What Does it Mean to Dress Your Age These Days?

I think about how different the dressing style rules were for our mothers and grandmothers, and how much more freedom we have today to express ourselves, regardless of age. When I was a child, my mother dressed very differently than my grandmother or younger women. Now, the same pair of designer jeans and top can be worn by a 20-year-old and a 65-year-old. These days, your dress style depends more on your lifestyle, personality and career than your age. Our goals have changed, too. Now we get to express our individualism, celebrate our power, energy, and wisdom, at EVERY AGE.

The key to looking powerful and energetic at any age is to BE POWERFUL AND ENERGETIC. It's not just about wearing the latest style trends. Wearing trends can backfire when they're wrong for your personality or figure shape. You can always temper a trend by pairing it with a classic piece. 

Take the trend of silky track pants and printed loose pants. Silky track pants are trousers made of dressier woven fabrications that are cut like fleece sweat pants or “track pants”. 

They usually have an elastic waistband and drawstring, are tapered at the ankle, and are roomy right through the leg. The baggy fit is about relaxed comfort and a small amount of slouch.

When not styled carefully it can read "early 90s" in a bad way. That's why no matter what your age, if you don't like a trend, or you don't know how to style it, you might want to let it pass. If you do like a trend, and it suits your lifestyle and figure, then go for it, regardless of your age!

Here's my recipe for looking energetic and powerful at any age:

• BE energetic and BE powerful
• Take the best care of your health (eat well and stay active)
• Get a modern hair style that suites your face and skin tone
• Make sure your clothes FIT well
• Wear great-fitting undergarments (yes, that means a professional fitting and spending serious money!)
• Update your eye wear (buy chic, trendy sunglasses and adventurous eyeglasses)
• Revamp your makeup and skincare routine (radiant looking skin is ageless!)
• Invest in high quality, chic shoes (who doesn't notice a great pair of shoes?)
• LOVE whatever age you're at!

Speaking of shoes, I'm creating a webinar, "If The Shoe Fits..." that's all about what shoes to wear with different outfits, what shoes to wear if your feet aren't perfect, and more shoe talk. I'll announce the webinar soon...

Style Video Launch! Transform How You Look and Feel!

If you have ever stood in front of your closet and said, "I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!" then this video is for you. I've created a 4-Step Program to Confident Dressing that aligns your inner and outer beauty. Watch it right now! You're going to learn color and style tips designed for the busy, home-based woman executive who wants to be an ATTRACTION MACHINE. 

I'm a home-based woman executive, so I understand that when you step out the door to meet with clients or speak at an industry conference, you need to look and feel confident. All it takes is self-awareness, a desire to get out of your style rut, and some "know-how" to put together attractive outfits.

After watching, please leave a comment with ONE THING you're inspired to do to go from DRAB to FAB!

July is "Bring Out Your Unique Strengths" Month

What is dragging you down?

Are you unhappy because you're not perfect? Do you feel like everyone else is better than you? Or, is it that you don't feel like you're special or unique?

Well, I have some news for you...you ARE UNIQUE. But as soon as you start comparing yourself to others, you lose your uniqueness. I'm writing this because I need to heed my own advice sometimes. Whenever I feel like I'm not special, or that I'm not reaching my goals fast enough, it's time to take a break from the madness and appreciate all that I am.

Here are some ways you can remind yourself to express your uniqueness:

#1 - Do work you love

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE working with women to help them rediscover their beauty and spirit! I love the responses I get from my clients after our style sessions. One recent client wrote, 

"I was curious to know why wearing the right colors matters.  What’s the harm in wearing lipstick red or stop-sign yellow?  Well, after Linda got rid of the wrong colors in my closet, and magically assembled outfits for me, I became a believer.  I was astonished at the feedback I got from people I know well, not to mention, perfect strangers!  Even when I look in the mirror, I see myself emerge more than ever before.  What can I say but I’m a believer in True Colors and in Linda Waldon." -- K. Rogers, San Luis Obispo

Conclusion: love your job with all of your heart. Have pride in it, do it 100%, and keep growing in it. Your unique contribution will fill your heart with joy. If you hate your job, change it. Start something new, create it, market it, perfect it, and love it with all your being.

