Best Dresses For Your Body Type

The holiday party season is quickly approaching. We all are in search of that perfect dress to "knock um dead" and turn heads. Or maybe you're looking for a dress to drop jaws at a local night club. Whatever your reason may be, here are a few suggestions to help guide you in your selection.
If your body is...

Slender & Lean
Add some curves! You can afford to do "sexy". Try a dress that has a bustier or a corset with just a little hint of lace. Also, if you feel comfortable, opt for dresses with deeper necklines. Toy with different fabric textures and sheens. Do a lustrous fabric with a lot of shine to help glam your look. Pockets at the hip will also help to accentuate your curves and add shape to your bottom. Peplum dresses will also have the same effect as pockets. Lastly, try belting your dress. Belting will cinch or "carve" out your waist and add those feminine curves you crave!

Tall, Long-Waisted
Opt for a sleek silhouette. Too much fabric can look bulky and sloppy. Break up your waist with colors. Pick something that will flare out from your natural waist. Accentuate your legs, but shy away from minis. Too much leg can make it seem like you're wearing something that has shrunk. The added effect is that you will look larger than you actually are. Try a dress with curved prints. The curved prints will help to add curves to your bod. Also, opt for "wide" details. This includes square necklines and tasteful crosswise stripes.

Petite
Say "hello" to minis! Opt for shorter skirts and sheer hose. This will help to elongate your legs. Try just a tad of puffery detailing below the waist. This includes pleating, flounces, ruffling, and bubble hems. Keep your heels at a moderate level. Chunky, platform heels can seem like stilts for a woman with a delicate, petite frame. Also, show a bit of skin on your neck and shoulders.

Full-Figured
Show a little skin on your neck and chest. This will point the focus to your gorgeous face! Choose deeper and darker jewel tones to take inches off your body. Stick to simple silhouettes. Ruffles and other detailing can add unwanted bulk (and inches) to your figure. If you'd like to layer, stick to a lighter fabric like a jersey knit in a shrug or shawl. Coats and jackets can add bulk and can get a little uncomfortable after a few glasses of wine!

Curvaceous Hour Glass
Show off your shoulders! Try something that's strapless or one-shouldered. Do a silhouette that is straight with minimal detailing. Make sure your chest is well supported. Nothing is more unattractive than unsightly drooping. Lengthen your lower body with a longer dress. Lastly, go for a silhouette that cinches at the waist to help accentuate your awesome hourglass frame!

Pear Shaped
Acquaint yourself with a gorgeous A-line dress. The fluidity of the cut will drape nicely on your hips. Opt for attention grabbing necklines like a gathered or ruffled top. Pleated surplice tops or wrap dresses also will do the trick. Hems should be above the knee to give the illusion of length to your figure.

Busty
Avoid strapless or backless dresses! Try something with support like a tank dress with wide straps. The wide straps will allow for the appropriate bra choice. Your dress should be a tailored and clean silhouette. Strong vertical lines will also help to elongate your figure. Strong lines are achieved through pleating, top stitching, seams, long necklaces, and scarves. Stick to a dress in one shade. The one shade will also help you to appear longer and slimmer.

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Vintage Style Dresses - Peplum and Pencil Dresses

We've all been there. Your friends want to meet downtown for drinks on a Friday evening after work, and you don't have time to run home for an outfit change. How to find a piece that will take you from office to cocktail bar and keep you looking stylish? The answer is to find a dress cut that is both stylish and work appropriate.

The pencil dress is the perfect piece for those days you want to mix business and pleasure. With its flattering cut and calf-length skirt, these frocks will give your ensemble a glamorous vintage style. Taking inspiration from Mad Men's Joan Holloway - the stunning redheaded secretary - this style is sophisticated for the workplace and yet on trend for after hours.

Pencil dresses come in a variety of colours, but the key trend for this fall when it comes to this cut is the Peplum. Giving the style an 80s twist, the peplum is a fun addition that flatters the waist and keeps the trend interesting. They epitomise pin-up glamour, and can be further accessorized with a waist belt if you so wish. Another update to the style corresponds with a look that has been hot for the last few seasons - the embellished collar. No need to worry about adding expensive jewellery, these pieces that employ sequins, ornate beading and stunning metallic tones give your outfit a luxurious feel, yet don't seem too ostentatious for a professional look.

The peplum trend has caught on like crazy with celebrities clamouring to exhibit their favourite pieces that manage to look fresh and classic at the same time. From Kim Kardashian in her clean, white and minimal peplum top paired with leather leggings, to Kate Middleton in a stunning forest green peplum dress with waist belt and beret accessories, those in the spotlight are aware of how flattering and sophisticated this style is. Swap Kim's trend led leather for a more classic pair of cigarette pants, and either of these styles would be perfect for the boardroom or the dance floor.

