Wednesday, October 21, 2015

How to choose the perfect sweater dress...

I love sweater dresses.  They're quickly becoming a fashion staple, and they're great for when you can't be bothered to think about putting separates together and just want to throw something on and go!  Plus they are cozy and warm on those chilly days.  But finding the right sweater dress can be a bit tricky.  These dresses tend to hug your shape more than other fabrics, making it harder to find the right style for your body type.  So read below to help you find the right sweater dress for your shape!


Hourglass - for women with this figure, a sweater dress with a defined, fitted waist will always flatter.  Look for knit wrap dresses or sweater dresses with a tailored bodice and full skirt to emphasize your slim waist. A sheath dress will hug your curves; just make sure to pick a dress that hits close to the knees for the most flattering effect.

Pear - for women with a fuller lower body, its important to find a dress that flatters and slims your lower half rather than emphasizing it.  An A-line sweater dress will balance out your look and have a slimming effect on your hips and thighs.  You can disguise a heavier lower body with dresses designed with full skirts that are knee-length or longer.  Draw attention upward and balance your look with wide, interesting necklines, such as boat or square-necks.

Apple - If your body is fullest in your upper body, keep dresses simple through the body and avoid low-cut or dramatic necklines.  A sweater dress with an empire waistline is most flattering on apple shapes and can hide a fuller waist.  Usually this body shape has nice, lean legs, so show them off with shorter length smock dresses cut above the knee.  Pair them with opaque tights or leggings in the fall and winter.

Straight - a straight body type lends itself well to figure-hugging sweater dresses.  If you're tall and lean, a mini dress looks great with a pair of bright tights, and straight-cut smock dresses will fall perfectly around your figure.  If you're looking to create curves, a wrap dress will create definition around your waist, and A-line dresses with full sleeves will create the impression of a curvier figure.

Petite - the key to finding the right sweater dress for petite women is to look for dresses that elongate. Sweater dresses with 3/4 length sleeves that hit just above the knee will give the impression of longer arms and legs, and an empire waistline will certainly make your body look longer too.  When shopping for petite sweater dresses, look for elongating, vertical knits, like ribbed and cable-knit dresses.

So now you know how to choose the perfect sweater dress for your shape, here's some pics of different dresses to give you some inspiration when picking one out!  Happy shopping ladies!


Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Personalized Blanket Coats for Fall...

If you've been on celeb watch of late you may have noticed the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker (or SJP as she's commonly referred to), Rosie Huntington Whitely and Cara Delevigne wearing the latest hip trend...the personalized blanket coat.  Made famous on the recent runway shows by Burberry Prorsum, they have been spotted everywhere since making their debut.

I am a fan of this blanket coat, and I love the idea of having it personalized.  This look is an easy way to add some edgy chic to a comfy weekend look of skinny jeans, tee & biker boots!  You don't have to have your blanket coat personalized (though I do think it adds a nice touch!), and there are many versions of the blanket coat.  You can be as conservative or as creative as you want to be, there are no hard and fast rules here.  The key here is comfort, although it does help to look cool while comfy too!

Take a look at some of the signature personalized blanket coats as worn by celebs and models, as well as some other variations of this cool Fall trend.


Saturday, October 17, 2015

Patterned Hosiery to Update your Wardrobe!

I bet if you look at your closet, you've got your long-sleeved dresses on one side ready for winter and the rest out of sight and out of mind waiting for the sun.  Am I right?  But is that really necessary?  Spending a lot of money to update your winter wardrobe is an option, but it doesn't have to be when there's a much cheaper and fun way to do it!

Take it from me, you can easily transform a frock or skirt by updating your hosiery!  Yes that's right ladies, just by adding a fun pair of tights an outfit can look completely different, fun & fresh!  I've done it a lot lately, adding some fun patterned & colored tights to my outfits, and I've been surprised by the amount of compliments I've received just by making this small change.  And by adding a sweater, cardigan or like me wearing a simple long-sleeved tee under a sleeveless dress or top, you can bring those summer outfits into winter.

So cover up those gams in something other than black opaque tights and give a patterned or colored pair a try.  I promise you, you'll love it!