The shift dress is a classic shape that has a timeless appeal with understated elegance yet with a playful approach to fashion. The shift dress doesn’t have any waist definition and therefore are worn best by lean columns, rectangles, apples and neat hourglass body shapes.
Michaela
Floral prints are back, but this time with a big bang. They are big, bold, in bright colours and eye popping prints. There is nothing discreet about them, so you need to wear them with a bit of an attitude. Some prefer to wear them from head to print, others pair them with clashing colours- such as coloured denim- or print- I prefer to tune them down with some neutral colours. Otherwise I feel they are wearing me and not visa versa- but this is down to personal preference and style personality. One of my favourite prints are from a newly discovered brand: “ Stolen Girlfriends Club”. Their printed blouse is simply divine and such a great wardrobe edit for us pear shaped women, but as well for lean columns, neat hourglass and rectangle. While printed tee luxe and printed shift dresses are best left to lean columns, rectangles and neat hourglasses.
Here is some background information for those who have not heard of “Stolen Girlfriends Club”. They are the result of the coming together of a “motley crew of surfers done good”, otherwise known as friends Dan, Marc and Luke. Working from their Auckland base, these creatives didn’t establish themselves with the intention of becoming a cult fashion brand, but fell into the trade through a series of creative flirtations resulting in a fabulous t-shirt line that sealed the deal.
Don’t you just love this story- must get my hands on that printed make me feel good blouse!
Michaela
” Hot Pink” puts a contemporary spin on essential clothing. The hot hue makes a bold fashion-forward statement on chic and modern essentials. These fluorescent items will create a striking pop of colour to your outfit. This bright colour brings focus and attention to that part of your body. So, make sure it highlights your advantages and keeps your body shape in visual balance.
Michaela
Drawstring bags are back in in our fashion focus. They are a covetable everyday accessory and ideal for an understated off-duty look.
But they are not flattering every body shape. They are best for lean column, rectangle, inverted triangle and neat hourglass body shapes, because they are adding volume and roundness to these body shapes where they can take it and/ or need in order to create harmony and visual balance in their body shape.
It is not ideal for apple and full hourglass body shapes. These shapes have already enough curves and roundness and adding more can make them look to full. It is better for the body shapes to go opposite when choosing their shoulder bags. As cute and popular they are pears should avoid this style of bag since it is adding simply volume and attention to the part where we are the fullest. It simply doesn’t do us any any favours. Keep the attention with bags higher up.
Michaela
Yellow jackets are currently the happy fashion mood of the moment. The choice of yellow colours out there is big and can be confusing and daunting. Not every yellow suits every person as well every skin tone, therefore it is important to find the right shade, tone and intensity that works near your face. Also, note that colours will either lose or gain intensity with your choice of fabric. But once you know your dominant colour (which is based on your personal colouring) you’ll know which type of tones and shades of yellow look best on you, which look just ok or not good at all. Keep in mind as well your body shape before you dress yourself in a yellow jacket. This colour is the opposite of being discreet and will bring the limelight on you, so make sure bring the right focus on the right parts of your body.
Michaela
My top 4 best dressed list is:
1. Angeline Jolie in Versace
She absolutely nailed it in her choice of dress, hairstyle and accessories. It it is current- because of its colour block- it is fresh – because of the choice of colours- it is feminine & sophisticated- because it shows her neat hourglass figure elegantly without being too tight on her body. But above all it reflects her style personality that works best on her- effortless & timeless & elegant. The colour block is perfect for her clear colouring and she sets it off with with her red perfect shaped lips. It has the wow factor written all over! She simply looks fabulous in the 40s inspired fashion trend.
2. Charlize Theron in Dior Couture
Simply picture perfect. The dress by Christian Dior is feminine but still youthful, playful and different in its own right. She lets the details in her dress speak for themselves such as ruffles, broach in her waistline, asymmetric style and plunging neckline without over cluttering them with flashy accessories. This dress in colour and style can not be worn by many women, but since she is tall, a neat hourglass in her body shape, a light in her colouring and a bit of a romantic in her style personality- this dress fits her like a glove . Her hairstyle complements the dress towards the 20 upcoming fashion trend but adding a current touch & feel to it.
3. Nicole Kidman in Versace
This dress with all its studded details to show needed :” a long canvas to show”. Nobody else could have worn this dress as perfect as Nicole Kidman did. She is tall to give all the studded design the room to shine as well small busted, so that her bust doesn’t crowd and bulk the studded design. The halterneck and the studded design create the illusion of curves that is needed for her lean column body shape. She is a warm in her colouring and therefore the ivory & gold combination is simply an ideal choice. He open hair softens the intensity of the glamorous dress, so that it feels effortlessly elegant. Nicole Kidman loves to dress in an”art deco” style and it simply works like a charm here.
4. Rooney Mara in Nina Ricci
She looked absoluteley wonderful in her dress. It flatters her lean column body shape at all the right places. The dress is elegant and yet has an edge- it suits her personality and age. Her styling is impeccable. Black is one of her best colours- she is a clear in her colouring- but to me it is not a Golden Globe dress for a young girl. She should have been dress in an edgy but bold coloured dress( a bit more fashion forward )- that is the only reason why I put her as number 4.
