Style Your Body Shape

Recently the VMA’s were held and in true completely superficial fashion (pun intended) I’ve been checking out what all the stars wore and, just as interesting, what people have to say about that. Everyone has a different viewpoint. One thing all the commentators seem to agree on is that highlight your tits, or highlight your ass but don’t do both.

The basic rule for evening dresses is skin vs shape.

Show some skin or show your shape, but not both. Equally when you go for skin choose your boobs or your legs but not both. Brooke Hogan demonstrates this clearly by breaking all the rules. The issue is that the dress is too low cut and it’s also really short. Having a low cut dress is not an issue and then neither is having a very short dress, but both together is just too much as the focus is very much taken off the clothes. This brief, figure hugging outfit makes it look like she only just bothered to throw something on. Being stylish is about being sexy as all get out but in a way that hints rather than punches you in the face.

Ciara by comparison received many oohs and aahs for this gorgeous outfit. She’s showcasing her legs and the top by comparison is almost demure. The whole look is set off by some very expensive accessories and great attitude. She looks classy and stylish and very much the successful rock diva.

Ciara’s dress wouldn’t work for Brooke Hogan because Brooke is stacked and a boat neckline will just make her look like she swallowed a couple of melons. Plus, Brooke would look silly trying to pull off elegance – it’s not her style at all. Britney Spears shows us how it’s done.

Britney has managed to keep her laid-back, cool, California look and make it elegant at the same time. The length of the skirt is short enough to show off her legs but still be demure (on Britney anyway) and the off the shoulder look gives us a glimpse of her top whilst keeping her pretty much zipped up. The whole outfit is made super sexy by the way it clings to her curves.

Where would I wear a sequined dress?

Sequins are strictly evening wear so it pretty much limits it to cocktails, black tie and red carpet events. A sequined skirt or top is great for nightclubbing paired with jeans or a plain top, but a dress is going too far.

Be aware of the people you will be with before choosing a sparkly gown. For instance not all black tie events are created equal. A sequined dress will not be the best option for a business black tie event, when understated is a better option, so drag out your little black dress and glam it up. If it’s a social black tie event then you’re good to go.

A floor length frock, whether it’s sequined or not, is only for black tie and red carpet events and should not be worn for cocktails.

A final note

Every women should have one evening wear outfit. No matter what your lifestyle at some stage you’re going to need to dress up and go out. To avoid doing the last minute shop and buying something you will never wear again plan the purchase and have it sitting in your closet.

It’s also a good idea to wear it, around the house at least, to get more comfortable. There’s nothing worse than buying something for a big celebration and spending the whole time feeling like you stand out like a sore thumb because the outfit is not something you would ever wear.

Good shopping,

LISA

This is a list of things that will make you look bigger. I’ve tried to concentrate of things that we unintentionally wear not realizing the effect they will have, so I haven’t mentioned the obvious things like a downy parka or a thick knit sweater – because, well, duh! Weed these things that will make you look fat out of your closet.

1. Elastisized Waistbands The problem with elastisized waistbands, at least for everyone but those with boyish figures, is not only the way the material puffs out instantly creating more volume where most of us just don’t need it but also the instability of the garment. If you have any sort of curves the waistband will move either up or down as you go about your day. The band is going to find the slimmest place to sit and again, unless you have the boyish figure it’s going to be a lot higher than you want. Basically it just doesn’t fit properly. A tighter band that does sit where you want it doesn’t work well either. Unless you’re toned all the way around the midsection you’re going to get the ’squished bread’ look, which is very unflattering. Keep the elastisized waistbands on your gym clothes.

2. Pleats Pleats that fall from the waistband of your pants and skirts create volume. Their mission in life is to create a better fit, to follow the curves of the body more comfortably and stylishly. They highlight. Since they sit on your hips and tummy they will highlight your hips and tummy. It’s like wearing glad wrap, so unless your hips and tummy are so fabulous they deserve to be highlighted give pleats a miss.

TIP: A paneled and pleated skirt, like the one pictured, or one with inverted pleats that start below the stomach are great options for those wanting to conceal their stomach.

