Style Harmony

Cool aides for summertime by melissa151065 featuring cotton blouses

When I walked into Zara yesterday, I immediately felt a sense of serenity, gentleness and restfulness. No, I am not referring to its customer service! (Note: Zara received poor ratings during a recent mystery shopping test in Singapore and its management is looking towards improvement measures.) It is summer fashion time and just about every store you walk into now are filled with racks of  pastel floral dresses and white shorts, evoking a genteel and sweet atmosphere. Such is the nature of the summer season palette; delicate, fragile, soft and muted. You will see a lot of small wild flower prints, wood sandals, straw tote bags and denim shorts in an array of colours. The summer girl style is definitely girly, charming, a bit country, flowy soft fabrics and quiet colours like whites, grays, baby blues, lilac and sweet pink. So what are this summer’s must-haves? Here’s my top ten:

1. Long skirt
2. Denim shorts
3. Loose cotton denim shirt
4. Straw tote bag
5. Floppy hat
6. Floral scarf
7. Skinny leather belt
8. Wedges/Wooden sandals
9. Eyelet dress
10. Peasant blouse

Do you have any favourite summer must-haves?

 

Tags: denim, floral, summer

Fabulous Mom by melissa151065 featuring empire waist dresses

Just because you are a mom, it doesn’t give you the license to look frumpy and 10 years older! I know of working moms who do not have a child support system or have three kids and still look fabulous. When asked how they could still maintain their looks, a common reply was they set aside “me” time on a regular basis or at least a few times a month. Going to the spa once a month would do wonders for anyone or little things like reading a book, going out with girlfriends and having a manicure would elevate your state of wellness. Moms need to make efforts and little sacrifices for themselves too! Focus on yourself by setting aside an hour or two a week to pamper yourself with a home facial or anything that makes you happy. When you are refreshed and feeling good, you would be able to look at things more positively. Naturally, your body changes after childbirth and with all the commitment and time spent on looking after your babies, you would tire and start to feel insecure about your own body image. Hence, most moms would derail when it comes to their dressing especially for stay-home moms. Well, start throwing out your frumpy and comfy clothes and put on nice outfits to boost your confidence. I know most of you would be concern about your arms, tummy and thighs while trying to lose the pregnancy weight. During this period, some of the best styles to camouflage those areas and to highlight your pretty decolletage, upper rib cage and neck are:

1. Empire waist dresses and tops
2. Tops or dresses that bypass the waist (see above outfit for going to the spa)
3. V or U-shape necklines
4. Bell sleeves or soft cap sleeves
5. A-line or inverted pleated skirts
6. Printed tops (draws the eyes upwards and shifting away the focus on your tummy and thighs)
7. Soft flowing straight cut or bootleg pants

These design elements would flatter your body shape post pregnancy. Go treat yourself to a pretty outfit today!

What are your challenges when shopping for clothes post pregnancy?

Tags: camouflage, styles for moms

I was strolling along the malls at Orchard Road yesterday and it wasn’t the fantastic bargains at the Great Singapore Sale that caught my attention. Rather, it was the appalling dressing of the women here! Within 5 minutes of my observation at Ion Orchard, I spotted these fashion crimes:

1. Micro mini skirts with Crocs
2. Flip flops (so many of them!)
3. Un-groomed toe nails, chipped toe nail polish
4. Long sweater with very short shorts – looked like she was wearing nothing underneath from the back view
5. Short shorts that was too big for this lady’s skinny thighs; so the hem was too wide when it should be fitted
6. Black stockings with light gray ankle boots
7. Long hair simply bundled up in a rubber band; the kind that is used to tie up your take-aways from the hawker centre!
8. Jeans folded up because it was too long ( I saw 3 ladies with cuffed up jeans!)
9. Zero make-up
10. Tee shirt and shorts

Besides committing serious fashion offenses, these women were also destroying their own image! Firstly, you never know who you might bump into while looking your worst. It could be your boss, your potential client or life partner! Secondly, you attract negative attention like mine or a fashion writer looking for ‘victims’! Thirdly, you create the impression upon others that you are too lazy to care about your well being. Yes, I said “lazy” because it is the most frequently used “reason” women gave me when asked. It doesn’t take too long to look presentable especially during weekends. A dress is the easiest to wear on weekends and you have many choices for comfortable footwear other than flip-flops and crocs! You do not need a fancy chignon but at least tie up your hair neatly in a nice hair band. If your jeans are too long, don’t wear them until you have it altered! As for makeup, all you need is to draw your eyebrows, powder and lip gloss for weekends and you will be done in 2 minutes! So, the next time before you step out of your house, please ask yourself “Am I boosting or destroying my image”?

