Rectangle Basics: Dresses by image and me

GreatTip

Aveda has an excellent anti-oxidant shampoo for treated hair. It helps to avoid the brassy blonde effect after occurs sometime after a few weeks due to the oxidation of hair colour from normal products.

GreatTIp

Hair Colour is stripped by anti-dandruff shampoos. On the positive side - if your hairdresser is a little heavy-handed with a bright colour - use an anti-dandruff shampoo to softer/lighten the colour.

Over50DressCode

Despite what you may have seen on the streets, the following combinations DO NOT go together:

1. A nose ring and bifocals
2. Spiked hair and bald spots
3. A pierced tongue and dentures
4. Miniskirts and support hose
5. Ankle bracelets and corn pads
6. Speedo's and cellulite
7. A belly button ring with a gall bladder surgery scar
8. Unbuttoned disco shirts and a heart monitor
9. Midriff shirts and a midriff bulge
10. Bikinis and liver spots
11. Short shorts and variscose veins
12. Inline skates and a walker
13. And last, but not least ... Thongs and Depends!

RedHeads

Did you know: Redheads Need 20% More Painkillers

A University of Washington in Louisville study reported that natural redheads are more susceptible to pain and need more anesthesia when they go under the knife than do people with other hair colours. This confirms what anesthesiologists have suspected all along - that redheads can be a little harder to put under than others.

Scientist have discovered that that redheads have a "defective receptor" for melanin (a pigment responsible for tanning) and this same melanocortin-1 receptor crossreacts with a related receptor on brain cells that influences pain sensitivity. Ouch!

Anthropologists have also determined that red hair is becoming less and less common and that within 200 years they expect that there will be no natural redheads!!

WeLoveClubMonaco

Stylish Canadian label Club Monaco opened a new outlet at Ngee Ann City (B1).
Image And Me absolutely LOVE Club Monaco, it's the place for great black, white and grey updated classics. A jacket is a jacket, a skirt is a skirt, right? Not at Club Monaco. The difference is in the details: Cardigans are made to wear forever, and white shirts are slim but not too fitted.

WhenToTossIt

MASCARA
Replace every two to three monts or it it gets dry. Don't pump mascara. That forces air in, drying out faster.

LIP COLOUR
Lip products in a tube "last up to a year because they're not exposed to the germs on our hands". Potted gloss will last as long as nine months.

LIQUID MAKEUP
Eye primers, liquid foundations and glossers are good for six to nine months.

DRY MAKEUP
Throw awy eye shadows, pressed powders, blush and pencils after a year.

NaturalSet

Geraldine's Look

Here are a few stable wardrobe bacis:





A: Sheer Jersey Short Sleeve Women's Summer T by American Apparel


B: Stripped V Neck by Vince


C: Asarina Extra Wide Leg Jeans by Notify (which has a 37" inseam and is perfect for taller girls)


D: Contrast cuff Blazer by Smythe


E: Black leather logo suede clutch by Fendi


F: Black calfskin platform boots by Miu Miu

GreatTip

To check if jeans will fit without trying on, wrap the waistband around your neck, if the ends meet edge to edge, they'll fit.

Geraldine Saglio

Who on earth is Geraldine Saglio?

That was my first thought when I stumbled across pictures of Geraldine on the Fashion Spot.

Geraldine is the assistant stylist for Vogue Paris, and so she has access to some of the best designed clothes in the world, yet stick to her simple, yet stylish looks that work for her. I love how she shows off her best assets, her long legs, and isn't afraid to wear high heels!

Look at all these pictures, do you see what I mean?

It is always nice to experiment, try out new looks, new trends and ideas, but ultimately all girls should know what suits them "by default".

I love how Geraldine pairs a blazer with just about everything, taking what would be feminine looks and making them a little more tough and less girly. Her messy, undone hair, is what really makes her look, as it gives her that carefree, I didn't even try this morning, kind of feel.

Get inspired!

MixAndMatch

Question: When I go shopping, I usually buy one or two items rather than a whole outfit. They are fashionable and stylish by themselves but when I get home I never know what to wear them with to make a coordinated outfit. Any Advice?



Yours is a common complaint and part of the reason why so many of us never wear half the clothes in our closet. The trick to making your wardrobe work properly is to stock up with good basics; that way you'll always have items to match your new purchases.



Start with good underwear. It goes without saying you need a good seam-free bra in white, black and nude, but it's also a good idea to have some bras with pretty straps you don't mind showing off. That way you can get away with a greater variety of tops and dresses.



Buy a selection of pretty vest tops in a range of colours from Esprit, Zara or Topshop; you'll get a lot more wear out of your cardigans, jackets and jumpers if you've plenty of variety to wear underneath them.



Spend time and, if necessary, money on the perfect pair of jeans. Denim goes with everything and can be dressed up or down depending on the occassion, and now with so many brands and so many fits out there, there's no reason to settle for anything other than the perfect fit.



Buy three new pairs of shoes: a good pair of flats (ballet shoes are cheap and go with everything), some metallic sandals and some suit-all pumps in black or brown for when you instantly need to smarten up your appearance.



