A commonly asked question is what to wear to a funeral or memorial service? It used to be that black was the only appropriate funeral attire. These days funerals are not as formal as they once were, and colours other than black are usually appropriate. Unless there has been a request for bright colours as…
Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and I were asked to comment on the question of “how much skin is appropriate to show in the workplace”. Now we are aware this can be quite a contentious as there will be some wildly differing views on this topic depending on your culture, your work environment, job,…
Who are you and how do you want to be perceived? This is something I work through with my Style clients to discover who they are and how we can translate their personality into an authentic expression through their clothing and grooming. If you’ve thought about this topic before and have wondered how you…
Live a long way from stores? Shop online and have it delivered! Want to get something that isn’t available in your location? Find it online! Love to find unique and interesting pieces that nobody else is wearing? Online is the way to go. Here is my ultimate guide to online clothes shopping so that you…
One year ago today I had what I all my “anti-boob job”, a breast reduction. Now a year on I thought I’d share my experiences. As most of you regular readers are aware, my weight has fluctuated. In 2008 I was about 10kg larger than I am now, by April 2009 I was a pretty…
A collection of lovely handbags is a wonderful idea if you enjoy variety and dress for different occasions (from everyday casual, and business attire to evenings out). However, having a collection can mean spending a lot of money (though these days there are many places you can purchase quality handbags at affordable prices, from thrift…
Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and I have been asked to talk about wardrobe decluttering. Some of you may regularly declutter or edit your wardrobes (this is both my and Jill’s current approach, what you might call a ‘continuous assessment’ method), whilst others may do a larger spring clean every now and again. Jill…
There are lots of problems with the fit of commercially made garments, these are things that if you’re making the garment you can alter out of the pattern. But before you buy, make sure these are not problems built into the garment for you. There are some common issues with fit that are reasonably easy…
Would you be able to make a post about what kinds of alterations are easy and affordable to make? I’m not plus sized but I’m petite, so many things don’t fit. Having hemlines shortened is an easy one, but I’ve understood that for instance the extra space in the upper back could be taken in…
If you are more petite in the bust region, and would rather it was a little curvier, here are a few tips on how to make your small bust look fuller. Look for curved lines – as they say “round adds pounds” so if you want to make something bigger, put some curved lines…
The O or apple shape is fairly common. To be an O shape your midsection needs to be wider than your hips and shoulders. It tends to appear in the post-menopausal woman, when estrogen is no longer produced in the same quantities, and many women thicken around their waists. An O is most likely to…
Diagonals are action lines – they create movement, and interest. They move your eye from one point to another (as I discussed here). This weekend, your challenge is to find some diagonals and use them in an outfit. There are lots of different places you’ll find diagonals, from necklines (V) to collars,…
I often get asked about the best shape garments for each body shape. So I thought I’d create this infographic for you to give you a simple set of guidelines. When thinking about shapes for each body shape, we are usually wanting to create the hourglass shape or the idea of two triangles stacked on…
Some of you already know Liverpool UK blogger Jane from The Small Fabric of My Life as she journeyed through a year of working her wardrobe without going shopping. Here she shares her stylish thoughts. What is the secret to great style? This has been a lifelong quest and my blog was part of that.…
Do you find it harder to dress in summer or when it’s hot or humid because fabrics seem to think and you can’t hide the lumps and bumps under layers? So How do You Dress to Look Stylish and Stay Cool in Humidity or Summer? Fabric for Summer Style Fabrics for hot and humid climates…
There are a plethora of style rules to follow and sure they’ll help you look fabulous and flatter you body and colouring. But doesn’t it sometimes get boring following rules. I wanted to show you in one outfit the rules I’ve followed and the one I’ve broken. Verily dress Breaking the Rules Today I wore…
Bras are a really important foundation garment as foundations can make or break how your outfit ends up looking. Why a Well Fitting Bra Matters Correctly fitting bras will: Make your waist look smaller and longer Give your breasts a better shape Give your breasts support Make your clothes look better Not be painful –…
I was lucky enough to score an invite from Gem Marketing to The Birdcage at the 2012 Melbourne Cup. I didn’t have a huge amount of time to prepare, but I managed to make a new fascinator to wear and turn a scarf into a wrap to cover my shoulders and upper arms. I also…
One of the delights of London is the Victoria and Albert Museum (also known as the V & A) which always has a fashion exhibition to enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PaCzbe_gsU Currently (and running until 27 January 2019) is the Fashioned from Nature exhibition, a fascinating look into the influence of the natural world on fashion through history…
In This Video 0.08 – I like Elegant Chic as polished and poised suits me – but I have a casual lifestyle – how can I work with my Opulent palette and have ease in my clothes but capture some elegant chic style on a budget? 4.56 I have small shoulders and big hips and…
Now to the classic womanly shape of the A, which has the healthiest distribution of fat and the least likely to have heart disease (you lucky things!). The A shape woman has shoulders that are narrower than her hips/thighs, so you can check this by measuring both at their widest points and seeing if…
