Shorts, which are totally fashionable this summer, are a versatile staple that can easily be dressed up or down with a shrewd choice of tops and accessories. Plus, even if they are by nature quite an informal garment, when carefully chosen and paired they can be used also for more formal settings still delivering an impeccable outcome. . If you want to get flattering results, though, some caution is necessary in order to achieve a getup that’s sophisticated – while at the same time enhancing your figure. If you wish to make your silhouette look thinner and taller, for instance, it’s better to avoid using contrasting colors for shorts and tops, because this would divide your figure in two, thus making you look shorter. As you can see in the picture below on the left, this is particularly true when picking out tops that are similar, in tone, to your skin tone, as this makes your bust look longer and your legs comparatively shorter. . Conversely, on the right, the choice of colors that have the same hue makes the silhouette look slimmer. An all-white (or light-colored) outfit flatters the silhouette and gives the appearance of a thinner figure. Thanks to the bronzed skin, the legs and arms look thinner, whereas […]

Warm days are finally here, and last weekend I spent a few days by the sea in a well-known and quite elegant marine locality in Tuscany. I love lazily laying under the sun – aside from being relaxing, it’s also a fun occasion to watch out for which styles happen to be currently “in fashion”, so as to decide which ones are more flattering, and which ones have a poor outcome. One of the first things I realized is that, interestingly enough, contrarily to what happens for other clothing pieces, choosing striking colors and intense hues for your swimwear can enhance the silhouette – whereas pale, pastel tonalities usually have a worse outcome. . This is due to the fact that, if the color of your bathing suit strongly contrasts with your skin tone, the eye only perceives the contrast – it’s kind of distracted by the stark contrast, and any imperfection in your figure will easily go unnoticed. Therefore, wearing bathing suits in bold, vibrant colors, is a safe way to play down any fault. For the same reason, you can have an impeccable and always chic result with white, if your skin is deeply tanned. . Also, cool colors like blue and green work better than warm tones […]

If you want to achieve a chic and impeccable appearance, hair is another key topic. Soft, luscious hair not only will make you look (and feel) more sophisticated, they will also make you feel more beautiful and attractive. Though, having an impeccable head is not always a stress-free job. Wind, pollution, and humidity can turn the most stylish girl into a wild, messy creature in a jiffy. Furthermore, many tools frequently used to achieve a faultless appearance in the short run – such as hair straightener, super-powerful hairdryer, silicone-based products – are not totally risk-free. They can slightly abrade your shiny, voluminous hair little by little, and you realize that you’ve overdone with them when it’s too late – and your hair is irremediably damaged. Don’t forget that, unlike skin, which immediately show the consequences of inappropriate care, hair can show the sign of inappropriate care after years (I learned this lesson the hard way). . Therefore, it’s essential to make use of really strengthening products that will allow you to diminish the damage of more aggressive treatments – and talking by personal experience, the most effective way to achieve this result is henna, along with other herbal masks. Contrarily to what you may think, henna (whose botanical name is Lawsonia Inermis, a […]

Continuing on the subject of the previous post, nowadays it’s possible to find in stores garments made of inexpensive fabrics that are totally easy to maintain and guarantee a chic and polished outcome at no cost at all. Among these, a material that always has a faultless outcome and is appropriate for different settings and pairings is artificial silk, be it bright or opaque. . Clothes in artificial silk do not lose their shape or color, have a soft texture, are easy to wash and usually do not require ironing, which makes them the perfect option also for traveling. Skirts as the one above will look impeccable for a long time, and if paired to timeless, well-made pieces they will look expensive even if they cost just a few bucks. . The same goes for blouses and dresses, which have a fluid wearability that is very flattering for any body type. The only drawback is that, as artificial silk is not a natural fiber, it’s better to only use it when it’s not too hot (this is mainly true for tops and dresses) so as to avoid excessive sweating, which will not look that chic. When the temperature rises, it’s better to stick to natural fibers, as mentioned in the […]

