just a few of the items I purchased…
Coordinated outfits like track suits are perfect for group outings, special occasions, or even casual everyday wear, making a bold fashion statement while strengthening bonds and showcasing the power of unity in style. You can grab matching sweatsuits for the whole family!
Hoodies have become a symbol of inclusivity, breaking traditional gender norms and catering to all body types. With the rise of gender-neutral and unisex fashion, hoodies offer a unifying garment that is both stylish and accessible to everyone. Both women and men of all ages, shapes, and sizes can effortlessly embrace this wardrobe essential, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment in the fashion world.
When it comes to balancing comfort and style, women’s and men’s hoodies undeniably hit the mark!
With their unbeatable versatility, ability to express personal style, and year-round appeal, it’s no wonder they have become a wardrobe staple for women everywhere. So, go ahead and embrace the power of the fashionable hoodie—let it bring you comfort, confidence, and a touch of effortless style as you conquer the world, one cozy step at a time.
The post Embrace Comfort and Style: Why Women’s Hoodies Should Be a Wardrobe Essential appeared first on The Fashionable Housewife.
]]>Before diving into the design process, gaining a deep understanding of your target market is crucial. Consider the demographics, interests, and preferences of potential guests. Are they families, couples, solo travelers, or business professionals? By identifying your target market, you can tailor your concept and design to meet their needs and desires.
To create a memorable experience for your guests, incorporate elements of the local culture into your design. Research the region’s traditions, architecture, and artistic influences. Whether it’s through artwork, furnishings, or decorative accents, infusing the essence of the local culture can add an authentic touch to your rental and help guests connect with the destination.
The location of your property plays a significant role in shaping its concept and design. Consider the surroundings, climate, and unique features of the area. For instance, if your property is nestled in lush countryside, create a rustic and cozy ambiance with natural materials and earthy tones. On the other hand, if your property is situated in a bustling city, a contemporary and vibrant design might be more fitting.
While aesthetics are important, it’s equally crucial to prioritize functionality and comfort. Consider your guests’ activities during their stay and design spaces that cater to those needs. For example, if your target market includes families, ensure comfortable seating areas, ample storage for toys and belongings, and child-friendly amenities. Balancing functionality with style will enhance the overall guest experience.
Space optimization is crucial when maximizing the potential of your short-term rental. The key is to make the most of the available space without overcrowding it. Consider the layout of your property and how you can create functional areas that meet the needs of your guests. For instance, if you have a small studio apartment, you can utilize multifunctional furniture, such as a sofa bed or a foldable dining table, to create a flexible living space. Clever storage solutions like built-in shelves or under-bed storage can help guests keep their belongings organized and make the area feel less cluttered.
The decor and style of your short-term rental can significantly impact the guest experience. Choose a cohesive theme or color scheme that runs throughout the property to create a sense of unity and visual appeal. Pay attention to details such as artwork, lighting, and textiles, as they can elevate the overall ambiance. Here are some tips for the most essential areas of a short-term rental:
Your short-term rental’s entrance and common areas set the tone for the entire space. Create an inviting and welcoming atmosphere with carefully chosen decor and style elements. Consider using a statement piece, such as an eye-catching artwork or a stylish console table, to make a memorable first impression. Pay attention to lighting in these areas, as well. Soft and warm lighting can create a cozy ambiance, while brighter lighting can enhance functionality and make the space more open.
The living room is often the central gathering space for guests to relax and socialize. Choose comfortable and stylish furniture that accommodates the maximum number of guests your rental can accommodate. Incorporate a mix of textures and patterns in your upholstery and throw pillows to add visual interest. Consider adding a coffee table or side tables for guests to place belongings or beverages. Enhance the space with decorative accents like plants, artwork, and unique decor items that reflect the theme or local culture.
Creating a comfortable and inviting bedroom is crucial for ensuring a restful stay for your guests. Invest in a quality mattress and linens to provide a luxurious sleeping experience. Choose a soothing color palette and incorporate soft lighting to create a calming ambiance. Pay attention to storage solutions, such as a wardrobe or dresser, to provide guests with ample space for their belongings. Consider adding bedside tables with reading lamps and decorative elements like wall art or mirrors to elevate the overall aesthetic.
The kitchen and dining area should be functional, practical, and aesthetically pleasing. Opt for durable yet stylish appliances and fixtures that are easy to clean and maintain. Consider providing essential cooking utensils, cookware, and dinnerware to enhance convenience for guests who prefer preparing their meals. Choose a dining table and chairs that can comfortably accommodate the maximum number of guests. Decorate the space with simple yet elegant table settings and add a touch of greenery with potted herbs or a small indoor plant.
A clean and well-designed bathroom can significantly enhance the guest experience. Pay attention to the details, such as high-quality towels, bath mats, and toiletries, to create a luxurious feel. Consider adding storage solutions like shelves or baskets to keep essentials organized. Incorporate stylish lighting fixtures and mirrors to create a bright and inviting atmosphere. Add decorative elements like artwork or small plants to infuse personality and create a spa-like ambiance.
Technology integration is essential for a successful short-term rental in today’s digital age. Guests expect seamless connectivity and modern amenities during their stay. Provide high-speed Wi-Fi access, innovative home features like keyless entry or voice-activated controls, and entertainment options like smart TVs with streaming services. Additionally, consider installing charging stations for guests to recharge their devices conveniently. Embracing technology enhances guest satisfaction and streamlines property management tasks, such as automated check-in/check-out processes and remote property monitoring.
