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Help in Choosing the Right Style of Dress When Shopping
Most advice on buying clothes says to put your money into separates because two or three tops and a couple of skirts and pants which all will interchange will give you a wider variety of looks. However, most of this advice applies only to slender people overlooking the way (a) skirts and tops of different colors chop short people in the middle, making them look six inches shorter, and (b) the horizontal line at the waist causes the eye to meander leisurely across just where, if you’re overweight, you don’t want any lingering glances. A dress, which is one unbroken line from top to bottom, is the most slimming garment made. A belt should, of course, be the same material as the dress.
In a sea of separates, only two American designers have made names for themselves in affordable day dresses: Albert Nipon and Diane Von Furstenberg.
The princess line, a flared dress style, with bodice and skirt cut out of the same piece with no waistband or belt. The nicest ones loosely follow curves of the body, flaring into the gentle aline skirt. Probably the most flattering cut ever devised for women who need to lose twenty pounds. The style doesn’t look good on thin women, who need the horizontal line of a belt or waistband. Designer Pauline Trigere is the designer most famous for princess-line dresses.
The Smock dress a very comfortable dress flowing downward from a square or round Victorian-type yoke often trimmed in ruffles. Smock dresses tend to be made in romantic fabrics such as cotton calico or challis, or flowery cotton prints. They often have high ruffled collars, crochet edging, and white collars or cuffs. A very comfy dress. Buy them amply enough to be cool but not so voluminous as to look sloppy. Wear with low-cut shoes such as Mary Janes, and opaque stockings–oxfords or moccasins would be too heavy. High heels too dressy. Bare sandals are fine.
A tent dress, no-waistband dress that falls gracefully down the torso and flares out at hip level. A flattering style for the overweight.
A jumper, one-piece, sleeveless dress with a low scoop neck or square-cut neck, which can be worn with a blouse or without. Because of their long, unbroken lines, jumpers are terrific for short people, and for over-weight and big-busted women.
Empire dress, low-cut dress gathered under the bosom. The style dates from the period of the Napoleonic Empire, 1804-1814, and was worn by the Empress Josephine. You should be reasonably slender to wear this one; anybody with a large bust will look top-heavy.
Halter Neck dresses have been around ever since Marilyn Monroe wore a white crepe one in The Seven Year Itch. With its deep V-neck and vertical lines, it’s a terrific look for women with broad shoulders or heavy bosom, not so flattering to thin women, unless you happen to have a pretty back.
Chemise, straight-lined, unbelted dress. (Also called a chemisier.) The chemise was the dress worn by flappers of the 1920s, along with their headache bands and raccoon coats, and reappeared in 1957 as the despised sack dress, inspiring the hit rock ‘n’ roll record “No Chemise Please.” Men have never liked the shapelessness of the chemise, but the style is a favorite among women who like to dress for health. “The chemise is the most comfortable dress for women today,” says designer Mollie Parnis. “It’s easy to move around in and entirely non-constricting.”
Buy any chemise only in soft, floating fabrics; a stiff fabric doesn’t move with the body, isn’t at all sexy, and is the sack dress all over again. Chemises are particularly nice for the swaybacked, but not so flattering to large-breasted women, who look bulky in them.
I hope this article will help you in choosing the right dress and style for your body.
Fashion Rules for the Mature Woman Over 40
Colour Trends: Be on trend with this season’s colours, avoid those which make the skin look sallow and are not compatible with skin tone and can be draining and aging such as pastel shades. Eye color is usually a good guide for what suits you. Choose bolder and more sophisticated shades like this season’s Rococco Red, Snorkel Blue, Gold and Olive.
Underwear: Don’t underestimate the importance of what you wear underneath your clothes. Without the correct fitting bra, your clothes will not hang properly. Get measured professionally. Most women in this country are wearing the wrong size bra.
Hair. A chic hairstyle is a must have. A classic bob style suits most women. Seek advice from a professional hair stylist. Look at highlights, low lights or a colour change. A professional hair cut can take years off you.
Invest in a regular manicure and pedicure. Not only will you feel good, but well-manicured nails show you care about your appearance.
Make-up. Throw away old make-up. Cosmetics should be replaced regularly and make-up brushes washed. Go for a more natural day time look. For an evening look concentrate on either eyes or lips not both. Vampish eyes and bright red lips is not a look for the over 40’s.
