I see this fashion faux pas every day – ladies and gents wear their pants too short. So what is the perfect pant length? Pants, jeans or trousers need to skim the surface of the ground when you stand up straight – anything shorter is bad style. Covering up your shoe, but allowing your toes to peep through will elongate your leg and make you look slimmer. This is flattering for any body type, at any age and any height. That’s why it is stylish to keep those pant lengths perfect.

What do you do when you have everything from ultra flat flip flops to 3-inch heels in your wardrobe? You need to commit to a length. You won’t be able to wear the same pair of pants with your ballet flats and your high heels. You’ll need to have an assortment of pant lengths if you have an assortment of heel heights.

Can your pant hems sweep the street while you walk? This is not a good idea for fancy slacks, but is absolutely fine for jeans. They’ll simply fray a bit at the bottom which is actually perfectly acceptable style for both men and women! You’ll therefore find jeans more versatile if you buy them long enough to start off with.

Are you worried about covering up your gorgeous shoes and feet? You might not see your shoes when your pants are at the correct length; but your pants will creep up when you walk and sit and everyone else will be able to see that you have super shoe sense too!

These are all great pants from Nordstrom. The two pairs of jeans on the left are the right length. The pants on the right are stylish, but their length isn’t - both could be slightly longer.

Many of the questions I receive are about wedding-wear. This isn’t too surprising – weddings nowadays take many shapes and sizes and along with that comes an abundance of dress codes. A simple description of some of the popular wedding dress codes will hopefully make things easier. And remember: if you are still in doubt – it’s always safer to dress up then to dress down.

Casual beach wedding:

• Ladies – a cotton knee length dress, flat sandals that you can take of easily in the sand, small clutch bag and your sunglasses. Take along a cropped cardigan for when it starts to get chilly.
• Gents – a plain short sleeved cotton or linen shirt (un-tucked is perfectly acceptable), paired with cotton or linen casual flat front pants and leather slip on mules.  

Informal wedding:

• Ladies – a festive knee length dress and strappy sandals matched with a small bag.
• Gents – a plain or printed long sleeved shirt (un-tucked is again an option) paired with flat front cotton or linen pants and closed leather shoes.  

Jeans are still inappropriate for even the most casual wedding. Wedding casual is not the same as stay at home weekend casual.

Semi–formal / Dressy Casual:

Business Casual for both ladies and gents is the order of the day. Skirt and pant suits, a dress or separates with heels for her; and a long sleeved shirt (tucked in) with dress pants, belt and dressy shoes for him. This is the trickiest of all dress codes – ask the bride and groom if you are still unsure about the level of formality they have in mind.
 
Formal Daytime:

• Ladies – a smart knee length dress or dressy suit separates with heels and accessories.
• Gents – a dark or light suit with white or pastel shade of shirt and matching tie. Tuxedos are inappropriate for daytime formal weddings unless specified. 

Formal / Black-Tie (for evening weddings):

• Ladies – cocktail dresses, dressy evening separates, dressy suits or long dresses are options. Heels, wraps and accessories are a must and so is a small elegant evening bag.
• Gents – Tuxedos are optional unless specified. Dark suits with dark shirts and dark ties are best. Trendier versions of tuxedo jackets with black shirts and no tie are also acceptable. 

Ultra Formal / White-Tie (this is Oscar night!):

• Ladies – Glitz and glamour galore! Only your best long ball gown, accessories and highest heels will do. Hair is best up or left loose with structured curls.
• Gents – Three-piece full dress with waistcoat, white tie, shirt, cumber band and shiny shoes.

Congrats to the bride and groom, have fun at their joyous occasion and above all, arrive with style!

Happy Mother’s Day! It is to your mothers that I dedicate this blog entry. Convince your Mums that they too can ooze with style at their age – elegance and grace does not date.

