Winter Styling: Column Shape

Now is the time to pick your perfect winter wardrobe for your body shape! If you are lucky enough to be the column shape, you have long legs, slight waist and evenly matched hips and bust creating a column shape. This figure is one of the easiest to style as it is beautiful and distinctive.

It does not take much work to create a winter style that looks fabulous. The trick is to give your perfectly proportioned body the appearance of some extra curves.

One challenge that you are likely to face is many clothes may not fit you properly because you are taller than most women. You need to make sure the length of your pants and sleeves is adequate for your size. When it is colder outside, you will also have to make sure that your coat sleeves are long enough. Nothing can cramp your style like clothes that are too short and make your body look usually long. Most high quality clothing stores and brands offer great clothing options for both tall and short women.

Look for winter clothes that highlight your waist. For example, some pants have a wide waist that will draw attention to that area. You should also experiment with different belts. Both of these options will give the appearance of curvy hips and a well-defined waist.

When it comes to the tops you wear this winter, do not be afraid of form fitted tops. These tops will give your body the sexy appearance of the hourglass figure. Try adding some definition to your body by colouring blocking with this winters’ hottest jewel tone or pastel colours.

There are many great jacket and coat options this winter. Similar to the tops you wear, the coats you selected should also be fitted. Try coats that have detailing and angular cuts because they will give your body the illusion of a curvy figure. Avoid wearing straight up and down coats because they do not enhance your figure.

Five Fashion Trends You Will Love This Winter

The best part about winter is being able to switch out your style. This winter brings plenty of fashion trends that you will absolutely love. There is one word that accurately describes the trends for this winter; FABULOUS! Some winter seasons bring drab looks to the scene but this winter it is all about the Femme Fatale look. Lush leathers paired with the unexpected flirty dress is going to be a big style staple this winter.

Of course you know leopard print shoes are always the rage and this winter expect to see lots of booties in leopard.

Enough with the chit chat let’s take a look at the trends that you are going to love.

Feminine Form

Ruffles, pastels and flower prints are playing a big role in fashion for the winter. Many of the pieces will take you right from this summer through the winter into the next summer. If you are all about that lace than you will love this season’s options. You do not have to go overboard with the girly girl wear but you can add a nice lacy blouse to a pair of neutral trousers to just remind everyone that you are in fact a lady.

A Nod to the Fellas

The menswear trend is still going strong in ladies fashion for the winter. The male silhouette is absolutely trendy and on point this season, you do not have to go for a head to toe masculine look but a pair of pinstriped trousers paired with that lacy top will keep you in style.

Gym anyone?

The sporty look is still turning heads for the winter. It may be because being healthy and sporty is ever so popular or maybe we have just gotten fashion lazy but it is not very hard to find upscale track suits with tapered bottoms and t shirt dresses that can be paired with a fashionable pair of sneakers.

Less is more

Structured cut dresses in block colors or monochrome graphics are a big trend this winter. If you can easily pull off the plain Jane look than this trend will certainly get you some attention. Think red pencil skirts, fitted dresses with trench coats that have a little destructure to them and you will be on point with this trend.

Graphic Prints

This winter you will see a lot of prints on the street from floral designs (for the feminine you) to leopard print (for the femme fatale you) they are all out there.

Fashion is simply delicious this winter! P.S. Do get a fantastic trench for this season they are everywhere!

Dressing For Your Body Shape: 10 Quick Tips For Finding Your Body Shape And Embracing It!

1. Figure Out Your Body Shape. There are 5 main body shapes: Apple, Column, Hourglass, Inverted Triangle, and Pear. Figure out which body shape best describes your body. Spend a little time in front of your mirror performing an honest and fair assessment of your shape. Understanding your shape will help you select clothing that is the most flattering on you. Only then will you learn to embrace your beautiful curves and enhance your best features.

Apple: The apple body shape has slender arms and legs, rounded shoulders and a fuller hip and waist area creating the apple shape. Generally, this body shape has an average to large bust area.

Column: The column body shape is tall, with hips and bust that are evenly matched, longer legs and waist with little definition. Normally, her stomach is not big, her shoulders are not broad and her bust size is small to average. These distinctive features create a column body shape.

Hourglass: The hourglass body shape has wide hips and large breasts with a slim waist. The hips should be proportionate with the bust creating the hourglass shape.

