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

March

I bet you have heard that question a million times!
Anyway - I have just found I am pregnant, for the second time, and having put on weight following my first birth I am desperate for some advice on clothes and retailers
I am 5' 10"
I am 38
I weigh 15.5 stone
I am currently a size 20-22 leaning more to the 22 than 20
I am lost for stores that offer affordable long length clothing in my size
I have been to long tall sally and they dont do maternity wear
I have been to Dorothy Perkins they do larger sizes but not longer trousers in maternity
I have been to George at Asda, they do not do longer sizes
I have been to H&M and they have a wonderfully confusing and no information to decifer sizing system so does XXL mean really really huge or just an 18-20???
I would be most grateful for any help
Amanda Simpson, Leeds

Dear Amanda,
We’ve rung everyone we can think of on your behalf and whilst Topshop do a great maternity range with leg lengths up to 36” they stop at size 18.

I spoke however to Jackie at ‘Nine to Eleven,’ they are listed in our directory and she was most sympathetic. They don’t have a maternity range yet but after my conversation with her she will discuss for the future.

What she said was that they have been selling tracksuit pants to pregnant customers – they stock up to size 22 in selected styles and leg lengths are 36” also. She also mentioned that the very low cut jeans have also been used as maternity choices (early on). She is ready to take your call to help you through the range and has assured me that you can return anything you are not happy with. They have a show room in Hampshire if you are near. So telephone her between office hours on 0142 561 947.

I really hope this helps.

P.S. If you do find anything better be sure to let us know so that we can share it with other women.

Dear Caryn,
I am 42, a petite size 8, and not in bad nick for my age. However, my upper arms are not my best feature - I don't exactly have bingo wings but I still don't want to parade them.

I feel I'm not alone, so why do dress designers and manufacturers persist in creating dresses, especially evening wear, with no sleeves? How I'd love to find a sophisticated, sexy evening or cocktail dress that is befits my age, and the amount of skin I'm prepared to display.

And don't suggest those ghastly pashminas/furry cape affairs/sawn-off cardis. I've tried them all and they kill a sexy dress stone dead, and you still have to take them off at some stage..

Caryn, I feel if no-one else will, then you should lead the quest to bring some sleeves back into our lives! I am definitely not alone in this one - I went into Debenhams just before Christmas and every single cocktail dress was sleeveless or strappy. I was bemoaning this to the sales assistant, who told me:"If I had a pound for every time I've heard customers saying they're looking for a dress with sleeves I'd be a rich woman", something the Designers at Debenhams should heed!

By the way, I think your How To Look Good website is brilliant!
Kind regards,
Sarah Morgan

Dear Sarah,
Sorry for delay in replying. I’ve been in NY and also making a documentary on designer Matthew Williamson. I’ve seen a few cocktail styles with sleeves but they are all from American designers, this look will make its presence known in our high street but not in time for you I think.
 
I will forward your e-mail to Pearce Fionda (one of the design teams at Debenhams) and when I see Jasper Conran next I will tell him what you and many others would like to see.

However this will take a while to change in the meantime this is a situation that needs to be addressed now.
 
Sometimes a little creativity is called for. You want sophistication - so choose a black organza see-through shirt over a black corset-style or basque-style top teamed with a black pencil skirt or flared skirt. Then belt the shirt at the waist for an up to the minute sexy cocktail style. Strappy or pointy shoes with heels of course and a sassy clutch bag and you will get plenty of admiring glances from other women who like your style.

Hi Caryn,
My problem is that I work as a secretary in a recruitment Company where all the Consultants earn 5 times as much as me.  Do you have any suggestions on budget buying for work, but so I dont stand compared to everyone else?  I seem to have designer tastes but not the salary.
Thanks a lot.
Sally

Dear Sally,
Use the sales to buy the great quality suiting at a third of the price. And start to build up a capsule wardrobe of good quality classic tailoring.

To give your capsule wardrobe a new life each season, buy tops and accessories as cheaply as you like. These can be as trend oriented and extreme as your office situation permits. These things should be worn to death so you get your money’s worth and then are donated at the end of each season to make way for new items to jazz up your classic tailored look. Because you aren’t shelling out on whole suits every season you will soon start reap rewards financially.

Key buys in the sales are:
A great trouser suit.
Well-cut a-line or flared skirt.
Good quality wrap cardigan or polo-neck sweater depending on your style.
Well cut, fitted shirt.
Good quality trench coat – this is such a classic style you’ll wear it for years and years.
Black leather knee – length boots.

Take an attitude like this and you’ll have a fantastic wardrobe of ‘careerwear’ that will be the envy of your better paid colleagues.

Is there a good color to offset hazel eyes?

Hazel eyes are a lovely mixture of green and light brown so you need tones that are fairly neutral to highlight and play up the subtle tones in your eyes.

To truly make the most of your eyes you need to stand in front of the mirror with a variety of fabric swatches - just use the clothes in your wardrobe then you'll see which ones flatter and which don't. Hold the fabric close to your face and watch whether the reflected light from the garment enhances your eyes or leaves them looking washed out. Avoid pigment rich colours and experiment with those neutrals.

Without seeing your skin tone I can't say definitively but I recommend putty, slate and moss colours. Once you start to work with these colours you will see that you only need a small amount of the pigment to make your eyes look witchy and intense. A dark nut brown would over power the little bit of brown you have in your eyes and make them look dull.

Similarly an intense green would over power the green hue you have.

Dear Caryn,
I have layered thick just skimming shoulder length hair which is prone to curls and frizz! 
 
I go to the gym and find myself with hair nightmares.  I can't always wash and dry my hair, and wondered if you knew whether 'wet to dry' straighteners are a good bet for me.
 
My current straighteners are ceramic, infra red plates that heat to about 190 degrees.  I always use GHD iron oil with them. They don't always succeed in straightening my hair.
 
Can you suggest any tried and tested tools/tips?
Maz

Dear Maz
I was working with Lisa Shepherd over the weekend. She has been voted Midlands hairdressers of the year three times as well as having just won British Colourist of the year for the second time. She has a salon in Kidderminster (Tel : 01562 748833) and clients include Rachel Stevens and Claire Sweeney.

She answered this question for me.

‘We have been testing a new ‘wet to straight’ straightening tool, called ‘T3’s from Hairdressers,’ We found them best on your type of hair so they should work well for you. T3’s are available from hairdressing salons; however, Boots have just launched some wet to dry straighteners so take a look

You will also find that using a good product on your hair to smooth and soften it will help reduce the frizz that you are getting.  Try Kerastase Oleo Relax Elixir approx £11.00

Or Clynol Tame – this will help to soften and smooth hair but make it more pliable for straighteners and add some moisture back into the hair to make it easier to straighten.’

Hope that works for you.

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