Coloured Watches

Despite almost everyone having a mobile phone, watches are as popular as ever. Now more a fashion statement than a functional item, watches are a must have accessory and there are plenty to choose from. They don’t have to be boring either as there are a myriad of designs to excite you and one way you can liven things up is to go for a model with funky colouring. If smartwatches turn you off and you want something different and instantly noticeable consider the following models to brighten up your wrist. Continue reading

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Memories of 1980’s Fashion

I grew up in the 1970’s when young people largely wore fairly mainstream fashion unless they were punks in which case it was all about bondage, tartan and studded leather. Until the end of that decade youth cultures tended to be successive, hitting the streets in turn one after the other and you were either part of the movement of the time or not. When the 1980’s arrived in Thatcher’s Britain it was a time of great aspiration and retail excess. Suddenly there were different movements and looks springing up all over the place as young people were variously influenced by American TV shows, musical icons and the London club scene. Continue reading

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The Last Word on Clothes and Accessories

Wearing your name or another word on your jewellery is something which comes and goes in fashion, and at the moment it’s on the decline. A few years ago every pop star was wearing chunky necklaces with their name, initial or other word around their neck, but now the trend seems to be more for having words or phrases inked into your skin permanently. Obviously the downside with tattoos is that they are not simple to remove when fashions change, so if you would like to buy into the words trend, then perhaps jewellery or clothing is the way to go. Continue reading

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The History of Dr Martens

Fashions tend to come and go and to be adapted for a new era but there is one iconic brand which has produced a style that has remained current and undeniably cool across more than 5 decades. Dr Martens first hit the UK market in 1960. There have been numerous different styles produced across the years but the original designs are still popular and are sold relatively unchanged today. Continue reading

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4 Things You Need In Your Wardrobe In 2013

2013 is seeing something of the fallout of the eighties trends of recent years. The big, shapeless t-shirts and nightmare day-glo embellishments haven’t quite gone away, but they do seemed to have evolved into something a little less like a remnant from a Duran Duran video.

Women’s wear has a lot of exciting things going on this year, but there are four areas that you really need to get into your wardrobe for this coming summer. Continue reading

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Fun Wacky Watches for Kids

The adult watch market is jam packed, with watch companies constantly battling it out amongst themselves for the biggest market share and most popular product ranges. The children’s watch market is much the same, only rather than precision mechanisms and space age materials luring in the crowds, designers of children’s watches use bold colours, special features and brands to attract their target audience.

The past few years has seen a step away from traditional children’s watches like Timex’s ‘Time Teacher’ and a shift towards more novelty and bold designs from manufacturers associated with children’s brands such as Ben 10, or from more niche manufacturers like Cupcakes and Cartwheels.

Bandai Ben 10 Omnitrix...

As an example let’s take a look at the Ben 10 Omnitrix Fliptop Watch.  The face of this watch is enclosed and it’s not until you press a specific button that the themed outer flips open to reveal the time. This watch is perfectly customisable too, featuring 10 interchangeable glow in the dark disks which can be used to instantly change the look of the watch.

It seems that customisable features are one way that manufacturers are making their products more appealing to kids. The Ribbon Watch from Cupcakes and Cartwheels is another example of this. In much the same way as the Ben 10 Omnitrix watch, the Ribbon Watch features customisable aspects in its design. The Ribbon Watch can have its straps switched and swapped and comes with 11 different ribbon straps, each decorated and coloured differently, providing a great level of customisation!

It’s unlikely that unless you have children that you will see the latest trends in children’s watch designs. That said you can be sure that the boundaries will constantly be pushed as manufacturers fight it out in an increasingly competitive market place.

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A Very Particular Pair Of Boots

Dr_martens_boots

I have always loved wearing boots as I like the style and the comfort they offer. I also adore the latest trends in studded and spiked boots because I like embellishments and sparkle. I do not, however, like heavy boots or anything which looks too utilitarian and so the last thing I ever expected to fall in love with was a pair of Doc Martens but fall in love I did!

Covent Garden

The fateful event happened when I was taking a stroll through Covent Garden in London. I was only casually browsing in shop windows but had been diverted by several rather swanky looking pairs of boots which I felt the need to try on. None of them were very comfortable despite looking fairly cool and so I had successfully evaded spending any money. As I progressed down the street the footwear appeared to be getting more and more outrageous with several examples of enormous ankle breaking platforms making me wonder if my taste was out of keeping with everyone else. Personally I have always felt that boots and shoes are for walking and so something that would inevitably prevent from moving even one step seemed rather pointless. Just as I was about to leave the area in search of more interesting fare my attention was grabbed by a pair of boots which had pride of place in an adjacent shop window. They were sitting on a small plinth and were screaming buy me!

