Trinny and Susannah pants for a slim shape
March 20th 2010 by Sally | Filed in fashion advice, womens underwear
Building an outfit is a bit like building a house. You need to start with the right foundations before adding any more layers. If you don’t put down the right foundations the house may end up wonky and lopsided. With an outfit the foundations are your underwear, Trinny and Susannah pants will give you a slim shape, just the right base for your outfit. Choosing the right underwear is key to the final look of your overall outfit. At best the right underwear can streamline your appearance, make you look slimmer and highlight your best ‘assets’ at worst the wrong underwear can be very uncomfortable, even causing back problems and make you look lumpy and a strange shape.
Body con dresses have become really fashionable in recent years and with tight fitting dress it is absolutely essential to wear underwear to give you a smooth and streamlined shape. But with looser fitting clothes underwear is also important, a smooth slimline shape will help your clothes to hang just right and cling in the right places. You will also want underwear that is not visible at all once you are dressed.
For a special occasion or evening event, you will probably want to make that little extra effort to ensure that your outfit looks 100% perfect. This is where shape wear like the Tinny and Susannah pants come in. They will allow you to feel slim and confident in your chosen outfit so that you can really enjoy yourself.
The Trinny and Susannah high waister pants and magic bum, tum and thigh reducer pants can make you drop a dress size (without dieting or visiting the gym). They also slim the tummy, bottom and thighs creating a smooth and streamlined silhouette. They are the result of over a decade of research and testing and the reviews of this product speak for themselves with comments like “very happy”, “does what it says”, “looks good, does the trick” and ” I believe in miracles”.
This shape wear is ideal for those of us who just don’t have time to get to the gym and tone up their stomachs, bottom and legs. They are great if you are self conscious about any of these areas of the body and will give you confidence in your appearance.
Trinny and Susannah became famous as presenters and stylists of the hit TV makeover show ‘ What not to wear’. Their no nonsense and brutally honest approach won them many followers and enemies as they helped women to work through their “appearance issues” and look more stylish. On the shows one of their top recommendations for women, as they pulled and pushed them into shape, was that underwear was a really important part of any outfit and the right pants can work wonders. Although quite bullish, Trinny and Susannh are passionate about making women feel happy and confident in what they wear. The Trinny and Susannah pants are a great way for women that are worried about their body shape or wobbly bits to do this.
The occasion hat to suit your face shape
March 19th 2010 by Sally | Filed in accessories, fashion advice, women fashion, womens clothing
Some people feel self conscious in hats but when attending a formal event perhaps a wedding or a day at the races it is often expected that a lady wears a hat. An Occasion hat is also a great fashion accessory and really adds a touch of class to your outfit. Just think about Ascot or any other racing event and the hats that the ladies wear. It really is a rare opportunity to get really dressed up and enjoy yourself as so few people now wear hats in their every day life.
In order to exude sophistication and style in occasion dresses, it is really important to choose the right hat. Some of the keys factors when choosing a hat are your height and hair style, the colour and style of your outfit and of course your face shape. The right hat will enhance your outfit and your best features and make you stand out from the crowd. Here is how to find just the right hat for your face shape:
Until now you may never have even considered what face shape you have. It is probably not something that you have thought that much about but it can be useful to know, not just for choosing the right hat but also finding other accessories and deciding on the best hairstyle. To work out your face shape pull your hair back from your face then look in the mirror at the outline of your face. You should be able to classify it approximately as oval, round, heart shaped or long.
Round face - you can balance out the roundness of your face with a high hat that also has a wide brim. Smaller hats with small brims will make your face look rounder.
Oval face - If you have an oval face, you are lucky as you will look good in most hat shapes. You can opt for something slightly unusual, if you like to stand out from the crowd or a simple style if you prefer to blend in.
Long face - balance the length of your face with a wide brim and low crown on the hat.
Heart shaped face - you can get away with most styles of hat as long as the brim is not too wide. A wide brimmed hat will make your jaw line look narrower.
