|
The
Clothing Chronicles ===================================================
In This Issue: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What a wild last few weeks! Yes, I missed publishing an issue last week. My ISP's server was down for several days, and when I was finally able to log back on, I had - get this - 34,000+ sp^am emails. That created all sorts of problems for my inbox and to make a very long story short, it required several days of non-stop maintenance to clear up. So if you've sent me an email in the last few weeks and I haven't responded, please try again - chances are good it got lost in the mayhem. I regret any inconvenience. Secondly, thanks again to everyone who wrote me with praise for the last article a few weeks ago, "How to Use Clothing to Establish Your Authority," http://www.theclothingchronicles.com/archives/262-02012007.htm For those who asked, yes, several of the elements listed in the article are based on image guru Judith Rasband's Style Scale™, which I cite in several of my ebooks but failed to do so for that article (my apologies Judith - I should have!). If you'd like to learn more about it, you can do so here:
It will walk through how to develop a head-turning style, regardless of your size, and it should be a lot of fun. If you're interested, I encourage you to act FAST - I only have 150 slots, and when they're gone, they're gone. No guarantees that I'll make it available after the seminar -- it's all based on demand -- so if you're interested, grab while "the getting's good," as they say. You can learn more about it here: http://www.fashionforrealwomen.com/plussize So what's on tap for today's article? How to dress the "non-standard" body. Enjoy!
Diana ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dressing the "Non-Standard" Body What can you do if you aren't an "average" size? What choices do you have if you're small, tall, petite, or plus size, and every clothes-shopping trip you take becomes an exercise in frustration? For starters, don't give up! Just because nothing in the stores seems to be made with you in mind doesn't mean that you can't find what you need. You just have to understand a few basic tenets before you head off to the mall or start clicking away online, including: 1. Most Retailers Only Stock Regular Sizes The fashion industry offers the largest bulk of its merchandise in "standard sizes," which includes Misses sizes 4-14, for women 5'4" to 5'8" in height (European sizes 34-44 and 1.6256-1.7272 m). Because SO many women fit these parameters, this is the largest target market of ready-to-wear apparel. If you don't fit these categories, your choices are considerably reduced, but not non-existent. You just can't go into a regular, brand-name clothing store and expect to find your non-standard size. If you DO find what you need, consider yourself lucky. Otherwise, head for specialty clothing stores that offer merchandise designed with you in mind. Some online options include: PETITE
TALL
WOMEN'S
Have a large bust but small hips? Have large hips but no bust? Need one size on top and another on the bottom? Identify the parts you like and the parts you don't, then get busy "accentuating the positive" instead of lamenting over the negative. It's a much better use of your time and with a little practice, you may be able to fool others into thinking you have a better body than you do. How?
You can appear larger or smaller depending on what kinds of clothes you choose. Some elements to consider include: Lines Horizontal lines or details on a garment will make you look wider; vertical lines or will make you look taller and thinner. Color Light colors will make you look larger; dark colors will make you look smaller. Texture Smooth textures make you appear smaller; chunky or shiny textures add bulk and will make you look bigger.
Once you find clothes that fit your shape and size, try experimenting with different clothing elements to bring about the desired effect. For example, If You're Heavy...
Or, If You're Very Thin ...
See how easy this is? Once you come to grips with your body and realize that if you wear a non-standard size, then you're probably going to have to buy clothes from specialty retailers, your clothes-hunting duties become a lot less frustrating. Make a list of stores where you know you can find clothes that fit, and stick with them. Ask for recommendations from family and friends. Go online and look around. Then, experiment to find what looks best on you. With a little practice and determination, you'll soon learn what kinds of clothes look best AND where you can regularly find them. Instead of an exercise in frustration, it could become a modern-day treasure hunt.
************** Until next time,
Diana Pemberton-Sikes
FashionForRealWomen.com ------------------------ Published by:
Top Drawer
Publications, LLC Copyright © 2007 by Diana Pemberton-Sikes All rights reserved. |
|
© 2007
Top Drawer Publications, LLC
All rights reserved.
256 S. College
Avenue • Newark, DE 19711
Phone/Fax
302-266-0156 • Email: sales@topdrawerpublications.com