George Davis is opening this Thursday his new shopping venture Give. He aims to revolutionise the way we shop in stores. Gone are the days where shop assistants are badly informed and you have to wait for alterations. Inside every store will be knowledgeable style advisers who can help you to put an outfit together no matter what the occasion. They will take your payment rather than sending you to till to queue and a team of tailors will be on hand in each store to make alterations to ensure the perfect fit. His vision to provide clothes to women, which fit their body shape goes in line with our philosophy at Joy of Clothes. We want to help women to find the clothes that fit their shapes, lifestyle and budget no matter what the occasion. We designed Joy of Clothes so that you can easily browse through the collections and find fast what you are looking for. George Davis recognises that everyone is differently built and it is about that clothes have to fit us and not that we have to fit ourselves around the clothes. So far their products are not available on Joy of Clothes, but we will keep you updated. In the meantime enjoy the variety of clothes we have on our site.
Here are some of the latest products on Joy of Clothes:
Here is your guide to the shapes, styles and labels to know now! Essential attributes of the work bag include plenty of interior pockets, sturdy handles, room enough to fit in a blackberry, A 4 file and laptop/netbook, make up bag and as well room enough for a pair of spare shoes. The new work bag embodies all of these must have attributes plus the new factors like design, personality, status, fashionable and light in weight. Practicality must be matched by aesthetic appeal inside and out- feminine but practical, and reliable for any occasion.
Here are comments and visions of leading designers what the “new bag for work” should represent in 2009/10:
” Nowadays, a woman needing a new bag is going to think very carefully about its function”. She may well only make one purchase, so it is going to have to fit every area of her life, from practicality at work to looking stylish in the evening. It needs to be decorative and desirable because it is more important than just a carrier for files or a laptop that she would previously have used alongside a smaller designer bag.”
Anya Hindmarch
“Discerning customers are looking for value now. They want a long-lived bag they can use day and night that’s practical, light when empty and not dangling useless hardware”
“Women now feel they don’t need two bags, but the one needs to be fabulous, as substantial bag that’s functional but glamorous, dressed up yet easy to wear and use. Confident women can find a distinctive bag helps to make an assertive style statement in a plain season. Clothes are reserved at present, so you need one item that’s little less serious , for contrast”.
Stuart Stockdale ( Jaeger’s design director)
” Senior women feel increasingly free to be fashionable and feminine at work while still being taken seriously. A working bag has to be practical friend but a beautiful, highly crafted one is a also a symbol that reflects a woman’s personality and status in competitive world and, even more importantly, a confidence in her own style.”
Samantha Cameron (Smysthon’s creative director)
As always keep your body shape in mind when purchasing your new work bag.If you are a pear stay away from bright colours in your workbag and opt for darker colours. While if you are a rectangle or a column avoid square or boxy shapes and look out for oval shapes or bags, which have curve edges or cuvy details in their work bag. Apples and full hourglasses should be easy on to bulky work bag e.g. doctor style or too many front pockets- if you still go for them then choose them in a darker colour. Inverted triangle are better to choose handbags, cross body bags and if you choose shoulder bags make sure it doesn’t have much fuzz and buzz that would make your shoulers look even broader. As always neat hourglasses have the choice what ever they like to wear.
Dressing your calves requires a strategy, because you need to have an understanding of your build, you need to put the size of your calves in context with your bust, body shape, height and proportion .By modifying the lines of your clothing you can create visual balance whether you have small or large calves.
There’s no such thing as a plain woman. Everyone has attractive points, so my advice is to accentuate your best assets
Dita von Teese
A visually balanced body, regardless of weight or height, always looks most flattering.
Calves come in different sizes and shapes and each variation requires a different styling and dressing guide.
Small Calves : You need to add roundness to your calves by adding visually volume to it- clutter is here essential. That means e.g. you can wear heavy pattern tights with UGGs boots, coloured Wellingtons or other detailed boots togehter. Never wear a chunky heel.
Some ideas you can wear this season:
Medium Calves: You need to underline the shape of your calves without going over the top- don’t clutter – less is more. That means you can do one trend or style at a time- either you wear patterned tights with pumps or similar shoe style as long as they don’t touch the calf or you wear detailed or coloured boots, Wellington or UGGs boots without any pattern- keep it simple. You are most of time flexible with the size of the heel- depending with what you wear it.
