7 steps to transformation-Step 7 Dress your shape
How to dress your shape
Our final step to your top to toe transformation is a 3 part step 7-Dress your age, dress your shape and dress your personality.
Part 2 of step 7 is -dress your shape.
Remember this all comes after you have determined your colours.
Colours is the basis to your image success.
Once you've understood your colours, all the rest will fall into place.
A simple way to dress your shape
Dressing your shape can be a complex equation of figures, dimensions and lengths, but there is a simple way for you to see what shapes, styles and designs best suit you.
I try to make this step as simple as possible for my clients, and learning to use our eye, is a great way to discover design.
One good way is to imagine yourself as a rectangle.
Some of course will be more rectangle than others depending on height and thinness.
A rectangular shape that's 6 feet tall and a size 8 will look different to a rectangle that's 5 feet tall and a size 16.
Look at yourself in the mirror and think about balance. How can you make that rectangle more balanced, considering shoulder and hip width?
You can make your rectangle more elongated by adding heels for example and slimming down the pant width?
Or maybe having mono colours and no patterns, if you are aiming to look taller, will give you a better shape.
There are lots of little tricks to get that balance right.
What shape are you?-straight or curvy?
To make life simple, I like to put women into only one of 2 categories for shape.
Of course there are many more, but as a personal stylist, I find this is simple way of dressing and it works every time.
You are either a straight shape or a curvy shape.
The straight shape is determined by a thicker waist. You may have a small or large bust. You may have a flat tummy or a fuller tummy especially as you mature. And as you mature, you may even develop a muffin top, which is very common. In general you have smaller hips as well.
The curvy shape will always have a slimmer waist. Usually bigger hips and bigger bust size goes with the curvy look aka Kim Kardashian.
So you can imagine yourself as a rectangle with a tie around the middle to pull it in like a bow.
How to dress the 2 shapes
The curvy shape
The curvier figure will look fabulous in fitted waisted clothes.
You can probably go a little tighter and more fitted. You're waist is an asset and belts and tuck ins are the go.
Often the curvy shape will have small shoulders with a large bust, scooped and cut out necks, minimizes and show off that feature.
Avoid detail around the hips, like pockets and stripes and frilled tops.
Fitted knee length skirts will slim down the hip area, but don't go too tight around the hips.
Bring all the focus towards the slimmer waist or the lower cut tops. Remember less fabric and fullness "tidies" the whole look.
Jackets sit neatly just below the waist. The Chanel cut works wonders.
Each body is individual so a little trial and error always helps.
The straight shape
Of course the straight shape comes in all sizes. Dressing for success depends on your height and your size. A very tall slim person can wear lots of length and flow for example
A shorter straight figure should avoid garments that are too long and flowey as they will swamp you.
A general rule of thumb for most straight figures is to stick to classic shapes.
Avoid tuck ins or belts, unless you are very slim.
Fitted but not tight tops sitting around the belly button or a little below are usually a good length. Don't wear things that are too tight, but not too loose and sloppy either.Tailored and nicely fitted garments look great.
If you are a straight body shape with broad shoulders, adopt ways to minimize shoulder width, like creating V necks and have smaller jacket lapels and un padded shoulders.
These little tips are only a guide. Like I said every body is different and you will always benefit from a personal shopping trip with the help of a professional personal shopper.
https://www.yourcoloursandstyle.com.au/collections/services/products/personal-shopping-trip
Five ways to know if you're wearing your Colours.
Getting your Colours right is just so important to your Ultimate Image so read today's blog with 5 ways to tell if you do have them right or not.
How to wear your neutrals
How to wear your neutrals
What is a neutral colour?
I would describe a neutral colour as one that is quite benign. One that's not screaming for attention, and one that's a base for all of your other amazing colours.
Not everyone feels good in a pink and green outfit for example but they may enjoy wearing perhaps a green top with a neutral like grey.
It's good to start your wardrobe with your neutrals then add your colour in next.
But are all neutrals created equal? Definitely not. Many stylists are firm about having a base of dark cool neutrals like black, pure white, greys and navy’s with a splash of brown thrown in. But those neutrals are only found in the Winter Palette. Black doesn't go with everything, as we've been led to believe. And Winter neutrals don't go with Summer, Spring or Autumn neutrals.
As a colour consultant of 20 years, I have found these ideas to be quiet damaging as a whole to the fashion industry. Using black as a style staple is not useful to your Image picture.
Here's an example of working with a warm Autumn neutral and Black a cool dominant neutral to create a mismatched look.
YOU NEED TO FIND YOUR COLOURS AND THEN WORK WITH THE NEUTRALS IN YOUR PALETTE ONLY
For a stylish, complete, co-ordinated wardrobe that suits you down to the ground, you need to work with YOUR neutrals only.
The reason being, neutrals from another palette will not look good on you, and also will not go with the other shades or neutrals in your palette.
THE NEUTRAL COLOUR PALETTES.
Some stylists categorize people as neutrals. But I like to call only colours neutral not people.
Every colour is either a Cool Deep or dominant colour,(Winter) a cool muted colour,(Summer) a deep warm colour (Autumn) or a warm bright colour (Spring)
That's it. Every colour on the planet will slot into one of four palettes only. And you will be one of the four palettes as well. No sub colours or flow people in my opinion. Some colours "flow"but not people.
THE COLOUR SWATCH BOOKS FOR THE FOUR SEASONS
Get your colours right. There is Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter. What season are you and there is no need for any sub seasons.
You will have thousands of colours to choose from that will all look amazing on you.
So what are the four types of neutrals I’m speaking of?
Warm Deep or Autumn neutrals are lovely deep olive greens, rich creams, clays, golden browns, deep apricots, muddied burgundies and pumpkins to name a few as well as rich warm khakis and golds.
The bright Spring neutrals on the other hand are still warm but much lighter than their deep counterparts, so colours like light soft caramels, light creams, warm light browns, tans, peaches and apricots are part of the Spring neutrals.
Moving into the cooler palettes we have the boldness and clarity of the deep Winter colours, black, pure white, all greys, silvers, dark navys and deep deep browns.
Forget burgundy as some may include in the Winter palette. I reserve that for the muted cool neutrals of Summer. The denim which is a winter denim is dark navy blue.
Summer neutrals are cool and soft and muted. Ones like off whites, soft grey, cool taupes, cool beiges, light cool khakis, burgundy and maroons create a nice base and don’t forget your dusty navy’s. Please don’t forget light denim teams best with these colours.
With all this in mind you can see there is a plethora of colours, considered to be neutral.
So once you know your colours, you can stick to the neutrals within your season for best results. Ask your consultant how to incorporate these into your wardrobe.
It’s always best to get professional advice about your colours and be sure the colours actually “fit”with you.
If your not happy with your results after a colour analysis, my advice would be to get a 2nd and sometimes even a 3rd opinion until you get your colours right.
I have had so many clients over the years who have had their colours done incorrectly.
There is a mindfield of systems now so I hope you find a solution that’s right for you.
HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT COLOURS?
Here are a few checkpoints.
You'll look younger and more attractive in your colours
Your hair colour will compliment your colours
3. Your make up will blend into your skin and not sit on top
4. You will have 100’s and 100’s of colours to choose from
5. You will feel at peace in your colours
6. All the clothes in your wardrobe will coordinate
7. You will have heaps of outfits even if you have a small wardrobe (capsule)
8. You’ll always get compliments about what your wearing
9. You'll find it easier to accessorize and mix and match
You’ll look very stylish all the time.
For more information contact Your Colours and Style Sydney