Despite being such a distinguished silhouette, the peplum pencil dress can also essentially be seen as a blank canvas. They come in any and every hue, skirt length, sleeve style and neckline. Hot Fall colours such as oxblood and plum are peplum favorites; pair with patent courts for a classic and current ensemble. Or if you're still in a Summer frame of mind, opt for pretty florals or nautical stripes, and complete with slingback kitten heels in cute, eye-catching shades. You can easily make this trend your own, in ways that will be suitable for day to evening wear. That's the beauty of vintage inspired dresses: the sophistication and nostalgia of decades past that they allude to, allow for a look that is both smart and evident of a devotion to fashion and style.

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How to Pick the Perfect Skirt Based On Body Shape

Picking the perfect skirt often sounds quite simple in theory, but in fact it can be quite difficult to find the right fit and a flattering appearance. Different styles are often required for the various body types and this makes it important to be aware of you body shape to be able to shop for a skirt that is appropriately sized. Here is a general overview to the different types of body shapes and what skirts might fit most appropriately -

Pear Shaped - for a pear-shaped woman it is best to avoid the more clingy type pencil skirts as these often attract attention to the thigh and hip area. Instead an A-line long skirt is able to give a more attractive look with its ability to fit snugly at the waist area but is able to skim over the hip area. Also, a full-skirt also offers a great fit with it skimming the hips to provide a nice balance to the body. Aim to avoid the skirts that are either gathered or full at the hip, such as tulip-type skirts and peplum skirts as these have the potential to draw attention the hip area, and make you appear wider.

Hourglass Shaped - it helps with this body shape to go with styles which are tapered slightly less in the hemline. A pencil skirt can look great provided that it is able to hug the curves, rather than squeeze. A high-waist skirt is often able to highlight the waist area and break up the longer body if on the tall side.

Apple Shaped - if a larger sized stomach area sees to dictate the style of clothing worm than it might benefit to search out the skirts with a flat front and side fastenings, as this helps with limiting unnecessary bulk at the waist-line. A particular style to suit the apple shape includes the skirts with inverted pleats which start below the stomach area, which helps with drawing attention from the waist area.

Boyish Shaped - for those in need of creating an illusion of more feminine curves, a tulip styled skirt might benefit. A skirt of this nature is designed so that it gathers at the waist and as it moves down the body towards the knees it gets narrower. Some of the fashionable peplum skirts also work great due to the added feminine frills for creating curves, while some of the full skirts with front-positioned pockets can also look great.

See more information on the latest fashions in Women's Skirts and Women's Fashion Jewelry to suit all occasions.

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Step Out in Style This Spring: The Peplum

Are you ready to take Spring by storm? One signature trend burning up the Spring 2012 runways is the peplum. We are here to guide you to the best way to rock the look this coming season.

What is the Peplum?
The peplum was originally called a "peplos", and referred to a Grecian woman's garment that is layered back onto itself. It is usually a form of tunic that includes a short overskirt. We first saw the modern version of this look way back in 1947, when it was included in designer Christian Dior's "New Look". The look was designed to imitate the petals of a flower around the waist and is recognised as a short gathered strip of fabric around the waist that flares into a ruffle.
How is it worn?

The peplum sits around the smallest part of the woman's waist and the ruffles emerge from over the hips to accentuate the waist-hip ratio. The designer is able to increase the boldness of the ruffle depending on the drama he or she wishes to achieve. The look is often accompanied by a matching jacket skirt or pants. For the best effect, wear matching solid colours together. The key element of this design is in the structure so avoid "busy" fabrics for a sleeker look. The matching top and skirt or pants works towards drawing more attention to the focal point of this trend - the piece of material that sticks out from the woman's body.

Who can wear the Peplum?
The peplum is a style that does not discriminate! It works equally as well for both curvy and slim builds. For curvier ladies, the peplum highlights your best features by cinching in your waist and highlighting your curves, creating a balanced hour-glass silhouette. The garment has the same effect on a slimmer build, again cinching in the waist to and emphasising the grooves of your body to create a womanly and desirable shape.
Who's been wearing it?
Who hasn't been wearing the peplum? We love the stylish, black version on the stunning Blake Lively. Kim Kardashian keeps it professional and alluring while Beyonce went wild with the Peplum trend in a brightly coloured dress. Emma Stone made it cute with a quirky colour combo of pink and red.
How to wear the Peplum:

The easiest way to rock this trend is by pairing matching solid colours together to emphasise the structure of the garment. Team your peplum with matching pencil skirt that either sits just above or just below the knee (where your legs are more narrow). For those of us that aren't leggy supermodels, the look is best paired with a pair of court shoes which will help to lengthen the appearance of your legs. Alternatively, match the peplum with a pair of slim-fit trousers which will create an effortlessly sophisticated look. If you are slightly longer in the legs, add some edge with a pair of ankle-boots (for winter) and ankle-strap sandals (for a summer look).

