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Ask Caryn – March 2010

Contributions from Caryn Franklin, Jane Galpin and Sharon Tyler.

? About Circle Skirts/Petticoat

Dear Caryn

I am a petite /top heavy and sometimes a petite/curvy.

my ? is, can I wear a circle skirt or not? I love the thought of  wearing one cause I love the older movies were the leading lady is wearing one. please let me know.

I love your ebooks. thanks so much for helping all of us out on looking our best and helping us stay away from unflattering clothes.
thank you for your time.

Salina



Hello Salina
Thanks for getting in touch and for your kind words about the site. You can definitely wear a circle skirt which will actually help to balance out your top half. Just make sure you cinch/emphasise your waist to counteract height lost with the wider skirt. Of course if you want more tips about what suits your shape then take a look at my ebooks.

 

Jeans

Hello Caryn!
I just discovered your website howtolookgood.com and look forward to reading more this coming week and maybe ordering your standard/slender ebook for my size and shape. I know you are half a world away, but I am so desperate that I decided to write anyway.

I have a difficult time finding my size pants in this area…and shopping/ordering pants online is seldom rewarding. My hope is that you may have some clothing lines you might be familiar with or someone else that I could contact or a website you might recommend that may be of some help. I am 54yrs of age, still feel and look somewhat young for my age and am so tired of dressing frumpy. I am 5’5”, range from 112-116lbs. and wear pants that are sizes 2 and 4. Apparently stores around here must think everyone is large at my age and these sizes are ordered in small quantities. I no longer work so I am looking for casual, nice and jeans type clothing. Most sales people suggest I look for my size in the petites section (I am not short!), many pants gap in the back and I really prefer not to wear pants that are cut too low. I have an assortment of Not Your Daughters Jeans, but it would be sooo nice to wear more than just one brand of pants.

The “Fashions for Style-Conscious Women Over 40” article said it all. I too struggle to find age appropriate clothing that fits.

I do understand if you are unable to respond or help….and as I mentioned, you are half a world away.

So here goes, I will send this off and I thank you so much for your time,

Liz in Oregon



Hi Liz,
Thanks for getting in touch.  Firstly have a look at the US website of Topshop, one of our most directional and popular brands here in the UK. They have a wide selection of jeans and trousers in a variety of sizes and do cater for smaller sizes in various lengths (not just petite!).  They have a store now in New York but the online site ships all over the US.

Jeans has always been a tricky one to get exactly right but many retailers have now begun to realise that they need to resize their jeans to fit various proportions and sizes, making finding that perfect fit a more attainable goal. Joe’s Jeans for example offers a variety of proportions and leg shapes with catchy names like Cigarette, Honey and Rocker. The website www.zafu.com, offers a more detailed quiz focusing on how your jeans normally fit and asks you questions such as do they gape at the waist or fit too tight? Are your thighs thick or slim? The site is essentially a search engine, and once you finish the quiz, it will cough up dozens of jean styles and brands that suit your body shape. Another option, www.myshape.com, helps users find clothing matched to their measurements and body shape.

Another site www.mytruefit.com  matches you to jeans based on measurements that you give and stocks jeans in small sizes with varying lengths. I would also have a look at www.ilovejeans.com – they offer lots of advice about styles and shape and also carry over 90 brands and many body enhancement features.  They are a UK site but they do ship to the US.

I hope this is a helpful start.

 

How to Coordinate Accesssories

Hi Caryn,
I was wondering if you have any advice for how to coordinate accessories - especially hair accessories with jewellery.  

I have black hair and a black headband with a large beaded leaf on the side.  It blends into my hair fairly well, and just adds a little sparkle, but it's definately not the most subtle piece.  What kind of jewellery can I wear with something like that?  

I would like to wear it with a short black dress that has a wide, scooped out neckline and a blocked pattern blue-grey bottom.  I'm 27 just 5'.  

Thanks,
Elim



Hello Elim
Thanks for your message.  Accessories and jewellery in particular are really a matter or personal taste and a reflection of your style spirit.

This season, for example, jewellery is all about overload and how much you wear rather than what you wear. On the catwalks we saw big earrings, chunky necklaces and even huge hair clips and headbands all worn together so you could really go for it, especially as your dress does sound pared down.  Alternatively you might feel that a pair of sparkly studs or a single brooch is just enough chic and elegance.

As I said, it really depends on your preference and personality – if your style is pretty and feminine, maybe a short necklace or a chain with a diamond drop is what you need to set off your neckline. If you’re style is more edgy and relaxed then you might want to go for a chunky bracelet or cuff. Most importantly though have fun with it – jewellery should bring a little smile to our faces!

 

Michael Kors Military Look

Hi
you feature a Michael Kors MIlitary Coat on the following page: http://www.howtolookgood.com/
catwalk_hist_0905/catsect_3.html

Can you tell me what collection that is from?  Fall 2009?
I'm trying to track one down.

