Surfer Girl:  go for a maxi or in this case a casual pull on dress!  It’s a great look.  Just add some colorful sandals a great bangle and you are good to go!

Sassy Safari: Animal is always in!  This summer rompers are the latest trend.  If you are feeling a bit on the wild side, try this new look.  Just take note that this is the “statement” .  Don’t over do it with lots of animal, a wooden bangle and a natural wedge or sandal is all you need to finish it off.

Pure Prairie: “Sweet” prints identify this look.  They don’t have to look dowdy though!  Wear it with a corseted bodice to amp up your style.  The Prairie Look is coming back for fall.  You’ll see it in plaids and vests so be on the look out!  Put a great woven hat with this to give it some style but don’t go overboard or you’ll look like an “old lady” trying to look thirteen again!

The Minimalist:  Black or white, it doesn’t matter.  The minimalist always needs both.  There’s nothing prettier in the summer than a “little white dress”.  It’s fresh, it’s uber cool and fun.

Prep Squad: Preppy is always “in”.  The distinctive Lilly Pulitzer is the iconic brand of “preppy”. A simple cardigan over a sheath dress will put you there too!  Have fun with it, wear something bold for summer.  It’s one time that you can get away with it!

Whatever you do or whatever you wear this summer,

“Look Good, Feel Great and Have FUN Doing It!”

I have seen a lot of confusion I have seen at weddings recently.  No one really knows what to wear.  Either that or they don’t care.

I want you to care, I want you to look your best because if you look your best you’ll feel your best and have the best time!  We’ve talked about Afternoon Weddings and Evening Weddings.  Now let’s talk about destination weddings.

I’ve heard about weddings on Cruise Ships, the Beach, a Remote Island, even Italy.  They all sound very romantic and fun, but I believe that it does create some confusion when planning for the occasion.

So, if you are the bride or groom and are planning a destination wedding, please do your guests a favor and let them know how you would like them to be attired.

Having said that here are a few of my suggestions on everything from dresses to footwear for a destination wedding.

Think “business casual” not “weekend casual”.  Even though you are much more casual, you still want to be dressed up, not sloppy.

So, even if you are wearing your jeans, make sure they are your dress-jeans and not your “cleaning the yard” jeans.  Pay close attention to detail if you are traveling to another country.

Pay attention to their cultural mores and what is acceptable in the country.  There may be special attributes about wedding attire that is different from what you are used to seeing.  If there is something unique about the country, try and embrace the culture and go with it!

Beach:

• Sundresses
• Jeans (o.k. if specified on invitation)
• Khakis
• Linen Sports coat
• Lightweight gauze or linen dresses or slacks
• Bermuda shorts (guys)
• Flip-flops, sandals or no shoes (ladies)
• Flip-flops, Docksiders, no shoes, loafers w/no socks (guys)

Cruise:

• Same as above for clothing (if not specified by invitation)
• Shoes-sandals, Docksiders, loafers w/no socks

Other Country:

• Dress denim (men)
• Linen blazer (men)
• Silk shirt (men)
• Silk dresses (women)
• Heeled sandals and pumps (women)
• Colorful patterns (men and women)

The bottom line is to simply think about the event and plan for it.  Enjoy the opportunity to do something different and you’ll

“Look Good, Feel Great and Have FUN Doing It!”

What to Wear to an Evening Wedding

What to Wear to an Afternoon Wedding

I photographed this gentleman because he was dressed up!  His smile said it all…He was there to celebrate and have fun.  Was it over the top for an afternoon wedding?  I say NO, was it necessary to dress up this much?  Again, I say NO, but the key here is that it WAS O.K. to wear a suit and dress up.

The biggest challenge dressing for a wedding comes not when the wedding is at 3 PM but as the day turns into evening.  What do you wear to an evening wedding?  One hopes that there is instruction on your invitation, letting the guests know if it is a 6:00 wedding the formality of it.  Again, we are talking about a Church Wedding.  It will be completely different for a “Destination” or “Beach” Wedding.

