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Brutal Morgan Stanley note says ASOS stock is worth half what it's priced at

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A model walks on an in-house catwalk at the ASOS headquarters in London April 1, 2014.

Investors are overestimating the value of online fashion website ASOS and shares should be worth half their current value, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Anisha Singhal and her team.

The bank's retail team this morning put out a sell note on the company, setting a target price of 1800p compared to yesterday's closing price of 3618p.

Analysts think the market is underestimating the problems ASOS faces expanding internationally.

Last year, the company put out three profit warnings and shares fell 60%. But so far this year, ASOS has rallied 40% and many investors believe the company has put its troubles behind it.

Asos share collapse graph

Morgan Stanley thinks the stock should have stayed at its cut price level, arguing ASOS's international business model is fundamentally flawed. The company buys clothes in the UK and then sells them abroad, meaning it could be hit badly by exchange rate fluctuations. Morgan Stanley believes ASOS should start manufacturing locally for local sales, thus shielding its revenues from currency changes.

The bank says:

We see limited potential for ASOS to become a 'winner' in markets further afield... although we believe ASOS should benefit somewhat from scale and operating leverage, we see this offset by a required increased investment in price and its customer proposition.

Morgan Stanley prefers German rival Zalando to ASOS. So far investors haven't reacted, with ASOS up 1.4% at the time of writing.

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Nadia Aboulhosn is the plus-sized fashion blogger who rescued Boohoo and helped grow its revenues 27%

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Plus sized model Nadia Aboulhosen

She's been called the plus-size answer to Kim Kardashian. Girls creator Lena Dunham is "obsessed". And she helped online retailer Boohoo turn around its fortunes: 26-year-old Nadia Aboulhosn is a plus-size fashion blogger who posts photos of herself modelling size 16 clothes on her website and on Instagram, to demonstrate that fashion doesn't have to be just for the stick thin. 

The half-Lebanese, half-American blogger has gained 228,000 followers on Instagram, 155,744 Facebook likes and close to 20,000 Twitter followers

She told Business Insider: "I think [my fans] see me as relatable. People through social media sometimes try to glamorise their lives to make it seem like they have more than what they have, or they're happy when they're not. I try not to do that.

"I'm human just like my followers, I have emotions just like them. I want people to come to my page and be inspired with what ever journey I'm on. I want them to laugh and fully be themselves just like I try to do."

Plus sized blogger Nadia Aboulhosn models her collection for BoohooMost of her fans are young women, a valuable audience for advertisers, and Aboulhosn's reach hasn't gone unnoticed. UK online fashion retailer Boohoo last year signed her up to design a plus-sized collection, just as the company was reeling from a profit warning.

Boohoo shares collapsed 40% last January after the company admitted that despite increasing advertising spend by 25% in the run up to Christmas, sales growth had fallen from 47% to 25%. The company warned as a result that it wouldn't make the £17.6 million ($26.9 million) profit analysts had forecast for the year.

Aboulhosn — with her vast army of online fans who don't care about billboards — offered Boohoo a different way to pitch to customers through her social media accounts. She posts pictures and links to her Boohoo range across her social media accounts, driving sales.

Tess Holliday

Boohoo also signed up hugely popular UK YouTube beauty blogger Zoella to market its products in a similar way.

The bets paid off. Ranges like BoohooPLUS and its Petite range helped revenue grow 27% last year and Boohoo hit its revised profit target. It ended up making £11 million ($16.81 million)BoohooPLUS, which Aboulhosn designs for, now accounts for 2.8% of sales, despite launching just last March. Boohoo co-founder Carol Kane said the company is spending more and more on partnerships with social media stars and celebs after the success with Aboulhosn and Zoella.

Aboulhosn, who has been blogging since 2010, is now working with Canadian retailer Addition Elle and has also worked with UK plus-sized retailer Evans on a jewelry range.

Her success is part of a wider moment for the so-called plus-sized fashion industry, as brands rush to book more unconventional models. In the US, Tess Holliday (size 24) recently became the first woman of her size to sign to a major modelling agency, Milk Management. Holliday has modelled for the likes of Benefit Cosmetics and appeared in Vogue Italia in 2013.

beach body readyAshley Graham, size 16, models lingerie for plus-sized store Lane Bryant, and recently appeared in Sports Illustrated's annual swimsuit issue in an ad for plus-sized retailer Swimsuits for All. 

There has also been a mini backlash against adland's obsession with skinny models. Adverts across London for Protein World, asking women if they are "beach body ready", and featuring an unusually slim model, provoked outrage online and protests

Carol Kane, Boohoo's co-founder and co-CEO, told Business Insider: "Nadia has a unique style that's very much her and it's very Boohoo. It really elevated what we've done. She's got a huge following and of course that's a great help."

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A trendy startup is determined to become the shoppable Instagram

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vfiles di$count univer$e designersBrands who want to find fashion-obsessed millennials should look no farther than VFILES, the fashion social-network-cum-retail-space that relaunched today with mobile-friendly design and more capability for users to connect.

Since being founded in September 2012, VFILES was a place where fashion insiders and wannabes could follow each other's profiles and also shop, like Pinterest with an ecommerce component.

With today's update, VFILES will enable users to comment on each other's posts, @ mention each other like they do on Twitter and Instagram, and shop from their phones.

"What makes fashion social media different [from mainstream social media] is fashion people like to do specific things," Quay said. "Yes, we do like to shop. We want to be able to buy things. We want to be entertained. We want to see what's going on in our little world."

vfiles page

The site has 85,000 registered users, which seems paltry compared to larger networks like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. But because of VFILES' niche focus on upstart fashion professionals and the people who want to follow them, the network's reach is much more targeted to a specific customer. For example, 90 percent of users are under 35.

Also, users who shop on VFILES spend an average of $175 to $200 per transaction, according to the company.

The site's 85,000 registered users are all actively interested in fashion, and their activity results in 18 million monthly social media impressions with 1.5 million pageviews per month.  

The site hosts 4,500+ young designers; 3,000+ models; 7,000+ stylists, hair and makeup artists, and creative directors; 4,000+ photographers; and 4,000+ DJs and producers. The remaining 62,000 users are "highly engaged fashion enthusiasts and professionals," according to the company.

vfiles

VFILES functions through a series of interconnected profiles, or content hubs, from models, designers, artists and more. Users are free to search hashtags and usernames in order to find the content they want to see. There's also a shopping tag where users can buy or sell their work. The site's focus on community and trendsetting led it to birth the healthgoth and normcore trends. Hood By Air was the site's first ecommerce offering.

Quay says some VFILES users have been noticed by modeling agents thanks to their presence on the platform. Designers' entire outfits are snapped up by the likes of Kanye West and Rihanna, who are always looking for something new and can find it on VFILES. Below, Rihanna wears a T-shirt by VFILES designer Hyein Seo.

 on

The startup also recently opened a flagship store in downtown New York City. They also host a fashion show each New York Fashion Week. Users compete on the platform for the chance to show a collection of their own designs at the VFILES Made Fashion show.