Inverted Triangle: The inverted triangle body shape has broad shoulders and/or large bust area, a well-defined waist, narrow hips and long legs. These well-proportioned features create the inverted triangle shape.

Pear: The pear body shape has a bust-line which is proportionally narrower than the full hips, broad shoulders, larger thighs, full bottom and a well-defined waist. These sexy, curvy features create the pear shape.

2. Draw Attention To The Smallest Part Of Your Waist. This tip works great for all body shapes except for the apple shape. If your shape is straight, it will give your body the illusion of having curves. If you’re more curvaceous, it will accentuate your curves and highlight your best features.

3. Wear Empire Tops. If you have the apple shape, you should avoid drawing attention to your waist because you naturally have a thicker waist. You should wear tops that have an empire waist, just under the bust with an outward flow.

4. Elongate Your Legs. Making your legs appear longer is usually flattering for all body types. Apple, hourglass and column shapes look great in flared pants, while pear and inverted triangle shapes look better in straight-leg pants.

5. Wear Vertical Stripes. Choose clothing with vertical patterns as opposed to patterns that are horizontal and go across your body. Vertical patterns will give you a slimmer appearance.

6. Choose The Right Bra. Many women overlook the importance of the right bra. If you have an hourglass, apple, or inverted triangle shape, you probably have a larger bust; you need to make sure your bra provides enough support to make your bust look perky and not droopy. If you have a column or pear shape, consider a high quality push-up bra to add some additional curves to your figure.

7. Comfortable Clothing Will Make You Feel More Confident. When your clothes are comfortable and fit properly, you will feel more confident. Remember that wearing clothes too tight will not make you look better. They will just make you uncomfortable all day.

8. Carefully Choose Patterns And Colors. When you are selecting your clothing, hide any problem areas or love handles with dark solid colors such as navy blue, black or dark purple. Wear patterns or bright colors on your best features to draw attention to them and away from any trouble spots. For example, if you want to accentuate your bust and hide your tummy, wear an empire top with a bright color across your breast and a dark color below your bust.

9. Use Jewelry To Draw Attention To Your Best Features. If you want to draw attention to your voluptuous bust, wear a long statement necklace that hangs down to your bust line. If you want to draw attention to your beautiful facial features, select a unique pair of dangling earrings.

10. Wear Fun And Unique Accessories. Pair your outfits with great accessories such as an edgy handbag, designer shoes or oversized sunglasses to add a touch of flair to your style. These details can really enhance your look.

Colours And You: Winter Colors To Try This Season

The Australian winter is fast approaching and it is time to start preparing your seasonal style. Since our Australian winter doesn’t always get too cold, some of the pieces you love will remain stylish all year round! There are 5 colour trends that are going to be hot this season and the great news is that these winter colours will look great on beautiful plus-size women when worn the right way.

#1 Grey or Aluminium. If all the fashions’ favourite designers could come up with a top shade for the upcoming winter season, it would definitely be grey. You will see many varieties of this colour, from light to dark, to shinny and aluminium hues. If you select grey, you really can’t go wrong. Dark grey looks great on all body types and if you choose a softer fabric, it can be an extremely forgiving colour. From a floor length grey chiffon gown to a jacket in a futuristic stainless steel hue, grey can spice any look up this season. So why not try colour blocking with several shades of grey for a uniquely ‘you’ look?!

#2 Black and White Hues. Black and white interpretive fashion has managed to hold their dominance this winter with innovative interpretations and fresh looks remaining cool and eye-catching. Don’t forget to wear the black to cover any trouble areas and wear white in areas you want to draw attention so you will always feel confident in your look!

For example, if you want to show off your sexy bust area, wear black pants and a black and white empire top that features white along the bust line. Also, consider layering up black and white pieces for a creative chic look.

#3 Radiant Orchid. This season the enchanting colour Radiant Orchid stands out with its striking and unique hue. It has a feel of elegance and mystery and the women who wear this deep purplish colour exude strength, confidence and beauty. Consider pairing a Radiant Orchid silk top with gray pants and if you have a formal event this winter, wear a stunning shimmery Radiant Orchid gown with a sexy slit up the front to show off your beautiful long legs.

