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