Smart Dressing: Fashion Fixes

1. Get rid of Back Bulges
How often do we see that our snug top or tee reflects back bulges, flesh that pops out above and below the back of the bra, that looks hideous? No more.

Unbelievabra is targeted to control problem areas and will get you rid of your back bulges leaving your back looking smooth and shapely a Eva Longoria Parker, below. This bra-and-camisole-in-one provides support for sizes A-E. You can also get Marks and Spencer's Magic Firm Control available from DD-G.

Unbelievabra, from Shapeez, priced at $85. Click to buy shapeez.com
Marks and Spencer's Magic Firm Control, for £39.50, click here to buy

2. Put an end to Falling Bra Straps
Falling bra straps can be really annoying and embarassing. Bra strap holder or bra clips are your saviour to fix the falling bra straps. Bra strap holder are attached at the back and pull the two back straps together, creating a racerback style, preventing bra straps from falling or peeking. Always use it or keep it handy. Double-sided tape or duct tape can fix that problem in an emergency.

Magic Clip, from Baraza, prized at $5.5, click here to buy

3. Shorten Pant Length to change from Heels to Flats
What do you do to shorten your pants to wear with flats for the day, but elongate it to change into heels for the evening? Here's the solution.

Roll your pants up to their desired length and put Zakkerz fabric strips with magnets around the cuff. The come in various colour options ad go unnoticeable. This way you can wear them with the flats without dragging them on the streets and can also wear long with heels.

zakSet Fabric Strips, from Zakkerz, is priced between $27-30 per set; buy it from zakkerz.com

.
4. Prevent Heels from Slipping

How often the heels that perfectly fit at the store, start slipping out when you actually start wearing them? Thankfully, there's an easy fix that’ll help you wear your fabulous shoes back without slipping-off and have you perfectly poised.

Hug My Heels gel pad sticks to the inside heel of your shoes and snuggly holds them in place, unlike the shoe soles that cause problems in heeled shoes.

Hug My Heels, by Airplus for Her, are a great rescue at $5. You can buy them from walgreens.com

Related Posts:
Smart Lingerie - Butt Lifting Knicker
Look Taller with Nude Shoes
.

Smart Dressing: Fashion Fixes

1. Get rid of Back Bulges
How often do we see that our snug top or tee reflects back bulges, flesh that pops out above and below the back of the bra, that looks hideous? No more.

Unbelievabra is targeted to control problem areas and will get you rid of your back bulges leaving your back looking smooth and shapely a Eva Longoria Parker, below. This bra-and-camisole-in-one provides support for sizes A-E. You can also get Marks and Spencer's Magic Firm Control available from DD-G.

Unbelievabra, from Shapeez, priced at $85. Click to buy shapeez.com
Marks and Spencer's Magic Firm Control, for £39.50, click here to buy

2. Put an end to Falling Bra Straps
Falling bra straps can be really annoying and embarassing. Bra strap holder or bra clips are your saviour to fix the falling bra straps. Bra strap holder are attached at the back and pull the two back straps together, creating a racerback style, preventing bra straps from falling or peeking. Always use it or keep it handy. Double-sided tape or duct tape can fix that problem in an emergency.

Magic Clip, from Baraza, prized at $5.5, click here to buy

3. Shorten Pant Length to change from Heels to Flats
What do you do to shorten your pants to wear with flats for the day, but elongate it to change into heels for the evening? Here's the solution.

Roll your pants up to their desired length and put Zakkerz fabric strips with magnets around the cuff. The come in various colour options ad go unnoticeable. This way you can wear them with the flats without dragging them on the streets and can also wear long with heels.

zakSet Fabric Strips, from Zakkerz, is priced between $27-30 per set; buy it from zakkerz.com

.
4. Prevent Heels from Slipping

How often the heels that perfectly fit at the store, start slipping out when you actually start wearing them? Thankfully, there's an easy fix that’ll help you wear your fabulous shoes back without slipping-off and have you perfectly poised.

Hug My Heels gel pad sticks to the inside heel of your shoes and snuggly holds them in place, unlike the shoe soles that cause problems in heeled shoes.

Hug My Heels, by Airplus for Her, are a great rescue at $5. You can buy them from walgreens.com

Related Posts:
Smart Lingerie - Butt Lifting Knicker
Look Taller with Nude Shoes
.

Smart Dressing - Style Tips for Curvy Women

Real women have curves and men love them too - Marilyn Monroe, Salma Hayek, Catherine Zeta Jones, Beyonce, Kim Kardashian are some of the most beautiful and admired celebs with curves. Women with hourglass figure are blessed, that's what they say - so girls if you have the curves, love them, its the most desirable shape on the planet.

