Dress Your Shape! (Ladies)

Every woman should know her shape. Stop fantasizing unnecessarily or wishing you were someone else. Be honest (I know, I know; it's almost impossible for ladies!), then you will be able to find  clothes that fit and flatter. Embrace your body type and get your style right. Body shape is all about proportion and fashion is all about dressing those proportions to look their very best.

When thinking about body types don't focus on height and weight... Focus on shape! A slender girl can have the same body shape as a curvy girl, just as a short woman can have the same body shape as her taller friend (take my word for it, guys #BeenThereDoneThat)

Each lady has a unique body (Casanovas get my drift). However, ladies body shapes are generally narrowed down to five general categories: Pear, Wedge, Rectangle, Apple and Hourglass. You might fall into one category, or blend two or more categories.

Once you have determined your body shape, you can begin to consider which fashion trend to embrace and which to avoid. Spend some time in front of your mirror and do a fair and honest assessment of your body. Then put the fashion tips we are about to discuss to work for you!

In the next few articles, we shall discuss each of the five body shapes one at a time.

Fit First! (T-Shirts and Polo Shirts)

So back in school, I knew this guy who borrows people's clothes and make the owner be like "Arggh!, why don't I look as good as this in my own shirt! Smh!". In fact, the next time the real owner wears that same shirt, he feels he is no longer worthy of his own shirt! Sad right? :( Well, if you relate to such dilemma, cheer up because those days are now officially over.

When shopping for shirts, always use prudence (it is not always about the name or cost). Keep slimness, placement and comfort in mind when comparing your options. Yes, when it comes to style there will be exceptions but the 'fit-first' guidelines will prevent you from making serious mistakes.

 You should note that concerning polo shirts, apply button-up rules to the collar and apply T-shirt rules (we are about to discuss) to the body and sleeves.

#1. Neck.

Round neck (crew neck) collars should not be too tight else the T-shirt would lose its shape. The round neck shouldn't be too lose either so you don't go around go around looking like an Egyptian Pharaoh slave. A shallow V work with many outfits. The deepest a V should go is the middle of your sternum, an inch above your nipples (bet some men can locate a woman's nipples faster than theirs #Hmmmm!)

 #2. Body.

Whether long or short sleeve, buttoned or unbuttoned T-shirt, it should fit slim through the body and straight at the sides. Your shirt should not be too tight to reveal every bump and curve of your body. If you have a sexy chest to make the ladies miss a heartbeat or to make other guys look like babies, you may want to try slim V-neck T-shirts. The shirt should at least completely cover your belt, but it should not be so long that it goes past your pant's or jeans' zip.

#3. Sleeves.

The shoulder seam should remain on the corner of one's shoulder. Short sleeve tees can have slim and even tight sleeves. However, avoid tees that are small when tight so as to avoid looking like a scarecrow or a perv. Generally avoid shirts that have sleeves which bell out at the sides, looking like an African dashiki.

Undershirts should fit much like tees but they can be a bit tighter. It is best to have undershirts that are white, black or grey. This blends with your skin and your shirt easily.

With the fit-first rules, you can now dress formally and informally while retaining that attractive look that keeps people wondering what makes about any style look good on you.

PS: Don't just do fashion, Be fashion.

Comments, suggestions and criticisms will be happily appreciated.

Thank you for reading.

Fit First! (Button-up Shirts)

Good fit :)

Bad fit :(

 No, this is not a six-pack article for dummies. Body fitness is important, but when it comes to the world of fashion, a fit shirt could make a one-pack man stand out. Wherever or whatever the occasion is, a good shirt will never let you down so long as it fits your body structure. No matter how expensive, it may look so bad without the right fit. The guidelines to 'fit-up' are as follows:

 1. Collar.

The collar should rest on your neck without being too tight (we still need you alive). There should be comfort around your neck, allowing ventilation without too much gap. Now, put your middle and index fingers to use. Fix those fingers into your collar easily without cutting your neck. More than two fingers (shirt is loose), less than two fingers (shirt is tight). Guess those fingers are doing an holier job for the first time, right? (You know what i mean *winks*). To balance your face with your collar, it is important to note that pointed collars go well with a round face while spread collars suit a narrow face.

