This week's video is on selecting the best size of printed tops for your body shape! Have you ever tried on a printed blouse only to leave the store empty handed because it didn't look good on you? Chances are that you selected the wrong size that didn't necessarily flatter your body shape. I always stress the importance of identifying your body shape and working towards styling it correctly. We need to know and understand that not every piece of clothing, included printed pieces, work best on us. However, that does not mean that prints don't or will never look good on you! Watch this video to learn what you should look for when selecting a printed top the next time you go shopping!
Video Photo Credit: CollageVintage.com
Music in Inro:
BY: Lino Rise
TITLE: Fremantle
SOURCE: free-intro-music.com
Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0
VEST: Marshalls// TURTLE NECK: Marshalls// JEANS: 7 for all Mankind (Marshalls)// NECKLACE: c/o Anitanja// PURSE: Louis Vuitton Tivoli GM// SHOES: Nine West
Hello loves,
Last night I decided to wear a very 60s inspired outfit for date night. I've mentioned to you before how the 60s and 70s are the eras in fashion that I personally identify with the most. I think it has a lot to do with the youth and boldness that encompasses the styles of those decades that I admire. In this case, the outfit I chose best represents the 70s overall. During this time there were a lot of vests, fur, and bell bottom jeans worn, amongst many other distinctive trends that I can go on and on about. Let's break down the entire look and discuss why it would work for you!
I chose to wear a black turtle neck paired with a beige faux fur vest because I felt that the black pulled out the darker browns and black within the vest, which kept me warm and cozy much of the night, since the temp did drop, I do feel the soft nudges of winter! I decided to wear a pair of flared jeans, which I believe are flattering for those who have curvaceous hips, such as my fellow pear and hourglass shapes, which I think this outfit would look great on. When worn with heels, flared jeans can help balance out the width of the hips by mimicking them below, creating a long and lean effect overall. It's when we choose to skip the heels that I feel we can end up appearing a bit stubby in the legs and the hips can appear much wider.
In addition, this pairing would also look exceptional on all my apple and rectangular shapes as well. The reason is because we have a nice flow of balance all throughout the outfit. The black turtle neck (if you are paler, I suggest wearing navy instead, it's less harsh against the skin. In your case, you never want to wear colors that are closest to your face in an extremely dark color, it'll wash you out and bring out darker tones in your face, making you appear unlively and unhealthy, we don't want that!) helps visually slim larger arms, the bust, and midsection. Even though we have a vest that offers texture and dimension, which can in most cases make my apple and inverted triangle shaped ladies appear larger in the bust (it creates this effect for the pear and rectangular shapes), we have the addition of the waist belt, which helps visually slim the upper body overall. I will suggest that if you are an apple shape you place the belt right where your rib cage is instead of where your natural waist is (under you rib cage), this is most flattering for you. The flared jeans will add some volume and visual weight to the slender legs of the apple, inverted triangle, and rectangular shapes, thus visually balancing out the entire frame.
I hope you enjoyed the post and that it inspired you in creating a similar pairing. In this case, the exact look I created would work for all the shapes mentioned above. If you have any additional questions, leave them in the comments' section and I will be sure to respond with my best suggestion(s)!
Winter will be here before you know it, so I wanted to get a head start at giving you all my suggestions on the best styles I feel would look best for your body shape! These particular styles are more casual, so I do plan on creating another post with dressier coats. I feel that every woman should have a casual winter coat and a dressier. One of my fashion pet peeves is when women wear casual parkas or puffy coats with a fancy dress. If you've done it, don't feel bad! Now you know that it's best to opt for a dressier piece to pair with your dressier look. For now, here are my suggestions for casual coats :)
For the pear shape, I always stress the importance of creating volume and dimension up top, so there is no difference when it comes to coats! I suggest opting for styles that pass the fullest part of your hips, to avoid making them appear larger. As you notice, all three of these coats have waist belts or a waist draw string. Since you have a naturally defined waist, you don't want to hide that under your coat! Remember, you will be wearing this piece a lot, depending on where you live, so you want to select something that will flatter and enhance your natural shape. You may have also noticed that two out of the three coats have horizontal pockets on the bust, which help add some visual dimension to the bust area. The other style that does not have the pockets, has a puffy bust as it is, so it's not necessary to have pockets, and it will still accomplish the same effect.
For all you apple shapes, it's important to pay close attention to pocket, button, zipper, and pattern placement, all of which can make you appear larger than you are. The coat in the middle features vertical zippers, with a slight slant. This prevents your bust from appearing even larger under so much material, which is important. Remember, you will be wearing sweaters with thicker fabrics and if you're busty as it is, all the fabric can make your top half look extremely large in comparison to your slender legs.