Source

To top it off, BBC published a research suggesting that curvy women are cleverer. The American researchers used data from a study of 16,000 women, collecting details of their body measurements and their scores in cognitive tests, they found that those women with a greater difference between the waist and hips, scored significantly higher on the intelligence tests, and so did their children. This suggests that women with an hourglass figure are brighter and have cleverer children, too.

So on top of being sexy we can say that we are more intelligent than the skinny girls.

Salma Hayek

How to dress if you have an hourglass shape

These are some style tips for women with curves:

1. Wear well-fitted clothes - a top that is too big will only make you look bigger and sloppier and clothes that are too tight will also make you look larger.

2. Dress well inside - a well-fitted bra and shapewear will camouflage all your problm areas and is your wardrobe and confidence staple. If your bra does not fit properly, it can make you look terrible. Since most hourglass figures are well-endowed, a well-fitted bra is a must have for you.

3. Show off your waist - Celebrate, accentuate and exaggerate that great waist. A small waist is considered the very symbol of sensuality, so don't hesitate to show off your small waist. Drawing attention to your waist with a belt or a top with a fitted waist will accentuate this great asset.

Curvy Kim Kardashian and her sister

.
4. Darker Bottom and Lighter top - Wear a darker bottom and lighter coloured top to emphasize your waistline and to minimize your curves

5. Buy tops that are fitted and shaped to the waist.

6. Wear short fitted jackets - Shorter, fitted jackets will flatter your legs and waist.

7. Buy well-fitted sheaths - sheath dresses often come with a deep V-neckline. It usually has a defined waist and a figure-hugging silhouette and is often in a lightweight fabric such as silk or cotton. They flatter curvy figures and look great. Even wrap dresses go well withcurvy figures.

8. Choose pencil or slightly A-line skirts - pencil skirt will show the ratio between your waist and hip measurement, giving you a sexy silhouette. Straight styles and certain A-line skirts could also be right for you, as long as they are fitted around the waist and hips.

9. Refuse to buy hipster skirts and trousers look for high-waisted styles - apart from this avoid ruffles and pleats as these will add bulk. Go for a streamlined shape to show off your slinky silhouette.

10. Belt whenever you can - A dress or a shit with a belt will cinch you in accentuating your small waist.
.

Kim Kardashian

11. Shapewear - Never underestimate the impact of body-shaping lingerie. It can hold you up and in, strategically reduce or enhance your curve of choice and would hide all your bumps and lumps. Marks and Spencer has some great shapewear you can pick from.

12. Wear V-neck or scoop neckline - These necklines slim the neck and chest and will lenghten your neck and make you appear smaller and slimmer. They will flatter your figure.
.

13. Avoid Elasticized Waistbands - they add bulk to your mid-section.

14. Boot cut jeans, pants with flared bottoms are for you - pants that fit properly will make you look slimmer, so don't try to hide those curves with loose pants to jeans. Instead pick well-fitted pants with flared bottoms or in boot cut style. They will balance your generous bottom and make you look slimmer. Avoid bottoms that are tapered and get narrower towards your ankles as they can make your bottom look large. If you want to wear the skinny jeans trend, go for slim fit instead. They are not very tapered and yet slim enough. Team them with some high heels to add height that would slim you down.


Related Posts:
Look slimmer with smart dressing
Different looks with same wardrobe
Smart Lingerie - Butt Lifting Knicker
Look Taller with Nude Shoes
Are You Wearing the Right Bra Size?
.

Smart Dressing - Style Tips for Curvy Women

Real women have curves and men love them too - Marilyn Monroe, Salma Hayek, Catherine Zeta Jones, Beyonce, Kim Kardashian are some of the most beautiful and admired celebs with curves. Women with hourglass figure are blessed, that's what they say - so girls if you have the curves, love them, its the most desirable shape on the planet.

Source

To top it off, BBC published a research suggesting that curvy women are cleverer. The American researchers used data from a study of 16,000 women, collecting details of their body measurements and their scores in cognitive tests, they found that those women with a greater difference between the waist and hips, scored significantly higher on the intelligence tests, and so did their children. This suggests that women with an hourglass figure are brighter and have cleverer children, too.

So on top of being sexy we can say that we are more intelligent than the skinny girls.

Salma Hayek

How to dress if you have an hourglass shape

These are some style tips for women with curves:

1. Wear well-fitted clothes - a top that is too big will only make you look bigger and sloppier and clothes that are too tight will also make you look larger.

2. Dress well inside - a well-fitted bra and shapewear will camouflage all your problm areas and is your wardrobe and confidence staple. If your bra does not fit properly, it can make you look terrible. Since most hourglass figures are well-endowed, a well-fitted bra is a must have for you.

3. Show off your waist - Celebrate, accentuate and exaggerate that great waist. A small waist is considered the very symbol of sensuality, so don't hesitate to show off your small waist. Drawing attention to your waist with a belt or a top with a fitted waist will accentuate this great asset.

