Archives for February 2022

Purses, clutches, and totes galore. Not only do they contain all the essentials one needs for the day, but handbags can truly make or break an outfit. How then, do you pair your handbag with your outfit? Although experimenting with different colors, textures, and combinations can be fun, there are several foolproof ways to cultivate your sense of style. Here are some tips and tricks you can consider adding to your fashion arsenal, no matter the season.

What’s The Occasion?

Believe it or not, handbags are a major fashion statement, with consumers largely driven by social media influence. Statistics have purported that the women’s handbags industry is expected to generate revenue of US$62,036m in 2022, with an annual growth of 5.35%.

You’ve received a handbag from a luxury brand like Bottega Veneta — what now? How do you pair it with your outfit on a dinner date or a night out with the girls? There are several ways to avoid badly-coordinated looks, which can be a huge no-no, especially if you want to leave a lasting impression.

First and foremost, the occasion should be the most important consideration. Where are you going? What will you be doing? Dress for the occasion; it dictates your outfits down to the last detail. Matching your handbag with your outfits without coming off as tacky or old-fashioned (think a top, a pair of heels, and a bag in the same shade of red) may take practice, but it can certainly be done.

Be it a wedding, business seminar, or fitness class, you need a different handbag that suits the occasion. Size is one factor you can easily turn to. On one hand, smaller bags like a crossbody or a wristlet are versatile, particularly fitting on days when you do not need much aside from your wallet and phone. Mini bags can add value to a sophisticated look for special occasions, no matter how formal.

On the other hand, large bags create a look that’s a little more laid-back and easygoing. They are handy and functional, enabling you to run errands or attend lectures without breaking a sweat. From a laptop to gym clothes, there’s nothing you cannot stuff into a large tote bag or backpack.

However, there is no specific rule of thumb. Here are several outfit-and-bag pairings that work according to the occasion. If you’re at the beach, pair a breezy summer dress and sandals with a clean over-the-shoulder bag. If you’re strutting your stuff in a powerful tailored pantsuit in the office, stray away from boring briefcases and go with a structured satchel bag. If you’re painting the town red on a formal night out, an embellished clutch or wristlet will pair fabulously with heels and a cocktail dress. Struggling to find something stylish in the wintertime? A small suede crossbody will balance out bulky jackets and layers, adding an extra dimension to your look.

Just remember that elegant handbags do not go well with ultra-casual outfits like athleisure and baggy graphic tees, and vice versa. Finding the right balance is key.

Go Get That Bag

Speaking of balance, does that sound like too many handbags for you? Well, in 2013, the typical woman in the US owned an average of 11 handbags, and we can expect that number to have risen ever since. However, you don’t have to own a hundred different handbags; having a few signature pieces that can go well with a wide range of outfits is more important.

When it comes to colors, be sure to choose colors with contrasting (yet complementary) or slightly different hues. For example, don’t carry a bag in the exact same shade of fire-engine red as your dress. But if you do want to rock a monochrome look, go for a bag in a darker or lighter shade. Strive to be matching, not clashing.

Your clothes should ideally be of a different material as your bag. Prints and patterns should also be mixed up, especially if you are looking to make a statement. Just be sure to strike a balance without going over the top. Textures are lovely, but an overload of leopard prints can easily become an eyesore. Also, pay attention to the hardware, like metallic details. Gold hardware should ideally be paired with gold accessories, silver with silver, and so on.

Lastly, carrying the right bag for your body shape can do wonders. Some bags will help you accentuate or take the attention away from your curves, depending on personal preference. Those with a petite figure should stay away from overly large bags that can swallow you up, while ladies with curves can opt for a slim, elongated bag if you prefer a slimmer silhouette.

In the words of French fashion designer Sonia Rykiel, “with only one bag, you can change your outfit completely”. With all these tips in mind, go forth and make the magic happen.

When it comes to creative writing, you can’t just wing it. You either have a knack for the art or you don’t. As you may expect, there’s more to creative writing than telling a good story. Between the pace, style, word choice, and ability to get the reader hooked, you have to keep your audience front and center at all times. If you let them slip away, they’ll stop turning the pages and just move on to something else.

On top of that, your writing should be grammatically sound and error-free. The last thing you’d want to do is send out a short story, novella, or novel replete with grammatical mistakes or spelling errors. Luckily, you can straighten out your narration and get rid of any grammatical errors by running it through https://prowritingaid.com/grammar-checker. This nifty online tool analyzes manuscripts thousands of words long quickly and efficiently. So now you can focus on getting better at your writing and delivering clean copy every time.

Lots of Reading and Developing Your Voice

One thing that all successful writers have in common is that they each have their own unique voice. Once you have read a few books by Stephen King, you can recognize that prolific writer’s writing even if you haven’t looked at the front cover. That’s what successful writers spend years developing. To find your voice, you’ll need to do a lot of writing. Naturally, not all of this writing will be great. Some of it will be amazing, but the majority will be awful. That’s only normal. When you tap into your creative energies, sometimes your hands come away empty and your writing is flat and uninspired. Don’t panic. It will get better with practice and time.

And if you’re wondering how you can develop your voice and make sure that your creative juices flow every time you sit down to write, the answer is simple: you need to read. In the early part of your journey as a creative writer, you need to read more than you write. If you write two hours a day, then your reading time should be three times that. The more you read, the better a writer you’ll become. And you don’t have to limit your reading to the niche you write in. If you’re a thriller writer, you will need to read romance, horror, biographies, memoirs, mysteries, and even graphic novels. Your reading appetite should be large enough to devour every style, genre, and writing category out there.

The process of reading for you as a creative writer is different from the way a regular reader consumes a book. Your reading is more analytical. You’re paying attention to how the writer is putting their thoughts into words, and whether there is a better way to phrase that sentiment in fewer words. In other words, your reading is critical reading. You’re evaluating the piece of writing in your hands and admiring, criticizing, and grading the writer all at once.