#4 Navy Blue. The impressive navy blue is a fashionable shade this winter. You will see navy blue clothing in many textures and patterns and if it’s your style why not try a navy blue faux fur coat with navy leggings for an elegant look. When you have date night with that special someone, wear a fitted navy blue dress, your favourite heels and a floor length dark navy blue coat with shinny blue patches and large gold buttons. You will have everyone’s eyes turning on you for all the right reasons!

#5 Shimmery Gold. Look royal this winter season by adding extravagant gold pieces of various textures. Pair gold shinny pants with a black silk top is a fun look for a night on the town. Shake things up with a bright gold magnificent jacket that will make any girl look sassy. Designers are also creating unbelievable golden pattern dresses that will look great on all body types.

How to Create a Flawless Makeup Base

One look that never goes out of style is flawless skin. While we can’t all be born with a perfectly even-toned and glowing face (is anyone?), we can fake it with a good makeup routine.

Creating a good base will not only make you look effortlessly glamorous, it will also help make the rest of your makeup look amazing. Keep reading to discover the 5-step process to a fabulous makeup base.

Preparation

First things first, you need to cleanse and moisturise your face before taking out your cosmetics.

Wash your face with a cleanser that is suitable to your particular skin type. Hydrating cleansers will work best with dry skin and oil free cleansers will be ideal for oily skin types. The cleanser will ensure that your skin is perfectly clean of any dirt or oils that could stop your makeup from going on smoothly, or that could cause the cosmetics to rub off quickly.

Once you are finished cleansing, use a toner and then a moisturiser to soften and prepare the skin of your face. As before, you need to be certain that the moisturiser is suitable to your skin type. Dry skin will require a thicker product that prevents flaking, normal skin can do well with hydrating solutions, and oily skin will work best with a water-based moisturiser.

Primer

Select a good primer and gently pat it onto the skin. Primers even out your complexion, smooth and soften your skin, and ensure that the makeup stays in place throughout the day. While this step may not seem like much, it is one of the most important in achieving a flawless look.

Concealer

The next step is concealer. This will help you cover any unevenness or redness, such as marks, scars, blemishes, or dark circles. Obviously, finding a concealer that matches your skin tone is the goal. However, different tones cover different inconsistencies; green helps to cover red and orange helps to counteract dark under-eye circles. It can be useful to have a concealer palette so that you can blend colours as needed.

To apply, simply place a little on the area you want to conceal and dab it lightly with your fingers to blend it in. The gentle dabbing will help to work the product in rather than wiping it around and spreading it out. You want to conceal that one specific spot rather than cover everywhere. The dabbing also allows you to build up as much as you need.

Foundation

Foundation is the essential ingredient in a flawless makeup base. The perfect foundation is an exact match to your skin tone. The best way to ensure you have the right colour is to have a professional colour-match you. But before you purchase, go outside into natural light and check that the colour still matches both your face and neck. Do not just match it with the skin on your hand, as this can vary quite substantially from your face tone.

Your foundation can be applied by hand, brush, or sponge. This will depend on what you feel most comfortable with, and what the product is designed to work with. Pour some foundation onto the back of your hand, and apply to the face, starting in the centre and working out. It is best to apply it using downward strokes, so that the small hairs on your face (everyone has them) sit flat.

The purpose of the foundation is to even out your skin tone and remove colour. You can add colour back in later with bronzer and blush. Remember to blend your foundation down your jaw line, neck, under the eyes, and ears, to create a seamless look.

Highlighter and Bronzer

Once the foundation has been applied, your face is neutrally coloured all over, with no distinction between the various features. This is when you need to use a highlighter and bronzer to contour the features of your face. Use the highlighter to mark the lines of your nose, cheekbones, and jaw – anywhere that the light will reflect off and you want to stand out. Simply apply a little product and gently work it out over the area.

With bronzer, apply it to areas you might consider “negative space”. It goes in the hollows of your cheeks, under your jawline, anywhere that you want to shade in order to make your beautiful bone structure stand out. It’s not that you want to hide those areas, just simply shade them in order to complement other features.

Blend both bronzer and highlighter so they create a naturally contoured look. You don’t want harsh lines; just gentle shading and a natural glow.

Once you have created your makeup base, you can now apply the rest of your makeup for a long lasting and beautiful appearance.