Day 12, Awesome Accessories

.Day 12. Awesome Accessories
“Accessories are little pick-me-ups designed to invigorate what has come to feel drab and predictable.” David Sedaris - When You Are Engulfed In Flames.

Eyewear
First up; if you don’t have to wear glasses then don’t wear them! Glassless alternatives enable you to say goodbye to your specs and instantly appear more youthful. You could find you’re a candidate for laser surgery. This is a permanent solution where a laser is used to correct near and far sightedness. It’s an option that may not be as expensive as you think. Could you persuade your family to pool their resources and give you laser treatment for a birthday or Christmas present?
Once laser surgery is done that’s it, no more glasses. Usually one eye is treated at a time. Ask your optician or eye doctor if you’d be a suitable candidate, it depends on your eye shape, astigmatism and any other eye issues.
Exciting Contacts
Contact lenses could be a viable option, and if you’ve worn optical correction since your early years you’re probably already wearing contact lenses - at least sometimes. The bonus to wearing contact lenses is the choice of tinted lenses available that enables you to re-intensify and refresh your eye colour.
Even those of us fortunate enough not to need glasses yet can benefit from ready-to-wear coloured contact lenses that are designed purely to change eye colour. These lenses come in stunning blues, greens, violet and browns. You don’t want to look weird or batty so start with colours that enhance your natural eye colour rather than change it completely. Embrace more ‘out there’ colours as you grow more comfortable but remember that natural human eye colours don’t flash tiger, zebra stripes or hearts or flowers!


The 10 Worst Ever Eyewear Mistakes

Some eyewear is just plain out dated and old fashioned and should not be put near your face:

1. Functional unsexy square frames


2. Having new lenses fitted into your old frames


3. Half glasses and bi-focals


4. Rimless glasses – unless they are designer/expensive and look it!


5. Frames that sag downwards


6. Dame Edna frames that swoop up


7. Round Harry Potter (or John Lennon) glasses with metal frames


8. Dark, heavy frames


9. Glasses hanging from necklace chains


10. Pink or yellow sunglass lense

Finding fabulous frames
There has been an overwhelming amount of contradictory eye wear advice issued over the years. Frame specialists have suggested that face shape, eye colour, the size of the face, skin tone, make-up preferences (how much we wear) hair colour, the colour most dominant in our wardrobes, plus the basics - fit and price all be taken into consideration in varying proportions when we are choosing glasses frames.
Forget it! Even remembering all those points is too hard!
Of course budget does play a big part; and fit is paramount when you are selecting glasses and frames. To begin your search for your own perfectly fabulous frames go to one of the bigger optical retailers who offer a wide selection of frames at all price points. Eyewear makes an instant impact and reveals volumes about your personal style so you’ve got to get it right. The bigger the range you have to choose from, the more likely you are to be successful! Eyeglass frames are fashion items and every big fashion house has its logo on a line of eyewear. New styles, shapes, colours and technology are added each season.
Your eyeglass frames can make you look intriguing, intellectual, edgy, arty, sexy and smart. They can also make you look prissy, prim, mumsy, dopey, ditsy or sad.
Locate the most stylish consultant in the store and tell her (or him) that you’d like assistance in finding fashion-forward frames as you want to give yourself a bit of a makeover (people love giving advice and they love being part of makeovers!).
Then try on. And try, try, try! Put every frame in the store on your face if you have to. You’ll know when you’ve found the right pair; it’s like Cinderella, the handsome prince and the glass slipper, it will all just fit!
· The perfect frame will be in proportion to your face and features. Where do the frames hit your eye brows? The top of the frame should be at the bottom of your eyebrow. The eyebrows should be out of the frames, not hidden by them or within the lens.
· The shape of the frame doesn’t necessarily have to follow the shape of your face. Face shape is a factor, but more flattering newer frames are designed to counterbalance face shapes. So, if your face is rectangular or oblong (the two most common face shapes) try oval shaped frames or frames that softly curve around the eyes. If you have a round face try glasses with sharper angles such as bevelled or diamond shaped sides.
· Everyone looks best in frames that tilt upwards slightly at the sides. Every lift helps! Where are the arms? If they’re at the base of the frame; if there is a decorative lower frame or the frame turns downward making the face drop and look sad and droopy then the frame is not for you. Up, up, up!
· The perfect frame blends with your hair colour, not your eye colour. This is because proportionately we have a lot more hair colour than we have eye colour! Tortoiseshell is the most flattering frame colour. It contains many shades and undertones that are found in hair colour, and lends itself to blingy diamantes - if you are so inclined.
· How dark are the frames? Black frames tend to be severe, grim, ageing and harsh. Warm coloured frames are kind to everyone regardless of their skin tone and some gorgeous colours are out there.
If you have hair in the blonde and/or golden shades: Go with frames that are white, ivory, light beige or translucent and containing hints of pale gold. Light tortoiseshell frames threaded with khaki, medium chocolate brown, rose or gold look good with blonde hair. Avoid black frames even if they are shiny and teamed with another colour. Black frames are too heavy and do not youthfully complement blondes.
If you have red or auburn hair: Pale caramels, cream and translucent ivory frames are flattering. Do you fancy tortoiseshell frames? Find medium warm brown tones with hints of gold and red. Avoid yellow, red and brown henna-hued shades look best with red or auburn hair.
If you have brown hair: Try warm russet or deep chocolate brown frames. Golden tortoiseshell shades look great with brown hair. Don’t go too dark; black frames will be too severe.
If you have black hair: Tortoiseshell without any gold in it could be brilliant for you, or try dark chocolate browns that do not contain yellow or red. Try the warmer solid violet colours, or black, although the correct frame shape will be vital if you choose black framed eyewear.
If your hair is grey: Eyeglass frames bring extra colour and warmth to your face – choose red, plum, or deep pink and avoid cool blues, greys, greens and silver. Tortoiseshell will be too warm, solid coloured frames are more flattering.
Eye make-up draws attention through the lenses to your eyes which is where you want people to look. A couple of individual fake eyelash clumps will give your eyes a boost and a dash of lipstick balances the face.
What about those cute little inexpensive reading glasses stacked on display stands in boutiques and chemists or available in the markets? Don’t you love them? There’s a great range of frame colours and choice of magnification. These little glasses are handy to keep in an office drawer, glove-box or handbag for emergencies when you’ve forgotten your reading glasses; but they are not long term substitutes for professionally prescribed eyeglasses.
Glasses for charity
Recycle your eyewear when your eyes outgrow prescriptions and frame styles. Lions Clubs world wide operate glasses collection programmes. Discarded eyewear is collected by local clubs and sent to a regional centre where volunteers clean, repair and prepare it for distribution to the needy. The rejuvenated glasses are delivered to humanitarian distribution teams or supplied to charity clinics both at home and abroad. Foresight Australia is another not-for-profit organisation who recycles eyewear and distributes it to charity.
Finally, a word on eye tests: Australian citizens (adults and children) are eligible for a free Medicare-covered eye test once every two years. Some optometrists claim the cost direct from Medicare so you may not need to pay up front.
Eye checks are worth having as the blood vessels and nerves in the eyes can reflect what is happening within the rest of the body. Issues such as diabetes, raised blood pressure, tumours and other health problems that we may not even realise we have could be detected early and addressed. On top of that, at least you are getting something back from the government for your tax dollars!
Statement Sunglasses
Go for big, bold, oversized sunglasses! Frames too big for clear prescription lenses look fantastic with sunshade lenses inside them.
Don’t presume that because lens glass is dark coloured it will block out dangerous sunrays. Sunglasses should offer 100 percent ultra violet (UV) protection and fully cover the eye area. Health wise, sunglasses are sun blocks for the eyes, shading them from the UV rays and helping ward off issues such as cataracts and muscular degeneration. When you wear sunnies you’ll squint less (less crow’s feet!) and you’ll protect the vulnerable skin around the eye area.
Tortoiseshell frames are timeless sunglass frames, aviator sunglasses have a touch of masculine style about them and the Jackie O shape is a beautiful classic sunglass. Oversized glasses ramp up a simple outfit, but it is not youthful to wear sunglasses indoors or at night when it’s dark!
What colour lenses should the sunglass lenses be? The darker the better! Charcoal, grey, green and brown exude an air of mystique. Yellow and pink make the sun look bright and you look ditsy.
El cheapo designer copy sunnies are always tempting. They might stop you squinting but they may not offer the UV protection that decent quality sunglasses provide. It’s a no-brainer isn’t it? Protecting the eyes is what it’s all about.
Check out what the designers are doing, whatever is happening on the catwalk will be translated to eyewear and the designers always get it right.

The Crown Jewels
Where do you keep your good jewellery when you’re not wearing it?
Is it hidden away in a safe place and dragged out just for special occasions? Actually, how often do you wear it? What you’re saving it for? Are you going to bequeath to someone? The chances are that your eventual heir will have the pieces remodelled. And could even plunder the gems and metal to create a totally new and trendy piece! In the meantime you are the one who is missing out on the pleasure of wearing your own jewellery!
Are you keeping it ‘for best’? From now on, every day is ‘best’ - for the rest of your life.
If you’re wearing faux jewellery and storing away your good stuff then get it out, mix it up and get it on! Wear everything – but not all at once!
Fake it ‘til you make it!
We might not be able to buy any of the famous diamonds - the Topaki, the Hope or the Liz Taylor diamond (even if they were for sale), but we may well be able to rake together enough money to buy one or two of the fashion-forward jewellery pieces waiting for us at the mass retail jewellery stores! Just because we can’t have the real deal doesn’t mean we can’t have one like it! And who’s to know whether the gems are fake or real anyway? To be honest, most people assume that diamonds worn by women in their summer years are genuine.
Costume jewellery doesn’t have to be in-your-face-fake. There’s plenty of splendid middle of the road reasonably priced faux jewellery that looks infinitely more attractive than one weenie genuine diamond dangling around the throat from a thin gold chain.
Carats and cost are not the point, have fun and fake it until you make it.
Every woman should have these classic accessories, genuine or faux in her accessory wardrobe:

• A great pair of diamond studs – the bigger, the better.


• A fabulous watch – big, chunky, metal and maybe men’s.


• Several strands of pearls in different lengths. Always in style.


• A pair of silver or gold hoop earrings.


• A cocktail ring – fantastically kicky! Wear it with a tee shirt, dark denim jeans and a linen jacket.


• Patent accessories. Footwear, clutch bag and belts never go out of date.

Scale
Do you have jewellery you love but when you put it on you feel awkward and so you take it off and put it back in the cupboard? Most likely you feel uncomfortable with the piece because it is not within your correct bone scale.
The size and shape of our ideal accessories depends upon our bone structure - the weight and size of our bones. As bones can’t be carved out of the body to be measured and weighed we must rely on instinct, style, and interestingly, personality, to establish the scale that’s right for you! A simple pointer to the correct scale is whether you wear the accessory or whether the accessory wears you!

To determine your scale place your dominant hand around your other wrist (if you are right handed put your right hand around your left wrist and visa versa).
Where does your thumbnail meet your middle finger?
If they don’t meet, or just connect at the tips, you are large scale.
If the thumbnail connects comfortably with the top half of the pad of your middle finger then you are medium scale.
If they meet towards the bottom of your finger pad and the inside crease of your middle finger where it bends, then your scale is small.
Hands are a strong indicator for sizing the scale of accessories that suit you. What looks best on your fingers – a delicate and dainty ring or a big shiny knuckleduster?
However, when it comes to selecting the size of accessories you feel comfortable wearing there are no hard and fast rules. Personality also comes into play.
If you’re shy and reticent there’s no way you’ll feel comfortable wearing huge colourful stand-out pieces that screech for attention, no matter how grand your scale is.
On the other hand, if you are a person who revels in the spotlight and you know that larger-than-life accessories are going to attract attention your way, then you are going to wear ‘em regardless of any designated appropriate scale I might write about here!