Knowing Your Audience

Despite what many writers and idealists might think, writing is, at its heart, a business. You can have as many lofty and pure goals as you like, but if you want to be successful in your endeavors as a creative writer, then you have to think of it as a business. And by being successful, I mean commercial success where your writing pays your bills.

Stephen King once said that if you turn in a piece of writing you wrote and you get a check in return, then you’re a professional writer. That’s the sole criteria. But it’s not always easy to write something that sells. What makes it difficult is that most beginner writers usually write for themselves without considering the audience they’re writing for. In the end, it’s those readers who pay to read your books. So you have to understand their interests. A successful writer always has the reader in the back of their mind. When your writing takes you down a rabbit hole, try to get out of there quickly.

Creative writing doesn’t follow a straight route, even if you know how the narration will end. It deviates and takes detours. It gets sidetracked, then it doubles back to the main path and powers ahead. As a creative writer, you don’t have much power over your characters. After a while, they become sentient beings who do as they please. Your task is to try to coax them toward the end line. When they dig a deep hole and refuse to get out of it, you need to take a break from writing and come back later. Hopefully, by then, you’ll find a way out for your story and bring it home safely.

It’s not easy to be a creative writer. Unlike non-fiction writers, your writing comes from the inside. You still research your topics, but you mainly write from your heart. Your background, education, and life experience all play a role in giving you a unique voice and distinct style. Reading as much as you can means that you become a melting pot where all styles and writing genres mix. Then you distill all those different influences and use them to build yourself as a writer.

When you have developed your voice, you can become selective in your reading choices. As long as you keep writing regularly and steadily, your writing will improve and you will be on top of your game and achieve the success you deserve.

As the winter comes to a close and spring comes knocking, we all can’t wait to feel the warm rays of the sun on our skin once again. Sunny days have their magical appeal on the way we look and dress. When the sun hits your hair right, you practically glow and even the simplest attire makes you look glamorous.

But it’s not always so easy. With so many clothes choices in your wardrobe this summer, you might practically spend long hours looking for the best outfit and accessories for the day. Much like Hawaiian leis with their captivating charm and effusive joy, your summer attire should also bring out the best in you. This summer is all about comfort, simple lines, and daring cuts that make a bold statement while making you look more chic and elegant than ever. And one of the best items of summer clothes that fit this bill is the romper.

A Romper vs. a Jumper vs. a Jumpsuit

A romper is a comfortable summer dress where the top and bottom pieces are stitched together to make one piece. It’s different from both a jumper and a jumpsuit in many ways. For starters, a jumper is a sleeveless dress that comes in one piece and is often worn on top of a blouse, a shirt, or a T-shirt. Since the top and bottom are attached, the jumper often has suspenders at the front which give it a certain elegance as a summer dress.

A jumpsuit on the other hand is also a one-piece unit where the shirt or blouse and pants are sewn together. The trousers come in different cuts to suit every figure and body size. If you have a pear-shaped body, then wide legs are an excellent choice. Wear them with high heels to show off your best points. You can also choose a jumpsuit where the top has different patterns from the bottom but they both compliment each other.

And finally, we have the romper. It’s also a one-piece made out of two pieces. But unlike the jumpsuit or jumper, it’s much looser, less formal, and more comfortable. Moreover, it consists of a blouse or shirt at the top and a bottom made of bloomer pants or shorts. Nothing says casual attire on a bright summer day like the romper.

Besides their comfort and casual appeal, rompers are quite easy to mix and match with other clothing items. From denim jackets and cardigans to beachwear, casual mornings, and loungewear, your romper will be a staple of your summer wear this year.

How to Wear a Romper

Before you start shopping for rompers, you need to know which one best suits your body shape and size. Because of their daring cuts, a romper can end up being more revealing than you had anticipated. If you have a long torso or legs, then an extended romper is the best one for you. It doesn’t have a high crotch and will keep you comfortable and confident throughout the day. For smaller bodies, you can pick a petite romper that hugs your hips and reaches the middle of your thighs.

I mentioned that rompers can have patterns and those patterns can be different on the top from those on the bottom. Wearing patterned rompers can be a little tricky especially if you wear them on the wrong occasion. These rompers are more suited to festivals, casual excursions, and brunches with close friends. They don’t require accessories and are by themselves cheerful enough to spend a good summer morning out and about.

Rompers also come with long pants. Admittedly, these long-legged rompers are not for every woman or work for every event. They tend to have a bohemian look and give you a carefree yet assertive and confident look. You’ll have to feel comfortable wearing them to get the best look you’re going for. You can try out the rompers with tapered legs for more formal events. They have an upscale appeal that makes them a good replacement for soiree dresses or even evening gowns.

Rompers and high heels go together. In fact, it seems that the original designs of the rompers had high heels in mind. Even the recent incarnations of the romper, especially those with long and tapered legs, are specifically tailored for high heel sandals. So much so that, you can spend the whole day in a patterned romper then in the evening change into high heels and that’s all you need to start a fun night out in the same romper. That just shows how versatile and multi-purpose those casual summer clothing items can be.

But what if you don’t want to wear high heels with a romper for a brunch or just spend a casual morning in town? Luckily, rompers look just as elegant with sneakers as they do with high heels. Sneakers are casual and comfortable too which is the very essence of what rompers are all about. When you combine those two pieces together, you’re all set to have an enjoyable day with friends wherever you want to go.

Rompers combine elegance and comfort as only a few summer casual outfits can. You can wear them any way you like to have the look that matches the occasion and time of day. And if you want to accent your waist, just wrap a belt around your rompers and strut your stuff with the new sexy chic look.