Ask Caryn – June 2011
What to wear top heavy and skinny legs
Hi Caryn,
I have very skinny legs and my top half is bigger, I am 5ft 7 if I wear heels too big I will look lanky (won’t I?)
what do I wear?
Thanks Caryn
Carole x
Hello Carole
Thanks very much for getting in touch. You need to think about balancing out your top half without drawing all the focus to your legs. You can wear high heels but just opt for more minimalist sleek options (such as a sandal with minimal straps) rather than anything too chunky. We’ve recently blogged about a gorgeous snakeskin pair from Zara. Wide leg trousers (this season’s hottest trouser silhouette) will work for you as they will add with to your bottom half and your legs. Keep the top half sleek and opt for tops in darker shades. A v-neck will also help to slim and lengthen.
An A-line skirt will also work well for you. The width will even out your top half. Opt for something in a fluid fabric and too exaggerated (i.e wide trapeze shape). Try the new ‘midi’ length which hits at the widest part of your calf, making you legs look wider.
Colour of shoes and bag to go with dress
Hi
It would be great if you could advise me on what colour shoes and handbag to wear with this dress – the dress is described as black and white, but actually it’s grey/silver and cream.
I was going to go with a silver/grey sandal and handbag but it’s been suggested that I go for a bold colour such as red. The occasion is a summer wedding.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions you have!
Kate
Hello Kate
Thanks for getting in touch. Adding a ‘pop’ of colour would be a great way to style up this dress. Red is a stylish and chic option but you could also try another strong shade such as cobalt blue or purple.
If you opt for coloured heels then attention will be drawn to your feet which can cause some foreshortening. Opt for a shoe style that is relatively open (such as a court) so that you have as much leg/foot on show as possible. Alternatively you could opt for a grey/silver shoe and a brightly coloured clutch.
Colour of shoes and bag to go with dress
Hi
Can you please advise what colour shoes handbag & feathers I should wear to accompany this dress for a family wedding to finish it off?
Many thanks,
Marion
Hello Marion
Thanks for getting in touch. I would let the gorgeous elegance of the dress and waterfall detail do all the talking and keep your accessories relatively simple. Opt for nude or metallic (gold or silver) options. You could always add a pop of colour by a slick of pink lippy.
Enjoy the wedding.
What to wear if you have a long neck
I have a long neck and would like to make it look shorter what are the best styles for this?
Hello there
Thanks very much for getting in touch. If you want to make your neck appear shorter then opt for garments with higher necklines or use a little visual trickery with accessories to add width or break up the line of your neck.
In terms of garments a polo neck will always be a best friend in your wardrobe as will a high neck blouse. Why not add a pussy bow or Victorian style blouse to your wardrobe repertoire – effortlessly chic, they’ll add elegance to any outfit along with a touch of fashion flair. In terms of plainer tops, once again higher necklines are best so round necks, crew necks, high ballerina necks, and mandarin necklines.
You can also use jewellery and accessories. A scarf tied round your neck looks very elegant and chic, giving your look its own individual statement while breaking up the line of your neck. Similarly a short or chocker necklace will do the same trick or you could try a scarf and necklace combined together for your own individual stamp.
What to wear petite and top heavy
Hello
I am attending a wedding at the Ritz in London on 4 June at 3pm
What to wear? I am a petite (top heavy). Help!
Would appreciate help.
Yolan
Hello Yolan
Thanks for getting in touch. A good empire line dress will look great on you. We’ve found a great option for you at Next. It is a soft drape dress available in petite in grey or pink. It has a v-neck line to flatter and elongate your bust and soft Grecian style draping at the tummy which is not only very flattering but elegantly stunning!
Alternatively Petite Affair have a simple yet striking navy silk floaty dress with ruffle detail on the hem or take as look at Karen Gillam for their Collette or Gloria dress. You can find links to both of these brands in our shopping directory.
Advice on Jacket shape
I would appreciate your advice on a design such as the two jackets shown in the pictures below. Is this assymetrical look considered flattering or less flattering than a typical jacket that would meet in the center and button close? Center close or side close for the most flattering affect? I am having a jacket made for my niece’s wedding and I need professional advice. Thank you for your help.
Toni
Hello Toni
Thanks for getting in touch. It really depends on what you are trying to achieve. A standard single breasted, v-neck jacket that is nipped in slightly at the waist is always flattering as the ‘V’ elongates and the line down lengthens and streamlines.
With the jackets here the gorgeous ruffle detail will draw focus. With the side fastening jacket the ruffle detail will draw focus upwards (to your chest) and will add volume there. Whereas the jacket with the ruffle detail falling down the centre of the jacket will draw focus in a line down the middle of your body towards your hips, elongating and lengthening. So as I said before it really depends on your shape and what you want to achieve – to attract focus upwards and add a little volume upwards (say, for example, if you want to balance out a bigger lower half) or draw focus inwards and downwards and streamline your torso? Both are lovely chic options though.
