Fall Style in Paris

Fall Style in Paris by Leslie Rouch Gonzales on Polyvore.com

You can have great style!

This season there are exciting new silhouettes to try! However, many women are afraid to try something new with their style. Perhaps because they don't know if the style is right for them. Is it right for their body shape, is it too "out of the box" and fashion-forward because they are afraid to try something new? Being stuck in a style rut makes your life dull, so why not explore new style?

Many women sit on the sidelines and let fabulous style just pass them by. Is this you, and if so why? What is holding you back from great style?

You certainly don't have that twenty-something shape anymore, but aren't you more confident than you were then? What is holding back your style could be your negative attitude and the social media's influence of what the "perfect" woman's body is....

(This cute sweater vest is a fabulous fall style---Coldwater Creek)

Women sometimes give up on style and feel they can never look as good as they once did--when they were younger or thinner. I’m here to tell you beauty is NOT a size or particular shape. What is important is finding out what styles are best for your body shape. Learning how to highlight your good parts and minimize the not so good parts is what makes you look great. When women dress for today they feel like a million bucks!


Be realistic with yourself and love yourself enough to make some changes in your appearance. No more do you have to just put on “whatever”! You can have great style—just the way you are!

The media's negative talk doesn't help us! When it comes to images of beautiful women, we are inundated by the media of what women should look like. When you stand at the check-out lane in the grocery store, you see slim, vivacious women on the covers of magazines. You see celebrities that look too good to be true. Guess what? They are! The glossy photos of women on the cover of Cosmo, and other magazines, ALL have been air brushed to perfection. Yes, they may be beautiful women, but if the angle was not quite right or they appeared “thicker” than what the editor had in mind, then picture is re-touched to make them appear “perfect”. This in NOT what real women look like! (Thank Goodness) To get a more realistic idea… look around you. Open your eyes and see women on a bus, in the doctor’s office, out shopping at the stores--everywhere. They are not magazine covers--they are REAL women. They are beautiful women with flabby arms, average height, petite women with full bottoms, those with skinny arms and everything in-between. Take a look in the mirror and see what another REAL woman looks like—YOU!

Regardless of your dress size, shape or age you CAN have terrific style all you have to do is reach out and grab it! Make it happen! All women have some figure challenges—it a matter of finding the styles and cuts that work for you. When you learn WHAT to wear and WHY, then you will begin to have that style other women envy!

You may wish you had that “twenty-something” body again. Don’t live in the past! Instead, dress for today and look ahead to great style! Start learning to dress your body shape and your body will “appear” well proportioned and everyone will want to know what your “style secrets”are! Great style is NOT a size or shape--it's about attitude, great fit and knowing what styles are your best! Having great style is for YOU!

Need help knowing what styles are most flattering for your shape? Check out my website: http://www.missussmartypants.com/
 
Love, Leslie

Leggings: to wear them OR not to wear them....

(photos: Ann Taylor Loft)

Dear SYSters,


It’s now officially the beginning of fall (according to the stores). It may not yet seem like fall where you live (I know, it’s over 90 degrees here) but it’s time to start thinking about the new fall fashions—even if you can’t wear them yet.


Preparing your wardrobe ahead of the cooler weather will assure you style will shine all season long. I’m happy to report many stylish SYSters are beginning to put their fall wardrobes together right now. I’m so looking forward to the first cold day I can wear my new gray boots—aren’t you?

So far this season here is the one question I’m asked most often:

“I’m over 40, can I still wear leggings?”

This is not a “one size fits all” type of question to answer. However, that being said, you’re never too old to wear leggings. Really, you are not too old! What is more important is how or what you wear them with!


You should wear leggings with longer tunics, dresses above the knee, sweater dresses and long boyfriend jackets and sweaters. Your bottom should ALWAYS be covered when wearing leggings. Leggings look equally good with flats, pumps or boots/booties (depending upon what you are wearing).


