You’ve heard of the “little Black dress”, & you probably own one! But how about a Little Grey, or Brown, or navy dress? Yes you read correctly. If we take a look at our wardrobes & when you scan your eye over the clothes, do you see alot of black? If not, is there another dark neutral that you wear instead of black? Maybe its a navy, grey or a brown? I would say that the majority of us would have a lot of black, in fact it may be mostly what you wear. “Whats wrong with that, I hear you say?”- nothing if it still suits you! It is interesting to note that although black is definitely popular to wear, according to a study of “Colours by gender” that only 6% of women named it as their favourite colour! Black is considered the absence of colour, it can be seen as both sophisticated & the colour of mourning. It intimidates, & is unfriendly and exudes power and authority.We choose it when we want to appear authoritative, & to make a strong impression on others. Its not the best colour to wear when looking for a romantic partner as it may dissuade people from approaching you. It can make you look too severe and look like you may reject any advances made towards you. Cheap clothes always look more expensive in black as imperfections are less noticed! As Coco channel said “The best colour in the whole world, is the one that looks good on you!”

What is Value? Value refers to a Colours depth, from light to deep. What is Intensity? It is how bright/vibrant or muted,(toned-downed, grayed) a colour is.For example a bright yellow (like a buttercup) compared to a soft (muted) lemon yellow. What is Undertone? Is the warmth or coolness of a colour.  A colour that is warm  has an undertone where sufficient yellow has been added to change the “temperature”.  A colour having a cool tone has had sufficient blue added to change the temperature to cool. When we’re younger we are at out brightest, our skin is more clear & our hair more intense. As we age our hair goes grey, our skin dulls & our eyes lose some of their brightness. Its this graying down that makes wearing black become much harsher on us, revealing those wrinkles & double chins, & under-shadows & bags under our eyes. “who wants that?” Black does not reflect any light it absorbs colours, but it does reflect a cool dark shadow onto us. Our undertone comes from the pigmentation of our skin, which can change & cool down as we age, therefore the colours that you use to wear may not suit you now! OK, Maybe Black isn’t my best Neutral – What can I wear instead? How about some of these?                 Cooler Neutrals Warmer  Neutrals You will be amazed how wearing your most flattering neutrals will compliment you so much better then just wearing black. When we do a Colour Sense Consultation with you, you will receive your own signature colour range that includes a great range of neutrals that work wonderfully with your other colours that uniquely flatter you. If you have had your colours done before & its been 10 years or more, then its time to refresh yourself. If its your first time you will love the”pampered” feeling as you see what your “true colours” really are. As you build your own colour palette into your wardrobe you will find that matching your clothes together will be so much easier as the palette is made to work harmoniously together! With up to 50 swatches in your range & 18 different colour palettes, you can be assured that it is tailored made for you. Get your One-on-One consultation now or get together with friend to have your “Buddy-up”consultation at the same time!

“To define or not to define is the question” It all comes down to the body shape you have inherited & a matter of proportion! First some tips for “creating a slimmer looking” waist: 1. Make sure you have a great fitting bra, so that your bust sits in the right place and you create enough length between your bust & waist. I recommend a professional bra fittingto achieve this. Tighten your bra straps every 3-4 washers as well. 2. Invest in a foundation garment that nips in your waist. There are lots of these on the market, so its a matter of finding the one that is right for you. I recommend the range  from yummielife.com.au.like this tank pictured here. They have a control panel on the waist area pulling you in,eliminating the muffin top,yet it doesn’t squash your bust like some other garments can & is comfortable to wear. 3. Create a column of colour either on the outside or inside of your silhouette as in the pictures below: 4. Use vertical panel lines to lengthen the body as in picture A & B. The horizontal line at the waist on the top of picture A creates  the illusion of a small waist as it only goes across a short distance. View B draws the eye downward because of the contrasting colours and the vertical paneling. 5.View C demonstrates how the diagonal lines create a waist, this is great if you need to add curves to you frame ( ie: for an “I”shape person) 6. Ruching & draping  in tops in a firm stretch fabric are great for hiding a stomach & creating a waist. ( note how the navy top creates a  lovely vertical line with its draped centre fall.) 7.Wearing a  single breasted tailored jacket in a med firm fabric with vertical panel/design lines, create a great waistline, cinching you in with its firmness &  can also break up the top or dress underneath slimming you down. 8. Fabrics that skim over the waist/tummy area that don’t cling, in a dark low sheen fabric are slimming too. 9. If you have a longer torso (ie between your bust point to top of leg) compared to the rest of your body then wearing a fitted longer top down to you hip with a shorter cardigan/jacket over-top  that finishes at the waist, breaks the length up giving you a definite waist. 10. Create a waist with a skimming top that has narrow (close together) horizontal stripes or with textural differences in a garment such as the picture below. Note the difference in the two stripes- the top stripe widens whereas the narrow stripe lengthens. Belts: For the “I” or  “8″ shaped figure your waist can be emphasized with: a belt that has a decorative buckle tucked in tops Belted trench or coat dress Detail or sheen on the waistbands Decorative waistbands Even a scarf People with an “X” shape figure are best to wear belts that sit on the waist at the side then dip lower at the front,  or a upper hip belt giving you a more balanced look in your torso. “O” & “H” shape are best to avoid any waist detail, however an “H” figure can wear a belt as described for “X” if it is in the same or low contrast colour to the top or dress. Remember “To Waist not Want Not” Do you want to know more about what suits your body shape & personal Style?, then why not book a Style consultation one-on-one, or get together with friends for a small group workshop or combine in a special package!

