Country/Western Chic

I was born and raised in Texas, so country/Western chic is second nature here in my home state. But of course, I am more of a big city boy. Even if you aren't country, you can still infuse country chic into your wardrobe. Country/Western chic is what this post is all about. I will be sure to share as many different elements of country style fashions as possible. Maybe I can give you all a little country/Western inspiration for your wardrobe.

A Special Hello...
...to all the proud Southerners and country folk out there! I may be a city boy for the most part, but I hope you get to enjoy this blog post. Now get to reading! ^_^

--- Country Chic at a Glance ---

Country style is mostly a style where you could get away with wearing denim to look stylish. Western wear and Western-type fashions can exude stylish charm for both males and females.

In the mid-2000s, there was a fashion trend towards Western country styles. Part of it was brought about by things like the "Dukes of Hazard" movie featuring the likes of Jessica Simpson as Daisy Duke (Catherine Bach is the original Daisy Duke). I would casually see a lot of Western-themed casual clothes back in the mid-2000s relating to either the West or to cowboys and cowgirls.

There are a number of ways to infuse some country chic. For males, a common look is a nice button-down shirt with long sleeves, some jeans, and a pair of cowboy boots.

Country Cute!

You don't have to be a Southern girl or a true country girl to enjoy country chic. One of my most popular posts on "John's Blog Space" is my post on dresses with cowboy boots. Cowboy boots with a sundress is a somewhat unexpected look. For one, the softness of a sundress is met with the toughness of a pair of cowboy boots. It's soft meeting hard. Often times, you will see girly dresses paired with a tough, yet chic pair of boots. This look of dresses with cowboy boots can best be traced to Taylor Swift.

For the girl looking to channel her inner Miley Cyrus (as in during her Hannah Montana days), there is the country look of denim short shorts paired with cowboy boots. That's the look she sported in her "Party in the USA" music video. Those more in tune with the past can best remember a character named Daisy Duke from the original Dukes of Hazard (not the 2000s movie featuring Jessica Simpson as Daisy Duke; I'm talking about Catherine Bach).

There are many ways a girl can enjoy country chic.

--- Country Chic: Fashion Pieces ---

Let's look at a few pieces which define country/Western style. I am trying to stay as true to traditional Western wear as possible rather than costumes. So here goes...

NOTE 1: Some material in this section may be featured in future posts on StyleSpace. Those even include certain variations to these items. If there are pictures I can't use for any sort of copyright issues, PLEASE contact me, and I will replace certain images. That goes for ANY of my blog posts on any topic in any of my blogs.

NOTE 2: Hover over each image to learn the full name of the some of the products featured in the pictures.

Cowboy Boots.

Nothing screams country style quite like a good pair of cowboy boots. These are fashionable for both males and females alike. Both males and females can find a good pair of cowboy boots to compliment their wardrobe. For females, there are two options towards cowboy boots- either a traditional pair of cowboy boots, or some sort of chic cowboy boots. I define "chic" cowboy boots for women as any sort of cowboy-styled boots. The shafts of such boots may be slouchy or have certain other styling touches to make themselves different from a regular pair of cowboy boots.

Two celebrities I think of in regards to cowboy boots are Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. I best know Taylor Swift for wearing dresses with cowboy boots (one of my most popular posts on "John's Blog Space"). Miley Cyrus will proudly sport a pair of cowboy boots with some denim shorts. If you want to channel your inner Taylor Swift or your inner Miley Cyrus, those are two ways to style cowboy boots.

Here are some pictures to highlight on what you've just read:


^ from: www.amazon.com - Authentic men's cowboy boots.


^ from: www.amazon.com - Unleash your inner cowgirl with a lovely pair of cowboy boots. Speaking as a native Texan, these boots are from Texas' own Lucchese.


^ from: www.dsw.com - Here is a chic take on cowboy boots.

Western Shirts and Blouses.

If you want to style your wardrobe a bit more, try wearing a Western shirt (or a Western blouse for my female audience).


^ from: www.amazon.com - A nice Western shirt can easily compliment a good pair of jeans.


^ from: www.amazon.com - A country/Western shirt can be equally chic for females as they are for males.

A good Western-style shirt will go very nicely with... a good Western-style pair of jeans, which leads me to the next item:

Good Ol' Denim.

And I quote:

"...A pair of jeans that fit just right..."

-lyric to "Chicken Fried" by the Zac Brown Band

It is safe to say that country chic allows you to wear denim and NOT be in any violation of style. If you want to be authentic, it's best to go with quality Western-appropriate denim. Most of the jeans offered by Western fashion retailers are usually meant to be worn out on the ranch or perhaps to various Western-themed functions and parties. On the feminine side, you're not going to see any of the usual denim trends usually associated with casual style- such as ripped denim, acid-washed denim, or anything like that. Just keep it classy.


^ from: www.amazon.com - A cowboy's got to have some jeans as cool as he is.


^ from: www.amazon.com - Western-style jeans for women.

If you females care to tap into your inner Daisy Duke or Miley Cyrus, you can go with denim short shorts to go with cowboy boots. Other celebrities, such as Zoe Kravitz and Vanessa Hudgens (among many others) have embraced wearing denim short shorts with cowboy boots. You could say that cowboy boots with shorts is a nice alternative from Converses or flip-flop/thong sandals with shorts.

Did you know there are even denim wedding dresses? Some country weddings have these lovely denim wedding dresses for Western-style weddings. Here is an example of a denim wedding dress below:


^ from: satnspurs.com - Get married in denim! What denim diva wouldn't want to get hitched in denim?

As you can tell from these pictures, there are no things like acid washed denim, destroyed denim, or anything like that with country-style denim.

