Picture Perfect

   

     The holiday season has officially begun. Everyone is busy decorating their homes, making shopping lists for Christmas.

     Many people choose to send out Christmas or holiday greeting cards. This is specifically a popular tradition in the South where hospitality is at the core of most actions. http://www.holidaycardwebsite.com/

     It is very important to choose the right outfit for your photo. I have though of a few tips that might help make your picture perfect rather than pitiful.

1. Consider your background color. You do not want to blend in to whatever you have chosen as a background. Choose contrasting colors but colors that do not clash.

2. Less is more. You don't want everyone to stare at Junior's big yellow hat, do you? Need I say more?

3. Matching is ok, but don't have everyone in identical, footed, pajamas. We know you all are a part of one family. Color coordinating is fine but do not take it to an extreme.

4. No tacky Christmas sweaters or vests. This is not okay. http://www.orchard.co.uk/images/Blog%20Images/orchard%20xmas7.png

Don't make your picture so horrible that your card is immediately thrown away or mysteriously lost in the mail.

Celebrity Slouch

   

      Celebrities are often idolized for their timeless fashion sense that is both sleek and beautiful. We do all we can to buy clothes that mimic whatever out favorite celebrity wore last week.

     How ironic is it that celebrities can get away with looking rather homeless and still be considered "fashionable"? I understand we all have our days where we just cannot muster up the energy to change out of our favorite sweat pants and a hoodie that has multiple holes in it. However, I do not think that status is a free pass to dress like you live in a card board box.

     If I were to go to class or even Wal-Mart in an outfit that didn't match and a hairstyle that obviously wasn't done with a brush, I would be talked about throughout Hattiesburg. Someone might even ask if I was sick or needed to borrow a few dollars. If Jennifer Anniston or Justin Beiber go to lunch and a movie in a bath robe, they are praised for their creative fashion sense and land a feature article in Vogue.

     It is amazing what you can get away with wearing when you manage to look nice for the Emmy's on that one night of the entire year. Congrats to all of the little people who manage to look like they have electricity and a hair brush when running in the store for toilet paper and milk.

Shop 'til ya drop!

   

     Avid shoppers wait all year long for one very special day full of deals and savings unlike any other. After a day of giving thanks, eating turkey and watching football, it is time to take a short nap and then get in line outside your favorite store.

     Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and marks the start of the Christmas season. The phenomena began in the early 19th century. On this day, stores would began offering the special holiday sales. Therefore, people rushed to stores on that Friday to begin their Christmas shopping. After President Roosevelt changed Thanksgiving to the next to last Thursday in November, it was declared that the next day would then become the official holiday shopping day. Black Friday gets its name from retailers. The burst of sales causes profits to go into the black range (which is good) rather than the red.
http://mentalfloss.com/article/31581/brief-history-black-friday

     I enjoy Black Friday. It has became a favorite tradition between for my best friend and myself. We enjoy the thrill and chaos of it all.

     This year, we started late. Since the stored opened on Thanksgiving night this year, Hattiesburg was an absolute mad house. The stores were destroyed, merchandise was strewn across floors and people were in a serious rush. http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20131130/NEWS01/311300013/Pine-Belt-residents-hit-stores-Black-Friday-deals

     Black Friday is a serious event, one that must be carefully planned out and executed.

Furry Fashion

   

     With the weather getting colder, I have been concerned about my puppy, Stella, being too cold when walking outside. I have never had a toy breed dog nor have I ever thought about buying a dog clothes. It is a struggle to keep a bow in Stella's hair for more than 5 seconds.

     I have been pleasantly surprised at the variety of clothing choices for dogs. I was even just simply surprised when I saw that you can even buy doggie shoes.

     Apparently I have been oblivious to the fabulous world of dog fashion. Not only is there an entire week dedicated to dog fashion, dogs even have their own fashion magazines.

     Dog Fashion Week is a large event with high profile attendees. The 2013 event was held in El Paso, Texas. This week dedicated to pet fashion and the creative designers has inspired pet fashion shows across the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL9g8n5wrJg

     Modern Dog Magazine is a popular, high-end fashion magazine for dogs. The magazine claims to be Vogue for dogs. It keeps owners up to date on how to keep their furry friends fabulous both inside and out.

    While I may not make Stella become a model, I do think a cute sweater would keep her cozy. Maybe Santa will bring her a subscription to Modern Dog Magazine.
   