It is also really important to get a hat that fits perfectly. How the hat sits on your head will effect how it looks. It will need to sit neatly on your head. Too tight and it will be uncomfortable, sit too high on your head or fall off. Too loose and it will sit too low on your head or fall off. If it is a windy day, you may need to invest some hat pins or another way of keeping it firmly on your head.
You will also want to think about the hairstyle that you are going to wear with your hat. Although a hat may cover the majority of your hair, it is still important to do your hair so that the hat sits neatly and for the bits of hair that you can see or in case you do remove your hat. You should try on the hat with your chosen hairstyle in advance to check that it looks right.
Shift dress – a versatile classic
March 18th 2010 by Sally | Filed in accessories, fashion advice, women fashion, womens clothing
The shift dress is a truly versatile and classic piece which every woman needs at least one of in her wardrobe. Perfect as day dresses or occasion dresses they can take you from work to evening effortlessly and the timeless style never goes out of fashion. The shift dress is the name given to a simple style of dress that has no seams or shaping at the waist. It became popular in the sixties and ever since has been an important part of so many womens wardrobes. A sheath dress is another similar version of dress that became popular at the same time but is usually slightly more fitted than the shift dress.
The shift dress evolved from the flapper dresses of the 1920’s, which were often embellished and fringed. They became popular because of there comfort and practiality for dancing, these benefits are still a key attraction in the modern shift dress. The closest relation to the shift was probably the sack dress which featured in Hubert de Givenchy and Cristobal Balenciaga’s 1957 Paris collections. It was similar to the flapper dress but without the embellishments.
Throughout history famous style icons have worn the shift dress. Lilly Pulitzer wore and sold brightly coloured and patterned dresses from her juice bar on palm beach. Huge popularity of the ‘Lilly’ dress ensued after her friend Jackie Kennedy was pictured wearing one in Life Magazine. The shift (mostly designed by Givenchy) was also a favourite of actress Audrey Hepburn and most memorably worn in Breakfast at Tiffanys. Princess Grace of Monaco also wore shift dresses by Givenchy. More recently, America’s first lady Michelle Obama is often seen in a shift dress with a cardigan and even pictured wearing a black sleeveless shift for her first official White House portrait.
Shift dresses can have a variety of sleeves, necklines and lengths but the most popular is probaby the knee length, sleeveless style with a scooped or slashed neckline. They can also have patterns and embellishment making a statement dress. A simple shift is really popular though as it can be accesorised in so many different ways to create so many different looks. Here are just a few ideas for how you can accessories a plain shift dress:
- Coloured or patterned tights – this is the perfect way to brighten up a black or neutral coloured shift dress and draw attention to your legs. The simple style of the dress allows for complicated and busy patterns. For a fun and bright outfit try teaming a coloured shift dress with coloured opaque tights – a turquoise or purple dress with mustard tights would make a really eye catching outfit.
- Scarfs – there are so many ways to wear a scarf and to add colour to a plain shift dress. Try tying a small scarf around your neck with a knot at the side or folding a large square scarf diagionally to form a triangle and draping over your shoulders.
- Belts – If you have an hourglass figure, you may want to add a bit of shape to your shift dress and waist definition. You can do this by cinching in at the waist with a belt. Choose an interesting or brightly coloured belt and make it the feature of your outfit.
- Jacket – Add a simple tailored jacket to make your shift dress into a smart outfit for work.
The printed maxi dress
March 17th 2010 by Sally | Filed in evening wear, fashion advice, plus size clothing, women fashion, womens clothing
The printed maxi dress has been around for quite a few seasons now and it is showing no sign of going away. Its popularity may be something to do with the fact that it suits everyone and is an easy style to wear. In contrast to previous seasons , this years maxi dress is not too full and has feminine floral prints as well as some of the other key prints of the season.
The great thing about the maxi dress is that you don’t need to have perfect legs to wear it. It is ideal for those days or occasions when you want to or need to cover up a bit. It is great for most body shapes and the empire line covers a multitude of sins from a bulging belly to saddlebag thighs. It fits in with so many different looks from boho to feminine and evening glamour.