One of Quay's main goals is to "take the stodgy feeling out of fashion."

"Look at the Met Ball," she said. "Everything is about, 'Oh, are you going?' And it's arrogant in a way, because it's like, 'You can't come.' And it says all the wrong things about fashion."

"VFILES becomes a place where you can communicate with others, communicate with fashion or pop culture at large," Quay said. "You can be part of a movement and it sounds really corny, but that's what life is about right now. It's about identifying with something and being a part of it."

The company also works with established brands, promoting campaigns or products within the community while collecting revenue from these partnerships. They recently worked with Aldo on promoting an AIDS campaign, and Calvin Klein is a mentor in their Fashion Week program. They've also partnered with Aveda, Oribe, Nordstrom, Harvey Nichols, Red Bull, Perrier and more.

vfiles

Revenue for VFILES also comes from their shop in New York City, and their wholesale business providing product from their designers to more than 30 retailers globally, Quay said. The startup is self-funded now, but actively fundraising for the first time.

The startup also has a music incubator program known as VFILES Loud, which launched in 2014. They were one of the first to feature iLoveMakonnen with a live performance. The artist collaborated with Drake around the same time and was later nominated for a Grammy for his first single.

Next, VFILES will focus on making it possible for users to shop directly from uploaded photos. This would be a boon to the startup, as many in the fashion industry have complained that Instagram (the industry's hands-down favorite app) would be much more useful to brands if it had external links or links that enabled people to shop others' accounts.

"Fashion brands right now are trying to work out where we fit into their life cycle," Quay said. "We're really excited to be carving out a new niche, and as advertisers start to shift away from traditional print programming, we want to be there to show them that we can be a great outlet for their brand to reach a millennial consumer."

SEE ALSO: 27 Instagram photos that prove the Met Gala's ban on selfies didn't work

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Louis Vuitton just hosted a massive fashion show in the middle of the desert

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Louis Vuitton Palm Springs

Palm Springs (United States) (AFP) - Luxury brand Louis Vuitton lured a bevy of stars to the California desert to see its latest cruise collection by Nicolas Ghesquiere -- further evidence of the Los Angeles area's rise on the world fashion scene.

An A-list audience of about 500 -- from legendary French actress Catherine Deneuve to rapper Kanye West to LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault -- trekked to the Bob and Dolores Hope Estate in Palm Springs for the glittering event.

Their hair flowing in the wind, towering models strolled between the chairs set up on the estate's patio, sporting long flared gowns in muted desert hues, with cut-outs at the hips, belts and studs, or lace accents.

Other models wore jumpsuits or rompers in patterns that sometimes evoked Native American fabrics.

The estate -- a concrete structure with circular and futuristic shapes -- is considered an architectural masterpiece dating back to 1973 and designed by American John Lautner. 

Louis Vuitton palm springs

"What inspired me very much is the contrast in this home between a certain brutalist exterior -- it is very radical -- and the softer, more decorative items inside," Ghesquiere told AFP at the event late Wednesday.

Ghesquiere -- the man behind the revival of Balenciaga who moved to Louis Vuitton in late 2013, replacing Marc Jacobs -- said he imagined "a community of women that live in the desert." 

With fluid silhouettes, and some outfits in leather, he said he "almost wanted to create confusion" among materials by favoring the idea of "movement, which is important for Vuitton -- a woman who moves." 

Before the show, guests were received inside the home, where models dressed glam-rock style -- think David Bowie -- formed a living sculpture.

'Modern' California

Louis Vuitton is the third major luxury brand this year to hold a show in California, after Tom Ford and Burberry staged shows that drew high-wattage stars from the film and music worlds.

Just as Palm Springs is experiencing a bit of a jet-set renaissance, California is back on the fashion map.

"In the 1950s, Palm Springs was the symbol of things modern. After that it faded, but there is now a true rebirth," Louis Vuitton chief executive Michael Burke told AFP.

"New York is a world capital of culture but very strongly tied to Europe. For the whole world, it is California that represents what is modern in America," he added. 

Louis Vuitton palm springs

Saint Laurent designer Hedi Slimane lives and works in Los Angeles, and Ford lives in LA part-time. American designers Monique Lhuillier and the Mulleavy sisters of Rodarte launched their labels in California.

"Fashion caters to celebrities, the new icons and trendsetters of our society," said Cecilia Dean, co-founder of the fashion magazine Visionaire.

"A lot of fashion is impregnating the city," she added. "It is not the city of sweatpants anymore."

Cruise collections have sometimes been given short shrift in the fashion world. They are shown between the industry's main seasons -- spring and autumn -- and in the past were limited in scope.

Vuitton wants to expand the cruise concept -- and keep the show on the road. Before Palm Springs, Ghesquiere last year unveiled his cruise collection in Monaco, another A-list hotspot.

Louis Vuitton palm springs

"It is the most important collection in terms of sales," Burke said.

Staging a catwalk show in a glamourous location gilds a fashion house's image but also helps consolidate ties with clients, who came to Palm Springs from around the US, but also from China, Canada and South America. 

As for the cost of staging such an event, which can reach into the millions of dollars, Burke said it is worth every cent. 

"In Paris, fashion shows are mainly for the press and store buyers, and customers can end up getting ignored," said Burke.

"Here, we had the chance to lure customers for three days in a very civilized atmosphere -- something fashion weeks cannot offer."

SEE ALSO: How to pick the perfect pair of shoes for every color suit

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Silicon Valley Fashion Week is real, and it stars drones and robots instead of models

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betabrand drone_002

In Silicon Valley, fashion may mean a hoodie or a startup-branded t-shirt, but that doesn't exclude the tech epicenter from getting its own fashion week.

Betabrand's Silicon Valley Fashion Week? — question mark and all — kicks off May 12 with a three day show complete with drones and robots literally carrying clothes down the runway.

Each night is split into different tech categories: electric motion, wearable tech, and crowdfunding. Fashion companies like Oscar De La Renta, however, won't be on the runway. Instead, companies companies like 3M, Misfit Wearables, and Pebble have joined with local designers who are allowing their creations to be modeled by drones and robots.

And in true tech fashion, the show will include talks from the designers themselves because San Franciscans can't just look at something beautiful without knowing how to make it themselves.

Some of the fashion press has slammed the event, including GQ, which compared the drones to modeling what a flying closet would look like (see the video above): "Seriously, tech bros. Stay in your lane, we’ll stay in ours. Silicon Valley Fashion Week? Please, don’t ask."

But, the question mark on the end was intentional and highly self-aware, said Betabrand CEO Chris Lindland. 

"I couldn't live with myself if the question mark wasn't there," Lindland said. 