#2 - Wear clothes that reflect who you really are inside

Is your image helping or hurting you?

What does your image say about you?  Think about the last time you met someone for the first time.  What kind of impression did you make?  

Some say it's wrong to 'judge a book by its cover.' Yet we all do it.  For good reason!  

 Clothing still plays a significant role in our first impression -- the way you dress tells the world how you feel about yourself, so show the world you care.

Your Image IS Your Business

Pay attention to your personal brand. Everything you say and do reflects who you are. Become a thought leader and change the world one thought at a time.   

#3 - Take care of your health and well-being

Fall in love with yourself.

Nurture your body with love, nutritious food, and exercise. 

"I fall asleep feeling beautiful," she said to me. "Then, in the morning, before I leave the house I say five things I love about myself, like, I have really pretty eyes, or, those sit-ups are really working! That way I can go out into the world with that extra bit of confidence. It's a feel-good protein shake that fortifies my soul in case someone messes with me."

Try eating mostly vegetarian a few days a week. See how creative and fun it is to fill your shopping cart with colorful vegetables and then roast, stir fry, steam, or eat vegetables raw.  This plate above is 3/4 vegetables with roasted potatoes and asparagus, heirloom tomatoes, sweet peas, asparagus, and sliced hormone-free beef tenderloin filet, served with Dijon mustard for zing.

#4 - Start with small life changes

Build the life you desire by starting with small ‘dough ball’ changes so it's not so overwhelming. For instance, if you're a writer, a colleague of mine, Adele Sommers, recommends writing small metaphorical "dough balls" of content that you can "stack in the freezer to be pulled out later" when you are ready to create something like a book or workshop. By creating small dough balls one at a time, you are not faced with preparing ten loaves of bread all at once, and the task doesn’t feel so overwhelming.  

This also applies to lifestyle changes, and your dough balls could be things like starting to walk for twenty minutes every day, cutting out soft drinks, or writing short stories that will one day turn into a novel.

Start out with small accomplishments that turn into the life you love.  What begins with a dough ball could end as a multi-tiered wedding cake!

Stop belittling. Start believing. Be the unique person you are!

A Lesson in How to Get What You Want

I came across this short Abraham-Hicks video about weight loss, and it seems to me that it pertains to anything you want to attain, such as more confidence, better self-image, more money, improved relationships, or a better job. 

The message in the video says the best way to get what you want (for instance, to lose weight) is to start doing things that make you feel better about yourself, and that will shift your vibration in a positive direction. Only then will things start to change. The formula, as Abraham describes it, is to "Use action to improve vibration." 

In other words, give up focusing on what you don't have (for example, a perfect body) and focus, instead, on what you do have--beautiful skin, long legs, or a great hair style. Look in the mirror and acknowledge your best physical features, then highlight those assets with clothing and accessories. When you look "put-together" you'll feel better about yourself, maybe get a compliment, or two, and this will shift your vibration in a positive direction. Who knows what will happen next...

Give a listen.

Signature Scents for Men

I have spicy geraniums in full bloom in my yard, and I tell you, their scent is heavenly. One of my favorite parts of summer is the wafts of fragrance I get to enjoy as I go through my day. 

Sandalwood rules as far as I’m concerned, so you might say I'm an earthy woman. Its exotic, sweet, woody fragrance feels like home on my skin. Many ancient cultures in India, Egypt, Greece and Rome incorporated sandalwood into their religious and spiritual traditions. It is considered a symbol of vitality in India. I have adopted sandalwood as my signature scent.

What's your signature scent?

The Importance of a Signature Scent

I write about the importance of dressing with confidence and finding your signature clothing style. I also believe that finding your signature scent is just as critical because our sense of smell plays a role in the attraction between two people. Your attraction factor is tightly linked to not only your appearance, but to the way you smell. Your signature scent transmits who you are to the person standing close to you.