The printed maxi dress is suitable for all sorts of occasions including:
- Wear with a smart or tailored jacket for work
- Wear with flipflops and a straw hat for the beach
- Wear with a shrug or bolero and wedge sandals for a wedding or garden party
- Wear with a sequin jacket, heels and a fab clutch for an evening party
- Wear with a denim jacket and gladiator sandals for a casual summer outfit
As with all clothing, when choosing a maxi dress, you should consider which will look best and suit your body shape and colouring. For petites of those that are shorter, the maxi dress can be slightly tricky but that is not to say that they can’t look great. Petites should choose a style that is fairly fitted and steer clear of those with full or gypsy skirts. Heels or wedges are a great way to add a bit of height and to give a taller appearance.
For taller women, the maxi dress is definitely their best friend. Fuller styles will look elegant and maxi dresses are a great way to look feminine without revealing too much. Plus sizes also look great in the maxi dress, again giving maximum feminity and maximum coverage. The maxi dress doesn’t cling around the torso, stomach or hips but is instead fitted around the bust highlighting a good clevage.
For those with great arms the maxi dress gives you the perfect opportunity to show them off. For those that don’t like their arms, they will look just as good with a cardigan, jacket or shrug.
It is also well worth thinking about the size and scale of the print on the dress. A smaller print will look good on petites and avoid them from looking swamped. A larger scale print will be more flattering on plus sizes and appear more in proportion.
Once that amazingly hot summer, that we are all waiting for arrives, the maxi dress is also the perfect way to keep cool. It is light and airy and can comfortably be worn without tights on even the hottest of summer days.
Five updates for your spring wardrobe
March 16th 2010 by Sally | Filed in accessories, everyday coat, fashion advice, women fashion, womens clothing
Spring is just around the corner and it will soon be time to pack away those woolly jumpers in favor of some lighter clothes. As we move into Spring, we naturally want a bit of a change and to update our looks. Each season fashions and trends change but there is no need to change your whole wardrobe. By updating with just a few key pieces, you can look fresh and up to date without breaking the bank. Spring summer 2010 is all about modern classics, so anything that you buy this year is likely to last for many years to come. Here are five key pieces that will bring your spring wardrobe right up to date.
Trench Coat -The Burberry Prorsum catwalk was full of classic trench coats for spring summer 2010. Whilst the trench coat is right on trend this year, it has never really gone out of fashion, probably because it is so versatile. Perfect for keeping dry in those April showers and it goes with just about everything from jeans and casual to work wear.
Nautical top - Navy blue, stripes and nautical detailing again are right on trend this year but this classic look is timeless and chic. A nautical top like this stripe detail top is the ideal casual top for wearing with jeans or smarter trousers for instant sophistication. Think Coco Chanel, the French Riviera and sitting aboard a private yacht.
Floral blouse - Florals are every where this year and the brighter the better. A floral blouse is the perfect way to add some feminine charm to any outfit. Wear with jeans for a casual but eye catching look or with a suit to add some colour to your work wear. If you really want to be the centre of attention try wearing with a brightly coloured skirt for an eclectic and trendy outfit. Again, a key investment that is likely to be in fashion year in and year out.
Classic shift dress - This is the ultimate in flattering and timeless chic. The perfect shift dress can be worn with simple accessories for daytime or work and dressed up with heels and some sparkle for the evening. It can also be transformed with a patterned or coloured scarf. If plain black is not your thing, there are plenty of other colours shift dresses to choose from including this seasons must have neutral and nude shades.
Wedge shoes -If there is one must have pair of shoes for the season, it is the wedge. The perfect way to add some height and glamour to an outfit without the discomfort and impracticalities of stilletos. There are all sorts if stylish wedge shoes to choose from including cork and raffia. Ideally a neutral colour will go with all of the outfits in your wardrobe and allow you to get maximum mileage out of just one pair.