Accessories rejuvenate, update, and embellish. They lift an outfit from mundane to magnificent, from sedate to sensuous and make an essential contribution to youthful dressing. They individualise and add interest to your appearance. As focal points they have the power to draw attention towards an area or deflect away from it, so they are useful tools to help overcome figure challenges.
French women, universally acclaimed as the epitome of chic, invest in just a few classic garments each season that they accessorise in a zillion different ways for fresh and stylish looks.
Getting it right is not difficult. Many accessories make a seamless transition from outfit to outfit and from day to evening wear, but not all do.
Evening accessories essentially have more intensity, luminescence and stronger colours than accessories worn in the day time.
If you put on an accessory and are uncertain about it, take it off! You won’t wear it with confidence, you’ll continually fiddle with it, and it will probably end the day (or evening) in your bag or pockets anyway!
How often do we hear that ‘less is best’ or that we should practice ‘simplicity in all things’? When it comes to accessories these age-old maxims ring true. Some women are born with the ability to put together a jumble of eclectic clutter and make it work and others manage an effortless collection of magic. Most of us find our style by knowing when to stop stacking on the accessories and take something off.
Movies are a great source of accessory wizardry. Look closely and see how costume designers skilfully portray individual characters by their dress and accessories – often without the actors uttering a word.
Colour and accessories can be worked to manifest different images:
Do you want to look confident, inspirational, and be noticed?
Attract attention by wearing light coloured garments with minimal pattern and accessorize with dark contrast. For example wear a simple white linen dress with a chunky black, chocolate and gold linked necklace. Finish with a great metallic hobo bag.
Do you want to look enthusiastic, fun and youthful?
Wear medium toned garments with smooth textures such as a turquoise top made from fine wool, a pair of dark denim jeans and bright accessories such as a warm coloured scarf, a score of thin tonal Indian-style bracelets and a pair of denim wedge shoes.
Would you like to look as though you are wealthy, powerful and confident?
A medium coloured jacket and straight skirt suit in fine purple wool worn with a charcoal silk shirt looks impressive. Accessorized with dark and light contrasts such as sheer black pantyhose and patent black heels and finished with a strand or two of medium sized creamy pearls exudes wealth and confidence.
Is dramatic, dignified or formal the look for you?
Dark toned garments such as black crepe pants teamed with a deep forest green shirt look striking. Add light coloured accessories - a medium link chain (in your metal), a great watch and stand out pearl stud earrings. Keep the footwear subtle – black patent medium heeled court shoes would do it.
Do you want a delicate and feminine look?
Wear light garments in light fabrics, and add light weight accessories. For example a medium geometric white and melon coloured dress made from fine cotton teamed with a white one button cotton knit cardigan are similar light weights. Accessorize with a toning structured floral patterned handbag, nude strappy heeled sandals, delicate glass drop earrings and a dainty bracelet watch.
Do you want to look sophisticated and elegant?
Team your outfit and accessories in closely related medium to dark colours. Midnight blue top and black crepe pants, with black or midnight patent heels, charcoal snakeskin clutch, a long midnight blue toned silk scarf and a tonal necklace.
Become a mix master
Mix your metals – several gold and silver link chains look stylish when worn together. One thin silver chain worn with a small pair of gold hoop earrings doesn’t work quite as well.
Mix pearls with metal – mismatched jewellery works! Wear pieces from sets of jewellery separately: a strand of pearls with a chain necklace and a pair of medium metal hoop earrings; or a linked chain with pearl stud earrings looks far more youthful than a matched set.
Mix textures such as wood, glass, resin and plastic together. Find a unifying element such as colour, size or theme and create the illusion of an of-the-moment cuff by putting together several bracelets you already own.
Mix matt and shiny elements such as faux diamonds (diamantes), leather and pearls. Pin a diamante and pearl broach to the lower part of a handbag strap (or the bag), or attach an orphan diamante and pearl drop earring to a leather belt near, but not on the buckle (we don’t do indicators pointing to our nether regions!).
Mix eye-catching broaches in odd numbers on the lapel of a denim jacket or casual cotton jacket. Unifying elements such as colour, texture or theme (flowers, gemstones etc.) make collections look deliberate.
Mix short and long necklaces. Display posters (in jewellery stores or magazine advertisements) are inspirational sources on how to wear several necklaces together. Youthful combinations of texture, tone, material and colour can be easily imitated and adapted to your own style.
Accessories from tip to toe
Headwear
Where have the hat wearers gone? Once no self-respecting woman would have set foot out of her front door without putting on a hat, and gloves too if she was ‘going to town’. My mother wore hats; it was a sign of her decorum, it commanded respect for her married status. My mother said she felt dressed when she wore a hat, it completed her ensemble.
In the mid 1960’s hats were relegated to the rank of accessory and they’ve stayed there ever since; to be dragged out only for the races, church services, weddings and at sports events to shade our faces from the sun (when we remember!).
Truly fabulous millinery creations arrive in the stores each season. Once you start looking you’ll find that they don’t all come with matching fabulously expensive price tags.
Most women purchase only two or three dressy hats during their lifetime. In Australia and New Zealand (and Spain!) we should wear sunhats. Regularly! Casual hats salvage our confidence (and disposition!) on a bad hair day, but more importantly they are our greatest ally to protect our scalps, ears, shoulders, faces and skin from sun damage.
Here’s the heads up:
· A hat is worn closer to the face than any other garment so if the colouring isn’t flattering, or if the hat is black, it will reflect on the skin and make you look old, pale and wrinkled. This applies to the undersides of caps and sun visors too – golfers and sportswomen take note!
· Try on hats in natural light.
· Find a style that works with your hair. If you wear your hair coiled on top of your head for example, you’ll be hard pushed to find a hat with a high enough crown to accommodate your hairstyle. Consider a different style. Try pulling your hair back into a low ponytail or chignon at the nape of your neck.
· Always tuck your hair behind your ears when you wear a hat.
· Make sure the hat is the correct scale for you. This is a tricky one. The rule of thumb is the brim of the hat should not be wider than your shoulders. A turned up brim draws the eye upward and makes you appear taller, if the brim turns downwards the opposite happens and you’ll appear shorter.
· Look for a hat to complement your face shape. If you have a low forehead a high crowned hat will suit you. Low crowned hats fatten the face.
· If you have a high forehead you can wear most hat styles
· The key to successful millinery is that you shouldn’t look as though there’s a party going on on top of your head!
· If you have a round or square shaped face your most flattering hat will have a high, wide crown and a brim you can tilt at an angle.
· If your face is oblong or rectangle tall high-crowned hats won’t do you any favours. A wide brim will counteract the length of your face. Try angling the hat a little to complement your face.
· If you have an oval, heart shaped or inverted triangle shaped face you can wear almost any millinery and wear it however you want!
· High crowned, small brimmed hats are difficult to wear. Instead of looking jaunty, most of us just disappear under the shadows. Hats with wider brims open up the face and give shoulders flattering proportions.
The bottom line is to try, try and try on all hats until you find The One for You.

Do you love a hat but hate that it slips around your head because it’s too big? The average head circumference is 57cms or hat size 7. Make small tucks evenly around the inside band (within the crown) and secure them with safety pins.
A felt or straw hat can be reshaped over a steaming kettle. Allow about twenty seconds for the steam to penetrate the fabric and then carefully reshape the hat with your fingers. Do it little by little as water is the worst enemy of hats (except rain hats) and too much steam will further damage the hat.
Store your hats in hat boxes. Line the box with white tissue paper (coloured tissue paper can bleed into the hat or the colour can rub off if you’re stacking several hats) and stuff the crown with crumpled white tissue paper. Roll some tissue paper sausages to retain the curves of wide-brimmed hats. If just one hat is being placed in a box overstuff the crown with crumpled white tissue so the paper supports the weight of the hat and lifts it from the base of the box, thus maintaining the shape. Push white tissue paper around the hat so it won’t move around in the box if it’s jostled.

It’s easy to create individual millinery from an inexpensive basic hat, fascinator shape or headband. All it takes is a few gorgeous embellishments and a tube of craft glue.
Feathers, flowers, ribbons, jewels on stems or wires, tulle and individual gems coupled with other items such as orphan jewellery can look innovative and individual. Keep weight in mind – you don’t want your knees buckling the moment you put the hat on!
Keep it simple, arrange the embellishments in place before you glue them.
Try your masterpiece on in front of a mirror as you design it, what looks okay on the table might not work on the head.
Use a hot glue gun if you have one, or use 450 Crystal Clear Craft Glue.
Casual practical hats (sunhat, straw hat, etc) lend themselves to informal embellishments such as a couple of floppy flowers - silk roses, daisies, sunflowers etc. or interesting colourful ribbons and bows. Beware of dried real flowers and plant material that snaps and crumbles or attracts bugs when it is stored.
Earrings
The two questions I’m most often asked about earrings:
Question 1.
How obvious are diamante stud earrings masquerading as genuine diamonds?
Answer:
On the mature woman who’s to know? When diamantes are set in a delicate setting and unencumbered by an accompanying army of metal studs marching to the top of the ear, then they are very convincing. If they’re the size of blowflies and obviously fake what does it matter? Who cares! People assume that by the time we reach our middle years we can afford genuinely high carat diamonds. We’ve no need to disillusion them!
Question 2.
What style of earring suits everyone?
Answer:
Medium sized metal hoop earrings! Not everyone chooses to wear hoops, but when the hoops are made from the correct metal for the skin tone (gold for warm skin tones, silver for cool skin tones) medium sized simple hoop earrings absolutely suit everyone.

Hairstyles and clothing are not particularly relevant when it comes to the most flattering earring shapes and styles. Face shape, the length of your neck and whether you possess twin or triple chins are the major considerations. Quite honestly the more unexpected the pairing the better earring shapes and styles look.
Chandelier, round, square, fan shaped, angled oval and small drop earrings flatter a longish face. Studs are always great too.
Teardrops, oval hoops, rectangles, round studs and earrings with more length than width slim down a round face shape and flatter square face shapes.
Long dangling earrings make short necks look even shorter.
Pearl studs, solitaire studs or small plain metal hoops are ladylike, discreet and suited to the corporate world. A smart broach, eye catching necklace or a great watch is alternative jewellery for the professional workplace.
Necklaces
These essential accessories found in most women’s wardrobes have the power to lift an outfit from mediocre to mercurial.
If you are blessed with an elegant swan-like neck then you were genetically created to wear necklaces. You’ll look amazing wearing a wide choker or a chunky piece at your collarbone. Designers have you in mind when they create long thick beaded wreaths. Most necklace lengths, thicknesses and designs suit you.
Necklace selection for short necks is more limited. Consider wearing earrings to bring attention upward, especially if twin chins are present. Delicate pieces (as opposed to chunky jewellery) look terrific falling on the décolletage between the base of the throat and the breasts. A low thin, delicate pendant sitting in the same area and framed by a ‘V’ neck can also look interesting.
The most successful necklaces for those well blessed in the boobs department are droplet or pendants that end just at the top of the cleavage. It is not youthful to allow the pendant or droplet (or any necklace) to disappear into the cleft of the breasts. The most flattering length is from the base of the throat to the cleavage, and airy designs such as large open linked chains are more flattering than tight heavy pieces.
Flat-chested women have a wonderful display board in front for huge and spectacular pieces! Mix up necklace textures and lengths (find one unifying element such as tonal colours).
Pearls are classics that never go out of style and suit everyone.
If your colouring is cool then pearls in the whiter shades will suit you.
Creamier shades are the perfect pearls for warm skin tones.
Gorgeous imitation pearls come in a range of sizes, the most credible and real-looking are small to medium sized. People may question the authenticity of pearls the size of marbles but who cares, aren’t they fun? If you love the big chunky pearls of the minute but feel your neck isn’t long enough to wear them comfortably, find a big fat pearl bracelet and wear that!

