Dressing For Your Unique Body Type: Banana Shape

This body type is a jumble of frustration over feeling like you don't fill out your clothes and being the envy of all your friends because you are so slender and statuesque. Because your body hasn't given you a ton of natural curves your goal is to create them. You can pretty much wear anything! There is really nothing that doesn't look just fine on you and you can decide from day to day if you want to create curves, keep things slim and fitted, or add volume. Generally, this body type also has long extremities meaning you can wear big chunky necklaces and bracelets to accentuate your long thin neck and arms. Lucky you.




Curves: If you are in the business of creating curves then your goal is to define your waist. You may not have a naturally defined waist, but that doesn't mean you can't make one. Both of those dresses have defined and structured waists and as long as they are tight fitting they will give you the allusion of having a tiny defined waist. Wearing pants that are fitting but flare slightly at the knee will also help give you the allusion of curves. Make sure that your pants are not too loose! They will make your legs look even skinnier. Belts, belts, and more belts. You can define a waist on almost any shirt, sweater, or dress if you wear a belt at your natural waist to cinch in looser fitting clothing. The striped shirt over the black tank top will also create the same affect as a belt since it is tied at your natural waist.

Skinny and Straight: If you want to just embrace your long and lean frame then stick with skinny or straight leg jeans because you have the legs to pull them off! Boyfriend jeans also look awesome on your body type because they will hang the right way. You can pretty much wear anything you want on top because you will still look thin. Just don't go to crazy with the loose fitted look. Try and keep your jeans narrow when your top may be less structured, or enjoy your naturally long and flat stomach and wear a slimmer shirt with slimmer jeans. P.S. You are one of the only body types that can without a doubt pull off the Match Stick pants that are so popular right now (slim and fitted capri type pants), think Mad Men or the Help.

Volume: If you are wanting to create a little more volume on top than you can rock the layered tank like the blue one above. This will give you a little extra oomf. I would still recommend wearing slimmer jeans or pants with this because you don't want to look like your clothes are just too big.

Bottom Line: Enjoy your versatility! Your body type can pull almost anything off if you know how to dress it. It's all about making the shape you want that day. Will a belt magically give you a J-Lo butt? No. But it will make you look less straight. Remember, you are most likely the envy of everyone around you so enjoy it! Remember to always keep your pants more snug because it will help you avoid saggy butt.

If you have more questions about dressing your body type, please feel free to contact me!

Purging Your Closet

Yesterday I decided to go through my closet and dresser and purge them. I have loads of clothes and accessories that I haven't worn in months or even years. So, I decided to take my sister and her friend Julie's advice... sort of. Cate and Julie started a project called Twenty Pieces where they are going to live for a year with only twenty pieces of clothing. Now, this is what I call totally nuts. I will admit though that they had a good idea, so I modified it. After about two hours yesterday I filled an entire trash bag of clothes that I would be giving away and a whole other one full of clothes that had seen better days and needed to be laid to rest. I actually love doing this. It feels so good to clean out your closets and be able to close your drawers.

I strongly encourage you to go through your closets and decide what needs to go. It's a great feeling besides the occasional mourning over something you once loved and are convinced you will love or wear again. Sometimes you can even make some money doing this. There are places that will buy your lightly-used clothes from you! I just give them to girls at my church that are about 10 years younger then me. It's kind of fun seeing my clothes being enjoyed still.

This is not just a girl thing! Guys, you are often in need of this too.

The goals:
 1). Be selective! Get rid of anything you haven't worn in 6 months, or anything you don't fit in. If it looks like it has seen better days, toss it. If you have worn the same white t-shirt for 6 months, toss it and get a new one! White doesn't last that long.
 2). Keep only what works. If it doesn't look great on you, you won't (or shouldn't) wear it. Keep your shape in mind and if you need to try it on again and be brutally honest with yourself.
 3). Have fun! This isn't a chore, it's an opportunity to free yourself of some extra clutter.

If you are interested in going hardcore on this, check out www.twentypieces.org and let Cate and Julie guide you through the process.

Have fun!

Fashion for All Ages: A Casual Look That Works For Any Age

Dressing casual can some times be harder than dressing up. It's sometimes tough to be comfortable and casual and not look frumpy or like a hot mess. However, it is definitely not impossible. The set I put together below is proof of this. Every piece is easy and comfortable and absolutely fantastic. This look is perfect for fall (or winter in California) or you can lose the sweater and it's great for spring. Every piece is practical and mixable with other outfits. Flexibility is the key to usable casual wear. You want to be able to do everything you need to do that day in the same outfit (if possible!). This outfit is perfect for school, running errands, picking up kids, volunteering in your kids classroom, lunch with friends or loved ones, or whatever else your life has to offer.



