Contributions from Caryn Franklin, Jane Galpin, Melissa Dick and Kathryn Byrne.

April

Hi im trying to figure out which book to buy from the website can you help? I'm 5'9" tall 34 inch inside leg no bum or body to speak of size ten to 12 with all weight gain going on my stomach and a 36a chest can you advise me on which book would be best also any advise of the kind of coat to go for as ive been searching for a nice one for years to no avail. Thanks for you help
Sharon

Hi Sharon,
You are a standard height with a rounded tummy so I would advise you to buy a standard apple shape. In this book I tell you how to create a visual streamlining through the centre of the body.

As for a coat you need one with large lapels to create volume at the top of your body and a gentle flare to create volume at the hips to make your waist look smaller and a single breasted button fastening through the centre of your body to streamline you.

Avoid a trench coat with an unflattering belt right over your tummy and steer clear of double breasted coats that will make your tummy look fuller or wider.

Dear Caryn:
I purchased your e-book (petite and pear shaped) but I'd like more specific suggestions for necklines on tops and blouses. I'm 5'2, 119 pounds and very small chest (36A). Should I avoid v-necks and stick with crew or square shaped?

Many thanks! I loved your suggestions in the book,
Kind regards,
Melanie

Hi, Melanie,
I'm so glad you found the book helpful. I have a lot of fun when I am showing these simple but very effective styling tools to women just like yourself in my workshops.

As for tops of course you can wear a V-neck but choose one that has small frill or extra fabric around the neckline if you want to create volume. Experiment also with cowl neckline these are the most effective for creating a look of fullness at the bust and I use these all the time.

The key thing is not to have too much flesh on show in a very low cut top because this will exaggerate the very thing you don't want others to focus on.

Hi
I have emailed for advice on what to wear for my wedding in April - I'm 50, short - 5' and three-quarters of an inch - and just under 12 stone, getting married at 5pm in a hotel in Southwold, Suffolk?
Regards
Gwen

Hi Gwen,
A cropped jacket that buttons just under the waist to pull you in and create definition will be the best investment you can make. Not only will you have a great silhouette for photos but it will give you all the confidence you need for this special occasion. You could add a floaty skirt that has femininity or a soft marching slightly flared skirt in the same fabric as the jacket ? this can be any length from ankle to mid calf to just below the knee depending on your tastes but not floor length as this will make you look shorter.

Keep everything on your body in the same colour grouping for instance pink tones or cream tones as this will elongate your body.

Choose a small headpiece called a 'fascinator' which will give you a great finish for your photos. I have just discovered a great site that will offer you the outfits I have described from a pink linen jacket and skirt as well a beautiful floaty garden party skirt at www.petiteaffair.co.uk

And finally choose a small round bouquet with nothing trailing
But do also check these ranges on the high street. Evans Petite range, Minuet petite - they have a wonderful pansy linen mix and matching skirt in purple this season, Précis petite (last season they had some excellent special occasion wear). All of these websites can be found in our virtual shopping mall under petite.

Have a lovely day.

Hi Caryn
I'm a 6 ft tall 52 year old woman with a slim size 12 physique. Any ideas as to where I can find longer coats and jackets that won't provoke all the 'is that a man?' comments that I seem to be attracting nowadays. Black really isn't the best of colours now I'm getting older, nor the straight up and down styles that seem to come in my size and do nothing for my figure. There seem to be very few places where we tall ladies can buy longer length outerwear, with a very limited range of styles. Is finding a good tailor the only option?
Kelly

Hi Kelly,
I've found two for you to look at to give you an idea of what I mean, when I say go for a shape that has flare from the waist. Trench coat styles will be great for you so will anything that has obvious vertical lines like belts and lapels. Colour is crucial because a dark coat will look to heavy and foreboding. With that in mind I know the following information will be of use.

Boden who are reknowned for their trend oriented take on the classics should be your first port of call. I found a great coat which comes in turquoise or pink. They do regular and longer length sizes generally, however the coat comes as a one size design. The price is £135 for a tweed fabric and having shopped at Boden myself I can recommend the quality. This style will suit you because it is gently waisted and has a lapel feature. You are right of course to avoid stern colours and straight up and down styles - you need as many line breakers as possible to create an interuption of the vertical.