3. Horizontal Stripes Horizontal stripes trick the eye into thinking ‘wider’. The smaller and closer together the stripes the more pronounced the effect. A wider stripe still has the same effect, though not so pronounced. This is actually a shame because horizontal stripes are a classic – think Audrey Hepburn. Certainly wear them, BUT, keep them in proportion. If you’re a small person go for a small stripe. If you’re a large person go for a larger stripe. If you’re big busted or plus size, skip it altogether.

TIP: Horizontal stripes are an excellent way for pear-shaped people to add volume to their upper body and offset wider hips.

4. Metallic and Shiny Clothes Shiny or reflective clothes … um, well, they reflect. The effect is to make whatever they’re covering look bigger. So when you reach for those satin pants or that gold jacket be aware of what the overall effect is going to be. Actually this is a great way to get proportion back into your shape. If you’re bigger on top opt for the satin skirt matched with more subdued top or a shiny camisole matched with black pants if you’re bigger on the bottom. 5. A Small Handbag If you’re a big person and you go with a small handbag it’s not the handbag that’s going to stand out. Comparisons will be made and since your body is approximately 30 times larger than the handbag the size of your body will be emphasized, even if you’re not particularly big in the first place. Your bag should mirror your size. If you’re smaller and wear a bigger bag – same comparison, different conclusion – you will seem small.

TIP: For best effect your handbag should be the opposite of your shape. If you’re a curvy person go with a more structured handbag like the one pictures. If you’re angular go with an unstructured tote.

6. Zips, pockets, ruffles, feathers, fur Anything extra added onto clothes is going to draw the eye and make the piece of body it’s covering look bigger. So if you have big boobs then no ruffles or flounces or anything extra other than what you already have. The same if you got lots of booty – keep things calm and minimal there. Added extras are best kept as the province of the slender or used to remedy proportion issues, and then only very sparingly. Anyone who is plus sized should avoid like the plague. Color and texture are better options.

Baggy Clothes I just wanted to finish with a word about baggy clothes. You can instantly make yourself look slimmer by wearing fitting clothes. If you’re big and you wear baggy clothes rather than conceal it simply highlights how big you are. If you’re small it will highlight how small you are. Wearing fitted clothes will make you look slimmer but you will also feel more confident. Trust me, it works.

Good shopping,

LISA

So now that we know what to avoid if over 40 what should we be doing?

I’m 39 and until quite recently I used to borrow clothes out of my teenage daughters wardrobe. I’ve always loved clothes but was ‘too fat’ to have them myself so bought for my baby instead. It never occured to me to try any of the stuff on until one day I needed a pair of jeans and found that hers fit like a glove. Much to her very vocal disgust I began borrowing her clothes. Then I read a wonderful book What Your Clothes Say About You by Trinny & Susannah and realized dressing like a teenager is … well, lets be kind and say lazy.

So what should someone of my age be doing? Well there are five simple things to keep in mind.

1. Act Your Age

Just because your teenage daughter’s clothes fit is not a good reason to wear them. Oooh, my bad. Teenagers are pushing boundaries, examining who they are and who they want to be, and that is never more apparent than in what they wear. Trends are inspired by, carried along and aimed at teenagers and those in their 20’s. A women over 40 is more in touch with who she is. She knows what she likes, what she doesn’t and experimentation is not so important as getting on and living her life. It shows in our faces, the way we carry ourselves and the things we do. We’re interesting! And again, this is reflected in our wardrobes. We may have a ‘uniform’ that we constantly wear, but it’s not really a uniform so much as our signature look. Define what that is for you and expand it.

2. Accept You’re Vital, Beautiful and Sexy

Being over 40 is not the end of your life; in fact it’s not even close. It’s only in our late 30’s that we come into our full beauty and into our 40’s we really hit our stride. It’s definitely not time to pack away the sexy underwear. So … step away from the sensible clothing, or at least combine them with totally impractical but very sexy cerise heels. Split up your sweater sets, reintroduce color and femininity back into your daily rotation and enjoy being a mature, sexy woman. Don’t dress old!

