Remember how the retail cycle works – if you wait until you need it, chances are high that it will be gone. The end of June and the first week of July marks summer clearance time (for the northern hemisphere). If you haven’t gotten around to shopping for summer yet, you’ll be delighted to run into everything on sale.

The Gap started having their 50% off summer clearance sale on Wednesday. They haven’t been a destination place to shop this season, but their tanks are $9 and their denim Bermuda shorts are especially good for petites

Express is clearing most of their summer stock – T’s for $10, shirts for $15, pants and jeans for $20. They’ve also got nice lined jackets at half price in black, white and brown.

Lane Bryant is knocking 30-60% off their summer prices at the moment for those of you size 14 and over. Their walk shorts are beautiful at $19 and $29 – both career and casual. Swimsuits, tank tops, girly tops, T’s, accessories and underwear are all well worth a look.

Nordstrom’s Half Yearly Sale for Men starts today. Stock up for Dad’s for Father’s Day!

A little preview for autumn – black is back with a vengeance. If you see something black on sale that could take you through to autumn, buy it. Have a great shopping weekend.

With white being this season’s hottest colour, you might want to think about adding a few white accessories to your summer wardrobe. It’s an easy way of making last year’s summer clothing look current. If you feel that you can’t wear white; buying the accessories is another way of getting “the look” without having to wear the clothing:

• White bag – Totes, hobos, slouchy shoppers, messengers or clutches - any style of bag is a good choice in white.
• White belt – opt for either a broad belt that you can loop through your jeans, or a versatile elasticized one that you wear on your waist or hips. Choosing a belt with metallic hardware tends to soften the strong contrast a pure white belt can make.
• White necklace – if it can’t be Mikimoto peals off the shores of Japan, then a good old white beaded plastic choker will do just as well.
• White shoes – Wedges, espadrilles, thong sandals or clogs are all good choices. White shoes with black heels tend to be less versatile and heavy looking. Opt for white shoes with white or natural heels.
• White watch – take you pick! Watches with white straps are also especially fashionable for men at the moment.
• White portable media center – this sexy bit of technology allows you to watch a movie or listen to music absolutely anywhere!

Elevate your outfit with crisp white accessories this summer – you’ll feel as cool as you look.  

Cool white accessores from Urban Outfitters, Zappos, Banana Republic, Nordstrom, and Toshiba.

People are stylish in different ways. This is because personality, age and lifestyle are all variables in the mix. Have a look at the fashion personas below and have fun identifying your own (you might find that you’re a combination of a few):

• The modern classic – you are preppy, but with a modern edge. Other then the odd stripe, you prefer solid colours.  You are most comfortable in updated tailored items, twin sets, knee length skirts, button down shirts, dark blue jeans and plain pumps.  Your look is simple, feminine, appropriate and understated.
• The artistic eclectic – you like novelty and selectively choose fashion trends that tickle your fancy, often ignoring key looks that everyone else has latched onto. You may prefer to dress exotically if you are inspired by a particular culture. Your accessories are unconventional (often vintage), and you always find creative ways of matching them with your ensemble.
• The sporty natural – you are an outdoorsy, low maintenance type of girl, who is usually athletically inclined. There is often a tomboy element to you and you generally don’t like to shop. You live in jeans, shorts, plain t-shirts, shirts and appropriate sportswear for hiking, rock climbing, kayaking or working out.
• The bohemian hippie – you are an earthy flower child. You love empire lines, peasant blouses ethnic jewelry and flared leg pants. You’ll often have long wavy hair and enjoy the opportunity to be creative. You don’t follow trends, but certainly have a playful style all of your own.
• The trendy fashionista – you are a fashion trend tracker and usually the first to sport a new fashion statement. You are passionate about fashion and love to shop. You are fearless when it comes to mixing colours, fabrics, textures and prints. You are always well turned out and ready for a change when the new season comes along.
• The funky urbanite – you are retro and shun anything that looks polished and pristine. You like your clothing to look worn and embrace practical messenger bags and fashionable walking shoes. Your neutral colour palette is sophisticated and your style uncomplicated and efficient. You are often edgy and can even look a bit gothic at times.

Your personal style begins and ends with a strong sense of yourself.  Enjoy making your style unique, interesting and flattering for your body type.

PS. Feel free to leave a comment telling us which persona is closest to your personal style.

Don’t obsess over the number on the size tag. Rather obsess about the fit and length of your clothes.