1). Tops: I really really really like striped t-shirts. Really. They are genius. They are an incredibly easy way to spice up a normally boring t-shirt. I also love vibrant colors like orange because they add a great pop of color and surprisingly enough this color orange goes beautifully with so many different colors. I love it with the dark wash jeans, the olive-y green of the watch and bag, and the grey sneakers. They are all pretty neutral fall colors but they can transfer to spring and summer as well.

Now, I'm sure some of you saw that shirt and immediately thought "horizontal stripes?! I thought that was a no-no?!" Well, it's not a hard and fast no. You want to avoid horizontal strips over places like your hips and butt if that's where you are heavier, but a thinner stripe like this shirt isn't going to make you look wider. It actually distracts from whatever you've got going on in your tummy region as long as it's not tight. I love this style t-shirt that is narrower at the top and in the sleeve but flows out from there just the right amount to skim right over any belly bulge you might have.  Also, 3/4 sleeves are great for fall and spring because they are a great in between length if you don't want to commit to a full length or short sleeve shirt. They are especially great when they are a thinner material like this one because they can be easily layered in the fall but they won't be too warm in the spring.

I am in love with this chunky cable knit sweater. Did you notice the buckles at the waist?! I love this sweater because it's warm but it doesn't cause you to lose all your shape since it cinches in at the waist. Also, you won't have to constantly be messing with it because it closes and is adjustable to your waist size.

2). Pants: Casual jeans are easily adjustable based on your age and body type. Just promise me you will keep them in a dark wash! These are a straight leg jean from Target. I really like the straight leg look because it keeps your bottom half narrower as long as they fit right and also allows you to wear sneakers or flats without dragging the hem of your trouser jeans on the ground and stepping all over them. Straight jeans that hit right at the base of your ankle or right at the bridge of your foot are great for any age, just adjust the fit (i.e. looser or tighter) and where the waistband hits based on your age and body type (go higher waisted if you are well endowed in your butt or if you are over 40... not mom jeans status, but just not low riding).

3). Accessories: The accessories on this outfit on purposefully simple. The casual watch and cross-body bag tie together the orange with the olive green, also they are practical. Watches are a great accessory. They aren't just for telling time anymore! You can buy watches in so many different styles and colors and they are pretty cheap for the most part. Don't spend a lot of money on something like that because chances are you won't wear it everyday or for very long. The less money you spend on a watch the less you will care if it breaks or you don't wear it all the time. Also, you can buy a few different styles and colors and have a different look depending on your mood. I don't think any of you who read my blog are at all surprised that I love oversized sunglasses, but I just in case you didn't know, I love oversized sunglasses. I know, I know, they aren't perfect for everyone's face shapes, but I still love them. These are from Kohls. I know some people don't like sunglasses, but I think they are a fantastic fashion accessory as well as keeping you from squinting all the time and getting a headache. Wear them. Love them.

4). Shoes: I really liked the idea of putting a smaller sneaker with this look because they are comfortable but not bulky like normal tennis shoes. You'd be fine wearing these almost anywhere. I love grey. It's a great neutral and looks great with deeper fall colors as well as more vibrant springy colors. These sneakers are Rocket Dogs. I own a pair of bright mustard yellow rocket dogs as well as a pair of blue and green plaid rocket dogs and they are incredibly comfortable. If you wanted to go a little bit more dressy or delicate you could always wear grey, brown, or tan flats with this too. If you are really bold like me you could always rock an orange flat that matches the stripes in the shirt.

I hope this inspires you to look at what you own that can replicate this outfit, and that it helps you see just how simple this is. If you need help, contact me! I'd love to help you!

Dressing for Your Unique Body Type: Hour Glass

Alright you lucky lucky ladies who get to claim that you have an hour glass figure, it's your turn! If you have bigger boobs, a tiny waist, and a booty with hips then you are among a very elite club of incredibly beautiful women who are praised for their beautiful shape. However, no matter how much your body type is praised you are most likely still having trouble dressing it properly. Well, fear not, I am here for you. Your goal is to accentuate your tiny waist without making your rear look larger than it is. This may seem difficult but it's not. I promise! Ready, set, go!