Just like the pear shape, I also suggest waist belts for you because they help balance out your upper body by adding the flare on the bottom portion of your coat, it visually adds hips! However, the coat to the right does not have a waist belt and I feel it still works. The pattern around the stomach area is rather flattering because the lines aren't horizontal, which would otherwise add more visual width to the area. Instead, it features a linear pattern in a slanted position, visually slimming the area. It also features the same pattern around the bust, another area you don't want to add visual width when a waist belt is not present. The jacket on the right does have a horizontal pattern on the bust, but notice how close together they are in comparison to the bottom portion of the coat?! This helps in making the bust appear smaller and the hips larger, perfect for all my apple shapes!
For all my rectangular and hourglass shapes, it's very important to maintain your balance. I generally suggest a lot of detail and such for the rectangular shapes, however when it comes to coats when you'll have extra fabric underneath, I don't think it's necessary. Instead, select sleek style coats that aren't over the top in details, but perhaps in color and those that create an emphasis on the waistline, for both shapes. With a coat that has a belt, you instantly balance out your frame and create visual curves, rectangulars, it's that easy!
So I hope you all found this post to be helpful! If you have any questions or requests, please don't hesitate to leave them in the comments section. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Working with color and/or print can either seem exciting or intimidating, depending on how you view it. Often times, women are intimidated because they don't feel they can pull it off. The reason many feel this way is because they've most likely worn colors or patterns in the wrong places, which further highlighted areas that they were insecure about. That's where I come in! The fact is that color and pattern works for everyone, the key of course is selecting shades that are the most flattering for your skin and hair tone, as well as placing those pieces in areas that will help visually balance you out and divert the eye from focusing on areas you may not want.
I created shoppable looks for all four body shapes. This should make shopping and styling that much more easier, as well as boosting your confidence in knowing that color and pattern can and does work for you!
This pairing would look wonderful on a pear shape because all of the eye-catching attention is placed on top, where we want it, in this case! Since I selected black flared pants (which balance out the width of the hips), I didn't want the entire look to be boring, so I decided to add a zebra printed blazer to help further enhance the color of the orange cami. It looks classy in this case because of the the silhouette. I don't generally suggest zebra print for the office, since it can appear a bit funky and party like, but in this case, it works!
In the case of the apple, it's best to place color and print on the lower portion, to divert the eye from focusing primarily on your voluptuous top! The wrap style blouse is figure flattering and is an apple shape girl's best friend, either in tops or dresses; they help visually slim the upper body overall! I selected a wide pant leg because it visually balances out a wider upper body, thus making the top portion appear slimmer and proportional.
For all you rectangular shapes, texture can really help enhance your shape and create the enhancement of curves. I selected this fuzzy sweater, which will add some volume and dimension to the upper body, making it appear fuller. I selected printed pants to help maintain your proportions, essentially maintaining interest on both sections of your body. Since you have equal proportions on both your top and bottom, you hold the ultimate choice in whether you would like to enhance a specific area of your body or do so overall.
For all you hourglass shapes, I'd suggest the same tips as mentioned above for the rectangulars. Since you both have equally proportioned frames, you hold the choice of selecting where you'd like the main focus to be or if you'd like to maintain an equal balance, which I often suggest, especially in your case. In this look, we have patterns on both the top and bottom, but they don't clash and don't appear overbearing. The reason is because the print in the pant is subtle and smaller, while the top features more vibrant and larger patterns and colors. To further tone down the look, if you choose (depending on your work setting), I'd suggest wearing a basic solid colored blazer, it'll help tie the entire look together and appear more professional.
I hope you enjoyed this post and style! Be sure to let me know if you do and I will certainly create more shoppable looks, according to each body shape!
I've been asked quite frequently how to wear and select a belt for the different body shapes and torsos (short or long waisted). Since it has been a topic that has been requested and asked a lot, I decided it would be great to record a video explaining my suggestions, which I hope that you all find helpful and insightful :)
TIPS MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO:
SHORT WAISTED:
1. Wear a belt that is the similar or same color as the top that you're wearing, it'll visually elongate your top half.
2. Avoid wearing belts that are the same color as your bottoms or the blend in, such as navy or black belts with denim jeans. This will make your legs appear longer, while cutting off visual inches from your waist.
LONG WAISTED:
1. Wear belts that are the same or similar color to your bottoms or that blend in, they will help visually elongate your legs and cut off visual inches from your torso.
2. Wear a pop of color that creates contrast with your entire outfit, in other words, that does NOT blend in with your outfit. This will neutralize everything and not make any one area appear longer than the other, if you have equally long legs as your torso.
BODY SHAPES
RECTANGULAR:
1. Wear belts that provide contrast to your entire look, such as in color, print, or texture, to help visually set apart your upper and lower portions.
APPLE:
1. Wear wider belts, they can help visually slim the midsection and help prevent agains "spillage" over your bottoms.
2. Select darker colored belts. They don't bring attention to the midsection and accomplish concealing the area.
PEAR & HOURGLASS:
1. Avoid wearing wide belts that blend in with your bottoms, as they can add visual width to your hips.
Music in Inro:
BY: Lino Rise
TITLE: Fremantle
SOURCE: free-intro-music.com
Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0
DISCLAIMER: This video has NOT been sponsored!
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