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

August

Hi
Where can I go to get good mid-range ladies suits and smart trousers and tops that are elegant but suitable for the office. I'm looking to buy for September so looking ahead to winter really!
Thanks
Samira

Dear Samira
By far the best place to go is Zara. They have an excellent selection of suit separates so you can mix and match different skirt styles, trousers and jackets, plus they have loads of gorgeous tops and blouses which would look great in the office.

Go to our directory page for a link straight to the
Zara website at howtolookgood.com

I'm 16 years old and will soon be applying for my first job. I'd like to work in a womens' clothes shop, only i am a bit confused as to what would be the best outfit for an interview. I really want to set the right impression.

Any advice you could offer would be so helpful.
Many thanks.
Abbie x

Dear Abbie,
As this is your first job, I would recommend wearing a black suit, it goes a long way to giving the impression of responsibilty, maturity and organisation. Given you would like to work in fashion you could team the suit with a more on-trend blouse or top, Zara have some fab catwalk copies which are sure to impress.

Also, make sure you have clean, closed toed shoes, black stiletto's always look best, and avoid lots of jewellery like dangly earrings and chains. However you could wear some chunky bangles to give your outfit a slight fashion edge, Topshop have loads at the moment which will look great at an interview. Very, very good luck Abbie, do let us know how you get on!

Hi there - please can you put something on your site as to where I can get fashionable shoes in size 3 or 3 1/2? Even Clarks only do a few of their styles below size 4 and even then they don't keep them in stock as 'there's not much call for them'!

Internet sites or shops would be fine - I live in Bath but am willing to travel to get some decent shoes that don't look like Granny's!

thanks
Kelly

Dear Kelly,
I'm so sorry, I'm sure it must be extremely infuriating, however help is at hand!

The first place I will recommend is a company called Selve. They make gorgeous shoes to fit your feet exactly, using digital technology to make sure you get a perfect fit. Whats more you can have a hand in choosing how you want your shoe to look from the style, fabric and colour. They are similar in price range to LK Bennett, about £200, but they will also keep your sizes on file so you can keep ordering more
as and when you need to with no hassle.

Another great discovery is DUO who specialise in calf fitting boots in sizes 2 to 10 and they have a branch in Bath. Priced from £90, I would definitely recommend you take a look next time you need boots.

Both Selve and Duo are in our Directory Page at howtolookgood.com

Dear Caryn,
I have a dilemma that seems to be quite tricky to solve, and i need some expert advice!!!

I am 17, size 12/14 and 5ft 7 and a bit. I am starting in the sixth form in September, and i need a capsule wardorbe that is comfy yet very stylish, with the possibility of adding pieces in the future. The dress code is formal office-wear, so nothing too short or low cut!!!

I would be so greatful if you could give me a few tips, and things to look out for when i go shopping - info about shoes to go with things would also be great, because i have no clue!!

Thank you so much,
Helen Jones

Dear Helen,
First invest in some lightweight wide leg trousers and a well cut jacket, these can be a staple part of your sixth form wardrobe, you can team them with on-trend tops such as a chic fitted puff sleeve shirt, a simple vest or white t-shirt, polo neck jumpers in the winter and even smock-style ethnic influenced tops for an up-to-the minute look.

By buying basics in clothing you can update any outfit with some choice accessories, belts, earrings, necklaces... wearing lots of bangles, for example, is a huge look for the summer and something that would look great with a fitted shirt and pencil skirt.

Try mixing in gypsy skirts and tailored shorts of the knee length variety with your jacket for a stylish, comfortable start to the September term. The sales are on at the moment so its a great time to buy, also for the fashion pieces such as shorts, which may not be suitable this time next year, go to your local Primark, they have a fab range of catwalk copies at ridiculously cheap prices. Go to www.primark.co.uk for your nearest store.

As far as shoes go I would invest in a pair of round-toe bally pumps. They will always look stylish, are super comfy and will go with almost all outfits, a nice way to keep things simple. Buy them in black and you can then wear them with opaque black tights in the winter. Topshop have some fab ones in. Go to our directory for a direct link to the Topshop website.

Hello
I'm looking everywhere for a waist cincher belt that can be worn over clothes. I know I work for a fashion label so you'd think I would know but I have looked EVERYWHERE and cannot find them yet I know they're gonna be big for AW. I want to create an hourglass figure for myself (size 10/12) and wear it over shirts and dresses a'la Chloe's collection.

I'd so appreciate your assistance!
Niki

Dear Niki,
We too are loving the new silhouettes for a/w! I would recommend looking in all the vintage boutiques for a waist cincher belt. They were particularly popular in the 80's - you may have noticed a very slight eighties feel to some of the designer collections this season - a 3 inch wide elastic with
press stud or buckle front fastening are the best for wearing over shirts and dresses as they always fit perfectly, hugging the waist line whilst keep everything securely in place. I would choose either all black or beige with a tan front for a contemporary look, there are a lot of red ones around but these, i feel, are slightly too eighties.

Places like Peekaboo, downstairs in the vintage section of Topshop on Oxford Street, Rokit in Camden, Brick Lane and Covent Garden, Blackout II also in Covent Garden, Beyond Retro in Brick Lane, Cornucopia in Victoria, Portabello Market and online vintage boutiques such as stardustonline.co.uk and whatsmineisyours.com and also ebay will all have them,
expect to pay between £6 and £25.

