You should. The right bra gives you curves and slims you down. Start with your bra drawer when you spring clean and weed out over the next few months. You need at least 5 fabulous, everyday bras that give you the comfort, shape and support that you need to feel like a bombshell everyday.

Make sure…

• that you wear an underwire if you are a C-cup or larger, because you’ll need the support.
• that you actually wear a bra and not just a camisole if you are small-breasted, because even small assets need enhancing. A camisole cannot give you the definition that a bra can.

Treat yourself to a Valentine’s Day gift today and buy a bra that you love.

 Styles from Bare Necessities and Nordstrom that might whet your (and that special someone else’s) appetite.

Being fit and healthy is an important goal, but on the way there you can visually lose 10 of those extra pounds just by putting your clothes together in the right way. Here’s how:

• Wear the right bra – this is where good style starts. Boosting your bust with the correct brassier accentuates your waistline by giving you curves in all the right places. 
• Wear clothes that fit – do not disguise your shape under baggy items (you’ll look larger). Body-conscious clothes that hint at your curves, without being overly clingy, are the most flattering. Your clothes should be tight enough so that people can see that you are a woman; and loose enough so that people can see that you are lady.
• Wear clothes best suited to your body type – whether you are a pear, apple, rectangle, hourglass or inverted triangle, refresh your memory on which shapes are best for you before you make your Spring shopping list.
• Dress to show up your best features – make the nicest part of your body the focal point of your outfit. Shorter skirts for super legs, low necklines for pretty cleavages and sleeveless tanks for toned arms.
• Wear sturdier fabrics – heavier fabrics that have drape and body will smooth and narrow your silhouette.
• Wear heels – a  pair of heels slims down your curves by adding height. This works especially well when your pants are the correct length.
• Scale down if you are petite – make sure you scale down the size of prints and pockets so they don’t overpower your figure if you are 5’3” or below.
• Layer – wearing the correct pieces on top of one another works miracles. The extra interest of layers creates the camouflage where you need it most.  
• Leave your jacket unbuttoned – the vertical line that is created when jackets and coats are left unbuttoned is slimming.
• Wear V-necks – the shape of the V draws attention to your waistline and elongates the neck. A collared shirt left unbuttoned at the top will have the same impact.
• Stand up straight – never underestimate the positive effect of good posture.

Think about these things when you get dressed in the morning, when you add new items to your wardrobe, and when you weed out your closet for the new season. It’ll soon become habit and you’ll look fab all the time.

It’s at the Grammys where you’ll see celebrities (and their stylists) have plenty of fun with fashion. Creative and quirky musicians try not to take themselves too seriously as they break red carpet fashion rules in their edgy and daring outfits. Artistic license, a sense of humour and lots of skin make this award show the over-the-top fashion event that it is.

Ladies raised their metallic hemlines while gents sported tuxedos with bling and sneakers. Poufy pony tails, tattoos, body piercings, braces, punk hairstyles and far too much make-up are perfectly acceptable at the Grammys. With an explosion of funky individuality, long elegant dresses seemed tame and boring by comparison. But those are the ones that made my favourites list:

• LeAnne Rimes in a Grecian chocolate brown Monique Luillier was graceful and goddess-like.
• Carrie Underwood was a pretty barbie doll picture in her romantic metallic dress and cascading blonde curls
• Shakira tamed her wild locks in her flawless classic red strapless Carolina Herrera
• Jennifer Hudson embraced her curves and showed just enough skin in her simple red halter-neck dress
• Christina Ricci was striking in her diagonal vintage creation

Few seemed to pull off the mini dress stylishly, but my vote goes to Ciara in her short jewel-encrusted  baby-doll halter dress. And just for fun, Imogene Heap and OK Go get my vote for most outrageous.

Elegance amongst the flair and daring that separates the Grammys from other award ceremonies this season.

Trouser jeans: a trouser cut in denim or denim-like fabric.

Trouser jeans are an absolute wardrobe essential. Their versatile, seasonless and ageless appeal make them an item that almost anyone can wear. They are a fundamental component of smart casual dressing and the perfect chic alternative to regular denim. I have been wearing them for years and I’m constantly on the look out for updates.

