Nowadays a handbag isn’t just something you carry around to help you with your shopping, it’s something you wear when you go shopping. It is a statement, of who you are and where you’re headed.
Big, small, long, short, designer, high street… they’re are so many different types walking into the cheapest high street store is a shopper’s paradise! But with an unlimited budget a trip to a Harvey Nicks would be a must.
Do you buy Gucci-the upmarket designer label for the sophisticated lady amongst us, Dolce & Gabbana for the stylish luxury-laden woman, Chloe for the trendy fashionista, Prada for the latest must-have buy or Balenciaga for the bag that will inevitably ooze glamour.
For me, there’s only one designer that i’d fight my way to the checkout for and that’s Balenciaga-a slight newcomer in the fashion magazines thanks partly to the growing phenomenon of the WAGs but by far the best for up-to-date trends that will leave you looking fabulous all summer!
When it comes to tennis looking good is half of the fun.! Everybody wants to think they look good whilst playing the sport and with a nice set of tennis clothes you could have more confidence than most, but what makes good tennis clothes?
Well, keep in mind that you will be playing sport in them, so you don’t want to be over encumbered, also playing tennis one is bound to sweat, so try and avoid purely cotton shirts as these show the sweat the most.
So, do you really have to fork out a lot of cash for specialist tennis clothing to look good on the courts, no. Remember that the majority of clubs have a white dress code but this shouldn’t be a problem. For a range of nice, lightweight sporty shirts just shop around, you can find a good collared, shirt sleeved, nylon shirt in many shops and often for a nice price. Specifically, la coq sportif have a good range of clothes suitable for tennis in, including very fashionable white shorts and shirt combos.
Tennis is an increasingly popular sport and if the idea of shopping around for clothes doesn’t appeal to you just head to the internet. There are many shops out there dedicated to tennis clothing and they’re all just one search away!
There are many factors to consider when choosing your tennis wardrobe, years ago tennis clothes were virtually identical, nowadays there are varieties on style and colour as well as fabrics. Tennis attire for the 2000’s is not only based on fashion, but also practicality, with modern designs allowing the player to move in a fluid, yet fast paced motion. Today’s tennis clothing are well fitting, but with a loose cut to allow players to twist, swing and jump in comfort.
Clothing needs to be lightweight, with the ability to remove moisture from next to the skin, in order to keep the athlete cool and dry. The best tennis clothes, are those which help the player to feel comfortable, while at the same time allowing them to play at optimum performance levels.
If you join a club and play as a team together, or as an individual, you may need to purchase a uniform, the club may also have a strict colour code that must be adhered to e.g. white only.
If you have just joined a club and are looking for some new tennis clothes, check with the club first to find out if they have any sort of dress code. There may only be one for players playing in club tournaments while others will have none at all. If you’re looking to play at your local public tennis courts then there almost certainly will be no restrictions on what you can and can’t wear.
The main thing to consider when choosing tennis clothes in comfort. You will be moving around a lot on the court and it’s important to stay as cool as possible. Choose fairly loose clothing and lighter colours if you can, they don’t tend to absorb as much of the suns heat.
Some may choose to follow in Rafael Nadal’s footsteps and go for a vest, while others will go for the classic polo shirt. It’s completely up to you but don’t pay over the odds for your tennis gear, especially the clothing.
You might want to be slightly more picky when buying footwear as a good pair of tennis shoes can allow you to remain comfortable during long periods of play and also prevent injury. Some well known tennis brands to look out for are Wilson, Slazenger and K-Swiss.
In very hot weather, the most important thing is to feel cool and comfortable. Not all workplaces have air conditioning to keep the staff cool, and the journey to and from from work can be really uncomfortable, especially if commuting to London. Therefore, clothes made from fabrics such as cotton and linen, are very practical.
Short sleeved shirts are acceptable, provided that they are fairly smart. Summer office wear does not need to be too tailored and stiff, but it should have some structure, while still allowing for movement and the skin to breathe. Long sleeved cotton shirts can still be worn, and the sleeves can be turned up in warm weather.
Short sleeved shirts can be worn with a suit, as the shirt and suit will look fine when the jacket is being worn. Women can also wear short sleeved blouses and smart vests with a work suit, and this can look very stylish and smart.
Some people also wear shorts to work in hot weather. This acceptable, as long as the shorts are not too short, and are smart and suitable for the office, eg. not hot pants. Shorts generally look better on women than men, I think.
Ultimately, office workers are going to feel a lot more comfortable, and work much better, if they feel cool and comfortable in what they are wearing. Relaxing company dress rules in hot weather will result in a happier and more productive workforce.
But you can wear anything when you work in a serviced office,virtual office or in a hired meeting room.
At my old job, which was fairly strict on clothing regulations allowed us to wear whatever we wanted on Fridays provided that it wasn’t too over the top. A pair of jeans and a smart shirt would be acceptable whereas a pair of jeans and a simple T shirt would not be. There was certainly a fine line. But no-one ever dressed more casual than jeans and a smart shirt. It worked well, and the athmosphere was certainly more relaxed.
At my new job there are slightly stricter regulations. For example, I wear chords and a smart shirt. But jeans would most certainly be frowned upon. As as as my employer is concerned, as long as it’s smart casual it’s okay. Everyone in the office follows these rules.
I wear, smart shoes, a smart shirt, sometimes a jacket, and smart chords or a decent equivalent. It allows me to express my fashion sense whilst still abiding by the rules.
Dress down Fridays are great because it helps you to relax and start winding down ready for the weekend.
It is normal for men in the office to wear jeans and a t shirt or jumper depending on the weather. For most offices, you should still be dressed smart even if it is casual, so no ripped jeans or anything that is too controversial. Trainers are acceptable on a dress down Friday too. You need to use your common sense really as it depends on your office environment as to what you can get away with wearing.
Dress down Fridays are good for the office moral and they keep workers happy as they are allowed to show their personality more in the way that they dress on a dress down day. You get to see more about a person’s style and individuality. When everyone is dressed in shirt and ties,suits or a uniform it is hard to understand what style your colleagues like. Personalities shine through when people are dressed in their casual “out of work” clothes.