Next time we'll look at accessories from the neck down - bracelets, rings, shoes, bags, etc. Exciting stuff, don't you love accessories? So, until next time, dig out your bits and pices and wrap them around your body! Kisses, Dawn

• 
  French women inherently know how to pull stylish outfits together. They have mastered the art of mixing their wardrobe up and have been doing it for years. Their secret? They don’t care what everyone else is wearing! They know their own shape, style and preferences, and wear only what works for them.
  
  The newer way of dressing is fresh and age appropriate, groomed but not perfect, and sensual but not skanky.
  When we put our clothes together in a way that isn’t too polished or too perfect we achieve a more youthful look.
  For instance a pair of great black bootleg pants, a white knitted top, a taupe hip length jacket worn open, a pair of black leather stack-heeled shoes, leather and metal cuff and a huge soft patent slouch bag elicits trés dégagé.
  Be careful though. A white t-shirt tucked into a pair of black waist-gathered pants, an unzipped fawn rain jacket; a pair of tan moccasins, a thin metal neck chain and a scuffed black leather tote doesn’t evoke quite the same feeling of laid-back chic.
  Mixing it up:
  We’ve all seen a well turned out woman dressed from tip to toe in what is obviously a designer outfit, complete with matching accessories. And we’ve known that while the woman looks good, there’s just something about her outfit, (and you can’t always quite put your finger on what it is!) that prevents her from looking great. She looks pulled together and polished, but she doesn’t look youthful. Someone has dressed her!
  We can’t wear expensive designer clothes all together and still look youthful. Something inexpensive needs to be added to the mix to deconstruct the look. It could be a lacy camisole worn beneath an amazing designer jacket or a pair of edgy jade earrings teamed with a classy LBD. No one is ever going to guess the camisole came off a mass retailer’s sales rack at the end of last season or the earrings cost a few dollars from Diva. What they’re going to see is an elegant and sophisticated woman because the whole package is stylishly presented, but not too polished.
  Shift the mix around and take it up or down a level. Opt for laid-back elegance by introducing a relaxed item into a luxe outfit or make an impact by mixing a dressy element into a casual look.
  Replace the lacy camisole with a square necked jewel coloured tank top and pull on a pair of dark denim jeans with the amazing designer jacket, or dress down the classy LBD with a couple of studded metal bangles and a brightly patterned thin-knit cardigan to bring energy and light to your face.
  Ten Hot Ways to switch your look from up to down:
  1. Small to medium sized round hoop earrings instead of long drop or chandelier earrings.
  2. Thin woven leather belt instead of a wide belt with a bling buckle.
  3. Flat shoes instead of heeled boots.
  4. Plain jewel coloured T shirt instead of a frilly fabric blouse.
  5. Dark blue denim jeans instead of black pants.
  6. Fat hobo bag instead of a small clutch.
  7. Thin silk scarf instead of a cashmere pashmina.
  8. Wedge sandals instead of stiletto heels.
  9. Long line cardigan instead of a tailored jacket.
  10. Beanie and sneakers instead of a large brimmed hat and heels.
  
  Of course the above also works in reverse to switch from down to up!

Style to suit you
Wouldn’t dressing be simple if every style enhanced every shape imaginable? Sadly, fashion doesn’t work that way.
Fit is the most important element of style. Ideally a garment should not gape, pull, ride up, tuck, gather, crease, fold or show any signs of stress when it’s worn.
A style that suits your shape but doesn’t fit well will never be flattering, so take the time to have alterations done - hems realigned, waistband adjusted or sleeves shortened.
Body IQ - discover your shape
Are you dressing to look the best you possibly can?
Most of us want to appear taller and slimmer, defined and youthful. Regardless of our height and weight, once we establish and understand our body shape there are lots of strategies we can use to create a gorgeous and balanced silhouette.
This is not the part where you spread a newspaper on the floor, lie on top of it and contort around yourself trying to draw your own outline! However, you will need a full-length mirror.
Honesty is the best policy when answering the following questions!

Is the bottom half of your torso noticeably larger or bulkier than the top half?Do you have a heavy butt or large hips, a small waist and narrow shoulders?
This shape is Triangle or Pear, and it’s the most common female body shape. Typically women in this category have full thighs, a broad beam and a relatively small bust.
Your main strategy to create balance is to visually broaden and draw attention to the upper body. You can do this by wearing:
Horizontal striped tops, the wider the stripe the more broadening effect it will have. Medium width stripes are the place to start.
An interesting neckline - a boat neck or wide straps on a sleeveless tank top will visually broaden and balance your upper body.
Shoulder pads – yes, really! These treasures balance and widen the shoulders and visually correct sloping shoulders if they are another of your issues. We’re not talking those old 1980’s power pads, just nice little soft, modern lifting shoulder pads.
A high placed focal point such as a necklace, scarf, eye-catching earrings or a broach brings attention to the upper body.
Garments shaped at the waist.
Straight pants, bootleg pants or bootleg jeans in medium weight fabrics.
Straight skirts.
Avoid wearing:
· Stiff, boxy fabrics.
· Boxy, shapeless, waistless styles.
· Hems cutting across and emphasizing the widest point of your body (hips and butt).
· A-Line, open pleated and full skirts.
· Tapered pants.

Is the top half of your torso heavier than your bottom half?
Do you have a full bust and narrow hips? You might have quite a flat butt, a small waist and thighs and you probably have shapely legs. You may refer to yourself as “top heavy”!
This shape is an upside-down or Inverted Triangle.
Strategies to visually balance your shape and to create the impression of a wider lower body are:
Well fitted bras.
Set-in sleeves that visually narrow the shoulder area.
Garments with side shaping (fitted knitwear, Basque jackets etc.).
Vertical interest above the waist such as striped shirts and tops, a deep ‘V’ neckline, long necklace or straight earrings.
Flared or bootleg pants in medium weight fabrics.
Knife pleated skirts.
Horizontal interest below the waist such as tiered or flounced skirts.
Avoid wearing
Stiff boxy fabrics.
Raglan sleeves
Garments that emphasise the waist if your bust is really full (unless you bought/ love your boobage - then go for it!).
Tapered pants.
Short sleeves with hems that finish in line with your bust.
Big splashy collars.

Do your bust, waist and hips all seem to have a similar circumference?
Do your hips tend to be square-ish, your butt flat-ish and your arms and legs slim?
Yours is one of the most common shapes found in women –it’s a Rectangle shape.
Many of us become rectangular with age; it’s because the mid-torso thickens as a result of the backbone compressing and creating less body length and less space to distribute weight.
The aim is to elongate the body. We can visually broaden the shoulders and define the waist. Here’s how:
· Wear garments that emphasise the shoulder line such as crossover or shawl tops and wide scoop necklines.
· Wear garments that flow through the waistline. Princess line, shirtmaker and wrap dresses will flatter the rectangle silhouette.
· Straight and semi fitted jackets skim the mid torso and elongate the body.
· Straight pants and bootleg pants balance the rectangle shape.
· Wear high placed focal points to draw the eye up – a stunning neckpiece, unusual earrings, big, fat flower broach etc.
· Straight skirts in medium weight fabrics.
Avoid wearing
· Stiff, bulky, clingy or thin knit fabrics.
· Fitted garments.
· Baggy palazzo pants and harem pants
· Oversize, loose or baggy tops. Cinch them in at the waist with a wide belt.
· Batwing sleeves.

Are you well proportioned with a well balanced upper and lower torso and a nicely defined waist?
Do excess kilos distribute themselves evenly over your body without changing your silhouette when you gain weight?
Your shape is the Hourglass and it is the most coveted female figure shape! For you dressing is seldom difficult; your challenge may well be deciding what to wear as most styles suit you!
The following flatter and show off your figure:
Shapely garments, especially those that enhance your waist.
Soft fluid fabrics that fall and drape over the body.
Any style that emphasises your curves.
Straight and bootleg pants.
Pencil skirts.
Avoid wearing
Stiff fabrics.
Baggy palazzo and harem pants (Yes, they are currently the height of fashion but frankly no one who has left their teens should wear them, not even you!).
Skirts with thigh stitched pleats.
Narrow straight jeans or very tapered pants.

Are you carrying a little excess weight that gives your torso an oval appearance when you stand side on to the mirror?
Has your waist disappeared, does your tummy lie low and do your hips lurk beneath a couple of love handles?
This curvy shape is that of a Goddess! And like the goddesses of abundance worshipped by the ancients, your hips are likely to be broad and your waist circumference is possibly larger than your bust and hip measurements.
Slimming and trimming strategies can create length in your torso, flatter your silhouette and draw attention away from the middle area and upwards toward your head and shoulders.
You can achieve this by wearing:
· Well fitting uplifting bras and body support garments for the torso.
· Semi fitted, boxy or soft silhouettes.
· Tops, shirts and blouses worn out.
· Vertical stripes from top to bottom or any vertical design influence such as front zips and buttons, long scarves, creases ironed into pants, etc.
· Straight pants with a flat front in a soft or medium fabric (no front pleats please, they gape unflatteringly when you sit down!).
· Pants zip in the front or the back – not running at the side where it can sabotage the hip line.
· Low necklines and long necklaces.
· Garments and outfits in monochromatic colours.
· Straight skirts or skirts with subtle flare and movement such as 4 gore or 6 gore skirts.
· Flowing dresses that just skim the mid-torso.
· Focal points placed high on the torso to draw the eye upward.
Avoid wearing:
High rounded (jewel) necklines – wear a scarf for warmth instead.
Fussy frills, lace and flounces.
Garments with voluminous amounts of fabric.
Anything with pleats.
Anything that emphasizes the waist.
Tops tucked in.
Large lapels on jackets.
Batwing sleeves or wide full sleeves.

Do you have an undefined waist, a high tummy and a tendency towards love handles? Are your hips broad, your upper thighs generous, are you carrying a little excess weight around your midriff and when you stand side on to the mirror is your silhouette the shape of a diamond?
Then that’s what you are, a voluptuous Diamond! Like a true diamond you’ll sparkle when your curves are visually elongated and attention is drawn upwards to your head and shoulder area.
To flatter your curves:
Wear a well fitted uplifting bra and body support garments.
Semi fitted, boxy and soft outlines.
Low necklines, long necklaces and long scarves.
Un-tuck blouses, shirts and tops and wear them out.
Wear solid single-coloured garments top and bottom.
Wear loose fitting garments and dresses that flow loosely through the waistline.
Vertical lines from top to bottom such as a loose button-through dress.
Flat front straight leg pants and jeans with a centre zip (front or back).
Straight skirts and skirts with subtle flares and strong vertical seams such as 4 gored and 6 gored skirts.
Focal points placed high such as a stunning broach or flower, or an unusual necklace. Or a hat!
Avoid wearing
Anything that emphasizes the waist.
High jewel necklines – wear a scarf for warmth and keep the neckline flatteringly lower.
Any garment with pleats especially skirts.
Too much embellishment – flounces, frills and lace collars are not for you.
Garments with voluminous amounts of fabric.
Full wide sleeves and batwing sleeves.
Tops tucked in and belts.
Large lapels.