Curvy Kim Kardashian and her sister

.
4. Darker Bottom and Lighter top - Wear a darker bottom and lighter coloured top to emphasize your waistline and to minimize your curves

5. Buy tops that are fitted and shaped to the waist.

6. Wear short fitted jackets - Shorter, fitted jackets will flatter your legs and waist.

7. Buy well-fitted sheaths - sheath dresses often come with a deep V-neckline. It usually has a defined waist and a figure-hugging silhouette and is often in a lightweight fabric such as silk or cotton. They flatter curvy figures and look great. Even wrap dresses go well withcurvy figures.

8. Choose pencil or slightly A-line skirts - pencil skirt will show the ratio between your waist and hip measurement, giving you a sexy silhouette. Straight styles and certain A-line skirts could also be right for you, as long as they are fitted around the waist and hips.

9. Refuse to buy hipster skirts and trousers look for high-waisted styles - apart from this avoid ruffles and pleats as these will add bulk. Go for a streamlined shape to show off your slinky silhouette.

10. Belt whenever you can - A dress or a shit with a belt will cinch you in accentuating your small waist.
.

Kim Kardashian

11. Shapewear - Never underestimate the impact of body-shaping lingerie. It can hold you up and in, strategically reduce or enhance your curve of choice and would hide all your bumps and lumps. Marks and Spencer has some great shapewear you can pick from.

12. Wear V-neck or scoop neckline - These necklines slim the neck and chest and will lenghten your neck and make you appear smaller and slimmer. They will flatter your figure.
.

13. Avoid Elasticized Waistbands - they add bulk to your mid-section.

14. Boot cut jeans, pants with flared bottoms are for you - pants that fit properly will make you look slimmer, so don't try to hide those curves with loose pants to jeans. Instead pick well-fitted pants with flared bottoms or in boot cut style. They will balance your generous bottom and make you look slimmer. Avoid bottoms that are tapered and get narrower towards your ankles as they can make your bottom look large. If you want to wear the skinny jeans trend, go for slim fit instead. They are not very tapered and yet slim enough. Team them with some high heels to add height that would slim you down.


Related Posts:
Look slimmer with smart dressing
Different looks with same wardrobe
Smart Lingerie - Butt Lifting Knicker
Look Taller with Nude Shoes
Are You Wearing the Right Bra Size?
.

Look slimmer with smart dressing

1. Wear the right colours, esp. Black: Black gives a look that is slimming and conceals that extra flab. But you also need colours in the wardrobe. Other colours that give slimming effect are: dark brown, burgundy, deep violet, charcoal grey, deep blues, olive.
(Remember that fit is more important than color. A pair of perfectly fitting white pants is way more flattering than a pair of ill-fitting black trousers).
Tip: A good colour combination is pairing two similarly dark colours that look sophisticated and slimming as there is no break of colour to cut your body shape in half, hence making you look leaner.

2. Put emphasis on your best features: Make the nicest part of your body the focal point of an outfit. If your upper body part is your strength then wear a red shell or royal blue jacket, for example, to draw attention away from your legs. Also, wear blocks of color that draw the eye away from less-than-perfect areas.

3. Layer: Wearing the correct pieces on top of one another can work miracles. Layers create camouflage where you need it most and adds visual interest to an ensemble. It allows you to break up looks and create new shapes visually by mixing hems and color. To top it off, with layering you won't be caught wearing the same outfit again.

4. Monochromatic Look: Monochrome outfits help your body look longer and leaner. The secret is to use one color in many different tones and you have created a monochromatic look. If you love colour then with a monochromatic look you can also wear colours. And if you select a monochromatic look that goes well with your skin tone, you will make people look at your glowing face.

5. Wear well-fitted clothes: The fit of a garment is the most important thing. Even if you buy good quality clothes, it will be useless if the item is ill-fitting. Body-conscious clothes that hint at your curves, without being overly clingy, are the most flattering. Your clothes have to fit your body - neither oversized nor undersized does the trick. If you can’t find clothing to fit off the rack, get them altered. It's money well-spent. In fact most of the good stores do alterations at no extra charge.

- Avoid Tight Clothes: Avoid tight clothing that will emphasize your problem areas. Tight clothes show those extra fats and calls attention. That is precisely that we don't want - 'attention in wrong places'. Go for well-fitted clothes.

- Avoid shapeless or loose clothing: Do not disguise your shape under baggy items, no one is fooled. Oversized clothes may hide the imperfections but it does not do justice to your positive points and you will look not only wider and heavier, but also without any shape. You are highlighting the very things you want to hide. Say complete no-go to loose or long T-shirts and blouses without any fitting.

