In the past couple of weeks two of my regular clients have asked me to help them find something “sexy” to wear.
One contacted me saying “Help! I’ve got a wedding to go to and I need to look hot. My ex-husband is going to be there with his new girlfriend” and the other was ready to start embracing her curves, by accentuating her lovely figure and wear something less conservative than she was used to.
The first thing I asked both of them was – When it comes to clothes, what makes you feel sexy?
(One, after some prompting from me knew what it was, and the other had no idea, which meant we had to do lots of sampling of different things til she figured it out).
Everyone has their own idea of what sexy is and what makes you feel that way when you’re wearing it. For some, it’s a pretty soft flowy dress with just a subtle hint of skin, for others it might be a figure hugging and/or revealing (perhaps Kardashianesque) outfit and for others like me, it’s my favourite perfume, pretty lingerie, a great pair of jeans and heels.
(And for some, it’s not important at all…)
Whether it’s “funky”, “edgy”, “trendy”, “cool” or “sexy”, that you’re wanting to achieve, you need to figure out what that word means to you first. Keeping in mind that it’s not just about how you look, but more importantly how you feel. Because when you feel it, you’ll also exude it..
I get asked often whether denim jackets are still in fashion. A client might have one in their wardrobe, that’s been hanging unworn for years, because they’re unsure whether or not to let go of it or hold on to it.
My answer is always yes denim jackets are still in fashion however, like everything, shapes change and some can become outdated – particularly those that are made of treated denim (perhaps stone washed) or have zips, studs or rhinestones. So if you have an old Sportsgirl version from 1995, chances are it may well be dated and either needs reinventing (if possible) or retiring.
Because I’m always encouraging people to try and work with what they already own before racing out and buying anything new, I thought I would talk about how you can determine whether your denim jacket is right for you and whether to keep it or not.
Consider..
firstly, whether a denim jacket is your style. It’s certainly a classic piece, but not for everyone. Don’t just wear it because it’s there.
whether your particular jacket is flattering to your shape. Is it too short and boxy or too long? Is it too wide across your back? Are the sleeves too full making your arms appear bigger than they are? Is it making your shoulders and/or bust look broader/bigger than they are?
whether the denim is dated. 1980’s distressed denim and 2000’s distressed denim are not the same
whether it’s worth having it altered by a tailor to make it a more modern, flattering shape for you
whether the style is still current or if it’s dated. (ie. if it’s acid washed with bat-wing sleeves and suede fringes, unless your style is Eighties Rocker, I’d say it’s probably time to donate it)
…and in case you’re wondering, yes, denim jackets can be worn by all ages. But just like anything, it’s not what you wear, it’s how you wear it. For instance, unless you want to look like Dolly Parton, avoid wearing your rhinestone embellished denim jacket with your jeans of the same denim. Wear a dark denim jacket to lunch with a stripey tee, navy linen pants and espadrilles or throw one over your shoulders when you’re wearing a cool summer dress, while you’re on holidays.
Here are a few pictures to give you some ideas for how you can wear your jacket.
Updating your look doesn’t always mean having to buy new clothes.
It might be, particularly if you’re on a tight budget, that new clothes are not a priority at the moment. It could even be that you have plenty of clothes already, but you need some fresh ideas.
Clothes can be altered, dyed, reinvented or simply worn differently.
One thing to try is cuffing your jeans.
Play around and try different ways of cuffing to determine what works best for your leg length, shape and style.
Try rolling them neatly. (You might even want to press them like these ladies below)
Or just turning them up to expose your ankles.
Don’troll your jeans too high that they become three quarter length…which we all know is a length that is not flattering for most.
I'm a Personal Stylist from Melbourne who is passionate about helping real women of all ages, shapes and sizes with varying budgets and lifestyles, look and feel the very best they can. I love old things, am addicted to blogs and online shopping sites, have a weakness for happily-ever-after movies and dream of one day having my own apartment in Paris. I'm an avid collector of beautiful books, love a full-bodied glass of red, and could eat my body weight in French cheese.
