New Styles of Men’s Shoes with Justin Bieber and Kanye West

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While Emma Watson was chosen as the new face of Burberry and while Gwen Stefani is enjoying the continuous success of her L.A.M.B. line, I diverted my attention to the music scene and while I was bobbing my head to the music of Kanye West’s ” All of the Lights” and although I am not really a rabid Beiber fan, my eyes were so focused on his Beiber shoes that I wasn’t able to realize that I am on the brink of gaping! And to my surprise, aside from the fact that they share the same passion and dedication to music despite the difference of their music genre, there’s one more thing that grips them together, yes! It’s their LOVE for SHOES!

Kanye West Shoes

Kanye West, a celebrated rapper who rose to fame with a lot of single hits in collaboration with other musicians like Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Ludacris, and even Jay-z, among others is obviously the veteran of the two when it comes to the music industry. One thing that a lot of people don’t know about him though is his enormous love of fashion.  He confessed in an interview with Dazed Digital that his love for clothes started ever since he was a young boy. In lieu of his love for his passion, a lot of reviews sighted him as being always seated in the front row during the Fashion Week and as a matter of fact, he designs his own line, named Pastelle, which slowly is penetrating women’s clothing too.

To top it all, he was invited way back in 2009 to design shoes and collaborate with Louis Vuitton, one of the celebrated luxury brands which he accepted without muct gusto! He was recalled stating that the collection was “the voice of generation” and that he designs to inspire people. And true to his words, the collection is definitely so fabulous and hip, suited for the fashionable men of today. He was invited for another fashion collaboration by Louis Vuitton this year and we are hoping for the best.

Justin Bieber Shoes

On the other hand, Justin Bieber is not yet designing his own line but this lad was cited for having a wonderful collection of pop styled and colorful arrays of SUPRA footwear which is so innovative and definitely so up-to-date. If you check on the SUPRA website, Justin is the face that will come up the screen and an array of  styles of Supra shoes were featured with different designs like Vaider, Skytop, Passion, etc. and they are really so cool. As a matter of fact, if you Google Justin Beiber or Supra, they’re always associated with each other. And since Justin Bieber is an influential icon of the modern young boys; no doubt SUPRA is becoming one of the top sellers when it comes to fashionable rubber shoes. And if one day SUPRA footwear will ask him to collaborate with them, boy I am not surprised anymore!

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An Affordable Way to be Fashionably Trendy

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Since fashion trend keeps on changing, the capacity of shoppers somewhat was affected by the recession. Instead of the indulgent shopping that others were used to, there was a huge adjustment. Statistics reported that there was a massive shut of the buyer’s wallets and the usual fashion shoppers would rather spend on food more than clothing.

But don’t feel down folks. Your style and fashion trend will never stop, not even recession can stop you to be stylish! I suggest a movement that we often hear now: FRUGAL FASHION! And the best part of it is that you wouldn’t even spend a penny or if you do, it is so minimal that you wouldn’t feel guilty of spending. Here are the things you might want to try:

1. Raid your old folk’s wardrobe closet. You would be very surprised with what you may find hidden on those closets. Remember, your folks are already in their teens during the retro fashion trend, the hippie era or even the early 90’s and you might find a lot of items that you can reinvent or restyle to make them more modern. I did and I can’t believe that my father has plenty of khaki and gray wool pants that I restyled as my fashionable harem pants and a lot of colleagues were surprised when they learned it was my father’s. You can use your father’s oversized long sleeves into a shirt dress. Or let a dress of your grandmother be converted into skirts or tube dress!

2. Add laces, buttons, man-made rose brooch to your plain shirts. Buy some studs and add some flair to a simple black shirt. Add colorful buttons to your jackets you haven’t worn for months. Reinvent your plain white t-shirts by adding laces and ribbons and you would be surprised how they will turn into beautiful pieces. Many will think that you bought them from shopping centers.

