Cool maternity clothes for hot summer days

Between the surging hormones and added girth, pregnant mamas need all the help they can get to stay cool this summer. Check out our cool maternity clothes tips to help get you though the dog days of summer.

Stock up on dresses: Nothing keeps you cooler than a light, airy sundress. Look for an empire waist dress that is long enough to keep you covered thoughout your pregnancy. Stock up on prints and solids for an easy summer wardrobe.

Lightweight pants: Wear lightweight drawstring pants paired with a printed top and sandals for summer look that is ready for work or play.

Wear light colors: Pack away the dark colors and opt for whites or light pastals to help reflect the sun and keep you cool.

Swimsuits: Nothing will cool you off faster than lounging in the pool this summer. Whether you prefer a one-piece, bikini or tankini, you are sure to find plenty of stylish maternity options.

Teen Fashion

Do you remember the time when you were a teenager and how important style was for you? After all, being a teenager means that your friends are vital in your life and though some people may try to deny it, their opinions do matter. It is a time where you are beginning to express your own personality and one of the most effective forms of self-expression is through your clothes. Teen Fashion is a huge part of the fashion industry and there are so many choices when it comes to teen fashion.

Picking a specific style of teen fashion is nearly impossible. After all, there are so many different styles of clothing out there that can be used to reflect different styles of personality. To understand teen fashion, you have to understand teen subcultures. For people who love indie music and punk music, you will find that emo fashion is one of the most popular fashion styles there is. Hooded sweatshirts, tight jeans, and skateboard shoes are just some of the most popular teen fashion styles out there.

However, many people find that emo fashion is too mainstream. After that Avril Lavigne sk8er boi song, many teenagers find that emo skateboarding look to be a bit passé. Many teenagers find their rebellion through the punk scene or the goth scene. There are many teen fashion clothes that fit into these styles. From studded leather jackets to morose trench coats, you can find those perfect clothes that suit your personality.

Of course, one of the biggest influences on teen fashion is hip hop music. Rap is incredibly popular these days and many rap artists have their own clothing lines that produce some of the most stylish teen fashion styles out there. From Eve’s LAMB label to Jay-Z’s Rocawear, you can find fresh duds that will impress your friends. Whether you are looking for that perfect throwback jersey or are trying to look cute and tough with some low-cut shirts, you can unlock your inner b-boy or b-girl with hip hop teen fashion.

One of the biggest staples of teen fashion is having clothes that are perfect for a more formal occasion. Whether you are trying to impress that cute boy or girl with your stylish threads, you can never go wrong with a well-fitted buttoned up shirt with a stylish blazer. For girls, mini-dresses are becoming incredibly popular and are becoming a staple of teen fashion.

Your teenage years are such a unique time and it is best if you or your child can look back at this time in fondness. It is a time of self-discovery and many teenagers experiment with different styles before they find the perfect fashion representation of themselves. From preppy styles to exotic and eccentric fashion accessories, you should indulge yourself during this influential time of your life. By trying out the different styles of teen fashion, you will be able to find the perfect expression of your personality!

Dress Young and Look Young

Let us face it. Whether we admit it or not, deep inside, we want to look younger than we really are. Who has not lied about her age in the past month? Who has not fussed over the new strand of gray hair that seems to have sprung on her forehead this morning? Who has not worried about the new crow�s feet she found while putting on makeup?

Whether we are open about it or not, at least once in our lives, we have felt this longing to be eighteen again � young and carefree, not laden with responsibilities. Or perhaps it is a desire to feel less tired and stressed than we usually are, or to feel as pretty and attractive as we used to be when we were still young. For women who have actually taken the steps to turn back the time, the solutions they have taken are usually costly and painful. The bad thing about it is that not every answer to recapturing and maintaining youth works.

If we want to look young, the steps can be as simple as caring for our skin and spicing up our wardrobe. Oh, of course, we have to dress our age, but there is nothing wrong with updating ourselves and dressing young once in a while. Here are a few ways we can look young simply by dressing young.

1. Wear a nice pair of jeans that flatter your figure and disguise the waist that has thickened and the hips that have become wider through the years. These jeans do not have to be the latest skinny jeans; that could spell nightmares for some of us. A good pair with a bootleg cut and a dark wash would be enough to create wonders for you.

2. Wearing a pretty print dress can cut back the years, too, especially ones that are pastel-colored and bare a little bit of skin. Having a pretty dress on makes one instantly feel young and feminine, less of a career woman and definitely less of a matron. If you are not comfortable with baring skin anymore, a shawl or a light cardigan will provide good cover.

3. Hide the sags and bulges that age and constant stress have given our bodies. Wear pantyhose, tights and undergarments that provide support to your legs, thighs and hips. However, do not punish yourself by wearing things that pinch your body too much and are too uncomfortable for you. You are supposed to smile and feel good about what you are wearing.

