There are many new products that can make our homes become fashionable. One of which is replacing old worn down linoleum with click bamboo flooring. Bamboo flooring has become very popular because it is made from quickly renewable resources, making your home not only look elegant but even a sustainable home. The simple click in place flooring doesn’t even require glue or nails so installing it is a breeze.

After picking out your new floor the next step is to pick a wall color. Go with something contrasting the color of the floor. If the floor is dark go with a light wall color. White is always a classic choice and really pops when next to dark floors.  You can also do an accent wall which adds another punch to your home and can really make it a beautiful addition.

Window coverings sometimes get overlooked but can provide an added punch to the look of your house. Out are the days of big foofie drapes, find something that has nice clean modern lines. You will be surprised that many of the new window coverings are just as effective as bigger items but make your house less cluttered. Roller shades work great to not only keep your home protected from the sun, they look great too.

After all the major items have been completed it is important to finish with high end modern finishes. Kitchens look great with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. If you are doing a living room clean line low backed couches, they help keeping your house with an open flowing concept.

Fashion in your home is an important part of your overall fashion style and with just a few changes your home can look like you do… A million bucks!

In a very real sense, your car is an article of clothing. We’ll need to be a bit broad here, but let’s look at the functions that clothes perform, and then examine whether a car can (and should) do the same thing.

A splash of color – People choose clothes that they know will brighten things up. Choosing colors and patterns that are apropos to a specific event can really boost a person’s confidence. A car that has just the right shade can do the same thing. If you hope to look great cruising the streets at night, then go for something black or metallic. If fun and fancy-free is your thing, go for something bright like a warm shade of yellow. Or if you’re especially daring, try an after-market paint job. This way, you’ll know that the stylistic message your car sends will be yours and yours alone.

The silhouette – Clothes are a strategic way to accentuate or minimize different parts of the physique. Beyond that, the cut of the article of clothing has a lot to do with your fashion sensibilities. A relaxed fit jean won’t say the same thing as a skinny jean, nor will a double-breasted suit say the same thing as a single-breasted suit. Different styles go better with certain body types, and the same is definitely true with cars. If you want to communicate your thirst for outdoor adventures, you’ll probably gravitate more towards something like a Subaru or other SUV. If, on the other hand, you’re looking to capture the spirit of suave sophistication, look at something like a BMW Z3 with a convertible top. It worked for James Bond, right? Just imagine dropping your convertible top for BMW Z3 ride and feeling the wind in your face and driving in style.

Textiles – One big reason people buy certain clothing items is that they just like the tactile feel of them. Cashmere is highly prized because of its softness, just as suede and leather are sought after for their durability and comfort. Polyester, while by no means the most stylish fiber around, is low-maintenance.  Think about your fashion sense and lifestyle, and think again about how that style might translate to the interior of your car. Think about the materials that you like to wear, and consider the feasibility of surrounding yourself with those same materials in your car. How about a custom leather dashboard? What about getting seat covers that match the color you look best in?

As time goes on, the fashion industry and the automotive industry become increasingly linked, and for good reason: your choices in both say a lot about who you are, where you’re from, and where you hope to go.

For weddings, brides looking for the latest in custom invitations can select from an assortment of layouts. They can write a personal invitation or choose wording offered by a printer or virtually endless websites. Among the most popular wedding invitations for 2012, you’ll find these highlights:

• Pocket Invitations… where a pocket is incorporated into the card to hold all the invitation accessories, such as the response card and envelope, a separate reception card, or a map to the wedding location.
• Layered Styles… which add an extra dimension, attach the invitation card to a larger backing piece with ribbon or by slipping the corners into die-cut slots.
• Personalized Design… expressed through the use of colors, fonts, background and border patterns, and paper choice. For 2012, colors are bright and the shine of foiled card stocks adds dash.

Of course, weddings aren’t the only occasion calling for invitations. Personalized party invitations are always popular, especially for those special first birthdays, Sweet 16s, and bar/bat mitzvahs. You will want to incorporate some features popular in the latest in invitations:

• Bright colors… such as oranges, bright pinks, and yellow, are abundant this year, especially for Sweet 16s and bat mitzvahs, joining up with the perennial favorites of blues and greens for the guys, who also love those metallic touches.
• Photos… are turning up on all kinds of invitations, as online printers have upgraded to software that allows customers to easily upload photos to include with personalized messages.

