Posts filed under 'Women'
Elongate your silhouette and enhance specific focal points.
Look for…
- When choosing an outfit, pick a focal point and play it up: neck and shoulders, back, cleavage, forearms, legs, etc.
- Monochromatic and tonal outfits.
- Items with drape and stretch.
- Garments with soft texture, vertical patterns, and prints.
- Straight cuts.
- Mid-hip lengths or longer.
- Single breasted styles.
- Tailored styles.
- Subtle A-line styles.
- High armholes and natural shoulders for a leaner look.
- Biker jackets.
- Boxy jackets.
- Semifitted styles that can be tucked in.
- Wrap styles.
- Off-the-shoulder necklines.
- Styles with bust darts.
- Deep V-necks.
- Flat-front straight leg trousers with no pockets.
- Waistbands 1†or smaller.
- Jean styles that sit slightly below your natural waist.
- Dresses with all-over patterns to keep the eyes moving.
- Dark colors and flat textures.
- Waistbands 1†or smaller.
- Styles without waistbands.
- A-line styles.
- Flat front skirts.
- Play up cleavage or legs as your focal point.
- Vertical detailing.
- Semifitted styles.
- Simple styles.
- Diagonal lines.
- Chevron patterns.
- Verticals: necklines, piping, patterns, seams.
- Lower necklines.
- Side shirring.
- Dark side panels.
- High Lycra content.
Run from…
- Clingy or tight fitting items.
- Oversized clothing.
- Ill-fitting clothing.
- Stiff fabrics.
- Bulky pockets.
- Double breasted styles.
- Belted styles.
- Bulky flap or patch pockets.
- Hems that end at the widest part of your hips.
- Overembellishment.
- Anything too tight.
- Pants tapered at the ankle.
- Baggy pants.
- Pants with pleated waists.
- Peg top pants with elastic waists.
- Bulky, gathered styles.
- Boxy shapes.
- Horizontal detailing.
- Bias cuts.
- Wrap styles.
- Front darts.
- Pleats.
- Front pockets.
- Anything too tight.
- Complicated cuts.
- Horizontal detailing.
- Anything that creates a horizontal line.
- Two piece suits that dig into your body.
April 28th, 2005
Soften your silhouette by adding the appearance of curves.
Look for…
- Fitted styles.
- Styles with embellishments at the bustline (e.g. ruching, pleating).
- Fitted styles.
- Straight styles.
- Jackets with nipped in waists.
- Belted styles.
- Styles that end at mid-hip.
- Double breasted styles.
- Jackets in heavier fabrics and textures.
- Pocket detailing, especially breast pockets.
- Peplum jackets.
- Biker jackets.
- Bomber jackets.
- Straight, boxy jackets.
- Horizontal detailing.
- Tops with nipped in waists.
- Halter Tops.
- Tops with embellishments at the bustline: shirring or gathers.
- Shrunken versions of men’s shirts.
- Empire-waist styles.
- Narrow V-necks.
- Flared short sleeves.
- Tabbed sleeves.
- Breast pockets.
- Wide collars and lapels.
- Flat-front, straight-leg trousers.
- Slight flare at hem.
- Pleats will help create curves.
- Wide waistbands and a lower rise pant will visually add curves.
- Low rise styles.
- Low-rise, straight leg jean styles work best.
- Jeans with a fitted derrière create instant curves.
- Almost any style works.
- For broad shoulders, avoid very full skirts.
- Sarong skirts.
- Bias cut skirts.
- A-line skirts.
- Pleating.
- Slanted pockets for added hip shape.
- Gathers.
- Patch pockets.
- Belts.
- Thicker waistbands.
- Shirtdresses.
- Wrap dresses.
- Horizontal detailing.
- Contrast color at bustline.
- Waist detailing.
Run from…
- Garments that are cut straight up and down with no waist definition.
- Anything with built in curves.
- Shoulder pads.
- Horizontal lines at the shoulder.
- Raglan, dolman, or kimono sleeves.
- Horizontal lines at the shoulder.
- Raglan, dolman, or kimono sleeves.
- Stiff fabrics.
- Voluminous, structured tops that you don’t fill out.
- Fitted capris and clamdiggers.
April 27th, 2005
Elongate your figure while featuring your waist.
Showcase your curves.
- Garments that drape nicely over your curves.
- Styles with simple lines.
- Semi-fitted styles that just cover your derrière.
- Closure (button or otherwise) just below the bustline.
- Vertical lines through seams and/or lapels.
- Snug fit, high collared biker jacket.
- Single breasted boxy styles.
Tops
- Semifitted styles that end below the belt and can be tucked in.
- Tops that subtly reveal cleavage.
- Classic flat-front straight-leg pants that rest at your natural waistline.