 2. Sleeves.

The sleeves should allow motion and airflow, but not in excess. It shouldn't be so tight and not sag either. The shirt cuff should end where your palm meets your wrist, which is about an inch beyond your wrist bone. It should be sufficiently tight that it doesn't have to move to your palm. However, there should be enough space for airflow. The cuff could rest or a little free off your watch.

3. Shoulders.

The shoulder seam should meet the corner of your shoulder bone. Your shoulder bone is the point of the shoulder farthest from the centre of your chest. This guideline is important because your shirt size could surprisingly look bigger when you get this wrong. Heard ladies love attractive shoulders so you may want to have that shoulder part presentable.

 4. Body.

From your neck to your groin, the shirt should be slim enough so that it doesn't give any more than 3-4 inches of fabric when you stretch the shirt lightly away from your chest or stomach. However, the shirt should allow ease of motion and skin tight shirts may be uncomfortable.

For tucked shirts, the length should be sufficient such that normal motion will not untuck the shirt. Shirts intended to be tucked will have tails while more casual shirts made to be untucked will have flat or curved bottoms. For untucked shirts, the shirt should not be too short that normal motion reveals your undershirt or skin (crack :p). Untucked shirts should not be longer than your pant zipper (exceptions to ma Niger-Delta pipu!).

Coming Up... Fit First (T-Shirts)

...to be continued

Eid Mubarak To Our Muslim Brothers and Sisters.

Eid Mubarak or Happy Eid-el-Fitr to our Muslim brothers and sisters. May there be many more to celebrate.

May God bless us all and accept our positive wishes and prayers.

You can send us pictures of your outfit, to popcultureclothingline@gmail.com

From Pop Culture,  Have fun and stay trendy!!!

Pick That Pashmina.

During this wet season characterised with screams of "weather for two", "I miss my baby", "Condji na bastard" instead of heading to the farm to plant yams #OgaJona, females finally get to style their outfit with that "warm partner" called Pashmina. Pashmina means wool in Persian. A very soft wool which feels gentle on the skin enough to turn you on. It is also very light too. Name any occasion there is and you will find various women who love to wear it everywhere. Nowadays, a pashmina scarf is one of the most desired fashion accessories in the market.

Pashmina shawls are often coined as timeless fashion accessories (trust my grandma got a few *can smell hate* :p). Pashmina scarves are a symbol of grace and elegance. It boosts your self-confidence. There are short as well as long ones which allow females with class to adopt various ways of wearing them. The small ones can be worn around the arms and neck area, while the longer ones can be wrapped all round the body parts.

Pashmina enhances your facial features #FineGeh #IsAGodenGeh. Anyone who uses it is more likely to feel herself drawing the attention of 'dream' guys (better jazz than the one your babalawo gave ya!). On a serious note, it boosts your beauty. So make sure you get the right colour in buying your own pashmina scarves (you don't wanna borrow someone else's jazz! :p).

As a woman, you should accessorise (chic!). A pashmina shawl might just be what you need to boost your style. Be it Salah, Christmas, Birthday, Valentine's day, Anniversary or any special occasion, the pashmina will always be there to bail you outta your fashion worries.

So without further long thing, grab your pashmina scarves NOW!!!

Dress Up! (Men) Part 2

Let's get up to speed with the concluding article on Dress Up! (Male). Sure, you must be grinning like a Cheshire cat from Alice in wonderland after experimenting the first ten rules #That'sMyMan! *MinionVoice*. Sit back, relax and enjoy the rest.

#11. Look Effortless, Not Botherless.

You do not want to look like you spent hours trying to match your outfit. Looking like you grabbed some clothes outta your closet with little effort gives you that classic swag. However, try not to look like the I-no-send or who-dey-look-me person.

#12. Try New Things

Open your mind to new types of clothing. You would be amazed how good you could look in items that you previously thought "weren't you". The exercise of 'trying' on anything and everything will teach you more about style than reading a thousand style magazines and articles.

#13. Learn To Love Colours

Most males stick to a basic colour scheme of black, white, grey and blue without being interested much in blending colours. Some even prefer to stay in their comfort zone by dressing all black like some twenty naira policeman. Guilty right? You! Yes! You! Break off from the shackles of uniformity and expand your colour horizons by trying new things #rule12

#14. Wear Colours Sparingly

Confused?! No, you shouldn't be. You want to avoid wearing too many colours at the beginning of your style journey. Wear fewer colours on neutrals (black, white, grey) before you learn all the rudiments of matching colours all round. You do not want to go around looking like a poster colour man!.