Cowboy Hats.

^ from: www.amazon.com - Nothing says cowboy quite like a cowboy hat.

Don't have to be a cowboy to rock a cowboy hat. I certainly can attest to this, being too much of a city boy. These are good hats to wear when out in the heat. Of course here in Texas (and mostly here in the Mid-South), days in the sun can be pretty brutal. Working out on a ranch or someplace can be pretty tough to not have a hat to wear. From a style standpoint, a cowboy hat is just as quintessential of Western chic as cowboy boots.

Riding Skirts and Gaucho Pants.

^ from: fashionrevival.com - A Western riding skirt is a great garment to wear when you want to wear a skirt while riding horses.

When I introduced Western riding skirts to my blog post on gaucho pants, I've gained a new viewing audience for that post. Riding skirts are essentially skirts more appropriate for riding horses on. Their legs are voluminous and wide. These split skirts were meant to be comfortable skirts to wear while riding horses, and their material makes them rugged enough and more than suitable for riding. The skirt-like legs of riding skirts have lent to their appeal to gaucho pants.

Country/Western Belts and Belt Buckles.

^ from: www.amazon.com - Here is a Western-style belt.


^ from: www.amazon.com - Here is a feminine traditional Western belt.


^ from: www.amazon.com - A Western-style belt buckle can easily compliment and enhance any Western belt. Many belt buckle makers offer a variety of belt buckles in various styles for males and females.


^ from: www.amazon.com - Cowgirl up! This is a belt buckle for the country/Western girl.

A Western-style belt is often a great finishing touch for any Western outfit. Equally assuring of a great Western look is a creative belt buckle. Belts and belt buckles can vary in style for both males and females. To be consistent with the country/Western theme, let's just stick to Western-style belt buckles.

Let me conclude this part with a little humor. And I quote:

"If someone asks to see your ID and you show them your belt buckle, you might be a redneck."

-comedian Jeff Foxworthy

Those are only so many different pieces regarding country style. I was going to include chaps in my initial blog post, but I wanted to talk about fashionable pieces commonly worn out and about in the realm of country chic; and it isn't often you see chaps worn as part of a fashionable outfit. So I've excluded chaps.

--- Country/Western Chic: Final Thoughts ---

Should You Go Country/Western? It's entirely up to you. Country/Western style is a not a bad way to embrace warmer weather. Even basic elements of Western clothing can likely be incorporated into your wardrobe. Country/Western shirts can be pretty stylish almost all year 'round. Especially more authentic Western shirts can be great to wear with their great designs. If you're a female wanting to sex up a Western shirt, one can always tie up the front of the shirt and show off some midriff, a la Daisy Duke. Cowboy boots are basically an all-year deal, so feel free to wear cowboy boots with almost any sort of clothing combination. As if jeans or sundresses already are paired with cowboy boots, even various cute skirts can go along with cowboy boots seamlessly. I even have a little interest in getting myself a cowboy hat to go along with the straw hat that I have.

So experiment to your heart's desire in incorporating country/Western chic into your wardrobe. For you true country folk, I'm sure you know full well how to style most of the clothing pieces I've discussed in this blog post.

Cross-Promotion/Other Reading.

Here are some other blog posts of mine you may be interested in based on what you've read here:

"Gaucho Pants and Culotte Pants" (StyleSpace by JBM)
^ I made notion of Western riding skirts in my blog post on gaucho pants. Have a look at one of my oldest, yet still one of my most popular posts about gaucho pants.

"Dresses With Cowboy Boots" (John's Blog Space)
^ A look popularized by Taylor Swift is with wearing a cute sundress with cowboy boots. This remains one of my most popular blog posts. What do you think about wearing a sundress with cowboy boots? Visit my blog post and see this look in action!

"Horses" - John's Blog Space
^ Those cowboys and cowgirls need an animal to ride! So what do cowboys and cowgirls ride on? Horses! This is a post about the beautiful and majestic creatures.

"What Would Be Your Dream Wedding?" (John's Blog Space)
^ I mentioned denim wedding dresses and country weddings. What would be YOUR dream wedding? This is a very old blog post regarding different styles of weddings.

"Lady Antebellum" (John's Blog Space)
^ I mentioned Lady Antebellum in the introduction. This blog post REALLY needs some views, so please view my blog post regarding this outstanding country trio.

"Taylor Swift" (John's Blog Space)
^ Taylor Swift's style of wearing dresses with cowboy boots is a huge highlight to my blog post regarding the look. This very old (December 2009) blog post on Taylor Swift is for you Taylor Swift fans to enjoy if you love Taylor Swift and also if you love "John's Blog Space." So please take a look at this old post if you're interested.


That's just a little cross-promotion from me to you. I just want my blog to appeal better to more people. It's the least I can do.

--- Country/Western Fashion Resources ---

So do you want to enjoy some country chic for yourself? I can help you by pointing you towards some websites online where you can shop online for country and Western fashions. Have a look around and thanks for visiting John's Blog Space!

Each section has a heading. To visit that website, click on the heading. But first, read the description to know what exactly I am talking about. I am not sure if any international shipping is done with any of these. If you're any of my international readers or not from a specific market these sites are related to, you may want to check the website(s) in question. This post was primarily meant to concern mostly my American audience.

NOTE: I am not paid by anyone to post these links and talk about these companies/websites.

Cavender's Boot City..

Cavender's Boot City is one of the premier Western wear retailers in America. This company has been around since 1965 providing great Western fashions for males and females and across various age groups. Authentic Western wear can be had through Cavender's. I've known them as Texas' premier Western wear retailer, but there are also stores in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Kansas according to their website.