• Stylish people wear clothes that fit them perfectly. This doesn’t mean that they have perfect bodies – it means that they have good tailors.
• Size specifications are different for each brand. Clothing sizes in different stores (and even different departments within the same store) are not created equally. You will need to experiment to find the correct sizes that fit you in different stores.
• The fit is different for each brand. Different brands target different body shapes. A certain size in one store might fit you perfectly, whereas the same size in another store just doesn’t look right. Again, you need to experiment to find the stores that work for you.

So it’s common to have at least 3 different sizes hanging in your closet. Forget about the size number and shop for clothing that fits you correctly. The point is not whether you are a size 4, 12 or 18 – the point is that you look fabulous in your clothes!

One of the fastest, cheapest and most effective ways to accomplish a stylish appearance is through accessories. The bag that you carry, the heel on your shoe, the specs that you wear and the scale of your jewelry speaks volumes about your style and personality.

I cannot stress enough how “accessories make the outfit”. Without the correct accessories – your look is not complete. It’s also the easiest way to capture a fashion moment. Adding the new bag and shoe of the season will instantly update your look – with or without the new clothing silhouette.

The accessory department is the first area that I am drawn to in any retail store. Because it’s the most practical way of defining a new look quickly, it’s also the first part of my wardrobe that I update in any given season. With accessories you can adopt new trends without wearing the new season’s the clothing – especially useful if the new clothes don’t suit your body type (like the seasons hottest pant silhouette). For example, for the frustrated early fashion adopters who can’t wear skinny jeans – opting for a plastic beaded necklace, a patent bag and wedged heels is an instant solution to their dilemma.

Accessorizing correctly is not easy. Your accessories should always complement your outfit – not compete with it. Once again, I am an advocate of “less is more”. Looking like a Christmas tree is a far cry from being stylish no matter how beautiful the individual pieces are. Knowing how to combine your accessories tastefully and correctly is something that you can learn.

Stay tuned for precisely this in blog entries to follow. In the meantime, you might want to look at Anthropologie for the odd accessory – they went on sale a few days ago.

For those of you over the age of 30, leggings will be an unforgettable blast from the past – perhaps a blast that you would rather forget! It was in the ‘80’s that we unquestioningly wore skin tight leggings with oversized shirts that we padded at the shoulder. We couldn’t have looked less lady like if we tried. Now that leggings are once again a fashion statement, it’s as if our nightmarish fashion days are back to haunt us. I must have seen at least 10 girls wear leggings yesterday, which is what prompted me to write this blog entry.

Yes, leggings are back - but you won’t necessarily need to wear them to be stylish, irrespective of how current you have chosen to be.

• Leggings are for the hipless, skinny and under 25. This very junior look is inappropriate for anyone older no matter how fabulous their body. At 33, Kate Moss gets away with wearing leggings because she is a fashion muse and supermodel.
• When fashion repeats itself, it’s always with an upgrade. Leggings aren’t worn the same way this season as they were back in their hay day. They’re being worn under micro mini skirts – more like footless tights then pants. When matched with pretty ballet flats and a few layered t-shirts, it’s a sweet look for the tiny teeny bopper. If 15 inch micro minis are going to be worn; they might as well be worn with leggings underneath them.

Embrace the new legging look if you are young enough to do so. If not – appreciate their novelty on someone else and continue to feel confident and current in your elegant boot cuts.

Leggings worn under micro minis like footless tights from Urban Outfitters, Nordstrom and Macy’s.

Is white underwear best for a wedding dress?
Can you wear a black bra under a lime green t-shirt?
Will a lacy bra work underneath a knitted top?

The answers to all these questions is “no”. Wearing the correct colour underwear underneath your clothes is an important detail and easy to do:

• Flesh coloured bras under anything white – white underwear will show up underneath white or cream clothing whereas flesh will not. Choose a darker flesh tone or chocolate brown if you have dark skin.
• Lighter is better than darker – opt to wear a lighter shade of underwear under your clothing as opposed to a darker shade. This will prevent your underwear from showing through your clothes.
• Flesh and black for everyday – boring as it may sound, flesh and black bras are the most versatile investments. Chocolate brown is a good alternative but not easy to find. Venturing out into colours and patterns is fun but limiting. It’s lovely to colour match a beautiful lacy bra with a specific item of clothing. This can become costly though. If you’re on a budget, it’s therefore best to have an assortment of smooth, seamless, flesh and black bras that you can wear every day. 
• Any colour under jeans – there is little chance of any colour showing through denim - wear what tickles your fancy!
• Smooth bras for knit tops – this is more about fabric than colour but worth mentioning anyway. Lacy bras show through knit tops while smooth bras do not. Keep pretty lacy bras for woven shirts and tops that don’t cling as much to your body. Bras with extra smooth molded cups are especially good for t-shirts, pullovers and cardigans.

