Posts filed under 'Q&A'
Q: I am 5′5", 57 years old, short-waisted, small in bust, larger in hips. The biggest problem is the short waist. What do you recommend for flattering styles?
A:
To combat short waistedness, the idea is to visually lower your waistline. Here’s five figure flattering tips for you:
(1) My favorite figure flatering trick is to place a narrow belt at the hipline to create the illusion of a lowered waistline.
(2) Belts that match the color of your top also help to visually move your waistline down.
(3) Wear long tops or styles with strong verticals on your torso. And to maximize your bustline, choose styles with volume in the chest area–such as ruffles or ruching.
(4) Low-waisted bottoms are gong to be figure flattering, as are skirts and dresses in fluid fabrics to hug your hips.
(5) Should you choose stiffer fabrics, look for styles without waistbands or those with a dropped waistline.
Have a great tip about how to flatter a short waist? Share it with us in the comments!
Pictured: Classiques Entier Release Shirt | $128 at Nordstrom.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
July 10th, 2007
Q: What can I wear with a grey halter dress to look classy and vintage-y?
A: Dress up the grey halter dress with a square shaped jacket that recalls the 1960s and layered jewelry for an extra vintage-y feel. With a halter dress, y-shaped or pendant necklaces are especially flattering. Keep your hair simple–try wearing a headband to keep your long, wavy hair back.
As for shoes, stay with the vintage theme with a pair of peep-toe heels, such as the Stuart Weitzman Chatup Pumps pictured at left.
Finish off the look with a vintage (or vintage-inspired) handbag with great lines.
Pictured: Stuart Weitzman ‘Chatup’ Pump | $275 at Nordstrom.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
July 6th, 2007
Asks Vickie, "I just found out I’m pregnant, and I’m excited about buying new clothes to fit my growing belly. Can you give me some ideas/inspiration? Also, I’m going to a wedding in September, and I will definitely have a sizable belly by then. What should I wear?"
Tell us, what do you think Vickie should wear during her pregnancy? Please leave your advice in the comments of this post.
The best answer (as chosen by Vickie) by Monday, July 9 gets a gift bag courtesy of BagTrends.com that contains a Hayden Harnett iPod case (and a 15% discount), a Baby Phat t-shirt, Goddess perfume from Kimora Lee Simmons, Bourjois multi shimmer loose eyeshadow, the NYC Venue Guide, a copy of The Buenos Aires Broken Hearts Club, a Jenny Yuen bag charm, a 50% discount at 69jewels.com, a 10% discount at Caravan, fall looks from Moe Handbags, info on Floral Icon Events, and a 20% discount at SHOP BagTrends.com.
Update (7/10): Congratulations, Nisha! Vickie found your advice the most helpful.
Pictured: Olian Maternity Crochet Square Top | $74 at Nordstrom.
July 5th, 2007
Q: How can I keep long tank tops and camisoles from riding up over my hips and rolling up at the bottom?
A: Long tops ride up and roll up when you move around when the fit is too tight. To avoid this problem, look for tank tops and camisoles that are cut a little bit looser–even if they’re still form fitting. I’ve also found that tops with a built in "waistband" piece of fabric tend to give me less problems with shirt ride-up.
Have a great tip about how to stop tank top ride up? Share it with us in the comments!
Pictured: J Crew Solid Favorite Tank | $14.50 at J Crew.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
July 4th, 2007
Q: Do you have any tips on new glasses frames? I want something that will last for a year or so. I work in a design firm, so something funky isn’t out of the question, but I’d like something that that I can wear all the time.
A: Most tips surrounding glasses frames center around balancing out your facial features to get closer to the "ideal" oval shaped face. In a nutshell, we advise those with round faces to look for more angular frames and those with more angular faces to seek rounder frames.
Since you work in a design firm, you’re probably looking for a pair of frames that’s not only functional but also a bit edgy. We’d recommend looking for:
(1) Angular frames, no matter what your face shape. We do, however, suggest taking your face shape into account and recommend a slightly less angular frame for those with heart or square face shapes.
(2) Thicker frames for a bolder, more confident look.
(3) Colored frames, if you dare. We like reddish brown for its wearability and inherent edginess.
Two brands to check out–Kate Spade for retro-chic frames and Gucci for bold, angular styles.
Pictured: Kate Spade Bailey Eyeglasses | $152 at FramesDirect.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
July 3rd, 2007
Q: I am a chubby short waisted woman, and most blouses or shirts are way too long waisted for me which causes them to gap at the front. Can you help me?