1880 Western Wear.

When I mentioned riding skirts in my blog post about gaucho pants, I attracted a certain new audience. This blog post on Western fashion was almost sort of inspired by the viewing support I've received from visitors. So I am including 1880 Western Wear into this section. A multitude of authentic Western clothing and accessories are available for everyone here.

Western Boot Sales.

This online retailer of Western wear offers many Western clothes and decor for those who love the Western lifestyle. This was another site I featured in my blog post on gaucho pants. Various items are offered from a variety of brands including Scully, John Deere, and even Converse.

Ann N Eve.

The items offered by Ann N Eve are vast and varied, ranging from Western wear for men and women as well as formal and plus size items. Wedding wear can even be bought from this company. This site was yet another site posted in my gaucho pants blog post.

Rods.com.

Rod's features everything from Western wear to Western accessories. It was one of many different companies I featured in my blog post about gaucho pants. You can check out all of the many different Western wear pieces by visiting Rods.com.

Norman's Western Wear.

Based in Montana, Norman's is a retailer offering authentic clothing and accessories for the Westerner including many gifts.

Sat'n Spurs.

Planning on getting married... country style? The site billed as the "Official Home of the Western Wedding Dress" is Sat'n Spurs. This site features many items for you to enjoy having a Western-style wedding. It even includes some items for the groom. Even if you aren't shopping for a Western-style wedding, at least check out what their denim wedding dresses look like. That alone is worth the visit!

Lucchese Boot Company.

One of the most well-respected boot companies here in Texas is none other than Lucchese. The history of the Lucchese Boot Company dates back to 1883 as the Lucchese family immigrated to the United States. What Sam Lucchese has established for decades in making boots remains true even today. They hand-craft each boot for the ultimate in authenticity. This San Antonio, TX, USA-based company makes some of the most exquisite boots you will ever see or wear. Check out their entire line of authentic cowboy boots by visiting Lucchese's website. These boots are even offered on Amazon, if you can believe it.

Cattle Kate.

Cattle Kate offers Western fashions and goods for those wanting to savor the country/Western lifestyle. This store based in Boise, Idaho, USA is inspired by the story of Cattle Kate. Visit their website to learn of the story of Cattle Kate and the inspiration behind this brand.

HangMHigh.

If you love vintage Western wear, HangMHigh has you covered. Many items for males and females are offered by this company. So go scratch that country/Western itch and score you some Western wear!

Liberty Boot Company (Canada).

It's tough to refer to a boot maker from Toronto, Ontario, Canada as a Western company; but Liberty Boot Co. makes their own stylish boots. Liberty Boot Company even custom-made a pair of boots worn by Taylor Swift (popularized by my "Dresses with Cowboy Boots" post).

Wild Wild Western Wear (United Kingdom).

For United Kingdom types who want to enjoy country/Western chic, Wild Wild Western Wear offers up this site and its Western wear for men and women.

Country Western Shop (Netherlands).

The Netherlands has its own online destination for Western clothing. Offered up in four different languages (including English), my Dutch fans/readers who have enjoyed this blog post can find some Western wear that spur their interest.


More links may be added in future edits.


There are too many items I've featured here to potentially offer shopping resources online. Just remember that I may feature individual elements of this blog post in separate blog posts in the future. So make sure to stay tuned to "StyleSpace by JBM" to see more posts from me.





Thank you for reading this post on country/Western chic! I still hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know if there are any topics you want to see me make mention to in the future by contacting me via Email or through my Facebook fan page. Before riding off into the sunset, do me some favors if you love my blog:

"Like" me on Facebook, Follow StyleSpace, and/or Contact Me via E-Mail!
Subscribe to John's Blog Space (JBS)	Subscribe to John's Shop Space (JSS)	Subscribe to John's Gran Turismo Space (JGTS)	Subscribe to StyleSpace (SS)

read more...

Infamous Dresses

Every girl dreams of having a dream dress to own and wear. Some dresses are incredibly unique and stylish to wear and really reflects the personality of its wearer. Some others... are absolutely unique to infamous levels. I'm here to look at some of the most infamous dresses. Few of them immediately come to mind to me. If you've never seen some of the most infamous dresses of all time, you are going to be introduced to some of the ones that immediately come to mind for me. So get ready to go on a ride involving some of the most infamous dresses ever made and worn!

--- Infamous Dresses ---

What wearing a fancy dress does for a woman is for her personality and style to shine at formal functions. The right kind of formal dress will make her feel beautiful as well as look and feel gorgeous. Such dresses evoke a level of charm and importance as well as being able to properly separate herself from the others. The wrong kind of dress, however will make someone want to burn that dress to the ground and want her stylist (if there is one) fired. Among the many hits and misses of dresses are those that are famous... for the wrong reasons. These are dresses you will remember the most not for being the most beautiful and lavish, but because they are... well, infamous. Sometimes scandalous. Whatever the case, these are some of the most infamous dresses ever created. I can feature only so many that come to mind for me.

What are some of the most unique, unusual, freaking weird dresses ever created? This blog post features some of many unique dresses. These are at least the ones that come to mind for me when discussing some of the most infamous dresses ever created and worn.

NOTE: All images are taken from various sources, mostly through Google Images. Contact me if I am unable to use these images (because of copyright issues, etc.). I will find replacement images instead if at all possible.

The American Express Gold Card Dress.

^ from: www.marieclairvoyant.com - Someone must have lots of money (and creativity) to make a dress out of American Express Gold cards.

One dress I immediately think of is the American Express Gold card Dress worn by Lizzy Gardiner in March 27, 1995. Credit cards are often the last thing you want to base an entire outfit on. I've heard of fashion challenges where people made dresses and other garments out of certain unusual an uncommon items. Just be sure you don't have to use one of those cards in case you need some extra money on hand.