Buy them dark to be extra smart because they’ll fade eventually anyway. Blue is best but black is also a good option. Dress them up with fancy heels, or down with fashion sneakers and ballet flats. But be sure to commit to a length when you wear them. Wide-legged pant styles are particularly unflattering when worn too short (you’ll get that leg-widening effect). Your hems need to skim the surface of the ground when you stand so that you can barely see your shoes (creating a leg-slimming effect). 

Your choice is abundant at the moment with the resurgence of wide-legged pants this season. From classic to funky, cuffed to plain, side-pockets or clean, trouser jeans will add the luster that sparks all existing favourites in your wardrobe. Do yourself a favour and try on a few if you haven’t already. I promise that they’ll be a lot more forgiving than skinnies.

Nordstrom                 Diesel               Classiques Entier            Arden B.

Ann Taylor Loft                 Gap               Anthropologie               Old Navy   

Most retailers are selling trouser jeans right now (petites and talls are available too).

Sleepwear is where I personally draw the line – there is no style quotient in the land of nod and comfort is the only criteria. If you can’t wear itchy lace sets, that’s okay (I certainly can’t). If you dream best in boxer shorts and a tank, go for it. Shapeless, roomy, comfy PJ’s  are adorable and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

With sleepwear costing as much as outerwear, it’s usually the last item on my shopping list. Then again, this aspect of your wardrobe is extremely personal and best left between you and your bed sheets.

Victoria’s Secret has a super variety of sleepwear, but their quality is not high end. Not a bad place to get a cheap quick-fix if you need something fancy (or sexy).

How many times can you wear your knitwear items (pullovers, cardigans and sweaters) before you need to launder them? I have found that unless you’ve spilled, traveled, traipsed in muck, or perspired heavily, 4-5 times works well. Lighter coloured knitwear will need to be washed more frequently; while patterned styles survive a little longer. My cream cardigan needs to be washed every second time I wear it, but my cheetah printed one lasts a good deal longer.

This wear-to-wash ratio can be applied to any type of yarn, including cashmere, silk-blends, wool, viscose blends, acrylic and polyester. Pilling is unfortunately inevitable and can happen after one wear! Excessive laundering of knitwear can sometimes create pillage when inferior yarn was used.

Keep an eye on the entire family’s knitwear and make sure that it gets the proper attention. Appropriate wash care balances keeping knitwear items looking pristine with maximizing their useful lifetime.

Rising above your belly with style is not easy when it comes to jeans. The rise (distance between the crotch and the waistband) of a pair of trendy and updated denims is often still too low. But DKNY has the answer: a style called the “soho”. For women with a little extra around the midsection, their extra dark wash, slight stretch, boot cut hem and snugly contoured higher rise make them a smart, sophisticated, comfortable and current-looking option. And their affordable price of $48 makes them an even better find!

You’ll find  DKNY’s soho jeans in department stores like Nordstrom, Macy’s and Neiman Marcus.

Absolutely. Madrid’s Fashion week announcement to ban ultra-skinny models from it’s catwalks in September last year caused tremors in the fashion world. Models with a BMI (body mass index) of less than 18 would not be allowed to walk. Lanky 5-foot-9 models weighing in at less than 125 pounds (56kg) were therefore sent away. The ban was enforced in an attempt to promote beauty and health. Emaciated models in magazines and fashion shows are said to be linked to eating-disorders when impressionable young women try to emulate these looks, and consequently starve themselves to “super-model thinness”.

As a result, Milan, Paris, New York and London have also been forced to look carefully at the issue of underweight models at their fashion shows. However, fashion councils in various countries are not in agreement: 

“I think its outrageous, I understand they want to set this tone of healthy beautiful women, but what about discrimination against the model and what about the freedom of the designer,” said Gould, Elite’s North America director, adding that the move could harm careers of naturally “gazelle-like” models.

Organizers of London Fashion Week announced their position on Sunday, stating that ultra–skinny models would not be banned from Autumn 2007 collections next week.

“We believe that regulation is neither desirable nor enforceable. What will make a difference is the commitment of the fashion industry to change attitudes through behaviour and education.”

Does the fashion industry have a responsibility to portray healthy body images? Should the industry stipulate precise guidelines for “healthy looking models”? Should these guidelines be enforced? Regulation of this sort seems to infringe the freedom of the industry participants, but without it the models seem skinnier every year.

