What’s New for spring fashion April 2006?

This month you’ve asked about spring 2006 and fashion trends in footless tights, along with spring fashion in general. In fact you’ve asked a whole load of intelligent questions relating to spring 2006 and what’s out there. As always I aim to answer your enquiries with as much fashion gusto as I can muster.

Don’t forget if you don’t see your question answered here then do visit ‘ask Caryn,’ where I have answered another dozen or so. It’s been a busy month!

Take it away Angela…

Question ‘I dread the summer because due to a foot injury I have to wear flat sandals. I know you are going to tell me that flats are in this season and it should all be great but it isn’t because those fashion sandals don’t have enough structure in the sole. I’m miserable when the sun shines and that can’t be right can it? Once I saw some hand painted Scholls which could be ideal but I’ve never managed to track them down, can you help?’ Angela

Ah yes Angela, we call them paper soles in the trade – that is where the sole of the shoe is so thin that they don’t really give you any cushioning, under those circumstances any one will suffer, but let’s not dwell on it for I’m about to give you a great footwear steer. The picture you see is of the hand painted 3-inch wedge from Scholl - rather gorgeous isn’t it? But this artwork also adorns the original Scholl sandal too and will give your arches all the support you need.

There are many things to celebrate here, no it is not that Chloe have also done wooden soles this season and you will be sooo on trend, more that former chiropodist Sharon Williams who approached Scholl with her idea, now has a thriving business. In fact she works with four artists to create these hand painted designs. Hand painted you hear, you don’t get individual artistry with a Chloe wedge despite paying a whole load more. If girlie heaven pictured here doesn’t get you going then there are many other designs to choose from.

Caryn says. To know more about dressing for your body download an e-book specially written by me for your individual body shape.
Click here

Fashion trends to you with girlie heaven 3" heel Scholl sizes 37 – 41 £85.00 and original Scholl also in girlie heaven design sizes 36-41 £65.00 visit www.boutiquetoyou.co.uk

Question ‘I’m fed up with trying on clothes that don’t fit properly. I’m fed up of making do with clothes that have to be altered or are not good quality. I’m fed up of shopping in the backwater where I live where there are no high street petite ranges (I’m always told these are in the larger stores but not mine). In fact I’m plain fed up because I need a special occasion dress. For once I want to look and feel special, not harassed and depressed like usual.’ Louise

Hey Louise, let’s talk big for a change. I’m referring you to the large selection of online petite retailers you’ll find on this site in our virtual shopping mall. They’ll deliver to your door, and turn your village into a hive of fashion activity. Your spirits will immediately lift. Let me prescribe Petite Affair. Run by 5’1’ Debbie Major who has an exclusive deal with established design labels to produce correctly scaled-down designs. She is aiming for a Karen Millen sensibility with quality and style being her watchwords so relax, your special dress waits. Express delivery will take two days and returns are free.

Caryn says. To know more about dressing for your body shape if you are petite, download an e-book specially written by me for your individual body shape.
Click here

Perfect spring fashion look of Yellow Silk Chiffon Dress fully lined with hand embroidered raised flower detail sizes 6-14 £129.00 from www.petiteaffair.co.uk

Question ‘I’m not ready to give up on the boho vibe and why should I when all I can see are baby doll dresses – great for baby dolls and shift dresses - OK if you are straight up and down? I loved the laid back ‘loosey goosey’ yet oh so feminine and floaty styles and gypsy skirts and I’m cross that the high streets seem to think what designers put on teenage models will suit us all. Where I can find a good quality soft and feminine look. Ingrid

You’ve hit the nail on the head there actually Ingrid. My favourite trade read ‘Draper’s Record,’ has been reporting on the disastrous start to the spring selling period as everybody agrees with you, the shift dress isn’t doing it (very cold weather not helping) but what am I doing turning into some kind of retail analyst when all I want to do is tell you about a site that I know you’ll love? Sexy Kaftans run by Louise Sandberg who works with French designers Les Papoux, Donale and Vanity Rosa to produce small and exclusive runs of kaftan dresses, kaftan tops, exotic belts with precious stones and hey there’s even a long white flamenco skirt for you too.

Wear your look with flat ballet pumps or wedges to give it a currency of now and enjoy. And remember that despite the fact that the magazines are full of the shifty and the baby doll (and will be for the autumn season too) style is all about choosing a look that flatters and just as importantly feels right.

Caryn says. To know more about dressing to flatter your body download an e-book specially written by me for your individual body shape.
Click here

100% cotton hand embroidered thigh length at front and longer at back fitted style kaftan with tie front and frayed edge. One size fits 8-12 £139.99 www.sexykaftans.co.uk

Question. ‘You say in your e-books that horizontal stripes will widen a body and I don’t know if I can get away with this season’s nautical stripy look since I have a very sporty upper body, what can you recommend?’ Lillian

Hi Lillian, all clothes have features that will flatter good points, camouflage bad points or unintentionally show them up. So the trick is choosing a garment that will do the first two and not the last one. Actually that’s how we stylists earn a living – it’s that simple – why you could download one of my e-books now and start your own styling company. But I digress and you are waiting for an answer so here’s a few.

Candy stripes, which are very thin, will always make a body look larger so curvaceous shapes should avoid.

Striped tops with high necklines aren’t so good for sporty torsos because they look like sport’s kit for starters.

Couldn’t resist this example of how stripes can work for a sporty upper body by being in feminine colours and having the all important v-neck which is a great device for creating a longer neck and reducing the square appearance of an over developed upper body. When worn with white trousers (because white is so dominant – the e-books explain all) you’ll create great balance for your body.

Caryn says. To know more about dressing to flatter and working with stripes as well as many other tools, download an e-book specially written by me for your individual body shape.
Click here

Everyday v-neck knitted top sizes 8-20 £39.00 from www.boden.co.uk

Question. ‘I’d love to try wearing footless tights, but I don’t really know what to put them with. They appeal to me because I do have pasty legs that don’t look any better with fake tan, so how do I make these helpful little legging things look good?’ Claudia

Well Claudia, you are already streets ahead in your understanding of what will work for you and why. And quite rightly you understand they are footless tights and very different from the eighties leggings that ended up under unattractive t-shirts and masqueraded as daywear when in fact they wear nearer to pyjama’s in my book. Here are the tips since you’ve asked.

Wear them under, shorts, skirts and cropped trousers.

Have them reach your ankle or somewhere in between your mid calf.

Do wear ballet pumps to make them look runway inspired and you can wear a heel, but don’t go for shoes with leg ties otherwise it will all get very busy down there.

Dark colour tights will slim the legs and look classic

Light colours will give legs and calves volume and draw attention to your shoes.

Caryn says. To know more about dressing to flatter your body download an e-book specially written by me for your individual body shape.
Click here

Footless tights in cerise black, emerald, red and white £4.40 same day dispatch and free UK delivery from www.tightsplease.co.uk

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