To reach a wide audience and maximize your booking potential, choosing the right platforms to list your short-term rental is important. While Airbnb is one of the most popular options, other platforms exist, such as VRBO, Booking.com, and HomeAway. Each forum has its advantages and target market, so it’s worth researching and comparing their features, fees, and reach before deciding. It’s also beneficial to optimize your listing with high-quality photos, detailed descriptions, and competitive pricing to attract potential guests.
Transforming your space into a profitable short-term rental venture requires careful planning and attention to detail. By focusing on the concept and design, space optimization, decor and style, technology integration, and choosing the best platforms to list your rental, you can create a successful short-term rental experience.
[TAG3]The post Transform Your Space into a Profitable Short-Term Rental Venture appeared first on kikiinteriors.com.
]]>The quintessential desert boot is more than just utilitarian footwear; it’s a fashion statement symbolizing effortless sophistication and style that transcends seasons and occasions. You’re likely aware that desert boots, far from being a novelty, have been a long-standing trend in fashion. Having their roots in the military, they’ve evolved into a staple for the modern man’s wardrobe.
However, achieving the perfect equilibrium between casual and chic can occasionally seem overwhelming. But fear not. This comprehensive guide aims to demystify the art of wearing stylish desert boots, providing insider tips and tricks to help you confidently show off your style.
When purchasing boots, it’s important to remember that you’re not merely investing in a pair of shoes; you’re investing in your style. Taking into account factors such as the boot’s material, color, and design is crucial. Suede and leather are traditional choices, each delivering a unique aesthetic. Suede provides a softer, more casual look, while leather offers a sleeker, more polished appearance.
In terms of color, opt for adaptable options. Beige, brown, and black are classic choices that match well with various outfits. Lighter shades are perfect for radiating a casual summer vibe, while darker hues add a touch of elegance to winter ensembles.
Desert boots are a staple in any fashion-forward wardrobe. To help you maximize their potential, here are additional tips on how to wear them with the utmost style and panache:
Your choice of top can significantly impact your overall look. For an effortless weekend ensemble, nothing beats a simple t-shirt paired with desert boots and jeans. This combination is a style statement that exudes relaxed chic.
Alternatively, a more formal occasion necessitates a button-down shirt. This combination harmonizes perfectly with desert boots, conveying a sense of relaxed elegance. If you’re feeling particularly daring, wearing a blazer can transform your outfit into a smart-casual ensemble perfect for date nights or casual Fridays at work.
Desert boots and denim make a heavenly match. The casual appeal of denim perfectly complements the relaxed yet stylish aura of desert boots. When pairing these two, opt for slim-fit jeans to avoid a baggy appearance at the bottom. This ensures that your shoes stand out, unfettered by excessive fabric.
Light-washed jeans are fantastic for a relaxed day out, while darker washes lend a more refined look, perfect for evening events or dinners. The key is maintaining balance in your overall look, not tilting too far towards being overly casual or formal.
If you’re targeting a smart-casual look, coupling your desert boots with chinos is a successful strategy. They serve as an excellent bridge between formal and casual wear, guaranteeing you never appear out of place. Choose chinos in neutral or earth tones like beige, khaki, or navy.
These tones harmonize well with the natural color palette of desert boots, creating a seamless, sophisticated look. For a more laid-back approach, consider a cuffed or rolled hem. For formal occasions, a full-length chino with a clean break at the shoe is the way forward.
Never underestimate the influence of the right accessories. A stylish watch or belt can elevate your desert boot ensemble from good to extraordinary. The secret lies in crafting a balanced look. If your outfit is relatively simple, bolder accessories can add that much-needed element of interest.
Conversely, if your attire has a lot of detail or pattern, keep accessories minimal and subdued. This approach ensures your outfit doesn’t appear too busy or excessive. The goal is to create a cohesive, harmonious, and distinctively stylish look.
An essential but often neglected aspect of owning desert boots is understanding how to care for them. It’s not just about looking fashionable at the moment; it’s about ensuring the longevity of your shoes so they can continue to enhance your wardrobe for years to come. Different care routines and products will be required depending on whether your boots are made of suede or leather.
For suede boots, consider investing in a high-quality suede brush to keep the material looking fresh and clean. A suede protector spray can help protect your shoes from water damage and stains. For leather boots, routine polishing can maintain their shine and condition.
Use a damp cloth to clean off any dirt before applying a leather conditioner or polish. In both cases, it’s crucial to store your boots correctly when not in use. Keep them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, which can cause the material to fade or dry out.
With these pointers on hand, you’re ready to step out in style, secure in the knowledge that you’re not only looking sharp but also taking excellent care of your desert boots. Now that’s a fashion win-win.
From selecting the right pair to understanding how to pair them with your favorite outfits and accessories to preserving them for lasting appeal—you’re all prepared to make the most of these ageless boots. And remember, your desert boots aren’t just a purchase; they’re an investment in your style journey. Now it’s your turn to compose an impressively stylish chapter with them.
The post The Ultimate Guide To Wearing Desert Boots With Style appeared first on Shoeaholics Anonymous Shoe Blog.
]]>By Anna Kocharian
There’s an unspoken rule that an entryway should serve as a drop-off point for all sorts of gear—shoes, coats, mail, and keys are just the start.
And while some homes have a mudroom, hall closet, or garage with dedicated storage, others lack the necessary framework for concealing clutter.
With that in mind, we turned to professional organizers for their tried-and-true tips for bringing a little more method to the madness that can be a home’s entry.
In a mudroom or entryway, function should always come first, says professional organizer Lucy Milligan Wahl, founder of LMW Edits. “You can make any system look good, but you have to create it first,” she says.
