Colour and stripes! Yikes! How?

Days 5 and 6 went outside of most people's comfort zones - colour and stripes!  But they work!  Check them out.

[Determine your body shape]

• High Waisted Culotte Pants,   Three Quarter Culottes Pantskirt
• Lightweight Round Neck Fine Knit Cardigan,   V-neck Cardigan 
• Supersoft Camisole,   Shapewear Silky Smooth Cami 
• Calonice Amorino leopard print scarf
• Michael Kors Slide Sandal
• Similar - Leopard print ballet flat Michael Kors Jet Set East West Tote

Diamond:

• 3/4 Length Pleated Drape Harem Pants

Have you thought about your legs lately?  

Beyond just "have I shaved them" and more towards the "how can I showcase them the best way possible?".

Today's look introduces the concept of drape as it applies to your gorgeous gams.  The wide leg of the traditional culotte creates a straight line, perhaps even flared slightly, from your hip to just below your knee.  If you are a Rectangle this is a continuation of your already straight frame.  Culottes can be gorgeous on you, but you need the definition that the cardigan brings.  The light-meets-dark at your mid-section will help to create the look of a waistline for you.  If you are a Pear, the straight hang of the culotte will hide broader hips.  Apples, adding this slight flare from your waist and down will give the illusion of a curvier hip area, therefore balancing your frame nicely....

BUT, for our Diamond beauties, who's widest part tends to be their mid-section, having a loose drape from an already wider area down to your calves can make you look larger than you are, or perhaps slightly boxy.  It can also make your calves look narrow in comparison.  To quote "So I Married an Axe-Murderer" - "like an orange on a popsicle stick".

A better suggestion for you might be a harem pant.  Similar in the loose drape, but with a tapered hemline.  In this, your calves won't get lost and will instead be accentuated.

Flat shoes are comfortable - I know, you're preaching to the choir here - but heels elongate the leg.  Wearing high heels changes your posture, forcing you to stand taller and straighter which implies confidence.  High heels also cause the calf muscle to flex, adding shape to the calves as well as length.  

Did you know that men are more likely to help a woman in high heels?  It's true according to this study.  Research showed that men are more likely to help a woman wearing heels than one in flat (sensible) shoes.  

"This assistance ranges from taking part in a survey, to chasing after a woman who has dropped a glove.  French researcher Nicholas Guéguen said: ‘Women’s shoe heel size exerts a powerful influence on men’s behaviour.’"

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2841163/Women-want-way-wear-HIGH-HEELS-Men-willing-help-females-tall-shoes.html#ixzz3WTHyLPrQ
That's not to say that you need heels to flirt and get sexual attention - but if the study is correct, this information could help you achieve other goals...  Perhaps Hubby doesn't want to build you a garden?  Or your boss doesn't have time to review your proposal?  You never know - the added height and statuesque confidence might be all you need?

Day 6:

How many of you would have put these two articles of clothing together?

And yet, this outfit is absolutely stunning! 

Here we've taken the 'nautical' out of the striped top and made it urban-chic.

[Determine your body shape]

• Off-shoulder striped top
• Crepe pencil skirt,  similar:High Waist Casual Pencil Skirt similar: Classic Office Pencil Skirt
• Michael Kors Slide Sandal
• Open-toe Ballet flat
• Leather Handbag
• "Notorious" earrings

Alternative:

• Bodega print blouse

We've discussed stripes in earlier capsules, but for the sake of any Newbies out there, we'll repeat some tips here:

Scientific research has been done to contradict what our Mother's told us.  Horizontal stripes do NOT make you look heavier.  In fact, according to the "Helmholtz Illusion", wearing horizontal stripes may actually make you look thinner!

The key is to select a stripe that is proportionate to your body.

Petite women should choose a narrow, vertical stripe to give you (the illusion of) height.

Apples and Diamonds will look better in vertical stripes because they will elongate your shape and divert attention from your horizontal lines.  Because contrasting colours add depth, choose a dark, narrow stripe - or at the very least,  keep large stripes away from your shoulders and/or mid-section.

Pears can, and should, wear thick horizontal stripes on their upper torso to help the shoulders look broader.

Rectangles, go for thick, horizontal stripes in the areas that you want to look curvy.  Wear a top with a thick stripe across the chest, or wear a wide belt around your hips.  Combinations of stripes (running in different directions) will also give you instant curves.

You'll notice the top in the image above plays with light and dark as well.  The stripes at the chest line have a wider white section drawing in the eye.  As we move down the torso, the black stripes widen which causes them to recede in our vision.

Hope you enjoy!!!

Pink Ink