A: If your shirts are gapping at the front, buy shirts from retailers whose fit features a wider waistline (this advice also holds true for those with no waist, like myself). I’ve had good results at Banana Republic and Gap for shirts. If you fall in love with a particular shirt, though, you can buy a larger sized shirt and have it tailored down to your shape.
Have a great tip about how to prevent shirt gapping? Share it with us in the comments!
Pictured: Fitted Shirt | $34.80 (sale) at Banana Republic.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
June 29th, 2007
Q: I am going on a river floating trip with my boyfriend in the next few weeks, what can I wear over my swimsuit that will be functional and stylish?
A: Function comes before form when packing for a river rafting trip. You’ll be boating down a river, so be prepared to get wet. But you’ll also be in direct sunlight for a good portion of the trip, so it’s best to be able to adjust your clothing for the weather and water conditions. Here’s three fashion tips for your river rafting trip:
Dress in Layers: On top, we recommend a loose fitting tunic in a lightweight fabric, such as the Water Girl Un-Dress Tunic (pictured). Shorts are also a simple, functional option for the summer heat. A less-conventional option is a sarong, which is a great swimsuit cover-up that also doubles as a dressy item to wear at camp post-rafting.
Wear Quick-drying Clothes: You’ll be getting wet, so wear lightweight clothes that dry quickly. Look for materials like polyester, nylon, polypropylene, capilene or fleece.
Remember your Sun Hat: Either choose one with a security draw cord or purchase a separate hat clip so as not to lose the hat if the ride gets rocky.
Pictured: Water Girl Un-Dress Tunic | $68 at REI.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
June 28th, 2007
Q: My husband and I have been invited to a work party at a fancy restaurant. My husband is an attorney, and most of the guests in attendance will be attorneys and judges. The invitation states that the attire will be "Summer Chic." Please describe "Summer Chic" and how it would apply to men and women.
A:
Summer Chic implies a degree of casualness, but given that the event is a work party at a fancy restaurant, keep the outfit professional.
For Women: Sleeved dresses or two-piece outfits–nothing too revealing. Have a sleeveless dress? Pair it with a cropped cardigan sweater. Light colors and lightweight fabrics will turn this outfit from plain chic to Summer Chic.
For Men: Two-piece suits, coordinated or uncoordinated, in lightweight fabrics. For summer, I like light colored suits–shades of khaki or cream are seasonally appropriate. Wear a dress shirt and tie, though feel free to mix things up with bright colors or bold patterns.
Pictured: Heritage Linen Suit | $473 at Banana Republic.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
June 27th, 2007
Q: I fell in love with a pair of shorts at Forever 21. The only problem is that they are PURPLE! Don’t get me wrong, purple is one of my favorite colors, but I have absolutely no idea what to wear with these shorts besides white and/or black. Tips, please?
A:
Here’s three tips for creating an outfit around the color purple:
(1) Create a Monochromatic Color Combination:
Pair your purple shorts with a top that’s another shade of purple for a monochromatic look. Mix a dark shade of purple with lilac, for instance.
(2) Go for a Duochromatic Color Combination:
Mix purple with a different hue, say a splash of yellow-orange or a blue-green, for variety. But don’t mix the two in equal proportions–make one the dominant color and the other the subordinate color with a 75-25 proportion.
(3) Add Neutrals:
Purple combines well with shades of grey, beige, and brown. Taupe, in particular, will pair well with purple.
Our favorite color combinations with purple? Purple + Grey, Purple + Cerulean Blue, Purple + Brown, and Purple + Orange.
Have a great tip about how to wear purple? Share it with us in the comments.
Pictured: Velvet Torch V-Neck Slipdress | $50 at Nordstrom.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
June 26th, 2007
Asks Olivia, "I’m in my twenties, and in the process of losing weight. I’m down to a 12 now, and working on getting a size or two slimmer. I have an hourglass figure, [but] I really don’t know how to dress for my size! I feel too old for the mega trendy stuff going on right now, but I feel like a 40 year old soccer mom when I stick with the basics (no offense to 40 year old soccer moms out there). So, can you help me pick out some stuff to wear that will show off my new figure, and will make me look like I’m in my 20s?"
Tell us, what do you think Olivia should wear to show off her hourglass silhouette? Please leave your advice in the comments of this post.
As usual, the best answer (as chosen by Olivia) by Monday, June 25 gets a treat from Omiru’s goodie closet.
June 21st, 2007
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