The Boots

The boots were black leather, quite stylish and feminine and brilliantly encrusted in dozens of Swarovski crystals. I entered the shop and examined the boots to find that they were a pair of Doc Martens which was the last thing I expected to see. I tried them on and they were very comfortable indeed. I was suddenly seeing the brand in a whole new light. A few months previously I had rather scoffed at a bride in my bridal shop who had announced that she intended to wear a pair of white jewelled Doc Martens under her wedding dress. This seemed to me to be a ridiculous thing to do but now I was not so sure. The boots I had fallen for were sadly well beyond my budget or any budget I was ever likely to have as they appeared to be a limited edition style and were weighed down with a considerable amount of crystal. I had to leave the shop without them but whilst there I discovered several other interesting styles which I would strongly consider wearing if perhaps not for a wedding.

A Change of View

Every so often a piece of clothing or some footwear will change your perceptions of a brand and also of yourself and what you want to wear. I had never considered Doc Martens but I certainly will in the future. I have learnt to dismiss nothing and consider everything because you just never know where that favourite fashion item will come from or who will have designed it.

Byline

Sally Stacey is a regular blogger who has found a new passion for Doc Martens! Check her Google+ profile now!

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Coloured Shoes – Fashion Must Have, Or Fashion Faux Pas?

626px-Red_shoes

Fashion has become more colourful in recent years. We have moved away from the acres of black, grey and beige and you just have to take a look in any high street retailer to see that the most fashionable colours for 2013 are bright shades like emerald green and lemon yellow. This applies equally to men and women, but as the old saying you can have too much of a good thing. Many of us are scared to wear bright colours because we’re not sure how to put items together to make a great outfit, and end up looking like an explosion in a paint factory. Even if we’ve embraced the concept of bright clothing, we stick to black, white or beige for our footwear. So how do you wear bright shoes without looking silly?

There’s a Time and a Place…

Even though coloured trainers and shoes are trendy at the moment, they’re not appropriate for every situation. If you are expected to dress conservatively at work, stick to black, grey or navy trousers with plain black shoes and keep the yellow Nike Blazer vintage shoes for the weekend. Some employers, especially in the more creative industries, have a more relaxed dress code so take your cue from other workers to see what is acceptable in your workplace and what is not.

Focus on the Feet

If you’ve just got a new pair of bright shoes and want to show them off, make them the main focus of your outfit. Wear very plain clothing to draw attention to your shoes, and if it’s summer time wear shorts or a skirt to make them even more visible. Pastel shades worn with bright shoes are a good combination, especially for warmer months.

Colour Matching

When you’re getting ready in the morning, think about the outfit as a whole rather than the shoes in isolation. For example, if you’re wearing a plain white t-shirt and some jeans, you can get away with a bright pair of vintage style sneakers shoes or some pink Converse boots; but if you have chosen some cherry red trousers and a yellow t-shirt, it may be better to stick to plainer footwear, or choose red shoes which will tone in perfectly with whatever you are wearing on your legs. Choose socks which match either trousers or shoes so that you are not adding yet another colour into the mix.

Keep it Clean

It goes without saying that you should make an extra effort to keep your coloured shoes in tip top condition. You might be able to get away with traipsing through puddles in your brown or black shoes, but coloured shoes will often show up every speck of dirt and grime. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for taking care of your shoes, and never be tempted to throw them in the washing machine or to scrub them with washing up liquid or plain soap. Using a waterproof spray will help form a protective barrier on the surface of your shoes and may help them resist becoming stained in the first place.

Byline

Morag Peers is an enthusiastic blogger with her finger on the pulse! Check her out now on Google+

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Sexy lingerie!

Us girlies love a bit of gorgeous sexy lingerie sometimes, and let’s face it… there’s nothing more retro than basques and suspenders! We’ve found a great supplier up in Lancashire called Chantilly, who offer fast and efficient postage for a great range of lingerie by Prima Donna – sexy and flattering and a little bit naughty at the same time. Take a look, and if you’re in the area then Chantilly offer a fab fitting service so you can make sure you get the right cup size for basques and bras, which I can tell you makes a difference…

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Ladies Tissot Desire Watches

We love a bit of bling here at Alternative Clothing UK, so here is a link to a collection of some of the shiniest and prettiest watches around.  The ladies Tissot watch collection from Watch Hub comes in several guises, so you can choose from leather, Gold or stainless steel strap and there’s even a Gold / Silver version for those who like to mix things up a bit!  Fabulous watches and as they are made by the Swiss company Tissot you know they will keep on telling the time when you’re pushing up daisies!

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