If you want to get a polished and sophisticated look at no cost, one of the most effective ways is giving preference to items that require low maintenance. Items easy to maintain – that do not lose their shape, do not pill, and do not get wrinkled easily – will elevate your whole outfit in a go, as an impeccable, spotless appearance is the key for any sophisticated lady. . Low-maintenance garments, aside from requiring so much less time for their care, can make you look one million dollars even if the majority of them costs just a few bucks. Conversely, clothes that easily lose their shape, get wrinkled in minutes, or are susceptible to pilling will make you look cheap – no matter the brand or price of the garments you’re wearing. Therefore, a wise choice is always necessary so as to pick out clothes that will make you appear faultless and in order all day long, and not just for the first ten minutes. In this post and in the following one we will cover some useful hints to pick out garments and accessories that will easily guarantee an impeccable outcome at minimum effort – both in terms of time and money. . Starting right from the top, […]

As encountered in the previous post, neutral colors are a powerful yet easy tool to enhance your style, as they allow a chic and flattering outcome, offer a nearly infinite possibility of choice, and are suitable for infinite combinations. Once a color has become neutral, it becomes easier to match it up with all others. . If you want to maximize their sophisticate allure while making you look slimmer, though, some considerations are necessary in order to make the most of their countless perks. Here are a few effective tips that you can use while picking our your daily outfit: 1. When using neutrals for your main garments (meaning tops/shirts and pants/skirts), always pair neutrals that have approximately the same intensity. This means picking out hues that contain more or less the same amount of black, avoiding pairing light hues with too dark ones (which would visually break the figure, making it look fuller). . 2. You may use darker or lighter shades for accessories or details. For instance, adding a neutral, light-colored accessory to a neutral, dark-colored outfit will ensure a sophisticated and polished outcome and increase your charme, while bringing attention away from your hips. 3. Give preference to clean, simple lines. This is always helpful to make you […]

Smart use of colors is one of the key tools when it comes to looking fashionable while flattering your figure. A wise color combination can indeed make the most of your assets, enhancing your body type and making your silhouette look more proportional. . The easiest approach to colors usually consists in picking out a base hue, then pairing it to one or more of its countless nuances and variations. This approach to color combination, though, can be quite tricky, as a slight variation in tone can indeed completely change a given tonality and make it unsuitable for certain pairings. Furthermore, not everyone knows that the perception of a specific hue may completely change depending on the other surrounding colors. The example in the image below makes it crystal clear: the two small squares look different, but they are exactly the same shade! . To play it safe, one of the easiest ways is making extensive use of neutral colors (which, among other things, is totally fashionable this season, meaning that the options are nearly endless). As already encountered when talking about the tricks to flatter your figure with jeans, neutral colors will give you the opportunity to really go wild with an infinite possibility of choices, allowing to get […]

One of the main staples for spring months is undoubtedly a shirt, and particularly a white shirt, which allows you to get a polished look that’s timeless, chic, and even—if you want—extremely sexy. As my co-author Benedetta always says, “if you find your perfect white shirt, people will remember you as an attractive, chic, charming, and interesting woman. They will not say that you were wearing a nice shirt—they will probably not even remember your shirt, but they will certainly remember you.” A white shirt can make the most of your style, brightening your features and making you shine even with a simple, classy look. For an impeccable choice, don’t forget that with a cotton shirt, quality is a must. If you choose a low-quality cut or fabric, all its allure goes out the window. The fabric should be soft, and the yarn should remain the same over time (also, consider that the higher the cotton quality, the easier it is to iron, which takes a considerable importance if you have to iron your own garments). . Things are different, though, for loose blouses in synthetic silk: these garments may have lovely results even if their quality is not outstanding (and they have the extra perk that they do not […]

In spring, the choice of the perfect outfit is not always an easy one. Aside from any unexpected changes in weather conditions (you get out of home at 7 AM on a rainy, windy day, ending up half-collapsed under the sun at 4 PM), in this season you don’t have tanned legs and arms to help you look slimmer (as in summer), nor can you hide leg imperfections with knee-high boots (as you can do in the winter). Therefore, choosing the perfect ensemble becomes essential when picking out your daily garments. In order to avoid getting lost in a chock-full closet just to find out that you have nothing to wear (and buy the twentieth sweater in a color that’s so up to date, but also so not you), it’s essential to stock your wardrobe with perfect, well-established garments that will allow you to create easygoing yet chic outfits that can be easily dressed up or down simply by changing your shoes or by adding a silk scarf. One of the key pieces for any stylish outfit is undoubtedly a pair of jeans (or trousers), which in spring should preferably stay on the straight/cigarette style (keeping skinny jeans for winter, due to their different wearability). . Also, flared jeans/trousers are another wardrobe staple […]