Betabrand itself straddles the line between tech and fashion. The crowdfunded clothing company is known for its viral breakouts like the one-piece Suitsy, its work yoga pants and poop emoji shirts.

Lindland came up with the idea for the catwalk after seeing the crazy outfits his employees came up with for Burning Man. However, a runway wouldn't work with the festival's anti-commercial ethos, so Lindland pivoted it back to Betabrand's home base: Silicon Valley.

betabrand drone_004"The opinion is that this is not a fashionable place because the dress code is jeans and hoodies. However, a lot of those jeans and hoodie wearers are sitting there pouring over how to make iWatches beautiful," Lindland said. "iWatches and iPhones literally affect a person's identity and style. Like it or not, this part of the world is contributing to fashion."

And Silicon Valley Fashion Week? seems to have struck a nerve. The show sold out in two days for all three nights, and Lindland had to limit it to an hour-long catwalk each night. He doesn't want this to be a sign of the bubble or a tech company throwing a crazy party. Instead, he thinks of it as a new way to show off the talent in the Bay Area that's not behind a podium or attached to slide decks.

betabrand drone_001"If you look at what people do creatively in the Bay Area, it's gargantuan. It's just that no one has said 'Let's use a runway to demonstrate that,'" Lindland said. "Normally it's a stage. It's TED. It's a demo. The difference was to say, 'What if you strut it, not just talk about it?'"

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14 laptop bags that are stylish, but professional

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Leaving work at work is nice in theory. But is it ever the reality? Our laptop usually tags along on our commute to and from the office — making laptop-friendly messenger bags and briefcases a Monday-through-Friday must (and, sometimes a weekend one, too). 

Striking the right balance of style and professionalism is the goal, but not all bags are equipped to do both. Certain colors, patterns, and shapes are too casual to get away with when you’re in a suit and tie. Similarly, some structured leather options might feel too formal at companies with business casual dress codes.

Below, we’re sharing 14 laptop bags — in a range of silhouettes, colors, and prices — to stow away your precious cargo without losing face at the office. 


 

1. The olive color gives Filson's canvas briefcase a sophisticated touch.

filson

Filson Original Briefcase, $265, available at Amazon


 2. For more conservative offices, basic black is the way to go. Herschel Supply Co. offers affordable alternatives to premium leather options. 

herschel

Herschel Supply Co. Clark Messenger, $99.99, available at Amazon


 3. This two-tone leather bag can hold laptops up to 15''.  

jack spade

Jack Spade Slim Brief, $498, available at Amazon.


 4. If you suit up for work each morning, you'll need a bag that's equally sleek. Reiss' messenger features a detachable strap that'll come in handy on your morning commute. 

reissReiss Leather Messenger Bag, $370, available at Reiss


 5. This water-repellent laptop bag will keep you looking your best, even in inclement weather. 

need supplyMonofold City Laptop in Grey, $68, available at Need Supply.


 6. The naturally water-shedding fabric will develop a rich patina with age; its ample interior storage will keep you organized. 

ernest alexanderErnest Alexander Walker British Tan Wax Messenger Bag, $345, available at Ernest Alexander.


 7. If you cycle to work, this affordable, crossbody-style bag won't let you down.

jcrewJ.Crew Abingdon Waxed Cotton-Canvas and Leather Laptop Bag, $100, available at Mr. Porter.


 8. The interior of this briefcase features two roomy compartments and a separate zip compartment for your laptop.   

kenneth coleKenneth Cole Reaction Porty Favor Leather Briefcase, $61.12, available at Amazon.


 9. In case you're wondering, each bag is individually handmade in Tennessee. 

billy reidBilly Reid Briefcase in Olive, $425, available at Billy Reid


 10. This slim bag is a no-fuss choice for minimalists. 

wantWANT Les Essentiels de la Vie Haneda Slim Computer Bag, $450, available at Barneys New York.


 11. Maybe you're saving up for an Apple Watch. Banana Republic lets you keep your bag choice wallet-friendly.

banana republicBanana Republic Karter Nylon Messenger Bag, $93.50, available at Banana Republic


 12. The zipper on this brief is really cool — take a close-up peek at it from the side to see what we mean.

ben minkoffBen Minkoff Leather Fulton Brief, $325, available at Amazon.


 13. While not necessarily traditional, Porter's brief bag is still subdued enough to work for work.   

porterPorter Brief Bag, $479, available at Club Monaco


 14. The water-repellent nylon is practical; the navy color is a lighter feel than black for summer.

fossilFossil Mercer Workbrief, $48.12, available at Amazon.


 

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Here's how to dress professionally while keeping cool this summer

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The heat of summer is almost upon us – people in the Northeast have barely had a chance to enjoy spring and are already getting a early taste of summertime heat and humidity.

For some office workers, it's all a horrible preview of suffering through the warmer months in clothing similar to what they wore during winter: business suits. However, for much of the workforce, summer means a new freedom in what to wear to the office. 

We took Sylvie di Giusto's recommendations, founder of Executive Image Consulting, and tweaked them with a cool summer bent. 

In a nutshell, sweaters are out and patterns are in. Cotton will be the predominant fabric of the season, but others like linen and seersucker will also sneak into your wardrobe.

The most casual of offices even allow shorts. Though long considered a risky professional choice, the loosening of dress codes in the tech and startup sectors allows for showing a decent amount of below-the-knee skin. 

A step above that is your typical business casual look, retooled with lighter weight fabrics and brighter, summer-friendly colors. More formal than that is the executive casual level: layers sported in warm-weather-friendly fabrics. In summer, traditional business attire stays much the same as in other months, but with brighter and lighter colors, such as tan and indigo.

Unfortunately, there's no summer version of boardroom attire – the highest level of office formality. So here's hoping your boardroom has air conditioning!

Summer Business Attire_edit

Lifestyle Editor April Walloga contributed the womenswear advice for this article.

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$1,000 gets you a pair of very high-fashion leggings

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designer leggingsFashion critics may have to change their stance on whether leggings qualify as pants. 

As designer leggings fetch prices equal to and exceeding the cost of a pair of Manolo Blahniks, the $1.1 billion industry is booming.

Why are people paying $500 to $1,000 (or more) on what's basically stretchy workout pants?

With the "athleisure" trend holding firm, designers have given the gym staple a brand-new look, mixing materials, adding patterns, and playing with texture.

Selling for $1,150 and $550, respectively, Brunello Cucinelli and Donna Karan have gone as far as designing cashmere leggings. But make no mistake: those high price tags aren't limited to leggings made from expensive fabrics and skins.

alex

A standard pair of black, pull-on Givenchy leggings goes for $1,175 on Farfetch.com. And Alexander McQueen gets $1,385 for its brightly colored leopard leggings, pictured above. 