So spring summer 2010 is also about classic looks and investing in key pieces that will never really go out of fashion. These pieces can easily be accessorised to create so many different looks and are ideal for so many different occasions.
Transitioning from Winter to Spring
March 15th 2010 by Rachael | Filed in women fashion, womens clothing
For many women the arrival of spring signifies uncertainty when it comes to making certain wardrobe choices. Many women feel that once spring arrives that they must discard all the items of clothing they wore during the winter months until the following winter. Furthermore as a direct result of this a large number of women think that the arrival of a new season also means a great deal of expense, but this simply is not true. It is not necessary to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe, rather it is possible to use items from your winter wardrobe to create that all important spring look.
The weather in the United Kingdom is extremely interchangeable to say the least which means it is unreliable and that decisions about which outfit to wear on any given day cannot be made easily. Consequently any wardrobe changes should be implemented slowly and on a gradual basis. It is for this very reason that women should retain a few key, staple items from their winter wardrobe for the spring season.
Layering is a great way of creating a stylish yet practical look, which not only reflects the change in season but which also keeps the wearer warm. It is therefore important to ensure that cardigans and other items of knitwear are not put away at this stage as these can help to create the perfect spring look. Layering not only adds a youthful touch to an outfit but it also means that items of clothing can be added or removed as necessary. Often when leaving the house in the morning there is a slight chill in the air and several layers are in fact required. However, all too often by the time midday arrives the chill has disappeared and in its place is a shining sun, meaning that the lady in question is too warm but having opted for layers she can easily remove her cardigan or sweater to reacclimatise.
A further problem that women often face is that it is much too cold to leave the house without wearing a pair of tights but they also feel that tights signify a winter look. However, it is possible to make a compromise which results in women being kept warm and which also adds a hint of spring to their wardrobe. It is traditional throughout the winter months to opt for dark coloured tights in a high denier or sometimes even woollen tights. Although such a look is not quite suited to the spring months so it is therefore suggested that women who want to continue wearing tights opt for a lower denier. Instead of 60 denier tights why not try a 15 or 20 denier pair? Moreover, for those who want to create a bare leg look why not try a flesh tone or natural colour pair of tights? This is sure to update any winter look and add a hint of spring.
The transition from winter to summer can be made much easier than women think if the above points are kept in mind.
Mother of Bride outfits
by Sally | Filed in fashion advice, women fashion, womens clothing
Your daughters wedding, is an incredibly important and happy event. This will signal a new episode in your daughters life and maybe yours as well. It will also be a celebration of not only your daughters new life with her new husband, but also a new relationship and connection between two families. Your daughters wedding day will be memorable day for everyone involved, not quite as important to you as your own wedding day, but almost.
As Mother of the Bride, you will probably spend quite a bit of time thinking about your outfit. You will want to look your best on the day and of course in the photographs. Here are some important considerations when choosing your Mother of the Bride outfit.
The Bride and Bridesmaids- The big day is not really about being the centre of attention, this is of course the brides privilege, but in your supporting role, you will also want to look stunning. You should check how elaborate the brides outfit will be. If the bride has opted for a simple look, try not to choose an outfit that is too elaborate. You will want to stand out from the other guests, after all, you are a very important part of the wedding party.Wear what every colour you like and know that looks good on you. Of course white is a big no no and it would be a good idea to perhaps consider what the bridesmaids are wearing. Don’t wear the same colour as the bridesmaids but a colour that compliments would look great.
The Mother of the Groom – it would be a nice idea to consult with the mother of the groom on what you are wearing. You obviously won’t want to both turn up in exactly the same colour or very similar styles.
Dress or Suit - either a dress or suit will be appropriate for even the most formal or weddings. Depending on the weather, you may want to choose a tailored jacket to wear with a dress to keep you warm especially if the wedding reception goes on until the evening. Boleros and shrugs are also an elegant way to cover your arms.
The Hat- It is traditional (although not compulsory) for the Mother of the Bride to wear a hat. This is where you can really stand out from the crowd. Choose something elegant that compliments your outfit but it doesn’t have to be the same colour as your outfit. Try on a variety of different styles to see which looks best with your outfit and suits your face shape.
