Dress Etiquette Tips for Women

* Remember, wear clothes that suit your body shape.

Shoulders: Broader shoulders should try and avoid shoulder pads and cap sleeves.

Legs: If you’re wider around your thighs, try to avoid tight-fitting trousers.

Shoes: It’s very important that the shoes fit you. Otherwise you’ll incur a lot of unwanted pain.

Painted toes: If you’re wearing open toe shoes, remember people see your feet, so make sure they’re painted!

Open-toe shoes: Not to be worn with nude tights. Wear a closed toe shoe if you must wear tights.

Hems: Make sure the hem is neat and there aren’t any stray stands. This can look messy.

Boobs or Legs?: You either opt to show your legs off or flaunt your chest, but it’s never both.

Low-cut Tops: It’s not very lady like to show too much of your chest, it’s distracting and can make people feel uneasy also.

Brightly Coloured Bras: Only should be worn in the right situation, not at work under a sheer shirt.

VPL: If you’re not a fan of the G-String, and would prefer slightly bigger smalls, but worry about showing your VPL. Why not opt for seamless knickers, they’re perfect for wearing under most garments and very comfortable too.

Animal Print: Can look cheap and dated. If you insist on wearing it, then make sure it’s strictly keep to one piece on your person at a time.

Guide

Hipster Jeans: Have They Ruined 21st Century Women’s Figures?

When you were younger, did you wear your jeans too low? Or found that your knickers compared to now, were a lot more snug? And you look now, and you notice it seems to of created this indent in the side of your hips? If you answer yes to this questions don’t worry, you’re not the only one.

I discovered this years ago, when frankly I was standing in front of the mirror naked, when I noticed this hideous dip where my trousers usually sit, I didn’t think to much about it and forgot about it for awhile. Then I mentioned it to a friend on holiday and she too said she had this ‘Indent’ where her trousers sit on her hips. After we chatted about it for while, we came to the conclusion it must have been due to too many years of wearing hipster jeans (low rise). After trawling the internet, forums etc, I found that other women too like me have these little dips in their hips.

So, what can we do about it? Liposuction? Maybe spend an hour each night massaging the dents to plump them up again? Umm.. I reckon a change in clothing is the answer. Start by wearing underwear that’s not as tight, plus wearing it above your hips, so it sits nearer to your waist. I know this may look a little funny and somewhat unsexy at first. Also, try wearing high-waisted jeans too, they will give you that peachy shape again. And I believe if this is done properly, we may retain our once was ‘hour-glass’ shape back.
Remember the corset, famously worn by the Victorians. This garment was worn by women, and some men to create this desired feminine figure, historically made from whalebone. Women would go to the extreme corsetry involving ‘tight-lacing’ meaning when the corset laces are pulled tighter & tighter on a regular basis, you were to eventually achieve a smaller waist.

Women back then didn’t wear low rise jeans, so their figures weren’t affected in the way ours our today by certain clothing. Maybe we should revert back to our Ancestors fashion style? But for now, I’m going to try some high-waisted jeans! Let you know how it goes!

Guide

Dressing for the winter (or should I say, preparing…

We all want to look stylish and coordinated when we step out of the door each morning, don’t we? But, this may seem easier said than done once the winter creeps in. I have the greatest intentions (generally the evening before) of wearing something chic and sophisticated for the following day.

I wake up, and the first thing I do is look outside to see if the weather has suddenly & miraculously turned into a full blown summer, which of course it hasn’t. So inevitably, my inner senses tell me to look for the nearest and biggest (looks the warmest) jumper teamed with my lifesaver UGG boots.

‘Is there a way for me to style out wearing joggers to the supermarket? I’m too comfy’ commented a friend today on Facebook. Most answers were playful, yet ideal in this utterly bone chilling weather. My suggestion was to role up her joggers and put on a pair of those hideous heeled boots people seem to be sporting at the moment, clearly joking of course!

Back to our problem; Dressing for the Winter? Through, what looks to be a long bleak winter this year. Our aim, keeping warm, whilst remaining dapper at all times. Whatever the weather this season, snow, rain, wind and storms – here’s 5 stylish items one must never be without:

1. My Tartan scarf: very soft and perfectly matches my Barbour wax jacket (and it was only £1.99 from a shop in the West End!)

2. Chanel hydrating conditioning lip balm http://bit.ly/WKYWN0 Rouge Coco Baume – silky heaven in a stick, plus protecting my lips from the weather.

3. Black cable knit socks from Topshop http://bit.ly/10IBGEW perfect with ankle boots over normal socks (as my feet freeze!)

4. A nice thick jumper, I rarely leave the house without one on. See an example from Scotweb’s collection in Cashmere http://bit.ly/WL5drR

5. A decent pair of wellies. Harrods stock some amazing boots, like these Hunter Regent Savoy Wellies

Awards

BAFTA Awards – treat yourself: why not hire a…

So, you’ve got the coveted invite to the BAFTA’s, only a matter of weeks away. If it’s not a gleeful “yippee a chance to show off my Valentino” it may be that panicky feeling: ‘Oh, what am I going to wear?’ We all get that feeling don’t we? You might go shopping for something in a rush, repenting later or you could come and rent one of our perfect evening dresses.

We’ve been styling nominees and guests for over 30 years and are expert in dressing you up. It’s a long evening, so as well as looking the part in an outfit you can comfortably sit in you’ll need comfortable shoes too!

Tip: you might need a colourful, possibly jewelled wrap to keep you warm also.

News

What’s your New Years Resolution?