These shapes do not address any other aspect of your body whether it is weight, height, vertical proportions, prominent features or any other figure challenges you may have.
A meeting with a trained professional style and image consultant will determine styles, line and design elements, accessories and garment lengths to personally suit you.


Make the most of your shape.
For all shapes:
Heels that match your skin give the illusion of long legs. Look for stilettos, sandals and wedges in gold or nude if your skin is light; and bronze, copper or tan if your skin is a deeper colour.
Coordinated shades of one colour such as a moleskin grey dress topped with a charcoal cardigan visually narrow a fuller figure.
Avoid bulky knits in the winter and opt for thinner fabrics (such as fine wool) that skim the body and layer up well with other thin fabrics.
Tailored garments with well defined waists complement curves.
Fabrics that glide over the torso such as lightweight wool, cotton knits and silks enhance and flatter fuller curves without over-emphasising them.
If a dress comes without a waistline and looks sloppy, add a wide belt and wear it at the natural waistline.

Some elements of style flatter every woman and assist in the apparent slimming of body shapes.
Here’s what, and why:
‘V’ neckline
This is the most powerful vertical design line we can bring close to the face. Our eyes are attracted to dominant lines on the body or garment and they naturally follow the lines (or features) in the direction they seem to move. The ‘V’ neckline visually moves up and cups out to encompass the face. The most flattering ‘V’ is one with a depth roughly equal to the length of your face.
The convertible collar
This is a soft turn-down collar with a collar stand (the band of fabric that connects the turn-over part of the collar to the garment) found on most female shirts. The collar is most flattering when it’s worn open to expose a ‘V’ neckline.
Angled flutter sleeves
These stylish sleeves can be worn by every woman, no matter what her body shape is. Flutter sleeves disguise full upper arms or conceal thin upper arms while maintaining a feminine and elegant look.
Three-quarter length sleeves
Tapered three quarter length sleeves allow you to showcase jewellery such as a great watch, cuff or bracelet and keep your arms warm and the upper arm concealed. Three quarter length sleeves are more elegant, slimming and youthful than longer, wrist-length sleeves which tend to look dated and daggy. Push up your long sleeves and see for yourself.
4 and 6 gored skirts
These are skirts made from panels that are stitched together vertically. The seam lines encourage the eye to move upwards and are visually slimming. Gored skirts without a waistband can be even more flattering. The most youthful looking gored skirts are made from modern solid coloured soft fabrics – no denim or patchwork please, they scream ‘elderly’!
Skirts with more than 6 gores tend to look fussy unless they are extremely well designed (and usually expensive!). The gored skirt is one skirt style that benefits from being worn a little longer.
Wrap and sarong skirts
Skirts crossing the torso and fastening on one side flatter everyone because the vertical line three-quarters inside the body of the skirt is usually straight, allowing the eye to travel up and down. Wrap skirts and sarong skirts are among the most comfortable and versatile skirts to wear, they are tied or fastened to fit without compromising the design and can be styled up or down to any occasion.
Straight skirts
The ultimate in classic skirts! The obvious reason is that both the vertical style and the hemline are straight without any distracting elements. Straight skirts are versatile in length and fabric.
Shirtmaker dress
The shirtmaker (or shirt) dress has been around forever. Design tweaks and modern fabrics save it each season from becoming a relic. This is the waisted button-through dress with a collar. Double stitched seams create sturdy-looking upward-leading lines. The shirt-dress is easy to wear, looks youthful and depending on the fabric weight and pattern, is appropriate for almost every occasion.
The wrap dress
With its ‘V’ neckline and gentle drapes and folds across the body to disguise and hide a multitude of figure issues, there’s nothing to dislike about the wrap dress. A feature can be made (or not!) of the side fastening, the style works at most lengths (finishing around the knee is always chic) and it flatters all shapes, heights and body sizes because it’s easily adjusted to fit.
The lapel-less jacket or coat
Clean and simple lines with a little contour, a single button but otherwise unembellished, the lapel-less solid coloured coat or jacket made from simple medium weight fabric that skims your curves is the most slimming, flattering, youthful (and useful) outer garment you can own.
Flat front pants
The simpler the better, in a solid colour and with the zip in either the front (preferably) or the back centre seams.
Bootleg pants or pants with a slight flare at the bottom are the most flattering to all body shapes. If they come with the pockets sewn up, leave ‘em sewn up!
Skirts
Separates are the most versatile garments in our wardrobes and most of us own several skirts. And most of us are wearing our skirts in dated styles and in long, dowdy, lengths! Longer skirts show less leg and visually decrease height, making the wearer appear frumpy. The mid calf is the least flattering part of the leg. Any hemline ending there visually enlarges the calves and chops the legs off.
Short skirts reveal more leg of course, but too short can be inappropriate. The tiny mini skirts that look young and kicky on shop manikins rarely translate well when worn by the woman in her summer years.
So what is the perfect length?
When it comes to skirt length every centimetre makes a difference. The perfect length that is always flattering and always stylish is the spot where the hemline skims the top of the kneecap.
If you go to the back of the knee it’s the spot where the upper and lower legs join, the place where the leg curves. This length shows the entire lower leg and gives an elongated look.
Skirts and dresses that skim the kneecap, regardless of your weight, height or body shape, make you look as though you are swimming in the stream of all things current.
If you’re a little more conservative have the length of skirts and dresses come to the middle of your knee – still sexy and sophisticated.
Lower leg concerns can be addressed by hosiery in subtle shades to blend with the skirt and minimise attention.

When you have fine-tuned the length of your skirt to your satisfaction (and comfort zone) make an appraisal of the width.
The two basic shapes that nearly all other skirt shapes are derived from are the straight skirt and the A-line skirt.
Here’s the thing: while an A-line skirt flaring slightly from the waistband to the hem is universally flattering, the style is matronly. And daggy!
Straight skirts add height and slimness to the silhouette.
A straight skirt that shows off your curves and fits well always looks fresh and classy.
Altering a classic A-line skirt to make it into a wearable straight skirt is relatively easy. Just have the sides tapered by an alteration service or stitch them yourself.
If your shape is up for it wear a pencil skirt which is sleeker and more fitted than a straight skirt - even more sophisticated, and super-sexy!

There are a few skirt shapes the woman in her summer years should never wear no matter what length they are:
Full or circle skirt: Girlish and flirty, this voluminous look was a favourite in the 1950’s and evokes memories of Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon romping around singing about Mickey Mouse. Leave this style to winsome teenage girls with ponytails.
Dirndl skirt and the modified dirndl skirt: Another voluminous shape (the modified dirndl isn’t quite as full) that does the mature woman absolutely no favours whatsoever! It’s a ‘folk dancing’ skirt; there is too much puffiness around the waist. A 4 or 6 gored skirt is a more flattering alternative.
Denim skirt: These are tricky. A denim skirt with straight lines, that fits well and ends at the perfect length skimming the top of your kneecap, is usually okay. Be careful though, often the cheaper denim skirts are too casual, too young, too dumpy, too stiff or too western to be flattering. The absolute no-no for anybody our age is the mid-calf length, 4, 6 or 8 gored denim skirt of the 1980’s. This is the most dated skirt there is, we waddle and sway and totally betray our age when one of these skirts is wrapped around the backside! Enough!
Slit skirt: A front slit is neither flattering nor practical. Sitting down is hopeless, you end up flashing the thighs and exposing flesh that’s better left unseen. A front slit skirt always seems to be tugged and pulled at to adjust the slit. It’s too awkward. A more comfortable alternative is a straight skirt with a back inverted pleat that makes walking easier and shows a flattering flash of leg.
Pleated skirt: Pleated skirts perennially make the fashion rounds. Knife pleats, hip stitched pleats and open box pleats belong on high school uniforms and high school girls. The only pleated skirt worth wearing is one that has the pleats sewn from the waist to the mid-thigh, and that should be worn for warmth only when you’re living alone on top of a mountain!
Peasant skirt: This category includes flounced and tiered skirts which can look like folk-dancing wedding cakes. Subtract 5cm off your height for each horizontal seam or line in a tiered skirt.
If the skirt is svelte, made from fine crushed cotton, if it is seamless and teamed with a small top it can look summery and fresh without making you look as though you should be outside hand-tilling the fields.
Pants
So, there’s no way in this world or the next that you’re going to wear a knee-length skirt? Ok! Find the best fitting pants you possibly can – you owe yourself that. .
Pants with side zips have the ability to cause the hips to look bulky. A front or back zip is more flattering and easier to wear.
Stitched up side pockets give a smooth side-line so if you’ve bought pants with the pockets sewn up don’t unpick them and you won’t be tempted to stuff the pockets with junk (tissues, keys, shopping lists etc.). Most side pockets gape once they’ve been unpicked.
Pants with front pleats comfortably accommodate a larger tummy, but they bulge in the very place we feel most self conscious about when we sit down. To be honest, no woman’s appearance really benefits from pleats in the front of her pants. If you really must wear front pleated pants then make sure you cover the pleats with a long modern top.
Flat fronts are far more flattering and easier to cover with a top worn un-tucked and out.
Tailored pants in a matt-weave smooth fabric that skims the hips and reaches the back of the heel visually lengthens the legs. If the pants have an ironed centre crease and are worn with stiletto (or high) heels in a similar colour to the pants the legs are visually slimmed and lengthened even more.
Unstructured slouchy pants, peg-leg pants, harem, Baluchi, skirt-pants, genie and any other unstructured slouchy pants do not flatter any body shape regardless of what the fashionistas tell us. Leave them in the shop.
High waisted pants with a flat front and a wide waistband flatten the tummy when they fit properly.
Capri pants shorten the legs. Counteract this and add height with footwear; heels give a fresh spin on Capri’s, and wedge heels look best. Slim leg cropped pants are more flattering than wide legged pants.
Cargo pants are an indicator you’ve reached middle age. Count how many stylish females under 35 years old you see wearing cargo pants next time you are out and about! The feature pockets of cargo pants visually drag the fabric downwards and the pleats, tucks, studs and buttons are seldom placed in flattering positions. Neutral colours and thick fabric make cargo pants look masculine, realistically the style is more suited to the male physique. Cargo pants worn by women have no redeeming qualities, they are always too wide and too short (and don’t even think about wearing cargo shorts!). Wear a pair of slim-fitting leg-flattering Capri or cropped pants instead.
The perfect structured jacket
You’ll know when you’ve found your perfect structured jacket.
It feels fabulous the moment you put it on. It’s the jacket with the perfect button placement – three buttons that sit in an oh-so-slimming vertical line whether they are fastened or left open. One of the buttons sits exactly at the waist. The shape skims fluidly over the waist and hips, balancing height and weight and camouflaging goddess and diamond figure challenges. The precision cut allows you to move with ease and you can wear a garment other than lingerie comfortably underneath. This is the jacket that coordinates, slims, understates, and takes you anywhere, anytime.
These faultlessly crafted garments don’t have to cost a fortune. Many designers offer modern classics in today’s styles and fabrics at reasonable price points.
If you find this elusive garment and it’s a little pricey reassure yourself the style is classic, one you can wear for a few seasons. The most versatile length for this piece of perfection is where the hemline hits knuckle length. This length balances all body shapes, hides the butt if necessary and coordinates with everything happening below the waist – straight and pencil skirt lengths, pants styles and all heel heights.
This goes with that
Proportion is the key to pulling together a separates outfit. Make a feature of either your top half or your bottom half and maintain balance between the two.
It’s easy: A fuller skirt works best with a fitted top and visa versa – a fuller blousy top looks best with a slim fitted bottom. However, a voluminous top and voluminous skirt don’t work together and they don’t hide any mass beneath.
So many women in their summer years just don’t get this and cover themselves in bulky layers that actually increase their apparent size. Whatever top you choose, don’t tuck it in – you’ll look matronly. A top worn out over the bottom garment is chic and fresh.
On the other hand, if both the top and bottom pieces are too tight they’ll look tacky – no matter what they cost to buy!
Think ‘eclectic’ and buy new pieces with a nod to current colour and styles that coordinate with items you already possess.
If you’re wondering what to do about shoes there’s a simple formula that transcends all age groups:
The shorter the skirt, the lower the heel.
Straight skirts worn at your perfect kneecap-skimming length look their ultimate best when they are worn with a medium high heel.

