So you’ve read the body shape guidelines and thought to yourself “but my body doesn’t really fit into just one shape … I’m more of a mix of a couple of shapes”. Fortunately, you are not unusual and you don’t have to worry that nothing works for you. All you have to do is understand…
Body shapes, body proportions, body variations. These all impact on what your individual figure flattery guidelines will be as each of the body shapes and body proportion guidelines are generic and don’t take into consideration aspects of the other. What Does Body Shape Tell You? Where to put verticals to slim or elongate. Where to…
Why are focal points in your outfits so important? They are the key to figure flattery. What Are Outfit Focal Points They create a place for the eye to stop and rest, drawing attention away from body parts you choose to camouflage, distracting, like the magician distracts you as they perform their illusions. Check…
Could you do an article on how breast placement on our chests impacts our clothing. Some people have breast near their armpits, others near their elbow. They could be small, medium or large. Sharon According to my plastic surgeon (who did my breast reduction operation) the bust peak/nipple is supposed to sit at the mid-point…
What is a Rounded Lateral Body Shape The rounded lateral body shape is one where when the body is viewed from the side in profile, the body is a similar in width as viewed from the front. It can come on any horizontal body shape (that’s what you regularly think about as a…
One of the big trends I’ve noticed both in fashion shows and online is the belted blazer. When I was at a Melbourne Fashion Week show, many of the ‘hot young things’ were wearing belted blazers, most commonly in a check pattern tweed fabric. So, should you invest in a belted blazer? Is The Belted…
It’s been a few years since I shared about my breast reduction surgery (in fact many who are newer to the blog won’t realise that I ever had this surgery back in 2014), and I was asked by a long-time reader who is thinking about going through the process to share an update! For me,…
If you’ve got a flat chest, either that’s just the way you are or you’ve had a mastectomy and decided against reconstruction, you’ll have discovered that most women’s clothes are made for boobs, so what are the styles of clothes you can look for that will enhance your figure? 1. Extra Fabric Volume Over the…
Hi Imogen, I’d love to learn more about altering store-bought clothes for different body types. What are the alterations you may need to do based on your body shape? Firstly, it’s great to know what your body shape, body proportions and body variations are, so you can figure out which tips are most useful for…
The neckline of your top is important as it really can frame your face. When it’s in harmony the outfit will work so much more, than when it’s in discord with your features. So how to choose a neckline and which are the most flattering necklines for your body and face? Here is my guide…
I have found at 52 I no longer like the way prints look on me. Printed tops were once a significant part of my wardrobe, but as my hair and colouring have cooled they now overwhelm me. Can you explore the types of style changes one may need to make? What are the changed I…
Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and I were asked to discuss how your body shape may change over your lifetime. We’ve discussed in the past how your colouring may change here. Considering transitions such as pregnancy, menopause and even just weight gain and loss. Will you shape stay the same or change? Body…
When you’re thinking about how to flatter your body and enhance it in a way that makes you happy, there are a few ‘tricks of the trade’ that make it easier to decide what to wear (and what to avoid when you’re shopping so you don’t keep making expensive mistakes). How does the magician create…
How to figure out your body type if you have a significant difference from the usual features. For example, I have very, very broad shoulders, a slight waist, medium hips from the front and a protruding bottom. If I do a body calculator, I come out as a pear or a ruler. I am neither.…
Where do you end your tops? Where they end because of how long they are when they come home from the store? Do you pull your tops down to hide your butt? Do you fiddle and adjust the length to find the perfect spot for you? The Horizontal Line Rule Because the hems of most…
If you’ve read my recommendations on how to dress the hourglass shapes – the X Shape and A shape, that have the wider lower hip area, you may have noticed that the instructions are to keep the bottom of your body more boring, plain and free of detail. Details to Avoid Below the Waist for…
How long are your shorts? How long or short should your shorts be? This is a question I’m frequently asked so I thought I should post an answer! Shorts are one of those clothing garments that are often rather tricky for many women past the age of 40 to wear. We may not be particularly…
How do you make decisions about whether or not you should jump on board a fashion trend or not? For many of us it depends on how you feel about your body, what flatters it and whether or not you are happy to ‘give up’ some elements of figure flattery for the sake of fashion…
Recently I’ve been asked to cover the topic of hip dips and how to dress them to make them less obvious. Hip Dips are also known as Violin Hips and are most common on the 8 shape, A shape and X shape bodies (but can come on any body shape). They are an indentation…
Hi Imogen. I have always heard that tops for skirts should be a bit shorter than tops for pants. My question is, how do you make this work when trying to put a capsule wardrobe together since tops should be able to work with both pants and skirts. I know you can tuck them in,…
How do you feel about your style? Do you feel fabulous, ok or not great? How do you feel about what you wear? Do you own your style? In this (20 minute) video Jill Chivers of Shop Your Wardrobe and I discuss some of our own feelings about these questions and where the answers and…
