Why Dress To Your Body Scale?

Ever worn a garment or an accessory and it never looked or felt quite right? 

I recall this experience a few times myself, before learning to dress to your body scale be it a small, medium or large frame. 

That is, the size and volume of a garment, prints and detail, as well as jewellery, bags and other accessories. 

When you think about it, a garment that's voluminous or has large prints is going to swamp a petite person, who'll struggle to be noticed. 

On the other hand, petite prints or accessories will make a larger person appear bigger. 

To get a clearer perspective, have a look at the images below. Which of the centre circles is bigger?

Source: Wikipedia 

You will see the centre circle on the right appears larger. A dainty bracelet on a large wrist will have a similar visual effect. 

The centre circle on the left appears smaller. So imagine, for example, how a large, chunky necklace would make a small neck look even smaller.

Unless of course, you want to diminish your size further, by up-scaling the detail or accessory. 

Here are some examples of matching to body scale. 

Jewellery

  

Prints

Accessories  

How to tell if your body scale is small, medium or large? 

Go by the following measurements. 

SCALE	SMALL	MEDIUM	LARGE
Around the wrist	< 5 ½ inches (14cm)	5 ½ - 7 inches  (14-18cm)	7+ inches (18+cm)
Around the ankles	< 7 ½ inches (19 cm)	7 ½ - 9 inches (19-23cm)	> 9 inches    (23 cm)

Source: Academy of Professional Image 

OR use below as a guide. 

BUILD	SCALE
Small/fine frame Short and slim	Small to medium scale
Medium frame  Short and rounded  Medium height and weight Tall and slim	Medium scale
Large frame  Tall and rounded	Large scale

Source: Academy of Professional Image 

So what if you want to wear smaller or larger prints or accessories to your scale?

To keep some harmony to your appearance, move up or down a scale. For example, a petite person could opt to wear something more medium scale. A larger framed person who prefers fine jewellery would also ideally move down to medium scale. People with a medium frame can go either way. 

At the end of the day, you wear what reflects your personality and makes you happy and feel fabulous. 

Nicky xx 

How To Mix Prints

Bored with your wardrobe? 

Have you thought about mixing prints to add some colour and interest? 

How you mix prints will depend on your personality. Wearing bold, clashing prints reflect the more creative or dramatic personality styles. If you are more conservative, you're likely to prefer smaller, softer or neutral prints like stripes.

Also consider your colour contrast level. A person with a higher colour contrast level (ie. blue or green eyes with blonde or red hair) can successfully wear a mix of coloured prints. Whereas someone with a low contrast level (ie. brown hair and eyes) looks great in monochromatic colours or a colour with a neutral shade. 

Now how to mix prints successfully? Here are some tips to remember: 

Mix prints with the same colour intensity (soft with soft, bright with bright)

Keep the undertone of colours the same (warm with warm, cool with cool)

Keep the value of colours the same (ie. light with light, dark with dark)

Keep the density of prints different (small with large print or busy with sparse print).

If the colours in the prints don’t exactly match, ensure they look similar and harmonious

Neutral prints such stripes and animal print are easier to mix with other prints.  Or mix them together for a great look. 

Try mixing different prints in the same colour, keeping in mind the above tips on intensity, value and undertone. 

If you really want to make a statement, try mixing genres such as a boho skirt with a printed rocker t-shirt. 

And with prints being on trend, there’s no shortage to choose from.  

Have fun experimenting! 

Nicky xx

Do Your Jeans Flatter You?

Finding yourself wearing jeans during the cooler weather? 

Jeans are a versatile wardrobe essential but it can sometimes be tricky to find a pair that flatters your body shape and derrière. 

The placement of the back pockets can complement or ruin your look http://abt.cm/22vrhte. As can jeans exposing your underwear because the rise is too low. 

If you have a long rise (distance between your waist and leg break), opt for mid or high rise jeans which will fit like low rise jeans without the discomfort. 

If you have a short rise, avoid high rise jeans or risk looking like Harry High Pants! 

How to measure your rise? Measure from the top of your head (not face) to the chin with a ribbon. Then place that part of the ribbon between your natural waist (where your body bends to the side - below your rib cage and above your hip bone) and leg break (where your leg bends up). If the ribbon falls short, your rise is long. If the ribbon is too long, your rise is short. 

Watch this space for more details on measuring your body proportions.

Nicky xx

How To Beat Bloat and Look And Feel Stylish

You know those days when you feel bloated and horrible? No matter what size we are, many of us would experience the dreaded `bloat day’ be it triggered by a period, poor diet or other causes. The result? Our clothes feel tight and uncomfortable, nothing seems to look good on, and our confidence plummets as a result.

The good news is there are ways to beat the effect of bloat through some simple styling tips. The aim is to stylishly cover the bloated tummy and face the day feeling and looking great.

Wear Monochromatic Colours

Monochromatic colours create an unbroken vertical line, making you look taller and slimmer. Because it’s one colour, why not keep the look interesting by choosing garments with interesting prints, texture or design.

