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Strut your Stuff - Fashion
Be the girl who has seen everything, yet still knows nothing. Be glamorously naïve. Be the caravan ingénue, who travels for miles by day and then slips into lively towns at night for a taste of novelty. Subtle elegance with a hint of the unexpected is the caravan ingénue’s approach to fashion—she is too busy exploring the world to be fussy about her appearance, but has a natural sense of Old World style that distinguishes her from her more stationary counterparts. So how can you acquire this unique breed of beauty without actually becoming a nouveau gypsy? Just dress the part:
*The palette: Fall colors, earth tones, and random spurts of tropical brightness make for a tantalizing spectrum. Try burgundy, navy, black, gray, beige, camel, antique rose, forest green, chocolate, and mustard yellow, with bursts of bright yellow, green, red, blue, and orange.
*The tops: Opt for blouses with stripes, thick or thin, in subdued color combinations; polka dots are equally chic. For cooler days, pull-over sweaters in solid high quality wools and cardigans with antique-style buttons; knit shawls and understated ponchos are lovely alternatives. Lacy camisoles are great for layering under or over plain rib-tees.
*The jackets: Short, cropped, and fitted are the ones to buy. Steer away from anything with a boxy, masculine cut. Black leather is adventurous and sleek, but still ladylike if well-tailored. Denim jackets with a spin (like an eye-catching color or lace trim on the cuffs) are equally stylish alternatives.
*The pants: Avoid the uniform blue jeans and instead seek out ultra-skinny jeans in unexpected colors, like brick red, neon green, or lavender. Also consider buying corduroys in slimming cuts and plain leggings in neutral colors, like black and charcoal gray.
*The skirts: Be dramatic. Choose mini skirts or more worldly long and flowing ones. Pair textured tights or leggings under shorter skirts for fashionable coverage.
*The dresses: Casual and rustic are the two elements to keep in mind whilst dress shopping. Plain cut sun dresses in solid colors are beautifully paired with elaborate shoes.
*The shoes: Choose classics in leather, like ballet flats, Mary-Janes, equestrian boots, and Trojan sandals. Shoes should be more cute than sexy, with attention paid to comfort and function. The ingénue does not wear stilettos or ultra-strappy sandals.
*The accessories: Long scarves in popping colors, like splashes of orange or hyper-blue, are superb additions to any outfit. Also look for vintage jewelry (whether real or just look-alikes), such as delicate gold chains, subtle pearls, lockets, and metallic brooches. Hats, in chunky knits or feminine felts, are another must. Wide leather belts with large buckles should also find way into your wardrobe. Leather gloves or long opera-style ones are great for warming up the hands or simply to complete an outfit.
With the media constantly pushing bigger and bigger breasts, small-busted women can feel a little left out. Some small-chested women are less concerned about mass media’s beauty ideals and simply want to look more proportionate. Others wants to fill out blouses without them sagging. Whatever your reason for wanting at least the illusion of a bigger bust, here are some tips for flattering this key area:
*Wear the correct bra size: Too many women wear the wrong bra size. Signs that you’re making the same mistake include: constantly falling down straps; straps that dig into the back; underwire that fits above the bottom of the breast; cups that flatten out the bust, especially in uncomfortable or painful ways; or pink marks, welts, or cuts in the skin after use. If you’ve noticed any of these signs, it’s time to buy a new bra. Go to a department store to get professionally measured (most will do it for free). Remember that, with the proper size, the breast should be between the shoulder and the elbow if your arm is straight down. The right bra will not only feel better, it will make all of your clothes fit better, too.
*Wear padded or molded bra: Bras should only be slightly padded, otherwise the padding will look too obvious and artificial. Never buy bra that makes you appear more than one cup size bigger. For instance, if you’re an A cup, don’t buy a bra that makes you seem like a C cup—aim for a bra that makes you appear like a large A cup or a B cup. If you dislike the look or feel of padded bras, buy molded bras instead. Molded bras shape out the bust beneath blouses, making it seem rounder. Avoid fill-in bras altogether as they don’t enlarger the look of your breasts at all.
