The must-knows this summer for a practical, creative fashion sense

We all know a good impression comes with a good fashion sense. First impressions are key to first encounters especially when in a professional setting; and a good impression is only made when paired with an unforgettable fashion statement.

This fact is even more apparent if you are living in a metropolitan city like New York, where the city life goes faster than you can manage to catch up with. In one way you are at advantage hence you are at a mecca of style and trend where all fashion goes first, on the other hand it can be quiet overwhelming try to follow up with all the trends and adapt the best style that fits you if you do not have the right guidance. This is why I would like to make a list of must-do fashion tips that will be poignant while not only building your everyday fashion sense but making a sharp- and even edgy at times- fashion statement that is strong and true to your own personality. You may have the heads turn whether you are walking down the street on a hot summer night to catch a cab to the next party or getting to the office for a day of appointments, and you will enjoy the privileges of a sophisticated look.

As we are approaching head on to the summer months, its time to do a revision of our wardrobes and get in touch with ins and outs and the forecasts of the following months.

After all what makes a successful hip contemporary is the ability to hold the knowledge in their hands.

1. Support a good cause while rocking a hip look: it is very important to have an edgy style while you carry sensibilities that will make a difference in the world.
2. Know your local designers: they have the most innovative ways in making a fresh stunning look at affordable prices, you wouldn’t have even have imagined.
3. Follow the street fashion, know what’s out there strutting out on the street and observe; it will be very helpful later. Make sure to follow the trends. A hint for the season is: think summer! Most designers are very much inspired by outdoor sports this season such as swimming, sailing and all things summery: tanning, long walks on the beach…etc. There is even such term as “snorkel gear” that has popped up in our fashion 101 dictionaries this summer hence the snorkel Barbie inspirations in 2012 collections.
4. Be in tune with the colors of the season: the rainbow spectrum is the new black.
   Many designers have already announced rainbow colors to be one of the major acts of summer and winter collections. Whether its just a hint or the whole spectrum, get ready to see them all over the window displays and city-chic wardrobes, and make sure you get a piece of clothing that features these colors. Make a bold, powerful statement with the bright liveliness of these colors.
5. Know the must do tricks to beauty: taking good care of your skin is one of the most important must-do’s for a beautiful, healthy look. The shine on your face will reflect to the shine of your personality. And keep a good diet – eating small portions but many throughout the day is the key. Keeping healthy will not only improve your physique but will also boost up your confidence. My secret savior for summers is healthy fruit salads.
6. Be sensitive to nature while consuming fashion: it will not only help the environment but give you an intellectual edge as well. Being responsible counts, there is such thing as “thoughtful style”.
7. Know the cultural history and background of the heavy hitters and acknowledge the connection with art, music and fashion at all costs. Knowing the solid foundations of the inter-related affairs of these mediums will help you strengthen your fashion sense. Pop culture inspires too, but it only lasts as long as the snow flakes blown in the wind. But once you familiarize yourself with a certain art and/or music phenomenon, it will deepen the power of your style at large.
8. Be chic while being practical with your accessories. A must never forget detail to every fashionable lady’s wardrobe/style are accessories. You must know the chic fashion when it comes to accessories but don’t let the accessories wear you, you wear them!

If you follow all these tips, you cannot fail. And don’t forget there are no rules in fashion: it is what you make of it.

You will find the most innovative ways in making a fresh stunning look at affordable prices, you wouldn’t have even have imagined.

Shag, located in Williamsburg on the corner of Roebling and North 6th, is not your regular shop, it is much more. This cute sexy shop will seduce you, abduct you, and lure you in!

I had come upon this little gem of a store couple months ago, and went in mesmerized by the storefront display. There I found these one of a kind slide earrings that I adore to wear by artist Kristen Lethier. I was amazed by the beauty of the simplicity of these earrings and how cheap I could get a pair of this one of a kind creation. Kristen had taken slides that were used in sex-education classes in the 80’s and made them into earrings. Now they are an irreplaceable accessory I can pair up with pretty much with any type of clothing. Love them!

Slide earrings by Kristen

Samantha Bard, the owner, came up with the idea of opening the Shag while working on her graduate thesis at Hunter College. Sam is a fine artist herself, working with issues of gender, intimacy, desire and sexuality. When I ask her of the moment she decided to have this space, she tells me “As part of my art practice I was casting body parts, including genitalia. Then one day I realized ‘oh my god I can cast a dildo!’”

Driven with her passion to address the issues of gender politics, intimacy and sexuality relating to social practices she aims to create a platform of open dialogue, “mediated through the work of talented artists, SHAG aspires to unite sex and art (two things that have lived under the same roof for centuries) and create an environment that is inviting, un-intimidating, fun, and open to all” as stated on their website. (http://weloveshag.com)

SHAG, 108 Roebling St & N6th, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (http://weloveshag.com)

Soon enough Sam partnered with Ashley Montogamy-Pulido, who is “very into community events” Sam tells me, and together they opened up the SHAG, featuring all local artists from New York area mostly. Sam stresses importance of working with the local artists: “It supports the community. I lived in this neighborhood for about twelve years, so did my business partner Ashley. And this is a great way of supporting the local artists, giving them an avenue to get their stuff out there, and also them supporting us. It is a revolving support system.”

The shop features all handmade “functional art” by the local artists, in most eclectic forms you can think of; underwear, jewelry, pasties, even custom-made casted vagina door knobs. You can get casted yourself by a Shag artist; all you have to do is ask.

Cast vagina door knobs at SHAG

Aside from the retail store, The Shag also functions as a fine art gallery and event space. There are five exhibitions a year of artists whose work “fits in the shop’s ambiance and is about the themes of sexuality, intimacy, gender .etc the issues that we are concerned with” Sam points out in the conversation I had with her.

There are also free forums led by Dixon Malone, “a Shag BFF”, as Sam puts it. Dixon also writes an advice column for the Shag website as well as toy reviews that we definitely advise checking out.

Needles to say, Shag is a labor of love+desire+passion and is waiting for you to go in and explore!

Shag, 108 Roebling St & N6th, Brooklyn 11211 (http://weloveshag.com)