Back to basics
The secret to a well functioning wardrobe is to have a collection of basic, classic garments to seamlessly take you from day to night and from one occasion to another.
Classic garments are perfectly designed timeless styles that transcend the seasons and decades. They are neutral and unimposing, with a perfect shape, little or no embellishment and clean, uncluttered lines. They are usually the foundation pieces in your wardrobe that have cost more than your seasonal of-the-moment garments. Truly classic garments have a shape, style and design that simply cannot be bettered. They are the stylish woman’s lifeline and her key to looking great and feeling confident.
Classic clothes can be dressed up or down to suit the time of day and the occasion. They coordinate well with each other, and work independently when they are teamed with hot fashion-forward items. Natural fibres – wool, cotton, linen, silk, leather and suede are quality fabrics with longevity.
Wear classics that are youthful and modern with clean shapes. Avoid excessive detail or volume that links a garment to a particular year or season. The newer way with classics is to create an edge.
· Think “elegant”
· Find a contrast
· Invest in a surprise
· Consider the overall line – long and lean, not full and flouncy
· Combine unexpected textures; for example a leather jacket over a floaty chiffon dress is a blend of elegance and cool.
· Fuse together styles such as rocker and hipster. Push up the sleeves of a leather jacket worn over dark denim jeans, a pair of statement sandals and a slouchy bag. Add flair with a long bright coloured tank top, bracelets and fun rings, and a long scarf for warmth.

Refresh older, classic pieces by teaming them with newer pieces:
Wear a sequined jacket with your dark denim jeans. If the jacket is dark, add a pop of colour such as a bright tee shirt or tank top, a leather belt or a clutch bag (or all three!).
Work the reverse if the jacket is light-coloured by wearing it over a dark jewel coloured top.
Layer a classic spring dress with vest, cardigan, belt and boots. The flattering line of the classic dress will give a feminine edge and fashion forward style.

Style staples
Thomas Burberry and Sons created the waterproof gabardine coat in 1895 to keep British officers dry during the Boer War. Later it was adapted and worn by the soldiers in the trenches during World War One.
A fitted, well-cut, trench coat with no stand out details will serve you through many seasons. Wear it the newer way in a vivid shade of patent leather, or consider a shower-proof trench coat made from animal printed gabardine or in a solid jewel colour. Newer trench coats come in all lengths from mid calf (not flattering to anyone) to hip-skimming knuckle length and are worn stylishly over everything from business suits and heels to jeans and jandals.
Never, ever buckle the belt in front. Knot it!
If the belt isn’t long enough to knot or if you prefer not to emphasise your waist, then double the belt over itself behind you and buckle it behind your back.

An oversized white shirt makes a bold statement worn un-tucked and out over a pair of dark blue denim jeans. Find a crisp white shirt with the perfect neckline; white illuminates the face and a ‘V’ neckline works for everyone. Wear a voluminous white shirt above a narrow fitting garment - slim fit or bootleg jeans or a pencil skirt. Roll the shirt sleeves up to ¾ lengths, add interesting and classic accessories; tuck the jeans into ankle boots for the ultimate of chic. Don’t be tempted to wear a man’s white shirt; the collar circumference on men’s shirts is too big and bulky for women.
A classic striped shirt emanates buckets of cool when it’s worn with a long-line structured jacket and edgy patent accessories. Team it with a straight skirt or slim pants.
Ditch the all-encompassing-good-old-standby cardigan for newer knits that are cropped to the waist or dropped to the hips and fastened with juicy beaded buttons or shimmery silvery domes.
Do you have a long-line jacket made from brocade, damask or lush velvet? Move on from the traditional partnership of subtle black pants and switch it down a couple of notches with dark blue denim bootleg jeans and a coordinating jewel coloured tank top. Accessorize with a long neckpiece –necklace or scarf for effortless sophistication.
Re-connections
Do you have garments in your wardrobe that you love and that fit you, but you no longer wear? We all have a piece or two (or more!) that we just can’t bear to part with, maybe because it cost the earth, or the garment evokes a special memory, or it could simply be the occasion to wear it hasn’t presented itself.
Think outside the square, there are ways to reinvent your clothes.
Business suits and shirts are the garments most commonly sitting unworn in the wardrobe. They aren’t needed anymore but they still fit, the colours are good and the thrifty side of you won’t allow you to throw them out while there’s still plenty of wear left in them!
Streamline retired corporate separates with casual, everyday wear to create a welter of outfits. Here’s how:
The Hamptons or preppy look is age appropriate, fashion-forward, classy, classic and chic. All those things! A traditional Hamptons shirt has white collar and cuffs contrasted with a coloured or striped body. It’s an enduring corporate shirt favoured by both women and men. Go bold and classically nautical in your preppy retired corporate striped shirt with a pair of light coloured tailored pants, light cotton espadrilles and a big bright hobo bag or large clutch. Accessorize with sunnies and an oversized metal cuff.
Team a striped shirt with knee length shorts, wedge heels, an interesting clutch bag and a statement belt during summer months. If you are not a shorts wearer work the striped shirt with a pair of great long-length cotton pants and leave it open over a sleeveless tank top or tee shirt just as you’d wear a summer jacket. In cooler months switch the light cotton pants with dark blue denim jeans and throw a sleeveless jacket over the shirt.
Update a retired corporate jacket with patent accessories. Pull on a pair of long-line dark pants or dark denim bootleg jeans, patent flats, a brightly coloured patent belt and a shiny bag. Jacket sleeves rolled or pushed up to just below the elbows give a modern edge.
Put a subtle patterned top or tee shirt under the corporate jacket, add a pair of light coloured cotton-blend pants, wedge shoes (or open toed boots or a pair of shoeboots!) and tie the outfit together with a woven matte leather belt.
A Lurex metallic top brings lustrous shine and an edgy surprise when it’s worn in the evening beneath a dark long-line business jacket. Pull on your great dark denim jeans, high heeled shoeboots or strappy high heeled sandals, and a pair of medium sized hooped earrings for style and glamour.
Toughen up a striped business shirt with leather and metal hardware. Wear the shirt with a leather skirt or long-line dark pants, add a wide belt, a metal cuff, studded footwear and a structured bag with a metal stud details for cool attitude.
Shorten the dark coloured corporate skirt to knee length, straighten the side seams and wear it with textured pantyhose, closed toe wedge shoes and a gorgeous coloured hip hugging sweater in the winter. In warm weather team the skirt with a cap-sleeved tee-shirt, a light sleeveless vest in a bright colour, a really interesting necklace and a pair of great sandals.
The fashion heads up:

• Do not own or wear anything with writing on it.


• Wearing a tee-shirt with a slogan, words or a brand name emblazoned across the front (even if it is depicted in gold letters and glittering diamantes!) provides the manufacturer with free advertising.


• Clever witticisms on tee-shirts are best worn by children and young men.


• Puff sleeves are best worn by children and octogenarians!


• Ageing and seriously matronly-looking (and much worse than a garment splattered with writing) is the tote bag with pictures of the grandchildren photo-printed on the sides.


• Some of us wear our classics in such a jaded way that we’ve become fashion tragic! It might seem jaunty to step out in navy and white striped top and white pants but you won’t see anyone under the age of thirty five wearing such a cliché.


• Ask yourself can anything (the garment, style, colour, etc) be read by others as desperation?


• Follow your intuition. If someone convinces you to wear something you don’t really feel comfortable in it will look wrong. Establish what suits you and stick with it. Do style your own way.


• If you are not into colourful garments wear solid coloured neutrals. Textured fabrics give visual interest.


• Any garment that needs to be pinned, pulled, taped or tucked to be worn well will look uncomfortable because you’ll be continually fiddling with it. If it looks good but it isn’t comfortable reassess it to see if it’s really worth wearing.


• Vintage means you won’t see anyone else wearing the same outfit.


• If your chest is out and your shoulders are back any outfit will look better.


• Play with your clothes. Add a belt. Push sleeves up. Change the buttons to give a different look.


• Dress for yourself. There comes a certain point in life when we need to ignore what others say and step up to our own style.

Cougar on the prowl!
On average women outlive men by eight years so there’s a great likelihood of being left in our summer years, single, healthy and available to partner younger men. We absolutely do not want to look like their mothers!
The eye of the tiger!
A dash of animal print goes a long way. Faux skins, hides or animal prints work best in a colour natural to the pattern –have you ever seen a purple leopard? So if you must have this season’s stylish red and cream zebra print jacket, don’t spend a lot of money on it! Wear just one animal printed garment for sophisticated chic:
Leopard print dress with two-tone shoes, not animal skin shoes.
Animal printed coat over solid coloured garments. Wear solid coloured accessories such as scarf, wrap, clutch, tote, top or shoes.
While we are discussing animals – any pants or shorts so tight they give you camel toe should be immediately removed and discarded!