As noted by the New York Post, celebrities and stylish city-dwellers are hitting the red carpet and the street in their high fashion leggings. According to Brook Jaffe, fashion director of Bloomingdale's, whom the paper spoke with, the sneaker trend has helped popularize printed designer leggings, which are flying off the department store's racks.  

lulu

But many will say that it all started with lululemon and its $100 yoga pants, which begat similarly priced workout pants from brands like Stella McCartney (Adidas by Stella McCartney), Free People (FP Movement), and, just recently, ROWLEY Fitness, by Cynthia Rowley.    

Whether you believe leggings are pants or not, they're not going anywhere. In fact, they could even start replacing pants.  

SEE ALSO: Lululemon's men's line has a big problem

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This fashion brand used drones instead of models at their runway show in Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley fashion has lost its mind — and it's beautiful

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Silicon Valley Fashion Week11

Betabrand's Silicon Valley Fashion Week? (question mark intentional) started with a parade of hoodies and jeans down the runway.

By day two, there were models walking down the runway with astronaut helmets on their heads. A man in a kilt wearing a jacket with 300 LED bulbs. Two women wearing hoods that were trying to match their heart rate in a synchronized game.

As one attendee put it to us, "These are costumes I'd wear to Burning Man or a sex party." 

The whole night had a bit of a Star Wars vibe, starting with the opening dance act.



A "model" from the year 2050 opened the show.



The Heart Sync duet from Sensoree try to synchronize their heart rates. Their heartbeats set of flashing lights and when they match, a red swirl goes around the hoods.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This adult pajama onesie looks just like a full business suit — one guy wore it for a week and no one noticed

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I spent the last week gliding around San Francisco in the now infamous“Suitsy,” an adult-sized pajama onesie disguised as a full business suit. At bars and in meetings, no one seemed to notice anything amiss. But, perhaps, I thought, this was because San Francisco is the home of weird attire and my colleagues were just unfazed.

So I found the only place in the Bay Area were most people were guaranteed to be wearing suits: a Republican convention.

Suitsy

Last weekend, the liberty-loving tech organization, Lincoln Labs, held a rally for presidential hopeful Sen. Rand Paul. There were suits oozing out the front door waiting to get a selfie with the libertarian icon. I blended right in.

Indeed, one dressed-down hip conservative asked me why I chose to join the other square stiffs wearing formal attire, “This is Silicon Valley — what are you doing?” he chuckled.

It was at this point that I unzipped my onesie suit and revealed the comfy glory of what I was actually wearing. Gasps of disbelief echoed around me as if Criss Angel had just made a statue of Ronald Reagan appear out of thin air. “Whaaa?! No way!”

The consensus was clear: Everyone thought I was wearing a traditional suit.


Last fall, a crowdfunding campaign to create the Suitsy became an instant meme; the Suitsy was a totem for everything that people loved and loathed about Silicon Valley. "Good Morning America"praised its quirky bohemian ingenuity while GQ hailed it as an omen for the end times.

For six months after the press went nuts, its creator, Jesse Herzog and Silicon Valley-based retailer Betabrand, have been heads down turning the concept piece into a reality. I managed to get my hands on the first production run and tested it out in the real world.

Below is the first hands-on review of the Suitsy and, below that, is a data-driven analysis of how our economy got to a point where it’s acceptable for grown men to wear pajamas at work.

suitsy business one piece suit

To be sure, without the twin Silicon Valley powers of internet crowdfunding and casual tech-office attire, Herzog never would have never been more than faint blip on the fashion radar.

The question I had in reviewing the Suitsy was whether it’s just a gimmick or a legit substitute for men’s office attire. As with all things at The Ferenstein Wire, we tested this quantitatively.

A suit comfortable enough to sleep in

Suitsy

For four days I barely took the Suitsy off  —  and never wanted to. I worked out, went grocery shopping, held business meetings, and went out drinking at a bar in it. As a blogger who spends most of my workday in pajamas anyways, it was like wearing my normal attire all day long.

Were it not for occasional glances in retail-shop windows, I would have thought I was at home in sweatpants.

Indeed, it’s just as comfortable to sleep in. Compared to the night before sleeping in sweatpants, my deep sleep actually improved about 3% while in the Suitsy (as measured by the Basis band health tracker).

Suitsy

This isn’t to say that the Suitsy improved my sleep; but it certainly didn’t keep me from a restful slumber.

Does it look like a regular suit?

For style, the Suitsy is no match for an expensive tailored ensemble, especially for folks who like to don the latest seasonal colors. But that’s like comparing the top speed of a Ford Mustang to a Prius, when all you really want is a car to pick up milk at the grocery store. The Suitsy is meant to satisfy the bare minimum requirements, not make a statement.

So long as it can pass undetected as just another neck-strangling suit, the Suitsy has achieved its goal. As an avid data geek who worries about an entirely subjective evaluation, I decided to test the Suitsy’s style prowess as scientifically as I could.

I compared professional photos of me in my normal suit to the Suitsy, and conducted a small poll online (using Survey Monkey and and sample of U.S.-based Amazon Turks). Respondents were asked, “Which suit do you like better”  —  no other details were provided.

My normal suit won the poll, of course, but the Suitsy managed an admirable showing, with 20% of respondents preferring the disguised adult onesie (full details here).

Suitsy

At the end of my trial, the Suitsy definitely proved its worth in both style and comfort. It won’t make you look like the sharpest trendsetter at the negotiating table. But if you’re like me, and wear a business suit once or twice a year, the Suitsy is more than a sufficient substitute.

Creative class fashion

Suitsy

The Suitsy is no one-hit wonder; it’s part of a long line of comfort-first clothing items successfully crowdfunded through the Silicon Valley clothing startup Betabrand. Rather than rely on a few expert designers to predict next season’s fashion trends, Betabrand’s audience votes on prototypes through a Kickstarter-like platform.

If enough consumers commit to preordering a pair of pants or a onesie business suit, a batch gets sent to the factory for mass production. “When we develop products, we try to connect them to Web communities and let them do the talking,” explains Betabrand cofounder, Chris Lindland.

Betabrand’s avid early consumers were mostly bi-coastal professionals who wanted pants that could withstand a bicycle commute to the office. When Betabrand offered up the “Bike To Work Pant” for crowdfunding, the blogosphere exploded. “Something like a thousand unique sites point at our pants and we sold batch after batch.”

Mark Zuckerberg’s famous hoodie-wearing habit become the inspiration for Betabrand’s next viral sensation: a hoodie with business suit-like stripes.

Betabrand dress sweatpants

Indeed, Lindland’s early vision for Betabrand was “fashion for the Creative Class, ” referring to the growing legion of geeks turned highly skilled professionals first identified by University of Toronto Professor Richard Florida. The Creative Class are “educated, early adopters who are professionally connected to the Web and tend to have larger-than-average social reach,” explains Lindland.

