#these are pretty simple. mostly a few differences on body shape and some clothes/accessories

[salty-an-disco]

fuck it, gonna start doing my stp-posting here too (its vibes fit DE, so–)

Did some more scribbles for some vague designs concepts. The ones on the first image came to me very easily, and I just didn’t have much energy to put much thought on their designs, but with Hunted, Paranoid, and Skeptic, I had to really stop and think about what I thought could best pass on their attributes (hence, the notes with some of my thought process lol).

Opportunistic and Smitten just really evade my mind tho; it’s not that I don’t have any idea for how they look like, it’s that I have TOO MANY ideas on what they could look like, and they all conflict with each other ksmddijdjdjf

[ocshowandtell]

go-to picrews for visualizing characters

here are some of my favorites! they are pretty popular already but it's nice to have options baydews

diverse and fantasy skin tones, eye colors

fun ears, horns, teeth etc

fantasy and modern clothing

classic, reliable, simple, good visual

a few options like head coverings, vitiligo

does not have multiple body types

more feminine

potatolord

diverse and fantasy skin tones, some wings

lots of hair options, has facial hair

cool teeth, hats, accessories, several options like wheelchair, head coverings, vitiligo

variety

mostly modern clothing

does not have multiple body types

two kinds of ears

no eye colors, no horns

black centered picrew

wealth of diverse skin tones, has fantasy options

many eye colors including fantasy

many more feature shapes, treasure trove of different kinds of hair, has facial hair

ears, horns, wings,

options like wheelchair, head coverings, vitiligo

two body types and clothing to match

mostly modern clothing

lots of accessories

some parts are very specific

style suits some things better than others

fantasy icon maker

multiple skin tones including fantasy

many face shapes including animals

3 body types with clothes and accessories to fit!!

multiple eye colors including some fantasy

multiple ears, horns, animal ears, wrinkles, freckles, tattoos, makeup, facial hair, chest hair, cleavage, wings, weapons

animal companions

variety of backgrounds and effects

modern and fantasy clothing

style suits some things better than others

sometimes facial features don't seem to work together

ummmmandy girl maker

variety of skin tones, no fantasy

some head coverings. several chest options!

lots of clothes

several background options

fun hair options

more feminine of course

two body types, but they are very similar. a few face shapes.

limited but does what it does well

honorable mention: RPG husband maker

a few, mostly fantasy skin tones

muscles, 2 body types

fantasy ears, horns, noses, eyes. wings

facial hair, chest hair, scars

fantasy and modernish clothes, accessories

variety of backgrounds, details

some suggestive elements

incredibly specific niche

just masculine

so fun

if you have any good ones, please share!! (specifically i would love a fat fantasy picrew please......... please....)

[schtrawberry]

dressing based on my zodiac signs: cancer ascendant, aries venus, aquarius lilith

[!] i am not the biggest fashion person out there. these are all mostly based on my personal style with a hint of whatever ~vibe~ each of my signs gave me.

brief description. cancer is the nostalgic presence of the zodiac that floats between the past and the present. as a rising sign, she is soft, compassionate, and gentle yet able to stun with their elegance and ability to run with the currents of life.

really leaning into the fact that cancer is probably the most earthy water sign; hence the heavy amount of pale greens and yellows as my inspiration.

a lot of house of sunny bc i feel like they capture that casual comfy yet feminine vibe that i think cancer embodies really well. knits, pastels, the occasional 70's funk-inspired patterns and styles— the nostalgia!

another brand that comes to mind is réalisation par for a more soft look. the brand features lots of flowing fabrics, sustainably-sourced cotton, mini dresses, pretty floral prints, and more subdued colors.

pale pinks and yellows partnered with all different shades of blue and green!

chunky knits, light cardigans, and flowery or retro-ish patterns.

in terms of jewelry: a single mini freshwater pearl necklace paired with a gold figaro chain choker would be nice. copious amounts of minimalistic rings bc as i've said before, cancer is still a material girl! perhaps more on the minimalistic side for all her jewelry in general with just a few simple, high quality pieces that only enhance her elegant and feminine side.

brands that come to mind: LoQ the brand, ciao lucia!, faithfull the brand, posse, realisation par, reformation, house of sunny, rachel antonoff.

brief description. the first sign of the zodiac, aries channels youth and the start of new things! in venus, she is in touch with her childlike nature whether it be in the bright colors she chooses, the eye-catching prints that make her heart go 'thump-thump!', or her unconscious pull towards red.

one particular piece that i feel captures the playful fieriness and undeniable sexiness of the aries venus is the luz dress in havana by réalisation par! google it and you'll see why.

aries is the child of the zodiac. i see them channeling boldness and vibrance in their clothes; whether it be through the colors, cut, or patterns— hence the neon colors to cut through the pinks and reds.

the feminine influence of venus brings with it bright shades of pink and yellow to complement the fieriness of aries.

gimaguas x lea colombo collection comes very much to mind as well. i used a lot a lot of the photos used for this collection's lookbook in my lil moodboard because i think the play between the vibrant shades of pink, red, and yellow and boldly body-loving nature of the sleeveless bodycon dress really fit the vision that i had for aries venus— lively, forever in motion whether it be in love or otherwise, and completely in tune with the boldness of mars. [i recommend checking the artworld post by sarah bassett for this collection; i found it to be rlly cool :)]

in terms of jewelry: i only see chunky rings for this sign! i would hate to overstimulate the senses with too many different things going on in one look so i think chunky rings and the right amount of light jewelry will be more than enough.

brands that come to mind: tach clothing, tyler mcgillivary, gimaguas, rua carlota [bc aries is environmentally-friendly like that!], mirror palais, some of the looks by réalisation par.

brief description. aquarius is the visionary of the zodiac. in lilith, she is attracted to all that is unordinary and liberating; every outfit, hairstyle, accessory, is a new experience. her promiscuity and independence shines through in her style— she screams "i don't dress to please any man!"

for aquarius: just... whatever paloma wool has got going on.

lots of paloma wool pieces come to mind. the mix of color and irregular shapes that are distinctive of that brand just fit the archetype of the spunky and colorful aquarius.

special mention: the nika milano x paloma wool collection reminds me so much of the naturally electric eccentricity that comes with the planet uranus. the heavy use of strong-colored gradients and form-fitting fabrics only add to the boldness associated with uranus. in lilith, she is perhaps even less afraid to let loose and show that.

i see dark, shimmery material like rayon or viscose for this sign; cloths that can carry a lot of color and funky prints. this can then be partnered with more solid fabrics like structured cotton or leather!

pieces by ed curtis and his art [find him on ig @ed_curtis_] also inspired the vision i had for this sign. there's just something about his use of bright swirls and roughly stitched fabric that feels reminiscent of the aquarius 'idgaf' nature.

in terms of jewelry: something with opal on it— whether it be a necklace pendant, an earring charm, or an adorned piece of body jewelry. the shade will have to depend on the distinct aura of the wearer; as no two aquarius natives are alike and it's influence can present itself in different ways, depending on an individuals other signs and personality. perhaps a mood ring as well, i don't know, i like to think that an aquarius lilith would bravely wear their heart on their sleeve like that.

brands that come to mind: other than paloma wool, akyn, distal phalanx, jungles jungles, suicoke, laagam [esp their neptune dress!].

so that was it for my zodiac! i recommend that everyone do this w their own signs bc lawd, i enjoyed making this.

[emsartwork]

i forgot to add: how do design ????!?!??????

So I’m not expert but this is how I think of character design! (also sry if you were asking about clothing/outfit design thats a little different)

under the cut because this is long im so sorry

So in my opinion there are three really important aspects for character design!

AESTHETIC: obviously everybody’s aesthetic is different, but this is more about what vibe the character has, what makes them THEM design wise. 

INTENTION: who is the character supposed to be? this can range from their personality, their back story, their occupation, or their role in the story, but the design need to fit that intention.

COHESION: does the design go well together? or do certain aspects clash too much? obviously you can have disjointed parts of a character design, and if those serve a purpose then thats fine, but if its so disjointed its distracting from the character as a whole you might need to tweak things. 

AESTHETIC: the contrasting part of the design (white flowers in dark hair, dark trim on dress, and dark shoes) provide interest to the eye. The mixing of round and sharp shapes also keeps the design from feeling “boring” even though its relatively simple. 

INTENTION: so what role would this little doodle character have? according to her design elements, shes cute and friendly with her round shapes (bouncy balls, babies, etc), but could have a sharp/fast/active or even dangerous edge to her with the triangles (arrows, knives etc). of course the design doesn’t limit her possible roles. She could be a bubbly younger sister who teases the older protagonist, or maybe she’s the villain hiding in plain sight. the shape this character design doesn’t really have is squares(think bricks and rocks), which communicates that she might not be really strong, steady, or reliable. 

COHESION: repeating the curves across her whole design builds cohesion, it communicates that “yes, these are all part of the same character”, it also allows the eye to “rest” on a familiar shape or line. 

NOW LETS LOOK AT SOME DESIGNS

(Boku no Hero Academia) so both of these characters are super heroes, but have vastly different design elements. so lets analyze them.

OCHAKO(the pink one) is all rounds, with a few pointed shapes in hair mostly, but a little on her costume as well. Her personality is cute, bubbly, and friendly which perfectly suits her soft and bouncy design. Howevre she also has a very slight edge to her, which is seen her determination and drive to improve herself over the course of the anime. 

KIRISHIMA(the red one) at first glance, seems to be super pointy!! shapes that are usually seen on villains or really dangerous characters, but while he IS sharp(literally sometimes) and sometimes aggressive, he is also made of squares, which perfectly suits his loyal “i gotchu bro” attitude towards most of the other characters in the anime.  

ISSUE AREAS: so the only problems i have with Ochako and Kirishima’s designs is that their costumes each have one area that clashes a little too much for my taste. With Ochako, the belt over the color blocking stripes down her crotch are......questionable taste wise. I think the design would be better if the pink chest ended above the belt in a shallow v. not only would this mirror the triangle aspects of her hair, it would fit the belt outline, and continue the trend her costume has of being “grounded” or “heavy”. Kirishima has those.... gears??? around his shoulders??? and while the gear teeth are technically squares, the gear shape itself is a circle, which is a shape that isn’t present anywhere else in his design. I think changing the gears to something similar to his boots or his mask/headgear would create a more cohesive design(also the gears just look hard to move in)

These two characters are presented as individuals so their costumes don’t have to match at all even though they are still seen as “connected” because of the art style for the face, hair, and body. 

In a group giving the outfits cohesive motifs is an easy way to present a strong team image! In Yuki Yuna is a Hero, the girls all have colored lines(usually princess seam placement), armor or fabric hip accents, covered arms, and similar flower shapes in their hair. The Aesthetic of each girl is strong in a monochrome signature color, but not over whelming as the black+white connects them even in color so they aren’t out of place. 

