Personal Shopping

Hi there,

Now when you know how to identify the seasonal colour type and the body shape , it's high time to go shopping. Personal shopping is part of my work as a stylist and I want to share my knowledge I gained after personal shopping practice at Westfield Shopping centre.

Ideally personal shopping goes after personal styling consultation and wardrobe analysis. However personal shopping might go alone. 

First of all, you need to have a short conversation with your client and ask  few questions. I suggest to find out about the reason of a shopping whether it is a special occasion or just wardrobe update. If it's a special occasion then find out what sort of occasion in particular, how does your client prefer to look then what style and colours prefer, what size wears, take a look at client's body shape and try to identify client's colour type. 

If a client aims to update the wardrobe, identify the functional purpose of the wardrobe the client is going to update: for work or for leisure, if it's for work then field of activity and client's role, type of a dress code, ask what style does a client prefer, how does your client want to demonstrate himself to public, colour preference, lifestyle, ask what is the main requirement your client sets for clothes: quality, trendy, unique, brand, price, personal tailoring, what brands prefer, which shops she/he goes for shopping and the budget your client has for shopping. 

Very important to build friendly conversation with your client rather than question-answer interview. The role of a personal stylist here is not only get answers to questions but also feel the client's personality, identify what style will flatter client's body shape taking into account client's personality. It is important that a client feels comfortable and confident in his/her new clothes.The role of a personal stylist is to discover new shops for a client although taking into account client's preferences. 

Another important point is to build a good trustful relations with clients and be able to convince a client if it's needed. You should really love your clients :)          

The Body Shapes

Hi all! Today I want to write about body shapes. Understanding your body shape is as important as knowing your colour type .You should know your body shape before shopping for clothes as this knowledge helps you to decide how to correct and camouflage some parts of your body and demonstrate the most beautiful ones. There are 5 general body shapes: Hourglass, Pear, Inverted Triangle (Strawberry), Slender/Athletic (Rectangle) and Apple.

         

       Hourglass    Pear       Strawberry   Slender         Apple

 

 HOURGLASS

• full hip-line and full bust-line are the same width
• waist is defined
• when you gain weight, the fat usually stores evenly throughout the well-proportional curves

This type of body is considered as the ideal shape because of it's proportions and defined waist. Fashion stylists strive to create this type of silhouette.
When it comes to dressing hourglass, remember that the waist line is the focal point of the body.

You will best look in:
Tops - V neck, scoop neck and sweetheart neck fitted or fitting tops and v-neck fitted cardigans

Dresses - all wrap and back-tie

Trousers & jeans - wide leg trousers, boot cut and flared style jeans

Skirt - pencil, A-line, knee length skirt
Coats&Jackets - V-neck styled, tailored, belted and trench style. Cropped waist length  jackets
Footwear: rounded or peep toe

AVOID:
Shapeless, baggy clothes that will hide your curves, unless you use them with belt.
Flap side pockets on trousers
Blouses with bows or flounces
Flat, lace-up shoes
Ankle strap, pointy shoes
Cowboy boots

 

PEAR

• Your shoulders are narrow and may be sloped
• Given your bigger lower body, your waist is defined
• Legs are likely full or muscular

Draw attention away from your curves by highlighting your upper body - from waist and up. This is based on the golden style principle of the "Enhance & Minimize"-trick that helps adding width and volume to your upper body. 

You will best look in:

Tops - with large collars, lapels or sleeves

Dresses - shirt style with A-line skirt and other waisted A line styles. Choose dresses that add volume and detail on the waistline and over the bust, while glide over the hips

Trousers&jeans - wide leg, flat front trousers or flares. Clean lines and muted darker colours are best, high waist style

Skirt - waisted, A-line, maxi and gypsy skirts are also fine as long as they are not too full skirted.

Coats&Jackets - structured styles with well-defined shoulders, can be double breasted.

Footwear - medium to high heel to give length to the legs and de-emphasize hips and thighs.

Avoid:

Tube, pencil and fishtail skirt

Plain tops with low necklines

  

STRAWBERRY

 It's the most athletic-looking silhouette among the 5 body shapes and can be seen on many catwalk models.

• Shoulders are noticeably wider than your hip-line
• Your body figure may project a sporty and athletic physique
• Great legs often come with this body shape
• Your hips look straight given your shoulders being broad
• You have little to no waist definition

You should draw attention away from your shoulder-line. Adding more volume and width around your hip-line and thighs balances out your silhouette. 