4. Do yourself a favor and ditch the matronly handbag. Sure, the big and bulky handbag has seen you through so many emergencies, but there are more stylish bags out there that can provide you and your things enough space without looking too old and outdated.

5. Do your hair and face simply, the way you used to do when you were still young. Just put on some face powder and a touch of fruity lip gloss, and then do your hair up in a ponytail. That takes you back to high school, but without the hang-ups of our age.

Cotton Suits Make a Cool and Fashionable Choice for Spring and Summer

Cotton and other natural fiber suits are certainly being seen more and more in spring/summer collections. I find that there is something romantic about them, perhaps a nod to another era. High-end designers like Giorgio Armani, Paul Smith and Etro added cotton suits to their collections. This could be a trend we will see for years to come. I hope so since it is a look I love.

The ease of a cotton suit
What’s more, cotton suits are such a great alternative to summer weight wools. They are easily incorporated into a wardrobe as they can be worn with a tee (but please, not in a Miami Vice sort of way) as well as a shirt and tie. A pair of fabulous dress shoes or fashion sneakers, what ever your style, will finish off this cool summer wardrobe essential. Also keep in mind that the cotton suits offered now are more sophisticated making them better suited for the office or an evening out as opposed to the the country club look found in years past. But let me remind you, if you are still building a basic, functional wardrobe, stick with classic suit fabrics such as worsted wools.

What people are saying
Lauren Deatherage, Cotton Incorporated’s product trend analyst for menswear says, “cotton suiting is a key-trend for spring/summer 2006. It can be incorporated into all men’s trend themes. From preppy to edgy, it’s all about personal style and accessories. A khaki-colored, twill suit with a bright polo is perfect for Sunday brunch, while a slim-fit suit jacket can be worn with the season’s must-have skinny jeans and a T-shirt for a downtown, rock and roll adaptation.” And American designer Daniel Silver of Duckie Brown says “cotton suiting is perfect, not only for summer, but the transitional months before and after. To add to the versatility, a cotton suit can easily be broken into individual pieces.”

Everyone’s on board
According to research conducted by Cotton Incorporated, 56.8% of men will pay more for higher quality clothing and 58.7% think natural fibers are best fabric option. And as to be expected, the renewed interest in cotton suiting has “trickled-down.” Mid-priced designers like Penguin and Brooks Brothers have cotton-twill and seersucker options. Lower-end companies such as Banana Republic and Target have their own versions as well. So no matter what your price-point or personal style, there is a cotton suit out there for you.

How To Make Your Clothes Last Longer

Saving money and spending it only on necessary items is what most people I know are doing these days. This is a prudent thing to do no matter what the state of the economy might be. And properly caring for your clothes so they last longer is one way to cut costs out of your budget. You only need to do a few simple things to prolong the life of your clothes. Most of the tips I provide here I already do myself.

One way clothes lose their life span is by washing them. Each time you wash your clothes, color fades (with most fabrics) and fibers are weakened. Of course you need to wash your clothes and you don’t want to scare people away with odors and stains. But there are a few things you can do to that are gentler on your clothes.

• Wash clothes in cold water, especially darks.
  
• Be sure to separate darks and whites before washing. Light colored clothing can leave lint on dark clothes while dark clothes can bleed colors onto white clothes.
  
• Wash your clothes on the gentle cycle
  
• Use a gentle detergent such as Woolite
  
• Wash rough stuff like jeans together and softer fabrics like dress shirts together
  
• Clothes should be turned inside out prior to washing. This prevents color from fading. This is especially important when it comes to jeans.
  
• And wear your clothes more than once before washing. I personally do this and I have really been able to stretch the life of some of my favorite things. Of course if something gets stained I wash it and I certainly don’t wear underwear more than once, but things like dress shirts, jeans and cotton trousers can be worn more than once. If a stain is small, you can simply spot clean instead of throwing the whole garment in the wash

It’s no secret that clothes dryers do damage to your wardrobe. Even on low heat, dryers wreak havoc on fabric. You know all of that lint that collects in the dryer filter? Well, it used to be fibers in your clothing. I like to air dry my more expensive shirts and jeans as well as things that are prone to shrink. The side benefit to air drying is that your will save energy too.

Fashion Style Trends For '09

What's old, what's new, what's right for you? The future of fashion may not seem all that important at the moment, but it can actually provide plenty of inspiration and information to help you plan for purchases or pull hidden treasures from the back of your closet. While I don't have a crystal ball, I do have runways and red carpets to help me predict the trends. You may be surprised to know that what’s already in your wardrobe will even give you a great head start on dressing with flair in this new year. Bobbie Thomas, TODAY Style editor and author of the Buzz column for In Touch Weekly, tracks 2009’s upcoming trends.