3. Get Out Your Checkbook

Darling, that’s not a knock off, that’s the real thing! Let’s face it ladies the real difference between us and our younger sisters is money. Generally speaking we have more money coming in and correspondingly more disposable income to spend on clothes. We’ve also had more time to accumulate some truly fabulous pieces which form the backbone of our wardrobe. This is the proverbial ‘we’ because if you’re anything like me this does not describe your situation at all, but don’t worry there are ways to fake it but that’s another post. The main idea is that when you’re over 40 spend a little more on those really special pieces and a lot less on trends.

4. Get Classical

The key wardrobe element for a women over 40 is classic pieces. Think Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis, Catherine and Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren – whomever best reflects your personal style. Elegance is the goal. That means simpler, more enduring cuts, less embellishment, and richer, more sumptuous fabrics. Don’t go overboard or you’ll look like an overstuffed chair but a beautifully cut velvet jacket over a silk camisole combined with a well fitting pair of jeans will look fabulous and would overwhelm someone younger. But, be aware, getting retro inspired is a double edged sword for someone over 40. Make sure you go back far enough.

5. Polish, polish, polish

The older you get the more polish is going to be important, but that doesn’t mean that you always need to be ‘done up’. Actually it’s better to go with a more natural look, it’s more well, natural, but also effortless and confirms the impression that you’ve totally confident and have it all together. Keep your hairstyle modern and well trimmed and colored, your makeup barely there (which actually takes longer to apply – go figure) and pay attention to the little background things like moisturizing and plucking eyebrows. Attention to detail is vital. Then make it look as if you’ve done nothing at all.

So there you have it, five must-do’s for the over 40’s. I would just like to add that clothes, style, at any age is about expressing ourselves. I met a woman the other day who looked fabulous. She was wearing brown, straight leg cords with a cream, lace-edged camisole under a fitted denim jacket with a gorgeous vintage marcasite necklace. She was 73 and looked every inch of her age and really sexy to boot. She was a former model and what she was wearing expressed how she felt about herself and clothes. If you’re a person who’s worn jeans every day of your life for 50 years then giving up jeans because you’re older is not something you want to do. Equally if you’re 50 and have never worn jeans, ever, then suddenly taking up wearing them is not you either. Your style should reflect who you are, but what I really want to get across is that being over 40 does not mean you need to sacrifice wearing clothes that you love or expressing how sexy and beautiful you are.

Good shopping.

LISA

I’ve been doing a little research and here is a list of seven things any women over the age of 40 should keep in mind when selecting a wardrobe.

1. Covering Up

Nothing says past-her-use-by-date better than being swathed head to toe in baggy shapeless clothes. So, no baggy cardigans allowed, no shapeless polyester frocks and no boxy t-shirts. They are old lady clothes. Being over 40, or over 50 or even over 60 is no reason to give up looking hot. I met a women the other day who looked classically casual and down right sexy and she was 73. She looked it too. There was no attempt to hide her age but she certainly didn’t look dated. She looked fantastic; like a elderly Grace Kelly, all classic understatement.

2. Elastic Waistbands

An elastic waistband will immediately make you look ten years older than you are. It will also make you look fatter, a double whammy, so it’s really confusing why so many people buy them. Manufacturers make them because people buy them; STOP buying them! I don’t want to here any cries of ‘but they’re comfortable’ because a well fitting skirt or pair of pants will be as comfortable, possible even more so, and will look fabulous as well. Pleated skirts have the same effect if you have even the faintest hint of a spare tire around the middle.

3. Any Revival Trend

One of the latest trends to hit the shops is a blouse tied at the throat, a signature look for Margaret Thatcher circa the 80’s. In those days it was the height of sensible, steady good sense but now it’s a sign that you’re hip and well dressed. Go figure. Sadly that’s for everyone under the age of 40. If you were an adult the first time the trend hit forget jumping on it a second time. Rather than look modern you will just look like the women that time forgot ie old.

4. Missing Modernizations

What’s a trend and what’s a modernization? A trend will be in and gone faster than the latest pop song. Sometimes the way we wear things start out as trends but then they become evolutions. For instance, nothing says late 90’s more than a pant hemline that finishes above the shoe. The modern style is that hem lines finish about 1/2 an inch above the ground covering most of your shoe. Another example of an evolution is wearing colored shoes rather than matching your shoe to your hemline. A black outfit with black shoes will instantly age you and it’s also kind of drab. Pair it with a pair of bright colored heels and you’ll instantly look modern and chic.