Flesh coloured bras might make you feel matronly – but the fact remains that they are best underneath clothing.

Smooth, seamless, everyday bras in flesh and black (Nordstrom).

Finding the correct clothing to further flatter a shapely bosom is sometimes a challenge. Looking top-heavy and tarty is too easy. However, if you do your best to abide by these guidelines you’ll find it easier to look proportioned:

• Invest in the best bras your budget allows – Get yourself professionally fitted. Different clothing items require different bras. Build up a collection of bra styles so that you have what’s best at hand.
• Avoid high necklines – cru necks, turtle necks and polo necks tend to make your chest look even larger. Showing a bit of skin between your neck and your cleavage will make your chest appear smaller.
• V-necks are best – this is the most flattering neckline for you. Lengthening your neckline will even the size of your boson out. The point of the “V” will also draw attention away from your chest and onto your waistline.
• Wear Scoop necks and Drape necks – necklines such as these also open up the neck area without showing too much cleavage. 
• Choose Knits over Wovens – Knitted tops tend to stretch over your bosom thereby preventing the gaping and pulling that woven tops with buttons tend to do.
• Create Structure – structured clothes effectively change the shape of your body. Clothes that hang will do little to help proportion your body. Always select clothes that give you a waistline.
• Keep your jackets simple – single breasted with small lapels, a high stance and lots of shape.
• Tailor your tops – go up a size if you need to in order for your tops to fit your bust line. Tailoring the shoulders and waistline for structure afterwards is easy to do – some department stores will even tailor for free!
• Keep your jacket open – you’ll often create a longer and leaner line by keeping your jacket un-buttoned.
• Avoid long necklaces – keep your necklace length short (above your cleavage). This will draw attention away from your chest and prevent longer lengths from moving about on your bosom.

Enjoy your shapely figure. Fill your cupboard with tops that flatter your curves and make you feel comfortable.

Left: V- and scoop-necks that lengthen the neck & deemphasize the chest (Avenue)
Right: A simple single breasted jacket with small lapels and high stance (Elisabeth)

The month of summer sales has begun: 

• Nordstrom’s Half Yearly Sale (note: this is not the Anniversary sale) starts Wednesday 7 June and doors will open at 8.30am.
• Clarks (British shoe brand built for comfort) is having their annual 40% off summer sale.
• Urban Outfitters have started their summer sale. This is not a shop for the currently classic or contemporary among us – this is for the ultra trendy urbanite! If you do feel that the apparel is too hip, I thoroughly recommend their accessories.
• Ann Taylor Loft is giving 60% off most of their summer lines. Their petites department has been especially good this season. With the Gap having been disappointing over the last year this is a good place to get basics, especially for business casual attire. Their bottoms seem to be especially flattering for pretty pear shaped ladies.

Be mindful of what you buy on sale at this stage of the season, but have fun filling in the gaps of your summer wardrobe.

Summer is here and so is the start of sale season. By all means have a good look at what’s on sale - who doesn’t love a good bargain! But as you peruse marked down items, bear the following in mind:

• Do not be seduced by anything that does not absolutely work for you. You should already have something in your closet that you can wear with your end-of-season-sale purchase. Waiting to match it up with something at this late stage is risky. In a month or so, colour spectrums and fabrications will change as Autumn merchandise starts appearing in stores. If you don’t absolutely love what you bought at sale time, you won’t wear it – and that’s not a bargain.
• Watch your budget. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is mid July. It debuts fabulous new Fall fashion which will be an excellent start to your “new look” for the new season. If you plan to spend money here and are on a budget, make sure that you don’t overspend on summer sales now.
• Buy the dress. If you come across a cocktail or evening dress on sale that is perfect for you – buy it. You might not have an occasion to wear it to on your calendar just yet, but occasions such as these creep up on us. Chances are high that you’ll battle to find what you are looking for when the time comes. I’ve received lots of requests for advice on “what to wear to an occasion” at the 11th hour. You’ll be stress free when the time comes if you already have your outfit hanging in your closet.
• You are always worth full price. Don’t get caught in “the sale trap” - you don’t need to buy everything on sale. Buy something because it makes you look (and feel) like a million dollars and you’ll want to wear it over and over again, regardless of what you paid for it. That way, it’s a big bargain for you anyway.

Treat yourself to what’s still on your shopping list for summer – you deserve to feel wonderful!