When you are planning a special event like a wedding or bar/bat mitzvah, you want to make sure all your guests reserve the day far in advance. You need to send out a reminder to everyone on your guest list.

• Save-the-date cards… include the occasion and the date of your important event. A simple card is easy to mail and easy for guests to post on a bulletin board.
• Save-the-date magnets… among the newest invitation trends, conveying the same information as cards in a convenient refrigerator-ready format. They are also popular as mementos long after the event has come and gone.

GROOMSMEN:  The groomsmen need to be in tip top shape on the wedding day.  They are often the hardest people when it comes to needing to smooth a few rough edges.  Hair, whether long or short, facial or otherwise should be neatly groomed.  This seems to be the hardest thing for the men to accomplish, so it wouldn’t hurt to send them to a salon if necessary.  These men should have personally fitted tuxes or suits, because details about fit make an extremely huge difference on the overall look of a wedding. The best man is often asked to give a “Best Man Speech” which should be personal and encouraging (humor is good to if it’s done in good taste).

BRIDESMAIDS:  The bridesmaids can be tricky, because not all women are created equal in body type.  It is rare that a dress can be found that looks good on all of the women, possible, but rare.  Because of this the bride should be open minded to what dress(es) her bridesmaids should wear.  They should also be appropriate for the event site and the season.  Whether the dress is short or long should depend upon the theme of the wedding.

GROOM:  The groom is often overlooked in the planning of the wedding, but simply running to the tuxedo shop isn’t enough.  Looking into the details – vests, ties, etc. – is really important.  Often men just run to the tuxedo shop and pick from whatever is there.  These options might not work for everyone.  A wedding is a great excuse for the groom to get a custom made and fitted suit – a classic piece that will last for years to come.  Rings are another important issue.  Men tend to beat their rings a little harder than men, so finding a strong ring is important.  Tungsten carbide wedding rings are a more modern approach that can have both classic and modern designs, but that withstand the test of time and are more scratch resistant than other metals.

BRIDE:  When the bride goes in search of the perfect wedding dress she often has something in mind already.  She often has certain ideas about what style of dress she wants and very firm opinions about what she doesn’t want.  The most important thing for a bride to do is to be open-minded.  Often the right fit, the perfect dress, is not what the bride originally envisioned, but will surpass all of her dreams.  There are very few women who truly understand their body type and so being willing to try on not only a lot of wedding dresses, but a lot of different styles, is very important.  Rings for women are also an important issue.  It is common for men to pick out the engagement ring for their fiancé without any input, but input is really important in many different instances – whether or not to involve the bride should be determined by her personality type.  Some women just want to be surprised.

By keeping fit and classic styles and details in mind your wedding will exude greatness.  There is a certain wonder that accompanies the ability to have the perfect fit on people.  It can’t really be explained so much as seen and enjoyed, but to accomplish it for a wedding is one of the most difficult and amazing things of all.

You can get ties just about anywhere these days and for just about any price.  Head out to your local wholesale store, discount retailers, dollars stores, drug stores, and of course your local department stores.  At each of these locations you are likely to find an assortment of ties to choose from.  How can you know which ties are the best quality though?  Which ties should you invest your money into?  It’s not too hard to tell.  There are just a few guidelines that you should follow.

Rule #1 – Don’t buy cheap ties.  We’re specifically talking about money here.  If you are spending $15 on a tie, then you’re going to feel the repercussions of that situation.

Rule #2 – Try a tie before you buy… a tie.  By trying on a tie you can make sure the length works for you as well as two other things.  First, you can make sure the colors work and secondly you can make sure that it ties easily and nicely. There are a lot of online stores that sell ties and you can find very quality ties online, but you have to be careful–take a look at online reviews (rule #5) and try one tie before you buy multiple ties to make sure that the tie is a quality tie and it works for you.

