Archive for June, 2009

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Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

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The history of Gucci

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

Gucci is known worldwide for its luxury. Gucci makes high quality designer products, in a varity of fashions, for fashionable men and women.

Gucci was founded in the year 1906, in florence. In the 1950’s, Gucci started being branded, and their signature design can still be noticed from a distance. Their leather handbag with bamboo handles is one of them, a signture item now. In the 50’s also their trademark was changed, from its original place on the saddle girth, to what it is today — red striped webbing. This became just as big as a emblem.

Gucci created many classics, that are still fashoinable and being manufcatured today in the late 50’s, products such as ties, shoes luggage and his one of a kind famous handbag sporting bamboo wooden handles.After gucci’s death, which was in the year 1953, his family continued working on the company. His family was able to bring the Gucci name to knew heights by opening up stores across the globe, in cities such as Paris, London, Tokyo and Beverly Hills.

When the 1960’s hit, Gucci grew with the time, and their fame, fortune and fashion sense grew larger and larger. Hollywood certaintly helped Gucci with freee advertising, with stars such as Peter Sellers, and Grace Kelley openely flaunted their high-end Gucci products, making Gucci look very chic.

Gread Gift Ideas for Men - Fashion Tips & Trends for Men in 2009

Monday, June 29th, 2009

* Color

Men’s clothing for the spring & summer season has made its mark with the presence of color. There is a strong blue influence which replicates David Hockney paintings during his splash period in the 1960s, and the introduction of pink.

 

Men’s fashion is having a pink moment in 2008, therefore, defining your masculinity has become more of a challenge this summer. This not-so-typical color sorts the men from the boys, as it takes guts and skill to wear; requiring men to make a modern color statement whilst still maintaining a masculine edge. This can be done by keeping cuts and fabrics very traditional and teaming it with neutral shades, such as white, beige, gray or black.

 

In addition to being “In the Pink”, the fashion industry is also feeling blue this season. Not the dark navy kind, but the azure blue of David Hockney’s Splash, pool paintings. From Louis Vuitton’s head-to-toe azure Moon Beach collection, on the spring runways to Hockney-inspired Missoni shirts, Hockneyed-Splash sweatshirts, to azure-colored cargo pants and suits. Feeling blue has never been so on-trend.

 

 

 

* Style

 

In this season, men to wear a dress shirt with a tie for business is suitable for almost all circumstances. In some offices, or outdoor work sites, short sleeves may be appropriate. Look at the example set by your supervisor and respected colleagues. If these people wear short sleeves, then it may be okay in that situation…

 

When dressing to impress, do not follow the standard of the office non-conformist. Sleeves can always be rolled up if necessary.

 

Collars come in different styles, usually a normal pointed collar and a spread collar. Spread collars are newer and show a contemporary fashion. The spread accents the tie, and therefore look better with a wider tie. Some shirts have different color collars than the shirt which appears bolder.

 

Men’s Hoodies make a welcome return as they have been reinvented to form an integral part of your wardrobe rather than a casual cover-up. With some innovative styling this season, hoodies have evolved to become a substitute for a blazer or cardigan, matching your ensemble and being classy enough to take you from beach to bar. Hoodies have become sophisticated enough to be street-savvy garments, layer them over a tee or shirt, or be more adventurous and go for a Juicy Couture hooded leather jacket or an OntFront Sidewalk Tailoring hooded blazer.

 

On the subject of swimming pools, another look du jour is the combination of trunks as shorts. Wear them as both; saving you that fashion dilemma of having to wear shorts over trunks. Offerings come from labels such as Thom Browne, ADAM, Opening Ceremony, and Shipley & Halmos who have pairs that can be easily teamed with a more formal shirt or blazer.

 

This is also the season of the lightweight-knit, be it revamped hoody or button-up cardigan. Men also have one less choice to make when it comes to swimming, by throwing on a pair of combi shorts and trunks.