The next great coat I found (just by perusing our own virtual shopping mall ticks all the boxes. It is from Tall Couture.com and has several design features designed to break up the line with a belt at the waist and double breasted feature. This is an American site run by two tall sisters Jennifer and Rebecca Caputo and features collections from different designers exclusively aimed at tall women. The designer you need to click is Lidi, where you will find the Jodie Wool coat in Mauve which is currently in the sale at $335. There is a number to NY which I advise you to ring before you make any order, because I cannot vouch for this business in the same way that I can recommend Boden.

Do visit our virtual shopping mall and click on tall then visit all the sites we list (Boden and Tall Couture are both in there and subscribe to each company‚s newsletter offer, this is the way you will be kept a breast of new collections

Finally subscribe to our newsletter because I will keep you in the know about all the designer sample sales and since you are model proportions you will find some excellent bargains that will make you look a million dollars.

Best wishes Kelly.

I'm approximately a size 16, but cannot find any jeans to fit and flatter me. I have more than 10" difference between my waist and my hips, and I carry weight on my thighs at the front and side as well as in my butt at the back. I also have a bit of tummy despite the 10" difference.

I want some dark denim stretch jeans for a curvy figure, that fit reasonably at the waist but have plenty of room in the butt and particularly the thigh area. Most jeans I have tried are too tight on the thigh, far too large on the back waist and cut uncomfortably across my stomach. I can sew so I'm almost at the point of making some stretch denim trousers using a pattern I have which fits me.

The only jeans I have which I can wear are stretch denim in a traditional style, but they are not that flattering as the ankles are relatively narrow, they are also wearing out. I'd like to buy from an average priced high street store as my budget is fairly limited. I live in the North West and could travel to Manchester to shop if required. regards
Ruth, Warrington

Hi Ruth,
Jeans can present a fit problem but with a tiny waist, I sympathise that you are frustrated by 'gaping back syndrome' you are not alone, Women or all shapes and sizes suffer from this one.

Also you sound like you struggle to find a pair that are current and trend oriented. This site is all about putting readers in touch with solutions that are website based, and so I want to recommend a site that has always had a great selection of sexy jeans in sizes starting at 14 through to 26/28 they are www.yoursclothing.co.uk

Having spoken to staff there on your behalf I can tell you that there are 11 centimetres difference between hips and waist and I'm going to suggest that you order every style on the site to try on in the comfort of your own home. There you can decide which pair will give you the best fit and then as you are able to sew, make an alteration to lose the extra fabric at the waist by creating a dart at the centre back seam. (This is also something a good dry cleaner with onsite alterations can do too).

Don't worry about the cost of sending all the jeans styles back. This will be a standard cost of just 3.95 as outlined by Yours Clothing and you can return as many undesired garments back as long as you have not removed the price tags etc. This is worth factoring in on any purchase because over ordering is the best way to get the fit you need. Since the jeans themselves are around £18.00 I think the overall price of £22.00 to get a foxy pair of strides for the summer is top rate.

Let me know how you get on.

Dear Caryn,
I have 34C bust and not sure about wearing stripes.
Which way would be most flattering, minimise my bust. Horizontal or vertical? Also, would thick stripes work better than thin or the other way round?

Thanks for your help!
Georgia

Hi Georgia,
Tricky to avoid those horizontal stripes this season as everyone from Ralph Laurent to Armani did them. I don't recall seeing any vertical stripes.

Go for thicker stripes rather than thin these will make you look larger.

Choose a neckline that is lower rather than a high one to hug your neck again this will make your whole bust area look larger than it is.

Finally create some vertical lines as a distraction by wearing a jacket so that the patch of t-shirt now reads as a minimised vertical strip.

Or hang a contrasting colour lightweight and thin scarf round your neck and up and down your body - again another vertical line.

Don't think about braces, for curvy bosoms they always fall one side or another and never make a straight line up the torso.

Dear Caryn
I am looking for some fashion advice! I have got a pair of cropped jeans and want to wear them with my flat pumps/ballet shoes (metallic) but my legs are very thin (as im not well). Could I wear tights with them? I have seen people wearing tights with them (with no feet on them) and just wondered.
Thank you!
Gillian

Hi Gillian,
Footless tights will be perfect not only will they give you some comfort coverage, but also they are this season‚s look with flat ballet pumps and cropped trousers or skirts. To really maximise these footless tights as a device for creating fullness around your calf and ankle choose a pair that are light in colour like white, yellow, pale blue. Black footless tights will slim your calves down and this may not be the approach you want.