Speaking of color! if your characters are all similar looking (like same body for all of them) you can communicate their personality and aesthetic just with color! (only gonna talk about a few of the ponies) Pinkie Pie (the really pink one) is energetic and playful, so her color scheme is a variation of the primary colors(happy, child like), and have one of the more saturated colors(high energy, intense) of these characters in a large quantity. Apple Jack (the orange one) is a down to earth farm girl, and her color palette is accordingly, mostly earth tones, its also warm analogous colors, which makes her appear un-complicated and warm personality wise. the pop of red is a nice touch to add interest, but notice that its uses sparingly in her cutie mark and tail accessory. Rarity on the other hand is elegant and fussy, her high contrast scheme of white and dark blue/purples gives her more visual interest and is something that makes her appear more “complex” in addition to the gradient thats included in her hair. the colors are also all cool colors, bringing to mind cool glass or water which both have connotations of grace and beauty.

however all the characters here are unified by their colors being on the pastel side, which is also important for a cohesive cast.

another, short, note on color; making the color/line/shading of your figure different from the background can help them stand out, this is used ESPECIALLY in children’s media, but can be applied to any illustration or animation as needed.

Color can also help your characters “read” quickly on screen, the powerpuff girls are a prime example, of having a distinct color blocking and silhouette. even the color blobs at the top and my crappy hand silhouettes STILL read as the characters despite being broken down into abstract elements. I also really enjoy the thick outline in the powerpuff girls, it really makes the characters pop to the foreground even though they have pretty simple designs and are often in a colorful setting.

Also, for a lot of animation, silhouette is INCREDIBLY important for your characters, some designers sketch silhouettes and then design the particulars its so important to nail the shape. These examples from Coraline are some of my favorites (though Laika wins in my heart every time no matter what lmao) because the simple shapes are SO CLEAR and indicative of the character, you literally don’t need to have watched the movie to know these are each different characters with different personalities and roles. 

silhouette can also help tell the story. In Kubo and the two strings (another Laika film) the above three characters are sisters. One has chosen to leave her home in the heavens to live on earth, and the other two stay in their roles as “heavenly” warriors. This is even shown through their designs, the two sisters are weighted on top and their cloaks don’t even touch the ground, while the first woman has trailing, heavy sleeves, hair, and robes all grounding her and emphasizing her connection with the earth.

another example of shape/silhouette reflecting the story, In The Croods, the family of cavemen are for the most part very top heavy, with large torsos and arms, usually in a more hunched over position, while the newcomer, Guy, is bottom heavy with thin arms and stands more upright. In the plot, the family represents the old ways, the strength and rules that have helped them survive, they look like very stereotypical “cavemen”, while Guy resembles the modern man, and appropriately is associated with new ideas and forward thinking.

MORE SHAPES, in DC super hero girls each girl has a distinct personality emulated by her shape language. Zatana is dramatic curves and edges, Super girl is hard, straight edges against curves, giving her a solid muscular shape. Wonder Woman, though also strong, is taller and leaner, lending to a confident leader type. Green Lantern is slim, her lines all flow into each other giving her a go with the flow look. Bumble Bee is, of course, tiny, but her boots and gauntlets add weight and strength to her otherwise small frame. Batgirl is lanky and has a lot of pointed style lines, reminding the viewer of a skinny cat (ironic what with cat woman i know) or weasel which mirrors her preferred “sneaky” crime fighting style.  (also yes this was just an excuse for me to gush abt how much i love the dcshg designs shut up)

so in my opinion, Cartoon Saloon’s The Secret of Kells is PERFECT in aesthetic, intention, and cohesion. Kells focuses very strongly on creating silhouette WITHIN the larger figure shape via color and line, most of the characters pictured here have no neck, the one who does, Brendan, is the main character and the use of negative space that cuts into his shape is used to draw attention to him. Kells is also very strongly inspired by Medieval Illuminated manuscripts (namely, the book of kells lmao). The characters still manage to stand out against outrageously detailed backgrounds via their simple shapes and strong color blocking. 

Aisling, a secondary but very important character, is not human, and has a totally different shape language from the rest of the characters. She is thin and pointy, while most of the others are round or square. Aisling also has the most negative space making up her silhouette, compare the triangles made by her arms and legs in the above picture to the figures in the first image where everybody’s body is self contained with no negative space. She is also very different color wise, very pale and cool colored, as opposed to the warm saturated colors of the human characters. (yes this was another excuse to gush abt one of my fave pieces of media deal with it)

hopefully that wasn’t too rambley and actually helps? if yall have more specific design questions lemma know lol

[sanstropfremir]

ok this took way longer than i expected because i got sidetracked looking at paintings and reading poetry and just admiring the mv, but it's finally finished!! let's talk about

higher

✨

i'm going to draw your attention to a few things.

firstly, these verses from rime of the ancient mariner by samuel taylor coleridge, published 1834:

The harbour-bay was clear as glass,

So smoothly it was strewn!

And on the bay the moonlight lay,

And the shadow of the Moon.

The rock shone bright, the kirk no less,

That stands above the rock:

The moonlight steeped in silentness

The steady weathercock.

And the bay was white with silent light,

Till rising from the same,

Full many shapes, that shadows were,

In crimson colours came.

A little distance from the prow

Those crimson shadows were:

I turned my eyes upon the deck—

Oh, Christ! what saw I there!

Each corse lay flat, lifeless and flat,

And, by the holy rood!

A man all light, a seraph-man,

On every corse there stood.

This seraph-band, each waved his hand:

It was a heavenly sight!

They stood as signals to the land,

Each one a lovely light;

This seraph-band, each waved his hand,

No voice did they impart—

No voice; but oh! the silence sank

Like music on my heart.

secondly, this ivan aivazovsky painting, chaos (the creation), c. 1841:

and thirdly, the memorial of percy shelley, who drowned in a boating accident at age 29, in 1822:

there's a common conflation between the romantic and the pastoral in the general cultural consensus because the pastoral a) has been around as an art term longer than romantic, and b) romanticism does use some similar imagery. but there is a key difference: the pastoral is specfically an idealization of 'the simple shepherding life,' often for high class and urban audiences who have no conception of the details of this life includes. one of the more famous examples is christopher marlowe's a passionate shepherd to his love, published in 1599:

Come live with me and be my love,

And we will all the pleasures prove,

That Valleys, groves, hills, and fields,

Woods, or steepy mountain yields.

And we will sit upon the Rocks,

Seeing the Shepherds feed their flocks,

By shallow Rivers to whose falls

Melodious birds sing Madrigals.

And I will make thee beds of Roses

And a thousand fragrant posies,

A cap of flowers, and a kirtle

Embroidered all with leaves of Myrtle;

A gown made of the finest wool

Which from our pretty Lambs we pull;

Fair lined slippers for the cold,

With buckles of the purest gold;

A belt of straw and Ivy buds,

With Coral clasps and Amber studs:

And if these pleasures may thee move,

Come live with me, and be my love.

The Shepherds’ Swains shall dance and sing

For thy delight each May-morning:

If these delights thy mind may move,

Then live with me, and be my love.

whereas romanticism is a more pointedly specific movement that was active from around 1800 to 1850, primarily focused on intense emotion and catharsis as the primary experiential output of an artwork. which most prominently manifested in a deep fascination and glorification of the natural environment and historical nostalgia. the movement sprung from the german sturm und drang (literally storm and drive/stress) period of the late 1760s to early 1780s, which was a direct reaction to rationalism and enlightenment. romanticism had similar impulses; it was also a revival of medievalism and a reaction against the looming urban sprawl and mechanization of the industrial revolution. a typical romantic poem from one of the originators of the english movment william wordsworth, composed upon westminster bridge, september 3, 1802, originally published 1807:

Earth has not any thing to show more fair:

Dull would he be of soul who could pass by

A sight so touching in its majesty:

This City now doth, like a garment, wear

The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,

Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie

Open unto the fields, and to the sky;

All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.

Never did sun more beautifully steep

In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;

Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!

The river glideth at his own sweet will:

Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;

And all that mighty heart is lying still!

this romantic fascination with nature was underpinned by the philosophy of the sublime, generally agreed to be first treatised by edmund burke in 1756, the theory was also written about by kant and hegel. in the simplest of terms, the sublime is a quality of greatness beyond calculation, imitation, and human comprehension. the sublime is twofold; the greatness of the ocean is beautiful, but its power is also terrifying, and the experience of the sublime is to feel those two at once. to be in awe and also to be horrified of its ability to sink ships and drown a life in a tempermental change of tide.

let's take a quick detour to talk about

clothing

in the present day we have become much more lax thanks to the aesthetic movement in the late nineteenth century, but back in the early victorian period there are still highly structured rules about when and what clothing one can wear in public. and the clothing itself is also highly structured. anyone with a passing understanding of the victorian era knows about the whole flashing of the ankle thing and corsets galore, and it is true that the general day to day garments cover a lot of area. for men in particular, this manifests in no less than three layers in public at all times: shirt, waistcoat, and suit jacket, with a coat or mantle overtop in colder temperatures. this also includes a variation of a neck tie (depending on what year), hat, gloves, and any other decided upon accessories (this can also include a corset and other padded structural underpinnings). an important tangent to mention here is that this is the uniform of the upper classes, although the rules do apply to the lower classes if they wanted to appear 'sophisticated.' the working man's uniform was also shirt, waistcoat, trousers, but the difference here is in the textiles themselves; the colours tended to be much more drab, with less complicated patterns. obviously due to the price fabric itself, but also due to the labour of laundry. an indicator of class here is the white shirt itself and its pristine implications. (there is a longer conversation here about the invention of neckties and detachable collars and cuffs, but that's for another day). the silhouettes are very important to note here in the higher mv, as they are directly referential to the 'romantic poet' archetype of loose shirt and tight pants that we see in popular culture. but as i've just said, the reality is that men of the era were not dressed like this out in public. this look is essentially underwear; the implications are salacious. so where did this come from? well, we can blame it mostly on lord byron, who by all accounts was the first western 'rockstar.' notoriously called 'mad, bad and dangerous to know' by lady caroline lamb (a married women he publically had an affair with), byron was openly bisexual and deeply hedonistic with a lot of questionable habits, but his poetry was so popular that he was known to have women following him in the street and gathering in large quanities to see him at salons. and this was close to three decades before lizstomania. his close friends and contemporaries included percy and mary shelley, with whom he lived with abroad in italy for some time (this living arrangement resulted in the writing of both frankenstein and john polidori's the vampyre). byron's reputation was so eclipsing that the image of the lush poet lazing in his undergarments has become its own genre of romantic, slightly removed from the movement byron was writing in. it's also worth it to point out that there are no official portraits of byron dressed like this from the time. the visual assumption is somewhat apochryphal. now let's get into some specifics. a.c.e is not unfamiliar to this silhouette; as previously mentioned in this post i wrote about their styling, the boxy loose upper and fitted lower is their general mode for their styling because of its emphasis on legs. cactus was the most extreme example of this, and to prove my point, this specific silhouette is extremely common in classical ballet:

