If you have a narrow calf it can be hard to find boots

that don’t feel huge around your calf.

Follow some simple rules when shopping, and you can avoid the head-ache, and any future dis-content with your boots!

Shopping Tips:

– Start by measuring the circumference of your calf and then search for boots with a similar calf circumference.

{Rely on sites like zappos.com and 6pm.com}

(samples selected below from these sites)

-Don’t forget to read reviews.

-Feedback from others can also help you decipher the fit of a potential purchase.

Ladies,

Are you sitting there thinking that you  -OWN -the wardrobe, but not sure -WHERE- everything has gone, or -HOW- to piece the clothes you own together?

Let me come to you for your very own ‘Closet Edit’, and we can work through some of the most common wardrobing dilemma’s together!

-Lee

Just found out you are expecting,

or a few-months in and looking to spice up your maternity wardrobe?

A couple years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter I remember wondering if designers who make maternity clothes think women quit their jobs immediately upon hearing they are pregnant in order to sit at home in casual frocks eating bon-bons.

Seriously people! ……Being pregnant doesn’t mean you don’t want to look chic and professional. 

Here are some closet additions to keep your pregnancy wardrobe versatile, professional, and fun!

Click here for quick links to purchase:

1. A Pea in the Pod Pants

2. Isabella Oliver: Easy to throw on Dress

3. A Pea in the Pod Top

4.Isabella Oliver: A-line Skirt 

5. Rosie Pope: sweater

6. Isabella Oliver: Everyday Blazer

7. Olian: Dress

8. A Pea in the Pod: Sweater

The key element to complimenting your body type is wearing clothes that create balance. Whether you’re smaller on the top, bigger on the bottom, or fall somewhere in between, it’s important to understand the power of fabric colors, textures, and sizes, when finding a figure-flattering dress.

For people with  . . .

·        Curvaceous Hips: It’s important to balance out your body shape, since those with curvy hips tend to be larger on the bottom than the top. Balance can be achieved by wearing a dress that has a wide V-neck, boat neck, or off-the-shoulder top. Try to stay away from dresses that have bulky fabric at the bottom. This will add even more curve to your hips and draw attention away from the top portion of your body. A pencil skirt matched with a wide V-neck top will also flatter curvy hips. Also, wearing lighter, floral, or vibrant colored tops and dark colored bottoms will equalize your look.

·        Petite: Go for slim fitting dresses and skirts if you have a petite body. Anything baggy works against your look, making you appear lost in the material. Also, matching a slim fitting top and high-waist skirt (that comes above the naval) is the perfect combination for petite figures. To appear taller in your spring dress, trade in flats for espadrilles or strappy heels. Another way to create the illusion of height is to wear a pencil skirt. They’re slender, which adds length to your body.

·        A Larger Bust: Wearing dark colored tops and light colored bottoms will create a balanced look for those who are well-endowed. Also, look for dresses that allow a small amount of cleavage to peak through. A little cleavage can go a long way. It’s important to find dresses that fit appropriately on top. If you wear a dress that is too tight on top, you’ll start to bulge in numerous directions. Bulge can also happen if you are wearing the wrong bra size. Experts say women should be sized for their bust area every six months, as there can be slight fluctuations in weight, hormones, and body shape. A full-coverage, proper-sized bra will hold you in, while still showing a little skin.

·        Plus–Size: Tailored dresses that glide along the shape of the body are perfect for plus-size figures. They’re not too snug and not too baggy. Materials that are too stretchy or thin will fall on unwanted bulges, so it’s important to look for dresses that have a thin lining. Also, look for dresses that are darker in hue since they tend to make larger figures look slimmer. Again, every aspect of the dress should graze the skin, not snuggly hug it.

Now that you know what types of dresses flatter your body type, it’s time to find the perfect dress and shoes. Let Charleston Style Concierge be your personal shopper  in Charleston, SC, and help you find the best clothes to fit your individual lifestyle. We are dedicated to helping men and women feel more confident by developing a unique personal style. Contact us  today at 843.323.2466.   

For more tips on dressing for your specific body type visit Find the Perfect Bathing Suit to Flatter Your Body Type, or visit Find the Perfect Pair of Shorts to Flatter Your Body Type.    

Don’t shy away from the word shorts just yet. They aren’t simply for the young and the skinny. There are thousands of styles and cuts to choose from to flatter your individual body type.

Similar to our previous blog post, Find the Perfect Bathing Suit to Flatter Your Body Type, finding great shorts can be just as simple with the right tips and strategies.