 

 

* Men’s Fashion Accessories

 

Underwears - In the 13th century underwear became an important piece of apparel, and like most fashions, the thong and g-string reappeared in the 1970s on the beaches of Brazil. Unlike the Khoisans of 75,000 years ago, today’s male consumers enjoy a vast array of styles, fabrics and colours to choose from. The evolution of underwear has shaped how we feel and how we look today.

 

Aside from the above, sitting poolside requires some additional accessories. Nautical caps and deck shoes are right on-trend, so are blue and white manbags. Accessorize your outfit with some fashion-forward, round-saucer shades — David Hockney-inspired eyewear or John Lennon frames.

 

* Special Tips for Men who has a Big Stomach

 

- Go for light fabrics and dark colors if you want to slimline your torso.

 

- Use a belt to nip in your waistline. As long as your stomach does not hang over, contrary to what you might think, this will make you appear slimmer.

 

- For an instant slimming effect, go monochromatic. Wear a dark color shirt/top and pants with a different color blazer or jacket over the top.

 

- Horizontal stripes are your enemy rather than your friend. Vertical stripes (although not too wide) will elongate your body, but diagonal ones will also draw attention to your torso, having a widening effect. Pinstripe shirts can be slimming, especially when teamed with dark color pants.

 

- Large, busy prints in shirts and tees will only serve to accentuate your stomach. According to The Style Bible, look for a smaller (but not too small) print, which is spaced quite a way apart.

 

- Avoid bulky knits and go for something more slimming like a dark-colored cashmere sweater.

 

- Long-sleeve T-shirts and shirts will make your body look more proportioned than sleeveless or short-sleeves, which will draw attention to your middle.

 

 

- For Fall & Winter

 

 

Fall is one of the most exciting seasons for men’s fashion in that it presents a great deal of variety - the cooling weather and tendency towards warmer and more classic colours can present a challenge that we’ll have to examine in order to find a wardrobe that fits the change of seasons.

 

Color

 

Traditionally, an eye for colour will benefit any gentleman concerned with style. In Fall 2009, look for browns, blues, and especially shades of orange – orange having made a surprise comeback in recent years that shows no sign of stopping in the near future. When matching colours, remember that most blues, especially lighter to medium hues such as baby blue or french blue, pair extremely well with brown tones – strange but true!

 

A brown leather jacket would be a premium recommendation in that brown brings a distinct note of style into your overall look and seperates you from the legions of men who simply always opt for the severe looking, and much more common, black jacket. A chocolate brown leather simply ages more gracefully than its darker cousin, and adds a vintage flair.

 

 

 

Style

 

From sharp-suited silks, to pants following a Balinese, Malaysian and Inidian style, the next year’s collection will be filled with unstructured jackets, loose drawstring and cropped dhoti-style pants.

 

Men’s wear should feeling casual and relaxed for next season, there is still the air of opulence associated with the label. Jackets in ivory crocodile and chenille cardigans for the torso, sleek silk trousers, and jackets set off with silk handkerchiefs, all are distinctly deluxe in look.

 

Brown also co-ordinates much better with most jeans, sweaters, and shirts that will be presented to you in the cooler seasons. and a  french blue dress or sport shirt is not only a staple piece of any wardrobe of merit, but will serve you in wonderful stead in a variety of social occasions ranging from a casual date at the local watering hole, a stroll in the park (when coupled with jeans and the aforementioned leather coat), or a high-pressure job interview.

 

As leather jackets are a forever classical style, so in 2009, leather will still act as one of the most popular fabrics in the fashion industry. A soft, supple material that conforms to the curve’s of a person’s body, leather has a natural sex appeal that is unmatched by any other fabric. Leather is a favorite among the fashion industry, models and musicians.

 

Given the durability factors, along with the classic, stylish look of leather and the comparative low cost of either, no wonder this item has not only survived as a fashion statement through out history but has also remained a practical choice with universal appeal. So men to choose a motorcycle or bomber jacket can get a feeling that you are never go out of style.

