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Monthly Archives: November 2015

A picture of four sexy female butts over white background

BODY BRIEF: DRESSING THE INVERTED TRIANGLE

By | Body Basics, Figure Flattery, How To... | 2 Comments

WomanBy now you already know that women’s bodies come in different shapes and sizes and Prêtàstyler is here for you throughout your style journey. We want you to embrace the natural shape
of your body.

This week it’s time to address the Inverted Triangle Body Shape.

Also called ‘V’, goblet, lollipop, you possess the Inverted Triangle Body Shape if you fall into the following categories:

  • You are larger above the waist than below
  • You have a large bust
  • Little to no waist definition
  • You are top heavy and may have have broad shoulders with narrow hips and legs

If you possess the Inverted Triangle Body Shape, these should be your main aims for dressing for your body type:

You should strive to:

  • Minimize your upper body
  • Create the illusion of a waist
  • Soften the appearance of your upper body, specifically your shoulders
  • Accentuate your lower body 
  • Celebrate your shape by wearing shaped garments over those that are straight

If you love your ladies (and so you should), and want to have them front and center go ahead by wearing curved necklines and bustline embellishments..  

Your upper body

Since this is the heaviest and most prominent part of your body, it is vital for you to master it. Mastering how to dress for your upper body entails many factors, which you can choose at your own liking. Some tips may work better for your lifestyle or your personal style preferences while others may not. The key to unlocking the mastery of the Inverted Triangle Body Shape lie in your mastery of how to show off your upper body in the right way, or balance it with the lightness of your lower body. Here are some tips:

  • Eye catching earrings i.e. chandeliers are a great way of attracting attention away from your bust, as well as softening the appearance of your broad shoulders. 
  • Never underestimate the impact of a good bra. The appearance of a well-supported bust line is already enough to make your look seem more polished. It will also make your torso look longer and it will hold up your shoulders straighter. Remember to adjust the straps to maintain the effect after each wash. 
  • Keep your upper body streamlined and free of excessive detail and fuss that creates volume. In this instance, less is truly more. 
  • Stick to tops in medium to dark solid colors and prints in muted colors or low contrast, these pieces will ensure that your upper half is not further emphasized. 
  • Vertical detailing is an excellent way to create balance with your lower body – look for the details like buttons, seams, pintucks etc. when shopping for tops. 
  • Show skin with medium to low necklines. Remember to always keep it classy, of course. 
  • Strap should be medium to wide. Spaghetti straps can look too insignificant to hold up a large bust. Thin straps will also serve to make your broad shoulders look even broader, and create an unflattering look. 
  • Necklines that narrow and elongate are best such as V-neck, deep U scoops and split necklines.
  • Button front and wrap tops with bust darts are excellent to add flattering shape and minimize volume. 
  • Garments in soft fabrics will sit over your curves best. 
  • Jackets with defined shoulders but not those that extend pass your shoulder line help define your waist.
  • Skip lapels whenever possible. Lapels style creates a much cleaner and slimming line for you.
  • Wear jackets and cardigans open whenever possible. This will make the appearance of your athletic and strong upper half appear more delicate and gentle. 
  • Avoid sleeves that end at the fullest point of your bust. [link to large bust post] ¾ sleeves sit at your sweet spot.

UpperBody

Your waist

To give yourself the most flattering and feminine silhouette, it’s always a good idea to put the focus into your waist, or rather to create the illusion of one. Waist shaping or waist cinching garments or pieces give you a more covetable small waist and hourglass shape, and it also serves to be the balancing counterpoint between the upper and lower half of your body.

  • Nipped jackets, tops and sweaters will give the illusion of a waist and curvy hips.
  • Dresses that highlight the waist are ideal e.g. ruching, side tie, waist panel etc.
  • Belts are great so long as you are not also short waisted
  • Dark belts create a more defined waist than those that are light or bright, which might create the appearance of a wider waist
  • Wide pants with fitted tops also make your waist appear shapelier. 
  • Pants and skirts with no prominent waistbands
  • Just below the waist to hipster waists – no high waist styles.