An evening wedding, one that is from 6PM on, is considered a more formal event and should require more formal attire.  I have been invited to a 6PM Formal Wedding and having spoken to the bride’s mother, I know that there will be many long gowns worn to this event.  Here are a few suggestions on your attire for an evening wedding:

Ladies:

Long or a short dress is o.k.  If you choose to wear a short dress, select a festive, perhaps a cocktail dress.  Dress it up with a wrap and very nice shoes and a clutch.  A cotton sundress is not going to cut it for this event no matter how you dress it up!  So grab a dress with great drape and a fabric that is beautiful on you.

Guys:
It’s a bit more straightforward for you!  Your options are simple. Choose either a suit or a tuxedo.  If you don’t have a tuxedo, a black suit is certainly appropriate.

• Note that a 2-button suit is more formal.
• Wear a white shirt and a festive tie.
• Polished LACE UP shoes and a smooth leather belt.
• Your fashion missteps come in the way of bad shoe, belt, tie and pocket scarf selections, so choose wisely.
• Never match your pocket scarf to your tie!  Always remember that the smoother the leather the more formal the look.  AND the narrower the sole on your shoe the more elegant the look.
• Stay away from a rubber sole for this event.

If you will remember that it is about the Bride and Groom and dress for the occasion, you will:

“Look Good, Feel Great and Have FUN Doing It!”

What to Wear to an Afternoon Wedding

Next…What to Wear to a Destination Wedding

Connecting with your source of inspiration is one sure way to begin to understand your unique style personality.

Oscar Night is always an inspiring event for me.  I love watching all the beautiful people parade like peacocks in front of the cameras.  I imagine the weeks and even months of planning, searching and scouring designer looks for just the right piece actors (well their stylists)  go through to capture the right look.

This year it seemed as though more than ever there was something that distracted my eye and brought down the total look.  All these women are beautiful people.  All have style.  All have a certain “look”.

Sarah Jessica Parker in  Chanel.  The dress is classic Chanel, but her  bad spray tan and oversized hair piece put the whole look in danger.  Sandra Bullock, always sporty chic wore a gorgeous Marchesa gold beaded dress embracing a different spirit.  It was elegant and chic, it didn’t seem to resonate with me.  It was beautiful on her body, but I felt wasn’t “her”.  Topped off with her bright pink lips I just felt a disconnect.  I’ll bet she couldn’t wait to get it off.

The one style icon that I feel got it right from head to toe was Meryl Streep in a former Project Runway contestant Chris March design.  Sheis a Traditional Style woman.  She is a “working girl”.  I love the fact that she “is what she is” and has no pretenses.  This makes her true to herself, beautiful, aging gracefully and stunning in her dress.

You see, it’s not just about the dress.  It is the total overall look.  Tell me who do YOU think had the most fun on Oscar Night?  Of these 3 ladies, who do you feel was true to herself and expresses her Style Personality?

The next time you are inspired by someone or something, try to connect, really connect with the source of this inspiration and you will truly have an “inspired look”.  Do this and you will always:

“Look Good, Feel Great and Have FUN Doing It!”

We’ve looked at the “cracks” in your closet.

All of this is in great anticipation for cleaning out your closet and getting ready for SPRING.  Are You Ready to get DRESSED???

If you haven’t been shopping in a while the biggest trend that you will notice on the clothing racks is the quantity of dresses.

Retailers have loaded up on dresses in everything from

• pretty prints, butterfly motifs, breezy, billowy sheer & netting to
  
• tribal, color blocked, geometric psychedelic patterns & cutouts.

Where once were rows and rows of pants, suit jackets and jeans you’ll find dresses.  There are a few skirts right now but dresses are the trend.

If ever you wondered how the tides of fashion changes, you had only to reflect on the last year and you could see.  It’s rather like Malcom Gladwell’s book The Tipping Point.  It started with a little ripple last year.  I wrote about it last spring in a blog called “Obsess the Dress”. This trend will continue for the foreseeable  future.

So, if you are dress-adverse, don’t fight it anymore, there is one out there for you!  This season ya, “gotta getta dress” and:

“Look Good, Feel Great and Have FUN Doing It!”

Remember the perfect shape is considered an hour glass figure.  Your goal in dressing is to create the illusion of an hour-glass!  Follow these general guidelines and you’ll look stellar this spring.

