Hi I have recently discovered your website and finally subscribed to the email. I wonder if you can help with a stripes related question please? I read conflicting information about petites and stripes. I haven’t found an answer on your website but if I have missed it please point me in the right direction. I…
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…
Rosina wrote me this question: My style question is one of confidence.. I think I alluded to it once before. I really think I have a style: Jeans, boots, long tops, my own jewellery designs, huge purses, arm warmers or opera gloves, and lots of texture. However, I never, ever, EVER feel confident. If someone…
Your outfit doesn’t have to be complicated to be stylish. This is one of my current favourite combinations. I don’t wear it exactly the same every time, but it’s an easy outfit to wear. I love the loose nature of this top, so easy to wear and it hides my tummy. How to Mix Patterns…
I have recently acquired some lovely short sleeve kind of shrugs or boleros and cropped jackets. They are on the dressier side. One is silk with a slight sheen and the other is a low pile faux fur in a classic leopard print. I know how to wear them with a little dark dress but…
Who are you? How do you express your personality through your clothing? I completely believe that authentic style comes from inside out (that’s why this blog is called Inside Out Style). Your style expression is based on your personality traits and who you are. If you try and dress like someone else it won’t feel…
I just found your website – it’s heaven sent. I am 7 months postpartum and still need to lose about 20lbs. Having said that, my issue is that nothing fits me. I am such a weird shape right now. My arms are fat, I have a pooch under my belly button thanks to my 3…
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…
The Third piece is your hero, it’s the accessory or piece of clothing that can add the excitement and personality to your outfit when everything else you’re wearing are basics or supporting acts. Quite often it can be some sort of jacket, other times it will be a great piece of jewellery. The 3rd piece…
A lovely reader asks: Please can you do something for dressing a short-waisted H too? I’m like super short – there’s about an inch between by ribcage and my hip, so I tend to stick with dresses, but that’s not always practical for chasing two young kids. To start with, think about dressing using a…
Whether you were genetically blessed in the gams department or not, most of us wouldn’t mind creating the illusion of even longer legs. You can still have legs for days with a few simple wardrobe tricks. It’s all about creating a visual illusion with your outfits…. 1. Keep your skirts shorter, to just on or above…
What are the keys to creating flattering outfits for the H body shape or Rectangle shape? The other rectangle shape with an undefined waist is the I shape – if you are very slim with what you may think of as a more boyish figure – this is your shape. The H shape has similar…
Reader Kanerou asks: Do you have any plans to do an entry on dressing for plus-sized Xs? I have a couple pairs of black cargo pants which I dearly like, but I’m not sure how to dress up top, now that my waist isn’t so slim and my bust is even more of a bother…
Could you write some things about the maxi skirt? (which body types can wear them, how to wear them, what kind of maxi skirt) Best regards, Helma Maxi skirts are a fashion trend that has been around for a couple of years (or so) now. It’s possible to wear them with every body shape, in…
Summer dressing can be tricky when you don’t like to expose too much skin but want to remain cool and stylish. Find the Right Fabrics Natural fibres breath more easily, or mix of synthetics with natural fibres work well. Look for lightweight fabrics such as lace, silk or chiffon – light and floaty is a…
I have a question which is around knowing which pieces will make a real difference to my wardrobe- most mistakes I make – apart from buying clothes for a fantasy life- are buying ‘sensible” pieces, as in good quality, items that will ” be useful’ but are dull. And realising that it is easier for…
Defining the X (Hourglass) Shape The X shape body has shoulders and hips relatively the same size, and a defined waist. The widest part of the body is the thighs, not the bottom, when viewed from the front. This is a defining point in distinguishing between the two hourglass body shapes (8 and X) you can…
Yesterday I asked where confidence in appearance comes from – and many commented that lack of confidence can stem from negative comments made during childhood. These comments seem to burn right into us and are often very hard to shake off as we grow up – we take them as gospel truth, rather than just…
As I discussed here when I explained how lines work, body shape tells us: Where to put the verticals Where to put the horizontals to balance, broaden or highlight Where to place detail Where to keep boring/dull/plain/no detail That’s it! So let’s look at the H Shape (commonly called the rectangular or brick shape) Let’s…
What is trans-seasonal dressing anyway? Simply, it’s wearing the same garments the whole year around, through each of the seasons. It’s also particularly useful when the seasons are changing, from winter to spring, and summer to autumn. When the mornings are chilly but the days are warm, as it relies on layering garments that can…
How should we handle conflict between personality/ career role and body shape recommendation? As my body is very curvy , the body shape recommendation is all kinds of feminine stuff: skirt over pants, and not just skirt , but A -line flared skirt over straight ones, wrap and fit and flare dresses , waist shaping,…
