Special Occasion Dresses

Special Occasion Dresses for Women

Special Occasion Dresses for Weddings
Singles, attention please! Struck with the question when will I get married? Maybe you can make a good catch at your best friend’s wedding! Wedding ceremonies are the time when you meet the best men (pun intended). So here’s your chance to make hay while the sun shines. If you are the bridesmaid, request the bride to select outfits that will flatter your bodies. If it’s a summer wedding, go for light, diaphanous and floral fabrics. Team them up with plain pumps or simple heels. A dress worn at the wedding has to be subtle and not striking. A soft fabrics accentuate the tenderness and will make you look fabulous.

Special Occasion Dresses for Cocktails
A little black dress usually suffices the dress code of a cocktail party. But if you want to experiment, there are a lot of varieties you can try. Most of the cocktail dresses are plain and stitched in the most simplest form. While buy cocktail dresses, keep in mind that they compliment your figure. With the plain dresses, you can accessorize by adding a touch of jewelry such as pearls, diamonds, gold and silver.

Special Occasion Dresses for Parties
Parties too count as special occasions. Special occasion dresses for girls for night outs or showers range from casual denims, to floral dresses, formal dresses, skirts and long tunics. If you are attending a costume party, needless to say, you need to dress up as the dress code suggests. For a night out, wear something that you are comfortable in. Skirts get a little difficult once you are two drinks down. If you can wear a skin-showing dress with equal panache, then simply go ahead. Corset dress, off shoulder dress, jacket dresses or a sheath dress, the choice is yours as long as you can carry it with confidence. Wearing a pair of denims with a figure flattering top is the best option. When showers are in question, normal dress will fit the occasion.

Clothing in Elizabethan Era

Clothing in the Elizabethan Era:
This was another such highly fashion conscious era and it was also all about elaborate and stylized clothing. The dresses that women wore in the Elizabethan Era were definitely not made of one single garment as is seen now-a-days. In fact, the many garments worn altogether were called a dress.

As mentioned before, fashion at the beginning of the Elizabethan Era was a modest affair and ladies that belonged to the upper class wore a fitted bodice that helped to accentuate the small waist. A ruffled yoke was also a characteristic of women who belonged to the upper class.

Clothing in the Elizabethan Era also saw an influence of geometric shapes. Here, it was not about maintaining or showcasing the natural body structure. Methods such as padding and quilting were used to stiffen the fabric so that it could retain the shape with an emphasis on the shoulder and the hip area. Basically, the main motive behind this kind of concept in clothing was utilized to give an impression of a small waist. This does not mean only women desired to have small waists, men also made use of certain types of clothing such as the girdles to give a really thin look to the body.

The people who belonged to the higher strata of society also wore clothing that was heavily ornamented with brocades; heavy cut velvets, lace and even gold and silver embroidery. Apart from buttons, cords or ribbons were also used to fasten the clothing. Generally, clothing in the Elizabethan Era saw people indulging in gold and silver buttons that were even set with gemstones.

Snoods also gained popularity during the Elizabethan era. This was a kind of a headdress, which saw different versions along the way and also saw resurgence in the fashion circuit in the past few years.

One would also need to note that the Elizabethan Era was one such period, which saw a proper division of class. The Sumptuary Laws were passed that stated the kind of clothing one would have to wear. These laws were passed by Queen Elizabeth and were also known as Statutes of Apparel. It was basically done to clearly demarcate the social structure existing in the Elizabethan Era. The Queen herself and only her relations were allowed to wear clothing that used gold or gold tissue as an embellishment.

The upper class also used a wide variety of fabrics. Elizabethan clothing saw the use of velvets, silks, furs and even taffeta. These exotic materials were imported from different areas from all over the world. A somewhat strange factor for women in that era was also that women often emulated the fashion styles of men. The frilled collar was short as far as men were concerned and long and feminine for women.

Another strange factor was the slashing of the clothes. Clothing in the Elizabethan Era was even slashed to reveal the garments worn below; this was also done to showcase the contrasting colors.

Doublets were worn by men as well as by women. This laid an emphasis on the shoulder and the hip area.

