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Monthly Archives: June 2015

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AN INTERVIEW WITH ANN

By | Interviews, Videos | 6 Comments
This week I thought I’d share with you an interview I had with Kim Adams recently for her Body Love Breakthrough Online Summit.
 
It was a real pleasure talking with Kim. In the interview we discuss how dressing stylishly is not just something to be reserved for when you feel you have reached your weight goals but through identifying your body shape and complimentary colors you can find clothes and styling that will amplify your unique beauty.  
I hope you enjoy it.
Ann

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6 KILLER WAYS TO WEAR SOLID COLORED OUTFITS

By | Colour, How To..., Wardrobe Savvy | 2 Comments

One step above multi-tone monochromatic dressing is the wearing a single, saturated hue. Nothing can beat it’s power for creating a style statement that is memorable, timeless, and chic.

The look easily translates from one season to another, simply select a hue that works with your personal coloring then the weather, the current color trend or whatever suits your mood.

Embracing color is such a vital part of everyone’s fashion journey and never underestimate the effect that individual colors can have on your psyche and those you interact with. 

That said wearing it also takes a little more imagination and finesse to ensure the look is visually interesting so here are a few tips.

#1. On The Surface

When it comes to personal styling, there’s no faster way to look like a fashion editor than experimenting with tons of surface textures and tactile elements with your outfit. Texture savvily hints at a deeper understanding of fashion and what truly makes a look chic and current. Look for surface textures like ponyhair, feathers, faux fur, leather, exotic animal skin, chunky cable knits, and the like.

Texturize

Source: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4

#2. Makeup Maven

Matching your makeup exactly with the color of your outfit can rob your appearance of personality. Use your makeup look as a contrast to your one-color ensemble. An all black look is instantly given a huge dose of wow from a red lip, while an all white look is give some edge with a goth inspired deep maroon or dark purple lip. The possibilities are endless when it comes to thinking up ideas on how to use your beauty look to update one-color dressing.

PutonaPoutSource, Image 1, Image 2, Image 3

#3. Accessory Game

Break up your single shade look by making a strong accessory statement. Wearing one color serves as the perfect canvas, with which you can really highlight some of your favorite pieces from your accessories closet. The streamlined and clean silhouette and appearance of a monochrome look is made to show off your trendiest bags and shoes. A carefully selected purse or footwear in a complementary color can increase the graphic appeal of your look even further.

EmbellishSource: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4.

#4. Bedazzle

Wearing a solid colored outfit from top to bottom gives your look a cohesive feel, and gives you more leeway to play around in your bling box. Let your statement neck-pieces, chunky bangles, oversized cocktail rings, embellished sunnies, and trendy chokers come out to play; this is certainly the perfect styling opportunity for it since one color will make the details in your jewelry become more noticeable and swoon worthy.

Statements

Source: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4.

#5. Get Intense 

When one talks about single hue dressing, neutrals commonly come to mind. Grays, blacks, whites, and navy blues are your standard and typical go-to hues to pull off this trend. If you want something a bit more exciting or if you’re ready to take more fashion risks and increase your style savvy, embrace color to the fullest by wearing an intense color from top to bottom. 

IntenseSource: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3

#6. Get Detailed

Like they say, the devil really is in the details. You can count on tailoring and clothing details to make your take on one hue dressing a cut above the rest. Features like peplum, Peter Pan collar, military buttons and pockets and menswear inspired tailoring, can all elevate your look and give it a wow factor.

Get Detailed

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MARVELOUS MAMMARIES: How to make the most of a large bust.

By | Body Basics, Figure Flattery | 5 Comments

A large bust can be both a blessing and a curse. Yes, your girls may have some of your besties envious and there’s no denying they do turn heads, but finding the line between sartorially stylish and trashy can at times be tricky.

Regardless whether you want to hide of flaunt them, there are many ways to be busty, elegant, and fabulous, all at the same time.

Busty BeautiesTop row: Kim Kardashian, Scarlett Johansson, Kat Dennings
Bottom Row: Christina Hendricks, Sofia Vergara, Salma Hayek

Support, Fit, Define

While wearing a bra can be a pain the benefits out weight the disadvantages. A well-fitted bra will:

  • prevent peek-a-boo nipples, 
  • lift and define your bustline. Slimming and elongating your torso and presenting a more youthful appearance. 
  • inhibit excessive movement when walking fast or exercising
  • delay sagging

So before anything else invest in a few great bras, no matter what your bust size. If you are large busted, you need a bra built with extra support. It’s all too tempting to cheap-out and buy an inexpensive bra but by doing so you do yourself a great injustice.

