1. THE RETURN OF THE WIDE LEG PANT
For some of us the wide leg pant is a must to create balance and proportion and should never go out out style. It’s more important to wear what works for your body style rather than what’s in style. You can always add the accessories or color of the season to update your look.

If you tend to have your volume at the base, the wider leg will be more flattering than last seasons skinny jeans. If you tend to have fullness at your shoulder and bust line, this pant will do wonders in creating the illusion of an hour glass figure. The key is to balance the width of the pant with the right top and heels.

What shoes to Wear.  Wear a heel unless you are very tall, then you can get away with flats. Oxfords, mary janes and shoe boots are the newest looks. Wide trousers look great when the tip of the shoe peeps out.

2. THE RE-RETURN OF THE HIGH-WAIST PANT
This is a great pant to help tuck you in and eliminate the very unattractive “muffin top”.  It will also help to accent a small waist. Tuck your shirt into high-rise pants to elongate your legs and give the appearance of a longer waist line. Be careful with pockets. Side pockets will add volume to a fuller hips.

3. MILITARY LOOK
Although fashion repeats itself, the designers always add a new twist to give you a reason to buy new. This Spring’s military look is more futuristic with straps and harnesses for a more abstract look.  Adding white will keep it light and delicate looking.

4. ORANGE ZEST
A fresh slice of citrus. Bold orange, rich mango or pumpkin, will take the place of the corals this Spring. Always best worn with white but if you can’t wear white on the bottom, khaki, brown or navy can be an alternative to black. Black and orange remind me too much of Halloween.

5. LONGER SKIRTS AND DRESSES
Easily worn by all sizes and ages, longer skirts and dresses are paving the runways. Unless you are wearing one that skims the floor, choose a length that flatters you. Think curvy. Find the point between your ankle and your mid calf that best shows off your legs. If the skirt is too long, it will tend to make skinny ankles look even thinner and wider ankles look wider. If you are petite, lengths worn too long will tend to make you look shorter.

6. PAJAMA PANT
Please don’t mistake this pant for something you would wear to bed, like the ones with the little clouds on them. Think slouchy, comfortable, unconstructed, but still glamorous. Pair them with a more fitted or shorter top and add volume and style by using chunky accessories.

7. HALTER NECK LINES
Halter necks with necklace-like cinching are feminine and fabulous. Picture yourself on vacation in the south of Spain or the Caribbean. You’ll see this look on short dresses but it looks sensational on longer relaxed dresses. Sheer soft fabrics look awesome with this neckline. Great for reducing a fuller shoulder line.

8. NEUTRALS
No stranger to warm summer days, neutrals simplify palettes and give a soft clean look. Structured styles in sand, camel, ivory with a hint of black look classic with an added twist. Great with gold sandals even for day time.

9. CHARTREUSE
A pale green or yellow like the liqueur made from brandy which was discovered in France. This color is not very flattering on many but does look great if you are tan. You don’t need a lot of it but just a hint introduced as a color blend or an accessory, which will look chic.

10. DOLMAN SLEEVES
The classic dolman sleeve is back. This sleeve with a large armhole and tight cuff is seen on fuller, boxier, shorter cut tops. These fuller silhouettes help balance and offset a fuller bottom or can create a long leggy look with a narrower pant. But this style will not flatter a fuller shoulder or bust line. Also, if you have rounded shoulders, add a slight shoulder pad for better balance. From surf hoodies to evening wear, dolman sleeves are comfortable and stylish.

Take your measurements before you shop and use those numbers to find a correct fitting suit not the manufacturers sizes as every swimsuit is cut differently. Remember that you are looking for a style that helps balance your figure and shows your best assets while hiding troubled areas. Luckily two piece swimsuits are now sold as separates so you can create a custom fit.

If you are a swimmer opt for a one piece suit. There are many styles that offer control panels and show less tummy in a stretch fabric that don’t ride up the backside. Draping around the waist and hips also helps to conceal. The tiny designer bikinis are meant for so few and by all means wear them if and while you still can you lucky girl.

If you are smaller on top look for a top with some padding, an under-wire, or a demi-bra style which creates a great bust line. Adjustable straps around the back and shoulders are important so you can tighten it rather than have it altered. Ruffled details as well as bandeau tops work best.

If you are bigger on top you will need a suit with structure like an under wire, a shelf bra, or one with soft foam cups which will give you extra support. Halter tops provide support and look sexy. Tank or straight cut bust styles helps avoid the “spillage ” effect and looks sporty. Avoid strapless and spaghetti straps and go for wide straps which are more comfortable and don’t dig into your shoulders.

If you don’t have many curves, create them by selecting styles with a belted waist band, surplice, or draped details that come in at the waist. Solid suits with a floral waist band, embellishment, curvy patterns, solid bottoms with a print or stripe top, will all flatter your figure. Bikinis with ruffles, rings, or bows on the hips will add shape. Stay away from horizontal strips or solid colors.

