How to look good from know MY size

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How to look good

Apart from marrying a tall, dark and handsome millionaire, top of most women's wish list is to look good. It's not just a matter of buying the most expensive clothes from the top designers. It's about ensuring that the clothes you buy are right for you – it’s about dressing for your body shape.

Unless you happen to be a 5’10 supermodel, which lets be honest most of us are not, you are going to have dress to suit your body shape and you’ll be amazed with the results when you wear the right style for you.

In association with Caryn Franklin (BBC Clothes Show and BBC Style Challenge) we can bring to you a range of simple and straight forward e-books that will show you how to..

Create a stunning wardrobe on a budget
Work with all the tricks of a top stylist
Mix brands and cuts to flatter your body shape
Use colour and match it to your skin and hair tone
Work with print and pattern
Accessories the easy way
Use clothes with subtle visual features that will enhance your strengths and play down your weaknesses
Create your own style signature

Just choose your body style (Standard, Curvy, Petite and Tall) from the four books listed below and follow the link to purchase them - they are a steal at under £10 each - it's the best investment for £10 you will ever make!

Read more advice for standard body shapes

Standard body shapes
You are a standard height and although there may be more clothing ranges in your stores, this isn’t always a good thing because you feel inundated with choice. Not knowing which clothes to pick to showcase your body makes you feel less than confident. Further on in the book we will discuss your body shape in more detail and I have many tricks for flattering your individual silhouette as you will see, but let me outline a few key things that will have influenced your style up unto this point.

You don’t enjoy shopping because you’re not confident about the choices you make. Consequently your style is undefined. You like the look of the garment on the hanger but when it doesn’t fit right you get disheartened. You like colour and pattern but always end up in dark colours because it’s just easier. Fashion confuses you. It might look all right on models but you can’t work it in to your wardrobe.

I’ve worked with a lot of women who say they don’t understand why they can’t feel good about the clothing choices they make and often blame their bodies for being at fault. As you work your way through this book you will learn how to pick clothes confidently, allowing you to relax and enjoy the way you look. But first let me empower you immediately with some key points

Don’t

Make do with clothes that don’t fit very well.
Wear clothes that are shapeless and non descript and do nothing for your individual shape.
Keep a wardrobe packed full to the gills of clothes that don’t work for you.
Buy clothes without really understanding what they will or won’t do for your figure.
Rely on dark colours or bland nondescript tones.
Rely upon the limited collections that shops carry.

Do

Prioritise fit. Your girlfriends who are tall, petite or fuller have always been more aware of the need for clothes to fit. As a standard shape you have not placed that much importance on fit before after all – you don’t have to seek out specialist sizes in the way they do. However, you do need to be more discerning from here in. Good fit signifies confidence and the regard you have for yourself.

Sort your wardrobe out now – a cluttered messy wardrobe is your worst enemy if you want to dress with style and confidence. I guarantee that you are giving closet space to clothes you haven’t worn for ages and will never wear again. See my easy to work action plan on how to identify the closet clutter from the wardrobe essentials further on.

Choose clothes that work with your body to flatter your silhouette – this means making confident choices about shaped and structured clothes instead of making do with shapeless nondescript items. As you work through the book you will see all the illustrations of clothes that I recommend for your individual body shape. The neckline or width of lapel you choose, the skirt or jacket shape can all help you balance your body. Once you are familiar with these shapes and features, selecting the right clothes will be a piece of cake.

Add colour to your wardrobe. If it feels like a bold and attention seeking thing to do then start by adding a flash of colour as part of your accessories, let’s say a belt or a bag before you move to a whole garment. Print is also instantly feminising and is a way of adding life and excitement to your wardrobe. It doesn’t have to be bright either; with print you get the opportunity to stay in your comfort zone with darker colours, before you graduate on to something more adventurous. Of course the weight of the print and where you place it is important and that is something I discuss later.

Use our specially compiled clothing directories to track items you need for any specialist fits. These basics are crucial to keep in mind, while you continue to learn about dressing your body shape. Read more...

Fuller body shapes
You are curvy. This need not be your defining characteristic but it may be something that you are subconsciously much more influenced by than you realise when it comes to defining your look. Further on in the book we will discuss your body shape in more detail and I have many tricks for flattering your individual silhouette as you will see, but let me outline a few key things that will have influenced your style up to this point.

