Aug 09

How to Manage Fashion Mishaps and Malfunctions, Fashion fixes, emergency fashion kit, Ann Reinten, Style Clinic, Image Innovators, Image Consultant Training, Image Consultant Resources

SNAP, CRACK, CRINGE: Fashion Emergency Kit

By Style Clinic | Fashion, How To..., Style Clinic, Wardrobe Savvy | 4 Comments

Ever been derailed by a fashion emergency or wardrobe malfunction at the most inopportune time?

I have and it’s a cringe-worthy experience. It even happened to me again this week when someone pointed out that the hanger strap of my top was peeping out of my neckline.

Perfect I thought! Inspiration from above to create a Style Clinic feature about fashion emergencies and what you need to tackle them head-on when they happen. I’m creating two this weekend, one for my car and another for the office.

I’ve covered the most common wardrobe malfunctions which can be managed if we have the right tools handy. An emergency fashion kit would make a great gift for the person who has everything.

If you know of any I’ve left our please add them in the comments below.

Snagged

You’ve worn your beautiful fine wool sweater or linen pants for the first time and snagged it against a rough wall or caught it on something sharp. The result is an ugly thread hanging unceremoniously for all to see.

This is a quick and easy fix for this emergency if you have a Snag needle handy. I’ve had one of these in my bathroom draw for years and it’s going straight into my kit.

Creeping Hems and Clingy Clothes

This is one of my all-time irritations. You leave the house looking great and by the time you arrive to the destination your outfit is full of static and creeping up and clinging to you like ivy. There are two solutions for this one; either use Statique Spray or hand cream.

Statique spray can be sprayed up under your dress or you can rub some hand cream over your hands and then rub it into your legs and or bare stomach. Both work a treat. Oh, and the most convenient hand cream will be a travel size sample you get from airlines or hotels.

Caught Underfoot

You’ve checked your outfit in the full-length mirror before you left home and given it the ‘A’ OK, in fact you think your pant outfit is pretty darn good and your new slingback sandals are cute as hell. The day ahead looks bright until, something feels a little weird underfoot and you discover the hem of your pant is stuck under your foot. You pull it out, but it just keeps reoccurring. The day ahead is ruined with you forever being distracted by how you look and pulling your pant hem out of your show.

Google this issue and you’ll find thousands of people chatting about it but few good solutions. I also couldn’t find any good explanation to why it happens just lots of conjecture. I did however, find Slingbackers and they look promising. They come in black and clear. I’m ordering a pair today.

Loopy Lou

Your big presentation is just about to start. You’re standing behind your host while he introduces in you. Your clients and colleagues are sitting there looking at you expectantly. Some are smiling, and others are looking a little weird, is that a smirk or maybe amusement? Is something wrong? You try to check yourself without looking to obvious – no, nothing you can see so you carry on.

Later the problem is revealed and worse still it’s in all the photos. Your hanger strap was hanging out of your dress armhole for all the world to see.

This one is easy to solve. You can cut if off but that may cause a problem when you hang the outfit if it has an usual neckline. The best strategy is to pin the loop down, inside your dress with a tiny gold safety pin.

Peek-a-Boo

If you’ve been blessed with ample breasts I’m sure they’re admired by many. But your girls may sometimes have an uncanny ability to make themselves seen at inopportune times, such as when bending over, peaking out between blouse button holes or escaping when you’re braless in a knock’em dead dress,

These issues all have a quick fix-it.

To cover your cleavage, you can use items like mock camisoles available from amazon and eBay in many colors and styles. For blouses which gape you can use Hollywood tape or breast buttons. And Hollywood tape can also be used to prevent nipple escapes when going braless in low cut necklines.

Twist and Shout

Some straight skirts have an uncanny ability to twist around your body as you walk and if you’ve had the experienced it can definitely make you want to shout in frustration. Searching Google, I can’t find a clear answer for why this happens, but most believe it’s either carrying a bag at your side and/or a poor fitting waistband.

If you find this happening grab a medium sized safety pin or two and pin your skirt waistband on the inside to your knickers. It works like a dream.

Tatts be Gone

You’re out and suddenly must meet someone who won’t approve of your visible tattoo. No problem, Wundercover will hide your tattoo in seconds. Emergency avoided!

Whoops a Daisy

That darn bra strap keeps falling down your upper arm; it’s annoying and unsightly. There can be a few causes: your straps are too long and need shortening, the elasticity has gone, and you need to replace the bra, or your shoulders are very slopped.

In the first case simple stop by the ladies’ powder room and shorten the strap. For the other two again stop by the powder room and swap the straps so they lay diagonal over your back. This will instantly stop the problem – no tools required.

Earring Droop and Lost Lugs

Our face is the central focus of our daily communication and as such our messages should come in clear and free from distraction. A missing earring or one that is hanging limply from your ear and looking as though it may fall out can have people concentrating more on what’s going on with your earring that what you’re saying.

Heavy earrings with tiny backs can cause earrings to drop on the ear rather than sit up in the correct position. Replacing a small clip with one with a large back will instantly improve your look and have the focus firmly back on your message.

Dribble Draws

There’s a reason why royalty won’t eat certain foods in public and most of us will have been recipients of the results of food stains on our clothes. Not only is it an embarrassment at the time; we also risky a permanent stain the longer we leave it untreated. For this reason, an emergency kit should have a small pack of baby wipes. You can go the more expensive stain removal pads, but baby wipes are usually just as good and cheaper, I always carry a pack in my handbag.

You Pointing at Me?

It was warm when you left, and you have a light bra on, but the weather turned chilly and now your chest is the center of attention. Or, maybe like Miranda you though nothing could happen to expose your breasts? Consider yourself forewarned.

Nipple shields to the rescue, pop these little treasures on and your head lights will be turn off and any embarrassment from mishaps will be minimized.

Dam that Desk

The underside of desks and cane chairs are among the worst offenders but there are many treacherous hazards in your day waiting to tear or ladder your hosiery. With a goal to get you at the worst possible time it’s best you’re ready with a spare pair of hose if the damage is visible and some clear nail polish to stop a ladder that’s above your hemline.

