Straw Hat & The History Behind It

A major style statement which earlier used to be a summertime staple. For completing our seaside look or any summer outfit, we always reach for a straw hat and it is very much instinctive to us. The straw hat is one of the most obvious accessories, next to sunglasses, which protect us from the harmful UV rays of the sun. But from where it has been originated, this is not clear. The straw hat is ubiquitous and when an item is of such kind, it becomes virtually impossible to determine its origination or to pinpoint the first documentation of its existence. The straw hat does have some fun facts about it: it was considered to be a kind of head covering piece which protects from the inclement weather. Also, this is the first ever article of clothing that humans wore. Straw hats are believed to be worn in the 15th century (after the Middle Ages) in Europe and Asia and can be distinguished with its woven which is done using a different kind of straws or similar texture fibers like braided hemp, raffia, and jute. Rice paddy workers used to wear cone-shaped hats in order to shield themselves from the harsh rays of the sun and heavy rains in Asia, and in different countries like Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The straw hat or nón lá in Vietnam was originated when the goddess come down from the sky to protect people from the torrential downpour and she was wearing this enormous hat which was made up of the four large leaves held together by bamboo sticks. 19th Century, Cultivation of rice in Japan An illuminated French Gothic manuscript was created from 1412 to 1416 and is the most famous surviving examples of Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. It was considered that most men wear short-brim straw hats. But by 1700s, straw bonnets were worn by French Women and by 1800s, there was depiction in European paintings of the women giving poses in ribbon-adorned floppy straw hats with an upturned brim. In 1887, Vincent Van Gogh in a self-portrait immortalized his straw hat. In 1865, John B. Stetson invented the first cowboy hat that was made of straw and till today the silhouette basically remains unchanged. Gustave Leonard de Jonghe Painting Everyone has started embracing straw hats by the late 1800s and early 1900s. But this accessory was catapulted to fame when it was worn by President Theodore Roosevelt during his visit to the Panama Canal in 1906. At a construction site, he was photographed in his pale suit and Panama hat. This summertime staple was light in weight and it exuded in both casual and polish equal parts. And by 1944, it was the number one export of Ecuador. In 1890, Santa Monica Calif, Picture of Vacationers A decade later, wider brim styles skyrocketed to popularity but they were already famous as a beach essential. In the ‘30s, for a seaside portrait, the matching straw hats were coordinated by Frances Dee, Adrienne Ames, and Judith Wood. Then in 1955, the newcomer Brigitte Bardot worn the straw hat with an exaggerated brim and it got famous when she got her headshot taken. In 1970, on the sets of dramedy Le Genou de Claire, a floppy shorter-brim version was worn by French actress Laurence de Monaghan along with her two-piece. Brigitte Bardot, 1955 Laurence de Monaghan on the set of Le Genou de Claire movie In the followed years, there were various forms and shapes in which the straw hat appeared. Of Course, Fashion does have a say in the matter. In 1965, a taller style with a frayed edge was considered to be the first runway instances of a straw hat. At the helm of French fashion house Chloé, in 1976, a model wearing a ribbon-adorned boater hat along with a white Grecian-style halter dress was sent out by Karl Lagerfeld. Outsized silhouettes were already in if we move forward in the ‘90s.  In 1991, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac came up with the over-the-top style and it was that big that it became hard to judge where the hat ended and the shirt began. The very next years, in 1992 collections Dior Spring/Summer, the short-brim straw fedoras and voluminous floppy hats (the former for ready-to-wear and the latter, for couture) were shown by the designer Gianfranco Ferre.Dior Spring/Summer 1992: Ready-to-Wear (L) and Couture (R)   Anna Sui Spring/Summer 2007 And the designers were not able to resist themselves by giving a high-fashion costume spin to straw hats. Designer Anna Sui, during her Spring/Summer 2007 collection reimagined these hats as pirate hats. On the other hand, in Chinese-inspired Chanel show which was held in Shanghai in 2009, designer Karl Lagerfeld embroidered straw conical hats. In the current season, we have seen a burst of renewed interest in straw hats as for Spring/Summer 2018, there was various kind of iterations done by designers. A whimsical bow-shaped headpiece was designed by Delpozo, A comical degree was given to the crown b A.W.A.K.E, straw safari-esque styles were shown by Loewe, and the statement hats with extra-long brim were delivered by Missoni, Giorgio Armani, and Jacquemus. And since then, these all have gone viral. Spring/Summer 2018 top row: Delpozo, A.W.A.K.E., Loewe; bottom row: Giorgio Armani, Missoni, Jacquemus Gucci Spring/Summer 2018 Straw Hats certainly seems to be the most democratic fashion items. It has continued to be an incredible and rare item which can transcend age, class, gender, and fashion genres. This could be due to its utilitarian roots or its low-maintenance nature.