So while Facebook’s engineers can lallygag into work in a pizza-stained hoodie, most creative class workers aren’t lucky enough to have a billionaire CEO that wears T-shirts to press events; many are the lone data scientist or designer sandwiched in between Burberry-clad sales reps.

Crowdfunding is the collective action glue that helps creative class workers around the country band together and fund clothing that feels like pajamas, but are indistinguishable from regular work attire.

For now, Betabrand is a relatively small tech startup that gets substantial media play through stunts that get its overly connected audience excited. The Suitsy officially debuted at the company’s self-titled “Silicon Valley Fashion Week,” which made headlines this week for drones that flew shiny pants down the catwalk.

It’s no surprise then that Betabrand’s penchant for silly trolling stunts needling the traditional fashion establishment make it an easy target for critics. But behind the silliness Herzog says that the fashion industry itself won’t recognize the next generation of fashion, especially from folks who don’t share their values.

“I love a good fashion magazine on a flight. But they’re kind of like the Bible. If you read it literally, you’re not doing it right. They are a great way to learn about what is generally acceptable, and traditions in attire, but something like a Suitsy from a nobody in fashion, that is counterculture to everything they’ve espoused,” he argues.

Herzog is aware of his critics, but eyes a sea change in the culture that will propel the idea of pajama-like clothes into the mainstream of work attire. “When J. Crew says sweat pants are now a fashion item,” he concludes, “that apparently is not the end of fashion.”

The Ferenstein Wire is a syndicated news service. For inquiries, email the editor at greg at greg ferenstein dot com.

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This 'unstainable' white shirt repels wine, coffee, and more

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Screen Shot 2015 05 17 at 1.26.10 PMPutting on a clean white shirt is a tiny act of faith. But the pristine beauty of this classic wardrobe staple is no longer as fragile a proposition thanks to a line of “unstainable” white shirts from Elizabeth & Clarke, an online purveyor of affordable white shirts for women. Currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter, the shirts have already brought in more than $162,000 of the $30,000 goal.

According to a project description, the Unstainable Shirt uses nanotechnology to repel “virtually any water-based or oil-based liquid spill, including perspiration, which evaporates before even touching the fabric.”

Shirt fabric fibers are treated at the molecular level with a microscopic garment finish that prevents water or oil-based liquids from penetrating in the same way that “a flower repels the morning dew,” the company says. It claims that the finish is “100,000 times smaller than a grain of sand,” keeping the Crepe de Chine or modal/cotton fabric breathable and soft. The company says that the PFOA-free finish “has been tested using AATCC standards and includes raw materials that can be derived from renewable, farm-grown sources.”

 While stain-repellent technology isn’t new, it has yet to become commonplace. Any woman who has ever marred a favorite white shirt with wine, coffee, mustard, or salad dressing might want to check out the two-minute mark of this otherwise tedious and badly acted project video for a demonstration:

In the video, the wine seems to bounce off the surface of the shirt, requiring quick reflexes to prevent the flying nectar of the gods from staining pants, skirts, rugs, or other less high-tech fabrics in the vicinity (unless you happen to be wearing a pair of white “stay spotless” pants from Joe’s Jeans).

The shirts’ superpowers do not extend toward silicone or acrylic-based stains, including lipstick.

“Most makeup is silicone-based and typically include[s] a multitude of different chemicals and dyes, depending on the brand and formulation, which simply cannot be completely repelled by any type of hydrophobic repellency treatment,” Elizabeth & Clarke founder Melanie Moore told me in an email.

She added that the way that makeup is transferred onto a blouse is different than the way in which you might spill another liquid like wine. “In the case of makeup,” Moore said, “it rubs off a woman’s face and neck and onto her blouse, breaking the treatment barrier, and reaching the fabric fibers.

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Whereas in the case of wine, it would typically be spilled onto the fabric and then wick away, never crossing the treatment barrier on top of the fabric. We are currently working to solve this, but it is very difficult problem and will most likely require a completely different approach.”

Moore says that makeup should wash out in the laundry, but the shirts themselves aren’t completely maintenance-free. While the shirts are machine-washable and dryer-safe, the finish is incompatible with fabric softener or bleach. And although this means you can skip the dry cleaner, the company points out that ironing helps the shirt’s stain-repelling powers.

Perhaps the never-ending quest for the perfect white shirt doesn’t end here, but servers required to wear white shirts as part of their uniforms, sloppy eaters, and the accident-prone may want to check out theKickstarter campaign, which wraps up May 21.

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How to pick the right hemline for your trousers

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Break: the menswear term for how much creasing occurs at the bottom of the trousers, due to the length of fabric resting on one’s shoes.

It’s a tailoring decision that can drastically change the appearance of a pair of trousers, and because of this, it has become a polarizing issue in men’s fashion over the past decade or so. Today anything goes – some guys wear their trousers short and cropped like Thom Browne, some wear them long and full like Tom Ford, and others manage to change their silhouettes seasonally. What’s important to note is the inverse relationship between length and width.

Ultimately pant length is a decision that should have less to do with fashion trends, and more to do with personal style and flattering your body type. Here’s a quick guide that describes the hemlines most popular in menswear today.

The Cropped Pant

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Lead by New York fashion designer Thom Browne’s “shrunken schoolboy” aesthetic, the cropped trouser (above the ankle) has become one of the most prominent trends in recent menswear history.

Vibes: fashion-forward, hip, trendy, care-free, young, casual, rebellious, anti-establishment, rock & roll, creative.

Best on: lightweight summer fabrics that need to breathe. Young gents. Sockless shoes. Skinny guys with skinny ankles and skinny pants.

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The "No Break"

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As a result of the cropped trouser trend, many men (including myself) opted to participate in this widespread pant shortening, but not all the way up the ankle. We landed at a point where the trousers basically skimthe top of the shoes.

Vibes: modern, current, sharp, clean, simple, minimal, European influenced.

Best on: slim guys, short guys, summer weight pants, narrow cut trousers (16″ leg opening or smaller).

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The Slight Break

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When the trouser is cut just long enough to sit on the top of the shoes, causing a very minimal amount of crease at the front. For this, I recommend going with a slanted hemline that is approximately 3/8″ longer in the back (this cannot be done with cuffs).

Vibes: updated classic, young businessman, tailored but not trendy, trying but not trying too hard, tasteful but not overly flashy.

Best on: most people, sharp businessmen, smooth operators, slim not skinny trousers (around 16″ for guys of average build).

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The Medium Break

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Basically, the more break you wear in your trousers, the older/more mature/more conservative/more anti-“fashion” you will look. A medium break is ideal for the well-dressed man of no-frills, or the conservative businessman.

 timeless, mature, gentlemanly, conservative, not trying to be flashy or draw attention, classically well-dressed and appropriate.

Best on: heavier gents, conservative businessmen, young guys trying to be taken more seriously in the office, heavyweight cloths like flannels and tweeds, cuffed trousers that are a little fuller through the leg.