Look fantastic this spring in the perfect pair of figure friendly shorts by following these effective personal style tips:

·        Plus Size: If you have a larger bottom, wider hips, and larger thighs, find a pair of shorts that fits appropriate to your hip and bottom size. The waist should fit the same way as pants—snug, yet not too tight. Look for shorts with a tailored leg, not a tight fitting or baggy leg. Shorts with a leg that goes halfway down the thigh are perfect for all body types, especially those with shorter legs because this style makes legs appear longer. Knee-length shorts or Bermuda shorts are also excellent for plus size figures because they hide the upper thighs. Since tailored knee-length shorts tend to make legs appear shorter, match them with a heel or wedge to make your legs look longer.

·        Short Legs: Try shorts with a three to five inch inseam (depending on how much thigh you’re trying to cover) to make short legs appear longer. Match with wedges or sandals. These shorts pair well with a tucked-in button down top, and a scarf belt. Visit jcrew.com for a selection of fantastic shorts, scarf belts, and tops.

·        Petite: Shorts with a waistband that sits right above or below the naval are excellent for petit body sizes. A fitted, tucked-in shirt goes extremely well with these shorts. This style is perfect for a warm night out with a pair of pumps or a casual stroll through downtown Charleston during the day with a pair of flats or sandals.

Many shorts can be dressed down or up depending on the pair of shoes, jewelry, and top you pair with them. I suggest finding styles and cuts that can be worn on both a formal and casual occasion. This way you can get the maximum usage out of one pair of shorts and its versatility can match all aspects of your personal lifestyle.

Let Charleston Style Concierge  be your personal shopper in Charleston, SC and help you find the perfect pair of shorts to flatter your body type. Contact us at 843.323.2466 to learn more about our amazing services. Isn’t it time you mastered the art of effortless style?         

Here in Charleston, SC it’s important to cater your style  around temperature and UV index changes. Before stepping foot outside for a downtown stroll, remember the three spring essentials (in addition to sunscreen) for looking fabulous, while protecting yourself from the sun.

The Three Essentials for a Spring Stroll:

1)  A floppy hat: Protect yourself from the sun while looking fabulous in a chic floppy hat. Wear an SPF lotion on your face, as well, for double protection. When you walk down the street on a hot day, sweat tends to wash away a lot of the SPF you have on, which is why it’s important to have another form of protection. You can never be too careful when it comes to protecting yourself from the sun.

2)  A light scarf: Jazz up a light-colored spring outfit with a bold and colorful scarf.   A light-weight scarf adds color, flare, and texture to your spring outfit and also protects delicate neck skin from the sun. You might be thinking a scarf will make you sweat profusely, but the right feather-weight scarf is airy and light on your skin.

3)  A pair of sunglasses: Protect your eyes from the harsh sun with a pair of chic sunglasses. The combination of the floppy hat, light-weight scarf, and sunglasses is a fantastic look for spring, and can be adapted to your own personal style. No need for make-up—just an SPF lotion on your face, a light dusting of powder, and some mascara will do the trick. 

Need a personal shopper in Charleston, SC? Let Charleston Style Concierge find you the perfect spring essentials to fit your individual lifestyle. We’ll help you improve your personal style and provide you with tips and strategies to have lifelong effortless style. Contact us today at 843.323.2466 to learn about our many services, including closet editing, personal shopping, and personal styling.

Everyone’s body type is different. And let’s face it, there are certain bathing suits that simply don’t flatter certain body types. Every woman should feel confident when hitting the beach, and the type of suit she’s wearing makes a huge difference.

So, which suit is right for you this spring?

• If you have a plus size figure: Don’t hide behind a cover up the whole time you’re at the beach—find a bathing suit that is flattering to your curves. You’ll be strutting your stuff across the beach in no time with the perfect suit. If you’re looking to control your mid section a bit, while going for the hourglass look, try one piece suits that have a controlled middle. Miraclesuits that are spandex lined are perfect to bring in your mid section, while still expressing your gorgeous curves. If you have a large bottom and are a little shy to show it off, wear a short matching skirt with it to hide your upper thigh and bottom.

• If you have a long torso: Go for suits with prints and embellishments. Horizontal stripes are great, but avoid vertical stripes—these can make you look too long. Skirted bottoms are also excellent to attract the eye to your hips.
• If you have a short torso: Match a solid bottom with a printed top to draw the eye to the top of your body. This will make your torso appear longer. Stay generic when choosing bottoms—you don’t want to draw the downward. One piece suits with a low-cut front are perfect for creating the illusion of a long torso and are absolutely sexy. 
• If you have a petite figure: If you have both a petite bottom and bust try to find suits that make your body appear more curvaceous. For a small bust, a suit with a bit of padding, push up, and adjustable straps is perfect to show off the beautiful curves you already have, plus some. Strapless bandeau tops are also great for those with smaller busts. Try going for a suit with prints as oppose to solid. Solid colors tend to bog down the look of your bust. Wear a bottom with a print to accentuate your curves. If you have a petite waistline a suit with a high-cut thigh-line works great to create the illusion of curves.   