Avoid Sweat Patches: Know about the 6 Best and Worst Fabric for Summers

If you consider yourself as a sweaty betty, we have listed down the best fabrics for you to wear this summer. Let’s explore what best suits you and know about the benefits of cotton to the evils of rayon. Every person at some point in time will surely be having some kind of sweat patch fiasco, whether they consider themselves as a ‘sweaty person’ or not. The unprecedented hot climes always play havoc with our sweat glands. Even if you are a person who only requires a small spritz of deodorant in the morning or a person in the social gathering, whose friends whisper 'S.U.L.A' (sweaty upper lip alert). You can reach the height of being cool with your ALEXA CHUNG faux patent leather skirt but wearing this in a hot bus ride might be the height of cool, but at the same time dealing with the sweat dribble running down your legs can rather undermine this statement. And when you come to realize that even the best dry cleaners are not able to overturn the pong of your overheated underarms, then you will surely think about the clever (as thought by you) investment which you did in Burberry wool-felt blazer isn't that clever. Summers!! You seriously test our patience!! There is a great hot weather, but what makes us struggle is to know what is the right clothing, not only for this increased temperature and but also for the excessive public sweating. So for the do and don’ts of summer, a list has been rounded up by us. Let’s face the summers because looking like our elbows make us really feel tired. Summer fabric – Do’s: Cotton Your summer wardrobe always consists of maximum numbers of cotton dresses, shirts and flared skirts and there is definitely a reason behind this. Cotton is considered to be a natural fiber through which air can easily circulate and can move freely through the fabric. Cotton ensure the airflow that helps in drying out the damp areas of the body. Cotton which is of very good quality and is light in weight easily absorbs moisture and is also available in a diverse range of styles and colors. But you should also be warned, as another trait of cotton is that it easily creases. So whenever you are planning for a holiday, so packing the cotton-polyester clothes is the best option. Another thing to keep in concern is that as the cotton soaks the moisture, so it can easily become heavy and wet. In such case always go for the light colors rather than choosing the dark colors to avoid pit patches. Linen Linen is considered to be a loosely woven fabric that helps in escaping the heat from the body and it easily absorbs moistures and quickly dries. What does it really mean? In a mathematical sum: You + linen = cool as a cucumber. Linen has another characteristic that it does not tend to stick to the body as it is malleable in nature. Also if you do not want crinkles that go for the linen blends, as the linen can wrinkle quite easily. Chambray Another fabric which is apt for summers is Chambray. It is similar to denim and in the warp, it is woven with a colored yarn and in the weft, it is woven with a white yarn. This fabric is light in weight and is breathable. So opt for the darker shades as it absorbs the majority of sweat and says goodbye to bum sweat. Just watch your summer days getting officially over by swapping your denim wardrobe with the chambray alternatives. Summer fabric - Don'ts: Polyester Polyester is considered to be a sweaty woman's nightmare in summer. However, it is a highly stain-resistant and durable fabric. If you will wear polyester in summers then you will all day feel trapped in the vacuum of your own sweat. Polyester is very horrendous in absorbing moisture as this fabric is woven or knitted from the polyester thread or yarn and obviously the polyester base fabrics are water resistant. This can be better explained if you will focus on why those bargain garments of your wardrobe stay exactly there - during summer. And for all our sakes, get polyester swapped with cotton. Rayon A sneaky devil is what Rayon is. This fabric is man-made is woven with a blend of cotton, wood pulp, and with some of the natural or synthetic fibers. However, rayon does not get stick to the body due to its thin fibers, but we should not forget that its synthetic fibers just like polyester repels water, rather than absorbing it. What you have to remember one thing is that, the summer fabrics you wear should absorb the water instead of repelling it. Obviously, it may be contradictory for a person who always suffers from sweat patches on the clothes, but choosing textures which repel moisture will clearly reflect the areas of dampness on whatever you wear. Denim You have really got to be a brave soul if you are choosing denim to wear in summers, even if the denim shorts may look cute on you when you roam in a park. Denim in clear terms is ‘anti-sweat’. Neither it is breathable nor stretchy. It is a durable but a heavyweight fabric. My fellow sweaters, denim is not at all your friend. It results in bum sweat, chaffing, and increased sweat. So remember what is best to wear in summer is cotton, linen, and chambray.