Sophisticated separates
For the past few years, a matchy-matchy look felt like a fashion faux pas, but now ensemble dressing is making a comeback. Whether you want to mix it up or wear one whole look from head to toe, just keep in mind that separates are going to be the big story in fashion. And it all starts with the suit — both skirt and pant sets. This return to classic tailoring allows for versatility, a favorable option for these economic times. While a dress is a one-day outfit, ensembles allow you to mix and match the pieces, and transition items to not only expand your work wardrobe, but also blend these separates into your weekend wear. One of the best pieces to take from work to weekend, the blazer, was not only a must-have for fall 2008, it will continue to be a trend in 2009. Styles are morphing into feminine versions for spring, and these soft, structured jackets will start to replace cardigans and wraps. Menswear in general is getting a feminine makeover with light fabrics, delicate details and curved lines. We’re going to see every possible reinvention, including lots of softer spins with shawl collars, draping and asymmetrical hems, as even the most girly designers, such as Rebecca Taylor, put their twist on this classic piece of clothing. While floral tops, like those seen on the Jill Stuart runway, are also an abundant trend to look out for, the biggest (and most controversial) style seen on 2009 runways: fancy pants. Bottoms are back in a new way, from parachute to crop — and even jumpsuits — all odd shapes and cuts were on display. Contemporary designers such as Tibi put forth every imaginable silhouette and form. The best news is that you’ll have no trouble finding a pair of pants that suits you.

Weekend wear
In the casual category, a signature jacket is a must-have for the modern woman. A seasonless staple that will swing both ways, expect fall elements to bloom as the weather warms up, and summer coats like those seen on Milly’s spring runway to take center stage. Long gone are the days that you need just a basic to cover up in. With so many styles and colors to choose from, consider these coats an extension of your personality!

When it comes to denim, ripped jeans are tearing their way back. Hollywood has already cut the line, and trendsetters like Cameron Diaz are sporting spring samples of destroyed denim that are rumored to be back-ordered before the ball has even dropped in Times Square. Scissors anyone?

And while he's much more than her “boyfriend’” we’ve already reported that Katie Holmes has snagged “his” style and worn Tom's jeans. Other ladies, like Reese Witherspoon, have been out and about in relaxed-style jeans, and Levi’s is getting in line with their loose-legged blues. While skinny jeans may be taking a backseat, is baggier better?

But it’s not just about the basics — you might not normally think to embellish during the afternoon, but holiday sparkle shines on with evening elements for sunny days. Glitz and glimmer is everywhere, from the satin and beading seen at Nanette Lepore and Foley + Corinna, to even a disco flash that came to life via lame at the Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs shows.

And finally, maxi dresses made their official comeback in the summer of 2008 thanks to contemporary designers like Gypsy 05, and celebrities like Angelina Jolie, who practically lived in the longer length. This summer expect skirts to sweep in, too. These easy, breezy pieces are meant to be thrown on and paired with flip-flops for a casual-chic summer style.

Dress designs
Dresses have been back in such a big way over the past few years, and there’s a style for all, from one side of the spectrum to the other. First up: floral prints. They blossomed last summer, were in full bloom this fall, and they won't be wilting anytime soon.

And sculpted, formed frocks, with crisp lines and even bold shoulders, may bring you back to “Dynasty” days. Smart and savvy collections like Karen Millen use clean lines and smart paneling to literally help shift your shape. Bold black-and-white will be a color combination to take note of, and Amy Adams and Lucy Liu have already stepped out onto the red carpet in spring designs by Carolina Herrera and Giambattista Valli.

On the softer side, those who prefer an ethereal, fairy-talelike look will be happy to know that a flow of Grecian and goddess frocks will also be available. These sheer, fluid and draped designs feel fresh with asymmetry. From the neck to the hemline, imbalance is in, and Aurelio Costarella offers great examples of this trend.

Accents
When just a little wardrobe update is all you need, 2009’s edgy extras have the potential to make a big impact. Expect fringe to be everywhere and on everything, as demonstrated on William Rast’s runway. If you want to just touch on the trend, scarves and accessories are a great way to go.

And there’s no need for diamonds, as big and bold costume baubles stay in the spotlight. Statement pieces such as those by Roberta Freyman and Cynthia Rowley will help transform the look of any basic. And finally, from funky to fabulous, footwear remains a focal point in 2009, with everything from nude classics to cutout creations. Sh-booties and platforms from designers like Stuart Weitzman still support a heavier-looking foot trend.

As you can see, designers inspire with couture creations, while stylists and celebrities help them step into the spotlight, making it possible for us to predict the future! But now that you know what next year will bring, it’s time to take advantage of this knowledge (and the January sales!). Be savvy by shopping off-season, and also don’t forget to pull from your own wardrobe. You’re likely to have items that hit on at least a few of these trends buried at the bottom of your drawers or in the back of your closet!