Style Buzz: How to Highlight Your Favorite Body Part
Ideas to Inspire Your Style This Week!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Hey lady - nice legs!"
Two young ladies said this to me as I was headed to a Rotary meeting (we meet at barTini!) I wanted to look polished but it was a warm August afternoon, so I was wearing almost-knee-length Bermuda shorts and peep-toe booties with a 2" heel - not at all suggestive - but the outfit highlighted my legs. I took it as a compliment because it was actually given as one! I always hope to be an inspiration that once you hit 30, 50, or 80, you don't have to give up style or feeling beautiful. Or that you have to cover up the bits of you you actually like.
xxx rachel
HIGHLIGHTING YOUR FAVORITE BITS
When I start working with a new client, I send them a style assessment questionnaire to get to know them and their relationship with style better. One of the sections asks which body parts they prefer to show and which they prefer to conceal because I want to be mindful of that when pulling outfits for them. Clothing is clever - it can simultaneously highlight and minimize parts of you very deliberately. By drawing the eye toward what you want people to notice, you draw the attention away from the bits you don't want them to focus on. I wear shorts because I actually like my legs and bonus! By doing that, you don't notice my tummy.
I love these shorts - they're stretchy with an elastic waistband, and the material is nice and thick so they withstand an awful lot of wear and abuse. The 5" inseam is enough for modest coverage but short enough to still show my legs. Notice how the attention goes to them and not the British belly I inherited from my mum's side of the family. (But at least I also got their long fingers!) I've French-tucked my blouse, which further elongates the leg by raising the line at my waist. The shoes are also doing their bit with their neutral, almost-skin tone and slightly pointed toe, which our eyes interpret as a continuation of the leg. Such sorcery! |  |
So if there's a feature you really enjoy showing off but aren't quite sure how, here are some styles to look for that will help you make the most of it.
NECK Scarves Short necklaces Crewneck necklines Boatnecks Short hairstyles | SHOULDERS Cap sleeves Strapless tops/dresses Boatnecks Racerbacks One-shoulder tops/dresses | ARMS Sleeveless tops/dresses Cap sleeves Bangles Racerbacks & halters Strapless tops/dresses |
BUST Pendant necklaces Deep V necklines Boatneck tops Cowl necks Ruching High waistlines | MIDSECTION Belts Full skirts Princess seaming High-waisted bottoms Contrasting colors Cuffed sleeves | HIPS Skinny jeans/pants Miniskirts Hipslung belts Hip-length tunics/tops Peplum tops Pencil skirts |
BUM Skinny jeans/pants Cropped jackets Small back pockets Contoured seaming Pencil skirts | THIGHS Short shorts Miniskirts/dresses Distressed jeans Knee-length skirts with print on the hem | CALVES Cropped pants Knee-length skirts Midi skirts Ankle-strap shoes/booties Nude shoes |
Stay tuned next week for tips on how to downplay or conceal the areas you're not so fond of, but in the meantime, go through your wardrobe and see what you already have that can help you show off your favorites with confidence!
THERE'S A NEW BOUTIQUE IN TOWN!
A massive congratulations to this gorgeous lady on the grand opening of her fabulous gallery and boutique! When you're downtown, pop into Shirley Kay Art & Apparel at 790 Willamette. She has such an eye for style, and her inventory is just what this town needs (plus her prices are amazing and the location is lovely).
ANATOMY OF AN OUTFIT
This is a peek into my favorite outfit of the week where I break it down for you: why I've put it together and why it works, what elements could be swapped out, things to consider, etc.
Even I just want to wear shorts and a t-shirt sometimes! You see what I mean about the shorts I wore to Rotary? They're definitely not Daisy Dukes, but they do make me rather leggy. I love the cut and length: they're fitted without being tight, and long enough to be appropriate in a business-casual setting (disclaimer: if you work in an office, check your dress code! I wore these to work but then again, some people wore moose appliqué sweatshirts, so there's that.) The t-shirt is a lovely deep navy and thick enough to have structure. To liven things up, I added bold gold - a double chain necklace that I attached to a gold flower brooch, and gold slide sandals. It's just a tee and shorts, but if I were suddenly invited to an event, I'd feel polished and appropriate just like this.
T-shirt: Liverpool Los Angeles
Shorts: Gloria Vanderbilt
Shoes: Eric Michael
Necklace: Stella & Dot
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