Waist

Your lower body

Inverted Triangle Body Shapes are lucky enough to commonly have slender legs. Take advantage of your shapely and beautiful gams by showing them off to the fullest. This is the area of your body where you can really get creative and freely dress it up as you wish.

  • Have fun with your lower body. Look for details, design lines and shapes that will add curve and/or width to your hips and thighs such as peplums, horizontal stripes, sheen and shine to tiers and pleats.
  • Boot-cut and flare pants, since these pieces will balance your strong shoulders 
  • Straight, A line, gathered, tulip and trumpet
  • A word on A-line skirts: Do not go too wide if you are short, as wide silhouette A-line skirts will make you look shorter.

Celebrities who share your shape

As always, it’s always helpful to look to the stars for some sartorial guidance when it comes to dressing up for your body type. This is also a quick and easy way to garner some inspiration for your next look.

Jill Scott, Heidi Montag, Susan Sarandon and Christina Hendricks

For more information on how to dress a large bust see my feature: Marvelous Mammaries

InvertedTriangle Celebrities

Important: This information is only pertains to the triangular horizontal body shape. Your body has many other characteristics that also need to be taken into account and can alter some of the recommendations. Prêtàstyler is the perfect tool for finding your perfect garments and making you look fabulous from top to toe.

Ann2015Blue

If you enjoyed this week’s feature
please like it on Facebook or Instagram
or leave a comment/question below.
Thank you.
Ann Reinten AICI CIP
Author


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MAKE WAY FOR SKIRTS

By | Coordination, Figure Flattery, Wardrobe Savvy, Wearing Classics | 7 Comments

“A good sermon should be like a woman’s skirt:
short enough to arouse interest but long enough to cover the essentials.”
~Ronald Knox~

Skirts like pants are a great wardrobe expanders. The wide variety of shapes, styles and lengths; coupled with an almost limitless array of fabrics, colors, patterns and textures means there’s a skirt for every occasion, personality, age and body shape.

Fit is Paramount

Great fit is just as important as buying the right style for your shape.  Ignore the size on the label as there is no consistency of size between labels – correct fit is what matters most.  If the number on the label worries you – cut it off.

Constant creasing is often blamed on poor fabric quality when often poor fit is often the culprit.

When you are in the fitting room go through the following fit checks:

  • Expect that the skirt may need to be altered to fit you perfectly.  Alterations can make all the different to the look and comfort of the skirt. If they are required, have them done without delay. I’d go so far as to say, do not to take them out of your car unless they are going into the alteration store. 
  • If the skirt is fitted or straight, fit the hips first; generally everything else can be altered to fit.  
  • Bend, stretch and move – if you feel the need to pull-down or rearrange your skirt after sitting or walking, select another style or go up one size.
  • There should be enough ease for you to be able to place two fingers comfortably in the waistband and be able to slide the skirt 360 degrees around your body. 
  • Panty lines should not be visible.

Two Basic Shapes

There are three basic skirt shapes:

  1. Straight
  2. A-Line

From these basic shapes all skirt styles arise.

Basics_StraightAline

Source

Straight

Seen every day in every situation straight skirts  and their derivatives classic and timeless. Their clean shape co-ordinates easily with a multitude of tops and jackets and when the hem is at, or just above the knee. As long as they are not too fitted/tight they are unobtrusive and appropriate for most business environments and flattering on most women.

Each can be transformed by fashion into many different looks through the use of fabric, fit and embellishments. From casual in a chunky knee length tweed, to elegant and formal in a calf length silk to a sensual number if a thigh high split is added.

The longer a straight skirt is the more it will restrict movement. To compensate for this vents or side-splits are added or they are styled as a wrap.

Classic styles derived from the straight skirt are pencil and contoured styles. As they becomes more fitted the look becomes sleek and sexy and as such are best reserved for non-business occasions.

Some straight styles include: tulip, wrap, sarong, tiered, fishtail, peplum and pleated.