- Side or back zip pants (invisible zipper) reduce bulk and can be more flattering.
- Subtle flare at ankle is flattering on taller women.
- Wide pants can be tapered slightly at calf-height on heavy women.
- Stretch jeans are perfect for showcasing curves.
- For a look that’s less form-fitting, try straight-leg jeans one size up.
- Slitted skirts and dresses that showcase your legs.
- Bottoms that narrow at your knees.
- Flat front styles with side or back zipper.
- For a thin waistline, show your waist with a belt or prominent waistline.
- For a thicker waistline, look for dropped-waist styles.
- Medium-weight knits and drapey fabrics are flattering.
- Fitted jackets and skirts.
Run From…
- Oversized clothes.
- Overly tight clothing.
- Clothes that are cut straight up and down, without regards to curves.
- Horizontal lines at the fullest part of your hips.
- Jackets without waist definition (e.g. those that are loosely buttoned at the waistline).
- Styles that end at the fullest part of your hips.
- Jean jacket with pocket detailing.
- Styles that end at the fullest part of your hips.
- Suits without enough support.
April 26th, 2005
Elongate your silhouette by making your legs look longer.
Look for…
- Items in the petites department: they’re proportioned for a shorter woman.
- Monochromatic ensembles.
- Narrow silhouettes.
- Drapey, fluid fabrics.
- Vertical lines and detailing: seams, closures, embellishment, etc.
- Princess and/or center seams.
- Small prints.
- Skirts are better than pants because they conceal the point where your legs begin, allowing you to create the illusion of longer legs by raising the waistline.
- Cropped styles.
- Styles with simple lines.
- One or two button closures.
- Narrow lapels that end above the natural waistline.
- Coats should be no longer than one inch above the knee.
- Empire-waist styles.
- Belts, if any, should be placed above the natural waistline.
- High necklines create the illusion of height.
- Simple, fitted styles.
- High-waisted tops.
- Empire line tops.
- Cropped tops and sweaters.
- Tops in fluid, drapey fabrics.
- Straight leg pants with front creases.
- Longer cut styles work best; wear these with heels for a longer line.
- Classic 5-pocket jean styles.
- Natural waist styles to visually lengthen leg.
- Above-the-knee and knee-length skirts and dresses.
- Tapered straight skirts.
- A-line skirts.
- Button-front skirts.
- Wraparound skirts.
- Slim dress silhouettes.
- High-waisted dresses.
- Empire line dresses.
- Wrap dresses.
- Semifitted to fitted sheath dresses.
- Off center slit to elongate legs.
- Vertical detailing: buttons, seamlines, trimmings, etc.
- Higher neckline for a taller look.
- Minimal accessories.
- Medium height shoes.
- Pointed toe shoes to elongate foot and leg.
- Shoes with a low vamp (toe opening is long and narrow) for a longer line for your foot and leg.
Run from…
- Stiff, tailored clothing.
- Baggy clothing.
- Big horizontal lines.
- Large prints.
- Excess detailing.
- Double breasted styles.
- Long coats.
- Voluminous styles.
- Styles with wide lapels.
- Tops that hit at your natural waistline.
- Baggy tops.
- Highly embellished tops.
- Tops made of stiff fabrics.
- Pleated pants.
- Cropped pants.
- Low rise pants.
- Cuffed pants.
- Wide-leg pants.
- Flared pants.
- Skirts that hit at mid-calf.
- Long, ankle length skirts.
- Hem detailing.
- Overly girly styles.
- Overembellishment.
- Extremely full skirts (think Cinderella).
- Very High Heels.
- Overembellished styles.
- Styles that disproportionately large for your frame.
April 25th, 2005
Q: For a cocktail party in June, I plan to wear a Marc by Marc Jacobs dress. It’s knee-length and ruffled, and has a mauve background with pink, fuschia, and pewter-blue flowers, with brown stems [and] a royal blue waist tie. The shoes paired with it at the store where I bought it were blue patent leather sandals with about a two-inch stiletto heel, a little high for my taste. What other color shoes would you suggest wearing with it? Do I have to look for blue shoes?
A: No, you don’t have to look for blue shoes. The general rule is that a shoe is usually in the same color family as the outfit it is accompanying, but not necessarily an exact match. Often times, when you make an exact match, the result comes out too "matchy matchy." Not to mention the difficulty in finding the exact match in the first place.
There are a lot of colors represented in the dress, so you have a lot of leeway here. You might want to try some shade of pink–or even tan, to bring out the brown of the stems. Both colors would likely work with other items in your closet as well. Remember, however, that shoes in vivid colors attract attention–and consequently make your feet look bigger. For such shoes, I’d recommend sticking to barer styles that are easier to wear.