What comes around goes around, yes fashion does come full circle but usually with a revised version of the original! Well, we can definitely say we are in the winter season going by all the rain & cold weather we’ve had lately downunder! I know its a great time to stay indoors by the fireplace or central heating wrapped in our blankets & donning our “Ugg” boots watching a favourite movie! So I thought it would be a great time to mention the “poncho” comeback! Now, please before you go & grab your grandmothers crocheted one from the 70′s, let me set a few guidelines on who & how we should wear them! My childhood was in the 1970′s and I do remember my older sister having a poncho like the crochet square type in multi colours, & I think I may have as well. Does it bring back memories for you? Or maybe you were too young & will be creating some warm memories this winter instead! As I started to look for new images for modern-day ponchos, I was surprised at the variety available, & the fabric choices from fine cashmere’s, to chunky wools, to silks & chiffons! Lets look at the different types & who can wear them best! Usually the more chunkier & textured the more suitable the poncho is for casual/weekend wear. This also suits the “relaxed’ personality style as its usually made of natural fibers & more likely to be in neutral colours. Some examples  are shown below: As you can see alot of styles this winter have come with a lovely roll or cowl  neckline, saving us having to use a scarf. The first style in taupe can be a more flattering style as the shape is more “handkerchief” then straight across, also the downward diagonal lines brings the eye down to the hip area, so is a great style for those of us with narrow hips/great legs. The Grey fringed,sleeveless style doesn’t add quite as much width on the shoulder as the traditional poncho so is better suited for broad shoulders, but the fringing at waist level will draw attention there. These ponchos have more refinement because the knit is much finer(cashmere or a fine wool), or they have leather or fur trim on them making them suitable for “Smart Casual”. The concave shape & tassels on the blue poncho draws the eye down the body & the vee neck opening gives a more streamlined look. Whereas the striped semi-poncho emphasizes a waist with the leather belt. The shoulder detail on the cape & the longer length would suit an “A” shape figure. When it comes to proportions, the balance is important. The first image(from the left) shows incorrect proportions by putting two “full” garments together,& the ratio of 1:1 doesn’t work either. However image #2,3,& 4 shows a narrow silhouette with the “full” poncho, which works much better. To appear more slimmer use a monochromatic colour scheme (shades of the one colour) or for more impact contrasting colours such as in image #4! As you can see, the poncho is not limited to winter wear! Summary:

• Choose a poncho with the right hemline & length to flatter your body shape

 

• Check the features on the poncho (ie neckline detail,fringing,patterns) are highlighting your features!

 

• The more chunkier or textured the fabric the more bulky it will appear.

 

• Team it up with a slim garment such as a skirt or trouser

 

• Decide the purpose for your poncho, ie:casual,smart casual,evening?

 

• Have fun with this trend!

Tell my what style of poncho will you be wearing this season? Is it a trend that we should follow or should we leave it as a memory of style from the past?

Sometimes finding the right trouser fit or style can be a real pain in the butt! I’m sure you have all experienced this at one time or another. So lets take a look at the different types & why some will suit you better then others. Of course trouser styles come in & out of fashion but some trends catch on & become a staple cut for a few seasons like the bootleg cut or the skinny jean.

The Straight cut trouser or jean is the most versatile to suit most body shapes, which include the “8″,”V”,”O”,”H”, & “X” body shape. The “I” (model shape) can successfully wear skinny, stove-pipes,cropped or Capri’s, cargo pants, or slim & tapered styles or pleats. A figure “8″ can also wear a tapered style but not a wide leg. If you have a thick waist and/or a tummy avoid any pleat front or gathered waists or slim waistband trousers or angled pockets.  Go for a flat front wide waistband, that sits more in line with your belly button rather then goes right up to your waist.

The “8″,”A”,”X” shape who all have defined waists can wear a slight flare or slight bootleg, (one that is not too slim at the knee),  as this will tend to balance out your hips. You may have to buy styles that fit your hips and are altered to fit your waist, a trouser without a “traditional jeans waistband”, is far easier to alter for a seamstress. The “A” & “V” shape can both wear a wide leg trouser,as this gives room for wider hips but balances a “V” shape body. Palazzo pants need height & a defined waist to look proportionate.

if  you are extra tall then cuffs on trousers, or light colours or prints can be flattering for you. High Rise jeans or wide waistbands suit those with a long rise. if you have thick calves or ankles avoid cropped or slim trousers, you can find out more from my recent article on “Dressing down your calves & ankles” Darker coloured jeans or trousers will be more slimming whereas light coloured or distressed jeans suit those of us with slim thighs. To add shape to a flat bottom use pocket details, or pockets that sit higher or flaps to add curve, avoid trouser where the seat is not fitted.

Its worthwhile investing in a trouser that is custom made to fit you personally as once the pattern has been established you can make a few pair in different fabrics with different style features to suit you personally & in your signature colours. The initial cost will be worthwhile as you will most likely wear them more frequently. If you would like to know more about “how to dress your body shape” & dressing to suit your personality, consider investing in a Style Sense consultation & become more confident in your clothing choices.