If you’re tempted to go bra-less take a few moments to read Gabrielle’s feature:  My Week Of Living Bra-lessly in New York City

LiftSupportDefine

Strategize the Lines

If your desire is to down-play your chest size the next thing to do after purchasing a good bra is to be mindful of the style of necklines and collars you wear.

Think:

  • ⋁ rather than
    shaped necklines and collars pull attention up and outward away from the bust toward the shoulders.
    ⋀ necklines, i.e., halternecks and collars pull the eye onto the bust and create width.
    Even wearing the right bra can visually reverse the lines – see Lift, Support and Define image (above). A good bra places the emphasis on the shoulders while a sagging bust has the emphasis at the base of the breasts.  

Minimize with triangles

  • Low trumps high.
    High necklines cause a large bust to be engulfed and exaggerated.

Reveal

  • Narrow verses wide.
    The importance of this depends on your size and how you feel about your breasts and upper body. The wider a neckline or collar, the wider your chest will appear.

WideVersesNarrow

  • Angular verses curved
    Angular design lines have the power to counteract curves. Use them if you feel you’d like to play down the fullness of your breasts.
    Round necklines will emphasize your voluminousness. 

AnglesVersesCurves

  • Vertical over horizontal. 
    Another clever technique to elongate and slim your upper torso is to incorporate vertical design features or accessories.  From button-front tops, pinstripes to open jackets and accessories like oblong scarves this can be a real winner.  

 Run a Lean line

Embellish

Selecting a statement accessory is all about scale. Picking dainty jewelry or finishing off a look with a small bag can look unbalanced with your bust. Medium to large statement necklaces or details that sit above your bust line are among your best options. You can also try long line necklaces and pendants as long as they don’t bounce as your walk or fall within the cleft of your bustline. Alternatively try some dazzling chandelier earrings. Dramatic pieces will draw the eye up, and away from your bust line.

As for purse options, a major leather carryall is not only functional, it’s also the best option to minimize and balance a large bust. Bags that are narrow in depth from back to front will also not add extra width to your torso if carried under your arm. For the evening, try a trendy over-sized clutch instead of a small minaudiere.

Necklaces

Accessories are not the only embellishments worth noting. Garment embellishments such as frills, motifs and texture will add extra bulk to your chest so keep these minimal.

Get it Together

When it comes to tailored blouses, dresses, and a perfect fit, darts should be given much of the credit. When positioned right (pointing and ending near the nipple) the results can be spectacular. Darts allow for ample room while providing torso shape – always a good thing when you want to highlight a small waist.

Buttonhole position and direction likewise can have a significant impact. The perfect place for center front buttons is where one sits midway between your breasts where they are fullest. Alternatively close set rather than wide set button also work well – both allows the blouse to close without gaping. Buttons often sit above and below this point and are a major cause of unsightly blouse gap.  

Another smart technique used in higher end garments or by designers who truly care about fit is a horizontally cut buttonhole located where the garment is likely to experience most strain. For women, this can be between the breasts and at the hipline while for men it’s at the stomach. Horizontal buttonholes allow for more lateral movement and, as a result, the garment will gap and strain less    

Darts

Sleeve Logic

When it comes to enhancing or minimizing the apparent size of your bust your sleeves are the power players. Where they end creates a strong horizontal line across your body add to or deflecting attention away from your bust.

To minimize your size wear a half to full length fitted or slender sleeves.  To accentuate your size end you sleeves at the widest point of your breasts.

Sleeve Logic

Images 

Shape Up

A curvy body and/or a voluminous bust are assets to be proud of, not hidden so don’t hide your curves undergarments that swamp your body.

Semi-fitted to very fitted (depending on your weight and how much you love your girls) is the way to go. As a second option softly flowing tops and dresses will also work.

A nipped in garment from just under your bust to your waistline will create desirable curves while also cleverly concealing a large bust if that is your desire. Avoid narrow lapels in favor of medium to medium-large versions as well are streamlined, non-fussy styles and embellishments as well as jackets that button under the bust. 

clebrate your shapeAlter It

Rarely will off the rack garments fit you perfectly. A good alteration service can make a just-so garment look made for you and is worth the investment in yourself and your image – hands down.

Please Don’t

To complete my ramblings here are some final thoughts on large bust fails.

NoNos

BigBustBlundersA: Too much horizontal width across where Jill is already large. Half length sleeves also widen upper torso: 3/3 sleeves would have been better.

B: Blousing makes Christina’s breast look like they are sagging below her waist.

C: Shapeless: when you have a sultry figure don’t hide it .

D: Heavy, wide lower sleeves drag Christina’s shoulders down, narrowing then and making them appear more sloped as well as making her bustline appear lower. 

MORE?

Here are some great how-to features from bloggers who intimately know large bust issues.