 

Accessories

 

As for accessories, one piece of clothing that immediately springs to mind would be a scarf, worn rather rakishly in the earlier months of fall or perhaps more pragmatically during the bitter cold of a northern winter! Scarves can add a level of distinction and personality to a wardrobe that is often afforded to the wearer via a necktie – it is a centerpiece of the outerwear collection and is something that immediately catches the eye of the passerby.

 

A wool or cotton scarf is recommended, as silk tends to look rather foppish or effete when worn by most men – and as for colour, the primary suggestion is to either find a tone in the scarf that would tie in nicely with your most commonly worn coat, or simply a scarf that catches your eye and that you rather like. Remember, when it comes to accessories such as scarves and neckties, they are showcases for your sense of style and personality – choose accordingly! Scarves are draped around the waist as belts, or slung casually over the shoulders. Shoes also followed a distinctly Asian style with lace-ups, woven hopsack, snakeskin, and crocodile.

 

* Great Costume Ideas for Guys on Halloween or a Christmas Carnival

 

At last ,as the Halloween and Christmas season is coming soon, if you want to get noticed at a fancy dress party,  I’d like to give men some special ideas about costumes for men.

 

Ghostbuster Costume

 

A great costume idea for a group of guys who can argue over which one of them gets to be Ray, Peter, Winston or Egon. Grey boiler suits are the starting point. High-end costumers will have proton packs for hire, but an improvised version using backpacks/old drinks bottles and a super soaker can be effective. A new Ghostbusters video game is about to be released, so purchasing Ghostbuster accessories should become easier.

 

Celebrity Lookalike Costume

 

For the partygoer who bears more than a striking resemblance to a celebrity ,the lookalike costume is a good choice and will be sure to generate discussion. If the partygoer does not look like anyone famous then they can try some of the more visually recognisable celebs for example

 

Superhero Costume

 

Is it a bird, is it a plane? No It’s someone dressed as a superhero on the dance floor. Superhero costumes are easy to find, cheap to hire and always guaranteed to raise a smile. Popular superhero costumes are.

 

Astronaut Costume

 

If the partygoer has the money, then the space suit is quite simply the most show-stopping of all the costumes. Generally this costume requires a large rental fee and on top of that a substantial deposit.

 

Cowboy Costume

 

Another costume that is very popular with women is the cowboy outfit. It’s quite common, so the wearer should add some unique touches to the costume such as a sheriff’s badge or a wacky colour scheme. The cowboy costume will be available from most fancy dress suppliers.

 

Sailor Dress Uniform Costume

 

With its bright white colour, this costume is great for parties that may be using UV lighting. The wearer will stand out from the crowd and will be seen from the other side of the room with ease. Due to its apperances in An Officer and a Gentleman and Top Gun , this costume seems to be very popular with women.

 

Chippendale Costume

 

This costume is not suitable for outdoor events that are prone to poor weather. The Chippendale outfit requires only a bow tie, some black trousers and a lot of confidence. The more adventurous partygoer should carry baby oil with them for chest oiling opportunities.

Nice and sweet flirt tips for you

Sunday, June 28th, 2009

Human beings need flirting tips to survive. This is because flirting is the very basis of any relationship. There are very many people who have taken flirt tips from friends and family unknowingly. It is therefore going to be even more helpful, if you find the flirt tips for yourself, and deliberately improve or start a new relationship. It all starts when you like someone. Many do not often have the courage to share their feelings. This is made easier by the power of flirting. You do not have to say a word; you can show it. Flirt tips will transform you from being ordinary to electrifying. This is the desire of every person interested in a relationship. But, where can you get these flirt tips? There are resources on the Internet in this regard that will ensure you are kept on your toes and sharpened to become a magnet. Other sources of good tips are books, forums, workshops and the list is endless. Also, you should not ignore tips from friends and family who have the experience. Some of the greatest tips to flirt include the following.

