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

July

Hi there

i'm 5 ft 5 24 years old and i have just had a baby 14 months ago i have a small bust bit of a tummy wide ish hips and thighs and bottom what type of bikini would you recommend?? i.e halterneck, padded etc.??
Emma

Dear Emma,
A halterneck or padded bikini top will make the most of your bust and a belted bikini brief, bond girl style, would look fab on you.  you can buy this style in sets, but, you can also buy bikini's in separates to mix and match the styles and most importantly the sizes in case your top and bottom half are different. Make sure that the cut on the leg is quite high, this
will elongate your thighs and stick to darker shades, black always looks chic, but there are some gorgeous plum, bronze, brown and deep pink  coloured bikinis around.

If you are particularly conscious of your tummy, why not try a  'tankini'. The fitted vest will cover your stomach, and you can always roll it up whilst sun bathing if you prefer an all over tan.  Seafolly have done a great halterneck one with an inbuilt  padded bra and matching briefs.

Go to www.figleaves.com, they have loads of fab brands to choose from and dispatch your item within 24 hours. Better still they have a sale on at the moment too!

Alternatively for the best on the high street go to Dorothy Perkins, Topshop, Oasis and Marks and Spencer.

Good luck and enjoy the sunshine!

Hi there!!!!!
 
I have watched your show and all i can say is BRILLIANT!!!!!
My problem is that i dont have the best legs in the world and i wanted to purchase a pair of thigh high boots (like Rachel Steven's) for nights out (clubbing). I could even settle for some flattering knee high boots with a 13.5 ins circumference. I wanted to know if the boots (thigh high) are a bit outdated and could you please tell me the best places to purchase the boots from.
 
Thank you.
Sally

Hi Sally,
Thigh high boots are great if you aren't too happy with your legs.  Office have got some brilliant ones in store at the moment called Veronica priced at £145. They can be worn as over the knee or turned down to under the knee boots, giving you 2 looks in 1!!  Go to www.officeholdings.co.uk.

Shellys also have some instore in black or brown suede with a kitten heel, they too can be turned up or turned down depending on your outfit.  Unfortunately these aren't sold on line so you would need to go to your nearest store. Go to www.shellys.co,uk or call 01274 893886 for details.

Finally, Duo are a mailorder company who specialise in knee length calf fitting boots for women. They have loads of great designs for every occasion in over 20 widths so you can be sure they will be perfect for you. Prices start from £90, go to www.duoboots.com.

Hi Caryn,
I am desperate to find a fabulous pair of shoes for my wedding this November. I'm getting married in Jamaica and don't want a wear a traditional wedding shoe. Are there any designers that do a wider fitting shoe? I have fallen in love with a pair of Gina shoes but they won't fit unless I cut a toe or two off!
 
If there aren't any designer who can cater for me would I be able to buy my amazing Gina shoes and get them altered?
 
Many Thanks
Emma

Dear Emma,
Unfortunately designers such as Gina and Jimmy Choo don't make shoes in wider fittings and I wouldn't advise getting shoes altered to be wider.  However there is a brilliant new store called Selve which provides shoes designed to your specifics and made to fit you exactly.  Their website is fantastic, it would involve an initial trip to London to have your feet measured by a 3d computer but it would be well worth it if you want something truly unique for your wedding day.

Another option is an American site called designershoes.com which specialises exclusively in shoes in hard to find sizes and widths. The prices are reasonable and there is a huge selection to choose from. They are more than happy to ship to the UK, but take some time to read the International size
conversion information. They stock from a UK size 6 (equivalent to USA size 8) upwards in narrow, medium and wide widths.

I would also like to recommend Ivory of Bond Street. Although they are a wedding specialist and you don't want traditional bridal shoes, they sell really beautiful shoes in wide fittings and have loads of choice including less traditional designs. They are based in London but could be well worth a visit, the staff there are extremely helpful and will be on hand to help you find the perfect pair. You can visit their website at www.ivoryshoes.com or contact them on 020 7408 1266.

I hope you have a fabulous wedding in Jamaica!

Dear Caryn,
I hope you can help me with my dilemma, i have always loved how knee high boots look but i have very slim legs and despite searching through the high street i cannot find anything to fit me! Is there anyone who makes knee highs for us less fortunate people?