So, there you are, now you should be able to define your style! If you have any questions or comments I’m contactable on Facebook and I’d love to help.
Next time we are discussing Awesome Accessories – those little pick-me-ups that are designed to invigorate that which has become drab and predictable! We have fun with it all - from eyewear to footwear (and everything in between!). Accesssories are great fun so do join me. Kisses, Dawn xx

Retail details and magic products
Trench coat
David Lawrence shower proof, full length, fully lined trench coat in a range of colours $269, David Jones or www.davidlawrence.com.au
White Shirts
Ben Sherman label has a fabulous selection of white shirts and interesting, reasonably priced striped and business shirts. Jackets, jeans and tee shirts are youthful and trendy-looking and very wearable. www.bensherman.com
If yours is a curvy goddess or diamond figure, try Mirrors (plus sizes) $130 for a classic white linen shirt.
Knickers
Jeanious from Berlei, dipped front and back, perfect for wearing under jeans.
www.berlei.com.au
Pants
The most comfortable, well cut, uncomplicated and stylish pants are those made by Andiamo. They are made in Australia and designed specifically for the 35 plus age group. There are at least 11 different styles, a choice of lengths, sensible colours and a wide spectrum of sizes in the range. They are a brilliant fit, and made from easy care fabrics (requiring minimal ironing) that contain as many stretch fibres as the manufacturer can find!
Available from boutiques in Australia and New Zealand, but not department stores. Expect to pay around $140 plus per pair, they’re worth it! www.andiamo.com.au

Day 11, Define Your Style

Dressing is easy; it’s looking good that’s hard!
By now in these, our summer years, we’re pretty much aware of what suits us. We know what feels comfortable, what we like to be seen in and what we wouldn’t put on our bodies in a pink fit!
But many of us have become complacent about our attire. Now is the perfect time to reinvigorate the image and switch the clothes up a notch or two; take the chance and liberate your look!
There are probably dozens of outfits in your closet that you haven’t imagined putting together; it’s just a matter of reviewing your wardrobe and perhaps eradicating some of the old fashion rules from your memory.
And while we’re on the subject, we sometimes read or hear that there are no rules in fashion anymore, that anything goes. Well actually, that isn’t true, not anything goes, and there are rules. Personal style is about being smart and unique. It’s chic to develop the knack of mixing high street basics and classics with a touch of luxe.
So, think outside the square, raise the bar and work up a modern eclectic wardrobe that celebrates you.
First things first:
Have you ever seen someone wearing a bizarre blend of garments and wondered if the person even owns a mirror?
Your own appraisal of your appearance is the vital first step to gorgeous. This can only be achieved by an honest assessment of your reflection in a full length mirror. There’s no way you can properly evaluate your appearance by looking down on your body. So, invest in a full length mirror, it doesn’t have to be expensive, and stick it to the back of your wardrobe door or bedroom door, and no, your reflection in the lounge room window won’t do in the meantime! You need a proper, full length mirror that you can twirl around in front of, look at over your shoulder and examine every stylish detail in before you set foot outside!
Jeans Genius
“I’d like to say, we’ll do ok, forever in blue jeans”. Neil Diamond.
There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t be forever in blue jeans - as long as they’re the perfect pair! This is crucial. Jeans have replaced the LBD (little black dress) as the newer “must have” wardrobe essential. Have you stopped wearing jeans? Once you start wearing them again you’ll wonder how on earth you lived without them! A pair of head turning jeans says “Young, cool and hip”.
It’s worth spending a little extra on the perfect pair and it all comes down to one thing: fit.
Most baby boomers have worn their fair share of jeans - from wide bell bottomed hipsters through a monumental assortment of embroidered, buttoned, sequined, pleated, ripped, tie-dyed, faded, stove pipes, keppers and stone washed jeans.
What were we thinking? Take a look at old photographs and there we are, grinning at the camera with every denim fad bravely wrapped around our butts!
Women today own an average of five pairs of jeans and there’s an overwhelming choice of labels. The biggest age group of jeans-wearing females is between 35 and 55. However, the fastest age-growth demographic of women purchasing jeans is fifty plus. That’s an enormous market; and with manufacturers starting to meet our quality and style demands you will have a choice and you will find a pair to fit and flatter you.
Purchasing jeans is like buying swim wear; you need great dollops of fortitude, patience and perseverance.
Be prepared to spend time looking for the perfect jeans and then be prepared to spend a reasonable number of dollars once you find them. Many designers construct jeans to be flattering, sophisticated and to fit the mature figure but these jeans usually come at extra cost. Young people with great bodies can look amazing in inexpensive jeans, but the majority of us do not. Our jeans should be made from reasonable fabric and designed with decent shape and the pockets in the right place. We need jeans to be appropriate and flattering.
Just because you manage to find a pair of cheap jeans that fit over your body, if the fabric is stiff and unbending, if the shape doesn’t enhance your curves or if your legs, thighs or butt look enormous, then the jeans are not flattering and you are wasting your money. If you do look great in them – you go girl!
Dark blue (indigo) is by far the most versatile colour; remember that dark colours recede, so if you are buying just one pair to start your jeans collection, look for dark blue. Avoid attention seeking pre-faded patches and blotches that emphasize the thighs or the butt, and stay away from jeans with faded little whiskery lines radiating around the crotch that draw attention to the nether regions or those other horrors that are currently in vogue – the baluchi jeans with the low slung crotch.
The plainer the better. Forego statement jeans with holes, rips, tears, glitter, rhinestones, studs, embroidery, inserts, patchwork (absolutely never!) or anything else that’s weird, grungy, faded or distressed.
Take lots of pairs into the dressing room with you as it’s unlikely you will find the perfect jeans immediately. Try on and try on. Shop for jeans at a quiet time when sales staff have the time to be helpful. Don’t be fobbed of with a pair of jeans in a lighter colour, or with a very low rise, or with the wrong shape for your figure.
Sales assistants may tell you that denim stretches and suggest you try on a pair of smaller jeans. Some jeans stretch and some shrink, take a pair in the suggested size and a pair in your usual size into the fitting room. Bend, straighten, sit and squat in the jeans to determine fit and comfort. If you can’t move properly don’t buy them!
The perfect pair of jeans has the power to make you look ten years younger and five kilograms lighter.
The rise
Find the jeans with the correct rise for your shape. The rise is the distance between the crotch seam and the top of the waistband. Curvy goddess and diamond body shapes may benefit from a comfortable elasticized waistband. If that’s you, ensure you wear a modern-looking top that’s long enough to cover any pleating or gathering in the waistband.
Low rise (hipster) jeans are for teenagers with flat stomachs and tiny butts. These jeans sit really low on the hips, skim the pubic area, expose your love handles (you might not have even known they were there!) and create a muffin top. No, no, no!
High rise jeans need careful selection as they have a tendency to look mumsy. These are the denim numbers with the waistband above the belly button, enclosing the tum, hips, thighs and butt in a Christmas pudding-ish sort of pouf. Perfect high rise jeans give a contemporary look, create a lean silhouette and make your legs look longer, so do try on high rise jeans, but be discerning and only select perfection!
By far the most flattering, sexy and youthful jeans are those with a mid-low rise.
Mid-low rise is 20cm to 23cm from the crotch seam (where it crosses the leg seam to the top of the waist band in the front). The mid-low rise sits just below the belly button, low enough to be current and trendy, but not so low as to let any flabby bits escape.
Take a tape measure to measure the rise, or fold the jeans in half leg to leg and establish how low the top of the front zip is (no button-up jeans puhleese!) in relation to the middle of the back of the jeans.
Some manufacturers make jeans that ride significantly higher in the back which is fantastic news!
The cut
The only cuts worth considering are bootleg and straight cut jeans.
Of the two, bootleg is the most flattering because the slight flare at the hem balances the torso. A great bootleg will have about a 24cm measurement (from side seam to the other side seam) opening at the bottom. That’s a circumference of 48cm.
Straight leg jeans have an opening of around 15cm to 16cm (from one side seam to the other side seam) at the hem line. If you have slim thighs and slim calves straight leg jeans will make your legs look long and lean.
Beware of skinny leg jeans. They are usually too tight, too young and too unflattering because they look like leggings.
Baggy jeans are old fashioned, never flattering and associated with clowns. Leave them on the shop shelf!
Fabric
Denim fabric has come a long way from the unflattering rigid workman-like jeans we wore with the confidence of youth.
Newer denim fabric is mixed with a percentage of Lycra that gives just enough stretch to hug curves and allow movement without pulling, but not so much stretch that the jeans look like leggings. The most comfortable mix is 2-3 percent Lycra with the remaining percentage of the fabric being cotton. Summer jeans are made from lighter weight fabric than winter jeans.
Pocket details
The back pockets have the ability to visibly reduce the size of your bottom, or exaggerate it. Every stitch, stud and seam placed on the pocket can maximize the design’s figure-flattering power, but sadly not every body shape is flattered. The ideal pocket occupies the area from 5cm to 6 cm below the back waistband to the edge of your bottom. If the pockets are too small your butt will look bigger because the pockets don’t cover enough space and therefore emphasize a generous area. Bigger pockets set lower in the butt and slightly angled upwards will visually lift the butt.
Another little trick some clever manufacturers employ is to stitch curves around the outer edges of pockets to draw the eye in from the hip silhouette, creating the illusion of slimmer hips.
A good length
Launder new jeans prior to making alterations. Wash, dry and iron them the way you intend to care for them from now on. Manufacturers often claim the fabric is pre-shrunk, but most jeans still shrink a little on the first wash. Try them on again after they’ve been laundered, they might shrink to the correct length – if you’re lucky!
Men have been able to buy their pants according to their height for years, it’s finally dawned on a few enlightened manufacturers that women come in different heights too and some brands are offering jeans in short, regular and tall lengths! Interestingly mass retailer stores are leading the way.
Wear the footwear you intend to wear with your jeans when the hems are being measured for alterations.
If the jeans have straight legs wear the heels you plan to wear with them when the hem is being pinned. Make sure both hems are pinned up; sometimes we’re not actually aware that we have one leg shorter than the other (especially if the difference is slight). If you wear flats with the same straight legged jeans the fabric will scrunch down around the shoes and still look youthful.
This does not apply to boot leg jeans. These really do look best when they are tailored to the exact length for the heels you intend to wear with them.
A good length for jeans to be worn with flat shoes is half a centimetre from the ground at the back of the heel. Heeled shoes or boots should show one to one and a half centimetres of the heel at the back.
If you are planning to wear boot leg jeans with flat shoes and with heeled shoes then consider purchasing two pairs and have them hemmed accordingly.
Too-short jeans look mumsy; if they’re too long and dragging on the ground they look sloppy.
Rolled up hems make the legs look squat. It really is worth the effort to ensure the hems are at the correct and most flattering length for you.
Hand stitched invisible hems are dated. The newer way is to retain the contemporary look by repeating the machine stitching in the same coloured thread with the same turn up width as the original hem.
Well grounded
Not all shoes look good with jeans. The easiest way to work out complementary footwear is to let the width of the leg opening determine the best shoes to wear.
Narrow, straight leg jeans look great with delicate, feminine footwear such as pointy toe boots, peep toe heels or leather flats that have a small rise to the heel.
Team sturdier footwear such as thicker heeled boots, open toe wedge sandals or stack-heeled peep toes with boot leg jeans.
Gym shoes and sports sneakers worn with jeans are not chic or hip. They are middle aged Matronville! Opt for ballet flats with a rise to the heel, moccasins or casual slip-ons if you wear flat shoes and jeans.
High heeled court shoes or pumps (closed heel, closed toe) never look good with jeans (but they’re okay with regular pants).


What lies beneath?
There are some things the world doesn’t need to see, female butt cleavage and exposed underwear are two of them. Unattractive at every age!
To minimize V.P.L. (visible panty line) opt for knickers or thongs with a dip in the middle of the waistline at the back. If thongs aren’t your thing go with loose boy leg knickers, or those with a high cut leg and minimal elastic or French knickers with a loose leg.
Laundering
You don’t need to be told how to wash clothes; so, just a couple of reminders:
Wash jeans inside out and check the pockets for tissues (don’t you just hate it when a tissue shreds in the wash?).
Use the cold cycle to help retain the strong denim colour. Hot water encourages colour to bleed from fabric (and infect the rest of the washing load!) Line dry jeans, the heat of a dryer can break down the stretchy elastic fibres in the fabric.
Dry cleaning (although pricey) prevents fading and may be worth considering for dressy jeans. Ask the dry cleaner to press them flat. A crease line running up the centre of jeans’ legs is not cool.
Here’s the heads up:
The most flattering jeans are made from dark blue denim fabric containing about 2% spandex or Lycra.
A great pair of boot leg jeans is a wardrobe essential.
Dress them up with a pair of high heeled open-toed shoes, sandals or boots. Stiletto court shoes (with closed heels and toes) are too ‘try hard’.
Wear a couple of strands of creamy pearls in long and short lengths, a fabulous top and a soft scarf and you’re good to go.
Dress jeans down with a pair of leather flats or boots and a white tee shirt. Throw on a loose dark coloured vee neck knit over the top and you have a versatile casual outfit.
Remember that dark colours visually recede and slim the body.
Denim is a colour that coordinates with everything. It is a universal colour that can be worn by everyone and it’s also considered a neutral colour.