Robes in bright colors were very much sought after in the Elizabethan Era. Such bright colors were also expensive to purchase. For example, one can take a look at one of the earlier portraits of Queen Elizabeth, which would show her in a deep crimson robe. This deep red color was actually obtained from an insect, which was found only in the Mediterranean. Therefore such dyes were expensive to purchase.

People who belonged to the lower strata of society wore clothing made from materials like wool, sheepskin and even linen. People who belonged to this category were not allowed to wear materials in silk or even have velvet trimmings.

Roman Clothing

The Roman architecture was not the only thing that mesmerized me since college days. The ancient Roman clothing was also an interesting subject to read about and it was great fun visualizing about the kinds of clothing worn in ancient Rome. Such is my love for ancient Roman clothing and fashion ideas that I always do have a pair of Roman sandals styled in different ways, which are stashed away inside my shoe rack! The Romans were known to have always used several types of fibers for creating the Roman clothes. This included wool, linen, hemp and certain researches have even revealed that cotton was also used by the Romans. The ancient Roman clothing was well structured and also flowing as well. If the ancient Roman clothing has always fascinated you then you can take a trip back into the days of the ancient Romans by reading about the different types of ancient Roman clothing mentioned below.

Ancient Roman Clothing:

Toga:
The toga was the standard dress for all Romans. This was a long sash like garment, which is about 6 meters in length. The toga was wrapped around the body and was made of wool. This kind of ancient Roman clothing found its base in the formal dress robe that was used by the Etruscans. The classic toga was always worn over a tunic. The early days saw the toga being used for regular purpose but as time passed this ancient Roman garment was used only for ceremonies; perhaps it was considered to be too cumbersome to adorn for the men. Therefore, the toga soon became a representation of Roman citizenship. The toga soon found itself being adorned by the magistrates. Amongst Roman clothes, the toga was also considered to be a symbol of peace. The togas were also seen in many varieties such as the Toga Virilis (plain and white in color), Toga Candida (bright toga) and the Toga Praetexta (white toga with a purple stripe).

Stola:
The stola was only worn by the women in ancient Rome. The stola was created on similar lines of the toga. The toga was almost like a large blanket wrapped around the body and the stola was rectangular in shape. When draped around the body, it formed as a long garment that reached the ground. The stola also included pleats for the garment and was also worn over a tunic.

Tunics/Tunica:
The Romans also wore garments that were known as the tunics or the tunica which were around knee length. These were long and resembled the Tee shirts because they were loose and comfortable and also made generally of linen. The unmarried women also wore the tunica but it was styled differently. The stola was draped over the tunica. Women also had to cover their head in the ancient days as per the customs and traditions. Little boys in Rome also wore tunics, which went all the way down to their knees. These were often styled in white color and with a crimson border.

Cloaks:
One can see that the Romans also used a variety of cloaks that formed an important part of their attire. Cloaks such as the palla (worn over the tunic or the toga), the panenula (simple cloak), the laena (double coat) and the lacerna (military cloak) were some of the varieties that were used by the Romans.

Colors often dictated the social status of the people in Rome. The Romans were quite particular about their dressing which included accessorizing and even styling their hair. Women in particular loved to wear ornate necklaces, bracelets with the Roman clothing. Men wore a personalized signet ring, as other forms of jewelry were considered not really suitable for men. Hairstyles were also elaborate and the use of false hair can be seen since the ancient days. This was done to increase the thickness of the hair. Apart from the ancient Roman clothing, the footwear also denoted the status of the person in the society. One of the typical patterns of the Roman sandals that are used even today is the tie up fashion. In ancient Rome, such a sandal had a leather sole and the lace was used to wind around the legs. The thickness of the sandals always indicated the quality of the shoes. The various strata of society wore various types of Roman sandals.

German Clothing

Traditional German Clothing:

Dirndl:
A dirndl is a traditional dress, which was worn in the Southern area of Germany. Originally, the dirndl is a simplified version of the folk costume. The dirndl was actually the uniform of the Austrian servants. This was during the 19th century. In the ancient days, every village even had its own particular style of this dress.