The "Jungle Dress."

^ from: www.thebudgetfashionista.com(?) - Jennifer Lopez shown LOTS of skin in this Versace dress in 2000.

It was green, had loads of cleavage, and was worn by Jennifer Lopez at the 2000 Grammy Awards. J-Lo was wicked fierce rocking this Versace dress in February 23, 2000. This green Versace dress (also called the "Jungle Dress") had LOTS of skin showing. I am not sure what female celebrity would want to show off THIS much of her body. J-Lo, though, wasn't afraid to hit the red carpet and be photographed wearing it. It's your call- credit that she shown herself in a dress this radical, or discredit her because she wore a dress that is too revealing?

The Meat Dress.

Leave it to one Lady Gaga to wear such a unique dress. The artistic and expressive style of Lady Gaga really hit a high note when the petite (she's 5'1") pop superstar went out in a meat dress at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. She wore this dress for a reason. Not as many people were understanding at the time when this dress was showcased for all to see. When interviewed about this infamous dress and the meaning behind it, Lady Gaga explains herself in this video interview (click on the link to view the video on YouTube if you are unable to view embedded videos):


^ "Extra: Lady Gaga Explains The Meat Dress"

I don't care whether you like or hate Lady Gaga, you at least have to respect her for being expressive. She's never afraid to do so.

Twitter Dress.

One of the most recent unique dresses was worn by Nicole Scherzinger. Would you love showcasing your tweets on a dress? Nicole Scherzinger sure did. Can you imagine having a baseball cap or a handbag that shows off your latest Twitter tweets? There's only one thing I'd fear if there was a Twitter dress or some sort of other thing. That would be the fear of some girl tweeting that her boyfriend is a (insert offensive term here), or if someone sent out a tweet from that girl if she somehow gets her account hijacked.

I tried to find a video to better show this dress in detail, but this was the best I could come up with. Every other possibly good video basically was just me waiting through some crappy YouTube advertisement that wouldn't completely load. So this was the best I could find to show you all the Twitter dress. I am very sorry; however, this is better than nothing. Just take a look at the details of the dress:


^ "Nicole Scherzinger's Twitter dress at EE's 4G London launch event"

Would any of you wear a dress like this? Would you wear a dress (or any other garment) that highlighted on your latest posts on social media (including Twitter)? SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION: Follow yours truly on Twitter by going to twitter.com/johnbmarine! :)

Marilyn Monroe's "The Seven Year Itch" Dress.

^ from: style.mtv.com (best I could find) - Note to self... don't wear a flowing dress or flowing skirt while standing over a grate. Otherwise, this could happen...

Marilyn Monroe will always be immortalized and remembered for the one infamous moment wearing her white dress. This dress from the 1955 movie "The Seven Year Itch" has her dress flying up as a New York City subway car whizzes by. I'm pretty sure if smartphones were around in the time of this movie, plenty of perverted guys would take pictures of her backside as her dress was blown up. Did you know that this dress auctioned off for $4.6M US dollars when it was sold at an auction? I think we can agree- this is the least craziest dress I've featured in this post.


These are some of the many different dresses that immediately come to mind for me. What infamous dresses come to mind for you?

--- Famous Dresses: Final Thoughts ---

This blog post showcases just the pure beauty and power of dresses. Imagine being a famous female just being remembered for wearing a certain unique dress. What speaks volumes (if anything) is what wearing a dress does for females. It makes you appreciate just how special it is to wear such a stylish dress. And in the case of such famous (and infamous) dresses, one really wonders just what someone was thinking coming up with these dresses and with various personalities wearing such unique dresses. Just like in life, fashion is often times about taking chances. The dresses worn by these famous ladies certainly encompass some serious chances being taken and certain style risks being exhibited. It takes confidence to even head out in public wearing such infamous dresses. These females know they will either be loved or loathed by fans and the media for their choice of dress with these unique dresses. Then again, aren't many of them loved and loathed anyways for their media work and all other aspects related to them?

Who will design the next dress that will have people talking? The next weird dress? The next most revealing dress? Who would wear such dresses to whatever occasions? Only time will tell. For now... enjoy some of the most talked-about dresses of all time and the ones who wore them.





Do you have any favorite dresses worn by a certain celebrity? What dress do you best remember? Would you even wear one of these dresses, maybe? Let's get a conversation going. Meanwhile, thank you for reading! Much love to you people!

"Like" me on Facebook, Follow StyleSpace, and/or Contact Me via E-Mail!
Subscribe to John's Blog Space (JBS)	Subscribe to John's Shop Space (JSS)	Subscribe to John's Gran Turismo Space (JGTS)	Subscribe to StyleSpace (SS)

read more...

Tasty Fashion Influences

(UPDATED: August 2, 2015)

Some fashionistas have great taste. Some fashionistas have style as edible or as sweet as their food, drink, or sweets inspirations. This blog post is all about tasty fashion influences. It is a popular post from "John's Blog Space" taken and re-made for "StyleSpace by JBM." So if you haven't taken any insight from my old post, you'll get your fill of inspiration here with this blog post. Welcome to "StyleSpace, by John B. Marine"- my non-traditional fashion blog!

BEFORE I BEGIN...

Most of the material in this blog post was from my original blog post on "John's Blog Space." Because of this, some old blog posts will be featured. I may update this blog post to feature more recent items. However, most of the material remains relevant and useful.

LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):

AUG 2 2015 - planned as a brand-new blog post until I realize I made a post about this topic already... so this post has been vastly edited!

