When I receive fashion alerts from major department stores, I am always taken aback with the featured designs. “Moto” – Translation, tough biker girl look. “Beatnik” – think back to the beatnik look of the ‘60’s or “hippie”. Contemporary – be prepared for very short and very young. Where are the clothes for the woman over 40? What is a business professional to do?
Fortunately, once you get beyond these labels, there is a good selection of attractive, professional looks.
Skirt lengths vary from shorts length to below the knees. Choose a length that best flatters you. Hems can be changed. The most flattering length will gives you the appearance of a long leg line. For business, choose no more than 2” above the knee. If the skirt is straight, test it to see how much it pulls up when you sit down. Some very slim skirts can become seductively short!
Skinny and slim cut trousers are still the preferred look this fall. If you have a triangle shape (wider through the hips than shoulders) this may not be the best look for you. You can wear them with a tunic-style top that covers your hips. An oval can also wear this look. The key is to camouflage where you are wider and accentuate where you are slimmer. Whenever you wear something wider than the body like a tunic, it should be balanced with close-fitting to avoid looking sloppy. For those of you who prefer trousers with fuller legs, hang in there. The spring collections that are being shown now are trending back in that direction.
Over the knee boots and fur trim are two more very big looks. They can be beautiful but finesse is required to achieving the right balance. I like both looks but they may not be the best investment if you are trying to achieve a core wardrobe on a budget.
If something doesn’t work for you this season, there are always new collections coming in a matter of months. If it doesn’t work, take a pass. Be true to yourself and choose only those colors and styles that say YOU!