Makeover!!!

So, Chatch has decided to grow up. The time has come for her to actually start thinking about her looks. And by her, I mean me. (I have got to stop referring to myself in the third person. It’s getting weird.) So what if I work in some high-tech company with a bunch of grungy guy internet marketers and even grungier guy programmers? I’m getting pretty tired of going to work in the same outfit, same jeans, same t-shirts in the same. Exact. Style. I’m getting bored of myself, for heaven’s sake.

So I am going to go shopping. And get some sort of makeover. I need to keep my eyes open. Actually, I’ve been going through a variety of fashion magazines to get an idea of what I want “my” look to be. Pathetic? Perhaps. Effective? Definitely.

Here’s my starting point. I absolutely love this look. Elegant yet trendy and just so undeniably beautiful:

So, comments, anyone?

And now for men

Ok, I’d like to take a break from women for a moment. And go to men. Because let’s face it. While women may be attractive and beautiful and really really nice to look at, men are hot. It’s that scruffy, just-rolled-out-of- bed look that gets me, personally. That well-dressed-without-any-effort look. Love it.

It’s the self confidence that does it. Definitely the self confidence. That “No matter what I wear I’m still hot” attitude. If only more women could feel that way…

Cleaning out the closet

I started going through my Vogue lookbook online.  It amazes me how my taste in fashion has evolved.  I appreciate every branch of fashion, but truth be told, I’m a more coservative dresser myself.  Anyway, I found some of my favorites.

                                                     

I absolutely LOVE this one.  The subtle, understated elegance, black with black, the tousled hair style that for some reason doesn’t detract from the sleekness of the outfit, the details-the thick belt, the 3/4 length cuffed sleeves, the lenght of the pants…

Just everything.

What’s it about?

To my mind, fashion is all about personality. And truth be told, the vast majority of people that I see walking on the street don’t go that route. At all. In both high school and university, everyone wore the same thing. Or at least the various groups each had their own uniform. Which is slightly ironic, since there was an adamant opposition when the school tried to institute a uniform. (Please give us the freedom to express our conformity!)

When someone is wearing something that they feel beautiful in…now THAT is fashion.

Let’s take an example. Helena Bonham Carter. Now THERE is a woman who wears what she wants and looks damn good in it. I personally loved her outfits in “Fight Club”. I know, I know. There was a costume designer. But every item I have seen her wearing thus far has suited her absolutely. Although my personal favorite will always be the second-hand bridesmaid’s gown that she wore in “Fight Club”.

There are so many others as well. Clearly this is a woman who is not afraid to be herself.  What really amazes me about her is her versatility and her ability to innovate and evolve.  Helena Bonham Carter, rock on!

The Apple

The apple body type is essentially a triangle shape, which can make dressing difficult fashion-wise, since most clothing is shaped for the more common or more balanced shapes. The key to dressing well for the apple body type is knowing your own body. Do you have a wide back? Thin arms and legs? A thick waist? Once you recognize the “trouble” spots, you will also understand how to hide them.

Often times a thicker waist will produce the unfortunate “muffin top” effect, where your waist spills over the top of your slacks or skirt.  Such being the case, it would be wise to wear a longer top.  Since your waist is larger, you also want your top to be looser.  You want to to be just tight and loose enough so that it’s hiding what is necessary but showing your best side.

I would recommend wearing tops with wide sleeves and wide-legged trousers to balance your body’s appearance a bit more.

The Hourglass Body Shape

Often women with the hourglass body shape feel ungainly in clothing. Understandably, since the hourglass is just one curve after another. Clothing may often feel too tight. But truth be told, cinched waists on shirts and skirts that are slightly tighter (think pencil skirts) make your body look fantastic. Of course, it’s most important to feel beautiful. That is a key element in looking beautiful. But opening your mind to trying new styles and trends will do wonders for your body. Dressing for an hourglass figure is slightly simpler than dressing for any other body type, since you don’t need to compensate and balance your body out with different colors and patterns, although patterns that are too large and bright detract attention from your natural curves. The vast majority of colors look great with an hourglass figure, so long as you’re wearing the right bra. (An important part of dressing for the hourglass figure since hourglass body types generally are larger in the bust.)