3. Cut, zip, strip! For those flared pants, have them reconstructed to skinny pants. Those high waist jeans of your father’s that he is not using anymore, cut it, use a metal brush to tatter them and convert it in fashionable edgy shorts. Strip the buttons and replace it to a set of new ones.

3. Use your imagination. Recycle by using your grandma’s leather bags and pouches or wear those big vintage earrings. Use your creative mind to turn those finds to be very classical yet up to date. And these will definitely become fun things to wear!

Be trendy without spending a lot. Women’s fashion is really a fun thing to do. In fact, to be fashionable doesn’t mean to say that you have to have new things all the time. Be androgynous and edgy, feel good about yourself and try to make some experiments by mixing and matching it. Add some scarves to those shirt dresses. Use laces or scarves as your headbands. Above all, recession might be harsh but always look on the brighter side of things.

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Androgynous Fashion: Edgy or Cross-dressing?

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Famous Personalities who Popularized Androgynous Fashion

We hear often the terms “avant-garde,” “gender bender,” androgynous,” “edgy,” “trashy-looking” and that it was more sensationalized when the macabre works of the likes of Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, YSL and Givenchy hit the runway and the result was so instant and the impact was overwhelming that it spread instantly worldwide like a viral infection! We have seen the unabashed styles of Leo T. who popularized the androgynous look and then was followed by Grace Jones, immortalized by  Tilda Swinton, Andrej Pejic, Agyness Deyn, Stella Tennant to name a few. Androgynous fashion as a fact is not really new but is fresh nonetheless which makes it more exciting!

Where Androgynous was Derived from

For those who are still raising their eyebrows, androgynous fashion as quoted from Wikipedia was derived from the Greek word “andr“-man, “gyne”-woman and the combination would connote a “sexual lifestyle” which conceptualizes women wearing ties, trousers and men’s oversized t-shirts while men can wear skirts, women’s tops in a milder manner but in the end wouldn’t be perceived as transgendered behavior.

Misconception about Androgyny

It was often times associated with being lesbian or gay, bisexual, homosexual or gender-role transcendence. But when you understand it deeper, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is an issue with the gender, in fact it doesn’t have anything to do with the gender confusions nor personality disorders. Instead, it is a fashion liberation or empowerment to break the monotony of being stereotypical. If you review history and tradition up until now, personally I think Greek men popularized the Grecian one shouldered gowns and even court men during Renaissance, looks to me like they were in colorful balloon skirts with coffee filters in their necks as neck pieces with leggings and dress shoes which undeniably is so feminine.

The Introduction of Androgynous Fashion

It is then said that the “androgynous fashion trend” went full blast on the 21st century when skinny jeans for men were introduced in the market and where tailored suits, bow ties and dress shoes for women emerged all over the fashion shows, famous ads, and even MTVs and were adapted by a lot of celebrities with outmost enthusiasm. One instance that shocked the world  was when then crowned Miss Universe 2007 (Miss Japan’s Riyo Mori) was wearing a tuxedo as a farewell “outfit” and how Rihanna went to an awards night in a sexy tights and a puffy sleeved masculine tuxedo or how Korn’s vocalist was wearing a skirt in their music video “Blind”.

It is a celebrated fashion trend now! There are a lot of guys wearing cardigans, so as colorful skinny jeans who are unashamed anymore to be caught red handed wearing the “supposedly-for girls only” outfits and how women often times were caught pimping their boyfriends’ oversized long sleeves and blazers to be converted into shirt dresses and wrap around and even vests and bow ties look sexy being worn by ladies. It is inevitable! Totally androgynous!

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K-POP Fashion and Harajuko Style

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One good thing about being a couch potato for a day, just staying just in front of the television watching whatever is being shown is the chance to observe things that you don’t normally notice when you are rushing or when you are not normally glued on the boob tube. I was quite adamant with the nonstop Korean drama I was watching, to the extent that I stopped listening to the dialogues dubbed in my local language and was just having fun checking the clothes of the characters. And eventually the Korean drama was replaced by the anime shows and eureka, this article came to life!