The dirndl comprises of many garments that makes up the entire outfit. This has a bodice, which is worn with a blouse, a full skirt and even an apron. The ancient days saw many simplistic designs of the dirndl. Today, one can come across many expensive versions of the same. This traditional German outfit was styled into a heavier design for the winter days. In such cases, materials such as thick cotton or even wool were used for the skirts or even the aprons.

The dirndl is worn today only for traditional events. In the earlier days, the dirndl was often in softer colors as compared to the brightly colored outfits one may see today. The designs available today are also modified to suit the modern trends. A knot on the apron of the dirndl is considered to be a symbol to indicate that the woman is married.

Lederhosen:
The lederhosen mean leather trousers in German. These are knee breeches and were worn by the Germanic men of the Alpine areas and the surrounding locales as well. The lederhosen are made of leather. This traditional style of German clothing was also worn by young German boys till the age of 16. As compared to the traditional Bavarian garment, the lederhosen were less decorated in these cases. It always had features such as the suspenders and the front flaps. The lederhosen were worn in the mountains of South Germany and were preferred by riders or hunters.

Tracht:
Traditional German clothing cannot be complete without the mention of tracht. The style of the traditional tracht has even resulted in the creation of the Landhausmode. Landhausmode sees its influences from the costumes that were worn by the farmers and the peasants. For this outfit, there is major use of linen and loden material.

Gamsbart:
The Gamsbart is also a part of traditional German clothing. The Gamsbart is actually a tuft of hair that is used as a form of a decorative element. This is worn on the trachten hats. Here, the lower end of the hair is set into metal and the upper portion tufts out like a brush. As per the old traditions, these were placed only on hats. Even today, the Gamsbart is used as a part of clothing and is infused in female clothing as well.

Jamaican Clothing

Jamaican clothes for women:

The basic trend of long skirts and scarves seen in many other cultures around the world is also seen Jamaica. The women wear traditional Jamaican clothes which are most of the time hand made. They wear a skirt, a blouse and a head scarf that is made out of Calico. Calico is a sort of cotton cloth locally made and marketed. The scarf is draped in a particular way. The piece of material is folded in half and tied around the head and then tucked, to prevent it from slipping off. The women dress in very colorful clothes. The blouses are usually short sleeved because of the weather.

Jamaican clothes for men:

Jamaican men wear trousers and shirts, just like men in other parts of the world. However, the fabric used for the attire is different. The fabrics sported by men are as colorful as those flaunted by the women and children. They love designs with flowers, loud colors flaunting sailing boats and swaying coconut palms and the sun and sea. The men wear short or long trousers and even knee length ones. There is little or no difference in the formal and informal clothing and again the reason is the weather.

Jamaican clothes for children:

Jamaican children look as colorful as the men and women. They are dressed most of the time in flimsy attire to beat the heat. The little boys wear banyan like or short sleeved shirts or t-shirts and short pants. They are seen sporting bandanas whenever the heat becomes unbearable. The little girls wear short dresses or shorts and t-shirts and are as flamboyant as the boys. Both, the girls and the boys, sport short hair.

Jamaican footwear:

The footwear of the men, women and children is open and more sandal-like. Their dress sense greatly compliments their laid back life styles and affinity to nature. The Jamaican footwear is usually flat, but young girls can be seen flaunting high heeled block shoes. Older women wear moccasin like footwear that are slip-ons and the men wear open slippers like those observed in the Orient.

Jamaican fashion:

Just like the fashion trends are changing the world over, so are the fabrics and patterns in Jamaica. The younger generation prefers sober colors and combinations. The older people opt for loud and dark clothing. The fashion trends are changing rapidly in Jamaica and today, there are a number of dedicated designers who are catering to the shift in personal preferences and the influence of the tourists.

Jamaica is a land close to nature’s heart and the people are just as accommodating as Mother Nature! Tourism and the resultant shift in the way of life of the locals are largely affecting Jamaican fashion. The clothes, the calypso and the rum – all scream quality of life and hospitality at its best

Russian Clothing

Russian clothing features:

Russia is a vast nation and hence, the kind of clothing that one would notice in the dedicated stores of Moscow would naturally be quite different to that found in Siberia. Leather is a fetish in Russia. Lined with fur, the look has become synonymous with Russian clothing. In general, traditional Russian men like to flaunt leather a lot. In fact, till today, no matter what the time of the year is, a leather jacket is a cool thing to have! Russian women wear dresses or long skirts and blouses and love to flaunt high heels.

