NashVogue

The swimsuit rules for the Rectangle and Hourglass body types are pretty much the same. With the rectangle, we need to create a waist, while, with the hourglass, we emphasize the waist. There are very few swimsuit styles either of them can’t wear, so the focus is more on what makes you look even better. (For more details regarding the Rectangle body type, click here. For more details about the Hourglass body type, click here.)

Bathing Suit Tip #1 (For Rectangles Only)

I thought I would get the one tip that doesn’t apply to hourglass figures out of the way early. For rectangles, avoid tankinis. This is pretty much the only swimsuit style you can’t wear. The long, boxy top only makes you look more like a rectangle. Instead of creating a waist, it hides the one you have. Two piece suits are going to be your best bet, because they create weight on top and on bottom, giving the appearance of a waist in the middle.

Bathing Suit Tip #2

Make sure the top and the bottom have equal “weighting”. By this, I mean to make sure you have the same level of detailing, pattern, or color on top as there is on bottom. If you have bows on bottom, make sure to balance it out with bows or patterns on top. This equal weighting will help to give you a more defined waist.

Bathing Suit Tip #3

You can wear a one piece suit, as long as it is flattering. Don’t wear a one-piece that completely drowns you. That being said, don’t wear an overtly revealing one piece to balance it out. One-piece suits should be form flattering and well fitting. If you have a long torso, I would stay away from one-piece suits and try to recreate the look with a tankini. Rectangles can wear one piece suits as long as they have a top/bottom emphasis and form-fitting middle section.

The last in our Bathing Beauties series will post tomorrow and feature the ever lovely mom-to-be. While they don’t necessaily fit into the four basic body types, they still want to be hot and attractive on the beach. In the meantime, have you found your favorite suit this season? Show me what you’ve got!

Technorati Tags: bathing suit, Body Type, hourglass, how to, rectangle, swimsuit

Swim suit shopping can be a tricky thing. Trying to find the suit that best fits you or hides the part of you that you simply don’t want anyone else to see. Knowing what styles of swim suits fits your body type can be a great starting point in finding that perfect suit.

The pear body type is characterized by larger hips and thinner shoulders. In my experience, this is the most common body type of the average woman. The pear tends to have a smaller bust and larger back end, both areas she would love to change with her swim wear. (For more details about the pear body type, click here).

Bathing Suit Tip #1

Wear simple bottoms. The last thing you want to do is to draw attention to your hips – what you would consider your biggest problem area. Simple bottoms will help draw the eye up simply because there is nothing much to look at. Avoid high cut bottoms, boy shorts, and skirts. All of these will make your hips look wider, and make people take notice of that area of your body.

Bathing Suit Tip #2

V-neck halters will help enhance your bust and make it appear bigger. The very construction of a v-neck halter will help to push up your chest and make it appear bigger. For some added help, choose a top with built in padding or a bit of a push up. Fit is key though. If you choose a top that is too small to make your chest look larger, it will do nothing more than make it look like your top is too small. If the fit is right, the look will be fabulous.

Bathing Suit Tip #3

Wear tops with a lot of detailing, this will draw the eye up and help create the hourglass look. This tip goes opposite the apple’s bottom tip. For the pear, wear your bows and ruffles on the top. This will draw the eye up and help to create some weight on top – creating an hourglass figure.

Tomorrow we will cover the Rectangle and Hour Glass body type. The tips for them are very much alike, so I figured I would cover them in one day. I hope these tips are helping to make the idea of swim suit shopping a little less scary. Happy Shopping!

Technorati Tags: bathing suit, Body Type, how to, pear, shopping tip, swim suit

The first coat I would like to discuss is the Pea Coat. This coat is very popular this year, and is available in a variety of colors, patterns, and fabrics. The upper-thigh hem of the pea coat, however, can cause certain body types to fall out of proportion.

Since the eye is drawn downwards to the hem, thereby widening the hips, this coat can be very bad for pears. The already wide hip and narrow shoulders of the pear are exaggerated by the pea coat. All hope is not lost for the lovely pear though. Many pea coats are sold with bold, colorful scarves. Tying this accessory around your neck will add some flair to the top half of the body and stop the eye from traveling downwards. When in doubt, try the coat on and see what you think.

