August 2009 Style Newsletter
SIZZLING SWIMWEAR THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU
Finding the right swimwear for your shape can be a daunting experience and, for those of us in Singapore, there is no escape as we often find ourselves poolside. Thankfully, there are more outlets offering a larger variety of cozzies than ever  before so shopping has become easier but first you should know what you are looking for and what suits your shape best. A golden rule to remember is to use pattern and colour to balance your body out visually. Busy patterns draw the eye, while dark, solid colours minimize attention. Here are some tips to consider.
The Hourglass figure – typically your bust is equal or very close in measurement to your hips and your waist is small and defined. When you have even proportions and curves, you can get away with a large variety of swimwear – lucky you! If you have a voluptuous figure, you will need to support your bust well so ensure you have good support and coverage in a top. Should you be a skinny hourglass, then the classic string bikini is great on you. However, hourglasses should not do the mix-and-match thing – wearing different colours or patterns on the top and bottom will make your body look disproportional.
The Pear-shaped figure – you tend to carry more weight on the lower half of your body, normally around the hips and thighs, so you want to draw the attention away from this area. Use colour and pattern to balance your body out visually –dark, solid colour on the bottom will minimize while pattern and colour on top will draw the attention. Search out stockist's that sell bikinis as separates as this will allow you to buy different sized tops and bottoms. Details such as bows and frills should also be reserved for the top half and a moderate high-cut leg is preferable, nothing higher, and forget about boy shorts, they are definitely not flattering. Generally, pear-shapes are lucky to have flat tummies so don’t be afraid to show off your abs!
The Apple figure – most of your weight is carried in the mid-section and you will have a slim bottom and legs. An empire waist and details at the bust will help balance your frame and sometimes a bold, geometric pattern at the mid-section will provide a good distraction. Tankinis are a great choice for you, with a long top covering the waistband of the bottoms being particularly slimming. If opting for a one-piece, look for a dark, solid coloured suit, perhaps with tummy control, and diagonal ruching across the mid-section can be effective.
The Rectangle/Boyish figure – You are the lucky one who can do skimpy really well without looking vulgar. Tie tops and bottoms will look great and to add volume and curves choose girly details such as ruffles, tassels, hoops and bows. Horizontal stripes will provide width while floras and crochet detailing will visually balance a more athletic frame. Halter and sweetheart neckline tops will give the illusion of width at the bust, as will a padded bra-style cup, and strapless bandeau tops are made for you – yours is the only body shape that can carry them off. When looking at one-pieces, a belt or some other horizontal detail at the waist will create more curves.
There are a number of swimwear stockist's in Singapore but ones that are always worth a visit are the stores Takashimaya, Metro and Tangs and specialist boutiques Change of Scandinavia, Holland Road Shopping Centre #03-23, and Ocho Maeve, 5 Stadium Walk, #01-39 Kallang Leisure Park ,www.ochomaeve.com, and Ocean Paradise, Paragon, Orchard Road and Tanglin Mall. La Cascara is a new venture offering a complete poolside wardrobe with accessories from France and Brazil specifically aimed at the 35-50 age group (I’m promised no thongs!); appointment only, www.la-cascara.com
For more on swimwear and your body shape check out Style Affairs At Nutri-style Blog
Louise Field
Restart of The Weight Management Group
I am delighted to announce the restart up of The Weight Management Group under the stewardship of Angela Locke. Angela is new to the Nutri-style team but an old hand at weight, health and sport related topics. Angela has a postgraduate diploma in Diet and Nutrition and is soon to start further studies in sports nutrition. The meetup will restart from next Tuesday 18th August at 7pm.
For more details click here.
Style Affairs By Nutri-Style blog - Have you made a comment yet?
Yes, its back! I have resurrected my Style Affairs Blog and am committing to updating it several times a week answering your style questions and keeping you up to date with the latest fashion & beauty news. It's not going to work without you though, so please ask questions & comment on entries by clicking on comments or reply link on blog post. Some of the subjects covered so far are:
WHAT’S HOT ‘N’ NEW – ION ORCHARD
Well, having been trying to get to the ION Orchard for the past week (school hols prevailing!) I managed a visit today. Bliss! Clean, airy and elegant with well-versed, pleasant staff made me want to wander all afternoon and to certainly come again. Easy parking and taxi availability, and until 30 August ’09 complimentary first 2-hour parking or taxi booking fee if you spend S$80+ .And should you become so engrossed in this luxurious shopping experience that your mobile phone gives up, the Concierge Desk offers a free cell phone charging service.