Celebrities who are Best Dressed This Month - July 2018

Explore the Trending summer wardrobe collection. 1. Margot Robbie In July 2018, at London’s Prince Charles Cinema, this actress looked absolutely stunning during the screening of the new film Terminal. 2. Emily Ratajkowski During Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week party, a Paco Rabanne black blazer was worn by this model.    3. Penelope Cruz At the Chanel Haute Couture show, this Oscar-winning actress wore a gingham pink and white smock dress and she was looking like a tanned goddess.   4. Lily Rose Depp The model was wearing a matching monochrome two-piece during the Chanel Haute Couture AW18/19 show.   5. Ellie Bamber A bell-sleeve bubblegum-pink coat dress worn along with the cutest Chanel life ring-inspired bag was well sported by this actress.   6. Tracee Ellis Ross During the Chanel Show, a simple white T-shirt and bronze-colored skirt with oversized pockets were worn by this TV actress. The matching pointed-toe boots were giving a perfect look.   7. Soo Joo Park The model wore a striped blue and white halter neck dress while attending the Chanel Haute Couture Fall-Winter AW18 show.   8. Katie Holmes During Christian Dior Haute Couture AW18/19 show that took place in Paris, this actress chose a patterned black and cream Dior dress. Mary Jane sandals and a black Dior bag was a perfect add-on.   9. Emma Roberts Wearing a tulle and sheer cream-colored dress along with spaghetti straps and gold pointed heels gave this actress a regal look.   10. Karlie Kloss The sheer embroidered white Peter Pan collar dress gave an elegant look to this model.   11. Amelia Windsor For a fashion event, this royal chose a red-printed dress and white clutch bag that make her look tanned.   12. Margaret Qualley The white polka dot Dior dress and fedora gave an adorable look to this actress.   13. Georgia Fowler and Bambi Northwood Blyth To celebrate the opening of a new store in Saint-Tropez, at the brand's weekend extravaganza, this actress wore matching floral Zimmermann dresses that gave her a sun-kissed look. The brand treated A-listers like Olivia Munn and Emma Roberts was treated by this brand with a delectable lunch at Chateau Volterra. In the countryside, there is a heavenly backdrop of rolling hills.   14. Donna Wallace ELLE UK's accessories editor wore a low-cut striped Zimmermann maxi-dress and paired it with white sliders during a star-studded event. She was looking flawless.   15. Emma Roberts The baby blue floral printed Zimmermann dress gave this actress a dazzling look. She paired it with caramel-colored wedges at the brand's St Tropez party.   16. Sofia Sanchez De Betak At the Villa Cetinale, during the annual Rosetta Getty Tuscany party, this fashion consultant gave herself a summer chic look in red one-shoulder draped dress.   17. Elizabeth Olsen At the Italian party, this actress wore a billowing gold Rosetta Getty maxi dress, which gave her a shimmering look.

