05.16.07
Quick Tips for Long Waisted Women
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
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.
04.16.07
Shoulder Pads – When and How to Wear Them
I just found the greatest shoulder pad tip yesterday.
Although the 80s are long gone, many women still choose to wear shoulder pads. If you have a small frame, shoulder pads are great for balancing out your figure and adding a little structure to your upper body.
The problem many women have however, is that they have difficulty finding shoulder pads that look natural. Look no further!
You know those silicone inserts that you can put in your bra to make your boobs look a little bigger? I’m not talking about the permanent, surgical kind, but the ones you buy and can put in any bra. Buy yourself a pair of those and place them on your shoulders instead of in your bra. Not only are they comfortable, but they are soft, natural looking, and stay in place all day long.
What a find!
04.09.07
Style Secrets for Hourglass Body Types
Today is the first in a series that I will be doing on body types. There are 6 basic body types and each day I will be highlighting one of them. You will learn basic dos and don’ts for your specific type. Today we start with the hourglass. Enjoy!
Hourglass
Figure Description
Your overall shape is curvy, with your hips and bust about the same width.
Your waist is well defined, and at least nine inches smaller than your bust or hips.
You have a round, full derriere.
Your thighs are full, but narrower than your lower hips and your lower legs are shapely and proportionately slim.
Style Suggestions
Emphasize your wait.
De-emphasize your bust with softer, non clingy fabrics. Dark colors on top look best.
Look for flowing, skimming styles with simple lines and semi-fitted shapes that fall gracefully without overly exaggerating or hugging your curves.
Try set-in waists and belted coordinates. Use vertical lines, princess seams and details that elongate.
04.04.07
The Secret to Wardrobe Planning for OC Women
Do you want a happening wardrobe, not one that just happened? Planning a wardrobe is not as difficult as it may seem. Here in Orange County, many of us look for clothes that we can wear to work but that also double as clothes to wear out with our friends in more casual situations. For example, a great little frilly blouse that we can wear with a suit, but that also looks great with jeans and heels for a nice dinner.
The goals of successful wardrobe planning for most people include:
- Getting more looks from fewer pieces
- Updating easily
- Spending less time in the stores and the closet deciding what to wear
When you shop and add to your wardrobe, think about buying outfits in capsules. A capsule is a coordinated set of clothing that harmonizes in color, fabric, and shape to be worn interchangeably. When we build our wardrobes using the capsule technique, it becomes so much easier to mix and match and end up with many more outfits.
04.03.07
How to Find the Perfect Sun Glasses
Summer is coming so make sure you have a couple great pairs of sun glasses. Not only will they protect your eyes and help prevent squinting and crows feet, they will finish off your outfit and help you look more glamorous. Here are a few things to remember when finding that perfect pair of sun glasses.
- Frame shape and overall size should be in proportion to your face shape and overall size.
- Center the eye horizontally in the middle of the lenses.
- The upper part of the frame should reflect the natural curve of your eyes and eyebrows
- The lowest part of the frame should not extend down to the widest part of the nose.
- Frames should never cover more than one third of your face.
- Take off your sunglasses when speaking to people. When they can’t see your eyes they feel disconnected from you and are more likely to be suspicious or treat you less warmly.
Just a few things to think about. Happy shopping!
04.01.07
Dress for the Body You Have Today
I’ve always puzzled over the woman who runs around, sometimes for years, in the same old ill-fitting, out of date clothes, thinking that when she’s thin, she will shop for a new wardrobe and look great. Until then, she expects you to reserve judgement on the real her. Well yes, I do understand that wearing clothes is sometimes easier when there is less of you, but why wait to go on living? What if you never change size? Who said you must?
The reality is that people encounter you every day, make judgments about who and what you are now. Why give them any extra negative ammunition by looking your worst? If you get thinner, fine – buy clothes that make you happy then. Meanwhile, you’re missing out on the terrific feeling that comes with looking your best and appearing confident in the presentation you make to the world.
You wouldn’t neglect buying furniture and a few comforts for your home just because it wasn’t the house of your dreams, would you? Even if it’s a small studio, it’s a home. A few towels, some pots and pans, maybe even a sofa is indispensable until you move into that 5,000 square foot dream house on ten acres with tennis courts and a pool…. If you’re going to live in a house, you have to furnish it. Ditto on the wardrobe.
03.27.07
Baby Boomer Fashion
So I’ve started the process of outlining my next booklet. It will be aimed specifically for the baby boomer woman who wants to look great. My last booklet was focused more on everyday dressing for any woman while this book will be for the professional woman. What questions or concerns do you have that you would like me to address? I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
03.24.07
Spring Fashion Must Have- Bright Colors
Spring is a great time to reintroduce a bit of color into your wardrobe. This year, you are not limited to the usual Easter egg colors. Bright colors of every shade can be seen in boutiques and a mall near you. Liven up your winter outfits with a splash of color. Just make sure that you are wearing color on an area you’d like to highlight!
03.22.07
Erin Stafford Style and Image Consulting in OC Grand Opening
After a soft launch last June, I can proudly say that today is the Grand Opening of Erin Stafford Style and Image Consulting. This is the only company of it’s kind in Orange County that focuses on the often forgotten woman over 40.
Through color analysis, body type and image analysis, wardrobe planning, closet analysis, and personal shopping, I help women increase their self confidence. My services help women learn how to dress and adapt trends for their age and body type, look more porfessional, save time, and ultimately feel sexier!
I can’t wait to share everything I learned working for MTV and as a Hollywood celebrity stylist for 4 years with the general over 40 population in Orange County. Visit my website www.erinstafford.com for more information.
Thank you for your support!