Straight Skirt SetSource

A-Line

Named after their shape, A-line skirts allow unrestricted movement. They are more feminine and friendly than the traditional straight skirt. 

The wider the A shape the shorter in height you may appear and this visual shortening in turn can result in making the you appear wider/heavier.

The taller, more slender and long legged the wearer is the more flattering a full A-line skirt will appear. If you are not blessed with height, long legs or a slender figure opt for subtle A-lines and add medium to high heels and you’ll look every bit as good as your long legged friends.

Some A-line styles include: gathered, inverted front pleat, circle, wrap, kilt, godet, bubble and dirndl.

AlineSet

Source

Key Elements

Hemlines

Today skirts can have many different shaped hemlines.  Straight remains the only shape that is classic – everything else will eventually fall out of fashion.

If your legs are not your best asset fancy hemlines will not be a good choice for you as they are often become the focal point of your outfit – highlighting your legs.  To counteract this add hosiery in a color that will minimize the color contrast between the hemline and your legs.    

hemlinesSource

Waistbands

Like hemlines, waistbands are best plain or not present as in the case of waistbandless skirts.  If you have any mid torso challenges only the plainest of waistbands will be the ones to choose. Ties, belts and fancy waistbands all require short or tucked in tops and will add awkward bulk if any tops are worn over them.  

Waistbandless skirts give a clean line and elongate the torso however; they do have a tendency to stretch over time.

WaistbandsSource 

Length

Your best skirt length will depend on:

  • the length of your legs,
  • if you have any leg challenges i.e large calves, knobbly knees etc.
  • the style, toe shape and height of your shoe
  • the color contrast created between your hemline, legs and shoes.

Long skirts look best on tall and long legged women. They can work for almost everyone else if medium to high heels are worn.

Skirts which skim the top of the knee are always current, appropriate and flattering on almost every woman. If you are concerned about the look of your knees or legs, wear for hosiery that blends with the color of your hemline, legs and shoes.

When mini shirts are in fashion, for modesty opt for skirts that are longer than they are wide. By adding opaque hosiery a short hemline can be made to appear more modest and flattering.

Experiment by combining different hem lengths and shoe styles, heel heights and hosiery colours. A multitude of challenges can be camouflaged with skillful coordination. 

hosiery

Source

Color

While skirts can be any color it is only the neutral range of colors that are truly versatile. Colour affects both your apparent proportions and weight. A light or bright coloured long skirt will focus attention on the lower half of the body making the wearer appear shorter and wider. Darker colors recede and visually slim the hips, thighs and backside.

Short skirts in light colors appear to be shorter than they really are and are best worn slightly a little longer to compensate, while dark colored short skirts have the opposite effect and thus can be worn slightly shorter. The more color difference there is between your skirt and legs the more attention will be focused on your legs, especially at the hemline.

neutralcoloursSource

Pattern and Texture

Skirts with bold patterns, particularly checks and wide stripes can be difficult to pull-off if you are not slim or tall. If patterned skirts are your thing and you have a full lower body for opt colors and patterns that are subtle and match with a top that carries one of the colours upward, or wear white with a statement necklace.

The use of evening fabrics will transform a skirt from day wear to evening wear.

Texture tends to increase perceived weight and in most cases immediately places the skirt into a new image. For example a straight skirt in high quality, lightweight wool can move freely from the office to home to evening wear, whereas if it is in tweed immediately it will take on a country, casual air relegating it to the weekends. Shiny textured surfaces in the same way render the skirt too glamorous for most work environments.

Pattern Coordination_Skirts

Source

Final Points

  • Choose lengths that best suit you; do not be persuaded by a designer’s whim or a girl friends nagging to wear anything else.
  • Lined skirts last longer and look better – buy them whenever possible.
  • Wear jackets/sweaters and skirts that are well proportioned to each other. Long over short or short over long. Skirt and jacket combinations that are exactly 50/50 are in most cases uninspired and boring.
  • Shoes with low vamps (exposes lots of foot), fine to medium soles and heels, and slightly pointed shoes will all make legs look slimmer and longer.
  • Discover what styles suit your shape and you’ll find shopping and looking great everyday easier than you ever imagined.
    Need Some Style Advice? My Private Stylist is the only online style program that will teach you about all the aspects of all garments and accessories that will best suit you.
    Shop Online Effectively with PrêtàStyler, the world’s first and only personal curated fashion mall. It’s a mall filled with styles perfect for your shape.

