Sure, you’ll pay a little more for this hoodie (prices start at about £150, free delivery), but there are lots of great reasons to buy an original:

• You get to collaborate with the UK fashion house to design a one-of-a-kind fashion statement
• Extensive selection of both outer and inner fabrics means you get exactly what you want, and its reversible, too
• Fabrics come in limited amounts, further ensuring your choice will be one-of-a-kind
• Lined pockets with a personalize label
• Made for your personal measurements, not a one size fits all form
• Made by hand in England, to your specifications
• Available for men and women

A bespoke hoodie from House of Billiam will take about three weeks to produce after order is confirmed.

I’m coveting one myself, and trying to decide if I should make the purchase.  What do you think?  Do you love these?

Photo credit: House of Billiam

Post from: The List Maven

Given just how many pairs of jeans and piles of t-shirts reside in my closet, I’ve picked up a few tips along the way on how to make this outfit work with minimal effort. Here are a few tactics I recommend.

1. Pick a crisp white shirt instead of a pattern – it’s like a blank canvas waiting for the perfect accessories.
2. I prefer a t-shirt that falls just below my hip bone and is a little bit on the looser side, but you might prefer something more tailored and form fitting. What makes you feel most comfortable will always look best.
3. A boatneck can be romantic, v-neck is sporty and crew neck a bit preppy. Choose wisely for your personality.
4. Be brutal about trying on and picking the right jeans. Fit is everything, so if you can’t find a brand off the rack that makes your curves look amazing, get a tailor to do the job for you.
5. Sometimes all it takes is a sexy pair of heels to push your basic outfit to a more formal level.
6. Accessories like big bangles or a chunky necklace can make a statement but still exude a special sort of relaxed confidence.
7. The purse you choose should reflect what you’re up to and where you are headed for the day – or evening – but don’t under estimate the statement your unassuming handbag makes when you meet up with someone.
8. For your makeup, pick a feature (eyes, lips, cheeks) and emphasize instead of spackling on a whole face full of makeup.
9. A scarf comes in handy under all sorts of circumstances – tuck a colorful version in your bag and see where it takes you.
10. A pop of color with bright, well manicured nails can look youthful and fun without seeming childish. Lots of emphasis on the well manicured part.

Post from: The List Maven

Here are a few choices representing options for nearly any type of occasion:

!iT JEANS ‘Ellie’ Boyfriend Jeans have subtle distressing details, making this dark blue wash casual and relaxed.  Cuffed hems can also be worn uncuffed.  $78.

Christopher Blue Julianna Crop Stretch Jeans have a curvy fit with a slightly higher rise.  Very flattering.  $148.

KUT from the Kloth Crop Denim Stretch Jeans have a lighter wash with an embroidered logo on the back pocket.  Contrast stitching.  $69.

Classiques Entier ‘Glam Denim’ Crop Pants feature straight legs in a very dark wash.  Depending on your office environment, these may be suitable for work.  $118.

Rock & Republic ‘Evelyn’ Crop Stretch Jeans is another slim fitting, dark stretch crop featuring the signature contrast-stitched logo on the pocket.  $188.

True Religion Brand Jeans ‘Lily’ Stretch Denim Crop Jeans, with their super skinny silhouette, also provide a bit of flash with Swarovski buttons on the back pockets.  $262.

Calvin Klein Jeans Crop Skinny Stretch Jeans features a slimming, sleek look in a 5-pocket cropped jean.  $59.50.

David Kahn Jeans ‘Chelene’ Crop Jeans give a faded, casual look, and with a bit of stretch make for an easy fit.  $158.

Paige Premium Denim ‘Hidden Hills Crop’ Stretch Jeans, a great fitting favoritie, offers a straight leg cropped jean in a dark wash.  $169.

Photo credit: Nordstrom

Post from: The List Maven

I don’t know how to explain it precisely, but looking around a group of travelers here, it’s pretty easy to spot Americans.  Generally speaking, we seem to be a little more casually dressed.  More likely to be wearing t-shirts and clothing with sayings written all over it.  And, we tend to wear white athletic shoes – all the time.

So far in my travels, I’ve spent a few days at Lake Maggiore, in a town fairly near to the Swiss border.  The travelers I’ve seen include lots of Europeans, but only a very small number of other Americans.

