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Trends In Urban Women's Apparel At Work - 2010

The end of the first decade of the new millennium marks the end of consumerism and paves the way for service-oriented industries. This has influenced fashion trends in urban women's clothing in terms of volume and speed. In order to get ahead of her workmates both within the office at other companies, the working women's image and appearance continue to be key factors.

Designer clothing, which was once the privilege of the elitists, has opened doors for anyone and everyone. Further skin and hair care, perfumes, accessories, footwear jewellery, belts and hats and all the paraphernalia that go to make up a complete woman all have fallen prey to labels. Recession though has forced the fashion powerhouses to cater to prêt-à-porter collections rather than concentrate on the trend-driven aesthetics.

However, dressing for work doesn't mean you give up personal preferences. One needs to check out which personal styles can be palmed off as giving a professional look and which yet commands due respect from one's counterparts at work. To project a professional and competent look, one must pay careful attention to style, colour, length, and fit of the office ensemble. Loud clothing and jewellery are taboo at work. Subtle and sophisticated is a great style statement to adhere to.

Colours can range from black, navy-blue, icy blue to grey, baby pink, and lilac to red. Fluorescent colours and bold prints should be avoided at all costs. Pantsuits or skirts (in acceptable length) are most appropriate. Make sure you invest in having them tailor made to be a perfect fit.

Small sized pearls are a women's best friend at work. Invest in a smart wristwatch. Choose bags that are handy and have no glittery sheen to it.

Finally a black dress up to knee-length is all-purpose whether one is doing normal work and at a high profile gathering. Opt for shoes that are neither too high-heeled and yet the right size to look appropriate without causing undue discomfort.

Paying attention to undergarments help maintain a neat and contained appearance. Use wrinkle free undergarments.

Finally adhere to the dress code and in case none exists pay close attention to what your immediate superiors and bosses are wearing and try to adhere to their dressing sense. Maintain your office wear to keep it in great shape always and be perfectly groomed.

What's current in office wear at the turn of 2010?

- The ubiquitous jacket paired with shirts, skirts, dresses or trousers

- Cotton based textiles and patterns are in

- Dual cloth effect created by reversible fabrics, which is plain on one side and patterned on the other, is in vogue.

- Stoles, puffed sleeves, stripes are back

- Hip hop urban clothing trend for autumn and winter include chunky knits in thick textures of different colours; stylish knitted scarves and knitted jumper sweaters finished with laddered stocking

- Hip-hop clothing trend for 2010 spring ranges from transparent clothing, one shouldered dress denim skirts, and one piece.

- Vintage hip-hop clothing would mean tight jeans; leather skirts and miniskirts will continue to rule. Embroidered apparels in all forms shall prove to be evergreen

9

Style & trends in daily wear - 2010

Things are looking up in 2010. The impact of Recession has left in its trail not only pink slips & diminished pay slips; but also shifts in perceptions. Rational thinking has paved the way for trends to get more practical and at the same time fit the budget. And yet looking ‘right' all the time is of paramount importance. Whether one is employed or in business, one's appearance is continuously being evaluated and it's these very impressions that translate into success in terms of getting a job/promotion or business opportunity. The upshot of slump being jobs getting scarce and business opportunities squeezed; competition has intensified. Cost-cutting has led to jobs being offered to freshers or those in the age group under 45. The age group to which looks matter most now also have to make sure they keep up with trends to be successful. Not to forget this very age group also have a lively love-life where looks hold sway eternally.

Ability to adapt to changing trends would then be the key to be successful not only on the professional front but in personal lives as well. It all begins on the personal front anyways. For isn't ‘what to wear' and ‘how to wear' a matter of personal choice. A fallacy one can't afford to indulge in. The way one looks is as perceived by others. Hence looks need to be contrived as per the need of the times in keeping with the latest trends of the season. Yet one can with a few minor changes blend one's personal taste within the parameters set by the seasonal trends to achieve a truly individual style.