Ann2015Blue

If you enjoyed this week’s feature
please like it on Facebook or Instagram
or leave a comment/question below.
Thank you.
Ann Reinten AICI CIP
Author


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HOW TO CREATE AN OUTFIT

By | Coordination, How To..., Wardrobe Savvy | 16 Comments

Getting dressed is a task that most women take for granted. They get up, stare into the wardrobe and pick out the first thing that springs to hand. Some end up looking great and others…well, not so much.

What you wear has a huge influence on how you feel and behave day to day. Socially and business savvy women know that getting dressed and choosing the right outfit is critical to the way the day will unfold.

When you look skillfully dressed, you feel more powerful, more confident and other people give you more notice and more respect. Knowing how to build an outfit is an essential skill to ensure you project the image you want and live the lifestyle you choose.

What you wear and how well you’re groomed speaks volumes about you and we are all unconsciously assessing others via their appearance every day. So it makes sense to look our best every day and that starts with the ability to create figure flattering and visually pleasing outfits.

Thoughtfully crafting outfits from the options in your wardrobe may seem like a daunting task but it’s really as easy as 1, 2, 3. In time, these steps will become second nature to you and building an amazing outfit will be a cinch.

#1. Think ahead9545e7309d8eafc3e63ed869f8e8b7df

It’s always easier to plan what you’ll be wearing the night before. When you have your outfit laid out and ready, it will make your morning much less stressful. This is a great bedtime ritual to make sure that your mornings start on the right note. Laying out your outfit the night before also affords you the time to explore a lot more sartorial possibilities.
Ask yourself:

  • What will I be doing?
  • Where will I be going?
  • What will the weather be?
  • Who will I be seeing?
  • What’s the level of dress that will be required?
  • What impression do I want to make? 

These questions are key to choosing the right outfit for your day. Don’t forget to lay out your accessories too. This ritual/habit will take the hassle out of your mornings and take the guesswork out of dressing up.

#2. Decide on your base layer

It is easier to put together your look once you’ve decided on the basic elements of your outfit. Here are the simple possible combinations for your outfit:

  • Skirt + top
  • Pant + top
  • Dress

The base layer’s look will of course be decided by the occasion or event you’re building the outfit for. The base layer will also decide factors like underwear, accessories etc. If your base layer is simple, that’s the time to get more creative or bold with other aspects of your look. If one or more base layer elements is a statement piece, that’s your cue to simplify the rest of your ensemble. 

BaseLayers1

#3. Lay the right foundation

The right lingerie or shapewear will make an enormous difference. You may think that what you wear underneath doesn’t show or is irrelevant—that’s where you’re wrong. Your underwear affects how clothes sit or drape on your body. Shapewear is a worthy investment in this department since it provides an excellent foundation for your clothing. It will smooth any bulges and it will make sure your clothes fit perfectly. The right underwear has the same effect, so invest in your bras and panties, ladies. Trust me, it will pay off. The right shapewear and underwear will kill wobbles and perk up your chest area. It will make you look your best. If you want to know more, click this link for my in-depth feature on Shapewear

018675-1200x1500-BeforeAfter-2Source 

#4. Layer as desired

Layering is a great way to increase the chicness of your look. So whether it’s for fashion or function, layering is necessary to building an effective outfit. 

  • For formality
    • In business settings adding an extra layer to cover bare upper arms will result in a more professional image. 
    • More formal settings are more about fashionable layering. For professional environments, adding a blazer to your look will result in a more polished and formidable appearance. For formal events like parties etc., layering with embellished jackets or colourful scarves is a great way to stand out and increase the stylishness of your cocktail dress or evening separates. 
  • For warmth
    • i. If you feel you are on the larger side look for light layers of extra warm fabrics e.g., cashmere. Fabrics like cashmere or Merino wool provide the warmth and insulation you need without adding extra bulk to your frame.

ii. Layering for warmth may be functional, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be trendy about it. Cozy cardigans in trendy prints like polka dots, stripes, or plaid is a brilliant way to add an extra dimension of style to your look. 

