05.31.07

The Importance of Knowing Your Colors

Posted in Color Analysis, Color Consultant, baby boomer, baby boomer fashion, baby boomer women, body type, fashion, fashion advice, image consultant, orange county, style, stylist, wardrobe planning, women's interest at 8:40 pm05 by erinstafford

Here’s another great quote from Brenda Kinsel’s book 40 Over 40.  If you haven’t read it and you are a woman over 40, or approaching 40, I highly recommend it.

“Wearing flattering colors can make up for lack of sleep.  The right proportions of a suit can knock years and pounds off your driver’s licence….A pleasing, appropriate ensemble can get you a promotion, a date, win your case, give you instant confidence, comfort, and personal pleasure.  Clothes celebrate, announce, advertise, and declare yourself.  You hardly have a more powerful tool for life….The right clothes have the uncanny ability to make you feel at ease, more beautiful, more assured, more ‘yourself’ that you feel with no clothes on at all.”

Spending time and money on your clothes and appearance does not make you vain.  It is important to your self esteem, success, and energy levels to look and feel your best every day.  Go ahead, you deserve it!

05.23.07

Trying out the Trapeze

Posted in Fit and Figure, Style Diary, Summer Fashion, Trapeze, baby boomer, body type, fashion, fashion advice, image consultant, orange county, style, wardrobe planning, women's interest at 8:40 pm05 by erinstafford

If you are like most women, you want to look current and up to date.  But how do you know when to try out styles that have circus names or to pass on anything having to do with flying through the air while holding on to a metal swing for dear life?  The key is knowing your body type, whether the trend is something you even like, and figuring out how to adapt the trend specifically for you.  It is important that you interpret the trend so that you feel comfortable and that it is the most flattering to your figure.  To help you out, I have broken down this week’s focus of billowy tops and short trapeze dresses for the six major body types.  Find your figure type, and then see how you can adapt these trends to suit your needs. 

HourglassIf you are an hourglass, you have an overall curvy shape.  Your hips and bust are about the same width and you have a well defined waist.  You often have a full bottom and thighs with slim lower legs.   

You have the classic women’s body, so accentuating your waist should be part of your daily look.  Unfortunately, billowy tops are not going to do much for your silhouette, as they hide all of your beautiful womanly curves.  Try pairing a billowy top with a belt to cinch in your waist.   

As you normally have a fuller thigh, short trapeze dresses that hit you right at mid thigh are going to draw attention to your full thighs.  Look for trapeze dresses that are slightly longer or try pairing a trapeze dress with similar colored leggings or tights to create a less obvious divide at your mid thigh. 

TriangleYour hips and thighs are wider than your shoulders and bustline.  You often have a flat tummy and are well proportioned above the waist.  Your hip may broaden right under the waist but is usually widest at your lower hip. 

Billowy tops are great for you because they help create volume on top and balance out your bottom half.  Make sure that your tops do not hit you at the widest part of your hip as this will only draw attention there.  Try to find tops that hit you either above or below the widest part of your hip. 

Trapeze dresses are great for you, as long as they do not get too tight over your hip.  If you find ones that skim over your hips, without being too snug, this will be a great A line look for your body. 

Inverted TriangleYou are broadest through the bust, shoulders, and upper back, narrowing into your waist.  Your hips and thighs are equal to your waist or slightly narrower all around.  You have the classic swimmer’s body. 

You are lucky.  Most models have this body type, so you can wear almost anything.  Billowy tops and trapeze dresses look great on you.  Make sure that you do not overemphasize your shoulders with lots of shoulder detail such as: ruffles, epaulettes, or patch pockets. 

RectangleYou are straight up and down, with a somewhat small bust and little or no waist definition.  You have a columnar silhouette overall.  You may have a fleshy back and slightly short neck, but you tend to have slim arms and legs. 

Billowy tops and trapeze dresses will work well on you, as they will both create more volume below the waist.  Creating volume below will help camouflage your columnar silhouette and give the illusion of a slight waist.  As you tend to have slim legs, the trapeze dress will show them off well.  

OvalYou are broader through the middle and upper torso, with no waist indentation, and often have a full bust and sloping shoulders.  You have proportionately slim legs and arms, with an overall rounded shape, prominent tummy, and flat bottom. 

