How to look good dressed

Don't you just love that programme 'How to look good naked'? Each week some poor woman hating her figure and trying to get over the insecurities about her body shape is transformed and persuaded to strip for the camera. In reality of course, most of us are far too concerned about looking good with our clothes on to worry about looking good with them off, let alone walking down the catwalk as nature intended. So what clothes should we choose to be both fashionable and flattering?

First problem - high waisted, waisted or low slung hipsters? No not panties, we're talking about trousers now or even skirts, as I recently discovered.

The other day I was in a shop which will remain nameless, looking for a skirt to wear to work. I grabbed a couple in my usual size but the one in particular seemed to have an extraordinarily large waist. It just kind of slipped down. I told the assistant (and I use the term loosely), who was looking bored handing out pieces of plastic which said 1, 2 or 3, hoping she was going to say it was because I was so slim I probably needed two sizes smaller, but she said 'That's funny, the last lady made the same comment. It's because it's supposed to sit on your hips, dummy.' She didn't really say 'Dummy' but I expect she thought it.

Ok, so maybe I'm just too old to appreciate a hipster skirt, but when it comes to trousers, anything goes, but it really does depend on your body type.

Highed waisted this season is bang on trend, but you really have to be slim to get away with it. Very flattering and oh-so-Keira Knightly, but not if you have a large bottom or a Jordanesque bust as you will end up looking out of proportion.

Small waist, larger hips, you need to go for trousers or jeans that fit to your waist. Some strategically positioned pockets will also help to make your bottom look smaller. Make sure they are a good fit on the waist though or you'll get that gapping at the back. Of course, if you are very young and slim, you can still wear hipsters with a cropped top and show off that teeny waist (but not the top of your thong - please).

Boyish figure or straight up and down with small hips - go for the lower cut trouser or jeans as you won't have to worry about not being able to fasten the waistband. Too low, however and they will tend to keep slipping down. Low rise and boot cut, with a higher-heel boot or shoe, will elongate your whole look and make you appear both taller and slimmer.

For lots of great look trousers to suit all shapes and budgets, click here to go to our trousers section.

Which brings us on to shoes - my favourite subject! You can never have enough of them, Jimmy Choos, Patrick Cox, Manolo Blahnik, aahh - sorry, I digress.

What should you wear to make your legs look longer? Obviously, high heels will not only make you taller, they will also make the leg look slimmer as they seem to pull up the calf muscle. Anything that cuts you in half like ankle straps or any straps that come all the way up the front of your foot will make your legs look shorter, in the same way that calf length trousers do. The lower the front of shoe the more streamlined your legs will look and if they are a neutral colour like beige or nude and you also apply a little fake tan to bare legs, you'll look like a cat walk model!

To find super sexy shoes like these which will make your legs look longer and slimmer, go to our shoe department by clicking here

Next month we'll be looking at holiday wear and party dresses so check back for more tips on how to look good dressed.

Bye for now.

Serena
Fashion Editor

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