Layer1

#5. Shoe off

Any style conscious woman will tell you that a shoe can make or break an outfit and it’s true. Nothing can ruin a great outfit quite like a cheap or bad pair of shoes can. A stunning evening dress doesn’t look right with cork wedges, while a day of errands can get sabotaged with a pair of uncomfortable stilettos. Choose shoes that go with the overall images and vibe of your look. It is also important to know when to sacrifice comfort for style and vice versa. A day of walking should, of course, necessitate a comfy yet chic pair of sneakers while a fancy evening event is the right moment to put style above all else, and slip into a pair of amazing high-heeled pumps. For more footwear knowledge, go to my feature called, “Well Heeled.”

Add shoes1

#6. Accessorize

Accessories are so much fun! This is the part where you can get playful with your look and experiment a little bit, all within the bounds of good taste of course. Accessories are also a great way to integrate current trends into your look, and it’s also the outfit element where you can insert more of your personality. Embellishments such as jewelry, scarves, and hand bags can add air of uniqueness to your look. Here are some things to consider when accessorizing your look:

To attract attention to your best area

Think about which areas of your body you want to highlight and consider accessorizing there. If you have an enviable waist, wear a statement belt. If you want to draw attention to your face consider wearing a statement necklace. You get the idea.

Complete the look

An outfit isn’t complete without accessories. Think about a basic white tee and jeans. Worn by itself, it seems so drab. But add a long gold necklace, a printed scarf, and/or some colorful bangles and your humble white tee and jeans combo is ready for a night on the town.

Add some fashion influence

Accessories are look-at-me pieces that instantly communicate your fashion sensibilities. Whether you’re a trendy or classic girl, your accessories will reflect what your style is to a T.

Pull all the items together into a cohesive outfit

Don’t just put together accessories randomly. You should also consider how the accessories relate to your base layer and the rest of your look. All items should look harmonious.

If you’d like more information on accessories, go to this link. 

Add Accessories1

#7. Count your points

At this stage your outfit is complete the only thing left is to check your focal points to ensure your out fit is visually pleasing and figure flattering. In the following image, all 3 outfits consist of a pant and top. The first two appear lacklustre because each has only 2 focal points (top and pants). The 3rd has a belt that adds a much-needed 3rd focal point (top, pants and belt).

  • A focal point is anything that draws your eye to it.  

Aim for 3 to 4 focal points in one look. Less can be boring and more focal points may start to look too busy. All the outfits in the photo below meet this number. 

Bad GroupFocal Points

#8. Check yourself out

While it may be tempting to step out of the house unchecked, don’t do it. Some of your outfits may look better on the hanger or in your head than they do in reality. Always check your appearance in a full-length mirror before leaving the house. You can even take a mirror selfie while you’re at it. If you have doubts about something, trust your gut and remove it. 

log

#9. Log your outfit

It’s so easy to forget all the different outfits you can make. It is super helpful for your style journey to log your outfit to see how your looks change and progress, and to help keep track of looks or pieces that you like and don’t like. You can note down the items that make up each outfit while keeping a photo diary. Keeping an outfit logo is now made easier than ever with social media hashtag and apps that keep track of your #OOTDs (that means “outfit of the day”).

recordSource

Ann2015Blue

If you enjoyed this week’s feature
please like it on Facebook or Instagram
or leave a comment/question below.
Thank you.
Ann Reinten AICI CIP
Author


A picture of four sexy female butts over white background

THE BODY BRIEF: DRESSING THE RECTANGLE

By | Body Basics, Figure Flattery, How To... | 4 Comments

shapeDressing for your body type correctly is one of the most important parts of curating your style and projecting your desired image or style persona into the world. Never underestimate the value of knowing yourself and your body thoroughly. This kind of in-depth knowledge about yourself can prove to be extremely useful when dressing up for the life you want to have.