Be very weary of these two trends.  You want to avoid creating more volume around your midsection. Many oval women feel that they need to hide themselves in voluminous clothing.  This only goes to make your silhouette look larger.   

Find billowy tops that hit you below your widest point for the best look.  When wearing dresses, make sure that the hem is even all the way around.  If you find that your hem is higher in the back, take your dress to a tailor and have them hem the front of the dress so that it hangs evenly when you wear it.    

DiamondYou have narrow shoulders and a small bust and back, with most of your weight distributed through the midriff and waist area.  Sometimes the waist is the largest measurement around your body.  You have a flat bottom, with a natural overall wedge shape. 

These trends are not ideal for you, as they will often create that dreaded maternity look.  To avoid this, try tapering your tops from below the bust and tummy so they are narrower at your waist.   Tapering your tops and dresses will help create a cleaner, slimmer silhouette. 

Once you get a better understanding of your specific body type it is increasingly easier to see if a trend will work for you.  The sooner you stop comparing yourself to your friends that are completely different sizes and shapes than you, the better.  What looks good on them might look awful on you and vice versa.  Not every trend is meant for every body.  Embrace the body you have and learn how to showcase it in its best possible light!

05.19.07

Check out my latest article on Style Diary

Posted in Color Analysis, Color Consultant, Diamond Body type, Fit and Figure, Oval body type, Style Diary, Trapeze, Trapeze tops, body type, fashion, fashion advice, image consultant, inverted triangle, orange county, rectangle body type, style, stylist, triangle, wardrobe planning, women's interest at 8:40 pm05 by erinstafford

http://www.stylediary.net/Toolbox.aspx?ArticleId=489

Find out how to adapt billowy tops and trapeze dresses for your body type!

What you don’t know

Posted in AICI, Color Analysis, Color Consultant, Fit and Figure, baby boomer, baby boomer fashion, baby boomer women, body type, fashion, fashion advice, image consultant, orange county, style, stylist, wardrobe planning, women's interest at 8:40 pm05 by erinstafford

I took a day long workshop on Thursday with Judith Rasband, one of the pioneers of the image consulting industry.  She’s been in the industry for over 50 years and has so many great tips to share with us “new” image consultants.  She had a great quote that went like this:

 ”If you don’t know what you don’t know, you don’t know what you’re missing” – Judith Rasband

I think that sums things up very nicely.  If you don’t know how to put yourself together and how to make yourself look your best, then you don’t know how great you COULD look! 

05.16.07

Quick Tips for Long Waisted Women

Posted in Color Consultant, Fit and Figure, baby boomer, baby boomer fashion, baby boomer women, body type, business, fashion, fashion advice, fasion blunders, image consultant, long waist, orange county, wardrobe planning, women's interest at 8:40 pm05 by erinstafford

Your waist should lie half way between your underarms and the top of your thighs.  If your waist is closer to the top of your thighs, you are considered long waisted.  Try these tips to help balance your proportions:

  • V neck tops
  • Shorter jackets
  • Jackets with a curved rather than straight hem
  • Deeper arm holes in tops
  • Raised waistlines or a wide belt in a color that matches the bottom
  • Narrow skirts with tapered sides
  • Classic straight legged pants
  • A full skirt or wider legged pants will require two inch heels to add length to the leg
  • Hosiery and shoes in colors to match the skirt, pants, or dress
  • A slight heel of a least one inch

05.11.07

More Image Tips

Posted in Color Analysis, Color Consultant, Fit and Figure, baby boomer, baby boomer fashion, body type, business, fashion, fashion advice, fasion blunders, faux pas, image consultant, orange county, style, stylist, wardrobe planning, women's interest at 8:40 pm05 by erinstafford

Here are a few more things to keep in mind regarding your image.  Make sure your image isn’t speaking a completely different language than you!

Tangerine Legs – In Orange County, where everyone thinks they need to be tan year round, fake tanner abounds.  The problem is that you end up with bright orange legs.  There is nothing that screams CHEAP quicker than someone with streaky orange legs.  You are much better off with whiter legs than with orange ones.

Brightly Painted Nails – Every woman loves getting her nails done.  There is something so relaxing about having someone massage your hands and feet and do your nails without having to lift a finger.  The problem begins when we get carried away with bright colors, rhinestones, and painted designs on our nails.  Keep your image looking classy and professional with a simple french manicure, or soft colored polish…anything else will cheapen your appearance.