6. No Horizontal Stripes: They make you appear wider and shorter because they cause the visual illusion of added width. Instead choose vertical stripes, which make you look longer and, leaner. The skinnier the line the better like pinstripes.

7. Go for a two-piece look: Cardigans/Jackets and vests can hide many figure flaws. Slenderize with fine-textured knits that skim trouble spots but still show your shape.
Tip - When choosing a vest, select one that is longer; if browsing for a jacket/blazer pick out one that is well-fitted, not boxy.

8. Elongate your body: Most of us are not very tall, so try to elongate your body to look slimmer and also to add extra length. Use pants to cover your shoes. If your pants cover your shoes (Esp if you wearing those high heels), your legs look longer, you look leaner and it also creates an illusion of height.

9. Leave your jacket unbuttoned: The vertical line that is created when jackets and coats are left un-buttoned is slimming. Also they don't cringe when you sit, hence taking away attention from your bust or waistline if they are your problem areas.

10. Wear V-necks: the shape of the V draws attention to your waistline and elongates the neck. A collared shirt left unbuttoned at the top will have the same impact.

11. No big pockets: Avoid pants with pockets that catch attention if you are heavy from the bottom. When buying trousers, pick the ones with no pockets or atleast no pockets in the front and small pockets on the back. Choose pockets that are proportionally sized and spaced (too small and wide spaced will make your backside look even broader).
Tip: Slightly low rise pants will make your butt look smaller.

12. Avoid shiny and heavily textured fabrics: Shiny fabrics reflect light, making any area appear larger while heavily textured fabrics add extra weight. Instead pick a print that makes you look slimmer and streamline your figure.

13. Wear the right lingerie: Actually this is where good style starts. Boosting the bust accentuates the waistline and gives you curves in all the right places. 80% women wear the wrong bra size. Going wide in the band width and small in the cup size is a common mistake. Often, women need to go down in the band width and up a cup size. Make sure you’ve been professionally bra fitted and get re-fitted annually because bust sizes change. See below what difference the right sized bra can make:

Before and After

It is very important that you wear the right bra size. You can get yourself measured from a specialist.
Mumbai - in Mumbai the lingerie store 'Boudoir London' at Juhu Tara Road (diagonally opposite Satya Paul and Millionaire Store) offers bra fitting services
London - I myself have got measured at Rigby & Peller Store in London and I would strongly recommend it (it is a complimentary service).

Are you not sure if your bra size is correct?
- Click here for a guide on getting the perfect bra fit.
- Click here to know how to work your true bra size.

14. Wear Shapewear: You can also choose clever and smart shapewears that will instantly shape your bust, tummy, thighs and bums for a smooth, sleek silhouette. It can manipulate almost any body shape and can instantly transform you from frumpy to head-turning; and can slim your curves in all the right places. Minimising bras, Thigh slimmers, Waist and Thigh Cincher, Corsets are some of the shapewear that can instantly alleviate the trouble spots. You can find good shapewear at Marks & Spencer and La Senza in India.

15. Accessorize correctly: Right accessories can make you slimmer while the wrong choice can make you look fatter. If your waist is the problem area then avoid large belts because they bring attention to your tummy. The same way necklaces too close to your face should be used carefully if you have a double chin, because it will accentuate the chin; longer necklaces have the opposite effect. Sleek shoes, like narrow toed pumps or court shoes, will give make you look slimmer and sleeker.
.

Once you have done the clothing, just these two final tips and you are ready to rock

- Get the right hairstyle for your face: A slimming hairstyle can change your look dramatically. Ask your hairstylist what will suit your face and make your face look slimmer.

- Get your posture right: You can look slimmer if you stand up erect and straight. Do not slouch when standing or sitting, it is really a complete no no.


Related Posts:
Different looks with same wardrobe
Wardrobe Must Haves - all time classics
.

Look slimmer with smart dressing

1. Wear the right colours, esp. Black: Black gives a look that is slimming and conceals that extra flab. But you also need colours in the wardrobe. Other colours that give slimming effect are: dark brown, burgundy, deep violet, charcoal grey, deep blues, olive.
(Remember that fit is more important than color. A pair of perfectly fitting white pants is way more flattering than a pair of ill-fitting black trousers).
Tip: A good colour combination is pairing two similarly dark colours that look sophisticated and slimming as there is no break of colour to cut your body shape in half, hence making you look leaner.

2. Put emphasis on your best features: Make the nicest part of your body the focal point of an outfit. If your upper body part is your strength then wear a red shell or royal blue jacket, for example, to draw attention away from your legs. Also, wear blocks of color that draw the eye away from less-than-perfect areas.

3. Layer: Wearing the correct pieces on top of one another can work miracles. Layers create camouflage where you need it most and adds visual interest to an ensemble. It allows you to break up looks and create new shapes visually by mixing hems and color. To top it off, with layering you won't be caught wearing the same outfit again.

