Trust me, you can pull it off without looking like a teenager.  Try pairing them with a black pump or some stylish ballet flats.  Wear them with a white tee or go monochromatic with a top in a matching color.  Going out on the town?  How about bringing a cardigan or jacket to wear with your new colored jeans?

What color will be your favorite?  Mine is red!  Give it a try.

Have you had that moment when someone stopped you and said “that sure looks good on you?”  We all have that one outfit that just works? Why?  Because it compliments our body shape.

Knowing your body shape and what looks best on your body can make a big difference in selecting your clothes.  Styling Rules are hardly generic.  As a matter of fact, they should be customized to the individual.  Everyone comes in different body sizes and shapes. We all need to learn what to wear and what to avoid in order to best  flatter our body shape.

Want to make sure you have the best fit possible?  Find out your body shape. 

There are five basic body shapes.  Although you may not fit exactly into one particular shape definition, many women can identify a primary shape that their body type resembles.   You can use this shape as a general guide to how to wear clothes that create a proportionate look and draw attention to their best features.

Let’s get started in helping you find your right fit.   Pick which description best fits your body.

You are an Inverted Triangle if:

Your shoulders and upper half part are wider than your hips. You’re known for having an athletic-looking body shape! Your frame is quite common among catwalk models.  Your main goal when putting on clothes should be to add more volume and attention to your hips and legs. Examples: wide leg jeans, bright colored shoes, hemlines that flare outwards, light colored bottom. Celebrities known to have an inverted triangle body shape: Reneé Zellweger, Naomi Campbell, Teri Hatcher

You are a Triangle if:

Your hips and thighs are your body’s center stage. That means they’re wider than the rest of your body. Your shoulders are most likely narrow and you have a defined waist. Your goal for dressing your triangle body should be to add more volume and highlighting details to your shoulders and upper body. Examples: Puffed sleeves, white top, horizontal stripes, and boat neck. Minimize your hips with dark colors. Celebrities known to have a triangle body shape are: Beyoncé, Jennifer Love-Hewitt, Coleen McLoughlin

You are a Rectangle if:

Your shape looks athletic with bust and hips of approximately the same width. You have little or no waist definition.  Your main goal should be to add more width to the shoulders and at the hips. Trim the waist. Examples:  Slim down the waist with a simple black fashion belt, waist-cinching tops and dresses. Celebrities known to have a rectangle body shape are: Cameron Diaz, Nicole Kidman, and Hilary Duff

You are an Hourglass if

Your upper and lower half parts have approximately the same width. Your waist is also defined.  An Hourglass Body Shape is considered to be the most ideal body shape because of its proportions, both upper and lower half are in line with each other.   When it comes to dressing your shape, your goal is to flaunt your classic proportionate body shape by using your waist as a focal point. Celebrities with an hourglass body shape: Megan Fox, Salma Hayek, Scarlet Johansson, Halle Berry

You are an Oval Body Shape if:

You have a full chest, upper back with no or little waist definition. You might appear top heavy. And your bust and midriff might appear bigger than your hips. Your main goal when dressing your body shape is to slim the chest and waist. Add more width to your hips. Examples: Deep necklines, print skirts, boot cut/flare/wide leg pants. Celebrities known to have an oval/apple body shape: Chandra Wilson, Rosie O’Donnell,

Remember when dressing your body, wearing clothes that are bigger or smaller than your size can make the difference more obvious.  For example, if you are skinny then a top that is too big or that has too many layers can overwhelm and “tip over” your frame.  It draws more attention to how thin you are.  Conversely, if you are full figured and wear small print items or items that are made of thin or sheer fabric, you will make yourself look heavier.

It can be difficult to be objective about your body shape. So, if you still can’t decide which shape you are contact me for your body shape analysis and you will be on your way to perfect fitting clothes.

The other day I had on a black t-shirt and when I looked in the mirror something just didn’t look right.  Had I gained that much weight over night?  What was the deal?  Oh my goodness! It was my bra! Actually, the straps and loosened and yes, I was sagging!!!!  Not a pretty picture. Ironically, that same day I was out and saw a nice looking very stylish young lady but…she had outgrown her bra.