Scents for Men

Here are some scents for men that you might find appealing:

Coffee

If you love the smell of a dark roasted cup of joe, you'll pick out the coffee qualities in scents like Polo Double Black, Armani Attitude, or Givenchy Play Intense. Another scent combining coffee and lavender with low notes of amber and sandalwood is the very affordable Rochas Man. 

Spice

The spices used in fragrances are aromatic cooking ingredients like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. If you are a spicy kind of guy, check out Gucci Pour Homme II, Burberry London, or John Varbatos Vintage. My husband wears Kolnisch Juchten, by Regence Paris, which sends me swooning every time he's near me. He sometimes splashes on a spicy sandalwood aftershave cologne called Sandalwood from www.TheArtofShaving.com.

Vanilla

If you love vanilla, Boss Bottled (a classic) or Givenchy Pi gives a soft hint of vanilla. Tobacco Vanille, by Tom Ford, blends vanilla with the sensual smell of tobacco leaves (not to be confused with choking tobacco smoke) to create a seductive, pipe smoke effect.

Chocolate

Chocolate may be appealing to eat, but can be a tricky note for men to wear. Aim for the rich, sensual cocoa of dark chocolate and offset it with the scent of leather, spice, or wood. Dior Homme Intense achieves this balance. 

Citrus

Lemons and oranges smell fresh and energizing. Acqua Di Parma, the original lemon-based cologne that shot to fame during Hollywood's Golden Age, remains popular, along with the classic, Christian Dior Eau Sauvage. 

How to Apply Cologne
If you are wearing a strong fragrance, only a small drop on your chest is necessary. Sometimes men don't realize how overpowering a scent can be to the person standing or walking nearby. We have all experienced the gagging results of over-application! Less is more when it comes to cologne application. 

And, remember, cologne is supposed to be used after you shower,

Not INSTEAD of a shower! 

 
My recommendation is to step out of your comfort zone and test some of these fragrance categories. Bring your significant other to the fragrance counter and make it a date night! 

Father's Day Gift Guide

This is a nice list of gifts for all you sons and daughters looking for gifts your Dad will appreciate. Click on the link below to read more...

Putting Me Together: Father's Day Gift Guide + 25% Off!: I've teamed up again with Macy's and ShopStyle to create a special Father's Day Gift Guide.   This is a special but strange Fa...

How "Fit" is Your Self-Image?

Are you ready to embrace a new, more positive attitude about yourself? What I mean by that is aren't you tired of feeling badly about the way you look? Isn't it time to stop beating yourself up for every extra pound, blemish, or bad hair day?

I understand how you feel! I used to belittle my self-image, too. I was in my twenties, which were technically the BEST, physically fit years of my life! What a waste of time and energy. Little did I know that my life would get better and I would learn to love every single body flaw and recognize and celebrate all my assets. Yin and yang. Life as reality. No one is born with a perfect body. I'm especially referring to the airbrushed, sucked in, tucked, squeezed, pinched, and digitally altered teenage women/girls portrayed in fashion magazines. Real women have assets and flaws, but they know how to accentuate the positive and camouflage the negative, so all you see is a vibrant, "walk-into-a-room-and-own-it" confident woman. 

How Would You Like a More Fit Self-Image?

We talk alot about getting fit physically by exercising, eating healthy, and protecting our skin from too much sun. I would like to broaden the conversation to include exercising the way you think about your body and your appearance and building up your CONFIDENCE MUSCLES.  When you have a strong, confident self-image you can withstand anything that comes your way. You can resist the negative self-talk, fight off inner self-doubt, and ignore the "nay-sayers" in your life who tell you you're not good enough, thin enough, or smart enough, to follow your dreams. With well-developed confidence muscles you'll be strong enough to listen to your own inner voice (your intuition) rather than to what others say.

We all know women who always look "put-together." You may think it takes a huge effort on her part to choose just the right clothing and accessories every day. But, as an image consultant I will let you in on a big secret: it's easy to look "put-together" when your closet is filled with all the right colors and styles that bring out your best assets. Learning your best colors and most flattering fashion styles for your body shape is one of the most important ways you can stay "fit" as you build up your SELF-IMAGE FITNESS.  