--- Tasty Fashion Influences ---

Having fashion inspired by food and drinks gives someone plenty of fashion flavor. Having an outfit inspired by various food or drink items is a great way to show some style. It is a fun to inspire your fashions on food/drinks if food/drinks inspires you. Coming up with such pieces, however, can be pretty difficult. You have to think about what certain items you can put together to help influence your food or drink inspired looks. A lot of creativity goes a long way in helping set up these looks. As with any outfit idea, it is all a process of trial and error. While you are not edible (unless you're a cannibal), having edible fashion inspiration will make you the tastiest fashion diva there is.

Among celebrities, the beautiful Katy Perry comes to mind in regards to fashions inspired by food and drink. Teen Vogue magazine once chronicled two sisters named Claire Buitendorp and Shawn Buitendorp who designed a hot fudge sundae outfit that Katy Perry wore at one of her concerts. The natives of Grand Ledge, Michigan, USA created their own label- Shock and Awww. Katy Perry has adorned a number of food-inspired outfits even before these two sisters made their own outfit for Katy Perry. There is even an add-on pack for The Sims 3 which features Katy Perry and several candy-inspired items.

IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED:
Here is a link you can visit to see more examples of what I discussed in the previous paragraph:

• "Designers Claire and Shawn Buitendorp on Creating Costumes for Katy Perry" (Teen Vogue)
• Katy Perry's Sundae Outfit, as designed by Claire and Shawn Buitendorp
• a sketch of Katy Perry's Sundae Outfit, as designed by Claire and Shawn Buitendorp

What you will see in this blog post are a number of different inspirations based on food and drinks. I even include a few outfit ideas in case you want to try your own food-inspired or drink-inspired outfits. I am sure a lot of you will get to enjoy my blog post here.

--- Tasty Fashion Influences ---

It is time to kick this post off proper with various edible items. A number of garments and accessories have some colors which are edible in their color and in their style. I can only name so many here to begin discussion of this topic. This section will feature a number of different fashion items based on a certain flavor, fruit, beverage, or whatever. Each item may feature a blog post or other outfit post based on featured edible item; but not all of them will have an example linked to them, though. Check these out and draw some tasty inspiration:

Vanilla.

^ from: www.shopbop.com - Creamy and sweet, nothing beats vanilla.

My personal favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla. Nobody wants to be vanilla at anything, but vanilla is a sweet fashion influence. Vanilla is characterized as a white color, but it is really more like white with a super light yellow hue to it. The creamy and delicious taste of vanilla can be sweet for you too if you know where to look and what to wear.

Vanilla Fashion Example:
• "outfit: vanilla ice cream tones" (Elegant Musings) « vanilla tones throughout a vintage outfit.

Strawberry.

^ from: www.shopbop.com - Be berry... I mean, very sweet by going strawberry!

Strawberry is equally sweet. I personally eat strawberries since they are good for you. Strawberry as a color is usually either a light pink or a rather dark pink that strawberry usually is characterized as. Those who love cartoon characters may immediately think of Strawberry Shortcake in regards to strawberries and fashion. However, you don't need to be the cute Strawberry Shortcake to be fashionable in strawberry. There are many different strawberry fashion items ranging from intimates to any number of casual or formal garments.

Strawberry Fashion Example:
• Fashion Inspiration: Strawberry Remix « strawberry influences with a casual outfit.

Chocolate.

^ from: www.amazon.com - Candy girls unite- are you as sweet as chocolate candy?

I am a committed sweet tooth (guilty as charged!). So therefore, I'm a sucker for chocolate. Dark brown clothing and accessories are chocolate. Often times, a very dark brown color is usually a true chocolate color. The most common chocolate-colored clothes I see are mostly various shoes in a dark brown color. Think of a pair of dark brown riding boots, for instance. Personally, I tend to find silky and shiny chocolate-colored garments to be better representative of chocolate, so that's why I chose something like the picture I chose for chocolate. Chocolate tends to look best shiny in my opinion. That sort of luster makes chocolate colors insatiable. Then again, various clothes aren't shiny dark brown. So you have some options with chocolate and chocolate-inspired garments and accessories.

Chocolate Fashion Example:
• "new look: "60's don't mind the Chocolate!" (Glam and Fab Chameleon) « a short chocolate brown dress.

Honey.

^ from: www.amazon.com - If you are as sweet as honey and if you attract attention like bees to honey, then you'll love honey fashion influences. Be honey sweet with these fashion pieces without fear of attracting bees, because bees are like... really dangerous.

Pure honey is usually a light mahogany brown. It can also be a golden yellow color. Can fashion be as tasty as honey? Sure! Honey is sticky and sweet. You can pour honey into tea to help you relieve colds if you're sick. Honey can be a good condiment for something like dipping chicken nuggets in. If you're as sweet as honey, then you're certainly going to have people be stuck to your honey-sweet beauty. I usually see honey as a good color for footwear and accessories.

Caramel.

^ from: www.amazon.com - Caramel- just like these flap-pocket pants- can be sweet whether as clothes or as accessories.

Another light brown color is caramel. Caramel commonly is seen with accessories and shoes. Certain sweets have caramel in them as you take a bite. Biting into a Snickers bar usually is what I think of in regards to caramel.

Fashion Example:
• "Caramel Leather Coat" (Maytedoll) « caramel-colored coat.

Peanut Butter.

^ from: www.amazon.com - A peanut butter handbag.

If you enjoy spreading peanut butter on foods, you can even be stylish with peanut butter. I've been a bit addicted to peanut butter in spreading on Ritz crackers and even on waffles. Peanut butter is more along the lines of tan. It is a creamy color.