As for type of shoe, for the dress that you described, I’d recommend a kitten heel. A low, delicate heel is a lot easier to wear than the stilettos you described. Plus, I think the kitten heel is more versatile, as it works with both cocktail clothes and work attire.
April 22nd, 2005
I’ve been getting more questions via email—I’m just going to make this Q&A week! If you have a burning style question, send it my way: styleintelligence@gmail.com.
Q: Is it okay to mix metals (e.g. gold and silver) when choosing jewelry?
A: Yes, it’s okay to mix metals. However, be careful to choose some unifying theme. I’d recommend choosing pieces that are similar in style, color, or even shine. You wouldn’t, for example, want to combine a shiny platinum and a dull gold. When in doubt, there are always pieces that are made of multiple metals—these generally do a good job with the combination.
Note that the same guidelines apply for picking metallic-colored pieces of clothing.
April 20th, 2005
One of the things I like most about this nautical-inspired trend is its inherent timelessness. Sailor stripes were chic even before Sarah Jessica Parker wore them in the final season of Sex and the City. And who can resist the understated elegance of knotted embellishments? Chances are, these items won’t be relegated to the back of the closet when the fashion magazines move on to the Next Big Trend.
A few items worth a look…
For women:
Stripe Tissue Camisole | $14.50 at
JCrewI know I’ve mentioned this one before, but I just love navy + green!
Whitney-Stripe V-Neck Tank | $28 at
JCrewTiny horizontal stripes can be more flattering than wider ones.
Bridget Mesh Wrap Polo | $88 at
Blue Label Ralph LaurenLove the knot detailing!
And For Men:
Striped Lisle Polo | $79.50 at
Polo Ralph LaurenFor a similar style at a lower price, try the Trapper’s Gorge Polo ($49.50)
at
Abercrombie & Fitch.
Champlain Valley Polo | $39.50 at
Abercrombie & Fitch.
A touch of pink, for those men who are comfortable with their masculinity!
Be careful, this one can come out a little "jailhouse."
Cotton Maritime-Stripe Crewneck | $58 at
JCrewFeels French, somehow.
April 15th, 2005
For a fresh preppy look, try combining greens and/or blues with white in classic shapes: cardigans, camisoles, and knee-length skirts.
Fashion Formula = Cardigan + Camisole + Circle Skirt.
Stripe Tissue Camisole | $14.50 at
JCrewLove the color combination (green+navy) created by the stripes!
V-Neck Pocket Cardigan | $68 at
JCrewThe pockets give this cardigan an extra special something.
Gabby Halter Top | $24.50 at
Abercrombie & FitchThe white striping detail makes this top all the more special.
Doublefaced Cotton Skirt | $455 at
Ralph LaurenElegant, clean, and feminine!
April 12th, 2005
I’ve just been seeing these skirts Everywhere. Department stores, chain stores, boutiques, and most importantly—on people. Kind of reminds me of that time when Everybody and their mother was wearing a peasant blouse.
Tiered skirts are one of the latest takes on the Full Skirt phenomenon that’s hitting the stores this season. And while they are fun, I feel responsible for telling you that they won’t be around forever—I predict they’ll be around for the next year and a half, maybe two. Wear them now, have your fun, and then be done with them until the fashion people decide that they’re “the thing to wear†again in ten years, plus or minus a few.
The plus side to the tiered skirt is that its full shape can be forgiving to many figure types. If you happen to have big hips or ample thighs, go for a slightly draped cut that skims your figure. If you’re petite, steer clear of ankle-length ball-gown-esque skirts: they’ll only make you look shorter than you are. Instead, try a skirt that ends at the knee. Another note for petite girls: avoid skirts with loud, large patterns. There’s a very real chance that those skirts will wear you, instead of the other way around.
A few tiered skirts worth mentioning:
The Urban Outfitters skirt looks like a shorter version of an ankle-length dip dyed skirt by Candela. You can find the Candela version for $150 at Girlshop.com.
April 9th, 2005
White on white looks especially fresh this Spring. However, a plain white outfit can feel monotonous. To mix things up in a monochromatic outfit, try adding texture through embellishments (e.g. beading, sequins, embroidery) and/or fabric treatments (e.g. pleating, smocking, etc). Or try an unusual silhouette with features like asymmetry or cutouts.
Some items worth mentioning:
Pleated Dress | $118 at Kenneth ColeA gorgeous, classic shape embellished with small pleats.
Pleated Top | $89 at Kenneth Cole
A shorter, more versatile version of the above dress.
Cutout Dress | $148 at Banana Republic
Jersey dress with a sophisticated back cutout.
Robert Rodriguez Crystal Tank | $143 at Shopbop.comTank top with crystal trim at neckline.
Marc Jacobs Top | $188 at Shopbop.com
Eyelet camisole with ruffle trim.
April 6th, 2005
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