5. Pleated pants with tapered legs

I have no idea when this style was popular but it’s just unflattering to practically everyone, regardless of body shape. It’s not a question of fit rather of style, or more specifically lack of it. For everyone but a select few they will make you look bigger than what you are, or for the slender, you’ll look positively anemic. To me this style says “I’ve given up looking good; now I just want cheap, comfy pants”, which is not a bad thing but there are other, more stylish ways of saying it. For almost all body shapes a flat front, straight leg pant with a side zip is going to be more comfortable and, since it’s a classic, instantly chic.

6. Red and Black; Black and Pastels

Red and black together is a very matronly look. Red’s are usually vibrant and pep up an outfit but when paired with black it seems to leach the liveliness away and become staid and frumpy. Like a football uniform. It can be transformed immediately by adding a neutral color – for instance a black skirt with a red shirt and a camel jacket.

Similarly pairing black and pastels is aging, which is bad news for curvy women as the majority of plus size clothing tends to be black and/or pastel. Black actually works best with other shades of black, but if your wardrobe is mostly black then look for brights, white or other neutrals to pair it with. Match your pastels together or pair them with neutrals and denim.

7. Long Skirts and Clumpy Heels

A long skirt, mid calf or longer, is predominantly the most unflattering length because it hides your shape. Combined them with clumpy heels and your ankles will look like twigs set in concrete supporting a big blob of color; a cartoon stick person. Those long skirts look better paired with a finer heel that will showcase the turn of your ankle and your foot. Clumpy heels are best paired with a delicate, feminine skirt to toughen it up. Together they just say “old maid”.

The best length of skirt is just below the knee, particularly if your legs are heavier, as it shows the curve of your calf which is thinner than the rest of your leg.

Check out these tips of things to do over 40 for ideas how to look sexy.

Good shopping

LISA

The goal of looking slimmer is about feeling more attractive and at the end of the day that’s a mindset rather than a practical solution. Simply feeling good about how you look will do more for your confidence than any optical illusion you might create. That said it’s really a catch 22 because creating the illusion of being slimmer will help make you feel better about yourself and give you confidence that. Try these tips to even out your silhouette for a slender more confident you.

1. Wear Clothes That Fit

Some of you might be thinking, hello, of course they fit or I wouldn’t be wearing it. Let’s clear this up right now. If it’s tight, it doesn’t fit and it will simply draw attention to every imperfection. If it’s loose, it doesn’t fit and it will make you appear bigger than you actually are. It also makes you look old. If it skims the curves of your body barely touching then it fits.

Wearing clothes that fit is the single most important thing to do to look slimmer, and correspondingly it’s the hardest thing to achieve. And not because of your body; it’s the clothes that are available. A one-size-fits-all approach cannot possibly address myriad body shapes we come in. Keep looking because you will find items that work. When you find a brand that fits, stick with it. This is also the reason it’s a good idea to buy investment pieces, like a pair of wool pants. Good quality fabrics wear better so it’s worth investing a little more to get a classic style tailored to fit perfectly.

The extra added bonus of fit is that your clothes will be comfortable to wear. Say goodbye to wedgies forever.

2. Wear Clothes That Flatter

No this is not the same thing as fit. It will be possible to find a pair of skinny leg jeans to fit most sizes and yet for all but a handful of people they will be instantly unflattering. Dressing to flatter is about dressing strategically to minimize your flaws and maximize your assets. It’s about style and acceptance. Your body is the shape that it is. Embrace it, learn to love it and especially learn what flatters and what doesn’t.

The thing that I love the most about wearing clothes that flatter is that I don’t feel self-conscious any more. I sometimes even go a whole day without remembering the size of my butt. Everyone can look good just by wearing a shape that suits their shape and looking good makes you feel good.

Clothes flatter you if they create an illusion of proportion. For women that means an hourglass shape. Working with shape is all about misdirecting the eye to create that illusion.

Just a subtle hint: this website is about what flatters your shape. Bookmark it, digg it, stumble it, tell your friends. Thanks.

