I’m well and truly back, the sun is shining outside and I’m back in my blogging ways. For this weeks topic I wanted to talk about ‘styling’. It’s a term that’s close to home, being a ‘personal stylist’ and all. However, it’s a term that I’m not really comfortable with myself. Image consultant is what I usually refer to myself as, even if that’s not a perfect fit, it’s the closest option. But most people are still a bit confused as to what I do. Now if I mention that I’m a ‘personal stylist’ it kind of resonates with them a little bit more and clicks. But what is a personal stylist? And why is everyone so obsessed about being ‘styled’?

See we all secretly yearn to look like so and so from the red carpet or the girl in the advertisement. So we run out and by the same dress as them, if we can afford it or we wait for Zara to bring out the copy. You look in the mirror with your sparkly (or non sparkly) new dress and you look good. But deep down there is this feeling that you’re not quite fully satisfied. You see, even though you’ve got the dress and maybe even the matching or similar shoes you still don’t quite look ‘as good’ as…. whoever it is that’s inspired you.

Now if you take a step back from it all, just think about what you see when you turn on the TV after the Oscars or the MTV awards or whatever… What you’re looking at is the finished product, but the finished product doesn’t give away the full story behind it. The dress and shoes are brand new, never worn, so they look immaculate and has been picked out to suit their particular body. Their hair has been done professionally, their make up.. yeah that’s gone through the same process. They’ve probably been killing their butts in the gym for the last 6 weeks with one goal in mind, that appearance on that one night or the year or that one shot in a magazine. See the whole process to get that ‘look’ is a collaboration of hours and hours of preparation. The result is an extremely ‘styled’ look.

Click on the link to see a glimpse of the process

But I’m a bit fed up of people coveting these ‘styled’ looks, do you really have hours upon hours each day to get ready? Probably not, I mean spending that much time just to look a certain way would be a bit tedious day in day out. By the time you’re ready to go there wouldn’t be much of the day left, right?

What’s wrong with just looking normal? Wearing clothes that are right for ‘you’ and your body shape as opposed to chasing an unattainable image. In essence, it is a fake image because even that individual that you’re striving to look like doesn’t look like that 95% of the time. So I encourage you to start focusing on looking more like ‘you’ and less like someone you spotted in a magazine. This is the same reason that I kind of cringe a little when I have to refer to myself as a personal stylist just so people ‘get’ what I’m about.

Anyway as always, let me know what you think?

I’m finally back with broadband up and running so that means I can get back to updating the blog regularly again. It has felt like forever since I updated the blog with a proper post, even though it has probably only been around 2 weeks. I managed to get some jeans, I had to get some Nudie’s. The Cheap Monday jeans I originally had my eye on turned out to be more like jeggings than jeans, I think they call them ‘meggings’ for men? I also managed to get a new phone this excited the geek in me. However, it didn’t have all the features it should have done and after a swift email to HTC and also checking the same device in store I realised it was only my handset at fault  which now means I have to go through the long process of sending it back and getting a refund. I decided to do a post on socks today because I was watching BBC breakfast last weekend and noticed the picture below.

Can you guess what is wrong here?

If you can’t then maybe you’re one of the millions of men that are committing the same sin; wearing different coloured socks to your trousers. You’re probably thinking that socks are insignificant when it comes to one’s outfit, however, you couldn’t be further from the truth. You can spend all your time getting yourself suited and booted, but if you make a sloppy mistake with your socks it will let you down. I also reinforce that style is all about paying attention to the little details, this is a perfect example. Make sure your socks match the colour of your trousers rather than your shoes. This way it’ll lengthen your legs and you’ll stay looking stylish.

Just before I do go whatever you do don’t wear white sports socks. I have had many a nightmare over businessmen wearing white socks with their suits. Under no circumstances is this EVER ok…. but then again If you’re reading this blog I’d never expect it of you guys.

As always let me know your thoughts by commenting below.

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Hi Peeps, I thought I’d just drop a new post and keep you updated as to what’s happening at the moment. I moved into my new apartment last weekend so this week has been quite hectic. We’ve managed to get most things unpacked, however the bedroom is still a bit of a mess and I need to really sort out my underwear and get some extra storage for it lol. I know you probably don’t want to know about my pants… but I thought I’d tell you. I’m still in the process of getting my internet sorted, O2 kinda messed up our move. I called them before we moved out and the guy told me it would be sorted in a week. We called them a couple of days ago and they told us that guy hadn’t put the order through, so now it’s going to take 2 weeks. So, providing my internet goes live on the 16th of May I will have been with out it for almost a month.

