Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Winter Wedding Outerwear

Author: Laura Firenze

Winter weddings can be great. They are cozy and romantic, and often very elegant. They also tend to be very cold! Whether you are the bride or a guest, you will want to find beautiful outerwear to wear to the wedding.

Often, we get so wrapped up in the rest of the wedding outfit that more practical things like coats, wraps, and cover-ups get forgotten. This can be as true for the bride as it is for the female guests. It is usually not an issue for the groom and the male guests, first of all because they will be wearing suit jackets, and secondly because most men have some sort of dark wool topcoat already hanging in their closet. Outerwear is not so easy, though, for most women, because the parka that you might throw on to go to the mall or the trench coat you wear to work would look out of place with a formal dress.

To complete your look, you want to make certain that your outerwear coordinates with the rest of your ensemble. If you are planning to wear a strapless or sleeveless dress, you will also want to think about a wrap that you can wear indoors during the reception, as you may be chilly. Actually, that goes for summer weddings too, as they are often heavily air conditioned. Don't just grab an old cardigan on your way out the door - think elegance!

Fur is always a fabulous option for winter, whether you prefer real or faux. If you like genuine fur but find it to be out of your price range, check out the vintage and resale shops in your area. You can often find great pieces, especially wraps, at very reasonable prices. If you are shopping in the summer, be sure to talk to the store manager, because they may have their winter pieces in storage during the warmer months, but they will bring them out for you once they see that you are interested in buying.

For outerwear, look for luxurious pieces like velvet capes or full length fur coats. A dressy cloth coat could also work for a guest, especially if you jazz it up with a pretty brooch or pin. Sometimes you see evening coats in festive fabrics like satin, which would be gorgeous as well. The bride will want to find a garment that can drape over the fullness of her gown, which is why most will choose a long flowing cape or something short like a fur wrap.

Ideally, any piece that you are planning to wear during the reception will have some sort of fastener to keep it in place. Certainly, you can wear something like a pashmina which just drapes over the shoulders, but you may spend half of the evening fussing with it, which gets annoying. If your wrap is long enough, you can knot the ends behind your back and let the tails flow behind you. This works very well with softer fabrics like chiffon. One beautiful look is to have the edges of the wrap beaded with crystals to match the bride's crystal bridal jewelry. It looks elegant, and the weight of the crystals helps the wrap to stay in place.

For a fur wrap, a great idea is to secure it with a wide satin bow. Choose a ribbon that either blends in with the wrap, or one that pulls in a color from your dress. If you do not care for a bow, you can use a large rhinestone brooch, which ties in wonderfully with crystal bridal jewelry. For brides who prefer to let their jewelry speak and to keep their wrap simple, a hook and eye can always been hidden within the wrap as a fastener.

The right fur accessories will always make a good outfit great. This is true whether you are the bride, the mother of the bride, or merely a guest at a wedding. Elegant outerwear is the perfect finishing touch for a winter wedding.

Laura is interested in wedding planning and wedding trends including jewelry, receptions and gifts. [http://www.silverlandjewelry.com/swarovski_crystals.html]Crystal bridal jewelry will give you the perfect icy sparkle for a winter wedding.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Winter-Wedding-Outerwear&id=1503073] Winter Wedding Outerwear

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

The Cozy Comfort of Fur Scarves


Author: Meryl Rougeaux

In much of the world where winters can be harsh and the prevailing winds send a chill down the back of the neck...warm fur scarves are almost a must.

Although scarfs can be found in wool, cotton, pashmina, silk, cashmere or some other knitted fabrics, there is no denying that the warmest option would probably be a fur. After all, these soft, cozy garments have been popular for centuries in most countries of the world. Even throughout history where the climates were fairly warm, these "fashion" statements were a symbol of wealth and prosperity worn by royalty and the wealthy.

The nice thing about a scarf, cape, coat or stole is that they are warm as well as stylish. They look almost regal and majestic. Worn with an overcoat or sweater, they add an extra touch of elegance. They can be thrown over the shoulder and wrapped once or twice around the neck or they can be brought around the neck from behind and tied once to hang loosely in front. They can even just be thrown over one shoulder in their most basic way to wear them. Either way their worn...the person wearing it will be noticed.

These fashion statements are most commonly made from mink, but can be made from other types such as fox, beaver, sable, otter, chinchilla, rabbit or even bear. Many garments made today are fake (faux) and are almost just as comfortable as the real thing. The faux or the real, come in all sorts of colors including black, brown, grey, reddish brown, white and many shades in between.

These garments tend to conjure up memories of Siberian winters or jet-setters or movie stars or the wealthy of the twenties as shown in some movies. However, they are still fairly popular, and becoming more popular all the time. Not only in Europe and in the East, but in many fashion circles of the West as well. More and more are being sold all the time.

Even though the genuine thing will last a long time and provide great warmth...imitations are quickly taking their place. In many crowds this is not seen as less luxurious, but merely more affordable and practical.

However, there is no denying the classy, elegant look of a fine (real) fur. It can be one of those things that really sets a person out from the crowd, either in a hotel ballroom or a fine restaurant.

So, what are the different choices of fur's available for the discerning woman and man? Well, the obvious are scarves, shawls, capes, stoles, ponchos and almost anything a person with an imagination could possible think of. And,they don't have to be 100% to look great. Even a just a soft collar can add elegance to a pashmina or silk shawl. Many also have nothing but rabbit or mink tassles or balls hanging from the hems of the garments.

Fur scarves look exotic, are warm, and make the person wearing it feel great. What more could anyone as for?

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/womens-issues-articles/the-cozy-comfort-of-fur-scarves-278086.html

About the AuthorMeryl Rougeaux knows fashion and has been in the fashion industry for almost 20 years. Her website: Scarves, shawls, furs and more showcases her latest styles.