Fashion Channel

• Go to the gym and workout, with enough work even guys with smaller frames can pack on muscle (see the supplemental fitness guide).

• Wear fitted clothes. If your clothes are too baggy, they actually make you look skinnier.

• On the flip side, don’t wear clothes that are TOO tight. You don’t want to look like you have chicken arms/legs. Straight or boot-cut jeans good, skinny jeans bad.

• Avoid jackets/blazers with shoulder pads. These can make you look unbalanced.

• Avoid pin stripes and wear patterns and horizontal stripes that give you a wider profile.

• Jackets should not extend beyond your hip, otherwise they will make your legs look too thin. On the flip side, if the jacket is too short, it will make you look like a little kid.

• Layering is great not only for staying warm and creating a more interesting look, but it can also add some bulk to your frame, and make you look less skinny.

• Avoid wearing large belt buckles, as they will make you look skinnier by contrast.

You may be looking for an elegant leather satchel or a unique and eco friendly straw or cloth bag or even a trendy and modern sequined bag. You can find many handbag styles and choose from them to complement your personality and add charming to your outfits.

Backpack handbag is a larger bag which is supposed to be carried like a backpack. This bag style features two straps which you can either sling the bag on one or both sides of your shoulder.

A barrel bag on the other hand is cylindrical in shape as the name suggests. You can find exciting handbags that are narrow and resemble a French bread loaf. These bags are named as Baguettes.

For those who do believe in carrying too much staff with them, there are attractive and colourful coin purses and clutch bags to choose from. In contrast to a handbag which has straps to be slung on the shoulder, clutch bags do not have any handles or straps. They are carried under the arm and are mainly used as evening bags to carry just a few trinkets and cosmetics.

For those who are not fond of handbags dangling from their shoulders and also want their hands to be free, cross body bags are the ideal choice. These bags can be worn across the body leaving the hands free.

Ideal for those who take part in a lot of outdoor activities such as hiking and running, Fanny pack also known as the waist pack is the ideal choice. This bag can be worn on the waist and is very useful for carrying small, essential items.

One of the interesting handbag styles is the Hobo. Hobos are shoulder bags with a long shoulder strap. They are scooped in the centre and are slouchy to look at. Evening clutch bags made of hard case and decorated with attractive sequins, beads and crystals are known as Minaudiere.

Many people use handbags to carry a lot of items such as appointment books, coin purses, wallets, makeup and other personal items. Organizer bags are ideal for this purpose as these bags feature a lot of convenient pockets and compartments.

Handbags which feature a top closure, a flat bottom and a top carry handle are known as satchels. The side profile of a satchel is usually triangular. Wristlet on the other hand is a small wallet or a clutch that is attached to a small loop that can go around your wrist.

Here is a guide to the clothes that you can use to enhance the length of your legs and ensure that you feel great about yourself.

· Dresses or skirts. These can be your best friends if you utilise them correctly. You can wear A-line skirts that have horizontal patterns on them as this draws the eye outward, as opposed to up and down. You can also wear skirts that have got dropped waistlines and that are pleated. Any pattern or style that is advised against for a petite person, can be worn by a tall person.

· Hemlines. When it comes to picking out the right dress, the hemline is important. Floor length will highlight how long your legs are, whereas skirts that finish above the knee or in the middle of the calf will give a nice balance to your general figure.

· In terms of pants, you should opt for capri pants, as well as three quarter pants. These are great for breaking the severe lines that full length pants can sometimes create, as well as exaggerated height.

· You should make sure that you wear boots in the winter, as these will also help make your legs look amazing. Any boot that you can tuck a pants leg into is a boot that you can wear.

· If you are wearing other shoes, you can go for shoes that are bright, which will draw attention mostly to your feel and ankles, as opposed to the whole length of your legs.

Some style basics for our oldies:

Style stays, Fashion fades. Rather than chasing fluttering trends, men of the growing age should stick to one general look in which they are most comfortable. For example, if you feel good in a Blazer- Jeans pair then stick to it, don’t change it just because you are growing.

In accessories, a subtly patterned tie is always appropriate for a man of mid-age.

Lastly, White running shoes are never recommended for old people unless they are out for running and for that also they can prefer some black or dark hues Nike.

Style don’ts for our oldies:

Skinny Jeans: No matter you are skinny, you should ignore those slim fitted jeans. You are not a singer from Green day; You will end up looking silly wearing those tight pants.

Logo/ Graphic Printed t-shirts: After a certain age say 50, anything that broadly displayed on your chest, makes you look desperate so avoid it.

Hoodies: A big No for all oldies.

Long Hair: If you are losing your hair, any hairstyle longer than ½ inches is not preferable.

Blue Jeans and running shoes: This is my personal dislike. If you are out for running, wear running shoes and if you are out for work then wear some grown-up shoes.

Now Let’s head towards some style tips to look best in 50s. Here they are:

Keep your style colour-blocked

It doesn’t say that you should retire all the colours from your wardrobe but go for some monotonous tones. Try to avoid bright acid colours and pastel shades and go for some classic hues like camel, light grey, navy blue, forest green and dark red. If you have all grey hair, then wearing all grey outfits will look fabulous. This is the most recommended professional fashion for offices.

Give farewell to your cargo pants and shorts

Most of you must be thinking it is obvious, but it requires repetition- no cargos, ever. Though they are comfortable and convenient, think about all those pockets that come in handy, but they are not for you-big daddies.