So, how was your Christmas? Isn’t there just so much preparation and organization for that one special day?! Or, unless you’re like me, and you roll both Christmas Day and Boxing Day into one so it’s like one of those long weekend you just long for, like a Bank Holiday.

Only this is different, there’s enough Roast Turkey to feed the 5000, an excessive amount of Bucks Fizz which could fill an Olympic size swimming pool, and let’s not forget there’s more children’s Disney films than you could shake a stick at. And of course chocolate, copious amounts of chocolates to over indulge in over the festive period, which at time you say to yourself “it’s fine, it’s Christmas” My diet’s starting after the New Year J

But, all good things come to an end, and we must resume back to normality and get ready for a New Year. Will you have any New Years resolutions? Maybe to stop eating chocolate? Or even give up smoking? Possibly even to clean the bathroom more often. Mine is to start drinking more water each day (must try and stick to this one). But aren’t New Year resolutions a good idea? They really do give you that feeling of accomplishment when you see them all the way through. A goal to beat, achieve something you thought you couldn’t – it can only make you a more positive stronger individual!

Why not tell us your New Year resolutions for 2013? You never know, you may inspire others to do the same.

Guide

How to dress for a Diplomatic Ball at Buckingham…

Every year Buckingham Palace holds their Diplomatic Ball. The Dress code is very White Tie. This event is where jewels, gloves and the-less-black-the better are de rigueur.

Buckingham Palace

A Diplomatic Ball really does imply full-on, floor-skimming evening gowns, either with full skirts or with straighter lines. Those of us with fuller figures may look better in waisted gowns with full skirts, great camouflage for bigger bottoms. If you have a generous bust line and cannot deal with strapless bras, then gowns with cap-sleeves or long sleeve will enable more support from a bra with a strap. I like the French soutiengorge, which literally means “hold up under the chin”, always makes me smile.

Diplomatic reception ball at Buckingham Palace Shoulders should be covered, so strapless bustiers may not work unless they have a stole or shawl to preserve your modesty! These days gloves are no longer essential, but they often finish the look with a worthwhile, elegant flourish; you don’t need to keep them on all the time, and of course you mustn’t eat while wearing them.

Alternatively, ladies can wear formal National Dress, but as you can imagine many prefer to get beautifully gowned and coiffed. Don’t forget, unless you are attending a formal diplomatic dinner or banquet, it’s often going to be a buffet: lots of standing around, albeit in glorious surroundings, so remember that comfortable shoes are very important.

One Night Stand Advice: golden or silvery ballet pumps can work really well!

Read More: Debrett’s White Tie Dress Code guide

Advice

Christmas time – ways to stay covered up at…

December brings more formal events than at any other time of the year.

Christmas time – ways to stay covered up at formal events

There’s a plethora of black tie Army and Navy dinners, where your shoulders must be covered as you dine. We advise using a shrug, or even a shawl in a light fabric such as tulle or chiffon, it’ll also stay put whilst you eat!

Alternatively, why not fix it in place with a small diamond broach, this will add some colour and light to the wrap.

Guide

Tips On Shoes For Evening Dresses

Cocktail dresses call for beautiful footwear but shoes for evening dresses are slightly less on show and you can prioritise comfort. They should always be pointy with a delicate heel, never clumpy.
Don’t wear tights or stockings with an open-toed shoe and remember to get those tootsies nicely polished!
If your shoes are heavily embellished with diamonds, sequins or brocade they may catch on the hem of a long gown, so be warned! Check them over for bits that will catch. A tiny dab of superglue can sometimes smooth out potential hazards.
You could dress up a court shoe with some shoe clips, or a pair of inexpensive diamante clip earrings, they work well, but they are easily lost on the dance floor, use cheap jewelry whose loss you won’t regret. You could always super-glue them for extra strength.

Guide

Planning to accessorise? Read some of our useful tips

Brrrrr – It’s cold out there: If granny won’t lend you her mink stole, there’s plenty of faux fur that does the job, not quite as warm, but certainly adds a certain glamour to an evening outfit. Alternatively, a dark winter coat around your shoulders, cape-like will work just as well. Evening pashmina’s are a good accessory if you are being dropped and collected right at the entrance, otherwise you’ll need something warmer when standing around late at night searching for a cab.

Handbags at dawn: Nothing will ruin you outfit more than a handbag that’s not fit for purpose. Invest in a simple black evening clutch with a shoulder strap. Why the shoulder strap? Because you can’t put your bag down and you may be holding a glass and want to nibble a canapé; a difficult manoeuvre with purse clutched in your arm pit.

Jewelled evening bags are gorgeous, but often so tiny that they’ll only hold your house key, lippy and the all important £20 note for emergencies. Forget the phone and the fags! Worth a thought beforehand, no?

To bra or not to bra: Tonight’s the night…..you’ve got the strapless dress lined up and go to the office wearing your usual soutiengorge – (I love this French word for a bra – literally meaning hold-under-throat). The you remove your bra later in the day whilst getting dolled up you notice the indentations on you shoulders – not a good look with a strapless dress. So always remember when getting up in the morning – strapless dress means either no bra or wearing a strapless bra during the day.

Spanx versus support hose: I’m not a great advocate of heavily fortified undergarments. That extra flesh has to go somewhere and you need to be careful that it doesn’t just spill out ruining the line of a close fitting dress at mid thigh or giving a back roll. We advise just simple hold-in tights resulting in no VPL and gives a super smooth silhouette. Tip: always wear a new pair (Wolford are best) as once worn they lose their elasticity.

Jewellery tips: Watches – don’t wear one, unless you have a delicate evening watch,.

Bracelets: Diamante bracelets, beware! They are often sharp and will catch on satin or chiffon ruining the evening dress.

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