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The Full Break

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The wide-legged trouser with a full break (or multiple full breaks) is a bold retro look. It’s how men wore their trousers back in the 1920’s and 1930’s, when more cloth meant more strength and more luxury.

Vibes: vintage, old-school, throwback, anti-trend, stand out from the crowd, Jazz age, cigar lounge styes.

Best on: older guys, vintage connoisseurs, heavier gents, soft lush fabrics, Jazz musicians, pleated trousers with full legs, throwback souls.

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What’s your go-to hem style? Do you change it up, or stick to one?

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How technology breakthroughs are changing the way men buy suits

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Knot StandardBuying a suit can be painful, as any man who's ever searched for something to wear to a new job or wedding can attest.

There's nothing like wasting a perfectly good Saturday running in and out of dressing rooms in search of a suit that looks great, fits the unique proportions of your body, and costs less than a two-week vacation.

If you avoid the stores and shop for a suit online, it can be even worse: You'll find questionable quality and style, and then you'll have to spend time going to the tailor for alterations.

"A suit is what men wear when they need to look their very best, but a suit that fits well is nearly impossible to find,” says Matthew Mueller, cofounder of menswear company Knot Standard. “For something as personal as a great suit, you shouldn’t be forced to buy it from a warehouse."

Almost every other consumer vertical has moved to mass customization, but the lagging fashion industry operates on essentially the same model it has for the past 100 years. You can build your own laptop, customize your car’s color and interior, or design your own running shoes. But instead of personalizing our clothing, most of us buy more than we can keep and send back what doesn't fit. With the fashion ecommerce market expected to grow to $73 billion by 2016, it's staggering that one-third of all online clothes purchases are returned.

For many professionals, this process makes it difficult to get the high-quality clothing they need to look and feel their best. But that's finally changing. Thanks to advances in technology and manufacturing, you can have a luxury suit custom-made to your specifications, quickly and from scratch — for the same price as a garment made in a standard size.

Custom suits and free stylists

Enter Knot Standard, a New York-based luxury menswear retailer that's pioneering these technological breakthroughs. The entire process of measuring and designing a new suit takes just minutes with the help of one of their online stylists. After that first appointment, Knot Standard imports your fabric, digitally cuts and assembles your suit, and delivers it to you a few weeks later.

Founded in 2010, the company allows any online customer to upload his existing wardrobe, measurements, and personal preferences to create a unique pattern for himself. With all of that data, Knot Standard can make a perfect-fitting pair of pants, shirt, or full suit at a moment’s notice. Customers can toggle between Knot Standard’s design settings to create a unique digital pattern that's automatically cut out from high-end fabric by an army of laser cutters.

For those unsure of what will look best on them or what their measurements are, Knot Standard offers free 60-minute consultations with a personal stylist at its six brick-and-mortar showrooms. The showrooms, which offer an even wider scope of premium fabric options, can be found in cities like New York (its flagship), Dubai, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Washington, DC, and soon Chicago.

With every piece of clothing created just for them, it's no wonder customers return just 2.3% of Knot Standard’s products. “We have become a brand where every customer knows that our products will fit them well," says cofounder John Ballay. "They are always asking us to expand into the rest of their closet with custom polos, casual shirts, and even sweaters — all of which we are starting to offer."

Since 2010, the custom-menswear market has doubled in the US, indicating a growing desire among men to own clothes designed and fitted for them, rather than for a mannequin. And it makes sense. By all indications, this streamlined, unobtrusive shopping process is the future of online fashion retailing.

Learn more about how to develop your personal style. 

This post is sponsored by Knot Standard.

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How to dress like a local in 25 cities around the world

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No one wants to stick out as a tourist when they travel because of what they wear. But fashion trends vary from city to city, making it tough to know what to wear in different destinations. 

To avoid those awkward fashion mishaps, we've broken down what locals wear in 25 cities around the world. From the cool, casual ensembles of Copenhagen to the chic, tailored looks of Florence, this list will help you blend in like a natural.  

Amsterdam, Netherlands 

amsterdam leggings Leggings are a staple for women in Amsterdam. Thick tights that end at the ankle are worn under dresses, skirts, and even shorts. 

Go for sporty sneakers with bright colors. In the winter, flat boots are a must.

For layers, wear solid color zip-up hoodies and blazers with jeans at night. 

It's also good to make sure to have at least one outer layer that is waterproof given the unpredictable weather

Source: USA Today, TripAdvisor, EuroCheapo

Beirut, Lebanon 

beirut styleWomen slip on dresses or caftans, straight skirts, and bright accessories. Big, bold bright scarves, bangles, glittery clutches, and neon satchels are a way of expression, and at fancier events, draped, flowing gowns are all-the-rage. 

Men highly favor two-button suits in navy or black while at work, and can often be seen in designer belts and loafers. 

Lebanon is a Muslim country, so women will need to wear headscarves and dress modestly to enter any religious monuments.

Source: Condé Nast Traveler, TripAdvisor

Berlin, Germany 

berlin style Berlin is quite laid back when it comes to dress codes. In the summer, most people will throw on a pair of shorts and flip-flops. Even the business culture tends to be casual, so you'll rarely see people in suits.  

During warmer seasons, women tend to wear denim jeans with flowing blouses in white, beige, and citrus brights. 

Having a lightweight jacket or a casual cotton blazer is a great layer option for breezier temperatures. Avoid khaki shorts as Germans typically don't wear Bermudas or khakis. 

Since winters tend to get cold, locals will layer with thermals, stylish sweaters, hats, gloves, and a thick petticoat. 

Source: Huffington Post

Brussels, Belgium 

Jeans are usually paired with layers including a tank top undershirt, light knitwear for the summer, and thicker long-sleeved shirts or cardigans in the winter.

The weather can drastically change in a day, so it’s good to have multiple layers. Since most of the streets are cobblestone, comfortable flat shoes are preferred over heels. 

Note: If you’re visiting a public pool, men are expected to wear Speedos rather than shorts. 

Source: Fodor's Travel

Buenos Aires, Argentina 

buenos aires style The style in Buenos Aires is casual with jeans being a favorite for cooler temperatures.

Beige cotton pants or chino pants are great for the warm weather and women typically wear dresses or skirts with slingback shoes, light tops, and sandals or espadrilles.

You should avoid baggy clothing, and men won't typically wear shorts here. 

Source: Fodor's Travel, TripAdvisor

Cairo, Egypt 

cairo style In Cairo, most people dress conservatively. Men can wear trousers and T-shirts, but rarely will they be seen in shorts, tank tops, or wearing jewelry.

For women, loose linen or cotton trousers and below-the-knee skirts with a sleeved blouse are good options in the summer and jeans are good for winter. You want to avoid tight clothing, low necklines, or anything transparent.

Since there is a large amount of sand, most people will wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes. 