1. vaslav nijinsky, giselle, 1911 2. nehemiah kish, george balanchine's ballo della regina, 2011/12

higher fits very neatly into this same category: we have an emphasis on the legs through tightly fitted garments and also through light reflective textile, as well as a secondary emphasis on arm and shoulder movements with looser fit shirts. plus, the shirts are made from fabrics that have good drape and flow, and mimic the visual effects of water:

there are also several instances of scale patterning and wetlook hair styles, further elabourating on the siren theme. and the jewelry is the same, purposefully cut clear stones for oceanic sparkle or pearls, the gem directly born from water, as highlighting accents to specific parts of the body - namely eyes, hands, and torso:

the body jewelry also serves a double purpose in addition to being sparkly; it gives a semblance of shape to their torsos so their movements aren't totally lost in the shroud of their shirts, and it also invokes some of that salacious element that us as a modern audience doesn't necessarily perceive in the same way when we see a man wearing only a shirt. all of these points are especially prominent in the stage costuming. concerning the veils, these are an aesthetic choice following the theme of depicting water without actually using water. the song has a very breathless quality to it, and the lyrics directly make reference to water and breathlessness, so it only makes sense to have a physical manifestation of struggling to breathe.

now let's talk about

mise-en-scène

unlike most kpop mvs, I would argue that higher is not a spectacle in what we normally see spectacle to be. the overwhelming visual saturation of goblin (and the goblin remix) is more in line with what we expect, but how do you follow that, top it? the answer is that you don't. you aim for something with a completely different feel, which is exact what they did with higher.

the performing arts did not escape romanticism. the very start of the movement, sturm und drang, is actually named from a specific play written by friedrich maximilian klinger that premiered in 1777. the plays of the brief period are characterized by extreme and passionate emotions, and were siblings to one of the most famous genres of theatre, the melodrama. meant to appeal directly to the emotions of the audience using sensationalist plots and stock characters, the melodrama was the predominent form of entertainment in victorian england and gradually developed a specific form of its own. in this period we also start to see the development of 'stagecraft' into the recognizable form that it takes today. footlights, limelight/spotlighting, the separation of house and stage lighting, fly galleries, elevator platform mechanics, and the first (purported) western use of rear projection are all innovations of the late 18th and 19th centuries, as melodramas were known to have very intricate and spectacular stagings. and to go along with these stagecraft mechanics we see the rise in designated stage crews, which were predominantly off-duty sailors looking to make money. the rope systems that made up the fly galleries were very similar to that on ships, and much of the terminology and supersitions crossed over: this is the origin of the term 'rigging' being used for suspending set elements, and also the origin of the 'don't whistle in a theatre' superstition. as sailors communicated with whistle patterns on ships, the same system was adopted for changing scenery, and therefore whistling a random pattern could potentially drop a setpiece on an unsuspecting victim.

so with all this backstory out of the way, what is the very first full location we see? a stage, complete with forced perspective via the painted fabric legs (the side panels) and borders (the wavy upper panels). we even have a flat painted backdrop with a projection screen and hanging overhead lamps. there's also a second interior set, a desk in what looks to be a study of some kind. bit self explanatory on this one, taking the poet notion on the nose.

the locations have a bit of an obtuse arc, but it's there when you look for it. it starts interior spaces, where the ideas of sublime attempted to be recreated for the viewer. then it moves to transitory spaces; portions of nature isolated from a whole environment, interjections of human architecture into natural spaces:

(the white hut structure in the greenhouse is reminiscent of a skene (literally hut/tent), which is the structure at the back of the stage in ancient greek theatre used for the actors to change their masks and costumes. it was originally temporary, but slowly transformed into permanent stage architecture)

and then finally outdoors, into the sublime itself:

jwm turner, crossing the bridge, 1815

lastly,

lighting

there's a very clear lighting pattern here, primarily in light and dark. the base colour story is fairly simple complementary pairs; there's a lot of purple/red and green, and blue and yellow/amber, with everything relatively on the same tonal level. there are deliberate interjections of heavily saturated red for specific effect. there are also, most notably, a 'dark' version of all the sets. obviously as a reference to the eclipse that we see in the mv and in the concept photo series, but also as a reference to that darker undercurrent of the sublime, the upsetting, the uncanny, and the terrifying:

And the bay was white with silent light/Till rising from the same/Full many shapes, that shadows were/In crimson colours came.

[lilikags]

Free Points? Seems Like It.

ೃ‧₊› a b o u t  t h i s  p o s t° ➮ Pairing: Kenma Kozume x fem! reader ➮ Series: Back to Me ➮ Tags: fluff, royal au, reincarnation au ➮ Part: 8 ➮ Word Count: 1356

It was late at night by the time you got home. You didn't exactly know when, but it was definitely late. The night was still- the moon shining softly down on you, the stars twinkling in the sky, a soft silence filling the air. Mostly everyone was asleep, and you were one of the few awake at this hour. Your parents didn't even come out to greet you- they must have been sleeping. You peacefully walked to your room, taking in the fresh night air.

You were tired, definitely. The stress from dealing with those stinky old men was definitely taxing on you, like anyone else, and while it was a bit enjoyable talking to Langelica at dinner, it still required much energy and effort. You took off the extravagant accessories on you, feeling the weight being relieved. Wearing jewelry was quite heavy, especially the dense necklaces in fashion these days. The dress was heavy too. All the girls were required to wear dresses- not by law or anything but social standards required that. It was seriously dumb that you would be ridiculed not for wearing something fashionable aka a fancy, in-style dress. If you wanted to wear something not in fashion at the moment, you were to either make it a fashion trend or just not wear it. You missed (comfort clothes) so bad, it was the most comfortable thing ever to wear. You really appreciated how comfortable modern 2000's+ fashion was.

With your more comfortable nightgown on, you were finally relaxed, the fatigue really sinking in. Its looseness let a slight breeze through, much different and definitely preferred than the tight-fitting dress you had worn all day. Clothes did not take the shape of your body, your body took the shape of the clothes. You climbed into bed, getting into (favorite sleeping position), and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, you woke up hungry, though you had eaten a good amount last night, out with Langelica. That didn't matter; you were going to eat breakfast right away. You changed into a simple dress for being at home, which was common, and almost ran all the way to the breakfast table. You ate the food being served to you, which was delicious as always, and went about your day normally- hanging out, reading some good novels, perhaps a bit of reviewing if you felt like it. After waiting a while for everyone to finish their part of the test, you received a letter, as usual.

Dear Lady (y/n), You have passed the second test. The next test will take place within the next month. You will have the last week of the test. This will be a compatibility test; you will stay with Kenma for a week, and he will decide the outcome of the test. Queen Kozume

The letter was short and concise, exactly like her highness. It was a very effective way of communicating, after all, as long as the receiver knows that the sender means no hostility.  This was free points, literally. It was like having an open notebook test on something you had learned your entire life. Well, you didn't learn about him your entire life, but you know him so well, like the back of your hand. Maybe even better, what was there to know about the back of your hand?

There was one question though: how would you act? You really wanted to act casual with him, just like in your dreams- chilling on the couch, playing games while snuggling in the futon, making apple pie with him. You had essentially accepted that the person in your dreams is you after all; you had the same name, personality, and memories is what makes a person, right? You would be best with that, but how would the public think? Everyone expected something business-like, something professional. Imagine if the crown prince and a lady from a dukedom just locked themselves in a room for a whole week. It was inevitable, the rumors. Rumors were hard to clear, especially if there was no one really to see it. The servants loved to talk among themselves, and anything they don't know, they'd speculate and the rumors would spread.

You didn't want to deal with them, Kenma wouldn't want to deal with them, no one would want to deal with them. And maybe you could be kicked out for creating them- but who knows. Everything that happens in high society is dramatic. You figured that you'd talk it out with Kenma on the first day, and you'd go from there.

You and Kenma were given a palace to spend together, whoa. Perhaps the queen wanted to give you some privacy? Or maybe Kenma had it arranged, you didn't know. You were surrounded by servants all day, which honestly couldn't be more tiring. They do nothing but talk in their free time, no other hobbies. Maybe you had to put in more work back in the modern age, but that freedom was priceless. This high society was as restricting as could be, allowing for no expression of individuality. You had to follow the trends, or you'd be kicked out.

You and Kenma needed ONE private talk, to sort things out, then you would know where you'd be headed and what kind of actions to take during this "trip". You decided it would be at night, when many of the servants would be asleep and only a few on night duty. So, on the first day, you acted like you would act to any other guy. It was painful, really. You just wanted to snuggle up next to him, feel his warmth, take in his scent, something you hadn't done in forever, put your arms around him in a tight hug, playing games together in the futon, simply just relaxing and having a good time. But no one knew the extent to which you were familiar with each other, and you wish everyone understood what happened, but even if you told them, they wouldn't believe you.

When night came around, you snuck around to an empty room nowhere near any of the servants. You'd secretly arranged this with him, it was like a break from society. You planned on being yourselves for a bit, sort of a breather from this mess of a society. You waited a bit for him, as you were a bit early, and when he came around, you gave him a hug. It was honestly the best hug you have had since what felt like forever, and you felt so grateful that you could hug him like that again. You had brought a blanket with you, and you used it to keep warm while you talked. You snuggled with him while the two of you figured it out, and you ended up with an agreement that would go with something like "With the body language they're showing, they must be very comfortable together." and you'd speak with him casually too, as if you'd known each other for a long time. (well, you have, just not to everyone else's minds)

Since video games and other fun sorts of media were not longer available, Kenma decided that board games were fun. Sure, they didn't have the same excitement, but they weren't too bad either. So, the two of you ended up playing board games and talking about random things for the majority of the time. It was actually kind of enjoyable; it was relaxing in a way and there weren't many things to worry about, which was really nice. The two of you did really nothing spectacular, and to pretty much most people, the winner would probably be Langelica in this stage too, and the overall winner. She was really good at convincing the public, and while that could get the public's support, she would need Kenma's support, which you knew you had. It was nice to know that there were ways that Langelica wasn't better than you.

And so, your time together had to end after the designated week. You went back home and waited for the results to come out...

『••✎••』 Extra Info * ˚ ✦ ⇢ If you haven’t read the other parts, find them here! * ˚ ✦ ⇢ Taglist: [no one has signed up] If you would like to be on my taglist, send me an ask!

