You don’t absolutely need to own a swimsuit, bathing suit or “cozzie” (short for “swimming costume” where I come from). But if swimming with your children, boating or going on a beach holiday is on the agenda, you’ll need to have a few in your drawer. Few of us look forward to shopping for swimsuits – we are self critical and dissatisfied with the bodies that we have, no matter what other people say. Ladies – thinking like this is not going to help! Our bodies are what they are and we should celebrate them.

The best swimsuit for your body requires attention to detail. I intend to cover specific advice for different body types in a future posting, but for now, here are some general tips to consider:

• All body shapes look good in a one piece swimsuit and a wrap – bikinis and tankinis can be far from perfect, but a well cut one piece will never let you down.
• Beware of the tunic – pretty lightweight tunics to wear over bathing suits should not hit you at your widest part if you are pear shaped. Choose one that is at least mid thigh in length.
• Make sure that tankini’s are snug– tankini tops tend to be wide at the hem which is unflattering. They look best when they fit snugly like a one piece but are actually two.
• Fuller figures needn’t wear frumpy skirt suits – choose a low cut simple full piece with good bra support. Match it up with a dainty sarong and pretty thong sandals and you’ll look wonderful.
• Black is not always best – it’s always more festive to wear colours on the beach! A black one piece with lots of coverage can look awfully matronly. However, if you insist that black is best, select a style that has dainty cut away detail or lots of metal trim.
• Board shorts for Mums – wraps can untie when playing in the sand with children. Opt for board shorts that match your swimsuit and be hassle free.
• String bikinis are not always best for small busted bodies – they can make you look less shapely than you are. Halter necks and bra tops are better alternatives and offer extra padding if desired.
• Multiple suits – Lounging by the poolside and cannoning require different types of bathing suits. You’ll want to have a few swimsuits at your disposal for various occasions. 

You‘ll find the best assortment of swimsuits in stores in March and April. Be at peace with the body that you have. Remember: sex appeal is more about confidence and attitude than aesthetic perfection!

A Halter, a dainty One-piece and a colourful Strapless, all from Nordstrom

Plus Size Swimwear creates elegant options for the fuller figure. The suit above flattens and hides the tummy without a skirt. 

Perfect length Tunic, Tankini that fits at the waist, and dainty One-piece with cutaway detail from Macy’s

I’ve talked about what’s fabulous this season (see Spring 2006). Many high fashion items become “mainstream” a year after their so-called debut. Other items come back into fashion decades later – hence the term “vintage”. Unfortunately, there will also be items that were complete fashion fads last season and just won’t be stylish to wear again this season. Here’s the scoop on what to keep, what to store, and what to give away.

To keep:

• Well fitting jeans –  boot cut or flared with or without bling on the back pockets
• Gauchos – walk shorts would be this season’s update, but in Europe – culottes are always a stylish classic!
• Bling T-shirts – any style embellished with sequins, glitter, studs or metallic print
• Puffy sleeved items – in any form  e.g. t-shirt, jacket or blouse
• Strapless tops – still great to use as layering items
• Embellished thong sandals – gladiator thongs would be the update, but you’ll still be hip wearing those pretty Indian versions you wore last summer
• Hip belts – fitted long tops are very fashionable and despite the fact that belts are moving onto our natural waist again, you’ll still be able to wear hip belts over long tops and look fab
• Ethnic accessories – still very much in vogue

To store:

• Chunky turquoise jewelry – it becomes popular every 5 or 6 years
• Out of style designer handbags – you paid an arm and a leg for them and they will be fashionable again, I promise. I’ve just started reusing my 8 year old Prada bag

To give away:

• Cropped front-tie shrugs
• Long-tiered peasant skirts
• Anything tie dyed
• Faded, ripped jeans

When passing on your clothes; consider dropping them off at a Dress for Success site. There are women in the world who literally have nothing to wear and they will be grateful for your donations.

Marilyn Monroe was the quintessential “hourglass”, along with Selma Hayek, Penelope Cruz and Jessica Simpson. Your curvy proportions, shapely bust and defined waist give you bombshell potential! But you still need to think about the ways that your style affects your shape – defining your waist and lengthening your legs will do the trick.

