Do you remember when you figured out which looks flattered your shape? I do... I was over 55 before I had a clue.
The magic word for me is NEUTRALS.
I love the way solid pieces in black, white, silver, dark denim, or deep red all work together. Occasional selections in fuchsia, cobalt, turquoise, or purple also complement all but the red.
Straight leg pants (not tight) and pencil skirts help me to look taller and thinner. Dressing in neutral solids allows me to put together an endless variety of looks at a moment's notice. Shoes, bags, and jewelry make each combination unique.
Jackets, sweaters, and tunics that fall below my natural waist and serve me well without many details. Showing a little skin helps too. A V neckline, ankle baring pants, and three-quarter length sleeves all help draw attention away from my nonexistent apple-shaped waistline. (I still cringe at those times that I wanted to be at the height of fashion and wore a jumpsuit a couple of times in my twenties. Youth is wasted on the young!)
I strongly recommend this little exercise: When you determine your body shape, find a famous person with the same shape who dresses in a style you admire. Study their way of dressing in a variety of situations. Do a Google search of images of that person and look at them for a few minutes each day until it becomes second nature for you to put together similar looks. We tend to emulate the dressing style we see around us just as we pick up the same speaking manner. This is a way to choose your influences.
Soon you will be able to walk into your closet and put together a look for any event in just a few minutes. You will already have a mental picture of a variety of looks that you feel comfortable in. The same success will come when you walk up to a rack of clothes in a store. You will always recognize what part of your winning combination is.
Mastering this tip will save you time and money. You won't need that many clothes because everything you own can be worn in different combinations almost all year long.