Did you know that 8 out of 10 women wear the wrong bra size?  Is this you?  There are several reasons why this happens.  It could be because of weight gain or weight loss or the bra has stretched from wearing over time.

Some signs that your bra may not fit correctly are, discomfort when wearing; spillage over from the sides of the cups; and/or the straps are too tight.

What should you do if this is you? Run and get measured  so you can get into the correct size.  You can measure yourself however it is best to be properly fitted by an expert.  In addition to Victoria’s Secret, many large department stores such as Dillard’s, Macy’s and Nordstrom offer free bra fittings.  It is recommended that you are refitted yearly as your size could change.  Either way, a few questions to ask yourself  when trying on a new bra are:

1. Does it feel good?  It shouldn’t pull or poke and should still feel comfortable when you sit down.
2. Does it look good?  With a t-shirt on does it give you a smooth look?
3. Does it wrinkle?  Make sure there are no fabric wrinkles or baggy cups.  If so, you may need to go down a size.
4. Are you falling out?  There should be no spillage.  If there is, go up a size.
5. Are the straps too tight?
6. Can you wear it on the lowest hook?  You should have the opportunity to tighten as it stretches.

Wearing the wrong bra can really make a nice look go down hill quickly.  Make sure that doesn’t happen to you.  After you get your new bras, try to buy more than one,  go through your drawer and throw away the old stretched out, too big or too small bras.  Remember, they don’t last forever.  Treat your new bras with TLC.  It’s best to wash them by hand or put them in a lingerie bag.

Lingerie Laundry Bag

Happy bra shopping.  You are going to love your new look!

Ready to try out new looks?  Get ready to use your style eyes as you rediscover old gems and find new ways to mix and match your clothes to fit in with currents trends.

Step One: Start by flipping through current magazines and see what colors pop out.  Are you drawn to a particular theme such as romantic, classic or modern?  What attracts you about shoes, handbags and jewelery?  Tear out the items that you like.

Step Two:  What do you have in closet that resembles the pictures that you tore out?  Look for color.  Do you you have the latest “in” color or a variation of that color in your closet?  Look for patterns in your closet.  Do you have any of the patterns that you saw in the magazines?  For instance, if leopard is in, do you have leopard leggings, scarf or a handbag? If so, pull it out and wear it.

Step Three: Once you’ve found your trend pieces, start to make outfits. Incorporate your recycled trend pieces into simple new outfits.  Try a straight-leg pant and simple neutral blouse with a trendy animal print cardigan-classy, yet adventurous.  Or pair a grey suit with the hot current fashion color you found in your closet.  Write down these new combinations so you don’t forget.   Have an IPhone or IPad?  Try one of these apps; Closet-Clothing Organized, My Fashion Closet or Stylish Girl/Cool Guy to help you remember your combinations.

Step Four: Sometimes the key trends are in the accessories.  All you may need is a chunky necklace, a detailed fun handbag, a patterned scarf or a colorful watch.  Look in your jewelry box for some of your forgotten accessories.

Step Five: Good posture and a confident attitude will be the final accessories you put on before you walk out the door in your new outfits.

If you still feel unsure of yourself and how to put together outfits, give me a call and I can help you out. My “style eyes” can help you find what will work in your closet and we’ll create a shopping list of any missing pieces.

1.  Keep your wardrobe of separates down to 2 or 3 basic colors for maximum versatility.

2.  Do not spend a lot of money on here today gone tomorrow trend items.

3.  Buy your wardrobe foundation garments and shoes in the best quality you can afford.

4.  Keep impulse shopping to a minimum.  I know, that is sometimes easier said than done.

5.  Only shop when you know what you want.

6.  Don’t go into debt over clothes!

7.  Shop designer labels when on sale.  You can find good deals at stores like Nordstrom’s Rack, Saks Off Fifth,TJ Maxx and Marshalls to name a few.

8.  Develop an accessory wardrobe to vary the look of your clothes.  You can dress an outfit up or down with the right accessories.  Try adding some color with a bold bracelet or necklace.

