Shapewear helps to flatten out our bodily lumps and bumps, and is effective for special occasions when we want to look our very best. But shapewear is also too hot, uncomfortable and time consuming to wear every day. Your alternative is to dress in ways that camouflage the “extra bits” around the midsection.

Here’s how:

1. Wear higher rise pants, jeans and skirts: This is probably one of the best ways to feel girdled and comfortable. Most of the time, the idea is that you wear tops over bottoms with higher rises, but sometimes you’ll get away with tucking a top into a high rise skirt and look quite svelte.
2. Wear a camisole: This offers a similar effect to shapewear with ten times the comfort.
3. Layer your clothing: It’s easy to conceal a midsection by layering a structured jacket, waistcoat or cardigan over a top because it draws attention away from the midriff. This strategy does require cooler weather, but it’s hands down the most effective.
4. Look for prints and texture: They have better “camouflaging capabilities” than tops with solid colours.
5. Select ruched tops: The effect of the folds is forgiving.
6. Select items that float away from the waistline: Think empire cuts (with or without gathers), banded tops and subtle trapeze silhouettes. Volume in the right place can be your friend.
7. Opt for woven tops: The rigidity of form fitting garments made of woven fabric will skim the contour of your body instead of clinging to it like jersey knit does.
8. Wear knitwear: Look for cotton, viscose and merino wool blends in fine gauge knitwear. Their thicker texture is less clingy than drapey jersey knit and therefore more flattering.
9. Wear dresses: Most fit-and-flares, some empire cuts, trapeze frocks and dresses with front and side ruching can work wonders to smooth out your silhouette, especially if printed.
10. Stand tall and be proud of your style: Good posture and confidence makes all clothing look better.

Do you have other strategies to share? Shapeless caftans and huge Muumuus don’t count. We want to see your cute shape in clothing.

Fit and flare dress layered with a cardigan, empire cut knitted mesh top and woven trapeze style blouse.

Knitted A-line voluminous top, ruched knitted mesh top and woven banded blouse.

This is the second Spring season that I’ve embraced light grey as a neutral and I’m loving it. It’s softer and lighter than black, charcoal, navy and brown and just as versatile. Along with white it’s my favourite neutral for warm weather.

Silver grey sounds blah and boring, but to my surprise its cool and fresh integrity works beautifully. I like it best worn with white and/or a colour (bright or muted). And the white can be in the form of an accessory like a handbag or beaded necklace instead of an article of clothing. If you add black into the mix, be sure to add white at the same time too. This prevents your ensemble from looking and feeling Wintery.

As a fair skinned blonde who looks best in bold, sour colours, I used to think I looked dreadful in a silver grey. But I’ve found that wearing it with oomph through texture and sheen makes all the difference. If I wear light grey on its own, the fabric has to have luster and texture. And If I wear a flat light grey, I have to mix it with white and a bright. So it just goes to show that you cannot see colours in isolation. Wearing a so called dull colour in the right way can be flattering.

Flat silver grey brought to life when worn with white and a bright. If you wear muted colours better than brights, opt for that combination instead.

Textured silver grey items: a subtle herringbone on a waistcoat, sheen and ruching detail on an anorak and colourful embellishment on a silk blouse. All of these items are once again shown with white. White makes everything right!

We see this trend waft in and out of fashion and this season it’s back for tops and frocks. Grecian, breezy, cool, asymmetrical and alluring are words that come to mind when I see one shoulder dressing. I’m not particularly drawn to the style, but don’t mind it either. It can make for an interesting look.

If you fancy the vibe, you’ll need a strapless bra and minimal accessories. A cuff or chunky bracelet with a clutch gets my vote over anything else (wearing the wrist accessory on the arm that bares it’s shoulder). I’d also leave one shoulder dressing for evening settings like date nights, parties, clubs, dinner events and fancy functions. You’d probably get away with sporting a casual version of the look at a beach resort during the day, but that’s about it.

Any takers?

It took a while for me to figure out that a “purse” in American English refers to what I call a handbag. In British English, a purse is more of a wallet and that’s the meaning I’ve been accustomed to my whole life. So I carry a purse in my handbag, like you might say that you carry a wallet in your purse. You can imagine how funny it was when I first heard people saying that they like to fit a bottle of water in their purse. That’s one giant purse.

Wikipedia explains it well:

“In American English, a purse is a small bag, also called a handbag or a pocketbook.”

“In British English, a purse is a small money container similar to a wallet, but typically used by women and including a compartment for coins, with a handbag being considerably larger; indeed, a purse is often kept in a handbag.”

I have American friends that use the word handbag instead of purse, just like I do. Is it a regional thing, or is the word “purse” on the way out? Which word do you use?