4. Monochromatic Look: Monochrome outfits help your body look longer and leaner. The secret is to use one color in many different tones and you have created a monochromatic look. If you love colour then with a monochromatic look you can also wear colours. And if you select a monochromatic look that goes well with your skin tone, you will make people look at your glowing face.

5. Wear well-fitted clothes: The fit of a garment is the most important thing. Even if you buy good quality clothes, it will be useless if the item is ill-fitting. Body-conscious clothes that hint at your curves, without being overly clingy, are the most flattering. Your clothes have to fit your body - neither oversized nor undersized does the trick. If you can’t find clothing to fit off the rack, get them altered. It's money well-spent. In fact most of the good stores do alterations at no extra charge.

- Avoid Tight Clothes: Avoid tight clothing that will emphasize your problem areas. Tight clothes show those extra fats and calls attention. That is precisely that we don't want - 'attention in wrong places'. Go for well-fitted clothes.

- Avoid shapeless or loose clothing: Do not disguise your shape under baggy items, no one is fooled. Oversized clothes may hide the imperfections but it does not do justice to your positive points and you will look not only wider and heavier, but also without any shape. You are highlighting the very things you want to hide. Say complete no-go to loose or long T-shirts and blouses without any fitting.

6. No Horizontal Stripes: They make you appear wider and shorter because they cause the visual illusion of added width. Instead choose vertical stripes, which make you look longer and, leaner. The skinnier the line the better like pinstripes.

7. Go for a two-piece look: Cardigans/Jackets and vests can hide many figure flaws. Slenderize with fine-textured knits that skim trouble spots but still show your shape.
Tip - When choosing a vest, select one that is longer; if browsing for a jacket/blazer pick out one that is well-fitted, not boxy.

8. Elongate your body: Most of us are not very tall, so try to elongate your body to look slimmer and also to add extra length. Use pants to cover your shoes. If your pants cover your shoes (Esp if you wearing those high heels), your legs look longer, you look leaner and it also creates an illusion of height.

9. Leave your jacket unbuttoned: The vertical line that is created when jackets and coats are left un-buttoned is slimming. Also they don't cringe when you sit, hence taking away attention from your bust or waistline if they are your problem areas.

10. Wear V-necks: the shape of the V draws attention to your waistline and elongates the neck. A collared shirt left unbuttoned at the top will have the same impact.

11. No big pockets: Avoid pants with pockets that catch attention if you are heavy from the bottom. When buying trousers, pick the ones with no pockets or atleast no pockets in the front and small pockets on the back. Choose pockets that are proportionally sized and spaced (too small and wide spaced will make your backside look even broader).
Tip: Slightly low rise pants will make your butt look smaller.

12. Avoid shiny and heavily textured fabrics: Shiny fabrics reflect light, making any area appear larger while heavily textured fabrics add extra weight. Instead pick a print that makes you look slimmer and streamline your figure.

13. Wear the right lingerie: Actually this is where good style starts. Boosting the bust accentuates the waistline and gives you curves in all the right places. 80% women wear the wrong bra size. Going wide in the band width and small in the cup size is a common mistake. Often, women need to go down in the band width and up a cup size. Make sure you’ve been professionally bra fitted and get re-fitted annually because bust sizes change. See below what difference the right sized bra can make:

Before and After

It is very important that you wear the right bra size. You can get yourself measured from a specialist.
Mumbai - in Mumbai the lingerie store 'Boudoir London' at Juhu Tara Road (diagonally opposite Satya Paul and Millionaire Store) offers bra fitting services
London - I myself have got measured at Rigby & Peller Store in London and I would strongly recommend it (it is a complimentary service).

Are you not sure if your bra size is correct?
- Click here for a guide on getting the perfect bra fit.
- Click here to know how to work your true bra size.

14. Wear Shapewear: You can also choose clever and smart shapewears that will instantly shape your bust, tummy, thighs and bums for a smooth, sleek silhouette. It can manipulate almost any body shape and can instantly transform you from frumpy to head-turning; and can slim your curves in all the right places. Minimising bras, Thigh slimmers, Waist and Thigh Cincher, Corsets are some of the shapewear that can instantly alleviate the trouble spots. You can find good shapewear at Marks & Spencer and La Senza in India.

15. Accessorize correctly: Right accessories can make you slimmer while the wrong choice can make you look fatter. If your waist is the problem area then avoid large belts because they bring attention to your tummy. The same way necklaces too close to your face should be used carefully if you have a double chin, because it will accentuate the chin; longer necklaces have the opposite effect. Sleek shoes, like narrow toed pumps or court shoes, will give make you look slimmer and sleeker.
.

