Fitting Pretty

A reader asked for tips for dressing well with petite proportions and an ample figure. Petite means shorter than five feet four inches tall. Some people assume that it means tiny, but the term applies only to height.

Solid tops in soft fabrics that hold their shape have a V neck, and sleeves that can be turned up will flatter you more than a floral shirt with long sleeves and a collar, for example.  Never tuck in your shirt and wear a belt if you are self-conscious of your waistline. A better choice will be a top that can be worn over the waistband. The hem of your jacket or blouse should stop at or near the top of your hip bone. Allow as much leg length to show as possible.

Pants that are tapered and more tailored will look better on you than wide-leg pants, skinny jeans, or flared Capris. Many stores now have a petite section where you can shop for classic pieces worn with several other items in your wardrobe.

Avoid horizontal lines or breaks in your look. Each horizontal hem or color break visually shortens you. For example, a shorter blouse under a jacket that is a bit longer will make you look taller and neater than when both items stop at the same area or the blouse extends beyond the jacket's hem, creating another horizontal line.

Carry smaller bags and look for shoes with a pointed toe. High heels tend not to be a good choice for most petite women. A better choice would be wedges or square heels that have a longer, more pointed toe area. This type of shoe always elongates the leg and makes you look a little taller.

Smaller watches or other jewelry such as buttons or small drop earrings will look best on you. Stay away from chandelier earrings, stacks of bracelets, and statement necklaces. Bold jewelry and colorful patterns in clothing will almost always overwhelm you. Scarves should be small and worn in a very sleek, simple tie or wrap if you choose to wear them. Avoid bulky sweaters and jackets.

Your key pieces should be solid colors that flatter your skin tone and work well together. Find a good tailor and spend the extra money to get pieces tailored to fit perfectly. You will always be glad you did.

I hope these tips prove to be helpful to you. Thank you for reading!

Day Trip

Do you love to take a day trip to a different city?

We enjoy going over to Asheville, North Carolina, when the weather is nice. It's an eclectic city with lots of different restaurants, specialty stores, and art galleries. There are many sidewalk cafés and other al fresco dining opportunities. Musicians and all types of street performers can be found on many corners. This fellow played an instrument and sang beautifully.

Everything but the kitchen sink was used to decorate the entrance to this sidewalk café.

There is still a chill in the air, and the wind was blowing for most of the day, so I was glad I wore a lined hounds-tooth jacket with black pants and a red tank top. It felt great to dress for a spring-like day at last. 

 

 

Thanks for reading. I hope you have a great week!

Spring Fever

Do your sleep patterns change with the seasons?

Mickey snapped this photo of me as we left for dinner before going to the symphony last evening. I am shocked at the dark circles under my eyes. This is a result of sleeping for only three or four hours per night this week. When Spring approaches, my body emerges from my winter hibernation with zest. A little inner voice keeps telling me it's time to get up! I wish it would wait until after 2 AM to speak up.

This is the same teal jacket I wore a few weeks ago to brunch. Tonight I paired it with a black tank and lined silky black chiffon Chico's pants from a couple of years ago. We always have to walk quite a long way from the parking lot to the building, so I wore my low heeled Ros Hommerson shoes and carried a small leather-like clutch. 

Thank you for all your recent comments on my blog posts. I love hearing from you! 

Someone asked what I wear when I am just lounging around at home or working in my flower gardens. This is a good point. It may seem that my life is filled with dressy occasions; however, the truth is, I only have one or two special events per week that require me to dress up a bit. 

My normal attire is jeans and a shirt for working in the yard. My daily attire might be jeans or pants of some other type and a sweater, shirt, jacket, or blouse worn mostly open over a tank top. A friend stopped by unannounced early one morning to bring something I had forgotten at her house. She was in yoga pants and running shoes. When she saw me fully made up and wearing a jacket already, she asked, "Who are you dressed up for?" My answer was "Me!" 

Even if I am not feeling well, I get up, shower, and get dressed. I always feel much better afterward. 

I wear jeans often. They may be white, red, khaki, black, or dark blue, but the smooth, simple styling and wash and wear comfort of jeans fit my lifestyle perfectly. Mickey snapped the photo below when we stopped at the top of the mountain on our way to Asheville last fall.

 
It's important to get dressed for yourself too! I regularly purge clothing that is stained, ill-fitting, or unflattering from my closet. Even if I am writing my blog at 4am I am dressed in cotton, flannel back, or brushed back satin pajamas.  My favorite ones are by Miss Elaine. You can find these at most department stores. Pictured below is a style from Serene Comfort.

Thank you so much for reading. 

I hope you have a sunny, happy Sunday!