Wear A Tunic  

Wear a tunic which covers the tummy with comfortable pants such as jeggings or leggings. Choose an interesting pattern and add some stylish boots, bag and accessories to elevate your style. Keep shoes the same colour as the pants to make your legs look longer.

Wear Prints

Wear a garment with a repeating print to detract attention from the tummy area. Repeating prints are great at keeping the eyes moving rather than focusing on a particular area of the body. They also add fun to an outfit. Because the printed garment is the hero piece of your outfit, keep shoes and accessories fun but simple.

Wear A Coat Or Vest As A Standalone Outfit  

Why not wear your favourite coat or vest by itself? Tie it at the waist and wear as a dress or throw on some jeans and heels, grab a handbag and off you go, looking stylish and chic. A trench coat is a great option, and while tied, it defines your waist whilst covering a bloated tummy.  

Wear A Long Scarf

Throw a scarf around your neck and hang it loose over some jeans/pants and top. The scarf worn long creates a vertical line, visually elongating and slimming the body while covering the tummy. Why not add a belt over the scarf for an interesting twist to your outfit?

Keep The Focus On Your Face

Wear patterns on top and fabulous accessories be it a statement necklace, earrings, brooch, hat, scarf or glasses to draw attention away from your tummy area up to your face.

Other tips from personal experience include starting the day with a hot drink of lemon and water, drinking herbal tea, daily exercise, taking evening primrose and probiotics each morning and (trying) to avoid alcohol during the week (depending on the toddler 😊). What do you do to beat bloat?

I hope this helps!

Nicky xx

How To Wear Colour To Your Advantage

Although we try hard to embrace ourselves, many women, and even men, worry about certain parts of their body, notably the tummy and mid region, the hips, bottom and thighs. 

So here are a couple of simple style tips involving a `column of colour’ to cover those areas and make you look and feel fabulous.  

The beauty of a column of colour is that, by being an unbroken vertical line, it elongates the body making it look slimmer and taller.

The Outer Column – camouflage the bottom, hips and thighs

Wear a statement coat, cape or long vest over your outfit to make you look chic while camouflaging the problem areas. Play with colour and have fun with your clothes while the outer layer takes care of everything else.

The Inner Column – camouflage the tummy, mid region

Wear monochromatic colours for your bottoms and tops to camouflage the mid area and add a statement jacket to elevate your style.

While a darker colour may be slimming, why not choose other colours for an equally effective look?

With cooler weather upon us, it’s the perfect time to pull out your favourite coats and jackets and wear them to your advantage!

Nicky xx

Are The Colours You're Wearing Flattering You?

You know when people comment on a garment you’re wearing but maybe not you? Or ask if you’re feeling alright, suggest you look tired or thought you were older? Then there are those times when people comment how well, relaxed you look. 

There’s a strong chance the colours you’re wearing are influencing those impressions of you. It’s because our faces reflect the colours we wear. 

Unflattering colours can make you look dull, tired, larger, older as well as highlight skin blemishes including wrinkles and double chins. Flattering colours can make you look healthier, vibrant, younger, slimmer. 

This was demonstrated on my recent Facebook post and again in this blog – the black dulled my complexion and eyes, while the blue did the opposite and gave a more flattering, vibrant glow. 

Like many, I had a number of black garments in my closet yet never felt that great wearing the colour. After learning my colours, I now know why. 

And while black is regarded a slimming colour – for the fact that it recedes – if it, or any colour for that matter, doesn’t suit you it can actually draw unwanted attention to your body because it’s noticed. Perhaps try a darker colour that suits you better – there are many gorgeous rich colours to choose from. 

In the meantime, there would understandably be a reluctance to cull one’s closet be it for economic or attachment reasons, or until you build up a collection of colour compatible garments. 

So what to do with those colours that aren’t so great on you? Here are some tips to help you always look and feel fabulous. 

• Keep the colour away from your face
• Wear it on your bottom half 
• Wear another colour between it and your skin
• Wear an accessory such as scarf or jewellery in a flattering colour near your face
• Keep it to less than 10 per cent of your entire outfit
• Show more skin (appropriately) as your skin will always suit you
• Wear more makeup to keep the focus on your face

Hope this helps. Have fun experimenting with colour!

Nicky xx

 

Why Are Frames On Glasses Expensive?

Ever wondered why the frames of your glasses are more expensive than the lenses themselves? 

Ever thought it seemed odd given it’s the lenses that improve your eye sight? 

Quality glasses are made from cellulose acetate which is derived from cotton and wood pulp. 

It goes through many production steps, is usually aged, and then assembled and polished by hand by highly trained technicians. 

Acetate ensures the glasses are more flexible, adapt to your face over time, and less likely to break unlike cheaper versions of plastic. 

It is also hypoallergenic and bacteria resistant meaning the frames are less likely to irritate your skin. 

So when you next need glasses, you’ll know why the frames can be pricey. 

Nicky xx