Dresses’: Nothing more sexier than a classic dress. Whether, you choose an A-line style, The Shift or a Maxi Dress. The A-line style dress is very flattering for almost any figure. This is because the waistline is raised above the natural waist and settles under the bust line. Fabulous for: shorter petite figures and those who carry a little weight around the waistline. The empire line style of this dress creates the illusion of length and skims the body, camouflaging wide hips and a thick waist. The Shift dress is a timeless classic and is one of the most versatile dress styles that has stood the test of time. It’s tailored enough for business and sexy enough for evening wear. A sophisticated classic black shift is a must for every woman’s wardrobe. The absolute LBD. The Maxi Dress: So versatile and flattering to most figures. Every woman should possess a maxi. It is stylish and on trend. Perfect for daytime or evening. A great holiday look. Choose a glamorous flat sandal to compliment the dress and of course a pedicure!
Handbags: choose a bag shape that is in contrast to your body type. Voluptuous or curvy women would do well to choose a rectangular, longer
shape, whereas a tall, willowy, slim figure would be better off going for a slouchy, rounded one. If size-zero celebrities can get away with wearing the latest styles in oversized hand bags then if you are slight and petite, so can you! If you want to flatter your waist then choose a bag that finishes around this part of your torso. If you want to draw attention to your bust, shoulders or neck then go for a short-handled bag or a clutch
Tops and Trousers: Choose a classic shirt or longer length tops that will make you look slimmer. Forget those tight tops where you assets are on show. Trousers: Look for fluid and feminine lines, select trousers that are cut to flatter, that give an elegant silhouette. If choosing linen make sure they are lined and are a linen cotton mix so will not crease as easily.
Finally: Walk tall, be proud and be confident in yourself. Enjoy being a woman.
“While clothes may not make the woman, they certainly have a strong effect on her self-confidence – which, I believe, does make the woman.”
Mary Kay Ashe
Fashion Tips – How to Figure Out What Styles Flatter Your Figure Best
Picking the best dress for your body shape is always a challenge. We see this fantastic fashion try it on and find that it not only does not suite our body shape but also feels very uncomfortable. So ultimately what we are looking for is a nice fresh dress that looks good on and we feel comfortable in. As you know if you feel comfortable in a piece of clothing you also look better. Once you can work out what your favourite style is then you will start to feel more comfortable. This will make a huge difference to your wardrobe and the way you look at your dress purchases.
One of the most ageless fashions is the tie dye fashion. As well as that you can find the most comfortable and flattering styles in these tie dye dresses. So, let’s get started if you are very unsure what colour suits you go to your local make-up store. Go to one of the top fashion ones, ask them if they do colour analysis for your toning. Some of these make-up companies do this free if you purchase a couple of items. They will advice you of what colour make-up is great for your skin tone and which colours you should wear for best results.
Armed with this knowledge you will now be able to pick the best colour for your tonings. Leaving only the style of dress that will suit you best. There are a number of ways to do this:
1) Start with the straight figure not a lot of curves – you want to create the look of more curves. Pick a cute little dress with shirring across the top and an empire style waistline. This will accentuate your bust line and creates the fullness over your hips.
2) Next – how to make the most of your pear shaped figure – this can look really Hot in Umbrella Shape dress. This style is small at the top and fuller fabric as it heads to the uneven hemline. This gives you the appearance of being smaller then you maybe and feeling very stylish. Or the tie front halter neck Handkerchief hemline dress, also flowing nicely over the hips.
3) The one figure that can look great in the Kaftan style is the Apple shape. The extra kaftan sleeve fabric allows you to feel free and stylish without being over powering to wear. Wear a long kaftan style top with a nice wide leg pair of pants, and you will feel so feminine. Kaftan tops have a very nice slimming effect, if you feel slimmer in your clothing it radiates through.
4) Last but not least the classic hour glass – the best style if you which to accentuate this shape again is the Umbrella style dress only you wear a belt over it. But if you are not wishing to do this and trying to cover up your curves. The a front tie halter neck Handkerchief hemline dress is great for you, this style flows from directly under the bust line.
These different styles are great to buy online as they generally don’t need to be the exact fit, with them either being wide and flouncy. Or with the shirring allowing you the freedom to be a multiple size fit.