I will start with tips for men who want to attract ladies. Ladies love men who can look after themselves. This means that you have to be well groomed and in charge of your life. Wearing nice cloths will also not hurt. It is vital also to appear fashion conscious. Some men will wear old fashioned cloths which are enough to deter anyone. You do not have to be a fashion icon but, some effort will not hurt. When you look and smell nice, the other thing to consider is your attitude. This is one of the biggest reasons why men fail in their quest for love. Women like men who are positive and honest. You also need to have good character traits and mannerisms. If you can show this to a lady, you have got a winner. When in a conversation, your nice side must dominate. A good flirt will be made of this. The eyes must speak it all. Staring into her eyes blankly will only scare her. Why don’t you try smooth lingering gazes for a few seconds then look away.

Then, you will read her character and you can tell whether she is returning the flirts or ignoring you. Therefore, it is vital for you to read the mood as you set it. This way, you will know where to add compliments and where to be humorous. It is vital that you treat her very delicately as if she is an egg. Without showing it, women like the attention. Do not forget to smile at every tense moment. This works wonders in clearing the air. Great flirt tips for women include a good attitude. You must have enthusiasm and, show interest in the person you like. I think attitude goes hand in hand with confidence. Confidence has even been seen to be more superior to beauty. You need to look at the man with confident affection and, you can be sure he will get the message. It is pretty interesting to flirt with a man because as a woman, you hold more stake. Make sure you smile to keep the mood light.

Want a sweat deal?

Saturday, June 27th, 2009

A lot of people ask me where I get the clothes I’m wearing and they’re always surprised when I say where I got them and how much the item cost. Typical reactions include disbelief and jealousy, especially when I’ve spent less than $20 on a pair of shoes identical to an $80 pair someone else owns.

when I say where I got them and how much the item cost. Typical reactions include disbelief and jealousy, especially when I’ve spent less than $20 on a pair of shoes identical to an $80 pair someone else owns.

How do you find your own sweet deals and which online shopping destinations will give you the most bang for your buck?

Here are a few of my favorite sites:

Forever 21 has incredible selection and style and the prices are outrageous, especially if you do a bit of digging. I’ve unearthed fabulous dresses for less than $20 and great costume jewelry pieces for around $5. The shipping from the site is painless and quick and they have easy return policies should something not fit.

Here are my tips for shopping online at Forever 21:

Visit the store before you shop the website so you know what fits you and what you’re looking for. Often, the actual clothing looks different in person than it does on their website, especially in the dress length area. Some “dresses” Forever 21 sells are more tunic-lengthed, meaning you’d have to wear them as shirts or with leggings in order to make them street-appropriate.

Don’t expect pristine quality. Forever 21 keeps their prices low by mass-producing huge quantities of clothing that aren’t meticulously made. Don’t expect your clothing to hold up for years-or sometimes weeks-on end.

Beware of dresses or shirts you need to zip. Forever 21 has fairly cheap zippers that often break.

If in doubt, go up a size. Their clothing runs tiny-truly tiny. If you have a wide rib-cage, like I do, you may need to go up two sizes if something is really fitted around that area.

Urban Outfitters is a true fashionista’s paradise. Chock full of interesting bohemian pieces, you can find some great clothing for less than $50. Often Urban also carries more expensive lines (upwards of $200), so make sure you don’t fall in love with something before checking the price.

Some things to buy from Urban:

Accessories are always a great bet. They have tons of belts, handbags, scarves, etc. Their shoe selection is also enviable. Check out their flats and sandals, especially now. They have lots of cute new things.

When cold weather is once again upon us, Urban carries a wide-range of outerwear which is all pretty affordable and cute, without being cutesy.

Urban always carries Converse All-Star sneakers in hard-to-find colors and patterns. Check the men’s shoe section for more.