NOTE: I do NOT recommend my younger audience reading this next one, since I'm discussing alcoholic beverages here.

Alcoholic Drinks.

^ from: www.amazon.com - Even alcoholic beverages can be fashion inspiration.

The appeal of tasty fashion even lends itself to alcoholic beverages. If you read my "Party Time!" blog post, you may know of cocktail dresses and how they earned their namesake. Cocktail dresses are usually named for the kind of alcoholic beverage they are named after.

Alcoholic Beverage Fashion Examples:
• "Ferragamo Gancini Reversible Belt & Cognac Boots" (Stylish Petite) « Cognac boots with a chunky heel.
• "B.P Runway Boots in Cognac and Black" (Stylish Petite) « hidden wedge Cognac boots (also in black).
• "Dressed to Drink" (hippanonymous) « three outfits inspired by cocktails.


This link features outfits inspired by alcoholic drinks:
"Cocktail dress: Holiday attire inspired by wintry bar classics" (statesman.com)


Are these items tasty enough for you fashion lovers?

--- Tasty Fashion Influences: Combinations ---

You've seen some individual pieces of tasty fashion influences. Now, let's combine certain colors and flavors to come along with some sweet fashion inspirations! Remember that not every featured combination has a fashion example to explain what I am trying to convey. I will feature as many different combinations as I can think of. The main point is to get you fashionistas to envision every possible way to have outfits inspired by food and drink.

That said, here are some of many tasty inspiration combinations:

Strawberry Banana Smoothies.

COLORS: yellow (banana) and light pink (strawberry)

I don't usually drink fruit smoothies, but strawberry-banana smoothies can be a tasty drink. I would probably pair a light yellow top with some dark pink bottoms. Here is an example of a look that's like a strawberry banana smoothie:
• Strawberry Lemonade (Always Maylee)

Chocolate Strawberry.

COLORS: dark brown (chocolate) and dark or light pink (strawberry)

Dipping strawberries in chocolate makes for a luscious treat. While I eat strawberries, I don't think I have ever had chocolate strawberries. Mix some strawberry pink with some dark brown to go chocolate strawberry. A sweet workplace outfit idea would be to go with a button-down strawberry blouse with some dark brown dress pants (or a dark brown skirt) and some red high-heel pumps.

Mint Chocolate.

COLORS: mint green or kelly green (mint); dark brown (chocolate)

Ever had a meal at a restaurant and got some complimentary mint chocolates? As one of the trendiest colors of late, why not pair mint green with some dark brown? You can make yourself to be as delicious as mint chocolate. Here is a fashion example of pairing a mint-like green with some brown.
• "Mint Chocolate Chip" (Good Looks Daily)

Chocolate and Peanut Butter.

COLORS: dark brown (chocolate) and tan or beige (peanut butter)

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups usually come to mind to most people in regards to pairing two sweet items like chocolate and peanut butter. This color combination is very effortless. A simple outfit consisting of a chocolate and peanut butter scheme would be a dark brown T-shirt paired with tan pants, shorts, or a skirt. A more dressy look would involve a chocolate brown camisole paired with a dressy pair of tan pants. Add a tan-colored blazer for a little more class. This one is a great way to look sweet. Maybe not taste sweet, but certainly offer delicious style.

Peanut Butter and Jelly.

COLORS: purple/violet ([Grape] jelly) and tan or beige (peanut butter)
"Peanut butter jelly time!" There- I said it. Happy? Anyhow... I'm sure there are a number of people whom have at least had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich of some kind. My own favorite combination is the most common one- grape jelly/jam with peanut butter. The fashion example is a colorful example of peanut butter and jelly. And if you want to take the analogy further, this fashionista adds chocolate to this already tasty outfit with her boots:
Blustery (imperfect idealist)

Neapolitan Ice Cream.

COLORS: pink, white, and dark brown

A light pink paired with white make up two of the three colors of Neapolitan ice cream. All you need is something dark brown to complete the Neapolitan ice cream look. Tasty style can be had if you have an outfit consisting of these three colors. The fashion example I've included is a cute way to wear pink, white, and brown. So take a look if interested:
• "my neapolitan treat" (Scathingly Brilliant)

Watermelon.

COLORS: dark green and dark pink

I don't eat watermelon, but you probably do. Watermelons call for a combination of green with dark pink. To provide the look of watermelon seeds, the dark pink must have some black accents to provide the look of watermelon seeds. An outfit idea here would be to have a dark pink garment with black polka dots to provide the opened watermelon look. All that you need then would be some sort of dark green to wear with the dark pink garment. And boom- you're a watermelon!
• "Sweet Summertime" (LOOKBOOK)

Coffee and Whipped Cream.

COLORS: white, dark brown or light brown, and (optional) tan or dark brown

Many people start their day with the good old cup of Joe. A lot of you likely enjoy drinking coffee from Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts. How would you like to dress up like a delicious cup of coffee?

Here is an outfit idea of mine: start off with a white top that is either flouncy or lacy. Then, go with a brown skirt (or pants or shorts). I would prefer sort of mahogany brown or some kind of dark brown color for the bottoms. So where does the optional tan or dark brown come in? Well, that's in case you may have a tan or dark brown scarf. That brown scarf can serve as caramel or chocolate syrup being poured on top of the whipped cream. Clever, huh? :D This will have you looking like a delicious cup of coffee with cream and syrup (if you don't forego wearing a scarf).


You can probably think of many more fashion combinations based on edible items. I named only so many just to make this section interesting.

--- Tasty Fashion Influences: Various ---

These are all various outfit posts based on all sorts of edible foods and edible drinks. The theme is on color and on certain edible items. The fashion pieces relevant to each featured post are featured in the brief description of each item. Have a look around and enjoy!

