For the 2009 woman, fashion is vast, varied and most importantly – accessible.  Our high streets are overflowing with department stores, fashion chains and independent designer boutiques. In more recent years, the internet has offered us choices and opportunities like nothing we have ever known before and the ability to buy new or used clothing from anywhere in the world.

Gone are the days of carefully selecting your favourite dressmaking pattern, gathering the right materials and spending hours creating the most up to date look by hand.  Does anyone even sew any more?  The most we have to do is pull out the laptop, browse our favourite sites and wait for the perfect outfit to land on our doorstep.  Heaven forbid it takes longer than 2 days to arrive.  But is it really that easy?

Firstly here’s the eternal array of different fashions on offer… What flock we follow?  What icon we worship?  There’s goth, hippy, vintage, emo, casual, glam, indie, rock chick, sporty, trendy, retro, skate, surf, burlesque… need I go on?  Whatever we choose we can be sure there are plenty of retailers both on-line and on the high street, all fighting for our business and offering everything we could possibly want or need.

But of course the choices don’t end there.  You couldn’t possibly just buy ‘a dress’. Is it mini or maxi?  Shift or smock?  Boob tube, halter-neck, strappy or wrap?  Floral, striped, block colour, monochrome, neon or checked?  Then there’s fabric – cotton, silk, nylon, linen, denim, chiffon, satin, lycra, viscose?  And maybe a little extra detail – beads, sequins, lace, diamanté, buttons, bustles and zips.  And not to forget length and shape– mini, midi, knee length, maxi, a-line, pencil, swing, full or straight?  It’s enough to give the most laid back amongst us a headache. But it’s not just clothing we need to consider – footwear, jewellery, hair, make-up, nails, skincare, handbags, watches, scarves, hats, glasses and perfume – each one a single piece of the jigsaw that makes every woman so unique.

Each element of our image is so carefully considered and so dramatically influenced.  The music we listen to, the books and magazines we read, the television programmes and films we watch and the circle of friends we keep.  As well as a million other financial, seasonal and climate driven reasons.

Our fashion is fast paced, relentless and ever changing but we love it to pieces and it just keeps growing.  Recession or no recession, fast fashion is here to stay – the love of shopping is in our genes!

All things considered, it’s surprising that we manage to get dressed every day (never mind look so fabulous) but these exciting and dynamic decisions are what most women clearly thrive on. Spoilt for choice? Absolutely not – anything less simply wouldn’t do…

My Vintage are a leading online vintage & retro clothing retailer. Visit www.myvintage.co.uk for a wide range of vintage & retro clothing for men & women.

Copyright 2009, My Vintage. May be reprinted in its entirety with full credit given to

My Vintage and a link to www.myvintage.co.uk.



By: Simon Farnworth

About the Author:

Emo Boy

When it comes to dressing up, people find it easier to just put on the most decent outfit that they have. For a few, however, dressing up is all about expressing your individuality and making known what’s on your mind. It is for this reason that alternative wear came into being.

Alternative clothing wear is the type of fashion line that not everybody would like to indulge in. Alternative clothing is very much visible in the way “emo” people dress up as well as in the clothing style of skate boarders. Just like most traditional urban wear, they are rarely main stream and you would really need to do your homework before you can confidently wear one. However, alternative clothing is not just about baggy pants and dark, somber shades. Alternative can also come in the form of basketball jerseys and golf wear.

Wearing alternative clothing became fashionable at the time when hip hop was catching people’s attention. Just like the music genre that inspired this fashion style, alternative clothing started as an underground movement in a bid to challenge the existing norms during that time. Today, however, alternative clothing has made such a following that it is already considered as main stream way of dressing for today’s generation.

Getting your own alternative wear can be quite easy. The first thing that you need to do is decide which group you belong to. Is skating a passion for you? Are you a staunch supporter of hip hop music? Do you see yourself as an “emo” or Goth type of person? Keep in mind that your dress should clearly express who you are.

Once you have decided on the first issue, you need to research about what pieces of culture clothes would complete your look. For most, this would mean baggy jeans and oversized shirts. If you are going “emo”, you would need to have clothes in dark shades. Keep in mind that Goth is different from “emo” although both deal in somber shades with the former focusing more on the Victorian way of dressing.

You would also need a number of accessories to go with your alternative wear. These accessories could range from a simple baseball cap to shiny blings costing thousands of dollars. A number of sites that sell alternative wear also feature accessories so you need not go far to pick one up.



By: Tab Hunter

About the Author:

Emo

Worried about the cost of living, the looming debt that would follow their studies at university and desperate to save up money to cushion their fall, two students decided to found their own clothing alternative company called My Little Halo.