Photo: Linda Raymond/Getty Images
Everything from a home’s layout to your lifestyle and even the climate can affect the way the area is arranged.
If you live in a region where it’s always raining, having a dedicated and easy-to-reach spot for umbrellas and rain gear is important. If your family is involved in a heavy rotation of sports and music lessons, you might want to carve out a nook for the gear they’ll be toting back and forth.
Finally, think about how often you’ll be able to organize the space—and be realistic about it.
“Are you willing to put in a few minutes every day to tidy up or does it all need to be grab-and-go?” Wahl says. Once you’ve figured that out, analyze your space and make a thoughtful plan from there.
If your home is lacking a mudroom or an entryway altogether, you may have to fashion one.
“First, find a space that is a good one-stop-spot for jackets, shoes, bags, and more—a catchall on the way in and out where your family can store things and have easy access to coming and going,” says home improvement and lifestyle expert Kathryn Emery of Be the Best Home. It doesn’t need to be a huge area; all you really need is a little bit of wall space.
Carving out a kids’ zone can be a helpful way to encourage them to stay tidy—or something close to it. Emery suggests dedicating a cubby or shelf for each child, to help them form a habit of stowing their belongings the moment they walk in.
Photo: Tria Giovan/GAP Interiors
“A bench with storage drawers is great for kids, as they are low to the ground and simple to get in and out of,” she says.
Though if you’re looking for a more simple approach, wall-mounted hooks are the way to go. Be sure to install them at a height the little ones can easily reach for convenience when hanging coats and bags.
Swivel hooks, which can often feature three to five movable hooks, are a great option for maximizing a space and keeping one person’s items confined to a dedicated spot, Emery says. And if you have enough wall space, install a few of them in a row.
The Shopping List
• Oversize Hammered Metal Wall Hook, $40 at Pottery Barn
Shop more wall hooks: Amazon, Target, Wayfair
• Safavieh Damien 3-Drawer Wood Storage Unit, $250 at Walmart, $281 at Home Depot
Keys, wallets, and similarly sized items can easily get lost in the shuffle, so it’s always worth having a dedicated spot for them. “Use containers that are just large enough for the items you need,” Wahl says.
Photo: Tria Giovan/GAP Interiors
Keys can go in a small dish or tray, phones can live on a charging station, and mail can be stacked in trays, Wahl says.
Take things a step further and give each member of the family their own tray to make the process a bit more streamlined. The entry is an area that’s already filled with lots of stuff, so avoid adding anything extraneous because it will instantly become clutter.
“The area should be for the things your family uses on a daily or near-daily basis,” the organization expert says.
Shop mail and key organizers: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Wayfair
If you have more belongings than storage space in your entryway or mudroom, a freestanding cabinet can be a good solution. One that incorporates an array of useful features—think a coat rack, shoe holder, and bench—can be a great way to consolidate the basics into one neat zone.
Photo: Kilito Chan/Getty Images
The sort of cabinetry you choose to bring in can include features like a clothing rod, drawers, hooks, or shoe shelves, says certified professional organizer Schae Lewis of Mission 2 Organize. It all depends on your needs.
Play to the weaknesses of the area. If you’re lacking a designated zone for a specific category, be it shoes, coats, or bags, find a storage unit that can cater to that.
“If you are creating the space from scratch without any cabinetry, plenty of hooks and a shoe solution are crucial for this space,” Lewis says.
The Shopping List
• Vasagle 3-in-1 Coat Rack, $68 at Wayfair, from $70 at Amazon
• Godishus Wardrobe, $150 at Ikea
• 6-Tier Shoe Storage Cabinet, $45 at Amazon
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2023, Consumer Reports, Inc.
]]>Growing up, I couldn’t imagine anything more torturous than the forced mile runs in P.E. class — or even worse, the dreaded PACER Test. The sweat pouring down my face, my beat-red face that everyone claimed "wasn't that bad" (It was, by the way.), my lungs begging for mercy and a gym teacher honed in on me culminated into an absolute sh*t show that made me loathe intense cardio.
How anyone could enjoy this miserable activity was a mystery to me, especially as I entered adulthood. Pop me in a spin class or sign me up for boxing and I’ll gamely grind away, but up until recently I wholeheartedly identified as a member of the “if you see me running, I’m probably being chased” crowd.
About a year ago, for a reason still unknown to me, I felt compelled to start running — and I haven't stopped since. Once you get into it (which can definitely take some time), running can become such a freeing exercise, and an outlet from all of your stressors. This love for running didn't come to me easily though, which is why I compiled a list of tips and tricks to help you get started on your running journey and become a marathoner in no time (Or just get your mile time under 10 minutes. That took me an embarrassing amount of time.).
Running a mile is no simple feat, whether you can do it in under five minutes or over fifteen. When you start running, your body needs time to develop the stamina and energy to support you on your runs. Ignore the time it takes and get as far as you can — even if it means walking for part of it.
Comfortable running shoes are key to a successful (and comfortable) run. I absolutely adore my Lululemon Chargefeel Mid Women's Workout Shoes, but they serve walking better than running, so I traded them out for Nike's Pegasus Trail 4 GORE-TEXPegasus Trail 4 GORE-TEX for a better stride. I've heard plenty of people rave about HOKA's collection of running sneakers, so give those a look, too.
Whether it's your neighborhood or a stretch of road in the next town over, start running in areas you know. This will ease any navigational stress and allow for a more seamless experience.
You don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get a good run in. Go for a quick job on your lunch break or hit the pavement after work — whatever time is easiest for you to maintain a consistent habit.
