Style Harmony

Sometimes, even the celebrity A-listers can get their styles horribly wrong. I am sure they have the best stylists in town to dress them up but perhaps, not all the time. Case in point, actress Carey Mulligan who is young, petite and pixie looking. But she stepped out recently looking like a frumpy old looking maiden. The summery looking blue floral dress was too long; it would look better if it was slightly above her knees. And if she had worn it off the shoulder, it would have been more appealing. The black clutch looked a bit severe and stiff for a sweet feminine dress. Her suede booties looked more suitable for winter than summer and it shortened her legs. I really don’t like her hair; it was unkempt, flat (no body) and looked very much in need of a trim! She certainly didn’t look like a Hollywood actress. If I were to style her, this is what I would put on her (see bottom picture). The dress I chose was the closest I could find to what she was wearing. A clutch in aquamarine or any bright colours would instantly update the style and make you look more youthful. The gothic style green cutout platforms add some edginess to the sweet floral dress so that you do not end up looking too matchy matchy. The hairstyle I selected for her (not the colour, though) would frame her face beautifully and hide her very wide forehead. The wispy bangs and sides creates an alluring look.

The take-away here is to keep the rest of your look simple when you are wearing a flowery print dress and choose a funky pair of shoes in any one of the colours found on the dress to look modern and chic. Look at the other photos of stars and royalty who got the floral dress look right.

Summer Style by melissa151065 featuring flower rings

As Spring makes way for the sky blue and restful summer season, the bright cheery colours of Spring start to fade as flower blooms fall. The trees begin to bear fruits at this time, sprouting summer greens under the cool blue sky. The colours of the summer season are soft, muted and quiet. Whites, blues, greens, browns and grays dominate the summer colour palette. For those of you who are not into flowers and ruffles, you can still wear summer styles and look chic. A sky blue denim shirt tucked into a long white skirt with a skinny belt can look understated, yet stylish. Pair a crisp cotton floral blouse with a solid colour A-line skirt for work. Pretty floral dresses or shorts with metallic sandals would be the perfect get-up for going to the movies or brunch. Floppy hats and long strap purses are the key accessories this summer. Check out some of the Hollywood celebrities’ summer get-ups and be inspired!

Which is your favourite fashion season, Spring or Summer and why?

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?

 

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?

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!

 

Hippie style updated by melissa151065 featuring a chain necklace

1970′s was the decade of popular culture. Bell-bottoms, platform shoes, jersey wrap dresses and scarves were some of the key looks of the fashion scene in the 70′s. Three-piece suits for both men and women were immortalised by John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever”. On the runaways this season, models wear turbans in floral, graphic, polka dot, tribal and animal prints. Jennifer Lopez wore the turban in St Tropez and on American Idol. Not everyone would be comfortable with this style as it is more glamorous, chic and dramatic. If you are adventurous enough to try the turban headgear, keep the rest of your style minimal as the turban is quite dramatic. As the focus would be more on the face, go for a smokey eye shadow with nude lips. Wear jersey wrap dresses, togas and jumpsuits in neutral colours like black, white, navy and metallics. Neutral colours would help you to avoid looking too retro. Pair kaftan blouses with flared pants and platform shoes. Chunky bangles, multi-layered long chains and sequin bags would complete the look.

What is your favourite trend from the 1970′s?

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?