They started out just making one-off gothic and punk style clothing pieces in random sizes and selling them over Myspace and taking custom orders where they were requested and soon enough one of the students decided their studies would have to take priority and so moved on to other things. The remaining student eventually decided that although they founded the company in order to fund university, they had put so much into the company and made it their entire world to the extent that university was no longer the right path for them. After a long struggle involving many sacrifices and having to learn many many new skills, they have now turned My Little Halo into a successful web based clothing company.

My Little Halo offer a unique collection of dresses, summer dresses and corset dresses, punky mini skirts with lace up detail in various colours and prints including zebra print, skulls print and star print and a wide range of corsets, basques, bustiers and corset tops in great fabrics and prints including sexy PVC, leatherette, cupcakes print, music print and loads more. Plus gothic long sleeved tops and t shirts, unique corset belts (which are also available in all sorts of colours and style) and sexy tie up halter neck bikini tops. On the website alongside the My Little Halo own range, you’ll find a great selection of all over printed emo and scene hoodies, plus loads of matching accessories, such as bracelets, bangles, leather belts, hair bows and clips and earrings!

Website:http://www.mylittlehalo.co.uk



By: Emily Horner

About the Author:

Emo Hairstyles

With their origins in the taper leg styled pants of fifties heart throbs such as Roy Rogers and Marilyn Monroe, skinny jeans are undoubtedly still imbued with a little of the rebellious glamour that typified such stars – especially as the style became inexorably linked with the birth of rock and roll when Elvis Presley adopted the style to the delight of swooning teenage girls everywhere.

Between country musicians and the new proponents or rock, a bad boy image was born and skinny jeans were the trousers of choice for these new stars. The image remains today, and despite some periods of time when the style fell out of favour, skinny jeans have always had a niche role in the fashion stakes with skinny jeans showing their musical roots at every turn.

Perhaps the toughest period for skinny jean lovers was in the late sixties, when flares where adopted by hippies and the wider the trouser leg the better the opinion of the jeans. However, the seventies brought a new wave of popularity for drainpipes and glam rock and rockabilly bands breathed new life into the fifties Teddy Boy look and skinny jeans were brought to the forefront again. The seventies also saw the punk scene adopt the figure hugging jeans and customising them to fit their wild and do-it-yourself aesthetic.

But the versatile nature of the skinny jean ensured that the style wasn’t pigeonholed and in the eighties many heavy metal bands also turned to these denim wonders to satisfy their desire to avoid the spandex popular elsewhere in the industry. While the grunge movement drew a number of music fans towards a trend for baggier jeans, the skinny ones remain the favourites of die-hard fans who were again rewarded with a resurgence in the noughties.

A fresh buzz was injected into the tight denim trousers in the UK in the early 2000s when bands such as The Strokes, and later The Libertines, chose them as their jeans of choice while supermodel Kate Moss is often credited with reintroducing the style to women.

Skinnies then made their way into more mainstream fashion and indie pop, while still retaining a niche core of fans within sub-culture genres such as emo, metal and post-punk. The new popularity of the tight trousers slowly made its way across to the US and with scenesters and indie rockers also claiming the style as their own, skinny jeans have become a must have item for anyone hoping to inject a little rock and rock into their wardrobe.



By: vicky.cochrane.uk@googlemail.com

About the Author:

Emo Boy

Are you tired of blending in with the crowd? Are you sick of all the factory made clothes that you see most of the population wearing around town? Looking for something a bit different to the dull, watered down fashion that you see in all the high street shops? Well here’s the answer.

My Little HALO Alternative Clothing produce 100% handmade apparel based along the lines of emo, scene, punk rock, gothic, metal and alternative clothing, but with a difference. Everything is only available directly from their online store at http://mylittlehalo.bigcartel.com so the likelihood of anyone you know having the same item of clothing is very small.

Their top selling range of animal print clothing, including zebra print, leopard print, cow print and giraffe print is ideal for evening wear or casual wear and new items are always being added.

Not only do My Little HALO Alternative Clothing offer a wide range of alternative dresses, skirts, tops, jackets, t shirts, belts, bags, corsets and accessories for women in UK sizes 6-18, but they also stock a special plus sizes range from UK size 18-24. Not to worry, the sizes are in UK sizes, but they still ship worldwide, and to make things easier they have both a sizing chart and a size conversion chart to help you figure out which size is right for you.

Items are always shipped within 1-3 days of purchase if possible. Pretty fast considering factory made clothing often takes 2 -3 weeks to be shipped, when all they have to do is pick the item up off the top of a pile and pop it in a parcel. All My Little HALO products are made to order, but still despatched faster because they want you to have the best service possible.