Share with us what fashion crimes have you witnessed!

Tags: fashion crime, Image destroyer

Shoes for narrow or wide feet by melissa151065 featuring peep toe high heels

The same dressing principles apply when it comes to selecting shoes. Just like how you would want to look leaner and longer and vice versa, you would also want to have the same effect with your feet. If you have narrow and bony feet, a dainty heel would suit you. Your feet would look wider in a kitten heel, which is popular right now. Other styles that suit narrow feet are shoes with ankle straps, square toes and horizontal lines. Anything that cuts across the width of your feet would give the widening effect. Avoid very high and chunky heels. On the contrary, wide feet look better with a substantial heel like platforms and wedges. To elongate the feet, choose T-strap or diagonal strap shoes. Shoes with a pointy toe would make wide feet look narrow. Apply these principles and you would have pretty looking feet!

 

Tags: narrow feet, shoes, wide feet

Hippie style updated by melissa151065 featuring a chain necklace

Tags: 1970s fashion, flared pants, turban

1960′s style by melissa151065 featuring lightweight jeans

The bandana was a popular hair accessory back in the late 60′s and it is making a comeback this spring/summer. In my previous post, I talked about what face shapes would suit this style. Let’s now look at what dressing styles would go with the bandana. It is a rather casual look, suitable for weekends, going to the movies or shopping around town. For a 1960′s flavour, wear your bandana with:

• Poncho-style tops
• Polka-dot dresses
• Peasant blouse
• Capris
• Skinny jeans
• Mod or colour block shifts

Throw on some love beads, flower ring and wooden platforms with tassels for a fun boho look! Keep the makeup natural looking; use sheer lip gloss and warm peachy blusher.

Would you wear this trend?

Tags: 1960s fashion, bandana, style

Lopez (2011)

Cher (1970s)

Jennifer Lopez can do no wrong in fashion. She is super stylish and even when she gets it wrong at times, she is still gorgeous! I just love how she wears her hair differently each time to complement her dressing. With the trends going back to the swinging 60′s and hippie 70′s, hair bands, floppy hats and head scarves are very hip right now. Jennifer Lopez certainly knows how to work it and make it look current. If you have an oval face shape like Jennifer, you will look good in almost any hairstyles and accessories. If your face is oblong (longer than wider) like Cher, then pull the head scarf close to your brows to shorten your face length. Round faces and broad foreheads should avoid this style. The other hot trend is wide hairband. Jennifer’s rounded forehead was highlighted by the round edge of the hairband. It would have been better if she had some fringe sweeping at one side of her face. If you have a square face shape, the roundness of the hairband would soften your straight angular shape which could be flattering. Again, this look is not recommended for those with rounder and heart face shapes.Wearing a sparkly hair clip (see Jennifer- bottom) would off set your round or wide forehead and draw the eyes upward diagonally, thus creating a slimming effect.

Jennifer

Brigitte Bardot in the 1960's

Jennifer

Tags: face shapes, hair accessories, jennifer lopez, Trends

Lauren Alaina, runner-up of American Idol Season 10, is young (16!), pretty and full of curves. Having a stylist certainly helped Lauren to bring out her best assets and dress confidently. She has a full hour-glass shape; strong shoulders and curvy hips with a well-defined waist. She often highlighted her small waist with belts, shaped jackets and empire style outfits. She looked great in long dresses with an empire waistline which camouflaged her wide hips and full thighs. My favourite outfit on her was the Tony Bowls blue and white long dress with sexy cut-outs below the bustline. The deep V-neckline was flattering for a big chested girl like Lauren and the blue vertical draping drew the eyes up and down, thus creating a lengthening and slimming effect on her lower half. I believe she sang the song “Unchained Melody” in that blue dress, which was just perfect for a love song. The dress was very romantic, womanly and ethereal.

"Lauren in Tony Bowls dress"

Other times, her wide hips was accentuated by fitted and tapered outfits like the Guess jeans and white long dress with flowers at the bottom. I didn’t like the checkered romper she wore as the hemline stopped at the widest part of her thighs. The tailored jacket, knee high boots and black tights were a mismatch with the casual fun-looking romper.