Spoiler alert: you need to take care of your body. If your muscles are aching or your day is too packed to pencil in some time for a run, don't sweat it. Pick up the next day and give your body the R&R it needs.
I truly cannot stress this enough. The last thing you want is to be halfway through your run with your chest rising and falling with each step...believe me, I've been there. Whether you're a part of the IBTC (itty bitty titty comittee) or have a larger bust like myself, a supportive sports bra is imperative to your workout wardrobe. If you have a larger chest, give Knix's Catalyst Sports Bra a try for an ultra-supported fit. For small and medium chested women, I recommend Lululemon's Enlite Front-Zip Bra High Support, which comes in A–DDD(E) cup sizes.
There are plenty of beginner-friendly run clubs all over the country. Use TikTok or Instagram and search your city's name with "run club," and you're bound to find a group that will make running at least a little less painful.
Remember: running isn't supposed to be easy. (How annoying, right?!) It takes time to build up your strength to run quickly and for long distances, so listen to your body and you'll be surprised by how athletic you truly are.
Find all of the best exercise tips and tricks with Brit + Co.
Header image courtesy of Hoka.
]]>
It’s the fourth episode of series 9!
In the fourth episode of The Great British Sewing Bee series 9, nine contestants are challenged with making a zero waste pair of trousers, transform tote bags into a garment and sew a made-to-measure out for a model sing second-hand crochet blankets. For episode four we have put our detective hats on to discover the sewing patterns from independent designers and commercial pattern houses used in Sewing Bee TV show. The patterns below are all matches or inspired by the designs used in the fourth episode of the Great British Sewing bee series 9. If you haven’t already seen our ultimate guide to the Sewing Bee do take a look.
The theme was ‘Reduce Reuse Recycle’ and all nine contestants had to make three garments. The challenges included making a zero-waste pattern for a pair of trousers, upcycling tote bags into a wearable garment, and a made-to-measure outfit using secondhand crocheted blankets to fit a model. Take a look at our sewing pattern suggestions below, we’ve tried to find the exact patterns used but where we haven’t been able to we have plenty of suggestions so that you can recreate these looks at home for your handmade wardrobe. Kate also talks through her favourite pattern options from the episode on YouTube in our special mid-week sewing bee vlog.
If you want to chat about the episode and the challenges then do join us each week in our Facebook group event.
The first challenge of the fourth episode was to make a zero-waste pattern for a pair of trousers, which involved plenty of maths as no fabric can’t be wasted! The trousers had a drawstring waist with two pockets in the side seams and had to be sewn in three hours. First contestants must mark out the eleven sections on the fabric. Here is a zero waste trouser pattern you could try at home that’s very similar to the one featured on the Sewing Bee.
Birgitta Helmersson ZW block pant
This is a zero waste pattern which comes in 10 sizes. It has an attached waistband with inserted elastic and front pleats for a slightly tailored look. There is a feature seam line on the back legs. The side seams sit slightly to the front. There are concealed in-seam pockets at the front and patch pockets at the back. This pattern also comes with a hack option: a skirt with patch pockets and an elasticated waist.
Zero waste pattern cutting is a bit like a puzzle. It is a method of pattern drafting where you utilise a length of fabric end to end by strategically planning your pattern pieces so that everything is used. This pattern is ‘paperless’ meaning that no large pattern pieces are required. Instead of using full scale paper pattern pieces, you draw your pattern directly onto your fabric with the aid of a cutting plan and small templates.
With the exception of some small templates, this zero waste pattern has no pattern pieces. You will draw the pattern directly onto your fabric by following the step-by-step instructions in the pattern booklet and using small templates which you can print easily on your home printer – as you’ve seen the Bees do!
Sizing: XS – 6XL (approx. UK 6 – 30/32, based on our standardised size chart). Available in the shop: Yes, PDF.
In the upcycling challenge contestants had to upcycle tote bags into a wearable garment. Specific patterns weren’t used for these tasks as contestants had to create a garment from existing materials in a fixed time so it’s a bit tricky for us to make sewing pattern suggestions based on these design ideas.
In the last challenge of episode four, all the contestants had to transform second hand crochet blankets into a made-to-measure outfit. Here are our pattern picks for the contestants and where sewing patterns have been self drafted or hacked we have suggested an alternative.
Vicki’s Bohemian Dress
Features: Raglan sleeves, scallop trim and granny squares.
Pattern: Our Lady of Leisure’s Spritz Dress (hem frill and raglan sleeves – self drafted).
The Spritz is a flattering, relaxed dress perfect for hot summer days and vacations. This very simple design can be dressed up or down, or worn as a cover-up over swimwear. Oh so comfortable, the Spritz Dress will become your go-to weekend outfit in no time. The Spritz is designed to be worn belted, with either a matching length of cord or a commercially made belt.
Sizing: A – G (UK 6 – 18). Available in the shop: Yes, PDF or PDF + printed copy shop.
Lauren’s Culotte and Crop Top Set
Features: Elasticated waistband, box pleats and chevron hemline.
Patterns
Zoey is a fitted knit tank top and dress. All views have a soft front V and low scooped back neckline. Armholes and necklines are finished with 5/8″ wide bands. Views A and B are tank tops. View A has a cropped length hitting around the natural waist and View B ends around the hipline. View C is a fit-and-flare tank dress with centre front and back seams for extra shaping and the hem ending a few inches above the ankle.
Sizing: US 0 – 18 or US 14 – 32 (approx. UK 6/8 – 18/20 or UK 16 – 34, based on our standardised size chart). Available in the shop: Paper, PDF and PDF + printed copy shop.
