dressing without losing yourself

When we are dressing ourselves, we must learn the basic principle, and that is to keep a sense of our own personal style apparent. Otherwise, we will feel made up or unattractive, because we are trying to duplicate someone else's look, instead of learning to develop our own sense of style that best suits our body frame, clothing preferences and personality.
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When getting started, you must first learn your body frame. Listed below are all four of the bodies, along with their characteristics and you choose which one of them best describes your body (you may fall into one or a combination of more than one category). The overall goal is to draw the viewer’s eye up to the beauty of your face.
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A-Frame

Body is narrower at the top half and wider at the lower hip and upper thigh area
Legs may be shorter and sometimes heavier
Upper torso may be average to long, firm and slender
When there is weight gain, it is usually in the upper thighs and hips
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Goal: Balance shape by widening shoulders. This can be achieved by choosing garments with shoulder pads or sleeve detailing and horizontal necklines.
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V-FrameShoulders appear to be wider than the hips
Bust is unusally large, with a shorter torso and high waist
Thighs and derriere are usually flat
Legs are thin
Tummy may be more prominent than bust
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Goal: Give illusion of hourglass shape by widening hips. This can be achieved by chooing garments that have width and fullness in the skirt or pants, pockets at the hips and long tunic style tops.
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H-FrameBody appears to be straigh up and down
Thighs and derriere are usually flat
Legs may be longer
Bust is average to large
Weight gain is usually through the middle
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Goal: Create hour glass figure with illusion of smaller waist. This can be achieved by choosing either a bloused garment with a flared skirt and belted waist, wrap tops, v necklines, and long tunic style tops.
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8-Frame
Figure is curvy and perfectly balanced
Bust is full, waist is small, with average length
Hips are gently tapered, with good proportions to derriere
Leg length and upper torso are balanced
Weight gain is always evenly distributed
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Goal: Emphasize figure; avoid clutter, fluff and tight fit. This can be achieved by choosing garments that fit the body and identify the waist, wrap tops, v and scoop necklines, shaped one-piece dresses.

organize your closet - accessories

the first step towards a more organized wardrobe is with an organized closet. when your closet has some organization you'll be able to find that putting together outfits are suddenly easier.
the next step is accessories (this includes belts, scarves and purses). if you are like most women you only wear 20% of the clothing in your closet. it's true! most women have full closets with nothing to wear. what about the other 80%? it's just taking up space, collecting dust. if you don't love it and your no longer wear it -- it has to go!

when you only have clothes in your closet that you wear regularly you will have a lot more room and less stress. you might be afraid of letting them go, but let me assure you that by letting go of clothing that you are not wearing will show you what you *are* wearing and it will help you see what you are missing from your wardrobe!

accessories are a major part in setting up your individual style and must not be forgotten. they give you a "put together" look all day.

there are many possibilities and different ways to organize your accessories, it's up to you to figure out what works best for you.

start by sorting through each group, one item at a time. starting with scarves, then belts, purses, jewelry and any other accessories that need organizing.

for example, take one scarf and go through your arranged categories in your closet (shirts, pants, skirts and dresses, etc.) and see if you can incorporate it into your wardrobe in a different or unique way. do you still want to keep it?

any accessory that you no longer like or feel you will never wear needs to be purged into 3 piles.

1. give-away. (these are still in good condition that no longer work with your wardrobe, anything that you haven't worn for a long time -- probably a year or more)

2. give. (these have monetary or sentimental value. give these items to family or friends you feel would appreciate them.)

3. trash. (this includes anything that is stained, too worn or broken)

my favorite way to organize jewelry is in plain view (because if you see all your options you will wear it more), you can just hammer some nails in the wall, or use an expandable mug holder mounted on the wall (or cup hooks). when necklaces are hung separately they won't get tangled. earrings can be sorted in ice cube trays (plus they can be stacked and stored in a drawer). i keep my earrings and rings in a jewelry box. i use a piece of plastic grid (you can get it in any craft store) to store my earrings.

As Coco Channel, a fashion icon once said, "Fashion is Architecture:
it is a matter of proportions. " This is true with your accessories as
well as your clothes. If you are of larger stature, your jewelry
should be bigger. If you are petite your jewelry should not overwhelm
and be on the understated side. Keep it in proportion.

The purpose of accessories is to draw the eye to a part on the body
you want to give attention to. Is it your earlobes, dainty wrist bones
or your décolletage? Jewelry is an attention getter.

