DRESSING ADVICE
by Rae Smith.
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The Timeless Beauty of a
Basic Black Dress
* As a Plus Size Woman myself, I have always found
a simple black dress to
be essential to my wardrobe because it is so versatile.
A clean, basic
design may not be memorable in and of itself but can
be very slimming in
look and accessorized without many limitations. A
black dress can be dressed
up or down to suit almost any occasion. In my opinion
a simple dark dress
makes life easier. You know that whenever you wear
it, it will look perfect.
*You should consider off-black or even black hose
with black pumps you're
your black dress because they will slim and lengthen
the legs as well as pull together the total look.
* Colorful or attention-getting accessories in the
face and neck area to
draw the eye up and further slim the body. A fabulous
scarf draped across
the upper body, a terrific pin or a wonderful necklace
will draw the
attention to the accessory and away from the body.
A light hair color can also work to your advantage.
* Although I am partial to black, wearing a black
dress is not set in stone.
Navy Blue, Blue Black, Brown Black, Dark Grey and
Deep Burgundy can do the
job nicely as well. I suggest you hold up various
dark shades to your face
while looking in the mirror and see what best complements
your natural skin
tone and hair color. Notice whether cool or warm shades
work best for you.
Lighter neutrals do not slim as much as darker ones
do. If you want to look
slimmer, but can't go dark, go cool and dull.
Dressing Tips for a Slimmer
You
* Even those considered thin are interested in dressing
to look even thinner.
Below are some basic tips that will help you enhance
your look.
1. Solid fabrics are more slimming than those with
patterns. That does not
mean you cannot wear patterns. Just make sure they
are not large
patterns... The more a pattern looks like a solid,
the less it will enlarge.
A small hounds tooth check or a glen plaid may be
great for you with their
negligible pattern properties. You can always offset
any ill effect with
accessories that draw the eye away from that area.
But remember, beware of splashy, all-over prints that enlarge.
2. Bulky fabrics will add inches to the silhouette.
They work much better
for accessories or trim than for head-to-toe dressing.
Stiff fabric--especially if
done up in styles that stand away from the body--will
add inches. If you love them, use them for trim.
3. The longer the vertical "line" of the
total look, the more slimming. This
means one color--or close to it--from head to toe.
The lower the contrast
between shoes, hose (or slacks), skirt and top (or
dress) and hair (or hat)
the more slimming the outfit. Years ago, I had the
pleasure of meeting
Geoffrey Holder, the famous dancer and choreographer
at Studio 54. He was a
charming man and told me to always dress in one color,
given my height and
weight. He meant it in a very dear way and was not
trying to insult me. He
said "Stand Tall and Look Tall". Geoffrey,
by the way, is 6'6" and he always
dressed in a monochromatic style. He always looked
enormous but had an
unmistakable air of confidence about him. That experience
has always stayed with me.
4. Try and wear the highest heels you can. They will
make you appear taller
and therefore slimmer; assuming you can wear them
comfortably. And they do wonders for making a woman feel sexy,
too.
5. Be aware of your focal points. Check yourself in
a full-length mirror.
Close your eyes. Open them. What do you see first?
This is your focal point.
Your focal points will generally be high and/or on
the inside: above the
fullest line of bust and/or down the entire length
of the garment usually in
the center-front position. You can attract "the
eye of the beholder" where
you want it to be by accessorizing appropriately or
wearing lighter or brighter colors to accentuate those areas.
6. Try not to make high value contrast mistakes. Sometimes,
unfortunately,
you might see very light bare arms because they are
adjacent to a very dark,
sleeveless top. (If you are going sleeveless, always
think about value
contrast.) The same holds true for very dark shorts.
They create high value
contrast and will appear to shorten the legs. Swimsuits
that are dark will
not shorten the leg, especially if they are high cut,
but be careful here,
because , high cuts designs can draw attention to
thigh bulges. And
remember, a high contrast between the top and bottom
of an outfit will "cut
the body in half"; -making you look shorter and
therefore wider.
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