You wear clothes that are loose and shapeless because you think it camouflages your body. You like layers to cover up. You haven’t been correctly fitted for a bra for a while now but you’d rather guess at a smaller cup size than the one you really need. You quite like bold colours but don’t really know how to wear pattern and colour. Fashion confuses you. It might look all right on models but on real women with curves it never works.

I’ve worked with a lot of women who enjoy clothes and have a large wardrobe full of them but never seem to pick something that helps them to feel confident as well as comfortable. You don’t have to compromise and as you can see from the illustrations in this book there are many styles that you can now prioritise in the knowledge that you can choose clothes to flatter your curves. As you work your way through this book you will learn how to pick clothes confidently but first let me empower you immediately with some key points.

Don’t

Choose clothes that have square silhouettes or shapeless outlines. The casual shirt and the unisex t-shirt are good examples here.
Reach for colours that come from opposite ends of the spectrum to wear on your body at the same time.
Select plain flat or matt fabrics that have no personality and are lifeless to look at, or stiff or crisp fabrics that are too inflexible and deprive you body of any shape at all.
Wear clothes that unwittingly draw attention to the widest or most dominant part of your body
Rely upon the limited collections that shops carry.

Do

Choose clothes that will give you subtle definition around the bust. This means using fitted shapes like soft empire lines and soft knitwear. Anything that is loose and unfitted around this area will make you look larger and squarer.

Choose colours from the same colour grouping like browns in rich chocolate colours complimented by lighter tones and highlighted with a touch or orange or maroon. There are clearly many groups you can make depending on your own preferences but what I’m saying is that a riot of colour say red, yellow and green all on one body, will not give you the elongation you need.

Have fun with fabrics, these are crucial for creating a soft and feminine silhouette and anything too stiff will make you look boxy and square. Consider fabrics and the qualities they have. Many now have modern sheens, metallic finishes and handmade uneven weaves.

Look at the texture of your clothes as these can start to subtly influence your look too. For example, choose two-tone tweeds that, when incorporated into a jacket look much more appealing and tactile than a monotone and mannish tailored finish.

Know, that most clothes have interesting features on them that, when chosen with knowledge will draw the eye away from the widest or most dominant part of your body – this is something we will go into in more detail further in the book.

Make sure you are correctly fitted for a bra as this will give you a much more pert shape and accentuate your waist because your bust sits higher up your ribcage. I’ve lost count of the times I have just tightened straps to make a better silhouette. The right cup size and bandwidth however will give you the comfort you deserve.

Do use our specially compiled ‘fuller’ directory so that we can connect you with online retailers who offer you a great product to build a wardrobe full of stylish clothes.

These basics are crucial to keep in mind, apply them and all the other body shape tips you are about to receive to the illustrations of clothes I show you. Read more...

Petite body shapes
You are petite. This need not be your defining characteristic but it may be something that you are subconsciously much more influenced by than you realise when it comes to defining your look. Further on in the book we will discuss your body shape in more detail and I have many tricks for flattering your individual silhouette as you will see, but let me outline a few key things that will have influenced your style up unto this point.

You sometimes wear oversized clothes that look like they don’t quite fit you. You feel you can never look authoritative enough. You like colour and pattern but find it can make you look childlike and because you want to avoid that, you stick to darks and plains. Fashion confuses you. It might look all right on models but you can’t work it in to your wardrobe.

I’ve worked with a lot of women who say they feel short and insignificant and have no idea how to use clothes to create the illusion of height. As you work your way through this book you will learn how to pick clothes confidently but first let me empower you immediately with some key points.

Don’t

Wear clothes that are baggy and long. It is far better to have fewer clothes in your wardrobe that fit you well rather than many that don’t.
Reach for bold primary colours the sort that are often used in children’s school uniform.
Mix fabric textures so that your body is full of busy eye catching materials.
Choose shapeless clothes or clothes that are too busy and fussy with too many details.
Wear your skirt lengths too long.
Rely upon the limited collections that shops carry.

Do

Make sure you get the fit you need searching out the labels that cater to your size and if this means still having to get them altered in length then so be it. Many dry cleaners will do basic alterations on skirts, trousers and cuffs and this will make an enormous difference not just to the look that others see but also to your own perception of yourself.

