We’ve all heard them—those so-called “fashion rules” that claim to dictate what we should and shouldn’t wear. “Don’t mix black and navy.” “Only wear certain colours at certain ages.” “Avoid horizontal stripes if you’re not a size 8.” But as fashion continues to evolve, so too should our approach to these outdated style limitations. After…
Reader Question: How do I create my own figure flattery guidelines when I have to take into consideration my body shape, my body proportions and my body variations? This is what I call the body equation and here are tips on how you can put together your own set of personalised guidelines, as you are…
The concept of possessing an inherent sense of style has often felt elusive to many, myself included. The elusive “style gene” seems out of reach for some of us. However, through my personal style journey, I’ve come to realize that style is not an inherent trait; it’s a science that can be learned. If you…
Diagonal lines create movement and action. They move the eye from one element to another and can be used to move the gaze upward or downward, depending on the direction of the diagonal. In Western cultures, because we read left to right, the left to right diagonal moves the gaze upwards (towards the face). The…
It’s funny how questions come in waves. I received two similar questions in my lucky dip of your colour and style questions. My biggest battle issue is how to dress a large stomach and a bigger bust without looking sloppy. The rest of my body is fine but I’m five foot one so short, petite…
Personal style isn’t just about picking the right clothes; it’s about understanding how certain design elements can enhance or conceal various parts of your body. As an expert in this field with 20 years of experience, I’ve witnessed how strategic choices, particularly with regard to rushing and draping, can significantly impact your appearance. I was…
When it comes to creating a style that fits and flatters your body, it can often feel overwhelming and confusing. You may have a sense of what your personal style is, but have difficulty translating it into something that looks good on your unique body. However, with a few key tips and tricks, you can…
A client once told me she’d been typed as a “Romantic Ingénue.” The words sounded beautiful – delicate, feminine, soft – but she didn’t recognise herself in them. She was warm, confident, decisive, and loved clean lines. The label had left her more puzzled than empowered. That conversation reminded me how easily systems like Kitchener’s…
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…
When you’re petite, finding the right clothes can be a challenge. Along with dressing for your body shape, your height and proportions matter, too. When you have a straight body shape like an H shape, there is not much definition between the shoulders, waist and hips. As with all H shape bodies, petite, average or…
Becoming a magician with clothes involves learning the illusion of line. The slowest line we see is the curved line. Why? Well as our eye follows its path, it’s curves slow us down. Thus, if it’s a slower line to look at, it adds volume and curves to our bodies. Where do we find curves…
Have you ever considered Yin and Yang (or Receding and Advancing) in relation to your clothes? I first read about this concept in Judith Rasband’s Wardrobe Strategies for Women, and realised that it relates to all personality style and why each style communicates in the way it does. Understanding Ying and Yang of Clothing…
Learning to use the illusion of lines in your outfits gives you the opportunity to change how you appear. There are a few different kinds of lines, horizontals (find out how to use them here), verticals, diagonals and curved lines. Each has its own effect on your appearance. Taking outfits photos means trying a few…
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…
How do I dress for my body shape? is one of the most Googled questions around personal style for women. In fact, I’ve got many of the answers here on Inside Out Style if you want to find out – take my free body shape calculator quiz and download your body shape bible for the…
Just because you wear a bigger size does not mean that you must automatically have a wardrobe full of boring, frumpy sacks. There are a few things that you can do to make sure you look your best. Quality Matters It is hard to find stylish clothing in larger sizes. Sometimes the clothes you do…
Is it me or the clothes? Women, notoriously blame their bodies when it doesn’t flatter them or fit them, but in fact, if you look closely at the design of the garment, you will soon realise that it is not your body (which is perfect) that is wrong, instead, it’s a badly designed garment. How…
Carol Karl and I talk jewellery again in this video, all about selecting jewellery to harmonise with your body shape and features. Body Shape and Jewellery Choices What body shape tells us, where to put horizontal lines and vertical lines, what the silhouette should be ideally. You can find out more about the impact…
Tips on Putting Together Tops and Blazers with Different Hem Shapes When thinking about putting together an outfit, you want to create an outfit that is aesthetically pleasing and contains harmonious elements. To do this, you want to consider the principles of coordination or the elements contained in other parts of your outfit already that…
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…
One of the hot topics that came up in my 7 Steps to Style program members’ Zoom session this month was all about tucking tops. Why is it suddenly feeling like an issue? Well, it’s because styles of pants have changed which means that what may have worked before isn’t working as well now. As…