In fact, you can consider giving your Mum the gift of style for Mother’s Day. Here are some suggestions:

• Hair – older women look best with shorter hair. Silver grey shades can be gorgeous, but only if her skin tone allows it. Treat Mum to a new hair colour and cut.
• Make-up – women over 50 often wear too much makeup. Liquid eyeliner from the 60’s, blue eye shadow from the 80’s and enough foundation to keep the cosmetic industry booming is not flattering. Update Mum’s makeup application by letting her know that “less is still more” – even at her age. A session with a professional make-up artist would make a lovely gift.
• Accessories – flat metallic shoes, a metallic bag, or long beaded necklace will instantly pop Mum into this season, and the ones to follow.
• Readers – buy a pair of funky yet elegant readers to replace Mum’s dowdy ones. Do the same with outdated specs and sunglasses.
• Dressy attire – our wardrobes should get dressier as we get older. Get Mum out of basic plain or printed t-shirts and into casual collared shirts, blouses, tunics and twin sets (sweater sets). Layer them with lightweight unlined jackets for comfort and extra chic. Match them up with structured (non elasticized at the waist) flat front pants and skirts. Take Mum shopping for this type of clothing, making sure that the silhouettes are form fitting yet comfortable. Selecting items with stretch is a good idea.
• Flattering jeans – if Mum likes to wear jeans, make sure that she’s wearing an updated pair that have a contoured waist (higher at the back and lower in the front) and are boot cut at the ankle. Take Mum shopping for a pair of dark blue denim jeans – darker is always smarter and therefore more age appropriate.
• No more Nikes – big white sneakers are only for working out in. Treat Mum to a comfortable pair of ladylike walking shoes (Clarks, Aerosloes, or smart fashion sneakers) available at any department store.
• Colour – introduce Mum to a bit of colour. Black is not always best. Treat her to a white item of clothing that she can mix and match with the black that she already has. Combine this with metallic accessories and she’ll look fabulous!
• Hands and feet – pretty hands and feet are timeless. A manicure and pedicure for Mum is always a perfect gift.
• Wearing a scent – there is nothing more feminine then smelling delicious. If Mum is not in the habit of wearing a scent every day, recommend that she does and buy her one that you know she’ll love.

Have fun treating your precious mothers and remind them of the fact that style is eternal.

Mum: I was blessed with an incredibly stylish mother. I often think back to how she encompassed immaculate style even at 59 years of age when she passed away. I have spent many years in the fashion game, but I learned some of my best lessons from her.  

No, it really doesn’t matter where women shop. As long as you are discerning about style, colour and quality, spend your fashion dollars where it works for you.

Shopping for merchandise from a variety of places works best for my style, my pocket, and my conscience. I shop anywhere and everywhere! There are reasons to shop in one particular place, and reasons not to shop at another. Where you choose to shop will depend on what you are comfortable spending, the time that you have available, and the items that you are looking for:

Designer boutiques (e.g. Chanel, Prada, Dior) – shopping for exorbitantly priced designer labels is purely a status symbol. You are not getting “better quality” purchasing items here then you would shopping at better end chain stores. In fact, chances are high that the merchandise was made in the same factory! You can expect a high level of exclusivity (although knock offs are rife), but certainly no value. “Investment shopping” does not necessarily yield the highest rate of return. Your body and lifestyle change, and few people are happy wearing the same black jacket for 10 years.

Smaller boutiques (e.g. Mercer, Zebra club, Sway & Cake) – items from boutiques tend to be more unique and fashion forward. Selections and sizes are limited and sales are always late into the season. But if you are lucky and happy to pay higher prices – you’ll probably love your boutique purchases.

Department stores (e.g. Nordstrom, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus) – the variety in department stores can not be beat. They house a wider assortment of designer labels and boutique merchandise with a better return policy. Better -end and mid-priced items, underwear, cosmetics, accessories and shoes for the entire family are available under one roof. Sales and specials are prolific and refunds are easy. Department stores are top on my list for convenience, customer service, and excessive choice. However, the abundance of product can be overwhelming and precisely the reason why many stay away.

Chain stores (e.g. Banana Republic, J Crew, Express, Lane Bryant) – both better-end and mid-priced chain stores are super places to shop for commercial fashion. However, the risk of “looking like everybody else” is a guarantee. What you gain in value you’ll loose in exclusivity.

Specialty stores (e.g. Victoria’s Secret, Sylvia’s Swimwear, Accessorize) – such stores make shopping simple and are therefore popular. Their narrow but in depth range of one product is appealing. You might find yourself becoming incredibly loyal because of this.

