Archive for July, 2009
All women have the potential to feel gorgeous in their own skin. With any luck you can find that token day dress, flattering evening skirts and other clothing to highlight that beauty, not conceal it. Nevertheless it is important to stand back, be honest and assess what body type you are. Once you have established if you are a pear-shape, petite, broad, curvy (hour glass), heavier on top, heavier on bottom, or slim and sexy, start thinking about how you can accentuate those assets!
How to:
Look Taller
- A pinstripe suit that is impeccably tailored.
- Monochromatic looks.
- Slim silhouettes that skip the fussy details.
- And the simplest solution: high-heeled shoes.
Look Shorter
- Wear big cuffs at the bottom of your pants, and add a wide belt at the waist to chop up the vertical line.
- Long flowing, shapeless skirts and/or boldly printed tops make you look shorter.
- Oversized shirts or pants will make you look like you’re too small for your clothing. But if they’re too wide and too long, they’ll make you look fatter in the process.
- Ballerina pumps or other flat heeled shoes.
Look Bustier
- Try pairing a shirt that has some gathered fabric (rouching) or detailing around the neckline.
- Fitted, clingy fabrics will best show off your assets.
- Padded or push up Bras are the high-heels of cleavage.
- If your bust is dainty enough that nothing would ever give you cleavage, don’t try to pretend otherwise. You’ll just be calling undue attention.
Look Less Busty
- Tops that call attention other parts of your body are usually a good way to keep your cleavage out of the conversation.
- How about a boat neck top that highlights your shoulders?
- An open-backed top or sleeveless top may bring the eyes off your chest.
- Exciting bottoms, be they a leg-revealing skirt, curve-caressing jeans or a fabulously loud printed golf pant, paired with a solid, dark top can also distract from your décolletage.
- Minimizer bras actually flatten your chest so that everything gets redistributed and your chest appears smaller, at least while you’re wearing them.
Narrow the Waist, Hips and Bottom
- The best way to narrow your waist is to emphasize other parts of your body.
- If you are going to want a splash of colour wear it on top to draw attention to your face and bust.
- Pair light coloured tops with dark trouser, jeans or skirts.
- Angled back pockets can work with what you’ve got to narrow your backside.
- Jeans with horizontal distress lines on either side of the zipper make your hips look much wider. Try to get your distressing vertically-oriented instead.
- Great legs? Try a slim fit skirt that shows them off. An A-line skirt or a trumpet skirt (that conforms to your curves ie have the kick out towards the bottom) can emphasize your curves perfectly.
- Try to keep your look more structured. Big belts, elastic waists, clingy fabrics, bunch and ruffles near the waist are a terrible idea. The idea is to “streamline.”
Create Curves
- Belts are a great way to define the waist area.
- Ruffled shirts can add volume to a slighter woman.
- Try a curve-creating flared skirt teamed with a textured sweater in a bright colour
- Layering is do-able (camisole + shirt + jacket )
Slim Down Shoulders
- Avoid wide lapels, boat necks, or shoulder pads.
- Try a nice V-neck top in a dark colour with light colours on the bottom half.
Slim Down Thighs
- Wide-leg pants give you the space you need, but if they’re too wide you risk magnifying your size.
- Dark trousers or skirts with a bright but elegant top give you an instant streamlined look.
- Mid-calf skirts, dark stockings with medium-heeled, elegant shoes are very refined.
Programmes such as ‘How to Look Good Naked’ and campaigns such as ‘Dove’ and ‘Special K’, have introduced, encouraged and openly promoted the acceptance of REAL bodies back into the UK. At Roman Originals, we say “here here” indeed! We are in full support healthy body images and all its potential curvaceous glory! Nevertheless, regardless of your shape or size getting dressed on a daily basis can be a daunting task for many women.
For the uninitiated without an eye for style, the world of fashion can be a vast and sometimes scary arena. Women commonly spend far too much time with their heads in their closets, fashion magazines or better yet panic buying. If you are like many woman in today’s society and simply don’t have time between a hard day at work, changing nappies or generally dodging obstacles that life throws at us, and the idea of flipping through page after page of fashion magazines, trail the aisles of trendy stores is a distant student life memory, fret not!
Here are some handy tips and tricks that may help you decide what to have in your wardrobe year after year, season after season:
- Above all, your clothes should fit your body. No one cares what size is on your tag. A good fit is essential to presenting a polished image and, more importantly, feeling great in your clothes.
- Women’s clothing sizes vary hugely from designer, style, year, and even within a brand. If you can’t tell Donatella from Donald Duck just stick to what you know! After all, the high street stores and online boutique like Roman Originals tend to have all the current designs without the hefty price tag.
- Shop like a man: I know this may seem a bizarre statement, but consider buying multiples of items if you find a great fit. Especially when it comes to undergarments and in particular jeans.
- Splurge on timeless classics, skimp on trends. Classic evening wear or an everyday coats are generally worth spending a little more money on.
- If you’re most comfortable in a solid fitted dress shirt, buy several! If it’s a staple to your wardrobe, you should splurge on a well fitted, well made, quality item. You can make the same white button down look like a totally different shirt with an inexpensive cardigan, a pair of jeans, or jewellery.
- If you’ve got no fashion instinct whatsoever, you can still have a cohesive collection of stylish clothing:
- Put together an outfit that you feel really defines you. If you’re a cheerful person, try bright colours. If you’re low key, comfort clothes. Artistic? Try untraditional cuts or play with different patterns, and so on.
- Once you’ve created your outfit, think about why it defines you. What is it that you like so much? The way the different colours look together? The variety of fabrics? The simplicity?
- Whatever it is that makes you love that outfit should guide your shopping. Look for clothes that share these qualities and you’ll end up with a style of your own and a wardrobe that you love.
- If shopping online, try on the clothes before you decide to keep them. Don’t be afraid to send clothing back.
- Alternately, try clothes on in stores and then bargain shop online for those exact styles and sizes.
- Don’t make rushed decisions. Shop with a level head and a list of needs, this way you’ll avoid making returns and ruining your finances.
