Spring Cycling Fashion in Toronto

Guest Post by C.M.

Bicycles are the latest fashion accessory to go mainstream... the weird thing its not normally what people think of when they think "fashion accessory"... although obviously Paris Hilton seems to think chihuahuas make good fashion accessories.

So ignore the bracelets, the faux scarves, the Fendi bags... watch out when you walk into Club Monaco or any other high end fashion store for women and the biggest accessory in the room is a shiny European-style cruiser bicycle with a price tag of $599 or more.

Blame the explosion of bicycle culture in the mainstream of urban centres around the world, but I am personally going to blame traffic gridlock and Ontario's graduated licenses program (which didn't even put a dent into teenager driver accident fatalities) for making it so much more difficult for young people to get a driver's license.

Whatever the cause, the point is bicycles are now considered kewl and the must-have item for fashionistas who are increasingly environmentally friendly, love yoga, have experimented (and possibly failed) with veganism and seem to have forgotten their boots are made of leather, and so is the nice bicycle seat their sitting on.

Online cycling culture and style has been promoted heavily. There is thesartorialist.com which has a cycling chic section with photos from Milan and Paris, but the absolute favourite is copenhagencyclechic.com, which should be enough to make any red blooded Canadian man drool due to the veritable harem of attractive young women on bicycles on that website.

And when you're thinking fashion, don't think spandex. Yuck. Think jeans, skirts, short shorts and an array of clothing that compliments the female body instead of just clinging tightly to it. (I for one believe cyclists who wear spandex are morons with no fashion sense and wannabe racers.)

In Toronto cycling fashion has reached a point where I sometimes stop my bike and just watch the other cyclists go by just so I can admire the females and their bicycles whizzing by. I can appreciate looking at both.

If you're interested in cycling chic in Toronto you can also check thecommonelite.org, which illustrates you can pretty much wear whatever you want when cycling... and that spandex wearers are a bunch of socially inept rejects.

Footwear and choice of skirt matters little either. You will frequently see young women wearing miniskirts and platforms (or even barefoot) while cycling.

Katniss Themed Prom Dresses and Wedding Dresses

Nothing says Katniss / Hunger Games fans than young women who are getting Katniss themed prom dresses for their Prom. Or even wedding dresses. Oh la la!

Hottest Prom Dresses for Spring

Hottest prom dresses this spring

When looking for the hottest dress to wear to spring proms, formals, or other events, it might be wise to see what some of the online merchants are displaying. Many of the specialty prom and formal sites are offering some high-end, brand name dresses that are not only flattering and affordable, but that are unique of the styles found in some local dress retail venues.

It is also possible to order a dress that will be something cherished and worn far beyond prom; a quality gown that is tastefully designed will not go out of style, and may serve as the perfect ensemble for an upcoming occasion. With this in mind, seeking out designer dresses from reputable online sellers is an investment that may get much use during its lifetime.

Among the hottest gowns this season are the "cut-away" styles that showcase the wearers best assets. The geometrical cut-outs on the facade give a real modern, sleek look to the wearer. These dresses are floor-length and offered in a range of colors to suit the buyer.

Another hot dress is the Flirt by Maggie Sottero collection. With various lengths and straps available, this is a dress that will flatter any wearer. Lace and beading are options in some of the styles and many of the ultra-contemporary styles actually mimic old vintage trends; check out the Sweetheart sheer and lace or the Sweetheart Top Formal from the Flirt line. These gowns are definitely channeling some vintage flair! The draping at the waist and the tight bodice of many other styles will provide a pleasing silhouette that any girl will simply dazzle in!

The prices for these exquisite designs will vary, but most shoppers will agree that they are priced comparably to some far less inspired gowns found off-the-rack in department stores across the region. Thinking outside of the box and looking for dresses with some versatility that could be worn again at future events, might make the investment a bit more viable and practical for some consumers. All in all, a girl has few nights as special as prom so even if the dress is tucked away afterward, it is still money well spent.

Tank Tops Rock

Call it sheer simplicity, but tank tops rock.

Here is why...

Tank tops require very little effort to put on.

Tank tops are cheap and inexpensive.

They look amazing.

Tank tops are great for exercising in or just hanging out casually. (But they are definitely NOT business casual.)

They are just all around easy to have, wear, use and look great in.

P*rnstar Fashion Chic

NOTE - I apologize for the bleeps. They are done deliberately.