Budget shopping (e.g. H&M, Old Navy) – with women’s trends constantly moving, buying “fashion fads” from cheaper end stores is a brilliant idea. They’ll last you a season (hence the term “throw away fashion”) and won’t have cost you an arm and a leg.

On-line shopping (Zappos) – as convenient as this may sound, pictures are deceiving and disappointment is inevitable – unless you have bought the product before and know exactly what to expect.

Whether it’s trendy designer boutiques, better-end chain stores or “throw away fashion” lines that tickle your fancy; its how you put it all together and carry it off that will make or break your look.

Do you feel like you don’t know where to start when it comes to shopping for clothes? Do you feel bombarded by fashion trends? Is resorting to comfy sweats your only solution to discouraging shopping experiences?

Here are some tips that might make you a more effective shopper:

Shop seasonally: Fashion and trends are always moving. They move at a faster rate for women then they do for men. The fashion industry therefore focuses on women first and men a bit later. While women certainly don’t need to update the majority of their wardrobe every season, it’s not stylish to look dated. Ideally you’ll need to shop for a certain amount of clothing and accessories every season, not only because trends change, but also because you change.

Shop with a plan: Wondering aimlessly from shop to shop, getting overwhelmed by what is on offer and not knowing where to look or what to select is enough to put anybody off shopping. What is your current body type and how does clothing affect it? What the trends for the new season? How do the new season’s trends translate into updated looks that are best for your body type, your budget and your lifestyle? Answer these questions, make a list, and you can then set about shopping for a wardrobe that satisfies all aspects of your life.

Shop to your current body type: It’s very important to dress (and therefore shop) for the body that you are currently in. Waiting until you’ve lost or gained weight is not the best idea. Despite the fact that it’s good to have personal weight goals, looking good now will make you feel better. A short term quick fix can therefore have positive long term effects!

Shop with focus: Once you know what works for your body and lifestyle, focus on only those items when you shop. You’ll automatically bypass styles that aren’t right for you, which will prevent frustration and save time. Pear shaped ladies should know not to entertain tapered pants; small busted rectangular shaped ladies know to look for high necklines; while apple shaped women can select bias cut skirts with confidence.

You don’t need to follow every fashion trend to be stylish. Dressing correctly for your body and appropriately for an occasion is a lot more stylish then shopping at a swanky boutique for designer clothing that’s unflattering. Your personal style begins and ends with a strong sense of yourself!

You are well-proportioned, but carry weight around your tummy and are therefore without waistline. Your slim legs are an asset but you’ll still want to think about how to balance them with the rest of your body. Creating shape and disguising your midriff will do the trick!

Create a waistline by dividing your torso:

• LAYERING will de-emphasize the width of your midsection. Layer stretch wrap tops over fine knits. Wrap tops create curvature. They’ll create a “V- shape” that will give your body that hourglass look.
• Look for tops that have fairly low necklines (especially V-neck) and lots of sleeve detail, like flares, slits, gathers, embroideries and cuff treatment – this will attract attention away from your torso. Tops that are ruched up the sides or centre will also hide your tummy.
• Avoid tucking in your tops as you’ll need to emphasize those layers at all times.
• Avoid crop tops and slinky skin tight knit tops that cling to every bulge that you wish to conceal.
• You’ll look best in a short structured jacket that buttons below the bust line. This will once again create that “V-shape” for an hourglass effect. Make sure that it’s snug on the shoulders and nipped in at the waist. Sometimes, leaving your jacket open will create a long vertical line that cuts up the width of your torso and is therefore more flattering. Jacket lengths should finish at the top of your hips. Avoid belted and double breasted styles.
• A very tailored classic long coat or jacket worn over a skirt and layered knit top combination all finishing on the knee, is an excellent formal look for you. Keep your coat open and show off those layers that are working for you.
• Bias cut dresses and wrap knit dresses are good options because they create a waistline. Stay away from dresses made of delicate fabrics as they create “flouncy movement”, which you don’t want.

