Discovering clothes that not only suit your age but also flatter your figure can be a daunting task. Many women face the challenge of sifting through racks of clothing, only to find options that are either too revealing or ill-fitting. If you resonate with this struggle, rest assured that you are not alone. Fashion Trends…
Body image is something that can be a tricky thing to grapple with. It affects many of us, the media and photoshopping don’t help us. And now that even every movie and video clip you see can be digitally edited (bodies changed and slimmed down – I kid you not, I’ve seen a video editor…
Many of you have asked me to share with you some celebrities who have similar body shapes to yours (so you can get some style inspiration). Now in Hollywood ‘very thin’ is common due to the pressures put on celebrities so there is less variety in body shapes. But here are some celebrities who…
Given the number of people who contact me asking about identifying their body shape (if you’re not sure what body shape you have, do the Body Shape Quiz to find out!), it’s obviously something that is considered to be an important factor in the whole “finding flattering clothing” issue that many women face. I’m…
What is Fabric Drape? Which kinds of fabrics should you look for? Why is this question even important? Doesn’t it just matter that the style suits your body shape? Sadly the answer is that you need to take into consideration both the drape of the fabric and the style – this is why people will…
Following on my series on Body Proportions – today we’re looking at the dressing challenges of those with a shorter body and longer legs. Not sure of your proportions? Then watch the video here on how to measure them. If you have a shorter body and longer legs, you may often have slimmer legs and…
Let me tell you why I don’t drink coffee or tea… Whenever I tell someone that I don’t drink coffee (or tea) the reaction I get most of the time is “Oh, you’re good!” as if it’s because I’m more virtuous than they are. It’s just that I’ve discovered that caffeine doesn’t agree with me…
Not only do we have body shapes (which can also be called our Horizontal Body Shape) we also have to take into consideration our Body Proportions (or Vertical Body Shape). Proportions are important as they tell us where to end our clothes, such as hems on skirts, hems on tops and jackets. Should you end…
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…
There is so much out here on the internet about wardrobe capsules. When I started writing about them six years ago, it wasn’t something that people talked much about. Now, they are everywhere and there are hundreds (if not thousands) of blog posts giving advice on how to create your ideal capsule. But what I…
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…
It is not uncommon for women to experience a shift in their body shape as they age, particularly during menopause. As women lose estrogen, they tend to gain weight in the upper body, resulting in less-defined waists. This can lead to a shift from an 8 shape to an H shape or even an O…
Balance is the concept of visual equilibrium. When we talk about dressing for your body shape and body proportions, what we are trying to do create visual balance. There are 4 main principles of co-ordination that influences how you achieve balance with your outfits. These are: Levels of Refinement Principle of Volume Related Shapes Related Lines When…
Reader Question – I have a 44 double D bust and I’m about 172 centimeters tall. I’ve tended to hide my bust in loose flowing clothes and I recently tried a figure flattering dress. I was amazed as I did look busty but in proportion. Why is this this? balanced body proportions Oversized Clothes Don’t Make…
What are the keys to creating flattering outfits for the O body shape (often described as the Apple shape or Oval Shape)? The O shape can have similar width shoulders and hips or their shoulders may be narrower than their hips, but they have a rounded waistline curving outwards both at the front and sides. …
Loved this post from Vintage Current about how a cat call made Candice’s day and helped her think more positively about body image This post from Sal about seeing her body through the lens of style is a great read. Carly shares how embracing a label has been powerful for her. Grown up dressing and…
An A shape or Pear shape body has narrower shoulders than hips. If you’re not sure if this is your body shape, why not do my body shape calculator quiz here and then download your free Body Shape Bible which is full of tips on how to dress your shape. If you’re an A (otherwise…
How to identify your body shape? One of the questions I get asked the most is “what’s my body shape?” I get emails daily from people wanting to know their shape which is why I have developed my free Body Shape Calculator Quiz. It’s a simple test to help you discover which of the 7…
One of the big life changes many women go through is having kids. And adjusting to life with young children is difficult. Even more so if you have come from a professional workplace and you have a preference for the Classic personality dressing style, one that loves a crisp button-up shirt and a smart blazer…
Dear Imogen, Thank you so much for creating Inside Out Style. Many of the style blogs I find are designed for models or teens, at least that’s how it seems to me. Most of your articles are for more mature women, with children. And you don’t pretend to have a perfect figure, you teach us…
Reader Question: “Where is the best place for a V-shape body to wear brooches? I’m especially interested in areas in the portrait since the brooch can help with both value contrast and colour contrast.” Most women when getting dressed focus on the body parts they like least. This is completely the wrong way of going…