We did point out that they had kind of messed up with the transfer and they’re going to give us a refund and send us a dongle to use in the mean time, which softens the blow I suppose. This means updating the blog maybe a bit of a pain for the time being, but stick with me. When everything is all back up and running I’ll be back to my usual schedule.

I’m currently doing the ‘hipster’ thing and writing this using the WiFi in Starbucks, I know my friend Clarke will be happy  .

If you haven’t already done so, I’d love for you to like my Facebook page, I’m at 88 likes at the moment and would love to reach the 100 mark. So head on over to Facebook.com/stylebyarash to check me out on there.

I’m going to wrap this up soon, but before I do I’m going to go shopping for some new black jeans as the current pair I tend to wear a lot have come to the end of their life. They’ve worn away in the groin region, ha ha. They’ve lasted over 2 years, which is not bad considering how much of a hammering they get and they’re only Topman ones. However, I’m going to step my game up and get a pair of Cheap Monday’s from Urban Outfitters. A denim junkie friend recommended them, so I’ll let you know how they turn out in the next post.

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Just some stuff I wrote…

Sorry about the dodgy placement will have to sort that out when I’ve got more time. Btw I never watch it back afterwards because it just makes me cringe… anyone else the same?

www.nomnompaleo.com

If you’ve ever watched James Martin’s Kitchen on a Saturday morning then you’ll be familiar with the concept. I’m quite keen on any cooking shows and this one combines a little chat and some easy cooking, perfect for a Saturday morning when you’re tired and groggy. For those that are not familiar with the show let me explain; they usually have a celebrity on that has to give him their idea of food heaven and food hell. Callers then call in and decide which they should cook on the show for the celebrity to eat. I thought it would be a neat little concept to transfer to fashion and shopping, especially after this afternoon’s little experience, more on that later. So with out further ado I present Arash’s fashion heaven and fashion hell.

Fashion Heaven

I think my recent fashion heaven has to be shoes, until recently I was never really bothered by them. But recently I’ve started seeing more shoes that I like and reconsidered my stance on them. They are after all a great way to finish off and add an extra bit of flair to an outfit just in the same way accessories can do so. So shoes definitely get my pick for fashion heaven as well as clean minimalist fashion. I love black, I have to force myself not to have an entire wardrobe full of it. But looking at pieces from the Dior Homme collections, past and present, I have to put those into my fashion heaven category as well. Every time I visit Selfridges in Manchester I go straight to the Dior Homme section to have a nosey, though recent collections haven’t been as inspiring as ones gone by.

Fashion Hell

I tweeted (@arashmazinani) about my fashion hell earlier…. Primark…. on a Saturday afternoon. Again for those of you in the US you may not be familiar with Primark. It’s super fast fashion, cheap clothes at cheap prices. They do the latest trends for so cheap it’s unbelievable and therefore on a Saturday afternoon that place is swarming with people you can’t move, my idea of hell. Check this video of the opening of the Oxford Street store in London to see how crazy people get over it.

My other fashion hell is leggings as trousers, ladies this is just wrong on so many levels. Even if god gave you the most perfectly sculpted derriere it’s wrong. It’s even more wrong when the leggings in question are from Primark or any other discounted fashion store because you get an effect seen in the picture below.

 Now before you curse me out for putting up such a picture I did not take this myself, a friend sent it to me on Whatsapp, but I thought it was crucial to post up just to illustrate my point. Besides there is no way you can tell who it is just by their ass and underwear alone.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my fashion heaven and hell, I’d love to hear what you think about mine but also let me know what makes your fashion heaven and fashion hell.

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One of the biggest things I noticed when I started my own journey to improve my style, was how often people questioned or even got confused over my sexuality. For any guy starting out on the road to any sort of self improvement, getting knocks like this can be quite deflating. Particularly when it comes to a thorny issue such as sexuality. For me I did question whether to stop trying to improve my style,  as at the time, it kind of felt counter intuitive. Girls are meant to like well dressed guys yet when I tried to dress well everyone assumed I was gay.

I decided to use it to my own advantage, flying under the radar came in handy when I was chasing girls and the funny thing was it was the females that used to pass the most judgement. I remember whenever I’d get the “oh really?I thought you were gay” line I would always ask why? The usual answer was because I was “so well dressed”. You don’t have to be  ’red carpet well dressed’ to get this, you just have to be better dressed than the other guys in the immediate vinicity or locale.

I have wondered why it is that people tend to assume you’re not heterosexual if you are well dressed. Rather than attempt to answer the question myself, I pose it to my readers ? Why do you think that it is the case?