Most Western people often think that all chink-eyed, porcelain skinned people are Chinese. “Asians” is more appropriate. And two of the most powerful countries in Asia are Japan and Korea. Even though they are situated topographically on the same continent or region, there is an imminent difference between Koreans and Japanese in terms of language and education, culture and traditions, customs and religion and even fashion, which is what I really want to share.

K-Pop Fashion

Koreans pride themselves for being so forward when it comes to fashion. One great thing about Korea is that it has the same temperature as the U.S.A. so most of their styles are influenced by Western fashion. I’ve been to a place dominated by a lot of Koreans and I was able to observe their love of layering and tons of accessories to complete the look. I’ve observed how they are so into casual elegance especially mixing up a wonderful, classic leather bag, or maybe a high heeled boots with tattered shorts and big “statement” t-shirts.

In fact they started another trend in Asia which is called K-POP. It is a combination of the “new sound” in their music culture where a lot of bands and groups emerged and so is androgynous fashion. If you are familiar with 2ne1, they’re one of the results of K-Pop. They have a profound love for cute feminine look consisting of frill dresses, knits, miniskirts, cute tees, plus colorful loose sleeveless tops, high wedges, killer boots and gladiator heels with lots of studs. For guys, it’s more on street fashion with tattered jeans, colorful jackets, body-fit t-shirts with cute designs and amazing pair of shoes. And don’t forget the curly mane of the girls plus the anime style hairdos of the guys, as it’s always a part of their unique style.

Harajuku Style

If K-POP fashion’s more on classic elegance and a little but street fashion, Harajuku style is bolder and more extreme! In Japan, Harajuku actually is the fashion capital of the country. It is a district that became the meeting places of all the people who would like to showcase their distinct styles. Mostly, it is more on emo-punk-heavy metal fashion style where some would be dressed in gothic Lolita. It can be cosplays or “costume-based styles” too where they can dress like their favorite anime characters. Dressing up in a hip hop, graffiti or skater type of fashion is also present. Harajuku culture was already an accepted trend and in fact it’s an inspiration for a lot of fashion designers worldwide in bringing up unique, bold and crazy collections through runway shows.

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Gothic Fashion Trend: A Phoenix Awakened!

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“Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.” - Cecil Beaton

When we say Gothic look it is a fashion trend commonly associated with punk rock, dark acid or heavy metal way of dressing and black most often is the reigning color. Women and men can be seen with heavy eyeliners, emo hairstyles, piercings and tattoos and they based their fashion on the vampire cult themes, Victorians and Elizabethans too. Simon Reynolds quoted Goth fashion as” deathly pallor, ruffled  shirts, stovepipe hats, leather garments, spiked dog collars, the ensemble accessorized with religious, magical or macabre jewelry (bone earrings, rosaries, skulls), typically made from silver.”

Gothic Today

But how is Gothic embodied today? It’s easy to spot. Although a combination of various fashion cultures are present, i.e. emo, punk, and rock, Gothic stands out with the addition of classic themes including Elizabethan, Victorian, and the glorious Dark Ages. Gothic is similar to emo in terms of hair style (unkempt, swept to one side, highlighted in light or bright colors) and can be comparable to punk in terms of clothing and accessories (i.e. dog collar, spiked bracelets, tight jeans, dark clothes). Both punk and emo follow the same rule when it comes to makeup – dark eyeliners, black lipstick, and pale foundation.

Before Gothic Became What It is

But before it was fully embraced by the society and became a part of the modern culture, it did have its painful transition. Most parents scolded their kids for being different. A lot were crucified behind their backs just because they dress differently. Most often than not, conservative communities often misjudged Gothic dressing as an act of the devil and whoever is wearing it is devilish. Goth fashion trend is so dear to me as I associated my bliss with it for quite a while especially during my mourning after my father’s demise. It became a way of consoling my grief and it was a comfort zone!

