MissusSmartyPants Personal Profile Style Article Volume 8 Week 24 June 13, 2013 Remember: only the last 4 weeks remain posted! Get Instant Style With our society s fixation on getting things done FAST (me included)... wouldn't it be nice to never have to wait for things to happen?! How about some instant style? Are you ready to make changes with your style but worry it will take too much of your time? It's simply not so. You really can have "Instant Style"! Well, almost instant style. How quick really does depends upon where you are with your style right now...but, regardless you ll gain some "instant style" success with this style article. It's time to enjoy a few instant "AHA" moments with your style! Why does she look so good? When you see a beautiful woman walking down the street and she exemplifies perfect style--what is really happening??? The answer is she's wearing the right proportions for her body type. This could easily be you. That woman you see more than likely doesn t have a perfect shape or size (she doesn t need to)-- what s happening is she is simply wear clothes that are proportionally right for her! Unnecessary BAD STYLE happens because women don t know what to wear. You really can balance your shape with the correct clothing...
INSTANT STYLE= The right clothes that visually adjust your body s proportions and bring it into balance. Let s start by examining what good fit is. You need to know what the right hem lengths are for your pants, skirts, jackets and blouses. You also need to know how to evaluate your zippers, pocket placements, inseams and sleeve lengths. From now on...look at all your hem lengths for your shirts, slacks, jackets and skirts and dresses. Check them EVERY TIME YOU DRESS. Are they too short or too long? LOL! Baggy clothes don t flatter anyone! Also, check your clothes for signs of poor fit like creases, wrinkles, fabric pulling or too much bagginess. Improper fitting clothes DON T look good on anyone...be sure you don t dress too baggy--you ll look sloppy!!!! Follow the fit rules below for each garment...every time you dress: Top & Shirts:
Choosing the right shirt width and length will help balance your shape. Look for shirt and top styles that contrast with your shape: If you are rounded, look for straighter/structured style of tops. If you are more structured or straight, look for tops with softer lines, fitted styles and bias cuts. Your top and shirt choices can also help you adjust your long or short waist. Choose top lengths opposite of your torso length: If you have a short waist go longer with your shirt lengths. Long torsos should look for shorter tops and avoid long tunic lengths. Coldwater Creek Roll Tab No-Iron Shirt (petites, misses, womens) Collars: a button-down shirt should button to fit your neck size (even though you will never button it up). Broad shoulders can wear larger collars compared to women that are narrow shouldered or petites.
Shoulders: shoulder seams need to stop at your shoulder. If your shoulder seam is short of your shoulder line you will look squished into the shirt. On the other hand, a shoulder seam too long your shirt will be too baggy. Slight padding can help define smaller or sloping shoulders and minimize your hips (so shoulder pads can be a good thing!) Her Room.com Fashion Forms Shoulder Pads Bust line: If your shirt has darts, your bust needs to come to the middle of each dart. Your shirt also needs to button easily across the bust without pulling open. If you have a hard time fitting button-down shirts across the bust, buy the shirt to fit the bust comfortably then have the torso altered to fit. Sleeves: Sleeves shouldn t be too wide or else you look heavier than you are. The correct length for long sleeves is right at your wrist bone. Shirt width: look for shirts that are no wider than 2 inches beyond your torso. Any wider and your shirt may look like a maternity shirt. Shirts with stretch offer better fitting. Shirt length: keep your torso length in mind as stated above. Use your full-length mirror to find your most flattering lengths! Remember shirts too long can make you look heavier and shorter. Shirts too short will throw your proportions off balance too. SHIRTS SHOULD NOT BE SHORTER THAN YOUR HIP BONE.
Jackets: Just like with your shirts, you ll find your jackets are FABULOUS for balancing your shape: A shorter jacket for a longer torso A longer length for a shorter torso The taller you are the longer your jackets/coats can be. If you are petite, your coat should be no longer than at your knee. A fitted jacket that is cut higher under the arms is slimming, as well as a jacket with a structured cut (or princess seams). Have no waist? Wear a structured or a peplum styled jacket. Both will give an hourglass appearance you will love! A peplum style comes in at the waist then flairs out to the hemline. Notice how these peplum-styled jackets below are structured to come in at the waist...this jacket style gives YOU a waistline! It helps balance your shape.
