Image: iStock/svetikd
Seems like nobody dresses up for anything anymore. For those of us with an eye for fashion and design, it’s a little annoying. But at least the New Year’s Eve party remains as the last bastion of class – an eternal black tie affair that puts everyone in their fanciest, trendiest dress. But just what is that these days? Hard to tell in an age where “dress professional” can encompass jeans and sneakers.
Fortunately, with the right technology, you don’t have to choose between sweats and a suit. Today’s technocrati may be best known for their grey hoodies and Stan Smiths but the tech tools they’re creating are redefining the fashion world. From smart watches to digital tailors, here are the innovative devices and apps you need to ring in the New Year in style.
Wearable wonders
Forget about antique cocktail rings and Italian silk ties. Today’s hottest accessories come with microchips and monitors. Fitness trackers like Fitbit Watch 2 and smartwatches like Apple’s Watch Series 2 are adding oomph to outfits while monitoring heart rates and tracking sleep patterns.
Fashion designers are even incorporating Intel’s Curie Module – a tiny hardware product that provides computing power for wearable devices – into bioluminescent dresses, emoji pins, and fancy footwear. Meanwhile, Google and Levi’s recently teamed up to weave touch and gesture interactivity into the retailer’s iconic denim jacket.
DIY by design
If showing up at your cousin’s NYE party in sneakers is your thing, then why not create your own pair? NIKEiD lets customers personalize and design their own Nike merchandise.
Closet cobblers simply visit Nike.com to select from a wide array of options, including the sides, heel stripe, tongue, and sidewall. And because color and patterning can make or break a party shoe, design your creation on a Dell XPS 13 full touch display and HD Graphics to enhance the ease and accuracy.
Made to measure
You don’t have to be rich to purchase a tailor-made suit – but you will need a smartphone. MTailor is an app that lets men customize everything from a luxurious wool suit to a non-iron shirt without measuring tape. Visitors select the item of clothing to be customized, get measured in under 30 seconds using their phone’s camera, select their fabric, cut, and style options, pay, and presto – a tailor-made outfit is delivered to your doorstep. They’ve even got a reputation for being 20% more accurate than a professional tailor – but you can be the judge.
Rediscover your closet
Clothing budgets usually take a beating during the holiday season. Which is why now’s the perfect time to shop your own closet. Unearth items you haven’t worn in ages and pair up pieces in new configurations. Throw a silk scarf over your shoulders to dress up a blazer. Or turn a tired old tunic into a formal dress with a retro belt. For inspiring fashion ideas, grab a laptop/tablet hybrid like the Lenovo Yoga 900. With its Intel Core i7 processor, you’ll be able to fly through top fashion blogs like TheSartorialist.com, ManRepller.com, and GaranceDore.com for stunning images and smart advice.
