Author Archives: Jennifer & Natalie

Holiday Dresses to Flatter your Figure

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These days holiday party invites start rolling in come early November. This year instead of wallowing in sheer, what-to-wear panic, be prepared to dress your party best this season—no matter what your shape. Whether you’re curvy, boyish, petite, or full-figured, we’ve got a few red-carpet looks that are both festive and flattering.

Reaching for a sack dress might be a natural reflex, but a loose shape will only add pounds. Enhance your figure in a form-shaping sheath dress or a forgiving wrap dress. And black is not your only choice hue this season: Embrace navy, gunmetal gray, and Bordeaux—all of which are rich and slimming. Reward your newfound bravery with a bold, statement accessory and fabulous heels.

Play up your figure’s best asset in the holiday party staple: the LBD. Victoria Beckham’s bone structure is not a requirement for this season’s modern dress shapes; the focus is simply on tailoring aka perfect fit. A structured black dress with top and bottom slits and a strong cinched waist is a flattering and fun alternative to the ubiquitous, long and flowy LBD.

You can’t go wrong with a simple LBD, but where’s the fun in that? Show off your personal style with peplum, lace, and bows—it’s all about the placement. A peplum will cinch your waist and add a gentle flare at the hip to make you look more curvaceous; bows add an ultra femme touch at the shoulder; and lace is always feminine especially when the scalloped edge accents a skirt or dress.

Lastly, the final touches of your holiday dress are the most crucial and most fun to put together: the accessories! Whether you opt for opulent and sparkly gems for a classic touch or bold, metal pieces for a modern look, the same approach goes with your holiday dress of choice – make sure you are comfortable in it and it speaks true to you.

For more tips on styling for the holidays and right on into the New Year, check out Natalie’s bestselling book, Frumpy to Fabulous: Flaunting It. Your Ultimate Guide to Effortless Style. It is available in Paperback, Kindle and Abridged Ebook Format.

What to Wear Inside a Suit Jacket

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Looking professional but stylish is a challenge of the modern workplace. Whether you are headed to a job interview or simply to work, the clothes you wear say a lot about your commitment to your work and your ability to perform it. One of the easiest and most useful articles of clothing a working woman can own is a classic, tailored suit complemented with various blouses to accent its appearance.

A white, polished, collared button-down shirt will give your suit a menswear edge, mimicking the look of a man’s suit. Cotton poplin or a tailored rayon fabric are perfect options, as both of these breathe to keep you cool in stressful work situations, while looking crisp and clean. Some women prefer this conservative look, which can be feminized with accessories.

The classic white is always a good choice, but you can accent your suit jacket with brightly colored or printed blouses for some office flair. Focus on a blouse that will fit you well without being provocative. Different colored blouses can extend the life of your suit. The more contemporary your office environment, the more you can play with color and patterns.

Your work clothes don’t have to be super conservative all through the outfit. Opt to do something creative with your tops, whether it is a different cut or detailed embellishments. Cool fashion tops like these, make a nice break-off for a suit, giving it a different look and personality.

Just as with the suit, fit is very important in creating a professional appearance. The shoulders of your blouse should line up with your shoulders and it should not pull over the bust. If your blouse buttons-up, or has another closure, it should not gap. Another thing to keep in mind is whether you are planning to tuck in your blouse or wear it out. If you tuck it in, ensure it is long enough to stay in place.

While the business suit may be the standard dress code in the corporate world, the different variations of today’s blouses allow you to create different personalities for the suit, as well as, act as a secondary day-to-night outfit.

For more styling tips check out Natalie’s bestselling book, Frumpy to Fabulous: Flaunting It. Your Ultimate Guide to Effortless Style. It is available in Paperback, Kindle and Abridged Ebook Format.

Accenting Your Wardrobe with Long Necklaces

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Long necklaces are at the top of this season’s list of jewelry trends. They add a lot of texture to your look for business or casual occasions. If you are new to this particular jewelry trend, you may feel a bit weighed down when you first try longer chains and pearl ropes. Here are a few tips to help you wear long necklaces with plenty of style and panache. Layering long necklaces with short necklaces gives your outfit depth while allowing you to comfortably sport all of your favorite chain link and beaded strands. Just like with your clothing, you can mix and match textures when layering necklaces of different lengths. Keep the look understated by pairing thick, chunky beaded necklaces with slender chains and ropes.

 

Extra-long necklaces can be doubled or tripled for additional style creating a bold, dramatic look. The pastel example above would be great to try in the office to amp up a business suit. Bulky chains with large signature pendants (as in above right) are ideal for a night on the town. Double up on pearl necklaces and bulky link chains when you’re wearing jeans, T-shirts and sneakers for a cool, funky, sophisticated vibe. This trend is so versatile!

