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This season, it’s easy to look fashion-forward without spending a lot of money. Here are 7 tips to help you look great this fall without breaking the bank.

1. Wardrobe staples. If you are watching your pennies, you aren’t the only one. The trends on the runway for this autumn seem to be reflecting everyone’s need to scale back on spending. The collections of many designers are encompassing a back-to-basics theme with clean, simple lines and good wardrobe pieces. Luxury department stores are running some generous promotions this season, as well. You’ll find coupons and discounts, as well as quite a few free-gift-with-purchase promotions. Check out the current Saks Fifth Avenue promotions as well as Macy’s online promotions and price drops.

2. Color. Black is still a very fashionable color, especially when paired with splashes of bright colors. Black, grey and white are dominating the runway, so be prepared to see that reflected in the palette in the department stores. You’ll also be seeing some deep purples as well as a bit of a flashback to the 1980s, with some bright color trends.

3. Leather and suede. One of the biggest trends for fall is leather and suede, particularly in handbags and jackets. While leather and suede are always in style, this year they are getting some fun updates with quilting, metallic finishes and animal prints.

4. Leggings are making a comeback. Expect to see leggings with long tunics and sweaters. Pair them with ankle boots and chunky jewelry for a fashion-forward look. 

5. Metallics are hot, whether it’s a full-fledged lame fabric or just a shimmery sheen to stretchy fabrics. You’ll see more metallics in the department store in the form of accessories and full outfits. Update your look by adding a few pieces of flashy metallic jewelry or investing in separates with a subtle shine.

6. Outrageous accessories. It’s easy to dress up your simple outfits with bold accessories. Large necklaces, big bracelets, hats and unique boots will all be part of fall trends. Even if clothing designs seem a little subdued, accessories definitely are not. Check out the latest online jewelry discounts and coupons here.

7. Denim is always popular and this fall shows two very different approaches. First, dark denim with wide legs is going to be a very big trend heading into the colder months. Darker denim fabrics flatter nearly everyone and has the added benefit of making your bottom look smaller. On the other end of the spectrum, ripped denim from the 1980s is making a comeback, so don’t throw out those torn jeans just yet!

The best thing about the hot trends this season is this: a few simple, new pieces will coordinate well with the basics that are already hanging in your closet. So you can look modern and stylish without breaking the bank.

plus size summer trends

Welcome to Summer 2009 ladies! Finally my favorite season is here and in full effect. No more June Gloom! Soon it will be July and it’s all sunshine from there. I figured I would start out the season by going over some plus size fashion “must have” trends for your summer wardrobe by SWAKdesigns.com. These “must have” fashion trends are for every occasion, not just your summer vacation. They are for your everyday activities including work, rest, and play.

The Maxi: Plus size Maxi Dresses are everywhere this season and are a huge fashion trend for summer 2009. If you still think are thinking that you cannot wear a Maxi Dress, think again. With all of the different styles and pattern variations you are sure to find a Plus Size Maxi Dress that is right for your figure. Maxi Dresses are the perfect dress for any plus size woman and help to conceal any minor figure flaws one may have. Flirty, romantic, and stylish, these dresses can be worn for every occasion this summer, from shopping with the girls to a romantic summer night out on the town. Check out the Melody Maxi Dress available in black, purple, coral, and electric blue.

Ruffles: Feminine and flirty ruffles are a definite “must have” fashion trend this season. Look for soft, romantic style blouses and dresses with accents of single to layered ruffles. If not worn right, ruffles can be bad for a plus size person because they tend to emphasize parts of our body that we do not want to call attention to. Stick to ruffles that are small and follow the trim of the garment and they will actually work to elongate your body and give you a slimmer silhouette. Ruffle trim wrap dresses are gorgeous and a perfect “must have” this season. For the perfect ruffled top option check out the Nikki Checkered Plus Size Top available in white/black check or pink/black check.

Work Wear: As divas, we must always dress to impress and dress for success. To stay trendy and cool at work on these hot summer days, opt out on the typical 3-piece suit and go for something with a little less fabric. Vests are a “must have” this season and can coordinate with virtually anything. For work pair a vest with a classic white button up shirt and pencil skirt. If you must wear a blazer to work, look for styles with one-button waist closures and narrow lapels made of all-season fabrics like rayon tweeds and light blends. Stay away from basic black and try a new shade, perhaps khaki or a choclate brown. Why not be daring and go for white? In the work wear department SWAKdesigns.com has got you covered. Check out the Alicia Plus Size Shirt Dress available in a variety of classic colors or their Classic Fit Trousers in black or tan/brown.