*Wear patterns: Women with small busts generally have pear-shaped bodies, in which case the lower half of their figures is heavier than the upper half. To balance out the body, wear patterned blouses and solid colored pants and skirts. But don’t choose a huge pattern for your top, as it will consume your torso. Instead, choose a moderate-sized pattern—nothing too small, either, because that can actually minimize the appearance of your bust even more.
*Wear ruffles: Subtle ruffles add volume to a small bust, but don’t let giant ruffles overwhelm your frame. Look for little ruffles used as trim for the neckline or that fall directly under the bust or that run vertically down the center of the blouse. Avoid wearing ruffles on your pants, as they will bring the eye down to your lower half and away from your bust.
*Wear brighter tops: Choose brighter tops and darker bottoms, even if they’re both in the same color. If you want an all brown outfit, for example, put on a tan sweater and a chocolate-colored skirt. If you’re aiming for a black and white combination, be sure that your top is white and your bottom is black. This trick will make your body appear more proportionate, so your bust will seem fuller.
*Wear details at the bust: Anything centered on the bust will make it seem larger, which is why peasant tops are a small busted girl’s best friend. They cinch right under the bust, so it automatically looks bigger. Textured or reflective fabrics right on the bust also create an optical illusion. Buttons, embroidery, and other attention-getters are great ways to increase the appearance of a bust.
Making a small seem bigger involves several different strategies. The most important tip to remember, however, is this: don’t wear low-cut shirts! They will only emphasize what you don’t have. But collarbones can be just as alluring as cleavage, if not more so. If you’re not proud of your collarbone, simply find another part of your body to show off, like your shoulders, legs, back, or behind.
…Without Looking Like Alice from Wonderland
Spring heralds the joy of returning to a more festive color palette for your wardrobe. Suddenly wintry blacks and grays have lost their appeal and are traded in for eye-catching pinks, bright blues, and splashy yellows. The hallmark of spring fashion is the schizophrenic floral design. Modern florals can either be chic and minimalist or cute and quaint, depending on the proportions and color scheme. So how can you incorporate vibrant sunflowers, elegant orchids, and elusive lilies into your closet without looking like Alice from Wonderland? It’s simple. Just keep in mind these factors to help you find what’s right for you so you can weed out what’s wrong:
*Proportion: Floral patterns should be in proportion to your body size; otherwise the wrong proportions can be highly unflattering. If you’re slender, you can wear a wide range of print sizes, from huge flowers to tiny ones. If you’re petite, however, avoid huge flowers as they may look comically big and make you seem even shorter. Bigger ladies should avoid large prints, as they will only emphasize your size. Search for smaller, more discreet prints to slim you down. To bring attention to a feature you like, wear florals in that area. If you are proud of your bust, for instance, wear a floral blouse instead of a floral skirt or floral pants. Avoid wearing florals in an area you want to hide.
*Color: Examine the color scheme that spans most of your wardrobe. Do you tend to own mostly jewel tones? Are you more into pastels? Do you love bold shades? Or do neutrals dominate your closet? Whatever your preference, choose florals that fall in the same color family as what you already own so they don’t look amiss when you wear them and so that they match your existing wardrobe. For a more dramatic look, wear florals with a stark color contrast between the flowers and the background. For a more subtle look, be sure that the flowers and the background are simple in color or at least brightness.
*Fabric: Florals tend to look best in soft, flowing materials, like silk and polyester, as the floral design will only make bulky materials appear bulkier. Choose a fabric that is similar to what you already own so that the piece doesn’t clash with your other garments. Be sure that the fabric is also a flattering choice given your body type. Again, keep in mind the power of proportions. If you are slender, you can get away with a wide range of different fabrics; the only danger you run is getting lost in ultra-bulky fabrics. If you’re bigger, stick to thinner, more streamline fabrics so you don’t create the effect of extra pounds.
*Cut: Florals run the danger of looking stodgy unless you have a modern cut. Choose cuts that are either classic or of-the-moment, but not too of-the-moment. If the cut is so trendy that it’s frivolous, chances are you will only wear the garment one season, which is a waste of money. Buy something you will feel comfortable wearing next year without looking ridiculous. As with any article of clothing, make sure that the cut is flattering. Fabric should neither skim too closely to the body nor fall too far from it. Find a becoming intermediate so that the garment doesn’t wrinkle, pucker, or bag in an unappealing manner.