For anyone who is struggling with weight issues, it is important to feel supported and loved by others, but even more important to support and love yourself. It's not easy to take the bull by the horns and commit to a healthier lifestyle, saying goodbye to all the comfort that food delivers. I know how difficult it is to break old habits, walk away from old friends, and start down a mysterious, new path. But here's the thing: when you feel your body getting stronger and fitter, and you find yourself with more fashion choices, your CONFIDENCE MUSCLES will pull you along and support you in a way you never imagined!

Here are 3 Ideas to Develop and Flex
Your Confidence Muscles:

1. Make a promise to take twenty minutes every day to do something that makes you happy, just for you. It can be sitting down to read your favorite book or magazine, walking around the neighborhood and smelling the flowers, going to the gym, or taking a steamy bath with a few drops of lavender oil.
   
2. Create a Self-Image Fitness Style Book that represents the beautiful, powerful woman you are inside and out, in every occasion of your life, such as work, social events, volunteer work, and special occasions. Start by looking through Pinterest boards, or cutting out pictures from fashion magazines. Think about what you would like to say with your appearance -- your signature style. For instance, below is a page from a True Colors Style Book that I create for clients. In this example, I put together an outfit Jessica can wear to gallery openings with her husband. Now, Jessica has a vision of how fantastic and put-together she can look! You can create your own style book, or contact me, and I'll be happy to do it for you.
   
   
3. If you are currently in the midst of a weight loss program, I understand you may not want to invest in a whole new wardrobe just yet. Here's a way to look and feel attractive while you're losing weight. Get together with a group of women who are in a weight loss program and start a Clothing Exchange Group. Whether you're involved with Weight Watchers, a Weight Loss Surgery Center, or another group, there are plenty of women in various stages of weight loss who have clothes they don't wear anymore. Host a party and ask the women to bring clothes to donate, and everyone can go shopping for free! Then, as you lose more weight, you can return the clothes to the group so others can wear them. 
   

Take the Next Step Toward a Transformational Lifetime of Confidence!

Whatever stage of Self-Image Fitness you're currently in, I applaud you, and would like to support you in your transformational journey. I'm offering a free 30-minute personal style consultation via Skype where we can discuss your fashion issues, concerns, and questions. I can help you discover a new way to see yourself and your new shape by transforming the way you dress. Click here and fill out the "Free 30 Minute Consultation" form on my Grow Confidence website.

Are You Ready to Boost Your Confidence?

Watch this FREE webinar

and Learn How to Go From DRAB to FAB!

Click on this link and learn from The Confidence Coach, Linda Waldon, how to become a Confident Dresser and Boost Your Impact.

Tune into my webinar, and learn style tips that will help you take your business to the next level:

• The four stages of Confident Dressing(TM)
• How a wardrobe in the right colors creates more impact
• Closet cleaning techniques that get you out of a style rut
• The value of establishing your signature style 

 Learn about my upcoming 4-week workshop which will teach you everything you need to know about how to dress confidently in your True Colors! Visit my Grow Confidence website to learn more.

How to Create Your Own Personal Brand

This morning while drinking my coffee I was watching Kathie Lee & Hoda on the Today Show (hey, they’re in my demographic!) and I saw this segment.  Psychiatrist, Dr. Ish Major, and image consultant, Mary Gluseffi, discussed how the way you dress, speak and act can impact all areas of your life.

They discussed how to create your personal brand by getting in touch with your authentic self.  Their advice was to follow a personal brand equation:  how you look + how you speak + how you act = your personal brand.  Be consistent with your authentic brand and you will send out a clear signal.  The way I express it to my clients is this way:  when you dress in a way that expresses who you are inside you will send a clear signal that attracts.  I work with clients to first, discover who they are inside, and second, to identify a signature style that expresses who they are.  It creates such an impact that I've seen it change peoples' lives!  They suddenly have the confidence to change careers, start new businesses, or get out of a negative relationship.  Powerful stuff.