All the high street stores are stocking them as are our favourite online hosiery suppliers www.tightsplease.co.uk who are listed in our underwear directory in the virtual shopping mall

hi Caryn
firstly can i say what an absolutely fab site! i watch you everytime youre on this morning and never knew this site existed! anyway i need some help big time! ive always been very fashion conscious and love high street trends but usually add my own twist. thing is i had a baby 6mths ago and my body has completely changed. ive gone from a size 8 32c to a size 12 34DD! to be honest i cant get used to it at all and just feel fat and frumpy. i need to know how to conceal my jelly belly and to make the best of my bust without drawing attraction to it! i seem to be buying size 14 on top just to fit my boobs and hide my belly but i still have small shoulders- what a pain! hope you can help.
thanks
shaz x

Hi Shaz,
So glad you like the site.

First of all relax, your body has done a wonderful thing and if it took nine months for it to expand it will take 9 months if not more for it to return. The celebrity mother who snaps back into shape is not a good role model for self esteem.
If you are still breast feeding your chest will reduce in size I promise once you stop. If you have already stopped the pregnancy hormones in your body could still be active and just need more time time. Many women lament the lack of a bustline after pregnancy when they seem to reduce in size after about two years so don‚t wish it away to hard!
Know also that by the time your child is toddling you will be back to your old size because there is so much running after them. It‚s also just possible you are snacking on high energy/sugary food to keep you awake, so all this must be taken into account.

But as an instant solution for the summer I recommend the empire line dress which is this seasons current look, both as a dressed down style over jeans and glammed up. Basically the waistline is placed just below the bust so that the outline of your tummy is not on show in anyway.

Buy yours cheaply - every high street store will have several versions, Peackocks for instance are winning awards for their on trend approach, I have just spoken to them and they can reassure you that empire line dresses start at £12.00 through to £26.00 (for something with embellishment) at these prices you can afford not to worry about baby gunk. In fact you do need to wear them solidly through the summer everything will change come September. Log onto www.peackocks.co.uk to find your nearest store or call customer services on 029 2027 0222. It doesn't matter if you have to buy a size up for your bust measurement the empire line does not need to fit around the body because it just flows from the bust. Wear a Lycra vest underneath if you need more coverage and wear with boots for now but as it gets warmer treat yourself to a great pair of wedge sandals.

Nice to speak to you Shaz.

I have a 32h bust and have searched everywhere for a halterneck bra can you help please?
Cheryl

Hi Cheryl,
Having just spoken to Rigby and Peller, I can tell you why it is proving so hard to locate a halter neck 32H online. This is because there are no companies that make one because of the strain it would place on your neck. They advise that you choose a strapless basque which will give you the support you need and a wonderful shape without causing any damage to your spine.

You don't say where you are based but Rigby and Peller are in Mayfair and are the most respected lingerie outfitters in the country. The shop is lovely and the staff very knowledgeable. It's just possible that they may be the answer. Tel 0207 491 4242 to speak to a helpful member of staff. Or log on to the website www.rigbyandpeller.com

Hi!
My dearest friend is getting married this summer, and has asked me to be a bridesmaid. I am a slightly fuller pear-shape but the rest of the wedding party are all thin with standard body types. When we are all hunting for the bridesmaids' dress is there something you could suggest that would work so as not to make me stand out as much?
Thank You,
Jennifer

Hi Jen,
Relax you are going to look fabulous. There are some great styling tools you can use.

Firstly a darker colour rather than a pale creamy colour will create a minimising effect choose a complimentary colour in a lighter shade as a belt, corsage, piping or some other subtle detail and get the standard shaped bridesmaids to use the lighter colour as the base colour for their dresses with the darker colour as trim. This will link you all together.

Next choose a dress with a flared skirt - this will camouflage your hips. The standard shaped bridesmaids can do the same and then you will all look more uniform because a flared skirt is universally flattering and often the first choice of many brides as well as bridesmaids. The skirt doesn't have to be long, think calf length or below the knee to give a contemporary look. Candy Anthony has some great dresses in this style, so to show you what I mean I‚ve included this site try www.candyanthony.com

Finally make the most of your curves with a neckline that is plunging or strapless, you‚ll be amazed at how flattering a well cut strapless dress will work for you. Take a translucent georgette wrap to give you a bit of coverage if you feel self conscious, and don't forget to prioritise a good bra to give you great shape.

Finally Jen enjoy your curves, the dress I have described above positively needs some flesh to bring it to life. It's going to be a lovely day.