3. Stand Up Straight

Its sounds really simple and it is. It’s truly amazing how many people stoop – the shoulders just kind of hunch forward and the neck pokes out, or, another exciting version, the stomach leads the way and the butt follows behind. Incorrect posture makes you look shorter and fatter. Correspondingly by standing up straight you will look and feel slimmer. This is particularly important for those who are bigger on the bottom. Hunching your shoulders makes your top half look smaller again and hence your bottom half bigger than Ben Hur.

4. Wear A Supportive Bra

If your breasts are anything over a B-cup then putting on a supportive bra can actually make you look up to a size smaller. Particularly if you have a little extra around the middle. A supportive bra will lift your breasts into the position they would be had gravity not had it’s way, and separate them into two individual breasts. A uni-boob – where your breasts look like a shelf or one big undefined blob – is aging and adds extra pounds. Get a bra that fits properly and you will instantly look slimmer.

Knowing what bra will work with your body shape is a great idea as well.

5. Use Color, Texture And Pattern To Camouflage

Darker colors camouflage and lighter colors highlight ergo wear the darker colors on areas that you want to hide and lighter colors on areas where you want to draw the eye. And the same works with pattern. The eye is drawn where the pattern is so wear it where you want people to look. For instance say you’re bigger on top. Opt for a plain darker colored top like a chocolate brown (over your supportive bra!) and pair it with a brightly colored A-line skirt with a busy pattern. The eye will be drawn away from your top and onto your bottom half.

Textured fabric is a way to create the illusion of volume without sacrificing fit. So if you’re bigger on top then wearing a boucle (nobbly) skirt on the bottom half, say with a tweed pattern, will create the illusion that the bottom half is bigger and more in proportion to the top.

If you’re camouflaging an area remember to have somewhere on your outfit that draws the eye. If there isn’t anywhere to look then by default the biggest area on your body will become the focus.

6. Shapewear

When all else fails bring out the heavy guns – shapewear. Shapewear is support underwear – the modern day version of the corset, except now you can get shapewear to minimize your waist and hips as well as slim your thighs or lift your butt or hold in everything from bust to knee if that’s what you want. Made from many layers of spandex shapewear comes in a multitude of shapes and sizes and will instantly slim and shape your body without benefit of hours of exercise.

Shapewear should only be used for special occasions, times when you want to look particularly spectacular.

Good shopping,

LISA

You know how sometimes you get up in the morning, chuck on some clothes, maybe try some different combinations, and create the perfect outfit for how you’re feeling. Mission accomplished – I look fabulous. Oh but wait, possibly this pair of jeans is not the best idea for work. Don’t give up just yet; any outfit can be dressed up, or as the stylists say, torn down.

A great piece of clothing makes a statement all by itself but it’s what it’s paired with that makes the outfit. Take for instance this sequined skirt that Rachel Bilson wore to a day-time event. Generally sequins are a strictly after-dark item but in this case the pairing with the very casual blouse, plain shoes and casual loose hair detracts from the formalness of the skirt. If she’d paired this with a dressier shirt, even a black shirt, she would have looked overdressed. It’s the boxiness of the shirt, the I’m-really-ordinary-ness of it that detracts from the movie-star-glamour of the skirt and vice versa. With anything other than the sequined shirt Rachel would have looked as if she were heading for the gym rather than making a public appearance.

In our example above re jeans for work the idea is to smarten up the jeans enough that they become suitable for work.

These great wide leg jeans will flatter big bottoms, wide hips and heavy thighs. The classic rise will cut across the stomach so will flatter larger bellies as well.

This elegant blazer is a three button blazer with a shaped hem. The tabs at the waist with bows and the detail stitching describe a slender waist and the deep open v-neck, notched collar will draw eyes upward and keep them there. It’s perfect for defining a waist and will work for a rectangle or someone wanting to conceal a little extra in the middle.

Pair the blazer with some classic jewelry to further dress up the jeans and simple classic pumps for a very dressy look that’s torn down by the jeans. It’s a great way to mix up day and evening wear.

Good shopping.
LISA

There’s a famous quote by Edna Woolman Chase – “Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess.” You’ve no doubt heard it, and if you’re anything like me looked down at your sweat pants and thought, well damn! But don’t be discouraged; when you give your inner style queen a little bit of room to breath you’ll find she’s alive and kicking and has lots to say for herself. So here are a few easy steps to take to give her that room.