Blistering Hell

No kit is complete without sticking plaster for when the rub starts and blister pads for when a blister appears. Wearing new heels for the first time? Pop one in your bag – just in case. I always have these on hand when I go on vacation. My husband and I love to find trails and walk for hours on end and blisters can appear when you least expect them.

My Aching Feet

Last on my list is a pair of foldable flat slip-ons. There’s probably not a woman alive who has not hobbled home on feet screaming in agony. I’ve even resorted once to walking bare feet when I’d parked my car ten blocks away after entering the wrong inner-city carpark. Thankfully it was very late and those who spotted me were too drunk on alcohol or love to care.

Foldable footwear can be purchased online through many retailers.

The Complete Kit

The kit contains the following:

Snag needle - $5
Statique spray or travel size tube of hand cream – $11
Slingbackers - $10
Safety pins (supermarket) -.20
Hollywood tape - $8
Mock camisoles - $4
Blouse button pins - $17
Wundercover shields - $26
Large earring backs - $2.50
Baby wipes (supermarket) – $2.50
Nipple covers - $6
Spare hosiery (Department store) – Approx $15
Clear nail varnish (supermarket) – Approx $5
Blister pads – $9
Foldable flats - $15

Well, that’s about it.

I’m certain you’ll not want every item on the list and there’ll be other items you’ll think of and I’m looking forward to hearing about them. Oh and, please include a link as well for us.

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

Jul 27

Style for women, Image Innovators, Image Consultant Training Online, Ann Reinten, The Inexhaustible Wardrobe.

THE INEXHAUSTIBLE WARDROBE: PT2

By Style Clinic | How To..., Style Clinic, Wardrobe Savvy | 3 Comments

It will come as no surprize that most of us have far more clothes than we wear. In my experience with clients it’s about 90 items and of those 90 or so items, around 51% are either seldom or never worn.

That’s a lot of money! If you want to calculate how much money you have in clothes and you wear to waste ratio use my calculator.

This time we continue our journey towards the creation of an inexhaustible AKA versatile wardrobe.

Covet Clusters

Building a wardrobe around the concept of clusters is an excellent way to ensure you’ll end up with a wardrobe filled with ready-to-go outfits for every occasion in your life.

Clusters are small groups of garments that mix and matched with each other to create many outfits. They can be clusters for work, your casual days or dressy occasions. By adding accessories into the cluster and you can at least double your outfits. Start by creating as many clusters as you can from your present wardrobe. The image below is an example of a professional female cluster. These items create 36 outfits and with every extra garment, on average another 12 outfits are created. Well thought out accessories can add on average another 30 outfits.

Cluster Guidelines

Five to eleven pieces per cluster e.g. three tops, three bottoms and one skirt or dress and several accessories.
Each item should coordinate with all the other pieces.
One piece should be a print or pattern.
Use the colours in a print item piece as the coordinating anchor for the other clothing items.
If you strive to create a cluster where no two pieces are the same style you’ll increase the flexibility in the number of different looking outfits you can create.
If you are starting your first cluster go with pieces that are simple in style, line and shape i.e. classic.
Each piece in your cluster should work in combination with at least two other pieces.
Add items to expand your cluster
Once you have completed a cluster start another and look for cross-over pieces i.e. items from other clusters that work in other clusters.

Establish a Budget

Figure out how much you want to spend on building your wardrobe. The smaller the budget, the more selective and aware of spending you’ll have to be. If your budget is $1000 you certainly won’t want to splurge on a $900 coat if you’re trying to build a wardrobe.

For some women a cluttered wardrobe is the expression of a carefree approach to buying clothes.

Setting yourself a budget allows you to decide what items you need to expand your wardrobe options both with investment pieces and seasonal trend items. Sticking to a budget and a plan will keep you from overspending and suffering from retail regret.

I often get asked what a professional woman should spend on her professional wardrobe and in rely I suggest the equivalent of 4-5 weeks of the wage you’ll be getting to set it up and 2-3 weeks wages per year replenishing and maintaining your wardrobe. Of that 30% of that should go toward accessories as they have the most power to expand your looks.

Embrace the Classics

There’s a reason they’re called classics–they never go out of style! They are garments and accessories with pure shapes and clean styling which tend to be flattering on most women. To be truly timeless they will also need to be in a neutral colour or reoccurring print e.g. leopard. Some classic garments items:

Man-style white shirts
Straight and pencil skirts
Classic straight pants
Cardigans
Blazers
Sheath and wrap dresses
Closed toe pumps and flat slip-ons
Trench coats
Jeans
T shirts
Pearls, gold and silver chains
Hand bags and totes

If you feel like a splurge keep 70/30 in mind: 70% of your wardrobe should be classic items and 30% trendy.

Alter for Excellence

Few women can wear clothes straight off the rack and look fabulous. Alterations can make an enormous difference to the way you look and can even make an inexpensive item look couture.

The price you pay for alterations will depend on; what fabric/material it is in, the complexity of the job and how long it will take. The original price paid or your love for the item will determine if it cost is worth it. Most alterations are very affordable and will make a world of difference to how the garment will look in you.

Alterations can take a dress from ho-hum to OMG by raising or lowering a hem, nipping in the waist or adding a darts for a better fit. In essence you will have changed a ready to wear item to a couture item because now it has been totally altered for you. And I’ve seen plenty of high end labels look very ordinary on women because of poor fit and plenty of women wearing everyday labels looking ten times better than wealthier sisters.

Source

Document and Log

By keeping a lookbook, written or photographed log of all the possible outfit combinations in your wardrobe you’ll save hours every week wondering what you’ll wear today. I’ve had days where I’ve discovered a killer combination worn it and then several weeks later have struggled to remember what it was I put together, maybe that’s just my post-menopausal brain. There are also apps like Stylebook that allow you to store a record of your closet.