My Little HALO Alternative Clothing will take custom orders aswell as custom measurements if requested so that you can get exactly what you are looking for and with the perfect fit.

All in all, clothes that actually make you stand out, decent prices, cheap postage, worldwide shipping, fast delivery and a friendly service, what more could you want?

Visit  http://mylittlehalo.bigcartel.com now to see their fantastic range of alternative clothing and accessories!







By: Emily Horner

About the Author:

Emo

Now that Spring is just around the corner, young women all over the world are in pursuit of the hottest prom dresses. Even though styles and colors of prom dresses change each year, one thing remains the same: unique prom dresses make everyone’s jaw drop. Some of the most unique 2008 prom dresses have glitz, flair, and elegance. They enable young women to stand out from the crowd and draw positive reactions from parents and peers.

In order to select the best dress from a sea of prom dresses, there are several factors young women should consider. For instance, your body type can play an important role when deciding which prom dress to buy. Other important factors are the color of the dress and the style of the prom dress. Ideally, women should select prom dresses that compliment their figure, hair color, and skin tone.

How do you know which prom dresses will look best on you? Consider your body type first. If you’re a plus size girl, don’t even bother looking at smaller dresses. Sure, these prom dresses may look sexy in a photograph, but they’re generally created to make smaller women look more curvy and voluptuous. If you’re already curvy, you don’t really need the extra help! Instead, look for plus size prom dresses which will accentuate your fuller figure.

What type of 2008 plus size prom dresses are available to plus size women? There are a lot of selections to choose from, but it appears that strapless plus size prom dresses are hot in 2008! Try to imagine yourself in a strapless prom dress with your hair up, leaving your shoulders and neckline bare for a more mature look. On the other hand, if you’re uncomfortable in strapless prom dresses, consider shopping for prom dresses with an empire waist. Essentially, this type of prom dress will elongate your body, making you look taller and slimmer.

Young women that are petite or have an athletic body type will benefit from strapless prom dresses or prom dresses that have spaghetti straps. Strapless prom dresses that are form-fitting will accentuate a small-medium bust, show off bare shoulders and neckline, and show off feminine curves.

Nevertheless, all young women who feel uncomfortable in form-fitting prom dresses can opt to find prom dresses with a flair. Take for instance a prom dress with a trumpet shaped skirt which will flow off from your waistline as you sashay across the dance floor. This is a very common choice for thin young women who worry that their body is too straight and narrow for a form fitting prom dress.

In addition to searching for sexy prom dresses, plus size prom dresses, affordable prom dresses, and 2008 prom dress styles, a lot of young women search for prom dress tips. These tips offer assistance to young women who need help to decide what colors and styles of prom dresses will suit them best for their exciting prom night in 2008.

Some of the hottest colors for 2008 prom dresses are red prom dresses, pink prom dresses, green prom dresses, and blue prom dresses. Of course there are non-traditional colors which will make your prom dress unique if you wish to stand out from the crowd. Take for instance the chocolate brown prom dress or the black prom dress, which offer both sophistication and fun for the young woman that doesn’t like pale or bright colors. While pastel colors are common for traditional prom dresses, earth tones have become increasingly popular over recent years.

A lot of young women prefer non traditional prom dresses because they want to look unique. Unique affordable prom dresses can be found in many styles. A black knee-length prom dress with large sequence dots can be used as an emo prom dress because it has a punk look for formal wear.

With a few accessories, a young woman can play any prom gown up or down, suiting their taste and style.

Whether you’re attending a junior prom or a senior prom, a prom is a very special occasion. There are only a few occasions in your life when people will remember what you wore and how you looked, and this is one of them. So it’s important to look your best. Instead of waiting until the last minute to shop for prom dresses, it’s always a good idea to get an early start. It’s never to early to start shopping for prom dresses! If you want to find the best sales on prom dresses and the best styles available, start shopping now. This is the best time to find cheap prom dresses in assorted styles and colors.

Selecting prom dresses may seem like a tedious task, but it’s supposed to be fun! Remember to take your time and try not to get overwhelmed by the many different colors, sizes, and styles of prom dresses. Search for inexpensive prom dresses, but consider the quality of the prom dress too. You can find an affordable prom dress that’s beautiful and fun. It’s not impossible!

Photographs of models in prom dresses are intended to sell you a dream. Remember, the body doesn’t come with the dress, it’s your body that’s going to fill the dress. In other words, if you’re a thin girl, don’t look at dresses made for women with fuller figures. If you’re a plus size girl, don’t bother looking at dresses made for smaller-framed women. There’s a prom dress out there right now that will fit you like a glove! Take your time, shop wisely, and find your dream prom dress for 2008.



By: Marissa Brown

About the Author:

Emo Boy