Fashion That Makes Women Feel Empowered: 9 Tips for Power Dressing

Because to be a real-life Wonder Woman, You actually don’t need a costume Confidence can be easily defined as an elusive je ne sais quoi with which usually everyone grapples. But had anyone focused on how the confidence can be amped by what you wear? Since the days when people used to rely on shoulder-pads and pinstripes to create a little chutzpah, the dressing has evolved and there is no denial on this. Today, we do not opt for the flash outfits to communicate confidence, rather anyone who is in love with fashion can explain you well how it helps to boost the spirit, talent, and skills within. And many of the brands are here just to make you do that. The fashion collection does have a mix of mood-enhancing tailoring and unapologetic brights. You can choose either the metallic mini dress, thigh-high red boots or sharp power suit and wear such pieces makes you feel stronger. As we all know, when it comes to finding a perfect outfit, no one can apply any one-size-fits-all formula. We have collected certain ideas and tricks from the roster of successful and stylish women who certainly reveals their methods which act as a way for inspiration. For some women, what boost their sartorial confidence are some key accessories like a wide belt, a pair of cocktail earrings, a pair of style statement shoes and a scraped back smooth hairstyle, typically a low middle-part bun. As they are getting older, they feel the clothes are arguably less flamboyant and are easy to wear. Their confidence usually comes from fail-safe 'enhancers'. Others may opt for a crisp mans’ shirt which can be worn with skinny trousers that give a strong silhouette. There are few other clothes paring option which women try like a high necked, long sleeved long dress from which nothing gets revealed, but its glove like fitting makes it the sexiest thing of all. For some of them, these two are pretty good options but what they prefer the most is the scraped back bun along with the pair of brightly hued earrings. As this reflects the world that you are hiding nothing and from no-one!! Some of the below mentioned key points should be kept in mind while choosing a particular look. YOUR PERSONALITY SHOULD ALWAYS SHINE THROUGH Fashion is considered to be an amazing tool for empowerment which ultimately all about confidence. Having a highly personal aesthetic is what fashion is and it’s all about prints, color, proportion or the confidence you show to pair unusual pieces together. SHOULD BE DRESSED LIKE A SUPERHERO "Which Freddie gets some air time today?" this is what you should ask yourself while picking any outfit. There are several outfits which are liked by people that translate their mood and give a crazy look. Like a superhero costume, people often pick outfits with bold shapes and textures, and pieces that hold a strong shape. Mashing everything all together is what a pretty perfect outfit is. CREATE YOUR OWN RULES To make a person feel confidents, fashion is the most incredible and powerful tool. To make yourself comfortable and to feel self-assured, you can opt for flat shoes because tired and achy feet can make your confidence low. Also to elongate your legs, a pair of flats with high waist jeans is the best option you can go for. To give it a more classic look, team it up a crisp white shirt or a navy turtleneck. YOU SHOULD DISCOVER YOUR OWN SIGNATURE STYLE What is important is to allocate your time in discovering what suits you and what makes you feel confident in terms of fashion. Efforts should be done in finding out what works for you and what pieces can make you feel great and can make you rid from the worry of rushing to get ready. Make sure that you should have to regret your choice later. What works for you and what makes you feel and look good, should be your signature outfit. So just rock it!! AN IDEAL LENGTH IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO FIND When you are wearing an outfit which you truly love and feel comfortable in, your confidence boost up. Wearing jumpsuits and slightly longer-length items can be a comfortable option to choose as you do not have to be conscious about adjusting your dress while sitting down or making any other movement. EXPRESS THROUGH YOUR FASHION Fashion is considered to be a language which speaks for itself. It gives you the power to speak to everyone through your clothes without uttering a single word. Fashion can make you feel calm one day and feisty on the other. If you will dress in a way that reflects your emotion, you will feel in the control of your day. Having that along with a vocal expression is sure to give you confidence. THE BOLD COLORS DEFINING PERSONALITY Turn to all thing colorful, if you want to boost your wardrobe. Your everyday work will definitely get inspired by rich and vibrant colors. These colors lift the mood and make a person feel powerful. To put on a bright statement accessory will surely help you in making a good entrance. An oversized earring is a good option to choose or a bold bag or some pair of accessories and these can definitely make you look fabulous from average and can make you feel good. COME OUT FROM YOUR COMFORT ZONE You should always try something new and make it as your own. I find it empowering to try something new and make it your own. Many people are wary of the 'lady in red' cliché and they think it will not suit them, but trying it once can definitely enhance their personality and can boost their confidence. They will surely feel convinced we can call them as a red convert!!

