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November 2010 - This Season’s Party Dresses
Well the party season is swiftly approaching and we are faced with the dreaded realisation that all the fad diets, exercise regimes and keep fit notions we held close to our hearts earlier in the year are now completely gone out the window- the stomach is still saggy, the boobs are still big and the extra pounds on our hips are now starting to take hold of our thighs!!! So, with the prospect of endless parties and copious amounts of bevies and food to look forward to, what dress will best highlight our asset’s and cleverly camouflage the problem areas? We want a dress that will hide ever so discretely the excess stomach weight and a dress that would have left Marilyn Monroe green with envy over the feminine curves we have. So the main question on everyone’s mind is what dresses have the magical ability to do such wonderful things to our body shape? Fear not as I have picked my top 5 dresses to help camouflage the following problem areas:
Prominent Stomach
Large Bust
Small Bust
No Waist
Wide Hips
Prominent Stomach
This is a very clever dress design from Karen Millen. The Vertical block black lines on both sides of the dress will help give the illusion of a smaller Silhouette and the ruched detailing to the side will camouflage any stomach problems.
Large Bust
This party dress from French Connection ticks all the boxes for me. The deep V neck line will help accommodate the larger busted lady thus not having to compromise going up a dress size due to your bust. The band will also help nip you in at your smallest point - the waist, which is a plus.
Small Bust
This Dress from River Island has a high neck line which is of the utmost importance when trying to add cleavage when the difficulty is, there is a lack of it! Finish this look by adding a long pendant which in turn will add further bulk to the bust area.
No Waist
A lot of ladies may think having no waist is not a problem but without a waist been highlighted your feminine shape can get lost. This dress from Karen Millen is exactly what I was looking for. The structured shoulder line and pockets help by giving emphasise and shape to both areas and WALA you have a defined waist with a curvaceous body!
Wide Hips
This dress from River Island has a slight A-Line look to the end which will gracefully go over the hip area and as the detail is on the top of the dress this will distract the eye to your better asset which is your face. Remember where the detail is in the dress this is the part of your body going to be highlighted.
I hope this will make your Christmas Party Dress Shopping a lot more fun and now hopefully easier.
June 2010 - Weight Loss Makeover
I met with Stephanie - who has recently lost 4 stone in weight - and show her how to shop for her new body shape:
June 2010 - Swimwear Success
Not looking forward to buying a Suimsuit for the Summer? See below how my little tricks can help you feel more comfortable at the beach, or by the pool:
March 2010 - Swimwear Tips
It’s nearly that time of year when we bare all! I’m sure that some of us have not stuck to our strict salad and grilled chicken diet to lose those extra pounds and now find the thought of striping down to our miniscule bikini’s (that we purchased as our target) a tad bit daunting!! So if you are in the thousands that suffer from first day pool side nerves then follow my few basic tips below.
On the first few days of your holiday start with flattering darker colours, getting brighter the braver and more sun-kissed you get.
Large Bust
- If your bust area is the problem then go for either
1) a scooped,
2) v-necked or
3) wide strapped halter neck swim suit as they will help minimise this area. - Make sure to have good support (such as an under-wire) in the bust area to keep everything in the correct position.
- No support tops - these are for A and B cups only.
- If back fat is an issue, avoid string ties as they will definitely dig in. Opt for wider straps.
No Bust
- If you have a flat chest then detailing, frills or sequence will add volume to this area.
Broad Shoulders
- Try a block colour top with stripy pants to balance the body.
- Go for wider straps in the top, this helps minimise the amount of shoulder exposed.
Stomach Problems
- If you're un-toned and your stomach is a problem then go for a longer top. Tankinis will be your best friend.
- Go for Swim suits with panelling down the center or panels that gather from your waist and move out across the body as these lines will help nip in your stomach.
- For a slimmer look try a plain block colour.
- Be careful with metallics and shiny fabrics as they can add pounds.
Hips and Thighs
- If you want to keep attention away from your hips purchase an embroidered or detailed neckline.
- Frilled bottoms add curves!
- Go for a wide strap around the hip area as strings will dig in and emphasis this area.
Cover Ups
- If you truly want to relax and breathe on the beach then try Kaftans.
- If petite, purchase kaftans that land just below your bum – don’t swamp yourself with too much material.
- If curvier then wished, then stay away from see through chiffons. Instead stick to cotton cover ups and block colours.
January 2010 - Wardrobe Workout
It’s that time of year when a good old fashion workout is on the cards. I’m not suggesting hitting the gym - I mean it's time for a wardrobe workout! A good wardrobe clearout is just as good as a days shopping as we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. Keep in mind a wardrobe workout is not just a clearout so you can buy more clothes. By going through your wardrobe you will actually find items you have forgotten about and can get wear out of again. As the big R word is still looming in our economy today, it’s vital we weed through what we have and look at how to get more wear out of it. For the month of January I have a special offer on my Wardrobe Weeding Consultation, the normal cost for three hours is €220 but it is discounted to €179. But for those of you who want to do a D.I.Y job on your wardrobe here are a few key rules you should keep in mind:
- Spend your money where you spend your time! Create a pie chart and fill in where you spend your time over a period of a week. If you work Monday to Friday then I’m sorry to say the majority of your wardrobe should be filled with work clothes. Continue to carry out this exercise for the remainder of the week. Then make a list of the type of clothes you wear in each category.
- Go through your wardrobe and separate them into these categories. See does the percentage on the pie chart match the percentage of clothes you have in each section. If you have items of clothing (which we all do) such as occasion wear which never see the light of day as they were purchased for a wedding, etc., just look at it and see can you dress it down to more casual look, can the three piece in your wardrobe be separated and the jacket worn with a nice trousers, can the top be worn with a skirt, etc. Start thinking outside the box when it comes to your wardrobe so that you can get the wear out of your clothes.
- Then make three piles for your clothes:
- First pile is for clothes you want to keep
- Second pile is for clothes that have seen their day and that you have got you wear out of them.
- Third pile is the maybe pile, such as maybe if I carried out alterations on this dress I can get more casual wear out of it, maybe if I sowed the pockets in this trousers it would flatter my hips better etc. - Lastly have a pen and paper with you for the next stage as this is where you make a list of the items of clothes you need updated and also of what to purchase in order to have a more capsule wardrobe. Make sure to bring your list with you when you go shopping, as I can guarantee you will go shopping for one thing and come with everything else except the item you were meant to purchase!
HAVE A HAPPY WORKOUT!
November 2009 - Thigh High Boots
One of the hottest style trends this Winter is the return of the Thigh High Boot made famous in the '90's by Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. See below a piece I did for Xposé on TV3 in November:
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