Ask Caryn – July 2010
How to wear a belt if you are apple shaped
Hi Caryn,
I have your brilliant ebook on apple shapes. I am a 30 yr old size 20 and have a large lumpy stomach. I like my bum and my top half isn’t too bad… I really like the current trend for cinching belts but it doesn’t seem a good idea to draw attention to my middle. Is there a way I can wear a belt and highlight my good areas? I would like to try a below the bust belt but don’t know if it will work.
Hoping to hear from you
Claire
Hello Claire
I’m so glad the e-book has helped you understand your style.
Yes you are right cinching on your natural waistline will draw attention to your tummy.
A belt around your ribcage can work, emphasising one of your smallest points.
Experiment with different styles. This season’s skinny belt is fun or the standard wide elastic cincher, now wear over a top that flares over your tummy line.
You could also reconsider a low-slung belt. A bold sash looks modern over a tunic.
Wide Feet
My young teenage daughter has really wide feet EEE fitting and a size 7. What shoes are best for disguising wide feet?
Many thanks
Jo
Hello Jo
You and your daughter should take a look at Duo shoes, details of which can be found in our shopping mall.
They offer a whole range of fashion styles in wide fitting sizes which means that your daughter does not have to forgo style over comfort and can wear styles that are elsewhere on the high street.
Choose styles that have vertical seams that travel the length of the foot in part or in whole and avoid any strappy shoes that cross the width of the foot. Dark colours will minimise while light colours will create focus.
Wide fitting wedding shoes
Hello Caryn,
I’m really struggling to find some (realistic) wide fit wedding shoes. Having tried the Rainbow ones, they don’t seem to be wide fit at all. I’m a UK size 7 and would ideally like some wedge shoes/sandals to optimise comfort throughout my special day. Please, please, please can you help? I don’t mind internet shopping outside the UK.
Many thanks,
Tamara
Hello Tamara
Have a look at the website www.elegant-wedding-shoes.co.uk. They have a large range of wedding shoe styles including sandals and wedges and will make wide shoes to order (at very reasonable prices) so that they will fit your feet perfectly.
For off the peg options, brands such as Touch Ups, Dyeables, Lexu and Belle by paradox offer wide fitting options.
Formal Dressing
Dear Caryn
I love your personal style, and wonder if you could advise me on my current dilemma.
Since I’ve taken on a new job as librarian at an Oxford college I find I’m invited to many formal occasions, such as black tie dinners, for which I need to dress appropriately. I have plenty of work and leisure clothes which I think suit me and I get compliments on the way I dress so hopefully I’m doing something right.
But formal dressing from someone who has had to go back into the working and dating world after divorce is something I find difficult on a budget. I have one beautiful long black lace dress which is lovely but obviously I can’t wear it to everything, and I want to wear colour too. I can’t wear short sleeves as I have bad circulation (or perhaps I’m just a wuss) and feel chilly very easily. I prefer not to cover up a dress with a shrug or something similar, as I feel I’m buying two things when I only wanted one, and I’m potentially spoiling the simple line of the dress. But shortish (above knee) and fitted are OK as my legs are reasonably OK, and I’m slim, size 8-10, 5’5″, blonde, photo attached in case it helps.
So ideally I’m looking to find something not the regulation black, long sleeved, and fairly classic that will see me through several years. I’m saving £300-£400 towards this and hope to go to London and buy in September.
But I’d really value some style ideas and some pointers in the right direction.
With many thanks
Katrina
Hello Katrina
Well thanks for the compliments and it certainly looks from your picture that those compliments you receive are well deserving and that you already have your own sense of style.
The waist is your pivotal point so it’s always worth a little accentuation to create the illusion of a fuller bust and hips. Print and volume and adorned pieces will also look good on you.
As you have a little bit more to spend you can invest in a piece that will serve you well for many years to come. Classic style like shirt dresses and wrap dress make an appearance every season and you can’t go wrong with these styles. You have two choices, go for solid neutral colour and dress up with a variety of accessories to ring the changes or go for statement piece in bold colour or even print for a dramatic impact.
Before you head off to London have a look at www.net-a-porter.com, www.yoox.com and www.farfetch.com which all have some great designer longer sleeved options. You can have a look at styles and options in your price range and get a feel for which designers suit your aesthetic. Yoox actually has some great pieces that have also been discounted.
Once in London I would venture to some of the boutiques such as Matches, Browns, Start and Liberty’s. They all have websites so you can take a look at their brands and products beforehand.
I hope this helps.