#15. Laugh Off The Yabs (#Joke'sOnYouBro)

When you start improving your style, you are are guaranteed to receive a few yabs from your friends. Care less, laugh it off and just crack a joke too about it yourself. That way, the joke won't be on you but below you. Eventually, everyone will get used to the new you.

#16. Be Open To Feedback.

Just like Pop Culture™, you will also be honoured to have those special people in your life who will genuinely have your back and try to help you, so be open to their advice. Usually, you can tell when a criticism is genuine or when the person is just trying to cut you down.

#17. Be Honest With Yourself.

You never want to look like someone you are not. Dress to fit your personality and age. Dressing like Wizkid while you are a banker, or in your old age forcing Lil Wayne's fashion style down your throat (#Isale-Eko #Ikwerri stand up!) does your personality more harm than good. In other news, seems those who settle around riverine areas tend to bask in the euphoria of extreme youthful exuberance to a fault #NoBeMeTalkAmO!

#18. Accept That It Will Take A While.

Don't expect to become a better dresser overnight. You should spend some time to fully grasp all the little intricacies that make an outfit great.

#19. Accept That You Will Make Mistakes.

 We all make mistakes. Learn from them and move on. No one has immunity against fashion mistakes. Take a look at celebrities today for confirmation. Haba! I can hear your thoughts about ModeNine, Charly Boy and Denrele! However, this shouldn't keep you from trying new clothes. And you are still thinking about them! Arggh! I can still hear you!

#20. Know That You Will There Eventually.

With time, selecting a great outfit trom your closet will be as easy as being a corrupt politician. Notice details in your own and other people's outfits. No matter how long you struggle, train your eyes for style and take comfort in the knowledge that you will get there eventually.

Pheeew! Don't just read, take action today! Slowly but surely, you will create that wow effect. The ladies shall hover, the groupies (Yes! Groupies!) shall fight... Oh! and someone just shouted cougars! (Well, goodluck with that).

Till I come your way again, Have fun!

Dress Up! (Male) Part 1

Are you tired of trying too hard to make a fashion statement? Are you wondering how that cool dude keeps getting all the attention, and of course the babes? Are you clueless about how to go about it? You must hate David Beckham right now, don't ya? Let me guess, Uti Nwachukwu must be a devil, right? It sucks, doesn't it? Now yell after me, I can do this!!!

 The good news is: You are not alone (Yea! You heard me right!). Feel better?, i bet you do!

  

 #1. Start from the scratch.

 Saying goodbye to some of your favourites will be hard (#NP Goodbye My Lover- James Blunt), but you will get new favourites soon (started from the bottom, now we here #That'sWatsup).

 #2. Forget everything you think you know.

Assume you know nothing (itiboribo, olodo!), you will be open to know everything. Things you think are insignificant may be actually important. Things you thought are crucial may turn out not to matter at all.

 #3. Focus on the basics.

Now that you basically have fashion amnesia, we can focus on the basics. Too many men shoot themselves in the foot by getting the basics wrong. Do not fall into that trap.

#4. Build a solid wardrobe foundation.

Get versatile clothing wears that match well with almost anything  #AnywhereBelleFace (white tees, dark blue jeans, grey sweaters). They will serve as training wheel while you learn to get the basics right. After you have built your foundation, you can add more eye-catching clothes to your wardrobe.

  #5. Keep it simple.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. As a man, being extravagant is not necessary (except of course, you are looking up to Denrele).

 #6. Fit comes first.

This is a golden rule! You do not want to look like you raided someone's closet #MyPapaDashMe. Whatever you wear, fit comes first.

 #7. Trim your wardrobe.

You won't need lots to have a great arsenal of stylish outfits. You would be amazed at how few you really need. Prune your wardrobe periodically (except you are a laundryman) for items you no longer wear, that no longer fit or that looks washed out. Loose that 'akagum' fist of yours and give them out.

#8. Expand your options.

Yes! I said it! :P. This is different from rule 7, in that rule 8 emphasises on varieties not same-old-same in your closet.

#9. Layer Up.

