Fashion Designer: Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani (born 11 July, 1934), Italian fashion designer, is no stranger to those who are tuned in to the world of style and fashion. One can say he revolutionized the fashion choices of today’s career women and re-defined the office attire.

Armani’s style has been widely accepted across the world. There is no doubt that this Italian fabric maestro has worked his way through blood and sweat with his undying passion and desire to dress the world with an Italian’s fine eye for world-class craftsmanship. The designer learned the tricks of the trade when he worked for Nino Cerrutti in 1964. He worked as a humble window dresser before he joined the Italian textile giant. It would probably come as a surprise to many that Armani had tried a short stint in medicine during his youth, only to realize fashion was his calling.

During his early years, the highlights of this multi-talented designer’s career included:

1961-1970: Designed for Nina Cerrutti

1970: Opened a freelance design studio

1974: Launched the Armani men’s collection

1975: Launched the Armani women’s collection

Armani’s unstructured jackets are much loved by the high-profile celebrity crowd. Armani went ahead to create a totally unique style of evening attire, a style which was lapped up by the likes of Hollywood A-listers Katie Holmes and Michel Pfeiffer. Who can forget the elegant Armani gown embellished with Swarovski crystals lace that Katie Holmes wore for her larger-than-life wedding to Tom Cruise? Armani wedding gowns are considered a luxury for the rich and fabulous.

Armani’s reach goes beyond clothing and wedding apparel. His eye-wear collection has been ruling the fashion market since 1988. Now in the 21st century, these remain a fashion staple.

The prolific designer’s style with its unmistakable luxurious feel will remain in fashion’s hall of fame for decades to come. He, dare we say it, could arguably be the male Coco Chanel. Now if that compliment is not fashion royalty enough, we don’t know what is.

Trends come and go but some elements of fashion remain the same over time. Footwear is one of the areas of fashion where trends show most distinctly. Just because shoes demonstrate the trends does not mean you have to wear them all the time. Select more classic shoe styles and make your wardrobe timeless.

Shoes – Pumps

A basic high heel pump is a wonderful staple to have in your shoe selection. All outfits, except for the most casual ones, work well with a pair of pumps. Select a height you are comfortable with to make sure you get lots of use out of the style. Avoid trends like platforms or extra embellishments to keep your shoes timeless.

Shoes – Peep Toe Heels

Show off your gorgeous pedicure with a classic pair of peep toe heels. For more versatility in your shoe collection, go for a peep toe in a kitten heel height. This will give you a strong contrast to the classic pump style.

Shoes – Loafer or Ballet Style Flats

Depending on your preference, you can rock a pair of ballet or loafer flats. Either type will give you a good option for all but the dressiest of outfits. Either select a basic neutral color, or use the more casual shoe to make a bold color statement.

Shoes – Sandals

Summery dresses call for great sandals, so go for a timeless pair. Something in a low-heeled slide or an espadrille style will work well for years. For the most casual of days a pair of strappy comfort sandals is great as well.

Whatever your shoe choice, there is an option available that will not be out of style in the next three months. Invest in the classics and your shoe selection will not ever let you down.

Buy shoes at Zappos.com

Working in your home with your children is one of the toughest jobs out there, but it does not mean you have to lose all sense of fashion. Sweats and t-shirts are like a uniform for many moms even though there are plenty of other comfortable options. Put a bit more effort into your appearance and it will pay more dividends than you expect.

Trade Out The Mom Basics

Instead of sweats, wear khakis and instead of ratty old t-shirts wear some nicer ones that fit closer to your body. For a quick bit of everyday makeup, trade out your moisturizer for a tinted moisturizer. Many tinted moisturizers are available with SPF 20 and will give good hydration and a bit of coverage.

Stay Up on Mom Fashion Trends

Scan the pages of recent magazines to see what kinds of trends are popular. To transition those trends into your life get small things like hair clips or new designs for t-shirts and put them into your daily outfits. This is a simple and cost-effective way to stay up on trends.

Keep Being Social for Mom Fashion

Keep up your social visits with friends and family. Even play dates can be a wealth of information on how other moms keep from looking old and dowdy. Give a sincere compliment about something you admire on a friend and then ask about it. Your friends and family will probably know places to find affordable things locally.

Research the Latest Mom Fashion

Catch up on the latest trends on sites like Total Beauty, Oprah, Cosmopolitan and other related media sites.

Trading one thing for another can really boost your appearance and your confidence. Show your kids that your appearance is important by modeling these changes. They will benefit from your increased confidence, too.