Some ideas you can wear this season:
Big Calves: You need to minimise and lengthen your calves visually. So, never ever highlight your calves or even think of clutter them. That means no patterns at all, stick to dark uni colours and never wear calf boots or any detailed boots e.g. with buckles or laces. Keep it all lean and clean. Never ever to stilletto, kitten or any small heels.
The white shirt is a must have for this season, especially when dressing for work. There is one at every price and one shirt option for every day of the working week . The white shirt makes the perfect investment buy, because firstly it won’t go out of fashion, secondly you always can dress them up or down and last but not least it gives you the perfect platform to accessorise to the occasion and to your mood. The white shirt comes this season in a huge variety e.g. in silk, with giant bow at the neck, in gleaming white, with or with out ruffles, in oversized sleeves or in classic style, crisp or with puff shoulders, cropped sleeves or in cotton. As always when the choices seem endless the body shape style will narrow your options.
Neckties and high collars
These are best for women with a normal to a along neck and great as well for women who tend to be small to normal busted.
Long puffed sleeves
These are best for women who have a slender upper half and can take this additional volume to their frame, waist and bust.
Short puffed sleeves
Only women with small to normal arms should be wearing this option otherwise bigger arms are only looking bigger. Also, women with a big bust should avoid this option completely, because it adds unnecessary additional volume to the bust area. Women with an inverted triangle shape should also pass on this option, because it will make their shoulders and frame even broader.
Ruffles around bust or bib style shirts
These are best for women who are small busted and have more of a slender top. Ruffles add volume and roundness to your chest and upper part and therefore should be avoided by those who are fuller on top.
Crisp shirts versa softer material
Crisp material is stiff and adds volume to the top, because it doesn’t follow the body line and shape. Therefore it should be only worn by women who are slender on top, have small to normal bust line or need to balance a bigger bottom to their upper part like the pear.
“I dress for the image. Not for myself, not for the public, not for fashion, not for men.”
(Marlene Dietrich)
A wonderful example for power dressing is Michelle Obama. She has shown everyone and everywhere what an impact clothes can make that fit your build, colouring, personality but also that is suitable for the occasion without hiding behind safe options or big designers in order to make a (fashion) statement. Basically she embodies the saying the “woman makes the dress” and not “ the dress the woman”. Michelle Obama means business when she gets dressed and she leads by example by demonstrating the power of wearing the right clothes to set the right image at the right occasion with the right people- not matter when dressing up or down. She is a successful woman in her own right- ivy educated, accomplished, mother, wife and a fashion icon in the making and most important of all “comfortable in her skin”.
“A woman is never sexier than when she is comfortable in her clothes.”
Vera Wang
She doesn’t have the need to compare herself to be someone else – she is being herself, confident and shows it with her personal style in every single outfit by having fun with fashion. One day she is dressed up to the nine and the next day dressed down (without make up or fancy hair style) when visiting the Grand Canyon with the family without showing signs of loosing gravitas or lacking of style. A true leader doesn’t have to hide behind big and expensive labels. This is why she comes across as a credible, likable and normal levelled leader.
Michelle Obama is taking fashion not to that extreme where one would say: “What was she thinking of wearing an elegant body hugging dress with high heels in the Grand Canyon”. But instead she shows fashion can be found not only at high end prices but also on the high street. She mix matches these categories with ease and wears what the occasion requires e.g. she she was showing when enjoying private moments with her family on holidays, which demonstrates a realistic and normal approach to fashion. Fashion is a tool for her that she enjoys, but it doesn’t run or dictate her life. As a leader in her own right she knows how important it is to look current in all her outfits so there is no doubt by the public that she is up to date and hands on with all current issues, big or small, important or “less important”. Her fashion and style makes her accessible like no other first Lady, where the public feels they can relate to her.
“In business you are dressing to have an impact on your bosses and teammates. If your clothes don’t convey the message that you are competent, able, ambitious, self-confident, reliable and authoritative, nothing you say or do will overcome the negative signals emanating from your apparel”
(Betty Harragan (Author – Games Mother Never Taught You)
Last not least she reflecting in her outfits not only her personality but applies as well a signature look. Michelle Obama favours clothes that have a belt, or she likes to show off her toned arms, favours ethnic and unknown designers but also she loves to experiment with different designers, style and colours that reflects confidence to “ try on something new”- which gives her ultimately the “X-factor” for becoming a fashion icon of our times. She enjoys already around the world a presence and a big followers and each time she steps out somewhere everyone just waits what is next.
“Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.”
(Yves Saint Laurent)
Michelle is in her colouring a deep. Tall in height with a long waist and her body shape is a pear.
In general she has to accentuate her top e.g. shoulders to balance with her lower and showing off at the same time her waist. Michelle’s skirts should be flared, straight rather full, A-line or figure hugging. Because of her height wide tailored trousers are the hit. Since he is tall in her height she can even do the turn ups trend- which is normally a no no for pears.
“Lead – follow or get out of my way”. (Ted Turner; founder of CNN network)
It is no surprise that clothing with a corporate flavour dominated the autumn/winter women’s wear shows this season due to rising unemployment- the highest since 1995-, which means a ” need” for the right clothes that convey the right image to get hired.
When preparing for your interview be aware that that every industry, sector and company has a different dress code. These dressing codes need to be further fine tuned and polished depending on who you are going to be interviewed by. Is it by someone from HR, a potential colleague, client or boss? Each of them will require a different power dressing solution in order to achieve the right first impression .
“Dress gives one the outward sign from which people in general can, and often do, judge upon the inward state of mind and feelings.” H.M. The Queen
When speaking to HR they don’t want only to a have confirmed what they already knowby having read your CV, but also if you are telling the truth and you are some trusthworthy to be considered for the short list and ultimately as the right fit. While when meeting with a potential colleague you don’t want to give any cause of reason for competiveness but simply demonstrating you are the best team player. On the other hand with a potential client your first impression must be a ” go getter”- someone who understands the business.
“In business you are dressing to have an impact on your bosses and teammates. If your clothes don’t convey the message that you are competent, able, ambitious, self-confident, reliable and authoritative, nothing you say or do will overcome the negative signals emanating from your apparel”( Betty Harragan, Author: Games Mother never taught you)
Dressing for Success or power dressing has nothing to do be “size zero or having the measurement of a model. Important is that you know how to dress right for your colouring, bodyshape, how to make your look current and appropriate paired with your individuality- meaning your power dressing needs to be signed off with your signature look in order to own your look and to stand out of the crowd.
Here are some “words” to remember when following the POWER DRESSING CODE:
As outlined first impressions are important and crucial nowadays to get hired, because there’ll be many situations where you won’t have the time to get to know someone very well; instead you’ll need to decide then and there whether you trust and believe the person who you are dealing with.
By getting first impressions and your image right, a company will expect an increase in sales or positive feedback, simply because their clients will like what they see and start to trust and bond with you more quickly. Clients always feel more understood and valued when they can speak and deal with someone like them.
Power dressing requires strategy and working wardrobe that ensures you look the business. Choose clothes where you feel compfortable and can rely on all day. It will give you confidence and saving you a lot of time not fuzzing about your look and outward appearance and put your mind into your work mood, because you chose clothes that” are you” rather making you self consicous.
Find below some more inspiration how to dress for success.:
Keep it simple and stylish with black and white classics no matter what the occasion. Be careful where you adorn yourself with these bold patterns, because they add volume and bulk to that body part. Make sure you can you can cope with the additonal volume by knowing your body shape. It is all about visual balance . Every body shape has a different aim to attract the right focus and attention. This trend is the perfect example for displaying your know how of fashion rather being a fashion victim by trying to show off you are wearing the latest trend.
Here are a few examples how to wear this monochrome trend for each body shape. Some body shapes can wear the same items.
Neat Hourglass
Aim: You have the “ideal female” figure, and almost anything goes. Best to wear shaped and fitted lines in order to follow your body line.
Full Hourglass
Aim: To follow body line – Key here is not to hide your curves, but as well not to add bulk to them.
Apple
Aim: Keep details in top and lower thirds – don’t add bulk to your fullest part.
Pear
Aim: To enhance your upper body in order to balance with your lower half.
Inverted Triangle
Aim: You need clothes which make hips look broader, to balance out your top with your bottom half.
Rectangle
Aim: You need to create the illusion of a waist.
Lean Column
Aim: To give the illusion of feminine curves on hips and thighs.
Michaela Jedinak is the founder of Joy of Clothes, the easy way to buy the clothes for you, your body shape and your colouring . She is also the founder of Joy of Colour one of the leading colour and style consultancies click here to read full bio
