How to Tie a Pashmina Scarf

Here is a quick video of me showing a few ways of tying a pashmina style scarf, with a special cameo appearance by Miss Niamh (age 4).

And here is a pic of Niamh who tied her own scarf.

One Scarf Two Ways

Scarves seem to be the most wondered about accessory. So I thought I'd do a series on possible ways to wear them.

Here is a small square chiffon scarf worn in two ways.

Firstly, folded into a triangle then tied with the widest part of the triangle at the front, ends tied underneath at the front after wrapping around my neck.

And simply just folded into a triangle, then rolled up and knotted to one side.

Low Cost Accessories

The other day when I was asking how you all felt about accessories, Nurmisur said that she was disappointed that accessories were as costly as an item of clothing.

I'm guessing she's not just talking about shoes and bags, but also jewellery and scarves, and feels that these are too expensive.

There are lots of options to get fantastic cheap accessories that look great from everywhere from art and craft markets to boutiques to www.etsy.com and even ebay.

For example, the above pendant is $7 on Etsy from AsianGiftAccents

And here is a silk scarf for $25 from Silk Artisan on Etsy.

At these kind of prices you can afford to have a wardrobe of accessories and enjoy using them to add some life and interest to your clothing.

Where do you find your best accessories?

Body Proportions Explained - Long Rise

One of the measurements that is commonly long is the rise measurement - that is the distance from leg break to waist. Some people have a long body, but they are short-waisted and the length is in their rise which is long.

1. If you are proportionally like this, skirts can be your best friends - they hide where the legs start and we assume that your rise is shorter and legs longer. Drop waists can flatter.

2. Keep your tops a little longer, not all the way down to your crotch, but avoid cropped tops.

3. Empire tops flatter your shorter waist and bypass your long rise.

4. High waisted pants and jeans are best. You will find that lower waisted pants will pull down when sitting and often feel uncomfortable, as well as showing off your underwear, not classy.

5. Don't tuck in tops.

Long Rise by imogenl featuring Seven For All Mankind jeans

Body Proportions Explained - Small Bust but long decolletage

One of my lovely readers asked that I post something to help her - she has a small bust but is proportionally long through her decollete and was wondering what she should wear.

1. get the girls up high - a good supportive bra, even if your bust is small, will make your waist look longer and slimmer and will make your bust look less low.

2. Fill the space with detail - look for frills round your neck, choose collared shirts or higher necklines rather than open necklines.

3. If you're wearing an open neckline fill the space up with jewellery. Unless you've got a dramatic personality, choose a piece that is made up of multiple small pieces rather than one large solid piece.

4. Avoid spaghetti straps, they don't take up enough space and will make your bust look very low, instead look for a wider strap.

Small Bust, Long Decollete by imogenl on Polyvore.com

Why are Accessories so Scary?

For some reason or another, so many women seem scared of accessories, or don't have the confidence to choose accessories. Interestingly I find so many women would rather not wear any than wear something that they're not confident works for them. Some others blame laziness, just can't be bothered to make a choice.

Why are they so scary? What do you think will happen if you get it 'wrong'?

What are the issues you have with accessories? What do you really want to know about them?

Proportions - the Golden Mean or Fibonacci Number

Fashion is architecture: it is a matter of proportions. Coco Chanel

I love this quote - and yesterday I heard someone on the radio say

Architecture is a living being - it reflects the culture and mood of the times.

We are not static beings and so our buildings are renovated and change over time. The renovations and changes to buildings relate to the current fashions, same as how the fashions change for the clothes we wear.

Given that good architects spend a lot of time trying to design attractive and proportioned buildings, should we not consider it important to do the same when we get dressed each day?

Leonardo Da Vinci discovered the Golden Mean or Fibonacci Number which is a ratio that goes:

1:2

2:3

3:5

5:8

8:13 etc.

He discovered that we find this ratio beautiful. Interestingly I know a cosmetic dentist who uses this ratio to determine the size of each tooth in relation to itself (height and width) and also the tooth next door.

Given that we find things that use this ratio so aesthetically pleasing (fern fronds, snail shells, snow flakes) it has also been found that when we dress in this ratio we are also more fabulous.

You can use the ratios 1:2, 2:3 and 3:5 particularly when dressing - given that the human body is around 8 head lengths - breaking your body up with these proportions creates a beautiful balance.

Thus, always look for clothes that are uneven in proportion to each other - so rather than two boxy items (1:1 ratio) look for a long and a shorter garment to put together.

Golden Mean by imogenl on Polyvore.com

You can see just by the simple change of top to one that is longer and has a collar, we are taking away the boxiness of this outfit to create a more balanced appearance.

Do you ever think about balance and proportions when choosing clothes?

Look Good - Feel Better

I was reminded on Tuesday evening, when I spent 3 hours doing some extra training with the Look Good Feel Better organisation for whom I volunteer, about what a fabulous program it is.

What is Look Good Feel Better - it's a charity that delivers programs to people with cancer, in hospitals all over the world - from Australia to the USA, UK to Columbia, Norway to South Africa. Chances are, there is a Look Good Feel Better program in your country (and if there isn't, it'll be coming soon!).

The cosmetic industry donates products to be given to cancer patients who attend the program. Everything from skin care to makeup. In Australia we also have a program for men and teens as well as women.

Volunteers (wo)man the program that are held in hospitals all over the world. In 2 1/2 hours we spend time showing patients how to deal with some of the side effects of their treatment, including a make-up lesson, information about options with scarves and hats, as well as the opportunity to try on wigs. It's time spent where you can pamper yourself and talk to others who may be going through similar situations. Friendships are made and lots of fun is had.

Participants don't need to be losing their hair to come along. It's a fun and empowering session and I encourage anyone with cancer to attend a session. If you know someone with cancer why not encourage them to sign up and come along, you can come with them too.

If you've got experience in the beauty or image industries why not become a volunteer? It's a great charity and you are helping to build the self-esteem of many people.

For more information go to the website of your country.

Australia www.lgfb.org.au

USA www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org

Canada www.lgfb.ca

UK www.lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk

Body Proportions Explained - The Effect of a Large Bust

I've had a couple of commenters who have wanted to know what to do with their large bust, given their body proportions.

Interestingly, even if you have a balanced waist, a large bust can give you the appearance of a short waist, as by the time the clothes go out over your bust and come back in at your waist it can visually shorten the area.

This is why having great undergarments make such a difference - keeping your bust up high will give you the illusion of a longer waist.

If you have a large bust and and shorter waist, belting at the waist is not a great option, it enlarges your bust and further defines the length of your torso.

Here I am - you can see with the thin belt (left) this is sitting on my natural waist - and it appears to be almost under my bust - and makes my upper body very boxy and wide.

In the middle picture I've got a wider belt on which is marginally better but still makes my body look short.

In the picture on the right I'm wearing a belt on my hips which elongates my torso and makes me look overall slimmer - so if I really want to belt, that is the way for me to go.

Instead dress your upper body as if it were shorter proportionally and use the tips I've written about to visually reduce your bust size.

How to Tell if You Have a Short, Balanced or Long Waist

A very quick and easy way to tell if you have a short waist is to stand up straight, and see if you can fit two hand widths under your bust to your waist (narrowest point).

If you can fit more than two hand widths you have a long waist, less than two, a short waist.

Try this at home!