Use these key tips to add glamour to your spring look today!

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Peplum Style Works for All Shapes

This maybe a news flash for some, sadly, but for the most part not all clothing items flatter most body sizes or proportions. It's crucial to take one's physique in consideration when deciding which items to wear, unless you won't mind ending up on a worst-dressed list of sort.

However, once in a while we are all blessed with that one particular style that is almost magical because it looks pleasant on pretty much any figure.

The peplum style has been trending for a while now and if you're a woman you should have at least one pair of this style in your closet. This style works for all shapes! What makes it suiting for most shapes is the flared extra material that's laid on top of a fitted base whether it is a dress, shirt, skirt or jacket.

If I can further describe it, it is like an over skirt thrown on top of you most fitted dress, skirt of shirt like a pencil or narrow skirt.

The skirt part of the peplum can come in all ways. It can be short, long, or even restricted to the sides of the waist. I have seen it execrated, protruding, almost 3-D like as well.
The advantage of the peplum to a curvy shape is it further accentuates the curves; the flared material allowing for the waist to look even slimmer. As for slimmer figures it creates the allusion of curves because of the balance of material (tight and loose). Voila now they, too, can look like an hourglass! And an added plus is if your trying to hide a pouch, well the over-skirt covers it!
Besides the fact that it can be worn by anyone, other advantage it holds is versatility. As mentioned earlier peplums can be seen in dress, shirts, skirt and jackets. No one has thought of putting it on pants yet,I have yet to see that. Historically, it was longer and that has yet to resurface but as they say fashion goes around so we'll see.

Versatility wise, the peplum, can be worn pretty much anywhere; from the office to a night out in town. Of course, this includes taking fitting and length in consideration in an office setting. A less dramatic over skirt would be more fitting for a professional setting. Also, a darker color would be more fitting-if color blocked it should still be with dark colors. As for your night out and festivities have fun! One can easily further cinch their waist in this style by throwing on a statement belt or rock it with a fitted skinny jeans underneath. It's your peplum, style it as you please, it's hard to go wrong with this ubiquitous trend!

To learn more about various styles and styling go to http://mixupfixup.com/. Here we discuss trends and non-trends, we are more concerned with mixing and fixing styles that are fresh and truly a personal style.

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Trend Report: Peplum Dress

The Peplum the hottest silhouette of Summer 2012, and it's set to only get more popular in the fall. The Peplum shape is catching on, thanks to its versatility and ability to flatter many shapes and sizes. At this point in the year, there are a multitude of styles and cuts available, so that you can work the peplum trend, make it your own, and stand out from the crowd even as you work the most fashionable current style.

Despite being seen on everyone from Kim Kardashian to Kim Middleton, the detail is still fresh and novel. The shapely cut means that it has a unique quality, able to add curves to a boyish figure, yet at the same time can flatter a more voluptuous frame to stunning effect. It can even be used to hide a baby bump! A small overskirt adds detail to tops, dresses and skirts that might otherwise be considered too basic or boring. This small detail adds an instant update to any wardrobe and will ensure you stay ahead of the style curve.

The look is also open to further modification for an outfit that will be even closer to your individual style and mark you as a trendsetter. Wearing a waist belt just above the peplum skirt, for example, accentuates the waist and highlights your figure. Pairing complementary yet somewhat clashing colours - such as Emma Stone's Pink and Red Giambattista Valli dress which she wore to the Friends With Benefits film premiere - propels the look further into a fashion-forward, directional league, with the illusion of separates bringing a touch of business-like style to the ensemble.

Because the peplum is a key detail and yet is relatively neutral, it is simple to blend with other trends. For example, you can pair a cream peplum top with a statement pair of ankle-grazing trousers or pencil skirt - two more of the season's wardrobe favourites. A flashback to the 80s without the nightmares of crimped hair and legwarmers, it's a retro nod that avoids that fancy dress look. Even peplum dresses in neutral tones such as black, cream and nude are statement enough to look fashionable, without that fast-fashion feel that trendy prints might have. This means that you won't be recycling them after just a couple of wears - and if you opt for pieces that have further details, such as embellished necklines, or striking sleeves, they will keep you looking interesting for even longer.

Along with the transitional peplum, two of Fall's biggest trends are the colour Oxblood and Leather. Burgundy, wine and forest fruit tones, paired with peplum are an absolute fail-safe closet combination. Leather pieces such as pencil skirts and skintight jeans will look incredibly directional with a peplum top and bridge the style gap between grunge and glamour. You don't

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