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
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
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
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
Cold weather and the festive season coming closer we turn to our coats for making a fashion statement either in colour or style. Every coat has its own characteristics and needs to be matched to the right body shape in order to guarantee the right match and look visually balanced. So, when choosing your coat make sure that the colour, style and shape works for you and not against you. A coat is a coverup and it should fit and complement your silhouette like a glove. So, before you follow fashion trends know your body shape first and then go shop hunting. Don’t get sidetracked by falling in love with a coat style and look that doesn’t match your body shape or because your friends and colleagues love and wear them. Stay true to yourself ” dare to be different”.
Fashion comes and goes but Style is eternal! Yves Saint Laurent
1. Inverted Triangle Body Shape
Coats that are “simple in style ” on top and get more dramatic from the waist line downwards. Hip details and and asymmetric hemlines or colour blocks are are ideal.
2. Lean Column Body shape
Clutter and details on top and lower part are best here. Oversized,double breasted and down coats are good for giving you a shaped waist and curves.
3. Rectangle Body shape
Create the illusion of a waist and roundness. Single breasted and asymmetric styles are great choices.
4. Apple Body Shape
Choose coats that have shoulder details and hang loosely fitted from the shoulders downwards.
5. Pear Body Shape
Choose styles that keep details and attention to the top and go quieter downwards. Hooded styles, wide lapels and colours are ideal.
6. Neat Hourglass Body Shape
Choose what you like best since you can wear any style.
7. Full Hourglass Body shape
Opt for fitted styles that follow your body shape . Avoid any clutter – you don’t need it.
Make the most out of your body shape by dressing to your advantage. There is a dress for every body shape or size. It is important that the dress follows the body shape and not visa versa. Choose a colour that complements you and make sure that your overall look is current and appropriate to the occasion and your age. Buy and wear only a dress that you love and feel comfortable of wearing, so you feel happy and confident rather anxious and insecure. We are all different from each other, so feel good about dressing towards your style personality.
Add signature pieces to your outfit.
1. Full Hourglass: ” Show off your curves”!
2. Pear: Body shape ” Keep the attention on your upper body”!
3. Inverted Triangle:” Your playground is the lower part of your body”!
4. Rectangle: ” Choose styles that create the illusion of a waist”!
5. Apple Body shape:” Create attention on your shoulders and as well in your hemline”!
6. Lean Column Body shape: ” Clutter and volume are key for your party outfit”!
7. Neat Hourglass: ” Anything goes – but best that shows off your perfect proportions”!
Michaela
They are lady like, elegant and yet playful.
Apparently it all started in 1835 when the polka swept the world.It was such a sensation that the word “polka” became a buzz word.Nobody bothered much that the word itself means “Polish woman” in Bohemian or Czech. In the 1930s polka dots popped up and were then usually small and dainty, aspirin or pin dot size on black, navy or red backgrounds. Big fans at that time were Eleanor Roosevelt, who often appeared in polka dotted dresses and so did Minnie Mouse! Since then they have not been really out of fashion- they might have slipped out of the limelight and taken a back seat but have been always there and considered as a great classic fall back. In 1940′s and ’50s, the polka dot was a fashion favourite with Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Christian Dior who released at that time his ” hourglass dresses in spotted prints”.
The Polka fashion trend saw a big revival with the movie “Pretty Woman,” in 1990 movie that starred Julia Roberts as a hooker turned Cinderella, where she wore a white-and-brown polka dots dress. They are the perfect example of how fashion moves forward by constantly repeating itself. They are simply a blend of classic and contemporary.
And for this season you have got a big choice of options since the Polka dots are everywhere to find, which gives you the chance to wear them right for your body shape , proportion, height and colouring.
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.
