Contributions from Caryn Franklin,
Jane Galpin, Melissa Dick and Kathryn Byrne.
May
Hi Caryn
I hope you can help me as I am in danger of estranging my friends
and family with my incessant ranting! I can not find anything
that looks good on me as I believe I have the most unique and
impossible figure in the world. I have recently had a baby,
which has left my body lacking majorly in the boob department,
but have gained a nice wobbly belly. I am certainly bigger
on my hips than my chest, but i have rather broad shoulders and
back but not much waist. I am slim, a size 8 as I am only
5'4", which doesn't leave me feeling very good about myself.
Any ideas? I love bold clothing especially the "rock
chick" look but hate frilly stuff.
What do you reckon?
Yours desparate
Kate
Hi Kate,
I can really understand your feelings – you explain yourself
very well.
It’s always hard to adjust to a new body shape after the
birth of a child. Ask any woman who has given birth about breasts
and tum and you’ll realise you are not alone. In the past
you may not have asked your clothes to do any work for you but
now pick clothes that perform body enhancing jobs.
Your tummy will slowly flatten (I found about 18 months to return
to normal after my first pregnancy) so this round shape will sort
it self out eventually. But for the bosom department you need
to get a bra fitting and make use of the wonderfully shaped foam
formed bras available. A new bra that gives your existing cleavage
a lift will give you some confidence back.
I can now recommend a few things. Firstly download an e-book
on petite and pear shaped. In here I give you all my best tips
on how to create an more even body symmetry and suggest the illusion
of height.
Secondly you say you like the rock chick look well knee length
boots and waist coats are a staple part of the look. The boots
will obviously give you a longer looking leg and when worn with
a dark denim skirt will minimise your hips. Next a waistcoat in
a light colour will give you the most flattering shape at the
waist and bust. Wear underneath a soft top (it can be black and
gothic or better still printed or even smock style) that billows
out at the bust and arms – creating fullness. This will
even you up.
Thirdly why not take a visit to Topshop who have personal stylists
(they will understand the rock chick look) tell them you have
cash to spend on anything they can make you look good in.
Post baby can be a difficult time to adjust but if you make
your clothes do a lot more work you will experience a difference
in how you feel.
Dear Caryn
I am desperate! Son getting married in 4 weeks and I have so far
bought 3 outfits in desperation & returned them (last one
yesterday)
Have found a lovely style coat in Cream self colour
embroidered Linen (sort of edge-to-edge with tie front fastening)
in Laura Ashley but quality not that good; and would crease horribly;
I would like similar in Silk Linen mix. (All returned items
have been in this mix & I like it as cannot wear any Polyester
& can only wear Viscose if it is in a natural fibre mix)
Have exhausted Norwich/Cambridge/Peterborough and styles
by Kaliko, Minuet, Planet , Phase Eight, Country Casuals, Jaeger,Coast
etc so am going to London Sat 9th April as my last chance.
It will be a Trad wedding 1.30pm & Evening reception;
My future Daughter-in-Law wearing Ivory Gown; Bridesmaids in deep
Red & tiny one in Ivory; Bride's Mum in Oyster & Men in
Dark Grey Formal(not Morning suits). Colours I am looking
for have to tone & I am looking at Creams, pretty pink prints/plains(not all
pink) not Blues or Greens as would clash & I wore Soft
duck-egg blue at Son's first wedding.
As I really like L Ashley style coat I would like similar
style coat plus skirt & top or dress underneath. Slightly
fitted. Same colour skirt and rose pink top maybe or thought dress
could be plain silk- linen in Rose Pink or, spriggy
straightish dress in similar colours & hat etc
in Rose & Cream(have sourced this) Budget is Max £300
for Coat/Dress; Shoes, Hat& Bag extra.
I like Classic elegance with a twist & definitely
NOT Mumsy. I like Modern syles. I am 5ft 6in tall, a
size 12/14 Pear, Light Brown Highlighted Hair, Brown eyes(glasses)Fairly
slim legs, smallish bust. Like soft neck-lines not too low
& not Vee neck. Hate tops of arms but happy to wear sleeveless
under coat, jacket as could cover arms for Wedding Breakfast
& evening reception.
Please can you suggest best shops in London that I can try? I
would be so Grateful.
Yours sincerely (& in Hope)
Maureen Goold
Dear Maureen,
As you are making a special trip to the capital I would recommend
booking a Personal Shopper at either John Lewis, Debenhams or
Selfridges. All have loads of fab labels at varying price ranges
and will be able to give you some expert advice for the special
day.