Add volume to your bottom half:

• Choose flat front, semi low rise, boot cut, or flared pants and avoid pleats and gathers at all costs. Your jeans should also be semi low rise and always boot cut or flared. Choose bottoms that have stretch (at least 3%) – this will keep your midriff comfortable and give you optimum shape. Avoid wearing skinny tapered pants and skirts as this will accentuate your thin legs and make your top look even larger.
• You can wear capris and walk shorts as long as you apply the same rules to those items as you did to your pants.
• You were made for knee or calf length bias cut skirts. Avoid tiered skirt styles.
• Avoid belts and waistline detail. Keep your pants and skirts simple and your waistline and as flat as possible.
• Consider wearing Spanx.

This season’s long tees (5 May - “The longer length tee”) are perfect tummy concealing and layering solutions for you. Pair them up with a V-neck sweater, shrug or cropped structured jacket and you’ll look fab!

Be kind to your body because it works hard for you! If it isn’t perfect, give it a chance to redeem itself by putting it into the best possible swimsuit style. Once again, it’s about showing off the best part of you and concealing the rest.

If you are a little bigger on the bottom:

• You’ll look best in a one piece with dainty wrap. Your one piece should have broad structured straps, a strong neckline and top detail to create a balanced silhouette.
• If you prefer a two piece, choose one with briefs that have sides of at least 3 inches. Keeping the bottom plain and the top patterned will de-emphasize the larger part of you.
• Buy a bikini top and pair it up with board shorts instead.
• Avoid skimpy bottoms, boy shorts and bottoms with lots of hip detail.  

If you have a little extra in the middle:

• A one piece swimsuit with a built in tummy control panel is the best idea.
• One piece suits with side or centre ruching (fabric that has been gathered and stitched to maintain a rippled appearance) will also do wonders. Draping will mask the area you would rather conceal.
• Choose a patterned one piece as opposed to plain.
• A patterned two-piece tankini will also do the trick.
• Avoid bikinis.

If you are a little bigger on the top:

• Under wired bikini bra tops will offer you extra support.
• Double lined halter bikini tops with structured under bust bands and wide straps will hold your bust as well as show off cleavage!
• One pieces need to have build in shelf bras or under wire foam support. Broader straps will be more comfortable then spaghetti straps that may cut into you.
• Avoid strapless styles even if they have built in bras. 

Bikini with plain brief and patterned top (InStyleSwimwear.com), patterned one piece with tummy control panel (Land’s End), One piece with side-ruching for tummy concealment (Neiman Marcus), and one piece with built in underwire support for busty ladies (Neiman Marcus)

You won’t want to skimp when buying your swimsuit. Spend the money that you need to create your comfort and confidence. I’ve personally found joy in the Gottex range, which is available in most department stores. It’s an Israeli company that has been around for years and has won award after award for their excellent swimwear. 

You don’t need to be “all dressed up” to look stylish. If you work from home, have a casual dress-code at work, or are a stay at home Mum, then traipsing around in heels and fussy clothing that takes too long to think about is not appropriate. But neither is wearing sweats, running shoes and looking like you are off to go camping. The quintessential favourite American outfit of “jeans and a t-shirt” also needs seasonal updating.

The best news about t-shirts and knitted tops this season is that they are styled and longer in length. Not only is this more versatile and comfortable, but more flattering as well:

• Pulling more form fitting longer tees up a little so ruching that occurs on the sides of your hips disguises anything that you might want to hide in this area
• It’s a super layering garment underneath last years shorter length tees – perfect for pear shaped ladies in particular
• Pop a belt over your natural waistline and look ultra trendy; or pop one on lower on your hip bone and still be trendy but more comfortable
• Wear them underneath last season’s jackets, cardigans and shrugs and update your look completely
• Bend over to pick up your child and rest assured that you are completely covered and draft free
• Taller ladies and ladies with longer torsos will especially welcome this new t-shirt style change  

Below are some examples of new shape knitted tops. Stay tuned on how to wear them effortlessly with jeans for a casual and classy alternative!

Longer length styled tee’s and a layering camisole from Arden B.

Examples from Macy’s and Nordstrom.

By the way, for those of you who shop there – Banana Republic is currently on sale.

This is a subject where I have no formal training or experience, but I do have strong feelings about it nonetheless. The correct amount of make up can certainly enhance our features and therefore improve the way we look. The incorrect amount will make us look like an opera star. I cannot stress enough that “less is more”. Very few people can get away with wearing absolutely nothing on their faces, but chances are high that they are actually wearing more than you think – it just looks as though they aren’t. This is the trick!  With a little bit of attention to the right detail, you can look polished in an effortless and natural way.