Make your waist a focal point:

• Choose garments in soft fabrics that accentuate and skim over your perfect curves. Avoid straight tunic styles and shapeless dresses and that hide your contours.
• Your tops should be simple, smooth and low scooped.
• Choose soft fitted blouses and shirts with open necklines. Avoid tops with breast pockets, ruffles and pleating. You’ll also look great in simple baby tees, wrap tops, halters and blousons.
• You’ll look best in a top and fine knit cardigan as opposed to a sweater. In that way you’ll be creating a “deep V” that will draw attention to your tiny waist. Keep them at hipbone length and pop them over full trousers or pencil skirts.
• High waisted belts (that sit on your natural waist) which are all the rage at the moment, are a must.
• Belted trenches (at any length) and classic coats with narrow tailored lapels at knee length will look best. Choose short nipped waist jackets at hipbone length with fairly low buttoning detail.
• Avoid bulky knits, jackets and tops – keep your fabrics soft and with stretch if possible.
• Avoid the 1950’s boxy cropped jacket that is the height of fashion at the moment.

Choose the bottom to look taller and slimmer:

• You’ll be able to wear those short shorts and skirts – by all means show off those super legs! Walk shorts are also a good choice, especially if you wear them with a heel.
• Choose flat-front, low-waist, boot-cut or flared pants and jeans.
• Stretch will always be most comfortable around your fullish bottom.
• Avoid straight, tight and tapered leg fits as they will make you look bottom heavy. You’ll be able to wear most denim and corduroy cuts well.
• Choose a pencil skirt with a narrow waistband and slightly tapered hemline just below the knee. Tuck in your top and accessorize with just about anything. You can also wear full-circle, tiered, bias and a-line skirts. You’ll also look fabulous in a sarong.
• Wear heels whenever you can in order to create a taller, slimmer line.

Your body was made for dresses! Tailored sheaths, tank dresses, wrap, bias, strapless, slinky and anything else will look superb on you. If you’re an hourglass and you haven’t got at least 3 knitted wrap dresses in your cupboard right now - it’s a waste of your lovely body! You’ll find them in the dress department at Nordstrom’s, Macy’s and Bebe.

What to wear to someone else’s wedding – a question that crops up in all of our lives at some point or another. There is unfortunately no one appropriate outfit that covers all wedding situations. There are many factors to consider when selecting the correct outfit, so I will address wedding appropriate attire for both ladies and gents over several blog entries.

There are, however, a few general points to consider when thinking about what to wear to a conventional wedding:

• Formality and smartness is respectful – it is rude to arrive at a wedding casual and unkempt. The hosts have gone to great lengths to create a wonderland of elegance irrespective of their budget. Respect the importance of the occasion and go the extra mile with your look.
• Never outshine the bride – despite the fact that white is “the colour of the season” – refrain from wearing it to a wedding. The only white you should see at a wedding is the beautiful bride herself!
• Trousers are fine for ladies – it can be chic to wear pants to a wedding as long as you don’t look as though you’re going to the office
• Modesty is the best policy – you don’t need to show off your bosom and acres of leg to look sexy. An understated outfit that clings to your body in all the right places is a lot more classy and intriguing.
• Pretty hands and feet – it’s always a good idea to get a manicure and pedicure before an important event. This extra bit of grooming will go a long way to completing your polished look.
• Wear black carefully – wear it only if it suits you. Black does not look good on everyone.
• Mull over the detail – at what time of the year is the wedding? Is it outdoors or indoors? Is it dressy or formal? Will you need to travel? Will there be other events before and after the wedding that you’ll need outfits for?

Expend a little more energy and be the best dressed person there… after the bride and groom of course!

Ladies and gents, if you wear spectacles it is imperative that they are the absolute best pair of frames for your face and eyes. If you have little interest in updating your wardrobe, at the very least set aside time to purchase a new pair of glasses every year. It’s best to have your eyes tested annually anyway, so treat yourself to a new pair of specs when you go. Your specs are the most important accessory that you own. My husband and I wear specs most of time as we can’t get our minds around contact lenses. Over the years we’ve learned a thing or two about buying and wearing specs which you might find useful:

• Spare no expense – sacrifice something else if you have to. You need to have the best when it comes to your eyes and you are worth it.
• Shop around – it doesn’t matter where you buy your frames; you just need the correct guidance whilst doing so and specialty stores are usually best. There is tremendous variety out there and you’ll want to have lots of options even if you do end up going back to the first pair that you tried on.
• Make the statement – a pair of fabulous specs will always make a statement. Your style quotient will increase instantly when you have them.
• Accessorize correctly – this is something that ladies need to bear in mind. There is a tendency to “over accessorize” when wearing specs. You want people to focus on your face alone. Having too many things around your face draws people’s attention away from your eyes.
• Earrings: limit them to a dainty stud/hoop or refrain from wearing any at all. I never wear earrings - my specs are enough of statement.
• Necklaces: limit them to one around your neck, as opposed to multiple
• Brooches: one on your coat or jacket is enough
• Hair: keep hair bands discreet
• Consider having multiple pairs – having a few pairs to select from is a good idea. That way you won’t get bored and you’ll have a spare.