A/N: Hey guys! Am I getting faster at releasing chapters? 👀👀👀👀👀👀 I think so hAhA I hope this chapter was interesting--- ideas = gone but oKaY wHAtEvEr HaHA Oh and how do you like the image dividers? It's a trick I learned from tumblr :> Anyways, gonna go work on an iwa oneshot so 👀👀👀👀

Ilya! <3

With love, 

[terminally-karkalicious]

allow me to rant about the only thing that has been in my brain for the past two months and that is doll customizing babeyyyyy

i know there’s a 90% chance that you wont give a Shit about any of this but here we go anyways

SO first you gotta choose a doll. preferably one with a high range of motion to avoid creating new joints or having annoying limitations like not having elbow joints for some fucking reason. what the fuck mattel. give monster high dolls back their ball jointed shoulders and elbow joints. smh

the most common dolls ive seen used as bases are monster high and ever after high. most customs ive seen are highly stylized so the stylized face molds work well for those types of dolls but dolls like barbies are good for when you want a more realistic face-ups.

once you’ve got your base picked out you gotta wipe that bitch’s face off with like. acetone or nail polish remover or something strong like that. you can also use acetone to shrink doll heads which is cool as hell imo. n e way once the face is wiped you gotta chop off the hair and remove the hair plugs from the inside. ive seen this done several ways but the easiest and most common way ive seen is to dunk the head into boiling water for ~30 seconds until it gets squishy and malleable. once you’ve got the head back, you can use pliers (i think tweezers would work in a pinch) to pull out the hair plugs which are kinda icky because theyre covered in glue and other gross shit. ew

now you must decapitate the doll. dunk em back in the boiling water to soften them back up then just tug the head off. the neck pegs look funky and are usually a different color than the body so thats cool ig

once the head’s off, you can start the face-up which is basically just giving the doll a new face using stuff like watercolor pencils, acrylic paint, gouache, and a whole lot of other stuff. hell ive seen people use person makeup on these dolls.

next,,,,, hair. there’s about twenty million ways to do hair from gluing yarn wefts to sewing to rerooting with purchased nylon doll hair or yarn wefts but i’m gonna talk about the most common one ive seen which is rerooting and gluing.

before you can reroot, you need doll hair. which, as i mentioned, can be bought at stores like the doll planet or made at home with yarn in literally any color. have fun with it! make rainbow hair or something idk

to make homemade wefts, you take some acrylic yarn, cut it twice as long as you want the hair to be (keep in mind you can cut and style the hair once it’s been rerooted), fold them in half, and tie it to something sturdy like a wire coat hanger for the next step.

once you’ve got your yarn tied to your hanger, use a pet brush and brush the yarn until it’s wispy and looks like hair. then take a straightening iron and iron the weft flat. then remove from the hanger and boom. hair wefts. ta-da

to reroot the wefts onto the head, use a rerooting tool (which can be as simple as a needle with the eye cut at angle) (just google it please i’m shit at descriptions)) to poke small sections of the hair into the head. you can use the pre-existing rooting holes for your own reroot as they’re usually pretty reliable. to reroot, take a small length of you doll hair (about 10-15 strands), loop it in half, and put the middle of the loop into the reroot tool. poke the end of the tool with the hair on it into the pre-existing hole and remove the tool. the hair *should* stay in and fill up that plug!! also remember to plug thickly at the hairline and part of the hair where it's most noticeable. it doesnt matter as much in the center of the head as that’s not usually visible on the doll. once you’ve rerooted, squeeze in strong glue through the neck hole and squish around the head to make sure it covers all the plugs and secures them in place. then pour hot water onto the head to make the hair lay flat for styling later.

also, you can reroot yarn directly into the head to make thicker, more textured hairstyles. and since the yarn is thicker, you dont need to glue the inside of the head for the hair to stay in place!!

if youre not doing body modifications (which are also cool as hell) then it’s time for clothes but clothes are boring and i like body mods more so i’m gonna rant about them instead

the material ive seen most doll artists use is apoxie sculpt, which is like play doh on steroids. it comes in two parts which you gotta mix together for some reason. why dont they sell it pre-mixed. what was the reason. also once it’s dry it’s super super strong and you can sand it, drill into it, paint it, and all kinds of stuff. very nice and i want some for myself.

you can use hand saws and drills and shit to whack off doll limbs to make stuff like digitigrade legs or new joints. also dont be afraid to use other mismatching doll parts when customizing like heads and bodies and forearms and hands and shit. it literally does not matter if youre gonna recolor the doll anyways so have fun with it. make frankenstein’s doll if youre feeling spicy

accessories my beloved. stuff like tiny beads and clay baubles and shit will literally transform the entire doll plus they’re adorable and multi-purpose

i suppose i must talk about clothes now. ah well. you can find great clothing patterns if youre new to customizing on other customizer’s etsy shops and probably google although those will probably be lower quality than paid pattern pieces. and keep in mind that if it exists as clothing irl, you can likely make it doll-sized. there are literally no limits to your clothing options as long as you can execute your idea.

the once all your components have been made, you can assemble the doll again!! and finally see what all the parts look like together!! very cool 10/10 stars.

ight that wraps up my doll rant. i could really go into more detail on certain parts but thats a whole other rant for a whole other day smh. sorry for fucking flooding your inbox ender ahaha……………. you asked for this

little did you know that dolls have been one of my favorite things since like ever. if i can read a 25 chapter long fanfic i can read this B)

mattel definitely fucked up by completely ruining MH doll designs and just stopping EAH, alot of their profits most likely came from people who collect and customize dolls and by changing MH doll designs/Stopping EAH dolls they 1. most likely lost a small (or big if we're not jus talking people who customize dolls) part of their profit and 2. made it harder for doll customizers to make dolls/get commissions out rather quickly because they probably have to waste more time making joints or learning how to make joints.

EAH/MH dolls (specifically MH dolls) had AMAZING MODELS because there was so much variety with height, face shapes, etc (my favorite molds had to be the short/tall dolls and the cat molds because of the tails) and doll customizers really went all out with enhancing a molds unique features. The only "downside" abt MH dolls is that they (or atleast most)(from what i remember)) had slimmer faces but wider eyes while EAH dolls have wider faces with slimmer smaller which left a canvas for the face and not the eyes (and vice versa for MH dolls)

I've never seen any videos where a barbie is customized (maybe because i absolutely despised barbies at the time) so I'll definitely have to check those out but they seem to be good for realistic makeovers. I've seen like like semi realistic makeovers for EAH/MH dolls that were pretty good too tho (pretty sure mostly EAH dolls since yk MH dolls were used for creature makeovers while most EAH dolls weren't)

yeah i was always amazed by the head shrinking with acetone. honestly i still am?? idunno i have no idea how that chemical bullshit works. Ive seen a few of uh makeovers that just pain over the face (in multiple layers ofcourse) but that's usually when they're painting the entire body a different colour (again usually when they're turning a doll into a funky little baby man). I've also seen a few that just chop the hair off and take out the hair plugs yk without uuh like softening the head or just go straight for the hair plugs after taking off the head (i used to do that it was funny to me??). i always really liked when they used watercolour pencils or just colour pencils in general to draw/sketch on the face cause like wow ur drawing on ur doll without ruining it?? kinda epic maybe even poggers and pogchamp?? oh god my brain is failing wjshsmsj.

Watching them putting the hair back on the doll was, other than the face stuff, was the BEST part for me. Favorite type of hair was iuuuuuh was either thick yarn or brushed out yarn. Literally worship the people that would reroot the hair, theyre the most patience people on this earth!! it's literally insane but i guess that's what happens when you've been doing that for years? you guess kinda get used to it. when they put glue into the head does it just become stiff?? like it's just a clump of dried glue or does it like..hollow out again??

dude you literally cannot convince me most of the supplies used for doll makeovers. APOXIE CLAY LOOKS SO FECKING GOOD. its edible and i will die on that hill. The body mods are literally so amazing!!!!! it's so impressive how theyre able to imagine certain features THEN LIKE ACTUALLY MAKE IT LOOK ACCURATE TO WHAT THEY WANTED TO LOOK LIKE AFTER LIKE ON TRY (or many yk trial and error is very necessary for..everything). Absolutely loved when doll customizers would saw off a dolls legs and use different ones or just completely get rid of the torso to use a different one. it's like uuh that one big guy that's mismatched and sewn together. very cool. The accessories are so fun!! just small little details you seen really need but can add because it's your feckin doll!! I used to be absolutely obsessed over the doll clothes i would find on etsy, so much so that i started sewing shitty shirts and dresses for my uh "customized" dolls (they were absolute HORRORS idk WHY my mom let me feck up my dolls like that).

Thank you for this!! i haven't been able to talk about any of my interests for a while and this just really made me happy!!

Question fer u my fellow MH/EAH enthusiast: what was your favorite MH/EAH movie/episode and doll series. Mine was The fusion dolls (MH obvi) and that MH movie "Haunted" cause we got to know more about Spectra :D

[lesmiserablesfashions]

*gives you 10 cents and a shoelace* tell me about corsets and widows wear

sure thing! those things all vary quite a bit depending on exact timeframe, but i’ll do my best to cover as much as i can. big disclaimer that i am not a historian! hopefully other people will jump on this post to help me out a bit.

corsets! corsets changed a lot over the course of the 19th century since the ideal figure and cut of dresses changed so frequently. in the regency era, the ideal figure was pretty columnar; they didn’t want too many curves. the natural waist was deemphasized, as the waistline was just below the bust. this led to regency corsets, in their more popular form, being soft, with minimal boning. many stopped soon below the bust, like the dresses:

a very comfortable era in fashion, which did not last very long. already by the late 1810s, waistlines were beginning to move downwards, and corsets followed suit:

here’s some from 1819. as you can see, there was still some diversity in shape and style, but they did extend at least to the natural waist. they served a few different purposes, and each one unique in which they would emphasize. in general, they would gently narrow and lengthen the waist, push up the bust, and improve posture. gussets did a fair bit of the work, showing off the parts you want shown off.

the big board you see up the middle of the one on the right is called a busk. these were generally made of either wood, baleen, bone, or sometimes even ivory. they were meant to separate the breasts and keep the posture set.

boning was usually made from baleen; reed was an older convention and slowly phasing out. steel boning wasn’t much of a thing until until the 1850s as the industrial revolution took its course. boning was pretty light for a while; gradually corsets came to have more boning.

the fabrics used for corsets at this time was almost always cotton, though i have seen at least one example where linen was used as a lining! multiple layers of the fabric would be sewn together to make the corset strong.

the lovely pattern you see is the cording! strong cords made of cotton or similar fabrics were sewn into the fabric to stiffen it a bit. here’s a really great image of someone’s modern recreation:

[x]

while early regency corsets laced in the front, as time passed, they came to be laced in the back. the eyelets could either be holes in the garment itself, as so:

or separate rings:

conveniently, both those past two examples are from the 1820s, so you can how slowly the ideal silhouette became more of an hourglass figure. the 1830s kept this pattern going, as corsets continued to narrow around the waist:

the waists weren’t nearly tight enough to suffocate you or anything like that, but they did show off your curves! note the shoulder straps, too – some were attached directly to the body of the corset, as in that white one, and some laced on, as in the brown one!

moving on to mourning clothing! widow’s weeds is the general term for widows’ clothing specifically. not weeds like plants; the term comes from “waed”, the old english word for garment.

this is a subject i know much much much much much less about, so this took a fair bit of research. customs tended to vary a lot between cultures, too, so ??? people who know more than i do please lend me a hand here

the main point is, there were specific rules you’d have to follow, depending upon the period and region. the essence of these was modesty: simple fabrics, less flashy color and ornamentation. to cheat on any of these specifications would send a very distinct message – possibly that the widow was promiscuous, vain, or didn’t really love her husband. the rules began pretty simply in the regency era, and grew more and more complex until the mid-victorian era, with the influence of queen victoria taking hold over england and spreading to france in the way popular fashions tend to do.

mourning was broken down into stages, the length of which varied.

the first period, called full morning, lasted a year and a day for widows (i’ve seen this figure mentioned for both regency and mid-victorian customs, so it appears fairly constant, though both of those sources were focused on england). the only color to be worn was black. fanciful ornamentation was to be minimized as much as possible, if not cut out entirely, and it should only be black. shiny fabric wasn’t allowed; all fabrics should be matte. crêpe was the fabric of choice, though matte silks like bombazine were also solid options. here are some examples:

^ evening dress from 1817

^ morning dress from 1818

^ another from 1819

^ 1820

^1824

^ 1830

^ these two from 1837 – a few years past out era, but you get the point.

the two stages past this varied, and honestly confuse me quite a bit. i’m not clear on the duration of these stages in the regency era, but by the mid-victorian era, it seems pretty clear that the second stage lasted one additional year, and the final lasted 6 months. even the textiles – one website that focused mostly on the mid-victorian said that shiny fabrics became okay in the second stage, but a blurb for one dress in the victoria & albert museum says the lord chamberlain decreed velvets & shiny silks only okay for the third stage sometime around the death of princess charlotte in 1817. regardless of period, subdued colors other than black, such as white, gray, or lavender were allowed in first as small adornments, then as the color of a full garment. so uh ???????? here are some pictures, anyway.

