Thank you for last week’s informative comments on Trinny & Susannah’s twelve body shape definitions. Overall, I’m left with the impression that people find them a little confusing. Perhaps the simpler approach of sticking to five simple categories is more effective after all.

Here are some additional thoughts on using body types to maximize your style quotient:

1. Don’t expect an exact match: Instead of boxing a person into one category, I prefer to suggest that they tend towards a particular body type. It is impossible to create a small set of shapes that matches all of our unique bodies, but a few rudimentary generalizations can be made to create rough guidelines.
2. Use the definitions as a starting point…: Even if you’re unsure about your exact body type, chances are high that you will at least tend towards one of my five categories. This makes for a good starting point. Once you understand the basics of what’s recommended for this shape, you can zone in on the specifics and concentrate on which cuts and fits look best.
3. ...but focus on your unique body: Whether you have a short or long neck, a large or small bust, a short or long waist and a flat or full tummy will all play a role. In the end it’s all about figuring out what looks best on your body rather than categorizing your body shape. Nicole’s comment sums this up perfectly.
4. Use multiple categories if necessary: Some people find similarities with more than one category. For example, you may tend towards an hourglass but your slightly fuller thighs have you also following some of the rules for the pretty pear. Note that some types are not compatible: you can’t be a mixture of the pretty pear and the inverted triangle because these shapes are completely opposite.
5. Rules are made to be broken: You might find that you can break some of your body type rules because you have a stronger feature that lets you “get away with it”. Again, body type is a starting point, but your unique body has the final word.

I enjoyed The Body Shape Bible because it addresses real women with real bodies. I don’t personally find Trinny and Susannah’s nomenclature offensive, but I can understand how some people might feel this way (after all, no-one likes thinking of themselves as a “brick”). The overall tone of what they are saying about ALL women’s bodies is positive and in no way harmful to any body image.

Pre-holiday sales are everywhere, which is unusual at this time of year. Getting the biggest bang for our fashion buck is always a goal so I’m not complaining. Here are my top sale picks prior to mega, post-holiday markdowns:

• J. Crew men’s merino and lamb’s wool pullovers are marked down to $29 - $69. Cashmere is 20-40% off for both gents and ladies. Dresses , T’s, jackets, sweats and pajamas are on sale too, so be sure to look further than knitwear.
• BCBG has 30-70% off most of their party wear, separates, shoes and accessories.
• Banana Republic traditionally goes on sale the day after Christmas, but quite a few of their knits, dresses, shirts and slacks are already 40% off. None of the good menswear is on sale yet so gents will have to wait untill Boxing Day.
• Macy’s Petites are marked down 25-40%. Party attire is not on sale, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets marked down before Christmas. Coats continue to be 40% off and there are great bargains throughout the store so be sure to take a look if you can brave the crowds.
• White House Black Market is offering 30-50% off selected party attire. Tasteful sparkly tops are going for as little at $29.
• Benetton has marked all their goods down 20%.
• Ann Taylor has half of their cashmere collection on sale for $99 and coats are 25% off. Selected dresses are 60% off.
• Old Navy and the Gap continue to mark down their merchandise 40% after 6 weeks and are worth a look, especially for kids and canines.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen markdowns quite this aggressive just before Christmas. Retailers in America normally mark everything down the day after Christmas, and in Europe it’s usually the 2nd of January. It’s no doubt a consequence of the poor performance we’ve been seeing recently in apparel retail. Although November was a good month, September was very weak and October was only marginally better.

Shop as the doors open or after 8pm to avoid holiday hustle and bustle… it’s busy out there people!

A few J. Crew bargains that might find themselves under your Christmas tree.

Wrapping paper, or gift wrap, is usually wrapped around a long cylindrical roll of cardboard. Save these rolls and cut them in half because they make superb long boot shapers. If you don’t have proper boot shapers, try this cheap trick instead (rolled up magazines are another cheap, but effective, option).

I stumbled across the new approach yesterday as I was wrapping Christmas presents. I had a new pair of boots that were in desperate need of shapers, so I temporarily used the wrapping paper roll to keep them upright and neat. That did the job perfectly and the rolls are now there to stay.