• Skin – spend money on treatment rather than colour. Your skin is the most important part of your face. There is nothing more appealing than skin that is well taken care of (and remember to wear sunscreen every day).
• Make up – if you feel that you need to wear foundation, spend time finding the correct one for your skin type and tone. Most importantly, you’ll need to look like you aren’t wearing any.  
• Eyebrows – take special care grooming the second most important part of your face. A person’s face is framed by their brows. Eyes can be opened up and the face completely realigned by giving eyebrows the attention that they deserve. Have them shaped professionally if you can’t manage yourself. If they are light, dye them. If they are thin, pencil in the cracks. Make sure that the colour that you use matches your eyebrow colour perfectly. And apply the pencil in shadow form – harshly applied eyebrow pencil is unsightly.
• Eyelashes – if you were blessed with thick dark lashes then good for you. If not, use dark brown mascara instead of black unless you are very dark. It will always give you a softer and more natural look. Apply just enough to keep you clog free.
• Lips – gloss will look just as nice as colour. Keep your daytime colours extremely natural and go darker at night if you need to. The interest on your lips will always make you look more polished.
• Cheeks – if you don’t have naturally rosy cheeks, apply a bit of the correct colour blush to your cheekbones. This is especially true in winter when we tend to look a bit more pale. It will give the impression that you look healthy and well despite the fact that you feel you are on the verge of collapse.

Eye shadow, eye liner and lip liner are best left for Oscar night. At the very least, take care of your pretty skin, groom and colour those brows and pop a bit of colour on your lips. In my opinion, you in your “almost natural” form is most stylish!

Cameron Diaz, Paris Hilton, Sheryl Crow and Hillary Duff have their “boyish” rectangular frames in common. Your well proportioned body, lean limbs, straight waist and small chest make you look like an athlete without even trying. Despite the fact that you are easy to dress, you’ll still want to think about how clothing affects your body shape. Defining your waist and creating curvature both on top and on the bottom will do the trick.

Defining your waist and creating curves on top:

• Choose high necklines for your small chest. You can wear a v-neck if you wear a round neck tank top or t-shirt underneath. Avoid scooped and sweetheart necklines. You may feel that this is flattering, but all it will do is show off an empty space. Cru, slash, turtle, polo, funnel and Armani necklines are perfect for you. You look particularly good in capped sleeve baby tees and sleeveless tank tops – show those wonderful arms off.
• Choose tops with bust frills, rushing, breast pocket detail, front panel detail and pleating. Wrap tops are also good if appropriately layered underneath. Blouson tops will give you more shape. Blousing a tee or shirt slightly at the low waist with a belt will have the same effect.
• Show off your back as an alternative to your lack of cleavage. Halter necks are a great option.
• Your jackets are nicest at high hip bone and nipped in at the waist for shape. Avoid boxy styles. Choose tailored trenches and belted jackets or coats at any length to give you more shape and definition. You will look best in a classic single-breasted or double breasted coat.
• Layer fitted garments together subtly – this is key to creating the curves that you want.
• You are the only body shape that can wear a shift dress but will look equally good in bias cut dresses that are just below the knee.

Creating curves on the bottom:

• The best way to create curves on a straight bottom is by wearing something very tight but not constricting. In this way, your body will automatically create curves. Your body was made for jeans. You’ll be able to wear any style, shape or length with any amount of detail. You’ll still look best in flat front, semi low rise, hip skimming boot cuts. Make the most of this privilege and get what’s most fashion forward if that’s your personal style.
• Choose combat and cargo pocket pants at any length for casual attire. This type of detail will create the pretty mass that you need.
• Avoid ultra low rises as they will make your torso look disproportionately long.
• A pencil skirt just below the knee will also create curves. Tuck your blouse or shirt into your pants or skirt and have fun with belts as this will give you more shape. Heavier belts with eye catching interest will also help emphasize your waist.
• Choose bias and voluminous a-line skirts either on the knee or on the calf as they will add bulk appropriately.

Spring is “a pants season” – have fun with it and buy funky combat pants and walk shorts if you don’t already have them!