Having sorted all this out and got a copy of the Shopping Guide from the helpful Concierge staff, I casually enquired about the Diane von Furstenberg boutique (I was drooling with anticipation) only to be told it is not yet open. Upon further investigation, it became clear that many shops are still to open over the coming months including Burberry, Furla, Herve Leger, Giuseppe Zanotti, Longchamp, Prada and Louis Vuitton and that the Mall is 80% occupied, but I personally reckon it’s about 70%. Disappointed but not deterred, I wandered off to check out what I could.
Sephora is open offering a huge range of cosmetics and skin care products, some well known and others less so and some organic, together with its own good-value products and make-up brushes. I did a quick breeze through Topshop for my daughter (great denim leggings!) and then on to Max Mara (a fave) and Marina Rinaldi (super for the curvaceous amongst us). I was also very excited to find the ThreeSixty, a top-end supermarket concept from Hong Kong. Having lived there and shopped in its ThreeSixty, I was very interested to see what Singapore’s version had to offer. It doesn’t have Hong Kong’s restaurant so is smaller but it stocks the same excellent quality and unusual produce with helpful staff who know their business. Much of what you find in Cold Storage and Market Place is there but juxtapose is Hediard, Waitrose and even some John Lewis kitchenware, such as plates, glasses, utensils, pots and pans and cleaning ware. Home delivery is an option, very handy when you have so many luxury brand shopping bags in your hands already!
ION covers fashion, jewellery, watches, accessories, health, wealth and sports for all ages and genders plus more besides so it’s a thoroughly comprehensive, one-stop mall. Food outlets range from fast food and casual, confectionery and coffee to sophisticated restaurants and bars – I’m planning to look up Modern Peking Duck and Canton-i on a future visit!
In all, my few short hours were impressive and promising so I urge you to check out the website, www.ionorchard.com, and follow it up with a visit - just leave yourself plenty of time to have a good browse. Happy shopping!
Louise Field
Colour & Image Consultant Training In Singapore
Nutri-Style is well recognised in Singapore as a leader in colour & style services.
Nutri-style offers Colour & Image Consulting Training to aspiring colour & image consultants.
Colour Consultant Training (In House Training)
Next Colour Consulting Training Course
14th Sept - 19th Oct 2009
(Every Mon & Thurs 9.30am -12.30pm)
Book before end August and receive a $500 discount!
Image Consultant Training (Distance Learning/ Home Study)
New: Wardrobe and Personal Shopping Certification Program (Distance Learning/ Home Study)
For Enquires email: info@nutri-style.com
SUNSHINE MAKE-UP
Posing by the pool can present a number of dilemmas, not least the most appropriate swimwear (see my article above!) and one other problem for some is to wear or not wear make-up. If it is hot and you are in and out of the water, no make-up is probably best but if you feel “undressed” without some cosmetic enhancement then this article is for you. And remember that mineral cosmetics are preferable as they have a natural protection against the sun.
Firstly, keep it light and natural and always wear sunscreen on your face; the sunscreen you find in moisturisers and foundations will not be enough, so use an SPF of at least 30, 50 is yet more preferable. A tinted moisturiser will even out your skin tone and add glow or just use a little bronzer on your T zone and sparingly on cheek bones after applying a little cream blusher. Forget eyeshadow, at most just use a little waterproof eyeliner on the top lid together with waterproof mascara (although I have yet to find one that survives 30 lengths of freestyle in the pool!). If you do like to swim then think about having your eyelashes dyed before zipping off on holiday which would solve the panda-eyed poolside look. Should you be lucky to have naturally strong colouring (Winters and Springs this is you!) you will get away with a bright pink or red lipstick otherwise choose a natural looking lipgloss (Summers will be good in soft pinks and Autumns in bronzes and corals). And this with a gorgeous smile completes your look!
Louise Field
Style E-Books
Learn how to be stylish not trendy. Our online E Books will equip you with all the knowledge every woman should know! Written by leading Image Consultant, Aileen Lane; she shares her knowledge to help women feel better about themselves. Choose from 5 exciting titles; everything from choosing the correct accessories to becoming a polished career woman.
Click to view Nutri-Style E-Books
>>Back to Top |
