Authentically You...Role Models...Nigella Lawson...

  We've been discussing Role Models this year.   My personal role model is Dita Von Teese, not for her Burlesque talents, but for her inimitable style.   We've also discussed Babe Paley and Adele.   Last week, my friend Suzannah, asked me if I could do a post on Nigella Lawson. She feels that her body type most resembles Nigella's, and wanted some tips on being Nigella-ish.   I was excited to hear this as Nigella is a well known Apple shaped celebrity, so she's a wonderful role model for we Apple shaped ladies.    As we did with Adele, note at the top of my post, and here below, the transformation that Nigella has gone through since she achieved celebrity status.   She's always been a very attractive woman, but as is the case for us all, she didn't really hit her stride until she had some professional guidance.   I keep saying that the first step in looking your best is to know your body shape.     Above, you can see that earlier in her life, Nigella was focused on being 'fashionable' rather than 'stylishly dressed for body shape'. The pink ensemble in the first picture, although pretty, wasn't really doing that much for her in terms of flattering her shape, and her hair was sort of long and nondescript. A youthful look and pretty at the time, for sure.     In the second pic, she's starting to find her inner glamour puss, and steps out a year or two later in some slenderising black with interesting neck detail. Nice.     Then we see her in this fabulous red wiggle dress. Hair tumbling around her face in a profusion of soft curls, the sweetheart neckline drawing attention to her beautiful complexion and pretty features.     Then back to basic black but with an eye to achieving a figure flattering look for a cold day.
 You see, looking great for your shape, isn't just about wearing figure flattering clothes.   It's about being aware of how a simple hairstyle and touch of makeup draws attention to the features we want to accentuate, whilst playing down the ones we'd prefer ignored.   Above, we see Nigella at her first book signing, looking au naturel and very pretty for it.   But here below, with a whisper of makeup, sparkly earrings, a more open neckline, and a flirtation with hot rollers on her locks, she's an absolute stunner.   Honestly, any of us can do this.
So now Nigellas discovered hot rollers and a neckline that draws attention to her lovely face and hair (and other assets!), and she sets about using that knowledge to her advantage as often as possible.   Here she is on the cover of one of her books.   Open neckline which draws the eye to her face.   Cardigan in a flattering colour creates a slenderising column centre front and covers wobbly upper arms.   Tumbling locks, and a touch of feature enhancing makeup and she's the Nigella we all know and love.  
Again, below, the open neckline, a cute cropped cardi to create that all important slimming column-of-colour centre front, and soft curls.     Now just to show how it can all still go dreadfully wrong, see here below, where Nigella has chosen a dress, that according to all the experts, should be an absolute winner for the Apple shaped woman.   But this is a great example of how simple details make a difference.   Nigella looks lovely here, BUT, the shiny fabric, and awkward cut on the neckline, do not do her justice. The shiny satin draws attention to her bustline and not much else. And not in a good way. In fact the dress looks so snug across the bust that it looks like it's the wrong size for her. And the black, just drains her in this dress.   Imagine for a moment, that the neckline on this satin wrap dress was slightly more open, and that the fabric is velvet, not satin, navy blue not black. The effect would be entirely different and far lovelier, yes?
But when Nigella gets it right, she's a star.   I love her in this pretty retro styled dress, with tiny belt...

...continuing that theme with another retro inspired fit and flare style....

....and then returning to the Wiggle dress, which I think is a win for her no matter what the colour...   ...basic black..    ...rip snorting red... ...or magical shape changing midnight blue...
  ...they're all stunning.   Two short years ago, I did not dream I could style a wiggle dress to suit me, but here I am now...  

