Current fashion trends: Spring 2008

Here we prioritise your body shape questions and using the current fashion trends, we show what works best for you.

Actually it’s really that simple, once you understand how to choose clothes to suit your shape.

And this month we are working with one of our most popular online retailers to create the perfect answers to your style solutions. Boden has a great range of clothes featuring the latest fashion trends as we will point out, in sizes from 8-20 and they offer regular and longer length fits.

If you like what you see then just use the links below to go to their site.

But wait, before you go rushing off to buy your new outfit for May, find out how to dress to suit your body shape so you’ll be ready to take on this month with style and avoid making the wrong choice for you!

This month I’m talking about the perfect skirt for a curvy shape, working with white trousers, how to wear the safari look without looking like you’ve tried too hard, your best buy if your want to update your wardrobe with ease, and how to camouflage your tummy area.

And of course there’s plenty more current fashion trends advice in ‘ask Caryn’.

This month I answer questions about uneven body symmetry, Ugg boot retailers, style solutions for apple shapes, clothes after three children, muffin hips, petite suiting, and what to wear if you are ‘hour glass’ amongst other things.

Do also sign up for my newsletter (top left) where I give extra insights into building your capsule wardrobe each month…

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

So, here are your questions for May:

Question: “Hi Caryn
I am desperately looking for a new smart skirt for work to wear with all the shirts I have. I also need to flatter my curvy size 16 frame especially around my large bottom area. What colour should I buy – I am so bored of black. Can you suggest the best shapes for me? "
Angela

Hi Angela
A pencil skirt is great for curves as it lengthens your body, but choose one that has a fishtail or as in this picture, a flip back skirt. as this will balance out your bottom area too.

Yes black is predictable and it isn't the only flattering colour. As it’s coming up to summer try a lighter tone like beige, light grey or khaki. These are great neutral colours that look good in the office and work well with other colours and when teamed with a lighter colour on the top like white, cream or lemon, this will still flatter your figure. 

My extra fashion tip for you is to add a contrasting coloured thin belt and give the work look a more modern edge, especially if you are going straight out after work.

Smart Flippy back shirt
£65
Sizes – 8R-20L
Colours: brown, champagne, standard

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 have just impulse bought myself some wide legged white trousers. Was this a good move? I’m worried now that I will look bigger around the hips and thighs as a result.

What type of top shall I look for? At the moment I’m a size 16-18 top and 20 bottom."
Tina

Hi Tina
I love the shape of this Kaftan-style tunic with large floral features at the neck shown below. See how the v-neckline elongates your neck and at the same time minimises a fuller bust. The sleeves are the perfect length to showcase the shapely part of your arms whilst covering the top of your arms.

But you know it’s the bright colour that will work so well, to create interest at the tip of your body and this is what you need with white trousers, which can make the bottom half of your body look larger. This is something I explain in more depth in my e-books

Embellished Kaftan
£55
Sizes 8-20
Colours: bright pink, light brown and white

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 fashion conscious 55-year-old woman and love the safari look that is in all the magazines, but obviously I don’t want to look like mutton dressed as lamb and am scared of overdoing the animal prints!

I am a curvy size 14, 5ft 5. I don’t like showing my thighs or the top of my arms. I also find that anything too revealing makes me look as if I am trying too hard but obviously I want to look sexy and sophisticated. Thanks in advance for your advice."
Sally

Hi Sally
Safari is actually very versatile to wear. The key is to employ a more classic approach.  Instead of going for the a loud animal print, try more natural colours such as taupe, browns and beiges and then (and here’s a bit of styling know how that will have you looking effortlessly put together) rack up the look with the animal print accessories.

If you keep shapes simple and classic, like this button through shirt-dress as pictured below, you will look fantastic

Washed linen shirt dress
£69
Sizes 8R-20L
Colours available: blue, light brown, green

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'm suddenly having a mid life clothing crisis! A lot of my wardrobe looks boring and isn’t very fashionable as my daughter keeps telling me and so I’ve given quite a bit away to charity. What one item can I splash out on to make a bit of an impact and work with a fairly classic look?

I don’t have a massive salary so I need to know how to shop correctly for my big hips."
Rose age 42

Hi Rose
Winter to summer trends vary but only slightly and the great, and I really mean great thing about getting older is that you can confidently choose a more classic look knowing that it is more flattering that extreme or faddy trends. Last seasons trousers can always be updated with a printed top or an accessory.

I do talk about shopping for the right clothes in my e-books but my best tip to you is make a list of the ‘holes’ you have in your wardrobe now you have edited it so thoroughly. For summer do you have a dress that makes you look fab, a print skirt, a well cut pair of trousers and a variety of flattering blouses. And do you have footwear to go with these.

Now you can shop with a purpose. Ask yourself before you buy “how will this work with my existing wardrobe?”

Looking at magazines is another great way to get an idea of what is out there too in the shops and what the trends are. And of course our site, where we profile catwalk and high street looks and discuss things from a body shape perspective. Think about what trend would suit you and what you can mix and match with your wardrobe, you will be surprised how this will help to stop your impulse buying.

An example of all this is the nautical trend that is very big this season, and let’s face it regularly crops up in a classic way. It’s full of colours that you probably already have basics in - red, white and blue. With this is in mind you could purchase a few key items that will help to update them. Such as this fun but gorgeous spot skirt pictured below, a great shape for covering hips. Wear with basic white and red accessories (or the other way around!) and you have a fresh new look. Yet a classic print and shape like this will last and last…

Printed swishy skirt
£55
Sizes 8R-20L
Print available in: light brown, blue, green, leaf, MBL, PRP

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 want to buy a stylish summer dress to go with my gorgeous flat sandals I brought recently. My mid drift is my problem area. Try as I may I can’t seem to loose weight around this area. It doesn’t help that I am short in the body too. I like fitted things and nothing to girly. Any suggestions? "
Miranda

Hi Miranda
Go for empire line dresses, as these will immediately lengthen your body. A dress with a slight A-line is also a great shape as it will skim over your mid drift area. See how this dress pictured below has all the detail around the neckline and hem. So your tummy area is camouflaged.

Chic cotton dress
£79
Sizes 8R-20L
Colours: dark brown, red, white

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 might 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 subscribe to my newsletter so I can talk to you exclusively and tell you about my month in fashion, and you can reply to me!

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