Make your specs spectacular. Not only will you see the world better; the world will see the better you!

Update: there is a more recent post that updates these guidelines for 2007. 

The pear shape is common amongst women. Good news – it is easy to streamline and you have lots of options!  You’ll want to create the longest looking line with everything that you wear in order to balance the difference between the top and bottom part of your body.

Drawing attention upwards:

• Always wear slim fitting tops, sweaters, cardigans and button down shirts. Choose styles that define your waist and show off your torso – never opt for anything boxy.
• Select styles with wide cuffs and bell sleeves. Choose embellishment, rushing, seaming detail, large collar/lapels and princess lines. This automatically balances out the wider bottom part of you by drawing attention upwards.
• The length of your tops should always catch you on your hipbone. Avoid lengths that finish straight over your bottom. Avoid tops that stop just on or above your waist. This emphasizes your disproportionate top to bottom ratio.
• LAYER your garments. The layers create a visual balance between the top and bottom half of your body
• You are the girl that looks best in shirts, girly blouses, and jackets. You look fabulous in jackets and coats and your wardrobe should be plentiful of these!
• Wear A-line wrap tops & dresses – they emphasize your upper body, and accentuate your feminine décolletage, while slimming down the wider part of you. Look for dresses that have top detail. Avoid sheath dresses at all costs.
• Accessorize the top part of your body well eg. necklaces, specs, earrings, hair clips (but not all together!)

“De-emphasizing” the bottom and elongating your legs:

• Keep your bottom choices plain and simple thereby saving all the visual interest for your tops.
• Keep the hems of your pants wide, boot cut or flared. Pants that just skim along the contour of your thighs always work best and back pockets are essential. Simple rule:  the curvier your bottom, the longer and wider you’ll need to wear your pants and the higher you’ll need to wear your heel to balance out your silhouette.
• Keep all your bottoms structured – no drawstrings, no front pleats and no elastic.
• Keep the top front part of your pants free of detail .You do not want to attract attention to an area that is not your best. Side entry pockets are fine, and so is detail at the bottom of your pants e.g., turn ups, embroidery and slits. Stay away from combat pants or anything with cargo pockets on them.
• If your pants fit you perfectly everywhere else but not on your waistline, have them altered.
• A-line skirts are best. They should be knee-length or just below. Stay clear of bias-cut skirts and pencil skirts.
• Wear pointy toe shoes with pants that are wide at the hem – this will make your legs look longer and slimmer.
• Wear heels whenever you can as this will help your legs look longer and create balance. Wear enough heel height to elongate the vertical line you are trying to create. If you wear boots with  skirts, they should always be long and emphasize your slim ankle.

Enjoy your ultra-feminine body!

If you are going to buy anything to update your wardrobe this Spring, consider the following suggestions:

The absolute “must haves” for everyone, irrespective of body type, age, and lifestyle”:

• Crisp white fitted shirt – to tuck in, belt at the waist or layer with a t-shirt, jacket or piece of knitwear
• Metallic bag – in gold, silver or any metallic shade in between
• Metallic shoes – in either a stacked heel, pretty ballet flat or strappy Grecian thong
• Fitted cropped jacket in a neutral tone – in either white, black, cream, tan, khaki or all of the above
• Knitted wrap dress – the ones that Diane von Furstenberg made famous. Don’t think that you can’t wear one – you’ll be surprised. Try one on and discover how flattering and forgiving they are!
• Long strand of beads – in wood, plastic, metal or pearls… or a combination of these 

For the more adventurous among us, feel free to add:

• Fitted knee length trouser shorts – in denim or any neutral stretch fabric
• White pants – fully lined and fairly wide legged
• Vintage ruffle blouse – in a neutral tone, soft flouncy fabric and perhaps made of stretch lace
• Crocheted shrug – finely knitted versions are smarter (we don’t want a repeat last season’s bo-ho chic look)
• Spotted anything – usually best in a blouse, skirt or dress 

And for the ultra fashionista:

• Horizontal “jailbird” stripe top – in black/white, brown/white, black/grey
• Short shorts – high on the thigh and worn best with heels
• Wide waist belt – preferably in some sort of stretch fabric for comfort
• High waisted pencil skirt – also best in a neutral tone
• Patent shoes – in a primary colour

Whether you’re a cutting edge girl, or prefer to remain currently classic – it’s important to update your wardrobe every season.