Wear earrings that are an opposite shape to your face shape. If your
face is round avoid round earrings. If you have a long face, avoid
long dangling earrings. Contradictory shapes balance each other out.
Do the same with purses too.

If you have a thick neck try the slimming effect of the long vertical
line created with a long necklace. Avoid chokers and scarves tied at
the neck; they just draw attention to your neck.

Don't over-do your accessories. Too much is chaotic and you look like
a decorated Christmas tree! No more than 3 accessories at one time!
(This includes eye glasses)

The right touch of accessories can take an ordinary outfit and make it
look extraordinary. Have fun with accessories and show your style!

organize your closet - pants and skirts

the first step towards a more organized wardrobe is with an organized closet. when your closet has some organization you'll be able to find that putting together outfits are suddenly easier.
the next step is pants and skirts. if you are like most women you only wear 20% of the clothing in your closet. it's true! most women have full closets with nothing to wear. what about the other 80%? it's just taking up space, collecting dust. if you don't love it and your no longer wear it -- it has to go!

when you only have clothes in your closet that you wear regularly you will have a lot more room and less stress. you might be afraid of letting them go, but let me assure you that by letting go of clothing that you are not wearing will show you what you *are* wearing and it will help you see what you are missing from your wardrobe!

examine each and every pant and skirt you own and stand in front of a full length mirror and ask youreslf: is it worn out, stained, out of style or too small/big? when was the last time i wore this? toss the pants and skirts that no longer fill your needs into 3 different piles:

1. give-away. (these are still in good condition that you haven't worn for a long time -- probably a year or more) if you don't like it and don't wear it -- there is no sense in keeping it. the real question is WHY? ask yourself these questions as you examine the pants and skirts that you no longer wear:

- does it fit well? if it's too small it should be given away, if it is too big and you don't like it enough to have it altered it should be given away.
- does it look good on you? don't feel guilty about not wearing something that is not right for you. pass it along to someone who will wear it.
- it was on sale and it seemed like a good deal. but you don't like the color, style, fit, etc. and it doesn't make you feel pretty -- refer to above, don't feel guilty.

2. trash. ask yourself: "would i purchase this at the thirft store?" if the answer is "no" then toss it in the trash.

- is it too worn? yes, if it has pilled or faded in color. yes, if the buttons are missing and the stitching is coming undone.
- is it stained and dirty?

3. alterations. (these are pants and skirts that you would wear with some minor alterations)

- buttons are about to come loose, or already have.
- minor holes that need to be repaired.
- hemlines that are too short or too long.

- wearing pants too short will make you look heavier. lengthen your leg length and slim your silhouette by getting the right pant length. pants should break on your foot -- or slightly crease over the top. wear your shoes you would wear with your pants to get the correct length.

- for skirts the most universally flattering length is at or just below the knee. long skirts have a tendency to make women look more matronly and short skirts ... well?

now we need to organize the pants and skirts that are left. you'll want to sort by putting all the pants together and all the skirts together and then arrange by color (for example: white, cream, brown, black, grey, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue). sorting by color will show you that you have too many black pants, so there is no need to buy more.

as you start to organize your closet take a look at your hangers. trash the wire hangers and replace with plastic tubular hangers.

having an organized closet will make getting dressed easier and finding new wearable combinations easier.

organize your closet - shirts and blouses

the first step towards a more organized wardrobe is with an organized closet. when your closet has some organization you'll be able to find that putting together outfits are suddenly easier.

the next step is shirts and blouses. if you are like most women you only wear 20% of the clothing in your closet. it's true! most women have full closets with nothing to wear. what about the other 80%? it's just taking up space, collecting dust. if you don't love it and your no longer wear it -- it has to go!

when you only have clothes in your closet that you wear regularly you will have a lot more room and less stress. you might be afraid of letting them go, but let me assure you that by letting go of clothing that you are not wearing will show you what you *are* wearing and it will help you see what you are missing from your wardrobe!

examine each and every shirt and blouse you own and ask youreslf: is it worn out, stained, out of style or too small/big? when was the last time i wore this? toss the shirts and blouses that no longer fill your needs into 3 different piles:

1. give-away. (these are still in good condition that you haven't worn for a long time -- probably a year or more) the real question is WHY? ask yourself these questions as you examine the shirts that you no longer wear:

- does it fit well? if it's too small it should be given away, if it is too big and you don't like it enough to have it altered it should be given away.