• "Mustard Custard" (Sara's Sweet Style) « mustard yellow skirt and various other mustard yellow accents.
• "Mustard" (.a little princess.) « multiple mustard yellow items.
• "Fresh Peachy Fruits" (Miss Aggie Kwong) « a peach-colored dress.
• "new look: Happy Birthday Candy Girl" (Glam and Fab Chameleon) « candy-themed outfit with multiple pastel colors.
• "Twist of Lime" (Food Fashion and Flow) « lime green skirt.

Maybe these blog posts helped you to enjoy edible fashion influences a bit more.

--- Tasty Fashion Influences: Final Thoughts ---

The idea of food and drink to provide fashion influence speaks volumes towards the imaginative spirit. Inspiration of any kind is surely helpful in building outfits. Basing outfits on food and/or drinks is surely creative. It shows that fashion inspiration can come from anywhere. While you are not edible, you can certainly base your fashion on edibles if you have an eye for style.

You CAN play with your food! In fact, you can even look stylish and have fun with edible fashion inspirations! :)

Cross-Promotion/Other Reading.

This is the only post I will include relevant to this topic:

"Tasty Fashion Influences" (John's Blog Space)
^ This was my original post regarding edible fashion influences. A few more food and drink items are featured in my main post in my main blog.


Thank you again for your continued support of my work!





I hope your appetite for tasty fashion was fulfilled here in this post. Of course, if you're hungry/thirsty for more fashion chatter from me, please make sure you're Subscribed and Followed to StyleSpace. It's always an all-you-can-eat buffet of fashion chatter from me here. Only this restaurant is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and all year long. I really had fun doing this post both on here and in my main blog. I hope you enjoyed my post here. Care to discuss? Here's my question to you all:

If food, drinks, or other edibles inspire your fashion outfits... what are your favorite tasty fashion influences?

Subscribe and Follow if you enjoy my work. Like my Facebook Fan Page if you have Facebook and enjoy my work. Thank you for reading!

"Like" me on Facebook, Follow StyleSpace, and/or Contact Me via E-Mail!
Subscribe to John's Blog Space (JBS)	Subscribe to John's Shop Space (JSS)	Subscribe to John's Gran Turismo Space (JGTS)	Subscribe to StyleSpace (SS)

read more...

Fashion Influences of "Ugly Betty"

In 2007 or 2008, I discovered Ugly Betty. Ugly Betty was a show I've grown to love for its combination of comedy, drama, and haute couture. It was where I've become fond of America Ferrera (Betty Suarez on the show), and later became fond of the beautiful Ana Ortiz (Hilda on the show). It's where I've become a fan of the very handsome Eric Mabius (Daniel on the show). It's where I've considered Vanessa Williams (Wilhelmina on the show) as perhaps the most stylish villaness in any show. It was also the show where I've become respectful of Mark Indelicato (Justin on the show). It's sad this show would eventually get that untimely deathblow. It was also where I disliked Amanda's (Becki Newton) character, but became fond of her style. Regardless, this series is one of the finest in regards to fashion. This blog post takes a look at some of the fashion influences of "Ugly Betty."


NOTE: This was a former post on "John's Blog Space" that has been edited completely and made for StyleSpace.

--- Fashion Influences from Ugly Betty Characters ---

^ from: www.yesasia.com - Is it possible to be "ugly," but also very chic? "Ugly" Betty Suarez dares to defy!

This is where I chat about the fashion influences of some of the Ugly Betty characters. I don't know of all the characters or can accurately comment on all of them, but I will bring light to a certain few characters from the series.

Betty Suarez.

America Ferrera is truly beautiful as America. America Ferrera is "ugly" as Betty Suarez. But in my view, there's a strange synergy to Betty's style. Everything from clashing patterns to various colors makes Betty's sense of style purely unique. Her style is usually consists of a jacket, a nice top, a flowy mid-length skirt, some bright-colored tights, and some cute pumps. Everything seems to come together strangely chic.

Hilda Suarez.

Ana Ortiz was an actress I've grown to love. Whereas Betty is seen as a hot mess to others, Hilda is a sassy woman who shows some sexy and chic style. Her style is more along the lines of a lovely tunic, some jeans, and either some hot sandals or boots. Some bold accessories accentuate her style all the further.

Wilhelmina.

Wilhelmina may be the most stylish villainess in any show. I usually associate Wilhelmina with wearing a lovely dress or skirt set, a bold pair of pumps, and some bold accessories. Hey... if you're going to be a villainess, best be a stylish villainess! :)

Daniel.

Daniel was a character whom I've respected for his immaculate charm. He was always a sharply-dressed cat on the show sporting wonderful business suits. Adding to his handsome charm is his great voice.

Amanda.

Amanda can be a witchy character, but I even admit... she is a sassy fashionista with some lovely style. There were a few episodes where I thought Amanda was the best-dressed character in an entire episode. Amanda can be a bit annoying, but her fashion style is anything but.

Honorable Mentions.

• Claire Meade (Judith Light) has some classy and lovely style from episodes I've seen her.

• Marc St. James (Michael Urie) is also a cool character. Perhaps the male equivalent of Amanda. I got a little respect for him since he's a Texas boy (like myself), born in Dallas (and I'm from Houston).

• Cal Hartley (David Rasche) was a sharply-dressed man, like Daniel. Cal is a powerful figure.


So just about most of the characters have their own unique charm in Ugly Betty.