The image consultant on the Today Show had this advice, "Dress for who you are, plus 10%."  Clever!  She also advised people to stop texting and start talking.  You can only really connect with people when you get your face out of your iPhone.  Her last piece of advice was, “Be the party, and the crowd will come to you.”  If you’re comfortable with who you are, people will be attracted to you.

Take a peak at this quick segment -- it's worth watching.

Today Show "How to create your own personal brand"

What to Wear on Camera

When it comes time to film your first video, or, if you're lucky enough to be interviewed on television, what you wear on camera is vitally important.  As I always say, "Your image is your brand!  This is your opportunity to connect with your audience and let them know who you really are. Color demands our attention, so pay special attention to the colors you wear on camera.

Wearing the right colors on camera will make your:

• Skin look radiant
• Eyes sparkle
• Body look fit and "put-together"
• Image look younger and more energetic

How do you know what colors look best on camera?

Here are some Do's and Don'ts:

DO's:

• Think about what colors look best on you off-camera.  What colors bring you the most compliments?  Is your skin tone warm or cool?  If you'd like help determining your best colors, I offer personal color and style consultations.  Click here.
• Wear colors that connect with your audience.  You don't want to appear harsh and stand-offish.  You want your skin and eyes to appear warm and inviting. 
• As you age, you might not be able to wear the bright colors you wore in your twenties.  Wear softer, more muted colors such as blue-gray, lavender, soft green, or rose.
• Wear solid colored fabrics, as fine patterns create a "Moire Effect" where the pattern appears to be moving on camera.  
• Bring three or four outfits to the studio.  Test the outfits on camera if time permits.
• Wear beautiful colors such as shades of green, lavendar, blue, royal blue, rose, and violet. 
• Wear a color that matches your eye color, and watch your eyes sparkle!  Pay attention to how your skin tone looks in a particular color.
• Pay attention to how your clothes look when you're sitting down.  Make sure it doesn't bunch up around your stomach area.  Does the garment pull?  Do the fabrics look rich?  
• Wear a scarf around your neck or a beautiful necklace to add color and sparkle around your face.

  
DON'Ts:

• Black is a dramatic color, yes, but it's also a harsh color.  If you want to appear warm and friendly, black is not the best choice.  It can make you look tired and older, as it draws in all the light.  It's better to wear a color that reflects light onto your face.
• White competes with your face for light balancing, so your skin may end up looking ghost-like or ashy.  
• Hot colors, such as bright red, hot pink, bright orange and yellow, can create a glowing effect, as the camera sensors have a problem reading them.  They may even make you look bigger than you want to!  Who wants that?  
• Fine patterns in clothing appear to be moving on camera.  Stick with solid colors.

Men's Spring Fashion Tips

Gentlemen, here's a fashion-related question for you:

What is the MOST important thing when it comes to looking polished, professional, and of course, sexy?  It's FIT, FIT, FIT.  What's wrong with super-baggy pants and crumpled, over-sized shirts?  Speaking on behalf of the entire female population, we would like to see the outline of your strong, muscular legs, not folds of fabric.  We also like seeing the outline of your broad shoulders and tight torso. You look "put-together" when you wear your clothes; not the other way around.

Just sayin...

I've discovered a menswear company, Bonobos, that caters to helping men look more polished and professional, and they help you select the right color, style, and fit. Believe it or not, Spring is coming soon! Bonobos is launching an exciting, vibrant new line of men's shirts for spring.

The key to looking polished is to wear colors that complement your skin tone, eye and hair color; also, fit is extremely important; and, knowing how to create your signature style by layering with color, pattern, and texture.

Here are some fashion tips for men:

Create Different Looks, From Professional to Casual
For a more professional look (first photo below), choose dark colors, wool fabric, and coordinate a solid or conservative patterned tie.  A more casual look (second photo below) is sporty, with lighter colors, cotton or linen fabric, a looser fit, and you can have fun pairing a patterned shirt with a fun, patterned tie; or no tie at all!