New beach working wardrobe
Hi Caryn
I am moving to Corfu for work at the beach and hotel in a month or two for several months I need a summer wardrobe that is comfortable for the climate. practical but stylish..I am age 42, size 16, five foot six and an hourglass figure. I have shoulder length dark brown hair with dipped died ends. Once I get some sun I am medium/olive complexioned.
I generally have an eclectic individual style and prefer an elegant ethnic traveler style. I am governed by my budget which is usually very tight.I have very little in a summer wardrobe at present.I have lost some confidence in what to wear but for this life changing move I would like to create a new me..I dont like to show my legs as a rule but hopefully once I get fitter and thinner I will lose my inhibitions. Can you help?
I need to pack with lightweight clothes for the baggage allowance but will need to have something to cover up with on cooler days/evenings.
Many Thanks
Amanda
Hello Amanda
Thanks for getting in touch. I’d try a maxi dress or a maxi skirt and top combination. That’ll play to your ethnic traveller sensibilities and is a stylishly chic option for day that can be dressed up for evening. Look for options that follow the lines of your body to enhance your hourglass shape and ones with a v-neck will flatter your bosom. Have a couple of options in your wardrobe and you can transform the way you wear them with accessories such as different belts, big statement necklaces, sandals etc so you don’t have to buy lots of new items. Why not try a kimono style jacket as a stylish cover up which will look elegant tied around a dress, still keeping the look light and breezy as well as adding a more fashion touch? Plus it will look great too with jeans and trousers. And speaking of trousers you could also try this seasons wide trouser leg. They’ll cover you legs yet are light and airy enough for the sun.
Good luck in Corfu!
Colour of shoes and bag to go with dress
HI
I’m going to a wedding in august and have bought a cream dress with some black panelling its one of the Star Julian Macdonald (click here to view) dresses for Debenhams which is lovely has v neckline with jewels on it, I’m tried to decide what shoes and bad etc to get and wondered if I should just stick with the cream and black theme or could I get away with some colour or due to the the jewels (that are black and cream) just stick with black and cream accessories.
Your advice is very much appreciated.
Lisa
Hello Lisa
Thanks for getting in touch. Your dress makes a beautiful statement on its own so you could stick to cream or black accessories but we think a pop of colour will really give your look that added transformative extra. Any deep jewelled tone will work well and red, in particular, is a great partner to a monochrome look. Coloured shoes will draw focus down to your feet, however, causing a little foreshortening so you could do cream or black shoes and a red bag if you’re worried about losing height.
Alternatively you could pick up the jewelled detailing with bejewelled silver shoes and/or a cuff.
I hope this helps, enjoy the wedding.
Colour of shoes to go with dress
Hi I recently bought the two toned expresse rouched dress in purple and coral for a wedding I have coming up and I have no clue what shoes to wear please please help?
I have no clue what to do.
Thank you
Hello there
Thanks for getting in touch. We haven’t seen the dress but why not opt for a shoe tonal to the dress’s colours such as a purple or coral option. Alternatively a nude shoe will work or you could try a metallicy silver shoe and jewellery.
Bra not fitting correctly advice
Hi.
My sister has bra straps which don’t fit her right and tend to slide down her shoulders a lot. When wearing sleeveless tops whilst she had to do a lot of readjusting they did usually stay up and I only noticed usually once or twice a day one falling down so is only occasional that her readjusting doesn’t work, some specific movements will cause more regular strap down the arm situations like when leaning to her side to pick something up or driving but in that situation she can fix it very fast and reasonably discreetly by sliding it back under her top on her shoulder so it’s only a matter of a few seconds when it happens. She now however has started wearing capped sleeves more, at first I thought great but is now often the case one of her bra straps will be of her shoulder and peeking out from under the sleeve, sometimes it’s just a little and other times it’s a lot and very apparent, unlike when she wears sleeveless she can leave it like this for hours with it visible and hanging out. Is it normally the case it’s better to wear sleeveless when dealing with falling bra straps?
any advice I can give to my sister?
Chris
Hi Chris
This is a simple matter of the bra not being correctly fitted. I guess it has been a long time since your sister had a fitting.
The band width isn’t tight enough and neither are the straps. She needs to go straight to a good department store and get properly fitted to know and experience the joy of a bra that stays in place and does the job properly.
Colour of bag to go with dress
Hi there,
I am going for a posh meal and hotel evening in london soon. So far I have bought a white prom dress style with a big black bow around my waist, with black suede heels (with bow detail), I was thinking pink nail varnish to brighten it up a bit but I am completely stuck on what type or colour bag to wear.
Please help! thank you
Hi there
Thanks for getting in touch. The colour palette really is your oyster! The monochrome base of your look would look great with a pop of colour. I would go for something bright but the shade is really dependent on your preference. Hot pink that you mentioned would also look great in a clutch…
Enjoy your evening.