Shoes - It is likely to be a long day and you may well be on your feet for much of it, meeting and greeting friends and family, helping with arrangements and generally socialising. A comfy and stylish pair of shoes is essential. If you are buying new shoes, try them out in advance to make sure that they are comfortable, if they are not, it might ruin the day for you.
What ever you decide to wear, make sure it is something that makes you feel good. It is important that your wear what you feel comfortable in and enjoy yourself.
Yummy mummy style for mothers day
March 14th 2010 by Sally | Filed in fashion advice, women fashion, womens clothing
As it is Mothers Day, mothers every where are being spoiled with breakfast in bed, homemade cards and best of all lots of cuddles. As a mum, many of us dedicate every waking moment to our children and sometimes forget that we also need to look after ourselves. Especially for those with very young children, ‘me’ time can sometimes seem like a distant memory and spending a bit of time on yourself can almost make you feel guilty.
It is important for every woman whether a daughter, mother, grandma or great grandma to find time to treat themselves and spend a little time making themselves feel good. How you look has a big effect on how you feel, so a that time spent choosing something nice to wear and doing your hair and make up not only makes you look good but also feel good.
Being a stylish or ‘yummy’ mummy can be quite difficult at times. Some of the challenges in looking stylish that mums may encounter include:
Weight gain or change in body shape after having children- many of us put on weight after having children or find that our body shapes change. This could mean that clothes don’t fit as well or perhpas don’t suit us any more. If the clothes in your wardrobe don’t fit or suit you (unless you are planning to join the gym in the next few weeks) move on, get some fabulous new clothes that look great on you.
Lack of time - many mums will give this as a reason why they don’t make too much effort. You can choose a few stylish outfits that are quick and easy to put together and can be accessorised for different looks. Dresses are also quick and easy for getting dressed in the morning as you don’t have to think about co ordinating tops and bottoms. Find a quick and easy make up routine that works for you and ask your hairdresser to help find a hair style that is low maintenance but looks great.
Lack of money - giving up work/ childcare and the cost of having children can put a serious strain on finances. It is possible to look really good on a budget, you just need to think really carefully about what you buy. Look for versatile pieces that you can wear for a variety of occasions and use accessories to create different looks with the same outfit.
Practical clothes when looking after active children - whilst those amazing new shoes look great, you may find that they don’t look half as stylish after half an hour in a muddy park with the children. Invest in some practical but stylish clothes to suit your lifestyle perhaps some casual trousers, or a few outfits to wear when out and about with the children.
Lack of self confidence or self image- this can result from any of the above or the change in identity that may come about when someone has children or gives up work. To put this right, you need to take time to find great clothes that look amazing on you. Then regularly arrange lunch or a night you out with the girls, everyone needs to let their hair down sometimes.
Mothers day is a great time to let your family spoil you a bit and for remembering that you are a person as well as a mum. Take a little time out to get dressed up in your most stylish outfit and enjoy being the yummiest mummy around.
Dressing for your shape – the apple
March 13th 2010 by Sally | Filed in fashion advice, women fashion, womens clothing
Have you every complained that your stomach or tummy is too big? If you have, the chances are that you are an apple shape. This is just a description given to the body shape that tends to carry weight around the waist line. By understanding our own body shape, we can find ways to dress that flatter our figures and start to love our bodies and the clothes that we wear.
Although apple shapes tend to carry any extra weight around the middle, they also tend to have slender legs and arms and a narrower bottom half. Apple shapes also often tend to broader on top with a great clevage. Dressing to your advantage is all about hiding the bits that you don’t like and drawing attention to your best features and also balancing out the overall proportions of the body.
Wrap tops and dresses – as apple shapes have little waist definition, wrap dresses and tops help to create the illusion of a narrow waist. The popularity of the famous Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dresses can be attributed to their amazing ability to create a narrow wait.
V neck tops - by creating a vertical line down the torso and effectively cutting it in half, you will make it appear slimmer. A V neck top is one of the easiest ways to do this.