Use Layering and Mix-and-Matching Patterns to Create Interesting New Looks
Casual layering creates interest and a look of confidence.  Here are two examples of relaxed styling with a casual shirt and washed, stone-colored chino jacket (first photo below); and pairing a Spring Collection Tattersall shirt (second photo below) with a Fushia striped tie, creating a "put-together" look.

Create the Perfect Fit for a More Polished, Sexy Look
When it comes to fit, Bonobos has spent months fitting hundreds of shirts on dozens of guys to create the perfect set of options:  Standard, Slim, and Tailored Slim.  Here are some tips from Bonobos to help you select the best fit for you:

Standard Fit:  For guys of average build who like a shirt that's flattering, but not too snug.  It's a little trimmer than most off-the-rack shirts because we got rid of that unnecessary fabric around the middle.

Slim Fit:  For men with a more slender build, or who simply prefer a snugger fit.  The waist has a distinct taper, and the sleeves are a little narrower as well.

Tailored Slim:  The most form-fitting option Bonobos offers. It's the closest to a custom tailored shirt as you can get!  The rear darts really bring in the sides for a crisp, definitive taper.

Check out the New Spring Dress Shirts at Bonobos, and start looking more polished and sexy! 
 

Where Confidence Comes From

Do you remember the first time you walked in heels?  (Okay, men, you'll have to use your imagination here)  Walking in heels the first time is not an easy task.  It requires a mixture of balance and poise. Were you wobbly and awkward at first?  Of course you were!  It takes confidence to successfully walk in heels and look natural.

What did it take to build your confidence?  

PRACTICE!

The more you practiced walking on those stiletto pumps the steadier you became.  Over time you developed the ability to walk in heels without wobbling or falling over, and your confidence walking in high heels grew. 

Being confident is being certain in your ability to do something -- anything -- without awkwardness or self-doubt.

So, ladies and gentlemen, don't be afraid to try something new.  Just make sure you leave plenty of time to practice and rehearse your new skill. 

      

What to Wear After 70? -- Wear CONFIDENCE and a Whole Lot of ATTITUDE!

I found this documentary about six women who are defying the aging process, living with style and panache into their 90's. The "Fabulous Fashionistas" series about Bridget, Daphne, Jean, Gillian, Sue and Lady Trumpington explores the art of aging, and how these women have something inspirational in common: a determination to keep going, to look fabulous and have fun with fashion.

One of my favorite moments in the video is when one of the women says, "I like to wear short skirts. Some people look at me and think who does she think she is?  Well, I don't give a toss!"

That's my new favorite phrase of the week -- "I don't give a toss!"

Click on the link below and be inspired!  

The Fabulous Fashionistas 

What Mature Women Should Wear to Land the Job Interview

or... 

How to look energetic and current in today's younger generation job market and still be yourself. 

It's hard to believe you're getting older even when you still FEEL really young on the inside.  If you're in mid-career, and competing for a job among the twenty-somethings, remember, you've got more wisdom, experience, breadth and depth than a twenty-six year old person.  You have years of gathering knowledge and the maturity to make sound decisions -- you're a fantastic and powerful woman! Here are some tips on presenting yourself as current and powerful.  You can make an impact with your put-together, young flare (but not over-the-top), and still be YOU:

Tip #1: From the neck up, make yourself look current and hip.

• Get a trendy hairdo.  If you've been going to the same hair stylist for ten years, it's time to get a new perspective.  I know it's scary, but remember if you dislike the results, HAIR GROWS!  A new stylist can look at your assets and give you a fresh and youthful look.
• Wear makeup that highlights your best facial features.  Go to Sephora or a department store and get a free makeup consultation before your interview.  I suggest makeup colors for my clients, and wearing the right makeup makes a huge difference. As you get older it's more important to use moisturizing products that give you a dewy glow.
• Get your teeth whitened.  Young teeth are sparkling white!  Old teeth are yellow.

Tip #2:  Wear colors that make your skin look radiant!