Beyond Retro 0207 6133636
Blackout II 0207 2405006
Cornucopia 0207 8285752
Rokit 0208 8018600

Also as the high street starts to bring through their a/w stock look in places such as H&M, Zara, Reiss - who are always a great substitute if you are a fan of Chloe but can't afford the real thing, and Miss Selfridge who should all have a variation on the look.

Hello. I am really wanting a pair of pink go go boots. I have seen a lot of them online that I love (even bought a pair of white ones). The problem is I have toothpick legs and I need a pair with narrow calves. The white ones I bought, I can only wear with pants because they are so loose in the calf. I want either mid calf or knee high. Also, I am only 5'2" so they can't be too tall or they cover part of my knees. Please help.
Carrie
Seattle, WA USA

Hi Carrie,
Unfortunately I can't find anywhere that makes go go boots specifically for a narrow fit, I have however found some from a company called Pin Up Girl (www.pinupgirlclothing.com) which are made out of a stretch fabric that reports to provide a "perfect fit for all" although they don't give a calf measurement for the boot so it really is difficult to tell if they
will be small enough for you. They are certainly worth checking out though. Priced at $54, they have a 2 1/2" heel in sizes 5 to 15 and come in nine colours including a fab fuscia pink and a lovely baby pink. I would recommend emailing the website explaining your predicament and giving your measurements, they should be able to advise you on sizing and suitability.

They also have an excellent returns policy should they
not be such a great fit.

www.garmentdistrict.com is the only place I could find that stated the calf width and also the height of their boots. The height, including the heel is 19 1/2" and the width is 13 1/2" (which will stretch to 22").

Measure from your heel upwards 19 1/2", this will be where the boots will finish. Then measure around this point - if your calf measures 13 1/2" or over these boots will be perfect for you. They have them in a number of colours including Baby Pink in sizes 6 - 10 and are cheaper at $40.

The cheapest pair I found were at www.queenfashions.com, priced at $39. They have a 3" heel, are called the "Nancy Sinatra" and can be found in the 'knee high boots section' of the site.

Unfortunately they have no further sizing so again you could email your details across and see if they can advise you further.

I hope this helps you Carrie, do let me know how you get on, we always love to get feed back from our readers.

Dear Caryn
I have just bought a "distressed" looking leather jacket. However, some parts of the jacket are a little too distressed for my liking and I would like to brighten them up a little to tone in with the rest of the jacket. Do you know of any paint or fabric dye that will permanently stain leather?
Many thanks,
Heather

Dear Heather,
I have just called the Suede and Leather Advisory Service who told me, unfortunately, there is no way of permanently colouring leather, either by paint or by dye. Obviously shoe polish is used on leather footwear but this is nowhere near permanent and they do not recommend using this technique on leather clothing.

They did however suggest using a product called saddle soap - its a clear cream which will help to maintain your jacket for longer. It will be available at most good shoe repair shops.

I do hope this helps Heather.

I really love the baggy combat shorts that are out at the moment, they seem so versatile for holiday, problem is I don't know what style shoes to wear with these for an evening look, I am a major fan of high heel shoes but do I go for strappy of pointy shoes with these style shorts?

I look forward to your reply.
Michelle

Dear Michelle,
Baggy shorts really are the best investment for your summer wardrobe, great by day with a pair of flip flps, Birkenstocks or even Grecian sandals and fab for the evening with anything really. Wedges will look great, classic stilettos will give more of a JLo look, espadrille style heels with the ankle ties will also create a super stylish look if you are tall, although avoid straps around the ankles if you are short as they will cut your legs in half and make you look shorter.

The only thing I would probably avoid is t-bar front shoes as the office vibe of this type of shoe doesn't work. Apart from that you can't really go wrong. If you are feeling adventurous, consider socks and heels with your shorts, its a super cool look that was seen all over the spring/summer catwalks.

Finally, don't discard your shorts too quickly once the weather starts to get chilly, teamed with a pair of high heeled boots and polo neck is a chic way of getting extra mileage out of a summer buy, just make sure that your shorts cover the tops of your boots, an unsightly gap is never chic!

Have a lovely summer Michelle, hopefully the sun is just around the corner!

Help! I have a full boho skirt that reaches just below my knees and is a gradient brown. I love this skirt, but I can't find any top to match it! And if I'm not careful, my skirt can make me look really fat. Do you have any suggestions about a matching shirt (and where to get it at a fair price)?

Thanx,
Mel
P.S. I live in Southern California

Hi Melodi,
The best thing to do is to get something which matches the colour at the top of your skirt, this will instantly have a sliming effect as it creates the illusion of having a longer body.

As far as boho skirts go you should avoid anything too fussy on top as it will detract from your skirt and just look too much. Keep it simple and opt for a vest, camisole or T-shirt with short or long sleeves, maybe with some sequin or lace detailing around the neckline. You can team all of these with a casual blazer and a big chunky belt worn loose on the hips to finish the look off and create an even slimmer silhouette.

A brilliant place to look for affordable and stylish clothes is La Redoute. This fantastic French mail-order company specialises in stylish on trend clothing for the modern fashion conscious woman. Go to their website www.us.redoute.com to order from their online store or to order a free catalogue. Im sure you will be able to find something here.

Au revoir!