1. Make an effort – It sounds simple but there’s a huge number of people who get up in the morning, reach for what ever is clean and that’s it. Style takes effort. Every morning make an effort to reach for the ‘best’ outfit you can put together, whatever your day holds. That doesn’t mean wear a floor length frock with a tiara to work or a suit to drop the kids at daycare, but it does mean take the time and effort to put together a suitable, comfortable outfit that shows you’ve put thought and effort into what you’re wearing.
2. Grooming – You’re going to find it hard to present a stylish image if your hair needs a cut, your makeup’s stuck in the 80’s which handily is the last time your eyebrows were plucked. Again, you don’t need to go to extremes with this, personally I hate fussing with my hair, but being unkempt is not an option. Tame those eyebrows, get a good haircut – regularly! – and keep your nails trimmed. If you’re not a great fan of makeup then invest in some good skincare products and a tinted moisturizer. It’s all about your attitude and it should be “I care about me.”
3. Care for your clothes – You’ve got your favorite jumper stashed somewhere haven’t you – the one with the big hole. Or maybe it’s your favorite shirt which now has the big stain on the back. It’s sad, devastating in fact, but they have to go. The clothes you wear need to be hole free, wrinkle free, spot free, smell free and above all else, clean. Yes, even your favorite but scuffed beyond repair shoes.
4. Forget size, fit is king – The key element of dressing with style is fit. Don’t buy clothes that are a size too small because you’re going to loose weight. Don’t buy clothes that are a size too big because you think you’re too fat. Both will make you look bigger than what you are. Clothes that fit are instantly slimming and always chic, be it a jeans and t shirt or a little black dress.
5. Flatter your shape - Whatever your size or shape there is a cut that flatters you more than others, just as there will be those cuts that will never in a million years work for you. Learn what they are. Slavishly go with the first and pretend the second doesn’t even exist. Forget trends. Never get sucked into the ‘latest it thing’; well … unless you know it’s something that’s going to flatter you outrageously.
6. Accessories are everything - Accessories are the icing on the cake, the shine on the diamond, the alcohol in your favorite adult beverage. Without them the world will still turn but it’s a much sadder and less bright place. With the right accessories even the most banal outfit can be transformed into a stylish comment about you. Incidentally accessories are a great place to start changing your look. Investing in a pair of earrings is cheaper than buying a pair of pants and you’ll feel a lot less upset if you never wear them.
7. Shoes are not just an accessory – If accessories are the icing on the cake shoes are the difference between Brad Pitt and Homer Simpson. Shoes are of the utmost importance to an outfit and they should good quality – you can dress up practically anything else but a cheap shoe looks like a cheap shoe. Buy the best that you can afford. Go for different shapes, colors and styles. The more shoes you have the more outfits you can construct. And, yes, some of them will need to be heels. Alternatively, for all you diva’s, a pair of flats is going to be essential at some stage as well.
8. Keep shopping – Looks change, makeup changes, hair styles change and of course fashion changes at the speed of light. There is no necessity to keep up with the trends but a great wardrobe is going to be a mix of timeless classics and modern fabrics, colors and styles. Regularly clean out your closet getting rid of anything old or that you haven’t worn in a while, or possibly at all and replace them with modern items. BUT, keep all your classics or those things that make you look fabulous and have a copy made from it’s carcase when it passes on.
9. Steal the best looks – Always keep your eyes open for an outfit or look that totally screams style and is somehow just… you, be it on tv, movies, on the street, your boss, your sister, your best-est friend in the whole wide world, and then ruthlessly steal it. Be sure you adapt it to flatter your shape and coloring but then wear it with pride. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and no one, but no one with even a modicum of style got that way on their own.
10. Take some risks – Try something different; for you. I’m not suggesting that you suddenly decide you’re going to dress like the latest ‘it girl’, but maybe you could wear a sequined top to work, or jeans and t shirt with a string of pearls or maybe a hat of some description. Something outside of your comfort zone. Something funky and fun. OK, it may end up a shameful memory, but more than likely it will pass in a blur of nobody-even-noticed, and it’s always possible you’ll find out something new an amazing about yourself, and that is what style is all about.

