Latest fashion trends: Spring 2008

The latest fashion trends for spring 2008 have given us some great looking clothes and below I answer your questions for this month along with recommendations on what to buy to solve your latest fashion trends dilemmas for April.

This month I’m talking about petite special occasion wear, supersize prints, wearing white, covering flabby arms and bridal wear for curvy shapes.

But wait, before you go rushing off to buy your new outfit for April, find out how to dress to suit your body type so you’ll be ready to take on this month with style!

And of course there’s plenty more advice in ‘ask Caryn,’ this month I answer questions about trendy eco bags, jeans at 55, how to camouflage a large tummy, how to choose the right shoes for jeans, how to look good if you are petite and pregnant, how to conceal a turkey neck – yes let’s call a spade a spade when you get to a certain age necklines are all important!

And finally there’s how to make a hat fit a small head, how to flatter slender legs and dressing to flatter if you have had a mastectomy.

Here at howtolookgood my mission is always to show you how!

Do also sign up for my newsletter where I give extra insights into building your capsule wardrobe each month.

And don’t forget to subscribe to my new Blog where I profile my personal clothing solutions for you, along with lots of candid insight into the fashion industry from someone who knows!

So, here are your questions for April…

Question: “Hi Caryn
I am tall and curvy size 18 with a bit of a stomach.  I have read that super size prints are in fashion and love floral prints but not sure if they suit me?"
Karen

Hi Karen
You are lucky you are tall as you can get away with big, bold statements that are in fashion this spring. Supersize prints are fun and usually colourful and therefore perfect for you especially worn on the bottom half of your body, together with a bright colour on top like the picture below shows. It has the print on the side, which will cleverly flatter your body shape by drawing attention away from stomach area.

Fun skirt by Boden
£55
Sizes 8R-20L
www.boden.co.uk

Caryn says. To know more about how to dress for your body type download an e-book specially written by me for your individual body shape. Choosing the best clothes for you will become so much easier

Question: “Hi Caryn
I am getting married in August. I am a proportional size 22 with broad shoulders and find a lot of the dresses I have seen or tried are either strapless, which don't suit me, or have too much boning for my liking. I like dresses to look romantic but also realise that it needs to suit my figure.  

I am getting married in Italy so I also want something that is easy to take in my suitcase. I am short in the body. Please help me."
Sam

Hi Sam
Something lightweight and floaty is probably the style that you want and would be great to pack and wear in hot weather. To soften your shoulders go for a v-neckline dress or something with detail that takes your eyes towards the centre of your body.

To help lengthen your body choose a dress with an empire line, empire lines also look more romantic.  Just remember once you get to your destination, to hang the dress up in a shower room as the steam will remove any creases.

Check out Evans who have just launched a new bridal range and in particular one of the dresses has an empire line with a chiffon layered slip dress with a central vintage brooch detail. Very romantic

Dress £150
Sizes 16-32
www.evans.co.uk

Caryn says. To know more about how to dress for your body type download an e-book specially written by me for your individual body shape. Choosing the best clothes for you will become so much easier

Question: "Please please can you help?
 I am a very petite soon to be mother of the bride. This June 08. I have poor health and am unable to trawl endless shops looking for an outfit. Having said that, NO ONE caters for a tiny mother of the bride like myself.  I have visited endless web sites in search of an outfit, but even they don’t have anything to fit me.
 
I am 5' tall, and a size 6/8. I can occasionally fit into Karen Millen, but they have nothing for Mother of the Bride in their new season’s collection.

ANY help and advice that you could give me would be most welcome. I am truly desperate!!!!"
Linda

Hi Linda
I have found the perfect solution. Check out Karen Gillam who caters specifically for petite mother of the bride.

This designer who is petite herself has a fabulous selection of fashionable outfits that can be mixed and matched.

The bias cut dresses are very flattering, comfortable and easy to wear which you can dress up or down. The long cardigan is great worn over the dress or with the trousers. The trousers themselves are a smart linen mix, which won't crease like pure linen does.

If you are petite then do choose a fascinator over a hat. Proportionally they will be much better for your small frame and will create the illusion of height.

Karen Gillam Petite Collection
Caters for up to 5ft 3 sizes 6-20
Rhiana chiffon dress (left hand side)
£89
Sizes 6-16

Alexia long cardigan
£65
Sizes XS-XL

Evie trousers
£79
Sizes 6-18

Caryn says. To know more about how to dress for your body type download an e-book specially written by me for your individual body shape. Choosing the best clothes for you will become so much easier

Question. “Dear Caryn
I see in all the fashion magazines lots of lovely dresses for summer, but I am confused what will suit me.

I would love to be able to wear a white dress with flat gladiator sandals but I am not sure if I can get away with it?  I am 34F 16 top and 14 bottom. My best feature is my waist.

I am also turning 40 next month so not sure I can just get away with wearing white?"
Joy

Hi Joy
Wearing all over white can be very draining on a lot of skin tones, so I would advise any woman (unless you have a great tan or naturally darker skin) to wear white that also has a bit of print or colour also.

To flatter your chest area and show off your waist go for a wrap style, the v-neckline will always be flattering for a fuller bust and the tie wrap with show off your curves. This dress by Joules with a full a-line skirt and block colour will create width at the bottom of your body to even up your shape.

It’s is a perfect dress day dress worn with flat sandals or pumps or dressed up with wedges

Prom wrap dress
£55
Sizes 8-18
Joules Clothing  

Caryn says. To know more about how to dress for your body type download an e-book specially written by me for your individual body shape. Choosing the best clothes for you will become so much easier

Question. "Dear Caryn
I am a typically pear shaped women of 55 who doesn't like showing her flabby upper arms but stills feels young at heart and wants to find an easy to wear an outfit that is sexy, fun and flattering for an afternoon gathering of old girlfriends. Budget is not a problem but knowing what to spend it on is! I feel dull please help."
Caroline

Hi Caroline
Colour is a good place to start as it can lift moods and skin tones! Go for something bright but classic so you don’t stray to far from your comfort zone for your first colour outing. Once you get used to a new look then you can begin to add to your wardrobe.

Try this floaty and feminine dress. It’s something you could easily salsa in or dance the night away, or similarly it would be just as versatile with a flat sandal for an afternoon in the park or the event you describe, especially when you exchange a fitted belt in place of the ribbon tie.

I like the loose fitting sleeves, which will cover your arms and I feel sure you will get some great wear out of this for some time to come.

Gina Bacconi spot print chiffon dress
£160
Sizes 10-24
www.grayandosbourn.co.uk

Caryn says. To know more about how to dress for your body type download an e-book specially written by me for your individual body shape. Choosing the best clothes for you will become so much easier

That’s all for this month. Don’t forget to check ‘Ask Caryn’ where there are a further 10 questions answered this month and of course the ‘Ask Caryn archive’ where one of the questions answered my just be the solution you are looking for.

Don’t forget our shopping mall features petite, fuller, standard and tall sections with retailers who will provide the right clothes to fit your body shape.

And if you want to know how to build your wardrobe this season and which key garments I’m recommending, then join our subscription list, so I can talk to you exclusively and tell you about my month in fashion, and you can talk to me back

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