Add colour to your wardrobe but consider your choices so that the colours you choose have a level of sophistication. Any flat colour that looks as though it could have been used as part of a school uniform choice needs to be avoided – you will look like a schoolchild yourself in a primary or royal blue for instance. Seek out the more contemporary tone. Iced colours are better than pastels, rich opulent hues look mores sophisticated then washed out flat tones.

Consider fabrics and the qualities they have and be aware that many garments are made of materials with sheens, metallic finishes and handmade uneven weaves. Too many different fabrics on your body will look indecisive and cluttered.

Choose clothes that have definition. Children’s clothes are often cheaply made and are plain. Never wear a plain t-shirt for instance when you can wear a top that has a feature around the upper body to create focus and pick a neckline that will flatter your shoulders and bust line. Check the illustrations on neckline to see which shape is right for you and implement it now!

Stand in front of the mirror and check you are wearing your skirt length high enough. Lifting the hem an inch higher could make all the difference because it’s about balance and if your skirt is too long it will immediately make your legs look shorter.

Do use our specially compiled ‘petite’ directory so that we can connect you with online retailers who offer you a great product to build a wardrobe full of stylish clothes.

These basics are crucial to keep in mind, apply them and all the other body shape tips you are about to receive to the illustrations of clothes I show you. Read more...

Tall body shapes
You are tall. This need not be your defining characteristic but it may be something that you are subconsciously much more influenced by than you realise when it comes to defining your look. Further on in the book we will discuss your body shape in more detail and I have many tricks for flattering your individual silhouette as you will see but let me outline a few key things that will have influenced your style up to this point.

You don’t wear attention seeking clothes or bright colours because you already feel that you stand out enough. You take a larger shoe size or a wider fit and feel there is less choice out there, but you don’t want to wear heels because it adds inches. Sometimes you feel you even look too masculine and long to appear more feminine but you want it to be effortless. Picking the right things isn’t as easy as it looks. Fashion confuses you. It might look all right on models who are the same height as you but as soon as you try it you feel a fraud.

I’ve worked with a lot of women who have played it safe and relied on worn dark plain clothes in the belief that it makes them look fairly invisible, when all it does it give them an air of stern inapproachability. Some have even asked me why it is that others find them intimidating. This is particularly undesirable in the work place for obvious reasons. As you work your way through this book you will learn how to pick clothes confidently but first let me empower you immediately with some key points.

Don’t

Wear clothes that have hard masculine features like shapeless shirts, or plain fine gauge knitwear with no sensuality or surface qualities.
Reach for dark colours that will make you look stern or bland neutrals like khakis or greys, that will make you look mannish.
Select plain flat or matt fabrics that have no personality and are lifeless to look at.
Rely upon the limited collections that shops carry.

Do

Choose clothes that have softer features. Fitted blouses with shaping and feminine touches like pussy bows for instance still perform the same function as a plain shirt. For knitwear choose textured knits like cable, where you can enjoy the soft rounded knitted stitching. This will add a level of femininity and sensuality and you can take it further. A soft wrap around style with a knitted collar will be far more interesting than a plain pullover. Designs that have a certain amount of volume in them will always feminise your silhouette, simply put this means look for garments that have more material in them; the illustrations in this book will tell you exactly what to prioritise.

Add colour to your wardrobe. If it feels like a bold and attention seeking thing to do then start by adding a flash of colour as part of you accessories, let’s say a belt or a bag before you move to a whole garment. Print is also instantly feminising and is a way of adding life and excitement to you wardrobe. It doesn’t have to be bright either with print you get the opportunity to stay in your comfort zone with darker colours, before you graduate on to something more adventurous. Of course the weight of the print is important and that is something I discuss later.

Consider fabrics and the qualities they have. Many now have modern sheens, metallic finishes and handmade uneven weaves or slubs. Look at the texture of your clothes as these can start to subtly influence your look too. For example, choose two-tone tweeds that, when incorporated into a jacket look much more appealing and tactile than a monotone and mannish tailored finish.

Wear attentions seeking shoes with heels and enjoy your legs maybe compliment textured or coloured hosiery. The focus they receive will be drawing the eye down the body. A kitten heel may only add a few ‘cms’ in height but in terms of feminising your whole look it will be priceless.

Do use our specially compiled ‘tall’ directory so that we can connect you with online retailers who offer you a great product to build a wardrobe full of stylish clothes.

These basics are crucial to keep in mind, apply them and all the other body shape tips you are about to receive to the illustrations of clothes I show you. Read more...

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