Just a general to bear in mind while you are dressing yourself, though: If you feel uncomfortable in your clothing, you look uncomfortable. And discomfort is never stylish.

The Pear Body Shape

This body type is quite common amongst women. The pear body type is shaped so that the body is smaller on top then on the bottom. You will want to accentuate your delicate neck and shoulders and small waist. Many women make the mistake of wearing loose, baggy tops when they have the pear body shape. Looser tops make your torso seem larger than it actually is on a pear-shaped body.

In terms of pants, the most attractive cut for the pear-shaped woman is the boot cut. Since boot cut pants widen out toward the bottom they make your body seem more symmetrical and balanced. (A-line skirts offer the same effect.)

Color-wise, dark colors have a slimming effect on your body, so wear dark skirts and trousers and lighter tops and blouses.

The key with a pear-shaped body is to always draw attention to the upper part of your body. Accessorize, wear padded bras, anything to attract everyone’s gaze to your torso.

The woman who is chic

“The woman who is chic adapts fashion to her own personality.” This was said by Elizabeth Post, grand-daughter-in-law to the famous Emily Post. I cannot think of a truer statement. The unfortunate fact is that many women will choose clothing based on how they believe that they ought to ideally look instead of dressing for their body types. I happen to love the new option that the majority of department stores like Nordstrom offer for body types and silhouettes.

Dress for your body type

I’ve noticed this trend of wearing unsuitable clothing largely in the US, and I only really noticed it once I’d left. In Israel the trends lean much more toward European style, which on the one hand does mean that they were dressing in trends that I used to pray had been forsaken in the eighties. On the other hand, Europeans (as a general rule, not always) do know how to accentuate their attractive features and downplay the parts of their bodies that…well…should be downplayed. Therefore, my next few entries will be dedicated to how you can dress for your body type.

Fashion with Flair-the actresses who pull it off

For starters, there’s Gwyneth Paltrow. You can’t argue with her effortless elegance. Her garb really does transform her into what she is-a lady. Beautiful, sophisticated, at ease with herself in neutral, understated colors that don’t scream but delicately whisper, both on the red carpet and in everyday life.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Jennifer Connelly has made some fashion faux-pas. But she is always uniquely herself. She carries herself with such ease and comfort with herself that she really does “pull it off.” (God I hate that term) Being physically beautiful is one thing. Being comfortable with oneself despite flaws is a completely different ball game. And Jennifer Connelly certainly qualifies for both.

Jennifer Connelly

Finally, there is Anne Hathaway.  Somewhat less in the limelight, but still elegant and graceful.  Anne Hathaway has, in a word, class.  There is something truly admirable about a woman who is capable of wearing clothing that is her size as well as suited to her particular body type.  Both pretty rare finds in today’s day and age, and to find both in one person…

Priceless

Anne Hathaway

Vogue

Ok. Let’s start with this. I am completely OBSESSED with Vogue. Their photography is spectacular, (God bless Annie Leibovitz, arguably the most talented portrait photographer in US history), and Keira Knightley is on their cover this month. If there ever was an actress who wore her clothing well, it’s Keira.

I also love the fact that no matter how freakin’ weird the fashion is, it always looks fabulous on the models. Or at least almost always. Observe exhibit A:

Mia Rosing in Christian Dior

Now I don’t think a single person I know, myself included, would be caught dead in such an outfit. But if you start looking at the details, such as the way it accentuates Mia Rosing’s neckline and the way it falls so that it demonstrates how tiny her waist is, you begin to appreciate it.

A couple of years ago I was completely nonplussed by fashion. (Particularly by Dior. The guy has got to have THE weirdest fashion shows out there, between the face paint and the out-there headdresses of arachnid-like proportions.) But after staring at a picture long enough, there is that “aha” moment where you say to yourself, “So that’s what the guy was doing.” A fashion designer has a statement to make, a mission to accomplish. Something he or she wants to say about him or herself. And by God, in Vogue they accomplish it. Every time.