For important meetings you can date you log to keep track of the things you’ve recently worn to be sure not to repeat any obvious items.

Source

Update with Trends

It’s important, no matter your age to keep your look current, and the best way to do this is to update your look each season. You only really need a few key trendy pieces and don’t spend too much on them. Splurge on classics and basic items and save on trends. Consider trend items as disposable or fast fashion because it’s likely you won’t want to wear them after a few months.

Source

Shop to Enhance & Expand

Finally, when shopping think about what else the item you want to buy will go with. When you can identify at least three items in your closet it will coordinate with and you can dress the item up or down with accessories you’re onto a winner. Your shopping process should always be about enhancing and expanding the clusters in your wardrobe.

The amount you spend on any item should reflect how often you intend to wear it. High priced items you wear only a few times are not good purchases. Use my Cost Per Wearing Calculator to calculate if the item you’re about to buy is worth the price.

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

Jun 29

Style Clinic, The Inexhaustible Wardrobe, Wardrobe revamp, Ann Reinten, Image Innovators, Image Consultant Training, Image Consultant Tools, My Private Stylist, What's Your Style Personality Quiz

THE INEXHAUSTIBLE WARDROBE: PT1

By Style Clinic | Wardrobe Savvy | One Comment

Over the last thirty years, wherever I travel in the western world, most women have the same complaint…they have nothing to wear despite a closet bulging at the seams.

It’s easy to understand why; they’re enticed by sales, friends and fashion trends and they’ve constantly purchased clothes with little thought to what they really need. As a result they’ve ended up with a cluttered closet and nothing they want to wear.

It’s time to stop, take stock and rethink how you’re managing your style and closet.

Looking and feeling your best every time you walk out the house doesn’t come about by accident. Our favourite style icons don’t randomly pick out an outfit, and walk out looking fabulous. They plan everything they wear, in fact Kim Kardashian has been open about her wardrobe process: she creates her outfits for the week down to her earrings. She hangs each complete outfit on their own rack, and sometimes even photographs them in case something gets mixed up. Yes, yes, I see you rolling your eyes and hear you saying ‘good for her, I don’t have the time or space to do that’. I get it, and hope that you can at least agree that when you look our best, you feel your best.

An inexhaustible wardrobe is a big call – I know that, but if you implement my guidelines, I promise your wardrobe will gradually transform into a place of versatility and inspiration which will serve you well every day.

So, are you ready to take the plunge and get things sorted?

Yes? Then let’s get started…

Make a Pie

No, not the type you eat, the type you use to map out the items you to need to met the needs of your lifestyle. Let’s face it, a mother of two can’t be expected to run around in six-inch stilettos all day – if at all, and a professional can’t have a wardrobe full of jeans.

Everyone has a different day-to-day experience, and your wardrobe should reflect your needs. Just as executives have their professional pieces so you also should have a specific set of garments that meet your lifestyle needs. The first step towards gaining a wardrobe that works is to map out your lifestyle, create a pie to reflect it and then buy and build clothing capsules that will work for what you do. For example if 35% of your time is spent a work, then 35% of your wardrobe should be work wear.

Here’s a link to a lifestyle and wardrobe pie chart you can create for yourself. When the two pies are almost alike in percentages you know you’re well on your way to a closet that works for you.

Enhance Your Shape

One of the most important factors of a great wardrobe is possessing styles that work well with your age and the shape you have today. I love the fact that we are no longer limited to our local area to find the styles that are best for us. The Internet can connect you with so many brands that no matter what shape, size or age you are there is plenty of choice. The important thing is to first discover exactly what styles suit your shape. Gaining this invaluable insight is available via online via My Private Stylist. Comment ‘Yes Please’ in the comments below and I’ll send you a 20% discount as a Style Clinic reader.

In addition, be open to wearing shapewear; it has the power to make fitted garments sit on your frame as if you were firm and flat. Celebrity stylists like Rachel Zoe swear by it and insists her A-Listers wear it on the red carpet to ensure they look their best. It’s like Hollywood’s worst kept, best secret.

Style Clinic, The Inexhaustible Wardrobe, Wardrobe revamp, Ann Reinten, Image Innovators, Image Consultant Training, Image Consultant Tools, My Private Stylist

Flatter Your Colouring

You’ve probably already worked out that some shades of lipstick or blush make your face come alive while others leave you looking flat or dull. The same goes for the colours you chose for your clothes. If you only work with the styles that suit your figure and ignore colour you can quickly come undone. Style and colour are equally as important when it comes to purchasing the right items for your wardrobe. A personal colour analysis is worth every cent as it will teach you not only about the colours that suit you best but also how to wear them.

Express Your Personality

Have you ever tried on a garment recommended by someone else only to say – it’s not me. Sure the fit was fine and maybe even the colour was good, others loved it on you, but to you it felt wrong – that’s your personal style speaking to you.

The clothes we feel truly at home in are those that express our innate style personality. It often takes women until they are past thirty to start feeling secure that they have found their style and experiences and changing lifestyles may cause it to change over time.

Being able to define your personal style is useful, because just like when you decide on a make and model for your new car – suddenly you start seeing that car everywhere. The same is true when you know what styles and accessories you are after. Instantly your unconscious style antennae will be on high alert and you’ll find yourself discovering what suits you all the time. By pinpointing your personal style you’ll be another step closer to achieving a wardrobe that works.

Purge the Past

We all make mistakes, that’s what learning and growing is all about. It’s OK to make them but not repeat them. So now is the time to get honest with your closet and purge it of all the items you seldom or never wear. This way you’ll clear space for the items that are right for you and you’ll be able to more easily see what you have to wear. To learn what suits your shape click here.

Explore and Expand

You can make an item look totally new just by wearing it differently every time. Set a date to play dress-up in your wardrobe – maybe even invite a close friend. Try on your clothes and accessories to find new ways to wear and coordinate them. At the end of the day you’ll be surprised at the number of options you have lurking in your closet. Read more..