For anyone who has just started out on their own journey to improve their style, don’t be discouraged. You will inevitably receive knock backs and come across times where you feel uncomfortable. This goes hand in hand with any sort of self development. If you really want to change yourself for the better you won’t allow the naysayers and uncomfortable situations to knock you off your path.

I had a bit of a dilemma as to what to post today, I go through phases where I come up with loads of ideas for men’s posts then posts for the ladies section. At the moment all my ideas seem to be for the men’s section. I don’t really have a format that I stick to when blogging, I did follow a schedule for a bit but then found I stuck to it too rigidly. So my blog became a bit monotonous, this way you never know what’s coming next… I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not… you tell me?

I was going through my archives and found this post from 2010; 5 top tips on how to dress in your 50s. The only comment that was left for that post talked about making use of accessories. Which lead me to want to expand a little on that post, besides this group of fashion lovers is sometimes neglected by the blogerati.

Tackling trends can often be a bit of a tricky subject in your 50s because while you want to remain fashionable, you don’t want to look as though you raided your daughter’s wardrobe. Accessories are a great way to stay on trend while avoiding such fate, a statement shoe or bag can be a nod to the trend rather than going at it full on. If a certain colour is key for the season a simple accessory is an inexpensive way to dip your toe in.

In my last post I also talked about reoccurring trends such as the the nautical and safari theme for spring summer. Identify such reoccurring themes and look to invest in these, they’ll always come back season and after season. But before you go out and splash some cash have a look through your wardrobe as you may already have some hanging in there that are all ready to go.

You’ll also be aware of what pieces work well for you and what doesn’t. Use this to your advantage. There are tons of floral printed skinny trousers about at the moment which only look good on long skinny legs. You’re not going jump on to that trend, but if you have a particular style of dress that works for you, you could opt for that in a similar print. That way, you’re wearing what works for you with a nod to the latest trends.

I thought I’d also add I’m now on Instagram so you can find me here. I have only posted one photo so far but I’m just getting to grips with it since it dropped for Android the other day.

As always I’d love to hear your thoughts…

Inspiration Station
Edited by: Jess of Fresh Jess

The turn of the season can trigger a serious need to purge, refresh and recharge our style. While the sun shines brighter and each day gets longer, our bloggers are finding fashion inspiration everywhere they look. From runways and designer collaborations to hip-hop and the Hunger Games. From gardens and fairy tales to rainbows and relics of beautiful starlets past, this week’s Links a la Mode is just a peek at what’s making bloggers tick this spring. Enjoy!

THE IFB WEEKLY ROUNDUP: LINKS À LA MODE: MARCH 29TH

• Arash Mazinani: 5 Things The Notorious B.I.G. Taught Me About Personal Style
• Bang by Lo: The Purge
• Beauty & the Budget: 5 Ways to Wear Pastels Shades for Summer
• Bubbling with Elegance & Grace: Don’t Let Cancer Stop You from Feeling Fashionable & Beautiful
• Catwalk of Words: Chadstone Autumn/Winter ‘12 Runway
• Estoy, Je Suis: Bathing Beauties: So You’re a Girl
• Fashioned by Love: Russian Top-Models: Olga Pantushenkova
• First Came Fashion: Mint Condition
• Glitz Glam Budget: 7 Ways to Style a Blazer…on a Budget
• Javicia Leslie: Oh Coachella
• KP Fusion: Spring Cleaning Your Closet & Defining Your Personal Style
• Le’Love: Pretty. Photoshop Basics: Colour
• Mademoiselle Sonoushka: Inspired By…Maria Callas
• Morbid Glamour: Get Inspired: Art Deco
• She Wrote: Impassioned
• Style Island: Stay Hungry: Hunger Games Mania
• Style Through the Eyes: Little Red
• That Haute Dude: Bring on the Velvet
• The Aquarians: Ultra Violet Ray
• The Shopaholic 24/7: J’adore Dior

PLEASE READ IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE

If you would like to submit your link for next week’s Links à la Mode, please register first, then post your links HERE. The HTML code for this week will be found in the Links a la Mode group will be published later today. ~Jennine

I think spring has finally broken up here in Leeds, although it’s a bit misty at the moment it’s set to be a warm weekend. Most of you are probably frantically rooting through your wardrobes pulling out clothes ready for the warmer weather. If you’ve not already packed away your winter wears, nows the perfect time. I know the shops will be heaving today, the first sign of warm weather sees people swarm the high street picking up new pieces for the season ahead. However, you can save yourself money and needless high street stress if you own some of these spring summer ‘must haves’. If you don’t then take a look and pick them up when you’re next out shopping, so next year you can avoid the inevitable stampede that occurs at the first sign of sun.