Today in The Body Brief we are focusing on the rectangle body shape also known as that “H,” column, or banana. If you belong in this body shape category, you possess the following key characteristics:

  • You have little to no waist definition
  • Your hips tend to be a similar width as your full bust
  • You have straight hips and may have a flat or small bottom.

It’s a common misconception to think that all rectangular body types have overtly boyish figures. Some women with rectangle body shapes don’t appear athletic on account of softer shoulders. The important thing to remember for this body type is that the absence of a prominent waist is what needs to be paid the most attention to. It’s all about creating the illusion of a defined waist.

Embrace your body, rectangle body types are relatively easy to dress. Once you master your problem area (the waist), you’ll be well on your way to being a fully-fledged style maven.

The main aims when dressing the rectangular body shape are:

  • Draw attention upwards
  • Create the illusion of a waist.
  • Add dimension to your shape.

Draw attention above the bustline

Never underestimate the power of an accessory or high placed statement style element to give your overall appearance high impact. It’s a great way to integrate trends into your look as well as ensure that the attention is above your bust line. 

EyesUpSource: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4

Master your upper body

  • Never underestimate the impact of a good bra to hold your girls up and lengthen your torso and remember to adjust the straps to maintain the effect after each wash. 
  • Add flattering curves to your shape by experimenting with clothing shapes and fabric textures. For example, a top with volume tucked into a slim skirt or pants will work wonders in creating some curvy illusion as will wide pants with a fitted top.
  • Garments in soft fabrics will add softness and femininity to your straight shape.
  • Structured garments in stiffer fabrics will also look fabulous if they have waist definition.
  • Curvy embellishments and shapes such as lace, ruffles, shawl lapels, wrap dresses and tops will look wonderful one you. 
  • Jackets with defined shoulders will assist in help define your waist.
  • Whittle your waist by wearing tapered or slim sleeves.
  • Avoid sleeves or design lines which end at or near your waist as the strong horizontal line will visually add width to your torso.
  • If you are full busted show more skin with medium to low necklines.

Curvier

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

Whittle your waist

This is the most important body part/area for you to get right. The goal is to create a silhouette with a subtle hint of a waist or alternatively, to bypass the waist with a waistless floaty garment. 

When it comes to your waist the key is to keep it understated and bulk free. Gently waist shaped garments are best at giving you the illusion of a waist but straight shifts and tops will work too. 

  • Belts are not your Enemy

    Belts are great for creating a waist when you know the right width and styles to choose. In addition, dark belts are best at creating the illusion of a waist.If you have short waist, avoid all small belts that will draw undue attention to it.If you have a long torso, you can use all manner of belts and belt buckles exposed under an open jacket is also a great way for you to gain waist detail.Never belt your waist belt tightly; it just creates a look that is unnatural and unflattering to any type of shape. 

WaistSource: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4

Have fun with your lower body

  • Because of your straight hips you can wear almost any style of pant. Those with pleats are especially attractive on you.
  • When it comes to skirts, you can have fun with shape from A-lines to contoured skirts with a strong structure. These pieces will all look fabulous on you.

Lower BodySource: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4

Follow your muse

Finally, If you find yourself lacking style inspiration you can look to celebrities which share a body type. Here are some celebrities to look to for rectangle body shape style inspiration:

  1. Cameron Diaz
  2. Nicole Kidman
  3. Hilary Duff
  4. Queen Latifah
  5. Gwyneth Paltrow
  6. Natalie Portman

Celebs

Important: This information is only pertains to the rectangular body shape. Your body has many other characteristics that also need to be taken into account and can alter some of the recommendations. Prêtàstyler is the perfect tool for finding your perfect garments and making you look fabulous from top to toe.

Ann2015Blue

If you enjoyed this week’s feature
please like it on Facebook or Instagram
or leave a comment/question below.
Thank you.
Ann Reinten AICI CIP
Author