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Pin-stripped suit and maxi skirt

Tafadzwa Zimoyo : Fashion Talk 263

“You only get one chance to make a first impression” so an old saying goes. This means that once you have ruined that one chance you have to work extra hard to make the impression that you would have wanted to in the first place.Dressing well and appropriately shows motivation and maturity to everyone who looks at you. The suit remains one of the most important items in any wardrobe.There are a lot of suits evolving in the fashion world from coloured to many buttoned suits, and there is one suit which is back — the pin-stripped suit.

At one time, the pinstripe three-piece business suit was known to be worn by the elderly. But a younger man can carry it off. Remember Patrick Jane in The Mentalist? He managed to marry rakish and elegance with those three piece suits.

Finally the trend has caught on and the suit has bounced back and is making a hit with the younger generation. From fashion shows to weddings and work wear, this is the in thing.

And the best part is that it is a unisex trend and the ladies are rocking it too, buying into its classy elegance that quietly screams, “Money”!

So since it is now a hit, question on everyone lips is, does it suit every occasion?

As mentioned earlier, the pinstripe is no longer exclusively associated with the world of business.

In fact, at times it seems even more popular than other styles.

However, there are those that will argue, that the pinstripe suit cannot be worn in a casual setting or at an ultra-formal event.

I can agree with this in sentiment but, who is to say you can’t wear your pinstripe pants or pinstripe waistcoat as part of a dressed down outfit.

Now that is fashionable.

Here a quick guide on how you can pull your pinstripe:

1. Less is more: Of the three key components of your outfit only two should be of a similar pattern.

So if your suit and tie are striped, then your shirt should be a block colour.

2. Stripe up: Yes, wearing stripes in every aspect of your look is entirely possible but it’s a little harder to achieve the right balance.

The key here would be to ensure that the striped pattern in each of your items is of a different width even if it is only the slightest of differences.

3. Match the shirt: A nice tip that not many are aware of is to match the colour of the pinstripes to your shirt.

It adds cohesion to your overall look but is subtle enough that the majority of people won’t even notice.

4. Accessorise: With the advent of the pocket square, this is the most obvious choice but what about the cuff-links and the watch?

I won’t dwell much on the accessory part because it is a section to be dwelt with on its own next week but nowadays if you want your suit to look perfect it is about accessories.

Our focus on ladies this week is on maxi skirt.

Just like the pinstripe suit, the maxi skirt was also a hit in the 90s.

By the way a maxi skirt is a skirt that drops to ankle length.

It can be flowy or curve-hugging.

But how long should a maxi skirt be and how well can you rock with it.

Maxi skirts, as we all know, are not only one of the most comfortable, flattering, and forgiving items of clothing to wear, but they’re also surprisingly versatile too.

They are easy to add layers over as well as hide layers under, making them the perfect transitional piece for the coming fall months where some days are super chilly and others are still warmed by the summer sun.

This alone makes maxi skirts a favourite pieces to wear for winter but they are also a fantastic way to extend your summer wardrobe and get creative with pieces you already have in your closet as well as fun accessories.

You can pair them with a slim sweater and long necklace to break up the look, if you want to follow the winter style.

Sweaters with a maxi skirt can sometimes look bulky but you can keep the look more stream-lined by front-tucking your sweater.

Another way to keep a sweater and maxi skirt from being too bulky is to wear a belt over the sweater at your waist.

This will elongate your legs and it just looks very pretty.

Now you can rock your maxi skirt to church, party or any gathering.

Please note, maxi skirts are tricky for formal wear.

Hope you enjoy the winter mood we already approaching and get don’t be left out this — bring-back 90s look in your closet.