I love to read. I love to learn and I love to share what I learn with others. Sometimes I learn things that I think are interesting but not that interesting, if you know what I mean. Little bits and bobs that I couldn’t really write a whole post about but which are useful all the same. I’m sorry to say I cannot let it go without first having made use of it so I’ve decided to lump them all together as ‘Quick Tips’. So …

1. A miniskirt with a blazer only works if you’re a teenager or a starlet, or preferable, both. A blazer is very professional and a miniskirt is … well, not. Better to match that blazer with a pencil skirt for sleek, touch-me-not sexiness and the miniskirt with a killer top and heels.
2. A Black jacket is not that easy to contrast other colors, except of course more black, but then you look like a corporate wannabe, which is ok, if that’s the what you’re aiming for. Charcoal grey or chocolate brown are better options.
3. Boots with a skirt is an awesome look, if done well. To avoid looking frumpy show a little bit of skin between the top of the boot and the hem of the skirt.
4. When buying a handbag check where on your body that handbag is going to rest. Is it somewhere you’re trying to direct eye’s away from? For instance if it sits on your hip it will draw the eye. Maybe a better height is on your waist.
5. A pointy shoe always helps make legs look longer and slimmer, but make sure there’s no ankle strap, which actually has the opposite effect of making legs look shorter and fatter.
6. A suit doesn’t always have to be jacket-and-pant or jacket-and-skirt. Look for a jacket-and-dress combination to stand out from the crowd.
7. Brown and pink together are sensational. Who’d have thunk it!
8. By using two strongly contrasting colors you can create a distinct waistline and that emphasizes a narrow waist. This is why a black skirt with a white top always looks chic.
9. Keep your shoes darker than your hemline – ever heard that one. It only applies if you’re wearing white shoes which really don’t go with a lot, and even then if your outfit is suitable funky you can probably get away with it. Shoes are the ultimate accessory and their impact on an outfit is huge. Don’t be afraid to mix it up.
10. Layering is a great way to mix things up, especially under a jacket. Try starting with a camisole, adding a thin knit and then topping with a jacket. It will give you a polished look while adding interest to an otherwise boring work outfit.

I hope you find something useful in that lot and now I can safely forget them having I have now shared them with the world.

Good Shopping,

LISA

What is style and who has it? This is a pretty tough one to answer. No one seems to agree with what actually defines ’style’, or for that matter who has it and who doesn’t. Well in terms of fashion anyway. One fashionista’s style queen is another’s badly dressed baboon. If there’s a magic formula for style no one seems to know what it is.

That said there are four basic categories of style that most people will fit mostly into, regardless of whether you’re someone who puts lots of effort into your wardrobe or you’re mostly indifferent to fashion. Knowing what ’style’ you are will allow you to align your clothes with your personal and professional goals so your clothes can work harder for you.

CLASSIC STYLE

Think Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, Rene Zellweger, Nicole Kidman or Gwyneth Paltrow. A classic look is all about understated elegance and feminine beauty. Lots of two piece suits and ladylike slip dresses. Colors are usually neutrals like black, white, gray or feminine pastels. Maybe a splash of red in the right circumstances. Prints would be used discriminantly and be classics like tweed or herringbone, maybe a slender pinstripe. Accessories are small and not particularly flashy.

When you see someone dressed in a classical style you immediately think ‘classy’.

SEXY STYLE

Think Sofie Loren, Cameron Diaz, Angelina Jolie or Jennifer Aniston. This is all about simple, comfortable yet sexy clothes. Lots of simple dresses with very little in the way of embelishments. Separates in an easy figure hugging style that looks sexy and approachable. This style is all about show casing the body within so fit is extra important. It will be mostly basic colors, all shades of brown, black, navy blue, kahki and cream white and not much in the way of pastels and prints. Accessories will most likely be very simple or not there at all.

Someone who’s nailed the sexy style will look gorgeous yet still approachable and touchable.

CREATIVE STYLE

Think Madonna, Kirsten Dunst, Sarah Jessica Parker or Cate Blanchett. This is for women who love to mix things up and that may mean prints, textures, styles and colors all blended together to make either an outstanding statement or a hideous mess, depending on which critic you listen to. There are no particular rules for someone with a creative style, and if there were you’d break them anyway in your quest for a great look. Expect lots of vintage items mixed in with trendy and classic stuff.

