Dresses don’t need to be “dressy”. While frocks are my first choice for formal occasions, there are plenty of casual, comfortable and practical dresses that can be worn to work and play every day.

Day dresses are best…

• in durable, casual fabrications like thick cottons, jersey knits and viscose blends
• in A-line silhouettes because they allow you to stride feely. Straighter styles restrict your movement. 
• when they cover up enough of your upper body that you don’t feel exposed.

The best thing about a dress is that you can slip it on with a pair of shoes and possibly one accessory and you’re done. You don’t need to worry about layering, mixing-and-matching or pulling clothing straight. If you can get your head around the fact that dresses needn’t be saved for special occasions, you’ll enjoy them as another practical daily ensemble (especially when it’s hot). Pretty pear body types look particularly good in A-line frocks and should make the most of our dress season this Summer.

An assortment of A-line day dresses in jersey and cotton from Macy’s and Dillard’s.

Colourful plastic or patent watches are in line with this seasons’ bright accessory trend. Fun and functional, sporty watches are great items for making a statement in a casual way. Price ranges vary from $49 to $400 depending on the brand. They’re ideal for Summer when forearms are bare and colours are cheerful. And don’t think that you need to match the colour of your watch to your outfit. You don’t. Like a pair of specs or sunglasses, watches are a statement piece all on their own.

Some favourites, ranging from sophisticated (Marc Jacobs, top left) to athletic (Adidas, bottom right).

By answering a few simple questions, Zafu.com will “find the perfect jeans for you”. I had read about this site in InStyle magazine and decided to give them a bash. I was skeptical, but to my surprise their recommendations for my body type were rather accurate. Their comprehensive recommendations covered 3 brands and cuts of denim that I actually have hanging in my cupboard. If you are at a complete loss when it comes to buying the best jeans for your body type, try this completely free site. It’s frustrating to try on jeans for hours and feel like you’re never going to get a pair that fit. Zafu narrows down the search before you’ve stepped into a store and that’s fab.

Whether you wear a two-piece or one-piece bathing costume (swimsuit, or “cozzie”), a classy cover-up is essential. It’s stylish to conceal when you head out for a snack at a beach restaurant or poolside bar. There are plenty of slip-on coverage options that’ll have you looking both alluring and appropriate.

• Sarongs and Pareos are simple wraps that tie at the waist and cover the tummy and thigh area. It’s my favourite choice on a very hot day.
• Slip dresses are mini frocks that slip over the head. Empire, halter and strapless styles are most common.
• Tunics and Kaftans remind me of St. Tropez and the Bahamas. These collarless long sleeved tops are made of flimsy fabrics and are usually embellished or exotic in pattern.
• Tie front tops or robes are made of jersey knit, terry cloth or crinkle cotton and have some sort of front tie detail.
• Board shorts or cropped pants are much like surfing shorts and yoga pants. They’re probably the most practical option if you intend to do lots of walking.

A great cozzie can last for years and changing your cover-up is an excellent way of renewing it’s look.

Top row: kaftan, cropped knitted pants, tie-front top and halter slip dress.
Bottom row: sarong and tunics.

This exotic skin (real or faux) has slithered onto just about everything. Snakeskin bags, shoes, belts, headbands, wallets, bangles and watch straps are trending big time. Items such as these are a modern or retro classic and make my forever fashionable list. My favourite aspects of this trend are that it is season-less and makes a statement. Add a snakeskin accessory to a plain ensemble and you’ve kicked it up a notch. In both neutral and colourful tones, it is sure to give your outfit bite.

Snakeskin accessories from Kenneth Cole and Lydell NYC (available at Nordstrom).

Finding a pair of fashionable, affordable and comfortable shoes remains a challenge. It’s especially problematic in Summer when shoes are strappy, unsupportive and generally less soothing on the soles. Closed shoes tend to be more comfy (at least when we pad them up with insoles they can be).

I like to grade a shoe by the amount of time that you can walk in them. “8-hour shoes” are shoes that you can walk around in comfortably the whole day. 8-hour shoes do not pass the grade if you wear them the whole day sitting at your desk. In order to qualify, you need to put a pair of shoes through their paces, which means running errands,  shopping, commuting on foot, watching children and running around at work. Below are styles that have been tried and tested the full 8 hours (either by myself or by my clients) and pass with flying colours. I hope that you derive as much joy from these painless shoe options as I have. Who says that you can’t rush around in style when you have fussy feet!