Five ways with a denim jacket:
A well fitted, well cut denim jacket is a timeless garment that will take you through the seasons for several years.
Partner a denim jacket with a white shirt or a light coloured tee shirt and black pants worn over black medium heeled boots. Add a colourful scarf, or a metal necklace or pearls to polish the look.
Pin a cluster of sparkly broaches on the lapel and wear your denim jacket to add zing to a summer dress. Stylish and warm!
Never wear the same shade of denim on the top and bottom. A medium blue denim jacket worn with medium blue denim jeans won’t work unless you’re a cowboy. No-no matchy-matchy!
Mix light denim with a darker denim for cool style, for example a light denim jacket or vest with your dark denim jeans. Break up the look with a plain tee-shirt or shirt.
Twin denim in light and dark shades is okay, triple denim is not!

Day 10, Colour Your World!

Day 10. Colour Your World
Every woman understands the difference between beige, ecru, cream, ivory, off white and eggshell!
Uncover your colours
We’re all born with an intrinsic inclination towards particular colours so the chances are that at least 50% of your clothes are in the most flattering colours for you. You’ll know which garments they are; they’re the clothes you feel attractive and confident in and they’re probably the pieces you receive compliments on when you wear them.

Wearing your best colours empowers you with self confidence that’s revealed by the radiance on your face and the spring in your step!
As the clock ticks, our natural colouring changes - hair goes grey, eyes become paler and lose their intensity and skin can often have a muted looking surface. We need to adjust the colours we wear, take them down a notch or two in strength, especially when brighter colours have been preferred.

Everyone has a unique skin tone. When you’ve established your skin tone and then wear the colours that complement it you are more than half-way to gorgeous!
Although we can tinker with our eye colour by wearing tinted contact lenses and we can play with the colour of our hair, we can’t do much about our skin because skin colouring is genetic. We’re stuck with what we’ve got!
Skin tone is derived from three pigments, carotene (yellow), hemoglobin (red) and melanin (brown). The proportions of these three pigments beneath the skin’s surface determine the undertone. It doesn’t matter what ethnic background or ancestry you have, there are just two skin undertones. There’s warm and there’s cool. Yours will be one or the other.
Warm toned skin has a golden undertone.
Cool toned skin has a blue or blue-pink undertone.
When you’ve established whether you are cool or warm toned you’ll find it easy to determine your most flattering shades - blue based colours or yellow based colours.

Try these tests to work out your skin tone.
The Metal Detector
Put a gold bracelet on one wrist and a silver bracelet on the other wrist.
Which looks best?
If the gold bracelet looks better against your skin then you are warm toned.
If the silver bracelet looks best, then you are cool toned.
Blue Blood?
The veins on the inside of your wrist are a good indicator of whether your skin tone is cool or warm.
Place your hand, fingernails side down, on a piece of white paper with your palm and inner wrist facing you.
Look at the veins in your wrist.
If they are blue or blue-pink then your skin tone is cool.
If they have a greenish tinge then you’re warm.
If you have freckles, do they look golden brown (warm) or are they more charcoal brown (cool)?
The Top Test.
Pull on a solid white tee shirt and stand in front of the mirror. Drape a cream coloured garment over the top of your tee shirt.
Focus solely on the light reflecting on your facial skin and not the garment.
Drape the cream garment on top of the white tee shirt. Quickly whip it off the white tee shirt. (You will probably need to do this a couple of times).
Which colour softens your features, outlines your lips and clears and smoothes your complexion?
Does the white do it for you? Then you’re cool.
If the cream most enhances your skin then you are warm.
The Towel Test
Drape a piece of orange fabric (towel, scarf, etc.) across your chest right up to the base of your neck so the orange colour reflects on your face.
Looking at your face and not watching the fabric, quickly replace the orange fabric with a pink fabric.
One colour will accentuate the lines and wrinkles on your face, emphasize shadows below the eyes or harden your features.
The other colour will add radiance to your complexion, diminish deep wrinkles and make your teeth and the whites of your eyes appear brighter.
If the pink does you the most favours then your skin tone is cool.
If the orange colour makes your skin look best, then you’re warm skin toned

Here’s what to look for when you hold colour to your face:
The right colour:

• Smoothes and clears your complexion


• Minimizes facial lines and wrinkles


• Reduces shadows


• Diminishes circles


• Brings colour and radiance to your face


• Brings attention to you, making your face pop and pushing the colour to the background

The incorrect colour:

• Makes your complexion pale, sallow, muddy or sickly


• Deepens lines and shadows


• Accentuates circles


• Emphasizes blotches


• Can look stronger or weaker than it really is


• Brings attention to the colour making it pop and pushing your face to the background
  

There will always be shades and tones within each and every colour family (red, violet, blue, green, yellow, etc.) to suit you. It is just a matter of working them out.
If your skin tone is warm your most flattering colours are those that are gold or yellow-based. When you select clothing think of the glorious colours of the setting sun - ivory, teal blue, orange, apricot and the peaches, salmon and all the caramels. Golden sunset hues such as rich browns, creamy beiges and the orange-reds will all be good for you.
Aqua, light royal blue and the periwinkles look good on you. Interestingly, people with warm skin tone usually don’t have very many blue coloured garments in their wardrobe.
Avoid wearing clear cold colours near your face. Steer away from frosty colours - icy yellow, icy pink, icy blue, taupe, the blue-based pinks such as hot pink, and black.

If your skin tone is cool your most flattering colours are the blue-based colours of a painterly sunrise. Think of the sun’s cool morning rays as they touch a brand new day. Most pinks and blues will suit you. You’ll look great in blue-greens, blue-grey, icy lemon, plum and crimson, plus all the greys and frosty silvers. Your worst colours are those in the really warm colour range – orange, scarlet, pumpkin, and clear citrus colours such as lime green etc.
Most people manage their colours without getting too lost once they know their skin tone. A personal colour analysis professionally done by a trained consultant will establish your skin tone and identify the exact colours to enhance your appearance.

Here’s the thing: The colour you wear nearest your face matters the most!
Colour carries light that is reflected onto the face. So it’s important that the colours worn on the upper torso and around the face are in the correct shade for you.
Colours worn below the waist do not reflect light onto the face and therefore do not impact on your skin. But it’s not quite plain sailing – the colours worn below your waist do matter when it comes to style:

• Dark colours diminish size so they are slimming to wear.


• Medium colours have little or no effect on your apparent size.


• Light colours can make you appear bigger.
  

Central colours
The right colours imbue your skin with a healthy glow, your eyes with a lively sparkle and your hair with lustre and depth. Everyone can wear shade and tonal variances within each colour family, but a wardrobe anchored with a few central coloured garments provides maximum flexibility to build in other colours.
You don’t need me to tell you what you already know - the most versatile central colours are in the neutral range.
Basic garments – skirts, pants and jackets in beige, white, grey, navy, camel, mahogany, coffee, or black and chocolate coloured fabrics are the most useful. Accessories and accents from more vibrant palettes will add visual interest to your appearance.

Colour confidence
Colour is a marvellous tool. Used to advantage, it hides flaws and imperfections and can enhance one area while drawing attention away from another area. Utilise colour to create clever illusions.

• Dark colours are the most dominant colours.


• A dark colour worn over an area of the body you consider large will make the area appear smaller.


• When dark colours are worn below the waist (for example black pants) and a light or bright coloured garment is worn above the waist, attention will be attracted upwards, making you appear taller and slimmer.


• If you want to appear shorter and heavier (well, some women do!) then reverse the above and wear light pants beneath a dark top to attract attention downwards. This strategy can be used to deflect attention from the bust or midriff.


• Light colours worn over an area you consider small will make that area appear larger. For example wear a light colour to visually enlarge a small bust. If a light colour is silhouetted against a dark background the area will appear even more dominant and bigger.

Six quick ways to use colour to appear taller and slimmer:

1. Wear just one dark colour right through your body


2. Wear a dark-coloured outfit in a smooth fabric.


3. Blend pantyhose with your skirt hemline and footwear.


4. Flow one dark colour up the centre of your body.


5. Wear a bright colour or a light colour on the top half of your body.


6. Attract attention as far up as possible with eye-catching necklaces, earrings, neckwear, eyewear, lipstick and hair colour.

Six ways to appear shorter and heavier:

1. Break your height with horizontal bands of colour.


2. Wear a dark colour above your waist and a light colour below.


3. Wear light colours and bright colours all over.


4. Wear large bright patterns.


5. Wear a brighter colour below the waist.


6. Attract attention downward with borders on skirts and details on footwear.
   

Universal Colours
Universal colours are colours that contain equal amounts of cool and warm elements.
They flatter everyone. There are dozens of universal colours and they’re found in the stores every season.

The most common universal colours are denim blue, aqua, chocolate, warm pink, watermelon red, silk white, medium charcoal, plum and teal blue.

Aqua is by far the most useful universal colour for those of us in our summer years. (Well, no one wants to be in their autumn years do they?)
Aqua is perceived as youthful, it’s the best friend we have on the colour wheel! It’s the colour that suits all skin tones and complexions; it complements and coordinates with most other colours and it tones with everything else. Aqua looks amazing when teamed with russet or chocolate and makes a zingy and youthful statement when it is teamed with orange accessories. Aqua evokes feelings of freshness and vigour, and when we wear aqua we actually feel vital and healthy.
Wear aqua with white, amethyst or mint for a soft and refreshing affect.

Don’t confuse aqua and turquoise, aqua is bluey/green (more blue than green), turquoise is green/blue (70% green, 30% blue) and tends to give off elderly vibes!
In corporate or professional situations tone down aqua a notch or two by using neutral colours such as stone, cream or chocolate to complement it and thus enabling you to still wear it successfully.

Menopausal colours
They are Doomsday aren’t they? But how do we recognise them? It’s easy actually - menopausal colours are dusty and greyed colours. They have names like dusty rose, soft lilac and eau de nil, colour names we traditionally associate with elderly women. Every season they make the rounds and can present themselves as the bain of our lives.
However, musty and dusty colours can be useful, so don’t disregard them all together. They can be successfully used to soften and tone down colours that have become too bright for mature complexions. When combined in a pattern with other clearer colours, provided it is not the dominant colour, the menopausal colour is often barely noticeable. If it is solid, and in a very trendy, not too young, not too old, current style (a big ask!) a muted, dusty or greyed menopausal colour can be very wearable. Having said that, in the interests of our youthful persona it’s better to steer away from these stereotypical colours when given the choice!
Some of us gravitate naturally toward muted colours because these are the colours that suit us best. If this is you, that’s fine, wear the muted colours in current styles with confidence and panache. There is a difference between muted colours and dusty/greyed colours.
Try teaming muted colours with strong, clear accent colours for a youthful look.
Here’s how:
Wear a stone coloured jacket (muted colour) over a watermelon coloured top (accent colour) with a pair of rich chocolate pants (universal basic colour) and accessorize with a multi-toned scarf in stone, chocolate and watermelon (stronger, accent colours) to blend all the shades together.
Or take the same stone coloured jacket, throw it over a gorgeous classic periwinkle blue sweater, pull on a pair of dark pants (black, charcoal or dark blue denim) and add a funky, chunky metallic necklace. Youthful and polished!
In the navy
How often do we read in the fashion magazines that “Navy is the new black”? Well, I have to tell you that navy is not the new black! And it won’t be for a long time. Navy is the new menopausal colour. Yes, navy! That old faithful dark blue garment we trot out when we’re in doubt what to wear is actually on the top of the menopausal colour list! Younger people perceive navy as old fashioned and dated; it’s the colour they associate with their parents, grandparents, teachers and the elderly.