Cutesygirl.com has shoes for unbelievable prices. Truly unbelievable. I tell people I got boots or heels for $12 and they don’t believe me until I show them the webpage.

The thing about Cutesygirl.com is that they mix some really awful, ugly shoes in with adorable and stylish ones. You’re going to have to be willing to put in some search time.

The quality is fairly good, about what you’d expect from Target or Payless shoes. Not great, but they’ll do. Some of the brands (like Steve Madden) that Cutesygirl.com has are obviously better quality than others. Just be choosy and you’ll be okay.
Flats or pumps are always a good pick. Search by “Price- Low to High” to find the best deals. If you see something you like and they have your size, snatch it up quick. The cheaper shoes go fast, and they often run out of the most popular sizes quickly, leaving only 6’s to be had.

There are some great boot offerings from Cutesygirl.com, but once again, search carefully. Avoid stiletto, pointy-toed boots at all cost. You can get those almost anywhere now, but they really aren’t tremendously popular anyway. Don’t fall into the trap of buying something just because it’s cheap: there are lots of inexpensive shoes on Cutesygirl, but don’t sacrifice style just because something is $10.

Gout homeopathy tips to flush your pain away!

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Ouch! The remedy for your aching toe is an effective gout pain treatment. Though there is no known cure for gout yet, research is showing that a complete cure will be here soon. In the mean time, you can address your painful problem with gout homeopathy and simple lifestyle tips that many doctors are now recommending to their patients.

Though natural health and natural remedies have often been viewed as taboo in western societies, many traditional doctors have now switched from synthetic pain killers and antinflamatories to good old fashion natural homeopathic treatments that were once viewed as quack.

However, as science leads us to understanding our body more. Simple gout pain treatment remedies have been used since the time of kings (gout is known as the disease of kings) are one of the most effective ways to treat the arthritic pain.

Grab a piece of paper because here is what you should know if you suffer from the ‘big toe’ arthritis.

Gout is all about Uric Acid

Gout has everything to deal with uric acid. Gout occurs when urate crystals gather on the affected joint. You will notice inflammation and intense pain during an attack. The uric acid crystal levels increase when your body is not able to flush the acid effectively. Uric acid can be always found in your body and is also found in many of the foods we eat.

Usually, gout is flushed out of the body through the urine. But in certain individuals, gout is caused because the body either produces too much uric acid or your kidneys excrete too little uric acid.

Whatever the case, simple tips and homeopathic remedies can be used to flush the uric acid naturally.

Homeopathy and Gout

Gout homeopathy remedies can provide pain relief during an attack. Many of the remedies are extremely simple and effective. In general, these tips will work to either flush the uric acid or neutralize the acid.

Here are some gout homeopathy tips and simple remedies to try.

1. Maintain an ideal weight and drink plenty of water. Water can help you lose weight and also help the kidneys flush uric acid from the body. Dehydration breeds attacks. Drink at least 10-12 glasses of water a day.

2. Simple lifestyle tips can help too! Make sure you know what foods contain high levels of purines and restrict them from your diet. Do not drink alcohol, especially beer. You should also start eating foods with high fiber content to flush the body of impurities, toxins and uric acid.

3. Vitamin C or ascorbic acid has shown to be quite effective. While taken in high doses, vitamin C can decrease uric acid levels in the blood.

4. Folic acid has also been shown some benefits in various studies. About 600 mcg per day may inhibit xanthine oxidase, which is required for uric acid production.

5. One homeopathic remedy is bromelain which is an enzyme. This enzyme is naturally found in pineapple and is a natural anti-inflammatory. You should take 200-300 mg three times per day between meals.

6. Ouercetin has also been shown to have to have anti-inflammatory qualities. You should take this bioflavonoid along with bromelain at about the same amount.

7. Finally, we also suggest cherries because they hold loads of fiber (to flush) and they also have been shown to reduce inflammations. This popular but effective alternative remedy for gout has been handed down for thousands of years. We suggest about 8 ounces of cherries per day.