Make white t-shirts your regular wear

Yes in the old age anything in white can be classy. You can carry a white t-shirt on any occasion but make sure it is in pristine condition that means cleaned, ironed and properly folded. Otherwise, you may look like just slipping out of bed. Trust me: it is not at all suitable for a dignified old man.

Know your body shape and stick to a single tailor

Some men are lucky enough who get effortlessly fit in those store-bought suits, but the majority of such men is very rare. So if you are not one of those lucky ones then do yourself a favour and get your baggy pants and suits cuffed and hemmed properly. Ill-fitted clothes are not at all good for you and will show off your growing age. Wear clothes that fit just right and dress like a multimillionaire.

Don’t put on denim on denim

When this is an always in look for young hipsters, but for men over 50s, it’s a definite NO. If you are wearing jeans, then go for a casual button down and wear a simple T-shirt on top. A mix of denim and Chambray shirts with tanned brown Chinos is always best for men over 50. Denim jackets with any blue shaded jeans should not be worn for any occasion.

Leather Hobo Bags – As one might expect, these bags range from slouch styles to stash bags, and can be found in quite a number of sizes for different women’s needs. The colors for these bags include everything from bright and bold to warmer and traditional colors. Also included in this category of bags are styles that include patch bags, Boho styles and more.

Patchwork Hobos – Here is a fun category of bags and again these range broadly in looks and design. The most popular of these bags appears to be the “Diana Boho” hobo, a conglomeration of different fabrics, designs and colors. Personally a patchwork bag would not fit my own personal preferences but these are most definitely an exception – they’re gorgeous and perfect for ladies who have a desire for a more “earthy” or Bohemian style.

Theodora Hobo Bag – This specific bag seems to be looked for specifically than any other single style of bag in this lineup. It can be found in either leather or suede versions and also has a sort of Boho appeal to it, complete with “peace” charms. My favorite color with this bag is the “Bourbon” leather which is a darker shade of brown with just a hint of red.

Even though the list of Lucky Hobo Bag styles above are the most popular there are actually quite a number of different bags to choose from – sure to match just about any woman’s tastes and needs.

Take for example one the Sunburst diaper bag that I recently bought from the store. This bag which was designed by Skooch truly matches the modern style which suites my preference. It has a very unique design which gives me that glow of vibrancy as well. It is something which I take a long as I travel with my kid and I do not have any worries about not being fashionable at all. It is hip and really cool, really matching my personality.

More than the looks of this Skooch diaper bag is its functionality. One criterion which of course certainly needs to be considered likewise and goes together with fashion. What I like about the bag is how versatile it is in making sure that my baby’s needs are covered. The bag has several pockets where important baby items can be stored. This makes it very roomy and spacious to put in the diapers, towel and extra clothing needed as baby and I are on the go. One feature that I love most about the bag is its material. Made of nylon, this bag is waterproof, so there is no worry about moisture or water seeping in the bag. This I would say is on feature that gives me a lot of peace of mind indeed. With the bag too comes a changing pad that you can use when the need arises – isn’t this just convenient? What’s nice about it too is the fact that its color matches the bag, so there is no worry about being not coordinated. More side pockets and compartments to further store items come with this bag.

Indeed, having a bag that is functional and fashionable at the same time is a relief for me as a mom. It makes me feel good to know that what I am carrying fits me well and at the same time provides good storage for what I need to make sure that my little one is well taken care of. Nothing beats this feeling of assurance and satisfaction.

The reason for leather being so popular, even with being more expensive than other materials, derives itself from the fact that leather is long lasting, fashionable and that it ages really well. This all can be applied to totes, which usually break apart pretty fast, due to constant usage and the weight of things being placed in it. That is why leather ones are highly sought after, you buy one bag and you are set. With care, these bags can last you a lifetime or even several lifetimes, in extreme occasions. Also, aging is really important when fashion is concerned. If your bag has aged well, which will most likely happen if you have leather one and you took good care of it, it will become something more than “just a bag”. It can become a symbol, it can have memories that you carry in it, along with your more material belongings and it will look damn great!

There are literally thousands of different styles for these bags, and they come in almost all colors. This is really important as many people love to match their bags with their outfit. I know that my sister has a different one for each work outfit. I mean, she is working as a manager, so she has to be on the top of her game at all times. What i wanted to say there is that leather totes are a staple of fashion nowadays when you have to carry a lot of heavy stuff day in and out but you want to retain your style.

While in the past tote bags were pretty simple, two handles, no zippers and only one compartment, today’s are completely different. Due to modern needs, totes had to evolve as well. So today we have both zippers and compartments in these bags, all designed to provide you with the best functionality possible, which was the original intent of these bags in the first place. Only downside of this is that you now need to spend more time in finding a perfect bag for yourself, no two bags are the same. It is usually best to decide first what you need to carry with you and then proceed to search for a bag that will do the job with the least amount of effort.

Last thing you should know about these bags is that while they all may be out of leather, you need to take some care when purchasing one. If you want the best, always go for full-grain leather totes, they will last the longest and they will age the best. Downside is, of course, that they are the most expensive variant on the market. However, even if you do want the best and are ready to pay for it, take some time in learning about how to spot a genuine full grain leather from other ones. When you are paying extra for quality, you want to be sure that you are getting it.