Dressing like a sl*t is a rather unusual trend within the fashion industry. Typically done by girls in their teens or twenties, its done to be deliberately provocative and to arouse attention. In many ways it is a sign of youth rebellion.

You might believe me that people are doing this... in which case have a look at American Apparel's advertising images, like those shown here. That is really their goal. Selling clothes to young women who want to dress like sl*ts.

And if you are looking to dress like a sl*t then look no further than the adult fashion industry. You know, the type of clothing that you can find in an adult fashion store / s*x toy store. Those clothing in such places will give you plenty of ideas of what is expected when people talk about P*rnstar Chic.

P*rnstar Chic, if you are unfamiliar with the term, is a new phenomenon whereby the p*rn industry is now considered hip, kewl, fashionable. And thus, dressing like a sl*t is likewise considered kewl.

And to be fair, dressing in that way has been considered fashionable for centuries... it just varied on how they did it. The Victorian women did it using low cut dresses to show off their cleavage.

But in a modern sense there are many ways a person can accomplish this. Wearing lingerie as a shirt, wearing panties instead of swimming shorts, wearing a corset instead of a vest... These are examples of one type of P*rnstar Chic - whereby you are wearing lingerie as regular clothing.

There are other ways to exhibit this chic look too... including leather bondage gear (which has been done many times over by people into heavy metal and goth music).

The end result is really just a fashion statement wherein a person identifies themselves as being more sexually liberal and open minded.

More P*rnstar Chic Tips

#1. Wear your bra OVER your t-shirt instead of under it. It looks bizarre, but combined with other pieces of eccentric clothing you can create a really strange and provocative look.

#2. Wear bodysuits. Yes, it also makes you look like a danger, but it is a really sl*tty look too.

#3. Show off your shoulders or mid-riff, either in combination with really tight clothing, or extra loose clothing.

#4. Add elements to your clothing so you look more like a dominatrix.

#5. Get really tall boots that go above your knees. Expensive, but they look amazing.

#6. Fake tattoos. Or real ones. Either way, they do their job.

I also want to note that dressing a specific way doesn't mean that you're a sl*t. Or a prostitute. Or a high class escort. Or a dominatrix. It is really more like a costume.

It simply means you enjoy dressing a specific way. So if someone likes to dress in black leather, a tight fitting black corset,  long finger gloves, and fishnet stockings that doesn't mean that she is a dominatrix. She might simply be a goth. Or a fan of comic book superheroine Black Canary (who is famous for her fishnet stockings).

We should also note that the typical escort agency in Toronto doesn't promote their employees by wearing sl*tty clothing on the street. They're much more sophisticated than that. For $200+ per hour they can afford to be wearing Versace and other pricey brand fashions.

So in reality the people who are dressing like a sl*ts... well, they are just messing with your head. The escorts are blending in and aiming at high fashion - cocktail dresses, etc. Because their goal is different... they want to look classy and respectable, because then they can charge more money for their services.

 
American Apparel knows exactly what they are doing with their advertising.

Except a couple years ago they nearly went bankrupt because they had narrowed their focus too much. Since then they have been trying to diversify a bit, but they're still marketing mostly to thin young women.

Which is ironic, since the more lucrative market in the USA is actually women who are overweight. Regardless, their goal is to sell fashion using sex - and young women are always looking for more ways to look sexy and attract a mate.

Fashion Don'ts from CollegeHumor

As if there wasn't enough weird teenagers wearing ridiculous things today (which look gawdawful) now CollegeHumor has taken up making fun of such ridiculous things as Jeggings (faux jeans leggings) and other fashion don'ts.

Really what it comes down to is what is acceptable for wearing at school (and also at work).

For schools they just want to avoid anything that is too racy (to the point that it causes problems). Mini Skirts in the 60s were a big deal to schools and many of them banned that particular fashion item.

But could you imagine someone wearing a mini skirt on casual Fridays in a serious workplace? No. Its just too obviously racy. So while mini-skirts may now be acceptable at schools, they're definitely not acceptable in the office.

Basically, if you think its too racy and ridiculous, you probably shouldn't wear it.

Kilts on men however... yes, please do. Need more of that! ;)

Just not on casual Fridays unless your office boss happens to be Scottish and owns a bagpipe factory.

Skateboarder Fashion

#1. No self respecting skateboarder would wear the nonsense below:



Or High heels? Get real!


#2. Skateboarders dress for comfort, but they want to look cool doing so. See the examples below of what real skateboarders would wear.