Work on your blank canvas. Unless you want to make a real statement, high fashion items work best when worn with plain pieces. This doesn't mean your entire wardrobe needs to be black, but that a few key items in plain colours are a worth investment. Grab a neat pencil skirt, thin-knit sweater and boot-cut trousers, and then fix your more fashion-forward pieces around them.



If you have any question, please feel free to ask Image And Me.

Proportion

Proportion is the relationship between areas, amounts, distances, parts and degrees.

Width
For flattering balance wear either:
. Narrow garments top and bottom
. Narrow above the waist and wide below
. Wide above the waist and narrow below

Length

A garment is generally more interesting and pleasing to the eye when it is divided into unequal parts; as long as the parts are also in scale with the wearer. Garments of equal visible lenght can appear ordinary or boring. Think, long over short or short over long.



Co-ordination

To give an outfit a finished appearance three items/areas of interest are needed.

- Example one: Black pants, black sweater and leopard shawl would add to three items of interest. The black pants and sweater count as one, the scarf and pattern each count as one point.

- Example two: Brown pants, burnt orange top and camel vest add to three.



Colour

When it comes to colour unless your outfit/garment is monochromatic or a traditional two colour combination (e.g. black and white, navy and white or red and white) wear colour in unequal amounts. This can be achieved by adding a piece of jewellery.



Colour also influences the appearance of proportion. For example, the colour of hosiery can be blended with the hemline to lock the two pieces visually together thus increasing the apparent length (proportion of the skirt).



Accessories

Accessories such as necklaces and bracelets will look best when they are worn either as a single piece or in unequal numbers.

Mix gold and silver jewellery in unequal amounts.

ElegantLady

SaturdayNightFever

Saturdaynight we went clubbing and what did we see....

This is such a cathartic experience! G-strings, my all time pet peeve! Where do I start - with the wobbly bottom, the skirt caught in the butt cheeks or the "V" (with string attached) visible and descending into the back of one's pants on bending over? Any or all are ghastly, no matter how comfortable they may be. My advice - wear them only if you have "buns of steel" and never bend over!

I Hate My Body

- I hate my body
- I have nothing to wear
- I hate shopping, I can't find anything I like
- No one makes clothes for my shape
- I used to be a size...
- I don't have a clue how to dress this body
- Nothing in my wardrobe seems to work
- I always feef frumpy
- I wish I looked as good as...
- I hate my hair
- Look at these thighs
- Where has my waist gone?
- My stomach is HUGE
- Everyone stares at my breasts

Have you ever said any of the above? I bet you have, and like every other woman alive I'd wager you're intemately aware of your figure's short comings. And why wouldn't you be? Fashion magazines flaunt bony fourteen year olds in skimpy, figure strangling clothes as the norm. No wonder REAL women are left to lament their imposed exile into the land of frumpiness.

Take the time to look at the many female figures you see around you. Do you see more women like you or do you see more women like those in magazines? I'll bet you see more like you. That's where our journey begins, with the realisation that YOU are NORMAL and that looking great and being physically attractive is not limited to size, age or shape.

What to wear: Mom On The Go

what to wear: mom on the go
It's not easy being a mom-on-the-go. Making sure the kids get to school and appointments on time, doing everyday errands like groceries and laundry, meeting friends for a chat, working from home, and making sure everyone is fed a healthy meal and dressed for the day's activities sometimes becomes difficult to balance. Finding a flattering and stylish outfit you can run around in (and not worry about drycleaning!!) should be the least of your worries, so here we show you a great look for the mom-on-the-go.




Since comfort and versatility is the priority, you need an outfit that can take you from swimming practice to meeting for lunch with a potential client. A good starting piece is a classic straight trouser in a neutral colour which can be mixed and matched with a casual tee or a colourful top. A mom-on-the-go needs a roomy bag, and this one should be in a neutral colour lending itself nicely to various outfits and situations. If you're looking to add some colour to your wardrobe, a colourful scarf goes perfectly with casual pants and jeans.

InvertedTriangle

What to wear: tops for inverted triangles.

Charlize Theron is one. So was Jackie Onassis.

Inverted triangles. The ones with broad shoulders and a narrow hip and skinny thighs. Not too many women are inverted triangles. Although some inverteds may have the physique as Charlize or Jackie, the more common is bigger busted. So what tops do you wear if you're already built like a linebacker on top?

Here's some ideas for tops that will help you look stylish:

Milly tie-neck blouse. Any sleeveless, especially halter-style tops look great on broad shoulders. Wear it under a suit jacket for work and then alone for evening when you're running straight from the office to dinner.

Patterned Twist Front Top. Dolman sleeves help diminish broad shoulders and a patterned top can help diminish the bustline.

Funnel-neck cashmere sweater. Surprisingly flattering for large busted gals with broad shoulders. Not quite a turleneck and the placement of the collar (not shown well at all) is great.

Three dots v-neck. Not shown but such a great weight that it doesn't back-bra bulge. The v-neck is very flattering.

Kenneth Cole scoop tee. Scoop necks look so great on larger bust gals. And in these yummy colors, who can resist getting one to wear under jackets or alone on weekends.

If you'de like to learn all the basics you need to have, book a style and bodyline analysis with Image And Me. stephanie@imageandme.com