Source

Document and Log

It’s too easy to forget all the new outfit options you have it you don’t document or photograph them. There are even apps now that can store a “virtual” closet for you through your snapshots.

You can even keep track of the things you’ve recently worn to be sure not to repeat any obvious items. Also, at the beginning of each season write down the things you need to replenish your wardrobe so you don’t get caught up in all the new merchandise in the store. Don’t sweat it, it happens to the best of us every now and then.

Next time we’ll continue creating your inexhaustible wardrobe.

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

Sep 28

ALL ABOUT HOSIERY

By Style Clinic | Coordination, Wardrobe Savvy | 8 Comments

Do you wear hosiery?

I know many women these days don’t, at least not in summertime. However, hosiery has a few big benefits that make it worth considering if only for the more important or dressy events in your life.

A Brief History

Hosiery originates from an old Anglo-Saxon term ‘hosen’ meaning to cover or covering and is a term that encompasses a variety of legwear, including tights, socks, leggings, stockings, thigh-highs, and pantyhose. The earliest hosiery found is a pair of red, knitted socks that were discovered in a tomb in Egypt. has existed, as far back as the 9th century.

While hosiery is worn by women today, it was originally a male garment and worn for both protective and adornment purposes. It was only in the 18th century that women started wearing hosiery. From that time onward, hosiery was worn by women and men started wearing trousers and socks, rather than stockings and breeches.

The 1920s heralded in a new era in hosiery with the invention of synthetic fibres. Synthetic fabrics as opposed to natural materials like cotton, made hosiery more durable and easier to produce and to wear as well. “Nylons” became the generic name for all hosiery manufactured during the ’40s and interestingly, when nylon production shifted to the WWII effort, women would paint seams on their legs to make it look like they were wearing nylons.

In the 50s, full coverage tights were introduced into the market. Tights/pantyhose became extremely popular in the 1960s, largely due to the mini skirt and tights combo that Mary Quant pioneered. Since then technology has advanced hosiery and fibres like Lycra which stopped ugly wrinkly knees and ankles and the ability to weave intricate patterns into hosiery has made it an enduring piece in stylish women’s closets.

In the 2000′s, it would seem that hosiery especially in summer and in now ever more casual work places is now a passé item. Personally, I think that it’s just a temporary phase and hosiery will return from time to time as fashion temporarily elevates it to a must-have. In addition, for women like myself with less than perfect legs, hosiery makes a world of difference to how I look when I have not tanned my legs.

Types

These are the most common types of hosiery:

Anklets: ankle length socks made from sheer hosiery fabric.
Knee Highs: Hosiery that reaches to the knee and designed to be worn under pants.
Stockings: reach up to the upper thigh are are held in place with a girdle or garter belt and are usually sheer. Hold-ups are stockings that are held in place with an elastic band typically with some silicone that acts as traction
Tights: thick full leg hosiery.
Pantyhose: goes from waist and covers the entire foot, made of nylon
Fishnet: hosiery that has a cut-out fishnet pattern

Denier and Expectations

A denier is a unit of measurement for tights. It is used to convey the thickness of hosiery by measuring the unit of density. The lower the denier of a pair of hosiery is, the more sheer it will be since the material or the yarn is finer and less dense.

Here’s a quick cheat sheet for you:

Less than 10 denier = ultra sheer
10-20 denier = sheer
25-35 denier = semi-opaque
40+ denier = opaque

Denier is also a good factor in determining the longevity of any hosiery. Anything less than a 12 denier usually doesn’t last beyond one wear. The higher the denier, the more durable and resilient it is. When a pair of hosiery has more synthetic material than natural, you should expect that it will have more wear i.e. Nylon tights will last longer than cotton blend tights. Hosiery with shapewear built-in will also last longer. Wear expectations also depends on how you care for your leg wear and whether or not you bought the right size or not.

Size and Toes

Like clothing the size of hosiery varies from brand to brand. Buying the right size will not only be more comfortable but will also add to the longevity and look of your hosiery. With that in mind all hosiery packets come with a size chart on the back as well as specialty ranges for pregnant and plus size women. Take the time to check out your best size.

Likewise hosiery comes with a variety of different toes. From toe-less to reinforced there’s a style of toe to suit all needs.

If you wish to wear hosiery when wearing sandals make sure you select sandal toe for the best possible look. Sheer toe and open toe are good for peep toe shoes. Reinforced is good only for closed toe shoes.

Finish/Surface

There are three prevalent finishes for hosiery: matte, sheen, and shine. When you want to look polished or dressy (in the formal sense) go sheen. Shiny hosiery while very dressy is best reserved for glamor and evening affairs and then only of your legs are slender. Shiny hosiery is great at making legs appear larger.

Finding The Right Nude Hosiery For You

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1548181103845283/

The right nude hosiery is a wardrobe essential. There’s nothing worse than nude hosiery that is different to your natural color; you can go a shade darker if you want to look a little more tanned but one shade max.

Coordination

When it comes to selecting the best color for your hosiery go with nude and shades of black for professional occasions. Other than that you can:

Add opaque hose to a skirt or dress that is too short (A)
Match the color to an accessory (B)
Match the color to a color within a print (C)
Go monochromatic (D)
Make a statement with a bold color (E)

Put Your Hosiery on With Care

Though technological advancements have made hosiery more durable than ever, you should still take care to put them on correctly, especially when they are sheer.

First of all, make sure take any rings and bracelets off and ensure your nails are smooth to prevent snags. If your hosiery is ultra sheer consider wearing cotton gloves if you don’t have a spare pair handy.

Start by sitting down and roll down the tights down to the toe area.
One leg at a time, slip your foot into the hosiery and curl your toes downward to prevent toe nail snags.
Gently roll the hose up your legs. Always use both hands and stretch the hosiery up each leg carefully.
Lastly, when both legs are in, stand up and carefully pull hosiery over the waist.