A creative dresser will turn heads every time, not always in admiration true, but every time.

ULTRA GLAM

Think Halle Berry, Beth Ditto and Beyonce. We talking beading, any sort of design feature, feathers, fur, a little bit of bling and a lot of attitude. Alright maybe a lot of bling. Metallic colors will rule along with bright eye catching accessories and killer shoes. All those extra little bits that make an outfit scream look-at-me! Fabric plays a big part, along with labels, and, of course, lots of bling.

An ultra-glam lady is one you look at and go, Wow!

CHAMELEON STYLE

There’s a fifth style which is really someone who does regularly change their look. A chameleon makes use of each of the four other styles interchangeable. They are noted for their HUGE wardrobes. Dita Von Tesse is a good example of a chameleon as shes always classy, sexy, glamorous and her signature style is vintage theme mixed up with modern.

So what style are you? What style would you like to be?

Does my butt look big in this? How men hate that phrase. It’s a mine field, particularly if the answer is yes, but I really don’t think it’s the pants. And really the women who asks it is either fishing for a compliment or seeking validation on her outfit, which at the end of the day is really the same thing. We want to be told that we look beautiful.

For all our evolution and slick technology, rules of engagement and political correctness, scratch any man or woman and underneath is the lurking hormonal conditioning that kept our caveman ancestors alive and reproducing. For men it’s all about performance. The best hunter, the strongest warrior, the man who managed to stay alive the longest got the most opportunity to, well, get laid. To this day men remain focussed on performance and seek validation based on that. Men love to be appreciated for what they do, particularly what they do for their woman. A simple ‘great job with that garbage honey’ can garner flawless rubbish removal in the future, often for days at a time, or at least until a good show comes on.

For women it’s about how we look, after all it was our attractiveness that got us the strongest, best performing men and allowed us to have babies and, you know, continue the human race. A million years of evolution and we’re still ridiculously flattered by ‘hey baby, great rack’. It would be funny were it not quite such an exploited and distorted subject. I’ve not met any women, myself included, who hasn’t at some stage in her life felt unattractive, and as a result, unworthy. Several billion dollar industries have evolved based on exploiting the frailties of women’s beauty, the biggest of course being clothing.

All women are beautiful. In some way, something about each and every one of us is breathtaking. We usually don’t see it because we’re too busy comparing ourselves to Angelina Jolie or Cameron Diaz or the really hot chic who lives next door our husband keeps gawking at. So we work out, we buy expensive clothes and cosmetics; we cut up our bodies in an effort to be thought more beautiful.

But that’s the point; thought by whom? Do we want to be voted most beautiful woman in the world in some man’s magazine? Or maybe we want to attract the man of our dreams, and then keep him. Its as if the more people who compliment us and are attracted to us the more worth we have, the more value in the eyes of the world. And correspondingly the less we’re told how beautiful we are the less worthy we feel.

The reality is the most important person who needs to know you’re beautiful is you. What does it matter what anyone else thinks if YOU believe you’re sexy and beautiful and just an all round great person. A healthy self love is the single most important style tip, and beauty tip for that matter. A women who loves herself just glows. Shes confident and relaxed and stylish and attracts all sorts of wonderful people and events into her life with her happiness. She doesn’t need to ask ‘does my butt look big in this?’ because she accepts that’s her butt and she kind of likes it just the way it is, and what does it matter if it’s big, because the overall package is fun or sexy or whatever you are.

So get to know yourself. Fall in love with yourself. Quit saying nasty things to yourself! Look in the mirror and instead of remonstrating over the size of your thighs, or your butt or whatever your personal demon and look for something your like. For me it started with my eyes. I hated everything else about my body except my eyes. Then I got to love my hair. Now days I can look in the mirror and think ‘hey baby, great rack’ and it makes me feel almost as good as if some super hot guy had said it to me.

Style and beauty come from the inside out, so checkout your inner person. She’s gorgeous and if you know everyone else will too. But guess what. It won’t matter what they think, that’s just icing on the cake.

Be happy.

LISA