Personal Shopper Tips:

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The fashion world has always relied on archetypal themes such as Classic, Romantic, Natural, Sexy, and many others. These themes are "package deals," combining fashion elements with unity and singleness of effect. Style themes are part of our cultural consciousness and we usually learn them much the same way that we learn to speak our language--by observation and imitation.

This technique of unity is an organising principle that we usually understand intuitively (even though we don't always use it). Just as fine china is clearly out of place at a luau, we know that we cannot create a Romantic look with braided hair, horn rimmed glasses, a plaid flannel shirt, rough blue jeans and heavy hiking boots.

Maintaining unity with a style theme does not require that you choose one theme and stick with it exclusively for the rest of your life. You can wear as many different looks as you choose, but only one at a time. It is possible to mix fashion themes successfully, or to add a "twist" of one fashion theme to another; designers do this all the time. Many fashion themes overlap in places, for instance, Glamorous and Dramatic, which share certain characteristics but are nevertheless different. The important thing is to be aware of implicit messages and avoid too many different (or any conflicting) themes in one outfit.

Influential themes include:
Harmony
Soft, sensual, warmth, feminine, precious, subdued luxury, softest wools, velvets.
Colours: cream, salmon, mole, putty, flannel, silver pine
Calm
Fine silks, mini frills, rouching, small patterning, polished surfaces, watery, peaceful, thoughtful, porcelain.
Colours: purple haze, lotus pink, iris, midnight, plum, pearl blue, turquoise
Homespun
Natural, irregular, brushed, artisan, handmade, folk art, aged, feel good fabrics, naïve graphics.
Colours: almond, claret, smoke green, fir, acorn, mustard
Urban
Architectural, fusion of materials, modern layering, active sportswear, reflective surfaces, metallic yarns, high tech fabrics, close fitting, repeat patterns.
Colours: wax, gun metal, silver, wrought iron, indigo, nightshadow, lead

Although fashion magazines tend to focus on the "Sexy" fashion theme, there are many others, each with its own framework of elements, unity, and singleness of effect. When you identify the style themes that resonate with you, you can then create looks with harmony and balance.
 

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