City versus Country - Kid's Edition

     

      Generally speaking, children go through several outfits a day. From spilling an entire cup of juice on their new white shirt to sitting on an unwrapped candy bar, these little things are messy. While the types of stains on the clothes are the same, popular children's clothing styles vary from the city to the country.
http://community.babycenter.com/post/a39854539/does_your_elementary_aged_child_ruin_most_of_their_clothing

Dress Clothes

     Children usually look like miniature adults. While children's style is not extremely district, there are some differences. In the city, dress clothes are usually more modern. Boys may be more likely to be seen in ties while girls wear nicer dresses. Children in larger cities are also more likely to sport designer brands.

     It is very easy to describe the dress style for children in the South. For girls, any dress smocked or monogram is perfect. A matching bow for their hair is a must. Boys are usually in jeans, button down shirts, and boots.

Play Clothes

     Casual kid's clothes in cities usually include a graphic t-shirt with stylist boots or tennis shoes. Boys are usually in flat-bill hats while girls may simply wear a cute headband.

     Country children tend to get a little more dirtier when playing. Boys and girls alike usually wear t-shirts of their favorite sports team or vacation spot and tennis shoes.

City versus Country - Women's Edition

                                         

   



   








     From high heels to flats and from diamonds to pearls, women have a long list of items to choose from when creating an outfit. This list is generally universal. However, for women in two distinct regional areas, the country and the city, their closets may have few similarities.

Work Wear

     In cities, standards for women have evolved more so than in rural areas. It is more acceptable for women to work outside of the home and even in large corporations that were previously dominated by men. City streets can be full of men and women rushing to their office buildings. Women look very professional in skirt suits or nice, fitted dresses. Heels are an appropriate shoe and jewelry is kept to a minimum in order to maintain a professional look and status. http://www.economist.com/node/15174418


     In the country, women are more likely to stay home. These women most likely are dressed very casual in yoga pants and t-shirts on a regular basis. Common professions in southern areas include education and health. While teachers dress in business casual, nurses are comfortable and relaxed in scrubs. http://myfootpath.com/careers-jobs/rewarding-top-careers/10-rural-jobs/

Date Night

     In a city full of fabulous activities, women have the chance to dress up and look their best. A night on the town calls for a sassy dress, classy heels, and eye-catching jewelry. A more casual look may be nice jeans, a flowy blouse and a shorter heel.

     A country girl may have a slighter different idea of what the perfect date night outfit looks like. A southern girl may choose a flowy dress and boots or jeans, a fashionable blouse and wedge sandals.

"Fashion fades. Only style remains the same." -Coco Chanel

City versus Country - Men's Edition

     There is a distinct line separating the North and the South in both geographical and cultural aspects. Above the Mason Dixon Line, the way of life, the taste of food, and the type of fashion is different.

     This is the first entry in a three part series dedicated to the difference in  fashion in these two regions.    First, let's compare men's fashion - from pleated suits to dusty cowboy boots.

Work Wear

      Generally speaking, when we think of the occupations of males in northern states we think of bankers, lawyers, and anyone else who drives a foreign car and has an Armani suit in every style. When at work they are dressed as if they just stepped out of a GQ ad. From head to toe everything is crisp, clean, and perfectly made. A suit, tie, button down shirt and shiny, leather shoes is the appropriate work attire for men in these fields.

     Being that the South relies heavily on farming, forestry and oil production, a majority of men work in these fields. A suit and tie are far from appropriate when drilling deep into the ground in search for oil. Newly polished shoes are no use when driving a tractor or walking in the dirtiest of outdoor settings. Men in the South have a very different work attire consisting of Carhartt pants or bluejeans. Of course, no man is ready for work without his steel toe boots or cowboy boots.

Date Night

     While being in an artistic, larger city in northern states a date has endless possibilities. From a live show to dinner at a five star restaurant, the dress code is more formal. Men there dress in nice pants, a casual button up top, and nice shoes.

      In the South, date settings are usually more casual. Men are presentable in jeans, a collard shirt, and boots.



Two different worlds call for two different types of attire. While neither is better than the other, they are both different.

Classy Camo

     Television does not always give a positive fashion impression. Reality TV is usually full of provocative outfits.

     The hit show Duck Dynasty, however, makes a different statement,

     The women of the show are tastefully dressed and advise their children to do the same. They dress appropriate to the weather and limit the amount of skin they reveal.

     The men, being avid hunters, are dressed in camouflage. The show has influenced Halloween costumes  and dress up days at schools across the country.

     With Hattiesburg being heavily populated with young people, the fashion is influenced by popular television. The cast of Duck Dynasty demonstrates that dressing provocative isn't necessary to make an impression on the world. The women dress conservatively while still being exceptionally fashionable.

     Being modestly dressed can still mean dressing fashionably. Be happy happy happy in the clothes you wear.