^ evening dress from 1819 – this is one of the few ones i’m sure is from the final stage

^ the victoria & albert museum confirms this as a final stage mourning dress from 1823-1825

^both from 1827

^ late 20s/early 30s

^1835

the range of jewelry in the later stages also expanded to include lockets, pins, or brooches with the hair of the deceased inside, like so:

all of these rules were incredibly unfortunate for anyone without a ton of money, since new clothes were expensive. most people chose to try and rework some of their old clothes into appropriate mourning attire, dyeing dresses black, sewing in black linings to outerwear, or draping bonnets in black crêpe. if you were too poor even for that, you’d have to resort to finding any small black accessory, or even scrap of fabric to add somehow to your outfit. that or follow marius’ route of just only leaving your house at night so your clothes all look black.

that’s the best i’ve got to say, so the floor is 100% open to others!

[ennuiae]

My goodness.  I am so glad I decided to take the plunge and take part in this year’s Winter 10×10 Challenge hosted by lovely and stylish bloggers StyleBee & Un-fancy.  What an amazing experience this has been.  Today I’ll be giving a little recap of the Winter 10×10 Challenge so get ready!  If it’s your first time here, the 10×10 Challenge is all about picking ten items, styling them ten different ways, and wearing those looks for ten days! It’s main purpose is to help you get reacquainted with the clothes you already have, creating more with less, and learning about yourself & your personal style in the process.  It’s a difficult feat, and I feel very tired but equally accomplished that I completed all ten days and documented each day here on this blog.

 (PS: I know I’ve taken a few steps in a different direction with my blog, but I like where I’m  going and I want to see where it takes me)

Here’s how I’ll be organizing this post:

-Ten pieces

-Ten Looks (inner and outer wear)

-Favorites & Least Favorites

-Take Aways

-What I’ve learned

Ten Pieces

From left to right: H&M oversized sweater, Uniqlo grey work pants, GU jumpsuit, Uniqlo blue coat , Lowry’s Farm “Mens” shoes, Uniqlo black circle skirt, Uniqlo striped box shirt , Uniqlo white half button blouse, Green box shirt, & Black winter boots

(Unfortunately, all of these items are either from previous seasons, or from years before so I am unable to link any of the items I used for this challenge)

Ten Looks

  Favorites

Left: I loved the outerwear version of this outfit.  I had said earlier that I didn’t like how the green box shirt was a bit too tight over the jumpsuit but I think the jacket goes over it all very nicely.  I really just love how casual yet put together this outfit makes me look / feel, especially with the hat.  Right: Another favorite.  I think I can already tell I’m very much drawn to the wide leg pants here (which were actually my jumpsuit).  I love how slouchy and relaxed this look is and it was my very first look of the challenge!

Least Favorite

Yep, this one was my least favorite and it made me feel uncomfortable and self conscious all day. I had mentioned before that I didn’t like how my belly roll and mid section were so obvious here.  I think I’ve learned that when I style this circle skirt it looks so much better with a shirt layered over it.  And in general, I don’t like things that are too tight around the belly.

Take Aways

The main purpose of this challenge as Style Bee eloquently puts is to “get more out of your closet, save some money and dig deeper into your personal style”.  I really believe that I’ve taken all of that plus more from participating in this challenge.

I feel much better about what I already have and found new appreciation for my clothes.  I have a ton of simple pieces which makes it pretty easy to mix and match and create a bunch of different, fun and interesting outfits.  I feel like my whole closet is brand new after taking a ten day break. It’s so refreshing!  It’s honestly so amazing to crave a piece of clothing you already own instead of the having to deal with thoughts of what you’ll buy next or what is on your wishlist of your favorite store, or “If only I had ____ item, this outfit would look better” (<–confessions of a shopaholic–>).  I have a bit of an issue with shopping, so I feel like this was a perfect challenge for me.  I haven’t even had much thought to buy anything for myself when I go out, and I find myself thinking much more critically about how something I see in a store would flatter my body, or if the shape works for me.  I feel like as much as I don’t like to admit it, I’ve found my personal style to be very simple and I’m not sure if I like it or not…but it looks good on me and I feel confident in the clothes I’ve worn for this challenge. A quick side note, I did have to style my 10 pieces around work, so I had to make everything very “teacher/school friendly” which at first felt like it would take over my personal style but actually,  I realize most of my clothes are like that anyways. >.>

Thing’s I’ve Learned

I’ve realized a few things, first….I HAVE ONLY / MOSTLY UNIQLO.  Is this a bad thing?  I’m not sure.  Although I haven’t put too much research into the brand (which I really should), I’m afraid my love for Uniqlo will shatter when I find out that their products are probably not made ethically.  I try and reason this bad aspect with the fact that all their clothes tend to last over two seasons or more (so kind of sustainable) and everything is really versatile.

I’ve learned that I cannot tuck too many layers into skirts or pants as I am a bit conscious of my middle area.  Something I know I shouldn’t be so fussed about but it’s a work in progress.  Instead, I want to learn to work around it for now.

I’ve learned that I tend to steer clear from bright colors, bold patterns, and heavy accessories. My Winter 10×10 colors were on the darker side: blue, white, dark green, black, and grey (with some choice reds).

I’ve learned that good hair and makeup can really make my simple outfits look much nicer and make me feel cute, happy, and confident.

I’ve learned how to take pictures…or at least take better pictures of myself, which is a great accomplishment and honestly it makes my blog posts look way better! Huzzah!

And I’ve learned that the 10×10 Challenge community has been growing and I am so thankful for all the amazing ladies I’ve been able to interact with.  It’s such a treat to see such inspiring and thoughtful people out there.  I felt like I was never alone in this challenge and got some great support and ideas from the 10×10 feed on Instagram as well as my friends who had been reading my posts from day one.  So thank you ladies <3

It feels so great but also bittersweet to be closing my final blog post for the 2017 Winter 10×10 Challenge.  I am very much looking forward to the Spring 10×10 Challenge and will be blogging about it here in the near future.  I’ll be getting back to some Japan life blogging and because I enjoyed blogging about my personal fashion feats, I think I’ll be posting outfit(s) of the week here and there when I have time!  I already am bursting at the seams with so many ideas for this blog.  I feel very refreshed and ready to take this year on!

Thank you for reading!

  Winter 10 x 10 Recap My goodness.  I am so glad I decided to take the plunge and take part in this year's Winter 10x10 Challenge hosted by lovely and stylish bloggers 

[relievingthewardrobe]

