How do you pick a print that is flattering for you? There are just so many prints to choose from – florals, stripes, animal, abstract, geometric, checks, paisley, ikat… the list goes on and on. So how do you make the right choices when prints and patterns come in a myriad of colours, scale, contrast…
The obsession with Kate Middleton post birth of Prince George abounds on each media outlet. I admire her for appearing in her first public outing with the new prince not strapped up in shapewear to give us the impression that just hours after the birth she’s snapped back to her pre-pregnancy flat stomached ways. For…
Hi Imogen, I love your blog! I am wondering if the type of prints (i.e. angular/curved prints) have anything to do with body shape. I saw two ladies who coincidentally were dressed in black and white printed dresses. One has an I-shaped girl and the prints on her dress were bold and angular. If she…
Many people are a bit scared of prints, as they’ve been told that prints will make them look larger. This is not always the case, it really depends on the type of print. There are two main types of prints, sparse and dense. Sparse prints have the elements spread further apart, these are the ‘fattening’…
I have a red plaid blazer that I adore but I am getting really bored with what I wear underneath it since I read the only appropriate items are neutrals or colors in the plaid. I’ve worn leopard print shoes with it and loved the look. Leopard print top underneath.. .not so much which I…
Imogen, thank you for the great post on how to interpret prints and patterns. I wonder what floral patterns are considered classic, what are the criteria to consider a pattern classic in order it won’t date quickly? Thank you again Florals are never really Classic in their personality and will date. When I go through…
Today I decided to mix zebra with leopard and then throw in a floral ribbon lace textured garment. One of the most important keys to mixing prints is to mix those in the same colour family. If you want to try this trend in a safe way: do it in black and white one print…
If you have freckling that you don’t love, or age spots and want to make them look less obvious, when you’re looking solid colour garments, look for fabrics that have an inbuilt pattern like marle, or those with a fine to medium texture.
Following on from my post on how to interpret prints and patterns I want to talk more about different elements of prints and how they also relate to other elements of ourselves. You would be aware that not all florals are the same, just as not all animal prints, stripes or checks are the same,…
The other day I was asked about why a floral print wasn’t appropriate for a job interview. My answer is to do with how we interpret different prints and patterns, as they say different things to us. Frequently people ask me “what patterns suit me?” and the answer lies in what are your personality traits?…
Have you completed 7 Steps to Style or had a personal colour analysis but are unsure of how to choose a patterned garment, particularly if one or more of the colours isn’t in your colour palette? How do you know when you are choosing a pattern if the colours are right for your or not?…
Fashion trends come and go, how do you decide what is worth spending up big (for you) on and what to buy cheap? Splurge on Quality jackets and pants in great neutral colours that work with your existing wardrobe. A great bra or two. Foundations matter, a great bra will make your waist look slimmer.…
Following on from yesterday’s post on Mad Men style and body shapes. There were some comments on the dislike of the patterns that Peggy wears. So it got me to think about why each character wears the prints and patterns chosen for them. Peggy – she’s a woman in a man’s world. She wears checks…
Many women shy away from prints as they’ve read or been told that all prints make you look larger and are generally unflattering. Yet this is not true for all prints and patterns, in fact, many can be really wonderfully camouflaging if you know how to choose ones that flatter you. There are dimensions to…
Deja Pseu of Une femme d’un certain age recently asked if horizontal lines could ever be worn by a fuller figure. So what do you think? Horizontal lines – good or bad? Most of us just steer clear of horizontal stripes as they’re fattening – which they are in general, but there are ways you…
Pattern, and whether or not you like it, and the kinds of patterns you like, is based on your personality and not everyone is into pattern mixing. You don’t have to like or wear it, but if you do, go for it. So as a little guide, I’ve done up an image with a limited…
Do you like to wear a patterned skirt but are unsure what colour you should choose for your top? If you are an X, A, 8 or H shape, choose a lighter or brigher colour from the top to draw attention away from the hips/thighs and up to your face. If you’re an H, O,…
Another element of fabric is the pattern or print. How to choose one that works for you? One of the main influencers on which patterns we may choose is based on our personality, which I won’t get into on this post. But what I will go into here is how to choose a physically flattering…
Ombre (or shaded dyeing) is a fashion trend that’s been around in both hair and clothing, but how to wear it so it’s flattering and what to be wary of so you don’t buy an unflattering garment. The thing to remember is the rule of advancing and receding colours Dark colours recede and make things…
How to Choose a Garment with Detail Have you ever thought about where a garment is making you look? Garments can have focal points, particularly with pattern and detail (or colour changes) so it’s good to be aware of where these are and what is ideal for you. Design details can draw attention to different…