Rule #3 – Check the stitching.  To ensure that your ties isn’t going to break on you shortly after investing in it, make sure you check all of the stitching.  Make sure there are no loose threads, so that you can depend upon that tie for a while to come.

Rule #4 – Buy several of the ties that you love.  By doing this you ensure that you’ll have years ahead with the tie that you love by your side (or around your neck, but I digress).  There’s nothing like losing your favorite jeans to holes and paint splatters, so plan ahead and buy multiples of the ones you absolutely love.

Rule #5 – Check online reviews.  It’s not enough to personally inspect a tie before you purchase it.  Go online and check out reviews on your ties (the brand at least).  Have people been able to depend upon theirs or have they been quickly destroyed?

If you follow these rules you will be able to find a tie that you can enjoy for years to come – a tie that will help you to feel confident and in charge of your destiny.  Don’t let the tie shopping wait another second.

Here are some additional tips men looking to update their fashion, without falling victim to fashion flops!

Break a few old fashioned rules

Contrary to popular belief, your shoes and belt do not need to be the exact same color! Don’t be so afraid of clashing colors that you go overboard with the color coordination. Being too “matchy matchy” is boring and looks dated. The goal instead is to pick colors that “go” with each other. For shoes and belt, try choosing similar tones or shades of the same color (avoid the black & brown combination). As for the rest of your outfit, you could try dressing mostly in similar hues, with one or two complementing “pops” of color.

Another rule to break: “don’t mix patterns!” Yes, there are some pattern combinations that look clownish, but this doesn’t have to be the case. If you have the know-how to pull it off, mixing patterns can look very sophisticated and fashionable. The best way to play with pattern is with your shirt and necktie.

The colors in both patterns should be of a similar hue, and one pattern should be more subtle than the other. For example, pick a subtle checked shirt and add a tie with a bold striped pattern that’s in the same color family.

Going Shopping

What is in style for you personally, and what your wardrobe needs are, will depend on several factors including your personality, your occupation, and your age. Moreover, you will need different clothes to fit different occasions.

To get an idea of what your taste is, pay attention to what you think looks good on your peers; look through lifestyle magazines and clothing catalogs for ideas; then most importantly try things on!

If you plan on making major changes to your wardrobe, or even if you just feel stuck and need a jump start, you may want to set up an appointment with a personal shopper. Most major department stores, including Nordstrom, offer this service free of charge. A personal shopper—or even a savvy friend—can help you narrow down what looks good on you, and show you options you might not have considered.

Some rules to remember when buying clothes:

• Be open to new possibilities.
• Buy the best quality clothes you can afford (but keep in mind that higher prices or fancy designer labels do not always equal higher quality).
• Buy what fits you NOW—not “twenty pounds from now.”
• If you can’t afford a whole new outfit, try adding one or two new things to what you already have, such as a great necktie or a new belt.
• Before you purchase any new item, ask yourself if you are buying it because it’s “in style” or has a designer logo on it, or if you genuinely like it.
• Shopping is fun! Keep a positive attitude and don’t turn it into a chore.

Be true to yourself

Just because something is heralded as the latest fashion, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the fashion for you. Can you walk straight in those skinny designer jeans? Are you tripping in those pointy shoes? They are probably not for you—and besides, these trendy items will go in and out of style pretty quickly.

Don’t slavishly copy the looks you see in magazines and on TV. Celebrities and models often overdo trends for attention, and their flashy attire will likely not translate well for you, in the real world.

You should always feel comfortable with what you’re wearing, so stick with clothes that suit your personality. Even though you have to remain true to yourself, don’t be afraid to try something new, even if the change is small. Switch those pleated-front pants to the more flattering and stylish flat-front!

Less is more

“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance,” said the immortal Coco Chanel. Focus on building a wardrobe of the best classic pieces you can afford. Buy one or two trendier items every season to spice up the basics—but don’t wear all your trendy items together or you’ll look like you’re trying too hard.

Also focus on the things that you will wear for a long time and/or will get a lot of wear: shoes, belt, watch, coat, etc. Make sure they are great quality and classic in style.

Stay tuned for Part 2 . . . coming soon! (Update: Mens Fashion Part 2)