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Ask Dr Fashion

Enquire Within!


Do you have a fashion query?  Send your questions to Ask Dr Fashion.  Everyone gets a personal reply, and each month we feature a selection of questions and answers right here. 


Hourglass Figures



I am short (4 foot 10) and quite erm curvy about a size 14.  I have tried the Trinny and Suzanna shape thingy and seem to be an hourglass but am struggling to find clothes they recommend for my shape that are petite, especially pencil skirts.  Any ideas?
 
Samantha
 
Pencil skirts do work well on an hourglass figure as they accentuate the hourglass's small waist.  The key point about a pencil skirt is to get the right length.  For most people, this is just on the knee, but depending on your leg shape, it may be an inch or so above or below the knee.  Avoid overlong skirts, especially anything that ends at a wide point on the calf, which is always unflattering.  Hourglass shapes also look good in dresses with well defined waists, though beware anything that has too much fabric over the hips.  If you want to wear trousers, look for those which fit on the natural waist, as low slung styles exaggerate the hips and draw attention away from the waist.



Make My Legs Look Longer!


I am very short, 4’11” and I wear a size 6 and I always have a problem determining what length of skirt I should purchase.  I have short legs, so I want to make them appear longer.  I am 56 years old but I am not the typical grandmotherly type – I quite often get pegged as being younger than that.  I am not trying to wear clothing that makes me look younger, I just don’t want to wear a skirt length that makes me look even shorter yet?  Please help!
Thank you.
 
Sharon
 
Skirt lengths are a recurring problem this month!  Gone are the days when the catwalks decreed the hemline, but finding the right length for you isn't always easy.  It isn't simply a matter of there being a 'right' length to make short legs look longer.  Legs differ considerably in appearence, with different length thigh and shin bones being found more commonly in some ethnic groups than in others, and then there's the question of the skinny-to-sturdy continuum.  Age hardly comes into the question at all.  Even if you have fantastic legs, I wouldn't recommend a mini to a woman over 40, but other than that, any length is possible.
 
To lengthen the appearence of legs, keep to one colour or tone for the skirt and the legs, e.g. beige skirt and beige toned tights, or brown skirt with brown knee boots.  Keep the silhouette slim, too.  A wide skirt with a lot of fabric will make legs look shorter unless your legs are very slim indeed.



How to Look Professional


Can you send me some suggestions for a few basic items I can get for my 5'1" daughter who is graduating from college in May.  Lane is going to be interning as a social worker in a hospital this summer.  T's and jeans won't cut it!
 
Thanks,
Lane's mom Barbara
 
Congratulations to Lane on her graduation!  Social work is a difficult and responsible profession, but unlike a lawyer or a banker, a social worker needs to look both professional but not intimidating.  That calls for clothes which are fairly plain and serious, but not too sharply tailored.
 
A young woman starting out on a career needs a skirt suit in a dark colour like navy, black or grey. This will be suitable for case conferences and meetings with other professionals, but the separate pieces can also be worn to meet clients.  Crisp shirts and unfussy tops with modest necklines will work well, too, without being too 'old' for a young woman.  Above all, a good bag or briefcase will make Lane look competent and well-organised.