Posts Tagged ‘style’

Your pocket!

Many of us need pockets to pop keys, lippy or coins into … it free’s up our hand’s when we not carrying a bag.  However, while the pocket may be placed conveniently, if that pocket has the wrong detail and shape for your body you will be adding more weight than just that of what you are carrying.

To avoid this you must take note of the horizontal detail of the pocket and where that pocket is placed, especially when the pocket is top stitched in a contrast colour.  When that line of stitching corresponds with the widest part of your body, you have just made yourself look  heavier! - When the bottom of the pocket on your backside falls below your bum cheek you just made your self look shorter!

When in doubt (unless you are trying to add curves) pick garments that have no pockets.  The same applies to pleats, never ever wear pants with a pleated front.  The extra, obvious fabric will always add weight where as a pant that is skillfully cut will have been ‘eased’ to provide comfort to the wearer.

plain and simple

“To spend time thinking about what to wear on a daily basis may sound trivial but what we do wear has a huge effect/influence on our mood, confidence and (rightly or wrongly) how others perceive us. Other people can’t or won’t discover who we are and what we have to offer (our personality, humor, intellect and warmth) if they are not ’attracted’ by our appearance in the first place”  – Karen

When you leave the house in the morning you will generally come into contact with alot of people on a daily basis and while you might not particularly care on any given day what some one else thinks about you, you should always care about how you feel about yourself!   Your self worth and esteem are not measured by what clothes you wear but they are definately measured by how you feel about you.  Confidence is sexy!  A smile is contagious!  Being calm and avoiding stress is a great gift to yourself – investing in a style coach is about investing in yourself and there is no better investment I know.

Keep smiling, Karen

now you see them, no you dont!

When you reveal your skin through your clothing it should be planned not flashed like a wardrobe malfunction.  Catching a glimpse of someones’ bare leg above the top of a knee-high stocking is not a pretty nor sexy sight.  These practical items are used very effectively to line our feet from the inside of our shoes or boots preventing rubbing and blisters – you have to love them for that!  BUT … they are not meant to be exposed at the point where they are finished doing their job.

When wearing a skirt, whether it be long or short, with a split or otherwise for ease of movement, then wearing a full-length hose or tight is the one and only option.  To wear a knee-high maybe a budget necessity but it that is the case then make sure the ‘end’ finishes inside the boot or shoe you are wearing. To do anything else is just plain unflattering and ugly.  

Unless you intend for your short hose to be seen – then make them a statement! 

Ladies put your best foot forward and make sure it is well covered!

these boots are made for walking …

A winter ‘must-have’, ‘no-brainer’ is the boot.  There is a huge variety available in many colors, styles, heel-height and genre but by far the most versatile is the riding boot.  Dress them up or wear them in a variety of casual looks they are the boot that you should invest in (ie. buy the most expensive you can afford).  When you purchase a quality product and you look after them ie keep them clean and well heeled, they should last you 3 – 5 yrs.

When buying a riding boot they need to fit real snuggly and the reason is that they are going to stretch and mould to your feet and legs.  So, they need to have a zip that moves through the ankle area so that the leather here is firm fitting and not slouchy.  If you have curvy calves, and many of us do, then you want the zip to be full length (as opposed to a 1/2 zip).  Even so, when you first try your boot on they should feel pretty snug.  Obviously if you can’t do the zip up or it pinches your skin this is tooooo tight.  But firm is good.

The next important thing is the length.  Boots must come at least 3/4 of the way up your lower leg, although reaching under the knee is preferable.   If the length falls below this mark put it back on the shelf and keep looking – this is because the top of the boot falling below the 3/4 mark will cut the leg area in half and make it look chunkier and shorter than it is, and i don’t know anyone who wants that look!

To acheive this ‘perfect’ fit you will probably need to try on many boots and thats ok.  It is not because you have ‘large, fat, short, ugly blah blah blah legs’ … it is because you just haven’t found the boot that suits you best, yet.  Don’t settle for second best either!  Find the boot that loves you and will love them back and wear them comfortably walking everywhere into the happily ever after.

Over the knee boots are the big thing this winter and are generally mixed with a ‘riding’ boot bottom – just consider whether this is a look you want to wear over the next 3 years?  Also, if you want to wear your jeans in them then obviously they need to ‘give’ more so once you have them home wear them in (an hour a day around the house) so that they mould to you and fit like a second skin.

take your time, shop wisely karen

Classic with a Twist

This classic ‘set’ is a good basic to have in your wardrobe. 1 , or 1 , or 1 + 1 =2 .  You do the math, either way you have 3 options.  However, having seen both a younger woman and a mid-lifer wear a twin-set in the traditional way recently, on two seperate occasions, it really was just a great big yawn.  Both women looked dated and older than they were and that is never a good look.   The simple solution is to twist this classic into an updated style statement.  To do this embellish the cuffs, neckline or bottom edge of one of the pieces using either statement jewellery or a belt (thin for those with a waist, wide for those creating a waist).  Adding permanent embellishments by sewing on pearls, sequins or ribbon will also provide that ‘tjuz’ and add funk to a wardrobe classic.

have fun, karen

go neutral …

i was in a store last week and saw a lady pull a piece of material from her bag and show it to the assistant in the hope of finding a shoe to match her dress, which she was to  wear as a guest at a wedding.  How many of you have done this and really got the result you were hoping for?  The assistant did her best and started down the rows of shoes holding the fabric to various shoes for a match.  Successful? hhmmm, not really.  The problem here is that the chances of finding the actual color match is really slim and even getting a color that is in the same tones is quite difficult and in fact if you can get that, well done!  The best option is to look for a shoe/sandle, that will go with everything.  This is a neutral, skin toned shoe that when worn will simply look like an extension of your own leg.  And the real joy is that your leg will look longer and slimmer for it!  So, to be clear if you can find a shoe that is color tonal, fantastic, but looking for and purchasing a neutral shoe/sandle that does wonders for your legs will also complete your outfit with the minimum of stress.  Simply add a nail varnish to your toes (if they are seen, even if they arn’t you will feel better … far more cost effective and much easier to matchor if in doubt a flesh tone with a clear top coat will polish of your look.

love and laughter, karen