Trinny and Susannah of the original British reality TV show “What Not to Wear”, recently launched their latest book: The Body Shape Bible. Their mantra throughout the book is consistent: “Forget your size, discover your shape and transform yourself”.

Dressing for your body type is also a strong theme on youlookfab.com and I use five body types as a frame of reference (the pear, apple, rectangle, hourglass and inverted triangle). Trinny and Susannah have identified twelve definitive women’s body shapes in their new book which I found very interesting. In each case, it’s the proportion and not the size that matters. So whether you are a slim, average or larger version of a body type, the same dressing principles will apply.

The twelve body shapes are really a more detailed breakdown of the five that I use. There are three pears,

• The Skittle – average size bust, slim waist, okay tummy with big thighs and chunky calves (e.g. Halle Berry)
• The Bell – small shoulders, bust and waist, short waist with big thighs and bottom (e.g. Hillary Clinton)
• The Pear – small bust, long waist, flat tummy, saddle bags and heavy legs (e.g. Sandra Bullock)

…two apples,

• The Apple – average bust, tummy larger than bust with flat bottom and okay legs (e.g. Kathy Bates)
• The Vase – large bust, gently curving long waist, hips same width as bust with slim thighs and legs (e.g. Kate Winslet)

…two rectangles,

• The Column – shoulder width same as hip width with a slight waist and long legs (e.g. Nicole Kidman)
• The Brick – broad shoulders, no waist, average tummy, flat bottom with chunky thighs and calves (e.g. Kim Cattrell)

…two hourglasses,

• The Cello – large bust, hips, bottom and thighs with slim lower legs (e.g. Oprah Winfrey)
• The Hourglass – large bust, small and short waist, large hips and full thighs (e.g. Salma Hayek)

…and three inverted triangles,

• The Goblet – broad shoulders, large bust, no waist with narrow hips and long legs (e.g. Catherine Zeta Jones)
• The Cornet – broad shoulders, small bust, no waist with slim hips and slim long legs (e.g. Cameron Diaz)
• The Lollipop – large bust with slight waist, slim hips and long legs (e.g. Angelina Jolie)

I like their comprehensive body type descriptions and hope that this information helps you to identify your body type more accurately. Do you feel that the extra details make the descriptions easier to use? Can you identify your body type?

Unfortunately I cannot appreciate the elevation of these shoes, but platforms are the height of party fashion this season. They’ll look festive and mod with cocktail dresses, jeans, flirty skirts and satin skinnies (either bare-legged, or with hose). Pop in foot petals to prevent your feet from sliding and add an insole for cushioning comfort. Statement peds like these are sure to kick your outfit up a notch if you feel stable in 4-5 inch heels. They’re like sculptured works of art on your feet. I’ll admire them from a distance because I draw the line at 3 inches and “2 hours” for party shoes and that scenario needs to include a lot of sitting.

Pretty party platforms with either skinny or chunky soaring heel heights are a must if you like the look and your feet can stand it. It’s a skill that you can add to your resume if you can walk and dance the night away in these. I don’t know how Beyonce does it.

The December issue of Lucky Magazine shared an interesting laundry trick. You can wash beaded and sequined pieces at home instead of traipsing them off to the cleaners if you follow a few simple steps. I tested the method on one of my own sequined cardigans and altered the process a little.

Here’s what to do:

• Check that your washing machine has an ultra delicate “hand wash” cycle. If so, that’s the cycle to use. Use cold water and mild detergent (Woolite will do the trick).
• Turn the embellished piece inside out and pop it into an old pastel or white pillow case (you don’t want the dye of the pillow case to run). Close the pillow case with a tight knot and proceed to wash.
• Hang the damp garment over a rack or chair to dry, or flat-dry on a towel.
• Steam if necessary.

I took the chance with this piece because I felt I had nothing to lose. The last time I took an embellished piece of knitwear to the cleaners, it came back a size smaller. Dry cleaning can also cause sequins to melt. Some items do deserve to be professionally laundered (I wouldn’t risk using Lucky Magazine’s laundry method with my partially sequined mesh and satin party dress, for example). My embellished skirt, on the other hand, is soon to befriend a damp pillowcase.