Trendy Active Wear: Anyone who thinks plus-sized women are inactive and do nothing but sit around on their butts all day is dead wrong and should join me and my plus-sized pals for a taste of BOOTCAMP. Working out is an everyday activity for plus-sized women in an effort to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. Wearing comfy, yet attractive active wear helps boost your confidence and makes you feel good while exercising. Looking good, is feeling good. Be sure to choose your active wear wisely. Pick items that are made of breathable fabrics like cotton blends and are not too tight or bulky. Stylish tees, tanks, leggings or bike shorts are good combination’s for day to day workouts, but for pure comfort look into loosely cut plus size yoga wear in bright summer colors. For some super cute, trendy active wear styles check out the new Zen Yoga Wear Collection and the Aimee Plus Size Sweat Pants.

There you have it! Some of the “must have” plus size fashion trends for summer 2009. Visit our new arrivals often as we are adding new items to our summer collection daily. If there is a plus size fashion trend that you feel we are missing out on in our collection, please feel free to leave us a comment below. Happy Summer!

Danielle Line, Guest Writer, Plus Size Model for www.swakdesigns.com

summer fashions

Welcome to Summer 2009 ladies! Finally my favorite season is here and in full effect. No more June Gloom! Soon it will be July and it’s all sunshine from there. I figured I would start out the season by going over some plus size fashion “must have” trends for your summer wardrobe by SWAKdesigns.com. These “must have” fashion trends are for every occasion, not just your summer vacation. They are for your everyday activities including work, rest, and play.

The Maxi: Plus size Maxi Dresses are everywhere this season and are a huge fashion trend for summer 2009. If you still think are thinking that you cannot wear a Maxi Dress, think again. With all of the different styles and pattern variations you are sure to find a Plus Size Maxi Dress that is right for your figure. Maxi dresses are the plus size woman’s best friend and work to perfectly conceal some our minor figure flaws in the most figure-flattering way. Flirty, romantic, and stylish, these dresses can be worn for every occasion this summer, from shopping with the girls to a romantic summer night out on the town. Check out the Melody Maxi Dress available in black, purple, coral, and electric blue.

Ruffles: Feminine and flirty ruffles are a definite “must have” fashion trend this season. Look for soft, romantic style blouses and dresses with accents of single to layered ruffles. If not worn right, ruffles can be bad for a plus size person because they tend to emphasize parts of our body that we do not want to call attention to. Stick to ruffles that are small and follow the trim of the garment and they will actually work to elongate your body and give you a slimmer silhouette. Ruffle trim wrap dresses are gorgeous and a perfect “must have” this season. For the perfect ruffled top option check out the Nikki Checkered Plus Size Top available in white/black check or pink/black check.

Work Wear: As divas, we must always dress to impress and dress for success. To stay trendy and cool at work on these hot summer days, opt out on the typical 3-piece suit and go for something with a little less fabric. Vests are a “must have” this season and can coordinate with virtually anything. For work pair a vest with a classic white button up shirt and pencil skirt. If you must wear a blazer to work, look for styles with one-button waist closures and narrow lapels made of all-season fabrics like rayon tweeds and light blends. Stay away from the typical black this season and go for perhaps chocolate or khaki this season. Why not be daring and go for white? In the work wear department SWAKdesigns.com has got you covered. Check out the Alicia Plus Size Shirt Dress available in a variety of classic colors or their Classic Fit Trousers in black or tan/brown.

Trendy Active Wear: Anyone who thinks plus-sized women are inactive and do nothing but sit around on their butts all day is dead wrong and should join me and my plus-sized pals for a taste of BOOTCAMP. For plus size women, working out is an everyday activity in order to stay healthy and fit. Wearing comfy, yet attractive active wear helps boost your confidence and makes you feel good while exercising. Looking good, is feeling good. Be sure to choose your active wear wisely. Pick items that are made of breathable fabrics like cotton blends and are not too tight or bulky. Stylish tees, tanks, leggings or bike shorts are good combination’s for day to day workouts, but for pure comfort look into loosely cut plus size yoga wear in bright summer colors. For some super cute, trendy active wear styles check out the new Zen Yoga Wear Collection and the Aimee Plus Size Sweat Pants.

There you have it! Some of the “must have” plus size fashion trends for summer 2009. Please be sure to check our website often as we are adding new items to our summer collection daily. If there is a plus size fashion trend that you feel we are missing out on in our collection, please feel free to leave us a comment below. Happy Summer!