Which color of legging is best? For the best look, select leggings in the same color as the shoe you are wearing. Leave the zebra print leggings and bright colors to the teenage girls!


STYLE TIP: Treat your leggings like tights—don’t wear them like pants. Follow this tip and you’ll never look like you forgot your pants. Instead you'll be “Showing Your Style” SYSter—every time you wear leggings!


Love, Leslie MSP


Ah, NO! Wearing a different color of shoe makes your legs look stumpier! Not a good look....

Ah, NO! Ladies, don't do this...Cover your bits!



Do pair up a longer tunic or sweater (or dresses & skirts) with your leggings....

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What's your opinion about leggings? Are you going to wear them with me this season?Join my MSP’s facebook fanpage and give your opinion about leggings and more:


http://www.facebook.com/pages/MissusSmartyPants/133840446927?ref=mf

Find YOUR ideal skirt length

What's your best skirt length?

As you all know I'm all about finding the right body proportions and wearing the right styles for your shape! It's what REAL style is all about for women...wearing what flatters YOU!

Recently I was "googling" and I came across a website talking about skirt length. I wasn't looking for anything about skirt length...but one click lead to another and there I was SIDETRACKED! Argh! I found an article about measuring and forgot what I was originally doing, LOL! Anyways...since my recent posting about body measurements and horizontal lines that are created on our bodies with the clothes we wear...well, I got engrossed all over again! Below, I'll give you the measurement formula I learned back in college in one of my advanced sewing classes--so you can find YOUR best skirt length...

So, what is the "right" skirt length? These last couple of seasons, skirt length has been up in "mini" territory or about mid-thigh-ish--and it's just not something most ladies can wear!!! Thankfully most women are ignoring this trend and wearing whatever length they prefer. This fall we find skirt lengths all over the place. Marc Jacobs and other designers are now bringing back mid-calf lengths (I think just to mess with our heads, LOL)! So, my timeless advice of wearing what works BEST for you--still holds true!

Does this look good?!

When wearing boots...this awkward length doesn't look so bad...

Wear what you love, what flatters you and be the best "first rate version of yourself"!

Here is the "formula" for figuring out your most flattering length:

(You'll need a cloth measuring tape)

You’ll take 2 measurements: from your hipbone straight down the outside of your leg to the middle of your kneecap, and from the middle of your kneecap (outside edge) straight down to the middle of your ankle bone.

Here’s the formula:

(LONGER LEG LENGTH minus SHORTER LEG LENGTH) divided by 2 = X

X is the number of inches above or below the knee your skirt length should be.  If your shins are shorter than your thighs, raise your hem X inches above your knee.  If your thighs are shorter than your shins, lower the hem X inches below the knee.

Basically you want to visually equalize the length of the upper and lower leg.

So, I did it and here are my calculations...

Hipbone to middle of knee: 24"

Middle of knee to ankle bone: 17"

Difference = 7"

Divided by 2 = 3.5"

So, my IDEAL skirt length can go up or below my knee 3.5"...I played with this in front of my full length mirror and I agree that both lengths will be attractive on me (but keep in mind, I'm tall so I have more vertical space to play with in the first place). It's good to know since skirt lengths are coming back DOWN again. Actually, according to this calculation--I should go UP above my knees to balance things out since my thigh measurement is larger....I'm not feeling it right now. Maybe when the weather cools and I'm wearing opaque tights....

Long story short...I still maintain that my BEST skirt length is around my knee. It works for me and it'll still work for YOU! So, if you follow my timeless advice about wearing your skirts around your knee area--you can chuck this whole skirt calculation thingie right out the window!!!! LOL!

I'm sticking with what works for me....

But, do the calculation because you may have some skirts hanging in your closet long or short and it's good to know if the length considered right for you :)

I'd love to hear your opinion...
Your turn. What do you think? What skirt length are you going to wear this season???

Save $ at Target

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5 fabulous money saving tips worth checking out!