It’s been a good opportunity to check out what the real people here are wearing.  Here are a few observations and trends that I’ve noticed from my time in this casual lake community:

1. Jeans are always in fashion, and are the uniform of the young.  I saw mostly traditional washes, with no holes, frays, or fringes.
2. While clothing, especially t-shirts, may have labels or name brands on it (Abercrombie & Fitch it very popular), I haven’t seen t-shirts with advertisements for a local bar or covered with risqué sayings.
3. Shorts are great for daytime wear, with the most typical length, for both men and women, at knee length.  The younger crowd opted for a looser (although not baggy) fit, with the 40+ crowd choosing a more tailored look.  Come evening though, despite the weather being quite warm, shorts were not as commonly seen.
4. Capris are a very common choice – and are worn by men as much as women.  At the neighborhood bar, a local but somewhat upscale location, most men were in jeans or capris.  White, khaki and tan were the most common colors, but I also some more vibrant colors as well.
5. Women wear sundresses.  When it came time for dinner or drinks, shorts disappeared and out came the sundresses.  Nothing fancy, mostly simple cotton, and styles tended to be more fitted than flowing.
6. Scarves are still everywhere.  Worn around the neck, as a belt with jeans, tied to a bag (or backpack) or in the hair, this accessory is both fashionable and utilitarian.  It doesn’t look like it’s going away any time soon.
7. High heels were not common at the lake, and the women who wore them usually chose a shorter, kitten heel.  It has much to do with climbing onto and off of boats during the day.  Even at night, though, heels were lower.  The shoe of choice for women seemed to run toward a flat sandal.
8. Flip flops were seen at the pool or in the sand, but were not worn around town.
9. Athletic shoes were worn by runners and people playing tennis.  Or Americans.
10. Hats are popular.  Baseball hats on Americans or older (50+) European men, and visors for older women.  The younger set opted for sun hats, newsboys, and the occasional fedora.  The lake can get a bit windy, and hats were seen shore side, not on the boats.
11. Make up was minimal.  Maybe it’s the casual atmosphere, maybe it was the outdoor lifestyle, but most women wore little makeup – mostly just a bit of lipstick or gloss and mascara.  No brightly colored eyes or cheeks, just a neutral “I’ve been out all day in the sun” look.

Because this is a lake community, fashions are a lot more casual and relaxed than I’d expect in Milan or Rome.  I’ll be in Tuscany next, so I’ll take a look at see how fashions differ a little farther south.  It’s also likely that I’ll run into more Americans in Tuscany, so I can do a little better comparison.

Arrevederci till then.

Photo credit:  personal collection

Post from: The List Maven

Wear a pretty top, but make sure you have a warm coat to layer over.  Keep your sunglasses handy, but also wear a fashionable hat to keep your head warm.  And that doesn’t mean a baseball cap girls!  A pair of shortie boots are practical and can keep your feet warm.  Mix up some quality pieces with casual wear for a chic outdoor look.

Here are my 9 selections for a chilly spring game:

Start with a comfy pair of jeans, like these Harper Vintage Boyfriend Jeans, and then to with a brightly colored top, this one from Vivienne Westwood.  The glamour grunge combination says that while you take your baseball seriously, you still care about looking good.

A jacket is a must, and this French Connection military jacket is close fitting and can keep you warm without looking frumpy.  Nine West Shoe Boots are practical and will keep your feet warm while still giving you a lean look with a bit of a heel.

It’s still cold out there, so you’ll need a scarf (this one from Helmut Lang).  If it’s plenty warm, you can tie in around the handle of your tote (Faux Leather Metro Handbag) or tuck it inside.  And that tote should be big enough to carry home that foul ball that you’re sure to catch!  Keep your head warm with a Buffalo Plaid Hat (NO baseball caps allowed), and be sure to have your sunglasses (Dita Supadupa Sunglasses) in your tote in case the sun shines through.

Keep jewelry to a minimum, as too much and you’ll just look silly, but a great pair of hoops (Stella McCartney) always completes an outfit.

You’ll notice that I’ve kept with dark colors.  Since so many stadium are a little rough around the edges when it comes to seating, and you never know what the kid next to you is going to do with the mustard on his hotdog, so I’d opt for dark colors that allow you to look great and the game, and go out for a drink after.

Batter Up!

Post from: The List Maven