 

I'm no Nigella, but I'm trying folks.   Here are some tips to be more Nigella-ish...   1. Use the magic figure enhancement of shapewear. That stuff has come a long way, and a well fitted (strapless if necessary) bra, and hip and tummy huggers, will give you a more sculpted silhouette.   2. Keep your fit and flare and wiggle dresses just above or just below the knee, especially for we ladies under 165cm (5'3"). You need to show the bottom of your legs to add the illusion of height to your frame.   3. Use open necklines to draw the eye upwards to your lovely face and hair. Sweetheart, open V, square, boat, scooped...they're all great and make the most of your other 'assets'.   4. Use the illusion of sparkle or pearl earrings to keep the attention around your facial features.   5. Use the faithful cardigan or little fitted jackets to create a centre column-of-colour to trick the eye into 'seeing you slim'.   6. Likewise a slightly longer hairstyle, softened with tumbling curls, can be flattering if you can manage and maintain it. Otherwise, use long dangling earrings to slim and frame your face. Having longer hair also gives you the versatility to scoop that hair up and away and enhance your lovely neck and shoulders.   7. Nude shoes with a heel, or nude wedges are your best friend. They add height and give you a long and lean look.   8. If your upper arms, like mine, are no longer sleek and toned, then cardigans, bolero jackets, wisps of chiffon as wraps or features on an evening gown like the gorgeous blue one seen above on Nigella, can all disguise this fault. Wearing chain type bracelets can also draw attention to your dainty wrists and away from upper arms.   9. Be aware that simply changing a neckline, or the length of a chain store dress, can take it from meh to WOW! If you're not much of a seamstress, then a good dressmaker can help.   10. Note also that fabric choice can make or break a look. Satins are not necessarily friendly to Apple shapes. Velvets, crepe, cottons, linen, and especially more structured fabrics like satin brocades can be wonderfully flattering, skimming our curves and maintaining the shape of an outfit. I tell you this from experience!   Here's a satin brocade dress I purchased recently...  

 

... I am the same weight I was a year ago, but when I wear this dress, everyone thinks I've lost ten kilos (22lbs)!   You see the structure of the brocade...it's very stiffness... helps the dress hold it's shape, rather than moulding to my lumps and bumps. And unlike plain shiny satin, the embroidery on the brocade, disguises a multitude of figure faults. It's brilliant I tell you.   I'm short at 163cms (5'3").   I weigh 84kgs (185lbs).   I am an Australian size 16-18.   I'm wearing wiggle dresses and fit and flare dresses like there's no tomorrow.   You can too.   Do it. Life is short.   ...Mimi...  

A New You....Get Fussy!

 

If I've learned nothing else this year from The French Chic Academy, I've learned to be Fussy. To be Particular. To CARE.

 

All of the elements of French Chic, like dressing for your shape, using optical illusion to trick the eye into seeing you more slender, taller, healthier and so on, are really just about being fussy, particular and above all CARING about your appearance.

 

For many long years, perhaps ever since I embraced full time Motherhood and child rearing, some 20 years ago (which I've truly loved and valued), I've been putting myself second. That's what Mums do, right? That's certainly what my Mum did, and hats off to the New Age Mums who don't see why that should be the case now. I embraced that idea with enthusiasm.

 

The children still at home, my disabled son, and my only daughter, took the lions share of my time, energy, and effort, and it was only when we secured independent living accommodation and funding for my son to live an Adult life like his brothers do, that things started to change. That was 7 1/2 years ago, and suddenly my days no longer consisted of endless carer tasks necessary for a totally physically dependent family member. Suddenly I could paint my nails knowing that a manicure would last longer than a day, I could wear nicer clothes, knowing I wouldn't be hoisting my son into or out of his wheelchair. I could show off my pretty jewellery without having to worry whether it would scratch him in sensitive places or accidentally fall down the loo when I was toileting him. A whole new world, right?

 

Not. Quite.

 

 

The habit of wearing flowing shirts and leggings or capri pants for ease of movement as a Primary Carer, was hard to break.

 

Mostly I dressed like these two pictures. A standard oversized denim jacket being my concession to fashion, when needs arose.

 

Enter the impending finalising of my youngest child, and only daughters schooling in just 11 short days, and the realisation late last year, that I now had time to get my act together and start behaving like the glam girl I once was. Oh the joy...and the fear!