A Two Hour Treatment that Works

As Google has shown you, there are tons of studies that have been done on this painful disease. As a leading natural health company, we have sifted through all of it and put together a 100% guaranteed gout pain treatment that works in less than 2 hours. Though these seven tips are a great start, they are only half of our proven treatment plan.

If you are tired of the pain and inflammation and want to get your life back to normal. Please check out our step by step Gout Remedy Report that has helped tens of thousands of sufferers with an extremely-high satisfaction rate.

Ankle Bracelet Time!

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

Make way for the arrival of our new ankle bracelets! Ankle bracelets are a great compliment to any summer outfit or swim suit. All our ankle bracelets are sterling silver and look great against that summer tan I’m sure you will have! We also have a selection of ankle bracelets from last season still available but the new ones are going fast so you better hurry up and grab what you can before they are all gone!! The ankle bracelets go really well with the new selection of toe rings we have recently added to our site. Be sure to check them both out!!

It is time to show them toes girls!! Shavonne has a great selection of toe rings in stock with some new ones recently arrived in time for the summer. TR805 is hand painted and reminds me of the ocean waves. Iridescent ocean & sky blue colors and beautifully hand painted on the beaches of Thailand by native artists. Each sterling silver toe ring is like a petite work of art. You will truly enjoy the originality (no two are exactly alike).
We all love to wear sandals in the summer and a toe ring compliments your vast selection of sandals and toe polish!! All of our toe rings are sterling silver and adjustable.

Trend Forecasting for Fall Winter 2009 2010 - Effects of recession on fashion

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

Who really dictates the fashion trends, buyers or consumers?

I was in New York City last week and met with a lot of buyers, showrooms, buying services, and designers and was quite enlighten about the trends coming up for the season. Pretty much all of it is affected by the recession.

1. Lower price points. From online to stores everyone is lowering their price point. $100 tees or even $60 tees aren’t doing so good. I was told by a couple of big online stores that their lower priced tees are flying out but having difficulties pushing the higher price tag ones. This sentiment was also given to me from a big department store in the US. They lowering the price points on tees but they are still carrying the big names like Affliction and Ed Hardy but just lower price point.

2. Out with the bling bling. “No one wants to look like they have money,” I was told. People feel guilty when they shop and buy flashy clothing. So the trend is for more subdue and subtle aesthetics. This is not good for Juzd as we are all about the heavy graphics and bling bling. It’s funny, last year before the recession hit I showed the Juzd original to Holt Renfrew and they loved it and it turned out to be their best selling Juzd shirts. Now I design more of those pieces and they are like, “we are moving away from that now.”

3. Cleaner aesthetics. There will always be a demand for graphic shirts, buyers are going for a cleaner aesthetics. Compare to other lines Juzd is is not as busy but buyers still put it in that category. As I have been trying to move to more of a busier all over prints, I am not moving back to the clean stuff.

4. People still want to shopping. Shopping is like a drug for most women and in our capitalist society there is a sense of gratification when we own something new. Ever notice how complete you feel when you go out shopping and come back with something, anything! It makes you feel your time wasn’t wasted. Well people are still shopping and still want to shop, that’s one of the reasons American Apparel is so successful in recent years. Their items are inexpensive and you can easily buy several of the same items in different colours. This makes shopping easy so you’ll feel more productive.

5. Mix of high end and low end. People are piecing high and low end pieces together. People are pairing up thousand dollar leather jackets with $300 dollar and $18 American Apparel tee. This may not be caused by the recession and have been happening before the recession but with what is happening, it is surely accelerating the trend.

On my trip to New York I’ve learned about several of these trends. But the buyers tell me that they don’t know for sure but that’s what they think and they can be wrong. All of us in the fashion industry have been screaming and yelling that the busy gothic and graphic heavy shirts of Ed Hardy and Affliction are going out for as long as they’ve been in yet their sales are still expanding. I guess the diplomatic answer is that it’s a combination of both and like anything in culture it’s interdependent and organic.

