Fashion Rules for Sweater Vests

Sweater vests can be an excellent addition to any wardrobe. Warm and easy to wear, they can be dressed up for a fancy occasion or dressed down for a more casual look. Following a few simple fashion rules will ensure that you always look polished in your sweater vest and help you avoid any fashion faux pas

Pants and Skirts

·         When pairing sweater vests with bottoms such as pants or a skirt, consider the pattern, color, style and material of both. Because sweater vests tend to be more dressy, never pair one with sweatpants or old jeans. A classic look for a sweater vest is to pair it with khakis, although dress pants, pencil skirts or dark-wash jeans also work. Never pair a wool sweater with light summer pants or skirts. Avoid wearing sweater vests with shorts unless you are putting together a golfing outfit.

Shirts

·         Never wear a sweater vest on its own. For a classic look, wear your vest with collared shirts, such as dress shirts or polos. Generally, the collared shirt should not be longer than your vest and should be tucked in. For a more casual outfit, pair with a solid-colored T-shirt. Be sure that any logos or pictures on the front are covered by the sweater vest.

Fit

·         Sweater vests should be fitted to the body without being too tight. Allow enough room to fit a dress shirt or T-shirt underneath, while still maintaining a tailored silhouette.

Colors and Prints

Choose sweater vests with solid colors and muted prints. A more subtly colored sweater vest will leave you with more pairing options and give you a more polished, classic look. Generally, sweater vests with patterns, such as argyle or stripes, should not contain more than three colors.

Flappers Clothing Fashion of the 1920s

Flapper fashion reached its peak of popularity in 1926, but was found on American women between 1925 and 1928. Despite only being in vogue for four years, the flapper look is iconic and is usually what comes to mind when people think of the "Roaring Twenties" or the jazz era.

Dresses

·         Flapper dresses had a shorter hemline than had ever before been seen on ladies, typically sitting just above the knee. The dresses tended to be loose and shapeless, rebelling against the restrictive women's clothing and tight corsets of previous decades. The waistline was often dropped to the hips, creating a boyish silhouette. Flappers wore a huge variety of colors and fabrics. Many flapper dresses featured intricate beadwork or tassels as decoration.

Coats

·         Wrapover coats became extremely popular in the flapper era of the 1920s. The wrapover portion closed on one side and was fixed with a buckle or a large button. Three-quarter length coats were common, but they could be seen in a variety of other lengths as well, and in different fabrics and colors. Coats were often designed with fur-trimmed collars. For parties or evening events, flappers wore raccoon fur coats or short stoles.

Undergarments

·         Up until the 1920s, corsets had been the standard underwear for ladies. However, corsets were restrictive and uncomfortable. Those who followed flapper fashion rejected the stiff, binding corset. Instead, they wore camisoles and knickers (panties) or shorts, or simply knickers and a petticoat. Those who needed help getting a boyish figure would wear lightweight, elastic webbing girdles or long corsets, which flattened their stomachs, but were not restrictive in the same way as a boned corset.

Accessories

·         Accessories were minimal in the flapper era, but there were a few important signature pieces that many women enjoyed. The cloche hat --- a tight fitting hat, worn pulled down slightly over the eyes --- was an notable flapper accessory. Another "must have" was a single string of pearls, in homage to flapper icon Coco Chanel. It was popular practice to wear skin-colored stockings and go out with bare arms.

Dresses to Wear to a Quinceanera

Similar to a sweet sixteen, but a year younger, a quinceanera celebrates the blossoming of a young Latina on her 15th birthday. It is a traditional coming-of-age party in which the birthday girl is presented to society in a beautiful, pastel-colored gown. When guests attend quinceaneras, they are expected to dress accordingly. Because of the celebration's religious roots, modesty plays a huge part in the fashion choices. While the guests can wear modern dresses, they must also wear age-appropriate clothing that complements the celebrated birthday girl.

Maxi Dresses

·         Women of all ages and sizes can feel comfortable and elegant in maxi dresses. Because of their length and style, these classy dresses will slim down your body. They also come in various fabrics, patterns and colors. Maxi dresses can be dressed up or dressed down with the choice of accessories. When wearing a maxi dress to a quinceanera, pick one with an accessorized, bejeweled neckline to add glamour to the outfit.

Light-Colored Dresses

·         When quinceaneras choose to wear another color other than white, they often wear light-colored dresses, such as soft pink. Guests can carry the theme of innocence and youth by also wearing light-colored dresses. However, like wedding etiquette, guests should do their best to avoid wearing the same color as the quinceanera's gown.

Tube-Top Dresses

·         Many guests choose to wear tube-top dresses to quinceanera parties because they are trendy, fun and comfortable for dancing. These dresses make excellent party dresses, but they can be also worn to the church ceremony prior to the celebration. For example, wear an appropriate-length tube-top dress with a shawl or sweater as a coverup.

Little Black Dresses

·         When in doubt, wear a little black dress to a quinceanera. No matter how lavish or small the party, cocktail attire looks chic and classic at these celebrations. Little black dresses come in a variety of styles. For example, they are available in strapless, spaghetti-strapped, three-quarter sleeves and many more options. Even though black is a controversial color for events, when used correctly, it can look stunning. Dress up a little black dress with diamond studs to add elegance.