Onex wedge mules (these shoes are as soft as butter), Clarks espadrilles and Franco Sarto metallic sandals.

Converse All Stars (my favourite shoe to run around in), Converse Mary Janes and Me Too peep toe flats (especially good for wide feet).

It isn’t always easy finding a pair of jeans when you are a pretty pear. Here are three important style features that will help to narrow your search:

• A contoured waistband which starts higher on your bottom and dips down lower in front is essential. This feature will mould your curvy bottom and prevent baggy fabric buildup at crotch point.
• Just enough ease on the thigh area for a flattering “skimming effect”. Too much ease on the thighs will make you look bigger than you are so keep your fit fairly snug.
• Boot cut or flared leg openings automatically balance out your larger bottom with your smaller top. Straight and tapered leg openings will have the opposite effect, so stay clear of them.

If the back waistband of your jeans still stands away from the small of your back, invest in having them altered. This can cost anything from $13 to $30. It’s worth the expense because when they fit you perfectly you’ll feel fabulous every time you put them on.

After dressing many pretty pears, below are my recommendations for the best American jeans brands and fits for this body type. Bear in mind that pretty pear-shapes are not created equally. Some woman carry their curves on their thighs, others on their bottom, and some in both areas. You might find that you’ll need to try on a few of these brands before you find that perfect pair:

• Lucky “Easy Riders”
• Lucky “Sweet ‘n Low”
• AG “Club”
• Paige Premium  “Robertson”
• DKNY “Soho”
• Calvin Klein “classic boot cuts”
• Joes “ the honey”

If you have a brand and cut that you would recommend for pretty pears, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Enjoy your deliciously feminine physique!

Lucky “Easy Riders”, AG “Clubs” and Paige Premium “Robertsons”, all available at department stores.

The “it” item this season, celebrities can’t stop wearing them and dress departments are full of them. The sack (or shift) dress is a ‘60’s inspired boxy mini that’s looks… well… like a sack. It’s muu-muu quality makes it comfortable, but at the same time enormously shapeless and difficult to pull off with style.

Sack dresses in soft draping fabrics like sateen, chiffon and thick jersey are a little more flattering, but still not ideal. Matching them with leggings, skinnies and straight leg pants gets a look going, but does little for your silhouette.

The only way I’ve felt fab wearing a sack dress is by belting it at the waist over a pair of slim fitting pants. And a wider belt works better than a narrow one. This combination gives you the volume and the shape. Try reining in that sack dress (without the pants if you have great legs). You might prefer this high fashion look if you do.

Left: Satin shift dress is easier to pull off because of the draping fabric.
Right: Sack dress paired with a wide belt for extra  shape.

The roomy look is sticking around for at least another season. I adore this marvelously feminine trend. Voluminous sleeves, baby-dolls, sack-dresses, wide-leg pants and trapeze jackets have revived a look in fashion that we haven’t seen for years.

But the voluminous look hasn’t been easy to put together. A voluminous top worn with a voluminous bottom is shapeless and unflattering. The trick is to sport one voluminous piece at a time. Here are guidelines that will help you pull off volume with style:

• Wear wide pants with fitted and tailored tops. It’s essential to show your waistline with an A-line silhouette.
• Keep the silhouette long and lean underneath a trapeze jacket. Slim fitting tops and boot cut pants, straight legs or skinnies will have you looking your slimmest in this type of jacket.
• Sack dresses and boxy tunics are best worn with straight cut pants, tapered walk shorts (mid calf length and no longer) skinnies or leggings.

If you wear volume on top, keep it slim at the bottom; if you wear volume at the bottom, keep it tailored on top. Easy!

Left: voluminous gauchos worn with a tailored top.
Right: voluminous tops worn with slim bottoms.

Heels are tortuous for your feet at the best of times, but thanks to foot petals you can soften the blow. These discreet foam pads can be placed under either the heels or the balls of your feet, thereby providing extra cushioning and comfort. At $6.95 for a pair, I’m never without a stash in my drawer. A comfortable shoe is priceless.