- does it look good on you? don't feel guilty about not wearing something that is not right for you. pass it along to someone who will wear it.

- it was on sale and it seemed like a good deal. but you don't like the color, style, fit, etc. and it doesn't make you feel pretty -- refer to above, don't feel guilty.

2. trash. ask yourself: "would i purchase this at the thirft store?" if the answer is "no" then toss it in the trash.

- is it too worn? yes, if it has pilled or faded in color. yes, if the buttons are missing and the stitching is coming undone.

- is it stained and dirty?

3. alterations. (these are shirts and blouses that you would wear with some minor alterations)

- buttons are about to come loose, or already have.

- hemlines have come undone or minor holes that need repair.

- sleeves are too short or too long. (the proper length is at the wrist bone.)

now we need to organize the shirts that are left. how you organize them is up to you. you may want to sort by work, dressy or casual, or by sleeve length (tanks, short sleeves and long sleeves) or even by color (for example: white, cream, brown, black, grey, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue).

as you start to organize your closet take a look at your hangers. trash the wire hangers and replace with plastic tubular hangers.

having an organized closet will make getting dressed easier and finding new wearable combinations easier.

organize your closet - shoes

the first step towards a more organized wardrobe is with an organized closet. when your closet has some organization you'll be able to find that putting together outfits are suddenly easier.

let's start with our shoes. where are your shoes? are they dumped in a pile on the floor of your closet (or worse next to the front door) and you can't find the mate to your black pumps? or are you wearing the same 3 pairs constantly while the rest are gathering dust?

examine each and every shoe you own and ask youreslf: are they worn out, scuffed, out of style or too small/big? when was the last time i wore these? toss the shoes that no longer fill your needs into 2 different piles:

• 1. give-away. (these are still in good condition that you no longer wear -- for whatever reason)


• 2. trash. (these are scuffed, unevenly worn heels, stitching coming undone, etc.)

having good basic shoes is essential to a good wardrobe. after the basics you can build it up by adding in fun, trndy styles. your basic shoes should cover every occasion for your lifestyle. here is a list of shoes that most women need:
1 pair of athletic shoes

• 2 pairs black/brown/navy casual or walking shoes
  2 pairs black/brown/navy shoes for work


• 1 pair dressy evening shoes


• 1 pair summer sandals


• 2 pairs black/brown boots for winter

purchase the best quality that your budget will allow in your basic shoes -- these are the ones that you'll wear over and over again. spend less on trendy shoes because they are not worn as much. have fun but keep comfort in mind while buying shoes.

you may have a lot of shoes already, but according to a recent survey conducted by Mervyn's 61% of women own more than 11 pairs of shoes. most women only wear half of these shoes on a regular basis. how many pairs pf shoes do you own?

shoes can change the look of an outfit completely. for example, take some basic jeans and add a colorfull t-shirt and some athletic shoes for a casual look -- then take the same jeans add a dressier blouse and some heels -- the look of the jeans instantly becomes dressier because of the heels.

how should you store your shoes? well that is different for everybody. you could store them in a shoe cubby, or line them up on shelves or a shoe rack. you can store them in their original boxes (a photo taped on the box makes them easier to find) or you could purchase clear plastic shoe boxes (i've found them at the dollar store and the same ones at target for a dollar). if you are tight on space there are over-the-door organizers or even hanging organizers.

tip: to help boots keep their shape roll a magazine and slide it in.

now that we've tossed some shoes, take an inventory and access your needs. write out a list of those needs before you go shopping. here are some shopping tips :

1. shedule shopping when you have plenty of time to try on and visit several stores -- you don't want to feel stressed or rushed.

2. if you find something that you love and that fits perfectly put them on hold -- then go visit several stores and shop around to compare. you may just find the same thing at another store for less!

3. always shop for shoes towards the end of the day, this is when your feet are the largest.

4. when trying on shoes make sure you wear socks or hosiery that you will wear with the shoe. (nylons with pumps and thick wool socks for winter boots)

5. buy shoes that are comfortable -- walk around the store in them (not just try them on and stand still, walk around). don't waste your money on cute trendy shoes that hurt your feet, you'll end up not wearing them.

now that your shoes are organized, try different shoes with other outfits and see if you can wear your old shoes in a new way.