Scuffed Shoes – Men are pretty good about polishing their shoes, but for some reason, us women tend to forget about them.  Maybe it’s because we have many more shoes than men, but we still need to make sure that our shoes are always polished.  There’s no point having a great outfit on if your shoes are a mess.  It throws off your look, makes you look shabby, and shows that you don’t have much attention to detail.  Like so many things in life, it’s the little things that make a big difference in how you are perceived.

05.07.07

Quick Tips for Short Waisted Women in Orange County

Posted in Color Analysis, Color Consultant, Fit and Figure, Plus size, Short waist, baby boomer, baby boomer fashion, baby boomer women, body type, fashion, fashion advice, image consultant, orange county, style, stylist, wardrobe planning, women's interest at 8:40 pm05 by erinstafford

The waist should lie half way between the underarms and the top of the thighs.  If your waist is closer to your underarms, you are considered short waisted.  Here are a few suggestions for how to compensate for this irregularity and help create the illusion of a longer waist: 

 §        Jackets and vests extending to below the hip bone 

§        Jackets matched to the skirt or pants to eliminate horizontal lines at the waist 

§       Tunic sweaters and tops 

§       Waist-less garments 

§       Narrow belts in a color matching your top 

§       Stitched down pleated skirts 

§       Slim skirts with minimal gathers at the waist

04.30.07

Style Secrets for Diamond Body Types

Posted in Diamond Body type, Fit and Figure, Plus size, baby boomer, baby boomer fashion, baby boomer women, body type, diamond, fashion, fashion advice, image consultant, orange county, style, stylist, wardrobe planning, women's interest at 8:40 pm04 by erinstafford

Today is the last of the six major body types, the Diamond.

Diamond

Figure Descriptions

You have narrow shoulders and a small bust and back, with most of your weight distributed through the midriff and waist area.
Sometimes the waist is the largest measurement around a diamond’s body.
You have a flat derriere, with a natural overall wedge shape.

Style Suggestions

Balance your narrow shoulders with softly squared off shoulder pads and horizontal, broadening necklines.
Bring attention up to face, shoulder, and neck areas.
Make sure over-blouses taper in from your bust and tummy to avoid “maternity look.”
Taper skirts, pant legs, jacket hems, even your sleeve hems.
Remember: you are only as wide as your widest line.
Try short flippy skirts, unconstructed yet tapered jackets, scarves and accessories around the shoulder.
Avoid anything overly fitted, patterned, contrasting or tailored through the waist.

04.26.07

Style Secrets for Oval Body Types

Posted in Fit and Figure, Oval body type, Plus size, baby boomer, baby boomer fashion, baby boomer women, body type, fashion, fashion advice, image consultant, orange county, style, stylist, wardrobe planning, women's interest at 8:40 pm04 by erinstafford

Oval

Figure Descriptions

You are broader through the middle and upper torso, with no waist indentation, and often have a full bust and sloping shoulders.
You have proportionately slim legs and arms, with an overall rounded shape, prominent tummy, and flat derriere.

Style Suggestions

De-emphasize the waist and emphasize the shoulder/neck/face area or thigh/leg area, your narrowest aspects.
Create the illusion of height and long verticals with V-necks, elongated, tapering tunic tops, hip wraps, straight or narrow tapered skirts, and pant legs.
Remember: you can’t create a waist where non exists, and trying to do so only emphasizes it more.

04.25.07

Style Secrets for Rectangle Body Types

Posted in Fit and Figure, baby boomer, baby boomer fashion, baby boomer women, body type, fashion, fashion advice, image consultant, orange county, rectangle body type, style, stylist, wardrobe planning, women's interest at 8:40 pm04 by erinstafford

Rectangle

Figure Descriptions

You are straight up and down, with a somewhat small bust and little or no waist definition.
You have a columnar silhouette overall.
You may have a flashy back and slightly short neck, but you tend to have slim arms and legs.

Style Suggestions

Emphasize thighs and legs.
Try fluid, soft, flowing designs to create a feminine feel.
Nothing stiff or boxy as it mirrors body squareness overall.
Accentuate, don’t define, waist area.
Shaped vertical seams and slight drawstring gathering hint at a waist indentation.
Try monochromatic looks and one-piece dresses.
No  horizontal lines at the waist.
Styles with gentle curves counterbalance your columnar silhouette.

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