When it comes to tops your goal is to slightly minimize your upper body. Try to avoid wearing round necks (unless they're scoop necks, they fall lower down so they don't create uni-boob), high necks like turtle necks, or deep plunging V's. V necks that aren't super deep are perfect for you. You want to make sure that when you bend over people aren't getting a show they didn't ask for. Flowy tops are great as long as they aren't a super high neck and they are belted at the waist. Another great way to camouflage and accentuate at the same time is to wear shirts that are cinched in or belted at the waist, with a v-neck (wear a cami if you need to!), and flares out from the waist. You can also look absolutely fantastic in the jeans, boots, long shirt, and a long cardigan look but just make sure you belt the cardigan and shirt to accentuate your waist. One surprising top style that looks absolutely amazing on bigger chested girls is the y-neck. If you have a shorter neck, you probably won't look as great in this, but if you have a long neck this style will be great on you. It pulls the eye to the narrow part of your neck and makes your shoulders and chest look absolutely fantastic.

As for pants, you are one of the rare body types that can look absolutely fantastic in flared jeans. They accentuate the smallest part of your leg while also making your hips and booty look fantastic. The key is to keep the jeans tight enough with a little stretch so they don't get saggy on your biggest area. Also, make sure they are high waisted enough so when you walk or sit down we don't see more of your beautiful butt than we want to.  You will also look absolutely amazing in trousers or trouser jeans because they will elongate and slim your legs while still accentuating your wonderful ass...et.

Dresses and skirts are a great asset for your body type. If you are confident enough and have the right undergarments you can rock the pencil skirt and loose fitting top tucked in with a belt. Think Christina Hendricks from Mad Men. Just promise me if you rock this look that you will wear Spanx or Assets so there aren't any unfortunate lines. Also, make sure the skirt or pencil dress is lined and made from good fabric. You can also totally rock the 50's housewife dress too. Big skirts, small waists, and v-neck tops are your best friends!

Here are some things you will want to steer clear of:

1). Shift dresses: They will do absolutely nothing for your shape and probably bunch up on your booty.
2). Anything too flowy and shapeless: Your best asset is your shape! Don't hide it!
3). Turtle Necks: Your boobs will look HUGE. And not in a good way. Round, high necks will give you uni-boob. That's not good.
4). Anything that is too short. Your booty is going to make things shorter than they would be on someone with a smaller hind end, so always do a booty check in the mirror! Make sure you can sit/bend over without your butt falling out.

Bottom Line: ACCENTUATE YOUR WAIST!!! Don't wear anything that makes you a look boxy.

Ask Ellie Part 1

Welcome to the Ask Ellie Part 1! I got lots of questions so we're gonna break this up into a few installments. You all had some great questions, and if you have more please feel free to contact me!

Q. I need help with shoes! I never know what kind of shoes to wear with the different cuts of pants. I see girls wearing ballet flats with skinny jeans and they look adorable, but when I try it it looks terrible on me. Maybe my legs are too short? What kind of pants/shoes will make my legs look longer besides super high-heels? - Emily.


A. Great question Emily! I understand the desire to look super cute wearing skinny jeans and flats and not quite getting the look you want. The key for you is a straight leg jean. They won't cut off right at your ankle so they will elongate your leg but still have that straight skinny look that skinny jeans do. When you're wearing a trouser jean or pant it is better to wear a little bit of a heel so the pants do bunch up on the ground. If they aren't super long and they hit right at the bottom of your shoe (when looking at your heel) when you are wearing flats, then go ahead and wear them! Making sure your pants aren't too long will also help elongate your legs. You want to make sure that if your pants fall just above the ground no matter what height heel you are wearing in order to elongate your leg (does that makes sense?). The key is making sure that your jeans aren't too tight or too loose also. Also, dark wash jeans will help make your legs look thinner and longer. Does that help? If you have anymore questions or need anything else just let me know.

Q. I LOVE yellow but my skin has an olive tone. Can I sport this color without having to resort to using it as an accent color? - Katie

A. The short answer is yes! The long answer is that you will want to stick with mostly mustard tones. There is a bit of an olive-y tint in mustard tones that will work well with your olive skin tone, especially with brown hair. So, rock the yellow! Just don't rock the neon yellow tones...