There was a column in The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper written by journalist Lisa Pryor who had observed an altercation on a bus. While the nature of the encounter was trivial – someone made calls on his mobile phone thereby irritating another passenger - the stereotypical descriptions are interesting:
“One of the nattering women, in navy cardigan and reading glasses, looked at the guy and started berating him.”
And there we have it, a triple menopausal whammy! The navy colour, the cardigan and the reading glasses all place the protagonist in the mature age group. We know what was happening! And it definitely was not youthful!

Dark blue (navy) denim jeans are seen as timeless, which is just as well as dark blue denim is the most flattering coloured jeans we can put on!
Apart from being a strong universal colour and suiting most people, navy coordinates with most other colours and this is the reason that universally it is the most prevalent uniform colour.
Update the navy garments kicking around in your wardrobe and wear them in a modern way.

Here’s some ideas:

• Navy works well with other dark colours.


• Uplift and intensify a navy skirt with a pair of burgundy coloured boots or highlight a navy summer dress with a pair of blue sandals in a bright shade.


• Avoid the cliché of navy and white unless you are a sailor.


• Avoid the next cliché of navy, white and red unless you are a French sailor!


• Could you slip a slim tan coloured woven leather belt around the waistband of a navy skirt?


• A gorgeous garnet coloured top gives navy pants understated, low contrast elegance and a new lease on life.


• How about wearing a shiny emerald shirt beneath a classic navy jacket? If the old rhyme ‘Blue and green should never be seen, except upon a fairy queen’ rings true for you, then remember you are The Fairy Queen!

Black Magic
Black is the most misused, misunderstood colour of all. It is not considered to be a universal colour nor is it known as a menopausal colour. In fact black is not actually a colour, like white, it is the absence of colour!
Black makes us feel slimmer, taller and more chic, but as we mature black also has the power to drain our faces of colour and throw cruel shadows that emphasize our lines. This is because black reflects little, if any light.
Black is proclaimed to be the king of the fashion industry. It is a perennial favourite and seen everywhere every fashion season. Black does not suit everybody, and it does few favours to women over 35.
Black has made us lazy; we throw on a black garment when we can’t decide what to wear. We’ve fallen into the habit of considering black to be a ‘safe option’. It’s not.
Black is not our friend, and it should not be treated lightly.
If you must wear black there are some strategies to help you pull it off successfully:

• Any garment worn below the waistline does not reflect its colour onto your face and will therefore be ok. That’s good news when you consider how slimming a pair of black pants is compared with a pair of light coloured pants!


• The lower the neck line, the less impact black will have on your face. Showing some décolletage and baring your arms detracts from the harshness of black. The more body shrouded in black, the more scary the appearance.


• A soft shade worn near your face counteracts black’s severe effect. Wear a necklace, a metal chain, pearls, a coloured scarf or wear a collared shirt in a light colour beneath a black Vee-neck pullover.


• Introduce a strong vertical line. Team a pair of black pants with a black camisole that skims your bust, and then add a great jacket in a colour that flatters your skin tone. Leave the jacket open. Stylists use this trick over and over again to visually slim female and male clients.


• Take fabric into consideration. Choose garments made from fabric with a fibre, texture, weave and surface that you know suits you. Soft draping fabrics such as medium woven knits, smooth fine silks or matte crepe wool suit most people.


• Brighten your lips. Ramp up your lipstick colour a notch or two more than you’d normally wear (pink of course!) or slick pink lip gloss over your usual lipstick when you are wearing black clothes.


• Wear a scarf or a wrap in colours that enhance your skin tone.

Laundering black garments
To get longevity from black clothes (or any dark coloured clothing) turn the garment inside out and wash in liquid fabric softener instead of soap powder or soap liquid.
Peg them inside out to dry in the shade and iron them inside out too.

Colour strategies
Pink is the colour most associated with youth and beauty; it flatters the mature complexion and looks great with black. The exception is baby pink – it’s just too pale for most mature women and looks best on soft little babies and soft little old ladies. If your skin tone is cool wear hues from the sunrise spectrum of infinite pinks – pastel pink, pale cameo, lolly pink and deep rose pink. If your skin tone is warm then the golden sunset pinks are for you – coral, warm pink, pale peach and light salmon pink.
White is subtly sexy. If all else fails throw on something white – a shirt, tee shirt or a white top and blast up the colour with a bright scarf or necklace.
Team colours that you haven’t worn together before. Chocolate and black convey a feeling of understated elegance. Wear aqua and orange with white accessories for a fashion-forward and youthful appearance, or try putting together a warm and earthy red and russet combination.
Black and navy are another subtle, low contrast combination that is great for casual wear.
Recharge navy and ramp it up a couple of notches with purple. This works even better when there is a high percentage of blue in the purple.
There is no rule that says you can’t wear black in the summer, keep it below the waist for a sophisticated look.
Wear white in the winter. Why shouldn’t you be a snow queen or an ice princess? Mix and blend ivory, cream and white with patterns and textures.
Mixing patterns works best when the patterns contain similar, the same or have related colours. The easiest combination to pull off is two patterns- for example a thin stripe and a delicate paisley, mixed with a third, solid unifying colour. Alternatively mix two solid colours with one pattern containing the two solid colours. Bring textures into play as patterns.
Colour Impact
Colour associations influence our feelings, moods, impressions and well being. Each colour family contains a range of temperature elements and a spectrum of shades from light to dark. For example if we take orange we can start at the light end of the spectrum with pale, icy orange which has a cool temperature and a light shade. When we travel the gamut to the other end of the spectrum we find deep pumpkin with a warm temperature and dark shade.
There will be a colour in each family that you like and look good in.
Yellow
It’s the colour of sunshine and always associated with youth and happiness!
Yellow garments look best when they are made from natural fibres – cotton, linen and silk. Yellow man-made fabrics tend to look cheap – the exception is the universally popular bright yellow plastic mackintosh!
The most flattering yellows are pale and slightly muted – maize, butter, and banana, and when these yellows are teamed with aqua and ivory, or soft apricot and pale pink they have a shimmery gelato effect.
Choice of shade is important when it comes to yellow; it works really well as a companion colour when it is coordinated with lilac, black, taupe, white, orange or grey. Yellow is a great casual colour.
Stronger yellows – gold and buttercup demand hot intense coordinates such as tobacco, burnt orange or lipstick red.
Yellow and black are by far the strongest attention attracting combination you can wear, but if you wear yellow and black stripes you’ll look like a bumble bee!
Green
Considered to be a healing colour, green is the colour that is easiest on the eye. We instinctively turn to green if we are stressed or suffering from emotional trauma,
It is the colour known to ground (or anchor) our feelings and emotions.
Green elicits feelings of youthfulness, relaxation and balance.
The most attractive green garments are made from natural fibres – wool, cotton, linen and silk.
Dark green garments can successfully replace black garments in your wardrobe.
Try switching up your wardrobe and wearing some unusual combinations for a change– dark racing green with sea green, purple and mustard, or go for big impact and team emerald green with lime, turquoise and purple! Looks fabulous, and why not?
Blue
The most loved and most worn of all the colours, versatile blue flits effortlessly from day to night and from casual to formal.
Think of the colours of the sea when you are coordinating several blues. Recall images of a warm tropical lagoon - turquoise, periwinkle, sky blue and navy, to the chilly waters of Antarctica – dove grey, white, pewter and ice blue.
Blue is the colour of loyalty, faithfulness, top prizes (blue ribbon), and love; which is why the traditional bride carries ‘something blue’ on her wedding day.
Blues look clean and fresh when they are coordinated with white; they look rich when they are combined with cream.
Pale to mid blues do not look as good when they are teamed with black.
Purple
Purple is the colour we associate with people we consider to be sexy, powerful, passionate, wealthy, sophisticated and spiritual.
Purple is the regal colour of bishops and kings.
Find the purple that is yours and work it into your wardrobe.
Purple is more rare and royal than navy although the two colours together form an elegant alliance. It has great feminine appeal when it’s coordinated with garments in the pink family.
Purple takes on a mystical air when it is teamed with neutral, conservative colours such as stone.
Purple stands alone well – a solid purple dress for example looks fantastic on its own. Carefully chosen accessories in olive, burgundy or deep green bring an earthy sexiness to this most royal of colours.
A dash of black, or green-turquoise, grey or khaki dresses purple up.
Fuchsia, orange and strong pinks add zing.
Brown
Bringing warmth to every colour it is combined with, brown relies on fabulous fabrics and textures to reveal its beauty; otherwise it can be bland and boring.
Use dark brown (chocolate) to replace black in your wardrobe.
Brown has a more casual and more comfortable feel than black, and it is kinder to the mature complexion.
Brown and black are a subtle combination. Brown coordinates and pulls together all the earthy colours, plus the orangey autumn colours, and purple, raspberry and beige.
When it’s mixed with green, grey or tomato red brown takes on a smart appearance.
Red
Red is the strongest, most radiant and dynamic of all the colours, a little red in clothing can go a long way. It is considered the most energetic colour; red demands attention.
Not surprisingly red is the preferred colour of the economically stable, the secure and the risk takers!
Red harmonizes surprisingly beautifully with light pink and light yellow and it adds a touch of sophistication to pink and grey combinations.
Wear it at full blast with pink, orange, tobacco and fuchsia.
Pink
Universally symbolizing love and beauty, pink elicits feelings of calm, relaxation, kindness, consideration, acceptance and contentment.
Pink is used as an appetite suppressant in diet therapy.
Navy and brown garments take on a sophisticated edge when they are teamed with pink.
A combination of pink and magenta, fuchsia or aqua looks fantastic; pink can be overpowering when it is worn alone, but when pink is teamed with orange-red and watermelon it fires hot and sexy!
Orange
Orange is always considered a young colour, and is usually associated with youth, energy and fun.
If your skin tone is cool and you love orange try the tamarillo shades, or wear pale apricot or peach accessories to add orangey hints to your outfit.
If your skin is warm toned, if you are olive or sun-bronzed, any orange will totally be your colour so go for it!

That's it for colour! Coming next is Day 11. Define Your Style. There is a lengthy piece on Jeans Genius - how to identify the perfect pair of jeans and five suggestions to wear a denim jacket. We look at mixing styles up - it's so easy to be stylishly presented when you know what to put with what (and what not to!), how not to look too polished and 10 hot ways to switch your look from up to down.
I hope you've enjoyed colour, if you have any comments or questions I'll try to answer them, I'd love to hear from you. Kisses, Dawn