Once you have done the clothing, just these two final tips and you are ready to rock

- Get the right hairstyle for your face: A slimming hairstyle can change your look dramatically. Ask your hairstylist what will suit your face and make your face look slimmer.

- Get your posture right: You can look slimmer if you stand up erect and straight. Do not slouch when standing or sitting, it is really a complete no no.


Related Posts:
Different looks with same wardrobe
Wardrobe Must Haves - all time classics
.

Smart Dressing - different looks with same wardrobe

It's time to begin to think about 'smart dressing' - creating different looks with one piece of garment without being caught wearing it again.

With your existing wardrobe you can use separate pieces of clothing and accessories, do your own pairing with them and create a unique outfit each time. With a little smartness you can be styling and saving at the same time.

Make sure your hair and make-up go with your look.

Magic: One key-piece - different looks
Scared of being caught in the same look twice? Don't blow your budget, just re-work these key pieces:

1. Stand-out blouse
Give yourself a fresh look with a stand-out blouse. Come out of blacks, greys, blues and whites. See how this emerald green blouse can be worn from a dinner date to a work meeting. And you thought this was only evening parties?




Night out: This chiffon top when paired with a sexy skirt (here we have paired it with a short tulip pencil skirt) along with high heels and a smart clutch will bring you in the spotlight. Don't forget to undo a few buttons. Complete the look with an eclectic necklace and you are sure to find men staring at you.

Dinner Date: Bored with your black dress, no matter how sexy it looks? Cannot wear your strapless or cleavage showing dress and is lying unused in your wardrobe? Your prom dress looks unfit for a dinner date? Well this blouse can change your black dress into a more interesting item and will also make your dress usable if you had been avoiding it. Wear your stand-out blouse inside this dress and see how your dress looks completely different. You can team it with your long high-heeled boots or strappy platform shoes with a matching (or metallic) clutch and win over your date in the first look.

Girly Lunch: For a more subtle look for the day, slip a pair of well-fitted denims pull over your blouse (you can tuck in or leave out, choice is yours; but if you tuck-in ensure you wear a belt preferably matching with your shoes). Carry a simple tote in black, beige, cream or brown. And here you are ready for your girly lunch.

Work Meeting: Layer the blouse with a knitted top or a cardigan, pair them with a formal skirt in black or grey, slip in to your court shoes, carry your tote or work bag and you are ready to go to the office. This ensemble will not only give a subtle look but also add a little zing to your everyday work wardrobe with a splash of colour and the girly chiffon in your top. Keep the other accessories simple, you can wear a simple pair of earrings with a pearl string. Even without it your look is complete. Don't forget you are going to work, you want people to take you seriously.

2. Dress
The checked dress was a runway hit this season (D&G). Alternatively you can also go for a plain or printed dress, but make sure you team it with the right accessories and clothing.



Night out: Your dress plus a stilettos or platform sandals and a clutch, an Alice band to add to the girly look and you are ready for the night out.

Dinner Date: Turn your dress into a strapless sexy blouse by pairing it with a black flannel skirt (don't forget to tuck your dress in). In the accessories department you can wear strappy black heels, carry smart purse/clutch, and most importantly don't forget to add a jewellery piece - it can be a stand-out ring or a necklace.

Girly Lunch: Create a day look for your dress by teaming it with a cardigan or a shrug and skinny pants or leggings. Don't forget your tote. You can carry this look for a girly lunch or to run day's errands.

Work Meeting: Wear a shirt inside the dress, slip in skinny pants or leggings and a formal pair of shoes (your black pumps) and you can wear this to work. Alternatively you can also wear a formal jacket over the dress to carry it to work.

3. Black Trousers
Who says black trousers are boring and can only be worn at work? See the four interesting looks worked from the black trousers for a - night out, dinner date, girly lunch and work meeting.



Night out: Team your trousers with an embellished top or dressy tunic and complete the look with zingy accessories for a night out. Don't make it too loud, if your top grabs the spotlight, keep the accessories subtle.

Dinner Date: A feminine top with a waistcoat (even a satin waistcoat will look fab) or a sexy cami top paired with your trousers along with a nice clutch and stilettos will work for your date. Be sure to wear a statement jewellery piece to complete the look. Here we have teamed a glam wristband with the outfit.

Girly Lunch: A girly top layered with a cape along with flat boot and a duffle bag is great for your lunch. The same look can also be worn for a shopping spree. For summers you can go away with the cape or may even replace the top and cape with a glam tee.

Work Meeting: A decent ruffle top matched with your black trousers with a shopper bag, closed toe shoes and beaded necklace can be worn for a work meeting. If you require a more formal look, wear an office jacket over the top and you are ready to take over the world. For a simpler look, wear a formal shirt and kitten heeled pumps with the trousers.