Trousers: Helen’s Closet Winslow Culottes
The Winslow Culottes are wide-legged pants designed for ultimate comfort and style. This pattern can be made at any length, from shorts to full-length pants! The design features inseam pockets, an invisible zipper, a waistband, and inverted box pleats. Make midi-length culottes in Tencel twill for a chic, modern look, shorts in cotton lawn for active adventures, or pants in rayon challis for luxurious weekend wear.
Sizing: 0 – 34 (approx. UK 6 – 34, based on our standardised size chart). Available in the shop: PDF or PDF + printed copy shop.
Fauve’s Swinging 60s dress
Features: Big collar, flowering fastenings and chevron hem.
Pattern: Simple Sew Nancy Dress.
Available in the shop: Unfortunately not.
Tony W’s Stripes and chevron two piece
Features: Chevrons and horizontal stripes.
Pattern: A similar pattern would be Burda 6608 (where you could crop the jacket and shorten the grown on sleeves of the dress). Slimline jersey dress with short integral sleeves with a slightly fitted back. The long jacket with a V-neck is the perfect companion for cooler weather. Both are quick and easy to sew.
Sizing: A (10-12-14-16-18-20-22-24), which is approx. UK sizes A (8 – 20/22) based on our standardised size chart. Available in the shop: Yes, paper pattern.
Matthew’s Nan’s A-line dress.
Features: A-line skirt and large bow.
Pattern: Vintage 1950s Woman’s Realm Special Pattern L41.
Available in the shop: Unfortunately not.
Mia’s Box Jacket and Mini Skirt.
Features: Toggles, Collar and symmetrical granny squares.
Pattern: Pinch Patterns Ollie Jacket and Georgie Skirt.
Available in the shop: Unfortunately not.
Asmaa’s Flower Power Coat
Features: Calf length and flower embellishments.
Pattern: We aren’t sure about this one, please let us know if you have any ideas!
Lizzie’s Striped Dress and Hooded Bomber
Features: Box pleats and hooded cropped bomber.
Pattern: We aren’t sure about this one, please let us know if you have any ideas!
Tony R’s Festival Two Piece.
Features: Puff sleeves and elasticated waist trousers.
Pattern
Top: A similar top would be the French Poetry Polaris Top. Polaris is an off-the-shoulder peasant top with gathers on the neckline and arms. Wear it all summer long to showcase your shoulder line! The gathers are made using elastic casings, and an optional bow can be added on the front. Inspired by a vintage cut from the 1940s, it features an underarm gusset. Choose a crisp shirting or soft crepe to play with different textures and volumes!
Sizing: 2 – 16 (approx. UK 6 – 16). Please check the size chart. This top is very loose-fitting. Choose your size as per the measurements if you want a lot of gathers, or size down if you want your top to be closer to your body. Size down if the drape of your fabric is quite stiff or puffy. Available in the shop: Yes, PDF or PDF + printed copy shop.
Trousers: A similar pair of trousers would be the Cashmerette Calder Trousers. Elevate your look with the Calder Trousers and Shorts! These wide-legged woven trousers feature a flat front, elasticated back waistband, faced in-seam pockets, and three length options: mid-calf, full, and shorts. Choose between a dartless apple fit and a darted back pear fit for ideal bum shaping. The Calder is sure to have you loving wearing pants again!
Sizing: US 12 – 32 (approx. UK 14 – 34) with apple and pear pelvis fits. Available in the shop: Yes, paper.
The post Great British Sewing Bee 2023 – Sewing Patterns S9 Ep4 appeared first on The Fold Line.
]]>We don't know about you, but the sand and sun keep calling our names. As we make our way into the summer, it's time to revamp our wardrobes with a new bathing suit (or two, or three). Whether you're ready to bare-all or prefer to keep it conservative, you're guaranteed to find an incredible suit from any one of these amazing brands.
This one-size fits all brand sells the most amazing swimwear, and can fit sizes XS-XL. Get the perfect set with their ring sasha crop and savannah brief.
Rhythm makes some of the best quality swimsuits on the market, at least IMO. Check out this Australian brand's selection of suits for your summertime go-to. This floral bandeau bikini top and matching high-waisted bikini bottoms will be perfect for relaxing on the beach or riding the waves.
If you're looking for a one piece, this is the only place you need to shop from.
Get those neon, color-blocked bustier bikini tops of the 2010s out of your mind! Right now! Just like our personal styles, Triangl's has evolved too, and they have tons of sets to prove it. This floral set will look flawless on you, or try out any of their fabulous sparkle suits.
Turn heads in a gorgeous suit from Benoa. This is one purchase you certainly won't regret. They're launching tons of new styles tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. EST, so stay tuned for all of the upcoming goodies.
Stand out in Araya's beautiful collection of sustainably-made, timeless pieces. Pick up their Tasman One Piece would make an amazing addition to any wardrobe!
Give this Filipina-owned brand a try for a suit that'll make you feel like a million bucks. This funky bikini top and bottom set will give you *all* the best summer vibes.
You'll feel like you're living in Barbie's Dream World in any one of L*Space's suits, especially this bralette bikini top and cheeky bottoms set.
ICYMI: Almost all (if not all) of Maaji's swimsuits are reversible, giving you two swimsuits in one. Count us in with this matching top and bottom set!
We love supporting small businesses, and with Bromelia you can get a cute, handmade suit and support an LA-based brand. These lilac Valentina Bikini Bottoms and Valentina Bikini Top are perfect for all of your summer trips.
