Selecting a Staycation Swimsuit To Suit Your Body Type

notgivinin | personal stylist

 

If you’re staying home this summer let me make selecting a staycation swimsuit to suit your body type a little easier with this guide.

 

Apparently, we’re going to be blessed with more gorgeous weather towards the end of August.  So, with more beach or, if you’re like me, garden sunbathing time ahead, now is the time to grab a new swimsuit if you don’t have one.

 

Even though we’re a fair chunk of the way through British summertime there are still some gorgeous swimsuits available.  Wherever you are catching the rays, it’s still very important to feel confident in what you’re wearing, so I strongly suggest choosing a costume that works well with your figure first, and follow what’s popular second.

 

To that end, here are my suggestions on which to choose depending on your body shape.  I’ve included some guidance on what to look for and some ideas that fit the bill.

 

Selecting a staycation swimsuit

 

Rectangle

The aim of the swimsuit here is to help give you the appearance of curves.

Look for: strategic cut outs, higher cut legs, pleats/frills/embellishment on the chest and hips.

 

 

Hourglass

The aim of the swimsuit here is to support your curves.  You don’t want to lose your waist.

Look for: built in boob support, retro styles, belted swimsuits, wider straps, one colour elegance.

 

Pear

The aim of the swimsuit is to help balance out the hips.  Draw the attention upwards.

Look for: more fuss on the top half, halter necks with thin straps. Frills and flounce on the chest.  Horizontal necklines.

 

Apple

The aim here is to elongate the torso, create more of a waist and show off legs.

Look for clever ruching, darker colour panels down the sides and tankinis.

 

Inverted Triangle

The aim here is to balance the broader shoulder shape with the hips.

Look for V or sweetheart necklines to add focus away from the shoulders.  Padded or underwire cups give support to bust and asymmetric styles break up the neckline.

 

 

Hope that’s useful!  It’s little tweaks that can make a big difference to help you look good and feel great.

 

There’s lots of information there to let you make wise choices, but if you’re feeling confused about your body shape, don’t worry everyone’s shape is different.  If you want to learn more do drop me a line and sign up for my Body Shape and Colour Consultation.

 

Whether you are going away or not this year.  Have a great time.  You deserve it!

 

To get more styling tips, do come and join my new Facebook group – Style with Gail.

 

Gail xx

 

Shopping For An Apple Body Shape

 

This week’s post is all about shopping for an apple body shape.  If you watched the Style Surgery with the GP on Friday (see here), you will have seen that the focus of this week’s Dressing for Your Body Shape was apple.

Defined by the following characteristics, the apple body shape has some great features that can be highlighted to make you feel and look great.

Common characteristics:

  • Bigger bust
  • Less definition around the waist
  • Narrow hips
  • Slender legs

 

 

 

Let’s Go Shopping for An Apple Body Shape

Okay, so when it comes to shopping we are always looking to not just make our lives a little easier, we want it to be more stylish!  It’s easy to do this when you know how and dressing an apple is easier than you might think.  Follow these simple tips to get you started.

  • Draw attention to areas you want to show off
    • this could be a great pair legs
    • or it could be highlighting a gorgeous bust
    • and let’s not forget a beautiful face
  • Skim the mid-section or focus on the narrowest part of the body, e.g. underneath the bust

With this in mind, let’s go shopping.  I’ve visited online retailers to pick out some key pieces that are currently available.

  1. The Shift Dress.

A shift dress is a go-to for the apple.  During the summer a sleeve-less design will show off arms and legs and winter styles include this year’s knitted option.  Wear with chunky ankle boots to be totally on trend, or if you want a little height add knee high boots.  I would choose a boot colour opposite to what you’re wearing, e.g. tan knee highs with a black knitted dress, to draw the eye down.

Here’s an idea from Top Shop.

 

 

2. Tunic-style top and wide leg Trouser combo.

When shopping for tops look for longer length versions.  Ideally, they should be below the hip.  I spotted this sequin version in H&M and it comes with wide leg trousers.  Both flow together well, skimming curves, but offering excitement to the overall look with a ton of sequins.  No-one puts baby in the corner!  Perfect for Christmas.  Not a bad price either.

 

Note. if you’re a tall apple this top might not work as it must come down below the hip.

 

 

3. Statement Accessories.

 

Ooh I love accessories.  They are such powerful tools in either playing up or playing down an outfit.  For an apple, who perhaps wants to draw attention away from the mid-section, a good pair of eye-catching shoes will do just that. I spotted these on Gillian Anderson, who is currently the star of the Dune London Autumn/Winter shoe campaign.  They are FAB.

 

 

Just a couple of tricks here for you to take-away.  Like to see more ideas?  Visit my October Shop Pinterest board, where you’ll find the rest of this morning’s shopping for an apple body shape.