4. Vest or Tunic
One Vest or tunic can create many looks. Here I have re-worked the accessories and garments with the vest to create six different looks.

Most of the looks below are for the day. However, mixing your tunic or vest with the right garments and accessories can create a nice evening look. Tip: Layer the tunic with a satin/embellished sleeveless cameo and team it a smart pair of trousers, a clutch and matching stilettos to carry it for a night-out.




How to work different looks from one piece of garment
- Layering Layering and Layering!!!!!!! I love layering - it looks smart, can help hide flaws of a garment, conceal your extra bulges and creates multiple looks. Layering a garment is the smartest way to make one piece of clothing look different each time. Layering clothes allows you to mix and match a wider variety of different styles, and adds more dimension to your outfit. Sweaters, vest or jacket over blouses over t-shirts, formal shirts, dresses worn with denim, pants, leggings and so on creates multiple looks using same piece of garment.
- You can change your look by choosing different shoes, handbag and accessories to compliment. - Throwing a contrasting coloured shawl over your shoulders is also an excellent way to change the look of your outfit.
- Have fun with accessories, they are the easiest way to brighten up a plain outfit. Same outfit but with different accessories for day and night can create a different look each time (redo your hairstyle and make-up for the evening). Shoes, bag, some statement jewellery, scarf, belt are the key accessories that will help you re-work on one key piece to make it look different every time.


Layering and De-layering

Shweta Jaishankar at Lakme Fashion Week 2008:

In this picture Shweta Jaishankar gave her glam black dress a more casual look by pairing it with a shrug and flip-flops. The same dress, minus the shrug, teamed with a smart clutch, matching stilettos and dressy jewellery (just a nice pair of earrings or a necklace) can be worn for a dinner party or a dinner date.

From Oprah Winfrey's Show:

Incerpts from the show, "The fit-and-flare satin trench coat is a great evening look that Danielle can use after she lands the job. "When you're wearing clothes in the office, you have to think about versatility. It has to work from the office to the evening," says Adam Glassman, creative director for O, The Oprah Magazine. Underneath the coat is Danielle's interview suit—a jacket over a shift dress. The dress has some stretch to it, which is great for travelling.

"Everyone should have a shift dress in their wardrobe. You can dress it up. You can dress it down. It's really very easy and proper", he says."

Twinkle Khanna at HDIL Indian Oaks

I really like this style, teaming a shirt with a dress, especially the black and white ensemble. A very versatile style can be carried from a lunch to a dinner to work.




Interesting Links:
- Check out One Dress Six Looks
- Click here to Dress up the doll in different looks. ITS FUN!!

Smart Dressing - different looks with same wardrobe

It's time to begin to think about 'smart dressing' - creating different looks with one piece of garment without being caught wearing it again.

With your existing wardrobe you can use separate pieces of clothing and accessories, do your own pairing with them and create a unique outfit each time. With a little smartness you can be styling and saving at the same time.

Make sure your hair and make-up go with your look.

Magic: One key-piece - different looks
Scared of being caught in the same look twice? Don't blow your budget, just re-work these key pieces:

1. Stand-out blouse
Give yourself a fresh look with a stand-out blouse. Come out of blacks, greys, blues and whites. See how this emerald green blouse can be worn from a dinner date to a work meeting. And you thought this was only evening parties?




Night out: This chiffon top when paired with a sexy skirt (here we have paired it with a short tulip pencil skirt) along with high heels and a smart clutch will bring you in the spotlight. Don't forget to undo a few buttons. Complete the look with an eclectic necklace and you are sure to find men staring at you.

Dinner Date: Bored with your black dress, no matter how sexy it looks? Cannot wear your strapless or cleavage showing dress and is lying unused in your wardrobe? Your prom dress looks unfit for a dinner date? Well this blouse can change your black dress into a more interesting item and will also make your dress usable if you had been avoiding it. Wear your stand-out blouse inside this dress and see how your dress looks completely different. You can team it with your long high-heeled boots or strappy platform shoes with a matching (or metallic) clutch and win over your date in the first look.

Girly Lunch: For a more subtle look for the day, slip a pair of well-fitted denims pull over your blouse (you can tuck in or leave out, choice is yours; but if you tuck-in ensure you wear a belt preferably matching with your shoes). Carry a simple tote in black, beige, cream or brown. And here you are ready for your girly lunch.

Work Meeting: Layer the blouse with a knitted top or a cardigan, pair them with a formal skirt in black or grey, slip in to your court shoes, carry your tote or work bag and you are ready to go to the office. This ensemble will not only give a subtle look but also add a little zing to your everyday work wardrobe with a splash of colour and the girly chiffon in your top. Keep the other accessories simple, you can wear a simple pair of earrings with a pearl string. Even without it your look is complete. Don't forget you are going to work, you want people to take you seriously.

