Ask Caryn – February 2010
Pink Shoes
Hi Caryn,
I just wondered if you could please help?
I have bought a 1 sleeve black dress with black gems, it’s is a little on the short side for me but the dress is great. if i wore it with 60 denier opaque tights and pink heeled court shoes with a pink and black clutch, would that look ok? I only ever wear black shoes but I wanted to add a bit of colour but an unsure about the pink. Is pink ok to wear in shoes?
Please help
many thanks
Evette
Hi Evette
Pink shoes will definitely work.
In fact, never underestimate the power of a pop-coloured accessory. They are an instant lift to an all black ensemble and add a fun and flirty factor.
But its also about confidence so you are right to match the dress with opaque tights especially if you feel the dress is a little short.
I would also recommend wearing this style of dress with leggings or even black fitted jeans then you feel less exposed.
Have fun…in bright pink shoes that’s exactly what you should be doing!
Crisis with Body Shape
Hello
I have absolutely no idea what my body shape is and would appreciate your help so I know which book to get.
I am average height 5’8” and shrinking! Aged 50 going on 28!
Bra size 34D
Size when rigby and pillared ie wearing my bra
39” chest
32” waist
39” hips
Shoulders are broader than hips
Thanks very much
Marie
Hi Marie,
We are just about to launch a whole load of drawings for this very reason.
The thing is without a picture I can’t tell how your measurements are distributed on your body so it is more down to which bit of your body feels in most need of some camouflage or balance.
Your measurements make you seem very even so I would guess that you bodyshape is Standard and Curvaceous, this book will tell you which clothing features you need to look for and is absolutely ageless so you can adapt it to you own personal style. I’ve also enclosed a rough guide below. But if you really aren’t sure then why not wait until we launch our drawings in the next fortnight!
Help with my bridesmaid dress!!
Hi Caryn,
I am going to be a bridesmaid at my sister’s wedding in the US in August and need help picking a bridesmaid dress. She has picked the colours, but I need to know what sort of style will suit my body.
I am about a size 14, pretty standard body shape, but I am a bit top heavy, having around a 38D to 38DD chest. I have a defined waist and a curvy shape.
I really like the long dresses with a band directly below the chest, but because I am a bit heavier up top, the space for my chest is never big enough!
Any help would be so appreciated I can’t begin to tell you!
Thanks,
Nikki
Hi Nikki,
I’m really impressed with the two birds bridesmaid dress which can be worn multi way – 15 ways to be precise! With 10 colour choices, you’ll see the perfect style that can be fitted to your body and adjusted as you need it. Have a look on the site www.twobirdsbridesmaid.com it is jersey and stretchy and one dress fits
But if you are looking off the peg you need a low v-neck and a sift jersey stretchy fabric over your bust. An empire line is a great solution but conventional cuts will not have enough fabric in them, hence your difficulty in getting the fit – so is the painless option to find a dressmaker who will fit you just where you need it?
If budget is a problem two birds could be the solution!
Let me know how you get on!
Personal Styling
Hi
my name is Caroline I am 24 years old, I have been working in childcare for the last 6 years and now feel I want a change in my career, I have always been interested in fashion and I often take my friends shopping and style them in clothes they would never pick out themselves but love the look, so I feel I am able to style people well to a certain degree. I just need a bit of advice on how I could go about becoming a personal stylist, would you reccommend that I do a course in personal styling to gain experience and training and if so can you reccommend any good training programmes?….I have found a course at “The British College of Professional Styling” have you heard of this college??
I would be most grateful if you could find time to get back to me, although I do understand your very busy.
I look forward to hearing from you
Yours Sincerely
Caroline
x
Hi Caroline,
Jane and I haven’t heard of the British College of Professional Styling, so I can’t recommend this but will look into it.
We have heard of Nikki Hambleton- Jones Style Academy however and think this five day course might be better grounded in the reality of working as a Style Consultant. We both know Nikki and suggest you try this site – why not have a read of the testimonials to give you an idea of what some of the course involves. There are also numbers you can ring to find out more.
Ultimately as with any service you should be able to speak to satisfied customers to really feel confident.
I am also answering another letter this week on Style Consultancy so come on to the site to have a look at my response to Lisa in February’s Ask Caryn to be posted soon.