If you don’t feel quite up to these free-flowing, oversized chains and strands described above, an alternative to rocking this trend is layering long necklaces with unique pendants. Over-sized pendants sometimes look out of place on short necklaces, but they are right at home on longer pieces. Look for modern pendants featuring large gemstones or novelty shapes that best reflects your personal style. Long necklaces work like a v-neck shirt in that they draw the eye down, lengthening the body, making you look taller, slimmer and more elegant. A perfect accessory for all seasons, they can instantly enhance your look from day-to-night… all you need to do is rock it with confidence.

For more tips on adding accessories to your fall and winter wardrobe check out Natalie’s bestselling book, Frumpy to Fabulous: Flaunting It. Your Ultimate Guide to Effortless Style. It is available in Paperback, Kindle and Abridged Ebook Format.

Glam Up your Fall Wardrobe with Vibrant Skirts

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Starting that new-season wardrobe can be tricky business. Even though fall usually means grays, browns, or rusty shades, if you want to bring some fun to your outfits, think bold hues of yellow, purple, hot pink, blue, green, orange, fuchsia, and turquoise. Extremely popular this season, bright colors remain firmly on the fashion radar. It’s time to forget all those dull, monotonous autumnal shades and shop hot hues which are an amazing way to liven up your looks. From comfy coats, blazers and cozy knits to chic skirts, vibrant shades represent a love story this season.

Bight Colored Pencil SkirtI love a bright colored pencil skirt I can wear all year round. You have two choices on top when wearing color on your bottom half: go bold (top left) or tone your bright skirt down with neutrals (top center). For a more subtle style statement that is sleek and sassy on its own, opt for a trend-right color-blocked pencil skirt (top right). Focusing on a neutral heel or a handbag, along with minimal-to-no accessories, these are just a couple of ways show off your sense of style with this trend.

Printed Skirts

What’s the secret to pulling off a busy print on your lower half? Keep the rest of your ensemble crisp and clean, and opt for sleek accessories to provide some extra polish. Use a pair of edgy collar tips to modernize a classic sleeveless button-up (top center) or throw on a cropped jacket (top left), and finish the look with a structured bag and a glam, leg-lengthening strappy sandal or ankle bootie (top right).

Skirts with TightsKeeping warm is a definite factor this season when rocking a colored skirt. No need to fret. Tights can do so much for an outfit: pulls it all together, adds some punch (with different textures) and, of course, keep your legs toasty warm.

Skirts seem tailor-made to make a woman feel sophisticated and ladylike with clean lines and the suggestion of a dress. They’re perfect for a luncheon, board meeting or work holiday parties. I prefer my skirts to be knee length or to hang just past the knee. The cut is about elongation so wear your skirt as high as possible on the waist and embrace a little length. For a woman with a thicker waist, I would suggest wearing your skirt on your hips instead of the waist to minimize tummy bulge. Think head-to-toe, attention-grabbing outfits. Win the spotlight this season with these wow-worthy colored skirts and add an instant hit of boldness and sophistication to your fall wardrobe.

For more tips on adding color, pattern, and texture to your fall and winter wardrobe check out Natalie’s bestselling book, Frumpy to Fabulous: Flaunting It. Your Ultimate Guide to Effortless Style. It is available in Paperback, Kindle and Abridged Ebook Format.

Cinching It with a Skinny Belt with Confidence

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Anyone who’s been keeping up with my blog or newsletter knows how much I love a cinched waist. To me there is nothing more feminine than punctuating the curve of the waist with a belt.   But many of the women I work with have a hard time figuring out just how to “cinch it”. It is tougher than you would think given the current trends, (such as those long, flowy tops which are not particularly easy to wear). So here are a few tips.
how to wear a beltCreate a chic everyday outfit by pairing a skinny belt over light layers such as a long and thin cardigan, as it creates texture, layering interest, added waist-definition and if you like, a pop of color. Positioning the belt on the natural waist (where you are smallest) is key. This prevents the “blouson effect” keeping the torso streamlined and creates a silhouette that is flop-proof if you keep the look sleek on top.
how to accessorize with a belDon’t underestimate the power of the skinny belt. Wearing a skinny belt a little lower and looser when you’re short-waisted is in theory the right thing to do. But I haven’t minded short-waisted gals wearing skinny belts on their natural waist. It is a great way to elongate the legs and mirror an empire cut, which can be a cute look (top left).
belts for plus sizeBustier gals should try skinny belts, too. Although slight in size, skinny belts are certainly not any less interesting than their larger, wider counterparts. They accentuate the waist just as effectually while keeping the torso uncluttered, like the two photos above.  If you’re plus-sized, try a 1 ” wide belt slightly to create a proportional balance to your look.

Trust me, you don’t need to be skinny to wear a skinny belt. Just remember to make sure you accentuate the smallest part of your waist to achieve the most flattering look. Not only are they a great way to feel thinner, but because they are available in so many colors and styles, they are a fabulous accessory and a great way to accent a dress, cardigan or jacket.

For more tips on using accessories, check out Natalie’s bestselling book, Frumpy to Fabulous: Flaunting It. Your Ultimate Guide to Effortless Style. It is available in Paperback, Kindle and Abridged Ebook Format.