Don’t hide from the beach this spring. Find the right suit for you and show some skin with confidence. If you have trouble finding a bathing suit, let Charleston Style Concierge  help you find the perfect suit to flatter your body type. We are a style consulting company based in Charleston, SC, specializing in personal shopping, closet editing, and personal styling. We provide you with the tips, strategies, and help you need to have effortless and easy style.  Contact us today at 843.323.2466 and see how stress free life can be with a personal stylist.

Spring has arrived and it’s time to pull out the essentials from your closet.The cute dresses, playful skirts, and vibrant colored tops will of course make an appearance this spring, but these clothes are going to have to move over, because there’s another style moving in this spring—pants. Not just any pants—slim, fitted, and totally chic pants.

Don’t let the words slim and fitted scare you though. If you don’t have that bikini body just yet, these pants will work. Inspired by menswear, these pants tend to give leeway to the waistline, while fitting your legs to create long, lean lines. If you’re looking for something new and sexy to wear out this spring, a pair of slim fitting pants is the way to go.

How to choose the perfect pair . . .

·        Look for a somewhat slouchy front (not frumpy).

·        Make sure the pant legs are lean, skinny, and tailored.

·        Don’t choose colors that are too vibrant. Remember, these pants are modeled after menswear with femme flair. Choose black, gray, or navy. These pants should exude elegance and sophistication.

·        Look for dressy fabrics. These pants are meant to be worn out to cocktail parties and night time events. You’ll know you found the perfect pair when you feel slim, sexy, confident, and strong in them.

·        If you haven’t quite reached that spring body you’ve just started working out for, find a pair with a higher waistline. The high waistline hides the areas you don’t want seen!   

Since the pants you find are going to be a neutral color, it’s important to add spice and flavor to your outfit. What should you pair with your perfectly fitted pants?

·        Choose a vibrant colored clutch to go with this outfit.

·        Match with your favorite pair of sexy pumps (a bold color is the way to go).

·        Choose chunky jewelry to go with these pants, but be careful not to overdo the accessories.

* CAUTION: Don’t mix and match too many colors. Choose one or two colors to go with the pants. For example, wear a pair of royal purple pumps, with a matching purple top, and chunky black jewelry.

If the thought of shopping for new spring clothes and accessories this year is too much, Charleston Style Concierge has the perfect solution for you. We provide all of our clients with personalized services and style tips they can use every day. We learn about our clients’ personal style and preferences as much as possible before offering expert advice, because we know each person is different. Contact Charleston Style Concierge today at 843.323.2466 to learn more about our amazing personal style services, or visit our website at http://www.charlestonstyleconcierge.com/. Isn’t it time you perfected your style?

We’re all guilty of having major bag envy at times. We see a woman walk down the street with the latest Prada and find ourselves swooning. It happens.

For many of us, especially during this recession, buying extremely expensive handbags every season isn’t an option. If you want to stay current with the always-changing trends, look chic, and feel great, all while cutting back spending—Charleston Style Concierge has the answer for you.

The key is to have a collection of three or four moderately priced handbags and match them with different outfits. Add little accents here and there to make it appear like you have 50 new and stylish looks! Make sure each bag you own can go with a handful of outfits you own, because what’s the point of owning an expensive bag that can only go with one or two outfits?

Learn some tricks of the trade from Charleston Style Concierge . . .

• Look for bags that have a classic timeless style.  Trendy bags are fabulous and we’ll always drool at the sight of them, but often you no longer want to use them the following year.  If you want to buy less and wear more of what you have a great classic bag can help you achieve wardrobe versatility.
• Shop for neutral colored bags such as black, brown, and nude—between the three of these colors you can wear every outfit you have with one of them.
• Find a bold colored bag you absolutely love and buy it. You’ll feel fresh, confident, and playful wearing it.  Many colors are pseudo-neutrals and can be paired with most of your wardrobe.  Remember, your shoes and bag don’t have to match.
• Look for accessories to use on your bags that can spice them up. For example, let’s say you are wearing a pair of skinny jeans and a cherry red silk top out for dinner. Wear your black bag with this outfit and fasten on a matching scarf or funky pin. You can dress bags up with a simple touch here and there.

For more personal style and spring fashion tips, visit Charleston Style Concierge at http://www.charlestonstyleconcierge.com. We’re dedicated to providing each client with services tailored to their specific style and needs. Visit our services page to learn more about how we can help you perfect your style. With spring around the corner, it’s a new beginning and the perfect time to make changes to your personal style . . .