In Love With Aztec

Don't be caught without an Aztec print this summer. 

My love for this beautiful print has led me to this post. I don't really want to promote the trend because it's all over the place and you can see it for yourself but I'd like to give you more insight as to where the print originates and how to wear it best. 

The Aztec print originates in Mexico and was worn by the tribes of the Aztec empire. The style varied according to the social class that people belonged to (the commoners, the upper class, the merchants, the military etc). Ancient Aztec clothing was generally loose fitting and did not cover the whole body. The clothes were made from cotton or ayate fiber. 

The print has been modernized and is perfect for summer. Wearing the print gives you an instant status boost. People know that you know what the current trends are and you aren't afraid to take risks. The style does have an element of tribal exotic to it. At first glance people may perceive it as African because of the boldness of the colours and the ethnic shapes in the design.

(source: mensfashionmagazine)

The print is best worn with a plain colour that doesn't clash (you don't want to pattern block, do you?). Keep the other garment plain and preferably in the same colour family in order to get the best look out of your uber cool Aztec print. It may look like anything goes but that's not true. You should spend 5 minutes in the morning deciding if those green pants are going to match your multi-coloured Aztec shirt. Fastening the top button of your shirt takes your look to a whoooole new level of hotness. Again, you need to ensure that you have the complete look from H2T (Head to toe).

At this point a pair of wongas or shades compliment the top half of your look while a trendy pair of sneakers and a cool belt will compliment your bottom half. 

You can wear as much or as little Aztec as you want as the picture below demonstrates. 

Of course the print is also available for women with bigger, brighter and bolder designs. The clothes are cheap and affordable and a simple tee (such as those above) costs about R59. Finish this look off with some Aztec accessories (scarf/shades/watch/bracelet/ring/chain) and you're good to go! 

From High to Low

(source: LifeUnsweetened)

Almost a perfect balance between the mini and the maxi, these beautiful and interesting skirts are one of the hottest trends for women right now. Of course, you need to have a great pair of legs (or at least not be shy to show them off) to pull this off. I think the skirt looks best on women who are leggy and tall-ish as the hemline is designed to show off those great legs and pretty feet. But I'm biased, I love tall people. It can work on women of all shapes and sizes it just depends on how you put it together. 

(source: All 4 women)

The basic skirt looks like an unfinished project of a fashion design student... but with all the frills, colours, patterns and  fabric choices, you can literally pull it off with whatever you choose to pair it with. Obviously you should wear a great pair of shoes and a fitted blouse that's not too busy as the skirt needs to be the main attraction. 

Immediate impression of the skirt is that it's whimsical and 'out-there' so you obviously need to be prepared to break some boundaries and make a statement. You can also go for a smarter look by wearing a pair of heels and accessories and your look will scream glamour and sophistication. 

(source: glamour)

(source: Fried Junk)

(source: Best Handmade)

(source: Best Handmade)

The skirts are available at most women's outlets: Mr Price, Legit, Jay-Jays, Edgars, Truworths etc and range from about R69.99 to about R199.99.

Go get yours today!!

Men's grooming craze

Don't be surprised if very soon your toiletry kit contains not only shaving cream, deodorant and toothpaste, but also concealer, oil-absorbing face powder and brow gel. That's because guys are relying on an increasing number of made-for-men products to put their best face forward.

The modern man... pretty much.  

Grooming has often been a topic avoided by men- "I don't need all those products, I have soap". However in recent years, men's grooming has taken off at an alarming rate. Men's fashion is starting to break boundaries and so is the men's grooming line. Gooo men!!! 

Men's grooming has grown so fast that there is a growing number of cosmetic companies that are creating makeup lines specifically designed for men. Now I'm not talking about stage or on-screen makeup. I'm talking about makeup that can be used on a daily basis to work, college or even a night out on the town. 

The reasoning behind makeup for men is that men have skin imperfections too and deserve to walk around feeling confident.

Of course all the big makeup houses are jumping on board for a piece of this growing pie. Below is a model (Big Brother's Stuart) applying Yves Saint Laurent's best selling highlighter/ concealer 'Touche Eclat" which has been designed specifically for men. 

In recent years men have started to take grooming seriously and are including products from Clinique, LAB Series, L'Oreal and Clarins in their daily routine all in an effort to look good- why else would men go through all the trouble of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing everyday? 

There are women who maintain that they don't wear pants because pants are for men. However today, women's pants are manufactured specifically for women and to cater to their body types and form an integral part of a modern women's wardrobe. In fact they've been around for decades. A similar argument made by guys is that they will not use makeup because makeup 'is for girls'. Now with the growing makeup and grooming lines for men, are men's attitudes toward makeup going to evolve with the times? 

An expert from KenMen, a Montreal based cosmetics line seems to think so. Men are looking for a product that doesn't scream "Hey, look I'm wearing makeup!" she says.  She adds that it's only natural that men would turn to makeup to look their best. ONLY NATURAL??? 

Within a product line, the possibilities are endless. 

Traditional products like shaving cream, aftershave and deodorant seem to be reinvented, catering to a growing demand worldwide. 'I just want the basics' doesn't cut it anymore. Men are now faced with endless choices even when it comes to shopping for more traditional/ basic products. You'd like a simple aftershave. Would you like that for normal, combination, oily or sensitive skin? Would you like it in spray, gel or lotion form? These are decisions guys have to make on a daily basis. 

On the left is the L'Oreal Men expert Pure and Matte range for oily/ greasy skin. It includes an exfoliating gel scrub, anti-serum foam scrub, bright charcoal black foam, moisturizer, anti-marks eye roller and anti-mark moisturizer. Other product ranges include 'Hydra Energetic' and 'Hydra Sensitive'. 

As we can see, men's grooming and particularly men's makeup lines are trending. So, do real men use makeup?? Well, only time will tell. 

Guys out there you are not alone. Embrace what has been specially created for you. You will also end up looking good in the process. Looking and feeling good is no longer something reserved just for women or gay men. You can be a metrosexual man with a little effort. 

 Keep checking  for reviews of products that I've personally used. 

Resources for further reading: 

Article on Forbes.com

http://www.forbes.com/2007/04/10/makeup-guys-products-forbeslife-cx_ls_0411makeupmen.html

Lab Series

http://www.labseries.com/

L'Oreal Men Expert

http://www.lorealmenexpert.com.au/

Menaji

http://www.menaji.com/

Men's Make-up

http://www.mensmake-up.co.uk/