I love love love the quality of Vitamin A's suits. These can truly last a lifetime. We're obsessed with their Yara Wrap One Piece and their string bikini top and bottom set.
One of my all-time favorite suits is from here. Complement your beach style with these trendy bikinis and one pieces. LEan into the color-blocking trend with this bikini top and bottom set and one piece.
Get a luxury experience in one of peony's ultra-chic sets or one pieces. Turn heads in this ruched one piece and this floral bikini top and bottoms.
TBH you've probably heard of Billabong before — but it's for good reason. If you're looking for a quality swimsuit for a good price, Billabong is the place to go. I've been wearing their suits for years now, and they still look good as new. We love this fiery set.
Where will your next summer suit come from? Let us know in the comments!
Stay updated on all of the latest style trends with Brit + Co.
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
Header image courtesy of Billabong.
]]>Adding colour to your wardrobe can change your life.
Seven years ago, I was often the woman in black. A few of my outfits were colourful, and I always felt happy when I wore them. However, as I was not at my ideal weight, I believed I should be wearing a more slimming colour. Of course, by slimming, I meant black.
No one can argue the value of a little black dress or a perfectly tailored black suit. Both go with everything, can be accessorised easily and are appropriate nearly everywhere. Unless your little black dress is seriously well cut or is a style that is on the daring side, wearing black is a great way to blend in. However it is hard for anyone to really step into their potential, to really live their best life, if they are seeking to simply blend in. We need to stop shrinking ourselves physically and metaphysically, and a big step in the right direction is to wear colours that make you feel fabulous.
The irony is that black rarely makes anyone look smaller, not that we should be trying to shrink ourselves in any way. In reality, it can do the opposite, and it does not flatter most skin tones. Adding colour to your wardrobe and wearing colours that work with you can help you look your best and feel fabulous at the same time.
A few years ago, having embarked on a fitness and nutrition program that transformed my body, I found myself with a wardrobe full of things that no longer fit. Shopping excursions to remedy this were frustrating because while so many more clothes actually fit me, I could not find anything I believed suited me nor that I felt excited to wear.
My friend and personal trainer Debbie Wyer recommended I speak to Sarah van Dort. As a stylist, Sarah helps her clients step into their true potential by choosing clothes and accessories in colours and styles that really work for them. I always resisted any kind of colour analysis because I felt it would restrict what I could wear. On the contrary, once Sarah helped me find the colours that suited me best, I had a much broader scope of colours to choose from than I ever believed possible, some of which I had never even considered before.
In addition to my favourite blues, I had an array of light, clear, cool colours to choose from. As Sarah explained, most people can wear every colour, but they can’t wear every shade of every colour. For example, a true red with blue undertones looks fabulous on me, but an orangey red makes me look palid. Depending on the colour of your eyes, skin and hair, the opposite may be true.
Think about your favourite colour for a moment. How do you feel when you see it or are surrounded by it? Most responses include happy, relaxed or energised. If you wear colours you love, chances are it will lift your mood.
I feel much more energised when I wear colourful clothes and I firmly believe it energises those around me as well. If I wake up feeling tired, popping on a brightly coloured dress or blouse, or adding a pop of colour like a handbag, scarf or statement necklace really peps me up. Similarly, if I have a daunting task to undertake or a meeting which I am nervous about, colour always gives me that little extra bit of energy and confidence.
I mean no offence to the iconic Coco Chanel, who introduced her first Little Black Dress in 1926. No one can dispute that a little black dress – or a black garment of any kind – is a safe choice. However the comfort one takes in fitting in is, for me, completely overwhelmed by the soul destroying sameness of a room full of women wearing a variation on exactly the same thing. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never accomplished anything that has made me feel proud or confident in my comfort zone.
While I agree it can be terrifying to be the little red dress in a sea of black at a formal affair or the only mum in a brightly coloured trench coat in a sea of black or beige on the school run, I would argue that colour is a secret weapon when it comes to confidence and adds a real joie de vivre to our days. These days, I look forward to being that bright spot of colour in a sea of neutrals.
Of course, there are occasions when wearing black can make you feel amazing. My black Alexander McQueen trouser suit brings me joy every time I wear it and my classic Burberry trench is practical a well as stylish. However, when I do wear black, I always wear with a colourful blouse and accessories to make my eyes sparkle and my skin glow.
To start with, just choose a bright jacket, blouse, handbag or pair of shoes that makes your heart sing. As you gain confidence, you can continue adding more colour to your wardrobe. Or buy just one dress in a bright colour that makes your eyes sparkle.
Even if you think you know the colours that suit you, talking to a stylist who does colour analysis can be so enlightening. Whether they espouse the seasonal colour system or a tonal colour system, you may find that you have some delightful options you never even considered. Personally, I prefer a tonal analysis as it offers a slightly broader spectrum and I feel like it gives me more options. (I am light, clear, and cool.)
In addition, a stylist can help you discover not only what suits you, but also what you love to wear. While there is a cost involved, I found consulting a stylist actually saved me money as I no longer make expensive mistakes nor do I end up with clothes that I never wear hanging in my wardrobe.
If you choose to go with an outfit in a bright solid colour, choose complimentary accessories so that you can wear it on lots of different occasions, in lots of different ways.
If the outfit has two pieces, for example a blouse and a skirt or trousers and a blazer, remember to wear the pieces separately as well as together. Just because you buy something together does not mean you can only wear it as a set.
Once I started to add more colour to my wardrobe, I found that I felt more confident, even in stressful situations. I started to expand my horizons more, networking in real life as well as just online to promote my writing and my website. Seeking out new experiences came more easily, as I searched for occasions to wear the clothes that made me feel good.