Source: Huffington Post

Copenhagen, Denmark 

copenhagen style In Copenhagen, the look is effortlessly chic. Since locals walk and bike so often, edgy flats, sneakers, Birkenstocks, slip-ons, and boots are preferred.  

The fashion is simple, so oversized tees with skinny jeans are common. In the summer, women often wear feminine dresses with menswear-inspired shoes, or loose-fitting printed trousers and midi-skirts. 

In the winter, it's important to have at least one chic coat, parka, or leather jacket. 

Source: The Telegraph, About.com

Florence, Italy 

florence style The style in Florence is casual yet elegant. Think textures and tailored cuts. Avoid flip-flops, floppy hats, shirts with logos, or mini-skirts and shorts. Most religious monuments and churches won't allow for bare shoulders, so having a long scarf is also a great way to cover up.

Women typically wear gladiator sandals, street sneakers, or heels while men will wear boat shoes, sneakers, or dress shoes. Men are rarely ever seen wearing sandals in Florence, unless, of course, they are visiting the beach. 

Source: USA Today

Hong Kong, China 

hong kong style One of the most-used items in Hong Kong is a retractable umbrella. Men and women usually keep an umbrella with them on hand for high amounts of rain in the fall and winter, and for shade from the sun in the summer. That’s why synthetic shoes that dry quickly are also a favorite. 

The dress style is casual, with sneakers and jeans being the norm. Flip-flops and shorts are quite common here, but it’s important to note that clothing that is too short or revealing is not the best option for Hong Kong. 

Women, in particular, will tend not to expose the top part of their body, wearing high necklines instead. Short skirts tend to be more acceptable than bare shoulders and camisole tops. 

Source: Fodor's Travel, TripAdvisor

Jakarta, Indonesia 

jakarta styleMen rarely wear ties during business meetings in Jakarta.

The style here is more casual, with button-down shirts, khaki pants, and closed shoes being the norm for men, while women wear plain dresses, long-sleeved shirts, and minimal jewelry. 

Levis or Lee jeans tend to be favored here, as well as polo shirts. During parties, men will often wear loafers and synthetic fibers are a favorite in vibrant prints. For women, heel-covering sandals, sneakers, or ballet flats work best. 

Source: Condé Nast Traveler 

London, England 

london style In London, light skirts and dresses with ballet flats or flip-flops are common in the summer. You’ll see bright colors and pastels, as well as black for a go-to default option. 

Londoners dress chic without getting too done up, so a relaxed yet stylish outfit is the best way to go. Wearing jeans with Chelsea boots or brogues along with a well-fitted trench coat will help you blend right in. 

Since it rains so often, rubber boots and umbrellas are a go-to in the fall. 

You’ll also find that locals aren’t afraid of patterned styles, so feel free to bring fun pieces along. 

Source: USA Today

 

Los Angeles, California 

The weather is pretty warm in Los Angeles year-round so tank tops, loose shirts, shorts, and skirts are a staple. Men will layer lightweight shirts over tanks with jeans or shorts, and casual sneakers like Vans and Converse.

It’s good to bring a sweatshirt or a light jacket, especially if you plan to go near the beach since it can get chilly. 

In the evenings, women will dress up in heels, dark jeans, and elegant tops when going to dinner. For clubbing, miniskirts, colorful blouses and dresses are common. Men usually wear dark jeans with button-up shirts or a sports coat when going out. 

Source: USA Today

Madrid, Spain 

madrid style In the summer, the typical attire includes chiffon shirts, loose tank tops and dresses, sunglasses, and gladiator sandals for women.

Converse high tops and Superga low top sneakers are a typical choice for both men and women, and scarves are in fashion year-round. 

In the fall and winter, women wear skinny jeans, oversized sweaters, a scarf and closed toe shoes.

Men typically wear dark grey jeans with a V-neck shirt and a leather jacket.

For evenings, ironed jeans or slacks go great with a button-down shirt and stylish sneakers. 

Finally, bracelets and necklaces are common, but go for long necklaces that have thin chains and dark-colored details. 

Source: Condé Nast Traveler, TripAdvisor

Moscow, Russia 

moscow style In the spring and summer, women are adorned in dresses with tights or jeans and a T-shirt. Men are expected to wear jeans with long-sleeved shirts, but don’t forget a light jacket and umbrella as it can still be chilly. 

In the winter, tights and fur coats remain a staple. Gloves, scarves, hats, and sturdy winter boots are a must, but make sure that they are easy to slip off as indoor places blast heaters. 

Women are often seen in stilettos, and it’s not uncommon to find men dressed in designer brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, and Armani.

You won’t find sneakers much in Moscow, as men typically wear dress shoes. 

Source: New York Times, TripAdvisor

Mykonos, Greece 

Most of the islands in Greece tend to be casual, but in Mykonos it's more of a casual-chic attire. 

In the daytime, it's common to wear linen trousers with stylish shirts, sweaters tied around the shoulders, and oversized sunglasses. 

Chunky, dark-gold bangles tend to be a favorite for women, as well as skirts that are tailored to mid-thigh. On evenings out, men will wear dark denim pants and starched shirts. 

Source: TripAdvisor,VirtualTourist, Condé Nast Traveler

New York City, New York 

new york style New Yorkers love to have that "perfectly undone" look, so you want to dress for comfort but with statement pieces that add a bit of flair.

Black has become the iconic go-to color for New Yorkers.

However, that doesn't mean you'll only see black. In fact, the city is incredibly diverse so there's a wide variety of styles and dress, but in general brights are accented with more neutral tones like blacks, Ivory, navy and grey to create a balance. 

Simplicity is often embraced when it comes to jewelry. Go for a basic gold necklace, tiny rings, or one statement cuff. 

But the most important item? Shoes.

This is a city where you're constantly walking and New Yorkers love to find a balance between clunky running shoes and impossibly high heels. Go for booties, loafers, oxfords, brogues, or casual sneakers. 

Source: Condé Naste Traveler

New Delhi, India 

In New Delhi, be attentive not to show too much of your arms or legs. Loose, linen cotton pants and button-down shirts are good for the warmer temperatures. Silk tops are a great choice for women as long as you make sure they aren't too low-cut.

When the weather starts to get chilly, jeans are common with sweaters and button-downs. 

Source: TripAdvisor

Paris, France

paris styleWhen you’re in Paris, be sure to leave your sweatpants, flip-flops, and white sneakers behind. Think casual-chic, where women typically wear skinny jeans, a designer top, simple dresses, and either converse or ballet flats. Long scarves are a typical addition to outfits during colder temperatures, and a pair of brown derbies of black oxfords make for a stylish look.

Parisians also love their trench coats and blazers. Finally, if you need to carry a backpack, go for a Longchamp or a leather purse/shoulder bag. 

Source: Condé Naste Traveler

Rome, Italy 

rome style People tend to keep themselves covered in fitted T-shirts, jeans, flowy skirts, and knee-length dresses. 