Exotic Mini Peplum Jacket Mini Peplum Jacket 3/4 sleeves (petites, misses, womens) Skirts: Look for skirts in shapes and lengths that will be the most flattering for you. I urge you to TRY a pencil skirt (it may need alterations in order for it to fit properly). A pencil skirt can be surprisingly flattering on most shapes!
Diamond Motif Pencil Skirt (petites, misses, womens) Travel Knit Pencil Skirt (petites, misses, womens) By far the best skirt style for most body types is an A-line skirt! Embrace this fab style--and it will instantly balance YOUR shape! The A-line comes in at the waist and goes out towards the hemline which means this style will balance these shape issues: It gives you a waist line (even when you don t have one) It drapes over fuller hips and thighs It gives a slimmer gal the appearance of more curves
Seascape Flare Skirt A tulip skirt is one that flares at the hemline. This BIAS cut skirt is a great style for balancing out a fuller middle...
Linen Cloudwash Bias Cut Skirt (petites, misses, womens) Skirt Length: generally speaking, your skirts should stop at... just below or above your knee. Your knee is a slimmer part of your lower leg which means you will want your hem to stop there. Also, skirts that stop at the knee make your legs appear longer vs. stopping further down at your mid-calf or ankles. Below is an example of how a skirt at-the-knee balances a woman s shape and gives her instant style...
(Flattering length) (NOT a flattering length) Avoid: long narrow, mid-calf skirts. They look out-dated, have too much fabric and are matronly! FYI: longer skirt lengths are coming back in style, however they are A-line and just below the knee to mid-calf. Waists: the waistline of your skirts should stop at your waist. Insist on the right fit of 2 fingers inserted for the correct ease in your waistbands. If needed have the waist altered so your skirt hangs correctly and stays in place. Hipline and thighs: skirt fabric should drape smooth over your body. Be sure there are no pull-line or wrinkles at your hips or you will draw unwanted attention there! Pants: You probably wear pants often, if not daily. So be sure to get your pant proportions right so you look your best! Rise: the rise is the crotch area think of a U shape from waist in front going around to your bottom and up to your waist in the back.
I usually suggest most women to consider mid-rise pants. They tend to have the right fit for most body types. If you go too low, your legs appear shorter. If you go too high in your rise, your tummy and bottom can look too long/big! If your tummy is rather large, try mid-rise AND also higher waist styles often called natural fit. You need a pant rise that helps hold in the tummy like a girdle. Pants with stretch and a WIDE waistband help with fit. Cut: follow the fit guidelines in your weekly personal profile. The right cut (style) for your body type is very important. Any pant style should not pull or bind. Look for straight cut pants if you re not sure what cut is best for you. Avoid: pleats! They are like arrows pointing at your hips, tummies and thighs. Only the most svelte ladies should consider these. Pant Length: this is a BIGGIE LADIES! You will want to get your pant length right! When your pants are the correct length your body proportions will look their best. Commit to a pant length. You will need BOTH shorter and longer length pants. When you wear your heels, you will wear your longer pants/jeans. When you wear 2 or less heels you will want your shorter length pants. (Good length) (Too short) What s correct pant length? The ideal length is ¾ of an inch from the bottom of your heel. Wear the shoes you will be wearing when you have your pant length altered.
NYDJ "Hayden" Straight-Leg Jeans Instant style starts with clothes that flatter as well as those that fit you correctly! From there you will gain confidence with your style...and FLY! Love, Leslie MSP Copyright 2006-13 LagTag LLC All rights reserved. This message may not be forwarded or reproduced in any format without the express written consent of MissusSmartyPants.com. Violators will be unsubscribed