Michaela
Choosing and wearing a leather skirt is not a light hearted decision, but one that reflects your personality and suits your signature clothing. The classic straight or tulip curve hugging skirt can be worn in many different hem and waist lengths to achieve a variety of looks. The pencil skirt first designed by Christian Dior in the late 1940′s has made a huge comeback – the difference is you will see them this season available not only in neutral but as well in bold colours.The ideal fit should hug the curves of the body yet it should have enough room and comfort to walk and sit easily.
In contrary to many rumours the pencil skirt is not versatile for many body shapes no matter how you accessorise it. You can change the tone by wearing a T-shirt versa a blouse, but it won’t change the rules about who can and who shouldn’t wear it.
Best practise for how to wear leather pencil skirts
It is not in its nature to provide a style fix, but instead to highlight your curves and put them in plain view. Since it is following your body shape it will either complement your curves or do the exact opposite.
Plus size doesn’t mean you have to compromise on fashionable hosiery. MyTights.com is delighted to announce the arrival of Pamela Mann’s new range of plus size tights which will cover all this season’s key trends in UK sizes 16-32. From sexy suspender tights to ultra fashionable spots to sultry back seams, they’ve got every tights trend covered with a more comfortable fit for curvy girls.
Plus size hosiery used to be difficult to come by, especially in trend led and fashionable styles but now Pamela Mann has redesigned their most popular fashion styles especially for women with curves. Pamela Mann’s range of plus size fashion tights is made to give a perfect fit and the very latest looks in UK sizes 16-32.
Suspender tights and mock hold ups are one of hosiery’s most enduring trends and they have been seen on stars like Rihanna, Jessie J and Ellie Goulding. Pamela Mann’s Large Overknee Heart Plus Size Tights, with their mock hold up design and pretty band of hearts at the mid thigh, are a original take on the trend that will have you looking fashionable but always original.
Spotted hosiery has been seen everywhere this season with style leaders like Cheryl Cole and Tulisa Contostavlos leading the trend. Pamela Mann’s Sheer Dotty Plus Size Tights are right on trend for this hot fashion look. Their dainty dots on sheer black hosiery is almost identical to the style sported by X Factor Mentor Tulisa in a recent photo shoot.
Back seams always inject glamour and sophistication to an outfit. Pamela Mann’s plus size tights also includes new version of the Jive Seamed Tights which have a classic back seam and pointed heel. With their line of little hearts running down the back of the leg, the Pamela Mann Heart Seam Plus Size Tights are a sweet and stylish take on the back seam look.
With a range of plus size hosiery that also includes opaque tights in a range of different thicknesses and colours, Pamela Mann’s new collection has something to suit every style and body shape.
Michaela
Now that Christmas and New Year has passed we start to think again about beach holidays and beach fashion. Beach life or Pool life we need a swim wear that brings out our ” chocolate side” . For every body shape there’s a swimsuit that will flatter in all the right places, so that you can step out with confidence in your swim wear and can enjoy the sun and fun. There are so many choices- some will show more back and less tummy, others show a bit more cleavage or thigh. Show off your best assets and conceal the others.When choosing your swim wear, your aim is to create the illusion of having a visually balanced body. Wearing swim wear does n’t give you a place to hide, so it is important to wear what works best for you rather what is most popular with your friends, fashion or is the latest “It Wear”.
The problem with understanding your body shape is that most women focus on specific area (i.e. problems zones such as the tummy, arms, bottom, thighs etc), which can cloud their judgment when it comes to seeing the whole picture. It’s important to view yourself as a whole so that you can define your body shape.
1.The Neat Hourglass
Goal: Show off in style your perfect body!
2. Full Hourglass
Goal: You need to wear shaped and fitted lines in order to follow your body line, but avoid any bulk and volume around your feminine curves
3. The Pear
Goal: You need to balance your top half with your lower half by choosing swim wear that make your shoulders look broader and keeps the attention upwards, so it will visually minimize your lower half.
4.The inverted Triangle
Goal: On your bottom half you need to wear clothes that make your hips look broader, so that you create visual balance with your broader shoulders.
5. The Apple
Goal: Follow your body line – avoid details around bust, tummy and hips. Keep detail in top and lower thirds.
6. The Lean Column
Goal:You need to create the illusion of a waist and add roundness to your shoulders and hips
7. The Rectangle
Goal: You need to create the illusion of a waist and soften your angular shape in shoulder and hips
Michaela
Michaela has a unique range of experiences from the fashion , media and design industry in London , New York , Milan and Prague . She was the MD of Cosmopolitan in Prague where she deepened her passion for colour and style. In 2005 she founded one of the leading colour and style consultancies Joy of Colour www.joyofcolour.com . Joy of Clothes aims to share her experience with a wider audience.
Michaela believes that everyone is different and they should build on their own unique DNA rather than try to be a bad copy of someone elses. Nowadays there are so many fashion trends co-existing that there is something suitable for everyone. Michaela advises against following every single fashion trend . Dressing with style needs strategy and an understanding of your colouring and body shape . Joy of Clothes aims to make it easy for you to identify the fashion that works for you and your life style.
