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…
I was asked to help find shapewear for one of my lovely readers. She has problems as she’s a 38DDD (or a 38E in some places), finds that many garments roll down and create unsightly bulges, and also that her breasts sometimes escape underneath the underwire of her bra. How to Find the Right Shapewear…
In this podcast episode, Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and I discuss how solid garments can still be classed as heroes. Not all statement (hero) items are prints, so what other elements of garments can be heroes and how can you tell the difference between a hero print and an interest print. Which Kind of…
Bras are my nemesis. I seriously have no boobs. At all. Shaped A cups are too big. If I wear an A cup I have to stuff the cup or else it caves in. So, I wear sports bras and other soft cupped bras (when I can find them). I don’t mind having no boobs…
Hi Imogen, Could you do a post about dressing with “rolls”. I am an x shape but have two distinct tyres or rolls around my waist which my clothes seem to get sucked in between. If I try to hide them I look enormous and tent-like but if I let them show I feel uncomfortable.…
In this podcast episode, Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and I discuss how solid garments can still be classed as heroes. Not all statement (hero) items are prints, so what other elements of garments can be heroes and how can you tell the difference between a hero print and an interest print. Which Kind of…
Hey, Imogen, I’ve got a reader question for your data banks, perhaps you’ll have a slow month over the holiday season or something. 🙂 …I’ve searched your blog and found very little joy for the long-torsos amongst us. (though the blog’s fantastic, and I’ve really learned a ton!). Here’s the sitch: I’ve got a very…
There is no one route to style. You cannot become instantly stylish just from understanding your body shape (sorry Trinny and Susannah, it’s just not that simple). There is, what I call, the Style Puzzle, a group of elements when they all go together define your personal style. These puzzle pieces are just the start…
Focal points are created by detail on clothing – whether it’s colour, shiny fabrics, pockets, distressing on jeans, ruffles, pattern, belts, beading or jewellery. You can use detail to draw attention to your assets and away from areas you’d rather people didn’t notice. You can see from this collection how the details draw…
I was recently asked by a reader how to minimize her broad square shoulders. Now this is a problem I’d love to have, but this is not about me. This post is for the women who feel their shoulders are too broad and make them feel masculine. Look for narrower necklines, so narrow V necks,…
Many people feel that if their neck is short or thick (or both) that it excludes them from wearing jewellery near their face, but this is not so. Look for necklaces that are to your first balance point or longer (double that length is great too). Avoid your second balance point (the high one). Look…
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 O Shape (commonly called the apple or oval shape) I…
Many women feel that they don’t have arms to rival Michelle Obama, and they make genetically have genes for them to be fuller, or just not have the time to do all the bicep and triceps exercises to get them. So how do you flatter a fuller upper arm? Here are my quick tips on how to…
Do you ever find yourself grappling with the age-old dilemma of figuring out your body shape while trying on clothes? It’s a common struggle, and believe me, you’re not alone. In fact, even as a personal stylist and color consultant, I’ve had my own share of fashion conundrums. Let me take you on a journey…
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 8Shape (commonly called the hourglass shape). Putting this information into…
People always ask me where the best point is to end their tops and jackets. As the hem of a top creates a horizontal line, the best place is on a narrow point, rather than a wide point. If you are a body shape that has wider hips/thighs than waist, A, X, H, 8 (or…
One of my go-to garments is the shrug cardigan. This short cardigan style is great in summer as it provides shoulder coverage and some upper arm concealing over sleeveless or spaghetti straps, or in cooler times may be a set of long sleeves, but without disturbing the rest of the outfit too much. The curved…
Spring in Melbourne is a period of unstable weather. 30C /86F one day, then 17C/62F the next. This makes dressing a little trickier, plus you get those cooler mornings with warmer days. This week for my Frocktober post I’m sharing how to layer summer dresses for spring and autumn, those often more temperamental seasons that…
I spent a morning with Jen of Alluring Lingerie who showed me her gorgeous range of bras. Even though I’ve been fitted for bras over the recent years, we decided to do another fitting – and guess what – my rib cage has shrunk! Having kids expanded it a bit, but since that’s been a…
Your hair is one of the first things people see when they look at you and one of the first things you notice when you look at yourself in the mirror. Like it or not our choice in hairstyle and colour plays a significant role in how people perceive us and in many cases how…
Since knee surgery and changes it has made, for whatever reason, I find I can no longer keep a lot of my low vamp shoes, particularly flats, on my feet. I walk right out of one or both at the most inopportune times – like when crossing the street. I’ve been forced to have to…