• A-line dresses are universally flattering to any figure.
• V-and Scoop necklines create a visual balance and highlights your décolletage

Triangle Shape Body (wide or curvy hips)- Draw attention up to your face with a high waist, 2 color dress.  This Rebecca Taylor dress draws attention to the face with the light color and de-emphasizes the hips,  creating an hour-glass look by having dark on the bottom.

Full-Bust-Opt for a scoop neckline and empire waist that will discreetly emphasize without being too revealing.  This dress from Nordstrom creates emphasis with the  scooped neckline and gentle draping of fabric.  The floral print is so chic this spring.

Petite-To create a longer look, opt for a wrap dress that hugs and flares the body.  A shorter length and deep v-neck will show some skin and call attention to your legs and upper body making you appear taller.  This dress from BananaRepublic has all the right moves for spring.  It’s pink, it has soft ruffles and it creates a great long look for the petite woman.

Step out this spring and try on something new!  You’ll be glad you did and you will:

“Look Good, Feel Great and Have FUN Doing It!”

Dresses are so feminine and can hide a multitude of sins, but not every dress is the right dress for you.  Do you know how to shop for a dress that will flatter and fit your body line and proportion?  Remember, your goal in dressing is to create the illusion of a perfect shape (the hourglass) through balance and proportion.  This is achieved not only by the shape of the dress but also by varying the color (dark on top and light on bottom or vice-versa). 

Check out the simple tips below to balance your proportions and you will look good and feel great in the latest styles.

If your body line is:

Rectangle (straight) you have little definition between your bust, waist and hip measurements.  A fitted sheath will play up your lines.  Baby-dolls and A-line styles will help create some curves.  Choose dresses that have some detail, embellishments or gathers at the top to add some dimension. Note this dress creates more of a waistline.

Triangle (pear) you are fuller at the hips and bottom and smaller on the top.  Choosing dresses with fitted, open-neck or strapless tops will enhance your upper body and draw the eye upward (away from the hips).  Wearing darker colors on the bottom, lighter on top will create the illusion of more width on top (two-tone), while A-line shapes will help hide a wider hipline.  Be sure to not go too full with the skirt or it will add bulk.  Note this fabric drapes smoothly over the hip area without adding extra width.

Hourglass (figure 8 ) Curves are your asset; you have full bust, hipline and a defined waist.  Choose wraps, and dresses with fitted waists.  The hourglass is a classic, feminine form that can wear many styles.  Focus on drawing attention to your waist.  The wrap dress cinches in the waist while the fabric accentuates curves without hugging them.

Diamond/Circle (apple) Weight is carried around your middle.  There is little or no definition to your waist.  Baby doll and empire waists are best for you.  Take attention away from your middle and allow fabric to drape smoothly down not hugging your mid-section.  Focus on necklines that draw the eye upward to your face.  Often this shape has gorgeous legs, so don’t hide your beautiful gams!  A-line and fuller skirted looks can give the illusion of a more defined waist.  Note this dress falls away from the tummy area and the neckline is open drawing the eye upward.

Inverted Triangle (full bust) you have a well defined bust that is fuller than your hips and bottom.  Select necklines (V and U) that will draw the eye downward for a balanced more slimming look.  Lighter color blocking on the bottom/darker on top will give the illusion a balanced look.  Choosing A-lines and fuller skirts will balance you out and give you a more hourglass appearance.  This neckline and simple fullness at the waist draws the eye down balancing the top to the bottom.

Go and obsess the dress and remember look good, feel great and have fun doing it!

____________________
Posted by: Karen Hughes, Founder of Image Assets, an Image Consulting Firm serving the Alpharetta and Metro Atlanta areas. As a seasoned certified image consultant, Karen follows a simple philosophy: educate, empower, and enrich the lives of her clients. Her philosophy is enmeshed throughout her practice and can be observed in her workshops, clinics, and one-on-one consultations. Her energetic and interactive style makes her a sought-after training resource for organizations and individuals alike. Even the most difficult topics seem effortless for Karen as she tackles such challenges as professional etiquette, business dress personal image and body shape