Swimwear for Curvy Girls……………………..Swimsuits and Bikinis Summer 2011

 

As with lingerie, dresses, tops, trousers, jackets, jeans etc etc etc there are some styles of swimwear that will suit curvy girls and others that simply will not.  The best style of swimwear is the one that flatters your figure, camouflaging anything you want camouflaged (!) and accentuating your assets, in a colour that suits you and a style that’s going to make everyone on the beach or by the pool think ‘now why don’t I look like that?’, whatever your size.

With the choice of swimwear online right now, from designer to high street, there really is no need for one of those ghastly sessions where you go from changing room to changing room taking almost everything off in light that is just not good enough, possibly in a hurry, even worse just after lunch.   Make sure you know your size and get everything sent to you, if possible at the same time, so you can compare and try on with your other resortwear such as cover-ups.  

Best of all doing it this way you can take a picture of yourself in a mirror and see what you really look like before everyone else does.  Forget the flipflops unless you’re as small as you really want to be and try on with a pair of heeled sandals to see yourself at your glamorous best.

There’s great swimwear around for holding you in just about everywhere, bra sized swimwear for added support and ruching across the front for an extra flattering effect.  With everyone from Marks & Spencer to Diane von Furstenberg offering sexy, glamorous swimwear for curvy girls in a wide range of sizes, this year, certainly, there’s absolutely no excuse.  If you’re a curvy girl, go for the glamour………………………….

   

There’s no doubt that the perfect black one-piece or bikini is going to be a long term favourite in any swimwear wardrobe, however this year in particular there seem to be some lovely colours and prints, particularly floral and animal prints.  The Gottex red and black one-piece makes a superb compromise, don’t you think?  And you can be sure with a brand such as Gottex that it will be beautifully made and last for years.

The Size Issue-Which size is the ‘happiest’?

 

There was a feature in yesterday’s Sunday Times Style magazine, which stated that the average size 14 is happier than those skinnier.  And a similar piece in The Daily Telegraph a few years back.

I have to admit that I find this kind of generalisation utterly ridiculous. 

First off, whatever size you are, are you healthy?  If you hit the scales at what is termed a clinically obese (horrible term) level, then for goodness sake wake up and do something about it because otherwise you may become sick at some stage.  

Secondly your ‘happy’ weight is likely to be a factor of your height and your build, as well as what you put into your body.  A 5’2” size 14 is totally different to a 5’8” size 14.  One may be well outside the boundaries for what is healthy, and the other may be inside them, but they are technically both the same dress size.  Have a quick look at this table and you can see the difference.

Of course even this doesn’t take into account your age, or the amount of muscle you’re carrying around with you as a result of all those hours in the gym, but for the point of this let’s take those out of the equation.

In terms of happiness you are more likely to be happy, at least in my opinion, if you look the best that you can, if you know that you’re a weight that is healthy and likely to stay that way, if you eat good food, if you exercise regularly.  I don’t believe that the debate is about fat versus skinny (and who wants skinny, anyway? Curvy is so much more attractive) but about what is good for you, body and brain, against what is not.

Exercise has several benefits, it doesn’t only tone your body, we know that it also has a chemical ‘happiness’ effect.  It’s hard to get started particularly in winter but once you do and you find something you enjoy doing and start to see the results it easily becomes habit forming.  And it doesn’t have to take up a huge amount of time, nor require an expensive gym membership.  All it takes is a little bit of real determination.

Diet is a matter of motivation at first, and then again, once you see the results of eating more healthily and looking better becomes addictive.  Very fast. 

You may be ‘right’ for your body at any mainstream size. Undoubtedly curvy is sexier and potentially more glamorous than skinny.  Curvy does not equate to overweight.  And happiness regarding your dress size?  Only you can really answer that one………. 

Fitflop-Not your average pair of out-to-lunch gold sandals

 

      

I’ve written about Fitflop before but please don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating that you wear a pair of Fitflop sandals to your next smart lunch (or not smart lunch, for that matter) and please don’t, but as someone who seriously cares about being comfortable and who has managed to run in a pair of these for at least a quarter of a mile at a reasonably non-stop high speed (don’t laugh) in order to make a flight connection in Chicago airport last summer I wanted to make sure you had yours, if you wanted them, as they always sell out fast.

I can’t vouch for their bum and leg toning qualities and frankly a pair of shoes cannot make up for proper exercise (although they may help a tiny bit) but I can vouch for their sheer all day comfort.  Quite simply they are superb, with plenty of support and a thick rubber sole, microwobbleboard technology built-in.  Every comfort conscious girl needs a pair, to wear in the right way.  Just not out for lunch.