The season’s biggest fashion colour is white, but what does that mean for those of us that don’t tan and aren’t dark skinned? You might hold out even less hope if you are blonde. This is how I felt when I first heard about the new trends for Spring. Well ladies, I am thrilled to announce that it can be done! With some attention to detail – we can all look fab wearing white.

The trick is to create contrast.

• Layer underneath your white jacket – by wearing a black or colourful collared shirt or fancy t-shirt underneath your white jacket, you’ll have a flattering tone right up against your face
• Adjust your make-up – darken your lipstick, emphasize your eyebrow colour and add rosy cheeks if you don’t naturally have them
• Embellish your white shirt – layer onto your white shirt with black or another colour either in the form of a piece of knitwear or even a fancy t-shirt
• White pants only – wear white pants on their own (as opposed to an entire suit) and contrast them with preferably a black or brown top and add in metallic shoes and bag
• Wear chunky beads – liven up any white top with a colorful or metallic strand of short chunky beads against your face
• Contrast your white bag – wear a strong colour on top so that your white bag can contrast against it eg. black, brown, red or bright yellow jacket/blouse/t-shirt
• Contrast your white shoes – white shoes are not best against a fair skin, however, wear them underneath long denim jeans and you have your contrast

There are countless different ways in which we can create a striking contrast with all this ultra-trendy white merchandise in stores.  We may not all be able to wear white from top to bottom as trends forecast, but carefully selecting key white pieces will help us to update our look.

Well dressed people always dress according to their body type. Despite seasonal trends and despite what you like and what you don’t like, that which you choose to wear needs to be flattering for your shape at all times. Maintaining “a sense of balance” is key to a happy life – the same principle applies to dressing:

Creating a balanced body shape is fundamental to having great style.

The reality is that very few people have perfectly proportioned bodies. We can either mope around and wish that we had a different body; or we can dress appropriately and streamline our lovely bodies to create balance! But before that you’ll need to ascertain which body type you tend towards irrespective of our height. There are 5 main body types:

• Pear – when the width of your torso is smaller than the width of your hips. You’ll constantly want to balance the difference between the top and bottom part of your body
• Hourglass – when you are well proportioned with a shapely bust and defined waist. You’ll always want to strive to look taller and slimmer
• Rectangle – when you are well proportioned and relatively lean but lack curves. You’ll want create a bust and those curves to keep you feminine.
• Apple – when you are well proportioned but with a little bit of extra around the middle. You’ll want to create shape and disguise your midriff
• Inverted Triangle – when the width of your shoulders and torso is wider than the width of your hips. You’ll want to soften your shoulders and perhaps your bust line, and add volume to the lower part of your body

Once you know which body type you tend towards, you’ll need to know how to select clothes that bring you balance. This is not seasonal knowledge. Once you have it, you’ll be able to apply it for a good length of time. I have plenty of information to share on dressing for each body type and I’ll be sharing it in future posts. In the meantime, balance your beautiful body and celebrate!

Choices for this Spring/Summer season are plentiful. There are lots of options for everyone; many of them seemingly contradictory. Let’s have a closer look at what you can wear to be “in style” this season:

• Gold and silver
• Black and white
• Neutrals and primary colours
• Elegant lady-like suits and combat gear
• A-line skirts and pencils skirts
• Natural waists and low waists
• Ruffle blouses and t-shirts
• Stacked heels and ballet flats
• Pointy toed shoes and round toed shoes
• Skinny pants and wide pants
• Shift dresses and shirt dresses (a-line dresses that tie at the waist)
• Above the knee hemlines and knee lengths
• Oversized totes and delicate clutches
• Long bead necklaces and short choker styles  

All you need to do is make some savvy decisions as to what will suit your body type, skin tone, lifestyle and budget and there you go – you’ll look fab.

Embrace the variety – a season encompassing such versatility does not come around very often!