The pea coat is especially nice for apples. The v-neck and length draw the eye downward, adding some width to the thigh area (where you tend to taper in). Beware of the scarves that are so helpful to the pears though. Since you are wider on top, you want to avoid bulking up your top half. The coat will look great on you, just use caution with the scarf. I understand that scarves are often necessary to keep you warm – I am simply talking fashion. If it is cold enough to wear the scarf, by all means, keep warm! Just avoid wearing one for the fun of it.

Technorati Tags: 2008 Fall style, apple, Body Type, Pea Coat, pear, Wardrobe Tips

One of the main philosophies of NashVogue is to be sure that every woman is dressing for her body type. In today’s fashion, there are many things that one body type can wear, but the others can’t. On the flip side, there are a few things that every body type can wear. Here are the top three and why:

3) Straight-Leg Pant: This is great for every body type for 2 reasons. 1) The straight leg pant helps hide the wider hips of the pear and hour glass by creating a straight line from thigh to floor. 2) This cut helps out apples and rectangles by creating a long line which draws attention from the broad shoulders of the apple and accentuate the long legs of the rectangle.

2) A-Line Skirt: The 2 reasons the a-line skirt is  great for all body types is going to sound like a contradiction. A-lines are great for pears because it hides those wider hips beneath it’s flowing fabric. It’s great for apples, hour glasses, and rectangles by helping to create/accentuate those gorgeous feminine curves down bottom. As I said, this may sound like a contradiction, but it’s the way it works.

1) Wrap top or dress: The number one item that works for all body types is the wrap top/dress. Every women has the thinnest part of their waist at  about the same spot. These wrap tops and dresses all tie around this area. Therefore, they help to create feminine curves on every body type, regardless of what it is.

Word of Warning: In this post I am merely talking about the cut of the item. Fabrics and patterns will play a large part into whether a particular piece will work for your body type. For example, a wrap dress with large flowers on it will not be ideal for pears and apples (as this draws attention to both top and bottom – remember, in apples and pears we are trying to accentuate the smaller half), but the cut of a wrap dress is great for all.

Technorati Tags: apple, Body Type, Fashion, hour glass, pear, rectangle, Style, wardrobe, Wardrobe Tips

My first client was Claire, a 44 year old mother of three. She wanted a wardrobe consult to help bring her "mom" style into the now. She has also lost some weight caused by a medical problem. She wanted to learn how to dress for her body type. The first thing we did was go through her closet and empty it of anything that was out of date, worn looking, or ill-fitting. Next, I taught her the basics on how to dress her for her body type.

The Body Type: Claire has a pear shaped body. Meaning, she is wider through the hips and has very narrow shoulders. The goal is to create symmetry by drawing the eye upwards and creating some broadness across her shoulders. I told her to look for pants with a straight leg. When you find the widest part of the hip, make sure the pants go straight from there. A tapered leg will only accentuate the wideness of the hips and throw off what we are doing up top. For tops, she needs to look for good necklines (v-shaped, scoop, or ballet) and high waistlines. She feels a bit self-conscious about her mid-section, and we can mask that with a wrap top or high waist with a tie or belt.

The Outfit: Claire had several casual outfits that worked great for her. So, for the outfit we chose when shopping, we decided to chose something a bit dressier that she could wear on a date with her husband. We chose a great satin top in a royal blue color. The sleeves give her shoulders some width and draw the eye upwards. Since the top is not very fitted, we added a belt at her narrowest point. For the pant, we chose a straight leg pant with a subtle gray and black plaid pattern. The straight leg helps camouflage her hips and give her some height. We accessorized with a three strand necklace in blue and metallic black beads and matching earrings. The resulting look was slimming, modern, and age-appropriate for this young mother.

Technorati Tags: Body Type, Consult Cases, Fashion, pear body type, Shopping, Style, wardrobe consult, Wardrobe Tips

Confession time: I am addicted to Project Runway. It’s so interesting to see what these designers can do in such a short amount of time with the materials they are given. This season they have had to design outfits out of materials found in a grocery store and spare car parts. They have designed for drag queens and olympians.

Last night’s challenge was not as extreme as some this season, but was interesting none the less. The challenge was to create a head-to-toe makeover for a recent college grad to help them transition into the professional world. The catch – their mothers had input. And we all know how mothers can be with our clothing choices. (My mom is great by the way!)