There are a lot of different designs but to my mind the Fitflop Electra is the best for summer, in gold, silver, bronze or black.  It’s your choice.  My daughter says she doesn’t like them as much as her Abercrombie flipflops, so why is she wearing mine around the house, I’d like to know.

You’ll find these sandals at Cloggs, who I’ve bought from several times, and also, because they tend to sell out, at
John Lewis, and Harrods, two of my all time favourite department stores online.

 

On the subject of hair cuts, I had one of those days this week when catching sight of myself I knew I  just couldn’t make my too long bob work until it was booked in to be chopped, so on the spur of the moment I booked to see Monica at Cobella in Selfridges.  ‘Foolhardy’ my high powered lunch companion said - why would you let someone you didn’t know cut your  hair?  Known for being a major risk taker off I went and I can’t recommend her highly enough.  If you have a few moments to spare go and see her - ask for Monica from Australia.  You won’t regret it, and I promise you that I am super-fussy about my hair, how it is cut and dried.  Amazingly the price was lower than I pay out in rural Bucks as well.  So that was definitely a win-win afternoon.

Pick the Prettiest Florals-Summer floral dresses to wear now

Suddenly it’s spring.  Actually no.  Wait.  Isn’t this summer?  Whatever, the sun is out, the sky is blue (don’t worry, I won’t go on) and it’s time to break out a floral dress.  I keep reminding myself that it is only April but no matter, everything is blooming early, including fashion.

You can spend a fortune on one of this season’s floral dresses by designers such as D&G, Max Mara or Dries van Noten but if you just look a bit harder into what’s being offered on the high street you can make like a bouquet for far, far less.  Half of the dresses here are designer and half are not.   One of the joys of fashion today is being able to mix designer with high street and no one can tell the difference, so wear your Louboutins with Wallis’s pink floral shift (top left) and you’ll be pretty as a picture.

   

   

One of the other strong(ish) trends at the moment of course is fruit prints.  There I’m not so sure.  I think I’d get bored of being covered in bananas and oranges fairly fast.  What do you think?

Click through to the Fashion Boutiques and Designer Stores at www.thesiteguide.com to find roses, peonies and lilies in abundance.  This is the season of the floral dress………

Denim Heaven - Win a Pair of Designer Jeans worth up to £150

 

Denim has made a comeback big time this season (although did it ever really go away?) with denim jackets, dresses, skirts and shorts everywhere.  Personally I stick to my favourite denim jeans, slim, straight leg, dark rinse and not cut too low.  I see far too many wearing low rise jeans who should know better, frequently travelling with a daughter who can wear them.  Who really wants to be mutton dressed as lamb?  Not moi…….

Favoured brands are 7 for all Mankind, J Brand, Citizens of Humanity, MiH and Rag and Bone (and many more, all of which have seem to have achieved ‘cult’ status).  Buying jeans online is never going to be a breeze if you don’t already know your size in a specific brand and style, however you’ll get nearest with an accurate waist measurement.  No point in fudging the issue here.  These really need to fit.  So take a deep breath and get out that tape measure.  Donna, owner of www.donnaida.com, says ‘The waist, including the rise. The length can be dealt with by our tailor’.  So now you know.

The top row of jeans below are all from designer boutiques offering everything from the very latest in distressed, coloured, skinny, flared, high waist, low rise jeans and all the mainstream designers.  The second row are more affordable options from brands such as Karen Millen, Oasis, French Connection, Boden and Ted Baker, (via John Lewis).  Buy these fast if you want them as they’ve practically sold out on the Ted Baker website.

   

     

WIN A PAIR OF DESIGNER JEANS WORTH UP TO £150!

Donna Ida are offering you the chance to win a pair of designer jeans worth up to £150.  Brands stocked at this wonderful jeans emporium are J Brand, Paige, Rock & Republic, James Jeans, Serfontaine, Citizens of Humanity, 7 for all Mankind and far too many more to list here.  Go look for yourself - you won’t come away without buying something.  O dear.

Now there’s a thought.  Easter coming up and chocolate in abundance.  Which do you choose.  The chocolate or tight fitting figure flattering bum hugging jeans?  As I said.  O dear………

To enter this competition sign up on the home page at http://www.thesiteguide.com (if you haven’t already) and send an email to [email protected] with the word ‘jeans’ in the title and remember to include your full name and address in the body of the email.  Please make sure there is a first name and surname attached to your email.  We’d love to know your favourite brand as well if you’d like to tell us. Please only sign up once - we delete all duplicate entries.

The Affordable Summer Little Black Dress-On Trend and Online

 

I know.  This is the summer of colour.  Of red and tangerine and bright green and neon pink.  Of colour block, floral prints and romantic ruffles.