 

Letting go of the me that I was comfortable with, was daunting. I didn't know where to start. I floundered around for a while, trying to work out whether I should go Arty Farty Nanna, or Glam Gran, not really knowing what either of those would entail. Then I found my Angel, Marie-Anne Lecouer. Her advice didn't come cheap, but then many things worth having shouldn't be measured only in financial terms. I bit the bullet and leapt in to The French Chic Academy with both feet, soaking up the knowledge like a sponge, and reinventing myself.

 

I went from this last December...

 

 

 ...to this just this week, 10 months later...

 

 

... and there's no turning back!

 

I still have a way to go. I've lost 5kgs (12lbs) and several centimetres from my petite 163cm (5'3") frame, and I still want to lose at least another 5kgs. But I have made huge leaps and bounds, even weight loss aside.

 

The sheer thrill of wearing a dress that sits above the knee, heels, and a flattering hairstyle, is motivation enough to edge me ever closer to my goal weight.

 

But note that Marie-Anne Lecouers advice was NOT to lose weight to look like a French woman. Her advice, plain and simple is to know your body shape and dress accordingly. In short, Get Fussy!

 

One of the things that had to go, was my beloved denim jacket. Sturdiness and versatility aside, it just wasn't flattering on my newly discovered Petite Plus Apple shape. Too boxy. The wrong colour. Too masculine. I needed the versatility of a traditional Jeans Jacket, with a more feminine edge.

 

So, this is the bit where, for perhaps the 150th time this year, I Got Fussy.

 

Here are the details I was searching for in my new Denim (Jeans) Jacket:

 

Dark colour as dark colours help to minimise body faults

Minimal detailing to assist in a streamlined look

No collar to echo a more Chanel style jacket

Three quarter sleeves to show off dainty wrists

Hip length to elongate a petite frame

Nipped in shape to avoid a boxy look

 

You'd think that would be easy, right?

 

Wrong.

 

I found this one, but it had too much going on. In fact upon closer inspection, I don't think it's even a denim jacket. It looks like velvet. And I don't have the figure of a 20 year old Asian woman, more's the pity.

 

This one showed up in an eBay search and was almost right...collarless, minimal detailing, dark wash, and I was tempted. But I chose to Be Fussy, and noted the boxy shape, and the full length sleeves. Also it just looked cheap, which is definitely a look to avoid!

 This one was close. But still no cigar, as the saying goes. Too boxy. Be Fussy, remember!

 

 

These two ticked all the boxes, but although hip length on these sweet young things, were more likely to be up around the armpit on me. Be Fussy, be careful, be choosy.

This one looked like a winner, but it was the wrong colour. I wanted dark wash, remember. Be Fussy.

This one looked great, until I realised it had long sleeves. Yes I could roll them up, but that's not a streamlined look either. I wanted a neat streamlined appearance. Be Fussy.

 

I gave up looking online. I looked in my wardrobe instead. I had this mad idea that I could refashion the Jeans Jacket I already had, into what I actually wanted.

 

Lo and behold, hiding in the depths of what I laughingly call the Winter Section of my wardrobe, I found this little gem...

 

 

Well I'll be. I purchased this in the end of season sales a few years ago, and had worn it no more than a handful of times. Why? Because I didn't know how to style it! I was wearing it with jeans and feeling a bit like a remnant of the 60s Hippie movement (yes I lived through that era, albeit as a child). I should have been wearing it with pencil skirts, and fit and flare frocks and heels! Dang...who knew, right? There's something to having a bit of knowledge, I tell you!

 

Here it is, with my new lemon print Fit and Flare dress and heels...

 

 

So there it was. And for a measly ten bucks, a few years ago. Hiding at the back of my own closet, unworn, and unloved. A wardrobe staple, which you can be certain I'll now make good use of.

 

All because I was Being Fussy.

 

When I shop now, whether for a Jeans Jacket, or a pair of Nude Heels, I have a list of the details I want. And I stick to my list. Close enough is NOT good enough. Not any more. I've been around long enough to know that if I just exercise some patience, the right thing will come to me. Or it will magically appear in the back of my wardrobe.

 

Hmmmm...maybe I wasn't all clueless after all. Maybe I just needed a push in the right direction.

 

What about you? Have I inspired you to Get Fussy?

 

....Mimi...