Fashion Vocabuary

Accent Emphasis given to a distinctive characteristic of a garment Accessories In fashion accessories refers to items with a useful or decorative purpose used in conjunction with one’s outfit. They complement and enhance the clothes worn. Include Belts & Suspenders, Bridal Veils, Eyewear, Footwear, Gloves & Mittens, Handbags, Handkerchiefs, Headwear, Jewelry, Legwear, Neckwear, Shawls & Wraps, Umbrellas, Watches Acid wash Treatment done on fabric to fade the colour with bleach solution. Achromatic colours This refers to having no colour ; in fashion it means black or white colours. Androgynous style Androgyny in fashion refers to dressing in styles that makes it difficult for the viewer to determine the gender of the person.Gender neutral fashion. Also called Unisex fashion Anime Anime is short for animation and refers to a dressing style that follows the fashion on Japanese Anime cartoons. Mostly features punk style clothing. Anti Fashion Dressing in styles different from the fashion of the day; showing an indifference to fashion and its varying trends Antique style A style of the past Anti Pill Treatment done on fabric to increase the wear resistance, preventing uneven and worn look of fabric surface Army look A style that resembles an army uniform (military style) Art deco Style incorporating geometric patterns in typical colours of yellow green gold silver and black Art Nouveau Style that incorporates linear and curvilinear designs Academic costume Characteristic clothes worn by those studying or teaching in colleges/ universities Accent This is an emphasis given to something like a colour or trimming or accessory Accent shades Bright dark colours like fluorescent colours. These are used as an emphasis rather than as the whole colour of a design. Accessory Refers to things like shoes, hats, jewellery, neckwear, belts, scarfs, gloves, corsets, lingerie boutonnieres that is added to an outfit to make it more fashionable Accessorizing The process of adding accessory to clothing on display Active sportswear Clothes worn by the participants in sports events Adaptation Garment/design similar to another original design/model but having some characteristic changes Advanced colours Warm colours like shades of red a la mode French term for fashion Accouterments A popular or the latest style of clothing, hair, decoration, or behavior. American Style A sporty easy going casual style of clothing Androgynous style A style that is neither strongly feminine or masculine Apparel Another word for clothes, clothing and garments Apparel manufacturing Involves assembling, cutting, finishing, grading, labeling, marketing of garments in an industrial set up Asymmetrical One sided , not balanced Atelier Large dressmaking organization Attire Clothing Athletic clothing Clothing worn for athletic activities. Brands like Puma specialize in athletic clothing Au naturel This french origin word is used to indicate something in its natural state. Like a nude body Avant-Garde Refers to never seen before innovative designs by designers who are original thinkers bringing change to fashion Body clothes Underclothing Balance / symmetry Having two opposing sides of same dimension Bespoke This refers to a made-to-order garment made as per the customer’s characteristic measurements and specifications. Usually said about men’s formal clothes or wedding clothes Barfly apparel Clothing suitable for wearing at cocktail bars Baroque Exaggerated style ; over ornate clothing style Beachwear Clothing suitable for beach Beaumonde The fashionable world Black tie event A dress code for evening events and social functions ; involves a tuxedo, tie and formal shoes. For girls, this is a long gown. Bling The term used for flashy ostentatious accessories Body-con clothing Tight filling clothing eg. Bodycon dress Boutique A store or shop ( usually high end expensive store) selling unique items to a specific set of customers Boyfriend style Meaning borrowed from boyfriend; Clothing style belonging to males adapted to suit females; eg. Boyfriend jeans Bib and tucker Colloquial term for clothes ( wear one’s finest clothes) Border print A design that is seen along the border of a fabric Bohemian style of fashion (Boho) An unconventional style of dressing  that draws inspiration from bohemian and hippie influences. Boho chic is a stylish bohemian fashion with many celebrities and socialities following this trend. Check out Business Formal dress code Garments suitable for a formal event – suits for both men and women and tailored dresses for women. Business Casual dress code Clothes suitable for a semi-formal event – pants and shirts for men, pencil skirts and blouses for women ; not too casual like jeans or too formal like suits. Bulky clothing Loose fitting clothing Capsule wardrobe This is a term used for a collection of a few timeless and essential items of clothing . Cut of a garment Style and shape of a garment and how it hangs on the body Camouflage clothing Design with elements of camouflage in it like the print / khaki colour Care label A mandatory label found in all clothes that denotes atleast one method of caring for that garment/fabric in lieu of symbols. They usually have fabric details, its content, washing drying, bleaching and ironing instructions Casual wear Informal wear; everyday garments Catwalk A platform along which models walk to display clothes in fashion shows. Channel suit A prestigious coveted suit for women designed by the Famous french designer Coco Chanel Chic Stylish / sophisticated Chinois Chinese style Cine mode A fashion with origin in the movies City wear Street clothes with a sophisticated style Cocktail dress code This is a party event – a suit for men and party dress for women Collection Usually held twice a year in spring/summer and fall/ winter Colour coordination Design incorporating colour theory and colour harmony Classic A style which is deemed timeless Clique As per Wikipedia clique is a small close-knit group of people who do not readily allow others to join them.In fashion cliue refers to a group of very fashion conscious people who share a common sense of style. Collection A set of creations of a designer for a particular season. Colour blocking This is a technique in which large blocks of solid coloured fabric are joined  (usually sewn) to form the garment ; placing blocks of different colours side by side this way provides a visually striking effect Colour fast This refers  to a dyed fabric’s ability to resist fading or colour running when it is washed, exposure to sunlight etc. Colorway A fashion industry terminology for a product in a specific color. Cosplay A pastime of dressing up in costume (Oxford dictionary) Country look A rustic look ; wearing tweeds Cool colours These are colours in the blue family Contemporary style A current look Continental style This refers to the European style of clothing Contrast In fashion this refers to using colours which are in stark contrast to each other and hence both stand out. Conservative styles Traditional dressing style Cosmetic colours Colours that relates to makeup/cosmetics used Cosmopolitan Dress style that is universal rather than localized Costume Garments based a theme or a story Couturier This is a french term for male designers. The female designer is a couturiere Craze A fashion which becomes extremely popular for a short period Composite style A combination of distinct styles; simple and refined; cool and feminine; feminine and flirtatious ; funky and fun. Costume jewelry This is jewelry made to complement a particular fashionable garment/collection ;  usually inexpensive than real jewellery Dated fashion Style of clothing which is Out of fashion  (no longer fashionable) Décolletage Area from the neck to the chest. Diffusion Line A  modestly priced line of garments made by an haute couture designer Distressing Process in which fabric is artificially aged or worn Draping The way a fabric falls/hangs on a body Drop tail style This refers to clothing with the back having more length than the front. Dandy style This is a term related to men’s clothing – indicating a flamboyant self-absorbent style of dressing Deadstock Clothing that has never been worn, often from previous season. Design elements In fashion, this refers to Color, Shape, line, texture, balance, harmony, proportion, pattern etc which are very important in designing well-liked clothes Double Denim Trend This is a style of wearing more than one clothing in denim at a time Eg. Denim Jacket with denim jeans. Also referred as Canadian Tuxedo Earth colors Colours in the brown family Eclectic style of fashion This is a fashion style composed of elements drawn from various sources;A mix of various styles Electric colours Brilliant colours Elegant dressing style A sophisticated graceful style Ensemble An outfit ( totally) that is coordinated and harmonious Eponymous fashion brand When a designer decides to name a brand his own name ie creator gives his own name to his brand. eg LOUIS VUITTON Ethnic Native or traditional Exotic Style that is fascinating and evoking the look of a foriegn land Embellishing The addition of decorative details or features Ensemble A set of clothes that give out a look of unity and coordination Designer A person who thinks up ideas for making extremely characteristic garments Display A presentation of clothes Effortless dressing This refers to a style which is high end but looks effortless. Fabric swatches Small pieces of fabric used as a sample Fabric Finishes This refers to the application of certain resins/chemicals or making the fabric undergo some processes so that its functional or aethetic appeal is enhanced. Fad A short lived fashion ; the popularity fades pretty fast after a burst. Fashion 2.0 Fashion in the digital age with social media and websites leading the way for major upheavals in fashion. Fashion capitals Refers to high fashion cities like Paris, New York, Los Angels, London, Tokyo, Berlin, Barcelona Fashion Cycle This refers to the rise rule and decline of a style Fashion Faux Pas A misstep made in fashion like a wrong choice of clothing Fashion Forecast A prediction as to the fashions / styles/ trends that will be popular in the coming future Fashion forward A person who is ahead and knowledgeable of fashion trends Fashion icon Some one who is very popular for his/her fashion style that every one looks up to him/her. Fashion Line All of the clothing a fashion designer produces for a specific category Fashion press Those reporting the fashion events / shows / displays etc Fashion show Displaying Formal collection of fashion styles by designers to merchandisers/ customers Fashion house A company involved in fashion design Fashionista A devoted follower of fashion Fashion icon A term used to refer to someone or something that has become popular for being extremely fashionable Fashion sense Knowledge of how to dress fashionably. Fashion police An imaginary police force that ensures that people dress according to fashion. Fashion sketch An initial drawing made for the purpose of garment design. It will give a basic idea about the garment Fashion subcultures Subdivisions of society that influence fashion and have a heavy influence on the fashion elsewhere everywhere. The attitude and beliefs of he subculture is reflected in their clothing. Grunge, punk, goth, alternative, bohemian,rock,  rap,and hip-hop are such subcultures Fashion tribe A group of people who share a common sense of dressing style / fad/ fashion Fashion victim A person who slavishly follows current fashion. Fabric Prints These are many prominent patterns which are very popular like animal prints African prints . Face of the fabric The outer surface of the fabric Fashion Label A collection of  expensive clothes belonging to a particular upcoming designer Fatigues Military combat apparel. Flat sketches Technical sketch of a design as if it were laying flat- the details include stitching techniques etc. Also called flats.You can make this by hand or with software like illustrator. Florals Fabric printed with floral patterns Formal clothing ( evening clothes) An occasion dressing style ;Long evening gown for females and suits / tuxedos for men Foundation Undergarment worn to smooth a figure Garcon look Garconne; A boyish fashion worn by women ; also called flapper look Gradation Shades of the same colour Greek Chic Style associated with the thinking man/woman, technology workers/professionals.Tailored suits, over sized glasses Grunge A messy unco-ordinated style of dressy seen in people who follow or like grunge music. Ripped jeans, layered clothing, black boots Haberdashery Sewing notions like buttons zippers etc; also refers to a men’s clothing shop High stepper A colloquial term for a person who is very aware or conscious of fashion and how he/ she looks. Hand of a fabric The feel of the fabric Haute Couture Expensive, fashionable clothes produced by leading exclusive fashion houses. It means the finest dress making in French language; simply termed as couture. Heavy metal fashion Fashion adopted by fans of heavy metal music ( metal heads or headbangers); skinny fit jeans, jackets, clothes with patches and badges High Fashion The designing, making, and marketing of expensive, fashionable exclusive clothes ( as opposed to mass-market clothing); haute couture Hippie style An unusual ( to western style) bohemian fashion style characterized by long hair, jeans  bell bottom pants peasant blouses tie and dye fabric, long full skirts etc Hosiery Tight fitting knitted garments worn on the leg and feet. It is usually made of highly stretchable fabrics like spandex. Hourglass figure A female body shape with narrow waist and proportionately bigger hips ad bust ; considered to be the ideal shape for women eg Hourglass figure of Marilyn Monroe House In the fashion world, a fashion house is a name used for a company dealing in fashion. Hot number A style which  sells very fast at that time Imitation A fake or copy ; usually used for describing fur and jewellery Iridescent colours Imitating the colors of the rainbow Impact colours A color used in a fashion design for an impact Jewel tones Deep colours Kawaii Kawaii is a cute fashion trend that originated in Japan. It follows the definite meaning of Kawaii – Japanese artistic and cultural style that emphasizes the quality of cuteness, using bright colours and characters with a childlike appearance. Kitsch In fashion refers to low quality style; garish style Knock Off A design that is a copy of a more expensive clothing Lagenlook style ( Layered style) This is a style in which different garments are layered over each other, in different lengths Limited edition clothing Line A collection of styles shown to a producer in a given season Line sheet A reference guide used by people connected with fashion detailing garment styles price, colour, fabric details etc related to a line. Look Book A book with all the photographs of a model, photographer, style, stylist, or images representing the full clothing line of a designer. It is meant as a catalog for marketing to be presented to the buyers. Long line clothing Clothing meant for tall people Loungewear Garments worn around the house Made to measure garments This refers to the use of  preexisting template patterns and then making the garments out of them after adjusting to the measurements of the customer Marine style A style that looks like the clothing of sailors Mass produced / Fashion Styles/ fashion that is widely accepted and hence made in large quantities Masculine style This refers to women’s clothing made to look like men’s ( also called mannish) Melange A fashion which is mixture, combination of things, elements or trends Minimalist A simple understated look; a fashion consisting of simple styles and plain colours. Monotone clothing Clothes of a single colour Mood Board A physical or digital collage of design ideas used by fashion designers to consolidate their collections or get ideas. Will have details of an idea, drawings or photos, fabric swatches etc. Motif A design used in a pattern/ print / embroidery etc ; usually found recurring Muslin This is a trial garment made to test a pattern ; it is originally made in the fabric muslin cotton Neutral Colours Neutral means without colour. In fashion Classic colours like black, white, gray, brown and beige and sometimes blue are called neutral colours Off the rack Another name for ready to wear mass-produced clothing in standard sizes that is made in a large number and is readily available in retail stores. Ombre This refers to the style in which color graduates from light to dark Over size Garments which are of a much looser fit. Passe Refers to anything that is No longer fashionable; out of date fashion.(pronounced pasei) This is deemed an insult in fashionable circles Panache Style which represents flamboyance or confidence Pantone colours Pantone colours refers to a colour reference system developed by the company Pantone Inc that standardizes the colours in the CMYK process. The pantone colours correspond exactly to the inks and dyes used to colour the fabric by various industries , basically for printing purposes and manufacture of coloured fabric. Pattern A template used as a guide to make a garment. Pret-a- porter Refers to ready to wear clothes Peek-a-boo style Refers to adding cut out details or sheer elements in garments which reveals parts of the body Peasant style A style which is reminiscent of the country women folk with embroidered blouses and long skirts Placement prints This refers to fabric patterns with print that consists of a large motif or design which is a stand out design and which is strategically placed on the garment which makes it a highlight Post modern fashion In this trend decoration is given more importance than function. Jean Francois Lyotard first explained this phenomenon; Vivienne Westwood, Alexande Mcqueen etc were proponents of this style, which had a lot of theatrical style to it. Power dressing Refers to a  style of dressing that emphasizes one’s power. The word was coined in the 1970s and it meant a smart tailored dressing meant to impress.Now represents clothes that men and women wear to workplaces and meetings to make them look powerful. Preppy style A collegiate look; for boys polo shirts, chinos and navy blazers Prespring collection This refers to high-end collections of fashion designers marketed to upscale stores for customers expecting to spend the post-holiday season in warm-weather climates. Print on print Colorful and vibrant clothing with lots of different prints mixed in. Punk style This is style which epitomizes the punk subculture with its roots in music and emerged into prominence in the western world during the  mid 1970s. Distressed jeans, metal studs, chains, body piercing and leather jackets all are characteristics of this style. Resort  wear (Cruise wear) This is line of clothing meant as holiday or travel collection; it is meant for a  relaxed living for the affluent people ; clothes meant for the poolside life. Also refer Pre-spring collection Ready to wear or RTW This is the term for factory made clothing in standardized sizes Retro Style imitative of or derived from the trends of the recent past. Reversible clothing Garments that can be reversed and used from both sides. The seam allowances etc will be hidden with clever construction methods. Rockability fashion The fashion following the dressing style of music icon Elvis Presley; characteristics are tight jeans or black pants (drainpipe pants), brothel creeper shoes, motorcycle jackets