It's not as daunting as it seems so. One needs to build up a wardrobe with essentials which are truly classic and timeless and accessorise the same with the flavour of the season. Consider your wardrobe essentials as an investment and do not hesitate to spend. Know what are the dos and don'ts of the latest trends and decide on what to buy and wear.

Daily wear obviously have to be of good quality to stand the wear and tear. At the same time they need not be tailor made. Ready to wear clothes of good quality serve the purpose very well. Shoes and bags of good qualities too are essentials. A well-groomed look needs that one spend time on skin and hair care too.

Bearing the above in mind, I outline below the flavours of 2010 for the modern femme fatalé.

- Classic camel in colours in polygonal

- Strong and clearly delineated shoulders are the way to go

- Belted coats are in vogue.

- Multi-layered knits and oversized sweaters and scarves rule runways.

- Skinny trousers and leather boots scaled the heights in fashion

- Furs even synthetic in pinks and yellow stand out

- ¾ elbow long sleeves accessorized with long gloves are a hit

- Short jackets worn with jeans, pants and knee-high boots are in style

- Cloaks and Capotes to Stoles and Wraps for an enigmatic look

- Finally trench coats for daily and office wear are a wow.

10

2010 Fashion shows - how far will they set or bend trends?

Satellite television and communication networks have changed our lives forever. Fashion shows which have always been within the domains of the elite are now so commonplace that even the most backward and rural areas boast of hosting fashion shows in malls, restaurants, clubs, ladies kitty party and coffee mornings. The frequency of their occurrence is a turn-off actually. Not only young adolescents are paraded but also toddlers, babies, and pets are the new victims of the now commonplace sport. In this endless search for that something new which will break the ennui shows tend to be more and more bizarre. The most sought after shows of the likes held in New York, Paris or Milan cannot claim to have the sway or hold they once enjoyed. Yet thousands flock to view these shows and the publicity which they attract hasn't diminished. So far so good. What has definitely not changed is that fashion trends keep revisiting.

Latest trends whether for Spring/Summer or Fall/Winter have a common thread underlying to them. Obvious and common in most shows was something of the old Hollywood lending a magical, romantic air and a sense of disquiet. Heroines from as early as the forties seemed to have cast a spell on models strutting through a haze of bubbles at one of the shows. The aura was heightened as black laces veiled the models up to their noses with hands and arms covered with matching lace gloves. Feather light chiffon gowns and costume jewellery truly antique were reminiscent of a bygone era when women of high fashion strolled in their finery on boulevards.

Coats cut with crochet panels, jackets with puffed sleeves panelled with lace accessorised with flora and fowl feathers in candyfloss hair, large bows embellishing waists and flowers adorning lacy hemmed skirts, ruffled gowns, and polka dots with tribal prints thrown in to add a touch of the réorchestration.

And in keeping with the times short wearable macs to reveal the antique jewels, innerwear becoming the outerwear, all in modern hues of magenta, coral, orange and lilac. Sheer drapes leaving nothing to the imagination belying that modest have gone with the wind forever.

Suede and leather, shoes with ballet like heels, harem pants in yellow are all vying to make a comeback in spring wear.

Gender roles are changing and bending as expressed in the sartorial preferences of the youth.

The 20 something's are open to anything and everything that is different that includes mixing up of clothes thus altering standards of gender appropriate dressing, tweaking modes, defying conventions and making mishmash of ancient dress codes. The unisex freestyle is universally admired drawing full support even to guys wearing skirts and leggings.

What is eye-catching and unique - meaning different, no matter how bizarre but wearable without too much fetters is lapped up as eagerly as a cat takes to milk. Leave the rest to mob psychology to work its charm and you have a trend that works until a new rehashed version replaces it. Street wear when worn for convenience by an errant passerby is easily copied and invariably ends up as a trend. Catwalk or streetwalker - the influence on trends of each is both undeniable and indefinable.