Sophie Lancaster and Rob Maltby

I came across the story of a couple named Sophie Lancaster and Rob Maltby who were assaulted by a group of teenagers way back in 2008 because of their Goth type of dressing. It was Rob who was assaulted first and when Sophie tried to save Rob she ended up being assaulted too. They both were injured badly, Rob survived after the attack. Unfortunately, Sophie died 2 weeks later because of a massive injury.

After her death, her mother created a non-profit organization named after her daughter, S.O.P.H.I.E (Stamp Out Prejudice Hate Intolerance Everywhere). And the response was enormous. People who support Gothic fashion all over the world expressed their support.

In the end, Gothic is a freedom of expression. Fashion trend is an avalanche of ideas, doesn’t have any borders, age or gender limitations. It doesn’t have any racial or religious affirmations. It will always evolve; it will always change. It is a cultural trend that the society should be so keen.

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Who Says it’s Always All About Women?

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Just like women, guys do it too! Gone are the daddy days where men’s apparel just comprised of plain suits, boring shirts, pants, jeans, socks and good ‘ol pair of shoes. Gone are the day when exerting effort and investing time to really search the rack and raiding different men’s store is now an unmanly task to do.

Surprisingly, men’s fashion evolved for the last 10 years. And it had a very positive feedback! Gone are the days that glamour and style is just associated with women. If you are not aware, most of the known beauty lines and products nowadays like shampoos, facial washes, and even deodorants that were just dedicated for women slowly are being introduced with counterpart products for men too.

Hundreds of men’s magazines about technology, men’s clothing, men’s fashion and grooming sprouted like hot cakes and even ad campaigns for perfumes, fashionable shoes and even runway shows showcasing the “new look” for today’s men is so adverse. We need more of Justin Timberlake, David Beckham, Daniel Craig and Jake Gyllenhaal!

The revolution was so apparent. Modern men now embrace the new trend of men’s fashion. All you have to do is to scan the guys you meet in the hallways of malls, clubs, school campuses and even the young yuppies shoving passed you in crowded streets. Observe their get up and it speaks in volume of how they embrace the new change.

You would see a lot of added accessories and how meticulously they have been selected in terms of design, color and style like bow ties, caps, hooded fur jackets, scarves, beanies, even earrings and chains. They are now into bolder, pop colored checkered jackets and long sleeves. Even leggings made just for girls before are now available for guys. The gladiator flats that were once used by the Romans were revived to life and I did enjoy casting a furtive glance over a young man who passed by in short “shorts” with a colorful cardigan and big sunglasses with that trendy gladiator flats! I can’t express the palpitations that I had that moment.

Society doesn’t condone modern men anymore. The hesitations just flew out the window. Even my man’s so much into grooming which I do not find vain at all. They do have all the rights to look good just like us women do. Fashion in the end is a self-expression and not a prison. It doesn’t have any gender nor age limitation. And the term being “fashion
forward” doesn’t just refer to the fast paced styles of ladies. And honestly if you go back in time, over the centuries the revolution of men’s style was pretty apparent, they just want to make it subtle for “masculinity issues.” Yet I am so glad that we are treating our men now by providing a wide variety of options to look good too. By all means, they too have all the rights to enjoy the perks of being fashionable.

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Confidence is the Best Clothing Accessory for Women

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We talked about women clothing, celebrity styles, fashion trends, seasonal fashion and all what’s in and what’s not in this blog. We are so psyched about all the glitters and all that studs to the extent that we want to have it all. We want to ransack all the racks for the thrill of finding something worthy to be worn. We got all the blings and those heels and all and bags but in the end…CONFIDENCE will make or break the wearer’s good intention.

I have seen a lot of pretty girls. I’ve seen a lot of women all garbed in those to die-for women’s clothing but what is so awkward is seeing those clothes hanging uncomfortably in their skin. I’ve witnessed all those nervous fidgeting when they think no one is watching. I even saw one of our trainers with a 5-inch heel walk and how painful to see her stride  as if she is dragging the floor  with her and you would glimpse the fear in her eyes every time she walks.