It's great you are looking for the pink/cream spring tones as
the shops are now full of all the spring/summer trends and you
are sure to find something perfect. You mention that you have
already sourced the hat you like; I would advise that you bring
this along, this will ensure that everything works together as
an outfit. If you can't get an appointment for Saturday with a
Personal Shopper service, take a friend or your daughter-in law
with you for good honest advice.
Other places to look are Fenwick's which is on New Bond Street
(they also offer a personal shopper service) around which are
many gorgeous boutiques, loads of great shoe shops including Bertie,
and Kurt Geiger are around the corner on South Molton Street.
Jigsaw on Argyll St would have some beautiful pieces, across from
here is Dickens & Jones which is part of the House of Fraser
Group. Liberty is just down the road from here, although may be
slightly out of the £300 price bracket but its definitely
worth a look.
I truly hope this helps, shopping for a wedding outfit can be
a real nightmare, take a friend and you can make it a girly day
out!
One last word of advice, keep an open mind, often when you have
a very specific outfit in mind you can disregard things that could
look even more amazing.
Debenhams: 08445 616161
John Lewis: 0207 8281000
Selfridges: 08708 377 377
Fenwicks: 020 7629 9161
All the very very best of luck Maureen
Hi,
Can you tell me where I can find boots for wider calves, apart
from Evans? I am desperately trying to find some new footwear
but can't find any info any where!
Many thanks
J Richardson
Hi J
There are always more wider fit styles around autumn winter, in
our directory: fuller, there companies like Taillisime who I have
just spoken to say that September is when they will put out their
wider fit boots although they have some in stock.
Fashion Extra also do wider fit sizes again they are in our
directory. Your best bet is to order catalogues from all of the
mail order companies in the fuller section because most have a
wider fit boot.
Simply B however sound like they have just what you want now
(I’ve just spoken with their PR) with a spring summer
range of boots in wider fit. Call 0870 160 6100 to request a catalogue
now.
Do let use know who gives you the best service and fit because
we can pass it on to others.
PS House Of Fraser do a wider fit range also but `I’m
still waiting for details will send on when I get them.
Dear Caryn,
I am 41 5' and supposedly size 6. This is the case in tops but
in trousers I think I must be a 4 or even a 2. I find petite ranges
very limiting in terms of colour and styles. I do like to shop
at next because their petite range does include other colours
apart from black or denim, but their trousers swamp me. I bought
2 summer dresses from next last week and could have fitted another
half of me in them.
I hope you can give me some advice, even web addresses
of usa companies as I would like to have well fitting clothes
instead of looking like I'm wearing my big sisters.
I've even found out I'm smaller than Kylie Minogue so
where she sends her cast-offs to would be useful!!
Thanking you for your time
Cindy Cooke
Dear Cindy,
I do feel for you because so many petite ranges start at 6 or
8 so there is little choice. But don’t despair.
Have you used our directory? There are over 30 different petite
labels in there. Of those I want to recommend Gap who offer a
UK size 4 in jeans and also River Island who now do shorter lengths
in their size 6. I also want to draw your attention to Episode
(who although not a petite range do tops in size 4.
There are two options from here - a dressmaker or teen ranges
(I think that’s why so many petite labels don’t offer
size 4 because there are teen ranges that can cover it more cost
efficiently).
In most catalogues there are great teen ranges and New Look
and Etam also have good ranges. Use these to get tops and skirts
from they cover every trend the adult high street shops do (and
they are very adult looking too – something I’m quite
shocked by from time to time if you know what I mean)! Buy these
items in the knowledge that they are fairly disposable and will
cover your from season to season but for the adult sophistication
you deserve, start looking at fabric in the sales.
Once you have got some great bargains (buy the best quality
you can) get a dressmaker (find one by asking at your local John
Lewis haberdashery store because many dressmakers use this department)
and get her to make you up a good quality capsule wardrobe. In
my e-book How to Look Good if you are petite and slender see www.howtolookgood.com
I suggest many ways to work with clothes and I also outline how
to create a basic capsule wardrobe.
Let me know how you get on.
Hi Caryn
I wear glasses all the time (I am short sighted). Can you please
tell me how to make-up my small brown eyes so that they are the
focus, not my glasses.
Thankyou
Heather
Dear Heather,
The key thing is to draw attention to the area around your eye
(your socket and outer eye) by using a smokey shadow like a grey
brown or a pinky brown.
A dark smudgy line across your lids with eyeliner that is mink
not black and then blended with a brush to be smudgy is the best
way to start then draw the shadow from the socket to just under
the brow but not up to the edge.