Tossing aside your wintry garments in exchange for fun and flirty florals is one of the best ways to welcome spring. Be sure to introduce this winning pattern into your wardrobe with the first sight of a daffodil.
The Gothic look harkens back to elegant Medieval and Victorian fashions. But as beautiful as Gothic clothes and jewelry may be, the style is often too dramatic for the average woman to pull off without coming off as overly theatrical. There are ways, however, to add Gothic flair to your wardrobe without seeming like an extra from a Tim Burton film. Here’s how to wear a tame version of Goth:
*Wear black the right way: In small quantities, black is stunning. In large quantities, black is morbidly unattractive. You can achieve the slimming effect black brings without shrouding yourself in all-black outfits. Pair black with navy, forest green, dark brown, deep violet, charcoal gray, burgundy and similar drab colors or use them as complete alternatives to black. Also remember that black and scarlet or black and purple are two popular Goth color combinations.
*Wear silver jewelry: Silver charm necklaces and bracelets are popular Goth accessories. Look for charms like lockets, birdcages, crosses, skulls, suns, moons, stars, owls, unicorns, and fairies. Avoid bright gold-colored jewelry. Faded gold jewelry looks best if paired with silver pieces. Try putting some lightweight faded gold and silver chains together with a scoop neck or V-neck blouse. Silver chandelier earrings with beads are also classically Goth. Just remember, that the dressier the jewelry, the subtler the clothes should be, at least for day.
*Wear textured hosiery: Hosiery can make an outfit. For a sophisticated Goth look, go for fine fishnets in black, charcoal, chocolate, burgundy, and forest green. Avoid fishnets with giant holes, as they reveal too much flesh in an unflattering way. (If you’re aiming to show off a little skin, better unbutton your blouse for some cleavage instead or simply go barelegged.) Pair textured hosiery with plain skirts and dresses—no competing textures or patterns, like reflective silk or floral. Opaque tights in black and interesting shades of wine and plum are good for more intricate dresses and skirts.
*Wear dark velvet: Everything–even lounge pants—looks elegant in velvet. But as tempting as it may be to drape yourself all over in this comfortable fabric, try to add variety to an outfit by mixing in other materials. Wear a velvet hoodie over a cotton tee or a velvet skirt with a fitted wool sweater. Also search for jeans with velvet details, like velvet embellished embroidery or velvet covered pockets. If real velvet is too expensive for your budget, search for polyester or rayon textured like velvet. They give the same effect for far less money and most people cannot even distinguish between the two.
*Wear lace: Lace is the most feminine of fabrics, which is why it’s so hard to wear well without seeming like you’re in a period piece. The key is to mix lace with more gender-neutral or even masculine fabrics to offset its inherent flounce. That’s why black leather and lace are such a classic combination. Another idea is throwing a casual fitted cardigan over a lace-trimmed camisole (or two or three layered camisoles). Black or burgundy lace trim is also a classy trim for jeans and denim jackets. Lace chokers are graceful touches to any outfit, but to avoid looking too dressed up during the day, throw on some jeans or a casual top. Also shop for lace headbands for girly panache.
*Wear pearls: Pearl necklaces, long or short, are classy additions to any outfit. Pearl bracelets look very Victorian, but for a modern touch, stack them up with short-sleeved or sleeveless tops. Also search for buttons and jackets with pearl buttons. Be careful when shopping for peal earrings—they can easily look too matronly. Tiny pearl studs are usually the freshest, most modern size. Small pearl drop earrings are also lovely. Look for pieces in black pearls, too, which are gorgeously Goth when paired with black lace.
*Wear tall boots: Boots don’t have to be high-heeled, but they should cover the majority of the calf. Look for leather or suede or convincing vinyl and details like laces and subtle buckles. Black, gray, brown, red, and purple are the ideal colors, especially in darker shades. Find sleek cuts and steer clear of anything that screams ‘high school punk rock concert,’ like mega-platforms.
The Goth style is unusual and mysterious and easy to over-do—but that shouldn’t prevent you from sporting the look you love! Glean your favorite elements of Goth fashion for the smartest, most modern, and most wearable outfits.
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