Hosiery Care

Finally, here are some basic do’s and don’ts of hosiery care:

Hosiery should be hand washed with in warm water using a mild detergent.
Do not bleach.
Do not leave to soak
Do not put your hosiery in the dryer, instead dry flat between two towels or drip dry.
Do not dry using direct sunlight or direct heat.
Fold flat or roll up when storing in your bureau. Make sure to place away from items it may snag on.

Want More: How to Style Fishnet Hosiery

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

Aug 31

WARDROBE ROYALTY

By Style Clinic | Wardrobe Savvy, What to Wear | 10 Comments

Kate Middleton knows them and so does Victoria Beckham, Michelle Obama, Melania Trump and I’ll wager many of your best dressed friends. They’re the styles that live on far after the fads and trends have been hurled to the discard piles. What are they? They’re the garments and styles known as wardrobe royalty.

Let me take you through my favorites.

Fit and Flare Dresses

Often retro-inspired and always feminine, fit and flare dresses are flattering on almost every woman and are perfect for creating an hourglass-like silhouette. If you are plus size or short keep to a subtle Aline and softer fabric to ensure the best shape.

Fit and flare dresses are also easy to wear, and are fit for day or nighttime depending on the fabrication and hemline. You can add a belt for more waist focus or a statement necklace if you want to draw attention to your upper body. Add tights, a cardigan or a cropped jacket and they become instantly fall-ready.

Source: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3

A-Line Silhouettes

Whether in a dress or skirt, a-line silhouettes are a constant. Opt for longer/midi hemlines if you have a broad or tall frame. If you are petite a hemline that ends just above the knee will prevent the A-line from overwhelming your frame.

Source: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3

Blazers

There’s nothing like a well tailored blazer to smarten up an outfit no matter how casual it is. Liberate them from the bondage of work wear and allow them the freedom to transform your wardrobe. Throw one over a breezy summer dress or a fall combo of sweater and jeans and you’ll look instantly chic and ready for anything.

Source: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3

Dark Denim Jeans

There are many denim washes however, dark denim in a bootcut or straight silhouette is a pairing you can wear all-year, every year without a care in the world. Extremely flattering on both curvy and straight figures, dressed up or down, from summer brunches to winter date night dinners, dark denim jeans is always an easy pick when the desire is to look effortlessly stylish. When high glam is called for reach for your best high heels and some on trend sunnies and you’re good to go.

Needless to say, the jeans need to be in perfect condition.

Source: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3

Cashmere Cardigans

No matter where you live, if a chill breeze blows there’s need for a chic cardigan and nothing’s chicer than cashmere. Downy soft, feather-light and on the top run of style; cashmere cardigans are a luxe and worthy addition to your closet.

Source: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3

White T-Shirts

It may be one of the simplest garments in your closet but it’s also one of the most versatile. From the classic scoop neck to a plunging V, short or long sleeved a pristine white, high quality T can effortless move from relaxed wear to business casual.

Source: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3

With these garments ever ready in your closet you’ll rarely have to think twice about what to wear.

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

Aug 04

FOR THE LOVE OF PRINTS: pt 2

By Style Clinic | How To..., Understanding Prints & Patterns, Wardrobe Savvy | No Comments

This week I continue my feature on prints by looking at the design elements of prints and how to select ones that are best ones for you. You’ll be surprized that once you know this information your unconscious brain will be ever on the look-out for them.

Design Elements that Impact Size

Size/Scale

The rule is simple here: the bigger the print, the bigger you’ll appear to be. The best prints are ones that are scaled to harmonize and flatter your scale. If you are a petite go for prints that are small to medium, if you are medium to tall and not overly overweight medium-small to medium-large prints are best for you. Tall gals with a likewise weight can wear medium-small to large prints and if you are plus size, go with prints that are medium to medium-large.

Source

Color

The overall color of your print will also make a difference to both your size. Light and bright prints tend to be enlarging while darker prints minimize size. Medium depth prints, on the other hand, are neutral in their effect.

Source

Color Contrast

Another impactor of apparent size is the contrast of prints. The greater the contrast between the colors the larger you will appear general rule applies to color contrast: the higher the contrast, the wider you will appear to be. If you love big prints but find them too enlarging try finding a large print in a low contrast. The subtleness of the low contrast will mitigate the enlarging effect of the print’s size.

Print Direction

Being able to recognize the direction of a print allows to to chose the one that will best work for you. Send the eye vertically and you’ll make the area appear longer and/or narrower. horizontally and you’ll appear wider and possibly shorter. Multi directional prints are easiest to wear because they do not have a major direction.

Worth mentioning here too are complex prints. These are geometric/angular prints which have a complex design that does not allow the eye to rest in any one area. These are incredible at breaking up the body and can achieve minor miracles in the visual slimming stakes.

Print Location

Where you place a print is also important. Are you larger below your waist like Girl with Curves blogger Tanesha Awasthi? Then prints on your top half will flatter you most. Larger above the waist…yep, prints below your waist are the way to go.

When selecting dresses keep scale, color and direction top of mind.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Style Clinic.

There’s more to learn about prints and the impact they have on your image but I’ll leave that topic for another day.

Do You Love Style and Fashion?

If the answer is yes, a career as an image consultant may be perfect for you.

I have launched my online Style and Image Management course and I’m offering a Special Introductory Price while I add all the video in. The course is internationally certified with CEU’s and comes with 12 months of post course follow-up and 6 months membership as a consultant with Image Innovators (my company). When complete the cost will be $1495.00 but for a limited time it is $950.

This is the link where you can request the topic outline for all our courses.

This is the link to our online academy with discount added.

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Ann Reinten AICI CIP
Author

Jul 21

FOR THE LOVE OF PRINTS: pt 1

By Style Clinic | How To..., Understanding Prints & Patterns, Wardrobe Savvy | No Comments

Take a moment to peer into your closet. What do you see, lots of prints or more solid colored garments?

For as long as I can remember I’ve been a lover of prints, to me, they’re more interesting than solid colors and my preference for them stems from my coloring and personal style.

