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
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
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.
Cool girls go crazy for this rebellious aesthetic print – tap into the fierce sense of style with coloured snake print. You can choose from bold neon snake skin pattern or more darker coloured hues. No matter which colour choice you go for you will inject an eclectic glamour to your outfit. Best to clash colourful patterned snakeprint with nude or neutral items.
Read and view more on snake print in bold colours!
Michaela
Scalloped fashion will be big on our fashion radar. Though not new, but with a much bigger intensity and fashion focus in 2012. You will find scalloped fashion everywhere – e.g. scalloped hems, scalloped collars, scalloped sleeve lines scalloped prints, scalloped patterns etc. They will be as well found in accessories such as belts and bags. The scalloped style exudes softness and femininity and is strongly associated with the “60′s”. It won’t be long when Victoria Beckham’s new diffusion line Victoria by Victoria Beckham will launch, which includes as well scalloped styles mixed with shift dresses, which adds an effortless girlie, playful, romantic touch with a timeless retro chic.
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
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
The 1940′s was the time where women had to dress sensibility and practically but still wanted to look stylish. At the same time they had to juggle within a very tight budget, where one dress had to fit different occasions and as well had to be suitable all year around- no matter what the weather was. ( Considering the financial climate- it makes all sense why the tea dress is back on the map and probably not going anywhere soon:-) ) So, they went creative and designed one of the most iconic looks of the century. The printed “Tea Dress”- ideal for dressing up and down.
This dress type has a nipped in waist, normally cap to short sleeves and comes in various prints such as polka dots, floral, fauna, horses, birds and many more. Tea Dresses give you a touch of vintage but keep it current and fresh, so it won’t drain you or overpower you.
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.