Dresses, shirts, and pants should be tailored. Diesel is a favorite denim brand in Rome, especially in black and dark blue tones and denim is also popular for jackets.

Black tends to be a base color for most outfits, whether it's pants, a suit, dresses, or flowing shirts. 

In terms of shoes, you'll typically see sandals made from leather, long boots, and pointed dress shoes.

Source: USA Today

San Francisco, California 

san francisco styleIn San Francisco, it's all about layering because temperatures can go from hot to windy in a matter of minutes.

You'll rarely ever see people wearing bright shorts in the summer. 

Instead, people typically wear jeans, lots of black, leather jackets, and comfortable but fashionable boots, flats, or sneakers to navigate the uphill streets.

Tank tops aren't worn often, unless they're layered a jacket. Also, fur coats are definitely a big no-no here. 

Source: Huffington Post

Stockholm, Sweden 

stockholm styleIn Stockholm, it’s all about classy minimalism. Statement pieces include hats or dark sunglasses, though the two won’t be paired together.

Flat boots are preferred in the winter and flats are the choice for the summer due to large amounts of walking. Think crisp and clean. For men, go for a dark-colored denim with starched button-downs or clean, basic T-shirts.

Source: Fodor's Travel

Sydney, Australia 

Thanks to sunny days almost year-round, you can wear swimwear with a cover up and shorts during the day. Strap on a pair of sandals before hitting the beach to complete the outfit. Men often wear shorts, graphic tees, and flip-flops or sneakers. 

In the evenings, a pair of grey or blue jeans with a simple tee and cardigans does the trick. Women can slip on a pair of wedges, and men can wear fashionable sneakers. 

Source: Fodor's Travel

Tel Aviv, Israel 

tel aviv style While Jerusalem is a religious hub, Tel Aviv allows for less modesty. Women love to wear knitted tops and dresses with intricate draping and details, single-bare shoulder tops, wrap dresses, or leggings with tunics and gladiators. 

Skinny jeans and harem pants are a favorite for summer and fall, and you’ll often see men in sandals because there are so many beaches in the area. When temperatures are cooler, women will wear ballet flats and knee-high boots, while men often wear Converse.

Source: Condé Nast Traveler 

Tokyo, Japan 

japanese salarymen businessmen tokyoTokyo’s style varies widely from Harajuku bright and bold colors to more contemporary looks. When dressing for business, men will wear basic black suits and women are seen in sharp skirts, neat and fitted blouses, and heels. Otherwise, typical attire includes a tucked-in shirt or trim trousers, dark jeans or dress pants, and minimalist shoes like Converse, Superegos, or Espadrilles. 

Women tend to dress modestly. Most of the time, when skirts are worn, they are paired with tights. Above the knee skirts, long flowing skirts, or slacks in dark colors work well. If you're wearing a lower-cut shirt, wear a camisole or slip underneath. 

It’s good to note that Japanese men don’t wear shorts, unless they are exercising or on the beach.  Men are also clean shaven and make sure to have polished hairstyles. 

Source: Condé Nast Traveler

Zurich, Switzerland

Here, the style is clean, simple, and sophisticated. Avoid wearing too many accessories and try to stay away from colorful, clashing clothing. The typical palette is dark colors in black, grey, and browns.

Sporty winter jackets are only worn while skiing, so wool or tweed coats, petticoats, military coats, and trench coats are what you should have for everyday winter walking. Also, try to take clothing that is tailored, as most styles tend to be neat and form-fitting. 

Source: TripAdvisor 

SEE ALSO: How NOT to behave in 15 countries around the world

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Marks & Spencer want you to think its business is fixed — it isn't

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PER UNA DRESS  ú79 SCARF  ú22.50 NECKLACE  ú22.50 BELT  ú12.50High street retailer Marks & Spencer has finally managed to end four year's of falling profits, announcing this morning that full-year pre-tax profit rose by 6.1% to £661.2 million

But while profits improved, this was largely down to cutting costs, particularly in its supply chain, rather than growth. Revenue was near-stagnant, rising by just 0.4% to £10.31 billion. 

It's clear that things are far from fixed at M&S, which has been struggling for years.

The retailer's crucial clothing line, once the centrepiece of the business, is still in a terrible state. Sales at the "general merchandise" division, which is mainly clothing, fell by 2.5% in the year and 3.1% if you don't include sales from new shops opened during the period. The retailer admitted the figure was "disappointing".

It's particularly damning when you consider how hard M&S has working to reinvent itself as a fashionable brand, particularly with women who traditionally form the backbone of its customer base. 

Marks & Spencer has launched several big budget advertising campaigns over the last year in a bid to shift its image as a dowdy shop for grannies. It has also trumpeted the appeal of key pieces such as the suede skirt and is partnering with hip brands for things like trainers.

Clothing sales did return to growth in the final quarter of the year, but only by 0.7% and it's not clear if this trend will continue. The 2.5% fall across the year shows that even if it does, Marks & Spencer has a long way to go to repair its fashion business.

If Marks & Spencer can't fix the problems at its clothing business, it won't be able to grow revenues. And if it can't grow revenues, it's only a matter of time before profit begins to fall again. There are only so many efficiencies you can make and costs you can cut.

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Meet the 22-year-old blogger who gets paid up to $15,000 for a single Instagram post

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Danielle Bernstein, the personal-style blogger behind We Wore What, recently told Harper's Bazaar that she can make as much as $15,000 from a single Instagram post.

The money comes from brands that want to get their products noticed by the 992,000 people who follow Bernstein on the app.

 on

Like many other fashion bloggers, Bernstein posts seemingly casual snapshots of her daily outfits, along with information about how to buy the clothes and accessories that she's wearing.

What her followers might not guess is that many of those posts are the result of negotiations with fashion and lifestyle brands who might ask her to not include any competitors' products in the same shot, or even in any other Instagram posts that week.

They're willing to pay a high price tag for that. According to Harper's Bazaar, brands spend more than $1 billion each year on sponsored Instagram posts.

 on

The exact amount that companies pay is directly connected to the number of followers that an Instagram user has. When Bernstein hits the million-follower mark, she'll be able to charge even more for a single post.

Harper's Bazaar explains,

On average, if you have hundreds of thousands of followers you can make anywhere from $500 to $5,000 a post, but if you have upwards of 6 million followers, your fee can be $20,000 to $100,000 a shot.

Though Bernstein wouldn't say how much she earns through blogging and sponsored Instagram posts, she did admit that "it's more than I could have ever imagined [making] as a 22-year-old."

She added, "I fully support myself, and it's in the mid-six figures. I save; I invest; I'm trying to be smart about it all and learn as I go."

Read the full story in Harper's Bazaar.

SEE ALSO: Eva Mendes spent just $6 on the dress she wore to her first red carpet

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