Shirts with open collars - Another great way to create a flattering v over the torso is by wearing a shirt or blouse with the collar open.
Single breasted jackets that do up below the bust line - large shoulder pads or double breasted jackets should be avoided by appple shapes as they will effectively widen the torso. Instead a well fitting jacket which forms a v by fastening below the bust line will help to create a narrower appearance.
Flat fronted trousers with side zip – flat fronted trousers lie flat across the tummy and do not draw any attention to it with additional detail.
Wide waistbands – wide waistbands that sit on the hips have will have the effect of widening the hips a little and therefore making the waist appear proportionally smaller.
Empire line dressses - the flattering seam of an empire line dress is not only a very classic and elegant style but also looks amazing on ladies with an apple shape. It skims over the torso disguisng a round stomach and giving the appearance of a streamlined body.
Layering – thin layers are a great way of disguising a round tummy and keep warm in the colder weather without wearing chunky knits which will add unwanted inches to your waist.
As an apple shape, you should avoid anything that draws attention to a thicker waist and torso including belts, chunky knits, tapered trousers or jeans, anything tight fitting or lycra on your top half, baggy tops, pleated skirts, fussy necklines and striped tops. Don’t forget to make the most of your legs, with just about any length evening skirt that you like and clevage, especially in evening tops, as both are amongst your best features.
Dressing for your shape – the pear
March 12th 2010 by Sally | Filed in accessories, fashion advice, women fashion, womens clothing
Each one of us is different, unique and beautiful in our own way. We all have different body shapes and how good you look is partly to do with choosing the right clothes to suit your body shape. By choosing clothes that help to flatter and balance your proportions and highlight your best bits, you can ensure that you are always looking your best.
The pear shape is the most common body shape in the UK. Whilst perhaps classifying body shapes is a huge over generalisation as each person is completely different, it is a useful way to find clothes that look good. The classic pear shaped women tends to carry weight around her hips and thighs, have a narrower waist and proportionally smaller top half.
Dressing a pear shape is all about balancing the hips and thigh area with other parts of the body and drawing the attention away from these areas or cleverly disguising them. There are a number of ways that you can do this:
Boot cut trousers - the width at the bottom of the trousers balances out the hips and the thighs making them appear narrower. details such as pinstripes are also a great leg slimmer.
A line skirt - the best every day skirts for pear shapes are the a line skirt, the a line hides the hips and thighs with a cut that skims over them. The relatively wide width of the hem also cleverly balances them making them appear narrower.
Wide neck top- a scoop, slash or boat neck top helps to provide the appearance of width around the neckline, again balancing the wider hips.
Detailed necklines – The perfect way to draw attention away from larger hips is to wear a dark colour on the bottom half and bright colours or detail around the neckline.
Fitted tops or jackets – by drawing attention to your more slender upper half, you will divert attention away from your lower half. Wear fitted tops or tailored jackets that have a fitted waist that sits just above or below your natural waist. Avoid tops or jackets that finish on the widest part of your hips.
Belts – one of the best features of a pear shaped women is their slim waist. You can ensure that your waist is defined and draw attention to it by cinching in slightly baggy tops with a belt.
Heels – High or medium heeled shoes are a great way to add length to legs which in turn makes the appear thinner. If wearing a skirt wearing dark coloured tights and shoes also works well.
Jewellery or scarfs – accessories are a great way of drawing peoples attention to a particular area. Accessories on the upper half of the body such as scarves, necklaces and earrings will all draw attention upwards and away from the hips. Bracelets and bangles should be avoided as they will tend to draw attention to hip level.
Dark colours on the bottom – it is always a good idea for pear shaped woman to wear dark colours on the bottom half. This will help to slim your hips and thighs (visually) and make your overall shape appear balanced.
If you keep these points in mind when shopping for a pear shape, you will always look in proportion, no matter what your size or weight.
Don’t forget that you can sign up to Roman News for the chance to win £250 Roman Originals vouchers.