"Fashion disaster"

Lauren’s outfits also projected different looks and moods to harmonise with the songs she sung. Note how we can use clothes and accessories to project the right message for any particular situation. In the finale show, she sang three songs. For the first song which had a fast tempo, her country rock get-up of metallic jacket, black leggings and studded boots suited the song well. The second song was Maybe It Was Memphis and she wore her signature ballerina meets country style. The topaz sequinned corset dress showed off her curves beautifully. Again, the style was appropriate for the song; kind of glam meets country. The final song, a tribute to moms, was obviously a very “emo” touchy-feely song and the long white soft dress with flowers reflected the lyrics of the song well. The colour white symbolises purity and innocence, just like a mother’s love.

Which of Lauren Alaina’s looks do you like best?

Finale outfits

Tags: curvy, hour glass, small waist, style, wide hips

Party Perfect by melissa151065 featuring a brass ring

Shorts is the solution to conquer the crazy heat here and with summer beckoning, what could be more perfect than a pair of white shorts. It is not easy to find a pair of shorts with the most flattering length and cut, though. If you have great looking and toned thighs, there’s no reason for you to shy away from short shorts. As for the age factor, it is debatable but my personal opinion is if you are above 40 (unless you are JLo or Jennifer Anniston!), you can look desperately trying to look young. I repeat, this is just my personal take:-) Long legged or large hip women should preferably avoid shorts unless they wish to highlight them. Longer shorts would be more flattering for this body type. Wear fitted tops if you are wider at the bottom, otherwise a shapeless and baggy blouse would make your overall body look wider and bigger (see Kim K). Short and petite ladies look great in shorts (see Eva Longoria). Avoid cuffs at the hemline as this will further “shorten” your legs.

Do you know where to find a great pair of shops?

Kim K

Eva Longoria

Tags: long legs, party wear, short legs, shorts, wide hips

Even stars need makeovers especially since they are public figures. What more us, ordinary folks. Talent alone is not enough; they need stylists to amp up their image to increase their star power in view of fierce competition and media glare. It is always interesting to watch the transformation of ordinary folks to mega superstar. Still hot on the American Idol Season 10 which just wrapped up recently (Scotty WON!), I was bowled over my Carrie Underwood, former Idol Champion, in her short geometric sequin dress. She looked stunning, and even more so in that mini white shorts and off-shoulder silver glittery top she wore during her performance. Just some years ago, she had real BIG hair (she’s country!) and wore prom glittery dresses which made her looked 10 years older. Now, she has been transformed from a southern belle to the glamorous artiste that she is today. Kudos to her stylist! Carrie’s new image is sleek, sexy, fresh and elegant.  Celebrities also need to update their image to stay relevant and modern for their adoring fans and to get more publicity. With more publicity, of course comes more business opportunities. Carrie Underwood is now the top earner of all the Idol winners! Current season winner, Scotty McCreery, is only 17, still at school. Obviously, when he first entered the scene, he was your typical American country small-town boy in his Abercombie & Fitch baggy tees, jeans and flip flops! Oh gosh, wearing flip-flops to an audition that could change your life forever?? But that’s what teenagers wear, sporty, laid-back and very casual. But now that he is a champion idol, his stylists are working hard to revamp his image to be more marketable and to look like a celebrity. Observing his personality, roots and personal values, I would recommend an elegant style for his new image. He does possess a natural confidence, is gentlemanly and meticulous (noted the way he carefully selected songs that highlighted his best strengths). These are traits of the refined, polished and elegant man. It is also a style which is most suitable for people who are public figures and often need to attend opening nights, be on stage and network with important folks. The elegant male style consists of well tailored or bespoke suits, fine quality materials like silk, wool, high grade cotton (Scotty said he only sleeps on egyptian cotton!), subtle prints like pindots and pin stripes. Colours would be neutrals e.g. navy, gray, camel, black, charcoal and taupe. He looked exceptionally good in blues (see his CD cover on top). I believe once his image is refined into the elegant gentleman that he truly is, he will have a bright long career ahead of him! So if you are thinking of a change in career or a promotion, ask yourself “Is my image helping or breaking my goals?”

Scotty_After

Scotty_Before

Carrie_Before

Carrie_After

Tags: american idol, carrie, elegant, image, makeover, scotty