Let’s cut to the chase: The top three.

Jerell: His look was classy and sophisticated, while maintaining the youthfulness of his client. She looks comfortable, yet professional. The outfit fits her perfectly and shows off her body type. She is a rectangle, and, while this look fits her, it would not look good on everyone. My one complaint with the outfit is the jacket. Since she is tall and thin, she has few defined curves. The jacket masks any curves that might have been created by the cut of the dress. Overall, the look is stunning. (Jerell was the winner last night. Twice in a row – good for him!)

Kenley: Kenley got very lucky last night. Her client was just like her as far as style goes. They both  love the vintage look. Since the client has the same fashion tastes as Kenley, her job was an extremely easy one. It is no surprise that the outcome was gorgeous.  As far as body types go, this look is  hit for pretty much everyone. The only one who might want to stay away is the apple, as the puffy sleeves will only draw more attention to your already broad shoulders. However, the skirt will offset this some, so you might be fine. Overall, the look is amazing. I want this dress. In my opinion, this was the best look of the night. However, since there was no challenge for Kenley (and we have seen similar looks from her several times before), Jerell was a good choice as winner.

Korto: Korto’s look is nice, though, definitely not the winner of the night (sorry!). The overall look is pleasing, but I don’t like the cut of the outfit for the client’s body type. She appears boxy to me. Her gorgeous curves are hidden behind the jacket.  The lack of fitting through the waist is the only issue. If there was more of a curve to the waist of the jacket, the look would be stunning. The skirt length and style is appropriate and draws the attention downward – thus slimming her somewhat broad shoulders and making her appear taller and slimmer.

Where there is a winner, there is a loser. Joe was "auf’d" last night. Towards the beginning of the season, I was a big fan of Joe’s. His designs were well-thought out and constructed beautifully. However, in the last couple of weeks, the construction and ingenuity seem to have gone downhill. Take last night’s outfit.  There is not much good going on here. The cross structure of the wrap top puckers (as though her chest is too big for the fit) and somewhat lopsided. You can see places on the skirt where it is puckering from poor construction. Even given her pose, the puckering should not be so pronounced. The fit of the jacket (even if constructed well) doesn’t fit her body type at all – as it draws attention to her broadest part and tapers her overall figure. She appears top heavy. Not a good look for this apple. Lastly, on an issue of taste, a red shoe is nice sometimes. It makes a great accent to a monochromatic outfit. However, in this instance, the red shoe looks out of place and mismatched (almost like she picked her shoes out in the dark!). The one redeeming quality is her hair. Nice job on the hair, Joe.

Tune is next week to see what the 5 remaining designers are asked to do. It’ll be interesting!

Technorati Tags: Body Type, Bravo, Fashion, Heidi Klum, Jerell, Joe, Kenley, Korto, Project Runway, Style, Tim Gunn

The Pear shape is, in my opinion, the body shape of the average woman. As the saying goes, “Once on the lips, forever on the hips,” – you carry your weight at your hips. As with the apple, we want to think about balance. The human eye is draw to proportional shapes, so what we need to do is downplay your hips and draw attention to your torso.

Top it Off: Since your top half is slimmer than your bottom half, you can get away with looser fitting tops (although fitted tops look great on you as well). Blouses with a lot of detailing, such as ruffles, help draw the eye upwards and can also create the illusion of a fuller chest. Puffy sleeves and wide straps have the effect of broadening your slim shoulders and creating more symmetrical curves on top. Stay away from high necklines, but, instead, look for necklines that are scooped, vee’d, rounded or squared – as these help to broaden your torso.

Bottoms Up: When choosing bottoms, think of cuts that help to camouflage your curvy hips. In skirts, choose a-line or flared cuts that flow away from the body. In pants, look for flared or wide-leg. Cuts that are straight from hip to ankle are also extremely flattering on you. In jeans, choose a darker wash as this helps to hide curves.

Sample Look:

Off Limits: Avoid tight skirts, tapered legs, and high-waisted pants. All of these will only accentuate your widest area. Also, avoid bottoms with a lot of pockets or detailing on the backside. Again, this will only draw attention to an area that stands on its own. Avoid jackets that hit at the widest part of the hips. Flashy belts will only draw the eye down toward your hips.