Despite the lack of regulation for next weeks trend showcase in London, the British Fashion Council has added that it would…

“…consult health and eating disorder experts, members of the fashion industry, the media and young women in order to create new guidelines for the fashion industry”

Whether designers select healthy looking models to walk their creations this week remains to be seen. I’m looking forward to watching the weight debate unfold. What are your views on the skinny model controversy?

Our work-out clothes are an aspect of our wardrobe that we often neglect, but you should look and feel fabulous while exercising. While few people feel their best wearing lycra from head to toe, substituting worn, stained and stretched t-shirts is not the answer. Cotton is a bad idea – it holds water while you sweat in temperatures that are cooler than your body temperature. You need clothing that keeps you dry when you perspire. The answer is to invest in the proper gear from authentic sports brands, and to wear it when you work out.

Here are a few ideas to help you feel better in your workout clothes:

• Longer length tops – wear a longer top when you wear lycra from head-to-toe. Cycling shops specialize in these and you won’t have that dreaded draft up your back while you’re touching your toes.
• Layer – pop a shorter sleeveless lycra or spandex blend top over your longer length one. The interest of the extra layer is slimming.
• Half lycra and half not – if you still feel that you can’t sport the all-lycra-look, go half way. Wear a tank top and sports bra with baggy running shorts or athletic bottoms; or a sporty form-fitting t-shirt (layer if you need to) with lycra or yoga pants.

Try and get your mind around feeling self conscious in your exercise clothes. Good for you that you’re getting your bottom into gear! Being healthy definitely increases your style quotient.

A mix-and-match story from Lucy: longer length tank, layering T’s, track top, athletic bottoms, running shorts, and lycra shorts.

This year Spring travels back in time. Bringing together the best of what the ’60’s, ’70’s and ’80’s had to offer, the new season is like a compilation of fashion’s greatest hits. With a strong emphasis on opposites, there will be something for everyone.

Trends…

• Space Age – metallic clothing and transparent accessories
• Retro Romantic – ruffles, frills and lace
• Geometric –  black and white statements and op-art inspired designs
• Floral Fiesta –  flimsy flowery prints, vibrant colours and rosettes
• Grecian Safari –  sheer shimmery nudes, neutrals and khakis
• Sporty Chic – racy stripes, racer-backs, primary shades, mesh and techno fabric

Silhouettes…

• Dresses reign supreme. Slouchy, sheath, empire, baby-doll, tank, a-line and puffy styles are all hot.
• Minis are the preferred length of skirts and dresses.
• Volume continues to make a dramatic statement through lantern sleeves, paper-bag and tulip skirts, swing tops, sack dresses and menswear-inspired pants.
• Flouncy coats in a-line, trapeze or belted trench styles make a flirty update.  
• Cropped jackets are boxy, puffy or baby doll.
• Anoraks in nylon are the new unstructured cover-up.
• Romantic tops with frills and ruffles rule
• Hooded tops make a racy return.
• Wide legged pants and jeans are back!
• Skinnies are still strong.
• Pant suits are feminine and flowing, or lean and mean.
• Pantaloon shorts make their dandy debut.

Prints…

• Florals and sculptured rosettes  
• Graphic black and white geometrics, bold polka dots, face designs
• Ethnic African patterns and zebra prints

Colour palettes…

• Metallic shades
• Cobalt blue, purple and yellow
• Neon pink, lime and lemon
• Mango, orange, watermelon and pomegranate
• Black and white
• Nudes and neutrals

Accessories…

• Patent anything and in colours this time
• Silver shoes
• High-waisted wide and skinny belts
• Wedge heels and platform sandals for high; ballet flats for low
• Lucite anything (a transparent material heavier than plastic) – in hardware, necklaces, earrings, heels, sunglasses and bangles
• White accessories
• See-through bags and mesh detailing
• Oversized totes and large day clutches
• Structured or slouchy satchels
• Turbans and head bands
• Rose brooches

Spring trends are a welcome change from the somber, strict and skinny styles we’re still sporting for winter. The new look has started to blossom in stores and I am excited about it. It will soon be time to make some savvy decisions as to which trends will work for your age, fashion persona and body type.