Like most things, too much of something is rarely a good idea; too many prints and your outfit can appear noisy and/or haphazard, too many solid colored outfits and you risk looking a little boring.

Prints and patterns are design elements which I believe deserve at least twenty percent of your wardrobe. They add interest, can display your personality, elevate or lower the formality of an outfit and even change it’s overall mood. Understanding about prints and patterns and what makes them work is important in working out which ones will work best for you.

Recently, I’ve been writing and recording lessons for our new online image consultant course and thought you may also enjoy some of what I’m teaching.

First off, let’s start with the difference between prints and patterns. A print is a motif or design printed onto a fabric. While a pattern is a motif or design that can either be woven or printed into a fabric. Therefore, all patterns are prints but prints are not patterns.

Now that we understand prints and patterns a bit better, here some of the major categories of prints :

Geometric: shapes made from geometry
Linear/Lineal: Straight lines
Florals: Flowers
Abstract: Images of objects distorted from how they look in reality
Animal
Ethnic/Tribal: Art that originates from specific regions, ethnic or tribal groups
Motif: clearly repeated designs, think shoes, leaves, elephants, butterflies etc
Graphic: Images generated on a computer

These categories can further be grouped into classics and fads. It’s important to make this distinction because classics prints and patterns are worth investing in if the garment is also classic in style, while fads are trends that are unlikely to last beyond a season.

Classic Prints and Patterns

The following prints and patterns have withstood the test of time. These kinds of prints and patterns have proven to be, time and time again, wardrobe staples that remain elegant, chic, and sophisticated.

STRIPES

There are three kinds of stripes: vertical, horizontal, and diagonal.

Vertical stripes are more flattering when the stripes are closer to each other and thinner. The wider the stripe, the distance between the stripes and/or the higher the color contrast between the stripes, the wider you will seem to appear to be. An especially noteworthy stripe when it comes to work wear style is the menswear-inspired pinstripe. Horizontal stripes, on the other hand, are perceived as more relaxed and casual. While diagonal stripes are seen as creative and individual. The same styling rule applies to diagonal and horizontal stripes as they do to vertical stripes.

FLORAL

Floral prints are no longer limited to spring/summer. They can be worn year round. The feel of a floral print or pattern is dictated by its color palette, the closeness of of the images to reality and the type of flowers.

Light or pastel florals convey romance, innocence, and femininity. Dark florals express more strength and are therefore more suited to business wear. Those with a background in a similar depth to your hair will look most at home on you. Bright florals are seen as youthful and fun and are especially appropriate in the summer. Abstract floral prints are creative on trend at the moment. Liberty florals have a retro feel and are typically smaller in scale. Lastly, folk floral prints are bohemian-inspired and have more of a BoHo influence.

PLAIDS

The major categories of plaid are glen plaid, tartan, windowpane check, madras check and gingham. Both glen plaid and tartan are menswear inspired and are great for office dressing. Meanwhile, madras checks are for more casual occasions. The same can be said for gingham, no matter what the silhouette gingham is a casual and playful print that is best reserved for social occasions.

Windowpane checks are great for your work wear wardrobe. We would advise you to wear only one piece in windowpane check as it can get overwhelming. However, a head-to-toe windowpane check suit can work for those who work in more creative industries.

ANIMAL

A major group within the animal print family is that of the wildcats. Leopard, tiger, and cheetah prints are classics that will never go out of style. Every year and every season, we spot these wildcat prints on major runways. Leopard is practically a neutral! All jokes aside, these wildcat prints and patterns exude an undeniable drama, sex appeal, and strength. Zebra and giraffe prints are unexpected incarnations of the animal print and express a more creative side. Python prints express that same drama and glamour as the wildcat prints. However, python prints can be too much so to be on the safe side opt for them as accessories. Lastly, cow/pony and dalmatian prints are quirky, unusual and even comical. These two prints are definitely more on the casual spectrum. Cow/pony prints can also be enlarging, so proceed with caution.

SPOTS/DOTS

People either love or hate the spot/dot print. A trend that can be traced back to the 40s-50s and still remains relevant today, the spot/dot is certainly here to stay. Even spaced spots are more retro, and smaller, uneven spots look more modern and more suited to wear in a corporate setting. Pop art spots and confetti spots in varying colors are whimsical prints that translate to daytime or party wear.

PAISLEY

Originating in India, paisley prints and patterns were made fashionable by the British. This print is very strong in bohemian fashion. When donned as an abstract print, paisley can be appropriate for business casual events.

CAMOUFLAGE

The army origins of the camouflage print give it a rugged, masculine and casual image. This print is enjoying a trend renaissance right now. Camouflage is becoming big in the street wear scene.

FAD PRINTS & PATTERNS

Fads come and go. So while these patterns and prints are fun, it is unlikely that these will last more than a season or two. You’ll be much better off going for these prints and patterns as low investment pieces in your wardrobe. Though their longevity isn’t the best, it makes a great impact for the season.

PALM

Resort wear and summer-inspired, palm prints and patterns are great in fun silhouettes like rompers and cropped tops.

ILLUSION

This may be the only exception to the ‘fads’ rule. Part geometric and part linear, illusion prints can last you more than season especially when done in neutrals.

COMIC

Comic prints are pop art influenced and are typically loud and in-your-face. Proceed with caution, comic prints can make a major statement but can be enlarging.

MOTIF

Motifs occur every season. Repeats of either tropical motifs like birds of paradise for summer, leaves for fall, map prints for winter; all of these are unique motifs that can elevate your look.

In part 2 I’ll cover the in’s and out’s of wearing coordinating prints.

If you enjoyed this week’s feature
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Thank you.
Ann Reinten AICI CIP
Author

Mar 03

UNCOVERING YOUR CLOSET CHARACTERS

By Style Clinic | How To..., Wardrobe Savvy | 16 Comments

There’s an alternate world within your closet, one that’s filled with as many characters as you’d see in any block-buster movie. Knowing who they are and what roles they play will give you a new take on your style and what items you allow into your closet.

