A New Year...A New look

A New Year, A New You! Six Top Fashion Tips for 2006 By Virginia Alexander Hey, all you fantastic fashionistas! A recent trip to Fashion week proves that this year is just incredible when it comes to fashion and style! "Less is more" is the rule for 2006. The color pallet is warm or cool, but always romantic, glamorous, bold and totally inviting! As a stylist for film and television, it's my job to create styles for my clients that make them look good, have proper fit for their body shape and are in fashion. My client list varies from media personalities to individuals who need to build an entire new wardrobe because of weight loss. Redesigning your image is a real treat after weight loss. You have been actively working from the inside out. Now is the time to reap the rewards of your labor! You may not have your own personal stylist, but that should not keep you from looking fabulous. Looking your best is really quite simple if you follow what I call Virginia's Rule of 3: Accent the positive, detract from the negative, and create the illusion of what you don't have. How do you follow this rule? By following these 6 tips: 1. Prepare to shop! Shopping for clothes requires preparation? Believe it or not, it does! Before you shop, start with proper, well-fitting undergarments and comfortable clothes that come off and on easily so that you won't get tired while trying things on. Wear shoes that slip off and on easily--wear flats, but bring heels. You have to have shoes of the right height to properly see what any garment will look like on you. Plus, here is the kicker ... a 2-inch heel or platform will make any garment hang & look different; it raises your bottom too! Finally, wear your makeup and do your hair before stepping out the door. That will make everything you put on look better; after all, you will be coifed and looking your best when you wear these new clothes in public! 2. Choose styles that work for your body type and shape. Do you know what works for you specific body shape? There are 3 basic body shapes or proportions: hourglass, bigger on top, and bigger on bottom. We can all identify with one of them. Certain styles compliment certain body types. For instance, high waists and flowing skirts can disguise a larger bottom half. Look for styles that make the most of your shape. While every person's body is different, one sure-fire way to make your body look balanced is to wear one solid color top to bottom. This ensures a sleek head-to-toe look. Just make sure you pick a color that looks great on you! 3. Choose Colors that Make Your Complexion Look Great. To figure out what colors make your complexion glow, pick out about 10 shirts--all in different colors--and hold them up in front of yourself. Now, look in the mirror holding one up at a time! Notice what the color does for your complexion. Does it make your complexion and eyes look bright? Does it make you look flat and dull? Does it create dark circles around your eyes? Most of all, how do you feel in this color? If it makes you glow and feel great, then it is a good color for you. Colors fall mainly into 3 categories, Cool, Warm and Mid-tone. You will probably look best in colors from one of these palettes: * Cool tones Wear bright colors, such as bright emerald green, turquoise, a blue-toned red, pink, navy, dark gray and a bright purple. Avoid beige, olive green, brick red and apricot. * Warm tones Wear olive greens, burgundy, mustard, ambers, tomato red, and russets. Avoid hot pink, sky blue, navy, dark gray, and black. * Mid-tones Wear muted colors like clear red, hot pink, lemon yellow, aqua, periwinkle and sage green. Avoid rust, salmon pink, icy blue, charcoal and black. Still not sure? Ask a stranger: they are usually more honest than a friend! 4. Choose Bold Accessories to Dress up Your Whole Wardrobe. Accessories for 2006 are big and bold. The colors I love are pink, ambers, sage greens, turquoise, and dark brown and black. So, when it came time to accessorize for the year, I went through my jewelry box to see what pieces would work with my favorite hues. I already had some long amber earrings, big silver hoop earrings, silver bangle bracelets and turquoise and silver Indian jewelry. So, I only bought a chunky and very long amber glass bead necklace ($42) and big multi-tiered turquoise and amber earrings ($20). I am now totally accessorized for 2006! 5. Focus on Essentials! I like separates because I can create a lot of outfits with just a few basic pieces of clothing: a pair of faded jeans, a flowing black skirt, and black pants. Supplement and create new looks by pairing these three must-haves with clothes you already have! Look through your closet before you shop, and get rid of what you won't or don't wear. Make a list of what you need or want. I tear pictures out of magazines, and get as close as I can to the look I love! Remember to make sure you feel good in the clothes when you try them on! Ask yourself these questions: Can I bend over without flashing the universe? Can I breathe? Does it pull or pinch? Does it gape or gap anywhere? Can you see through it? (Look in the light!) Does it hang well on me? Is the fabric rough or irritating? If it is not comfortable in the store, it's never going to be! You will not wear it, so don't buy it. I always buy clothes that have an element of stretch to them for two reasons. First, I can move and breathe in them. Second, pants with stretch always make my butt look better! 6. Know What's Hot and What's Not! What's "In" for 2006: * Soft, feminine fabrics * Color, magnificent color * Empire-waist blouses * Embellishments on fabrics--around the neckline or cuffs or on pockets, just a little * Jeans--all colors, faded, distressed or slightly embellished (embellished pockets) * Embellished belt buckles * Western looks--jeans, cowboy hats & western style boots with heels * Soft gauzy peasant tops--that seventies hippy look * Ponchos, wraps, shrugs and soft scarves. * Jean jackets--can be worn with almost everything! * Lace up high boots--boots are big this year! * Sexy platform shoes * Belts * Button up sweater with jeans--kind of a retro fifties look. Add pearls for a chic classy look! What's "in," but not flattering for most of us: * Gaucho pants--unless you're 6 feet tall and 120 pounds, you should reconsider wearing them! * Drop waist short dresses--It looks so cute on kids, not adults! * Short shorts--The daisy duke's, just what were they thinking? * Embellished over-priced designer sweat suits--okay for exercise, but not to be worn in public! * Bikini Jeans--need I say more? * Dresses and blouses cut to the navel--interesting, but not appropriate on anyone! What's out: * Straight-legged slacks * Leggings * Extremely low-waisted jeans and slacks * Oversized shirts--oversized anything really! * Same print skirts and tops--just break them up! * Lots of jewelry, or "Bling" Exception: If you are a Rap Star, can you still get away with this. What's "in" for Hair and Makeup: No look is complete without beautiful hair and make-up. Hair this year shows dimensional color and highlights. Lowlights and length are both back as well. Hair that is colored a few shades deeper underneath is a super look. Longer hair is in, worn straight and flat-ironed with a wispy cut or big and curled. Remember when you get your hair restyled to look at all of you, not just your face. You need to focus on a total look to be balanced. A short hair cut on an ample body will make you look out of proportion! Makeup is soft and subtle or fully glamorous for evening. Daytime colors are soft neutral tones on the eyes (browns, taupes) and light colors on the lips (Coppers, pinks, peaches), loads of mascara and subtle, blended eyeliner. Lip-gloss is still in. For evening, Evening Don't be afraid to use a lot of color on the eyes and to provide strong definition. Eyeliners are perfect in showdown and bright mineral hues. Use loads of mascara to achieve long, thick lashes. Go for soft blush and hot lips defined in neutral colors, then glossed. Follow these tips, and you will be ready to kick off the New Year looking and feeling your best! It's a New Year, and It's all about You!