•  The right colors make you look radiant, healthy and ten years younger. Your skin tone and hair color are changing, so the colors you wore ten years ago may not work for you anymore.  Story time:  I'm over 40. I was in Trader Joe's a few weeks ago buying groceries and wine, and the young checker asked me for ID.  At first I was flattered, then I thought he was joking, then when he seriously made me produce my driver's license I knew he thought I looked younger than my age.  Turns out this is a trend to ask people who look 40 and younger for ID.  I'm still flattered he thought I was 40!  I swear it's because I was wearing vibrant, radiant colors. Get your colors done by a professional and wear them all the time. It will change your life.
• Wearing your colors is a transformational experience.  Your true beauty shows up. Your outfits will always be color-coordinated and put-together.

Tip #3:  Wear clothes that fit you like a glove, look stylish, and look like YOU.

• Tailored clothes give your body the structure it may not have
• Current trends appropriate for a job interview are: leather skirt paired with a soft flowy blouse and tailored jacket; mix and match textures such as a tweed jacket, cotton blouse and pencil skirt; peplum suit jacket over a slim pencil skirt
• Take your clothes to a tailor if they don't fit your body perfectly -- especially your interview outfits
• Choose a neckline that complements your face shape

Tip #4: Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize!

• Add a colorful scarf to pull your outfit together, look chic, and cover your neck
• Wear a beautiful necklace and bracelet in your metal
• A pop of color can come in the form of a purse or sophisticated shoes

What to Wear When Your Body Isn't Perfect (Isn't that just about everyone?)

When you look at fashion magazines, the airbrushed models are breathtakingly beautiful -- their skin is taught and glowing, bodies are paper thin and buff, and muscles bulge in all the right places. 

But that's not reality! Real people have blemished, bumpy skin, baggy eyes, big bums, small breasts, large breasts, bigger on the bottom than on top.  That's the way life really is.  Most people are somewhere between looking trim and fit and carrying extra weight in certain areas.  

So, how can you dress in a way that accentuates your positive features and mitigates your flaws?

Here are 3 sure-fire ways to dress your natural shape in an attractive, balanced way:

Tip #1 - Create the illusion of a longer body shape with silhouette and color.

Your style aim is to create the illusion of proportional balance between your upper and lower half.  Where you are SHORT, optically lengthen, by wearing long, straight pants to lengthen your legs, or by wearing a longer top to lengthen your upper torso. Look how long her legs appear!  By layering pieces on top you'll give the illusion of longer torso and legs. One monochromatic color is another way to elongate your body, and you don't have to stick with the same, exact color, but rather mix and match with different tones of the same color.  Try a royal blue printed skirt with a chambray blue blouse and touches of sapphire accessories. 

Tip #2 - Accentuate the best parts of your body.

Whether you have a small waist, delicate facial features, shapely thin legs, or gorgeous feet, every outfit should celebrate your best features. 

The easiest way to call attention to a feature is by using a pop of color.  If you want to call attention to your face, wrap a beautiful, colorful scarf around your neck or wear a fabulously colorful necklace. Call attention to the smallest part of your body, such as your small waist, with a belt.  And adorn those gorgeous feet with bejeweled, strappy sandals!


Tip #3 - Divide your body into pleasing proportions.

Our bodies actually measure eight head lengths.  Really!  Take a tape measure and measure from the top of your head to your chin. That's your head length.  You are three head lengths from the top of your head to your waist, and five head lengths from your waist to your feet.  

A pleasing proportion to wear is 2:3, or 2 head lengths from shoulder to waist, and 3 head lengths from waist to knees.  A dress with a belted or tucked waist, or a blouse and skirt combination  follows this 2:3 proportion.  The dividing line of the outfit falls at the waist and draws attention there. 

Generally, it is more attractive and interesting to wear outfits that divide your body into thirds, not in half.  See the example to the right.  You can use color, horizontal lines or different shapes to demarcate between sections.

Have fun trying different proportions.  The goal is to visually alter your body proportions and create an illusion of perfect proportions with your clothing.