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NEW YORK (AP) - The resort season is not a time for fashion to take a vacation. Resort collections, which hit stores during the all-important Christmas holiday shopping season, are a growing part of designer businesses as consumers move toward styles they can wear year-round.

The idea that people fully switch their closets between seasons is outdated, agrees Ken Downing, senior vice president and fashion director for retailer Neiman Marcus. Shoppers want clothes they can wear the day they buy them, he says, and resort wear typically meets that demand.

Not to mention that resort clothes also spend the longest time on the full-price selling floor, typically until mid-winter when spring merchandise moves in.

The name "resort" is a holdover from the days when brands would offer a few key pieces for their wealthy snowbird customers who'd flee cold climates at Christmastime. The modern definition, however, has evolved to be more of a code word for new, fresh merchandise.

"I'm happy to see designers really paying attention to resort, and to really put into it design and style," Downing says. True fans of fashion know that this transitional period also gives a clue where designers are heading in the future, he adds.

Expect to see less black, more red, navy and neon, and some surf and scuba influences. Here are some highlights from previews held in New York over the past few weeks:

STELLA McCARTNEY

Stella McCartney's mind was elsewhere this season: Hawaii. "It's such a rich, visual place to start," she said.

From there, she grew a collection full of hibiscus and surfer prints, deck-chair stripes, seersucker and neon-tipped accessories, giving off a joyful, relaxed vibe.

McCartney keeps it from going too much over the top, though, with consistent clean shapes.

The sportier silhouettes, including a culotte-style jumpsuit, long garden-party skirts and shorts paired with rounded capes, suited the croquet-playing models in the Greenwich Village garden where the presentation was held. The dressier outfits, including a black tuxedo with an almost tails-length jacket and skinny-at-the-ankle pants, and a white dress embroidered with bows, complemented the flutes of champagne offered at the party-like preview.

McCartney also gave a nod to the mod looks of London in the 1960s, offering a series of houndstooth looks - sometimes mixing those with menswear-inspired pieces, such as a sunshine-yellow blazer with wide lapel and crisp shirt.

How To Choose The Right Motorcycle Gloves

For some, motorcycle gloves are primarily a fashion statement. Properly crafted motorcycle gloves are important for your safety as well. Here are some important reasons you should never get on your bike without your gloves. Also, there is additional information about where to purchase other great motorcycle accessories online , such as a motorcycle jacket .

To begin, motorcycle gloves are important for abrasion protection in the event of a cash or fall. When you hit the ground, your hands are often the first body part to make contact with the ground, and they can get torn up if they aren’t protected by motorcycle gloves.

In cold weather conditions, they provide important protection as well. It is very important to prevent numbness in your hands, or risk losing grip of your motorcycle when riding in bad weather conditions.

Furthermore, your gloves should prevent the accumulation of sweat on your hands. Many gloves are made from absorbent materials that will keep your hands dry, allowing you to maintain a good grip on your motorcycle while riding.

These are all good and important reasons to wear motocycle gloves when you are out riding. However, choosing the right gloves can be a challenge sometimes. There are so many models available to choose from!

When you start shopping for gloves, on of the first things to think about is what season you will be riding. You will obviously want to wear winter gloves in the winter time, and they may not be suitable at all for summer wear. During the summer months you may want to consider fingerless gloves, although they won’t provide as much protection as full length gloves. During the spring and fall, when rain is more of a possibility, you should consider waterproof gloves as well.

Your next decision will be regarding how much coverage you want or need. Believe it or not, you need to consider what kind of motorcycle jacket you are wearing before you select your gloves. This is because your gloves should complement your jacket, overlapping with it so that your wrist and lower arms are fully covered when riding.

Another important factor to consider is what level of abrasion protection and heat resistance you want from your gloves. These are important safety features, and for the safest ride possible, you will want as much protection as possible, which often means getting the thickest gloves possible as well.

Your comfort level is also another very important consideration. If your gloves are uncomfortable, you will not want to wear them. Look for gloves that fit well and that are not too stiff when you put them on. Always keep in mind that safety, not fashion, should be your primary consideration when making your selection. To see more great accessories, visit motorcycle helmets for sale .

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