2. Dress
The checked dress was a runway hit this season (D&G). Alternatively you can also go for a plain or printed dress, but make sure you team it with the right accessories and clothing.



Night out: Your dress plus a stilettos or platform sandals and a clutch, an Alice band to add to the girly look and you are ready for the night out.

Dinner Date: Turn your dress into a strapless sexy blouse by pairing it with a black flannel skirt (don't forget to tuck your dress in). In the accessories department you can wear strappy black heels, carry smart purse/clutch, and most importantly don't forget to add a jewellery piece - it can be a stand-out ring or a necklace.

Girly Lunch: Create a day look for your dress by teaming it with a cardigan or a shrug and skinny pants or leggings. Don't forget your tote. You can carry this look for a girly lunch or to run day's errands.

Work Meeting: Wear a shirt inside the dress, slip in skinny pants or leggings and a formal pair of shoes (your black pumps) and you can wear this to work. Alternatively you can also wear a formal jacket over the dress to carry it to work.

3. Black Trousers
Who says black trousers are boring and can only be worn at work? See the four interesting looks worked from the black trousers for a - night out, dinner date, girly lunch and work meeting.



Night out: Team your trousers with an embellished top or dressy tunic and complete the look with zingy accessories for a night out. Don't make it too loud, if your top grabs the spotlight, keep the accessories subtle.

Dinner Date: A feminine top with a waistcoat (even a satin waistcoat will look fab) or a sexy cami top paired with your trousers along with a nice clutch and stilettos will work for your date. Be sure to wear a statement jewellery piece to complete the look. Here we have teamed a glam wristband with the outfit.

Girly Lunch: A girly top layered with a cape along with flat boot and a duffle bag is great for your lunch. The same look can also be worn for a shopping spree. For summers you can go away with the cape or may even replace the top and cape with a glam tee.

Work Meeting: A decent ruffle top matched with your black trousers with a shopper bag, closed toe shoes and beaded necklace can be worn for a work meeting. If you require a more formal look, wear an office jacket over the top and you are ready to take over the world. For a simpler look, wear a formal shirt and kitten heeled pumps with the trousers.

4. Vest or Tunic
One Vest or tunic can create many looks. Here I have re-worked the accessories and garments with the vest to create six different looks.

Most of the looks below are for the day. However, mixing your tunic or vest with the right garments and accessories can create a nice evening look. Tip: Layer the tunic with a satin/embellished sleeveless cameo and team it a smart pair of trousers, a clutch and matching stilettos to carry it for a night-out.




How to work different looks from one piece of garment
- Layering Layering and Layering!!!!!!! I love layering - it looks smart, can help hide flaws of a garment, conceal your extra bulges and creates multiple looks. Layering a garment is the smartest way to make one piece of clothing look different each time. Layering clothes allows you to mix and match a wider variety of different styles, and adds more dimension to your outfit. Sweaters, vest or jacket over blouses over t-shirts, formal shirts, dresses worn with denim, pants, leggings and so on creates multiple looks using same piece of garment.
- You can change your look by choosing different shoes, handbag and accessories to compliment. - Throwing a contrasting coloured shawl over your shoulders is also an excellent way to change the look of your outfit.
- Have fun with accessories, they are the easiest way to brighten up a plain outfit. Same outfit but with different accessories for day and night can create a different look each time (redo your hairstyle and make-up for the evening). Shoes, bag, some statement jewellery, scarf, belt are the key accessories that will help you re-work on one key piece to make it look different every time.


Layering and De-layering

Shweta Jaishankar at Lakme Fashion Week 2008:

In this picture Shweta Jaishankar gave her glam black dress a more casual look by pairing it with a shrug and flip-flops. The same dress, minus the shrug, teamed with a smart clutch, matching stilettos and dressy jewellery (just a nice pair of earrings or a necklace) can be worn for a dinner party or a dinner date.

From Oprah Winfrey's Show:

Incerpts from the show, "The fit-and-flare satin trench coat is a great evening look that Danielle can use after she lands the job. "When you're wearing clothes in the office, you have to think about versatility. It has to work from the office to the evening," says Adam Glassman, creative director for O, The Oprah Magazine. Underneath the coat is Danielle's interview suit—a jacket over a shift dress. The dress has some stretch to it, which is great for travelling.

"Everyone should have a shift dress in their wardrobe. You can dress it up. You can dress it down. It's really very easy and proper", he says."

Twinkle Khanna at HDIL Indian Oaks

I really like this style, teaming a shirt with a dress, especially the black and white ensemble. A very versatile style can be carried from a lunch to a dinner to work.




Interesting Links:
- Check out One Dress Six Looks
- Click here to Dress up the doll in different looks. ITS FUN!!