 

Of course, if you want a more bespoke shop please do drop me a line at info@notgivinin.com and I’ll walk you through how I can help you wear better clothes that suit your figure and ultimately make you feel more confident.

 

Have a great weekend.

 

Gail xx

4 Steps to Creating Your Own Style Mood Board

 

Creating a mood board is hands down one of the best ways to finding your own true style identity.  If you’ve ever looked in your wardrobe and wondered who the hell is the woman wearing the clothes in it?  Or you find that clothes are purchased on a whim only to be hung in the closet for the rest of time, then it’s likely they don’t represent the real you.

 

Don’t worry, we all get ‘influenced’.  It’s super easy to get caught up in following the trends or making rash purchases when you get an invitation to go out.  But what if your wardrobe is always prepared, always ready with smart choices that you love and wear with confidence.  It can be done.  You just need to know your own true style and stick to it.

 

One way to do this is by creating a style mood board.  It acts as a reference point to help you make wise choices, inspires you on days when you’re feeling a bit lost with what to wear, and is a constant source of inspiration to motivate and empower you to express your true self to those around you.

 

Style Mood Board Tools

 

So how do you create a style mood board?  Personally, I really enjoy using a cork board.  I bought mine for a couple of quid from an online shop and it was therapeutic to do a little cutting out and pinning.  I have the board in full view in my home office to refer to when I’m not sure what to wear.

 

Similarly, and great if you want to compile more than one board and have easy access where ever you are, there’s Pinterest.  A great app that you can download to your mobile, Pinterest offers oodles of fashion images from across the globe.  The options are endless here and it’s super quick and easy to delete and add at your whim.

 

Collating Styles You Like

 

If you’re going down the cork  board route, start by looking through magazines and pulling out images that inspire you.  You might have old mags in a drawer (or is that just me!) that you’ve kept because the looks in it inspire you.   Now is the time to dig out any scraps of inspiration you’ve held on to over time.   Also, go online and download pics from your favourite fashion websites.  You really need to draw together any looks that resonate with you.

 

4 Tips to Creating Your Own Style Mood Board - Gail Painter - Notgivinin.com

 

You’re looking for colours, patterns, cuts, items of clothing, and complete looks that appeal to you.  But also keep in mind that you are building a collage of styles you can/will want to wear so the looks must fit in with and support your lifestyle.

 

If you’re stuck on where to start with Pinterest, I would start by looking up your style icon/s.  There’s a reason why you love their look.  Perhaps you look similar, or love the way she/he wears their clothes.  You can then really deep dive into searching for more pieces. For example, I love Victoria Beckham’s style, which led me down a road looking for wide leg trousers.

 

Re-Load Your Own Style

 

You can also include pics of yourself.  Dig out pictures of you wearing your favourite outfits. My advice would be to look as far back in the photo album collection as you can.  You will likely spot a look that has got lost in translation over the years that you need to be drawn back to.

 

Your Fashionista DNA

 

Once you have lots of images to hand or pinned to a draft Pinterest board, it’s time to hone down what really resonates with you?  Is there a trend appearing?  A finite look revealing itself.

 

From mine you can see that I have a real penchant for denim.  Jeans are a big part of my wardrobe, but I didn’t realise how much, they’re all over the board.  I also like light, neutral colours, and there is a bias for black too and simple designs.  Accessories are a big love too.  Handbags have always been really important to me.  I change my handbag to work with my outfit, daily.

 

4 Tips to Help You Create Your Own Style Mood Board

 

Keep whittling down the images you have, it’s actually easy to do with a cork board as you only have a certain amount of space.  Gradually you will see a pattern forming, aligning with your style at its very core, this is true fashion DNA.  Casting to the side images that are on the periphery of what you like really helps to show you how you truly want to dress.

 

Keep it Handy

 

Keep your board handy.  Like mine, in the office, in sight.  If you’re working on a board online, download a screengrab to your laptop, tablet and mobile.  Refer to it every time you go shopping and especially before you consider following the latest trends so that you can stick to your fashion DNA.

 

Sticking to your true style identity when you go shopping can be very handy.  Your wardrobe should work more cohesively, a capsule wardrobe could appear naturally, and you won’t be wasting your hard-earned cash.

 

If you want to, and you’re enjoying getting crafty, you can build more boards to help plan seasonal looks.  Try building a board or two for spring/summer and autumn/winter looks.  Or, create a couple around the different areas of your life, work (you might have more than one career), life, hobbies, etc.

 

Happy pinning!

 

 

Gail

 

P.S.  If you would like a more personal approach to finding your style I work in Bristol and Bath, helping women and men discover their style and wear it with pride.  Find out more about my services here.