If you are a plus size woman, show some skin in the right places to look and feel sexy. Sheer cover ups work well but don’t wear too much fabric or go too skimpy which tend to make you look bigger. Deep V necks are great and I love the suits with the dark panels on the sides. Avoid neon or white colored suits.

If you have a full bottom avoid frilly, skimpy cuts, boy shorts or ruffles and a lot of details on the hips. Keep detailing on top to create more volume.

Balance is always the key word no matter what size. Finding the right swimsuit  and a luscious cover up will be worth your search when it makes you look and feel glamorous.

And when you do find the “perfect” fit, buy two pair, one in darker wash denim and one lighter. Then shorten one pair for flats and the other pair for heels. You may have to spend more for the right pair but it’s better owning one or two pair that fit great rather than five pair that don’t do a thing to flatter your body style.
Then there’s the question of how to look stylishly dressed when wearing them.

Jeans are appropriate in finer settings when they are paired with dressy tops and high heel dressy shoes or boots. Simply replace the traditional basic black pant with dark denim for evening and light for daytime.
A trouser leg will also look dressier and very chic. Pair it with a blazer from a suit and add a sporty or glitzy top or sweater. And of course, don’t forget to accessorize. Traditional or trendy chunky pearls look great with a crisp white fitted blouse. Also try using gold or silver sandals or shoes and jewelry to pump up the fashion.

Get rid of jeans that don’t fit correctly. The right pair will fit your curves but doesn’t gap at the waist. Jeans with premium stitch denim hugs curves and maintains its shape after washing.
Offset seams will flatter fuller hips and thighs. Zipper free styles will make the tummy look flatter. Stay far away from narrow legged jeans. They will only add volume.
The width at the ankle should not be smaller than the width at the knee. It should be the same width or wider or it will make your hips and butt look larger. This is a very common mistake.
On a narrower figure, a pair that hits below the navel will accent the waist. A hint of stretch will work with your curves instead of against them. A wide waistband and lower pockets with details like stitching or buttons will contour and define.

Every manufacturer cuts differently, so the first rule of thumb is to not let size become an issue. Forget the numbers. Just buy what fits right and what is comfortable. If they are too small they will look cheap and tend to make you look heavier. Avoid the “muffin top” look at any cost. Wear a longer rise that covers and holds you in.
If they are too big, they look sloppy, unattractive, and will not flatter your figure. Too big doesn’t give more comfort it will only add unnecessary volume. Be patient. You will find the proper fit without having to sacrifice comfort. Also, if they are to long, they tend to make a shorter person look shorter and boxier.

There are simple ways of making improvements that will make a big difference. With just a few small changes, anyone can easily enhance their figure; update your look and feel and appear younger.
Whatever the style or color, the most important thing is comfort and fit.

1. Wearing the correct bra that gives you lift and support. Your breasts should fall somewhere between your shoulder and your elbow.

2. Shape wear is essential to looking smoother and thinner. Use shape wear to slim the hips and thighs and smooth the mid section.

3. Tailoring is needed on many items of clothing to achieve the proper fit. Whether it is a hem, raising a shoulder line, tapering, or taking in at the waist. Get to know who a good tailor is and get it done.

4. Trying on as many clothes as needed to find the proper fit for you.

If there is one thing that I have learned in my dressing both men and women, its that the individual who feels good about the way they he/she looks is an empowered individual. People who like the way they look exude beauty and project confidence. The key to looking good is recognizing your body style and understanding which styles flatter your body shape. It is the art of learning the art of dressing which means recognizing the whole package from head to toe. Mastering the element of this art is the key to gaining control over this path of empowerment.

How many of us are guilty of having a closet full of clothes yet we still have nothing to wear? Busy schedules and emotional attachments get in the way of the much needed weeding out. We usually hang on to the clothing that doesn’t fit any more, vowing to some day be able to get back into them. And, we hang on to the clothing that reminds us of what we used to look like or how great we felt when we wore them.

We go shopping and there is nothing to buy because the racks of styles appear too young or too old. So we buy nothing or another pair of black pants, which match the other five pair we already own, or if you are like me- another pair of shoes, which always fit. The end result is wearing a handful of comfortable, easy to put together outfits (usually the way we initially purchased them) again, and again; never changing, never getting out of our comfort zone. Why, because we get caught in a vicious cycle of being stuck and not knowing what to do.

Breaking out of this cycle is a matter of being ready, willing, and open to learning some simple lessons in the art of concept dressing. Each and every individual has the ability to attain the empowerment of looking good regardless of age, weight, or lifestyle. At the core, concept dressing is about creating balance and proportion. The answer is not covering up. It is about gaining awareness of your body type and selecting styles that accentuate the positive areas and masking the imperfections. The ultimate goal is to be your self, be comfortable, and be in style.

Looking good is feeling good. To be empowered, individuals need to make the conscious effort to invest time in them selves. Only the level of commitment limits the payoff.