1.Bold Colour

Bold colour has been a big trend for the last few seasons and who doesn’t like to add a bit of colour to their wardrobe? If you’re feeling daring then go for a statement piece in a bright hue, tangerine being one of my personal faves. If you just want to dip your toe in then it can be as little as a bright coloured top or even an accessory.

2. Light Weight Tailored Jacket

This season’s trend is about bold coloured jackets and like I said above, if you want to really dive in to the trend a jacket is one way to do it. If you want a real classic colour though then stick to navy, it ties into the nautical theme that will always be on trend every spring summer. This is perfect for throwing on over the top of things to stay chic in the heat, just remember as with any tailoring go for the best you can afford.

3. Printed Dress

Another summer staple, you can opt for whatever style of dress that works for your body shape as long as it has a print. If you want to be totally on trend then the underwater theme, paisley prints and florals are all big this season. However, one of the safest prints to go for is florals, like the navy trend it will always be key each spring summer.

4. Wedges

Rather than mention any particular shoe trends I went for a style of shoe. The wedge is a great summer style, easy to walk in as they’re more stable than a stiletto heel. But the best thing is that they’re perfect for all ages as they tend to come in a real variety of heel heights. If you’re young and feeling funky you can get a colour blocked platformed wedge. But if you’re a little bit older and want something less ankle crippling you can get one with a small lift.

5. Statement Tribal Jewellery 

Tribal/Safari is another theme that tends to come around every spring summer or every other season. Statement accessories like big necklaces and stacking bangles are great ways to give outfits a lift for summer. They’re not very expensive and can bring an older outfit right back on trend. Again you can go all out or just add a nice bangle and keep it simple.

I’d love to hear what you think of these ‘must haves’ and ifyou think that I’ve left some off that need to be on there… feel free to let me know in a comment.

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Yeah strange topic I know, this was originally intended for last week but I was tied up all weekend with a client. The reason it would have been symbolic last weekend is March 9th marks the anniversary of Big’s death. If you’re a fan of Hip Hop or know anyone who is, then you may have seen one or two tributes pop up on your Twitter or Facebook feeds. Anyone who has read my blog for a while will know that I’m a massive Hip Hop fan and particularly in my younger days my personal style was dictated by this. The reason Big was so adored by people around the world was because he did things differently. Part of him doing things differently also meant that style wise he didn’t always fit in with the rest of the Hip Hop world.

1.High End Fashion 

You may already know your Marni from your Margeila, but for a 15 year old growing up in a working class town Big’s lyrics were one of my first exposures to high end fashion. Name checking brands like Versace, DKNY and Moschino lead me to start checking out what they were and give me my first taste of the high end. He was such a big fan of Versace in particular that he often went to check out their shows in Europe long before you had the likes of Kanye popping up at catwalks. Check out what Donatella had to say about him.

“I think Biggie was amazing,” Versace said. “He came to my shows in Paris many times, and we’d see each other often. He always used to talk so nicely about my family. I think he was so smart, so intelligent. He had such a mind. So I loved what he was doing and how he was giving people a way to know about Versace—I do think he was giving people a way to know about Versace—I do think a lot of people started to know about Versace because of him.”

Yup… that would be me.

2.Do You!

I’ve already mentioned that Big had a love for the high end designer brands. This often meant that he was rocking clothes that the rest of the Hip Hop world wasn’t such as the Versace shirts, trousers shoes. This is a far cry from the traditional Hip Hop uniform in NYC at the time of Timbaland boots and baggy jeans. This illustrated to me to, do you and not stick to the trends that everyone else is following.

3. It’s all about the Tailoring

When you think about rappers you have a pretty stereotypical view that is conjured up in your mind. Even though rappers are a lot more ‘fashionable’ nowadays than they ever have been before, you still never see many in a suit. However, back in 96-97 you’d often see Big rocking a suit, his cane and a hat. Showing that tailoring was and always will be king.

4. Be Versatile With Your Clothes

The great thing about Big was that he never dressed a certain way all the time, he could mix it up with the razzle dazzle of the high end pieces. But he could also work the brands that were big on the streets like Karl Kani, meaning he never alienated the people where he was from. Be versatile with your clothes, mix and matching styles and looks keeps your own personal style fresh.

5. It’s all about the sparkle.

“Putting 5 Karats in my baby girl’s ear”

Every fashionista knows a bit of sparkle does wonders to an outfit, Big was no different. Although rapping about diamonds was not really anything new in Hip Hop at the time, I still had to mentioned it .

Anyway I’d love hear your thoughts? As ever feel free to leave a comment below.