The Royal Wardrobe of Meghan Markle Has Worth £750,000 In Just Two Months

In just two months of Meghan Markle’s wedding, her royal wardrobe collection has worth £750,000. Let’s take a look on her royal wardrobe collections from her wedding dress to nude-colored dresses by Goat, Carolina Herrera, and Givenchy and let’s figure out how much it really costs to look like a royal. From her designer and often through her bespoke wardrobe, Meghan in just two months of being duchess has started serving some seriously glamorous regal looks. Meghan is continuously showing off her love for the nude hues and sharp tailoring. From her wedding gown designed by Givenchy and Renta maxi by Oscar de la to her open-neck shirt by Prada and sheer blush dress by Goat which is worn in her first public appearance, you would have always found this royal stunning in her looks. The total sum of the 36-year-old’s royal wardrobe has been revealed by a royal expert and we can definitely say that it doesn’t come cheap. Meghan, since she said ‘I Do’ to Prince Harry, her outfits have worth more than £750,000 as revealed by Katie Nicholl who is the author of Entertainment Tonight. She further explained that since Meghan is now married to the Prince of Wales and is a part of the royal family so it does fall- even to cover the cost of her working wardrobe. And for the handful appearances, a six-figure sum of clothes worn by Meghan might make us question our bank balance. If you notice, it kind of makes sense when you break down the star’s look. The Two Wedding Dress The boat-neck, long-sleeved white dress worn by Meghan, which was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy has the estimated cost of around £387,000. The other halter-neck sleeveless fishtail dress which was designed by Stella McCartney has the estimated worth of £119,555. The thing which is must remember that Meghan is now the member of the royal family and has a net worth of over £383 million. So she is able to splash more cash than any other everyday bride as this price will be out of their reach. The Royal Appearances At the 70th birthday of Prince of Wales, the former actress wore The Flavia silk-crepe pencil dress by Goat which is worth £590 and a blush pink dress Carolina Herrera off-the-shoulder dress which has an estimated worth of £3,045 for the Trooping of the Color. These dresses Meghan chose for her first post-wedding look. Meghan then wore an oat-colored Givenchy cape dress for her first solo appearance with the Queen in Cheshire. This dress has the estimated worth of £13,704. On the wedding of Prince Harry’s cousin, she wore an Oscar de la Renta which has a staggering worth of £4,568. The Markle’s outfit costs exclude the countless number of designer shoes which she wears and the other accessories like hats, bags, jewelry which do not have a The Expense - Why? The Meghan’s expensive wardrobe is the job she is performing is a part of the royal family. Even if you see a lot of fashion haul, this point is very much quicker to point out. The royal family’s ambassador – Meghan has bought so much publicity in the run-up to the wedding, so it seems like it’s worth every penny. The effect of Meghan Markle What Meghan has to do is simply to step out in an outfit designed by any other the brands like Hiut, Marks & Spencer, Strathberry, etc because this sparks across the world as a frenzied spree which results in fashion houses being out of stock in minutes. So the designer garments which Meghan wear is not only considered to be fashion savvy but for retailers, it is considered to be as a major business boon The white robe coat from Line the Label was sold out within minutes along with crashing the company’s website which Meghan wore during the announcement of her engagement. This inspired brand and it renamed the garment as “The Meghan”. The other day, when Meghan wore a pair of Mother Jeans helped the brand in witnessing a 200 percent increase in the online traffic. So, if we pay attention to it, we can see Meghan having some serious selling power which over the next few years is guaranteed to grow. When it comes to the royal wardrobe of the Duchess, it not only about splashing the cash. Meghan is also has a focus on recycling her wardrobe pieces for making public appearances, just like her sister-in-law Kate Middleton. Recently she wore the same pair of custom Aquazzura heels which she wore on her wedding day. We can even see Meghan making more public appearances and stepping out in the outfits that she has worn previously also. It would be criminal not to re-wear that sort of couture which has those sort of price tags. Definitely, we couldn’t agree more.