However, I challenge you to tell me that your favourite, main-stay, always-goes-with-you, always-to-be-relied-on dress is not black.  The one that can make you feel good even when you don’t, that is the quickest to change into as all you need is a simple, chic up-do, your favourite jewels and heels.  When I travel I try to take colour with me, particularly when I’m going somewhere hot, but my favourite little black dresses always seem to slip in too.  They are just too gorgeously easy.

This summer there are some excellent little black wonders around, as sexy, glamorous, demure or simple as you could possibly wish for, and all under £210.  I thought of making the boundary under £100 but frankly, these are all such good value and totally worth investing in that I was sure you wouldn’t mind a little extra.  Consider the designer darlings for around (and well over) £1000 available at most of the online designer boutiques and I’m sure you’ll agree with me.

    

   

Most of these are sleeveless as befits summer, but a shrug or wrap or fine knit cardi will do the business if you want to cover up more.  Simple……………..

Win the Lia Clutch by LK Bennett-What to wear to a Wedding-The perfect wedding clutch

 

Well aware that we are all just about to go into wedding overload, if we haven’t already, we have just one more gorgeous prize to add to our ‘what to wear to a wedding’ competition - the beautiful sparkling Lia Clutch by LK Bennett.  I defy you to find a dress that this beautiful bag won’t go with.

The value of the Lia clutch is £175, and it measures (L) 18cm x (H) 11.5cm x (D) 10cm approx.  Lia is a box clutch bag encrusted with silver/pewter crystals.

To win the LK Bennett Lia Clutch send an email to [email protected] with the word ‘clutch’ in the subject line and please remember to put your full name and address in the details. 

For all competition entries please sign up also on our Home Page at www.thesiteguide.com and duplicate entries are not allowed.  Only those who have first name and surname attached to their email address and home page sign-up will be entered.  For more details take a look at the Competitions section at www.thesiteguide.com.

You can also enter our competition to win a dress by Karen Millen by sending an email to [email protected] with the words ‘wedding dress’ in the subject line.

Good luck everyone!

Ballet Flats-Which pair is yours?

 

Thanks in no small measure to Natalie Portman and Black Swan, ballet is a fashion theme running through spring/summer 2011.  This is one which I personally believe you have to be extremely careful about going too far with, or, quite frankly, going anywhere at all with unless you’re happy to look totally fashion victim ridiculous.

The exception to this is, of course, the ubiquitous ballet flat or ballet pump (whatever you like to call it), by designers such as Tory Burch and Lanvin if you need a designer fix at this level or right down to extremely cheap and cheerful versions which you think, because they’re flat, will keep you comfortable all day but which may well leave you with exceedingly sore feet.  Says one who knows.

At 5’2” I do love my heels but dislike discomfort for the sake of fashion intensely, and so usually, when it’s hot and I’m in London, you’ll find me racing around in my exceptionally comfortable Puma trainers and changing round the corner of various offices and restaurants into something vertiginous.  As you do.  Having said that I decided that this year, to track down the most comfortable pair of ballet pumps and test them out.  You’ll still spot me changing round the corner……………..but at least I won’t be struggling with laces and socks this year.  Hopefully.  The jury’s still out.

  

So.  For some of the best collections of designer ballet pumps take a look at Net-a-Porter - where you’ll find Tory Burch, Lanvin, Miu Miu and Marc Jacobs (to name but a few), Pretty Ballerinas, for an exceptional collection, mid range prices and some with rubber soles and also take a look at what’s on offer via Amazon.co.uk for their collection of Geox, who offer some of the most comfortable flats around.  Not a huge selection, but pumps you can actually walk in all day.  You can guess which ones are mine……….

Visit the shoe section at www.thesiteguide.com for more shoe shopping options and ballet pumps in every style and colour you can think of.  Tis the season so go collect…

From Helmut Lang and Notify to Tommy Hilfiger and Boden-Ten of the Best Denim Jackets

Denim jackets, capri pants, linen trousers and shorts - just some of the summer staples you’ll be digging out of your wardrobe any time now.  A great denim jacket is everyone’s essential so here are ten of the best, from designer labels such as Helmut Lang and Notify to reasonably priced options from Boden and Tommy Hilfiger - and more of course.

Wear your denim jacket in a multitude of ways, with everything from shorts and stripy ts to a flirty floral dress.  Just make sure the jacket fits, there are some excellent stretch denim ones around as well so the choice is totally yours.

  

  

Don’t forget you just have until tomorrow evening (Sunday April 10th) to sign up for our Me & Em competition to win a £150 Gift Voucher.  Send an email to [email protected] with the words ‘me and em’ and sign up on the home page at www.thesiteguide.com to enter.