Danielle Line, Guest Writer, Plus Size Model for www.swakdesigns.com

Girls and teens want to look sharp and fashion forward. Fashion
trends change every season, but there are certain basic items of girls clothes th  at everyone wants in their wardrobe. Key pieces can be combined to create many different looks. While denim jeans are a staple in most wardrobes, the style of jeans changes regularly. While low rise jeans with straight legs may have been popular  in 2005, within a year or so a high waisted jean with wide legs may be the fashion. While each teen may choose her own style and not care about what is popular, the current trendy styles are what will be found in the stores. To know what is in fashion, either start shopping at your favorite local mall or read fashion magazines.

Jeans are a great basic because they can be worn so many ways. For casual wear, add a t-shirt, sweater or plain shirt with sneakers or flat shoes. The same jeans can also be dressed up nicely with a fancy blouse or a camisole with a jacket and heels.

Other key wardrobe pieces are tank tops, turtlenecks, khakis, shorts, slacks, skirts, sundresses and blazers. The styles and colors of these items will also change from season to season. Skirt lengths go up and down, with both a short skirt and a longer style usually in fashion at the same time.

The quality of girls clothes makes less difference because styles change so quickly. Girls will tire of their clothes long before they wear out, so pick what you like that fits your budget and don’t worry about durability. Even so, check the label for laundry instructions. Washable clothes are easier and cheaper to maintain than dry clean only.

Experiment to find your own style

One of the nicest things about teen apparel (and of being a teenager in general) is the freedom to experiment. Even the simplest outfit of jeans and a t-shirt can be an expression of the wearer’s personality. Jeans now come in an array of colors. Some have decorative rivets, while others display fancy embroidered designs. Even the way the pockets are arranged can be a decorative element.

A t-shirt can be a plain solid color with a round neck or a v-neck. It can be striped or patterned. It can display a message, either for or against a cause, showing off its manufacturer or just saying something amusing. Thus the t-shirt can be a fashion statement, a personal statement or a political statement – you choose.

But the biggest part of the teen apparel experiment comes through accessories. These can be found in department stores and  clothing shops as well as in specialty stores that carry nothing else. When selecting shoes, fit and comfort may be sacrificed to style. This may not be a good tradeoff depending on what activities you plan to pursue while wearing them. Be sure to try on both shoes as most people have one foot that is slightly larger than the other.

Shoes can be made of leather, imitation leather, cloth and other materials. Leather shoes are usually the most expensive, but they last the longest. Before making a big investment in shoes, think about how long you believe they will suit your taste, style and wardrobe and how long you might want to keep wearing them.

The handbag or purse is another great accessory. Modern style gurus no longer require matching your purse to your shoes, so go wild. Get a giant bag or a mini-backpack for everyday wear so you can carry all of your stuff. Pick a tiny, shiny bag for that night on the town. As long as it’s big enough for your keys, lipstick, money and cellphone, it will work. If you plan an active day, forget the bag and go for a belt pouch. No longer just for athletes, these come in an array of styles and colors like other purses. And when you’re ready to get fancy, remember that you can add jewelry, gloves, hats, scarves and more to personalize your look completely.

BEAUTY ESSENTIALS FOR SPRING

As we transition from winter to spring, we all want to look fresh. Below are the ten must have beauty tips for this spring.

1.       Dark Eyeliner

One of the big trends in spring fashion is the use bold bright colors. To create a dramatic look with all the colorful spring dresses, use black or brown eyeliner on both the top and bottom lash lines.

2.       Red Lipstick

To create a fresh clean look that compliments the colorful spring clothing and pink blush trends this year, try using red lipstick.

3.       False Eyelashes

For a bold and dramatic look, use false eyelashes at the outer corners of the eyes. It creates a wide eyed glamorous look.

4.       Highlighter

Highlighter defines features without having to use a lot of makeup. Apply shimmering highlighter to cheekbones, inner corners of eyes and center of eye lids.

5.       Brown Eye Shadow

Enhance and warm up any eye color with brown eye shadow. Use on eye lids and along lower lashes.

6.       Hair Accessories

The runways for spring 09 had a variety of hair accessories. Both long and short hair can be complimented by decorative combs, barrettes or headbands.

7.       Brow Pencil

Well groomed brows are always in fashion. Be sure to fill in as necessary with a brow pencil.

8.       Shine Hair Spray

Applying a finishing shine hair spray creates a polished rich and glamorous look.

9.       Body Cream

To create that desirable all over healthy glow, try applying glowing lotions and creams to arms and legs. Don’t forget the neck and décolleté as well. These lotions are cumulative and create a subtle glowing sun kissed look.

10.   Rattail Combs

An inexpensive and simple to use too, it is indispensible in creating this season’s messy teased styles.

These beauty trends were scene on all the spring 09 fashion runways and can be used easily to create a current and fresh look for spring.