Safari style The kind of clothing that resemble clothes worn during hunting Sample A garment made to be shown to the retailers/merchandisers Silhouette Outline or shape of a design or garment Seamstress A person who sews Selvedge The finished edge of the fabric ( on opposite sides of the lengthwise fabric) Sanforized clothing A shrink control process  used on fabric Sleek style The style which gives a slender slim streamlined look Slip on clothes The type of clothes which are worn without any fastenings / just slip on through the head Slim fit Clothing made to fit close to the body. Sloper This is a type of basic pattern that is used as the building block for all other pattern making without any ease or design elements ( craftsy.com) Slogan This refers to the wordings printed or worked across the bodice of a garment. Eg slogans on the chest of a tshirt Sportswear A casual style of clothing meant for a relaxed look but can be used in a casual business setting too. American style dressing Statement Jewelry Bold and Attention grabbing Jewelry meant to grab all eyeballs. Eg Statement necklace. Street wear This is basically clothes meant for the streets – skater friendly garments. It is a broad difficult to define fashion and may mean simply urban fashion. Stonewashed fabric A fabric faded through a specific process Stylist (Fashion) A person who dresses clients in styles that she /he curates. It could be for editorial purposes, for celebrities, for branding purposes in marketing. Surfer look A carefree dressing style sported by surfers on beaches Sartorial Anything related to Tailoring, clothes, fashion or style of dress.;Of or pertaining to tailors and their trade (www.dictionary.com); it is also used in relation to the quality of a dress Separates Clothes that are bought separately and cover only part of the body but can be mixed and matched to create combinations. Eg: pants and shirts Supportive clothing This refers to clothing that gives support ; eg. muscular support for sports, support for bust, support for legs with ailments like a varicose vein Style “Fashion is what you’re offered four times a year by designers. And style is What you choose.” Lauren Hutton Style Surfing This refers to shifting from clothing style of one subculture to other; sometimes combining and transforming styles Sweats Cotton jersey sports wear Tailoring Making of made to measure/custom made garments Throwback fashion Fashion belonging to the past Theme This refers to a concept behind a collection of clothes designed by fashion designers – usually they have a message or an attitude Theme board (mood board) A board with fashion drawings, sketches, swatches used to create a mood about a product. Toile This is a clothing made by a fashion designer or a seamstress for testing purposes – it can be made to test a pattern or a design, to see how the garment will look and drape and whether it needs any alterations or additions. It is usually made in a cheap fabric Tone on Tone General term for Colour combinations with shades of the same colour. Trend A general direction in which something is developing or changing ( oxford dictionary) Trendy An adjective used to describe someone who is very fashionable or stylish Trunk show Display of a designers collection in a store Twin prints Two prints that share the same colour combination in one garment Unisex style Clothing suitable for both female and male gender. Also called Androgynous style. Up cycled clothing This is creative reuse of old clothes by changing certain design elements. Utilitarian clothing Functional clothing rather than decorative ; Clothes that serve a practical purpose. Usually points to work clothes. They are practical and functional rather than decorative. eg: a Raincoat protecting from rain Vintage Clothing inspired from a previous era. Fashion/Things belonging to the time 20 years or older can be considered to be vintage. Wasp waist Exaggeratedly narrow waist making the hips and bust look bigger in comparison ; usually achieved by using corsets. This was the popular way of dressing in the 19th century England Warm colours Red, yellow and orange and in between colours in the colour wheel WWD Full name – Women’s Wear Daily a magazine considered to be the bible of fashion Weft In the fabric, fibers that run the width of the fabric. X-ray Fabric Sheer fabric used to make clothes. 70’s style Style of clothing characterized by Wide legged trousers, slouchy silhouettes, big prints. Abbreviations used in fashion LBD – Little Black Dress OOTD – Outfit of the Day

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Neck Designs For Suits- 25 Latest Shalwar Kameez Neck Styles Outfit Trends - Ideas How to Wear & What to Wear

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Neck Designs For Suits- 25 Latest Shalwar Kameez Neck Styles

Beautiful Neck Designs For Suits: The best thing about sub-continent fashion is that you can go totally overboard, and be extra AF and yet still look gorgeous. Asian women spend most of their time shopping for cloth, looking for tailors, finding the matching lace, lining, thread, embroidery and all that their effort is totally under appreciated.

From the neckline to the back of the shirt to the daaman, everything is decided and explained to the tailor. Even if the outfit is just for casual home wear. Every desi woman has a natural talent for fashion designing, I guess. Every little detail matters and makes a perfect outfit. This article focuses on the neckline designs of shalwar kameez and eastern wear.

What Are The Latest Neck Designs For Kameez

Necklines matter a lot. They can make or break your outfit. You have to be very careful about what kind of neck design do you have to make with what sort of shalwar kameez design. An angrakha frock, for example, has a cross neck with a body. It will not look nice to make the neckline collared, or turtle neck of course. Similarly, if you have a really heavy embroidery on the front then it’s better to keep the neck a little simple.

Or if you are opting for a fancy backless shirt, with laces and tassels at the back, then a simple round neck shirt will work out just fine. If you are confused about all these fashion rules, you don’t need to worry this article has got you. Take inspiration from our top picks of latest neck designs you can style. These designs are not only for day to day wear but also for the most significant events of your year.

↓ 27 – Cutest Back Neck Design

↓ 26 – Neck Design For Lawn Suits

With Summers almost here, the lawn craze is already gaining momentum so here are some of our favorite neck designs for your new lawn suits.

Pearl detailing:

Simple cut-work:

Furry details:

↓ 25 – Angrakha Style Neck

Starting with a traditional look, this neck design dates back to when Mughals ruled over the Subcontinent. Exotic lifestyles and luxurious clothes were a part of their culture. Today, even centuries later the Mughal lifestyle is known for their extravagance and appreciated for their sense of style. Angrakha gives us similar Anarkali vibes. You can choose to pair your shirt with a churidaar pajama or give it a more modern twist by wearing jeans under it, either is just fine and totally a fashion yes in 2019. If you want to stay in the middle, then a shalwar is your best option. Add a pair of jhumkay and khussay as well. And if you wanna go extra, do not forget the rose in your hair, because after all, we have that exotic thing inside of us and we live for that extravaganza.

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↓ 24 – Conventional Collar

Collars on kurtas and kameez are like East meet West. Mostly women’s shalwar kameez do not have collars, but hey, that was like way back in the 20th century. Today, you can mix any designs and call it fashion. You just need to be confident and brave enough to pull it off. Do not ever let anyone tell you that what you are wearing is against the rules of fashion because fashion does not have any rules. Designers today put together different ideas from different eras, fashions, and cultures to put them together to give us that top-selling hot new trend. Collars on Kurtas is one of them. Most Pakistani fashion brands such as Nishat Linen, Khaadi, Limelight etc. have used this trend in their collections a lot.

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↓ 23 – Y Neck

Why stop at the top when you can extend your neck design all the way to the end of the shirt. A Y neck design is typical on plain or printed lawn shirts that you can wear with jeans, shalwars, tulip pants, tights or whatever you like. Y neck can make any simple shirt stylish and sassy. Piping or some lace goes all the way down in the middle of your shirt. Or you can even go for a title Y on one side rather than making it symmetrical.

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↓ 22 – Tassel Neck Designs

Tassels are the next big thing. We see them everywhere. Stitched to the borders of our dupattas, hanging down ears of celebrities on the red carpet, dangling down everything in Couture fashion shows, even on bags and accessories. So why not put them on the neck of your shirts as well? Replace that typical button with a fancier tassel train.

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↓ 21 – Russian Floral Embroidery

Russian embroidery is our designers’ favorite type of embroidery. It is not too over the top, and it can make any simple shirt formal. Just a little bit of floral designs around the neck can give a new and different look to your kameez. You can match the colors or get a great combination according to your likings.

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↓ 20 – Neck Design For Punjabi Suit

A round cut has been a staple when it comes to shalwar kameez. Take it up one notch by making it bigger and deeper. This would give you more space for a statement necklace. Choker necklaces are the best type to go with a deep neck. Or you can focus on any other part of your outfit to make up for the simple neckline, for example, the dupatta. A heavily embroidered or printed dupatta can be used.

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↓ 19 – Ban Collar Neck Design Kurta

Ban collars are a formal look and are mostly used on kurtas. If you have a meeting, presentation, or any other formal event to attend go for a ban collar rather than something fancy for a more collected and classy look.

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↓ 18 – Lace Neck

Net and lace has the power to elevate your outfit’s look with zero effort. Black lace with self-print is the best type as all the details are seen clearly. Your neck and sleeves would look amazing in this design.

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↓ 17 – Chiffon Bridal Embroidery

The thing with embroidery is that it highlights our culture and good handwork can make any outfit simply great. These shirts do really well on events like weddings of not-so-close relatives, on formal dinners, get-togethers etc. Avoid wearing any necklaces, especially heavy ones because you do not want to look like you are wearing everything you could find. Embroidery alone can take care of making your look fancier.

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↓ 16 – Neck Design For Shalwar Kameez With Buttons

Add a few buttons up front even if they have no other function. It will make your plain front look a little full. So, look through the boxes and see if you can find some cool matching buttons.

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↓ 15 – Ruffle Neck Design For Cotton Suits

Ruffles are a western look incorporated in our shirts, too now. Why go with boring and plain old V necks when you can add ruffles and totally get a different, better look. But, make sure your tailor understands perfectly how you want it so that it isn’t a complete disaster. Use this picture as a guide for him or you can look up more on the internet which are more to your liking.

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↓ 14 – Side Lace Patch

Why go symmetrical when you can have more fun bending the lace a little? It is different and hence cooler. Not your typical lace down the center look that you see on every shirt in every store.