I discovered that I like it when people notice me, and embraced my dramatic style personality, something I had been keeping under wraps for years. It was, and still is, incredibly freeing.
Adding colour to your wardrobe is invigorating, enlightening and may even give you more confidence. As for me, I am proof positive that it can even change your life.
The post Adding Colour to Your Wardrobe appeared first on April J Harris.
]]>An extramarital affair caught on camera in Chengdu has morphed online, with people turning their attention to what would seem a minor detail in the whole situation - the mistress' dress.
On Jun 8, a video began circulating on social media featuring Hu Jiyong, the executive director of Huanqiu Contracting and Engineering Co Ltd, hand-in-hand with a young woman at the Taikoo Li shopping center in Chengdu. Hu, who also holds the position of Party secretary in the company, is seen wearing a pink polo shirt that complements his mistress' stylish summer dress.
Fashion-savvy netizens' desire to get a hold of the colorful dress, eventually led hopeful buyers to the dress' maker. 800 units of the dress sold on the day the scandal broke, with an additional 4,000 sold overnight. Weibo, the popular microblogging site, was abuzz with relevant hashtags, including one that read "sales soar for the dress worn by the woman hand-in-hand with Hu Jiyong," which amassed an astounding 300 million views.
On China's live-streaming platforms, presenters can be seen showcasing copies of the pink dress, announcing: "Attention, everyone! While other stores are selling this dress for RMB 500, our store offers it for under RMB 100. You can acquire this stunning pink dress, just like the one pictured, to flaunt your slender waist."
A quick search using keywords such as Taikooli, or "handholding gate" (as the scandal has been dubbed) delivers countless instances of a pink dress gracing your screen. The prices of this popular garment vary, ranging from a mere few dozen RMB to RMB 200. The dress can also be found in multiple Taobao shops, featuring hashtags that highlight its SIBLEU French niche design and Chinese silk floral pattern.
Numerous retailers are capitalizing on this viral sensation, boasting the exceptional quality of this popular pink dress crafted from premium chiffon fabric. Savvy online shops have even utilized hashtags like SecretToWealth and ReachingThePeakOfLife to entice fashion-forward customers to add this must-have piece to their wardrobe.
The SIBLEU boutique has long been a hidden gem in the fashion world, operated by two individuals born in the '90s. These young entrepreneurs had always dreamed of running their own business, and about six years ago, they turned their vision into reality by launching SIBLEU, a brand focused on original designs.
The initial online post drove the store into the media spotlight, leading to a dramatic surge in orders for their pink dress. Initially, the duo were unaware of the reason behind this sudden popularity, until a message from a fan revealed that their dress had become a trending sensation on the internet due to its association with a scandal.
Confronting the immense influx of online attention made everyone rather anxious. The duo disclosed on their Weibo account that, on one hand, the unexpected traffic presented unparalleled opportunities to boost their store's sales. However, on the other hand, they grappled with the weight of public opinion, which left them feeling overwhelmed.
It appears that bloggers who have purchased the same dress are using it to gain online popularity, leaving the designers disheartened. They are disappointed to see their labor of love, a dress they poured their heart and soul into, being used as a mere prop for getting likes by these bloggers. The store owner expressed their thoughts on social media, asking, "Do the customers who visit our store genuinely appreciate our dresses, or are they merely drawn in by the online trend?"
It seems that in today’s world, as soon as a product gains popularity, many determined individuals rush to place an order, hoping to keep up with the latest trend. However, it's not unusual for a significant portion of these individuals to reconsider their purchases and cancel their orders before delivery.
The owners disclosed to Guanchazhe.com that the pink dress, which initially experienced an impressive sales volume of 4,000 units, ultimately witnessed 3,000 of those purchases being returned.
Some have remarked, "It's common knowledge that those who purchased the mistress dress are primarily doing so for photo opportunities, as no one would realistically buy such a flamboyant dress to wear out in public."
Others have observed that, although the dress appears stunning, they often face the issue of not being able to fit into it after purchase. One individual shared, "This has happened to me multiple times before. Whenever I see a dress that looks amazing on a model, I can't resist placing an order, only to end up returning it because I simply cannot wear it."
Some have expressed sympathy for the owners' dilemma, remarking: "It appears that the owner is facing a difficult situation, as they witness a surge in orders only to be met with numerous returns and subsequent refunds."
Still, others conveyed that this situation is a poignant commentary on society and highlights the pitfalls of the influencer economy. "It's interesting to think that when we were younger, we aspired to be scientists or doctors, yet now everyone wants to achieve internet fame."
READ: Subway Aims to Open 4000 New Locations in China
Images: Red, Irene Li
Stay-at-home moms can effortlessly maintain their style and fashion sense without compromising their responsibilities. As the summer season unfolds, it presents a prime opportunity for moms to wholeheartedly embrace fashionable and comfortable choices that truly embody their unique personal style. Being comfortable yet stylish is key when managing daily tasks and taking care of little ones.
Whether you’re running errands, attending playdates, or enjoying some quality time with your little ones, today’s fashion trends will not only elevate your style but also keep you cool and comfortable during the sunny days ahead.
You may also consider commemorating this exciting new chapter of motherhood with a tattoo and flaunting it by the pool or at the beach during these warmer months. However, it is essential to bear in mind that it takes 2-3 weeks for a tattoo to heal and necessitate proper care. Let’s embark on a journey through summer fashion trends just for moms that will undeniably emanate elegance and confidence:
For summer fashion, few garments offer the same level of versatility and graceful charm as flowing maxi dresses. These elongated and relaxed dresses not only provide comfort, but also enable unrestricted movement throughout the day. To beat the summer heat, choose breathable fabrics such as cotton or linen to stay cool and comfortable.