Black opaques are all the rage this season, but sheer black hose can often look more flattering. There is something about the translucency of sheer hose (either in black or a colour) that is leg slimming and leg lengthening. I include sheer hose with self colored patterns (like spots or diamonds) in this category.

This is not to say that opaques, thicker ribbed tights, and patterned tights won’t look great when they complement an outfit. Sheer black hose was often a favourite choice with my clients this season, particularly for the additional coverage they offer in both everyday and party wear ensembles.

My point is that with all the exciting hose to choose from, we forget about simple sheer hose. And I definitely feel prettier in sheer black hose as opposed to thick tights. So don’t feel compelled to wear elaborate hose when the simple things in life are often best.

Some holiday events aren’t formal enough for a suit and tie, but smart casual won’t do either. The answer is something in between, where a fancy form of business casual never fails. Here’s what you need:

• Dress pants in wool blends are best. Stick to flat fronted styles with straight legs (these are generally most flattering). Stay away from casual khakis and cotton rich fabrications because it’s inappropriate to wear this look in Winter.
• Dress shirts should be fairly form fitting and preferably a little shiny. This way your look is a step up from everyday office wear. Wear them tucked into pants with an undergarment-T and dressy belt that matches your shoes. The informal untucked shirt look is not suitable in this setting.
• Smart shoes in high shine leathers are ideal. Keep them the same colour or darker than the pants and wear dress socks that match.
• Blazers are an optional extra, but a chic finish to the look. Plain or pinstriped wool , cashmere or velvet fabrications are great and remember that you can comfortably pair this look with jeans for smart casual occasions. Multi-purpose pieces in our wardrobes are fab.

Plain shirts and micro-geometric patterned shirts are dressier options than broad stripes, and darker colours both for shirts and dress pant look a little swankier than lighter hues. But a pair of black dress pants and white shirt remains a perfect semi formal combination, especially on a darker skin tone.

Suits and tuxes are inappropriate for casual holiday parties at home or at informal restaurants (unless there is a dress code stated on the invitation). Relaxed holiday gatherings are usually smart casual and this calls for a toned down, yet appropriate, holiday look.

Putting together smart casual attire for gents is easy once you have the components:

• Jeans – A perfectly fitting fab pair of quality dark wash jeans will take a bloke almost anywhere. Learning to dress smart denim up or down contributes significantly to one’s personal style, so it’s worth investing in a splendid pair. Make sure that the jeans aren’t too short (high water pants shorten the leg).
• Shirt – Finding a great shirt is not easy because shirt fits and lengths are inconsistent. A man’s shirt has to fit properly in order for him to look chic (men generally wear smarter shirts at least a size too big). A dressy shirt looks classy when it’s tailored but not too snug, so alter if you need to. And remember to do “the sit test” (a shirt should not pull open at the tummy when sitting). It’s acceptable and hip to leave smart shirts “untucked”, but they need to be short enough to look chic. An untucked shirt that’s too long and big looks sloppy.
• Shoes and belt – There is no limit on the dressiness of the shoe. Both lace-up and pull–on will work. Stay away from clumpy peds with thick rubber soles that are unrefined. Wear a matching belt and finish off the look with dark dressy socks.
• Blazer – This is an optional but handsome cherry on top. Think boarding school pinstripe blazers in grey, ink or black wool blends and make sure that the fit is perfect both in length and width. The shoulders should not drop and the button should close. Ask for professional assistance if you’re unsure.

A tailored finely knitted polo neck (turtle neck) is a great alternative to a shirt when it’s cold. This is the masculine version of the flop-proof outfit and will serve men well for almost any smart casual occasion.

The untucked shirts on these models are at the correct length. An undergarment T-shirt worn under a button down shirt is always a good idea.

Katie Holmes is not a celebrity whose sense of style catches my eye, but her new hairdo grabbed my attention. Over the past 3 years, she’s gone from here, to here and now to here. A retro 70’s bob with thick fringe (bangs) looks chic, new and fairly easy to maintain with the help of a flat iron. The most recent chop might set a new trend, much like Jennifer Aniston’s “Rachel” did in the ’90’s.  I think that the new do is fab. What do you think?

Katie’s evolution (click on the thumbnails to see larger images on E! Online and MSN Entertainment)