Color preferences in Russian clothing:

There is a distinct difference in the color and theme preference of the Russian men and women; while the men do not usually like flaunting bright colors in clothing, the women do. The men prefer sober, earthy tones and prefer to keep the look ‘calm’. Many Russians find black and white being very elegant. They pick dark colors mainly due to the amount of dust and mud around and this is a practical choice that runs down the generations. The Russians wear different colors on occasions too; however the colors they choose seem to tell of their lifestyle! There is no hiding the fact that the Russians work very hard and their down-to-earth demeanor is seen in their clothing too.

The colors often seen on Russian men and women tell of their occupation and lifestyle. The colors are from a different scale. The rest of the world is used to people wearing blue, red, yellow and even pink. However, when it comes to shocking and deep shades, only the Russians know how to flaunt them. And the beauty of these people lies in the fact that the shades of colors look different on them and even more natural! The normal fabrics they choose are also to compliment the climatic conditions. They use a lot of wool and linen and in the Russian ‘killer’ winter, furs are a reasonably natural choice.

Moscow fashion:

The fashion trends followed in the capital city of Moscow are quite close to those observed in Europe or New York. The winter clothing differs a bit, since the Russian winters are definitely a challenge. Russian fashion is distinctively different. There are a number of authentic and dedicated online and offline resources that make designer Russian clothing available. In fact, the easiest way to learn more about Russian clothing and purchase authentic apparel is just a click away! Most of the apparel found in other parts of the world, claiming to be Russian, is usually decorated with traditional Russian motifs.

Traditional Russian clothing:

There are a variety of styles to pick from in the way of Russian clothing. The Russian woman’s head-dress is called the kokoshnik. In the western world there are replicas of the original head gear available in an array of fine prints and colors. The fine linen rubashka or the shirts that Russian men wear can also be found at a number of dedicated department stores. The sarafan or the traditional dress of the Russian women is available at a number of outlets, with exclusive embroidery in brocade and silk. And last, but not the least, there is the special and most beautiful Russian shawl. There are tow famous varieties of Russian shawls – the Orenburg goat down shawls and the Pavlovo Posad (100% woolen) shawls.

Symbolism of Russian clothing:

Russian clothing is a show of the traditional folk art and the spirit of the culture of Russia. Traditional Russian clothing is designed to highlight the inner dignity and emotional restraint of every woman. The traditional Russian costumes are not only beautiful, but also very convenient, being specially created for work. The variety of colors used in the traditional costumes display ethnic diversity and it is interesting to note that the Russian word for “beautiful” comes from “krasny”, which is Russian for “red

Western Clothing

Western Clothing: When Style is all that Matters
In the olden days, cowboys wore long-sleeved shirts with jeans and hats. These were a far cry from the sophisticated versions we see today. The basic boots and buckled belts soon became a fashion statement and designer houses incorporated this as a new trend and worked to make this look more accepted amongst the fashion conscious crowd! Brands such as Wrangler soon became synonymous with this type of western wear due to the very stylish blue denim jeans.

The basic western shirt is very much needed to create the cowboy look. These shirts can be plain in pastel shades or with checks. The shirts should be long-sleeved. Snap buttons and a piping that goes across the chest are some of the characteristics of such clothing.

Blue jeans are the next must-have items for the perfect cowboy look. Snug fits with straight cuts or bootlegs are quite a favorite. Although an actual cowboy would prefer something that is comfortable, the fashionable lot would beg to differ! Jeans look complete only when worn with buckled belts. These buckles are often large and made in silver or brass material.

Leather clothing is required to complete the western look. Long leather jackets matched with gloves are an absolute must to obtain the cowboy style! And how can one forget the boots! The authentic cowboy boots may need you to get accustomed to the fit. These have sharp toes and heels and are suitable for riding. Black and brown boots are considered to be really haute.

No cowboy can ever be complete without a hat! A wide brimmed straw hat for the summers and a felt fur hat for the winters help to complete the look!

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Category Archives: Western Clothing