Many Thanks
Karen

Dear Karen,
Duo are just the place for you.... a mail order company that specializes in knee length boots in 20 different calf widths! The leather is good quality Italian and the prices, which range from £90 to £150, are extremely competitive. There are 18 gorgeous styles to choose from and they are available in sizes 2 to 10. They have a sale on at the moment so take a look at the website www.duoboots.com or call 01225 723 999 for a brochure.

Thinking ahead to the Autumn, will cowboy boots still be in fashion?
 
I look forward to hearing from you.
Nicky

Hi Nicky,
Cowboy boots are a bit of a fashion institution especially with the uber trendy Nottinghill/festival set, and although they won't be the main fashion staple for the Autumn/Winter 05 season, they will always look chic.  Invest in a well made, great designed pair that will last you for years to come,
the more you wear them the better they look too!

R. Soles has been supplying bespoke cowboy boots from its Kings Road shop since 1975 and now also sell from their on-line boutique. They really are the best you can get in terms of authenticity, quality and individual design. They retail at just under £200 a pair, pricey but worth the money when you think they can be worn throughout both the summer and winter months year after year.

For a look ahead to the Autumn/Winter with tips on how to wear the key trends and where to go on the high street keep checking the site.  In late August we will be providing a comprehensive look at the catwalks and invaluable body shape specific advice to keep you looking fab throughout the winter months. Alternatively; subscribe to my newsletter and you will automatically receive all the latest news and tips directly every month.

Hi there,
I’m trying to find flesh-coloured underwear but without much success as there don’t seem to be any shades specifically for darker skin.  I have a set that I bought at M&S a couple of years ago, but have not been able to find anything since – or, at least not in my size (Next have a dark shade of bra, but not in 32DD).  No other ‘nude’ shades work for me.  Is there anywhere – shop or website – that I can try?
 
Thanks
Antoinette, Birmingham

Hi Antoinette,
I've spoken to figleaves.com who currently stock a couple of bras by the brand Chantelle. The Africa T-shirt bra is sold in chocolate at £38, and the Graphie T-shirt bra is sold in both brown and cappuccino at £32, both have matching briefs
available.

Rigby and Peller are awaiting their Autumn collection and say the brand Prima Donna have a chocolate bra at £43.95 which will be in store from September/October.

I could possibly have some good news for the future... Figleaves are looking into teaming up with a number of brands to put section on their website tailored exclusively for Black and Asian women, they have no firm dates or details as yet so keep checking howtolookgood.com for more information.

I really hope this helps Antoinette.

Hi!!
I am a 14 year old teenager from London
 
I adore shoes and love going to buy them- but i have really wide feet
 
This causes a really big problem, as i am a size 8, but love all the latest styles, but my parents, won't pay a lot of money for 1 pair of shoes - (like over £35)
 
Do you have any suggestions as to where i can get some shoes- i would really appreciate it!!
 
Thank you
Heather

Hi Heather,
I really feel for those of you with wide feet, I know it can be a real nightmare especially if you are on a budget. The best place to try on a budget is Clarks. They have recently given the brand an over haul by introducing a fashion range which has some fab shoes at really reasonable prices.  Not all their ladies styles come in a wide fit, some come in a normal, some in a D and some in an E.  If you call their customer service hot-line on 0870 5665 335 they will be able to send you information and images of about 30 to 40 pairs, admittedly not all will be deemed in the least bit fashionable but a lot of their exclusive fashion range is included in the selection.

For day wear you should go to Birkenstock they have 2 widths of sandals which have been a huge hit over the last couple of summers with celebs such as Gwynth Paltrow and Kate Moss, and are still a fashion essential for any summer wardrobe.

If you have a special occassion it might be worth telling your parents about a company called Selve. They specialise in making designer shoes to the exact measurements of your feet. They are however expensive, around the £200 mark, but they really have some amazing designs and are by far the best for wide fitting fashion conscious feet. Have a look at their website at www.selve.co.uk

As usual the high street has yet to catch up, I will keep looking out for places that will cater for your problem so keep checking the site for updates. In the meantime please do let me know how you get on.

That’s all for this month - join us next month for the answer to your question.