--- Final Thoughts on Ugly Betty ---

It was very fun to follow Ugly Betty for the few series I've gotten to see it. That was a great comedy-drama series that I've loved for humor and fashion. The storylines were played out very well. Every award the Ugly Betty series has amassed was well-deserved. Best of luck to all the actors and actresses that have made Ugly Betty one of the finest shows of the past ten or so years. Sad this wonderful show got axed.

Thanks for all the memories, Ugly Betty. Thanks for the memories.





This was just another piece regarding fashion influences from another show. Do you think "Ugly Betty" has as much fashion charm as I think it has? You're welcome to comment on this at will. Thank you for reading and take care!

"Like" me on Facebook, Follow StyleSpace, and/or Contact Me via E-Mail!
Subscribe to John's Blog Space (JBS)	Subscribe to John's Shop Space (JSS)	Subscribe to John's Gran Turismo Space (JGTS)	Subscribe to StyleSpace (SS)

read more...

Fashion Influences of "Sex and the City"

The concept of Sex and the City is all about a bunch of ladies looking for love in New York City. But what's the twist? Rather than teenagers or very young adults, you have thirty-somethings, fourty-somethings, maybe some cougars... maybe people would probably complain that this was just another young girl in the big city deal. Or in a word- redundant. This blog post highlights on the fashion influences of the Sex and the City series while also taking a look at what makes SATC so distinctive in the realm of fashion.

About the Label: "Influences"

StyleSpace blog posts under the "Influences" label features fashion influences mostly from music, movies, television shows, cultural movements, concerts, events, and the like. What you will find are blog posts that discuss fashion based entirely on certain elements of media and social functions.


NOTE: This was a former post on "John's Blog Space" that has been edited completely and made for StyleSpace.

--- "Sex and the City" Cultural Influences ---

What you're about to read here will lead into the fashion influences "Sex and the City" provides. So have a look at this section. Please note that this blog post was initially made before the second SATC movie.

I think what makes SATC so culturally influenced is that ladies older than 35 can still have as much fun as any teen girl or adult south of 31 years old. Just because you're 35 or older doesn't mean you still can't enjoy wearing hot clothes, be in pursuit of love, and things like that. That's what I think makes Sex and the City what it is and why it's such a respected series. Perhaps since there are mature adults, there seems to be more reluctant to get married than a teen or young adult. There are issues in these shows and in the SATC movies that aren't remotely considered in a teen movie. So you could say this is a more sophisticated kind of show rather than something readily accepted by college students. However, the Sex and the City series can be accepted by more mature adults as well as college students and teens.

--- Sex and the City's Fashion Influences ---

^ from: spectrum.columbiaspectator.com - The ladies of the "Sex and the City" series.

And I quote:

"I like my money right where I can see it... hanging in my closet."

-Carrie Bradshaw, "Sex and the City" character

What makes the Sex and the City series so fun besides its cultural connotations is the fashion. Allow me to go back to the example of young people vs. older women for a moment. Imagine if ladies between the ages of 18 and 25 were wearing some of the clothes the four ladies of Sex and the City wore. Everything from stunning dresses, stylish skirts, fierce shoes and sandals, lovely accessories, and more. The shoes I've loved most are these "Something Blue" satin pumps by Manolo Blahnik:


^ from: intheircloset.com - Remember these Manolo Blahnik pumps from the "Sex and the City" movie?

How hot are these $600 USD pumps? I've even heard of women being robbed at gunpoint for those pumps once. Can you believe that? For a pair of shoes? Come on, now! It's not like I hear about dudes getting robbed for a pair of Nike Air sneakers or a pair of Old Navy flip-flops.

When it comes to fashions themselves, "Sex and the City" never fails to deliver. This is the kind of stuff you'd probably expect to see at high-end stores or big time retail chains. There are lots of high-end fashions worn ranging from Oscar de la Renta (whom I am a HUGE fan of), Manolo Blahnik, and names like that. It's where you also see expensive accessories and handbags. You'll need to watch a few episodes to have an appreciation of what this series is all about from a fashion perspective. And of course, you'll have to see the "Sex and the City" movies to see more fashions featured.

I may likely say that the "Sex and the City" series is very much a significant part of contributing to fashion. Classy high-end style (without overdoing it) is what "Sex and the City" provides from each of the characters. It's the kind of stuff you'd expect if you shop at Saks Fifth Avenue or Neiman Marcus. You could even go as far as to be fond of having a walk-in closet filled with an outstanding collection of designer clothes like with Carrie Bradshaw. What fashionable girl (young or old) wouldn't want to live a sort of lifestyle or have such a lavish closet like what is demonstrated in the Sex and the City series? The different influences of fashion in the "Sex and the City" series have been a serious part of the haute couture culture overall.





I think this show and this series is one of the most culturally-significant series of the past 20 years. I levitate to this series because of some of the culture and fashion influences from this show and this series. One of the reasons why I've started to watch the series was to follow the fashion. Later, I've grown to become fond of the series for its humor and charm. I usually wonder how much different this series would be if there were actually teen girls or ladies 25 years old or younger. But then, the balance of the series and its character would be ruined. It would probably be another show where people would complain over girls too young wearing high-end designer labels and trying to find love in the big city. This is also where I've become fond of Sarah Jessica Parker and her acting abilities. Nonetheless, "Sex and the City" is surely a great showcase of fashion.

What do you think about the "Sex and the City" series in regards to fashion? Let's chat! I thank you for reading this blog entry. Feel free to comment on my material if you enjoy it! Thank you for reading!

"Like" me on Facebook, Follow StyleSpace, and/or Contact Me via E-Mail!
Subscribe to John's Blog Space (JBS)	Subscribe to John's Shop Space (JSS)	Subscribe to John's Gran Turismo Space (JGTS)	Subscribe to StyleSpace (SS)

read more...