You will best look in:
Tops - low U and V necks, relatively simple and smooth, large straps, one-shoulder top
Dresses - bias cut, waisted, full circle, minimum details and patterns above waist and patterns below waist
Trousers&Jeans - wide leg, flat front or flares and cargo pants with side or hip pockets
Skirt - waisted, full or flowing, A line and full circle, fishtail, bias cut
Footwear - bright coloured and eye catching shoes – they grab people's attention to your great legs and add some weight to your lower half.

 

SLENDER/ATHLETIC

• Your bust and hips are approximately at the same width
• You have little or no waist definition
• Your waist measures from 1" to 8" smaller than the bust
• If you gain weight, typically, the pounds would distribute evenly throughout your body frame

You should create curves on top part and lower part of your body defining your waist with belts.
You will best look in:

Tops -  frills, ruffles, bows, round, high neck and slash neck, layered tops
Dress - bias cut, straight, full or tulip skirted, dropped waist will create curve at the hipline.
Skirt - A-line, pencil and tulip skirts will create a beautiful silhouette
Trousers&Jeans - all types of pants and jeans with any amount of details - from skinny/slim to wide leg, with details on hips and bottom to add dimension.
Coats&Jackets - sharp tailored jacket or flared coat, styles with hem line on hips, nipped waist
Footwear - any variety

 APPLE

• You carry weight around your mid-section and chest (eg. big bust, protruding tummy).
• Your rib cage and and back appear somewhat wide
• You may have wide or/and fleshy shoulders
• You probably have fabulous legs and boobs (you may be well endowed)
• Your waistline is undefined or has little waist definition
• Your hips may be narrow (similar to Strawberry, but your midsection is fuller/wider)

You will need to draw attention away from your abdominal and torso part as well as accentuate your best bits such as your breasts and legs.

You will best look in:
Tops - low or embellished neckline or a V neck, hip length tops and tunics, waterfall detail or vertical stripes
Dress - empire line and bias cut, softly gathered maxi and wrap style, straight cut shift dresses
Trousers&Jeans - flat fronted, semi low rise, boot cut or flared, go for styles with a bit of stretch to create fit around slender legs
Skirts - knee or calf length, bias cut, asymmetric hemlines
Coats&Jackets - fitted jacket that buttons below the bust, empire line is ideal, single breasted style, V-necklines
Footwear - any variety

Avoid:
Short, boxy jackets or styles fitted to the waist, fitted tops that cling and pleated skirts.

Now when you know your body shape and the colour type, you are ready for shopping :)
My learning about personal shopping in my next post. Stay tuned ;)

Seasonal colour types. Part 1

We learnt how to define a skin tone in my previous blog and now ready to identify the colour types.

I am going to write about seasonal colour type typology.

As the name says for itself, there are 4 seasonal colour types: Autumn, Spring, Summer and Winter.  

Seasonal colour types divide into Warm and Cool group.

Warm: Spring, Autumn

Cool: Summer, Winter

First, face should be clean of all make up, no any cream or foundation. Use only day light for colour identification.

Second, define basic variables:

1. the undertone of your skin, colour of your hair and eyes (warm/golden vs cool/ashy)

2. how light vs deep your overall colouring and specifically your hair is

Warm colour types: 

SPRING: clear light warm

Skin: light, clear, warm undertone. Cheeks turn a peachy colour when blush. There might be freckles.

Hair: light golden blond to medium brown with gold highlights, or strawberry blond

Eyes: clear blue, turquoise, green, hazel or light brown

Spring colours: 

Warm colours are recommended for people of spring colour type. Colour pallet should be clear, light and warm. Bright white and deep black colours around portrait zone are the most non-recommended option for spring and might only be used for basic clothing only accompanied by accessories like necklace, earrings or broach of spring colour pallet. Only in this case bright white and deep black colours will flatter the spring . For other clothes replace with ivory, eggshell colours and brown. However dark brown is too dark for spring. 

Jewellery: yellow, reddish gold, golden pearl, leather and straw weaving.

AUTUMN: soft deep warm

Skin: warm, tawny, golden undertone, might be freckles.

Hair: red, auburn, dark brown or black with red or gold highlights

Eyes: hazel, medium to black-brown, olive or warm green. 

Autumn colours

Autumn landscape colours are ideal for this colour type. Warm, earth, heavy nuances with reddish, golden reflection.

Cool, bright colours are not recommended as well as pastel. 

Basic colours: khaki, dark bottle green, rusty brown, glowing orange, warm creamy, camel beige

Jewellery: all warm yellow and copper.