Guide
If you have broad shoulders or a shorter upper body, a plunging V-neckline creates the illusion of a more elongated torso and it narrows the shoulders. An A-Line style dress, like this one, is usually fitted to the hips and then flares to give the skirt volume, which can do wonders for your silhouette.
Guide
Glyndebourne has taken place annually since 1943. This beautifully country house, estimated to be around 600 years old is located in East Sussex.
Glyndebourne is attended by those who have a love for opera, and beautiful scenery. There is plenty to do, it’s a full day if not more: fine dining, and lots of Art & Sculpture to admire. The festival itself runs from the middle of May until the last weekend of August. Whilst those who generally attend the festival come for the opera (tickets needed) most also like to make a day of it, and take time to immerse themselves in the wonderful gardens, where you can bring a picnic and take in all that Glyndebourne has to offer.
So you have your ticket and you are ready to attend this grand event. The next most important thing: What to wear? You know this really is an event you can afford to go all out and look fabulous for!
We advise, stick with the tradition of wearing an evening gown. The founder, John Christie always said, he felt this was one of the ways the audience could show respect for the performers. Plus it’s an excuse to get dressed up.
Ladies tend to go with long dresses, floaty, colourful, even a print can look very feminine. A wrap works well too, an organza wrap can easily brighten up an outfit, and works well in the evening when it starts to get a little chillier. Obviously a nice coat works well too, if you tend to feel the cold in the evening.
Shoes, wear comfortable ones. If you intend on strolling around the gardens, maybe don’t opt for a stiletto heel, as we know they tend to sink into the ground. A simple court shoe might be more effient, or just go with flats – the safer option.
Guide
It is said to have been discovered back in 3,900 B.C. in Armenia, in the form of a straw-woven skirt. These garments have been worn by men & women over the years in many different cultures. This is still alive today, some men in Scotland wear kilts, as do some Asian men wear what is called, the Dhoti or Lungi, a piece of material that is wrapped around the waist and knotted, resembling a skirt.
Women’s dresses started to become a lot more varied in the 19th century than in any other culture. Waistlines originally started under the bust, called the ‘Empire Silhouette’, and they started to drift towards the natural waist. The skirt had started of quite narrow, but was now moving towards styles like the Hoopskirt or Crinoline skirt. This was all taking place around 1860s.
Then, skirts took a radical change in the beginning of the 20th century – the hem was no longer at the floor. Around the 1920s skirts became short(er), then in the 1930s, long again. Then throughout the War, skirts became shorter as there was a fabric restriction at the time.
And of course what came into fashion in the 60s? The Miniskirt by Mary Quant. She had dared to create this item the measured normally no longer than 4inches below the bottom. These skirts were so popular, as they are today, worn by teenagers, young adults and can also be seen in sport, such as skaters, cheerleaders and tennis players.
Guide
You may want some help when doing this.
Height
1. Stand straight with your feet together
2. Start at the top of your head and pull the measuring tape down to the floor (you may need some help with this)
3. Don’t wear shoes
Waist
1. Your waist is usually found 1inch above your bellybutton
2. Wrap the measuring tape around your waist, not so tight so allowing you to breathe comfortably
Hips
1. Your hips are generally about 7” below your waist (depending on your size)
2. Looking in a mirror, find the widest part of your hips
3. The measuring tape should brush across both of your hipbones
Shoulder
1. You start by measuring at the back, from one edge of the shoulder socket to the next shoulder socket
Bust
1. Relax your arms
2. Keep your bra on, as you’re not measuring your bra size
3. Pull the tape around the back across the shoulder blades, then under your arms and across the fullest part of your bust – take measurement
Guide
This fabric covered elastic hair tie, huge in the 80’s. This fascinating accessory was commonly used to fasten long hair. You could find them in lots of shops in many elaborate styles, colours, fabrics and designs.
They sadly (and I mean sadly) started to fade out though when the bobble came along, with a ‘move out of the way’ sort of attitude. So as a nation we seemed to ditch our beloved favourite coloured scrunchies, and made way for this almost none apparent hair elastic.
Some may say these little hair bobbles were a factor for our damaged hair. As they were tied so tightly around our precious little strands of hair, it was only a matter of time before hair started to break off. Not helping was the hourly routine of taking both hands to separate the ponytail into two parts, and pull with force away from each other with one swift movement, and ta-da your pony was fixed for another hour or two. Inevitably breaking a few more stands each time.
But, I must admit, I am a self confessed hair elastic user for my some what fine head of hair. But after reading an article in the ever so excellent, Stylist last Wednesday, I saw that the scrunchie had made not only an appearance, but featured in its own article. To my happiness I went straight out that evening and bought some scrunchies from M&S – 2 for £5.00, one plain black and one leopard print, for when I’m feeling a bit more ‘And what?’ sort of day.
I love the scrunchie and I’m on a mission to buy bigger and more brightly coloured ones. And I shall also succeed in bringing back the scrunchie to The King’s Road – watch this space!
Guide
* 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
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
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
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.