Knowing how to layer clothes will give you that ultimate magical style look while you wear the same outfits (the more you look, the less you see). Learn how to do it properly so as not to look like a colour riot football fan heading to the stadium to watch a FIFA world cup final.

#10. Forget the trends, Develop your style first.

Acquiring the latest trends doesn't necessarily make you more stylish. Once you figure out what image you want to portray, you can start adding trends that will work with that image.

 ...to be continued

DENIM TOPS (MALE AND FEMALE)

In this era where the collation of fashion wears and accessories could give you more drama than baby-mamas, denim tops will always stand out and give you more options than a multiple choice exam. It offers something to every wardrobe; it transcends age, season and style with little effort and brings a rugged texture and blue collar roots to any look, never appearing out of place.

 

From the 80's to the 21st century, denim tops can be likened to that good wife who just won't back off through the thick and thin of seasons and generations. A denim shirt can be considered the quiet workhorse of a male and female capsule wardrobe.

Business, casual or high-summer looks, Pop Culture takes you into the world of endless choices with denim tops.

1. Wear different washes: When considering a denim top on a pair of jeans trouser, always remember that the stronger the contrast, the better. A light blue or white-washed denim shirt will look trendy when paired with dark wash skinny, boot-cut or straight jean. Wearing jeans that are the same shade as your denim shirt can make your attire look monotonous, bland and overly casual.

2. As a jacket: You can always blend your open-bottoned denim shirt with T-shirts and tank tops such that your denim shirt acts as a jacket. Denim is considered to be neutral in the fashion world, so you can mix and match a variety of colours with it.

3. Accessories:

 The accessories you choose will determine if you want to look formal or informal. Be it a leather, chain or rubber watch; bracelets or bangles; over sized or petite earrings; sun shades or recommended correction glasses, denim tops will always be there to compliment the right accessories.

4. Right shoes:

 Moccasin boots (masculine and feminine) have been devoted to the outstanding success of denim through generations. A brown fashion boot plays into a casual nature of denim while a black boot adds a subtle of class. Nevertheless, 21st century style has evolved to give us multiple options for footwears. Coloured flat-soled foot wears, closed toe heels, strappy kitten heels and gladiator shoes for ladies and sneakers are also great for men.

5. Trousers, Leather pants and Leggings:

Spice up your look with a denim top and a pair of straight leg trousers in black, grey, pinstripe or khaki. This will surely give you the looks that will turn heads in your direction.

However, fitted leather pants paired with a slouchy denim shirt creates an edgy rock-n-roll atmosphere. Leggings (tight trouser material), Jeggings (tight jeans trousers for ladies) and the 2014 trend, Meggings (tight jeans "butt-revealing" trousers *if you know what i mean*) with your denim top will not only turn you up but also turn the heads of the most devoted spouses and straight men (for the meggings men *winks*).

                               6. On a dress and skirt:

Your fashion style can't go wrong when you wear a denim top over a dress. A simple professional dress with a structured pencil skirt and a muted print or colour takes on new life when paired with a botton-down denim shirt. For sun dresses, light washes work best since the lightness creates a more spring- or summer- refreshing feeling. However, when choosing a skirt to compliment your denim top, go for texture and print. With floral or lace texture, you can wear the loose-flowing maxi skirts or you could wear them as tighter-fitting mini skirts and knee-length skirts.

 7. With Cardigan:

Layer your denim top with a cardigan in cold months to give you that awesome innocent look. Thick knit cardigans look especially catchy with a denim top. Warning: Do not try this fashion tip in hot and stuffy weather conditions.

8. Caps and Scarves: Caps and scarves are not left out. This is a testament to the fact that denims are not biased when it comes to religious and personal differences.

                                          9. African Fix:

One can argue that Africa is where fashion is taking centre stage today and the continent is catching up fast with its European counterparts from mind blowing fashion creativity to top fashion designers and supermodels. This is evident in the restyling, repackaging and rebranding of denim wears. Fashion designers, take note!

Don't find yourself in the league of those with the usual and predictable fashion statements. Get uplifted into the fashion world by getting your denim top today.

Thank you for reading.

PS: Don't just do fashion, Be fashion.

Do not forget to bookmark this page. Stay trendy.

Please drop your comments, suggestions and criticisms.