Here we go again with my lecture! Come on guys! Let’s just go back to the beginning. For me, this whole fashion concept has a dark humor. Try to think of it, clothes are not really the one that makes you; it is you who will justify the clothes you are wearing. And lack of confidence will totally drag you down into another epic Titanic sinking. If it is supposed to make you feel good and to up-the-ante, then you really should wear clothes with confidence just to make it outstanding. The aim of the game is to outshine the others. And I guess you would understand me because when I was young and so insecure, a tall girl walked passed me in just a white t-shirt and just a tattered jeans yet all heads turned because she have this pumped-up attitude that just vibrates around her.

Confidence is not something you buy over-the counter. People can nudge you to be confident but honestly it starts within you. It is when you feel good about yourself that confidence can be fully tapped. It is your edge to draw the attention. It is an attitude that only you can hone or master. It is believing and loving yourself without any reservations and insecurities. But of course, you should also know the difference between confidence and being an airhead. While confidence draws people towards you for simply being you the other one will drive people out because of too much arrogance. Always know the difference.

I always remember Tyra Banks whenever she says “work it girl!” That’s the line I play over and over every time I stomp my way to the crowd. It never ceases to amaze me that whatever clothing you are wearing just add it with your unwavering confidence and they will certainly give you the idea that you can do whatever you want and no one is stopping you from rocking it!

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The Disadvantages of Following Seasonal Fashion Trends

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In reference to my previous article about the question, “is it cool following fashion trends?”, I automatically think about what causes girls to turn into bunch of clones with their get ups. And quite frankly, upon research I got to tell you that seasonal fashion or what we call the “year-round fashion” is the culprit.

As time passes, everything changes, even fashion concepts and ideas change. Seasonal fashion can be associated to being “in” to what is currently “in demand in the fashion market” and after months, it will eventually be forgotten and another trend will be introduced again. And most often than not, the only ones who benefit from this constant change are the manufacturers and the companies who start the mania.

A lot of people don’t really know the style that fits their personalities and they are dependent on what trends dictates. These are the type of people who lose a lot of money because they have really no sense of idea or direction when it comes to what they really want. And since they can be easily persuaded with the power of media and advertisements, they obediently follow the seasonal fashion the most.

I personally would suggest that it’s about time to change this type of perception. I myself was a victim too. Remember the gypsy skirts that dominated before? I have no idea that if you are petite you shouldn’t be wearing long skirts that will even make you look smaller. And because almost all were wearing it, I invested 4 skirts, all with the laces and hippie style and then suddenly the craze subsided and I no longer can wear them.

Seasonal fashion is good for a while, but it never lasts long. So try to invest more on the classic, trendless, timeless pieces and indulge instead to the basics as you can always experiment it by adding accessories and blings for which you can shift it into 10 looks instead. You can never go wrong with those unique pieces as they will last long, longer than what you are expecting. In the end, I redesigned my full skirts and turned them into beautiful dresses instead!

Seasonal fashion can be overwhelming at times, that you really want to be a part of the trend. Be in sync with it but don’t forget to add flair of your own personality. Don’t sink your teeth into it so much that it will become a habit of just letting it sweep you away but eventually you can’t really use them in a long run. Be wise in buying your wardrobe. That’s why it is called investing. Try to score those pieces that you know can still be used 20 years from now. Be experimental instead. Be yourself and embrace the joy of being unique. Being so psyched in letting yourself be heard through what you wear in the end is the only thing that matters. Enjoy the bliss and have fun instead!

 

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Is it Cool to Follow Fashion Trends?

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I have to pause and think hard if I really have to just slap it in your faces but the title is subtle and actually what my question really meant is “it is cool to be a copycat?” That’s a bit harsh right?

Sometimes being in a society condoned with labels and tags, we are always in a rush to be up-tuned with what is new in the market. And that to be hip and up-to-date instead of really understanding one’s personality, we tend to see more on what is the “in” in the fashion trend. We hoard lots and lots of those current manias and once a certain look reached it’s what I call “expiration date,“ then you end up looking forward for the new trend again.