Q. What kind of foundations or undergarments would you suggest for a dress with lightweight fabrics? - Erin

A. That is a tough but good question! It depends on the actual cut of the dress and the fabric. If it's lightweight but silky, you will definitely want to have fully body Spanx type material (Assets are a really great cheaper version of Spanx). Just make sure to buy the proper length for your dress! You can buy the shorts version or the dress-slip version. The downside to the dress version is that it can ride up, the upside is you don't run the risk of the hem of the shorts showing through your dress when you sit down. The downside to the shorts is that they can make a noise sometimes when your thighs rub together... other than that they are awesome. Honestly, I suggest Spanx or Assets for any lightweight fabric dress because the main problem is lines from your underwear. Unless your dress has a low back I would recommend the foundations where the waist band goes up to your bra line since it makes for a much smoother look. The other option is to wear a longline bra over your Spanx or Assets to add some extra sucking in action. It also helps to smooth everything out while still give you the support you need. Hope that helps, if you have more questions feel free to e-mail me!

Alright, that's enough for this installment of Ask Ellie! There will be another one next week, so if your question didn't get answered don't worry it will! If you have questions there is always room for more, so please contact me.

Dresses, Dresses, and More Dresses

Even though it is still January, this warm springy weather is making me want to wear cute little summer dresses. Anyone with me? Although most days lately it has been totally warm enough to wear summer dresses, it is still hit or miss with whether or not you'll end up freezing. In honor of the warm weather and spring approaching in about 2 months,  I decided to put together a little summer dress guide and all the ways to look absolutely fantastic wearing your favorite dresses. I've also decided to challenge myself to wear cute summer dresses more often this year. I have a limit that I hit and I just can't stand being in a skirt or dress anymore, but i'm going to try and work past that.



1). Maxi Dresses: It took me awhile to get into wearing these long generally flowy dresses, but now that I have found a few that fit perfectly and are actually long enough on me I absolutely love them. They are super comfy because the length means you don't have to be constantly worried about showing anything you don't want to show. Also, they can be VERY slimming. However, if you are on the shorter side they can be a little iffy. If they go over your feet and drag on the floor then they will only make you look shorter. However, if they hit right at the top of your feet they will make you look taller. So, if you're short, keep that in mind.

2). Flower Prints: Flower prints are always fun and cute and great for spring and summer. This pink and green dress is from Mod Cloth. It's light and cute and the belt is a very good thing. Flowy dresses can have a tendency to make you look bigger than you are, but creating a waste will counteract that and make them very flattering. The straps also make it so you don't have to worry about it falling down, but it will also still be cool enough on a hot day.

3). Shape: This multi-colored summer dress from Target is super cute because of the shape the upper body has. It will be well fitted up top but flow from there.  It's also nice because it's pretty straight and won't create extra volume. If you are pear or hour glass shape this dress probably won't work on you, but it's always worth a try.

4). Belted: I love this blue and rust colored dress from Mod Cloth. It's light and would be relatively shapeless if it weren't for the belt. The belt makes it so the top can be loose as well as the skirt without being overly loose. Also, the v-neck and spaghetti straps are great on pear shapes because it emphasizes your small upper half while camouflaging your wider lower half.

5). Beachy: This black gauze dress from Mod Cloth is the perfect dress for the beach. It's cute and light and has some fun details that make it perfect to go from a day at the beach to dinner out. I really like the high-low cut on this dress as well as the layers on top. If you are small on top, ruffles and layers are your friend. Remember that.

I hope this helps you prepare your closet for those wonderful warm months that are approaching! If you are one of those "lucky" people who lives in a state that is still cold right now, hopefully this will make you feel slightly warmer.

Dressing for Your Unique Body Type: Apple Shape

Hey all my Apples out there! I know you might get frustrated trying to balance your upper body and lower body, but let me tell you that there is a pretty easy fix. Your goal when getting dressed is to show off your thin, shapely legs and to create a waist. Typical "apples" are broader in the shoulders, with bigger chests, and tend to carry their weight in their tummies. I know it may be frustrating, but the key is to focus on your best feature and do what you can to make yourself feel better about the features that bug you or cause you trouble.



Top Half: Your goal is to camouflage and create. I know it sounds weird, but what you are trying to do is to camouflage your tummy and create a waist. The top I have up there is from Target and it's cute and flowy, just make sure it's not too short or else it will not do anything for your tummy. A jacket like this one will pull in your waist and define it. Because your legs are so tiny you could totally wear just the flowy top to camouflage as long as your jeans help to balance out your upper and lower body. The moral of the story is balance. As far as dresses go, once again your goal is to create a waist. This green dress is from Modcloth and I love it. The wider straps will also help to minimize your shoulders.

Bottom Half: For most Apples their legs are one of their best features. Your biggest challenge is to show them off but still create balance between your bottom half and upper half. These straight jeans are still narrow, but unlike skinny jeans they won't create an inverted triangle look. These jeans are from Target as well. Dresses like this one are also awesome for your bottom half because they show of your great legs while flowing right over everything you don't want accentuated. Once again, make sure it's not too short.