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↓ 13 – Unique & Different Neck Design

Incorporate this Western look in your traditional Eastern clothes for a cultural collab. Cross neckline gives a fancy, sophisticated look so save it for parties or any other occasion where you want to dress up. You can keep the rest of your clothes simple, as the neck design should be in the spotlight. If you go for a plain shalwar kameez then you can add a printed dupatta or shawl in contrast. This neckline works best with your hair tied up or pushed back. Or else it feels like there is a lot happening in the area, giving a mess, uncoordinated look rather than a sophisticated one.

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↓ 12 – Irregular

Why follow a standard typical neckline when you can stand out in something different and new? Go for a design in line with the embroidery on the front of your shirt rather than the conventional old square, round or boat necks. You can add a fancy dupatta to complete the look. This neck design would look better on longer shirts with trousers under rather than short Patiala shalwar kameez type. You can make the neck design symmetrical or non-symmetrical depending on your design, mood or choice.

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↓ 11 – Neck Design For Gown

When you are adding a gown on your shirt then the neckline of the kameez you are wearing under should be simple. Firstly, because you can hardly see it so why bother.  Secondly, even if you can see it it will just take the spotlight away from the gown which should be your star clothing item for this suit. So go for the round neck or a V neck in this design. The gown’s neckline can be played with though. There are plenty of options you can try. An open round one, like in the picture below is one idea. Other than that you can button it up or even add dori (fancy thread) to tie it. You can also make it a V-neck coming down like a Y shape. Or you can make it non-symmetrical, by tying it on one of the side (right or left) like an angarkha.

↓ 10 – Anchor Embroidery 

Anchor embroidery, more commonly known as hand embroidery on the front of the shirt is pretty decent looking. Your shirt would stand out with the right design and embroidery work. If you choose the embroidery to be the same color as your shirt it gives a rather decent and sophisticated look to the eye. A white on white is an example. See the angel inspired outfit in the picture below. Embroidery is a typical traditional design, and there are days when the inner desi designer wants that. Pair it with some earrings and bangles to fulfill your desi desires.

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↓ 9 – Tiny Boat Neck

Boat necks are making a comeback this season. Yes, they can be annoying and suffocating at times, but nothing compares to the decency boat necks give. Khaadi, Nishat Linen, Sana Safinaz etc all use boat necks as their staple neck design for their kurtas. Add a small chain with a tiny pendant that carelessly lies around your neck to compliment this design. You can add earings according to your likings.

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↓ 8 – Rounded V Neck

Ditch the simple, straight V neck and add some little curves in, after all, curves are the new sexy. If you are tired of the same old boring neck designs, try this one as it is not worn out by everyone and is comparatively prettier to look at. Add a small chain around your neck to complete the look.

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↓ 7 – High Neck

A high neck is perfect for formal events and parties. It automatically brings grace to your shirt and hence you. Slay like a woman of poise in a high necked kurta. This is a neck design not often found in Eastern clothes, or shalwar kameez so why not bend the rules a little and play around with mix and match? This will look better with either full sleeves or sleeveless, nothing in between.

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↓ 6 – V Neck

V neck has been in the game for as long as we can remember and for good reasons. It looks pretty as well as cute (depending on how deep the neck goes). A dupatta around the neck with a V neck design elevates the look of your shalwar kameez.

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↓ 5 – Keyhole

A different design is the keyhole design that might or might not be already present in your closet on one of the shirts. A small round hole is cut in front of the shirt, around the neck. You can add embroidery around it for a fancy look or leave it plain for an everyday look depending on how you want it. It would be better if you ditch the necklace for this design and just wear any other sort of jewelry like earrings, bracelets or anklets etc.

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↓ 4 – Heavy Front

Make your shirt stand out with amazing, detailed embroidery or pattern in the front of the shirt. It should be in contrast with the shirt. Also, make sure it is visible so opt for bright colors for the front and dull ones for the background.

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↓ 3 – Modern Angrakha Style

Mix anarkali’s fashion with 21st century’s trends to give you inspiration for your next clothes designing.

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↓ 2 – Keeping it Simple

Time for the simple round neck, V neck, square neck or boat neck. Simple always looks amazing no matter what and is easy to make. Just make sure that your tailor does a neat job to make it look good.

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↓ 1 – Off Shoulder Front Neck Design For Suit

Off-shoulder shirts can be paired with small, statement necklaces for a mesmerizing and unique look that will make everyone’s head turn.

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Fashion Tips And Tricks Everyone Needs To Know

Many people believe you have to spend a great deal of money in order to be fashionable. That's definitely not true. You can get a lot of cool clothes at very affordable prices. You can learn more about how to find this affordable clothing in the following article.

Add a belt for a fashion upgrade. There are endless possibilities when it comes to belts. If you wear skinny jeans, choose a bright belt to look elegant and fashionable.

Sheer clothes might make you sexy. However, you need to be careful about the level of sheerness and the area of the sheer. Make sure that you remain classy at all times, and cover your private areas.

There are many options out there for you when you are choosing hair accessories. Headbands, bows, and extensions are part of the hair accessories you have to be conscious of. Your wardrobe should have several of these. You can match your scrunchy to the color you're wearing, for instance. If you are dressing up, select a glittery barrette or pretty clip to go along with your outfit.

If your hair tends to frizz, avoid vigorously rubbing it with a towel after a shower. The rubbing motion will damage the hair and create frizz. Instead, wrap your hair in a towel and apply gentle pressure, patting or squeezing the moisture from your hair. Afterwards, brush the hair gently.

Try to stick to darker colors if you want to look skinny during the day. Wearing darker colors camouflages your body shape and de-emphasizes areas that are less flattering. For extra comfort, try an elastic band around the waste.

Pack mostly neutral colors of garments when you travel so you will be able to mix and match them. Your options are varied without worrying about how things will look together. Try a scarf or belt to bring the look together.

Use up your makeup before throwing out the container. If you want to get the last little bit out of products that come in tubes, use toothpaste squeezers. You can turn bottles around and upside down in order to get the most out of them. Consider removing squeeze tops altogether as you reach the bottom so you can draw out the remaining supply. Getting these additional applications will extend your products, saving you cash.

Fashion is about more than the clothing. What they fail to recognize is the importance of hairstyles, which can make or break any look in fashion. In order to look your best, invest in a nice hair style, too.

Don't pay attention to the old adage that states you can't put on white clothing after Labor Day! White is one of the most neutral, most flattering colors out there, and you should always think about including some white in your outfit. If you look great in it, pull it out of your wardrobe at any time! Few can find fault with a fabulously dressed, confident woman, no matter what color she's wearing.

Horizontal stripe pattern clothing is off limits if you find yourself overweight. These stripes put greater emphasis on your width, which will cause you to appear even wider than you really are. Wearing clothing with vertical patterns will make you appear slimmer.

Are you in need of a new pair of pants or jeans? As you are shopping, you will notice the variety of cuts and styles of jeans available. It's all a bit much for most people. Choose classic styles such as a boot cut or straight leg jean. You get the most for your money with these styles, and what's more, it's hard to make these styles look bad.

A newsletter is a good way to stay on top of trends. In so doing, you are sure to keep up to date on current trends and surprise your friends with your fashion savvy.

When you purchase a new coat or jacket, check the vent and arm areas to ensure that they aren't tacked with loose stitches. These threads have to be removed, as they aren't fashionable. Carefully remove them, being careful not to damage the clothes. This is a simple way to improve your style.

Consider your figure type when you dress. You may not be able to pull off a low-cut shirt, but you may feel that you have legs to die for. A skirt that is on the short side paired with stellar high heels may be the recipe for your fashion success. Show off your best assets.

Bring a fashion consultant along to your shopping trips every now and then. If you are a busy person then it may be necessary to help keep you updated with all the latest fashion trends. This is a great way to assure you always buy clothes that make you look your best.

Look at what the clothing you're buying is made from. Be sure to read the list of materials found on the tag. The materials that special dress is composed of can make the difference between it fitting for years and shrinking after the first wash. Don't bother throwing away money on pieces that are likely to fray, shrink or lose their shapes.

Avoid fitted clothes if you need to lose some weight in your midsection. The tight fabric will only cling to and accentuate bumps or bulges. Choose some loose clothes and dark colors to hide your weight.

Don't hesitate to pick up a few more colorful pieces to complement your wardrobe. Don't you look twice at guys in pink. You can use colors such as yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, and deep blue to spice up your black dress pants or blue jeans. Save the more muted hues for business or the office.

As was mentioned earlier, you do not have to spend a bundle if you want fashionable clothing. The clothing that you want is out there at a price you can afford. This article can help you create a great look that will look great and won't break your budget.

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All It’s worthwhile to Find out about Wooden watches.

We’ve Got The Style Advice You Must Have

Fashion is actually a thing that changes often, just how worldwide can you keep pace? You will be not doing along with you may be. Fashion involves being unique and finding what’s right for you. Continue reading to get advice concerning how to better your own fashion sense.

Casual up-dos are the best way to grab the hair through your shoulders. You may not want your hair to go into your busy days ahead. When you’re short by the due date, a straightforward hair elastic and a few pins can help you to look your greatest with a quick and fashionable hairstyle.

It can be okay to wear sheer clothing so long as you be aware of items that are extremely transparent. To prevent looking brassy and cheap, wear the correct under-garments to help keep your private areas private.

Keep up with the latest stylessell You can view the fashion magazines, along with their websites, to understand what the most recent craze is. They are usually first source to catch new trends in style.

Options simply abound in fashionable hair accessories.

You may have a simple elastic or possibly a glitzy rhinestone barrette. Your wardrobe needs to have a number of these. By way of example, if you would like look athletic, wear an athletic suit as well as a matching ponytail holder. Should you be dressing up, select a glittery barrette or pretty clip to go together with your outfit.

In case you are unhappy together with your shape, wearing a dark top having a dark bottom may help. Dark colors will de-emphasize you troublesome areas. Elastic waistbands might help make skirts more comfortable.

Pack mostly neutral colors of garments once you travel so you will be able to mix and match them. Having to concern yourself with clashing colors isn’t optimal if you want to lower the volume of pieces you practice on the trip. Accessories, like belts and scarves, can make you look nicer without using up much space within your luggage.

Some people create the mistake of believing that clothing is the only concern in vogue. Their work not know that the hair can ruin your outfit if you do not ensure that is stays looking fabulous. You need to spend both time and cash to make your hair complement your personal style as opposed to detract as a result.

After Labor Day, it is perfectly fine to use white! It is possible to, and should, wear any color that you find appealing and flattering, no matter what season. If you value the way you look in white clothing, then go ahead and wear it during any time of the year. Fashion evolves, without any you might consider this a faux pas anymore.

If you wear plus sizes and wish to give an impact of a smaller size, avoid floral patterns who have large flowers and shapes. This may cause you peer larger and that is very unflattering. Locate a dress with smaller patterns to lessen the emphasis on your whole body size and more on the detail.

While you can discover from others, you have to develop you hold unique sense of style. Fashion is different for many people, since nobody is very a similar. Never stick to what others are doing. Keep the tips you read above at heart when growing your personal style..

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