Most women dress for the day according to their mood, where they are going and what they are going to do that day but is that really enough? I don’t think so. As Rachel Zoe once said, “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak”, so we really should be more considered about how we step out each day.

One way to do this is to have a closet filled with items that support your goals and that means some time spent analyzing what’s in your closet. To save this from being a boring chore I’m going to show you how each item in your closet has a set character, ready to play their part in your daily image.

This is who they are…

HEROES

The heroes of your closet are the flattering basics and classic items. These pieces are the no-brainers that you can rely on when you’re having an ‘I-don’t-know-what-to-wear’ day. They are timeless pieces that never go out of style, and are worth a higher price tag for better fabric and construction. If you find a hero item that you fall in love with, it’s even worth buying multiples of it in different colors.

Combinations of heroes will always lead to the sartorial promised land.

Heroes1 Source: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4

SIDEKICKS

They say behind every good man is a great woman; likewise behind every hero is at least one sidekick whose job it is to support and add versatility to their hero. Your closet sidekicks are the interest pieces that stay inline with current trends and change the mood, status, and personality of or your hero items, allowing them to go almost anywhere. They include items like embellished cardigans, printed scarves, leather jackets, statement jewelry, eye-wear, vests and fashion pieces.

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

DARK HORSES

Unexpected yet chic, dark horses are closet items that often have a story. They may be your thrift store finds, vacation memories, vintage favorites, heirloom pieces or anything else that can add a sartorial spice to up an outfit and your style. Examples of the dark horse are items like a cameo brooch, retro Pucci print skirts, high-waisted vintage denim, boho fringe pieces etc.

Source: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3

MAGICIANS

Magicians are transformative garments that make you feel instantly amazing whether it is confident, sexy or some other elevating or empowering feeling. These finds don’t happen often, but when they do, it’s a life-changing moment. Closet magicians are different for everyone. For some it might be a killer black dress, for others, it may be a pair of stilettos that are both sultry yet comfortable; the point is magicians are mood boosters that give your style the jolt it needs.

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

SABOTEURS

Lurking within every closet are the saboteurs. These items hide in your closet waiting for an opportunity to trick you into thinking they’re the perfect thing to wear when the truth is they’re going to ruin your look and/or your image. Examples are clothes that are too tight, weird fashion, items no longer age appropriate or things from your past that no longer fit your present.

MISFITS

Closet misfits are items that are no longer consistent with your age, present shape, personality or circumstances. They might be torn jeans from your days of working at a record store or twinset cardigans from when you were more conservative. Whatever it is, if it doesn’t fit with who you are now, find it a new home.

IMPERSONATORS

It’s natural that over time you’ve explored and experimented with your personal style. You may even become enamored with the style of another person or trend for a period. It’s during these times that you’ll acquire the impersonators. These are items that you thought were ‘the new you’ but ended up becoming closet orphans. It’s time to expel these impersonators who only create closet clutter and confusion and make way for the clothes that make you the star.

In the end understanding your closet characters helps you audit your closet into a place of inspiration and options. Making space for your heroes, sidekicks, dark horses and magicians while eliminating your misfits, impersonators, and saboteurs. Once you get rid of the dead weight in your closet, you’ll be ready to increase the players in your wardrobe all-star team.

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

Oct 21

HOW TO STYLE FISHNET HOSIERY

By Style Clinic | Fashion, How To..., Wardrobe Savvy | 4 Comments

Fishnet stockings or hosiery have long held a somewhat controversial place in fashion history and trends. Stereotyped as a ‘sexy’, fishnet hosiery has the potential to be seen as provocative. However, the negative connotations of fishnet hosiery betrays its iconic place in fashion history as well as it’s real potential to be part of a chic or even elegant look. First of all, let’s define fishnet stockings. The term ‘fishnet’ pertains to the diamond shaped open knit of this type of hosiery or textile. Traditionally black, fishnets are available in a variety of colors and are available in a variety of weave sizes. The origins of fishnet hosiery is one of fashion’s mysteries. No one can really pinpoint the exact point in history when fishnet stockings started being worn or a specific inventor of fishnet stockings either. Although the beginnings of fishnet hosiery in fashion history can be disputed, one cannot dispute that fishnet stockings have stood the test of time and still remains an important piece of fashion today.

History

Historically the word ‘fishnet’ appeared around the 1880s, the word meant loosely woven material or fabric. In the 1900s, a stocking with a diamond knit appeared in a French advertisement. Pop culture imagery would have us believe that fishnet stockings were worn by cancan dancers of the Belle Epoque/Jazz Age Twenties era, but it wasn’t until the 1930s that fishnet stockings became widely used and worn. This can be attributed to Gypsy Rose Lee, the queen of burlesque at that time. The 1950s saw the popularity of Bettie Page and other pinup models, which further put fishnets into the limelight. The democratization of fashion and the feminist movement in the 1960s led to shorter hemlines and more variety in fishnet styles. In the 60s, fishnets came in more colorful styles and smaller sized diamond knits. From the 90s onwards, fishnet stockings became co-opted by different fashion movements. Goth, punk, avant-garde, Harajuku, and grunge: fishnets came to signify fashion rebels and edgy trend trailblazers.

More recently, Alexa Chung was photographed on the cover of Glamour wearing large whale net tights underneath printed trousers. This style of tight has been a massive recent success with Charlize Theron, singer Pia Mia and many other fashionista and street style divas being photographed in them.

So, wearing fishnets today can lead to several different image outcomes:

provocative/lewd
sexy and playful
retro glamour

To gain the later is probably what most of us would prefer.

How, When and Don’ts

Let’s start by looking at some general features of wearing fishnet hosiery:

The larger the fishnet weave, the more provocative and suggestive the style may be perceived.
Fine gauge fishnets are more elegant and sophisticated.
The soles of your feet and the tips of your toes become sore after a relatively short amount of time when wearing large open weaves.

