Socks Of course no guide on the different types of clothes would be complete with our socks. Whether shop bought or hand knitted, socks are what keep our feet toasty warm in those winter months and sticky and sweaty throughout the summer. Made from knitted fabrics, socks can be barely-there sports socks which slip of the ankle when you’re running around, ankle length to keep the chill away on cooler evenings or even full on knee high (or thigh high!) for full on leg warmth! Hand knitted socks are types of clothes too! Sweater Sweaters are garments worn on the upper body by women, men and children. They are made from knitted fabrics, and also go by the name of ‘jumper’ in some parts of the world.
Learn more about sweaters with this guide to different sweater types! Red headed woman wearing a green fringed sweater with a blue background behind her. Swimsuit Whether a classic one piece or cut into two pieces to form a bikini or tankini, a swimsuit is worn when in or near water. It is made from a knitted fabric with two way stretch and negative ease so that it clings to the body when wet. Originally known as a bathing suit back in the late 1800s, it was always back then a two piece suit made of wool making it useless for swimming in. It wasn’t until the 1920s that swimsuits with elastic were created – by Jantzen – but these were still not suitable for swimming. Who doesn’t feel the need to buy new clothes from time to time? Let’s be honest, shopping is a great source of happiness for many of us. Fashion is an opportunity to have fun, and draping yourself in pieces that allow you to express yourself while looking great is a surefire way to feel immediately more confident. To make your next shopping trip a success, we’ve outlined some tips and tricks that will help guide you as you re-vamp your wardrobe for the season.
What to consider when buying new clothes? Clothes can reflect your personality, profession, preferences and/or mood. For example, light colours typically express a sense joy and exuberance, while dark colours convey a sense of seriousness. Styles with colours and patterns can help you express your creativity, while minimalistic neutrals are great for creating looks that are sophisticated and office-ready. Another important thing to keep in mind is the occassions for which you are purchasing your clothes. If you spend a lot of your free time partaking in outdoor activities, then you probably want to invest in pieces that are practical and comfortable. If parties and special dinners are your thing, it’d be worthwhile to invest in clothes that are more elegant and polished. Which clothes suit which figure? It goes without saying that every woman wants to look and feel good in her clothes, which is why it’s so important to buy pieces that suit your figure! When you pick the right fit, the pieces will emphasize your shape in all the right places. That being said, it’s important to first become familiar with your figure type: The hourglass (also called the X-type):
Characterized by a narrow waist, large bust and wide hips. If you have an hourglass figure, we recommend choosing pieces that emphasize your slim waist. Figure-hugging blouses and shirts, as well as fitted jackets and blazers, look lovely when combined with slim fit and mid-rise trousers. Slim fitting dresses or styles with waist belts also look great. The triangle (pear type, A type): Characterized by wide hips and a more narrow upper body in comparison. If you have a triangle-shaped figure, round-cut shirts, balloon sleeve tops and empire waist dresses are a must. Slim fitting trousers and skirts look especially great in darker shades. The inverted triangle (apple type, V type): Characterized by shoulders that are wider than your hips and legs that are slim and long.
If you have an inverted triangle body shape, V-neck tops are the way to go. You can also show off your figure beautifully with dresses and blouses with an empire waist. When buying trousers and skirts, we recommend opting for lighter colours. Round body shape (also called O-type): Characterized by narrow shoulders and legs with a larger bust, round mid-section and wider hips. Wide-cut tops that are airy and comfortable look especially flattering on those with a round figure. Tunics and blouses are wardrobe must-haves, and the longer the cut, the better, as this gives the illusion of a lengthened silhouette. We also recommend wearing trousers and skirts in darker shades. Rectangular body shape (H-type, banana type): Characterized by a small bust and shoulders with hips about the same width. Women with a rectangular figure look lovely in straight cut clothes. Pro tip: wearing patterns like pinstripes are great for creating the appearance of a lengthened silhouette.
What to look for when buying patterned clothing? At Olsen, we carry a number of on-trend styles in different colours and patterns. This allows for greater variety in your wardrobe and provides endless opportunities to express your mood through your outfits. But how will you know which colours and patterns go best together? We recommend pairing bold, expressive pieces with ones that are more minimalistic and simple. This allows the statement piece to really pop. For example, a floral print blouses pairs beautifully with black or white jeans. That said, you can absolutely combine bold colours and patterns together, but we recommend keeping the patterns similar and not combining more than two. Checks and stripes, for example, are a lovely combination, whereas checks and florals do not match as well. The general rule is that less is more! Matching accessories such as a scarf, handbag, shoes and striking jewlery can also add the perfect finishing touch to any look.
Fashion Clothes for every occasionParties are often preceded by fun questions, like what to give? Who to bring (if you have a plus one, that is)? When to arrive? And, crucially, what to wear? Most of us don’t just happen to have a floor-length silk gown or a tailcoat hanging around in our closet, waiting for the day our Met Gala invite finally arrives. But would that even be the right kind of thing to wear to such an event? We’ve got answers, and options, for every possible occasion on your social calendar.
Social obligations are not prerequisites for feeling great about your appearance. You can dress up simply because looking good makes you happy. But more often than not, the situations where we put a lot of care into our outfits are big events with explicit dress codes. The best-case scenario is that we’re dressing for both reasons: because it boosts our self-esteem and because we want to look situationally appropriate. Still, knowing what is appropriate can be a head-scratcher. The dress code might be implied, and even when it’s made explicit, the jargon can be difficult to decode. Which is why we spelled it out for you here. Casual: You do not need to dress up. Sneakers, jeans and T-shirts are all acceptable, and even encouraged.
Dressy casual: You should dress up, but only a little. It’s often just a matter of wearing nicer shoes, a snazzier top or pants that aren’t blue jeans (though denim is fine with the right kind of shirt -- more on that later). Business attire: You should dress as someone might for a client-facing job. Of course, there is plenty of variation within this category. It might mean a suit, a knee-length skirt, or a blazer and khaki bottoms. But it definitely means no jeans and no sneakers. Cocktail: You should dress much nicer than you do every day. Try separates in satin, silk or velvet. Suits. When in doubt, wear black. Black tie: You should wear a very elegant dress – say, a long gown or a cocktail dress that’s on the fancier side – or a tuxedo. White tie: You should look very fancy. Tailcoats, floor-length gowns and, potentially, white gloves are all on the table. Now let’s get specific.
Jeans and a T-shirt: When the most casual of outfits is perfectly acceptable, you might as well go with it. Khakis, modest shorts, day dresses and skirts Anything cotton or linen: In the summertime especially, it’s more pleasant to wear breathable fabrics, and these can easily be dressed up or down. Basically, you want to dress like any of the characters on your favorite sitcom routinely do: in comfortable clothing that is neither ostentatious nor schlubby. Anything clearly ripped or stained: It’s a matter of self-respect more than anything, but it also shows respect for your host and fellow guests when you dress in clean clothes. Intentional distressing on denim is fine.
