Latest arrivals Korean Fashion Japan Style ...Be ahead in trends and style..

source: seoulstyle

What Is Style?
Style is a vibe, a look, a feel. Style can be good or bad. Sometimes there is a lack of style due to the fact that there are no defining characteristics. Cities have their own unique style. The architecture, culture, surrounding topography and climate contribute to the style of a place.
People have a way of being which also can be interpreted as style. Is someone graceful, elegant and discreet? Or are they unrefined, loud and flashy? When someone says I like your style, it usually refers to a person`s actions and demeanor, not just to a person`s clothes.


How to get Style
If you are tall, slim, with curves in the right places and a supermodel face you can probably make a potato sack look good. However, the rest of the general public usually needs help looking stylish. Contrary to popular belief, style is not just about having the {it} handbag, following the latest trends or wearing brand name clothes (though sometimes it helps!). Real style is an innate sense of knowing what works for you. Are you artsy? Are you a business person, a night owl, or a sporty type? Do you usually dine out at fancy restaurants and attend swanky charity events or do you like to go out clubbing? Are you short, do you have small shoulders, a long torso, a flat butt or a thick waist? Does a particular color make you light up or does it wash you out? Do you have the confidence it takes to pull off a certain look? Here are some tips on how to put together a look that works for you.


Inspiration
Do you have a friend who is always effortlessly chic? Do you love a certain celebrity`s style? (Nicole Kidman, Madonna) Is there an era from history where you loved the clothes? (20s flapper, 80`s punk) Is there a particular part of the world where you identify with the clothes? (Chinese cheongsams, Korean hanbok, Alaskan fur, hand-woven material from Central America?)
You may want to look at magazines, fashion books or internet sites like style.com or vivianlives.com. Look carefully at how the clothes are put together. What makes it work?

Nicole Kidman perfected her style after years in the entertainment b	Global fashion can be a good source of ideas	Sarah Jessica Parker knows how to look great even when she's pregnant	Look though history to find inspiration	Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel was one the most innovative fashion pioneers of her day

Who is a fashion icon? Who or where do you look to for fashion inspiration? Post your message at the
Fashion Forum.


Colors, Textures, Cuts
One of the reasons outfits work is because the colors work together and look good with your skin tone. The fabrics should drape and flow correctly and not look cheap. Also, a good piece of clothing has the right cut. Things that are designed well, don`t bag in the wrong places. They accentuate the right curves on your body, create a flattering silhouette and make you look proportionate.


Clothes that work for your Body type
A lot of people spend time agonizing over the shortcomings of their bodies. There are a couple of things one can do to remedy bad body image. One is to go on a diet and get to the gym. Another strategy is to accept yourself the way you are. Confidence and good body image are big factors in looking chic. Yet another thing you can do is to find pieces that flatter your figure. Generally, lighter colors make an area look bigger, and darker colors, smaller. If you are bottom heavy, wear dark pants to draw attention away from the problem area. Clothes shouldn`t tug or pull. If you are short, wear heels and pants that are a little longer.


Before you Buy
Before you buy something, here`s a checklist of considerations.
(You may want to print this out and take it shopping with you.)

Does it fit?
Is it your color?
Does it match your lifestyle?
Is it comfortable?
Is it easy to wear and pair?
How much mileage will you get out of this item?
Do you have anything that matches? If not, will you easily be able to find something? Can you even think of anything that will match?
Will you have an occasion to wear the item? Where will you be wearing it?
Is it cool or outdated? Exactly what look are you going for?
Is it you? Do you have what it takes to pull it off?
Is it worth the price you`re going to pay for it?


If you absolutely must have something, then just buy it if it makes you happy! Also, if you are rich, then don`t worry about any of this! Just shop away. Someone has to keep the economy going!!

ALSO DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE ARTICLE "TOP SHOPS" WHICH TELLS YOU EXACTLY WHERE TO GET THE GROOVIEST FASHIONISTA GEAR IN SEOUL!

MYONG DONG Myong Dong is crowded with trendy Japanese tourists on a shopping/sauna holiday. Thus, the clothes you will find in Myong Dong are influenced mainly by what the Japanese are wearing. The fashions tend to be young, brightly colored and deconstucted. Nothing fits quite right, but it's cheap anyway. There are loads of sports shops and sporty clothes (good for a hip hop night on the town.) Myong dong has brillant accessories such as scarves, earrings, shoes and especially sunglasses! Some of the popular shops are pictured above and below.

ITAEWON Itaewon can be a bargain hunter's paradise! Itaewon is a good place for shoppers who like to dig through piles of junk to find hidden treasures. If you are looking for designer clothes which were manufactured in Korea which are slightly irregular and therefore rejected for export, this is the place to get it. The prices are phenomenal. Laundry, BCBG, Marc Jacobs, DKNY and Catherine Malandrino are some of the brands on sale here. Bear in mind that some of the clothes are from last year's collection and some of them don't fit well. You can always have them tailored. Nike, Adidas and the other sports shops on the street have good casual and workout wear and they have Western sizes available in footwear. The stalls on the street also sell good hats and imitation handbags. If you want fake Louis, Chanel or Tod's bags, follow the guys on the street that are saying `kabang`/ handbag. They will take you to an unmarked shop and bring you goods after you peruse the catalog. It's best to go in pairs and not by yourself, just to be on the safe side.

APKUJONG Apkujong-South of the river (Kangnam) is fashionista territory. It`s the land of upscale Department Stores, funky cool boutiques and Luxury Brand Name Goods shops. There are so many ways to squander a fortune here. There are three main Dept. stores. The Shinsegae is at the Express Bus Terminal Station near the JW Marriot. If you go here, you might as well check out the Kangnam underground shopping mall at the B1 of the bus station. There is also the Hyundai Dept. Store at the foot of the Donhgo Bridge. They just opened a Tod`s and a Stella McCartney there. Then there is the Mecca of shopping which is known as the Galleria. If you continue past the Galleria heading towards the Cheongdam Sagori, you will run into the Luxury goods shopping area. Here, you`ll find Prada, Gucci, Armani, Louis etc. Good Luck! You better hope your credit card comes out alive!

TONGDAEMUN Tongdaemun This market is for advanced fashionishtas only. My favorite place to find cutting edge stuff is Doota B/1. I have seen things I wanted at department stores, gone to Doota and seen a perfect knockoff of it for a fraction of the price. Doota's appropriate motto is `Fast and First`. There are alot of treasures waiting to be unearthed here, but you need to have the patience to find them. Upstairs has cool accesories, the shoe dept sells alot of the same shoes as the Galleria dept.store except it`s one third the price. Of course the quality is not as good and the styles are not nearly as cool as overseas. Sometimes, it's a hit and miss. I've been there a few times and found nothing at all that i liked. Then, there`s the Chunghap Sijang a.k.a Dongdaemun Chain Store. If you want to make your own pillows, curtains, clothes and jewelry, this is the place to find your supplies. You can find every kind of material under the sun from fleece to fake fur, to pleather, to silk, spandex and chiffon. There are even tailors and sewing ladies who make stuff on the spot! The sewing ladies in B1 can make pillowcases and table runners, and the tailors near the hanbok section on the ground floor can make more intricate stuff. The tailors don't speak English unfortunately. 5th floor of this market sells beads and chains for necklaces. If you are crafty, you can make anything you want. This place is a great source of inspiration for the seasoned fashionista.

source:seoulstyle.com