Fishnet Weave Variations

To avoid any “hooker style” connotations when wearing fishnet hosiery (especially large open weaves) I suggest not coordinating them with more than one of the following:

Open toe shoes
A seam at the back of the hose
Wild animal prints
High heeled platforms
Ankle straps
Exposed tops of stockings
Ripped clothing
Micro minis
Thigh high splits
Low cut necklines

This un-named celebrity has WAY too many of them!

For an subtle and elegantly alluring look:

Stick with black micro weaves.
Choose fishnets with subtle embellishments e.g. spots
Wear with classic closed-toe shoe styles such as a sleek pair of pumps.
Style fishnet hosiery with more polished pieces such as blazers, knee-length pencil skirts, a-line midi skirts, preppy sweater sets, or pea coats.
If you’re going to experiment with short hemlines, wear your fishnets with knee-high boots or an over-sized coat and show just a peek of your hosiery.
Keep your makeup nude and natural or classic. A red lip and a smoky eye might be a tad too racy when paired with fishnets.
While it may be tempting to skip shaving your legs cause you’re wearing tights, hairs that are peeking out in between the weaves of your fishnet stockings is a major fashion disaster. Forgetting to shave signals a lack of self-care and confidence.
Formal and evening occasions are the very best times to wear fishnet stockings, although daytime wear is also fine.
Proceed with caution when wearing fishnet hosiery to the office, your work environment may frown upon this choice of leg wear. If you do, make them micro fishnets and ensure everything else you wear is classic, in good repair and polished.

Styling Ideas

Don’t let the controversy around wearing this type of hosiery faze you, like these women, you can still pull fishnets off with maximum style.

Gwen Stefani is one of the most stylish celebrities that has a clear love affair with fishnet stockings—she’s been spotted numerous times looking chic in them. This look in particular pops since it uses fishnet as an additional layer of texture to her ensemble. Notice how she kept her makeup and hair simple and straightforward to balance the sexy feel of her stockings. The long sleeves and statement print of her dress offsets the fishnet stockings perfectly.
Alexa Chung’s take on fishnets involves menswear style inspiration with a touch of vintage. The booties and the oversized ‘borrowed from the boys’ feel of her overcoat combined with the retro bandana prevent the fishnets from crossing over to trashy.
Salma Hayek knows that a surefire way to elevate her fishnet tights is to keep it monochromatic. Wearing one color from top to toe is a sure thing when it comes to looking chic, adding fishnets to the all black sartorial equations keeps things visually interesting.
Heidi Klum’s take on fishnet is more modern and gives it a more trendy feel. The floral dress plus the leather motorcycle jacket balances this daytime look from looking too sexy. Feminine elements like the floral print and fishnets married with masculine elements like leather and flat boots make for a pleasant sartorial surprise.

Here are more great looks:

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Thank you.
Ann Reinten AICI CIP
Author

Jul 21

HOW TO STYLE CAPRI AND CROPPED PANTS

By Style Clinic | Figure Flattery, How To..., Wardrobe Savvy | 9 Comments

There’s a variety of names for them.

From clam diggers, three-quarter pants, cropped trousers, cigarette pants, pedal pushers, Capris, and culottes, cropped pants (aka pants that end above the ankle) may go by many names but one thing is for sure, every summer we love to wear them.

Historically women started wearing pants on mass during WWII as they worked on farms and in factories to support the war effort. Before this time only a few women dared to cross the skirt line especially if it was outside of sport or manual labor, one of them was Canadian-born actress Norma Shearer.

In 1948, fashion designer Sonja de Lennart created a stylish, sexier alternative to pants for women. Her tight, three-quarter length style usually included a short slit on the outer-side of the pant leg. They were called Capri pants, named after the designer’s Capri Collection (which took its name from her love for the island of Capri, as well as the song “Isle of Capri”).

The Capri Collection caught the eye of iconic costumer designer Edith Head in 1952, and she proceeded to utilize de Lennart’s designs for Audrey Hepburn’s Academy-Award winning costumes in Roman Holiday and Sabrina. The Capri pants, in particular, resonated within the world of fashion, becoming popular with notable names like Grace Kelly, Doris Day, Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Jacqueline Kennedy, Mary Tyler Moore and Sophia Loren. These events and women shaped the history, popularity, and influence of the Capri pant silhouette.

Today we see four main types of cut-off pants:

Culotte: True culottes mimic a skirt. They are usually of soft fabric and designed to reveal they are pants only when walking.
Cropped: Pants above the ankle which have a straight or wide leg.
Capri: Tapered pants with a hemline that sits close to the leg.
Legging: Skin tight pants.

Source

Who wears what best

Culottes

These are flattering and comfortable for most women and you can follow the same rules as you would for skirts.

Cropped

Besides a good fit, width is the biggest factor to consider when thinking about which cropped pants to buy. Because they are cut-off above the ankle they visually shorten your height which in turn can make you appear fuller-figured. The taller and slimmer you are, the more latitude you have to play with width.

For those not blessed with height or a waif figure try the following:

Source

Capris

Once again a good fit is essential and given Capris sit pretty close to your leg the potential for uneven leg flesh to show through the fabric is pretty high. If your legs are untoned (yep, I’ve raised my hand too) either look for thicker / more solid fabrics or wear shapewear underneath. Another equally effective home hack is to buy flesh colored control hose and cut the feet end off approximately 8 inches / 20 cms above the ankle. Put them on and check they sit up under your Capris. If they don’t cut them higher and try on again. You’ll be amazed at the difference they will make when it comes to smoothing your thigh. They’re a little hot but work like a dream.

Where your Capri pants end can make a big difference to the look of your legs. Altering them when necessary so they end on a curve in your leg and not the widest point will always be most flattering. This could be above or below your calf or at your ankle.

Source: Image 1 and 3, Image 2

Source

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Ann Reinten AICI CIP
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Category Archives: Wardrobe Savvy

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Color Contrast

Print Direction

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Do You Love Style and Fashion?

Classic Prints and Patterns

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SIDEKICKS

DARK HORSES

MAGICIANS

SABOTEURS

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