Thanks so much.
Patrice



Hello Patrice,
The Michael Kors coat is from the Fall 2005/2006 collection, you must have accessed an old page. Thing is everyone is doing military again so it’s the perfect season to look for a similar style.

The press department may help you with key vintage Kors outlets. Contact details are on the Michael Kors website. But it’s worth looking on e-bay for vintage designer gear too!

 

Pleat Trends

Hello Caryn!

I'm just one of your faithful subscribers who follow regularly all the newsletters you send.
I would like to know about the current fashion trend concerning pleats this Autumn/Winter or Spring/Summer 2010.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you.
Jane



Hello Jane
Thanks for your email and it’s nice to hear that you follow the newsletters and the site.

For Autumn/Winter 2009 drape is key rather than pleats. It’s still about femininity and romance but played out in slippery silks and shades of champagne, rose and silver-grey.  Take a look at the Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Lanvin for some examples.

Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton as well as Miu Miu are also channelling a Parisian femme fatale – a look which is all about OTT glamour: lots of lace, ruffles, bows, frills, silks and satins.

For the Spring/Summer Season ruffles are back big time in two incarnations. Firstly worn big, full on and head to toe as seen at Valentino and Givenchy or a more densely packed and semi-cropped ruffle as seen at Marc Jacobs and Preen.

Ruching and knotting is also key this season so take a look at Burberry, Lanvin and Sophia Kokosalaki to get the idea.

 

What Style for Me?

Dear Caryn,
I have just finished work as a secretary, am a gran, wife, and most of all me.  My problem is I don't know who 'me' is, how to dress for 'me'?

Would you have any advice for me to be able to find a new wardrobe.

I love crafts, cars, walking, reading, feeling like a woman. (should this help)

Age 54

Best regards
Lynda



Hello Lynda
Thank you for your email. You don’t give any idea of a shape but that is probably the best place to start and get an understanding of your body shape and hope to accentuate it. I would recommend you invest in one of personalised ebooks and also the Ageless Style ebook which will give you extensive guidance and knowledge on how to pick clothes for your shape and particular guidance.

This will also help you to create a foundation of great basic pieces in your wardrobe upon which to build on.

Try starting with these – a good pair of jeans, suit, a white shirt, a selection of simple tops and t-shirts in a variety of colours, a fine knit or cashmere cardigan, a pencil or a-line skirt and a simple shift or jersey wrap dress. A good pair of ballet flats, black heels and knee high boots form a good basis for shoe options.

You can then start to develop your own style by experimenting on how to wear these basics together in different ways.  It’s the little twists and touches that make the difference and accessories are a great way to do this.  You can also buy some inexpensive trend pieces of the season to bring your basics up to date.  

As you start to develop your style, you should also get a sense of what your body is really like.  What colours do you love that make you feel great? What trouser/dress/skirt/jacket shape do you feel most comfortable in?

Gradually, you’ll understand what works for you and makes you feel comfortable and look great and the ebook will certainly put you on the right road to do so.

Have fun!

 

Petite Pear from the U.S.

Hello All,
Love this site and love the advice.  

As a petite woman with a pear figure I have never been able to shop with ease.  It heartens me to see this site, yet, it doesn’t really help me if shops don’t sell what I need.  While there are some stores that sell petite sizes, they do so only online, which means I have to BUY clothes in order to try them on.  And, while department stores sometimes carry petite sizes, they are frequently a little on the “matronly” side.  I find myself either buying clothes that don’t fit just to get the styles I want, and paying on top of that to have them altered.  Or, I shop in the Jr department, which as a 37 year old woman is quite frankly a little too young for me, but Jr’s sizes tend to be cut shorter and the styles are a little more contemporary.  

It’s funny, people think that because I’m small, I should have no problem finding clothes.  They say, “Just get a smaller size.”  Not so.  A petite size is cut just right for my smaller proportions.  It’s not just a matter of shorter pants or a small top; the gusset in the pants is always in the wrong place on a non-petite, and the same can be said for tailoring in a top.

My question is, where do I shop?  

Thank you for your time and your advice!
Heidi



Hi Heidi,
Sadly there are no pear shaped retailers that I know of. Of course there are specialist fit companies for fuller cup sizes and top heavy shapes, so it’s just a matter of time before someone comes up with the idea to reverse the situation and do pear shapes...Tough for you to have to wait it out until they do though!

I have two suggestions to be going on with.

Firstly there is a retailer in our shopping mall in the jeans section called AJK jeans. She has made jeans to fit pear shapes because she found that  there was a huge gap in the market.

Secondly our pear shaped e-books will give you many styling tips for camouflaging your pear shape and balancing up your top half. I’m very confident that this will help you and there is a money back offer if it doesn’t so you have nothing to lose!

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