Maxi dresses come in an array of patterns and styles, ensuring you can discover the ideal match for your body type and individual preferences. Whether it’s floral prints, tropical motifs, or vibrant geometric patterns, incorporating these elements can infuse a hint of playfulness and femininity into your ensemble. Accessorize with a wide-brimmed hat, oversized sunglasses, and comfortable sandals to complete your summer ensemble.
Stay-at-home moms often find themselves juggling numerous responsibilities, making comfort a top priority. However, comfort doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style. Athleisure wear has become increasingly popular, offering a perfect blend of fashion and functionality.
Invest in stylish activewear sets that are both comfortable and fashionable. High-waisted leggings paired with a cropped tank or a breezy t-shirt can create a chic and sporty look. Opt for fabrics with moisture-wicking properties to keep you cool and dry during summer workouts or outdoor activities.
To elevate your athleisure style, add some trendy accessories such as a crossbody bag, chunky sneakers, or a statement necklace. The versatility of athleisure allows you to effortlessly transition from running errands to engaging in physical activities without compromising style.
Embrace the sun-drenched summer season by exploring a delightful array of vivid prints and hues that capture the carefree and exuberant essence. Feel empowered to step beyond your usual preferences and welcome striking motifs like tropical prints, stripes, or abstract patterns into your wardrobe, unveiling a bolder and more adventurous style.
Incorporate vibrant colors into your outfits to brighten up your summer days. Opt for shades like coral, turquoise, yellow, or tropical hues to create a lively and refreshing look. Mix and match different patterns and colors to express your individual style and create unique combinations.
Remember to keep the rest of your outfit simple when incorporating bold prints or colors. Pair a vibrant top with neutral bottoms or vice versa to create a balanced and eye-catching ensemble. Accessorize with minimalistic jewelry and a pair of comfortable yet stylish shoes to complete your summer look.
To maintain your fashionable and self-assured look as a stay-at-home mom, it’s essential to blend comfort and style seamlessly. By embracing these latest summer fashion trends and seamlessly integrating them into your attire, you can effortlessly achieve the ideal equilibrium while caring for your little ones. From flowy maxi dresses to stylish athleisure wear to vibrant prints and colors, these trends will keep you looking chic and feeling comfortable throughout the summer season. Embrace your style, have fun experimenting, and make the most of this summer with fashionable choices that reflect your vibrant personality.
The post Summer Fashion Trends for Stay-At-Home Moms appeared first on The Fashionable Housewife.
]]>Results from the yearly World Happiness Report often show that Denmark, Sweden and Norway are considered the happiest places to live, with the residents of Scandinavian countries reporting that they feel content and happy more often than UK folks.
Many factors are considered important to personal wellbeing within Scandi countries, including creating relaxing interiors, which is what I’m going to focus on today.
Additionally, these elements below are reported as being key to achieving the kind of happiness levels that our Nordic neighbours enjoy:
As you can see, many of these wellbeing factors relate to work but it’s also their surroundings that bring a feeling of contentment to Scandinavians. And that’s probably because they understand the importance of creating a peaceful home that they can relax in when they’re not working.
Consider the Danish concept of hygge, that cosy, nesting-at-home feeling; comfort, warmth, security. So, it’s no wonder that Nordic homes are seen as a place to retreat and relax and homeowners do everything they can to create that safe feeling.
Firstly, and most easily, you can create a space that’s tidy, clean and clutter-free. Having fewer belongings on display will help you to feel more peaceful, as you’re not thinking about all the tasks you have to do.
So, start by decluttering your belongings. If you’ve got papers lying around, go through them and shred or recycle anything you don’t need. Clothing can easily be minimised too – simply donate anything you don’t regularly wear to charity. An easy rule is that if you haven’t worn it for over a year, it’s probably safe to give away.
Then, all you need to do is safely store away anything else that remains in order to create neat rooms that you want to spend your time in. If surfaces are clear of piles of paper or junk, you won’t feel the urge to tidy up and can therefore fully relax.
Scandinavian homes often reflect minimalist design ideas, with clean lines and few items on display. You can easily achieve Nordic design by choosing Danish furniture from modern manufacturers like NovaSolo or, if your budget can stretch to it, choosing original mid-century pieces from furniture designers like Finn Juhl.
Clever storage pieces are essential to creating that clean and tidy look that’ll help you to feel content in your home. If you can stow the majority of your items away, the space will feel bigger and much less overwhelming. When your clothing can easily fit into your wardrobe and drawers without spilling out, your bedroom will feel more like a hotel room for you to rest in.
Choosing neutral tones for your decor will also help you to achieve a peaceful, Scandi-style interior. Cool greys and classic white are seen throughout Nordic homes, along with colours from nature such as delicate cloud-blue, sandy tones and deep fern-green.
Your furniture should include natural textures such as wood-grain finishes and woven rattan. The simple, clean lines of the furniture can be softened with squishy cushions, knitted blankets and wool rugs in order to bring that hygge-lie nesting feeling into the room.
I hope these ideas for Scandifying your interior will help you to feel more relaxed and boost your wellbeing at home. Let me know your own ideas for incorporating Nordic design into your home in the comments below, I’d love to hear how you’ve refreshed your decor to create a cosy and peaceful space.
This article is sponsored collaboration. The pink links in the content indicate a sponsored link or information source. The blog post reflects my own experience and the sponsor hasn’t had any control over my content
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