Tuxedo: Men’s 2008/2009 suit fashion trend

Saturday, June 20th, 2009

Clothing inspired by dinner suits were a major inspiration for women’s fashion in 2008, so it doesn’t really come as a surprise that the same fashion trend will be prevalent in menswear in 2008 and 2009.

Certainly not in a semi-formal way, unless the invite requires it. Instead the men’s 2008/2009 tuxedo trend will take its cues from the death of the dress code: pairing traditionally formal elements of the dinner suit with fashion pieces. Trend research agency Promostyl got it right in their Men’s Summer 2008 Trendbook when they featured dinner suit elements under both their Academic and Spectacle themes.

The key for guys is to really know which elements to pick from a dinner suit. The easiest are going to be the satin shawl, satin notched or peaked lapels, or the satin stripe on the trouser leg. Personally I’d avoid a peaked lapel and stick to the shawl or notched lapel, these are far easier to wear. I’d also avoid selecting the formal dinner shirt as an element, despite it being included in the women’s incarnation of the trend.

And where to buy it?

Dinner suits are an absolute bugger to buy, mostly because off the rack suits tend to be made for an older gents figure so finding a slim cut is near to impossible. Keep an eye out, however, for the recommended elements being used by high-end designers; Dries Van Noten men’s catwalk serves as a prime example. If you’d like to buy the full suit and mix and match elements as desired, look to Ralph Lauren’s Black Label with its slim cut dinner suit perfect for a trim figure. But if you’re after something really unique, look no further than your local vintage fashion store. Don’t be too averse at making a good investment however. The right dinner suit is timeless, and this trend will be around for Autumn(Fall)-Winter 2008/2009 and Spring-Summer 2009.

The Mindful Shopper: Learning From Fashion Trends

Friday, June 19th, 2009

Are you a fashion trend watcher? Do you spend a lot of time flipping through magazines and analyzing the wardrobe choices of others? Do you buy trendy items only to despise them–and yourself–later?

Trend-watching–and, more precisely, observing our trend-watching–gives us tremendous opportunities to create awareness of the traits we hope we have but are not sure we do. In fact, being frustrated, embarrassed, or depressed that we have succumbed to a trend is a perfect chance to discover what we value most.

It usually comes down to this: creativity and confidence. If we find ourselves buying that trendy little bag or those must-have shoes, that little voice inside us shouts “Sell-out!” and we start to feel that perhaps we’re not all we’d hoped to be. After all, a truly creative person would buy–or even make–something unique, and a confident person wouldn’t hesitate to go against the current trend and head in a completely different direction, or choose to buy nothing at all.

And thus begins a soak in the self-loathing tub, followed inevitably by an abandoned item at the bottom of the closet.

To avoid this, you must pay attention to it.

What trendy items are buried in your closet at this moment? Why did you buy them? Who were you with when you made the purchase? How were you feeling about the world in general and yourself in particular?

A little mindful shopping will help alleviate the Trendoid syndrome. And while you’re at it, check in with yourself on that monologue going through your head when you see others sporting the latest fashion fetish. You’ll learn a whole lot about YOURSELF if you listen carefully and–this is the hard part–non-judgmentally.

If you do melt at that crucial cash register moment, don’t berate yourself. Simply take note of the way you feel now, and pay attention to how you feel later. Can you see that downward slide? Ah. That’s better. Things are getting clearer now.

Buying into a trend helps us feel connected when what we really long for is a sense of confidence. Take a look at how you can create greater confidence WITHOUT buying that blouse-of-the-moment, and find ways to tweak the latest trend in a way that makes you feel more creative.

Fashion can be fun and absolutely harmless, and you can use your mindful mall meanders to tap into your own sense of who you are–and what you REALLY need.

Now, that’s what I call a perfect shopping day.