Make sure you use mascara and most importantly of all that your
brows are defined as a well shaped arch. Use and eye brow pencil
to achieve this with short feathery strokes.
Hello Caryn
I am 40 years old with 2 small boys and a full-time job and I
feel frumpy and old fashioned (as well as hassled!). What can
I do to look better without spending a great deal of time on it
(which I haven't got)?
Kind regards
Alison
Hi Alison,
It’s that age when things that worked once don’t seem
to do the job any more and it’s hard to make the transition
into a new wardrobe just like that. My guess is you spent some
time ‘parenting’ and with less time to spend on you,
you now feel out of touch. It’s possible your clothes have
been practical and a tad shapeless so ditch anything too baggy
–its an instant route to frumpy
At 40 our clothes have to give us a bit more help with our shape
that means they need to have some fit to create shapeliness but
they don’t need to be austere and sober.
This summer (by looking at our high street report) you will
see what the key themes are that feature in the shops. My best
advice is buy a whole outfit that can be broken down and worn
with other things. The best and easiest way to start is with this
season’s skirt and boot combination. You can go all the
way with a coloured boot with a heel and a prairie skirt (Penny
Smith at GMTV looks fantastic in hers) or you can tone it down
by buying a denim jeans skirt and a more conservative boot. Now
choose a top that has some structure to it like a well cut cotton
blouse. Now you have an outfit that starts to create shape around
your body and is current too.
You don’t say you need a petite fit so I recommend you
have a look at the boden catalogue sizes 8-20 with longer lengths
too (order it from our directory) (in the standard listing) the
pictures in there can give you some great inspiration the clothes
are also classically aligned whilst having all the right trend
touches. And most importantly as you are just getting started,
there isn’t a massive choice either and every item is gorgeous.
Once you can get yourself out of the frumpy mum clothes for
one moment you will start to feel more familiar with the new shape
your clothes give you and more vibrant. You are young fit and
fabulously forty. Enjoy and do let me know how you get on.
hello there
FAB website! im wondering if u can PLEASE help me. Im 5ft 9"
and really dont want to be any taller! im having LOADSA trouble
finding any low heel strappy sandals. i am a size 10 in clothes
and a size 7/8 in shoes. i really would love some strappy heels
and wedges with a heel about 1 inch only.
can u pls help? i have been to
every high st store and looked everywhere on the internet!
many thanks indeed.
kind regards
jude.
Dear Jude,
You are really going to struggle getting a 1 inch heel in anything
I'm afraid. Most people who don't want to appear too tall turn
to kitten heels; these generally have what is considered to be
a slight heel of 2 inches, unfortunately too much for what you
are looking for. It's the same with Wedge shoes as well; Wedges
were given their name because of the wedge like look of the heel
due to the height and chunky appearance, you won't be able to
get any wedge shoes with a 1 inch heel.
What I can suggest however is to invest
in some gorgeous Roman style sandals. They will be flat but there
are loads of great variations around, some with t-bar straps,
some with straps continuing up the leg, some with diamantes etc.
They can be such a versatile shoe and perfect, if like yourself,
you don't wish to be any taller.
A good place to look on the net is ww.schuh.co.uk,
it has loads of styles and brands to choose from at great prices
and free delivery.
Another fab place is Faith.co.uk, they
will also be great for you as at a size 7/8 they have a very good
selection of their range in larger sizes.
Best of luck.
Hello -
I have a fashion do/don't question. What is a do or don't when
wearing a knee-length skirt? If the dress is conservative is this
an issue at all?
I've seen at least two articles
that say someone over 20 (I'm 25) should definitely not wear knee-high
socks with a skirt. My shortest skirt is just below the knee.
I've been told my plain black knee-highs and flats look great
with the skirt. Is this a fashion faux pas?
Confused,
Rhelynn Winger
Knee high socks can be a real fashion statement and as such
there can be a fine line between fabulous and faux par. Knee high
socks are certainly seeing a resurgence in fashion circles, but
it is a trend that is quite difficult to pull off. Age can come
into it most definitely but at 25 you are still at an age where
most trends are workable. If you are confident with fashion it
should remain a personal form of expression. One of the great
things about fashion is that all the 'rules' are there to be broken,
what is considered a faux par one season is seen as the height
of cool the next! You say that you've had great compliments on
mixing your skirt with socks - you're obviously onto a winner
so stick with it!
That’s all for this month - join
us next month for the answer to your question.
|