You succumb into a panic shopping spree to have a lot of what is hot in the market “again” that definitely is turning into a boring cycle. You end up with a heap of ensembles you are afraid to be caught wearing once it is “2000 and late” and not “in” anymore. They became useless and your stash will eventually be hidden in your cabinets to be infested by the cockroaches. You end up wasting a lot of money and effort just to please the society…not really you! That definitely is not cool!

You create your own fashion trend!

I do understand the “rush”, the “panic” and the “mania” just to be upbeat on the latest fashion trend. Yup, I’ve been there. Anyone who wants to have what she sees on TV will really have a mad dash. I swear, I do understand. And that understanding enabled me instead to go to the opposite side whenever I think about people who are going gaga over something. And you don’t have to guess because you would see that a lot will almost have the same attire, in every corner of the mall, your workplace, and in the magazines. They just differ with the color or accessories but the style is the same nonetheless. I don’t want to be a clone! It came to my awareness not to be a prisoner of fashion. Instead, I started to understand that to be cool; you don’t have to follow fashion trends. You create your own fashion trend! 

Being you and understanding what you really like will eventually give you endless possibilities and that’s what will make you unique from the rest. It is you in the end who creates your own trend and your own style. You are not just a carbon copy of somebody else’s creative mind!  Because if you do and if you will always be a follower of the trendy, then what’s the sense of the fun that fashion can bring? Savor the freedom of endless possibilities and try the power of experimentation instead. And so if you ask me again regarding what really is the cool fashion trend? Your own trend is the coolest of all!

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5 Best Celebrity Styles – Who to Watch Closely this 2012

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The list keeps on changing. As a matter of fact, the year just started yet the fierce battle of who will end up again this year’s Top 10 Best Dressed celebrities is definitely on its boiling point  as witnessed by the recent Grammy Awards where the red carpet was rolled and the stars paraded their finest. As anticipated, after the party, another list circulated the Internet and on television identifying who are dressed to kill that night and who ended being booed and it went full blast like a wild fire!

Fashion is always a lucrative business. And the enormous change is indeed overwhelming. As a woman, it is indeed a must to be on track. And maybe because there is always a need to be presentable especially for a career woman like me, it is then customary look up to someone larger-than-life, most often base it to celebrity styles who can be an inspiration for the day-to-day basis look.

These are the celebrities who enjoy the fun that fashion can bring. If life is only a circus, they’re the first people in the merry-go-round while the world is watching them having the time of their lives!

 

1. Mary Kate Olsen

She is still reigning on the top spot. The most eccentric, versatile, stylish fashion icon to ever exist in this crazy world! Her unending imagination and her endless options is definitely one-of- a kind.

2. Michelle Obama

Mrs. O. definitely is an exciting icon to watch. As quoted from the Internet “She is definitely the most fashion forward First Lady this country has seen in a long time”. I have to agree! She absolutely knows how to dress as a respected figure yet fashionable at the same time.

3. Sarah Jessica Parker

I always admire Sarah’s classic, girly look and how nonchalant she is in almost all her  avante-garde dresses with bold accessories and super killer shoes as if she is just wearing her jeans and sweatshirt! She is stunning and a real head-turner!

 

 

4. Michelle Williams

And yet another Michelle on the list, this one played the role of Marilyn Monroe, another icon of the century. Michelle is definitely a candy in the eye. She is a luminous beautiful blonde darling that depicts girlish giddiness  and vulnerability that a lot of girls can relate to.


5. Mila Kunis

Mila is certainly a girl to watch this year. She’s not just a bombshell but she is very talented! She definitely is a trendsetter with the way she carries herself in long gowns or even in casual events.

The list may still change as the year 2012 progresses. But for now, these are the top 5 best dressed celebrities.

To conclude, celebrity fashion’s always a hot issue as far as a woman is concerned. But of course, finding your own comfort zone and really dressing up according to how you want to express yourself and let others perceive of you is the key to stay fabulous and fashionable. So rock it!

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