9.  Never shop last minute for an important or expensive garment.  You are bound to buy something that you really don’t like and is over priced.

10.  Consider the price beyond the price tag.  If you can’t afford to dry clean the garment and prefer to wash and wear, pass it by.

Now that you are armed with the 10 Shopping Strategies go out and have some fun!!!  Let me know how they work for you.

Every day new looks hit the fashion scene.   Maintaining a wardrobe that is current takes a discerning eye, forward planning and the ability to know when to walk on by and let something pass.

Shopping trips need to be carefully planned if your goal is to come home with things you like and want to wear.

The 3 biggest reasons why women cannot find what they want are:

• They do not know what styles their body requires to look good.
• They do not leave themselves enough time to find what they need.
• They do not plan where they will need to go to find what they want or need.

Do any of these sound familiar?  Stay tuned for the first step in  Shopping 101, Getting Ready. We will explore tips on how to make shopping work for you.

In the meantime, contact me if you want to go shopping now but need a little help.  I would be glad to help you find the right outfit.  Be sure to contact me at www.yourtotalimage.net.

I said yes and quickly had to figure out how to transform my home look to a public look in mere minutes.  Having gone through this a time or two recently I thought I’d share tips with you that will have you looking cute in five minutes!

Lipstick and mascara make a world of difference and take less than 2 minutes. Put on a hue of bright red or pale pink and already you look more polished.

A dramatic scarf can be an easy go-to accessory and take less than thirty seconds to put on. Pick one with bright, loud colors or one with a pretty patterned print or interesting texture. Wrap it around your neck, around your shoulders, or around your handbag and that extra detail will add interest to any outfit.

Bangles on your wrist add movement and an additional fashion focal point. Store a stack of them on a decorative paper towel holder so you can see your collection in one spot. Layer multiple metallic hues together or colorful jewel-toned ones one on top of the other and move onto the next step in 30 seconds.

A cute bag is a great addition to a put together look. Grab one (not your work bag!) that has a color, texture or shine that is repeated in your outfit and  you’ve outdone yourself. Take one minute to choose and transfer the important necessities: keys, wallet, phone, and lipstick.

Cute shoes will keep your best fashion foot forward and have you looking great from your pretty face down to your pretty toes. Go ahead and choose an open-toed pair,only if your toes are polished. Otherwise, go for a cute ballet flat or one of those statement pairs of shoes, the ones that you’ve been waiting for the right moment to wear. This is that moment! There’s no time like right now to look fabulous and ready to join your friends.

Don’t forget the hair.  Now is the time to sport that trendy cap or try a pony tail with a fashionable hair ornament.

See?  That only took five minutes!

If you’re not so sure you can pull this fashion feat off, then call me! I’ll be there to help you create several five-minute outfits that you feel fabulous in.

5  Tips that will help you look Fashionable, Stylish and Confident.

1.   Wear what you love.  They say when you look good, you feel good.  Make sure that your clothes fit properly.    Select clothing that flatters your figure.  Understanding your body shape can help you prevent spending money on items that you will never wear.  Only purchase items that will enhance your shape.

2.    Bring a new color into your wardrobe.  Color can boost your mood and get you noticed.  Choose colors that are bright and uplifting.  You can add a splash of color to an outfit by adding a scarf, jewelry or a blouse.  You will look more vibrant with a great color mix.

3.   Keep in mind that your face is a focal point. You don’t want to leave the house with a great outfit and neglect the face.  Make sure your makeup is a part of your overall polished look.

4.   A good hairstyle is an important aspect of your professional look.  Find a hairstylist that will help you put together a look that is easy to maintain. Commit to allowing time each morning to make sure that your “new do” looks good.

5.   Remember to add accessories.  Accessorizing your outfit gives the finishing touch.  Your accessory could be a nice necklace and your favorite bracelet.  For that perfect business look don’t forget to add a stylish leather briefcase or laptop bag.

Successful people dress today for the position they want tomorrow.  When you combine a stylish professional image with a commitment to continuous growth in your knowledge and skill, you will put yourself on the fast track in your career.

“When you dress like a winner, you think, feel and act like a winner.”  Brian Tracy