Once again, it's difficult to tell you what will work best for you without seeing it on you, but these are some general guidelines you can live by. If you need any more help please feel free to contact me!

Dressing for Your Unique Body Type: Pear Shape

I decided to start with how to dress a pear shaped body because it's one of the most common body types for women. I can speak from experience that having a larger bottom half than top half is not always easy to dress, but believe me it doesn't have to be torture. The key is to wear tops that show off your small and beautiful upper body and pants or skirts that camouflage your thicker bottom half. This doesn't mean that you never should wear jeans or fitted skirts, it just means you have to learn how to make them work so you don't look heavier on bottom than you are.



Bottom Half: A-line skirts that are fitted at the waist and flare away from that point will skim your hips and camouflage your thighs, accentuating your great shape without emphasizing anything you don't like. Your waist will look tiny as long as you keep it cinched in. Keep dresses like this for the most part too. A-line or slightly fuller is your go-to look. However, you don't have to only wear a-line. You can wear fitted dresses and skirts as well, but just make sure they aren't too tight and you still emphasize your waist. Wide legged or trouser jeans are great for your body type as well. These are from Gap and are their trouser jeans. You want to look for jeans that widen or flare from the knee but aren't super tight on the thighs or else you will accentuate your bigger thighs. Higher waisted pants will also help you skim over your hips as well so you avoid having to keep pulling pants up over because your rear is pulling them down (I am speaking from experience here...).

Top Half: Most likely your top half is pretty small and shapely. This is where you can really emphasize your smallest features. I chose just a simple tank top that had a little fun ruffle on it because this will counter the volume of the skirt and make your look even tinier on top. Make sure you don't do volume with volume, especially without making sure you have a very defined waist. If you're pairing a top with the kind of jeans I suggested you can do a more voluminous top if you tuck it in and wear a belt with it so you have some shape defined. Other than that, stick with more fitted tops that accentuate your tiny-ness. If you don't have a super flat stomach (which most of us don't) than just make sure your tops are fitted but not super tight.

I know this is pretty general rules and advice, but since every person is unique it's tough to tell you what you should and should not wear based simply on a general body type guide. So, this should give you a starting point and some basic guidelines, but I am always here to help!

Dressing For Your Unique Body Type

Happy new year everyone! The beginning of the year is the perfect time to take a good look at what you've got in the closet and take a good look at your body type and how you're dressing for it. Dressing for your own unique body type is extremely important when it comes to looking your best. Taking a good honest look at what your best features are as well as the areas you don't like as much will help you to pick the clothes and shapes that highlight your best features and camouflage the not so good ones. I've included below the basic descriptions of the four basic female body types. Since we are all unique you may not fit exactly into one of these four categories, but chances are you will be more like one than the other so go with the one you are closest to.  Take some time to assess your body type from these descriptions and the picture and over the next week or so I will be posting how to dress for each specific body type, that way you will have visual aides when you are looking at your clothes.

So, this is the hard part. You have to be willing to take a good look at your body (I know, super exciting right?) and the clothes you already own. If an article of clothing isn't flattering to your body then you need to toss it. It doesn't matter if it's your favorite piece of clothing you own, it's gotta go. Also, when you are shopping you need to keep your body type in mind. Don't buy it if it doesn't flatter you no matter how cute it may be. Enjoy!



 

Banana or straight (rectangular)

The waist measurement is less than 9 inches smaller than the hips or bust measurement. Body fat is distributed predominantly in the abdomen, buttocks, chest, and face. This overall fat distribution creates the typical ruler (straight) shape.

Apple (triangle downward)

Apple shaped women have broad(er) shoulders compared to their (narrower) hips. Apple shaped women tend to have slim legs/thighs, while the abdomen and chest look out of proportion compared to the rest of the body. Fat is mainly distributed in the abdomen, chest, and face.

Pear or spoon or bell (triangle upward)

The hip measurement is greater than the bust measurement. The distribution of fat varies, with fat tending to deposit first in the buttocks, hips, and thighs. As body fat percentage increases, an increasing proportion of body fat is distributed around the waist and upper abdomen. The women of this body type tend to have a (relatively) larger rear, robust thighs, and a small(er) bosom.

Hourglass shape. (triangles opposing, facing in)

The hip and bust are almost of equal size with a narrow waist. Body fat distribution tends to be around both the upper body and lower body. This body type enlarges the arms, chest, hips, and rear before other parts, such as the waist and upper abdomen.