Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Service Journalism Submission 8: Fool-Proof Trio

The Fool-Proof Trio
Three looks to save you for last minute dates

We all need a little spontaneity in our lives. One of the nicest things after a long day of work is an impromptu night out. Facing your wardrobe early in the morning is difficult enough; nothing kills the excitement of a potential soiree like having to face it for a second time that day. Like your old friends who are always around to save you in a moment of crisis, these three looks will come to the rescue every time.

“It looks better on me.”
It may be cliché, but one thing that is always hot on a woman is her boyfriend’s shirt. You know that feeling: you have just finished a hot and heavy session with your man and it is your turn to get the glass of water, so you slip on his J-Crew button-up and run to the fridge Risky Business style. Upon return to the love nest, you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and think: “Man, this really does work.” Well, you are right. And, if you do it properly, it can work for an evening out too. The key to this look is to wear the shirt the way you would wear it when you grab it off of the bedroom floor. Roll up the sleeves, leave several buttons open (you can even wear it falling off of one shoulder if you have a strapless on), and pop that collar! At this point you have two options: if you are feeling casual you can throw on a pair of tight jeans and some cowboy boots, or for a more sophisticated look, you can wear a cigarette pant with some pumps or even loafers. The final touch that will make you the hottest one in the room is the tousled hair. If you are going to mimic, you may as well go all the way. With the tousled bedroom hair and the boyfriend shirt, every person you see will look at you the way your boyfriend does after the big event.

The Low-Key Flapper
A second look that always comes through is, once again, based on men’s fashion. The difference is that this one takes its inspiration from the 1920s. There is something very powerful about the old-school gangster aesthetic, and it is a lot easier to achieve than you would imagine. All you need to have is a men’s undershirt (now referred to as a wife beater), a pair of suspenders, and a wide-legged trouser. The beauty of this look is that it works just as well when worn understatedly as it does dressed up. If you feel like going all out you can put some finger waves in your hair and pull it into a tight bun. Wear a big gold men’s watch and smoke a cigar. Heck, you could even throw in a fedora! Alternatively, this look works with nothing but some bright red lipstick and a pair of high top runners. Piece of cake!

A splash you say?
Stylists and fashion gurus always talk about adding a splash of colour to your favourite black outfit to give it some punch. This may sound simplistic but it is one of the best techniques for looking great in a hurry. Start by dressing in a few black pieces like a fitted skirt, a v-neck sweater, and some knee high boots. Once you have done that, all you need to add is an oversized strand of garnets, a big turquoise belt, or a colourful set of bangles and you are good to go.

So, next time your cell phone rings on your way home from work and someone invites you to go to the movies, relax and tell them you will see them in twenty minutes!

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