Navy Blues

I am noticing some attractive items in Navy blue at Ann Taylor. The styling is flattering and the pieces fit my career.

However, navy doesn't really SING on me. It seems to add a matronly air. Frankly my coloring and personal vibe go to an autumn color pallete. Do I add a few outfits in this color if I doubt that I will buy much more (in the hope of mixing things in my wardobe up a little)?

Do I stick with tried and true? Maybe I have been doing this navy thing wrong. . .

Thanks, Deb300


Never succumb to a color that doesn't sing on you! Navy can support many other colors, especially if it's in a shiny fabric. Use Navy for a nice skirt, or pants, and add your really great colors as tops.

Be careful with Navy. I don't know what gets into designers who use it, but be certain that the item is absolutely up-to-date.

(They can be found at every price point. This is just an example. )

Not These

But These

Winter Party

Hi - I am 5'4 and 140 pounds. I have a black pencil skirt I wear to work often that I want to wear to a post holiday party. I have gray tights and burgundy tights and also black sheer stockings. I mostly wear a 3" heeled black boot in the winter. What can I wear to "party" it up. I am up for purchasing a top and shoes.



Since you are starting with a pencil skirt, a good piece, there are many options for tops. Try a white shirt (satin?) over which you can drape a men's black tuxedo tie, worn untied. This is a very party look. If you are an apple shape, a fine knit top, with a longer narrow satin scarf, fringed, can add impact. If your upper body is more narrow, consider a zebra print cardi over a cami.

Evening Top for a Pencil

High Shine, Easy to Wear

If Small on Top

For shoes, try metallic, (pewter?) shoes. The burgundy tights are more daytime, the gray will work with dressy (patent?) boots, and the black sheers work well for evening wear, with a closed toe shoe.

Don't forget a Terrific Clutch

Here are some more ideas:
Ili: Inject the color of right now (muted metallic/saturated gray) via blouse or shoes to make it more party-wear and wear a great patent leather belt in a vibrant color of the season (dark lavender for now? mimosa for upcoming spring?). big cocktail ring for the index finger.

Cheryl: I would suggest a silk satin blouse with nice detailing in a saturated color - perhaps ruching down the front or detail on the sleeves -patent belt and one wow piece of jewellery.

Denim Halter Vest

I have a halter vest in denim, could I wear it open above a basic t-shirt?

Yes, but there are some considerations. Don't wear it with denim pants, a denim skirt, or any other denim pieces. The Tee shirt must be in a nice, saturated color, and not so tight so that it pulls across the bosom. Also, the fabric of the Tee should be substantial, so that any idea of men's underwear is banished. The neckline of the Tee figures here, too, since a Vee may be nicer than a simple round neck. It would depend on your upper torso, and the finishing of the neckline. Consider adding a narrow scarf, with fringes, over, or inside, the open vest; a black wool pencil, tights, and boots. Some nice beads, even pearls, sound like a playful touch.

Zipper Woes

" I have a one-piece knee-length dark red dress, in matte material. It
is sleeveless, with one long zipper at the front, from the neck
position to thigh-level (yes, it is ridiculously long). The neckline
and cutting is something like this :
Similar Dress

And because of this long zipper, it leaves a bump of cloth with the
zipper right at the tummy and below it, which is really ugly. I also
have this trouble with another stretchable shirt that have zipper from
neckline till the end of the shirt. How could eliminate I this problem?"


From the SOS Think Tank:

Gelinda: A long stiff zipper simply
isn't going to bend/mold to the body and doesn't work with a lightweight fabric.
It's probably a design fault that can't be remedied in a dress or blouse.

There are jackets with the front zipper and they look good
(usually heavier material) but when the wearer sits they probably have to unzip.

If the dress is fabulous and worth saving, it's remotely possible that
the zipper can be removed and a shorter one, above the problem area,
can be put in, and the remaining opening sewed closed, but that would
change the whole look and wouldn't be easy to do.

This illustrates why things have to be tried on sitting and moving
around as well as standing still. It's especially important for curvier types.
I have bought some shirts with stiff placketing/facings
and when I sit they will ride up and make a bump - or even a point! -
at the chest. I find myself constantly having to yank them down from
the bottom, not a good mannerism to have.

There are plenty of clothes out there that look great on a mannequin standing straight
and still, but don't work for life.


Ili:
i'm familiar with the zipper insta-roll. it's pretty unavoidable when
the strip of zipper is very long, i've had that happen to Gap blouses
that zipped up, workout jackets...
i had one that i was able to wear because if i didn't zip it all the
way up (and wore a shirt or cami underneath) i could stop it right at
the point where it was starting to bulge, but with a dress, and the
location (on the stomach, not the chest) that may not be possible. if
it's on the upper part of the stomach, and provided the style lends
itself to it, perhaps a wide belt may help? pushing the bubble upward
towards the chest and wearing the zipper opened at the top instead of
closed all the way? does pulling the dress down tightly help? would
spanx help? (i'm just brainstorming here). wish i could be of more
help.
Did you notice the problem when you bought the dress or did you have
it washed and then the problem began? could it be because the fabric
shrunk.

Rescue My Shirt

I just bought a formal short-sleeved shirt to wear under the blazer/ alone. It is really a nice shirt, but after ironing it for the first time, my spoiled ironer scratched and made a small hole on it (not really a hole, but the cloth in a small area is so thin that if you look closely to it you can see through). This small area is right next to the centre button, chest-high position and I don't know how to hide it.

I am thinking of layering a big and long necklace so part of the necklace will cover that small area, but like that I can't ensure the covering because when u move the necklace will move from that area. I also think of putting a bow or some decoration on it to cover but I just can't have any idea what should i put on so that it doesn't look weird. Last idea is to put a scarf on,but this formal shirt is stripes of pink and white, really hard to get a matched scarf.

And it is a very nice and expensive shirt.... how? should i ditch it? or anybody could help me on how to fix it? it is just a small little tiny hole, but still, can't wear it alone...




Some ideas for your shirt:

Get some nice wide grosgrain ribbon, in a compatible color, like darker pink, and attach it down the front of the shirt on either side of the buttons. You'll need pieces on both sides.
Or, you can attach "jewels" along the vertical lines. They are available in plastic, and have holes for the threads. They don't have to be in perfect alignment. You could use beads, too.

There are many "embellished" shirts that you can look at for ideas.
Here's One.

and here are plenty to copy from: Beaded

Be sure that the beads or jewels are big enough to look purposeful, not skimpy.