Technorati Tags: body shape, Body Type, clothing, Fashion, fit, Style

With the apple, balance is key. Since you carry most of your weight up top, we want to elongate your torso and create curves in the right places. This involves slimming the shoulders and drawing attention away from the tummy to show off your chest and enviably slim legs. If we focus on the positive attributes, it will help you feel more confident about your body shape.

Top it Off: One thing the apple has in common with the Rectangle and Hourglass is the gorgeous way in which wrap tops accentuate your figure. You can’t go wrong here. High-waisted, or empire, tops will help to camouflage some of your problem areas. Another great look for you is to pair a great cami with a jacket. Make sure the jacket hits you at the waist or mid-thigh (avoid jackets that hit at the fullest part of your thigh). Wearing the jacket open creates nice long lines – elongating your torso and drawing attention away from your shoulders.

Bottoms Up: When picking out bottoms, think long lean lines (even if they are just your legs!). You can wear shorter skirts (1-3 inches above the knee – NOT miniskirts). A-line skirts also look great on you. It creates more curves in your legs and helps to give you the appearance of an hourglass shape. Don’t be afraid to play with patterns or color in these type of skirts. The bold patterns and colors help draw attention downward – elongating the torso in the process. Try to find pants with pockets. These pockets with help to give your backside curves. Stick with pants that have a bit of a flare at the bottom.

Sample Look:

Off Limits: Absolutely stay away from skinny/tapered leg jeans and shoulder pads! The shoulder pads will only accentuate and draw attention to your “problem area”. Skinny jeans will give you what I call the “frosty cone” look. You have a lot of weight on top that tapers to a point at the bottom. The is probably the least flattering look for you.

Technorati Tags: body shape, Body Type, clothing, Fashion, fit, Nashville, Style

The hourglass figure is probably the most  recognizable body type out there. It is the coveted figure of Hollywood bombshells. The Hourglass is shapely, with a full chest, curvy hips, and a well defined waist. There is very little she can’t wear. However, as with all body types, there are things that make her look her best and a few things that don’t do her gorgeous figure justice.

Top It Off: Like her rectangle cousin, our main goal with the hourglass is to accentuate her waist. Wrap tops are again a great example. Basically, any top that is fitted at the waist (not tight) will make her curves even more defined.

Bottoms Up: The best bottoms for the hourglass are those that hug her curves. We’re not looking for tight jeans. In fact, once past the hips, we would prefer a straight or flared leg. Mid-waist pants are also great, as they elongate the legs, show off the waist, and create more definition to the curves in the hips and backside.

Sample Look:

Off Limits: One area that the hourglass does not need help with is her full chest. Stay away from shirts that are tight through this area. Also, avoid ruffles or frills around the bust, as this will throw off the proportion in your curves. Since the hourglass does have a slim waist with a large bust, fit it crucial. If your top has a defined bust line (generally with a seam of some sort) make sure it fits below the bust. There is nothing worse than an unsightly line across the chest from an ill-fitting top.

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The Rectangle – the coveted shape of today’s top models. With her lack of feminine curves, the Rectangle has the lack of hips and chest that characterize the boyish, athletic look seen walking down the runway.  If you are a rectangle, lucky for you! There is very little you can not wear. The primary focus in dressing a Rectangle is to create an illusion of feminine curves.

Up Top: When looking for tops, it is important to pick tops that will accentuate your waist. Since we are looking to create curves, a top that draws attention to the most curved part of your torso – your true waist (the area below your bust and above your belly button) – is ideal. A great example is the wrap top. Anything that draws attention to your waist and makes your bust look fuller will help to emphasize what you already have.

Down Below: Again, we want to help create curves. Straight leg pants with a bit of a flare at the end will give shape to your legs. Well placed pockets on the backside can help give your bottom a fuller appearance. There are not too many skirts your can’t wear. Pencil, as well as a-line, skirts will help give shape to and show off your gorgeous legs.

Sample Look:

Taboo: There is not much you can’t wear. The main thing to stay away from anything that makes you appear long and lean. This includes vertical stripes and patterns which elongate the torso; short, cropped jackets; loose or baggy clothing that hides your figure; and high-waisted, straight pants or skirts as these will just lengthen your already long frame.

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