Personal Styling Consultant Training Advice
Hi there Look Good team…
I hope you dont mind me writing to you but I am in need of impartial advice and some wisdom from you guys.
I have decided to follow my lifelong passion to start working in styling with real women (as opposed to commercial styling in the media) and to create my own Personal Style Consultancy business.
I am 38, 2 young children and a very supportive husband. I have experience in working in boutiques and have a background in photography and visual arts. Although not fashion trained I have a good eye and a personal story of a changing body shape that enables me to empathise with other women.
I have always admired Caryn and your intelligent, confident sophisticated way you dress, and I have downloaded several of your e-books that I have found inspiring and very useful.
My question to you is ‘What do you think of the courses available for this business?’ I am considering investing in a styling course that claim to give you all you need to know to run your own style consultancy. The course I have looked into range from Nikki Hambleton-Jones Style Academy to Alicia Kite Academy, to more low key localised course that all seem to be offering similar course content.
I am torn between training with someone else, or follow my business instinct and personal experience and do it alone, with no ‘formal’ training just my own personal commitment to research and online support materials, with
Obviously I need to offer set services so my business has clarity and people know what they are buying (wardrobe consultations, personal styling, shopping etc) but I feel I dont want to become another ‘Robot’ of someone elses style ethos.
I am an intelligent educated woman, and I realise I have lots to learn about personal style and running my own business. But I am unsure which route to take at this stage of my personal development.
Please help me with your wisdom advice!
With many thanks in advance for your time
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
From everything you say I feel you have the flair, empathy and people skills to be a good Personal Style Consultant.
I would however say that you can lose nothing by attending Nikki’s course since this will give you a heads up on what else is involved in the business of personal styling and how to do it successfully.
The thing with something like this is that the skills themselves are almost a given – you dress well and you can dress others well too.
But there is more to running a business of this nature, and rather than learn the hard way as you go along, wouldn’t it be better to have an insight?
I say this because it sounds as though you are serious and with a five day course under you belt would be in full swing and ready to build a client list. The cost of it would be tax deductible.
Nikki is someone both Jane and I know and her testimonials are certainly good aren’t they?
I would speak to the course organisers and get them to tell you what they will teach and why they feel you will be better equipped as a result…what are the real benefits if you can already style?
I would also request a previous clients to talk to in more depth for recommendations.
Do let us know how you got on.
Plea for help!
Dear Caryn,
I got engaged on NYE and we’ve decided to get married this summer as we’re keen to tie the knot. I have to admit that I am now feeling a little overwhelmed with the sheer number of things I have to do before July of this year, even discounting the hours I will need to put in to finding a suitable wedding dress!
I am 5ft 3.5 inches in height and curvaceous. In my brief foray into bridal magazines I am guessing this is going to be a major problem, given that almost without exception bridal designers seem to only think with the statuesque in mind or that if you’re petite your frame is the size of a twig. I just wondered if you could suggest any dresses that you think would be a good match for someone like me?
I was lucky to have found the man whose my perfect match myself, but I am not so confident about finding the dress!
Best wishes,
Louise
Hi Louise,
Congratulations!
Yes you are right sample sizes do come in standard height fittings.
But there will be solutions for you. Jane and I will be at the national Wedding Show in London And Birmingham in Feb and March are you planning on coming? We could certainly point you in the right direction to find the best designers to work with. You don’t mention a budget but there are bespoke bridal outfitters and dress makers who will work with your shape with ease.
Candy Anthony who creates great fifties shapes with frothy skirts that show a bit of leg. I feel this would give your shape balance and hark back to a time when all women were curvaceous. She does sweet little bolero tops that create a sense of elongation and streamlining too
Off the peg you need definition at your waist, a fitted corset style will enhance your slimmest part (your waist) and give your bust good shape, then look for a skirt that kicks out to flatter hips and bottom. Many bridal staff really are specialists and can see a body and know how to flatter it, they will already have fitted many petite women from their standard samples so get an idea of what type of fabric you like, whether you want contemporary or retro and start by looking in our bridal shopping mall on the site to get and idea, pictures and slide shows even films are all available.
Enjoy your search there are plenty of dresses out there for you!
